Vijayawada, Sunday: The Federation of Andhra Pradesh Teachers Organisations (FAPTO), observing the second day of its hunger strike at Dharna Chowk in Vijayawada on Sunday as part of its renewed phase of agitation, declared the protest a success even as its leadership warned the state government of an escalated movement if their 17-point charter of demands was not addressed without delay.
FAPTO State Chairman L. Sai Srinivas, who presided over the protest, and Secretary General S. Chiranjivi said the government's continued silence on their long-pending demands had left them with no option but to intensify their struggle.
Wage Revision at the Centre of Demands
Addressing those gathered at the dharna, Mr. Sai Srinivas demanded the immediate constitution of the 12th Pay Revision Commission and the announcement of a 30 per cent interim relief for government employees and teachers. He noted that 33 months had elapsed since the commencement of the 12th pay revision period, yet the government had not taken even the preliminary step of constituting a revision commission — a lapse he described as deeply unfortunate.
The union's 17-point charter also includes the implementation of unified service rules, compassionate appointments in local bodies, strengthening of high school plus institutions, release of pending Dearness Allowance instalments, and payment of surrender leave arrears, among other demands.
DA Arrears and Service Rules
Mr. Chiranjivi criticised the state government for keeping on hold four instalments of Dearness Allowance that should have been released immediately upon the Central government's announcement. He said the non-release of pending DA reflected the government's indifference to the welfare of its employees and teachers.
On the question of Panchayati Raj employees, he identified two principal grievances — the non-implementation of unified service rules and the denial of compassionate appointments. He pointed out that although Presidential Orders were issued in 2017 and GOs 72, 73, and 74 were subsequently released, officials were implementing GOs 72 and 73 in a manner that favoured the administrative establishment rather than the employees. FAPTO, he asserted, would continue its fight on these issues to the last.
The denial of compassionate appointments to the dependants of deceased employees and teachers serving in local bodies was described as a grave injustice that the union would not allow to go unaddressed.
Broad Participation Across Districts
The protest drew participation from FAPTO leaders and teachers from Parvathipuram Manyam, Alluri Sitharama Raju, Kakinada, Eluru, Guntur, Prakasam, Sri Sathya Sai, and Kurnool districts, reflecting the breadth of discontent among employees across the state.
Among those present were FAPTO State Co-Chairmen K. Narahari and Kaki Prakash Rao, Deputy Secretaries General N. Venkateswarlу and K. Basavalingarao, and executive committee members Ch. Manjula, G. Hrudayaraju, and A. Ramarao.
D. Prasanna, President of the Private Schools and Lecturers Federation, extended solidarity with the striking employees.
Government Yet to Respond
FAPTO leadership said the government had so far not initiated any dialogue or indicated a willingness to address the demands. If the administration failed to respond promptly, the union warned it would expand and intensify the agitation in the days ahead.
