Telangana Issue: Non-Gazetted Officers To Strike

The Andhra Pradesh Non-Gazetted Officers' Association, on Tuesday, served a notice to the state government, announcing that all employees would go on strike from August 12 in protest against the proposed division of Andhra Pradesh.

Hundreds of employees led by APNGOs president P Ashok Babu served the strike notice to Chief Secretary Dr. P K Mohanty at his chambers in the state Secretariat.

"The APNGOs Association and all other service associations propose to go on an indefinite strike from the midnight of 12th August, by suspending all functions of the government by all categories of employees," he said in the notice.

Ashok Babu said that the APNGOs Association represents lahks of employees across the state, and that it has already objected to the division of the state as it would have a serious impact on the future of the employees and pensioners.

"There is uncertainty in respect of options, transfers, promotions, seniority and shifting of thousands of families of employees, if the state is divided. In addition to this, statements of leaders are creating apprehensions among employees in respect of promotions, transfer, etc.," he said.

The APNGOs discussed the matter in its emergency state executive committee meeting held on August 4 at Vijayawada.

The other service associations of government employees, including Revenue, Excise, Treasure, Cooperation, Commercial Taxes, Municipal Corporations, Panchayat Raj, Teachers, VROs, VRAs, ICDS, Medical, APSRTC, the public sector and Electricity Board, also participated in the meeting.

Ashok Babu said that it was unanimously resolved to agitate against both the Central and the state governments, to make them withdraw the proposed division of the state, since it disturbs the future of both working and retired employees, in addition to developmental activities of the state.

"There will be unlimited uncertainty over the 10th PRC, health cards, regularisation of contract employees, and promotions due in next 3 months, because of the proposed division of the state. People will be pushed to jeopardy if the state is divided," Ashok Babu said. (INN)