IPPB - Schedule of Charges (Tariffs are excluding applicable taxes) Savings account charges and features

IPPB - Schedule of Charges (Tariffs are excluding applicable taxes) Savings account charges and features

CLICK HERE TO VIEW - DETAILS

INAUGURATION SNAPSHOT OF INDIA POST PAYMENTS BANK (IPPB) AT RAIPUR & RANCHI ON 30TH JANUARY 2017

INDIA POST PAYMENTS BANK WILL BE A GAME CHANGER FOR FINANCIAL INCLUSION-MANOJ SINHA

IPPB branches launched in Ranchi & Raipur

            Finance Minister, Shri Arun Jaitley and Minister of Communications Shri Manoj Sinha launched the operations of the India Post Payments Bank (IPPB) here today as two pilot branches at Raipur and Ranchi through video conferencing from Delhi.

            Speaking on the occasion, Shri Jaitley said that about 650 IPPB branches will be opened by September this year and that will have a multiplier impact as far as banking in India is concerned. He said with IPPB, banking at the doorstep will no longer remain a mere slogan, but will become a reality due to huge postal network in the country. He said that financial Inclusion is critical for the socio-economic development of the country, but there are significant gaps in this area and a large proportion of country’s population remain unbanked or underbanked. IPPB will effectively leverage the ubiquitous post office network with its pan-India physical presence, long experience in cash handling and savings mobilization, backed by the ongoing project of IT-enablement, to bridge this gap in Financial Inclusion.

            In his address, Minister of Communications Shri Manoj Sinha has commended the hard work done by the Department of Posts in setting up the India Post Payments Bank and hoped that both organizations will work in tandem to take the benefits of government schemes and financial services that are not easily available in rural areas to customers across the country and to the marginalized population in urban and rural areas alike. He said, the objective of IPPB will be public service rather than promoting commercial interests.

            Secretary, Department of Posts, Shri B.V.Sudhakar said that the IPPB is widely expected to be a game changer for financial inclusion in the country as the USP of this initiative is doorstep banking, particularly in the rural areas.

            As mandated by the RBI, the India Post Payments Bank (IPPB) would focus on providing basic financial services such as all kinds of payments; including social security payments, utility bill payments, person to person remittances (both domestic and cross-border), current and savings accounts up to a balance of Rs 1 lac, distribution of insurance, mutual funds, pension products and acting as business correspondent to other banks for credit products especially in rural areas and among the underserved segments of the society.

            Set up us a 100% Government of India owned Public Limited Company under the Department of Posts, it will open around 650 branches in district HQ locations. All 1.55 lacs post offices including the 1.39 lac of the rural post offices will be mapped to the IPPB branch at the district headquarter and function as access points for IPPB. IPPB will usher in state of the art internet and mobile banking platforms, digital wallets and use innovative and emerging technologies to catalyse the shift from a cash dominant to a less cash economy.

            While many other banks and financial institutions are working on the same theme, the USP of IPPB will be its ability to ease access and handhold the adoption of new age banking and payments instruments among citizen of all walks of life through the delivery by postmen and Grameen Dak sevaks, savings agents and other franchisees who will take banking to door steps. IPPB thus aspires to the most accessible, affordable and trusted bank for the common man with the motto - “No customer is too small, no transaction too insignificant, and no deposit too little”.

            Given ‘in principle’ approval by the RBI along with 10 other aspirants on 19th Aug 2015, IPPB received the cabinet’s approval on 1st June, 2016 and was incorporated as on 17th Sept, 2106. Today it became the second payments bank to launch its operations. Having got its final banking license from the RBI on the 20th Jan 2017 it has commenced operations in record time of 10 days in partnership with the Punjab National Bank, after obtaining all necessary approvals and registrations from the RBI, NPCI etc.

            A commemorative stamp and a logo of the new bank were also launched on the occasion.

