Govt Employees’ Welfare Is Our Top Priority: Deputy CM Bhatti Vikramarka

Deputy Chief Minister Bhatti Vikramarka said the Telangana government is committed to employee welfare and is considering increasing the monthly allocation for clearing pending dues from ₹700 crore to ₹1,000 crore to accelerate payments.

He stated that the previous BRS government left behind ₹4,575 crore in employee-related dues and overall liabilities of ₹40,150 crore . So far, the current government has cleared about ₹6,146 crore , including pending Dearness Allowances (DAs) and medical bills. He also highlighted that salaries are now being credited on the 1st of every month , unlike delays seen earlier.

The Deputy CM announced that the Cabinet led by Chief Minister Revanth Reddy will introduce cashless medical cards for employees. Additionally, a scheme providing ₹1.25 crore accident insurance to families of employees who die during duty or due to accidents is being implemented.

Retirement and PRC

Vikramarka said the increase in retirement age from 58 to 61 years by the previous government has added to the current financial burden, with benefits pending for around 17,000 employees . He assured that a decision on the Pay Revision Commission (PRC) report and pending DAs will be taken soon.

He also noted that restrictions on employee unions have been eased, allowing them to directly approach the Chief Minister and ministers, improving coordination.

BRS Criticizes Govt Over Retired Employees’ Dues

BRS MLA KP Vivekanand criticized the government for delays in clearing retirement benefits, alleging negligence towards employees who served for decades. He said retired employees are being forced to protest and even approach courts to receive their dues.

He pointed out that despite acknowledging around ₹10,000 crore in pending dues, the government has not ensured timely payments. He also criticized the delay in implementing the promised Old Pension Scheme (OPS) .

Vivekanand highlighted that several retired employees, including Maisaiah from Khammam , faced financial distress due to unpaid benefits and urged the government to announce a clear timeline for clearing all pending dues.