M A I N   N E W S

Cash-strapped Punjab yet to pay salaries to over 3 lakh employees
Rich party, poor govt: 2 days before SAD-BJP conclave in Goa, govt in a spot over funds
Sanjeev Singh Bariana
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, April 6
As the ruling SAD-BJP leaders fly for a two-day brainstorming session in balmy Goa beginning April 8, in what is being seen as a free junket worth crores of rupees, there is a sense of financial betrayal among Punjab Government employees awaiting their salaries for the previous month of March.

The Vichar Manthan, in the presence of 150 representatives from both sides of the ruling combine in the five-star luxury environment, promises to churn out a host of solutions for Punjab’s financial woes. But back home, the prickly financial realities have the employees on edge.

According to official figures, Punjab has 3,15,969 employees on its rolls. The average expenditure per month on the salaries is more than Rs 1,265 crore. The government’s monthly expenditure on pension of nearly three lakh employees is over Rs 471 crore.

“Ministers are not spending on their Goa trip from government funds. However, the whole exercise of planning a visit to an exotic locale shows the casual attitude of the ministers who are ignoring the needs of its employees while taking care of their pleasure trip,” said Karnail Singh Saini, president of Gazetted and Non-Gazetted Employees Organisation. “The government is forcing us to strike work and stage protests from Monday in case we don’t get our monthly wages,” he warned.

Some delay in payment of salaries in April is expected, it being the time for budget finalisation. But sources point out that the state government was not in the pink of financial health, as was evident from frequent delays in the release of salaries of its employees — the key and most visible expenditure.

The employees got their salaries for earlier month after nearly a week and after four days in October last. The state government remained in a tight spot for the most part of the previous fiscal.

Principal Secretary, Finance DP Reddy said, “There has been a slight delay in payment of salaries. However, employees will get their salaries soon, maybe by Tuesday. There are certain financial matters which need to be cleared before entering accounts of the new financial year”.

A senior officer said, “The government, particularly senior ministers, need to sit down and carefully examine government expenditure vis-a-vis its earning before making big announcements and even fund allocations at nearly all functions they participate in.”

State’s average salary bill is Rs 1,265 crore

• Punjab has 3,15,969 employees on its rolls and the average expenditure per month on salaries is Rs 1,265 crore
• The government’s monthly expenditure on pension of nearly three lakh employees is over Rs 471 crore
• Delay in disbursal of salaries in April, govt sources say, is not unusual because of certain mandatory financial clearances
• Last October, there was a delay of 4 days in salary disbursal

‘Expect it by Tuesday’

There has been a slight delay in payment of salaries. However, employees will get their salaries soon, maybe by Tuesday. There are certain financial matters which need to be cleared

DP Reddy, principal secretary, finance