Fifth Pay Commission

It reminds us of the political shenanigans during the implementation of the Fifth pay Commission. | Barring P. Chidambaram, who was then the finance minister, every single political party and politician opposed the implementation of the recommendations and are directly responsible for the current fiscal crises in the Centre and the states. | How many times have you heard experts, politicians and the finance minister refer to the implementation of the pay hikes following the commission's report as the singular cause for the increase in government expenditure? | Here was a commission whose members worked very hard, did exemplary research and homework, before coming up with a list of recommendations that balanced economic efficiency with safety nets for disadvantaged labour. | They argue that it is this, which has led to bankruptcy in many states.