7th Pay Commission report will be submitted by September 2015

INTUC
INDIAN NATIONAL DEFENCE WORKERS FEDERATION
ESTD 1959 (Recognised by Govt. of India)

INDWF/Circular/020/2015

Date: 09.06.2015

To
All Affiliated Unions of INDWF

Dear Colleagues,

On 09.06.2015 a meeting was attended by the Standing Committee members of National Council, JCM with the 7th Central Pay Commission at Pay commission office, New Delhi. Representatives of the following organisations have participated.

NFIR, AIRF, INDWF, AIDEF, Audit & Accounts, Income Tax Association, Postal

1) The Chairman of 7th CPC report will be submitted to the Government of India  by end September 2015.

2) VII CPC report will be implemented on their recommendations w.e.f 01.01.2016 and not from 01.01.2014 as demanded.

3) The minimum pay and pay structure will be decided by taking into account on the price index of 01.01.2016 for that the provisions are kept. Staff side insisted that 7th CPC should adopt the need based minimum wage formula at the minimum level; the intrinsic value of the assigned job at the intermediary level; the necessity to keep the relativity both at horizontal and vertical level and the need to provide a reasonable salary for the top bureaucrats, taking into account the perks, privileges, benefits, allowances and concessions that go with the posts. 7th CPC gave positive response on this.

4) Fitment formula will be equally made applicable for all ranks and it has been worked out already.

5) Parity in respect of common categories working in Secretariat and subordinate offices will be taken care and it has been taken note.

6) In respect of Pension, for the pre pay commission retirees and after pay commission retirees will be taken care by following some metrics and will be taken care.

7) While fixing minimum pay, DA increase on 01.07.2016 will be taken into account and accordingly it will be decided.

8) JCM urged that the Need-based Minimum Wage concept pay at the minimum level may be adopted. Pay commission should take into account the outside rates to determine the pay package at senior levels of bureaucracy but maintain the ratio between the minimum and maximum at 1:8 (MTS to Secretary to Government of India). Staff side insisted that minimum pay at lowest level of Group ‘C’ staff should be Rs.26000. 7th Pay commission gave positive assurance on this.

9) Staff side demanded open ended pay scales to ensure that no employee stagnates without increment. We have suggested only 14Pay scales. Minimum of which is Rs.26000 and Maximum of Rs.78000 for Group ‘C’ employees. We suggested that the multiplication factor (26000/7000 = 3.7) may be applied uniformly in all the cases to arrive at the revised pay in the new scales of pay. We also suggested that the benefit on promotion, therefore, should be: two increments in the feeder cadre. 7th CPC agreed to act positively on this.

10) Bonus: Presently the PLBB and adhoc Bonus are calculated on the deemed provision that one’s total emoluments is only Rs.3500/-. This is an absolutely irrational stipulation and must be removed. We request that the Commission to recommend to the Government to remove the said stipulation and grant the bonus on the basis of the actual emolument of the employee. 7th CPC agreed to recommend our demand with positive note.

11) Chairman, 7th CPC mentioned that the memorandum and proposals submitted by the National Council Standing committee have been taken into consideration to prepare the report.

12) Demanded that the present Ex-Gratia Rs. 10 Lakhs to Government employees in case of death while on duty should be raised to Rs.50 Lakhs would be considered.

13) Insurance (CGEGIS) for employees to be raised from the existing Rs. 30000/- to Rs. 3.5 Lakhs for which Rs.350/- premium will be paid. Agreed to continue 70:30 ratios for insurance and savings. They have already worked out methods by discussing with Insurance Company to increase the quantum. A decision will be recommended.

14) MTS: The introduction of Multi Tasking Staff (MTS) in Government organisation is creating lot of mismatching. Departments also raising objection on this to extract the work from MTS employees. In this respect, Chairman, VII CPC proposed that NC JCM staff side should submit the proposal for MTS to continue or to keep the erstwhile posts with their respective designation.

15) Removal of Grade Pay has been proposed by replacing the earlier existing scale of pay.

