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Tuesday, August 29, 2017

NCCPA Circular

NATIONAL CO-ORDINATION COMMITTEE
OF PENSIONERS ASSOCIATIONS..

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 28th August, 2017
Dear Comrades,

We write this in continuation of our circular letter dated 26th August, 2017.  We have been in consultation with the members of the Sectt in finalising the quota for the 25th October, programme.  We have taken note of the relative strength of the organisations in  respect of their membership as also their capacity to mobilise them to take part in the programme.  We have tried to keep a balance of the ground reality in finalising the quota.  But still there may be aberrations.  We would request you to kindly bear with us and co-operate so that the programme slated for 25th October, 2017 must ultimately be a resounding success.  Please therefore, ensure that the quota is exceeded so that our precept and practice would be in complete sync. (please see annexure for the quota)  To compel the present Government to retrace their steps(howsoever erratic and wrong it was), we are aware is quite difficult, as their political mobilisation is not based on the common perception of welfare of the downtrodden. We must realise that the lessons from the history is that the ultimate victory is of vox populi.  We are beginning our struggle on Wednesday, 25th October, 2017.confident of its final outcome howsoever prolonged it may be. 

We have prepared the charter of demands on the basis of the deliberations we had at the National Executive Committee meeting.  It has covered almost all the points that figures in the discussion.  Together it covers the aspiration, hope and anxiety of all pensioners.  We are confident that the movement will gather momentum over the years and those who still hope against hope that benevolence will usher in will realise the folly to give the requisite acceleration, for we believe in all earnestness that wider the platform, earlier the event of victory. 

Appealing to all of you once again for your utmost efforts and strenuous endeavour to make the programme on 25th the most memorable and successful, and thanking you with greetings,

Yours fraternally,
Sd/-
K.KN. Kutty
Secretary General.

CHARTER OF DEMANDS.
1.       Implement Option No. 1. Recommended by the 7th CPC .
2.       Revise the pension of all BSNL Pensioners on IDA pay scale with 15% fixation benefit.
3.       Revise the pension of all pensioners of the Central Autonomous bodies.
4.       (a) Notional fixation of pay under Option No. 3. Must be based on the pay scales/Pay levels of the cadre or grade from which an employee retired.
(b) Implement the judgements of the Courts in the case of all pre-2006 pensioners, whose notional pay for the purpose of pension must be on the basis of the pay level/Grade Pay or pay scale of the grade/cadre from which he/she has retired.
5.       (a) Extend the benefit of the CCS(MA) Rules to all pensioners who are not covered by the CGHS (b) Do not discriminate the pensioners of the Union Territory; bring all pensioners  under the coverage of CGHS.
6.       Increase the FMA  to Rs. 2000/- as has been granted to the PF pensioners w.e.f 1.1.2016
7.       Raise the minimum pension to Rs. 12,000/- (2/3rd of the minimum wage) and make pension net of income tax.
8.       Restore the commutation loss of pension after 10 years
9.       Provide increased rates of pension on attainment of the age of 70 years
10.   Restore the Defined benefit  pension scheme as was in vogue prior to 1.1.2004 in respect of all Central Government employees by scrapping the Defined contributory pension scheme
Annexure:

All India Postal and RMS Pensioners Associations:                             400
All India BSNL DOT Pensioners Assn.       300
Income tax Pensioners Federation                                                          150
All India Audit and AccountsPensioners Association.                          50
All Central autonomous Pensioenrs Association                                 100
State Units:
Kerala-                                                                   10
AP-                                                                          25
Karnataka:                                                            20
W.Bengal:                                                             60
NE Region:                                                            05
Rajastan:                                                             40
MP –                                                                     10
UP –                                                                      10
Nagpur                                                                                 10
Mumbai                                                               20
Punjab –                                                              10
Bihar                                                                      05
Tamilnadu                                                           10
Gujarath                                                              10
North West Region:                                        10
Delhi.                                                                    15


The States for which separate quota is fixed will not include in their contingent, comrade pensioners of Postal, BSN,  Incometax, Audit and Account and Autonomous organisations. 

Sunday, August 27, 2017

NATIONAL EXECUTIVE DECISIONS - MASSIVE DHARNA IN DELHI


NATIONAL CO-ORDINATION COMMITTEE
OF PENSIONERS ASSOCIATIONS..

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 26th August, 2017
Dear Comrades,
National Executive Committee
meeting and decisions.

