GDS Kamlesh Chandra Committee Recommendations will be implemented soon

GDS Kamlesh Chandra Committee Recommendations will be implemented soon – Minister replied in Parliament on 27th December, 2017

Minister of State (IC) for Communications & Railways, Shri Manoj Sinha, in a written reply to a question on GDS Kamlesh Chandra Committee Report, in Lok Sabha on 27.12.2017 informed that a One Man Committee has been constituted to look into the salary structure, other service matters and problems of Gramin Dak Sevaks under the Chairmanship of Shri Kamlesh Chandra.

The Committee has submitted its report to the Government. The salient features are given in the Annexure.

The recommendations of the Committee have been considered by the Department. After getting the necessary approvals from all concerned, the recommendation of the Committee will be implemented.

Annexure : Salient features  of the One Man Committee Report headed by Shri Kamlesh Chandra

• The old system of payment of Time Related Continuity Allowance (TRCA) is dispensed with and replaced with a new wage payment system. Under the new wage payment system, 11 TRCA slabs are subsumed into 3 Wage Scales with two Levels each for BPMs and for other than BPMs. One wage scale would be common for both the categories of GDSs.
• The minimum working hours of GDS Post Offices and GDSs are increased to 4 hours from 3 hours.
• The new working hours for GDS Post Offices will be 4 hours and 5 hours only.
• The Level 1 GDS Post Offices / GDSs will have 4 hours as working hours and Level – 2 will have 5 hours as working hours.
• The Point System for assessment of workload of BPMs has been abolished.
• The new wage payment system is linked to revenue generation of GDS Post Offices. Under the new system, there will be no increase in wages of BPMs from Level -1 to Level -2 on the basis of workload but the same will be increased based on achievement of prescribed revenue norms which is fixed at 100% for normal areas and 50% for special areas.
• The GDS Post Offices not achieving the prescribed revenue norm within the given working hours will have to open GDS Post Offices for minimum of additional 30 minutes beyond the prescribed working hours.
• The GDS BPMs will be paid Revenue Linked Allowance @10% beyond level-2 wage scale if they will be successful in achieving revenue beyond prescribed norms
• The GDS Post Offices has been categorized into A, B; C and D categories based on the revenue generation norms. The GDS Post Office in A category will achieve 100% revenue norm. The Committee has recommended a set of actions for each category of GDS Post Offices.
• The six approved categories of GDSs are subsumed into two categories only. One category will be Branch Post Master and all other 5 categories of GDSs are subsumed into one Multi Tasking Category.
• The GDSs working in the GDS Post Offices will be known as Assistant Branch Post Master (ABPMs) and those working in the Departmental Post Offices will be known as Dak Sevak (DS).
• The minimum wage has been increased to Rs. 10000/- per month and maximum pay to Rs. 35480/- per month.
• The rate of annual increase is recommended as 3%.
• A Composite Allowance comprising of support for hiring accommodation for GDS Post Offices as well as mandatory residence, office maintenance, mobile and electricity usage charges etc. has been introduced for the first time.
• Children Education Allowance @Rs. 6000/- per child per annum has been introduced for GDSs.
• Risk & Hardship Allowance @Rs. 500/- per month for GDS working in the special areas has also been introduced.
• A Financial up-gradation has been introduced at 12 years, 24 years and 36 years of services in form of two advance additional annual increases.
• The Ceiling of ex-gratia gratuity has been increased from Rs. 60,000 to Rs. 5,00,000
• The GDS Contribution for Service Discharge Benefit Scheme (SDBS) should be enhanced maximum up to 10% and minimum up to 3% of the basic wage per month, whereas the Department should contribute a fixed contribution of 3% of the basic wage of the GDSs.
• The coverage of GDS Group Insurance Scheme has been enhanced from Rs. 50000/- to Rs. 5,00,000/
• The contribution of Department in Circle Welfare Fund (CWF) has been increased from Rs. 100/ per annum to Rs. 300/ per annum.
• The scope of CWF is extended to cover immediate family members such as spouse; daughters, sons and dependent daughters in law in the scheme.
• The Committee also recommended 10% hike in the prescribed limits of financial grants and assistances in the Circle Welfare Funds.
• The Committee has recommended addition of Rs. 10,000/ for purchase of Tablet / Mobile from the Circle Welfare in the head “Financial Assistance of Fund by way of loans with lower rate of interest (5%)”.
• Provision of 26 weeks of Maternity Leave for women GDS has been recommended.
• The wages for the entire period of Maternity Leave is recommended to be paid from salary head from where wages of GDSs are paid.
• The Committee has also recommended one week of paternity leave.
• Leave accumulation and encashment facility up to 180 days has been introduced.
• Online system of engagement has been recommended.
• Alternate livelihood condition for engagement of GDSs has been relaxed.
• Voluntary Discharge scheme has been recommended.
• The Discharge age has been retained at 65 years.
• The Limited Transfer Facility has been relaxed from 1 time to 3 times for male GDSs. There will be no restriction on number of chances for transfer of women GDSs. The powers for transfer has been delegated to the concerned Divisional head.
• The ex-gratia payment during put off period should be revised to 35% from 25% of the wage and DA drawn immediately before put off.
• The Committee has recommended preferring transfer before put off duty.

