CLICK TO VISIT LATEST POSTS

Tuesday, July 29, 2014

NCCPA NATIONAL EXECUTIVE MEETING

NCCPA NATIONAL EXECUTIVE MEETING HELD IN NEW DELHI


NATIONAL COORDINATION COMMITTEE OF PENSIONERS ASSOCIATIONS

National Executive Meeting

New Delhi – 25.07.2014

The National Executive meeting of NCCPA was held at D-7 Telegraph Place, New Delhi – 110001 at 11.00 Hrs under the Presidentship of ComradeR.L.Bhattacharyya the Chairman NCCPA. More than 20 members of the Executive attended.

The meeting commenced with paying condolence to all the departed leaders since our last meeting.

Comrade VAN.Namboodiri Patron of NCCPA inaugurated the National Executive and he narrated the growing unity of pensioners internationally and explained the proceedings of the international conference of pensioners and senior citizens at Barcelona in Spain. The formation of Trade Union International – Pensioners and Senior Citizens at the behest of WFTU in Barcelona in Ethens marks the beginning of international unification of all pensioners in different countries. He also referred to the change of Government in India and the dangers of division amongst the working people and pensioners due to divisive policies. He touched the task before the 7th CPC and inaugurated the Executive.

Comrade S.K.Vyas the Secretary General NCCPA briefed the executive about the preliminary interaction between the Chairman 7th CPC and BCPC led by Comrade S.C.Maheswari and S.K.Vyas. He explained all the issues discussed with the Chairman as follows:

1.NPS: We have categorically told that it should be rescinded and scrapped. The Chairman asked us as to why the NPS was not challenged in court of law during the past 10 years after its implementation? He also questioned as to what the Pay Commission can do in this matter? We requested that the CPC can intervene as 6th CPC had given recommendations that Defined Pension Scheme is better than NPS. We requested that the recommendation of 6th CPC should be applied to all entrants since 1.1.2004. The Chairman desired all relevant materials be submitted to him for study and we have agreed to supply.

2.Parity in Pension:We cited the Boothalingam Committee recommendations that had proposed for periodical pension revision and also the 4th and 5th CPC recommendations in this account. We also cited how the VI CPC did not extend this parity but only granted Modified Parity with reference to the minimum of the revised pay. The Government had however now accepted to implement One Rank One Pension in respect of Ex-Servicemen. Therefore the 7th CPC should grant full parity of past and future pensioners. The Chairman agreed to look into this.

3. Rate of Pension: We pointed out the absence of any rationale in fixing 50% of LPD as pension. The Supreme Court had held that Pension should be adequate to enable the pensioners to live maintaining the same standard which he was having while in service. To ensure this the pension should be 2/3rd of LPD as because the family on retirement is  reduced to two  units.

 4. Minmum Pension: Minimum Pension should not be below the minimum wage in Central Services as because otherwise the pension would be below the subsistence level.  This will benefit most the family pensioners only because the family pension is only 30% of LPD at present.

5. Additional Pension: The Pay Commission was requested to recommend additional pension  each five years after retirement. The Chairman stated that the rate of pension, Minimum Pension and the Additional Pension issues  would be considered keeping in view of the total economy.

6. Anomalies: On anomalies the Chairman said that they should be given details of all the unresolved anomalies so that similar anomalies are not repeated by 7th CPC.

7. CGHS: The Parliamentary Standing Committee of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare had submitted a detailed report on functioning of the CGHS and improvement therein. We requested the Chairman to call for the Action Taken report by the Government on the recommendations of the Standing Committee and then suggest appropriate action to be taken for improving the CGHS.

8. P&T Pensioners: We pointed out the existing discrimination against the P&T Pensioners who are denied entry into CGHS after retirement on the plea that they were not subscribing to CGHS while in service. The Chairman felt that there should be no discrimination and that he would look into the matter.

