Non-payment of Over Time Allowance to the staffworking on Track Machines on South East Central Railway

Non-payment of Over Time Allowance to the staffworking on Track Machines on South East Central Railway.

NFIR
National Federation of Indian Railwaymen

No. I/8/Part I

Dated: 1010412017

The Secretary (E),
Railway Board,
New Delhi

Dear Sir,
Sub: Non-payment of Over Time Allowance to the staffworking on Track Machines on South East Central Railway-reg.

Ref: (i) CPO, SEC Rly's letter No. P-HQ/RUL/118/2/6234 dated 24/25-02-2015 & P-HQ/RUL/118/2/767 dated 15/05/2015.
(ii) Railway Board's letter No. E(LL)/98/HER/9 dated 09/04/2015.
(iii) NFIR's letter No. i/8 Part I dated 06/06/2016.
(iv) Railway Board's letter No. 98/E(LL)HER/9 dated 24/03/2017.

Federation is disappointed to note the contents of Railway Board's letter dated 24/03/2017 wherein Board has clarified to the GM (PyS.E.C. Railway that the principle of averaging for payment of OT Allowance to the Track Machine Staff to be given effect from 1010712013, the date of issuance of Board's letter.

Federation is constrained to state that the Board has completely ignored the rule position contained in letter dated 06/07/2000,10/07/2013 & 16/06/2016 and issued wrong clarification. Federation also feels sad to convey that mere copy has been endorsed to NFIR, without mentioning NFIR's reference to Railway Board.
So far as clarification issued by Board is concerned, the Federation does not agree with the same in the light of the following facts/merits.

i) The Railway Board vide letter No. E(LL)98-HER/9 dated 0610712000 had introduced duty roster in respect of Staff working on Track Machines and laid down rostered hours of work for three weeks at a stretch followed by rest for a continuous period of one week at the Headquarters in consultation with the Ministry of labour. These instructions further stipulated that the individuals shall not be employed for more than 12 hours on any day and in respect of Overtime payment, the staff will be governed by the extant instructions under HOER i.e. principle of averaging.

ii) Subsequently Railway Board vide letters dated 09/09/2009 & 30/10/2012 had conveyed continuance of three weeks' roster at a stretch followed by continuous rest of one week at the Headquarters (valid upto September, 2015).

iii) On raising the issue relating to non-payment of Overtime to the Track Machine staff working on Zones by the NFIR at Board's level, Railway Board vide letter dated 10/07/2013 had again issued instructions that the Track Machine Staff when deployed for 3 weeks continuously followed by one week rest, the payment of overtime be regulated by the principle of averaging on four weekly basis whenever working hours exceed 192 hours and keeping in view the provisions of Board's letter dated 11/06/1974.

iv) Railway Board vide letter dated 1610612016 has again reiterated for  implementation of instructions envisaged in Board's letter dated 6/7/2000.

v) It needs to be appreciated that Board's instructions dated 06/07/2000 have neither been modified nor superseded. Therefore, payment of Overtime to the staff working on Track Machines is required to be regulated in terms of Board's instructions dated 06/07/2000 from that date and not from the date of issue of Board's letter dated 10/07/2013.

The facts mentioned above clearly establish the entitlement of overtime payment with effect from 06/07/2000 and not prospectively. Accordingly, the Track Machine Staff of South East Central Railway who have been denied Overtime payment from August 2010 by the Zonal Railway due to mis- interpretation of Rules are rightly entitled from August,2010.

NFIR therefore, requests the Railway Board to review its clarification dated 24/03/2017 and, issue fresh clarification to the Zonal Railways in general and South East Central Railway in particular for implementing instructions dated 06/07/2000 and allowing overtime payment retrospectively. A copy of the instructions issued may be endorsed to the Federation.

Source: NFIR

Compulsory Retirement: Death-Cum-Retirement benefits

Compulsory Retirement

One IAS officer Shri M.N. Vijaykumar, IAS (KN:81) has been imposed the penalty of compulsory retirement vide order dated 27.04.15.The penalty of Compulsory Retirement was imposed on Shri M.N. Vijaykumar, IAS (KN:81) on completion of departmental proceeding against the officer as per provisions of AIS (D&A) Rule, 1969.

