Revised Pay Structure

7/27/2019 Revised Pay Structure

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SALIENT FEATURES OF REVISED PAY STRUCTURE OF STATE

GOVERNMENT

Sikkim Employees are among the best paid

The recent allocation of State annual plan budget reflects a salary burden of Rs. 1,600

crore. That is quite a hefty sum to be spent on the payment of salaries. The last payrevision of 2006 shows the percentage increase in the salaries of the State Government

employees.

The pay Structure of Sikkim Government employees during the years preceding rule, to

say the least, remained unremarkable vis--vis the Central Government employees Even

after the enforcement of the 2nd

pay Commission recommendations, the structuraldisparities which existed between these two categories of employees were largely

unaddressed. Mindful of this disparity, the Government, in its very first term, took

unprecedented steps to equalize the pay scale by accepting the recommendations of the

3rd

pay Commission, which implied uni-from three-fold raise irrespective of Grades, intoto. Since the Government had identified primary education as one of the priority

sectors, the pay scales of school teachers underwent a major change as well, surpassing

even the ones prescribed for central Government Teachers. For instance, the pay scale of

school mothers took a 266% leap and likewise, that of primary School Teacher 308%[see box for details]. In view of the non-promotional nature of their profession, the State

Government their extended the incentive of Advancement Grade to all categories of theteacher fraternity. Primary Teaching could now become eligible for Advancement Grade

on attainment of 10 years qualifying service instead 15 years. In the years 2004,

anticipating the constitution of the 6th

Pay Commission as also to offset the steep rise inprices, the Government of India allowed the merger of 50% DA with the basic pay of

Central Government employees. This, besides granting great monetary interim relief, also

formed a solid basis for subsequent enhancement afforded by the 6th

Pay Commission.

The State Government too, lost no time in adopting this pattern and thus laid the cornerstone for substantial hike in the Pay Revision of 2006. Another outstanding feature of this

revision was the restoration of Leave encashment facility to Group C & D employees.

Significant Features of Growth in the Gross Salary under 2006 Pay Revision

The Pay scale which hitherto had not somehow received due attention were looked into

and dealt with more care in 2006 revision. To bring the Pay scale at par with the revisionCentral scales, which has been the basic demand of the State Government employees, the

following measure were taken-

i. Adoption of the Central Government Pay Bands as they are, except a minormodification in case of PB IV of Rs. 32,2000 Rs. 60,000 corresponding to thePre-revised Rs. 14,300 Rs. 18,300. this is unlike many State Governments

which have worked out are generally lower than the Central Government

ii. A number of Pay scales were upgraded [see box].


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Others

Lending continuity to the exercise of restructuring the Pay scales of government

employees other than teachers, the government ensured overhauling and upgradation ofthe following posts:

- OS and equivalent posts.

-Forest Guards.

-Excise Constables.-Checkers and Assistant Inspectors of IT & Ct Davison of FRED.

-Staff Nurses.

-ITI Workshop Assistant.- Craftsman Instructor.

- Workshop Supdtd. Etc

Conforming to Central Government employees are also State now covered under theAssured Career Progressive Scheme (ACP). Besides assuring three financial promotions

opportunities. Very few State Government have provided ACP scheme and even if

provided it is not to the extent of Governemnt of Sikkim. The State Government initiative

of allowing equal playing field for all categories of employees has managed to dispel thesense of discrimination with regard to pay structures. Allowances and other benefits:

DA-enhanced twice a years HRA-15% as against 10% of Central Govt. Employees. SBCA -10% (Status quo maintained) Difficult Area Allowance-10% maximum limit raised from 500 to 1000. High Altitude Allowance-Raised from Rs.500/- pm to Rs.1500/-pm Non practising Allowance for Medical Doctors-15% as against Rs.1000-1500.

Additional benefits for employees posted outside the State:

HRA- 20% Special Allowance-12.5% Childrens Education Allowance-at par with Central Government Rates. LTC-As compensation for dual establishments.

