Zee Media Bureau
New Delhi: The Union Cabinet in June this year cleared the recommendations of the 7th Pay Commission headed by AK Mathur in respect of the hike in basic pay and pension.
However, the decision on 7th Pay Commission suggestions relating to allowances has been referred to a Committee headed by the Finance Secretary which is yet to submit its final report.
One good thing that has come out for Central government staff acquiring higher qualification is that the 7th CPC has recommended enhanced incentives for them.
In the clause 8.9.12, the Commission report says that it “appreciates the need to encourage acquiring of higher qualifications. At the same time, it is important that the knowledge so acquired is directly relevant to the scope of the employee’s occupation. Hence, the following lump-sum rates of Higher Qualification Incentive are recommended for courses done in fields that are directly relevant to an employee’s job
Here are the points that the 7th CPC observed as well as recommended for Translators-cum-Interpreters (Foreign Languages).
7.7.66 There are posts of Translators-cum-Interpreters (Foreign Languages) in the ministries of Defence, External Affairs, Communication, Science and Technology and Cabinet Secretariat etc.
7.7.67 The cadre of Interpreters of Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), in their demand, has pointed out that no cadre review has taken place for their cadre in the last 38 years.
7.7.68 The cadre of Russian translators in Integrated Headquarters of MOD (Navy) has contended that they have the same entry level qualification and nature of duties as translators of other languages in the same office, but are placed in a lower pay scale.
Analysis and Recommendations
7.7.69 In so far as the case of Interpreters in MEA is concerned, the Commission is of the view that cadre review is an administrative issue and should be dealt with at the level of MEA only.
7.7.70 Regarding the case of Russian translators in the Ministry of Defence, the Commission studied the job profiles and educational qualifications required for Russian translators, vis-à-vis their Chinese, Sinhalese and Pushto counterparts.
The Commission finds merit in their demand for upgrade and accordingly recommends that Russian Translation Officers should be upgraded from the existing GP 4600 to GP 5400 (PB-3). Similarly, Russian Senior Translation officers should be upgraded from existing GP 5400 (PB-3) to GP 6600 and Russian Editors from existing GP 6600 to GP 7600.
