Negation of the promises – Granting Interim Relief/Merger of DA, LTC by Air and Exemption of Income Tax

Income Tax, Granting of IR/Merger of DA, Cancellation of LTC by air for low class employees and Installation of Biometric punching machine

Negation of the promises

Top leaders of the present Central Government had showered promises to the working class, especially the Central Government Employees during General Election. The promises including exemption of Income Tax limit up to 5 lakhs and many other assurances appeared to have more than 80% Government Employees in favour of them. But today we see the blatant negations of the promises made by them.

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Memorandum of Interim Relief and merger of Dearness allowance.- Confederation of cg employeees

CONFEDERATION OF CENTRAL GOVT. EMPLOYEES & WORKERS

Central Headquarters

1st floor, North Avenue Post Office Building, New Delhi-110 001.

Dated : 23.07.2014

Com. Shiv Gopal Misra,

Secretary,

Staff Side, National Council, JCM

13 C Feroze Shah Road,

New Delhi. 110 001.

Dear Comrade,

Sub: Memorandum of Interim Relief and merger of Dearness allowance.

The National Secretariat of the Confederation of Central Government employees and workers places on record its appreciation over the efforts of the Staff Side, JCM, National Council in preparing and submitting the memorandum to the 7th Central Pay Commission, which has received the widest acceptance and admiration of the Central Government employees. Since the last date for submitting the Department-specific memorandum has been got extended by your efforts uptill 31st July, 2014, the first phase of our endeavour and interaction with the 7th CPC will come to a conclusion in a few days’ time.

I have been directed by the National Secretariat of the Confederation which met on 17th July, 2014 to solicit your kind reference to the memorandum submitted by the Staff Side on behalf of all Federations, Unions, Associations on Interim Relief and merger of Dearness allowance. We are of the view that the Staff Side, in pursuance of the said memorandum, must seek an audience with the Pay Commission immediately to know the course of action the Commission would like to take in the matter. We must also seek an appointment with the honourable Finance Minister thereafter so as to ensure that a decision on our demands is taken by the Government without any further delay. We hope we need not emphasise the fact that the Central Government employees do expect financial benefit on this score as the erosion in the real value of wages as on date is phenomenal.

We shall be grateful if you will indicate to us your line of approach in the matter.

Thanking you and with greetings,

Yours fraternally,

M. Krishnan

Secretary General.

Copy to

1.Com. Raghaviah, Leader Staff Side, National Council, JCM

2. Com. Srikumar, Secretary General, All India Defence Employees Federation.

Source: http://confederationhq.blogspot.in/

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DA /DR merger, 7th CPC did not agree to discuss the issue in the preliminary meeting held on 23-07-2014

Brief feedback on BPS Preliminary meeting with 7th CPC on 23rd July 2014 

Friends, 

BPS and BCPC were the first Pensioners’ organizations to be called for preliminary meeting with 7th CPC on 23rd to discuss the reply to questionnaire, the Memorandum & the allied issue submitted by them. Only 45 minutes were given to each organization. S.C.Maheshwari G.S. BPS /Chairman BCPC had the opportunity to discuss the issues from both the Forums:

Following issues were discussed & explained to the full satisfaction of the Chairman & the members of 7th CPC who were very receptive, patient & themselves actively participated in deliberations which ensued.

At the end Chairman remarked that NC JCM Memorandum is very exhaustive, includes most of the issues raised today & that he will take it as a base for consideration. 1.New Pension Scheme: Response of commission was negative. Commission was apprised of the back ground, its failure in other countries & the fate of EPS 95.They were also informed that it will be acceptable if 50% of last drawn is ensured. 

2.Reasonable ratio to be maintained between maximum & minimum salary & Pension and adoption & adoption of common multiplication factor for revision

3.Ratio between maximum & minimum paid to be 5:1 for Defense Personnel and re-employment of ex servicemen as well as raising status of defense civilian pensioners to ex servicemen.

4.Inclusion of full DA in emoluments for calculating Pension. There was a very lively discussion on the issue in which the entire penal of 7th CPC participated & cross examined Secy. Genl BPS. Finally they agreed to BPS point of view.

