EPFO: To hike take-home pay of employees, government plans to cut employers contribution to 10%

EPFO: To hike take-home pay of employees, government plans to cut employers contribution to 10%

Chief provident fund commissioner (CPFC) V P Joy told FE the matter is on the agenda and that the opinion of the CBT members would be sought.

In a move that will increase the take-home pay of employees, the government plans to prune employers' contribution to the employees' provident fund (EPF) to 10% from 12% currently. Sources said the proposal to trim employers' contribution, aimed at promoting formal employment, will be placed before the central board of trustees (CBT), the highest decision-making body of the employees' provident fund organisation (EPFO), at its meeting on Saturday.

Chief provident fund commissioner (CPFC) V P Joy told FE the matter is on the agenda and that the opinion of the CBT members would be sought. Joy denied the government was putting pressure on it to take up the matter with the CBT members. Apart from representatives from both the Centre and the states, CBT is represented by the employers' and workers' organisations including central trade unions.

This proposal is in line with the government's policy to extend social security benefits to all workers and at the same time ensure ease of doing business. "The labour ministry feels that by reducing the quantum of employer's contribution, it can persuade more units to extend the EPF benefits to its workers," a labour ministry official said. The EPFO currently has 4.15 crore active subscribers.

Under the present law, it is mandatory for units employing 20 or more persons to provide EPF benefits to workers. While employees contribute 12% of the basic pay to EPF, the employer contributes 8.33% towards the employees' pension scheme and 3.67% to the EPF itself.

Additionally, employers also pay 0.5% towards EDLI, 0.65% as EPF administrative charges and 0.01% as EDLI handling fee, taking the total contribution to 13.61%.

"It is to be condemned that the Centre's labour department has proposed a reduction in the employers' contribution to the EPF from 12% to 10% of the basic pay. While the government claims the rights of the workers will be safeguarded, this move to reduce EPF contribution of employers exposes the pro-corporate policies of the government and its only concern is "ease of doing business," said CITU General secretary Tapan Sen. AITUC's national secretary DL Sachdeva also said that the proposal would be protested at the meeting.

Vrijesh Upadhyay, general secretary, Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh (BMS), the biggest trade union and affiliated to the RSS, said savings should rise proportionately with the income.

There has been discussion yet on whether the share of employees too will be lowered, sources said should it be decided that employers will contribute 10%. Driven by a policy to extend social security benefits to workers who are currently outside its ambit, the government was considering lowering employers' liability towards EPF in the construction sector to 10% of the basic pay from 12% now. Employers with some other sectors already get the benefit.

EPFO has, of late, been on a enrolment drive. Enthused by an encouraging response to its first three-month enrollment programme, through which over 30 lak new subscribers joined the scheme, EPFO extended the programme for another three months with effect from April 1.

Source: www.financialexpress.com

Extension of 7th CPC benefits and grant of Dearness Relief to Pensioners of Autonomous/Statutory bodies under Administrative Control of Department of Commerce

Extension of 7th CPC benefits and grant of Dearness Relief to Pensioners of  Autonomous/Statutory bodies under Administrative Control of Department of Commerce

F.No. F-20016/04/2016-E-111
Ministry of Commerce and Industry
Department of Commerce
E.III Section

Udyog Bhawan, New Delhi-110107
Dated: 23/25.05.2017

OFFICE MEMORANDUM

Sub: Extension of 7th CPC benefits and grant of Dearness Relief to Pensioners of Autonomous/Statutory bodies under Administrative Control of Department of Commerce.

The undersigned is directed to refer to e-mail dated 14th May, 2017 (copy enclosed) received from Pensioners Associations of Statutory/Autonomous Bodies of Central Government on the above subject and to say that the 7th CPC orders issued by Department of Pension and Pensioners Welfare are not applicable to the pensioners of Autonomous/Statutory bodies.

The concerned administrative Divisions dealing with Autonomous/Statutory bodies under Department of Commerce are, therefore, requested to take necessary action accordingly.

S/d,
(Amitabh Dwivedi)
Deputy Secretary

Source  : Confederation

Recommendations of the 7th Central Pay Commission - bunching of stages in the revised pay structure

DOPT Clarification on 7th CPC bunching of stages in the revised pay structure

 No.20011/1/2016-AIS-II
Government of India
Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pension
Department of Personnel & Training

New Delhi, dated the 25th May, 2017

To,
The Chief Secretaries of all States/UTs
The Joint Secretaries (Admn.) of all Ministries/Departments.

Subject: Recommendations of the 7th Central Pay Commission - bunching of stages in the revised pay structure-reg.

Sir,
I am directed to say that after revision of pay scales w.e.f 01.01.2016, the pay of a member of Service drawing pay at two or more stages in pre-revised Pay Band and Grade Pay or scale and gets fixed at same Cell in the applicable Level in the new Pay Matrix, one additional increment shall be given for every two stages bunched and the pay of member of Service drawing higher pay in pre-revised structure shall be fixed at the next vertical Cell in the applicable Level as per the Proviso (a) to Rule 4 (A) of the IAS (Pay) Rules, 2016

2. However, this Department has been receiving queries from various Ministries/Departments/State Governments for fixation of pay in respect of members of Service whose pay gets fixed at the same Cell,in the applicable Level in the new Pay Matrix. The matter was clarified vide OM No.13021/1/2016-AIS-I (Pt.2) dated the 10th October, 2016 (copy enclosed). It is once again clarified that as per Rule 4 (A)(ii) of IAS (Pay) Rule, 2016, in cases of fixation of pay of IAS officers drawing pay at two or more stages in the pre-revised Pay Band and Grade Pay gets fixed at the same Cell in the applicable Level of the Pay Matrix, one additional increment may be given for every two stages bunched so that the pay of the member of Service drawing higher pay in the pre-revised structure is fixed at the next vertical Cell in the applicable Level.

