Friday, February 28, 2014

Govt approves Rs 1,000 min monthly pension under EPS-95

New Delhi, Feb 28 (PTI) Government today approved the proposal to ensure Rs 1,000 minimum monthly pension under a scheme of retirement fund body EPFO that would immediately benefit 28 lakh pensioners.

The decision to provide the entitlement under Employees' Pension Scheme-95, run by the Employees' Provident Fund Organisation, was taken by the Union Cabinet in its meeting held here.

The move will immediately benefit about 28 lakh pensioners including five lakh widows. There are 44 lakh pensioners.

Source:PTI NEWS

Filed Under: EPFO, PENSION

Govt hikes DA by 10% for 80 lakh employees & pensioners

12:17 AM - by ADMIN No comments:

New Delhi, Feb 28 (PTI) Government today raised dearness allowance to 100 per cent, from 90 per cent, benefiting its 50 lakh employees and 30 lakh pensioners.

The decision to hike DA for its employees, and to provide dearness relief for pensioners, by 10 per cent to 100 per cent was taken by the Union Cabinet in its meeting held here.

Source:PTI news

Filed Under: CENTRAL DA, DA, DA JANUARY 2014, DEARNESS ALLOWANCE

CENTRAL GOVT APPROVED DA HIKE.NOW DA JANUARY 2014 IS 100%

12:13 AM - by ADMIN No comments:

Government hikes dearness allowance to 100%

Government hikes dearness allowance to 100% Zee Media Bureau

New Delhi: In a move that could benefit 50 lakh employees and 30 lakh pensioners, the Union Cabinet on Friday hiked dearness allowance to 100 percent from the existing 90 percent, a 10 percent increase.

The increase in DA comes ahead of the imposition of the model code of conduct by the Election Commission.

In September 2013, the government had hiked the DA by another 10 percent to 90 percent effective from July 1, 2013.

This is the second double digit hike in a row and would be effective from January 1 this year.

Source:ZEE NEWS

Filed Under: DA, DA JANUARY 2014, DEARNESS ALLOWANCE

Thursday, February 27, 2014

11th-hour Populist Measures from UPA Government Likely Today

9:32 PM - by ADMIN No comments:

With an eye on the general elections, the UPA Government is trying to bow out with a bang.

Several populist measures- raising dearness allowances, retirement age of government employees from 60 to 62 and anti-graft ordinances- will be taken up by the Union Cabinet on Friday.

The meeting of the Union Cabinet, scheduled at 10.30 am, is likely to clear the unfinished agenda of the UPA-2-ostensibly the last major Union Cabinet meeting before the Election Commission sounds the poll bugle.

Once the Commission announces the scheduled of the general elections, the model code of conduct comes into effect, bringing curtains down on all populist announcements.

The Union Cabinet will also take a decision in favour of imposition of the President’s rule in Andhra Pradesh, since Governor E S L Narasimhan has recommended for a spell of Central rule after the resignation of Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy. The Cabinet is likely to recommend to President Pranab Mukherjee for “proclamation under Article 356 (1)” as it tops the agenda of the Cabinet.

The Cabinet is all set to take a call on hiking the retirement age of government employees from 60 to 62 years, besides increase in Dearness Allowance to 100 percent from the existing 90 percent for more than 50 lakh government employees and 30 lakh pensioners. In an immediate benefit to 28 lakh pensioners under EPFO, Cabinet is likely to ensure `1,000 minimum monthly pension. This needless to say, the UPA-2’s poll package. Sources said the Cabinet is likely to take a decision on the note moved by the Planning Commission for providing ‘Special Category’ status to the residuary state of Seemandhra.

Source:http://www.newindianexpress.com/nation/11th-hour-Populist-Measures-from-UPA-Government-Likely-Today/2014/02/28/article2081836.ece#.UxAeSdJI8fg

Filed Under: DA, DA JANUARY 2014, DA MERGER, Keywords: DA hike, RETIREMENT, retirement age

UPA cabinet to approve 10% DA hike on Friday

9:26 PM - by ADMIN 1 comment:

The Union Cabinet is likely to approve hiking dearness allowance to 100 per cent from existing 90 per cent benefiting 50 lakh employees and 30 lakh pensioners in its meeting scheduled on Friday.

This increase in the dearness allowance by the UPA-2 government comes ahead of the imposition of the model code of conduct by the Election Commission.

"The Union Cabinet will take a proposal to hike Dearness allowance for its employees and dearness relief for its pensioners to 100 per cent this Friday as per agenda listed for the meeting," a source said.

The model code of conduct is likely to come into force with the announcement of the schedule for the forthcoming General Election in a week or so.

Also it would be the second double digit DA hike in a row. The government had announced a hike of 10 per cent to 90 per cent in September last year, effective from July 1, 2013.

The hike in DA would be effective from the January 1 this year.

As per practice, the government uses Consumer Price Index- Industrial Workers data of the past 12 months to arrive at a quantum for the purpose of any DA hike. Thus, the retail inflation for industrial workers between January 1 to December 31, 2013 would be used to take a final call on the matter.

According to the provisional data released by government on January 31, the retail inflation for factory workers for the month of December stood at 9.13 per cent. The revised retail inflation data for January would be released on February 28.

An official said that the preliminary assessment suggests that DA hike will not be less than 10 per cent and would be effective from January 1 this year.
Source:http://www.saharasamay.com/nation-news/676548695/upa-cabinet-to-approve-10-da-hike-on-friday.html

Filed Under: DA JANUARY 2014, DEARNESS ALLOWANCE

Cabinet likely to approve Rs 1,000/month min pension tomorrow

9:20 PM - by ADMIN No comments:

Union Cabinet is likely to approve tomorrow the proposal to ensure Rs 1,000 minimum monthly pension under the pension scheme run by retirement fund body EPFO, which would immediately benefit 28 lakh pensioners.

According to sources, the proposal is listed in the agenda of the meeting of the Union Cabinet scheduled for tomorrow.

The move to ensure Rs 1,000 minimum pension under Employees' Pension Scheme-95 will immediately benefit about 28 lakh pensioners including five lakh widows. There are about 44 lakh pensioners.

Earlier this month the Employees' Provident Fund Organisation's (EPFO) trustees had approved the proposal to provide an entitlement of minimum monthly pension of Rs 1,000.

The Central Board of Trustees (CBT), the apex decision making body of EPFO had met on February 5, and decided to amend the EPS-95 scheme for the purpose.

The proposal would be placed before the Union Cabinet for its approval for the Rs 1,000 minimum monthly pension as the government would have to make fund provisions for the purpose.

The government would have to provide an additional amount of Rs 1,217 crore to ensure the minimum pension of Rs 1,000 starting 2014-15. Pensioners are, therefore, expected to get benefit with effect from April 1 this year. The proposal has already been approved by the Finance Ministry.

Source:BS

Filed Under: EPFO, PENSION

Union Cabinet may discuss anti-corruption ordinances, welfare measures today

9:19 PM - by ADMIN No comments:

NEW DELHI: The Union Cabinet on Friday is likely to discuss anti—corruption ordinances promised by Congress vice—president Rahul Gandhi, along with a series of populist measures.

The Cabinet meeting, possibly the last before the model code of conduct comes into force for the Lok Sabha polls, is likely to take up ordinances on grievance redress and timely delivery of services bill, amendment to Prevention of Corruption Act bill, disability rights bill, SC/ST atrocities bill and Sebi amendment bill.

The ministerial panel, which has more than 30 items on its agenda, is likely to take up the proposal to increase the poll expenditure cap to Rs 70 lakh per contestant from Rs 40 lakh now.

The Cabinet will also decide on hiking dearness allowance to 100% from the existing 90%, benefiting central government employees and pensioners.

Another proposal which will bring cheer to pensioners is ensuring Rs 1,000 as minimum monthly pension under the pension scheme run by retirement fund body EPFO, which would immediately benefit 28 lakh pensioners.

The Cabinet is likely to consider a clarification on the decision to supply 12 subsidized LPG cylinders per household in a year. The government had last month raised the cap on supply of cheaper LPG from 9 to 12 cylinders of 14.2 kg each. It was inferred that this meant one cylinder in a month.

The ministry has proposed to the Cabinet that consumers should have the freedom to book a refill after 21 days with an overall cap of 12 subsidized bottles in a year.

Source:http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Union-Cabinet-may-discuss-anti-corruption-ordinances-welfare-measures-today/articleshow/31134139.cms

Filed Under: 50%DA MERGER, 7th PAY COMMISSION, DA JANUARY 2014, DA MERGER, DEARNESS ALLOWANCE

Cabinet to meet on Friday to clear populist measures

9:16 PM - by ADMIN No comments:

The Union Cabinet Friday will decide on a series of populist measures and some ordinances on anti-graft and protection of rights bills at a meeting possibly the last before the model code of conduct could come into force for coming Lok Sabha polls.

