The treasury department employees on Thursday launched a protest as they believe that their director Nagarjuna Reddy’s transfer was because he was taking pro-employee measures. According to chairman of Joint Action Committee of Employees, Teachers, Workers and Pensioners of AP, V Gopal Reddy, Nagarjuna Reddy had suggested separate health trust to implement insurance for government employees. But, the state government wanted to provide health insurance to employees only under Arogyasri and Nagarjuna Reddy was shunted out. The other demands of the striking staff included regularisation of contract staff and filling up of vacant posts.
The strike is all set to delay payments of salries and pensions. Usually, the respective departments sends salary bills to treasury branches on the last working day of the month and employees get salaries on the first of every month.
Though, there were reports that the state government may invoke ESMA on treasury employees, finance minister Anam Ramanarayana Reddy was not available for comments.