Admissibility of House Rent Allowance in the event of non-acceptance or surrender of railway residential accommodation

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS
(RAILWAY BOARD)

RBE Np.176/2010.

NO.E(P&A)ll-2010/HRA-2                                   New Delhi, dated 08 –12-2010

The General Managers,
All Indian Railways & Production Units etc.
(As per mailing lists No.I&III)

Sub: Admissibility of House Rent Allowance in the event of non-acceptance or surrender of railway residential accommodation.

Ref: Board’s letters No.
(i) E(P&A)ll-87/HRA-15 dated 16-5-1988
(ii) E(P&A)ll-95/HRA-3 dated 14-2-1996
(iii) E(P&A)ll-99/HRA-2 dated 12-7-1999 & 16-3-2000
(iv) E(P&A)ll-2002/HRA-4 dated 16-10-2002 and,
(v) E(P&A)ll-2002/HRA-4 dated 9-5-2003

Attention is invited to Board’s letters quoted above delegating powers to the General Managers and other Heads of Organisations directly controlling allotment of quarters to railway servants for sanction of House Rent Allowance in accordance with the prescribed conditions to the categories of railway employees specified therein. This delegation of powers was valid upto 31-3-2010.

2. The question of renewing this delegation of powers beyond 31.3.2010 has been engaging the attention of the Board. On the basis of the reports received from the Zonal Railways and Production Units, the matter has been considered and the Board have decided to renew the sanction contained in para 5 of their letter dated 16.5.1988 ibid and as amended modified from time to time, w.e.f 1-4-2010 upto 31-3-2017 where after the question of renewing this delegation will be considered by the Board and a fresh sanction, if necessary, issued on the basis of reports received from the General Managers etc. Directly controlling allotment of quarters, in regard to the position of availability of railway accommodation under their control.

3. In case at any point of time it transpires that some accommodation is likely to remain vacant/un-occupied due to lack of demand, it should be made compulsory to submit applications for such types where there is surplus accommodation, and consequently, the employees entitled for such types would not be eligible to draw House Rent Allowance.

4. This delegation is also subject to the over-riding condition that these orders are liable to be withdrawn/modified at any time during this period, if it is considered necessarily by the Board to do so.

5. This has the approval of the President and issues with the concurrence of the Finance Directorate of the Ministry of Railways.

6. Kindly acknowledge receipt.

(Salim Md.Ahmed)
Deputy Director, Estt.(P&A)Ill,
Railway Board.

Source: IRTSA

Railways Procurement Scam : Mamata Turns To CBI

BHOPAL : Much to the consternation of corrupt senior officials, Minister for Railways Mamata Banerjee has asked the CBI to investigate corruption in Indian Railways Procurement System. The move comes almost six months after The Statesman reported the nexus between suppliers, the Railway Board, and Research Standard and Design Organization (RDSO) that has siphoned off at least Rs 50,000 crore from the public exchequer over the past decade.

The CBI probe is restricted to corruption in the purchase of 20 items and does not extend to hundreds of others where the same process of restricted competition and grossly inflated prices for kickbacks continues.

Interestingly, the minister’s decision to involve the CBI comes at a time when the Railways' vigilance department appears to have begun achieving some success in its investigations, item by item. Sources in Rail Bhavan have told that a senior director in the Railway Board has been found guilty in the scam surrounding the first item investigated ~ Odour Control Systems ~ by the vigilance department which has recommended the harshest penalty for him. If investigations continue apace, many more skeletons will tumble out of a richly stocked Board closet.

The move to involve the CBI follows questions submitted by MPs in the stalled Parliament session about the scam and the Railways whistleblower Mr Atul Kumar. Listed for oral answer on 10 December in the Rajya Sabha was MP and senior Congress leader Mr Motilal Vora’s question about "the bungling of Rs 10,000 crore by mechanical department every year" and asking for information on "the steps taken by the government so far to ascertain the truth". Mr Vora also asked for names of officials who took bribes from Kolkata-based firm M/s Pioneer Friction.

Despite assurances by Mamta Banerjee early in her tenure and the CBI’s involvement in the the M/s Pioneer Friction case for over a year, no official has yet been named or punished.

Two related questions were also submitted for written answer in the Lok Sabha on 9 December. MPs Mr Vishwa Mohan Kumar and Mr Abdul Rahman asked for statistics on cases of corruption reported in Railways and action taken against officials over the past three years. Lok Sabha MPs Mr Shafiqur Rahman Barq, Mr Ravindra Kumar Pandey, Mr Bhola Singh, and Mr Sanjay Jaiswal jointly asked for details on corruption in procurement, whether suppliers sell articles to Railways at prices much higher than market prices, and the total loss suffered.

