Environment and People are dispensable at the whims of International Corporates!

Indian People and Environment is dispensable to the economic interests of International Corporates!

The proposed amendment to Environment Rules by Central Government is dangerous to us! The lives and environment is more precious than the unquestioned entry of FDI!

Let us voice our opinion to the Government to stop the intended Act in Parliament!

All our Affiliates and Individuals are requested to send the following email to the Secretary of Forest  and Climate Change, Government of India in the Email ID: secy-moef@nic.in

TEXT OF EMAIL

To

The Secretary,

Forest and Climate Change,

Union Government of India,

New Delhi.

Respected Sir,

The Central Ministry has proposed a change in existing Environment Impact Assessment processes (EIA Notification, 2006) through a draft EIA Notification, 2020. The proposed notification will destroy the process of environmental protection and affecting the environment irreversibly, also making it easier for the corporates to get environmental clearances for their projects. Hence, We the people oppose the draft Environment Impact Assessment Notification, 2020, and request you to withdraw the same.

Amidst the pandemic situation, it is improper to take decisions that will have an irreversible impact on the environment. However, the Union Ministry is keen on making changes in Environment rules and granting clearances. It is evident from the fact that over 30 projects, located in some of India's most biodiverse forests have been urgently cleared or taken up for clearance in online meetings during the lockdown (April 23). Site inspections are a crucial component of project evaluation and are difficult during a pandemic. Ministry appears to be relying only on digital documents uploaded by the project developers. Even more surprisingly these projects have been cleared at a time when Covid-19 has revealed dramatically how seriously the loss of forest land and biodiversity can increase zoonotic diseases.

Environmentalists also have raised their voice and wrote to Environment Minister regarding how forest and environment clearances were being granted across India during the lockdown. On that note, shockingly, the Ministry has put out a draft notification for public comments amidst global economic and public health emergency when there is restricted public movement.

Major Issues:

• The new amendment poses a serious threat to the environment and there are some areas of concern like granting post-facto clearances to Industries and leaving aside them with Fine alone in case of any violations. For several projects, the whole process of EIA is made simpler and fails to meet the standards of basic environmental protections. However, in an order on April 1, the Supreme Court held that "ex post facto environmental clearances" are contrary to law. It said: "Environment law cannot countenance the notion of an ex post facto clearance. This would be contrary to both the precautionary principle as well as the need for sustainable development".

• A public hearing has been exempted to many industries (those producing acids, paints, fertilizers, pesticides, etc.) located in Notified Industrial Zone, this will create serious problems in areas that depend entirely on ground and river water for agricultural usage. Public consultation has also been exempted from a list of linear projects. Projects such as roads and pipelines in border areas will not require any public hearing. The 'border area' is defined as "area falling within 100 kilometers aerial distance from the Line of Actual Control with bordering countries of India." That would cover much of the Northeast, the region with the country's richest biodiversity. Exemption from public hearing goes against International environmental law and agreements.

• Increased validity of the environment clearance for mining projects and river valley projects from 30 years currently to 50 years and, 10 years currently to 15 years respectively, thus increasing the risk of irreversible environmental, social, and health consequences on account of the project remaining unnoticed for long.

• Through the draft, it is enough for the industries to provide an annual environmental compliance report rather than half-yearly reports. Past experiences show that industries have continued to provide data that are false and inaccurate. Seeking an annual report provides an opportunity for the industries to further underestimate any socio-environmental issues arising in their projects.

• The Public consultation process is diluted. The period for the public to submit their views and responses during a public hearing for any application seeking Environment clearance has been reduced from 30 days to 20 days. It is aimed at denying the proper opportunity to record the objections of the people of the region.

The various provisions of the draft are aimed at facilitating the government's doctrine of "ease of doing business". Hence, we would like to reiterate that it is our generation that will be a victim of the devastating effects of these twisted and diluted laws like the new EIA draft. In this age of high pollution levels in our cities, we need to strengthen the EIA 2006 instead of allowing amendments that will dilute the rules and encourage environmental violations.

The current draft lacks understanding of the adverse effects of activities like disturbances in eco-sensitive zones, extensive minings. The notification was released on 23rd March 2020, surprisingly right before the day of nationwide lockdown. There has been no wide publicity given to the same except being uploaded on the website. The Covid-19 pandemic has been a time to stay safe and protect oneself. Hence, the government must understand it is not the right time to make amendments in EIA Notification for its aspiration of doing business. We sincerely hope that the Environment Ministry will encourage informed public participation as committed through Principle 10 of the Rio Declaration and the principle of Natural Justice. The EIA can be used to bring India out of the Covid-19 pandemic as an environmentally aware country through a green recovery that strengthens the role of environmental and social protection of all people and nature instead of justifying the present forms of harmful development.

