7th Pay Commission: After higher allowances and pensions, NJCA to negotiate minimum salary of Central Government employees

7th Pay Commission: After higher allowances and pensions, NJCA to negotiate minimum salary of Central Govt employees

The National Joint Council of Action (NJCA), which is leading the negotiation over 7th Pay Commission on behalf of Central Government employees, has not boycotted the issue of minimum salaries. Speaking to India.com, NJCA convenor Shiv Gopal Mishra reiterated that the issue would be raised by National Council (staff side) after the anomalies related to allowances and pensions get settled.

“Minimum salary is an important issue. We will surely negotiate it with the Government. Once the matter pertaining to allowances and pensions gets settled, the NJCA will raise it,” Shiv Gopal Mishra said.

As per the recommendations of 7th Pay Commission, the minimum salaries of Central Government employees was hiked from Rs 7,000 to Rs 18,000. The fitment factor used by Justice AK Mathur-led 7th pay panel was 2.57. The NJCA has demanded the Government to upgrade the fitment factor to at least 3.68, in order to revise the minimum salaries to Rs 26,000.

The Confederation of Central Government employees has also demanded the Government to raise the minimum salaries to Rs 26,000, along with the regularisation of contractual employees.

The issue of minimum salary was one of the key agenda laid before NJCA before the Government in July 2016, when they had threatened a mass strike. Nearly 33 lakh Central Government employees were expected to participate in the indefinite strike which was scheduled to begin from July 11. However, after receiving assurance from Centre, the NJCA was compelled to retract their mass agitation.

No indication has been given from the Government so far regarding the upgradation of minimum salary using a fitment factor of 3.68. According to experts, Centre could adopt a middle road by using a fitment factor of anything between 2.86 to 3.15. The minimum salary, thereby, could be increased between Rs 19,000 to 22,020. However, no official confirmation regarding the same has been received.

The utmost target for NJCA, before the hike in minimum salary, is the implementation of higher allowances. Due to anomalies raised by unions in July, only the basic component of salary was raised for Central Government employees. The hike in allowances was awaited as Centre formed a committee under Finance Secretary Ashok Lavasa to review the demands raised by unions.

Source : india.com

CGHS package rates of Delhi shall be treated as ECHS package rates in Mumbai

CGHS package rates of Delhi shall be treated as ECHS package rates in Mumbai

Revision of ECHS Rates for Empanelled Hospitals, Diagnostic Laboratories and imaging centres, Mumbai

Central Organisation, ECHS
Adjutant General's Branch
Integrated Headquarters
Ministry Of Defence (Army)
Maude Lines
Delhi Cantt-110 010

B/49773/AG/ECHS/Rates/Policy

05 April 2017

IHQ Of MoD (Navy) Dir ECHS (N)
Air HQ (VB)/DPS
HQ southern Command (A/ECHS)
HQ Eastern Command (A/ECHS)
HQ Western Command (A/ECHS)
HQ Central Command (A/ECHS)
HQ Northern Command (A/ECHS)
HQ South Western Command (A/ECHS)
HQ Andaman & Nicobar Command (A/ECHS)

REVISION OF ECHS RATES FOR EMPANELLED HOSPITALS, DIAGNOSTIC LABORATORIES AND IMAGING CENTRES, MUMBAI

1. Refer GOI MoD ID No 22A (48)/2007/US/WE/D (Res) dt 19 Aug 2010.

2. CGHS rates were revised for all cities except Mumbai in 2014.

3. CGHS has vide its OM S-11011/222017/CGHS-HEC dt 03 Apr 2017 revised the rate of Mumbai from 2010 to Delhi 2014 rates as an interim measure.

4. Regional Centre ECHS Mumbai would disseminate the new rates to empanelled hospitals, diagnostic laboratories and imaging centres, SEMO's Stn HQr's & ECHS polyclinics.

5. The provedures and CGHS package rates of Delhi shall hereafter be treated as ECHS package rates for hospitals, diagnostic laboratories & imaging centres under Regional centre ECHS Mumbai and the rates would be applicable from the date of issue of this letter.