Comrade Vyas then narrated the details about the Chennai Meeting of BCPC which finalised the common memorandum. The common memorandum so finalised had been submitted to CPC and covered many points in that memorandum with the Chairman of the Pay Commission during the preliminary interaction.

The issue of finalising the NCCPA memorandum was discussed in the meeting. The following decision was taken:

1.NCCPA will endorse the BCPC memorandum .

2. Some left out issues will be covered in Part-I of NCCPA Memorandum by way of supplementing the BCPC memorandum.

3. Part-II of NCCPA memorandum will contain sectional issues of various departments.

4.NCCPA Memorandum will be submitted before 31st July, 2014.

 
S.K.Vyas
Secretary General

Friday, July 25, 2014

Com.M.Krishnan Deliberates on NPS at Pensioners AIC at Vellore TN

Centre has no liability since fund created will be administered by private insurance firm
M. Krishnan, secretary general of the Confederation of Central Government Employees, speaking at the conference of All India Postal & RMS Pensioners Association in Vellore 

The New Pension Scheme (NPS) introduced under the New Pension Fund Development and Regulatory Authority (NPFDRA) Act passed by the United Progressive Alliance-II government with the support of the Bharatiya Janata Party will affect the existing pensioners as well as all those who joined the service prior to January 1, 2004, according to M. Krishnan, secretary-general of the Confederation of Central Government Employees (CCGE).
Speaking on ‘New Pension Scheme and its Impact’ on the second day of the two-day First Foundation All India Conference of the All India Postal & RMS Pensioners Association (AIPRPA) here on Sunday, Mr. Krishnan said that the NPS was introduced by the Centre based on the recommendations of the Bhattacharji Committee which stated that the financial position of the Central government employees would be far better at the time of their retirement since they were getting better wages while in service.
On these grounds the committee recommended the introduction of the contributory pension scheme (CPS). The committee also stated that the pensioners need not be paid any compensation for price rise except the increase in pension which they would get whenever there was a pay hike for the serving staff. Based on this, the then National Democratic Alliance government issued the order introducing the NPS and making it applicable only to those who joined service after January 1, 2004.
The UPA-I government did not cancel the order but gave a legal status to the NDA government’s order by bringing an Ordinance, which however could not be made into a law because of the opposition of the Left parties. But the subsequent UPA-II government passed the NPFDRA Act in Parliament with the support of the BJP.
With the passing of the Act, the employees who joined after January 1, 2004 suffered a 10% salary cut since this 10% went towards the New Pension Fund created under the Act. The General Provident Fund too was withdrawn for this category by the government which stated that the employees who were under the CPS would get 60% of their contribution as pension at the time of their retirement. Under the NPFDRA, the Central government had no pension liability since the Pension Fund created under the Act was to be administered by a private insurance company which would invest the fund in the share market, which only went to benefit the corporates.
“This virtually amounted to privatisation of pension,” he said.
Cautioning existing pensioners and those Central government employees appointed prior to January 1, 2004 who were under the wrong impression that the NPS would not affect them, Mr. Krishnan pointed to a clause in the NPFDRA Act which states that the NPS could, by a notification of the Government of India, be extended to those who were appointed prior to January 1, 2004 too.
The Secretary General said that a committee constituted by the Central government to work out the projected liability for it if it were to make an initial contribution towards the Pension Fund to provide pension to those who joined before the cut-off date stated that the Centre would have to contribute Rs. 3,35,628 crores to provide pension for the next 30 years, which the Sixth Pay Commission said the government could not bear.
So the committee suggested that the government could consider segregating the liability into one for those below 40 years, and another for others. But such a fund too would be managed by a private agency which would invest it in the unpredictable share market.
“So, the Damocles’ sword of the NPS hung on the existing pensioners too”, he said, adding that the Central government employees and pensioners should fight a joint struggle against the NPS.
source: The hindu dt 22.07.14, Vellore 

Wednesday, July 23, 2014

The Prime Minister spent about one-and-a half–hours on the postal department


Ravi Shankar Prasad
Ravi Shankar Prasad
Proper digital connectivity of all post offices in the country is top priority for the Government, Telecom Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad told the Lok Sabha here on Monday.

