Expectations and hope of the 50 lakhs Central government employees related to a possible minimum pay hike announcement by the Narendra Modi-led NDA government at the Centre, were crushed again. It was not for the first time that the government's move has disappointed the CG employees.
With this, the question now arises what will be the next step of the CG employees... Will they go for an agitation- ceasework or else? Can the employees trust the Modi government at a time when their demand for the hike in the minimum pay have been repeatedly gone unheeded? Of all, will there really be a hike in the minimum pay?
However, it can’t be ruled out that in view of the 7th Pay benefits being announced by many a BJP-ruled states, hopes were high and something same was expected for the Central government employees.
"The NDA government had already cleared earlier that it is not considering anything related to the minimum pay hike. The discussion should have been stopped there. The announcement will surely be made by the government at appropriate time taking into account several factors," said a retired CG employee.
Another CG employee clarified reminding a statement of Minister of State for Finance P Radhakrishnan which he had made months ago. The minister had then said that the government was not considering any hike in the minimum pay of the CG employees. “All discussions should be stopped till then,” he said expressing hopes of the hike in the future.
Meanwhile, it is believed that the Modi government may consider hiking the same sometime before the 2019 general elections or after, if, it comes to power again.
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The Central government employees are presently getting a minimum pay of Rs 18,000. They are demanding a hike of Rs 8000- Rs 26,000- an increase in the fitment factor by 3.68 times from the existing 2.57 times.