EPS Pensioners protesting in Delhi on 27 February for the minimum monthly pension

EPS Pensioners protesting in Delhi on 27 February for the minimum monthly pension

 All-India EPS-95 Pensioners Sangharsh Samiti will take out a march from the Jantar Mantar to the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) in Delhi on February 27 for the minimum monthly pension of Rs 7500 under the scheme.

EPS-95 pensioners from all over the country have been agitating on the issue of raising their pension since the last three years, but the Centre has done nothing except giving hollow assurances, a statement said Friday.

"As per a Supreme Court order, EPS pensioners should be given a higher pension. At present they are getting the pension in range of Rs 200 to Rs 2500 per month, which is meagre in view of rising inflation," the Sangharsh Samiti's Bhopal coordinator R A Dharkar stated.
He said the pension amount should be raised to minimum Rs 7500 per month apart from the DA (Dearness Allowance).

"A rally will be taken out on February 27 from Jantar Mantar to the office of the Prime Minister for our demands," the release stated.

The Samiti also seeks better medical facilities to the EPS-95 pensioners and their spouses. It also wanted that those retired employees who are not part of the scheme be brought under its ambit.
Dharkar claimed the Central government had only given hollow assurances to pensioners.

EPS or Employee Pension Scheme, which was brought into force in the year of 1995, is a guaranteed pension plan supported by the government, wherein the stipulated amount will be remitted to the employee upon retirement, without any changes to the same.

PTI

Railway engineers condemn 7th Pay Commission, present 27 demands – Protest at Jantar Mantar area of central Delhi on 1st and 2nd December 2015

Railway engineers condemn 7th Pay Commission, present 27 demands – Protest at Jantar Mantar area of central Delhi on 1st and 2nd December 2015

Members from across the Country of All India Railway Engineers Federation (AIREF), gathered at the Jantar Mantar area of central Delhi on 1st and 2nd December 2015 to voice their objections to the recommendations of the Seventh Central Pay Commission.

Mr. Sanjib Kumar, the president of the AIREF, told that , “Due to the faulty policies made by railways and erroneous report given by Seventh Central Pay Commission, the railway engineers have been frustrated seriously for which there will be a tremendous threat to railway safety in the future.”

Mr. Sanjib Kumar, elaborated that the AIREF represents about 80,000 degree and diploma engineers of Indian Railways, all of whom play a crucial role in ensuring the safe and efficient running of trains, construction and production, design, repair and maintenance of tracks, bridges and buildings, rolling stock, locomotives, coaches, electrical services, OHE, signals, telecommunications.

 Mr. Kumar also revealed that the railway engineers also take more responsibility for the safe movement of 23 million passengers daily. The striking railway engineers said that they have submitted a charter of 27 demands for the government to implement, failing which they warned that their strike could turn into an indefinite one.

The demands are as follows:

1. Group ­B/Gazetted status to all railway engineers (JE, SSE, SE/IT, CMA/CMS & DMS/CDMS) as per DOPT Gazette Notification No­605 dtd. 09.04.2009 as implemented in all other departments of Central Govt
2. Recognition of All India Railway Engineers Federation (AIREF) and its affiliated Zonal Railway Engineers Associations as per Khanna Committee recommendation.
3. To remove anomaly of 6th CPC: Grant upgraded Pay matrix equal to Rs. 5400 (PB­3) to JE and Rs. 6600 (PB­3) to SSE with standard designation of Assistant Engineer.
4. Time bound promotion from JE to Junior Administrative Grade Officer.
5. Scrap new pension scheme in Railways or make it optional.
6. Grand Technical Allowance @ 30 percent to all railway engineers.
7. Inclusion of father and mother in definition of family as per Indian culture.
8. Remove anomaly of Modified Assured career progression (MACPS)
   a. Counting of apprentice period for MACP for regular service since it is qualifying service for pension and increment.
   
   b. Financial up­gradation under MACPS to the directly recruited Graduate Engineers (head Draftsman) Considering entry Grade Pay as Rs. 4,600/­ for the purpose of MACP to all the directly recruited Engineering Graduates and treating GP­ 4200 to diploma engineers recruited as Asstt Draftsman in Design/Drawing Cadre and other Cadres, those recruited one stage lower at that time.
   
