The Government has finally responded to the hue and cry across the board over the recommendations of the Sixth Pay Commission report by deciding to appoint a high power committee to look into the grievances of low class people. But, do they understand what the grievance is, in the first place, not to speak of appreciating it? The report is very good towards those who are expected to screen it. So, can they be really expected to do? Do everything to keep the edge for themselves ande nudge others into an insignificant corner?The Committee consists of IAS officers, by and large. The IAS officers have become such a vested interest in this country, they are actually the bane of our bureaucracy. They are a close knit caste like the brahmins in ancient days. They would not let a fly land on their colleagues. They are never punished for their lapses. They always make others the scape goat. If anybody down below is doing well, they gobble up the credit shamelessly. Qualms of conscience is something that's entirely alien to their vocabulary! What they know is the language of expediency. They have a social contract with the political class. I do ur bidding and u do my bidding. This quid pro quo is what makes both of them two sided of the same coin. Today, the IAS officers stoop down to such a level that there is hardly any difference between them and the ruling party workers. If the politician asks them to bend, 'they are ready to crawl'! Nobody dares to open their mouth and speak the truth for fear of falling out of favour and be deprived of prime postings! So, they will do everything, the politician expects them to do, so their own interests are well protected.
That being so, how are they going to screen this report which is top heavy, middle fragile and bottom weak? Do some cut and paste job by giving a few crumbs here and taking out a few crumbs there. But, is this what the employees are seeking? The Committee's brief is very vague. Even when there is clear reference, IAS officers are capable of producing vague reports using esoteric language. Therefore, the need of the hour is, let the terms be clearly spelt out, a timelimit set and representation be given to the lower rungs of the ladder, who are the actual aggrived.
1.The basic grievance is the low basic in all PBs save PB 4. The new basic should be more than the current Basic Pay+DP+DA. The rate of increment must be a specified amount like in the 5th CPC.
2.In steading of subsuming CCA into Transport Allowance, it should be 25% of the basic pay for A1 cities as the cost of living in the metros has become prohibitively expensive as a result of which the quality of life has gone down for the ill-paid lower rung of the ladder. One can hardly afford to go to a movie threatre with family and have a decent ice cream even once in 3 months in a city like Delhi. Make HRA 40 % of the basic pay. Several people will vacate their quarters and others will get a chance to hide their head decently. Give 3 slabs of Transport Allowance at the rate of Rs. 3000, Rs.5000, and Rs.7000. Classify places into 4 categories like A B C D.
3.Restore holidays as usual and increase the CL from the current 12 to at least 20 like in the army. This will satisfy several sections of the workforce.
