Modification in 7th Pay Commission report needed – Massive Rally and March to Parliament organised by NJCA – 20,000 Central Government Employees participated

A massive parliament march and rally of about 20000 Central Government Employees was held at Jantar Mantar, New Delhi on 24th June 2016. The rally was organized by National Joint Council of Action (NJCA) of Central Government Employees comprising Railways, Defence, Confederation and Postal organizations demanding modification in the recommendations of 7th Central Pay Commissions including minimum wage and fitment formula. Other demands are scrapping of New Contributory Pension Scheme, No FDI in Railways and Defence, Grant of Civil Servant status to Gramin Dak Sevaks, filling up of vacancies, enhancement of bonus ceiling, No outsourcing, downsizing, contractorisation and corporatisation etc.
The NJCA had already given strike notice to Government on 9th June 2016. The Modi Government is not ready for a negotiated settlement with the staff side. The rally called upon the entirely of Central Government employees to intensify the campaign and preparations and make the strike a total success.
The rally was presided by Shri. N. Raghavaiah (General Secretary, NFIR & Chairman NJCA), Coms. Shiv Gopal Mishra (General Secretary AIRF & Convenor NJCA), Sreekumar (Secretary General AIDEF) M. Krishnan (Secretary General, Confederation) R. N. Parashar (Secretary General, NFPE) Guman Singh (President, NFIR), Rakal Das Gupta (President, AIRF) K. K. N. Kutty (President, Confederation) B. C. Sharma (NFIR) S. K. Tyagi (AIRF), Mrs. Champa and Mrs. Gita Pandey addressed the rally
About 33 lakhs Central Government Employees will participate in the strike. 40 lakhs Central Government Pensioners have declared their solidarity with the strike. Central Trade Unions had also extended their full support. State Government Employees Federations have cautioned the Central Government that they will also be compelled to join the strike if Government refuse to settle the demands relating to 7th CPC recommendations as majority of the state Governments are implementing the Central pay parity to their employees also.

 Source: Confederation of Central Government Employees and Workers

7th CPC : Group of Secretaries mets PMO officials

19 Jun, 2016 8:25p.m.
The Central Government employees who have been eagerly waiting for the 30 per cent hike in their salaries, it seems their wait is finally over. The Narendra Modi government is about to take a final call this week, as group of Cabinet secretaries met the PMO officials. The pay panel will be conducting a meeting this week, as it has been more than two months the empowered group headed by Cabinet secretary is said to have recommended 30 per cent hike in salaries of central government employees.

On Saturday there were reports that a group of secretaries had said that the minimum salary as well as the fitment factor should be raised in the Seventh Pay Commission.

According to the reports the starting salary of the government employees is expected to be around Rs 23,000, up from Rs 18,000.

On Sunday Dainik Jagran reported, that a group of Cabinet Secretaries met the PMO officials on Wednesday and appraised them about the secretaries panel’s recommendations on the salary and allowances hike recommended by the commission.

Seventh Pay Commission’s recommendations have submitted its report to the Finance Ministry by the panel secretaries. The Finance Ministry is preparing a note and will present it before the Cabinet this week.



source : Staffcorner

7th Pay Commission Latest News – Staff Side JCM requests PM intervention

Ph.: 23382286

National Council (Staff Side)

Joint Consultative Machinery

for Central Government Employees

13-C, Ferozshah Road, New Delhi – 110001

EMail: nc.jcm.np@gmail.com

NO.NC/JCM/2016/CS/PM
Dated: 14.06.2016


Hon’ble Prime Minister of India,
152, South Block,
Raisina Hill,
New Delhi-110011


Respected Sir,

Sub: Non-settlement of our demands – Decision to go on “Indefinite Strike” commencing from 11.07.2016 – Request for your intervention and support

