REJOINDER ON EMPLOYEE WELFARE & PAYMENTS

REJOINDER ON EMPLOYEE WELFARE & PAYMENTS

The state of Andhra Pradesh came into existence on 2nd June 2014 through the instrumentality of the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act, 2014.

In the years since its formation, the state finances have borne the severe impact of the unscientific bifurcation & the COVID-19 pandemic.

Despite the tough challenges, this Government has taken a taken a series of measures to ensure that salaries and pensions are paid in time. On an average 90-95% of the salary and pension bills will be passed by the Treasury by the last working day of the month and the same are released before 5 of the following month depending on the RBI/Bank holidays, ways & means position of the state. Remaining bills will be passed as and when they are cleared by the Treasury. This is the general practice earlier as well as at present. The general allegations that the salaries and pensions are getting delayed during the current

Government based on very rare exceptions doesn't truly reflect the ground reality. In fact, current Government took several steps to make timely payment to employees. Instructions were issued to all the DDOS to start processing the salary and pension bills from 16" itself and complete by 24"of the month and the Treasury to complete the Audit by month end so that salaries and pensions for majority can be paid on the first working day of the following month.

In addition to the regular employees and pensioners, this Government took special efforts to make payment in time to several scheme based employees like Asha Workers, Anganwadis, Mid day meal Cook cum Helpers, Home Guards, VOAS, RPs Tribal Community Workers, professionals, contract employees etc., and ensuring that everyone gets paid before 21" of the month. Earlier salaries for some of these category employees used to get delayed for months together.

Government created a separated organization APCOS" to take care of the interest of outsourced employees and the top priority given for teleasing of salaries of outsourced employees.

Government is giving top priority for the welfare of employees as it recognises Human resources as the most significant asset of the Government. Various steps taken by the Government towards the employees welfare are summarised below.

1. Sanction of Interim Relief

a) The Government has already sanctioned 27% Interim Relief (IR) vide G.O. Ms. No. 60 Finance (PC&TA) Dept. dated 6-7-2019 to all the Government Employees, including the employees of the Local Bodies (PR & ULBs), the institutions receiving Grants-in-Aid from the Government, Work Charged Employees and Full-Time Contingent Employees who are currently drawing pay in the Revised Scales, 2015.

b) Similarly, for the welfare of pensioners, the Government vide G.O. Ms. No. 61 Finance (HR-3-Pension-1) dated 18-7-2019 sanctioned interim relief at the rate of 27% of basic pension w.e.f. 1st July 2019 to all Government Pensioners/ Family Pensioners including the pensioners of the Local Bodies (PR & ULBs), the institutions receiving Grants-in-Aid from the Government, Work Charged Establishment & erstwhile Full- Time contingent employees, who are currently drawing pension in the Revised Scales of Pay 2015.

c) The Government has paid Interim Relief, to a tune of Rs. 11,984 crore for employees and Rs.5,933 crore for pensioners totalling to Rs.17,918 crore from 01-07-2019 to 31- 12-2021.

2. Increase in Salaries of various categories of employees

The Government has increased salaries of 3,01,021 employees in various categories like Anganwadi workers, Asha workers, etc. as shown in the table below. The yearlyexpenditure on account of salaries to these categories of employees has gone up from Rs. 1,198 crore to Rs. 3,18categ yearly 

3. Enhancement of Age of Superannuation to Government Employees from 60 to 62 years.Government of Andhra Pradesh extended the age of superannuation from 60 years to 62 years in respect of State employees covered under the Andhra Pradesh Public (Regulation of Age of Superannuation) Act, 1984 w.e.f01.01.2022.

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