Air Travel on LTC once in Ten Years to visit foreign countries – WB State Govt Orders issued on 9.10.2015

Air Travel on LTC once in Ten Years to visit foreign countries – WB State Govt Orders issued on 9.10.2015

The state government of West Bengal issued orders on availing of Leave Travel Concession (LTC) to foriegn countires, such as, Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Nepal, Bhutan and Maldives…

GOVERNMENT OF WEST BENGAL
FINANCE DEPARTMENT
AUDIT BRANCH

No.7370-F(F)

Dated: 09.10.2015

MEMORANDUM

At present the State Government employees may avail themselves of the benefit of Leave Travel Concession once in service career during the period of five years preceding the actual date of retirement on superannuation for the following kinds of journeys, subject to the conditions as in this department’s Memo Nos. 9924-F dt. 07.12.2005 and 607 -F dt. 20.01.2006.

1. For journeys to respective home town and back, provided the home town is different from the place of posting; and

2. For journeys to any place of India and back.

The employees who have been duly permitted to retire voluntarily are also allowed to avail of the above benefit before their such retirement.

The present provisions of admissibility of Leave Travel Concession have been under consideration for review for sometime past.

Now, after careful consideration of the matter, the Governor has been pleased to decide in partial modification of this department Memo. No. 9924-F dt. 07. 2.2005 read with Memo. No. 607-F dt. 20.01.2006 to allow the following benefits to the State Government employees instead of journeys on LTC as mentioned at (2) above.

(a) One Home Travel Concession once in every five years to visit any place within the State;

(b) One LTC once in ten years to visit any place in the neighbouring countries, namely, Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Nepal, Bhutan and Maldives or within the Country.

Conditions for admissibility of the same in case the spouse of the Government employee is also employed will be as follows:-

(i) If the spouse of the Government employee is also a State Government employee, the benefit can be availed of either by husband or wife as a one family unit and in that case undertaking shall be submitted by the other that no such claim will be preferred from his/her office and this should be recorded in his/her Service Book.

(ii) If the spouse of the State Government employee is employed in Central/Central PSUs/Corporation/Autonomous Body, the benefit can be availed of either by the husband or wife employed under the State Government as one family unit from the State Government provided no benefit of LTC can be availed of by the other from the Central/Central PSUs/Corporation/ Autonomous Body and in that case letter from the employer there in this respect that he/she has given such undertaking there shall be produced before availing of the above benefit.

(iii) If the spouse of the State Government employee is employed in the State PSUs/Corporation/Non-Government aided Institutions/Autonomous Body where facility of LTC does not exist, the spouse of the Government employee may avail of this benefit along with the Government employee a a member of the family on the condition that declaration to his/her controlling authority shall be furnished that in future he/she will not enjoy the benefit of LTC, if the same is extended in the organization/institution as above in future.
Other conditions regarding admissibility of the benefit wil be as in Finance Department Nos.9924-F dt. 07.12.2005 and 607-F dt. 20.01.2006. For the pupose of vailing of LTC in foreign countries as mentioned at SI. No. (b) above, the same can be availed of by air in economy class from the nearest international airport of the country on the condition that journeys will have to be performed either by national carrier or private airlines of the country. The part of the journeys to and from the airport will be as per provision in the existing orders.

For journeys in the foreign countries as mentioned above orders issued by the P&AR Department are also to be followed.

This will take effect from 01.11.2015.

Sd/-
H. K. Dwivedi
Principal Secretary to the
Government of West Bengal

Authority: www.wbfin.nic.in
Click to view the order

Extending the existing Productivity Linked Reward Scheme for Port and Dock employees for payment of Productivity Linked Reward from the year 2014-15 to 2015-16

Extending the existing Productivity Linked Reward Scheme for Port and Dock employees for payment of Productivity Linked Reward from the year 2014-15 to 2015-16

The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, today gave its approval for extending the existing Productivity Linked Reward (PLR) Scheme for Port and Dock employees for payment of Productivity Linked Reward from the year 2014-15 to 2015-16. The payment of PLR would be made after adjusting the ad-hoc amount already paid for the year 2014-15.

The expenditure on account of PLR shall be met by the Major Port Trusts and Dock Labour Boards from their own resources without any Budgetary support from the Government.

