Tribune News Service

New Delhi, April 28

The Finance Secretary Ashok Lavasa-led committee on allowances has proposed modifications in the 7th Central Pay Commission (CPC) recommendations on some allowances applicable universally to all employees and also for those in specific categories, including railways, postal, scientists, defence, doctors and nurses among others.The panel, which was set up by the government on June 29 last year to examine the 7th pay panel recommendations on allowances, has submitted its report to Finance Minister Arun Jaitley.The report, now being examined in the Department of Expenditure, Ministry of Finance, will be placed before the Empowered Committee of Secretaries (E-CoS) set up to screen the 7th CPC recommendations and to firm up a proposal for approval of the Cabinet.While recommendations of the 7th CPC on pay and pension were implemented with the approval of the Cabinet, allowances continue to be paid at old rates. After consideration by the E-CoS, the proposal for implementation of the 7th CPC recommendations on allowances, after incorporating the modifications suggested by the committee, shall be placed before the Cabinet for approval.The decision to set up the panel was taken in view of significant changes recommended by the 7th CPC to the allowances structure and representations received in this regard from various staff associations as well as the apprehensions conveyed by various ministries and departments.Representations and demands for modifications were received in respect of 79 allowances which have been examined in detail by the committee. In doing so, the panel, which held 15 meetings, interacted with the members of the Standing Committee of National Council (Staff Side), Joint Consultative Machinery and representatives of various staff associations of railways, postal employees, doctors, nurses, and the Department of Atomic Energy. It also interacted with representatives of the Defence Forces, DGs of Central Armed Police Forces and Assam Rifles as also senior officers from the Intelligence Bureau and the Special Protection Group.The 7th CPC had recommended that of the 196 allowances, 52 be abolished altogether and 36 be abolished as separate identities by subsuming them in another allowance.