23/05/2010
Railway Revenue Earnings up By 7.94 Per Cent During the Period 1st – 10th May 2010
What about our OT, Grade Pay, Mileage Rate, Mileage Arrears, Tax Free Rebate 15000, Additional Allowance, MACP, Ist Class Pass ?
Railway Revenue Earnings up By 7.94 Per Cent During the Period 1st – 10th May 2010
The total approximate earnings of Indian Railways on originating basis during the period from 1st to 10th May 2010 were Rs. 2384.21 crore compared to Rs. 2208.83 crore during the same period last year, registering an increase of 7.94 per cent.
The total goods earnings have gone up from Rs. 1500.00 crore during the period from 1st to 10th May 2009 to Rs. 1634.00 crore during 1st May – 10th May 2010, showing an increase of 8.93 per cent. The total passenger revenue earnings during the period 1st to 10th May 2010 were Rs. 664.80 crore compared to Rs. 629.44 crore during the same period last year, reflecting an increase of 5.62 per cent. The revenue earnings from other coaching amounted to Rs. 64.96 crore during this period compared to Rs. 63.09 crore during the same period last year, showing an increase of 2.96 per cent.
The total approximate number of passengers booked during the period 1st to 10th May 2010 were 218.59 million compared to 201.10 million during the same period last year, showing an increase of 8.70 per cent. In the suburban and non-suburban sectors, the number of passengers booked during 1st to 10th May, 2010 were 113.92 million and 104.67 million compared to 100.57 million and 100.53 million during the same period last year, registering an increase of 13.27 per cent and 4.12 per cent respectively.
19/05/2010
A brilliant new Chinese train innovation - get on & off the bullet train without the train stopping
The train that never stops at a station
A brilliant new Chinese train innovation - get on & off the bullet train without the train stopping. VERY COOL CONCEPT !
No time is wasted. The bullet train is moving all the time. If there are 30 stations between Beijing and Guangzhou , just stopping and accelerating again at each station will waste both energy and time.
A mere 5 min stop per station (elderly passengers cannot be hurried) will result in a total loss of 5 min x 30 stations or 2.5 hours of train journey time!
How it works:
1. For those who are boarding the train : The passengers at a station embarks onto to a connector cabin way before the train even arrives at the station. When the train arrives, it will not stop at all. It just slows down to pick up the connector cabin which will move with the train on the roof of the train.
While the train is still moving away from the station, those passengers will board the train from the connector cabin mounted on the train's roof. After fully unloading all its passengers, the cabin connector cabin will be moved to the back of the train so that the next batch of outgoing passengers who want to alight at the next station will board the connector cabin at the rear of the train roof.
2. For those who are getting off: As stated after fully unloading all its passengers, the cabin connector cabin will be moved to the back of the train so that the next batch of outgoing passengers who want to alight at the next station will board the connector cabin at the rear of the train roof. When the train arrives at the next station, it will simply drop the whole connector cabin at the station itself and leave it behind at the station. The outgoing passengers can take their own time to disembark at the station while the train had already left. At the same time, the train will pick up the incoming embarking passengers on another connector cabin in the front part of the train's roof. So the train will always drop one connector cabin at the rear of its roof and pick up a new connector cabin in the front part of the train's roof at each station.
The Central Government have approved Jeevan Akshay-VI Plan eligible for deduction under section 80C
Jeevan Akshay-VI approved for I-T deduction
The Central Government have approved Jeevan Akshay-VI Plan of the Life Insurance Corporation of India as an annuity plan eligible for deduction under clause (xii) of sub-section (2) of section 80C of the Income Tax Act, 1961.
Persons who have invested in this plan during the financial year 2007-08 or subsequently (relevant assessment year being 2008-09 and subsequent assessment years) will be eligible for deduction of the amount invested from their total income chargeable to income tax. The benefit will, however, be limited to the overall ceiling of Rs.1,00,000 available for deductions under section 80C.
Central employees are likely to get at least 9% Dearness allowance with effect from 01.07.2010
Central employees are likely to get at least 9% Dearness allowance with effect from 01.07.2010
As per the figures available from Labour Bureau, Government of India it can be assumed that 9% DA hike can be assumed from June 2010, provided the All India Consumer Price Index (AICPI) doesn't come down from current level.
The DA from June 2010 can be 45%.
This is calculated assuming that the All India Consumer Price Index (AICPI) remains unchanged at 170 During April to June, which are yet to be announced.
These figures for January 2010 was 172 and came down to 170 during February and remained same at 170 for March.
Source : Labour Bureau, Govt. of India.
| Month | Year | CPI | Total for 12 months | Average | App. DA | DA |
| June | 2009 | 153 | 1776 | 148.00 | 27.84 | 27 |
| July | 2009 | 160 | 1793 | – | – | – |
| August | 2009 | 162 | 1812 | – | – | – |
| Sep | 2009 | 163 | 1829 | – | – | – |
| Oct | 2009 | 165 | 1846 | – | – | – |
| Nov | 2009 | 168 | 1866 | – | – | – |
| Dec | 2009 | 169 | 1888 | 157.33 | 35.91 | 35 |
| Jan | 2010 | 172 | 1912 | – | – | – |
| Feb | 2010 | 170 | 1933 | – | – | – |
| Mar | 2010 | 170 | 1888 | – | – | – |
| Apr | 2010 | 170 | 1975 | – | – | – |
| May | 2010 | 170 | 1994 | – | – | – |
| June | 2010 | 170 | 2011 | 168.42 | 45.48 | 45 |
Rates of Night Duty Allowance w.e.f. 1-1-2010
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS
(RAILWAY BOARD)
No.E (P&A) II – 2010/HW-4
RBE No. 70/2010
New Delhi, dated 10-05-2010
The General Managers/CAOs,
All Indian Railways and Production Units.
(As per Mailing lists)
Subject:- Rates of Night Duty Allowance w.e.f. 1-1-2010.
Consequent to sanction of an additional installment of Dearness Allowance vide this Ministry’s letter No.PC-VI/2008/I/7/2/1 dated 26.03.2010, the President is pleased to decide that the rates of Night Duty Allowance, as notified vide Annexure ‘A’ and ‘B’ of Board’s letter No.E(P&A)II-2009/HW-4 dated 22-10-2009 stand revised with effect from 01-01-2010 as abdicated at Annexure ‘A’ in respect of ‘Continuous’, ‘Intensive’, ‘Excluded’ categories and workshop employees, and as indicated at Annexure ‘B’ in respect of ‘Essentially Intermittent’ categories.
2. This issues with the concurrence of the Finance Directorate of the Ministry of Railways.
DA: One
(Salim Md. Ahmed)
Deputy Director/E(P&A)III,
Railway Board
Rates of Night Duty Allowance (NDA) with effect from 1.1.2010 for ‘Intensive’, ‘Continuous’ and ‘Excluded’ categories and Workshop staff.
| S.No. | Pay Band | Grade Pay | Rate of NDA(in Rs.) |
| 1 | 4440 – 7440 | 1300 | 45.45 |
| 2 | 4440 – 7440 | 1400 | 46.10 |
| 3 | 4440 – 7440 | 1600 | 47.35 |
| 4 | 4440 – 7440 | 1650 | 47.65 |
| 5 | 5200 – 20200 | 1800 | 91.05 |
| 6 | 5200 – 20200 | 1900 | 91.65 |
| 7 | 5200 – 20200 | 2000 | 92.30 |
| 8 | 5200 – 20200 | 2400 | 94.80 |
| 9 | 5200 – 20200 | 2800 | 97.35 |
| 10 | 9300 – 34800 | 4200 | 164.85 |
| 11 | 9300 – 34800 | 4600 | 167.35 |
Rates of Night Duty Allowance (NDA) with effect from 1.1.2010 for ‘Essentially Intermittent’ categories and Workshop staff.
| S.No. | Pay Band | Grade Pay | Rate of NDA(in Rs.) |
| 1 | 4440 – 7440 | 1300 | 30.30 |
| 2 | 4440 – 7440 | 1400 | 30.75 |
| 3 | 4440 – 7440 | 1600 | 31.55 |
| 4 | 4440 – 7440 | 1650 | 31.75 |
| 5 | 5200 – 20200 | 1800 | 60.70 |
| 6 | 5200 – 20200 | 1900 | 61.10 |
| 7 | 5200 – 20200 | 2000 | 61.55 |
| 8 | 5200 – 20200 | 2400 | 63.20 |
| 9 | 5200 – 20200 | 2800 | 64.90 |
| 10 | 9300 – 34800 | 4200 | 109.90 |
| 11 | 9300 – 34800 | 4600 | 111.55 |
National Commission for Scheduled Tribes (NCST)
National Commission for Scheduled Tribes
The National Commission for Scheduled Tribes was constituted w.e.f. 19th February, 2004 consequent to the amendment of Article 338 of the Constitution of India and insertion of a new Article 338A vide the Constitution (Eighty-ninth Amendment) Act, 2003. This Article, inter-alia, enjoins upon the Commission to oversee the implementation of various safeguards provided to Scheduled Tribes under the Constitution or under any other law for time being in force or under any other order of the Govt. and to evaluate the working of such safeguards.
