Has Telangana Government Released Rs 713 Crore for December Employee Bills?
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
Hyderabad, Dec 31 (NationPress) The government of Telangana has allocated Rs 713 crore to settle outstanding bills owed to state government employees for the month of December.
Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka, who also serves as the Finance Minister, authorized the disbursement on Wednesday.
In line with the Deputy Chief Minister's instructions, officials from the Finance Department have processed bills totaling Rs 713 crore pertaining to December.
This marks the fifth consecutive month that the government has provided funds to address the overdue bills.
The state administration had previously committed to releasing Rs 700 crore on a monthly basis to settle employee dues.
By the end of June, the government had disbursed Rs 183 crore. From August onward, a consistent monthly release of at least Rs 700 crore has been maintained.
The outstanding bills encompass various employee benefits including gratuity, General Provident Fund (GPF), leave encashment, and advances.
In June, the State Cabinet reached a decision to resolve outstanding employee arrears as of January 1, 2023, over a span of 28 months, approving a monthly allocation of at least Rs 700 crore.
This decision followed discussions between employee unions and a Cabinet sub-committee led by the Deputy Chief Minister.
Previously, employees had threatened to initiate protests to advocate for their 57 demands.
The Cabinet also resolved to establish a trust for the government health insurance initiative, with the Chief Secretary as its leader and employee union members included.
Under this scheme, each employee is set to contribute Rs 500 monthly, matched by an equal contribution from the state.
Earlier this month, the Telangana Employees' Joint Action Committee (JAC) urged the government to fulfill all outstanding commitments to employees.
The JAC has called for the immediate rollout of the health scheme and the issuance of employee health cards.