I write this on behalf of the apex level body of all the Central Government Employees Organizations who are participating in the Negotiating Forum; called the Joint Consultative Machinery. The JCM as a Negotiating Forum was conceived and implemented in 1966 after the prolonged discussions with the Staff Associations and the Federations in the Central Services in the wake of first industrial action in 1960. The idea of setting up the JCM was in realization of the absence of a platform to discuss, deliberate and settle the demands/issues/grievances/problems of the Civil Servants. Up to 1995-96 the JCM, which has a three level negotiating platform was functioning well, meetings were regular. However, after the promulgation of the new recognition Rules in 1993, the meetings at the Ministry level became few and far between and at the national level, the deterioration stepped in a little latter. The National Council, which was to meet thrice in a year did not  meet even once in a year. The last meeting of the National Council was held on 15.05.2010 The organizations participating in the JCM were demanding the meeting to be held, but the pleas were ignored by the successive Cabinet Secretaries. The Charter of Demands (copy enclosed), in pursuance of which the strike is decided to be organized, has arisen due to long neglect of the grievances of the employees/workers.
When the 7th CPC was set up in February, 2014, no announcement for Interim Relief or DA Merger was made by the then government, which had all along been the practice whenever the government had set-up the Pay Commissions earlier. We fully co-operated with the Commission, submitted a memorandum detailing the issues and explained the reasoning behind each demand. The 7th CPC submitted report on 19.11.2015 to the government. In our communication dated 10.12.2015 (copy enclosed), we sought improvement/amendment over the recommendations of the 7th CPC and explained our demands both in writing and orally before the Empowering Committee. Most of the meetings were monologues except perhaps the last one. What we have understood, is that, the Empowering Committee might not come forward to make any major changes. A fruitful meeting is supposed to be a dialogue where both parties at the negotiating table exchange their understanding, views and difficulties and reach a mutually acceptable position. In 1998, when the then Cabinet Secretary decided not to have such a dialogue with the Staff Side and unalterably issued the Government Notification on the 5th CPC recommendations, the then government did set up a committee of Group of Ministers. The GoM held discussions on all issues and averted the strike action. The 1998 situation establishes, without an iota of doubt, that, the Staff Side has always taken reasonable stand on all the issues and paved way for settlement.
The one and only recommendation made by the 7th CPC was to provide some relief to the past old pensioners. The Department of Pension & Pensioners’ Welfare has unfortunately recommended to the Cabinet Secretary that, even that recommendation must be rejected on the specious plea that the requisite relevant records might not be available.
These developments have caused anguish, anxiety and anger amongst the workers. It is now more than six months that the Commission submitted its report. If the government comes forward to hold a meaningful discussion with the leaders of the NJCA, a mutually acceptable settlement can be brought about and the impending strike, slated to commence from 11.07.2016, can ultimately be avoided.
We seek your co-operation, supports and intervention in the matter

Yours faithfully,

sd/-

(Shiva Gopal Mishra)

Secretary(Staff Side),

National Civil Aviation Policy, 2016 : Salient Features

                   

                  The Minister of Civil Aviation Shri P. Ashok Gajapathi Raju released the  National Civil Aviation Policy 2016 in New Delhi today. This is the first time since  independence that an integrated Civil Aviation Policy has been  brought out by the Ministry.  Speaking on the occasion Shri Raju said that the centre-piece of the policy is to make regional air connectivity a reality. He said that the policy aims to take flying to the masses by making it affordable and convenient,  establish an integrated eco-system which will lead to significant growth of  the civil aviation sector  to promote tourism, employment and balanced regional growth, enhance regional connectivity through fiscal support and infrastructure development and  enhance ease of doing business through deregulation, simplified procedures and e-governance.

   The policy is very comprehensive, covering 22 areas of the Civil Aviation sector. Its salient     features are as follows :

   Regional Connectivity Scheme

                   

·         This scheme will come into effect in the second quarter of  2016-17

·         Airfare of about Rs2500 per passenger for a one-hour flight

·         This will be implemented by way of:

                   

·             Revival of airstrips/airports as No-Frills Airports at an indicative cost of Rs.50 crore  to Rs100 crore

·             Demand driven selection of Airports/airstrips for revival in consultation with State Govts and airlines

·             ViabilityGapFunding(VGF)toairlineoperators

·             RCS only in those states which reduce VAT on ATF to 1% or  less, provide other  support services and 20% of VGF

·         Concessions by Stakeholders

  ·          There will be no airport charges

·             Reduced Service tax on tickets (on 10% of the taxable value) for 1 year initially

·             Reduced Excise duty at 2%  on ATF picked at RCS airports

·             State government will provide police and fire services free of cost.  Power, water and   other utilities at  concessional rates

