Telangana Vaidya Vidhana Parishad Staff Seek Changes in Pay Structure
Over 13,000 employees of the Vaidya Vidhana Parishad (VVP) in Telangana are urging the state government to follow Andhra Pradesh’s example by abolishing the VVP and renaming the Commissionerate as the Director of Secondary Health Services (DSH). The employees believe this change will improve their working conditions and resolve several issues.
The Vaidya Vidhana Parishad was originally established in 1987 by the then-Chief Minister of undivided Andhra Pradesh, NT Rama Rao. It was formed under the Andhra Pradesh Vaidya Vidhana Parishad Act, 1986, to manage secondary-level healthcare institutes. These institutes include hospitals with 30 to 350 beds, such as district hospitals, area hospitals, and community health centers. Over time, the organization became fully government-operated after removing user charges for patients.
Despite being hired through the public service commission like other health care workers, VVP staff face several challenges. One major issue is that their salaries are paid through grants in aid, rather than directly from the government. This system has caused problems for employees, such as being unable to get pay slips, which in turn prevents them from applying for bank loans.
Dr. T. Vinay, Chairman of the Telangana Vaidya Vidhana Parishad Employees Joint Action Committee (JAC), highlighted another issue: VVP staff are not eligible for health cards, unlike staff in other government medical departments. Even though they are recruited, promoted, and evaluated by the same government rules, their pay structure and benefits differ.
Additionally, Dr. Vinay pointed out that MBBS graduates typically prefer positions under the Director of Medical Education (DME) or Director of Health, with VVP being a lower preference. VVP staff are also excluded from certain benefits, such as postgraduate (PG) seats under the service quota, and recent increases in retirement age for doctors do not apply to them.
The JAC leaders have been raising these concerns with the government for a long time. They said that the issue was close to being addressed by the previous state government, but a change in leadership delayed the process. Recently, they met with Telangana Health Minister C. Damodar Raja Narsimha to request that their salaries be paid under the 010-head of accounts, which is managed by the Department of Treasury.
The JAC leaders mentioned that resolving this issue requires no additional funds, and it is only a matter of government officials taking the necessary steps. They are hopeful that the assurances given by the Health Minister will soon lead to action.
