PRC: Employees seek report before June 2

metro india news  I hyderabad

Delay in the implementation of the Pay Revision Commission (PRC) has become a major concern for government employees, teachers and pensioners in Telangana. While employees say they are prepared to wait for the actual implementation of the PRC, they are now urging the State government to at least obtain the PRC committee report before Telangana Formation Day on June 2. Employees believe that once the report is officially submitted to the government, the administration will eventually be compelled to implement it.

The issue gained prominence after Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy held a meeting with representatives of the Telangana Employees JAC and Telangana Employees Joint Staff Council at his Jubilee Hills residence on May 2. During the meeting, employee union leaders raised several demands before the Chief Minister, with the PRC issue emerging as one of the key concerns. The unions specifically requested the government to ensure that the PRC committee submits its report before June 2.

Responding to the demand, the Chief Minister reportedly directed officials to submit the PRC report immediately and assured union representatives that the government would take a decision based on the committee’s recommendations. However, even after 25 days since the meeting, employee leaders say the report has still not reached the government.

The prolonged delay has triggered confusion and frustration among government employees and teachers. Many union leaders initially believed that the report would be submitted within a few days after the Chief Minister’s direct intervention. But with no progress so far, employees are now anxiously waiting for some clarity at least by June 2.

Employee and teacher unions are also questioning why the report is still pending despite claims that the PRC recommendations were already prepared long ago. Several union leaders say they do not understand why the government has not officially called for the report yet. At the same time, criticism is mounting that the delay may be intentional.

According to employees’ unions, once the government officially receives the PRC report, it would be expected to implement the revised pay structure within six months. This, they believe, could be one of the reasons behind the delay in obtaining the report itself.

Financial concerns are said to be another major factor slowing down the process. The State government is already facing pressure due to pending employee bills and financial commitments. During the May 2 meeting, the Chief Minister had also promised to clear around Rs.6,000 crore worth of retirement benefits for employees within 100 days.

Meanwhile, employee unions are demanding a 51 percent fitment under the new PRC. Officials estimate that even a one percent increase in fitment would place an additional burden of nearly Rs.400 crore on the State exchequer. However, employees have reportedly indicated that they would still welcome a lower fitment of 20 to 30 percent if announced by the government.

Even if the PRC report is submitted soon, employees believe the actual implementation may not happen immediately. Based on administrative procedures, many expect the revised pay scales to be implemented only by August or even December this year. Confusion also continues over whether pending Dearness Allowances (DAs) would be merged into the PRC calculations. The uncertainty has further added to dissatisfaction among employees and teachers across the State.

The new PRC was supposed to be implemented from July 1, 2023. However, with no official announcement or concrete timeline from the government so far, resentment among employees and pensioners continues to grow.