Railways drive against employees on unauthorized absence
In November, 2017, a drive was launched by the Railways to identify employees on unauthorised absence in various Zonal Railways and Production Units. A total of 13,521 employees were reported to be on unauthorised absence, the details of which are given below. Appropriate action under Disciplinary and Appeal Rules has been initiated against such absentees.
Break up of 13,521 Employees on unauthorised absence(Provisional)
Zonal Railway/Production Unit
No of Absentees
Central
1375
East Coast
683
East Central
1792
Eastern
1214
North Central
844
North Eastern
358
Northern
1301
North Western
360
South Central
650
South East Central
274
South Eastern
829
Southern
1476
South Western
216
West Central
550
Western
1414
Chittaranjan Locomotive Works
34
Diesel Locomotive Works
6
Diesel Loco Modernisation Works
6
Integral Coach Factory
115
Rail Coach Factory
19
Rail Wheel Factory
5
Total of Railways and PUs
13521
This information was given by the Minister of State of Railways Shri Rajen Gohain in a written reply to a question in Lok Sabha today.
Central Government civil servants appointed before 1.1.2004 are governed by the Central Civil Services (Pension) Rules, 1972. In accordance with Rule 49 of these rules, on retirement after completing a qualifying service of not less than 10 years, a Government servant is entitled to a pension calculated @ 50% per cent of his last drawn pay or 50% of the average of last 10 months’ pay, whichever is more beneficial to him, subject to a minimum of Rs. 9,000/- per month and a maximum of Rs.1,25,000/- per month.
A Government servant appointed on or after 1.1.2004 is governed by the National Pension System. Under this system, a Government servant is required to mandatorily contribute during service 10% of his pay and dearness allowance to his pension account and an equal amount of 10% of pay and dearness allowance is contributed by the Government to the employee’s pension account. On retirement on superannuation, the retiring Government employee is mandatorily required to invest at least 40% of the accumulated pension wealth to purchase an annuity from an insurance company regulated by the Insurance Regulatory Development Authority (IRDA) and a maximum of 60% of the accumulated pension wealth is given to the individual in lump sum.
On retirement, all Government servants are entitled to a retirement gratuity based on their qualifying service subject to a maximum of Rs.20 lakh.
This was stated by the Minister of State for Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions and Prime Minister’s Office, Dr. Jitendra Singh in a written reply to question in the Lok Sabha today.
No such consolidated data is maintained by this Department regarding vigilance probe for the charges of misappropriation of public funds and income more than the known sources against officers of All India Services and other Allied Central Services. However, for officers of Indian Administrative Service (IAS), Department of Personnel & Training (DoPT) is the Cadre Controlling Authority (CCA) and for Indian Police Service (IPS), the CCA is Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA).
As per available information, sanction for prosecution on the specific charges of misappropriation of public funds and disproportionate assets has been issued against 12 IAS/IPS officers in the last three years (2015-2017).
Further, 01 retired IAS/IPS officer was convicted on corruption charges, and 02 IAS/IPS officers were terminated from service in the last three years on charges of misappropriation of funds.
This was stated by the Minister of State for Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions and Prime Minister’s Office, Dr. Jitendra Singh in a written reply to question in the Lok Sabha today.
Hon’ble Delhi High Court vide its judgement dated 17.07.2015 in the Writ Petition (C) No. 844/2014 – Rama Pandey vs. Union of India &Ors., has laid down that a female employee, who is the commissioning mother, would be entitled to apply for maternity leave. Department of Personnel and Training, after examination of the judgement, has circulated it to all Ministries/Departments for wide publicity vide Office Memorandum dated 29.01.2018.
In accordance with the Office Memorandum No. 1/13/09- P&PW (E) dated 19th July, 2017, family pension would also be granted to a divorced daughter from the date of divorce in cases where the divorce proceedings had been filed in a competent court during the life-time of the employee/pensioner or his/her spouse but divorce took place after their death, subject to fulfilment of all other conditions for grant of family pension.
