7th pay commission: Central government employees wait for big pay announcement

7th pay commission: Centre has recently taken a few decisions showing its pro-people stand ahead of assembly polls in a few states this year, and the next year's general elections. These segments of society have had their demands fulfilled and the BJP says it has met the promises it had made. However, some 50 lakh central employees and almost a similar number of pensioners are yet to hear the piece of news that would assuage their feelings hit hard in the wake of the implementation of the 7th pay commission recommendations. These employees are awaiting the government response over their demands related to hike in minimum basic pay and fitment factor beyond the recommendations of the 7th CPC. 
 
Although the government had earlier denied any pay hike beyond the recommendation of the 7th Pay Commission, assurances by Union ministers including Finance Minister Arun Jaitley to look into the matter has still kept the hopes of these employees alive. But with each passing day and the government heading towards completing the 5-year tenure without their demands being cleared has disappointed employees. There are reasons galore as several state governments including J&K, Tripura and Madhya Pradesh, have already taken steps to give their employees benefits as per the 7th CPC. 
 
Earlier, Union MoS for Finance P Radhakrishnan, however, had said that at present the government has no plans to increase the minimum salary beyond the seventh pay commission recommendations. But with the elections round-the-corner, hope has been rekindled among the central employees about sops coming their way. The Union HRD ministry's decision to extend salary benefits for teaching and non-teaching staff and postal department employees getting a pay hike are some of the reasons boosting hope. 
 
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Keeping all this in mind, it is being mentioned that the government may pick a national holiday to make the big announcement. However, that has not been confirmed as yet. Further, speculation also has it that the Centre may raise retirement age of the central government employees to placate them ahead of the general elections.