Expected DA January 2016 completes its second step – AICPIN for August 2015

‘Expected DA January 2016’ completes its second step – AICPIN for August 2015

All India Consumer Price Index for the month of August 2015 release by the Labour Bureau today…

No.5/1/2015 – CPI
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF LABOUR & EMPLOYMENT
LABOUR BUREAU

CLEREMONT, SHIMLA-171004
DATED : 30th September, 2015

Press Release

Consumer Price Index for Industrial Workers (CPI-IW) – August, 2015

The All-India CPI-IW for August, 2015 increased by 1 point and pegged at 264 (two hundred and sixty four).

On 1-month percentage change, it increased by (+) 0.38 per cent between July, 2015 and August, 2015 when compared with the increase of (+) 0.40 per cent between the same two months a year ago.

The maximum upward pressure to the change in current index came from Food group contributing (+) 1.57 percentage points to the total change. At item level, Arhar Dal, Masur Dal, Groundnut Oil, Mustard Oil, Beef, Milk, Onion, Garlic, Brinjal, Parval, Peas, Coconut, Tea (Readymade), Electricity Charges, Barber Charges, etc. are responsible for the increase in index. However, this increase was restricted by Rice, Wheat, Wheat Atta, Fish Fresh, Poultry (Chicken), French Beans, Potato, Tomato, Cooking Gas, Petrol, etc., putting downward pressure on the index.

The year-on-year inflation measured by monthly CPI-IW stood at 4.35 per cent for August, 2015 as compared to 4.37 per cent for the previous month and 6.75 per cent during the corresponding month of the previous year. Similarly, the Food inflation stood at 3.55 per cent against 3.21 per cent of the previous month and 7.63 per cent during the corresponding month of the previous year.

At centre level, Jharia reported the highest increase of 9 points followed by Ludhiana (7 points), Kodarma and Labac Silchar (6 points each). Among others, 5 points in 6 centres, 4 points in 11 centres, 3 points in 7 centres, 2 points in 17 centres and 1 point in 15 centres. On the contrary, Goa centre recorded a maximum decrease of 4 points followed by Mundakayam and Ernakulam 3 points each. Among others, 2 points decrease was observed in Quilon centre and 1 point in 4 centres. Rest of the 10 centres’ indices remained stationary.

The indices of 36 centres are above All India Index and other 42 centres’ indices are below national average.

The next index of CPI-IW for the month of September, 2015 will be released on Friday, 30th October, 2015. The same will also be available on the office website www.labourbureau.gov.in.

sd/-
(I.S.NEGI)
DEPUTY DIRECTOR GENERAL

Authoirty: Labour Bureau

Click to view the press release in Hindi

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7th Pay Commission may also raise salary-levels of PSU employees

7th Pay Commission may also raise salary-levels of PSU employees

Early Retirement for Shoddy Job, Variable Pay to Shock Government Staff

Five to six per cent annual pay hike of Central Government employees is likely to be linked to tangible performance criterion. Under-performers are likely to be retired by 55 or 30 years of service, according to the Seventh Pay Commission report to be submitted soon.

The overall hike being recommended by former Justice A K Mathur-headed 7th Pay Commission is around 30 per cent. The Central Government employees are scheduled to get salary hikes on the basis of the recommendations by January 1, 2016. According to sources, the house rent allowance too would see an increase by 20 per cent. But the most significant recommendation is that 5 to 6 per cent of the annual increment would be performance-based. There is also likely to be a provision of retiring underperforming employees by the age of 55 or 30 years of service, whichever is more. “The Commission has spoken to all stake-holders and the recommendations are ready. We are expecting to submit the report any time soon,” sources said.

Set up by the erstwhile UPA government in February 2014, the Seventh Pay Commission was given a four-month extension by the NDA Government. Its term is till December 31. The commission may also raise salary-levels of PSU employees.

Read more at: Indian Express

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Re-classification of cities/towns on the basis of 2011 Census grant of House Rent Allowance to Railway Employees

Re-classification of cities/towns on the basis of 2011 Census grant of House Rent Allowance to Railway Employees

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

(RAILWAY BOARD)

RBE No.116/2015

No. E(P&A) II-2015/HRA-7

New Delhi, dated 24-09-2015

The General Managers/CAOs,
All Indian Railways & Prod. Units etc.

Sub: Re-classification of cities/towns on the basis of 2011 Census grant of House Rent Allowance to Railway Employees.

