‘New retirement age won’t hit recruitments’

‘New retirement age won’t hit recruitments’

Notification for filling 50,000 jobs in various departments will be issued soon, says Harish Rao

Finance Minister T Harish Rao in the Assembly on Thursday.

State Bureau

Hyderabad

The State Legislative Assembly on Thursday approved the Telangana Public Employment (Regulation of Age of Superannuation (Amendment) Bill enhancing the retirement age for government employees and teachers from 58 to 61 years.

Finance Minister T Harish Rao, who introduced the Bill, said the increase in retirement age will not have any impact on filling around 50,000 jobs in various departments. The Minister said the retirement age for government employees in the State was 58 years. However, the superannuation age differed for some categories including 60 years for Class 4 employees, 65 years for teaching staff in government medical colleges and 60 years for the judicial staff. He pointed out that the retirement age varied between 60 and 62 years for some in other States too.

“After considering all these aspects, Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao promised to enhance the superannuation age limit for government employees in the State. Accordingly, the retirement age has been enhanced to utilise the vast experience and services of senior government employees,” the Minister said. He assured that the increase in the retirement age for the existing employees would not have any impact on filling vacancies. The employees are being given promotions and vacancies arising out of these promotions will be filled soon, he asserted, adding that notifications for the proposed 50,000 jobs will be issued soon.

Pension for ex legislators

Meanwhile, the Assembly also cleared the Telangana Payment of Salaries and Pension and Removal of Disqualifications (Amendment) Bill introduced by Harish Rao, enhancing the pension of former legislators. Accordingly, the minimum pension of former legislators has been increased from Rs 30,000 to Rs 50,000 with an upper ceiling of Rs 75,000. The Fianance Minister also announced a decision taken by the State government to increase the expenditure towards the treatment of legislators, former legislators and their spouses for their ailments.

He said several former MLAs and MLCs were struggling to pay the hospital bills whenever they undergo treatment. Though there is a provision for sanction of more funds than the current limit, he stated that the process of approvals has become a major hindrance for the former legislators during emergency conditions.

Meanwhile, MIM has welcomed the State government’s decision to enhance the pension of former legislators. Speaking in the Legislative Assembly, MIM MLA Miraj Hussain said the Telangana government has set an example to others by enhancing pensions to former MLAs.