Travelling Allowance And Sitting Fee Pay - UGC

TA and Sitting Fee Payable to Official and Non-Official Members/Experts – UGC

F.No.21-1/2015(FD? 1/B)

Datcd: 22.09.2017

OFFICE MEMORANDUM

TA AND SITTING FEE – PAYABLE TO OFFICIAL AND NON – OFFICIAL MEMBERS/EXPERTS

In supersession of UGC,0? M.No.21-1/2015(FD?1/B)dated 16th March,2016,the rules for TA and Sitting Fee payablc to the offlcial and non?ofncial membcrs/ cxperts win be as under:?

The categories of Of? Icial and Non- Orlcial Members are as fo1lows:?

Serving(State/central)Govcrnment servants,Serni Govemmen? Autonomous Bodies, Employees paid from the consolidated Fund of lndia or through Grants-in-aid are treated as

Official Members.

A? others including retid Government Servants and retired/ex?member of the University Grants Commission or Statutory Bodies viz.Universities, Institutions, Councils, Boards and Societies etc. are to be treated as Non-Official Members.

NOTE

” Permanent Account Number (PAN) allotted by the Income Tax Authorities has to be indicated by the member/expert iwariably while filling up the Bill”. Payment will be made through E-mode in the bank accounts of members mandatorily. Hence, Experts are required to attach a cory of cancelled cheque leaf with their claims.

1. SITTING FEE

l. Rs. 3,000/- per day for per meeting subject to maximum of Rs. 5,000/- per day irrespective of number of meetings in a day.

2. Rs. 5,000/- per day for inspection/visit of various committees institutions/Universities/organizations.

3. Commission Members would also be entitled for sitting fee @ Rs. 5,000/- per day on the date of Commission Meetings.

NOTE

l. Payment of Sitting Fee is subject to T.D.S

2. Officials of Govt. of India who are nominated as Govt. representatives would not be entitled for sitting fee as they attend the meeting in their official capacity as Govt. / Secretary nominee or on ex-officio basis.

2. TRAVELLING ALLOWANCE

Outstation Members/Experts:

(i) Travel by Air: The members (officials as well as non-official) will be entitled to travel by air as per entitlement in service or before retirement as the case may be. Non-entitled members will entitled for journey by air, on specific prior approval of Chairman, UGC. The journey by air is to be performed by Air India on the sectors where it ply. On other sectors, journey by private airlines will be allowed. Any deviation would require prior approval of Chairman, UGC. The memberVexperts entitled to travel by air may travel by public helicopter in case place is not connected by air. However, hiring of charter helicopter, will not be permissible. The claim for airl helicopter joumey is to be supported by original boarding cards.

(ii) Travel by Train: The memberVexperts will be entitled to travel by all trains including Rajdhani Express/Shatabadi Express as per the entitlement in service or before retirement.

NOTE

(a) Air tickets will be arranged by the UGC, Travel Desk whereas train tickets would have to be arranged by the experts.

(b) The cancellation charges/ticket re-scheduling charges shall also be reimbursable in case of cancellation or postponement of meeting by the UGC [For Sl. No.2. (i) & (ii)]. The specific approval for the same would be required for claiming such amount.

(iii) The outstation member/experts for intercity travel from the place of residence/Office to the place of meeting and back or in between the places of residence and meeting place & back (located not more than 350 Kms. each side) may travel either by their own vehicle or by taxi. Documentary evidence of journey performed by Own vehicle will have to be submitted. In case of hired taxi receipt is to be produced, road mileage @ Rs. 20/- per K.M. or amount actually paid which ever is less will be allowed for such joumeys on point to point basis. In case ofjoumey undertaken in NER, road mileage would be enhanced by 20% subject to actual expenditure. No night halting or driver allowance will be allowed. If the particular route have toll plazas, the taxi/car claim will be admitted only if it is supported with the receipts of toll taxes or inter-state entry tax. The toll taxes/entry tax etc., will additionally be reimbursed in such cases.

