Railway Budget 2013 - Consideration of NFIR’s proposals

Railway Budget 2013 - Consideration of NFIR’s proposals

 

The National Federation of Indian Railwaymen has sent some important proposals on various issues to consider to the Railway Ministry as follows...

 

Rail Budget — 2013 — consideration of NFIR’s proposals.

 

The NFIR requests the Hon’ble Minister for Railways to kindly consider following proposals for the ensuing Railway Budget, 2013 to be presented in the Parliament in February this year:-

(i) RAILWAY PROJECTS

The Railway projects which are likely to yield less than 20% return may be considered for closure, to effect savings.

 

(ii) SAFETY

 Enlarge scope of Liberalised Active Retirement Scheme for Guaranteed Employment of Safety Staff (LARSGESS) by covering safety category staff in Grade Pay Rs.2400/-, Rs.2800/- & Rs.4200/- duly adopting compassionate appointment procedure for induction of wards of railway employees of safety categories.

 

(iii) WOMEN EMPLOYEES IN RAILWAYS

Separate Rest Rooms for Women employees when they proceed to out station on duty.

 

A women representative be provided participation in the SBF Committees at each Zonal / Divisional level.

Working women hostels for female railway employees may be provided atleast at Zonal and Divisional Headquarters.

 

(iv) HEALTH CARE FACILITIES FOR RAILWAY STAFF

The Railway employees working in the Diesel Shed at Krishnarajapuram, (Bengaluru) South Western Railway are facing lots of difficulties in absence of proper Railway Health Unit. A Health Unit near Diesel Shed at Krishnarajapuram, where near nearly 3000 railway population resides needs to be sanctioned.

 

Upgradation of Cardiology Department at Jagjivan Ram Hospital, Mumbai, is needed for ensuring quality treatment to the Railway employees(serving/retired) / RELHS beneficiaries.

 

(v) RAILWAY QUARTERS, COLONIES AND APPROACH ROADS

Short allocation of funds for construction and maintenance of Railway Quarters is causing serious resentment among railway staff. 

 

Adequate provision in the budget may be made for construction of staff quarters, equally for the standard of maintenance of quarters, railway colonies and approach roads.

 

(vi) CAREER PROGRESSION OF TRACK MAINTAINERS 

Full implementation of the report of Joint Committee on the career growth of Track Maintainers in Railways be announced.

 

(vii) QUASI-ADMINISTRATIVE UNITS STAFF IN RAILWAYS 

Regularisation of Quasi-Administrative units staff on rolls be considered — by restoration of earlier policy directives of 1973 and 1977 (Kindly refer General Secretary/NFIR’s letter No.11/1B dated 02/11/2012 and 10/12/2012).

 

(viii) POST-RETIREMENT COMPLIMENTARY PASSES TO RAILWAY EMPLOYEES OF RAW COACH FACTORY. KAPURTHALA.

When late Rajiv Gandhi was the Prime Minister, the Ministry of Railways in order to bring youth of the Punjab State to mainstream, with the sanction of the Government of India, even by granting upper age relaxation had recruited Youths of Punjab State in the Rail Coach Factory, Kapurthala. These employees have now reached the age of superannuation but unfortunately do not have 20 years qualifying service for availing benefit of post retirement complimentary passes. Railway Board however did not agree to NFIR’s proposal. 

 

Special dispensation needs to be given to allow them post-retirement complimentary passes in this case.

 

(ix) STAFF WELFARE 

The railway employees who are supplied uniforms by the Railways may be granted washing allowance.

 

Enhancement of per capita contribution towards Staff Benefit Fund may be considered seriously from Rs.500/- to Rs.700/- for the welfare of employees.

 

There is strong demand from the retired railway employees for provision of accommodation for Recreation and Library Halls (for retired railway employees) at Zonal and Divisional Headquarters.

 

This needs to be looked into in positive way.

 

At present more number of Holiday Homes are provided at Tirupathi for officers where as very small number is provided for non-gazetted staff of Indian Railways. Additional Holiday Homes for catering the needs of non-gazetted staff may be sanctioned.

