NJCA ON THE MOVE!

NATIONAL CO-ORDINATION COMMITTEE OF PENSIONERS ASSOCIATIONS

New Delhi.

Website address:nccpahq.blogspot.in.

E mail address:nccpahq@gmail.com.

Dated: 21st November, 2015

Dear Comrades

                We hope you must have gone through the gist of the 7^th CPC recommendations, which we have placed on our website on 20^th.  We reproduce hereunder a copy of the Press Statement issued by the Convenor, National JCA, Com. Shiv Gopal Misra immediately after the submission of the report by the commission to the government.  We are in full agreement with the views expressed therein and endorse the same.  In fact from every facet, this report must be characterized as the worst attempt of wage revision for Central Government employees.    The increase in the wages after 10 years is just 14.28%, whereas it was much more in the case of Bank and Insurance Employees whose wage revision takes place every five years.  We have every reason to believe that the present Government has exerted pressure on the Commission to suppress the wage package of the Central Government employees.  It had been our repeated plea that the Commission should not be loaded with bureaucrats drawn from the Government for it is our experience right from the 5^th CPC onwards that their presence has influenced the Commission’s recommendations.   No different is the story of the 7^th CPC.  The bureaucrats in the Group ‘A’ cadres have immensely benefited from this Commission’s report.  The ratio between the minimum and maximum, as per the 7^th CPC recommendation is 1:14, even beyond what the 6^th CPC recommended.    It could be seen that none of the demands which the Central Government employees jointly placed before the Commission has been accepted.  There is no reasoning advanced by them to substantiate the rejection.   Most of the issues have been dealt with in a manner of an arbitrator. In order to suppress the wages, the doctrine and formula of minimum wage has been distorted by the Commission.  They have taken the average of 12 months ( July, 2014 to June, 2015) prices of the commodities, which the formula does not stipulate at all.  The minimum wage has to be on the basis of the retail prices of the commodities on a particular date.  The rates are sourced from the Labour Institute, Simla, whose credentials of adoption of the actual rates had been dubious all along.  The Ministry of Agriculture in their website publishes the monthly rates of commodities.  We have worked out the minimum wage taking the average rate of 8 cities as on 1.11.2015.  Even according to those rates, which the Government cannot dispute, the minimum wage comes to Rs. 26000 +. Fitment formula and every other allowances depend upon the minimum wage.    The pay scales are constructed on the premise of the minimum wage. The issue has to be fought out.   We hope the meeting of the leaders of the organizations participating in the JCM scheduled to be held on 8^th December, 2015 will take the decision to go ahead with the strike preparation.  That alone will make the negotiation, if at all it takes place, meaningful and fruitful. 

                Coming to the issues concerning the Pensioners, you must have seen that except in the case of parity, there is no positive recommendation emanated from this Commission.  Every pensioner had expected a rise in the FMA as it is presently pegged down to a meagre amount of Rs. 500.  The Government had agreed to revise the additional pension for those beyond the age of 75.  The 7^th CPC has even rejected it on the advice of the Defense Ministry.  We are at a loss to understand that what authority the Defense Ministry has got in this matter.

                We shall have to prepare a charter of demands to be presented to the Government through the Staff Side JCM as also directly. We, therefore, request all our comrades, to go through the recommendations and make suggestions for improvement so as to help the Sectt. to formulate the demands.   Kindly bear in mind that the demands which we propose to include in the charter must be such which has universal coverage.

                We must join the Protest Day on 27^th November, 2015, being organized by the working employees.  Every State Committee and affiliate may decide upon a particular venue in each State Capital and join the demonstration by wearing the black badges. 

                Please print the following on the badges:

Protest Day 27.11.2015

We protest against the most retrograde  recommendations

Of the 7^th  CPC.

Demand the Government to negotiate and revise the minimum wage and settle the issues.

            With greetings,

Yours fraternally,

K.K.N. Kutty

Secretary General.

NJCA

National Joint Council of Action

4, State Entry Road, New Delhi - 110055

No.NC-JCm-2015/NJCA

November 20 , 2015

PRESS STATEMENT FOR FAVOUR OF PUBLICATION

Central Government Employees are totally disappointed

with the adverse recommendations of the Seventh Central Pay Commission.

