Central Government Allows 5% of PF Funds to be Invested in Share Market

Central Government Allows 5% of PF Funds to be Invested in Share Market
 
The Central Government has allowed investing up to 5% of the Provident Fund capital in the stock market. As a result, Rs.5000 crore is expected to be released for investment this financial year. A circular from the Ministry of Labour has confirmed that 5% of the PF amount has been sanctioned for investing in the stock market.

The money will be invested in stock market based EDFs. Mr. Shankar Agarwal, the Secretary of Departmetn of Labour, said that announcements to this regard were made about two or three days ago. Rs.80,000 Crore was the total amount collected in the EPF in the financial year 2014-15. The amount is expected to cross Rs.1 lakh crore before the end of the current Financial Year. The number of persons qualified for EPF, and the amount raised, have increased after the salary limit was raised from Rs.6500 to Rs.15,000.

Agarwal has said that initially only 1% of the EPF reserve was going to be used for investments. This is going to be raised to 5% before the end of the financial year. The Ministry of Finance has suggested that between 5 to 15% of the funds can be invested in the markets. Agarwal added that since it was the first time, they are going to be very cautious and invest only 1% of the funds.

“The money is the sweat and blood of workers. We don’t want to carelessly invest it in the stock market. Hence, we have planned to invest only 5% of the money in the first stage,” he clarified.

He said that the plans are to invest only in EDFs. He added that no decision has been made about percentage of investment aimed at public sector companies. In the past, EPF, which has about 6 crore members, has been investing only in Central Government bonds.

Source: CG Staff News

DA Orders for CDA pattern employees of CPSEs governed by HPPC recommendation w.e.f 01.01.2015

DA Orders for CDA pattern employees of CPSEs governed by HPPC recommendation w.e.f 01.01.2015

G.I., Min. of HI & PE, Dep. of Pub. Enter., O.M.F.No.2(54)/08-DPE (WC)-GL-VII/15, dt, 17.4.2015

Subject: Payment of DA to the CDA pattern employees of CPSEs governed by HPPC recommendation w.e.f 01.01.2015.

The undersigned is directed to refer to Para No. 2 and Annexure-III to this Department’s O.M. dated 14.10.2008 wherein the rates of DA payable to the employees who are following CDA pattern pay scales had been indicated.

2. The DA payable to the employees may be enhanced from the existing rate of 107% to 113% with effect from 01.01.2015.

3. The payment of Dearness Allowance involving fractions of 50 paise and above may be rounded off to the next higher rupee and the fractions of less than 50 paise may be ignored.

4. These rates are applicable in the case of CDA employees whose pay have been revised with effect from 01.01.2006 as per DPE O.M. dated 14.10.2008.

5. All administrative Ministries/Department of Government of India are requested to bring the foregoing to the notice of the Central Public Sector Enterprises under their administrative control for action at their end.

Click to view in Hindi

Source : www.dpe.nic.in

10% Tax Proposed on PF Withdrawals

10% Tax Proposed on PF Withdrawals

The Employee Provident Fund Organization (EPFO) has decided to impose a tax of 10.3% on the amount withdrawn from the EPF within five years of starting the accounts.

EPF accounts have to be created in all the concerns that employ more than 20 workers, with salaries of Rs.6,500 and Rs.15,000 per month. 12% of their salaries are deducted and are deposited into the PF account each month. The company contributes an equal amount to the account. 10.3% tax shall henceforth be imposed if the employee retires within five years of starting the account, or if he quits his employment with one company and joins another company, or if he decides to reclaim the amount in the EPF account.

If the annual EPF payment exceeds Rs.30,000, he has to produce his PAN card number. If the employee doesn’t have a PAN card or if he fails to submit the PAN details, he will not be given the amount in the account. About 90% of the EPF scheme (or nearly 8.5 crore people) do not have PAN Card details.

Those who do not have PAN cards shall have to pay the maximum taxable percentage of 35% on the amount that is due to them. Those who are reclaiming their PF money after five years won’t have to pay any taxes.

Source: CGEN.in

DA Orders for Armed Forces Officers and Personnel Below Officer Rank including NCs(E) – 113% from January 2015

DA Orders for Armed Forces Officers and Personnel Below Officer Rank including NCs(E) – 113% from January 2015

G.I., Min. of Defence, O.M.F.No.1(2)/2004/D (Pay/Services), dated 16.4.2015

Subject: Payment of Dearness Allowance to Armed Forces Officers and Personnel Below Officer Rank including NCs(E) – Revised rates effective from 1st January, 2015.

Sir,

I am directed to refer to this Ministry’s letter No.1(2)/2004/ D (Pay/Services) dated 24th September 2014, on the subject cited above and to say that the President is pleased to decide that the Dearness Allowance payable to Armed Forces Officers and Personnel Below Officer Rank, including Non-Combatants (Enrolled), shall be enhanced from the existing rate of 107% to 113% with effect from 1st January, 2015.

2. The provisions contained in paras 2, 4 and 5 of this Ministry’s letter No. 1(2)/2004/D (Pay/Services) dated 25th September 2008 shall continue to be applicable while regulating Dearness Allowance under these orders.

3. The additional installment of DA payable under these orders shall be paid in cash to all Armed Forces Officers/ PBORs including NCs(E).

4. This letter issues with the concurrence of Finance Division of this Ministry vide their Dy. No. 145-PA dated 16th April, 2015 based on Ministry of Finance (Department of Expenditure) O.M. No.1/2/ 2015-E-II (B), dated 10th April, 2015.

Click to view in Hindi

Source: www.cgda.nic.in

Recommendations on Prevention of Corruption Bills

Recommendations on Prevention of Corruption Bills

The Department Related Parliamentary Standing Committee on Personnel, Public Grievances, Law and Justice presented its 69th Report on the Prevention of Corruption (Amendment) Bill, 2013 on 6th February, 2014.

The recommendations made in the aforesaid Report are under consideration of the Government. The Bill was introduced in the Rajya Sabha, in order to fill certain gaps in description and coverage of the offence of bribery so as to bring it in line with the current international practice and also to meet more effectively, the country’s obligations under United Nations Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC).

The said Bill, inter alia, proposes to address the supply side of corruption (punishment to bribe-giver), to protect honest public servants from vexatious prosecution for any bona fide omission or commission in the discharge of official duties and to lay down clear criteria & procedure for sanction of prosecution.

Having regard to the fact that the Bill contemplates an important paradigm shift in defining the offences relating to bribery, Government sought the views of the Law Commission of India on the proposals contained in the Bill. The Law Commission of India, in its 254th Report on the Bill, presented to the Government on 12th February, 2015, has suggested a number of significant improvements in the Bill which are also presently under consideration of the Government, with a view to moving necessary official amendments in the said Bill.
Government is keen to have the Bill passed by Parliament at the earliest. However, since the Bill will have to be considered and passed by both Houses of Parliament, it is not possible to indicate any timeframe for the purpose.

This was stated by the Minister of State for Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions and Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office, Dr. Jitendra Singh in a written reply to a question by Shri B. Sriramulu, Shri D.K. Suresh and Shri Anto Antony in the Lok Sabha today.

Source: PIB News

Minutes of PNM/AIRF meeting - discussion on left over items held on 20.02.2015

F.No.2014/E(LR)I/NM 1–9

Sub: PNM/AIRF meeting held on 12-13 December, 2014 – discussion on left over items held on 20.02.2015 in Committee Room, Rail Bhawan-Minutes thereof.

.........

The following officers and representatives of AIRF attended the meeting:

Official Side	AIRF
S/Shri/Smt. M. Akhtar, AM(Staff) Neera Khuntia, EDPC-II P.P. Sharma, EDE(G) K. Shankar, DE(P&A) D.V. Rao, DE(LL) Anuradha Singh, D(MPP) D. Mallik, DE/IR	S/Shri Rakhal Das Gupta, President Shiva Gopal Mishra, Genl. Secretary J.R. Bhosale Mukesh Galav N. Kanniah

EDPC-I

5/2006: Avenues of promotion of Senior Supervisor in Scale S-13 to S-14 Group ‘B’ (Gazetted) on railways.

Official stated that the matter has been referred to Ministry of Finance. However, as agreed in the Fast Track Meeting, this will also be discussed by EDPC with the concerned officer(s) of Ministry of Finance to explain to them once again that upgradation is different from pay revision.

 

16/2008: Assured Carrier Progression Scheme applicable to Motormen of BCT division of Western Railway.

Official Side advised that Western Railway vide Board’s letter dated 04.07.2014 was asked to furnish the factual position in the matter which is still awaited. Federation told that a reply has been sent by Western Railway a day before. It was agreed to connect and examine the same. However, copy of Board’s Letter 04.07.2014 will also be given to the Federation, as desired by them.

