Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu has not yet forgotten how much the 43 percent fitment announced for AP employees has hurt the state finances.

“I have given you 43 per cent fitment benefit of Pay Revision Commission, despite financial problems. Telangana government had tried to create a problem to me by announcing 43 per cent fitment to its employees. Its actual intention was clear,” he said at a meeting of the employees here on Monday but maintained that he gave the fitment since he believed the employees deserved it.

The fitment benefit of 43 per cent given in February could not have come at a worse time for the state government because after bifurcation of the state, the coffers of AP had almost touched rock bottom. The 43 per cent fitment meant an additional out-go of `9,825 crore.

“Despite deficiency in state’s budget, the TDP government was very much committed to protecting the respect of government employees,” said the Chief Minister at the meeting on ‘’Navyandhra Nirmanamlo Udyogula Bhagasvamyam’’ organised by the Joint Action Committee of Employees, Teachers, Workers and Pensioners of Andhra Pradesh at the Mahati Auditorium.

The Chief Minister said the Telangana government had announced 43 per cent hike to put the TDP government in a spot of bother. ‘’There was some speculation among the employees of our state when the announcement was made by the Telangana government. To avoid such circumstances, immediately there was a decision taken by us,’’ he said.

Naidu, who was very optimistic while stating about the betterment of State economical conditions, appealed to the employees to support his vision with a full-fledged commitment. With a hand-in-hand approach, all the employees had given a tough fight against the bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh, by resorting to hunger strikes and staging rallies in that crucial period continuously for 81 days, he recalled. ‘’Then the perseverance and unity among the employees was clearly witnessed. But, now, I feel it is a bit lacking. I need such persistence among you to make my development vision into a reality,’’ he appealed.

When asked about the recruitment of more employees and regularisation of contract workers, Naidu expressed his difficulties, citing the revenue deficit. Stating that the government will take elaborate measures to control corruption in public sector, he said using technology in a vibrant manner in all the administration departments would help overcome the problem.