Illustration:
If two members of Service drawing pay of Rs.53000 and Rs.54590 in the GP 10000 are to be fitted in the new pay matrix, the member of Service drawing pay of Rs.53000 on multiplication by a factor of 2.57 will expect a pay corresponding to Rs.1,36,210 and the member of Service drawing pay of Rs.54590 on multiplication by a factor of 2.57 will expect a pay corresponding to Rs. 1,40,296. Revised pay of both should ideally be fixed in the first cell of level 14 in the pay of Rs. 1,44,200 but to avoid bunching the member of Services drawing pay of Rs.54590 will get fixed second cell of level 14 in the pay of Rs.1,48,500.

2. This issues with the approval of the competent authority.

Yours faithfully,
(Rajesh Kumar Yadav)

Under Secretary to the Government of India

Order Copy

Atal Pension Yojana (APY) reaches 53 lakhs subscribers base

Atal Pension Yojana (APY) reaches 53 lakhs subscribers base 

235 Banks and Department of Post involved with APY implementation
97.5% of the subscribers contributing at monthly intervals; 51.5% subscribers have opted for a monthly pension of Rs. 1000

The subscribers base under the Atal Pension Yojana (APY) has reached about 53 Lakhs. At present 235 Banks and Department of Post are involved with the implementation of the scheme. Besides the branches of the banks and CBS-enabled offices of India Post, quite a few banks are sourcing subscribers through their internet banking portals in a paperless environment.

The APY Scheme follows the same investment pattern as applicable to the NPS contribution of Central Government employees.  During the year 2016-17, it has earned a return of 13.91%.

With a view to empower the APY subscribers, new functionalities have been developed where under a subscriber can view and print the ePRAN card and Statement of Transactions. Further, the subscriber can register complaints/ grievance by providing his/ her PRAN details on https://npslite-nsdl.com/CRAlite/grievanceSub.do.

Presently males account for 62% of the subscribers and female for about 38%. Most of the subscribers have opted for monthly contribution; about 97.5% of the subscribers are contributing at monthly intervals, about 0.8% at quarterly intervals and about 1.7% at half yearly intervals.

A majority of the subscribers have opted for a monthly pension of Rs. 1000/-.  Presently 51.5% subscribers have opted for a monthly pension of Rs.1000/- and 34.5% of the subscribers have opted for a monthly pension of Rs.5000/-. Pension amount wise segmentation of the subscribers is shown in Figure 1.

Figure 1: Pension amount wise segmentation of the APY subscribers

The Atal Pension Yojana became operational from 1st June, 2015 and is available to all the citizens of India in the age group of 18-40 years. Under the scheme, a subscriber would receive a minimum guaranteed pension of Rs.1000 to Rs. 5000 per month, depending upon his contribution, from the age of 60 years.  The same pension would be paid to the spouse of the subscriber and on the demise of both the subscriber and the spouse, the accumulated pension wealth is returned to the nominee.

PIB

CPAO OM on 7th CPC Revision of Pre-2016 Pension in pursuance to DP&PW OM dt 12.05.17 and MoF OM 23.05.2017

CPAO OM on 7th CPC Revision of Pre-2016 Pension in pursuance to DP&PW OM dt 12.05.17 and MoF OM 23.05.2017

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF FINANCE
DEPARTMENT OF EXPENDITURE
CENTRAL PENSION ACCOUNTING OFFICE
TRIKOOT-II, BHIKAJI CAMA PLACE,
NEW DELHI - 110066

CPAO/IT& Tech/Revision (7th CPC)/19.Vol-III/2016-17/37

Dated:25-05-2017

Office Memorandum

Implementation of Revision of Pension of Pre- 1.1.2016 Pensioners/Family Pensioners in pursuance to DP& PW OM 38/37/2016-P& PW (A) dated 12th May 2017 and Ministry Of Finance (Deptt.Of Expenditure) OM No.1(13)/EV/2017 dated 23rd May, 2017.

1. Reference is invited to DP& PW OM No.38/37/2016-P& PW(A) dated 12-05-2017 regarding revision of pension of Pre-2016 retirees under 7th CPC. As per Para 4 of this OM, it has been decided that the revised pension/family pension w.e.f. 01.01.2016 in respect of all Central Civil Pensioners/Family Pensioners, including CAPF’s who retired/died prior to 01.01.2016, may be revised by notionally fixing their pay in the pay matrix recommended by the 7th CPC in the level corresponding to the pay in the pay scale/pay band and grade pay at which they retired/died. This will be done by notional pay fixation under each intervening Pay Commission based on the Formula for revision of pay. While fixing pay on notional basis, the pay fixation formula e approved by the Government and other relevant instructions on the subject in force at the relevant time shall be strictly followed. 50% of the notional pay as on 01.01.2016 shall be the revised pension and 30% of this notional pay shall be the revised family pension w.e.f. 1.1.2016 as per the first Formulation. In the case of family pensioners who were entitled to family pension at enhanced rate, the revised family pension shall be 50% of the notional pay as on 01.01.2016 and shall be payable till the period up to which family pension at enhanced rate is admissible as per rules.

