7th Pay Commission: Serious resentment! Why over 50,000 govt employees participated in ‘March to Parliament’

Over 50,000 Railway employees participated in “March to Parliament” to express their disappointment against the 7th Pay Commission report. The employees marched to the Parliament to raise their voice to fulfil the major demands. Restoration of Old Guaranteed Pension and Family Pension Scheme instead of NPS, Improvement in Minimum Wage and Fitment Formula, Stoppage of the policy of Contractorisation and Privatization on Indian Railways.

Addressing the rally at the Parliament Street, the General Secretary, Com. Shiva Gopal Mishra said that there is serious resentment amongst the entire Central Government Employees including the Railway employees on the 7th CPC report. Resentful with the 7th CPC recommendations, all the Central government employees had decided to go on an indefinite strike which started from July 11, 2016.
Notably, Home Minister Rajnath Singh, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, Railway Minister Piyush Goyal and State Minister for Railways on June 30, 2016, had given assurance that they will definitely address the issues raised by the people within a period of four months. Following the assurance by the ministry, the employees called off the strike.
Owing to pursuing the policy of contractorization and privatization there is a serious threat to Railway Safety, on the other hand, around six lakh contractual employees are being exploited to the greatest extent.
Mishra asserted that the government must take a lesson from serious resentment of the employees across India and try to resolve their grievances at the earliest possible time, otherwise, All India Railwaymen’s Federation (AIRF) would be compelled to intensify the movement, responsibility for which shall squarely fall, on the Government of India and Ministry of Railways.
Presiding over the mammoth gathering of the Railway employees, arrived in the “March to Parliament”, Comrade Rakhal Das Gupta, President/AIRF said that AIRF has rendered allout co-operation for smooth and efficient running of the Railways, but this should not be misunderstood. The Govt. of India and the Ministry of Railways must resolve the burning problems of the Railwaymen, like scrapping of NPS(now called National Pension Scheme), improvement in Minimum Wage and Pay Fixation Formula to all categories of the Railwaymen and stop outsourcing of perennial nature works in violation of the provisions of Contract Labour(Regulation & Abolition) Act and settle all other burning grievances, otherwise All India Railwaymen’s Federation would be compelled to intensify the struggle.
http://www.financialexpress.com 

40,000 railway employees to march to Parliament for better wages

NEW DELHI: Nearly 40,000 to 50,000 people, members of various Railway unions, are holding a protest march to Parliament in the national capital on Tuesday. The unions are demanding the withdrawal of the National Pension System (NPS) and improvement of minimum wages. The unions are also demanding a hike in minimum pay to Rs 26,000 from the current Rs 18,000.
"Under the NPS, the defined minimum pension or family pension is no more guaranteed for those employees who came in government service on or after 2004, although they are regularly contributing 10 per cent of their wages every month towards this scheme," said Shiv Gopal Mishra, general secretary of All India Railwaymen's Federation (AIRF) at a press conference.
Railwaymen from all across the country are participating in the protest. However, the union assured that no rail services will be disrupted and select few employees will continue to man the services.
“We have given instructions that no trains will be stopped or delayed because of our march. However, there will be a lot of absentees. Most of those affected are youngsters and they are very upset and angry," said Mishra.
In February 2016, the AIRF had conducted a secret ballot for its members to decide the future course of action if its demands weren't met. Ninety-five per cent of the 9,00,000 railwaymen who voted supported a strike. These employees included railway men from across the country, including 17 zones and seven production units of the Indian Railways.
Mishra said while social security to retired government employees was achieved after a prolonged struggle, it was virtually withdrawn with the introduction of the NPS from January 2004.
The demand to scrap the NPS was one of the main demands made by the central government employees last year. A three-member committee of ministers headed by Home Minister Rajnath Singh was formed to discuss the grievances but there was no progress.
"There is anger and anguish not just among railwaymen, but also among bureaucrats, over this. We have been assured again and again that our demands will be met, but nothing has happened so far. If they do not relent, then we will have to stick together and the next step could well be disruptive," Mishra said.
In 1974, railway employees demanding a wage increase staged a strike that crippled life in the country for almost three weeks.
http://zeenews.india.com/india 

7th Pay Commission: Latest news today 2018 – Long wait likely to end finally! Pay hike from April

7th Pay Commission latest news today 2018: Putting an end to the long wait, Central government staff are likely to get a hike in their salaries from next month. As promised by Finance Minister Arun Jaitley in 2016, the Centre is likely to hike salaries.

