The Telangana Congress strongly opposed the decision of the government to cut the salaries of the government employees.
Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC) Treasurer Gudur Narayana Reddy has strongly opposed the decision of the state government to cut the salaries of the government employees, including the Class IV, outsourced and contract employees, and described it as 'hasty' and 'ill-timed'.
"Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao is wrongly trying to take advantage of an epidemic to cut the salaries of employees and pensions. He should first disclose the figures of the funds spent by the state Government to deal with the coronavirus and the estimated revenue loss to the state's exchequer due to the lockdown. While spending to deal with the coronavirus situation should be the top priority, it cannot be used as an excuse to cut the salaries of government employees," Reddy said.
Reddy welcomed the decision for a cut of 75% in the salaries of the CM, the ministers, the MLCs, the MLAs, corporation chairpersons and local bodies representatives, and said that the salaries of those classes of people could be cut by even 100% as most of them were pretty rich. Also, a 60% cut in the salaries of the IAS, IPS, IFS and other central services officers could be approved. However, a 50% cut in the salaries of all other categories of employees was not acceptable.
"The employees were actually expecting the long-overdue new PRC next month. Instead of increasing their salaries, as he himself promised he would do on multiple occasions, KCR is giving them a shock by cutting their salaries in half," he said.
The Congress leader said that the Class IV, outsourced and contract employees were already drawing low salaries, which had not been revised ever since statehood for Telangana. Now a cut by 10% would have a negative impact on their personal finances. Similarly, a 50% cut in pay for all categories of pensioners would be a severe blow for the elderly persons during the ongoing crisis.
"KCR is asking all private companies to pay salaries in full to all their employees for the lockdown period, and this action of his will set a bad example to the private sector, and will encourage it to cut the salaries of employees citing losses due to the impact of the coronavirus," he said.
He also said that the press release sent by the Chief Minister's Office on Monday evening did not specify the month/period for which the salaries would be cut. However, employees and pensioners would be hit badly even if a day's salary was cut.
He said that the state government spent nearly Rs 1,900 crore on salaries & wages every month, and nearly Rs 860 crore on pensions. By affecting a cut by 50% in salaries and pensions, the state government could save about Rs. 1,370 crore in a month.
"Finance Minister Harish Rao presented a budget of Rs 1,82,914 crore for the financial year 2020-21 only 22 days ago. In that he projected a revenue surplus of Rs 4,482 crore in the financial year beginning Wednesday. It's hard to see why the need to save Rs 1,370 crore given all of that," he said.
Reddy said that all employees, especially those associated with the police, health and sanitation departments, had been working almost 24x7 with huge dedication and commitment to fight the coronavirus. Therefore cutting their salaries would be highly uncalled for.
"It is strange that the Chief Minister is advocating no work and full salary for the private sector, but for the government staff wants twice the work and half the salary. KCR is setting a bad precedent," he said.
The Congress leader demanded that the Chief Minister withdraw the decision to cut the salaries and pensions of employees.