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A tribute to Lance Naik Kesur Vanvi and all Jawans who are posted in High Altitude Areas

 

Dear Indians,
Please take pride in Being Indian and Share the tale of a Brave Indian Martyr. Lance Naik Kesur Ramabhai Vanvi, 33 of 221 Field Artillery Regiment died Friday, August 25, 2017 while doing what he was proudest of; serving his country in the Army 221 field Regiment. In the morning of 25 August he had a severe headache. He was also feeling dizziness, was at loss of breath and was sweating very heavily too. He straightaway went to the Army doctor, who diagnosed him with high Blood pressure, may be a major stroke was on. The Doctor immediately called for an Air Ambulance. Lance Naik Kesur insisted he was alright and there was no need for an emergency evacuation, But the Doctor knew about the seriousness of the situation. Kesur was air lifted in an Army Aviation Helicopter but mid air Blood started oozing out from his nose and ears, his heart was pounding heavily blood pressure was enormous and suddenly he fell unconscious. The doctors at Leh Military Hospital pronounced him dead on arrival. Postmortem at the medical college revealed the cause of death as ‘stroke’.

Lance Naik Kesur Vanvi was posted at mountainous high altitude terrain of Drass since last 17 months. His unit location at Drass being a non-family station, just like most of his colleagues in the Army, Kesur was also staying without his bellowed wife at those forbidden heights. Kesur’s unit is posted at such a remote location that there aren’t any mobile towers in that area. The Jawans have to reach out to a nearby STD Booth to be able to talk to their near and dear ones.

Married since last 13 years kesur and his wife were deprived of the joy of being parents. Every time when Lance Naik Kesur used to come on leave, their time is spent on visiting places of worship, praying for a small gift from the almighty. Very recently, after so many years of various treatments and change of doctors, the couple received the ‘good news’ ‘she was finally pregnant with their first child.’ In his last phone call, Kesur promised her that he would be back before her delivery date to be with her and to welcome their bundle of joy.

But the almighty had another plans; He took away the only man of her life even before the joy of having the little one in their awaiting hands is shared. Lance Naik Kesur Vanvi has left behind a bereaved pregnant wife and crying old age parents. A child who has not even seen the light of day, has lost its father. Uncertainty and bleak future awaits the little one of the diseased soldier.

This is not the first such casualty of his unit a Naib Subedar saab who was posted in Rashtriya Riffles (RR) was on patrolling duty the whole night. The patrolling party came back at around 04 o’clock in the morning. They all sat together and had their last tea that morning. Naib Subedar saab went for a nap, never to wake up and to ascend into the deepest sleep forever.

In the year 1984, Pakistan invaded Siachen, in the year 1999 The back stabbing neighbours broke Simla accord, invaded and fortified Kargil, Drass and Batalik and the rest we know is history. Since then the Indian Army has been forced to keep the areas manned throughout the year. Earlier, India and Pakistan used to withdraw troops from the very high altitude areas during treacherous winter and send the troops again to occupy those posts once the snow starts melting.

The high altitude of Himalayas is one of the prime killers of our soldiers besides Kashmir insurgency being the first one. Those treacherous mountains have a unique combination of thin air and freezing temperatures that has been challenging human abilities to survive in extreme weather conditions.

The phenomenon of thin air, caused by low barometric pressure, is the only environmental condition unique to high terrestrial altitude. It imposes several physical stresses on men.

The partial pressure of oxygen falls as well, producing arid air that holds significantly less water vapor and reducing the amount of oxygen available to human tissue. Hypoxia, the reduction of oxygen supply to tissue, occurs at elevations above 5,000 feet. Hypoxia can lead to several illnesses, some of which can prove fatal, as well as less severe physiological effects.

Even the most physically fit men exhibit muscular weakness and a loss of neuromuscular control above 15000 feet. The atmosphere affects vision in several ways. Soldiers lose much of their natural night vision above 8000 feet. Retinal hemorrhaging, bleeding from blood vessels in the eyes, affects over half of all soldiers at 18,000 feet. The drastic increase in ultraviolet light can cause snow blindness and severe sunburn. The healing time of wounds increases due to lack of oxygen, in body tissues.

Lance Naik Kesur Vanvi’s close buddy L/Nk Jitendra remembers his friend with saddened eyes, “I have never seen in my life a more obedient and disciplined soldier like Kesur.” We both joined the Army in the year 2003 and were posted in the same battery. Retired Havaldar Nakumbhai of his unit proudly states that Kesur made a lasting impression on everyone he met with his charm, which was only surpassed by the size of his heart. His energy, mischief, kindness and the zest for life are what his friends and family will remember most.

