Re-engagement of retired employees in exigencies of services.

Re-engagement of retired employees in exigencies of services.

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

(RAILWAY BOARD)

No.E(NG)-II/2007/RC-4/CORE/1

RBE No.193/2017

New Delhi,Dated:12-12-2017

The General Manager (P)

All Indian Railways

(As per standard mailing List)

Sub: Re-engagement of retired employees in exigencies of services.

Ref: No.E(NG)II/2007/RC-4/CORE/1 dated 16.10.2017 (RBE No.150/2017)

Attention is invited to Ministry of Railways (Railway Board)’s letter referred on the above subject. In partial modification of the instructions contained in letter ibid, Board have decided to enhance the maximum age limit for re-engagement of retired hands to 65 years from the exiting age limit of 62 years. further, it has also been decided to extend the validity of the scheme of re-engagement of retired employees, to 01.12.2019 as against the existing validity up to 14.09.2018

(Neeraj Kumar)

Director Estt.(N)-II

Railway Board.

Authority: http://www.indianrailways.gov.in

All Updates on NAC Meeting And Minimum Pay Hike

The central government employees and pensioners have been waiting for a hike in minimum pay beyond the recommendation of the 7th Pay Commission or 7th CPC since July 2016. While the government has given hints about raising minimum pay beyond the recommendation of the 7th Pay Commission, there is little clarity on release of higher minimum pay. The National Anomaly Committee (NAC), which was formed to resolve all matters related to the implementation of the 7th Pay Commission‘s recommendations, is yet to submit its report on higher minimum pay. 

The NAS was supposed to hold a meeting in October on a hike in minimum pay beyond the recommendation of the 7th Pay Commission. However, the got postponed after the Election Commission announced dates for Assembly polls in Himachal Pradesh and Gujarat. The committee is likely to submit its report on a hike in minimum pay by December 15, said a Sen Times report. The report will be further examined by the Empowered Committee of Secretaries headed by Cabinet Secretary P K Sinha and the Department of Expenditure.

The government has reportedly asked the NAC to go ahead for a hike in basic pay beyond the recommendation of the 7th Pay Commission with fitment factor 3.00 times. The NAC may suggest hiking minimum pay to Rs 21,000 from Rs 18,000, which was recommended by the 7th Pay Commission and approved by the Cabinet. The central government employees, however, have been asking to raise minimum pay to Rs 26,000 and fitment factor 3.68 times from 2.57 times.While the NAC meeting might be held in December, the higher minimum pay would be released from April 2018. Several reports earlier suggested that the government would raise minimum pay beyond the recommendation of the 7th Pay Commission from January. However, the sources in the Finance Ministry said the higher minimum pay will come into effect by April next year at the latest. The NAC report on minimum pay hike would be available by that day (January) and its implementation would be done afterwards in due process, they said.

The government had approved a hike in salary and allowances as per the recommendations of the 7th Pay Commission in June 2016 and July 2017 respectively. The 7th Pay Commission had recommended a 14.27 percent hike in basic pay — the lowest in 70 years and raised minimum pay from Rs 7,000 to Rs 18,000 month.

Journey to Headquarters on LTC in respect of dependent family members of the Government servant

No. 31011/5/2015-Estt.A-IV
Government of India
Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions
Department of Personnel & Training
Establishment A-IV Desk
***

North Block New Delhi.
Dated October 31, 2017

OFFICE MEMORANDUM

Subject: Journey to Headquarters on LTC in respect of dependent family members of the Government servant – Clarification reg.

The undersigned is directed to refer to this Department’s O.M. No. 31011/14/86-Estt.(A-1V) dated 08.05.1987, which inter alia provides that the Govt. servant and the members of the family may claim LTC independently, however, reimbursement in such cases will be restricted to the actual distance travelled by the family or the distance between the headquarters/place of posting of the Government servant and the place visited/hometown, whichever is less.

2. Restriction of reimbursement to the distance from the Headquarter/place of posting creates an anomalous situation where the Government servant seeks to avail of LTC in respect of members of the family to the Headquarters/place of posting either from the Home town of the Government servant or from anywhere else. For illustration, a dependent child of a Govt. servant (posted in Delhi) staying and pursuing studies in Mumbai may visit a Government servant at his Headquarters/place of posting (i.e. Delhi) on LTC, however, reimbursement in such case shall be admissible for distance between the Headquarters and place of visit (which in this case is Headquarters itself), which shall be NIL in this case.

