KOHIMA, OCT 30 (MExN): The All Nagaland Government College Teachers Association (ANGCTA) in a release issued here stated its response to the ‘Press Communiqué’ of the government published in some section of the media.
It stated that the ANGCTA has been persisting with its request for active implementation of the notification (NO.EDS/HTE/1-14/ 98) dated 7th December 1999, wherein Para -I clearly states “The employees entitled to University Grant Commission scales of pay shall be entitled to Dearness Allowance as admissible to Central Government employees from time to time”.
This clause has been in force since 01.01.96 following implementation of central pay scale in respect of ANGCTA members, and has been the very premise on which the pay structure rests, from 1976 till date, stated the release undersigned by Dr. Stephen Lotha, President, ANGCTA. Further, it stated that the said order has neither been superceded nor amended and hence the recent revision of Central Dearness Allowance (50% D.A. Merger) should have been implemented in their case as has been done for central employees serving under State Government.
In the clarification statement, the President also mentioned that parallel example exists in the state of Manipur where the said merger has been implemented in respect of A.I.S officers, central government employees serving under state government “and who are enjoying pay scales effective from 01.01.96”.
It added that the last group is the case in point as it refers to UGC scale holders who are beneficiaries of implementation of the same Fifth Central Pay Commission’s (CPC) Report as the former groups of employees. However, in a recent notification dated 10.08.2005 (NO.FIN/ROP/4/84 (VOL-II) PT.), the lecturers are asked to accept Dearness allowance “in line with other State Government employees till further orders” in stark contradiction to the 1999 notification which allowed lecturers to draw D.A. in line with central government employees, stated the release.
It may be mentioned that the pay structure of UGC Scale lecturers serving in Government Colleges of the state is governed by Central Pay Commission, and not by State Pay Commission. Owing to revision of Pay effective from 01.01.1996 in respect of ANGCTA members, the Central D.A. was slashed down to 0%, which languished at a meager 16% in June, 1998 when the State Pay Revision was implemented.
In contrast, the State D.A. soared from 148% to 170% at the same time period. Apparently, at the time, it was not rational to give State D.A. structure to lecturers and thus, they were made to accept the Central Revised Pay in toto, including the new revised rate of D.A. (0-16%), the statement clarified.
Therefore, the 10th Aug. 2005 notification is a clear breach on the bilateral agreement duly undertaken between the government and ANGCTA members during the implementation of the Fifth Pay Revision.
Further, the D.A. Merger Scheme is not a separate entity but is a part of the revised pay package as it was already envisaged in the Fifth CPC Report.
The release further stated that taking advantage of the government’s openness to suggestion, the Association must opined that, since revision of Pay Structure by State Pay Commission and Central Pay Commission has not been synchronized, any effort to create a hybrid structure between the two will result in 1996-1998 scenario of disparity in Dearness Allowance between the two pay structures.
Finally, ANGCTA has justified in claiming their legitimate right though pained in being constrained to make a public spectacle of something that is an ethical imperative and will be more so, if it must seek legal redressal against the government whose express objective, incidentally, is to safeguard the interests of its citizens.
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