The National Executive Meeting of NCCPA was held at Nagpur on 19.08.2017 under the Chairmanship of Comrade Shiv Gopal Mishra.. Excellent arrangements were made by the Reception Committee headed by Comrades Dhaktod and Petekar.
Comrade Shiv Gopal Mishra elaborately dealt with the attitude of the Government and the official side on 7th CPC related issues of both employees and pensioners. He also narrated that Option Number 1  has been taken up as an anomaly in the NAC for discussion. Several other issues including the NJCA meeting scheduled in September and the impending indefinite strike by the Central TUS and Federations of Central, State Government and PSUs were covered by him during his speech.
The subject session that commenced thereafter was chaired by Com. S.S.Roy, working president, NCCPA. The discussion on the items of agenda was initiated by the Deputy Secretary General Comrade Pavitra Ranjan Chakraborti ably supplemented by the other Deputy Secretary General Comrade K.Ragavendran. The Secretary General Comrade KKN Kutty could not attend the meeting due to his sudden illness. More than 90% of the Office Bearers and National Executive Members attended the meeting despite the situation of flood and torrential rains in different parts of the country. A lively discussion on the agenda items followed.  The following decisions were taken at the meeting Com. K. Raghavendran moved the resolution which contained the crux of discussions at the meeting and on the future course of NCCPA functioning.
Decisions and Resolution:
1.       Option 3  being the belated acceptance of the demand of parity by pensioners is welcome. However, fixing the notional pay of Pre-2016 Pensioners in the replacement scales instead of actual pay scale provided for to the serving employees by successive pay commissions is an irritant and requires to be removed.
2.       Option 1 as recommended by the 7th CPC  being feasible to be implemented ought to have been retained as it would provide better pension for those who stagnated in the part for no fault of theirs. Rejection of option.1 as infeasible is not only unprecedented, untenable but unethical too especially viewed from the angle that the top bureaucracy had a personal axe to grind in its rejection. The meeting endorsed the correct stand taken by the Staff Side JCM National Council to treat the same as another option for pensioners. 
3.       The continued adamancy of the Government in refusing to grant the benefit of fixing pension to Pre-2006 Pensioners from 1.1.2006 based on the pay scales implemented to the post or cadre in which the Pensioner had retired or dead is unjustified. The rejection by Department of Expenditure even after several courts decision in favour of higher pay scales instead of replacement scales and the acceptance and implementation of the judgment in the case of the litigants shows the double standard of the Government. This benefit should be granted to all Pre-2006 Pensioners.
4.       While welcoming the orders for admission of P&T Pensioners in CGHS Scheme without any conditions by withdrawing the retrograde orders of the Health Ministry, it is found that the decision  that the beneficiaries must make the one time lump sum  payment @ post 7th CPC rate is unjustified. The late admission in to CGHS belatedly after two decades delay should not result in penalizing the past Pensioners. The rate of subscription at the time of retirement should alone be the charges.
5.       The discrimination against some other departmental pensioners who are continue to be denied entry into CGHS must be ended.
6.       While ending discrimination to P&T Pensioners, the Directorate General of CGHS has issued another discriminating order to preclude the CG Employees and CG Pensioners in Union Territories from joining CGHS. This order also aims to send out those employees and pensioners wrongly admitted in to CGHS. This stand of the Government is totally unjust and should be withdrawn.
7.       Many important positive recommendations of the 7th CPC on health related issues like (1) Merger of existing Postal Dispensaries with CGHS; (2) Issue of Medi-insurance Cards to employees and pensioners to facilitate cashless medical treatment; (3) Merger of all existing different medical systems into one single large umbrella medical system for CG Employees and CG Pensioners; (4) Extending the benefit under CS MA Rules 1944 to Pensioners also to end the disparity between the employees and pensioners needs to be expedited for positive implementation.
8.       While the doubling of the existing rate of Fixed Medical Allowance from 500/- to 1000/- is welcome, the fixing of FMA @ 1000/- after 7th CPC while the employees of PF Department are being paid @ 2000/- per month even during 6th CPC period is very less in comparison to the mounting medical costs. The FMA must be enhanced to 2000/- per month.
9.       Many orders are not being implemented in a time-bound manner. Due to this the aging pensioners cannot get the benefits in time. The GO on extending full pension to Pre-2006 Pensioners who had retired without putting 33 years of qualifying service; the GO on fixation of pension on the basis of ‘pay in the pay band’ instead of ‘minimum of pay band’ w.e.f. 1.1.2006 for all Pre-2006 Pensioners;  the issue of revised PPOs to all Pre-2006 Pensioners etc were either inordinately delayed or still being delayed. The main reason for such non-implementation or slow implementation is due to staff shortage in accounting offices. Under such circumstances the recent 12th May, 2017 orders also is likely to be delayed in many departments. Therefore drawing of the services of qualified retired officials to function as ‘implementation cells’ to speed up the work under the supervision of serving Accounts Officers in all accounting offices may be considered to facilitate completion of work of Refixation of pension to all Pre-2016 Pensioners before 30.09.2017.
10.   The Pay Commission and also the Government have not come forward to consider the issues of rationalizing the additional pension and reducing the period of commutation of pension. The additional pension system should be improved and the period of commutation should be reduced to 10 years.
11.   The grant of additional pension should be given on attaining the age of 80, 85,90,95,100 instead of waiting for the completion of the above ages as per the verdict of Bengaluru CAT.
12.   The recovery of income-tax from Pensioners is most unjustified. The Government should immediately consider payment of pension net taxes. 
13.   The National Executive has resolved to authorize the National Secretariat to chalk out appropriate Programme of Action on the above demands.
The under-mentioned organisational decisions are also taken unanimously:
1.       NCCPA organization should be strengthened by approaching new organizations for affiliation; strengthening the existing affiliates with more membership; forming State COC of NCCPA in all States.
2.       The State units of affiliates will get in touch with other Pensioners Associations operating in the State and get them associated with NCCPA.
3.       This National Executive Committee meeting of NCCPA calls upon all its affiliates to take all possible steps to join the agitational programmes chalked out by all organisations of serving employees and the Central trade Unions.
4.       Extending total solidarity to NFPE sponsored strike on 23.08.2017 for getting the GDS Committee recommendations immediately implemented.
5.       NCCPA units and affiliates will take all possible steps to take part in the mass Dharna programme stated for 9,10,11 Nov. 2017 at Delhi under the auspices of the joint platform of Central Trade Unions.
6.       NCCPA will organize an independent programme to project the CG pensioner related issues and most  prominently against NPS
Massive Dharna at the National Capital: DELHI.
In deference to  the decision of the National Executive, consultations were held amongst the Secretariat members about the feasibly of organizing an independent programme by NCCPA. The consensus is that the NCCPA must organize a massive Dharna at Janter-Manter, New Delhi on 25.10.2017 from 11.00 AM to 3.00 PM eliciting participation of members of all affiliates and from all states. To make the programme successful, a serious campaign will be undertaken by the National Leadership consisting of President, Working President, Vice President Secretary General, two Deputy Secretary Generals. Detailed circular will be issued shortly. Affiliates and unites are requested to convey the issues/ demands to be included in the Charter immediately on receipt of this letter.
 The Office bearers and the National Executive Members especially the Chief Executives of affiliated organizations and the State CGPA organizations are requested to mobilize and ensure the participation of the largest number of pensioners in the Programme to highlight our issues before the Government. The Charter of Demands will be circulated shortly after causing consultation with the members of the National Sectt. 
With Greetings,
Comradely Yours,
Sd/-


