This petition is to tell the Honorable Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi that a Diamond opportunity is being missed by not implementing the 7th Pay Commission on time, which I have advocated for in my book titled “And So I Lived,” which highlights grey areas in Government/Railways including the plethora of problems due to delays in wage revisions. I’d even voluntarily retired from the Railways for the purpose. I have already sent a copy to the Hon’ble Railway Minister and was to to send a copy in October 1st week to your office to ensure this wage revision is done on time (next chance after 10 years).

I am shocked to learn that the Union Cabinet chaired by you has approved for extension of submission of report by the 7th PC by 4 months, till 31.12.2015. This sends wrong signals to the Government employees and those who want to “Make in India” that our finances are not in order, apart from delays in decision making and that too which is to be done once in 10 years.  This petition is being sent to preempt your decision, at the earliest, especially since the previous Government had set up the 7th PC in Feb.2014, to facilitate timely implementation from Jan.2016.

A pay commission is given 18 months time to submit its report.  This period was even in the olden era when there was no technology like Computers, Internet, Fax, Mobile phones etc.  Now, with all that at hand, if anything, the report should be submitted much earlier. Let me highlight major problems due to 2½ year delay of the 2006 due 6th PC, implemented in Aug.2008.

1. Thousands of Pensioners have died in the delay period, not knowing their raise. Many pensioners are not in contact nor looked after by their offspring and rely heavily on their pension numbers for sustenance.

2. Retiring Employees in the delay period have had revised, re-revised settlements/pension etc. burdening the staff/banks calculating (or miscalculating) it.

3. This supplementary bill of arrears taxed the Government finances heavily in that financial year (2007-08) in one go. Delay meant extra/unwanted burden on personnel dept./banks to meticulously calculate arrears.  Also, due to rise in inflation in the delay period, the Govt. may have had to revise wages higher than if done on time.

4. Section 89(1) of Income Tax Act for re-appropriating the arrears amount to the respective years and reducing the tax (to be done by the respective personnel departments – most of which don’t know the rules/calculation) of the employee/pensioner was hardly exercised and they ended up paying higher, undeserving tax.

5. Hand to mouth existence of some employees/pensioners and their families were not mitigated; Created ill-will among employees, whose attitude was “When Govt. itself is tardy, they should not expect us to be prompt and efficient.”

Also, no interest is paid by the Govt. for your money for the delay period and additionally, you get less bank interest on investing your arrears money since interest rates are being cut and more cuts are planned in 2016 and your arrears may come only after July 2016. It will be a triple blow when you end up paying more tax for that money in the year 2016-17 without less or no respite from Section 89(1) of Income Tax, as explained above.

All of the above can be avoided in one stroke and, additionally, the Government can make history by being the first to implement on time, thereby bringing credibility to India and confidence to the world, in terms of our finances and quick decision-making, especially to those who want to invest here.  The Govt. can also command respect from its employees and even demand its pound of flesh and take concrete measures to optimize efficiency.

Recently, there were unwanted headlines like “Government braces up for 7th PC” or “Govt. wage bill – a huge burden” which is very unfortunate. 10 years back the Govt. knew about it and it and where is the question of “bracing up?”  This wage revision is due to Govt.’s failure to control inflation over the years, its excesses in charities/subsidies and its flawed policies/indifference to the grey areas and not optimizing efficiency, which created many a white elephant.  Also, regarding the funds required (if not planned earlier), a fraction of the lakhs of crores savings achieved in Rupees due to low crude oil prices ($40 from $120 per barrel) will suffice.  Or else, where has that money gone?

The Government Bashers may also feel why wage revision or its promptness?  For their information, this is inevitable and even if delayed, it is to be given from retrospective effect from the date due, i.e, 1.1.2016.  So, I request them also to endorse this petition.

In view of the above, the whole matter rests in Government’s hands which has already fallen short of its manifestos (like black money, higher income tax slab, OROP etc.). On behalf of your family of employees/pensioners and all concerned, I request the PM to review the above extension of 7th PC report and, along with the NITI Aayog (which was formed to do away with slow and tardy implementation of policies), to implement it on time and make this decision as the flagship foundation to elicit confidence in and credibility to India.

If the basic pay structures, etc. are ready and only some finishing touches or anomalies are to be looked into, they can be done later since even Vth PC anomalies are still pending.

The ball is in your court, Sir – whether to be known as a History maker or as an Also Ran, or a Showman full of only Sound and Gas (being felt by most as of now), is at stake.

 AB ACCHE DIN NAHIN, SACCHE DIN AAYENGE!