   c. Third financial up­gradation under MACPS on completion of 20 years of service from the first promotion or 10 years after second promotion or 30 years after regular appointment whichever is earlier. 03/12/2015
9. Stop immediately implementation of integrated seniority as per Rly Bd. Letter no. RBE 92/2015 for the purpose of promotion/selection to Group­B posts.
10. Open a promotional channel to qualified loco pilots to become JE / SSE through LDCE / GDCE.
11. Provide entitlement in Tatkal ticket through privilege / duty passes/ PTOs.
12. Provide e­ticket facility to Railway employees on pass/ PTOs / e­pass.
13. Remove restriction of no. of tickets in Rajdhani/ Shatabdi / Duranto express trains on passes / PTOs.
14. Provision of accidental insurance of Rs. 20 lakhs to all railway engineers.
15. Provision of LTC to railway engineers on inland or foreign tours once in two years.
16. No corporatisation in Indian Railways and its Production Units.
17. Provision reimbursement of tuition fee of children studying in higher education ( Engg. / Medical / MBA etc)
18. Provision improved rest house facilities at all major railway stations for Railway Engineers or provide hotel / retiring room facility as admissible to all Central Govt. employees.
19. Rename the training institutes as Railway Engineers’ Training Institutes instead of Supervisors’ Training Institutes.
20. Ensure CUG facilities to all Railway Engineers and increase the CUG utility amount to minimum Rs 500/­ for JE and equivalent and Rs 1000/­ for SSE and equivalent.
21.  Provide brief case to all Railway Engineers irrespective of any condition.
22. Set up technical library in all divisional / HQ office including workshops, loco sheds under functional management of Engineers Associations of the unit.
23. Stop unnecessary inspections on Sundays & holidays by higher officers except during unusual incidences like accidents, derailments. etc.
24. Ensure compulsory weekly rest to field staff and to implement 8 hours duty schedule, sanction additional night duty posts of Engineers where it is not yet exists
25. Fill up all existing vacant posts to stop short­cut method.
26. Create new posts as per new assets.
27. Increase exemption limit Income tax to Rs 8 Lakhs and exemption of all allowances from Income tax.

AIREF expresses that the seventh CPC has ignored all factors i.e. education, duties and responsibilities of the railway engineers, and only concentrated on upgrading the pay structures of non­core, non­technical and non safety categories, Engineer Sanjib warned that it will affect seriously the government’s dream project to run a bullet train in the future.

He said that when several railway safety committees such as the Justice Khanna Committee, the Justice Wanchoo Committee and the Justice Sikiri Committee have categorically recommended giving railway engineers separate recognition in view of their separate nature of duties, responsibilities, mode of recruitment and training etc., why was this government shying away from granting it.

“We have had a good meetings with the commission at several places at different cities of the country. The chairman has assured to give justice by giving Group­B status and good pay structures with perks. But now, we have found that the commission has betrayed us,” Engineer Kumar said.

AIREF Secretary General Engineer Ashok Kumar Tyagi described the lot of railway engineers as disappointing and unfortunate.

“It is the worst ever pay commission report among seven pay commissions,” he maintained.

A.V. Swamy, Member of the Rajya Sabha from Odisha and a member of the Parliament’s Standing Committee on Water Resources, and a former engineer, justified the railway engineers protest.

He said, “When the rights and demands of railway engineers are denied, the chance of technical advancement of the railways is remote.”

Lok Sabha Member B. Majhi and ex­engineer­in­chief of E. Co. Railways, said, “Pay commissions have continuously ignored the just demands of the railway engineers.”

Rajya Sabha Member A.B. Rapolu said, “The Railway Board has denied justice to its technocrats. Junior engineers and SSEs must be granted Group B gazetted status at par with other central government departments

The AIREF said that the railway ministry has been giving only conventional replies and this would eventually affect the safety and economy of the railways seriously.

