Wednesday, June 02, 2010

Awami National Conference seeks arrears payment to employees

The opposition Awami National Conference in Jammu and Kashmir Saturday criticised the state government for not paying employees the arrears due to them under the Sixth Pay Commission.

ANC vice president Muzaffar Shah criticised the National Conference-led coalition government and Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, who is also his cousin, for what he called 'wasteful expenditure of the government on ministers and bureaucrats'.
'This government is spending huge sums of money on ministers, their travels and misusing the state aircraft. But when it comes to employees, it says it has no money to pay them arrears. This is sheer excuse and nothing else,' Muzzaffar said addressing a press conference here.
More than 450,000 state government employees were on a three-day strike last week, demanding payment of arrears due to them on account of salary hike on the Sixth Pay Commission recommendations.
But the government said that it cannot make any payment since it does not have the required resources.
'As and when resources are available, we will make payment of arrears to our employees,' Omar said in the assembly Thursday.
The ANC is headed by Khalida Shah, sister of Omar's father Farooq Abdullah. She became the head of the party after the death of her husband Ghulam Mohammad Shah.
Shah and Farooq had fallen apart in 1984. Shah became chief minister in 1984 after dislodging the Farooq Abdullah government with the help of the Congress.
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Clarification on admissibility LTC claim in respect of fresh recruits

Important Circular

Office of the Controller General of Defence Accounts
Ulan Batar Road, Palam, Delhi Cantt. New Delhi-110010ffice of


No. AN/XIV/14162/L TC

Dated 18.12.2009.

To

All PCsDA/CsDA

Subject: Clarification on admissibility LTC claim in respect of fresh recruits.

Sir,
The matter regarding admissibility of LTC to fresh recruits to central Government was referred to DoP&T who have since clarified that an employee who has not completed 8 years service as fresh recruits on 01.9.2008 will get the benefit available to a fresh recruits for the remaining period till he completes 8 years. There will be no change in block years. Current block is 2006 09.

2. As regards who will be construed as a Fresh Recruits, DoP&T has clarified that a direct recruit joining Govt. service for the first time will be deemed to be a fresh recruits.

(R.K.Bhatt)
For CGDA
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Terms and conditions for grant of Non-Functional financial upgradation for Officers of IPS/IFS

 

Government of India
Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions
Department of Personnel and Training
New Delhi, the 16" March, 2010

Subject:. Non-Functional financial upgradation for Officers of IPS/IFS in Pay Band - 3 and Pay Band - 4 in terms of Note 3 below rule 3(1) of the IPS/IFS (Pay) Amendment Rules, 2008

Sir,

I am directed to say that the provision of non-functional frnancial upgradation of IPS/IFS officers in PB-3 or PB 4 linked to appointment of an IAS officer at Centre, as already made in the Note 3 below rule 3(1) of the IPS/IFS (Pay) Amendment Rules, 2008 has been further amended vide notification nos. GSR 172(E) and GSR 1 7 3 ( E ) dated 3'd March, 2010 to include the HAG Scale and to make the application of this provision in the State cadres more clear. The text of the new provision is as follows:

Note 3: Whenever any Indian Administrative Service officer of a particular batch is posted at the Centre to a particular grade carrying a specific grade pay in PB-3 or PB-4 or HAG scale, the members of Service, who are senior to such Indian Administrative Service officer by two years or more and have not so far been promoted to that particular grade, shall be granted the same grade on non-functional basis in their respective State cadres from the date of posting of the Indian Administrative Service officer at the Centre in that particular grade. In the case of those members of the Service who are posted at the Centre, at the time of grant of Non-Functional upgradatio'n under Note 3 above, their pay in pay band will be fured by granting one increment @ 3% of the existing pay in the pay band and existing grade pay subject to the minimum of the pay band of non-functional upgradation, and they will not be granted higher grade pay or pay scale, as the case may be. Such officers will continue getting the grade pay of the post against which they have been appointed at the Centre under the Central Staffing Scheme. They will also continue getting Central Deputation Tenure Allowance (CDTA), wherever applicable."
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Revision of pay scales - amendment of Service Rules / Recruitment Rules

No.AB.14017/61/2008-Estt. (RR)
Government of India
Ministry of Personnel, P.G. & Pensions
(Department of Personnel & Training)

New Delhi Dated, the 12th March, 2010.

