Sunday, 15 January 2017

Central government employees to get Rs 9000 minimum pension: Jitendra Singh


Central government employees to get Rs 9000 minimum pension: Jitendra Singh
Minimum pension for centgral government employees has been increased to Rs9,000 per person besides a two-fold hike in ex-gratia amount

The minimum pension has been increased to Rs9,000 per person besides a two-fold hike in ex-gratia amount for central government employees, union minister Jitendra Singh said on Thursday.
Addressing the 29th meeting of the Standing Committee of Voluntary Agencies (Scova) in the city, he said almost 88% of pension accounts have been seeded to Aadhaar. There are about 50-55 lakh pensioners in the country, said Singh, minister of state in Prime Minister’s office.

He further said that minimum pension has been increased to Rs9,000 per person and ex-gratia amount has been increased from Rs10-15 lakh to Rs25-35 lakh, as per a release issued by personnel ministry.
The Scova meeting is organised by the Department of Pensions and Pensioners’ Welfare (DoP&PW). Singh said there is a need to put in place an institutionalised mechanism to make good use of the knowledge, experience and efforts of the retired employees which can help in the value addition to the current scenario.

He said the retired employees are a healthy and productive workforce for India and we need to streamline and channelise their energies in a productive direction. "We should learn from the pensioners’ experience," said Singh. The minister also said that the DoP&PW should be reoriented in such a way that pensioners become a part of nation building process.

Many issues related to pensioners were discussed threadbare, such as revision of Pension Payment Orders of Pre-2006 pensioners, health insurance scheme for pensioners including those residing in non-Central Government Health Service (CGHS) area and special higher family pension for widows of the war disabled invalidated out of service, etc. The meeting was attended by the member of pensioners associations and senior officers of the important departments of the central government.

PTI

PENSIONERS OPTION - 1 MERCILESSLY REJECTED


MOST UNKINDEST CUT OF ALL
PENSIONER'S OPTION - 1 MERCILESSLY REJECTED

It is learnt that the Committee chaired by Secretary (Pension) has NOT recommended the Option Number - 1 recommended by 7th Central Pay Commission for fixation of pension of pre -2016 Pensioners. Instead it has recommended extension of the benefit of pension determination recommended by 5th CPC ie ; arriving at notional pay in 7th CPC by applying formula for pay revision for serving employees in each Pay Commission revision and consequent pension fixation. Now the Implementation Cell of 7th CPC is studying the recommendations of Pension Committee for processing for submission for approval of Cabinet. Thus , the one and the only favourable recommendation of 7th CPC ie; the real parity in Pension which is also approved by Cabinet with a rider “subject to feasibility” is going to be mercilessly rejected by Government , inspite of repeated requests and demands from NJCA, Confederation and Pensioners Associations .
M. KRISHNAN
Secretary General
Confederation of Central Government Employees & Workers
Mob & WhatsApp: 09447068125
Source: Confederation

Implementation of recommendations of VI CPC - merger of grades-revised classification and mode of filling up of non-gazetted posts-scheme for filling up vacancies after 31/12/2015


NFIR
National Federation of Indian Railwaymen
3, CHELMSFORD ROAD, NEW DELHI - 110 055
Affiliated to :
Indian National Trade Union Congress (INTUC)
International Transport Workers' Federation (ITF)
No. II/2/Part VII
Dated: 09/01/2017
The Secretary (E),
Railway Board,
New Delhi

Dear Sir,
Sub: Implementation of recommendations of VI CPC - merger of grades-revised classification and mode of filling up of non-gazetted posts-scheme for filling up vacancies after 31/12/2015-reg.

Ref: (i) NFIR's letter No. II/2/Part VII dated 19/01/2016.
(ii) Railway Board's letter No. E(NG)I-2008/PM1/15 dated 09/02/2016.

Pursuant to Federation's communication vide letter of even number dated 19/01/2016 on the subject wherein Board was requested to issue instructions extending the validity of the revised classification beyond 31/12/2015, the Railway Board vide letter dated 09/02/2016 though extended the currency of the instructions, but however a restriction has been clamped that the said extension shall be upto 31/12/2016. The said extension period has again expired on 31/12/2016, consequently the processing of promotion of staff has been halted on Zonal Railways etc., from 1st January 2017 onwards.
NFIR, therefore, urges upon the Railway Board to extend the scheme beyond 31/12/2016 for ensuring promotions against vacancies.

