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Uniform pay scales on anvil?
THE HIGH Court directive on deputation employees could have an unintended fallout-a standardisation of salary structures in the 14-odd municipal corporations of the State. The HC recently directed the government to decide the fate of officials serving deputation terms in civic bodies by December 15.
THE HIGH Court directive on deputation employees could have an unintended fallout-a standardisation of salary structures in the 14-odd municipal corporations of the State. The HC recently directed the government to decide the fate of officials serving deputation terms in civic bodies by December 15.
The subsequent scrutiny of administrative structures in municipal corporations at a recent meeting chaired by Secretary, Urban Administration Development, Sewa Ram in Bhopal revealed a curious anomaly - officials serving at the same post received different salaries in different cities.
The highest salaries, according to sources, were being paid by the Bhopal Municipal Corporation (BMC), mainly as a result of the efforts of former Administrator M N Buch. For instance, a health inspector posted in the State capital received salary equivalent to an Assistant Health Officer in, say, Ratlam.
After the discrepancies came to light the Secretary is learnt to have directed all Municipal Corporations to submit salary details to the Joint Director, Urban Administration Development department so that uniform pay scales could be worked out.
Sources in Bhopal revealed that, presented with the discrepancies, the corporations pleaded for the adoption of the highest salaries being paid for a particular post in any part of the State.
“Instead of scaling them down it was proposed that pay scales be hiked to match the highest salaries,” revealed an official present at the meeting.
To wit, if a deputy Municipal Commissioner was being paid, say, Rs 15,000 after deductions, then officials serving at the
same post in other cities should receive the same amount.
This, however, was vetoed by the UAD brass on grounds that adopting the Bhopal salary structure would force civic bodies in smaller cities to double and, in certain cases, increase salaries four-fold, imposing unacceptably high cost burdens.
So what, then, is in the offing? “A final decision on the matter can be taken only after salary details are submitted by all municipal corporations. The BMC today faxed the list to the Joint Director and details of the other 13 Corporations are expected to follow within the next 2-3 days. Only after this happens will the UAD arrive at a final decision,” revealed an official entrusted with the task of comparing salaries and reporting the discrepancies in wages.
