Can Retirement age 60 to 58 Solve Unemployment Problem?

Can Retirement age 60 to 58 Solve Unemployment Problem?
“The Financial Express”, one of the leading newspapers recently published a news article on the Central Government’s plan to reduce the retirement age of employees from 60 to 58. This news shocked the central government employees.

    “Reducing the retirement age of central government employees from 60 to 58 will help to solve the unemployment problem in India?”

Reasons for decreasing the retirement age from 60 to 58:

The following reasons are attributed for decreasing the present age of retirement:

1) To create more employment opportunities for the youth

2) To increase the contribution of younger employees in the government sectors and

3) To compensate the loss accrued due to payment of allowances

Unemployment issue:

    None can have any disagreement about the fact that employment opportunities should be provided for the unemployed. There are so many ways for solving the unemployment problem. They are:

1) Introducing new employment policies

2) Filling all the positions lying vacant and

3) Promoting self-employment by introducing new schemes and providing suitable facilities and many more ways can help to solve the problem of unemployment.

Increasing the retirement age from 60 to 62 for scientists:

In the Rajya Sabha, for a question raised on increasing the retirement age for scientists from 60 to 62 in written format, the response given was: “it is under consideration”.

The important reasons for increasing the retirement age for scientists are:

1) Their experience and expertise should benefit the younger generation and

2) The average life span has increased.

“Isn’t there a need to increase the retirement age of employees working in other fields?”

Allowance issue:

Extra allowance that has to be paid is cited as a reason for bringing down the retirement age of employees from 60 to 58. However, in reality, the pay commission is set up only once in 10 years and benefits the central government employees.

    “In the long interval of 10 years, only these allowances help the employees to cope with inflation”.

In the past, the average service period of a central government employee was 30 to 40 years. Presently, as the age limit for appointment has been relaxed, the average service period has come down to 20 to 30 years. Due to this, an employee can only have 2 or 3 pay commissions in his service period.

In this situation, citing allowance as a reason for decreasing retirement age and altering the present allowance rates will adversely affect the economic condition of central government employees.

Average retirement age in the world:

The average retirement age of many nations is between 63 and 65. Comparatively speaking, even the age of 60 is obviously a very early age for retirement. In this context, we do not know whether the employees will accept 58 as the age of retirement.

Will early retirement solve the unemployment problem?

Employment for all is a very important. It is the duty of a nation to provide employment to all her youth and lead them in a better way. The hope and aspiration of every youth in this country is to get a good job. They do not expect the retirement age to be brought down from 60 to 58.

Source: geod.in

Annual Income Limit for Non-Creamy Layer

Annual Income Limit for Non-Creamy Layer

Press Information Bureau
Government of India
Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment
04-December-2014

The current annual income limit of creamy layer in OBC reservation is Rs. 6 lakhs per annum with effect from 16.05.2013. The parameter/criteria fixed for revision of said annual income limit of creamy layer is Consumer Price Index.

At present, there is no proposal to hike the annual income limit of creamy layer in OBC reservation.

This information was given by the Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment, Shri Krishan Pal Gurjar in a written reply to a question in Rajya Sabha here today.

Source: PIB

Aspirations of Pensioners regarding National Budget for 2015-16-Bharat Pensioners Samaj

Aspirations of Pensioners regarding National Budget for 2015-16-Bharat Pensioners Samaj

No BPS/SG/FM/014/1 Dated
01.12.2014
Hon’ble Shri Arun Jaitley ji,
Union Minister of Finance, Govt. of India,
134 North Block, New Delhi – 110001

Respected Sir,

Subject: Aspirations of Pensioners regarding National Budget for 2015-16

With hearty seasons’ Greetings, Bharat Pensioners Samaj, the largest representative Federation of Pensioners’ in the country, wish to place before you, the following aspirations of Pensioners’ in respect of the ensuing Union Budget.

