Admissibility of House Rent Allowance during Study Leave

Admissibility of House Rent Allowance during Study Leave

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS
(RAILWAY BOARD)

New Delhi, dated 05.12.2017

No.E(P&A)II-2017/HRA-4

The General Manager(P),
Eastern Railway,
Kolkata

Sub.: Admissibility of House Rent Allowance during Study Leave.
Ref:- Eastern Railway's letter No.E.77/o/Vol.VIII, dated 06.03.2011.

With reference to Eastern Railway's letter under reference, it is stated that the matter has seen considered in Board’s office and it has been observed that on the identical issue a clarification already
stands issued to Southern Railway vide Board’s letter No.E(P&A)II-2002/HRA-2 dt. 19.02.2002 (copy enclosed) clarifying that the period of 120 days mentioned in Board’s letter no.E(P&A)II-82/HRA-2 dated 04.02.1982 had been revised to 180 days in terms of the amendment carried out to Rule 1707 of IREC-II vide Board’s letter no.E(P&A)/89/HRA-48 dt. 07.08.1992.

It was further stated the letter dt. 19.02.2002 that the employees proceeding on study leave are entitled to House Rent Allowance and Compensatory (City) Allowance for first 180 days of the study leave and continuation of these allowances beyond 180 days is subject to the production of certificates prescribed in Para 1707(iii) of Indian Railway Establishment Code, Volume-II, 1987 Edition.

It may however, be noted that CCA has already been abolished vide Board's letter no. E(P&A)II-2008/HRA-10 dt. 12.09.2008 (RBE No.110/2008).

2. Thus, necessary action on the above lines may be ensured.

DA: As above.

sd/-
(Salim Md. Ahmed)
Deputy Director/E(P&A)II,
Railway Board

Source: NFIR

Exemption of Railways from National Pension System – NFIR

Exemption of Railways from National Pension System – NFIR

Exemption of Railways from National Pension system (NPS) as recommended by the Railway Ministers – kind intervention and approval requested

NFIR
National Federation of Indian Railwaymen

No.IV/NPS/PFRDA BILL/Part I

Dated: 26.6.2016

Shri Narendra Modiji,
Hon’ble Prime Minister of India,
South Block,
Raisina Hills,
New Delhi-110011

Sub: Exemption of Railways from National Pension System (NPS) as recommended by the Railway Ministers – kind intervention and approval requested.

The National Federation of Indian Railwaymen (NFIR) brings to your kind notice to the standing demand raised by the Federations seeking exemption of National Pension System (NPS) and restoration of Defined Benefit Pension Scheme [Liberalized Pension Scheme i.e. Railway Services (Pension) Rules 1993].

In this connection, the NFIR brings to your kind notice that the nature of duties performed by the Railway employees are akin to those in the armed forces. The NFIR also invites your kind attention that since British Rule, the Railways was conceived and operated as un auxiliary wing of the Army. It is an admitted fact that by virtue of its complex nature, Railways required a high level of discipline and efficiency to be able to perform its role as the prime transport mode. Railways is an operational organization required to run the services round the clock throughout the year. The Railway employees are expected to work in inhospitable conditions, braving extreme weather conditions under open sky, unfriendly law and order scenario and inherent risks associated with the Railways operations itself.

It needs to be appreciated that as in the armed forces, large number of Rail Workforce stays away from their families for long period while performing duties in remote and jungle areas where minimum required facilities are lacking. The nature of duties of Railway employees is critical and complex & hazards involved are also very high. Though efforts are made for enhancing safety measures, a large number of Railway employees lose their lives or meet with serious injuries in the course of performance of their duties each year. This was also admitted by Dr. Anil Kakodkar, Chairman, High Level Safety Review Committee in his report presented to the Railway Ministry.

Conceding the plea of NFIR, the former Railway Minister Mallikarjun Kharge and also the present Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu have sent proposal to the Finance Minister in March, 2014 and November 2015 respectively urging upon the Government to exempt Railway employees from the purview of National Pension System OPS). In spite of proposals of the Railway Ministers, the Government has not yet accorded approval for exempting Railways from National Pension System (NPS). There is alround dissatisfaction and resentment among the Railway employees against.New Pension System.

The Railway employees are also a dissatisfied lot as the 7’r’ CPC has not done justice in respect of their pay structure etc. Added to this, non-abolition of National Pension System [NPS) has generated anger among all sections of Railway employees which compelled us to serve Strike Notice on 09’n June 2016.

