Govt resorting to delaying tactics, say pensioners’ association

Our Correspondent
Doraha, February 4

The Punjab Government’s decision to extend the Sixth Pay Commission has met stiff resistence from various quarters.

Pawan Kumar Kaushal, president, Pensioners Association of Doraha, said the government was bound to implement the report of the Sixth Pay Commission within a month after the 2017 Assembly Elections, however, it dragged its feet and extended the date to December 31, 2019.

“This is highly condemnable move of the state government which poses itself to be employee friendly. In reality, the government intends to delink its employees and pensioners from the pay commission on the Central pattern,” Kaushal said.

“The government under the leadership of Captain Amarinder Singh is posing to be autocratic in every way. They use power to shunt out the employees at their will or for that matter reduce their salary,” he said.

Tarsem Bahia, chairman, Punjab Educationists Forum said, “The pay revision is done after every 10 years. The last pay revision came into effect on January 1, 2006. The Central Government has already revised the pay. The Punjab Government appointed its commission very late and its extension means that its recommendations will be available only in 2020.”

He said, “These are delay tactics on the part of the government. When will the recommendations of the Sixth Pay Commission come into force? They should immediately announce some interim relief for employees and pensioners.”

Senator Prof Harpreet Dua said, “This is sheer exploitation and harassment of employees. Extension of Sixth Pay Commission clearly brings out the delay tactics on the part of the government.”

Senator Prof KK Sharma termed it as an anti-employee attitude of the government. “The poor governance under Capt Amarinder Singh has forced employees to come on the roads and beg for their own rights,” he said.

Senator Dr Inderpal Sidhu rued that teaching community feels cheated.

District president of PCCTU Prof Kuldip Batta said the government would face wrath of the employees.