7th Pay Commission: Central govt employees hope for pay raise after allowances

New Delhi: The central government employees, who are busy celebrating the higher allowances getting, now they are hoping that the government is likely to enhance their pay next year.

 

 

 

 

 

 

FM Arun Jaitley will follow the pay gap and to hike the employees pay with with raising fitment factor 3.00 times.

A source told on condition of anonymity that the Finance Ministry will hike the pay with raising fitment factor 3.00 times from 2.57 times, will be paid from January next year and minimum pay is likely to get hiked to Rs 21,000 from Rs 18,000.

“The National Anomaly Committee may recommend to hike pay Rs 21,000 from Rs 18,000 with raising fitment factor 3.00 times from 2.57 times,” the source said.

The 7th Pay Commission had recommended the fitment factor of 2.57 uniformly for all employees to pay hike and minimum pay has been raised from Rs 7,000 to Rs 18,000 per month while the maximum pay has been hiked from Rs 80,000 to Rs 2.5 lakh.

The central government employees unions are demanding for hiking minimum pay Rs 18,000 to Rs 26,000 and asked to raising fitment factor 3.68 times from 2.57 times.

So, the government had formed a 22-member National Anomaly Committee headed by Secretary, Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) in September, 2016 to look into pay anomalies arising out of the implementation of the 7th Pay Commission’s recommendations.

The source added central government employees, after getting the allowances, were very hopeful that they would get a pay raise from the National Anomaly Committee.

“The central government employees unions have already conveyed their feelings to the Finance minister Arun Jaitley that the pay raise given to the employees under the 7th Pay Commission recommendations was not enough as it came after ten years,” the source said.

The source pointed out that the pay gap between the highest maximum pay and the lowest minimum pay in the 7th Pay Commission recommendations is 1:14, which was 1:12 in the 6th pay scale, it was not adequate, according to law.

“Hence, central government employees unions are hopeful that the Finance minister Arun Jaitley will follow the pay gap and to hike the employees pay with with raising fitment factor 3.00 times,” the source said.

The source said the Finance Ministry would soon ask the National Anomaly Committee to go through the demands of the unions and than determine the pay raise with fitment factor 3.00 times.

Last year the Cabinet had cleared recommendations made by the 7th Pay Commission report that recommending a 23.55 percent overall increase in salaries, allowances and pension for more than 1 crore central government employees and pensioners.

7th Pay Commission: Revision of pension of pre-2016 pensioners- how to calculate

The minimum pension with effect from January 2016 will be Rs 9,000/-per month (excluding the element of additional pension to old pensioners) while the upper ceiling on pension/family pension will be 50% and 30% respectively of the highest pay in the government (the highest pay in the government is Rs 2,50,000 with effect from January 2016).

Earlier this month , the Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi approved modifications in the recommendations of the 7th CPC relating to the  method of  revision  of  pension  of  pre-2016  pensioners  and  family  pensioners based  on  suggestions  made  by  the  Committee  chaired  by  Secretary (Pensions) constituted  with  the  approval of  the  Cabinet.  

The  modified  formulation of pension revision approved by the  Cabinet will entail  an  additional  benefit  to  the  pensioners and  an  additional  expenditure  of  approximately Rs 5,031  crore  for  2016-17 over and above the expenditure  already  incurred  in  revision  of  pension  as  per  the  second formulation  based  on  fitment  factor.

It  will  benefit  over  55  lakh  pre-2016  civil  and defence pensioners and family pensioners.

While approving the implementation of the 7th CPC recommendations on  29th June,  2016, the  Cabinet  had  approved  the  changed  method  of  pension  revision recommended by the 7th CPC for pre-2016 pensioners, comprising of two alternative formulations,  subject  to  the  feasibility  of  the  first  formulation  which  was  to  be examined by the Committee.

In terms of the Cabinet decision, pensions of pre-2016 pensioners were revised as per the second formulation multiplying existing pension by a fitment factor of 2.57, though the pensioners were to be given the option of choosing the more beneficial of the two formulations as per the 7th CPC recommendations.

In  order  to  provide  the  more  beneficial  option  to  the  pensioners,  Cabinet  has accepted  the  recommendations  of  the  Committee,  which  has  suggested  revision  of pension  based  on  information  contained  in  the  Pension  Payment  Order  (PPO) issued to every pensioner. 

The revised procedure of fixation of notional pay is more scientific,  rational  and  implementable  in  all  the  cases. The  Committee  reached  its findings  based  on  an  analysis  of  hundreds  of  live  pension  cases. The  modified formulation   will   be   beneficial   to   more   pensioners   than   the   first   formulation recommended by the 7th CPC, which  was not found to be feasible to implement on account of non-availability of records in a large number of cases and was also found to be prone to several anomalies. 

 

Below is the Office Memorandum

 NO.38/37/2016-P&PW(A)

Ministry of Personnel, PG & Pensions

Department of Pension & Pensioners' Welfare

3rdFloor, Lok Nayak Bhawan

Khan Market, New Delhi

Dated, the 12th May, 2017

Office Memorandum

Sub:-Implementation of Government's decision on the recommendations of the Seventh Central Pay Commission -Revision of pension of pre2016 pensioners/family pensioners, etc.

The undersigned is directed to say that the ih Central Pay Commission (7th CPC), in its Report, recommended two formulations for revision of pension of pre2016 pensioners. A Resolution No. 38/37/2016-P&PW (A) dated 04.08.2016 was issued by this Department indicating the decisions taken by the Government on the various recommendations of the ih CPC on pensionary matters.

2. Based on the decisions taken by the Government on the recommendations of the ih CPC, orders for revision of pension of pre-2016 pensioners/family pensioners in accordance with second Formulation were issued vide this Department's OM No. 38/37/2016-P&PW (A) (ii) dated 04.08.2016. It was provided in this a.M. that the revised pension/family pension w.e.f. 1.1.2016 of pre-2016 pensioners/family pensioners shall be determined by multiplying the pension/family pension as had been fixed at the time of implementation of the recommendations of the 6th CPC, by 2.57.

3. In accordance with the decision mentioned in this Department's Resolution No. 38/37/2016-P&PW (A) dated 04.08.2016 and OM No. 38/37/2016-P&PW(A) (ii) dated 04.08.2016, the feasibility of the first option recommended by ih CPC has been examined by a Committee headed by Secretary, Department of Pension & Pensioners' Welfare.

