T staff on the edge over losing ELs

• Request govt to issue directions at the earliest

Hyderabad: More than fifty to sixty thousand government employees, who have completed nearly two decades in service, are a worried lot as they may lose their 'Earned Leaves (ELs)' if TRS government delays issuing a circular memo in this regard.

These employees, some of them who are on the verge of retirement have ELs close to 300 in their account. A government employee is allotted 30 ELs every year, 15 in January and another 15 in July. They, however, could encash 15 days of ELs once in a year.

Half-month salary amount would be credited in account within few days of submitting application for the same. The left over ELs would be carried forward into next year's quota.

The government normally allows employees the facility to encash earned leaves until the figure did not cross 300. Any number of additional ELs above 300 will get lapsed or go waste. Normally, very senior employees have ELs close to this cut-off figure (between 280-299). However, they make it a point to encash ELs every year in July to maintain their quota below 300.

These ELs would be of big help at the time of retirement because government staff could encash a maximum 300 ELs, which means they would get amount equal to 10 months (10 x 30=300) salary at one go.

TGO organising secretary Syed Saleemuddin said that a memo was issued in the unified Andhra Pradesh State on February 18, 2013 which stated that senior employees could surrender their ELs until further orders.

However, this memo would not be applicable this year due to bifurcation. A new State has come into effect from June 2 and hence Telangana government needs to issue a fresh circular or give directions that the same procedures would be applicable to even Telangana employees.