7th Pay Commission report on DA, CEA, FPA, NPA, OTA and other Allowances

7th Pay Commission report on certain allowances such as Dearness Allowance, Children Education Allowance, Family Planning Allowance, Non-Practising Allowance, Over Time Allowance etc., applicable to Central Government Employees and Defence Personnel 7th Pay Commission has submitted its recommendations to the Central Government on certain allowances which are classified as other allowances Other Allowances (click the names of allowances below for getting full details of recommendation of 7th Pay Commission)  1. Bhutan Compensatory Allowance -No change 2. Briefcase Allowance – 50% increase and shall increase further by 25% each time DA increases by 50%. 3. Canteen Allowance – Shall increase further by 25% each time DA increases by 50%. 4. Children Education Allowance (CEA) – Increase by 50% 5. Command Allowance – Recommended to be abolished  6. Commercial Allowance – Recommended to be abolished 7. Composite Personal Maintenance Allowance (CPMA) – 50% increase recommended 8. Condiment Allowance – Recommended to be abolished 9. Constant Attendance Allowance – 50% increase recommended 10. Cost of Living Allowance – No change 11. Court Allowance – Recommended for abolition  12. Dearness Allowance– Continuation of existing methodology 13. Desk Allowance – Recommended for abolition 14. Diet Allowance – Recommended for abolition 15. Educational Concession– Recommended for increase and continuous when increase in DA by 50% 16. Electricity Allowance – Recommended for abolition 17. Family Planning Allowance – Existing scheme to continue 18. Fixed Medical Allowance (FMA) – Existing scheme to continue  19. Funeral Allowance – Existing scheme to continue 20. Hair cutting Allowance– Recommended for abolition 21. Hard Area Allowance– should be rationalized by a factor of 0.8 to 20 percent of Basic Pay. 22. Internet Allowance Mobile Phone Allowance, Newspaper Allowance – To be raised by 25 percent and the entire amount should be paid, lump sum, to the eligible employees without the need for production of vouchers. 23. Investigation Allowance – Recommended for abolition 24. Island Special Duty Allowance– Recommended for rationalisation by a factor of 0.8 to 10 percent, 16 percent and 20 percent of Basic Pay respectively. 25. Launch Campaign Allowance and Space Technology Allowance– Recommended for abolition 26. Messing Allowance – Recommended to be increased to Rs.300 per day 27. Night Duty Allowance – Existing scheme to continue with modification in the system. 28. Non-Practicing Allowance (NPA) – Recommended for reduction in NPA to 20% of Basic Pay 29. Nuclear Research Plant Support Allowance – Recommended for 50% hike and further increased by 25% when increase in DA by 50% 30. Nursing Allowance – Existing scheme to continue and further 25% increase each time when DA rises by 50%. Messing allowance is abolished 31. Orderly Allowance – Existing scheme to continue 32. Overtime Allowance – Recommended for abolition except for industrial and operational staff. For others if Government wants to grant OTA for any specific purpose then it has be increased by 50% of the present rates. 33. Parliament Assistant Allowance– Recommended for 50% hike and further increased by 25% when increase in DA by 50% 34. PCO Allowance – Recommended for 6% and 12% for Section Officers and Junior Engineers respectively 35. Ration Money Allowance– Existing Scheme to continue and 7000 ft norm to be lifted in case of CAPF. Abolished for postings at peace areas in respect of officers 36. Soap Toilet Allowance – Recommended for abolition 37. Space Technology Allowance – Recommended for abolition 38. Special Allowance for Child Care for Women with Disabilities– Recommended to double the allowance and further rise by 25% each time DA rises by 50% 39. Special Allowance to Chief Safety Officers/Safety Officers – Recommended to be paid at the rate of 6 percent of Basic Pay. 40. Special Duty Allowance – Recommended to pay 30% and 10% of Basic pay for AIS Officers and Civilian Employees respectively. 41. Special Incident/Investigation/Security Allowance– Recommended for NSG, SPG 40%, IB/CBI/NIA/PDG 20%, CAPF 10% of Basic Pay 42. Special NCRB Pay – Recommended to be stopped 43. Special Scientists’ Pay– Recommended for abolition 44. Specialist Allowance– Recommended for 50% increase and further rise by 25% each time DA rises by 50% 45. Spectacle Allowance – Recommended for abolition 46. Split Duty Allowance– Recommended for 50% increase and further rise by 25% each time DA rises by 50% 47. Study Allowance – Recommended for abolition 48. Subsistence Allowance – Existing scheme to continue 49. Training Stipend – Recommended to Pay Rs.80 p.m 50. Vigilance Allowance – Recommended for abolition Bhutan Compensatory Allowance Bhutan