Seventh Central Pay Commission while giving a bonanza

to the higher level officers has completely ignored the low paid employees.

Central Government Employees  to observe "BLACK DAY"

by holding massive demonstration wearing black badges

all over the country on 27 th November 2015.

to protest against the retrograde recommendations of the 7th CPC.

NJCA appeals to the Central Government Employees

to be prepared for more serious action programmes

The National Joint Council of Action of Central Government Employees in its meeting held on 20th November 2015 has unanimously resolved to fight back against the adverse and retrograde recommendation of the 7th CPC. The Central Government Employees are totally disappointed and dissatisfied with the recommendations of the 7th CPC submitted to the Government on 1 9th November 2015. While the wage revision for the employees of PSUs and Banks etc takes place once in five years the Central Government Employees have to wait for a long period of 10 years for wage revision.

The demand of the Staff Side of the National Council JCM to fix the minimum pay to that of Rs. 26,000/- has been completely rejected by the 7th CPC and has arbitrarily fixed the minimum pay as Rs. 18000/-. The 7th CPC has mutilated the formula for fixing the minimum wage. The minimum wage recommended amounts to a meagre increase of Rs. 2250 from the existing minimum pay of Rs. 7000 + 8750 (125 % DA as on 1.1.2016). From this minimum pay of Rs, 18000/-, as per the recommendation of the 7th CPC itself Rs- 1500/- will be recovered for CGEIGS and 10 % i. e Rs.180Q/- will be recovered towards New Pension Scheme from the employees recruited after I. 1.2004 and 6% towards GPF contribution from the employees recruited prior to 1.1.2004 resulting in minus benefit for the low paid employees.

The public at large is misled by the statement that a hike of Rs 23.5% is granted to Central Government employees where as the actual increase is only 14.29%. While the minimum wage is fixed as Rs. 18000/- the Secretary level officers are given a huge hike of Rs. 2,25,000 and the Cabinet Secretary’s salary is fixed as Rs. 2,50,000. Whereas the demand of the National Council — JCM (Staff Side) that the ratio between minimum pay and the maximum pay should be not more than 1: 8, the 7th CPC has kept the ratio as I:13.8; While the National Council — JCM has demanded for reducing and rationalizing the number of pay scales, the 7th CPC rejected the same and retained all the 18 pay scales.

The House Rent Allowance has been reduced from the existing 30% to 24%, 20% to 16% and 10% to 8%.

More over the 7th CPC has recommended for abolition of various allowances like small family allowance and advances like festival advance etc. Instead of removing the existing anomalies in the MACP Scheme, the 7th CPC has introduced examination for granting MACP. The 7th CPC has refused to make any recommendations against the New Pension Scheme. For the 2nd spell of 365 days child care leave for women employees the leave wages will be reduced to 80%.

In a nutshell the Central Government Employees are totally upset, dissatisfied and disappointed over the major recommendations of the 7th CPC. Therefore the NJCA has decided to observe a massive demonstration on 27th November 2015 against the adverse recommendation of the 7th CPC. All the constituent organizations are requested to advise their affiliates to observe in an effective manner and also to issue similar press statements in their respective states / centres. The NJCA will meet on 8th December 2015 to finalise the views on the various recommendation of the 7th CPC and to forward the same to the Government for a negotiated settlement.

The NJCA further appeals to the Central Government employees to be prepared to carry forward the struggle till a negotiated settlement is reached.

Yours Sincerely

(Shiva Gopal Mishra) 

Convener

NATIONAL CO-ORDINATION COMMITTEE OF PENSIONERS ASSOCIATIONS

New Delhi.

Website address:nccpahq.blogspot.in.

E mail address:nccpahq@gmail.com.

