PANJIM: With the Centre on Wednesday deciding to implement the recommendations of the 7th Pay Commission for the Central government employees, the onus is now on the State governments to implement the same in their respective States.
Goa, already struggling with a financial crisis due to loss of mining revenue following the ban on operations, will face an uphill task to meet the additional financial burden. Sources in the Finance Department told Herald that if the State goes by the same 23.55 percent pay hike then the annual salary figure would rise by approximately Rs 750 cr.
Sources said the monthly expenditure would be an additional Rs 50 cr for salaries and Rs 12.5 cr for pensions.
Finance Secretary Daulat Hawaldar told Herald that the decision to implement the recommendations is to be taken by the cabinet. “The cabinet will decide on the matter. Our job is to make the calculations and apprise the cabinet of the State’s financial health,” he said.
Asked whether the State can bear new expenses at this stage, when the finances are stressed, he said, “Well, this you can ask the Chief Minister.” He added, “The intention is to implement the 7th pay commission and hence the Chief Minister has already made a financial provision in the vote on account,” he said.
Pertinently, it being election year, Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar had made a financial provision for the 7th Pay Commission burden when he presented the Budget in March. However, what he had not done was put a figure to the provision.
Asked about the total burden on the State, Hawaldar said, “We are into the process of calculating but roughly it should be between Rs 50 to Rs 60 cr for salaries monthly and Rs 10 to Rs 15 cr on pensions.”