Compensatory Allowance is admissible to Defence Forces personnel posted to IMTRAT (Bhutan) with a depression in the standard rates promulgated by the Ministry of External Affairs. This was done because certain service concessions such as mess and canteen facilities were provided to Defence Forces personnel while in Bhutan. After September, 2005, the depression in the allowance has been removed but charges at the rate of 6 percent of the allowance from officers and 4 percent from PBORs are recovered for the free facilities provided. The existing rates are as follows: Grade PayRs. per month >=10,0001,20,445 8700 10,000 1000 There are demands to make it equal to one increment. Representations have also been received requesting that the allowance should be double for those employees who adopt family planning norms after just one child. Analysis and Recommendations The Commission recognizes the fact that most of the benefits related to children, viz., Children Education Allowance, Maternity Leave, LTC, etc., are available for two children only. Moreover the level of awareness regarding appropriate family size has also gone up among the government servants. Hence, a separate allowance aimed towards population control is not required now. Accordingly, it is recommended that Family Planning Allowance should be abolished. Fixed Medical Allowance It is granted to pensioners for meeting expenditure on day to day medical expenses that do not require hospitalization, presently payable at the rate of Rs.500 pm. Demands have been received to increase the rate of this allowance to Rs.2,000 pm. Analysis and Recommendations The Commission notes that this allowance was enhanced from Rs.300 pm to Rs.500 pm from 19.11.2014. As such, further enhancement of this allowance is not recommended. Detailed recommendations regarding health care of pensioners have been made in Chapter 9.5 of the Report. Funeral Allowance When death of an employee occurs in peace areas, a funeral allowance of Rs.6,000 is granted and mortuary charges are reimbursed to Defence personnel. Demands have been received to extend that allowance to all civilian employees and for a four-fold increase in rates. Analysis and Recommendations The Commission is of the view that with the pay raises provided by successive Pay Commissions, this kind of an allowance has lost its meaning. Hence, it is recommended to be abolished. Hair cutting Allowance This allowance is granted to PBORs of CISF to compensate for the cost of hair cutting, at the rate of Rs.5 pm. No demands have been received regarding this allowance. Analysis and Recommendations The Commission took note of the fact that the amount of this allowance is the lowest among all allowances. This allowance has been subsumed in Composite Personal Maintenance Allowance and, therefore, should be abolished as a separate allowance. Hard Area Allowance Hard Area Allowance, at the rate of 25 percent of Basic Pay, is granted to Central Government employees on their posting to the Nicobar and Lakshadweep groups of Islands. This is paid in addition to ISDA. There are demands to increase the rate of this allowance. Analysis and Recommendations In line with our recommendations on percentage based allowances, Hard Area Allowance should be rationalized by a factor of 0.8 to 20 percent of Basic Pay. Internet Allowance, Mobile Phone Allowance, Newspaper Allowance These allowance are administered differently in ministries as per their requirements. Some ministries provide Mobile Phones and Internet connections to their employees, while others compensate their employees for these services in monetary terms, ranging from Rs.200 pm to Rs.3,000 pm. There are demands to raise these allowances. Analysis and Recommendations There is no doubt that these allowances are required in the present times. However, they should lead to efficiency in administration also. As such, it is suggested that all ministries should have a comprehensive database of their employees, including their mobile numbers and email addresses. This database should be available on the website of the concerned ministry. The ministries should continue dealing with these allowances on their own, subject to the ceilings notified by the Ministry of Finance from time to time. The present ceilings should, however, be raised by 25 percent and the entire amount should be paid, lump sum, to the eligible employees without the need for production of vouchers. Investigation Allowance Investigation Allowance is granted in Serious Fraud Investigation Office, Ministry of Corporate Affairs, to attract talent pool from other ministries. The existing rates are as under: ( Rs. per month) Grade Pay Rate 8700 2000 6600 1400 5400 1400 4800 1400 Analysis and Recommendations There is no justification for continuation of this