New Medical Reimbursement Claim (MRC) Form for CGHS beneficiaries

New Medical Reimbursement Claim (MRC) Form for CGHS beneficiaries. The Medical Reimbursement Claim Form has been reviewed and further simplified. Separate forms have been developed for serving beneficiaries and pensioner beneficiaries with requirement of minimum information required for processing of the claims. CGHS Order:-

No.S. 11011/9/2012-CGHS (P)

Government of India

Ministry of Health & Family Welfare

CGHS (Policy)

Nirman Bhawan, New Delhi

Dated the 5th June, 2014

OFFICE MEMORANDUM

Sub:- Revision of Medical Reimbursement Claim (MRC) Form for CGHS beneficiaries - reg.

The undersigned is directed to state that it has been the constant endeavour of the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare to improve the facilities under CGHS and simplify / liberalize the procedures to make the Scheme user friendly.

2. In furtherance of the above objective, the Medical Reimbursement Claim Form has been reviewed and further simplified. Separate forms have been developed for serving beneficiaries and pensioner beneficiaries with requirement of minimum information required for processing of the claims. The CGHS beneficiaries are required to submit their medical reimbursement claims in the prescribed forms with requisite documentary evidences to their Department / office or CGHS, as the case may be for further processing and settlement as per approved CGHS rates and guidelines.

 

3. The following forms have been prescribed:

Form MRC(S) - For Serving CGHS beneficiaries,
Form MRC(P) - For Pensioner CGHS beneficiaries.

Specimen Forms are enclosed
Encl: As Above

sd/-

[V.P. Singh]

Director

Click on following images to save or view:-

Medical Reimbursement Claim Form for Serving Employees Page 1

Medical Reimbursement Claim Form for Serving Employees Page 2

Medical Reimbursement Claim Form for Pensioner Page 1

Medical Reimbursement Claim Form for Pensioner Page 2

Medical Reimbursement Claim Form Annexure-I

Medical Reimbursement Claim Form Annexure-II

Source: http://msotransparent.nic.in/writereaddata/cghsdata/mainlinkfile/File692.pdf

Raising of exemption limit for Income Tax and exemption of all allowances from Income Tax: NC JCM writes to Finance Minister

Raising of exemption limit for Income Tax and exemption of all allowances from Income Tax: NC JCM writes to Finance Minister

 Raising of exemption limit of Income Tax to Rs. 5 lakh for Individuals, Rs. 7 lakh for Senior Citizens above 60 years and Rs. 10 lakh for the very old and exemption of all allowances from Income Tax – Com. Shiva Gopal Mishra Secy/NC JCM writes to Finance Minister for including this demand into Union Budget

Shiva Gopal Mishra
Secretary

National Council (Staff Side)
Joint Consultative Machinery
for Central Government Employee
13-C, Ferozshah Road, New Delhi - 110001

No.Nc-JCM/2014/IT

Dated: June 9, 2014

Shri Arun Jaitley,
Hon’ble Minister of Finance,
Ministry of Finance,
North Block, New Delhi

Resp. Sir,

Sub: Raising of exemption limit for Income Tax and exemption of all allowances from Income Tax

Exemption limit from Income Tax is very low and neither realistic nor justified. It is not linked with Inflation nor is it appropriately revised every year.

Fixing of exemption limit for Income Tax is done arbitrarily. No systematic norms are followed while fixing the same. There is no transparency about the norms or policy adopted for fixing the Exemption limit for Income Tax.

Low ceiling of exemption is one of the root cause of build up of huge amounts of Black Money.

It is also a major impediment in the growth and development of the National economy as the spending by the common man gets restricted due to the low ceiling of Income Tax. This, according to experts, adversely affects the National Development as a whole.

Taxing of Dearness Allowance, House Rent Allowance and Transport Allowance etc., erodes the real income of the Salaried Class, as these Allowances are compensatory in nature and as such should be exempted from Income Tax, as recommended by the Fifth Central Pay Commission(vide Chapter 167 of their Report).

Taxing of Pension of Senior Citizens, especially Additional Pension of the very old Senior Citizens, is totally unjustified, and as such should be exempted from Income Tax, as recommended by the Fifth Central Pay Commission.

It is, therefore, requested that:-

(i) Exemption limit for Income Tax be raised to Rs. 5 lakh for Individuals, Rs. 7 lakh for Senior Citizens above 60 years and Rs. 10 lakh for the very old - above 80 years of age.

(ii) All the allowances, i.e. Dearness Allowance/Dearness Relief, HRA and Transport Allowance, may please be exempted from the Income Tax to avoid erosion of real wages as recommended by the Fifth Pay Commission vide Chapter 167 of their Report and Para 95 of Summary of Recommendations (Please see excerpts of Fifth CPC Report attached herewith as Annexure).

(iii) Fixed Medical Allowance to Pensioners may please be exempted from Income Tax as it is reimbursement of the expenses for day-to-day medical treatment.

Yours faithfully,
Sd/-
(Shiva Gopal Mishra)
Secretary(Staff Side)
NC/JCM

Encl: Excerpts of the recommendations of Fifth CPC

Copy to: All Constituent Organizations of the National Council, JCM(Staff Side) - for information.