NFIR, therefore, requests your kind intervention in the matter to see that the proposals of the Railway Minister seeking exemption of Railways from National Pension System (NPS), is approved by the Government without further loss of time.

With regards,

Yours sincerely,
(Dr.Raghavaiah)
General Secretary

Source: NFIR

Payment of Risk Allowance to the staff in the TRD Wing of Electrical Department on Indian Railways

Payment of Risk Allowance to the staff in the TRD Wing of Electrical Department on Indian Railways

NFIR
National Federation of Indian Railwaymen
3, CHELMSFORD ROAD, NEW DELHI – 110 055

Affiliated to :
Indian National Trade Union Congress (INTUC)
International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF)

Dated: 09/11/2015

No. I/5(g)/Part V
The Secretary (E),
Railway Board,
New Delhi

Dear Sir,

Sub: Payment of Risk Allowance to the staff in the TRD Wing of Electrical Department on Indian Railways-Reg.
Ref: Railway Board’s letter No. E(P&A) I-2008 SP-I/AD-3 dated 02/05/2013.

*********

The NFIR desires to bring to the notice of Railway Board that the staff working in TRD wing of Electrical Department are denied Risk Allowance even though these staff face continuous risk while perfoniing duties.
The TRD staff are engaged in the jobs listed vide annexure to Railway Board’s letter No. E(P&A)I-2008/SP-I/AD dated 02/05 /2013.

2. ln this connection, Federation desires to bring to the notice of the Railway Board following facts for appreciation of NFIR’s point of view:-

• Though the TRD staff while working on the OHE, obtain Block and shut down the power carrying 2500 volt current duly earthing on both ends, but the power of same magnitude and intensity is available in the adjacent up/down line for the purpose of regular flow of rail traffic.
• The high intensity current on the adjacent line causes severe adverse impact on the health of TRD staff due to inherent infection. This gives rise to various diseases as infection is being caused in the human body.

The seriousness can be assumed from the fact that if the amount of current in the human body crosses 40 mili-ampere, it can cause even deaths.

3. The NFIR therefore contends that the health hazards faced by the TRD Staff of Electrical Department in their day-to-day working are continuous and they are required to be paid Risk Allowance.

NFIR, therefore, requests the Railway Board to consider the case of TRD staff in all grades and accord approval for payment of Risk Allowance.

Federation may be kept advised of the action taken in the matter.

Yours faithfully,
(Dr. M. Raghavaiah).

General Secretary

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B40Q65NF2_7UVVVUQXYzZjdjZ2s/view?pli=1

JCM Staff Side Meeting with 7th Pay Commission – Discussion about DA Merger and Interim Relief

Discussion about DA Merger and Interim Relief - JCM Staff Side Meeting with 7th Pay Commission

The JCM Staff Side delegation met the Chairman, Seventh Central Pay Commission, 25/02/2015 at 11:00 hrs. The detailed report as follows…

NFIR

National Federation of Indian Railwaymen

3, CHELMSFORD ROAD, NEW DELHI . 110055

No.IV/NFIR/7th CPC/Corres/Pt.V

Dated 25/02/2015

Sub: JCM Staff Side Meeting with the Chairman, 7th CPC.
 

The JCM Staff Side delegation met the Chairman, Seventh Central Pay Commission, 25/02/2015 at 11:00 hrs. The following issues were raised :-
 

i. Merger of DA with Pay and grant of Interim Relief :-

The JCM Staff Side insisted that the Pay Commission should consider Staff Side memorandum submitted in the month of June 2014 and recommend DA merger. The Chairman, 7th CPC replied that there is no communication from the Government of India to give interim report on DA merger demand. After discussion, the Chairman 7th CPC has decided to send D.O. letter to the Government today conveying the strong protest of Staff Side/JCM.

With regard to grant of Interim Relief, the Chairman heard the point of view of the Staff Side JCM that it is only “provisional payment in view of market situation and urged upon the Commission to send suo-moto recommendation to the Government.

ii. Allotment of time slots for explaining the case of Central Government Employees as well ‘ Departments like Railways, Postal, Defence (Civil side) etc.,

The Chairman suggested that small committees may be constituted by the Staff Side for meeting the Pay Commission for deliberations and enough time will be given. He also said that the Memorandums given by JCM, Federations/Unions/Associations have been gone into by the Pay Commission fully. He further said that VII CPC will meet the teams from each department and hear their proposals.
 

