Disappointment for Defence personnel in 7th Pay commission

Disappointment for Defence personnel, ex Army chief cries ‘injustice’ in 7th Pay Commission

Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar has agreed that the some of the suggestions of defence forces could not be taken into account.

7th Pay Commission latest news: Lowest ever salary & pension hike in last 70 years approved by Cabinet

Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar reacts to discontent within armed forces regarding salary & pension hike

New Delhi, June 29: Union Cabinet on Wednesday cleared the revised recommendations of 7th pay Commission. A salary hike of 23.5 per cent, including allowances would be implemented. The basic pay would be increased by 15 per cent. Although the hike has satisfied the bureaucrats to an extent, there is wide discontent among the defence personnels who are unhappy with their demand not paid heed to by the Secretaries Panel. Ex army chief General Roy Chowdhury has demanded the Finance Ministry to review the recommendations before taking the final call.

According to Gen Chowdhury, Committee of Secretaries has failed to failed to do justice with the defence personnels. The Uniform Pay Matrix has not been implemented. The Defence Pay Matrix in 7th Pay Commission has only 24 pay levels, on the other hand, the bureaucratic pay matrix has 40 levels. Due to this, not only the salary hike gets stagnated after some years of service, but the pensions which defence personnel draw is Rs 20,000 lower than civil employees after retirement.

The demand to provide allowances on par have also not been taken into account. Civilian employees are entitled to large number allowances, which are not provided to defence personnels. For example, a CAPF DIG posted in Leh, will get Rs 57,000 asw part of allowance. Whereas, a brigadier posted in the same region gets only Rs 17,000 allowance.

The third demand of military employees was to increase the disability pension with that provided to the bureacrats. While an Additional Secretary would get Rs 60,000 as disability pension, a Lt General would earn only Rs 27,000.
Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar has agreed that the some of the suggestions of defence forces could not be taken into account. “Some of their demands have been accepted, some haven’t,” he said.

Source : India.com