The
Union budget 2016-17 presented by Hon’able Finance Minister in the parliament
on 29th Feb 2016 . has the total expenditure in the Budget for
2016-17 has been projected at Rs 19.78 lakh crore, consisting of Rs 5.50 lakh
crore under Plan and Rs 14.28 lakh crore under Non-Plan. The increase in Plan
expenditure is in the order of 15.3% over current year.
The fiscal
deficit in RE 2015-16 and BE 2016-17 have been retained at 3.9% and 3.5% of GDP
and the growth of GDP has now accelerated to 7.6%.
This
clearly shows that the finance of the Central Government is in good shape.
The
Hon’able Finance Minister in the parliament on 29th Feb 2016 has
stated that the next financial year 2016-17 will cast an additional burden on
account of the recommendations of the 7th Central Pay Commission and the
implementation of Defence OROP.
Let us
examine the last year spending on various ministries
This clearly shows many ministries have not spent the money allocated,
this due to mainly the shortage of talented staff and various policies’ of the Government.
Today,
the weakest link in respect of any government policy is at the delivery stage. This phenomenon is not endemic to India.
Internationally also, there is an increasing emphasis on strengthening the
delivery lines and decentralization with greater role being assigned at
delivery points, which actually determines the benefit that the common citizen
is going to derive out of any policy initiative of the government.
More the talented persons are there in Government services, more the
delivery of the government schemes will be there, thus the Government machinery
will be more effective and common man will benefit a lot.
The 7th
CPC has not improved the service condition of the Central Government employees,
it has provided just 14.3 % wage hike against the staff side demand of more
than 70% wage hike.
The
person joining a Government Service is not just for the employment is for a
whole career, if a person joins a Government Service he will quit/ retire from
the job only after putting 30 years service or more. In case of the
person joining a private company he will jump from one company to another at
least five times in thirty years.
The
talented persons from all over the country are moving to IT, BT and private
sectors, rather than Central Government sector. Because of the lower salary /
pay structure in Central Government sector compared to IT and BT sectors and
complex nature of rules and regulations in Central Government sector and also
the skill and merit of the worker/ employee is not into account in Central
Government sector.
Main consideration in the private and public
sector being ‘profit’, and in Central Government it is “service” even through
Railways, Income Tax & Central Excise are revenue earning departments,
hence an equal comparison with the Government is not going to be ever possible.
Performance for the Government is usually not measured in terms of profit, but
in terms of achieving societal goals.
The minimum wage should be
calculated using Dr Aykroyd formula and following 15th ILC norms. The actual market rates should be adopted , not the
imaginary rates as provided the 7th CPC should be adopted . This
will pay way of meaningful wage hike and fitment formula. House rent is from Rs
7000/- per month to Rs 35,000/- per month. The 7th CPC has provided
just from Rs 3000/- to Rs 25,000/- per month. The old HRA rates should be
adopted.
The strength of Central
government employees should increase. In 1990 Population of the country is 85
crores – Central Government Employees strength is 40 lakhs . In 2014
Population of the country is 125 crores – Central Government Employees
strength is 31 lakhs. India has 1,622.8 government servants for every 1,00,000
residents. In sharp contrast, the U.S. has 7,681. The Central government, with 3.1 million
employees, thus has 257 serving every 1,00,000 population, against the U.S.
federal government's 840.
Non-filling
up of vacant posts has resulted in increased work load on the existing
employees and delivery of the Government schemes.
Hence the Government should
adopt a proper wage policy for the central Government employees and improve
vastly the 7th CPC recommendations and fill up vacant post to
deliver the Government schemes to the needy of the country. Now that the Central Government finances are good. This way both
Central Government employees will benefit and the common man will also benefit.