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Thursday, March 29, 2018

Consumer Price Index & DA - Feb 2018


The Consumer Price Index for the month of Feb 2018 decreased by one point is at 287 points.

CLICK HERE FOR DETAILS

The current DA is at 8.42%. 

Sunday, March 25, 2018

Aadhaar is not compulsory to get Pension




The Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER), MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances, Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr. Jitendra Singh chaired the 30th meeting of the Standing Committee of Voluntary Agencies (SCOVA) here today. The SCOVA meeting is organised by the Department of Pensions & Pensioners’ Welfare (DoP&PW), Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions and the last such meeting was held on January 12, 2017.

During the meeting, Dr. Jitendra Singh said that the SCOVA which was first constituted in July, 1986 would be completing 32 years this year. He said this platform has gone a long way in addressing in a focused manner issues related to Pensioners. He said that today’s interaction was very meaningful and stimulating, thus reflecting on the working of DoP&PW. The Minister while assuring the representatives of pensioners’ Associations said that it was no more mandatory to have one’s Adhaar Card to get his/her pension.

The Minister said that the Department of Pensions has brought out a series of OMs to benefit the Pensioners/Family Pensioners in the last 12 months including enhancing of minimum pension from Rs.3500/- to Rs.9000/- per month; the ceiling of gratuity has been increased from the existing Rs.10 lakhs to Rs.20 lakhs; the rates of ex-gratia lump sum compensation being paid to the families of employees who die in performance of duty has been increased from existing Rs. 10-15 lakhs to Rs.25-45 lakhs. He also said that divorced daughter will be eligible for family pension if divorce case has been filed before the death of pensioner/family pensioner, even though the judgment has been passed after the death of the pensioner /family pensioner.

Dr. Jitendra Singh said that this Government has given relief to the senior citizens and Pensioners in the Budget 2018-19 by allowing Standard Deduction of Rs. 40,000/- per year to the Pensioners and given exemption on tax on account of interest income from bank savings accounts has been increased to Rs. 50,000/ from Rs. 10,000/- per year. Deduction on account of health insurance premium which was earlier allowed at maximum of Rs.30,000/- has now been increased to Rs. 50,000/- in the case of Senior Citizens/Pensioners.

While addressing the meeting he said that we need to put in place an institutionalized mechanism to make good use of the knowledge, experience and efforts of the retired employees which can help in the value addition to the current scenario. Dr. Jitendra Singh said the retired employees are a healthy and productive workforce for India and we need to streamline and channelize their energies in a productive direction. We should learn from the pensioners’ experience, he added. The Minister also said that the DoP&PW should be reoriented in such a way that pensioners become a part of nation building process.

In the meeting, discussions were held on the action taken report of the 29th SCOVA meeting. Further many issues related to pensioners were discussed threadbare, such as revision of PPOs of pre-2006 pensioners, Health Insurance Scheme for pensioners including those residing in non-CGHS area, Special “Higher” Family Pension for widows of the war disabled invalidated out of service, Extension of CGHS facilities to P&T pensioners, issue relating to CGHS Wellness Centre, Dehradun etc. The Minister directed for the prompt and time bound redressal of the grievances of the pensioners and said that we should have sympathetic attitude towards them.

The Secretary, DoP&PW, Shri K.V. Eapen and other senior officers of the department were also present on the occasion. The meeting was also attended by the member Pensioners Associations and senior officers of the important Ministries/Departments of Government of India.

Source: PIB

Friday, March 16, 2018

The 10th Wage Agreement of Coal India Workers


The minimum wage for Coal India workers effective from 1/7/2016 is arrived at Rs 29,394/- . 

20% wage hike for the Coal India workers.

This wage agreement for the Coal India workers for the period 2016-2021 that is 5 years wage revision .  

The minimum wage for the Central Government employees are fixed at Rs 18,000/- with effect from 1/1/2016 for 10 years wage agreement at 14.25 wage hike.   


The Central Government employees are deprived of proper wage hike and 5 years wage hike . 

Click here for the agreement copy . 