A proposal to increase the poll expenditure cap up to Rs.70 lakh per contestant from Rs.40 lakh now is also on the table of the cabinet meeting.

The cabinet will also decide on hiking dearness allowance to 100 per cent from existing 90 per cent, benefiting 50 lakh employees and 30 lakh pensioners.

The hike in DA would be effective from January 1 this year.

Another proposal which will bring cheers to pensioners is to ensure Rs.1,000 minimum monthly pension under the pension scheme run by retirement fund body EPFO, which would immediately benefit 28 lakh pensioners.

The cabinet is likely to consider a clarification on the decision for supply of 12 subsidised LPG cylinders per household in a year.

The government had last month raised the cap on supply of cheaper LPG from 9 to 12 cylinders of 14.2-kg each. It was inferred that this meant one cylinder in a month.

The ministry has proposed to the cabinet that consumers should have the freedom to book a refill after 21 days with an overall cap of 12 subsidised bottles in a year.

When the model code of conduct goes into force with the announcement of the election schedule, no populist measure can be made public and any policy decision can be announced only with the clearance of the Election Commission.

Sources said the cabinet may also consider raising the retirement age of government employees from 60 to 62 years.

The raising of superannuation age was originally a part of the Terms of Reference of the Seventh Pay Commission.

Since the Commission report is expected not before 2017, a decision on raising the retirement age cannot happen before that.

So, the reference to retirement age has been removed from the ToR of the 7th Pay Commission and it is speculated that the same may be brought as a supplementary agenda.

Source:http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/cabinet-meeting-to-clear-populist-measures/1/345964.html

Filed Under: 7th CPC, 7th PAY COMMISSION, DA, DA JANUARY 2014

DEPARTMENT OF EXPENDITURE DIRECTS THE MINISTRY OF STATISTICS & PROGRAMME IMPLEMENTATION TO SEND PROPOSAL FOR UP-GRADATION OF GRADE PAY OF LDC & UDC TO THEM

5:03 AM - by ADMIN No comments:

Dear members/friends,

Department of Expenditure (DoE) vide OM No. 58(2)/E.III(B)/2014 dated 18th February, 2014(enclosed) has forwarded the letter/documents demanding upgradation of the grade pay of LDC & UDC to Rs. 2400 & 2800 respectively, to the Financial Adviser, Ministry of Statistics & Programme Implementation(MoS&PI) with a direction to examine the representations and forwarding the same to DoE for consideration in the form of a proposal, through IFD. In this respect, this Association has already made it clear that the LDC & UDC issue is a clear anomaly aroused due to the discriminatory recommendation/implementation of the 6th Pay Commission and the same is to be rectified as an anomaly and not as a cadre restructuring. As has already informed you that this Association has decided to file a case in the CAT by 1st week of March for getting implemented the upgradation from the date of implementation of the 6th CPC and the preparation for the same is in full swing. However, since the DoE has directed the MoS&PI in favour of upgradation of Grade Pay of LDC and UDC, a letter demanding implementation of the upgradation from 1.1.2006 is being sent to the Joint Secretary, MoS&PI before filing the case.

Yours Sincerely

TKR Pillai

General Secretary

Mob No. 09425372172

No. 58(2)/E.III(B)/2014

Ministry of Finance

Department of Expenditure

E.III-(B) Branch

****

New Delhi, the 18th February, 2014.

OFFICE MEMORANDUM

Subject: Forwarding of letter No. 4/GS/2013 dated 14/10/2013 from All India Association of Administrative Staff.

The undersigned is directed to forward herewith letter No. 4/GS/2013 dated 14/10/2013 from Shri T.K.R. Pillai regarding upgradation of Grade Pay of LDC and UDC in administrative branch of Government of India offices and to state that this Department does not consider the representations received from individuals or Associations and they are forwarded to the concerned administrative ministries/departments. The Administrative Ministry/Department concerned is required to examine the representations and if merit is found, the same may be forwarded to this Department for consideration in the form of a proposal, through IFD. The letter was earlier forwarded to DOPT, who in turn have returned it stating that LDCs and UDCs in the Administrative Branch of Government of India does not come under the CSCS cadre.

Sd/

(Manoj Kumar)

Under Secretary to the Government of India

To
FA(Statistics & Programme Implementation),
Ministry of Statistics & Programme Implementation,
Sardar Patel Bhawan,
New Delhi.

Source:http://aiamshq.blogspot.in/2014/02/yet-another-milestone.html

Filed Under: LDC-UDC ISSUE

Disadvantage of raising retirement age from 60 to 62

5:00 AM - by ADMIN No comments:

Disadvantage

1. Promotion would be greatly affected due to no retirement in the long span

2. Unemployment would come in to being due to the increase in retirement age

3. Output of work would be greatly affected if the retirement age of unhealthy employees would be increased.

Source:http://sapost.blogspot.in/2014/02/disadvantage-of-raising-retirement-age.html

Filed Under: retirement age, RETIREMENT BENIFITS

COM. UMRAOMAL PUROHIT, THE LEGENDARY LEADER PASSED AWAY

4:57 AM - by ADMIN No comments:

WITH DEEP SORROW WE REGRET TO INFORM ALL OUR COMRADES

THE SAD DEMISE OF

COM. UMRAOMAL PUROHIT,

SECRETARY STAFF SIDE JCM. NATIONAL COUNCIL

AND THE PRESIDENT OF ALL INDIA RAILWAYMEN FEDERATION

AT MUMBAI TODAY AT 4.15 AM.

WE CONVEY OUR HEART FELT CONDOLENCES ON BEHALF OF THE COMRADES OF THE CONFEDERATION OF CENTRAL GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES AND WORKERS. WE APPEAL TO OUR COMRADES WHO ARE STATIONED AT MUMBAI TO TAKE PART IN THE FUNERAL PROCESSION WHICH IS TO COMMENCE FROM THE AIRF OFFICE AT MUMBAI AS A MARK OF RESPECT AND AFFECTION TO THE DEPARTED COMRADE.

M. KRISHNAN,

SECRETARY GENERAL;

FOR AND ON BEHALF OF THE NATIONAL SECRETARIAT OF THE CONFEDERATION OF CENTRAL GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES AND WORKERS.

DATED; 27TH FEBRUARY, 2014

Source : http://aipeup3bbsr.blogspot.in/

Filed Under: NFPE

Country's first Post Office Savings Bank ATM opened at T Nagar HO on 27/2/2014

4:55 AM - by ADMIN No comments:

Country's First Post Office Savings Bank ATM inaugurated by Shri P. Chidambaram, Hon'ble Union Finance Minister, Govt. of India on Thursday the 27th February 2014 at Thyagaraya Nagar Head Post Office, Shivagnanam Road, T'Nagar, Chennai, Tamilnadu - 600017.

In order to meet the requirements and needs of the I.T modernization project, Infosys Core banking Solution (CBS) will be implemented across India covering all the Post offices.

Core Banking Solution (CBS) - FINACLE is networking all the Post offices which enable customers to operate their accounts and avail Account related services from any Post offices on CBS network regardless of where he/she maintains his/her account. The customer is no more the customer of a particular Post office. He becomes the Post office Savings Bank (POSB) customer. Thus CBS is a step towards enhancing customer convenience through “Anywhere and Anytime Banking”. As Finacle is integrated to all the banks in course of time, the customer can access any bank account through post office.

Around Rs.700 crore is earmarked for this Project. Core Banking Solution(CBS) for Post office Savings Bank is being implemented throughout India. As on date, 57 Head Post offices and 11 Sub Post offices have migrated covering 64 lakh accounts. By 31.03.2014, 700 more Post offices will be covered. All the 26,840 Post offices would be functional in CBS by 2016. About 2 billion US$ have also been migrated.

As part of this, the Post office Savings Bank ATM at Thyagarayanagar HPO is being inaugurated on 27.02.2014 by Shri. P.Chidambaram, Hon’ble Minister of Finance, Govt. of India. This is the first ATM opened and dedicated for the nation. Four more ATMs are ready for operation. The ATMs were installed by Infosys.

Input from http://sapost.blogspot.in/2014/02/countrys-first-post-office-savings-bank.html

Filed Under: ATM, POSTAL DEPT

Tuesday, February 25, 2014

PENSION TO EX SERVICEMEN: No proposal to reduce the minimum qualifying service for grant of pension

9:14 PM - by ADMIN No comments:

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

MINISTRY OF DEFENCE

LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO 2893
ANSWERED ON 10.02.2014
PENSION TO EX SERVICEMEN
2893 . Shri RAM SINGH KASWAN
Will the Minister of DEFENCE be pleased to state:-

(a) whether a large number of ex-servicemen who retired before independence are still alive and not getting pension;

(b) if so, whether the Government proposes to grant pension to such ex-servicemen in the country; and

(c) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE (SHRI JITENDRA SINGH) MINISTRY OF DEFENCE

(a) There is no mechanism to ascertain such data. However, ex-servicemen with service of 15 years or more as PBOR and 20 years or more as Commissioned Officers are entitled to service pension.

