Date:26/03/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/03/26/stories/2008032655411002.htm

Opinion - Letters to the Editor

Is it bonanza?

The headline “Bonanza for Central government staff” (March 25) is not only unfair but also regrettable. Worse is the description “major post-Holi bonanza.” Pay Commission recommendations are routine and periodical revisions of pay by the government for its employees. They are a consolation and compensation to offset the ever spiralling cost of living. At a time when many government employees are agitated and disappointed over the recommendations of the Sixth Pay Commission, describing them as bonanza was unwarranted.

AM. Justin Irudayaraj,

Nagapattinam

* * *

The headline, it appears, was given without verifying the facts. Except Secretaries and the Cabinet Secretary, all other government employees have got a hike of only 20 per cent. It is a pity that at lower levels, like mazdoor, the hike is hardly 20 per cent. It is only at the level dominated by IAS officers that the hike is high. Was the Pay Commission constituted for all Central government employees or only for a few senior officers?

J.V. Raja Reddy,

Visakhapatnam

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The Sixth Pay Commission had a chance to bring parity in terms of pay and perks between the government and the private sector but it failed to do so. The small increase in the salary of the lower level staff will not make a big difference to their quality of life. It cannot bring down the level of corruption among them.

Shamimuddin Ansari,

Ghaziabad

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The minimum salary at the entry level has been pegged at Rs.6,660 and the seniormost bureaucrat, Cabinet Secretary, has been recommended a pay of Rs.90,000 a month. There is only one Cabinet Secretary and about 40-50 Secretaries (who will draw Rs.80,000 a month) but the number of clerical staff runs into lakhs.

The major sufferers of inflation are the poor whose interests have been neglected. They depend only on their salary for livelihood. The huge hike in the salaries of top officials will only increase the inflationary pressures.

Aalok Patel,

New Delhi

* * *

Keeping in mind the interests of potential polling and presiding officers in the next general election, the government has opened the floodgate of largesse to its employees. The State governments will now have to follow suit, at least partially. Against each beneficiary, the government will create 100 people who will be further oppressed by the runaway inflation of essential commodities triggered by the massive purchasing power that will be let loose when the accumulated arrears are paid with effect from 2006. Leaders are very adept in making unreasonable grants from public funds if they feel they will help them to sail through the sea of election.

N.K. Das Gupta,

Kolkata