GDS Kamlesh Chandra Committee Recommendations will be implemented soon - Minister replied in Parliament on 27th December, 2017

GDS Kamlesh Chandra Committee Recommendations will be implemented soon - Minister replied in Parliament on 27th December, 2017

Minister of State (IC) for Communications & Railways, Shri Manoj Sinha, in a written reply to a question on GDS Kamlesh Chandra Committee Report, in Lok Sabha on 27.12.2017 informed that a One Man Committee has been constituted to look into the salary structure, other service matters and problems of Gramin Dak Sevaks under the Chairmanship of Shri Kamlesh Chandra.

The Committee has submitted its report to the Government. The salient features are given in the Annexure.

The recommendations of the Committee have been considered by the Department. After getting the necessary approvals from all concerned, the recommendation of the Committee will be implemented.

Annexure : Salient features  of the One Man Committee Report headed by Shri Kamlesh Chandra

• The old system of payment of Time Related Continuity Allowance (TRCA) is dispensed with and replaced with a new wage payment system. Under the new wage payment system, 11 TRCA slabs are subsumed into 3 Wage Scales with two Levels each for BPMs and for other than BPMs. One wage scale would be common for both the categories of GDSs.
• The minimum working hours of GDS Post Offices and GDSs are increased to 4 hours from 3 hours.
• The new working hours for GDS Post Offices will be 4 hours and 5 hours only.
• The Level 1 GDS Post Offices / GDSs will have 4 hours as working hours and Level - 2 will have 5 hours as working hours.
• The Point System for assessment of workload of BPMs has been abolished.
• The new wage payment system is linked to revenue generation of GDS Post Offices. Under the new system, there will be no increase in wages of BPMs from Level -1 to Level -2 on the basis of workload but the same will be increased based on achievement of prescribed revenue norms which is fixed at 100% for normal areas and 50% for special areas.
• The GDS Post Offices not achieving the prescribed revenue norm within the given working hours will have to open GDS Post Offices for minimum of additional 30 minutes beyond the prescribed working hours.
• The GDS BPMs will be paid Revenue Linked Allowance @10% beyond level-2 wage scale if they will be successful in achieving revenue beyond prescribed norms
• The GDS Post Offices has been categorized into A, B; C and D categories based on the revenue generation norms. The GDS Post Office in A category will achieve 100% revenue norm. The Committee has recommended a set of actions for each category of GDS Post Offices.
• The six approved categories of GDSs are subsumed into two categories only. One category will be Branch Post Master and all other 5 categories of GDSs are subsumed into one Multi Tasking Category.
• The GDSs working in the GDS Post Offices will be known as Assistant Branch Post Master (ABPMs) and those working in the Departmental Post Offices will be known as Dak Sevak (DS).
• The minimum wage has been increased to Rs. 10000/- per month and maximum pay to Rs. 35480/- per month.
• The rate of annual increase is recommended as 3%.
• A Composite Allowance comprising of support for hiring accommodation for GDS Post Offices as well as mandatory residence, office maintenance, mobile and electricity usage charges etc. has been introduced for the first time.
• Children Education Allowance @Rs. 6000/- per child per annum has been introduced for GDSs.
• Risk & Hardship Allowance @Rs. 500/- per month for GDS working in the special areas has also been introduced.
• A Financial up-gradation has been introduced at 12 years, 24 years and 36 years of services in form of two advance additional annual increases.
• The Ceiling of ex-gratia gratuity has been increased from Rs. 60,000 to Rs. 5,00,000
• The GDS Contribution for Service Discharge Benefit Scheme (SDBS) should be enhanced maximum up to 10% and minimum up to 3% of the basic wage per month, whereas the Department should contribute a fixed contribution of 3% of the basic wage of the GDSs.
• The coverage of GDS Group Insurance Scheme has been enhanced from Rs. 50000/- to Rs. 5,00,000/
• The contribution of Department in Circle Welfare Fund (CWF) has been increased from Rs. 100/ per annum to Rs. 300/ per annum.
• The scope of CWF is extended to cover immediate family members such as spouse; daughters, sons and dependent daughters in law in the scheme.
• The Committee also recommended 10% hike in the prescribed limits of financial grants and assistances in the Circle Welfare Funds.
• The Committee has recommended addition of Rs. 10,000/ for purchase of Tablet / Mobile from the Circle Welfare in the head “Financial Assistance of Fund by way of loans with lower rate of interest (5%)”.
• Provision of 26 weeks of Maternity Leave for women GDS has been recommended.
• The wages for the entire period of Maternity Leave is recommended to be paid from salary head from where wages of GDSs are paid.
• The Committee has also recommended one week of paternity leave.
• Leave accumulation and encashment facility up to 180 days has been introduced.
• Online system of engagement has been recommended.
• Alternate livelihood condition for engagement of GDSs has been relaxed.
• Voluntary Discharge scheme has been recommended.
• The Discharge age has been retained at 65 years.
• The Limited Transfer Facility has been relaxed from 1 time to 3 times for male GDSs. There will be no restriction on number of chances for transfer of women GDSs. The powers for transfer has been delegated to the concerned Divisional head.
• The ex-gratia payment during put off period should be revised to 35% from 25% of the wage and DA drawn immediately before put off.
• The Committee has recommended preferring transfer before put off duty.

