COC/Karnataka /2010-13
To
The Secretary General
Confederation of Central Government Employees
And Workers, New Delhi
Comrade,
With reference to your SMS regarding Meeting with Health Secretary on 3rd March 2010 the following points need to be taken up
a) Regarding CGHS contribution earlier the contribution was collected on the Pay + DP, now the contribution system has been changed to Grade Pay after 6th CPC w.e.f 1.6.2009 earlier payment CGHS contribution was in the range of Rs 15 to Rs 100 for Group D to Group B, now its Rs 50 to Rs 325 for this has resulted in manifold increase payment of CGHS contribution by 300%, Regarding CGHS Contributions the earlier person with Rs 6000 as Basic pay in pay scale of Rs 5000 –8000 was paying Rs 70, now after 6th CPC from 1.6.2009 he is requested to pay Rs 225 as CGHS contribution. Hence it is 300 % increase in CGHS contribution In case of an LDC he used to pay Rs 40 now he is required to pay Rs 125 in all cases the CGHS contribution has increased by 300%. Compared to net salary increase of 40%. Hence drastic reduction needs to done in CGHS contribution’s.
b) Entitlement of wards in Hospitals under CGHS ward entitlement is based on pay drawn and the Officers are also paying Rs 325 as CGHS contribution’s they are entitled for private and semi private ward now, where as Group B persons even after paying the same CGHS contribution’s of Rs 225 and Rs 325 per month are entitled only for general ward based on pay drawn.
Hence the entitlement of wards in Hospitals under CGHS ward entitlement are to be based on Grade Pay ie Grade pay of Rs 4200 and above should be entitled for Semi –Private ward and for Grade pay of Rs 4600 and above should be entitled for Private ward. It is requested to take up this issue.
c) The formulations of medicines which are used in CGHS dispensary is very old and out dated, new types of medicines are available which are more effective, generally the medicines used are all most nearing expiry date as such its effectiveness to cure the patient is less compared to market medicines , therefore lot of changes should to made in procurement of medicines, and many medicines are also not available in the clinic which may take two to three days for procurement as such the patient should purchase on his own. Therefore procurement of medicines needs to be streamlined.
d) The CGHS recognized hospitals in Bangalore are only established in only one part of the city nearly 80 % of the city there is no hospital more hospitals are to be recognized nearly 50 more CGHS hospitals are required in Bangalore,
e) The Rates fixed for CGHS hospitals require revision, presently the patient needs to pay the difference of package amount and Hospital rates, The system should be built such that the CGHS should directly settle the bill with hospitals so that patient need not pay the amount and claim from respective offices which is taking lot of time to get back the spent amount just like pensioners, the claim should be directly between CGHS and Hospital, departments should not be involved
Comradely yours
(P.S.Prasad)
General Secretary
Saturday, February 27, 2010
Friday, February 26, 2010
Press statement on Budget
PRESS STATEMENT
26th February, 2010
The Budget presented by the Finance Minister, Shri Pranab Mukherjee today is totally disappointing in so far as common people and especially the workers are concerned. The Finance Minister has allowed tax concessions to the extent of Rs. 26,000 crores under Direct taxes and decided to garner additional revenue of Rs. 46500 crores from indirect taxes including service taxes. The share of Service taxes is to the tune of Rs. 3000 crores. He has proposed to raise the excise duty by 2% across the board. Most of the concessions in the indirect taxes come in the form of customs duty on imports.
The increase in the revenue resources from indirect taxation has been made on the specious plea that the global economic recession has turned the corner and the Indian economy is poised for 8% growth. For sustaining the growth in the economy, the common has to be burdened further and the rich to be spared of taxation, seems to be the ideology of the Finance Minister. Due to the unprecedented rise in prices of essential commodities especially food items, the common man is made to bear the brunt and nothing has been proposed by the Finance Minister to help him out. Due to the proposed increase in the excise duty on petroleum products and rolling back the concession offered earlier as part of the stimulus package, there would be further increase in the prices of all essential commodities injecting further inflation.
In the case of salaried tax payers, the Finance Minister has not thought it necessary to increase the non taxable maximum, whereas he has offered concession in the rate structure of those tax payers who are in higher income bracket of Rs. 3 lakhs and above. While those in the income bracket of Rs. 3 lakhs and 8 lakhs would be enjoying a lesser tax burden, even the unskilled workers would be drawn into the ambit of income tax liability for the minimum taxation limit has been pegged down to what it was in 2009-10 For no valid reason, the standard deduction available to the salaried tax payers was withdrawn in 2005. The repeated pleas made by the workers year after year have gone into the deaf ears of the Finance Minister. The deduction was not restored whereas such deduction continue to be made available to other category of tax payers.
