DRAFT MEMORANDUM TO BE SUBMITTED TO 7TH CPC - TKR PILLAI
SECRETARY
ALL INDIA ASSOCIATION OF ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF (NON GAZETTED)-
INCORPORATING THE ISSUES OF ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF, INCLUDING LDC, UDC,
STENOGRAPHERS, OFFICIAL LANGUAGE STAFF AND OTHER COMMON CADRE...SUGGESTIONS MAY BE SENT TO THIS ASSOCIATION BY 15TH OF THIS MONTH...
DRAFT MEMORANDUM TO BE SUBMITTED TO 7TH CPC
Dear members,
The
draft memorandum to be submitted to the 7th Pay Commission on the side
of our Association, incorporating the issues of Administrative Staff,
including LDC & UDC, Stenographers, Official language Staff and other common cadre have been prepared and placed below:
Since
this memorandum has been prepared by me single hand, there may be
mistake. I request you to please discuss each and every suggestion of
this memorandum in our units and inform me the change wherever needed by
15th of this month so that this Memorandum may be sent to the 7th CPC
by 16th of this month.
Readers of this
website other than the members of our Association can also send their
suggestion regarding the description, documents in support of the
up-gradation, pay structure proposed etc.
All our friends are therefore requested to give maximum contribution to improve this memorandum.
With regards
Function and organizational set up of National Sample Survey Office
1.1
National Sample Survey Office(NSSO), a technical Organisation of
Government of India, conducts nation wide sample survey in
socio-economic parameters viz. Employment– Unemployment, Consumer
Expenditure, Land-holding & livestock, ‘Debt, Investment and capital
formation’, Migration, Disability, Morbidity, service sector,
Unorganized Trade/ Manufacturing etc. to facilitate socio-economic
planning, development, policy framing, research & other
economic/Administrative decision.
National
Sample Survey (NSS) was established in the year 1950 to conduct
large-scale continuous survey operation in the form of successive rounds
to fill up data gaps for socio economic planning and policy making of
the country. In the year 1970 the NSS was re-organised and brought under
the Government of India as a single Organisation namely NSSO with a
Governing Council for the overall direction to impart objectivity and
autonomy in the matter of collection, processing and publication of the
NSSO data.
The NSSO Investigator (Statistical
Officer) is the first Government Employee, who reaches the farthest and
remote villages of the country to collect data for the purpose of the
economic planning and social re-organization of the country. Thereby
NSSO become instrumental in collection compilation of information
thereby to assist the Government to solve several of the socio-economic
problems, faced by the country. Here the contribution of the NSSO for
the five year plans of the country is specially mentioned. United
Nations Organisation and other International Organisations acclaimed the
services of the NSSO and the NSSO figures take a prominent role in the
UNDP and other reports of the UN. Here, in the Universities and Research
Institutes of the country NSSO reports are the main sources of teaching
economy and statistics. It is evident how the NSSO data are valuable
for the overall economic and social development of the country.
The
Ministry of Statistics & Programme Implementation of Government of
India, with its two main functional organs -the Central Statistical
Organisation (CSO) and the National Sample Survey Office (NSSO)-acts as
the nodal agency for coordination of statistical activities and
maintenance of statistical standards in the country. As a result, now
the responsibility of conducting large scale statistical surveys, making
provision of data and production of estimates on different aspects of
Indian Society and Economy rests with the Ministry of Statistics.
1.2 Organizational set up
The
NSSO is headed by a Director General has four Divisions viz. Field
Operations Division, Survey Design & Research Division, Data
Processing Division and Co-ordination & Publication Division.
The
Field Operations Division has its Headquarters at Delhi and Faridabad
with a network of six Zonal Offices, 48 Regional Offices and 117
Sub-regional Offices spread throughout the country. The Data Processing
Division has its Headquarters at Kolkata with 5 DP Centers in various
part of the Country. The other offices are Survey Design & Research
Division has its Hqrs at Kolkata and the CPD at Delhi.
1.3 SANCTIONED STRENGTH OF OFFICERS AND STAFF IN NSSO
| Division | ISS Officers | Technical/Field Staff | Admin./Hindi & Other Staff | Total |
| SDRD | 31 | | | |
| FOD | 158 | 3227 | 915 | 4300 |
| DPD | 61 | | | |
| Total | 250 | | | |
Chapter II
Modernization in the NSSO by extensive use of computer.
Since
the age is of computerization and online operation of work, the
responsibility and quality of work to be dealt with are high nature.
Fifth & Sixth Pay Commissions in its reports had given more stress
for doing work in the offices of Government of India in computer and
recommended pay scale in accordance with volume modernization programme
done.
In NSSO modernization by extensive use of computers and
modern instruments has been started since last twenty five years. All
Administrative Staff even MTS have been trained to handle the computer.
As a result all the work in Administration and Accounts branches,
including preparation of pay bills and related work are done in computer
with the facility given in various packages in it. As a result
now-a-days, web sites and e-mail are become medium of communication and
the Administrative Staff of NSSO Offices are fully trained and developed
to take up the challenge.
Chapter III
Role of Administrative Staff in NSSO Offices
2.1
The quality control of the NSSO data and overall management of the NSSO
office are rest with the highly qualified & trained technical
officers of Indian Statistical Service. In order to assist them in the
collection and compilation of the statistical data, a subordinate
statistical service, consisting group B technical officers, has been
constituted by the Government of India.