So, we request you to kindly withdraw the Draft EIA Notification – 2020, right now.

Thanking you,

Signature:

Name:

Organisation:

District/ State: 

A Tribute to Comrade Raja!

Remembering Com.M.S.Raja

K.K.N.Kutty

Secretary General NCCPA &

Vice President, Confederation of CGE & Workers.

On 14^th July, evening at about 7.00PM my telephone rang.  The voice on the other side was of Com. Pijush Roy from Kolkata.  He phoned to know whether what has been conveyed to him about M.S.Raja was  fact or not.  It was totally unbelievable and terribly sorrowful when Raja’s death was confirmed by Com. Sreekumar, President of the All India Audit and Accounts Association. Only a few days back I had a telephonic talk with him..  He appeared to be keeping fine.  On 14^th July, he had to go to the hospital for he was having some discomfiture.  He suffered a massive heart attack and collapsed at the hospital itself.  He could not be saved despite the best efforts of the Doctor. 

 

During his long stay at Delhi, he had not suffered any ailments warranting hospitalization.  He was however in constant difficulties of back-pain and got some relief from the massaging treatment he took from the Ayurvedic hospital at Trissur.  He had no known cardiac problem so long as he was at Delhi.  His untimely death was very sorrowful to his friends and his family members.  It was really sad that neither his wife nor his son could be near him when he met the death on 14^th July, evening..

 

Com.M.S.Raja took voluntary retirement in November, 2019, a few months before the end of his service career on superannuation.  From 2004 to 2019, he was on foreign service on deputation to work as the Secretary General of the All India Audit and Accounts Association, New Delhi, to which position  he had been elected continuously in all the  triennial conferences held since 2004. He had been staying alone at the Audit Association’s Head quarters at Ghaziabad.   Only when his son, on completion of his education and having received employment at Gurgaon, Com. Raja had some solace and company. 

 

Com.Raja came forward to take over the post of Secretary General of AIAAA in 2004 pretty well knowing that he will have to leave his family, (his wife and son )at Mumbai.   Ms.Nandini was employed at the Custom Department, Mumbai and she was not able to go over to Delhi, having the responsibility of looking after her aged father. Com.Raja was the natural choice of all the delegates of the all India Conference of the Association.

 

Com. Raja was fully aware that the position of the Secretary General of AIAAA was a seat of thorns.  By 2004,  the AIAAA which had been one of the mighty, militant and united organization of the CGEs had begun to slide down . It was a herculean task even for a leader like Com.Raja  who had the highest level of conviction, courage, dedication, mass appeal, sense of sacrifice and the capacity to work hard to bring it back to its past glory.

 

I came in intimate contact with comrade Raja only after his election to the position of the Secretary General of AIAAA, though on many occasions earlier, I had the opportunity to meet and interact with  him at Mumbai . He was an extremely straight forward person, a quality perhaps not in demand in the present day world.   He never minced words.   He had the capacity to tell what he felt without any sophistication, rather bluntly. The very fact that such admirable character will fetch few friends and more foes did not daunt him at all.  Nor did he make any attempt to change it.  There were many factors that led to the organizational weakness of AIAAA.  Some of them were consequences of earlier decisions.  But the most important was that the Government and the C & AG administration played   an extremely pro-active role to ensure its units are either made defunct or weakened.  Its chequered history was full of the life and struggle of quite a number of eminent persons,  to be emulated by all those who are connected with the trade union movement. 

 

