news details |
|
|
| Give us more time: Rather to employees | | FM says, hiking salaries needs Rs 3800 Crs fixed and Rs 1380 Crs recurring expenditure | | Early Times Report
Jammu, Jan 23: Holding out a firm promise to the employees on hiking their pay packets in accordance with the Sixth Pay Panel, the Finance Minister Abdul Rahim Rather today minced no words in making the employees understand that government does not have sufficient funds to meet their demand immediately.
Rather, who has been appointed as Chief Minister’s interlocutor on the issue, said that meeting the demand of hiking pay with retrospective effect involves a financial implication of Rs 3800 Crores while the total internal revenue of the state stands at Rs 3000 Crores only.
Even after explaining the complete financial scenario, the Finance Minister said that the government is committed to deliver on the issue sooner than expected. “The Government is positive on the issue and a team of Finance Department will hold discussions on the matter with the Planning Commission of India, in New Delhi on January 28”, the Finance Minister told a news conference.
Mr. Rather said that the Chief Minister, Mr. Omar Abdullah was very particular about resolving the issue, adding that it will be sorted out after taking into consideration all pros and cons, as was done when the 5th Pay Commission was implemented. "In case of meeting the financial liability on account of retrospective effect of the recommendations of Sixth Pay Commission, we have to generate Rs. 3,800 crore, while as additional burden of Rs. 1,380 crore as recurring expenditure will be incurred every year", the Minister said, adding that the same has to be seen in light of the total internal revenue of the State which stands at Rs.3000 crore only.
Stating that the Government was not in favour of any confrontation with its employees, the Finance Minister asked them to cooperate on the issue. He said the Government's commitment can be gauged from the fact that the two Committees - S. L. Bhat Committee and Haseeb Drabu Committee on PSUs - constituted by the Governor, Mr. N. N. Vohra for the purpose submitted their reports within the shortest possible time and after being handed over to the elected Government are being examined. "The reports submitted by the Committees are voluminous documents that have to be studied in detail", Mr. Rather said, adding the Government will explore all possibilities of generating resources to meet the financial implications on account of the recommendations and bring the same before the Cabinet for discussion and decision. "The Cabinet is yet to meet formally and we have met only once before. The final decision has to be taken by the Cabinet", he added.
In reference to yesterday's meeting with the representatives of various employee unions, Mr. Rather said that the Government agrees in principle to implement the recommendations of the Sixth Pay Commission but required time to fix a date. "We do not believe in hollow slogans. To meet the recommendations, the State Exchequer has to generate resources to meet the additional financial burden", Mr. Rather said, adding that J&K was not an isolated case as most of the other States are yet to implement the recommendations as well. "The issue came up for discussion during Empowered Committee meeting of Finance Ministers of the country that met on January 21", said the Minister, adding that the Government would try to meet Prime Minister, Mr. Manmohan Singh to discuss the issue before the Parliament Session in the first week of February.
The Finance Minister was addressing a press conference, here today. He was flanked by Chief Secretary, Mr. S. S. Kapur, Financial Commissioner, Planning and Development, Mr. S. L. Bhat, Principal Secretary, Law, Mr. Akhtar Hussain Kochak, Commissioner/Secretary, Finance, Mr. B. B. Vyas and Commissioner/Secretary, GAD, Mr. Basharat Ahmad.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
| |
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