In the situation in which the workers are placed presently, there is no alternative to organizing united and militant struggles to force the Government to withdraw taxation proposals that inflicts unbearable burden on people at the lower strata of the society.
K.K.N. Kutty
Secretary General.
26th February, 2010
The Budget presented by the Finance Minister, Shri Pranab Mukherjee today is totally disappointing in so far as common people and especially the workers are concerned. The Finance Minister has allowed tax concessions to the extent of Rs. 26,000 crores under Direct taxes and decided to garner additional revenue of Rs. 46500 crores from indirect taxes including service taxes. The share of Service taxes is to the tune of Rs. 3000 crores. He has proposed to raise the excise duty by 2% across the board. Most of the concessions in the indirect taxes come in the form of customs duty on imports.
The increase in the revenue resources from indirect taxation has been made on the specious plea that the global economic recession has turned the corner and the Indian economy is poised for 8% growth. For sustaining the growth in the economy, the common has to be burdened further and the rich to be spared of taxation, seems to be the ideology of the Finance Minister. Due to the unprecedented rise in prices of essential commodities especially food items, the common man is made to bear the brunt and nothing has been proposed by the Finance Minister to help him out. Due to the proposed increase in the excise duty on petroleum products and rolling back the concession offered earlier as part of the stimulus package, there would be further increase in the prices of all essential commodities injecting further inflation.
In the case of salaried tax payers, the Finance Minister has not thought it necessary to increase the non taxable maximum, whereas he has offered concession in the rate structure of those tax payers who are in higher income bracket of Rs. 3 lakhs and above. While those in the income bracket of Rs. 3 lakhs and 8 lakhs would be enjoying a lesser tax burden, even the unskilled workers would be drawn into the ambit of income tax liability for the minimum taxation limit has been pegged down to what it was in 2009-10 For no valid reason, the standard deduction available to the salaried tax payers was withdrawn in 2005. The repeated pleas made by the workers year after year have gone into the deaf ears of the Finance Minister. The deduction was not restored whereas such deduction continue to be made available to other category of tax payers.
In the situation in which the workers are placed presently, there is no alternative to organizing united and militant struggles to force the Government to withdraw taxation proposals that inflicts unbearable burden on people at the lower strata of the society.
K.K.N. Kutty
Secretary General.
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
10th March program
Dear Comrades
Karnataka COC appeals to all Units to observe 10th March 2010 program in respective units /Offices as per Confederation circular in true sprit the text of circular is published as under
With greetings,
Yours fraternally,
P.S.Prasad
General Secretary
Dear Comrades,
The last National Sectt. Meeting inter alia discussed the possibility of a joint action programme with the AISGEF and AIDEF in the event of the Government introducing the PFRDA Bill and the new direct taxes code in the Budget session of the Parliament. While the AISGEF was to take a decision in the matter in their all India Conference which was scheduled to be held in the first week of February at Hyderabad, the AIDEF had promised us to discuss the issue in their organizational fora and revert back to us. So far we have not received any communication from the AIDEF. The All India Conference of the AISGEF had to be postponed due to the ongoing agitation in Andhra Pradesh. Hence, no finality could be reached on the proposal for organizing a day's strike somewhere in March, 2010.
The Budget session is likely to commence on 22nd Feb.2010. The National Secretariat had discussed of the necessity of organizing a demonstrative programme in the first week of the Parliament session. It was decided that Lunch recess programme should be organized in front of all offices eliciting the participation of all the employees in the respective office on a pre determined date. Taking into account the requirement of sufficient time to organize the programme, we call upon the affiliates and State Committees to ensure that the lunch hour demonstration is organized in front of all offices on 10th March, 2010 to oppose the introduction of the new Direct Taxes code and the reintroduction of the PFRDA Bill and to oppose the phenomenal increase in the prices of all essential commodities an offshoot the neo linberal economic policies of the Govt. of India. The life of common people especially the wage earners has been made miserable. The following telegram/Savingram may be sent to the Hon'ble Finance Minister, Shri Pranab Kumar Mukherji, (at North Block, Central Sectt. New Delhi.)