Maharashtra unit of AIAAA was at Mumbai.  It had played a sterling role in the building up of the organization.  It is from this unit the leaders like com. E.X. Joseph rose to the eminence. He was one of the founding members of the all India Association.  When Com.Raja took over the leadership of the Mumbai Unit,  it was a pale shadow of its glorious past.  It was the sagacity, courage and leadership qualities of Com.Raja that changed the scenario..  He could bring the movement of the Audit and Accounts employees of Mumbai to its premier position.  It emerged under his leadership as one of the best performing units of AIAAA.  His sterling personality and unique position made him the natural choice for the post of the General Secretary of the Co-ordination Committee of CGEs, the state unit of the Confederation of CGE & W.   Perhaps next to Delhi and Kolkata, Mumbai had the largest number of Central Government employees as most of the GOI departments had their offices at Mumbai.  This apart, the biggest unit of Atomic Energy Commission, BARC was located in Mumbai.  Being the biggest urban agglomeration in the country, Mumbai had its peculiar problems.  In the united struggle of the working class, initially against the LPG and later against the neo-liberal economic policies, the Audit  Employees movement under the leadership of Com. Raja had played a vital role.   He was closely associated with all the Central Trade Union Centres at Mumbai and had a warm relationship with the movement of State Government employees  and Railway workers.  He was a well known figure amongst the leaders of all organizations of Mumbai.

 

It was with that rich experience he landed at Delhi.  Within no time, however, he could realize that working from the CHQ , divorced from the exhilarating  crowd support, that are ever present at the work spots in the field formations,  was a different cup of tea.  The demonstration of the sheer strength of the movement often opens the doors of even unwilling authorities at the field formations for a meaningful negotiation.  The discussions with an adamant bureaucracy at the apex level were mostly procrastinating and fruitless.  As an astute person, he realized that unless the units which are varied both in size and attitude are brought into a minimum level of functioning, insurmountable though, it was difficult to bring the organization to its past glory.  It was to accomplish this daunting task he spent most of his time as the Secretary General of the All India Association. He undertook extensive tours to know the reality of the situation obtaining in various Units and mobilize them to ensure that the collective decisions are uniformly carried out.  He succeeded to a great extent is borne out of the extensive participation of the employees and officers in the mass casual leave programme  organized in 2010.

 

His tenure as the Secretary General of the Association had been turbulent.  The C&AG administration unleashed the worst form of victimization.  It appeared that the Govt. and the C& AG Administration had jointly decided to wipe out the organization.  Even peaceful demonstration to express resentment of the employees was met with stern, strong and unheard of reprisals.  The extensive victimization giving charge sheet to about 12,000 employees must have been an unprecedented action. The utter un-tenabilty of many of the vindictive  actions  could be seen from the way  these cases were got quashed  by the courts in the country.  But the purpose ostensibly was to create a fear psychosis and terror in the minds of the ordinary employees and thereby weaken the organized functioning of the Association.  It must be said to his credit that he could and did withstand the onslaught with conviction, courage and determination. Pretty well knowing that the response from the members and units in the given situation might not be good, he thought it right  and need of the hour to commit the organization to the path of struggles   while endorsing the call of the Central Trade Unions for strike action against the neo- liberal economic policies of the Government.   On a quite number of occasions I was witness to the sheer lack of appreciation for his efforts both from his colleagues and undoubtedly from his permanent critics.  That however, did not dither him nor did he waver from the chosen path.   The organizational weakness which surfaced especially after the heavy doze of victimization unleashed by the authorities had its adverse impact on the financial stability too. His stay at Delhi leaving his family behind was also beset with financial difficulties and he had not been able to draw his salary every month.  That had been the nagging problem till his retirement. 

 

He had been a tower of strength for all of us, especially for me, in the day to day functioning of the confederation.   Beset with innumerable problems and financial difficulties, he found time to work for the confederation.  The place Com. S.K.Vyas was living, some time at Mandir Marg, then at North Avenue and lastly at Feroze Shah Road, was the centre for all of us to meet and discuss  the issues concerning the CGE movement.  Com.M.S.Raja unlike others had to travel quite a distance to reach the city as he was living in Ghaziabad.  It used to take not less than 2 hours to traverse the distance.  It was only when the Metro was extended to Vaishali, his travel problems eased to some extent.  Despite all these problems he used to attend the meetings and contribute immensely to the decision making process.

 

At the time of preparation of the memorandum to the 7^th CPC,  the centre of activities was shifted to Manishinath Bhawan, Rajouri Garden,  where the ITEF CHQ  had been located .  Comrade Raja stayed there on a number of days as  most of the discussions had to be conducted during night sessions.  After the death of Com . S.K.Vyas,  Com.Raja succeeded him to the Standing committee of the Staff Side in the JCM., National Council.  His contribution during the preparation and formulation of issues, while tendering evidence before the Commission and later at the negotiation with the Government  had all been praiseworthy. 

