Ex-Servicemen Contributory Health Scheme

Ex-Servicemen Contributory Health Scheme

Some empanelled hospitals have stopped providing services in the recent past citing reasons of delayed payments, excessive deductions and low CGHS rates. 384 empanelled facilities have not renewed Memorandum of Agreement with ECHS till date. 69 empanelled facilities have rejoined after establishment of online billing system by ECHS.

Actions like issuance of show cause notice, issuance of ‘stop referral’ pending investigations have been carried out against such defaulting hospitals. The hospitals have refunded the amount in most of the cases. Details of action taken against the hospitals are as under:

(i)	Disempanelled	-	01
(ii)	Stop Referral	-	25
(iii)	Panel Deductions	-	02
(iv)	Warnings	-	04

This information was given by Minister of State for Defence Dr. Subhash Bhamre in a written reply to Shri Rajeshbhai Chudasama in Lok Sabha today.

PIB

Benefits under Direct Benefit Transfer Scheme

Benefits under Direct Benefit Transfer Scheme

Government proposes to include 500 central schemes under the Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) scheme during the next fiscal year. The scope of DBT has been expanded to include 'in kind' transfers as well as transfers to various 'enablers' of Government schemes like ASHA/ Aanganwadi workers etc. It has been decided to bring all welfare and subsidy schemes of the Government under DBT. DBT Mission has identified more than 500 Schemes/ Components of 63 Ministries /Departments to be implemented through DBT mode in a phased manner by 31st March, 2018. Out of the same, 90 such schemes of 19 Central Ministries/ Departments have been on-boarded to DBT platform as on 20.3.2017. A monitoring framework to assess the preparedness and progress of on-boarding has been put in place. To facilitate DBT implementation, DBT Cells have been set up by 76 Ministries / Departments.

Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) is a major reform initiative where benefits, in cash or kind, are delivered directly to accurately identified beneficiaries using mostly Aadhaar as an identifier. It envisages efficiency and inclusion in the delivery processes leading to greater accountability and transparency in the system.
The Central Ministries / Departments and various States have assessed DBT implementation in their Welfare & Subsidy schemes and have reported saving in view of de-duplication, elimination of ghost beneficiaries etc. in the last three years.

Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas had launched modified Direct Benefit Transfer for LPG (DBTL/PAHAL) Scheme in 54 districts on 15.11.2014 and across the country on 01.01.2015. LPG consumers, who join the PAHAL scheme, get the LPG cylinders at non-subsidized price and receive LPG subsidy (as per their entitlement) directly into their registered bank accounts. As on 27.03.2017, out of 19.81 crore active LPG consumers, 16.95 crore have joined the PAHAL Scheme. Subsidy amount of more than Rs. 46,000 crore has been transferred to the beneficiaries' bank accounts since its launch.

This was stated by Shri Arjun Ram Meghwal, Minister of State in the Ministry of Finance in written reply to a question in Lok Sabha today.

PIB

Re-Employment of Ex-Servicemen

Re-Employment of Ex-Servicemen

As per Department of Personnel & Training's OM No. 36034/27/84-Estt(SCT), dated 2.5.1985, on an Ex-servicemen joining the Government job on civil side after availing of the benefits given to him as an Ex-servicemen for his re-employment, his Ex-servicemen status for the purpose of re-employment in Government would cease. As per DOP&T OM No. 36034/6/90-Estt(SCT), dated 10.10.1994, an ex-servicemen already secured regular employment under the Central Government in a civil post would be permitted the benefits of age relaxation as admissible for ex-servicemen for securing another appointment in any higher post or service under the Central Government. However, such candidates will not be eligible for benefits of reservation, if any, for ex-servicemen in Central Government jobs.

As per DOP&T's OM No. 36034/1/2014-Estt(Res), dated 14.8.2014 if an ex-serviceman applies for various vacancies before joining any civil employment, he / she can avail of the benefit of reservation as ex-servicemen for any subsequent employment. However, to avail of this benefit, an ex-serviceman as soon as he / she joins any civil employment, should give self-declaration / undertaking to the concerned employer about the date-wise details of application for various vacancies for which he / she had applied for before joining the initial civil employment. This benefit would be available only in respect of vacancies which are filled on direct recruitment and wherever reservation is applicable to the ex-servicemen.

In addition to above, a proposal has been referred to DOP&T to the effect that an Ex-servicemen be allowed the benefit of reservation for second time and even thereafter in subsequent recruitments for civil employment, if the vacancies, which are to be filled on the basis of direct recruitment and where reservation is applicable to Ex-servicemen, has not been filled up with by those Ex-servicemen, who are getting / claiming benefit of reservation for the first time.

The details of reservation available to Ex-servicemen is as under:

(I) In Central Government Ministries / Departments:
(i) 10% Direct recruitment posts upto the level of Assistant Commandant in Central Para Military Forces.
(ii) 10% Direct recruitment posts in Group 'C'.
(iii) 20% Direct recruitment posts in Group 'D'.

(II) In Central Public Sector Enterprise:
(i) 14.5% in Group 'C' Posts.
(ii) 24.5% in Group 'D' Posts.

(III) Nationalised Bank:
(i) 14.5% in Group 'C' Posts.
(ii) 24.5% in Group 'D' Posts.

This information was given by Minister of State for Defence Dr. Subhash Bhamre in a written reply to Shri PC Mohan in Lok Sabha today.

PIB

Army Hospitals : 132 Armed Forces Hospitals

Army Hospitals 

There are 132 Armed Forces Hospitals in the country.  The State / UT-wise number of such hospitals is as under: 

S. No.	State	Number of Armed Forces Hospitals
		Army	Air Force	Navy
1.	Andhra Pradesh	-	-	1
2.	Arunachal Pradesh	1	-	-
3.	Assam	5	2	-
4.	Bihar	2	-	-
5.	Goa	1	-	1
6.	Gujarat	5	-	-
7.	Haryana	3	-	-
8.	Himachal Pradesh	6	-	-
9.	Jammu & Kashmir	11	-	-
10.	Jharkhand	2	-	-
11.	Karnataka	1	1	1
12.	Kerala	2	-	2
13.	Madhya Pradesh	6	1	-
14.	Maharashtra	9	-	2
15.	Manipur	1	-	-
16.	Meghalaya	1	-	-
17.	Nagaland	2	-	-
18.	Odisha	1	-	1
19.	Punjab	9	1	-
20.	Rajasthan	10	1	-
21.	Sikkim	1	-	-
22.	Tamil Nadu	3	1	-
23.	Telangana	2	1	-
24.	Tripura	1	-	-
25.	Uttarakhand	5	-	-
26.	Uttar Pradesh	12	3	-
27.	West Bengal	7	1	-
28.	Andaman & Nicobar Islands	-	-	1
29.	Delhi	2	-	-
	Total:	111	12	9

There are 98 Field Hospitals, which are located in different parts of the country based on operational requirement.  In addition, one Military Hospital is being raised at Likabali, Assam and approval has been granted for raising a Military Hospital at Panagarh, West Bengal.

This information was given by Minister of State for Defence Dr. Subhash Bhamre in a written reply to Shri Sunil Kumar Singh in Lok Sabha today.

PIB

Post titleNCJCM: 7th CPC Allowances only after Apr 23 ?

NCJCM: 7th CPC Allowances only after Apr 23 ?

NCJCM Secretary met Cabinet Secretary on 28th March 2017 and expressed the anguish situation among central government employees due to delay in the 7th Pay Commission Allowance. But Cabinet Secretary mentioned that

MCD Elections may result in some delay, however he assured that, as soon as he gets report of the Committee on Allowances, that will immediately be forwarded to the Cabinet, and after approval of the Cabinet, if need be, we would take necessary permission from the Election Commission.

