Nagpur: Maharashtra government has around 14 lakh employees all across the state that includes government and semi government employees. The total monthly salary of these employees is approximately Rs 7,500 crores including pension.
Post demonitisation ,all these employees, through their association the Maharashtra State Government Employees Confederation have demanded their salary in cash. In advance for the months of November and December. They want travel allowance in advance and in cash too.
In a letter to the Maharashtra Chief Minister Fadnavis, the confederation has also asked for the travel allowance in advance in cash for the Nagpur winter session. The winter session of the Maharashtra Legislature is slated to start on December 6. Most government employees have to travel between Mumbai and Nagpur for the duration of the session which can last up to 3-4 weeks.
“Though the decision of demonetisation is good, it has resulted in cash crunch. The state government employees going for Nagpur session are likely to bear the brunt, so to avoid any inconvenience the travel allowance should be paid in cash. Also, the salary for the month of November and December should be paid in cash. It will help mobilise cash in the market and help boost the present economic situation” reads the letter.
Subhash Gangurde, General Secretary of the Maharashtra State Government Employees Central Confederaion said, “Employees will be in Nagpur for the winter session and their families will be here back home. (In Mumbai).How will they manage their daily expenses? Even the employees in Nagpur will have no time to go out and withdraw money. How will they concentrate on their work?”
“This decision in a way will also help the government in easing out the present situation. If salaries are paid in cash, it would make a huge sum of cash available in the market and mobilise the economy” added Gangurde.
Last week the Union finance ministry had announced that the central government employees in non-gazetted category will get an advance ‘part-salary’ amounting to Rs 10,000 in cash by November 23.
Sources in the state government told India Today that the State Finance Department too had proposed a similar advance to Grade 3 and 4 employees. The state had then proposed an advance on the same lines upto 3,000-4,000. But citing unavailability of cash chest to store such huge amount, the proposal was shot down by the Chief Secretary.
It is to be seen how this demand is dealt with.
