Chandrababu Govt dismantling Secretariat system: YSRCP's Jakkampudi Raja
Jakkampudi Raja accuses the AP government of dismantling the Village and Ward Secretariat system and targeting employees with excessive workloads.
The YSRCP has launched a scathing attack on the current coalition government in Andhra Pradesh, accusing it of systematically destroying the Village and Ward Secretariat system. Jakkampudi Raja, the YSRCP Youth Wing State President and former MLA, alleged that the administration is intentionally weakening a system that had gained national recognition under the previous leadership.
Broken Election Promises and Targeted Employees
According to Raja, the current government’s actions contradict the promises made during the election campaign. He claimed that Chandrababu Naidu had assured volunteers an honorarium of Rs 10,000 to secure their support, only to dismantle the volunteer system once in power. Now, Raja asserts, the focus of this hostility has shifted toward Secretariat employees.
The former MLA suggested that the government’s resentment stems from the system's strong association with YS Jagan Mohan Reddy. He noted that while the government may attempt to change names and labels, the public continues to associate key welfare schemes like Aarogyasri with the YSRCP era. He further alleged that even physical infrastructure, such as Secretariat buildings and plaques bearing names from the YSRCP administration, has become a target of political hostility.
Excessive Workload and Health Concerns
A major point of contention raised by Raja is the implementation of GO No.11, which he claims has imposed an unbearable workload on employees. He highlighted several grievances regarding the working conditions:
- Employees are reportedly forced to work even on holidays.
- Late-night video conferences, sometimes lasting until midnight, have become common.
- The extreme pressure is being linked to serious health issues, including heart attacks and brain strokes among staff.
Raja pointed to the tragic death of CI Ahmed Ali as a consequence of prolonged duty and excessive work pressure. He also condemned the treatment of women employees during peaceful protests, alleging that police used heavy-handed tactics, including dragging them by their hair, to force them into vehicles.
Comparison of Regularisation and Governance
The YSRCP leader drew a sharp contrast between the employment policies of the two administrations. He noted that the YS Jagan Mohan Reddy government regularised approximately 1.15 lakh employees, even amidst the challenges of the Covid-19 pandemic, and established a basic pay of Rs 22,460 under the 2022 PRC. In contrast, Raja claimed the current coalition government has only regularised between 4,000 and 5,000 employees.
He criticized the state's current direction, suggesting that the government is operating under a "Red Book Constitution" rather than the Constitution envisioned by Ambedkar. He also accused the administration of using public funds to support pro-government social media influencers while simultaneously filing cases against critics on digital platforms.
Demands for Employee Relief
To address the growing unrest among the Secretariat staff, Jakkampudi Raja has put forward several key demands:
- Granting of two notional increments.
- Establishment of a clear and transparent promotion channel.
- Significant reduction in the daily workload.
- Relief from additional responsibilities, such as BLO duties and pension distribution.
Concluding his statement, Raja called for a CBI investigation into DSC irregularities and warned that the public's dissatisfaction with the current governance would be clearly reflected in the upcoming local-body elections.