OFFICE MEMORANDUM

Subject:- Sixth Central Pay Commission's recommendations - revision of pay scales - amendment of Service Rules / Recruitment Rules
***
The undersigned is directed to invite reference to this Department's OM of even number dated 24th March, 2009 on the above subject.

2. In the Annexure to the said OM, the entries pertaining to the following grades may be revised as under:-

Sl. No. From To Minimum qualifying service
1. 1800 1900 3 Years
25. 10000 HAG 3 Years
26. HAG HAG + Scale 1 Year
27. HAG Apex Scale 2 years

3. Hindi version will follow.
(J.A. Vaidyanathan)
Deputy Secretary to the Government of India
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Release of additional instalment of Dearness Allowance from January 2010.


Cabinet Ministry today decided to issue an additional Dearness Allowance of 8% to all Central Government Employees and Dearness Relief to Pensioners with effect form 01.01.2010.

With this the total Dearness Allwoance will rise from 27% to 35%.

The increase is in accordance with the accepted formula, which is based on the recommendations of 6th CPC . An increase of eight per cent over the existing rate of 27 per cent of the Basic Pay (Pay in the pay band + Grade pay) / Pension and arrears for Jan and Feb - 2010 will be paid in next month

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Proceedings of the Steering Committee of JCM-III level council of OFB

The 9th steering committee of 11th Term JCM III Level Council, OFB hled on 12-03-201at OFB HQRS, Kolkata under the chairman ship of DDG/Admin. During the meeting the following points were discussed and the decision/position/progress to given below.

1. Payment of Night Duty Allowance arrears on the Notional Basic of IVth CPC + DA + Increment + Promotion between 1.1.1996 till date:
Clarification of NDA which is now being paid on IV CPC pay scales from 1.1.96 was demanded to calculate by adding the increased DA + Earned Increments, Promotion / ACP etc., till date. This was agreed by OFB, Revised package by PC of A factories was issued. Few factories have paid the arrears and calculating on the revised package. It was insisted that many factories have not paid. It should be ensured that all the ordnance factories should make the arrears payment and the details should be given in the next meeting.

2.OT Payment on revised VI CPC Pay:
It was demanded that the OT allowances should be paid on the VI CPC scale without further delay. It was informed to OFB that Railway Board issued orders recently to pay OT allowance on the revised pay w.e.f. 1.9.2008 by calculating HRA, TA, DA and Ration Allowance. Similarly it was demanded to calculating OT pay to ordnance factory employees without further delay on the revised pay.

3.Co-Relation of piece work profit on revised pay:
It was demanded that there should not be any further delay to Co-Relate the piece work profit in the minimum of the pay band with Grade Pay.

4.Payment of piece work profit to those employees who were promoted / Granted ACP on the upgraded Pay / Grade Pay:
Though the Co-relation is delayed, but the employees who were promoted / granted ACP after 1.9.2008 have not paid piece work profit on their pay. It was agreed to consider and was referred to PC of A fys.

Demanded the following:

a) MACP benefit to Teaching staff of Ordnance factories.

b) Merger of AF / FM / SH with JWM or to promote ch/man to AF immediately.

c) Holding of DPC for PR Teachers for their promotion.

d) Continuing of Risk Allowance and Patient Care Allowance.

e) Granting of EL 30 days to Direct Workers without delay.

f) Granting of incentive to Labourer SSK working in maintenance sections.

g) Early clearance of SLP to allow Direct Recruitment in HVF, OFT, OFP madek and EFA.

h) Special increments granted to stenographers through Arbitration Award should be treated as Part of Pay.

i) Granting of Departmental OT 3 ¼ Hrs. for Piece Workers to be considered. PC of A fys agreed to consider.

j) Early sanction of Manpower to Ordnance Factories during the year 2010-11 for Direct Recruitment against wastage vacancies arised during the previous year.

k) Cadre review proposal by OFB for para medical staff should be forwarded to Mof D by OFB without further delay.