KKN Kutty
Secretary General

RESOLUTION ADOPTED BY THE NATIONAL EXECUTIVE OF NCCPA HELD AT NAGPUR ON 19.08.2017 ON SOME BASIC ISSUES OF CG PENSIONERS AFTER THE IMPLEMENTEATION OF 7th CPC RECOMMENDATIONS:

The National Executive of the National Coordination Committee had discussed various aspects of the 7th CPC recommendations and the implementation of them by the Central Government. The attitude of the Government viz., rejecting some of the recommendations made like the Option Number 1 of pension fixation in favour of the pensioners on the grounds of non-feasibility but accepting many recommendations made by the CPC against the interests of the employees without any modifications like rejection of many allowances etc is deplorable. The attitude of the Government is not only retrograde but also time consuming. The tactics to form committees and delay the matters for several months in order to tire out the employees and pensioners is condemnable.

The Central Government has finally rejected Option Number 1 fixation of pension to Pre-2016 Pensioners after much delay. The recommendation of the Pay Commission for giving the benefit of number of increments earned by the Pensioner in his last stage of employment would be more beneficial to a section of Pensioners than the Option Number 3 offered and implemented by the GO dated 12.05.2017. There were scores of Government Employees who stagnated for years without any promotion before their superannuation. This type of stagnation was pronounced to those sections for whom the MACP system was not extended before 2008. The Option Number 1 would have been more beneficial to those Pre-2008 retirees. The Option Number 3 is no doubt an improvement to Option Number 2 of fixation by applying 2.57 fitment factor; but still the better benefit under Option Number 1 to those Pensioners has been out-rightly rejected by the Pension High Level Committee and the Government in the name of non-availability of records of increments for nearly 18% of Pensioners. The stand taken to reject Option Number 1 despite the arguments of the Staff Side and Pensioners Associations to convince the authorities that reconstruction of records is not impossible even for those 18% cases of pensioners is unjust. This National Executive is of the considered opinion that the rejection of Option Number 1 of pension fixation is authoritative and unjustified and based on wrong notions and arguments.

Secondly, the Option Number 3 implemented in lieu of Option Number 1 contains a basic flaw. The Option Number 3 is nothing but the recommendations of 5th CPC for pension fixation by notionally fixing the salary in the fitment table of successive pay commissions to the Pre-2016 Pensioners also and finally fixing 50% of the notionally arrived last pay drawn with reference to the Pay Matrix Table of the 7th CPC. In doing so the important aspect of 5th CPC to fix the salary in the new scale of pay implemented to the post or cadre in which the pensioner had retired or died is ignored by the Government. Instead the pension is calculated only on the basis of the replacement scales. Unless and otherwise the full aspect of 5th CPC recommendation is implemented, the Option Number 3 formula also is denying the full benefit to many pensioners in whose cases their cadre or post got any upgraded pay scale through successive pay commissions. As the Government had agreed to implement OROP to Veteran Pensioners, similar fitment benefit to Civilian Pensioners also by calculating notionally in the same pay scale granted to the serving employees would have rendered justice. This National Executive urges the Government to reconsider this aspect and issue necessary orders to set right the flaw.

In nut shell, this National Executive resolves to reiterate its considered opinion that the Pensioners should be given the choice to opt between the Options 1, Option 2, and Option 3 with the element of higher pay scales granted to the cadre or post.