 

(x) NILIGIRI MOUNTAIN RAILWAY

NFIR vide its letter No.III/SRES/Pt.7 dated 10/11/2012 had requested Hon’ble Minister for Railways for giving attention to the maintenance and upkeep of Niligri Mountain Railway, a part of Salem Division on Southern Railway - towards its development as a tourist spot on the lines of Darjeeling Hill Railway. The proposal may kindly be given priority.

 

NFIR is confident that the Hon’ble Minister for Railways would give serious consideration to the above proposals to make announcement through Rail Budget — 2013.

MACP Scheme for Railway Servants – Treatment of employees selected under LDCE/GDCE Scheme – Clarification reg.

All India Railwaymen Federation

 

No. AIRF/MACPS

 

Dated:  8th, January 2013

 

The Secretary(E),

Railway Board,

New Delhi

 

Dear Sir,

 

Sub: MACP Scheme for Railway Servants – Treatment of employees selected under LDCE/GDCE Scheme – Clarification reg.

Ref:  Railway Board’s letter No.PC-V/2009/ACP/2 (RBE No.100/2012) dated 12.09.2012

 

As per Railway Board’s letter under reference, while extending benefit of financial up-gradation under MACP Scheme, the candidates selected through LDCE / GDCE on a post for which recruitment rules provide for Direct Recruitment, their promotion through above process on the said post are to be treated as Direct Recruitment for the purpose of granting benefit under the said scheme.

 

As per para 140(i) of the Indian Railway Establishment Manual, Volume-I(Revised Edition 1989), Intermediate Apprentices selected against 25% Intermediate Apprentice Quota(Talented Quota) do fulfill above criteria, as the said para clearly stipulates that 75% of the vacancies in the category of Jr. Engineer in Mechanical, Electrical, Engineering Departments and Draftsmen category of these departments will be filled by induction of Apprentice Mechanics, as such those selected against 25% Intermediate Apprentice Quota(Talented Quota) may also be considered to  have been directly recruited on these posts. They should, therefore, be extended the benefit under MACP Scheme as per para(i) of Railway Board’s letter referred to above.

 

The Board are, therefore, requested to issue necessary clarification to all the Zonal Railways and Production Units so that the Jr. Engineers selected through LDCE against 25% IntermediateApprentice Quota(Talented Quota) are granted financial upgradation under MACP Scheme, treating them as Directly Recruited to these posts.

 

An early action in the matter shall be highly appreciated.

 

Yours faithfully,

sd/-

(Shiva Gopal Mishra)

General Secretary

 

Source: AIRF

Issue of consideration of Stagnation Increment for the purpose of notional increment at the time of promotion

No.F.2(36)/2012/DPE/(WC)
Government of India
Ministry of Heavy Industries & Public Enterprises
Department of Public Enterprises

Public Enterprises Bhawan,
Block No. 14, CGO Complex,
Lodhi Road. New Delhi-110 003
Dated : 26, December, 2012

OFFICE MEMORANDUM

Subject: - Issue of consideration of Stagnation Increment for the purpose of notional increment at the time of promotion.

The undersigned is directed to enclose BHEL. letter No. AA/HR/IR/520 dated 14.6.2012 on the subject mentioned above.

2. On promotion, the executive would be entitled to the benefit of one notional increment (3%) on his Basic Pay + Stagnation Increment, if any, and the pay would be fixed (rounded off to the next Rs.10), in the promoted scale. However, on promotion the pay so fixed should not exceed the maximum of the scale to which the executive  is promoted. In case his pay so arrived at is less than the minimum of the promoted
scale, he/she would be entitled to get the minimum of the scale. Further, DPE has recently issued detailed O.M. dated 14.12.2012 on various pay related issues of executives of CPSEs. A copy of O.M. dated 14.12.2012 is available on DPE website www.dep.nic.in

3. DHI being the administrative Ministry in respect of BHEL may suitably clarify to BHEL.

End. As above

sd/-
(P.J.Michael)
Under Secretary

DHI
(Shri S.K.Mishra, Under Secretary)
Udyog Bhawan,
New Delhi

Source : www.dpe.nic.in
[http://dpe.nic.in/sites/upload_files/dpe/files/glch04d24_08012013.pdf]

Restrictions on top level executives of Central Public Sector Enterprises (CPSEs) joining private commercial undertakings after retirement

No.2(22)/99-GM
Government of India
Ministry of Heavy Industries & Public Enterprises
Department of Public Enterprises

Public Enterprises Bhawan,
Block No. 14, CGO Complex,
Lodhi Road. New Delhi-110 003
Dated : 7th, Jaunary, 2012

OFFICE MEMORANDUM

Subject: Restrictions on top level executives of Central Public Sector Enterprises (CPSEs) joining private commercial undertakings after retirement.