4.The aforesaid Committee has submitted its Report and the recommendations made by the Committee have been considered by the Government. Accordingly, it has been decided that the revised pension/family pension w.e.f. 01.01.2016 in respect of all Central civil pensioners/family pensioners, including CAPF's, who retired/died prior to 01.01.2016, may be revised by notionally fixing their pay in the pay matrix recommended by the ih CPC in the level corresponding to the pay in the pay scale/pay band and grade pay at which they retired/died. This will be done by notional pay fixation under each intervening Pay Commission based on the Formula for revision of pay. While fixing pay on notional basis, the pay fixation formulae approved by the Government and other relevant instructions on the subject in force at the relevant time shall be strictly followed. 50% of the notional pay as on 01.01.2016 shall be the revised pension and 30% of this notional pay shall be the revised family pension w.e.f. 1.1.2016 as per the first Formulation. In the case of family pensioners who were entitled to family pension at enhanced rate, the revised family pension shall be 50% of the notional pay as on 01.01.2016 and shall be payable till the period up to which family pension at enhanced rate is admissible as per rules. The amount of revised pension/family pension so arrived at shall be rounded off to next higher rupee.

5. It has also been decided that higher of the two Formulations i.e. the pension/family pension already revised in accordance with this Department's OM No. 38/37/2016-P&PW(A) (ii) dated 04.08.2016 or the revised pension/family pension as worked out in accordance with para 4 above, shall be granted to pre-2016 central civil pensioners as revised pension/family pension w.e.f. 01.01.2016. In cases where pension/family pension being paid w.e.f. 1.1.2016 in accordance with this Department's OM No. 38/37/2016-P&PW(A) (ii) dated 04.08.2016 happens to be more than pension/family pension as worked out in accordance with para 4 above, the pension/family pension already being paid shall be treated as revised pension/family pension w.e.f. 1.1.2016.

6. Instructions were issued vide this Department's OM No. 45/86/97-P&PW(A) (iii) dated 10.02.1998 for revision of pension/ family pension in respect of Government servants who retired or died before 01.01.1986, by notional fixation of their pay in the scale of pay introduced with effect from 01.01.1986. The notional pay so worked out as on 01.01.1986 was treated as average emoluments/last pay for the purpose of calculation of notional pension/family pension as on 01.01.1986. The notional pension/family pension so arrived at was further revised with effect from 01.01.1996 and was paid in accordance with the instructions issued for revision of pension/family pension of pre-1996 pensioners/family pensioners in implementation of the recommendations of the 5th Central Pay Commission.

7. Accordingly, for the purpose of calculation of notional pay w.e.f. 1.1.2016 of those Government servants who retired or died before 01.01.1986, the pay scale and the notional pay as on 1.1.1986, as arrived at in terms of the instructions issued vide this Department's OM 45/86/97-P&PW(A) dated 10.02.1998, will be treated as the pay scale and the pay of the concerned Government servant as on 1.1.1986. In the case of those Government servants who retired or died on or after 01.01.1986 but before 1.1.2016, the actual pay and the pay scale from which they retired or died would be taken into consideration for the purpose of calculation of the notional pay as on 1.1.2016 in accordance with para 4 above.

8. The minimum pension with effect from 01.01.2016 will be Rs. 9000/-per month (excluding the element of additional pension to old pensioners). The upper ceiling on pension/family pension will be 50% and 30% respectively of the highest pay in the Government (The highest pay in the Government is Rs. 2,50,000 with effect from 01.01.2016).

9. The pension/family pension as worked out in accordance with provisions of Para 4 and 5 above shall be treated as 'Basic Pension' with effect from 01.01.2016. The revised pension/family pension includes dearness relief sanctioned from 1.1.2016 and shall qualify for grant of Dearness Relief sanctioned thereafter.

10. The existing instructions regarding regulation of dearness relief to employed/re-employed pensioners/family pensioners, as contained in Department of Pension & Pensioners Welfare O.M. No. 45/73/97-P&PW(G) dated 02.07.1999, as amended from time to time, shall continue to apply.

11. These orders would not be applicable for the purpose of revision of pension of those pensioners who were drawing compulsory retirement pension under Rule 40 of the CCS (Pension) Rules or compassionate allowance under Rule 41 of the CCS (Pension) Rules. The pensioners in these categories would continue to be entitled to revised pension in accordance with the instructions contained in this Department's O.M. No. 38/37/2016-P&PW(A)(ii) dated 4.8.2016.

12. The pension of the pensioners who are drawing monthly pension from the Government on permanent absorption in public sector undertakings/autonomous bodies will also be revised in accordance with these orders. However, separate orders will be issued for revision of pension of those pensioners who had earlier drawn one time lump sum terminal benefits on absorption in public sector undertakings, etc. and are drawing one-third restored pension as per the instructions issued by this Department from time to time.

13. In cases where, on permanent absorption in public sector undertakings/autonomous bodies, the terms of absorption and/or the rules permit grant of family pension under the CCS (Pension) Rules, 1972 or the corresponding rules applicable to Railway employees/members of All India Services, the family pension being drawn by family pensioners will be updated in accordance with these orders.

14. Since the consolidated pension will be inclusive of commuted portion of pension, if any, the commuted portion will be deducted from the said amount while making monthly disbursements.

15. The quantum of age-related pension/family pension available to the old pensioners/ family pensioners shall continue to be as follows:-

Age of pensioner/family pensioner	Additional quantum of pension
From 80 years to less than 85 years	20% of revised basic pension/family pension
From 85 years to less than 90 years	30% of revised basic pension/family pension
From 90 years to less than 95 years	40% of revised basic pension/family pension
From 95 years to less than 100 years	50% of revised basic pension/family pension
100 years or more	100% of revised basic pension/family pension

The amount of additional pension will be shown distinctly in the pension payment order. For example, in case where a pensioner is more than 80 years of age and his/her revised pension is Rs.10,000 pm, the pension will be shown as (i).Basic pension=Rs.10,000 and (ii) Additional pension = Rs.2,000 pm. The pension on his/her attaining the age of 85 years will be shown as (i).Basic Pension = Rs.10,000 and (ii) additional pension = Rs.3,000 pm. Dearness relief will be admissible on the additional pension available to the old pensioners also.

16. A few examples of calculation of pension/family pension in the manner prescribed above are given in Annexure-I to this O.M.

17. No arrears on account of revision of Pension/Family pension on notional fixation of pay will be admissible for the period prior to 1.1.2016. The arrears on account of revision of pension/family pension in terms of these orders would be admissible with effect from 01.01.2016. For calculation of arrears becoming due on the revision of pension/ family pension on the basis of this O.M., the arrears of pension and the revised pension/family pension already paid on revision of pension/family pension in accordance with the instructions contained in this Department's OM No. 38/37/2016-P&PW(A) (ii) dated 04.08.2016 shall be adjusted.

18. It shall be the responsibility of the Head of Department and Pay and Accounts Office attached to that office from which the Government servant had retired or was working last before his death to revise the pension/ family pension of pre -2016 pensioners/ family pensioners with effect from 01.01.2016 in accordance with these orders and to issue a revised pension payment authority. The Pension Sanctioning Authority would impress upon the concerned Head of Office for fixation of pay on notional basis at the earliest and issue revised authority at the earliest. The revised authority will be issued under the existing PPO number and would travel to the Pension Disbursing Authority through the same channel through which the original PPO had travelled.