16) MACP: The present anomaly of Grade Pay Hierarchy while granting MACP has to be changed to promotional Hierarchy. Rectification of MACPs aberrations. Pay Commission has noted and is on the job.

17) Equal qualification in Recruitment Rules should be given equal pay scale based on Recruitment Rules. This was accepted by the commission.

18) Employees completed 12 months service become eligible for next annual increment but next day he/she is out of service due to retirement. He/She is not eligible for even pension benefit. This was noted and agreed to propose to give benefit in the pension by adding in the increment.

19) NPS: NPS is based on Parliament Act therefore it is not coming within the purview of VII CPC. However, he had agreed in the earlier meeting that he will call the PFRDA Chairman and discuss with them about the proposed Pension benefits. Accordingly, he called and discussed with them. Pay commission is of the opinion minimum Pension should be 50% of the last pay drawn and if it is less than that Government should contribute and if it is more than 50% of pay that should be allowed to be drawn. This must be ensured by PFRDA on that line Pay commission is proposing which is a welcome decision.

20) Educational Assistance: We have demanded for Educational Assistance for two children, Instead of two eldest children, and also to pay the same for Post Graduate and Professional Courses. 7th CPC has agreed to consider it upto Graduation level.

21) Further proposals if any, commission is free to accept the proposals and it will be entertained.

Yours Sincerely,

(R.SRINIVASAN)
General Secretary

Paramilitary service pay and enhancement of casual leave

The Centre today(22/07) ruled out one rank, one pension for personnel of the seven paramilitary forces.

Junior home minister Kiren Rijiju told Parliament today that there was no proposal under consideration to implement the scheme for the seven forces - the CRPF, BSF, CISF, ITBP, SSB, Assam Rifles and the NSG.

"There is no proposal under consideration of the ministry on the issue," Rijiju said in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha.

The minister, however, pointed out that the proposals regarding granting of paramilitary service pay and enhancement of casual leave on a par with the army had been received by the government.

"The same have been referred to the 7th Central Pay Commission for consideration," he said.

The principle of one rank, one pension for the armed forces has been accepted by the government and is under consideration.

Rijiju also said the home ministry had issued instructions to the seven paramilitary forces to incorporate yoga as part of daily physical exercise.

"It would be appropriate to incorporate yoga in the daily routine of paramilitary personnel. This will also help the paramilitary forces to beat stress, if any, and keep them physically as well as mentally fit," he said.

The home ministry today told Parliament that a total of 228 CRPF jawans had committed suicide in the past seven years.

"Yes, according to available data, 228 jawans of the CRPF committed suicide. The causative factors in most of the cases were found to be generally personal and domestic problems, like marital discord, personal enmity, mental illness, depression etc. In few cases the same could be owing to the work related stress," Rijiju said in the written reply.

Source : The Telegraph

PM Modi to meet chiefs of paramilitary forces to chalk out strategy plans

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has decided to hold a 'one-to-one' meeting with the chiefs of paramilitary forces later this month in an effort to chalk out important strategy plans for operational efficiency and welfare of these units which are about eight lakh strong. 

Officials said the meeting is tentatively scheduled to be held in the third week of July in the Prime Minister's Office with only Home Minister Rajnath Singh and National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval in attendance.

An order issued by the Union Home Ministry, accessed by PTI, has asked these central armed police forces-- CRPF, BSF, CISF, ITBP, SSB and NSG-- to prepare their respective "talking points" for the proposed meeting and submit them to it which will be sent to the PMO. 

"The PMO has told the Home Ministry that the Prime Minister has desired to hold a one-to-one meeting with the Directors General of these forces.

"Preparations are in full swing in this regard," sources said.

Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) Director General Prakash Mishra, the senior-most Chief, has been nominated by the Home Ministry to coordinate on the subject with all the forces, the order said. 

The sources said while the exact agenda of the meeting is yet to be known, it has been indicated that the PM would be discussing with the Directors General (DGs) of these forces some major issues related to their requirements for overall operational efficacy and measures that can be ushered to make these services attractive for young aspirants.