(IVS Gahlot)
Col
Dir (Med)
for MD ECHS

Authority: http://echs.gov.in/

Rajya Sabha: No provision of reservation to admit civilian students in army schools

No provision of reservation to admit civilian students in army schools: Rajya Sabha

New Delhi: There is no provision of reservation for civilian students in Army Public Schools but children from local areas are admitted to the seats which are left vacant, Rajya Sabha was informed today.

During the Question Hour, Minister of State for Defence Subhash Bhamre gave details as per which in 2017-18, seven VIP references had been received for admissions to these schools.

According to the minister, in 2016-17, 12 VIP references had been received and of these, 4 were granted admissions.

In 2015-16, he said 26 VIP references were received for admission to these schools and admission was granted in 4 cases while it was not given in 22 instances because of non-availability of seats.

Bhamre said these schools were not run by the government and there was a priority provision for the wards of defence personnel.

He said the fee structure was based on the rank of the army personnel and added that for civilian students, the fee was comparable to private schools in the area.

PTI

Admission of Poor Students in Kendriya Vidyalayas

Admission of Poor Students in Kendriya Vidyalayas

Admissions in Kendriya Vidyalayas (KVs) are decided on the basis of Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan (KVS) Admission Guidelines giving priority to wards of transferable Central Government employees. It does not have any income slab as criterion for deciding admissions. However, as per provisions of Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education (RTE) Act, 2009 KVS already provides for reservation of 25% seats in class-I at entry stage to the children belonging to SC / ST / OBC non creamy layer / EWS / BPL and differently abled children taken together.

Keeping in view the needs of low income groups of the society, the Hon’ble Members of Parliament have been requested to recommend only those children whose parents have an annual income below Rs. 5 lakhs, for consideration for admission in the KVs under their special dispensation quota.

The above information given by the Minister of HRD Shri Upendra Kushwaha in Parliament on 10.04.2017.

7th Central Pay Commission: Resolving Anomalies in Disability Pension

7th Central Pay Commission: Resolving Anomalies in Disability Pension

The concerns raised by the Armed Forces with regard to disability pension in the 7th Pay Commission are being addressed. The 7th Central Pay Commission (CPC) recommended the following on disability pension:-

The Commission is of the considered view that the regime implemented post 6th CPC needs to be discontinued, and recommended a return to the slab based system.  The slab rates for disability element for 100 percent disability would be as follows:

Ranks	Levels	Rate per month (INR)
Service Officers	10  and  above	27000
Honorary Commissioned Officers
Subedar Majors / Equivalents	6  to  9	17000
Subedar / Equivalents
Naib Subedar / Equivalents
Havildar / Equivalents	5   and  below	12000
Naik / Equivalents
Sepoy / Equivalents

The above recommendation has been accepted and Resolution dated 30.09.2016 issued accordingly.
The 6th CPC dispensation of the calculation of disability element on percentage basis, however, continues for civil side which has resulted in an anomalous situation.  The issue has accordingly been referred to the Anomaly Committee.  The disability element which was being paid as on 31.12.2015 will, however continue to be paid till decision on the recommendations of Anomaly Committee is taken by the Government.

This information was given by Minister of State for Defence Dr. Subhash Bhamre in a written reply to Shri Rajeev Chandrasekhar in Rajya Sabha today.

PIB

Redressing Grievances of Ex-Servicemen over OROP

Redressing Grievances of Ex-Servicemen over OROP

Salient features of the Government order dated 07.11.2015 on OROP are as under:-

• Pension of the past pensioners would be re-fixed on the basis of pension of retirees of calendar year 2013 and the benefit will be effective with effect from 01.07.2014.
• Pension will be re-fixed for all pensioners on the basis of the average of minimum and maximum pension of personnel retired in 2013 in the same rank and with same length of service.
• Pension for those drawing above the averages shall be protected.
• Arrears will be paid in four equal half yearly instalments. However, all the family pensioners including those in receipt of Special / Liberalized family pension and Gallantry award winners shall be paid arrears in one instalment.
• In future, the pension would be re-fixed every 5 years.
  Personnel who opt to get discharged henceforth on their own request under Rule 13(3)1(i)(b), 13(3)1(iv) or Rule 16B of the Army Rule 1954 or equivalent Navy or Air Force Rules will not entitled to the benefits of OROP. It will be effective prospectively.