Replying to questions related to his Ministry, Prasad said the Prime Minister was personally monitoring a host of departments and postal services were one of them.

“The Prime Minister spent about one-and-a half–hours on the postal department and has given suggestions, which will be considered,” he said, in reply to a query by Biju Janata Dal’s Tathagata Satapathy on the status of the banking licence applied for by the postal department.Prasad said there was need for reforms in postal reforms as also upgradation of Grameen Dak Ghar Services, catering to the rural population.




Mobile networks

Prasad said the Government’s priority was also to improve BSNL services.
Responding to a question raised by Congress MP Ashok Chavan on poor mobile network in Naxal-affected regions in Maharashtra, Prasad said mobile networks, under the Universal Service Obligation Fund (USOF) scheme in such areas are likely to be set up in 15 months.
A proposal to install mobile towers at 1,836 locations in nine States affected by Left Wing Extremism with funding support from USOF has already been approved, he added.
The Minister said Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd (BSNL) had installed mobile towers at 363 locations for which financial support to meet operational expenses would be provided through USOF.
On a question on lack of diesel supplies to BSNL mobile towers leading to their non-functionality and affecting security, he admitted there were concerns on diesel supply and “there is scope for improvement“.
The idea of using solar power for telecom towers was also being looked into, especially in the hilly regions of North East, Prasad said.
(This article was published on July 21, 2014)

CCGEW CIRCULAR No.17

CCGEW CIRCULAR No.17

CONFEDERATION OF CENTRAL GOVT. EMPLOYEES & WORKERS
Central Headquarters
1st floor, North Avenue Post Office Building, New Delhi-110 001.
Circular No. 17                                                                           23-07-2014
To
           1.   General Secretaries, State C O Cs
           2.   National Secretariat Members.
           3.   Mahila Committee Members
           4.   Chief Executives of all affiliated organisations.
Dear Comrades,
               National Secretariat of  the Confederation of  Central Govt. Employees & Workers was held on 17th July, 2014 at New Delhi under the presidentship of Com.K.K.N.Kutty.  Com.S.K.Vyasji, Advisor was also present.
               The meeting held detailed chapter-wise discussion on the memorandum submitted to 7th CPC by the JCM National Council, Staff side.  The following decisions are taken.
1.     It is decided to submit a detailed memorandum by Confederation to 7th CPC before 31-07-2014 on common demands of the Central Govt. Employees incorporating all the acceptable suggestions / additions / alterations put forward by the rank and file membership and also leaders at State / CHQ level.
2.     In the maiden Budget of  Modi Government  none of the major demands of the  Central Govt. Employees such as DA merger, Interim relief, inclusion of Gramin Dak Sevaks under 7th CPC, compassionate appointment etc. are considered.  National Secretariat is of the considered opinion that submitting memorandum and interim memorandum to 7th CPC alone will not solve the problems of Central Government employees.  Educating the employees and Creating mass sanction of entire employees behind the demands is a must.  Hence,  it is decided to organise phased agitational programmes for settlement of confederation charter of demands.
3.     As it is indicated that AIRF leadership has expressed its willingness for a joint programme of action on common demands, the National Secretariat decided not to declare the Confederation’s nationwide phased programme of action, for the time being and wait for the outcome of the joint meeting being arranged by AIRF leadership.  National Secretariat authorised the Headquarters Office Bearers to declare the  phased  programme of action later on at an appropriate time.
4.     National Secretariat adopted a resolution on the continued attack by TMC hooligans on the working class of West Bengal and decided to organize   “West Bengal Solidarity Day ”  on 27-08-2014 throughout the country.  Copy of the resolution is appended.  All District / State COCs and affiliated organisations are requested to organise the programme throughout the country, in a befitting manner.
                                                                            Yours sincerely,
                                                                               M.Krishnan,
                                                                             Secretary General.




