Arrears from April 1, 2010
Dimapur, June 29 (MExN): The protracted tussle over the 6th Central Pay Scale for Nagaland state ended today with the government and employees’ leaders settling on June 1, 2008 as the effecting date while the benefits will be from April 1, 2010. It was also agreed that additional arrear for one month will be paid in the month of December 2010.
The Cabinet Sub-committee on RoP and the Confederation of All Nagaland State Service Employees’ Association (CANSSEA) met June 29 in Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio’s office. A memorandum of understanding was signed between the two sides, resolving the issue of implementation of the 6th ROP for employees of Nagaland government.
The difficult financial position of the state government “consequent upon the normative approach adopted by the Thirteenth Finance Commission in accessing the state’s revenue expenditure” was explained in detail in the meeting, Chief Secretary Lalthara informed today. “The fact that there was absolutely no resource with the state for meeting any additional demand besides what is already being offered, that is, notional fixation from 1/6/2008 and actual cash benefit from 1/4/2010 was also clearly brought out in the meeting,” the government said.
The mutual agreement that the two sides arrived at, were that revised pay for state government employees will be given with effect from June 1, 2008 “notionally for fixation purpose only” while the “actual cash benefit” will be from April 1, 2010; additional arrear for one month will be paid in the month of December 2010 after reviewing the position of ARM in November 2010.
“Since the state govt. do not have resource to meet the expenditure for giving the additional arrear of one month which will involve an additional amount of Rs.43 Crore approximately, it has been decided to make all-out efforts to mobilize resource for the purpose by intensifying revenue collection drive,” the government said.
On the implementation of the 7th RoP, it was felt that any kind of commitment at this early stage would be ‘improper’. “Hence, it has been agreed to drop this issue. However, it has been agreed that in due time, views of CANSSEA will be taken into consideration in this regard.” Other anomalies, if any, in the 6th ROP will be examined by the anomalies committee and based on its recommendation the government will take necessary action.
On the part of the CANSSEA, the organization said the settlement was “done in the backdrop of financial crunch for which CANSSEA express its sincere gratitude particularly to the honorable CM of Nagaland and Dr. Shurhozelie Liezhietsu, convener of cabinet sub-committee for settling the matter amicably.” Having “conceded by the government to its demands of higher pay,” the CANSSEA statement said, all its members are urged to be more dedicated and sincere in all their assigned duties and responsibilities.
The next executive meeting of the CANSSEA is to be held on July 6 from 11 AM. All central office bearers, two representatives from each divisional units, two from each service association are requested to attend the said meeting positively.
