Long pending demands of the Central Government employees - CHARTER OF DEMANDS OF CONFEDERATION
No.Confdn/Memorandum/ 2016-19
05th September 2019
To
Shri. Narendra Modiji,
Hon’ble Prime Minister of India,
South Block,
New Delhi - 110 001.
Respected Prime Minister,
Sub:
Memorandum on the long pending demands of the Central Government employees - Request for kind intervention -
regarding.
This Memorandum is submitted with the most fervent hope that the Hon’ble Prime Minister will be condescend to intercede on
our behalf to settle the following long pending issues agitating the minds of 32 lakhs Central Government employees and 33
lakhs Central Govt. Pensioners.
1.
Scrap New Contributory Pension Scheme (NPS) and restore Defined
benefit Old Pension Scheme (OPS). Guarantee 50% of the last pay drawn as Minimum Pension.
Government of India has implemented New Contributory Pension Scheme (NPS) for all Central Govt. employees entering service
on or after 01-01-2004. When compared to the Old Defined Benefit Pension Scheme (OPS) there are many adverse factors in
the NPS. The monthly pension amount being received under the Insurance Annuity Scheme under NPS is less than Rs.3000/- per
month, to those NPS employees who had already retired from service during 2018 and 2019, after completing 14 to 15 years of
service, whereas as per the Old Pension Scheme an employee who completes minimum ten years qualifying service will get 50%
of the last pay drawn as Minimum Pension which in any case will not be less than Rs.12,000/- for a lowest level employee
(Multi Tasking Staff) with ten years service in Central service. Thus the very principle laid down by the Hon’ble Supreme
Court of India that “
Pension is a social welfare measure rendering socio-economic justice to those, who in the hey
day of their life ceaselessly toiled for the employer on an assurance that in their old age, they would not be left in
lurch”, stands defeated.
Seventh Central Pay Commission headed by Retired Justice of Supreme Court Shri. Ashok Kumar Mathur, in its report made the
following observations about NPS:
“
Almost a whole lot of Government employees appointed on or after 01-01-2004, were unhappy with the New Pension
Scheme. Government should take a call to look into their grievances”.
Govt. appointed a Secretary level committee called “NPS Committee” for streamlining the NPS, but that committee was not
empowered to look into the main demand of the NPS employees i.e., scrap NPS, restore OPS and guarantee 50% of the last pay
drawn as monthly pension. It is true that as per the recommendations of the NPS Committee, Govt’s contribution to NPS is
increased to 14% from 10% and some other cosmetic changes are also made in the NPS Rules. But the basic grievance still
remained unattended and unsettled, as a result uncertainty about the social security and Pension looms large over the head
of every NPS employee, and the discontentment among the NPS employees (as correctly observed by 7th CPC) is growing day by
day. We request the Hon’ble Prime Minister to have a relook into the entire matter, so that NPS will be scrapped and OPS
will be restored and at least 50% of the last pay drawn will be guaranteed under Rules as Minimum monthly Pension on
retirement.
2.
Honour the assurances given by Group of Ministers on 30-06-2016 to
National Council (JCM) Standing Committee members regarding increase in Minimum Pay and fitment factor recommended by
Seventh Central Pay Commission (CPC) :
All the Federations/Unions/Associations in the Central Govt. Employees sector including Railways, Defence and Confederation
had given a call for nationwide indefinite strike from 11th July 2016, demanding increase in Minimum Pay and Fitment
formula recommended by Seventh CPC and other 7th CPC related issues. A goup of Cabinet Ministers including Shri. Rajnath
Singh, then Home Minister, Shri. Arun Jaitley, then Finance Minister, Shri. Suresh Prabhu, then Railway Minister discussed
the demands with the leaders of National Joint Council of Action (NJCA) and assured that Minimum Pay and Fitment formula
will be increased and a High Level Committee will be appointed to submit recommendations in this regard. The assurances
were reiterated by Shri. Rajnath Singh, then Home Minister on 6th July 2016 in the second round of discussion and Finance
Ministry issued a press statement confirming the assurances. Accordingly, the proposed indefinite strike call of the NJCA
was deferred, taking in good faith the assurances given by the Group of Ministers. We are sorry to bring it to the notice
of the Hon’ble Prime Minister that even after a lapse of three years, neither the promised High Level Committee is
constituted by the Govt. nor the Minimum Pay and fitment formula is increased. The entire employees feel betrayed. We
request the Hon’ble Prime Minister to take immediate necessary action for implementing the assurances given by the Group of
Ministers.