Amendment in EPF scheme for buying homes

Amendment in EPF scheme for buying homes

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

MINISTRY OF LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT

RAJYA SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO-1056

ANSWERED ON-27.12.2017

Amendment in EPF scheme for buying homes

1056 . Shri R. Vaithilingam

(a)whether Government will amend the Employees” Provident Fund (EPF) scheme to enable around 4 crore members of Employees” Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) to withdraw upto 90 per cent of their fund for making down payments while buying houses;
(b)whether said amendment will also allow the EPFO subscribers to use their EPF accounts for paying equated monthly installments of home loans; and
(c)whether under the proposed provision in the EPF scheme, the subscribers would have to form a cooperative society with at least 10 members to avail of the facility?

ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE (IC) FOR LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT

(SHRI SANTOSH KUMAR GANGWAR)

(a) to (c): The Government vide Notification No. G.S.R.351 (E) dated 12th April, 2017 has inserted a paragraph 68BD in Employees’ Provident Funds (EPF) Scheme, 1952 for withdrawal from the Employees’ Provident Fund (EPF) for purchasing dwelling house or flat or construction of a dwelling house.

The withdrawal amount from the Provident Fund shall not exceed ninety per cent of the employer’s share of contribution and interest thereon and employee’s share of contribution and interest thereon.

The Scheme envisages that a member can authorise monthly installment for the repayment, wholly or partly, of any outstanding principal or interest of a loan obtained in the name of the member or spouse of the member or jointly by the member and the spouse.
The payment can be made on behalf of the member to a housing agency or primary lending agency or bank concerned, etc.

The subscriber should be a member of a cooperative society or a society registered for housing purpose under any law for the time being in force and such society has at least ten members of the Fund.

Decision of the Cabinet for enhancement of age of superannuation of Dental Doctors under Ministry of Railway

Decision of the Cabinet for enhancement of age of superannuation of Dental Doctors under Ministry of Railway

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

(RAILWAY BOARD)

RRE No. 205/2017

New Delhi Dated: 26.12.2017

No. E(P&A)I-2016/RT-16

The General Managers and Principal Financial Advisers,
All Indian Railways including
Production Units etc.

Sub: Decision of the Cabinet for enhancement of age of superannuation of Dental Doctors under Ministry of Railways.

Ministry of Health & Family Welfare (MoH&FW) vide OM No. A.12034/1/2017- CHS-V dated 30.09.2017 has communicated (i) post-facto approval of the Cabinet for enhancement of age of superannuation of doctors of Indian Railway Medical Service; (ii) approval of Cabinet for enhancement of age of superannuation of Dental doctors under Ministry of Railways to 65 years; and (iii) that Doctors shall hold the administrative post till the date of attaining the age of 62 years.

2. Accordingly, the age of superannuation of Dental Doctors under Ministry of Railways is enhanced from 60 years to 65 years.

3. Doctors shall hold administrative posts till the date of attaining the age of 62 years and thereafter their services shall be placed in Non-administrative positions.

4. Consequent upon enhancement of the age of superannuation of Dental Doctors, all Zonal Railways/Production Units are requested to review the vacancies arising from retirement in regard to direct recruitment as well as promotion so that there is no over recruitment or litigation or review DPCs because of change in “Zone of Consideration” as a result of reduction in the number of retirement vacancies.

