Provision of cooking facilities and other amenities in the Rest Rooms for Ticket Checking Staff on Indian Railways

Provision of cooking facilities and other amenities in the Rest Rooms for Ticket Checking Staff on Indian Railways.

NFIR

No. II/73/Part I

Dated: 13/10/2017

The Secretary (E),
Railway Board,
New Delhi

Dear Sir,

Sub: Provision of cooking facilities and other amenities in the Rest Rooms for Ticket Checking Staff on Indian Railways - reg.

Ref: (i) NFIR's PNM Item No. 13/2011.
(ii) Railway Board's D.O. No. 2010/TG-V 103/Part II dated 04/2016 addressed to GMs of Zonal Railways.
(iii) NFIR's letter No. II/73/Part I dared 10/04/2017.
(iv) NFIR's letter No. II/73/Part I dated 01/05/2017.

Federation reproduces below the extract of the minutes of PNM meeting held between NFIR and Railway Board on22nd /23rd December, 2016 against agenda Item No. 13/2011.

"Comprehensive instructions already exists in Board's letter dated 08/02/2011 regarding provision of adequate facilities for Ticket Checking Staff in TTEs Rest Houses and have been reiterated from time to time. A D.O. Letter has also been written to the CCMs on 28/04/2016 to make good the deficiencies. It was decided that Zonal Railways should conduct survey to assess the number of TTEs willing to avail of the cooking facilities. Federation pointed out that there are certain problems in Rest Rooms located in Delhi area. Official agreed to take up the issue with NR for ensuring requisite facilities".

Federation is pained to state that although a period of over ten months has passed, neither progress has been apprised to the Federation nor copy of any communication sent to the General Manager, Northern Railway to look into the problems in the Rest Rooms in Delhi area is made available. Federation had also highlighted the deficiencies prevailing in the TTEs Rest Room at Hazrat Nizamuddin Railway Station, but unfortunately no action has been taken so far.

While enclosing copy of Federation's letter dated 01/05/2017, NFIR once again urges upon the Railway Board to take immediate action on the subject matter for ensuring repairs/maintenance of TTEs Rest Rooms with adequate facilities. A copy of the instructions issued may be endorsed to the Federation.

DA/As above

Yours faithfully,
(Dr. M. Raghlvaiah)
General Secretary

Source: NFIR

EPFO introduces a new facility for its members to link their respective UAN with Aadhaar online

EPFO introduces a new facility for its members to link their respective UAN with Aadhaar online

On the eve of Deepawali, Employees' Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) is pleased to introduce a new facility for its esteemed members having Universal Account Number (UAN) and other relevant details to link their respective UAN with Aadhaar online. This, in turn, would facilitate the members, a better and speedy EPFO services.

The facility has been made available at EPFO's website www.epfindia.gov.in >> Online Services >> e-KYC Portal >> LINK UAN AADHAAR.

Using the facility, EPFO members can online link their respective UAN with Aadhaar. While using the facility, the member will have to provide his/her UAN. An OTP will be sent to his/her mobile linked with UAN. After OTP verification, the member will have to provide his/her Aadhaar Number. Another OTP will be sent to his/her mobile/email linked with Aadhaar. After OTP verification, if UAN details are matched with Aadhaar details, then UAN will be linked with Aadhaar. After linking, the EPFO member may avail online EPFO services linked with Aadhaar.

Diwali Gift to the Soldiers of the Country

Diwali Gift to the Soldiers of the Country

Soldiers and officers of various army and para-military units like CRPF, BSF, BRO, ITBP, etc. are deployed in remote and far flung areas to protect Borders of India. The soldiers and officers are working day and night without bothering about difficult weather conditions and as they are posted away from their homes and headquarters, there is a constant requirement for them to speak to their family and also to their Headquarters. They use only DSPT service provided by BSNL because there is no other means of communications available in those areas.

Briefing the media here, the Minister of Communications Shri Manoj Sinha said that in order to use the facility of DSPT, the soldiers & officers at present are required to pay monthly fee of Rs.500/- and call charges of Rs.5/- per minute. But, looking at the requirement of Soldiers & Officers and also the heavy cost they have to incur for talking to their family members, government has taken an important decision on the auspicious occasion of Diwali. Shri Sinha said, from Diwali day (19th October, 2017), no monthly fee will be taken for using DSPT service, that is, the current monthly fee of Rs.500/- will be ‘Zero’ from tomorrow. And also, the present telephone charges of Rs.5/- per minute is being reduced to Re.1/- per minute.