 

One of the special and sterling qualities, I could notice in him and wanted to imbibe but failed miserably, was his ability to tell what he felt without any sophistication and follow it up with a wonderful laugh to make  the ambience normal and jovial.  Like his mentor Com.Vyas,  Com.Raja was also fond of preparing good food. I do not know whether it was by compulsion of circumstances or really he enjoyed it.  I had on innumerable occasions stayed with him at his residence in Ghaziabad.  In fact I had found solace in his company and those were really unforgettable days.   It is during those days, I could get a fair picture of his life, his family and the ambience in which he spent his childhood.   Having born in a feudal landlord family of Kerala, he was supposed to have a wonderful and joyful childhood.    That was not the case was the truth.  He was a very active participant in student movement of Kerala.   From  St. Thomas College, Trissur, he was elected as a councillor to the Calicut University.   He was also a member of the District Committee of SFI during his college days.   His commitment to the ideology, which he realized to be the best for the humanity, had been his forte.   He never dithered at any point of time, and also had no hesitation to express his differing opinions and views on contemporary issues quite bluntly. 

 

He had often expressed his wish to settle down at his native village,  construct a house on the plot which he had inherited, to be in the midst of  his old friends and spend the evening of his life away from the maddening crowd  of cities and towns. He was to begin the construction of that dream house. He went over  to Trissur with that in mind but  got bogged down due to corona Virus .  Those remained as mere wishes.

 

His death has saddened all those with whom he had come in contact and established friendship.   It is quite impossible for them to obliterate his image from their minds as he had such a strong and pleasing personality. His immortal and inimitable style of loud laughter to dispel the smog of despair in the ambience shall linger on as an indelible impression of his personality, perhaps without death. It is only with sorrowful tears I can bid adieu to you, comrade.

CGHS Payment of Subscriptions

For CGHS Cards hereafter online payment in the "Bharatkosh" Portal only!

Newly joining Pensioners CGHS beneficiaries and the existing beneficiaries who are not holding life membership cards have to remit subscription only through "Bharatkosh Portal" online. 

The method or procedure is a bit complicated and therefore follow the instructions in the enclosed Health Ministry Order step by step very carefully!

MINUTES OF NCCPA NATIONAL EXECUTIVE VIDEO CONFERENCE ON 16.07.2020

NATIONAL CO-ORDINATION COMMITTEE

OF PENSIONERS  ASSOCIATIONS.

13-C Feroze Shah Road, New Delhi. 110 001.

 

Website: nccpahq.blogspot.in.

E mail: nccpahq@gmail.com.

PRESIDENT:       COM.SHIV GOPAL MISHRA.(97176 47594)

SECY. GENERAL:          COM.K.K.N.KUTTY. (98110 483030)

 

Minutes of NCCPA National Executive meeting held on 16.7.2020

The meeting was attended by 23 comrades of the 35 invited.  Due to some technical problem, the meeting could not commence at the appointed time.  It was delayed by half an hour.  There had been some problem in the conduct of the meeting.   This is mentioned in order to avoid the repetition thereof in the subsequent meetings   The participating members   hereafter will have to learn to switch off the mike and switch on when they are asked to speak.  This apart they must also ensure that no person is allowed to be with them when they are on video conferencing and no disturbance is created even inadvertently.   This apart it was noticed that the participants were attending phone calls without switching off the mike.  Either avoid taking a phone call during the meeting or go out to talk or switch off the mike. 

 

The meeting was presided over by Com. Shiv Gopal Mishra. All the agenda items were taken together for discussion due to the time constraints.   Almost all the participants spoke at the meeting. The meeting discussed the following agenda items:

 

1.       Review of the programme chalked out against the DR freeze and DR denial.

2.       CGHS – covid related matters.

3.       Publication of the journal through electronic medium.

4.       Subscription for 2019-20.

5.       Sanction for the purchase of printer cum scanner.

6.       Any other matter with the permission of the chair.

 

The meeting came to the conclusion that:           

(i)                  The affiliates and State Units will send in report to the Secretary General of the number of persons who had sent the e mail to the PM  by the end of July, 2020   The information will be compiled and will be placed for evaluation in the next meeting of the NE (Video Conference) which will be held by end of August, 2020.   In that meeting further course of action will be chalked out.  The question of filing case against the decision of the Government on DA/DP will be decided in consultation with other organizations.

(ii)                The affiliates and State units will write to the Secretary General of the issues which are still to be taken up with the Government on CGHS related apart from what has already been discussed in respect of covid 19 pandemic.

(iii)               The Secretary Generals of affiliates especially BSNL and PNB will personally take up the issues with the Secretary General of the issues they feel that should be raised from the platform of NCCPA.

