Report of the Committee : Risk Allowance 7th Pay Commission
Risk Allowance (Para 8.10.42, 8.10.80)
Existing Provisions: Risk Allowance is presently given to employees engaged in hazardous duties or whose work will have deleterious effect on health over a period of time. Risk Allowance is also paid to Sweepers and Safaiwalas engaged in cleaning of underground drains, sewer lines as well as to the employees working in trenching grounds and infectiousdiseases hospitals. The extant rate is ₹60 per month.
Reasons mentioned by 7th CPC for recommending abolition: The allowance has meagre rates. With the rise in pay, this allowance is no longer required.
Demands:
I. National Council (Staff Side), JCM: Defence Civilian employees are involved in manufacturing and repairing of Arms, ammunition and they have to deal with various chemicals. Therefore, it was requested to consider continuance of the Risk Allowance. It was also demanded that coverage of the allowance may be extended to additional categories and left out organizations.
II. Department of Atomic Energy: Risk Allowance in the appropriate Risk and Hardship Matrix for employees working in various units of the Department should be granted to them as they are exposed to high level of nuclear radiation, highly hazardous gases etc.
III. Ministry of Railways: This allowance is granted to those employees in the Indian Railways who are engaged in hazardous duties or where there is risk of adverse effect on health. This allowance is also granted to employees engaged in spray painting, chrome plating, fumes, safaiwalas engaged in underground drains / sewers, malaria
khalasis. Therefore, this allowance should not be abolished and categories of employees drawing Risk Allowance be given Risk Allowance as per R3H3 of Risk and Hardship Matrix.
IV. Ministry of Defence: This allowance as per appropriate Risk & Hardship Matrix to 45 identified risky operations in Defence Establishments should continue as it was approved by Cabinet after 8 – 10 years of deliberations.
Analysis and Recommendations of the Committee:
The Committee notes that the allowance has been recommended for abolition only on the ground that the rates are meagre. However, the element of risk has not been denied by the 7th CPC.
While the Committee observes that there is an urgent need to enhance the safety features and working environment through appropriate interventions in respect of these hazardous activities to minimize the risks, the risks cannot be eliminated. Discontinuation of Risk Allowance will appear to be harsh in view of the existing risks. The Committee, therefore, recommends that this allowance should be retained and multiplied by a factor of 2.25. The enhanced rate will be ₹135 per month. This will benefit approximately 7000 employees. The additional annual financial implication is estimated to be ₹ 1 crore.
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