ANNEXURE

EXCERPTS FROM THE REPORT OF FIFTH PAY COMMISSION REG. EXEMPTION OF ALL ALLOWANCES FROM INCOME TAX

The Fifth Pay Commission vide Chapter 167 & Para 95 of Summary of Recommendation had recommended as under:-

“Para 95 The Commission has felt that the salaries and pensions recommended by it are not really adequate if they are to be fully taxed. Accordingly, it has recommended that all Allowances and Pensions should be paid Net of Taxes”.

The Fifth CPC in Para 167.7 had observed as under:-

‘‘If such Allowances are taxed, then either the Basic Salary gets eroded in its real value from Year to Year or the partial Reimbursement of Expenditure incurred on certain items becomes less and less with the passage of time.  In both the cases, the objective of giving Allowances is partially nullified”.

The Fifth CPC further observed in Para 167.8 that -

“We have observed that Ministry of External Affairs pays ‘Net of Tax’ Salaries to its employees on Foreign Posting. Provision for paying Net of Tax Salary already exists Under Sec.195A of the Income Tax Act. Under the Section, employees do not have to pay Income Tax on the salaries received by them and it is the liability of the employer to pay the same to the Income Tax Department.”

“The solution to the problem of the Central Government Employees in general lies in the application of this legal provision” (Fifth CPC - Para 167.9).

Source: http://ncjcmstaffside.com/2014/raising-of-exemption-limit-of-income-tax-exemption-of-all-allowances-from-income-tax/

Posting of Government employees who have differently abled dependents

Posting of Government employees who have differently abled dependents - DoPT Order "Government servant who is also a care giver of disabled child may be exempted from the routine exercise of transfer/rotational transfer"

No.42011/3/2014-Estt.(Res.) 

Government of India 

Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions 

Department of Personnel and Training

North Block, New Delhi 

Dated the 6th June, 2014

OFFICE MEMORANDUM

Sub: Posting of Government employees who have differently abled dependents — reg.

There has been demand that a Government employee who is a care giver of the disabled child may not have to suffer due to displacement by means of routine transfer/rotational transfers. This demand has been made on the ground that a Government employee raises a kind of support system for his/her disabled child over a period of time in the locality where he/she resides which helps them in the rehabilitation. 

2. The matter has been examined. Rehabilitation is a process aimed at enabling persons with disabilities to reach and maintain their optimal physical, sensory, intellectual, and psychiatric or a social functional level. The support system comprises of preferred linguistic zone, school/academic level, administration, neighbours, tutors/special educators, friends, medical care including hospitals, therapists and doctors, etc. Thus, rehabilitation is a continuous process and creation of such support system takes years together. 

3. Considering that the Government employee.who has disabled child serve as the main care giver of such child, any displacement of such Government employee will have a bearing on the systemic rehabilitation of the disabled child since the new environment/set up could prove to be a hindrance for the rehabilitation process of the child. Therefore, a Government servant who is also a care giver of disabled child may be exempted from the routine exercise of transfer/rotational transfer subject to the administrative constraints. The word 'disabled' includes (i) blindness or low vision (ii) hearing impairment (iii) locomotor disability or Cerebral Palsy (iv) leprosy cured (v) mental retardation (vi) mental illness and (vii) multiple disabilities. 

4. Upbringing and rehabilitation of disabled child requires financial support. Making the Government employee to choose voluntary retirement on the pretext of routine transfer/rotation transfer would have adverse impact on the rehabilitation process of the disabled child. 

5. This issues with the approval of MoS(PP).

6.  All the Ministries/Departments, etc. are requested to bring these instructions to the notice of all concerned under their control.

(Debabrata Das)
Under Secretary to the Govt. of India

Source: www.persmin.nic.in
[ http://ccis.nic.in/WriteReadData/CircularPortal/D2/D02adm/42011_3_2014-Estt.Res.-06062014.pdf ]

"Minimum-Government Maximum Governance" "Skill, Scale & Speed" "One Rank One Pension" "Effective Lok Pal" mentioned in address by the President of India to Parliament

"Minimum-Government Maximum Governance" "Skill, Scale & Speed" "One Rank One Pension" "Effective Lok Pal" mentioned in address by the President of India to Parliament.  Here some concerned paras are given below: -

 

Extract from Address by the President of India  :- [Click here to read full]

Press Information Bureau
Government of India
President's Secretariat

09-June-2014 12:31 IST

Address by the President of India, Shri Pranab Mukherjee to Parliament at Central Hall of Parliament, New Delhi

Honourable Members

6. My government is committed to nurturing the right environment for actualizing this mandate of the people. For this, it pledges itself to the principle of ‘Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas’; which can be fulfilled only through your active participation. We will work together to re-establish the credibility of the institutions of democracy. My government will function on the mantra of ‘Minimum Government, Maximum Governance’. In all our actions, we will be guided by the core values of our great civilization.

Honourable Members

12. India is the world’s oldest civilization. Today it is also a country with the largest population of the youth. We must equip and nurture our youth with the right kind of education, skill-set and opportunity to reap this demographic dividend. My government will strive to transition from Youth Development to Youth-led Development. It will set up Massive Open Online Courses and virtual classrooms. It will formulate a National Education Policy aimed at meeting the challenges posed by lack of quality, research and innovation in our educational institutions. We will set up IITs and IIMs in every state. In order to empower school teachers and students, a national e-library will be established. With the motto of “Har Haath Ko Hunar”, my government will strive to break the barriers between formal education and skill development, and put in place a mechanism to give academic equivalence to vocational qualifications. With the goal of Skilled India, my government will also launch a National Multi-skill Mission.