Modi Government rejects the Demand for regularization of Gramin Dak Sewaks - Government says they are nto Government employee.


GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO 490
ANSWERED ON 14.07.2014
GRAMIN DAK SEWAKS
 
490 . Shri RAM TAHAL CHOUDHARY
Will the Minister of COMMUNICATIONS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY be pleased to state:-

 

(c) the corrective steps taken/being taken by the Government in this regard?
 

ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF COMMUNICATIONS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY & LAW AND JUSTICE(SHRI RAVI SHANKAR PRASAD)

(a) No, Madam, They are not eligible.

(b) Gramin Dak Sevaks are not regular govt. employees. They are part time workers and are governed by a separate set of Conduct and Engagement Rules. They do not form part of theregular civil service. They are engaged for only 3-5 hours daily work. It is mandatory for them to have an independent source of livelihood before being engaged as Gramin Dak Sewak. Hon’ble Supreme Court in the case of Union of India and Others vs. Kameshwar Prasad 1998 SCC (L&S) page 447 held that P&T Extra Departmental Agent (C&S) Rules, 1964 are a complete code governing service, conduct and disciplinary proceedings against Extra Departmental Agents [now called Gramin Dak Sevaks]. On discharge from service on attaining the age of 65 years or on death, Gramin Dak Sevaks [GDS] are paid Ex-Gratia Gratuity and Severance Amount as approved for them by the Cabinet.

The Ex-gratia Gratuity is paid at the rate of half months basic Time Related Continuity Allowance [TRCA] drawn immediately before discharge of service for each completed year of service subject to a maximum of Rs. 60000 or 16.5 months basic TRCA last drawn whichever is less. The minimum service prescribed for this is 10 yearsIn addition, Severance Amount is paid at the rate of Rs. 1500 for every completed year of service subject to a maximum of Rs. 60000. The Government has already introduced Service Discharge Benefit Scheme in lieu of severance amount scheme effective from 01.04.2011 for the benefit of Gramin Dak Sevaks on the basis of the New Pension Scheme (NPS), specifically NPS Lite Scheme launched by the Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA). Under this scheme, the Government as well as Gramin Dak Sevaks concerned now contributes @ Rs. 200/- per month.

(c) Does not arise in view of reply to (b) above

Sunday, July 20, 2014

Report on Retirement Age 62

Retirement Age Becomes the Centre of Attention Once Again!

For the second time this year, there is sensational news about the retirement age of Central Government employees!
Will the retirement age of Central Government employees be extended by another two years, from 60 to 62? This is one of the hottest topics of discussion among Central Government employees these days.
The reason for this excitement is the reply given by the Minister concerned to the question raised by Raja Mohan Reddy in the Parliament. With the change of government, the question was asked in order to find out the state of mind of the new Government.
Central Government had raised the retirement age of its employees to 60 from 58 years in 1998.
The Minister’s reply is given below:
Whether there is any proposal under the consideration of the Government to raise the retirement age of Central Government employees..?
No, there is no proposal to increase the age of retirement of central government employees from existing 60 to 62 years, Jitendra Singh, Minister of State for Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, and in Prime Minister’s Office, said in a written reply to the Lok Sabha on 16.7.2014.
Source: CGEN.in

Reimbursement of Children Education Allowance - lok sabha Q & A



It has been informed by the Department of Personnel and raining that the annual ceiling limit for reimbursement of Children Education Allowance (CEA) is Rs. 18,000/- per child. The Hostel subsidy shall be Rs. 4,500/- per month per child. The annual ceiling for reimbursement of CEA for disabled children of Government employees if Rs. 36,000/- per annum per child and the rates of Hostel subsidy for disabled children of Government employees is Rs. 9,000/- per child per month. These revisions are applicable with effect from 1st January, 2014. The reimbursement is admissible for children studying in institutions affiliated to any Board or recognized institution, whether in receipt of Government aid or not, recognized by the Central or State Government or Union Territory Administration or by University or a recognized educational authority having jurisdiction over the area where the institution is situated. No change is proposed to be made in the same. 

