Cabinet approves additional 2% Dearness Allowance / Dearness Relief due from January, 2017

Cabinet approves additional 2% Dearness Allowance / Dearness Relief due from January, 2017

2% DA

The Union Cabinet, chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved release of an additional instalment of Dearness Allowance (DA) to Central Government employees and Dearness Relief (DR) to pensioners w.e.f. 01.01.2017. It has increased by 2% over the existing rate of 2% of the Basic Pay/Pension, to compensate for price rise.

This increase is in accordance with the accepted formula, which is based on the recommendations of the 7th Central Pay Commission.

The combined impact on the exchequer on account of both Dearness Allowance and Dearness Relief would be Rs. 5,857.28 crore per annum and Rs.6,833.50 crore in the Financial Year 2017-18 (for a period of 14 months from January, 2017 to February, 2018).

This will benefit about 48.85 lakh Central Government employees and 55.51 lakh pensioners.

Source: PIB

Historic Strike of Central Government Employees will begin within a few hours - Confederation

Historic Strike of Central Government Employees will begin within a few hours - Confederation

CONFEDERATION OF CENTRAL GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES & WORKERS

16TH MARCH 2017

BATTLE LINES ARE DRAWN
WELL SET FOR ACTION

Within a few hours the historic strike of Central Government Employees including Gramin Dak Sevaks, Casual, Part-Time, Contingent, Daily rated and Contract workers will begin. From Kashmir to Kanyakumari, from North East to Gujarat the strike will be a thundering success. It is an outburst of anger and protest against those who betrayed the central government employees and pensioners.

NDA Govt's Home Minister Shri Rajnath Singh, Finance Minister Shri Arun Jaitley and Railway Minister Shri Suresh Prabhu cheated and betrayed the cause of 33 lakhs Central Govt. Employees and 34 Lakhs pensioners.

Justice is on our side
Betrayers are on the other side

Ultimate victory will be ours as we believe in
Truth, Justice and Fairplay

We are not ready to surrender the self-respect and prestige of 33 lakhs Central Govt. Employees and 34 lakhs Pensioners. Confederation is not an organization of cowards to run away from the battle field half way.

WE SHALL FIGHT AND FIGHT AND FIGHT AND FIGHT TILL OUR LEGITIMATE DEMANDS ARE SETTLED

COME WHAT MAY, WE SHALL STRIKE, STRIKE, STRIKE AND STRIKE

We are ready for any sacrifice to protect the interest of Central Govt. Employees and Pensioners and also for the larger interest of the toiling masses of our country.

Where other organizations failed and compromised, it is confederation - Confederation alone - which has accepted the challenge to fight against the Government which betrayed the entire Central Govt. Employees and Pensioners.

Confederation is the only glorious organization of hope and inspiration for the entire Central Govt. Employees and Pensioners.

Come one, Come all, Come in Hundreds and Thousands and Lakhs.

Let us make the 16th March 2017 Strike a resounding success.

Let us march forward with determination and courage.

We are not alone, we are not afraid and we shall overcome.

M. Krishnan
Secretary General
Confederation
Mob & WhatsApp - 09447068125
E-mail: mkrishnan6854@gmail.com

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

DOPT prohibit the Government Employees from participating in any form of strike

DOPT prohibit the Government Employees from participating in any form of strike

DOPT prohibit the Government servants from participating in any form of strike
Strike Notice for 16th March, 2017 - Instructions under CCS (Conduct Rules) 1964

MOST IMMEDIATE
OUT TODAY

No. 45018/I/2017-Vig
Government of India
Ministry of Personnel. P.G. & Pensions
Department of Personnel & Training

North Block. New Delhi.
Dated the 15th March 2017

OFFICE MEMORANDUM

Subject :  Strike Notice for 16th March, 2017 -  Instructions under CCS (Conduct Rules) 1964 - Regarding.