3.
Grant “Option-I Parity” recommended by the 7th CPC to all Central
Government Pensioners.
7th CPC has recommended a new formula called “Option-1” for refixing the existing pension of Central Government Pensioners
retired prior to 01-01-2016. Government accepted the recommendation in principle and constituted a Secretary level
committee to examine and recommend regarding the feasibility of implementing ''option-1'' recommended by 7th CPC. The
Committee was not, ready to heed the valid and scientific pleadings made by the staff-side in favour of the recommendation
mode by 7th CPC which is an ''Expert Body'' headed by retired Justice of Supreme Court, instead viewed the case with a
closed mind and gave recommendation to the Government that implementation of Option-I is not feasible. Govt accepted the
recommendations of the Secretary Level Committee and rejected ''option-I'' recommended by 7th CPC.
The entire Pension community is very much aggrieved of the decision of the Government. We request the Hon’ble Prime
Minister to review the case dispassionately, so that the ''option-I party'' recommended by the 7th CPc will be accepted by
the Government.
4.
Regularisation of Gramin Dak Sevaks working in Postal Department and
casual/contract workers working in all Central Govt Establishments.
(a) About 2.76 lakhs Gramin Dak Sevaks are employed in the Postal Department. Govt. appointed a one man committee headed
by retired Postal Board Member Shri Kamalesh Chandra, to examine their wages and service conditions. The final report
submitted by the Committee includes certain positive recommendations. As abnormal delay took place in implementing the
recommendations of the Report, the entire Gramin Dak Sevaks went on indefinite strike for 16 days in 2018. Finally Govt
issued orders, but many recommendations are either modified, diluted or rejected, including payment of arrears from 01-01-
2016 as per the formula recommended by the Committee, Children education Allowance, Promotions, etc, etc., We request the
Hon’ble Prime Minister to take a lenient view to rederess the grievances of the low-paid Gramin Dak Sevaks which includes
regularisation of their services and also implementation of the pending positive recommendations of the Kamalesh Chandra
Committee report.
(b) There are thousands of causal/contract employees and workers engaged in all Central Govt departments and working for
years together. They are not paid equal wages and not extended any benefits of regular employees. Even after working for
more than ten years continuously, their request for regularisation is not considered favourably. There is no scheme to
absorb them in regular service. We request the Hon’ble Prime Minister to consider their case sympathetically so that a
scheme will be worked out to regularise all casual/contract workers and extend them all the benefits of regular
employees.
5.
Stop Corporatisation/ Privatisation of Railways, Defence and Postal Departments. Withdraw the orders for
closure/reorganisation of Govt. of India Printing Presses, Geological Survey of India (GSI), Central Public Works
Department (CPWD), Salt Department, Stationery Offices etc.
The no holds barred big bang reforms unleashed by the Central Government has given rise to an alarming situation in the
Central Government Departments. The proposed move to Corporatize Railway Production Centres and allowing private
passenger trains, Corporatisation of Defence Ordinance Factories, Life Insurance and Parcel Sector of Postal department,
closure of Govt. of India Printing Presses, proposed reorganisation of Salt Department, Geological Survey of India (GSI),
Central Public Works Department (CPWD), Stationary Offices etc. has put in danger the very existence of various Central
Govt. Departments and also the job security of lakhs of Central Govt. Employees, Gramin Dak Sevaks and Casual/Contract
Workers. The present fate of the Telecom Department which was corporatized in 2000 into different companies is a bitter
lesson for all of us. We request the Hon’ble Prime Minister to desist from the proposed move to corporatisation,
privatisation, closure and reorganisation of Central Govt. departments.
6.
Filling up of seven lakhs vacancies existing in various Central Govt.
