Bhubaneswar, August 29: Putting an end to speculations, the state government Tuesday announced implementation of the Seventh Pay Commission’s recommendations for state government employees from September.
Though the 7th pay recommendations will be implemented in the state retrospectively from January 2016, the state government is yet decide on the arrear payment.
The announcement came as a bonanza for state government employees and pensioners ahead of the Dussehra festivities, as they will get a hike from September onwards.
Making the announcement, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik told the media, “My government has decided to implement the recommendations of the committee constituted to examine the Seventh Pay Commission report and its adoption for the state government employees.” He added, “About 4.5 lakh state government employees and 3.5 lakh pensioners will be benefitted from the enhanced emoluments and higher pensions respectively.”
The Chief Minister said the implementation of the recommendations will cost the state exchequer an additional amount of Rs 4,500 crore.
State finance minister Sashi Bhusan Behera said the pay hike has been affected keeping in view different categories of employees. The employees will receive enhanced pay for the next month September 26, as Puja holidays commences from September 27.
Behera further said that the employees had expected that the hike will come as Puja gift before Dusshra and the government stood to their expectations, willing to bear the additional financial burden.
Referring to the increasing demands for implementing the pay commission recommendations w.e.f. January 2016, the finance minister said that the employees should also consider prevailing financial status of the state government.
He, however, confirmed that the arrears will be worked out later. Sources said as per the Fitment Committee report, on an average the employees are likely to get a hike of 14.5 per cent on their present salary.
The state government had constituted the Fitment Committee to examine the recommendations of the Seventh Pay Commission and explore solutions for implementing them.