It has been brought to the notice of the Government that Confederation of Central Government Employees and Workers. New Delhi has given a notice that the members of the affiliates of the Confederation will go on strike on 16th March, 2017 in pursuance of their 7th Central Pay Commission Demands

2. The instructions issued by the Department of Personnel and Training prohibit the Government servants from participating in any form of strike including mass casual leave, go slow etc, or any or any action that abet any form of strike in violation of Rule 7 of the CCS (Conduct) Rules. 1964. Besides, in accordance with the proviso to Rule 17(1) of the Fundamental Rules, pays and allowances is not admissible to an employee for his absence from duty without any authority. As to the concomitant rights of an Association after it is formed, they cannot be different from the rights which can be claimed by the individual members of which the Association is composed. It follows that the right to form an Association does not include any guaranteed right to strike. There is no statutory provision empowering the employees to go on strike. The Supreme Court has also ruled in several judgments that going on a strike is a gravy misconduct under the Conduct Rules and that misconduct by the government employees is required to be dealt with in accordance with the law. Any employee going on strike in any form would face the consequences which. besides deduction of wages. may also include appropriate disciplinary action. Attention of all employees of this Department is also drawn to this Department’s O.M. No. 33012/I/(s)/2008-Estt.(B) dated 12.9 2008. on the subject for strict compliance.

3. All officers are requested that the above instructions may be brought to the notice of the employees working under their control. All officers are also requested not to sanction Casual Leave or other kind of leave to the officers and employees if applied for, during the period of proposed strike. and ensure that the willing employees are allowed hindrance free entry into the office premises.

4. In case employees go on strike all divisional heads are requested to forward a report indicating the number and details of employees who are absent from duty on the day of strike i.e.16.03.2017

(Suresh Kumar)
Deputy Secretary to the Govt. of India

DOPT Order 2017

7th Pay Commission: Committee on Allowances yet to submit report: Minister of State for Finance

7th Pay Commission: Committee on Allowances yet to submit report: Minister of State for Finance

New Delhi: The Committee on Allowances, tasked with reviewing the recommendations of the 7th Pay Commission on allowances, was given four months to submit its report. Later, the deadline was extended to February 22, 2017, has not yet submitted its report to the government.

In a written reply to a question on 7th Pay Commission in Lok Sabha on March 10, Minister of State for Finance Arjun Ram Meghwal said the Committee, under Finance Secretary Ashok Lavasa, is yet to submit its report.

The minister said that the deliberations of the committee are in the final stages.

The Committee on Allowances was formed in July 2016 following protests by government employees over recommendations of the 7th Pay Commission on allowances.

The 7th Pay Commission had recommended of abolishing 51 allowances and subsuming 37 others out of 196 allowances.

In July, the Finance Minister Arun Jaitley constituted a committee under Finance Secretary Ashok Lavasa to review the recommendations. The committee was given four months’ time to submit the report to Finance Minister.

In October, Ashok Lavasa was quoted by some agencies as saying that he was ready with the report.

Later, the Finance Minister extended the deadline for report submission to February 22, 2017. Now, going by Minister of State for Finance’s reply, it seems government employees will have to wait longer before they can hear some news on hike in allowances.

According to some reports, the Committee on Allowances has decided that the current HRA slab, which is 30 per cent of basic pay, for metros would continue against reducing the House Rent Allowance (HRA) for central government employees. The 7th Pay Commission suggested bringing down the HRA to 24 per cent, 16 per cent and 8 per cent respectively depending on type of cities.

The transport allowance is likely to remain constant as certain reports said the Committee on Allowances agreed with 7th Pay Commission’s recommendation, which had already factored in the Dearness Allowance at 125 per cent assuming the date of implementation to be January 1 next year.

TST

Non-payment of gratuity and arrears by HEC

Non-payment of gratuity and arrears by HEC

Department of Heavy Industry has been receiving complaints of non-payment of gratuity and pay revision arrears by the Heavy Engineering Corporation (HEC), Ranchi to its retired employees. These complaints are forwarded to the Company for appropriate action and redressal of grievances.

As reported by HEC, twenty such complaints have been received by them through the Department during the last two years.