2. As per Para 18 of this OM, the Pension Sanctioning Authority would impress upon the concerned Head of Office [HOO) for fixation of pay on notional basis and issue revised authority at the earliest. The revised authority will be issued under the existing PPO number and would travel to the Pension Disbursing Authority through the same channel through which the original PPO had travelled.

3. Reference is also invited to Ministry of Finance (Deptt. of Expenditure) OM No.1(13)/EV /2017 dated 23-May,2017 mentioning procedural points of action to be taken by concerned agencies including Pension Accounting Authorities & PAOs.

4. To facilitate early revision of pension and monitoring timely progress in this regard as required by aforesaid OM, course of actions are brought out below:

i.List of all the live cases available in CPAO along with details of last pay [wherever available] due for pension revision under 7th CPC will be provided to the Pay and Account 0fficers (PAOsJ in their logins under CPAO website www.cpao.nic.in by 31st May, 2017 to provide the details to concerned Head of Offices within 3 days and coordinate with them for getting the revised pension cases at the earliest. PAOs/HOOs may also check their records to verify actual number ofcases.
ii.In the meanwhile, since all the service records/details of the pensioners are available with the respective HOOs from where they retired/died, HOOs are required to check their records and start revising the pension in terms of Para 4 of the aforementioned OM of the DP& PW forrhwith. Pr. CCAs/CCAs /CAs/AGs/Administrators of UTs may monitor number of such cases received at PAOs and submit a report to CPAO by 31st May,2017.

iii. For the expeditious revisions of these pension cases, CPAO has developed an e-revision utility which has facility of sending online revision authorities from PAOs to CPAO under the digital signatures of PAOs. PAOs are required to revise pension cases through e-revision utility. Since under this utility, revision authorities would be sent under the digital signatures, pension processing PAOs are urgently required to arrange digital signatures and their registration on PFMs, if not done so far. In unavoidable circumstances to avoid delay, PAOs may process the pension cases manually as hitherto and send the paper based revision authorities to CPAO in the format given at Annexure.

iv. The list as mentioned at (i) above will also be provided under the logins/dashboard of chief controller of accounts and joint secretary (Admn)/Adma in charge of the Ministries/Departments on CPAO website. Joint Secretary (Admn)/Admn in charge may also distribute the list of pension cases to the HOOs falling under their administrative control and monitor the progress of Pension revisions at HOOs level. similarly, Pr.CCAs/CCAs/CAs/AGs/Administrators of UTs may keep a watch on the progress of the revision of cases received from HOOs to PAOs.

v. To facilitate effective monitoring of progress of revision at each level i.e. CCA/JS(Admn)/PAO, relevant progress reports would be available on CPAO website under logins/dashboards of respective authorities. On the basis of these reports, periodical review meetings may be held at the Ministry/Deptt./Organization level.
vi. In those cases, where 2.57 multiplication method of pension fixation is beneficial under DP& PW OM No.38/37/2016-P& PW (A) (ii) dated 4/08/2016, revised pension authority under 2.57 multiplication methods will also require to be issued by HOOs/PAOs for updation of records at CPAO & Banks as well as for information of pensioners by CPAO. However, HOOs/PAOs while revising the pension may prioritize the cases which are beneficial to the pensioners under pay fixation method. To cover large number of cases, in less time Pr.CCAs/CCAs/CAs/AGs/Administrators of UTs & JS(Admn) of Ministries/Deptts.
/Organization may identify the cases where revisions may be effected easily without involving multiple steps e.g.revisions of pension of those pensioners who retired/died during the period from 1.1.2006 to 31.12.2015 and whose pension is already fixed under 6th CPC.

vii. Pr.CCAs/CCAs/CAs/AGs/Administrators of UTs may nominate a Nodal Person/Key Resource Person (KRP) to coordinate with CPAO regarding any issues related with pension revisions and use of e-Revision utility. In case of any difficulty in the use of e-Revision utility Sh.Davinder Kumar, Technical Director, NIC, CPAO may be contacted on Telephone No.011-26715338 and email-kumardavinder@nic.in. If required, officials of Ministries/Departments/PAOs may also visit CPAO on every Wednesday to resolve their issues related with pension revisions.

In view of the above, Pr.CCAs/CCAs/CAs/AGs/Administrators of UTs are requested to follow the above guidelines and issue necessary instructions to their PAOs for early revision of Pre-2016 pension cases under 7th CPC. They are further requested to Coordinate with their JS(Admn)/Admn in charge/HODs for timely submission of revised pension cases by the HOOs to PAOs and monitor the progress in this regard.
This issues with the approval of controller General of Accounts.

