Recording of Annual Performance Appraisal Report - APAR for the financial year 2017-18 in respect of CSS and CSSS officers

Recording of Annual Performance Appraisal Report - APAR for the financial year 2017-18 in respect of CSS and CSSS officers - ALERT - reg.

MOST IMMEDIATE
TIME BOUND

F No. 22-10/20 18-CS 1 (APAR)

Government of India
Ministry of Personnel , Public Grievances & Pensions
Department of Personnel & Training

2nd Floor, A-Wing, Lok Nayak Bhawan
Khan Market, New Delhi-3
New Delhi; the 29th November, 2018.

OFFICE MEMORANDUM

Subject: Recording of Annual Performance Appraisal Report (APAR) for the financial year 2017-18 in respect of CSS/CSSS officers - 'Alert' regarding.

Online system for recording of APARs on SPARROW web portal has been introduced in CSS from the financial year 2015-16. Initially, it was implemented for Deputy Secretary and above level officers in CSS and equivalent levels in CSSS w.e.f. the financial year 2015-16. From the financial year 2016-17, SPARROW has been extended from Under Secretary and above levels in CSS and equivalent levels in CSSS. As per Estt. Division's O.M. dated 23.07.2009 time schedule for completion of various activities relating to PARs are as under :

Sl.No.	Activity	Extended timelines
1.	Submission of self-appraisal PAR to the Reporting Officer by the Officer to be Reported Upon (ORU)	15th April
2.	Submission of report by Reporting Officer to Reviewing Officer	30th June
3.	Report to be completed by Reviewing Officer and to be sent to Admn.	31st July

2. Keeping in view the difficulties faced by Nodal Officers in the Ministries/Departments and also the individual officers, it was decided to extend the timelines for completion of APARs online on SPARROW web portal for the financial year 2017-18 as under :-

Sl.No.	Activity	Extended timelines
1.	Submission of self-appraisal PAR by ORU to the Reporting Officer	31st July, 2018
2.	Forwarding of report by Reporting Officer to Reviewing Officer	16th August, 2018
3.	Forwarding of report by Reviewing Officer to Administration/ APAR Cell	31st August, 2018

3 The progress made towards generation and completion of online APARs on SPARROW system for the financial year 2017-18 is being constantly monitored in this Department'. It has been observed that as on date 367 APARs are pending with ORUs, 404 APARs are pending with Reporting Officers and 445 APARs are pending with the Reviewing Officers. Apart from the above, a total number of 503 APARs are pending at different stages for disclosure/closure. It is note-worthy that the timelines including extended timelines for writing of APARs for the financial year 2017-18 have been over on 31 .8.2018. As per the instructions contained in OM of even number dated 24.07.2018, the entire exercise for writing of APARs in respect of CSS/CSSS officers , for the financial year 2017-18 will be closed on 31.12.2018.

4. In the meantime, a new feature for sending 'alerts' in the SPARROW web portal has been developed by the NIC (SPARROW Division) to remind the officers to complete their APAR activities on SPARROW.

5. Keeping in view the overall progress made in completion of APARs on SPARROW, the Ministries/Departments are advised to take the following actions for timely completion of APARs on SPARROW for the financial year 2017-18, before it is finally closed on 31 .12.2018.

(i) All the Ministries/Departments may send 'alerts' to all the officers to complete the APARs lying in their 'inboxes'. The facility for sending 'alerts ' are available in the revised version of 'SPARROW'.

(ii) The PARs in respect of ORUs who have still not submitted their PARs to their Reporting Officers, may be given a final chance to submit their self-appraisal to their respective Reporting Officers within 15 days from the date of issue of this OM. Thereafter, their APARs may be forceforwarded to their next level i. e. the Reporting Officer.

(iii) The Nodal officers are advised to devise a mechanism to monitor progress of completion of APARs for the financial year 2017-18 including disclosure and consideration of representation, if any by the stipulated date i.e. 31/12/2018.

(iv) It may be re-iterated that the end of entire APAR recording process on SPARROW for the financial year 2017 -18 will be on 31 .12.2018.