HEC has informed that the payment of gratuity to employees separated upto 31st March, 2014 has already been done except in a few deficient cases, due to specific technical reasons. Outstanding liabilities on account of gratuity payable to retired employees are Rs.50.28 crore. The same hasn’t been paid due to acute financial crisis faced by the Company. However, in case of daughter’s marriage, medical treatment of self and spouse, children’s higher education and remittance of bank’s outstanding loans, part payment of gratuity to ex-employees is being done, as per availability of funds.  Regarding the payment of arrears on account of wage revision 1992 & 2007, a total of Rs.3.71 crore and Rs.24.70 crore (Approx.) respectively are outstanding.

HEC is a company registered under the Companies Act, with a separate legal identity under the Law. The Company is primarily responsible for managing all its affairs independently including meeting expenses related to its employees. Government of India being promoter of the company, has provided financial assistance to the Company in past from time to time in the form of loan, with a view to mitigate the hardship faced by their retired employees due to non-payment of gratuity timely. In the year 2014-15, a loan of Rs.47.89 crore was provided to the company for settlement of outstanding statutory dues (like gratuity etc.) of its employees.

This information was given by Minister of State in the Ministry of Heavy Industries and Public Enterprises Shri Babul Supriyo in reply to a written question in the Lok Sabha today.

Source: PIB

Cabinet nod likely to double gratuity cap to Rs 20 lakh

Cabinet nod likely to double gratuity cap to Rs 20 lakh

Besides, the bill seeks to enable the central government to change the ceiling for tax free gratuity after factoring in rise in income levels by an executive order bypassing Parliament route to amend the law.
The Union Cabinet is likely to consider tomorrow a draft amendment bill which seeks to double the ceiling of tax-free gratuity to Rs 20 lakh under the Payment of Gratuity Act.

Besides, the bill seeks to enable the central government to change the ceiling for tax free gratuity after factoring in rise in income levels by an executive order bypassing Parliament route to amend the law.
"The bill to amend the Payment of Gratuity Act is likely to be considered and approved by the Union Cabinet in its meeting scheduled tomorrow," a source said.

After the amendment in the Act, formal sector workers would be eligible for up to Rs 20 lakh tax-free gratuity. Last month, the central trade unions had agreed on the proposal in a tripartite consultation with the Labour Ministry.

However, the unions had demanded the removal of conditions asking to have at least 10 employees in an establishment and minimum five years of service for payment of gratuity.

At present, as per the Payment of Gratuity Act, an employee is required to do minimum service of five years to become eligible for gratuity amount. Moreover, the Act applies to those establishments where the number of employees is not less than 10.

Trade unions had demanded that the amended provision regarding maximum amount should be made effective from January 1, 2016, as done in the case of central government employees.

Besides that rate of 15 days wages for each completed year of service be raised to 30 days wages, the unions had said during the tripartite meeting.

The proposed amendment to the Payment of Gratuity Act as circulated by the government only deals with enhancing the ceiling of maximum amount under Section 4(3) of the Act from Rs 10 lakh to Rs 20 lakh.
The proposed amendment is being brought to bring the maximum ceiling amount to Rs 20 lakh in line with the 7th Central Pay Commission's recommendations as accepted by the government.

The relevant amendment for central government employees was notified on July 25, 2016 and the enhanced amount ceiling was made effective from January 1, 2016.

The unions were of the view that the delay of eight months for employees covered under the Payment of Gratuity Act should not result in adversely affecting the interest of the concerned employees.
The employers as well as state representatives had also agreed to the proposal of raising the amount of gratuity to Rs 20 lakh in the tripartite meeting held last month.

Source: Money Control

Concessional telephone facility to Retired/ retiring employees of BSNL - Free Night calling facility

Concessional telephone facility to Retired/ retiring employees of BSNL - Free Night calling facility regarding

BHARAT SANCHAR NIGAM LIMITED
(A GOVERNMENT OF INDIA ENTERPRISE)
1st FLOOR,BHARAT SANCHAR BHAWAN, H. C.MATHUR LANE ,
JANPATH, New DELHI- 110001.
(CORPORATE OFFICE- Admin Branch)
PHA- section

No.2-03/2006-PKA(Pt)

Dated 09.03.2017

CIRCULAR No. 02/2017-PHA

Subject: Concessional telephone facility to Retired/ retiring employees of BSNL - Free Night calling facility regarding.

