BRS Backs Telangana Government Staff Protests Over CPS, Health Scheme Issues

HYDERABAD — The Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) has extended its support to Telangana government employees who have planned statewide protests on August 27 and a proposed mahadharna in Hyderabad on September 10.

Speaking at a press conference on Saturday, former Minister V Srinivas Goud stated that the party would stand by the employees in their struggle against the Congress-led state government, accusing the administration of neglecting key employee demands.

Goud said lakhs of employees had trusted the Congress party's electoral promises and contributed to its victory, only to face betrayal after the government assumed office. He warned that any harassment or trouble directed at government employees would not be tolerated.

Highlighting issues with the Employees Health Scheme (EHS), Goud alleged that contributions had been deducted from employee salaries for the past three months, yet beneficiaries were being turned away from hospitals because the scheme was not operational. He stated that the government must bear responsibility if any retired employee suffered or died due to a lack of healthcare access.

The former minister also raised concerns regarding delayed Pay Revision Commission (PRC) revisions and pending Dearness Allowance (DA) payments under the current administration. Additionally, he alleged that 4.9 lakh outsourcing staff members had been misled despite promises to set up a dedicated corporation for them.

Goud further alleged irregularities in recruitment, claiming that posts in the Irrigation Department were being sold for Rs 3 lakh.

Addressing the pension issue, Goud noted that the Congress had promised in its election manifesto to abolish the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS). He stated that despite nearing three years in power, the administration had failed to scrap the scheme, adding that the BRS would continue to advocate for employees until the CPS is abolished.