Al Ngullie
Morung Express News
Dimapur | September 10
It was learned Wednesday that the much-desired 6th central pay commission scale for the state would be implemented only most probably next year, 2010, around April-May. The latest dally is certain to dishearten state government employees across Nagaland yet again and for the umpteenth time. The reason, it is learned, the Nagaland government is ‘not in a position’ to implement the 6th Pay Commission’s recommendations for the pay upgrade due to “state problems” and ‘lack of funds.’
Hopes of state government employees soared when the Nagaland Pay (Fitment) Committee was instated in July 2009 to work out the pay scales and relevant allowances of the state employees in line with the 6th Central Pay Commission’s recommendations. Similarly, just a week ago, a high-level delegation of the government left for Delhi September 2. They were to meet with the Planning Commission, the 13th Finance Commission and the Finance Ministry to discuss possibilities to meeting requirements of ROP as recommended by the 6th Pay Commission. The Delhi move was widely envisaged to pave way for an “early release (of the pay scale) to the government employees of Nagaland.”
And hopes may yet be dashed again. It is learned that the Pay (Fitment) Committee instated by the Nagaland government had submitted its examination report September 8 to the state Cabinet. The state Cabinet met yesterday, September 9 and discussed the report as well as the 6th pay scale, emerging with a not-so-positive decision.
On condition of strict anonymity, a highly-placed source in the state government disclosed that the Cabinet was “inconclusive” whether or not to implement the 6th Pay Commission’s recommendations. In fact, the source informed, the central pay scale would be implemented most probably only in April 2010. He said the government is irresolute thanks to a good number of ‘issues.’ The RoP of the scale, scale for pensioners and other “implications” were discussed, he said. Chief among the ‘problems’ the government is faced with, the source said, is the “lack of funds” and “financial implications.”
The ‘problem’ also included structuring the pay scale not for serving state government employees only, but pensioners as well, the source added.
To the query if reports that the Centre has “released some amount” to the State government to bear a segment of the 6th Pay is true, the Cabinet source responded in the negative. So far, not known financial assistance has been sanctioned in this regard, he said. A senior state official on anonymity had said Wednesday from Kohima that “some amounts” were sanctioned to bear the fiscal gaps that would crop up if the scale is implemented.
In May this year in Delhi, Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio reportedly requested the central government to bear the entire additional burden of the pay revision. The special status enjoyed by Nagaland under the 16-Point Agreement 1960 and article 371(A) of the constitution continues to be the main leverage. With it, the state seeks from the 13th Finance Commission “revenue-gap grants” for Nagaland.
In another matter, the officiating members of the high-level delegation of the government which met with Delhi on September 2 refused to comment on their Delhi visit and what transpired. When contacted, the Chief Secretary and ACS & Development Commissioner could not divulge on the development. The Finance Commissioner could not be reached for comment.
In regard to the report of the Fitment Committee, chairman of the Fitment Committee CJ Ponraj confirmed that the report had been submitted to the government September 8. He said a number of recommendations were made, but did not divulge what they were. He said the committee has submitted its report and now the decision rests only with the committee.
