Cabinet nod likely for govt staff’s revised allowance

New Delhi: Much-awaited recommendations by the Ashok Lavasa panel on the 7th Pay Commission, set up to study the quantum of HRA to be given to lakhs of government employees, as well as other due allowances, is likely to be cleared by the Union Cabinet, which is scheduled to meet on Wednesday.

Around 47 lakh government employees have been eagerly awaiting the suggestions of the Ashok Lavasa committee, which has suggested modifications in some allowances applicable universally to all Central government employees and also for those in specific categories, including railways and defence, after examining the 7th Pay Commission recommendations.

The Union Cabinet had not taken up the recommendations during its meeting last week, however official sources informed that these were likely to be cleared on June 14. The Lavasa committee had submitted its report to finance minister Arun Jaitley on April 27.

While recommendations of the 7th Pay Commission on pay and pension were implemented with the approval of the Cabinet, allowances continued to be paid at old rates.

The Ashok Lavasa Committee was set up in view of significant changes recommended by the 7th Pay Commission in the allowances structure and a large number of representations received in this regard from various staff associations as well as the apprehensions conveyed by various ministries and departments.

The 7th Pay Commission had recommended that of a total of 196 allowances, 52 be abolished altogether and 36 be abolished as separate identities by subsuming them in another allowance.