3. To resolve the issue, the matter has been considered by this Department in consultation with Joint Consultative Machinery – Staff side and Department of Expenditure. It is clarified that full reimbursement as per the entitlement of the Government servant shall be allowed for journey(s) performed on LTC by the family members from any place in India to Headquarters/place of posting of the Government servant and back. When such journey is performed from the Home Town, the LTC shall be counted against ‘Home Town’ LTC and in case the journey is from any other place in India, then it shall be counted against ‘Any place in India’ LTC.

4. The provisions of this OM (para 3) will have prospective effect.

5. Hindi version will follow.

(Surya Narayan Jha)
Under Secretary to the Government of India

Transport Allowance (TPTA)

Transport Allowance (TPTA) : Report of the Committee on Allowances

Transport Allowance (TPTA) (Para 8.15.53)

Existing Provisions: Granted to cover the expenditure involved in commuting between place of residence and place of duty. The existing rates are as under:

Officers drawing GP 10000 and higher, who are entitled to the use of official car, have the option to avail of the existing facility or to draw TPTA @ ₹7000 + DA.

Differently abled employees are granted TPTA at double rates subject to a minimum of ₹1000+DA.

Recommendations of 7th CPC: Transport Allowance is already fully DA indexed. Therefore, following rates of Transport Allowance are recommended:

Officers in Pay Level 14 and higher, who are entitled to the use of official car, will have the option to avail themselves of the existing facility or to draw the TPTA at the rate of ₹15,750+DA pm.
Differently abled employees will continue to be paid at double rate, subject to a minimum of ₹2,250 plus DA.

Demands:
I. National Council (Staff Side), JCM:

i. There should be only two levels for Transport Allowance, as under:
Level 9 and above
₹7500+DA (Higher TPTA Cities)
₹3750 + DA (Other Places
Below Level 9
₹3750+DA (Higher TPTA Cities)
₹1875 + DA (Other Places)

ii. Income Tax exemption, which was available for Transport Allowance, may be reintroduced.

II. Ministry of Health and Family Welfare: SAG Doctors should be paid Transport Allowance at the rates admissible to Joint Secretary in lieu of Staff Car.

Analysis and Recommendations of the Committee: The Committee notes that the Transport Allowance is fully indexed to Dearness Allowance and the rates have accordingly been revised by the 7th CPC. As the demands do not relate to any changes recommended by the 7th CPC, the recommendations of the 7th CPC on Transport Allowance may be accepted without any change.

When this allowance was introduced by 5th CPC, the entire amount was exempted from Income Tax. However, the Committee is not making any recommendations relating to raising of Income Tax ceiling on Transport Allowance as it is not within the purview of the Committee. The matter may be taken up separately with Department of Revenue.

Authority: www.doe.gov.in

DA WEF 01 JAN 2018 IS LIKELY TO INCREASE BY AT LEAST 2 %

Since 7th Pay Commission  (New Formula)
Month	All India Index	% of Increase
Jul-17	285	6.10
Aug-17	285	6.32
Sep-17	285	6.57
Oct-17	287	6.86
Nov-17	288	7.21
Dec-17	286	7.56

Consumer Price Index for Industrial Workers (CPI-IW) — January, 2018

The All-India CPI-IW for January, 2018 increased by 2 points and pegged at 288 (two hundred and eighty eight). On 1-month percentage change, it increased by (+) 0.70 per cent between December, 2017 and January, 2018 when compared with the decrease of (-) 0.36 per cent for the corresponding months of last year.Consumer Price Index for Industrial Workers (CPI-IW) — December, 2017

The All-India CPI-IW for December, 2017 decreased by 2 points and pegged at 286 (two hundred and eighty six). On 1-month percentage change, it decreased by (-) 0.69 per cent between November, 2017 and December, 2017 when compared with the decrease of (-) 0.72 per cent for the corresponding months of last year.

Consumer Price Index for Industrial Workers (CPI-IW) — November, 2017

The All-India CPI-IW for November, 2017 increased by 1 point and pegged at 288 (two hundred and eighty eight). On 1-month percentage change, it increased by (+) 0.35 per cent between October, 2017 and November, 2017 when compared with the decrease of (-) 0.36 per cent for the corresponding months of last year.

Consumer Price Index for Industrial Workers (CPI-IW) – September, 2017

The All-India CPI-IW for September, 2017 remained stationary at 285 (two hundred and eighty five). On 1-month percentage change, it remained static between August, 2017 and September, 2017 when compared with the decrease of (-) 0.36 per cent for the corresponding months of last year.

