Thursday, 12 June 2014
Wednesday, 11 June 2014
Central employees with differently abled kids exempted from transfers
Central government employees who have differently abled children to take care of will be exempted from routine transfers and they will not be asked to take voluntary retirement on refusing such postings, the Centre has said.
A central government employee with a disabled child serves as the main caregiver and any displacement of such employee will have a bearing on the systemic rehabilitation of the child since the new environment or set up could prove to be a hindrance for rehabilitation process, it said.
“Therefore, a government servant who is also a caregiver of disabled child may be exempted from the routine exercise of transfer or rotational transfer subject to the administrative constraints,” the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) said in Order No.42011/3/2014-Estt.(Res.) dated June 6, 2014.
The word ‘disabled’ includes blindness or low vision, hearing impairment, locomotor disability or cerebral palsy, leprosy, mental retardation, mental illness and multiple disabilities, it said.
“Upbringing and rehabilitation of disabled child require financial support. Making the government employee to choose voluntary retirement on the pretext of routine transfer or rotation transfer would have adverse impact on the rehabilitation process of the disabled child,” the DoPT said in its directive issued to all central government ministries and departments for compliance.
The move comes in the wake of demand that a government employee who is a caregiver of the disabled child should not suffer due to displacement by means of routine transfer or rotational transfers.
“This demand has been made on the ground that a government employee raises a kind of support system for his or her disabled child over a period of time in the locality where he or she resides which helps them in the rehabilitation,” it said.
The matter was examined by the DoPT which found that rehabilitation is a process aimed at enabling persons with disabilities to reach and maintain their optimal physical, sensory, intellectual, and psychiatric or a social functional level.
“The support system comprises preferred linguistic zone, school or academic level, administration, neighbours, tutors or special educators, friends, medical care including hospitals, therapists and doctors, etc.
“Thus, rehabilitation is a continuous process and creation of such support system takes years together,” the DoPT said.
Source : PTI
Tuesday, 10 June 2014
Monday, 9 June 2014
Gazetted officer’s attestation no longer required
You may no longer need a gazetted officer or a magistrate to attest documents sought by government departments. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has asked his bureaucrats to repeal all laws and rules which come in the way of effective governance.
In a meeting with secretaries on Wednesday, the PM suggested government departments should adopt the system of self-attestation of certificates, photographs and marksheets, instead of asking for attested documents or filing of affidavits. He also told officials all government application forms should be made short and simple by doing away with unnecessary fields.
“The prime minister said self attestation should be enough because it is a hassle for the common man to get it attested from gazetted officers. Anyway, the original documents are required to be produced at the final stage,” a senior government official told Business Standard.
Obtaining either an attested copy or affidavit not only costs money but also leads to wastage of time for government officials as well as citizens, including students, job applicants and beneficiaries of various government schemes. Attestation by gazetted officers is required at many places such as applying for a ‘tatkal’ passport, admission in a central or state university or a government job.
The Second Administrative Reforms Commission, in its report in 2009, recommended the adoption of the self-certification provision to simplify procedures. Taking a cue from this, the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions issued a circular last year, and some departments and state governments such as Gujarat and Goa had adopted it. But it has not been fully enforced at all levels.
The prime minister, who keeps himself updated with the day's news on an iPad and clicks selfies with his smartphone, told bureaucrats that rules and by-laws which hamper the effective use of technology should also be done away with. He asked them to use technology such as internal emails and intranet in a big way.
Another official said Modi was critical of the archaic rules and by-laws which govern the country's law and order departments, and shared anecdotes on how some of those were done away with in Gujarat.
Sources said flying balloons near border areas was prohibited by law because during World War II, because they were used to transmit messages. The provision remained even decades after India’s independence, till Modi took over as chief minister of Gujarat, the sources added.
The Prime Minister has directed his officers to identify 10 rules and regulations which can be scrapped or revisited to make them more effective in today’s environment. He has directed officers to prepare a dossier of such rules and by-laws and present them for review.
He also said rules regarding transfer and postings of officers needed to be changed to ensure there was continuity of service. The Prime Minister added those who are underperforming could lose their promotion prospects.
“The PM said ‘I don’t believe in transfers. Even if a guy doesn’t perform I have to think 15 times what to do with him because I am not transferring a person, I am transferring a problem’,” said another official.
SIMPLIFYING THE PROCESS
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi has asked bureaucrats to repeal all laws and rules which come in the way of effective governance. A look at what is planned:
- The PM has suggested government departments to do away with attestation of certificates by gazetted officers; instead, documents should be self-attested. Original documents, in any case, are required to be produced in the final stages of any government work, bureaucrats said
- He has suggested to bureaucrats technology should be adopted in a big way. All rules and by-laws, which hamper the effective use of technology, should be done away with, the PM has suggested
- Modi has directed officers to identify 10 rules that can be scrapped or revisited, to make them more effective in current times. Officers are supposed to prepare a dossier of such rules and present them for review
- He has proposed rules regarding the transfer and postings of officers be changed to ensure continuity of service
Source : http://www.business-standard.com/
Trade Unions meet F.M., demand D.A. merger among other demands.