This will benefit about 44,000 major Ports and Dock workers/employees/officer and will help ensure a better industrial relationship and congenial work atmosphere in the Port Sector apart from stimulating better productivity. The Major Port Trusts/Dock Labour Boards will be immediately informed on due dates to make payment of the PLR, as per the existing scheme to all employees/ workers/officers for the years 2014-15 and 2015-16.

PIB

11 lakh accounts opened under Sukanya Samriddhi scheme in Tamil Nadu

11 lakh accounts opened under Sukanya Samriddhi scheme in Tamil Nadu

CHENNAI: The Tamil Nadu Postal Circle has announced that 11 lakh accounts have been opened under the ‘Sukanya Samridhi’ or ‘Selvamagal Semippu’ scheme.

Introduced in January this year, this is a saving scheme exclusively for girl children. Parents or legal guardians can open an account under this scheme in the name of a girl child.

It is open to girl children up to the age of 10 years, but the government has permitted a grace period of two years more than the normal eligibility. Girls born from 03-12-2003 to 01-12-2005 are eligible to open accounts until December 1.

According to an official release, the interest rate of 9.2% per annum is one of the highest rates offered under the Post Office Savings Banks schemes.

Customers can open accounts under this scheme at all post offices, including branch post offices, where special counters will be opened.

TOI

Grant of another installment of Dearness Relief to the Freedom Fighters w.e.f. 01.08.2015

Grant of another installment of DR to the FF and their eligible dependents under the SSSP Scheme, 1980, w.e.f. 01.08.2015

No.08/01/2015-FF(P)

Government of India/Bharat Sarkar

Ministry of Home Affairs/Grih Mantralaya

Freedom Fighter & Rehabilitation Division

2nd Floor, NDCC-II building,

Jai Singh Road, New Delhi-110 001

Dated, the 12th August, 2015

To
The Chief Controller of Accounts,
Ministry of Home Affairs,
North Block,
New Delhi-110 001.

Sub:- Grant of another installment of Dearness Relief to the freedom fighters and their eligible dependents under the Swatantrata Sainik Samman Pension (SSSP) Scheme, 1980, w.e.f. 01.08.2015.

Sir,

I am directed to refer to this Ministry’s letter No.08/08/97-FF(P) dated 16/20th August 1997 wherein it was decided that pension be linked with the price index in an appropriate manner.

2. Subsequently, in consultation with the Ministry of Finance,Department of Expenditure and after taking into consideration the All India Consumer Price Index (AICPI) for Industry Workers(IW) in June 1997 as the base, Dearness Relief @7% of the pension or dependent family pension was sanctioned w.e.f. 1st August 1998 vide Ministry of Home Affairs letter no.08/08/97-FF(P) dated 14th October 1998.

3 With reference to Central Samman Pension, the dearness relief is revised annually in consultation with the Ministry of Finance, With effect from 01.08.2015 the has been enhanced by 20%. The Dearness Relief revised/enhanced from time to time indicated as below:-

(i) @20% w.e.f. 01.08.1999.
(ii) @24% w.e.f. 01.08.2000.
(iii) @28% w.e.f. 01.08.2001.
(iv) @34% w.e.f. 01.08.2002.
(v) @39% w.e.f. 01.08.2003.
(vi) @44% w.e.f. 01.08.2004.
(vii) @50% w.e.f. 15.08.2005.
(viii) @58% w.e.f. 01.08.2006.
(ix) @68% w.e.f. 01.08.2007.
(x) @79% w.e.f. 01.08.2008.
(xi) @96% w.e.f. 01.08.2009.
(xii) @123% w.e.f. 01.08.2010.
(xiii) @143% w.e.f. 01.08.2011.
(xiv) @165% w.e.f. 01.08.2012.
(xv) @193% w.e.f. 01.08.2013.
(xvi) @218% w.e.f. 01.08.2014.
(xvii) @238% w.e.f. 01.08.2015.

