Press Statement regarding Nationwide One Day Strike today (16.3.2017) - Confederation

Press Statement regarding Nationwide One Day Strike today (16.3.2017) - Confederation

A press statement regarding Nationwide One Day Strike today (16.3.2017) published by the General Secretary of Confederation of Central Government Employees and Workers.

PRESS STATEMENT
Dated 16th March 2017

About thirteen (13) lakhs Central Government employees went on nationwide one day strike today (16.03.2017) as per the call of Confederation of Central Government Employees and Workers. The Strike was organized to protest against the betrayal of the Group of Cabinet Ministers of NDA Government by not honoring the assurances given to the National Joint Council of Action on 30th June 2016. Home Minister Rajnath Singh, Finance Minister Arun Jaitely and Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu has assured that a High Level Committee will be appointed to negotiate and settle the issues arising out of 7th Pay Commission inducing increase in Minimum pay, Fitment formula, Allowances etc. within a period of four months. Based on this assurance the Federations had deferred the proposed indefinite strike from 11th July 2016. Even after a lapse of eight months the assurances are not fulfilled.

Government issued orders to deal with the strike threatening imposition of break-in Service, suspension and dismissal in addition to dies-non. Employees participated in the strike defying such orders.

In Postal department about five Lakhs employees participated in the strike. INTUC Federation also jointed the strike in Postal. All RMS Offices and major post offices remained closed. Income Tax deparment the strike was total in all states as both employees and officers went on strike. Employees of Audit and Accounts department Civil Accounts, Ground Water Board, Botanical Survey Of India, Postal Accounts Survey Of India, Atomic Energy, Indian Space Research Printing and Stationery, Indian Bureau of Mines, Geological Survey of India, AGMARK, Central Government Health Scheme, Medical Stores depot, Film Institute Of India, Indian Council of Medical Research, Customs and Central Excise, Central Food Laboratory, Census, Defence Accounts and various other autonomous and scientific Research institutions participated in the nation wide strike.

 Strike was total in Kerala, West Bengal, Tamilnadu, Odisha, Telangana, Chattisgarh, Assam, North Eastern states including Tripura, Jharkhand, Karnataka and Maharashtra. 70 to 80% participation in Andhra, Punjab, Gujarat, Bihar and Madhya Pradesh, 60 to 70% in Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Haryana, 40 to 50% in Delhi and Rajasthan 30% in Himachal.

Solidarity demonstrations were conducted by All India State Government Employees Federation, BSNL Employees Unions, Central Pensioners organisations, All India Defence Employees Federation and many other organizations.

The National Secretariat of the Confederation thanked and Congratulated the employees who made the nationwide strike a resounding success.

sd/- 

M.Krishnan 

Secretary General Confederation 

Mob & whatsApp-09447068125 

Email: mkrishnan6854@amaiI.com

Source: http://confederationhq.blogspot.in/

10,000 vacancies in KVs to be filled up this year: Govt

10,000 vacancies in KVs to be filled up this year: Govt

New Delhi: The government will fill up over 10,000 vacant posts in various Kendriya Vidyalayas (KVs) in the country this academic year, HRD Minister Prakash Javadekar said today.

“There are more than 10,000 vacant posts in KVs across the country. …We are going to fill up all vacant posts this academic year,” Javadekar said during Question Hour in the Rajya Sabha.

The recruitment process for filling up of 6,206 vacancies of teaching staff of KVs through direct recruitment has already been initiated and written exams were conducted in December last year, he said.

After the recruitment process is over, the recruited teachers will be posted in various KVs.

“In addition, action has also been initiated for filling up of another 4,473 posts through Limited Departmental Examination (LDE) with the recruiting agency CBSE,” he noted.

On vacant posts in KVs particulary located in Andhra Pradesh, the Minister said there are total 31 KVs functioning in the state and vacant teaching posts there were about 449.

Filling up of vacancies is a continues process and action is taken from time to time as per the provisions of the relevant recruitment rules, he added.

Replying to a supplementary query on the salary of contractual teachers, the Minister said that all three categories of teachers get the same pay scale and the government is now trying to employ permanent staff.

On opening of new KVs, the Minister said the government is trying to establish more such schools to provide quality education. The cabinet had yesterday approved opening up of 35 KVs.

The proposals for opening new KVs are considered only if sponsored by the Centre or state governments committing resources for setting up of these schools.