MCD election date is on 23rd April 2017 and MCD Election results will be on 26th April 2017, looks like the 7th CPC allowance announcement will be announced only after MCD election
About 47 lakh Central government employees and 53 lakh pensioners have been waiting for 7th Pay Commission Allowances since July last year

7th CPC Allowances : NCJCM meeting with Cabinet Secretary on 28.03.2017

Shiva Gopal Mishra
Secretary

Ph: 23382286
National Council (Staff Side)
Joint Consultative Machinery
for Central Government Employees
13-C, Ferozshah Road, New Delhi - 110001
E-Mail : nc.jcm.np@gmail.com

No.NC/JCM/2017

Dated: March 30, 2017

All Constituents of the
NC/JCM(Staff Side)

Dear Comrades!
Sub: Brief of the meeting held with the Cabinet Secretary

I met the Cabinet Secretary on 28th March, 2017 and shown anguish about the inordinate delay in resolution of long pending demands of the Central Government Employees, and subsequently handed him over a letter on the subject matter on the next day.

The Cabinet Secretary given us assurance that, he is already pursuing these issues, and though there had been some delay in finalization of the allowances, report of the Committee on Pension has already been submitted to the Cabinet, NPS Committee is already on its job and we would try to resolve the pending issues within a short period.

He also expressed his apprehension that, MCD elections may result in some delay, but at the same time, he assured that, as soon as he gets report of the Committee on Allowances, that will immediately be forwarded to the Cabinet, and after approval of the Cabinet, if need be, we would take necessary permission from the Election Commission.

This is for your information.

Comradely Yours

(Shiva Gopal Mishra)

Source : ncjcmstaffside.com

Procrastination of staff issues - non-fulfillment of commitments by the Railway Board - serious unrest prevailing among railway employees

No. II/95/Part X

Dated: 28/03/2017

Shri A.K. Mital,
Chairman,
Railway Board,
New Delhi

Dear Sir,
Sub: Procrastination of staff issues - non-fulfillment of commitments by the Railway Board - serious unrest prevailing among railway employees-intervention requested.

Federation is constrained to bring to your kind notice that the staff in almost all categories are the dissatisfied lot due to non-redressal of their genuine grievances at Railway Board's level as also non-fulfillment of commitments made in the formal meetings held with the Railway Board. The staff issues dealt in the fora of PNM, DC/JCM as well in separate meetings are continued in a stalemate position for years together without finality.

In the above context, NFIR places below the real position to impress upon the CRB that the Railway Board's failures have been causing dissatisfaction and agony among employees in general and those in safety categories in particular:

(a) Non-fulfillment of assurances/commitments:-

• Replacement of 6th CPC GP Rs. 4600 (PB-2) with GP 4800 (PB-2) for Sr. Section Engineers and other Inspectorial/Supervisory Officials in the Railways.
• Replacement of 6th CPC GP 4200/- PB-2 with GP 4600/- PB-2 for Loco Pilots (Mail/Exp).
• Stepping up of pay of Loco Inspectors inducted prior 01/01/2006 on remaining 6 1/2 Zones in Indian Railways. (Although SLPs have been dismissed by Apex Court, the Railway Board have twisted the matter and allowed stepping up of pay to the petitioners before Court, stating that the benefit allowed as" personam". (This is a clear case of blatant violation of agreement reached with Federations). NFIR’s letter No. 11/95/Pt. X dated 24/01/2017 to CRB and letter dated 06/02/2017 may kindly be perused. GS/NFIR met Hon’ble MR and apprised the facts. The Hon’ble MR agreed that agreement should be honoured when Member Staff was present during discussion. The Railway Board's negative attitude has been contributing unrest among Loco Running Staff.
• Upgradation of Apex Group 'C' posts to Group 'B' (Gaz) - 3335 posts.
• Implementation of 10: 20: 20: 50 ratio for Track Maintainers in VI CPC GP 2800, 2400, 1900 and 1800 respectively (7th CPC Pay Matrix levels 5, 4, 2 & 1).

(b) Agreed decisions not implemented:

• Manning of coaches by Ticket Checking Staff - Restoration of Board’s orders of 2000.
• Cadre restructuring of IT cadre staff.
• Implementation of norms for creation of posts of SSE (Signal) JE (Signal), Maintainer (Signal) etc.,
• Merger of Senior Technicians (Signal) with JE (Signal) - NFIR PNM Item No. 14/2010.
• Induction of Course Completed Act Apprentices in Safety category vacancies in GP 1800/Pay Matrix Level I
• Absorption of staff of Quasi Administrative units in Railways - Restoration of policy decision of 1973 & 1977 which was arbitrarily cancelled in the year 1997 without prior consultations with the Federations. It needs to be appreciated that quasi staff are not outsiders and IREM provisions confirm Federation's contention.

(c) NFIR's pending PNM Items:

• Items pending since over five years = 22
• Items pending since over three years = 27
• Items pending sine over two years = 12
  Total = 61

(d) DC/JCM - pending items:

• Items pending since over five years = 45
• Items pending since over six years = 09
• Items pending since over seven years = 31
  Total = 85

(e) Issues deliberated in the meetings of Fast Track Committee and Joint Committee (on Running Staff kilometrage rates etc.,) are continued to remain unresolved.

(f) MACPS issues numbering over 30 are pending with Railway Board since more than 3 years.

(g) Non-filling of vacancies (safety and other than safety categories) is causing deterioration of efficiency levels and health of existing staff who are heavily over burdened with work pressure.

NFIR therefore requests the CRB to kindly intervene for rectifying the matters to restore confidence among staff who are extremely unhappy on non-redressal of grievances and non-implementation of agreements.

Federation also conveys that further delay in sorting out the issues and implementing agreements may lead to wide spread agitation in Railways.

Yours faithfully

(Dr. M. Raghavaiah)
General Secretary

Source: http://www.nfirindia.com

Grant of Dearness Allowance to Central Government employees - Revised Rates effective from 1.1.2017

Grant of Dearness Allowance to Central Government employees - Revised Rates effective from 1.1.2017

DA Order Jan 2017 - Finmin Released Dearness Allowance Order

No. 1/3/2017-E-II(B)
Government of India
Ministry of Finance
Department of Expenditure

North Block, New Delhi
Dated the 30th March, 2017.

OFFICE MEMORANDUM

Subject : Grant of Dearness Allowance to Central Government employees - Revised Rates effective from 1.1.2017.

The undersigned is directed to refer to this Ministry's Office Memorandum No. 1/2/2016-E-II (B) dated 4th November, 2016 on the subject mentioned above and to say that the President is pleased to decide that the Dearness Allowance payable to Central Government employees shall be enhanced from the existing rate of 2% to 4% of the basic pay with effect from 1st January, 2017.

2. The term 'basic pay' in the revised pay structure means the pay drawn in the prescribed Level in the Pay Matrix as per 7th CPC recommendations accepted by the Government, but does not include any other type of pay like special pay, etc.

3. The Dearness Allowance will continue to be a distinct element of remuneration and will not be treated as pay within the ambit of FR 9(21).

4. The payment on account of Dearness Allowance involving fractions of 50 paise and above may be rounded to the next higher rupee and the fractions of Tess than 50 paise may be ignored.

5. The payment of arrears of Dearness Allowance shall not be made before the date of disbursement of salary of March, 2017.

6. These orders shall also apply to the civilian employees paid from the Defence Services Estimates and the expenditure will be chargeable to the relevant head of the Defence Services Estimates. In respect of Armed Forces personnel and Railway employees, separate orders will be issued by the Ministry of Defence and Ministry of Railways, respectively.

7. In so far as the employees working in the Indian Audit and Accounts Department are concerned, these orders are issued with the concurrence of the Comptroller and Auditor General of India.