This National Executive notes with concern that the Government is obstinate in refusing the fixation benefit of pension in the higher scales of pay implemented to the post or cadre despite several court cases went in favour of the Pre-2006 Pensioners. The Pre-2006 Pensioners were denied the benefit of higher scales of pay given to the serving employees from 1.1.2006 and on approaching the court of law many pensioners got the benefit implemented w.e.f. 1.1.2006. The Executive notes that based on this fact the Department of Pension & Pensioners welfare had recommended to Finance Ministry for extending the benefit to all similarly placed Pre-2006 Pensioners. Unfortunately the Department of Expenditure had showed adamancy and refused to grant the benefit even today. It is also unfortunate that when this issue was taken to the PMO for redressal, the PMO had also taken an unjustified position that since the Finance Ministry had taken a position it cannot be reversed. This Executive notes that PMO is the final authority for all issues and the opinion of Department of Expenditure cannot be supreme against the directions of several courts of the land. This National Executive resolves to urge upon the Government to come down from the adamant position and extend the benefit of fixation of pension to all Pre-2006 Pensioners based on the upgraded pay scale if any was implemented to the post or cadre in which the Pre-2006 Pensioner had retired or died.

This National Executive of NCCPA notes with satisfaction that at last the P&T Pensioners also are allowed to enter the CGHS system without any discrimination through the GO dated 19.07.2017. However, we note that since this is a very belated step taken after two decades of discrimination that prevented many P&T Pensioners retired between 1998 and 2017 from joining the CGHS on payment of subscriptions at the prevailing rate at the time of their retirement. The present order ending the discrimination of the P&T Pensioners demands them to pay at the post-7th CPC rate of subscriptions. We all know that the post-7th CPC rates are fixed based on the new higher pay scales after 7th CPC. Fixing the same rate of subscription to all Pre-2016 pensioners irrespective of the year of their retirement is unjustified and exorbitant. This National Executive of NCCPA resolves to urge upon the Government for necessary reconsideration to order to fix the rate of subscription commensurate to their year of retirement.
At the same time this National Executive notes that the Health Ministry’s objection to P&T Pensioners alone was withdrawn to facilitate inclusion of willing P&T Pensioners into CGHS while some other smaller departments are still out of the ambit of CGHS. This discrimination shall go. There shall be no discrimination for any Pensioner of any department in the matter of joining CGHS on the untenable plea that a separate Dispensary System is in existence for that department. In addition the CGHS Directorate General has issued a  recent order on 21st July declaring the CG Employees and CG Pensioners in Union Territories are not entitled to join CGHS and those who were erroneously admitted also have to be sent out. This order is most unjustified and while correcting an injustice the Government is trying to introduce another injustice to the employees and pensioners of Union Territories. This Executive urges for immediate withdrawal of 21st July orders also.

There are many other health related recommendations of the 7th CPC that requires immediate decision by the Government. The recommendations (1) to merge the existing Postal Dispensaries with CGHS; (2) to issue Medi-insurance Cards to employees and pensioners to ensure cashless treatment in authorized private hospitals; (3) to merge various departmental vise health systems to form one broad medical system for the Government Employees and Pensioners; and (4) all pensioners also to be made eligible to medical treatment on par with the serving employees under CS MA Rules 1944, require positive approval by the Government. The Pensioners are the senior citizens whose medical requirements are very important at their old age. The present flaws in the existing medical systems should be removed by accepting the recommendations of the Pay Commission to end any discrimination between the serving employees and the Pensioners.

The National Executive of NCCPA notes that the Government has come forward to double the Fixed Medical Allowance from 500/- to 1000/- per month. This increase is a welcome step no doubt. But one cannot deny the fact that when a section of the Government Employees like the PF Department were granted 2000/- per month as FMA even under 6th CPC time, fixing the FMA after 7th CPC to only 1000/- is not meeting the requirements of today’s medical cost. This National Executive therefore resolves to urge upon the Government to reconsider and enhance the FMA to not less than 2000/- per month.

This National Executive wishes to bring to the notice of the Authorities that several orders are not implemented in a time-bound manner by all departments so that the aging pensioners can get the benefits earlier. The GO on extending full pension to Pre-2006 Pensioners who had retired without putting 33 years of qualifying service has not been implemented to all eligible such Pensioners in many States. The implementation of GO on fixation of pension on the basis of ‘pay in the pay band’ instead of ‘minimum of pay band’ w.e.f. 1.1.2006 for all Pre-2006 Pensioners took a lot of time. The issue of revised PPOs to all Pre-2006 Pensioners is still not completed in many States despite the position reflecting in the SCOVA meeting minutes that almost all Pensioners had been issued with revised PPOs. The main reason for non-implementation or slow implementation is because of the existing staff shortage in accounting offices. This may adversely affect the implementation of the recent 12th May, 2017 orders also. Therefore this National Executive resolves to urge upon the Government to cause to order drawing of the services of qualified retired officials to function as ‘implementation cells’ to speed up the work under the supervision of serving Accounts Officers. This Executive also urges that this Refixation work under Option Number 3 shall be completed to all Pre-2016 Pensioners before 30.09.2017.