CIRCULAR - TO CIRCLE SECRETARIES

NFPE CIRCULAR

National Federation of Postal Employees

1^st Floor North Avenue Post Office Building, New Delhi-110 001

Phone: 011.23092771                                                      e-mail: nfpehq@gmail.com

       Mob: 9868819295/9810853981                website: http://www.nfpe.blogspot.com

      No. PF-01(e)/2017                                                                   Dated: 30th  January-2017

To

            All General Secretaries / NFPE Office Bearers     

            All Circle Secretaries of NFPE Unions

Sub:    Confederation Trade Union Education Camp at Trivandrum - from 06^th to 07^th          May, 2017.

Comrades,

            Secretary General, Confederation of Central Government Employees and Workers, vide Circular No. Confdn/TU Camp /2017 dated 18.01.2017, has intimated that Confederation Trade Union Education Camp will be held at Trivandrum (Kerala) from 6^th to 7^thMay-2017 (Saturday and Sunday).

            Confederation has allotted quota of 100 delegates for NFPE.

            Accordingly the quota is allotted to all affiliates as mentioned below:

            P-III   -30         P-IV-25                        R-III-15          R-4-10

            Admn.-5         Postal A/C-5             SBCO-5          GDS-10        Casual/L-5

            All General Secretaries of affiliated unions are requested to allot delegates to participate in the Camp with the direction to them to book to and fro tickets as early as possible to avoid inconvenience.

            The venue of the Camp is ” EMS Academy” about 11 KMs far away from Trivandrum Railway Station and 17 KMs from Trivandrum Air Port.

            Accommodation will be arranged by the Reception Committee from 5^th May after Noon to 08th May morning 6 A.M.  Food will be supplied from 5^th May Night to 7^th May Night.

            Reception Committee Volunteers will be available  at RMS office  situated near Railway Station Trivandrum  and Bus  Stand  Trivandrum  from 5^th May  morning to 8^th May  Morning.

            Nobody will be allowed to leave the Camp from 6^th Morning to 7^th evening. Strict discipline will be enforced in the Camp. Those people who want to visit places should arrange their travel in such a way so that they may attend camp on 06^th & 7^th May-2017.

            With fraternal greetings

Yours faithfully,

(R.N. Parashar)

Secretary General

REVISED FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQS) 2.0 RELATED TO PROPOSED INDIA POST PAYMENTS BANK (Click the link below to view) http://utilities.cept.gov.in/dop/pdfbind.ashx?id=2121

Relaxation in the norms of promotions from LSG to HSG-II & HSG-II to HSG-I as one time measure - CHQ writes to Department

Relaxation in the norms of promotions from LSG to HSG-II & HSG-II to HSG-I as one time measure - CHQ writes to Department

Income Tax Rates FY 2016-17 (AY 2017-18) - Finmin Orders

Income Tax Rates FY 2016-17 (AY 2017-18) - Finmin Orders

CIRCULAR NO : 01/2017

F.No.275/192/2016-IT(B)

Government of India

Ministry of Finance

Department of Revenue

Central Board of Direct Taxes

North Block, New Delhi

Dated the 2nd January, 2017

SUBJECT: INCOME-TAX DEDUCTION FROM SALARIES DURING THE FINANCIAL YEAR 2016-17 UNDER SECTION 192 OF THE INCOME-TAX ACT, 1961.

Reference is invited to Circular No.20/2015 dated 02.12.2015 whereby the rates of deduction of income-tax from the payment of income under the head "Salaries" under Section 192 of the Income-tax Act, 1961 (hereinafter ‘the Act’), during the financial year 2015-16, were intimated. The present Circular contains the rates of deduction of income-tax from the payment of income chargeable under the head "Salaries" during the financial year 2016-17 and explains certain related provisions of the Act and Income-tax Rules, 1962 (hereinafter the Rules). The relevant Acts, Rules, Forms and Notifications are available at the website of the Income Tax Department- www.incometaxindia.gov.in.

