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New Delhi, May 6: The committee on 7th Pay Commission allowances, headed by Finance Secretary Ashok Lavasa, submitted its report to Centre in the past week. Although the report is yet to be made public, a Zee News report, claims that arrears would be provided on allowances.
The report, citing sources, claimed that Cabinet Secretary P K Sinha has confirmed the news regarding arrears on allowances, following his meeting with the National Joint Council of Action (NJCA). However, the National Council (Staff Side) is yet to confirm such assurance received from Sinha, who is heading the Empowered Committee of Secretaries. The high-level panel is tasked with the screening of Lavasa committee recommendations.
NJCA chief Shiv Gopal Mishra, while speaking to India.com, said, “We raised the demand concerning arrears on allowances, fitment factor and minimum wages in our meeting with the Cabinet secretary. On arrears, we told him that the entire amount pending from January 2016 should be provided to the employees.”
The 7th Pay Commission report was partially implemented in July 2016, when the basic salaries were hiked by 14-3 per cent. The central government employees were provided with arrears on the salaries from January 1, 2016. A similar release of arrears is being demanded by the unions on allowances, which are yet to be hiked by the Centre.

The 7th Pay Commission report, submitted by Justice (retd) AK Mathur led panel, had recommended the abolition of 52 out of the existing 196 allowances, apart from subsuming nearly 36 others into larger ones.
Due to anomalies raised by NJCA, the government, in July, decided to form a committee under the Finance Secretary to review their concerns. The panel, initially provided a time frame of four months, eventually took 10 months to submit its report.
“The Cabinet Secretary said all our (NJCA’s) concerns would be looked into. But we asked him to act as soon as possible. After all, how long should the employees wait?” Mishra told India.com.
A top union official, speaking on condition of anonymity claimed that Lavasa committee has failed to incorporate most of their demands. The unions are now looking up to the Empowered Committee of Secretaries to take into concerns the anomalies raised by them, he claimed.

Source:- Zee News