The undersigned is directed to refer to this Department’s O.M. of even number dated 15th May, 2008 (copy enclosed) on the subject mentioned above.

2. The Government has reviewed the position regarding time limit of 30 days for concerned administrative Ministry / Department to communicate the decision on the application(s) seeking permission to accept any appointment/post after retirement in view of the fact that in many cases, a functional Director/CMD would have worked in more than one CPSE during the last five years preceding the retirement and therefore the concerned administrative Ministry / Department would require more than 30 days to consider all aspects/factors as brought out in OM. dated 15th May, 2008 before arriving at a final decision on such applications. It has accordingly been decided to revise Para 7 of the DPE O.M. dated 15th May, 2008 laying down time limits to read as follows.

“The administrative Ministry / Department shall normally take a final decisionon the application for granting permission to accept any appointment/post after retirement and communicate the same to the applicant within a period of 30 days from the date of receipt of the application complete in all respects. In case no decision is communicated within 60 days, the applicant may take up the assignment presuming that the permission has been granted”.

3. All the administrative Ministries/Departments are requested to take note of the above guidelines while processing application of jop level executives of CPSEs for post retirement employment and also bring the contents of these guidelines to the notice of the CPSE(s) under their respective administrative control.

sd/-
(Umesh Dongre)
Director

Source : www.dpe.nic.in
[http://dpe.nic.in/sites/upload_files/dpe/files/glch02b58_08012013.pdf]

Railways Relax Condition of Production of Original Proof of Identity during Journey

Railways Relax Condition of Production of Original Proof of Identity during Journey    
           
Ministry of Railways has made some relaxation in the condition of production of original Proof of Identity during train travel and particularly for the passengers belonging to the lower economic classes.
           
Under this relaxation, attested photocopy of Ration Card with photograph and Nationalised Bank Passbook with photographs shall also be accepted as a prescribed proof of identity only in case of reserved tickets booked through computerized Passenger Reservation System (PRS) counters, for undertaking journey in Sleeper (SL) and Second Reserved Sitting (2S) classes.  The photocopy of the Ration Card with photograph and Nationalised Bank Passbook with photograph should be attested by a Gazetted Officer or the Chief Reservation Supervisor or Station Manager/Station Master.  This relaxation applies only to Ration Card and Nationalized Bank Pass Book and not in case of other types of proofs of identity cards  for which  only original proof  will be required during journey.

The above provision is not applicable for all classes of e-tickets and Tatkal tickets and tickets issued through PRS counter for travelling in Air-conditioned classes and First Class.  Travelling with these categories of tickets shall continue to be governed by existing instructions.
           
This provision shall be made effective from 15.1.2013.

Source : PIB News

Railway Minister Announces increase in Rail Passenger Fares

Railway Minister Announces increase in Rail Passenger Fares

Ministry of Railways has decided to increase the passenger fares  with effective from the midnight of 21st January 2013 and 22nd January 2013 (i.e. w.e.f. 0000 hours of 22-1-2013). This decision was announced today i.e. on 9th January 2013, by Minister of Railways Shri Pawan Kumar Bansal at a Press Conference held in Rail Bhawan.  Minister of State for Railways Shri. Kotla Jaya Surya Prakash Reddy and Railway Board Members were also present.

The fare increase, class-wise, is as per the following table:

S No.	Class of Travel	Proposed per km increase in fares
i.	Second Class Ordinary(Suburban)	2 Paise
ii.	Second Class Ordinary(Non-Suburban)	3 Paise
iii.	Second Class(Mail / Express)	4 Paise
iv.	Sleeper Class	6 Paise
v.	AC Chair Car	10 Paise
vi.	AC 3-Tier	10 Paise
vii	First Class	03 Paise*
viii.	AC2-Tier	06 Paise*
ix.	AC First Class	10 Paise*

* In addition to increase of 10 paise per km in case of First Class, 15 paise per km in case of AC 2Tier and 30 paise per km in case of AC First / Executive Class already implemented w.e.f. 01-04-12.

