SIXTH CENTRAL PAY COMMISSION
Response of All India Federation of Superintendents of Customs
11. Increments
11.1 What should be the criteria for determining the rates and frequency of increments in respect of different scales of pay? Should these bear a uniform or varying relationship with the minima and/or maxima of the scales?
A growing and booming economy is most likely to give rise to increase in the cost of living all-round. Determining by this criterion, the rates of increments should be minimum 08-10% and its frequency should be yearly.
Alternatively, if any lesser rates are to be considered, then its frequency should be half-yearly.
These should bear an uniform relationship with the minima and maxima of the scales.
12. Revision of pay scales
12.1 Is there any need to revise the pay scales periodically especially when 100% neutralization for inflation is available in form of dearness allowance?
Yes, there is every need to revise the pay scales periodically especially even when 100% neutralization for inflation is available in the form of dearness allowance.
12.2 How should pay be fixed in the revised pay scales? Should there be a point-to-point fixation? If not, please suggest a method by which it can be ensured that senior personnel are not placed at a disadvantage vis-a-vis their juniors and due weightage is given for the longer service rendered by the former.
Pay fixation in the revised pay scales should be a point-to-point fixation.
13. Compensatory Allowances
13.1 Is City Compensatory Allowance a sufficient compensation for the problems of a large city? If DA and HRA provide full neutralization, do you think CCA should continue? Is there a need for changing the basis of classification of cities and the rates of CCA? If so, please suggest the revised basis and rates.
No, City Compensatory Allowance is not a sufficient compensation for the problems of a large city.
Even if and when D.A. and H.R.A. provide full neutralization, It should be continued.
Yes, there is a need for changing the basis of classification of cities and the rates of C.C.A.
The manifold problems of large cities should be kept in view for the revision basis and the rates should be revised to minimum 05% of the Basic Pay.
14. Pay and perquisites for Armed Forces
14.1 What should be the basis for determination of pay scales for Armed Forces Personnel? What percentage weightage should be assigned to (i) parity with civil services, (ii) comparison with private sector, (iii) special and hazardous nature of duties, (iv) short career span and (v) restricted rights?
The basis for determination of pay scales for Armed Forces Personnel should be on a similar pattern prevailing in the advanced countries.
100% weightage should be assigned to (i) parity with civil services, (ii) comparison with private sector, (iii) special and hazardous nature of duties, (iv) short career span and (v) restricted rights as also the almost perennial increased risk to life as considered vis-à-vis all other services.
14.2 How should the pay of a soldier, sailor and airman be determined? How should it relate to the minimum wage in Government and the pay of a constable in paramilitary or internal security forces?
The pay of a soldier, sailor and airman be determined on the pattern prevailing for such categories in similar setups in the advanced countries.
It should relate at least at par, if not more, to the minimum wage in the Government and the pay of a constable in paramilitary or internal security forces.
15. Abolition of feudalism
15.1 Should all vestiges of feudalism in the country like huge residential bungalows sprawling over several acres, large number of servants, quarters, retinues of personal staff, bungalow peons, use of uniformed personnel as batmen or on unnecessary security or ceremonial duties etc. be abolished? Please make concrete suggestions.
Yes, all vestiges of feudalism in the country like huge residential bungalows sprawling over several acres, large number of servants’ quarters, retinues of personal staff, bungalow peons, use of uniformed personnel as batmen or on unnecessary security or ceremonial duties etc. should invariably be abolished.
All forms of facilities in line with the feudal form structure should be abolished at the earliest, if not immediately, to reduce the recurring unproductive expenditure burden on Government revenue. Unproductive use of public money must be done away and Surplus Staff which will then be available may be utilized in offices for productive use.
16. Specific proposals
16.1 In what manner can Central Government organizations functioning be improved to make them more professional, citizen-friendly and delivery oriented?
The functioning of all the Central Government organizations, be made fully transparent without exception.
Right person for the right seat should be the only norm without exceptions. For this, human resource development has to be fully operationalised.
All the Staff needs to be continuously sensitized and exposed to the difficulties and travails faced by the majority of the population in worse off conditions and below the poverty line.
The Staff need to be trained to act only as facilitators and not regulators and to do what is expected of them and leave the decision making to the concerned authorities rather than deciding at their own level.
All allotted work should have a minimum and maximum timeframe thus making the functioning totally delivery oriented.
100% computerization will be able to achieve all the above.
In this manner, the Central Government organizations functioning can be improved to make them more professional, citizen-friendly and delivery oriented.
16.2 Please outline specific proposals, which could result in:
(i) Reduction and redeployment of staff,
(ii) Reduction of paper work,
(iii) Better work environment,
(iv) Economy in expenditure,
(v) Professionalisation of services,
(vi) Reduction in litigation on service matters,
(vii) Better delivery of service by government agencies to their users.
Reduction of Staff need not be done, however, redeployment may be considered.
100% Computerization is an absolute must leading to reduction of paper work, if not paperless work.
Infrastructure at par with the corporates/ multi-national organizations should be the norm rather than the exception leading to a better working environment.
By enforcing the law equally for others including the law makers, concept of value for public money has to be strictly enforced. This will majorly lead to economy in expenditure.
Right person for the right job leading to professionalisation of services should be the sole criterion.
All Personnel and Establishment setups in the Central Government should be compulsorily made online based on laid down uniform guidelines. Full information including all the relevant rules, Seniority Lists, etc. should be displayed enabling the general public to continuously monitor and point out discrepancies, etc. This will surely lead to Reduction, if not elimination, in litigation on Service matters while ensuring transparency, accountability and responsibility.
Implementation of all the above in a 100% manner will automatically lead to better delivery of service by Government agencies to their users.