2. RATES OF INCOME-TAX AS PER FINANCE ACT, 2016:

As per the Finance Act, 2016, income-tax is required to be deducted under Section 192 of the Act from income chargeable under the head "Salaries" for the financial year 2016-17 (i.e. Assessment Year 2017-18) at the following rates:

2.1 Rates of tax

A. Normal Rates of tax:

 B. Rates of tax for every individual, resident in India, who is of the age of sixty years or more but less than eighty years at any time during the financial year:

C. In case of every individual being a resident in India, who is of the age of eighty years or more at any time during the financial year:

 

Clarification on purchase of Air Tickets from Unauthorized Agents

To

The Secretary, OFB, ID-A, S.K. Bose Rd, Kol-01
All Sr. General Managers/All General Managers

Ordnance/ Equipments Factories.
All Group controllers & Branch AOs

Sub: Clarification on purchase of Air Tickets from unauthorized agents for non- entitled officials to travel by air

Kindly refer to DoP&T letter No.31011/3/2015-Estt(A.lV) dated 18/02/2016 wherein it is mentioned under points 14 & 15 that Govt employees not entitled to travel by air, may travel by any airline. However, reimbursement in such cases shall be restricted to the fare of their entitled class of train/transport or actual expense, whichever is less. In all cases whenever a Govt servant claims LTC by air, he/she is required to book the air tickets either directly through the airlines or through the approved travel agencies viz M/s Balmer Lawrie & Co. Ltd/ M/s Ashok Tours & Travels Ltd/ IRCTC. Booking of tickets through any other agency is not permissible.

This is for your information, guidance and necessary action please.

Dy.Controller
Accounts(Fys)

Reflection of the recurrent lapses in observing financial discipline in the Annual Performance Assessment Report (APAR)

F. No. 21011/21/2015-Estt. (A-II)

Government of India

Ministry of Personnel, P. G. and Pensions

Department of Personnel & Training

North Block, New Delhi-110001

Dated: 16th/18th January, 2017

Office Memorandum 

Subject: Recommendation of the Public Accounts Committee regarding reflection of the recurrent lapses in observing financial discipline in the Annual Performance Assessment Report (APAR).

The Public Accounts Committee in its Nineteenth Report (16th Lok Sabha) (PAC) on Excess over Voted Grants and Charged Appropriations (2012 -13) which was presented to Lok Sabha on 29th April, 2015 has, inter-alia, recommended in its recommendation no. 21 that:

"the Department of Personnel & Training to look into that the recurrent lapses in observing financial discipline should be reflected in the Annual Performance Appraisal Report of the budget controlling authorities as well as the Financial Advisors of the Ministry/Department concerned so as to ensure strict adherence to the financial discipline thereby reducing the recurrent phenomenon of excess expenditure to the barest minimum, if not, eliminated altogether.

2. The matter has been examined in this Department. There already exist various tools in the existing PAR formats to assess the attributes and performance of the officers by reporting, reviewing and accepting authorities including observance of financial discipline. Therefore, whenever instances of recurring financial lapses come to light, these may be brought to the attention of the Reporting/Reviewing/Accepting Authority so that they may include these instances in the PAR of the officer of the relevant year.

3. Hindi Version will follow.

(N. Sriraman)

Director (E-II)

All Ministries/Departments of the Govt. India

LTC Claims for the Period from 28.11.2015 to 31.05.2016 can be allowed - Central Civil Services (Leave Travel Concession) Rules, 1988 — Relaxation to travel by private airlines to visit Jammu & Kashmir.

No.31011/7/2014-Estt.(A-IV)

Government of India

Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions

Department of Personnel and Training

Establishment A-IV Desk

North Block, New Delhi-110 001

Dated: January 13, 2017

OFFICE MEMORANDUM

Subject:- Central Civil Services (Leave Travel Concession) Rules, 1988 — Relaxation to travel by private airlines to visit Jammu & Kashmir.

The undersigned is directed to refer to this Ministry’s O.M. of even no. dated 28.11.2014 on the subject noted above and to say that vide aforesaid O.M., facility to travel on LTC by private airlines to Jammu & Kashmir (J&K) under the special dispensation scheme was allowed for a period of one year. This facility ended w.e.f. 28.11.2015 and was re-introduced on 01.06.2016.

2. Many references have been received about Govt. Employees who had inadvertently travelled by private airlines to J&K during the gap period, i.e. from 28.11.2015 to 31.05.2016, under the impression that the facility was still operational and were later facing difficulties in settlement of their LTC claims.