Reintroduce the statutory defined benefit pension scheme for all CGEmployees recruited after .1.1.2004 by withdrawing the PFRDA Bill and amend the direct taxes code as demanded in the memorandum submitted by the Confederation of CGE and Workers .Strengthen the Public distribution system by making all workers and all essential commodities within its ambit.
Enclosed herewith is a copy of the letter sent by the Confederation to the Hon'ble Finance Minister in response to the draft proposal placed on the website by the government.
With greetings,
Yours fraternally,
K.K.N. Kuty
Secretary General.
Karnataka COC appeals to all Units to observe 10th March 2010 program in respective units /Offices as per Confederation circular in true sprit the text of circular is published as under
With greetings,
Yours fraternally,
P.S.Prasad
General Secretary
Dear Comrades,
The last National Sectt. Meeting inter alia discussed the possibility of a joint action programme with the AISGEF and AIDEF in the event of the Government introducing the PFRDA Bill and the new direct taxes code in the Budget session of the Parliament. While the AISGEF was to take a decision in the matter in their all India Conference which was scheduled to be held in the first week of February at Hyderabad, the AIDEF had promised us to discuss the issue in their organizational fora and revert back to us. So far we have not received any communication from the AIDEF. The All India Conference of the AISGEF had to be postponed due to the ongoing agitation in Andhra Pradesh. Hence, no finality could be reached on the proposal for organizing a day's strike somewhere in March, 2010.
The Budget session is likely to commence on 22nd Feb.2010. The National Secretariat had discussed of the necessity of organizing a demonstrative programme in the first week of the Parliament session. It was decided that Lunch recess programme should be organized in front of all offices eliciting the participation of all the employees in the respective office on a pre determined date. Taking into account the requirement of sufficient time to organize the programme, we call upon the affiliates and State Committees to ensure that the lunch hour demonstration is organized in front of all offices on 10th March, 2010 to oppose the introduction of the new Direct Taxes code and the reintroduction of the PFRDA Bill and to oppose the phenomenal increase in the prices of all essential commodities an offshoot the neo linberal economic policies of the Govt. of India. The life of common people especially the wage earners has been made miserable. The following telegram/Savingram may be sent to the Hon'ble Finance Minister, Shri Pranab Kumar Mukherji, (at North Block, Central Sectt. New Delhi.)
Reintroduce the statutory defined benefit pension scheme for all CGEmployees recruited after .1.1.2004 by withdrawing the PFRDA Bill and amend the direct taxes code as demanded in the memorandum submitted by the Confederation of CGE and Workers .Strengthen the Public distribution system by making all workers and all essential commodities within its ambit.
Enclosed herewith is a copy of the letter sent by the Confederation to the Hon'ble Finance Minister in response to the draft proposal placed on the website by the government.
With greetings,
Yours fraternally,
K.K.N. Kuty
Secretary General.
Thursday, February 4, 2010
Food price index up again, will govt step in?
The food price index rose 17.56 percent in the 12 months to Jan. 23, strengthening the case for more government steps to tame rising prices in the budget, while the fuel price index was up 5.88 percent, the government said on Thursday.
The annual wholesale inflation picked up to 7.31 percent in December 2009, compared with 4.78 percent in November.
Vegetables dearer by 13%
Prices of some essential items remained firm with vegetables dearer by 13.02 percent and fruits by 6.54 percent during the 52-week period. However, prices of onions fell 10.5 percent.
The limited data on the wholesale index released by the commerce and industry ministry further showed that while the index for primary articles fell 14.56 percent, that for fuels rose 5.88 percent.
India's overall inflation rate, based on the wholesale prices index, had risen sharply to 7.31 percent in December from 4.78 percent the previous month mainly on account of higher food prices.
The price rise of some essential food items over the 52-week period:
- Potatoes: 44.91 percent
- Pulses: 44.43 percent
- Cereals: 13.37 percent
- Rice: 10.96 percent
- Milk: 13.95 percent
- Wheat: 15.96 percent
- Vegetables: 13.02 percent
- Fruits: 6.54 percent
Source: Reuters, IANS
The annual wholesale inflation picked up to 7.31 percent in December 2009, compared with 4.78 percent in November.
Vegetables dearer by 13%
Prices of some essential items remained firm with vegetables dearer by 13.02 percent and fruits by 6.54 percent during the 52-week period. However, prices of onions fell 10.5 percent.