allowance. Accordingly, it is recommended that the allowance should be abolished. Island Special Duty Allowance (ISDA) ISDA is granted to Central Government employees on their posting to the Andaman and Nicobar Islands and Lakshadweep. The existing structure of this allowance is as under: Areas around capital towns (Port Blair in A&N islands, Kavaratti and Agatti in Lakshadweep)12.5% of Basic Pay Difficult Areas (North and Middle Adaman, South Andaman excluding Port Blair, entire Lakshadweep except Kavaratii, Agatti and Minicoy)20% of Basic Pay More Difficult Areas (Little Andaman, Nicobar group of Islands, Narcondum Islands, East Islands and Minicoy)25% of Basic Pay There are demands to increase the rate of ISDA. Analysis and Recommendations In line with our recommendations on percentage based allowances, ISDA should be rationalized by a factor of 0.8 to 10 percent, 16 percent and 20 percent of Basic Pay respectively. Launch Campaign Allowance and Space Technology Allowance Space Technology Allowance is granted to supporting scientific and technical staff in DOS/ISRO in recognition of the need for their retention and keeping in view the fact that they play a crucial role in the success of every mission. Considering that all missions/projects of ISRO are implemented in campaign mode and all categories of employees have to work with extra vigour, it was decided to give a lumpsum Launch Campaign Allowance to all administrative staff working in DOS/ISRO to appreciate and recognize their contribution to ISRO. Both the allowances are paid at the identical rate of Rs.7,500 per annum. No demands have been received regarding this allowance. Analysis and Recommendations The allowances are in the nature of an appreciation allowance. Since PRIS has already been implemented in ISRO, there is no justification for the continuation of these allowances. Hence it is recommended that both these allowances should be abolished. Messing Allowance This allowance is paid to “floating staff” under Fishery Survey of India, in lieu of free food on board floating vessels, at a rate of Rs.200 per day. Demands have been received to increase the amount of allowance to 15 percent of Basic Pay. Analysis and Recommendations It is recommended that the allowance should be increased to Rs.300 per day. The amount will further rise by 25 percent each time DA increases by 50 percent. Night Duty Allowance Night Duty Allowance (NDA) is granted to certain specified categories of employees for performance of duty between 22:00 hrs and 06:00 hrs. Presently, each hour of night work earns extra ten minutes of day work. There are demands to grant Night Duty Allowance between 18:00 hrs and 06:00 hrs and for doubling of rates by equating each hour of night work to extra twenty minutes of day work. Analysis and Recommendations This allowance was dealt extensively by Mia Bhoy tribunal in 1969 and the present dispensation is based on the recommendation of the said tribunal. Presently, the allowance is administered as per DoPT’s OM No.12012/4/86-Estt. (Allowances) of 04.10.1989, wherein every 6 hours of night work earns 1 weighted hour of day work, or each hour of night work earns extra 10 minutes of day work. The Commission examined the various arguments given for the grant of Night Duty Allowance: Night Work Convention, 1990 of International Labour Organization, states in Article 8: “Compensation for night workers in the form of working time, pay or similar benefits shall recognise the nature of night work.” There are studies to prove the deleterious effects on health of prolonged periods of continuous night duty. Sleep is more likely to be interrupted during day time compared to night time. Transportation and Entertainment are generally planned keeping day time in mind. This Commission is, therefore, convinced that the need for compensating night work is widely recognized and should be continued. However, the practice of arriving at the rates of NDA needs to be uniform. It is seen that in the Railways the rate of NDA has been broad-banded and all employees at each level of Grade Pay are given the same rate of NDA. For achieving this broad-banding, the average of Minimum and Maximum of the entire Pay Band has been taken to arrive at the average pay. This appears to be incorrect because running Pay Bands were intentionally kept wide by the VI CPC to avoid stagnation. Hence to use the extremities of the Pay Band for arrival at the average rate of NDA is not appropriate. Moreover, with the computerization of pay rolls, the amount of Night Duty Allowance can be easily calculated for each employee. Taking the above into account, the following set of recommendations is made with regard to NDA: The present formulation of weightage of 10 minutes for every hour of duty performed between the hours of 