3. The issue has been examined in consultation with the Department of Expenditure and Ministry of Civil Aviation. In relaxation to this Department’s O.M. of even no. dated 28.11.2014, it has been decided to allow the claims of those Government employees who had travelled by private airlines to Jammu & Kashmir on LTC during the gap period of 28.11.2015 – 31.05.2016. This shall be subject to the condition that tickets have been booked through the authorised modes and at LTC-80 fare or less and other conditions prescribed in DoPT’s O.M. No. 31011/7/2014-Estt.A-IV dated 28.11.2014.

(Surya Narayan Jha)

Under Secretary to the Government of India

Extension CGHS facilities to P&T pensioners

29th SCOVA meeting under the chairmanship of Hon’ble MOS(PP) – Action Taken Report on the Minutes of the 28th SCOV A meeting held under the Chairmanshipof Hon’ble MOS(PP) on 27.06.2016

Mini try of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions (Department of Pension & Pensioners Welfare)

Para 4(iv) of the minutes:- Extension CGHS facilities to P&T pensioners

The representatives of Ministry of Health and Family Welfare informed that the 7th CPC has recommended that all Postal Dispensaries should be covered with CGHS. It was decided to await the decision of the Government within a month.

(Action:- Ministry of Health and Family Welfare)

Ministry of Health and Family Welfare

The decision of the Government on the recommendations of 7th CPC is still awaited.

DoPPW

Ministry of Health & Family Welfare to indicate latest status during the meeting a to where the matter is pending. The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has also been reminded on the same vide DoPPW OM dated 04.01.2017 to expedite the matter.

Representation of Defence Civilian Employees’ Federations regarding misinterpretation of Revised Pay Rules 2016 leading to incorrect pay fixation of employees

Immediate

Government of India

Ministry of Defence

Department of Defence

D(civ-I)

Subject: Representation of Defence Civilian Employees’ Federations regarding misinterpretation of Revised Pay Rules 2016 leading to incorrect pay fixation of employees – reg.

The Defence Civilian Employees’ Federation have reported that the Accounting Authorities in the Defence Estts. are misinterpreting the provisions of CCS(RP) Rules, 2016 leading to anomalies pay fixation of the defence employees. The Federations have demanded that clarification may be issued to the Defence Estts. to enable them to issue correct pay fixation orders of the employees, on the basis of the options exercised by them.

2. Taking into account these reports, MoD has sent a proposal to MoD(Finance) to seek clarification about the manner of fixation of pay through illustations prepared by this office. The said proposal for seeking clarification has been sent to MoD(Fiance) on 5.12.2016. A copy of this proposal is enclosed for information. In view of the complaints of incorrect pay fixation in defence establishments, it is requested that the clarification on this subject from Ministry of Finance/MoD(Finance) may please be awaited so that the pay fixation of the employees could be issued on the basis of right position. This position may please be communicated to various Accounting Authorities under the Contral of CGDA to avoid any inconsistencies in the matter of pay fixation.

sd/-

(Pawan Kumar)

Under Secretary

FEATURES OF RURAL ICT HANDHELD DEVICE SUPPLIED TO BRANCH POST OFFICES   CLICK HERE FOR DETAILS

REFLECTION OF THE RECURRENT LAPSES IN OBSERVING FINANCIAL DISCIPLINE IN THE ANNUAL PERFORMANCE ASSESSMENT REPORT (APAR) CLICK HERE FOR DETAILS

GDS ONLINE SOFTWARE IMPLEMENTATION CLICK HERE FOR DETAILS PAGE 2

 CLARIFICATION REGARDING TIMELY PAYMENT OF GPF FINAL PAYMENT TO THE RETIRING GOVERNMENT SERVANT – DOPT ORDERC.

No.3/3/2016-P&PW (F)
Ministry of Personnel, PG & Pensions
Department of Pension & Pensioners’ Welfare
Desk-F

3rd Floor, Lok Nayak Bhavan,
Khan Market, New Delhi-110003
Dated 16th January 2017.

OFFICE MEMORANDUM

Subject: Clarification regarding timely payment of GPF final payment to the retiring Government servant – regarding

            During review meetings held to evaluate the status of implementation of Bhavishya with Ministries/Departments, it was observed that GPF final payment in many cases is not being paid to the retiring Government servants immediately on retirement from service leading to payment of interest for the delayed period.