Being a technical
department, the Administrative Staff posted in the NSSO offices have
multifarious functional role to play. Since the overall control and
management of the Administration rests with the technical ISS Officers,
the administrative staff has a very prominent role in the decision
making and other matters of routine administration for which level of
understanding to handle the rule and other routine Administration should
be high. In addition, Administrative staff assists the ISS Officers in
correspondence, table work, Inspection report, report writing,
compilation and finalization of data, report analysis and survey design
and preparation of various statistical directives for field survey,
scrutiny points, data entry of several plan schemes etc which require
specialized attention and skills. Having smaller offices with
independent Administrative set up; expansion of field set up, field work
& Field Staff; the four fold increase of ISS Officers together with
the decrease of the person meant to handle these work in administrative
branch by 33% during the last 25 years in a phased manner, increased
the burden of Administrative Staff in NSSO Offices. As a result the per
capita work load in these offices especially in FOD Regions has
increased manyfold and therefore the Administrative Staff posted there
has to do work with additional burden.
Administrative Staff in
NSSO Offices have been trained to handle the computer and all the work
are doing in computer in addition to their normal duties, which to an
extent, helped to equalize the increased work load, but no pay parity
has been given to them. Considering the nature of work attended by the
Administrative Staff in NSSO offices, they cannot compare or equalize
with similarly placed staff elsewhere. Existing pay scale allowed to the
Administrative Staff including group B Gazetted posts which are
promotion post of the group C Ministerial Staff along with the Hindi
Translators and other cadres related to this Association are given
below:
| S.No | Category of post | Pay scale | Grade Pay | Sanctioned strength | |
| | | | |
FOD
|
DPD
|
SDRD
|
| 1. | CAO | 15600-39100 | 7600 | 1 | | |
| 2. | DD Admn | 15600-39100 | 6600 | 1 | | |
| 3. | Sr. AO | 15600-39100 | 5400 | 2 | | |
| 4 | AO | 9300-34800 | 4600 | 15 | | |
| 5. | Office Superintendent | 9300-34800 | 4200 | 58 | | |
| 6. | Assistant | 9300-34800 | 4200 | 65 | | |
| 7. | UDC | 5200-20200 | 2400 | 137 | | |
| 8. | LDC | 5200-20200 | 1900 | 202 | | |
| 9. | Steno Grade I | 9300-34800 | 4200 | 26* | | |
| 10 | Steno Grade II | 9300-34800 | 2400 | 41* | | |
| 11. | Junior Hindi Translators | 9300-34800 | 4200 | 31 | | |
| 12. | Sr. Hindi Translator | 9300-34800 | 4600 | 1 | | |
| 13. | Hindi Officer | 15600-39100 | 5400 | 1 | | |
| 14. | Data Entry Operator | 9300-34800 | 2400 | 3 | | |
| 15. | Lib. Inf Assistant | 9300-34800 | 2400 | 1* | | |
| 16. | Driver I | 9300-34800 | 4200 | 1 | | |
| 17. | Driver II | 9300-34800 | 2400 | 5 | | |
| 18. | Driver III | 5200-20200 | 1900 | 8 | | |
| 19 | MTS | 5200-20200 | 1800 | 316 | | |
Chapter IV
Administrative cadres
Seventh
Pay Commission must bring uniformity in the pay scales of
Administrative Staff in various Ministries of the Government of India.
The pay scale recommended for each cadre in the Administrative branch
should be in accordance with the responsibility actually attached with
the posts. The duties and responsibilities attached to the LDC & UDC
in NSSO Offices are much higher quality than the duties of their
counterpart in Central Secretariat Offices. LDCs NSSO Offices have been
allocated with independent section worth to do by UDC/Assistants.
Similarly the Assistant are doing the work of Section
Officer/Administrative Officer. In the NSSO Regions Grade II
Stenographers with Rs. 2400 Grade Pay Assists Joint Secretary Rank
Officers. In the NSSO (FOD) SRO Offices MTS are doing the work of
Ministerial Staff as there is no Ministerial Staff posted there. No
cadre review has been conducted for the Administrative Staff since the
inception of the Organisation. And the recommendation for conducting
cadre review in every 5 years by successive pay Commissions have been
ignored.
3.1 Multi tasking staff
Sixth
Pay Commission has recommended to merge the existing 5 pay scales (S1,
S2, S2-A, S3 & S4) of Group D staff to a single pay band and granted
Rs. 1800 Grade Pay and named the post as Multi Tasking Staff (MTS) i.e.
amalgamating the posts with unskilled, semi-skilled and skilled
functions without any scientific basis or logic. The educational
qualification for direct recruitment for the post has been raised to
Matriculation and the status of the post has been raised from group D to
Group C. But a person who passed matriculation might have also been
passed 12th standard. And most of the persons who passed 12th standard
may be a graduate and applies for the post of MTS and other competitive
examinations simultaneously. As per the work allotment of MTS,
circulated by the DoPT an MTS who has been appointed through SSC has to
do the work of Office peon, Mali, Cobbler, sweeper and many other
functions. Thus most of the candidates passed the SSC examination for
the post of MTS do not join the post and those who joined do not do
several of the works earmarked in the recruitment rules for the MTS with
devotion. Thus the MTS may be paid special allowance in addition to pay
as much as to attract a person with more than matriculation to join the
post.
3.1.1 Since the educational qualification for the post of
MTS has been raised to Matriculation and most of the persons who are
applied for the post are holding the qualification of Higher
Secondary/Graduation and as such they are qualified for getting
recruited higher posts. Thus it is suggested that 50% post of the
administrative post next higher to the MTS may be filled through
promotion/Departmental Examination.
As has already been given in
Para 1.2 above NSSO FOD has 117 Sub Regional Offices (SRO) and in each
SRO around 15 to 25 Technical Staff viz. Assistant Director, Senior
Statistical Officer and Junior Statistical Officers are posted. Since no
Ministerial Staff is posted in SROs, the duties of Ministerial Staff
viz. Diary of Dak, Dispatch, typing of letters in computer etc in these
offices is discharges by the only MTS posted there. Most of these MTS
posted in NSSO SROs are holding higher educational qualification.
