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Friday, Aug 15, 2008
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Armed forces positive to pay hike decision

Sandeep Dikshit

Navy Chief says hike in MSP heartening

NEW DELHI: The armed forces, whose dissatisfaction with the Pay Commission’s recommendations forced the government to set up a special review panel, reacted positively to the Cabinet decision on Thursday.

The initial reaction of Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Sureesh Mehta, who is also the Chairman of the Chiefs of the Staff Committee, was that “even as more details are awaited, prima facie, all the concerns of the defence forces appear to have been suitably addressed.”

Admiral Mehta said the increase in the Military Service Pay (MSP) for soldiers and compensation for middle-rung officers were “particularly heartening.” The decision to credit arrears with effect from January 1, 2006, “is most welcome.”

Defence sources, however, said that while Colonels and Brigadiers would be shifted to Pay Band-4, status-wise, this did not mean much for the forces as the equivalent (and lower) civil posts have also been shifted to the same pay band.

To take an example, the post of Superintending Engineer (SE) in the Central Engineering Services, which is equivalent to a Lt Col, has also been granted Pay Band-4 as has been granted to a full colonel.

The sources welcomed the decision under which Lt. Generals would now be granted the Army Commander’s grade of Rs. 80,000 that was equivalent to the Secretary post.

Another positive aspect was the making of Special Forces allowance for the Army and Indian Air Force personnel equivalent to the commandoes of the Navy.

The sources also took note of the assured career progression scales after eight, 16 and 24 years for personnel below officer rank (PBOR), compared to 10, 20 and 30 years on the civil side.

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