The Union Finance Minister Shri Arun Jaitley said that skill development would be given priority so that more and more trained workers join the Indian economy. He said that the Government will give due consideration to the Ten Point Joint Charter of Demands given by the Central Trade Unions while formulating the budgetary proposals. The Finance Minister was speaking here today while interacting with the representatives of the Central Trade Unions as part of his Pre-Budget Consultation meetings.
Along with the Finance Minister, the meeting was attended by Ms. Nirmala Sitharaman, Minister of State for Finance and Corporate Affairs, Shri Ratan P. Watal, Expenditure Secretary, Shri Rajiv Takru, Revenue Secretary, Smt. Gauri Kumar, Secretary, Ministry of Labour and Employment and senior officers of the Ministry of Finance among others.
The participating Central Trade Unions gave a joint memorandum to the Finance Minister for his consideration and positive response. Some of the specific proposals contained there in are given below:
Take effective measures to arrest the spiraling price rise and to contain inflation; Ban speculative forward trading in commodities; universalize and strengthen the Public Distribution System(PDS); ensure proper check on hoarding; rationalize, with a view to reduce the burden on people, the tax/duty/cess on petroleum products.
Massive investment in the infrastructure in order to stimulate the economy for job creation. Public Sector should take the leading role in this regard. The plan and non-plan expenditure should be increased in the budget to stimulate jobs creation and guarantee consistent income to people.
Minimum wage linked to Consumer Price Index (CPI) must be guaranteed to all workers, taking into consideration the recommendations of the 15th Indian Labour Conference . It should not be less than Rs. 15,000/- p.m.
· FDI should not be allowed in crucial sectors like defence production, telecommunications, railways, financial sector, retail trade, education, health and media.
· The Public Sector Units (PSUs) played a crucial role during the year of severe contraction of private capital investment immediately following the outbreak of global financial crisis. PSUs should be strengthened and expanded. Disinvestment of shares of profit making public sector units should be stopped forthwith. Budgetary support should be given for revival of potentially viable sick CPSUs.
· In view of huge job losses and mounting unemployment problem, the ban on recruitment in Government departments, PSUs and autonomous institutions (including recent Finance Ministry’s instruction to abolish those posts not filled for one year) should be lifted as recommended by 43rd Session of Indian Labour Conference. Condition of surrender of posts in government departments and PSUs should be scrapped and new posts be created keeping in view the new work and increased workload.
· Proper allocation of funds be made for interim relief and 7th Pay Commission.
· The scope of MGNREGA be extended to agriculture operations and employment for minimum period of 200 days with guaranteed statutory wage be provided, as unanimously recommended by 43rd Session of Indian Labour Conference.
· The massive workforce engaged in ICDS, Mid Day Meal Scheme, Vidya volunteers, guest teachers, Siksha Mitra, the workers engaged in the Accredited Social Health Activities (ASHA) and other schemes be regularized. No to privatization of centrally funded schemes. Universalization of ICDS be done as per Supreme Court directions by making adequate budgetary allocations.
· Steps be taken for removal of all restrictive provisions based on poverty line in respect of eligibility coverage of the schemes under the Unorganized Workers Social Security Act 2008 and allocation of adequate resources for the National Fund for Unorganised Workers to provide for social security to all unorganised workers including the contract/casual and migrant workers in line with the recommendations of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Labour and also the 43rd Session of Indian Labour Conference. The word BPL redefined and redistributed at the earliest.
· Remunerative prices should be ensured for agricultural produce and Government investment, public investment in agriculture sector must be substantially augmented as a proportion of GDP and total budgetary expenditure. It should also be ensured that benefits of the increase reach the small, marginal and medium cultivators only.
· Budgetary provision should be made for providing essential services including housing, public transport, sanitation, water, schools, crèche, health care etc, to workers in the new emerging industrial areas. Working women’s Hostels should be set-up where there is a concentration of women workers.
· Requisite budgetary support for addressing crisis in traditional sectors like jute, textiles, plantation, handloom, carpet and coir etc.
· Budgetary provision for elementary education should be increased, particularly in the context of the implementation of the ‘Right to Education’ as this is the most effective tool to combat child labour.
· The system of computation of Consumer Price Index (CPI) should be reviewed as the present index is causing heavy financial loss to the workers.
· Income tax exemption ceiling for the salaried persons should be raised to Rs. 5.00 lakh per annum and fringe benefits like housing, medical and educational facilities and running allowances should be exempted from income tax net in totality.
· Threshold limit of 20 employees in EPF Scheme be brought down to 10 as recommended by CBT-EPF. Pension benefits under the EPS unilaterally withdrawn by the Government should be restored. Government and employers contribution be increased to allow sustainability of Employees Pension Scheme and for provision of minimum pension of Rs. 3000/- p.m.
