Expected Dearness Allowance for July 2014 : AICPIN for the Month of February 2014.

No. 5/1/2014-CPI

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

MINISTRY OF LABOUR & EMPLOYMENT

LABOUR BUREAU

‘CLEREMONT’, SHIMLA-171004

DATED: the 31st March, 2014

Press Release

Consumer Price Index for Industrial Workers (CPI-IW) – February, 2014

The All-India CPI-IW for February, 2014 increased by 1 point and pegged at 238 (two hundred and thirty eight). On 1-month percentage change, it increased by 0.42 per cent between January, 2014 and February, 2014 when compared with the rise of 0.90 per cent between the same two months a year ago.

The largest upward pressure to the change in current index came from Miscellaneous group contributing 0.34 percentage points to the total change. At item level, Rice, Wheat, Moong Dal, Fish Fresh, Goat Meat, Milk (Cow & Buffalo), Pure Ghee, Medicine, Barber Charges, Tailoring Charges, etc. are responsible for the increase in index. However, this increase was restricted to some extent by Arhar Dal, Groundnut Oil, Onion, Vegetable & Fruit items, Sugar, etc. putting downward pressure on the index.

The year-on-year inflation measured by monthly CPI-IW stood at 6.73 per cent for February, 2014 as compared to 7.24 per cent for the previous month and 12.06 per cent during the corresponding month of the previous year. Similarly, the Food inflation stood at 7.56 per cent against 8.94 per cent of the previous month and 14.98 per cent during the corresponding month of the previous year.

At centre level, Quilon recorded the highest increase of 9 points followed by Tiruchirapally & Conoor (6 points each) and Lucknow (5 points). Among others, 4 points rise was registered in 3 centres, 3 points in 2 centres, 2 points in 8 centres and 1 point in 10 centres. On the contrary, Chhindwara reported a decline of 5 points followed by Rourkela & Ajmer (4 points each), 3 points decline was observed in 6 centres, 2 points in 10 centres and 1 point in 12 centres. Rest of the 20' centres’ indices remained stationary.

The indices of 36 centres are above All-India Index and other 42 centres’ indices are below national average.

The next index of CPI-IW for the month of March, 2014 will be released on Wednesday, 30 April, 2014. The same will also be available on the office website www.labourbureau,gov. in.

Sd/-

(S.S.NEGI)

DIRECTOR

Source:http://labourbureau.nic.in/Press_IW_FEB2014.pdf

Minutes of the 1st meeting of the 7th Pay Commission Committee (PCC) held on 26.02.2014

Minutes of the 1st meeting of the Pay Commission Committee (PCC) held in the Conference Room with the representatives of the Federations and Associations at 11.00 hours on 26.02.2014.

List of those present in the meeting is annexed.

1. At the outset, Smt. Arti C.Srivastava Member – Secretary extended a warm welcome to all the invites. Member-Secretary further informed that a Pay Commission Cell (PCC) had been constituted under the chairmanship of Shri.Aidtya Mishra Sr.DDG/CP at OFB Hqrs to initiate deliberations and invite suggestions from all the stakeholders. Three preliminary meetings of the PCC have already been held. The meeting with the representatives of the Federations and Associations has been convened, as a part of the series of the meetings proposed to be held with all stakeholders to formulate views on various issues. A portal has also been launched on the OFB COMMENT to seek views of the officers, staff and employees on matters concerning 7th Pay commission and the General Mangers/Head of the Units have also been required vide Letter dated 14.02.2014 from the Chairman, PCC to have wide-ranging consultations in this regard and communicate their views and recommendations in the matter.

2. The Chairman of PCC, Terms of Reference ToR of the 7th Pay Commission are yet to be framed. However, at this stage, it is desirable if we pro-actively initiate all preparatory actions and crystallize our views and recommendations so that the same could be collated and compiled in the form of a comprehensive presentation before the pay commission at the appropriate time. Particularly, views are being sought on the methodology to the followed by the PCC, issues to be projected before the 7th Pay Commission and the areas/material/data to justify special considerations to the OF organisation vis-a-vis other organisations/cadres. In this connection, Chairman, PCC highlighted that issue relating to anomalies arising for the organisation, uniqueness about OFB, best practices in manufacturing sector, structural and policy limitations of the current system and the emerging ethos in line with other organisation could be deliberated. Therefore, Chairman, PCC invited representatives of the Federations and Associations to share their views in the matter.

