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Pay panel: MPs back armed forces

NEW DELHI: Members of Parliament have expressed solidarity with armed forces personnel, who are aggrieved over the Sixth Pay Commission’s recommendations, and asked the Finance Ministry to take “urgent steps” to redress their grievances.

One of the most glaring anomalies pointed out by the Parliamentary Standing Committee is that the salary of soldiers is only Re. 1 more than the pay scales of jawans of the paramilitary forces even after getting a special military pay of Rs. 1,000.

Expressing serious concern over the impact of the Pay Commission’s recommendations for the armed forces personnel, the committee noted that some officers had sought release from service.

“Keeping in view the prevailing manpower shortage in the armed forces, the committee desires that the Finance Ministry take urgent steps to redress the grievances,” said a report tabled in Parliament on Wednesday.

The government has since appointed a review committee but military officers are unsatisfied with the composition, pointing out that all members are drawn from the Indian Administrative Service (IAS) cadre.

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