Government considering a fine of Rs. 20,000 for smoking in public places

The Central Government is giving serious thoughts about imposing fines ranging from Rs. 200 to Rs. 20,000 for smoking in public places.

The government has decided to impose strict laws to curb the menace of smoking, which causes deadly diseases like cancer and heart attack. The proposal is likely to be presented during the winter sessions of the Parliament. An expert committee, chaired by the former Chief Secretary of Delhi administration, Ramesh Chandra, was formed in this regard. The committee has submitted its report and recommendations to the Ministry of health and sanitation last week.

The recommendations presented by the Committee include –
 

Breaking the cigarette packs and sale of one or two cigarettes should be banned.

The minimum age of smokers must be raised from 18 to 25.

Smoking in public places must be declared as criminal offence and violators must be made to pay penalty of Rs. 200 to Rs. 20,000.

Penalty amount for manufacturers who do not print the statutory warning message on the packets must be raised from Rs. 5000 to Rs. 50,000.

Advertisements of tobacco products must be prohibited at the place of sale.

It was found that nearly 70% of the cigarettes sold at retail outlets are from broken packets. Smokers, instead of buying the entire packet, purchase one or two cigarettes from the shops.

There is a general feeling that the Government must pay similar attention to the alcohol problem too.

Source: Govtenews

Gazette Notification regarding minimum pension of Rs.1000/- pm under EPS,1995

Gazette Notification regarding minimum pension of Rs.1000/- pm under EPS,1995

REGD. NO. D. L.-33004/99

The Gazette of India
EXTRAORDINARY
PART II—Section 3—Sub-section (i)
PUBLISHED BY AUTHORITY

No. 429] NEW DELHI, TUESDAY AUGUST 19, 2014/SRAVANA 28, 1936

MINISTRY OF LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT

NOTIFICATION

New Delhi, the 19th August, 2014.

G.S.R. 593 (E).—In exercise of powers conferred by section 6A, read with Sub-section(1) of Section7 of the Employees’ Provident Funds and Miscellaneous Provisions Act, 1952 (19 of 1952), the Central Government hereby makes the following Scheme, further to amend the Employees’ Provident Funds Scheme, 1995, namely:-

1.
(1) This Scheme may be called the Employees’ Pension (Second Amendment) Scheme, 2014.

(2) It shall come into force on and from the 1st day of September, 2014.

2. In the Employees’ Pension Scheme, 1995(hereinafter referred to as the principal Scheme), in paragraph 12, after sub-paragraph (7), the following sub-paragraph shall be inserted, namely:-
“(7A) The monthly member’s pension including any relief payable to any existing or future member under this paragraph shall not be less than one thousand rupees for the financial year 2014-15.”.

3. In the principal Scheme in paragraph 15, for the words, brackets and figures “sub-paragraphs (2) to (5) of paragraph 12, as the case may be,”, the word and figures “paragraph 12” shall be substituted.

4. In the principal Scheme, in paragraph 16,-
(a) in sub-paragraph (2), in clause (a), after sub-clause (iv), the following sub-clause shall be inserted, namely:-
“(v) in all the cases, where the monthly widow pension including relief, if any, is less than one thousand rupees per month, the amount of monthly widow pension in such cases shall be enhanced to one thousand rupees per month for the financial year 2014-2015.”;
(b) in sub-paragraph (3), for clause (b), the following clause shall be substituted, namely:-

“(b) Monthly children pension for each child shall be equal to 25 per cent of the amount admissible to the widow of the deceased member as monthly widow pension payable under clause (a) of sub-paragraph (2):
Provided that the minimum monthly children pension including relief, if any, for each child of the deceased member shall not be less than two hundred and fifty rupees per month for the financial year 2014-2015.”;
(c) in sub-paragraph (4), for clause (a), the following clause shall be substituted, namely:-

“(a) if the deceased member is not survived by any widow, but is survived by children falling within the definition of family or if the widow pension is not payable, the children shall be entitled to a monthly orphan pension equal to 75 per cent of the amount of the monthly widow pension as payable under clause (a) of sub-paragraph (2):

Provided that the minimum monthly orphan pension including relief, if any, for each orphan shall not be less than seven hundred and fifty rupees per month for the financial year 2014-15.”.

[F. No. R-15025/3/2007.SS-II/Pt.II]

ARUN KUMAR SINHA,Addl. Secy.