Federation may be kept advised of the action taken.
Yours faithfully,
Sd/-
(Dr. M. Raghavaia)
General Secretary
Source: NFIR India

Option for pay fixation in the 7th CPC Pay Matrix level to the Railway employees promoted during the period 01.01.2016 to 31.12.2016


Option for pay fixation in the 7th CPC Pay Matrix level to the Railway employees promoted during the period 01.01.2016 to 31.12.2016

7th-CPC-Pay-Matrix-level-Railway-employees



No. IV/NFIR/7th CPC(Imp)/2016/R.B./Part I
Dated : 06/01/2017
The Secretary (E),
Railway Board,
New Delhi

Dear Sir,
Sub : Option for pay fixation in the 7th CPC Pay Matrix level to the Railway employees promoted during the period 01/01/2016 to 31/12/2016-reg

The Railway Board vide RBE No. 90/2016 issued notification on 28th July 2016 on the basis of Ministry of Finance (Department of Expenditure) Resolution No. 1-2/2016-IC and Notification No. GSR 721 (E) dated 25th July 2016 for granting pay in the revised pay matrix to the Railway employees of various categories w.e.f. 01/01/2016. Options have also been allowed to be exercised by the staff (in those cases of staff who have been promoted during the period from 01/01/2016 and the date of notification for opting for switching over to revised Pay Matrix to a later date.

In this connection, NFIR desires to convey that there are cases of Railway employees who have been granted promotion after the date of notification i.e. 25th & 28th July 2016. All these employees have been demanding that should be allowed to exercise option for revised Pay Matrix from the date subsequent to the date of Railway Board’s notification. Representations have also been received that such of those staff who have been promoted in between 01/01/2016 and 31/12/2016, be also given opportunity of exercising option for switching over to 7th CPC Pay Matrix.

The Federation is ofthe view that the staff representations as above are genuine and required to be considered favourably

NFIR therefore, requests the Railway Board to consider the above points and accord approval, for providing option opportunity to those who got promotion in between 01/01/2016 to 31st December 2016.
Yours faithfully
(Dr. M. Raghavaiah)
General Secretary
Source : NFIR

Restructuring of SAS Examination System: CGDA


Restructuring of SAS Examination System: CGDA
OFFICE OF THE CONTROLLER GENERAL OF DEFENCE ACCOUNTS
CENTRE FOR TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT (CENTRAD)
OPPOSITE ARMY BASE HOSPITAL, BRAR SQUARE, DELHI CANTT - 110010

Most Important Circular
WEBSITE/ WAN
No.AN/ SAS/ 16200 / Restructuring/ 2016
Dated: 06.01.20 17
To
All the PCsDA, including Principal IFAs
All Controller of Defence Accounts including IFAs
The Pr. Controller of Accounts(Fys.), Kolkata and
All Controllers of Finance and Accounts(Fys.)
Including Chief Internal Auditors

Subject: Restructuring of SAS Examination System.

The present SAS Rules have come into force with the approval of MoD(Fin) vide their ID No.26(1)/C/2007 dated 08.03.2007. Since then nature of audit and account in the department have undergone a paradigm shift from conventional regulatory audit to propriety audit with efficient utilization of information technology resources. The introduction of IT projects like SUGAM, TULIP, DOLPHIN, AASHRAYA etc. and updating of procurement manuals have led to transformation of the working environment of our offices and also necessitated us to be more vigilant and well acquainted with upcoming changes. In today’s era of Information Technology and percolation of IFA System to the lowest services formation, one of the primarily role of the department is as financial manager. Departmental candidates are promoted to the grade of Assistant Accounts Officer after passing of SAS Examination.

They being a first line supervisor are primarily responsible for efficient managing of the section and forms the cutting edge of the core functions of the department.

2. Keeping in view the changing requirements of skill sets at first supervisory level as well as various changes in the department during last decade including revision of Office Manuals, more focus on financial advice, implementation of various IT modules as well as issue of various government instructions, a need has been felt to review the existing system of SAS Examination. Accordingly, a committee was constituted under the chairmanship of Dr. G. D. Pungle, IDAS, PCDA (O) Pune. The Report of the Committee is appended as Annexure - ‘A’ to this circular. It has been decided that following issues needs to be deliberated by all Principal Controllers / Controllers and commented upon:

i) The present concept of screening the genuine candidates through Preliminary Test may be looked into and a candidate need not to pass preliminary examination more than once in his / her career.

