GPS Ordinance soon, DA arrears to be disbursed on Dusshera: Jagan

VIJAYAWADA: Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Jagan Mohan Reddy has announced that an Ordinance will soon be promulgated to implement the Guaranteed Pension Scheme (GPS) for Government employees.

Jagan made the announcement while speaking at the 21st APNGOs Association State Council meeting at Indira Gandhi Municipal Corporation Stadium here on Monday.

"We are sincerely moving forward to resolve the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS) issue which has been plaguing the State for many years. After studying the scheme for a year-and-a-half, we will now be introducing GPS in favour of employees. The scheme will be a role model for other states in the country," Jagan said.

"The GPS will be introduced in the form of an Ordinance so that the Government will not face issues in payment of pensions. In the coming days, the country will start copying and implementing our pension scheme. The scheme has been brought about with the intention of doing good for retired employees and to reduce burden on the State Government.

"Right from Independence upto 2019, the State had recruited about 4.5 lakh people to fill vacancies. From 2019, the State has recruited 2.30 lakh people for new jobs," he said.

Jagan added that the GPS would be doing good to the employees after their retirement and at the same time balancing the expenses of the Government without burdening it. He said that pending payments to the Government employees would be cleared soon.

"Two Dearness Allowances (DAs) are pending for employees of which one of them is for July 1, 2022. I promise that be disbursed to everyone on Dusshera," he said.

Training his guns at the opposition, the Chief Minister said, "After coming to power, we intergrated the Road Transport Corporation (RTC) employees into the Government service, which was least expected of the TDP. While Chandrababu Naidu increased the salaries of employees only six months prior to elections, YSRCP has been paying the increased salaries to the employees right from the first day of coming to power."

"The cost to exchequer towards salary of Govenment employees was previously Rs 1,100 crore. But today, it has risen to Rs 3,300 crore. But we will bear that burden with a smile for the sake of employees.

Describing the employees as a bridge between the Government and the people, Jagan said that their conditions had improved since the last Government.

"The reason for the success of my Government is due to creation of Government jobs through village and ward secretariats, which is showcasing the true nature of Grama Swaraj to the country," he added.