Jammu and Kashmir pay hike : CM firm to meet August 1 deadline

The Chief Minister Omar Abdullah is set to discuss the implementation of 6th Pay Commission with Home Minister P Chidambaram on Friday when State finance team will meet him and seek central assistance.
Financial Commissioner, Planning and Development, S L Bhat told Rising Kashmir that a team of officials of Finance and Planning departments will meet Home Minister on Friday and discuss various developmental plans with him. “We will discuss the developmental plans of State with the Home Minister and seek financial assistance from the centre to complete different developmental projects,” he said.
Bhat said the Chief Minister would discuss the implementation of 6th Pay Commission with Home minister.
“Omar would brief him about the promise that he has made to over 4.5 lakh government employees about implementation of 6th Pay commission recommendations from August 1,” officials of State planning department said.
The State’s exchequer will have to face additional burden of Rs 2000 crore annually in case the Pay commission recommendations are implemented. “For first year, managing such huge revenue will be very difficult task but since 13th Finance Commission will have kick-started next year, State will receive enough funds to meet the requirements,” the officials said.
They said Chidambaram would apprise the Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee about the financial requirement of the State especially after the implementation of revised pay scales for employees.
“We have to receive the nod from New Delhi before the budget session of Assembly, which will commence from July 15,” the officials said, adding, “It was must to get the signal from New Delhi about the sanctioning of amount under the plan and non-plan section”.
Meanwhile, employees have warned of mass agitation in case government failed to implement the revised pay scales from August. “All the recommendations made by the two committees formed by the Governor— S L Bhat and Hasseeb Drabu Committees should be implemented in letter and spirit,” said EJAC-Q chairman Abdul Qayoom Wani.
He said following the Shopian incident, they could not build pressure on the government for their other demands like conversion of COLA into DA and enhancement in the retirement age from 58 to 60. “After the things cool down, we will sit and chalk out future course of action,” added Wani.
The State will have to clear the arrears of employees since January 2006, amounting to Rs 3800 crore. However, the amount will be credited in the accounts of employees in equal yearly instalments.

Source : The daily Rising Kashmir.