2. Rule 34 of General Provident Fund (Central Service) Rules clearly provides that when the amount standing at the credit of a subscriber in the General Provident Fund becomes payable, it shall be the duty of the Accounts Officer to make payment. The authority for the amount payable is to be issued at least a month before the date of superannuation, but payable on the date of superannuation. It may be noted that the requirement of submitting a written application by the retiring Govt. servant for GPF final payment has been dispensed with vide this Department’s Notification No.20(12)/94-P&PW (E) dated 15.11.1996 and notified under S.O NO.3228 dated 23.11.19963. As per Rule 11(4) of GPF Rules, in case the GPF balance is not paid on retirement, interest on the GPF balance is required to be paid for the period beyond the date of retirement also. While interest for the first six months beyond retirement can be allowed by the PAO in the normal course, approval of Head of the accounts office is required for payment of interest beyond six months and that of Controller of Account/Financial Adviser beyond a period of one year.

4. To ensure timely final payment of GPF, and to avoid unnecessary financial burden on account of interest beyond retirement, it has now been decided that every case, in which payment of interest on General Provident Fund becomes necessary in terms of Rules 11(4) of GPF Rules, 1960, shall be put up for consideration to the Secretary of the Administrative Ministry/Department. In all such cases the Secretary of the Administrative Ministry/Department will fix responsibility at all levels to take appropriate action against the Government servant or servants who are found responsible for the delay in the payment of General Provident Fund.

5. This issues with the concurrence of the Ministry of Finance, Department of Expenditure, vide their 10 NO.187/EV/2016 dated 2th September 2016.

6. Hindi version will follow.

(Seema Gupta)
Director

Loans and Advances by the Central Government – Interest rates and other terms and conditions

CLICK HERE FOR DETAILS

      The Department of Posts started the process to fill up the vacant GDS posts by adopting online procedure.

    First it starts in four pilot Circles and early in other Circles.

    Instructed all Circles to identify GDS vacancies after fill up the vacancies with eligible Casual Labourers by manual procedure. 

Happy republic Day

KAMALESH CHANDRA COMMITTEE REPORT ON GDS

ONE STEP FORWARD

            Sri Kamalesh Chandra, Retired Member, Postal Services Board & Chairman Gramin Dak Sevak Committee has submitted it's report to Government on 24th November 2016. Even though earlier GDS Committee reports were published on the same date of submission itself , this time the Postal Board kept it pending for two months and published only on 19th January 2017. Against the unjustified delay in publishing the report , NFPE & AIPEU - GDS  conducted series of agitational programmes like protest demonstrations , mass dharnas and finally declared indefinite hunger fast of Secretary General and all other General Secretaries in front of Postal Directorate (Dak Bhavan) from 18th January 2017.

            The main recommendations of the Committee relates to simplification and rationalisation of categories of GDS and the number of Time Related Continuity Allowance (TRCA) slabs, increasing the wages of GDS and other welfare measures of GDS. The Committee has not attempted to analyse the justification of our demand for grant of Civil Servant status to GDS and has refrained from making any recommendations on the legal status of the GDS stating that the matter is presently subjudice and hence left it to the outcome of the court case. The committee , however , observed that there is a tendency to withhold the legitimate demands of GDS which are due to them , based on the apprehension that they will get closer to regular employees , and their claim for regularisation  will be strengthened in the court of law , if such demands are allowed.

            The Committee has further observed that the future survival of the Postal department will largely depend on the successful management of the GDS post offices, which effectively form it's "soul" and it would be difficult for the department to survive without the "soul". The Committee felt that the India Post Payment Bank (IPPB) which is going to be rolled out shortly , will use the strength of the GDS network and experiences of more than 2.60 lakhs trustworthy Gramin Dak Sevaks.  

