TELANGANA CUTS SALARIES OF GOVT STAFF BY 10-75%

nHYDERABAD: The Telangana government on Monday announced drastic cuts – ranging from a minimum 10% to a maximum 75% - in the monthly salaries of all its employees and public representatives, citing the impact of Covid-19 on the state’s finances.

A decision to the effect was taken at a high-level meeting convened by chief minister K Chandrasekhar Rao at his camp office, Pragati Bhavan, to review the state’s financial position, which has turned precarious due to fall in state’s revenues and also in devolution of funds from Centre.

A statement from CM’S office announced a 75% cut in salaries of the CM, his cabinet colleagues, members of legislative assembly, members of legislative council, chairpersons of various statelevel corporations, and representatives of urban, rural local bodies.

Salaries of IAS, IPS and Indian Forest Service officers will be reduced by 60%. State government employees like teachers, gazetted and non-gazetted officers face a 50% pay cut.

“However, in case of Class IV employees like peons, sweepers and drivers, and also outsourced and contract employees, the salary cut would be restricted to 10%,” the statement said.

Even retired employees of the state government have not been spared; their pensions will be cut. While all other categories of retired employees face a 50% cut in their pensions, retired Class IV employees would get 10% less.

Similar salary cuts would be imposed in the case of employees working in all public dector undertakings and those operating with government grants-inaid, the statement said.

DECISION WAS TAKEN TO REVIEW THE STATE’S FINANCIAL POSITION, WHICH HAS TURNED PRECARIOUS DUE TO FALL IN REVENUE