Source : Indian Railways Technical Supervisors Association

DMRC Staff say their demand for Salary Restructuring not yet been met

DMRC Staff say their demand for Salary Restructuring not yet been met

New Delhi: The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation has hit rough waters with its employees resorting to protests once again. The protesting non-executive employees of the corporation have now begun a hunger strike as they claim their demands for salary restructuring are going unheard by the administration.

As many as 3,600 employees, mainly technicians, are taking turns to protest at Jantar Mantar and at the seven metro depots. They are not ruling out train services being affected as 32 of those on hunger strike have already been hospitalized. Members of the staff council are likely to meet the administration on Monday to reach a common consensus.

They demand that the salaries of technicians be revised from Rs 8,000 – 14,140 to Rs 10,170 – 18,500. For senior technicians, they have demanded a hike in pay-scale from Rs 10,170 – 18,500 to Rs 14,000 – 26,950 and for head technicians from Rs 14,000 – 26,950 to Rs 16,000 – 30,770.

According to General Secretary, DMRC Employees Union, Kuldeep Maan, the employees fear that once the Seventh Pay Commission is implemented, their problems with the corporation would be quashed. “We have been victims of DMRC’s exploitation since 2007. Our protest has been on for long now but nothing has happened. On November 3, we decided to extend the protest to Jantar Mantar and November 5 onwards employees began their hunger strike,” he said.

To register his protest for the cause Kishan went a step ahead and resigned from his membership of the employees’ council. “So far, 32 of the many employees on hunger strike have been hospitalised. If the administration does now blink an eye many more will be taken ill and then we won’t be responsible if metro operations are hit,” said another protesting member. The administration had called for a meeting once, but it bore no fruitful conclusions, he added.

Responding to the report, the DMRC said, “It is an internal matter of the organization and the Human Resource department has taken up the issues of these employees.”

The employees fear that once the Seventh Pay Commission is implemented, their problems with the corporation would be quashed

One Rank One Pension: Government veterans close to a deal?

One Rank One Pension: Government veterans close to a deal?

New Delhi: The agitating ex-servicemen and the government appeared to have ironed out some major differences over the contentious issue of one rank one pension with the defence veterans saying tonight that they may accept revision of pension once in two years instead of one year as demanded by them.

Maj Gen (retd) Satbir Singh

War veteran Maj Gen (retd) Satbir Singh, who has been leading the protest in Jantar Mantar for the last 80 days, said they have got positive signals from the government for the last few days but stopped short of saying there was a breakthrough.

Singh said the issue was non-negotiable and both the elements of the OROPO concept cannot be interfered. An agreement can be reached once we know what is on the platter (offer by the government), he said, adding effective date of revision must be from April 1, 2014.

Independent MP Rajeev Chandrasekhar, who has been mediating on the issue, said it was time veterans must return home with honour and grace by reaching an early settlement.

He urged them to accept the revision of pension every three years.

Meanwhile, not in the best of health yet undeterred, Colonel (retd) Pushpendra Singh today resumed his fast-unto-death demanding prompt implementation of One Rank, One Pension scheme at Jantar Mantar here hours after he was discharged from an army hospital.

Singh, one of the ex-servicemen fasting in demand of the immediate implementation of the OROP scheme, was hospitalised Monday last ? the ninth day of his fast after his medical report showed increased ketone levels.

Singh was admitted to the ICU of Army Hospital Research and Referral, from where he was discharged today.

Hours later, he returned to the protest site to join his fellow ex-servicemen, whose agitation entered the 80th day today.

PTI

OROP Row: Ex-servicemen may accept government terms: Asian Age News

OROP Row: Ex-servicemen may accept government terms, Final solution you will see in few days,” Union Minister Prakash Javadekar told a television channel.

OROP Row: Ex-servicemen may accept government terms:  Asian Age News

The contentious issue of one rank, one pension controversy may soon be resolved even as the agitating ex-servicemen and the government appeared to have ironed out some major differences on the issue. The defence veterans stated on Wednesday that they may accept revision of pension once in two years instead of one year as demanded by them.