Around 3200 representations for addressing the anomalies on OROP were received from individuals / Associations which were examined and issues referred to the Judicial Committee on OROP for its recommendations. The Committee has submitted its report on 26.10.2016.

Public Grievance Cell in the Department is receiving grievances of the pensioners / family pensioners and taking up the matter with the concerned offices e.g. Controller General of Defence Accounts (CGDA), Principal Controller of Defence Accounts (Pension), etc for redressal of their grievances. Disposal of grievances is monitored at the highest level in the Government.

Out of 20,81,072 OROP beneficiaries, 20,07,090 Pensioners have already received the first instalment and lumpsum payment on account of OROP. Further, in 15,66,486 cases, 2nd instalment have also been paid.
A total of 73,982 Pensioners are yet to be benefited under OROP. Out of these 73,982 cases, details of approximately 30,000 missing information cases have been provided by Pension Sanctioning Authorities (PSAs) to various Pension Disbursing Agencies (PDAs) for making payment and in 29,612 cases payments have been discontinued due to non-identification of the pensioners.

This information was given by Minister of State for Defence Dr. Subhash Bhamre in a written reply to Shri Ram Kumar Kashyapin Rajya Sabha today.

PIB

Extension of age limit of retired Railway Doctors as Contact Medical Practitioners upto the age of 70 years

Extension of age limit of retired Railway Doctors as Contact Medical Practitioners upto the age of 70 years

Registration No. : RTU/Nnn/31/2012

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. 11/13 (B)

Dated: 10/04/2017

The Director General (Personnel),
Railway Board,
New Delhi

Dear Sir,
Sub: Extension of age limit of retired Railway Doctors as Contact Medical Practitioners upto the age of 70 years-reg.

Ref:(i) NFIR' s letter No. 11/13 (B) dated 14/02/2017.
(ii) CMD, C. Rly’s letter No. 0561/Dr. Bansode/Retd.RMS dated 17/02/2017.

Federation vide its letters of even number dated 10/05/2016, 23/05/2016, 22/08/2016 & 25/11/2016 has been requesting the Railway Board to extend the age limit of retired Railway Doctors upto the age of 70 years facilitating their appointment as Contract Medical Practitioners.

In this connection, NFIR invites the kind attention of the Board (DG/P and DG/RHS) to CMD, Central Railway’s letter dated 17/02/2017 (copy enclosed) wherein request has been made to allow re-appointment of Dr. Bansode an eminent Cardiologist who is well versed with ECHO studies and is dedicated, highly skilled, sincere and has special rapport with the Railway patients as Contract Medical Practitioner, as a special case. Federation is of the view that the proposal of CMD, Central Railway deserves to be considered, duly modifying the extant policy suitably so that the retired Railway Doctors can be appointed upto the age of 70 years.

NFIR therefore, requests the Railway Board (DG/P & DG/RHS) to kindly see that the approval is accorded revising the age limit to 70 years for the purpose of engaging retired Railway Doctors as Contract Medical Practitioner.

Yours faithfully,
S/d,
(Dr. M. Raghavaiah)
General Secretary

Reminder -II

Central Railway
CMD's Office,
Mumbai CST

Date : 17/02/2017

No:0561/Dr.Bansode/Retd.IRMS.

Director General (RHS)
Ministry Of Railways,
Railway Board,
New Delhi - 110 001.

Sub: Extension of age limit of Retired Railway Doctor as Contract Medical Practitioner for present age of 65 to 70 yrs.
Ref: This office letter of even no.dated :20/05/2016 & 21/12/2016
(copy enclosed)

In connection with the above subject, please refer to this office letters of even no.dated:20/05/2016 & 21/12/2016, where in you are requested to make the necessary changes in the policy guidelines to accommodate few deserving Retired doctors to work beyond age 65 years.

It seems, it is difficult to extend the working of Retired doctors for 65 yrs to 70 yrs as policy.

Of late, we are getting representations from anions and railways, retired and serving (copy enclosed) to extend the working of Retired Railway doctors for 65 yrs to 70 yrs.

As a matter of fact, Dr.B.R.Bansode (Physician), retired Railway doctor needs a special mention. He has been working Central Hospital, Byculla, Mumbai for more than 35 yrs. He is dedicated, highly skilled, sincere and has special rapport with Railway patients.