19. These orders shall apply to all pensioners/family pensioners who were drawing pension/family pension before 1.1.2016 under the Central Civil Services (Pension) Rules, 1972, and the corresponding rules applicable to Railway pensioners and pensioners of All India Services, including officers of the Indian Civil Service retired from service on or after 1.1.1973. A pensioner/family pensioner who became entitled to pension/family pension with effect from 01.01.2016 consequent on retirement/death of Government servant on 31.12.2015, would also be covered by these orders. Separate orders will be issued by the Ministry of Defence in regard to Armed Forces pensioners/family pensioners.

20 These orders do not apply to retired High Court and Supreme Court Judges and other Constitutional/Statutory Authorities whose pension etc. is governed by separate rules/orders.

21 These orders issue with the concurrence of Ministry of Finance (Department of Expenditure) vide their I.D. No. 30-1/33(c)/2016-IC dated 11.05.2017 and I.D. No. 30-1/33(c)/2016-IC dated 12.05.2017.

22. In their application to the persons belonging to the Indian Audit and Accounts Department, these orders issue in consultation with the Comptroller and Auditor General of India.

23. Ministry of Agriculture etc. are requested to bring the contents of these orders  to the notice of Heads of Department/Controller of Accounts, Pay and Accounts  Officers, and Attached and Subordinate Offices under them on top priority basis. All Ministries/Departments are requested to accord top priority to the work of revision of pension of pre-2016 pensioners/family pensioners and issue the revised Pension Payment Authority in respect of all pre-2016 pensioners.

 

By Ajeet Kumar | Last Updated: Wednesday, June 7, 2017

 

7th pay commission problems - Dilip Hiray

Honorable,

Narendra Damodar Das Modi

The Prime minister

Govt of India

Mr prime minister,

Once again The poor jawans i.e personnel below officer rank ( PBORS )of Armed forces have been betrayed with in 7th pay commission. The leg has been hit on the stomach of the poor soldiers, and a knife has been stabbed into the back of the poor jawans. And. Commissioned officer's pay has been hiked from 2.57 times to 2.67 times at the cost of X-Gp pay of the poor jawans. Poor jawans have been cheated again. The X-Gp PAY has been separated from the commutation into their pension.

Officers settled themselves for pay in multiples of 2.67 and 2.57 for men who are already getting a lesser pay. Shameful act of betrayal. Fixation of Military Service Pay (MSP) turned out to be another joke. Officers who enjoys all facilities and luxuries wherever they go, will get 15000+ per month as MSP. The soldiers who are the first line of defence facing bullets gets a meager 5200 per month as a monetary compensation for the hardships they suffer. This is when the non-combatant MNS have bagged an MSP of 10480/- !!!

If the basis of this remuneration is supposedly the complexity, uncertainty and dangers involved in military jobs, how is an officer's job more complex than that of a soldier? How is an MNS (nurse) working comfortably in a hospital, more stressed than a soldier who is ordered to do duty in extreme climates, regardless of hours, comforts and safety? Officers have systematically kept all facilities with themselves.

There are never ending stories of struggle for the PBOR. But the very people who are supposed to take the matter to the highest level showed middle finger to the subordinates. It will hit the morale of Defence as a whole am sure. This betrayal can not be forgiven. The discrimination and high headedness of Officers in armed forces has to put to an end.

And why it is so happening again and again in the pay commission , why the poor soldiers I.e PBORs are being cheated in every pay commission ? It is because there is no one or representatives of PBORS to talk to the Govt on the issue of anomalies in their pay & service conditions. The commissioned officers the so called representatives of PBORS I.e jawans , so called supposed guardians of PBOR's put their interests first before the govt, The PAY COMMISSION , OR ANY COMMITTEE constituted for the purpose and the interests of PBORS are thrown far away by these , greedy, selfish commissioned officer. Same has been repeated again and poor jawans , poor PBORs has been cheated by all the three top Brasses of the Armed forces and their subordinates commissioned officers. Because the mindsets of these commissioned rank continues to be of colonial rule , considering the jawans as their slaves.

Is so the mindsets of the people sitting in the govt also , Mr Prime minister ?

If not so why the PBORS are being cheated time and again in the Pay commission?

Ultimately who is responsible for this debacle with respect to 7th CPC implementation so late ? Who made it to be so late ? Who are behind this? What were their objectives ? And what they got ?

And WHAT DID THE PBORS GOT FROM THIS EXERCISE OF DELAY OF 7TH CPC.

Answer is nothing , instead this will affect their pay,pension , gratuity and leave encashment etc and bring their morale down while performing their duty.

On whose instance 7th pay commission has been delayed ?

And by now what has been achieved by delaying it?

Answer is , the demands of increasing the pay from 2.57 to 2.67 of commissioned officers has been fulfilled at the cost of X-Gp pay of poor JAWANS , therby preventing the jawans or PBORS from pensionery benefits and reducing their pension, gratuity, leave encashment etc.

Instead the govt should not have attempted to bring the parity in the pay and salary of the officers , and also the parity in the pension of all the pensioners at the cost of X-Pay of the poor soldiers. But the govt has befooled the the poor jawans and very quietly betrayed them again. 

This is not justified MR PRIME MINISTER. This is irrational , arbitrary to the govt policy of soldiers welfare.

Big question is Why the govt is hell bent upon to cause this sort of discrimination time and again in the Pay commission?

The govt has stabbed in the back of PBORS, And they have hit the on the stomach of poor jawans.

This is what the govt is doing ? Mr Prime minister. 

Does the Govt only acts upon the advice and suggestions presented by all the three Brasses of Armed forces and the kind of pressure they exert upon the govt?

If so is not the case then why the govt has hit the leg on the stomach of poor jawans ?

And why the govt accepted the demands of the commissioned officers to hike their pay from 2.57 to 2.67 times that too at the cost of X-Gp Pay cut of poor jawans ????

Now all the three Chiefs are silent . WHY ? WHY?? WHY ???

THIS SILENCE SPEAKS A LOT , MR Prime minister.

Is it not the conspiracy of all the three Chiefs , to get their pay hiked from 2.57 to 2.67 times at cost of X- Gp Pay cut of poor jawans ?

At least your govt should have realised the issues of their pay , allowances , their demands of equal MILITARY SERVICE PAY, to all irrespective of their rank. But the govt has not given any heed to the issues of PBORS , instead the govt has increased the pay and salaries of the commissioned officers ? 

Why this discrimination of poor soldiers Mr Prime minister ? And till when ?

The attitude of the govt has badly affected the morale of the PBORS, placed on duty of securing the borders of the country.

I, therefore request you Mr Prime minister to equalise the Military service pay (MSP) to all irrespective of any rank and also to include the X-Gp pay for the purpose of commutation into their pension and pensionery benefits so as to boost their morale of the PBORs at hand.

