Central Civil Services (Leave Travel Concession) Rules, 1988 Relaxation to travel by air to visit NER, J&K and A&N

No. 31011/ 3/ 2014-Estt.(A-IV)
Government of India
Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions
Department of Personnel and Training
Establishment (A-IV) Desk
***

North Block, New Delhi-110 001
Dated: September 19, 2016

OFFICE MEMORANDUM

Subject: Central Civil Services (Leave Travel Concession) Rules, 1988 Relaxation to travel by air to visit NER, J&K and A&N.

The undersigned is directed to refer to this Department's O.M. of even no. dated 09.09.2016 on the subject noted above regarding extension of the scheme to travel by air to North East Region (NER) , Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) and Andaman & Nicobar Islands (A&N). As clarifications have been sought from many quarters, it is clarified that the following schemes have been extended for a further period of two years, w.e.f. 26th September, 2016:

(i) LTC for visiting NER, J&K and A&N in lieu of a Home Town LTC.
(ii) Facility of air journey to non-entitled government servants for visiting NER, J&K and A&N.
(iii) Permission to undertake journey to Jammu and Kashmir by private airline.

2. The above special dispensation is subject to the following terms & conditions:

(i) All eligible Government servants may avail LTC to visit any place in NER/A&N/ J&K against the conversion of their one Home Town LTC in a four year block.
(ii) Government servants whose Home Town and Headquarters /place of posting are the same are not allowed the conversion.
(iii) Fresh Recruits are allowed conversion of one of the three Home Town LTCs in a block of four years applicable to them.
(iv) Government servants entitled to travel by air can avail this LTC from their Headquarters in Economy class at LTC-80 fare or less. While travelling to North-East region and Port Blair, journey has to be performed by Air India only. However, while availing LTC to Jammu & Kashmir, service of any airlines may be availed.
(v) Government servants not entitled to travel by air are allowed to travel by air in the following sectors:

(a) Between Kolkata/ Guwahati and any place in NER by Air India only in Economy class at LTC-80 fare or less.
(b) Between Kolkata/ Chennai/ Bhubaneswar and Port Blair by Air India only in Economy class at LTC-80 fare or less.
(c) Between Delhi / Amritsar and any place in J&K by any airlines in Economy class at LTC-80 fare or less.  Journey for these non-entitled employees from their Headquarters up to Kolkata/ Guwahati/ Chennai/ Bhubaneswar/ Delhi/ Amritsar will have to be undertaken as per their entitlement.

(vi) Air travel by non-entitled officers to NER, J&K and A&N is allowed whether they avail the normal anywhere in India LTC or in lieu of the Home Town LTC as permitted.

(vii) Air Tickets are to be purchased directly from the airlines (Booking counters, website of airlines) or by utilizing the service of Authorized Travel Agents viz. 'M/s Balmer Lawrie & Company', 'M/s Ashok Travels & Tours' and 'IRCTC' (to the extent IRCTC is authorized as per DoPT's O.M. No. 31011/6/2002 Estt.(A) dated 02.12.2009) while undertaking LTC journey. Booking of tickets through other agencies is not permitted.

3. Efforts should be made by the Government servants to book the air tickets at the cheapest fare possible. All the Ministries/ Departments are advised to bring it to the notice of all their employees that any misuse of LTC will be viewed seriously and the employees will be liable for appropriate action under the rules. In order to keep a check on any kind of misuse of LTC, Ministries/ Departments are advised to randomly get some of the air tickets submitted by the officials verified from the Airlines concerned with regard to the actual cost of air travel vis-a-vis the cost indicated on the air tickets submitted by the officials.

(Mukesh Chaturvedi)
Director (Establishment)
dire-dopt@gov.in

Source: Persmin

7th pay commission ready to be implemented but Armymen, veterans not enthused

7th pay commission ready to be implemented but Armymen, veterans not enthused

The seventh pay commission whose provisions are going to be implemented from October 1 after a long wait has not satisfied Army personnel especially veterans who feel that the status of the defence forces “has taken a big dip” especially in comparison to paramilitary forces and bureaucrats. The commission’s recommendations which were initially rejected by all three chiefs of the tri-services have only been accepted after the ministry of defence (MoD) gave its assurance of sorting out the various anomalies.