If the distance is more than 350 Kms (each side), either the road mileage will be restricted to 350 Kms or to the fare of train as per entitlement or AC bus as available on that particular route (as per the option ofexpert).

(iv) The local taxi fse at State Tr&sport Autbority (STA) rates applicable in the State from residerrcey office to Airport/Railway Station/Bus Stand and from Place of meeting to Airport/Railway Station/Bus Stand is payable. Whrere there are no rates notified by State Transport authority, the Taxi or Own Car fare @ Rs.20/- per km shall be reimbursable. The re-imbursement of pre-paid or post-paid taxi fare (including toll taxes) on point to point basis will be allowed on actual basis on production of receipt. Taxi fare for full day will not be reimbursed.

(v) The night charges @ 25% will additionally be allowed if starting the joumey by road/by own car or taxi between 11.00 p.m. to 5.00 a.m. [For Sl. No. 2. (iv)].

Local Experts

Local Experts will be reimbursed taxi or own vehicle charges @) Rs.20/- per K.m. from residence/office to the place of meeting & back on point to point basis. Taxi for full day will not be allowed for reimbursement.

3. DAILY ALLOWANCE

(i) Outstation Members/Experts

Following rates of Food & Lodging etc., will be applicable to the Experts:?

*l. Lodging charges are admissible subject to actuals on production of receipts.

2. Food charges will be re-imbursed on self certification.

3. No lodging charges will be paid if self arrangement is made.

4. The rates of food and lodging will further increase by 25o/o automatically

whenever DA in Govt. of India increases by 5A%.

(ii) Local Members/Experts:

No boarding & Lodging charges are payable to Local Members/Experts.

4. UGC Officers/Officials will be covered under FR/SRs (TA) Rules. Hence, these orders would not be applicable to them.

5. This issues with the approval of Chairman, UGC Dy. No. 32811 dated 19.09.2017.

sd/-

(P.K. Thakur)

Secretary

Authority: www.ugc.ac.in

Meeting With BPMS Delegation

Meeting held with Hon’ble RM Smt Nirmala Sitharaman on 09.11.2017

REF: BPMS / MOD / Meeting / 173 (8/1/M)

Date: 09.11.2017

To,

Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman,

Defence Minister, Government of India,

South Block, New Delhi

Subject – Meeting with BPMS delegation.

Hon?ble Madam,

We are grateful to your good self for granting an opportunity to reflect our concerns/views on the following matters:-

1. On the recommendations of Shekatkar Committee/Committee of Experts, 14 Station Workshops, 04 Ordnance Depots, 43 Military Farms, Army Postal Services are going to be closed down/disbanded. All the Army Base Workshops are going to be run on the „GOCO? model. Implementation of the above will affect the 31012 permanent Civilian employees and more than 01 lakh indirect workers.

Disbandment of above Defence Installation will adversely affect the job opportunities to the communities like Scheduled Caste, Scheduled Tribe, Other Backward Classes, Minorities, Female, Differently Able Persons, Meritorious Sports Persons, reemployment of ex-serviceman, regional development through direct/indirect employment, non-employment issues like school/colleges, market, hospitals etc. in the vicinity of the establishments, monopolistic approach by the private players, public

welfare.

In such circumstances, how can the Government fulfill the dreams of Hon?ble Prime Minister of India Shri Narendra Modi “Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas: Collective Efforts, Inclusive Growth”?

Considering the impact on the regular employees, casual workers, contract workers and society as a stakeholder due to disbandment of above defence establishments, this federation requests to your good self to reconsider and revoke the decision of disbandment/closure of these Defence Installations.

2. Grant of one time relaxation from the ceiling of 5% limit for compassionate appointment in Defence establishments is pending since long in Min of Defence. You are requested to expedite the same.

3. You are requested to grant a separate meeting for discussion on vital issues of Ordnance Factory Organization (OFB).

Thanking you in anticipation.