******

Attention is invited to Board’s letter No. E(P&A)II-2008/HRA-10 dated 12-09-2008 relating to grant of House Rent Allowance (HRA) to Railway employees on the recommendations of the Sixth Central Pay Commission whereby a list of cities/towns classified as ‘X’, ‘Y’ and ‘Z’ for the purpose of grant of HRA was enclosed as Annexure. The matter relating to re-classification of cities/towns on the basis of Census-2011 for the purpose of grant of HRA to Central Government employees has been considered by the Government.

 

2. The President is pleased to decide that in supersession of all the existing orders relating to classification of cities/towns for the purposes of grant of HRA to Railway employees, cities/towns shall now be re-classified as ‘X’, ‘Y’ and ‘Z’ for the purpose of HRA as enumerated in the Annexure to these orders

 

3. Consequent upon implementation of the recommendations of the 5th Central Pay Commission, certain cities/towns were placed in a lower classification as compared to their existing classification for CCA/HRA purpose, vide Board’s letter No.PC-V/97/I/7/13 dated 16.10.1997. However, these cities/towns were allowed to retain their existing higher classification, vide para 3 thereof; and further extended vide Board’s letter No.E(P&A)II-2004/HRA-16 dated 17.05.2005 & Board’s letter No. E(P&A)II-2008/HRA-10 dated 20.03.2009. As other cities/towns to which protection of retaining earlier higher classification was allowed, got upgraded during the intervening period, as on date only two cities i.e. Ajmer in Rajasthan and Durgapur in West Bengal were retaining such protection. Consequent upon upgradation of these two cities also on the basis of their population as per Census-2011, provisions contained in Para 3, of vide Board’s letter No. PC-V/97/I/7/13 dated 16.10.1997 which were allowed to further continue vide Board’s letter No. E(P&A)II-2004/HRA-16 dated 17.05.2005 & Board’s letter No. E(P&A)II-2008/HRA-10 dated 20.03.2009 stand withdrawn/ discontinued

 

4. Special orders allowing continuance of HRA (a) at Delhi (“X” class city) rates to Railway employees posted at Faridabad, Ghaziabad, NOIDA, Gurgaon and (b) at Jalandhar (“Y” class city) rates to Jalandhar Cantt. and (c) at “Y” class city rates to Shillong, Goa, Port Blair vide Board’s letter No.E(P&A)Il-2008/HRA-10 dated 12.09.2008 and (d) continuance of HRA at par with Chandigarh (“Y” class city) to Panchkula vide Board’s letter No.E(P&A)II-2008/HRA-10 dated 16.05.2011, shall continue to be applicable till the recommendations of 7th CPC are considered by the Government

 

5. These orders shall be effective from 01.04.2015

 

6. This issues with the concurrence of the Finance Directorate of the Ministry of Railways.

( Salim Md. Ahmad )

Deputy Director/E(P&A)II,

Railway Board.

