Karnataka: New pension scheme for govt medical faculty

BENGALURU: In a shot in the arm for thousands of Covid-19 warriors, the state has approved a new

pension scheme

for permanent teaching and non-teaching staff working in government medical and dental colleges and hospitals attached to these colleges.


Medical education minister K Sudhakar said 5,949 teaching and non-teaching staff — both AICTE and non-AICET — working in 27 medical, dental colleges, teaching hospitals and super-speciality hospitals, will befit from the scheme. It would entail an additional burden of Rs 77 crore every year on the state exchequer, Sudhakar said.

“Although the government is under financial stress due to the pandemic-induced economic slowdown, it decided to roll out a pension scheme as it was a long-pending demand and also considering the selfless services of doctors and staff of medical colleges in the fight against Covid-19,” Sudhakar said.

The scheme will come into force with immediate effect and is applicable to all permanent employees who have been appointed after April 1, 2006, he said. Under the scheme, an employee will contribute 10% basic salary and dearness allowance and the government will contribute 14% towards pension funds.

The Karnataka Government Autonomous Medical Colleges Employees Welfare Association welcomed the decision, but said it would have covered more doctors and staff if the scheme was applicable from the date of joining. “We welcome and thank the government for fulfilling our long pending demand despite the economic constraints owing to Covid-19,” said Dr A A Nadaf, president of the association.

He said the association will submit a memorandum soon with a request to make the scheme applicable from the date of joining duty, as it will help more doctors and staff. In April, the government had hiked salaries of teaching staff of medical and dental colleges as per recommendations of the Seventh Pay Commission. The hike ranged from Rs 5,000 to Rs 20,000 on basic salaries.

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