Telangana govt employees protest as PRC recommends 'meagre' pay hike

The report of the first Pay Revision Commission was released on Wednesday recommending only 7.5% fitment on basic pay.
Telangana govt employees protest the recommendations of the first Pay Revision Commission in Hyderabad on Wednesday. (Photo | Vinay Madapu, EPS)
Telangana govt employees protest the recommendations of the first Pay Revision Commission in Hyderabad on Wednesday. (Photo | Vinay Madapu, EPS)

HYDERABAD: The ball is now in Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao’s court with Telangana’s first Pay Revision Commission (PRC) headed by CR Biswal submitting its recommendations to the government on Wednesday.Though a fitment of 7.5 per cent on the basic pay, which was one of the main recommendations, was something the employees could not stomach, it is expected that during talks with the government, it might be hiked further. However, it would not meet their long-pending expectation of 35 per cent to 40 per cent. 

Though there were several other pro-employee recommendations in the report, none of them pleased the employees as their anger erupted in the form of protests at the BRKR Bhavan, which is serving as a temporary Secretariat. Some employees tore the copies of the PRC report and threw the pieces into the air. Police who were present in full strength swung into action and detained the agitating employees. As the employees took to the streets, the top brass of the government were left red-faced, wondering how the report leaked out as it was not officially released. 

The PRC was constituted on May 18, 2018, after the formation of Telangana in 2014. The employees had expected a fitment between 35 per cent and 40 per cent but it turned out to be just 7.5 per cent. Even if the government turns generous and increases it, the figure would not reach what they are hoping for.

Photo | Vinay Madapu
Photo | Vinay Madapu

The three-member committee, led by Chief Secretary Somesh Kumar, had a preliminary discussion with three government employee unions in the evening, wherein the latter insisted on a sharp hike in the fitment. The other members of the committee are: Principal Secretaries K Ramakrishna Rao (Finance) and Rajat Kumar (Irrigation). After the meeting, Telangana Non-Gazetted Officers Association’s (TNGO) M Rajender said they will pressure the government to declare a fitment not less than 43%  of the basic pay. 

“The PRC should not be Pay Reduction Commission,” he said. The previous PRC, headed by Pradeep Kumar Agarwal in 2013 in undivided AP, had proposed a fitment of 29 per cent which was hiked to 43 per cent.

Highlights of PRC report

Though there are several pro-employee recommendations in the PRC report, none of these pleased the employees as their anger erupted in the form of protests on Wednesday. Here are some of the 
recommendations made in the report: 

Age of superannuation from service extended from 58 yrs to 60 yrs 

 The date of effect would be from July 1, 2018, since the DA was merged then. The commission pointed out that the govt could take a view on the date from which the financial benefit would accrue, keeping in view the position of its resources

     Annual increment to range from 3.36% of the pay in the initial stages to 2.33% finally. Periodicity of the increase to be 3 yrs 

     Annual increment to range from 3.36% of the pay in the initial stages to 2.33% finally. Periodicity of the increase to be 3 yrs 

For house rent allowance (HRA), the existing rates of HRA, which are 30%, 20%, 14.5% and 12%, have been changed to 24%, 17%, 13% and 11%, respectively,for different places based on population

What the PRC report says

n With regards to the DA, the commission said for every 1% of DA sanctioned by the Government of India, the DA to be sanctioned by the State to its employees would be 0.91% for the DA starting from January 1, 2019
n Additional HRA in lieu of rent-free accommodation is retained at 8% of the basic pay but the monetary ceiling has been increased from Rs 2,000 to Rs 2,500/month
n The commission has recommended encouraging the employee to go in for housing loans from commercial banks and the government would subsidise the interest payable on the principal
n Minimum pension/family pension would be fixed at Rs 9,700/month, which is 50% of the minimum pay in the revised master pay scale
n Child Care Leave (CCL) has been enhanced from 90 to 120 days in the case of normal children. It would be 90 days to two years in the case of differently-abled children, on par with the Government of India. Leaves would be granted with full pay for the first 365 days and 85% for the remaining 365 days
n The commission recommended streamlining of cashless treatment under EHS by collecting 1% basic pay from employees and 1% basic pension from pensioners and creating a separate reserve. The expenditure will be met from this reserve
n The commission recommended special pay of 15% of the basic to certain categories in the protocol department
n The employees belonging to Grades I and II, travelling by AC buses, either TSRTC or private services. Mileage allowance to be increased to Rs 16 per km for petrol-driven four-wheelers, Rs 14 per km for diesel-driven four-wheelers and Rs 6 per km for motorcycles and scooters
n Reimbursement of tuition fee to the children of NGOs has been deleted. But an incentive of Rs 2,000/annum per pupil will be allowed subject to a maximum of 2 children only if they are admitted to govt schools
n Funeral charges for deceased employees to be increased to Rs 30,000
n Special compensatory allowance increased by about 30% up to a maximum of Rs 1,660/month to the employees working in scheduled areas
n Minimum pension to be fixed at Rs 9,700/month, which is 50% of the minimum pay in the revised master pay scale
n Full pension is recommended to State govt employees retiring after 20 years of service

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