Sd/-
(Subhash Chandra)
Controller of Accounts

Source: www.cpao.nic.in

Pay anomaly in the Supervisory Cadre of Accounts Department, Ministry of Railways, and pay disparity with other Supervisory Cadres of the Central Government Services

Pay anomaly in the Supervisory Cadre of Accounts Department, Ministry of Railways, and pay disparity with other Supervisory Cadres of the Central Government Services

Shiva Gopal Mishra
Secretary
National Council (Staff Side)
Joint Consultative Machinery
for Central Government Employees
13-C, Ferozshah Road, New Delhi - 110001
E-Mail : nc.jcm.np@gmail.com
No.NC/JCM/2017

Dated: May 24, 2017

The Jt. Secretary(Pers.),
Department of Expenditure,
Room No.39-A, North Block,
New Delhi

Dear Madam,
Sub: Pay anomaly in the Supervisory Cadre of Accounts Department, Ministry of Railways, and pay disparity with other Supervisory Cadres of the Central Government Services

While deposing before the 7th CPC, this Federation brought to the notice of the Commission that,subsequent to the acceptance of the VI CPC recommendations a peculiar anomaly arosewhere a junior drawing higher Grade Pay than the senior in the cadre of Section Officer(Accounts). The Committee of the 7th Pay commission observed that the above anomalous situation purely arose on circumstantial grounds and needs to be rectified. Thus in its report, the Commission found merit in the above contention and recommended that Seniors must be given the benefit of stepping up and further in line with their recommendations for Organized Accounts Cadres, it further recommended that "Section Officer (Accounts) Railways in GP Rs.4800 should be upgraded, on completion of four years' service, to the existing GP Rs.5400(PB-2), viz., Level 9 in the Pay Matrix, on non-functional basis.(Ref.: Para No.11.40.83 of 7th CPC).

The 7th Central Pay Commission acknowledged that the skill sets of the Organized Accounts Cadres are fairly higher and the organized accounts cadres have to compulsorily pass various stringent examinations for promotions. Moreover, Sr. Section Officers(A/Cs) had been assigned complete parity with Section Officers(S.O.) of the Central Secretariat Service(CSS) and they had been granted the pay scale of Rs.6500-10500(S-12) w.e.f. 01.01.1996 in accordance with 6th CPC. Further, it was also noted that parity between Organized Accounts Cadres and the cadre of Section Officers of CSS was disturbed by granting non-functional upgradation to GP Rs.5400(PB-3) after four years of service to Section Officers of CSS only. The Commission also noted that, non-functional up-gradation from GP Rs.4800 to GP Rs.5400(PB-3), on completion of four years of service, has been accorded to a number of posts by the Government of India in 2008. The Commission also found no reason and justification to deprive this benefit of upgradation to GP Rs.5400 to the Officers of the Organized Accounts Cadres who are in GP Rs.4800.
“Thus, the Pay Commission recommended that, all officers in the Organized Accounts Cadres (in the Indian Audit and Accounts Department, Defence Accounts Department, Indian Civil Accounts Organization, Railways, Post and Telecommunications), who are in GP Rs.4800, should be upgraded, on completion of four years' service to GP Rs.5400(PB-2), viz. pay level 9, in the pay matrix”. (Ref. Para 11.12.140 of 7th CPC).

To utter dismay, the Government of India, while accepting the recommendations of the Pay Commission on upgrading of posts, left out the Ministry of Defence and Railways for non-functional upgradation to GP Rs.5400(PB-3) after four years of service for the categories of AAOs(Finance Division of Defence, Ministry of Defence) and Senior Section Officer(Accounts), Senior Travelling Inspector(Accounts) and Senior Inspector(Store Accounts), Ministry of Railways, with the remarks that, “it will be examined by DOPT for taking a comprehensive view in the matter”. The DoP&T took almost nine months and transferred the issue on 7th April, 2017 to the Ministry of Finance(Expenditure). In other words, benefit of upgradation to GP Rs.5400 after completion of four years of service has been granted to all other Organized Accounts Cadres of the Indian Audit and Accounts Department, Indian Civil Accounts Organization and Post and Telecommunications.

The Ministry of Defence in their recent ID Note No.369/C/2017 dated 23.03.2017 also recommended that, "above benefit be extended to the Assistant Accounts Officer(AAO) of Defence Accounts Department”. On the other hand, DoP&T, in their communication ID Note No.1198678/16-Estt.(Pay-I) dated 02.02.2017 to the Executive Director, Pay Commission-III, Ministry of Railways, advised the Ministry of Railways to consult Department of Expenditure since revision of pay scales comes under the administrative domain of the Department of Expenditure in terms of Government of India(Allocation of Business) Rules. It shows the indifferent approach of government of India towards Railway Accounts Employee.

This issue has been elaborated and explained in the tabulated format at Annexure 'A'.

The Supervisory Cadre of the Accounts Department of the Railways is also entrusted with the responsibilities of presenting the Railway Accounts on widely accepted of accrual based Accounting in addition to presenting the Government Accounts as per requirements laid down in the Constitution of India, as announced by Hon'able Minister of Railway, Shri Suresh Prabhu, in his budget speech.

It would be highly appreciated, if the benefit of grant of GP Rs.5400 is extended to Supervisory Cadre of the Accounts Department, Ministry of Railways, on completion of four years of service in GP Rs.4800, who are the only left in this case. This will also end pay disparity between the Organized Accounts Cadres of the Government of India.

