The Andhra Pradesh government was not able to disburse `800 crores in salary to its employees in nine districts of the Telangana region because of the ongoing employees’ strike.
The government had decided to pay salaries for the first 12 days of September, when employees attended duties, but the strike itself has ended up being an impediment to the disbursal, as the officers whose work it is to draw and disburse the salaries are on strike.
As a consequence, only 20 per cent of employees got their September salary and they were shocked to find how meagre was the amount they received.
For example, teachers and class-IV employees, who are paid around `10,000 a month, found only `300 to `500 in their pay packets.
The T-employees were paid for only the 12-14 days that they worked, under the “no work-no pay” rule. Plus, the government deducted about 25 per cent of the amount towards provident fund, house building advance, education advance, employees’ group insurance, professional tax, ESI, etc.
Telangana Employees’ Joint Action Committee convenor Madhusudhan Reddy claims that these deductions are illegal.
“As per the norms and financial code, the government should not deduct anything from salaries if the number of paid days is less than 15 days in a month.
Though the employees were paid salaries for just 12-14 days, the government deducted the amount leaving nothing for the employees,” he said.
Much to the discomfort of the government, the staff engaged in essential services like sanitation and water supply also did not receive their salary in some places, particularly in gram panchayats where the newly introduced special officer system is yet to be streamlined.
Officials briefed the government that it is estimated to save `574 crores following the decision to not to pay the salary for the strike period.
The government took the decision after the high court upheld the “no work no pay” order.