Sincerely yours

(MUKESH SINGH)

Secretary BPMS

Source: BPMS

DOPPW - 7th CPC Pension Fixation For Medical Officers

7th CPC Pension Fixation for Medical officers retired during 1.1.2016 to 30.6.2017

No.38/37/16-P&PW(A)(iv)

Ministry of Personnel, PG & Pensions

Department of Pension & Pensioners’ Welfare

3rd Floor, Lok Nayak Bhawan

Khan Market, New Delhi

Dated, the 8th November, 2017

OFFICE MEMORANDUM

Sub:- Implementation of Government’s decision on the recommendations of the Seventh Central Pay Commission — Fixation of Pension of Medical Officers retired during 1.1.2016 to 30.6.2017

In accordance with Rule 33 of Central Civil Services (Pension) Rules, 1972 the emoluments reckoned for calculation of pension include Non-practicing Allowance (NPA) granted to medical officers in lieu of private practice.

2. In the case of medical officers who have retired from 1.1.2016 to 30.6.2017, the pension is based on emoluments which included NPA @ 25% of the pre-revised pay. Orders have been issued by Ministry of Finance (Department of Expenditure) vide OM No.12-2/2016-EIII.A dated 7th July, 2017 for grant of NPA to serving medical officers @ 20% of basic pay w.e.f. 1.7.2017. Accordingly, the medical officers retired/retiring on or after 1.7.2017 are entitled to pension based on emoluments which include NPA at the rate of 20% of the revised basic pay.

3. The matter regarding revision of pension of the medical officers who retired during 1.1.2016 to 30.6.2017 based on revised rate of NPA has been examined by the Government. It has been decided that the pension/family pension in respect of medical officers who retired/died during 1.1.2016 to 30.6.2017 shall be further revised w.e.f. 1.7.2017 by adding NPA @ 20% to the basic pay on the date of retirement.

4. The fixation of pension/family pension of retired medical officers in the above manner will be further subject to the condition that emoluments (i.e. Basic Pay + NPA) to be reckoned for pension do not exceed Rs.2,37,500/- (Rupees two lakh thirty seven thousand and five hundred only).

5. This issues with the approval of Ministry of Finance, Department of Expenditure vide their I.D. No. 1(18)/E-V/2017 dated 23rd October, 2017.

6. Hindi version will follow.

sd/-

(Harjit Singh)

Director

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

7th CPC - Newspaper. Internet, Mobile Phone Allowances In The Committee Report

Internet Allowance, Newspaper Allowance, Mobile Phone Allowance  : Recommendations of the Committee

Internet Allowance, Newspaper Allowance, Mobile Phone Allowance (Para 8.17.59-61)

Existing Provisions: These allowances are administered differently in Ministries as per their requirements. These are also subject to instructions issued in this regard by D/o Expenditure from time to time.

Recommendations of 7th CPC: The 7th CPC has recommended that the Ministries should continue dealing with these allowances on their own, subject to the ceilings notified by the Ministry of Finance. The present ceilings should, however, be raised by 25 percent and the entire amount should be paid, lump sum, to the eligible employees without the need for production of vouchers.

Demand:

M/o Health & FW: This allowance may be granted to Nurses at par with other Central  Government employees. It was argued that for Nurses working in Central Government  Hospital and for Public Health Nurses, mobile phone is the only means to remain connected with patients / higher authorities.

Analysis and Recommendations of the Committee:

The Committee notes that the demand of the Ministry of Health & FW is to add a new category of beneficiary. It does not, therefore, come under the purview of the Committee. The recommendations of the 7 th CPC in regard to these allowances are aimed at simplifying the procedures governing these allowances and should be implemented to the extent possible at the earliest.

source : http://www.doe.gov.in/

7th CPC - MARCOS And Chariot Allowance In The Committee Report

MARCOS and Chariot Allowance Status in 7th pay Commission

MARCOS and Chariot Allowance (Para 8.10.31, 8.10.68)

Existing Provisions: This allowance is granted to marine commandos of Indian Navy. The current rates are as under:

Recommendations of 7th CPC:The 7th CPC has recommended that this allowance should be paid as per Cell R1H1 of the Risk and Hardship Matrix @₹25,000/- per month for level 9 and above and ₹17,300/- pm upto level 8.