With this special Diwali Gift from Government of India, Defence personnel can now talk without worrying for more expenses to their home and their Headquarter. The Minister also wished the jawans and officers and their family members A Very Happy Diwali.

NFPE: GDS Committee Report still pending for approval

POST OFFICE SMALL SAVINGS SCHEMES

UNDER HEAVY ATTACK

GDS MEMBERSHIP VERIFICATION PROCESS STOPPED.

IMPLEMENTATION OF GDS COMMITTEE REPORT DELAYED FOR ONE YEAR, STILL PENDING WITH FINANCE MINISTRY.

HOLD PROTEST DEMONSTRATIONS AT ALL CENTRES AND IN FRONT OF ALL OFFICES ON 23.10.2017.

FEDERAL SECRETARIAT WILL MEET AND DECLARE FURTHER COURSE OF ACTION.

Dear Comrades,

Government has unleashed a sudden and most damaging attack on Post office Small Savings Schemes. Notifications are already issued permitting all Nationalised Banks and three Private Banks ( ICICI Bank , AXIS Bank and HDFC Bank) to accept deposits for all Small Savings Schemes viz ; Recurring Deposit (RD) , Time Deposits (TD) , Monthly Income Scheme (MIS) Senior Citizen Savings Scheme (SCSS) , Sukanya Samridhi Account (SSA) , Kisan Vikas Patra (KVP) and National Savings Certificate (NSC VIII issue) with effect from 10th October 2017.

 This is a great blow to the Post office Small Savings Schemes and will be a threat to the job security of Postal Employees and also MPKBY /SAS Agents. About 40% of the Revenue and about 50% of the workload of Post office depends on the Post office Small Savings Schemes. Outsourcing of POSSS work to Banks will result in steady fall in Revenue and Workload of Postal Department.

GDS Committee Report , though submitted to Govt on 24th November 2016 , is still pending with Finance Ministry for approval. GDS Membership verification process has been suddenly stopped by the Government.

Overall situation in Postal Department is worsening day by day and resentment of the Employees is mounting.

NFPE CHQ views the above situation with grave concern and calls upon the entirety of Postal and RMS employees including GDS and Casual labourers to conduct mass protest demonstrations at all Centres and in front of all offices on 23rdOCTOBER 2017.

Urgent meeting of NFPE Federal Secretariat to be held shortly will announce further course of action.

Yours fraternally,

S/d,
R.N.PARASHAR
Secretary General

Source :  NFPE

Minutes of Standing Committee Meeting held on 3.5.2017 between NC JCM and Official Side - DoPT

Minutes of Standing Committee Meeting held on 3.5.2017 between NC JCM and Official Side - DoPT

Minutes of the meeting of the Standing Committee held between the staff-side, National Council (Joint Consultative Machinery) and offical-side under the Chairmanship of Secretary(P) at 3.00 P.M. on 03.05.2017

MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF THE STANDING COMMITTEE HELD BETWEEN THE STAFF-SIDE, NATIONAL COUNCIL (JOINT CONSULTATIVE MACHINERY) AND THE OFFICIAL-SIDE UNDER THE CHAIRMANSHIP OF SECRETARY(P) AT 3.00 P.M. ON 03.05.2017

The meeting of the Standing Committee of the National Council (JCM) was held at 3.00 p.m. on 03.05.2017 under the Chairmanship of Secretary (P) at Room No. 119, North Block, New Delhi. The list of participants is at Annexure.

2. In his introductory comments, Secretary(Personnel) while welcoming the participants, mentioned that the agenda for the meeting included the action taken statement on the 31 items discussed in the last meeting held on 25.10.2016 and 26 additional items received from the Staff Side.

3. (i) In his opening remarks, Secretary, Staff-Side thanked the Chairman for convening the meeting and urged that as per the JCM Scheme, the meetings of the National Council should be held on quarterly basis. He also pointed out that the meeting of the National Council under the Chairmanship of Cabinet Secretary has not been held since 2010 which, he emphasized, was against the spirit and the basic principle of the JCM Scheme. This view was seconded by other representatives of the Staff-Side.

(ii) Secretary (Staff-Side) further requested to know the present position on the basic demands made by the Central Government employees about minimum wages, fitment formula, reversion to the old pension scheme and the report of the Committee of Allowances. He recalled that when a notice for strike was given in 2016, the senior Cabinet Ministers in the Central Government had met the staff side representatives and assured a positive decision on the aforesaid demands. Although that strike was deferred on this assurance, the central govt. employees are still waiting. Consequently, it is getting difficult to make the central government employees understand the reasons for delay in fulfilment of the assurances then given by the Senior Cabinet Ministers.

