IAF ground staff refuse pay

CHANDIGARH, November 29: Indian Air Force ground duty officers have refused to accept their salaries as a sign of protest against the quot...

CHANDIGARH, November 29: Indian Air Force ground duty officers have refused to accept their salaries as a sign of protest against the quot;unfair and unbalancedquot; recommendations of the Fifth Pay Commission.

Sources said that about 200 ground duty officers at the local IAF bases here 12 Wing and No 3 Base Repair Depot refused pay. The protest extended to ground duty officers in other places in the country also, it was learnt. A senior officer at Chandigarh, however, refused to deny or confirm the incident.

Sources add that several officers are sending representations to Air Force Headquarters to express their grievances. There are reports of some officers in other bases having submitted their resignations.

It is not known how the defence authorities will react to this collective move, which could even invite penal action under military law. However, ground duty officers on conditions of anonymity stated that they would continue to discharge their normal duties. One of them said: quot;Since we remain loyal to our jobs, why should there be anything against any of us?quot;

While the pay panel has substantially enhanced the allowances of Flying Branch personnel, ground duty officers do not figure anywhere as far as increase in allowances is concerned. This has created considerable inconsistencies in the pay scales of officers having the same rank.

Ground duty officers include administration and security staff, engineers, logistics personnel, air traffic controllers as well as radar operators and communications experts.

As per the recommendations of the Fifth Pay Commission, the qualification pay for engineers has been enhanced from Rs 375 per month to Rs 750 per month. The categorisation pay of Air Traffic Controllers and radar operators has been hiked from Rs 70 per month to Rs.140 per month from Rs 100 per month to Rs 200 per month, depending on their category. Apart from regular salary and perks, other ground duty branches get no allowances.On the other hand, the flying pay of pilots has been increased from Rs 1,200 per month to Rs 11,000 for test pilots, Rs 9,000 for fighter pilots and Rs 7,000 for transport pilots.

Story continues below this ad

quot;While there has been a 800 per cent hike in the allowances of pilots, we have got nothing,quot; commented a ground duty officer.