Tuesday, January 6, 2015

Task Force to give suggestions to improve productivity in Railway Operations, manufacturing and other departments on Indian Railways -reg.

Task Force to give suggestions to improve productivity in Railway Operations, manufacturing and other departments on Indian Railways -reg. 

NFIR
National Federation of Indian Railwaymen

3, CHELMSFORD ROAD, NEWDELHT- 110055
Affiliated to :
lndian National Trade Union Congress (INTUC)
lntemational Transport Workers' Federation (ITF)


No. IV/NFIR/HLC/FINANCIAL HEALTH/IR
Dated: 05/01/2015
The Secretary (E),
Railway Board,
New Delhi
kind attention: Shri Vijay Kumar, EDME(INFRA).



Dear Sir.

Sub: Task Force to give suggestions to improve productivity in Railway Operations, manufacturing and other departments on Indian Railways -reg.

Ref: Railway Board's letter No. 2014/INFRA/TF/IPRO dated 24/12/2014 and 31/12/2014.

We convey our suggestions vide Annexure to this letter to enable the Task Force to give serious consideration.


Yours faithfully,
(Dr. M. Raghavaiah)
General Secretary






DA/As above
Copy forwarded to the Executive Director/IR, Railway Board, New Delhi for information and necessary action.
Copy to the General Secretaries of Affiliated Unions of NFIR.
Media Centre/NFIR
Copy to File No. IV/NFIR/SR/2014/HLRRC.
Copy to File No. IV/NFIR/FDI/IR.

“Annexure”
1. Railway Operations

1.1 Special priority should be given for ensuring “throughput” so as to avoid detention to trains, thereby path on Railway tracks will be available for running additional services and at the same time rolling stock could be utilized to optimum level and equally expenditure on fuel can be brought down considerably.

1.2 Almost all passenger carrying trains are presently kept at signals due to non- availability of platforms. Additional platforms should be constructed or new terminals be opened for prompt reception and despatch of trains. Presently due to detention at signals, image of Railways is adversely affected and equally man hours and engine hours are wasted. These are required to be addressed.

1.3 Unnecessary movement of empty wagons be avoided and at the same time empties be supplied promptly for meeting the demands. At present on some Zones, empty wagons are run for hundreds of kilometres for the purpose of loading. A thorough review is needed.

1.4 The existing wagon capacity should be utilised for loading at least up to the extant of 80% against present “loaded to total of 65%”.

1.5 The Zonal Railways which have potential to increase the freight loading, should be provided the required assistance.

1.6 A thorough study needs to be done with regard to Zonal Railways where Operating Ratio is poor and steps taken for improving the efficiency levels.

2. Stores

2.1 Supply of raw materials/spare parts should be ensured in order to prevent cannibalization.

2.2 Quality material, spare parts should procured for quality performance of assets instead of resorting to lowest tender system.

2.3 Procurement of machinery and assets may be resorted to only when the same are really required for the system.

3. Civil Engineering Works

3.1 Priority should be given for doubling and laying of third and fourth lines wherever the Tracks are over saturated. There is no need to have “Bullet Train” as such a project would cost heavily to the Nation and the Railways.

3.2 The funds allotted for construction of new lines may be frozen and study be conducted to assess whether such lines are really required at this juncture.


4. Human Resources Development

4.1 The employees belonging to safety categories (Running etc.,) are to be utilized for the duties of the post they are expected to perform, instead of posting them for performing other miscellaneous duties.

4.2 For maintenance of new services/assets, new posts should be created without delay and without insisting on matching surrender. Whenever new services are introduced, the required number of posts should be created simultaneously for manning these services.

4.3 Staff belonging to Safety and Operational categories should be imparted periodical training/refresher courses for upgrading their skills in the areas of working.

4.4 Adequate resting and Running Room facilities should be ensured for availing adequate rest by the staff so that they could take up duties without wastage of man hours. Outstation detention be minimised so that staff can reach back their Head Quarters, avail rest and get ready for working.