Honourable Members

21. My government is committed to providing a clean and efficient administration focussed on delivery. The institution of Lok Pal is important to curb corruption and my government will endeavour to formulate rules in conformity with the Act. My government will take steps to build the confidence and morale of our bureaucracy; enabling it with the freedom to work, and welcoming innovative ideas. The government will stress on putting in place transparent systems and timebound delivery of government services. Government systems and processes will be revisited to make them citizen friendly, corruption free and accountable. Efforts will be made to eliminate obsolete laws, regulations, administrative structures and practices. Rationalization and convergence among Ministries, Departments and other arms of the government will be ensured to have focussed delivery. Digitization of government records will be done for improving accessibility.

22. E-governance brings empowerment, equity and efficiency. It has the power to transform peoples’ lives. The backbone of my government’s new ways of working will be a Digital India. IT will be used to drive re-engineering of government processes to improve service delivery and programme implementation. We will strive to provide Wi-Fi zones in critical public areas in the next five years. My government will rollout broad band highway to reach every village and make all schools e-enabled in a phased manner. Technology will be used to prepare our children for a knowledge society. The National e-governance plan will be expanded to cover every government office from the centre to the Panchayat; to provide a wide variety of services to citizens. Emerging technologies like Social Media will be used as a tool for; participative governance, directly engaging the people in policy making and administration.

23. My government is determined to rid the country of the scourge of corruption and the menace of black money. As a first step in this direction, the government has already constituted a SIT to unearth black money stashed abroad. This will be followed up vigorously by proactively engaging with foreign governments.

24. Keeping in mind that justice delayed is justice denied, my government will adopt a multi-pronged approach to address the problem of high pendency of cases in our judicial system. It will progressively modernize the courts to improve their operational efficiency, and start reform of the criminal justice system to make dispensation of justice simpler, quicker and more effective. It will initiate a mission mode project for filling vacancies in the judiciary and for doubling the number of courts and judges in the subordinate judiciary in a phased manner. The government will give special emphasis to the development of Alternate Dispute Resolution mechanisms.

Honourable Members

27. For rapid creation of jobs in the manufacturing sector, the government will strategically promote labour-intensive manufacturing. Employment opportunities will also be expanded by promoting tourism and agro-based industries. My government will transform Employment Exchanges into Career Centres - connecting our youth with job opportunities in a transparent and effective manner through the use of technology as well as through counselling and training. The government will strengthen the pension and health insurance safety nets for labour force of all categories and would provide them access to modern financial services.

28. We need to transform ourselves into a globally competitive manufacturing hub powered by Skill, Scale and Speed. To this end, the government will set up world class investment and industrial regions, particularly along the Dedicated Freight Corridors and Industrial Corridors spanning the country. My Government will encourage the domestic industry to innovate and collaborate internationally. It will strive to move towards a single-window system of clearances both at the Centre and at the States through a hub-spoke model.

Honourable Members

40. My Government will carry out reforms in defence procurement to increase efficiency and economy. It will encourage domestic industry, including the private sector; to have a larger share in design and production of defence equipment. We will introduce policies to strengthen technology transfer, including through liberalised FDI in defence production. With readily available skilled human resource, India can emerge as a global platform for defence manufacturing including software, which will strengthen our defence and spur industrial development as well as exports.

41. The country is proud of its Armed Forces. They serve the nation with professionalism, dedication and valour; securing our nation and supporting relief and rescue operations in the wake of disasters and calamities. We will strengthen defence preparedness by modernising our Armed Forces and addressing the shortage of manpower on priority. Recognising the importance of coastal security, my government will set up a National Maritime Authority.

42. My government will do everything to repay the debt of our brave and selfless soldiers. It will appoint a Veterans Commission to address their grievances, so that they know that we don’t stop caring for them when they retire from active service. The government will build a National War Memorial to honour the gallantry of our soldiers. One Rank, One Pension scheme will be implemented.

Jai Hind

Financial upgradation in the next promotional grade Hierarchy under MACP

Financial upgradation in the next promotional grade Hierarchy under MACP to all Central Government Employees : NC JCM writes to DoPT after BPMS letter to Member Secretary, Staff Side, National Council JCM


Shiva Gopal Mishra
Secretary 

National Council (Staff Side)
Joint Consultative Machinery
for Central Government Employees
13-C, Ferozshah Road, New Delhi - 110001

 No.NC-JCM-2014/MACP

May 16, 2014

The Secretary,
Department of Personnel & Training,
North Block, New Delhi

    Sub:- Financial upgradation in the next promotional grade Hierarchy under MACP

Ref:- Your letter No. P-l3025/11/2014-AT dated 4.4.2014
Your letter No. P-26012/5/2011-AT dated 19.8.2013
 [See also: Grant of MACP on Promotional Hierarchy only to petitioner on personal basis not the treated as a precedent ]

Dear Sir,

You have granted financial upgradation to Shri Rajpal in the Promotional hierarchy under MACP in compliance of direction of Hon’ble Central Administrative Tribunal Chandigarh Bench dated 31.5.2011 in O.A. No. 1038/CH/2010 Rajpal Vs UOI & Others.

You have treated it as a judgment in personum and not a judgment in rem so far as other employees covered under MACP are concerned.

Your plea is that SLP No. 7967/2013 filed by the Department / Government against the judgment of Hon’ble High Court Chandigarh in C W P No.l938/2011 was discussed on technical grounds and not on merit in this case. The ground wasinsufficient explanation given to condone the delay in refilling the SLP.

