Andhra NGO Association urges Government to address employees' pending issues
VIJAYAWADA: The State Executive Committee of the Andhra Pradesh NGO Association has urged the government to promptly resolve pending issues concerning State government employees.
Addressing the media on Tuesday, Association State President KV Siva Reddy and General Secretary A Vidyasagar demanded the immediate appointment of a Pay Revision Commissioner and the release of at least one of the three pending Dearness Allowances (DA).
They appealed for measures to reduce workload pressure on employees and proposed increasing the retirement age from 60 to 62 years for those working in Residential Schools and public sector undertakings.
The leaders appreciated CM N Chandrababu Naidu and the Chief Secretary for releasing Rs 6,300 crore towards GPF, APGLI, Group Insurance, medical reimbursement, and CPC contributions.
Vidyasagar criticised the previous government, stating that dues amounting to Rs 30,000 crore were left unpaid and employees were denied the right to voice their concerns.
The association called for continued support.
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'In my initial days, I couldn't even read messages on my phone. I had to ask others for help,' she says. 'Now, I can read English too. I have had no formal training, but I have learned so much just by meeting different types of people through JEEViKA.' Rahul Kumar, a hospitality manager associated with the initiative, says most of the women come from poor backgrounds. 'But working at Didi Ki Rasoi — sharing space with officers, professionals, ministers — it changes their worldview. They learn a lot and also ensure that their children get an education,' he says. Before joining Didi Ki Rasoi, the women undergo week-long residential training at the Institute of Hotel Management (IHM), Hajipur, where they learn basic hospitality, hygiene, customer service, and workplace conduct. For women like Sindhu Devi, Munni Devi, and Rabika Khatoon — all sole breadwinners of their families — Didi Ki Rasoi offers not just a means of survival, but also social security. Sindhu (30) got married in 2016, but just a year later, her husband, who was a farmer, passed away. Subsequently, she faced difficulties in the family, although her parents initially provided her support. In 2023, she then joined the Didi Ki Rasoi at Patel Bhawan. 'Since I started working at the police headquarters, I don't have much trouble. Apart from earning a livelihood, it gives me a sense of security that I am working among police officers,' she says. Rabika (30) also faced similar struggles. After her husband, a carpenter, died in 2016, she started working as a domestic help to support her three children, who are now in classes 6, 2 and 1. 'At the time (of the husband's death), my youngest son was just 18 months old… My in-laws used to taunt me. But ever since I started working with Didi Ki Rasoi, they show me respect,' she says. Initially shy, Rabika says she is now more confident. 'I used to be afraid to talk to people. Now, I manage the service counter confidently.' 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