ii) For increasing and expending domain knowledge in the functioning of the client organisation/ customers for enhancing and enriching the department work in Audit and IFA, training material for understanding the Defence Services /Organisation is to be prepared by liaison with the Services Training Institutes.

iii) At present a candidate is required to Secured 40% Marks in each paper and 45% in aggregate in SAS Part-I and SAS Part-II Examination. Further, in SAS Part-II Examination there are 02 qualifying papers of Office Communication (Paper-VIII) and Fundamentals of EDP (Paper-IX). In these qualifying papers, a candidate is to secure 40% Marks only and their marks are not accounted for in the aggregate. As drafting and computer skill is one the predominant areas in today’s working environment, which a supervisor is invariably required to excel, the qualifying papers may be considered to be a part of mainstream papers and their marks could be added to the aggregate.

iv) Learning, being a continuous process and is essential for the all - round development, a chapter regarding learning skill in paper of Office Communication may be introduced or feasibility of the same be explored.

v) Keeping in View the deficiency at AAO level, the Viability of conducting SAS Part-II examination more than once in a year into may be examined.
3. In View of the foregoing, it is enjoined upon all the Principal Controllers and Controllers to examine the recommendations of the Committee and offer their considerate View on restructuring of SAS Examination System by 27.01.2017. In case, it is observed that some other issues merits inclusion in the proposed syllabus and pattern of examination which will strengthen the examination system, the same may also be elucidated with full justification for further deliberation.
sd/-
(Sangeet)
Sr.Dy.CGDA (SAS)
Source: CGDA.NIC.IN Click here to view/download Annexure - 'A'

Types of Leave applicable to Central Government Employees as per Leave Rules

Types of Leave applicable to Central Government Employees as per Leave Rules

Central-Government-Employees-Leave -Rules


A brief on all Types of Leave applicable to Central Government Employees as per Leave Rules - Earned Leave, Half Pay Leave, Commuted Leave, Leave Not Due, Maternity Leave, Paternity Leave, Study Leave, Extraordinary Leave, Chile Care Leave and More

1. Earned Leave: Earned Leave is 'earned' by duty. The credit for earn leave will awarded at a rate of 15 days on the 1st of January and 1st of July every year. It can be accumulated up to 300 days in addition to the number of days for which encashment has been allowed along with LTC. Maximum of 180 days at a time can be availed in the case of Earned Leave.

2. Half Pay Leave: All Government servants are entitled to 20 days of HPL for every completed year of service. Half pay leave is calculated at 20 days for each completed year of service. For eg, if you are in service for 2 years , you will be having a total of 40 days of half pay leave. The service includes periods of duty and leave including extraordinary leave with or without MC. Half pay leave can be availed with or without MC(Medical Certificate). From 1st January 1986, half pay leave is credited in advance at the rate of 10 days on the 1st of January and 1st of July every year.

3.Commuted Leave: This Leave is granted on medical certificate normally. Commuted leave not exceeding half the amount of half-pay leave due can be taken on medical certificate. Up to a maximum of 90 days can be taken during the entire service without medical certificate where such leave is utilized for an approved course of study certified to be in university interest.
It can be taken up to a maximum of 60 days can be granted to a female employee in continuation of maternity leave without medical certificate and upto a maximum of 60 days can be granted without medical certificate to a female employee with less than two living children, on adoption of a child less than one year old. Commuted leave may be granted at the request of the employee even when earned leave is due to him.

4. Leave Not Due: This Leave is also granted on medical certificate normally. Leave not due is granted when there is no half-pay leave at credit and the employee requests for the grant of Leave Not Due. It is granted only medical certificate if the leave sanctioning authority is satisfied that there is a reasonable prospect of the employee returning to duty on its expiry. It may be granted without medical certificate in continuation of maternity leave, and may be granted without medical certificate to a female employee with less than two living children, on adoption of a child less than one year old. The amount of leave should be limited to the half-pay leave that the employee is likely to earn subsequently. Leave not due during the entire service is limited to a maximum of 360 days and due will be debited against the half-pay leave that the employee may earn subsequently.

5. Maternity Leave : Maternity leave is granted to women government employees.
1) Pregnancy: 180 days - Admissible only to employees with less than two surviving children.
2) Miscarriage/abortion (induced or otherwise): Total of 45 days in the entire service. However, any such leave taken prior to 16.6.1994 will not be taken into account for this limitation. Admissible irrespective of number of surviving children. Application to be supported by a certificate from a registered medical practitioner for NGOs and from AMA for GOs.
The maternity leave is not debited to leave account and full pay is granted. It cannot be combined with any other leaves and counts as service for increments and pension.