22:00 and 06:00 may be continued; The present prescribed hourly rate of NDA equal to (BP+DA)/200 may be continued; This amount of NDA should, however, be worked out separately for each employee. With the computerization of pay rolls, working out the amount of NDA automatically for each employee every month will not entail any difficulty. The existing formulation forgiving same rate of NDA for all employees with a particular GP should be abolished. This formulation will extend to all employees across all ministries/departments who were already in receipt of Night Duty Allowance. A certificate should be given by the supervisor concerned that Night Duty is essential. Non Practicing Allowance (NPA) Non Practicing Allowance (NPA), at the rate of 25 percent of Basic Pay, is paid to medical doctors occupying posts for which minimum qualification of a medical degree is prescribed. There are demands to raise this allowance to 40 percent of Basic Pay. Analysis and Recommendations The VI CPC had included a detailed rationale for the grant of NPA in its recommendations. Most of the reasons are still valid and there is no need to reiterate them here. However, in line with our general approach of rationalizing the percentage based allowances by a factor of 0.8, we recommend that NPA should be paid at the rate of 20 percent of Basic Pay, subject to the condition that Basic Pay + NPA should not exceed the average of Apex Level and the level of Cabinet Secretary. Nuclear Research Plant Support Allowance It is a composite allowance granted exclusively to staff at Research Unitsin the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, to compensate for a variety of factors like round-the-clock shifts, overtime, risk of radiation, etc. The present rates are as under: Pay in the Pay BandRate Up to Rs.5580Rs.480 pm Rs.5581-Rs.16740Rs.660 pm There are demands to increase the allowance four-fold. Analysis and Recommendations The Commission is of the view that the allowance needs to be continued. Moreover, since the allowance is already partially indexed to DA, it is recommended that the rates of the allowance should be increased by a factor of 1.5 to the following: Level of the employeeRecommended Rate 1-2Rs.720 pm 3 to 5Rs.990 pm The rate shall further increase by 25 percent each time DA increases by 50 percent. Nursing Allowance Nursing Allowance is the composite term used for four allowances granted to nursing personnel: Nursing Allowance, Uniform Allowance, Washing Allowance, and Messing Allowance, presently granted at the following rates: ( Rs. per month) Nursing Allowance4800 Uniform Allowance750 Washing Allowance450 Messing Allowance75 There are demands to increase the rate to three times its present value. Analysis and Recommendations The Commission is of the view that Nursing Allowance is already at an appropriate level. Hence, no change in the rate of Nursing Allowance is recommended. However, the rate of Nursing Allowance will go up by 25 percent each time DA rises by 50 percent. Uniform Allowance and Washing Allowance have been subsumed in the newly recommended Dress Allowance for Nurses and will not be payable separately. Messing Allowance is petty in nature. It is recommended that it should be abolished. Orderly Allowance Orderly Allowance is paid to Judicial Officers on deputation to Supreme Court Registry at the same rate that the Judicial Officer was getting in the parent office. No demands have been received regarding this allowance. Analysis and Recommendations It is recommended that status quo may be maintained. Overtime Allowance (OTA) Overtime Allowance(OTA) is granted to government employees for performing duties beyond the designated working hours. Presently, OTA is paid in several ministries/ departments, up to a certain level, at varying rates. JCM-Staff Side has demanded that OTA should be paid to all government employees who are asked to work beyond office hours, on the basis of actual Pay, DA and Transport Allowance. Analysis and Recommendations Out of the total expenditure on OTA in Government of India in 2012-2013, over 90 percent is on account of just two ministries: MoR – Ministry of Railways and MoD – Ministry of Defence (Civilian employees). The Commission compared the OTA expenditure in these two ministries over the period 2006-07 to 2012-13. In both the ministries, the amount of OTA is showing a rising trend. The absolute numbers and amounts are as given below: OTA and Pay (including DA) in MoR and MoD (Civilian Employees) ( Crore of Rs.) 2006-072012-13 CAGR of OTA CAGR of Pay OT AP ay(A)/(B)OT AP ay(X)/(Y) (A)(B)(X)(Y) MoR304.8814563.012.09%791.6530713.982.58%17.24%13.24% MoD398.155035.947.91%732.7311211.96.54%10.70%14.27% There are two noteworthy points here: a. While OTA as a percentage of Pay is declining in MoD (6.54% in 