Thank you and Jaihind, 

Vandemataram

Dilip Hiray
General Secretary
Malegaon Taluka Maji Sainik Sangh

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7th Pay Commission: Revised pay matrix table as notified by Finance Ministry

The Finance Ministry in its resolution dated May 16 said that the Government of India has accepted the recommendations made by the 7th Pay Commission. The Government has considered it necessary to make the following changes in the recommendations of the pay panel in respect of the certain categories of employees the resolution also said.

Here are the categories:

1. The Defence Pay Matrix, (except Military Nursing Service (MNS)), which has 24 stages shall be extended to 40 stages similar to the Civil Pay Matrix.
2. The Index of Rationalisation (IOR) of Level 12A and 13 of Defence Pay Matrix shall be enhanced from 2.57 to 2.67. The Defence Pay Matrix (except MNS) shall, accordingly, be revised.
3. To rectify the factual errors appearing in Level 10B and Level-12 of the pay matrix of MNS and in view of the changes in the IOR in the Defence Pay Matrix, the first stage of corresponding Levels of Pay Matrix of MNS shall also change. Accordingly, the Pay Matrix (MNS) shall be revised;
4. The IOR of Level-13 of Civil Pay Matrix shall also be enhanced from 2.57 to 2.67. Accordingly, the Civil Pay Matrix shall be revised.
5. The provision shall be revised to the extent that the benefit of pay protection in the form of personal pay of officers posted on deputation under Central Staffing Scheme, as envisaged therein, shall be given effect from 1st January, 2016 instead of 25th July, 2016.
6. Further, this benefit shall also be extended to officers from Services under Central Staffing Scheme, coming on deputation to Central Government, on posts not covered under Central Staffing Scheme.

source: oneindia.com

7th Pay Commission: Can Narendra Modi government gift you higher allowances from April?

The Committee on Allowances missed its earlier February 22 deadline for submitting its review report on the recommendations by the Seventh Pay Commission.

All hope may not be lost for Central government employees who were expecting the government to make an announcement on higher allowances under the Seventh Pay Commission after the election season.

According to some media reports, the Committee on Allowances headed by Finance Secretary Ashok Lavasa may submit its report before the end of this month, giving a glimmer of hope to employees who can expect to get revised allowances from April.

The Committee on Allowances missed its earlier February 22 deadline for submitting its review report on the recommendations by the Seventh Pay Commission on allowances.

HERE IS ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT COMMITTEE ON ALLOWANCES:

1. Replying to a question on Seventh Pay Commission in Lok Sabha on March 10, Minister of State for Finance Arjun Ram Meghwal had said the committee on higher allowances was yet to submit its report. The minister, however, added that deliberations with the committee were in the final stage.

2. The Committee on Allowances was formed in July last year after government employees protested against the recommendations of the Seventh Pay Commission. The commission had recommended scrapping 53 of the 196 allowances for government employees and also suggested merging a few others.

3. The Ashok Lavasa-led committee was given four months' time to submit its review report on the recommendations made by the Seventh Pay Commission. The deadline for report submission was later extended to February 22, 2017.

4. Allowances form a significant part of a government employee's salary and the delay in announcement on a proposed hike has led to growing resentment among nearly 50 lakh employees.

5. It was believed that once the model code of conduct was lifted following the end of the elections in five states, the government would soon make an announcement on higher allowances.

6. The second part of the Budget session is still on and the Committee on Allowances, as per some media reports, is expected to submit its report before the end of March. If the recommendations are implemented by month-end, employees can expect to get revised salaries from April.

7. Among allowances, the Lavasa committee's recommendation on house rent allowance will be most-closely followed. HRA is one of the fatter allowances that employees get and the Seventh Pay Commission had recommended reducing it by 2-6 per cent depending on type of cities.

8. If reports are to be believed, the Committee on Allowances is likely to recommend no changes in HRA, keeping them as they were under the Sixth Pay Commission at 10, 20 and 30 per cent for different tiers of cities.

7th Pay Commission: Wait for higher allowances gets longer, Central govt to pay bonanza after Budget 2017-187th Pay Commission: Wait for higher allowances gets longer, Central govt to pay bonanza after Budget 2017-18

New Delhi, Jan 2: The suspense over the payment of higher allowances under the 7th Pay Commission ended on Tuesday with Central government saying the higher allowances will be paid after the Budget 2017-18. The ‘Committee on Allowances’ had got extension till February 22, 2017 to give its report on higher allowances, which suggested that the government will pay higher allowances as per the recommendations of the 7th Pay Commission after February. The government has decided to advance the date of Budget presentation by a month and present it on February 1. The government plans to complete the entire exercise related to Budget before March 31, after which it will pay the higher allowances under the 7th Pay Commission.

“Government is very pleased to pay the higher allowances to its employees after Budget,” a Finance Ministry official was quoted as saying by the Sen Times. “The acute cash crunch in banks and ATMs that prevailed for a month following the demonetization move of the government has eased from January 1, as the daily withdrawal limit from ATMs has been increased from Rs 2,500 to Rs 4,500. Hence, the Finance Ministry felt it would be wiser to announce of higher allowances after Budget,” the top official added.

The cash crunch post demonetisation drive affected the preparations of the government about payment of higher allowances as per the 7th Pay Commission recommendations. The government wanted to start payment of higher allowances under 7th Pay Commission for its 48 lakh employees and 52 lakh pensioners, but the cash shortage compelled the government to delay it.

The central government employees have been waiting for fatter allowance since July when the government issued the notification for the implementation of the 7th Pay Commission recommendations. The 7th Pay Commission had recommended abolition of 51 allowances and subsuming 37 others out of 196 allowances, however central government employees were unhappy with the move.

Until acceptance of higher allowances, under 7th Pay Commission, the allowances are now paid according to the 6th Pay Commission recommendations.

Source: india

7th Pay Commission – SBI Releases arrears for Veterans

Public sector bank State Bank of India (SBI) said that it has released Rs 3,323.24 crore in arrears to defence pensioners as part of the 7th Pay Commission on Friday. The bank released the amount to about 9.94 lakh pensioners, Rajnish Kumar, managing director (national banking group), said in a statement. Last month, the bank released about Rs 4,003 crore worth in arrears to 4.60 lakh retired services pensioners.

The bank serves to the largest share of central government pensioners across the country and to about 50 percent of total defence pensioners. This means that so far, roughly Rs 7,300 crore worth in arrears has been released to defence pensioners till now. In October, the defence ministry had said that it had deferred the representation of the armed forces for a percentage-based system rather than a slab-based system for determining disability pension to the Anomaly Committee of the 7th Central Pay Commission (CPC). The move followed criticism from the opposition parties and the defence forces over a letter issued on September 30, which had stated that a slab-based system will replace the percentage method of calculating the pension for the disability pension for the Army, Navy and the Air Force personnel.