ANNEXURE

To Board’s letter no.E(P&A)II-2015/HRA-7 dt.24.09.2015

LIST OF CITIES/TOWNS CLASSIFIED FOR GRANT OF

HOUSE RENT ALLOWANCE TO RAILWAY EMPLOYEES

SI.No	STATES/UNION TERRITORIS	CITIES CLASSIFIED AS “X”	CITIES CLASSFIED AS “Y”
1	ANDAMAN & NICOBAR ISLANDS
2	ANDHRA PRADESH/TELANGANA	Hyderabad (UA)	Vijayawada (UV), Warangal (UA), Greater Visakhapatnam (M.Corpn.), Guntur (UA), Nellore (UA)
3	ARUNACHAL PRADESH
4	ASSAM		Guwahati (UA)
5	BIHAR		Patna (UA)
6	CHANDIGARH		Chandigarh (UA)
7	CHATTISGARH		Durg-Bhilai Nagar (UA), Raipur (UA)
8	DADRA & NAGARHAVELI
9	DAMAN & DIU
10	DELHI	Delhi (UA)
11	GOA
12	GUJARAT	Ahmadabad (UA)	Rajkot (UA), Jamnagar (UA), Bhavnagar (UA), Vadodara (UA), Surat (UA)
13	HARYANA		Faridabad* (M.Corpn.) Gurgaon*(UA)
14	HIMACHALPRADESH
15	JAMMU & KASHMIR		Srinagar (UA), Jammu(UA)
16	JHARKHAND		Jamshedpur (UA), Dhanbad (UA), Ranchi (UA), Bokaro Steel City (UA).
17	KARNATAKA	Bangalore/Bengaluru (UA)	Belgaum (UA), Hubli-Dharwad (M.Corpn.),Mangalore (UA), Mysore (UA), Gulbarga (UA)
18	KERALA		Kozhikoda (UA), Kochi (UA), Thiruvanathapuram (UA), Thrissur (UA), Malappuram (UA), Kannur (UA), Kollam (UA)
19	LAKSHADWEEP
20	MADHYAPRADESH		Gwalior (UA), Indore(UA), Bhopal (UA), Jabaipur (UA), Ujjain (M.Corpn).
21	MAHARASHTRA	Greater Mumbai (UA), Pune (UA)	Amravati (M.corpn.), Nagpur (UA), Aurangabad (UA), Nashik (UA), Bhiwandi (UA), Solapur (M.Corpn.) Kolhapur (UA), Vasaivirar city  (M.Corpn.), Malegaon (UA), Nandad-Waghala (M.Corpn.), Sangli (UA).
22	MANIPUR
23	MEGHALAYA
24	MIZORAM
25	NAGALAND
26	ODISH		Cuttack (UA), Bhubaneswar (UA), Raurkela (UA),
27	PUDUCHERRY (PONDICHERRY)		Puducherry/Pondicherry (UA)
28	PUNJAB		Amritsar (UA), Jalandhar (UA), Ludhiana (M.Coprn).
29	RAJASTHAN		Bikaner (M.Corpn.), Jaipur (M.Corpn.) Jodhpur (UA), Kota (M.corpn.), Ajmer (UA)
30	SIKKAM
31	TAMIL NADU	Chennai (UA)	Salem (UA), Tiruppur (UA), Coimbatore (UA), Tiruchirappalli (UA), Madurai (UA), Erode (UA).
32	TRIPURA
33	UTTAR PRADESH		Moradabad (M.corpn.), Meerut (UA), Ghaziabad* (UA), Aligarh (UA), Agra (UA), Barcilly (UA), Lucknow (UA), Kanpur (UA), Allahabad (UA), Gorakhpur (UA), Varanasi (UA), Saharanpur (M.Corpn.), Noida* (CT), Firozabad (NPP), Jhansi (UA),

Source: http://www.indianrailways.gov.in/railwayboard/uploads/directorate/establishment/E(P%26A)/2015/Houserentallow.pdf

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Scheme for setting up of Gymnasium in the Ministries/Departments: DoPT Order

Scheme for setting up of Gymnasium in the Ministries/Departments: DoPT Order

No.145/ 1/2015-16/CCSCSB

Government of India

Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions

Department of Personnel & Training

*******

Lok Nayak Bhawan, New Delhi

Dated:- 30th September, 2015

 OFFICE MEMORANDUM

Sub:-Scheme for setting up of Gymnasium and augmentation/replacement of equipment of existing Gymnasium in the Ministries/Departments.

The undersigned is directed to say that the Department of Personnel & Training has prepared a Scheme for setting up of Gymnasium and augmentation/replacement of equipment of existing Gymnasium in the Ministries/Departments (Copy enclosed).

 

2. It is requested that comments/suggestions if any, may kindly be forwarded to the Department of Personnel & Training by 20th October, 2015.

(Abhay Jain)

Under Secretary to the Govt. of India

 

SCHEME FOR SETTING UP OF GYMNASIUM AND AUGMENTATION/

REPLACEMENT OF EQUIPMENT OF EXISTING GYMNASIUM IN THE

MINISTRIES/ DEPARTMENTS

Background:

With increased involvement of Government in various activities for the benefit of people at large, the workload of Government employees has increased manifold. Their sedentary behaviour can have many detrimental effects including an increased likelihood of developing illnesses. As an employer it is necessary that steps are taken to ensure health and well being of the employees so as to enable them contribute more effectively in the discharge of their official duties. One way to improve the physical fitness of the employees is to invest in a gymnasium at workplace.

 

1.2. Gymnasium at workplace will make it easier for employees to find time to exercise and improve their health and well-being which can have significant impact such as increased productivity. Constant work stress and frustration can lower productivity, so giving employees a convenient means through Fitness programmes such as Gym result in decreased absenteeism and reduced usage of sick leave etc which is beneficial to both the employees and the organisation.

 

1.3. Healthy employees are happy employees. A positive and energetic work force collaborates better and is more appealing to customers, which means investing in gym will improve the functioning and image of an organisation.