Foot Note.- The Employees’ Pension Scheme, 1995 was published in the Gazette of India vide notification number G.S.R. 748(E), dated the 16th November, 1995 and was lastly amended vide notification number G.S.R. 80(E), dated the 14th February, 2013.

Source: http://www.labour.nic.in/upload/uploadfiles/files/latest_update/what_new/5400645038fa3MinimumPensionofRs.1000.pdf

Demand for one-rank one-pension to be considered: Rajnath Singh

Demand for one-rank one-pension to be considered: Rajnath Singh

BHUJ: The demand for granting one-rank one-pension to paramilitary personnel would be considered, Home Minister Rajnath Singh said today.

The Home Minister’s assurance came during an interaction with jawans of Border Security Force during a visit to the frontier district of Kutch along the India-Pakistan border.

Singh also inaugurated the integration of a Gujarat government project – Bhaskaracharya Institute for Space Applications and Geo informatics (BISAG) – with the BSF.

The Home Minister was briefed about the details and utility of BISAG and need for dedicated, encrypted channel for paramilitary forces.

Singh also addressed some BSF jawans live through BISAG and interacted with them. Some of the jawans telephonically made requests regarding increase of air courier services in the Northeastern region and Jammu and Kashmir and regarding time-bound promotions.

Yesterday, the Home Minister visited BSF Mooring place (Satish) Koteshwar where he was briefed about issues concerning border areas, creek and coastal security.

Source: http://economictimes.indiatimes.com

Declaration of assets and liabilities by Government Employees – Confederation writes to Cabinet Secretary

Confederation writes to Cabinet Secretary regarding the declaration of Assets and Liabilities by Central Government Employees and Exhibiting all the details of movable assets in the website accessible to everyone…

CONFEDERATION OF CENTRAL GOVT. EMPLOYEES & WORKERS
1st Floor, North Avenue PO Building, New Delhi – 110001
Website: WWW. Confederationhq.blogspot.com
Email: Confederationhq@yahoo.co.in

Patron S.K.Vyas 09868244035

President K.K.N.Kutty 09811048303

Secretary General M.Krishnan 09447068125

NO. CONF/GENL/2014

DATED – 11-09-2014

To
The Cabinet Secretary
Government of India
Cabinet Secretariat, Rashtrapati Bhawan,
New Delhi – 110001

Sir,

Sub: – Declaration of assets and liabilities by Govt. Employees – exhibiting the details of movable assets in the website – regarding.

All the Central Govt. employees, as per the latest order of the Department of Personnel & Training (DOP&T) have to declare their assets and liabilities, both movable and immovable, as well as their spouses and dependents latest by 15th December 2014. All these informations would be then be put up by the respective ministries on their website accessible to everyone.

A large number of Central Govt. Employees have expressed their fear that putting up details of movable assets such as jewellery and cash in hand and bank would pose a security threat to them and their dependents, leave their children vulnerable to kidnapping and ransom demands.

There are various sources the Government employees would have accumulated wealth such as gift from parents, grandparents property, self-earning, wife-side property, or children’s contribution etc. Putting this information in the public domain would leave them and their family members vulnerable.

It is therefore requested that necessary action may be taken in this regard, so that all such information as stated above shall not be displayed on public domain.

Yours faithfully,

(M. Krishnan)
Secretary General
Mob: 09447068125

e-mail: mkrishnan6854@gmail.com

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

Delhi High Court Grants Interim Ban on Providing Information about Assets Owned by Central Government Employees’ Spouses

Delhi High Court Grants Interim Ban on Providing Information about Assets Owned by Central Government Employees’ Spouses

The Delhi High Court has imposed an interim ban on one of the conditions of the Lokpal Act, which stipulates that in addition to the details of the properties owned by himself/herself, the Central Government employee must also submit information about the properties and assets owned by the spouse and children.

Since 2011, it has been made compulsory for higher officials to submit annual reports containing details of the immovable properties owned by them. But, now it was ordered as per the Lokpal Act, that all Central Government employees (Group A, B, and C) must submit the details of their properties and liabilities on or before September 15. The deadline has now been extended to 15th December 2014. And, collecting of these informations would be then be put up by the respective ministries on their website.

Along with information of properties possessed by them, Central Government employees will also have to submit details of the properties owned by their spouses and children. The rule is applicable to male and female Central Government employees.