Similarly, the MTS posted in NSSO Regional Offices also assisting the
Ministerial Staff in day to day Administrative matters, for which
training has been given to them by the office. Hence the MTS in NSSO
Offices are working as substitute to the Administrative Staff
particularly in NSSO SROs and as such their Grade Pay may be upgraded to
Rs. 2000 and revised pay may be granted accordingly.
3.2 Lower Division Clerk
3.2.1 Having the strength of Administrative staff in NSSO Offices
especially in their fields offices are small in number the LDCs posted
there are engaged to do the skillful and quality work. They have been
allocated with major administrative sections worth to do by the
UDC/Assistants because sanctioned strength of UDC/Assistants are very
less. All LDCs are doing their respective work in computer. LDC/UDC has
also to assist the technical officers in work relating to the field
matters. Major duties and responsibilities assigned to the LDCs are as
given below:
a) Maintenance and up keeping of service books, grant
of annual increment, leave cases and other work viz. noting, drafting,
correspondence related to the service matters of the staff.
b) Scrutiny of TA Bills, Medical Bill, LTC, Tuition fees, overtime bill etc..
c) Preparation and maintenance of GPF accounts Registers.
d) Preparation of bills (Pay, Medical, TA, LTC, GPF, Tuition fee, GPF etc...) & contingent expenditure,
e) Maintenance of store including purchase and disposal of the articles
etc. Maintain the receipt, proper storage, distribution, safe custody,
accounting of stores, procurement of stationery item etc.
f) Maintenance of registers and files in all subjects.
g) Dealing the work of Income Tax
h) Preparation of seniority lists.
i) Typing (on computer) of Inspection report, scrutiny notes, data entries and all typing related all administrative matters
j) Processing of records/documents including technical data, noting drafting, typing etc.
k) Dealing the cases of monthly/quarterly/half yearly/yearly returns.
l) Assist the ISS Officer and other technical officers in
correspondence, table work, report writing, data entry of several plan
schemes, compilation and finalization of data etc.
m) Despatch and dairying of the letters and all other document related to the entire office, including technical section.
n) RTI Matters o) Discharging the duties and responsibilities of Cashier; and several other duties.
3.2.2 LDC & DEO
The pay scale of Data entry operator (DEO) during 5th CPC was
4000-100-6000 and that of LDC was 3050-4950. The difference in pay scale
between DEO & LDC was due to the reason that the educational
qualification required for data entry operator prior to 6th CPC was 12th
standard & Computer proficiency and the educational qualification
for LDC was Matriculation with manual typing.
But Sixth Pay Commission has increased the educational qualification for the post of LDC equal to Data entry operators.
And
the technical qualification/skill for the candidates appear for the
post of LDC requires typing speed 10500 Key depression per hour
(KDPH)/9000 KDPH English and Hindi respectively on computer whereas the
candidate appearing the DEO requires 8000 KDPH (
Since the issue
has been raised by this Association for the last 2 years and filed a
case in the Jabalpur CAT, now the DoPT thorough a notification has
changed the 8000 KDPH to 15000 KDPH).
Please see table 1 below:
Name of post/Educational Qualification
|
3rd CPC
|
4th CPC
|
5th CPC
|
6th CPC
|
DEO (10+2) &
Typing 8000 KDPH
in computer(now 15000 KDPH). | NA | 1200-30-1560-40-2040 | 4000-100-6000/(EDQ: 10+2)
(EDQ: 10+2) | 5200-20200(GP 2400)
(EDQ: 10+2) |
LDC(up to 6th CPC
Matriculation &
35 words per minute in
manual type writers and
6th CPC onwards 10+2 and
Typing 10500 &
9000 KDPH English &
Hindi respectively in computer. | 260-6-326-8-390-10-400
(EDQ: Matriculation) | 950-20-1150-25-1400
(EDQ: Matriculation) | 3050-75-3950-80-4590
(EDQ: Matriculation) | 5200-20200
(GP 1900) (EDQ: 10+2) |
EDQ=Educational qualification.
3.2.3
As regards the work assignment, the DEO has only to entry the data
given to them whereas the LDC has multiple task and discharge a very
responsible & decisive role in subordinate offices in addition to
computer work.
3.2.4 LDC & Postman:
The
postman in postal Department with matriculation has been granted Rs.
2000/ Grade pay by the 6th Pay Commission. During the 3rd & 4th CPC
Postman was a Group D post with pay scale Rs. 210-4-270 &
Rs.825-15-900-20-1200 respectively and educational qualification
required for the post was 8th Standard. Fifth Pay Commission has leveled
the pay scale of Post man i.e. Rs. 3050-75-3950-80-4590 to the post of
LDC after increasing the educational qualification for the post to
Matriculation.
3.2.5 LDC & Police Constable:
The Police Constable with matriculation has been granted Rs. 2000/
Grade pay by the 6th Pay Commission. During the 3rd & 4th CPC Police
Constable was a Group D post with pay scale Rs. 210-4-270 &
Rs.825-15-900-20-1200 respectively and educational qualification
required for the post was 8th Standard.
3.2.6 Notice Server of Income
Tax The Notice Server of Income Tax was also Group D officials during
3rd and 4th Pay Commission and was getting pay scale lesser than the pay
scale of LDC. But similar to the Post Man & Police Constable, the
pay scales of this post has been upgraded to the level of LDC after
raising their educational qualification to Matriculation during 5th CPC.
And 6th CPC upgraded the pay scale of these posts and granted to Rs.