The National Executive also notes with concern that several issues like the revamping of additional pension; release of commuted portion of pension after 10 years have neither been considered by the 7th CPC nor by the Government. This Executive resolves to urge upon the Government to come forward to refix the quantum of additional pension in a more rationalistic manner. This Executive also urges the Government to come forward to pass the order in consonance with the order of Bengaluru CAT that the additional pension is payable on attaining the age of 80, 85, 90, 95, 100 instead of on completing the above ages. This Executive also urges the Government that persisting with the present time limit of 15 long years for returning the commuted portion of pension is fully unjustified and it requires to be revisited to reduce the time to 10 years.

The demand for exempting the pension from income tax is not at all receiving the attention of Government despite the fact this demand has been vociferously raised by the Pensioners Organizations for long. It is highly unjustified to tax the pension of the government servants who had toiled for the nation throughout his working life. The Refixation of ceiling for income-tax now and then was only temporary solution to the problem. It is observed that recently that trend also has stopped and we could not find any change of ceiling for income-tax. This National Executive of NCCPA urges the Government to come forward to accept the demand for payment of pension net taxes.

The National Secretariat is hereby authorised by this National Executive to fix up appropriate Programme of action on all the above issues.

RESOLUTION ON BUILDING THE ORGANISATION OF NCCPA

The National executive of NCCPA is of the firm opinion that the growth of the united platform of pensioners’ movement alone is the guarantee to face the onslaught of the Government on pension and social security. NCCPA is the only class conscious apex organization for unifying all CG Pensioners under one roof and effectively project the issues of CG Pensioners for appropriate settlement. The need to strengthen the NCCPA is therefore paramount.

Both strengthening NCCPA at the CHQ level and strengthening it at State level are important though both are complimenting each other. The strengthening at CHQ level can be concentrated by approaching the existing pensioners’ organizations for affiliating with the NCCPA. The strengthening of the existing affiliates of NCCPA also can contribute to the strengthening of NCCPA CHQ. As far as the States are concerned, it is our responsibility to found State COC of NCCPA with the state organizations of our affiliates (both CGPA and Departmental wise Affiliates). Various state level functioning CGPA organizations also can be approached for joining in the State COC of NCCPA. We are witnessing that for lack of a strong platform of CG Pensioners many issues of Pensioners are unable to be effectively projected before the Government. The solution of pensioners’ issues is left to the mercy of the Government and Authorities through SCOVA and by approaching the doors of courts that takes a longer time. Even after favourable judicial pronouncements the Government is in the habit of denying the benefit to all similarly placed candidates, again against the Supreme Court Judgment. A stronger voice of united pensioners alone can guarantee earlier solutions to many vexed issues.

There are also issues like the NPS, Attack on Pensioners and the danger of bringing all existing employees and pensioners also under the NPS in future with the help of PFRDA Act that gives the Government the power to do so at its will.

This National Executive therefore calls upon all its Affiliates (both CGPA and Departmental wise Associations) to take all the initiative for founding State COC of NCCPA as a measure of strengthening the united movement of CG pensioners on one hand and to work for broader unity of all Pensioners like the Central, State and PSU Pensioners Associations on the other.

RESOLUTION ON NATONAL PENSION SCHEME

This National Executive meeting held of 19.08.2017 at Nagpur notes with utter dismay and expresses its grave concern on the stand taken by the Government of India on the National Pension Scheme introduce from 01.01.2004. A demand was placed before the 7th CPC to scrap that contributory pension scheme and to bring all the CG Employees and others in defined and assured pension scheme. The 7th CPC refrained itself on the plea that the issue is not available in their term of reference. The Government formed a Committee with a view to strengthen the NPS.

This meeting observes with hope that Confederation of CG Employees & Workers and the All India State Government Employees Federation had decided some phased programme of action to fight back the situation.

This National Executive Committee meeting of NCCPA calls upon all its affiliates to take all possible steps to join the programmes on this issue and to generate public opinion by staging dharna, rallies, street corner meetings etc in the coming days.

RESOLUTION ON IMPLEMENATION OF GDS COMMITTEE REPORT

The National Executive Committee meeting of NCCPA held at Nagpur on 19.08.2017 notes with grave concern that the Government of India is following the tactics of delaying the implementation of GDS Committee Report by way of setting up Committees on various pleas. National Federation of Postal Employees is going to stage one day strike on 23.08.2017 demanding implementation of GDS Committee recommendations. This National Executive Committee meeting of NCCPA is whole heartedly supporting the proposed strike and calls upon all the affiliates to stand by the striking employees on the day of strike by staging solidarity type of programme on 23.08.2017.

ON IMPLEMENTING INTERNATIONAL PENSIONERS DAY ON 1st OCTOBER

The WFTU Trade Union International (Pensiones & Retired) has issued a call to observe the 1st October 2017 as the international day of fight for pensioners’ Rights. It is the regular practice of WFTU to observe October 1st every year on some important social causes and the selection of this year October 1st as the International Day of fight for Pensioners’ rights by the WFTU TUI (P&R) clearly marks the danger to which the pensioners of all the countries are exposed under liberalization. This National Executive meeting of NCCPA resolves to call upon all our affiliates to observe the 1st October 2017 as International day of fight for Pensioners’ Rights.