5. This issues with the concurrence of Finance Directorate of the Ministry of Railways.

6. Kindly acknowledge receipt.

(Anil Kumar)
Dy. Director Estt. (P&A)-I
Railway Board

Voluntary Retirement in Paramilitary Forces

Voluntary Retirement in Paramilitary Forces

PERSONNEL OF PARAMILITARY FORCES TAKING VOLUNTARY RETIREMENT

Minister of State for Home Affairs replied in Parliament(Rajya Sabha) on 27.12.2017 regarding Voluntary Retirement in Paramilitary Forces.

“As per information provided by Central Armed Police Forces and Assam Rifles (CAPFs & AR), 19239 personnel have taken voluntary retirement from service since January, 2016.

Improvement in service conditions/ amenities and welfare of the force personnel is a continuous endeavour. A study was got conducted through Bureau of Police Research & Development (BPR&D) into the factors causing stress and suggest remedial measures and another similar study was got conducted though Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad (IIMA) for BSF & CRPF”. Based on the above study report, the measures, which have been taken to boost the morale and improve the working conditions and reduce stress among the force personnel, are at Annexure-‘A’.

ANNEXURE – ‘A’

R.S.US.Q.NO.1034 FOR 27.12.2017

Measures taken to improve the working conditions and reduce stress among the force personnel

(i) Transparent policies pertaining to transfer and leave of CAPFs and AR personnel. The hospitalization period due to injuries while on duty is treated as on duty. Choice posting is considered to the extent possible after the personnel served in hard area.

(ii) Regular interaction of officers with troops to find out and redress their grievances.

(iii) Ensuring adequate rest and relief by regulating the duty hours.

(iv) Improving living conditions for troops, providing adequate recreational/ entertainment, sports, communication facilities etc. Crèche facility is also provided at various establishments (where feasible) to facilitate the female employees.

(v) Facility of retention of government accommodation at the place of last posting (for keeping the family) while posted in NE State, J&K and LWE affected areas (except State Capitals).

(vi) Providing better medical facilities, also organizing talks with specialists to address their personal and psychological concerns and organizing Meditation & Yoga routinely for better stress management.

(vii) Adequately compensating the troops deployed in difficult areas.

(viii) Other welfare measures like facility of Central Police Canteen (CPC), scholarship for wards etc. Also air courier service has been provided to CAPF personnel deployed in NE States, J&K and LWE affected areas as welfare measure.

(ix) Designating retired CAPF personnel as ex-CAPF personnel for better identity and community recognition.

(x) Promotions are released regularly to eligible personnel as & when the vacancies arise. Financial benefits under Modified Assured Career Progression (MACP) are given in case promotion does not take place for want of vacancies at 10, 20 & 30 years of service.

Besides above, implementation of suitable model for improvement of working conditions of CAPFs & AR is a continuous process and instructions in this regard are issued from time to time by this Ministry.

NFIR New Year Message

NFIR New Year Message

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

Dated: 25/12/2017

MESSAGE

Dear Brothers/Sisters,

We Will be celebrating New Year Day on January 1, 208 with disappointment and  agony as the Government has done grave injustice by reducing the percentage or various  Allowances and also by not granting the Allowances from 1st January. 2016. Almost all Railway employees in all corners Of Indian Railways have been deprived Of their legitimate Allowances in terms Of percentages existed prior to acceptance Of 7th CPC report.

The Running Staff, Brothers/Sisters, are aware that NFIR has placed cogent case before the Railway Board for hiking Kilometrage rates on the basis of Running Allowance formula and revision of TA rates. Our presentation was admired by the Running Staff. The Railway Board has discussed with NFIR twice on revision of Running Allowance rates and on both the occasions we conveyed the logic for upward revision or mileage rates and also revision of other related Allowances.

It is sad to mention that the decisions reached negotiated settlement concerning various categories of employees are yet to be implemented while we are walking into New Year on 1st January, 2018. As part of celebrations, everyone of us should convey our deep sense Of disappointment and anguish to the Railway Ministry and the Government and at the same time urge the Government to respond to our issues quickly and positively.