Dated: 20^th November, 2015

Dear Comrade,

            The 7^th CPC submitted its report to the Government yesterday at about 7.30 PM.  The report in full text was available on the website of the Commission immediately thereafter.  We have gone through the report.   What is given hereunder is the product of the cursory glance.  We must study the report to understand its full implications and meet in our organizational forum to decide upon our future course of action.   In the meantime, we must also look to the reaction of the serving employee’s organizations as the most important demand i.e. minimum wage has been virtually rejected by distorting the formula itself.  Since every other recommendation of the Commission is based upon the minimum wage, a revision thereof will have a cascading impact. We give hereunder a brief resume of the recommendations.  It must however be admitted that the most important demand of the Pensioners Associations, i.e. to bring about complete parity between the present and past pensioners has been acceded to a great extent.  There are quire number of ifs and buts in the recommendation.  That must be sorted out by united efforts by all of us.   In our memorandum to the Commission, we have put forth many other legitimate grievances and its redressals.  None of these demands have been found acceptable to the Commission.  Even in respect of medical facilities, the recommendations are disappointing. We hope fervently that the National Joint Council of Action of the organizations participating in the JCM will not take this onslaught lying down and will react.  We must support their action programmes to the best of our ability. 

            We are planning for a meeting of the newly elected office bearers to be held in the next month.  We would request all our comrades to read the report and suggest to us the revisions needed so that we can forward the same to the NJCA for inclusion in their charter of demands pertaining to the 7^th CPC recommendations.

            I express my gratitude and sincere thanks for the leaders and delegates of the NCCPA who attended the last Conference at Kolkata for reposing confidence in me and electing me as the Secretary General.  No pensioner will be able to say that he is physically fully fit and that is true with me also.  I assure you that I shall strive my best to function as the Secretary General of this great organization, which has been nurtured and brought to this stage by the great comrades like Com. S.K. Vyas. Our Endeavour must be to bring the NCCPA as a strong and united organizations in which all Pensioners Association could be proud to be member affiliate.

            With greetings,

Yours fraternally,

K.K.N. Kutty

Secretary General.

  7^th CPC recommendations:

The worst ever by any Pay Commission so far. Only 14.29% increase and that too

After ten years.

The NJCA leaders are meeting  at Delhi

Today to chalk out further course of Action.

Recommendations at a glance.

1.Date of Effect: 1.1.2016.  Our demand was 1.1.2014 and wage revision after every five years.

2.    Minimum pay Rs. 18,000 against our demand for Rs. 26,000 for MTS.  Dr.Aykroyd formula mutilated.

3.  Fitment formula has been recommended to be 2.57 time. This 18,000/7000. Since our Minimum wage calculation was 26,000 our fitment formula was 3.7 time.

4.   On promotion: Fixation: old FR 22©  i.e. one increment in the feeder cadre and fixation at the next higher stage.

5.   Pay band and Grade pay system abolished. Open ended pay scale.  Or Pay matrix.  Existing Grades maintained.  No delayering  resorted to.

6.   Increase in the pay is only. 14.28% i.e. 7000 as on 1.1.2016 with 125% DA would be 15,750. Which has been revised to 18,000. That works out to 14.28.

7.  Annual increment rate is the same old percentage of 3.

8.  Ratio between minimum and maximum salary: 18000=25000: 1:14 and 18000=225000: 1:12.5 Even the 6^th CPC had recommended only 1: 11.4 as the ratio.

9.  Allowances: 52 allowances removed including risk and cashier/cash handling  allowance family planning etc.

10HRA. Classification of cities and towns maintained.  JCM demand rejected.  Allowance rate has been reduced to 24,16 and 8 from the present rate of 30, 20 and 10.

11.DA: No change in the formula.

12.Transport allowance:  Made into three slabs as under:

                       

Pay Level	Higher Transport Allowance cities (A, AI)	Other places
9 and above	7200 + DA	3600 + DA
3 to 8	3600 + DA	1800 + DA
1 and 2	1350 + DA	900 + DA

13. Modified assured career progression:  Demand for hierarchical promotion accepted.  Will continue to be three after every 10 years.MACP  will only be on the basis of very good bench mark.  Failure ko get required bench MarK for promotion within the first 20 years of service will result in stoppage of increment. Their service Such employees who have out lived their ability, their services need not be continued and the continuance of such persons in the service should be discouraged.