 

30/2008: Voluntary Retirement of Drivers and Gangmen.

It was explained that the demand of Federation that staff retiring in GP `1900/- and eligible in LARSGESS and whose ward is to be appointed in the GP `1800/- may also be allowed the same eligibility conditions prescribed for railway employees retiring in `1800/- (i.e. 20 years and age bracket of 50-57 years), has already been examined and it was decided by Board that as posts in GP `1900/- are Group ‘C’ posts, relaxing the eligibility conditions to 20 years from the existing 33 years qualifying service and age bracket of 55-57 years is not feasible of acceptance. However, the other demand of constituting the Assessment Committee in respect of GP `1900/- at Divisional level has already been accepted and necessary instructions in this regard have also been issued vide Board’s letter dated 03.01.2014.

However, Federation insisted for a review on the 1st issue raised.

 

6/2009: Extra Ordinary Leave in continuation with Maternity Leave taken without production of proper medical certificate.

The provisions on the issue i.e. ‘EOL in continuation with Maternity Leave without production of Medical Certificate-treatment of this period as qualifying service’ has been reiterated vide Board’s Letter dated 11.07.2014.

(Closed)

 

10/2009: Liberalization in the Safety Related Voluntary Retirement Scheme.

Necessary instructions issued vide Board letter dated 03.01.2014.

(Closed)

 

12/2009: Grant of PCO Allowance/Incentive Bonus to technical staff supporting shops/Sections (including CMT/C&M Lab.), Drawing/Design, I.T. Power Supply and Stores etc.) – in Railway Workshops and Production Units- Treating them as part of Inspection, Planning & Planning & Progress wings of PCO.

A separate meeting with AM/PU on this issue was held on 04.12.2014. Federation desired that follow up action be advised to them.

 

7/2010: Inclusion of left out categories of the staff working in Railway Hospitals of the Indian Railways for the purview of Hospital Patient Care Allowance.

Federation was advised that two more categories i.e. Physiotherapist and Dental Hygienist are being considered under the purview of HPCA in consultation with Health Directorate of Railway Board and the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare.

However, the Federation insisted that the other categories viz., cooks, Masalchis who are allowed HPCA under the orders of Health Ministry which is the nodal Ministry in the matter, may be allowed HPCA. Their demand was noted for examination.

 

9/2010: Grant of pay scales of `5000-8000 w.e.f. 01.01.1996 to the Sub-Overseer Mistry/ Supervisor(Works), now Jr. Engineer (Works).

Federation has been replied in the matter vide Board’s Letter dated 07.07.2014 to which no further reference has been received. Federation will get back, if necessary.

 

17/2010: Payment of Transport Allowance to the staff living in Ghaziabad (Northern Railway).

It was explained to the Federation that the matter has been consulted with Ministry of Finance who have clarified that the Railway employees posted at Ghaziabad, Faridabad, Gurgaon and Noida are entitled to Transport Allowance at the rates as applicable to ‘other places’.

 

However, the Federation brought out that this has been allowed in some other offices. It was agreed to connect such orders and examine the issue.

 

27/2010: Implementation of recommendations of VI CPC – Grant of Transport allowance to Railway employees.

This issue will be discussed by the Federation with Board (MS and FC).

 

3/2011: Revision of rates of Kilometreage Allowance and Allowance in lieu of Kilometreage (ALK).

The matter is being deliberated by a committee constituted.

 

4/2011: Placement of Pharmacists in the Entry GP of `4200(non-functional grade) on completion of two years service in GP `2800 as well as grant of three MACPs to the Pharmacist category on the Indian Railways.

Reference has been made to Ministry of Finance for waiving off the overpayment made on account of erroneous grant of financial upgradation to Pharmacists. Reply from MOF is still awaited.

 

9/2011: Caretaking Allowance to Hostel Staff and merging of Caretaker posts with Ministerial Staff.

A detailed proposal for merger of caretaking staff with ministerial staff was called from IRISET which has since been received and the matter is under process.

 

10/2011: Grant of pay scale `5000–8000 (pre–revised)/ PB–II GP `4200 in new pay scales to Tower Wagon Drivers of Electrical Department.

Details regarding number of TWDs, their qualifications, scale of pay, method of selection etc. have been obtained from the Zonal Railways and the same is under examination.

 

13/2011: Grant of LAP, LHAP and Casual Leave to paramedical staff engaged to work in Railway Hospitals etc. on contract basis.

Official Side mentioned that para medical staff engaged to work on contract basis in Railway Hospital etc. are not treated as railway servants. As such they cannot be brought under the purview of leave provisions applicable to railway servants.

Federation stated that of late contract labour has been introduced in the railways and they are to be treated at par with casual labour. Federation also drew attention to Court orders on the issue of casual labour.

 

30/2011: Issue of PPOs and making entry of payment of Medical Allowance to Pensioners/ Family Pensioners.

Division - wise status of implementation of Board’s instructions dated 02.11.2012 on the issue of grant of FMA to railway pensioners has been reiterated on 08.12.2014. However, if the Federation has any specific instance of non payment by any bank, that can be taken up separately with concerned bank.

 

8/2012: Extension of second chance in the matter of Aptitude Test under LARSGESS Scheme.

Discussed.

 

18/2012: Payment of Breakdown Overtime Allowance to Mechanical Supervisors(C&W) – Mechanical Department.

Federation insisted that the demand may be considered in the light of instructions issued vide Board’s letter No.E(P&A)II -98/BDA-1 dated 25.05.1999. It was agreed to examine the matter.

 

32/2012: (A) Wrong implementation of MACP Scheme in IT Cadre.(B) Granting of financial benefit under MACP Scheme to EDP Staff.

Official Side stated that a separate meeting was held on this issue on 24.07.2013 wherein it was agreed that the Federation will provide further input after gathering information in respect of IT cadre of other Ministries. However, no input has been received from the Federation so far. Further, Federation requested for inclusion of this issue in the list of items to be discussed with MS & FC.

 

38/2012: Extension of scope of LARSGESS.

Federation insisted that the suffix ‘working on track’ in Board’s letter dated 24.03.2014 should be done away with because the same employee who has been covered under this scheme may be working at different places at different point of time and may not always be working on the track. It was agreed to examine the demand in consultation with Establishment Directorate.

 

40/2012: Earmarking of posts for promotion of Non-Appendix 3 IREM Qualified Accounts Assistants in the merged cadre of Sr. SO(A/Cs) and SO(A/Cs).

Federation requested for a meeting with Adviser (Accounts).

46/2012: (A) Payment of Running Allowance to medically de-categorised Running Staff kept on supernumerary posts.(B) Fixation of pay of medically de-categorized Running Staff while kept on supernumerary posts- Grant of benefits of Running Allowance.

Federation stated that they will reply to Board’s letter dated 12.09.2014. The demand is to be re-examined thereafter.

15/2013: (A) Proper implementation of LARSGESS in case of the candidates declared unsuitable in PET in 2010 Cycle.

(B) Minimum educational qualification for appointment under LARSGESS – Case of the wards of railway employees opted for LARSGESS in the year 2010.

(D) Alternative appointment to the wards of the railway employees under LARSGESS who failed to qualify the prescribed medical examination

Position explained to the Federation. However, Federation demanded that nonMatriculate wards should be given employment in 1S (`1300) and after six month training, they may be placed in GP `1800, which is to be examined.

23/2013: Denial of appointment under LARSGESS to the wards of railway employees working in Safety Categories.

Discussed.

(Closed)

24/2013: Payment of Special Allowance to Traffic Gatemen deployed to work on Level Crossing Gates.

The matter is under process. However, the Federation demanded that it should be done as in the case of Engg. Gates.

28-B/2013: Provision of Child Care Leave for women employees.

It was brought out by the official side that stipulation for making arrangement for leave reserve has not been laid down in the provisions on CCL by DOP&T. As such, this Ministry cannot unilaterally alter or modify the existing provisions.

However, AIRF insisted that Indian Railway being operating and industrial department the Railway Board should review and decision should be taken to facilitate women employee for forwarding them hassle free CCL .

29/2013: Stepping up of pay to Loco Running Supervisors promoted prior to 01.01.2006, viz-à-viz their juniors promoted after 01.01.2006.

Official Side stated that the matter is subjudice and is also being deliberated in Fast Track Committee. Federation demanded that recovery may be pended till the matter is finalised.

13/2014: Fixation of pay in case of financial upgradation under MACPS.

Official Side explained that while granting financial upgradation under MACP Scheme and fixation of pay in context thereof involves financial implications, it is logical that the concurrence of Associate Finance be obtained as per principles of financial propriety.

