Bangalore, Nov 1 (IANS) The Karnataka government Tuesday announced interim relief amounting to 12.5 percent of basic pay to its over five lakh employees as a ‘Rajyotsava (state formation day)’ gift.

‘I am pleased to announce an interim relief of 12.5 percent of basic pay with effect from Nov 1 to state government employees, including those working in local bodies, grant-in-aid educational institutions and non-teaching staff of universities,’ Chief Minister D.V. Sadananda Gowda told reporters here.

Similar interim relief will also be given to pensioners and family pensioners.

The interim relief is part of the Sixth Pay Commission pay-scales the state government is yet to implement as the official committee set up to revise the salaries has not submitted its report so far.

According to an official, around 1.7 lakh government posts have been vacant over the past decade, as no fresh recruitments were made after those serving retired over the years.

Karnataka Tuesday celebrated 56th year of its formation in 1955 as the erstwhile Mysore state.