Hyderabad: The Andhra Pradesh Assembly on Monday passed the amendment to the AP Public Employment Act raising the retirement age of its employees from the current 58 to 60 years.
The enhancement of the retirement age for state government empl-oyees was one of the poll promises of the Telugu Desam. The Bill was passed unanimously in the Assembly without discussion or amendment.
Speaking after tabling the Bill, Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu said the move was necessitated by the increase in life expectancy. He said, “As per WHO, the average Indian life expectancy is now 65 years. Our government believes it is important we use their services and expertise. We will also ensure health insurance for employees and a house for every employee by the time he retires,” Mr Naidu said.
He also added that the proposal to regularise contract employees of the government is under consideration.
The Chief Minister announced that the period preceding the bifurcation of the state, when employees had participated in the agitations, will be treated as holidays. He said about 200 days of holidays would be granted.
Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu also announced that his government would grant an allowance of Rs 2,000 to every unemployed youth without specifying from when the scheme would be implemented.
“We created unprecedented number of jobs when we were in power the last time. We shall do it again,” he said.
YSRC leader Jyothula Nehru asked the Chief Minister to specify from when the scheme would be implemented, but couldn’t evince a reply.
In his motion of thanks to the Governor’s address, YSRC chief Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy said the Telugu Desam had publicised that Mr Naidu would create new jobs, but existing jobs are being trimmed.
He gave numbers of termination notices to employees in various departments. “You had said ‘if you want jobs, bring Babu back.’ But Babu has come and existing jobs are being reduced. About 24,000 model farmers,
9,000 NREGS field assistants, 3,600 employees of housing department amongst many others have received termination notices,” pointed out Mr Jagan.