2. Article 338A of the Constitution, also, enjoins upon the National Commission for Scheduled Tribes to present to the President Report(s) upon the working of the Constitutional safeguards for Scheduled Tribes, and to make recommendations regarding the measures that should be taken by the Union or any State for effective implementation of those safeguards and for the protection, welfare and socio-economic development of Scheduled Tribes. In pursuance of these provisions, Shri Maurice Kujur, Vice-Chairperson, Shri Tsering Samphel and Shri Oris Syiem Myriaw, Members of the Commission met the Hon’ble President of India at 12:40 PM on today the 29th March, 2010 at Rashtrapati Bhawan, New Delhi and presented the Third Report of the Commission for the year 2007-08 to the Hon’ble President.
3. As per the constitutional provisions the report of the Commission has to be laid in both houses of the Parliament alongwith a Memorandum explaining the action taken or proposed to be taken on the recommendations relating to the Union. Similar action has to be taken by the State Governments while laying the Report in the Legislative Assembly of the State concerned, in relation to the recommendations concerning the State.
Employees’ Provident Fund to be Modernized
Employees’ Provident Fund to be Modernized
A budgetary estimate of Rs. 96 crore has been approved by the Central Board of Trustees, Employees’ Provident Fund (CBT, EPF) for the implementation of the first phase of the ‘Modernization Project’ of the Employees’ Provident Fund Organization (EPFO) being implemented in collaboration with National Informatics Centre (NIC).
The first phase of the ‘Modernization project’ has already been implemented in 28 offices of EPFO. It is planned to implement it in the remaining 92 offices of EPFO in the current financial year i.e. 2010-11.
17/05/2010
Konkan Railway Scaling Its Progressive Heights
Konkan Railway Corporation Limited (KRCL) is scaling its new heights of success while working on the path of progress and is all set to turn into a profitable organization by 2011-12. It is worthwhile to note that the net loss of KRCL for the year 2008-09 was Rs.79 crore, which has been brought down to Rs.10 crore during the year 2009-10. This could be achieved through strategic and meticulous planning. The operating surplus of KRCL is Rs.224.10 crore during 2009-10 and the total earnings during this period have risen to Rs.741.59 crore.
A Landmark Achievement is that the Operating Ratio (Every rupee spent out of hundred rupees earned) has improved to 77.78 per cent during 2009-10 as compared to 83.82 per cent of the previous year. Konkan Railway has also achieved profit before tax of Rs.30.41 crore for the year 2009-10 as compared to Rs.11.15 crore during 2008-09.
The freight earnings of the Konkan Railway during the second half year (From Oct’09 to Mar’10) was Rs.182 crore which is the best-ever.
After implementation of the Financial Restructuring Proposal, the debt liabilities of KRCL has come down. Liability on bonds came down from Rs. 3026 crore during the financial year 2000-01 to Rs. 2048.50 crore at the end of the financial year 2009-10. This year also, KRCL is proposing to redeem bonds worth of Rs.339.50 crore, leaving the outstanding amount to Rs.1709 crore only.
This break through success is attributed to the sheer hard - work and dedicated services of officers & staff of KRCL, who believe in “Customer Care with Smiling Face”.
Konkan Railway is a “Dream Come True Project – An Art of Engineering Marvel”, serving the nation and the people of Konkan region in particular. KRCL ensures its best of services with a smiling face, apart from ensuring the customer satisfaction and has therefore made its place at the highest esteem in the minds of the travelling public.
Prima-Facie findings of High Powered Committee on Incident at New Delhi Railway Station
Prima-Facie findings of High Powered Committee on Incident at New Delhi Railway Station
On the basis of footage of video cameras (CCTV) installed at the New Delhi railway station platforms, made available to the High Powered Committee probing into yesterday’s incident at the station, it prima-facie transpires that there was no stampede-like conditions on Platform No. 12 and 13 on 16th May 2010 during that period.
It appears that it was probably some local condition near the Foot Over Bridge (FOB) caused by unfortunate tripping which may have resulted in the unfortunate incident.
The High Powered Committee was set up at the direction of the Minister of Railways, Mamata Banerjee. The Committee consisted of Shri Braj Mohan, Additional Member (Commercial) Railway Board, Shri S.K.Malik, Additional Member (Civil Engineering) Railway Board and Shri P.K.Mehta, Additional Director General, Railway Protection Force, Northern Railway.
IRCON Signs Agreement for Sikkim Rail Project
IRCON International Limited, a Public Sector Undertaking under the Ministry of Railways, signed an agreement with Northeast Frontier Railway for construction of new Broad Gauge Railway line between Sivok to Rangpo connecting North Bengal to Sikkim. The Agreement was signed at Guwahati in presence of Shri Shiv Kumar, General Manager, N.F. Railway, Shri Mohan Tiwari, Managing Director, IRCON and other senior officers of Railways and IRCON.
IRCON is having vast experience of construction of Mega railway projects in India and abroad including the construction of railway line in J&K which offers similar challenges. The project is planned to be completed in 5 years with an estimated cost of Rs. 3380 crore.
The proposed alignment connecting Sivok to Rangpo, passing through the foothills of Kanchanjungha mountain range and Teesta river valley is 45 km long with more than 32 kms length in tunnels, 28 bridges spanning deep gorges/valleys with likely bridge pier height more than 75 meters. When completed, this project will greatly improve the connectivity to Sikkim and will be a great boost to the State’s economy as well as tourism. Work on the project has already commenced.
Board of Governors of KVS has decided to restore old quota policy for admission
KVs restore old quota policy for admission
To ensure smooth admission for children of Central government employees, the Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangthan has restored its earlier quota policy under which the class strength would not be affected while accommodating students in reserved category.
As per the restored system, reservation will be given to students over and above the existing strength of a class in a central school.
According to this system, each class will have 40 seats. But another five students can be given admission under reserved category.
The students given admission under reserved category will be above the normal strength, the Board of Governors of KVS has decided.
"The reserved students will not eat away the seats for general category students. The reservation will be above the existing class strength," a ministry official said.
The KVS was following this quota system previously. But it was amended few months back bringing the quota seats within the class strength.
However, it created problems for the kids of Central government employees who very often are transferred and have to look for fresh admission for their kids in new schools.
The KVS has also put in place a new transfer policy under which those teachers will be given most priority to get transfer if their spouses are working in the school of their choice.
The KVS has also decided to set up one disabled friendly school in each of its 18 regions.
These schools will have all facilities to help physically challenged students get education.
Besides, teachers of Sanskrit can now switch over to Hindi by appearing certain examination. This will open up their promotional avenues, the official said.
16/05/2010
Rule change enhances union organising rights in the US
Rule change enhances union organising rights in the US
Labour organisations in the US have applauded a federal agency’s ground-breaking decision to change a rule in transport to make it easier for unions to organise.
On 10 May, the National Mediation Board (NMB), which manages industrial relations in the airline and railway sectors, published a change in the rules governing union elections. The new rule allows workers to join or form a union if a majority of employees vote in favour; previously, under the Railway Labor Act (RLA), those who did not participate in a union election were considered to have voted against union representation. The amendment, which unions have campaigned for, affects more than 570,000 airline and railway employees.
