Hyderabad: Former minister and BRS MLA T. Harish Rao on Monday said the Congress government failed to honour employee promises even after completing two years in office.
Speaking during Zero Hour in the Legislative Assembly, Harish Rao said the government did not release retirement benefits, implement the Pay Revision Commission, or restore the Old Pension Scheme. As a result, he said government employees and pensioners faced severe financial strain.
Harish Rao said the Congress had promised quick action on the PRC, payment of pending Dearness Allowances, clearance of arrears, and revival of OPS. However, he said the government had not delivered on any of these employee promises.
Employee promises raised during Zero Hour
Addressing Bhatti Vikramarka, Harish Rao demanded immediate release of pending dues to serving and retired employees. He warned that governance and welfare services would suffer if the government continued to ignore staff concerns.
The BRS MLA said Telangana currently had six Dearness Allowances pending. He added that the government kept delaying PRC implementation despite repeated assurances in the Assembly.
Harish Rao recalled that the previous BRS government implemented PRCs of 43 per cent and 39 per cent on time. He also said the BRS launched the Employees Health Scheme through a government order, while the Congress failed to act on its manifesto promise.
Highlighting retiree issues, Harish Rao said stress over unpaid dues led to the deaths of around 39 retired employees. He cited the case of a retired veterinary officer who still awaited benefits months after retirement, despite approaching the High Court.
Harish Rao further alleged misuse of funds under the Contributory Pension Scheme. He said the delay in restoring OPS endangered the future of nearly two lakh employees.
Referring to the police department, Harish Rao said surrender leave, travel allowance, Dearness Allowance, and station allowance payments remained pending. Consequently, he said nearly one lakh police personnel faced financial hardship.
He also said the government diluted the police health insurance scheme and sought its restoration with corporate hospital access. Finally, Harish Rao urged the Speaker to ensure written replies to Zero Hour questions, warning that the session would lose purpose otherwise.