4.5 Disciplined, work oriented and dedicated staff & supervisors should be motivated in the form of incentive for achieving good results.

4.6 Management-staff relations should be ensured through frequent interactions/meetings, sharing each others concern/view points with the aim of building oneness at all levels for achieving extraordinary results.

4.7 Working of RRBs should be reviewed for ensuring that panels are made available for promptly filling vacancies in Running and Safety categories. A mechanism should be evolved for ensuring that these vacancies are filled up atleast within seven days of their occurrence.

4.8 Pursuant to the inputs given by the NFIR to the Railway Board regarding scrapping of New Pension Scheme in Railways, a d.o. letter on 29th March 2014 was sent by the former Railway Minister to the Union Finance Minister seeking exemption of railway employees from the purview of New Pension Scheme and to cover them under Liberalized Pension Scheme. This needs to be pursued further for securing approval. The decision on this would encourage new entrants to work for the system with greater commitment.

4.9 The existing system of obtaining Railway Board’s approval relating to certain staff issues needs to be reviewed for delegating powers to the GMs/DRMs.

5. Medical

5.1 Powers for recognition of Referral Hospitals for referring the cases for specialised medical treatment may be delegated to the GMs of Zones/PUs.

5.2 Contracterization of cleanliness activities in trains and station premises has failed as complaints from rail passengers continue. Earlier CMEs/CMDs were managing these activities with the support of departmental staff. Thorough review of the existing policy is required to be done on priority. Reports also reveal that there are instances of Contractors giving work to sub-contractors and workers deserting the work resulting departmental staff thrusted this additional burden. These are required to be addressed.

5.3 Dual control of Health Inspectors between Medical and Commercial Departments has been a failure.

There is strong justification to create new Department/structure with the nomenclature Public Health Department from the existing strength with proper hierarchy at divisional, Zonal and Railway Board’s levels to oversee and ensure cleanliness and also to fulfil the obligations of Food Safety Act, since adopted by the Railway Ministry.

6. Catering in Railways

Travelling public have been bitterly complaining against the Railways on supply of sub-standard food items by the contractors.

The Departmental Catering should be strengthened and the catering staff (formerly in Railways) presently working under IRCTC should be posted back to the Railways.

7. Bed rolls supply and AC staff escorting trains At first place, the activities of bed rolls supply and AC Staff escorting trains should not have been entrusted to private vendors and the jobs should have been retained with the department as outsourcing these activities is leading to lack of security of travelling public and is giving scope to anti-social elements, unauthorised hawkers to entrain the coaches and helpless Ticket Checking Staff have not been able to control mainly due to unbearable workload being handled by them.

8. Miscellaneous

8.1 The existing defective policies in respect of ticket fare needs to be reviewed. For example a platform ticket costs Rs. 5/- whereas minimum fare for a journey of 20 km has been fixed at Rs. 2/-.

8.2 The Railway projects where the expected rate of return is less than 23% may be shelved in the interest of Railways.

MACP Scheme – CGHS Facility – CPF to GPF to KVS Employees

MACP Scheme – CGHS Facility – CPF to GPF to KVS Employees

A detailed report has been submitted as written reply to a question in Parliament about the employees working under Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan by the Minister of Human Resource Development as follows…

MACP Scheme: The Modified Assured Career Progression Scheme for the Central Government civilian employees has been introduced vide Department of Personnel & Training O.M. No.35034/3/ 2008-Estt.(D) dated 19th May, 2009 as amended from time to time. The extension of Modified Assured Career Progression (MACP) to the employees is subject to the conditions that:-

i) The earlier ACP Scheme was also implemented/adopted by the said Autonomous/Statutory Body.
ii) The proposal to adopt MACP Scheme has been approved by the Governing Body/Board of Directors.
iii) The Administrative Ministry/Financial Adviser of the Ministry has concurred with the proposal.
iv) The financial implications of adoption of MACP Scheme has been taken into account by the Organisation / Body and the additional financial implication can be met by it within the existing Budget Grants.

