While implementing the new pay grades according to 7th pay commission still seems like a distant dream for many, because of the ongoing intervention by the chiefs of the forces, the government of India seems to have got a news to cheer for the soldiers serving the country. If the news reports are to be believed, the defense ministry has issued an order on October 10th, asking to pay the remaining dues of Indian Armed Forces personals on ad hoc basis.
The president has already sanctioned the payment of 10% of the remaining arrears for the soldiers. It is calculated to be 10% of the total drawn pay (including DA) from January 2016. That will make the soldiers get almost a month’s salary as a bonus of the occasion of Diwali.
Other sectors in the central government, including civil services have already issues the arrears according to the guidelines of 7th pay commission. At the same time, Armed forces have failed to even implement the guidelines, let alone paying the arrears.
The delay in the implementation of guidelines of 7th pay commission have been because of the invention by the chiefs of the Indian armed forces. According to the 3 sitting chiefs, there are a few ‘irregularities’ in the guidelines which do not seem fair to the soldiers on many levels, including the disability payment and pension. The army chiefs have made their stand clear about not letting the implementation happen until all such issues are resolved completely.
The order sent by the defense ministry on October 10th says that to calculate the arrears, the the payment drawn in January 2016 will be taken in consideration and it will be adjusted in the final settlement as and when happens.