To
Joint Secretary (Admn.lEstt.),
All Ministry/ Departments (CSS/CSSS).

(Chandra Shekhar)
Under Secretary to the Govt. of India

Source: DoPT

Admissibility of SPORTS tour package to Lakshadweep Islands on ships operated by its Administration on LTC

Admissibility of SPORTS tour package to Lakshadweep Islands on ships operated by its Administration on LTC

No. AN/XIV/ 19015/Govt. Orders/TA/DA/LTC/Medical/2018

27.11.2018

To,
All PCsDA/CsDA/PCA (Fys)

Sub: Admissibility of SPORTS (Society for Promotion of Nature Tourism and Sports) tour package to Lakshadweep Islands on ships operated by Lakshadweep Administration on LTC.

A Copy of Government of India, Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions (Department of Personnel and Training) Office Memorandum No. 31011/10/2017-Estt.A-IV dated 11.10.2018 on the above subject is forwarded herewith for your information, guidance and compliance please.

Source: CGDA

Extension of due dates for filing GST returns

Ministry of Finance
Extension of due dates for filing GST returns

28 NOV 2018

In view of the disturbances caused to daily life by Cyclone Titli in the district of Srikakulam, Andhra Pradesh, and by Cyclone Gaza in eleven districts of Tamil Nadu viz., Cuddalore, Thiruvarur, Puddukottai, Dindigul, Nagapatinam, Theni, Thanjavur, Sivagangai, Tiruchirappalli, Karur and Ramanathapuram, the competent authority has decided to extend the due dates for filing various GST returns as detailed below:

Sl. No.	Return/Form	Extended due date	Taxpayers eligible for extension
1	FORM GSTR-3B for the months of September and October, 2018	30th November, 2018	Taxpayers whose principal place of business is in the district of Srikakulam in Andhra Pradesh
2	FORM GSTR-3Bfor the month of October, 2018	20th December, 2018	Taxpayers whose principal place of business is in the 11 specified districts of Tamil Nadu
3	FORM GSTR-1 for the months of September and October, 2018	30th November, 2018	Taxpayers having aggregate turnover of more than 1.5 crore rupees and whose principal place of business is in the district of Srikakulam in Andhra Pradesh
4	FORM GSTR-1 for the month ofOctober, 2018	20th December, 2018	Taxpayers having aggregate turnover of more than 1.5 crore rupees and whose principal place of business is in the eleven specified districts of Tamil Nadu
5	FORM GSTR-1 for the quarter July-September, 2018	30th November, 2018	Taxpayers having aggregate turnover of upto 1.5 crore rupees and whose principal place of business is in the district of Srikakulam in Andhra Pradesh
6	FORM GSTR-4 for the quarter July to September, 2018	30th November, 2018	Taxpayers whose principal place of business isin the district of Srikakulam in Andhra Pradesh
7	FORM GSTR-7 for the months October to December, 2018	31st January, 2019	All taxpayers

2. The relevant notifications for the same will be issued shortly.

PIB

Clarification on Enhanced Family Pension Payable

Clarification on Enhanced Family Pension Payable - DoP&PW

No.1/1(5)/2018-P&PW(E)
Department of Pension & Pensionors' Welfare
(Desk E)

Sub: Clarification on date upto which enhanced family pension payable-reg.

Ref: CPAO ID No. CPAO/IT & Tech/Clarification/13(VOL-III)/P&PW/2017-18/193 dated 05.02.2018 and NIC Note, dated 3.4.2013.

CPAO may please refer to above mention ID, dated 5.2.2018 on the subject mentioned above.

2. It was decided to increase the age of retirement from 58 to 60 years vide its notification No.25012/2/97-Estt.(A) dated 13th May, 1998. In pursuance of this decision and in view of the recommendation of the Vth Central Pay Commission, in partial modification of Rule 54(3) (a) of CCS (Pension) rules, 1972, it was decided that the payment of family pension at enhanced rates will be payable for 7 years or till the government servant/pensioner would have attained the age of 67 years against the existing provision of 65 years. This has been applicable in cases where Government servant is to retire at the age of 60 years in pursuance of the notification dated 11.05.1998 and not where Government servant has already retired at the age of 58 years or would have retired at the age of 55 years but for his premature demise.