Teamsters general president Jim Hoffa stated: “Workers who want to form unions are looking for job security and peace of mind. By changing the rule, the NMB has levelled the playing field, giving workers a fairer chance to form unions.
“I’m pleased with this decision by the NMB and I’m proud of the work the Teamsters Union has done to ensure this change happened.”
Meanwhile James C Little, president of the Transport Workers Union (TWU) of America, said on Monday: “Today, workers employed by airlines and railroads finally found democracy in the workplace. In America, we usually count votes except if you work in transportation and then we counted people who didn’t vote. TWU lost elections in the past because many supposed voters were on leave or in the hospital or unreachable - every non-vote counted against our union.”
Night Duty NDA Rates enhanced From 1-1-2010
Night Duty Allowance NDA Rates enhanced
From 1-1-2010 Per unit/6hrs
| Designation | Rate Rs. |
| ALP | 91.65 |
| SrALP | 94.80 |
| LPS | 94.80 |
| Guard Gds | 97.35 |
| LPG | 164.85 |
| Gd PASS | 164.85 |
| LPP | 164.85 |
| Gd MEXP | 164.85 |
| LPMEXP | 164.85 |
NRMU4u
Restructuring of the cadre of Assistant Loco Pilots
| ORDER FROM RAILWAY MINISTRY |
| GOVERNMENT OF INDIA No.PC-VI/2010/CRC/1(Pt.I) Dt. 30.04.2010. RBE No. 66/2010 The General Managers/CAO(R), Subject:- Restructuring of the cadre of Assistant Loco Pilots. The issue of cadre restructuring of the cadre of Assistant Loco Pilots has been under consideration of the Ministry of Railways in consultation with
While implementing these orders the following detailed instructions Date of effect: 1. The restructuring of the cadre will be with reference to the sanctioned cadre strength as on 1st May, 2010. The staff who will be placed in higher grade pay as a result of implementation of these orders will draw pay in higher grade pay from the date of effect. Applicability: 2. These orders will be applicable on the regular cadres (excluding surplus & supernumerary posts) of the Open Line establishments. 2.1. These orders will not be applicable to ex-cadre & work-charged posts which will continue to be based on worth of charge. Pay Fixation: 3. On placement to Pay Band-I, Grade Pay Rs.2400, the pay will be fixed as per Rule 13 of RS(RP) Rules, 2008 with the benefit of one increment @ 3% of basic pay. Existing classification and filling up of the vacancies: 4. The existing classification of posts remains unchanged. Vacancies in the higher grade of ALP (Grade Pay Rs. 2400) arising out of this restructuring will be filled up on the basis of scrutiny of service records and confidential reports. 4.1 Normal vacancies in the higher grade (Grade Pay Rs.2400)existing on date of effect and those arising on that date from this cadre restructuring should be filled in the following sequence:- i) From panels approved on or before date of effect and current on ii) And the balance in the manner indicated in para 4 above. 4.2 Such panels of higher grade of ALPs (Grade pay Rs. 2400) which have not been finalized by date of effect as specified in these orders should be cancelled/abandoned. 4.3. All vacancies arising from the next day following the date of effect as specified in these orders will be filled by normal procedure. 4.4. All vacancies in higher grade of ALPs (Grade Pay Rs. 2400) arising out of the restructuring should be filled up by senior employees who should be given benefit of the promotion w.e.f. the date of effect whereas for the normal vacancies existing on the date of effect of these orders, junior employees should be posted and will get promotion and higher pay from the date of taking over the charge of the posts as per normal rules. 4.5. Employees who retire/resign or expire in between the period from the date of effect of these orders to the date of actual implementation of these orders, will be eligible for the fixation benefits and arrears under these orders from the date of effect of these orders, if they are otherwise entitled to the said benefit. Minimum years of service in each grade: 5. While implementing the restructuring orders, instructions regarding Provision of reservation: 6. The existing instructions with regard to reservation of SC/ST wherever applicable will continue to apply. D&A / Vigilance Clearance: 7. Extent instructions for D&A/Vigilance clearance will be applicable for effecting promotions under these orders with reference to date of effect of these orders. Refusal of promotion: 8. Such of the Staff as had refused promotion before issue of these Matching Savings: 9. Entire scheme of restructuring is to be a self-financing and expenditure neutral proposition. For calculation of the financial implications, the revised basic pay (including the Grade Pay) corresponding to the midpoint of the pre-revised pay scales in respect of the each post as listed in the fitment table circulated vide Railway Board’s letter No. PC-VI/2008/I/RSRP/1 dated 12.09.2008, should be taken, along with the Dearness Allowance as applicable on date of effect of these orders. 9.1. Before restructuring the cadre of Assistant Loco Pilots as per the revised percentage distribution of posts, matching savings will have to be ensured by the Railway. Board desire that the General Managers should ensure that the restructuring is implemented expeditiously with matching saving without any exception and difficulty. There would be no restructuring without matching savings by surrender of posts by the concerned Railway. This issues with the concurrence of Finance Directorate of this Ministry. Kindly acknowledge receipt. Hindi version will follow. ( Hari Krishan) |
Banks, insurers, Konkan Rly to join new pension scheme
Banks, insurers, Konkan Rly to join new pension scheme
The New Pension System will get a boost with many banks, insurance companies, Konkan Railway and Damodar Valley Corporation slated to put their retirement corpus into the contributory pension scheme.
“Damodar Valley Corporation and Indian Banks Association are coming in. The Konkan Railway has shown interest. Some insurance companies too are likely to join the scheme. There are lots of companies which are showing interest now,” an official with the P ension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA) said.
The Indian Banks Association, according to the official, has said new bank recruits who join from April 2010 will be included in NPS. Besides, insurance companies are looking at similar provisions for their new employees.
“Companies which do not have the EPFO liability can directly come to us. Those who have EPFO liability can make contribution over and above EPFO,” the official said, adding the fund managers would be decided by companies themselves.
There are six fund managers for the citizens’ scheme. These include IDFC Mutual Fund, Kotak Mahindra, SBI, UTI Asset Management, ICICI Prudential Life Insurance and Reliance MF.
Initially, the NPS was launched for the Central government employees joining service from January 1, 2004, but from last May it was extended to all citizens.
According to the information available on the PFRDA Website, as many as 8,78,713 subscribers have joined the NPS till last month, which include 5,532 from the unorganised sector. Out of this, a large majority of 6,09,376 subscribers are the Central gover nment employees, apart from 2,55,903 state government employees.
National Aluminium Company was the first public sector undertaking to move its employees retirement funds to the New Pension System to a contribution of 6 per cent of the basic pay into the NPS.
Source: PTI
10/05/2010
Permitted CCL to female railway employees having disabled children up to the age of 22 years
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS
(RAILWAY BOARD)
PC-VI No.200
RBE No. 58/2010
New Delhi dated dated 23.04.2010
No.E(P&A)I-2008/CPC/LE-8
The General Managers / CAOs
All Indian Railways and Production Units.
Sub : Implementation of Government’s decision on the recommendations of the Sixth Central Pay Commission – Child Care Leave Waiving of age restriction of 18 years for Government servant having mentally challenged/disabled children –
*****
Please refer to Board’s letter of even number dated 23.10.2008 and 12.12.2008 regarding grant of Child Care leave (CCL).
2. Consequent upon the decision taken by the Government, the Ministry of Railways have decided to permit CCl to female railway employees having disabled children up to the age of 22 years for a maximum period of two years (i.e 730 days) subject to the other terms and conditions stipulated in Board’s above referred letters. However, it is re-iterated that CCL cannot be demanded as a matter of right and under no circumstances can any employee proceed on CCL without prior approval of the Leave sanctioning authority.
3. Disabled Child having a minimum disability of 40% is elaborated in the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment’s Notification No.16-18/97-NI.I dated 01.06.2001 (copy enclosed). Documents relating to the handicap as specified in the above said Notification dated 1.6.2001, as well as a certificate from the Railway servant regarding dependency of the child on the railway servant would have to be submitted by the female railway employee. The CCL would be permitted to female railway employees only if the child is dependent on them.
