Confederation Odisha State CoC meets 8th CPC in Bhubaneswar on 6th July 2026
Today, I had the rare honour and profound responsibility of appearing before the 8th Central Pay Commission at Bhubaneswar. 🙏 It was not an occasion to seek anything for myself; rather, it was an opportunity to become the voice of lakhs of Central Government employees and pensioners whose dedication silently keeps the wheels of our Nation moving every single day. 🇮🇳
Representing the Confederation of Central Government Employees & Workers (CCGE&W), Odisha State Coordination Committee, 🤝 I wholeheartedly endorsed the charter of demands submitted by the Staff Side of the National Council (JCM) and passionately placed before the Commission several long-pending issues affecting the lives of employees and pensioners.
💰 I emphasized that the existing concept of three Consumption Units has become outdated and no longer reflects the realities of Indian families. The definition of family must include dependent elderly parents by adopting five Consumption Units, leading to a scientific and humane determination of the minimum wage. Accordingly, the minimum wage should be revised to ₹1,15,000 with a fitment factor of 3.833, ensuring that wages reflect present-day economic realities instead of outdated calculations.
📈 I urged the Commission to enhance the annual increment from 3% to 6%, revise House Rent Allowance to 40%, 35% and 30% for X, Y and Z class cities respectively, and accord special importance to Scheduled and Tribal Area Allowance, recognising the unique hardships faced by employees serving in difficult and remote regions.
⏰ One issue very close to my heart was the glaring disparity in working hours. Operative employees continue to work six days a week, amounting to nearly 2,288 hours annually, whereas many administrative employees work five days a week with about 1,989 annual working hours. Equal work deserves equal dignity. Such long-standing disparities deserve correction, and I earnestly appealed to the Commission to recommend appropriate measures.
🎊 Recognising the cultural diversity of India, I also proposed that, except for the three National Holidays, the authority to declare closed holidays should be entrusted to the State Level Central Government Employees Welfare Committees. Such a reform would enable employees in Odisha to celebrate culturally significant festivals like Raja Mahotsav, Nuakhai, Rath Yatra and Dhanu Yatra without sacrificing earned leave, while allowing similar flexibility for employees in other States to observe their own regional festivals.
🏥 Healthcare also figured prominently in my submissions. I requested the Commission to recommend cashless medical treatment for all employees and pensioners and to support the long-pending proposals for establishing CGHS Wellness Centres at Balasore and Puri, in line with the recommendations of the Parliamentary Standing Committee. Access to healthcare should never depend upon geography.
📮 On cadre-related matters, I proposed that the designation Postal Assistant be modernised to Executive Postal Assistant, with corresponding redesignation of promotional posts as Assistant Executive Postmaster, Executive Postmaster, Senior Executive Postmaster and Chief Executive Postmaster, reflecting the evolving responsibilities and professional status of the postal workforce. Simultaneously, I strongly pleaded for delinking regular promotions from financial upgradations under the MACP Scheme, so that career advancement is not denied merely because an employee has received financial relief.
👴👵 On pension, I reiterated the long-standing demand of the National Council (JCM) for the restoration of the Old Pension Scheme in place of the National Pension System and Unified Pension Scheme. I appealed that full pension should be enhanced to 67% of the last pay drawn instead of the present 50%, and family pension should be raised to 50% instead of the existing 30%, ensuring social security and dignity in the evening of life.
📊 I also submitted that India's economic transformation cannot remain confined to statistics alone. Today, India proudly stands as the world's fourth-largest economy, with GDP growing by about 165% since 2014-15 and combined tax revenues increasing by around 205%. The fruits of this remarkable growth must also reach those who have dedicated their lives to building this Nation through honest public service. Economic progress becomes meaningful only when its benefits are shared with those who create and sustain it. 🇮🇳
🌹 My heartfelt congratulations to Com. Rabindranath Dhal, State General Secretary of the All India Postal & RMS Pensioners' Association, Odisha, who effectively represented the concerns of pensioners with clarity and conviction. I also extend my sincere appreciation to all associations, federations and organisations that participated in today's interaction. Though our banners may differ, our cause remains one—justice, dignity and social security for every employee and pensioner.
🤝 A very special note of gratitude to Com. Gadadhar Rath, representative of the All India Accounts Officers' Association and my esteemed former colleague. Despite procedural limitations, his sincere intervention enabled me to meet the Commission for a second time and present the Confederation's views more comprehensively. Such gestures of comradeship strengthen the very spirit of the trade union movement.
🙏 I convey my deepest gratitude to every office bearer, leader and member of the Odisha State Coordination Committee for the trust and confidence reposed in me. Whatever appreciation comes my way truly belongs to every one of you. I was merely the messenger; the voice belonged to our collective movement.
🌟 Finally, I bow with respect before the Hon'ble Chairman, esteemed Members, Officers and the entire Secretariat of the 8th Central Pay Commission for their patience, courtesy and willingness to hear every stakeholder with an open mind. Democratic consultation is the foundation of progressive governance, and today's interaction strengthened our faith in that process.
Whether the recommendations are accepted fully or partially is a matter for the future. But history records not only outcomes—it also records who stood up, who spoke with courage and who refused to remain silent.
Today, Odisha did not merely attend a consultation.
🟢 Odisha spoke.
🟢 Odisha reasoned.
🟢 Odisha demanded justice.
🟢 Odisha carried the aspirations of employees and pensioners with dignity. ✊🇮🇳
The struggle for fair wages, equitable service conditions, quality healthcare, meaningful career progression and dignified pension is not over. It is a continuous journey. We owe it to the generations before us, and we owe it to those who will join public service after us.
🤝 Let us remain united.
💪 Let us remain committed.
🕊️ Let us continue our democratic struggle with courage, conviction and compassion until justice is achieved.
✊ Unity is our strength. Justice is our destination. The movement continues. 🇮🇳
In solidarity,
Bruhaspati Samal
General Secretary
Confederation of Central Government Employees & Workers
Odisha State Coordination Committee
#8thCentralPayCommission #8thCPC #CCGEW #JCM #CentralGovernmentEmployees #Pensioners #PayCommission #MinimumWage #FitmentFactor #OldPensionScheme #OPS #UPS #NPS #MACP #CGHS #PostalEmployees #TradeUnion #WorkersUnity #EmployeesRights #SocialJustice #DignifiedPension #Odisha #Bhubaneswar #India #UnityInDiversity #JusticeForEmployees #PublicService #Solidarity #JaiHind 🇮🇳
0 Comments