15/2014: MACP Scheme for Railway Servants – Treatment of employees selected under LDCE/GDCE Scheme – Clarification reg.

Position was explained to the Federation bringing out why the demand cannot be agreed to. However, on their insistence it was agreed to re-examine the matter.

ED(T&MPP)

1/2012: Revised Training Modules for Supervisors of Mechanical Engineering Department.

Instructions have been issued to Zonal Railways/Pus vide Board’s Letter No.E(MPP)2009/3/10 dated 28.02.2013. As regards Promotee Supervisors, instructions have been issued to Zonal Railways vide Board’s Letter No.E(MPP)2009/3/22 dated 26.09.2014.

EDE(G)

29/2011: Retention of railway quarter in favour of totally medically incapacitated railway employees.

Paper put up to Board through Finance.

47/2012: Retention of Railway accommodation at the previous place of posting in case of staff posted in newly formed Divisions.

Necessary instructions have already been issued vide Board’s Letter No.E(G)2007 QR1-5 dated 05.09.2014.

(Closed)

EDE(G)/DE(W)

21/2010: Revision in the Dress Regulations – 2004.

Discussed with both the Federations (AIRF and NFIR) and matter is under finalisation.

 

19/2011: Raising of upper age limit in case of entitlement of Privilege Passes/PTOs for dependent sons.

On the insistence of the Federation, it was agreed to review the matter and file to be put up to Member Staff.

7/2012: Implementation of various welfare schemes announced by the then Hon’bleMinister for Railway during her Rail Budget Speech.

Federation requested for details of action taken on the various recommendations as also a meeting with the Hon’ble MR before the Rail Budget. It was agreed to send them the position separately.

12/2012: Provision of Post Retirement Complimentary Passes in favour of widows of ex-railway employees.

&

1-A/2013: Provision of Post Retirement Complimentary Passes to the spouse/widow of deceased railway employees appointed on compassionate ground.

Official Side explained that the matter has been re-examined in consultation with Finance Dte. The request was, however, not considered feasible due to wider legal and administrative implications.

Federation requested for a separate meeting associating EDF(E).

28/2012: Sanction of Flood Relief Fund for the flood affected staff over the Indian Railways.

Managing Committee of Railway Minister’s Welfare & Relief Fund did not approve financial assistance for flood affected Railway employees residing Varanasi due to heavy rains in August, 2008 as the event/incident pertained to an earlier period and RMW&RF cannot be a source for reimbursement/refund for loss caused earlier. Furthermore, these floods were not declared as natural calamity by any appropriated authority.

No proposal has been received for financial assistance at Jaunpur and Mughalsarai.

Proposal for financial assistance at Ambala was not agreed to by SBF Calamity Relief Fund Committee.

Federation desired action taken in case of Vishakhapatnam calamity and J&K floods. Federation urged that fast action be taken in respect of these cases.

 

4/2013: Reduction in lower age limit of the pensioners/their widows from 65 to 60 years for entitlement of Companion in lieu of Attendant to 1st Class/1st A Class Post Retirement Complimentary Passes.

Discussed.

(Closed)

7/2014: Issue of Special Passes on medical ground in favour of two attendants in case of kid patient.

To be examined again.

10/2014: Provision of two sets of Post Retirement Complimentary Passes to retired railway employees working in GP `1800.

Official Side brought out that Finance Directorate has not agreed to the Federation’s demand. However, on their insistence, it was decided to put up the papers afresh to Member Staff.

11/2014: Entitlement of Passes to the widows as Dependent in the Passes issued to their wards – Enhancement of income limit for the same.

Position explained.

(Closed)

Source: http://www.indianrailways.gov.in/railwayboard/uploads/directorate/establishment/E%28LR%29/airf%20lo%2015-02-20.pdf

Amendment order to the Lokpal Removal of Difficulties Order, 2015

Amendment order to the Lokpal Removal of Difficulties order, 2015.

MINISTRY OF PERSONNEL PUBLIC GRIEVANCES AND PENSIONS

(Department of Personnel and Training)

ORDER

New Delhi, the 27th April, 2015

 

S.O. 1095(E) — Whereas the Central Government, in exercise of the powers conferred by sub-section (1) of Section 62 of the Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act, 2013 (1 of 2014) (hereinafter referred to as the said Act), made the Lokpal and Lokayuktas (Removal of Difficulties) Order, 2014 (hereinafter referred to as the said Order) with effect from the 15th February, 2014 for the purpose of carrying out modifications and amendments in all existing rules regulating the filing of property returns and making of declaration of assets by public servants so as to bring them in conformity with the provisions of the said Act, within a period not exceeding one hundred and eighty days from the date on which the provisions of the Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act, 2013 came into force, i.e., the 16th January, 2014;

 

And whereas, the Central Government initiated the process of modifications and amendments of all existing rules dealing with the subject matter of filing of annual returns and making of declaration of assets by public servants in consultation with various authorities, such as, the Comptroller and Auditor General of India, the Election Commission, the Lok Sabha Secretariat, the Rajya Sabha Secretariat, the Ministry of Law and Justice (Department of Legal Affairs Central Government amended the said Order on 8th September, 2014, extending the said period of two hundred and seventy days to a period of three hundred and sixty days for the purposes of section 44 of the said Act;

 

And whereas, the Committee constituted by the Central Government on 28th August, 2014 to simplify the forms and the process in which public servants shall make declaration of assets and liabilities as required under the said Act and the rules made thereunder, submitted its first Report to the Government on 1st October, 2014, wherein the Committee suggested simplification of form prescribed for submission of statement regarding movable assets and the form prescribed for submission of statement regarding debts and liabilities by public servants, under the aforesaid rules;

 

And whereas, the processing of necessary amendments to the aforesaid rules so as to incorporate the revised forms for filing statement regarding movable properties and the statement regarding debts and liabilities and the circulation of the revised formats, after their due notification in the Official Gazette, to all Ministries and Departments of the Central Government and the Chief Secretaries of all State Governments and Union territory administrations and the further process of follow-up action in terms of the said rules requiring all officers of the All India Services working in connection with the affairs of the State Governments and the officers and start working in various organisations and public sector undertakings under their control so as to ensure due compliance with the revised rules by all of them, could not be completed within the limit of three hundred and sixty days as contemplated in the principal order as amended by the order dated 8th September, 2014;

 

And whereas, the Central Government has decided to amend the Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act, 2013, to address various inconsistencies noticed in the said Act and, in that context, a need was also felt to amend the provisions of section 44 of the said Act so as to harmonise the provisions of the said section with the relevant provisions of the Representation of the People Act, 1951 and rules framed there under, the All India Services Act, 1951 and rules framed there under, the rules framed by the Central Government in pursuance of article 148 and article 309 of the Constitution and also various statutes setting up autonomous bodies and Public Sector Undertakings and the rules framed there under, and accordingly amended the said Order on 26th December, 2014, extending the said upto 30th April, 2015 for the purposes of section 44 of the said Act;

 

And whereas, the Lokpal and Lokayuktas and other related Law (Amendment) Bill, 2014 to amend the Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act, 2013, as introduced in the Lok Sabha on 18th December, stands referred to the Department related Standing Committee on Personnel, Public Grievances, Law and Justice for examination and Report;

 

And whereas the said Committee has held meetings on 8th January.2015, 3rd March, 2015, 8th April, 2015 and 15th April, 2015 with non-official stakeholders, where the Department of Personnel and Training was requested to attend and respond to the questions raised by Hon’ble Members, the detailed Questionnaires received from the Committee and also to the memoranda submitted by the various stakeholders to the Committee;

 

And whereas, the proposed amendments which include amendment to the provisions of section 44, the exercise of aligning the existing rules and other statutory provisions with the Lokpal Act cannot be given effect to till the Bill is passed by Parliament after taking into consideration the recommendations of the Parliamentary Standing Committee;

 

And whereas, any action in the matter of harmonisation of rules can be taken only after the Committee presents its report to Parliament, consideration thereof by the Government and passing of the aforesaid amendment Bill by Parliament and accordingly the enforcement of the provisions of the Act is likely to take time; and hence it has become necessary to extend the said period of eighteen months to a period of twenty-one months, and the Central Government has accordingly decided to extend the period after taking into account the aforesaid factors;

 

Now, therefore, in exercise of the powers conferred by sub-section (1) of section 62 of the Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act, 2013, the Central Government hereby makes the following amendment further to amend the Lokpal and Lokayuktas (Removal of Difficulties) Order, 2014, namely:—

 

In the said Order, in paragraph 2, in sub-paragraph (1), for the words “within a period not exceeding eighteen months”, the words “within a period not exceeding twenty-one months” shall be substituted.

 

[No. 407/12/2014-AVD-IV(B) I]

 

JISHNU BARUA, R. Secy.