Sources said that defence minister Manohar Parrikar spoke to the service chiefs following which they decided to heed his advice on implementation of the pay commission. The commission’s implementation had been halted on September 9 when the three chiefs had written to the MoD about the apparent anomalies.
Among the major anomalies pointed out by the services are non functional upgrade (NFU), NFU pay fixation, military service pay (MSP), and common pay matrix for civilian and military services and allowances. Grant of NFU, a long standing demand of the forces, is for officers who are denied promotions due to the lack of vacancies in the steeply-pyramidal structure of the armed forces so that they do not lose out on pay grades, as their batch mates are promoted. “IFS and IPS officers, as also those from organized Group A civil services, now get NFU after the 6th pay commission like IAS officers. But the armed forces have been kept out of it,” said a senior serving officer. “This adversely impacts the morale of serving military officers. It also creates command, control and functional problems because even organizations that work closely with the military like DRDO, Border Roads Organisation, Military Engineer Services and the like get NFU,” he added.

Another demand is the placement of all Lt-Generals in the HAG+ (higher administrative grade) pay-scale like directors-general of police. “As of now, only 33% of Lt-Gens are in the HAG+ scale. The status of all Lt-Gens with that of DGPs must be restored,” the officer added.

Source : TOI

Provision of Yatri Mitra Sewa for booking of wheelchair services cum porter services at Railway Stations

Provision of Yatri Mitra Sewa for booking of wheelchair services cum porter services at Railway Stations.

With a view to provide support to old and differently abled passengers requiring assistance at the stations, Ministry of Railways has decided to introduce Yatri Mitras Sewa for enabling passengers to book wheelchair services cum porter services. The salient features of the Yatri Mitra Seva are as under:

1. Yatri Mitra
A Yatri Mitra can either be a Sahayak or any other person provided by IRCTC or the service provider appointed by IRCTC for this purpose.

2. Services to be provided by Yatri Mitra
Yatri Mitra shall provide Wheel chair cum porter services to differently abled, ailing and old persons.

3. Provision of Yatri Mitra Sewa

• The responsibility of providing Yatri Mitra Sewa has been entrusted with IRCTC. IRCTC may provide this service ‘Free of cost’ through some NGO, charitable trust, PSUs etc under CSR. However, if this service can’t be provided ‘Free of Cost’ due to lack of response from NGOs, Charitable trust, PSUs etc, IRCTC may arrange this service on payment basis through a service provider or on its own.
• IRCTC may also arrange these services through existing Battery Operated Car (BOC) Operator, wherever, an agency is providing the service.

4. Booking of Yatri Mitra
The booking of Yatri Mitra can be done as under:

• The Yatri Mitra service can be booked on IRCTC e-ticketing website and 139 (IVRS and SMS) or through a mobile.
• A Mobile Application developed by CRIS would also be made available for booking of Yatri Mitra as and when it is developed and released by CRIS.
• A dedicated Mobile number for each station, where this service is available, shall be made available by the Service provider/IRCTC which would be displayed on IRCTC e-ticketing website and zonal websites of Indian Railways to facilitate booking of Yatri Mitra.
• Based on the station at which the facility is booked by the passenger, the booking details (Train Name and Number, date and time of arrival/departure, PNR number, Name of the passenger, Coach and berth number) will be sent by SMS both to the passenger and service provider/IRCTC along with the amount chargeable, if applicable, for the service.
• The mobile number of the Yatri Mitra shall also be sent to the passenger through SMS before the expected time of the arrival of the passenger so that the passenger can contact the Yatri Mitra.
• The Mobile Application developed by CRIS would have the facility for the service provider to update the status after providing the service. The passenger would also have the option to give feedback regarding compliance for his booking.

