7th Pay Commission submitted its Recommendation in November 2016. House Rent Allowance is one of the very important recommendation expected by CG Employees among the most expected recommendations.
A Govt servant is spending one third of
his salary for paying House Rent. Considering these expenses of CG
Employees those who are living in big cities, Sixth CPC has recommended
10, 20 and 30% of the Basic pay as HRA. Accordingly, HRA has been paid
for the past Eight Years and the Federation Demanded to increase this
rates in 7th Pay Commission.
But the Commission in its recommendation
reduced these rates to 8,16 and 24%. Though it has been justified with
various reasons by 7th CPC, it disappointed the CG employees. Since CG
Employees felt that only these reduced rates will be paid for next ten
years, their demand to restore the old rates started gaining big
support. As a result of this, all the Staff associations and Federations
pressurized the Government to increase the rate of HRA and it was included in charter of 7th CPC demands.
Already the Government had wasted six
months in the name of Empowered Committee to examine the 7th CPC
Recommendations. Until now the report of this committee is not
published.
The Cabinet gave its approval for the
implementation of 7th CPC recommendations on 29th June 2016. It has been
stated in that report that, a committee headed by Secretary, Finance
will be Constituted to examine the Allowances and committee is given
four-month time to submit its report. Till then the HRA will be paid as
per Sixth CPC rates.
Meanwhile, Group of Ministers invited
NJCA for a meeting to with draw the Indefinite Strike proposed to
commence from 11th July, In that meeting, Increasing the percentage of
HRA also discussed. The Government agreed to form a committee to examine
the Allowances. It has been described as Government indirectly agreed to increase the HRA.
Implementation of 7th CPC recommendation
was ensured by Gazette Notification issued on 25th July 2016. But there
was no Change in the recommendation of HRA.
Till now the Central Government
employees are wondering that why the Committee has been given four
Months’ Time to examine the HRA. As well as the decision to continue the
HRA in Sixth CPC is considered as big disappointment.
HRA plays a Major Role in pay hike. So
the CG Staff feel that HRA would have been paid in Revised rates from
this month onwards. Thereafter paying arrears for the Increased amount
in HRA will become inevitable. Because there is no assurance that
Revised rates of HRA will be given retrospective effect.
Why does the Government hesitate to implement this?
