Guntur, April 3: The conferment of legal status on Amaravati as the permanent capital of Andhra Pradesh has brought an end to the prolonged uncertainty among government employees, the Guntur district president of the AP Non-Gazetted Government Officers (NGGOs) Association said on Friday.

Addressing a press conference at the NGGOs Home in Guntur, district president Ghantasala Srinivasarao said that nearly 40,000 employees working in Heads of Departments (HODs) and their families had finally emerged from the shadow of doubt that had lingered over the question of the State capital's location. "This decision has restored confidence and brought a sense of stability among the workforce," he said.

Expressing gratitude to both the Central and State governments for establishing a permanent capital and giving the State a distinct identity, Mr. Srinivasarao also welcomed the release of ₹7,358.33 crore in arrears to employees, teachers, and pensioners at the close of the financial year, describing it as a significant measure to ease their financial burden.

The released amount comprises ₹1,847.83 crore under the General Provident Fund (GPF), ₹3,411.03 crore towards gratuity, ₹1,800 crore for leave encashment of retired employees, and ₹223.47 crore as additional surrender leave for police personnel. He said these payments would contribute meaningfully to employee welfare.

Mr. Srinivasarao commended the efforts of Association state president Alaparthi Vidyasagar and general secretary D.V. Ramana, noting that the government's constructive approach and the ongoing coordination between the administration and the union had yielded tangible benefits for employees.

State vice-president Sheikh Nagoor Sharif said that ₹1,847.83 crore under GPF had already been credited to accounts, and payments of ₹76 crore under Group Insurance had been completed. He added that the decision on Amaravati as capital, along with the release of arrears, would contribute to the State's development and administrative stability.

Among those present at the event were district co-president Ch. Rambabau, vice-president B. Durgarao, joint secretaries Jani Bhasha, B. Krishna Kishor, K. Narasimharao and K. Vijay, Guntur City secretary Ch. Kalyan Kumar, city vice-presidents Sambasiva Rao, Murali Krishna, Ankamma Rao and Srinivasarao, Pattipadu president K. Seshagiri Raju, and Amaravati secretary Sheikh Kareem.