Government will soon be able to implement long - term demand for military personnel

Government will soon be able to implement long - term demand for military personnel.

The Ministry of Finance (MoF) has agreed to examine a long-standing demand by the army personnel to exempt ration money and the risk and burden of taxation in accordance with the recommendation of the 7th Pay Commission. Changes to existing regulations are likely to benefit from paramilitary jawans of the CRPF, BSF, Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) and Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) and Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB).

These changes can be announced by the Government in the next full 2019 Budget, tabled by the new government at the Center. In all, 9 lakh security staff will benefit from the move. In its report, the 7th Pay Commission stated that the allowance given to jawans as a free ration must be exempted from income tax.

Central government employee unions made several requests regarding the 7th Pay Commission recommendations, including increasing the basic pay rise fitting factor. While not all the requirements were met, the Center and state governments implemented several pay increases.

In addition, as part of the 7th Pay Commission's recommendations, the MP government increased the pensioner dearness allowance (DA). From May, the revised DA will apply. After the 2019 Lok Sabha elections the government will take a definitive decision on the delays from January 2018 to April 2019.

DA is a cost of living adjustment allowance, calculated to compensate for the rise in prices resulting from inflation, as a fixed percentage of a person's base salary or pension.

Under the 7th Pay Commission, the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions approved recently an increase for highly skilled central government employees. The onetime incentive given to employees will result in a five-fold increase if they acquire a higher degree while serving in their own departments in accordance with the notification. Those with new higher education qualifications would be awarded a sum of Rs 2,000-Rs 10,000.

In March, the government of Uttarakhand also announced a 3% increase in the DA, which amounts to 12%. The decision would benefit more than 2.5 lakh public servants and pensioners. From 1 January 2019 the order will be retrospectively applicable. The state government also announced to waive off pending water bills estimated at Rs 70 crore of around 10,000 people rehabilitated at New Tehri due to the construction of the Tehri dam.

Via: Central Government News

Request for reckoning the Additional Allowance granted to Loco Pilot (Mail), Loco Pilot (Passenger) and Mail Guard for the purpose of computation of retirement benefits to Running Staff

Request for reckoning the Additional Allowance granted to Loco Pilot (Mail), Loco Pilot (Passenger) and Mail Guard for the purpose of computation of retirement benefits to Running Staff.

NFIR

National Federation of Indian Railwaymen

No. IV/RSAC/2018

Dated: 18/04/2019

The Secretary (E),
Railway Board,
New Delhi

Dear Sir,
Sub: Request for reckoning the Additional Allowance granted to Loco Pilot (Mail), Loco Pilot (Passenger) and Mail Guard for the purpose of computation of retirement benefits to Running Staff.

Ref:
(i) NFIR's PNM Item No. 08/2011.
(ii) NFIR's letter No. IV/RSAC/Con./Part VIII dated 13/10/2017.
(iii) Railway Board's letter No-E(P&A)II-2011/FE2/2 dated 11/12/20l7.

Kind attention of Railway Board is invited to NFIR's PNM Agenda Item No. 08/2011, Federation's letter and Railway Board's reply thereon, iited under reference.

The Railway Board through Action Taken Statement during NFIR's PNM meeting held on 10th/11th May, 2018 conveyed that the issue has been referred to the Ministry of Finance vide Board's letter dated 14/09/2016 and reminders vide dated 22/11/2016, 16/02/2017 and 17/05/2017 have also been sent to the Ministry of Finance (DoE), but however reply was still awaited. Railway Board may kindly appreciate that this is more than eight years old PNM Item without finality.

NFIR, therefore requests the Railway Board to kindly make special effons for obtaining approval of Ministry of Finance in order to finalize this long pending PNM Item.

Yours faithfully,
(Dr. M.Raghavaiah)
General Secretary

Copy to the Executive Director, PC-I, Railway Board, DFCC Building, Tilak Bridge, Pragati
Maidan, Metro Bhavan, New Delhi.
Copy to the Executive Director (IR), Railway Board, New Delhi.
Copy to the General Secretaries of Zonal Unions of NFIR.
File No.8/2011 (PNM).
File No. IV/NFIR/RSAC-JC.

Source: NFIR

Variable Dearness Allowance - Minimum Wages effect from 1.4.2019 - Chief Labour Commissioner (Central) Orders

Variable Dearness Allowance - Minimum Wages effect from 1.4.2019 - Chief Labour Commissioner (Central) Orders 

F.No.1/8(3)/2019-LS-II
Government of India
Ministry of Labour & Employment
Office of the Chief Labour Commissioner(C)
New Delhi

Dated: 27/3/2019

ORDER

In exercise of the powers conferred by Central Government vide Notification No. S.O. 188(E) dated 19th January, 2017 of the Ministry of Labour and Employment the undersigned, hereby revise the rates of Variable Dearness Allowance on the basis of the average consumer price index number for the preceding period of six months ending on 31.12.2018 reaching 301.33 from 288.33 (base 2001 = 100) and thereby resulting in an increase of 13 points for Industrial Workers as under. This order shall come into force w.e.f. 01.04.2019 :-

Category of worker	Rates of V.D.A. Area wise per day (in Rupees)
	A	B	C
Unskilled	61	50	40
Semi-Skilled/ Unskilled Supervisor	66	57	47
Skilled/ Clerical	73	66	57
Highly Skilled	79	73	66

Therefore the minimum rates of wages showing the basic rates and Variable Dearness Allowance payable w.e.f. 01 04 2019 will be as under :-

Category of worker	Rates of wages including V.D.A. Area wise per day (in Rupees)
	A Area	B Area	C Area
Unskilled	523+61= 584	437+50= 487	350+40= 390
Semi-Skilled/ Unskilled Supervisor	579+66= 645	494+57= 551	410+47 = 457
Skilled/ Clerical	637+73= 710	579+66= 645	494+57= 551

The VDA has been rounded off to the next higher rupee as per the decision of the Minimum Wages Central Advisory Board.

