Interim relief of 27 pc announced for employees, pensioners

Hyderabad,  Andhra Pradesh government Thursday announced an interim relief of 27 per cent to its employees and pensioners, with effect from January 1, 2014, pending the report of the Pay Revision Commission.

Announcing this at a press conference after a meeting with employees associations at his camp office, Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy said this was the first time in the history of the state that such a high interim relief was being given to the employees, which would impose an additional financial burden of Rs 7,683 crore on the exchequer.

In the last quarter of the current fiscal alone the additional financial burden on the state would be Rs 1,920 crore. The government would take a decision in a couple of days on issuing health cards to its employees and pensioners for cashless treatment even in corporate hospitals. As many as 14.70 lakh families would benefit from the government benevolence.

The Chief Minister said the PRC has been asked to complete its task soon and submit a report to the government. We will then consider the report for enhancement of wages and pensions and take a final decision, he added. The Chief Minister said the government would have to improve its finances as revenues were not up to the targets.

This year there is a shortfall of 9.4 per cent in revenue as against the target, he pointed out. Finance Minister Anam Ramanarayana Reddy, Social Welfare Minister Pitani Satyanarayana, Chief Secretary P K Mohanty and others were present.