Date:01/12/2005 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2005/12/01/stories/2005120110890500.htm

Andhra Pradesh - Anantapur

NGOs unhappy with PRC recommendations

Staff Reporter

State association to submit objections to Rangachari Committee

Anomalies alleged in master scales
Limit of Rs 3,000 on HRA opposed

Additional increments sought

ANANTAPUR: The AP NGOs' Association will soon submit its objections against the eighth PRC recommendations to the Rangachari Committee appointed by the State Government to look into the alleged anomalies.

Addressing a press conference here on Wednesday, association president B.V. Subba Rao and general secretary V. Gopal Reddy stated that there were several anomalies in the master scales proposed by the PRC. The master scales had to be condensed to 71 stages instead of the 86 proposed by the pay committee.

Increment rates

They also favoured revision in the increment rates. They urged the Government to give technicians' scales to drivers, attenders be treated as office assistants and given uniform allowance.

Further, they opposed the limit of Rs. 3,000 imposed on house rent allowance and demanded a hike in city compensatory allowance to 50 per cent. They also sought additional increments for additional qualifications to lift stagnation imposed on increments as it was denying the employees their due.

Profession tax arrears

Opposing the Government decision to collect arrears of profession tax due from 1997, the NGO leaders preferred deduction of tax arrears only from the date of implementation of monetary benefits recommended by the PRC. They would also oppose any move to merge PRC arrears in provident fund, though the Government had put the issue on hold at present.

They alleged that the Minister for Agriculture and Civil Supplies N. Raguveera Reddy was conspiring to hand over a public health centre (PHC) to an NGO headed by a seer at Gudibanda in his constituency. The NGO's association would oppose any such move, they said.