·       Creation of Regional Connectivity fund for VGF through a small levy per departure on all domestic flights other than Cat II/ Cat IIA routes, RCS routes and small aircraft below 80 seats at a rate as decided bythe Ministry from time to time

·       VGF to be shared between MoCA and State Governments in the ratio of 80:20.  For the North Eastern States, the ratio is 90:10

                   

Route Dispersal Guidelines (RDG)

                   

·       Category I to be rationalized based on a transparent criteria, i.e., flying distance of more than 700km, average seat factor of 70% and above and annual traffic of 5 lakh passengers

·        The percentage of Cat.I traffic to be deployed on Cat.II, and IIA will remain the same while for CATIII it will be 35%. Routes to Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh included in Category II

·         Revised categorization to apply from winter schedule of 2017

·         There view of routes will be done by MoCA once every5 years

·         Withdrawal or revision of domestic operations to and within North East Region etc, subject to full compliance of RDG, can be done under prior intimation to MoCA at least three months before withdrawal or revision of the service

5/20 Requirement

5/20 Requirement

·         Replaced with a scheme which provides a level playing field

·         All airlines can now commence international operations provided that they deploy 20 aircraft or 20% of total capacity (in term of average number of seats on all departures put together), whichever is higher for domestic operations

                   

Bilateral Traffic Rights

·         GoI will enter into 'Open Sky' ASA on a reciprocal basis with SAARC countries and countries located beyond 5000 km from Delhi

·         For countries within 5000 km radius, where the Indian carriers have not utilised 80% of their capacity entitlements but foreign carriers /countries have utilised their bilateral rights, a method will be recommended by a Committee headed by Cabinet Secretary for the allotment of additional capacity entitlements

·         Whenever designated carriers of India have utilised 80% their capacity entitlements, the same will be renegotiated in the usual manner.

Ground Handling Policy

·         The Ground Handling Policy/ Instructions/Regulations will be replaced by a new framework:

·       The airport operator will ensure that there will be three Ground Handling Agencies (GHA) including Air India's subsidiary/JV at all major airports as defined in AERA Act

·       At non-major airports, the airport operator to decide on the  number of ground handling agencies, based on the traffic output, airside and terminal building capacity

·     All domestic scheduled airline operators including helicopter operators will be free to carry out self-handling at all airports through their regular employees

·      Hiring of employees through manpower supplier or contract

·                workers will not be permitted for security reasons

Airport PPP/AAI

·         Encourage development of airports by AAI, State  Governments, the private sector or in PPP mode

·         Future tariffs at all airports will be calculated on a 'hybrid till' basis, unless specified otherwise in concession agreements. 30% of non-aeronautical revenue will be used to cross- subsidise aeronautical charges

·         Increase non-aeronautical revenue by better utilisation of commercial opportunities of city side land

·         AAI to be compensated in case a new greenfield airport is approved in future within a 150 km radius of an existing unsaturated operational AAI airport (not applicable to civil enclaves)

Aviation Security, Immigration and customs

A

·         sMoCA will develop 'service delivery modules' for aviation security, Immigration, Customs, quarantine officers etc in consultations with respective Ministries/Departments

·         Allow Indian carriers to provide security services to other domestic airlines subject to approval of BCAS

·         Encourage use of private security agencies at airports for non- core security functions to be decided in consultation with MHA

·         Such agencies should be registered under the Private Security Agencies (Regulation) Act, 2005 and will also be separately accredited by BCAS

·         Subject to minimum benchmarks being met, security architecture at the different airports will be proportionate to the threat classification and traffic volume.

Helicopters and Charters I

·         Separate regulations for helicopters will be notified by DGCA

             after due stakeholder consultation

·         MoCA to coordinate with Govt agencies and other helicopter operators to facilitate Helicopter Emergency Medical Services

·         Helicopters will be free to fly from point to point without prior ATC clearance in airspace below 5000 feet and areas other than controlled or prohibited or restricted airspace

·         Airport charges for helicopter operations will be suitably rationalized

·         The existing policy of allowing Inclusive tour package charters will be further reviewed to include more categories of passenger charter flights recognised globally.

Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul

 

The MRO business of Indian carriers is around Rs 5000 crore, 90% of which is currently spent  outside India. In the budget for 2016-17, customs duty has been rationalised and the procedure for clearance of goods simplified. Further incentives proposed in the policy to give a push to this sector:

·         MoCA will persuade State Governments to make VAT zero- rated on MRO activities

·         Provision for adequate land for MRO service providers will be made in all future airport/heliport projects where potential for such MRO services exists

·         Airport royalty and additional charges will not be levied on MRO service providers for a period of five years from the date of approval of the policy

Aviation Education and Skill Building

Estimated direct additional employment requirement of the Civil Aviation Sector by 2025 is about 3.3 lakh . All training in non licensed category will conform to National Skill Qualification Framework standards. MoCA will provide full support to the Aviation Sector Skill Council and other similar organisations/agencies for imparting skills for the growing aviation industry . There are nearly 8000 pilots holding CPL but who have not found any regular employment. MoCA will develop a scheme with budgetary support for Type- rating of Pilots. The detailed scheme will be worked out separately.

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UM/RS

(Release ID :146238)

Ministry of Civil Aviation Announces Proposed Passenger Centric Amendments.....

         The Minister for Civil Aviation Shri  Ashok Gajapathi Raju said that his Ministry was committed not only to the growth of the Airline industry  but also to ensure that flying for most Indians becomes a pleasant experience.  In keeping with this commitment he along with MOS Dr. Mahesh Sharma, presided over a presentation made by DGCA with regard to Passenger  Centric Initiatives.   In the presentation, the first category of amendments have been made in CARs related to “Refund of Air Tickets”.  The Ministry has proposed that the refund process should be completed within  15 working days in case of  domestic travel and 30 working days in case of international travel.  It  also proposed that in case of cancellation of tickets,   statutory taxes and user development fee/airport development fee/passenger service fee shall be refunded.   The Ministry has also proposed in this category that under no circumstances cancellation shall be more than the basic fair.

            In the second category of CARs related to “Denied Boarding, flight cancellation and flight delays”, the Ministry has proposed that an amount equal to 200% of booked one way basic fair plus airline fuel charge subject to maximum of INR 10,000/- would be paid to passengers in case airline arranges alternate flight that is  to depart after one hour but within   24 hours of the booked scheduled departure.

            In the third category of CARs relating  to  facilities to be provided to “Persons with  reduced mobility”,  Airlines shall develop a procedure for making advance request of stretcher and same should be displayed on airline’s website.  Airlines, airport operators, security personnel, customs and immigration shall conduct training  programme, as per training module provided by Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment, for all their personnel engaged in passenger services for sensitization and developing awareness for assisting persons with disability or reduced mobility.  Foreign carriers operating to/from India shall refund the tickets in accordance with regulations of their country of  origin.

            With regard to checking baggage charges, the Ministry has proposed that the Airline should restrict additional baggage charge Rs.100 per kg for baggage  between 15 to  20 kg.

            The Minister of State for Civil Aviation Dr. Mahesh Sharma said that the Ministry will strive to take Indian Airline Industry to the third position  from  its present ninth position.  He also explained the salient features of the presentation in Hindi.

            The proposal will be put up on the Ministry’s website for 15 days during which  Stakeholders are free to give their suggestions  and comments.  After this the Ministry will finalize the proposed amendments and implement  them very soon.

          

UM/NP/SK/AC

Action plan for diabetes prevention

Diabetes is one of the major Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) affecting people across the Globe including India. The Government has taken a number of steps for prevention and control of diabetes.

Government of India launched National Programme for Prevention and Control of Cancer, Diabetes, Cardiovascular Diseases and Stroke (NPCDCS) which is implemented for interventions up to District level under the National Health Mission. NPCDCS has a focus on awareness generation for behaviour and life-style changes, screening and early diagnosis of persons with high level of risk factors and their treatment and referral (if required) to higher facilities for appropriate management for Non-communicable Diseases including Diabetes. Under NPCDCS, diagnosis and treatment facilities for Diabetes are provided through different levels of healthcare by setting up of NCD Clinics at District Hospitals and Community Health Centres (CHCs). The programme includes intervention at the level of Primary Health Centres (PHCs) and Sub-Centres also.

India is the first country globally to adopt the NCD Global Monitoring Framework and Action Plan to its National Context. The Framework includes a set of nine voluntary targets and 25 indicators which can be applied across regional and country settings. The framework elements include halting the rise in obesity and diabetes prevalence, reduction in alcohol use and promotion of physical activity.

