Orissa sets up panel to study Sixth Pay Commission report

BHUBANESWAR: The Orissa government on Saturday constituted a six-member fitment committee to study recommendations made by the Sixth Pay Commission before implementing them in the state, official sources said.

The fitment committee, to be headed by Additional Chief Secretary cum-Development Commissioner R N Bahidar, has been asked to submit its report within three months.

The other members of the committee are Home secretary T K Mishra, Agriculture Secretary U P Singh, Water Resource Secretary Arabinda Behera, Additional Finance Secretary K C Mishra and Finance Department Special Secretary D P Das.

Though government employees have welcomed the state government's move to form a committee to study the recommendations, it has rejected the three month period for preparation of the final report.

"The fitment committee should be given a one month period," employees union leader Braja Nanda told reporters.

If implemnted in toto, the state government employees will get a minimum hike of 21 per cent in their basic scale of pay, Nanda said, adding they are opposed to 27 different scales by the Orissa government.

The state has to take an additional burden of Rs 1,400 crore per annum after implementation of the recommendations of the Pay Commission, sources said, adding that an amount of Rs 2,100 crore would be required if the pay fixation was made effective from January 1, 2006.