Govt upgrades 29 cities, towns for higher HRA, transport allowance

• PTI, New Delhi
| 
• Updated: May 30, 2015 17:15 IST

The Union cabinet on Saturday approved upgradation of 29 cities and towns on the basis of 2011 population census for providing higher house and transportation allowance to central government employees.

The revised classification of cities would be effective from April 1, 2014 and cost the exchequer approximately Rs 128 crore for 2014-15.

"The cabinet has approved reclassification/upgradation of certain cities/towns on the basis of Census 2011 for the purpose of granting House Rent Allowance (HRA) and Transport Allowance to central government employees," communications and IT minister Ravi Shankar Prasad told reporters in New Delhi.

One the basis of the census, 2 cities - Pune and Ahmedabad - have been upgraded to 'X' class from 'Y' and 21 cities to 'Y' from 'Z' for the purpose of HRA, an official statement read.

These 21 cities are Nellore, Gurgaon, Bokaro Steel City, Gulbarga, Thrissur, Malappuram, Kannur, Kollam, Ujjain, Vasai-Virar City, Malegaon, Nanded-Waghala, Sangli, Rourkela, Ajmer, Erode, Noida, Firozabad, Jhansi, Siliguri and Durgapur.

That apart, six - Patna, Kochi, Indore, Coimbatore and Ghaziabad - have been advanced to 'Specified Higher Class' from 'Other Places' for the purpose of transport allowance, the statement said.

So far, the Census 2001 has been used for deciding the HRA and transport allowance of central government officials posted in these towns and cities.

The existing qualifying threshold of population for HRA classification is 50 lakh and above for X, 5-50 lakh for Y and below 5 lakh for Z class cities.

Transportation allowance is payable at 'higher rates' in 13 specified cities classified earlier as 'A-1' and 'A' (those with a population of 20 lakh and above) and 'lower rates' for the rest.

The cities and towns are classified as X, Y and Z for the purpose of HRA and 13 specified cities classified as A-1, A and Other Places for transportation allowance.

CPI April 2015 and DA

CPI April 2015 , DA & Date of effect. 

Consumer Price Index Numbers for Industrial Workers - CPI(IW) for April 2015 is 256 points, increased by 2 points compared to March 2015.   DA as on April  2015 is 117.69% Likely DA as on July 2015 is likely to be 118 % or 119%.

This shows once again retail prices are going up even though the inflation level is at negative figure. The vast difference is there between whole sale prices and retail prices.   

Now it is clear that the wages should be calculated taking into the prices as on 1/1/2015, we cannot estimate in real sense the prices as on 1/1/2016.  The prices may increase or stabilize which depends upon rainfall, crop supply, demand supply etc. 

 Technically it is incorrect to project the percentage of price rise as on 1/1/2016. Hence the date of effect of 7^th CPC should be only 1/1/2015 not 1/1/2016.

Bank Employees Wage Revision

CLICK HERE FOR DETAILS 

As per the revised pay scales, a subordinate staff would get a minimum basic pay of Rs.9,560 and a maximum of Rs.23,785; clerical staff from Rs.11,765 to Rs.42,020 and officers Rs.23,700 to Rs.85,000.

According to the notification, the monthly emoluments of a subordinate staff joining the bank would be Rs.15,000, and a newly-appointed graduate clerk would get an initial salary of Rs.20,000. Dearness allowances, house rent allowances, qualification allowances, special allowances etc. would also be revised. A new health coverage scheme is being introduced, by which all the hospitalization expenses of the employees and the family members would be reimbursed, says an official release.

The minimum salary of Class IV employee ranges from Rs.2,200 to Rs.5,500, and for clerical employee from Rs.2,500 to Rs.8,000 per month.

Temporary Status Group 'D' is entitled for OLD Pension Scheme even though appionted after 1.1.2004

CLICK HERE to view the Judgement of High court of Karnataka

Inclusion of Aadhar(Unique Identification) number in Service Book of Government servants

CLICK HERE FOR DOPT ORDER

Rates of refreshments during meetings

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Minutes of Meeting of Staff Side on 7th CPC issues.

RECORD NOTE OF THE MEETING OF DOPT WITH STAFF SIDE NCJCM HELD ON 25th FEBRUARY, 2015

CLICK HERE FOR DETAILS 

Minimum Wage of Rs 26,000/- Justified and Fitment formula

Comrade,

                  The DIRECTORATE OF ECONONMICS & STATISTICS DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE & COOPERATION MINISTRY OF AGRILCULTURE GOVERNMENT OF INDIA NEW DELHI  has published the RETAIL PRICES OF FOOD AND NON FOOD ITEMS VIDE http://rpms.dacnet.nic.in/  PLEASE GO THROUGH THIS IMPORTANT LINK .  which contains district wise price report.

http://rpms.dacnet.nic.in/Bulletin.aspx

You can get any price of any article using the Query option. 

http://rpms.dacnet.nic.in/QueryReport.aspx

 The prices  of many items provided by the Staff side JCM  are lower than the retail prices provided by the Government agency  . Hence the Minimum wage of Rs 20,000/- is  justified for the  erstwhile Group "D" with effect from 1/1/15 using Dr Aykroyd  formula . After weightage of 25% for Group "C" it works out to Rs 26,000/- .

Please click here for Prices of Food items as on 1/1/15

Please click here for Prices of Non Food items as on 1/1/15

Please click  here for Minimum Wage Caluation Sheet 

The fitment formula  may range from 2.72 times to 3.72 depending upon the weightage.  

The Sixth Central Pay Commission has recommended a minimum wage of Rs 6600/- per month   against the demand of Rs 10,000/-  per month as worked out by Staff side of JCM, Today the minimum need based wage works out to Rs 26,000/ per month. 

Comradely yours

(P.S. Prasad)

General Secretary 

Consumer Price Index for Industrial Workers (CPI-IW) – March, 2015

The All-India CPI-IW for March, 2015 increased by 1 point and pegged at 254 (two hundred and fifty four). DA as on March 2015 is 116.68%.