Revision of rates of Kilometreage Allowance and allowance in lieu of Kilometreage(ALK)

No.AIRF/55                        Dated: April 15, 2011

The Secretary(E),

Railway Board,

New Delhi

Dear Sir,

Sub: Revision of rates of Kilometreage Allowance and allowance in lieu of Kilometreage(ALK)

Ref: Railway Board’s letter No.E(P&A)II–2005/RS–34 dated 26.12.2008

            The rates of Kilometreage Allowance and allowance in lieu of Kilometreage(ALK) were revised w.e.f. 01.09.2008 or from the date the Running Staff opted to come over to Railway Services(Revised Pay) Rules, 2008, whichever is later ,vide Board’s letter cited above.

          AIRF, have repeatedly represented to Railway Board for granting arrears and to revise the rates of these allowances w.e.f. 01.01.2006 to the Running Staff who have already opted to come over to Railway Services(Revised Pay) Rules, 2008 w.e.f. 01.01.2006, but Railway Board’s decision on the subject is still pending.

          In this context, it may be appreciated that about 70% of Running Allowance is having Travelling Allowance component and in terms of Railway Board’s letter No.F(E)I/2008/AL–28/14 dated 01.12.2008, there shall be automatic increase in the rate of TA/DA by 25% whenever DA payable on the revised pay structure goes up by 50%. In this connection, it may be mentioned that DA has been increased from 45% to 51% w.e.f. 01.01.2011.

         The Board are therefore, urged upon to review the entire issue of Running Allowance at the earliest with all consequential benefits as already represented by AIRF from time to time.

An early action in the matter is solicited.

Yours faithfully,

(Shiva Gopal Mishra)

General Secretary

Copy to: General Secretaries, all affiliated zonal unions – for information.

SCRA-2010 written Test Result Declared today 11/04/2011

Union Public Service Commission

Special Class Railway Apprentice SCRA-2010

written Test Result Declared

today 11/04/2011

------------------------------------------------------------

Following 214 candidates qualified to appear for Interview / Personality Test

The Interview / Personality Test tentatively scheduled to be held during last week of May 2011

131	1159	1288	1728	1947	2875	3285	3585	3754
4214	4593	5111	5913	6004	7162	7175	7665	7895
8116	8188	9061	9177	9529	13146	13669	14163	14508
14736	14891	14896	15410	16253	16506	18084	18571	19084
19648	19953	21236	21849	22372	22992	23715	23786	24903
27646	28905	29883	29950	30755	31176	31252	31634	31851
31862	32768	33413	33733	33738	34751	34983	35932	36026
36315	36907	37157	37288	37567	38375	39181	41758	43921
44186	45217	45660	45858	47881	47967	49017	49270	49452
50618	51078	51216	52029	52222	53679	55208	55372	55412
56193	57871	58347	58673	59794	59830	59882	59962	59976
60442	60767	61324	62113	62871	63134	64324	66057	67637
69019	72140	72928	73061	75476	77505	78616	79280	82339
84129	86282	86544	88190	89761	90299	93649	96568	97053
98927	99008	99030	99100	103630	104210	105983	110307	111919
112591	114154	114262	115082	115199	116189	119005	119089	119885
119985	125758	128227	128275	128471	128611	129355	129418	129584
130077	130134	130360	130634	130717	131109	131324	131363	131500
131933	132113	132133	132189	133286	133360	134484	134887	135669
135741	135906	135994	136011	136339	136847	137495	138441	138453
138969	139160	139199	141264	142117	142582	143061	143807	143945
145730	147699	148105	148726	148770	148772	149727	150839	150902
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Download Detailed Application form DAF

