Agartala: Left front government in Tripura has made it clear on Wednesday that salary hike of state government employees at par with sixth central pay commission will not possible for at least next five years.
Replying to a query of opposition legislator Ratan Lal Nath in the assembly finance minister Bhanu Lal Saha stated, “After getting the 14th finance com-mission’s (FC) recom-mendations we have not found any possibility of pay hike for the state employees, which was long pending demands.” Tripura is having about 4.5 lakh employees and pensioners in various state departments.
He illustrated that apparently, it shows 14th FC has increased share of central taxes and non-tax revenue deficit by 243% than previous one for next five years. But the central government has abruptly altered the financing pattern to the states.
Moreover, since Planning Commission is replaced with National Institute of Transforming India (NITI) and so far there is no indication for the states to get financial support from it in finalizing annual plan size.
“As per our assessment, the state needs around Rs 6500 core in non-plan heads. But 14th FC will provide us only Rs 4815 crore annually for next five years. In to-day’s estimation clearly we are short of Rs 1700 crore in managing non-plan expen-ditures,” Mr Saha said.
He pointed out that 14th FC has recommended Rs 25,396 crore for share of central taxes to Tripura for five years, which was Rs 7411.89 crore. Similarly, gap grant was increased to Rs 5104 crore from Rs 4453 crore and other grants are reduced to Rs 808.76 crore from 13th FC’s recommen-ded of Rs 1262.99 crore. “The 14th FC has recommended Rs 31,308.76 crore for Tripura in next five years, which was only Rs 13,127.88 crore in last five years,” he stated.
However, if 6th pay central commission is implemented in Tripura, the state is required additional fund of Rs 1800 crore every year. And if Tripura State Rifles (TSR) is elevated to the status of central paramilitary force, the state will need another Rs 700 crore more annually. Further, in general budget of 2015-16, NDA government has changed the funding pattern in all 66 including 16 flagship centrally sponsored sche-mes except 23 programs. In budget, the government committed to retain the functioning of 23 schemes like MGNREGA, Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan and National Health Mission.
But ICDS like 13 schemes, the central government decided to go with fund sharing model with the states while police modernization and e-governance like 12 schemes have been delink from the budget funding. So, it is clear that unless 23 program, rest all central social schemes state governments have to share the financial responsibility.
Meanwhile, countering Saha, leader of the opposition Sudip Roy Barman stated that Tripura will get Rs 41,744 crore including Rs 11,641 crore of state’s own earnings. The state government can easily hike the pay and salaries of employees if they wish. (UNI)