As the teaching staff of KVS, including Principals had not accepted the earlier ACP Scheme introduced in the year 1999, they would not be entitled for the benefits of MACP scheme.

CGHS Facility : Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) has extended the CGHS facility to the employees of KVS(HQ) and non-teaching staff of KVS Regional Office, Delhi. Besides this, CGHS facilities have also been extended by the DGHS to the teaching staff as well as non-teaching staff of Regional Offices and Kendriya Vidyalayas, Mumbai, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Chennai and Bangalore.

The matter was taken up with Ministry of Health & Family Welfare in October, 2012 to extend the CGHS facility to the employees serving in Kendriya Vidyalayas/KVS in all other stations across the country and to its pensioners wherever CGHS facilities are available. However, DGHS in December, 2012 had conveyed that CGHS is already facing acute shortage of human resources and it would not be possible to extend CGHS coverage to new cities as well as new establishments.

Switch over from CPF to GPF-cum-Pension Scheme: After the implementation of the Fourth Pay Commission Report, the Govt. of India vide O.M. dated 01.05.1987 provided an opportunity to the government employees to switch over from CPF to GPF-cum-Pension Scheme. For the KVS employees this option was available till 31.01.1989.

Amendment to PFRDA (Appointment of Auditors) Guidance Note-2012

Amendment to PFRDA (Appointment of Auditors) Guidance Note-2012

Pension Fund Regulatory
& Development Authority
1st Floor, ICADR Building,
Plot No. 6, Vasant Kunj
Institutional Area, Phase – II,
New Delhi – 110070
Tel : 011-26897948/26897949
Fax : 011-26897938

CIRCULAR


PFRDA/2015/02/PFM/02
Date: 05 Jan. 2015
To,
All Pension Fund Managers
CRA
Custodian Trustee bank NPS Trust Auditors

Subject: Amendment to PFRDA (Appointment of Auditors) Guidance Note-2012

Part B – Clause 2 of the PFRDA (Appointment of Auditors)Guidance Note-2012 -has been amended to –

Appointment of auditors and their fee will have to be approved by the Board of NPS Trust.

The recovery of the audit fee and the appointment of auditor would be applicable as per Clause 6 of ‘PFRDA (Preparation of Financial Statements and Auditor’s Report of Schemes under National Pension System) Guidelines-2012 ’.which is reproduced hereunder for ready reference:

‘Every PF shall have the financial statements of scheme audited by an external auditor who is not in any way associated with the audit of the PF or sponsor of the concerned PF or any other PF or schemes of any other PF. Scheme Auditor will be appointed by the NPS Trust and audit fee will be paid by the Pension Fund after obtaining approval for payment from NPS Trust’.
sd/-

Sumeet Kaur Kapoor
(General Manager)
http://www.pfrda.org.in/MyAuth/Admin/showimg.cshtml?ID=568

Leave Travel Concession for Central Government employees is likely to be extended to cover trips to foreign countries

Leave Travel Concession for Central Government employees is likely to be extended to cover trips to foreign countries


Central Government Employees’ LTC Likely to Cover Foreign Countries

Leave Travel Concession for Central Government employees is likely to be extended to cover trips to foreign countries too. Although these are unconfirmed reports, we are sharing the news reports that have appeared in leading English newspapers recently.

Traveling abroad is a dream for most Indian families. The Centre’s attempts to fulfill this dream are worth appreciating. Although initially the scheme covers only four countries (Bhutan, Nepal, Maldives and Sri Lanka), traveling to a foreign country, with the expenses paid by the Government, is no small accomplishment. Traveling abroad with the entire family is bound to elevate the social status of the employee among his friends and relatives.

Newspapers claim that the decision was influenced by a desire to boost tourism to neighbouring countries after Prime Minister Modi’s trip to the SAARC meeting.

