Coming February is a pre-poll bonanza for the government employees in Karnataka. The Congress-led administration plans to hike salaries of employees by a whopping 24-30%. In another move, the government has also decided to introduce holidays on alternate Saturdays in government offices. This entire scenario comes in relief to the demands raised for a five-day week and a pay scale that is on par with central government employees. An official announcement will be made in the state budget next month.
A senior official of the department of personnel and administrative services (DPAR) said, “To ensure this does not lead to a decrease in work hours, the government is toying with the idea of extending office hours on the first and third Saturdays.”
Under the committee
In response to the demands raised by employee associations, chief minister Siddaramaiah announced a committee headed by retired IAS officer M R Srinivasa Murthy. The committee recommended for hike in salaries and pensions. “We are in the process of finalising the report… We will submit it soon since the CM fixed January 31 as the deadline,” Murthy said.
What the Congress has to offer ?
Sources reveal that while the employees had hoped for a 30-35% hike, the government nods for 24-30% slab. This move by the administration would cost the exchequer Rs 10,800 crore. The last hike the employees received was under chief minister D V Sadananda Gowda who had hiked pay by 22%. A senior minister form the state said, “We cannot afford to offer anything less than what BJP offered.”