Crucially, though, and despite Mamta Banerjee's move to call in the CBI, old and new procurement scams still continue given that the same flawed approval system and Lucknow-based RDSO’s near-total control over it persists. Railways have not announced any changes in procurement policy that would introduce true competition, break cartels and bring down prices.

The recommendations of the Minister for Railways - appointed expert committee on RDSO still remain to be implemented. The committee's recommendations include a complete overhaul of the supplier approval system and a transfer of both approvals and inspections away from RDSO. The expert committee report, which was last heard to be stuck with the Member, Mechanical, Railway Board, for months, is in danger of being swallowed by the bureaucratic black hole.

There are still no cost-estimation cells to determine market prices when new items or specifications are introduced for purchase. "Expressions of interest" still do not get wide publicity so that the most able Indian manufacturers can compete. Works contracts, with even more margin for corruption than supply contracts, have not been brought under e-procurement. And, there is yet no centralised system via which zones can inform each other about rogue firms.

Furthermore, according to Mr Atul Kumar, who first brought the massive scam to the knowledge of the Railway Board, the victimisation has not stopped. Mr Kumar told that after yet another unceremonious transfer, intended to hound him out of Kolkata, he felt forced to apply for VRS. But, with over three months having passed since the application, it appears the Railway Board, unhappy with the exposure, is now not even allowing him to retire.

Courtesy: RAILWAY SAMACHAR

SCRly total 8730 vacancies of Grade Pay-1800 Hurry 10/ITI Holders, last date 14/02/2011

Government of India
Ministry of Railways

South Central Railway (SCR)

Railway Recruitment Cell/ Secunderabad invites applications from citizens of India and

such other candidates declared eligible by the Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India to fill up the following posts  in Pay Band-1 of Rs. 5200-20200 with Grade Pay of Rs. 1800/-

1. Trackman  : 5005 posts

2. Yard Potter : 1100 posts

3. Helper-II : 2061 posts

4. Hamal : 380 posts

5. Safaiwala : 139 posts

6. Peon : 45 posts

Age : 18-33 years as on 01/01/2011. Relaxation in age as per rules.
Application Fee :  Candidates should possess the qualification of 10th Pass or ITI or equivalent . Candidates appearing at and/or awaiting results of the final examinations of 10th/ITI or equivalent
Application Fee :  Rs.40/- payable in a form of crossed Demand Draft from State Bank of India or from any other Nationalized Bank or crossed Indian Postal Order drawn in favour of Assistant Personnel Officer, Railway Recruitment Cell, Secunderabad – 500071.

How to Apply :  The filled in application form along with the required documents should be addressed to the Assistant Personnel Officer (Recruitment), Railway Recruitment Cell, Rail Nilayam, South Central Railway, Secunderabad – 500071 on or before 14/02/2011.

Please visit http://www.scr.indianrailways.gov.in/scr/web/personnel_dept/notice_Info.jsp for details and application format.
Railway Recruitment Cell, Rail Nilayam, Secunderabad – 500071

North Eastern Railway Gorakhpur, U.P. has Published an Employment Notice for filling up of 4708 Group ‘D’ Posts in North Eastern Railway and DLW/Varanasi.

North Eastern Railway Gorakhpur, U.P. has Published an Employment Notice for filling up of 4708 Group ‘D’ Posts in North Eastern Railway and DLW/Varanasi.

North Eastern Railway Gorakhpur Invites application for following Group ‘D’ Posts-

1. Group – D / DLW

• Helper Khalasi
• TOTAL : 128 Posts

2. Coupling Khalasi (Optg.)

• L-C Porter (Optg.)
• Box Porter (Optg.)
• L.C. Porter (Optg.)

• Kantawala/Shunt Man (Optg.)

TOTAL : 572 Posts

3. Gate Man (Optg.)

• Helper/Trolleyman (Sig.)
• TOTAL : 34 Posts

4. Hamal (Comml.)

• Hamal (Comml.)
• Helper Khalasi (Mech.)
• Helper (Elect.)
• Helper (Elect. TRD)
• Helper (Mech.)
• Helper Khalasi (Elect.)
• Helper (Tele.)
• Helper (Sig.) Diesel Khalasi (D. Shed)

TOTAL : 1188 posts

5. Trackman/Gangman (Eng.)

• Trackman/Gangman (Eng.)
• Trackman/Gangman (Eng.)