2. Scheme:

As a staff welfare measure and considering the above, it has been decided that Grants-in-Aid for setting up of a Gym/augmentation of infrastructure of existing Gym by way of replacement of equipments may be provided to Ministries/Departments of Central Government located in Delhi.

3. Physical Infrastructure and Service Delivery

3.1 The place within the office premises where Gymnasium would be set up must have a carpet area of at least 500 sq ft for 500 employees and 1000 sq ft for 1000 employees. However, Ministries/ Departments may consider lesser area depending on the needs. The place should be clean, well lighted with adequate ventilation. Fans/AC5 for summer should also be installed. The place must also have clean toilet and sanitation facility nearby. There should preferably be adequate space for moving around within the Gym. The safety norms including fire fighting should be strictly adhered to.

 

3.2 The Ministries/ Departments may at its discretion decide on the functioning of the Gym. However, trained and experienced Gym Instructor need to be engaged for guiding the users and teaching them how to use various equipments. The trainer would also instruct on the significance and utility of various equipments installed in the Gym. Remuneration to be paid to instructor may be decided by individual Ministries/Departments. The payment may be made from their own budgetary provision or from the fees to charged from users if any. For women employees a separate time slot should fixed for their exclusive use and a women instructor would need to be engaged.

 

3.3 Purchase of eguipment for setting up of Gym and upgradationl replacement, of existing Gyms:

In case of existing Gym, individual Ministries/Departments may consider up gradation/replacement of the existing equipments. Purchase of equipment etc for setting up Gyms, upgradation/replacement of Gyms equipment should be made strictly in accordance with the provisions of GFR 2005. A period of 5 years is considered appropriate for replacement for equipments.

4. Sustainability and user charges

The use of Gym facilities by employees may be allowed after office hours. The Gym should be run on self-sustaining financial model and Ministry/Department at its discretion can decide on the fee to be charged from the users.

5. Monitoring of Gyms

For effective running of Gyms, individual Ministries/Departments shall monitor the Gyms under them at periodic interval and ensure that all basic elements of the scheme reach the beneficiaries. A Committee under Director/ DS in charge of the Administration having a representative from the women employees requiring Gym facility should be formed for supervision and smooth running of the Gym.

6. Funding pattern:

6.1 Subject to availability of funds, Department of Personnel and Training will provide assistance in the following pattern:

 

CATEGORY	AMOUNT OF GRANT
Ministry/Department having upto 500 employees and space atleast 500 Sq. Ft.	Rs. 5 Lakh
Ministry/Department having atleast 1000 employees and space 1000 Sq. Ft.	Rs. 10 Lakh

 

6.2 The remaining amount for setting up Gyms and for replacement/upgradation will have to be borne by the individual Ministries/Departments. The financial assistance will be provided for non-recurring expenditure on first come first serve basis and will have to be utilized by 31.03.2016. No more funds for non-recurring expenditure will be provided.

7. Procedure for submission of application

Application in the prescribed format with the concurrence of Internal Finance Division may please be forwarded to Secretary, Central Civil Services Cultural & Sports Board, Department of Personnel and Training, 3rd floor, Lok Nayak Bhawan, New Delhi latest by 30th November, 2015 (Annexures- A and B).

8. Conditions for grants

Based on the requests made and after due scrutiny by a Committee constituted for the purpose, grants will be released to the individual Ministries/Departments in a single instalment. Utilization certificate shall be furnished in the form attached at Annexure- C latest by 30th April, 2016.

 

Click here to view DoPT Order with Annexures

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Seventh Pay Commission to offer realistic view on salaries and allowances

Seventh Pay Commission to offer realistic view on salaries and allowances
 

The Sixth pay commission was constituted in 2006 and in the normal course, the government was expected to announce the next pay commission after a gap of 10 years. The fifth came in 1996. But with the UPA government’s image battered by a spate of corruption scandals, the date had been advanced by two years in order to recover some lost ground with the electorate.

The UPA government justified the early constitution of the commission on the ground that it will take around two years to submit its recommendations. The Sixth pay commission, for example, was constituted in October 2006 and the Centre implemented it ahead of the 2009 Lok Sabha elections, showering central government employees with a big pay hike bonanza.

The Sixth pay commission had recommended a 20 to 40 per cent jump in salary. This cheered the employees, but wreaked havoc with the government’s finances as the fiscal deficit soared to 6 per cent of the gross domestic product (GDP). The consequent burden of arrears on the central government was Rs 28,160 crore on a salary base of Rs 44,360 crore.