2000 Grade pay in the pay band Rs. 5200-20200.
Please see table 2 below:
Name of post/ Educational Qualification
|
3rd CPC
|
4th CPC
|
5th CPC
|
6th CPC
|
| Post Man/Police Constable/ Notice Server of Income Tax (8th Class till 5th CPC and thereafter Matriculation ) | 210-4-270
(EDQ: 8th) | 825-15-900-20-1200
(EDQ: 8th) | 5200-20200 (GP 2000)
(EDQ: Matriculation) | 3050-75-3950-80-4590
(EDQ: Matriculation) |
| LDC (up to 6th CPC Matriculation & 6th CPC onwards 10+2 & Proficiency in Computer. | 260-6-326-8-390-10-400
(EDQ: Matriculation) | 950-20-1150-25-1400
(EDQ: Matriculation) | 3050-75-3950-80-4590
(EDQ: Matriculation) | 5200-20200 (GP 1900)
(EDQ: 10+2) |
3.2.7 Action taken by the Government to remove the anomaly:
In
order to remove disparity, a request was sent to the DoPT by our
Association and the DoPT termed the case related to anomaly and sent to
the JCA for disposal (Letter enclosed in Annexure I). JCA returned the
case to DoPT directing them to consider the case at their level in
consultation with Ministry of Finance. And finally Ministry of Finance
vide OM No 58 (2)/E. III (B)/2014 dated 12th November 2013 has directed
the Ministries/Associations for sending proposals to the Ministry of
Finance through FA, DoPT for approval (Copy enclosed in Annexure II).
Ministry of Statistics & Programme Implementation was also directed
to do action for necessary upgradation of LDC vide Ministry of Finance
OM No.58 (2)/E. III (B)/2014 dated 18th February 2014 (Copy enclosed in
Annexure III) But the directions contained in the aforesaid OM were
insufficient to consider the upgradation of Grade Pay of LDC w.e.f.
1.1.2006 i.e. the date of implementation of the 6th CPC and that is why
this Association has filed a case in the CAT Jabalpur (Application
No.200/00205/2014-submitted in Annexure IV)
3.2.8 JCM Staff Side Proposal:
JCM Staff side has proposed the upgradation of LDC to the post of UDC
(Para 12.6). It is requested to please grant upgradation of the Grade
Pay of LDC to the Grade Pay of UDC. The present Grade Pay of UDC as
granted to the Army Ordinance Corps by the DoPT is Rs. 2800. Thus the
pay the LDC may be granted accordingly.
3.3 Upper Division Clerk
3.3.1 UDCs are the first level supervisory staff in subordinate
offices, the link between LDCs, who have been allocated responsible
sections, and section officer. The pay structure given to the post by
the 6th Pay Commission was very meager in view of the role played by
them in the Administrative Offices of the Government of India. And as
such the demand for upgradation of the Grade Pay of the UDC in
subordinate offices have been raised immediately after the
implementation of the 6th Pay Commission. Even though the Government has
not taken a common decision to upgrade the Grade Pay of UDC for all
Central Government office, DoPT has revised he Grade Pay of UDC in Army
Ordinance Corps vide letter No.
A/26576/CPC/Clerks/OS-20/268/D(O-II)/2011 dated 23rd September 2013
(Copy enclosed in Annexure I).
The average time period in NSSO,
for the promotion from LDC to the post of UDC is 15 to 18 years. In NSSO
Offices the number of post of Assistant are very less and as such the
work earmarked for the post of Assistant have been allocated to UDCs.
The details of work assigned to the UDCs are given below: a) Preparation of pension papers and allied correspondence.
b) Preparation of budgets.
c) Processing cases under Right to information act 2005.
d) Scrutiny of TA Bills, Medical Bill, LTC, Tuition fees, overtime bill etc...
e) Preparation of bills (Pay, Medical, TA, LTC, GPF, Tuition fee, GPF
etc...) & contingent expenditure and all other works related to
accounts.
f) Maintenance of store including purchase and disposal of the articles etc.
g) Dealing with Recruitment matters h) Dealing with Audit matters.
i) Dealing with legal matters
j) Preparation and maintenance of GPF accounts Register of Group D employees.
k) Maintenance of registers and files in all subjects related to the work allotted to them.
l) Maintenance and up keeping of service books, grant of annual
increment, leave cases, correspondence related to the service matters of
the staff and all other works related to Establishment.
m) Noting, drafting etc related to their section and additional assigned to them from time to time.
n) Dealing the cases of various times of monthly/quarterly/half yearly/yearly returns.
o) Typing (on computer) of work related to their section and also assigned by the concerned officer from time to time.
p) Discharging the duties and responsibilities of Cashier
q) RTI Matters r) All other works allocated from time to time by the superior officers.
3.3.2
In addition, the UDCs are responsible for the scrutiny of important
documents/ registers maintained in various sections of the office and
held accountable for all lapses at their level. The UDCs should have
full knowledge of the rules and regulations and updating of the same
with latest circulars issued by the Government from time to time. The
vigor and vitality is mandatory for the post to handle complex nature of
work. In contrast, the UDCs working in Central Secretariat is less
accountable and work-load bearing with the UDCs of subordinate offices
Thus the Grade of UDC in NSSO may be upgraded to that of Assistant to get Rs. 4200 Grade Pay.
3.4 Assistant
In NSSO Offices,
Assistants are doing valuable supervisory work and training a team of
UDC/LDC in day to day administrative work. In addition, preparation of
Budget, MPER, Pension papers, Monthly Reconciliation Statement, handling
the court cases, doing DPC matters, Income Tax, inspection of service
books and other matters related to employees periodically, audit work,
noting & drafting relating to important cases etc are the part of
their job.
There was historical parity amongst the Assistants in
Central Secretariat and subordinate offices. On this matter Fourth Pay
Commission’s observes that:
8.41 The scale Rs.425 (pre-revised)
covers posts of Assistants and Stenographers in different Ministries/
Departments, auditors under C & AG. The recruitment is either
through competitive examination or by promotion from the scale of
Rs.330-560.
8.44 Considering the duties and responsibilities of
these posts and the fact that promotions to these are made from more or
less similar levels, we recommend that all categories of posts presently
covered by the scales a) 425-800 b) 425-700 c) 440-750 d) 470-750 and
e) 440-750 may be grouped together and given the scale of Rs.1400-2300.