Yours fraternally,

sd/-
(Dr. M.Raghavaiah)
General Secretary

Source: NFIR

Promotion of Defence Production

Promotion of Defence Production

Defence manufacturing is primarily driven by capital acquisition of defence equipment. Under 'Make in India' initiative of the Government, several measures have been taken to promote indigenous design, development and manufacture of defence equipment in the country by harnessing the capabilities of the public and private sector. These measures include according preference to procurement from Indian vendors under the Defence Procurement Procedure (DPP), liberalization of the licensing regime and FDI policy by raising the cap on FDI in the defence sector, simplification of export procedure, streamlining of defence offset guidelines etc. Recently, the Government has notified the ‘Strategic Partnership (SP)’ Model which envisages establishment of long-term strategic partnerships with Indian entities through a transparent and competitive process, wherein they would tie up with global Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) to seek technology transfers to set up domestic manufacturing infrastructure and supply chains.

In the last three financial years i.e., 2014-15 to 2016-17, the Government has accorded Acceptance of Necessity (AoN) for 105 proposals worth Rs.2,33,000 Crore approximately, in 'Buy (Indian-Indigenously Designed & Developed Manufactured (IDDM)', 'Buy (Indian)', 'Buy and Make (Indian)' and 'Make' categories of capital acquisition i.e. Request for Proposal (RFP) will be issued to Indian vendors only.

As on date, no in-house development project proposal approved by Ordnance Factory Board for development of small arms is pending for approval by Department of Defence Production.

This information was given by Raksha Rajya Mantri Dr. Subhash Bhamre in a written reply to Shri PR Senthil Nathan and Shri Bharathi Mohan RK in Lok Sabha today.

Ministry of Finance: Year End Review 2017 - Regarding 7th Central Pay Commission

Ministry of Finance: Year End Review 2017 - Regarding 7th Central Pay Commission

Enhancing the quality of life remained primary goal for Government when it put into implementation the recommendations of the 7th Central Pay Commission to benefit more than 48 Lakh Central Government Employees.

Department of Expenditure (DOE)

• General Financial Rules (GFRs), 2017 were released on 7th March, 2017 to enable an improved, efficient and effective framework of fiscal management while providing the necessary flexibility to facilitate timely delivery of services.
• 7th CPC - On 28th June 2017, the Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi approved the recommendations of the 7th CPC on allowances with some modifications. The revised rates of the allowances came into effect from 1st July, 2017 benefitting more than 48 lakh Central Government Employees.

While approving the recommendations of the 7th CPC, the Cabinet had decided to set-up the Committee on Allowances (CoA) in view of substantial changes in the existing provisions and a number of representations received. The 7th CPC adopted a threepronged approach in examining a total of 197 allowances which involved an assessment of the need for continuation of each allowance, appropriateness of the set of people covered by the allowance and rationalisation which involved clubbing of allowances with similar objectives. Based on the examination on these lines, the 7th CPC recommended that 53 allowances be abolished and 37 be subsumed in an existing or a newly proposed allowance. For most of the allowances that were retained, the 7th CPC recommended a raise commensurate with inflation as reflected in the rates of Dearness Allowance (DA).

A new paradigm was evolved to administer the allowances linked to risk and hardship. The myriad allowances, their categories and sub-categories pertaining to civilians employees, CAPF and defence personnel were fitted into a table called the Risk and Hardship Matrix (R&H Matrix).

Source: DoE

Pay Revision of Nurses

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
LOK SABHA
STARRED QUESTION NO: 103
ANSWERED ON: 22.12.2017

Pay Revision of Nurses

BHAVANA GAWALI (PATIL)
Will the Minister of
HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE be pleased to state:

Will the Minister of HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE be pleased to state:
(a) whether the All India Nurses Confederation has demanded review of their pay scale and increase in their allowances;
(b) if so, the details thereof;
(c) whether the Government has taken any decision in this regard and if so, the details thereof; and
(d) whether the Union of Nurses had called a pan-India strike in the recent past and if so, the details thereof along with the action taken by the Government to address their grievances?

ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
(SHRI JAGAT PRAKASH NADDA)
(a) to (d) : A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.
STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO LOK SABHA
STARRED QUESTION NO. 103* FOR 22TH DECEMBER, 2017

(a) to (c) - Government has not received any representation/demands from All India Nurses Confederation. However, representation from All India Government Nurses Federation (AIGNF) was received in the Ministry demanding revision in pay and allowances against 7th Central Pay Commission's report. The Government examined their demands along with demands of other Associations. The Government accepted the Commission's recommendations on minimum pay, fitment factor, Index of Rationalisation, Pay matrices and general recommendations on pay without any material alteration vide Resolution dated 25.07.2016. The recommendation on allowances was referred to an Empowered Committee comprising of Finance Secretary and Secretary (Expenditure) as Chairman and Secretaries of Home Affairs, Defence, Health & Family Welfare, Personnel & Training, Posts & Chairman, Railway Board as Members for further consideration.

