The unemployed youth in Telangana are taking tests of KCR for his slogans of ‘water, funds and appointments’. On the waterfront, they have claimed that they have Kaleshwaram, Mission Kakatiya, Mission Bhagiratha and there was no compromise on the inter-state controversies. As far as funds are concerned, they said a huge amount of money is being spent on welfare schemes. The party is facing criticism over employment. Though the government states that it had taken up many appointments, the opposition parties are criticizing and alleging that the posts were only for the family of KCR and they were playing with the lives of unemployed. There will be an impact on the ensuing Graduates MLC elections.
The government announced that it would fill 50,000 vacancies. The government also announced that the employees would be given promotions and take up recruitment and also increase their retirement age. Clarity would come on the recruitment only after the new financial year.
There is a proposal to increase the retirement age to 62 but if this is done there may be legal problems. Hence there is a proposal for 60 years or ad hoc period transfer to the desired place.
If the retirement age is increased, it will be applicable for 9,36,976 employees. The employees who attain the age of 58 (joined in services after 1978… economic reforms) would be around 15,000 per year. There will be more teachers, said analysts. There is a talk among the unemployed that if this proposal gets a nod, 60,000 jobs would go away. In these circumstances, the increase in retirement age is a big test for KCR.
The lakhs of unemployed youth have joined coaching centres to study and are waiting for employment opportunities. Many are residing in towns like Hyderabad, Warangal, Karimnagar doing part-time jobs, studying and waiting for the notification. The unemployed are a worried lot as there is a talk of increasing the retirement age. They are of the opinion that the employees with 58 years of age would already do service of 30 years and get stability but the unemployed do not get such an opportunity. They want the government to benefit the people with 30 years of services in another manner. A committee is studying the proposal of increasing the retirement age and soon clarity would come on this. It has to be seen what impact the government’s decision has on the Graduates elections.