While several states have announced Dearness Allowance (DA) hikes for government employees, the uncertainty looms over Karnataka, as the government contemplates delaying the implementation of the 7th Pay Commission. The proposed salary hike is facing obstacles, primarily due to revenue constraints, diverting the focus of the upcoming state budget towards funding crucial guarantee schemes. Here’s a closer look at the current scenario and the concerns expressed by government employees.
Background and Revenue Crunch: Despite the festive announcements in various states, Karnataka government employees might not witness a salary increase this year. The delay is attributed to a revenue crunch, with officials citing it as the primary cause. The government’s attention is currently directed towards mobilizing resources for funding the state’s five guarantee schemes, influencing the decision-making process regarding the 7th Pay Commission recommendations.
Employees Express Concern: The Karnataka State Government Employees Association (KSGA) has expressed concern over the potential delay in the salary hike. While recognizing the revenue challenges faced by the government, the association remains hopeful that Chief Minister Siddaramaiah will prioritize the pay commission’s recommendations and allocate necessary funds.
Meeting with Chief Minister Delayed: A scheduled meeting between KSGA representatives and Chief Minister Siddaramaiah was postponed due to the Chief Minister’s engagement with the launch of the Yuva Nidhi scheme. Despite the delay, the association remains optimistic about the government’s commitment to addressing the long-pending demand for a salary increase.
Budget Session and Finance Department’s Perspective: Sadanand Nelagudri, the Secretary of KSGA, emphasized that the DA hike need not be announced during the budget session. He urged Chief Minister Siddaramaiah to address the matter outside the budget presentation. However, a finance department official acknowledged that meeting the demand for a DA hike poses a significant challenge for the state government this time, given the financial constraints.
Comparison with Previous Hike: In 2018, the Siddaramaiah government accepted the recommendations of the 5th Pay Commission and announced a substantial 30% pay hike for employees just before presenting the budget for the fiscal year 2018-19 in February. However, the current financial scenario indicates potential constraints on meeting similar demands this time.
Contrasting Developments: While Karnataka grapples with uncertainties, last week, the Uttarakhand government took a positive step by announcing a Dearness Allowance hike for its employees as part of the seventh pay commission. This highlights the diverse approaches taken by different states in addressing the concerns of government employees.
