The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : Government to study demands of staff

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Jun 22, 2006

Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

Government to study demands of staff

Staff Reporter

Governments come and go, but the power of executing the programmes lies with you: Kumaraswamy

SHARING A THOUGHT: Deputy Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa (right) and president of the Karnataka State Government Employees' Association H.N. Sheshe Gowda at the 50th annual celebrations of the association in Bangalore on Wednesday. — Photo: Sampath Kumar G.P.

Bangalore: Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy has called upon government employees to actively participate in the implementation of various government schemes.

He was speaking at the 50th annual celebrations of the Karnataka State Government Employees' Association here on Wednesday.

The Chief Minister assured the large gathering of government employees that the Government would consider their demands.

Citing instances wherein his orders were yet to be implemented, Mr. Kumaraswamy said, "Governments come and go, but the power and responsibility of executing the programmes lies with the State Government employees. In that, you enjoy more power than us."

Deputy Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa said that the State Government had agreed to implement the interim relief as made out by the Fifth Pay Commission. This would entail an expenditure of Rs. 580 crore, he said.

Mr. Yediyurappa said that the Government had been trying to introduce and inculcate accountability, transparency and responsiveness among its employees. He sought the cooperation of the employees in this endeavour.

In a memorandum presented to the Chief Minister, a copy of which was also given to the Deputy Chief Minister, the association said the State Government employees were losing about Rs. 600 crore every year by way of poor salary and perks and this had prompted the State Government to constitute the Fifth Pay Commission. The commission had, however, only submitted an interim report.

The Karnataka Government constituted the Fifth Pay Commission last year to consider a wage hike for the State Government employees and also ensure that their pay was on a par with the employees of the Union Government.

The memorandum also demanded increase in the superannuation age from 58 to 60, providing service security to panchayat officials and most importantly payment of salaries on time.

H.N. Sheshe Gowda, president of the Karnataka State Government Employees Association, said that transfers of the employees were being done based on the whims and fancies of the superior officials. It would be ideal if transfers were effected based on employees' request or if they had completed a fixed term. He also asked for a set of guidelines to be followed for effecting transfers. Referring to the reluctance of the government employees to work in far-flung areas, Minister for Food and Civil Supplies Govind Karjol said it would be appreciated if they volunteered to work in all areas of the State.

Others who spoke were Health and Family Welfare Minister R. Ashok, Transport Minister N. Cheluvarayaswamy and Sericulture Minister Katta Subramanya Naidu.

Support

The former Chief Minister N. Dharam Singh assured the State Government employees that he and his party would support the employees' cause and help them in getting their demands redressed.

Speaking after inaugurating a seminar on `The role of government employees in pro-people administration," Mr. Singh said the Congress would ensure that the State Government implemented the recommendations made by the Fifth Pay Commission in its interim report. "Realising your problems, I ensured that the commission was set up during my tenure as Chief Minister. Now the commission is ready with its interim report and it is the duty of the Government to implement it. I agree with your demand that your salaries and other benefits should be on a par with the Union Government employees," he said.

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