Details that have to be presented by the Central Government employee, regarding properties owned by him, his spouse and children include –

• Liquid cash
• Cash in savings accounts and all other deposits
• Investments in bonds, debentures and mutual funds
• Investments in Post Office Monthly Income Schemes, and insurance plans
• Details of investments in new pension investment schemes
• Motor vehicle registration numbers and value
• Jewellery, gold and other precious metals (details of the weights)
• Details of the immovable properties (plot/house/flat/commercial establishment/industry, etc.)
• Details of debts and liabilities (of self/spouse’s/children’s)

Meanwhile, opposition to this order issued by the Centre continues to grow. A petition was presented at the Delhi High Court praying for revoking the order, stating that it was wrong on the part of the Government to demand details of the properties owned by the spouses and children of the Central Government employees.

After examining the petition, Justices Raghavendra Bhatt and Vipin Singh, of the Delhi High Court have issued a conditional interim stay on the orders demanding information on the properties owned by the spouses and children of the Central Government employees.

Final orders will be issued in the month of November. Until then, the interim ban is applicable to all the Central Government employees.

Source: www.cgstaffnews.in

Dopt Orders - Stepping up of pay of senior Assistants of CSS drawing less pay on promotion in the Section Officers’ Grade man their juniors

Dopt orders on Stepping up of pay of senior drawing less pay on promotion than juniors…

Stepping up of pay of senior Assistants of CSS drawing less pay on promotion in the Section Officers’ Grade man their juniors – OM No.18/2/2007-CS-I dated 20.05.2014 – Followup action regarding.

F.No.18/2/2014-CS-I(S)
Government of India
Ministry of Personnel. PG & Pensions
Department of Personnel & Training

2nd Floor, A Wing, Lok Nayak Bhawan, Khan Market
New Delhi, the 9th September, 2014

OFFICE MEMORANDUM

Subject: Stepping up of pay of senior Assistants of CSS drawing less pay on promotion in the Section Officers’ Grade man their juniors – OM No.18/2/2007-CS-I dated 20.05.2014 – Followup action regarding.

The undersigned is directed to refer to this Departments OM No.18/2/2007-CS-I dated 20.05.2014 and subsequent clarifications issued vide OM dated 08.07.2014 on the subject mentioned above.

2. The Ministries/Departments were requested vide OM dated 20.05.14 that stepping up of pay already allowed in cases where the individuals are not covered by the OMs dated 13.04 1988, 23.02 1994 and 08.10.1996 and where conditions laid down in the OM dated 04.11.1993 are also not fulfilled, may be reviewed and pay re-fixed accordingly. They were further requested that the excess payments made to the employees in the cases of wrong stepping up of pay may be recovered in terms of DOP&Ts OM No.18/26/201 1-Estt(Pay-I) dated 06.02.2014 and a compliance report in this regard furnished to this Department by 31.08.2014. However the compliance reports are still awaited from the Ministries/Departments.

4. The Ministries/Departments are once again requested to furnish the compliance report in this regard immediately.

sd/-
(R. Venkatesan)
Under Secretary to the Govt. of India

Source: www.persmin.gov.in
[http://ccis.nic.in/WriteReadData/CircularPortal/D2/D02csd/steppinguup.pdf]

INDWF published outcome of the JCM III level meeting held on 25th and 26th August 2014 at OFB HQrs. Kolkatta…

INDWF published outcome of the JCM III level meeting held on 25th and 26th August 2014 at OFB HQrs. Kolkatta…

 

Implementation of financial Upgradation under ACP/MACP in DGOF

INTUC
INDIAN NATIONAL DEFENCE WORKERS FEDERATION

INDWF/Affiliated Unions/ACP-MACP/2014

Date 08.09.2014

To
All Affiliated Unions of INDWF
Ordnance Factories,

Dear Colleagues,

In the recent meeting of the OFB JCM III Level council held on 25th and 26th August, 2014 at OFB HQrs, Kolkatta. During the meeting, the Staff side raised the issue regarding proper implementation of financial upgradation under ACP/MACP. Some Factories implemented properly and some factories denied implementing the same. Accounts authorities also did not agree the proposals of Factories.

In this regard, it was agreed by the official side to convene the Admin/Personnel officers of Ordnance Factories at NADP, Nagpur alongwith Accounts Officials for which the issues of
ACP/MACP is required to be forwarded for discussion to Ordnance Factory Board within 10 days.

