Jagan Govt concedes demands of staff

Vijayawada/Visakhapatnam: The government in Andhra Pradesh heaved a sigh of relief as a major crisis has been averted with the employees of various departments and teachers agreeing to withdraw their threat of going on an indefinite strike from February 5 over implementation of 11th PRC recommendations.

Key demands the government conceded included sanctioning HRA in four slabs with maximum ceiling of Rs 24,000 as followed in Telangana, restoring additional pension quantum for the aged, no recovery of IR paid during July 1, 2019 and March 31, 2020 and constitute PRC once in five years instead of 10 years. The fitment will be 23 per cent as agreed upon earlier.

A committee will be set up by the government to examine pros and cons of scrapping the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS).Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy at the time of elections had promised abrogation of CPS.

A roadmap will be prepared by March, the government said after an amicable solution to the demands made by Pay Revision Commission Sadhana Samiti was reached late on Friday night. After conceding most of their demands with regard to implementation of 11th PRC, the non-gazetted employees' leaders announced the withdrawal of their indefinite strike notice from February 5. The withdrawal of strike after confrontation with the government by going ahead with 'Chalo Vijayawada' protest on February 3 despite denial of police permission is considered a decisive victory of bringing the PRC Sadhana Samiti leaders to the negotiation table and striking a deal after a tough process of talks.

During two days of marathon talks, the high-power committee comprising Ministers Botcha Satyanarayana, Buganna Rajendranath Reddy, Perni Nani, Government Advisor (Public Affairs) Sajjala Ramakrishna Reddy and Chief Secretary Sameer Sharma had to spend 13 hours to thrash out differences.

Earlier, the members of PRC Sadhana Committee met the Chief Minister and thanked him for accepting their demands despite the financial constraints.

Jagan Mohan Reddy told the employees that they are part of the government, and stated that he will be able to do many more good things with their cooperation.

Despite the State's finances depleting due to the pandemic, the government is doing all that it can for employees and there is no place for him without employees' contribution.