Consumer Price Index for Industrial Workers (CPI-IW) – July, 2017

The All-India CPI-IW for July, 2017 increased by 5 points and pegged at 285 (two hundred and eighty five). In terms of monthly change, it increased by (+) 1.79 per cent between June, 2017 and July, 2017 when compared with the increase of (+) 1.08 per cent for the corresponding months of last year.

7th Pay Commission is the last Paycommission

Many sources confirmed that the 7th Pay Commission would be the last pay commission. It is too tedious a process and employees have to wait for long years for better salaries, higher HRA and good allowances. The latest news on the 7th Pay Commission is that it is likely to be the last.


Union government employees under the aegis of their respective unions are all set to begin an agitation demanding their pay be revised as per the 7th Pay Commission. Employees have expressed their frustration and have realised that the government intentionally delayed the implementation in order to save money. They say that they feel cheated and demoralised. Moreover there is no news on the 8th Pay Commission as well and this has led them to ask how their salaries will be revised or hiked in future.


How will salaries be hiked in future 

The government says that there would be a periodic review in future. In fact the decision to do away with pay commissions will benefit the employees. It would not take ten long years to wait for a pay increase or revision in allowances or HRA. The government would review the salary looking into the data available and also based on the price index.




Waiting for several years not necessary

 Earlier employees had to wait for several years to get good news on their pay hikes. A pay commission had to be set up and then various committees had to formed. The entire process would take several years and employees would be anxious. However this time the government says it wants to do away with most of the red tape in this issue and review the salary annually.

Aykroryd formula to replace pay panels 

The government will take into consideration the Aykroyd formula while reviewing salaries of government employees. This formula would take into consideration the change in prices of the commodities that constitute a common man's basket. The government feels that such a formula would make more sense and employees would be able to cope better with price rise and other fluctuations in the market.

7th-pay-commission-Non-grant-of-3-per-cent-pay-leads-to-major-anomaly

The anomaly has arisen due to the non-grant of 3 per cent of pay towards annual increment following the implementation of the 7th Pay Commission. This was brought to the notice of the Railway Board by the NIFR. An explanation to this effect has also been provided.

Terms of reference

 Clause (c) of terms of reference of the National Anomaly Committee says that the Official Side and Staff Side are of the opinion that any recommendation is in contravention of the principle or the policy enunciated by the commission itself without the commission assigning any reason, constitutes an anomaly. 

The recommendations of pay panel regarding Annual Increment state that Annual Increment- The rate of annual increment is being retained at 3%. The prevailing rate of increment is considered satisfactory and has been retained. The various stages within a pay level moves upwards at the rate of 3% per annum.



Retaining annual increment at 3 per cent The rate of annual increment is being retained at 3 per cent. The vertical range of each level denotes pay progress within that level. That indicates steps of annual financial progression of 3% within each level. However, contrary to the above principle laid down by pay panel, the actual increment rate in the following pay level of the pay matrix are less than 3% .

 However, contrary to the above principle laid down by pay commission, the actual increment rate in the  pay level of the pay matrix are less than 3% as illustrated in the Pay matrix table. 

The recommendations of commission regarding increment rate is in contravention of the principle or policy enunciated by pay panel hence it constitutes an anomaly. In many stages even though the increment rate shown is 3 per cent, it is rounded off to next below amount causing financial loss to the employees.

 In the 6th Pay Commission, while calculating increment, if the last digit as one or above, it used to be rounded off to next 10. So in this pay matrix, if the amount is 10 and above, it should be rounded off to next 100.

No rectification can lead to frustration 

The existing pay matrix the stages of pay are same in most of the levels such as level 2&3, 6&7, 7&8 etc. In this situation, if an employee is upgraded under MACP from one level to another level, his pay will be almost (Exactly) same as he may have drawn even without receiving the benefit under MACP. 

NFIR therefore requests the Railway Board to take necessary action for rectification of anomaly so as to ensure that the increment at 3 per cent of pay is granted to employees in whose cases where the actual amount is less than 3 per cent under the 7th Pay Commission.

 

Modi cabinet can decide on allowances this week

Central government employees, who have been waiting for updates on Seventh Pay Commission's recommendations, may finally get to hear from the Narendra Modi government this week.
According to reports, the Union cabinet may take a decision on revised allowance structure at a meeting on Wednesday.

The Empowered Committee of Secretaries (E-CoS) screened the Ashok Lavasa report on allowances at a June 1 meeting and has subsequently forwarded its suggestions to the Modi government.
The Union cabinet will now deliberate on the suggestions of the Empowered Committee of Secretaries at the meeting this week.