In this connection I may bring to your kind notice that Supreme Court in catina ofcases (i. e. G.C. Ghosh Vs UoI [(1992) 19 ATC 94 SC] dated 20.7.98) has ruled that decision taken in one specific case either by the judiciary or the Government should be applied to all identical cases (i.e similarly circumstanced) without forcing other employees to approach the Court of law for identical remedy or relief.

Since whether MACP should be granted to next promotional hierarchy or next grade pay hierarchy is a common issue applicable to all Government employees the decision in the case of Rajpal should be made applicable to all Government employees who are granted financial upgradation under MACP.

Since you have already granted MACP in next promotional hierarchy to Rajpal it has been absolute and has to be implemented in the case of all Government employees who are similarly placed under MACP.

I, therefore, request you to reconsider and suitably modify the MACP Scheme providing for financial upgradation in the promotional hierarchy.

Thanking you,

Yours faithfully,
sd/-
(Shiva Gopal Mishra)
Secretary

Copy to Shri Sadhu Singh, Member, National Council (Staff Side) - JCM Organizing Secretary / BPMS with reference to their letter No. BPMS/MACPS/ 64 (7/3/M) dated 5.5.2014 (received by mail)

Source: http://bpms.org.in/documents/macp-5wt6.pdf

Duties and responsibilities of various Canteen employees

Duties and responsibilities of various Canteen employees  Duties and responsibilities of various Canteen employees working in Non-Statutory Departmental Canteens functioning from the Central Government Offices: DoPT Order

No. 03/02/2009-Dir(Can)
Ministry of Personnel, P.G.& Pensions
Department of Personnel & Training
O/o Director(Canteens)

Lok Nayak Bhavan, Khan Market
New Delhi, dated 5/06/2014

OFFICE MEMORANDUM

    Subject: Duties and responsibilities of various Canteen employees working in Non-Statutory Departmental Canteens functioning from the Central Government Offices.

It has been decided to prescribe duties of various posts in the Non-Statutory Departmental Canteens located in the Central Government Offices. The existing hierarchy of post in Non-Statutory Canteens is at Annexure-I. The list of duties, enclosed(Annexure-II) is only illustrative and would be subject to modifications as per the requirements of the respective canteen.


2. All Ministries/Departments are requested to bring these guidelines to the notice of all concerned Departmental Canteens functioning under them.

3. Hindi Version will follow.

sd/-
(Pratima Tyagi)
Director(Canteens)

Annexure - II

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF CANTEEN EMPLOYEES IN NON-STATUTORY DEPARTMENTAL CANTEENS IN CENTRAL GOVERNMENT OFFICES.

I Canteen Attendant 

(i) To prepare Tea/Coffee/Juice etc. for the users;
(ii) To serve Tea/Coffee/Biscuits etc. in the official meetings;
(iii) To provide regular room service to the Officers/Staff;
(iv) To collect the used cups/plates & utensil’s etc. within the canteen premises, after concluding of official meetings and also from the rooms of Senior Officers.
(v) To clean crockery/cutlery/utensils etc. in three stage i.e. in running normal water; in hot detergent water and in potassium permanganate solution;
(vi) To sweep and wash the floor area;
(vii) Cleaning/dusting table, chair and other furniture in canteens.
(viii) Cleaning slabs and area where food is cooked.
(ix) Any other additional duty allotted by the in-charge of the Canteen.

The in-charge of the canteen is authorized to allocate the duties to the Canteen Attendants according to their capabilities and capacity for smooth functioning of the canteen.

As and when services of Safaiwala are outsourced the duties of point (vi), (vii) and (viii) would be performed by him/her.

II Assistant Halwai-cum-Cook

(i) To assist the Halwai-cum-Cook in preparation of various snacks and beverages such as bonda, butter-toast, dosa, idly, vada, paneer pakora, smosa, matthi, vegetable cutlet, vegetable sandwich/pakora etc.
(ii) To assist Halwai-cum-Cook in preparation of lunch/meals i.e. chapati, curd, dal, puri, raita, rice, sabzi, sambar, soup, sweat-dish, vegetable salad etc.
(iii) In absence of Halwai-cum-Cook preparation of snacks and meals.
(iv) Any other additional duty allotted by the in-charge of the Canteen.

III. Halwai-cum-Cook

(i) To prepare snacks like bonda, butter-toast, dosa, idly, vada, paneer pakora, smosa, matthi, vegetable outlet, vegetable sandwich/pakora etc.;
(ii) To prepare lunch/meals i.e. chapati, curd, dal, puri, raita, rice, sabzi, sambar, soup, vegetable salad and sweet dishes i.e. burfi, besan burfi, coconut burfi, ladoo, pinnee, gulab-jamun, gajar-halwa, patisa and rasgulla etc.
(iii) Any other additional duty allotted by the in-charge of the Canteen.

IV. Clerk

 (i) To issue coupons in respect of items prepared for daily sale on counter;
(ii) To maintain daily sale register;
(iv) Tally daily cash sales against the coupons issued off and submit daily account in respect of sales.
(v) Responsibility of Store Keeping and accounting Tiffin Room A - Type.
(vi) Any other additional duty allotted by the in-charge of the Canteen.

