7th CPC HRA – Justification For Retaining The Existing Rates Of 10%, 20% and 30%

7th CPC HRA – Justification for Retaining the Existing Rates of 10%, 20% and 30%

“How justified is the stand of 7th CPC to apply a factor 0.8 to suppress the quantum of allowances is beyond comprehension.”

HOUSE RENT ALLOWANCE

Housing accommodation is provided to a small segment of the Civil Servants. While the percentage of satisfaction is very high at the senior level Officers, Employees at the lower levels are to depend upon the market for a dwelling place. Of late recruitment at Gr B and C levels in Central Govt Offices is on the basis of an all India Examination and the regional recruitment which was in prevalence a decade back has been dispensed with. Once, recruited, he/she is perforce to be posted outside his/her home state making it necessary to search for a dwelling unit at the place of his/her posting and compete with those workers in the private sector whose salary levels in certain cases are phenomenally high. Housing in the country, despite introduction of various projects, tax concessions etc, continues to be a seller’s paradise. A simple scrutiny of the rate of increase in the cost of construction and the rates quoted by the property dealers, real estate agents and tenant facilitators will reveal the extent of escalation in rent over the last a decade.

In Para 8.7.14 the 7th CPC has made a bald statement that with the increase in Basic pay most of the employees will be able to afford rented houses as per their entitlement. The Chart given under Para 8.7.14 indicates the rent increases over a period between 2006-14. The rent is shown to have gone up by 118% by 2014. The Commission has sourced the house rent index figures from AICPI (IW). We have no hesitation to state that the Commission’s observation based upon the most unreliable data must be discarded. Even according to the said data, which only indicates the figures upto 2014, the registered increase was 118%. The progression between 2009 to 2014 from 136 to 168 gives an average increase of 22 points. This reads as much similar to the progression of the AICPI (IW) prepared by the Indian Labour Bureau Shimla, whose commodity prices have been adopted by the 7 CPC for minimum Wage computation.

How divorced those rates are from the reality in the market has been explained with facts and figures in our letter dated 10.12.2015 to the Chairman, Empowered Committee of Secretaries. Even if one bases the computation on such unreliable data, the hypothetical progression of the housing index by end of 2015 shall be 279-290 which warrant an increase by 136%.

Relating the index figures indicated in chart under Para 8.7.14 to the DA percentage as on 1.1.2016.(125%), the ratio obtaining both in H1 and H2 i.e. 123 to 260 (2014) and 126 to 268 (2014) are 2.11 and 2.13 respectively. If the same is calibrated to 125% as on 1.1.2016, the ratio shall be 2.64 and 2.66. This will necessitate raising the HRA to 33.13% in Metro Cities, 22% in Y Class Cities and 11.12% in Z class towns.

The hypothetical progression on average basis will also make it necessary to compensate housing expenses at 29.7% in Metro Cities and 19.74% in Y class Cities and 9.87% in Z class towns.

The Commission is on record to state that the house rent factor in AICPI (IW) is on an average 15.27. The 6th CPC has indicated the factor at 8.67 and has been on record to state that the factor is not uniform at all places. The rates between Metro cities and small towns vary violently. This apart the Commission has applied a factor of 0.8 to all allowances, which are not cost indexed on the specious plea that wages per- se has been increased. While the Basic wages registered a paltry rise of 14% over a period of ten years (1.4% per annum) how justified is the stand of 7th CPC to apply a factor 0.8 to suppress the quantum of allowances is beyond comprehension. The Commission has proceeded with the assumption that the grant of 30,20 and 10% of the determined basic pay was a full and perfect reimbursement of expenses incurred by the Government employees on housing, which is undoubtedly erroneous as could be evidenced from the observation of the 6th CPC itself. Even if all these untenable contentions of 7 CPC and the unreliable statistics are taken into account, still it is clear that in order to maintain the present compensation level, the commission ought to have maintained the status quo in respect of rates of HRA and should not have reduced it by the application of 0.8 factor. We, therefore, request for the reasons adduced above, that the HRA may be retained at the levels determined by 6th CPC i.e. 30, 20, and 10 per cent of Basic pay for X,Y, Z class of cities and towns respectively.

Source: http://nfaeehq.blogspot.in/

Gazetted Officers Extend Support to Massive Dharna

Gazetted Officers Extend Support to Massive Dharna in front of Finance Minister Office on 23rd May 2017

CONFEDERATION OF CENTRAL

GOVERNMENT GAZETTED OFFICERS’ ORGANISATIONS

Add: Old no.4 new no.7 first Street V.V.Colony, Adambakkam, Chennai 600088

Circular No/ Confdn/ 2017-18/ 3
Dated: 08.05. 2017.

“If we all stand together we are a force that can shake the whole world”.

