APSRTC to implement highest pension for employees: Minster Pinipe Vishwarup

AMARAVATHI: Andhra Pradesh State Transport Minister Pinipe Vishwarup has announced that the AP State Road Transport Corporation (RTC) will implement the highest pension system in the country, benefiting RTC workers. Speaking at the YSRCP central office on Thursday, the minister stated that only the RTC workers in the state, under the leadership of CM Jaganmohan Reddy, were able to secure the opportunity for the highest pension through the PF fund trust.

Stating that over 50,000 RTC workers had been merged with the government, and approximately 10,200 retired employees who left service after 2014 would now receive the benefits of the highest pension scheme, the minister expressed gratitude to YS Jagan Mohan Reddy on behalf of the RTC workers and employees, who would now receive pensions ranging from Rs. 15,000 to Rs. 40,000, compared to the previous amount of Rs. 3,000 to Rs. 4,000. He said that the latest decision brought happiness to the RTC workers and their families.

The minister said that the government had already disbursed over Rs. 10,570 crores in salaries to RTC workers. "Despite hardships such as the Covid pandemic and debts, the RTC has managed to survive with debts getting cleared and providing numerous benefits to its employees and workers under the leadership of YS Jagan Mohan Reddy," Pinipe Vishwarup said.

Further speaking, the minister said that RTC had made significant progress in the past four years, including increasing the retirement age from 58 to 60 years and implementing the Pay Revision Commission (PRC) for its employees besides implementing compassionate appointments for 858 individuals in various categories from January 2016 to December 2019. These employees had also been provided with the Employee Health Scheme (EHS) card, similar to government employees, and provided with the accidental insurance policy of Rs. 40 lakh and Rs. 5 lakh natural death insurance policy for 390 families.

On this occasion, the minister condemned the news published in certain newspapers alleging corruption and asserted that immediate action was taken whenever any corrupt practices are identified. He said unaccounted cash amounting to Rs. 24,000 was discovered, and Rs. 1.97 lakhs, which was meant to be deposited in the treasury, was falsely recorded as corrupt money and denied the allegations.

Vishwarup said that the bus drivers above age 55 would be provided with alternative jobs based on their health issues. He said that they would take the matter to Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy. Pinipe Vishwarup said that APSRTC was procuring 1,500 new diesel buses and 1,000 electric buses.

Responding to the allegations levelled at the volunteer system, Pinipe Vishwarup condemned them and said that volunteers were the bridge between the government and people who were taking the government schemes to the public by doing the service.