This unparalleled gesture extended by the State Government fully recognizes and

acknowledges the services rendered by all Government employees cutting across theofficial hierarchy. Comparison of the Revised pay scales of State and Central

Government Employees: Being fully aware with the ground realities of employees in the

lower rung of the ladder, the State Government had passed explicit orders for placement

of group C & D employees on sound footing, if not better in relation to the rest of thegroups, during the pay revision of 2006. Since the State Government was determined to

bring about measurable differences in the financial state of the lower level functionaries,

the 4th

Pay Commission did away with the Central Government practice of

segregating Group D personnel on the basis of their qualifications and skills. As

mentioned earlier, teachers have been accorded the highest


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3rd

PAY COMMSSION-w.e.f. 01.01.1996

GARDE PRE-REVISED SCALE REVISED SCALE % INCREASE

D (Lowest) 800-1060 2850-4150 256

A (Highest) 5700-6700 17,700-21770 202

POST PRE-REVISED SCALE REVISED SCALE

School Mother 875-1275 3200-4800

Primary Teacher 1030-1660 4200-5400

Teachers:

Category Pre-revised Upgraded Revised

PB GP

Primary Teacher Rs. 4200-6400 5000-8000 PB 2 Rs. 4200

H.M.Pr.School Rs. 4300-6800 5500-9000 PB 2 Rs. 4400

G.T. Rs. 5550-9000 5700-9700 PB 2 Rs. 4600

HM. JHS III Rs. 5700-9700 7000-11500 PB 2 Rs. 5000

HM JHS II Rs. 7000-11500 7500-12000 PB 2 Rs. 5400HM. SSII Rs. 7500-12000 9000-13800 PB 3 Rs. 6200

HM, SSI Rs. 9000-13800 10000-15200 PB 3 Rs. 6700

Category Centre State

Group D P.B. G.P. P.B. G.P.

Peon. Chowkidar etc. Rs. 5200-20200 1800 Rs. 5200-20200 2200

Daftry etc Rs. 5200-20200 1900 Rs. 5200-20200 2300

Police Constable etc Rs. 5200-20200 2000 Rs. 5200-20200 2400

LDC & equivalent Rs. 5200-20200 2000 Rs.5200-20200 2600

H. Constable etc Rs. 5200-20200 2400 Rs. 5200-20200 3000

ASI Rs. 5200-20200 2800 Rs.5200-20200 3400

Priority and in most cases the scale are equal or even better than their CentralGovernment counter parts. They have not been discriminated based on their skill of being

trained and untrained, qualification, work load etc. as is the case with the Central

Government. Similar generous treatment has been extended right till the highest echelons

of the bureaucracy. Annexure appended with this report amply enlightens the readers asto the wholesome and all pervading nature of the decisions taken by the Government with

regard to revision of pay as recommended by the 4th

pay commission. Comparison with

other State Governments-As mentioned before, the revised pay scale of the StateGovernment is at par with or in some cases, even higher than the Central Government.

So, comparison with other State Governments pay scales would actually not be of much

significance. However, for the sake of comparison, we have taken the revised pay scaleof two states from North-East, viz; Assam and Manipur, the nearest state of west Bengal

and another resource-wise advanced state of Punjab. A brief comparative analysis of our

pay scales with these states is given below:


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Assam: The posts-wise revised pay scales of Govt. of Sikkim and Assam show that our

pay scales, barring a few exceptions, are comparatively better. The revised lowest pay

scale of group D employees of Govt. of Assam is PB 1 of Rs. 4560-15000+Gp Rs. 1300with minimum pay of Rs. 5860 compared to our Rs. 5200+ 20200+GP Rs. 2200 with

minimum pay of Rs. 7400. the revised pay of Drivers of heavy vehicles, presumably the

hihest in the category, is in the pay Band of Rs. 5200-20200+Grade pay Rs. 2000 (min

pay Rs. 7380). Compared to this, the lowest pay of Grade III Driver in Sikkim is in payBand of Rs. 5200-20200 Grade Pay of Rs. 2400 9min pay of Rs. 8360) and the highest,

i.e Selection Grade is in the Pay Band of Rs. 9300-34800+GP of Rs. 4200 (min pay Rs.

14430). A Staff Nurse in Assam has her revised pay in the Pay Band of Rs. 5200-20200+GP Rs. 2300 (minimum pay Rs. 8570) compared to our Rs. 9300-34800+GP Rs

4200 (min pay of Rs. 14430). The revised pay of a Primary Teacher in Assam is in Pay

Band of Rs. 5200-20200 + GP Rs 2200 (minimum pay Rs. 8030) compared to ourPrimary Teacher Grade III pay of Rs. 9300-34800+GP Rs. 4200 (minimum pay Rs.