V. Assistant Manager-cum-Storekeeper

(i) Procure and receive all raw materials;
(ii) Issue raw materials to the Assistant Halwai-cum-Cook/ Halwai-cum-Cook or kitchen staff as and when required for preparation of eatables;
(iii) in-charge of store items and raw materials;
(iv) Maintain account of the stock items in a proper manner;
(v) Responsible for keeping accurate holding of stocks as per ground balance of accounting records;
(vi) Responsible for loss/damage of store.
(vii) Any other additional duty allotted by the in-charge of the Canteen.

VI Manager Grade-II/Manager-cum-Accountant

Manager Grade II post is authorised for Type A, B & C canteen and Manager-cum-Accountant post is authorised in all canteen except in Type A, B & C canteen.

(i) Responsible for ensuring smooth and proper functioning of the canteen;
(ii) Ensure that all operations in the canteen are carried out uninterruptedly;
(iii) Supervision of work of subordinates;
(iv) Ensure that entries in all records/accounts including Cash Book, Ledger, Stock Register, Dead Stock Register are made timely and accurately. Annual Account and Balance Sheet.
(v) Catering to foreign delegation, VIP and WlPs
(vi) Any other additional duty allotted by the in-charge of the Canteen.

VII Deputy General Manager

Deputy General Manager post is authorised in Type 3-A to 10-A canteens.

(i) Ensure that all accounts of canteens viz. Preparation Register, Coupon Sales Register are maintained;
(ii) Checking all the entries in register;
(iii) Submission of all register records to General Manager;
(iv) Perform duty of Canteen-in-Charge in absence of General Manager
(v) Any other additional duty allotted by the in-charge of the Canteen.

VIII General Manager

The post of General Manager is authorised for Canteens of ‘2-A’ Type and above.

(i) Managing and supervising all functions of canteens so as to ensure clay to day smooth running of Canteens;
(ii) Administration of canteen staff;
(iii) Maintenance of all accounts;
(iv) To complete and submit all accounts progressively prepared as on the last day of every month, within seven working days of the following month, after internal audit, to the Honorary Secretary for putting up to the Managing Committee;
(v) The following books and records are required to be maintained and checked by General Manager;

(i) Cash Book
(ii) Ledger
(iii) Raw Material Stock Register
(iv) Dead Stock Register

 (v) Preparation Register(daily eatables items)
(vi) Coupon sales register etc;
(vii) Attendance Register
(viii) Bill/Cash Memo Register
(ix) Rate list of eatable items
(xi) To initiate ACR/Probation Report etc; in respect of all employees working in the canteens.

(vii) In cases of minor indiscipline, to issue non-recordable warning in respect of all employees working in the Canteens.

(viii) Any other additional duty allotted by the Competent Authority.

(While issuing warnings etc. as above, the procedure laid down/instructions contained in the Department of Personnel 8. Administrative Reforms O.M. No. 21011/1/18-Estt.(A) dated 5.6.1981 should be kept in view).

Source: http://ccis.nic.in/WriteReadData/CircularPortal/D2/D02adm/duties0001.pdf

Union Finance Minister Holds Pre-Budget Consultation Meeting With the Representatives of Trade Union Groups; Skill Development to be Given Priority for Generating Employment Oppurtunities

Press Information Bureau
Government of India
Ministry of Finance

 

06-June-2014 15:31 IST 

Union Finance Minister Holds Pre-Budget Consultation Meeting With the Representatives of Trade Union Groups; Skill Development to be Given Priority for Generating Employment Opportunities

 The Union Finance Minister Shri Arun Jaitley said that skill development would be given priority so that more and more trained workers join the Indian economy. He said that the Government will give due consideration to the Ten Point Joint Charter of Demands given by the Central Trade Unions while formulating the budgetary proposals. The Finance Minister was speaking here today while interacting with the representatives of the Central Trade Unions as part of his Pre-Budget Consultation meetings.

Along with the Finance Minister, the meeting was attended by Ms. Nirmala Sitharaman, Minister of State for Finance and Corporate Affairs, Shri Ratan P. Watal, Expenditure Secretary, Shri Rajiv Takru, Revenue Secretary, Smt. Gauri Kumar, Secretary, Ministry of Labour and Employment and senior officers of the Ministry of Finance among others.

The participating Central Trade Unions gave a joint memorandum to the Finance Minister for his consideration and positive response. Some of the specific proposals contained there in are given below:

