Hyderabad, November 23: Even as revenue minister Dharmana Prasada Rao appealed to non-gazetted officers to call off their Chalo Hyderabad programme on November 23, the NGOs on Sunday refused to withdraw their proposed stir.
The Joint Action Committee of employees gave the call for Chalo Hyderabad demanding regularisation of contract workers and abolition of outsourcing system.
It also demanded filling up of around 3.5 lakh vacant posts in various government departments.
Speaking to reporters here on Sunday, Prasada Rao said the state government was sympathetic towards NGOs.
Government employees were considered as bandicoots and thieves before 2004. Now, the NGOs are being given fair treatment by the Congress government.
“They are being considered as part of the government,” the minister said.
Listing out the welfare measures taken by the government, he said it gave 39 per cent fitment to employees against the PRC recommendation of 27 per cent. The fitment never crossed 25 per cent in the past.
He, however, categorically said the demands of NGOs could not be solved immediately.
Outsourcing and contract system are in vogue across the country. He denied the claim of NGOs that 3.5 lakh posts were lying vacant in various departments. There are hardly 60,000 vacant posts.
The filling up of the vacancies is pending due to administrative and legal impediments.
The state government is already spending Rs 5,140 crore on employees, he said, evading a direct reply to the question on increasing the house rent allowance (HRA).
Meanwhile, JAC chairman V Gopal Reddy told Express that the Chalo Hyderabad programme would be organised on November 23 as proposed.
“We have been agitating since September 25. Cannot the minister understand our just demands?’’ he questioned.
On outsourcing and contract system, Gopal Reddy said if it was in vogue across the country, the government should consider regularisation of contract employees in a phased manner. “Why don’t they outsource the Assembly and Parliament?’’ he questioned.
–Agencies