No centralized data regarding grant of pension/family pension by the various Pension Disbursing authorities is maintained.
This was stated by the Minister of State for Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions and Prime Minister’s Office, Dr. Jitendra Singh in a written reply to question in the Lok Sabha today.
As per Fundamental Rules (F.R.) No.11, the whole time of a Government servant is at the disposal of the Government which pays him, he may be employed in any manner required by proper authority without claim for additional remuneration.
Sometimes with a view to meeting the exigencies of work such as when a Government business has to be transacted immediately or a deadline is to be met, the Head of Office can, in the interests of public service, take a decision to keep the offices open fully or partially even on public holidays. The staff who are deployed on official duty on public holidays are, however, compensated by granting them compensatory leave.
Need for laying down procedure for registering complaints in case of any Government/private office remaining open on public holidays has not been felt.
This was stated by the Minister of State for Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions and Prime Minister’s Office, Dr. Jitendra Singhin a written reply to question in the Lok Sabha today.
Revision of the rates of Night Duty Allowance (NDA) – recommendations of 7th Central Pay Commission.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS
(RAILWAY BOARD)
S.No.PC-VII/95
RBE No. 36/2018
No.E(P&A)II-2017/HW-1
New Delhi, dated 08.03.2018
The General Managers/CAOs,
All Indian Railways & Production Units.
Sub :- Revision of the rates of Night Duty Allowance (NDA)-recommendations of 7th Central Pay Commission.
Please refer to Board’s letter No.E(P&A)II-2008/HW-2, dt. 16.12.2008 (RBE NO.199/2008) as amended from time to time regarding revision of rates of Night Duty Allowance (NDA) during 6th CPC period.
2. Consequent upon the decision taken by the Government of India on the recommendations of the 7th CPC, the President is pleased to decide that the hourly rate of NDA shall be equal to {(Basic Pay+Dearness Allowance)/200) which would be admissible to eligible categories of non-gazetted Railway Servants classified under chapter XIV of the Railway Act, 1989 read with the Railway Servants (Hours of Work and Period of Rest) Rules, 2005 for work put in during the period from 2200 hrs to 0600 hrs. The rate should be worked out separately for each employee. The present formulation of weightage of 10 minutes for every hour of duty performed between the hours of 22:00 and 06:00 would continue.
3. The grant of NDA shall be subject to furnishing of a certificate by the supervisor concerned that Night Duty is essential.
4. The revised rates of NDA shall be admissible with effect from the 1st of July, 2017.
5. These orders would be subject to modification, if any, after the issue of instructions by the Nodal Ministry i.e. Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions (Department of Personnel & Training).
6. This issues with the concurrence of the Finance Directorate of the Ministry of Railways.
F.No.8-1/2016-PAP
Government of India
Ministry Of Communication
Department of Posts
(Establishment Division) /P.A.P.Section
Dak Bhawan, Sansad Marg, New Delhi – 110 001
Dated 19th March,2018
To
1. All Heads of circles
2. All heads of postal Accounts Offices
3. Deputy Director General (PAF)/CGM,PLI/CGM,BD
4. ADG (ADMN) Postal Directorate
5. All heads of postal staff college/P.T.Cs
Sub: Grant of Dearness Allowance to Central Government Employees – Revised Rates effective from 1.1.2018
I am directed to forward herewith a copy of the Ministry of Finance, Department of Expenditure’s Office Memorandum No.1/1/2018-E-II(B) dated 15th March, 2018 on the subject cited above for information, guidance and further necessary action.
This issue with the approval of the competent authority.