The limited data on the wholesale index released by the commerce and industry ministry further showed that while the index for primary articles fell 14.56 percent, that for fuels rose 5.88 percent.
India's overall inflation rate, based on the wholesale prices index, had risen sharply to 7.31 percent in December from 4.78 percent the previous month mainly on account of higher food prices.
The price rise of some essential food items over the 52-week period:
- Potatoes: 44.91 percent
- Pulses: 44.43 percent
- Cereals: 13.37 percent
- Rice: 10.96 percent
- Milk: 13.95 percent
- Wheat: 15.96 percent
- Vegetables: 13.02 percent
- Fruits: 6.54 percent
Source: Reuters, IANS
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
Demand Survey on Health Insurance Scheme.
Ministry of Health and Family Welfare released a document for taking Demand Survey on Health Insurance Scheme.
Now the Ministry of Health is undertaking a survey to ascertain as to how many of the existing employees and existing Pensioners are willing to switch over from the present CGHS or Medical Reimbursement system to Health Insurance Scheme
Funnily the Scheme which is said to be optional is not optional for the existing employees as the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare notification prescribes. By making it compulsory for all future pensioners, all the existing serving employees as on date are compulsorily brought under the Health Insurance Scheme. This is contrary to the prescription that it is only voluntary for the existing employees and existing pensioners!!
There will be no more CGHS and no more Reimbursement Schemes in future - The whole idea is completely close down CGHS bit by bit though in one stroke this may not be done.
While making it voluntary for the existing employees and pensioners may be understood, making it compulsory to all existing employees as and when they retire is unethicl. The option exercised by the existing employees to remain in CGHS should be accepted even after their retirement tomorrow unless they themselves opt voluntarily at the time of retirement. But this is not the case.
Confederation of CG Employees will discuss the issue before taking a final decision.
However there is a trend among our employees that the Health Insurance Scheme may be better while contemplating the situation arising out of denial of referral to good private hospitals when the CGHS beneficiaries desire to take treatment there while the same facility is freely available to high officers!!
The survey is intended by the Government to facilitate fair assessment for determining the probable premimum etc.
The premimum speculated by the Ministry of Health is around 80000 to 120000 per year. While it speaks about considerable extent will be borne by the Government, it do not say about the probable amount to be paid by the employees! Any way we do not know as to whether it will be to the level of the present CGHS subscription only or more!!
We do not know as what would be the future after implementing such a Health Insurance Scheme - whether in future the whole burden would befall on the heads of employees and pensioners totally? Unless these details are made transparant, there are always danger in accepting this Scheme.
Now the Ministry of Health is undertaking a survey to ascertain as to how many of the existing employees and existing Pensioners are willing to switch over from the present CGHS or Medical Reimbursement system to Health Insurance Scheme
Funnily the Scheme which is said to be optional is not optional for the existing employees as the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare notification prescribes. By making it compulsory for all future pensioners, all the existing serving employees as on date are compulsorily brought under the Health Insurance Scheme. This is contrary to the prescription that it is only voluntary for the existing employees and existing pensioners!!
There will be no more CGHS and no more Reimbursement Schemes in future - The whole idea is completely close down CGHS bit by bit though in one stroke this may not be done.
While making it voluntary for the existing employees and pensioners may be understood, making it compulsory to all existing employees as and when they retire is unethicl. The option exercised by the existing employees to remain in CGHS should be accepted even after their retirement tomorrow unless they themselves opt voluntarily at the time of retirement. But this is not the case.
Confederation of CG Employees will discuss the issue before taking a final decision.
However there is a trend among our employees that the Health Insurance Scheme may be better while contemplating the situation arising out of denial of referral to good private hospitals when the CGHS beneficiaries desire to take treatment there while the same facility is freely available to high officers!!
The survey is intended by the Government to facilitate fair assessment for determining the probable premimum etc.
The premimum speculated by the Ministry of Health is around 80000 to 120000 per year. While it speaks about considerable extent will be borne by the Government, it do not say about the probable amount to be paid by the employees! Any way we do not know as to whether it will be to the level of the present CGHS subscription only or more!!
We do not know as what would be the future after implementing such a Health Insurance Scheme - whether in future the whole burden would befall on the heads of employees and pensioners totally? Unless these details are made transparant, there are always danger in accepting this Scheme.
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