(b) There is no proposal to reduce the minimum qualifying service for grant of pension.

(c) Minimum qualifying service is an essential criterion for earning pension in the Armed Forces as per the existing Army, Navy & Air Force Pension Regulations.

Source:https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyNau8z1TPpGZHMnDGTMpDtEQ2wcaes1dOKQm9F44H7sHj_vqRaTduu-SirPcAw686H8A1BVW6kekGBPpYLwgGMVbXYOoqexqQsm_FJPTzQ6nNI6tR2_TIT1_zsyYpEk4RQD5jwmFBYuxk/s1600/Pension+to+ex-servicemen.jpg

Filed Under: ARMY-PENSIONERS, family pensioners, PENSION

DA likely to be hiked by 10% on Friday

9:10 PM - by ADMIN No comments:

DA likely to be hiked by 10% on FridayNew Delhi: The Union Cabinet is likely to approve hiking dearness allowance to 100 percent from existing 90 percent benefiting 50 lakh employees and 30 lakh pensioners in it meeting scheduled on Friday.

"The Union Cabinet will take a proposal to hike Dearness allowance for its employees and dearness relief for its pensioners to 100 percent this Friday as per agenda listed for the meeting," a source said.

This increase in the dearness allowance by the UPA-2 government comes ahead of the imposition of the model code of conduct by the Election Commission.

The model code of conduct is likely to come into force with the announcement of the schedule for the forthcoming general elections in a week or so.

Also it would be the second double digit DA hike in a row. The government had announced a hike of 10 percent to 90 percent in September last year, effective from July 1, 2013.

The hike in DA would be effective from the January 1 this year.

As per practice, the government uses Consumer Price Index- Industrial Workers data of the past 12 months to arrive at a quantum for the purpose of any DA hike. Thus, the retail inflation for industrial workers between January 1 to December 31, 2013 would be used to take a final call on the matter.

According to the provisional data released by government on January 31, the retail inflation for factory workers for the month of December stood at 9.13 percent. The revised retail inflation data for January would be released on February 28.

An official said that the preliminary assessment suggests that DA hike will not be less than 10 percent and would be effective from January 1 this year.
PTI

Source:ZEE NEWS

Filed Under: DA, DA JANUARY 2014, DEARNESS ALLOWANCE, Dearness Pay, dearness relief

Monday, February 24, 2014

Sanction of Pension Simplified and Streamlined

9:12 PM - by ADMIN No comments:

Press Information Bureau

Government of India

Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions

24-February-2014 15:44 IST

As a part of a larger mandate of streamlining and simplifying the sanction of pension and payment process, the Department of Pension and Pensioners’ Welfare has taken steps towards minimizing delays in sanction and disbursement of pension, and making the process more transparent.

The objective is to simplify the forms as well as to do away with the requirement of submission of affidavit and to accept all information and documents on the basis of Self certification. 26 forms under CCS Pension Rules (1972) have been reviewed and modified where necessary . The revised forms have been posted on the website of the Department www.persmin.nic.in.

The Department proposes to dispense with the requirement of a number of nomination forms for various benefits like GPF, CGEGIS, arrear of Pension and commutation of Pension by the employees. Instead, an employee will be required to fill up only one Nomination Form during the service and another nomination Form at the time of retirement. Amendment to the Forms and relevant rules in this respect would be notified by the Department very soon.

Revision of Forms under General/Contributory Provident Fund Rules, Extraordinary Pension Rules and Commutation of Pension Rules is under process. The Department is also reviewing the Rules with a view to reducing the time prescribed for sanction of pension from the current 24-30 months to a more reasonable 12 months.

An online pension sanction and payment tracking system ‘Bhavishya’ has been launched, initially in 15 Ministries. This will enable retiring government servants to themselves track progress of sanction of pension and other retirement dues against the time lines prescribed.

In put from http://sapost.blogspot.in/2014/02/sanction-of-pension-simplified-and.html

Filed Under: PENSION

Suspended Employees are entitled to full benefits, says High Court

9:10 PM - by ADMIN No comments:

In a relief to a motorman of Central railway the Bombay High Court has ruled that suspended employees are entitled to the benefit of the period of suspension to be counted for the purpose of qualifying service for pensionary benefits.

A division bench of Justices V M Kanade and G S Kulkarni pointed out that the Central Administrative Tribunal had already granted benefit of subsistence allowance for the period of suspension. “If this logical consequence is not accepted an incongruous position would necessarily arise, in as much as on one hand benefit of revised pay scale during the suspension period would stand granted and on the other hand such period would not be taken into consideration for the purpose of pensionary benefits. Mere suspension does not sever the relationship of an employer and employee,” observed Justice Kulkarni.

On December 25, 1985, Central Railway’s driver J S Kharat was placed under suspension for being involved in a train collision. Subsequently, disciplinary inquiry into the incident led to Kharat’s expulsion from service on June 4, 1986.

Aggrieved by the ruling, Kharat approached the Central Administrative Tribunal and on the directions of the tribunal an inquiry was conducted by the Central Government through the Divisional Railway Manager, CST.

The inquiry resulted in Kharat facing compulsory retirement on January 18, 1996. Thereafter, Kharat again approached the tribunal seeking subsistence allowance on the basis of the revised pay scales for the suspension period of over 10 years. Kharat was paid Rs 1.6 lakh after a full-bench of the tribunal in an order dated January 13, 2003, ruled in his favour.

He then sought that an appropriate amount be fixed as pension according to IV and V pay commission payscales after considering his period of suspension and that he had compulsorily retired.

The Central Railway, however, rejected his plea stating that he was suspended before he was compulsorily retired. Kharat, therefore, was not eligible for fixation of pay in the Railway Service (Pension) Rules, 1993, said the order dated December 12, 2003. Kharat challenged the order before the tribunal, which partly allowed his application. The Central Railway, consequently, challenged the tribunal’s order before Bombay HC

Source:http://freepressjournal.in/suspended-employees-are-entitled-to-full-benefits-says-high-court/

Filed Under: benefits, CCS RULES1972, central government employees, suspention

This week may bring cheer to central employees and pensioners

9:06 PM - by ADMIN No comments:

Central Govt. employees and pensioners will find reasons to celebrate this week. The union cabinet is likely to clear some long awaited demands for it's staff in the next meeting later this week The F.M., currently on foreign tour, likely to return India on 26th February and after which cabinet meeting is likely to take place. According to information available with us, merger of 50% D.A., an additional hike of 10% D.A. from 01.01.2014, granting of Interim Relief and enhancing retirement age to 62 years are under the consideration of Govt. and some of these are to be approved in the next cabinet meeting.

As the notification of loksabha poll may be issued in the first week of March, this would be the last cabinet meeting before the code of conduct comes into force. So the central employees and pensioners may definitely hope for some bonanza to be announced this week.

Source : http//paycommissionupdate.blogspot.in/

Filed Under: 50%DA MERGER, central government employees, DEARNESS ALLOWANCE

NFSG and MACP benefit for UDCs of CSCS: Rajya Sabha Q&A

2:52 AM - by ADMIN No comments:

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

MINISTRY OF PERSONNEL,PUBLIC GRIEVANCES AND PENSIONS

RAJYA SABHA

STARRED QUESTION NO-386
ANSWERED ON-20.02.2014
NFSG MACP for UDCs
386 . SHRI MOTILAL VORA

(a) whether the Ministry, vide letter no. 20/49/2009-CS-II-B dated 22nd June, 2011 has done injustice to those UDCs who have completed more than ten years of regular service in UDC Grade and got the benefit of Modified Assured Career Progression (MACP) of nearly `400/- from `2400-2800;

(b) if so, the reasons for denying them Non-functional Selection Grade (NFSG) from 1st January, 2006; and

(c) the steps taken by Government to do justice to senior UDCs who were neither granted NFSG nor MACP from the actual date of their completing the ten years of service in UDC Grade?

ANSWER
Minister of State in the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions and Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office. (SHRI V. NARAYANASAMY)

(a) to (c): A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.

STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS(a) TO (c) OF RAJYA SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 386 FOR 20.2.2014 ASKED BY SHRI MOTILAL VORA REGARDING “NFSG/MACP FOR UDCs”.

(a) & (b): The Government decided to create a grade of UDC ‘Non-Functional Selection Grade (NFSG)’ in Central Secretariat Clerical Services (CSCS) in the grade pay of `4200/- in Pay Band-2 vide O.M. No. 20/49/2009-CS-II(B) dated 22.6.2011. As per the O.M. mentioned above, UDCs of CSCS with 5 years of approved Service are eligible for grant of Grade Pay of `4200/- (NFSG) subject to the condition that the total number in the grade will be restricted to 30% of the sanctioned strength. The NFSG grade came into being from the date of issue of the said O.M.