War veteran Maj. Gen. Satbir Singh (Retd) said they have got positive signals from the government for the last few days but stopped short of saying there was a breakthrough.
Maj. Gen. Singh, who has been leading the protest in Jantar Mantar for the last 80 days, said the issue was non-negotiable and both the elements of the OROP concept cannot be interfered. An agreement can be reached once we know what is on the platter (offer by the government), he said, adding effective date of revision must be from April 1, 2014. Independent MP Rajeev Chandrasekhar, who has been mediating on the issue, said it was time veterans must return home with honour and grace by reaching an early settlement. He urged them to accept the revision of pension every three years.

Meanwhile, not in the best of health yet undeterred, Colonel Pushpendra Singh (Retd) on Wednesday resumed his fast-unto-death demanding prompt implementation of one rank, one pension scheme at Jantar Mantar here hours after he was discharged from the Army hospital. Colonel Singh, one of the ex-servicemen fasting in demand of the immediate implementation of the OROP scheme, was hospitalised Monday last — the ninth day of his fast after his medical report showed increased ketone levels.

Colonel Singh was admitted to the ICU of Army Hospital Research and Referral, from where he was discharged on Wednesday. Hours later, he returned to the protest site to join his fellow ex-servicemen, whose agitation entered the 80th day on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, the government today refrained from setting a timeline for resolving the OROP issue but said it is committed to implementing the promise, expressing confidence that a solution “acceptable to all” will be found “very soon”.

“We will deliver OROP sooner than later to the satisfaction of all. We will do what is justifiable, what is convincing. After all, we are doing justice to society as a whole. I am not a jyotishi (astrologer) to tell you the exact date.

Final solution you will see in few days,” Union Minister Prakash Javadekar told a television channel.

Read at Asian Age

More than 50000 Central Government employees assembled at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi on 28th November 2015 – All India Audit Association

More than 50000 Central Government employees assembled at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi on 28th November 2015 – All India Audit Association

CIRCULAR – 12/2015

ALL INDIA AUDIT & ACCOUNTS ASSOCIATION
CSV WARRIER BHAWAN
15/1089-90, VASUNDHARA, VASUNDHARA (P.O.), Dt. GHAZIABAD (U.P), PIN-201012
Ph: 0120-2881727/0 – 98681 45667
E-mail: auditflag@gmail.com
Website: www.auditflag.blogspot.com

Reference: AIA/Circular- 12/2015

Dated: 3rd May 2015

To
Unit Secretaries,
Members & Spl. Invitees – NE &
Members of Women’s Committee

Dear Comrades,
MASSIVE RALLY ON 28TH APRIL 2015 BY CG EMPLOYEES IN FRONT OF PARLIAMENT; INDEFINITE STRIKE TO COMMENCE FROM 23RD NOVEMBER 2015

More than 50000 Central Government employees assembled at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi on 28th November 2015 declared in one voice that if the 10 point charter of demands that includes statutory pension for all and revival of all forums under JCM are not negotiated and settled in a time bound manner, the 30-lakh strong central government employees – including Railway and Defence workers – would be compelled to commence indefinite strike from 23rd November 2015.

The rally adopted a resolution moved by Com KKN Kutty, President of Confederation on behalf of the National Joint Council of Action listing the grievances of the employees and also pointing out the disastrous policies accelerated by the present day government.

Every speaker from each of the constituent organisation spoke about perilous impact of the policies of the government in their sector and committed their resolve to ensure the success of the indefinite strike from 23rd November 2015. (Railway and Defence Federations have to conduct strike ballot before embarking upon any industrial action, as per the Industrial dispute act under which they are recognised.)
The resolution adopted by the rally is enclosed with this Circular.

SUBMISSION OF MASS SIGNATURE TO CAG ON 29TH APRIL 2015

Delhi police refused permission to us to hold demonstration before CAG office citing the ongoing Parliament session and proposed that we hold the programme at Jantar Mantar. Instead we chose to hold the demonstration at the DGACR premises on 29th April 2015.

More than 200 comrades from stations participated in the demonstration on 29th April and more than 10000 (ten thousand) signatures were collected from the personnel of IA&AD across the country. The demonstration at DGACR was addressed by Com M Duraipandian, President, V Nageswara Rao and KL Gautam, both Addl Secretary General, Com Subhash Pandey, Vice President in addition to the Secretary General. Com Anilkumar, Asstt Secretary General and Gen. Secretary, Civil Audit Association, Delhi welcomed all the comrades while Com Veer Singh, President, CAA, Delhi offered vote of thanks.

