Plea to raise salary of VRAs

Andhra Pradesh Revenue Services Association (APRSA) president Bopparaju Venkateswarlu has demanded rise in salaries of Village Revenue Assistants (VRAs), who have not received a pay raise in the past six years. During the tenure of the TDP government from 2014 to 2019, the VRAs’ wages were increased from Rs. 6,500 to Rs. 10,500 per month. However, there was no salary hike during the five years of the YSRCP rule.
Bopparaju Venkateswarlu, along with the leaders of the AP Village Revenue Assistants Association (APVRAA), submitted a representation to Minister for Revenue, Stamps, and Registrations Anagani Satya Prasad at the secretariat at Velagapudi on Tuesday.
He said that VRAs receive lower wages compared to other government employees. Previously, the honorarium for VRAs was Rs. 1,700 per month, which was increased to Rs. 3,000 in 2011, and further raised to Rs. 6,500 per month in 2014 and Rs. 10,500 per month in 2018.
Venkateswarlu emphasised that despite working tirelessly, VRAs only receive Rs. 10,500 per month, whereas MDU operators receive Rs. 21,000 per month. He also mentioned that despite several representations to the previous government, no action was taken. He noted that the government had recovered Rs. 13.44 of DA, which was paid to the VRAs from 2018 to 2021.
Additionally, he urged the government to provide promotions for VRAs to positions such as night watchmen, office subordinates, and chainmen, as well as VRO Grade 2, and other equal posts, in line with government orders. Venkateswarlu also requested the return of the recovered DA to the VRA bank accounts.
APRSA leaders Garikapati Brahmaiah, RV Rajesh, D Srinivas, and others were also present.