(Nirmala Dev)
Deputy Secretary to the Government of India

DA Order Jan 2017

National Council (JCM)-Nomination/ re-nomination of the Staff Side on behalf of NFIR

National Council (JCM)-Nomination/ re-nomination of the Staff Side on behalf of NFIR

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS
RAILWAY BOARD

Rail Bhawan,New Delhi-110 001,
dated:27.03.2017

No.2008/E(LR)I/JCM 1-1
The General Secretary,
NFIR.
3. Chelmsford Road.
New Delhi - 110 055.

Dear Sir,
Sub: National Council (JCM)-Nomination/ re-nomination of the Staff Side on behalf of National Federation of Indian Railwaymen.

Ref: NFIR’s letter No.IV/NC/JCM/Part IV dated 19.01.2017.

Ministry of Personnel, Public &Grievances and Pensions (Department of Personnel & Training) vide their O.M.No.1/3/2008-JCA-1 dated 27.02.2017has since conveyed the approval of the Competent Authority to the nominations/re-nominations of the following representatives of National Federation of Indian.
Railwaymen as Staff Side members of National Council(JCM) on behalf of NFIR for a period of three (3) years with effect from 27.2.2017:

S/Shri
1. Guman Singh
2. M. Raghavaiah
3. R.P. Bhatnagar
4. K.S. Murty
5. J.C. Mahurkar
6. T.K. Chatterjee
7. B. C, Sharma
8. R.P. Singh
9. P.S.Suriyaprakasam
10. Ashok Sharma
11. Munindra Saikia

yours faithfully
(D.Mallik)27/3/2017
Director, Esst(IR)

Signed copy

Request for payment of salary to the employees & payment of pension on 01.04.2017

Request for payment of salary to the employees & payment of pension on 01.04.2017

Ref: P/4-1/Staff

Dated : 29.03.2017

To,
Shri B. V. Sudhakar
Secretary (P)
Department of Posts
Dak Bhawan, New Delhi - 110001

Sir,
Sub:- Request for payment of salary to the employees & payment of pension on 01.04.2017 - Reg.
Ref:- (1) Dte. Lr. No. 2-1/2007-08/PA-(TECH-I) D 813-897 dated 11.12.2014.
(2) Controller General of Accounts Manual Part III Section II Rule 64.

Being it is End of Year and there is transaction holiday in Finacle on 1st April and subsequently 2nd April 2017 happens to be Sunday, payment of salary to the employees and payment of pension to the pensioners could not be effected through salary account credit/payments.

As per the Statutory rules of the Dept. and as per the reference (2) cited above pay and allowances are earned and shall be due for payment on the last working day of the month to which they relate and the pay and allowances for the month of March shall be paid on the first working day of April.

As per CCS Pension Rules 1972, it is mandatory to pay the pension on the last working day of the month and during the month of March, it is on 1st April of the year.

It is therefore requested to kindly cause suitable action in this regard and issue orders to the pay drawing and disbursing authorities, for making payment of the pay and allowances of the working staff by cash through Roll payment on 01.04.2017 itself and pension manually, instead of crediting the same into their PO SB/Bank Accounts on any subsequent date after 2nd April. This was ordered during the year 2015 and 2016.

With regards,
Yours faithfully,

(R. N. Parashar) General Secretary
Copy to: -All CWC Members Press

Via: aipeup3chq.com

Women to get 26 weeks maternity leave, President nod to new law

Women to get 26 weeks maternity leave, President nod to new law

New Delhi: Women employees will now be able to get paid maternity leave of 26 weeks, up from 12 weeks, as per a new law.

President Pranab Mukherjee has given assent to the Maternity Benefit (Amendment) Act, 2017 that has made changes in some of the provisions of over 55-year-old law entitling certain benefit to women employees.

The new law makes it mandatory for every establishment with fifty or more employees to have the facility of creche within a prescribed distance.

The employer is also bound to allow four visits a day to the creche by a woman.

Every establishment shall intimate in writing and electronically to every woman at the time of her initial appointment regarding every benefit available under the new law, the statute says.

An employer can also permit a woman to work from home after she has availed maternity leave.
"In case where the nature of work assigned to a woman is of such nature that she may work from home, the employer may allow her to do so after availing of the maternity benefit for such period and on such conditions as the employer and the woman may mutually agree," it says.

The law also allows maternity leave of 12 weeks for a woman who adopts a child below the age of three months, and for commissioning mother (a biological mother who uses her egg to create an embryo implanted in any other woman).

The entitlement of 26 weeks paid leave under the law is only for first two children. A woman with two or more children will be entitled to 12 weeks of maternity leave, says the law which will apply to all establishments employing 10 or more people.

The statute that will help approximate 1.8 million women workforce in organised sector, has amended Maternity Benefit Act, 1961 that regulates grant of maternity benefit to women employees in certain establishments.

The Maternity Benefit (Amendment) Bill was passed by Lok Sabha on March 9 and Rajya Sabha on March 20.

India is at third position globally in terms of the number of weeks of maternity leave after Canada (50 weeks) and Norway (44 weeks).

The president gave his assent on Monday.

PTI

Grant of TA/DA to retired Railway servants, re-engaged after retirement

Grant of TA/DA to retired Railway servants, re-engaged after retirement

 Government of India/Bharat Sarkar

Ministry of Railways/Rail Mantralaya
Railway Board

No.F(E)I/2015/AL-28/58

RBE No.24/17

New Delhi, dated 16.03.2017.

General Managers,
All Indian Railways etc,
(As per Standard Mailing List)

Sub: Grant of TA/DA to retired Railway servants, re-engaged after retirement.
Ref: CORE, Allahabad’s letter No. CORE/E/1/19/ENGAGEMENT/PART-1 dated 09.10.2015.

A clarification had been sought by CORE, Allahabad regarding admissibility of Travelling Allowance/Daily Allowance to retired Railway servants re-engaged after retirement when they are sent on duty outside the station/headquarter for project / field works.

2. The matter has been considered by Board and it has been decided that the retired Railway servants, re-engaged after retirement; when they are sent on duty outside the station/headquarter, may be paid, in addition to their usual daily wages/remuneration, daily allowance at the rate of 60% of the applicable Daily Allowance rate (as indicated in Board’s letter No. F(E)I/2008/AL-28/14, dated 01/12/2008, as modified from time to time) corresponding to the pay drawn/post held by the retired Railway servant immediately prior to their retirement to meet out of pocket expenses. Such daily allowance will require the approval of SAG level officer.

3. Further, this will be subject to the other terms & condition as mentioned in chapter 16 of IREC Vol. II and will be regulated by the general/specific orders issued in this regard from time to time.

4. These orders shall take effect from 03/03/2017.

5. This orders will be subject to the other terms & condition as mentioned in chapter 16 of IREC Vol.II and will be regulated by the general/ specific orders issued in this regard from time to time

6. Hindi version is enclosed

7. Please acknowledge receipt.

(Sonali Chaturvedi)
Deputy Director Finance (Estt.),
Railway Board,

Source: NFIR

Women Personnel of the Armed Forces

Women Personnel of the Armed Forces

The number of women officer's (excluding medical and dental branch) in all the three wings of defence forces is as under:

Army (as on 1.1.2017)	Navy (as on 16.3.2017)	Air Force (as on 1.3.2017)
1528	469	1581

The details of women officers (excluding medical and dental branch) recruited during the last four years and the current year, Service-wise, are as under:-

Year	Army	Navy	Air Force
2013	127	50	144
2014	104	57	155
2015	72	35	223
2016	69	43	108
2017 (till March)	35	01	14

In 2011, the Government  approved consideration of women Short Service Commission Officers (SSCOs) for grant of permanent commission along with men SSCOs in specific branches in the three services viz. Judge Advocate General (JAG), and Army Education Corps (AEC) of the Army and their corresponding branches in Navy and Air Force, Naval Constructor in Navy and Accounts Branch in Air Force.

In March 2016, approval has been accorded for induction of women Short Service Commission (SSC) officers as Pilots in Maritime Reconnaissance (MR) stream and in the Naval Armament Inspectorate (NAI) cadre.  The inductions are planned commencing from mid-2017.

