The Telangana MEPMA (IKP-Urban) Employees Association is urging the State government to introduce a pay scale for staff members working in urban local bodies across the State.
The Mission for Elimination of Poverty in Municipal Areas (MEPMA) was created in 2007 to implement strategies aimed at reducing poverty in urban regions. MEPMA serves as the state nodal agency for executing various programs set by the Union government. Currently, there are 378 fixed tenure employees including community organizers, town mission coordinators, district mission coordinators, data entry operators, and junior assistants working in 141 urban local bodies, as well as in the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC).
Shaik Nazaar Ahmed, the district general secretary of the association, highlighted the significant role that MEPMA staff play in delivering government welfare schemes to the intended beneficiaries. These employees also work to raise awareness among the urban poor about income-generating activities. However, despite their important work, they are struggling financially due to low wages.
The union previously appealed to the BRS government to extend the pay scale benefits to MEPMA staff, similar to what was granted to fixed tenure employees (FTEs) of the Society for Elimination of Rural Poverty (SERP) 23 years after that society was established.