•     Take effective measures to arrest the spiraling price rise and to contain inflation; Ban speculative forward trading in commodities; universalize and strengthen the Public Distribution System(PDS); ensure proper check on hoarding; rationalize, with a view to reduce the burden on people, the tax/duty/cess on petroleum products.
•     Massive investment in the infrastructure in order to stimulate the economy for job creation. Public Sector should take the leading role in this regard. The plan and non-plan expenditure should be increased in the budget to stimulate jobs creation and guarantee consistent income to people.
•     Minimum wage linked to Consumer Price Index (CPI) must be guaranteed to all workers, taking into consideration the recommendations of the 15th Indian Labour Conference . It should not be less than Rs. 15,000/- p.m.
•     FDI should not be allowed in crucial sectors like defence production, telecommunications, railways, financial sector, retail trade, education, health and media.
•     The Public Sector Units (PSUs) played a crucial role during the year of severe contraction of private capital investment immediately following the outbreak of global financial crisis. PSUs should be strengthened and expanded. Disinvestment of shares of profit making public sector units should be stopped forthwith. Budgetary support should be given for revival of potentially viable sick CPSUs.
•     In view of huge job losses and mounting unemployment problem, the ban on recruitment in Government departments, PSUs and autonomous institutions (including recent Finance Ministry’s instruction to abolish those posts not filled for one year) should be lifted as recommended by 43rd Session of Indian Labour Conference. Condition of surrender of posts in government departments and PSUs should be scrapped and new posts be created keeping in view the new work and increased workload.
•     Proper allocation of funds be made for interim relief and 7th Pay Commission.
•     The scope of MGNREGA be extended to agriculture operations and employment for minimum period of 200 days with guaranteed statutory wage be provided, as unanimously recommended by 43rd Session of Indian Labour Conference.
•     The massive workforce engaged in ICDS, Mid Day Meal Scheme, Vidya volunteers, guest teachers, Siksha Mitra, the workers engaged in the Accredited Social Health Activities (ASHA) and other schemes be regularized. No to privatization of centrally funded schemes. Universalization of ICDS be done as per Supreme Court directions by making adequate budgetary allocations.
•     Steps be taken for removal of all restrictive provisions based on poverty line in respect of eligibility coverage of the schemes under the Unorganized Workers Social Security Act 2008 and allocation of adequate resources for the National Fund for Unorganised Workers to provide for social security to all unorganised workers including the contract/casual and migrant workers in line with the recommendations of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Labour and also the 43rd Session of Indian Labour Conference. The word BPL redefined and redistributed at the earliest.
•     Remunerative prices should be ensured for agricultural produce and Government investment, public investment in agriculture sector must be substantially augmented as a proportion of GDP and total budgetary expenditure. It should also be ensured that benefits of the increase reach the small, marginal and medium cultivators only.
•     Budgetary provision should be made for providing essential services including housing, public transport, sanitation, water, schools, crèche, health care etc, to workers in the new emerging industrial areas. Working women’s Hostels should be set-up where there is a concentration of women workers.
•     Requisite budgetary support for addressing crisis in traditional sectors like jute, textiles, plantation, handloom, carpet and coir etc.
•     Budgetary provision for elementary education should be increased, particularly in the context of the implementation of the ‘Right to Education’ as this is the most effective tool to combat child labour.
•     The system of computation of Consumer Price Index (CPI) should be reviewed as the present index is causing heavy financial loss to the workers.
•     Income tax exemption ceiling for the salaried persons should be raised to Rs. 5.00 lakh per annum and fringe benefits like housing, medical and educational facilities and running allowances should be exempted from income tax net in totality.
•     Threshold limit of 20 employees in EPF Scheme be brought down to 10 as recommended by CBT-EPF. Pension benefits under the EPS unilaterally withdrawn by the Government should be restored. Government and employers contribution be increased to allow sustainability of Employees Pension Scheme and for provision of minimum pension of Rs. 3000/- p.m.
•     New Pension Scheme be withdrawn and newly recruited employees of Central And State Governments on or after 1.1.2004 be covered under Old Pension Scheme;
•     Demand for Dearness Allowance merger by Central Government and PSU employees be accepted and adequate allocation of fund for this be made in the budget.
•     All interests and social security of the domestic workers to be statutorily protected on the lines of ILO Convention on domestic workers.
•     The Cess management of the construction workers is the responsibility of the Finance Ministry under the Act and the several irregularities found in collection of cess be rectified as well as their proper utilization must be ensured.

In regard to resource mobilization, the Trade Unions have emphasized on the following:

•     A progressive taxation system should be put in place to ensure taxing the rich and the affluent sections who have the capacity to pay at a higher degree. The corporate service sector, traders, wholesale business, private hospitals and institutions etc should be brought under broader and higher tax net. Increase taxes on luxury goods and reduce indirect taxes on essential commodities.
•     Concrete steps must be taken to recover huge accumulated unpaid tax arrears which has already crossed more than Rs. 5.00 lakh crore on direct and corporate tax account alone, and has been increasing at a geometric proportion. Such huge tax evasion over and above the liberal tax concessions already given in the last two budgets should not be allowed to continue.
•     We welcome the constitution of SIT for black money and urge for speedy action.
•      Effective measures should be taken to unearth huge accumulation of black money in the economy including the huge unaccounted money in tax heavens abroad and within the country. Provisions be made to bring back the illicit flows from India which are at present more than twice the current external debt of US $ 230 billion. This money should be directed towards providing social security.
•     Concrete measures be expedited for recovering the NPAs of the banking system from the willfully defaulting corporate and business houses. By making provision in Banking Regulations Act, CMDs and executives to be made accountable for creation of NPAs.
•     Tax on long term capital gains to be introduced, so also higher taxes on the security transactions to be levied.
•     The rate of wealth tax, corporate tax, gift tax etc to be expanded and enhanced.
•     ITES, outsourcing sector, educational institutions and health services etc run on commercial basis should be brought under the Service Tax net.
•     Small saving instruments under postal and other agencies be encouraged by incentivizing commission agents of these scheme.

Other suggestions include holding of post budget consultations with the representatives of Central Trade Unions, need for directional change in policies such as stopping of mindless deregulation, encourage entrepreneurship to tackle problem of unemployment, more spending on education and skill development, removal of ceiling on gratuity, bonus and pension etc of workers and following the principle of “Same work, same wages” among others.

