MOST IMPORTANT & URGENT
DECEMBER 15th PARLIAMENT MARCH
NO CHANGE
PROGRAMME WILL BE CONDUCTED
ON DECEMBER 15th ITSELF
IT IS REPORTED THAT SOMEBODY IS SPREADING FALSE NEWS IN SOCIAL MEDIA THAT THE DECEMBER 15TH PARLIAMENT MARCH IS POSTPONED.
THIS IS TOTALLY FALSE NEWS.
THERE IS NO CHANGE IN THE DATE OF THE PARLIAMENT MARCH.
IT WILL BE HELD ON DECEMBER 15TH ITSELF
DO NOT BELIEVE SUCH FALSE NEWS
M.KRISHNAN
SECRETARY GENERAL
CONFEDERATION
RECORD NOTE OF THE DISCUSSION ON DOPT-SPECIFIC ALLOWANCES, HELD WITH THE STAFF-SIDE, NATIONAL COUNCIL (JCM) AT 3.00 P.M. ON 25.10.2016 UNDER THE CHAIRMANSHIP OF SECRETARY (P).
RECORD NOTE OF THE DISCUSSION ON DOPT-SPECIFIC ALLOWANCES, HELD WITH THE STAFF-SIDE, NATIONAL COUNCIL (JCM) AT 3.00 P.M. ON 25.10.2016 UNDER THE CHAIRMANSHIP OF SECRETARY (P).
A discussion on the DoPT-specific allowances with the Staff-Side National Council (JCM) was held at 3.00 p.m. on 25.10.2016 under the Chairmanship of Secretary(Personnel) in Room NO.119, North Block, Delhi in compliance with the direction contained in the minutes of the 2nd meeting of the Committee on Allowances held on 01.09.2016 that every Ministry/Department should firm up its views/comments on allowances relating to the Ministry/Department after holding discussion with their Staff Associations.
2. List of participants is at Annexure.
3. At the outset JS(JCA) welcomed all the members of the Staff side of the National Council of JCM to the discussion on department specific allowances. JS(JCA) informed that in the second meeting of the Committee on Allowances it was decided that all the department specific allowances will be discussed with the JCM. After a brief introduction it was decided to discuss the following department specific allowances on which has received the comments for Staff-Side.
Children Education Allowance (CEA)
The Staff-Side has stated that the benefit of Children’s Education Allowance should be extended to the Graduate and Post Graduate levels also. They have informed that the private institutions are charging exorbitantly. So, subject to a ceiling on tuition fees and hostel fees, the CEA should be extended to the Graduates and Post Graduates level. Staff-Side has informed that they had also represented to the Pay Commission for simplifying the procedure wherein they had suggested that reimbursement should be based on the bonafide certificates from the schools where the children are studying. This suggestion has been accepted by the Pay Commission and the Staff-Side has requested that it should be implemented.
On the issue of DOPT’s circular on e-receipt, Secretary, DoPT clarified that this circular had been issued before the government accepted the 7th pay Commission recommendation.
(Action: JS(Estt.)
Night Duty Allowance (NDA)
Staff-Side has pointed out that the Night Duty Allowance (NDA) is still being paid at the 4th CPC rate. Even though there is a Board Of Arbitration award in favour of employees that from 01.01.1996 it should be given in the 5th CPC pay scale, the government did not accept the arbitration award and even today employees are getting it at the same rate as it was prevalent during the 4th CPC period. In the Ministry Of Defencc a lot of litigation had taken place and the matter went up to the Supreme Court. Hon’ble Supreme Court directed that it should be paid on the basis of the actual pay drawn and that NDA should be revised w.e.f. 01.04.2016 at the 6th CPC pay scale which has been implemented by the government. However, the audit authorities came up with an objection that there is a ceiling for it which has been objected to by the Staff-Side.
Apart from that, the 7th pay Commission has recommended that it should be worked out with the actual pay of the employee being are criterion. However, in spite of that, except for the Ministries of Defence and Railways, employees working in other Ministries/Departments are getting it at 4th CPC rate. Thus, the absence of uniformity on this allowance across Ministries/ Departments is Very glaring which, according to the Staff-Side, is a principal source of litigation and will continue to remain so. Therefore, the Staff-Side has suggested that an early revision of the without ceiling, and on the basis of the actual basic pay, and extending it to whoever is asked to do night duty will go a long way in reducing litigations in the future.
(Action: JS(Estt.)
