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Hint of relook at pay report

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Monday hinted that the concerns of the armed forces regarding the recommendations of the Sixth Pay Commission would be addressed. Addressing bureaucrats on civil services day, the Prime Minister said that the country's civil and defence services should be properly rewarded. He added that the government has already set in motion a mechanism for hearing and redressing the grievances of government employees.

It may be recalled that there was widespread resentment among the armed forces after the sixth pay commission recommendations were submitted to the government. Soldiers are disappointed since the Sixth Pay Commission has thought it fit to recommend only Rs 1,000 per month as military service pay (MSP) for them.

Middle-rung officers are also angry and say that the ranks of colonel and brigadier should have received a separate salary band in the report instead of clubbing these ranks with the junior ranks. Several middle-rung officers are now reportedly keen on quitting the Army. The Army has a shortfall of about 11,000 officers.