Telangana’s ₹6,000 crore salary surge sparks debate | Fusion - WeRIndia

Rising government payrolls have placed Telangana at the centre of a national fiscal debate.

This week, officials revealed that the state’s monthly salary and pension bill has crossed ₹6,000 crore.

The figure is nearly four times higher than in 2014, when Telangana was formed.

The sharp rise has surprised many observers. Senior officials admitted they were stunned by the scale of payouts, even at the lower rungs of service.

For instance, veteran sweepers employed by the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation can reportedly earn close to ₹2 lakh per month.

Years of service, overtime, and periodic increments have steadily raised their earnings.

Newly recruited municipal workers earn around ₹28,000 monthly. However, allowances and overtime can significantly boost take-home pay.

Over time, annual increments further enhance salaries. Consequently, long-serving staff now draw incomes comparable to those of comfortable middle-class households.

At the top end, the numbers grow steeper. Senior engineers in state-owned power corporations earn nearly ₹7 lakh per month.

In some cases, their compensation exceeds that of senior IAS officers in other states. Therefore, wage disparities within public service have drawn attention.

A key driver behind the surge is the system of pay revisions. The state periodically appoints Pay Revision Commissions to reassess compensation.

These panels recommend a “fitment ratio,” which adjusts base pay and allowances. As a result, salaries rise across departments in one sweep.

Analysts note that such revisions often coincide with election cycles. Governments may approve generous hikes to maintain goodwill among employees. However, repeated upward revisions steadily expand the salary and pension burden.

Today, pay and pensions consume a significant share of Telangana’s budget.

Unless revenues rise proportionately, capital expenditure may face constraints. Spending on infrastructure and welfare schemes could tighten.

Still, Telangana’s relatively strong economy has allowed timely salary disbursals. Unlike some states, it has avoided major payment delays.

Public reaction remains divided. Some welcome better wages for lower-ranking staff. Others question whether fiscal priorities are balanced prudently.

Image Credit: Brajesh Ohdar, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Image Reference: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Telangana_State_with_Prominent_Districts.svg