And
the recommendation was accepted by the Government. These positive
recommendations have been bypassed by the Government to give higher pay
scale to the Assistants in Central Secretariat .
Again, 6th Pay Commission observed that “Earlier,
the respective pay scales of Rs.5500-9000 and 5000-8000 existed for
Assistants in Secretariat and in Field offices. This disparity was
aggravated in 2006 when the Government further upgraded the pay scales
of Assistants belonging to Central Secretariat Service to Rs.6500-10500”.
6th
CPC in its report Para 3.1.3 further observes that “higher Pay Scales
in the Secretariat Offices may have been justified in the past when
formulation of proper policies was not paramount importance. The present
position is different. Today, the weakest link in respect of any
Government policy is at the delivery stage. This phenomenon is not
endemic to India. Internationally also there is an increasing emphasis
on strengthening the delivery lines and decentralization with greater
role being assigned at delivery points which actually determines the
benefit that the common citizen is going to derive out of any policy
initiative of the Government. The field offices are at the edge of
administration and may, in most cases, determine whether a particular
policy turns out to be a success or failure in terms of actual benefit
to the consumer. Accordingly, the time has come to grant parity between
similarly placed personnel employed in field offices and in the
Secretariat. This parity will need to be absolute till the grade of
Assistant.” And accordingly the pre-revised pay scales Rs.
5000-8000 to 6500-10500 have been merged and granted Rs. 4200 Grade Pay.
But later, Ministry of Finance (Department of
Expenditure) vide O.M. F. No. 1/1/2008-IC dated 13/11/2009 has upgraded
the grade pay of the Assistant in CSS to Rs. 4600/ and the
Assistants in the subordinate offices has been left out. In this way,
the parity up-to the post of Assistant as recommended by the 6th CPC and
accepted by the Government overturned.
On this
subject, All India MES Clerical Cadre & Group D Employees
Association has filed OA No. 2389/2012 before Central Administrative
Tribunal Principal Bench against the two different pay structure for
subordinate and Central Secretariat Ministerial Staff. The court
observed that while doing their right for fixation of pay scales, the
employers should ensure that these fixations have been done on the basis
of some rational grounds and the traditional parity reinforced by the
recommendations of the Pay Commission should not be disturbed. The court
further observed that
“What is not understood is as to
how a higher scale of pay or grade pay which is justified on the ground
of direct recruitment is extended to the promotees also. If that is
justified on the ground that both direct recruits and promotes are doing
the same work and, therefore, differential can be introduced, then how
can it be justified that the same treatment cannot be given to a cadre
which hitherto enjoyed parity with the Assistants/PAs of CS/AFHQ only on
the ground that they are appointed 100% by promotion”.
The
Court directed the respondents to constitute and Expert Group to
consider up-gradation of grade pay of Assistant/Office
Superintendent/Stenographer Grade I to the level of Assistant/Steno
Grade I in Central Secretariat. The expert group constituted by the
Ministry of Defense has recommended upgradation of grade pay of
Assistant/Steno I/Office Superintendent equal to Central Secretariat.
Now the case is under consideration of the Ministry of Finance.
Thus parity between Central Secretariat Assistant and the Assistant subordinate offices should be restored.
3.5 Section Officer
Section Officers (No post of Section Officer is sanctioned in NSSO
office in place the duties of Section Officer is discharge by the
Administrative Officer with a meager grade pay Rs. 4600 i.e. equal to
the Grade pay of Assistant in Central Secretariat) next above the level
of Assistant is the real in-charge of administrative matters in
subordinate offices. They are responsible for finalizing all
Administrative, Accounts, Court and all other matters related to
Administration/Accounts in field offices of the subordinate offices and
put up to the Controlling Officer for his approval. Administrative
Officer with Rs. 4600 Grade Pay in most of the offices are functioning
as Head of Office as well. Since the Controlling officers are from All
India Service they are mostly concentrating technical or field matters.
Looking to the heavy responsibilities assigned to the Section Officers
or equivalent post, the 6th Pay Commission has granted Rs.4800 Grade Pay
in PB II with a provision to automatic upgradation of the grade pay to
Rs. 5400 after completion of 4 years service(Para 3.1.14 of 6th CPC
Recommendation). But the same has not been implemented in NSSO Office
despite of repeated requests.
Thus the post of Administrative
Officer Grade II with Rs. 4600/ Grade pay in NSSO Offices may be
upgraded to Rs. 4800 and named as Section Officer.
3.6 Higher Administrative Posts:
In NSSO Offices no post of Administrative Officer above Rs. 5400 Grade
Pay is allocated. However, posts of Deputy Director (Admn), Chief
Administrative Officer etc have been allocated in the promotional
hierarchy of the Administrative Staff. But Staff Side JCM in their
Memorandum to 7th Pay Commission has proposed Cadre of Administrative
Officers in three Grades above Rs. 5400 Grade Pay. It was also proposed
that wherever the three Grade are not available they may be granted the
next three successive pay scales i.e., Grade A entry scale, senior time
scale of pay, and the one next above. Staff side (JCM) has also
recommended for uniformity in the pay scales of Administrative Staff in
various Ministries of the Government of India in view of the fact that
lack of common cadre structure the administrative Staff posted in the
smaller Department face heavy stagnation and retires on the post of
UDC/Assistant itself.
It is proposed that recommendation for
creation of 3 Administrative Grade above Section Officer commencing from
Rs. 5400 Grade Pay may kindly be made to bring the administrative staff
posted in smaller offices to the mainstream.
3.7 Stenographers
The recruitment of Stenographers for various offices of Government of
India is being done by SSC through tough competitive Examination. A
person with vast General knowledge, command in English/Hindi Languages
and the competence do very good stenography can only succeed the
examination of the SSC.
