Delayed Salary Worries AP Govt Employees

Government jobs were the most sought after by the youth for the security and timely payment of salaries and other benefits in the past. Now, the scene has changed, especially in Andhra Pradesh. Forget about the extra benefits, there is no certainty about the timely payment of salaries.

The government employees associations in the state have switched to the agitation mode again. In December, distribution of salaries to the employees was completed in a full-fledged manner till 22nd of that month. In January, salaries continued to be credited to the employees’ accounts till half of the month and in Feburary, the process went on till the 12th.

In March, the salaries have not been credited completely yet and there is no assurance about April as the government had already issued directions that no bills, including those relating to the salaries, should be submitted as the financial year would come to a closure.

The YCP government is trying to implement its ‘diversion scheme’ as the employees, who are on a warpath, have been asking for pending PRC and DA arrears, other monetary benefits and also the accounts regarding money saved by them. The employees have 95 demands on their charter and they suspect that the state government is trying to dilute their protest by confining them to just the salary issue, by repeatedly delaying their monthly payment. The employees would forget other demands and focus on just regular payment of salaries, if salaries and pensions are continuously delayed.

Don’t submit salary bills

Meanwhile, the Treasury accounts director N Mohan Rao reportedly issued a memo asking the not to submit the bills of March salary as it would lead to confusion about the financial year because the salary would be credited on April 1 and the financial year would be mentioned as 2023. If the bills are submitted before, then they would contain 2022 date as the financial year, leading to unnecessary confusion.

This made the employees wonder why such a confusing situation had occurred only this year. Every year, in March, the employees submit their bills regarding the salaries between 21 and 30 and the payment is credited in April of the next financial year. For this, the government machinery makes necessary arrangements and to make it seamless, some money is left in the treasury to foot the salary bills. The employees suspect that their salaries would be paid only if the government gets the fresh loans asked by them.

The memo is a clear indication that the salaries and pensions are being paid from loans drawn by the state government. The employees are also asking as to why they should wait for their payment. The treasury gets regular revenue from taxes, grants given by the Centre which can be sufficient to pay their salaries and pensions. In March every year, the government gets extra income too.

More trouble

At the same time, the employees are doubtful that the state government would keep delaying their salaries for the next 2-3 months as the Centre would not issue permission for taking loans immediately after the start of the new financial year. Last year, the permission to take loans was given to Andhra Pradesh in the second week of May.

For the last two years, the YCP had been using a secret account to clear some bills which had been rejected by the RBI. The same was highlighted in the CAG report. The bills are being paid after diverting the money to the secret account, if the RBI refuses to give permission for the bills.

Hence, the YCP government is using the tax and grants for paying the bills to the CM’s coterie and waiting for fresh loans to pay the salaries and pensions. The government issued orders not to submit the bills as it can avoid showing them in the balance sheet at the end of the financial year. If bills are generated, the government will have to bear the pressure of paying it. Hence, to avoid all inconveniences due to the bills, the employees were directed not to submit the bills.