RESOLUTION ON SOLIDARITY WITH THE CENTRAL TRADE UNIONS

The National Executive Meeting of NCCPA held at Nagpur on 19.08.2017 welcomes the decision taken by the Central Trade Unions and Federations and Confederations and Associations of Central Government, State Government and Public sector like the BSNL, Banks, Insurance etc to organise a series of Programmes against the economic policies and the onslaught on the working Class. This National executive expresses its total solidarity with the Programme of Action of Indefinite strike to be launched by the Indian Working Class unitedly. This Executive also calls upon all our affiliates to mobilize maximum membership to Delhi to participate on 10th November in the three days dharna programme to be organised in Delhi from 9th to 11th of November, 2017 as a prelude to the impending indefinite strike. All our affiliates will concentrate full mobilization on the second day of the three days dharna in order to focus the total solidarity of pensioners as a community to the struggle of the working class.

       

Tuesday, August 22, 2017

Resolutions adopted in the National Executive of NCCPA

RESOLUTIONS OF NATIONAL EXECUTIVE OF NCCPA


The following are the Resolutions adopted at the National Executive Meeting of NCCPA held at Nagpur on 19.08.2017


RESOLUTION ADOPTED BY THE NATIONAL EXECUTIVE OF NCCPA HELD AT NAGPUR ON 19.08.2017 ON SOME BASIC ISSUES OF CG PENSIONERS AFTER THE IMPLEMENTEATION OF 7th CPC RECOMMENDATIONS:

The National Executive of the National Coordination Committee had discussed various aspects of the 7th CPC recommendations and the implementation of them by the Central Government. The attitude of the Government viz., rejecting some of the recommendations made like the Option Number 1 of pension fixation in favour of the pensioners on the grounds of non-feasibility but accepting many recommendations made by the CPC against the interests of the employees without any modifications like rejection of many allowances etc is deplorable. The attitude of the Government is not only retrograde but also time consuming. The tactics to form committees and delay the matters for several months in order to tire out the employees and pensioners is condemnable.

The Central Government has finally rejected Option Number 1 fixation of pension to Pre-2016 Pensioners after much delay. The recommendation of the Pay Commission for giving the benefit of number of increments earned by the Pensioner in his last stage of employment would be more beneficial to a section of Pensioners than the Option Number 3 offered and implemented by the GO dated 12.05.2017. There were scores of Government Employees who stagnated for years without any promotion before their superannuation. This type of stagnation was pronounced to those sections for whom the MACP system was not extended before 2008. The Option Number 1 would have been more beneficial to those Pre-2008 retirees. The Option Number 3 is no doubt an improvement to Option Number 2 of fixation by applying 2.57 fitment factor; but still the better benefit under Option Number 1 to those Pensioners has been out-rightly rejected by the Pension High Level Committee and the Government in the name of non-availability of records of increments for nearly 18% of Pensioners. The stand taken to reject Option Number 1 despite the arguments of the Staff Side and Pensioners Associations to convince the authorities that reconstruction of records is not impossible even for those 18% cases of pensioners is unjust. This National Executive is of the considered opinion that the rejection of Option Number 1 of pension fixation is authoritative and unjustified and based on wrong notions and arguments.

Secondly, the Option Number 3 implemented in lieu of Option Number 1 contains a basic flaw. The Option Number 3 is nothing but the recommendations of 5th CPC for pension fixation by notionally fixing the salary in the fitment table of successive pay commissions to the Pre-2016 Pensioners also and finally fixing 50% of the notionally arrived last pay drawn with reference to the Pay Matrix Table of the 7th CPC. In doing so the important aspect of 5th CPC to fix the salary in the new scale of pay implemented to the post or cadre in which the pensioner had retired or died is ignored by the Government. Instead the pension is calculated only on the basis of the replacement scales. Unless and otherwise the full aspect of 5th CPC recommendation is implemented, the Option Number 3 formula also is denying the full benefit to many pensioners in whose cases their cadre or post got any upgraded pay scale through successive pay commissions. As the Government had agreed to implement OROP to Veteran Pensioners, similar fitment benefit to Civilian Pensioners also by calculating notionally in the same pay scale granted to the serving employees would have rendered justice. This National Executive urges the Government to reconsider this aspect and issue necessary orders to set right the flaw.

In nut shell, this National Executive resolves to reiterate its considered opinion that the Pensioners should be given the choice to opt between the Options 1, Option 2, and Option 3 with the element of higher pay scales granted to the cadre or post.

This National Executive notes with concern that the Government is obstinate in refusing the fixation benefit of pension in the higher scales of pay implemented to the post or cadre despite several court cases went in favour of the Pre-2006 Pensioners. The Pre-2006 Pensioners were denied the benefit of higher scales of pay given to the serving employees from 1.1.2006 and on approaching the court of law many pensioners got the benefit implemented w.e.f. 1.1.2006. The Executive notes that based on this fact the Department of Pension & Pensioners welfare had recommended to Finance Ministry for extending the benefit to all similarly placed Pre-2006 Pensioners. Unfortunately the Department of Expenditure had showed adamancy and refused to grant the benefit even today. It is also unfortunate that when this issue was taken to the PMO for redressal, the PMO had also taken an unjustified position that since the Finance Ministry had taken a position it cannot be reversed. This Executive notes that PMO is the final authority for all issues and the opinion of Department of Expenditure cannot be supreme against the directions of several courts of the land. This National Executive resolves to urge upon the Government to come down from the adamant position and extend the benefit of fixation of pension to all Pre-2006 Pensioners based on the upgraded pay scale if any was implemented to the post or cadre in which the Pre-2006 Pensioner had retired or died.