14. Anomaly between promote and direct recruitees removed.

15. New Pension scheme will continue.  Some improvements  are suggested.  Nothing tangible.

16.Leave:  Casual and Earned leave: No change. The demand for higher accumulation of leave is also rejected.  

17. Child care leave.  No Change in the quantum.  However, the leave for the second year will have only 80% salary.

18. Maternity and Paternity leave: No revision is conceded

19. Medical Insurance scheme is again recommended.

20. LTC: No change. Only for those in NE region, Ladakh, Andaman, and Lakshadweep, split claim is allowed.

21. No decennial wage revision.  Every year the wages may be reviewed as is the case in UK.

22. Bonus to be replaced by performance related pay.

23. New pension scheme to continue.  Certain suggestions have been made for its improvement.  But nothing tangible.

24.CEA and hostel subsidy.  The procedure has been simplified.  The amount is Rs. 2250 for CEA and 6750 for hostel subsidy ceiling. With increase as and when the DA crosses certain stipulated mark.

25.Group Insurnace scheme revised.  Level 1 to 5: 1500. 15 lakhs, Level 6 to9 2500 and 25 lakhs,  above 10 is 5000 and 50 lakhs.

26. In the matter of the GDS the most exploited segment of the working Central Govt. employees, the commission has gone out of the way to state that they are outside the purview of the Civil Service and should continue to be so. 

Pension Benefits:  Parity between the past and present pensioners recommended.  The formula is almost identical to the one suggested by the 5^th CPC.  The pay of the past pensioners will be first fixed at the minimum of the pay (7thCPC) of the post from which they retired increased by the increment for each year of service in that grade.

2. Minimum pension Rs.9000

3. Gratuity ceiling raised to Rs. 20 lakhs

4. Postal dispensaries to be merged with CGHS.  No discrimination between postal and other pensioners.

5.Recognised hospitals of CCS(MA) Rules to be recognized by CGHS also.

6. FMA. No change.

7. No other demand has been accepted by the CPC. No reduction in the residency period of commutation.

    

.

NCCPA 3rd AIC AT KOLKATA - A BRIEF REPORT

nccpa

3rd Triennial Annual Conference

Kolkata

A Short Report

Dear Comrade,     16.11.2015.

The third triennial all India Conference of NCCPA was held at Kolkata on 6th and 7th November, 2015. The Conference was inaugurated by Com. AshimDasgupta former Finance Minister, Government of West Bengal. More than 200 delegates and observers from various parts of the country and hundreds of members of West Bengal Central Govt. Pensioners Co-ordination Committee attended the inaugural session. The hall of the conference was named after the legendary leader of the Central Government Employees and the former Secretary General of NCCPA, Com. S.K. Vyas.

The Conference commenced with the flag hoisting (National flag by Com. Sisir Bhattacharya, the Senior most leader of the P & T movement and NCCPA flag by Com. R.L. Bhattacharya, President NCCPA). Floral tributes were paid by leaders and delegates to the martyrs column. The inaugural session was impressive with a galaxy of leaders decorating the dais and addressing the AIC. Before the formal inauguration cultural folk songs were sung by the Kolkata CG Employees and Pensioners. After welcome address by Com. Sisir Bhattacharya, Chairman Recepsion Committee, the inaugural session was also addressed by Com. K.K.N. Kutty, President, Confederation of CGE & Workers, Com. V.A.N. Namboodiri, Patron NCCPA, Com. Pijush Roy,  State Secretary of Co-ordination Committee of CG Employees, Com. SubrotoMajumdhar, West Bengal State Govt. Pensioners Association, Com. ApareshBhattacharjee, Bank Pensioners Association, Com. Himadri Roy (LIC Pensioners Association), Com. Subendu Mukherjee (Railway Pensioners Association), Com. Ananta Bhattacharya and Com. Jyotsna Bose.

In the subject session, that commenced at 2.00 PM on 6th and ended at 2.30 PM the next day, the report accompanied by the statement of accounts was submitted by Com. Pavitra Chakraborty, Secretary General. In the discussion that ensued thereafter, more than 16 delegates participated. The house also adopted the following resolutions.