AIGNF threatened to go on a nationwide strike with effect from 2nd August, 2016. Their main demands were granting entry pay of PB-3 with GP 5400/- to Staff Nurse ( Nursing Officer), Nursing allowance, Nurses to be covered under Risk and Hardship Matrix (R1H1), Uniform and Washing allowance, Knowledge allowance and other allowances according to the Grade Pay. Ministry of Health and Family Welfare examined their demands and recommended entry Grade Pay of Rs.5400/- to Staff Nurse (Nursing Officer) to Ministry of Finance. Detailed note in respect of allowances admissible to nurses vide 7th CPC recommendations, demand of nurses and Ministry's response thereon was sent to Empowered Committee for consideration. (Annexure).

(d) AIGNF went on a nationwide strike on 2nd September, 2016 reiterating their earlier demands on revision of pay and allowances. The strike was called off after discussion on 3.9.2016. The Ministry of Health & Family Welfare again referred the demands of the Association along with its recommendations to the Empowered Committee. AIGNF also made their presentation before the Committee on allowances on 15.9.2016.

The Empowered Committee examined the demands of the Nurses Associations. The accepted recommendations on allowances were notified vide Government of India notification dated 06th July, 2017. The Government of India has accepted to retain and rationalize Nursing allowance and Operation theatre allowance. Uniform and washing allowance has been retained and subsumed under the Dress allowance. Most of the demands of AIGNF have been considered and concluded to their satisfaction and a robust system of monthly interaction with nurses has been put in place.

LOK SABHA

Revival and Restructuring of CPSEs

Revival and Restructuring of CPSEs

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF FINANCE
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO: 1375
ANSWERED ON: 22.12.2017

Revival and Restructuring of CPSEs

SHRIKANT EKNATH SHINDE
DHARMENDRA YADAV
ANANDRAO ADSUL
PRITAM GOPINATH MUNDE
Will the Minister of

FINANCE be pleased to state:-
(a) whether the ailing Central Public Sector Enterprises (CPSEs) need revival and restructuring and if so, the details thereof:
(b) whether the Government has issued guidelines for revival and restructuring of such ailing CPSEs and if so, the details thereof:
(c) whether the private participation is also being considered in this regard and if so, the details thereof: and
(d) the extent to which these guidelines will be beneficial for revival and restructuring of these CPSEs?

ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF FINANCE
(SHRI PON. RADHAKRISHNAN)

(a) to (d) Department of Public Enterprises (DPE), as a nodal department, have issued guidelines on 29.10.2015 for “Streamlining the mechanism for revival and restructuring of sick/ incipient sick and weak CPSEs”. CPSEs function under the administrative control of various Ministries/ Departments. As per the guidelines, the responsibility for addressing the sickness of Central Public Sector Enterprises (CPSEs) lies with the concerned administrative Ministries/ Departments. The administrative Ministries/ Departments monitor the sickness of CPSEs and identify the sick/ incipient sick/ weak CPSEs functioning under their control based on the performance and take timely redressal measures. The concerned administrative Ministries/ Departments formulate revival/ restructuring plans, which may include disinvestment or privatization, for the CPSEs on a case-to-case basis. Guidelines lay down that the process for revival and restructuring of sick / incipient sick and weak CPSEs be made time bound, comprehensive, performance driven and efficient.

No Proposal to Amend Income Tax Rates -Lok Sabha Q&A

Government says No Proposal to Revise Income Tax Rates this year

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF FINANCE
DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE

LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 1355

TO BE ANSWERED ON FRIDAY, THE 22ND DECEMBER, 2017
01, PAUSHA, 1939 (SAKA)

AMEND INCOME TAX RATES

1355. SHRI DEVENDRA SINGH BHOLE:

Will the Minister of FINANCE be pleased to state:

(a) whether the Government proposes to amend the present rates of income tax so that more people may pay income tax;
(b) if so, the details thereof and the benefits likely to accrue to common man and the Government by this step; and
(c) if not, the reasons therefor?

ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF FINANCE
(SHRI SHIV PRATAP SHUKLA)

(a) to (b) No Madam. Currently, there is no such proposal under consideration.
(c) The rates of income tax are prescribed through the Finance Act every year