(iv)              The journal will be published through electronic medium.  Steps will be taken by the Secretary General in this regard.

(v)                All affiliates will be making payment of subscription due for the FY 2019-20 and 2020-21.  The amount paid to litigation fund being adjusted to the subscription would be considered when final decision is taken to drop the idea of filing petition before the courts over option No. 1.

(vi)              The question raised by Com. S.K. Sharma r in respect of registration under T.U. Act, i.e. amendments  to constitution, other documents etc. was addressed .  The Secretary General said that he would send back by speed post any requisite documents received by him immediately on receipt.  The earlier meeting of the NE had already decided to make requisite changes n the constitution and therefore, Com. M.L. Gupta can make those changes.

(vii)             The suggestion that NCCPA should take up all issues concerning the affiliates with the Government was raised by Com. S.K. Sharma.   It was agreed that in cases where such intervention is required the Secretary General of NCCPA would do the needful.

(viii)           Sanction would be accorded to the purchase of printer cum scanner.  The Secretary General will circulate the details thereof.

(ix)              The organizational issue concerning membership discussed at the Pre-conference NE meeting was again raised by Com. S.K.Sharma.  The Secretary  General, said that it could not be discussed through video conferencing.  As and when the situation eases in respect of the pandemic, the same will be slated for discussion at a formal meeting of the National Executive. 

 

The meeting was concluded at 5.30 PM. 

Copy of the photograph of the printer cum scanner proposed to be bought will be e-mailed to you later.

Health Secretary Meets JCM NC Leaders

Minutes of meeting taken by Health Secretary with JCM National Council Standing Committee Members is as follows. Study it and immediately point out omissions so that we can discuss in tomorrow afternoon NCCPA executive meeting in video conference:

M.S.Raja former SG Audit Employees Association passed away!

Comrade M.S.Raja Amar Rage!

Comrade M.S.Raja the former Secretary General Audit Employees Association and former Secretary and Working President of Confederation of CG Employees as well as a Member of JCM National Council has breathed his last at about 7.30 P.M in Thrissur (Kerala) due to massive cardiac arrest. It is an irreparable loss to our movement. We dip our banner in respect. 

Meeting with Health Secretary

JCM Standing Committee meets Health Secretary on 9.7.2010!

A meeting with the JCM Staff Side Standing Committee was held by the Health Secretary on 9.7.2020. The official minutes are still expected to understand which issues are attended to and which issues are yet to be addressed by Government on health related matters. We are placing the letter of Staff Side Secretary and certain GOs issued so far:

NCCPA Executive Meeting on 16.07.2020 through Video Conference

NATIONAL CO-ORDINATION COMMITTEE

OF PENSIONERS  ASSOCIATIONS.

13-C Feroze Shah Road,

New Delhi. 110 001.

 

Website: nccpahq.blogspot.in.

E mail: nccpahq@gmail.com.

 

 

PRESIDENT:       COM.SHIV GOPAL MISHRA.(97176 47594)

SECY. GENERAL:          COM.K.K.N.KUTTY. (98110 483030

 

Dated: 11.07..2020

 

 

NOTICE.

                Notice is hereby given for a meeting of the National Executive Committee of the NCCPA on 16^th July, 2020 at 3.00PM.  All members of the National Executive had been informed through SMS of the meeting and the need to send their respective email address to enable the CHQ to send them the link for making the meeting possible through video conference.   Some of the members (2 Office Bearers + Auditor + two General Secretaries of CGPAs) are yet to respond with their email IDs.  This is necessary to enable them to take part in the meeting.   The meeting will discuss the following agenda.  All participants would be given the time to speak.  They must express their views on all agenda items together due to the time constraints. The participating members may come on line through the link at 2.40 PM on 16^th only after every member is signed in, the meeting could start. The  Secy General will make a brief presentation of the agenda at the beginning of the meeting.

 

                                Agenda:

(i)                  Review of implementation of  the programme decided by the Sectt.

(ii)                CGHS issue with special reference to the covid period

(iii)               Court case on DR freeze and denial of DR

(iv)              Publishing the journal electronically.

(v)                Finance-subscription payment

(vi)              Sanction for incurring certain expenditure

(vii)             Any other matter with the permission of the chair.

All members are requested to make it possible to attend the meeting.