4. This issues with the concurrence of the Finance Directorate of the Ministry of Railways.
5. Please acknowledge receipt.
DA: As above.
(Chander Parkash)
Joint Director Estt.(P&A),
Railway Board
No.E(P&A)I-2008/CPC/LE-8
New Delhi dated dated 23.04.2010
Copy to:
1. The Principal Director of Audit, All Indian Railways.
2. The Deputy Comptroller and Auditor General of India (Railways), Room No.224 Rail Bhawan, New Delhi( with 40 spares). for Financial Commissioner / Railways.
09/05/2010
The Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) has, after 41 years, directed the Northern Railway to pay all arrears to a widow of its employee, who died in an accident, within a month
Relief for widow after 41 years
Sonika Bhatia
Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, May 5
The Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) has, after 41 years, directed the Northern Railway to pay all arrears to a widow of its employee, who died in an accident, within a month.
Pinja Ram, who was working as a fireman from 1967 to 1969 with the Railways, died on January 11, 1969. The Railways had, so far, failed to provide her with a family pension and other pensionary benefits. Rampyari, a resident of Kangra district, had approached the tribunal for seeking family pension, DCRG and other retrial benefits permissible under the law.
The Railways has been asked to grant the family pension under the Rule 75 of the Railway Services (Pension) and Gratuity or any other provision in its rules.
In its reply, the Northern Railways submitted that Pinja Ram was appointed as a temporary shed cleaner on February 1, 1967. He was also put to officiate as fire man ‘C’ but was neither confirmed as the shed cleaner nor as the fire man ‘C’. It admitted that Pinja died in an accident during the course of his employment and they had paid the terminal dues towards death gratuity to his family. The department also claimed that they had passed PF assets along with Rs 7,000 as compensation in view of the fact that Pinja had died during the course of employment.
Regarding the payment of family pension and other retrial benefits, the Railways claimed that according to their contention Rampyari is not entitled to these benefits as her husband did not work with the department for at least 10 years so as to entitle her for granting the family pension.
The Bench comprising Shyama Dogra and Khushiram observed, “It is a hard case where the value of the Railway servant on his death in harness due to an accident has been fixed and paid to the applicant in terms of petty amount of less then Rs 100 as the death gratuity and Rs 7,000 as death compensation.”
“It is painful to note that neither in the statement nor through arguments addressed by the counsel for the Northern Railways, this court was apprised of the fact that there is a provision under the Family Pension Rules of the Railways to grant family pension in such cases. We deprecate such practice adopted by the Railway to withheld vital legal information from the court,” the order read.
“It is further relevant to say that these schemes or rules are framed for benevolent purposes to give some solace to the dependents of the deceased employee but the Northern Railways authorities have withheld these provisions to thwart the applicant’s claim. In such cases, respondents should have taken steps to provide immediate financial assistance to the applicant as per rule,” it added.
“To impart justice in a fair manner, we have taken judicial notice of the Rule 75 of the Railway Services (Pension) Rules, 1993, regarding the family pension schemes, under which when a railway employee dies after the completion of a year of continuous service, the family of deceased is entitled to receive the family pension,” the order read.
PRIS : Centre to dole out payouts to performing employees
Incentive : Centre to dole out payouts to performing employees
The Indian government is finally going the corporate way. The stage has been set for introducing performance-linked payouts which may force over five million central government employees to deliver their best.
What may make even corporate executives envious of the new bonanza for central government employees, particularly of the brass, is the proposal of a 20% hike for the best performers over and above the raise that they had received after the sixth Pay Commission’s recommendations two years ago.
Yet for the babus, it won’t be a cakewalk either, as the formula of assessing the government employees as proposed by performance management division under the cabinet secretariat, has ruled out paying even a penny to an official if his ministry scores 70 or below in a scale of 100.
But a secretary of a high performing ministry which meets 100% target will be eligible to receive Rs 2.4 lakh extra per year if the cabinet secretariat’s proposal of a 20% performance-linked payout is endorsed by the government, according to an official in cabinet secretariat.
The first round of assessment, initially for three months from January to March 2010, is over and three out of 59 central government departments have got a 100% score. There is a strong possibility that a large number of government employees would receive an extra pay once the new formula is adopted.
"We are extending the performance monitoring and evaluation system to 62 departments from the current fiscal. According to our system, a department sets a target, fixes the weightages of each target, and if it succeeds meeting all its targets, it gets a score of 100. Now, we are proposing that if a department meets all its targets, the head of the department would be given a performance bonus of 20% or more of his basic salary. And other employees too will get such bonuses,” said an official in performance management division.
He further says how the government has failed to implement performance-linked incentives for its employees for the last 20 years though such recommendations were mooted by successive pay commissions including the more recent Sixth Pay Commission.
Several countries such as Canada, New Zealand, Australia, Netherlands, Denmark, UK, US and Finland have moved away from the traditional government administrative model to a management model under which officers act like corporate managers as they get greater operational freedom, but are held accountable for results. In fact, New Zealand is considered to be the leader of the pack where performance of government agencies are weighed in by setting targets and adopting regular evaluations.
Though there were several attempts in India too to bring in performance management in an institutionalised way, the process got kick started only after World Bank’s senior economist Prajapati Trivedi was appointed as secretary to the government of India with the responsibility for performance management early last year. Dr Trivedi, along with cabinet secretary KM Chandrasekhar, introduced a tool called Results Framework Document (RFD) which will set targets for each ministry and will finally be the basis for yearly evaluation.
Dr SP Parashar, a former director of IIM Indore, says that the government had in the past too dealt with the subject by introducing themes such as Programming, Planning, Budgeting (PPB), Zero Base Budgeting (ZBB), and Outcome Budgeting (OB), to name a few. “You might be wondering what happened to them? They went with their champions. Lets hope that Results Framework Document (RFD) stays. The real challenge and test of any change program in our kind of democracies is its continuity...” he says.
He agrees that at concept level, Results Framework Document captures international best practices in respect of government performance management, but it misses the heart of good performance being implemented in the corporate world. “It is fixing individual responsibility in addition to departmental responsibility. The Results Framework Document as currently devised and adopted uses departmental responsibility and score as proxy for individual responsibility and score,” he says.
Yet, with 62 government ministries and departments on board with a few exceptions like PMO, home and defence, the performance of central ministries is under close watch. Though SundayET has learnt that only three ministries met 100% targets and some could not even meet 50%, it remains to be seen when and how the government makes those report cards public.
Source : The Economic Times.
07/05/2010
‘Swavalamban’ initiative to accelerate NPS yet to pick up
Despite government initiatives, the NPS has not generated enough interest among the masses. What needs to be done to prop up this excellent scheme?
Investors have not responded with much enthusiasm to the ‘Swavalamban’ initiative extended by the government under which it will contribute Rs1,000 per year (for a period of four years) to every New Pension Scheme (NPS) account opened this year with at least a matching contribution from the subscriber. Citizens in the non-government segment continue to abstain from investing in the NPS. The number of non-government subscribers to NPS registered as of 30 April 2010 has touched 5,532. Although the figure is more than double that of October 2009 when non-government subscribers were 2,321, the absolute numbers are still small.
The total central government employees registered under the NPS have gone up to 6,09,376 from 5,38,276 in October last year. However, there has been a large increase in numbers from among the state government employees during the same period. The number of subscribers under this category rose to 2,55,903 from the earlier 1,10,024.
An officer from one of the point of presence service providers (PoP-SP) pointed out that there have been no significant additions since the budget announcement. He said, “The momentum has not picked up much despite various initiatives from the government and banks. We have been told that this product should be bought and not sold. So we are not expected to advise customers in any way. The policy is that we wait for the customers to approach us. We are fully equipped and ready to accept subscriptions in the NPS.”
Incidentally, this PoP-SP has commissioned more than 300 of its branches to provide NPS registration facilities to the subscribers. Several other banks have also mobilised a chunk of personnel and designated a part of their infrastructure for catering to the NPS subscriptions. Another PoP service provider confirmed, “Although there is an improvement in the NPS accounts, it is not as much as what was expected.”