This information was given by the Union Minister of Finance, Shri Arun Jaitley in written reply to a question in Lok Sabha today.

Source : PIB

PRESERVATION PERIOD OF POSTAL RECORDS FOR CLEARING DRIVE - SA POST

PRESERVATION PERIOD OF POSTAL RECORDS FOR CLEARING DRIVE - SA POST

P3 FELICITATES its GS & SG OF NFPE AND CONFEDERATION

ALL INDIA POSTAL EMPLOYEES UNION GROUP ‘C’

CHQ: Dada Ghosh Bhawan, 2151/1, New Patel Road, New Delhi - 110008
 



Ref: P/1-10/Misc.                                                                                               Dated – 17.07.2014

To

All CHQ Office Bearers/Circle Secretaries, AIPEU Group ‘C’
All Mahila Committee Members, AIPEU Group ‘C’
All General Secretaries, NFPE
All Office Bearers, NFPE
All Mahila Committee Members, NFPE

Dear Comrades,

As you are aware Com. M. Krishnan, General Secretary, AIPEU Group ‘C’ (CHQ) & Secretary General NFPE/Confederation will be retiring from service on 31.08.2014. CHQ & Andhra Pradesh Circle Union will be arranging a programme to felicitate our General Secretary during the CWC meeting to be held at Ongole from 22.08.2014 to 24.08.2014.

This is for your information.

Comrades yours,


(N. Subramanian)


Deputy General Secretary

Saturday, July 12, 2014

Union Budget 2014-15 :

Union Budget 2014-15 : Income Tax exemption limit raised to Rs.2.5 lakh and also raised to Rs 1.5 lakh under Section 80C

Income Tax exemption limit raised to Rs.2.5 lakh and also raised to Rs 1.5 lakh under Section 80C

Some relief to individual and salary tax payers, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley presenting Union Budget 2014-15 today in Parliament, raised individual tax exemption limit to Rs.2.5 lakh from current Rs.2 lakh.

For Senior Citizen tax exemption limit also increased to 3 lakh.
The Central Government today hiked the exemption limit for investments by individuals in financial instruments to Rs 1.5 lakh under section 80C.

Housing Loan Rebate is raised from Rs 1.5 lakh to 2 lakh

And one more relief to the depositors of Public Provident Fund, the ceiling limit will raised to Rs.1.5. lakh form current level of Rs.1 lakh.

Wednesday, July 9, 2014

NFPE-Kerala

AIPRPA HOLDS ITS 1st ALL INDIA CONFERENCE

RECEPTION COMMITTEE WITH SHRI.G.V.SELVAM VICE PRESIDENT OF PRESTIGIOUS EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTION IN VELLORE VIZ., VELLORE INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY (UNIVERSITY) AS CHAIRMAN IS FUNCTIONING TO RECEIVE ALL DELEGATES.

    INAUGURAL SESSION WILL BE ATTENDED BY MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT - HIGH OFFICERS OF DEPARTMENT OF POSTS - TOP LEADERS OF PENSIONERS MOVEMENT - ALL INDIA FEDERATION LEADERS OF POSTAL FEDERATIONS - RETIRED SENIOR MOST OFFICERS OF THE DEPARTMENT OF POSTS - LEADERS OF MANY ALL INDIA AND STATE PENSIONERS ORGANISATIONS.

