7th Pay Commission: Panel for gratuity, fully-funded one-year course for SSC

New Delhi: Seeking to infuse more young blood into the armed forces via the Short Service Commission, the 7th Pay Commission today recommended that they be paid gratuity and entitled to a fully-funded one-year course at a premier institute of higher learning. The Commission has also recommended the maximum risk and hardship allowance to the Army personnel posted at Siachen, the world’s highest battlefield.[caption id=“attachment_2470264” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  Pay hike for defence personnel. PTI[/caption] In a bid to incentivise the Short Service Commission (SSC), the Pay Commission recommended that officers be allowed to exit the Armed Forces at any point in time between seven and 10 years of service, with a terminal gratuity equivalent of 10.5 months of reckonable emoluments. “They will further be entitled to a fully-funded one-year Executive Programme or a MTech programme at a premier institute,” the recommendation said. Defence sources said even though the SSC was brought in to attract younger blood, it has not achieved the desired level. “Our aim was to have about 1 general officer against 4.1 SSC officer but it is almost the other way around. The recommendation will incentivise those wanting to join the SSC since they will get over gratuity, something which will be like a one time pension. “Moreover, they can easily undertake a higher course at the government expenditure to acquire any other skill that will help them in their civilian life,” a source said. Talking about the Siachen allowance, the Pay Commission proposed Rs 31,500 as allowance to officers from the present Rs 21,000 and Rs 21,000 to JCOs and other ranks from the current 14,000. The Commission also recommended a revised formulation for lateral entry/resettlement of defence forces personnel which keeps in view the specific requirements of organisation to which such personnel will be absorbed. For lateral entry into central paramilitary forces, an attractive severance package has been recommended. The Commission also said that the Military Service Pay, which is a compensation for the various aspects of military service, will be admissible to the defence forces personnel only. “As before, Military Service Pay will be payable to all ranks up to and inclusive of brigadiers and their equivalents,” it said. While at present, service officers get Rs 6,000 as MSP, the proposed is Rs 15,500. Similarly, while nursing officers get Rs 4,200 as MSP, the Commission has proposed Rs 10,800. While for JCO/OR, it is Rs 2000, the recommended is Rs 5,200. PTI