 

K.K.N. Kutty

Secretary General

                               

 

NCCPA TO BSNL

NCCPA WRITES TO BSNL AUTHORITY ON ILLEGAL DEDUCTION OF INCOME TAXE AND DELAYED PAYMENT OF MEDICAL BILLS

NATIONAL CO-ORDINATION COMMITTEE

OF PENSIONERS  ASSOCIATIONS.

13-C Feroze Shah Road,

New Delhi. 110 001.

 

Website: nccpahq.blogspot.in.

E mail: nccpahq@gmail.com.

 

 

PRESIDENT:       COM.SHIV GOPAL MISHRA.(97176 47594)

SECY. GENERAL:          COM.K.K.N.KUTTY. (98110 483030

 

Dated: 5.07.2020

 

To

Shri P.K.Purwar, CMD BSNL,

Bharat Sanchar Bhawan,

New Delhi - 110001.

email:  cmdbsnl@bsnl.co.in

 

Dear Sir,

 

                                                                Sub: Payment of medical allowance to BSNL pensioners-

                                                                Delay in payment-  illegal deduction of tax deducted at source

                                                                On a payment not made over.

 

                                                                                                                O0o

It has been brought to our notice by several BSNL pensioners that the BSNL had not been paying them the legitimate medical allowance for the past two years due to the financial constraints, the company is presently suffering. We have no hesitation to appreciate  the present state of affairs of BSNL, given the fact that the management had not been paying the contract workers for several months.  But we are certain that you will in no way connect the workers  or the ex workers for the sorry state of affairs of the company.  The policies of the successive Governments towards BSNL in particular and the PSUs in general had been the prime cause of the downfall of BSNL, which at one point of time had been one of the topmost profit making  enterprises in the country.   Unfortunately, not only  in our country, but elsewhere also,  the first victim of the financial problem of a company is the workers and pensioners.  As  you are aware, the pensioners live with a meagre income  and they should not have been targeted at all. 

 

The extra ordinary situation  we could see from the representation of our pensioner members is that BSNL without making the actual payment of the medical allowance chose however to deduct the tax thereon  and remit the same to the Incometax Department.  Having deducted the tax, no doubt, the management has no alternative but to remit it to the Government account.   Not to make over the payment of medical allowance to the pensioners ought to have been a policy decision at the top level.  When such a policy decision was taken what is incomprehensible is how the local authorities or the Accounts division could consider the medical allowance as payable by BSNL or receivable by the Pensioner.   When it is not receivable, obviously under the definition of salary, it could not be construed as salary and no tax could have been legally deducted.   The decision of the local management of BSNL to deduct the tax on an amount, which has been decided to be not payable by the BSNL top management,  (may be for a temporary period) is clearly untenable and will not be within the ambit  of the provisions of the Incometax  Act.  Having remitted the tax to the Government account, the BSNL has no way to obtain a refund thereof from the Incometax Department.  Nor will it be possible for the pensioner  as the I.T. Department is bound to point out that the amount of medical allowance being receivable is to be treated as salary income.   The mistake on the part of the local management of  BSNL  has placed the pensioner in a piquant situation as he has been asked to pay tax on an income which he has not received or earned. 

 

In the circumstance, the only course open to BSNL management is to reverse its earlier adhoc and temporary decision of not paying the medical allowance or revive the payment thereof and make the actual payment without any further loss of time. 

 

We, therefore, request you to kindly cause the orders to be issued to all the local managements  of BSNL to immediately make the payment of medical allowance, which had been held back due to financial stringency in the case of pensioners immediately.

 

Thanking you,

 

Yours faithfully,

Sd.

K.K.N. Kuty

Secretary General.

 

 

NCCPA Executive on 16th July by Video Conference

VIDEO CONFERENCE OF NCCPA EXECUTIVE ON 16.07.2020

Dear Comrades - The next conference of NCCPA Executive will be held on 16.07.2020 (Thursday) at 15.00 Hrs under the chairmanship of our President Comrade Shiv Gopal Mishra. There are four Patrons and 30 Office Bearers including the Internal Auditor and State CGPAs and Affiliates. Email messages are sent to all those 34 leaders except five leaders who fail to inform their Email IDs so far. On 16.07.2020 afternoon around 2,45 P.M (Just 15 minutes before the scheduled start of the meeting) an email with the video conference link will be sent. If you click the link you will be joining the video conference meeting. All are requested to ensure that while joining the video conference dont forget to keep the mike on at your end or else your voice will not be heard by others. Those who want to speak in between may raise their hands to be seen by the President. It is however better not to frequently intervene with others and wait for your chance to be called by the President. Rest later - KKN Kutty Secretary General NCCPA 

CIRCULAR AND NCCPA DECISIONS

NATIONAL CO-ORDINATION COMMITTEE

OF PENSIONERS  ASSOCIATIONS.

