Bengal govt issues 7th Pay Commission notification
Kolkata, July 22
Going by the promise made in the Bharatiya Janata Party's Sankalp Patra for the recently concluded West Bengal assembly polls, the West Bengal government on Wednesday issued the notification for the creation of the 7th Pay Commission for state government employees.
As per the notification issued by the state Finance Department, a copy of which is available with IANS, the 7th Pay Commission will examine and recommend changes desirable and feasible in emoluments including pay, allowances and other benefits, in cash or kind.
This will be done concerning rationalisation, contemporary requirements and the specialised needs of various Departments, Institutions, Statutory and Non‑statutory Bodies, Corporations under administrative control of the State Government, while also taking into account the total package of benefits now available in respect of all categories of employees.
"To examine the conditions of service in respect of the above categories of employees and suggest an emolument structure conducive to attract and retain talent in Government service. It should lead to promoting efficiency, accountability and responsibility in the work culture and ensure a work‑life balance," the notification read.
The 7th Pay Commission will also review the dearness allowance and recommend an appropriate formulation for the proposed pay structure.
It will recommend special allowances and other concessions, including travelling allowance, which are now available to all categories of employees in addition to their pay.
The Commission will also recommend rationalisation keeping in view the multiplicity of allowances.
It will recommend the mode of initial pay fixation in the proposed pay structure for existing employees and the mode of revision of pension for existing pensioners.
In addition, the 7th Pay Commission will examine existing promotion policies, both functional and non‑functional, along with related issues and suggest suitable changes desirable and feasible after considering norms of promotion, efficiency and productivity. It will also give special regard to improving people‑orientation, social accountability and efficiency of the administration.
The Commission will review pension and allied benefits under existing death‑cum‑retirement benefit schemes, including medical benefits, if any, presently available to employees, and recommend changes that are desirable and feasible.
"The decision of the Government of India on the recommendations of the 8th Central Pay Commission may also be taken into consideration. The Commission will devise its own procedures and may appoint such advisors, institutional consultants and experts as it may consider necessary for any particular purpose in consultation with the State Government. The Commission may call for such information and take such evidence as may be considered necessary," the notification read.
It is learnt that the 7th Pay Commission will submit its recommendations as expeditiously as practicable but preferably within six months from the date of publication of this resolution or such extended time as the State Government might consider necessary.
"However, the Commission may consider, if necessary, sending interim reports on any of the matters as and when the recommendations are finalised or if so desired by the Government," the notification added.
— IANS
Reader Comments
This is good but let's see how long it takes. The BJP promised this in their Sankalp Patra during elections, so naturally they have to deliver now. Our state employees deserve fair wages, but I hope the commission also focuses on efficiency and work culture as mentioned in the notification. Accountability matters too!
Six months timeline sounds reasonable, but with elections coming, they might rush it. I just hope they don't increase the burden on taxpayers while doing this. West Bengal already has a huge fiscal deficit. Let the commission do a thorough study before recommending anything 🧐
As a state government employee, I'm cautiously optimistic. The last pay commission recommendations took 2 years to implement! Hope this time it's faster. Also, they should consider linking pay to performance like private sector - that would actually improve the work culture here.
Good move but why is this happening only now? The central government implemented 7th pay commission years ago. Our state always lags behind. Also, I hope they don't forget about pensioners - many of them are struggling with rising costs. Fairness for all is needed 👍
Let's be practical - this is just an election promise being fulfilled. But we need to see the actual implementation and how it affects the common man. Higher salaries for govt employees mean more tax burden on us. Hope they balance it properly 🙄
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