The Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy government in Andhra Pradesh and K Chandrasekhar Rao government in Telangana are said to be under tremendous pressure to withdraw their respective government orders imposing a cut in the salaries of their employees.
Sources said the employees’ unions in both the states brought to the notice of the respective governments that the salary cuts would adversely affect the morale of the employees, who had been working relentlessly for controlling the spread of Coronavirus.
Though both the state governments claimed that it was not exactly a cut in the salaries but was only deferment in view of the bad financial situation, the employees’ associations argued that most of the employees were from middle class and they would have several financial commitments to pay house rents, electricity bills, water bills and payments to servant maids.
Secondly, they also argued that the prices of essential commodities had shot up steeply in the last few days after the lockdown was imposed and the people were not in a position to afford to purchase several commodities, including vegetables, groceries etc.
Some of the employees’ leaders also warned that they might have to move the courts against deferment of salary payments.
Financial experts also pointed out that the cut in salaries would affect the purchasing power of the people and it would have a negative impact on the economy.
They also pointed out that the salary cut would hit the morale of the employees at a time when everybody is fighting Coronavirus.
Apparently, the senior officials told the chief ministers in both the states that it would be better to revoke the GOs, before it causes unrest in the society.