This National Executive of NCCPA notes with satisfaction that at last the P&T Pensioners also are allowed to enter the CGHS system without any discrimination through the GO dated 19.07.2017. However, we note that since this is a very belated step taken after two decades of discrimination that prevented many P&T Pensioners retired between 1998 and 2017 from joining the CGHS on payment of subscriptions at the prevailing rate at the time of their retirement. The present order ending the discrimination of the P&T Pensioners demands them to pay at the post-7th CPC rate of subscriptions. We all know that the post-7th CPC rates are fixed based on the new higher pay scales after 7th CPC. Fixing the same rate of subscription to all Pre-2016 pensioners irrespective of the year of their retirement is unjustified and exorbitant. This National Executive of NCCPA resolves to urge upon the Government for necessary reconsideration to order to fix the rate of subscription commensurate to their year of retirement.

At the same time this National Executive notes that the Health Ministry’s objection to P&T Pensioners alone was withdrawn to facilitate inclusion of willing P&T Pensioners into CGHS while some other smaller departments are still out of the ambit of CGHS. This discrimination shall go. There shall be no discrimination for any Pensioner of any department in the matter of joining CGHS on the untenable plea that a separate Dispensary System is in existence for that department. In addition the CGHS Directorate General has issued a  recent order on 21st July declaring the CG Employees and CG Pensioners in Union Territories are not entitled to join CGHS and those who were erroneously admitted also have to be sent out. This order is most unjustified and while correcting an injustice the Government is trying to introduce another injustice to the employees and pensioners of Union Territories. This Executive urges for immediate withdrawal of 21st July orders also.

There are many other health related recommendations of the 7th CPC that requires immediate decision by the Government. The recommendations (1) to merge the existing Postal Dispensaries with CGHS; (2) to issue Medi-insurance Cards to employees and pensioners to ensure cashless treatment in authorized private hospitals; (3) to merge various departmental vise health systems to form one broad medical system for the Government Employees and Pensioners; and (4) all pensioners also to be made eligible to medical treatment on par with the serving employees under CS MA Rules 1944, require positive approval by the Government. The Pensioners are the senior citizens whose medical requirements are very important at their old age. The present flaws in the existing medical systems should be removed by accepting the recommendations of the Pay Commission to end any discrimination between the serving employees and the Pensioners.

The National Executive of NCCPA notes that the Government has come forward to double the Fixed Medical Allowance from 500/- to 1000/- per month. This increase is a welcome step no doubt. But one cannot deny the fact that when a section of the Government Employees like the PF Department were granted 2000/- per month as FMA even under 6th CPC time, fixing the FMA after 7th CPC to only 1000/- is not meeting the requirements of today’s medical cost. This National Executive therefore resolves to urge upon the Government to reconsider and enhance the FMA to not less than 2000/- per month.

This National Executive wishes to bring to the notice of the Authorities that several orders are not implemented in a time-bound manner by all departments so that the aging pensioners can get the benefits earlier. The GO on extending full pension to Pre-2006 Pensioners who had retired without putting 33 years of qualifying service has not been implemented to all eligible such Pensioners in many States. The implementation of GO on fixation of pension on the basis of ‘pay in the pay band’ instead of ‘minimum of pay band’ w.e.f. 1.1.2006 for all Pre-2006 Pensioners took a lot of time. The issue of revised PPOs to all Pre-2006 Pensioners is still not completed in many States despite the position reflecting in the SCOVA meeting minutes that almost all Pensioners had been issued with revised PPOs. The main reason for non-implementation or slow implementation is because of the existing staff shortage in accounting offices. This may adversely affect the implementation of the recent 12th May, 2017 orders also. Therefore this National Executive resolves to urge upon the Government to cause to order drawing of the services of qualified retired officials to function as ‘implementation cells’ to speed up the work under the supervision of serving Accounts Officers. This Executive also urges that this Refixation work under Option Number 3 shall be completed to all Pre-2016 Pensioners before 30.09.2017.

The National Executive also notes with concern that several issues like the revamping of additional pension; release of commuted portion of pension after 10 years have neither been considered by the 7th CPC nor by the Government. This Executive resolves to urge upon the Government to come forward to refix the quantum of additional pension in a more rationalistic manner. This Executive also urges the Government to come forward to pass the order in consonance with the order of Bengaluru CAT that the additional pension is payable on attaining the age of 80, 85, 90, 95, 100 instead of on completing the above ages. This Executive also urges the Government that persisting with the present time limit of 15 long years for returning the commuted portion of pension is fully unjustified and it requires to be revisited to reduce the time to 10 years.

The demand for exempting the pension from income tax is not at all receiving the attention of Government despite the fact this demand has been vociferously raised by the Pensioners Organizations for long. It is highly unjustified to tax the pension of the government servants who had toiled for the nation throughout his working life. The Refixation of ceiling for income-tax now and then was only temporary solution to the problem. It is observed that recently that trend also has stopped and we could not find any change of ceiling for income-tax. This National Executive of NCCPA urges the Government to come forward to accept the demand for payment of pension net taxes.