Demands:

Defence Forces: This allowance may be granted to officers in the ranks of Major to Colonel @₹31500 pm (same as Siachen Allowance) as the rate of the allowance earlier was at par with Siachen Allowance.

Analysis and Recommendations of the Committee:

According to the 7th CPC, no government employee faces as much risk/ hardship as the defence forces posted in Siachen. It is for this reason that RH – Max cell has been proposed. MoD has not made any recommendations in this regard. Moreover, creating a separate category of officers between the level of Major and Colonel goes against the stated objective of the 7th CPC to simplify and rationalise the structure of allowances. The recommendations of the 7th CPC on MARCOS and Chariot Allowance may, therefore, be accepted without any change.

source : http://www.doe.gov.in/

7th CPC - National Holiday Allowance In The Committee Report

National Holiday Allowance (Para 8.6.11-12) Recommend of the Committee 7th Central Pay Commission

National Holiday Allowance (Para 8.6.11-12)

Existing Provisions: This allowance is paid to non-gazetted Railway employees who are rostered to work on a „National Holiday‟. The existing rates are:

1. Pay up to ₹7260 @ ₹256 per day

2. Pay ₹7261-₹9700 @ ₹318 per day

3. ₹9701 and above (limited to non-gazetted staff) @ ₹420 per day

Recommendations of 7th CPC: The 7th CPC has recommended to increase the rates by a factor of 1.5 as under:

1. L. 1 and 2 @ ₹384 per day

2. L. 3 to 5 @ ₹477 per day

3. L.6 to 8 (limited to non-gazetted staff) @ ₹630 per day

The rate of allowance will further increase by 25 percent each time DA rises by 50 percent.

Demand:

National Council (Staff Side), JCM: There are also employees working in similar conditions in other Ministries and Departments. Therefore, this allowance must be granted to all nongazetted employees who are required to work on National Holidays.

Analysis and Recommendations of the Committee:

The demand for granting this allowance to those employees who were not in receipt of this allowance does not fall within the purview of this Committee. The recommendations of the 7th CPC on National Holiday Allowance may be accepted without any change

source: http://www.doe.gov.in

CGHS - Simplification Of Procedure For Treatment

Simplification of Procedure for Treatment at Private Hospitals Empanelled under CGHS/CS (MA) Rules, 1944

Z 15025/105/2017/DIR/CGHS/EHS

Government of India

Ministry of Health & Family Welfare

Department of Health & Family Welfare

EHS Section

***

File No.Z15025/105/2017/DIR/CGHS

Nirman Bhawan, New Delhi

Dated the 9 th November, 2017

OFFICE MEMORANDUM

Sub: Simplification of procedure for treatment at private hospitals empanelled under CGHS/CS (MA) Rules, 1944

With reference to the above mentioned subject the undersigned is directed to state that this Ministry has been receiving representations for simplification of procedure for undergoing treatment at private hospitals empanelled under CGHS. The matter has been examined and it has now been decided that CGHS beneficiaries are allowed to undergo treatment at private hospitals empanelled under CGHS of specific treatment procedures listed under CGHS rate list are advised by a Specialist in a Central Government / State Govt. Specialist hospital or a CGHS Medical Officer without any requirement of any other referral (permission) letter.

2. Private empanelled hospitals shall perform the treatment on cashless basis in respect of pensioners, ex-MPs, Freedom Fighters, Regular employees {both CGHS and CS (MA) beneficiaries} of this Ministry & other categories of CGHS beneficiaries, who are presently eligible for credit facility and shall enclose the prescription issued by Government Specialist or a CGHS Medical Officer, in original (or a self-attested photocopy) along with the hospital bill submitted to the competent authorities.