 7th Pay Commission latest news today 2018: The government is likely to increase the pay with effect from April

7th Pay Commission latest news today 2018: Putting an end to long wait, Central government staff are likely to get a hike in their salaries from next month. As promised by Finance Minister Arun Jaitley in 2016, the Centre is likely to hike salaries of lower-level Central government employees as per the 7th Pay Commission recommendations from April. Staff deriving salaries from pay matrix level 1 to five will see a salary hike.
As per reports, the NDA government is planning to increase the minimum pay from Rs 18,000 to Rs 21,000.
The fitment factor is also set to increase from 2.57 times to 3.00 times, as per the recommendations of the 7th Pay Commission. However, the Central government employees have demanded a spike in the fitment factor to 3.68 times, contrary to the recommendations of the 7th Pay Commission or 7CPC, which recommends the fitment factor to be raised three times.
It is also important to add that the increase will differ based on the pay matrix level. This is said to be government’s conscious effort to reduce the income disparity between the high-end and low-level government employees. Thereby, the already well-paid employees may not reap beyond ordinary benefits. Notably, in order to shrink the uneven income, the finance ministry, on February 12, had directed the merger of all Group B officers with Group C staff cadres of all Directorates under Central Board of Excise and Customs. This was seen as a pioneer attempt to merge the officers with the staff cadres. In order to resolve the issue of pay anomalies, the Narendra Modi-led NDA government has formed National Anomaly Committee (NAC) in September 2016.
7th Pay Commission in Tripura!
Meanwhile, newly-elected Chief Minister of Tripura, Biplab Deb Kumar has announced that the Tripura government will constitute an expert committee to see for the implementation of the 7th Pay Commission recommendations for the state government employees. It is worth mentioning here that BJP has promised to implement the recommendations of the Seventh Pay Commission in the state during its election campaign.
The announcement by Tripura CM comes a week after Gujarat state government announced 7th Pay Commission benefits for about 8.77 lakh people ( over 4.65 lakh Gujarat government employees and more than 4.12 lakh pensioners). Reportedly, the Vijay Rupani led Gujarat government will start to pass out these benefits to employees from this month onwards.
http://www.financialexpress.com 

Dearness Relief to re-employed pensioners

Dearness Relief to re-employed pensioners

Amendment of instructions regarding dearness relief to re-employed pensioners consequent on revision of ignorable part of pension for fixation of pay in the re-employment post

F.No. 42/14/2017-P&PW(G)
Government of India
Ministry of Personnel, P.G and Pensions
Department of Pension & Pensioners Welfare

********

3rd Floor, Lok Nayak Bhawan
Khan Market, New Delhi-110008
Date:- 08th March, 2018

OFFICE MEMORANDUM

Sub:- Amendment of instructions regarding dearness relief to re-employed pensioners consequent on revision of ignorable part of pension for fixation of pay in the re-employment post-reg

The undersigned is directed to refer to subject cited above and to say that the grant of dearness relief to re-employed pensioners/family pensioners is presently regulated in accordance with the instructions contained in this Department's OM No. 45/73/97-P&PW(G) dated 02.07.1999 and subsequently amended vide this Department's dated 38/88/2008- P&PW(G) dated 09.07.2009

2. DoPT, vide their OM No.3/3/2016-Estt.(Pay II) dated 01.05.2017 have issued instructions for revision of ignorable amount of pension from Rs. 4000/- to Rs. 15000/-(Rupees Fifteen Thousand) for the purpose of fixation of pay in the re-employment post. Accordingly, the amount of Rs. 4000/- appearing in this Department's OM dated 09.07.2009 is revised as Rs. 15000/-(Rupees Fifteen Thousand). The other conditions for grant of dearness relief in OM dated 02.07.1999 remain the same.

3. In their application to Indian Audit Accounts Department, these orders are being issued after consultation with the Comptroller & Auditor General of India.

4. This issues with the concurrence of Ministry of Finance, Department of Expenditure ID Note no. 181 /E-V/2017 dated 17.11.2017 and Department of Personnel & Training ID Note no 1265923/17-Estt(Pay-II) dated 18.09.2017.

(Charanjit Taneja)
Under Secretary to the Government of India

Cabinet approves two percent Dearness Allowance to Central Government employees

          The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given its approval to release an additional instalment of Dearness Allowance (DA) to Central Government employees and Dearness Relief (DR) to pensionersw.e.f. 01.01.2018 representing an increase of 2% over the existing rate of 5% of the Basic Pay/Pension, to compensate for price rise.

 This will benefit about 48.41 lakh Central Government employees and 61.17 lakh pensioners.