2012-13 compared to 7.91% in 2006-07), it is on the rise in MoR (2.58% in 2012-13 compared to 2.09% in 2006-07). ( Source: Brochure on Pay and Allowances published by Pay Research Unit, DoE, Ministry of Finance.) b. The Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of OTA (17.24%) in MoR exceeds even the CAGR of Pay (13.24%), or in other words, OTA is rising faster than pay. This clearly shows that while MoD has achieved some success in its efforts to control OTA, the efforts of MoR have not yielded the desired results. However, at the same time, it should also be kept in mind that OTA as a percentage of pay is already much higher in MoD compared to MoR. The Commission also took note of the recommendations of the III, IV, V and VI CPCs that OTA should be abolished except where it is a statutory requirement. However, it is also a fact that despite these recommendations, OTA continues to be paid to certain categories of staff (at rates that are quite old) even when it is not a statutory requirement. Hence, while this Commission shares the sentiments of its predecessors that government offices need to increase productivity and efficiency, and recommends that OTA should be abolished (except for operational staff and industrial employees who are governed by statutory provisions), at the same time it is also recommended that in case the government decides to continue with OTA for those categories of staff for which it is not a statutory requirement, then the rates of OTA for such staff should be increased by 50 percent from their current levels. A stricter control on OTA expenditure is also suggested. Parliament Assistance Allowance This allowance is granted in ministries to Assistants and UDCs who are wholly engaged in Parliament work during Parliament Sessions. The present rate of the allowance is Rs.1,500 pm for Assistants and Rs.1,200 pm for UDCs. The allowance is admissible at full rates for every calendar month in which the Parliament is in session for at least 15 days in that month. For months with shorter periods, the allowance is admissible at half the rates prescribed for the full month. No demands have been received regarding this allowance. Analysis and Recommendations The rate should be increased by a factor of 1.5. The rate shall further increase by 25 percent each time DA increases by 50 percent. PCO Allowance This allowance is granted to select staff of Production Control Organization (PCO) in Workshops and PUs of Indian Railways to compensate them for the loss in Incentive Bonus. The present rate is 7.5 percent of Basic Pay for eligible staff in GP 4600 and 15 percent of Basic Pay for eligible staff up to GP 4200. No demands have been received regarding this allowance. Analysis and Recommendations In line with our general approach of rationalizing the percentage based allowances by a factor of 0.8, the following rates of PCO allowance are recommended: Section Engineers and Sr. Section Engineers in level 76% of Basic Pay Non-supervisory staff and Jr. Engineers up to level 612% of Basic Pay Ration Money Allowance (RMA) Ration Money Allowance (RMA) is paid to all personnel of Defence forces and non-gazetted personnel of CAPFs, Delhi Police, IB, A&N police and such personnel of Indian Reserve Battalions (IRBn) as are posted in Andaman and Nicobar Islands and don’t dine in the mess. The existing rate of this allowance is Rs.95.52 per day for Non-Gazetted personnel and Rs.79.93 per day for Gazetted personnel. There are demands to extend RMA to gazetted officers of CAPFs in line with Defence forces. Demands have also been received from some CAPFs that RMA should be exempted from the purview of income tax. Analysis and Recommendations Ration Money Allowance is revised periodically by Ministry of Defence and Ministry of Home for their personnel. Hence, it is proposed that status quo be maintained regarding the rates of this allowance. However, regarding the admissibility of RMA, PBORs of CAPFs and Indian Coast Guard should be eligible to draw RMA irrespective of the place of posting (except when in receipt of the Detachment Allowance). Presently, officers of SSB who are posted in field areas at altitudes of less than 7000 feet are not eligible for RMA. This restriction of 7000 feet should be removed. Regarding income tax exemption of RMA, the Commission, as part of its general approach, has refrained from making recommendations involving income tax. However, looking into the unique service conditions of CAPFs, the Commission is of the view that since RMA is granted in lieu of free rations, it should be exempt from income tax. It is further recommended that the provision of free rations and the grant of Ration Money Allowance to officers of Defence forces posted in peace areas should be withdrawn. This allowance is granted to