            Under the new wage structure recommended by the Committee, eleven (11) TRCA slabs are subsumed into three (3) wage scales with two levels each for Branch Postmasters (BPMs) and for other than BPMs. Out of three wage scales , one scale will be common to both categories of GDS. The minimum scale for GDS other than BPM is fixed as 10000 for 4 hours duty and the minimum scale for 5 hours duty is 12000. Similarly, the minimum scale for BPM with 4 hours duty is fixed as 12000 and minimum scale for 5 hours duty is 14500. There will be only three categories of GDS with nomenclature BPM, Assistant BPM and GDS. All GDS working in Branch Post offices (other than BPM) are re-designated as Assistant Branch Post Masters (ABPM). All GDS working in Departmental Post offices are designated as Gramin Dak Sevaks (GDS).

            The minimum working hours of GDS is fixed as 4 hours (Level - 1) , instead of 3 hours at present and maximum working hours is 5 hours (Level - 2). Point system for assessment of workload of BPM is abolished. The new wage structure is linked to revenue generation of GDS Branch Post offices. Based on revenue generation ,  all GDS Post offices will be categorised as A(Green), B (Orange) , C (Pink) , D (Red) and efforts to be undertaken by the GDS BPM and the departmental officers to increase revenue of each category is explained in detail in the report. Committee has recommended that existing TRCA should not be reduced. If the BPM in the  category D (which is the lowest category as per revenue earning) is not ready to improve the revenue earning  , extension of working hours of Post office , stoppage of increment , withholding of promotion under financial upgradation scheme , relocation of the Post office etc are also recommended. The GDS BPM will be paid a revenue linked additional allowance @10%  beyond level - 2 wage scale , if the revenue earned exceeds the limit fixed for category "A" offices. The increment rate recommended is 3%.

            The other major recommendations are (a) Composite Allowance comprising of support for hiring accommodation , office maintenance , electricity charges etc (b) Children Education Allowance (c) three promotions (financial up gradations ) on completion of 12 ,24 and 36 years. (c) Enhancement of ex-gratia ceiling and Group Insurance Scheme amount  (d) 26 weeks maternity leave for women GDS and one week Paternity leave (e) 30 days General leave (instead of paid leave) with provision for carry forward and leave surrender benefit upto 180 days of accumulated General leave at the time of retirement   ( f ) five  days Emergency leave like casual leave  (g) Minimum one year service for writing promotional examination  (h) liberalisation of grants and financial assistance from welfare fund and  (h)  Risk and hardship allowance.

            Regarding Pension, no major change is recommended by the Committee, except increase in severance amount and increase in contribution to Service Discharge Benefit Scheme (SDBS). Similarly, there is no favourable recommendation regarding medical facilities. While recommending that the existing policy of relocation /redeployment should be vigorously pursued to relocate GDS post offices which are not justified as per norms, the Committee had also recommended that the department should not order closing of any GDS post office to further reduce the existing number of GDS post offices. The existing rule that the maximum hours of duty of GDS should not go beyond five hours , is retained by the Committee. There is also a recommendation that two separate unions should be formed for GDS, one exclusively for BPMs and one for all other categories of GDS.

            Now comes the question of implementation. Normally Department will appoint a Postal Board Member to study and process the recommendations of the GDS committee for implementation. Then Postal Board has to approve it after seeking the comments of Joint Secretary & Financial Advisor. Then it is to be approved by other nodal Ministries like Department of Personnel & Training, Ministry of Finance, Law Ministry etc. After completing all these process, the final proposal will be submitted to Cabinet for approval.

            NFPE & AIPEU - GDS will be making an in depth study of the recommendations and shall submit a detailed memorandum to the Department demanding immediate implementation of the favourable recommendations and also demanding modifications , improvement and rejection where ever required. NFPE & AIPEU -GDS will make sincere effort to get maximum benefits to the GDS. In case Government refuse to implement or dilute the favourable recommendations NFPE & AIPEU GDS will not hesitate to organise serious trade union action including indefinite strike.

            All of us should keep in mind that the favourable recommendations of the GDS committee is a product of sustained struggles conducted by the entire Postal employees under the banner of NFPE , AIPEU -GDS , PJCA  and Confederation of Central Government Employees and Workers. Let us be ready for the 16th March 2017, one day strike, for further improvement of our service conditions. Let us unitedly fight and shall not rest till our final goal ie; civil servant status to GDS is achieved. No doubt, Kamalesh Chandra Committee report is ONE STEP FORWARD. Let us hope for the best.