Air travel concession under LTC Scheme to the North East Region was launched by the Centre in 2008 in order to boost tourism to those states. The concession was then extended to cover Jammu and Kashmir.

Now, the concession also covers Andaman and Nicobar Islands. The DoPT issued orders on 26.9.2014 that the relaxation to travel by air to NER, J&K and A&N with effect from September 2014.

In the past, All India LTC was granted once every four years to Central Government employees, to travel by train to a selected place and reimburse the ticket expenses. The fact that, from those humble beginnings, it has come this far, is a welcome development.

From general compartment-travels, the concession was upgraded to the air-conditioned class. Then, it was given for air travels. Now, the scheme is all set to cover trips to foreign countries.

Source: 90Paisa Blog

IBA TO HOLD TALKS WITH BANK UNIONS (UFBU) TOMORROW(6.1.2015)

IBA TO HOLD TALKS WITH BANK UNIONS (UFBU) TOMORROW(6.1.2015)

OUT COME OF CLC MEET OF 5th JAN’15.

In the conciliation meeting held today-5th Jan.15. by CLC at Delhi, IBA said it would hold negotiations with UFBU tomorrow at Mumbai to find amicable solution. UFBU agreed to attend the meeting.

Further course of action depends on the outcome of tomorrow’s meeting with IBA.

Conciliation talks with CLC ended and IBA called UFBU to have a round of talks tomorrow 06.1.2015 at Mumbai at 3.00 p.m.

Submitted By Mohan.P (Via ‘Paycommissionupdate’)

Appointment of meritorious Sportspersons in relaxation of the procedure – Dopt Orders

Appointment of meritorious Sportspersons in relaxation of the procedure – Dopt Orders


No.14034/1/2013-Estt(D)
Government of India
Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions
Department of Personnel and Training
New Delhi-110001
Dated 24th December, 2014
OFFICE MEMORANDUM

Subject: Appointment of meritorious Sportspersons in relaxation of the procedure — regarding.

The undersigned is directed to invite reference to Paragraph 3 of this Department’s Office Memorandum No.14015/1/76-Estt.(D) dated 4th August, 1980 on the above subject, as under:

Extant of such recruitment

a) Ministries/Departments of Government of India can recruit meritorious sportsmen in any year in relaxation of the recruitment procedure, to the extent that these including all other reservations under existing orders do not exceed 50% of the total number of vacancies proposed to be filled
by direct recruitment.

b) For the purpose of making appointment of meritorious sportsmen, the appointing authorities may at their discretion notify to the Staff Selection Commission, in all cases where the recruitment to the posts have been entrusted to that Commission, vacancies reduced by upto 5% thereof and may fill such vacancies so held back by appointing meritorious sportsmen subject to the overall limitations mentioned in sub-para (a) above.

2. It has come to the notice of this Department that some Ministries/Departments of Government of India are not adhering to / following the above mentioned provisions / instructions scrupulously. Accordingly, all Ministries/Departments are requested to bring the aforesaid instructions mentioned in the preceding paragraph to the notice of all concerned for appointment of meritorious sports persons to Central Government Civil posts.
sd/-
(Rakesh Moza)
Under Secretary to the Government of India
Source: www.persmin.nic.in

Modimetrics raises efficiency of Central government employees

Modimetrics raises efficiency of Central government employees

Central government employees seem to be on their toes and are spending extra time in their offices ever since the Aadhaar enabled Biometric Attendance System (AEBAS) was launched in September 2014.

An analysis of the last three months show that employees are spending nearly twenty minutes extra in office every day. If this is converted into man-days with an average of 8.5 hours per working day, the gain is equivalent to an additional workforce of almost 1,900 employees every single day.

The assessment is based on the ‘in-time’ and ‘out-time’ recorded by the system that has shown an increase over the last three months. “Ever since the system was launched, the average presence time in office of the registered employees has risen by about 20 minutes per day. Considering that over 47,000 employees are using it now, an average gain of 20-minutes per day means an approximate gain of 16,000 man-hours,” said a government official.