The classification of workers under different categories will be same as in Part­ I of the notification, whereas classification of cities will be same as in the Part-II of the notification dated l9th January, 2017. The present classification of cities into areas A, 8 & C is enclosed at Annexure 1 for ready reference.

sd/-
(RAJAN VERMA)
CHIEF LABOUR COMMISSIONER(C)

Appointment on compassionate grounds - review of extant instructions relating to acquisition of higher qualification

Appointment on compassionate grounds - review of extant instructions relating to acquisition of higher qualification.

NFIR

National Federation of Indian Railwaymen

No.II/1-A/2018

Dated: 18/04/2019

The Secretary (E),
Railway Board,
New Delhi

Dear Sir.
Sub: Appointment on compassionate grounds - review of extant instructions relating to acquisition of higher qualification - reg.

Ref: (i) NFIR's PNM Item No. 32/2016.
(ii) Railway Board's letter No. E(NG)II/2003/RC-1/Genl/4 dated 02/04/2004 & 15/06/2007.
(iii) NFIR's letter No. IIl/1-A/Pt. 20 dated 26/04/2016.
(iv) Railway Board's reply vide letter No. E(NG)II/2003/RC-1/Genl/4 dated 20/06/2017.
(v) NFIR's lefter No. II/1-A/Pt.20 dated 10/07/2017.
(vi) Railway Board's reply received vide letter No. E(NG)II/2003/RC-1/Genl./4 dated 20/06/2017.
(vii) NFIR's letter No. II/1-A/2018 dated 22/01/2019.

A copy of Federation's letter dated 22/01/2019 requesting the Railway Board to review instructions issued vide Board's letter dated 15/0612007 superseding instructions dated 02/04/2004 (as a result of DC/JCM decision) is enclosed. Federation had requested the Railway Board to hold discussions at the level of Member Staff in case the Railway Board has divergent view on NFIR's demand contained in PNM Agenda Item No. 3212016. Federation feels sad to state that though a period of over three months has passed, there is no communication, nor meeting has been fixed by the Railway Board.

Federation re-iterates that the Board's order dated 15/06/2007 is violative of the DC/JCM agreement besides being arbitrary, therefore Board's letter dated 0210412004 is required to be restored.

NFIR, therefore, once again requests the Railway Board to kindly see that the matters are rectified or alternatively, meeting be fixed early to discuss the PNM subject.

DA/As above

Yours faithfully,
(Dr. M.Raghavaiah)
General Secretary

Source: NFIR

Regarding transfer of NPS to GPF

High Court Order transferring NPS Subscription into GPF account

Regarding transfer of NPS to GPF

Government of India
Office of the director (Accounts)
Ministry of Home Affairs
Pay and accounts office, C.R.P.F
Plot No.14, PSF-2 Sector-23, Rohini,
New Delhi - 110085

No.PAO/CRPF/MHA/NPS/DA-I(1)/2018-19/797

Dated, the 15 March,2019,

To
The IG (Admin),
Directorate General, CRPF,
CGO Complex
Lodhi Road,
New Delhi-110003

Subject: Reg.transfer of NPS to GPF.

I am to say that various cases for transferring NPS subscriptions into GPF account have been received to this office after order of Hon’ble High Court of Delhi in respect of WP(C) No.3834/2013 and WP(C) No.2810/2016 vide which benefits of Old pension Scheme are extended to personnel joined in the year 2004. As there is a large number of subscribers under this kind of transfer and many requests are received along with information of office orders issued by various authorities (i.e., The Commandants, The DIGs, The IGs, etc.,). In this regard, it is requested to issue appropriate orders to concerned formation to send these cases with the following documents(02 copies of each):

• Necessary administrative approval from the administrative Head of the Department;
• Application(in the format enclosed) duly filled by the subscriber;
• Month-wise details of NPS subscriptions duly certified by the DDO;
• Copy of office documents such as court order etc, related to counting of previous Government service rendered before 01.01.2004;
• Copy of order vide which previous service of the subscriber is counted(if applicable);
• Copy of technical resignation of the subscriber(if applicable);
• and cases should be sent only after NPS subscription is stopped and GPF subscription is started from salary.

Further, the cases should be sent through the Administrative Head of Department to this office. There are some instances where offices are asking subscribers to apply for re-issue of PRAN card for submission with the case for NPS to GPF transfer. In this regard it is to inform that only if PRAN card is available it may be sent and there is no need for re-issue the PRAN card for this purpose. The details of PRANs are available in pay and service related records. The cases can be forwarded to Principal Accounts Office, MHA for further processing only after the aforementioned documents are received.

Yours faithfully,
Sr. Accounts Officer (NPS)