30th SCOVA meeting Fresh Agenda Items – DOPPW ORDER
SCOVA
F.No.42/0S12018-P&PW(G)
Government of India
Ministry of Personnel, P.G and Pensions
Department of Pension & Pensioners Welfare
********
3rd Floor, Lok Nayak Bhawan
Khan Market, New Delhi-110003
Date:- 19th March, 2018
To
All the Pensioners Associations included in SCOVA
vide Resolution dated 31.01.2018
Subject: 30th SCOVA meeting under the chairmanship of Hon’ble MOS(PP)- Fresh Agenda Items
Please find enclosed herewith a list of 9 Fresh Agenda Items to be taken up for discussion in the 30th SCOVA meeting to be held under the chairmanship of Hon’ble MOS(PP) on 23.03.2018 at 10.30 am in Committee Room-A, Vigyan Bhawan Annexe, New Delhi for kind perusal.
Encl: as above
(Charanjit Taneja)
Under Secretary to the Govt. of India
Revision of PPOs of pre-2016 pensioners/family pensioners as per 7th CPC orders.
Orders have been issued by Department of Pension & Pensioners Welfare for revision of pension of pre-2016 pensioners/family pensioners vide OM No. 38/37/2016-P&PW(A) dated 04.08.2016 and 12.05.2017. Department of Pension and Pensioners’ Welfare has also issued Concordance table to facilitate quick revision of pension. Provision has also been made in the “Bhavishya” software to revised the pension electronically. However, the pace of revision of pension/family pension of pre-2016 pensioners/family pensioners is not satisfactory. Action needs to be taken to expedite revision of pension of pre-20 16 pensioners/family pensioners.
Payment of arrears accruing in respect of deceased pensioners/family pensioners to the nominee/legal heir.
On death of pension/family pensioner, the pension account is closed by the bank and the balance amount in the account is paid to the nominee. However, the lifetime arrears arising subsequently on account of Pay Commissions etc. are not paid to the legal heirs of the deceased pensioner/family pensioner either on account of fact that the pension/family pension is not revised by the concerned Pension Sanctioning Authority(PSA) or the amount of arrears of revised pension/family pension is not paid due to closure of the bank account. In such cases the amount of arrears is kept in a suspense account. Therefore, suitable instructions may be issued to CPAO/PAOs and CPPCs of the banks to make sure that the benefits arising out of revision of Pension/Dearness Relief is also disbursed to the nominee/legal heirs of the deceased pension/family pensioner.
iAction:- CPAO and Department of Financial Services)
(30.3)
Extension of benefit of modified parity/ revision of pension by pay fixation method to pensioners drawing Compulsory Retirement Pension/Compassionate Allowance (on dismissal/removal).
In the 5th and 6th CPC, orders were issued for revision of pension of past pensioners who were dismissed/compulsorily retired by consolidation of their pre-revised Pension, Compassionate Allowance and Dearness Pension, Dearness Relief and Fitment benefit. However, the benefit of modified parity i.e fixation of pension on 50% of the minimum of pay-scale/minimum of Pay Band + Grade Pay was not extended to such pensioners. Similarly, in the 7th CPC, although the benefit of revision of pension by modifying the pre-revised pension by a factor of 2.57 has been allowed in such cases, the benefit of revision of pension by notional pay fixation method h as not been extended to the pre-2016 pensioners/family pensioners who were compulsorily retired/dismissed from service. The benefit of modified parity in 5th and 6th Pay Commission and notional pay fixation in the 7th CPC should also to be extended to the pensioners drawing compulsory retirement pension/compassionate allowance.
(Action:- DoPPW)
(30.4)
Empanelment of private referral hospitals in each of the districts of the States in the country.
Consequent on allowing Non-CGHS area; P& T pensioners to join CGHS, there is an increase in number of pensioners under CGHS from difference areas of the country. At present, CGHS is functioning only from the State capitals and some important cities. Therefore, the newly joining CGHS beneficiaries from the distant districts are not able to avail CGHS facilities. At least one renowned private hospital in every district, which is ready to accept the norms of CGHS including the approved rates etc. may be added as a referral hospital.
(Action:- Ministry of Health and Family Welfare)
(30.5)
Revision of CGHS package rates suitably for attracting more private hospitals for empanelment.