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NFIR - New Year Message

New Year Message from NFIR

No.IV/NFIR/7 CPC(Imp)/Allowance/2016/Part I

Dated: 25/12/2017

MESSAGE

Dear Brothers/Sisters,

We Will be celebrating New Year Day on January 1, 208 with disappointment and  agony as the Government has done grave injustice by reducing the percentage or various  Allowances and also by not granting the Allowances from 1st January. 2016. Almost all Railway employees in all corners Of Indian Railways have been deprived Of their legitimate Allowances in terms Of percentages existed prior to acceptance Of 7th CPC report.

The Running Staff, Brothers/Sisters, are aware that NFIR has placed cogent case before the Railway Board for hiking Kilometrage rates on the basis of Running Allowance formula and revision of TA rates. Our presentation was admired by the Running Staff. The Railway Board has discussed with NFIR twice on revision of Running Allowance rates and on both the occasions we conveyed the logic for upward revision or mileage rates and also revision of other related Allowances.

It is sad to mention that the decisions reached negotiated settlement concerning various categories of employees are yet to be implemented while we are walking into New Year on 1st January, 2018. As part of celebrations, everyone of us should convey our deep sense Of disappointment and anguish to the Railway Ministry and the Government and at the same time urge the Government to respond to our issues quickly and positively.

Yours fraternally,

sd/-

(Dr. M.Raghavaiah)

General Secretary

Source: NFIR

Re-Employment Of Armed Forces Personnel

Re-Employment of Armed Forces Personnel

Government provides non-monetary benefits such as travel concessions, health amenities, housing facilities, re-employment and pension concessions to serving and retired defence personnel including their family members. The details of the benefits are as under:

Travel Concessions:- The service personnel and their dependents including father, mother, brothers and sisters, if otherwise dependent on service personnel, are entitled for LTC from Duty Station to Home Station and back once in a year.

The service personnel and their dependents consisting of wife and dependent children are authorised for LTC from Duty Station to anywhere in India once in alternate year. In case the said concession is availed by personnel, the concession of travel entitlement from Duty Station to Home Station will be forgone. Retired defence personnel are not entitled for LTC.

The Chakra series Gallantry awardees and widows after their demise are granted complimentary Card passes for travel in trains.

The Chakra series Gallantry awardees and widows after their demise are offered concession in Economy Class Fare by Air India.

Health Amenities: In the case of Serving personnel & their dependents all medical facilities (both in and out-patient treatment) except for in-patient treatment for dependents with psychiatric ailments, is provided as per the guidelines.

Ex-Servicemen & their Dependents are provided medical facilities under Ex-servicemen Contributory Health Scheme (ECHS) through ECHS Polyclinics, Government and empanelled hospitals.

Housing Facilities: All serving defence personnel are entitled for house / HRA as per the existing regulations. Retired defence personnel can retain authorised accommodations upto three months post retirement but are not entitled to housing facility thereafter.

Re-employment: Reservations are provided in Government jobs, Central Public Sector Enterprises, Nationalised Banks//Financial Institutions to Ex-servicemen. Reservations are also provided in Central Public Sector Enterprises and Nationalised Banks to dependents of servicemen killed in action.