The Centre has received proposals for setting up of two new KVs in Prakasam district in Andhra Pradesh and they were found to be feasible, the minister added.

PTI

EPF Members to Withdraw upto 90 % Fund for Purchase of House

EPF Members to Withdraw upto 90 % Fund for Purchase of House

Government to Amend EPF Scheme, 1952 to Enable EPF Members to Withdraw upto 90 Percent Fund for Purchase of House

The Government has taken a decision for modification in the Employees’ Provident Funds (EPF) Scheme, 1952 to add a new paragraph 68 BD under which a member of Employees’ Provident Fund (EPF), being a member of a co-operative society or a housing society having at least 10 members of EPF, can withdraw upto 90 per cent from the Fund for purchase of dwelling house/flat or construction of dwelling house/acquisition of site. Monthly installments for repayments of any outstanding payments or interest may also be paid from the amount standing to the credit of the member, to the Government/housing agency/primary lending agency or banks concerned.

The total number of Employees’ Provident Fund (EPF) member accounts as on 31.03.2016, as per Annual Report for 2015-16, is 17.14 crore. On an average, contributions have been received in respect of 3.76 crore members during the year 2015-16. The withdrawal facility from the Provident Fund (PF) account under the Scheme will be available to only those PF members who fulfill the conditions prescribed.

This information was given by Shri Bandaru Dattatreya, the Minister of State (IC) for Labour and Employment, in written reply to a question in Rajya Sabha.

PIB

Cabinet approves setting up of 50 new Kendriya Vidyalayas in the country under Civil / Defence Sector

Cabinet approves setting up of 50 new Kendriya Vidyalayas in the country under Civil / Defence Sector

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs,chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved the proposal for opening of 50 new KendriyaVidyalayas (KVs) under Civil / Defence Sector in the country keeping in view the high demand for these schools for their quality of education and excellent results.

The total project cost based on KendriyaVidyalayaSangathan (KVS) norms for the proposed 50 new KVs is Rs.1160 crore.

New KVs will be opened from classes I to V for which 650 regular posts shall be created in all 50 KendriyaVidyalayas. The school grows every year with addition of one more higher class and, when the school grows upto class XII and becomes a full fledged school with two sections in each class, there shall be a requirement of about 4000 regular posts of various categories i.e., about 2900 teaching posts and about 1100 non-teaching posts. These new KVs when fully functional will provide quality education to approximately 50,000 students in addition to the approximately 12 lakh students already studying in present KVs.

The new KVs will address the educational needs of eligible students with high quality standards and will play a role of pace-setting educational institutions in the districts concerned.

Background:

The main objective of KVS is to cater to the educational needs of children of transferable Central Government employees including Defence and Para-military personnel by providing a common programme of education. There are at present 1142 functional KendriyaVidyalayas under the KVS including three abroad at Moscow, Kathmandu and Tehran.

The KendriyaVidyalayas are considered as model schools in the country in terms of physical infrastructure, teaching resources, curriculum and academic performance. KendriyaVidyalayas as pace setting schools have consistently turned out excellent academic performance as is evident from the Board Results of Class X and XII exams conducted by the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE).

PIB

Amendments to All India Service (Discipline & Appeals) Rules, 1969- Guidelines regarding adherence to timelines for Departmental Proceedings

Immediate

File No.106/7/2015-AVD.I(Part)
Government of India
Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions
(Department of Personnel & Training)

New Delhi, Dated 15th March, 2017

To
1. The Chief Secretaries of All the State Governments / Union Territories
2. All the Cadre Controlling Authorities (as per standard list).

Subject: Amendments to All India Service (Discipline & Appeals) Rules, 1969- Guidelines regarding adherence to timelines for Departmental Proceedings.

Dear Sir / Madam,

Reference is invited to this Department's Notification dated 20.01.2017 vide which amendments were made to the All India Service (Discipline & Appeal) Rules, 1969 by providing specific time frames for different stages of the inquiry process.