4. Dearness Relief payable with effect from 01.08.2015, in terms of these orders, to various categories of the freedom fighters and their eligible dependent under the Swatantrata Saihik Samman Pension (SSSP) Scheme, would be as under:-

Sl.No	Category	Present rate of basic monthly pension (w.e.f. 02.10.2006) (in Rs.)	Dearness Relief @ 238% of the basic monthly pension payable with effect from 01.08.2015 (in Rs.)	Total Pension (in Rs.)
1(a)	Ex-Andaman Political prisoners	7,330/-	17,445/-	24,775/-
(b)	Freedom fighters who suffered outside British India (other than INA)	6,830/-	16,255/-	23,085/-
2.	Other Freedom fighters	6,330/-	15,065/-	21,395/-
3.	Widow/Widower of above categories of freedom fighters	Entitlement same as of the respective deceased freedom fighter
4.	Unmarried/unemployed daughters (Subject to a maximum of three such daughters at a time)	1,500/- each to all the three daughters	3,570/- each to all the three daughters	5,070/-
5.	Mother and Father	1,000/- each	2,380/- each/-	3,380/-

5. You are therefore requested to issue necessary instructions to all concerned to modify the existing pension payments Orders (PPO) of the freedom fighter pensioners and their eligible dependents in each case so as to effect commencement of payment of Dearness Relief to the extent indicated above. It is to be ensured that revised Dearness Relief is to be paid along with pension for the month of August, 2015, and no arrears payment on account of enhanced Dearness Relief is to be paid subsequently.

6. This issues with the approval of Ministry of Finance, Department of Expenditure E.V. Branch given vide their ID No.1(7)/E-V/2004 dated 12.08.2015 and concurrence of Integrated Finance Division of Ministry of Home Affairs given vide their C.F.3305704/AS&FA(H) dated 12.08.2015.

7. Hindi version will follow.

Yours faithfully,

(Meenu Batra)

Deputy Secretary to the Government of India

Source:  http://cpao.nic.in/pdf/No_80_01_2015-FF.pdf

Brief Note on JCM National Council Standing Committee Meeting held on 9th October 2015 at New Delhi.

Brief Note on JCM National Council Standing Committee Meeting held on 9th October 2015 at New Delhi.

Dear Comrades,

The Standing Committee of the JCM National Council met on 9th October, 2015. As you are aware, earlier, the National JCA had decided to defer the strike action and organize a massive Dharna programme at Jantar Mantar on 19th November, 2015 to register its strongest protest over the Government’s engineered delay in the submission of the 7th CPC Report. Later, the Finance Ministry has issued a statement asking the 7th CPC to factor into its report the fiscal concern of the Government, which was an unwarranted interference in the independent functioning of the Commission and to pressurise the Commission not to recommend wage rise on the basis of a sound and scientific formulation.

The Staff side on receipt of the invitation to have the meeting on 9th October, decided to respond and convey to the Government their strong resentment over the virtual dilution of the negotiating forum as also the above concerns. In the meeting the Staff side was informed that the Secretary Personnel would be meeting the Standing Committee soon and the meeting on 9thwas in fact only a prelude to understand each other’s points of views. It was in the background the meeting was held on 9th October, 2015.

The leader and Secretary, Staff Side conveyed the unanimous decision of the National JCA as under to the Government.

(a) The Standing Committee, as per procedure evolved, must be chaired by the Secretary Personnel.

(b) The JCM Machinery’s functioning should not be diluted.

(c) The promised meeting of the National Council has not taken place so far.

(d) The minutes of the last two meetings of the National Anomaly Committee have not been formally issued.

(e) ‘The Official side Secretary must convene a meeting of the Staff Side to iron out
any difference in the draft minutes.’

(f) Normally meetings are held after circulation of the ATS. This has not been done.

(g) The Official Side must convey the anguish of the employees over the delay in the submission of the report by the 7th CPC which they justifyly feel has been engineered by the Government. They also pointed out that they are constrained to believe that the Govt. was unnecessarily interfering in the functioning of the Pay Commission.

We give hereunder a brief resume of the discussions held on the agenda items.
After the initial remarks made by the Staff Side all issues in the charter of demands were discussed. There had been however, no final settlement on any issue as the meeting itself was not convened for that purpose. The Staff Side stated that even the promises held out in the last meeting that the Departmental Council meeting would be held soon was not honoured.