13-C Feroze Shah Road, New Delhi. 110 001.

 

Website: nccpahq.blogspot.in.

E mail: nccpahq@gmail.com.

 

 

PRESIDENT:       COM.SHIV GOPAL MISHRA.(97176 47594)

SECY. GENERAL:          COM.K.K.N.KUTTY. (98110 483030)

 

Dated: 02.07.2020

Dear  Comrades.

 

                The National Secretariat of NCCPA met though video conferencing on 15^th June, 2020.  Com. Shiv Gopal Misra, President chaired the meeting.   Due to some technical reasons, Com. Pavitra Chakraborty and Com. Prabhakaran Nair (both Deputy Secretary Generals) could not join the meeting.  The meeting which lasted for more than an hour took note of the following developments.

 

(a)    The unhindered spread of Covid 19 corona virus in the country despite lock down of more than 75 days.

(b)   The plight of pensioners  and other retired personnel  during this period

(c)    The utter disregard of CGHS over the difficulties of the beneficiaries, especially pensioners.

(d)   The decision of the Government to deny the dearness relief for 18 months

(e)   The vigorous persuasion of the privatization of even strategic sectors of the economy taking advantage of the corona situation in the country.

(f)     Amendments to labour laws including increasing the working hours

(g)    The proposed movement of the united platform of central trade unions.

 

2.            The meeting also briefly discussed the prospects of pursuing the MACP cases in the administrative tribunal.  It was decided that in view of the situation obtaining in Delhi due to covid 19 as also at Chennai, the matter might be kept pending for some more time.  However, in the meantime the Secretary General may generate a format of application form and place the same on the website.  The affiliates might get the application filled in by the interested persons and collect the requisite fees from them so that the case can be filed as and when the courts are open. 

 

2.            After discussions, the meting took the following decisions:

(i)            The pensioners, wherever possible will join hands with the working employees

to take part in the protest actions  organized by the united platform of working class as also independently by the CGE organizations.

(ii)           to send an appropriately worded resolution to the Prime Minister conveying the feelings and problems of pensioners especially emanating from the denial of DR.

(iii)          to advise each affiliate and the pensioner member to send a brief e mail communication to the Prime Minister.

(iv)         the affiliates and the members will be advised to ensure that the e mails are sent before the end of July, 2020.

(v) On CGHS difficulties, the President and Secretary General will take up the matter with the Staff  Side JCM and prepare common  communication as the issues are  one and the same for both pensioners and working employees.

 

 3.            The text of the resolution as also the draft e mail message to be sent by all to the Prime Minister are annexed.  The  e-mail to the Prime Minister may be sent to his official e mail address. [There are three methods: Either to narendramodi1234@gmail.com (PM Email ID) or connect@mygov.nic.in (PMO Email ID) or by going to http;//pgportal.gov.in and registering with your user ID and Password you can send the email to Honourable Prime Minister].

  4.            The meeting decided that the National Executive of NCCPA must meet in July through video conferencing.  The Secretary General was asked to take requisite steps. 

 5.            All the Sectt. members and the Chief  Executives (Secretary General/General Secretary) of affiliates  are requested to communicate their e-mail address to Com. K.Ragavendran, Deputy Secretary General  NCCPA. A link will be emailed in that email from nccpa.hq@gmail.com  and by clicking the link you all can join the video conference.

 6.            In the meantime, a meeting was arranged by the General Secretary of TUI (P&R) in which besides the undersigned, Com.  K.Ragavendran and Com. K.G.Jayaraj attended. We are happy to inform you that Com. K.Ragavendran has been elected as the Convenor of the Asian region of TUI .  We propose to hold a meeting of the representatives of the pensioners associations in the Asian continent first through video conferencing.  Kindly visit the website for knowing the developments in the pensioners’ world.

 

                With greetings,

Yours fraternally,

Sd/- 

K.K.N. Kutty

Secretary General

  

Full text of the resolution to be sent to the Prime Minister by the NCCPA.

 

This meeting of the National Secretariat of NCCPA held through video conferencing painfully takes note of the extremely alarming situation developed in the world due to the Covid 19 corona pandemic.