CLICK Here for Wage Agreement Copy-II 

Click here for the Press statement 

Wednesday, March 7, 2018

Cabinet approves two percent Dearness Allowance to Central Government employees


        The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given its approval to release an additional installment of Dearness Allowance (DA) to Central Government employees and Dearness Relief (DR) to pensioners w.e.f. 01.01.2018 representing an increase of 2% over the existing rate of 5% of the Basic Pay/Pension, to compensate for price rise.

This will benefit about 48.41 lakh Central Government employees and 61.17 lakh pensioners.

The combined impact on the exchequer on account of both Dearness Allowance and Dearness Relief would be Rs.6077.72 crore per annum and Rs.7090.68 crore in the financial year 2018-19 (for a period of 14 months from January, 2018 to February, 2019).

This increase is in accordance with the accepted formula, which is based on the recommendations of the 7th Central Pay Commission.

Thursday, March 1, 2018

Consumer Price Index for Industrial Workers (CPI-IW) & DA — January, 2018

The All-India CPI-IW for January, 2018 increased by 2 points and pegged at 288 (two hundred and eighty eight). 

The DA as on Feb 2018 is 8.01 % .

MINUTES OF THE MEETING HELD ON 11.01.2018

MINUTES OF THE MEETING HELD ON 11.01.2018 TO DISCUSS THE ADMISSIBILITY OF THE AGENDA ITEMS RECEIVED FROM THE STAFF SIDE FOR DISCUSSION IN THE NATIONAL ANOMALY COMMITTEE (NAC) FOR THE 7TH CENTRAL PAY COMMISSION

A meeting was held under the chairmanship of Shri G.D. Tripathi, Joint Secretary (Establishment), Department of Personnel & Training with the representatives of Staff Side of the National Anomaly Committee and senior officers from the other Ministries/Departments concerned at 3.00 p.m. on 11.01.2018 in Room No. 190, North Block, DoPT, New Delhi to consider the admissibility of the 18 itmes of anomaly forwarded by the Staff-Side of the National Council of JCM for settlement through discussion at the NAC constituted after the Seventh Central Pay Commission. The list of participants is at Annexure.

2. The Chairman welcomed the representatives of the Staff-Side of the National Anomaly Committee and asked Deputy Secretary (JCA) to briefly inform the participants the purpose for convening this meeting.

3. Deputy Secretary (JCA) informed that following the acceptance of the recommendations – to the extent they have been – of the 7th Central Pay Commission by the Government, the National Anomaly Committee has been constituted by DoPT. Subsequently, on receipt of a representation from the Staff Side, NC(JCM), the definition of what would constitute an anomaly has been revised and notified. Therefore, as per the revised scope of definition, anomaly will include the following cases;

a) Where the Official-Side and the Staff-Side are of the opinion that any recommendation is in contravention of the principle or the policy enunciated by the Seventh Central Pay Commission itself without the Commission assigning any reason;

b) Where the maximum of the Level in the Pay Matrix corresponding to the applicable Grade Pay in the Pay Band under the pre-revised structure as notified vide CCS(RP) Rules 2016, is less than the amount an employee is entitled to be fixed at, as per the formula for fixation of pay contained in the said Rules;

c) Where the Official side and the Staff Side are of the opinion that the vertical and horizontal relativities have been disturbed as a result of the 7th Central Pay Commission to give rise to anomalous situation.

4. Deputy Secretary (JCA) mentioned that a letter dated 16.08.2017 had been received from Secretary, Staff-Side proposing to discuss 15 items in the National Anomaly Committee (NAC). Subsequently, another letter dated 31.08.2017 was also received proposing 3 additional items. On examining these 18 items against the three (03) yardsticks as stated in para-3 above, it was felt that while some agenda items clearly fall within the definition of ‘anomaly’, there are a few which cannot be termed ‘anomaly’ as such, bordering more, as they are, on the side of ‘demands’. There are a few more which apparently by virtue of affecting the interests of one Department should rather be taken up at the Departmental Anomaly Committee. On sharing the findings of this Preliminary examination with the Secretary, Staff-Side, a communication was received from him suggesting inter-alia, besides giving their own reasons for retaining the same agenda – except one item – for the NAC deliberations, that a meeting be convened to discuss and finalize the items so as to to avoid delay in convening the NAC meeting.