The rates of medical facilities for providing hospitals under CGHS are very less which discourages the private hospitals to get themselves empanelled under the CGHS Scheme. Therefore, CGHS package rates should be suitably revised so as to attract more private hospitals for empanelment under the scheme.
(Action:- Ministry of Health and Family Welfare)
(30.6)
Fixed Medical Allowance for pensioners who are residing away from RELHS centres.
Present rate of Fixed Medical Allowance (FMA) which was introduced w.e.f 01.12.1997 is Rs. 1000/- per month and is available to Central Government pensioners who are residing outside CGHS. It has been made compulsory for the Railway Pensioners to join RELHS Scheme and such Railway Pensioners are not entitled to any FMA irrespective of their place of residence and the distances from the RELHS Centers. FMA, which is given for OPD facilities treatment near the residence of the pensioners, may be extended to all Railway Pensioners.
(Action:- Ministry of Railways)
(30.7)
Difference in Last Rank held and Rank for Pension in the case of pre-2006 military pensioners.
After 01.01.2006, Rank for pension and Rank last held is same for grant of pension of Military Pensioners. However for a few pre 01.01.2006 Military Pensioners, rank for pension and rank last held may be different. Such anomaly leads to variation of pension for pre-2006 and post- 2006 retirees. In view of above, the policy of post 01.01.2006 be followed for all pensioners and orders be issued for implementation.
(Action: Ministry of Defence)
(30.8)
Extension of benefit of Composite Hospitals to CAPF personnel.
The medical facilities from Composite Hospitals of CAPF are available only to serving CAPF employees and these services are not provided to retired CAPF personnel. The CGHS facilities are available only in State capitals and are not available to CAPF personnel settled in distant places. Fixed Medical Allowance (M) of Rs. 1000/- is not sufficient for medical needs of the retired CAPF personnel. The medical facilities in Composite Hospitals which are available in all the States should also be extended to the retired CAPF personnel and required funds may be provided by Ministry of Home Affairs to these Hospitals.
(Action: Ministry of Home Affairs)
(30.9)
Holding of regular Pension Adalats by all Major Ministries/Departments.
Department of Pension & Pensioners Welfare have recently started holding Pension Adalats. Among other Departments only Postal Department is holding Pension Adalat twice a year. Other Central Ministries/Departments i.e Railways, Defence, Telecom, Central Excise and Customs, Income Tax etc. are not holding Pension Adalats. They should be advised to hold regular Pension Adalats.
Sixteen points charter of Demands submitted by FNPO
No.08-12/2017-SR-(Vol-I) Government of India Ministry of Communications Department of Posts (SR Section)
Dak Bhawan, New Delhi
Dated: 14th March, 2018
To
The Secretary General,
Federation of National Postal Organisations,
T-24, Atul Grove Road,
New Delhi-110001
Subject: Sixteen points charter of Demands submitted by FNPO.
Sir,
I am directed to refer to your letters of No. Strike/02/2018 dated 18-01-2018 and No. Strike/08/2018 dated 28-02-2018 on the above mentioned subject. The charter of demands has been examined by the concerned Divisions and replies to each item of demands showing the present status are enclosed herewith at Annexure X.
As many of your demands have been settled and few are under active consideration of the Department, it is requested that the proposed trade union action called by you on 15-03-2018 may be called off.
This issues with the approval of competent authority.
Yours faithfully,
(Daisy Barla)
ADC (SR & Legal)
Encl: As Above
Annexure-X
16 points charter if demands submitted by FNPO vide letter dated 18-01-2018
Sl.No.
Item/demand
Reply received from concerned Division
1.
Implementation of positive recommendation of GDS Committee Report.
Establishment Division:
Matter is under examination of Government.
Grant of civil servant status to GDS. Request for ‘Removal of 3-A (1) of GDS Conduct & Engagement Rules, 2011, Grant pension to all GDS without absorption as regular Group D – As per Principal CAT, New Delhi Judgment.
Reply is awaited from concerned Division.
2.