Pension Concessions: Serving personnel on completion of requisite Qualifying Service are entitled for pensionary benefits. In case of death after retirement, the wife/eligible member of the family is entitled for family pension subject to fulfilment of conditions. In case of death of a service personnel while in service, the wife/eligible member of the family will be entitled for family pension i.e. ordinary Family Pension/ Special Family pension/ Liberalised Family Pension or Dependent pension depending upon the attributability or aggravation of death to or by service.

Provisions for re-employment of Ex-servicemen in jobs already exist. The details of reservation available to Ex-servicemen is as under:

In Central Government Ministries / Departments: 10% Direct recruitment posts upto the level of Asst. Commandant in Central Para Military Forces.

10% Direct recruitment posts in Group ‘C’.

20% Direct recruitment posts in Group ‘D’.

In Central Public Sector Enterprises: 14.5% in Group ‘C’ Posts.

24.5% in Group ‘D’ Posts

(including 4.5% for disabled ESM/ dependents of servicemen killed in action).

Nationalised Banks: 14.5% in Group ‘C’ Posts.

24.5% in Group ‘D’ Posts

(including 4.5% for disabled ESM/ dependents of servicemen killed in action).

This information was given by Raksha Rajya Mantri Dr. Subhash Bhamre in a written reply to Smt Poonam Mahajan in Lok Sabha today.

Promotion of Defence Production

Promotion of Defence Production

Defence manufacturing is primarily driven by capital acquisition of defence equipment. Under ‘Make in India’ initiative of the Government, several measures have been taken to promote indigenous design, development and manufacture of defence equipment in the country by harnessing the capabilities of the public and private sector. These measures include according preference to procurement from Indian vendors under the Defence Procurement Procedure (DPP), liberalization of the licensing regime and FDI policy by raising the cap on FDI in the defence sector, simplification of export procedure, streamlining of defence offset guidelines etc. Recently, the Government has notified the ‘Strategic Partnership (SP)’ Model which envisages establishment of long-term strategic partnerships with Indian entities through a transparent and competitive process, wherein they would tie up with global Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) to seek technology transfers to set up domestic manufacturing infrastructure and supply chains.

In the last three financial years i.e., 2014-15 to 2016-17, the Government has accorded Acceptance of Necessity (AoN) for 105 proposals worth Rs.2,33,000 Crore approximately, in ‘Buy (Indian-Indigenously Designed & Developed Manufactured (IDDM)’, ‘Buy (Indian)’, ‘Buy and Make (Indian)’ and ‘Make’ categories of capital acquisition i.e. Request for Proposal (RFP) will be issued to Indian vendors only.

As on date, no in-house development project proposal approved by Ordnance Factory Board for development of small arms is pending for approval by Department of Defence Production.

This information was given by Raksha Rajya Mantri Dr. Subhash Bhamre in a written reply to Shri PR Senthil Nathan and Shri Bharathi Mohan RK in Lok Sabha today.

Latest Details Of Premature Retirement And Suicides In Armed Forces

Latest Details of Premature Retirement and Suicides in Armed Forces

Suicides by Army Personnel

The details of number of incidents of suicide in the defence forces during last three years and the current year, force-wise & year-wise is as under:

 Some of the reasons for committing suicide are family issues/ domestic problems, marital discord, perceived grievances and personal issues etc.

The details of number of officers and Other Ranks who have applied for premature retirement during the last three years and the current year are as under:-

Year	Army		Navy		Air Force
	Officers	JCOs/ORs	Officers	Sailors	Officers	Airmen
2014	02	82	Nil	04	02	19
2015	01	77	Nil	03	Nil	14
2016	04	100	01	05	03	16
2017	02	67	01	04	Nil	18

** upto March 2017

Various steps have been taken by the Armed Forces to create healthy/ appropriate environment for their Officers and Other Ranks. Some of these steps are as under:-

Year	Army		Navy		Air Force
	Officers	JCOs/ORs	Officers	Sailors	Officers	Airmen
2014	165	12703	74	32	135	722
2015	108	9296	130	16	67	550
2016	291	12307	142	26	139	649
2017	239*	3844**	30**	15	144	136

Provision of better quality of facilities such as clothing, food, married accommodation, travel facilities, schooling, recreation etc. and periodic welfare meeting.

Conduct of yoga and meditation as a tool for stress management.

Training & deployment of psychological counsellors.