Departments:
As per the 7th CPC report (Annexure to Chapter-3) there are 7,47,171 vacancies in the Central Govt. Departments as on 01-
01-2014. More retirements has taken place after 01-01-2014 and now the figure may go upto 8 lakhs. During the period from
2001 to 2008, thousands of posts are abolished in all Departments as per the downsizing orders issued by the Government in
2001. Only very few posts are filled up after 2014 and most of the Departments are running with 30 to 40% shortage of
manpower. This has resulted in heavy increase in workload on the existing employees and has adversely affected the
efficiency of all Central Govt. Departments to a great extent. We request the Hon’ble Prime Minister to take immediate
necessary action for filling up all vacant posts in all departments of Central Government.
7.
Revision of Wages from 01-01-2016 and payment of arrears of pay and
Bonus from 2016 onwards to the employees of Autonomous bodies:
We regret to inform the Hon’ble Prime Minister, that due to the stringent conditions imposed by the Finance Ministry, the
pay revision from 01-01-2016 and payment of arrears is still pending in most of the Autonomous bodies under Central
Government. Further they are denied Bonus from 2015-16 onwards. We request the Hon’ble Prime Minister to take necessary
action to redress the long pending genuine grievances of the Autonomous body employees.
There are other issues also which is already submitted to the Cabinet Secretary and the Heads of various
Ministries/Departments earlier by us. We are enclosing herewith a copy of the Charter of Demands containing the important
problems faced by the Central Govt. Employees and Pensioners.
Concludingly, we once again request the Hon’ble Prime Minister to be sympathetic enough to redress the grievances mentioned
in this memorandum and enclosed Charter of Demands.
With profound regards,
Yours faithfully,
M. Krishnan,
Secretary General,
Confederation.
Mob: 09447068125
Email:
mkrishnan6854@gmail.com
10 Points Charter of Demands of Confederation
- Scrap New Contributory Pension scheme (NPS). Restore Old defined benefit Pension Scheme (OPS) to all employees.
Guarantee 50% of the last pay drawn as Minimum Pension.
- Honour assurance given by Group of Ministers (GoM) to NJCA leaders on 30-06-2016. Increase Minimum Pay and Fitment
formula. Withdraw the proposed move to modify the existing time-tested methodology for calculation of Minimum wage. Grant
HRA arrears from 01-01-2016. Withdraw “Very Good” bench mark for MACP, Grant promotional hierarchy and date of effect
from 01-01-2006. Grant Option-I parity recommended by 7th CPC to all Central Govt. Pensioners. Settle all anomalies
arising out of 7th CPC implementation.
- Stop corporatization / privatisation of Railways, Defence and Postal Departments. Withdraw closure orders of Govt. of
India Printing Presses. Stop proposed move to close down Salt Department. Stop closure of Govt. establishments and
outsourcing.
- Fill up all six lakhs vacant posts in the Central Government Departments in a time bound manner. Reintroduce Regional
Recruitment for Group B & C posts.
- (a) Regularisation of Gramin Dak Sevaks and grant of Civil servant status. Implement remaining positive
recommendations of Kamalesh Chandra Committee report.
(b) Regularise all casual and contract workers including
those joined on or after 01-09-1993.
- Ensure equal pay for equal work for all. Remove disparity in pay scales between Central Secretariat staff and
similarly placed staff working in field units of various departments.
- Implement 7th CPC Wage Revision and Pension revision of remaining Autonomous bodies. Ensure payment of arrears without
further delay. Grant Bonus to Autonomous body employees pending from 2016-17 onwards.
- Remove 5% condition imposed on compassionate appointments. Grant appointment in all eligible cases.
- Grant five time bound promotions to all Group B & C employees. Complete Cadre Review in all departments within a
time-frame.
- (a) Withdraw the anti-worker wage/labour codes and other anti-worker Labour reforms. Stop attack on trade union
rights. Ensure prompt functioning of various negotiating forums under the JCM Scheme at all levels.
(b) Withdraw
the draconian FR 56 (j) and Rule 48 of CCS (Pension Rules 1972.
Source:
confederation