5. Operation of Yatri Mitra Seva
The Yatri Mitra Sewa shall be operated on following lines for arriving, transferring and departing passengers:

• Arriving/Transferring Passengers
  
  o The IRCTC/service provider on receipt of SMS will ensure that the Yatri Mitra is arranged/positioned at the platform near the coach of the arriving passenger.o The mobile number of the Yatri Mitra shall also be sent to the passenger through SMS in advance.
  
  o On arrival of the train, the Yatri Mitra shall approach the passenger near his coach, greet him, show his mobile message which will be similar as sent to the passenger himself. On instructions of passenger, he will pick up his/her luggage and help him/her in sitting in wheelchair and take him to desired exit gate or any other platform in case of transfer passenger.
  
  o In case of late running of train, the service provider shall contact the passenger on the mobile number given by the passenger at the time of booking and arrange the service as per expected arrival of the train at the station.
• Departing Passengers
  
  o The IRCTC/service provider on receipt of SMS will ensure that the Yatri Mitra is arranged/positioned at the nominated entrance of the station building from where the passenger will be boarding the train.
  o Yatri Mitra shall contact the passenger on the mobile number given by the passenger at the time of booking and confirm the expected time of arrival of the passenger and entrance gate of station.
  
  o On arrival of the passenger at entrance gate of station, the Yatri Mitra shall approach the passenger, greet him, and show his mobile message which will be similar as sent to the passenger himself. On instructions of passenger, he will pick up his luggage and help him/her in sitting in wheelchair and take him to the platform where train has to arrive.

6. Storage/Parking of wheelchairs
The Railway shall provide space for storage/parking of wheel chairs as per requirement of number of wheelchairs and charging point if wheelchairs are battery operated. In case service is provided Free of cost, electricity for charging battery of wheelchairs shall be provided free. In case of paid service, the cost of electricity on consumption basis and connection shall be charged to the service provider as per extant practice.

7. Service Charges
The service charges, if applicable, shall be kept reasonable and affordable keeping in mind the objective of providing services to the needy.The service charges should be collected by the Service provider directly from the passenger.

8. IRCTC shall provide adequate number of wheelchairs at the station as per the requirement to be decided in consultation with SrDCM/DCM of concerned division. Preference should be given to battery operated wheelchairs.

9. The Yatri Mitra appointed by service provider shall be issued an ID card and permit to provide these services at the station by SrDCM/DCM of the concerned Division.

10. The service will be available at major stations.

PIB

Holidays to be observed in Central Government Offices during the year 2017

Holidays to be observed in Central Government Offices during the year 2017

Government of India
Ministry of Defence
(Department of Defence)
D (Civ-II)

Subject: Holidays to be observed in Central Government Offices during the year 2017 - reg.

Attention is invited to the DoP&T OM No. 12/8/2016-JCA-2 dated 24th June, 2016 on the above mentioned subject. All concerned are therefore requested to download it from the DoP&T website [path persmin.nic.in –> Department of Personnel & Training –> OMs & Orders –> Establishment –> Holidays] for compliance.

Sd/-
(Gurdeep Singh)
Under Secretary to the Govt. of India
Tel: 23014675

Source : http://www.mod.nic.in/

Observance of Joy of Giving Week between 2nd and 8th of October, 2016-Appeal to officers and staff members.

Observance of "Joy of Giving Week" between 2nd and 8th of October, 2016-Appeal to officers and staff members.

F. No. 385/ 17/2016-IT (B)
Government of India
Ministry of Finance
Central Board of Direct Taxes

New Delhi, Dated: 15.09.2016

To,
All Principal Chief Commissioners of Income Tax
All Principal Directors General of Income Tax
Madam/ Sir,

Subject: - Observance of "Joy of Giving Week" between 2nd and 8th of October, 2016-Appeal to officers and staff members.

I am directed to say that it has been decided that the Income Tax Department will observe the week between 2nd October and 8th October, 2016 as “Joy of Giving Week”, to commemorate Gandhi Jayanti.
In this regard kindly find attached an “Appeal” issued by CBDT to all officers and staff members of Income Tax Department for giving wide circulation in your Region.
This issues with the approval of Chairperson (CBDT).

Yours faithfully,

sd/-
(Anand Jha)
Commissioner (IT&CT)

A P P E A L

It has been decided that the Income Tax Department will observe the week between 2nd October and 8th October, 2016 as “Joy of Giving Week”, to commemorate Gandhi Jayanti.

During this week, the officers and staff members of the Department are encouraged to donate clothes, toys, books and other useful items to people in need or to credible/ deserving charitable organizations. They may also do voluntary work with any charitable organization engaged in promotion of local causes. During this period, all the office buildings of the Department may put banners at visible locations displaying the following message:

Joy of Giving Week,
2nd to 8th October, 2016

Source: https://irsofficersonline.gov.in