Institutionalization of projects ‘MILAP’ and ‘SAHYOG’ by Army in Northern & Eastern Command to reduce stress among troops. A ‘Mansik Sahayata Helpline’ have been established by Army & Air Force to take professional counselling. Mental Health Awareness is provided during pre-induction training.

Formation of Military Psychiatry Treatment Centre at INHS Asvini and establishment of Mental Health Centres in Mumbai, Visakhapatnam, Kochi, Port Blair, Goa and Karwar.

This information was given by Raksha Rajya Mantri Dr. Subhash Bhamre in a written reply to Smt Darshana Vikram Jardosh and Shri Dushyant Chautala in Lok Sabha today.

No Downgradation In The Existing Equivalence Of The Service Ranks In Defence Service Personnel

No Downgradation in the existing equivalence of the service ranks in Defence Service Personnel

Rank Parity

The Government is fully sensitive to the concerns expressed by the Armed Forces from time to time, including those relating to rank equation, allowances and benefits. The Government has already clarified that there has been no downgradation or change in the existing equivalence of the service ranks vis-à-vis their civilian counterparts.

In recognition of the unique aspects of Defence Service, a number of facilities and benefits in cash and kind are admissible to Defence Service personnel, including tax concessions available in Canteen Stores Depot, concession vouchers for travel in Railways and by Air, apart from compensation granted by way of various allowances for unique risks and hardships borne by the Defence personnel. A list of 28 risk and hardship related allowances and 31 other allowances and concessions available to the Armed Forces personnel and the revised rates at which the same are payable following the decision taken by the Government on the recommendations of the Seventh Pay Commission has been uploaded on the website of the Ministry of Defence and can be found at mod.gov.in/def/sites/default/files/Revisedrates.pdf.

As regards ration, the Seventh Pay Commission had recommended that the provision of free rations and the grant of Ration Money Allowance to officers of Defence Forces posted in peace areas should be withdrawn. The Government vide its resolution No.11-1/2016-IC dated 06 July 2017, decided that Ration Money Allowance will continue to be paid to them by direct credit to their bank accounts.

This information was given by Raksha Rajya Mantri Dr. Subhash Bhamre in a written reply to Shri Santokh Singh Chaudhary in Lok Sabha today.

Govt Says No Proposal To Revise Income Tax Rates This Year

No Proposal to Amend Income Tax Rates – Lok Sabha Q&A

Govt says No Proposal to Revise Income Tax Rates this year

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

MINISTRY OF FINANCE

DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE

LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 1355

TO BE ANSWERED ON FRIDAY, THE 22ND DECEMBER, 2017

01, PAUSHA, 1939 (SAKA)

AMEND INCOME TAX RATES
1355. SHRI DEVENDRA SINGH BHOLE:

Will the Minister of FINANCE be pleased to state:

(a) whether the Government proposes to amend the present rates of income tax so that more people may pay income tax;

(b) if so, the details thereof and the benefits likely to accrue to common man and the Government by this step; and

(c) if not, the reasons therefor?

ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF FINANCE
(SHRI SHIV PRATAP SHUKLA)

(a) to (b) No Madam. Currently, there is no such proposal under consideration.

(c) The rates of income tax are prescribed through the Finance Act every year

Job Creation Under Prime Minister's Employment Generation Programme

Job creation under PMEGP

Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) is implementing Prime Minister’s Employment Generation Programme (PMEGP), which is a major credit-linked subsidy programme, aimed at generating self-employment opportunities through establishment of micro-enterprises in the non-farm sector by helping traditional artisans and unemployed youth in rural and urban areas.

The rate of job creation under PMEGP for the financial years 2015 – 16 and in the corresponding period of 2012-13 is given below:

Year	Margin Money subsidy disbursed (Rs. in crore)	Micro- enterprises setup (in Nos.)	Employment generated (in Nos)	Employment generated per unit
2012-13	1080.66	57884	428246	7.39
2015-16	1020.06	44340	323362	7.29

As per the evaluation study of PMEGP units setup during 2012-13 to 2016-17, conducted by MDI, Gurugram, average employment generation per project is 7.62 and the average cost of generating unit employment is Rs.96,209.00.

This Press Release is based on information given by the Minister of State for MSME Shri Giriraj Singh in a written reply to a question in Rajya Sabha on 27.12.2017(Wednesday)