(c): Modified Assured Career Progression (MACP) Scheme came into operation w.e.f 1.9.2008. The Scheme ensures three Financial up-gradation in the immediate next higher grade pay in the hierarchy of recommended revised pay bands as given in CCS (Revised Pay) Rules, 2008 on completion of 10, 20 and 30 years of continuous regularservice subject to the provisions of Scheme issued vide DOP&T O.M. No. 35034/3/2008-Estt.(D) dated 19.5.2009. MACP benefits are granted with effect from the actual date of completion of 10 years of regular service in any grade since its inception from 1.9.2008 by the concerned cadre units. The benefit of NFSG could not be availed of by the beneficiaries as the Select List 2003(extended) of UDCs of CSCS is sub-judice.

Via : http://karnmk.blogspot.in/

Filed Under: LDC-UDC ISSUE

NFPE - FNPO - AIPEU-GDS (NFPE) - NUGDS-LATEST NEWS

2:46 AM - by ADMIN No comments:

CIVIL SERVANT STATUS

AND INCLUSION OF GRAMIN DAK SEVAKS (GDS)

IN THE TERMS OF REFERENCE OF SEVENTH PAY COMMISSION.

MAHADEVAIAH SIGNED THE DEATH WARRANT OF 2.76 LAKHS GRAMIN DAK SEVAKS. HE WANTS TO KILL THE CHILD EVEN BEFORE ITS BIRTH.

Recognised union (Mahadevaiah) accepted the stand of the Government and Postal Board that GDS are NOT Government employees (Civil servants) and hence they cannot be included in the Seventh Pay Commission which is for Government Employees.

Government and Postal Board cleverly managed Mahadevaiah to sign a written agreement accepting their stand, so that he cannot go back from the agreement again.

All organizations in the staff side, JCM National Council including Railways, Defence, Confederation, NFPE & FNPO has taken a firm stand that we will not accept separate committee (Whether separate Judge or Bureaucrat) for GDS this time and GDS should be included in Seventh CPC itself. Recognised GDS union leader (Mahadevaiah) became an Agent of the government and signed Agreement accepting the Government’s stand. Mahadevaiah admitted that GDS are not civil servants and hence a separate committee is enough.

NFPE & FNPO and also the GDS unions of NFPE (AIPEU-GDS-NFPE) & FNPO (NUGDS) strongly condemn and protest against the foul play and treachery of Mahadevaiah and Postal Board.

Hold Protest Demonstrations in front of all offices on 26.02.2014 demanding cancellation of the agreement and inclusion of GDS in the 7th Pay Commission itself.

Dear friends and Comrades,

All of you are aware that all the Unions and Federation of the Staff Side, JCM National Council including Railways, Defence, Confederation, NFPE & FNPO have taken an unanimous stand that Gramin Dak Sevaks of the Department of Posts should be included in the 7th Pay Commission and we will not accept any separate Committee (Whether Judge or Bureaucrat) for GDS. This is the first time the entire JCM (Staff Side) including Railways and Defence is taking such a firm stand. Accordingly JCM (Staff Side) has submitted a letter to the Government (DOP&T) to include GDS in the terms of reference of 7th CPC. The matter is now pending before the Government for a decision. NFPE & FNPO and the GDS unions of NFPE (AIPEU-GDS-NFPE) and FNPO (NUGDS) has conducted two days nationwide strike demanding inclusion of GDS in the terms of reference of 7th CPC. Both NFPE & FNPO has already declared that they will jointly go for an indefinite strike, if the demand for inclusion of GDS under the 7th CPC is not accepted by the Government.

But to our shock and surprise, the recognised GDS Union leading by Mahadevaiah has signed an agreement with the Postal Board agreeing for the appointment of a separate committee for GDS. No Unions/Federations including Mahadevaiah’s union have demanded a separate committee (either Judge Committee or Bureaucratic Committee) in their charter of demands submitted to the Government and the Department of Posts. The 7th Pay Commission is appointed for Central Government Employees (Civil Servants). Separate Committee (even if it is a separate Judge) means GDS are not civil servants and they are only Extra-Departmental. Why should Mahadevaiah accept such a stand of the Department and Government? Earlier also one separate committee of Retired Judge (Justice Talwar Committee) was appointed for GDS. But even now GDS are Extra-Departmental and not treated as Civil Servants. Inclusion in 7th CPC means Government accepting our demand that GDS are Government employees (Civil Servants) and their service conditions and wage structure will be examined and recommended by 7th CPC alongwith other Central Government Employees. Thus a century long discrimination towards GDS shall come to an end. Even Justice Talwar Committee has recommended that in future, no separate committe (either Judge or Bureaucratic) should be appointed for the GDS and they should be included in Pay Commissions itself. By accepting a separate Committee, Mahadevaiah has spoiled the entire future of GDS.

By signing an agreement with the Postal Board, the Recognised GDS Union (Mahadevaiah) has signed the Death Warrant of the 2.76 lakhs Gramin Dak Sevaks. He has played a drama with the Postal Board and Government and cheated GDS and defeated the very purpose of the united stand taken by all the JCM Staff side organizations. Postal Board has cleverly managed Mahadevaiah to sign an agreement itself. Normally after discussions with the unions, minutes are signed and copy given to unions. In this case, the Postal Board was very particular to get an agreement signed by the Recognised Union (Mahadevaiah) so that he cannot go back from the agreement in future. Ironically, for all other demands raised by Mahadevaiah in his Charter of Demands only separate minutes is given by the Department. Departmental officers and DOP&T are very inteligent and shrewd and they obtained what they want!!!

When Recognised union signed an agreement, tomorrow the Government will say to the staff side that as the recognised union has already agreed for a separate committee, we are not including GDS in the 7th CPC. Thus, the Recognised Union of the GDS (Mahadevaiah) has become an agent of the Government. As already stated by us, Postal Board and the Government have succeded in their game of “Divide and Rule”. That is why Mahadevaiah has not joined the joint strike of two days conducted by NFPE, FNPO and the GDS union of NFPE (AIPEU-GDS-NFPE) and FNPO (NUGDS) on 12th & 13th February 2014. In the coming days the hidden agenda behind the separate strike held by Mahadevaiah and the agreement will come out with more clear.

The Department and the Government always used to told NFPE & FNPO that by appointing a separate committee (either Judge or Bureaucratic) GDs will be much benefited. They have compelled NFPE & FNPO to accept separate Committee. We rejected the offer of the Government & the Department as we are well aware, from our past experience, the danger behind it and also the hidden agenda of the Government & the Department. Finally after the two days strike the Secretary, Department of Posts has given us a letter informing that our demand for inclusion of GDS in Seventh Pay Commission is referred to Government (DOP&T) for a decision. The Government understood that when the entire JCM staff side has taken a firm united stand, it will be very difficult for them to reject our demand. They wanted to pre-empt the united stand of the staff side. That is why the indefinite strike drama was played (eventhough participation was very less) and finally an agreement was signed behind the curtain and declaring that this is a greatest achievement (!) and this is a first step towards the liberation of GDS (!!!), as if there was no separate Judge Committee (Talwar Committee) appointed by Government earlier. It proved beyond doubt that both the Recognised Union (Mahadeviah) and the Government want to keep the GDS always outside the Pay Commission and always as “extra-departmental employees”.

NFPE and FNPO and the GDS Unions of NFPE (AIPEU-GDS-NFPE) and FNPO (NUGDS) strongly condemn and protest the anti-GDS agreement signed by the Postal Board and the Recognised Union (Mahadevaiah) and we demand the Government to include the GDS in the terms of reference of the 7th CPC itself instead of a separate Committee (Whether Judge or Bureaucrat). We call upon the entire Postal and RMS employees including Gramin Dak Sevaks to recognise the danger behind the agreement and expose those who signed the agreement which is nothing but a
“DEATH WARRANT OF 2.76 GRAMIN DAK SEVAKS”.

We further call upon the entire employees to conduct protest demonstration all over India on 26.02.2014 in front of all important offices against the stand taken by the Postal Board and demanding to remit the GDS issues the purview of the Seventh Pay Commission.

Yours sincerely,

M. Krishnan D. Theagarajan
Secretary General Secretary General
NFPE FNPO

P. Pandurangarao P. U. Muraleedharan
General Secretary General Secretary

AIPEU-GDS (NFPE) NUGDS (FNPO)

Source:http://nfpe.blogspot.in/

Filed Under: charter of demands, GDS, india post, POSTALDEPT, STRIKE, TRADE UNIONS

Amendment to CCS (Pension) Rules. 1972 – Notification regarding

2:41 AM - by ADMIN No comments:

No. 1/19/2013-P&PW(E)

Government of India

Ministry of Personnel. P.G. & Pensions

Department of Pension & Pensioners Welfare

(Desk E)

3rd Floor. Lok Nayak, Bhawan,

Khan Market, New Delhi

the 20th February, 2014

To
The Manager,
Govt. of India
Press Mayapuri. Ring Road,
New Delhi-110064

Subject : Amendment to CCS (Pension) Rules. 1972 – Notification regarding

Sir,
I am to forward herewith a copy of Notification in duplicate (English & Hindi version) on the above subject and to request that the same may be published in the Gazette of India (Extraordinary) Part II, Section 3. sub-section (i).