To
All Office bearers and the Secretaries General
of Constituent Organizations

Dear Friends,

CCGGOO Extend Support to Massive Dharna in front of Finance Minister Office on 23rd May 2017.

The four months time limit fixed by the Group of Ministers on 30.06.2016, for implementation of the assurance given to Leaders of Central Government Employees expired on 30.10.2016. Now, it is another ten months thereafter. The Government has gone back on all its assurances and has succeeded in indefinitely delaying the implementation of assurance given by Group of Ministers to the leaders of Central Government Employee including grant of revised H RA and other allowance with effect from 01-01-2016.

There is no improvement in the revision of minimum wage and fitment formula. Pension Committee headed by Secretary, Pension has submitted its report rejecting the demand of the JCM staff side for implementing Option-I parity for pensioners, recommended by 7th CPC. The New Pension Scheme Committee constituted by the Government fanning expectations has belied their hope by stating that withdrawal of N PS or guaranteeing minimum pension is not under the purview of the N PS in Committee. Owing to the unduly stringent conditions, and not accepting the financial benefit on hierarchical pattern imposed on MACP, thousands of employee are denied eligible promotion. Revision of pay of employee of autonomous body could not be implemented by the Ministries due to many retrograde conditions imposed by the Finance Ministry. Orders for revision of Pension and grant of Dearness Relief to Autonomous body Pensioners are not yet issued by the Government. In this backdrop the Confederation of Central Government Employee and Workers has to take the lead in protesting by organizing and channelising the anger, disappointment and discontentment of entire Central Government employee and pensioners, including autonomous body employee and Pensioners.

It is decided to organise massive dharna in front of Finance Minister’s Office at North Block, New Delhi on 23rd May 2017 with the following demands before the Government.

• Increase minimum pay and fitment formula.
• Revise allowances including H RA with the existing percentage with effect from 01.01.2016.
• Grant option-I pension parity recommended by 7th CPC.
• Revise pension and grant dearness relief to autonomous body pensioners
• Implement positive recommendations of Kamlesh Chandra Committee on
• Gramin Dak Sevaks. Grant Civil Servant Status.
• Regularise all Casual, Part-Time, Contingent and Contract Workers and grant equal pay for equal work.
• Remove stringent conditions imposed for grant of MACP and grant hierarchical financial benefit to MACP etc.

In respect of allowances, a Common detailed memorandum was submitted by JCM organizations and CCGGOO to 7th Central Pay Commission. 7th CPC took more than 25 months and recommended a faulty & reduced percentage of HRA, Transport Allowances and abolished all other allowances. CCGGOO & JCM organizations objected and Government appointed Empowered Committee. Empowered Committee referred this matter to the Government. Government appointed theAIIowances Committee headed by Finance Secretary. Allowances Committee took more than 10 months and now handed over a report to the Finance Minister. Finance Ministry again refers this report to the Empowered Committee. Empowered Committee will again examine this issue and refer it to the Cabinet. Not only this, after Cabinet approval, we will have to wait for Notifications/ resolution, office orders and anomalies in allowances endorsement thereof. For resolving anomalies in the allowances, another allowance anomaly committee may, in all likelihood, be formed.

Confederation of Central Government Gazetted Officers organisations is also pursuing these demands. As the demands are very much common to the Gazetted officers and Promotee officers, it has been decided to extend solidarity support by the Gazetted Officers to the massive dharna in front of Finance Minister’s Office at North Block, New Delhi on 23rd May 2017. All affiliated organisations of the Confederation of Central Government Gazetted Officers organsiation are requested to mobilise large number of Gazetted Officers available in and around Delhi and make the programme a grand success. It has been further decided to organise a Lunch Hour meeting in the respective field offices and protest against the attitude of the Government on the same day.

Yours Fraternally,

sd/-

S.Mohan

Secretary General

Source: http://ccggoo.blogspot.in/

DOPT Orders - Departmental Promotion Committees Observed The Procedure Of Model Calendar

Departmental Promotion Committees Observed The Procedure Of Model Calendar - DOPT Orders

Procedure to be observed by the Departmental Promotion Committees (DPCs) – Model Calendar for DPCs – Relevant year up to which APARs are to be considered and Model Calendar for conducting DPCs – regarding.

No.22011/4/2013-Estt(D)

Government of India

Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions

(Department of Personnel and Training)

New Delhi,

8th May, 2017

OFFICE MEMORANDUM

Sub: Procedure to be observed by the Departmental Promotion Committees (DPCs) – Model Calendar for DPCs – Relevant year up to which APARs are to be considered and Model Calendar for conducting DPCs – regarding.

The undersigned is directed to invite reference to the Department of Personnel and Training OM of even number dated 8th September, 1998 prescribing a ‘Model Calendar’ for DPCs in order to ensure that DPCs are convened in advance and approved select panels are ready on the date of commencement of the relevant vacancy year and that the last date for sending complete proposal to the UPSC is 15 July (in ACC cases) and 31 July (in non-ACC cases) of the year preceding the vacancy year.