Over Time Allowance (OTA)
Staff-Side has pointed out that there are two types of over time duty. One is covered under the Factories Act, 1948, and the other is for the office staff. In the first case, since it is a statutory obligation, the pay Commission has not recommended anything on it. But for those Central Government employees who are not covered under the statutory provisions of the Factories Act, OTA is paid at a single rate of Rs.15.85/- Only and, that too, fot the first hour immediately after the scheduled office Closing time, it is Nil. In case of OTA there is also an arbitration award from 01.01.1996 that it should be at par with the 5th CPC pay scale. However, neither it has been implemented not have the rates been revised.
The Staff-Side has stated that if an employee is asked to word after office hours, the rate of OTA Should be as per 7th CPC Pay Scale. Staff-Side is of the opinion that overall means working after office hours, and asking an employee to work beyond office hours automatically entitles him/her to this allowance. The Over Time rates should also be above the normal level. It was pointed out by them that as per 7th CPC. an is paid @ Rs.75/hour; whereas overtime allowance is @ Rs.15.85/- only. Even an outsider employed on casual basis is being paid hourly wages which are more than OTA. The Staff-Side is strongly of the view that if government is deploying a person on overtime work then he has to be paid at least according to the rate of salary which he is getting.
(Action: JS(Estt.)
Cash Handling Allowance (CHA)
Staff-Side has informed that the 7th CPC recommendation on its abolition is based on the fact that in most of the offices today salary disbursement is not made in cash. It is credited to the individual bank accounts. But cash transactions do take place in certain offices like the Post Offices where cash handouts are made under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act. PLI is also another example. Therefore, if it is stopped all of a sudden, no person will show interest in working as cashiers and take the additional responsibility of handling huge amounts of cash. Therefore, the Staff-Side has contended that till all cash transactions are ehminated, CHA should continue.
It was also pointed out by them that this allowance depends on the amount of cash transaction; when the volume of cash transaction comes down, the allowance also proportionately come down.
(Action: JS(Estt.)
Uniform related allowances subsumed in a single Dress Allowance (including shoes)
Staff-Side has informed that the 7th Pay Commission has recommended that Persons Below Officers Rank (PBOR) should be given Dress Allowance @ Rs.10,000/- per month. There are 5 Ordnance Factories under Ministry of Defence where persons are exclusively deployed to produce special high altitude dresses for the combat forces of the army. 12000 employees are working in these 5 factories. Therefore, if a uniform rate like this is maintained, it will have an adverse impact on the quality of these high altitude uniforms and will thus jeopardise the safety of the army men and the nation as a whole. Staff-Side is stated to have already made a request to M/o Defence not to implement this recommendation. Army has also taken a stand that this will result in substandard or sub quality material So this recommendation on the Dress allowance for PBOR should not be implemented.
As far as Civilian employees are concerned, it has been stated that the 7th CPC has recommended four slabs of Dress Allowances for various categories. One of the categories is called ‘others’. Whereas, in the Department of Posts there are about 75,000 postmen and Multi Tasking Staff wearing uniform. There is no mention about these postmen and multi tasking staff in any of the categories shown by the Pay Commission. If it is presumed that they come under ‘Others’, then they will be getting Rs.5,000 Whereas at present they are getting around Rs.7,000 plus washing allowance. As such a separate category should be there for postmen and MTS also and the allowance should be Rs.10,000/-.
It has also been pointed out that there are many categories like canteen employees, security staff, chowkidars which have not been mentioned and who are eligible for uniform or uniform allowances. It has to be clarified whether these categories will be covered under ‘others’. Staff-Side has stated that whosoever is getting Dress Allowance as on today should continue to get that. Staff-Side has also informed that the recommendations on Dress Allowance have created a lot of discrimination among staff working in similar circumstances.
Staff-Side has also drawn attention to the Dress Allowance with respect to the Nursing Staff. It has been stated that earlier also Nursing Staff were not given normal washing allowance or dress allowance considering the importance or the peculiar conditions prevailing in hospitals. Now they have also been bracketed in the general category. They were getting Rs.750 as Uniform Allowance and Rs.450 as Washing Allowance per month. Now there is no separate category that has been given to them. For them a different dispensation was made taking into account their special requirements because they work in such an environment where their uniforms require regular washing entailing a substantial expenditure. As these have not been accounted for in the 7th CPC, the nursing staff should have a special dispensation, as is strongly felt by the Staff-Side.
JS (JCA) has requested Staff-Side to submit a note on the justification or break-up of the amount of Rs.32,400(maximum) as suggested by them and the Staff-Side has agreed to provide the same.
Secretary, DOPT summed up the demands of the Staff-Side by observing that those who were getting Dress Allowances, their allowances should not come down. And the categories of the employees which had special dispensation in the past and have not been mentioned this time or have been clubbed together with other categories need clarification.
