Pay commission arrears: Govt set to clear first instalment

LUCKNOW: After deferring payment of arrears of the seventh pay commission to employees and teachers in 2017-18, the state government has started the process of clearing the first instalment of dues.

“We are moving ahead with the payment of first instalment of arrears of about Rs 10,000 crore in the next few weeks. As of now, we do not see any problem in payment of arrears,” said a senior officer familiar with the development.

He said about Rs 18,000-20,000 crore had to be paid in two parts and added that the second instalment would be paid in 2019-2020.

The state government had deferred the payment of arrears twice in 2017-2018 following the implementation of crop loan waiver scheme for which Rs 36,000 crore had been earmarked.

The state government had decided to implement the recommendations of the seventh pay commission in December 16, 2016. As the hike in salaries were promised with effect from January 1, 2016, the state government had said it would pay arrears for one year (January 1-December 31, 2016) in two instalments. The first instalment of 50 per cent arrears was due to be paid in October last year while the remaining had to be paid in 20182019.

The payment of first instalment was first deferred to December 2017 and later to the current financial year.