Final recommendations of state pay panel only after December

Sumanta Ray Chaudhuri, HT, 7 Jun 2016, KOLKATA: The final recommendations of the Sixth Pay Commission, West Bengal, on enhanced pay for state government employees is unlikely to be given before December, feel officers of the finance department.

One of the reasons for this view is that the term of the commission has been extended by another six months.

State finance secretary HK Dwivedi recently issued a notification announcing extension of the term of the Sixth Pay Commission by six month with effect from May 27.

“From this, it is quite clear that the final recommendations of the commission are still a long way,” said a state finance department official on condition of anonymity. He added there was a hurried announcement for an interim relief for state government employees, local body employees and teachers, which also indicate that the final recommendations may get delayed.

On May 27, immediately after swearing in as chief minister for the consecutive second time, Mamata Banerjee announced 10% interim relief for state government and local body employees as well as teachers. The interim relief will cost the state exchequer somewhat around Rs 3,000 crore.

“Of course, this amount will come as a relief for state government employees till the final recommendations of the State Pay Commission are out. But at the same time, it will bring some relief to the state government’s exchequer as the burden of arrear payments will be lesser,” said a state finance department official.

The state government had set up the Sixth State Pay Commission in November 2015 under the chairmanship of the economist Abhirup Sarkar, a professor of the Indian Statistical Institute (ISI).

It was then announced that the final recommendations of the commission will come within six months from the date of creation.

According to state finance department sources, the commission was unable to come out with the final recommendations within that period since a major hurdle was the depleted state exchequer owing to the huge accumulated debt.

With finances not in good condition, the state government also asked the Centre to share the financial burden of increased pay burden after the commission’s recommendations are implemented.

It was then announced that the final recommendations of the commission will come within six months from the date of creation.

According to state finance department sources, the commission was unable to come out with the final recommendations within that period since a major hurdle was the depleted state exchequer owing to the huge accumulated debt State finance secretary HK Dwivedi recently issued a notification announcing extension of the term of the Sixth Pay Commission by six months with effect from May 27.

On May 27, immediately after swearing in as chief minister for the second consecutive time, Mamata Banerjee announced 10% interim relief for state government and local body employees as well as teachers. The interim relief to these employees will cost the state exchequer somewhere around Rs 3,000 crore.