(Below is an edited excerpt from one-on-one interview with APSA President Rama Krishna by Editor's Guild of South India President Deeksha Prasad.)
Early Association Experience and Leadership Journey
I worked as Additional Secretary of the Andhra Pradesh Secretariat Association in 2013 in the pre-bifurcated Andhra Pradesh. From 2013 to 2019, I continued my work in the Secretariat Association. In 2017, I was elected as General Secretary. After bifurcation, I actively worked on resolving employee-related issues with the then Chief Minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu. With the good relations I had with him, I was able to work closely between 2014 and 2019 and resolve several long-pending issues of Secretariat employees.
Major Achievements During 2014 to 2019
Several important employee welfare measures were implemented during that period. A five-day workweek was introduced. A 50 percent subsidy was provided in the Secretariat canteen. Lands were allocated to employees in Telangana since many employees were relocating to Andhra Pradesh post bifurcation. To ensure those lands were not alienated, a special House Building Advance of 10 lakh rupees was sanctioned. Despite low population density, 30 percent HRA was continued. Free accommodation and several other employee-friendly measures were also implemented.
Employee Hardships After 2019
After the regime change in 2019, Secretariat employees suffered the most. PRC fitments were not released. Arrears were promised only after retirement. Dearness Allowances were frequently pending. Employees faced several financial hardships during this period. To address these losses and represent employees strongly, I decided to contest the elections. Recognizing my service, the employees elected me with a huge majority.
House Sites and Capital Region Commitments
Before the 2019 elections, the Chief Minister had promised house sites to employees in the capital region. The Cabinet passed a resolution, and a government order was issued. However, only All India Service officers were allotted sites. There was a delay from the employee's side in applying, and the election code came into force around 15 days earlier. In our current agenda, house sites remain our top priority.
Health Cards and Cashless Treatment
Health cards are another major concern. While cards exist, many are not active. Immediately after the government changed in 2024, I presented this issue to the chief minister. A committee led by the Chief Secretary was formed. Employees must receive active health cards and, more importantly, cashless treatment.
Reservation in Promotions and Legal Issues
Reservation in promotions has been pending for the last seven years. The Chief Minister assured us that this issue would be resolved soon, as court cases related to it are being cleared. These were the key issues I focused on while contesting the elections.
Unity Beyond Elections
The employees have shown faith in my work and given a landslide victory to me and our panel. We may be divided during elections, but after that, we must all work together irrespective of affiliations. We will consider everyone’s views and opinions and move forward collectively. We have assured employees that the majority of issues will be resolved within the remaining three-year tenure of the government.
Engagement With Government and Committees
In my first meeting with the Chief Minister, I raised the issue of house site allocation. The Association did not have representation in the Employees Steering Committee, and we have requested inclusion. I am currently working as a section officer in the revenue department. I joined the service in 2010 as an Assistant Section Officer.
Personal Background and Values
I was born and brought up in Karavadi village of Prakasam district. My father was a Class IV employee in the Railways. I have a sister who runs a business. Coming from humble beginnings and a village background, I understand the real issues faced by common employees. From the day I joined the Association, I have worked consistently on those issues.
Representation and Social Background
I belong to the SC community. This was projected negatively by the opposition, but employees stood firmly by me. I am the first president from the SC community since the association was formed in 1950. This is a matter of pride and responsibility for me.
Speak to President Initiative
To directly connect with employees, I started a program called Speak to President. From the second day itself, I began meeting employees directly. We are also organizing department-wise meetings to understand ground realities and gather views firsthand. Employees should not have to come to the Association Hall. The Association must go to the employees.
Addressing Ground-Level Issues
Issues such as sanitation are being raised during these meetings and are represented immediately. Due to festival holidays, there was a short break, but review meetings are now being resumed.
Capital Shifting and Past Governance Failures
Before the 2024 elections, capital shifting was proposed, and a namesake government order was issued to allot house sites to employees. Though it was proposed that the Assembly would function there, it was purely political and lacked implementation. The administration failed during the previous government’s tenure, turning governance into a political exercise. We aim to demonstrate a clear difference. APSA’s mission is the welfare of Secretariat employees.
Promotions and Administrative Reforms After 2024
Within 15 months of the new government taking charge, and with the rapport I share with the chief minister and chief secretary, long-pending promotion issues were streamlined. Section officers were promoted as assistant secretaries within one month. Promoted employees gained a financial benefit of around two to three lakh rupees annually, with retrospective dates. Their service counts were updated, enabling quicker promotions to the Deputy Secretary level.
Pillar of Trust Among Employees
This promotion issue became the pillar of my campaign and earned the trust of employees, despite strong negative campaigning against me. A government order was issued to appoint section officers, but it was put on hold due to court matters.
ASO and Group I Issues
Group I related issues were also pending. We met the Secretary of Services and requested that both matters should not be clubbed so that at least 70 percent depth of ASO vacancies could be filled. As the government is working with a speed-of-doing-business approach, ASOs must also be strengthened, as files originate with them.
Staffing Challenges and Financial Constraints
Class IV employees were allotted to Telangana since they are local residents. Once ASO vacancies are filled, this issue will also be taken up. The state is facing severe financial constraints, with nearly 30,000 crore rupees worth of bills pending, of which 13,000 crore rupees have already been cleared.
Confidence in Leadership and Government Support
The Chief Minister has strong intent to support employees. We have full faith that under his leadership, all pending bills will be cleared. The government’s support is evident in the clearance of 13,000 crore rupees and continued welfare initiatives.
Collective Action and Past Unity
I share friendly relations with all JAC leaders, including Subbaraju and Vidyasagar. We used to meet at the Association Hall along with Ashok Babu and discuss issues collectively. Because we stood united, we were able to resolve the 40 percent PRC fitment issue in a single day.
Keeping Politics Out of the Association
Since the inception of the Secretariat Association, there has been no political agenda to my knowledge. In my 15 years of experience, I have seen politics enter only during the previous government’s tenure. Our belief is clear. Politics should exist only during elections. After that, we are part of the administration, working to fulfill the Chief Minister’s vision for the State.
Looking Ahead
With the cooperation of all employees and collaboration with an employee-friendly government, I firmly believe we will succeed in resolving long-pending issues and strengthening the Secretariat administration.
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