The National Secretariat is hereby authorised by this National Executive to fix up appropriate Programme of action on all the above issues.

RESOLUTION ON BUILDING THE ORGANISATION OF NCCPA

The National executive of NCCPA is of the firm opinion that the growth of the united platform of pensioners’ movement alone is the guarantee to face the onslaught of the Government on pension and social security. NCCPA is the only class conscious apex organization for unifying all CG Pensioners under one roof and effectively project the issues of CG Pensioners for appropriate settlement. The need to strengthen the NCCPA is therefore paramount. 

Both strengthening NCCPA at the CHQ level and strengthening it at State level are important though both are complimenting each other. The strengthening at CHQ level can be concentrated by approaching the existing pensioners’ organizations for affiliating with the NCCPA. The strengthening of the existing affiliates of NCCPA also can contribute to the strengthening of NCCPA CHQ. As far as the States are concerned, it is our responsibility to found State COC of NCCPA with the state organizations of our affiliates (both CGPA and Departmental wise Affiliates). Various state level functioning CGPA organizations also can be approached for joining in the State COC of NCCPA. We are witnessing that for lack of a strong platform of CG Pensioners many issues of Pensioners are unable to be effectively projected before the Government. The solution of pensioners’ issues is left to the mercy of the Government and Authorities through SCOVA and by approaching the doors of courts that takes a longer time. Even after favourable judicial pronouncements the Government is in the habit of denying the benefit to all similarly placed candidates, again against the Supreme Court Judgment. A stronger voice of united pensioners alone can guarantee earlier solutions to many vexed issues.

There are also issues like the NPS, Attack on Pensioners and the danger of bringing all existing employees and pensioners also under the NPS in future with the help of PFRDA Act that gives the Government the power to do so at its will.

This National Executive therefore calls upon all its Affiliates (both CGPA and Departmental wise Associations) to take all the initiative for founding State COC of NCCPA as a measure of strengthening the united movement of CG pensioners on one hand and to work for broader unity of all Pensioners like the Central, State and PSU Pensioners Associations on the other.

RESOLUTION ON NATONAL PENSION SCHEME

This National Executive meeting held of 19.08.2017 at Nagpur notes with utter dismay and expresses its grave concern on the stand taken by the Government of India on the National Pension Scheme introduce from 01.01.2004. A demand was placed before the 7th CPC to scrap that contributory pension scheme and to bring all the CG Employees and others in defined and assured pension scheme. The 7th CPC refrained itself on the plea that the issue is not available in their term of reference. The Government formed a Committee with a view to strengthen the NPS.

This meeting observes with hope that Confederation of CG Employees & Workers and the All India State Government Employees Federation had decided some phased programme of action to fight back the situation.

This National Executive Committee meeting of NCCPA calls upon all its affiliates to take all possible steps to join the programmes on this issue and to generate public opinion by staging dharna, rallies, street corner meetings etc in the coming days.

RESOLUTION ON IMPLEMENATION OF GDS COMMITTEE REPORT

The National Executive Committee meeting of NCCPA held at Nagpur on 19.08.2017 notes with grave concern that the Government of India is following the tactics of delaying the implementation of GDS Committee Report by way of setting up Committees on various pleas. National Federation of Postal Employees is going to stage one day strike on 23.08.2017 demanding implementation of GDS Committee recommendations. This National Executive Committee meeting of NCCPA is whole heartedly supporting the proposed strike and calls upon all the affiliates to stand by the striking employees on the day of strike by staging solidarity type of programme on 23.08.2017.

ON IMPLEMENTING INTERNATIONAL PENSIONERS DAY ON 1st OCTOBER

The WFTU Trade Union International (Pensiones & Retired) has issued a call to observe the 1st October 2017 as the international day of fight for pensioners’ Rights. It is the regular practice of WFTU to observe October 1st every year on some important social causes and the selection of this year October 1st as the International Day of fight for Pensioners’ rights by the WFTU TUI (P&R) clearly marks the danger to which the pensioners of all the countries are exposed under liberalization. This National Executive meeting of NCCPA resolves to call upon all our affiliates to observe the 1st October 2017 as International day of fight for Pensioners’ Rights.

RESOLUTION ON SOLIDARITY WITH THE CENTRAL TRADE UNIONS


The National Executive Meeting of NCCPA held at Nagpur on 19.08.2017 welcomes the decision taken by the Central Trade Unions and Federations and Confederations and Associations of Central Government, State Government and Public sector like the BSNL, Banks, Insurance etc to organise a series of Programmes against the economic policies and the onslaught on the working Class. This National executive expresses its total solidarity with the Programme of Action of Indefinite strike to be launched by the Indian Working Class unitedly. This Executive also calls upon all our affiliates to mobilize maximum membership to Delhi to participate on 10th November in the three days dharna programme to be organised in Delhi from 9th to 11th of November, 2017 as a prelude to the impending indefinite strike. All our affiliates will concentrate full mobilization on the second day of the three days dharna in order to focus the total solidarity of pensioners as a community to the struggle of the working class.