Group `B’ and `C’ combatised personnel of Assam Rifles at the rate of Rs.90 pm. No demands have been received regarding this allowance. Analysis and Recommendations The allowance is subsumed in Composite Personal Maintenance Allowance. Hence, it is recommended that this allowance should be abolished. Special Allowance for Child Care for Women with Disabilities As the name indicates, this allowance is granted to differently abled female employees for taking care of their newborn child. The present rate of this allowance is Rs.1,500 pm. Analysis and Recommendations The Commission recognizes the huge responsibility that these women shoulder while raising their children. Therefore, instead of the factor of 1.5 that we have mostly used for semi-DA indexed allowances, it is recommended that this allowance be raised by a factor of 2 to Rs.3,000 pm. The allowance shall further rise by 25 percent each time DA rises by 50 percent. Special Allowance to Chief Safety Officers/Safety Officers This allowance is granted to Senior Supervisors of workshop cadre (whether working in workshop or PCO) in Indian Railways, when they are deputed as Chief Safety Officers/Safety Officers. The existing rate is 7.5 percent of Basic Pay. No demands have been received regarding this allowance. Analysis and Recommendations In line with our general approach of rationalizing the percentage based allowances by a factor of 0.8, it is recommended that this allowance should, henceforth, be paid at the rate of 6 percent of Basic Pay. Special Duty Allowance (SDA) Special Duty Allowance (SDA) is granted to attract civilian employees to seek posting in North Eastern and Ladakh regions, in view of the risk and hardship prevailing in these areas. Currently, the rate of SDA is 37.5 percent of Basic Pay for AIS officers and 12.5 percent of Basic Pay for other employees. There is a vociferous demand from employees (other than AIS officers) posted in these areas for parity with AIS officers. Analysis and Recommendations The Commission is of the view that AIS officers are allotted cadres, irrespective of their choice, and they are required to work in these cadres for considerable periods of time. As such, a higher rate of SDA for them is justified. Accordingly, in line with our general approach of rationalizing the percentage based allowances by a factor of 0.8, SDA for AIS officers should be paid at the rate of 30 percent of Basic Pay and for other civilian employees at the rate of 10 percent of Basic Pay. Special Incident/Investigation/Security Allowance This allowance is provided to personnel of special security forces, both as compensation for risk and hardship as well as an incentive to attract talent. The present structure of these allowances is as under: Granted to personnel ofPresent Rate SPG (Operational Staff)50% of (BP+DA) SPG (Non-Operational Staff)25% of (BP+DA) NSG25% of (BP+DA) NIA (Executive Staff)25% of (BP+DA) NIA (Non-Executive Staff)15% of (BP+DA) CBI (Officers up to the level of SP)25% of BP CBI (Officers of the rank DIG and above)15% of BP CBI (Non-Executive Cadres)15% of BP IB15% of BP RAF of CRPF10% of BP There are demands to rationalize the entire structure of this allowance. A proposal for extending this allowance at the rate of 25 percent of Basic+DA to personnel of Parliament Duty Group has also been forwarded to the Commission by the Ministry of Home Affairs. Analysis and Recommendations The Commission notes that these allowances were started at different points in time. There are varying rates that need to be rationalized. After due discussions with various stakeholders, the following structure of Special Security Allowances is recommended: Granted to Personnel ofRecommended Rate NSG40% of Basic Pay SPG (Operational Staff) SPG (Non-Operational Staff)20% of Basic Pay IB CBI NIA Parliament Duty Group (PDG) RAF (CRPF)10% of Basic Pay The rationalized structure will be applicable only to those employees who were already in receipt of the allowance, except in case of PDG employees. No new categories of staff in other organizations may be made eligible for the grant of this allowance based on these recommendations. No Deputation (Duty) Allowance will be applicable along with this allowance. Special NCRB Pay Special NCRB Pay is granted to Assistant Director in C&S division and Deputy Superintendent (Finger Print) in Central Finger Print Bureau of National Crime Records Bureau, on the premise that the feeder posts of both the above mentioned posts lie in the same GP which is an anomaly. A proposal to upgrade the post of Assistant Director to GP 7600 and that of Deputy Superintendent (Finger Print) to GP 5400 (PB-3) has been sent to VII CPC. Until then, the Bureau has itself taken steps to sort out this “pay anomaly” by providing this allowance of Rs.800 pm. Analysis