Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot, cabinet and MLAs defer 75% of their March salaries

JAIPUR: Chief minister Ashok Gehlot deferred payment of 75% of his gross March salary to himself along with deputy CM, cabinet ministers and all MLAs. The decision was taken at a cabinet meeting held at the CM's residence on Tuesday. The move has taken due to the shortfall in the expected revenue of Rs 17,000 crore for the month of March.
Similarly, 60% and 50% of the gross salary of Indian Administrative Service (IAS) and Rajasthan Administrative Service (RAS) officers, respectively, has been deferred by the government.Other than Grade IV employees, 30% of the salaries of all other government employees will be deferred for some time.
The 30% deduction will be applicable also to pensioners. Health workers, policemen and contractual employees have been exmpted from this deduction.
The state had gone under lockdown even before the Centre announced a countrywide shutdown.
The revenue of most of the departments has gone down following the move. In a major relief to disadvantage groups, Gehlot has decided to give a financial assistance of Rs 1,500 to BPL families, beneficiaries of state BPL and Antayodya Yojna, 25 lakh construction workers and registered street vendors who are not covered under the social security pension scheme. The total cost of the financial payout will be Rs 500 crore.