NATIONAL CO-ORDINATION COMMITTEE
OF PENSIONERS ASSOCIATIONS..
(Registered undder the T.U. Act.No. RTU01/2021.Dated.7.01.2021
Website: nccpahq.blogspot.in.E mail:
nccpahq@gmail.com.
13.c Feroze Shah Road,
New
Delhi. 110 001
PRESIDENT: COM.SHIV GOPAL MISHRA.(97176
47594)
Secy.
General: COM.K.K.N.KUTTY. (98110 483030)
Dated:
24th August, 2021.
Dear Comrades,
One of the issues
that was raised strongly and unanimously by the staff side of the National
Council on 26th June, 2021 during the 48th meeting of the
council was the delay in issuing orders for the grant of DA/DR which had become
due from 1.01.2020. Though no assurance
was held out by the official side at the meeting, it appears that the feeling
of the employees was taken into consideration and the three instalments of
DA/DR were granted and the orders were issued by the end of July, 2021. In April, 2020, in the wake of the covid
pandemic and the consequent lock out, the Government had issued orders for
freezing the payment of DA/DR which would be due from 1.1.2020, 1.7.2020 and
1.1.2021. The Government’s decision to
impound the arrears for 18 months had in fact been conveyed in April, 2021
itself.
Prior to the issuance
of the above orders the Government had made an appeal for contribution to the
Prime Minister’s relief fund to combat the situation emerging from the
pandemic. The people, especially the poor segment of the society had suffered
immensely during the covid period due to the loss of job caused by the lock
down and the extra burden of expenditure due to the spread of the disease. Quite a number of people had died due to the
virus. The employees and the pensioners
responded to the appeal and almost everybody contributed a day’s income to the relief
fund. The decision to unilaterally
withhold the payment of DA and DR was a jolt and there had been no consultation
either formally or informally with the employees’ representatives. The resentment was more about the decision to
deny the DA/DR for 18 months in the name of financial stringency. The 20 trillion financial packages, the
Government announced thereafter benefitted mostly the corporate houses and
other business enterprises. Nothing much
was done by the Government to increase the purchasing power of the people which
would have benefitted the economy as a whole. Though the freezing payment of
DA/DR had no prior consultation, still the employees and pensioners did not
raise their objection as they felt that their sacrifice would benefit the poor people.
The denial of payment of the arrears from 1.12020 to 1.7.2021 for eighteen
month, however was different as it was was bereft of any legal or moral basis and the
employees and pensioners apprehended that it would create an undesirable
precedent. No such arbitrary steps had
been taken in the past even against much greater financial crisis. The demand to pay back the withheld amount was,
therefore made at the meeting on 26th, but elicited no response from
the official side.
The demand for the
payment of arrears gathered momentum especially after the 20 trillion package
announcement, as the employees and pensioners
began to doubt the Government’s
stand on financial strength of its coffers. They felt that their hard earned
income has been donated to the business enterprises. The similar action of the
A.P. Government was questioned at the High Court, which led to it being set
aside. The decision of the High Court unequivocally established that the action
of the Government to deny DA which is part of the salary is void and
untenable The High Court’s decision portends
the need for the reversal of the decision of the Government of India denying
DA/DR arrears of 18 months.
This and many other
issues, especially the covid related problems and the sufferings of the
employees and pensioners were figured in the discussions at the recently
concluded National Executive Committee meeting of the Confederation of CGE
& Workers. The National Executive
has come to the conclusion that collective action is needed to highlight the issues
and decided to hold discussion with NCCPA for a joint action in the
matter. It has now been mutually agreed
to hold a physical dharna programme in all State Capitals on 7th September, 2021, the
timings and duration can be decided by the local units of both Confederation
and NCCPA. The Dharna participants will
meet and pass a resolution to be submitted to the Finance Minister with copy to
the Secretary, Department of Personnel.
All Individual members will send a letter to the Finance Minister, the
format of which will be sent later. The
programme of action and the charter of demands on which the programme would be
mounted is appended hereunder.
As per the discussion
we had in our last NE meeting, we had submitted agenda items with brief notes
for discussion at the National Council. However, those issues could not be figured in the agenda for want
of time. Our President, Com. Shiv Gopal
Misra who is also the staff side Secretary has taken up the matter with the
Secretary, Pension and Secretary Health.
A meeting has been promised to take place by the end of September,
2021.
The undersigned was
at Delhi for a few days from 11.8.2021 to 20.8.2021. We had earlier decided to transfer the money
in the joint account of the Secretary General and Treasure to a newly created
bank account of NCCPA. However, this
could not be accomplished as our Treasurer, Com.H.L. Sidhu had a cardiac
problem and had been admitted to the hospital.
He has been advised rest for atleast three months and is presently
convalescing at his home. Further steps
in this direction would be taken after he recovers from his illness. In the meantime, all affiliates are requested
to clear their dues for the year 2019-20 and 2020-21by remitting the money to
the present joint account, whose details are available on our website. Since NCCPA is now registered under the T.U.
Act, we are to submit our accounts duly signed for the two calendar years 2020
and 2021 audited by a chartered Accountant.
PROGRAMME OF ACTION:
Andcharter of demands.
it has been decided to organise a dharna programme on
7th September, 2021 at a Central Place in all State Capitals. This will be followed by an e mail campaign,
the format of which will be sent in due course.
The demands that will be highlighted through this programme are as
under:-
1. Grant
the arrears of DA/DR for the period between 1.1.2020 to 1.07.2021. held back by
the Government to the employees and pensioners immediately.
2. Take
immediate decision on the following covid related issues;
3. Grant
compensation of not less than Rs. 15 lakhs in case of all covid affected
deaths;
4. Reimburse
the hospitalisation bills for all covid patients irrespective of the fact
whether the hospital is recognised or not.
5. Ensure
that all employees are provided with the vaccination facility preferably in the
CGHS dispensaries.
6. Provide
compassionate appointments in all death cases irrespective of the 5%
ceiling.
7. Ensure
that the pensioners who do not have any health care facility especially for
in-patient treatment are provided with insurance coverage at the cost of the
Government.
8, Revise the Pension of:
(a) BSNL pensioners with effect from 1.1.2017
(b)Punjab National Bank
Pensioners..
9. Grant
the medical benefits to the BSNL pensioners.
The
resolution to be adopted at the meeting (dharna programme) on 7th September,
2021 will be sent shortly. The format of
e mail to be sent to the Honourable Finance Minister by each individual
employee/pensioner will also be sent along with the resolution.
The affiliates and State COCs are requested to kindly
make the programme a grand success by enlisting the participation of all
employees and pensioners.
With greetings,
Yours fraternally,
K.K.N Kutty
Secretary General