(Action: JS(JCA)/Staff Side)
Risk-Allowance
The Staff-Side has informed That Ministry of Defence is engaged in arms and ammunitions manufacturing etc. In the process of manufacturing them, the staff engaged for this purpose, have to handle hazardous chemicals, acids and so many Other poisonous combinations. Cabinet has approved 45 risk operations pertaining to Defence civilian employees. Apart from that, because of the technological developments taking place fast and as the requirement of the armed forces is increasing for getting modern equipments, ammunitions and explosives, new risk operations have also come into existence of which Ministry of Defence is aware and have recommended also accordingly. In spite of this, the existing Risk Allowance has been abolished by the Pay Commission. It has been pointed out by the Staff-Side that it has not been subsumed under the risk and hardship matrix. Rather it comes in the abolition list. In no matrix are the risk operations of Defcnce civilians are covered. Staff-Side has informed that they have discussed this with Defence Secretary and Defence Ministry is going to recommend in favour of its inclusion in one Of the matrix.
In response to the query of Secretary, DOPT as whether the activities which have been considered to be risky have all been identified, Staff-Side has clarified that it has been identified by a high level committee and approved by the Cabinet, 45 risk operations have been identified and approved. But within a period of 2 decades, lot of new ammunitions and new explosives have come in the arsenal, alongwith a lot of hazardous chemicals and acids. So, M/o Defence has again appointed a committee and they have identified that all these ate additional risk operations over and above the 45 identified, where Defencc Civilian employees are actively involved. But the Pay Commission has abolished Risk Allowance. So this has to be incorporated in onc of the risk matrix.
(Action: JS(Estt.)
Other Items
Staff-Side has pointed out that in the 7th CPC report it has been stated that any allowance not mentioned and hence not reported to the Commission shall cease to exist immediately. They have requested that this recommendation should be rejected. On the contrary, the administrative Ministries should come forward and recommend for their abolition or retention.
Staff-Side has also stated that 7th CPC has abolished all advances completely. Noting that we regularly celebrate a number of festivals like Diwali, Holi, Eid and keeping the general sentiment in mind, they are of the view that advances are very necessary. Moreover, these advances are required to be paid back to the government.
On Family Planning Allowance, the Staff-Side has stated that since the Government has not changed its Family Planning policy, the allowance should be continued, At least in the case of those people who were getting it they should continue to get as they have fulfilled all conditions when the allowance were granted. Otherwise be drop in their emoluments.
The Staff –Side also demanded that the 7th CPC had not revised the rate of Fixed Medical Allowance for pensioners. Therefore, the Fixed Medical Allowance for pensioners may be revised ro Rs.2000/- from existing Rs.500/-
MINISTER’S REPLY IN RAJYA SABHA ON GOVERNMENT COMMITTEE FOR CONSIDERATION OF ISSUES OF 7th
PAY COMMISSION RECOMMENDATIONS
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF FINANCE
RAJYA SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO-713
ANSWERED ON-22.11.2016
GOVERNMENT COMMITTEE FOR CONSIDERATION OF ISSUES OF 7th CPC RECOMMENDATIONS
713 . Shri Neeraj Shekhar
(a) whether Group of Ministers including Union Minister for Finance had assured the representatives of various trade unions/JCM to set up a Committee to consider the demand of revision of Minimum Wage and Fitment Formula under 7th CPC with a mandate to finalize its report within four months;
(b) if so, the present status of the Committee;
(c) the reasons for the delay in report by the said Committee even after elapsing of more than four months;
(d) whether the Committee on Allowances has finalized its report;
(e) if so, the details thereof along with the salient recommendations thereof; and
(f) if not, the reasons therefore?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF FINANCE (SHRI ARJUN RAM MEGHWAL)
(a) to (c): In pursuance of the assurance given by the Union Ministers to the representatives of the National Council (Staff Side), Joint Consultative Machinery, meetings have been held by a group of senior officers with them to discuss their demands in this regard.
(d) to (f): The Committee on Allowances has been interacting with various stake-holders to discuss their demands and has so far held discussions with National Council (Staff Side), Joint Consultative Machinery, representatives from staff associations and officials from Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Ministry of Home Affairs and Department of Posts. The Committee may also interact with the representatives of some other major Ministries/Departments and stakeholders with whom consultations are yet to be held before finalizing its Report.
PAY PARITY BETWEEN MILITARY AND CIVILIAN PERSONNEL
The 7th Central Pay Commission (CPC), an expert body constituted by the Government, gave its recommendations on emolument structure of government employees, including personnel belonging to Defence Forces, after due consultation with various stakeholders and thorough examination of various aspects involved. The Commission recommended separate Pay Matrix for Defence Forces after considering:
(i) principles and philosophy adopted in devising the Pay Matrix for civilian employees; and
(ii)some of the aspects in the rank structure unique to Defence Forces.