Further, this department in exercise of the powers conferred under sub-rule 3 of Rule 16 of the All India Services (Death-Cum-Retirement benefits) Rules 1958, has prematurely retired, in public interest, one IAS officer namely Shri K. Narasimha (AGMUT : 1991).

With regard to IPS, the Ministry of Home Affairs has informed that penalty of compulsory retirement has not been imposed on any IPS Officer in last one year. However, the Ministry of Home Affairs, in exercise of the powers conferred under sub-rule 3 of Rule 16 of the All India Services (Death-Cum-Retirement benefits) Rules, 1958, in public interest has prematurely retired two IPS officers, namely, Shri Mayank Sheel Chohan, IPS (AGMUT:1998) and Shri Raj Kumar Dewangan, IPS (CH:1992) vide order dated 05.01.2017.
This was stated by the Minister of State in the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions and Minister of State in the Prime Minister's Office, Dr. Jitendra Singh in a written reply to question by Shri Kirti Vardhan Singh in the Lok Sabha today.

PIB

LTC Travel by Air India

LTC Travel by Air India

As per instant instructions, the Leave Travel Concession (LTC) is applicable for travel by Air India and in Economy class only. However, relaxation has been given to travel by private airlines to visit Jammu & Kashmir with certain conditions.

This was stated by the Minister of State in the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions and Minister of State in the Prime Minister's Office, Dr. Jitendra Singh in a written reply to question by Shri Sharad Tripathi in the Lok Sabha today.

PIB

GPF Rules

GPF Rules

With effect from 7th March 2017, Government has simplified and liberalised the conditions for taking advance from the fund by the subscribers for education, illness, purchase of consumer durables. Conditions and procedures for withdrawal from the fund for the purpose of education, illness, housing, purchase of motor vehicles etc. have also been liberalised. No documentary proof is required to be submitted now for advance and withdrawal applications. A simple declaration by the subscriber is sufficient. A time limit for sanction and payment of advance/withdrawal has also been fixed.

There is no proposal under consideration of Government to increase/link the rate of interest on GPF at parity with that of EPF. The interest rates on EPF are decided on the recommendations of the Central Board of Trustee (EPF) taking into account the yearly income from the investment made by EPFO. The GPF interest rate is presently fixed at par with that of PPF interest rate.

This was stated by the Minister of State in the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions and Minister of State in the Prime Minister's Office, Dr. Jitendra Singh in a written reply to question by Dr. Sunil Baliram Gaikwad, Kunwar Haribansh Singh, Shri T. Radhakrishnan, Shri Gajanan Kirtikar and Shri Bidyut Baran Mahato in the Lok Sabha today.

PIB

Equal Pay for Equal Work in CPSUs

Equal Pay for Equal Work in CPSUs

As per information received from Department of Personnel & Training (DoPT), the instructions regarding equal pay admissible to casual workers already exists in terms of DoPT O.M. No. 49014/2/86 Estt. (c) dated 07.06.1988. Further, Central Public Sector Enterprises (CPSEs) are under the administrative control of their respective Ministries / Departments and CPSEs are required to follow the various statutory provisions / Court orders / Government instructions including instructions on wage related issues of various categories of employees, wherever applicable. However, as the responsibility to monitor the implementation of above said statutory provisions / court orders / Government instructions vests with the Board of CPSEs and the concerned administrative Ministry / Department, as such no centralized information in this regard is maintained by Department of Public Enterprises (DPE) and accordingly complaints, if any, received against any CPSE on this issue are also forwarded to the concerned administrative Ministry / Department of CPSE for appropriate action.

This information was given by Minister of State in the Ministry of Heavy Industries and Public Enterprises Shri Babul Supriyo in reply to a written question in the Rajya Sabha today.