Kesur will forever be loved by those of us that he left behind. He is survived by his parents and wife all living in Umbari villege of Gir Somnath district of Gujarat. He will also be missed by the many friends he touched that we now consider family. We will all miss the joy and love that he brought into our lives, and we couldn’t be more proud of him. His last rites were carried out with National honor and Guard of Honor by the Indian Army on 28 August. People from nearby towns and villages flocked the streets of Umbri villege. The nationalistic feelings and sadness of losing a son was evident from their LOUD chants of ‘BHARAT MATA KI JAI’ and ‘KESUR BHAI AMAR RAHE’.

We consider a soldier as martyr, only when he dies receiving a bullet. But, let me elaborate this very clearly this time. “Each and every soldier who loses his life in the line of his duty is a martyr.” In forbidden heights of the Himalayas, High Altitude and oxygen less air combine to make the environment a potent adversary. The physical and psychological stresses of high altitude degrade all soldiers overtime, even those who are acclimated to it.

The biggest irony of a soldier is that when he happily sacrifices his life for the nation, those whom he has left behind are stranded to fend for themselves. The government of the day sometimes announces some financial aid, so does the Army but there is no National Policy for rehabilitation and resettlement of such families.

There are government institutions at central, state and Zilla level for taking care of the retired Jawans as well as the Veer Naries but they function like white elephants and have no accountability. The sainik boards and DGR are answerable to none!

“Hum na soche hame kya mila hain.. Ham ye soche kiya kya hai arpan…”

ॐ Shanti.. Shanti...

PETTY OFFICER MANAN BHATT, VETERAN
sainikswaraj@gmail.com

Shocked and disgusted': Uproar over death of Kargil martyr's wife who was denied treatment

  NEW DELHI: There is rising uproar over the death of a Kargil martyr's wife in Sonipat in Haryana who was allegedly denied treatment because she did not have an Aadhaar card.
Stating how such incidents impact the morale of the armed forces, VN Thapar, father or Kargil martyr Vijayant Thapar said: "Shocked at the disgusting news. We've become so indifferent to human life! These are the kind of things that hit the morale of armed forces."
The incident has raised a sense of unease among the families of other martyrs. "I can't imagine it happened. It makes me scared for my family. I have ECHS benefits but connecting it to Aadhaar card and submitting a copy of it is ridiculous," daughter of Kargil martyr Major CB Dwivedi said.
The government has assured a probe into the incident. "The state government should take this matter seriously. Our ministry will conduct a probe into it. Centre has also asked all states to implement 'Clinical Establishments Act' which will help us reduce such incidents," MoS Health Ashwini Kumar Choubey said.
A Kargil martyr's wife was on Friday taken to the hospital in a serious condition. Her family has claimed that when the hospital asked for an Aadhaar card, her son showed an e-copy but the hospital demanded the original card before admitting her.
"I brought my mother in a serious condition to the hospital. They asked me to get the Aadhaar card. But I didn't have it then so I showed them a copy on my phone," said Pavan Kumar, the deceased woman's son.
“I said that I will get Aadhaar in an hour or so but at least start the treatment but the hospital refused to do so,” said Kumar.
The hospital management, however, has refuted all allegations of denying treatment but admitted that Aadhaar is necessary for documentation.
“We never denied them treatment. He never got the patient to the hospital. We have never stopped any treatment due to Aadhaar card ever. It is mandatory, not for treatment, but for documentation process,” a doctor at the hospital said.

Confusion between Modified Assured Career Progression Scheme (MACP) and Military Service Pay (MSP) and the need to ignore unnecessary rumours and false hopes

Confusion between Modified Assured Career Progression Scheme (MACP) and Military Service Pay (MSP) and the need to ignore unnecessary rumours and false hopes

There are certain messages floating on social and other media that the Supreme Court of India has passed directions to pay ‘Military Service Pay’ with effect from January 2006 rather than from 2008 as was granted by the Government.

This is incorrect and there are no such directions. People are probably confusing the recent judgment on Modified Assured Career Progression Scheme (MACP) with the concept of Military Service Pay (MSP). Even otherwise, de hors the absence of any such decision, no parallel can be drawn between the two issues.

As explained in the post of 12 December 2017, the Sixth Central Pay Commission had recommended the implementation of the ‘Modified Assured Career Progression’ Scheme (MACP) providing for the grant of three financial upgradations of pay at the gap of 8, 16 and 24 years of service in case of stagnation, for the defence services.

The Special Army Instructions (SAI) on the subject had also been issued with effect from 01 January 2006 and which contained therein the stipulation of MACP. However later, despite the existence of the said SAI, another fresh letter was issued by the Government stating that MACP will be prospectively implemented from 01 September 2008.