They added that the forces have been asked to specifically prepare a report on the grievances being faced by junior and middle rank personnel  which can be addressed through long term steps and will go a long way in boosting the morale of these troops deployed for rendering a variety of internal security tasks in the country like border guarding, anti-Naxal operations and assisting state governments in maintaining law and order. 

"The meeting is expected to be held in the PMO itself in the presence of the Home Minister and NSA. Not many Home Ministry officials will be a part of the deliberations. 

"However, final plans are being worked out," a senior official privy to the development said.

The sources said issues related to timely promotions and delays in getting proper allowances by the jawans and officers of these forces are also expected to figure during the meeting which will have some specific speaking time reserved for each DG.

The forces, it is understood, have also been asked to prepare a report on the status of future recruitments and raising of additional battalions.

The six paramilitary forces function under the command of the Home Ministry with CRPF being the largest with about three lakh men and women. The elite commando force National Security Guard (NSG) is the smallest with about 12,000 personnel in its ranks. 

Property Returns to be filed twice every

The Centre has made it clear that government servants will have to submit their asset details twice every year under the existing Conduct Rules and the new Lokpal Act until the former are harmonised with the latter. This means that babus will have to undergo the drill of filing their annual property returns twice each year under the two different provisions. 

"The requirement of filing returns regarding assets and liabilities under the Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act is in addition to, and not in derogation or supersession of the requirement of filing similar returns under the existing Conduct Rules. In view of this, the requirement of filing of property returns under the existing Conduct Rules is an independent requirement under the applicable rules and the same can be dispensed with, only by amending those rules," theDepartment of Personnel and Training (DoPT) has said, releasing answers to a set of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) on the Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act, 2013.

 "In other words, the requirement of filing returns of assets and liabilities under the applicable Conduct Rules has to continue, till such time as the provisions of those rules are harmonised with the relevant provisions of the Lokpal Act and the rules framed thereunder, by carrying out appropriate amendments in them. Public servants are generally required to submit annual property returns as on the January of the year, on or before January 31 of that year. 

The Lokpal Act, on the other hand, requires the filing of annual returns as on the March 31 of the year by each public servant on or before July 31 of that year. Thus, the requirements of the Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act, 2013 and the relevant Conduct Rules are different in the manner of filing information also," the DoPThas said. 

The DoPT however said it has asked for the required harmonisation to be achieved by October 15, 2015 -- the date by which all government servants are expected to file their first property return under the Lokpal Act. "It is incumbent upon all Ministries / Departments/cadre controlling authorities to ensure that the relevant conduct rules relating to services administered/controlled by them are brought in harmony with the provisions of the Lokpal Act and rules made thereunder within an extended time limit of eighteen months (by October 15, 2015). 

All Ministries/Departments and other cadre controlling authorities have been appraised about this requirement separately through letters dated 8th September, 2014 and 29 December, 2014 issued by this Department," the DoPT has said. 

Under the Lokpal Act, a public servant is required to furnish to the competent authority the information relating to the assets of which he, his spouse and his dependent children are, jointly or severally, owners or beneficiaries; and his liabilities and that of his spouse and his dependent children.

 As against this, the general requirement as contained in most of the applicable Conduct Rules for government servants (AIS Conduct Rules, CCS Conduct Rules), require the public servant to submit a return, giving the full particulars regarding the immovable property owned by him, or inherited or acquired by him or held by him on lease or mortgage, either in his own name or in the name of any member of his family or in the name of any other person; shares, debentures, postal Cumulative Time Deposits and cash including bank deposits inherited by him or similarly owned, acquired or held by him, other movable property inherited by him or similarly owned, acquired or held by him and debts and other liabilities incurred by him directly or indirectly.

Disparity in babus’ designation rocks Defence Ministry

A fresh controversy has cropped up in the defence establishment, this time over disparity in the designation of civilian bureaucrats of the Armed Forces Headquarters Civil Service (AFHQCS) vis-à-vis IAS and defence officers.

