Eventhough the article on pay band change of SNCOs of
IAF dealt with the subject in length supported by
concrete arguments and reasons , I personally feel that
the issue needs to be examined in the light
of the recommendations and subsequent
approval of the GOI. The GOI has added insult to injury by
endorsing the recommendation of the pay commission in this
regard.
There is no doubt that the tempers are running high among the SNCOs as a
class over the issue .But most of them are unable to express or convey their
protest in the matter as they are busy engaged in the prime task
of meeting the ends together with the small pensions
they earn.The predicament of the serving ones
are well known.
The sixth pay commission has kept all the
scales upto S8 OF THE 5 th pay commission in PB-1. Scale S9 was
kept in PB-2 .It can be seen that the starting pay
of S8-was 4500-125-7000. So
it can be seen that any scale which
had a starting pay more than 4500 in the 5 th pay commission
qualifies to be placed in the pb-2. But to the
gross disadvantage x group sergeants of IAF
who had a starting basic pay of
5000 as per 5th pay commission is placed in pay band
-1.The GOI owes an explanation to the x group
sergeants regarding the reason and logic behind this
injustice perpetuated against them which
amounts to utter discrimination to the disadvantage of combatant soldiers when
compared to civilian employees.
Let us approach this PB issue through another angle. The
starting basic pay of x group sergeants are 5000, which when multiplied by
1.86 [the pay commission factor] gives 9300. It can
be seen that the starting pay of pay band -2 is also 9300. Now ,
how can the denial of the eligible pay band 2 to x group sergeants be
justified.
Needless to add the sergeant promotion is
limited by the availabilty of vacancies and is a
selection post with rigorous selection standards
determined by examination and annual
assesments.
By following the well established convention of taking
a beneficial view and upgrading the salaries to
avoid anomalies when pay scales are
determined the GOI should upgrade the
pay band of all sergeants to PB_2.It is their
entitlement with respect to their qualification, nature of job and skills
involved.The accommodation of sergeants in SNCOs mess where they
hold important appointments as property member etc reveals their
special status . This will avoid further
controversies and anomalies by upgrading
only x group sergeants
Guest