‘Employee-friendly’ CM faces heat for IR delay

The “employee-friendly” TRS is facing the wrath of state government staff ahead of the Assembly elections.

TRS president and caretaker Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao had won the hearts of 3.5 lakh employees and 1.5 lakh pensioners and their families by effecting a steep hike in salaries and pensions in 2015.

Four years later, the situation has reversed, with Mr Rao failing to fulfil his promise of giving Interim Relief (IR) and implementing the PRC (Pay Revision Commission). IR is extended to compensate employees for the delay in implementing the PRC. The PRC should come into force from 2018. Last week, Mr Rao announced 35 per cent IR for power staff.

Mr Rao had himself held a meeting with employees associations in May at Pragathi Bhavan and announced to extend IR from June 2, which was later later postponed to August 15. Both the deadlines have been missed.

Later, the Chief Minister gave indications that the benefits would be extended in October as a Dasara gift.

But, a month ahead of the festival, the decision of Mr Rao to abruptly dissolve the Assembly has dashed the hopes of staff who are now going on the warpath to protest against the empty promises.

The staff is angry with the leaders of employees associations, accusing them of colluding with the TRS government for their selfish interests. They alleged that the leaders failed to bring pressure on the government and protect the interests of employees.

Staff and pensioners expressed that employees leaders became MLCs with their support but made no efforts to achieve their genuine demands. They now want these MLCs to resign and join hands with them to launch a united fight against the TRS government.

The union leaders and MLCs are trying to pacify the agitating staff saying that the caretaker government has the power to extend IR and PRC by taking permission from the Election Commission of India. They have promised to take up this issue wth Mr Rao and ensure that employees get all the benefits by Dasara.

Employees expressed scepticism, asking that when Mr Rao heading a full-fledged government could not do implement the promises how would a caretaker administration do so when the elections are round the corner. They expressed the doubt that the assurances were being given to pacify the employees and pensioners and garner their support for the elections.

Sensing anger, the leaders of employees unions have postponed the meeting scheduled on Saturday to September 11 to decided on future course of action.

TNGOs leader Karem Ravinder Reddy said, “The concerns expressed by employees is understandable. But there are instance where caretaker governments have extended IR and PRC by taking special permission from the CEC. We will discuss the issue with Mr Rao and ensure that employees get their promised benefits by Dasara.”

Mr Rao had himself held a meeting with employees associations in May at Pragathi Bhavan and announced to extend IR from June 2, which was later later postponed to August 15.

Later, the CM gave indications that the benefits would be extended in October as a Dasara gift.