The IAF has revised Short Service Commission (SSC) scheme to induct women into the fighter stream on an experimental basis for a period of five years.  The first batch of three women officers were commissioned into the fighter stream on June 18, 2016.

This information was given by Minister of State for Defence Dr. Subhash Bhamre in a written reply to Shri Tiruchi Siva in Rajya Sabha today.

PIB

ICAR - Implementation of 7th CPC recommendations for pensioners/ Family pensioners and drawal of dearness relief as per 6th CPC

ICAR - Implementation of 7th CPC recommendations for pensioners/ Family pensioners and drawal of dearness relief as per 6th CPC

INDIAN COUNCIL OF AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH
KRISHI BHAVAN NEW DELHI

F.No.: FIN/10/02/2017 - Pension

Dated 15th March, 2017

CIRCULAR

Sub: Implementation of 7th CPC recommendations for pensioners/ Family pensioners and drawal of dearness relief as per 6th CPC-regarding.

Large numbers of representation/Letters have been received from the pensioners/family pensioners/retired employees have been received from various sources. The Government of India-Ministry of Finance, Department of Expenditure vide OM No. 1/1/2016-E-111-(A) have already extended the benefits of 7th CPC to the Autonomous Bodies for serving employees. The GOI has issued instructions vide letter NO. 38/37/2016- P&PW(A) dated 4.8.2016, Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensioners, Department of Pension & Pensioners Welfare, New Delhi for Central Government Retired Pensioners only.
Since, the instructions has yet not been issued to Autonomous Bodies for extend the implementations of 7th CPC to retired Pensioners/Family Pensioners, the Council has written ID note vide DARE/ICAR U.O.No.FIN/10/02/2017-Pension dated 02.03.2017 to seek the clarifications on the subject cited above. The reply is awaited in this regard.

(N.K.Arora)
Sr. Finance & Accounts Officer

Click to see the Order

Notification on Dearness allowance (DA) this week

Notification on Dearness allowance (DA) this week

New Delhi: The Central government has announced to release of an additional instalment of 2 per cent of dearness allowance (DA) to central government employees and dearness relief to pensioner with effect from January 1, 2017.

Union Finance Ministry on Monday said that notification in this regard is expected to be issued this week.

The government is to notify its decision to give dearness allowance (DA) and dearness relief (DR) to 4 per cent from existing 2 per cent from January 1, 2017, benefiting 48.85 lakh is employees and 55.51 lakh pensioners.

The Finance Minister Arun Jaitley moved the cabinet note on March 16 for approval of releasing of an additional instalment of 2 per cent of dearness allowance (DA).

The DA/DR has been increased by 2 per cent over the existing rate of 2 per cent of the basic pay/pension to compensate for price rise and it is in accordance with the accepted formula based on the recommendation of 7th pay commission.

The combined impact on the exchequer on account of both dearness allowance and dearness relief would be Rs 5,857.28 crore per annum and Rs 6,833.50 crore in the Financial Year 2017-18 (for a period of 14 months from January, 2017 to February, 2018).

The hike in the DA/DR is as per the agreed methodology of taking average of Consumer Price Index-Industrial Workers for the past 12 months.

The Confederation of Central Government Employees had termed it as a meagre hike in view of actual rise in cost of living index saying the CPI-IW was far from reality.

The union had also said that there was a lot of variation in the rates of price rise of commodities by Ministry of Agriculture and CPI-IW.

TST

7th Pay Commission : Who is responsible for the delay?

7th Pay Commission : Who is responsible for the delay?

With the financial year coming to an end, the central government employees are still waiting for an answer. When will we get higher allowance under the 7th Pay Commission? The committee which was formed by the government on higher allowance has failed to meet its deadline to submit the report.

There are more than 56 lakh employees who will be getting higher allowances under 7th Pay Commission.
Its been more than nine months since the government has formed 7th Pay Commission recommendation committee on higher allowance. In June last year, after the implementation of 7th Pay Commission, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley had announced the formation of Lavasa panel under the chairmanship of Ashok Lavasa, to examine the suggestions on allowance.

According to a India.com report, a Finance Ministry official has said that “Neither Prime Minister Narendra Modi nor Jaitley responsible for the delay in implementation of higher allowance.”

The members of the allowance committee along with National Joint Council of Action (NJCA) leaders will be meeting next week where Lavasa committee is expected to submit the report after discussion with employee representatives, the report said.

NJCA is a joint body of unions representing central government employees.

Earlier, the Lavasa committee was expected to submit the report in October, but since then it got delayed.
The committee is yet to submit the report on House Rent Allowance (HRA) to the government. As reported by Zeebiz earlier, under the 7th Pay Commission, HRA should be paid at the rate of 24%, 16% and 8% of the new Basic Pay, depending on the type of cities while unions demanded HRA at 30, 20 and 10%.
In a reply to a question Lok Sabha, on March 10, Minister of State for Finance Arjun Ram Meghwal, said that the committee has not submitted its report to the government but the deliberations of the committee are in the final stages.

Source : Zee Business

More than 2 dozen companies want collaboration with India Post Payments Bank-Manoj Sinha

More than 2 dozen companies want collaboration with India Post Payments Bank-Manoj Sinha

Government has said that there are many companies who have approached the Department of Posts for collaboration with India Post Payments Bank. Replying to a question in the Rajya Sabha, the Minister of Communications Shri Manoj Sinha said that while the Department is in various stages of discussions with them, decision on formal partnerships will be taken after carefully evaluating the entire value proposition that they propose for the common man. The India Post Payments Bank had launched its two branches in Raipur (Chhattisgarh) and Ranchi (Jharkhand) on 30/01/2017 with basic products and banking services in partnership with Punjab National Bank.

Shri Sinha also said that the Payments Banks are different from regular Banks in the following fundamental ways as per RBI guidelines for Licensing of Payments Banks:

(i) Payment Banks are not allowed to undertake lending activities directly. It can accept demand deposits only that is savings and current accounts and will initially be restricted to holding a maximum balance of Rs. 100,000(Rupees one lakh only) per individual customer.

(ii) Payment Banks cannot accept Non Resident Indian (NRI) deposits.

(iii) The Payment Banks cannot set up subsidiaries to undertake non banking financial services activities.
A list of companies interested in partnering with India Post Payments Bank is attached at Annexure A.

List companies keen to partner with India Post Payments Bank.
1	YES Bank
2	Union Bank
3	Punjab National Bank
4	IDBI Bank (Industrial Development Bank of India)
5	SBI (State Bank of India)
6	Axis
7	Bank of Baroda
8	IDFC Bank (Industrial development finance company)
9	Deutshe Bank
10	Barclays Bank
11	Citibank
12	NABARD (National Bank For Agriculture & Rural Development)
13	HSBC (Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation)
14	MICRO SAVE
15	Allahabad Bank
16	Indian Overseas Bank
17	Dena Bank
18	FIA (Financial Inclusion)
19	Kotak Mahindra Bank
20	United Bank of India
21	HDFC Life (Housing Development Finance Corporation)
22	Royal Sundaram
23	PNB Metlife (Punjab National Bank)
24	ICICI Lombard ( Industrial Credit and Investment Corporation of India Bank)
25	ICICI Prudential ( Industrial Credit and Investment Corporation of India Bank)
26	Bajaj Allianz Life

PIB

Death Claim settled within 20 days from the date of receipt

Death Claim settled within 20 days from the date of receipt

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO: 3931

ANSWERED ON: 27.03.2017

Death Claims

G. HARI
Will the Minister of LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT be pleased to state:-
(a) whether the Employees Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) proposes to settle PF money claimed after death of an employee within seven days from 20 days at present;
(b)if so, the details thereof;
(c)whether all the death cases claims will be given top priority and officers in charge at all EPF offices will personally monitor such claims on day-to-day basis; and
(d) if so, the details thereof?

ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE (IC) FOR LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT
(SHRI BANDARU DATTATREYA)

(a) & (b): As per paragraph 72(7) of the Employees’ Provident Funds (EPF) Scheme, 1952, the claim complete in all respects submitted along with the requisite documents shall be settled and benefit amount paid to the beneficiaries within 20 days from the date of its receipt by the Commissioner. The field offices of Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) have been directed to settle claims in cases of deaths within seven days of receipt of such claims.

(c) & (d): Yes, Madam. Public Relation Officer and officials in the Facilitation Centres of EPFO have been instructed to scrutinise the claim forms received in respect of death cases and guide the claimants for submission of all required documents in one go only. An official has been specially earmarked to handle such claims. Regional Provident Fund Commissioners have been directed to personally monitor the death cases on day-to-day basis.

Loksabha Q&A

Government to destroy babus performance appraisal reports

Government to destroy babus performance appraisal reports

New Delhi: The performance appraisal reports of IAS and IPS officers, who have retired two years ago, will be destroyed by the Centre.

It has asked officers of all India services - Indian Administrative Service (IAS), Indian Police Service (IPS) and Indian Forest Service (IFoS) - to make a request to the central government in case they want to have a copy of their performance reports.

Existing norms allow confidential rolls of members of all-India services to be destroyed two years after their death or retirement.

The rules also provide that Confidential Reports (CRs) or Performance Appraisal Reports (PARs) of such bureaucrats can be given to them after the normal period of retention of two years is over from the date of their retirement.

"Action is accordingly being taken for destroying such CRs/PARs," an order issued by the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) said.

Officers who wish to obtain their dossiers may send their requests to the Ministry till June 14, 2017, the order said.

PTI

PCDA Circular 190 - Non transfer of Pension files from banks to other PDAs

PCDA Circular 190 - Non transfer of Pension files from banks to other PDAs

Office of the Principal Controller of Defence Accounts (Pension), Draupadi
Ghat, Allahabad-211014

Circular No. 190
No. AT/Tech/70-XXV

Dated:16.03.2017

To,
1. The Chief Accountant, RBI Deptt. of Govt. Bank Accounts, Central office C-7, Second Floor, Bandre- Kurla Complex, P B No. 8143, Bandre East Mumbai-400051.
2. The Manger CPPC of Public Sector Banks including IDBI
3. The Nodal Officers (ICICI/ AXIS/HDFC Bank)

Sub: Non transfer of Pension files from banks to other PDAs.

This office is receiving representations from pensioners/family pensioners stating that they have submitted applications to their banks for transfer of their pension account to other PDA, however, banks are not transferring their pension account to the new PDAs.

In this regards, attention is drawn to para 3 of “Scheme for Payment of Pension of Defence Pension’ by Public Sector Banks” which clearly provides that pensioner will have the choice to draw their pension from any PDA. Further in para 7 of above scheme, procedure for transfer of pension account from one PDA to another PDA has been laid down. Similar provisions for transfer of pension account alongwith necessary supporting documents from one PDA to another PDAs are available in para 93.1, 93.3 and 94 of Defence Pension Payment Instruction 2013.

Non-transfer of pension account of pensioner/family pensioners, if opting, is not only a violation of provisions laid down but also reason of cause of dissent in pensioner/family pensioner. It is, therefore, requested to transfer pension account of pensioners/family pensioners to the new PDA on priority as and when pensioner/family pensioner opts for the same.

(Abhishek Singh)
ACDA (P)

Order Copy

Government gives nod to 200% hike in salaries of Supreme Court, High Court judges

Government gives nod to 200% hike in salaries of Supreme Court, High Court judges

New Delhi: The government has accepted the Supreme Court proposal for raising emoluments given to judges of the Supreme Court and high courts, commensurate with the recent hike in pay for central government staff. The Chief Justice of India (CJI) is the highest-paid functionary in the judiciary with his current monthly emoluments at Rs 1 lakh, excluding dearness and other allowances. This is likely to be raised to Rs 2.8 lakh, in addition to perks such as official residence, cars, staff and allowances as applicable.
The government has pegged the salaries of the chief justices of High Courts and Supreme Court judges at Rs 2.5 lakh per month, in addition to allowances, at the level of the cabinet secretary, the service chiefs and some constitutional functionaries such as the CAG and the CEC. The salary of an High Court judge has been pegged at Rs 2.25 lakh per month, same as that of secretary- level officers in the central government.

The hikes proposed by the Supreme Court committee have not been accepted in full. The three-judge panel had recommended a salary of over Rs 3 lakh per month for the CJI, besides other perks. The government has set the salary for the CJI at Rs 2.8 lakh per month, a little above what the cabinet secretary draws. The judges’ panel had also recommended a higher pension benefit for retiring judges. This again has been brought to the Seventh Pay Commission level in an equivalent grade.

A three-judge committee had given its recommendations to the government a few months ago with regard to salary hikes for judges. The recommendations were submitted soon after the implementation of the Seventh Pay Commission recommendations for central employees last year. A Cabinet note has been prepared and may be approved by the Union Cabinet soon, sources said. After the Cabinet clears the proposal, the law minister will bring a related judges’ salary amendment bill before Parliament.

Any change in judges salary and service condition has to be passed by Parliament. The salaries of judges of the high courts and the Supreme Court are revised every 10 years, almost on the lines of the hikes given to senior government functionaries.

TNN

RESTORATION OF OLD PENSION SYSTEM IN PLACE OF CONTRIBUTORY PENSION SYSTEM

RESTORATION OF OLD PENSION SYSTEM IN PLACE OF CONTRIBUTORY PENSION SYSTEM

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF FINANCE
DEPARTMENT OF FINANCIAL SERVICES
RAJYA SABHA
UN STARRED QUESTION NO. 2130
TO BE ANSWERED ON MARCH 21, 2017/PHALGUNA 30, 1938 (SAKA)

RESTORATION OF OLD PENSION SYSTEM IN PLACE OF CONTRIBUTORY PENSION SYSTEM

2130. Shri T. G. Venkatesh

Will the Minister of FINANCE be pleased to state:

(a) whether it is a fact that the newly introduced Contributory Pension System is not beneficial to the employees and so the employees unions are requesting Government to re-introduce the old pension system in its place, if so, the details thereof; and

(b) whether any representation has been received in this regard by Government, if so, the details thereof and the stand of Government in this regard?

ANSWER

The Minister of State in the Ministry of Finance
(Shri Santosh Kumar Gangwar)

(a) & (b) National Pension System (NPS), which is a contributory pension system, has, inter alia, the following features which benefit the employees:

• NPS is a well designed pension system managed through an unbundled architecture involving intermediaries appointed by the Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA) viz. Pension Funds, Custodian, Central Recordkeeping and Accounting Agency, National Pension System Trust, Trustee Bank, Points of Presence and Annuity Service Providers. It is prudently regulated by PFRDA which is a statutory regulatory body established to promote old age income security and to protect the interests of subscribers of NPS.
• Dual benefit of Low Cost and Power of Compounding: The pension wealth which accumulates over a period of time till retirement grows with a compounding effect. The all-in-costs of the institutional architecture of NPS are among the lowest in the world.
•  Tax Benefits: Tax benefits are available to the NPS subscribers under various provisions of the Income- tax Act, 1961.
• Transparency and Portability is ensured through online access of the pension account by the NPS subscribers, across all geographical locations and portability of employments.
• Partial withdrawal: Subscribers can withdraw up to 25% of their own contributions towards their pension account, before attaining superannuation age for certain specified purposes subject to certain conditions.

Representations have been received from certain quarters regarding the implementation of NPS which, inter alia, include the demand that NPS may be scrapped and the Government may revert to old defined benefit pension system. However, there is no proposal to replace the NPS with old pension scheme in respect of Central Government employees recruited on or after 01.01.2004.