The AFHQCS officers are placing themselves at designations above that of their counterparts having the same or even higher grade pay.

While this anomaly has been existing for some time, it was only recently that some defence officers noticed it and took up the matter with Army Headquarters for referring it to the Defence Ministry.

The AFHQCS officers of the level of Deputy Secretary to the Government of India in Pay Band-3 with Grade Pay (GP) of Rs 7,600 are placing themselves as ‘Directors’ in the Services Headquarters while senior military officers of the rank of Lieutenant Colonels, who are in Pay Band-4 with GP Rs 8,000, are being posted as ‘Joint Directors’.

Further, selection grade officers of the IAS and other Group A civil services as well as Army officers of the rank of Colonel, all with a GP of Rs 8,700, are posted as ‘Directors’ while the AFHQCS officers with a similar GP of Rs 8,700 are designating themselves as ‘Principal Director’ and ‘Deputy Director General’. Unlike the defence services and Group A civil services, the AFHQCS officers are promotees from Group B and Group C cadres.

Sources said that as per the system prevalent in all Central government departments, officers with the GP of Rs 7,600 are supposed to be designated as Joint Directors while officers with GP Rs 8,700 are to be appointed as Directors, but the AFHQCS officers have been citing unilateral instructions issued by the office of the Chief Administrative Officer-cum-Joint Secretary (Training), also an AFHQCS cadre officer, to place themselves on senior appointments.

In 2008, a Group of Ministers (GoM) then headed by Pranab Mukherjee had specifically created GP of Rs 8,000 in Pay Band-4 for Lt Cols to denote their position above Deputy Secretary level officers to remove the anomaly created by the 6th Pay Commission which had downgraded Lieutenant Colonels at par with Central deputy secretaries (directors in state government) while equating Colonels with directors of Central government (special secretaries in states). The pay equation of military and civil officers got disturbed after the 4th Pay Commission.

Seventh CPC is finalizing it's report, likely to submit within time frame

Pay Commission has stated in their website that all meetings and discussions are over and they are in the process of finalizing the recommendations so that it can be submitted within the time frame, which expires on 31st August 2015.


"Further to the memoranda received from a variety of Organisations, Federations, Groups representing civil employees in the Government of India as also from the Defence Services, the Commission has had fruitful and wide ranging discussions on relevant issues with all stakeholders.

 Such interactions have now been concluded. Valuable inputs have been received and the work of compilation and finalization of the report is underway, so that the Commission completes its task in the time frame given to it. 

Accordingly, any future requests for meeting with the Commission will not be entertained."


Source : http://7cpc.india.gov.in/ 

7th Pay Commission Report will be presented to the Government by Sep 2015

INTUC
INDIAN NATIONAL DEFENCE WORKERS FEDERATION
ESTD 1959 (Recognised by Govt. of India)

R. Srinivasan
General Secretary

INDWF/Circular/020/2015

Date 09/06/2015

To
All Affiliated Unions of INDWF

Dear Colleagues,
On 09.06.2015 a meeting was attended by the Standing Committee members of National Council, JCM with the 7th Central Pay Commission at Pay commission office, New Delhi. Representatives of the following organisations have participated

NFIR, AIRF, INDWF, AIDEF, Audit & Accounts, Income Tax Association, Postal

1) The Chairman of 7th CPC mentioned that 7th CPC report will be submitted to the Government of India well within the time by September 2015.

2) VII CPC report will be implemented on their recommendations w.e.f. 01.01.2016 and not from 01.01.2014 as demanded.

3) The minimum pay and pay structure will be decided by taking into account on the price index of 01.01.2016 for that the provisions are kept. Staff side insisted that 7th CPC should adopt the need based minimum wage formula at the minimum level; the intrinsic value of the assigned job at the intermediary level; the necessity to keep the relativity both at horizontal and vertical level and the need to provide a reasonable salary for the top bureaucrats, taking into account the perks. privileges, benefits, allowances and concessions that go with the posts. 7th CPC gave positive response on this.

4) Fitment formula will be equally made applicable for all ranks and it has been worked out already.