(a) On Policy and programme

(b) Affiliation of NCCPA with TUI-Pensioners and retired personnel

(c) Against escalating prices of essential commodities

(d) Appealing to maintain communal harmony,

(e) Observance of rs" Feb. Every as S.K. Vyas memorial day.

(f) On implementation of court verdict to all similarly placed pensioners.

The house also adopted the proposal moved from the presidium to enlarge the number of office bearers by amending the relevant provisions of the constitution.

The house unanimously adopted the panel of office bearers presented by the outgoing Sectt. and accordingly the following comrades were elected as the office bearers for the ensuing term of three years. Com. PavitraChakraborthy, while summing up the discussion, stated that the suggestions put forth by the members who spoke are all acceptable and the same would be incorporated in the final report. The house then adopted the accounts and the report unanimously.

Patrons:

                                 1.      Com. VAN. Namboodiri

                                 2.     Com. R. L. Bhattacharya

Chairman:                      Com. Shiv Gopal Mishra (JCM Staff Side Secretary and  General Secretary AIRF)

Wkg.Chairman:             Com.S.S.Roy (West Bengal)

Vice Chairman:

                                 1)     Com. C.L.Mathur (Rajasthan)

                                 2)     Com. DVDhaktod (Maharashtra)

                                 3)     Com. H.N.Joshi (M.P)

                                 4)     Com.T.S.Parameswaran (Kerala)

                                 5)     Com.S.Rahman (Assam)

Secretary General:         Com.KKN.Kutty

Dy.Secretary Generals:

                                 1)     Com.PavitraRanjan Chakraborty (WB)

                                 2)     Com.K.Ragavendran (AIPRPA) Tamilnadu

Assistant Secy Generals:

                                 1)     KG.Jayaraj (AIBDPA) Kerala

                                 2)     Prabakaran Nair (Telengana)

                                 3)     S.K.Sharma (Rajasthan)

                                 4)     C.P.Shobana (Kerala)

                                 5)     I.S.Dabas (Delhi)

Treasurer:                      Com.H.L.Sidhu (Haryana)

Asst.Treasurer.:             Com. S.Laha (WB)

Organising Secretaries:

                                 1)     M.A.Karlekar (Maharashtra)

                                 2)     T.I.Sudhakaran (Kerala)

                                 3)     N.Somaiah (Telengana)

                                 4)     GeethaGoshal (WB)

                                 5)     K.P.Sharma (Rajasthan)

                                 6)     G.R.Verma (U.P)

Internal Auditor:           Com.A.KGhosh (WB)

The open session was the concluding session in which Com. Basudev Acharya former M.P. who always fought for our cause both inside and outside the parliament addressed celaborately on the type of attacks let loose on the workers and pensioners. The Open Session was also addressed by Com. KKN Kutty and also by Com. SujathaSaha the Councillor of Kolkata Municipal Corporation.

Thanking you and with greetings,

                                                                                                                              Yours fraternally,

                                                                                                                              K.KN. Kutty

                                                                                                                              Secretary General.

P.S. Detailed minutes of the conference proceedings is being published in the NCCPA News Letter next issue.

NCCPA TREIENNIAL CONFERENCE AT KOLKATA A GRAND SUCCESS

NCCPA 

3rd TREIENNIAL ANNUAL CONFERENCE

KOLKATA

6-7, NOVEMBER, 2015

The 3rd TRIENNIAL AIC of NCCPA was held in Kolkata from 6th to 7th November, 2015. Comrade R.L.Bhattacharjee Chairman NCCPA presided over the AIC. 200 Deegates and Observers from all over the countryrepresenting 25 affiliates, in addition to West Bengal Pensioners, have attended the AIC. The AIC had a spectacular start with an impressive procession by the Pensioners. At the end of the procession the National Flag was hoisted by senior leader of P&T Trade Union movement Comrade Sisir Bhattacharya and the NCCPA flag was hoisted by the Chairman NCCPA Comrade RLB. The homage to the Martyrs Column was impressive with the former Finance Minister of West Bengal Government Comrmade Asim Dasgupta paying floral tributes that was followed by all other leaders and Delegates and Observers. Before the formal inauguration cultural folk songs were sung by the Kolkata CG Employees. 