Moreover, it has also been decided

(i) do away with the present practice of levying Development Charge on passenger tickets, and

(ii) have all chargeable fares in multiples of Rs. 5/-.

Elaborating the rational for fare hike,  the Railway Minister,  Shri Pawan Kumar Bansal said that  basic fares had not been revised upwards in the  last ten years (except for the increase implemented w.e.f. 01-04-12 in respect of only First Class @ 10 paise per km, AC 2Tier @ 15 paise per km and AC First / Executive Class @ 30 paise per km).   He pointed out that Losses in passenger segment which were Rs.6159 Cr in 2004-05 had risen to Rs.19964 Cr in 2010-11 (18% per annum) and  is expected to increase to Rs.25000 Cr in 2012-13.

Shri Bansal informed that Railway’s Input costs have increased by 10.6% per annum between 2004-05 and 2010-11, whereas fares stagnated or were reduced in Lower Classes aggravating passenger losses.  He emphasized that cross subsidy through freight business is  no more viable in view of fast evolving competition from other modes.  Referring to the 2012-13 Railway Budget,  Shri Bansal said that across-the-board fare hike proposal placed in 2012-13 Railway Budget in Parliament was finally approved only for First, 2nd AC and First AC/Executive Classes, which together constitute only about 0.3 % of total passengers and about 10% of total earnings from passenger segment.  The Railway Minister pointed out that as a consequence Internal resource generation was  seriously impacted, resulting in scaling down of Annual Plan size, which has now been limited to Rs. 51,000 crore in 2012-13 as against  Rs. 61,000 crore that was originally targeted.  Similarly, Fund balances became negative in 2011-12, adversely affecting essential replacement /renewal of assets, operation and maintenance activities and critical safety & passenger amenity works.  The Railway Minister emphasized that it was in view of these factors, that increasing passenger fares had became unavoidable. It was also necessary to do so in the overall interests of this critical infrastructure as well  as its users on a sustainable basis.

Source: PIB News

Advances to Government servants — Rate of interest for purchase of conveyances during 2012-2013

F.No. 5(2)-B(PD)/2012

Government of India

Ministry of Finance

Department of Economic Affairs

New Delhi, the 7th January, 2013

OFFICE  MEMORANDUM

Subject : Advances to Government servants — Rate of interest for purchase of conveyances during 2012-2013.

The undersigned is directed to state that the rates of interest for advances sanctioned to the Government servants for purchase of conveyances during 2012-2013 i.e. from 1st April, 2012 to 31st March, 2013 are revised as under:

Rate of interest per annum :-

	Rate of interest per annum
(i) Advance for purchase of conveyance other than motor car (viz. motor cycle, scooter etc.)	9%
(ii) Advance for purchase of motor car	11.5%

sd/-

(A.K. Bhatnagar)

Under Secretary (Budget)

Source: www.finmin.nic.in
[http://finmin.nic.in/the_ministry/dept_eco_affairs/budget/RoIPurchConvey12.pdf]

Regularisation of TA / DA / LTC Claims on account of journey performed by booking of tickets from an agency other than the authorized travel agents

Controller General of Defence Accounts

Ulan Batar Road, Palam, Delhi Cantt-110010

IMPORTANT CIRCULAR

No. AN/X1V/14162/TA/DA/LTC/Deviation/Vol-II

Dated: 8/01/2013

To

All PCs DA/Cs DA/PCsof Fys/Cs FA/IFAs 

(Through CGDA Mail server)

Subject : Regularisation of TA / DA / LTC Claims on account of journey performed by booking of tickets from an agency other than the authorized travel agents.

Of late, cases for seeking relaxation to the guidelines laid down under GoI, MoF, OM No. 19024/1/2009-E.IV dated 16.9.2010 for regularization of air journey performed by staff / officers on account of TD / LTC / SPC are being received in this HQrs.

2. After issue of Circular dated 24/8/2011, a number of officers / staff who performed journey on official duty / LTC / Transfer / Permanent transfer after retirement by air by purchasing air tickets through unauthorized travel agent have been requested for seeking relaxation to the guidelines on booking air tickets which have been referred to the Ministry.

