Nobody grudges Central government staff their Pay Commission bonanza (Editorial, Nov.21). But in our social context, it is a raise that is inequitable and ‘morally unjustified’ in the face of widespread, dehumanising poverty. It goes on to widen economic inequalities.
It stands to reason that price rise, inflation and other ‘economic vagaries’ hit 119 crore Indians who are outside government service as much as one crore government employees and pensioners. It is an irony that a government that cuts funds for entitlement programmes aimed at poverty mitigation is not short of funds to humour these employees. Nobody expects government employees to voluntarily agree to a salary freeze. But it will be inconsiderate of them not to recognise the need for some measure of economic security to all. They will do well to display a semblance of ‘patriotism’ and ‘altruism’.
G. David Milton,Maruthancode, Tamil Nadu
The Seventh Pay Commission recommendations only bring to the fore the plight of the common man and specifically the senior citizen. Who will come to his/her rescue especially when the interest on hardearned money after retirement such as gratuity locked into fixed deposits fetches only an interest rate of 8.25 per cent?
The problems faced by senior citizens who have to swim against the tide of a high cost of living cannot be glossed over. Why can’t the Central Government bring in legislation that raises the interest on fixed deposits held by senior citizens to at least 11 per cent? The band of the elderly in India is growing and their needs cannot be ignored.
A.S. Gopala Krishnan,Coimbatore
The contention of trade unions that the recommendations are not in tune with inflationary trends is ironic (“Trade unions unhappy”, Nov.22). Government employees are safe from inflation to a major extent, on account of periodical pay revisions/enhanced DA, and a net unavailable to the unorganised/private sector and those less privileged. Rather than pamper government staff, there must be efforts on encouraging a disciplined and efficient work culture and payment of productivity-linked remuneration in tune with the government’s pet slogan of “minimum government and maximum governance”.
Kshirasagara Balaji Rao,Hyderabad