3. Serving government employees shall enclose the prescription issued by a Government Specialist or a CGHS Medical Officer in original (or a self-attested photocopy), while submitting the medical claim to the concerned Ministry /department/office for reimbursement.

4. CGHS Medical Officer / Government Specialist shall not refer the beneficiaries to any particular empanelled hospital by name but, shall specify the treatment procedure and mention ‘referred to any CGHS empanelled centre’.

5. These orders are applicable only in respect of treatment procedures for which CGHS rates are available.

6. This issue with the concurrence of IFD vide FTS No. 3130849, dated 09.11.2017.

[Sunil Kumar Gupta]

Under Secretary to Government of India

Tel- 011-2306 1986

Source:http://cghs.gov.in

7th CPC - Leave Travel Concession (LTC) In The Committee Report

Leave Travel Concession (LTC) : Report of Committe – 7th CPC

Leave Travel Concession (LTC) (Para 8.15.28-34)

Existing Provisions: It is granted to facilitate home travel as well as travel to different parts of the country. Presently two hometown visits are allowed in a block of four years with one hometown visit substitutable with “All India” visit. However, for the first two 4-year blocks, three hometown visits and one “All India” visit are permissible. It is not granted to personnel whose spouse is working in Indian Railways.

Recommendations of 7th CPC: Splitting of hometown LTC to be allowed in case of employees posted in North East, Ladakh and Island territories of Andama n, Nicobar and Lakshadweep. Presently, personnel of Defence forces serving in field/high altitude/CI Ops areas are granted one additional free railway warrant. This should be extended to all personnel of CAPFs and the Indian Coast Guard mutatis mutandis.

Demands:

I. Ministry of Home Affairs: Additional LTC (to and fro journey by Railways) may be extended to all CAPF personnel working anywhere on Ops duty and not in respect of personnel serving in Field/ high altitude/ CI Ops areas only as they discharge their responsibilities in extremely difficult areas which lead to increase in stress level and  hence require to visit their families.

II. Defence Forces: Additional Free Passage granted to Indian Army be extended to similarly placed Naval Officers. However, this demand has not been supported by the MoD as Navy Officers are not posted in the Field / High Altitude Areas.

Analysis and Recommendations of the Committee:

The Committee notes that the benefit presently available to personnel of Defence Forces is being extended mutatis mutandis to CAPFs and Indian Coast Guard. Also, personnel of Indian Navy are not deployed on Field / High Altitude / CI Ops duties. Therefore, the recommendations of the 7th CPC on LTC may be accepted without any change. However, the Committee is also of the view that as the Indian Navy personnel are not deployed for Field Duties, additional free Railway Warrant to Indian Coast Guard may also not be granted.

source : http://www.doe.gov.in/

DRDO Conducts Successful Flight Trial of 'NIRBHAY' Sub-Sonic Cruise Missile

DRDO Conducts Successful Flight Trial of 'NIRBHAY' Sub-Sonic Cruise Missile 

Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) achieved yet another feat today with the successful test flight of ‘NIRBHAY’ - India’s first indigenously designed and developed Long Range Sub-Sonic Cruise Missile which can be deployed from multiple platforms. It was successfully test fired from the Integrated Test Range (ITR), Chandipur, Odisha. The missile has the capability to loiter and cruise at 0.7 Mach, at altitudes as low as 100 m. The flight test achieved all the mission objectives completely from lift-off till the final splash, boosting the confidence of all scientists associated with the trial. 

The missile took-off in the programmed manner and all critical operations viz. launch phase, booster deployment, engine start, wing deployment and other operational parameters demonstrated through autonomous way point navigation. The guidance, control and navigation system of the missile is configured around the indigenously designed Ring Laser Gyroscope (RLG) and MEMS based Inertial Navigation System (INS) along with GPS system. The missile majestically cruised for a total time duration of 50 minutes, achieving the range of 647 km. The missile was tracked with the help of ground based radars and other parameters were monitored by indigenous telemetry stations developed by DRDO. 

