Nearly six lakh state government employees have reasons to be happy with the implementation of the recommendations of the Fifth Pay Commission, which provides for salary hikes in the range of Rs 700 to Rs 4,000 per month, besides increase in various perks and allowances. The monetary benefits of the revised pay scales will accrue from April 1, 2006. The additional burden on the state exchequer is expected to be Rs 1,400 crore per year, taking the total expenditure to around Rs 7,400 crore annually. In public perception, the government employees are already a pampered lot with little accountability and therefore, the sarkari babus will have to change their mindset and work harder to show that they really deserve this reward.
But there is no denying the fact that the cost of living has gone up phenomenally since the last pay revision about a decade ago and the government is duty-bound to take care of its work force. As a matter of fact, the House Rent Allowance for those working in the jurisdiction of Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike has seen a moderate increase from 13 per cent to 15 per cent and it would not adequately cover the high rental costs. However, considering the financial status of the government and the ever-increasing demands it has from various sections, the employees will have to be satisfied with whatever they have got through this revision.
Besides the revision of pay scales, the commission headed by former additional chief secretary M B Prakash has also made a number of recommendations for improving the administrative system which the government should consider seriously. Considering that the present transfer policy is whimsical and full of loopholes, it has recommended bringing forward a legislation prescribing the minimum period of tenure, constitution of a transferring authority and penalty for those who seek or approve violations of provisions of the Act. Noting that corruption is on the rise and in the last 10 years only 1,547cases have been registered and only 105 cases of punishment awarded, the commission has suggested empowering the Lokayukta, constitution of special courts for speedy disposal of cases and a vigilance commission on the lines of the Central Vigilance Commission. Equally laudable is the suggestion to give weightage to merit and efficiency at the time of promotion. It is incumbent on those in power to not only dole out rewards, but punish the incompetent and corrupt officials if the wheels of administration are to function smoothly and efficiently.