The inaugural session was impressive with a galaxy of leaders decorating the  dais and addressing the AIC. Comrade Asim Dasgupta former FM delivered the inaugural address. The inaugral session was addressed by Comrades KKN.Kutty (Chairman Confederation of CG Employees); Piyush (State General Secretary of West Bengal State Committee of Confederation); VAN.Namboodiri (Patron NCCPA); Subroto Majumdar (WB State COC of CGPA Association); Aparesh Bhattachargee (Bank Pensioners Association); Himadri Roy (LIC Pensioners Association); Subhendu Mukherjee (Railway Pensioners Association); and others. 

The Subjects Committee was also presided over by Comrade RLB. The House paid homage to all departed leaders and dignitaries from different walks of life. The Report of the Secretary General was placed for adoption by the Secretary General Comrade Pavitra Ranjan Chakraborty. In the debate that followed in the afternoon of the day and on the forenoon of the second day of the AIC various Office Bearers of NCCPA, Chief Executives of Affiliated All India Associations and State and District CGPA organisations and Delegates belonging to various aaffiliated organisations  have took part. With the summing up of the discussion by the Secretary General Comrade Pavitra, the Report of the Secretary General and the Audited accounts have been adopted. 

Various Resolutions including on Policy and Programme that declared the solidarity support to the 19th November Central Government Employees programme; Affiliation to the international pensioners organisation called the TUI-Pensioners & Retired; Opposition to escalating price rise; Against the communalism; Observing the 13th February of each year as the Memorial Day of Comrade S.K.Vyas; Demanding implementation of Court judgments to all similarly placed without dragging all to courts for unnecessary legal battle were some of the important resolutions adopted by the House. 

The open session was the concluding session in which Comrade Basudev Acharya former M.P who always fought for our cause both inside and outside the parliament addressed elaborately on the type of attacks let loose on the workers and pensioners. The Open Session was also addressed by Comrade KKN.Kutty and also by Comrade Sujatha Saha the Councillor of Kolkata Municipal Corporation. 

The AIC elected the following list of Office Bearers & Patrons unanimously:

Patrons:

1. Com.VAN.Namboodiri

2. Com.R.L.Bhattacharyaa

Chairman:Com.Shiv Gopal Mishra (JCM Staff Side Secretary)

Wkg.Chairman: Com.S.S.Roy (West Bengal)

Vice Chairman: 1) Com. C.L.Mathur (Rajasthan)

                            2) Com. D.V.Dhaktod (Maharashtra)

                            3) Com. H.N.Joshi (M.P)

                            4) Com.T.S.Parameswaran (Kerala)

                            5) Com.S.Rahman (Assam)

Secretary General: Com.KKN.Kutty

Dy.Secretary General: 1) Com.Pavitra Ranjan Chakraborty (WB)

                                       2) Com.K.Ragavendran (AIPRPA GS)

Assistant Secy General: 1) K.G.Jayaraj (AIBDPA GS)

                                         2) Prabakaran Nair (Telengana)

                                         3) S.K.Sharma (Rajasthan)

                                         4) C.P.Shobana (Kerala)

                                         5) I.S.Dabas (Delhi)

Treasurer: Com.H.L.Sidhu (Haryana)

Asst.TRR: Com. S.Laha (WB)

Organising Secretary: 1) M.A.Karlekar (Maharashtra)

                                       2) T.I.Sudhakaran (Kerala)

                                       3) N.Somaiah (Telengana)

                                       4) Geetha Goshal (WB)

                                       5) K.P.Sharma (Rajasthan)\

                                       6) G.R.Verma (U.P)

Internal Auditor: Com.A.K.Ghosh (WB)

The AIC concluded with the singing of International Song of Working Class by the Cultural Troup and all Delegates. 

The AIC of NCCPA has instilled a resolve in all participating organisations to improve the strength of all and to develop NCCPA as a much larger Pensioners Organisation in the future by tireless organisational efforts as well as fighting for the just issues of Pensioners. 

Some of the photographs of the AIC are placed hereunder: