<p>In a drastic move – a huge fallout of the COVID-19 outbreak and lockdown, Telangana chief minister K Chandrasekhar Rao has announced a deep cut in all salaries, pensions paid by the state government.</p>.<p>The decision comes on a day when the state recorded its second COVID-19 death and the total positive cases standing at 77. 13 patients undergoing treatment were discharged on Monday.</p>.<p>According to a statement from the Chief Minister’s Office on Monday night, there will be a 75 percent cut in the salaries of the CM, all the ministers, legislators, chairpersons of state corporations and local body representatives.</p>.<p>While the All India Services officers like the IAS, IPS get to take 60 percent less salary, all other gazetted and non-gazetted employees including those working in the PSUs would get only half of their salaries.</p>.<p>Pensions are also cut by half. The reduction in the case of Grade-IV, contract outsourcing workers’ salaries – the lower rung in the state employee’s formation – is 10 percent.</p>.<p><a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/national/coronavirus-india-news-live-updates-statewise-total-number-of-cases-deaths-statistics-lockdown-latest-news-817763.html#1"><strong>For latest updates on coronavirus outbreak, click here</strong></a></p>.<p>The CMO statement does not clarify on the period of the wage cut.</p>.<p>While announcing several measures to mitigate the COVID-19 caused crisis including rice and monetary support for migrant workers, Rao had on Sunday indicated that the state might find difficulty in paying salaries.</p>.<p>“The Coronavirus is adversely impacting the Telangana state’s economic situation. In this background, the state government had to act with caution and foresight,” the CMO statement said.</p>.<p>Earlier this month, Rao’s government had presented a budget of Rs 1.83 lakh crore expenditure for 2020-21. However, all the major heads of revenue like sales tax, excise and stamps-registration are taking a hit because of the continuing lockdown. Telangana’s annual excise revenue alone is an estimated Rs 16,000 crore – presently nil because of the closure of the wine shops in the state. </p>.<p>The decision on slashing payment of various salaries was taken after a high-level review meeting held on Monday at Pragathi Bhavan, the Chief Minister’s office-residence, on the financial situation of the State.</p>
<p>In a drastic move – a huge fallout of the COVID-19 outbreak and lockdown, Telangana chief minister K Chandrasekhar Rao has announced a deep cut in all salaries, pensions paid by the state government.</p>.<p>The decision comes on a day when the state recorded its second COVID-19 death and the total positive cases standing at 77. 13 patients undergoing treatment were discharged on Monday.</p>.<p>According to a statement from the Chief Minister’s Office on Monday night, there will be a 75 percent cut in the salaries of the CM, all the ministers, legislators, chairpersons of state corporations and local body representatives.</p>.<p>While the All India Services officers like the IAS, IPS get to take 60 percent less salary, all other gazetted and non-gazetted employees including those working in the PSUs would get only half of their salaries.</p>.<p>Pensions are also cut by half. The reduction in the case of Grade-IV, contract outsourcing workers’ salaries – the lower rung in the state employee’s formation – is 10 percent.</p>.<p><a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/national/coronavirus-india-news-live-updates-statewise-total-number-of-cases-deaths-statistics-lockdown-latest-news-817763.html#1"><strong>For latest updates on coronavirus outbreak, click here</strong></a></p>.<p>The CMO statement does not clarify on the period of the wage cut.</p>.<p>While announcing several measures to mitigate the COVID-19 caused crisis including rice and monetary support for migrant workers, Rao had on Sunday indicated that the state might find difficulty in paying salaries.</p>.<p>“The Coronavirus is adversely impacting the Telangana state’s economic situation. In this background, the state government had to act with caution and foresight,” the CMO statement said.</p>.<p>Earlier this month, Rao’s government had presented a budget of Rs 1.83 lakh crore expenditure for 2020-21. However, all the major heads of revenue like sales tax, excise and stamps-registration are taking a hit because of the continuing lockdown. Telangana’s annual excise revenue alone is an estimated Rs 16,000 crore – presently nil because of the closure of the wine shops in the state. </p>.<p>The decision on slashing payment of various salaries was taken after a high-level review meeting held on Monday at Pragathi Bhavan, the Chief Minister’s office-residence, on the financial situation of the State.</p>