and Recommendations The merger of certain V CPC pay scales by the VI CPC, led to similar situations in many cadres in which some posts and their feeder posts came to be in the same GP. The resolution to this has not been in the form of any such allowance. In fact, in many such cases there has been no resolution, as we have seen in the memoranda received. In this context, the presumption by NCRB that this constitutes an “anomaly,” to be “rectified” through an allowance is incorrect. Hence it is recommended that this pay should be immediately stopped. Special Scientists’ Pay Special Scientists’ Pay, at a rate of Rs.4,000 pm, is granted to Scientists/Engineers H with GP 10000 because it was felt that the pay scale accorded to them by the V CPC was not commensurate with their status and was adversely affecting their morale. No demands have been received regarding this pay. Analysis and Recommendations Since the V CPC recommendations, much time has passed and the pay scales of all employees have been revised upwards. There is no rationale for the continuation of this allowance. Hence, it is recommended that this allowance be abolished. Specialist Allowance This allowance is paid to specialist medical officers in Defence Services when posted to fill vacancies of specialists in the medical establishment. The present rates are as under: Graded SpecialistRs.2400 pm Classified SpecialistRs.3000 pm Consultant/Advisor/ProfessorRs.3600 pm There are demands to raise the amount of this allowance four-fold. Analysis and Recommendations The rate of the allowance should be increased by a factor of 1.5. The rate shall further increase by 25 percent each time DA increases by 50 percent. Spectacle Allowance Spectacles are issued free to those Defence Forces personnel in whose case impairment of vision is either attributable to service or their sight is so defective that it interferes with their efficiency. When spectacles are not issued, reimbursement is permitted in the form of Spectacle Allowance, at the following rates: For spectacles with normal lensesRs.130 For spectacles with bifocal lensesRs.250 There are demands that the Spectacle Allowance should be abolished and adequately compensated in Composite Personal Maintenance Allowance. Analysis and Recommendations The amount of this allowance is meagre. Hence, it is recommended that this allowance should be abolished. Split Duty Allowance This allowance is payable to Sweepers and Farashes in the Central Secretariat/allied offices performing split duties where the break in between the shift is at least two hours and who have not been provided residential accommodation within 1 Km. of the office premises. The existing rate is Rs.300 pm. There are demands to raise this allowance to Rs.2,000 pm. Analysis and Recommendations It is recommended that the allowance should be increased by a factor of 1.5 to Rs.450 pm. The rate will further rise by 25 percent each time DA rises by 50 percent. Study Allowance Study Allowance, ranging from 1 to 2.75 Pound (Sterling) per day, is granted to a government servant who has been granted study leave for studies outside India, for the period spent in prosecuting a definite course of study at a recognized institution or in any definite tour of inspection of any special class of work as well as for the period covered by the examination at the end of the course of study. This allowance has been referred by the government to VII CPC for consideration. Analysis and Recommendations The rate of this allowance is meagre and not revised since 1972. Accordingly, it is recommended that the allowance should be abolished. Subsistence Allowance Subsistence Allowance is payable to an employee under suspension or deemed to have been placed under suspension. No demands have been received regarding this allowance. Analysis and Recommendations Payment of Subsistence Allowance is as per CCS (CCA) rules. Status Quo is recommended. Training Stipend Non Gazetted Officers of Delhi Police, while undergoing training, are entitled for Training Stipend at the rate of Rs.80 pm. Analysis and Recommendations The stipend is meagre. Hence, it is recommended that Training Stipend should be done away with. Vigilance Allowance A Vigilance Allowance of Rs.2,500 pm is granted to Vigilance Inspectors in Indian Railways to attract experienced and talented staff. Analysis and Recommendations The Commission took note of two aspects regarding this allowance: a. This allowance is paid only in Railways while there are posts of Vigilance Inspectors under other ministries as well. b. No supporting evidence has been submitted by the Ministry of Railways to show that i. Employees were unwilling to join the vigilance organization before the commencement of this allowance, and ii. The position has improved after this allowance wa