The Federation has submitted its demand to Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, Finance Minister Kanubhai Desai, Chief Secretary Manoj Kumar Das, and Additional Chief Secretary, Finance Department, T. Natarajan. 

Employees' Demand

Federation President Satish Patel told The Secretariat, “Employees often enter government service with limited incomes, and Class-III employees in particular have to spend their initial years in fixed-pay service.” By the time their careers and salaries progress, family responsibilities also increase, he said.

Employee unions across the country have reportedly placed similar demands before the 8th Central Pay Commission (CPC) for various allowances. These include Children Education Allowance, Hostel Subsidy, and extension of education-related benefits to postgraduate and professional courses. 

Employees often enter government service with limited incomes, and Class-III employees in particular have to spend their initial years in fixed-pay service

– Satish Patel, President, Gujarat Employees’ Federation

The demands also call for new advances suited to current economic conditions and restoration of advances that were discontinued earlier.

There is currently no specific provision for an Education Loan Allowance under the 8th Pay Commission.

Pressure On Family Budget

The Gujarat Employees’ Federation has sought the Education Loan Advance (ELA) scheme on the lines of the existing House Building Advance (HBA) and Motor Car Advance (MCA), under which government employees can obtain financial assistance from the government and repay it through salary deductions.

It pointed out that courses such as MBBS, engineering, pharmacy, and nursing have become expensive and place a substantial financial burden on middle-class families. 

According to Patel, when employees’ children complete Class 12 and enter higher education, many parents are already in their mid-40s. At that age, several employees are already servicing home loans and paying EMIs. Having to arrange a large amount for higher education at the same time can therefore put considerable pressure on the family budget.

Another difficulty, the Federation said, is access to conventional education loans. 

Banks may require collateral security or immovable property, while many employees do not have additional property available. Those who already own a house may have an ongoing home loan against it, making it difficult to use the same property as security for another education loan.

Affordable Repayment

Federation General Secretary Bharat Chaudhary said a key demand is that, like HBA and MCA, the ELA amount should be recovered from the employee’s salary in affordable monthly instalments. The government should provide an advance for higher education while repayment can be done through salary deductions. 

The organisation has also sought coverage of higher and professional courses, tuition fees and other eligible educational expenses, with the interest rate, maximum amount, and the repayment period to be determined by employees’ financial capacity.