The Tripura government's comment on "considering" the recommendations of the 7th Central Pay Commission (CPC) could well set the ball rolling among other state governments.
On Thursday, the Manik Sarkar government held a cabinet meeting in which it was decided to "consider" the implementation of the 7th CPC's proposals after the Narendra Modi government makes a final decision.
The state finance minister Bhanulal Saha made a comment to that affect in capital Agartala after the cabinet meeting, IANS reported. The implementation, as and when it happens, will benefit about 2.09 lakh employees and pensioners on the payroll of the Tripura government.
This could raise hopes for employees of other state government employees seeking pay parity with their Central government counterparts.
It may be recalled that Karnataka government employees had gone on a day's strike last month, demanding salaries and allowances on par with Central government employees.
"The difference (in pay) is very huge and there is no priority so it varies from 40% to 100%.We have issued a notice to the government and subsequently today all 6,40,00 employees are going for strike and absenting from their duties today," Narayan, Organising Secretary of the Karnataka State Employees Association, told NDTV on June 3.
He also criticised the Congress government for its lethargic approach on the matter of salary revision.
"See, the central government is bringing out the 7th Pay Commission and the state hasn't taken any action in spite of several memorandums and several appeals the state government is not coming forward to do anything for the government employees," he said.
The employees had warned of intensified protests if the state government did not take cognisance of the matter and initiate appropriate measures.
"There are 24 states which are paying salaries on par with the Central government employees. This includes states which are not as developed as ours. If the government does not heed to our demands even now, then we will go on strike for a longer duration," the Association president Mahadevaiah Matapathi said.