l) Pharmacists awarded Rs.4200 Grade Pay should be granted w.e.f. 1.1.2006 and the clarification deleting of 2 years should be made clear.

m) Cadre review proposal for all categories should be prepared and forwarded to consultation with staff side and accordingly Recruitment Rules should be amended.

n) The residency period prescribed by DOP&T should not the followed wile filling the vacancies fallen prior to 1.9.2008 and as per Recruitment Rules only should be followed.

o) Removal of stagnation for store Keeping staff (SK & Supervisor) after the merger of Ch/man II & I , the vacancies fallen will be filled by promotion.

p) Agreed to declare the advertisement for filling the Ch/man vacancies through LDCE by April.

Further OFB agreed to consider the following.

Ø NIES who have got Rs.1900 Grade Pay, if willing to become labour SSK (GP Rs.1800) Grade Pay will be considered since their pay will e protected as per recent Government orders.

Ø Laborer USK now become Laborurer SSK their up gradation will be ignored for MACP. Their promotion to SK also will not be counted for MACP orders were issued.

Ø Agreed to grant Compassionate Appointments to those who were offered appointment prior to VI CPC orders even if they are less than matriculate but will be placed in S1 - Scale (OFB issued order instruction No.63/2009(PCC) dt 29.12.2009.

Ø Recovery of subscription to wards GPF for new pension scheme employees under scheme – II was discussed but were informed that the matter may be discussed at national council (JCM).

OFB asked the federations, to submit their cadre review proposal to within seven days, so that OFB can in corporate in their proposal and consult with the federations. You many forward proposals for the following cadres.

Ø Industrial Employees

Ø Store Keeping Staff

Ø Supervisor Staff (Ch/man to JWM)

Ø Fire Fighting Staff

Ø Cart while group ‘D’

Ø Stenographers Cadre

Ø Hindi/Raj basha Cadre.

Regarding the four grade structure of Artisan (Trades Man) and upgardation of MCM Grade Pay to Rs.4200 and HS-I Grade Pay to Rs.2800 was referred to DoP&T and the same was approved by DoP&T and sent to Mof Defence on 26.2.2010. Now the file was sent to Defecnce (Finance) for their approval. Now pending there. Any moment, it can be cleared. We have asked one time relaxation for Highly Skilled from Trade Test and to give effect from 1.1.2006. Due to this, MACPS also pending in many factories. MCM will be feeder grade to Ch/man infuture.

Source: Vinmoney
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Tuesday, June 01, 2010

Teachers in UP seek special allowance for staying single

LUCKNOW: Claiming that their contribution in checking population growth is much more than others, teachers in government-aided higher education institutions in UP, who are single, want the state government to pay them a special allowance, on a par with the family planning allowance given to their married counterparts adhering to Hum Do Aur Humare Do (two child) norm.

The family planning allowance was introduced in 1981 to motivate government employees to voluntarily follow the two child norm. The allowance, at present, is between Rs 550-900 per month in accordance with their pay grades. There are 12 state universities, 345 government-aided and 125 government colleges in UP with over 17,000 teachers. Of them, around 8% teachers are single. There are around 1,200 teachers in 21 government-aided and four government colleges associated with the Lucknow University (LU), of which 10% are single with no kids. They include around 25 divorcees, 15 widows/widowers and around 75 unmarried.

These single teachers have now decided to speak against the three decades of injustice and discrimination against them. "I think we should apply for the allowance and see what is the response of government. If it says no, we will have the option of going to the court for justice," said Pratima Bhatia, head, anthropology department, Awadh Girls' PG College. Her colleague, Ratna Watal, head of economics department, said family planning allowance is a welcome step but why keep out those who have abstained from adding to the burgeoning population by willingly opting to remain single.

Teachers argue that the aim of family planning incentive is to reward those who have refrained from increasing their family beyond two children. Going by this logic, single teachers should be doubly rewarded as they have made a sacrifice for the society as per the Malthusian theory of preventive checks. Malthus said the rate of increase of population is higher than the food supply which would eventually lead to widespread poverty and starvation. He suggested two types of checks to control the population — preventive and positive. The preventive checks include the postponement of marriage and celibacy.