HERE IS ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT REVISED ALLOWANCES UNDER SEVENTH PAY COMMISSION:

1. If some reports are to be believed, the E-CoS meet discussed House Rent Allowance (HRA) and an increase in basic pay among other concerns of Central government employees. 
    
2. The Empowered Committee of Secretaries has reportedly put a cap on HRA rates between 25 per cent and 27 per cent. 
    
3. Central government employees have demanded that the HRA rates be left unchanged at 30 per cent, 20 per cent and 10 per cent depending on city category. The Seventh Pay Commission recommended reducing the HRA to 24 per cent, 16 per cent and 8 per cent of the basic pay.
    
4. Some reports had hinted at the Ashok Lavasa-led Committee on Allowances taking a favourable view of employees' demand on the HRA. The Ashok Lavasa panel submitted its review report on Seventh Pay Commission to Finance Minister Arun Jaitley on April 27. 
    
5. The Union cabinet may choose to look into the Central government employees' concerns regarding the HRA. The allowances once implemented will benefit nearly 50 lakh government employees. 
    
6. The Seventh Pay Commission had also suggested axing 53 of the 196 allowances drawn by Central government employees, besides subsuming another 36 smaller allowances into bigger ones. 
    
7. The Seventh Pay Commission recommended doing away or merging allowances such as assisting cashier, cycle, condiment, flying squad, haircut, robe, shorthand, soap, spectacle, uniform, vigilance and washing. 
    
8. The Union Cabinet recently approved modifications in the Seventh Pay Commission's recommendations on method of revision of pension of pre-2016 pensioners and family pensioners based on suggestions made by the Committee chaired by Secretary (Pensions). 
    
9. The pay hike of 14.27 per cent under the Seventh Pay Commission is the lowest Central government employees have received in the last 70 years.

Central government employees must wait another week for update on 7th Pay Commission

Central government employees will have to wait for yet another week to receive any update on the revised allowance structure as recommended by the 7^th Central Pay Commission. The Empowered Committee of Secretaries (E-CoS) is expected to convene next week to ponder on the recommendations before being presented before the Union Cabinet for their nod.

The 7th pay commission had proposed a total of 196 allowances; a Committee of Allowances was formed under the Finance Secretary Ashok Lavasa to screen them. On April 24 this year, the Committee submitted its report to Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, recommending that 52 allowances suggested by the pay commission be entirely scraped and 36 of them be incorporated with other allowances instead of dealing with them separately.

The recommendations made by the Lavasa-led review committee regarding allowance structure were to be tabled before the E-CoS after consideration by Department of Expenditure. Following which committee of secretaries will table the proposal for implementing the recommendations made by the 7^th pay commission, complete with the suggestions from Committee of Allowances, will be presented before the Cabinet for approval.

Cabinet Secretary PK Sinha will preside over the E-CoS meet, as per reports. Officials from Home Affairs, Finance, Health and Family Welfare, Railways, Personnel and Training and Post will also take part in the meeting.

Central government employees have been waiting since for an update on the allowances suggested by the 7^th pay commission. It was rumored earlier this week that some union ministers might meet some senior officials to seek updates on the recommendations, inciting expectations in the Centre staff and pensioners.

However, reports of no such meeting were confirmed by either the Finance Ministry or officials who sat in the review committee, adding to the month-long frustration that central government employees waiting for an update since the report landed in the Finance Ministry.

Committee on Allowances submits report, keeps HRA at 30 per cent

The Committee on Allowances, headed by Finance Secretary Ashok Lavasa, has submitted its report on higher allowances, under the 7th Pay Commission recommendations, to Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley. The Committee on Allowances has suggested to keep the house rent allowance (HRA) as it was under the 6th Pay Commission–at 30 per cent, 20 per cent, and 10 per cent respectively.

“The Committee on Allowances has already submitted the report on higher allowance to Finance Minister Arun Jaitley. The final decision on allowance will be taken by the end of this month or in the next meeting scheduled on March 23,” said the Zee Business report, quoting sources. Minister of State for Finance Arjun Ram Meghwal, in his written reply to Lok Sabha on March 10 about the 7th Pay Commission, had said the ‘Committee on Allowance’ hasn’t submitted its report.

While the government is yet to approved the report of the Committee on Allowance, a senior Finance Ministry official had said the central government employees will start receiving higher allowance according to 7th Pay Commission recommendations from April 1.

