Hyderabad: The Hyderabad Disaster Response and Assets Protection Agency (HYDRAA), led by Commissioner A V Ranganath, assured that there will be no reduction in the salaries of HYDRAA staff. The commissioner highlighted plans to improve pay for the dedicated employees who work tirelessly in disaster response.
On Monday, HYDRAA marshals stopped working to protest a rumored salary cut, which raised concerns about possible disruptions during the monsoon. The marshals claimed a government order had set salaries for outsourced workers at Rs 22,500, which was Rs 7,000 less than their previous pay. These marshals play a critical role in managing emergency teams and control rooms.
In response to the protest, Ranganath met with senior officials to resolve the issue. The officials reassured the marshals that their salaries would remain unchanged and they would continue to receive their previous pay.
The commissioner noted that the government is considering a similar approach. A recent directive to standardize salaries caused unnecessary worry among some HYDRAA marshals. Misunderstandings led to fears of pay cuts based on this directive.
On Monday, Ranganath addressed the marshals’ concerns, promising their salaries would stay the same. He emphasized that all marshals are former military personnel and HYDRAA trusts their work. He also mentioned they would review salary policies if other states offer better pay.