2. The salient features of the amendments are:

i. Introduction of time frame in Rule 8(5) providing the Charged Officer (CO) a period of 30 days for submission of his representation on the chargesheet served on him. The period may be extended by another 30 days by the Disciplinary Authority (DA) for reasons to be recorded in writing. Under no circumstances, the extension shall exceed 90 days from the date of receipt of the Articles of Charge.

ii. Insertion of new Sub-rule 8(25) (a), (b) & (c) whereby the Inquiring Authority should conclude the inquiry and submit his report within six months from the date of appointment. Any further extension of time would be permissible, six months at a time with the approval of the DA or any authority authorised by the DA on his behalf for reasons to be recorded in writing by Inquiring Authority.

iii. Introduction of time frame of 15 days for submission of the representation by the charged officer on the advice of UPSC regarding quantum of penalty proposed. This period can be extended by 15 days by the DA for reasons to be recorded in writing. Under no circumstances, the extension shall exceed 45 days from the date of receipt of the Articles of Charge.

3. In view of the introduction of time frames as elaborated in paragraph 2, all the State Governments / Union Territories and Cadre Controlling Authorities are advised to adopt the following measures so that the time frames can be strictly adhered to and the inquiry process can be completed expeditiously.

i. All listed documents on the basis of which the proposed disciplinary proceeding is to be initiated must be in the custody of the DA.

ii. In case disciplinary proceedings are initiated simultaneously with criminal proceedings on the same set of charges, a copy of all the documents and files should be kept in the custody of the DA prior to handing over the records, in case the said records are to be submitted in a court of law. In this regard, CVC OM No. 3(v)/99/7 dated 6 th September, 1999 may be referred to.

iii. Care may be taken to ensure that all listed documents are provided to the charged officer along with the chargesheet to enable him to submit his representation within the stipulated time.

iv. The date of serving notice on the CO seeking his representation should be duly noted and acknowledgement of the same should be retained in records as well as communicated to the Central Government in case departmental proceedings are initiated by the Central Government as well as in the departmental proceedings forwarded to the Central Government for imposition of major penalties under rule 6.

v. The chargesheet / advice of UPSC served on the CO may clearly indicate that in the absence of a Statement of Defence or comments on the advice from the CO within the stipulated time frame as mentioned in Rule 8(5) and Rule 9(5) or a request from CO for extension of time, it would be assumed that the CO has no views to offer.

vi. During the course of inquiry, where the CO seeks additional documents, the JO may decide on the relevance of the documents so sought expeditiously. The JO may be advised to procure the permitted additional documents from the custodian Department I Ministry and supply copies of documents to CO within one month. In case of delays at the level of the Department / Ministry, the same may be brought to the notice of the DA by the JO to resolve the issue
expeditiously and DA should issue a non-availability certificate with regard to the documents which are not available.

vii. The time taken during the inquiry process may be regularly monitored and a register of all pending inquiries may be maintained. The JO should be advised to complete the inquiry within six months. However, if he is unable to do so for any good and sufficient reasons, he should make a request for extension in terms of new sub-rule 8 (25) to the DA well within the stipulated time frame. Every such extension must be approved by the DA before expiry of the six months time period.

viii. As per Rule 7 of the AIS (D&A) Rules, 1969, the Competent Authority is the State Government itself to institute proceedings if the act of omission was while the CO was serving in connection with the affairs of a State Government. Hence, the DA for granting extension for submitting the representation by the CO on the chargesheet [Rule 5 (b)] as well as extension of the inquiry for a further period of six months at a time [Rule 8 (25) (a)] is the State Government in all such cases.

ix. As per Rule 8 (22) (a) where a State Government on completion of the inquiry is of the opinion that a major penalty under Rule 6 is to be imposed on the member of service, the records are forwarded to the Central Government for imposition of the major penalties under Rule 6. In such cases, the Competent Authority for granting extension to the CO for submitting his representation on the advice of UPSC will be the Central Government.

x. The DA may authorise any authority subordinate to him to grant extension of time period as elaborated in paragraph 2 above on his behalf.

xi. The CCA / State Governments should appoint a Nodal Officer of the rank of Under Secretary, Government of India / UTs with contact details (mobile / e-mail / fax) for effective coordination between the Central and the State Governments.

Yours faithfully,
(Kavitha P manabhan)
Deputy Secretary to the Government of India

DoPT Orders 2017

Cabinet approves 2% Dearness Allowance to Central Government Employees and Pensioners

Cabinet approves additional 2% Dearness Allowance / Dearness Relief due from January, 2017

The Union Cabinet, chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved release of an additional instalment of Dearness Allowance (DA) to Central Government employees and Dearness Relief (DR) to pensioners w.e.f. 01.01.2017. It has increased by 2% over the existing rate of 2% of the Basic Pay/Pension, to compensate for price rise.