“Service Headquarters have represented that the percentage based system should be continued under the 7th pay commission for calculating disability pension for Defence Services at par with their Civilian counterparts. The Ministry has referred the representation of the Service Headquarters to the Anomaly Committee of 7th pay commission for consideration,” a statement by the defence ministry stated.

Source: PTI

Pay hike for autonomous bodies may be delayed further

Lakhs of employees and pensioners of autonomous bodies working under the Central government may be in for some bad news, with the revision of their salary and pension scales expected to be delayed.

They are yet to receive the full benefits of the pay scale recommended by the 7th Central Pay Commission (CPC), and the Confederation of Central Government Employees and Workers (CCGEW) has already taken up the matter with the Centre.

Now, the Ministry of Finance has ordered implementation of the recommendations of the Expenditure Management Commission (EMC) on autonomous bodies. Now, since the recommendations include evaluating whether an autonomous body needs to continue working with the government, or whether it can be merged with another autonomous body or closed altogether, the implementation of pay scales for these employees and pensioners as per the 7th CPC recommendations is expected to be delayed further.

Read full @ http://www.ibtimes.co.in/7th-pay-commission-bad-news-staff-pensioners-autonomous-bodies-their-pay-revision-may-be-709755

7th CPC: Central Govt employee union calls nationwide strike on 15th February 2017

7th Pay Commission: Central Govt employee union calls nationwide strike on February 15

After a massive Parliament march conducted by the central government employees on December 15, the union has called again for a nationwide strike on February 15, 2017, demanding the Union Government to make an immediate settlement of their 21 points charter demands in 7th Pay Commission (7CPC). The strike has been called in a joint cooperation by several central government employees union against what they say “the betrayal and breach of assurance by Home Minister Rajnath Singh, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley and Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu”.

On 15th December a massive Parliament march was conducted in which around 15,000 central government employees from all over the states participated. In the Parliament march autonomous bodies employees and pensioners also extended their support by joining the rally. During the rally which the central government employees union view as a success also declared a one-day nationwide strike on February 15.

The strike has been announced by the National President of the Confederation KKN Kutty, Secretary General M Krishnan and several other leaders present at the rally.

According to reports, the rally condemned the authoritarian attitude of the NDA Government and also the breach of an assurance given by the trio Union Ministers to NJCA leaders who met them after the implementation of 7th Pay Commission.

21 Points Charter Demands made by central government employees:

1) The central government employees union asked the government to settle the demands raised by NJCA regarding modifications of 7th Pay Commission recommendations as submitted in the memorandum to Cabinet Secretary on 10th December 2015. Honour the assurance given by the Union Ministers to NJCA on 30th June 2016 and 6th July 2016, especially increase in minimum wage and fitment factor. Grant revised HRA at the existing percentage itself ie: 30 per cent, 20 per cent and 10 per cent. Accept the proposal of the staff side regarding transport allowance. Settle all anomalies arising out of implementation of 7th CPC recommendations, in a time bound manner.

2) Implement option-I recommended by 7th Pay Commission and accepted by the Government regarding parity in pension of pre-2016 pensioners, without any further delay. Settle the pension related issues raised by NJCA against item 13 of its memorandum submitted to Cabinet Secretary on 10th December 2015.

3) Scrap PFRDA Act and New Pension System (NPS) and grant pension and Family Pension to all Central Government employees recruited after 1st January 2004, under CCS (Pension) Rules 1972.

4) Treat Gramin Dak Sewaks of postal department as civil servants, and extend all benefits like pay, pension, allowances etc. of departmental employees to GDS. Publish GDS Committee report immediately.

5) Regularise all casual, contract, part-time, contingent and Daily rated mazdoors and grant equal pay and other benefits. Revise the wages as per 7th CPC minimum pay.

6) No downsizing, privatisation, outsourcing and contractorisation of government functions.

7) Withdraw the arbitrary decision of the Government to enhance the benchmark for performance appraisal for promotion and financial upgradations under MACP from “GOOD” to VERY GOOD” and also decision to withhold annual increments in the case of those employees who are not able to meet the bench march either for MACP or for regular promotion within the first 20 years of service. Grant MACP pay fixation benefits on promotional hierarchy and not on pay-matrix hierarchy. Personnel promoted on the basis of examination should be treated as fresh entrants to the cadre for grant of MACP.

8) Withdraw the draconian FR 56 (J) and Rule 48 of CCs (Pension) Rules 1972 which is being misused as a short cut as purity measure to punish and victimize the employees.

9) Fill up all vacant posts including promotional posts in a time bound manner. Lift ban on creation of posts. Undertake cadre Review to access the requirement of employees and their cadre prospects. Modify recruitment rules of Group-‘C’ cadre and make recruitment on Reginal basis.

10) Remove 5% ceiling on compassionate appointments and grant appointment in all deserving cases.

11) Grant five promotions in the service career to all Central Govt. employees.

12) Abolish and upgrade all Lower Division Clerks to Upper Division Clerks.

13) Ensure parity in pay for all stenographers, Assistants, Ministerial Staff in subordinate offices and in all organized Accounts cadres with Central Secretariat staff by upgrading their pay scales. Grant pay scale of Drivers in Loksabha Secretariat to Drivers working in all other Central Government Departments.

14) Reject the stipulation of 7th CPC to reduce the salary to 80 per cent for the second year of Child Care leave and retain the existing provision.

15) Introduce Productivity Linked bonus in all department and continue the existing bi-lateral agreement on PLB wherever it exists.

16) Ensure cashless medical treatment to all Central Government employees & Pensioners in all recognized Government and Private hospitals.

17) Revision of Overtime Allowance (OTA) and Night Duty Allowance (NDA) w.e.f 01.01.2016 based on 7th CPC pay scale.

18) Revision of wages of Central Government employees in every five years.

19) Revive JCM functioning at all levels. Grant recognition of the unions/Associations under CCS (RSA) Rules 1993 within a time frame to facilitate effective JCM functioning.

20) Implementation of the Revised Pay structure in respect of employees and pensioners of autonomous bodies consequent on implementation of CCS (Revised Pay) Rules 2016 in respect of Central Government employees and pensioners w.e.f. 01.01.2016.

21) Implementation of the “equal pay for equal work” judgement of the Supreme Court in all departments of the Central Government.

Source India.com , allcgnews

7CPC : Finance Ministry gets extension of 2 months, may delay higher allowances notification

The notification for the implementation of higher allowance, under the 7th Pay Commission recommendations, is likely to be issued after January 2017.

New Delhi, Dec 7: The notification for the implementation of higher allowance, under the 7th Pay Commission recommendations, is likely to be issued after January 2017. The Finance Ministry has got extension of two months to issue the higher allowances notification under 7th Pay Commission recommendations. It means the higher allowance notification, under the 7th Pay Commission recommendations, may get delayed till January next year. The government intends to accept the report of ‘Committee on Allowances’ after December 30, deadline for depositing demonetised notes.