3. Subsequently rule 54(3)(a)(ii) has also been amended to read as under:
In the event of death of Government servant after retirement, the family pension as determined under sub-clause (i) shall be payable for a period of seven years, or for u period up to the date on which the retired deceased Government servant would have attained the age of 67 years had he survived, whichever is less.

4. In view of this it is clear that family pension at enhanced rates will be payable for 7 years or till the deceased retired government servant would have attained the age of 67 years had he survived, whichever is less, irrespective of type of retirement. date of retirement and age of superannuation applicable in the case of retired Govt. servant. This would equally apply in all Central Civil Govt. Departments/Offices including CPAF and Medical Officers.

5. This issues with the approval of competent authority.

sd/-
(Sanjoy Shankar)
Under Secretary

Source: CentralGovernmentNews.com

Why Government Employees Are Up in Arms About the New Pension Scheme (NPS)

Why Government Employees Are Up in Arms About the New Pension Scheme (NPS)
Unlike the old scheme, government employees are now forced to fund half of their pension themselves. This has caused indignation and sparked widespread protests.

On November 16, Union minister Piyush Goyal was reportedly hounded out of an event in Lucknow by railway employees. Among other issues, the protesters were angry about the new pension scheme and demanded the restoration of the old system.

Not just Uttar Pradesh, unrest against the scheme has been brewing across the country and often manifests in mass protest demonstrations.

Forget sustenance, several recently retired government employees say they can’t even pay their monthly electricity bills with the pension amount.

Many of these employees covered under the new contribution-based pension system are receiving as little as Rs 700-800 as monthly pension while the minimum guaranteed amount in the old defined benefit scheme is Rs 9,000. They are now required to pay 10% of their monthly wages which is matched by the government and invested in equity shares. Retirement pensions are dependent on the returns on that accumulated investment.

In the old system, the entire pension amount was borne by the government while fixed returns were guaranteed for employee contribution to the General Provident Fund (GPF). The government pays 50% of the last drawn salary plus dearness allowance (DA) as pension to employees after retiring, and to their dependent family members in case of death.

What is the new pension scheme and how is it different from the old one?
The National Pension System (NPS) is a defined contribution scheme mandatory for all new recruits to the Central government (except armed forces) joining on or after January 1, 2004. All state governments, except West Bengal, have also made it mandatory.

In 2009, the scheme was extended to all Indian citizens from 18-60 years of age, however, the 10% government contribution is only for government employees. An independent Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA), set up in 2013, regulates the NPS.
The NPS has two tiers - Tier 1 is mandatory for all government employees and has a fixed lock-in period. Subscribers can only withdraw the accumulated wealth after they retire, i.e., are 60 years old. A recent amendment allows them to withdraw 25% of the employee contribution in case of emergencies.

Even at the time of retirement, subscribers can withdraw only 60% of the total amount, which is taxable, and it’s mandatory to invest the rest 40% to buy a lifelong annuity scheme through an IRDA-regulated insurance company. If they leave the scheme or retire before attaining the age of 60, 80% of the pension wealth has to be invested in the annuity scheme.

Tier 2 is a voluntary account, more of a substitute for the GPF where one can withdraw any amount at any time. The government does not contribute anything in the tier 2 account.

Unlike the pension and GPF in the old scheme, the NPS does not guarantee any fixed returns as it is market-linked.

Teething troubles or discriminatory by design?
Since the NPS covers employees recruited after December 2003 and the age of retirement is 60, most employees are yet to avail the new pension benefits.

On being asked why they were protesting more than a decade after the old scheme was replaced, the employees say they initially had little understanding of the scheme as there were no active efforts to educate them or raise awareness about it.

They were told that NPS was better as the government was also matching their contributions. “Many employees have been protesting from the start but NPS was forced on us nevertheless. Such large-scale movements take time. We were fewer in number and it took time to organise,” Manjeet Singh Patel, Delhi state president of the National Movement for Old Pension Scheme (NMOPS)
Many experts and supporters of the scheme argue that just like a standard Systematic Investment Plan, long-term capital gains under NPS would be better than before. However, protesting employees argue that for those retiring after 10-12 years under NPS, the accumulated wealth is too less to provide substantial amount as pensions.

