All Members of the Association
(Designated Officers)
Dear Sirs,
Dearness Allowance for Workmen and Officer Employees in banks for the months of May, June and July 2017 under X BPS/ Joint Note dated 25.5.2015
The confirmed All India Average Consumer Price Index Numbers for Industrial Workers (Base 1960=100) for the quarter ended March 2017 are as follows:-
January 2017 – 6254.30
February 2017 – 6254.30
March 2017 – 6277.12
The average CPI of the above is 6261.91 and accordingly the number of DA slabs are 456(66261.91-4440=1821.91/4=456 slabs). The last quarterly Payment of DA was at 469 Slabs. Hence there is a decrease in DA slabs of 13, i.e., 456 Slabs for payment of DA for the quarter May, June and July 2017.
In terms of clause 7 of the 10th Bipartite Settlement dated 25.05.2015 and clause 3 of the Joint Note dated 25.05.2015, the rate of Dearness Allowance payable to workmen and officer employees for the months of May, June and July 2017 shall be 45.60 % of ‘pay’. While arriving at dearness allowance payable, decimals from third place may please be ignored.
Yours faithfully,
sd/-
K.S.Chauhan
Senior Vice President
Consumer Price Index for Industrial Workers (CPI-IW) – March, 2017
No. 5/1/2017-CPI
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF LABOUR & EMPLOYMENT
LABOUR BUREAU
`CLEREMONT’, SHIMLA-171004
DATED: 28th April, 2017
Press Release
Consumer Price Index for Industrial Workers (CPI-IW) – March, 2017
The All-India CPI-IW for March, 2017 increased by 1 point and pegged at 275 (two hundred and seventy five). On 1-month percentage change, it increased by (+) 0.36 per cent between February, 2017 and March, 2017 when compared with the increase of (+) 0.37 per cent between the same two months a year ago.
The maximum upward pressure to the change in current index came from Food group contributing (+) 0.58 percentage points to the total change. At item level, Rice, Goat Meat, Milk, Pure Ghee, Onion, Brinjal, Cabbage, Carrot, Cauliflower, French Beans, Peas, Tomato, Banana, Apple, Sugar, Cooking Gas, Medicine (Allopathic), Bus Fare, Toilet Soap, Tooth Paste, Tailoring Charges, etc. are responsible for the increase in index. However, this increase was checked by Wheat, Arhar Dal, Gram Dal, Black Gram, Masur Dal, Urd Dal, Besan, Mustard Oil, Chillies Dry, Gourd, Lady’s Finger, Potato, Tea (Readymade), Flower/Flower Garlands, etc., putting downward pressure on the index.
The year-on-year inflation measured by monthly CPI-IW stood at 2.61 per cent for March, 2017 as compared to 2.62 per cent for the previous month and 5.51 per cent during the corresponding month of the previous year. Similarly, the Food inflation remained static at 1.71 per cent and it was 6.16 per cent during the corresponding month of the previous year.
At centre level, Godavarikhani reported the maximum increase of 5 points followed by Mercara, Tripura, Rourkela, Faridabad and Madurai (4 points each). Among others, 3 points decrease was observed in 5 centres, 2 points in 16 centres and 1 point in 21 centres. On the contrary, Bokaro, Chennai and Varanasi recorded maximum decrease of 3 points each. Among others, 2 points decrease was observed in 4 centres and 1 point in 7 centres. Rest of the 16 centres’ indices remained stationary.
The indices of 32 centres are above .All-India Index and other 41 centres’ indices are below national average. The index of Amritsar, Jabalpur, Jalandhar , Vishakhapathnam and Coonoor centres remained at par with A11-India Index.
The next issue of CPI-IW for the month of April, 2017 will be released on Wednesday. 31st May, 2017. The same will also be available on the office website www.labourbureaunew.gov.in
EPF members now required to submit self-declaration for advance in case of illness of members/ dependents
EPF members will now only be required to submit a self-declaration for the advance in case of illness of members/ dependents. Differently abled members will also get advance on the basis of self-declaration. A member will no longer be required to submit any medical certificate or any other certificate or document or proforma whatsoever to avail advances under paragraph 68-J or under paragraph 68-N of EPF Scheme 1952.
Ministry of Labour & Employment has amended Paragraph 68-J and Paragraph 68-N of Employees’ Provident Fund Scheme, 1952 and It will come into force from the date of its publication in the official Gazette. According to it, a member would only be required to submit a self-declaration, which has already been included in the composite claim form, to avail advance under the EPF Scheme in case of illness of members/ dependent and also in case of differently abled members.
This is in continuation of initiatives taken by EPFO as part of next phase of its e-governance reforms with a view to make the services of EPFO available to its stakeholder in an efficient and transparent manner. An administrative order was issued on 20.02.2017 in the matter of Introduction of Composite Claim Forms (Aadhar and Non-Aadhar ) to replace existing Claim Forms No. 19, 10C & 31 and Forms No. 19 (UAN), 10C(UAN) & 31 (UAN). EPFO has since implemented Universal Account Number (UAN) for its subscribers. It is now possible for subscribers, who have seeded their UAN with Aadhar Number and Bank account details, to submit claim forms directly to EPFO without the attestation of employers.
