New Delhi (NVI): The Centre is not going to deduct allowances of its government employees, the Fact Check Unit of Press Information Bureau (PIB) clarified today in response to a media report speculating that Government was planning such a move in response to the coronavirus crisis.
PIB, through its special Fact Check Twitter handle informed that no such planning is being done by the government after a Hindi newspaper published a report regarding the deduction of allowances of Central government employees.
“Claim: Hindustan newspaper has reported that in view of Covid-19, Central Government Employees will have to face deduction in facilities like LTC/Leave encashment/OTA/Medical.
#PIBFactCheck: There is no such proposal by the government. The media report is wrong and baseless,” the tweet read.
दावा : हिन्दुस्तान अखबार ने रिपोर्ट किया है कि #Covid_19 के मद्देनज़र केंद्र सरकार के कर्मचारियों को एलटीसी/लीव एनकैशमेंट/ ओटीए/ मेडिकल जैसी सुविधाओं में कटौती का सामना करना पड़ेगा#PIBFactCheck:सरकार द्वारा ऐसा कोई प्रस्ताव नहीं है। मीडिया रिपोर्ट गलत और निराधार है। (1/2) pic.twitter.com/cEhM59Javq
— PIB Fact Check (@PIBFactCheck) April 27, 2020
On April 23, the Union Finance Ministry had announced the freezing of Dearness Allowance (DA) to Central Government employees and Dearness Relief (DR) to Central Government pensioners at current rates till July 2021, in the wake of the economic crisis arising in the country due to Covid-19 pandemic.
Apart from that, the Government has not indicated any other deduction in allowances of Central Government employees.
In another fact check, PIB busted a rumor that was making rounds on Facebook that blamed ICMR for allegedly buying COVID19 testing kits at a significantly inflated price when cheaper options were available.
दावा: फेसबुक पोस्ट का दावा है #Coronavirus परीक्षण किट आईसीएमआर द्वारा बढ़े हुए मूल्य पर खरीदे गए#PIBFactcheck: परीक्षण किट के लिए (RT-PCR) 740-1150 रू और रैपिड टेस्ट किट (528-795 रू) का मूल्य निर्धारित किया है।
आईसीएमआर ने इससे सस्ती किट वाली किसी भी कंपनी को आमंत्रित किया है। pic.twitter.com/RyPnly1bM0— PIB Fact Check (@PIBFactCheck) April 27, 2020
In this regard, ICMR has also clarified that it has fixed-rate brackets for the kits and is open to any company that can provide the kits at a still cheaper rate.
The PIB tweeted that the test kits like (RT-PCR) are being bought at Rs 740 to Rs 1,150 whereas Rapid test kits bought at Rs 528 to Rs 795. ICMR has also invited companies providing test kits at a cheaper price.
