Grand 'Gratitude Meeting' Held by North Andhra CPS Employees and Teachers**

.                     K.V.SHARMA EDITOR 
Visakhapatnam: Indian News Times:Telugu Desam Party (TDP) State President and MLA Palla Srinivasa Rao stated that the credit for realizing the 22-year-old dream of the employees goes to Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu. Palla Srinivasa Rao attended the 'Gratitude Meeting' organized by North Andhra CPS employees and teachers at the Swarna Bharati Stadium in Visakhapatnam on Sunday as the chief guest. Along with fellow guests—MLAs Vishnu Kumar Raju and Velagapudi Ramakrishna Babu; MLC and Government Whip Vepada Chiranjeevi Rao; MLCs Alapati Rajendra Prasad, P. Raja Sekharam, and Kancharla Srikanth; and thousands of participating employees and teachers

—he performed *Ksheerabhishekam* (a ceremonial milk offering) to the portrait of Chief Minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu. Speaking on the occasion, Palla thanked Chief Minister Chandrababu on behalf of the employees for issuing Government Order (GO) No. 53, which facilitates the transition from the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS) to the Old Pension Scheme (OPS). 

He remarked that the highly experienced Chandrababu Naidu is constantly striving for the welfare of employees and is a champion of their cause. He emphasized the pivotal role played by government employees and teachers in society. Palla further noted that Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan and Education Minister Nara Lokesh, under the leadership of Chief Minister Chandrababu and with the cooperation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, are working tirelessly for the welfare of government employees and teachers. He urged the employees and teachers to stand in support of the government.  They urged everyone to stand by Chief Minister Chandrababu—

who is working tirelessly towards the goal of a 'Golden Andhra'—and the Alliance in the 2029 elections. Speaking on the occasion, MLA Vishnu Kumar Raju stated that thousands of employees would benefit from GO No. 53, which facilitates the transition from the CPS (Contributory Pension Scheme) to the OPS (Old Pension Scheme). He expressed deep respect for teachers, noting that the previous government had humiliated them by assigning them duties in queues at liquor shops. He described the 2014–2019 period in the state as a time of oppressive governance. Vishnu Kumar Raju thanked the government employees and teachers who helped secure the Alliance's victory. MLC and Government Whip Vepada Chiranjeevi Rao stated that by implementing the OPS, Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu is providing financial security to state government employees. He remarked that while employees eventually retire, their families do not; he added that employees would remain forever indebted to the Alliance government for implementing the Old Pension Scheme and ensuring financial security for the families of approximately 11,000 individuals. He described the 2019–2024 period as a "dark age" for government employees in the state, noting that during the previous administration's tenure, employees had to forgo their Dearness Allowance (DA) and reimbursement for medical bills. He credited Chandrababu Naidu with the achievement of raising teachers' salaries to be on par with those of revenue department employees.  It was recalled that the YS government implemented the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS) in September 2004, whereas notifications for various recruitments—including the DSC—had been issued during the earlier tenure of the Chandrababu government. Candidates had taken the exams, but by the time the actual appointments were made, the CPS had come into effect, effectively binding them to that scheme. There are 10,715 such employees, approximately 6,500 of whom are teachers. After two decades, Chandrababu resolved this issue, providing financial security to thousands of employees and their families. Chiranjeevi Rao urged government employees—

who are integral partners in the state administration—to stand in support of the alliance to ensure its return to power in 2029. Speaking on the occasion, MLA Velagapudi Ramakrishna Babu thanked the government employees, noting that the alliance government came to power largely due to their votes and that they were instrumental in securing a massive majority, particularly in the North Andhra region. The venue resonated with slogans such as "Thank you, CM Sir," "Jai Ho Chandrababu," "Chandrababu: A Proponent of OPS," "Long Live Chandrababu's Leadership," "Immense Joy," and "We Stand with the Alliance." Subsequently, leaders of the employee unions honored the guests with shawls and mementos, expressing their gratitude.  Employee union leaders Medisetti Srinivas, R. Apparao, K.L. Prasad, Balaga Srinivas, and Subba Reddy, along with thousands of teachers and government employees from North Andhra, participated in this program.