Now, Maharashtra govt says no pay cut, salary to be disbursed in two instalments

Earlier in the day, Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar had said the salary of legislators, including the CM, will be slashed by 60 per cent. Hours after announcing cut in salaries of all elected representatives, including the Chief Minister and Deputy Chief Minister and all ministers, Maharashtra government has withdrawn it. Instead, the government will be disbursing the March salary in two installments, according to the official notification. The salaries of all elected representatives, including the Chief Minister, Deputy Chief Minister and all ministers, will be deferred. For the month of March, 40% of the total salary, including to the representatives in civic bodies, will be given.

State government employees belonging to grade A and B will receive 50% salary, while Class C employees will get 75% of their remuneration. There will be no pay cut for Class D employees and no cuts in pension amount have been announced. This is applicable for the salaries of March and April 2020. This decision has been taken after discussing with representatives of government employee unions, Deputy CM and state Finance Minister Ajit Pawar said. He also announced to extend the appointments on temporary posts till May 31, 2020. Mr. Pawar said that the decision was taken considering the grim financial condition of the State as well as to give moral and financial support to the fight against coronavirus. Earlier, Mr. Pawar had said, the salary of all elected representatives, including those in civic bodies, will be down by 60%. It was added that Government employees belonging to Class I and II will recieve 50% salary cut, while Class III employees will have to do away with 25% of their remuneration. There would be no pay cut for Class IV employees.

Mr. Pawar on Monday had written to Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman demanding a special package worth Rs 25,000 crore for Maharashtra to tackle hardships arising due to the spread of coronavirus. He had also demanded Rs 16,654 crore dues coming from the centre to Maharashtra. “The three weeks long lockdown has brought industry, trade and service sector to standstill. Ideally, the last month of the financial year adds sizeable amount of money to the state treasury but the crisis due to 'corona' and lockdown has completely stopped state's income. It has dragged state in to major economic crisis," said the letter. Meanwhile, State’s Housing Minister Jirendra Awhad on Tuesday announced to donate his salary of entire year to the relief work related to corona.