Sixth Pay Commission: Centre to pump in Rs 30,000 crore through supplementary demand
Economy Bureau
Oct 16, 2008
After announcing a slew of measures to address concerns over inadequate liquidity, the government is expected to pump in at least another Rs 30,000 crore of cash when it raises the first and second batch of supplementary demand for grants in Parliament next week.
With its obligations under the Sixth Pay Commission, farm loan waiver and oil and fertiliser bonds, back of the envelope calculations reveal that this year it could rise to as much as Rs 60,000 crore. The government raised a total of Rs 53,703 crore in the first and second supplementary demand for grants in 2007-08.
Of this about Rs 30,000 crore is likely to be raised as cash while the balance would be matched through savings and recoveries by administrative departments and ministries. The money would come in handy at a time when the economy is reeling under a credit crisis.
In fact stressing that the domestic credit situation would improve, finance minister P Chidambaram had said last week, “Ten or 12 days from today, when the supplementary (spending bill) is passed, a substantial amount of liquidity will be infused into the market.”
Getting additional funds through the demand for grants for the fiscal will be a key issue for the UPA government since this is the last full session of the Lok Sabha before general elections are announced. Government functioning and more importantly implementation of key social sector programmes will be affected without the requisite funds.
Although the government is trying to cut down costs, it has to foot a heavy expenditure bill with payouts for the sixth pay commission pay out. As per the pay commission’s recommendations, the salary hikes will cost Rs 22,100 crore this fiscal, while the farm loans to be waived in three installments is estimated at Rs 71,680 crore. The government has also budgeted Rs 7,500 crore for fertiliser bonds. Oil bonds for the fourth quarter of 2007-08 amounting to Rs 14,956 crore and for the first quarter of 2008-09 estimated at Rs 24,408 crore will be issued after parliamentary nod.
Source: http://www.financialexpress.com/
Thursday, October 16, 2008
Sixth Pay Commission: Delhi govt's no to fee hike by pvt schools
Sixth Pay Commission: Delhi govt's no to fee hike by pvt schools
15 Oct 2008, 1756 hrs IST,PTI
NEW DELHI: Delhi Government is considering the demand of private schools to hike the fees ostensibly to pay their teachers as per the recommendations of the Sixth Pay Commission but will not concede to their proposal for a 50 per cent increase across the board.
The Government will not allow any across the board hike and the schools' demand will be examined on a case-by-case basis, a senior official of the Education Department said.
"We are considering their demand and a decision on this matter will be taken soon," the official said.
He said there was no question of accepting the demand for a 50 per cent hike as some schools have surplus money in their kitty to increase salaries of their teachers as per the recommendations of the Sixth Pay Commission.
"We will examine the financial health of each and every school before taking a decision on it," he said.
The private schools are demanding a hike of 50 per cent in fees ostensibly to pay salaries to their teachers on the lines of recommendations the Sixth Pay Commission. However, parents are opposing the move.
The BJP has termed the demand as unjustified and said any hike in school fees would be gross injustice with the guardians of the students studying in private schools.
Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/
15 Oct 2008, 1756 hrs IST,PTI
NEW DELHI: Delhi Government is considering the demand of private schools to hike the fees ostensibly to pay their teachers as per the recommendations of the Sixth Pay Commission but will not concede to their proposal for a 50 per cent increase across the board.
The Government will not allow any across the board hike and the schools' demand will be examined on a case-by-case basis, a senior official of the Education Department said.
"We are considering their demand and a decision on this matter will be taken soon," the official said.
He said there was no question of accepting the demand for a 50 per cent hike as some schools have surplus money in their kitty to increase salaries of their teachers as per the recommendations of the Sixth Pay Commission.
"We will examine the financial health of each and every school before taking a decision on it," he said.
The private schools are demanding a hike of 50 per cent in fees ostensibly to pay salaries to their teachers on the lines of recommendations the Sixth Pay Commission. However, parents are opposing the move.
The BJP has termed the demand as unjustified and said any hike in school fees would be gross injustice with the guardians of the students studying in private schools.
Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/
Sixth Pay Commission: Any govt decision on pay issue will be good for country: Army
Sixth Pay Commission: Any govt decision on pay issue will be good for country: Army
New Delhi, October 15: As the committee headed by External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee is looking into the armed forces’ grievances over their new pay scales, the army on Wednesday said any decision by the government on the issue will be for the good of the country and the Services.
