AGARTALA, May 8 (TIWN): Manik Sarkar's apathy towards State's hapless employees continue as state govt depriving central pay scales. The 7th pay commission's demand is all in all for Tripura Govt Employees right now, fueled by Opposition BJP's promise to implement 7th Pay Commission if the Govt comes in power. Demanding equal salaries with Central Govt employees Tripura teachers to go for en mass protest on July 9 at Agartala at Circuit House, with their much awaiting demand for pay scale and DA hike. Addressing a press meet JTMC President Ranajit Dey said that Tripura Govt's setting up of Pay review committee is just as a part of formality which the Govt has to fulfill within 10 years of gap. Tripura Govt provides 80 % DA, whereas the central govt employees get 125 to 127 DA. Moreover, a primary teacher is given the pay scale of an LD clerk whereas graduates are treated as UD. In other states post graduates are paid like College lecturers but for Tripura the standard of a Central D scale employee is equivalent with A class gazetted officer. With this pay scale when Tripura officers go to Delhi they are kept with D-scale employees, which is a huge insult to the officer ranks as a School HM. Manik Sarkar had planned the poor scale of teachers equaled with an LD Clerk was in the name of ‘Historical Equalization’ policy.

In the name of employees welfare Tripura Govt announced a 600 crores of budget for the employees without mentioning anything about pay hike or DA.

Already the Central Govt employees are getting the amount from 2016 since 1st January. In the Pay Commission announced by the Central Govt 125 % DA was added with the present basic salary, whereas more 30 % basic has been increased.

It's worthy to mention here that agitated teachers also held a 4 hour long protest at Agartala on April-23rd led by Joint Teachers' Movement Committee (JTMC), raising voice for 7th pay commission’s implementation at the earliest in Tripura, when many states are enjoying the pay commission already. Many teachers’ associations joined the protest move including the members of CPI-M backed TGTA, demanding pay commission as well as refunding of DA, which has already ordered by HC. The Finance Minister had offered a Rs. 600 crores budget for 1.5 lakhs of employees in Tripura, whereas, about the pay structure nothing has been made clear by his Ministry.

Reportedly, NE Tripura Govt employees are one of the highest deprived employees, when the Centre is paying the 100 % salary of the employees here. Many cases also were registered against the Govt, and already state govt lost in the DA case at HC but presently the case is pending at SC which has filed by Tripura Govt against HC’s order.