Retired employees suffering without service benefits: BRS leaders

BRS leaders alleged that retired government employees in Telangana are suffering due to delays in receiving service benefits. They demanded clearance of Rs 4,000 crore dues, criticised PF fund diversion, and called for abolition of the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS).

Hyderabad: BRS leaders on Wednesday accused the Congress government of failing to fulfil its promises to government employees, particularly retirees, who they said were suffering due to undue delays in the release of service-related benefits. They demanded immediate clearance of Rs.4,000 crore in dues owed to nearly 10,000 retired employees.

Referring to the recent death of retired principal Somi Reddy at the district education officer’s office, former Minister V Srinivas Goud said at least one retired employee is dying every alternate day due to financial stress caused by non-payment of dues. He alleged that such deaths due to heart attacks should be treated as “government murders”.

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“As most of them are battling age-related ailments, the added financial distress is pushing them over the edge,” he said.

He also alleged that the government had diverted Rs.1,300 crore meant to be deposited into the provident fund accounts of 2.5 lakh employees, which he termed a violation of norms. “Using employees’ funds for other purposes is illegal. When private companies do this, criminal cases are booked. The same action should be initiated against the government,” he demanded.

Echoing similar concerns, BRS leader G Devi Prasad said there was widespread confusion regarding employee funds amounting to Rs 24,000 crore, with no clarity on the status of the accounts. He alleged that despite monthly deductions from salaries under the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS), the corresponding amounts were not being deposited into CPS accounts.

He demanded complete disclosure of the pension fund deposits and called for the abolition of the CPS. He urged both the State and Central governments to reintroduce the old pension scheme in its place.