Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu has poured water on the expectations of the Vijayawada Municipal Corporation (VMC) employees on treasury salaries.
The AP NGOs Association felicitated the Chief minister here on Saturday and various employees submitted their pleas before him on the occasion. The mood at the function gave an indication that Mr. Naidu would shower promises on the VMC employees soon after the VMC Employees JAC and NGOs Association leaders underlined the need of payment of their salaries through treasury.
District Collector M. Raghunandan Rao, Municipal Commissioner C. Hari Kiran and senior officials lined up behind Mr. Naidu to apprise him of the status. Irrigation Minister Devineni Umamaheswara Rao was also seen explaining him.
Going by tone and tenor of the Chief Minister, everyone expected that he would announce government salaries to the Corporation employees.
But, at the end of his long speech, Mr. Naidu said: “I don’t want to make commitment if it has a financial implication.” No doubt the VMC employees were in distress. Same was the case with the contract employees. As the NGO leaders said that they (contract employees and Corporation employees) were finding it difficult to get married. “On humanitarian grounds, their situation can be understood. But, as you know the State has a deficit budget of Rs. 15,600 crore. The government would have to shoulder a burden of Rs. 15 crore to Rs. 20 crore per month if salaries of VMC and GVMC employees are to be paid through treasury. The government would, however, consider the request,” the CM added. But, for contract employees, he announced a cabinet sub-committee to look into their demand.
Later the CM took part in an Iftar party.