 The combined impact on the exchequer on account of both Dearness Allowance and Dearness Relief would be Rs.6077.72 crore per annum and Rs.7090.68 crore in the financial year 2018-19 (for a period of 14 months from January, 2018 to February, 2019).

 This increase is in accordance with the accepted formula, which is based on the recommendations of the 7^th Central Pay Commission.  http://pib.nic.inease.aspx/newsite 

PROTEST MOVEMENT BY DEFENCE VETERANS, UPDATE AND WAY AHEAD

    Dear Veterans,

1.       Second Hearing in HSC against the NGT Order to lift Dharanas from Jantar Mantar has been fixed for 05 Mar 2018.  Senior Advocate Prashant Bhushan is representing the case.  We are hopeful of some positive order from HSC.

2.       Third Hearing of our OROP Case in HSC has been tentatively fixed for 1^st week of Apr 2018.  We have made Prayers for the Implementation of Actual OROP and other related issues as under:-

· Declaring the letter dated 07.11.2015 bearing reference 12(1)/2014/D(Pen/Pol)-Part-II illegal, unconstitutional, and violative of Articles 14 and 21 of the Constitution;

· Declaring  the Notification dated 14.12.2015 bearing reference No. 12(01)/2014-D(Pen/Pol)-Part-II issued by Respondent No. 1 illegal, unconstitutional, and violative of Articles 14 and 21 of the Constitution;

· Declaring  the letter of Respondent No. 1 to the Chief of Army Staff, the Chief of Naval Staff, the Chief of Air Staff dated 03.02.2016 bearing reference 12(1)/2014/D(Pen/Policy)-Part- II illegal, unconstitutional, and violative of Articles 14 and 21 of the Constitution;

·Direction in the nature of mandamus to the Union of India directing that the pension of past pensioners be automatically and contemporaneously enhanced, whenever there is any future increase or enhancement in the rates of pension;

·Direction in the nature of mandamus to the Union of India directing that errors in tables prepared by the Central Government indicating One Rank One Pension computation, wherein there are numerous instances of ex-servicemen who retired with senior rank and longer length of service being shown to be eligible for lesser pension that ex-servicemen who retired with junior rank, be corrected to ensure One Rank One Pension;

· Direction in the nature of mandamus to the Union of India directing that fixation of pension must be on the basis of financial year 2014-2015 and not calendar year 2013;

·Direction in the nature of mandamus to the Union of India directing payment of revised pension with effect from 01.04.2014 instead of 01.07.2014;

· Direction in the nature of mandamus to the Union of India directing that Havildars who retired as Hon. Naib Subedar be given the pension of Naib Subedar;

· Direction in the nature of mandamus to the Union of India directing that all soldiers who have been conferred an Honourary superior rank, whether before or after retirement, be given the pension relatable to such superior rank;

                                                          

·Direction in the nature of mandamus to the Union of India directing that all ex-servicemen of the defence services be given benefit of full per-commissioning service period for pension calculation, regardless of their date of retirement;

· Direction in the nature of mandamus to the Union of India directing that veterans who have retired as Major after 13 years of service be granted the pension of Lt. Colonel;

·Direction in the nature of mandamus to the Union of India directing that veterans who retired prior to 2004 as Lt. Colonel be given pension of Colonel;

· Pass any other or future order(s) as this Hon’ble Court deems fit in the facts and circumstances of the present case.

· 7^th CPC  pensions need to be worked out afresh by multiplying the factor of 2.57 to    the Actual pensions as on 31 Dec 2015   and not the pensions of base year 2013.

· 33 years  rule  having been cancelled,  the pensions of Defence Personnel need to be  reworked afresh based on the rank and engagement period.

3.       Meeting of Defence Veterans alongwith the serving senior
 officers chaired by Dr. Subhash Ramrao Bhamre Raksha Rajya Mantri (Minister of State for Defence) held on 16 Feb 2018 which was well attended.  All Organisations gave out their issues.  I attended the meeting on behalf of IESM, and raised the following issues.

 (a)   Implementation of Actual One Rank One Pension (OROP).

(b)    Pensions of Defence Widows should be same as the ESM Pensions.

(c)    Pensions of Defence Reservists be enhanced to equivalent to pension of Sepoy.

(d)    Ensuring Second Career for the early Defence Retirees till the age of 60 years through the Act of Parliament.

(e)    Improvements in Medical care Scheme ECHS.  The medical procedures which have been introduced in the Country be on ECHS Procedure list within, six months of their being operational in India.

(f)     Dire need to have Veterans Hospitals on the line of other Democracies.

