Shastri stresses for merging 50% DA into basic pay

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, June 23:  Stressing the need for merging of 50% DA into basic pay or pension, president of the National Mazdoor Conference (NMC), Subash  Shastri  today  appealed  Prime  Minister and Finance Minister  to take an early decision in this  regard at the  next Cabinet meeting, adding that merging of DA would be genuine measure to provide some relief to salaried class.
Addressing  a  largely attended  NMC Workers  meeting  here,  Shastri said that as DA is already touching 80% of the basic pay or pension, the Government should merge 50% DA with basic pay or pension which had been recommended by the 4th  Pay Commission in its recommendations.
Stressing that 7th Pay Commission is the need of the hour, which is bound to have bearing on about one crore employees and pensioners of the country, Shastri requested  that decision be taken on priority basis for appointment of the said Commission.
Shastri further demanded for early sanction of 20% interim relief to offset the economics of salaried class in view of steep hike in the prices of all essential commodities.
Pleading the cause of daily rated workers, casual labour and seasonal labour working in the various Government Departments, Shastri also insisted time bound implementation of  policy for regularization  of daily wagers who have completed seven years of service in March 2012, besides enhancement of monthly emoluments  to Rs 10000.
Other demands highlighted in the meeting were enhancing Medical allowance from Rs 300 to Rs 1000 per month, release of salary of motivators working in IWDP Phase II, besides their immediate regularization, issuance of regularization order of daily wagers of RDD, etc.