TS Assembly enhances pensions for former legislators, retirement age for govt employees

Accordingly, the minimum pension of former legislators has been increased from Rs 30,000 to Rs 50,000 with an upper ceiling of Rs 75,000.

Hyderabad: The State Legislative Assembly on Thursday approved the Telangana Public Employment (Regulation of Age of Superannuation (Amendment) Bill enhancing the retirement age for the government employees and teachers from 58 years to 61 years. Finance Minister T Harish Rao who introduced the bill, said the increase in retirement age will not have any impact on filling around 50,000 jobs in various departments.

Speaking on the occasion, Harish Rao said the retirement age for government employees in the State was 58 years. However, the superannuation age differed for some categories including 60 years for Class 4 employees, 65 years for teaching staff in government medical colleges and 60 years for the judicial staff. He pointed out that the retirement age varied between 60 to 62 years for some other States in the country.

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“After considering all these aspects, Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao gave the promise to enhance the superannuation age limit for the government employees in the State. Accordingly, the age is being increased to utilise the vast experience and services of senior most government employees,” the Minister said. He assured that the increase in the retirement age for the existing employees would not have any impact on filling the vacancies. The employees were being given promotions and vacancies arising out of these promotions will be filled soon, he asserted. He said the notifications for the proposed 50,000 job will be issued soon.

Meanwhile, the Assembly also cleared the Telangana Payment of Salaries and Pension and Removal of Disqualifications (Amendment) Bill introduced by Finance Minister T Harish Rao, enhancing the pensions of the former legislators. Accordingly, the minimum pension of former legislators has been increased from Rs 30,000 to Rs 50,000 with an upper ceiling of Rs 75,000.

The Minister also announced a decision taken by the State government to increase the expenditure towards treatment of legislators, former legislators and their spouses for their ailments. He said several former MLAs and MLCs were struggling to pay the hospital bills whenever they undergo treatment. Though there is a provision for sanction more funds than the current limit, he stated that the process of approvals has become a major hindrance for the former legislators during emergency conditions.

MIM welcomes pension hike for ex legislators

The Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen has welcomed the State government’s decision to enhance the pension of former legislators. Speaking in the Legislative Assembly here on Thursday, MIM MLA Miraj Hussain said the Telangana government has set an example to others by enhancing pensions to former MLAs. He also complimented the government for revising the retirement age of government employees and teachers from 58 to 61 years.

TRS MLA from Khanapur, A Rekha Naik, speaking in Lambadi language in the House, thanked Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao for upgrading thandas into gram panchayats. She said the thanda, gudem and Adivasi community people consider Chandrashekhar Rao as their Mahatma Gandhi and Sevalal. Interestingly, Speaker P Srinivas Reddy too responded to her in Lambadi.

Congress MLA K Rajagopal Reddy demanded the government to extend financial assistance to gram panchayats. He wanted the government not to exert any pressure on the panchayats for the completion of different works. “With skeletal staff and meagre finances, it is tough for gram panchayats to achieve targets set by the State government,” Rajagopal Reddy said.

BJP MLA M Raghunandan Rao wanted the Labour Department to inspect the various factories located in Chegunta and neighbouring areas and file cases against managements for violation of different labour laws. “There are nearly 60 units in Chegunta and not one unit has a name board. This apart, they hire workers from other States and do not pay them a pension, ESI or other benefits,” he said.

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