PIB

Pay Commission Impact on Medical Institutes

7th Pay Commission impact on Medical Institutes

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO: 5682

ANSWERED ON: 07.04.2017

Pay Commission Impact on Medical Institutes

RAM CHARITRA
Will the Minister of
HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE be pleased to state:-
Will the Minister of HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE be pleased to state:
(a) whether it is a fact that the medical institutes have expressed their inability to comply with the Government’s circular to generate 30 per cent of the additional financial impact incurred on implementing the Seventh Pay Commission;
(b) if so, the details thereof and the reaction of the Government thereto; and
(c) the corrective steps proposed to be taken up by the Government in this regard?

ANSWER

THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
(SHRI FAGGAN SINGH KULASTE)

(a) to (c): Government has not put any mandatory condition on Medical Institutes to generate 30% of the additional financial impact incurred on implementing the 7th Central Pay Commission (CPC). Most Medical Institutes have expressed inability to meet 30% of the additional financial impact. Therefore, the Ministry has submitted 13 proposals so far to Ministry of Finance for relaxation in the condition to bear 30% of additional financial impact.

Loksabha Q&A

Summer Coaching camp for Children/Dependents of Central Government Employees

Summer Coaching camp for Children/Dependents of Central Government Employees

No. 7/6/2016-17 -CCSCSB
Government of India
Ministry of Personnel Public Grievances and Pensions
Department of Personnel and Training

CENTRAL CIVIL SERVICES CULTURAL & SPORTS BOARD

No.361, B Wing, 3rd Floor
Lok Nayak Bhavan, New Delhi.
10th April, 2017

CIRCULAR

The Central Civil Services Cultural and Sports Board is organizing Coaching Camp for children/dependents of Central Government employees for children between 8 to 16 years of age during Summer Vacations i.e 15th May. 2017 to 15th June 2017 as per details below:

S.No.	Game	FEE Govt - Others	Venue
1.	Basketball	300/- 500/-	Vinay Marg Sports Complex
2.	Cricket	500/- 1000/-	-do-
3.	Football	500/- 1000/-	-do-
4.	Self Defence	No Fee	-do-
5.	Lawn Tennis	500/- 1000/-	RKPuram Tennis Courts & GKK Pandara Road, New Delhi.
6.	Athletics	100/- 200/-	Vinay Marg Sports Complex

2. Application forms may be collected from Vi nay Marg Sports Complex New Delhi between 3 pm to 5 pm and are also available at http ://www.persmin.nic.in/DOPT/  Duly filled application forms along with receipt of online fee deposited may be submitted at the office of CCSCSB or to the Junior Games Supervisor at the Vinay Marg Ground.

(Raju Bagga)
Section Officer

To
The Welfare Officers of All Ministries/Departments.
Area Welfare Officers, all Govt. colonies.

DoPT Order

Payment of OTA at double rate to certain categories of staff viz. Cook, Mali, dhobi, Masalchi, Barber etc. working in Ordnance Factory Hospital

Payment of OTA at double rate to certain categories of staff viz. Cook, Mali, dhobi, Masalchi, Barber etc. working in Ordnance Factory Hospital.

Circular

Fax/E-mail/Speed Post/Registered Post

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF DEFENCE
OFFICE OF THE PRINCIPAL CONTROLLER OF ACCOUNTS (FYS)
PAY TECH SECTION
10-A, S.K.BOSE ROAD, KOLKATA - 700 001

E-mail ID: cda-cal@nic.in
Website: www.pcafys.nic.in

Phone No: (033) 2248-5077 to 5080 Extn-593
Fax No.: (033) 2248-099

Pay/Tech-II/73/Cir/02

dated: 06-04-2017

To
All Cs F & IA (Fys)
All Br. AOs

Sub: Payment of OTA at double rate to certain categories of staff viz. Cook, Mali, dhobi, Masalchi, Barber etc. working in Ordnance Factory Hospital.

A copy of MoD ID No.50(16)/2012-D(Estt/NG) dated 10-03-2017 received through OFB letter No.525/)A-80/05/Per/Policy dated 14/03/2017 regarding payment of OT at double rate to Cook, Mali, Dhobi, Masalchi, Barber etc. working in OF Dispensaries/Hospital in line with para medical staff working in Dispensaries/OF Hospitals inside or outside of factory premises is forwarded herewith for information and necessary action please.