An early action in the matter shall be highly appreciated.

Comradely Yours,
sd/-
(Shiva Gopal Mishra)

Source: http://ncjcmstaffside.com

3 years of Modi government - A report card

Press Information Bureau
Government of India
President's Secretariat

26-May-2017 12:14 IST

Three years of Modi government: A report card

The record of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) during its three years in power has been impressive, judging by macroeconomic parameters, especially inflation.
Politically too, the BJP has seen unprecedented ascendancy by wresting back power in Uttar Pradesh in March after a gap of 15 years and expanding its electoral footprint to the North-East. This in part explains why Prime Minister Narendra Modi remains India's most popular political leader.
Still, controversies associated with the actions of fringe saffron groups have left the BJP vulnerable to criticism. The next general election is due in 2019 and, to a large extent, the outcome will depend on Modi's management of the optics and his government's ability to generate jobs to meet the growing aspirations of voters.
Here is a look at the key themes of the NDA's three years in power.

CONNECTIVITY

Positive

1. New integrated transportation initiative for roads, railways, waterways and civil aviation.
2. Sagarmala and Bharatmala programmes for the construction of new ports and expressways.
3. UDAN (Ude Desh ka Aam Naagrik) regional connectivity scheme with fares starting at about Rs2,500.

Negative

1. Increasing number of railway accidents.
2. 23km per day of highway construction achieved vis-a-vis a target of 41km.
3. Air India's finances are still precarious. The national carrier is still grappling with legacy issues.

TERROR, DEFENCE AND FOREIGN POLICY

Positive

1. Carried out surgical strikes across the Line of Control (LoC) in Kashmir, resumed cordon and search operations in more than 20 villages in Shopian.
2. Combing operations launched against Maoists in Chhattisgarh.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi's "neighbourhood diplomacy" falling in place as relations with Bangladesh, Nepal and Sri Lanka look up.

Negative

1. No strategy to pre-empt rebel attacks on security personnel in districts where Maoists are active.
2. Ties with Pakistan and China are icy despite Prime Minister Modi making trips to both countries (a December 2015 stopover in the former).
3. Relations with Russia - India's once time-tested friend - too seem to be in the doldrums.

FARMERS

Positive

1. New crop insurance scheme and higher funding for irrigation to counter weather risks.
2. Set an ambitious goal to double farm incomes in real terms by 2022, moving away from the historical focus on increasing production.
3. Initiated a range of marketing reforms to create a "one nation, one market" in agriculture.

Negative

1. Decline in wholesale prices of vegetables and pulses has dented farm incomes.
2. A loan waiver in Uttar Pradesh led to a moral hazard problem and delay in repayment of loans in other states.
3. Acute drought in southern states led to a spike in farm suicides.

GREEN ECONOMY AND ENERGY

Positive

1. Push for electric vehicles.
2. Rs42,000 crore unlocked for afforestation with Parliament passing The Compensatory Afforestation Fund Bill, 2016.
3. Clean and renewable energy generation gets a boost.

Negative

1. Neglect of the forest and wildlife sectors. Decisions pending on a national forest policy, definition of forests, inviolate forest areas and a national wildlife action plan.
2. Activists allege that the government is favouring industries and indiscriminately giving green clearances, ignoring the toll taken on the environment.
3. Ganga clean-up is yet to gather momentum.

Positive

1. Got states on board to introduce the goods and services tax (GST), the biggest tax reform since independence.
2. Crackdown on black money leads to a surge in 2016-17 tax receipts, number of return filers.
3. Merger of railway budget with Union budget and shifting budget presentation date to 1 February from 28 February.

Negative

1. Demonetisation drive led to short-term cash crunch, hit small and medium enterprises.
2. Pending cases of retrospective taxation on past transactions still unresolved.
3. Inability to bring back black money stashed away abroad by citizens.

POLITICS

Positive

1. Getting unanimity on the economic reforms agenda with high parliamentary productivity.
2. Series of electoral gains puts the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) on the political forefront.
3. Expanding voter base of the BJP to Dalits and other backward classes, focus on expansion in the North-East.

Negative

1. Failure to get consensus on reform policies like a proposed land bill.
2. Allegations of toppling elected state governments.
3. Problems within the NDA: the Peoples Democratic Party (Jammu and Kashmir), Shiv Sena (Maharashtra) and Telugu Desam Party (Andhra Pradesh) are annoyed with the BJP leadership.

EMPOWERMENT - SOCIAL SAFETY, EDUCATION, JOBS, GENDER

Positive

1. Graded autonomy to promote quality in education.
2. Slew of social security measures to benefit the working class.
3. Six months of paid maternity leave for working women.

Negative

1. The Women's Reservation Bill is still pending.
2. New Education Policy still to be formulated.
3. Job creation yet to pick up pace.

MINDSET CHANGE

Positive

1. Swachh Bharat Abhiyan launched to eliminate open defecation and promote cleanliness.
2. Soviet-style five-year plans come to an end; 15-year vision, three-year action plan come into play.
3. Cashless economy.