 

The meeting pays sorrowful homage to lakhs of people around the world who succumbed to the deadly disease and conveys the heartfelt condolences of the members of NCCPA to the bereaved members of the family of the covid victims.

 

The meeting takes note of the sacrifice, courage, conviction,  dedication and the untiring efforts of the health workers, especially the Doctors, Nurses, Para medical staff both in India and abroad by virtue of which millions escaped  from the jaws of death.  The meeting specially noted the supreme sacrifice of some of the health workers who laid down their lives for rescuing others.

 

Besides the health workers, the meeting noted that the law enforcing personnel of the police department, officials of the local bodies, viz. Panchayat, City Corporations and towns, the Government officials from the revenue and other departments, the Asha and Anganawadi workers, the people who formed voluntary organizations; all have worked in unison to control and combat the spread of the deadly disease, given the fact that there exist no preventive and curative medicine.  The meeting observed that but for the admirable response of the people at large to the directives of the Government, the lock down would not have been effective at all and they above all deserve the greatest appreciation and admiration.

 

The meeting also placed on record with pride and satisfaction that the pensioner community and especially those who are members of various affiliates of NCCPA had responded to the call of the Government to donate a day’s salary/pension  to the Prime Minister’s public relief fund to provide the much needed financial assistance to the people at large.

 

The meeting however noted that the pensioner community had felt exasperated over the failure of the Government of India to appreciate their plight caused by the sudden decision taken to bring into effect a complete lock down to combat the spread of the covid virus. Most of them being small income pensioners and family pensioners could not make both ends meet even in the normal circumstances.  The lock down and the consequent difficulties were unbearable for them.  Being Senior citizen, they had been inflicted with various ailments and other physical debilities.  The lock down made their life miserable.  No helping hand was extended to them.  Contrary to what ought to have been done by the Government to mitigate their difficulties, Government of India chose to deny them even the dearness relief they were entitled to receive from Ist January, 2020.

 

The meeting felt that the decision of the Government conveyed vide their order in O;.M. No. 1/1/2020.EII (B) dated 23^rd April, 2020 to deny them the dearness relief  with effect from 1.1.2020 for another  18months had been the unkindest one ever taken by any Government.  The meeting noted that never in the history of the country even on occasions when its very  existence had been threatened by external aggression or when it faced the worst financial crisis in 1990, has it resorted to confiscate the meager pension income of senior citizens.  The meeting observed that no country in the world had resorted to such a step as has been taken by the Government of India to heap such inhuman burden on senior citizens.  Especially in the background of the 20 trillion rupee package, the major beneficiaries of which had been the rich entrepreneurs and multinational corporate establishments, the denial of even the legitimate entitlements of the pensioners, the meeting felt has revealed the sadistic state of mind of people in authority. 

 

The meeting also noted that it was the same disdainful attitude that had been responsible for the permission extended to the oil companies to raise the retail prices of petrol and diesel continuously for 22 days when the crude oil price in the international market had been diminishing, unmindful of the misery and agony of the people.  It was the crudest exploitation of a situation pretty well knowing that the people gripped with the fear of the pandemic corona virus would not be able to make any resistance movement possible. 

 

The meeting has, therefore, unequivocally affirms that the order issued on23rd April, 2020 to deny the dearness relief  to the pensioners  must be rescinded immediately, for besides the agony it inflicts on the pensioner community, it is without legal status for the rules strictly prohibits curtailment of pension entitlements under any circumstances.   The Government must appreciate that dearness relief is an integral part of the pension and the Government has no authority either to deny any part of it or even to defer its payment.

 

The meeting has, therefore, decided to appeal to the Government to immediately release the 7% Dearness relief and make over the payment of the arrears to the pensioners without any further loss of time and direct the Ministry of Finance to rescind the orders cited in so far as it is applicable to the pensioners and dearness relief.

 

Sd/-

Shiv  Gopal Misra

President.

 

 Draft Email communication addressed to the Prime Minister

 

We/I solicit your kind reference to the resolution adopted by the National Secretariat of the National Coordination Committee of Pensioners Association (NCCPA) , copy of which has already been submitted to the honourable Prime Minister on 4^th July, 2020.  We/I being an affiliated member association/member request the honourable Prime Minister to kindly direct the Ministry of Finance to rescind the order in O.M.No. 1/1/2020-E.II(B) dated 23^rd April, 2020 forthwith and sanction the dearness relief which has  become due from 1.1.2020.