DASHAIN BONANZA

GANGTOK, September 22: The much awaited announcement of the 4th Pay Commission pay scale revision was made public today by the Chief Minister Pawan Chamling in a function held here at the SDF Bhawan.

With almost three-fold increase in the new pay scale, the announcement has brought cheers to the government employees. While making this announcement, Mr. Chamling said the State Government has provided the best fixation package to the employees keeping all aspects in mind.

At the same time, the Chief Minister said a major chunk of the State budget would be now spent on paying the salaries thus hindering developmental works in Sikkim. He added that no allowances has been deducted in the 4th Pay Revision and 12.5% extra payment will be made to those government employees working outside the State of Sikkim.

Also mentioning about the interim relief of Rs 25,000 for the employees he said the total amount of Rs 170 crores would be distributed as an interim relief for the employees very soon.
According to an IPR release, the State Cabinet in its meeting held on September 17, 2009 approved the report of the Committee of Secretaries on the recommendation of the 4th Pay Commission and approved the revised Pay Bands with Grade Pay and allowances proposed by the 4th Pay Commission with modifications.

It is also informed that the 4th Pay Commission has considered it appropriate to treat the teachers as a distinct group and recommended the upgradation of the pay scale of teachers and their grade pay anticipating that the enhanced Pay Package so recommended would motivate the teachers to bring about transformative changes in the quality of school education and to attract young talent to join teaching profession.

As the Pay fixation will take some time, the Cabinet had decided to release second installment of interim relief of Rs. 25,000 each employee immediately due to ensuing Dasain Festival. Earlier first installment of Interim Relief of Rs. 15,000 and Rs. 20,000 was released to Gazetted and Non-Gazetted employees respectively.

The 4th Pay Commission which was constituted on August 18, 2008 submitted its report on August 12, 2009, after which the Government constituted a Committee of Secretaries under the Chairmanship of Additional Chief Secretary to examine the recommendation of the 4th Pay Commission and to submit its report to the Government by September 15, 2009.

The Committee of Secretaries had a series of meeting and examined all aspects of the recommendations made by the 4th Pay Commission and submitted its Report on 11th September, 2009,” the release added.

The major Highlights of the approval of the Government on 4th State Pay Commissions are -

PAY STRUCTURE
1. Minimum entry pay of Group D service is Rs. 7200 compared to Rs. 7000 at the Central Government.
2. New Pay Scale of Rs. 10,000/- have been introduced for Superintendent of Police and Principal Senior Secondary School.
3. Pay Scale of Rs. 7500-12500 in Health, Nursing and Forest Services has been abolished.
4. Treating teachers as a distinct group, a three tier pay structure in the Central pattern has been approved for implementation. The maximum enhancement is in the revised pay of teachers including heads of the schools. This has been given attaching prime importance to this service so that the best available talent in the State is attracted to join this profession. Furthermore, there is a general tendency among the in service teachers to join the administrative posts and this enhanced incentive would curb this tendency. In the revised pay structure of the teachers, elements of the Assured Career Progression are embedded.
5. A uniform Scheme of Assured Career Progression have been approved for the general State Government employees.
6. The Annual Increments will be payable @ 3% of the revised pay in the Pay Band and Grade Pay uniformly on First of July, each year.

ALLOWANCES:
7. Dearness Allowance would be payable at par with the Central Government.
8. House Rent Allowance would be paid at the rate of 15% of the revised pay for employees posted in Sikkim, Siliguri and Darjeeling and @ 20% for those posted in New Delhi and Kolkatta subject to a minimum of Rs. 1500/- per month.
9. The Difficult Area Allowance and High Altitude Allowance have also been suitably enhanced.
10. Washing Allowance to Nurses has been introduced.
11. Ration Allowance, Uniform Allowance to Police Personnel have been suitably enhanced.
12. Death-cum-Retirement Gratuity (DCRG) have been enhanced from the existing limit of Rs. 3.5 lakhs to Rs. 10.00 lakhs.
13. Medical Relief to the Pensioners have been enhanced from existing Rs. 500.00 to Rs. 1000.00 per month.
14. The existing practice of medical re-imbursement will be continued.
15. Over all pay structure in parity with revised Central Pay structure with some enhancement given in the selected category like 4th grade and the teachers.

Sikkim Express