New pay commission will consider change in pay scale for Tamil Nadu Government Employees
Chief Minister Jayalalithaa on Friday announced a slew of welfare measures, including hikes in pension schemes and promotion for the government employees, school and college teachers, assistant professors of medical colleges.
She also announced constitution of an expert committee to study demands of government employees to cancel the contributory pension scheme and restore the old pension scheme.
Ms. Jayalalithaa said the new pay commission would consider the demand for change in pay scale and regularisation of services of employees under consolidated pay scheme and time pay scale for those who were receiving salary under special time. “These demands could be considered only by taking into consideration the hierarchy and parity. So only the pay commission will consider these demands,” she said.
She told the Assembly that the decisions were taken in consultation with the representative of government employee’s unions. Senior ministers, Chief Secretary and Finance Secretary took part in the consultations.
Ms. Jayalalithaa said the financial assistance given to the legal heirs of the government employees in the event of death under the family welfare scheme would be increased from Rs. 1.5-3 lakh. Accordingly, the monthly amount deducted from the salary of the government employee would be hiked from Rs. 30 to Rs. 60. It would cost the government an additional Rs. six crore.
She also announced a hike in the money given to government employees, teachers, nutritious meal scheme employees, employees of local bodies and village panchayats under the group insurance scheme. At present, Rs. 1.5 lakh is being given under the scheme and it will be increased to Rs. three lakh.
Ms. Jayalalithaa said the government would issue an order for regularising the services of employees appointed on compassionate ground. “In normal course, those who are appointed on compassionate ground are eligible for pay hike and other benefits only after their services are regulated. Since it required the nod of the Tamil Nadu Public Services Commission (TNPSC) regularization of their services got delayed. The government will issue an order for regularization of services of those who do not require relaxation of rules. Till the nod if obtained, they will be treated as temporary employees,” she said.
As far as the employees of anganwadi and nutritious meal scheme, their pension will be increased from Rs. 1000 to Rs. 1,500. The financial assistance given to nutritious meal scheme employees at the time of retirement will be increased from Rs. 50,000 to Rs. 60,000. The cooks will get Rs. 25,000 as retirement benefit instead of Rs. 20,000. Cooking assistants will also get similar benefits.
Ms. Jayalalithaa also announced reduction in the service period for engineers in the rural development department for promotion. In the case of diploma holders the period would come down from 10 years to seven years. For degree holders the period will be reduced from five years to four years.
The Chief Minister said 157 assistant professors in government medical colleges will be promoted as professors.