Learn from Modi & address J&K employees’ issues, Raina to CM Omar

Jammu and Kashmir Bharatiya Janata Party, spokesperson & former MLC, Girdhari Lal Raina, has advised CM Omar Abdullah, to take effective steps to address the issues of government employees. He was addressing press conference on PM Narendra Modi’s approval to set up the 8th Pay Commission, along with party spokesperson, Balbir Ram Rattan on Friday.

 Girdhari Lal Raina said that the approval of PM for 8th Pay Commission reflects Government of India’s commitment to the welfare of workers/employees and pensioners. It is continuation of the basic policy approach of BJP ‘sabka saath sabka vikaas sabka vishwaas’.

This is a progressive step and more than one crore employees and pensioners will be benefited by the Pay Commission as it will revise salaries of nearly 50 lakh central government employees and allowances of about 65 lakh pensioners. The decision would go a long way in ensuring the welfare of government employees and also encourage them to contribute more towards realising the dream of Viksit Bharat by 2047, he added.

 The move is also going to enhance economic activity besides playing a crucial role in adjusting pay scales, allowances, and pensions, ensuring their alignment with inflation and changing economic realities. It will improve quality of life and give a boost to consumption make some extra dispensable income available to the beneficiaries.

Raina also shared Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw’s views that the 7th Pay Commission which came into effect in 2016 and will remain in effect until 2026 and there is therefore, sufficient time to receive the recommendations and implement them. He further stressed that pay commission recommendations will be received well before the completion of the term of the seventh pay panel.

Under the 7th Pay Commission and based on the fitment factor revision, the minimum basic pay for central government employees rose to Rs 18,000 per month, up from Rs 7,000, registering a 2.57-fold increase. Likewise, the minimum pension of retirees increased from Rs 3,500 to Rs 9,000. The maximum salary of serving employees was revised to Rs 2,50,000 and the maximum pension was fixed at Rs 1,25,000, taking into consideration the fitment factor of 2.57. Similar steep hike is expected after 8th pay commission recommendations are implemented.

Girdhari Lal Raina also raised the issue of DA that is over due to Jammu and Kashmir employees and pensioners and demanded immediate release of the same.

He also pointed out the paucity of cash in Treasuries in UT is adversely affecting the payment of GP fund and other emoluments/ retirement benefits to employees after superannuation. He asked CM Omar Abdullah to learn from PM Modi’s decision making process and timely action regarding implementation of decisions related particularly to the employees and carry through same in JK UT.