· New Pension Scheme be withdrawn and newly recruited employees of Central And State Governments on or after 1.1.2004 be covered under Old Pension Scheme;
· Demand for Dearness Allowance merger by Central Government and PSU employees be accepted and adequate allocation of fund for this be made in the budget.
· All interests and social security of the domestic workers to be statutorily protected on the lines of ILO Convention on domestic workers.
· The Cess management of the construction workers is the responsibility of the Finance Ministry under the Act and the several irregularities found in collection of cess be rectified as well as their proper utilization must be ensured.
In regard to resource mobilization, the Trade Unions have emphasized on the following:
· A progressive taxation system should be put in place to ensure taxing the rich and the affluent sections who have the capacity to pay at a higher degree. The corporate service sector, traders, wholesale business, private hospitals and institutions etc should be brought under broader and higher tax net. Increase taxes on luxury goods and reduce indirect taxes on essential commodities.
· Concrete steps must be taken to recover huge accumulated unpaid tax arrears which has already crossed more than Rs. 5.00 lakh crore on direct and corporate tax account alone, and has been increasing at a geometric proportion. Such huge tax evasion over and above the liberal tax concessions already given in the last two budgets should not be allowed to continue.
· We welcome the constitution of SIT for black money and urge for speedy action.
· Effective measures should be taken to unearth huge accumulation of black money in the economy including the huge unaccounted money in tax heavens abroad and within the country. Provisions be made to bring back the illicit flows from India which are at present more than twice the current external debt of US $ 230 billion. This money should be directed towards providing social security.
· Concrete measures be expedited for recovering the NPAs of the banking system from the willfully defaulting corporate and business houses. By making provision in Banking Regulations Act, CMDs and executives to be made accountable for creation of NPAs.
· Tax on long term capital gains to be introduced, so also higher taxes on the security transactions to be levied.
· The rate of wealth tax, corporate tax, gift tax etc to be expanded and enhanced.
· ITES, outsourcing sector, educational institutions and health services etc run on commercial basis should be brought under the Service Tax net.
· Small saving instruments under postal and other agencies be encouraged by incentivizing commission agents of these scheme.
Other suggestions include holding of post budget consultations with the representatives of Central Trade Unions, need for directional change in policies such as stopping of mindless deregulation, encourage entrepreneurship to tackle problem of unemployment, more spending on education and skill development, removal of ceiling on gratuity, bonus and pension etc of workers and following the principle of “Same work, same wages” among others.
Representatives of different Central Trade Union groups who participated in today’s meeting included Shri B.N. Rai, Bhartiya Mazdoor Sangh (BMS), Shri Chandra Prakash Singh, Indian National Trade Union Congress (INTUC), Shri Shanta Kumar, INTUC, Ms Amarjeet Kaur, Indian National Trade Union Congress (INTUC), Shri D.L. Sachdeva, Indian National Trade Union Congress (INTUC), Shri Sharad Rao, Hind Mazdoor Sabha (HMS), Shri Harbhajan Singh Sidhu, Hind Mazdoor Sabha (HMS), Shri Swadesh Devroye, Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU), Shri Tapan Sen, MP (RS), Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU), Shri Dilip Bhattacharya, All India United Trade Union Centre (AIUTUC), Shri Sankar Saha, All India United Trade Union Centre (AIUTUC), Shri Sheo Prasad Tiwari, Trade Union Coordination Centre (TUCC), Shri V.Suburaman, Labour Progressive Federation (LPF), Shri M. Shanmugum, LPF, Shri Prechandan, United Trade Union Congress (UTUC), Shri Abni Roy, United Trade Union Congress (UTUC) and Dr. Virat Jaiswal, National Front of Indian Trade Unions among others.
Source : PIB Press Release
Friday, 6 June 2014
Five days' week likely to continue in central offices
NEW DELHI: With Prime Minister Narendra Modi setting a hectic pace for his ministers, babudom is abuzz with talk of a possible review of working hours for central government offices as well.
Though department of personnel and training (DoPT) officials on Wednesday said no formal proposal for longer working hours or a return to six-day week had been moved, they felt that given that most ministers were keeping longer hours and also working on Saturdays, senior bureaucrats and other staff may be asked to put in longer hours to assist them.
A DoPT official said debate about the desirability of restructuring the working hours may start if the political leadership so desires.
Political sources, however, said no proposal to extend either working hours or switch to a six-day week has even been mooted so far. It was former PM Rajiv Gandhi who started the five-day week. However, bureaucrats have been making frantic calls to their contacts in DoPT to confirm if reports of a possible corporatization of government departments, complete with longer working hours, were indeed true.
Interestingly, Gujarat government office timings stretch from 10.30 am to 6.10 pm, with the second and fourth Saturdays being off, along with Sundays.
With Modi having given clear directions to his ministers to show results that will set apart the NDA government from the "lacklustre and non-performing" UPA regime, the ministers are already clocking longer hours, setting a time-bound agenda for delivery.
This has made it imperative for secretaries, joint secretaries and their staff to remain in office to assist the minister. Central government offices at present have 40 working hours per week, with Saturday and Sunday being off days.
Source : http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/
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