Hence ultimately, unlike other pay related modalities which were implemented with effect from 01 January 2006, MACP was implemented with effect from 01 September 2008, thereby not including in its scope the personnel who were released from service between the two dates. The Chandigarh Bench of the Armed Forces Tribunal (AFT) however ruled that the pay commission had granted all pay and pension related benefits from January 2006 and the prospective implementation was only effectuated for ‘allowances’ and hence MACP was also to be implemented from January 2006 since it pertained to upgradation of pay. While ordering so, the AFT had followed the decision of the Punjab & Haryana High Court which had earlier ruled upon the implementation of improved pay-scales of defence personnel from 1996 rather than 1997 in an anomaly emanating out of the Fifth Pay Commission. The decision of the AFT was challenged by the Government in the Supreme Court but the Apex Court dismissed the appeal filed by the Union of India thereby upholding the grant of MACP from 01 January 2006 rather than 01 September 2008.

The aspect to be noted however in the above is that in case of MSP, the pay commission had itself noted that it shall be applied prospectively without any arrears (Para 2.3.12 of the 6^th Central Pay Commission Report). Further when the SAI 1/S/2008 was issued, while it applied benefits of all modalities from 2006 (including MACP), it had specifically stated in Paragraph 5(d) that arrears of MSP shall only be paid with effect from 01 September 2008. There was no such negative stipulation for MACP. Further MACP was a replacement for the earlier ACP while MSP was completely a new element.

Hence, as the above would show, while the MACP was applied from 2006 but later tacitly retrospectively withdrawn and made applicable from 2008- an action was at the heart of the debate in Courts, there was no such controversy with regard to MSP which was always meant to be paid prospectively from September 2008.

Though at the surface both issues might appear to be similar to the untrained eye, there is actually absolutely no parallel between the concepts of MACP and MSP, and hence it is in the interest of sanity to ignore messages being circulated that MSP arrears will be paid to all personnel with effect from 01 January 2006. One should avoid forwarding such messages since it may promote unnecessary litigation and propel false hopes.

The above is not in the form of legal advice but merely my humble opinion since a litigious society is not in anybody’s interest.

COURTESY : Maj Navdeep Singh

HC Invalidate 40-year-old ‘fictitious Diploma notification’ for ex-servicemen

CHANDIGARH: Finding a 40-year-old notification issued by the central government, equating an engineering diploma and 10-year service in defence forces to a bachelor's degree in engineering, fictitious, the Punjab and Haryana high court on Friday ordered the Haryana government to withdraw benefits availed of by ex-servicemen on the basis of the said notification.
The order will have a huge ramification across the country as a large number of ex-servicemen with a diploma in engineering and appointed junior engineers in various states were promoted to higher posts on the basis of the notification, allegedly issued on May 26, 1977 by the Centre.
The high court found that the document used as the notification since 1977 was in fact "an unsigned document and did not qualify even to be termed as an office memorandum."
Justice Ajay Tewari has passed these orders while disposing of a petition filed by Sirsa resident, Salaudeen and several other officers posted as sub-divisional engineers/assistant engineers in the Haryana Vidyut Prasaran Nigam Limited (HVPNL).
The court also ordered the HVPNL to quash its seniority list, which was prepared by considering claims of ex-servicemen on the basis of the "1977 notification" and directed it to re-frame the seniority list after withdrawing the benefits granted to the ex-servicemen. The Haryana government has been given six months to complete the entire exercise.
In this case, several ex-servicemen had applied for appointment as junior engineers in 2004-2005. At the time, they all had a diploma in engineering and 10 years' experience.
They, however, did not claim to be degree holders and were appointed as diploma holders. Six years later, when the case of promotion to the post of assistant engineer was to be considered, the rules provided for a quota of 12 ½% to persons who held a degree or an equivalent qualification.
At that stage, the ex-servicemen started claiming that in view of their diploma and their 10-year experience they were entitled to be considered as degree holders in view of the Centre "notification" dated May 26, 1977. Following that, they all were promoted in view of the notification.
Their promotion was challenged by other officers with an engineering degree on the ground that no such notification had been issued by the Centre.
Their contention was that by this fraudulent action, the ex-servicemen had stolen a march over them and consequently not only were they required to relinquish that benefit, they are also liable to be proceeded against.
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com 

ADVANCE LETTER SENT BY NFOESM FOR EQUAL MSP TO JCO/OR

MEETTE MEETTE BATHOM AUR KYA CHAHIYE

Keeping in mind the toughest job of indian armed forces msp was implemented from 2006.As 6th pay commission has recommended military service pay for armed forces. Subsequently msp of Rs.2000/- per month was implemented. But that value was very meager w.r.t the nature of job of indian Armed forces.Hence demands were further uplifted regarding the hike in MSP for Indian Armed Forces. After the implementation of 7th pay commission , this value was raised to Rs.5200/- per month.