With the issue of this order this office ealier circular of even no. dated 22-04-2016 stands withdrawn.
Controller of Accounts (fys) has seen.

Sd/-
Deputy Controller Of Accounts (FYS)

Signed Copy

Centre introduces provision of taxation on NPS in Income Tax Act

Centre introduces provision of taxation on NPS in Income Tax Act

Press Information Bureau
Government Of India
Ministry Of Defence

Dated: 11-04-2017

Tax on NPS

The provision that the withdrawal from National Pension Scheme is taxed to the extent of 60 per cent has been introduced into the Income Tax Act, 1961 (Act) vide Finance Act, 2016 by inserting clause (12A) in Section 10 of the Act.

Prior to Finance Act, 2016, National Pension Scheme (NPS), referred to in section 80CCD, was under Exempt, Exempt and Tax (EET) regime i.e., the monthly/periodic contributions during the pension accumulation phase were allowed as deduction from income for tax purposes; the returns generated on these contributions during the accumulation phase were also exempt from tax but the terminal benefits on exit or superannuation, in the form of lump sum withdrawals, were taxable in the hands of the individual subscribed or his nominee in the year of receipt of such amounts unlike PPF and EPF which have been enjoying EEE regime i.e. Exempt, Exempt, Exempt.

In order to rationalize the taxability of receipts from pension plans, vide Finance Act, 2016, section 10 of the Act was amended to provide that any payment from National Pension Scheme to an employee on account of closure or his opting out of the NPS shall also be exempt from tax, to the extent it does not exceed forty percent of the total amount payable to him at the time of closure or his opting out of the scheme. Further, Finance Act, 2017 has amended section 10 of the Income-tax Act to exempt partial withdrawals by employees (to the extent of 25% of the employee’s contribution) from their NPS accounts in accordance with the guidelines prescribed under Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority Act, 2013.

This was stated by Shri Santosh Kumar Gangwar, Minister of State in the Ministry of Finance in written reply to a question in Rajya Sabha today.

Source: PIB

7th Pay Commission: After higher allowances and pensions, NJCA to negotiate minimum salary of Central Government Employees

7th Pay Commission: After higher allowances and pensions, NJCA to negotiate minimum salary of Central Govt employees

The National Joint Council of Action (NJCA), which is leading the negotiation over 7th Pay Commission on behalf of Central Government employees, has not boycotted the issue of minimum salaries. Speaking to India.com, NJCA convenor Shiv Gopal Mishra reiterated that the issue would be raised by National Council (staff side) after the anomalies related to allowances and pensions get settled.

“Minimum salary is an important issue. We will surely negotiate it with the Government. Once the matter pertaining to allowances and pensions gets settled, the NJCA will raise it,” Shiv Gopal Mishra said.

As per the recommendations of 7th Pay Commission, the minimum salaries of Central Government employees was hiked from Rs 7,000 to Rs 18,000. The fitment factor used by Justice AK Mathur-led 7th pay panel was 2.57. The NJCA has demanded the Government to upgrade the fitment factor to at least 3.68, in order to revise the minimum salaries to Rs 26,000.

The Confederation of Central Government employees has also demanded the Government to raise the minimum salaries to Rs 26,000, along with the regularisation of contractual employees.

The issue of minimum salary was one of the key agenda laid before NJCA before the Government in July 2016, when they had threatened a mass strike. Nearly 33 lakh Central Government employees were expected to participate in the indefinite strike which was scheduled to begin from July 11. However, after receiving assurance from Centre, the NJCA was compelled to retract their mass agitation.

No indication has been given from the Government so far regarding the upgradation of minimum salary using a fitment factor of 3.68. According to experts, Centre could adopt a middle road by using a fitment factor of anything between 2.86 to 3.15. The minimum salary, thereby, could be increased between Rs 19,000 to 22,020. However, no official confirmation regarding the same has been received.

