Housing for govt officials gets costlier with hike in licence fee
NEW DELHI: Government accommodation allotted to officials under the General Pool Residential Accommodation (GPRA) category is set to get costlier starting in July. The Centre has issued an order to increase the flat rate of licence fee recoverable for the accommodation throughout the country.
The ministry of housing and urban affairs has issued an order, a copy of which has been reviewed by Hindustan Times, increasing the licence fee rates for all types of government accommodations — from type I to type VIII— based on the level of pay matrix under the 7th Pay Commission.
A vast majority of government officials live in accommodation allowed by the Central government. To be clear, licence fee is deducted monthly from the salaries of officials who are allotted government accommodation. “it is deducted from the gross salary of central government employees. Nearly 80-90% of officers and staff occupy government quarters. A nominal rent is fixed for the sake of upkeep and that will increase,” an official said, requesting anonymity.
“The revised rates of licence fee would be effective from 1st July, 2020. Al ministries/departments are requested to take action to recover the revised licence fee in accordance with these orders in respect of accommodation under their control all over the country,” it added.