“The pay anomalies issues is currently with the Cabinet and I am sure it will take care of it. Whatever it decides, it will be for the good of the country and the armed forces,” Vice-Chief of the Army, Lieutenant-General M L Naidu, said on the sidelines of an Army Postal Service Awards ceremony ihn New Delhi.
“They (the committee members) are our national leaders and they will keep all issues in mind before taking a decision. It (pay issues) is not a matter of our expectations,” Naidu said, replying to a query on the course of action the armed forces would take if all their expectations are not met by the Mukherjee committee.
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had late last month set up the Mukherjee committee with Defence Minister A K Antony and Finance Minister P Chidambaram as members to consider the four “core issues” raised by the armed forces on what they called a “discriminatory” 6th Central Pay Commission (CPC) report.
In fact, the issues had snowballed into a controversy over the armed forces’ reluctance to implement the Cabinet decision on the CPC taken last month.
Consequently, the 1.5 million armed forces personnel took home their old pay scales in October, while their 3.5 million civilian counterparts got their revised pay scales under the CPC.
To another query, Naidu said pointing out some discrepancies in the CPC was not “defiance”, but professional duty (of the armed forces).
The armed forces are demanding that the government place Lieutenant-Colonels and their equivalents in Pay Band-4, ensure parity in Grade Pay of officers from Captains to Brigadiers with their civilian counterparts, accord the Higher Administrative Grade Plus status in pay scales to Lieutenant Generals and restore 70 per cent pensionary benefits to jawans.
To another question over the misuse of army’s combat fatigues by paramilitary and police forces, Naidu said the army had already informed the Centre and the state governments about it.
“Now, the state governments have taken very strict action, because they have realized that by not insisting on this, it is causing some confusing. Now they have done it (enforce laws against misuse of army uniforms). And hopefully it will be sorted out,” Naidu said.
Asked about the uniforms and camouflages being freely available in the open market, the army vice-chief said as far as clothes, low-quality products are concerned, they were available (but not the Army’s).
“A solution is being worked out and the Home Ministry is doing what is necessary to curb such sales. By law, sale of military uniform in the open market is banned. It should not be available. If it is, there is a separate enforcement agency working on curbing the sale of military uniform. In J&K, they are very actively curbing the sale,” he added.
Source: http://www.expressindia.com/
New Delhi, October 15: As the committee headed by External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee is looking into the armed forces’ grievances over their new pay scales, the army on Wednesday said any decision by the government on the issue will be for the good of the country and the Services.
“The pay anomalies issues is currently with the Cabinet and I am sure it will take care of it. Whatever it decides, it will be for the good of the country and the armed forces,” Vice-Chief of the Army, Lieutenant-General M L Naidu, said on the sidelines of an Army Postal Service Awards ceremony ihn New Delhi.
“They (the committee members) are our national leaders and they will keep all issues in mind before taking a decision. It (pay issues) is not a matter of our expectations,” Naidu said, replying to a query on the course of action the armed forces would take if all their expectations are not met by the Mukherjee committee.
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had late last month set up the Mukherjee committee with Defence Minister A K Antony and Finance Minister P Chidambaram as members to consider the four “core issues” raised by the armed forces on what they called a “discriminatory” 6th Central Pay Commission (CPC) report.
In fact, the issues had snowballed into a controversy over the armed forces’ reluctance to implement the Cabinet decision on the CPC taken last month.
Consequently, the 1.5 million armed forces personnel took home their old pay scales in October, while their 3.5 million civilian counterparts got their revised pay scales under the CPC.
To another query, Naidu said pointing out some discrepancies in the CPC was not “defiance”, but professional duty (of the armed forces).
The armed forces are demanding that the government place Lieutenant-Colonels and their equivalents in Pay Band-4, ensure parity in Grade Pay of officers from Captains to Brigadiers with their civilian counterparts, accord the Higher Administrative Grade Plus status in pay scales to Lieutenant Generals and restore 70 per cent pensionary benefits to jawans.
To another question over the misuse of army’s combat fatigues by paramilitary and police forces, Naidu said the army had already informed the Centre and the state governments about it.
“Now, the state governments have taken very strict action, because they have realized that by not insisting on this, it is causing some confusing. Now they have done it (enforce laws against misuse of army uniforms). And hopefully it will be sorted out,” Naidu said.
Asked about the uniforms and camouflages being freely available in the open market, the army vice-chief said as far as clothes, low-quality products are concerned, they were available (but not the Army’s).
