The Telangana state government employees are in for a treat as Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao announced salary hikes for every worker across various departments along with increment in retirement age and recruitment of individuals to vacant positions. With this, 9.37 employees are expected to get profited.
Led by Chief Secretary Somesh Kumar, the CM formulated a 3-member team to furnish its suggestions regarding the matter by the end of February, after which, the State Cabinet will arrive at a conclusion.
All pending issues related to government employees, which include promotions and transfers, retirement age, farewell functions to retiring workers with all the benefits they are liable to get paid in full on the retirement day itself, creation of a list of simplified and easy to understand service rules, and finally hiring of individuals on compassionate grounds, will be solved, he said.
The hike in salaries is being offered to all government workers, work-charged employees, full-time and part-time contingent employees, grant-in-aid workers, Anganwadi workers, daily wage workers, home guards, Asha workers, contract and outsourced employees, Vidya volunteers, SERP workers, pensioners, and those getting honorariums.
Apart from these workers, TSRTC employees will also witness an increase in their salaries, KCR said adding that if required, the State government will bear the extra costs.
Somesh Kumar, Principal Secretary for Finance K Ramakrishna Rao, and Principal Secretary for Irrigation Rajat Kumar form the 3-member committee that is entitled to examine all matters related to government employees and the Pay Revision Committee, report of which is directed to be given in the 1st week of January.
The committee will also organize consultations with unions of employees in January’s 2nd week to talk about salary hikes, simplified service and promotion rules, retirement age, and various problems pertaining to this. The final decision to be taken by the Cabinet will be made following recommendations from the committee.
KCR, in a press release, stated that employees had to even reach the court to get their issues resolved before the bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh. Those cases got carried over post – Telangana’s formation as well. After several rounds of consultations and overcoming legal issues, the state government has arrived at this resolution, he said.
“The State government enabled its employees to perform their duties without any hassles or inconvenience. All the remaining issues related to the employees should be resolved without any further delay. The entire process should be completed during January and February. By March onwards, all the employees should be freed from any problem,” he instructed the officials.
With all previous issues solved in the finance and revenue department, KCR directed officials to furnish the promotions immediately to concerned employees. The Departmental Promotional Committees (DPCs) would be appointed at the earliest in all the units, and vacant posts would be duly filled after completing promotions. He asked the officials to identify vacant posts in all departments and begin with the recruitment process in February.
As all employees burn their energy and sweat out to serve the government and the people of their state, they deserve to get the salary hikes and other benefits, the CM said. “Notwithstanding whether the employee is Class-IV or head of a department, they should be on the day of superannuation and dropped respectfully at their houses in a government vehicle. They should get all the retirement benefits on the day of their retirement and should not be required to run from pillar to post for their retirement benefits. All senior officers should take measures in tune with the policy,” KCR said. He also increased the retirement age for all government employees, while stating the exact age will be as per the promise made by the party during the elections.
Rao said that as the families of those who lost their earning members are already grieving the loss, they won’t be subjected to further problems of running errands in government offices. Calling the delay in appointments as “unfortunate”, he instructed officials to complete them urgently.