5. The Chairman then requested the leader of the Staff-Side and other members to put across their points of view on the issue.

6. The Leader, Staff-Side, thanked the Chairman for convening the meeting at the suggestion of Secretary, Staff-Side and initiated the discussion by emphasising that the next meeting of the National Council under the Chairmanship of Cabinet Secretary should be held urgently as more than 7 years have passed since the last such meeting was held. He referred to the background against which the JCM scheme has been institutionalized and stressed that the purpose of JCM is to avoid confrontation between the Government and its employees. He requested that the sentiments of the Staff-Side may be conveyed to the Cabinet Secretary so that the meeting of the National Council, JCM may be held without any further delay. He also suggested that the Cabinet Secretary should meet the Standing Committee of the National Council, JCM soon after the Republic Day celebrations so that the deliberations can be be held on all pending issues. The Leader, Staff-Side further stated that there are many issues arising out of the 7th Central Pay Commission’s recommendations which are still to be settled to the satisfaction of the Staff-Side. He particularly mentioned about the recommendations relating to New Pension Scheme, Minimum Pay, Fitment Formula, etc.

7. Secretary, Staff-Side also expressed similar views about lack of interaction between the Official-Side and the Staff-Side. He mentioned that the institutions of JCM machinery has become defunct and stated that the meetings of the Standing Committee and the National Council, JCM should be called without any further delay. He also mentioned that the Group of Ministers had met the staff representatives and given some assurances for favourable consideration regarding the Minimum Pay and Fitment Formula. But even after 1-1/2 years, no decision has been conveyed by the Government. He regretted that inspite of the report submitted by NPS Committee, nothing fruitful has been done for bringing new pensioners under defined and guaranteed pension scheme. He stated that based on the assurance given by the group of Ministers, the Staff Side had deferred the call for strike but now it is getting very difficult for them to control the resentments of the staff. He stressed the need for frequent interactions so that each side can appreciate the other’s views. He also mentioned that no decision has yet been conveyed on the 6th CPC related unresolved anomalies which, the Staff-Side feels, should be sent for arbitration as the Staff-Side has recorded its dissatisfaction on them.
(Action: D/o Pension & JCA Division, DoPT)

8. The Staff-Side members representing M/o Defence stated that they are on a hunger fast joining with the 4 lakhs Defence Civilian Employees to protest against the various decisions taken by Ministry of Defence against their interest. They lodged their protest aginst what they called ‘arbitary’ policy decisions made by the Government about outsourcing of jobs hitherto done in the ordince factories, converting Army Base Workshops to GOCO Model, closure of Station Workshops, Military Farms and Depots under Army Headquarters thereby rendering 31,000 Employees surplus including 9000 employees of Military Engineer Service, granting Uniform Allowance to the soldiers by stopping the practice of getting them stitched through almost 12000 Employees in 5 Ordnance Factories etc. This is against the assurance given by the Defence Ministry in the past to the Staff Side that the jobs being perfomed by ordnance factories would be outsourced. They also protested against the violation of the direction of Cabinet Secretary by the Ministry of Defence in that the Staff Side has not been consulted before deciding on outsourcing, closure, merger, declaring manpower surplus etc. They demanded that MoD may be directed to immediately hold discussions with the Staff Side and settle the issues in the interst of the Defence Industry and its employees

(Action: M/o Defence)

9. The Staff Side also raised the following issues:-
a) The demand of the Staff Side for extension of the date of option for switching over to 7th CPC Pay Scales from a date on which the employee got promotion/MACP is not yet settled. Necessary instructions may be issued in this regard.

(Action: Establishment Division, DoPT)

b) The Report of the NPS Committee even though submitted to the Government in August, 2017 the Staff Side is not yet given a copy of the same. The same may be given to the Staff Side and a meeting may also be held with the Staff Side by the Government before taking any decision on the recommendations of the NPS Committee.

(Action: D/o P & PW)

c) The Staff Side also pointed out what they felt arbitrariness of the decision of the Government to close down the various printing presses without even holding any discussion with the Staff Side. The employees have been asked to immediately get themselves, relived and join at faraway places. They added that assurances were given by the Cabinet Secretary at the National Council that the Government would discuss the problems faced by the staff and resolve the same in all cases when the Government decides to wind up any of its functions.

