TGEJAC seeks slab-based EHS contribution model in Telangana

The Telangana Employees, Teachers and Pensioners Joint Action Committee urged the State government to replace the proposed 1.5 per cent EHS premium deduction with a CGHS-style slab-based model. The Chief Secretary said employee suggestions would be considered while finalising the Trust framework

Hyderabad: The Telangana Employees, Teachers and Pensioners Joint Action Committee (TGEJAC) urged the State government to review the proposed 1.5 per cent basic pay deduction for the Employees Health Scheme (EHS) premium and sought a slab-based contribution model on the lines of the CGHS.

At a meeting with Chief Secretary K Ramakrishna Rao held here on Monday, TGEJAC chairman Lachi Reddy and secretary general Vodnala Rajashekar said that under such a system, a younger employee with six eligible family members may contribute a lower amount and obtain health cards for all six members.

---

In contrast, a senior employee nearing retirement, whose dependent children have crossed the eligibility age and whose parents may no longer be alive, is left with coverage only for self and spouse but is required to pay a substantially higher contribution due to increased basic pay, they said.

Instead of a uniform percentage-based deduction, the TGEJAC urged the government to implement a slab-based contribution model on the lines of the CGHS.

For non-gazetted employees, the TGEJAC sought a fixed monthly contribution under a slab, with semi-private ward entitlement, in Tier-I and higher monthly contributions as per the prescribed slab, with private ward entitlement, for gazetted employees in Tier-II.

The TGEJAC urged the government to extend the provision of upgrading the slab for employees, irrespective of their cadre, who wish to enhance their premium under Tier-III.

The employee contribution and the government’s matching contribution should be credited directly to the Employee Health Care Trust account without routing them through intermediary budget heads, they said.

Meanwhile, the Chief Secretary announced that the EHS would be implemented through a dedicated Employee Health Care Trust, which would be constituted within the next couple of days.

At a meeting with members of the Joint Staff Council and representatives of various employees’ associations, the Chief Secretary clarified that a separate bank account would be opened exclusively for the Trust and that it would be operated with equal financial contributions from both the government and employees.

He said suggestions received from employees’ organisations would be examined and incorporated while finalising the operational framework of the Trust.