Sir, Pensioners financial problems largely arise because most of us are products of the low cost economy era in our Country when Salaries and hence the pension and savings were meagre compared to present levels. Now even surviving with the dwindling returns on the already meagre savings/Pension and galloping inflation has become a challenge. Moreover, most of us suffer with age related health problems and health care has become so costly that we can hardly afford it, more so as the Govt, health schemes for retirees are grossly inadequate with limited coverage area. These are two situations on which we have no control.

Therefore, to merely survive in the present high cost economy we have to ask for some financial concessions and we earnestly request you to please consider these favourably.

1. Provide Rs500000/-basic Income Tax exemption to Sr. Citizens: Bharat Pensioners Samaj submits that for & up to F.Y.2004-2005 Sr. Citizen were getting, concession in income tax payable (under Section 88B) to the tune of Rs. 20000/-, as compared to other citizens with similar taxable income. In 2005-2006 this was changed, basic exemption for citizens was raised to Rs 100000/-& that for Sr Citizens it was made 185000/- This resulted in actual Tax relief of Rs 12000/- instead of Rs 20000/-. Thereafter it has been progressively reduced to just Rs5000/- further hitting hard the poor pensioners, the standard deduction was withdrawn through finance bill 2006.

Sir, Right from its inception, the basic I. tax exemption is related to cost of living. Where as in comparison to the year 2004-05 cost of food items have gone up by more than 6 times & that of health care has gone up more than 10times. I. Tax exemption in terms of Tax payable for 60+ Pensioners has gone down. In view of the facts quoted Bharat Pensioners Samaj appeal to Govt. of India to provide Rs 500000/-(five lac) basic Income Tax exemption to 60+Sr. Citizens/Pensioners and to Rs 800000/- for 80+ very / Sr. Citizen and that the standard deduction be restored for salaried class.

2. PENSION TO BE NET OF INCOME TAX: Purchase value of pension gets reduced day by day due to unbearable inflation and high rise in food items and cost of medical facilities. Retired persons/Sr Citizens do not enjoy fully, Public Goods and Services provided by Government for citizens, due to immobility and many other factors. Their ability to pay Tax gets reduced from year to year after retirement due to, ever increasing expenditure on food & medicines. Their net worth at year end gets reduced considerably as compared to the beginning of the year. Inflation, for a pensioner is much more than any Tax. It erodes the major part of already inadequate pension.

To enable pensioners, at the fag end of their lives, to live honourably Y to cater for ever rising cost of living, they be spare from paying Income Tax. Keeping in view the recommendation of 5th CPC vide their Para 167.11 Pension upto 500000/-(5lac) per-annum, should therefore, be paid net of income tax.

3. Tax deduction at source [TDS]: It is a fact that Sr. Citizens are often put to lot of mental stress and confusion as they are required to approach often repeatedly Income Tax offices for refund of Tax deducted at source despite their furnishing 15 “H” Form to the concerned authorities/Banks who still deducts TDS through inadvertence and oversight. It is therefore, that Senior Citizens Community may be excluded from the purview of TAX Deduction at Source. Under such arrangement, the taxpaying Sr. Citizens would obviously include the interest amount in their taxable incomes.

4 Raise Deposit Insurance Credit Guarantee to Rs.5.00 lakhs in case of Sr. Citizens: The pro-visions of Deposit Insurance Credit Guarantee Corporation may be suitably amended as ceiling for Rs. 1.00 laks is, long overdue for enhancement. It is suggested that the ceiling be raised to Rs.5.00 Lakhs per account in case of Sr citizens. The mechanism and procedure layout is stretched to a period of 2 to 3 years for payment of insurance settlement of balance amount as eligible in respect of failed financial institutions. For Senior Citizens, such a period is mentally harassing. To save them from such eventualities, it is suggested to provide that the affected St. Citizens, Orphans, Destitute, Widow etc. Would be paid forth with fifty percent of the balance amount or insurance amount whichever is more without waiting for the procedures or formalities to be fulfilled. Such provisions would ensure due protection to Sr. Citizens and would save them from mental uneasiness and anxieties arising out of inconvenience and fear of saving being blocked in the concerned financial institutions.

Sir, we have placed before you in brief out major financial aspirations. Considering the increasing span of life and limited resources at the disposal of Senior. Citizens/Pensioners, we feel confident that you will positively consider to translate the above aspirations into reality.

