NOTES 51 minimum salary for a class IV employee states : "Since a class IV employee at the beginning of his career is not usually expected to be responsible for the maintenance of three adult consumption units including himself, and may not even be married, the Commission recommended a minimum remuneration of Rs 185 per month for a whole-time government employee at the start of his career. At the end of five years' service such an employee will automatically get the need-based wage of Rs 196 per month according to the time scale the Commission has suggested." A close examination of this logic will reveal the absurdity hidden in it. Socio-economic studies reveal that age of marriage is low in families with lower incomes and rises as incomes increase. Nearly all those persons who join IAS are also unmarried in the first year of their service. Similarly, most of the persons who join as LDCs, UDCs, engineers and so on are also unmarried in the initial years of service and it is only after a few years of service that they decide to enter the wedlock. In fact, the poorer sections are handicapped in the sense that they cannot educate their children and are, thus, forced to join lower jobs. To use this argument against the need for upgrading the salaries of the poor sections is, to say the least, downright dishonesty. The Pay Commission is apologetic when it says that since the numbers involved are large in the lower pay scales, the Commission found it difficult to recommend even a basic salary of Rs 196 as the need-based minimum as determined by it. The elitist approach in the recommendations of the Commission is evident from the fact that it recommends increase in the maximum rate of pension from Rs 675 to Rs 1000. It has also raised the ceiling limit of gratuity from Rs 24,000 to 30,000. Both these recommendations are aimed at ensuring, to the Indian elite, a comfortable life even after retirement. Similarly, the Commission has recommended payment of House Rent Allowance at 15 per cent of pay to a maximum of Rs 400 in A, Bi and B2 Class cities. In 'C5 Class cities, this allowance is to be paid at 7i per cent of pay subject to a maximum amount of Rs 200. In other words, the Commission by raising the ceiling to Rs 400 has permitted persons in the top income brackets also to become entitled to House Rent Allowance. The Commission has again raised the upper pay limit for payment of Children's Education Allowance and reimbursement of tuition fee to all employees drawing Rs 1200 per month. In other words, the Commission has in its proposals covered the persons in higher pay ranges. Such an extension of concession in a poor country to better-off sections is not in conformity with the priorities that a society programming for socialism should have. Another example of the elitist approach of the Commission is provided by quietly sanctioning perquisites to the top officials in the army. The Commission states : "While no changes have been recommended in the scales for the Major General, Lt General and General, the Commission-has recommended that the existing concession of recovery of rent for unfurnished accommodation and concessional rates of recovery of