Decision On Pay Panel Report Before Monsoon Session

Cabinet discussion on Navratnas inconclusive

Prime Minister Inder Kumar Gujral has asked the group of ministers studying the 5th pay commission report to take a final view as soon as possible.

Finance minister P Chidambaram, who is a member of the group, has indicated that a final decision on the issue will be taken before the commencement of the next session of Parliament.

The group of ministers yesterday heard a presentation on the report by the empowered committee of government secretaries which had earlier been asked to study it. The matter was also discussed in the cabinet yesterday.

A government spokesman said that the group of ministers are expected to meet again in the next week and take a final decision after two or three such meetings. It took six months for the then government to take a decision on the last pay commission report. I think this government will take much less time, the spokesman said.

The cabinet also discussed a report prepared by the industry ministry on implementing the governments plans for building up nine public sector undertakings into becoming global players.

But the discussion remained inconclusive. A decision on the industry ministrys plans will be taken in the next meeting of the cabinet, officials said.

The Cabinet also approved a proposal to enter into an agreement on international money order service from the United States to India. The bilateral agreement is necessary because India is not a signatory to the Union Postal Union Money Order Agreement. At present, there is no money order service between the two countries. Another proposal for signing an agreement with Sweden on avoidance of double taxation and prevention of evasion of income and capital tax was also passed by the cabinet.

Two projects of the Indian Remote Sensing Agency, worth Rs 248.49 crore and Rs 141.58 crore, respectively, were also approved by the cabinet.

The cabinet approved proposals on pacts with Kazhakistan on bilateral investment promotion and protection and on maritime transport with Romania.

Our Financial Correspondent NEW DELHI

Prime Minister Inder Kumar Gujral has asked the group of ministers studying the 5th pay commission report to take a final view as soon as possible.

Finance minister P Chidambaram, who is a member of the group, has indicated that a final decision on the issue will be taken before the commencement of the next session of Parliament.

The group of ministers yesterday heard a presentation on the report by the empowered committee of government secretaries which had earlier been asked to study it. The matter was also discussed in the cabinet yesterday.

A government spokesman said that the group of ministers are expected to meet again in the next week and take a final decision after two or three such meetings. It took six months for the then government to take a decision on the last pay commission report. I think this government will take much less time, the spokesman said.

The cabinet also discussed a report prepared by the industry ministry on implementing the governments plans for building up nine public sector undertakings into becoming global players.

But the discussion remained inconclusive. A decision on the industry ministrys plans will be taken in the next meeting of the cabinet, officials said.

The Cabinet also approved a proposal to enter into an agreement on international money order service from the United States to India. The bilateral agreement is necessary because India is not a signatory to the Union Postal Union Money Order Agreement. At present, there is no money order service between the two countries. Another proposal for signing an agreement with Sweden on avoidance of double taxation and prevention of evasion of income and capital tax was also passed by the cabinet.

Two projects of the Indian Remote Sensing Agency, worth Rs 248.49 crore and Rs 141.58 crore, respectively, were also approved by the cabinet.

The cabinet approved proposals on pacts with Kazhakistan on bilateral investment promotion and protection and on maritime transport with Romania.