 

Note.—The Lokpal and Lokayuktas (Removal of Difficulties) Order, 2014 was published in the Gazette of India, Extraordinary, vide notification number S.O. 409(E), dated the 15th February, 2014 and subsequently vide notifications number S.O. 1840(E) dated the 15th July, 2014, S.O. 2256(E) dated the 8th September, 2014 and S.O.

 

3272(E) dated the 26th December, 2014.

Source: www.persmin.nic.in

[http://ccis.nic.in/WriteReadData/CircularPortal/D2/D02ser/GSR-1095E-27042015.pdf]

Payment of Constant Attendance Allowance (CAA) on monthly basis with disability pension to Armed Forces personnel

Payment of Constant Attendance Allowance (CAA) on monthly basis with disability pension to Armed Forces personnel – Reg.

“Constant Attendance Allowance shall be paid on monthly basis during the period of award along, with disability or war injury pension as the case may be.”

No.I(2)/2013-D(Pen/Pol)
Government of India
Ministry of Defence
D(Pension/Policy)

New Delhi, Date: 27th April 2015

To
The Chief of Army Staff
The Chief of Naval Staff
The Chief of Air Staff

Subject: Payment of Constant Attendance Allowance (CAA) on monthly basis with disability pension to Armed Forces personnel – Reg.

Sir,

The undersigned is directed to state that as per Regulation 89 of Pension Regulation for the Army Part-l (Edn-2008) and equivalent provisions in Navy and Air Force Pension Regulations, payment of Constant Attendance Allowance is made in arrears twice in a year along with disability pension/ war injury pension on the basis of declaration/certificate submitted by the pensioner to his/ her pension disbursing agency (PDA) in May and November each year subject to fulfillment of other prescribed conditions.

2. Keeping in view of the hardships being faced by the disabled pensioners in claiming Constant Attendance Allowance. Government was reviewing the said provision from quite some time. In partial modification of above provision, the President is now pleased to decide that henceforth Constant Attendance Allowance shall be paid on monthly basis during the period of award along, with disability or war injury pension as the case may be.

3. Concerned Armed Forces Pensioners shall submit a declaration on the format enclosed as Annexure with this order to their pension disbursing agency at the time of initial payment of CAA and thereafter on annual basis at the time of his/her annual identification. During initial declaration pensioner shall state in item III of the Annexure that he/she will employ an attendant for the upcoming one year or up to the date for which CAA has been sanctioned whichever is earlier. During subsequent annual declarations pensioner would also complete item II of the Annexure providing a declaration for the period from the date of last declaration. Payment made against declaration under item III of Annexure shall be treated as provisional and would be final on submission of subsequent declaration under item II.

4. In case a pensioner drawing CAA becomes inpatient in any Government Hospital / Institution or is gainfully employed, he shall immediately report the matter to the FDA. Since, CAA is being paid, on the basis of annual declaration, any overpayment on account of CAA noticed with reference to the declaration quoted above, shall be adjusted from the monthly pension due to the pensioner.

5. All other team and conditions. for grant and payment of Constant Attendance Allowance which are not. affected by this order, shall remain unchanged. Pension Regulations of the three Services shall be amended in due course.

6. This issues with the concurrence of Finance division of this Ministry vide their ID. No. 10(08)/2014/Fin/Pen dated 09/04/2015.

Hindi version will follow.

Yours faithfully
sd/-
(Prem Prakash)
Under Secretary to the Government of India

Constant Attendance Allowance

Source: www.desw.gov.in

Public Servants (Furnishing of Information and Annual Return of Assets and Liabilities and the Limits for Exemption of Assets in Filing Returns) Rules, 2014

Public Servants (Furnishing of Information and Annual Return of Assets and Liabilities and the Limits for Exemption of Assets in Filing Returns) Amendment Rules, 2015:-

MINISTRY OF PERSONNEL PUBLIC GRIEVANCES AND PENSIONS
(Department of Personnel and Training)

NOTIFICATION

New Delhi, the 27th April, 2015

G.S.R. 322(E).— In exercise of the powers conferred by sub-section (1) read with clause (k) and clause (l) of sub-section (2) of section 59, read with section 44 and section 45 of the Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act, 2013 (1 of 2014), the Central Government hereby makes the following rules further to amend the Public Servants (Furnishing of Information and Annual Return of Assets and Liabilities and the Limits for Exemption of Assets in Filing Returns) Rules, 2014, namely:—

1. (1) These rules may be called the Public Servants (Furnishing of Information and Annual Return of Assets and Liabilities and the Limits for Exemption of Assets in Filing Returns) Amendment Rules, 2015.
(2) They shall come into force on the date of their publication in the Official Gazette.

2. In the Public Servants (Furnishing of Information and Annual Return of Assets and Liabilities and the Limits for Exemption of Assets in Filing Returns) Rules, 2014, in note 3, in the proviso to sub-rule (2), for the words “on or before the 30th day of April, 2015″, the words “on or before the 15th day of October, 2015″shall be substituted.

[F.No.407/12/2014-AVD-IV(B)]

JISHNU BARUA, R. Secy.

Note.— The principal rules were published in the Gazette of India, Extraordinary, vide notification number G.S.R. 501(E), dated the 14th July, 2014 and amended vide notification numbers G.S.R. 638(E), dated the 8th September, 2014 and G.S.R. 918(E), dated the 26th December, 2014.

Source: www.persmin.nic.in

Minimum pension of Rs. 1,000/- per month in perpetuity to Pensioners of Employees’ Pension Scheme, 1995

Minimum pension of Rs. 1,000/- per month in perpetuity to Pensioners of Employees’ Pension Scheme, 1995

The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today gave its approval for continuation of the minimum pension of Rs. 1,000/- per month to the pensioners of Employees’ Pension Scheme, 1995 (EPS) beyond the financial year 2014-15 on perpetual basis. Currently, it is effective only upto March, 2015. The Cabinet also approved corresponding grant of continuous annual budgetary support for implementing the minimum pension which will be to the tune of Rs. 850 crore per year on a tapering basis.

Providing a minimum pension of Rs. 1000/- per month is an effort to provide meaningful subsistence to pensioners who have served in the organized sector. The present proposal is likely to benefit approximately 20 lakh pensioners under EPS, 1995.

Background:

A large number of member pensioners under the EPS, 1995 receive low pensions which is not commensurate with the growing cost of living. The primary reason behind a meager pension is that it is calculated on the basis of pensionable service and average of last sixty months’ wages. If either of them is low, the pension amount will also be low. This is largely seen in cases of employees of seasonal industries. Further, pensioners who were earlier members of the erstwhile Family Pension Scheme, 1971 have been given past service benefits for determining pension as per Para 12 of the Employees’ Pension Scheme. This has resulted in fixation of low pension for these pensioners.

The Union Cabinet has in its meeting in February, 2014 accorded approval to the proposal for ensuring a minimum pension of Rs. 1,000/- per month for the pensioners of EPS for the financial year 2014-15 by way of providing budgetary support of Rs. 1217.03 crore. Based on the approval of the Union Cabinet, the Employees’ Pension Scheme, 1995 (EPS) was amended on 19.08.2014 to incorporate the provision for providing a minimum pension of Rs. 1,000/- per month for the financial year 2014-15.

After the issue of the Gazette Notification dated 19.08.2014 (with effect from 01-09-2014), the Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) has commenced disbursing the revised pension from the month of September, 2014. The number of pensioners who have been benefited by the minimum pension provision, which has been compiled from the actual disbursement of pension made by the offices of EPFO after the implementation of the notification, is according to the table below:

Month	Number of Pensioners affected	Amount as per original pension (Rs. Crore)	Amount paid after Minimum Pension Notification (Rs. Crore)	GOI support
September 2014	19,19,756	104.17	165.98	61.81
October 2014	19,32,515	104.14	166.99	62.84
November 2014	19,42,476	104.69	168.18	63.49
December 2014	19,47,750	106.73	170.68	63.95
January 2015	15,13,827	94.72	148.75	54.03
February 2015	16,80,533	103.00	160.15	57.15
March 2015	17,65,307	99.25	158.39	59.13

Source: PIB News

NATIONAL JOINT COUNCIL OF ACTION DECLARES NATIONWIDE INDEFINITE STRIKE FROM 23RD NOVEMBER 2015

MASSIVE AND IMPRESSIVE RALLY AND PARLIAMENT MARCH OF CENTRAL GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES – 28.04.2015

NATIONAL JOINT COUNCIL OF ACTION DECLARES NATIONWIDE INDEFINITE STRIKE FROM 23RD NOVEMBER 2015

PRESS STATEMENT

We send herewith a copy of the resolution adopted by the massive rally of the Central Government employees held today 28.4.2015 at Jantar Mantar. New Delhi declaring that if no settlement is brought about on the ten points charter of demands, the Central Government employees in all the De-departments of the Government of India will go on indefinite strike action from 23.11.2015.

