AGARTALA, Decmeber 11 (TIWN): Tripura Govt led by CM Manik Sarkar probably never felt the importance of pay hike on par with Central scale for State Govt employees. Or Chief Minister and his Cabinet wanted to keep State Govt employees in poor condition financially so that CPIM never lacks supply of poor people in its rallies throughout the State ? More poor people, people with financial woes certainly an asset for ruling party's propaganda machineries. Though political parties claim to represent poor people but their sole goal is creation of more poverty, more poor people so that leaders can play the old tunes of promises,deprivation by centre and ensure the steady flow of votes. Tripura CM and his party is no exception, on purpose Manik Sarkar made Tripura the only State in Country where no Central Pay Scales followed, Tripura has a Review System instead of Pay Commission for its govt employees. CM never felt even to demand more money for State Govt employees during his meeting with PM Modi on Dec 1.

During the last five years state govt, its main power supply unit Melarmath , CPI(M) employees organ H B Road and also CPI(M) leaders have been campaigning against the 13th Finance Commission and its deprivation( Banchana) against Tripura. Even CPI(M) 'Clean and Mr White Brand' Manik Sarkar is not lagging behind in this campaign. Tripura is the only state in the country where Pay Review system is implemented instead of Pay Commission and the outcome is that Tripura is the state where state govt employees are now enjoying the poorest salary structure in India. While all the states have implemented the pay scale as per the proposals of 6th Pay Commission, Tripura employees are having the Pay Review system with lowest lay structure framed by the Melarmath controlled financial experts in the state Govt. A Melarmath closed state govt employee( unwilling to reveal his name) told TIWN this morning ,"Even from  a section of H B Road wings it was campaigned that if the Prime Minister gives the positive signal regardibg the allocation from 14th Finance Commission, state govt will impose the 6th Pay Commission's proposals. But after watching the Press Meet of the Chief Minister Manik Sarkar, who briefed the media about the details of the meeting with the PM, we were simply stunned. Mysteriously state govt not even mentioned employees issues."

Deprivation of 13th Finance Commission is purely a political strategy taken by the CPI(M) and the govt during the last 5 years. Even employees too known this but for fear of being transferred they don't say anything in public. "

         Indeed Finance Commission is a Constitutional body and through out the country it follows the same policy. While making proposal to the Centre regarding grants for employees salary, it only considers the Committed Expenditure. And the expenditure will only be considered as a 'Committed' one when the state govt gives the increased rate of salary. It is really shameful that the employees' 'poorest pay scale in the country(as is now implemented in Tripura) has now become an object of laughter in India. In a recent episode of a popular TV Show namely " Kaun Banega Crorepati' the anchor Amitabh Bachchan asked a competitor ," Which is the only  state in India that has Review System instead of Pay Commission for its govt employees?" In out of the four options given in the answers when the competitor selected Tripura as his answer Bachchan said ' Sehi Jawab'(correct answer). This is an indication that even the salary scale implemented in Tripura has now become a topic of ridicule in national TV channels. Speaking to TIWN on this issue PDS leader said ," It is totally an absurd theory now being told by Manik Sarkar & Co. Whom is he be fooling? It is completely false to blame the Finance Commission. If all the states of the country have implemented pay scale proposed by the 6th Pay Commission and accordingly received grants for this, why has not the LF Govt Tripura done the same? If all States can get the fund, only for Tripura 13th Finance Commission has reprieved! Totally false and absurd story."   

          Due to the intentional and one sided attitude of state govt , chiefly by the Chief Minister Manik Sarkar govt employees of Tripura will have a terrible future in future. From 1st January 2016 Central Govt will implement the proposals of the 7th Pay Commission for its emoyees. But in Tripura Manik Sarkar & Co is still busy in putting the blame upon the 13th Finance Commission. Eyeing the impact of state govt's negative policy PDS leaders led by its Secretary General Ajay Biswas met the Finance Secretary, Govt of Tripura on 27th October and warned him of the possible consequences of the grant yo be released by the 14th Finance Commission . He said," If the state govt does not implement the proposals of the 6th Pay Commission and make the expenditure committed , state will against suffer like it has during the 5 years tenure of 13th Finance Commission. " As such for the interest of the state govt employees Ajay Biswas calls for a united movement from all the employees . He said that by its old policy state govt is all set to make the economy of the state 'a crippled one'. The truth of the state employees is given bellow by means of a comparative study below:-

      In the name of 'Deprivation of 13th Finance Commission Left Front and CPI(M) collectively and very successfully collapsed the economy of the state and once again the party is on its way to make the same type of false campaign during the tenure of 14th Finance Commission clearly knowing that Finance Commission will not propose for allocation of funds from the Centre unless state gov Central Pay Scale to the state govt employees as per the recommendation of 6th Pay Commission . Time and again we have asked the state govt to give Central Pay scale to the state govt employees and make the expenditure committed one so that 14th Finance Commission can make the same proposal to the Centre for allocation of funds.Unfortunately state govt is yet to follow the same negative policy though the 14th Pay Commission was supposed to submit its report in October this year but now it 14th Finance Commission once again extended its time upto 31st December 2014 for the final submission of its report to the Centre. But till date neither state govt nor Chief Minister Manik Sarkar seems to be interested to implement Central Pay scale as per 6th Pay Commission.

