AGARTALA, April 3 (TIWN): “The announcement of the central pay scale by the state govt. is nothing but a fret drive to divert the attention from the chit fund scam,” claimed opposition leader Sudip Roy Barman holding a press conference here at Agartala Congress Bhawan on Thrusday evening. Barman alleged that by demanding for additional Rs. 17, 000 crore for the next five years as a special grant from the central govt. the state govt. here has been on a spree to fool its employees. Raising a question over the demand of the special grant amount form the centre, Barman said that the central govt. has not yet assured the state to provide the grant amount, than how come the state govt. can announce the central pay scale for the state govt. employees here at the state. While to mention here Chief Minister Manik Sarkar and Finance Minister Bhanulal Saha 2 days back said that after the central govt. provides Rs. 17, 000 crore to the state as a special grant than it would be possible to give central pay scale to the employees of the state. Barman claimed that the recent announcement of the central pay scale to the state govt. employees after 9 years, with no house rent and medical allowance hiked has brought no solution to the deprivation of the employees here.During the press conference on Thrusday Barman claimed that it is nothing but an eye wash to divert the attention of the common mass of the state from the chit fund scam. Though of course, the employees will come to know the fact of April fool once they get the salary with recently announced central pay scale structure, said Barman.

 It is mentionable that earlier FM Bhanulal Saha said, “State demanded 50 per cent share of the central taxes, but the 14th Finance Commission has fixed it at 42 per cent and added, due to abolition of the Planning Commission the state would face huge paucity of funds in different sectors.” Besides, announcing the CPC for the employees recently CM highlighted that the tentative requirement of fund for next five years Chief Minister said that during the FY 2015-16 the state would require Rs. 338.75 Crore, during FY 2016-17 the state would require Rs. 406.50 crore, for FY 2017-18 – Rs. 487.80 crore, FY 2018-19 – Rs. 560.97 crore and during the FY 2019-20 – Rs. 645.12 crore.