This increase is in accordance with the accepted formula, which is based on the recommendations of the 7th Central Pay Commission.

The combined impact on the exchequer on account of both Dearness Allowance and Dearness Relief would be Rs. 5,857.28 crore per annum and Rs.6,833.50 crore in the Financial Year 2017-18 (for a period of 14 months from January, 2017 to February, 2018).

This will benefit about 48.85 lakh Central Government employees and 55.51 lakh pensioners.

Source: PIB

Historic Strike of Central Government Employees will begin within a few hours : Confederation

Historic Strike of Central Government Employees will begin within a few hours - Confederation

CONFEDERATION OF CENTRAL GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES & WORKERS

16TH MARCH 2017

BATTLE LINES ARE DRAWN
WELL SET FOR ACTION

Within a few hours the historic strike of Central Government Employees including Gramin Dak Sevaks, Casual, Part-Time, Contingent, Daily rated and Contract workers will begin. From Kashmir to Kanyakumari, from North East to Gujarat the strike will be a thundering success. It is an outburst of anger and protest against those who betrayed the central government employees and pensioners.

NDA Govt's Home Minister Shri Rajnath Singh, Finance Minister Shri Arun Jaitley and Railway Minister Shri Suresh Prabhu cheated and betrayed the cause of 33 lakhs Central Govt. Employees and 34 Lakhs pensioners.

Justice is on our side
Betrayers are on the other side

Ultimate victory will be ours as we believe in
Truth, Justice and Fairplay

We are not ready to surrender the self-respect and prestige of 33 lakhs Central Govt. Employees and 34 lakhs Pensioners. Confederation is not an organization of cowards to run away from the battle field half way.

WE SHALL FIGHT AND FIGHT AND FIGHT AND FIGHT TILL OUR LEGITIMATE DEMANDS ARE SETTLED

COME WHAT MAY, WE SHALL STRIKE, STRIKE, STRIKE AND STRIKE

We are ready for any sacrifice to protect the interest of Central Govt. Employees and Pensioners and also for the larger interest of the toiling masses of our country.

Where other organizations failed and compromised, it is confederation - Confederation alone - which has accepted the challenge to fight against the Government which betrayed the entire Central Govt. Employees and Pensioners.

Confederation is the only glorious organization of hope and inspiration for the entire Central Govt. Employees and Pensioners.

Come one, Come all, Come in Hundreds and Thousands and Lakhs.

Let us make the 16th March 2017 Strike a resounding success.

Let us march forward with determination and courage.

We are not alone, we are not afraid and we shall overcome.

M. Krishnan
Secretary General
Confederation
Mob & WhatsApp - 09447068125
E-mail: mkrishnan6854@gmail.com

Source: http://confederationhq.blogspot.in/

HEC: Non-payment of gratuity and arrears by Heavy Engineering Corporation

Non-payment of gratuity and arrears by HEC

Department of Heavy Industry has been receiving complaints of non-payment of gratuity and pay revision arrears by the Heavy Engineering Corporation (HEC), Ranchi to its retired employees. These complaints are forwarded to the Company for appropriate action and redressal of grievances.

As reported by HEC, twenty such complaints have been received by them through the Department during the last two years.

HEC has informed that the payment of gratuity to employees separated upto 31st March, 2014 has already been done except in a few deficient cases, due to specific technical reasons. Outstanding liabilities on account of gratuity payable to retired employees are Rs.50.28 crore. The same hasn’t been paid due to acute financial crisis faced by the Company. However, in case of daughter’s marriage, medical treatment of self and spouse, children’s higher education and remittance of bank’s outstanding loans, part payment of gratuity to ex-employees is being done, as per availability of funds.  Regarding the payment of arrears on account of wage revision 1992 & 2007, a total of Rs.3.71 crore and Rs.24.70 crore (Approx.) respectively are outstanding.

HEC is a company registered under the Companies Act, with a separate legal identity under the Law. The Company is primarily responsible for managing all its affairs independently including meeting expenses related to its employees. Government of India being promoter of the company, has provided financial assistance to the Company in past from time to time in the form of loan, with a view to mitigate the hardship faced by their retired employees due to non-payment of gratuity timely. In the year 2014-15, a loan of Rs.47.89 crore was provided to the company for settlement of outstanding statutory dues (like gratuity etc.) of its employees.

