Government in Election Mode - Seventh Pay Commission Announced
THE FM is normally against Pay Commissions and huge hike in salaries for the babus. Like many of the babus, the FM is also a sort of veteran in experiencing Pay Commissions. He was in command in Government during the Fifth and Sixth Pay Commissions. He had commented that if the Fifth Pay Commission's recommendations were implemented, it would cripple our economy. He had no choice then. All the partners in his coalition, mainly left parties forced him to accept.
He was again the Finance Minister in 2008 when the Sixth Pay Commission's recommendations were implemented. Again compulsion. And now as it is almost election time, the Government needs the babus and the Seventh Pay Commission is announced even without a serious demand from the employees.
The First Pay Commission was in 1946, the second in 1959, the Third in 1973, the Fourth in 1986, Fifth in 1996 and Sixth in 2006. So the next Pay Commission's recommendations are due to be implemented in 2016. This time the Government has announced the constitution of the Commission two years in advance. The last Pay Commission was announced in October 2006 and gave its report in March 2008 and it was implemented from 1.1.2006.
Now there is a proposal for a separate Pay Commission for the Armed Forces, which is being stoutly opposed by the defence employees.
Officers of our armed forces have a grievance that they are not treated by the civilian babus as well as they should be. Just have a look at the scales:
REVENUE | DEFENCE | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
SI. No. | Cadre | Pay Scale | Rank | Pay Scale |
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
General COAS | Rs. 90,000/ | |||
1 | Principal Chief | Rs.80,000 (fixed) | Vice- Chief/Commanders Lt. General | Rs. 80,000 |
2 | Chief Commissioner | Rs. 75500-80000 | 1/3rd of the total Strength of Lt. Generals | Rs. 75500-80000 |
3 | Principal Commissioner | Rs 67000 - 79000 | Lt. General | Rs 67000 - 79000 |
4 | Commissioner | Rs. 37400-67000 + grade pay of Rs. 10000 | Maj. General | Rs. 37400-67000 + grade pay of Rs. 10000 |
5 | Additional Commissioner | Rs.37400-67000 + grade pay of Rs. 8700/ | Brigadier | Rs. 37400-67000 + grade pay of Rs. 8900 |
Colonel | Rs. 37400-67000 + grade pay of Rs. 8700 | |||
6. | Joint Commissioner | Rs.15600-39100 + grade pay of Rs. 7600 | Lt. Colonel | Rs. 37400-67000 + grade pay of Rs. 8000 |
6 | Deputy Commissioner | Rs.15600-39100 grade pay of Rs. 6600 | Major | Rs.15600-39100 grade pay of Rs. 6600 |
7 | Assistant Commissioner | Rs.15600 39100 + grade pay of Rs. 5400 | Captain | Rs.15600-39100 grade pay of Rs. 6100 |
Lieutenant | Rs.15600-39100 grade pay of Rs. 5400 | |||
A Brigadier is supposed to be a very senior officer in the Army, but his salary is less than that of a Commissioner. Only a very few Lt. Generals get the salary of a Principal Chief Commissioner.
The anomalies created by the Sixth Pay Commission are yet to be resolved and perhaps the Seventh Pay Commission will sort them out.
The Babus certainly deserve good salaries but can we afford to pay some lakhs of them in the Centre and the States. Some States will simply go bankrupt.