The rally was held under the chairmanship of Shri M. Raghavaiah, General Secretary, National Federation of Indian Railwaymen. Shri Shiv Gopal Mishra convenor of the NJCA conducted the proceedings. The resolution was moved by Com. K.K.N. Kutty, President, Confederation of Central Government employees and workers, New Delhi. Besides, the Chairman and Convenor of the NJCA, the other who spoke at the rally include S/Shri Rakal Dasgupta, President, All India Railwaymen Federation, Guman Singh and Bhatnagar of the National Federation of Indian Railwaymen, Shri M. Krishnan, Secretary General, Confederation of Central Government employees and workers, R.N. Parashar, Secretary General, National Federation of Postal Employees, Shri D. Theagarjan, Federation of National Postal organisations, Shri Sreekumar and Pahak of All India Defence Employees Federation, Srinivasan of the Indian National Defence Workers Federation, Harbhajan Singh Sidhu, General Secretary, HMS and many others. It was decided that the Railway and Defence Federation will take the strike ballot in the month of October, 2015. More than a lakh of workers participated in the rally. The copies of the resolution were handed over to the honourable Speaker, Lok Sabha and the Honourable Prime Minister by a delegation of the National Joint Council of Action We shall be grateful for favour of coverage of the decision in your esteemed daily/Newspaper /weekly.

Thanking you,

Yours faithfully,

Shiv Gopal Mishra
Convenor

NATIONAL JOINT COUNCIL OF ACTION OF CENTRAL GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES
4, STATE ENTRY ROAD,
NEW DELHI

RESOLUTION ADOPTED AT THE MASSIVE RALLY AT JANTAR MANTAR (PARLIAMENT STREET) ON 28 APRIL 2015

The massive congregation of the representatives of Central Govt Employees who have come from various parts of the country held at Jantar Mantar before the Indian Parliament on 28-04-2015 decided to commence the indefinite strike action from 23rd November 2015 from 6 AM having failed to elicit any positive response from the Government in settlement of the 10 point Charter of Demands submitted months back. It was also decided that the Railways and Defence organizations will conduct the strike Ballot as per the provision of the Industrial Disputes Act and Recognition Rules before commencing the strike from 23-11-2015.

The massive gathering adopted the resolution unanimously exhorting the central Govt. Employees to prepare for the eventual strike action in all earnestness and make it a historic one.

The meeting congratulates the employees for forging exemplary unity and carrying out various programmes chalked out by the National Joint Council of Action (NJCA) after the national convention on 11th December 2014. Even though the Govt. was compelled to set up the 7th CPC on account of the sanctions generated through the action programmes, Govt. has refused to grant Interim Relief and merger of DA and excluded the Gramin Dak Sewaks of the Postal Department from the ambit of the 7th CPC.

It is a matter of regret that in spite of public admission of non-privatisation of Indian Railways by Prime Minister of India and assurance of Minister of Railways on various occasions, including Parliament, Dr. Deb Roy Committee had submitted a report which is a clear roadmap for privatisation of IR.

The meeting noted that the Government has purposely ensured the closure of Joint Consultative Machinery, the negotiating forum set up in 1966 for Central Government Employees to discuss and bring about settlement of their demands.
The meeting chaired by Secretary (Personnel) on 25th February 2015 did not bring about settlement on any single issue of the Charter of Demands.

The meeting unanimously decided to demand before the Government to convene the meeting of National Council, JCM immediately and settle the following charter of demands, if at all it wants to avoid confrontation with its own employees.

CHARTER OF DEMANDS:

1. Effect wage revision of the Central Government Employees from 01.01.2014, accepting the memorandum of the Staff Side JCM; ensure 5-year wage revision in future; grant Interim Relief and Merger of 100% of DA. Ensure submission of the 7th CPC report within the stipulated time frame of 18 months; include the Grameen Dak Sewaks within the ambit of the 7th CPC. Settle all anomalies of the 6th CPC.
2. No privatisation, PPP or FDI in Railways and Defence Establishments and no corporatisation of postal services.
3. No Ban on recruitment/creation of post.
4. Scrap PFRDA Act and re-introduce the defined benefit statutory pension scheme.
5. No outsourcing; contractorisation, privatisation of governmental functions; withdraw the proposed move to close down the Printing Presses; the publication, form store and stationery departments and Medical Stores Depots; regularise the existing daily rated/casual and contract workers and absorption of trained apprentices.
6. Revive the JCM functioning at all levels as an effective negotiating forum for settlement of the demands of the CGEs.
7. Remove the arbitrary ceiling on compassionate appointments.
8. No labour reforms which are inimical to the interest of the workers.
9. Remove the ceiling on payment of Bonus.
10. Ensure five promotions in the service career.

The meeting authorized the National JCA to take appropriate and necessary steps needed to make the indefinite strike beginning from 23rd November 2015 an unprecedented and grand success.

(Shiva Gopal Mishra)
Convenor
28.04.2015 National Joint Council of Action

Source: Confederation

FAQ on Children Education Allowance, OTA / NDA, Honorarium/Fee, Leave – Dopt Order April 2015

FAQ on Children Education Allowance, OTA / NDA, Honorarium/Fee, Leave – Dopt Order April 2015

G.I., Dep. of Pers. & Trg., O.M.No.I-11020/1/2014-Estt.(AL), dated 28.4.2015

Establishment (Allowance) Section
SI.No.	Question	Answer
Children Education Allowance
1.	Whether reimbursement of Children Education Allowance is admissible for the.
(a)	Nursery/LKG/UKG as there is no provision of recognition of these classes in most of the States/UTs;	Reimbursement is permissible only if the child is studying in a recognised educational institution.
(b)	Third child if either of the first two children is disabled to the extent that he/she cannot go to school;	Reimbursement is allowed to only the two eldest surviving children of the Government servant except when the 2nd child birth results in multiple births or the 3`d child is born due to failure of sterilization operation.
(c)	The children borne out of second marriage or the children of second wife/husband in additions to children from first marriage;	Reimbursement is allowed to only the two eldest surviving children of the Government servant.
(d)	Entitlement of number of Note Books.	Reimbursement is permissible for any number of note books as may be prescribed by the recognised educational institution.
OTA/NDA
2.	The reasons for not enhancing rates of OTA/NDA	The 5th and the 6th Central pay Commission did not recommend enhancement of rates of OTA/NDA.
Honorarium/Fee
3.	Whether honorarium is payable to the Chairperson/Members of the DPC and also such other Departmental Committees, viz., Committee on Sexual Harassments at work place, etc.?	In terms of the provisions of FR 46 (b), the Central Government may grant or permit a Government servant to receive an honorarium as remuneration for work performed which is occasional or intermittent in character and either so laborious or of such special merit as to justify a special reward. Except when special reasons, which should be  recorded in writing, exist for a departure from this provision, sanction to the grant or acceptance of an honorarium should not be given unless the work has been undertaken with the prior consent of the Central Government and its account has been settled in advance.Guidelines for payment of Honorarium under FR 46 (b) have already been laid down inter alia vide this Department’s OM No.17011/9/85- Estt. (AL), dated 23.12.1985 and OM No. 17020/1/91- Estt. (AL), dated 18.11 .1991. It has also been clarified that no honorarium should be granted for temporary increases in work.
4	Whether retention of “Fee” for delivering lectures in Government/private bodies is permissible?	As per para 6 of DoP&T’s O.M.No. I 6013/1/79-Estt.(AL) dated 11th February, 1980, payments received by Government servants as income from books, articles, papers and lectures on literary, cultural, artistic, technological and scientific subjects including management sciences; will not be subject to crediting one-third of the amount to the general revenues.
Establishment (Leave) Section:
5.	Whether male Government servant, who is single parent, can be allowed Child Care Leave?	No. CCL can be granted to female employees only.
6.	Whether Bond on Study Leave can be transferred from Central Government to State Government?	No. Bond executed by the Government servant while proceeding on study leave cannot be transferred on his/her appointment in State Government/PSU/Autonomous bodies.
7.	What is the limit of leave encashment while availing LTC by dependents or spouse within the same block year?	The Government Servants governed by the CSS (Leave) Rules, 1972 and entitled to avail LTC may en-cash earned leave up to 10 days at the time of availing both types of LTCs., i.e., `Hometown’ and `Anywhere in India’. However, when the one and the same LTC is being availed of by the Government Servant and his family members separately in a block year, encashment of leave would be restricted to one occasion only.