The utmost target for NJCA, before the hike in minimum salary, is the implementation of higher allowances. Due to anomalies raised by unions in July, only the basic component of salary was raised for Central Government employees. The hike in allowances was awaited as Centre formed a committee under Finance Secretary Ashok Lavasa to review the demands raised by unions.

Source : india.com

REVISION OF ECHS RATES FOR EMPANELLED HOSPITALS, DIAGNOSTIC LABORATORIES AND IMAGING CENTRES, MUMBAI

CGHS package rates of Delhi shall be treated as ECHS package rates in Mumbai

Revision of ECHS Rates for Empanelled Hospitals, Diagnostic Laboratories and imaging centres, Mumbai

Central Organisation, ECHS
Adjutant General's Branch
Integrated Headquarters
Ministry Of Defence (Army)
Maude Lines
Delhi Cantt-110 010

B/49773/AG/ECHS/Rates/Policy

05 April 2017

IHQ Of MoD (Navy) Dir ECHS (N)
Air HQ (VB)/DPS
HQ southern Command (A/ECHS)
HQ Eastern Command (A/ECHS)
HQ Western Command (A/ECHS)
HQ Central Command (A/ECHS)
HQ Northern Command (A/ECHS)
HQ South Western Command (A/ECHS)
HQ Andaman & Nicobar Command (A/ECHS)

REVISION OF ECHS RATES FOR EMPANELLED HOSPITALS, DIAGNOSTIC LABORATORIES AND IMAGING CENTRES, MUMBAI

1. Refer GOI MoD ID No 22A (48)/2007/US/WE/D (Res) dt 19 Aug 2010.

2. CGHS rates were revised for all cities except Mumbai in 2014.

3. CGHS has vide its OM S-11011/222017/CGHS-HEC dt 03 Apr 2017 revised the rate of Mumbai from 2010 to Delhi 2014 rates as an interim measure.

4. Regional Centre ECHS Mumbai would disseminate the new rates to empanelled hospitals, diagnostic laboratories and imaging centres, SEMO's Stn HQr's & ECHS polyclinics.

5. The provedures and CGHS package rates of Delhi shall hereafter be treated as ECHS package rates for hospitals, diagnostic laboratories & imaging centres under Regional centre ECHS Mumbai and the rates would be applicable from the date of issue of this letter.

(IVS Gahlot)
Col
Dir (Med)
for MD ECHS

Authority: http://echs.gov.in/

No provision of reservation to admit civilian students in army schools: Rajya Sabha

No provision of reservation to admit civilian students in army schools: Rajya Sabha

New Delhi: There is no provision of reservation for civilian students in Army Public Schools but children from local areas are admitted to the seats which are left vacant, Rajya Sabha was informed today.

During the Question Hour, Minister of State for Defence Subhash Bhamre gave details as per which in 2017-18, seven VIP references had been received for admissions to these schools.

According to the minister, in 2016-17, 12 VIP references had been received and of these, 4 were granted admissions.

In 2015-16, he said 26 VIP references were received for admission to these schools and admission was granted in 4 cases while it was not given in 22 instances because of non-availability of seats.

Bhamre said these schools were not run by the government and there was a priority provision for the wards of defence personnel.

He said the fee structure was based on the rank of the army personnel and added that for civilian students, the fee was comparable to private schools in the area.

PTI

Admission of Poor Students in Kendriya Vidyalayas

Admission of Poor Students in Kendriya Vidyalayas

Admissions in Kendriya Vidyalayas (KVs) are decided on the basis of Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan (KVS) Admission Guidelines giving priority to wards of transferable Central Government employees. It does not have any income slab as criterion for deciding admissions. However, as per provisions of Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education (RTE) Act, 2009 KVS already provides for reservation of 25% seats in class-I at entry stage to the children belonging to SC / ST / OBC non creamy layer / EWS / BPL and differently abled children taken together.

Keeping in view the needs of low income groups of the society, the Hon’ble Members of Parliament have been requested to recommend only those children whose parents have an annual income below Rs. 5 lakhs, for consideration for admission in the KVs under their special dispensation quota.

The above information given by the Minister of HRD Shri Upendra Kushwaha in Parliament on 10.04.2017.