Now on the eve of New year , the ORs of Indian Armed Forces are ready to get further hike on Military Service Pay upto Rs.10400/-. Residing on the Pin point of Gun these Armed forces will get double MSP. Army General Bipin Rawat has given his assent on this Double MSP. After the completion of formalities by the finance ministry , these hiked rates may be implemented from next month.As we all know that as per implementation of 7th pay commission the revised rates of the MSP are Rs.5200/- per month. As you may know that this rate are different for Officers and Ors despite being the same level of toughness.

As we all know that National Anomaly Committee is working on the abnormalities faced by the Central Govt Employees. The issue of MSP was also included as an abnormality in NAC list. According to higher officials of Indian Army, NAC has assent on the Double MSP for Ors of Indian Armed Forces.Green stick has been shown by the army General in this regards. Now the balancing issue are of Finance ministry, after which it will be implemented.
One point Should be noted that there is no change in Rates of Military Service Pay MSP for Ranks other than ORs. As we all know this rate is Rs.15,500/- for Officers having Rank of Brigadier and more.Also this rate of Military Service Pay MSP pegged at Rs.10,800/- for Military Nursing Service MNS. http://www.sarkariadmi.com/defence-forces 

CASTLES IN THE DREAM LAND FOR VETERANS OF MOTHER LAND

WIDOW FAMILY PENSION CASE TAKEN UP BY JOVWAINDIA

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Status as on 15 Dec 2017

Registration Number	:	PMOPG/E/2017/0630263
Name Of Complainant	:	AYISHUMMA B
Date of Receipt	:	15 Dec 2017
Received by	:	Prime Ministers Office
Officer name	:	Shri Ambuj Sharma
Officer Designation	:	Under Secretary (Public)
Contact Address	:	Public Wing
		5th Floor, Rail Bhawan
		New Delhi110011
Contact Number	:	011-23386447
e-mail	:	ambuj.sharma38@nic.in
Grievance Description	:	Respected Sir, Sub: Non-payment of my monthly family pension w.e.f April 2012. I am the wife of an NC (E) of the following Particulars- SERVICE NO.819623 RANK- NC(E) NAME. KHALID M QUALIFYING SERVICE- YEARS Date of joining- J989 Date of Death while in service -06/04/1999 Date of Birth -25/11/1972 SERVICE-AIR FORCE PPO NO- 08/14/B/F/P 202/2000 BANK A/C No-995320300001454 Disbursing Bank Branch-SYNDICATE BANK AMINI ISLAND LAKSHADWEEP CPPC Address- SYNDICATE BANK, MANIPAL, KARNATAKA Name of Pension Sanctioning Authority- Jt/CDA (AF) New Delhi. Respected Sir, I am the widow of the above mentioned NC(E) .I was receiving my family pension from Syndicate Bank Amini, Lakhshadweep with effect from . 07/04/1999 on wards. My above family pension was stopped w.e.f.April 2012 inwards for the reason not known to me, When enquired with authorities I was informed that the pension was stopped due to Non-Submission of Life Certificate with the Disbursing Bank. In this connection I wish to reiterate that I have submitted my life certificate in time again submitted on request of the Bank for a second time. As you are aware that a widow of my nature who is living in the remote island of our country is not reachable to the authorities. My pension has been with held so far causing much hard ship to me my children Hence I kindly request you to take up this matter with the concerned authorities to resume my monthly family pension along with arrears for the previous period. . Yours faithfully, AYISHUMMA B
Current Status	:	RECEIVED THE GRIEVANCE

Important decision for ranks other than Commissioned Officers who retired between 01-01-2006 and 30-08-2008

The Sixth Central Pay Commission had recommended the implementation of the ‘Modified Assured Career Progression’ Scheme (MACP) providing for the grant of three financial upgradations of pay at the gap of 8, 16 and 24 years of service in case of stagnation.

 Unlike other pay related modalities which were implemented with effect from 01 January 2006, the MACP was implemented with effect from 01 September 2008, thereby not including in its scope the personnel who were released from service between the two dates.

 The Armed Forces Tribunal (AFT) had however ruled that the pay commission had granted all pay and pension related benefits from January 2006 and the prospective implementation was only effectuated for ‘allowances’ and hence the MACP was also to be implemented from January 2006 since it pertained to upgradation of pay. While ordering so, the AFT had followed the decision of the Punjab & Haryana High Court which had earlier ruled upon the implementation of improved pay-scales of defence personnel from 1996 rather than 1997 in an anomaly emanating out of the Fifth Pay Commission.