Direct recruitment of Stenographers both
in Central Secretariat and Subordinate offices are done through SSC
only. Stenographers in Central Secretariat get frequent career progress
because of their placement in Central Secretariat at the entry level.
For Central Secretariat Stenographers, promotional posts are being
created in frequent intervals through periodical cadre restructuring and
accordingly they get frequent promotion. Since in subordinate offices
there is no promotional avenue for stenographers and therefore most of
them are do not get more than one promotion during the service period.
In NSSO Offices, not a single cadre restructuring is done since its
inception and as such the stenographers posted there are in constant
stagnation.
It is pertinent to mention here that both Central
Secretariat and Subordinate Office Stenographers are working with All
India Cadre Officers who work both in Central Secretariat and
Subordinate offices. Hence the level of work output as Stenographic
Assistant done by the Stenographer in Central Secretariat and
Subordinate Offices are the same.
As per the provision given in
the Hand Book of Personal Officers published by the DoPT the
Stenographic entitlement of the officers posted in Attached/Subordinate
offices is as follows:
1. Joint Secretary or equivalent Private Secretary with Rs. 4800 Grade Pay with automatic upgradation to Rs.5400 after 4 years.
2. Director/Deputy Secretary Steno Grade I with Rs. 4600 Grade Pay
3. Deputy Director Steno Grade II with Rs. 2400 Grade Pay
4. Section Officer/equivalent Steno Grade II with Rs. 2400/ Grade Pay
In
most of the FOD Regional offices and also in Zonal Offices Deputy
Director General with Joint Secretary Rank has been posted. In the Hqrs
offices of FOD, DPD & SDRD also large number of DDG, Director and
Deputy Directors are posted. Moreover, one Deputy Director in addition
to DDG is posted in every Regional Offices as well as Zonal Offices.
According to the norms given above, posts of Private Secretary with Rs.
4800 Grade Pay should have been allocated to DDGs and Stenographer with
Rs.4600/ Grade Pay has to be allocated to Directors/Joint Directors. But
none of these DDGs have been provided with Private Secretary and in
place Steno Grade II is working in these offices. Since Deputy Director
is also posted in all Regional/Zonal Office the only steno Grade II
posted is compelled to assist both of the officers in their day to day
office work.
On the other hand, DoPT vide OM no.
No.20/49/2009-CS.II (8) dated 22nd June, 2011 has ordered to upgrade the
Grade Pay of 30% UDC and Steno (NFSG) of Central Secretariat to Rs.
4200/ after completion of 5 years service on the grade and the same was
not made applicable to the UDC & Steno Grade II in subordinate
offices which have virtually demoralized all the UDCs/Stenographers
Grade II in subordinate offices.
In view of the above, we suggest the following structure for Stenographers in NSSO Offices.
| Sr. No. | Name of Officer | Post demanded |
| 1 | Additional Director General | Personal Secretary with Rs. 5400 Grade Pay |
| 2. | Deputy Director General | Private Secretary with Rs. 4800 Grade Pay |
| 3. | Director/Joint Director | Steno Grade I with Rs. 4600 Grade Pay |
| 4. | Deputy Director/SO/Asstt. Director | Steno Grade II with Rs. 4200 Grade Pay |
A
person appointed initially as Stenographer in the Central Secretariat
often goes beyond the post of Senior PPS. But in subordinate offices the
stenographers appointed are stagnating years together due to lack of
sufficient promotional avenue. And as such even though presently NSSO
Offices have not the requirement of personal staff above the grade given
in the table, provision for granting next two successive time-scales
may be made to bring the stenographers of subordinate offices equivalent
to the Stenographers of Central Secretariat.
CHAPTER V
Official Language Staff
While
passing the Official Language Act, the Parliament adopted a resolution
on the Official Language policy according to which the Central
Government is committed to accelerating the spread of Hindi. Accordingly
the posts of Junior Hindi Translators, Senior Hindi Translators, Hindi
Officer and Assistant Director, Deputy Director, Joint Director &
Director (OL) have been created in the offices of the Central
Government. The qualification for recruitment for the post of Junior
Translator is Post graduation in Hindi or English and having studied as
vice versa subject at Graduation level. The post is a challenging one
and requires multifaceted talents. They have to possess a sound
knowledge of two languages and should have linguistic ability to
comprehend and also require skill of quality translation. The translator
has to play a role of motivator, orator, leader, editor, conductor of
various meeting and also should have the ability to teach the Hindi and
organize Hindi workshops.
Fifth Pay Commission laid down the
principle that the post requiring Post graduation as minimum academic
qualification should be placed in the scale of Rs. 6500-10500. Even
after, the 6th CPC has recommended a poor Rs. 4200 grade pay to Junior
Translators.
According to the Model Recruitment Rules for the
various posts in Official Language Cadre for Subordinate Offices,
circulated vide DoPT O M No. AB-14017/46/2011-Estt (RR) Dated 19th
September, 2013 Educational and other qualifications required for direct
recruits as Junior Translator is Master Degree in Hindi & English,
the extract of the same is given below:
“Master's degree of a
recognized University in Hindi with English as a compulsory or elective
subject or as the medium of examination at the degree level OR
Master's
degree of a recognized University in English with Hindi as a compulsory
or elective subject or as the medium of examination at the degree level
OR
Master’s degree of a recognized
University in any subject other than Hindi or English, with Hindi medium
and English as a compulsory or elective subject or as the medium of a
examination at the degree level OR
Master’s
degree of a recognized University in any subject other than Hindi or
English, with English medium and Hindi as a compulsory or elective
subject or as the medium of a examination at the degree level; OR
Master’s
Degree of a recognized University in any subject other than Hindi or
English, with Hindi and English as compulsory or elective subjects or
either of the two as a medium of examination and the other as a
compulsory or elective subject at degree level; AND
Recognized
Diploma or Certificate course in translation from Hindi to English
& vice versa or two years’ experience of translation work from Hindi
to English and vice versa in Central or State Government office,
including Government of India Undertaking.”