3, To enable this HQr’s office to seek relaxation from MoD, CDAs/PCDAs are requested to forward all the cases of staff/officers serving under your office seeking relaxation to the guidelines laid down under MoF OM dated 16.9.2010 in one lot duly specifying the full details (viz Individual’s application, purpose of travel, sectors and date of journey, Airlines, details of travel agent etc.) of air journeys undertaken by them alongwith delay statement for seeking regularization duly supported by relevant documents before 31.01.2013. Applications received after the spccified date will not be entertained.

4. Further, it may also be ensured that cases pertaining to the period before 24.08.2011 only may be forwarded for examination at this HQrs office and onward transmission to Ministry for seeking relaxation sanction.

Nil Report is also required.

sd/-

(Chitra Mahendran)

For CGDA

Source : www.cgda.nic.in

[http://www.cgda.nic.in/adm/regTADA080113.pdf]

Finmin Orders 2013 : Fixation of pay on promotion to a post carrying higher duties and responsibilities but carrying the same grade pay

No.10/02/2011.E.III/A

Government of India

Ministry of Finance

Department of Expenditure

New Delhi, the 7th January, 2013

OFFICE MEMORANDUM

Subject:- Fixation of pay on promotion to a post carrying higher duties and responsibilities but carrying the same grade pay.

The undersigned is directed to invite an attention to the provisions contained in Rule 13 of the CCS(RP) Rules, 2008, which provides for the method of fixation of pay on promotion on or after 1.1.2006 in case. inter-alia, of promotion from one grade pay to another. The Rule provides for fixation of pay by way of addition of one increment equal to 3% of the sum of the pay in the pay band and the existing grade pay (rounded off to the next multiple of 10)to the existing pay in the pay band and then fixing the pay in the promotional post as per the procedure prescribed therein.

CBSE Examinations 2013 : Datesheet for Board Examination 2013 for Class X

CBSE Examinations 2013 : Datesheet for Board Examination 2013 for Class X

Central Board of Secondary Education has published the examination timetable for 10th, as per schedule the first examination of Language Painting will start on 1st (Friday) March 2013 and it will be held upto 15th (Friday) of March this year. The date wise schedule of the examinations are given as under...

DAY	DATE	TIME	SUBJECT NAME	SUB-CODE
Friday	01st March, 2013	10:30 AM	PAINTING	049
Saturday	02nd March, 2013	10:30 AM	MATHEMATICS	041
Monday	04th March, 2013	10:30 AM	HINDI COURSE-A HINDI COURSE-B	002 085
Tuesday	05th March, 2013	10:30 AM	MUSIC CAR.VOCAL MUSIC CAR.INS.MEL. MUSIC CAR.INS.PER.  MUSIC HIND.VOCAL  MUSIC HIND.INS.MEL  MUSIC HIND.INS.PER ELEM. OF BUSINESS ELEM BOOK-K & ACCY E-TYPEWRITING-ENG E-TYPEWRITING-HIN	031 032 033 034 035 036 154 254 354 454
Wednesday	06th March, 2013	10:30 AM	URDU COURSE-A BENGALI TELUGU GUJARATI MANIPURI  ASSAMESE KANNADA ARABIC TIBETAN FRENCH GERMAN PERSIAN  NEPALI  LIMBOO LEPCHA BODO TANGKHUL JAPANESE BHUTIA MIZO BAHASA MELAYU COMM. SANSKRIT URDU COURSE-B	003 005 007 010 011 014 015 016 017  018 020 023 024 025 026 092 093 094 095 098  099 122 303
Friday	08th March, 2013	10:30 AM	ENGLISH LNG & LIT. ENGLISH COMM.	101 184
Saturday	09th March, 2013	10:30 AM	FOUNDATION OF I T	165
Monday	11th March, 2013	10:30 AM	PUNJABI TAMIL MARATHI MALAYALAM  ODIA  SPANISH KASHMIRI	004 006 009 012 013 096 097
Tuesday	12th March, 2013	10:30 AM	SOCIAL SCIENCE	087
Thursday	14th March, 2013	10:30 AM	SCIENCE-THEORY SCIENCE W/O PRAC.	086 090
Friday	15th March, 2013	10:30 AM	HOME SCIENCE	064

Important - Regarding Class X School Based Assessment

Schools are being advised to conduct School Based Assessment (Scheme 1) between 16th March to 31st March 2013.