2. Reference is further invited to the Department of Personnel and Training OM of even number dated 16th June, 2000 wherein it was prescribed/clarified that only such ACRs (now APARs) should be considered which became available during the year immediately preceding the vacancy/panel year irrespective of the date of convening of the DPC. In other words, for the vacancy/panel year 2000-01, it was prescribed that ACRs (now APARs) up to the year 1998-99 (five years preceding T-1st year) are required to be considered. Accordingly, for the vacancy year 2017-18, APARs up to the year 2015-16 are required to be considered.

3. Reference is also invited to the Department of Personnel and Training OM No.22011/1/2005- Estt(A)-(Pt-II) dated 23rd July, 2009 on the subject ‘Preparation and Maintenance of APARs’ wherein a time schedule for preparation/completion of APAR has been prescribed. As per this schedule, entire APAR process is to be completed by 30th November of the year following the completion of time period of APAR year.

4. As per the extant instructions, say for vacancy year 2017-18, complete proposal to the UPSC has to be sent by 15 July, 2016 (in ACC cases) and 31 July, 2016 (in non-ACC cases) with APARs up to the year 2015-16. However, the entire process of recording APAR for the year 2015-16 is complete by 30th November, 2016 only. After the issue of guidelines regarding time schedule for completion of APAR, the time lines make it practically impossible to make the last APAR (the APAR of the year immediately preceding T-1th year) available for DPCs, i.e., the APAR for the year 2015-16 does not attain finality and thus may not be available before sending proposal for DPC for vacancy year 2017-18. in this background, the instructions regarding the procedure for convening DPCs have been reviewed in consultation with UPSC.

5. In order to streamline the process of timely convening of DPCs, it has been now decided that henceforth, the following changes may be effected in the DPC procedure in partial modification of this Department OM No. 22011/5/86-Estt.(D) dated 10.4.89, OM No. 22011/9/98-Estt.(D) dated 16.65.2000, OM No. 22011/9/98-Estt.(D) dated 8.9.98 and OM No. 22011/6/2013- Estt.(D) dated 28.5.2014(crucial date of eligibility):

(i) The vacancy year may be shifted to Calendar Year from the year 2018 onwards, wherever the financial year based vacancy year being followed now.

(ii) The crucial date of eligibility will be 1st of January of the Vacancy year w.e.f 2019.

(iii) The APARs for five years preceding T-2nd year may be taken as reckoning APARs, i.e. for the vacancy year 2019 (January 2019 to December, 2019), the reckoning APARs shall be 2016-17, 2015-16, 2014-15, 2013-14 and 2012-13.

(iv) The year of 2018 being the transitional year, the vacancy period shall be from 1st April 2018 to 31st December, 2018. The reckoning APARs for this vacancy year shall be 2015-16, 2014-15, 2013-14, 2012-13 and 2011-12. The crucial date of eligibility shall be 1st April, 2018 for the transitional year

6. Ministries/Departments are requested to give wide circulation to these instructions for guidance in the matter and also to ensure strict adherence to the time-schedule prescribed as per the ‘Model Calendar’ for DPCs.

sd/-

(Jayanthi. G)

Director(E-I)

Authority: www.dopt.gov.in

Grant of House Rent Allowance (HRA) to Railway employees

Grant of House Rent Allowance (HRA) to Railway employees

Grant of House Rent Allowance (HRA) to Railway employees posted at S.A.S. Nagar Mohali at par with Chandigarh rates.

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

RAILWAY BOARD

RBE No.45/2017

No.E(P&A)II-2015/HRA-7

New Delhi, dated 12.05.2017

The General Managers(P)/CAOs,
All Indian Railways and Production Units etc.

Sub: Grant of House Rent Allowance (HRA) to Railway employees posted at S.A.S. Nagar Mohali at par with Changigarh rates.

The question of grant of House Rent Allowance (HRA) at rates admissible in the classified city of Chandigarh (‘Y’ class) to the Railway employees posted at Mohali has been considered in Board’s office in consonance with instructions of Ministry of Finance and the President is pleased to decide that the Railway employees whose place shall be entitled the limits of the notified area committee of S.A.S. Nagar Mohali shall be enttiled to draw HRA at the rates admissible within the classified city of Chandigarh.

2. The grant of HRA under these orders shall be regulated in accordance with the conditions laid down in this Ministry’s letter No.PC-66/HRA-1/21 dated 26.07.1967 as amended from time to time.

3. These orders shall take effect from the date of issue of this letter.

4. This issues with the concurrence of Finance Directorate of Railway Board.

sd/-

(Salim Md.Ahmed)

Deputy Directory/E(P&A)II,

Railway Board.

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