Hefty Pay Hike for the Armed Forces

New Delhi, June 25 (PTI) A hefty pay hike of 20 per cent and even above appears to be in the offing for armed forces personnel in the proposals likely to be firmed up tomorrow in a crucial meeting of the tri-services chiefs with the empowered group of secretaries.
The meeting, which is likely to be attended by Defence Minister A K Antony, is being held in the background of reported dissatisfaction among the services over the recommendations made by the Sixth Pay Commission.

This will be the last meeting between the armed forces chiefs and the empowered group set up by the government after Army, Navy and Air Force raised objections over the anomalies in the pay commission report.

Under the proposals, the ordinary jawans and all personnel below officer rank may be given a hike of up to 40 per cent over and above the eight per cent hike recommended by the commission. This would come in the shape of raising the military service pay to Rs 3,000 against the recommended Rs 1,000.

The mid-level officers could expect a raise of 30 per cent, while those in the ranks of Brigadiers and above and equivalent posts in the Navy and Air Force could get a 20 per cent hike, if the proposals submitted by the Chairman, Chiefs of Staff Committee Admiral Sureesh Mehta are accepted.

"A quantum jump is sure to be there," senior defence ministry officials said, as the government wants to check any officer exodus from the armed forces and also attract new talent to the services.
Source : PTI