Non-Gazetted Government Officers’ Association, A&N Islands: Memorandum to 7th CPC

MEMORANDUM SUBMITTED TO THE SEVENTH CENTRAL PAY COMMISSION BY THE NON-GAZETTED GOVERNMENT OFFICERS’ ASSOCIATION, ANDAMAN AND NICOBAR ISLANDS 

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GENERAL

Consequent on the implementation of the 4th Central Pay Commission recommendations, the hard earned Andaman Special Allowance/Pay has been arbitrarily withdrawn along with Compensatory Allowance and in its place Special Compensatory Allowance has been introduced on slab basis which has resulted in great financial loss to the government employees and workers working in the islands. 

 The Andaman Special Pay was granted for the first time in 1945 at the rate of 33 1/3 % of basic pay to all employees of Andaman and Nicobar Administration, irrespective of their area of recruitment. This special Pay was paid for the unhealthiness of this place under FR 9(25) (c). Although the Ministry of Home Affairs vide their letter No. 4-22/49-AN DATED 22.1.1951 dis-continued this, subsequently the same was sanctioned to one and all irrespective of their area of recruitment and domicile, changing the nomenclature as Special Allowance. 

The 4th, 5th and 6th Central Pay Commissions, in the name of bringing uniformity in the grant of Allowance, recommended a slab rate of Special Compensatory Allowance, in lieu of Andaman Special Allowance and Compensatory Allowance, which was most unjustifiable. There is no justification, whatsoever, to discontinue with the Special Allowance at the rate ranging from 20% to 30% and Compensatory Allowance at 12 1⁄2 % already enjoyed by the government employees of these islands which were granted after protracted truggles. Grant of Special Compensatory Allowance, on slab basis, can in no way compensate the hard-earned Andaman Special Allowance and Compensatory Allowance aforesaid. On the one hand the Special Allowance and Compensatory Allowance have been clubbed together and on the other, the allowances granted earlier on percentage basis on basic pay have been changed to slab system which amounts to perpetual loss to the employees and is a sheer injustice. 

 The Seventh Central Pay Commission may kindly like to recommend restoration of Andaman Special Allowance and Compensatory Allowance at the rates as existed prior to 1.1.1986 for the government employees working in Andaman and Nicobar Islands. 

1.2 GRANT OF HOUSE RENT ALLOWANCE AT PAR WITH Y CLASS CITY THROUGHOUT THE ISLANDS. 

The entire union territory of Andaman and Nicobar Islands are treated as Y class city for the purpose of daily allowance to government servants who undertake official tours to various islands. This was sanctioned by the Govt.of India due to high cost of living prevalent in this territory. Recently, the Government of India has announced that Port Blair city will be treated as Y Class city for the purpose of HRA. 

Further, there is a recommendation of the Fifth Central Pay Commission that cities/towns which are tourist centers may be declared as high class cities irrespective of population, in view of high cost of living in tourist centers. The entire Union Territory of Andaman and Nicobar Islands is a tourist center, as such the entire union territory has to be treated as Y Class city. The Association demands that the Seventh Central Pay Commission may consider it and the entire union territory of Andaman and Nicobar Islands may be treated as Y Class city for the purpose of grant of House Rent Allowance considering the exorbitant rent for private residential accommodation prevailing in the entire union territory of A & N Islands.