“The total accumulated wealth in my NPS account on retirement was Rs 3.25 lakhs even when I got 13% interest rate on it. After 60% of it was paid to me on retirement, I am receiving less than Rs 700 every month as pension through the annuity scheme,” R.P. Bhatia, a former employee of the Haryana electricity board, told The Wire.

Bhatia was made permanent in November 2006 and retired in 2013. NPS was enforced in Haryana from 2006 itself. He says his colleagues who were recruited not long before him are receiving over Rs 15,000 as pension under the old scheme.

To be sure, employees did not need to contribute anything to avail pension in the earlier scheme. Under NPS, employees have to fund half of their pension themselves.

If they want a GPF-like option where there's no strict lock-in period, they have to additionally deposit money in the tier 2 account. They say this leaves them with less disposable income and even then, they live in constant anxiety of losing their money in the equity market.

"If the government wanted to encourage us to invest in mutual funds, we should have been educated about it and it should be optional for those willing to risk it. The government is forcing us into it instead of providing a safety net," Patel added.

In addition to these issues, government employees from many parts of Uttar Pradesh allege their contribution hasn’t even started being deducted from their salaries. “How will we get returns from the market when our money hasn’t even been deducted from our accounts to be invested,” Ajit Verma, a 32-year-old government employee from Lakhimpur Kheri in UP, told The Wire. He adds that this is the case in many blocks of his district.

Speculative benefits instead of safety net
"The minimum pension amount under the old scheme is Rs 9,000 which has been calculated keeping in mind entry-level minimum wages. Real pension amounts are much higher as nobody retires on entry-level wages. In the new scheme, even those who have worked for a decade are getting as little as Rs 1,000-2,000. This is a disastrous policy," Tapan Sen, general secretary, Center of Indian Trade Unions, told The Wire.

Sen also alleges that both the Congress and BJP governments, through this scheme, have been using public money to help those who profit through speculation in the share market at the cost of vulnerable government employees.

In addition to nervousness because of a mistrust in market-linked schemes, the employees also feel they are being discriminated against as armed forces recruits are still covered under the old scheme and they feel their fellow colleagues covered under the old scheme are getting a better deal.
Clearly defined pension amounts and a safety net in the form of fixed interest rates on GPF were the main attractions for a government job for these employees who typically spend their whole working lives in the public sector.

Current state of economy adding to woes
The current state of the economy does nothing to inspire confidence in these employees as they see their interest rates dip in the aftermath of events like demonetisation and Goods and Services Tax.
"We were told that our money in the market would also help avoid a 2008-like economic slowdown. How are we to trust this logic when people like Vijay Mallya and Nirav Modi run away with thousands of crores of public money? When even our pension fund managers like SBI goes into massive losses?" Vijay Kumar, national president of the NMOPS, told The Wire.

A rare moment of unity among government employees
As word spreads of an organised movement against the new pension scheme, employees from various government departments and states are joining in. Leaders of the movement say this is one of the rare issues that has united government employees from very diverse sectors and geographical locations.
Workers from the banking sector are also lending their voice to the protest. A charter of demands submitted to the Indian Banks’ Association by the All India Bank Officers’ Confederation also demands scrapping of the NPS.

"Either we go to the old scheme or this scheme can itself be converted into an assured pension scheme. We have also given a workaround on how it can be done. If invested properly, it is possible to guarantee assured income. Instead of investing in the market, the fund can be used in lending activities. Retail lending can alone fetch 12-15% interest and we can avoid the whims of the market," Thomas Franco, former general secretary of AIBOC, told The Wire. Even while suggesting how to ease anxieties regarding market volatility, Franco’s preference remains going back to the old scheme.
Since no concrete action was taken to address their concerns even after multiple appeals to all concerned authorities, the NMOPS has planned to mobilise lakhs of government employees from across India and march to the parliament on Monday.