 The decision of the AFT was challenged by the Government in the Supreme Court but the Apex Court has dismissed the appeal filed by the Union of India thereby upholding the grant of MACP from 01 January 2006 rather than 01 September 2009. This will affect the pay and pensionary benefits of those personnel who retired during the said period. 

Courtesy: Maj Navdeep Singh

7TH CPC JCO/OR NOTIONAL FIXATION EXAMPLE AS PER DESW GUIDE LINES

Courtesy:Staff News

RTI REQUEST REGARDING HON. NB. SUB. CIRCULAR CLARIFICATION

Online RTI Request Form Details

RTI Request Details :-

RTI Request Registration number	DEXSW/R/2017/50691
Public Authority	Department of Ex-Servicemen Welfare

Personal Details of RTI Applicant:-

Name	MBC MENON GEN SECRETARY
Gender	Male
Address	JCO/OR VETERANS WELFARE ASSOCIATION OF INDIA , AC/149A SHALIMAR BAGH, NEW DELHI
Pincode	110088
Country	India
State	Delhi
Status	Urban
Educational Status	Literate
	Above Graduate
Phone Number	Details not provided
Mobile Number	+91-9446718293
Email-ID	jovwaindia[at]gmail[dot]com

Request Details :-

Citizenship	Indian
Is the Requester Below Poverty Line ?	No
(Description of Information sought (upto 500 characters)
Description of Information Sought
Granting of Hon.Nb Sub. Pension to Havildar granted the Rank of Hon. Nb. Sub. In spite of our repeated letters to you regarding the applicability of Benefits under DESW Circular, Department of Ex-servicemen Welfare D (Pension/Legal) dated 30/10/2017 to all affected including Non- petitioners, you have kept your reply in prolonged abeyance. Hence we are aggrieved by your silence on the subject & left with no option than to go for an RTI request as under. REQUEST UNDER RTI ACT Dear Sir , The copy of the following documents may please be furnished to us 1) Copy of file noting that has restricted benefits under your circular, Department of Ex-servicemen Welfare D (Pension/Legal) dated 30/10/2017only to petitioners. 2) Copy of file noting that has favored benefits under your circular, Department of Ex-servicemen Welfare D (Pension/Legal) dated 30/10/2017 to all affected including petitioners & Non petitioners. 3) Any other files noting which has specifically excluded the Non-Petitioners from the scope of the above circular. Yours faithfully, MBC MENON Gen Secretary JCO/OR VETERANS WELFARE ASSOCIATION OF INDIA.
Concerned CPIO	Nodal Officer
Supporting document (only pdf upto 1 MB)	Supporting document not provided

Pre Budget Consultation – Trade unions view point on issues to be considered for framing budget for the year 2018-19

The Finance Minister held Pre Budget 2018 discussion with the representatives of central trade unions on 5^th December 2018. Representatives of all the central trade unions attended the meeting. CITU was represented by its president Hemalata.

The meeting, as every year, appeared to be not more than a ritual. The ‘consultative meeting’ with the 12 trade unions that were called, lasted for around 1 hour. The trade union representatives were requested to give their opinions in 3-4 minutes. The trade unions were asked to express their concerns and suggestions related to the union budget within this time frame.

Ten central trade unions jointly presented their views in a note to the Finance Minister. In her intervention Hemalata reiterated that pre budget consultation with trade unions should not be treated as a mere ritual; the views of the trade unions representing the workers who produce the wealth should be given due place in the budget proposals.
She also demanded that the Group of Ministers constituted under the chairmanship of the Finance Minister in 2015 to discuss the demands raised by the trade unions should continue discussions with them and resolve their demands. Instead of focussing on improving ‘ease of doing business’ to benefit the corporates, the government should focus on improving India’s position in ‘Global hunger index’ and closing down the ‘gender gap’ This should be done by increasing allocations for social sector including health and education, to the ICDS, National Health Mission, Midday Meal Programme etc that serve the poor, particularly women and children. ILC recommendations on recognising ‘scheme workers’ as ‘workers’, paying minimum wages to them etc should be implemented.

She also emphasised the point that the government should increase spending on social sectors like education and health and mobilise resources for this by taxing the rich who can pay. It should focus on employment generation increasing public expenditure on infrastructure. All vacant posts in various government departments including railways etc should be filled up by fresh recruitment. MGNREGA should be implemented in all rural areas and extended to urban areas.