5.100% neutralization of inflation : It was explained to the Commission that 100% neutralization is illusionary and DA is not sufficient, as the very system of calculation is faulty & unrealistic,

6. Payment additional pension to start from the age of 65 years. Chairman agreed that age of 100 years for Pensioners was illusionary.

7. Parity in Pensions :It was explained to the commission that full parity exists for High Court Supreme Court Judges, Govt. has agreed to OROP in case of Defence pensioners & Sr Bureaucrats (S32 & above ) have achieved it through modified parity formula of 6th CPC but for others who too are citizens of same category & same country even the formula for parity given by 5th CPC & accepted by Govt. is not being honored.

8. Pension to BSNL pensioners. It was submitted that since they are governed by CCS(Pension) Rules 1972. They be treated at par with C.G.Pensioners for the purpose of revision of Pension, Chairman advised to submit separate Memorandum

9. Discrimination in medical facilities to pensioners of Postal department & merger of 33 Postal dispensaries with CGHS.

10. Medical facilities. To Pensioners following issues raised in BPS memorandum were discussed in detail & the Chairman was agreeable to BPS views. (i) “Health is not a luxury” and “not be the sole possession of a privileged few”. It is a Fundamental justify of all present & past Employees! To ensure hassle free health care facility to Pensioners/family pensioners, Smart Cards be issued irrespective of departments to all Pensioners and their Dependents for cashless medical facilities across the country. These smart cards should be valid in 

• all Govt. hospitals 

• all NABH accredited Multi Super Specialty hospitals across the country which have been allotted land at concessional rate or given any aid or concession by the Central or the State govt. 

• all CGHS, RELHS & ECHS empanelled hospitals across the country.

Medical attendants. For reimbursement of bills for treatment & for hospitalization . No referral should be insisted in case of medical emergencies. For the purpose of reference for hospitalization & reimbursement of expenditure thereon in other than emergency cases Doctors/Medical officers working in different Central/State Govt. department dispensaries/health units should be recognized as Authorized medical attendant.

The enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of health is recognized as a fundamental justify of all workers in terms of Article 21 read with Article 39for a, 41, 43, 48A and all related Articles as pronounced by the Supreme Court in Consumer Education and Research Centre & Others vs Union of India (AIR 1995 Supreme Court 922) The Supreme court has held that the justify to health to a worker is an integral facet of meaningful justify to life to have not only a meaningful existence but also robust health and vigour. 

Therefore, the justify to health, medical aid to protect the health and vigour of a worker while in service or post retirement is a fundamental justify-to make life of a worker meaningful and purposeful with dignity of person. Thus health care is not only a welfare measure but is a Fundamental justify. We suggest that, all the pensioners, irrespective of pre-retiral class and status, be treated as same category of citizens and the same homogenous group. There should be no class or category based discrimination and all must be provided Health care services at par .

(ii). Hospital Regulatory Authority: To ensure that the hospitals do not avoid providing reasonable care to smart card holders and other poor citizens, a Hospital Regulatory Authority should be created to bring all NABH-accredited hospitals and NABL-accredited diagnostic Labs under its constant monitoring of quality, rates for different procedures & timely bill payments by Govt. agencies and Insurance companies. CGHS rates may be revised keeping in mind the workability as per market conditions.

(iii). Fixed Medical allowance (FMA): As is recorded in Para 5 of the minutes of Committee of Secretaries (COS) held on 15.04.2010 (Reference Cabinet Secretariat, Rashtrapati Bhavan No 502/2/3/2010-C.A.V Doc No. CD (C.A.V) 42/2010 Minutes of COS meeting dated 15.4.2010) which discussed enhancement of FMA. “CGHS card estimates for serving Personnel: Since estimates are not available separately for pensioners M/O Health & Family Welfare had assessed the total cost per card p.a. in 2007-2008 = Rs 16435 i.e. Rs.1369 per month for OPD”. 

Adding to it inflation, the figure today is well over Rs 2000/- PM. Ministry of Labour & Employment, Govt. of India vide its letter no. G-25012/2/2011-SSI dated 07.06.2013 has already enhanced FMA to Rs 2000/- PM for EPFO beneficiaries. Thus, to help elderly pensioners to look after their health, Adequate raise in FMA will encourage a good number of pensioners to opt out of OPD facility which will reduce overcrowding in hospitals. OPD through Insurance will cost much more to the Govt. As such the proposal for raising Fixed Medical allowance to Pensioners is fully justified and is financially viable.

