Foreign Minister's take on Pay Commission proposal ( courtesy Kuensel ).

The Cabinet spokesperson has confirmed that the government would look into this pay commission package  and make changes where deemed essential within the parameters. Overall the position expressed by the Foreign Minister is encouraging.

I do not wish to comment on pay raises and percentages because whether fair or not, there is an increase. But the cruel joke on mileage makes all else appear a heavy handed top heavy soelrey from Pay Commission.

If national harmony ( gaa kyi ) and equitable welfare ( kidu )  is to have a chance to survive in the long run, it is advisable to limit short changing the masses. Regardless of any pretext, there is no excuse other than harrassment and belittling the contributions of mid level officers in nation building by reducing the mileage rate from NU: 16 to Nu:10 when cost of fuel, maintenance and car price rises every year. I guess those getting Nu: 7 mileage would be happy with the increase to Nu:10. They will still be taking more days to travel because bus would be their mode of transportation.

Foreign Minister and his cabinet colleagues must realise that pool vehicle is limitted and lower rank officers in P level must wait out their turn to avail pool vehicle. This translates to postphoning  field trips thus delay in project monitoring  that leads to project completion delay and sub standard. And worse that results in under performance in annual individual performance rating.  A double edge sword that wounds officers both ways.  And hiring of vehicle  is far more expensive than Nu:16 per Kms. rate unless ofcourse there is a group of officers  travelling to the same destination from the same office ( this is already in practice ).  Local mileage or halting charges must be paid for hired vehicle.

It is not at all proper to demand or expect officers to travel together in one car owned by one of the officers. Such situation leads to I owe you cases and even avoidable intimacy. With today's worldly characters,  even same sex sharing a private car can be a fertile opportunity for sexual harrassment. Further, safety wise, it is not advisable to travel together unless it is a pool vehicle or office hired car driven by a professional driver whose sole duty is to drive the car. 

The mileage paid is point to point ( example Thimphu Lungtenzampa to Paro Town ) and does not cover local usage like driving to Kichu or Drugyel Dzong area or halting charges for the night.  Also in case of accidental damage enroute, the necessary repair is not done at office cost.  There is always an element of the risk factor when performing official duty driving self owned car.

At Nu: 10 per Kms mileage, no one will use self car. Maybe scooter or bike.  It just does not pay to risk driving self car from Thimphu to Paro for Nu: 560 ( a distance of 56 kms.) and no local mileage claim unlike hired vehicle nor halt charges.   When you force officers to travel by bus or taxi for economic reasons, the output too would be minimum from an exhausted and harrassed traveller. Further tour days will naturally increase. For example a person could drive early from Thimphu  and attend a meeting in Paro the whole day and return late in the evening and report  next day to office for duty if pool vehicle or self car is used. But with Nu: 10 mileage, private car will not be used and other transportation will not be so convenient. Thus for one day Paro meeting, 3 days will be foregone.

A Pay Commission comprising of elites who are entitled to duty vehicle with driver has  recommended  Nu: 10,000 per month award to red scarfs and reduced mileage rate by 40% for mid level officers. With such heavy handed elite group determining national policies, DNT formed government would be hard pressed to close any gap. In fact no elected government can serve the interest of the masses when throttled by such elite biased constitutional agencies.

Nevertheless, I hope the Cabinet is able to look into this ludicrous proposal of Pay Commission and other issues with both insight and foresights.  It may not be possible to please every individual with the pay package but most do recognise genuine attempts at fairness. As for red scarfs, there will be money for Nu: 10000 monthly treat. Afterall this is the Bhutanese way " pour water where there is rain " and let small fish wriggle by the wayside.