At present, Central Hospital, Byculla is having only 2 IRMS (Physician) and other divisions of Central Railway are having only one Physician, except Pune division, wnere there is no Physician at all.
Dr.B.R.Bansode is well trained in Cardiology and does ECHO studies in Dr.BAMH, Byculla. The other available Physicians in Central Railway are not having that much experience as of Dr.B.R.Bansode to give full justice to ECHO Cardiolography studies.

In view of this it is requested that deserving doctor like Dr.B.R.Bansode may be reappointed as Contract Medical Practitioner as a special case at least for 2 years, if not upto 70 years.

Enclosures: As stated.

S/d,
(Dr. Shyam Sunder)
Chief Medical Director

Source : NFIR

Development of EPFO APP - UMANG

Development of EPFO APP

Employees Provident Fund Organization (EPFO) is developing online claims settlement process by receiving application online. The application will be integrated with Unified Mobile App for New-age Governance (UMANG) App to receive the claims online. However, time frame to rollout the same has not been finalized. EPFO has engaged Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC), Pune as its technical consultant for upgradation of its technology.

Necessary hardware by way of the latest technology for servers, storages & Networking equipments have been installed at three data centers in Delhi, Gurugram & Secunderabad.

This information was given by Shri Bandaru Dattatreya, the Minister of State (IC) for Labour and Employment, in written reply to a question in Lok Sabha today.

PIB

Grant of Children Education Allowance to mentally disabled to two children in case of first child beins totally mentally disabled

Grant of Children Education Allowance to mentally disabled to two children in case of first child being totally mentally disabled

No.I/13 (a)

Dated: 10/04/2017

The secretary (E),
Railway Board,
New Delhi

Dear Sir,
Sub: Grant of Children Education Allowance to mentally disabled to two children in case of first child being totally mentally disabled - reg.

Ref: Railway Board's letter No.E(W)2014/ED-2/4 dated 24/09/2014 and E(W)2008/ED-2/4 dated 0/06/2015.

Federation has been receiving grievances from those Railway employees who unfortunately have been graced with 1st child (out of three living children) being mentally disabled/retarded and is unable to receive education even at a school meant for the differently abled children due to physical/mental infirmity. Federation feels disappointed to note that the extant instructions contained in Board’s letter dated 24/09/2014 & 01/06/2015, cited under reference, do not cover the genuine problems faced by the Railway employees, consequently, payment of Children Education Allowance to the third ward is denied on the plea that the CEA/Hostel subsidy shall be admissible only to the eldest two surviving children.

Federation also feels that the genuineness of these types of cases has not been brought to the notice of Government (DoP&T, MoF), for consideration. Federation feels that the condition for reimbursement of Children Education Allowance/Hostel subsidy imposed by the DoP&T needs to be reviewed and relaxed suitably so that any two children out of three can become eligible for CEA and Hostel subsidy in those cases where one of three being differently abled and cannot receive education under any circumstances.

NFIR, therefore, requests the Railway Board to kindly make out proper case with justification and refer the matter to the DoP&T for granting relaxation of the condition so that payment of Children Education Allowance/Hostel subsidy is ensured to two school/college going children out of three - one of whom being totally disabled. A copy of the proposal sent to the DoP&T may kindly be provided to the Federation for taking up the issue at Government's level.

Yours faithfully,
sd/-
(Dr.M.Raghavaiah)
General Secretary

Source: NFIR

Pay fixation of SCS/Non-SCS officers promoted to IAS subsequent to the implementation of 7th CPC recommendations

Pay fixation of SCS/Non-SCS officers promoted to IAS subsequent to the implementation of 7th CPC recommendations

No.20015/2/2015-AIS-II
Government of India
Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances & Pension
Department of Personnel & Training
AIS- II

New Delhi, Dated the 7th April, 2017

To
THE CHIEF SECRETARIES OF ALL STATES/UTS

Subject: Pay fixation of SCS/Non-SCS officers promoted to IAS subsequent to the implementation of 7th CPC recommendations-reg.