The October-November month is the scheduled for issuing notification, but the Finance Ministry has got extension of two months because of the cash shortage following demonetisation drive. The government doesn’t want to increase the burden of banks that has been witnessing cash crunch due to demonetisation of Rs 500 and Rs 1000 notes. The government hopes that situation will return to normal after December 30 and it will be able to pay higher allowances to its 4.8 million employees as per the recommendations of the 7th Pay Commission.

“The October-November month is the scheduled for issuing notification for the Finance Ministry, but the time was extended by 2 months because the cash crunch on account of demonetisation, which is taking time to get normality,” a Finance Ministry official was quoted as saying by Sen Times. “Therefor, unless the banks can begin to function with a modicum of efficiency, the government will not issue notification on higher allowances to save demonetisation chaos,” he added.

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Sources in the Finance Ministry said the government is likely to issue higher allowances notification under the 7th Pay Commission recommendations from January next year, after the the cash crunch will ease. The central government employees have been waiting for fatter allowance since July when the notification for the implementation of the 7th Pay Commission recommendations was issued.

Earlier we reported that the government is planning to pay higher allowances under the 7th Pay Commission from January, 2017.The ‘Committee on Allowances’, headed by Finance Secretary Ashok Lavasa, on fatter allowances under the 7th Pay Commission recommendations is ready with its report. However the massive cash crunch post demonetisation drive has compelled the Finance Ministry to keep in abeyance the enhanced allowances till things normalize. Allowances are now being paid to the central government employees according to the 6th Pay Commission recommendations.

Source : India

Goa approves implementation of 7th Pay panel recommendations

Panaji: Goa cabinet today gave its approval to the Seventh Pay Commission recommendations, which will be implemented from January 1, 2017.

Goa Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar

State Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar announced that over 55,447 government employees will be covered under the recommendation of 7th Pay Commission, which will increase their salary by 16 per cent.

"Another 25,002 pensioners and their families will benefit from the pay scale," he said.

Parsekar said the state's salary liability will increase from Rs 47 crore to Rs 70 crore annually with the implementation of 7th Pay Commission.

"The arrears from January 1, 2016 to December 31, 2016 which comes to around Rs 381.60 crore would be deposited into the employees' provident funds," the CM said.

The revised pay scale would not be applicable to the employees of panchayat raj, municipalities, corporations, autonomous bodies, public sector undertakings (PSU).

Parsekar said approximately 55,447 government employees and government-aided employees (educational) will enjoy the benefit from January 1.

PTI

Goa approves implementation of 7th Pay panel recommendations

Panaji: Goa cabinet today gave its approval to the Seventh Pay Commission recommendations, which will be implemented from January 1, 2017.

Goa Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar

State Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar announced that over 55,447 government employees will be covered under the recommendation of 7th Pay Commission, which will increase their salary by 16 per cent.

"Another 25,002 pensioners and their families will benefit from the pay scale," he said.

Parsekar said the state's salary liability will increase from Rs 47 crore to Rs 70 crore annually with the implementation of 7th Pay Commission.

"The arrears from January 1, 2016 to December 31, 2016 which comes to around Rs 381.60 crore would be deposited into the employees' provident funds," the CM said.

The revised pay scale would not be applicable to the employees of panchayat raj, municipalities, corporations, autonomous bodies, public sector undertakings (PSU).

Parsekar said approximately 55,447 government employees and government-aided employees (educational) will enjoy the benefit from January 1.

PTI

Pension Revision Committee made to examine 7th Pay Commn

Chandigarh: The Haryana Government has constituted a Pension Revision Committee to examine the recommendations of the 7th Central Pay Commission.

Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar

The Committee, headed by Additional Chief Secretary of Finance, will also devise modalities for their implementation in the State with regard to revision of pension, family pension, gratuity, commutation of pension and other related issues for pensioners and family pensioners of the State Government, an official spokesman said here today.

He said that the State Government had also invited individual employees and pensioners, and Unions and Associations to send their views, suggestions and representations in this regard by November 30, 2016.

PTI

Basic pension of ex-servicemen increased 2.57 times: Prez

Pokhara (Nepal): The basic pension of ex-servicemen of the Indian Army has increased by 2.57 times as compared to pension of December 31, 2015, President Pranab Mukherjee today said here while addressing ex-servicemen of the Gurkha regiments in the Indian Army.

President Pranab Mukherjee.

Mukherjee, who is also the supreme commander of the armed forces, lauded the valour and discipline of the Gurkha soldiers in guarding the borders of India.

Mukherjee, who is on a three-day state visit to Nepal, visited the Pension Office for Gurkha ex-servicemen here in the last segment as large number of these soldiers live here after retirement.

The scenic Pokhara Valley, nestled in the shadow of towering snowcapped peaks of Dhaulgiri, Machapuchare, and Annapurna is home to a large number of soldiers of the famed Gurkha regiments in the Indian Army.

The President received a warm welcome here with people dressed in traditional clothes carrying flags of India and Nepal had lined up the roads from airport to hotel where he stayed briefly and then from hotel to pension office of the Gurkha regiments ex-servicemen.

People stood there throughout the stay of the President who was in the city for nearly an hour playing drums, dancing and waving as his convoy passed through the streets of Pokhara city.

"According to the seventh Pay Commission the basic pension has increased 2.57 times under the One Rank One Pension scheme as compared to basic pension on December 31, 2015," Mukherjee said.

He said being the supreme commander of the Indian defence forces, it was a matter of great satisfaction and pride that all the welfare schemes of ex-servicemen are being implemented in Nepal on time.

The President said there are 32,000 Gurkha soldiers in Indian Army besides 1.26 lakh ex-servicemen from the community. Mukherjee said India will never hesitate to take all possible steps for the welfare of ex-servicemen.

"Every year about Nepalese Rs (NPR) 3,100 crore of pensions is being distributed in Nepal. In the current financial year, the target is to distribute about NPR 4,000 crore of pension as per One Rank One Pension and Seventh Pay Commission," he said.

PTI

7th Pay Commission: Inflation demands more HRA

New Delhi: House rent allowance or HRA is a core component of central government employees' salary. It is given to every central government employee towards meeting the cost of renting of house in the city of work.

Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said, “Whatever the committee on allowances decides, it will go to the Cabinet.”

But the present rate of house rent allowance — of 30, 20 and 10 per cent — has been reduced to 24, 16 and 8 per cent respectively by the by the 7th Pay Commission.

The Commission also recommended, that the rate of HRA will be revised to 27 percent, 18 percent and 9 percent respectively when DA crosses 50 percent, and further revised to 30 percent, 20 percent and 10 percent when DA crosses 100 percent.

