User Name: Southern Railway Pensioners Sangam Trichy
Comparison with public/private sectors
Should there be any comparison/parity between pay scales and perquisites in Government and the public/private sector?
Comparison/parity between pay scales and perquisites in Government and the Public/Private Sector is essential in order to prevent the talents going out from the Government posts. A Software Engineer in a private career is drawing a minimum salary of more than Rs.40,000/- p.m. whereas an employee with the same engineering qualification is drawing not even half of that in Government services.
Is it possible to quantify all other benefits, excluding pay, derived by employees in Government and the public and private sectors from security of tenure, promotional avenues, retirement packages, housing and other invisibles? In view of these benefits, can there be any fair comparison between the salaries available in the government vis-ŕ-vis the salaries in the private sector?
a) Security tenure is available on both sides. b) Promotional avenues are very meager. Increments in Government jobs are Rs.55/-, Rs.100/-, etc. per year. At the same time in Private/Public sectors it is in thousands. c) Retirement packages are very poor in Government jobs, for which only we are facing the VICPC. d) The Housing in the Railways are very poor condition. Most of them are unworthy to dwell. At present they are recovering water charges and electricity charges, etc. from the labourers. e) The salaries of Central Government Servants are very poor and cannot be compared this with that of Private /Public Sector.
In order to ensure a fair comparison based on principles of equity and social justice, would it not also be appropriate to take into account the economic conditions of large sections of the community that are less privileged than Government employees and many of whom live below the poverty line?
This question is very injurious one to the Central Government Servants' sentiments. We the Central Government Servants are consisting of all communities and came from the less privileged and from the section who live below poverty line. We are working for the equity and social justice and for the uplift of those, who are living below poverty line. We, the Central Government Servants are implementing those Government policies. For the small increase the central staff's pay structure you have shown "equity and social justice', economic condition of large section", "many people live below the poverty line". If it is the condition, it is surprise to note how the salary of the Parliament has been raised to several thousands recently by themselves without any Pay Commission?
International comparisons
Some countries have raised civil service pay scales almost to levels prevalent in the private sector on the hypothesis that a well-paid bureaucracy is likely to be honest and diligent. To what extent would such a hypothesis be valid and how far would such a course of action be desirable?
Almost all the qualified as well as talented persons preferring going abroad mainly because the salary there is more than 3 or 4 times that is prevalent here. As such in order to arrest the talents going out from our country, the salary of the talented persons should definitely be raised atleast to a satisfactory level if not in full as compared to other countries.
Impact on other organizations
Salary structure in the Central and State Governments is broadly similar. The recommendations of the Pay Commission are likely to lead to similar demands from employees of State Governments, municipal bodies, panchayati raj institutions & autonomous institutions Their paying capacity is considerably limited. To what extent should this factor be considered in devising a reasonable remuneration package for Central Government employees?
The comparison of Central Government Employees to the State Government Employees or Local Body Employees are unequal and undersizeable. Services of State Government Employees and Local Body Employees are confined to their respective states and local body area only. We the central Government Staff are bound for transfer all over India. So, the rights and responsibilities they face more than State Government Employees. Being the State Governments are good and model employers they give more benefits to their employees more than what the Central Government employees are getting now. State Govt. Staff are getting more pension, pensionary benefits, festival bonus, funeral allowance, social security schemes, etc. State Govt. Pay-commissions are not referring other states or other countries/other bodies whether the salaries of their staff may be increased or whether all the demands put forth by their staff side be sanctioned. As such the comparison of salary of the Central Govt. Employees to the Local Body Employees is irrelevant in this juncture.
Salaries
How should we determine the salary to be paid to a Secretary in the Central Government? Please suggest an appropriate basic pay for a Secretary? Can appointment to this post be made on a contractual basis where salaries and tenure are linked to the performance in terms of achieving defined targets?
This is the top post in the Government. Any decision taken by them governs the entire people of India. So, the responsibility to which they subjected to, has no comparison with the top post in the Private Industry. Hence the salary of a Secretary, the best talent in the country after getting through the tough examinations like IAS, IPS, IFS, IRS, etc. should not be less thank that of anm MS in the renowned concern. This only will fetch them the real respect in the society to maintain social status.
What should be the reasonable ratio between the minimum and the maximum of a pay scale?
The minimum pay on any account should not be less than Rs.7,000/-p.m.
Group-A Services
Is there a case for a Unified Civil Service, merging therein all Central (both technical and non-technical) and All India Services, allowing vertical and horizontal movement ? Or should there be two distinct streams, one embracing all the technical services and the other for non-technical services?
The posts which call for technical qualification like Engineering, doctors, scientists, etc., etc. should be adequately compensated when compared non-technical post.
Do you feel that the pattern of pay scales for all Group A Services should be redesignated so as to attract candidates of the requisite caliber? Keeping in view some of the compensation packages being offered to fresh professionals by the private sector, what emoluments would you suggest for an entrant to a Group-A Service in Government?
The Group 'A' employees are appointed after undergoing so many ordeals and test unlike the employees with the same technical qualification with private industry. The main reason for their going to private industry is because of their non-selection in the competitive tests conducted by the Government. Hence the salary of a Group 'A' Government servant should be more than 50% of that prevalent in the private sector.
Professional personnel
Should there be a higher compensation package for scientists in certain specialized streams/departments like Department of Space, Department of Atomic Energy? If so, what should be the reasonable package in their case?
There should be higher compensaiton package for Scientists in specialised streams/ departments like Department of Space/ Atomic Energy. They should be equalted to international level.
Restructuring of Group C & D posts
Should all lower Group C functionaries in the Secretariat be replaced by multi-functional Executive Assistants, who would be graduates and well versed in office work, secretarial skills and use of modern office equipment including computers? Should Similar arrangements can be evolved for Group C posts in other organisations of Government?
Group 'C functionaries need not be replaced by graduates. The present educational systems are so much improved in order to coup up with office work, secretarial skills and the use of modern office equipments including computers. Now-a-days, computer operation too are taught in the elementary education level. Hence the present educational qualification status may be maintained for recruitment of class 'C & 'D'.
Pay Scales
How should a pay scale be structured? What is a reasonable ratio between the minimum and maximum of a pay scale?
The minimum pay scale should be Rs.6,000/- p.m.
New concepts
It has been suggested that existing Government employees should be encouraged to shift to employment on contract for specified periods in return for a substantially higher remuneration package. Would you agree?
Central Government Employees should not be made as "contract labourers". Due to ignorance about the performance & importance of the services of the Central Government Employees, the shift to a contractual concept will always affect the Governing process of Central Government The new concept will not suit to our country and the development of our country will be affected very much.