2. It is further requested that 100 spare copies of the Printed version of the Notification may kindly be sent to this Department.
Encl: As Above.

Yours faithfully

sd/-

(Sujasha Choudhury)

Deputy Secretary

Source: www.pensionerportal.gov.in
[http://ccis.nic.in/WriteReadData/CircularPortal/D3/D03ppw/Amendment_CCS_PensionRule-English.pdf]

Filed Under: dopt-pension, family pensioners, pre 2006 pensioners

Sunday, February 23, 2014

Central Government employees may get 50% DA merger-BSNLEU

9:34 PM - by ADMIN No comments:

The Central Government has already formed the 7th Pay Commission for it’s employees. The Commission will recommend wage revision for the 50 lakh Central Government employees, as well as pension revision for the 30 lakh pensioners.

As per media reports, the Government may merge 50% DA with the basic pay, for which the unions are hard pressing the Government. As of now, the Central Government employees are getting 90% DA. They are going to get another 10% DA increase from next month, which will take their total DA to 100% of pay. The normal practice is that DA will be merged with pay, when it reaches 50%. Merger of 50% DA with basic pay was done by the 5th Pay Commission, while the 6th Pay Commission refused to do so. Now, as per media reports, the Government is likely to make a proposal in this regard to the terms of reference for the 7th Pay Commission.

In respect of the BSNL employees, the BSNLEU has already raised the demand that 50% IDA should be merged with the basic pay. The recently held Rajkot CEC meeting of BSNLEU has passed a resolution, strongly demanding 50% IDA merger.

Source:http://www.bsnleuchq.com/

Filed Under: 50%DA MERGER, 7th CPC, DA MERGER, DEARNESS ALLOWANCE

Merger of 100% DA w.e.f. 1.1.2014 and Merger of 50% DA w.e.f. 1.1.2011 demanded by Confederation of Central Government Gazetted Officers’ Organisation

9:28 PM - by ADMIN No comments:

Central gazetted officers finalise demands
A workshop organised by the Confederation of Central Government Gazetted Officers’ Organisations, Tamil Nadu region, has finalised the common minimum demands to be placed before the 7 Central Pay Commission, including a just and equitable pay at the entry level of Group ‘B’ officers.

It was also agreed upon at the workshop here on Saturday to demand a joint consultative machinery to redress their grievances and a minimum of five promotions during their tenure — from entry to Group ‘B’ level either by promotion or direct recruitment.

The workshop for the constituents of the Confederation sought merger of 50 per cent dearness allowance for all purposes with effect from January 1, 2011 or 100 per cent DA with effect from January 1, 2014 for the serving officers. Other demands included free and hassle-free medical facilities to Group ‘B’ officers and adequate travel entitlements.

Source:http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/central-gazetted-officers-finalise-demands/article5490705.ece

Filed Under: 50%DA MERGER, 7th PAY COMMISSION, DA MERGER, DEARNESS ALLOWANCE

Merger of 50% DA with Pay and grant of Interim Relief - NFIR

9:25 PM - by ADMIN No comments:

NFIR

National Federation of Indian Railwaymen

No.II/95/Pt. VI

Dated: 20/02/2014

The General Secretaries of
Affiliated Unions of NFIR.

Brother,
Sub: Merger of 50% DA with Pay and grant of Interim Relief.

NFIR has been writing to the Government of India (including Prime Minister, Finance Minister etc) for merger of 50% DA with pay through its letters dated 10/01/2013, 05/08/2013, 27/09/2013. Also in its 27th National Convention held at Visakhapatnam from 10th to 12th December, 2013, the Federation had passed a resolution demanding merger of 50% DA with Pay and grant of interim relief to employees of Central Government including Railway employees.

NFIR feels happy to convey that the Central Government has conceded the demand of the employees raised by the Federation.

Union Cabinet is likely to consider the issues to day for taking final decision. Federation will advise decision when taken by the Government. Federation expects that there may be Good News for all Central Government employees very soon.

Yours faithfully,

sd/-

(M.Raghavaiah)

General Secretary

Source: NFIR

Filed Under: 50%DA MERGER, DEARNESS ALLOWANCE, NFIR

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

9:22 PM - by ADMIN No comments:

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

Filed Under: 7th CPC, DA MERGER, DEARNESS ALLOWANCE

Retirement Age 62 - All set to hike central retirement age to 62 years

9:20 PM - by ADMIN No comments:

It may sound like ridiculous as number of times articles regarding this topic has published in different websites and newspapers. But as per our sources and media reports, centre finally decided to hike retirement age to 62 years. The process has received PM's nod and awating cabinet approval which is likely to be obtained in the next meeting.

The newly set up seventh CPC has recommended this hike in an interim report which got Govt. approval.

As per information available with us, this move will not benefit those who are going to be superannuated in this month or those who are already in extension.

Source : www.paycommissionupdate.blogspot.in
[http://paycommissionupdate.blogspot.in/2014/02/all-set-to-hike-central-retirement-age.html]

Filed Under: RETIREMENT, retirement age

Execution of Bond for availing Study Leave under rule 53(4) of the CCS(Leave) Rules, 1972 - regarding.

9:18 PM - by ADMIN No comments:

No. 13026/4/2012-Estt.(L)

Bharat Sarkar/Government of India

Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions

Department of Personnel and Training

New Delhi, the 18 February. 2014

OFFICE MEMORANDUM

Subject: Execution of Bond for availing Study Leave under rule 53(4) of the CCS(Leave) Rules, 1972 - regarding.

The undersigned is directed to state that Government servants are allowed to avail “Study Leave’ in terms of the provisions of rules 50-63 of the CCS (Leave) Rules, 1972. The provisions of rule 53(4) mandates for execution of a bond by the Government Servant who is granted such leave in the relevant format prescribed for the said purpose i.e. Forms 7-10 of the CCS (Leave) Rules, 1972.

2. The said Bond executed by the Government servant requires putting in specified period of service after expiry of the Study Leave as prescribed by provisions of rule 50(5) of the said rules.

3. It has come to the notice of this Department that the provisions of the aforesaid bond are being circumvented and officers who have availed Study Leave proceed on prolonged spells of leave due and admissible to them and thus do not put in active service for the requisite period as indicated in the bond executed by them.

A. In view of the above position, the provisions of the prescribed format of the Bond have been reviewed in consultation with the Department of Legal Affairs and it has been decided that the prescribed forms 7, 8, 9 and 10 of the CSS (Leave) Rules, 1972 may be revised by incorporating a specific clause confirming commitment of the Government servant to put in requisite active service after expiry of the Study Leave. The copies of the revised formats are enclosed herewith. The grant of Study Leave shall continue to be regulated in terms of the relevant provisions of the rules as indicated in para 1 above. Ministry of Home Affairs etc are requested to ensure that the necessary Bond in respect of grant of Study Leave under the CCS (Leave) Rules, 1972 may henceforth be obtained in the revised formats.

5. These orders are being issued after consultation with the C&AG of India in respect of persons serving in the Indian Audit & Accounts Department.

6. Formal amendments to CCS (Leave) Rules, 1972 are being issued separately.

sd/-

(Mukul Ratra)

Director (L&A)

Source: www.persmin.gov.in
[http://ccis.nic.in/WriteReadData/CircularPortal/D2/D02est/13026_4_2012-Estt.L-18022014.pdf]

Filed Under: dopt, study leave

Defence personnel are at a great disadvantage in respect of pay, pension and medical benefits compared with civilian government servants. By MAJOR GENERAL SATBIR SINGH

9:12 PM - by ADMIN No comments:

OVER THE PAST FIVE YEARS, EX-SERVICEMEN have been agitating against the injustice meted out to them by the Central government. They have lost faith in the Department of Ex-Servicemen Welfare (DESW), created specifically to take care of their welfare. Ex-servicemen have won 90 per cent of the cases filed in the Armed Forces Tribunals and the Supreme Court against the government, but the government has appealed in all the cases through the DESW.

The veterans have approached the Prime Minister and the Defence Minister to seek redress in numerous cases where they felt injustice had been done to them but to no avail. The Supreme Court’s judgments in their favour have either not been implemented or not been implemented in letter and spirit in cases pertaining to disability pensions, payment of arrears with retrospective effect from January 1, 2006, rank pay, and hospital charges on authorised Ex-servicemen Contributory Health Scheme (ECHS) rates for medical treatment abroad.