It is regretted
to note that while a person with graduation are being selected to the
post of Assistants with Rs. 4600 Grade Pay in Central Secretariat, the
Junior Translator with Post Graduation in two languages get less Grade
Pay than a Central Secretariat Assistant i.e. Rs. 4200. We feel the Pay
Structure of Official Language Staff should be upgraded in accordance
with the educational qualification. Restructuring of the posts of
Official Language Staff may be recommended so as a person initially
appointed as Junior Translator may get 5 promotions during the service
career.
In view of the above we propose the following changes in the pay scale/Grade Pay of Hindi Staff.
| 1. | Junior Translator | Grade Pay Rs. 4600/ |
| 2. | Sr. Translator | Grade Pay Rs. 4800/(Automatic upgradation to
Rs. 5400/ after 4 years in the
Designation as Hindi Officer) |
| 3. | Hindi Officer | Grade Pay Rs. 5400/ (Group A) |
| 4. | Deputy Director (OL) | Grade Pay Rs. 6600/ |
| 5. | Joint Director (OL) | Grade Pay Rs. 7600/ |
| 6. | Director (OL) | Grade Pay Rs. 8700/ |
Chapter VI
Career Prospects/Promotional avenues:
High
level stagnation de-motivates the employees. For the efficient
functioning of an organization, the primary pre-requisite is the
systematic career progression of the workforce. But in most of the
Departments especially smaller Departments stagnation has come to stay
for the last two decades. Considering the fact 5th Pay Commission had
recommended two ACP in a time bound manner. The Sixth Pay Commission had
awarded 3 time bound MACP in replacement of previous ACP. But the
scheme was found less beneficial especially for lower category staff
because the MACP was granted on grade pay hierarchy and not promotional
hierarchy. This created large scale anomaly and as a result dozens of
cases have been filed in various courts all the court judgments were
delivered in favour of implementation of MACP on hierarchical basis but
the Government has not implemented the same till date.
6.1
Career Advancement of Officers:
Till 1996, the FOD, NSSO used to be headed by a Director, Regional
level Offices were headed by Deputy Directors and SRO level offices were
headed by Superintendents. But now, the quantity and quality of work
has increased considerably and as such the ISS posts at Regional/Zonal
level have been upgraded to the level of Deputy Director General.
Simultaneously, the strength of total ISS cadre was increased manyfold.
In the year 1961 the total strength of ISS cadre was 185 (116 primary
posts with 69 promotion posts) which was increased to 690 and 799
respectively in the year 2002 & 2006. Today the position is 808 (232
primary posts and 576 promotion posts). Besides a further upgradation
of the posts of the posts are under consideration.
6.2
Upgradation of the pay structure of SSS staff:
The pay structure of the Group B & Group C Field Staff has improved
considerably, in comparison with our cadres, by the recommendation of
pay scale by the 4th & 5th Pay Commissions, by implementation of
Arbitration awards, court decisions and re-structuring of the posts
twice since 2002. Besides subsequent to the merger of the Pay Scales
during 6th Pay Commission, three increments in the form of additional
MACP have been granted them. Recently, through yet another cadre review,
several post of Assistant Directors have been created in cooption of
the posts of Senior Statistical Officers. Besides a considerable
increase in the post of Senior Statistical Officers are also registered.
6.3
Bleak career prospects of Administrative/Official Language staff:
The discontent amongst the Administrative Staff in NSSO due to
stagnation is in high magnitude today. Successive Pay Commission have
recommended periodical cadre review of the staff and asked to conduct
cadre review in every 5 years. Despite of these recommendations and its
acceptance by the Government no cadre review has been conducted for the
Administrative Staff in NSSO Offices since the inception. As a result
the person holding the posts of LDC, UDC, Stenographer, Junior
Translators all are stagnated for more than 20 years on the same post.
And in this way majority of the Ministerial Staff in the NSSO hardly
reach the post of Assistant at the time of their retirement and many of
them are retiring on the post of UDC itself.
Even though NSSO
Offices are committed to promote official language its offices and all
efforts are being done for the same, the Official Language Staff who are
instrumental to implement the official language policy are being
ignored; a clear picture of same has been given in Chapter V above. A
person appointed as Junior Translator in FOD, NSSO hardly reach to the
next promotion post till his retirement as only one Senior Translator is
available. The position of other Divisions is not different.
In
view of the above, a strong policy for promotional avenues to the
employees especially the Administrative Staff and Official Language
Staff should be formulated. The VII CPC therefore, should recommend the
implementation of cadre review strictly to ensure five hierarchical
promotions to all employees in their career on the pattern obtaining for
Group A Officers. The qualifying period for the 1st promotion for an
LDC may be reduced to 5 years from the present 8 years.