Therefore all the Unions are requested to submit the details of ACP/MACP issues unsettled immediately with reference to the orders on the subject.

— Upto 31.08.2008 — ACP under Financial upgradations is to be granted on Promotional Hierarchy ignoring the promotion granted prior to 01.01.2006 for the erstwhile Group D employees and Labourer USK to Labourer SK.

— NIEs Group ‘D’ — Labourer SSK — then Tradesman SSK all should be ignored for ACP and their promotion to SK should also be ignored and 1st ACP should be Rs.2400 Grade Pay and 2nd ACP should be Rs.4200/- Grade Pay if they are eligible before 31.08.2008.

— NIEs Group ‘D’ categories like Peon, Duftry, Gestner Operator, Tracer etc., are eligible for promotions as per SRO of NIEs induding Durwans to supervisor and Chargeman. This has not been fully implemented, Whether this has been implemented If not what are the actions from the respective Factories.

— ACP till 31.08.2008 and MACP w.e.f. 01.09.2008 which is promotional hierarchy and Grade Pay hierarchy respectively whether this has been implemented/ Granted to the eligible employees.

Replies on each case may be sent with details and also the cases in addition if you are having may be sent by E-mail (indwfrsrinivasan@gmail.com) to the undersigned for forwarding
the same to OFB Hqrs.

Yours fraternally,

(R.SRINIVASAN)

General Secretary

Source: INDWF

Expected DA from January 2015 – The Next Episode Begins…!

Expected DA from January 2015 – The Next Episode Begins…!

The Centre has announced a  hike of 7% Dearness Allowance and Dearness Relief for Central Government employees and Pensioners, with effect from July 2014 on 4th of this month. Soon, Finance Ministry will issue appropriate orders for payment of Dearness allowance to all. As and when orders are published by the Ministry of Finance, we will be posted in our website immediately.

According to the fluctuation of price index past six months from Jan to Jun 2014, the additional Dearness allowance has been arrived as 7% only. It seems there are a few employees who are unhappy with the single-digit number because until then they have been getting double-digit DA hikes.

The disappointment also reflects the high expectations that people have from the Modi government. Our readers have been raising a number of questions in this regard. While the previous Manmohan Singh government had twice given them DA hike of 10%, why has Modi government given them only 7% increase?

First of all, the ruling party at the Centre has no direct impact on the DA calculations. DA is calculated on the basis of AICPIN points, which are based on price rise.

The current system of DA calculations, which is being done as per the recommendations of the 6th Pay Commission, will come to an end after two more instalments (Jan 2015 and July 2015). Recommendations of the 7th Pay Commission are expected to come into effect from Jan 2016 onwards.

Now, the next episode begins…’Expected DA from January 2015′

It is highly unlikely that there will be a two-digit DA hike in the next two instalments (January 2015 and July 2015). Kindly keep in mind the fact that despite a 6 point increase of the AICPIN from 246 to 252 for the month of July 2014, there was hardly an impact. Even if it increases by 3 points over the next five months, the DA would increase to 9% only. It is impossible for AICPIN to constantly increase in future.

We believe that, under current circumstances, the next installment of additional Dearness allowance from Jan 2015 hike would only be about 6% or 7%.

We have analyzed the impact of CPI number on increasing DA and given below a table to express the same for your information…

Month/Year	CPI(IW) 2001=100	Points Increased	Total of 12 Months	12 Months Average	% Increase over 115.763	App. DA	DA %	DA Increased in %
July 2014	252	6	2896	241.33	125.57	108.47	108	1.22

Month/Year	CPI(IW) 2001=100	Points Increased	Total of 12 Months	12 Months Average	% Increase over 115.763	App. DA	DA %	DA Increased in %
Jun-13	231	3	2648	220.67	104.91	90.62	90	1.66
Jul-13	235	4	2671	222.58	106.82	92.28	92	1.66
Aug-13	237	2	2694	224.50	108.74	93.93	93	1.66
Sep-13	238	1	2717	226.42	110.66	95.59	95	1.66
Oct-13	241	3	2741	228.42	112.66	97.32	97	1.73
Nov-13	243	2	2766	230.50	114.74	99.12	99	1.80