In continuation to this office Circular No. 11/2007-PHA dated 20 . 07 . 2007; the competent authority has reviewed and approved the extension of Free Night Calling facility to BSNL retired employees having Concessional Telephones as extended to any other subscriber.

All Other terms and conditions of circulars issued earlier regarding the policy remain unchanged.

Hindi version of this circular will follow.

(S.K. Bhardwaj)
Asstt. General Manager (Admin.PHA)

Signed copy

Central Government Employees Strike on 16th March 2017 - Charter of Strike Demands

Central Government Employees Strike on 16th March 2017 - Charter of Strike Demands

Press Statement of Karnataka CoC

Confederation of Central Government Employees and Workers Karnataka State
C/o Civil Audit & Accounts Association
Principal Accountant Generals Office A&E
Park House Road, Bangalore, Karnataka 560001
Website http://karnatakacoc.blogspopt.in/

Ref: COC/Karnataka-2017-189

Date: 14/3/2017

To
The Editor

Sub: All India Central Government Employees Strike on 16/3/2017

Sir,
The Central Government employees working in following departments such as Postal, Income Tax, RMS, CGWB, AG’s, Postal Accounts, Civil Accounts, Survey of India, Census etc. Are participating in the one day All India Central Government Employees Strike on 16.3.2017 in respect of 21 charter of demands, the main demands are as follows. The stirke shall be held in all Central Government Offices of the Karnataka State.

CHARTER OF STRIKE DEMANDS

1. Revision of minimum wage from Rs.18000 to Rs.26000 for Central Government employees.

2. Revision of fitment formula from 2.57 to 3.60 ie wage hike provided by the 7th CPC shall be hiked from present 14% to 50%.

3. Revision of house rent allowance and restoration of old HRA rates and restoration of all allowances with effect from 1.1.2016.

4. Scrap PFRDA Act and New Pension System (NPS) and grant Pension/Family Pension to all Central Government employees under CCS(Pension) Rules 1972.

5. No Privatization, outsourcing, contractorisatioon of Government functions.

6. Treat Gramin Dak Sevaks as Civil Servants and extend all benefit on pay, pension and allowances of departmental employees. Implement GDS committee report.

7. Regularize casual, contract, contingent and daily rated workers and grant equal pay and other benefits as per Supreme Court orders.

8. Fill up all vacant posts by special recruitment. Lift ban on creation of new posts.

It's requested to publish the same in your esteemed news paper for publication.

Thanking you,

Yours faithfully,
sd/-
(P.S.Prasad)
General Secretary
Ph: 9480066620

Source: http://karnatakacoc.blogspot.in/

Govt Press Release on recent attack on security forces at Sukma, Chhattisgarh on March 11, 2017

Govt Press Release on recent attack on security forces at Sukma, Chhattisgarh on March 11, 2017

Press Information Bureau
Government of India
Ministry of Home Affairs

14-March-2017 12:56 IST

Text of statement of Union Home Minister regarding recent attack on security forces at Sukma, Chhattisgarh
Following is the text of statement of the Union Home Minister Shri Rajnath Singh in Lok Sabha today regarding recent attack on security forces at Sukma, Chhattisgarh on March 11, 2017:

On March 11, 2017 two companies of CRPF at Bheji in Sukma District of Chhattisgarh were providing security cover for road construction on Bheji-Gorkha-Injiram Axis. Around 0853 hrs, when this party reached a forested area close to Bankupara village, armed Left Wing Extremists ambushed them with heavy firing and simultaneous use of IED blasts. In this incident, unfortunately 12 personnel were martyred and 02 were seriously injured. The condition of injured personnel is stable and they are out of danger. 13 weapons and 02 Wireless Sets were taken away by the Left Wing Extremists. Names of the martyrs and injured are as follows:

Names of the Martyrs

1.	Insp	Jagjeet Singh
2.	ASI	Hira Vallabh Bhatt
3.	ASI	Narender Singh
4	CT	Sresh Kumaru
5.	CT	Mangesh Bal Pandey
6.	CT	Rampal Singh Yadav
7.	CT	Gorakhnath
8.	CT	Nand Kumar Athram
9.	CT	Satish Chand Verma
10.	CT	K. Shankar
11.	HC	P.R. Mendhe
12	HC	Jagdish Prasad Vishnoi