Raksha Mantri Smt Nirmala Sitharaman, hailed the success of DRDO Scientists and complimented them for this inspired achievement. She was optimistic that this successful trial would take India to the select League of Nations for possessing this complex technology and sub-sonic cruise missile capability.

Chairman DRDO and Secretary Department of Defence (R&D), Dr. S Christopher, DG (Aero) Dr. CP Ramanarayanan, Director ADE, RCI , ITR and CEMILAC, along with other senior DRDO scientists and user representatives from Army witnessed the momentous launch and congratulated the team ‘NIRBHAY’ for making DRDO proud for the long awaited achievement.

Source: PIB News

AIRF - 7th CPC Health And Malaria Allowance

Implementation of recommendations of Seventh Central Pay Commission as accepted by the Government- Health and Malaria Allowance – RBE 159/2017

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

(MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS)

(RAILWAY BOARD)

PC-VII No. 7 0
RBE No. 159/2017

New Delhi, dated 27.10.2017

No. E(P&A)I-2017 /SP-1/Genl-2

The General Managers and Principal Financial Advisers,
All Indian Railways & Production Units.

Sub: Implementation of recommendations of Seventh Central Pay Commission as accepted by the Government- Health and Malaria Allowance.

Consequent upon the decisions taken by the government on the recommendations of the Seventh Central Pay Commission relating to revision of allowances, the President is pleased to revise the rates of Health and Malaria Allowance, granted to Health and Malaria Inspectors (Health Inspectors) in Indian Railways. The allowance will be paid as per cell R3H3 of the Risk and Hardship Matrix. The rate of this allowance will be Rs. 1000/- per month upto level 8 in Pay Matrix (VII CPC) and ~1200/per month for level 9 and above in Pay Matrix(VII CPC).

2. The rate of this allowance will further increase by 25 percent each time DA rises by 50 percent.

3. The revised rates of allowance shall be admissible with effect from Ist  July, 2017.

4. This issues with the concurrence of the Finance Directorate of the Ministry of Railways.

5. Please acknowledge receipt.

No. E(P&A)I-2017 /SP-1/Genl-2

(Anil Kumar)

Dy. Director/E(P&A)-1

Railway Board

New Delhi, dated 27 .10.2017

Source: AIRF

7th CPC - HBA Rules For CG Employees

7th CPC : House Building Advance (HBA) rules for Central Government Employees

House Building Advance 2017

The Government has revised the House Building Advance (HBA) rules for Central Government Employees incorporating the accepted recommendations of the 7th Pay Commission. Following are the salient features of the new rules:-

1. The total amount of advance that a central government employee can borrow from government has been revised upwards. The employee can up to borrow 34 months of the basic pay subject to a maximum of Rs. 25 lakhs (Rs. Twenty Five Lakhs only), or cost of the house/flat, or the amount according to repaying capacity, whichever is the least for new construction/purchase of new house/flat. Earlier this limit was only Rs.7.50 lakhs.

2. Similarly, the HBA amount for expansion of the house has been revised to a maximum of Rs.10 lakhs or 34 months of basic pay or cost of the expansion of the house or amount according to repaying capacity, whichever is least. This amount was earlier Rs.1.80 lakhs.

3. The cost ceiling limit of the house which an employee can construct/ purchase has been revised to Rs.1.00 crore with a proviso of upward revision of 25% in deserving cases. The earlier cost ceiling limit was Rs.30 lakhs.

4. Both spouses, if they are central government employees, are now eligible to take HBA either jointly, or separately. Earlier only one spouse was eligible for House Building Advance.

5. There is a provision for individuals migrating from home loans taken from Financial Institutions/ Banks to HBA, if they so desire.

6. The provision for availing ‘second charge’ on the house for taking loans to fund balance amount from Banks/ Financial Institutions has been simplified considerably. ‘No Objection Certificate’ will be issued along with sanction order of HBA, on employee’s declaration.