http://upsc.gov.in

http://upsc.gov.in

Download Detailed Application form DAF

10 things to know about Anna Hazare and Jan Lok Pal Bill

10 things to know about Anna Hazare and Jan Lok Pal Bill
1. Who is Anna Hazare?
An ex-army man. Fought 1965 Indo-Pak War. He belongs to Dhangar community known for Daring & Bravery also.
2. What's so special about him?
He built a village Ralegaon Siddhi in Ahamad Nagar district, Maharashtra
3. So what?
This village is a self-sustained model village. Energy is produced in the village itself from solar power, biofuel and wind mills.
In 1975, it used to be a poverty clad village. Now it is one of the richest village in India. It has become a model for self-sustained, eco-friendly & harmonic village.
4. Ok,...?
This guy, Anna Hazare was awarded Padma Bhushan and is a known figure for his social activities.
5. Really, what is he fighting for?
He was fought for RTI succeeded it. He is supporting a cause, the amendment of a law to curb corruption in India.
6. How that can be possible?
He is advocating for a Bil, The Jan Lokpal Bill (The Citizen Ombudsman Bill), that will form an autonomous authority who will make politicians (ministers), beurocrats (IAS/IPS) accountable for their deeds.
8. It's an entirely new thing right..?
In 1972, the bill was proposed by then Law minister Mr. Shanti Bhushan. Since then it has been neglected by the politicians and some are trying to change the bill to suit thier
theft (corruption).
7. Oh.. He is going on a hunger strike for that whole thing of passing a Bill ! How can that be possible in such a short span of time?
The first thing he is asking for is: the government should come forward and announce that the bill is going to be passed.
Next, they make a joint committee to DRAFT the JAN LOKPAL BILL. 50% goverment participation and 50% public participation. Because you cant trust the government entirely for making such a bill which does not suit them.
8. Fine, What will happen when this bill is passed?
A LokPal will be appointed at the centre. He will have an autonomous charge, say like the Election Commission of India. In each and every state, Lokayukta will be appointed.
The job is to bring all alleged party to trial in case of corruptions within 1 year. Within 2 years, the guilty will be punished. Not like, Bofors scam or Bhopal Gas Tragedy case, that has been going for last 25 years without any result.
9. Is he alone? Whoelse is there in the fight with Anna Hazare?
Baba Ramdev, Ex. IPS Kiran Bedi, Social Activist Swami Agnivesh, RTI activist Arvind Kejriwal and many more. Prominent personalities like Aamir Khan is supporting his cause.
10. Ok, got it. What can I do?
At least we can spread the message. How?
Putting status message, links, video, changing profile pics.
At least we can support Anna Hazare and the cause for uprooting corruption from India.
At least we can hope that his Hunger Strike does not go in vain.
At least we can pray for his good health.
Thanks

EPFO FACES 7000 Cr TAX DEMAND ON EARLY WITHDRAWALS

EPFO FACES 7000 Cr TAX DEMAND ON EARLY WITHDRAWALS

Friday 8 April 2011

The Income-Tax Department has slapped the Employees Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) with an unprecedented tax demand for failing to tax premature withdrawals by account holders,a move that could saddle the organisation with liabilities of more than Rs.7,000 crore.The Central Provident Fund Commissioner,Samirendra Chatterjee,who oversees the EPFO,said the I-T departments decision to slap these tax notices on two PF offices in Delhi was untenable,and his organisation would move the Delhi High Court to quash the tax demand.

The dispute raises the possibility of yet another open war between two government arms under two ministries.The EPFO comes under the labour ministry while the I-T Department is under the Ministry of Finance.The two have recently been at loggerheads over a 9.5% EPF rate for 2010-11,and over the EPFOs refusal to invest in equities,which the finance ministry has been insisting on since 2005.

The tax officials,while imposing this liability,have justified their action by citing a rule in the 1961 Income Tax Act that stipulates withdrawals of provident fund money by individuals who have not completed five years of contributions to the EPF should be subject to income tax.So far,this tax demand has been raised on only two PF offices and for a two-year period between 2007 and 2009,but the EPFO is apprehensive the same demand can be slapped on all its 120 or so offices that by and large follow the same policies and procedures.

The EPFO is the custodian of retirement savings of some Rs.5.87 crore private and public sector employees in the country Chatterjee suggested the IT Departments move was impractical and at odds with the governments income-tax exemption ceilings.Our mandatory salary ceiling for PF coverage is Rs.6,500 per month.How can we tax a worker who doesn't even fall under the taxable annual income bracket of 1.8 lakh he asked.Chatterjee said EPF savings were not taxable under the EPF Act of 1952.

