Govt wakes up from deep slumber prior to Governor’s meeting
Mohinder Verma
JAMMU, July 10: Waking up from deep slumber after 14 years, the Government is going to enhance the conveyance allowance of its disabled employees and a proposal in this regard is being placed before the State Cabinet, which is meeting under the chairmanship of Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah at Civil Secretariat, Srinagar tomorrow afternoon.
The deep slumber of the concerned authorities has come to an end only after they were intimated that Governor, N N Vohra is likely to thoroughly discuss the issues concerning disabled persons in the State in a high-level meeting to be held in the near future.
Official sources told EXCELSIOR that under Article 328-E of the J&K Civil Services Rules, the conveyance allowance is granted to the State Government employees, who are blind or orthopaedically handicapped with a minimum of 40 % permanent partial disability of either the upper or lower limbs or 50 % permanent partial disability of both upper and lower limbs together.
Informing that presently allowance is being given at 5% of the basic pay, subject to a maximum of Rs 200 per month, they said, “the maximum ceiling of conveyance allowance was last enhanced vide SRO 351 dated December 22, 1998 from Rs 100 to Rs 200”, adding “during the past 14 years, none of the Government paid attention towards enhancing meager allowance despite the fact that massive hike has been witnessed in the Consumer Price Index level during such a long period”.
In the recent past, the General Administration Department sought the comments of the Finance Department with regard to the enhancement of the special conveyance allowance for the persons with disabilities to 5% of the basic pay or Rs 2,000 on the pattern of other States as the issues concerning disabled persons are likely to discussed in a high level meeting by the Governor, sources said.
Finally, it was felt that increasing conveyance allowance has become inevitable after the implementation of 6th Central Pay Commission in the State and increase in the consumer price index level. Accordingly, the rules of Union Government as well as of different States were examined and it was found that in case of Central Government employees, the minimum rate of conveyance allowance has been fixed at Rs 1000 plus the applicable rate of DA.
“After comparison of existing rates with those applicable in the Government of India and other States, increase in conveyance allowance from existing 5% of the basic pay with a maximum ceiling of Rs 200 to 5% of the basic pay (pay in pay band + grade pay) or Rs 1000 per month, whichever is less, has been found appropriate”, sources said, adding “the proposal is being placed before the Cabinet for approval”.
Sources said that Cabinet will also approve the statement regarding action/decision taken so far on the minutes of the Chief Justices and Chief Ministers Conference held in 2009.
“The possibility of some transfers in civil administration cannot be ruled out”, sources added.
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