“A solution is being worked out and the Home Ministry is doing what is necessary to curb such sales. By law, sale of military uniform in the open market is banned. It should not be available. If it is, there is a separate enforcement agency working on curbing the sale of military uniform. In J&K, they are very actively curbing the sale,” he added.
Source: http://www.expressindia.com/
Sixth Pay Commission: Ministerial committee to resolve pay anomalies of armed forces shortly
Sixth Pay Commission: Ministerial committee to resolve pay anomalies of armed forces shortly
New Delhi, Oct 13(ANI): A ministerial committee led by External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee, set up to look into the armed forces’ grievance about pay anomalies, is likely to sort out the matter soon.
Mukherjee, who heads the three-member committee, said on Monday that he had discussed the matter with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Defence Minister A K Antony.
“Shortly, I am going to discuss with the Finance Minister P Chidambaram,” he told reporters here when asked about the issue.
Without giving details of his discussions with the Prime Minister, Mukherjee merely said: “I do hope we will be able to sort out the issue shortly.”
The Prime Minister set up the committee, which also includes Antony and Chidambaram, on September 25 in the wake of deep resentment in the armed forces, who complained that there were “anomalies” in the Sixth Pay Commission recommendations and that it had lowered the status of their officers.
After the government notification was issued on August 29, the issues of anomalies in the pay for officers was first raised by Air Chief Fali Homi Major in his letter in his capacity as acting Chairman of Chiefs of Staff Committee (COSC).
Chiefs of Navy and Army too have been voicing their resentment.
Antony has strongly favoured resolution of core issues raised by the three services chiefs in their representation to the government. (ANI)
http://www.newspostonline.com/
New Delhi, Oct 13(ANI): A ministerial committee led by External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee, set up to look into the armed forces’ grievance about pay anomalies, is likely to sort out the matter soon.
Mukherjee, who heads the three-member committee, said on Monday that he had discussed the matter with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Defence Minister A K Antony.
“Shortly, I am going to discuss with the Finance Minister P Chidambaram,” he told reporters here when asked about the issue.
Without giving details of his discussions with the Prime Minister, Mukherjee merely said: “I do hope we will be able to sort out the issue shortly.”
The Prime Minister set up the committee, which also includes Antony and Chidambaram, on September 25 in the wake of deep resentment in the armed forces, who complained that there were “anomalies” in the Sixth Pay Commission recommendations and that it had lowered the status of their officers.
After the government notification was issued on August 29, the issues of anomalies in the pay for officers was first raised by Air Chief Fali Homi Major in his letter in his capacity as acting Chairman of Chiefs of Staff Committee (COSC).
Chiefs of Navy and Army too have been voicing their resentment.
Antony has strongly favoured resolution of core issues raised by the three services chiefs in their representation to the government. (ANI)
http://www.newspostonline.com/
Sixth Pay Commission: Police, paramilitary raise pitch for better pay scales
Sixth Pay Commission: Police, paramilitary raise pitch for better pay scales
15 Oct 2008, 1046 hrs IST,PTI
NEW DELHI: After the three armed forces, it is now the turn of the central police organisations (CPOs) and paramilitary forces (CPMFs) to raise a pitch for "parity" in pay scales with their military counterparts.
With the government setting up a three-member ministerial committee headed by External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee to consider the armed forces' plea, the CPOs too have decided to seek a political intervention to resolve issues concerning their pay scales.
The chiefs of ITBP, BSF, CRPF and SSB will meet Home Secretary Madhukar Gupta to submit a memorandum seeking a political decision on the lines of Mukherjee committee for inclusion of their "second-in-command" rank officers in Pay Band-4, if the tri-services' Lieutenant Colonels and equivalents are included in this pay bracket.
The Pay Band-4 for Lt Cols is among the four "core issues" raised by the Army, Navy and Air Force in the 6th Central Pay Commission (CPC) and that led to Services refusing to implement the CPC, a decision taken by the Cabinet in August this year.
"The Director Generals (DGs) of all the CPOs and CPMFs will present a memorandum to the Home Secretary this week. We will urge Home Minister Shivraj Patil to request his cabinet colleague, Pranab Mukherjee, to include 'Second-in-Command' ranks also in Pay Band-4," Home Ministry sources said.
Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/
15 Oct 2008, 1046 hrs IST,PTI
NEW DELHI: After the three armed forces, it is now the turn of the central police organisations (CPOs) and paramilitary forces (CPMFs) to raise a pitch for "parity" in pay scales with their military counterparts.
