Central Government should pay the dearness allowance of state government employees as well – Mamata Banerjee

Central Government should pay the dearness allowance of state government employees as well – Mamata Banerjee

W.B Government Employees would be able to avail themselves of cashless hospitalisation facility of up to Rs 1 lakh

Centre should come forward and pay the dearness allowance of state government employees as well, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee demanded today.

“Whenever the Centre announces DA, state government employees should be given the same on a par (with central government employees).

“They (Centre) give it (to central government employees) before elections. Will others (state government employees) suck their thumbs?” Banerjee asked.

“We want the Centre to pay the DA for (state government) employees,” Banerjee said. She added that paying DA cost Rs 6,900 crore to the state exchequer.

“How will we be able to afford it when the central government is taking all the money from us?” she asked.

Speaking at a convention of state government employees organised under the banner of the Paschimbanga Sarkari Karmachari Federation, Banerjee said the matter had also been taken up with the Finance Commission.

She reiterated her charge that the Union government had stopped funds for various central schemes like Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana and the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme.

“There should be a tax for those who lie,” she said.

She also added that restructuring should be done for the interest on loans taken from the Centre by the previous Left Front government.

“Why should we pay for the faults of CPI(M)?” she asked. Criticising the Left-affiliated coordination committee of state government employees, Banerjee said the body should now be dismantled as it did no work.

“They have no work besides criticising others. They are shameless. They did no work for the last 34 years and now, too, are not working,” she said while adding that such employees were holding up various files.

She, meanwhile, announced that housing loans would be restarted for the welfare of employees. Rs 100 crore has been earmarked for the same under a scheme entitled ‘Akanksha’.

A health scheme has also been extended for another two years under which government employees would be able to avail themselves of cashless hospitalisation facility of up to Rs 1 lakh.

“We have added new hospitals to the list and also (expanded the disease cover),” Banerjee said.

As to contractual employees, she said none would lose jobs but, due

Source :http://www.financialexpress.com/news/centre-should-pay-da-of-state-govt-employees-as-well-mamata-banerjee/1228462

Inclusion of DA Merger and Interim Relief in 7th CPC ToR - Cabinet likely to approve 7th CPC ToR

Inclusion of DA Merger and Interim Relief in 7th CPC Terms of Reference - Union Cabinet likely to approve the 7th CPC Terms of Refernce in the next meeting, media sources said.

"To woo central government employees ahead of the general elections, the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government is expected to ask the Seventh Pay Commission to consider merging 50 per cent dearness allowance (DA) with basic pay of employees. 

This will form part of the terms of reference (ToR) for the Commission, to be considered by the Cabinet this week.

According to officials, the Pay Commission’s ToR categorically states a proposal in this regard should be actively considered.

The increases will be even more appealing as the Centre is expected to increase the DA by 10 per cent to 100 per cent by the end of February. Usually, the DA is merged with basic pay when the former goes beyond 50 per cent. It is 90 per cent now, but has not been merged so far.

Assuming an employee gets Rs 100 as basic pay and Rs 100 as DA at present, the basic will rise to Rs 150, even if 50 per cent allowance is merged. . A higher basic pay will also impact the house rent allowance (HRA) of employees as it is calculated at 30 per cent of the basic pay for central government employees.

DA is linked to the consumer price index (industrial workers). The government uses CPI-IW data of the past 12 months to arrive at a quantum for calculating any DA hike. The allowance will be announced from January. As such, the retail inflation for industrial workers between January 1 to December 31, 2013 would be used to take a final call on the matter. The average inflation during this period had stood at 10.66 per cent.

Earlier this month, the government had constituted the Pay Commission under the chairmanship of former Supreme Court Judge Ashok Kumar Mathur.

The other members of the panel are Petroleum Secretary Vivek Rae (full-time member), National Institute of Public Finance and Policy Director Rathin Roy (part-time member) and Officer on Special Duty in the Expenditure Department Meena Agarwal (Secretary).

The Commission’s recommendations would be implemented from January 1, 2016, officials said. However, it may recommend interim relief as well, they added.

The Commission’s recommendations will directly benefit almost five million employees and three million pensioners. Employees of state governments, which will adopt the recommendations of the 7th Pay Commission will also benefit.

Some officials said the Cabinet is also expected to consider another proposal to modify the Prime Minister’s 15-point programme for minorities, which will enable allocation of at least 15 per cent of the total funds for welfare of minorities in major programmes such as National Rural Health Mission, Rashtriya Mahila Shiksha Abhiyan, Employment and Skill Development".

Source:http://www.business-standard.com/article/economy-policy/centre-plans-big-bonanza-for-central-govt-employees-114021901256_1.html

Grant of Transport Allowance to Central Government Employees – Extension of benefit of Transport Allowance at double the Normal Rates to Deaf and Dumb Employees – Implementation of the Order of the Apex Court – regarding.

No.21(2)12011-E.II(B) 

Government of India 

Ministry of Finance 

Department of Expenditure

North Block, New Delhi, 

Dated: 19th February, 2014

OFFICE MEMORANDUM

Subject- Grant of Transport Allowance to Central Government Employees – Extension of benefit of Transport Allowance at double the Normal Rates to Deaf and Dumb Employees – Implementation of the Order of the Apex Court – regarding.

The undersigned is directed to refer to Order dated 12th December, 2013 of the Hon’ble Supreme Court of India in Writ Petition (Civil) No. 107/2011 of Deaf Employees Welfare Association & Another v/s Union of India & Others, and to say that in compliance of the said judgement of the Apex Court, it has been decided to extend the benefit of Transport Allowance, as admissible to blinds and orthopaedically handicapped employees in terms of para 2 (i) of Ministry of Finance, Department of Expenditure O.M. No.21(2)/2008-E.II(B) dated 29th August, 2008, to deaf and dumb employees of the Central Government also, with immediate effect, subject to the condition that the recommendation of the Head of ENT Department of a Government Civil Hospital is received by the Head of Department and fulfilment of other conditions mentioned in Ministry of Finance, Department of Expenditure O.M.No, 19029/1/78-E IV(B) dated 31st August, 1978 read with O.M. dated 29.08.2008.

2. In so far as the persons serving in the Indian Audit and Accounts Department are concerned, this Order issues in consultation with the Comptroller and Auditor General of India.

Sd/-

(Subhash Chand)

Deputy Secretary to the Government of India

Source:http://finmin.nic.in/the_ministry/dept_expenditure/notification/ta_ota/TA_DeafDumb19022014.pdf