Government employees play key role in State’s development, says Speaker

Government employees play a crucial role in the overall development of the State by implementing welfare programmes and policies through various departments, Speaker of the Karnataka Legislative Assembly G.S. Patil said on Monday.

Inaugurating a one-day divisional-level conference of retired government employees of the Belagavi (Kittur Karnataka) division at Patil Puttappa Sabhabhavana of the Karnatak Vidyavardhak Sangha in Dharwad on Monday, Mr. Patil said government employees were responsible for translating the laws and policies framed by elected representatives into action.

He commended government employees, particularly those in the Health Department, for their service during the COVID-19 pandemic, when they implemented the directives of the Union and State governments despite risks to their lives.

President of the Karnataka State Government Retired Employees’ Association L. Bhairappa urged the government to ensure that retired employees received their retirement benefits without delay.

Employees who had rendered 30 to 40 years of service deserved timely pension benefits, periodic pension revisions, pension facilities on par with those of Central government retirees, and adequate medical support, he said. The government should remain responsive to the welfare and healthcare needs of retired employees, he added.

N.H. Konaraddi, MLA, president of the All India Primary Teachers’ Federation Basavaraj Gurikar, writer Venkatesh Machakanur and Former Director of the Education Department Siddarama Manahalli, also spoke. Several elected representatives, former legislators, former parliamentarians and association office-bearers attended the conference.

Dignitaries from various fields and retired employees who had made significant contributions to society were felicitated on the occasion.

S.B. Patil Nalavadi, president of the Dharwad district unit of the association, welcomed the gathering. General secretary Guru Tigadi compered the programme, while treasurer A.B. Chanaveeragouda gave the vote of thanks.

Office-bearers and members of the association from Vijayapura, Bagalkot, Belagavi, Uttara Kannada, Gadag, Dharwad and Haveri districts participated in the conference.