IMPORTANCE OF THE 16^th MARCH 2017

ONE-DAY STRIKE

          The meeting of the National Joint Council of Action (NJCA) was held on 17^th January 2017, Leaders of Railways, Defence, Postal and Confederation attended the meeting, Unfortunately, there was no consensus regarding revival of the deferred indefinite strike of the 11^th July 2017. Hence no decision could be taken.

            The clear picture that emerged from the NJCA meeting held on 17.01.2017 is that there is no possibility of a joint strike or revival of deferred indefinite strike in the near future. It is also a fact that Government may implement the recommendations of Allowances Committee, Pension Committee etc before or immediately after March 2017; It has become certain that the Pension Committee has rejected Option. I recommended by the 7^th Central Pay Commission, which is the one and only favorable recommendation, and the Implementation Cell of the Finance Ministry is processing the recommendation, of Pension Committee for Cabinet approval.

            Whether the Allowances Committee will recommend any change in the recommendation of the 7^th CPC (i.e. %ge of HRA etc.), nobody can predict. The request of the Secretary, JCM staff side and NJCA Convener to convene one more meeting with staff side was not conceded by the chairman of the Allowance Committee (finance Secretary ) till date. There is every possibility that the Government may not implement the revised allowances from 01.01.2016, instead it may implement it from 01.01.2017 or 01.04.2017, thereby denying arrears on allowances. After Government unilaterally implementing everything, declaring a strike is a futile exercise and betrayal of employees. We should strike when the iron is hot.

            The unilateral decision of the Government to implement “Very good” bench mark for MACP promotions has cast shadow on the future promotional prospects of a large number of employees who are not in the good book of the Government and administration for reason best known to them. The NPS Committee constituted by the Government is not mandated to recommend scraping of New Pension Scheme, but it is for recommending cosmetic changes in NPS in the name of streamlining the NPS as recommended by the 7^th CPC.

            Regarding increase in Minimum Pay and Fitment formula, no High Level Committee is constituted till date, as assured by the Group of Senior Cabinet Ministers to NJCA leaders on 30.06.2016. A Group of Senior Officers held two round discussion with the staff side, but surprisingly they had not come prepared to discuss increase in Minimum wage and Fitment formula. They made a mockery of the meeting by disclosing in the first meeting that they are not fully aware of the details of the issue and in the second meeting they told that they came for discussing Allowances (another committee for Allowances is already constituted) and not Minimum wage and fitment formula!!! The last meeting was held in October 2016 and thereafter no meeting is notified. All the anomalies arising out of implementation of 7^th CPC recommendations remain unsettled.

            There is no improvement in the issues relating to Gramin Dak Sevaks (GDS). It will take time for implementation of GDS Committee report which is published on 19.01.2017. Other demands submitted to Government by NJCA on 10^thJune 2016 along with the strike notice are also pending. The four months time fixed for Allowance committee already extended to six months. The four months time for increasing Minimum pay and fitment formula expired on 30.10.2016.

            All the employees and pensioners are totally disappointed and are voicing their anger and protest through various forums and social media. In the above circumstances, everybody expected that NJCA shall revive its deferred indefinite strike. Inspite of our best efforts, that is not happening.

            When the three Cabinet Ministers including Shri Rajnath Singh, Home Minister, Shri Arun Jaitley, Finance Minister and Shri Suresh Prabhu, Railway minister have gone back from their assurances and betrayed the entire employees and Pensioners, when the Government is unilaterally going ahead with all retrograde measures, we cannot remain silent spectators and accept every decision of the Government lying down, without any protest, Somebody should come forward to protest and, if necessary, to suffer and sacrifice and history has bestowed that responsibility on Confederation.

            It is in this background the Confederation of Central Government Employees and Workers has decided to go for one day strike on 16.03.2017. As the biggest affiliate of Confederation, NFPE and all its affiliates shall implement the decision in its true spirit and make the one day strike a thundering success.