The central government employees' unions leader said that the proposed house rent is not enough for employees to make a living in cities. They had demanded a hike in House rent allowance 30, 20 and 10 per cent respectively according to new pay matrix. They urged government to hlke the new HRA keeping in mind the House Rent prices prevalent in the market.

The increase in house rent allowances does contribute to inflation. The food inflation constitutes a major chunk of our inflation, when food inflation is moderating, any increase in other factors will get absorbed reasonably, said the Economic Affairs Secretary Shaktikanta Das.

However, The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) expects implementation of the recommendation regarding house rent allowance by the 7th Pay Commission could have an impact on retail inflation.

The sources in the Finance Ministry said that the quantum of House Rent and others allowances may not vary from those proposed by the 7th Pay Commission.

“The committee on allowances headed by Finance Secretary Ashok Lavasa is likely to stick with the 7th Pay Commission’s recommendations on allowances and the government is likely to accept it.” the sources added.

The 7th Pay Commission has recommended abolition of 51 allowances, and subsuming 37 others after examining 196 allowances.

The government has already accepted most of the 7th Pay Commission’s recommendations on advances, with the changes have been put in the office memorandums on October 7.

The abolished advances include bicycle advance, warm clothing advance, advance of pay on transfer, festival advance, natural calamity advance, advance of leave salary and advance for law suits, while interest-free advances that have been retained are medical treatment, travelling allowance (TA) for family of deceased, TA on tour or transfer and Leave Travel Concession (LTC) overriding the 7th Pay Commission’s recommendation.

The interest bearing advances relating to motor car advance and motorcycle/scooter/moped advance has been discontinued and computer advance has been enhanced to Rs. 50,000 as proposed by the 7th Pay Commission.

TST

7th Pay Commission: Fatter allowances report this week “surely”

New Delhi: All the central government employees will get reason to smile soon. Reportedly, much awaited fatter allowances report under the 7th Pay Commission recommendations will be submitted to Finance Ministry this week itself. If sources in Finance Ministry are to be believed then the report will be surely submitted to Finance Minister Arun Jaitley in this week.

The fatter allowances report will be surely submitted to Finance Minister Arun Jaitley in this week.

The sources revealed that the quantum of allowances may not vary from those recommended by the 7th Pay Commission. The committee on allowances sticks with the 7th Pay Commission’s recommendations on allowances.

The fatter allowances is scheduled to be implemented from August 2016 with the hike in basic pay of the 7th Pay Commission recommendations. But the pay commission headed by Justice A K Mathur had recommended abolition of 51 allowances and subsuming 37 others out of 196 allowances. so, there was resentment among employees over suggestions to scrap some allowances.

Hence, the government had set up a ‘Committee on Allowances’ under the chairmanship Finance Secretary on July 22 for examination of the recommendations of 7th Pay Commission on allowances other than dearness allowance and asked to submit its report with in four months.

However, the committee is ready to submit its report even two months in advance as Finance Secretary Ashok Lavasa recently said, “A committee headed by me is currently examining the Pay Commission’s recommendations on allowances and it will submit its report soon.”

As part of the exercise, the committee held discussions with various stakeholders, including organisations, federations, groups representing civil employees as well as Defence services, sources added.

“The cabinet is likely to approve the proposal of committee on allowances and the higher allowances will be implemented with retrospective effect from August 2016 but the central government employees unions demanded for implementation of the allowances with retrospective effect from January 2016,” the sources confirmed.

“Moreover, arrears for higher allowances will be paid from August,” the source assured.

The 4.8 million central government employees and 5.2 million pensioners got theirs arrears of basic pay and pension arising from implementation of the 7th Pay Commission recommendations in one go in August salaries and pension respectively. The hike in basic pay and pension has been made effective from January 1, 2016.

TST

7th Pay Commission – The Painful Anxiety Still Continues for Autonomous bodies and Boards.

One would indeed find it shocking that central government, so far, has not extended the salary hikes and other benefits announced under the 7th Pay Commission to the personnel of autonomous bodies and Boards falling under different central ministries.

As per the blog of Confederation of Central Government Employees and Workers, “During the previous wage revisions, they have been allowed to enjoy the benefits within one month of release of the Government Notification on Revised Pay Rules. Employees and Pensioners of more than 600 Autonomous bodies and Boards etc. are eagerly waiting for the last more than two months, for revised pay structure implementation in their respective institutions”.

Since most of the autonomous bodies and Boards, and ministries under whose ambit their fall, do not have much fund to spare for payment of pay hike, they have to depend on the Finance Ministry for the financial support for meeting the financial burden of salary hike.

Confederation of Central Government Employees and workers has already taken up their case with the government, but till this date the Finance Ministry has not issued orders extending the 7th pay commission benefit to employees of Autonomous bodies and Board. The Confederation has urged upon the Central Government to expedite action in this regard and to end the uncertainty and anxiety among a large section of employees and pensioners.

Last time the Revised Pay Rules was issued on 30.08.2008 and orders extending the benefit to similarly placed employees of Autonomous bodies was issued on 30.09.2008. This time even though the Revised Pay Rules are issued on 25.07.2016, till this day i.e. even after a lapse of more than one month orders regarding Autonomous bodies is not issued.

Further it is reported that the employees of working at Central Food Laboratory, Kolkata (Health and Family Welfare Department, Government of India) who are on deemed deputation has not been paid the Revised salary for the month of August 2016 in terms of CCS (RP) Rules 2016 by the Director, Central Food Laboratory. Director, CFL has issued orders to draw the pay on the basis of pre-revised pay even in respect of those Central Government employees working at CFL who are on deemed deputation.

He has equated employees of the Autonomous organizations with the employees on deemed deputation. Above action of the Director, CFL, Kolkata appears to be not in conformity with the Para- 7 of OM No. 1-5/2016-IC dated 28.07.2016 in letter and spirit.

Source: Zeenews

7th Pay Commission: Surgical strikes may delay fatter allowances by a month

New Delhi: Fatter allowances under 7th Pay Commission award may be delayed by a month following surgical strikes carried out by the Army on terror launching pads across the LoC and the government is in a high state of alertness and preparedness to meet any eventuality.

Finance Minister Arun Jaitley is likely to approve the proposal of committee on allowances.

“The process of fatter allowances, which is likely to be implemented within a month, which may be delayed by a month on account of increasing defence activities after surgical strikes,” A Finance Ministry top official told The Sen Times on Friday on condition of anonymity.

He further said “the issue of increased defence activities after surgical strikes in Pakistan may compel the government to keep in abeyance the higher allowances as the position would take a month to get normalized. However the government wants to implement the higher allowances speedily…in a time bound manner.”

“Fearing any eventual terrorism incident in the country and in view of the current scenario and respecting public sentiments, the government has decided to delay the announce of higher allowances by a month,” the official added.

He said that there is pressure on the part of the government to announce the higher allowance even this difficult situation.