INTUC            AITUC         HMS                    CITU            AIUTUC

TUCC           SEWA               AICCTU                 UTUC                LPF

Dated 05.12.2017

The Hon’ble Minister of Finance

Government of India

North Block,

New Delhi, 110 001

Sub:   Trade unions view point on issues to be considered for framing budget for the year 2018-19 

Sir,

To start with, we urge you to take the views presented jointly by the trade unions and incorporate them in the budget proposals so that this meeting would be meaningful. We request you not to convert this meeting into a mere a ritual.

Please recall that the Group of Ministers headed by you had an inconclusive discussion with the trade unions on the 12 point charter of demands of the working people of the country, in August 2015. The GoM did not resume the discussions despite requests from the central trade unions. The discussion the Labour Minister held with the central trade unions on 7^th November 2017 did not yield any results.

Hence, we feel compelled to reiterate our demands again and present our views as follows:

• Increase budgetary allocations for social sector: The government should increase allocations on social sector and basic essential services like health, education, food security etc in the Union Budget. The necessary financial resources should be raised internally by taxing the rich who have the capacity to pay.
• Effective measures against deliberate tax and loan repayment defaults: Effective and firm measures should be taken against deliberate tax default by the big business and corporate lobby to curtail the huge accumulation of unpaid taxes, which have been continuously increasing. Further, wilful default should be made a criminal offence, the list of wilful defaulters should be made public and stringent measures such as fast track Debt Recovery Tribunals should be implemented.
• Minimum wage: Minimum wage fixed on the basis of the recommendations of the 15^th Indian Labour Conference and the Supreme Court judgment in Raptakos & Brett case and linked to Consumer Price Index, should be guaranteed to all workers. The 7^th Pay Commission has worked this to be Rs 18000 per month, which the government has accepted. Hence, the minimum wage should not be less than Rs 18000 per month, which has been the common demand of all the central trade unions. Need based minimum wage should be considered as an essential part of social security.
• Resolve demands of the Government employees regarding 7^th Pay Commission: All the pending demands of the Government employees in centre and states in regard to 7^th pay commission be resolved within time frame including arrears of allowances with effect from 01.01.2016.  The autonomous bodies be included into for all the benefits of the 7^th pay commission.
• Price rise: The prices of essential commodities, particularly of food items have been spiralling making it impossible for the workers and other toiling people to meet their basic daily needs. Speculative forward trading and hoarding are major factors contributing to the price rise. The government should ban speculative forward trading in essential commodities, take strong measures to curtail hoarding and strengthen Public Distribution System, making it universal. Stop the system of cash transfer to beneficiaries’ accounts in lieu of PDS
• Stop disinvestment and strategic sale of public sector units: The public sector has to be strengthened and expanded. Budgetary support should be provided for the revival of potentially viable sick public sector units. Strategic sale of the profit making PSUs, which is being resorted to at present should be stopped. The amendments to the Motor Vehicle Act, which pave the way for privatisation of the state – owned public transport system should be withdrawn.
• Employment generation: Employment generation has nosedived in the recent period. Massive public investment in infrastructure, social sectors and agriculture would generate employment. The union budget should give priority and allocate the necessary funds for this. All vacant sanctioned posts in the different government departments, PSUs and autonomous institutions should be filled up through fresh recruitment. The ban on creation of new posts should be lifted. The practice of surrendering/ abolition of posts should be done away with.
• Prevent dumping: The increasing import of industrial commodities including capital goods should be contained and regulated to prevent dumping. Protect and promote domestic industries. This will also help in preventing job losses
• Extend MGNREGA: Expenditure on MGNREGA should be increased to cover all rural areas. Ensure immediate payment of wages to workers employed under MGNREGA. It should be amended to include the urban areas as well. The unanimous recommendation of 43^rd ILC to extend the scheme to urban areas, guarantee employment for a minimum of 200 days with statutory minimum wage, should be implemented.
• Contract and casual workers: No contract/casual workers should be deployed on jobs of perennial nature. The contract and casual workers doing the same and similar work as the permanent workers should be paid the same wages and benefits as paid to regular workers as directed by Hon’ble Supreme Court of India in 2016.