Significantly, not only single teachers, even childless couples do not qualify for allowance under the government's definition of family planning. "Teachers had raised the issue when the allowance was introduced in 1980s but the government officials had then said that to avail the allowance one needs to marry and have kids, one or two but not more than that," said a senior professor. Rajesh Kumar, another single teacher, argued there could be many reasons for a person deciding not to marry. Similarly, biological reasons can also prevent couples from having kids. But this should not form the basis of discrimination, Kumar added.

source timesofindia
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Man wins EPF loan 'denial' case

New Delhi: The National Consumer Dispute Redressal Commission (NCDRC) has held that management and operation of the employees provident fund (EPF) is "service" under the law and non-payment of loan from it amounted to denial of service.

The apex consumer body passed the order on a plea of Mineral Area Development Authority (MADA) employee challenging the order of Jharkhand state commission which had set aside the district forum's direction to pay damages and cost of Rs 10,000.

"The objection of the respondent (MADA) that the dispute does not fall within the domain of consumer fora has no legs to stand since the law on the subject has been settled by the apex court," a bench, comprising members B N P Singh and S K Naik, said while rejecting the plea of the authority that operation of the contributory EPF scheme was not service under Consumer Protection Act.

In this case, complainant Shashi Shekhar had applied for a loan of Rs one lakh for his son's higher education, but the amount was reduced to Rs 50,000 by the employer even though there was a balance amount of over Rs two lakh in his fund.

While setting aside the order of the State Commission, the apex forum directed the MADA to pay balance amount of the loan from the Provident Fund (PF), in addition to Rs 10,000 as damages and cost.

Pursuant to the terms and conditions of contributory EPF scheme run by the MADA, an employee was entitled to get loan after completing services in excess of 20 years on three

occasions and the denial of the same amounted to deficiency in service, the NCDRC said.

Earlier, the district forum had ordered for payment of balance amount of loan, besides imposing a compensation and cost on MADA.

The state commission, however, had set aside district forum's order, saying the employee was not a consumer under the Contributory Provident Fund Scheme and the operation of the funds was not service under the Act.
source;www.financialexpress.com
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CBI unearths spurious drugs in CGHS hospitals

HYDERABAD: Surprise checks on several Central Government Health Scheme (CGHS) dispensaries in the city revealed that some of them were supplying sub-standard, spurious and expired drugs to patients, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) said today.


Teams of CBI, central and state drug controllers and the vigilance wing of CGHS conducted joint surprise checks from May 12 to 19 throughout the country. Checks were also conducted in Hyderabad, Visakhapatnam and Bangalore by the Hyderabad zone of CBI.

In Hyderabad checks were carried out at the CGHS dispensaries at Begumpet, Alwal, Tarnaka, Secunderabad, Dilsukhnagar, Kanchanbagh, Charminar, Kakatiya Nagar and the government medical depot at SR Nagar. Checks were conducted at the railway and ESI hospitals at Nacharam and Sanatnagar.


``It was found that drugs, which were expired, were supplied to the CGHS dispensaries at Begumpet, Alwal, Kanchanbagh and Charminar and also at the ESI hospital at Nacharam,’’ CBI deputy inspector-general VV Lakshminarayana said. Samples were collected from these places and sent for clinical tests. `` Sample-testing may take a month’s time and based on the reports we will initiate action. We are investigating when they were supplied to the hospitals and why they are still in the hospital even after their expiry date,’’ the DIG said.

Expired drugs found in government hospitals

CHENNAI: The spurious drugs supply racket recently busted by the Chennai police seems to have had its tentacles reach far beyond expected as even Central Government hospitals – four of them in Chennai – were found to have been distributing time-barred medicines and drugs with less shelf life, even a few days ago.

In raids conducted by the Central Bureau of Investigation for three days from May 15, seven Central Government hospitals and dispensaries in Chennai, Cochin and Thiruvananthapuram were found to be handing out drugs that posed a health hazard to patients, Ashok Kumar, Joint Director, CBI told reporters in Chennai on Thursday. The raids were part of a nationwide crackdown on spurious drugs.

“We have checked the samples in the presence of independent witnesses and with the help of drug inspectors.