13.500). The highest revised pay for the post of State Service Secretary (Sr. Grade-I) is

PB 5 of Rs. 26000-45000 + GP 8700 (minimum pay 34700) compared to our highest pay

in PB 5 of Rs. 37400-67000 + GP Rs. 10000 (minimum pay 48530). MANIPUR: LowestGroup D revised pay scale of Govt. of Manipur is in Pay Band of Rs. 4440-7440+ Grade

Pay Rs. 1300. Our lowest pre-revised pay scale is comparable to their pre-revised Rs.

2750-4400 for which the revised pay is in Pay Band of Rs.5200-20200+ Grade Pay of Rs.

1800. Compared to this, the lowest grade pay given in our State is Rs. 2200. Againstalmost all the comparable pre-revised pay scales, the Grade Pays of Govt. of Sikkim are

higher. Punjab: Punjab has its own Pay Bands upto Pay Band 3. The lowest pay scale forGroup D post is PB I of Rs. 4900-10680+GP Rs. 1650 compared to our States Rs. 5200-

20200+GP Rs. 2200. The minimum pay of a Group D employee is Rs. 6950 compared to

our Rs.7400. It can be seen that for all comparable pre-revised scales, the Grade Paysgiven by our state Govt. is higher. The highest State Govt. pay scale in PB V of Rs.

37400-67000 with GP of Rs 10,000 is equal to the highest pay scale of the Govt. of

Punjab. West Bengal: The minimum revised Group D. pay scale of West Bengal is PB 1

of Rs. 4900-16200 with Grade pay of Rs. 1700 compared to our PB 1 of Rs. 5200-20200with Grade Pay of Pay of Rs. 2200. For their comparable pre-revised pay scale of Rs.

2850-4680, the revised scale is in Pay Band of Rs. 5400-25200 with GP of Rs. 1900. Dueto difference in pay bands, the revised pay scales of the two States are not easilycomparable. But on the whole, it can be said that in case of number of posts, particularly

at the lower levels, the revised pay scales of our State is better. For example, we can take

the revised pay structure of the teachers in both the States. The revised pay scale ofprimary school teacher in West Bengal is in the PB 2 of Rs. 5400-25200+GP Rs. 2300

(untrained and Rs. 2600 (trained) compared to our minimum Pr. Teacher pay scale in the

Pay Band of Rs. 9300-34800+GP Rs. 4200. Similarly, the revised pay of assistant

Graduate Teacher is in PB 3 of Rs. 7100-37600+GP Rs. 4100 compared to our PB 2 ofRs. 9300-34800+GP Rs. 4600. The revised pay of PGT in West Bengal is PB 4 of Rs.

9000-40500+GP Rs. 4800 compared to our minimum revised PGT pay in PB 2 of Rs.

9300-34800+GP Rs. 5000. The Minimum revised pay of the HM Sr. Secondary School inour State is in PB 3 of Rs. 15600-39100+GP Rs. 6200 compared to PB 4 of Rs. 9000-

40500+GP Rs. 5400 for the Head Masters of High School in West Bengal. The

comparisons above clearly show that the revised pay scales of the State Govt. on thewhole can said to be one of the best in the country, if not the best. The total liability of

the State Govt. for payment of arrears of the revised pay from 01 January 2006 has been

to the tune of Rs. 571 crores upto October 2010-11. our Government, nevertheless, took abold decision in granting the arrear payments to its employees in one go despite the


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difficulties we faced to manage resources to meet such a huge requirement. It must be

mentioned that the payment of arrears in case of most of the States were given in more

than two instalments and in some even upto five. The State Government was very muchaware of the constraints the revised pay and allowances would have on the resources at

its disposal. But true to its promise, it went ahead to give the best possible pay packages

to its 30,000 odd employees. The Government has always upheld the belief that the

government employees are the backbone of the society. It is now for the Governmentemployees to deliver their best and contribute their services in development of the State.

Report By Mr. Karma Bhutia

Documents

Revised Pay Structure