Granting the benefits of MACPs w.e.f. 01/01/2006 as per 6th CPC based on the judgment of the Hon’ble Supreme Court.
Reply is awaited from concerned Division.
3.
Implement cadre restructuring for left out categories i.e. RMS, MMS, PACO, Postmaster Cadre Postal Civil Wing etc. and the demands of the National Union of Postal Civil Wing Employees.
The cadre restructuring of left out cadres, i.e. RMS, MMS, PACO and PASBCO is currently under examination in consultation with the Department of Expenditure. The Department of Expenditure has raised some queries on the above proposal. However, the comments on the said queries are being prepared by this office for furnishing the same to Department of Expenditure. The process of cadre restructuring of Postmaster Cadre has been initiated and necessary information is being collected from the Circles.
Demands of the National Union of Postal Civil Wing Employees:
Same points was raised by the representatives of FNPO during the meeting held on 28.03.2017 under the Chairmanship of Addl. Director General (Co-ordination) and minutes of the meeting issued on 12.04.2017. As stated in para 2 of the minutes, it was decided by the Competent Authority that the representative of the FNPO will submit a proposal for cadre review with full justification and the same will be examined by this office for further action in the matter.
No such proposal has however been received till date. In the mean time a proposal for cadre restructuring has been received from Bharatiya Postal Civil Wing Non-Gazetted Employees Union on 19.09.2017 which has been taken on record. The FNPO has been reminded vide this office letter dated 05.12.2017 to submit the proposal at the earliest but the same has not been received till date. A reminder for the same has been issued on 12.02.2018. After receipt of the proposal from the FNPO the matter will be examined and preceded further as per rule.
4.
Implement CSI and RICT only after providing all required infrastructure including bandwidth.
Technology Division-CSI:
Infrastructure:-
Hardware is being provided as and when funds are made available. CSI will be rolled out only after the compliant hardware is there, either new, existing or upgraded
Bandwidth:-
Bandwidth is being upgraded wherever required. The powers of bandwidth up-gradation/down-gradation are decentralized to the Circles in almost all the cases.
RB Division:
The Digital Advancement of Rural Post Offices for a New India (DARPAN) project aims to cover 1.29 lakhs BOs by providing Handheld RICT devices which will enable the Branch Postmasters to carry out online transactions. As on date 54308 devices have been rolled out.
Equipment connected with the DARPAN such as Handheld device and solar panel are supplied to all Branch Post Offices which have been rolled out.
In addition to the above, Infrastructure items e.g. table, chair, iron safe, Amirah etc are also supplied as per target fixed every year under the scheme “Rural Business & Access to Postal Network”.
As regards to connectivity issue decision has been made to on board Network Aggregator for providing better network connectivity of various service provider to the Branch Post Offices.
5.
Filling up of all vacant posts in all cadres of Department of Posts i.e. PA, SA, Postmen, Mailguard, Mailmen, Drivers, and Artisans in MMS, MTS, PACO and GDS.
In respect of PAs/SAs DR vacancies, it is submitted that:
i)Vacant posts of Pas/SAs for the year 2015-16, 2016-17 and 2017-18 have been given to the Staff Selection Commission, New Delhi for recruitment. Result of CHSL Exam, 2015 conducted by SSC has been declared. Recruitment of Pas/SAs under CHSL 2015 has been completed. As per the website of SSC., the final result of CHSL examination 2016 will be declared on 16.02.2018.
ii) Vacant posts of PA/SA DR 2013-14 exams of 6 Circles (UP, Bihar, Delhi, MP, Jharkhand and HP) had been given to the SSC for recruitment. These vacancies are also included under CHSL Exam, 2015 conducted by the SSC.
iii) Maharashtra Circle is completing the recruitment of PA/SA DR Exam, 2013-14 as the result of the same has already been declared by Maharashtra Circle.
iv) As per the order dated 13.07.2017 of Hon’ble Supreme Court of India, the Department is reinstating the candidates who had been terminated in five Circles namely Chhattisgarh, Uttarakhand, Rajasthan, Gujarat and Haryana Circle. As per report furnished by the Circles, total 643 reinstatement orders have been issued to the candidates as on 02.02.2018.