Tax Shadow on Future Drawals from PF A/Cs And if at all tax has to be levied,it has to be the employers responsibility as they are aware of workers total incomes while we may not know even if they are paid more than.Rs.6,500 per month. The I-T departments move has also drawn sharp reactions from trade union officials.It is ironic that the government keeps dithering over bringing back black money from tax havens,but doesn't think twice about taxing the middle class retirement savings, said AD Nagpal of the Hind Mazdoor Sabha and its representative on the EPFOs central board of trustees.

The I-T Departments demand effectively means all future withdrawals from provident fund accounts by individuals who have made PF contributions for less than five years would henceforth have to be taxed at source by the EPFO.The department argues only longterm contributions to the provident fund should be tax-free to ensure parity with other long-term tax savings instruments such as National Savings Certificates and Public Provident Fund deposits,which have five-year lock-ins.

The tax department has been seeking to enforce the 50-year-old rule for the past two years.In February 2009,it began asking the PF departments for details of all workers claims settled before five years.Last December,the Central Board of Direct Taxes even issued a circular to reiterate the law.Last week,top EPFO officials,responding to summons from the I-T Department,shared information on the total money credited into workers accounts in 2007-08 and 2008-09 from the two PF offices in Delhi.The department followed this up with its assessment order.

According to the order,the department has assumed half the total EPFO payouts to individuals falls in the premature withdrawal category in the absence of specific in-formation and considering the churning of corporate employees and the economic scenario of frequent job changes.Consequently,a tax demand of more than.285 crore was levied on the two PF offices.The figure assumes a top tax rate of 33.66% and penal interest at 18%.Calculations by ET,assuming a similar formula for all the 120-odd PF offices in the country that together pay out settlement claims worth.11,000 crore annually,show the EPFO could be saddled with a tax liability of around.7,000 crore for three financial years ending in March 2010.Incidentally,a recent EPFO study concluded more than 70% of all withdrawals were made within three years of service and nearly 90% were made before five years.This would make the I-T departments assumption of 50% withdrawals being premature a conservative estimate.But for the EPFO,having to pay tax on behalf of account holders who have withdrawn their savings is a serious problem.It has no system in place to track such people and neither can it pay the tax liability from its own funds.Experts say the EPF law is subordinate to tax laws and the PF authorities could have a tough battle on their hands.They say Section 9 of the EPF Act deems the fund as a recognised PF trust under the Income Tax Act of 1922,which establishes the primacy of I-T laws over the EPF Act.

Read more: EPFO FACES 7KCR TAX DEMAND ON EARLY WITHDRAWALS | SIMPLE TAX INDIA-TDS RATE INCOME TAX RATE

Safety Related Retirement Scheme covering Drivers, Gangmen and other safety categories with Grade Pay of Rs. 1800/-.

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS
(RAILWAY BOARD)

RBE No.42/2011
New Delhi, dated 29.03.2011.

No. E(P&A)I-2010/RT-2

The General Managers.
All Indian Railways.

Sub: Safety Related Retirement Scheme covering Drivers, Gangmen and other safety categories with Grade Pay of Rs. 1800/-.

Ref: Board’s letter of even number dated 11.09.2010 and 24.09.2010

**********

The demands raised by the employees’ Federations, such as constitution of a lower level Assessment Committee at Divisions, processing of the retirement/recruitment cases more than once in a year, etc., under Liberalized Active Retirement Scheme for Guaranteed Employment for Safety Staff (LARSGESS) have been under consideration of Board for some time. It has been decided that the retirement/recruitment process under the LARSGESS in respect of all safety categories of staff including Gangmen in Grade pay of Rs. 1800/p.m. and Drivers/Loco Pilots may be done twice in a year as per the annexed time schedule. The suitability of the words for recruitment under the Scheme may be adjudged by the Assessment Committee as follows:

(I) Assessment Committee of 3 JAG Officers at Divisional Level to adjudge the suitability of wards for recruitment against safety category post in Grade Pay of Rs.1800/-p.m., and

(ii) Assessment Committee of 3 SAG Officers at Headquarter Level may continue to adjudge the suitability of wards of Drivers/Loco Pilot.

