The State government has announced wage rise for almost all categories of its employees on the occasion of “Golden Gujarat” celebrations to mark the golden jubilee of the State's existence on May 1.
For regular employees, dearness allowance will be increased by eight per cent, to make it 35 per cent of their basic salary as per the Sixth Pay Commission recommendations. One-fifth of wage arrears will be paid in cash from May, an official spokesperson said here on Friday.
For over 1.25 lakh workers employed on a fixed pay in different departments, a wage hike would be granted from May 1.
More than 25,870 vidya sahayaks , working as teachers in schools on a monthly salary of Rs.2,500, would be given Rs.4,500. About 11,700 higher secondary vidya sahayaks would get Rs.5,000, up from Rs.3,500.
Compensatory wages
For the first time, the Gujarat government also decided to pay compensatory wages, as recommended by the Commission, to police personnel working on public holidays. The decision would be implemented retrospectively from April last year.
Lok rakshaks , appointed on a fixed pay to aid the police in maintaining law and order, traffic control and in such other jobs, would get Rs. 4,500, a rise of Rs. 2,000. About 15,000 persons working as peons in government departments would be paid Rs.3,500, up from Rs.1,500. For ad hoc employees working as deputy section officers, deputy revenue officers or deputy regional transport officers, the salary would be Rs.6,000, revised from Rs.4,500. Wages of women managing anganwadis (crèches) were raised by Rs.500 to Rs. 2,500.
The wage increase for vidya sahayaks , lok rakshaks and other categories of casual workers would benefit about 1.25 lakh employees and cost the State exchequer Rs.285 crore.
For some time now, various sections of government employees had been agitating for implementation of the Pay Commission recommendations, and they even threatened to boycott the “Swarnim Gujarat” celebrations.
Meanwhile, Vice-President Hamid Ansari, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, the former Prime Minister, Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Congress president Sonia Gandhi and Bharatiya Janata Party chief Nitin Gadkari have sent congratulatory messages, wishing the Golden Gujarat celebrations success.