The study shows that the average ‘in-time’ of the staff was 9.28 am and the average ‘out-time’ of the staff has been recorded at 5.46 pm.

Marking attendance has still not been made mandatory, once that happens the average presence of employees is expected to increase further by 15 to 20, according to the analysis. Sources say, officials spending more time at work could also lead to more productivity and cutting down on pendency. Currently, 387 organisations have implemented the biometric system of attendence. The project is being expanded to all government offices.

The government has already issued orders for all central government offices across India to have an Aadhaar enabled Biometric Attendance System by Republic Day.

“The manual system of attendance may be phased out accordingly. The Department of Electronics and Information Technology (DeitY) will provide the technical guidance for installing the system. These orders come into force with immediate effect. All ministries are requested to bring this to the notice of all concerned,” the order of the Department of Personnel and Training said.

The government has also specified that disciplinary actions may be taken against officials who are habitual late-comers and also stated that early departure from work will also be treated as a violation similar to late-coming.

The Biometric Attendance System Dashboard (www.attendance. gov.in), which keeps updating itself in real time, throws out some interesting statistics. The dashboard on January 3, which was a Saturday and an off day for government employees, showed that 31.6 per cent of the staff showed up before the office start time of 9 am while, 38.8 per cent of the registered employees marked their presence between 9 and 10 am.
Despite a holiday, the dashboard shows that 6,267 employees who turned up for work and were in office quite early. Currently the office timing in ministries and departments of the government are from 9 am to 5.30 pm and for attached or subordinate office from 9.30 am to 6.00 pm without any option of flexi-time.

Source: http://indiatoday.intoday.in/

Fixed Medical Allowance to Railway Pensioners and Family Pensioners – Enhanced FMA payable with effect from 19th November, 2014

Fixed Medical Allowance to Railway Pensioners and Family Pensioners – Enhanced FMA payable with effect from 19th November, 2014

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS
(Railway Board)
S.No. PC-VI/348
No. PC-V/2010/A/Med/1
RBE No.146/2014
New Delhi. dated 19.12.2014
The General Managers/ CAO(R).
All Indian Railways & PUs
(As per standard mailing list)
Subject- Grant of Fixed Medical Allowance (FMA) to the Railway pensioners/family pensioners-regarding.
At present Fixed Medical Allowance is granted to the Railway pensioners/family pensioners residing in areas beyond 2.5 Kms of Railway Hospital/Health Unit for meeting expenditure on their day-to-day medical expenses that do not require hospitalization. Orders were issued Vide Board’s letter of even number dated (RBE No.92/2010) for enhancement of the amount of Fixed Medical from Rs.100/- to Rs.300/-p.m. w.e.f. 01.09.2008.
2. In this connection, Department of Pension Welfare (DoP&PW). the nodal department on the subject, have advised vide their O.M. No. 4/25/2008-P&PW(D), dated 19.11.2014 that the demand for enhancement of Fixed Medical Allowance has been under consideration of the Government for some time past and the amount of Fixed Medical Allowance has been enhanced from Rs.300/- to Rs.500/- per month, subject to the fulfilment of the conditions (i) pensioner should be residing beyond 2.5 kms from the nearest health unit and (ii) the pensioner should not be availing OPD facility (except in case of chronic disease).  The other conditions for grant of fixed Medical Allowance shall continue to be as contained in Board’s letter No. PC-V/98/I/7/1/1, dt. 19.05.1999 (RBE No.109/99) read with Board’s instructions dt. 01.03.2004.

3.  These orders will take effect from 19th November, 2014 i.e. the date of issue of DOP&PW’S OM on the subject.

4. This issue with the concurrence of the Finance Directorate of the Ministry of Railways

5. Hindi version is enclosed.
(N.P. Singh)
Dy.Director, Pay Commission – V
Railway Board

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