The government files en masse appeals against retired defence personnel whenever any case relating to pension benefits is decided in their favour by any court of law or the Armed Forces Tribunal. Facing the brunt of the government’s apathy is the category of disabled and war-disabled soldiers. Most of the special leave petitions and appeals filed by the Ministry of Defence in the Supreme Court are against the grant of disability or war injury benefits to disabled and war-disabled soldiers. As a result, the veterans are forced into expensive litigation.

Over 3,000 cases decided in favour of defence personnel by the Armed Forces Tribunal have not been implemented; the Defence Ministry has contested all these judgments in the Supreme Court. Imagine the plight of a widow of a sepoy living in a far-flung rural area. How is she going to find the resources to fight her case in the Supreme Court? The tribunals were created for delivering speedy justice to defence personnel at minimum cost. But the Ministry’s decision to appeal against the tribunal’s judgments has not only delayed justice but also made it near impossible for the defence personnel to fight their cases. The Armed Forces Tribunals do not have contempt powers to get their judgments implemented whereas Central Administrative Tribunals (CATs) are vested with such powers.

This is the biggest cause of heartburning in the military community today. Military personnel with non-service-related disabilities discharged with less than 10 years of service remaining are not entitled to any form of pension, whereas the employment of civilian employees who “acquires a disability during his service” is protected under Section 47 of the Persons with Disabilities Act, 1995.

As per the Sixth Central Pay Commission recommendations, all government servants are allowed three assured career progressions. Civilians who retire at the age of 60 are allowed promotions at 10, 20 and 30 years of service, and soldiers at eight, 16 and 24 years. However, since jawans are forced to retire early, largely between 15 and 19 years of service, to keep up the young profile of the forces, they miss out on at least one assured career progression, unlike their civil counterparts, who serve their full term until superannuation. It has been proposed to the government that the third career progression should be given to jawans automatically; they should be promoted to the rank of naib subedar at the time of retirement. Surprisingly, this demand has not been accepted.

Widow’s pension

Widow’s pension is one area of concern to the defence community that has received little attention from the government. A sepoy’s widow pension has remained a meagre Rs.3,500 a month while other sections of government employees have received periodic increases in such pension. The minimum family pension in respect of defence widows must be enhanced from Rs.3,500 to Rs.10,000 a month.

It is common knowledge that soldiers retire ahead of their time. What is not known, however, is that their life expectancy is shorter than that of civilians. The Institute of Applied Research in Manpower Analysis (IARM), which studied the lifespan of civilian employees at the behest of the Fifth Pay Commission, arrived at 77 years as the average life expectancy of a civilian government servant. The Railways conducted a similar exercise for their personnel and assessed that they achieved an average lifespan of 78 years. No such study was conducted for defence personnel since it was generally believed that soldiers lived longer than civilians. However, Major General (retired) Surjit Singh, AVSM (Athi Vishisht Seva Medal), VSM (Vishisht Seva Medal), who headed the Army Cell of the Fifth Pay Commission, carried out a detailed study in 2005 along with other experts. The study revealed that the average lifespan of defence officers was 72.5 years; that of junior commissioned officers (JCOs) 67 years; and that of other ranks was between 59.6 and 64 years.

These findings were forwarded to the Chief of the Army Staff General J.J. Singh on July 7, 2005, by Lieutenant General (retd) M.M. Lakhera, PVSM (Param Vishisht Seva Medal), AVSM, VSM, who was Lieutenant Governor of Puducherry. The findings were reported by all national newspapers and a question was asked in Parliament on the subject. Pranab Mukherjee, who was the Defence Minister then, maintained that the issue would be examined in detail. Nothing was heard about it after that.

Stress and strain of early retirement is one of the major reasons for the lower life expectancy among the defence personnel. Their legitimate demand for an assured second career until the age of 60 through an Act of Parliament has not yet been accepted.

While the pensions of all ranks were enhanced with effect from September 24, 2012, to redress the anomaly of the Sixth Pay Commission, the request to enhance the pension of JCOs proportionately was not granted. Majors with 13 years and more of service who retired before 2004 have been denied the benefit of the rank of lieutenant colonel (that is, the benefit of pay band-4 in the revised scale of the Sixth Pay Commission).

The government’s policy to grant lieutenant colonel rank on completion of 13 years of service was made applicable with effect from 2004. It would have been only just to grant all those who retired before 2004 in the rank of major with 13 years of commissioned service (this number being finite) the benefit of pension on the scale of lieutenant colonel. The strong plea in this regard has not been accepted.

Also, the non-functional upgrade (NFU) granted to civilian employees has been denied to defence personnel, thereby putting them at a disadvantage.

One Rank One Pension

One of the major demands of veterans is same pension for same rank and same length of service, that is, same rank + same length of service = same pension, irrespective of the date of retirement. They want a legislative guarantee to this. Although all major political parties have agreed to this in principle and frequently incorporate it in their election manifestos, this 40-year-old demand has not been implemented. The bureaucratic excuses in the form of administrative, legal and financial hurdles in implementing the demand were heard in detail in 2011 by the Rajya Sabha Petition Committee set up to look into all aspects of the demand and rejected them in the strongest terms. Prime Minister Indira Gandhi had agreed to this provision in principle, but her untimely death scuttled the proposal. Successive Standing Committees on Defence and the Rajya Sabha Petition Committee have recommended this but to no avail.

Before 2006, the difference in the pensions of major general and lieutenant general was only Rs.1,400. Subsequently, it became Rs.700. With the extension of higher administrative grade (HAG) and HAG+ to the rank of lieutenant general and above, the difference in pension is more than Rs.8,000 even after the increase with effect from September 24, 2012. The government has overlooked the Sixth Pay Commission recommendations, which suggested that all government employees with a basic pay of Rs.20,000 and above be clubbed under the same pay band. Major generals retire with a basic pay of Rs.22,400 and above while lieutenant generals retire with a basic pay of Rs.23,500 and above. Non-inclusion of major generals in HAG has caused an anomaly.

On losing the case, the Defence Ministry filed a review petition in the Supreme Court, denying enhanced arrears to army pensioners as ordered by the Delhi High Court with retrospective effect from January 1, 2006, instead of September 24, 2012.

Civilian employees are provided health care under the Central Government Health Scheme (CGHS) while ex-servicemen are covered under the ECHS. The provision of budget for the CGHS is calculated (for 2013-14) at the rate Rs.10,700 for every beneficiary while for the ECHS, it has been budgeted at Rs.3,150 a beneficiary. As a result, super-speciality hospitals do not offer themselves for ECHS empanelment. Over 80 per cent of the health care units have withdrawn from empanelment in view of delayed payment of bills and inadequate rates for various medical procedures. This has resulted in unsatisfactory or poor medical care for ex-servicemen. Sophisticated procedures have not been included in the ECHS. The veterans’ request for inclusion of the latest medical procedures on the ECHS benefits list has not been accepted yet. Ex-servicemen had requested that the budget be enhanced and not be less than the CGHS rates.

Here is an example to illustrate the poor nature of health care benefits provided by the government to ex-servicemen. Non-availability of funds with the ECHS and, as a consequence, non-payment of hospital dues made an empanelled hospital in Gurgaon in the National Capital Region to stop accepting patients for cashless medical treatment. Ex-Subedar Prakash Chandra Tomar from Meerut was brought to the hospital in a serious condition on December 8, 2013, which as per the ECHS scheme is permitted. The family was asked by the hospital authorities to deposit the money for the treatment or transfer the patient to some other hospital. Since the condition of the patient was serious, the family raised a loan and deposited Rs.11 lakh for 20 days of hospitalisation and treatment.

When the family was in no position to arrange further funds, Tomar’s son, Raj Kumar Tomar, approached the Indian Ex-Servicemen’s Movement (IESM) and the case was taken up with the Managing Director of the ECHS, who promised to get cashless treatment. But he did not succeed. The family deposited another Rs.2 lakh in the hospital. On January 1, Subedar Prakash died. The hospital did not accede to the request of the ECHS to release the body and insisted that the family clear the hospital bills.

In November 2008, the government had announced that in future there would be a separate pay commission for the defence forces. The defence fraternity feels betrayed as the government has not constituted a separate pay commission, and, as in the case of the previous commissions, there is no representation for defence forces in the newly constituted Seventh Pay Commission. Some 39 anomalies in defence pensions are yet to be resolved and with no defence representation in the new pay commission, more anomalies are likely to appear thereby increasing the magnitude of injustice already done to defence pensioners.

Denial of voting rights

It is surprising that serving defence personnel are denied the right to get themselves registered as voters at the place of posting. In spite of a clear judgment by the Supreme Court in 1971, this basic right has not been extended to soldiers. The option of postal ballot and proxy voting available to serving soldiers has not proved effective. There is no restriction imposed in the Representation of the People Act, 1950, to deny this right to defence personnel. There is an urgent need to restore this right immediately to allow serving soldiers to vote at their place of posting in the coming Lok Sabha elections.

The prevailing security environment calls for strong measures to upgrade the country’s defence preparedness in terms of manpower, equipment and weapon systems. Equally important are measures to keep the soldier’s morale high.