With the government setting up a three-member ministerial committee headed by External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee to consider the armed forces' plea, the CPOs too have decided to seek a political intervention to resolve issues concerning their pay scales.
The chiefs of ITBP, BSF, CRPF and SSB will meet Home Secretary Madhukar Gupta to submit a memorandum seeking a political decision on the lines of Mukherjee committee for inclusion of their "second-in-command" rank officers in Pay Band-4, if the tri-services' Lieutenant Colonels and equivalents are included in this pay bracket.
The Pay Band-4 for Lt Cols is among the four "core issues" raised by the Army, Navy and Air Force in the 6th Central Pay Commission (CPC) and that led to Services refusing to implement the CPC, a decision taken by the Cabinet in August this year.
"The Director Generals (DGs) of all the CPOs and CPMFs will present a memorandum to the Home Secretary this week. We will urge Home Minister Shivraj Patil to request his cabinet colleague, Pranab Mukherjee, to include 'Second-in-Command' ranks also in Pay Band-4," Home Ministry sources said.
Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/
Sixth Pay Commission: GM's special offer for govt employees
Sixth Pay Commission: GM's special offer for govt employees
15 Oct 2008, 0210 hrs IST,TNN
NEW DELHI: Aiming to cash in on the salary revision by Sixth Pay Commission recently, carmaker General Motors India has announced a limited-period discount of up to Rs 62000 on various models during the festive season.
Under the scheme government employees would get a discount of Rs 31000 on Chevrolet U-VA and Rs 62000 on Chevrolet Spark, inclusive of all discounts and special offers that already exist.
"Similar special discounts would also be available on Chevrolet Aveo and Chevrolet Optra," the company said.
Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com
15 Oct 2008, 0210 hrs IST,TNN
NEW DELHI: Aiming to cash in on the salary revision by Sixth Pay Commission recently, carmaker General Motors India has announced a limited-period discount of up to Rs 62000 on various models during the festive season.
Under the scheme government employees would get a discount of Rs 31000 on Chevrolet U-VA and Rs 62000 on Chevrolet Spark, inclusive of all discounts and special offers that already exist.
"Similar special discounts would also be available on Chevrolet Aveo and Chevrolet Optra," the company said.
Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com
Sixth Pay Commission: Demand for 50 pc fee hike by private schools improper: BJP
Sixth Pay Commission: Demand for 50 pc fee hike by private schools improper: BJP
New Delhi, Oct 13: The Delhi BJP today termed as "improper" the demand for 50 per cent hike in fee by private schools ostensibly to pay their teachers as per the recommendations of the Sixth Pay Commission.
The demand is unjustified as any hike in school fees will be gross injustice done to guardians of students studying in private schools, Delhi BJP president Harsh Vardhan said.
The private schools have been constructed on the land provided by Government at concessional rates and therefore the commercialisation of these schools was not justified at all, he said.
The private schools are demanding a hike of 50 percent in fees ostensibly to pay salaries to their teachers on the lines of recommendations the Sixth Pay Commission. However parents are opposing the move.
These schools increase the fees by about 10 percent every year and hence the demand for increasing fees by 50 percent on the pretext of the recommendations of Sixth Pay Commission should not be accepted, Vardhan said.
He said the people are already hit hard by the price rise and an increase in fees would have a severe impact on the citizens.
Noting that education is the fundamental right of the children, he said if the BJP came to power then it will not allow the commercialisation of education.
Bureau Report
Source: http://www.zeenews.com/
New Delhi, Oct 13: The Delhi BJP today termed as "improper" the demand for 50 per cent hike in fee by private schools ostensibly to pay their teachers as per the recommendations of the Sixth Pay Commission.
The demand is unjustified as any hike in school fees will be gross injustice done to guardians of students studying in private schools, Delhi BJP president Harsh Vardhan said.
The private schools have been constructed on the land provided by Government at concessional rates and therefore the commercialisation of these schools was not justified at all, he said.
The private schools are demanding a hike of 50 percent in fees ostensibly to pay salaries to their teachers on the lines of recommendations the Sixth Pay Commission. However parents are opposing the move.
These schools increase the fees by about 10 percent every year and hence the demand for increasing fees by 50 percent on the pretext of the recommendations of Sixth Pay Commission should not be accepted, Vardhan said.
He said the people are already hit hard by the price rise and an increase in fees would have a severe impact on the citizens.
Noting that education is the fundamental right of the children, he said if the BJP came to power then it will not allow the commercialisation of education.
Bureau Report
Source: http://www.zeenews.com/
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