5) Parity in respect of common categories working in Secretariat and subordinate offices will be taken care and it has been taken note.

6) In respect of Pension, for the pre pay commission retirees and after pay commission retirees will be taken care by following some metrics and will be taken care.

7) While fixing minimum pay, DA increase on 01.07.2015 and 01.01.2016 will be taken into account and accordingly it will be decided.

8) JCM urged that the Need-based Minimum Wage concept to compute pay at the minimum level may be adopted. Pay commission should take into account the outside rates to determine the pay package at senior levels of bureaucracy but maintain the ratio between the minimum and maximum at 1: 8 (MTS to Secretary to Government of India). Staff side insisted that minimum pay at lowest level of Group ‘C’ staff should be Rs.26000. 7th Pay commission gave positive assurance on this.

9) Staff side demanded open ended pay scales to ensure that no employee stagnates without increment. We have suggested only 14 Pay scales. Minimum of which is Rs.26000 and Maximum Rs.78000 for Group ‘C’ employees. We suggested that the multiplication factor (26000/7000 = 3.7) may be applied uniformly in all the cases to arrive at the revised pay in the new scales of pay. We also suggested that the benefit on promotion. therefore, should be : two increments in the feeder cadre. 7th CPC agreed to act positively on this.

10) Bonus: Presently the PLBB and adhoc Bonus are calculated on the deemed provision that one’s total emoluments is only Rs.3500/-. This is an absolutely irrational stipulation and must be removed. We request that the Commission to recommend to the Government to remove the said stipulation and grant the bonus on the basis of the actual emolument of the employee. 7th CPC agreed to recommend our demand with positive note.

11) Chairman, 7th CPC mentioned that the memorandum and proposals submitted by the National Council Standing committee have been taken into consideration to prepare the report.

12) Demanded that the present Ex-Gratia Rs.10 Lakhs to Government employees in case of death while on duty should be raised to Rs.50 Lakhs would be considered.

13) Insurance (CGIES) coverage for employees to be raised from the existing Rs.30000/- to Rs. 3.5 Lakhs for which Rs.350/- premium will be paid. Agreed to continue 70:30 ratios for insurance and savings. They have already worked out methods by discussing with Insurance Company to increase the quantum. A decision will be recommended.

14) MTS: The introduction of Multi Tasking Staff (MTS) in Government organisation is creating lot of mismatching. Departments also raising objection on this to extract the work from MTS employees. In this respect. Chairman, VII CPC proposed that NC JCM staff side should submit the proposal for MTS to continue or to keep the erstwhile posts with their respective designation.

15) Removal of Grade Pay has been proposed by replacing the earlier existing scale of pay.

16) MACP: The present anomaly of Grade Pay Hierarchy while granting MACP has to be changed to promotional Hierarchy. Rectification of MACPs aberrations. Pay Commission has noted and is on the job.

17) Equal qualification in Recruitment Rules should be given equal pay scale based on Recruitment Rules. This was accepted by the commission.

18) Employees completed 12 months service become eligible for next annual increment but next day he/she is out of service due to retirement. He/She is not eligible for even pension benefit. This was noted and agreed to propose to give benefit in the pension by adding in the increment.

19) NPS: NPS is based on Parliament Act therefore it is not coming within the purview of VII CPC. However. he had agreed in the eanier meeting that he will call the PFRDA Chairman and discuss with them about the proposed Pension benefits. Accordingly, he called and discussed with them. Pay commission is of the opinion minimum Pension should be 50% of the last pay drawn and if it is less than that Government should contribute and if it is more than 50% of pay that should be allowed to be drawn. This must be ensured by PFRDA on that line Pay commission is proposing which is a welcome decision.

20) Educational Assistance: We have demanded for Educational Assistance for two children. instead of two eldest children. and also to pay the same for Post Graduate and Professional Courses. 7th CPC has agreed to consider it upto Graduation level.

21) Further proposals if any. commission is free to accept the proposals and it will be entertained.

(R.SRINIVASAN)
General Secretary