7th Pay Commission: Plight of the pensioners
The present Modi government has not been very considerate in the
welfare of central government employees. During 10 years, two pay
commissions have been formed and their recommendations have been
accepted with minor modifications.
The last pay commission formed
in 2006 had recommended a 20 per cent hike in salaries and pensions
which the government doubled while implementing it in 2008. In
conformity with the pay scale, the pay and allowances of the president,
Vice President and Governor's have also been increased in the same
proportion.
As any old pensioner, can feel that the formulators of
the 7th Pay Commission have not been so considerate with the
pensioners. Instead of recommending 24 per cent percent increase, the
7th pay commission copied the recommendation of the sixth pay
commission.
This is: a 20 percent increase in case of pensioners
80 years of age and above, 30 percent increase in case of pensioners 85
years of age and above, 40 percent increase in case of pensioners 90
years of age and above, 50 percent increase in case of pensioners 95
years of age and above and 100 percent increase in case of pensioners
100 years of age and above.
While life expectancy of an Indian is around 66.21 years, how do they get pension on the age of 80 years and above.
Introduction
of a Health Insurance Scheme for Central Government employees and
pensioners was recommended by the 7th pay commission but the government
was not accept it till date.
The 7th pay commission also
recommended, for the benefit of pensioners residing outside the CGHS
areas, CGHS should empanel those hospitals which are already empanelled
under CS (MA)/ECHS for catering to the medical requirement of these
pensioners on a cashless basis but the government did not took the
decision in this regard.
The 7th pay commission didn’t enhance
Medical Allowance Rs 500 per month and the government referred this case
to Finance Secretary committee of allowances to study and to give the
suggestion.
The pensioners are a spent-up force and are not in a
position to exert any influence. Therefore, it is their hope that the
Finance Minister Arun Jaitley will take a rational view on the plight of
the senior citizens and increase the pensioners’ above benefits.
TST
