Chandrayaan Mission Brings the Spotlight Back on Pay Cuts at ISRO

Incentives introduced in 1996 were stopped by ISRO in July this year.

The recent fervour over the Chandrayaan-2 mission has brought the spotlight back on the men and women at the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) — and their pay cuts.

According to an office memorandum from 12 June, incentives given to scientists and engineers belonging to four different grades have be discontinued from 1 July this year. This includes thousands of employees who were part of the Chandrayaan mission.

"Consequent to implementation of 6th Central Pay Commission recommendation and introduction of Performance Related Incentive Scheme (PRIS) up to 40 percent of basic pay for scientific and technical personnel in Department of Space (DoS), Ministry of Finance, Department of Expenditure has advised DoS to discontinue the incentive granted in the form of two additional increments to scientists/engineers - SD, SE, SF and SG grade personnel," read the office memorandum.

What Does it Mean?

The incentive in question was introduced in 1998, based on a 1996 Supreme Court order. As per the order, for different category of scientists, these incentives ranging from pre-revised pay scales of Rs 10,000 -15,200, Rs 12,000 -16,500, Rs 14,300 -18,300 and Rs 16,400 -20,000 were introduced.

The SC order also said that these increments will be considered part of the scientist’s pay.

Now, the July 2019 order says that since the salaries of these scientists were revised as per the 6th central pay commission and because of a performance-based incentive system is already (up to 40% of basic salary) in place, this 1996 increment will be discontinued.

This would essentially mean that scientists belonging to these categories will get a pay cut.

Employees Seek Reversal

In a letter dated 8 July, to ISRO chairperson K Sivan, the Space Engineers Association (SEA) president A Maniraman had asked Sivan to pressurise the government to reverse the decision.

In his letter, he argued that even though the pay revisal under the 6th pay commission was reason cited by for reversal of this increment, the pay commission itself had recommended to continue these 1996 increments.

He also argued that the performance-based incentive introduced recently can’t be compared with 1996 incentives, as the latter was part of the pay as per the Supreme Court.

Adding that these increments were motivating factors for the scientists and for getting fresh young talent to ISRO, Maniraman had sought Sivan’s intervention in the matter.