Representatives of different Central Trade Union groups who participated in today’s meeting included Shri B.N. Rai, Bhartiya Mazdoor Sangh (BMS), Shri Chandra Prakash Singh, Indian National Trade Union Congress (INTUC), Shri Shanta Kumar, INTUC, Ms Amarjeet Kaur, Indian National Trade Union Congress (INTUC), Shri D.L. Sachdeva, Indian National Trade Union Congress (INTUC), Shri Sharad Rao, Hind Mazdoor Sabha (HMS), Shri Harbhajan Singh Sidhu, Hind Mazdoor Sabha (HMS), Shri Swadesh Devroye, Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU), Shri Tapan Sen, MP (RS), Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU), Shri Dilip Bhattacharya, All India United Trade Union Centre (AIUTUC), Shri Sankar Saha, All India United Trade Union Centre (AIUTUC), Shri Sheo Prasad Tiwari, Trade Union Coordination Centre (TUCC), Shri V.Suburaman, Labour Progressive Federation (LPF), Shri M. Shanmugum, LPF, Shri Prechandan, United Trade Union Congress (UTUC), Shri Abni Roy, United Trade Union Congress (UTUC) and Dr. Virat Jaiswal, National Front of Indian Trade Unions among others.

Source: PIB

One additional increment on 01.01.2006 for retired between Feb to Jun 2006: Finmin Clarification to Deptt. of Post

One additional increment on 01.01.2006 for retired between Feb to Jun 2006: Finmin Clarification to Deptt. of Post

No. 4-4/2008-PCC (Corr.)
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS & IT
DEPARTMENT OF POSTS
(Pay commission Cell)

Dak Bhawan, Sansad Marg
New delhi-110001
Dated: 04 Jun 2014.

To,
All Chief Postmaster General,
All Postmaster General,
All General Manager (F)

    Sub:- Clarification for additional Increment for the officers/officials whose date of increment falls between Feb to Jun 2006 & retired before their DNI in 2006.

Please refer to this Directorate letter of even No. dated 20 Mar 2012 in which DOPT OM NO. 10/02/201-E.III/A dated 19 Mar 2012 was circulated.

2. A doubt has been raised by the PAOs & sought clarification on the above subject if the officers/officials whose date of increment falls between Feb to Jun 2006 & retired before their DNI in 2006 are entitled for one additional increment in pre revised scale on 01-01-2006.

3. The above issue has been examined in consultation-with Ministry of Finance & clarified vide UO No. 48817/E.III-A/2014 dated 21 May 2014 as under,-

“M/o Communications & IT is informed that this Department's OM No. 10/02/2011- E.III-A dated 19-03-2012 is applicable only to those employees, who were due for increment between February and June, 2006. Those officials who were not in service on their due date of next increment are not eligible for one additional increment on 01-01-2006 in terms of this Department's OM dated 19-03-2012".

4. This is for information & further action.

sd/-
(Surender Kumar)
Assistant Director General(GDS/PCC)

Source: NFPE

EPFO likely to provide 9% interest for 2014-15

EPFO likely to provide 9% interest for 2014-15 - Economic Times
By PTI | 7 Jun, 2014

NEW DELHI: Retirement fund body EPFO is likely to provide nine per cent rate of interest on PF deposits for the current fiscal to its over five crore subscribers, slightly higher than 8.75 per cent paid in 2013-14.

"The initial estimates indicate that the Employees' Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) can easily provide nine per cent rate of interest on PF deposits for 2014-15," a source said.

According to him, the improved market conditions, especially after the formation of a new government at Centre last month, have raised expectations of higher yields on various investments by the body.

EPFO manages a corpus of over Rs 5 lakh crore. It has received Rs 71,195 crore as incremental deposits from its subscribers under social security schemes run by it during 2013-14, which is 16 per cent higher than Rs 61,143 crore collected by it in 2012-13.

The source said EPFO also plans to unlock its investment of around Rs 55,000 crore in Special Deposit Scheme (SDS). The government pays a fixed rate of eight per cent on SDS to EPFO which is lower than other investment options available in the present legal frame work.



EPFO is also expected to improve yields or returns on its investment under the new norms prescribed under an investment pattern notified by the Labour Ministry last year.

According to the new pattern, EPFO can invest up to 55 per cent of its funds in debt securities issued by banks and financial institution and other body corporates.

The new investment pattern also allows EPFO to invest up to five per cent of its corpus into money market instruments, including units of mutual funds, equity linked schemes regulated by Securities and Exchange Board of India.

The new investment norms also provide for parking up to 55 per cent of the EPFO funds in a new category comprising government and state bonds.

Source: http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/

Agenda for 25th SCOVA Meeting porposed by Bharat Pensioner Samaj

Agenda for 25th SCOVA Meeting porposed by Bharat Pensioner Samaj

 Proposed agenda 25th SCOVA:-

MS Sujasha Choudhury
Dy. Secretary (P) DOP &PW
3rd floor,Lok Nayak Bhawan, Khan Market New Delhi -11003
E-mail: sujasha_choudhury@yahoo.co.in /c.taneja@nic.in

Ref : F. No. 42/29/2014-P&PW(G) Government of India Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions Department of Pension & Pensioners' Welfare 3rd Floor, Lok Nayak Bhavan,Khan Market, New Delhi – 110003 Date: 5 th June, 2014

Regarding: 25th meeting of Standing Committee of Voluntary Agencies (SCOVA) scheduled to be held in the month of July, 2014 under the Chairmanship of Hon'ble MOS (PP).