(g)    Need to enhance ECHS Budget to efficiently manage Super Specialty Care for the Defence Personnel and their dependents.

(h)    Need to have Covenant Act of Defence Forces on the lines of UK & other countries.

(j)    Need to expedite construction of Martyrs Memorial at India Gate.  Long delays have already been caused.

(k)    Need to enhance rates of Disability Pension for Defence Personnel.

4.       We are planing to hold a Maha Rally at Delhi in mid March or a week later to resume Relay Hunger Strike across the Country.  Date and time will be communicated shortly.  All ESM are requested to take part in  Mahar Rally at Delhi  and resume Relay Hunger Strike  with intensity at various locations in the Country.

5.       State Conveners and representatives at various locations are requested to hold Meetings, Seminars, Rallies regularly in the Country.  Feedback may please be forwarded to IESM HQ at 543 Sector 23, Gurgaon -122017 (Haryana).

6.       ESM residing in NCR are requested to come to  Jantar Mantar regularly, atleast once a week to strengthen the  Protest Movement.  The Govt continues to deny our due Justice.  Not only we are being denied our dues, we are continuously being Downgraded, Degraded, ill-treated and mistreated. Legal option which has already been exercised, will take lot of time therefore we need to continue our Protest Movement with strength and intensity.

7.       Governing Body Members responsible for various states are requested to constitute committees as under:-

(a) Block Level          -        3 members.

(b) District                -        5-7 members

(c)  Big Cities             -        5-7 members.

(d) State Level          -        9-11 members.

8.       Details of members of the Committee be forwarded to IESM HQ for formalization.  Membership Drive be carried out as an ongoing campaign on war footing.

9.       On 10^th March 2018, we will be completing 1000^th Day of our continuous Agitation at Jantar Mantar and at other locations across the Country.  All Members of the Defence Family residing in NCR and areas close by Delhi are requested to visit Jantar Mantar from 1230PM to 4PM to commemorate 1000^th Day of Protest Movement.  ESM at other locations are requested to assemble at their respective locations, schedule to be decided by local conveners and committees to commemorate 1000^th Day to strengthen, our resolve to get “Justice to Jawan”.

10.     Another important issue is health Care of ESM and members of their families.  We are in touch with the ECHS HQ for update and their assistance to resolve our problems and issues.  Requests, where Empanelled Hospitals deny admission in emergency situation are being attended to on priority.  We request that any such difficulty be brought to our Notice.  Col RP Chaturvedi, Mob No 9891279035 and email: rpchaturvedi@gmail.com ,is our Head ECHS.  We have also  asked the Govt to issue  instructions for all new  medical  procedures be brought on the ECHS  list within six months of their being operational in India.  Efforts are being made to improve the availability of medicines at ECHS Clinics.

11.     We are also keeping close liaison with Veterans Directorate at Delhi Cantt.  We have brought to their notice issues concerning ESM & their dependents.  Copies of our letters to MoD & PMO are regularly being sent to the three Chiefs for their info and action.  We will continue to raise issues with Govt through requests, representations, meetings etc.

12.     We will shortly be starting our Scheme of “Measures for the benefit of Armed Forces Veterans, War widows, their dependents and Veer Naries”.  Soldiers have given supreme, sacrifice for mother land but their families have not got the recognition by the Government which they deserved for the sacrifice given by their husbands.  IESM has been recognized in corporate sector as one of the pioneer organization which is spearheading welfare measures for veterans,  veernaries,  their families and citizen of India.  Corporate houses have started contributing funds reserved as Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) to IESM for the purpose. Recently, one corporate  has contributed Rs 25 lakhs and to start with IESM  has allotted another  Rs 25 lakhs to make corpus  fund of Rs 50 lakhs for the  purpose.  We hope this fund will increase every year.  We plan to given scholarships to the children of veernaries, veterans and their dependents at School, College and professional level.  We plan to given financial help to veernaries who wish to start their own cottage industry and financial help to old age homes/orphanages out of this fund.  The scheme will be upgraded as we go along.  Detailed SOP is being issued separately.

13.     Lastly, friends, we do need resources to continue our Agitation, May I request all numbers of the Defence Fraternity to contribute voluntarily for the cause.  Efforts be also made to approach corporates, organizations, individuals for their contribution for the cause.  

Yours Sincerely,

Maj Gen Satbir Singh, SM (Retd)
Advisor United Front of Ex Servicemen & Chairman IESM                                                                                          Mobile: 9312404269, Tel: 0124 4110570
Email: satbirsm@gmail.com