Sir, it is observed that before the Budget you arrange meetings with different sections of society to hear their views. We shall be thankful if you would consider us similarly so that there would be meaningful interaction to understand one another with relevant perspectives. We ardently look forward to your communication.

With Blessings from Elderly Community and regards

Yours faithfully,

S.C.Maheswari
Secretary General BPS

Source: http://scm-bps.blogspot.in/

INDEFINITE STRIKE FROM 6TH MAY 2015- MASSIVE PARLIAMENT MARCH BY POSTAL JCA ON 04-12-2014

INDEFINITE STRIKE FROM 6TH MAY 2015- MASSIVE PARLIAMENT MARCH BY POSTAL JCA ON 04-12-2014

..MORE THAN 15000 POSTAL & RMS EMPLOYEES INCLUDING GRAMIN DAK SEWAKS & CASUAL, PART TIME, CONTINGENT EMPLOYEES TAKEN PART..
About 15000 Postal Employees marched to Parliament today under the banner of Postal Joint Council of Action (NFPE, FNPO, AIPEU-GDS (NFPE) & NUGDS). Employees from all the 22 circles participated in the historic march with colorful banners, flags and caps shouting slogans against the negative attitude of the Government towards the demands of the Postal Employees. Grant of Civil Servant Status to Gramin Dak Sevaks and inclusion in 7th CPC, Merger of DA and grant of interim relief to all employees, scrap new pension scheme, Revision of wages of casual, Part-time contingent employees, implementation of cadre Restructuring committee report, settle 39 point charter of demands are the main demands raised in the Parliament March.

The rally was inaugurated by Com. A. K. Padmanabhan, All India President, CITU. Shri. M. Raghavaiyya (General Secretary, NFIR & Leader JCM National Council). Com. Shiv Gopal Mishra (General Secretary, AIRF & Secretary JCM National Council), Com. S. K. Vyas, Advisor, Confederation, Com. M. Krishnan (Ex-Secretary General, NFPE & Secretary General, Confederation of Central Government Employees & Workers) Com. R. N. Parashar (Secretary General, NFPE) Shri D. Theagarajan (Secretary General, FNPO), Com. M. S. Raja (Secretary General, Audit & Accounts Employees Association), Com. Vrigu Bhattacharjee (Secretary General, Civil Accounts Employees Association), Com. K. Raghavendran (Ex-Secretary General, NFPE) addressed the rally. Com. Girirraj Singh (President, NFPE) Com. T. N. Rahate (President, FNPO) presided. General Secretaries of all affiliated unions/Associations of NFPE, FNPO and General Secretaries of AIPEU-GDs (NFPE), NUGDS have lead the March to Parliament. Postal Joint Council of Action declared nationwide indefinite strike from 6th May 2015. If the Government is not ready to settle the demands before that date. The date of the strike was fixed as 6th May, taking into consideration the fact that the JCM National Council National Convention to be held on 11th December will be declaring series of agitational programmes during the month of February, March and April 2015.
Source: http://confederationhq.blogspot.in/2014/12/massive-parliament-march-by-postal-jca.html

Accreditation Certificate for Clinical Laboratories

Accreditation Certificate for Clinical Laboratories

Health is a State subject. Accreditation of clinical laboratories is undertaken by the National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories (NABL) under the Department of Science and Technology. The compliance of requirements under ISO 15189 is used as the criteria for such accreditation by the NABL.

Accreditation of hospitals/laboratories provides a sense of assurance about the availability of quality healthcare service from the accredited institutions.

The information is not maintained by the Central Government.

Health is a State subject. The Central Government has been persuading the State Governments to adopt Clinical Establishments (Registration and Regulation) Act, 2010 under which minimum standards for facilities and services, health personnel, and records & reports, have been drafted and placed in public domain.

The Health Minister, Shri J P Nadda stated this in a written reply in the Lok Sabha here today.

Source: http://90paisa.blogspot.in/2014/12/accreditation-certificate-for-clinical.html