Commenting on what needs to be done to popularise the scheme, the official stated, “We need to approach private sector companies and talk to employees about the benefits of the scheme. The government could also probably offer a minimum dividend or guarantee as people may be worried about what they will end up with after so many years. Things will change if the scheme assures a minimum return.”
Speaking about the possible actions being considered to promote the scheme, an official from the Pension Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA) said, “The Swavalamban initiative has seen a slow and steady rise from the earlier rate of enrolment. The first phase of implementation is almost over. We are now looking at various promotional and monetary incentives for enrolment. We are considering media campaigns and strengthening the regulatory mechanism through monitoring the PoPs more closely and how to make them promote the scheme better.”
The still lukewarm response to the NPS is unfortunate considering that it is a product that is actually tailor-made for the requirements of the masses. It is among the least expensive balanced investment products in the market and the cheapest pension product in the offing, which would make a huge difference to long-term wealth.
Lack of confidence in the product is also a mitigating factor. Investors are wary about how much they will end up with after the contribution period. Investors should be advised by the PoPs regarding the portfolio allocation to debt and equity before investing. Awareness among the masses still remains a concern for the pension regulator and hence, its plans to promote the scheme need to take shape for the NPS to achieve its true potential.
Transport workers in South Africa set for strike action
Some 50,000 workers in the state owned freight group Transnet are set to go on strike next week. A total shutdown of all South Africa’s ports, freight rail operations, rail engineering works and fuel pipelines is expected.
Workers at Transnet, represented by the ITF-affiliated South African Transport and Allied Workers’ Union and the United Transport and Allied Trade Union in conjunction with the South African Railways and Harbour Workers' Union will go on strike on 10 May.
The unions, representing the workforce at six divisions of the company, went into dispute in early April after negotiations and conciliation over an annual wage increase and employment conditions failed.
The unions’ key demands focus on a number of areas including: a 15 per cent pay increase - the company has so far offered eight per cent; the immediate permanent employment of all 5000 fixed-term contract workers, particularly at Transnet Capital Projects, which constructs and maintains infrastructure and a three month maximum timeframe for the extension of a medical aid subsidy to additional service providers.
A range of issues have been fuelling the dispute, such as: the excessive salaries and incentive bonuses paid to top managers - of the total bonuses paid last year, 51 per cent went to 4,500 managers and 49 per cent was shared between 49,000 workers and the fact that the additional pressure on workers as a result of Transnet’s cutting employees from 200,000 to 50,000 has not led to fairer remuneration.
A joint union statement on the strike said: “We want to put on record that going on strike is not an easy decision to make. The absence of a decent wage offer has forced the unions into this position. The public and media must look to Transnet to resolve the impasse. We apologise in advance for any inconvenience caused.”
A parallel dispute is running in urban passenger rail; the union is going into conciliation with Metrorail today. If the dispute is not resolved concurrent strike action could be possible.
06/05/2010
Postponement of the “All India Conference of Running Staff”
Postponement of the “All India Conference of Running Staff”
No.AIRF/55(Running Staff Conference Dated: May 4, 2010
The General Secretaries,
All Affiliated Zonal Railways
Sub: Postponement of the “All India Conference of Running Staff” - 9.5.2010, Mumbai(Central Railway)
As all of you are aware that brisk preparations were on for the “All India Conference of Running Staff” scheduled to be held on 9th May, 2010 in Mumbai(Central Railway). Due to recent problems of the Motormen in Mumbai, the General Secretary, National Railway Mazdoor Union, Mumbai has desired to postpone the said conference. Looking into peculiar and unavoidable circumstances, in consultation with the President/AIRF, it has been decided to postpone the above-mentioned conference of the Running Staff. Next date of the said conference will be communicated to you as and when the same is decided in consultation with the host union (NRMU) as well as other General Secretaries. I know that all of you must be in full preparedness, rather ready to March to Mumbai in connection with this conference. Inconvenience caused is deeply regretted. With fraternal greetings!
(Shiv Gopal Mishra)
General Secretary, AIRF
Minutes of Second Meeting of the National Anomaly Committee held on 27th March, 2010
DOPT Published the Minutes of Second Meeting of the National Anomaly Committee
F.N0.11/2/2008-JCA
Government of India
Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions
(Department of Personnel & Training)
Government of India
Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions
(Department of Personnel & Training)
North Block, New Delhi
Dated the 4th May, 2010
Dated the 4th May, 2010
OFFICE MEMORANDUM
Subject: Minutes of the Second Meeting of the National Anomaly Committee held on 27th March, 2010.
The undersigned is directed to forward a copy of the minutes of the Second Meeting of the National Anomaly Committee held on 27thMarch, 2010 in Conference Hall (Room No. 119), North Block, New Delhi under the Chairmanship of Secretary (Personnel) for information and necessary action.
(Dinesh Kapila)
Deputy Secretary (JCA)
Deputy Secretary (JCA)
MINUTES OF THE SECOND MEETING OF
NATIONAL ANOMALY COMMITTEE HELD ON
27TH MARCH 2010
*****NATIONAL ANOMALY COMMITTEE HELD ON
27TH MARCH 2010
The Second meeting of the National Anomaly Committee (NAC) was held on 27th March 2010 in Conference Room No.119, North Block, New Delhi under the Chairmanship of Secretary (Personnel). A list of participants who attended the meeting is annexed.
2.At the outset, the Chairman welcomed the representatives of the Staff Side and Official Side. Referring to the interesting and fruitful discussions held during the first meeting of the NAC on 12th December 2009, the Chairman stated that some progress has been made and stated that action taken on the decisions taken in the first meeting shall be shared with the staff side. The Chairman then suggested that issues pertaining to pensions may be taken up first for discussions as the representatives of the Department of Pension & Pensioners’ & welfare had to attend another meeting, although that meeting had been postponed. The Chairman also informed that the 46th Meeting of the National Council (JCM) has been scheduled to be held on 15th May 2010 under the Chairmanship of Cabinet Secretary. The Chairman also reiterated the resolve of the Government to ensure early resolution of all the anomalies by holding meaningful discussions with the staff side. Thereafter, the Chairman invited the Leader and Secretary of Staff Side to make the opening remarks before moving to the agenda items.
3. Leader of the Staff Side Shri M. Raghaviah thanked the Chairman for convening the second meeting of the National Anomaly Committee. He further stated that employees are anxiously waiting for the NAC to produce results. Referring to the anomaly in the date of next increment, Shri. Raghaviah stated that this anomaly should be removed without any further delay. He further stated that action taken on the minutes of the First meeting of NAC should be discussed. Thereafter, Shri Raghaviah drew the attention of the Committee towards the problems emanating from the modified ACP Scheme and requested for early rectification of the same.
4. Secretary of the Staff Side Shri Umraomal Purohit thanked the Chairman and stated that the report of the 6th Pay Commission is absolutely new and therefore, there are certain concerns which must be addressed suitably. Referring to the issue of change in the definition of anomaly which was raised during the first meeting of the NAG, he stated that the Terms of Reference for the NAC constituted after the 5th CPC were jointly agreed. He further stated that this agreed definition of anomaly was changed after the 6th CPC and the Chairman had assured in the last meeting that this should not lead to any problems. However, another related problem anticipated by the staff side is that the present definition would form the basis for formulating the Terms of Reference of the NAC after the 7th CPC and this could lead to problems at that time. Therefore, while currently there may not be any problem due to deletion of the particular para from the definition of anomaly. but in future there could be some dispute regarding the agreed definition of anomaly as generally, the government works on the basis of precedents. He, therefore, requested that this aspect should be recorded in the minutes of the meeting so as to obviate problems I disputes in future. He then referred to the general recommendation of the 6th CPC that all such allowances, in respect of which there was no specific recommendation, should be doubled. He further stated about the recommendation of 6th CPC to discontinue certain allowances like the Patient Care Allowance and Risk Allowance and to introduce new schemes in lieu thereof in consultation with the staff side. He referred to a specific recommendation of the 6th CPC regarding introduction of the Risk Insurance Scheme to replace the Risk Allowance. He suggested that until the new schemes are formulated by the Government, in consultation with the staff side, such existing allowances should be continued and their rates must be doubled in view of the general recommendation of the 6th CPC. Regarding the suggestion the Chairman to first discuss the issues related to pensions, Shri Purohit stated that the staff side has no objection to the same.Regarding the anomalies in the MACP, Shri Purohit suggested that a Joint Committee comprising of members or the official and staff side may be constituted to thoroughly examine the anomalies in the MACP. The recommendations of the Joint Committee can be placed before the NAC for a final decision in the matter. Referring to the various agenda items before the NAC, Shri Purohit also stated that there is a need to work a little faster. Shri Purohit also drew the attention of the Committee to the fact that CCA has been abolished by the 6th CPC by merging it with the Transport Allowance. He stated that prior to this, CCA was treated as ‘Pay’ for all purposes, particularly for calculation of overtime in respect of industrial workers. He was of the view that these kinds of unintentional problems emanating from the 6th CPC report should not be overlooked. In the last, he once again thanked the Chairman and stated that he was sure that all the anomalies would be resolved under ‘ the leadership of Secretary (P).
