The coalition government led by Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu is facing sharp criticism from employees across Andhra Pradesh for failing to honour election promises made to government, contract, outsourcing, and welfare workers. Nearly 21 months after assuming power, employees allege that the government has neither implemented key commitments such as Pay Revision Commission (PRC), Guaranteed Pension Scheme (GPS), or Old Pension Scheme (OPS), nor cleared long-pending dues. Instead, they accuse the government of suppressing protests and ignoring their demands while public money is allegedly spent on luxuries.

Election promises turn into betrayal

During the election campaign, Chandrababu Naidu assured government employees that a better PRC would be implemented and that Interim Relief (IR) would be granted immediately after coming to power. However, employees say those assurances remain unfulfilled. The government has neither constituted a new PRC nor addressed wage revisions. Instead, the PRC chairman appointed during the previous YS Jagan government was removed without appointing a replacement.

Similarly, there has been no progress on implementing either the Guaranteed Pension Scheme (GPS) or the Old Pension Scheme (OPS), both of which were promised before the elections. Employees say they have been left in confusion about their pension future.

Rs 35,000 Cr pending dues

Employees claim the government owes them nearly Rs 35,000 crore in pending dues. These include PRC arrears, unpaid Dearness Allowances (DA), GPF and APGLI amounts, medical reimbursements, and surrender leave payments.

Despite these arrears, the government has not announced Interim Relief. Employees argue that withholding IR is a deliberate attempt to avoid salary increases that would follow PRC recommendations.

Salary delays despite ‘First-of-the-Month’ promise

Before elections, Chandrababu promised that salaries would be credited on the first day of every month. However, employees say this was followed only once. Since then, salaries have been irregular, with many employees unsure about the exact date of payment each month.

Outsourcing and Contract workers left out

Contract and outsourcing employees say the government has also failed to extend welfare schemes promised during the election campaign. Many schemes implemented under the previous government have been discontinued. Even among the limited schemes currently available, outsourcing workers earning more than Rs 10,000 have been declared ineligible, according to statements made by a minister in the Assembly.

One DA announcement amid heavy publicity

Employees point out that four Dearness Allowances, for January 2024, July 2024, December 2024, and July 2025, remain pending. Only one DA was announced after employees staged protests, and that too with significant publicity.

Even the announced DA has not been fully implemented. The government initially promised to release it during Dasara, later postponed it to November and then to Diwali. Eventually, it declared that the arrears would be paid only after retirement. Pensioners, numbering about 3.5 lakh, have been told their DR arrears will be paid only during 2027–28. Employees say such a decision has never been taken in the past.

Police Personnel await surrender leave payments

Police personnel are also awaiting payment for four pending surrender leaves. Each leave is estimated to cost about Rs 210 crore. The government reportedly promised to release Rs 105 crore, but even that has not been paid. Employees say the government announced payments but failed to follow through.

Employees angry over salary cut remarks

Employee unions have reacted strongly to statements suggesting that salaries may need to be reduced due to the state’s financial condition. They question why the government cites financial stress while leaders travel in expensive special helicopters purchased with public funds.

Secretariat employees burdened with additional work

Since the coalition government assumed power, the village secretariat system introduced earlier has reportedly been weakened. The volunteer system was abolished, shifting additional responsibilities onto secretariat staff.

Secretariats were renamed “Swarna Ward” and “Swarna Gram,” and classified into A, B, and C categories with staff limits that do not match ground realities. At the same time, employees have been burdened with extensive survey work, leading to severe workload pressures. Reports indicate that more than 100 secretariat employees have died suddenly since the coalition government came to power.

Volunteer system dismantled

Before the elections, Chandrababu promised to increase volunteer salaries from Rs 5,000 to Rs 10,000. However, after the election the government dismantled the volunteer system altogether, leaving about 2.66 lakh volunteers without jobs.

Welfare measures Under YS Jagan highlighted

Immediate Interim relief and PRC implementation

Supporters of the previous government highlight that YS Jagan implemented 27% Interim Relief (IR) in the very first cabinet meeting after assuming office in July 2019. Even during the COVID pandemic, which placed a burden of Rs 66,000 crore on the state finances, the government implemented 23% PRC. During five years of governance, employees received 11 Dearness Allowances, including those pending from the earlier government.

RTC merger and Large-scale regularisation

One of the major decisions was the merger of 53,000 RTC employees into the government service. The government also regularised 10,117 contract and outsourcing employees and initiated further regularisation under GO 114. Additionally, the government filled 1.36 lakh permanent posts through the village secretariat system in a single recruitment process.

Wage increases for Several categories

The previous government increased the salaries of multiple categories of workers:

• Sanitation workers’ wages increased from Rs 8,000 to Rs 16,000
• 40,000 ASHA workers received a salary increase to Rs 10,000
• Velugu animators’ wages increased from Rs 3,000 to Rs 10,000
• Wages of Home Guards and Anganwadi workers were also increased.

APCOS for outsourcing workers

To ensure job security for about 93,000 outsourcing employees, the government created the Andhra Pradesh Corporation for Outsourced Services (APCOS). It ensured regular salary payments on the first of every month and provided benefits such as PF and ESI. Critics say the coalition government weakened this system after coming to power.

Pension reforms and Employee benefits

The YS Jagan government introduced the Guaranteed Pension Scheme (GPS) to ensure at least 50% pension to employees under CPS. However, before the 2024 elections, the coalition promised to restore the Old Pension Scheme (OPS) but has not implemented it.

Women-friendly employee policies

The retirement age of government employees was increased from 60 to 62 years, and for university employees from 62 to 65 years. Childcare leave for women employees was increased from 60 days to 180 days, and additional casual leaves were granted to women working in regular, contract, and outsourcing positions.

Promotions and Reforms in Education

The previous government implemented major reforms benefiting teachers and education staff:

• About 25,000 teachers received promotions
• 10,224 language pandits were promoted as School Assistants
• 2,659 PETs were promoted as Physical Directors
• Nearly 8,000 SGT teachers became School Assistants
• 1792 teachers became PGTs under the High School Plus system.

The CBSE curriculum was introduced in phases to upgrade schools and improve opportunities for teachers, though the coalition government later cancelled the policy.

Resolving decades-old employment issues

Several long-pending issues were addressed:

• Candidates from the 1998 and 2008 DSC exams who had qualified but not received jobs were finally appointed.
• 673 new MEO posts were created to resolve administrative confusion.
• 405 survey posts were created to provide promotions.
• 53,000 vacancies were filled in the health department.

Anganwadi Workers protest against broken promises

Before elections, Chandrababu promised to increase Anganwadi salaries and implement gratuity payments as per Supreme Court orders. However, Anganwadi workers say these promises remain unfulfilled even after 21 months.

When they organised protests demanding implementation, the government allegedly suppressed them. During the “Chalo Vijayawada” protest, thousands of Anganwadi workers and helpers gathered, but police were deployed to disperse them forcibly.

Employee organisations across Andhra Pradesh say the gap between election promises and governance has widened significantly. With pending dues, unimplemented pension reforms, irregular salaries, and protests intensifying, the issue of employee welfare is emerging as a major political flashpoint in the state.