Negative

1. Hyper-nationalism as seen through the lens of social media trolling and rise of vigilante groups with little regard for human life.
2. Rise of vigilante groups with political agendas who attack minorities.
3. In spite of stricter laws, greater awareness and even campaigns, violence against women continues unabated.

DIGITAL AND COMMUNICATIONS

Positive

1. Improving e-infrastructure, e-participation and government e-services for addressing transparency.
2. Unified Payments Interface (UPI) - a payment system that allows mobile-enabled money transfers between bank accounts. Promotion of the Bharat Interface for Money (BHIM) for a less-cash economy.
3. Leveraging Aadhaar for improving service delivery to citizens.

Negative

1. Call drops continue despite mobile phone services providers promising improvement.
2. Drop in digital payment transactions with the easing of a cash crunch that followed the demonetisation of high-value banknotes in November.
3. Leakage of Aadhaar data.

OPTICS

Positive

1. Doing away with the red beacon - a symbol of so-called VIP culture - from all government vehicles.
2. Extending support to ending the practice of triple talaq.
3. Introducing the Beti Bachao Beti Padhao (save the girl child, educate the girl child) scheme.

Negative

1. Rise of vigilante groups called Gau Rakshaks, who target people suspected of harming cows or consuming beef.
2. Launch of the anti-Romeo squads in Uttar Pradesh, ostensibly to protect women from harassment, but seen widely as moral policing.
3. Ghar Wapsi (homecoming), aimed at promoting the conversion of non-Hindus to Hinduism, and campaign against Love Jihad, allegedly practised by Muslim men to win over Hindu women.

7th Pay Commission: No scope to change in higher allowances

7th Pay Commission: No scope to change in higher allowances

New Delhi: Finance Ministry sources today said on condition of anonymity, there is no scope to change in higher allowances, which were recommended by the 7th Pay Commission.

The sources came up with the remark while talking to us about hiking of allowances of all central government employees and officials by the Empowered Committee of Secretaries (E-CoS) better than the 7th Pay Commission recommendations.

Those who will hope over these issues will gain nothing but no change in 7th Pay Commission recommendations on allowances are very much hiking possible, they added.

Replying to a question, the sources said, "The demand of central government employees to hike in allowances than the 7th Pay Commission recommendations is likely not to be considered by the secretaries panel."

"The central government finally decided not to give any facility to central government employees better than the 7th Pay Commission recommendations. Accordingly, the government stuck with the 7th Pay Commission recommendations on pay scales and advances and its implementation have been made forcefully.
Moreover, the government is now engaged in forceful implementation of allowances, which was recommended by the 7th Pay Commission," the finance ministry sources added.

The sources also said that the quantum of allowances may not vary from those proposed by the 7th Pay Commission as the committee on allowances headed by Finance Secretary stuck with the 7th Pay Commission's recommendations on allowances.

The Government will not necessarily be bound by the findings of the Empowered Committee of Secretaries on allowances, the sources confirmed.

"The Empowered Committee will make its proposal," source said. "government will make the decision."
In late June, after implementing the 7th Pay Commission proposals on salary and pension, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley had announced the 'Committee on Allowances', headed by Finance Secretary Ashok Lavasa to examine the suggestions on allowances. It had time till October to give the report but this got delayed.

The decision on allowances was postponed because the 7th Pay Commission wanted a number of these to be abolished or subsumed. Employee unions were opposed.

The 'Committee on Allowances' submitted its report to finance minister Arun Jaitley on April 27.
However, the Committee's report on higher allowances under the 7th Pay Commission haven't made public.
The report on allowances is now examined by the Empowered Committee of Secretaries (E-CoS) headed by the Cabinet Secretary P K Sinha and after it, it will be placed before the Cabinet.

Shiv Gopal Mishra, secretary of the National Joint Council of Action (NJCA), which is a centralised union of several central government employees unions, met with the Cabinet Secretary recently for inordinate delay on implementation of allowances.

The Cabinet Secretary assured Mishra that the Empowered Committee of Secretaries is likely to take a final decision on higher allowances by June 1.

The central government employees now get all allowances except dearness allowance, according to the 6th Pay Commission recommendations until issuing of higher allowances notification.

The Union Finance Minister, Shri Arun Jaitley: Goods and Services Tax (GST) is an efficient tax system which not only checks tax evasion but also helps evolving India to become very strong society

The Union Finance Minister, Shri Arun Jaitley: Goods and Services Tax (GST) is an efficient tax system which not only checks tax evasion but also helps evolving India to become very strong society

FM inaugurates the National Academy of Customs, Indirect Taxes and Narcotics (NACIN) Campus in Bengaluru today

Inaugurating the National Academy of Customs, Indirect Taxes and Narcotics (NACIN) Campus in the Bengaluru today, the Union Finance Minister Shri Arun Jaitley said that Indirect Taxation regime in the country will play a key role and is undergoing a vital change.  He said that the present multiple taxation system is transformed into the Goods and Services Tax (GST) and all the taxes are amalgamated. Speaking further, the Finance Minister said that the new GST regime will come into effect from July 1, 2017. GST is an efficient tax system which not only checks tax evasion but it also help evolving India to become very strong society.

