Telangana government will deduct salary for not serving parents
There is a news coming from Telangana which can spark a new debate among government employees and their families across the country. State Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy has announced to take a very important and sensitive step on Saturday. He has clarified that the state government is soon going to bring a law which will crack down on those government employees who neglect their elderly parents or are negligent in taking care of them.
Under this law, if an employee is found neglecting his parents, a certain part of his monthly salary will be deducted and deposited directly into the bank account of those neglected parents. The Chief Minister made this announcement while handing over appointment letters to the newly selected officers of Group-2.
Direct deduction of up to 15% from salary
Chief Minister Reddy also made clear the outline of this proposed law. He said that this law will ensure that parents do not have to face financial hardship or neglect in their old age. According to the scheme, if it is proved that a government employee is not taking proper care of his parents, the government will intervene.
In such cases, an amount up to 15 percent will be deducted from the total monthly salary of that employee. This deducted amount will not go to any government treasury, rather it will be deposited directly into the bank accounts of those elderly parents as monthly income. This provision will provide a big financial support to those parents who have to lend a helping hand to their own children for their needs.
Committee of officers will prepare the draft
The time and place of this announcement was also very special. The Chief Minister was giving appointment letters to the new officers selected for Group-2 services. Addressing these new officers, CM Reddy first congratulated them and then made them realize their responsibilities as a public servant. He urged the new employees to show deep sensitivity towards the common people who come to his offices with their problems and complaints.
Taking this issue of sensitivity forward, the Chief Minister teased the mention of this new law. He said a very unique thing. He told these new officers, “We are bringing a law… and you will prepare the draft of this law.” This is a big statement. This means that the Chief Minister wants that the new generation which is becoming a part of the government system should lay the foundation of this social change. By handing over this responsibility to the new officers, he has made them partners in the policy-making process from the very first day.
Why was there a need for this ‘strict’ law?
The question arises that why does the government feel the need to take such strict steps? The answer is hidden in the words of the Chief Minister itself. He told the new employees, “Just as you (employees) get a salary every month, we will ensure that your parents also get a monthly income from it.”
It is noteworthy that this step of the Telangana government, if implemented, will be the first and very unique law of its kind in the country. In India, there is already a ‘Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Act, 2007’ (Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Act, 2007) for the maintenance of parents, but it is considered a big and bold decision for any state government to impose such a provision of direct salary deduction on its employees.