7. Henceforth, the rate of Interest on Housing Building Advance shall be at only one rate of 8.50% at simple interest (in place of the earlier four slabs of bearing interest rates ranging from 6% to 9.50% for different slabs of HBA which ranged from Rs.50,000/- to Rs.7,50,000/-) .

8. This rate of interest shall be reviewed every three years. All cases of subsequent tranches/ installments of HBA being taken by the employee in different financial years shall be governed by the applicable rate of interest in the year in which the HBA was sanctioned, in the event of change in the rate of interest. HBA is admissible to an employee only once in a life time.

9. The clause of adding a higher rate of interest at 2.5% (two point five percent) above the prescribed rate during sanction of House Building Advance stands withdrawn. Earlier the employee was sanctioned an advance at an interest rate of 2.5% above the scheduled rates with the stipulation that if conditions attached to the sanction including those relating to the recovery of amount are fulfilled completely, to the satisfaction of the competent authority, a rebate of interest to the extent of 2.5% was allowed.

10. The methodology of recovery of HBA shall continue as per the existing pattern recovery of principal first in the first fifteen years in 180 monthly instalments and interest thereafter in next five years in 60 monthly instalments.

11. The house/flat constructed/purchased with the help of House Building advance can be insured with the private insurance companies which are approved by Insurance Regulatory Development Authority (IRDA).

12. This attractive package is expected to incentivize the government employee to buy house/ flat by taking the revised HBA along with other bank loans, if required. This will give a fillip to the Housing infrastructure sector.

Source: PIB News

Confederation - Mass Dharna

Mass Dharna before Parliament Against Anti-worker, Anti-people and Anti-national Policies

CENTRAL TRADE UNIONS AND INDEPENDENT FEDERATIONS HAVE DECIDED TO GO AHEAD WITH MAHA DHARNA AFTER TALKS WITH LABOUR MINISTER.

The Joint Platform of Central Trade Unions, comprising Central Trade Union Organisations and all major industry/establishment wise federations have decided to stage three days’ mass dharna before Parliament against the anti-worker, anti-people and anti-national policies of the Central Govt on 9-11 November 2017. The Joint Trade Union Platform represents workers and employees from all major sectors of industries and services viz., coal, steel, transport, telecom, petroleum, electricity, port & docks, engineering, construction, scheme-workers etc and employees of Central Govt and state govt, Railways, banks, insurance, defence production, etc. This ‘mahapadav’ is intended to demand the government to concede the unanimous demands which the joint trade union movement has been raising since the last over eight years. It is a step towards preparation for the next higher phase of united struggles including indefinite countrywide strike action, if the government continues to ignore the demands of the workers and proceed with its pro corporate agenda.

The anti-people and anti worker policies of Govt at the centre are inflicting horrific miseries and hardships on the crores of common people from every walk of life. Unemployment is getting aggravated with every passing day, calling the bluff on the Modi Govt’s promise of generating additional two crore employment every year. In fact employment generation has already turned negative following the increasing phenomenon of closure and shut-down of industries. Demonetisation, under the utterly false pretext of curbing black money, had further depressed wages and perpetuated closure of industries. It has shattered the entire economy, particularly the unorganised sector, the SME sector and the small traders and peasants in turn adversely impacting the lives, wages and earnings of crores of toiling people. Even after one year, the economy is yet to recover from its damaging impact. Hasty implementation of GST had further aggravated the miseries of people through fuelling price rise and jeopardising services, trade and various occupations. Despite the sharp fall in international price of crude oil, the government refuses to pass on the relief to the common people; instead, the prices of petrol, diesel and cooking gas are continuously increased resulting in cascading effect on the prices of all essential commodities.