Central government employees have been protesting against the abolition of 51 allowances and subsuming of 37 others out of 196 allowances, recommended by the 7th Pay Commission. Finance Minister Arun Jaitley then formed the Committee on Allowance to look into the provision of allowances other than dearness allowance under the 7th Pay Commission recommendations.

Central government employees are currently receiving all allowances except dearness allowance, according to the 6th Pay Commission recommendations. The National Joint Council of Action (NJCA), which has been negotiating with Centre over the 7th Pay Commission report, threatened to launch an agitation if the allowances are not hiked from April 1.

GPF Withdrawals – Amendment orders issued

No.3/2/2017-P&PW(F)(ii)
Ministry of Personnel, PG & Pensions
Department of Pension & Pensioners’ Welfare
Desk-F

3rd Floor, Lok Nayak Bhavan,
Khan Market, New Delhi-11 0003

Dated the 7th March, 2017.

OFFICE MEMORANDUM

Subject: Amendment to the provisions of General Provident Fund (Central Service )Rules 1960- liberalization of provisions for withdrawals from the Fund by the subscribers – regarding.

The General Provident Fund (Central Service )Rules came into force in 1960 and Rule 15 of the said rules provide for withdrawals by the subscribers. Some amendments have been made from time to time to address the concerns raised by the subscribers. However, the provisions, largely remain restrictive. There is a felt need to liberalize provisions, raise limits and simplify the procedure.

2. The provisions in the rules have been reviewed and it has now been decided to permit withdrawals from the fund by the subscriber for the following purposes:
(i) Education – This will include primary, secondary and higher education, covering all streams and institutions,
(ii) Obligatory Expenses viz. betrothal, marriage, funerals, or other ceremonies of self or family members and dependants,
(iii) Illness of self, family members or dependants,
(iv) Purchase of consumer durables.

3. It has been decided to permit withdrawal of upto twelve months payor three-fourth of the amount standing at credit, whichever is less. For illness, the withdrawal may be allowed upto 90% of the amount standing at credit of the subscriber. A subscriber may seek withdrawal after completion of ten years of service.
(v) Housing including building or acquiring a suitable-house or a ready-built flat for his-residence,
(vi) Repayment of outstanding housing loan,
(vii) Purchase of house site for building a house,
(viii) Constructing a house on a site acquired,
(ix) Reconstructing or making additions on a house already acquired,
(x) Renovating, additions or alterations of ancestral house.

4. A subscriber may be allowed to withdraw upto ninety percent of the amount standing at credit for the above purposes. It is also decided do away with the present instructions which lay down that subsequent to the sale of house for which GPF withdrawal has been availed, the amount. withdrawn has to be deposited back. GPF withdrawal for housing purpose will no longer be linked with the limits prescribed under HBA rules. A subscriber may be permitted to avail the facility at any time during his service.

(xi) Purchase of motor car/motor cycle/ scooter etc. or repayment of loan already taken for the purpose,
(xii) Extensive repairs /overhauling of motor car,
(xiii)Making deposit to book a motor car/motor cycle/scoter, moped etc.

5. A subscriber may be permitted to withdraw three- fourth of the amount standing at credit or cost of the vehicle, whichever is less for the above purposes. Withdrawal for the above purpose will be permitted after completion of 10 years of service.

6. Presently, withdrawal of upto 90% of balance without assigning reasons is allowed for Government servants who are due for retirement on superannuation within a year. It is proposed that this may be allowed for upto two years before superannuation.

7. In all cases of withdrawal from the fund by the subscriber, the declared Head of Department is competent to sanction withdrawal. No documentary proof will be required to be furnished by the subscriber. A simple declaration form by the subscriber explaining the reasons for withdrawal would be sufficient.

8. As per the GPF(CS) Rule 1960, no time limit has been prescribed for sanction and payment of withdrawal amount. Therefore, it has been decided to prescribe a maximum time limit of fifteen days for sanction and payment of withdrawal from the Fund. In case of emergencies like illness etc., the time limit maybe restricted to seven days.

9. Necessary amendment to the GPF(Central Service)Rules 1960, giving effect to the above provisions will be issued in due course.

10. In so far as persons serving in Indian Audit and Accounts Department are concerned, these orders issue in consultation with the Comptroller and Auditor General of India.

