Bhubaneswar: The Fitment Committee formed to fix modalities for implementation of Seventh Pay Commission recommendations for state government employees and pensioners is likely to submit its report within a week.
The state government constituted a six-member committee led by development commissioner R Balakrishnan in October to discuss with various stakeholders and recommend modalities for execution of the Pay Commission report.
The panel was first directed to submit its report within four months (by February 28). Since it failed to meet the deadline, a period of two more months was extended for its submission. The panel, in effect, has only two days left before it submits the fitment.
Speaking to reporters at the Secretariat here, Balakrishnan said, “We held elaborate discussion with various service associations of government employees and pensioners. The committee will meet again Friday to discuss the future course of action.”
According to sources, the committee would not seek any further time and submit its report by Saturday. The finance department has prepared a draft report, which would be placed before the committee members Friday.
Meanwhile, various employees associations have demanded early submission of the report so that the government can implement the new pay package under Seventh Pay Panel.
“We urge the fitment committee members to submit their report on time. The state government should also implement the Pay Commission recommendations soon without further delay. As per estimations, the implementation will not put much pressure on the exchequer,” said Orissa Secretariat Service Association’s general secretary Krushna Prasad Mishra.
Interestingly, the state government has not made any budgetary provision for implementation of the Pay Commission recommendations. However, under the administrative head, the government has proposed `47,466 crore in 2017-18 budget of which `22,000 crore has been earmarked for salaries and `11,313 crore for pensions.
Currently, the state government spends `29,836 crore for employees’ salaries and the implementation of the pay panel report will put an additional burden of `5,500 crore on the state exchequer, the sources said.
In all likelihood, there will be a hike of 23 per cent on the basic pay of government employees. Around four lakh state government employees and three lakh pensioners would benefit from the move.
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