Source: RAJYA SABHA

Delay in pension revision allowing the benefit of merger of 50% DA/DR for BSNL Pensioners/Family Pensioners

Delay in pension revision allowing the benefit of merger of 50% DA/DR for BSNL Pensioners/Family Pensioners

Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited
(A Government Of India Enterprise)
Corporate Office
(Pension Section)
5th Floor, Bharat Sanchar Bhawan, Janpath, New Delhi - 110 001

No.40-6/2011-Pen(B)

Dated: 24-03-2017

To
All Heads of Circles/Telecom Districts/Regions/Projects/Telecom Stores/Telecom Factories & Other Administrative Offices Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited

Sub: Delay in pension revision allowing the benefit of merger of 50% DA/DR with Basic Pay/Pension to 78.2% DA/DR for BSNL Pensioners/Family Pensioners,who retired prior to 10-06-2013 - regarding.

Sir,
I am directed to forward herewith D.O.No.7-1/2013/TA-1/17/Pt./760 dated 07-03-2017 received from Member (Finance)-I/C, DOT, on the above mentioned subject, along with status of pension revision cases pending BSNL Unit-wise.

2. As directed by DOT in the aforesaid letter, all the Circles are requested to adhere to the timeline specified therein and submit complete pension papers and service books to the respective CCAs.

Encl: As above.

Yours faithfully,

(S.P.Bhatta)
Asstt.General Manager (Estt.I)
Tele.No.23037477

Prahlad Singh
Member (finance)-I/C
Tel No.23716161
Fax 23715762

Government Of India
Ministry Of Communications and
Information Technology
Department of Telecommunications

Sanchar Bhawan, 20, Ashok Road,
New Delhi - 110 001

Member (Finance) Telecom commission &
Ex-Officio Secretary to Govt. of India

D.O.No.7-1/2013/TA-1/17/Pt./760
Dated: 7th March,2017

I would like to bring to your attention the delay in the pension revision allowing the benefit of merger of 50% DA/DR with Basic/Pension to 78.2% DA/DR for BSNL pensioners/family pensioners, who retired prior to 10.06.2013. Though, the revision in all cases was to be completed by 31.12.2016 as per DoT HQ letter No.40-13/2013-Pen (T) dated 18.07.2016, there is still a huge pendency as on date and the BSNL employees welfare unions have been approaching DoT asking for early settlement of the same.

On review, it is seen that some units of BSNL are sending incomplete papers or are yet to send many of the cases to the CCA offices while there is also pendency in some of the CCA units also (copy of pendency status is enclosed). To complete the task in a structured time frame, concerted efforts both by the BSNL units and CCAs office is required. Target dates both for submission of pension papers and issue of PPOs has now been reviewed both for BSNL and CCA units, which is to be strictly complied to as per the timelines given below.

BSNL (submission of complete pension papers & service Books)		CCA (issue of revised PPOs)
Pre-2007	Post- 2007	Pre-2007	Post- 2007
15.03.2017	31.03.2017	31.03.2017	10.04.2017

You are requested to kindly give your personal attention for compliance of the target dates by the BSNL units, from you end.

with regards
Yours sincerely
Sd/-
(Prahlad singh)

Status of Revision of pension of BSNL Pensioners/Family Pensioners who retired prior to 10.06.2013 by allowing the benefit of merger of 50% DA/DR with Basic Pay/Pension effectively amounting to 78.2% DA/DR for the purpose of fitment. (as on 01.03.2017)

Signed Copy

GDS: Grameen Dak Sevaks Lok Sabha Q&A

GDS: Grameen Dak Sevaks Lok Sabha Q&A

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS
DEPARTMENT OF POSTS

LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.3450
TO BE ANSWERED ON 22ND MARCH, 2017

GRAMEEN DAK SEVAKS

3450. SHRI RAHUL KASWAN:
SHRI RAMESH BIDHURI:
SHRI BALABHADRA MAJHI:
SHRI TAMRADHWAJ SAHU:

Will the Minister of COMMUNICATIONS be pleased to state:

(a) the total number of postal circles in the country and the number of GPOs, SPOs and EDBOs functioning under these circles alongwith number of these post offices located in rural and urban regions separately;

(b) the number of post offices manned by Grameen Dak Sevaks (GDSs) State/UT-wise alongwith the details about the monthly salary of the GDS;

(c) whether Grameen Dak Sevaks (GDSs) are eligible for pension like other Government employees and if not, the reasons therefor;

(d) whether Government is contemplating to constitute any Committee to look into the salary structure and other service matters of Grameen Dak Sevaks and if so, the details thereof;

(e) whether the said committee has submitted its said report and if so, the salient features of the said report; and

(f) the time by which it is likely to be implemented?

ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE (IC) OF THE MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS &
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS
(SHRI MANOJ SINHA)

(a) Madam, the total number of Postal Circles in the country is 23. The total number of GPOs is 24, the total number of Sub Post Offices (SPOs) is 24753, the total number of Extra Departmental Branch Offices (EDBOs) is 129346. The details of these post offices rural and urban regions wise is enclosed at Annexure-I.

(b) The number of post offices which are manned by Gramin Dak Sewaks (GDS) is given in the Annexure-II. Details of the monthly wages admissible to various categories of Gramin Dak Sewaks are given in the Annexure-III.

(c) No, Madam. The legal status of the Gramin Dak Sevaks as held in 1977 by Apex Court is that they are holders of the civil posts outside the regular civil service. Being a distinct and separate category, CCS (Pension) Rules, 1972 are not applicable in the case of Gramin Dak Sevaks (GDS).

(d) Yes, Madam. To examine the system of Branch Post Offices, engagement conditions, existing structure of allowances and all other welfare issues pertaining to Gramin Dak Sevaks, a one-man Committee under the Chairmanship of Shri Kamlesh Chandra, Retired Member Postal Services Board was set up.

(e) Yes, Madam. The committee has submitted its report. The salient feature of the report is given in the Annexure-IV.

(f) The recommendations of the committee are being examined by the Department of Posts. No timeline is specified to implement the recommendations of the Committee.

Source: Lok Sabha

Implications of implementation of 7th Pay Commission

Implications of implementation of 7th Pay Commission

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

RAJYA SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.2704
ANSWERED ON 24.03.2017

IMPLICATIONS OF IMPLEMENTATION OF SEVENTH PAY COMMISSION

2704.SHRI MOHD. ALI KHAN:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

(a) whether it is a fact that implementation of the Seventh Pay Commission recommendations has serious financial implications on Indian Railways, if so, the estimated additional financial implication over staff and pensioners; and

(b) whether Railways are planning to take up rationalisation of manpower in view of the financial implications, if so, the details thereof?

ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS
(SHRI RAJEN GOHAIN)

(a) The estimated additional financial impact of 7th Pay Commission on Railways is around 15,000 crore ( 8,000 crore for staff and  7,000 crore for pensions). The Railways would be able to absorb the 7th CPC impact in 2016-17 within its resources.

(b) Manpower Planning is a continuous process and involves review of staff through work- studies, change in nature of work etc. No separate rationalization is proposed consequent upon the 7th Pay Commission.

Source: Rajya sabha

Benami Transactions (Prohibition) Amended Act, 2016

Benami Transactions (Prohibition) Amended Act, 2016

Though the Benami Transactions (Prohibition) Act, 1988 has been on the statute book since more than 28 years, the same could not be made operational because of certain inherent defects. With a view to providing effective regime for prohibition of benami transactions, the said Act was amended through the Benami Transactions (Prohibition) Amended Act, 2016. The amended law empowers the specified authorities to provisionally attach benami properties which can eventually be confiscated. Besides, if a person is found guilty of offence of benami transaction by the competent court, he shall be punishable with rigorous imprisonment for a term not less than one year but which may extend to 7 years and shall also be liable to fine which may extend to 25% of the fair market value of the property.