Source:thewire.in

Spot Check of Pension Payments by Pension Disbursing Banks

Spot Check of Pension Payments by Pension Disbursing Banks.

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS
RAILWAY BOARD

RBA No.114 /2018

No. 2012/AC-II/21/6 (Part-II)

New Delhi dated 17th October, 2018

General Managers,
All Zonal Railways/Production Units

Sub:- Spot Check of Pension Payments by Pension Disbursing Banks.

Expenditure on Pension accounts has increased substantially due to revision of pension as per 7th CPC. It is therefore necessary that the pension payments made by the banks are monitored closely and the pension debits are checked concurrently to ensure that there are no excess payments and the debits are in respect of bonafide Railway pensioners only. .

Besides internal checks and spot checks of pension payments, a physical verification drive of pensioners may also be launched during November, 2018 like previous years to carry out inspections and verifications of the 'Life Certificate' by pensioners to the banks. A team of staff from Personnel and Accounts department may be deputed for this purpose to visit the banks in their proximity. A suggestive checklist for verification to be carried out is enclosed. A brief report of the outcome of the above verification may be submitted to Board by 15th December, 2018.

S.No.	Bank visited	No. of Records verified	Type of Pension/Family Pension	Discrepancy detected	Remarks

(Anjali Goyal)
Pr. Executive Director Accounts
Railway Board

Pension of ex-Govt employees to be net of Income Tax

Pension of ex-Govt employees to be net of Income Tax

No BPS/ SG/pension/I.Tax/018/1  

Dated: 23.11.2018

To
The Arun jaitley ji
Honorable Cabinet Minister for Finance
Government of India
Subject: Pension of ex-Govt employees to be net of Income Tax

Sir,

With passage of time, the purchase value of pension due to steep rise in the cost of food items, caregivers and medical facilities etc gets substantially reduced. Due to inflation coupled with low interest rates value of their deposits in Banks/Post offices etc too go on reducing year by year adversely affecting the net-worth of Pensioners. Thus compelling them to compromise their standard of dignified living.

As was worked out & recommended by TECS (Tata Economic Consultancy Services) consultant to Vth CPC (Para 127.9 Vol III 5th CPC report) Pension need to be 67% of the last drawn to enable a pensioner to live with the same standard to which he was living while in service (Supreme Court pronouncement in DS Nakara vs UOI) but only 50% of last drawn is being paid. Old age relief given to Sr citizen in Income tax is too little to compensate.

You are therefore, requested to reconsider & accept the recommendation of Vth CPC vide their 167.11(copy attached) in this regard and spare the pension/family pension along with DR & FMA from the levy of income-tax.

Further to compensate fall in purchase value of their savings in deposits with banks & post offices rate of interests for senior citizens on their deposits should be 2% above the normal rate of interests as against the existing 0.25% to 0.50%.

Hoping for your sympathetic consideration

Thanking you in anticipation

With Regards
Sincerely yours,
S.C.Maheshwari
Secy Genl Bharat Pensioners Samaj

CGHS - Reiteration of the guidelines issued regarding Credit facilities to serving employees

File No. Z15025/64/2018/DIR/CGHS

Z 15025/64/2018/DIR/CGHS
Government of India
Ministry of Health & Family Welfare
Department of Health & Family Welfare

545-A Nirman Bhawan, New Delhi
Dated the November, 2018

OFFICE MEMORANDUM

Sub: Reiteration of the guidelines issued regarding Credit facilities to serving employees of Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, CGHS and Dte. General of Health Services

With reference to the above mentioned subject the undersigned is directed to draw attention to the terms and conditions of empanelment under CGHS and to reiterate that the Hospitals and Diagnostic centres empanelled under CGHS shall provide treatment / Investigations to the serving employees of Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, CGHS and Dte. General of Health Services and their family members covered under CGHS on credit basis on the basis of advice from CGHS Medical Officer/Govt Specialist in case of listed treatment procedures/investigations and with valid permission letter in case of unlisted treatment procedures/investigations as the case may be. In addition the HCOs shall continue to provide treatment on credit basis for treatment under emergency.