Source: CGEN.in

Grant of Dearness Allowance to State Government employees : DA Orders issued by Finance Department of Rajasthan

Grant of Dearness Allowance to State Government employees : DA Orders issued by Finance Department of Rajasthan

Cabinet Committee approved 7% additional DA for CG Employees and Pensioners form July 2014 on 4th September, but yet to issue any orders for payment by the Finance Ministry. The Rajasthan Government has decided to hike 7% additional DA for its employees and immediately issued orders…

GOVERNMENT OF RAJASTHAN
FINANCE DEPARTMENT
(RULES DIVISION)

No. F. 6(1)FD(Rules)/2008

Jaipur, dated: 8.9.2014

ORDER

Sub:- Grant of Dearness Allowance to State Government employees.

The Governor is pleased to order that the existing rate of Dearness Allowance payable to the State Government employees, drawing pay in Rajasthan Civil Services (Revised Pay) Rules, 2008, under Finance Department Order No. F.6(1 )FD(Rules)/2008 dated 01-03-2014 shall be revised from 100% to 107% with effect from 01-07-2014.

The term ‘Pay’ for the purpose of calculation of Dearness Allowance shall be the Basic Pay i.e. sum of pay in running pay band and grade pay drawn and shall not include any other type(s) of pay like Special Pay or Personal Pay, etc.

The payment on account of Dearness Allowance involving fraction of 50 paisa and above may be rounded off to the next higher rupee and the fraction of less than 50 paisa may be ignored.

The amount of increase in Dearness Allowance for the period from 01-07-2014 to 31-08-2014 shall be credited to the General Provident Fund Account of the respective employees and cash payment shall be admissible from 01-09-2014 i.e. salary for the month of September, 2014 payable on 01-10-2014.

The arrear of DA from 01-07-2014 to 31-08-2014 to the employees recruited to the Civil Services on or after 01-01 -2004 and who are governed by Contributory Pension Scheme, shall be paid in cash.

By order of the Governor,

sd/-
(Siddharth Mahajan)
Special Secretary
Finance (Budget)

Source: http://finance.rajasthan.gov.in/RULES/F6-(1)-2008-08-09-2014.pdf

Memorandum submitted to 7th Central Pay Commission : Corrigendum on the Proposed Pay Scales

Corrigendum – Revision of Pay Scales of Running Staff and Nursing Cadre from proposed pay scales in Memorandum submitted to 7th Central Pay Commission.

All India Railwaymen’s Federation
4, State Entry Road,
New Delhi – 110055
INDIA

No.AIRF/405(VII CPC)

Dated: September 8, 2014

Hon’ble Chairman,
Seventh Central Pay Commission,
New Delhi

Respected Sir,
Sub: Corrigendum on the Proposed Pay Scales

This refers to detailed memorandum submitted by the All India Railwaymen’s Federation to Seventh Central Pay Commission on 30th July, 2014. Consequent upon certain internal deliberations, the proposed pay scales, as contained in our original memorandum submitted to VII CPC, need to be revised as appended below:-

S.No.	Categories	Existing Pay Scales	Minimum of the open-ended proposed scale
1.	Guard(Goods)	PB-I GP Rs.2800	Rs.56000
2.	Asstt. Station Master, Pharmacist	PB-I GP Rs.2800	Rs.74000
3.	Loco Pilot(Shunting)	PB-I GP Rs.2400 & GP Rs.4200	Rs.56000
4.	Loco Pilot(Goods), Loco Pilot(Passenger), Motorman, Loco Pilot(Mail/Express) Guard (Passenger), Guard(Mail/ Express), Shunting Master, Chief TNC and any other posts in PB-II(GP Rs.4200)	PB-II GP Rs.4200	Rs.74000
5.	Staff Nurse	PB-II GP Rs.4600	Rs.74000
6.	Nursing Sister	PB-II GP Rs.4800	Rs.78000
7.	Chief Matron	PB-III GP Rs.5400	Rs.88000
8.	Railway Stenographers may be provided with same pay scales and remunerations as those of CSS/RBSS, as the Ministry of Railways has not yet granted parity to them.	-	As already proposed in the memorandum

The VII CPC are earnestly requested to kindly consider the above proposal of the AIRF favourbaly.
With kind regards!

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

Copy to: Member Secretary, Seventh Central Pay Commission, New Delhi – for kind information and taking necessary action

Source: AIRF