The Benami Transactions (Prohibition) Amendment Act, 2016 came into effect from1st November, 2016. Several benami transactions have been identified since the coming into effect of the amended law. Show cause notices for provisional attachment of benami properties have been issued in 140 cases involving properties of the value of about Rs. 200 crore. Out of these, provisional attachment has already been effected in 124 cases. The benami properties attached include deposits in bank accounts and immovable properties.

The Government has put in place empowered institutions for efficient implementation of the amended law. In exercise of powers conferred under sub-section (2) of section 28 read with section 59 of the amended Prohibition of Benami Property Transactions Act, 1988, vide Notification No. SO 3290E, dated 25.10.2016 the Central Government has notified specified Income-tax authorities to act as Initiating Officer, Approving Authority and Administrator in respect of benami transactions. Further, vide Notification No. SO 3288E, dated 25.10.2016, the Adjudicating Authority has been notified

This was stated by Shri Santosh Kumar Gangwar, Minister of State in the Ministry of Finance in written reply to a question in Lok Sabha today.

PIB

OFB Circular: Restriction of Overtime Working

OFB Circular: Restriction of Overtime Working 

Instruction No.3502/2017/Per/Policy

ORDNANCE FACTORY BOARD
MINISTRY OF DEFENCE
AYUDH BHAVAN
10-, SHAHEED KHUDIRAM BOSE ROAD
KOLKATA -  700 001
TEL: (033) 22485077-80
TELEFAX: (033) 22437822

No.32/OT/Per/Policy

Dated: 244-03-2017

(Through OFB Comnet)
To,
The Sr.General Managers/General Managers/Head of Units of
All Ordnance Factories/Units

Sub: Restriction of Overtime Working -  regarding
Ref:  No.32/OT/Per/Policy dated 10-08-2016.

The matter regarding detailment of employees in various OFs/Units has been reviewed at OFB. Now, it has been decided that, in addition to the existing guidelines for sanction of OT working as communicated vide circular indicated at Ref. above, there shall be no detailment of employees on overtime working on Sundays/Holidays except in respect of essential staffs related to maintenance, security, fire brigade etc. for the 1st Qtr. of next Financial Year i.e. from April 2017 to June 2017. For subsequent quarters, separate orders will be issued after review at OFB.

02. All OFs/Units are, therefore, requested to comply with the above decision of OFB positively while granting Overtime working to their employees w.e.f. 01-04-2017 to 30-06-2017.

[Dr.(Smt.) Vani A Singh]
Director/Admin
For Director General, Ordnance Factories

OFB-Circular

Committee on Allowances of 7th CPC : 3rd Reply in Parliament on 24.3.2017

Committee on Allowances of 7th CPC : 3rd Reply in Parliament on 24.3.2017

In Lok Sabha on 24th March 2017, the Minister of State for Finance Shri Arjun Ram Meghwal explained in written form to various questions regarding the submission of report of Committee on Allowances.
Already two times (10th March and 22nd March) replied in the Parliament about this issue and the same type of answer given by the minister on 24th March also.

"The Committee on Allowances has been constituted vide order dated 22.07.2016. The Committee is to examine and make recommendations as to whether any changes in the recommendations of the 7th CPC relating to allowances are warranted and if so, in what form.

The Committee has received a large number of demands on allowances and even now receives demands in this regards. All the demands have been diligently examined. The Committee has already held 13 meetings so far and interacted with the representatives of Central Nodal Ministries, National Council (Staff Side), Joint Consultative Machinery (JCM) and officers and representatives of employee associations of Ministry of Health and Family welfare, Home Affairs, Railways, Defence and Department of Posts.

The Committee has taken more time than was initially prescribed in view of the large number of demands received. The Committee is now in the process of finalizing its Report.

Decisions on implementing the Report will be taken after the Report is submitted by the Committee."

Authority: Lok Sabha

Decision on 7th CPC allowances : Deep sense of frustration among employees

Decision on 7th CPC allowances : Deep sense of frustration among employees
Delaying 7th CPC allowances announcement will cause deep sense of frustration among Central Government employees.

"Reports indicate that the Government might take more time to announce its decisions regarding the Ashok Lavasa Committee's report on allowances that were prescribed by the Seventh Pay Commission"
The Committee on Allowances was formed under the leadership of Ashok Lavasa in July 2016 to review the recommendations on allowances by the 7th CPC. The committee was initially given 4 months period to submit its report to Finance Ministry.

Later, citing the stagnation that resulted due to demonetization, the Finance Ministry extended the period for submitting the report to 22nd Feb 2017.

Replying to a question in the Parliament, Central Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal said, on March 10, that the Allowance Committee has not yet submitted its report and that the government will immediately announce its decisions on the report as soon as it is received. He added that the committee is in the last leg of preparing its reports and that it would be submitted to the government very soon.

Previously, it was said that the government will announce its decision as soon as the assembly elections in the five states concluded. Announcements were expected in Arun Jaitley’s budget speech in the Parliament. BJP’s win in the elections is now believed to be the reason behind a dramatic change in the situation.
As far as the Central Government employees are concerned, those living in the accommodations provided by the government are not bothered by the House Rent Allowance because the government doesn’t pay them any House Rent Allowance. Moreover, most higher officials stay in government accommodations.
Decisions on allowances offered to the armed forces are of special significance.

More than 50 lakh employees are hoping that the Centre will implement the revised allowances from April 1 onwards.

One Rank One Pension Scheme

One Rank One Pension Scheme

Around 3200 representations for addressing the anomalies on One Rank One Pension (OROP) were received from individuals / Associations which were examined and issues referred to the Judicial Committee on OROP for its recommendations. The Committee has submitted its report on 26.10.2016.

Pension Grievances Cell in the Department is receiving grievances of the pensioners / family pensioners regarding non-payment of OROP benefits and taking up the matter with the concerned offices e.g. Controller General of defence Accounts (CGDA), Principal Controller of Defence Accounts (Pension) and Pension Disbursing Agencies (Banks) for redressal of their grievances in a time-bound manner. Service Headquarters and CGDA also have dedicated grievances Directorates / Cells for redressal of the grievances of Ex-Servicemen. Disposal of the grievance is monitored at the highest level in the Government.
Annual Financial implication on account of grant of OROP is estimated at Rs. 7,488.70 Crore and Rs. 10,925.11 Crore towards arrears for the period of 01.07.2014 to 31.12.2015.

The status of payment to the Defence Forces Pensioners / Family Pensioners on account of implementation of OROP order, as on 27.02.2017 are as under:-

No. of cases paid (1st instalment and lump sum payments)	Amount disbursed (Rs. in crore)	No. of cases paid 2nd instalment	Amount disbursed (Rs. in crore)
19,93,815	4,076.95	15,57,950	2,298.21

As per Government order dated 07.11.2015 on OROP, the pension would be re-fixed every 5 years.
Personnel who opt to get discharged after 07.11.2015 on their own request under Rule 13(3)1(i)(b), 13(3)1(iv) or Rule 16B of the Army Rule 1954 or equivalent Navy or Air Force Rules will not be entitled to the benefits of OROP.

This information was given by Minister of State for Defence Dr. Subhash Bhamre in a written reply to Shri Mullappally Ramachandran and others in Lok Sabha today.

PIB

Why 7th Pay Commission's 'miserly' hike is understandable

Why 7th Pay Commission's 'miserly' hike is understandable
The central government is well aware of the fiscal trap pay hike largesse portends.


The 33 lakh-strong central government employees are peeved with what they perceive to be a niggardly increase granted by the 7th Pay Commission vis-à-vis the earlier pay commissions and accepted with alacrity by the central government.

