Scientists, teachers to get more incentives

The Sixth Pay Commission has recommended that emoluments should not be a constraint as far as hiring talented scientists...

The Sixth Pay Commission has recommended that emoluments should not be a constraint as far as hiring talented scientists are concerned. Accordingly, it has told the Government that scientists of merit can be recruited on a renewable contract of three to five years and offered market-driven salaries. At the time of renewal of contract, the option of joining the Government as a permanent employee in the regular pay band should be kept open to them, it suggested.

However, the panel recommended the continuation of time-bound promotions for R038;D professionals in all S038;T organisations but proposed to limit such promotions for staff carrying a pay of Rs 9000 or lower. In the case of departments of Space, Atomic Energy and DRDO, this can be extended to staff having a grade pay of upto Rs 11000. It has also recommended a Performance Related Incentive Scheme and variable increments for scientists working in all ministries/departments/organisations.

Meanwhile, the Commission has taken a conscious decision to upgrade the pay scales of teachers, especially those teaching at the primary level. For example, the emoluments of a Grade-III Primary School Teacher PST and Trained Graduate Teacher TGT has been raised from Rs 4,500-7,000 to Rs 8,700-34,800 along with a grade pay of Rs 4,200 and Rs 4,600 respectively. While the pay scale of Grade II Post Graduate Teachers currently Rs 6500-10500 is similar to PSTs and TGTs, their grade pay has been fixed at Rs 4,800. However, it has not suggested any change in the Residency period for promotion. The incentives for teachers also include the recommendation to grant half pay leave.

For medical staff, it has recommended merging the pay scales of Junior Resident Doctors Rs 9000 fixed or Rs 9000-9550 and Senior Resident Doctors Rs10,325-10,975. The panel has placed both these posts at a scale of Rs 8,000-13,500 corresponding to the revised pay band PB-3 of Rs15,600-39,100 carrying a pay of Rs 5,400 for Junior Resident Doctors and Rs 6,100 for Senior Resident Doctors.