CHAPTER VII
7.1 Existing & Proposed Pay Scales for Ministerial Staff
| Sl. No. | Categories | Existing Pay Band | Grade Pay | Proposed Minimum Pay | Remarks |
| 1. | MTS | 5200-20200 | Rs. 1800/ | Rs. 33000+ Rs. 5000 Spl Pay/ | Upgradation of Grade Pay to Rs. 2000 & Grant Special Pay to MTS in NSSO |
| 2. | LDC | 5200-20200 | Rs. 1900/ | Rs. 46000/ | Upgradation of Grade Pay to Rs. 2800/ |
| 3. | UDC | 5200-20200 | Rs. 2400/ | Rs. 56000/ | Upgradation of Grade Pay to Rs. 4200/ |
| 4. | Assistant | 9300-34800 | Rs. 4200 | Rs. 66000/ | Upgradation of Grade equal to Central Secretariat Assistants |
| 5. | Section Officer | 9300-34800 | Rs. 4800/ | Rs. 74000/ | Upgradation of the Present Administrative Officer is proposed. |
| 6. | Admn Officer | 9300-34800 | Rs. 4600/ | Rs. 88000/ | After completion of 4 years as Section Officer |
| 7. | Deputy Director | 15600-39100 | Rs. 6600/ | Rs. 102000 |
| 8. | Chief Admn Officer | 15600-39100 | Rs. 7600 | Rs. 120000/ | |
7.2 Existing & Proposed Pay Scales for Stenographers
| Sl. No. | Categories | Existing Pay Band | Grade Pay | Proposed Minimum Pay | Remarks |
| 1 | Stenographer Grade II | 5200-20200 | Rs. 2400/ | Rs. 56000/ | Upgradation of Grade Pay to Rs. 4200/ |
| 2. | Stenographer Grade I | 9300-34800 | Rs. 4200 | Rs. 66000/ | Upgradation of Grade to Rs. 4600/ proposed |
| 3. | Private Secretary | 9300-34800 | Rs. 4600 | Rs. 74000/ | Upgradation of Grade Rs. 4800/ proposed |
| 4. | Sr Private Secretary | 9300-34800 | Rs. 4800/ | Rs. 88000/ | Automatic upgradation of Private Secretary after 4 years service |
| 5. | Principal Pvt Secretary | 15600-39100 | Rs. 6600/ | Rs. 102000 | |
| 6. | Sr. Principal Pvt Sec | 15600-39100 | Rs. 7600 | Rs. 120000/ | |
7.3 Existing & Proposed Pay Scales for Official Language & Other Staff
| Sl. No. | Categories | Existing Pay Band | Grade Pay | Proposed Minimum Pay | Remarks |
| 1. | Junior Hindi Translator | 9300-34800 | Rs. 4200 | Rs. 66000/ | Upgradation of Grade to Rs. 4600/ proposed |
| 2. | Senior Hindi Translator | 9300-34800 | Rs. 4600 | Rs. 74000/ | Upgradation of Grade Rs. 4800/ proposed |
| 3. | Hindi Officer | 9300-34800 | Rs. 4800/ | Rs. 88000/ | Automatic upgradation of Sr. Hindi Translator after 4 years service |
| 4. | Deputy Director (OL) | 15600-39100 | Rs. 6600/ | Rs. 102000 | |
| 5. | Joint Director (OL) | 15600-39100 | Rs. 7600 | Rs. 120000/ | |
| 6. | Director (OL) | 15600-39100 | Rs. 8700/ | Rs. 139000/ | |
| 7. | Library Inf. Assistant | 5200-20200 | Rs. 2400/ | Rs. 56000/ | Upgradation of Grade Pay to Rs. 4200/ |
| | Driver(Ord. grade) | 5200-20200 | Rs. 1900/ | Rs. 41000/ | Upgradation of Grade Pay to Rs. 2400/ |
| | Driver grade II | 5200-20200 | Rs. 2400/ | Rs. 56000/ | Upgradation of Grade Pay to Rs. 4200/ |
| | Driver Grade I | 9300-34800 | Rs. 4200 | Rs. 66000/ | Upgradation of Grade Pay to Rs. 4600/ |
CHAPTER VIII
Requirement of Effective Grievance Redressal Procedure
Joint
Consultative Machinery and Compulsory Arbitration with an intention to
redressal of the grievances of the employees has been functioning since
1966. All non Gazetted officials in the Government of India Offices were
allowed to be a member of the Association working under JCM Scheme.
Group B officials of the Headquarters Organizations have been covered
under this scheme whereas the Group B officials in subordinate offices
have been kept out of the purview of the JCM Scheme which is
discriminatory.
Even though there is no provision for
re-identification of the cadres already identified under CCS (RSA) Rules
1993, the Ministry of Statistics & Programme Implementation has
re-identified the cadres without seeking opinion from the concerned
Association. And re-recognized the lone Association which have the
support of more than 70% staff.
Moreover, the same cadres, which
have been removed in the name of Group B through the above exercise, are
members of the Association working under JCM Scheme in other Government
of India Department and that Department allowed them to function. For
example: The Assistant or equivalent posts with 4200 Grade Pay working,
in Central Ground Water Board, Census, CPWD, Income Tax, Central Excise
and many other offices are allowed to function as part of JCM. The
Income Tax Inspector/Excise Inspector with Rs. 4600 Grade Pay, Senior
Accountant with 4600 Grade Pay in CAG, Post Master with 4200 and above
and all are allowed the Government of India to function under JCM scheme
in their respective Departments.
It is, therefore, necessary that
all categories and cadres of employees and officers, who were covered
under the JCM Scheme in 1966 (i.e. the year in which the JCM came into
existence), must continue to be covered under the scheme irrespective of
the change of classification or revision of pay scales that have been
ordered from time to time. In the present context all employees drawing
grade pay up to and including Rs. 4800 (PB2) must be converge by the JCM
Scheme.
Conclusion: It is re-iterated that
in NSSO the Administrative Staff are an integral part of the technical
management. And with their active participation only the collection and
processing of the statistical data can be successfully conducted. Also
under the modernization the NSSO has fully computerized and the
Administrative staff does work in computer only. And also the MTS, LDC,
UDC all cadres in NSSO Offices are forced to do duties prescribed for
higher posts due to lack of sufficient higher posts and yet they have Considering
the entire special feature discussed above the proposal of
restructuring of the Ministerial and other staff may please be
considered and the pay scale proposed therein may be awarded.
PART II
Allowances and advances, facilities and miscellaneous demands:
This
Association has concentrated only on the issue of the pay structure of
the Administrative Staff of NSSO Offices. For all other
issues/grievances related to our staff viz. allowances and advances,
facilities, miscellaneous issues, we endorse the provisions given in the
General memorandum of the National Council (JCM)/Confederation of
Central Government Employees & workers.
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