5. The Chairman stated that the government also recognise the need for faster resolution of all anomalies. The Chairman agreed to the suggestion for creation of a Joint Committee to look into the anomalies related to MACP. The Chairman while acknowledging the new structure and approach of the report of the 6th CPC, re-iterated the suggestion given by him in the first meeting of NAC that in case certain problems and difficulties are being faced due to insufficient understanding with regard to ecommendations of the report of the 6′th CPC, the same may be brought to the notice of the Department of Personnel & Training so that these could be appropriately addressed and clarifications / explanations may be issued / uploaded on the website of the Department in order to obviate the need for future references on such matters. With respect to change in the definition of the agreed definition of anomaly,the Chairman stated that this aspect had already been recorded in the minutes of the first meeting of the NAC and if needed, the same can again be recorded for posterity that the staff side had taken up this issue in the NAC and it was agreed that it would be the endeavour of the Government to ensure that this change does not lead to any problems now or in the future. Regarding the new schemes to replace some of the allowances like Patient care Allowance and Risk Allowance, the Chairman assured the staff side that it would be the endeavour of the Government to ensure that new schemes are introduced only afler consulting the staff side. Regarding continuation of the risk allowance at old rates till the new Risk Insurance Scheme is finalised, the Chairman agreed that this matter will be examined.
6. Thereafter, the staff side raised the issue relating to the revision of the Fixed Medical Allowance (FMA). ‘The representatives of the Department of Pensions and Pensioners’ Welfare informed that a proposal to revise the FMA has been moved and presently the same is under consideration of the Committee of Secretaries. The Chairman stated the he will take up the matter with the cabinet secretary regarding an early decision on the matter.
7. Thereafter, the anomalies as per the agenda were taken up for discussion:
Item No 9: Anomaly in pension for government servants who retired/died in harness between 1 .1.2006 and 1.9.2008
Director,Department of Pension informed that during the first meeting of the NAC, under this item, the issue of non release of second instalment of arrears to the pensioners was raised. It was agreed that Department of Pension will take necessary steps to sort out the problem. Director, Department of Pension informed that in this connection, Secretary (P) took up the matter with the Secretary, Department of Financial Services and the Department of Pension took up the matter with the concerned authorities and now the problem has been resolved. Regarding the issue of release of life time arrears to the family pensioners, director,Department of Pension informed that suitable instructions in this connection already exist. The Chairman suggested that oncerned instructions should be reiterated to ensure speedy release of life time arrears to family pensioners. The item was treated as closed.
ltem Nos. 15. 16, 17 & 21:- Parity/ modified parity in pension/revised pension/familypension of all pre-1996 retirees with those who retired on or after 01 .01.2006.
The Official Side stated that the matter has been examined in detail on the basis of note given by the Staff Side. However, it has not been found feasible to agree to the demand of the Staff Side as revised pension has been fixed strictly in accordance with the rinciples enunciated by the 6th CPC for the same. Director, Department of Pension further informed that the matter was taken up with the Department of Expenditure and it has been decided that the modified parity adopted will stand as the same method was adopted after the implementation of the recommendations of the 5th CPC. However, even after a prolonged discussion in the matter, there was difference of opinion between the Official and the Staff Side. In view of this deadlock, the Chairman stated that the view point the staff side has been understood by the official side and that the official side will take a stand in the matter after taking into account the views expressed by the staff side. He then suggested moving on to the next agenda item.
ltem No.18: Anomaly in Pension of those retiring within the first 9 months of the year 2006..
Director, Department of Pension and Pensioners’ Welfare informed that suitable instructions have already been issued to allow the last pay drawn as the basis of pension calculation for those who retired on or after 1 .1,2006. As the anomaly has already been resolved, it was decided to treat the item as closed.
Item No.19: Revision of pension of those who retired during the period 1.1.2006 to 1.9.2008.
Director, Department of Pension and Pensioners’ Welfare informed that suitable instructions have already been issued to the effect that the benefit of full pension on retirement after 20 years of service has also been extended to employees who retired between 1.1.2006 to 1.9.2008. As the anomaly has already been resolved, it was decided to treat the item as closed.
ltem No.22:- Revision of pension of those who are receiving two pensions.
Director, Department of Pension and Pensioners’ Welfare informed that suitable instructions have already been issued vide O.M. dated 12th 0ctober 2009 to the effect that in respect of persons receiving two pensions, the floor ceiling of basic pension of Rs.3500/- per month shall apply individually. Therefore, it was decided to treat the item as closed.
ltem No.23:- Special provision for those who retired on or after 1.1.2006 but retained pre revised scale of pay.
Director, Department of Pension and Pensioners’ Welfare informed that although such a case has not come to the notice of that Department, however, the matter has been taken up with the Ministry of Finance and the same is under consideration. After detailed discussion, it was decided that the
staff side will try to provide specific cases where problems are being faced due to retention of prerevised pay scale. It was also decided to look into the modalities adopted in such cases after the implementation of the recommendations of the 5′th CPC.
staff side will try to provide specific cases where problems are being faced due to retention of prerevised pay scale. It was also decided to look into the modalities adopted in such cases after the implementation of the recommendations of the 5′th CPC.
ltem Nos.24.25 & 26:-Commutation of pension / additional pension
The staff side stated that the additional amount of pension commutation due to retrospective revision of pay of post 31” December 2005 retirees, should be done on the basis of the then existing (old) commutation table whereas the government has decided that this should be done on the basis of the New Commutation Table recommended by the 6thCPC. The staff side further stated that this dispensation is anomalous and the then existing table should only be used to calculate the amount of the additional commutation of pension becoming due on account of the revision of pay scales. The official side stated that the 6th CPC has
recommended that if a pensioner opts for additional commutation of pension due to retrospective revision of pay, then the amount of additional pension commutation should be calculated on the basis of the New Commutation Table. It was further clarified by the official side that if the concerned pensioner did not opt for additional commutation, then the issue of using the new or old table would not come into being. Therefore, the alternative of not opting for the additional commutation is already available to the concerned pensioners if they feel that the revised commutation table is not favourable to them. Moreover, the official side also clarified that as per the scheme of things approved by the cabinet, the revised commutation table is to be used for calculating only the future commutation of pension and will not be applied to the past commutation. In respect of* pensioner who has already commuted the pension, the revised commutation table shall be used only to compute the amount of pension that has become additionally commutable due to retrospective implementation of the revised pay scales. After detailed discussion on the matter, it was decided that as the new dispensation has been formulated strictly in accordance with the recommendations of the 6′th CPC However, there was no consensus on the item and it was decided to move to the next agenda item.
recommended that if a pensioner opts for additional commutation of pension due to retrospective revision of pay, then the amount of additional pension commutation should be calculated on the basis of the New Commutation Table. It was further clarified by the official side that if the concerned pensioner did not opt for additional commutation, then the issue of using the new or old table would not come into being. Therefore, the alternative of not opting for the additional commutation is already available to the concerned pensioners if they feel that the revised commutation table is not favourable to them. Moreover, the official side also clarified that as per the scheme of things approved by the cabinet, the revised commutation table is to be used for calculating only the future commutation of pension and will not be applied to the past commutation. In respect of* pensioner who has already commuted the pension, the revised commutation table shall be used only to compute the amount of pension that has become additionally commutable due to retrospective implementation of the revised pay scales. After detailed discussion on the matter, it was decided that as the new dispensation has been formulated strictly in accordance with the recommendations of the 6′th CPC However, there was no consensus on the item and it was decided to move to the next agenda item.
ltem No 36; Income criteria in respect of parent and widowed/ divorced/ unmarried daughters.