(Action: M/o Urban Development)

10. The Chairman stated that he has taken note of all the concerns expressed by the Leader, Staff-Side, Secretary Staff-Side and the other representatives of the Staff-Side. He stated that the work on finalizing the comments on the Agenda for the meeting with the National Council, JCM has been going on and another two weeks would be required to finalize the comments and thereafter the convenience of the Cabinet Secretary would be sought so that the meeting of the Standing Committee can be held in the month of February, 2018. He stated that the purpose of today’s meeting was to familiarize with the issues as well as to arrive at a mutually agreed decisions as to which of them should be taken up for discussion and settlement at the NAC so that the first meeting can be convened at the earliest. He further emphasised that the items on which the Government, has held a view different from that of the 7th CPC would not be taken up for discussion at the NAC since the Government decisions on them are well-thought-out and conscious ones. However, where there is a disagreement between what has been recommended and what the 7th CPC should have recommended as part of its policy/principles would figure in NAC discussion.

11. It was seen that there are seven (7) proposed items which clearly fall within the definition of ‘Anomaly’. At the conclusion of the discussions, the following was agreed to in respect of the remaining eleven (11) items:

Item No.
Description
Decision
1
Anomaly in computation of minimum wage
In view of the response of Secretary, Staff-Side, the JCA Division will re-examine.
2
3% Increment in all stages
In view of the response of Secretary, Staff-Side, the JCA Divison will re-examine
6
Remove Anomaly due to index rationalization
In view of the response of Secretary, Staff-Side, the JCA Divison will re-examine
7
Anomaly arising from the decision to reject option No.1 in pension fixation
Sent back to Staff-Side for reconsideration of its views
10
Minimum Pension
The Staff-Side will take up this issue with the Department of Pension & Pensioners Welfare separately. This will not be treated as an anomaly.
11
Date of effect of Allowances-HRA, Transport Allowance, CEA etc
Thil will be taken up separately as an item in the Standing Committee meeting
12.
Implement the recommendation on Parity in Pay Scale between Sr. Auditors / Sr. Accountant of 1A & AD and organized Accounts with Assistant Section Officer of CSS.
As this was already under examination in the Department of Personnel & Training it would not be taken up for discussion in NAC at this stage. If it remains undecided at the later stage, it will be included for discussion in NAC.
13
Parity in pay scales between Assistants/ Stenographers in field/ subordinate offices and Assistant Section Offices and Stenographers in CSS
The Staff-Side, NC (JCM) will provide additional details
15
Technical Supervisors of Railways
The Staff-Side, NC(JCM) will take up this issue at the Departmental Anomaly Committee of Ministry of Railways.
16.
Anomaly in the assignment of replacement of Levels of pay in the Ministry of Defence, Railways, Mines etc in the case of Store Keepers.
The Staff-Side, NC (JCM) will take up this issue at the Departmental Anomaly Committee of Ministry of Defence. JCA Division will write to Ministry of Defence in this regard.
18.
Anomaly in the grant of DA instalment w.e.f. 01.01.2016
In view of the response of Secretary, Staff-Side, the JCA Division will re-examine.

12.          The meeting concluded with a vote of thanks to the Chair.

LIST OF PARTICIPANTS IN THE PRE-NATIONAL ANOMALY COMMITTEE OF THE NATIONAL COUNCIL (JCM) HELD ON 11/01/2018

S.No.
Staff-Side
Official-Side
1
Shri Shiv Gopal Misra
Shri G.D. Tripathi
2.
Shri M. Raghavaiah,
Shri Amar Nath Singh

Shri Rakhal Das Gupta
Shri Harjit Singh

Shri J.R. Bhosle
Ms. Sujasha Choudhury

Shri Guman Singh
Ms. Nirmala Dev.

Shri C.Srikumar
Shri Jaya Kumar.G.

Shri K.K.N. Kutty
Shri A.K. Jain

Shri Sankara Rao
Shri Charanjit Taneja

Shri R. Srinivasan
Shri Rajeev Kumar Bahree

Shri R.P. Bhatnagar
Shri Ram Gopal