[Dr Atul Prakash]
Director,CGHS

Government to refund employers for seven weeks of maternity leave given to employees: WCD

Government to refund employers for seven weeks of maternity leave given to employees: WCD

CRE-23/1/2018 - Creche- Part(2)
Government of India
Ministry of Women and Child Development

Shastri Bhawan, New Delhi
Dated: 2nd November, 2018

Office Memorandum

Subject: National Minimum Guidelines for setting up and running creches under Maternity Benefit Act, 2017 - Forwarding of

The undersigned is directed to refer to the subject mentioned above & to say that the Ministry of Labour & Employment has notified the Maternity Benefit (Amendment) Act, 2017 mandating that "every establishment having fifty or more employees shall have the facility of creche within such distance as may be prescribed, either separately or along with common facilities",

2. In this regard, to enable and facilitate the employer for establishing and managing the creche facility, the Ministry of Women & Child Development has formulated the National Minimum Guidelines for Setting Up and Running Creches under Maternity Benefit Act 2017 (copy enclosed).

3. It is requested to circulate the said guidelines to each and every employer/ institution covered under the Maternity Benefit Act thereby empowering them with the requisite know how to set up model cn3Ghe facilities with adequate provisions. A copy of the said guidelines can also be downloaded from the Ministry's website - www.wcd.nic.in.

Source: www.wcd.nic.in

Provision of GP 42001- in PB-2/Level 6 of 7th CPC to the Dressers/OT Assistants working in Railway Hospitals/Health Units

Provision of GP 42001- in PB-2/Level 6 of 7th CPC to the Dressers/OT Assistants working in Railway Hospitals/Health Units

NFIR

No. IV/NFIR/ 7th CPC(Imp)/2016/R.B/Part II

Dated: 24/10/2018

The Secretary (E),
Railway Board,
New Delhi

Dear Sir,

Sub: Provision of GP 42001- in PB-2/Level 6 of 7th CPC to the Dressers/OT Assistants working in Railway Hospitals/Health Units - reg.

Ref: (i) NFIR's PNM IItem No. 11/2017.
(ii) NFIR's letter No.IV/NFIR/7th CPC (Imp)/2016/R.B./Part I dated 07108/2017.
(iii) NFIR's letter No. IVNFIR/7th CPC (Imp)/2016/R.B./Part II dated 12/03/20l8.
(iv) Railway Board's letter No. PC-VII/2016/R-U/35 dated 19/04/2018 addressed to GS/NFIR duly enclosing copy of Railway Board's O.M. No. PC-VII/2016/R-U/35 dated 12/04/2017sent to (Dep of Exp).

Kind attention of the Railway Board is invited to the minutes of NFIR's PNM meeting held with the Railway Board on l0th/1lth May,2018, pertaining to Agenda Item No. 1812018, wherein the Official Side conveyed that after finalization of revision of entry pay of Dressers (proposal presently being pursued with MoF), this demand can be looked into. Though five months passed, unfortunately no progress has been made relating to grant of entry pay of GP 2000/Level-3 in respect of Dressers/OT Assistants working in the Railway Hospitals/Health Units.

In this connection, Federation desires to bring to the notice of Railway Board that the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, (the nodal Ministry), has since approved restructuring of the cadre of Operation Theatre in one of the Hospitals vide letter No. V-17020118912018-INI-II dated 7th September, 2018 as follows:-

(i) OT Technician: Entry Level Scale of Pay (PB-2+GP 4200/Pay Matrix Level-6).
(ii) Sr. Technician OT (on promotion from GP 4200) to be placed in PB-2+GP 4600.
(iii) Sr. Technician OT is eligible for promotion as Technical Officer (OT) in PB-2+GP 5400. (iv) The Technical Officer (OT) GP 5400 is eligible for promotion as Sr. Technical Officer (OT) in PB-3+GP 6600.

Federation suggests that the Railway Board may consult the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare for formulating structure for allotment of GP 4200 in favour of Dressers/OT Assistants.
NFIR, therefore, requests the Railway Board to take necessary action at the level of Ministry of
Health & Family Welfare.

Yours faithfully,
(Dr. M. Raghavaiah)
General Secretary

Source: NFIR