GGEA urges CS to put on hold recovery of pay-scale benefits

PANJIM, DEC 30
The Goa Government Employees Association has urged the Chief Secretary to withhold recoveries of pay scale benefits extended to LDCs and UDCs via a circular, even as the association was seriously negotiating with the Government to settle the demand of upgrading pay scales of left out categories. 
President GGEA M L Shetkar said the question of withdrawal of the circular extending the pay benefits did not arise because they were in talks with the government on upgrading of pay scales to left out categories. “We urge the Government to withdraw the circular as it has created confusion,” he stated.
In a press note issued here, Shetkar noted, “The whole confusion arose out of implementation of order No 8/7/2008-Fin (R&C) dated 11-11-2009 granting pay scale of Rs 9300-34800 with grade pay of Rs 4,200 to the head clerks who function outside the Secretariat.”
He observed further, “The Directorate of Accounts extended the same benefits to all the LDCs/UDCs under ACP scheme-I & II from January 1, 2006. This organization had brought this matter before the Government in April 2010, but the same had failed to act timely in this matter and had allowed the confusion to prevail till November 2010.”
He stated the extension of this benefit neither amounted to functional/regular promotion nor required creation of new posts for the purpose. We have respected the advice of the Chief Minister on upgrading pay scales and as such the recovery of these benefits was not fair, he mentioned.