The Economic Times-- Press News

Postal Services beat revenue target third year in a row·       ·          
NEW DELHI: Postal Services in the country has beaten its revenue target three years in a row, exceeding the target by 9.5 per cent in fiscal 2013-14, Parliament was informed today. 
The
 government had set a revenue target of Rs 7,522.02 crore for the Postal Services in 2011-12, while the Department registered revenue of Rs 7,899.40 crore.
http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/images/pixel.gif
"The revenue generation of Postal Services is increasing every year and the targets for each coming year are raised by the Government," Minister of Communications and IT Ravi Shankar Prasad today said in a written reply to the Lok Sabha.
In the year 2012-13, the revenue stood at Rs 9,366.50 crore against a target of Rs 8,762.75 crore, he added.
In 2013-14, the revenue stood at Rs 10,720.94 crore as against the target of Rs 9,787.52 crore, he said.
Responding to a separate query, the Minister said 1,735 post offices were modernised under Project Arrowagainst the target of 1,759 post offices during the 11th Plan.
"During the 12th Plan, 2,500 post offices are proposed to be modernised under Project Arrow with an outlay of Rs 284 crore," Prasad said.
During the first two years of the 12th Plan, 880 post offices have been modernised and so far, 2,615 post offices have been modernised under the 11th and 12th Plan, he added. 

Saturday, July 5, 2014

NFPE KERALA

NFPE - circular

NATIONAL FEDERATION OF POSTAL EMPLOYEES
CENTRAL HEADQUARTERS
1ST FLOOR, NORTH AVENUE POST OFFICE BUILDING, NEW DELHI-110 001.

Circular dated 04-07-2014
              MAKE THE STRUGGLE PROGRAMME OF AIPEUGDS (NFPE) A GRAND SUCCESS.  EXTEND FULL COOPERATION AND SOLIDARITY.  MAKE IT A JOINT PROGRAMME OF ALL  NFPE UNIONS AT ALL LEVELS.
              The CHQ of AIPEU-GDS (NFPE) has decided to organise phased agitational programmes at All India/Circle/Divisional level.  Details of the programme are furnished below.  NFPE (CHQ) requests all the affiliates to make the programme a grand success at All India/Circle/Divisional level.  Please extend full support to the cause of GDS.
AIPEU-GDS (NFPE) STRUGGLE PROGRAMME:
              For Departmentalisation of BOS, grant of Civil Servant status to GDS, inclusion of GDS in 7th CPC and Scrap GDS (Conduct & Engagement) Rules, 2011.
1st Phase   :    Submission of mass memorandum to Hon’ble Prime Minister of India and Communications Minister.
2nd Phase  :    One day dharna in front of all Divisional offices on 16-07-2014.
3rd Phase  :    One day Dharna in front of all Regional/Circle Offices on                                 05-08-2014.
4th Phase  :    Five days relay hunger fast in front of all Circle Offices from 15th to 19th September, 2014.
5th Phase  :    Massive Parliament March with thousands of GDS from all over India in October/November 2014 when the Parliament sessions are going on.  Date will be announced later.
              Further phase of Trade Union action including indefinite strike will be decided later jointly with NFPE & AIPEU GDS (NFPE).
                                                                          Yours fraternally,
                                                                             M. Krishnan,

                                                                    Secretary General, NFPE.

Wednesday, July 2, 2014

Confederation writes for removal of limit of 3 spells for Child Care leave in a calender year.



NATIONAL SECRETARIAT CONFEDERATION

NOTICE - NATIONAL SECRETARIAT CONFEDERATION

No. Confd/2014                                                                                         Dated : 25th June,2014
NOTICE
           It is hereby notified that  National Secretariat Meeting of Confederation of Central Government Employees and Workers will be held at Confederation  H.Q. at 1st Floor North Avenue Post Office Building, New Delhi-110001 on 17th July 2014 at 2 PM.
           All National Secretariat Members are requested to attend the meeting in time.
           The following will be the agenda of the meeting:
AGENDA
(1)      Organizational review.
(2)      7th CPC and related issues.
(3)      15 Point Charter of Demands and future course of action.
(4)      Any other items with the permission of chair.

(M. KRISHNAN)
SECRETARY GENERAL
 Copy to:
1.       Com. S.K. Vyas, Advisor.
2.       Com. K.K.N. Kutty President.

3.       All National Secretariat Members.