NEW DELHI: Buoyed by cross border surgical strike by the Indian army, Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led NDA government has decided to give pay bonanza to the armed forces by implementing the recommendations of the seventh pay commission. Thanking defence minister Manohar Parrikar for giving in-principal approval to the demands of the armed forces, Indian Air Force, as the capacity of the Chairman Chief of Staff Committee Arup Raha has written to defence secretary
G Mohan Kumar,” This will go a long way in bringing cheer to the rank and file.” Raha’s letter dated October 3 reads.
“The in-principal approval by honorable Raksha Mantri Services proposal for payment of interim relief on pay alongwith arrears to pass the benefit of 7th CPC award to defence personnel as soon as possible is highly appreciated.” Raha wrote. NDA government has agreed to make payment of 10 arrears of pay keeping upcoming festival season in mind. Subsequently, an amended proposal has been forwarded from the office of Manohar Parrikar to the finance ministry for its approval.
Earlier, government was adamant on its stand despite repeated meetings by the Three Service Chiefs with defence minister Manohar Parrikar to resolve the ‘core anomalies’. But, the surgical strike in PoK, has changed the dynamics and BJP government wants to boost the morale of the force, which was not upbeat as previous UPA government did not bother to address their issues.
Upset over the government’s refusal to address armed forces grievances, the services had asked the government to keep in ‘abeyance’ the implementation of the 7th Pay Commission for them till the persisting ‘core anomalies’ were resolved.
Situation become alarming when Army, Navy and IAF headquarters had issued instructions to their 14-lakh personnel deployed all over the country to ‘hold their peace’ till they got the government to rectify the anomalies.