The three Service chiefs will soon meet Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar to express the forces’ concerns over “shortcomings” in the recommendations of the 7th Pay Commission.
The armed forces are of the view that if the Pay Commission is implemented in its present form, it will position them much below their civilian counterparts in terms of salaries, facilities and status.
One of the main grudges that the armed forces have is with regard to the risk-hardship matrix.
The officers say that a soldier posted in Siachen Glacier, the highest battlefield in the world which poses great risk and hardship, will get an allowance of Rs 31,500 per month.
Must Read : The Shocking fact of Pay hike recommended by 7th Pay Commission
In contrast, a civilian bureaucrat from the All India Services draws 30 per cent of his salary as “hardship allowance” when posted anywhere outside the “comfort zone”.
Under the new scale, a senior IAS official posted in a city in north east India will draw much more as “hardship allowance” when compared to the Rs 31,500 per month that military officers posted in Siachen are to receive.
A total of 869 Indian soldiers have died in Siachen since 1984 due to various factors, including the hostile conditions there.
Navy chief Admiral RK Dhowan was the first among the three service chiefs to officially comment on the Pay Commission report.”
Whatever we feel are the shortcomings are being taken up by the three services with the Ministry of Defence to see that whatever we feel is necessary for our men, our officers, our civilians, is made available to them,” Dhowan had said here on December 3
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Submission of genuine points of JCOs OR and equivalent which are not properly addressed by 7th Pay commission in their reports.
Pay matrix for Defence personnel is for 24 years and that of civilians are for 40 years.A Sep retires at the age of 35,JCOs between 45 to 48 and officers between 50 to 60/62. A Sep can earn only 16 increments in the normal course or otherwise 19 increments as per pay matrix before they are compelled to go out of service on completion of the prescribed tenure. There for the matrix is benificial to Sep only upto 19 years. In the case of civilians they can earn 39 increments in his service with out any promotion as per the matrix before they retires at the age of 60 years. Pay of a sep on completion of 19 years in the grade pay group 2000 as per the matrix is 37200 with the additional benefit of MSP of 5200 his total pay at the time of retirement will be 42400. In the case of civilians in the grade pay group of 2000 may reach up to 69100.As regards ACP,Sep to Hav may get higher grade pay on completion of 8,16 and 24 years service. In the case of Sep he is not eligible for the third level ACP because he retires on completion of 20 years. Civilians may get the ACP benefit on completion of 10,20 and 30 years.After getting third level ACP he get the benefit of the increased rate of increment for the 3rd level ACP for at least 10 years. with this his pay may further increase up to the level Approx 72000 in the grade pay group of 4200. This points needs to be incuded in the conference.
The MSP recommended for JCOs OR is 5200 and that of officers is 15500. Difference of 10300 needs to be reduced other wise when the % of DA likely to be sanctioned in the years to come will cross the difference about 20600 based on % of DA reaches 100%. There for changes in the rate is considred essential.
There were 8 groups in Army,got reduced to 5,further reduced to three as X,Y and Z. At present only X and Y.Most of the Y group personnel get the benefit of classification allowance.As per recommendation this allowances will be abolished. In the other side X group pay of 6200 was found recommended for individuls joining the service with Diploma qualification. Civilians with diploma qualification join the service in the grade pay group 4200 level. But after joining the service in additional qualification pay is entitled for them. Now take the case of direct entry JCOs they are placed in the grade pay group of 4200.Now the direct entry system is stopped I think. In the case of diploma holders they are placed in the higher grade group at the time of joining the service. They get service benifits and jumps up for promotion to the Rank of JCO on completion of minimum required service.On becoming JCO they are placed in the grade pay group of 4200.JCOs being a supervisory post and they are liable to forgo the classification allowances,The X group pay of 6200 to Nb/Sub to Sub Maj recommended needs further study in length with actual trade wise work involvement.Most of the trades in the Y group are enrolled with the qualification of Plus two with science and maths. After joining they also attend their trade wise course. Up gradation of Trade is a ladder for the efficiency and further promotion. Classification pay needs to be revised.
Grant of Hony Rank. Hony NK,TS Naik,Hony Hav and Hony Nb Sub get the financial benefit of Hony rank even after it was granted on retired list.Hony Sub,Hony Sub Maj,Hony Lt and Hony Capt granted on retired list are deprived of the financial benefit.JCO are also not eligible for ACP benefit. These points to be looked in to. When Officers seeks for NFU,the Honorary rank granted to JCO on the meritorious service needs special consideration for extending the financial benefits for the awardees.
The last point is with regards to the pension entitlement. Pension of JCOs OR were calculated based on the 70% of the last pay drawn up to 1973 and that of officers based on 50% of the last pay drawn. As per 5 th CPC it was changed to 50% of the maximum of the pay scale of each rank.6th CPC,further changed 50% of maximum of the pay scale of pre 2006 multiplied by 1.86+grade pay+MSP and X group pay as applicable. Here 7 th pay commission with drawn all the benefit and equalizes with civilians in the form of 50% of the last pay drawn. However an additional MSP found added for calculation of pensions of defence personnel. It is not at all beneficial to veterans when comparing to the old method because MSP was added for calculation of pension as per 6 th CPC. This is to be reviewed.