The Government of India has developed a National Multi Sectoral Action Plan (NMSAP) for prevention and control of NCDs to guide multisectoral efforts towards attaining the National NCD objectives. The said NMSAP has been shared with relevant Central Government Ministries/Departments for their suggestions/feedback.

For holistic development of adolescent population, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare in 2014 launched Rashtriya Kishor Swasthya Karyakram (RKSK) to reach out to 253 million adolescents – male and female, rural and urban, married and unmarried, in and out of school adolescents with special focus on marginalized and underserved groups. The six thematic areas covered under RKSK include Non-Communicable Diseases.

As informed by Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), provision for declaration of sugar has been prescribed under sub-regulation 2.2.2(3) of Nutritional Information of Food Safety and Standards (Packaging and Labelling) Regulations, 2011.

Labelling provisions for artificial sweetener are prescribed under sub regulation 2.4.5(24, 25, 27, 28 and 29) of Food Safety and Standards (Packaging and Labelling) Regulations, 2011.

Several awareness initiatives have been undertaken by the Government including observance of World Diabetes Day, organising of screening and major awareness events at occasions such as the India International Trade Fair (IITF), Delhi.
The Health Minister, Shri J P Nadda stated this in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha here today.

Prime Minister approves retirement age of doctors of Central Health Services to 65 years

Will empower the Government to strengthen the healthcare sector in the country: J P Nadda

The Prime Minister today approved the proposal of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare for enhancing the age of superannuation of all doctors of the Central Health Service to 65 years with effect from 31st May 2016.

This will enable the Government to retain experienced doctors for a longer period, and to provide better services in its public health facilities, particularly to the poorest, who are entirely dependent on public facilities.

Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare Shri J P Nadda stated that this step will empower the Government to strengthen the healthcare sector in the country. It will help in providing additional doctors in the health pool of the country, he added. This will strengthen the efforts of the Ministry in conceptualising and rolling out various people-oriented schemes which l need the services of doctors in implementing them, Shri Nadda stated.


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MV
(Release ID :145818)

7th CPC : Group of Secretaries likely to finalise the new pay on June 11

The group of secretaries headed by Cabinet Secretary PK Sinha is all set to meet on June 11 to give final shape to the changes on 7th Pay Commission recommendation.

This will give the much needed boost to lakhs of government employees who are anxiously waiting for the implementation of the recommendation of the 7th Pay Commission.

The secretaries group is expected to meet on June 11 to finally wrap up its report on the remuneration of government employees.

News reports further state that it will take only a few days afterwards by the finance ministry to implement the higher pay package for central government employees.

The secretaries group has recommended between Rs 2,70,000 and Rs 21,000 hike for the higher and the lower level. This is twenty thousand more in the upper limit prescribed by the 7th CPC and three thousand more in the lower level set by the commission.

It may be recalled that the government had set up a high-powered panel headed by Cabinet Secretary P K Sinha to process the recommendations of the 7th Pay Commission which will have bearing on the remuneration of 47 lakh central government employees and 52 lakh pensioners.

New salary most likely from next month (July '16)

The long wait for implementation of 7th Pay Commission recommendation will soon come to an end.

As per media reports, the new increased pay scale for all central government employees will be given from next month.

Meanwhile, the group of secretaries headed by Cabinet Secretary PK Sinha is all set to meet on June 11 to give final shape to the changes on 7th Pay Commission recommendation.

Government in January set up a high-powered panel headed by Cabinet Secretary P K Sinha to process the recommendations of the 7th Pay Commission which will have bearing on the remuneration of 47 lakh central government employees and 52 lakh pensioners.

The Empowered Committee of Secretaries will function as a Screening Committee to process the recommendations with regard to all relevant factors of the Commission in an expeditious detailed and holistic fashion.

The government had earlier stated that implementation of new pay scales recommended by the 7th Pay Commission is estimated to put an additional burden of Rs 1.02 lakh crore, or 0.7 percent of GDP, on the exchequer in 2016-17.

 

 

Source : http://zeenews.india.com/business/news/economy/7th-pay-commission-central-govt-employees-to-get-salary-hike-from-next-month_1890942.html