Hike in Seventh Pay Commission salaries inadequate: Cong

 Congress tonight accused the Modi government of "letting down" Central government employees by "inadequate" hike in salaries and allowances in the Seventh Pay commission recommendations in time of run away inflation.

"98 lakh central government employees feel disillusioned, let down and short changed by the lopsided and inadequate hike in salaries and allowances by Modi government in these times of run away inflation and all round increase in prices", party's chief spokesman Randeep Surjewala said.

Claiming that the hike is the "lowest in the last seven decades", he said the hike in salaries and allowances is a mere 15 per cent on basic pay and not 23.5 per cent as is being wrongly claimed by the government.

"This gets even more stark when compared to the fact that 6th Pay commission had recommended a 20 per cent hike in salaries and allowances but the then Congress government doubled it to 40 per cent. 7th Pay Commission recommended a hike of 14.29 per cent and Modi government merely raised it to a pittance of 15 per cent", he said.

He said even the ratio between the lowest and the highest salary has increased instead of the gap being narrowed. "Naturally, employees at the lower rung of the salary will suffer the most", he added.

"7th Pay Commission implementation establishes the mal-intent and lack of sincerity of Modi government", he added.

For example, highest salary has increased from Rs 90,000 to Rs 2,50,000 but the lowest salary has been increased from Rs 7,000 to Rs 18,000 only, he said.

Earlier, the ratio was 1:12. Universal demand of all parties and employees federations was for a ratio of 1:8. On the contrary, Modi government has increased the ratio to 1:14.

The Congress Party has always stood with the workers who make India great, be they in the government sector or be they farmers or rural labourers, he claimed. SPG RG

Source:-The Times of India