Reliable sources indicate that the central government will announce
higher allowances under 7th Pay Commission for the central government
employees only after the completion of five states assemblies poll
process, as the model code of conduct of the election commission has
come into effect from Wednesday.
Due to the elections in five states, reliable sources indicate that the
hike in allowances for the Central Government employees, as per the
revised recommendations of 7th Pay Commission, can be delayed till mid
of March or even March end.
The Election Commission has imposed a model code of conduct in five
states from Wednesday due to which the decision of hike in allowance is
likely to be differed at least by March 8.
Sources indicate, “allowances would be increased only after the
conclusion of the assembly elections. The sources have further added
that there are no plans to give arrears along with allowances to Central
Government employees”.
However, it is very strange that the model code of conduct doesn’t deter
the government in the case of presenting the budget for 2017.
The opposition leaders alleged, “It will provide an opportunity to the
government to make populist announcements to influence voters”. The
elections are to be held on 4th of Feb and the government has announced
to present the budget on the 1st of Feb, they said.
Sources also added, The decision to implement the recommendations of the
7th Pay Commission will come in March after eight to nine months of
getting the basic pay hike to all central government employees. There
are reports, however, that the government has no plans to pay allowances
in arrears from August 2016 for all central government employees.
The move to present the budget just three days ahead of the elections in
five states has invoked a huge criticism from the opposition parties,
who claim that the budget will be used to ‘woo’ voters by giving them
extra sops and other benefits.
A point to ponder here is, the committee on allowances setup by the
government was ready to submit its report and were waiting for an invite
from the finance ministry, but still the government extended the time
limit to Feb 2017, without the committee asking for any extension.. Now
its looks like that the government is buying more time on the pretext of
election commission’s model code of conduct to delay the allowance
implementation further.
|
|