Major General Satbir Singh is chairman of the Indian Ex-Servicemen Movement and a former Senior Fellow and Security Analyst of the Institute of Defence Studies and Analysis. He can be reached at satbirsm@gmail.com

Source:http://www.frontline.in/cover-story/veterans-woes/article5698826.ece

Filed Under: one rank one pension, PAY, PENSION

SEVENTH PAY COMMISSION – 7TH CPC TERMS OF REFERENCE TO INCLUDE DA MERGER AND INTERIM RELIEF – CABINET LIKELY TO APPROVE 7TH CPC TERMS OF REFERENCE SOON

9:07 PM - by ADMIN No comments:

In a bid to woo central government employees ahead of General Elections, the UPA government is expected to ask the seventh pay commission to consider merging 50% dearness allowance with basic pay of the employees.

This will form part of the 7th CPC terms of reference (ToR), to be considered by the Cabinet this week. The Commission may suggest interim relief as well.

Officials said the ToR of the Pay Commission categorically states that a proposal in this regard should be actively considered.

The hikes will be all the more appealing as the Centre is expected to increase the dearness allowance by 10% to 100% by the end of February. Usually, the DA is merged with the basic pay when the former goes beyond 50%. However, DA is 90%, but it 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% allowance is merged.

A higher basic pay will also impact the house rent allowance (HRA) of employees as it is calculated at 30% of the basic pay for central government employees.

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

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 recommendations of the Commission, will directly benefit almost 50 lakh employees and 30 lakh pensioners. Employees of states governments which will adopt the recommendations of the 7th Pay Commission will also benefit.

Filed Under: 50%DA MERGER, 7th CPC, 7th PAY COMMISSION, DEARNESS ALLOWANCE

Tuesday, February 18, 2014

Challenges before the Seventh Pay Commission:- Financial Express

8:45 PM - by ADMIN 1 comment:

Why does the government appoint a pay commission every decade?
A pay panel is appointed every decade to review and recommend the pay structure for central government employees taking into account various factors such as cost of living, inflation rate, revenue growth and fiscal deficit of the government, growth in workforce, private sector job scenario and wages, and economic growth. The government has so far appointed six pay commissions. The demand for a permanent pay commission set up through an Act of Parliament has been raised once but it was not accepted by the government.

Earlier this month, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh approved the constitution of the Seventh Pay Commission—to be headed by retired Supreme Court judge Ashok Kumar Mathur—to suggest the extent of hike in salaries of the 7-million-plus central government staff and pensioners with effect from 2016. Petroleum secretary Vivek Rae has been appointed as a full-time member, NIPFP director Rathin Roy will be part-time member and Meena Agarwal will be member-secretary of the new pay panel.

How did the process of pay hikes evolved?
The pay panel recommendations have evolved with time. The first central pay commission (CPC) adopted the concept of “living wage” to determine the pay structure of the government staff. The third CPC adopted the concept of “need-based wage”. The fourth CPC had recommended that the government constitute a permanent machinery to undertake periodical review of pay and allowances of its employees, but this was not accepted by the government. The sixth CPC suggested performance related incentive scheme (PRIS) to replace the ad hoc bonus and productivity-linked bonus schemes. The pay panel also suggested that the running pay band be extended to all grades of officers. Also, the sixth pay panel suggested slashing of the number of grades to 20 and one distinct pay scale for secretaries from the 35 existing earlier.

By how much have the public sector salaries increased every decade following the pay panels’ recommendations?
By and large, the salaries of central government staff have tripled every decade. The sixth CPC suggested 3 times increase in salaries from that of fifth CPC levels—it was 2.6 times for lower grade officials and slightly above 3 for higher grade staff. The increase in salary during fifth CPC was 3-3.5 times the fourth CPC levels.

What has been the fiscal implication of pay hikes?
Government finances have come under strain after implementations of each CPC. After the fourth CPC, the combined fiscal deficit of centre and states rose to 9.5% of GDP in FY87 from 7.7% in FY86. The impact was significantly harsh during the fifth CPC, especially for states—the combined fiscal deficit rose from 6.1% in FY97 to 7% in FY98 and then to 8.7% in FY99 with the aggregate deficit of states surging from 2.6% to over 4%.

In the case of the sixth CPC, the government expenditure increased by about Rs 22,000 crore during 2008-09—Rs 15,700 crore on the general budget and Rs 6,400 crore on the rail budget. The Rs 18,000 crore arrears were distributed in two years—40% in FY09 and 60% in FY10. The fiscal implication of sixth CPC coupled with fiscal stimulus in the form of higher spending and tax cuts after the Lehman crisis, increased Centre’s fiscal deficit to 6% in FY09 and 6.5% in FY10 from less than 3% in FY08.

What are the challenges before seventh CPC?
The new pay panel faces many challenges when it starts the process of reviewing the pay structures of babus. First, the economic growth has slowed sharply in the last 10 years—from over 9% between FY06 and FY08 to 4.5% in FY13. This means slower revenue growth and little room for scaling up expenditure on salaries.

Second, the Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management (FRBM) target has already been revised more than twice after the Lehman crisis and the new target for lowering the fiscal deficit target to 3% of GDP is FY17. This again binds the government to restrict spending on salaries and wages.

Third and the most important factor, inflation has stayed high in the past few years—the CPI inflation (CPI-Industrial Workers and the new CPI) has averaged over 9% in the past eight years, which means cost of living has gone up significantly and hence necessitates higher compensation for workers. The dearness allowance of government staff has already touched 100%, which along with the rise in other allowances have more than doubled salaries since 2006.

Analysts expect the seventh pay panel to suggest 3-3.5 times hike in salaries across various grades from sixth CPC levels apart from a further rationalisation of government staff. Already, direct or permanent jobs in public sector have been shrinking while engagement of contract labour and outsourcing is on the rise. This trend is likely to continue given the fiscal imperatives of the government.

There is a perception that government salaries should rise faster at the higher grades and slowly at the lower grades to keep pace with private sector. It needs to be seen whether the seventh CPC retains the minimum:maximum ratio at sixth CPC level of 1:12. A hike in the ratio should not impinge the fisc much as the top level officials—joint secretaries and above—comprise less than 5% of the overall public sector workforce. The performance related incentives could also be reviewed to retain talent within the public sector. More than the fiscal implication, what matters is the productivity of the public sector. For instance, sluggish clearances needed for large projects have ruined investment and halved the growth rate in last three years. The silver-lining of the next CPC could be that it may boost the services sector growth and help revive the faltering economy from 2016 as higher salaries boost spending on housing, automobiles and consumer electronics.

Source:The Financial Express

Filed Under: 7th CPC, 7th PAY COMMISSION

CBSE: Changes in Exam Pattern queried in Lok Sabha

1:19 AM - by ADMIN No comments:

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

MINISTRY OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT

LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO 3340
ANSWERED ON 12.02.2014
CHANGES IN EXAM PATTERN
3340 . Shri N. PEETHAMBARA KURUP

Will the Minister of HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT be pleased to state:-

(a) whether the existing pattern of examination of class X being conducted by the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) is proposed to be changed;

(b) if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor;

(c) whether the Union Government has reviewed the changes made recently in the CBSE Board exam, which made it optional for the students to attend the exam; and

(d) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT (DR. SHASHI THAROOR)

(a)&(b): No such proposal is under consideration.

(c)&(d): As per the analysis conducted by the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE), there has been no deviation in pass percentage with regard to students who appeared through Board based examinations vis-à-vis. School based examinations. The result of analysis is shown in the table given below:

Year	Scheme	No. of candidates appeared	Pass %	Mean out of 500
2011	School based	598587	98.71	334.41
	Board based	425089	98.66	340.87
	Total	1023676	98.69	337.09
2012	School based	681508	99.22	328.09
	Board based	484081	98.50	343.02
	Total	1165589	98.92	334.29
2013	School based	743552	99.56	332.43
	Board based	503602	99.03	347.80
	Total	1247154	99.35	338.64

Since the difference in pass percentage between the two modes is not statistically significant, the issue of reviewing the changes does not arise.

Source:Loksabha

Input fromhttp://karnmk.blogspot.in/2014/02/cbse-changes-in-exam-pattern-queried-in.html

Filed Under: CBSE, KVS

Special concessions/facilities to Central Government Employees working in Kashmir Valley in attached/subordinate offices or PSUs falling under the control of Central Government.

1:13 AM - by ADMIN No comments:

No. 18016/3/2011-Estt.(L)

Government of India

Ministry of Personnel, P.G. & Pensions

(Department of Personnel & Training)

New Delhi, the 17th February, 2014.

OFFICE MEMORANDUM

Subject:- Special concessions/facilities to Central Government Employees working in Kashmir Valley in attached/subordinate offices or PSUs falling under the control of Central Government.

