7th Pay Commission: In a key decision, the state government of Karnataka has announced its sanction for a major increase in the salaries of its employees in light of the recommendations that have been made by the 7th Pay Commission. This deal effectively has been sealed in a cabinet meeting chaired by CM Siddaramaiah. According to this decision, an increase of this salary will be enforced from August 1. The rise in salary will be by 27.5%, and this will benefit around 14 to 15 lakh state employees.
Long-Standing Public Demand Addressed
Karnataka minister Priyank Kharge termed this increase in salary as a long-standing public demand and a much-needed initiative to meet the economic requirements of government employees. The hike is likely to provide significant relief to the employees of the state government, enabling them to have better purchasing power and living standards.
According to a news agency PTI report, the 7th Pay Commission, headed by former chief secretary K., has suggested increasing salaries by 30 percent with retrospective effect from July 1, 2017. Sudhakar Rao recommended that basic salaries for government employees be increased by 27.5%. This move was pegged at an additional ₹17,440.15 crore annually to the state exchequer while mounting pressure was affecting the system, with the Karnataka State Government Employees Association announcing plans to launch an indefinite strike in August if their demands were not met.
Financial Implications for the State
The approval of the salary hike reflects, therefore, the commitment of the government toward being responsive to the needs of its workforce and avoiding possible disruptions in state operations due to employees going on strikes. This move is, therefore, viewed aspositive for morale building among its staff and ensuring that governmental services run smoothly.
With this increase in salary, Karnataka has joined the list of states that have put the recommendations of the 7th Pay Commission into practice, with a view to improving the financial conditions of government employees and raising them to be more motivated and productive.