11. This issues with approval of Department of Expenditure, vide their ID No. 4(1 )/EV/2017 dated 28.02.2017.

12. Hindi version of this OM will follow

sd/-
(Sujasha Choudhu)
Director

DA INCREASE WEF 01 JUL 2017 IS LIKELY TO BE 3-4 %

Since 7th Pay Commission  (New Formula)
Month	All India Index	% of Increase
Jan-17	274	5.11
Feb-17	274	5.33
Mar-17	275	5.55
Apr-17	277	5.74
May-17	278	5.84
Jun-17
Jul-17
Aug-17
Sep-17
Oct-17
Nov-17
Dec-17
Jan-18

Consumer Price Index for Industrial Workers (CPI-IW) – May, 2017

The All-India CPI-IW for May, 2017 increased by 1 point and pegged at 278 (two hundred and seventy eight). On 1-month percentage change, it increased by (+) 0.36 per cent between April, 2017 and May, 2017 when compared with the increase of (+) 1.48 per cent between the same two months a year ago.

Consumer Price Index for Industrial Workers (CPI-IW) — April, 2017

The All-India CPI-IW for April, 2017 increased by 2 points and pegged at 277 (two hundred and seventy seven). On 1-month percentage change, it increased by (+) 0.73 per cent between March, 2017 and April, 2017 when compared with the increase of (+) 1.12 per cent between the same two months a year ago274



Consumer Price Index for Industrial Workers (CPI-IW) — January, 2017

The All-India CPI-IW for January, 2017 decreased by 1 point and stood at 274 (two hundred and seventy four). On 1-month percentage change, it decreased by (-) 0.36 per cent between December, 2016 and January, 2017, when compared between the same two months a year ago wherein it remained static.

Confederation call for observing 6th March 2017 as Black Day

Observe 6th March 2017
as
BLACK DAY

• Against the betrayal of Central Government employees and pensioners by Group of Ministers of NDA Government.
• Demanding increase in minimum pay and fitment formula.

Dear comrades

We know that all of you are in the midst of hectic preparation and campaign for making the 16th March Strike action a great success. As has been explained in the article, which we have placed on our website, the NDA Government, led by BJP has exhibited the worst anti-employee attitude in the post independent era of our country. This Government has treated its own employees as its worst enemy. The decision taken by the Union Cabinet on 29th June, 2016 rejecting even the recommendations made by the high level committee chaired by the Cabinet Secretary was unprecedented. Even the setting up of various committees was nothing but an eye wash. Nothing will come out of that. 

Even the NPS Committee on which the young comrades had pinned some hope of at least getting a minimum guaranteed pension will produce nothing. The discussions at the JCM fora has been converted into mostly monologues i.e. the official side simply listening and not reacting. The Government, it appears, has made the Pension department to reject the one and only recommendation of the 7th CPC which was considered to be positive i.e. Option No.1 for pensioners on the specious ground that the same is not feasible to be implemented. 

The allowances committee has dilly dallied its deliberation and would now submit its report after the extended period of 6 months expires on 22.02.2017. Even if they make any positive recommendation, which is seldom expected, the NDA Government would not act upon it. They have very successfully postponed the payment of the revised allowance for 15 months.In the face of such terrible onslaught, betrayal and chicanery, which no Government in the past has every indulged in, it is surprising that some of our friends who has a predominant role in the movement of the Central Government employees has unfortunately chosen to wait and watch. It appears that they have chosen to wait endlessly hurting the cause of the workers.

We have no hesitation to affirmatively state the obvious that we have chosen the right path, the path of struggles, which can only the choice of the working class against tyrannical attitude of the employer, howsoever, powerful they may be. We must realize that those who are in the saddle of power today are not permanently posted there. We were witness to the abysmal downfall of persons who were arrogant personified. It appears that the reasonableness, righteousness and patience we had exhibited have been taken as signs of cowardice. The undeniable fact is that those who fight, only can win. We, therefore, appeal to you to carry on with conviction and courage.

Eight months will be over on 6th March, 2017, when the Group of Ministers held out the assurance of revisiting the minimum wage and multiplication factor. It is now crystal clear that that was an act of chicanery. No committee was set up and no discussions were held to seriously consider the issue. We, therefore, appeal to all of you to ensure that the day, i.e. 6th March, 2017 is observed as a day of betrayal and all our members are requested to wear a Black badge with the following words inscribed on it in bold letters and conduct demonstrations in front of all Central Government offices.6TH March 2017 must be yet another occasion to mobilize our members to ensure their participation in the 16th March, 2017 strike action and ultimately win all the demands in the charter.

We fight to win and we shall win.

With greetings,

Yours fraternally,

(M Krishnan)

Secretary General

Confederation