The staff side demanded as everyone does not get Dearness Allowance (DA), the limit of Rs.35001- plus DA should be converted into a fixed amount for deciding the income criteria in respect of parent and widowed1 divorced1 unmarried daughters. After detailed discussion, it was agreed that the official
side will re-examine the issue.
side will re-examine the issue.
ltem No.48- Restoration of commutation of pension after 12 years instead of 15 years.
Director, Department of Pension and Pensioners’ Welfare informed that after examining the matter in detail, the 6th CPC has recommended that the existing 15 years period for restoration of pension should be maintained. However, the staff side was of the opinion that the commuted portion of pension is actually recovered by the Government within 12 years and therefore there is a need to have a relook in the matter. The staff side also referred to their calculations in this regard and requested the Official Side to reconsider the matter. After detailed discussion, it was decided that Official Side will re-examine the calculation given by the Staff Side and also the calculations used by the 6′th CPC.
ltem Nos.54 to 59
The official Side informed that item nos. 54 to 59 relate to anomalies pertaining to Union Territory of Puducherry. It was further informed by the Official side that the administration of Puducherry has constituted an Anomaly Committee at the local level. Therefore, it was agreed that these items may be
dropped from the agenda of the National Anomaly Committee. However, the staff side also stated that the Anomaly Committee constituted by the Administration of Puducherry should be on the pattern of the departmental anomaly committees and staff side should also be given due representation in the same.
dropped from the agenda of the National Anomaly Committee. However, the staff side also stated that the Anomaly Committee constituted by the Administration of Puducherry should be on the pattern of the departmental anomaly committees and staff side should also be given due representation in the same.
ltem Nos.52 & 53
The Official Side informed that these two items relate to anomalies pertaining to the Union Territory of Andaman & Nicobar Islands and therefore suggested that the same may also be dropped from the agenda of NAC. The Staff Side agreed with the suggestion subject to the condition that some
mechanism should be evolved at the local level to discuss these anomalies. The Official Side agreed to take up the matter with the Ministry of Home Affairs.
mechanism should be evolved at the local level to discuss these anomalies. The Official Side agreed to take up the matter with the Ministry of Home Affairs.
Aqenda Item Nos. 1 to 4 & 5(iii)- Anomaly in Pay Fixation in case of merger of various Pay Scales.
The Staff Side reiterated their demand that since the pre-revised Pay Scales of Rs.5000-8000/-, Rs.5500-9000/- were merged with the pay scale of Rs.6500-10500, the pay of the incumbents holding the pay scales of Rs.5000-8000/- and Rs.5500-9000 should have been fixed with effect from 1.1.2006 by applying the multiplying factor of 1.86 at Rs.6500/-. The Official Side informed that incumbents in the pre revised pay scale of Rs.6500-10500 have been granted Grade Pay of Rs.4600/- and hence now, there is no justification for this demand. The staff side, however, stated that it would be incorrect to presume that the anomaly has been resolved by granting grade pay of Rs. 4600 to employees in the pre-revised scale of Rs. 6500-10500. The staff side stated that pre-revised pay scales of Rs 5000-8000/- and Rs 5500- 90001- have been merged with the pre-revised pay scale of Rs 6500-10500/- and therefore, employees in these pay scales should be given the minimum of Rs 6500/- multiplied by 1.86 as basic pay in the pay band.
Agenda Item No.5- Revised Pay Rules
(i) Regarding finalisation of option to be given by the employees for the purpose of pay fixation, it was informed by the representatives of the Department of Expenditure that matter regarding delegation of powers to the administrative Ministries/ Departments to allow the revised option is under consideration.
(iv) Regarding anomaly in fixation of pay between direct recruits and promotees, the Staff Side reiterated that while applying Rule 8 of the CCS (RP) Rules, 2008, the pay of direct recruits and new entrants is fixed at a higher stage when compared to the existing employees who were promoted in the same grade. The Staff Side demanded that this anomaly should be rectified by incorporating a provision that in case after 1.1.2006, if a promotee’s pay is getting fixed at a stage lower than that of a direct recruit as given in Section 2 of the First Schedule of the CCS (RP) Rules, then the pay of the promotee should be fixed at the same stage as that of a direct recruit/ new entrant so that the existing employees’ pay is protected at par with the pay given to a new entrant. The Staff Side referred to the orders issued by) the Ministry of Railways for stepping up of the pay of a senior employee who is after promoted after 1.1.2006 and if his / her pay is fixed at a stage less than that of a junior employee who is recruited after 1.1.2006 and requested that Department of Expenditure should issue similar order/clarification in respect of employees of other Ministries/ Departments. The Official Side, however, was of the opinion that such orders should be issued only by the concerned Ministries/ Departments after seeking approval of the Department of Expenditure. Representatives of the Department of Expenditure also informed that the order issued by the Ministry of Railways is not applicable to all the cases and also that the same is applicable only in certain cases subject to fulfilment of certain conditions. Therefore, Representatives of the Department of Expenditure were of the view that a general order in this regard might create more confusion and hence it would be prudent to deal with the issue on case to case basis. In response to the suggestion of the staff side to re-examine the matter, representatives of the Department of Expenditure stated that the matter has already been examined and in cases, where the conditions of stepping up are met, there is no difficulty. However, in cases, where certain conditions are not met, it may not be possible to accommodate the demand of the staff side with the broad principles envisaged by the 6′th CPC in this regard. The staff side than stated that as per the relevant provisions of the Fundamental Rules, anybody who is promoted, his / her pay cannot be fixed at a stage lower than the minimum of the pay scale in which he /she has been promoted. The staff side further stated that any person, who is appointed afresh to a post, is normally appointed at the minimum of that pay scale. Therefore, whatever pay has been prescribed for a direct recruitee, has to be treated as the minimum of that particular post in the concerned pay band. On this basis, the staff side stated that pay of a promotee should not be fixed lower than that of a direct recruitee in a particular pay band. The representatives of the Department of Expenditure stated that as a general preposition, this is not in line with the scheme of things envisaged and implemented as result of the recommendations of the 6th CPC. Therefore, agreeing with the demand of the staff side would mean departing from the general recommendations of the 6′h CPC and therefore additional information is required before taking any decision on this matter. In this regard the staff side contended that it is a question of relevant Fundamental Rules and not regarding the recommendations of the 6th CPC. The Staff Side insisted that provisions of the Fundamental Rules are statutory and therefore, they are above the recommendations of the 6′h CPC and would prevail over them. Representatives of the Department of Expenditure stated that as per Rule 15 of the CCS (RP) Rules, 2008, the provisions of CCS (RP) Rules 2008 shall prevail in case there is any inconsistency between these rules and Fundamental Rules and therefore, the contention of the Staff Side regarding inconsistency with the Fundamental Rules and provisions regarding fixation of pay on promotion is not correct. After a prolonged discussion on the matter, it was decided that the Official Side will re-examine the matter.
(v) Regarding the anomaly relating to Rule 9 of the CCS (RP) Rules, 2008, concerning the date of next increment, the Staff Side reiterated their demand that employees whose date of next increment falls between 1st February to 1st June may be given an increment, as a onetime measure, in the pre revised pay scales on 1.1.2006 as has already been done in respect of employees whose next date of increment was 1.1.2006. The representatives of the Department of Expenditure stated that it is important to first examine the repercussions of granting an increment w.e.f 1. 1. 2006 in the pre revised pay scale because such a decision may eventually lead to certain other anomalies. After a long discussion, it was agreed that the Official Side would re- examine the matter and either suitable clarification in this regard will be issued before the next meeting of the National Anomaly Committee or if there is a need, the Department of Expenditure shall discuss the matter again with the representatives of the Staff Side.