Click to view the original order issued by DoPT on 28.4.2015 regarding Children Education Allowance…

Authority: www.persmin.gov.in

Non-implementation of One Rank One Pension: Parlimentary panel slams government

Parlimentary panel slams govt for non-implementation of OROP in Armed forces

Taking the government to task on the issue of implementation of One Rank, One Pension (OROP) scheme for the personnel retiring from the Armed forces, a parliamentary panel today asked the Centre to work out an amicable solution “within stringent timeframe at the earliest”.

The Standing Committee on Defence, in its report submitted in the both Houses of Parliament, regretted that even after Prime Minister Narendra Modi had made a commitment and Finance Minister Arun Jaitley had provided Rs 1,000 crore in the General Budget, the OROP has not been implemented.

“It is beyond the understanding of the Committee as to what reasons are preventing the government from making necessary decisions and arriving at a solution,” the Committee wondered, adding that it was utmost important that requisite modalities were sorted out and an amicable solution brought with regard to OROP within stringent timeframe at the earliest.

The Committee asked the government to apprise it about the progress made in this regard.

Source: WebIndia123

Women Personnel in CAPF

Women Personnel in CAPF

Press Information Bureau
Government of India
Ministry of Home Affairs

28-April-2015 16:27 IST

Women Personnel in CAPF

In compliance of recommendations given by Parliamentary Committee on Empowerment of Women in its sixth report, directions have been issued to all CAPFs to bring percentage of women in the forces to 5%. To enhance the strength of women in CAPFs, Government is taking continuous steps. Some of these steps are as follows:-

• In the ongoing recruitment of Constables/General Duty, out of total vacancies of 62390, 8533 (about 14%) are earmarked for women.
• Government has approved recruitment of 2772 Mahila personnel (21 Companies) during the year 2014-15 to 2017-18 in Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB).
• Government has approved raising of 02 Mahila (women) Battalions in place of 02 General Duty Battalions in Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) to be raised in the year 2015-16 and 2016-17.

There is no proposal to increase the percentage of women personnel in CAPF upto 33 percent.
Women personnel of General Duty cadre in CAPFs are deployed for performing combat duties like:-

(i) Gate management, Checking and Frisking
(ii) Patrolling duties
(iii) Interrogation and escorting of female apprehendees
(iv) Law & Order duties
(v) Static guard duties at some of vital installations and also deployed during Shri Amarnathji Yatra
(vi) Also deployed in Maoist affected states for anti-naxal operations

This was stated by the Minister of State for Home Affairs, Shri Kiren Rijiju in a written reply to a question by Shri Ramdas C.Tadas, Dr. P.Venugopal, Shri Keshav Prasad Maurya and Shri Narasimham Thota in the Lok Sabha today.

Government to help pensioners for getting digital life certificates

Government to help pensioners for getting digital life certificates

New Delhi, Apr 28 (PTI) The National Informatics Centre (NIC) in various states have been asked to provide necessary technical support for starting enrollment of pensioners for getting digital life certificate to ensure hassle free disbursal of pension.

In order to spare the pensioners from the trouble of visiting banks for submission of life certificates annually, the Centre had in November last year launched an Aadhaar-based biometric verification system ‘Jeevan Pramaan’.

The system enables pensioners to submit the digital life certificate online to pension disbursing banks.

“NIC centres across various states and districts are being directed by the Department of Electronics and Information Technology to provide necessary technical support for starting enrolment of pensioners for digital life certificate,” the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions said in an order.

In view of the immense advantages of using Aadhaar numbers, pensioners’ associations are requested to disseminate information about Jeevan Pramaan amongst pensioners.

They have also been asked to collaborate in making it a success by facilitating registration of pensioners on Jeevan Pramaan portal using Aadhaar based authentication for organising enrolment activities, the order said.
With the help of the facility, which is in addition to the other already existing methods, it is possible to submit the life certificate from personal computers, laptops or mobile phones or by visiting a conveniently located branch of any bank or a common service centre, the Ministry said.

“A pensioner or family pensioner who wants to benefit from this facility needs to obtain an Aadhaar number and get it linked to his or her Pension Payment Order (PPO) number and pension account. This will also speed up commencement of family pension in the event of death of pensioner or spouse,” it said.
There are about 55 lakh central government pensioners.

PTI

Last date for Lokpal IPR returns extended to October 15

Last date for Lokpal IPR returns extended to October 15

New Delhi: The government has again extended the April 15 deadline for public servants to file declarations of their assets and liabilities under the Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act, 2013, to October 15.

Ahead of the deadline ending on April 30 and a mad rush among officials to fill up their asset returns online which has even slowed down the NIC server, the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) in Office Memorandum No.407/12/2014-AVD-IV(B) issued on Saturday said the deadline has now been extended to October 15, 2015.

This is the third extension given to officials to file the asset returns as per the Lokpal Act, they were originally supposed to file the same September 15, 2014 after the Lokpal rules were notified last year in July.

This means there will now be a delay of 13 months in the asset returns to reach the government, the Lokpal law though enacted in January 2014 has also not been operationalised as amendments to the bill are pending before a standing committee. “Expect the Lokpal Act Amendment bill only in the next parliament session,” a DoPT official said.

The declarations under the Lokpal Act are in addition to similar ones filed by the employees under various services rules. All Group A, B, and C employees are supposed to file a declaration under the new rules.

There are about 26,29, 913 employees in these three categories, as per the government’s latest data.

The existing form for filing this return has fields for mentioning details of cash in hand, bank deposits, investment in bonds, debentures, shares and units in companies or mutual funds, insurance policies, provident fund, personal loans and advance given to any person or entity, among others.

The employees need to declare motor vehicles, aircraft, yachts or ships, gold and silver jewellery and bullion possessed by them, their spouses and dependent children.

The DoPT has asked all central government ministries, departments and cadre controlling authorities to issue necessary order for their respective employees to ensure compliance of its order.

Government asks Central Public Sector Enterprises to comply with woman director norms

Government asks Central Public Sector Enterprises to comply with woman director norms

New Delhi: Central public sector enterprises (CPSEs) have been asked to appoint independent women directors on their boards to comply with norms, government told the Lok Sabha today.

The remarks by Minister for Heavy Industries and Public Enterprises Anant Geete came against the backdrop of many listed CPSEs failing to meet capital market regulator Sebi’s deadline for appointing at least one woman director on their boards.

Geete said his Ministry has asked all CPSEs to ensure appointment of non-governmental (or independent) women directors on their boards.

“The process for filling up the vacancies in these CPSEs has been initiated,” Geete said and assured that public sector undertaking would have required number of independent directors in the coming days.
He said appointment of all independent directors on the boards of CPSEs have been done on the basis of “merit”.

Companies should have complied with the norms, he said, adding special attention would be given to such matters in the future.

He was responding to a query that CPSEs were struggling to appoint women directors.

Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) had given a deadline till March 31 for listed companies to appoint at least one woman director on their boards but many entities, including CPSEs, failed to comply with the norms.

Under Companies Act, 2013, also firms are required to have women directors on their boards.
He said individuals having financial links with a public sector firm are not appointed on the board of that entity.

Meanwhile, 18 CPSEs, including Bharat Heavy Electricals Ltd and Cement Corporation of India, do not have requisite number of independent directors on their boards. These are entities that come under the administrative control of the Department of Heavy Industry.

While replying to a question related to NALCO, the Minister said that public sector companies are like family jewels and need to be preserved.

Responding to another query on loss-making CPSEs, Geete acknowledged that many such firms are sick and that ways are being looked on how long can they be supported by the government.

PTI

Shaheed not defined in defence or central forces: Government

Shaheed not defined in defence or central forces: Government

NEW DELHI: Government today informed the Parliament that the term ‘shaheed’ or martyr is not defined “anywhere” and there is no official order to accord the same to defence or paramilitary personnel.

“There have been demands for giving shaheed/martyr status to the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) and Assam Rifles (AR) personnel killed in action. In the meeting of Committee of Secretaries held on September 14, 2011, Ministry of Defence indicated that shaheed/martyr is not defined anywhere and presently they are not issuing any order/notification to this effect in respect of defence personnel.

“Similarly, no status of shaheed/martyr is given to the CAPF and Assam Rifles. However, their families/next of kin are given full family pension under the Liberalised Pensionary award rules and lump sum ex-gratia compensation of Rs 15 lakh as per rules in addition to other benefits admissible,” Minister of State for Home Kiren Rijiju said in a written reply in Lok Sabha.

The CAPFs like CRPF, BSF, ITBP, CISF, SSB and NSG have made representations to the Union Home Ministry that ‘shaheed’ salutation is being demanded by the personnel of these forces.

The Central Reserve Police Force, last year, had, however, issued in-house orders making it mandatory to use ‘shaheed’ before the name of a martyred personnel and in all communications vis-a-vis its slain men and women.