6. Paternity Leave : A male employee with less than two surviving children may be granted Paternity Leave for a period of 15 days during the confinement of his wife. During the period of such leave he shall be paid leave salary equal to the pay drawn immediately before proceeding on leave. Paternity Leave shall not be debited against the leave account and may be combined with other kind of leave as in the case of Maternity Leave.

7. Study Leave: Study leave may be granted to all government employees with not less than five years' service for undergoing a special course consisting of higher studies or specialized training in a professional or technical subject having a direct and close connection with the sphere of his duties as a civil servant.
The course for which the study leave is taken should be certified to be of definite advantage to govt from the point of view of public interest and that particular study should be approved by the authority competent to grant leave.
The official should submit a full report on the work done during study leave. Maximum of 24 months of leave is sanctioned. In the case of CHS officers 36 months of leave can be granted at a stretch or in different spells.
Study leave will not be debited to the leave account and may be combined with other leave due. Study leave is not granted for studies outside India if facilities are available in India and to an official due to retire within 3 years of return from the study leave.

8. Extra Ordinary Leave : Extraordinary leave is granted to a Government servant when no other leave is admissible or when other leave is admissible, but the Government servant applies in writing for extraordinary leave.
Extraordinary leave cannot be availed concurrently during the notice period, when going on voluntary retirement and EOL may also be granted to regularize periods of absence without leave retrospectively.

9. Casual Leave : In a calendar year eight days of casual leave is permissible.
Casual leave is not a recognized form of leave and is not subject to any rules made by the Government of India. An official on Casual Leave is not treated as absent from duty and pay is not intermitted.
(i) Casual Leave can be combined with Special Casual Leave/vacation but not with any other kind of leave.
(ii) It cannot be combined with joining time.
(iii) Sundays and Holidays falling during a period of Casual Leave are not counted as part of Casual Leave.
(iv) Sundays/public holidays/restricted holidays/weekly offs can be prefixed/suffixed to Casual Leave.
(v) Casual Leave can be taken while on tour, but no daily allowance will be admissible for the period.
(vi) Casual Leave can be taken for half day also.
(vii) Essentially intended for short periods. It should not normally be granted for more than 5 days at any one time, except under special circumstances.
(viii) LTC can be availed du ring Casual Leave.
(ix) Individuals appointed and joining duty during the middle of a year may avail of Casual Leave proportionately or to the full extent at the discretion of the Competent Authority.
10. Child Care Leave : Woman employees having minor children may be granted Child Care Leave by an authority competent to grant leave for a maximum period of 730 days (2 years) during their entire service for taking care of up to two children., whether for rearing or to look after any of their needs like examination, sickness, etc..
Conditions for Child Care Leave
1. Child care leave shall not be admissible if the child is eighteen years of age or older equal to the pay drawn immediately before proceeding on leave.
2. It can be availed in more than one spell.
3. It can not be debited against the leave account.
4. It may be combined with leave of the kind due and admissible.
11. Hospital Leave: Hospital leave is admissible to Group 'C' employees whose duties involve handling of dangerous machinery, explosive materials, poisonous drugs and performance of hazardous takes and to Group 'D' Employees.
Medical certificate from an authorized medical attendant is necessary for grant of this leave. This hospital leave may be combined with any other kind of leave due and admissible, provided total period of leave does not exceed 28 months.

12. Vacation Department Staff leave Entitlement : The leave entitlements of employees of Vacation Departments (i.e. departments where regular vacations are allowed during which those serving in them are permitted to be absent from duty) are the same as those serving in non-vacation Departments except in respect of 'earned leave'.
No earned leave will be admissible to a government servant of a vacation Department in any year in which he avails of the full vacation. The vacation can be combined with casual leave.

13. Special Disability Leave : Special disability leave admissible to all employees when disabled by injury intentionally or accidentally inflicted or caused in or in consequence of the due performance of official duties or in consequences of official position. The disability above should have manifested within three months of the occurrence to which it is attributed and the person disabled had acted with due promptitude in bringing it to notice. The leave sanctioning authority, if satisfied as to the cause of the disability, may relax the condition and grant leave in cases where disability has manifested more than three months after the occurrence of its cause.
Special disability leave is also admissible when disabled by illness incurred in the performance of any particular duty, which has the effect of increasing liability to illness or injury beyond the ordinary risk attaching to the civil post held, under the same condition.This disability should be certified by an Authorised Medical Attendant to be directly due to the performance of the particular duty.
Maximum of 24 months of leave may be granted.
May be combined with any other leave.
Will count as service for pension.
Will not be debited to the leave account.
14. Child Adoption Leave: Child adoption leave is granted to Female employees, with fewer than two surviving children on valid adoption of a child below the age of one year, for a period of 135 days immediately after the date of valid adoption.
Leave salary will be equal to the pay drawn immediately before proceeding on leave.
It may be combined with leave of any other kind. Leave not debited against the leave account.

