Now, KCR Hikes VOAs' Salary By Upto Ten Times

Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao has hiked the salaries of the Village Organization Assistants (VOAs) in the State.

There are 18,405 VOAs working in the State with salaries ranging from Rs 500 to Rs 1,500 per month. They are paid salaries based on the status of the respective village organizations (the strength of the members and the financial conditions).

The VOAs have been upset for long that there is no match between the kind of work they were doing and the salaries that were being paid to them. They wanted the government to pay some salary along with the amount paid by the village organizations. In united AP the VOAs had represented their case to the government several times but nobody responded.

Against this backdrop, the Chief Minister held a special meeting with the VOAs in Pragathi Bhavan on Wednesday. He gave a patient hearing to their problems, and then promised that every VOA would henceforth get a salary of Rs 5,000 per month. The Village Committees will pay Rs 2,000 and the government will pay Rs 3,000.

He said that the government would give its share through the SERP. The supervisors should ensure that the Village Organizations pay their share of Rs 2,000 to each VOA.

Speaking about women, the CM said, "The State government is taking all possible measures to strengthen the rural economy. As part of this, women in the Self-Help DWCRA groups should also be strengthened financially. Women's groups in the State are doing excellent work. They have earned a good name. Besides saving money they should also start cottage industries. The DWCRA women should process the produce from the village to suit to the market demands. Prepare consumer products which are in demand such as chilli and turmeric powder, papads, khara mixture and so on. We will give the necessary training to the DWCRA women and extend all necessary help. Study how women groups are working in other States and in other countries like Bangladesh. We will prepare a comprehensive plan and implement it."

Ministers T Harish Rao, Jupally Krishna Rao, Government's Chief Advisor Rajiv Sharma, SERF CEO Neetu Prasad, CMO Principal Secretary S Narsing Rao and others were present.