Source: EOT

Dearness Relief (DR) Orders for Central Government Pensioners from Jan 2015

Grant of Dearness Relief to Central Government pensioners/family pensioners – Revised rate effective from 1.1.2015.

F.No.42/10/2014-P&PW(G)
Government of India
Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions
Department of Pension & Pensioners’ Welfare

3rd Floor, Lok Nayak Bhavan,
Khan Market, New Delhi – 110003
Date: 27th April, 2015

OFFICE MEMORANDUM

Subject : Grant of Dearness Relief to Central Government pensioners/family pensioners — Revised rate effective from 1.1.2015.

The undersigned is directed to refer to this Department’s OM No. 42/10/2014- P&PW(G) dated 29th September, 2014 on the subject mentioned above and to state that the President is pleased to decide that the Dearness Relief (DR) payable to Central Government pensioners/family pensioners shall be enhanced from the existing rate of 107% to 113% w.e.f. 1st January, 2015.

2. These orders apply to (i) All Civilian Central Government Pensioners/Family Pensioners (ii) The Armed Forces Pensioners, Civilian Pensioners paid out of the Defence Service Estimates,

(iii) All India Service Pensioners (iv) Railway Pensioners and (v) The Burma Civilian pensioners/family pensioners and pensioners/families of displaced Government pensioners from Pakistan, who are Indian Nationals but receiving pension on behalf of Government of Pakistan and are in receipt of ad-hoc ex-gratia allowance of Rs. 3500/- p.m. in terms of this Department’s OM No. 2311/97-P&PW(B) dated 23.2.1998 read with this Department’s OM No. 23/3/2008- P&PW(B) dated 15.9.2008.

3. Central Government Employees who had drawn lump sum amount on absorption in a PSU/Autonomous body and have become eligible to restoration of 1/3rd commuted portion of pension as well as revision of the restored amount in terms of this Department’s OM No. 4/59/97-P&PW (0) dated 14.07.1998 will also be entitled to the payment of DR @ 113% w.e.f. 1.1.2015 on full pension i.e. the revised pension which the absorbed employee would have received on the date of restoration had he not drawn lump sum payment on absorption and Dearness Pension subject to fulfillment of the conditions laid down in para 5 of the 0.M. dated 14.07.98. In this connection, instructions contained in this Department’s OM No.4/29/99-P&PW (D) dated. 12.7.2000 refer.

4. Payment of DR involving a fraction of a rupee shall be rounded off to the next higher rupee.

5. Other provisions governing grant of DR in respect of employed family pensioners and re-employed Central Government Pensioners will be regulated in accordance with the provisions contained in this Department’s OM No. 45/73/97-P&PW (G) dated 2.7.1999 as amended vide this Department’s OM No. F. No. 38/88/2008-P&PW(G) dated 9th July, 2009. The provisions relating to regulation of DR where a pensioner is in receipt of more than one pension will remain unchanged.

6. In the case of retired Judges of the Supreme Court and High Courts, necessary orders will be issued by the Department of Justice separately.

7. It will be the responsibility of the pension disbursing authorities, including the nationalized banks, etc. to calculate the quantum of DR payable in each individual case.

8. The offices of Accountant General and authorised Pension Disbursing Banks are requested to arrange payment of relief to pensioners etc. on the basis of these instructions without waiting for any further instructions from the Comptroller and Auditor General of India and the Reserve Bank of India in view of letter No. 528-TA, 11/34-80-11dated 23/04/1981 of the Comptroller and Auditor General of India addressed to all Accountant Generals and Reserve Bank of India Circular No. GANB No. 2958/GA-64 (ii) (CGL)/81 dated the 21st May, 1981 addressed to State Bank of India and its subsidiaries and all Nationalised Banks.

9. In their application to the pensioners/family pensioners belonging to Indian Audit and Accounts Department, these orders issue after consultation with the C&AG.

10. This issues with the concurrence of Ministry of Finance, Department of Expenditure conveyed vide their ID No. 1(4)/E.V/2004 dated 24thApril, 2015.

11. Hindi version will follow.

(D.K.Solanki)
Under Secretary to the Government of India

Source: http://pensionersportal.gov.in/

BPMS proposed general pay scale submissed to 7th Pay Commission

BPMS proposed general pay scale submissed to 7th Pay Commission

Proposed General Pay Structure

BPMS proposed the following revised pay structure on the basis of logic as follows:

On the recommendation of Sixth CPC various pay scales of erstwhile Group ‘D’ & Group ‘B’ employees were merged and upgraded but none of the pay scales of Group ‘C’ were merged and upgraded. Hence, we demand that there should be only 03 grade pay each in PB-1 & PB-2 by merging/upgrading
as under:-

Rs. 1900 & Rs. 2000 Merged & Upgraded to Rs. 2400

Rs. 2400 & Rs. 2800 Merged to Rs. 2800

Rs. 4600 & Rs. 4800 Merged to Rs. 4800

The minimum-maximum ratio has been fixed at 1:7

Only Three Pay Bands have been proposed since consequent upon abolition of Group “D” Posts, there now remains only 3 Groups viz : C, B, and A. PB-I is for Group “C”, PB-II is for Group “B” and PB-III is for Group “A”.

A large span has been kept in PB-III to ensure financial movement to HAG slot of Officers who otherwise do not find promotional space in the slot.

Source: BPMS

Merger of DA, demand scrapping of NPS for Central Government Employees to march Parliament on 28th April

Merger of DA, demand scrapping of NPS for Central employees to march Parliament on 28th April

Central employees to march Parliament on 28th, demand scrapping of NPS, merger of DA

Central Government employees have decided to hold a demonstration near Parliament on April 28 for bringing to notice their long-pending demands such as scrapping of the new pension scheme, merger of dearness allowance, and putting a stop to outsourcing, among others.

According to a release, the demonstration would press the long-pending demands of Central Government employees including scrapping the New Pension Scheme (NPS), merger of dearness allowance (DA) in Pay, redressal of pending anomalies of the Sixth Central Pay Commission, interim relief, scrapping foreign direct investment, and public private partnership schemes, filling of vacancies, stopping outsourcing, enhancement of the limit of bonus, and on the other side various amendments in labour laws, among others.

On the call of the National Joint Council of Action (NJCA), the Convener of NCJCA Shiva Gopal Mishra said in a release various associations will participate in the demonstration including the All-India Railway Men’s Federation, the National Federation of Indian Railwaymen, the All-India Defence Employees’ Federation, the Indian National Defence Workers’ Federation, the National Federation of Postal Employees’ Federation, the Federation of National Postal Organisation, and the Confederation of Central Government Employees. Besides, some state employees will also participate in the demonstration.

Mishra further said if the Government does not take the “united movement seriously” to resolve the issues, they would be forced to take precipitate action for which the Centre would be responsible.

Source: paycommissionupdate.blogspot.in

Para Military Service Pay to Central Armed Police Force at par with Army has been referred to the 7th Pay Commission

Para Military Service Pay to Central Armed Police Force at par with Army has been referred to the 7th Pay Commission

Special Pay for Paramilitary Personnel at PAR with Army

As informed by Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) and Assam Rifles (AR), the detail of strength of CAPFs and AR is as under:

A proposal for grant of Para Military Service Pay (PMSP) to Central Armed Police Force personnel at par with Army personnel has been referred to the 7th Central Pay Commission vide MHA O.M. dated 05.11.2014. The rate of Para Military Service Pay requested is @ Rs. 2,000/- per month to Personnel Below Officer Rank (PBOR) and Rs.6,000/- per month to officers upto Dy. Inspector General of Police rank, based on the rates of Military Service Pay. State Armed Police Forces are under the administrative control of State Governments. As such, present proposal does not include State Armed Police Forces.

This was stated by the Minister of State for Home Affairs, Shri Kiren Rijiju in a written reply to Shri A.U. Singh Deo in the Rajya Sabha today.

Grant of Night Duty Allowance on the basis of Actual Salary – Implementation of Courts Judgements – BPMS

Grant of Night Duty Allowance on the basis of Actual Salary – Implementation of Courts Judgements – BPMS

BHARATIYA PRATIRAKSH MAZDOOR SANGH
(AN ALL INDIA FEDERATION OF DEFENCE WORKERS)

REF: BPMS / MOD / NDA / 200 (8/2/L)

Dated: 24.04.2015

To,
Shri R K Mathur,
Secretary, Department of Defence,
Min of Defence, Govt of India,
South Block, New Delhi – 110011

Shri G Mohan Kumar,
Secretary, Department of Defence Production,
Govt of India, Min of Defence,
South Block, New Delhi – 110011

Ms. Vandana Srivastava,
Financial Adviser (Defence Services),
Govt of India, Min of Defence,
South Block, New Delhi – 110011

Subject: Prior Intimation for Contempt Petition: Grant of Night Duty Allowance on the basis of Actual Salary – Implementation of Courts Judgements.