15. Leave to Probationers : A person appointed to a post on probation is entitled to all kinds of leave admissible under the rules to a permanent servants according as his appointment is against a permanent post.

16. Leave to Apprentices : Apprentices are admissible to leave on medical certificate, on leave salary equivalent to half pay for a period not exceeding one month in any year of apprenticeship

Pongal gazetted holiday in Tamil Nadu central government offices


Pongal gazetted holiday in Tamil Nadu central government offices

Chennai: In a major boost to the ruling All India Anna Dravida Kazhagam (AIADMK), the Centre on Tuesday finally caved in to their demands and declared Pongal festival as a gazetted holiday.
According to the AIADMK official Twitter handle, party general secretary V K Sasikala or Chinnamma as popularly called among followers, had urged the Central Government to roll back the announcement of Pongal as restricted holiday.

"Following the efforts taken by the general secretary of AIADMK respected Chinnamma, who in her statement urged the Central Government to roll back the announcement of Pongal as restricted holidays, the Central Government has today declared the festival as gazetted holiday. Tamil speaking people across the globe thanked, respected Chinnamma profusely for her efforts and said the good governance of Amma is still continuing," it said.

This development comes a day after Central Government changed the status of the Pongal holidays from gazetted to restricted.

On Monday, Sasikala had termed the Centre's move to convert the Pongal holiday into a restricted one as a “big shock", following which she urged the Centre to review its decision.

Inputs with ANI

CPAO Order : Providing breakup of pension and arrear payments & recoveries to pensioners


CPAO Order : Providing breakup of pension and arrear payments & recoveries to pensioners

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF FINANCE
DEPARTMENT OF EXPENDITURE
CENTRAL PENSION ACCOUNTING OFFICE
TRIKOOT II, BHIKAJI CAMA PLACE,
NEW DELHI-110066

CPAO/IT&Tech/Bank Performance/2016-17/ 220
CPAO / IT & Tech / SCOVA / 20 / Part File / 2016-17/220
09.01.2017
Office Memorandum

Subject:  Providing breakup of pension and arrear payments & recoveries to pensioners.

Attention is invited to para 4.6.7 of the Accounting and Operating Procedure for Central Pension Processing Centre of Authorised Banks for Pension Disbursement to Central Government (Civil) Pensioners (February, 2012) whereby it has been provided that "The CPPC software will display on the computer screen, options and view of the details of calculation of pension and its breakup of the pension paid to the pensioner/ family pensioner. The Home Branch will act as intermediary with the CPPC and, besides providing accounts statement, provide to the pensioners the payment of TDS details, pension slip, the Due and Drawn Statement in respect of each arrear and the Annual Income Statement".

2. Taking into consideration the grievances reported by Pensioners’ Associations and Pensioners, CPAO had issued instructions to Heads of CPPCs and Government Business Divisions vide OM No. CPAO/Tech/Banks Performance/2015-16/60 dated-14.06.2016 for strict compliance of above guidelines for providing detailed breakup of pension payments.

3. It has again been reported by Pensioners Associations and Pensioners that "arrears of arrear of Revision of Pension, Fixed Medical Allowance, Additional Pension, Life Time Arrear etc. are clubbed with monthly payment of pension for which it becomes difficult for pensioner/family pensioner to understand if pension and arrears are disbursed correctly. Even recovery of overpayment or wrong payment is not shown separately".

4. Therefore, banks are instructed to follow the provisions of CPPC guidelines and instructions issued vide OM dated-14.06.2016 and provide full breakup of pension payment dearly to the pensioners. A compliance report in this regard may be sent to CPAO latest by 31.01.2017 positively.

