APTF plans protests against GPS on July 16 & 17

The Andhra Pradesh Teachers Federation (APTF) is set to hold protest demonstrations on July 16 and 17 across all district headquarters against the Gazette notification issued by the TDP-led NDA government on the Guaranteed Pension Scheme (GPS) on July 12. APTF president G. Hrudaya Raju and general secretary Y. Chiranjeevi announced the protests following discussions with members at the state executive committee meeting, where several resolutions were passed. The APTF demands the cancellation of the GPS Gazette notification and the restoration of the Old Pension Scheme (OPS) for teachers, police, and employees appointed before 2004.
Among the resolutions passed at the meeting, one emphasised the need to design an appropriate curriculum to prevent the rape of minor girls across the state. Another highlighted the celebration of the 20th State Vidya Vigyan Mahasabha in Vizianagaram. The APTF also urged Education Minister Nara Lokesh to discuss key issues with teacher unions, including the cancellation of GO No 117, the release of the academic calendar, and clarification on the medium of instruction and examination. The federation called for the commencement of the 12th Pay Revision Commission (PRC) process and the release of 30% of the Interim Relief (IR). Furthermore, the government was asked to release a white paper on school education. APTF members requested Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu to meet with teacher and employee unions to address various concerns, such as the payment of provident fund (PF), AP GIL loans, part finals, closures, the 11th PRC, DA arrears, and surrender leave encashment.
Other significant demands included extending the deadline for medical reimbursement, which ended in March, to a year, and reinstating all employees suspended during the General Election. The APTF insisted that government orders be made available on the government site for public access. They also called for the restoration of the previous additional quantum of pension to government pensioners and sought clarification on Child Care Leave for women teachers. Regularization of 1998 and 2008 MTS teachers, increasing the retirement age to 62 years for residential and society lecturers, and assigning equal responsibility to MEO 1 & 2 officers were also among the resolutions. The federation stressed the need to resolve issues faced by Municipal, Aided, Model, and KGBV teachers.
IFU national chief patron K. Subba Reddy noted that on July 6 and 7, the Indian Public Service Employees Federation (IPSEF) organised a protest in Delhi against the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS), with a representation given to Union Defense Minister Rajnath Singh. He also mentioned an upcoming Consultancy Meeting in Delhi on July 15 to further address these issues. The APTF State Working Committee, including Upadhya Pragathi Chief Editor G. Satyanarayana, State Honorary President A. Sadasiva Rao, State Joint President Dilip Kumar, Additional Secretary Ch. Mandadi, State Vice Presidents T. Dastagiri, D. Eshwar Rao, Y. Venkata Subbaiah, and State Secretaries Dhananjaya Rao, Tammu Nagaraju, Uday Brahmam, Mohammed Rafi, Madhusudan Rao, KGV Keerthy, IFIA members, women executive members, presidents, and chief secretaries of all districts, along with special invitees, participated in the meeting.