Speaking further on the occasion, the Finance Minister Shri Jaitley said that the new Indirect Tax is a product of federal India. He added that the Centre and the States will jointly administer and decide the taxes.  Coordination between taxation authority of Centre and States is also important. He said that the tax training academy NACIN, which has come-up in Bengaluru to impart training to officers of Central and State Governments and PSUs has to play a vital role.

Participating on the occasion, Smt.Vanaja N. Sarna, Chairperson, CBEC highlighted the contributions of NACIN.  Shri D.P.Nagendra Kumar, Principal Director General, NACIN, gave an overview of the new NACIN Complex.  Shri S.Ramesh, Member (Admn.), CBIC welcomed the dignitaries on this occasion while Shri P. K. Dash, Pr. Additonal Director General, NACIN, proposed vote of thanks.

PIB

Status Report on implementation of OROP benefits as on April 30,2017

 Status Report on implementation of OROP benefits as on April 30,2017

Till 30.04.2017, a sum of Rs. 4,141.99 crores and Rs. 2,363.32 crores have been paid towards first installments & second installments of OROP arrears to 20,31,893 Ex-Servicemen/family pensioners and 15,87,643 Ex-Servicemen respectively. Further, a sum of Rs. 1,902.18 crores has also been paid to 13,04,353 ExServicemen as third installments of OROP arrears.

Withdrawal under paragraph 68-BD of EPF Scheme, 1952 for housing needs of the PF members

Withdrawal under paragraph 68-BD of EPF Scheme, 1952 for housing needs of the PF members

Employees Provident Fund Organisation
(Ministry of Labour & Employment, Govt. of India)
Head Office
Bhavishya Nidhi Bhawan, 14-Bhikaiji Cama Place, New Delhi-110066

No: WSU/39(1)2017/Housing Scheme/4106

Date: 24.05.2017

To
All Addl. CPFC (HQ/ Zone),
Regional P.F. Commissioners-incharge of
Regional Offices.

Sub: Withdrawal under paragraph 68-BD of EPF Scheme, 1952 for housing needs of the PF members.
Ref: HO circular dated of even numbers dated 21.04.2017, 02.05.2017 & 19.05.2017

Sir,
Please refer to the above said subject.

2. There are a number of State Housing Boards or other authorities owned by the Government which construct and sell houses. In certain cases their houses remain unsold. Considering this, it is advised that RPFCs-incharge of ROs should contact all such Housing Board/authorities in their jurisdiction and persuade them for allotment of such unsold houses directly to the PF Workers' Cooperative Societies but EPFO shall not recommend or be associated in the agreement with any particular housing agency/housing society. RPFCs should also discuss the issue with PF Workers' Union and employers of establishments for formation of cooperative societies so that the concerned society may also negotiate with such Housing Board/ authorities.

3. Accordingly, it is advised that provisions of paragraph 68-BD of EPF Scheme, 1952 be given due focus and publicity by all such possible means in the interest of the workers.

Yours faithfully,

S/d,
(K.L. Taneja)
Addl. Central P.F. Commission (Housing)

Source: epfindia.gov.in

Payment of Over Time Allowance to the JEs (AC) performing running/ maintenance duties on Rajdhani/Shatabdi Trains

Dated: 24.05.2017

No. I/8/Part I

The Secretary (E),
Railway Board,
New Delhi

Dear Sir,
Sub: Payment of Over Time Allowance to the JEs (AC) performing running/ maintenance duties on Rajdhani/Shatabdi Trains-reg.

Ref:  General Manager (Personnel), Eastern Railway's letter No. E.740/0/Migo (Policy) dated 04/05/2017 to Railway Board.

On Eastern Railway, the Jr. Engineers (AC) GP 4200/- (6th CPC)/Pay Level 6 (7th CPC) are deployed to man Rajdhani/Shatabdi Trains along with the team of staff for ensuring safe and efficient maintenance standards. Unfortunately, these JEs are denied payment of Over Time Allowance since the last over three months, while the staff work under them on running maintenance are granted Over Time Allowance.

In the above context, the General Manager (P), Eastern Railway has addressed a letter to Railway Board vide No. E. 740/0/Misc (Policy) dated 04/05/2017 seeking Railway Board's approval for allowing payment of OTA to the Electrical JEs escorting the Rajdhani/Shatabdi Express Trains and discharging duties.

The Federation wants the Railway Board to appreciate that the role of Electrical JEs on Rajdhani/Shatabdi trains are not to be compared with other Supervisors so far as nature of duties are concerned as these JEs while discharging their duties of leading the team on Rajdhani/Shatabdi Trains, are always engaged and confined to their work under severe stress and tension to ensure safety, punctuality and efficient running and maintenance on the entire train formation to the comfort of passengers, thus they are not free to adjust their duties while on board, unlike those Supervisors who perform stationary duties. The CEE, Eastern Railway has also confirmed this view as mentioned in Eastern Railway’s letter dated 04th May 2017.

NFIR further states that the Board's letter No. E(LL)70/HER/16 dated 04th January 1972 classifying Electrical Chargemen in scale Rs. 250-380 (AS) or above as Supervisor under HOER is not relevant to the category of Electrical JEs who perform duties on running trains i.e. Rajdhani and Shatabdi and whose duties are totally different to that of those Supervisors of GP 4200/Level 6 (7th CPC) performing duties in the Sheds/Depots.