We suggest that FMA for all C.G. Pensioners be raised to at least Rs 2000/- PM without any distance restriction linking it to Dearness Relief for automatic further increase. We further suggest that FMA be exempted from INCOME TAX. Fixed Medical Allowance (FMA) is a compensatory allowance to reimburse the medical expenses. As Medical Reimbursement is not taxable, FMA should also be exempted from Income Tax.

11. DA /DR merger commission did not agree to discuss the issue as it is not covered byTOR

12.Interim relief Commission response did not appeared to be very positive on our stressing the issue they said they will look into.

13. 6th CPC anomalies. Chairman asked for submission of detailed list through supplementary memorandum.

14.Plight of those born on 1.1.1938/46: Commission said, they will look into.

15. Plight of those retiring on 30June Commission said, they will look into.

16. Restoration of Commutation in 12 years: commission said thy will look into the details provided.

17. Grievance redressed. Chairman was critical of the functioning of the system already existing & remarked “ you will not be benefited. Court is the only alternative”

Friends, BPS has done its duty well, issues raised by us has received due attention from NCJCM as well as the 7th CPC.

S.C.Maheshwari 

Secy Genl BPS

Source:http://scm-bps.blogspot.in/2014/07/brief-feedback-on-bps-preliminary.html

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Inclusion of DA Merger and Interim Relief in 7th CPC ToR - Cabinet likely to approve 7th CPC ToR

Inclusion of DA Merger and Interim Relief in 7th CPC Terms of Reference - Union Cabinet likely to approve the 7th CPC Terms of Refernce in the next meeting, media sources said.

"To woo central government employees ahead of the general elections, the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government is expected to ask the Seventh Pay Commission to consider merging 50 per cent dearness allowance (DA) with basic pay of employees. 

This will form part of the terms of reference (ToR) for the Commission, to be considered by the Cabinet this week.

According to officials, the Pay Commission’s ToR categorically states a proposal in this regard should be actively considered.

The increases will be even more appealing as the Centre is expected to increase the DA by 10 per cent to 100 per cent by the end of February. Usually, the DA is merged with basic pay when the former goes beyond 50 per cent. It is 90 per cent now, but has not been merged so far.

Assuming an employee gets Rs 100 as basic pay and Rs 100 as DA at present, the basic will rise to Rs 150, even if 50 per cent allowance is merged. . A higher basic pay will also impact the house rent allowance (HRA) of employees as it is calculated at 30 per cent of the basic pay for central government employees.

DA is linked to the consumer price index (industrial workers). The government uses CPI-IW data of the past 12 months to arrive at a quantum for calculating any DA hike. The allowance will be announced from January. As such, the retail inflation for industrial workers between January 1 to December 31, 2013 would be used to take a final call on the matter. The average inflation during this period had stood at 10.66 per cent.

Earlier this month, the government had constituted the Pay Commission under the chairmanship of former Supreme Court Judge Ashok Kumar Mathur.

The other members of the panel are Petroleum Secretary Vivek Rae (full-time member), National Institute of Public Finance and Policy Director Rathin Roy (part-time member) and Officer on Special Duty in the Expenditure Department Meena Agarwal (Secretary).

The Commission’s recommendations would be implemented from January 1, 2016, officials said. However, it may recommend interim relief as well, they added.

The Commission’s recommendations will directly benefit almost five million employees and three million pensioners. Employees of state governments, which will adopt the recommendations of the 7th Pay Commission will also benefit.

Some officials said the Cabinet is also expected to consider another proposal to modify the Prime Minister’s 15-point programme for minorities, which will enable allocation of at least 15 per cent of the total funds for welfare of minorities in major programmes such as National Rural Health Mission, Rashtriya Mahila Shiksha Abhiyan, Employment and Skill Development".

Source:http://www.business-standard.com/article/economy-policy/centre-plans-big-bonanza-for-central-govt-employees-114021901256_1.html

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