Amid lockdown, Telangana govt announces up to 75% salary cuts for its employees

In wake of a financial crisis due to the coronavirus pandemic, the Telangana government on Monday announced a massive pay cut for all its employees ranging from 10% to as high as 75%.

The decision was taken at a high-level meeting convened by chief minister K Chandrashekar Rao at his camp office Pragati Bhavan to assess the state’s financial position.

"The Corona virus is adversely impacting the Telangana State’s economic situation. In this background, the state government had to act with caution and foresight. A high-level review meeting held on Monday at Pragathi Bhavan on the financial situation of the State. After reviewing the financial condition of the state, decisions are taken on payment of various salaries," said an official statement from the state government.

There will be 75 per cent cut on the salaries of the CM, State cabinet, MLCs, MLAs, State Corporation Chairpersons, Local Bodies representatives, while 60 per cent of the salary will be dedudcted of IAS, IPS IFS and other such Central services Officer. For all other category of employees, there will be 50 per cent salary cut, the statement said.

For all category of pensioners, there will be 50 per cent cut.

The salary cut the Class IV, outsourcing and contract employees will be 10 per cent cut. There will also be a 10 per cent cut for the Class IV retired employees.

Similar salary cuts would be imposed on employees working in Public Sector Undertakings, Institutions that are receiving the government grants employees, like the government employees and retirees, the statement added.

So far, there have been 73 confirmed cases of coronavirus in the state.