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ALL INDIA SERVICES (DISCIPLINE AND APPEAL) AMENDMENT RULES, 2017. TO VIEW, PLEASE CLICK HERE. 

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FILING OF IMMOVEABLE PROPERTY RETURNS UNDER RULE 16(2) OF AIS (CONDUCT) RULES, 1968. TO VIEW, PLEASE CLICK HERE. 

"TRUST SHALL NOT BE BETRAYED"

7^th Central Pay Commission has quoted in para - 1.29 of " Foreword " , the following observations of the Supreme Court in the case of Bhupendranath Hazarika and another Vs State of Assam and others (reported in 2013 (2) Sec 516).

"It should always be borne in mind that legitimate aspirations of the employees are not guillotined and a situation is not created where hopes end in despair.......... A sense of calm sensibility and concerned sincerity should be reflected in every step. An atmosphere of trust has to prevail and when the employees are absolutely sure that their trust shall not be betrayed and they shall be treated with dignified fairness ; then only the concept of good governance can be concretized. We say no more."

Unfortunately, the NDA Government and the Group of Ministers consisting of Sri Rajnath Singh, Hon'ble Home Minister, Sri Arun Jaitley, Hon'ble Finance Minister, Sri Suresh Prabhu, Hon'ble Railway Minister who gave assurance on 30th June 2016 that Minimum wage and Fitment formula will be increased and a High Level Committee will be Constituted with a time - frame of four months , have given least concern for the above observations of the Apex Court. Now seven months are almost over. Further there is no guarantee that Allowance Committee will increase the percentage of HRA recommended by 7th CPC. Instead there is every chance, to deny retrospective effect from 01.01.2016 to the revised allowances and it may be implemented prospectively from 01.01.2017 or 01.04.2017, thus denying the eligible arrears for one year or more. It has become certain that the Option - 1 for pensioners recommended by 7th CPC, which is the one and only favourable recommendation, stands rejected. Orders on abolition of Advances including Festival advance and imposing "very good " condition for MACP are issued unilaterally .

Request of the JCM National Council Staff side Secretary to give one more opportunity to present it's case before the Allowance Committee is not conceded by the Finance Secretary, who is the Chairman of the Committee. The request of the JCM Staff side to modify the Terms of Reference of Anomaly Committee is also not yet considered by the Department of Personnel and Training. The Committee constituted for New Pension Scheme is only for streamlining the NPS by making some cosmetic changes as recommended by 7th CPC and not for considering the demand of the JCM Staff side to scrap NPS. Not even a single demand of the staff side submitted to Cabinet Secretary on 10th December 2015, requesting modifications in the recommendations of 7th CPC is settled by the Government. The so-called group of senior officer's committee had, in fact, ridiculed and humiliated the JCM Staff Side standing committee.

The All India Conference of the Confederation of Central Government Employees & Workers held in August 2016 at Chennai had taken a decision to request all constituents of NJCA to revive the indefinite strike , if Government is not ready to honour it's commitment before 30th October 2016.  The AIC had further decided that, in case NJCA is not ready to revive the deferred indefinite strike, then Confederation should organise independent trade union action including strike. Confederation strongly feels that there in no meaning in waiting indefinittely for Government's decision. We cannot cheat the employees like NDA Government. As no consensus decision could be taken in NJCA, Confederation had decided to  go for one day strike and organised country wide demonstrations, mass dharnas and massive Parliament March. Strike notice for one day strike on 15th February 2017 was served on 28th December 2016. Due to announcement of assembly elections in five states by Election Commission of India and 15th February being a polling day, the strike was postponed to 16th March 2017.

Intensive campaign and mobilisation is going on in full swing all over the country. About 13 to 15 lakhs Central Government employees will participate in the strike, with the full support and solidarity of about 34 lakhs pensioners, Central Trade Unions, independent Federations of State Government employees, Bank and Insurance employees and other public sector employees.

After reviewing the participation of employees in the one day strike, Confederation shall explore the possibility of declaring higher form of trade union action including indefinite strike .

M. KRISHNAN 

Secretary General

Confederation 

Mob & WhatsApp : 09447068125

Email : mkrishnan6854@gmail.com