2. The process of retirement/recruitment may be started from July 2011 for the current calendar year 2011.

3. The other terms and conditions of the Scheme will remain the same.

4. This issues with the concurrence of the Finance Directorate of the Ministry of Railways.

5. Kindly acknowledge receipt.

-sd-
( Dharam Pal )
Deputy Director Estt.(P&A) II,
Railway Board

Source: AIRF

NRMU Supports Anna Hazare…….. to end Corruption

Right now, Anna Hazare, a 73-year-old Gandhian, sits fasting in the burning sun, and he will stay until death -- unless the government agrees to consider a powerful law that could rid Indian politics of the scourge of corruption.
This “Modern Mahatma” is taking the utmost act of courage and determination to push through a bill that would give an independent body the power to punish corruption -- even in the Prime Minister’s office. Across the country a movement has exploded, driving a media storm of pressure that’s engulfing Singh. But dirty politicians are desperately trying to water down or kill the law.
For the first time in forty three years, we have the chance to change the way politics is done. Let's join together and stand with Anna Hazare to tackle corruption and clean up Indian politics. We have no time to lose -- sign the petition to be delivered directly to Prime Minister Singh and reported to the media, and spread the word to everyone:
Hazare is championing a citizen-developed bill called “Jan” Lokpal that will create an independent body, selected by judges, citizens and constitutional authorities, with enough power to investigate and punish all politicians. No minister or bureaucrat will be able to influence its investigations.
Since 1968, when this bill was first introduced, greedy politicians have thwarted its passing. Now the government is pushing for a watered down Lokpal with no hope of ending fraud, vice and dishonesty -- it gives politicians overriding power to decide who will be investigated, and is a complete sellout.
Pressure is mounting on Prime Minister Singh to endorse the "Jan" Lokpal. Members of the opposition party have begun to make the right noises in support of Anna Hazare. And even the National Advisory Council, a powerful advisory body to Sonia Gandhi have come out in favour of the bill. But corrupt politicians and vested interests are doing all they can to kill it.
Anna Hazare has set the example. But only a national citizens movement can ramp up the pressure to get Singh to endorse “Jan” Lokpal and save Hazare's life.
Corruption in politics has become a plague across our country, it is draining our resources and demoralizing our nation. This bill would go a long way to deterring those that steal and undermine the public good. India has a proud history of people power overcoming oppression -- today if we all stand with one voice we can fight this corruption that is poisoning our political system

--------------------------------

Salient features of Jan Lokpal Bill

1. An institution called LOKPAL at the centre and LOKAYUKTA in each state will be set up

2. Like Supreme Court and Election Commission, they will be completely independent of the governments. No minister or bureaucrat will be able to influence their investigations.

3. Cases against corrupt people will not linger on for years anymore: Investigations in any case will have to be completed in one year. Trial should be completed in next one year so that the corrupt politician, officer or judge is sent to jail within two years.

4. The loss that a corrupt person caused to the government will be recovered at the time of conviction.

5. How will it help a common citizen: If any work of any citizen is not done in prescribed time in any government office, Lokpal will impose financial penalty on guilty officers, which will be given as compensation to the complainant.

6. So, you could approach Lokpal if your ration card or passport or voter card is not being made or if police is not registering your case or any other work is not being done in prescribed time. Lokpal will have to get it done in a month's time. You could also report any case of corruption to Lokpal like ration being siphoned off, poor quality roads been constructed or panchayat funds being siphoned off. Lokpal will have to complete its investigations in a year, trial will be over in next one year and the guilty will go to jail within two years.

7. But won't the government appoint corrupt and weak people as Lokpal members? That won't be possible because its members will be selected by judges, citizens and constitutional authorities and not by politicians, through a completely transparent and participatory process.

8. What if some officer in Lokpal becomes corrupt? The entire functioning of Lokpal/ Lokayukta will be completely transparent. Any complaint against any officer of Lokpal shall be investigated and the officer dismissed within two months.

9. What will happen to existing anti-corruption agencies? CVC, departmental vigilance and anti-corruption branch of CBI will be merged into Lokpal. Lokpal will have complete powers and machinery to independently investigate and prosecute any officer, judge or politician.

10. It will be the duty of the Lokpal to provide protection to those who are being victimized for raising their voice against corruption.

NRMU ALWAYS FIGHTS

AGAINST CORRUPTION