(Subhash Chandra)
Controller of Accounts
Order Copy

Delay in publishing GDS Committee Report


Delay in publishing GDS Committee Report
UNJUSTIFIED DELAY IN PUBLISHING GDS COMMITTEE REPORT NFPE DECIDED TO COMMENCE INDEFINITE HUNGER FAST IN FRONT OF DIRECTORATE FROM 18.01.2017

National Federation of Postal Employees
All India Postal Employees Union GDS
1st Floor North Avenue Post Office Building, New Delhi-110 001
Phone: 011.23092771
Mob: 9868819295/9810853981
e-mail: nfpehq@gmail.com
website: http://www.nfpe.blogspot.com
No. PF-01(e)/2016
Dated: 09th January-2017
UNJUSTIFIED DELAY IN PUBLISHING GDS COMMITTEE REPORT NFPE DECIDED TO COMMENCE INDEFINITE HUNGER FAST IN FRONT OF DIRECTORATE FROM 18.01.2017

To
1) All General Secretaries
and Office Bearers
NFPE
2) All Circle/Divisional
Secretaries NFPE.
3) All Circle/Divisional Secretaries AIPEU GDS

Dear Comrades,

As you are aware the GDS Committee Report was submitted to the Government on 24th November 2016 by the Kamalesh Chandra Committee. NFPE conducted two days protest demonstration on 5th & 6th December 2016 demanding immediate publishing of the Report.
Secretary, Department of Posts categorically assured Secretary General NFPE that Report will be published after 31st December 2016. But even after 31st December, till this day, Report is not published.

Entire Postal Employees are agitated over the unjustified delay in publishing the Report.
NFPE Federal Secretariat has decided to commence INDEFINITE HUNGER FAST infront of Dak Bhawan , New Delhi from 18th January 2017 from 10 AM onwards demanding immediate publishing of GDS Committee Report.

Secretary General all General Secretaries NFPE and General Secretary AIPEU GDS / available Office Bearers will sit on hunger fast.

All Circle/Divisional Secretaries of NFPE/AIPEU GDS are requested to conduct protest demonstrations in front of all offices from 18th January onwards.

Please give wide publicity among all employees, especially among GDS employees
R. N. PARASHAR
Secretary General NFPE.
P.PANDURANGARAO
General Secretary AIPEU GDS
Source :  nfpe.blogspot.in

Include Pongal in list of compulsory holidays: Paneerselvam


Include Pongal in list of compulsory holidays: Paneerselvam

Pongal is among 12 holidays that the Centre considers optional. This means Pongal is not a compulsory holiday for Central Government offices in Tamil Nadu.

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister O. Panneerselvam wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday requesting that Pongal be included in the list of Compulsory Holidays to be observed by all Central Government Administrative offices in Tamil Nadu.

Mr. Panneerselvam requested that just as the Government of India’s Circular relating to list of 12 optional holidays from which three are to be selected includes an ‘Additional day for Dusshera’, an ‘Additional day for Pongal’ may also be included in the list of optional holidays.

The Chief Minister referred to a Centre's notification of a list of holidays, in which 14 days are categorised 'compulsory holidays’, and further three holidays from a list of 12 optional holidays are to be notified by the Central Government Employees Welfare Co-ordination Committee in different State Capitals. He pointed out that Pongal was among in the list of 12 optional holidays, which meant Pongal was not a compulsory holiday for Central Government offices in Tamil Nadu.

"This apparent diminution in the importance accorded to Pongal for the past several years has created disquiet and an impression that an important people’s festival of Tamil Nadu has been ignored by the Central Government," Mr. Panneerselvam contended.

If Pongal was included in the list of compulsory holidays for central government offices in Tamil Nadu, it would "ensure that Thiruvalluvar day could also be declared as a holiday by the Central Government Employees Welfare Co-ordination Committee of Tamil Nadu, to enable the employees of Central Government Offices working in Tamil Nadu to participate fully in the festivities connected with Pongal," the Chief Minister added.

Pongal, the prominent harvest festival of Tamil Nadu, is a social festival that transcended all religions and a number of social, recreational and sporting events including jallikattu were organised along with Pongal festivities, which usually last for three or four days, he said. For the State Government, the holidays start from January 14 and last till January 16, which is Uzhavar Tirunal (Farmers Day).
Pongal falls on the first day of the Tamil Month of ‘Thai’.

Flash News

DA Jan 2022 - Grant of Dearness Allowance to Central Government employees - Revised Rates effective from 01.01.2022

 3% DA Hike - Revised Rates effective from 01.01.2022: DoE OM dated 31.03.2022 No. 1/2/2022-E-II (B) Government of India Ministry of Finance...