(vii) The issue regarding temporary status casual labourers was discussed. The Staff Side stated that the temporary status casual labourers should be imparted the requisite training and granted grade pay of Rs.1800/- w.e.f. 1.1.2006. In this connection, the Official Side informed that the Department of Personnel & Training has already taken up the matter with all Ministries/ Departments and information has been called from all Ministries / Departments regarding the number of temporary status casual labourers and the proposals relating to three Ministries/ Departments have already been cleared. It was also informed that no proposal of any Ministry/ Department is pending with the Department of Personnel & Training. Therefore, the required action has already been initiated in this regard. Agenda Item No.47: Date of Annual Increment in EOL cases The Staff Side stated that after the implementation of the recommendations of the 6′h CPC, the date of annual increment in respect of all the employees has been fixed as 1st July every year. In this regard, the Staff Side drew attention towards a clarification given by the Department of Personnel & Training to the Ministry of Defence that in case of qualifying service of less than six months has been rendered between 1st January and 30′ June of every year on account of EOL, this will have the effect of postponing one’s increment to 1′ July of next year. The Staff Side stated that this is quite an anomalous situation and requested that this anomaly should be removed at the earliest. After a detailed discussion on this subject, it was agreed that if an employee has rendered minimum of six months of qualifying ’service during a particular year, he or she should be entitled to get the annual increment on 1st July. It was also agreed that Official Side would issue appropriate instructions in this regard at the earliest.
8. In the end, the chairman thanked the members of the staff side for their help and cooperation for a rigorous and fruitful discussion. The Chairman reemphasised that the staff side should proactively share with the official side the queries about the report of the 6th CPC so that explanatory notes / clarifications etc. could be prepared and uploaded on the website of the Department of Personnel and Training. The Chairman also requested the Staff Side to quickly forward the names of the representatives of the staff side to be nominated as members in the Joint Committee on MACP so that the order regarding constitution of the Joint Committee could be issued. The Chairman then suggested that the next meeting of the National Anomaly Committee could be convened in the last week of June 2010. The staff side agreed with this suggestion.
| OFFICIAL SIDE | STAFF SIDE | |
| 1 | Shri P.K. Sharma, Addl. Member (Staff), Min. of Railways | 1. Shri M.Raghavaiah, |
| 2 | Shri C.B. Paliwal, Joint Secretary, DOPT | 2. Shri U.M. Purohit, Secretary |
| 3 | mt. Madhulika P. Sukul, JS (Pers), Dlo Expenditure | 3. Shri Rakhal Das Gupta, Member |
| 4 | Ski Ramesh Kumar, Joint Secretary & AFA, Min. of Defence | 4. Shri R.P.Bhatnagar, Member |
| 5 | Shri D.M. Gautam, Ex. Dir. (Pay Commission-I), Ministry of Railways, (Railway Board) | 5. Shri Guman Singh, Member |
| 6 | Smt. Anjali Goyal Ex. Director, Min. of Railways | 6. Shri C.Srikumar, Member |
| 7 | Shri Hari Krishan, Director, Minism of Railways | 7. Shri S.K. Vyas, Member |
| 8 | Shri Raj Kumar, Director, Deptt. of Posts | 8. Ski Ch.Sankara Rao, Member |
| 9 | Shri Surender Kumar, Asstt. Director General, Deptt. of Posts | 9. Shri R.Srinivasan, Member |
| 10 | Shri Raj Singh, Director, Deptt. of Pensions | 10. Shri K.K.N. Kutty, Member |
| 11 | Smt. Tripti P. Gho’sh Director, Dlo Pensions | 1 1. Shri S.G. Mishra, Member |
| 12 | Shri Alok Saxena, Director (IC), Deptt. of Expenditure | - |
| 13 | Smt. Simmi Nakra, Director (P&A), DOPT | - |
| 14 | Smt. Rita Mathur, Director (Pay), DOPT | - |
| 15 | Shri Dinesh Kapila, Deputy Secretary (JCA), DOPT and Member Secretary, National Anomaly Committee | - |
| 16 | Shri Ravi Kant, Section Officer (SR), D/o Posts | - |
Siva Sena roll back its stand
Motormen threaten to go on strike again
The HinduTRAVEL TRAVAILS: Mumbai commuters travelling on the sides of a diesel engine on Tuesday as local train services were disrupted due to the strike by motormen. The strike has been called off. Photo: Paul Noronha
“Our demands have been pending since January 26… it's the administration that is stalling services”
The demands of motormen of the Mumbai locals have been pending since January 26, when they first decided to go on strike. However, at that time, the Railway authorities stepped in with the assurance that a fast track committee would look into their demands. The Joint Action Forum of motormen also intimated its decision to go on strike in May if no move was made to settle the demands.
However, a union spokesperson said the fast track committee had not even met them once and that much time had lapsed since they first made their demands. From Monday, the motormen went on an indefinite hunger strike and many were hospitalised. As a result, by evening trains were stopped at various stations and chaos reigned.
Head of Western Railway Motormen's Association Devendra Yadav said: “If our demands are not met we will go on hunger strike again. We also discussed the issue with [Maharashtra] Home Minister R.R. Patil. The government has assured us that the grade pay for assistant drivers will be raised from Rs. 1,900 to Rs. 2,800 and that for the motormen, from Rs. 4,200 to Rs. 4,800. We are not asking for anything extra. We are keeping within the ambit of the Railway Board stipulations.”
The Union was also defensive about the strike. Association secretary Sunil Gurav said, “We were not the ones to stall the train services; it's the administration. To malign the motormen, they started announcing since yesterday [Monday] that trains are not running due to the strike. They got unauthorised people from outside to operate the trains. Now the same administration has been brought to its knees. We will not get back to work till the suspended motormen are taken back on duty.”
The motormen sat in protest at the Churchgate station here awaiting the letter of assurance from the Western Railways general manager.
In a late development, Mr. Patil visited the Churchgate station and assured the group of motormen that orders revoking the 20 dismissals had been cleared. He urged them to go back to duty and said he had come to the station expressly because he had heard that they were not willing to join work till such an assurance was given.
On Monday, commuters were stranded all over the city and people staying in the far flung suburbs were the worst affected. While extra buses were pressed into service, vehicles piled up on key arterial roads causing massive traffic jams. Some travelled all night by road to reach home on Tuesday morning. Many commuters stayed back in their offices, slept on railway platforms or tried to walk home. Women were hit hard as many had to spend the night at the station.
While the Central and Western Railways had emergency plans in place, only 20 per cent of the services were operational on Tuesday. Barely 15 per cent of the people reported for work in the city that day. In the morning, 20 motormen, 10 each from Central and Western Railways, were dismissed. Later, 170 motormen from the Central Railway, who were obstructing the work of the others, were taken away by the police. By evening, 70 motormen reported for work in the Central side, the spokesperson said.
Things reached a pretty pass on Tuesday morning with Chief Minister Ashok Chavan calling an emergency meeting, where he gave the motormen time till late afternoon to call off the strike. He said the Centre had allowed the State to invoke the Essential Services Maintenance Act, adding that he would use it only if necessary.
In view of the inconvenience to the public, he also appointed Mr. Patil to negotiate with the motormen. The Home Minister's reassurances led to the strike being called off. Mr. Patil said Union Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar and Mr. Chavan had spoken to Ms. Banerjee on the issue.
Mr. Patil criticised the Opposition Bharatiya Janata Party and the Shiv Sena for supporting the strike call and then making a ruckus by switching sides in Parliament. On Tuesday morning, Sena chief Bal Thackeray called on the motormen to return to work after having supporting them earlier. He said he would take up their demands with the government.
Meanwhile, Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) president Raj Thackeray threatened that if the motormen failed to return to duty by afternoon, the MNS would resort to an agitation. Some MNS activists demonstrated at the Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus and Thane.
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