The government though has averred that it is “not appropriate” to compare the increase in minimum pay suggested by the 7th Central Pay Commission with that of the previous commissions. According to the 7th Pay Commission, the real increase given in 1996 and 2006 in minimum pay was 31 per cent and 51 per cent.
As compared to that, the commission recommended an increase of 14.29 per cent. In concrete terms, the minimum salary has been hiked from Rs 7,000 per month to Rs 18,000 per month. The central government employees want it to be fixed at Rs 26,000 per month (Source: India.com).

The central government is well aware of the fiscal trap pay hike largesse portends, given the real and grim possibility of state government employees making a clamour for parity with central government salaries.
A Hindu report, however, takes a more charitable view of things when it says that data compiled from multiple sources, including a 2008 official survey, Right to Information applications, media reports and the 2011 Census shows that India has 1,622.8 government servants for every 1,00,000 residents. In stark contrast, the US has 7,681. The central government, with 3.1 million employees, thus has 257 serving every 1,00,000 population, against the US federal government's 840.

But then comparisons are proverbially odious. The US outdoes India in most government norms including judge-to-population ratio. While it is desirable to emulate the US, practical considerations including the size of the Indian population and the absolute number of employees make it veer towards caution.

Any egregious hike by the central government would have a precipitous impact not only on its finances but also on states, many of which are BJP ruled.

The central government is only following the template it laid down for itself when it boldly addressed the festering problem of the armed forces. While agreeing to one-rank-one-pension (OROP) norm in principle, it stood its ground and remained firm on ensuring this parity only every five years as against the unreasonable demand of every year.

At Rs 93,231 (Economic Survey report) for 2015-16, India’s per capita income for a month translates into an abysmal Rs 7,769 as opposed to what the central government employees have been offered - Rs 18,000. Mind you, the national average hides an inherent skew - the unorganised sector workers intuitively must be getting only half of the national average.

The point is the central government cannot be gung-ho about pay increases for employees coming under its jurisdiction given its ripple effect, in so far as similar demands from state government employees as well as the justified heart-burn it would cause among other employees especially in the unorganised sector.

Time was when public sector bank (PSB) employees got considerably more than central government employees. But successive pay commissions appointed by the central government have upset the PSB employees’ applecart. The sad truth is the central government pays out of the seemingly bottomless coffers of the consolidated fund of India whereas banks have to pay from their revenue and are answerable to their shareholders.

In any case, when the base is already large, further increases necessarily will have to taper down and be incremental. The 2006 increase of 51 per cent was indeed egregious. An encore of it in 2016 was just not possible.

As an aside, it must be pointed out that the central government job is no longer a cushy one, what with a demanding Prime Minister snapping at their heels. They are for the first time feeling the heat of the private sector motto - work hard, party hard.

Fixed Minimum Wages for Workers

Fixed Minimum Wages for Workers

The Minimum Wages Act, 1948 provides for both the Central and State Governments as the appropriate Governments to fix, review and revise the minimum wages of the workers employed in the scheduled employments under their respective jurisdictions. Presently, there are 45 scheduled employments in the Central Sphere while in the State Sphere the number of such employments is 1709.

The Minimum Wages Act, 1948 is implemented by the Centre as well as the States in respect of their respective jurisdiction. In the Central Sphere, the enforcement is secured through the Inspecting Officers of the Chief Labour Commissioner (Central) commonly designated as Central Industrial Relations Machinery (CIRM), the compliance in the State sphere is ensured through the State Enforcement Machinery. They conduct regular inspections and in the event of detection of any case of non-payment or under-payment of minimum wages, they advise the employers to make payment of the shortfall of wages. In case of non-compliance, penal provisions against the defaulting employers are invoked. Details of enforcement of Minimum Wages Act, 1948 during 2014-15, 2015-2016 and 2016-2017 (upto December, 2016) are given below.

S .No.	Particulars	2014- 15	2015-16	2016-17 (upto Dec., 2016)
1	No. of Inspections Conducted	6582	9803	5732
2	No. of Irregularities detected	68747	75938	39837
3	No. Irregularities Rectified	87809	46467	40541
4	No. of Prosecutions Launched	3774	1549	1636
5	No. of Convictions	2782	1476	1386

Claim cases under Minimum Wages Act

YEAR	CLAIMS			AMOUNT AWARDED (in Rs.)
	B/F	FILED	DECIDED	AWARDED	RECOVERERD	PAID TO WORKES
1	2	3	4	5	6	7
2013-14	3855	3000	2838	123030072	50794115	33439937
2014-15	3980	2167	248	59856881	35892244	30526714
2015-16	3672	743	1796	66654417	44128036	34879425
2016-17 (upto Dec., 2016)	2610	719	827	74937048	41241934	38196925

This information was given by Shri Bandaru Dattatreya, the Minister of State (IC) for Labour and Employment, in written reply to a question in Rajya Sabha today.

Source : PIB

Change in nomenclature of Nursing Staff in CGHS

Change in nomenclature of Nursing Staff in CGHS

F.No.A.60011/13/2017-CGHS.II
Government Of India
Ministry Of Health & Family Welfare
C.G.H.S. -II Section

Nirman Bhawan, New Delhi
Dated the 8th March 2017.

ORDER

Subject: Change in nomenclature of Nursing Staff in CGHS - regarding.

In pursuance to Nursing Division's Order No.Z.28015/41/2014-N, dated 09.09.2016, the nomenclature of following Nursing Staff in CGHS have been changed as mentioned against each, with immediate effect:

SL.No.	Existing Nomenclature of the Post	New Nomenclature
1	Staff Nurse	Nursing Officer
2	Nursing Sister	Senior Nursing Officer

2. The change in nomenclature as mentioned above doesn’t involve change in duties and responsibilities and any additional financial benefits.

3. This issues with the approval of Competent Authority.

(Dharminder Singh)

Under Secretary to the Govt. Of India

Signed Copy

7th CPC Allowance Committee Report - Minister once again replied in Parliament on 22.3.2017

7th CPC Allowance Committee Report - Minister once again replied in Parliament on 22.3.2017

DoPT Minister replied in Lok Sabha on 22nd March 2017 regarding the status of the Committee on Allowances.

Minister of State in the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions and Minister of State in the Prime Minister's Office Shri DR. JITENDRA SINGH said in a written reply to various questions regarding the report of allowance committee in Parliament on 22.3.2017 as follows:

“Several representations have been received from various employees’ associations on allowances by the Committee on Allowances. Joint Consultative Machinery (JCM) has also requested to resolve the pending issues including allowances as soon as possible.

To examine the recommendations of the 7th Central Pay Commission on Allowances (other than Dearness Allowance), a Committee of Secretaries under the Chairmanship of Finance Secretary and Secretary, Expenditure has been set up by the Ministry of Finance, Department of Expenditure on 22.07.2016.
In the 13 meetings held so far, the Committee has interacted with National Council (Staff Side), Joint Consultative Machinery (JCM) and the representatives of All India Railwaymen Federation (AIRF), National Federation of Indian Railwaymen (NFIR), All India Train Controllers Association (AITCA), All India Guards Council (AIGC), Federation of National Postal Organization, National Federation of Postal Employees, Bhartiya Postal Employees Federation, Bhartiya Postal Employees Association (Group-C), Joint Action Council of Service Doctors Organization (JACSDO), All India GDMO Association (AIGDMOA), Delhi Administration Doctors Welfare Association (DADWA), Faculty Association (Maulana Azad Medical College and associated hospitals), Faculty Welfare Association (Lady Hardinge Medical College), Safdarjung Hospital Medical Officers Association, All India Government Nurses Federation (AIGNF), Railway Nurses of India, All India ESIC Nurses Federation, PGI Nurses Welfare Association, Trained Nurses Association of India (TNAI), National Federation of Atomic Energy (NFAEE).

The Committee has not yet submitted its report to the Government. Decisions on implementing the Report will be taken after the Report is submitted by the Committee.

Authority: Lok Sabha