3. From the views offered by the representatives of the Federations/Associations, it emerged that detailed proposals can be prepared only after the Terms of Reference (ToR) of the 7th CPC are finalised. The representatives of each Federation/Association however briefly raised the issues which would merit detailed consideration/deliberations at a later stage. Also based on the experience of the previous pay commission, it was proposed that :

1. it should be impressed upon the 7th CPC that the Ordnance Factories Organisation as an Industry has a different role to play and that its working is different from other Central Government Deptts. with employees working under hazardous conditions and hard stations.

2. All Cadre review proposals to be finalised immediately.

3. Anomalies arising out of the 6th Pay commission be settled.

4. Categories found to be not adequately taken care of in the 6th Pay commission be given thrust.

5. Recast skills, functions, roles of employees and pay structure to bring parity among various categories. 

6. Outstanding of activities to be discouraged.

7. OFB to take lead in interacting with 7th CPC as done on earlier occasions.

4. After detailed discussions, it emerged that pending finalisation of the Terms of Reference of the 7th pay commission by the Government, certain issues summarised below, were required to be addressed and the views concretised to establish a platform for formulating clear and effective recommendations on various issues :

i. Early finalisation of all cadre review proposals – Action by DDG of the respective Cadre Controlling Authority Division

ii. Settlement of anomalies arising out 6th Pay commission – DDG/Admin, DDG/G&DDG/IR (for ii, iii and iv and v)

iii. Examine issues which have resulted in litigations

iv. Policy issues which require immediate consideration

v. Strengthening of the PPC Cell at OFB Hqrs.

5. The meeting ended with thanks to the Chair.

Sd/- 

(Smt. Arti C.Srivastava) 

Member Secretary

Source:http://indwf.blogspot.in/

Armed Forces Tribunal grants ex-serviceman 50% disability pension

Armed Forces Tribunal grants ex-serviceman 50% disability pension

CHENNAI: The opinion of medical board should be given primary credence and the authority of Principal Controller of Defence Accounts (PCDA) (Pensions) for awarding disability pension is very limited, said the Chennai bench of the Armed Forces Tribunal, granting an ex-serviceman 50% disability pension around three decades after he was discharged from service on medical grounds. 

In 1983, M Natarajan joined the Madras Engineer Group as a sepoy. While undergoing basic training at the regimental centre, he met with an accident and his right little finger was crushed. 

In 1985, he was invalided from service. The medical board said the injury was permanent. It granted him 20% disability pension for two years. 

In 1987, the review medical board said his condition was "static and likely to be permanent" and recommended to continue the pension. However, the Army did not pay him pension. After an appeal, he was reassessed by a medical board in 1994 which said there was no change in Natrajan's condition since the last review. 

However, while assessing his disability, the board fixed his disability as below 20% for 10 years. The Principal Controller of Defence Accounts (PCDA) (P), Allahabad rejected his plea. He then moved AFT in 2010. 

In its counter, the Army said during hospitalization, he was "tenaciously adamant for not doing physiotherapy exercises" which aggravated his injury leading to his discharge. Further, the PCDA (P), being the competent medical authority, said his disability was less than 20%. As such, he was not provided pension. 

His subsequent appeals too were dismissed. It said his case was "barred by limitation" as he had approached the tribunal with an "insurmountable delay" (of 5,679 days). 

Natarajan said the delay was "neither wilful nor wanton" and he could not file the application because of "want of money." If the delay was not condoned, he would continue to suffer, he said. 

The bench comprising judicial member V Periya Karuppiah and administrative member K Surendra Nath said the injury might have been exacerbated because Natarajan was unable to understand the physiotherapy instruction as he was not conversant with either Hindi or English. It also noted despite the recommendation of the medical board, the Principal Controller of Defence Accounts (Pensions) reduced the disability as below 20% in 1987. "No reasons were adduced for lowering the disability," it said. Finding contradictions in the second medical board's opinion, the bench said, "We are inclined to question the opinion of the medical board and feel it erred on both counts." 

It then allowed Natarajan disability pension for life which, according to the provisions of the central government, was rounded from 20%to 50%. However, the arrears had to be paid only for three years before he approached the tribunal. 

Source: www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com