The Government accepted the Commission’s recommendations on Minimum Pay, Fitment Factor, Index of Rationalization, Pay Matrices and general recommendations on pay with certain exceptions in Defence Pay Matrix, namely,
(i)revision of Index of Rationalization of Level 13A (Brigadier) from 2.57 to 2.67; and
(ii)addition of three stages in Level 12A (Lt Colonel), three stages in Level 13 (Colonel), and
two stages in Level 13A (Brigadier).
As and when issues regarding anomalies in the pay of defence personnel are brought to notice, the same are examined by the Government, on case to case basis.
This information was given by Minister of State for Defence Dr. Subhash Bhamre in a written reply to Shri Sultan Ahmed and others in Lok Sabha today.
Source: PIB News
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MEAGER FINANCIAL BENEFIT OF 14% IN 7TH CPC - PARLIAMENT Q & A
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF FINANCE
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO: 1755
ANSWERED ON: 25.11.2016
Meager Benefits of 7th CPC
PINAKI MISRA
Will the Minister of
FINANCE be pleased to state:-
(a) whether the Government employees got only a meager financial benefit of 14 per cent or less after implementation of 7th CPC;
(b) if so, the details of percentage of salary they got before and after implementation of Seventh CPC and the reasons for such meager hike in their salaries; and
(c) whether the benefit given in the 7th CPC is one of the lowest in all time ever since the Government had been implementing the recommendations of CPC and if so, the details thereof?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF FINANCE
(SHRI ARJUN RAM MEGHWAL)
(a) to (c): All Government employees have got a financial benefit of at least 14.29 per cent by way of revision of salary after implementation of Seventh Central Pay Commission (7th CPC). The increase in pay as recommended by the 7th CPC is based on the detailed deliberations by the Commission keeping in view all relevant factors having a bearing upon the prevailing circumstances, which has been accepted by the Government.
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REPLY IN LOK SABHA REGARDING CREAMY LAYER ISSUE
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF PERSONNEL, PUBLIC GRIEVANCES AND PENSIONS
(DEPARTMENT OF PERSONNEL & TRAINING)
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 139
(TO BE ANSWERED ON 16.11.2016)
CREAMY LAYER
139. SHRI GANESH SINGH:
Will the PRIME MINISTER be pleased to state:
(a) whether the previous Government had set aside the report of first creamy layer expert committee and the Department of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions issued an official memorandum No. 36033/5/2004- Est. (SCT) dated 14 October, 2004 clarifying the creamy layer and which carries out two different meanings in its Hindi and English versions and if so, the details thereof;
(b) whether the Government has accepted the mistakes of the said memorandum and if so, the action taken to cancel the said memorandum and the action taken against the officials found responsible therefore;
(c) if not, the reaction of the Government in this regard;
(d) whether the Government has disqualified many candidates of the OBC for IAS and other services despite qualifying the Civil Services Examination, 2015 as a result of the said memorandum and if so, the details in this regard; and
(e) the number of OBC candidates declared disqualified for IAS and other services on the basis of this memorandum from 2004 till date?
ANSWER
Minister of State in the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions and Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office. (DR. JITENDRA SINGH)
(a) to (c): The DOPT Office Memorandum (O.M.) No. 36033/5/2004-Estt(SCT) dated 14 October, 2004 is only a clarification explaining the provisions of DOPT O.M. No. 36012/22/93-Estt.(SCT) dated 8.9.1993. The O.M. of 8.9.1993 was issued by the DOPT based on the recommendations of an Expert Committee constituted by the then Ministry of Welfare.
The earlier unsigned typed copy of the English version of the O.M. dated 14.10.2004, uploaded on the website of this Department, had certain discrepancies in respect of Paragraph 9 vis-a vis its Hindi version uploaded on the Department’s website. It was, therefore, felt necessary to rectify that discrepancy. Subsequently, the signed version of the O.M. was traced and uploaded on the Department’s website and now it is seen that there is no error in Paragraph 9 of the English version of the O.M. dated 14.10.2004 vis-a vis the Hindi version.
(d) & (e): In case of recommendation of name of a candidate by UPSC for service allocation, the candidate is considered for allocation to one of those services by the Government for which he has indicated his preference as per Civil Services Examination Rules and extant instruction on the subject.
WITHDRAWAL OF CASH FROM BANK DEPOSIT ACCOUNTS RBI RELAXED WITHDRAWAL CONDITIONS
GRANT OF NIGHT DUTY ALLOWANCE (NDA) TO ASO, SHRRI CHANDRA PRAKASH GUPTA (DOP&T LETTER NO. 16/2/2016-JCA-I DATED 22ND NOVEMBER-2016)
