Date:26/03/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/03/26/stories/2008032655411000.htm

Opinion - Letters to the Editor

Welcome pay hike

The Sixth Pay Commission, headed by Justice B.N. Srikrishna, has done a signal service to the country by hiking the salary of Central government employees. Placing the Service Chiefs of the Army, the Navy and the Air Force on a par with the Cabinet Secretary is a recognition that was long overdue. The Commission has sought to bring top government officials on an equal footing with top IT professionals.

It is now the turn of the Administrative Commission to tighten the bolts and nuts to make the officials answerable and punishable for the leakage of the whopping government revenue through many pores. The failure of all Plans to uplift the downtrodden is largely due to administrative inefficiency. Hereafter, top government officials should be held responsible if the benefits granted through their departments do not reach the people.

Vani Iyengar,

Bangalore

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The Pay Commission’s recommendations are indeed a bonanza for Central government employees. At the same time, one cannot help wonder if checks and balances have been put in place to effectively enforce accountability and deal with corruption stringently. While the people, I am sure, will not grudge the increase in the salaries of government employees, they certainly would mind if they still have to deal with non-accountability and corruption. After all, it is taxpayers’ money.

Vidya Sakthivel,

Erode

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Earlier, holding a ‘government job’ was a matter of pride. With BPOs and IT parks offering lucrative pay packages, hardly any graduate aspires for employment in the government sector today. The Pay Commission recommendations are a good attempt to narrow the disparities in the pay packages and attract talent to serve the government.

C. Jeevitha,

Chennai

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The Commission has satisfied a majority of government employees. One cannot expect more, especially when so many farmers are committing suicide. Comparing the salaries with the private sector is not fair considering the different nature of job profiles. Defence personnel, indeed, deserve more as recommended.

M.G. Thamizh Valavan,

Chennai