HYDERABAD: A concerning report from Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) leader and former president of the Telangana NGOs’ Association, G. Deviprasad Rao, highlights a critical issue impacting thousands of retired state government employees. Rao has revealed that the Telangana government currently owes a staggering ₹15,000 crore to its pensioners and active employees. These substantial dues encompass vital retirement benefits, pension payments, and dearness and other allowances, with some payments reportedly pending for up to 22 months.
During a recent press conference held in Hyderabad, Rao shared grim anecdotes illustrating the human cost of these delays. He recounted instances where retired government employees, including dedicated teachers, have tragically succumbed to heart attacks, overwhelmed by financial strain. Many had painstakingly planned their daughters’ weddings or managed their monthly household expenses based on their anticipated pensionary benefits, only to find themselves in desperate circumstances.
Rao specifically cited the case of Kondaiah, a retired teacher who passed away from a heart attack, and Satyanarayana, another former employee who reportedly disappeared from his home, unable to cope with the burden of unmet financial commitments tied to his retirement funds. The situation has become so dire that some affected employees have resorted to legal action, filing petitions in court to compel the government to release their benefits. However, even court interventions have provided little relief, as the government, despite promising to disburse ₹700 crore monthly for this purpose, has allegedly failed to honor its commitments.
Rao emphasized that the Supreme Court has previously mandated that retirement benefits for employees should be settled within six months of their retirement, underscoring the severity of the Telangana government’s prolonged delays.