Good news awaits state government employees ahead of the Assembly elections as a high-level committee has recommended implementation of the Seventh Pay Commission suggesting a hike between 15 and 20 per cent in their salary which includes teachers and pensioners.
“This is a very good news for government employees including teachers, as they would get enhanced salary and allowances as per 7th Pay Commission ahead of the crucial Assembly polls,” a senior government official told 'The Pioneer' in lucknow on Wednesday.
Senior bureaucrat and retired IAS officer G B Pattnaik, who is Chairman of the three-member committee, submitted an interim report to Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav in lucknow on Wednesday. The other committee members are Principal Secretary (Planning) and Principal Secretary (Personnel and Training).
Official sources said that the committee, in its interim report, has recommended enhanced pay scale for 21 lakh state employees, teachers and pensioners and will be come into effect from January 2016.
“Principal Secretary (Finance) will present the interim report in the state cabinet and once it is approved it will be presented to the state legislature for approval,” the official said.
Sources say that the interim report has tried to bring parity in pay scale of state employees and Central government employees. "It is expected that Class III and IV employees are set to get more benefits. Rate of inflation has been kept in mind while suggesting hike in salaries of the employees," the official said.
An official announcement would be made by the state government about the date from which it will be implemented. The government will seek financial grants from the legislature for this purpose and the state legislature is likely to be summoned later this month.
The Seventh Pay Commission had recommended increase in salary of Central government employees in August 2016. Around that time, the CM had set up a committee to submit an interim report about implementation of the Pay Commission recommendations. Given six months for submitting its report, the committee was however asked to submitthereport within three months due to the 2017 Assembly polls.
As per statistics, UP government will incur an additional burden of Rs 26,573 crore annually in the first year of implementation while in the second year, the cost would come down to Rs 22,778 crore annually. Presently, the state government spends around Rs 95,000 crore annually on salary and perks for state employees.