Telangana govt cracks down on salary delays, warns officials of action

Amid growing protests over delayed salaries and honorariums, the Telangana government has directed all departments to ensure timely payments from the first day of every month and warned officials of action for lapses in salary disbursement.

Hyderabad: Weeks after widespread protests over salary delays affecting Anganwadi workers, panchayat staff, outsourcing employees and other lower-rung personnel, the Telangana government has issued fresh instructions directing all departments to ensure timely disbursement of salaries and honorariums.

The instructions came in response to a report “Salary crisis exposes Congress’ first-day promise” published in this newspaper on Tuesday.

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In a circular memo issued by Principal Secretary for Finance Sandeep Kumar Sultania on June 9, the government reiterated that salaries for all categories of employees including regular, contract, outsourcing and honorarium-based staff, must be paid on the first day of every month.

The memo acknowledged that in several cases salaries were being released late due to delayed submission of bills, procedural lapses, scrutiny delays and failure to adhere to prescribed timelines. The government admitted that such delays were causing hardship to employees.

The officials asserted that Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy had reviewed the issue and directed officials to take corrective measures. The circular warned that responsibility would be fixed and action initiated against officers who fail to ensure the timely payment of salaries and remuneration.

The move assumed significance in the backdrop of growing complaints from several sections of employees over delayed payments. Anganwadi workers have alleged non-payment of salaries for months, while newly elected sarpanches are awaiting honorarium dues. Housekeeping staff, employment guarantee personnel and other contractual workers have also raised concerns over delayed payments.

The Finance Department’s latest directive is being viewed as an acknowledgement of the mounting problem and an attempt to enforce accountability across departments. However, the effectiveness of the order can be decided only after examining whether pending salaries and honorariums are released promptly in the coming weeks.