The YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) has accused the coalition government of betraying the trust of nearly 13 lakh employees and pensioners in Andhra Pradesh, after the long-awaited Joint Staff Council (JSC) meeting failed to deliver any concrete outcomes.
YSRCP Employees and Pensioners Wing President, Nalamara Chandrasekhar Reddy, said the meeting, convened by the Chief Secretary after a 14-month gap, turned out to be a mere formality, sparking frustration and resentment across the state’s workforce.
Highlighting key concerns, Reddy pointed out that the 12th Pay Revision Commission (PRC) has been pending for two years without the appointment of a new commissioner since the last resignation. He also slammed the government for ignoring demands on pending Dearness Allowance (DA) arrears—four installments overdue—and the promised Interim Relief (IR).
“Why hold a JSC just for show?” he questioned, demanding clarity on the unresolved 11th PRC and DA arrears, which continue to remain absent in employees’ pay slips despite repeated appeals from unions including the Amaravati JAC.
Reddy urged the government to immediately constitute a new PRC with at least 30% benefits, release DA arrears, and revive the Employees Health Scheme, which has been crippled by unpaid medical bills. He further sought an increase in medical reimbursements from ₹2 lakh to ₹5 lakh, abolition of the Contributory Pension Scheme in favor of the Old Pension Scheme, regularization of 7,000 contract workers, allotment of house sites, and enhancement of pension benefits—10% for those aged 70+ and 15% for 75+.
The YSRCP leader also pressed for an increase in the retirement age to 62 years for public sector employees, citing the growing financial burden and job insecurity among workers.
Condemning the Chief Secretary’s “evasive response” in the meeting, Reddy said the government’s indifference risks alienating employees and pensioners, who are already under severe economic stress. He warned that unless urgent corrective measures are taken, discontent could snowball into widespread unrest.
“The government must act swiftly to restore confidence and deliver justice to its employees and pensioners,” he added.