(iii) Hence Secretary, Staff-Side requested the Chairman to convey to the Cabinet Secretary and Chairman, National Council (JCM) the duty to meet the Government employees in accordance with the JCM Scheme to avoid an atmosphere of confrontation.

(iv) He stated that a number of agenda items proposed by the Staff-Side have been deleted and no formal communication has been sent to them on the reasons for deletion. He requested that the views of official side on this may be communicated to them. This sentiment was echoed by other members of the Staff Side. He also mentioned that the senior Cabinet Ministers had issued a statement about constitution of a High Level Committee to look into the aforesaid basic demands made by the Staff Side while giving the strike notice. However, even after more than 10 months, nothing has happened and only one meeting was taken by Additional Secretary in Department of Expenditure.

(v) On allowances, he informed that there is a lot of uncertainty on whether the allowances would become admissible prospectively or from 01.01.2016 i.e., the date of implementation of 7th Central Pay Commission.

(vi) The following points were also raised by Leader JCM (Staff-Side):

(a) The assurance given by Senior Ministers on 30t h June 2016 on 7th CPC issues-mainly minimum wage and multiplying factor have not been fulfilled. Only one meeting was held by Addl. Secretary (Expenditure) with the Staff side and thereafter nothing is known with regard to progress made even though 10 months passed.

(b) On 7th CPC recommendation for revision of pension on the basis of option the contents of the Committee’s Report are not made available to the JCM (Staff Side). There is need to see that transparency is ensured for preserving healthy industrial relations.

(c) On Allowances, the Leader JCM (Staff Side) expressed disappointment as there has been no positive outcome even after lapse of several months. He requested the Chairman that the JCM (Staff Side) demand to revise the Allowances w.e.f. 01/01/2016 should be considered and Staff Side demand be taken to the level of Cabinet Secretary and the Government.

(d) Although Ministry of finance Resolution dated 25t h July 2016 stipulates that 14.29% hike in the pay of Running Staff in the Railways be ensured, unfortunately, the same has not been complied with. The said hike has not been ensured. He requested the Chairman to kindly take appropriate initiative on the proposal sent by Ministry of Railways which is pending with the Ministry of finance. He also pointed out that the references made by different ministries to the DoP&T/MoF pursuant to the discussions held by the JCM Constituents with the respective Departments/Ministries are pending. He requested that speedy response be ensured by DoP&T/MoF. While concluding, the Leader, JCM (Staff-Side) expressed confidence that the NC/JCM meeting as well Standing Committee meetings will be convened regularly in accordance with the JCM rules for paving way for healthy industrial relations”.

(vii) The Staff-Side drew attention to the fact that since 1966 Joint Committees used to be set up for discussing contentious issues which has since stopped. References from the Departments are also remaining unanswered. The members of the Staff Side requested that DOP&T should take a view on all these issues as a number of them have not been settled. The Staff Side also requested that the duration of Standing Committee meetings should be extended so that all issues can be discussed and resolved quickly and the meetings should also be held every quarter.

(viii) The Staff-Side also pointed out that items of agenda sent by them are to be included, if it is found to be appropriate to be discussed. Since there had been permanent subcommittees under the Chairmanship of Secretary (Health) and (Pension), the agenda items pertaining to those two ministries can be referred to those two sub-committees. The sub-committees are to deliberate and report back to the Standing Committee for a final decision. They wanted the said procedure to be followed as the items sent by the Staff Side to the meeting contained many Pension and Health related issues.

(ix) Referring to the convening of the Departmental Council, the Staff Side said that the situation has not registered any significant improvement. They also pointed out that in the details provided; no dates of the last meeting held had been indicated. They pleaded that the Department of Personnel has to evolve a mechanism to monitor the functioning of the Departmental council.”

(x) In view of the ongoing ban on recruitment imposed by the Department of Expenditure, the staff are having to work long hours. This is despite the Task Force, set up by Ministry of Railways on safety-related matters, having suggested that additional staff be mobilized to ensure safety. Even the Hon’ble Prime Minister in his speeches has stressed the need for safety; but the Ministry of Railways have chosen to ignore.

(xi) Another point raised was about the instructions issued by the DOP&T following the assurance given to the Hon’ble Supreme Court in a contempt case which was said to have created a situation where the DPCs are not being held and the employees are retiring without getting promotion. It was stated that UPSC is also refusing to accept DPC proposals and insists that clarification from DOP&T may first be obtained. As a result promotions are not taking place and many officers have retired without promotion. The Staff-Side requested that necessary clarifications may be issued by DOP&T urgently so that DPCs can be held in the Departments.

