Definitely! Officer Trainees get a handsome amount per month in hand. And all that they get is like a perk because their basic expenses are taken care by the Department of Personnel and Training, Government of India. They live in a state-of-the-art hostel free of cost. Silverwood hostel in the Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration, Mussoorie can easily give a five-star hotel a run for its money.
Only the mess expenses are deducted from monthly remuneration which is a nominal amount. Apart from that, money for track suits and jersey were deducted in the first month given that it was a one-time expenditure. They paid for it less than ₹ 5,000 for a wholesome closet of fine quality.
Within the Mussoorie campus they have two non-mess eateries: A.N Plaza cafe and Home Turf. These have a varied menu ranging from Momos to chick pea salad. An Officer Trainee (OT) has to pay for the items consumed. They don’t make payment in cash but write out OT codes on receipt and the amount gets deducted from monthly salary. This too cannot be more than 1,000 odd bucks!
When OTs go outside the campus, like treks and village visit, they are paid advances and each group has a treasurer. They pay money on the go to treasurer who ensures to collect proper bills so as to get claims from accounts department. The resultant amount gets deducted from salary at the month end.
So, you see they have considerable sum at their disposal to spend on themselves and save at the same time. One of my close friends have spent most on-air tickets, hotel reservations on international tours. Some of them spend good money on drinks and fine dine non- vegetarian food. While others being a teetotaller and vegetarian made savings there.
In a batch most of the candidates has had prior work experience where they were paid well than in LBSNAA. But they do realise that their basic necessities- food, housing, transportation- are being taken care of in the best possible way and they end up saving almost 90% of their in-hand salary.
I have deliberately not mentioned the figures of their salary. Because money can’t give you what one gets in LBSNAA, Mussoorie and the experience of Bharatdarshan.
Jai Hind!
Gaurav Chaturvedi