Forces may get further pay hike of 20 per cent

New Delhi, June 24: Alarmed by the exodus of talent from the armed forces, the government is likely to announce a bonanza that would enhance the pay and perks of the men in battle fatigues by 15 to 20 per cent.

It is also expected to create around 4,000 more posts of colonels, brigadiers and generals in the Army and their equivalents in the Navy and Air Force to address the issue of resentment due to stagnation in the forces.

The new pay package for the armed forces is likely to be finalised at a meeting of the three service chiefs and other top officials led by Defence Minister A K Antony with the empowered group of secretaries headed by Cabinet Secretary K M Chandrasekhar on Thursday.

The Ministry has been seeking a raise of 15 per cent to 20 per cent in salaries of the armed forces in view of the dissatisfaction expressed by them over the Sixth Pay Commission recommendations.

The dissatisfaction reportedly triggered an increase in the number of Premature Retirement applications, which has touched the 1,000 mark recently.

Chiefs of Staff Committee Chairman Admiral Sureesh Mehta would make a presentation to the Committee of Secretaries before it is submitted to the Cabinet.

The empowered panel will study the proposal for increase in basic pay across all ranks by 15 to 20 per cent, over and above the hike already suggested by the pay commission.

An enhanced Military Service Pay of Rs 3,000 for Personnel Below Officer Rank instead of the pay commission recommended Rs 1,000 is likely to get a nod, sources said.