On the question of Pay revision related issues, viz. Interim relief, DA merger, inclusion of GDS etc . elaborate discussions were held. It has come out clearly that on all these issues, the Finance Ministry has taken an nugatory Stand, even though the arguments put forth were extremely untenable. It was pointed out by the Staff Side that the Interim relief and DA merger was denied on the specious plea of submission of the report in the stipulated time. Having extended the time, the Govt. ought to have considered the grant of these two demands. There had been a very elaborate discussion on the question of inclusion of the GDS within the purview of the 7th CPC. The Postal Department’s representatives narrated the efforts made by them to the Government for conceding this demands. The Finance Ministry has stood firm and objected to the demand being agreed to. The Staff Side has, in the given situation of the 7th CPC having finalised its report, requested the Government to refer the matter to a Judicial Committee headed by the present Chairman, 7th CPC as he has now been fully apprised of the functioning of various ministries and Departments of the Government through the interaction with the Staff and official sides. No commitment was however made by the Government to the above suggestion.

On the question of induction of FDI in Railways, Corporatisation of Postal Department and Defence organisations, the representative of the Railway Ministry stated that they are constantly discussing the issues with the Railway Federations and was exploring the possibility of reaching an agreement. In the case of corporatisation of the Postal Department, it was stated that the recommendations made by the Committee was discussed with the Federations and it has been agreed that except induction of certain professionals at the managerial level to fine tune the functioning of the Department in the changed scenario, the Federations have been assured that no structural changes would be made without consulting them. However, in the case of Defence, no discussions with the Federations have been held so far.

PFRDA. The Staff Side pointed out the present scenario in the Government offices, where the number of employees and officers who are outside the ambit of the statutory pension scheme has grown and have reached in certain organisations to the extent of 25 to 30%. These employees are extremely concerned of the new scheme and their anguish have been expressed in many forms. The Unions would be compelled to take drastic action if the Government refuses to heed to their plea to effect a relook or revisit on the matter. The representatives of the Railways pointed out that the Honourable Minister for Railways was convinced of the situation and that was the reason why he had written to the Finance Ministry that in the given situation of the Railway functioning, the new scheme would not only jeopardise the interest of the Railwaymen but also of the Railway Industry itself.

On the specific question raised by the Staff side in the last meeting in respect of resolving the issues of  
Medical Store Deport and the Printing and Stationery department, the Staff Side stated that only the meeting of the Medical Store Depot was held and the issues have been resolved to some extent. The Printing and Stationery Department has now sent a communication to the Staff Side fixing the meeting on 15th October ‘15. The general issues emanating from the policy of outsourcing and contractorisation was also discussed at length.

JCM functioning had been the central point of discussions. The Staff Side has pointed out that unless the Government makes up its mind that the machinery should be put on operation, no industrial peace would come in the functioning of the various departments of the Govt. of India. The Staff side asked the Department of personnel to collect the information of the number of cases litigated in the courts by the Government employees in 1991 and 2015 and make a comparison to know the seriousness of the problem.

On compassionate ground appointments question, it was stated by the Staff Side that despite advancing no cogent argument by the official side for retaining the 5% ceiling, the Department of personnel does not want to make a relook into the matter. The Staff Side pointed out that large number of applications were pending in various Departments, and the concerned department would not be able to clear them even after 20 years for want of the requisite vacancies. They also pointed out that the decision of the Government to impose the 5% ceiling was amounting to a cruelty imposed on the family members of the Government servants who dies in harness.

The Labour Ministry representative was present at the meeting. The meeting did not discuss the merits and demerits of the labour reforms as the Trade Unions in the country has justify concluded that it has been conceived to favour the corporate houses and to take away the existing privileges of the workers. The point at issue, however, at the meeting was as to why the Labour Ministry did not cause a consultation with the Industrial Federations in the Government of India, for whom the Industrial Disputes Act is applicable. The Labour Ministry has assured to convene a meeting of the representatives of such organisations soon.
The Labour Ministry representative also stated that the government has agreed to raise the bonus ceiling but it would not be appropriate for him to make a mention of the quantum as the Cabinet is yet to give its clearance. The Government would be able to take a decision in the matter only after the Bihar elections are over.

The Staff Side explained the background of the demand for five promotions. The reaction of the official side was that the matter must be appropriately discussed only after the 7th CPC report is made available.

Source: Confederation News