Telangana CM announces salary hike for VOAs

Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrashekhar Rao has decided to hike the salaries of the Village Organization Assistants (VOAs) in the State.

There are 18,405 VOAs working in the state with salaries ranging from Rs 500 to Rs 1500 per month. They are paid salaries based on the respective Village organizations, strength of members and the financial situation.

The VOAs have been upset for long that there is no match between the kind of work they are doing and the salaries that are paid to them. They wanted the government to pay some salary along with the amount paid by the village organizations.

In the united AP State, VOAs have represented their case to the government in number of occasions but nobody responded.

Against this backdrop, the Chief Minister held a special meeting with the VOAs in Pragathi Bhavan on Wednesday. He gave a patient hearing to their problems and assured that each and every VOA in the State would get a salary of Rs 5000 per month.

The Village Committees will pay Rs 2000 and the government will pay Rs 3000.

He said that the government would give its share through SERP. The Supervisors should ensure that the Village Organizations would pay Rs 2000 as their share to the VOA.

"The government is taking all measures to strengthen the rural economy. As part of this women in the Self Help DWCRA groups should also be strengthened financially. Women groups in the State are doing an excellent work. They have earned a good name. Besides saving money they should also start cottage industries. The DWCRA women should process the produce from the village to suit to the market demands. Prepare consumer products which are in demand such as Chilli and Turmeric powder, Papads, Khara Mixture etc., Only this quality products the consumers will get unadulterated products. We will give the necessary training to the DWCRA women and extend all help. Study how women groups are working in other states and countries like Bangladesh. We will prepare a comprehensive plan and implement it", the Chief Minister said.

Ministers T. Harish Rao and Jupally Krishna Rao, Government's Chief Advisor Rajiv Sharma, SERF CEO Neetu Prasad, CMO Principal Secretary S. Narsing Rao and other senior officials were also present in the meeting.