For the Postman/Mail Guard and MTS cadre exams, instructions have been issued to all the Circles to fill up the vacancies by giving top priority.
Calendar of departmental Examinations scheduled to be held in the year 2017-18 has already been issued to all the Circles by giving tentative schedule for filling up the vacancies of decentralized examination i.e. PO & RMS Accountants Examination, LDCs to Junior Accountants in PAOs (Exam has been conducted by respective Circles), LGOs examination for promotion to Assistants of other wings i.e. MMS, Foreign Post, RLO, Stores Depot and CO/RO and other exams.
Calendar of departmental Examinations scheduled to be held in the year 2018-19 will be issued soon.
6.
Request to grant of a new scale to the temporary status MTS on par with 7th CPC.
Reply is awaited from concerned Division.
7.
Stop all types of harassment and victimization in the name of new schemes and technology induction and under contributory negligence factor and trade union victimization.
FS Division:
There is no case of harassment and victimization in the name of new scheme and technology induction.
8.
Payment of revised wages and arrears to the casual, part-time, contingent employees and daily rated mazdoors as per 6th and 7thCPC and settle the other issues of casual labourers.
Reply is awaited from concerned Division.
9.
Restore OTA, OSA & Special allowance of PO & RMS Accounts.
Establishment Division:
Special Allowance of PO & RMS Accountant is being processed.
10.
One time relaxation to the Central Government employees who have availed LTC-80 and travelled by air, by purchasing tickets from authorities other than authorized agents.
Establishment Division:
To be taken up with Department of Personnel & Training.
11.
Removal of ambiguity in the fixation of pay of re-employed ex-servicemen and grant of the benefit extended to commissioned officers to personnel below officer rank also.
Establishment Division:
To be taken up with Department of Personnel & Training
12.
Withdraw NPS (Contributory Pension Scheme). Guaranteeing 50% of last pay drawn as the minimum pension.
Reply is awaited from concerned Division.
13.
Implement five days week working for operative staff in the Postal Department.
Reply is awaited from concerned Division.
14.
Stop Privatization, Contractorization and outsourcing.
BD & MD:
Business Development & Marketing Directorate issued instruction in past to outsource certain kind of activities/services which could not be managed with the available manpower/resources. These were new kind of activities, for which there is no provision of manpower/less man power due to increased workload, but they have good impact on the revenue generation. Therefore in order to continue the business growth, without adversely impacting the existing staff arrangements, BD & M Directorate issued instructions to outsource certain kind of activities like pre-mailing, pick up etc.
In the express industry, collection from the customer’s premises is a norm as it provides convenience to the customer. Speed Post OSA scheme was introduced in the year 1998 to extend the collection facility from customer’s premises and increase booking points as the infrastructure and resources for Speed Post collection is not adequate to meet the customer requirements. Further to strengthen this Outsourced Postal Agent Scheme was also introduced in 2016.
15.
Stop move of diversion of business of P.O. SB Schemes to Banks (Nationalized and Private).
FS Division:
There is no move of diversion of business of P.O. SB Schemes to Banks (Nationalized and Private). All the schemes of POSB concerning to FS Division are running as usual.
16.
Finalization of Recruitment Rules of AAOs in Postal Accounts and consider the modifications suggested by NAPE-C before finalization.
PA-Wing:
The comments/view have been examined and disposed off vide O.M. No. 301(20)/2017 /PA Admn.III dated 15.01.2018.
Exemption of Railways from New Pension Scheme (NPS) : NFIR writes to Railway Minister
Dated : 19/03/2018
No. IV/NPS/PFRDA BILL/Part I
Shri Piyush Goyal,
Hon’ble Minister of Railways
Rail Bhavan,
New Delhi
Dear Shri Goyalji,
Sub: Exemption of Railways from New Pension Scheme (NPS) – reg.