Names of the Injured

1.	CT	Jaydev Pramanik
2.	CT	Mohd  Saleem Sagal

I express my heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families of the personnel who have lost their lives and I would like to say firmly that the entire nation is with them in their hour of grief. The nation will always remember their sacrifices. The injured personnel will be provided with the best possible treatment available. On behalf of the entire house, I pray for their health and wellbeing.

The unprecedented success of the Security Forces of late has led to evident uneasiness among the Left Wing Extremist Groups. The Forces have achieved tremendous success during 2016 in all LWE affected States and particularly in Chhattisgarh where 135 LWE cadres were eliminated, 779 arrested and 1198 surrendered. The number of violent incidents in Chhattisgarh also dropped by 15% from 466 in 2015 to 395 in 2016. Improved efficacy of the Security Forces is evident from the following indicators

(a) The number of Left Wing Extremists killed increased by 150% (89 in 2015 to 222 in 2016) in 2016.
(b) Surrenders and arrests registered a combined increase of 47% over 2015 (2238 to 3282).
(c) Only 03 weapons were lost by the SFs in 2016 as against 15 in 2015.
(d) 67% of Encounters/Exchange of Fire resulted in neutralization of LWE cadres as against only 36% in 2015.
(e) Sustained operations by the Security Forces ensured that South Bastar districts, considered to be the nucleus of LWE strength witnessed a considerable fall in violence in 2016 (252 incidents as against 326 in 2015).

The Left Wing Extremists have suffered unprecedented losses in 2016. They have admitted so, openly in their documents and statements. They will continue to attempt such incidents to restore the flagging morale of their cadres. I believe that our brave soldiers and officers will continue to respond with a firm resolve and contribute whole heartedly towards elimination of Left Wing Extremism.

However there is a need for introspection on this incident. I have directed the DG, CRPF to conduct a detailed enquiry into the incident so that the lapses that led to the incident can be identified which will reduce the possibility of repetition of such incidents in the future.

I visited Chhattisgarh to pay my homage to the martyrs and met the two injured personnel on the day of the incident itself. Arrangements were made to ensure that mortal remains reach their respective families. Loss of life can in no way be compensated by money, however, the next of kin of the martyred CRPF personnel will be provided Rs 35 lacs as ex-gratia from the Central Government, Rs 20 lacs from the Risk Fund of CRPF and Rs 01 lac from the CRPF Welfare Fund. They will also get Rs 25 lacs as insurance benefits and Rs 03 lacs as ex-gratia from the Chhattisgarh Government. The next of kin will also be provided full salary till the age of superannuation of the personnel martyred under the Liberalized Pensionary Award (LPA).

I assure the house that the Government is committed to providing all support to the CAPF in order to prepare them for their tasks. In the same way the Government is also committed to supporting the States for training, capacity building, provision of CAPF battalions as required and intelligence sharing.

I would like to assure the nation through this house that we will not let Left Wing Extremists succeed in misleading the people and depriving parts of the country from the benefits of development.

I once again pay my homage to the martyred personnel and express heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families. I assure the house that their sacrifices will not go in vain.

Source: PIB

Risk Allowance to Central Armed Police Force (CAPF)

Risk Allowance to Central Armed Police Force (CAPF)

Risk Allowances

The Central Armed Police Force (CAPF) personnel deployed in LWE affected areas are entitled to Risk Allowance equivalent to rates of either Counter Insurgency (Operations) Field Area Allowance or Counter Insurgency (Operations) Modified Field Area Allowance admissible to Army, depending on their place of posting. The personnel of the Commando Battalion for Resolute Action (CoBRA) of CRPF deployed in LWE areas, are entitled to an allowance at the rate of 80% of Marine Commandos (MARCOS) Allowance.

The above information given by the Minister of Home Affairs Shri Kiren Rijiju in a written reply to a question in Lok Sabha today.