The seized drugs are being sent to the Central Drugs Testing Laboratory for examination,” he said.

A special team consisting central drug inspectors and officers of the CBI, Chennai also conducted surprise raids at four pharmaceutical companies in Puducherry and a godown of a distributor in Chennai and detected that the manufacture and distribution of substandard drugs not permitted by the Drug Controller General of India was continuing.

Kumar said that if any of the manufacturing companies raided by the CBI were found to have had any connection with the gang involved in the distribution of spurious drugs, they would pass on the information to the CB-CID, which is investigating the cases related to that racket.

source;expressbuzz.com
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38th Meeting of National Council for Vocational Training held in New Delhi

The 38th meeting of the National Council for Vocational Training (NCVT) under the Chairmanship of Minister for Labour & Employment Shri Mallikarjun Kharge was held New Delhi today.

The main decisions taken are as under:

1. National Policy on Skill Development envisages that “NCVT should be strengthened and re-engineered with a broader mandate and representation”. Accordingly, this forum considered whether NCVT should be made an autonomous professional institution with its own administrative and secretarial set up having regional and state or other local offices as per requirement. NCVT decided that it should be supported by an Act of Parliament.

2. Quality of training cannot be ensured unless trainers are well trained. Accordingly, this forum considered whether training and retraining of instructors should be made mandatory for trainers of ITIs/ITCs.

3. With fast changing technical environment, it is essential to have provision for lifelong learning. Accordingly, this forum will considered following relaxations for passing the All India Trade Test conducted under the aegis of NCVT for trainees of ITIs/ITCs and Crafts Instructor Training.

a. Number of attempts has been enhanced from 3 to 12 for instructor trainee to pass All India Trade Test for Craft Instructors.

b. Number of years for passing All India Trade Test of Craftsmen has been increased from three to five years.

4. It was observed that candidates desirous of enhancing their skills but due to the prescribed upper age limit are deprived from taking admission in ITIs/ITCs. To address the issue, this forum considered to remove the upper age limit for all training courses under Craftsmen Training Scheme.

5. In order to impart necessary skill to the trainees as per work place need and complement their technical skills with other required skills/ information as they enter into the world of work, this forum considered to include the subject “Life Skills” in curricula of ITIs covering the following topics:

· Communication skills

· English Proficiency

· Quality Management tools

· Entrepreneurial skills

· Occupational safety and health

Information Technology IT and Computer literacy are already included.

6. Keeping in view the escalating cost of land and non availability of required land in metropolitan cities, the council decided vertical expansion, with multi storied design for workshop with optimum use of land, and accordingly space norms for housing the trades at different floors in ITIs/ITCs.



7. Under Craftsmen Training Scheme, there is provision for grant of technical books and magazines, sports and recreation, medical, etc. These rates were last revised in year 1995. This forum considered to enhance the rates to 5 times from existing rates.

8. In order to foster a spirit of healthy competition, DGET organizes All India Skill Competition for Craftsmen. Cash awards are given to winners and various incentives to instructional staff is also given to recognize their contribution in achieving the awards. This forum considered to increase the amount of Cash awards by 5 times.



An award presentation function was also held at the 38th Meeting of NCVT on 31st May, 2010. To encourage a spirit of healthy competition, Directorate General of Employment & Training DGET organizes All India Skill Competition for Craftsmen and Apprentices in various trades. All India Skill Competition for Craftsmen is held every year in fourteen trades. The best trainee of each of the above trades at the State level competition, compete All India Skill Competition. Running shield is awarded to the State whose trainees’ secure highest total marks in all the trades in all India Level Competition. All India Skill Competition for Apprentices is held at local, regional & All India Level in 15 trades. A trophy and certificate of merit is awarded from the President of India for the best establishment in all the trades in the All India Competition. Two All India Skill Competitions for Craftsmen viz 44th and 45th were held during November 2008 to May 2010. Winner of 44th competition is State of Kerala and winner of 45th competition is State of Maharashtra. Four All India Skill Competitions for Apprentices (80th to 83rd) were held during above period. TATA Motors Ltd. Pune is winner of 80th competition and BOSCH Ltd. Bangalore is winner of three competitions viz 81st, 82nd and 83rd.

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