A day after the government notified the revised pay scale for armed forces officers, their top brass are understood to have conveyed their unwillingness to implement the Sixth Pay Commission report until
anomalies are removed and the status of downdgraded ranks is restored.
Problem Area
The sources said Defence Minister A.K. Antony gave the assurance that he would take up the anomalies with the government and attempt to get them removed.It was on his initiative that the government had set up a high level Pay Commission review panel to look into the grievances of the armed forces.While some benefits did accrue to the officers and PBORs, the notification left colonels and brigadiers and their equivalents, considered the backbone of the armed forces’ officer cadre, dissatisfied.
anomalies are removed and the status of downdgraded ranks is restored.
Problem Area
For the past two days, faced with resentment by middle and senior level officers, top officials from the three services have been closeted with Defence Ministry officials to explain the downgrading of the status of colonels and brigadiers. However, they appreciate the new pay scales for personnel below officer rank (PBOR) as well as aspects such as full pension on completion of 20 years of service for officers and 15 years for PBORs. Their unwillingness to implement the pay panel’s recommendations revolves round the case of Colonels and Brigadiers and their equivalent in the navy and the air force.
Sources said the Fifth Pay Commission recommended pay received by aLieutenant Colonel on the bottom of the scale as on January 1, 2006 wasabout Rs. 28,000 compared to Rs. 26,500 for a civil Non-FunctionalSelection Grade (NFSG) officer. But according to the Sixth Pay Commission, a Lt. Col. would receive Rs. 31,500 as against Rs. 45,000 for an NFSG officer at the bottom of the scale. The NFSG officers whowere drawing a pay lesser than Lt. Colonels are now in Pay Band 4,while Lt. Colonels remain in Pay Band 3. The NFSG officers on the civilside include superintending engineers of the Central EngineeringServices, the Directors of the government of India, Commandants in Central police organisations, Additional Commissioners of Income Tax and scientists ‘E’ of the Central Scientific Departments.The sources said Defence Minister A.K. Antony gave the assurance that he would take up the anomalies with the government and attempt to get them removed.It was on his initiative that the government had set up a high level Pay Commission review panel to look into the grievances of the armed forces.While some benefits did accrue to the officers and PBORs, the notification left colonels and brigadiers and their equivalents, considered the backbone of the armed forces’ officer cadre, dissatisfied.
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