Madam,

Bharat Pensioners Samaj forward hereunder the Agenda items for inclusion in the final Agenda of 25th SCOVA meeting:


1.Implementation of Pricipal CAT judgement dated 01.11.2011 in OA 0655/2010 No.0655/2010 : 
Now since all appeals & even curative petition filed by the Govt. against the said judgment have been disposed off by the Apex Court & the part judgment indirectly stand implemented vide DOP &PWP OM 38/37/08-P&PW(A) dated 28/01/2013 Regarding Revision of pension of pre-2006 pensioners - reg. (Revised concordance table) DOP & PW should implement the said judgment (which is in REM) in TOTO in case of all pre 2006 Pensioners.

2.Difficulties of BSNL pensioners

a) The BSNL Pensioner has to depend upon two authorities’ i.e. District Head, i.e. SSA and Pension Head, i.e. CCA. The SSA comes into picture for payment of Medical Reimbursement for which a scheme known as BSNLMRS is in force. The payment is made quarterly. In number of cases Pensioners are kept waiting and are not informed about the status of their claims. Though there are clear orders from the BSNL Corporate office to effect payment through ECS, it is not being done.

b) In the number of cases, the Pensioners have pending grievance relating to pay-fixation, promotion etc and has to approach the authorities. There is no machinery for the Pensioner or Pensioners Association to approach the BSNL Authorities and as such they have to struggle indefinitely for settlement of their grievance.

c)The CCA’s are holding Pension Adalat for DOT/BSNL pensioners’ at Circle Level dividing the Circle in few parts and each part has Pension Adalat only once in a year.  In such Adalats, for cases related to BSNL which constitute 80% of the total cases one Officers from BSNL attends the Adalat . All the cases related to BSNL are made over to him for further disposal which never happens & Pensioners have to suffer making the exercise futile.

    Our proposal


i.  Impress upon BSNL Authorities, at all Levels to be accessible to Pensioners Associations.
ii.  BSNL Corporate Office, New Delhi may be requested to entertain/respond letters from Pensioners Association, regarding the issues which warrant its intervention .
iii.  BSNL Corporate Office, New Delhi may be requested issue instructions to the Chief General Manager Telecom at Circle/District i.e. SSA level to entertain and respond to correspondence from Pensioners Associations.
iv.  The Associations should be given time for the meetings to raise pensioners issues at Circle/SSA Head.
v.  For BSNL Pensioners Separate Pension Adalats should be held quarterly as is being done by the Controller of Communication Accounts, in each Circle for DOT Pensioners.
vi.  Nodal officer for Pensioner should be appointed in SSA/CCA to settle the Pensioners issues.
vii.  Like Central Government Pensioners, Pension of BSNL Pensioners should also be revised simultaneously whenever revision takes place The BSNL Pensioners association should be given opportunity to submit their Memorandum on Pension related issues and should also be heard by Wage Revision Committee of BSNL, whenever it takes place.

3.RELHS :Railway administration should disclose to SCOVA members the progress on compliance of following items:

2(i) Smart Card facility to RELHS beneficiaries :
Instruction in this regard were issued vide Boards letter Nos 2007/H/28/1/RELHS/Smart card dated 18.07.2012& 27.8.2012 But the said orders have not been implemented on all the Zones even after Two years. Rly Board is requested to disclose to SCOVA members Zone wise progress with cause of delay if any.

2(ii) On 24th February 2010 during the budget speech Minister for Railways, vide para 51, announced that Rly. outpatient Departments (OPD) and diagnostic centers will be set up at Gurgaon & other cities.

2(iii) RELHS facilities to dependent parents ; The then Rly Minister in her budget speech on25th February 2011 vide para 56 announced extension of medical facilities to both dependent father and mother of railway employees..

2(iv) Minister of Railways in his Budget speech in parliament on 26.02.2013 vide Para48 iv announced extending the treatment facility in case of medical emergency to RELHS beneficiaries to all cities where hospitals are empanelled either with CGHS or with Railways.

Announcement in budget speech is commitment to Parliament thus warrants time bound action for implementation. So far there is no visible action in this regard. Rly Board should disclose zone wise status to SCOVA members.

4.CGHS: Health care & Medical aid is not a luxury to be possessed by a privileged few .keeping this in view following issue need to be resolved with out delay.

4(i) Discrimination to P&T Pensioners: The Central Government Pensioners, whether they were beneficiaries or not while in service, are permitted to join CGHS on retirement. However the Ministry of Health & FW issued an order dated 1.8.1996 according to which all P&T Pensioners who were not participating in CGHS while in service have been debarred. This order is discriminatory & should be withdrawn forth with.

4(ii) P&T Dispensaries: Following the recommendations of the V CPC and VI CPC, 19 P&T Dispensaries in 12 CGHS Cities have been merged with the CGHS. Instead of now allowing all P&T pensioners irrespective of the station they live, only those who are living in these 12 Cities have been allowed to participate in the CGHS. These instructions are discriminative as all other Central Pensioners are permitted to join CGHS irrespective of the fact where they are living. These instructions too be withdrawn and all P&T Pensioners may be allowed to avail CGHS fecilities.

4(iii) CSMA Rules 1944: The CSMA Rules, 1944 should be extended to pensioners living in non-CGHS areas and stations, which are at present not covered by CGHS.

S.C. Maheshwari,
Secretary General,Bharat Pensioners Samaj

Source: http://scm-bps.blogspot.in/2014/06/bps-proposed-agenda-for-25th-scova.html