The Rediff Special

Bee in the Bonus

And sure enough; railway workers began demanding that they be paid bonus as well. The finance minister once again protested angrily. He argued that first, if chairmen and managing directors of companies were being paid bonus, there was no reason why IAS and IPS officers should also not be paid.

Moreover, it wasn't possible to pay India's entire work force bonus because it made dubious claims of increasing productivity. It was then decided that about 90,000 workers who have crossed the interim DA limit should be paid.

But what was the rationale for paying all 90,000? Chidambaram suggested that instead of a productivity-linked bonus, workers be paid a safety-linked bonus -- that is, those drivers who had an exemplary safety record be rewarded. This would ensure the bonus was a one-time payment; and it was for services actually rendered.

Even as Chidambaram was speaking, principal secretary to the prime minister, T R Sathishchandran, made a suggestion: Why not allow an ad hoc bonus just for this year?

By now it was 3 pm, ministers were anxious to leave and Chidambaram had already held the floor for 30 minutes. The decision was that 'C' and 'D' group workers alone be paid bonus.

The finance minister shrugged. He said the Pay Commission would take care of all these problems -- it would come down on all these bonus payments with such a heavy hand that nobody would ask for anything.

So when telecom employees went on strike to get their pound of flesh, the Cabinet assembled once again in a gloomy silence.

The strike went on for ten days, interrupted by the prime minister's visit to the north-east. The finance ministry prepared an elaborate note to give to the prime minister to read during his trip, explaining the financial implications of bonus. At the Cabinet meeting which was held after his return, it seemed that there was to be no end to paying bonus. Postal workers began their strike.

Courtesy: Sunday magazine