Kolkata: The state govt on Wednesday formally constituted the 7th Pay Commission, tasking it with examining and recommending changes in the pay structure, allowances, pension and other benefits and service conditions of state govt employees and pensioners, with a direction to submit its recommendations within six months. The govt plans to pass the benefits by next March.According to a finance department notification, retired IAS officer Atanu Chakraborty, former Union economic affairs secretary, has been appointed chairperson of the commission. The other members are Partha Mukhopadhyay, senior fellow at the Centre for Policy Research, and Partha Pratim Pal, economics professor at IIM Calcutta. Devi Prasad Karanam, secretary of the state finance department, will serve as the member secretary.“The commission will submit its recommendations within six months. The govt intends to give the revised pay benefits to its employees and pensioners by March next year after receiving the commission’s recommendations,” a senior state govt official said.The commission has been asked to examine and recommend revisions in pay, allowances and other benefits for employees under administrative control of the state govt, excluding All India Services, the West Bengal Judicial Service and employees governed by UGC, AICTE or ICAR pay structures. It will also cover employees of a wide range of statutory bodies, boards and state-run corporations.According to the notification, its mandate includes reviewing the dearness allowance formula, rationalising special and other allowances, recommending a framework for initial pay fixation, revising pensions for existing pensioners, examining promotion policies, and suggesting changes in retirement and medical benefits. The commission has also been empowered to consider any additional issues relating to pay and service conditions referred to it by the state govt.The notification also states that while framing its recommendations, the commission will take into account the prevailing pay structures under the Central govt, public sector undertakings and other state govts, the state’s financial resources, developmental commitments and the likely financial impact on statutory bodies and corporations. It has also been asked to consider the Centre’s decision on the recommendations of the 8th Central Pay Commission.It has been authorised to appoint advisers and experts in consultation with the state govt and seek information from departments and employee organisations during the course of its work.“The commission will submit its recommendations as expeditiously as practicable but preferably within a period of six months from the date of publication of this resolution or such extended time as the state govt may consider necessary. However, the commission may consider, if necessary, sending interim reports on any of the matters as and when the recommendations are finalised or if so desired by the govt,” the notification stated.
