Govt employees in Karnataka get gift before Holi, 17% salary hike announced

Government employees in Karnataka have received great news before Holi. On Wednesday, Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai said that we have announced a 17% pay hike for government employees as an interim relief. Along with this, the government has also constituted a committee for the pension scheme. The government employees were demanding a 40 per cent hike in basic pay and salary as per the recommendations of the Seventh Pay Commission. On the demand of the employees to restore the old pension scheme by abolishing the new pension scheme, the government said that a committee headed by an Additional Chief Secretary level officer would study its feasibility.

Government employees on Wednesday called off their indefinite strike after the government announced a 17 per cent hike in basic pay as an interim relief. CS Shadakshari, president of the Karnataka State Government Employees Association, announced the call off of the strike.

The employees have placed three major demands before the state government, including implementation of the Seventh Pay Commission report, restoration of the old pension scheme and setting up of at least 40 per cent 'fitment' facilities. CM Bommai had told the employees on Tuesday that the administration was ready to seek and implement the interim report of the Seventh Pay Commission. On the other hand, CS Shadakshari, president of the Karnataka State Government Employees Association, had said on Tuesday that there was no question of withdrawing the strike call at this juncture.