4. Chairman, in his reply, said that no agenda points had been deleted and, in order to ensure that discussions are complete in a meeting, it was decided in consultation with the Secretary(Staff-Side) to limit the number of agenda points for today’s meeting. He further stated that if the Staff-Side insists that the remaining points which have been left out should also be taken up for discussion, they would need to be circulated to the concerned Departments in advance for their comments. He emphasized that the Government attaches the highest priority to the Staff-Side and the concerns expressed over the assurance given after the strike call would be conveyed to the concerned authority. On the issue of the Allowances Committee’s report not being shared with the Staff Side, the Chairman stated that the sentiment would also be conveyed to Ministry of Finance along with the concerns over pay revision etc.

5. After these opening remarks the Action-Taken-Note on the minutes of the last meeting held on 25.10.2016 was taken up for discussion.

7th Pay Commission Pay Hike for Rajasthan Government Employees

7th Pay Commission Pay Hike for Rajasthan Government Employees

Pay hike as per 7th CPC for the employees of Rajasthan State Government.

Rajasthan Government decided to implement the recommendations of 7th Central Pay Commission to its employees with effect from October 2017.

Rajasthan Government Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje announced Tuesday to implement the recommendations of 7th Pay Commission to more than 12 lakh State Government employees and pensioners with effect from October 2017.

Detailed report awaited.

Extension of probation period on account of availing Leave during probation period

Extension of probation period on account of availing Leave during probation period

No.28020/1/2017-Estt(C)
Government of India
Ministry of Personnel, PG and Pensions
Department of Personnel & Training

North Block, New Delhi
Dated: 5th October, 2017

Subject: Extension of probation period on account of availing Leave during probation period

The undersigned is directed to refer to this Department's 0.M No. 28020/1/2010-Estt(C)
dated 21st July 2014 wherein consolidated instructions on Probation/ Confirmation in Central
Services were issued for ready reference to all concerned. As per extant instructions "if during the period of probation, a probationer has not undergone the requisite training course..., the period of probation may be extended by such period or periods as may be necessary, subject to the condition that the total period of probation does not exceed double the prescribed period of probation"

2. This has been examined in the view that some employees are not able to complete the probation on account of availing leave for long duration during probation period. It has been decided that in such cases if an employee does not complete 75% of the total duration prescribed for probation on account of availing any kind of leave as permissible to a probationer under the Rules, his/ her probation period may be extended by the length of the Leave availed, but not exceeding double the prescribed period of probation.

3. So far as persons serving in the Indian Audit & Accounts Departments are concerned, these orders are being issued after consultation with the C&AG of India.

(Sanjiv Kumar)
Deputy Secretary to the Government of India 

Source: DoPT

Over 69 lacs subscribers join Atal Pension Yojana with contribution of Rs. 2690 crores

Over 69 lacs subscribers join Atal Pension Yojana with contribution of Rs. 2690 crores

Secretary DFS: Still Scope for increasing pension coverage

Atal Pension Yojana currently has over 69 lacs subscribers with contribution of Rs. 2690.00 crores. Chairman, PFRDA Shri Hemant G Contractor however emphasised the need of increasing the pension coverage in India at a recently concluded conference on Atal Pension Yojana. The conference organised by Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA) in the national capital saw participation from all major banks, representatives from NPCI, SCHIL, SIDBI, Access Assist and some major MFIs.

A large section of the society still does not have access to pensions and this is a cause of concern for PFRDA and Government, Shri Contactor said. Congratulating the winners of the contest organised by PFRDA the Chairman said that APY has made progress in covering the intended subscribers but much remains to be done. He mentioned that on an average, a little less than 2% of the eligible population is covered under APY and hence a lot has to be done to provide people a regular access to old age income. He also touched upon the issues of persistence in the APY accounts and asserted that the objective of the scheme is to provide pension and this will only happen if the contribution in the account has been regularly paid. He urged the APY Service Providers to educate the subscribers on the importance of the same. He also urged upon the APY Service Providers i.e Banks and Post Offices under Department of Post to achieve the targets allocated by government by putting in their best efforts.

A video message of Shri Rajiv Kumar, Secretary DFS was played during the occasion. Shri Rajiv Kumar mentioned that Atal Pension Yojana is flagship program of the Government of India under financial inclusion and financial security. The pension coverage in this country is at around 12% and banks and other stakeholder need to work towards greater coverage under the scheme. He also said that DFS is monitoring the progress under the scheme and targets allocated under the scheme to banks should be accomplished. He touched upon the subject of providing a digital platform for APY by PFRDA i.e e-APY. Secretary Shri Rajiv Kumar congratulated the banks on their performance under the campaigns and urged them to continue the work.

