MOHALI: The Joint Action Committee of Vets for pay parity with Medicos in an emergency meeting held here today urged the Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Maan to immediately restore the pay parity of Veterinary Officers with Medical Officers, which was in place for over four decades and disturbed by previous Congress government on 4th January, 2021.
It's pertinent to mention that starting basic pay of Veterinary Officers had been reduced from Rupees 56, 100/- to Rs 47, 600/-.
Punjab govt had decided to implement scales as per 7th central pay commission to Punjab govt employees ignoring the 6th Punjab pay commission recommendations. While the Veterinary Officers in Govt of India and other central organizations had been granted entry scale of Rs 56, 100/- as per recommendation of 7th CPC, Punjab govt had given scale of Rs 47, 600/- to Veterinary Officers. This has caused great heart burn and frustration amongst the cadre of Veterinary Officers.
The Convenor of JAC , Dr Gurcharan Singh said that the Punjab govt should address the long pending demand of pay parity along with 4-9-14 step up dynamic assured career progression scheme, provide HRA by including NPA in basic pay and full pay to Vets during probation period otherwise JAC will be forced to resume the agitation., which had been suspended following concrete assurance of government to concede their genuine demands.
Prominent among others present in the meeting were Co-conveners Dr Puneet Malhotra, Dr Abdul Mazid, Dr Harmandeep Singh Dr Gurdeep Singh and Dr Dilmanpreet Singh, besides State Media incharge Dr Gurinder Singh Walia.