Respected Sir / Madam,

With due regards, it is submitted that the issue of payment of Night Duty Allowance based on actual salary instead of notional pay of Rs.2200/- was under consideration in the Ministry of Defence consequent of Courts judgments. Hon’ble CAT Jodhpur has already passed the following directions in OA No 34/2008 dated 5.11.2009:

(i) The Night Duty Allowance shall be paid to the applicants and the similarly situated persons on the basis of the actual salary after taking out the pay
structure determinants like HRA etc., which have no actual relation to the work performed and on the basis of this pay, thus arrived at, Night Duty Allowance is payable to the applicants.

(ii) The applicants are entitled to such arrears as is applicable to them from April 2007 on the basis of actual pay thus arrived at without any interest if the amount is calculated and arrears paid to them from six months from the date of receipt of a copy of this order and thereafter with 6% interest.

(iii) The O.A is allowed to the extent as aforesaid. No order as to costs It is learnt that vide I.D. No. 17(4)/2012/D (Civ-II), dated 04.01.2013 MOD had asked for some data from all the Dtes/Hqrs and since then the matter was pending. Meanwhile, O.A. No. 2017/2014 was filed in CAT Mumbai on 17th January, 2014 as ‘All Employees of Ordnance Factory Ambajhari, Nagpur (1598 applicants) versus Union of India through Secretary, Min of Defence’ for payment of Night Duty Allowance on the basis of actual salary. The O.A. was disposed of at the admission stage with the directive to consider the said representations of the applicants in the light of the judgement passed by Jodhpur within 12 weeks. Aggrieved by the non-compliance of the above directive, Contempt Petition (CP No.200/2014 Shri Arvind Girija Singh & Ors versus UOI & Ors.) was filed and the subject CP was heard on 23.02.2015 and after hearing both sides Hon’ble CAT Mumbai disposed of the contempt petition with an order to grant night duty allowance as per revised rate within 03 months from the date of receiving the order.

As the period granted by the Hon’ble CAT is going to expire on 23.05.2015, all the concerned authorities are requested to take appropriate action so that Night Duty Allowance may be paid on the actual salary as per CAT directive to the petitioners as well as nonpetitioner, failing which by this federation BPMS will be compelled to file Contempt Petition.
Thanking you.

Sincerely yours

(M. P. SINGH)
General Secretary

Copy to:
Shri Nripendra Mishra,
Principal Secretary to Prime Minister of India
Prime Minister office,
152, South Block, New Delhi – 110011

– With due regards, to bring to your kind notice that due to lethargic attitude of the concerned authorities thousands of Central Government Civilian

employees are being compelled to approach the judicial forums to redress the service matters whereas the courts are already overloaded and several lakhs of litigants are waiting for judgment for decades.

Ironically, with the approval of Additional Secretary (R), vide MOD ID No. 18 (2)/2014-D(JCM), dated 09.12.2014, all the concerned have been directed that wherever feasible, the grievances of the similarly placed employees about service matters shall be resolved through administrative channels which would help in reducing unnecessary litigation as well as resentment amongst employees.

Source: BPMS

Reserved Defence Seats in Medical / Dental Colleges – Kendriya Sainik Board

Reserved Defence Seats in Medical / Dental Colleges – Kendriya Sainik Board

KSB has invited applications in the prescribed form for admission to Medical Colleges (approx 25 to 27 seats) and Dental College (One seat) {subject to allotment of seats by Ministry of Health}, from sons/daughters/widows of Armed Forces Personnel of the following categories of Defence personnel only

RESERVED DEFENCE SEATS IN MEDICAL/DENTAL COLLEGES AS GOVERNMENT OF INDIA NOMINEE UNDER MINISTRY OF DEFENCE QUOTA

1. Applications are invited in the prescribed form for admission to Medical Colleges (approx 25 to 27 seats) and Dental College (One seat) {subject to allotment of seats by Ministry of Health}, from sons/daughters/widows of Armed Forces Personnel of the following categories of Defence personnel only, as per priority shown against each:-

---

Parangat: Course to make Central Government personnel proficient to carry out their official work in Hindi

Implementation of new practice based ‘Parangat’ course to make Central Government personnel proficient to carry out their official work in Hindi regarding:-

File No. 12012/03/2015- OL(Policy)

Government of India

Ministry of Home Affairs

Department Official Language

NDCC-II Building, 'B' Wing

4th Floor, Jai Singh Road

New Delhi - 110001

Dated 22 April, 2015

Office Memorandum

Subject: Implementation of new practice based ‘Parangat’ course to make Central Government personnel proficient to carry out their official work in Hindi regarding.

In compliance to the Presidential orders issued under the recommendation No. 16.7( a) of the Seventh Report of the Committee of Parliament on Official Language, a decision has been taken to implement a new practice based ‘Parangat’ course for all the personnel of the Ministries / Departments, their attached & subordinate offices, Public Sector undertakings / Statutory/Autonomous Bodies / Enterprises/ Agencies/ Corporations Nationalized Banks owned or controlled by the Union Government, who possess ‘working knowledge of Hindi’ to make them proficient to carry out their official work in Hindi.

 

2. This program will be implemented from the financial year 2015-16. The course classes will be conducted by Central Hindi Training Institute/ Hindi Teaching Scheme, Department of Official Language during office working hours.

 

3. Eligibility:-

All the personnel of the Ministries / Departments, their attached & subordinate offices, Public Sector undertakings / Statutory Bodies / Enterprises/ Agencies/Corporations & Nationalized Banks owned or controlled by the Union Government, who possess ‘Working Knowledge of Hindi’ will be eligible for this ‘Parangat’ training.

4. Contents of the course:-

(i). ‘Parangat’ course will be mainly based on practice, in which 80% of training time will be scheduled for practice and 20 percent time to discuss the theoretical aspects of the course.

 

(ii). Contents of the course will focus on the following topics:-

1. Administration 2. Finance 3. Banking 4. Science and Technology 5. Glossary of Terms

 

5. This course will be conducted by Central Hindi Training Institute under two arrangements.

(i). In first arrangement intensive training programme will be completed in 20 working days (160 Hrs)

 

(ii). In second arrangement training classes will be conducted for 1 hour or for 1 hour 30 minutes on alternate days. This programme will be completed in 05 months.

 

Central Hindi Training Institute will issue the course calendar.

 

6. Examination:-

 

The examination will be conducted at the end of the course as per conventional system.

 

sd/-

(Poonam Juneja)

Joint Secretary to the Government of India

Appointment on compassionate grounds - Clarifications by Railway Board

Appointment on compassionate grounds - Clarifications by Railway Board

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

(RAILWAY BOARD)

No. E(NG)H/2015/RC-l/Genl./2

New Delhi, dt.23.04.2015

The General Manager(P),
All Indian Railways
Production Units.

Sub: Appointment on compassionate grounds - Clarifications - regarding.

Attention is invited to this Ministry’s letter of even number dated 14.092012 issued under RBE No. 102/2012. Some of the Zonal Railways have sought clarification as regards to the allowances and benefits allowed to a trainee under Board’s letter dated 14.09.2012(RBE No. 102/2012) should be given to a trainee appointed against a working‘post where it is mandatory for persons being appointed to clear the entire training period before joining a working post.

The matter has been examined in Board’s office and it is clarified that in terms of one of the recommendations of the 6th Central Pay Commission, as accepted by the Government of India, candidates not possessing the minimum qualifications of Matriccould not be recruited in the Government service. At the same time, Commission also recommended that in exceptional circumstances like appointment on compassionate grounds, Government might need to provide employment opportunities to certain classes of persons not immediately meeting the minimum educational standards and Government could recruit them as “trainees” who would be given a regular pay band and Grade Pay only on acquiring the minimum qualification prescribed under the Recruitment rules.

Thus, it is amply clear that Board’s instructions dated 14.09.2012 applies exclusively in cases, where candidate being considered for appointment on compassionate grounds are not meeting the minimum qualification for entry into the Government service that is, in Grade Pay 1800/- and the word ‘trainees’ have been coined only for this limited purpose. It has nothing to do with trainees (who get stipend and not salary) in various posts of Grade Pay 1900 & above, where it is mandatory for persons to complete the training successfully, before joining a working post.

Please acknowledge receipt.

sd/-

(Lily Pandeya)

Director Estt. (N)II

Railway Board

 

Source: https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B40Q65NF2_7UVWJrTDUzNFF2aTdKS0VWZWlEYjIxWTJMOXpz/view