The undersigned is directed to refer to this Department’s O.M. No. 18016/3/2011- Estt.(L) dated 27th June, 2012 on the subject mentioned above and to state that it has been decided to extend the package of concessions/incentives to Central Government employees working in Kashmir Valley for a further period of one year w.e.f. 01.01.2013. The revised package of incentives is as per annexure.

2. The package of incentives is uniformly applicable to all Ministries/ Departments and PSUs under the Government of India and they should ensure strict adherence to the rates prescribed in the package. The concerned Ministry/Department may ensure implementation and monitoring of the package in conformity with the approved package, and therefore, all Court cases in which verdicts are given contrary to the package would have to be contested by the Ministries/Departments concerned.

Hindi version will follow

End: As above.

(Mukul Ratra)

Director

ANNEXURE to DOPT’ s O.M. No.18016/3/2011-Estt.(L) dt. 17th February, 2014

DETAILS OF PACKAGE OF CONCESSIONS/FACILITIES TO CENTRAL GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES WORKING IN KASHMIR VALLEY IN ATTACHED/SUBORDINATE OFFICES OR PSUs FALLING UNDER THE CONTROL OF CENTRAL GOVERNMENT.

[Kashmir Valley comprises of ten districts namely, Anantnag, Baramulla, Budgam, Kupwara, Pulwama, Srinagar, Kulgam, Shopian, Ganderbal and Bandipora]

I. ADDITIONAL H.R A. AND OTHER CONCESSIONS :

(A) Employees posted to Kashmir Valley:

(i) These employees have an option to move their families to a selected place of their choice in India at Government expense. T.A. for the families allowed as admissible in permanent transfer inclusive of transportation of personal effects, lump-sum payment for packing etc.

(ii) Departmental arrangements for stay, security and transportation to the place of work for employees.

(iii) HRA as for Class ‘Y’ city applicable for employees exercising option at (i). Such employees will be eligible for drawing the normal HRA as well at their place of posting provided Departmental arrangement is not made for his/her stay.

(iv) The period of temporary duty extended to six months. For period of temporary duty daily allowance at full rate is admissible, apart from departmental arrangements for stay, security and transportation.

(B) Employees posted to Kashmir Valley who do not wish to move their families to a selected place of residence :

A per diem allowance of Rs.10/- is paid for each day of attendance to compensate for any additional expense in transportation to and from office etc. This will be in addition to the transport allowance, which the employee is otherwise eligible for under Ministry of Finance order No. 21(2)/2008-E.II(B) dated 29.08.2008.

II. MESSING FACILITIES :

Messing Allowance to be paid to the employees at a uniform rate of Rs.15/- per day by all Departments, or in lieu messing arrangements to be made by the Departments themselves. This rate of allowance will have to be adhered to uniformly by all the Ministries/Departments with effect from 01.07.1999. The slightly higher rate of Rs.25.50/- adopted by the Department of Telecom and Posts and allowed to be continued as a special case by the Department of Personnel in consultation with the Ministry of Finance, would, however, continue to be paid at the said rate.

III. PAYMENT OF MONTHLY PENSION TO PENSIONERS OF KASHMIR VALLEY:

Pensioners of Kashmir Valley who are unable to draw their monthly pensions through either Public Sector Banks or PAO treasuries from which they were receiving their pensions, would be given pensions outside the Valley where they have settled, in relaxation of relevant provisions.

NOTE :- 1. The package of concession/facilities shall be admissible in Kashmir Valley comprising of ten districts namely, Anantnag, Baramulla, Budgam, Kupwara, Pulwama, Srinagar, Kulgam, Shopian, Ganderbal and Bandipora.

2. The package of concessions/facilities shall be admissible to Temporary Status Casual laborers working in Kashmir Valley in terms of Para 5(i) of the Causal Laborers (Grant of Temporary Status and Regularization) Scheme of Government of India, 1993.

3. The benefit of additional HRA admissible under the Kashmir Valley package shall be admissible to all Central Government employees posted to Kashmir Valley irrespective of whether they are natives of Kashmir Valley, if they choose to move their families anywhere in India subject to the conditions governing the grant of these allowances.

4. The facilities of Messing Allowance and Per Diem Allowance shall also be allowed to natives of Kashmir Valley in terms of the Kashmir Valley package.

(Mukul Ratra)

Director

Source: www.persmin.nic.in

Filed Under: central government employees, dopt, special concessions

The Lokpal and Lokayuktas (Removal of Difficulties) Order, 2014: DoPT Order

1:08 AM - by ADMIN No comments:

MINISTRY OF PERSONNEL, PUBLIC GRIEVANCES AND PENSIONS

(Department of Personnel and Training)

ORDER

New Delhi, the 15th February, 2014

S.O. 409(E).—Whereas the Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act, 2013 (1 of 2014) (hereinafter referred to as the said Act) came into force on the 16th day of January, 2014;

And whereas Section 44 of the said Act requires making of a declaration of assets and liabilities by the public servant to the competent authority in the manner provided under the said Act;

And whereas Section 44 of the said Act requires furnishing of information relating to assets and liabilities, (i) by the public servant on the occasion of entering upon office within thirty days from the date of assumption of office, and (ii) by a public servant holding his office as such within a period of thirty days from the date of coming into force of the said Act;

And whereas Section 44 of the said Act also requires the filing of annual return of such assets and liabilities with the competent authority, on or before the 31st day of July every year; and the competent authority in respect of each Ministry or Department shall ensure such statements are published on the website of such Ministry or Department by the 31st day of August of that year;

And whereas different set of rules such as—

(i) the Central Civil Services (Conduct) Rules, 1964;
(ii) the All-India Services (Conduct) Rules, 1968;
(iii) the Railway Services (Conduct) Rules, 1966,

and other relevant rules exist with respect to public servants on filing of property returns and making of declaration of assets by every public servant which have been framed by the President or the Central Government in exercise of powers under the Constitution or the relevant Acts of Parliament and are being complied with by each and every Government servant;

And whereas the modifications or amendments of the above said rules and other relevant rules in consonance with the provisions of Section 44 of the said Act will need some time keeping the constitutional and other statutory requirements which are to be followed while modifying or amending of such rules which are in force;

And whereas the amendment of the Central Civil Services (Conduct) Rules, 1964 shall require consultation with the Comptroller and Auditor-General of India as per the constitutional provisions, and in case of the All-India Services (Conduct) Rules, 1968, the amendment or modification of the said rules shall require consultation with the Governments of the States concerned in terms of Section 3 of the All-India Services Act, 1951 (61 of 1951);

And whereas after following the above procedure, it is unlikely and may not be possible to complete the process of harmonising the provisions of section 44 of the said Act with other relevant Acts and the Constitutional provisions within the time frame provided in Section 44 of the said Act;

And whereas difficulties have arisen in giving effect to the provisions of Section 44 of the said Act and harmonising its requirement with the above referred Constitutional provisions, Acts and the rules made thereunder before the rules are made by the Central Government for prescribing the form and manner of furnishing information and filing of annual returns by public servants under the said Section 44;

Now, therefore the Central Government, in exercise of the powers conferred by sub-section (1) of Section 62 of the Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act, 2013 (1 of 2014), hereby makes the following Order to remove the difficulties in respect of making of declaration of assets by public servants and filing of property returns in terms of Section 44 of the said Act, namely:—

1. Short title and commencement.—(1) This Order may be called the Lokpal and Lokayuktas (Removal of Difficulties) Order, 2014.
(2) It shall come into force on the date of its publication in the Official Gazette.

2. Modification or amendment of relevant rules in consonance with Section 44 of said Act.—(1) The modification or amendment to the relevant rules referred to in this Order shall be carried out within a period not exceeding one hundred and eighty days from the date on which the provisions of the said Act came into force.

(2) The public servants who have filed the declarations, information and returns under the provisions of the relevant rules shall file revised declarations, information or returns, as the case may be, in compliance of the rules framed under Section 44 of the said Act within the period specified therein.

[No. 407/12/2014-AVD-IV(B)]

sd/-

DEEPTI UMASHANKAR, Jt. Secy.

Source: www.persmin.nic.in

Site Categories

Friday, February 28, 2014

Thursday, February 27, 2014

Tuesday, February 25, 2014

Monday, February 24, 2014

Sunday, February 23, 2014

Tuesday, February 18, 2014

PAY CALCULATOR

Enter your Sixth CPC Pay Details Here

7th Pay Commission Pay and Allowance as on 1.1.2016

CGHS HOSPITALS

Unordered List

DOPT ORDERS

DOPT FOR PENSIONERS

Categories

DOPT on LTC

Labels

Followers

Categories 2

Featured Video

Find Us On Facebook

Advertisement

Advertising

Featured Video

GENERAL PROVIDENT FUND

Sponsor

CGHS -CIRCULARS

ABOUT BLOG

Blogger templates

About

Popular Posts

Blog Archive

Pages

Unordered List

Text Widget

Ordered List

Recent Posts

Sample Text