The Govt has been arrogantly ignoring the 12 point charter of demands including minimum wage, social security and workers’ status and accompanying benefits for the scheme workers; it is going ahead with privatisation and mass scale contractorisation. The constitutional and statutory provisions for ensuring ‘same wages and benefits for same work’ are being denied to contract workers despite Supreme Court’s categorical judgment. The Govt has recklessly embarked upon privatisation of all public utility services like health, education, transport, Indian Railways, financial services electricity, water etc through multiple routes including whole sale outsourcing. It has allowed 100% FDI in almost all sensitive sectors including defence production, railways, oil, minerals, port and dock etc. It is destroying indigenous production capabilities to serve the interests of MNCs, under the dubious veil of “Make in India” slogan. The national interests are being severely compromised through such disastrous moves.

In addition, in order to promote “ease of doing business”, the Govt has embarked on arrogant pro-employer amendments of all labour laws aimed at imposing conditions of slavery on the working people. Already, the text of the Code on Wages Bill, Code on Industrial Relations Bill, Code on Social Security Bill, Factory (Amendment) Bill etc are in public domain. All these are designed to push the overwhelming majority of workers and employees out of the regulatory purview of most of the labour laws, curb workers’ right to form unions and protest/agitate including right to strike, and dismantle whatever existing meagre social security provisions.

Simultaneously, the communal forces, with the open and active patronage of the Govt and ruling polity are carrying out a dubious divisive and disruptive campaign to spread hatred among people, killing innocent people, particularly from the most downtrodden sections. The country is witnessing the conspiracy to create unprecedented disruption in the unity of the toiling people of the country. Trade unions are fighting against such disastrous designs of spreading poison of disruption in the society.

The Govt’s response to the 12 point charter of demands, in the meeting with all central Trade Unions called by the Labour Ministry on 7th November 2017, remains virtually negative on all counts reflecting their bias against the interests of the mass of the working people.

In totality, the policies of the Govt are destructive towards the interests of the workers, farmers and the common people at large and also against the national interest.

Representing the workers who generate the GDP and the wealth for the country, the true patriotic people concerned about welfare of all sections of toiling people, the Joint platform of united trade union movement is in a struggle to save the people and the country and force a reversal of the anti-people and anti-national policy regime. This determination is getting reflected in numerous struggles, agitations and strikes in various sectors of the economy, both organised and unorganised, during the intervening period. Lakhs of workers from all over the country and across the sectors are going to converge in the massive three days dharna before the Parliament on 9-11 November 2017 to pave the way for further heightened resistance struggle in the days to come to reverse and defeat the anti-people and anti-national policy regime in order to save the country and the people.

      INTUC | AITUC | HMS | CITU | AIUTUC | TUCC |

SEWA | AICCTU | LPF| UTUC

Source: Confederation

NFIR - 7th CPC Travelling Allowance Rules

Travelling Allowance Rules - Implementation of the recommendation of Seventh Central Pay Commission reg.

Government of India / Bharat Sarkar

Ministry of Railways / Rail Mantralaya

(Railway Board)

PC.VII No. 61

RBE No138/2017

No.F(E)I/2017/AL-28/41

New Delhi, dated 25.09,2017

The General Managers,

All Indian Railways etc.

(As per Standard Mailing List)

Sub: Travelling Allowance Rules - Implementation of the recommendation of Seventh Central Pay Commission reg.

In partial modification of Board's letter of even number dated 24.08.2017 on the subject, it has been decided by Board that para 2.A (i) & (ii) may be modified to read as under:

(i) Officers in level 14 and above, while on tour may be entitled for'Air Travel in "J"/ Business Class.

(ii) All other Officers, otherwise authorized to travel by Air may be entitied to Travel by economy class.'

Further, it has also been decided by Board that in partial modification of item i (vii) of Board's letter No.2015-B-235 dated 27.07.2017, Officers in JAG/SG would be entitled for one way travel by economy class, if required on justification that Air travel is unavoidable. For JAG/SG cases of Air Travel, conditions mentioned in Note under para-22 of Delegation of powers to GM circulated vide Board's letter No.F(X)II-2O15/PW/7 dated 12.06.2017 will need to be complied with.

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

sd/-

(Sonali Chaturvedi)

Dy. Director Finance (Estt),

Railway Board

Source: NFIR