• FDI: The CTUs have been repeatedly demanding that FDI should not be allowed in crucial sectors like defence production, railways, financial sector, retail trade etc. But the government has persisted with this policy. Corporates with large NPAs are allowed to invest in sensitive sectors like defence. We reiterate the demands that FDI should not be allowed in the crucial sectors.
• Defence: Privatisation of the defence sector should be stopped. The order outsourcing of the 143 items of the total 273 produced by the public sector ordinance factories should be withdrawn.
• Scheme workers: Regularise the workforce employed in the various schemes of government of India including the ICDS, NHM, Midday Meal Programme, National Child Labour Project, Sarva Siksha Abhiyan etc. Till this is done, at least immediately implement the recommendation of the 45^th ILC that these scheme workers should be recognised as ‘workers’, they should be paid minimum wages and provided social security benefits including pension. Increase budgetary allocations to these schemes and stop privatisation of these schemes in any form.
• Domestic workers: The government should ratify the ILO Convention 189 and enact a central law and create support system for domestic workers.
• Unorganised workers: Create a National Fund for Unorganised Workers to provide social security for all unorganised workers including contract, casual, migrant workers etc. Direct all state governments to frame rules under the Street Vendors (Protection of Livelihood and Regulation of Street Vending) Act and allocate funds for developing street vending as livelihood model. Management of cess under the Building and Other Construction Workers’ Welfare Board, Beedi Workers Welfare Board etc. should be made the responsibility of Ministry of Finance, which should ensure its proper collection, stoppage of evasion and utilisation.
• Labour law reforms: Stop labour law amendments that curtail the basic and trade union rights of workers and provide unhindered ‘hire and fire’ facilities to the employers. The Code on Wages Bill, at present before the Standing Committee on Labour and on the draft Code on Industrial Relations Bill should be finalised on the basis of the opinions of the central trade unions expressed unanimously. No labour law amendment should be undertaken without the consent of the trade unions and workers who are the main stakeholders and the most affected.
• EPF: The threshold limit for EPF scheme should be brought down to 10. Government and employers’ contribution should be increased to provide a minimum pension of Rs 3000 per month and make it sustainable. Stop investing EPF funds in share market. The Supreme Court has given a judgment and order for higher payment of pension under EPS – 95. This option should be made available for all workers covered under the said scheme.
• Pension for all: Pension should be construed as deferred wage and all workers who are not covered by any pension scheme should be ensured a pension not less than Rs 3,000/- per month.
• New Pension scheme: NPS should be withdrawn. All central and state government employees recruited on or after 1.1.2004 should be covered under the Old Pension Scheme.
• Gratuity: Gratuity under the Payment of Gratuity Act should be raised to Rs 20 lakhs and 30 days wages instead of 15 days per completed year of service.
• ADHAR: Government should not rush making ADHAR linking compulsory
• Closed and sick factories: Ensure that workers of closed factories get their dues within a fixed time limit. Sudden winding up of the BIFR has left many stakeholders without a remedy. Rules for carrying out the provisions of the Sick Industrial Companies (Special Provisions) Repeal Act, 2003, should be framed immediately to facilitate them.
• Income tax exemption: The ceiling for income tax for salaried persons and pensioners should be raised to Rs 5 lakh per year. Income Tax ceiling for senior citizens should be raised to Rs.8 lakhs. All perks and fringe benefits like housing, medical and educations facilities and running allowances in railways should be exempted from income tax net totally.
• Political funding: Recently the government removed the limit on the amount companies can donate to political parties and the need to name the political party receiving the funds. This is far from the transparency promised in public life. The earlier regime should be restored.
• Railways: Adequate financial resources should be allotted to the railways to ensure more effective, accessible and affordable transport to the common people, particularly the poor. The capabilities of public sector production units should be utilised fully, further developed and strengthened. No measure should be taken to privatise the railways. The measures to hand over the railway stations across the country to private players should be immediately stopped. Any property of railways should not be handed over to private sector through lease or sale.  The decision to allow 100% FDI in railways should be withdrawn. The pending expansion, track renewal, signals up gradation projects should be completed at the earliest. Adequate financial resources should be allocated to improve safety systems and ensure safe rail travel for the people. All the vacancies in the railways should be filled up. The long pending demands of the railway employees like enhancement of ceiling in respect of running allowance for tax exemption, housing scheme etc should be addressed positively.