NFIR, therefore, requests the Railway Board to accord approval for payment of OT Allowance to Electrical JEs escorting Rajdhani/Shatabdi Express Trains for ensuring running maintenance and accordingly issue instructions to the General Manager, Eastern Railway etc., to ensure payment of Over Time Allowance.
DA/As above

Yours faithfully,
S/d,
(Dr. M. Raghavaiah)
General Secretary

---

Eastern Railway
(Personnel Department)
17, N. S. Road, Kolkata -700 001

No. E.740/0/AAisc (Policy)

Kolkata,
Dated :04.05.2017

Director Estt.(LL)
Ministry of Railways (Railway Board) Govt. of India
New Delhi.

Sub: Grant of Overtime Allowance to Supervisors.

A doubt has been arisen regarding the entitlement of Overtime Allowance (OTA) tothe category of Junior Engineers in GP Rs. 4200 (Level-6) working under Electrical Department deployed in Rajdhani/Shatabdi Exp. along with maintenance &. AC staff. The matter has been considered in consultation with Electrical Department of this Railway (CEE/ER), keeping in view the extant guidelines mentioned as under:
1.In terms of extant provisions laid down in RS (Hours of work and period of rest) Rules, 2005, Railway servants classified as "Supervisors" and "Excluded" under Hours of Employment Regulations are holding a position of responsibility and are employed mainly in a supervisory character and comparatively free to adjust their hours of duty & work during such hours and are thus not entitled to overtime allowance.
2.As per Board's letter no. E(LL)70/HER/16 dated 04/01/1972, the category of Electrical Chargeman in Rs. 250-380 (AS) or above, in-charge of electrical examination and maintenance units has been classified as 'Supervisor' under HOER.

3.However, the CEE/ER is of view that nature of the duty of an Electrical JEs, as escorting Supervisors, is in no way comparable to those who are working as such on stationary duties because while discharging the duties of leading the team in a train like Rajdhani/Shatabdi Exp, they are always engaged and confined with their work under severe stress and tension to run train maintaining safety, punctuality and requisite passengers' comfort and thus, not free to adjust their duty hours while on board. Hence they should be entitled to "Single (BARE) Rate Overtime".

4.As the issue involves pan Indian Railways implications, Board is requested to examine the entitlement to OTA to Electrical JEs deployed in Rajdhani/Shatabdi Exp. to be calculated' as per Para 2(c) of RBE No. 29/2010 in its true perspective and communicate the decision in this regard.

This issues with the approval of CPO (Admn.) and Accounts and in consultation with associated Accounts.

S/d,
U.Lahiri,
Dy.Chief Personnel officer/R,
for General Manager (p)
Phone No.24103 (Rly.)

Source : NFIR

Upgradation of the posts of Sr. SO (A/cs)/Sr. TIA/Sr. ISA in the Railways as recommended by 7 CPC - clearance of DoP&T

Upgradation of the posts of Sr. SO (A/cs)/Sr. TIA/Sr. ISA in the Railways as recommended by 7 CPC - clearance of DoP&T

No. IV/NFIR/7 CPC (Imp)/2016/R.B/Part I

Dated: 26.05.2017

Special attention: Executive Director/PC-II

The Secretary (E),
Railway Board,
New Delhi

Dear Sir,

Sub: Upgradation of the posts of Sr. SO (A/cs)/Sr. TIA/Sr. ISA in the Railways as recommended by 7 CPC - clearance of DoP&T-reg.

Ref: (i) NFIR's PNM Item No. 15/2013.

Railway Board's letter No. PC-VII/2016/RSRP/2 dated 02/08/2016 (RBE No. 93/2016) to the GMs etc.

NFIR's letter No. IV/NFIR/7 CPC (Imp)/2016/R.B. dated 12/09/2016 & 15/11/2016 & 26/11/2016 addressed to Board.

Federation invites kind attention of the Railway Board to the correspondence cited under reference. Federation also invites Board’s attention to DoP&T’s ID Note No. 1198678/18- Estt/11405 dated 2nd February 2017 to the Ministry of Railways (EDPC-II).

In this connection, Federation re-iterates that the Ministry of Finance vide resolution dated 25th July 2016 had referred the 7th CPC specific recommendation (Para No. 11.40.83, 11.40.124 of. 7th CPC) to DoP&T for examination. Sadly, the DoP&T has given reply stating that the revision of pay scales and pay structure does not come under the administrative domain of DoP&T and has advised the Railway Ministry to consult Department of Expenditure of Ministry of Finance for the purpose.

NFIR also vide letter dated 26/11/2016 had sought copies of the references made by the Railway Ministry on the subject but unfortunately till date the copies have not been made available. Federation also desires to know the Board’s initiative for ensuring implementation of 7th CPC recommendation.

NFIR, therefore, once again requests the Railway Board to kindly make available copies of the references made to DoP&T/MoF. The Federation further requests that appropriate communication may be sent to the DoP&T/MoF seeking approval for implementation of 7th CPC recommendation relating to upgradation of CMA, CMS, ACM & SSO (Accounts).

Yours faithfully,
S/d,
(Dr. M. Raghavaiah)
General Secretary

Source : NFIR