The cash-strapped government had disbursed the arrears in two instalments with 40 per cent given out in 2008-09 and 60 per cent in 2009-10. The arrears contributed significantly to the Centre overshooting its target in 2008-09, ending the year with a fiscal deficit of 6 per cent of GDP against the budgeted 2.5 per cent.

The fiscal deficit rose to 6.4 per cent of GDP in 2009-10 as pay commission arrears pushed up the expenditure at a time when the government was battling slowdown in revenues. With the Seventh pay commission, the situation is headed in the same direction and the country will eventually have to face the music of this populism.

Accordingly, the Seventh Pay Commission is likely to offer realistic view on increase of salaries and allowances of central government employees.

The pay panel may definitely bring also toll on the exchequer as government has to manage expenditures of One Rank One Pension (OROP) for ex-sevicemen before Seventh pay commission expenditures.

It is expected that the central government’s salary bill will rise by 9.56% to Rs 1,00,619 crore after Seventh pay commission will come into effect.

This OROP announcement will have a significant impact on Seventh pay commission report badly, especially in salary hike and increasing allowances,” said a pay panel official.

“We have to look financial health of government before submitting our report. We have to save financial position of government to run the nation smoothly. We are not only to work for pay hike.” he added.

However, the recommendations of Seventh Pay Commission, may be implemented by NDA government before the announcement of West Bengal, Assam, Kerala and Tamil Nadu states assemblies’ election in May 2016.

“The central government will decide execution time of the pay commission’s proposals after the pay panel submits its report, which will be possible pre-election “special packages” for West Bengal, Assam, Kerala and Tamil Nadu, which are all due for polls by May 2016,” an official of the Finance Ministry said, speaking on condition of anonymity.

The Seventh Pay Commission is likely to submit its report in December. The Commission has already completed discussions with various stakeholders, including organisations, federations, groups representing civil employees as well as Defence services and is in the process of finalising its recommendations.

The recommendations of the Seventh Pay Commission are scheduled to come into effect from January 1, 2016.

Source: Central Government News

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Good news expected soon for CG Employees: Update on Bonus Hike

Good news expected soon for CG Employees: Update on Bonus Hike
As per reliable sources, Election Commission has given it’s nod for issuing ordinance on “Payment of Bonus Act”

Now the matter will go to cabinet and after it’s approval, necessary ordinance will be notified soon.
Earlier Government decided to raise the ceiling of Rs 3500/- per month to Rs 10,000/- per month.

Central employees may cheer for higher bonus this year

After long times Central Govt. employees are going to get higher amount of bonus this year. Earlier, the ceiling for bonus was Rs 3500 per month. From this year, the ceiling is going to be increased to as high as Rs 10,000 per month. In a letter from Secretary, Ministry of Labour and Employment, Mr S. Agarwal conveyed this good news to Sri Vijesh Upadhyay, Genl. Secy., Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangha.

Source: http://paycommissionupdate.blogspot.in

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Streamlining Action on Pension grievances-uploading of replies given by the Ministries/Departments to the petitioner on CPENGRAMS

Streamlining Action on Pension grievances-uploading of replies given by the Ministries/Departments to the petitioner on CPENGRAMS

No. 55/6/2015-P&PW(C)
Government of India
Ministry of Personnel, P.G. & Pensions
Department of Pension & Pensioners’ Welfare

3rd Floor, Lok Nayak Bhawan, New Delhi,
the 29th September, 2015

OFFICE MEMORANDUM

Subject: Streamlining Action on Pension grievances-uploading of replies given by the Ministries/Departments to the petitioner on CPENGRAMS.

It has been observed that in most of the cases of pension related grievance, the Ministries/Departments/Organizations do not upload the replies to the petitioner on the portal and close the cases. It is therefore requested that in case, any letter or orders etc, are issued by the concerned Ministry/Department/Organization for redress of the grievance or for not acceding the request of the petitioner for valid reasons, the same may also be uploaded on the portal CPENGRAMS.
 

 

It is again reiterated that since effective grievance redress mechanism is a priority of the Government, the quality of disposal is important and a well reasoned speaking reply should be furnished to the petitioner before closure of grievance an a copy of the same be uploaded on CPENGRAMS.

(Seema Gupta)
Deputy Secretary to the Government of India

Source: Pensioners Portal
[http://ccis.nic.in/WriteReadData/CircularPortal/D3/D03ppw/ppwc_290915.pdf]

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