The cabinet meeting held in Andhra Pradesh on Wednesday seemed to be specifically focused on addressing the concerns of government employees.
The decisions made during the cabinet meeting predominantly revolved around matters concerning government employees, including contract employees and the filling of vacant positions across various departments.
One of the significant decisions was the withdrawal of the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS), a demand that has been persistently voiced by the employees for several years. The ruling YSR Congress had, in fact, promised to abolish the CPS and introduce a better alternative.
In line with this commitment, the cabinet had previously approved the proposal to withdraw the CPS during the final year of its term. Instead, the Guaranteed Pension Scheme 2023 was introduced, which ensures the growth of the Dearness Allowance (DA) to provide at least 50 percent of the wage as pension after retirement.
This announcement is undoubtedly excellent news for government employees and showcases a political masterstroke by the Jagan Mohan Reddy government.
Additionally, other proposals discussed included the regularization of 10,000 contract employees who have completed five years of service prior to June 2, 2014, the day when the state was divided.
It remains to be seen whether these decisions will sway the opinions of employees towards the Jagan Mohan Reddy government and contribute to the ruling party's ability to retain power.