     Indeed, state govt employees are again on the verge sheer financial deprivation simply due to the negative attitude of Left Govt. And once again it is sure that the economy of the state will suffer greatly as the state givt employees a significant part in keeping the economy of the state in right direction. Even now there is a bleak chance of recovery. If state govt declares Central Pay scale and makes it immediate effect, 14th Finance Commission will consider this additional expenses as Committed Expenditure.

     In this connection we would like to present a statistical record before our readers and followers. Being a Special Category State Tripura got Rs 7411.50 crore from 13th Finance Commission(for the year 2010-2015)  compare to 12th Finance Commission's sanction of Rs 2626.09cr as part of its share of Central Tax. Thus, it is open to all that 13th Finance Commission has sanctioned 182% more than what the 12th Finance Commission did. Even in Non-plan fund 13th Finance Commission has given Tripura Rs 1263 crore compare to Rs 296 of the 12th Finance Commission an increase of 326%. Among the Special Category state that get share of Central Tax Tripura is in the 4th position is reagard to fund sanction from 13th Commission. Moreover, as Gap Grant from 13th Commission Tripura got Rs 240.79 cr more (13th Finance Commission considered state'as own earning as Rs 4484.24 though state govt submitted the report saying the earning as Rs 4728.93cr ).

    Now consider how much the state govt employees get as compared to Central govt employees (6th Pay Commission) from the following stats:- (As on 30/06/2014)

1) A group D employee (regular) under Govt of Tripura gets his monthly salary(Initial)  as :-

2600×1.86+1200+74%(DA+ House Rent)+ 425(MA+CA)= 10,927.64/-

But Gr D employee( regular) under Central Govt gets his monthly salary as per following structure:-

5200+1800+100%(DA)+10%(HOUSE Rent)+10%(MA)= 15400/-.

      Thus every month a Group D employee is losing Rs 4472.36/- and yearly Rs 53668.32/-. And if we consider his service period for 30 years , he will suffet a loss of  Rs 1610049.6/-

2) A Primary(UGT) Teacher or a Lower Division Clerk of a state govt ( regular) now gets his monthly salary as per following :-

     3300×1.86+1800(GP )+ 74%(DA)+525(MA+CA)= 14337/-. While a Central govt employee of the same rank gets his monthly salaray as per:-

       9300+4200(GP) +100%(DA)+10%(House Rent)+10%(MA) =29700/-

 It means every month  a state govt employee is losing Rs 15363/-  and yearly Rs 184356/-. Under this pay structure if he continues his service for 30 years state govt employee will lose Rs 55,30,680/-  

 3) A state govt employee in PB-3  is now getting a monthly salary as per:-

4200×1.86+2100+74%(DA & HOUSE Rent)+ 525(MA+ CA)= 17771.88/- while a Central Govt employee gets his salary as per :-

15600+5400(GP)+100%(DA)+10%(House Rent)+10%(MA)=46200/- .

It means that every month an employee suffers a loss of Rs 28428.12/- and his yearly loss is Rs 341137.44/-. And if he serves for 30 years his loss will be Rs 1,02,34,123.2/-.

4) Similarly state govt employee in PB-4 (regular) is now getting a monthly salary as per following pay structure -

5000× 1.86+2400+74%(including DA & HOUSE rent)+525(MA+CA)  = 20883/-

   But a Central Govt employee (Post Graduate Teacher ) is getting his salary as per following pay structure-

37400+8700+100%DA+ 10% House rent= 1,01,420/-. Thus every month state govt employee is deprived of Rs 80537/-.

      Reacting to such deprivation of employees Secretary General of Employees Coordination Committee Ajay Biswas told TIWN Correspondent over phone," Actually the story began in 1999 under the leadership of Manik Sarkar. This Govt does not want meritorious youths to attract in Teaching profession. Over the years recruitment in Education Department is being done under the clear instruction of CPI(M) leaders. That's why though Left Trade Unions including CITU is making agitations across national level demanding higher pay scale to teachers , CPI(M) govt in Tripura is acting totally against it." Ajay Biswas made a crucial point in his statement. His said," The educational policy at the national and international level is to create more and more meritorious students under quality teachers. And if you don't give enough money to teachers meritorious youths won't come to this profession. Unfortunately Left Front Govt does not want merit in education sector. It is purely against the interests of the common mass." He said that H B Road employees are now completely oblivious of the fact as their main interests seems to see the interest of the party rather than interest of employees and work culture in govt offices.

     A section of the Manik lobby was trying to campaign that former Finance Minister Badal Chowdhury was the man behind this so called deprivation. But it was a totally an intentional blame being put on an efficient minister. What they will say now as Bhanu Lal has taken the charge of Finance Ministry in May. However, the leader said that now as the 14th Finance Commission extends its time, this is the last chance for the Left Front to implement the Central Pay scale and make the expenditure a committed one. If it plays its old game (Deprivation issue) , the state is heading towards its economic catastrophe.

CM Manik Sarkar's memo 1st Page  to PM Modi on Dec 1,2014 at State Guest House. TIWN