Mar 28 2008
Armed forces seek 40-60 per cent pay hike!
Unhappy with the 6th Pay commission’s recommendation for the Armed Forces, the three Service Chiefs on Thursday met Defence Minister, A K Antony, to propose a 40 to 60 per cent increase over and above the hike suggested by the panel, saying they deserved a better deal.
The chiefs believe that the pay panel had not done justice to soldiers and middle rung officers. Defence personnel should be given higher salaries which will also help to attract the people to make a career in this field in the backdrop of shortage of officers.
Chairman of Chiefs of Staff Committee, Admiral Sureesh Mehta, want modifications in the Pay Commission proposals including military service pay (MSP) be fixed at 25 per cent of the basic pay for soldiers, personnel below officer rank (PBOR) and middle rung officers.
It will also bind the officers and men to forces since there are about 1.2 million personnel in the Armed Forces.
A meeting was held for more than 90 minutes and was attended by Army Chief General Deepak Kapoor, Air Chief Fali Homi Major and Defence Secretary Vijay Singh.
The Services, according to sources, were also up in arms against the Panel’s recommendation of single pay band for soldiers, PBOR and for officers up to the rank of Brigadiers.
Written request is also submitted to the Minister, the Services have asked the government to consider “three pay bands” each for soldiers and PBOR and for officers from rank of Lieutenant to Brigadiers.
Though there was no official comment on the submissions made, it is understood that the Service Chiefs suggested that the report be supplemented by a separate pay commission for the Armed Forces.