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

Source: PIB

DOPT prohibit the Central Government Employees from participating in any form of strike

DOPT prohibit the Government Employees from participating in any form of strike

DOPT prohibit the Government servants from participating in any form of strike
Strike Notice for 16th March, 2017 - Instructions under CCS (Conduct Rules) 1964

MOST IMMEDIATE
OUT TODAY

No. 45018/I/2017-Vig
Government of India
Ministry of Personnel. P.G. & Pensions
Department of Personnel & Training

North Block. New Delhi.
Dated the 15th March 2017

OFFICE MEMORANDUM

Subject :  Strike Notice for 16th March, 2017 - Instructions under CCS (Conduct Rules) 1964 - Regarding.

It has been brought to the notice of the Government that Confederation of Central Government Employees and Workers. New Delhi has given a notice that the members of the affiliates of the Confederation will go on strike on 16th March, 2017 in pursuance of their 7th Central Pay Commission Demands

2. The instructions issued by the Department of Personnel and Training prohibit the Government servants from participating in any form of strike including mass casual leave, go slow etc, or any or any action that abet any form of strike in violation of Rule 7 of the CCS (Conduct) Rules. 1964. Besides, in accordance with the proviso to Rule 17(1) of the Fundamental Rules, pays and allowances is not admissible to an employee for his absence from duty without any authority. As to the concomitant rights of an Association after it is formed, they cannot be different from the rights which can be claimed by the individual members of which the Association is composed. It follows that the right to form an Association does not include any guaranteed right to strike. There is no statutory provision empowering the employees to go on strike. The Supreme Court has also ruled in several judgments that going on a strike is a gravy misconduct under the Conduct Rules and that misconduct by the government employees is required to be dealt with in accordance with the law. Any employee going on strike in any form would face the consequences which. besides deduction of wages. may also include appropriate disciplinary action. Attention of all employees of this Department is also drawn to this Department’s O.M. No. 33012/I/(s)/2008-Estt.(B) dated 12.9 2008. on the subject for strict compliance.

3. All officers are requested that the above instructions may be brought to the notice of the employees working under their control. All officers are also requested not to sanction Casual Leave or other kind of leave to the officers and employees if applied for, during the period of proposed strike. and ensure that the willing employees are allowed hindrance free entry into the office premises.

4. In case employees go on strike all divisional heads are requested to forward a report indicating the number and details of employees who are absent from duty on the day of strike i.e.16.03.2017

(Suresh Kumar)
Deputy Secretary to the Govt. of India

DOPT Order 2017

7th Pay Commission: Committee on Allowances yet to submit report: Minister of State for Finance

7th Pay Commission: Committee on Allowances yet to submit report: Minister of State for Finance

New Delhi: The Committee on Allowances, tasked with reviewing the recommendations of the 7th Pay Commission on allowances, was given four months to submit its report. Later, the deadline was extended to February 22, 2017, has not yet submitted its report to the government.

In a written reply to a question on 7th Pay Commission in Lok Sabha on March 10, Minister of State for Finance Arjun Ram Meghwal said the Committee, under Finance Secretary Ashok Lavasa, is yet to submit its report.

The minister said that the deliberations of the committee are in the final stages.

The Committee on Allowances was formed in July 2016 following protests by government employees over recommendations of the 7th Pay Commission on allowances.

The 7th Pay Commission had recommended of abolishing 51 allowances and subsuming 37 others out of 196 allowances.

In July, the Finance Minister Arun Jaitley constituted a committee under Finance Secretary Ashok Lavasa to review the recommendations. The committee was given four months’ time to submit the report to Finance Minister.

In October, Ashok Lavasa was quoted by some agencies as saying that he was ready with the report.

Later, the Finance Minister extended the deadline for report submission to February 22, 2017. Now, going by Minister of State for Finance’s reply, it seems government employees will have to wait longer before they can hear some news on hike in allowances.

According to some reports, the Committee on Allowances has decided that the current HRA slab, which is 30 per cent of basic pay, for metros would continue against reducing the House Rent Allowance (HRA) for central government employees. The 7th Pay Commission suggested bringing down the HRA to 24 per cent, 16 per cent and 8 per cent respectively depending on type of cities.

The transport allowance is likely to remain constant as certain reports said the Committee on Allowances agreed with 7th Pay Commission’s recommendation, which had already factored in the Dearness Allowance at 125 per cent assuming the date of implementation to be January 1 next year.

TST