TOTAL : 1953 posts

6. Helper – II (Mech.)

• Helper – II (Elect.)
• Helper – II (Mech.)
• Peon (Optg.)
• Running Room (Bearer)
• Helper Khalasi (Depo)
• Khalasi (Elect.)
• Helper-II (Bridge)
• Helper (Signal)
• Helper (Bridge Workshop)

TOTAL : 687 Posts

7. Safaiwala (Comml.)

• Safaiwala (Medical)
• Safaiwala (Medical)
• Safaiwala (Mech.)
• Safaiwala (Comml.)
• Safaiwala (Depo)
• Safaiwala (Mech.)

TOTAL : 146 Posts

Age : 18 to 33 years and will be reckoned as on 01.01.2011

Qualification : Minimum 10th pass or ITI or equivalent. Those candidates who are appearing in and/or awaiting results of final examination of class 10th are not eligible. Academic qualification must be from recognized Educational Institution/Board, otherwise candidature will be rejected.

Pay-Scale : Pay Band 1 of Rs. 5200-20200 with grade pay Rs. 1800.

Examination Fee : The Examination fee for unreserved and OBC candidates is Rs 40/- . Candidates belonging to SC/ST/ Women/ Minority Community and Economically Weaker Section and PH category are exempted from payment of examination fees 5.2 The Examination fee should be paid in the form of Account Payee Demand Draft from any Nationalised Bank or Indian Postal Order from any Post Office drawn in favour of ‘Asstt. Personnel Officer (Recruitment), RRC, N .E.Railway and payable at Gorakhpur. Validity of Bank Draft/Pay order should be of at least six months.

Closing Date: 12.02.2011

For More Information CLICK HERE

North Eastern Railway Gorakkhpur, U.P. has Published an Employment Notice for filling up of 4708 Group ‘D’ Posts in North Eastern Railway and DLW/Varanasi.

North Eastern Railway Gorakkhpur, U.P. has Published an Employment Notice for filling up of 4708 Group ‘D’ Posts in North Eastern Railway and DLW/Varanasi.

North Eastern Railway Gorakkhpur Invites application for following Group ‘D’ Posts-

1. Group – D / DLW

• Helper Khalasi
• TOTAL : 128 Posts

2. Coupling Khalasi (Optg.)

• L-C Porter (Optg.)
• Box Porter (Optg.)
• L.C. Porter (Optg.)

• Kantawala/Shunt Man (Optg.)

TOTAL : 572 Posts

3. Gate Man (Optg.)

• Helper/Trolleyman (Sig.)
• TOTAL : 34 Posts

4. Hamal (Comml.)

• Hamal (Comml.)
• Helper Khalasi (Mech.)
• Helper (Elect.)
• Helper (Elect. TRD)
• Helper (Mech.)
• Helper Khalasi (Elect.)
• Helper (Tele.)
• Helper (Sig.) Diesel Khalasi (D. Shed)

TOTAL : 1188 posts

5. Trackman/Gangman (Eng.)

• Trackman/Gangman (Eng.)
• Trackman/Gangman (Eng.)

TOTAL : 1953 posts

6. Helper – II (Mech.)

• Helper – II (Elect.)
• Helper – II (Mech.)
• Peon (Optg.)
• Running Room (Bearer)
• Helper Khalasi (Depo)
• Khalasi (Elect.)
• Helper-II (Bridge)
• Helper (Signal)
• Helper (Bridge Workshop)

TOTAL : 687 Posts

7. Safaiwala (Comml.)

• Safaiwala (Medical)
• Safaiwala (Medical)
• Safaiwala (Mech.)
• Safaiwala (Comml.)
• Safaiwala (Depo)
• Safaiwala (Mech.)

TOTAL : 146 Posts

Age : 18 to 33 years and will be reckoned as on 01.01.2011

Qualification : Minimum 10th pass or ITI or equivalent. Those candidates who are appearing in and/or awaiting results of final examination of class 10th are not eligible. Academic qualification must be from recognized Educational Institution/Board, otherwise candidature will be rejected.

Pay-Scale : Pay Band 1 of Rs. 5200-20200 with grade pay Rs. 1800.

Examination Fee : The Examination fee for unreserved and OBC candidates is Rs 40/- . Candidates belonging to SC/ST/ Women/ Minority Community and Economically Weaker Section and PH category are exempted from payment of examination fees 5.2 The Examination fee should be paid in the form of Account Payee Demand Draft from any Nationalised Bank or Indian Postal Order from any Post Office drawn in favour of ‘Asstt. Personnel Officer (Recruitment), RRC, N .E.Railway and payable at Gorakkhpur. Validity of Bank Draft/Pay order should be of at least six months.

Closing Date: 12.02.2011

For More Information CLICK HERE