Sir/Madam
In accordance with the provisions contained in Schedule 1 of the Indian Administrative Service (Pay) Rules, 2016, the initial pay of a promoted officer or an officer appointed by selection, as the case may be, shall be fixed after grant of an increment at the stage of the senior scale next above his actual pay provided that if such stage of pay happens to be common to different components of the Senior Scale, pay shall be fixed in the lower or the lowest component, as the case may be, of the Senior Scale.

2.The Rule 5(6) of IAS (Pay) Rules, 2016 provides for the fixation of pay of a Member of Service on promotion to Selection Grade (Level -13) of Pay Matrix by adding one increment in the Level-12 of the Pay Matrix and two additional increments in the Level 13 to which he is promoted. Rule 5 (5) of IAS (Pay) Rules, 2016 provides that the pay of a member of the Service in the Senior Time Scale shall, on promotion to the junior Administrative Grade, be fixed in Level 12 of the Pay Matrix.

3.Subsequent to the implementation of 7th CPC recommendations, queries have been raised by various State Governments on the following issues:

(a) Regulation of increments on actual promotion of officers to JAG/Selection Grade when pay was fixed initially in PB-4 (GP 8700) to protect the pay drawn in the State Civil Service.

(b) Fixation of pay officers who were promoted to IAS in Senior Time Scale/Junior Administrative Grade after 01.01.2016.

4.In this regard, it is clarified in respect of para 3(a) and in view of the extant provision of Rule 5(6) of IAS (Pay) Rules, 2016, the two additional increments due to MoS inducted into the IAS and on actual promotion to the Selection grade/JAG cannot be denied due to pay being initially fixed in the Selection grade/IAG. In such cases, the State Government may kindly ensure that the pay of these officers on actual promotion to JAG/Selection Grade are re- fixed (only for the purpose of fixing pay on promotion) at Level 11/12 of the Pay Matrix as per current pay drawn and given one increment in the junior Scale and thereafter two additional increments shall be allowed at the Level to which the officer has been promoted.

5.In respect of para 3(b), the initial pay of an officer inducted into the IAS shall be fixed in he respective level of the Senior Scale i.e. Level 11, 12 or 13 based on the year of allotment in the IAS. However, the pay drawn in the state civil services will be protected in the concerned Level. An illustration of pay fixation of an officer inducted in IAS is given below:

Mr. X who is drawing pay at Rs, 48920 (Rs.40220 (pay in the pay band + Rs.8700 (GP) is inducted.to IAS on 04.03.2016. He is allotted 2010 batch. The pay on induction to IAS would be fixed as under:

S.No.	Status	Pay fixation
1	Last Pay drawn by the officer in the State as on 04.03.2016)	Rs.48920 (Rs.40220 (pay in the pay band + Rs.8700 GP
2	Date of promotion in IAS	04.03.2016
3	Year of allotment	2010
4	Pay fixation in IAS as on (04.03.2016) as per 7th CPC [The officer has the option either to get the pay fixed from the date of promotion or from the date of annual increment).	Rs.48920 X 2.57 =125725. Equivalent stage available at Level 11 is 126300/-. After grant of one increment his pay is fixed at 130100/- (Since the officer has been allotted 2010 batch he is eligible for pay fixation at Senior Time Scale (Level 11 The pay of the officer has also been simultaneously protected.
5	Pay fixed in IAS	Rs.130100 at Level 11 in the Pay Matrix
6	Date of next increment	01.01.2017 or 01.07.2017 ( as per the option exercised by the officer in terms of Rule 6 of IAS Pay Rules, 2016.

6.The Rule 6 of IAS (Pay) Rule, 2016 provides for exercise of option of fixation of pay by the officers as under:

"….any member of Service may opt to continue to draw pay in the existing pay structure until the date on which he earns his next of any subsequent increment in the existing pay structure or until he vacates his post or ceases to draw pay in that pay structure  …further in cases where a member of the Service has been placed in a higher scale between the lst January, 2016 and the date of notification of these rules on account of promotion or upgradation, the member of Service may opt to switch over to the revised pay structure from the date of such promotion or upgradation, as the case may be."

7.All the State Governments are requested to adhere/comply with the aforesaid instructions while fixing the pay of promoted IAS officers.

8.This issues with the approval of the competent authority.

Yours faithfully,

(Rajesh Kumar Yadav)
Under Secretary to the Government of India

DoPT Order 2017