Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru (SP)

Bengaluru, Apr 7: Several states including Maharashtra and Telangana have decided to take a slice of salary of their employees away to compensate for huge loss of revenue caused by steps taken towards coronavirus control. The state government employees in Karnataka too may have to brace up for pruned down salary.

On account of 21-day lockdown all over the state, production has come to a standstill. Commercial activities are not happening and the government revenue has totally stopped. Telangana government has decided to cut 75 percent pay of legislators and ministers, 60 percent of salaries of IAS, IPS and IFS officers, 50 percent in case of other employees and 10 percent in case of D group employees. Fifty percent cut has also been affected in pension payable to retired employees.

In Maharashtra, the government has decided to cut 60 percent of pay of people's representatives and higher officers but other categories of employees have been spared of the cut.

The state government has been doing its best to regulate fast-spreading coronavirus menace. It has been collecting donations from the people to pool funds for coronavirus control. Excise, motor vehicle, and property registration activities are not happening now, and the government is estimated to have lost about Rs 4,000 crore income as a result. The government has faced additional financial burden after deciding to disburse two months advance pension under old age, widow and handicapped categories. It is said that Karnataka government is now checking options to pool resources to make good the loss.