*YS Jagan backs RWS Contract Workers, seeks end to third-party contract system*

Tadepalli, July 23: Representatives of the Rural Water Supply (RWS) Contract Workers’ Union met former Chief Minister and YSR Congress Party President Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy at the YSRCP Central Office in Tadepalli and urged him to take up their long-pending demands with the Government.

The union representatives said nearly 7,000 contract workers have been maintaining comprehensive rural drinking water schemes across Andhra Pradesh for the past 26 years, but continue to face job insecurity, reduced wages under the third-party contract system and prolonged salary delays. They said workers in several districts have not received salaries for 10 to 20 months, leaving families struggling to meet basic household, education and medical expenses. They appealed for the abolition of the third-party contract system, payment of pending wage arrears, implementation of prescribed SSR wage rates and assured job security.

After hearing their grievances, Y.S. Jagan assured the delegation that the YSR Congress Party will stand firmly with RWS contract workers and press the Government to resolve their legitimate demands and ensure justice. Former Minister Vellampalli Srinivasa Rao, MLC Monditoka Arun Kumar, Devineni Avinash, Malladi Vishnu, Tanneeru Nageswara Rao and other leaders were present.