Hyderabad, Jan 28 (UNI) Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC) President & Nalongda MP Capt N Uttam Kumar Reddy strongly condemned the Pay Revision Commission (PRC) for recommending a Fitment of mere 7.5 per cent and alleged that the PRC's recommendations appears to be dictated by Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao.

He demanded that the State Government provide fitment of not less than 43 per cent to the employees.

Uttam Kumar Reddy, along with T Jeevan Reddy, MLC, TPCC Working President Ponnam Prabhakar and other leaders was addressing a press conference at Gandhi Bhavan on Thursday.

Uttam Kumar Reddy said that the fitment of 7.5 per cent was unrealistic and too below the expectations of government employees. He announced that the Congress party would support the agitation by the government seeking at least 43 per cent fitment.

He said that the government employees have played a major role in Telangana statehood agitation. He said the employees risked their jobs and careers by launching 'Sakala Janula Samme'. They expected a better future for themselves and their children after the formation of Telangana. However, Chief Minister K Chandrasahekhar Rao shattered their dreams and continuously subjected them to injustices. He said KCR's decisions have been causing huge pain and mental agony to the government staff.

The TPCC Chief also condemned the PRC's recommendation for reducing the House Rent Allowance by up to 6 per cent. He said that the PRC has failed to consider the inflation factor while recommending cuts in HRA. It appears, he said, that the PRC has drafted its entire report under the influence of CM KCR. He demanded that there should not be any cut in the HRA and instead it should be increased substantially.

Uttam Kumar Reddy said that the PRC has identified nearly 1.91 lakh vacancies in various departments of the State Government. He said that the Chief Minister has been misleading the people of Telangana by giving contradicting and false figures of existing vacancies. He pointed out that CM KCR has recently issued a statement announcing that the State Government would fill 50,000 vacancies in different departments, which is about one-fourth of actual vacancies.

He said that the TRS party came to power in 2014 on the promise of fulfilling one lakh vacancies and the promise was repeated more than twice on the floor of the Assembly by CM KCR. However, he said not even 25 per cent of vacancies were filled by the TRS Government in the last seven years. He demanded that the State Government take immediate measures to fill all 1.91 lakh vacancies on war footing basis.

The TPCC Chief said that it was highly shameful for the TRS Government to keep over 1.91 lakh posts vacant in different departments. He also condemned the role being played by some leaders of employees' unions.

He alleged that a few union leaders were acting at the behest of CM KCR and not fighting to protect the interest of employees. He advised the employees to launch agitation against the TRS Govt seeking justice. He reminded that the previous Congress Govt was an employee-friendly government and implemented PRCs at regular intervals besides extending all facilities to the staff.
UNI VV JAL 1917