India has conducted “surgical strikes” on September 28 in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir in the aftermath of the Uri terror attack which claimed the lives of 19 jawans.

The committee on allowances, which was set up in July this year on the direction of the cabinet, is looking into the provision of allowances other than dearness allowance under the 7th Pay Commission recommendations as the pay commission had recommended of abolishing 51 allowances and subsuming 37 others out of 196 allowances.

The basic salaries of government employees has been increased on the recommendations of 7th Pay Commission with retrospective effect from January 1, 2016. Till a final decision on allowances is taken based on the recommendations of committee on allowances, all allowances are continue to be paid at 6th Pay Commission rates in 6th Pay Commission pay structure.

The committee on allowances headed by Finance Secretary Ashok Lavasa, already met with employees unions leaders on August 4 and September 1 respectively and the committee prepared its report, the central government employees’ unions leaders said.

“The committee on allowances is ready to submit its report even two months in advance, when the Finance minister calls up, the committee will submit its report,” the official assured.

The official also confirmed the Finance Minister Arun Jaitley is likely to approve the proposal of committee on allowances which will stick to the 7th Pay Commission’s recommendations on allowances like glue and the fatter allowances will be implemented with prospective effect.

However, the central government employees unions demanded for implementation of the allowances with retrospective effect from January 2016.

TST

7th Pay Commission – to be Implemented from October 1 – Army men, veterans not Happy

7th Pay Commission – to be Implemented from October 1 – Sources said that defence minister Manohar Parrikar spoke to the service chiefs following which they decided to heed his advice on implementation of the pay commission.

The 7th pay commission whose provisions are going to be implemented from October 1 after a long wait has not satisfied Army personnel especially veterans who feel that the status of the defence forces “has taken a big dip” especially in comparison to paramilitary forces and bureaucrats.

The 7th pay commission recommendations which were initially rejected by all three chiefs of the tri-services have only been accepted after the ministry of defence (MoD) gave its assurance of sorting out the various anomalies.

Sources said that defence minister Manohar Parrikar spoke to the service chiefs following which they decided to heed his advice on implementation of the pay commission. The 7th pay commission implementation had been halted on September 9 when the three chiefs had written to the MoD about the apparent anomalies.

Among the major anomalies pointed out by the services are non functional upgrade (NFU), NFU pay fixation, military service pay (MSP), and common pay matrix for civilian and military services and allowances. Grant of NFU, a long standing demand of the forces, is for officers who are denied promotions due to the lack of vacancies in the steeply-pyramidal structure of the armed forces so that they do not lose out on pay grades, as their batch mates are promoted.

“IFS and IPS officers, as also those from organized Group A civil services, now get NFU after the 6th pay commission like IAS officers. But the armed forces have been kept out of it,” said a senior serving officer. “This adversely impacts the morale of serving military officers. It also creates command, control and functional problems because even organizations that work closely with the military like DRDO, Border Roads Organisation, Military Engineer Services and the like get NFU,” he added.

Another demand is the placement of all Lt-Generals in the HAG+ (higher administrative grade) pay-scale like directors-general of police. “As of now, only 33% of Lt-Gens are in the HAG+ scale. The status of all Lt-Gens with that of DGPs must be restored,” the officer added.

Source: Times of India

7th Pay Commission – Defence Minister Overrules Chiefs – Asks Them To Implement Immediately

7th Pay Commission – Defence Minister Overrules Chiefs – Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar has asked them to implement the 7th Pay Commission without any delay.

Overruling service chiefs, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar has asked them to implement the 7th Pay Commission without any delay.

Last week, the three services – Army, Navy and the Air Force – had issued an open signal to servicemen informing them the implementation of the 7th Pay Commission is being kept in abeyance till anomalies are addressed.

On Monday, the three services, led by the Chairman Chiefs of Staff Committee, Air Chief Arup Raha met the Defence Minister to reiterate the need to address the anomalies before the 7th Pay Commission could be rolled out for forces.

The major grievances of the forces include not being allowed non-functional upgrade (NFU) available to bureaucracy. NFU allows bureaucrats who have been passed over to get a higher pay as soon as their batch mates make it to the next rank, and a pay matrix that is separate from the civilian bureaucracy. The government has formed an anomalies commission to look to into these issues.

Resentment has been brewing in the defence services for quite sometime over the 7th pay commission recommendations. The government notification for the defence services, issued last week, removed a sentence about their parity with Central Armed Police Forces but made no other change. Following the notification, the military chiefs were given a detailed briefing last Wednesday by the pay commission cells of the three defence services. After the briefing, the defence services decided “to request the government to hold the implementation of 7th pay commission award in abeyance in view of some serious disparities which need to be resolved ab initio”.

On Friday, the three military chiefs issued a message to all ranks stating the same. “We are in the process of resolving all pending issues and this may take a little longer than we had earlier expected. This is to assure each one of you that no efforts are being spared to bring our genuine concerns to the notice of our country’s leadership,” they added.

The three chiefs had flagged four core issues in a letter to the PM in the third week of July. No response to that letter has been received by the defence services so far, military officials said.

However, taking a strong exception to Parrikar asking the service chiefs to implement the 7th Pay Commission recommendations despite their genuine objections,  Captain Amarinder Singh, a former army officer, asked him to stand by the Defence services and not the babus in the government, who not only know nothing about the Defence services, but also seem to be congenitally hostile towards the services.

Captain Amarinder said, Parrikar had no right or authority to order the service chiefs to accept what is not acceptable to them. He said, he had once again shown his inability to understand the services. “You can order them in operational matters and they will do as ordered, but on what grounds can you order them to accept the 7th Pay Commission recommendations when these are prejudicially biased against them?” he asked, while adding, “is this Nazi Germany and are you Hitler to issue such a dictatorial order?”

Captain Amarinder Singh said, the three chiefs are reflecting the views of each and every soldier in uniform or out of it. “Instead of you standing by your Defence services, you are toeing the line set by your babus”, he told the minister while asking, “do you realise the implications of your attitude?”

“You have a highly disciplined force, perhaps the only pillar in our democracy that works without ever commenting or objecting”, he observed, while adding, “do you want a disgruntled service?” He said, “if the services are to lose their standing by placing them below the babus and the police, that is exactly what you will have, and then God help our country with a belligerent China and Pakistan around. Will you then lead your babus into the battle?”

He asked Parrikar to look beyond the babus and stand by the forces. “Demoralising them will affect the security of our nation”, he warned, while asking him to either stand by the services or quit, as the PM can perhaps find another Defence Minister and a better one.

Captain Amarinder also sought Prime Minister’s personal intervention and asked him to look beyond those who lack foresight. “This is a matter of national security. The three chiefs are absolutely correct in their stand. Their officers and men expect nothing less from them. They have complete admiration and total support of the nation”, he asserted.