To conclude:

We reiterate our strong opposition to the anti worker measures being undertaken by the government on the pretext of improving the ‘ease of doing business’, to benefit the employers, particularly the big corporates, domestic and foreign.

We once again urge upon the government to take concrete measures to resolve the 12 point charter of demands of the working people, being repeatedly raised by the central trade unions, as well as the pressing issues listed above.

We regret that none of the suggestions of the central trade unions, made in the earlier pre budget meetings were incorporated in the previous budgets. We hope that this would not be repeated yet again and the points raised by us will be given positive consideration while framing budget 2018-19.

With regards,

                                                Yours sincerely

INTUC                   AITUC           HMS             CITU                  AIUTUC

TUCC              SEWA                AICCTU              UTUC                 LPF

Source : Confederation

S.No.	LIST OF CONTENTS
1.	Introduction, Aim and Preview
Part – I : Pay
Officers
2.	Level of Ranks : Officers (Except MNS)
3.	Pay Matrix : Officers (Except MNS)
4.	Level of Ranks : (MNS) Officers
5.	Pay Matrix : MNS Officers
6.	Fixation of Pay in the Revised Pay Structure
7.	Increment in Revised Pay Structure
8.	Pay Fixation on Promotion After 1st Day of Jan 2016
9.	Stipend of Gentlemen or Lady Cadets Under Training
10.	Military Service Pay
11.	Pay of Junior Commissioned Officers (JCOs) / Other Ranks (OR) Undergoing Pre- Commissioning Training in Service Training Institutions
12.	Pay Fixation of Re-Employed Officers
	JCOs /OR
13.	Level of Ranks : JCOs/OR
14.	Pay Matrix JCOs/OR
15.	Military Service Pay
16.	Initial Pay Fixation
17.	Pay Fixation Honorary Lieutenants and Captains
18.	Annual Increment
19.	Annual Increment in Revised Pay Structure
20.	Modified Assured Career Progression (MACP)
Part – II : Allowances
21.	Yardstick for Allowances
Education Related
22.	Children Education Allowance (CEA)
23.	Education Concessions to Children of Personnel Missing/Disabled/ Killed In Action
24.	Language Allowance
25.	Language Award
26.	Qualification Allowance
27.	Higher Qualification Incentive (HQI)
Uniform Related
28.	Dress Allowance
Transport Related
29.	Transport Allowance
30.	Conveyance Allowance
Risk and Hardship Related
31.	Risk and Hardship Matrix & Rates of Major Allowances
32.	Concurrent Admissibility of Allowances
Accommodation Related
33.	House Rent Allowance & Rates of House Rent Allowance
TA/DA Entitlements
34.	Travel Entitlement within the Country
35.	International Travel Entitlement by Air
36.	Entitlement for Journeys by Sea or by River Steamer
37.	Entitlement for Travel Between the Mainland and the Andaman & Nicobar and Lakshadweep Groups of Islands by Ships Operated by the Shipping Corporation of India Limited
38.	Mileage Allowance for journeys by road at places where no specific rates have been prescribed either by the Director of Transport of the concerned state or of the neighbouring states
39.	Mileage Allowance for journeys by road at places where specific rates have been prescribed
40.	Daily Allowances on Tour
41.	Timing Restrictions for Food Bills
42.	Entitlement for Journeys on Permanent Duty
43.	TA Entitlements of Retiring Def Pers
Misc Allowances
44.	Diving Allowance
45.	Dip Money
46.	Diving Attendant Allowance
47.	Hard Area Allowance
48.	Island Special Duty Allowance
49.	Funeral Expense
50.	Tough Location Allowance
51.	Specialist Allowance
52.	Deputation (Duty) Allce
53.	Test Pilot and Flt Test Engineer Allowance (For Officers Only)
54.	Extra Work Allowance
55.	Composite Personal Maintenance Allowance (CPMA) (For JCOs/OR Only)
56.	Rum Allowance (for JCOs/OR only)
57.	Additional Post Allowance
58.	Classification Allowance
59.	Good Service/Good Conduct/Badge Allowance
60.	Gallantry Awards
61.	Training Allowance
62.	Other Allowances
Part III : Pension and Related Benefits
63.	Reckonable Emoluments
64.	Pension Fixation
Gratuity
65.	Gratuity : All Types
66.	Retiring/Service Pension
67.	Minimum Pension
68.	Commutation of Pension
Family Pension
69.	Category of Dependents
70.	Enhanced Family Pension
Disability Pension
Disability Element of Disability Pension
War Injury Element of War Injury Pension
Constant Attendance Allowance
Ex-Gratia Lump Sum Compensation to Next of Kin of the Deceased Defence Forces Personnel
Ex-Gratia Lump Sum Compensation in Cases of Invalidment
Broad-Banding of Percentage of Disability / War Injury on Discharge
Ex-Gratia Award to Cadet (Direct)
Pensionary Benefits : Death in Attributable/ Aggravated Cases
71.	Special Family Pension (SFP)
72.	Liberalised Family Pension (LFP)
73.	Pension Protection
Ceiling in Case of Two Pensions
Old Age Pension
Procedure for Sanction of Revised Pension to those who have already Retired Misc Instructions
For Pre 01.01.2016 Pensioners
For Post 01.01.2016 Pensioners
Part IV : Terms & Conditions of Service
74.	House Building Advance
75.	Personal Computer Advance
76.	Qualifying Service – Colonel
77.	Maternity Leave
78.	Paternity Leave
79.	Hospitalisation/Sick Leave in Case of Officers
Summary of Allowances
80.	Summary of Allowances

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