Allowances committee submits its report to FM Arun Jaitley

The wait for a hike in allowances including the House Rent Allowance (HRA) and Dearness Allowance (DA) for government employees and pensioners may soon come to an end. The Ashok Lavasa-led Committee on allowances on April 27 submitted its report that will impact around 47 lakh government employees to Finance Minister Arun Jaitley today. The report submitted to the Finance Ministry is a part of the 7th Pay Commission report.

Constituted in June 2016, the Ashok Lavasa Committee was formed after the government implemented the recommendations of the 7th Pay Commission report.

Soon after submitting the final report to Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, Ashok Lavasa said the committee has taken into account representations made by various central government employees and other stakeholders.

The report further stated that the committee panel had also recommended abolition of including allowances like acting, assisting cashier, cycle, condiment, flying squad, haircutting, raj basha, rajdhani, robe, shoe, shorthand, soap, spectacle, uniform, vigilance and washing.
Soon after submitting the report to Jaitley, Finance Secretary Ashok Lavasa said that the committee has submitted it final draft on the basis of various representations made by the stakeholders. The report will first be analysed by the empowered committee of secretaries and then it will be placed before the cabinet, he added.