While the government has a pension scheme for the BPL persons but the amount is meagre and is not sufficient for old age needs. 9% of the population of India, i.e 110 million people are over 60 years and by 2030 this figure is expected to cross 180 million. The 60 plus age groups is the fastest growing demographic in the country. With increase in longevity of the people, disintegration of the joint family system in India and inflation, there is greater need for old age than ever before. Currently pension benefits are available India basically to the organised sector. Atal Pension Yojana introduced in 2015 by Government of India provides a self- contributory savings pension scheme with guaranteed pension of Rs. 1,000/- to Rs. 5,000/- with a very low contribution by the subscriber. All banks and Department of Post have pushed the product to the interiors of the country. APY has option for increasing the pension amount from Rs. 1000/- to any other amount up to Rs. 5000/- as per the savings capacity of the subscriber, and further allows the spouse to continue the account in the event of the death of the subscriber before the age of sixty years. PFRDA has also been engaging with various State Governments for providing co-contribution under the scheme. With the introduction of e-APY through Aadhaar, the banks will be able to effectively utilise the digital platform for greater coverage.

PIB

Suspension of empanelment of Rockland Hospital, Qutab Institutional Area, New Delhi under CGHS

Rockland Hospital, Qutab Institutional Area, New Delhi under CGHS: Suspension of Empanelment

F. No: 4-3/2017/CGHS/VC
Government of India
Directorate General of Central Govt. Health Scheme
Ministry of Health & Family Welfare
(Hospital Empanelment Cell)

Maulana Azad Road, Nirman Bhawan
New Delhi 110 011, dated the 09.10.2017

OFFICE ORDER

Subject: Suspension of empanelment of Rockland Hospital, Qutab Institutional Area, New Delhi under CGHS.

With reference to the above mentioned matter, the undersigned is directed to draw attention to the Office Memorandum No. S-11045/36/2012-CGHS (HEC) dated 01.10.2014 vide which Rockland Hospital, Qutab Institutional Area, New Delhi was empanelled under CGHS and to state that Rockland Hospital, Qutab Institutional Area, New Delhi was asked to submit reply to a show cause notice issued regarding permission letter obtained by the hospital for treatment of one CGHS pensioner beneficiary in the hospital. However, the reply submitted by the hospital has not been found to be satisfactory and so it has been decided to suspend empanelment of Rockland Hospital, Qutab Institutional Area, New Delhi from CGHS with immediate effect for a period of three months or till further orders.

The CGHS beneficiaries already admitted in the hospital for treatment prior to the issue of this order shall continue to be provided treatment at CGHS rates till their discharge within a period of 7 days. Bill of patients discharged after 7 days of issue of this order shall be submitted with proper justification for consideration by CGHS.

Sd/-
Dr. D. C. Joshi
Director CGHS

Source: http://cghs.gov.in/

Recommendations of the 7th Central pay Commission - Implementation of decision relating to the grant of Children Education Allowance

Grant of Children Education Allowance and Hostel Subsidy to Railway Employees

RBE No.147/2017
PC-VII No.68

Government of India
Ministry of Railway
(Railway Board)

No.E(W)2017/ED-2/3 New Delhi,

Dated: 12-10-20 17

The General Manager (P),
All Indian Railways &
Production Units.

Sub: Recommendations of the Seventh Central pay Commission - Implementation of decision relating to the grant of Children Education Allowance.

Please refer to Board's letter No. E(W)2008/ED-2/4 dated 01-10-2008 followed by subsequent clarifications thereon regarding grant of Children Education Allowance/Hostel Subsidy to Government employees on the recommendation of Sixth Central Pay Commission.

Now, Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions (Department of Personnel & Training) has conveyed Government's decision on the recommendations of Seventh Central Pay Commission in regard to grant of Children Education Allowance & Hostel Subsidy to Government servants vide OM No. A-27012/02/2017-Estt.(AL) dated 16.08.2017 (copy enclosed). These instructions shall apply mutatis-mutandis to Railway employees and shall be effective from 1st July, 2017.

Aforesaid instructions on Children Education Allowance/Hostel Subsidy are being issued in supersession of Board's letter No. E(W)2008/ED-2/4 dated 13-05-2014.

Please acknowledge receipt.

sd/-
(Sunil Kumar)
Director Estt.(Welfare)
Railway Board

Source: AIRF