CM rules out 6th Pay in toto
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, February 27 2014 : Chief Minister O Ibobi who is also in charge of Finance Department has categorically stated that the State Government lacks capability to implement the recommendations of the 6th Central Pay Commission in toto on account of the State's sick financial condition.

Responding to a call attention motion raised by MLA Th Shyamkumar in the State Assembly today, Ibobi stated one major issue of the State is its unhealthy financial condition.

The Government has no intention to rob any fraction of the entitlements recommended by the 6th Pay Commission but it faces severe constraints.

It would be worthwhile for both the ruling and Opposition parties to introspect into the State's financial condition, resources, expenditures, balance in Government exchequer and monthly expenditures.

Maintaining that the Government is not shirking its responsibility, Ibobi informed the House that out of Rs 10,000 crore available from non-plan head, 80 per cent goes to payment of salaries.

Repairing of transport infrastructure, payment of interest, law and order related expenditures and office expenditures are being managed by the remaining 20 per cent.

As against the demand for payment of DA at the Central scale, the State Government is already paying 75 per cent of the Central DA scale.

Employees have been demanding payment of the full Central DA scale.

This would require an additional Rs 300 cr annually, Ibobi stated.

The employees would not agree if they are asked to sign an undertaking declaring that they would be given 6th Central Pay in toto but they may or may not get their salaries in time.

Should the funds sanctioned by/for central sponsored schemes/projects , NEC and SPA be utilised in payment of salaries, all development activities would come to a grinding halt.

Taking due note of their own inadequate resources, the 6th Central Pay Commission is not implemented in Tripura rather they are following a pay structure of their own.

How the State employees would react is anybody's guess if any proposal is made to adopt the Tripura model.

This does not mean the Government is opposed to implementation of the 6th Pay in toto or the same demand is unreasonable.

Nonetheless, some of the demands raised by the employees are within the Government's capability.

Even there is a ban on appointment of contract and muster roll employees, the ban is relaxed with regard to certain posts which are funded 100 per cent by the Centre.

In case the State Government's recommendations to the 14th Finance Commission are approved in toto, the ban on recruitment may be relaxed and around 5000 vacant posts in different departments can be filled up.

Raising the call attention motion, Th Shyamkumar said that the employees' strike has affected public administration apart from causing immense troubles to the people.

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