Ref: (i) Hon’ble MR’s D.o. No. 2012/F(E)III/1/4-Pt dated 29th March 2014 to Hon’ble Finance Minister, Government of India.
(ii) Hon’ble MR’s D.O. No. 2012/F(E)III/I/4-Pt dated 20th Nov 2015 to the Hon’ble Finance Minister Shri Arun Jaitley.
(iii) NFIR’s letter No. IV/NPS/PFRDA BILL/Part I dated l3th Feb, 2017,26th Oct, 2017 and 11/12/2017.
(iv) Railway Board’s letter No. 2012/F(E)/III/1(1)/4-Pt dated 13/02/2018 to GS/NFIR.
Kind attention is invited to the correspondence cited under reference, latest being Railway Board’s reply received vide letter dated 13/02/2018 wherein the Federation has been conveyed that the Hon’ble Minister of Finance and Corporate Affairs has communicated that the matter was re-considered in consultation with Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA) and the request for exempting Railway employees appointed on or after 01/01/2004 from the application of NPS does not seem to be a feasible proposition. While NFIR does not agree with the reply of Hon’ble Finance Minister, the Federation re-iterates the valid points placed below, urging upon the Railway Ministry to impress upon the Government, the need for exempting Railways from National Pension System (NPS).
The Ministry of Finance and the Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA) have failed to appreciate the facts that the nature of duties performed by the Railway employees is un-comparable, unique, complex, hazardous and akin to the duties being performed by the Armed Forces, in whose case the NPS has not been made applicable.
The Finance Ministry has also failed to appreciate that even during the British rule the Indian Railways was conceived and operated as an auxiliary wing of the Army by virtue of its complex nature of role and uniqueness of working of Railway employees which in turn requires a high degree of discipline, efficiency to run the services and cary passenger and freight traffic throughout the country including supplies to the borders of the nation.
The Finance Ministry has also failed to evaluate that it is the Indian Railways which works as supply line to the Armed Forces during crisis periods by transporting troops from one comer to the other including the nation’s borders besides transporting Military hardware and other war material. In no way the performance of Railway employees can be underestimated than that of the Defence Forces Personnel.
Like Armed Forces, many of the Railway Personnel do stay away from their families for longer durations in the course of performing duties at remote places where minimum basic amenities like suitable accommodation, schooling, drinking water, health care facilities have been missing’ Comparing the structure and importance of Railways with that of the Army, it would not be out of place to state that just as the ‘Army requires a critical mass to fight battle/war, in similar way critical mass of trained employees is required to maintain Railway Tracks, Rolling Stock and ensure operation of services’. On an average over 700 Railway employees die per annum while performing their duties and nearly 3000 employees sustain injuries as reported by High Level Safety Review Committee (HLSRC) headed by Shri Anil Kakodkar. The sacrifices of Railway employees are unParallel.
Considering the strong merits in the demand of the Federation, Hon’ble MRs have written to the Minister of Finance to have a re-look into the case to be considered favourably to exempt Railways from the ambit of National Pension System (NPS)’
Federation desires to mention that the Finance Ministry has erred and equally not considered the justified demand of the Railway employees projected by NFIR, perhaps applying different logic and ignoring the facts mentioned above. In this connection, NFIR reminds that the Federation leaders in the meeting held on 09th February, 2018 at Rail Bhavan, New Delhi had specifically requested the Hon’ble MR to kindly reach the Hon’ble Prime Minister for getting Railways exempted from the application of National pension System (NPS). It is a known fact that the NPS has generated lot of anger and anguish among the younger generation of Railway employees appointed on or after 01/01/2004 due to the inherent disadvantages of the NPS which does not guarantee even minimum pension i.e. half of the last pay drawn by the Railway employees.
NFIR, therefore, once again urges upon the Hon’ble MR to kindly take steps for reaching the Hon’ble Prime Minister for getting exemption of Railways from NPS at an early date’