Responding to this, the JCM Staff Side has agreed to make out the proposal for the purpose of facilitating the Pay Commission to hear the views/submissions of the Federations/Unior/Associations. The deliberations may commence somewhere after 15th March, 2015. Staff Side JCM will prepare time schedule proposal and send to Pay Commission accordingly.
 

iii. Gramin Dak Sewaks – The case was explained. The Pay Commission was suggested that the copy of Supreme Court Judgment may be made available for examination.

On behalf of NFIR S/Shri M.Raghavaiah (JCM Staff Side/Leader), Guman Singh, R.P.Bhatnagar and B.C. Sharma have participated in the meeting.

sd/-

(Dr M.Raghavaiah)

General Secretary

Source: NFIR

Calculation of Direct Recruitment, LDCE Quota in Merged Grades for Ministerial Staff in Railways

Calculation of Direct Recruitment, LDCE Quota in Merged Grades for Ministerial Staff in Railways – Revised classification and mode of filling up of non-gazetted posts

Implementation of recommendations of 6th CPC – Merger of grades

NFIR
National Federation of Indian Railwaymen

No. 11/6/Pt. 6

Dated: 22/09/2014

The Secretary (E),
Railway Board,
New Delhi

Dear Sir,

Sub: Implementation of recommendations of 6th CPC – merger of grades – revised classification and mode of filling up of non-gazetted posts – scheme for filling up of vacancies after 31/12/2013.

Ref: (i) Railway Board’s letter No. E(NG)I-2008/PM1/15 dated 03/09/2009, extended upto 31/12/2014 vide Board’s letter dated 16/06/2014.

(ii) Railway Board’s letter No. E(NG)l-2008PM1/15 dated 07/08/2014.

(iii) GS/NFIR’s letter No.II/Pt. 5 dated 08/09/2014.

Federation desires to invite kind attention of the Railway Board to letter dated 03/09/2009, referred to above, wherein it was decided that promotion to all vacancies as existed on 31/08/2009 should be granted as indicated in the enclosure to the said letter. In para 3 of the said letter, it has further been mentioned that the scheme for filling up vacancies arising on or after 01/09/2009 will be issued in due course in consultation with the Federations. Currency of these instructions has been extended by the Railway Board from time to time, the latest extension covers vacancies upto 31/12/2014 vide Board’s letter dated 16/06/2014.

2. NFIR vide letter No.II/6/Pt. 5 dated 08/09/2014 has conveyed protest against arbitrary decision of Railway Board (Board’s letter dated 07/08/2014) to calculate DR, LDCE quota etc., in the merged grades based on Board’s letter dated 03/09/2009. The Federation has also highlighted the harm being done to staff pointing out the case of Technical Supervisors
belonging to JE, SSE.

3. Further to above NFIR wishes to state that the Federation has been receiving grievances from ministerial staff as well whose promotional avenues have also been effected adversely as can be seen from the following position:

PREVIOUS (Vth CPC)		REVISED (VIth CPC)
DESIGNATION	QUOTA	DESIGNATION/PB-GP	QUOTA	VARIATION	SHOULD BE
Head Clerk 5000-8000	100% Promotion	Office Supdt.PB-2 GP 4200	20% LDCE	+10%	10% LDCE
Office Supdt-II 5500 – 9000	20% LDCE 80% Promotion	Office Supdt.PB-2 GP 4200	80% Promotion	-10	90% Promotion
Office Supdt.16500-10500	100% Promotion	Chief O.S. PB-2 GP 4600	100% Promotion	-	100% Promotion
Chief O.S. 7450-11500	100% Promotion	Chief O.S. PB-2 GP 4600	100% Promotion	-	100% Promotion

It can be seen that 20% quota vacancies against LDCE quota in the category of OS/GP 4200 have wrongly been enhanced to 20% of total of V CPC pay scale posts which is improper.

The percentage needs to be brought down to 10%. NFIR, therefore, once again requests the Railway Board to review and withdraw the instructions issued vide Board’s letter dated 07/08/2014 and hold discussions with the Federation.

Yours faithully,
sd/-

(M.Raghawaiah)
General Secretary

Source: NFIR

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