A delegation comprising of Coms M Duraipandian, MS Raja, Subhash Pandey, KL Gautam, Nageswara Rao, V Sreekumar and Anilkumar met DG/Personnel and submitted the petition addressed to the CAG. There was a detailed discussion following the submission of the petition and we insisted that the grievances listed therein be addressed. The issue of vicitmisations at various units was also taken up. DG/P assured to attend to the pressing issues and do her best to resolve them.

MANIFEST SOLIDARITY WITH POSTAL STRIKE FROM 6TH MAY 2015

More than 5 lakhs postal workers would be going on indefinite strike from 6th May 2015 under the banner of Postal JCA, comprising of NFPE and FNPO, demanding roll back of the move to corporatise and privatise postal services, bringing GDS under the ambit of 7 CPC, implementation of cadre restructuring agreement etc. Confederation Sectt that met on 28th April 2015 decided to manifest solidarity with the strike of postal comrades.

Our units are requested to hold lunch hour demonstration and take out rally to the post offices in support of the strike. All the units may also implement the decisions of the local COC in this regard.

With greetings,

Yours fraternally

(M.S.Raja)
Secretary General

Source: auditflag.blogspot.in

One Rank One Pension – IESM announces Maha Rally on 1.2.2015 at Jantar Mantar

One Rank One Pension – IESM announces Maha Rally on 1.2.2015 at Jantar Mantar

Message from RDOA is reproduced below:

AGITATION ON 01 FEB 2015

‘Retired Defence Officers’ Association is against the agitation proposed by IESM on 01 Feb 2015 and will not participate in it.

 President/Secretary, RDOA

09871351203, 09818039172

Source: RDOA Blog

For One Rank One Pension, war veterans to march on Delhi

For OROP, war veterans to march on Delhi: Ajay Sura,TNN

CHANDIGARH: More than 10,000 restless ex-servicemen from across the country will hold a massive protest at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi on February 1 to pressurize the Centre into keeping its promise on the one rank one pension (OROP) demand.

During the 2014 Lok Sabha election campaign, both the BJP and Congress had pledged to implement the scheme. But the new government has not implemented it even after completing 200 days in office. Several ex-servicemen welfare organizations have come under the banner of Indian Ex-servicemen Movement (IESM) for the protest.

The veterans are also unhappy over defence minister Manohar Parrikar recent statement that he would try to implement 80% of OROP.

“It has to be implemented 100% as promised by the Prime Minister on a number of occasions. Any dilution will not be OROP,” said Major General Satbir Singh (retd), chairman of IESM. He also wants a white paper from the Centre on OROP, given that Narender Modi had pledged to implement the scheme in his first election rally at Rewari in September 2013 after he was declared BJP’s prime ministerial candidate.

“If it is short of funds, the government should openly say so. We are even ready to accept bonds but give us our 100%,” Gen Satbir said.

Brigadier Harwant Singh (retd), president of the all India Defence Brotherhood, said, “As soldiers, we never thought of performing 80% while guarding the nation. We are feeling dejected and restless because of the delay.”

Brigadier Kiran Krishan (retd) of IESM said OROP was sanctioned on February 17, 2014. “Ten months have passed since. The BJP government enthusiastically promising to implement it had raised our hopes. But the party seems to be dragging its feet.”

In its last budget in February, the UPA government had provisioned for Rs 500 crore for OROP. The BJP government had announced Rs 1,000 crore in its interim budget in July. However, army authorities estimate that Rs 5,000 crore would be required, whereas the accounts department of the defence ministry says Rs 9000 crore would be needed to implement OROP.

Out of 30-lakh ex-servicemen in the country, Punjab alone has around 3 lakh, Haryana has nearly 2.8 lakh, Himachal Pradesh (HP) has around two lakh. Around 10,000 retired ex-servicemen live in Chandigarh.
OROP implies uniform pension to personnel retiring on the same rank with the same length of service irrespective of their date of retirement.

Source: TOI