Dearness Relief to the Burma Civilian pensioners/family pensioners and pensioners / families of displaced Government Pensioners from Pakistan who are Indian Nationals but receiving pension on behalf of Government of Pakistan and are in receipt of adhoc ex-gratia allowance-reg
F.No. 42/15/2016-P&PW(G)
Government of India
Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions
Department of Pension & Pensioners’ Welfare
3rd Floor, Lok Nayak Bhavan,
Khan Market, New Delhi – 110003
Date:27th April, 2017
OFFICE MEMORANDUM
Subject : Grant of Dearness Relief to the Burma Civilian pensioners/family pensioners and pensioners / families of displaced Government Pensioners from Pakistan who are Indian Nationals but receiving pension on behalf of Government of Pakistan and are in receipt of adhoc ex-gratia allowance-reg
The undersigned is directed to refer to this Department’s OMS of even no. dated 16.11.2016 and 07.04.2017 wherein it was mentioned that separate orders will be issued for Dearness Relief to the Burma Civilian pensioners/family pensioners and pensioners /families of displaced Government Pensioners from Pakistan who are Indian Nationals but receiving pension on behalf of Government of Pakistan and are in receipt of adhoc ex-gratia allowance.
2.The President is now pleased to decide that the Dearness Relief to Burma Civilian pensioners/family pensioners and pensioners /families of displaced Government Pensioners from Pakistan who are Indian Nationals but receiving pension on behalf of Government of Pakistan and are in receipt of adhoc ex-gratia allowance shall be admissible at following rates:-
Date from which payable
Rate of Dearness Relief per month
From 01.07.2016
132%
From 01.01.2017
136%
3.Payment of DR involving a fraction of a rupee shall be rounded off to the next higher rupee.
4.It will be the responsibility of the pension disbursing authorities, including the nationalized banks, etc. to calculate the quantum of DR payable in each individual case.
5.The offices of Accountant General and authorised Pension Disbursing Banks are requested to arrange payment of relief to pensioners etc. on the basis of these instructions without waiting for any further instructions from the Comptroller and Auditor General of India and the Reserve Bank of India in view of letter No. 528-TA, 11/34-80-11 dated 23/04/1981 of the Comptroller and Auditor General of India addressed to all Accountant Generals and Reserve Bank of India Circular No. GANB No. 2958/GA-64 (ii) (CGL)/81 dated the 21st May, 1981 addressed to State Bank of India and its subsidiaries and all Nationalised Banks.
6.In their application to the pensioners/family pensioners belonging to Indian Audit and Accounts Department, these orders issue after consultation with the C&AG.
7.This issues in pursuance of Ministry of Finance, Department of Expenditure vide their OM Nos. l/3/2008-E.II(B) dated 9th Nov, 2016 and 7th April, 2017.
8. Hindi version will follow.
(Charanjit Taneja)
Under Secretary to the Government of India
Dearness Relief Order for PSU / Autonomous body from 1.1.2017
Grant of Dearness Relief to Central Government Employees who had drawn lump sum amount on absorption in a PSU/Autonomous body and are in receipt of 1/3rd restored commuted portion of pension. – Revised rate effective from 1.1.2017
F.No. 42/15/2016-P&PW(G)
Government of India
Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions
Department of Pension & Pensioners’ Welfare
3rd Floor, Lok Nayak Bhavan,
Khan Market, New Delhi – 110003
Date:27th April, 2017
OFFICE MEMORANDUM
Subject :- Grant of Dearness Relief to Central Government Employees who had drawn lump sum amount on absorption in a PSU/Autonomous body and are in receipt of 1/3rd restored commuted portion of pension. – Revised rate effective from 1.1.2017.
The undersigned is directed to refer to this Department’s OM No. 42/15/2016-P&PW(G) dated 16th December, 2016 and the OM No. 42/15/2016-P&PW(G) dated 07.04.2017 and to say that the President is pleased to decide that the Dearness Relief (DR) to the Central Government employees who had drawn lump sum amount on absorption in a PSU/Autonomous body and are in receipt of 1/3rd restored commuted portion of pension shall be enhanced from the existing rate of 132% to 136% w.e.f. 01.01.2017.
2.These employees will be entitled to the payment of DR @ 136% w.e.f. 01.01.2017 on full pension i.e. the revised pension which the absorbed employee would have received had he not drawn lump sum payment on absorption and Dearness Pension subject to fulfilment of the conditions laid down in para 5 of the OM. dated 14.07.98 as amended from time to time. In this connection, instructions contained in this Department’s OM No.4/29/99-P&PW (D) dated. 12.7.2000 refers.
3.Payment of DR involving a fraction of a rupee shall be rounded off to the next higher rupee.
4.Other provisions governing grant of DR in respect of employed family pensioners and re-employed Central Government Pensioners will be regulated in accordance with the provisions contained in this Department’s OM No. 45/73/97-P&PW (G) dated 2.7.1999 as amended vide this Department’s OM No. F.No. 38/88/2008-P&PW(G) dated 9th July, 2009. The provisions relating to regulation of DR where a pensioner is in receipt of more than one pension will remain unchanged.
5.It will be the responsibility of the pension disbursing authorities, including the nationalized banks, etc. to calculate the quantum of DR payable in each individual case.
6.The offices of Accountant General and authorised Pension Disbursing Banks are requested to arrange payment of relief to pensioners etc. on the basis of these instructions without waiting for any further instructions from the Comptroller and Auditor General of India and the Reserve Bank of India in view of letter No. 528-TA, II/34-80-II dated 23/04/1981 of the Comptroller and Auditor General of India addressed to all Accountant Generals and Reserve Bank of India Circular No. GANB No. 2958/GA-64 (ii) (CGL)/81 dated the 21st May, 1981 addressed to State Bank of India and its subsidiaries and all Nationalised Banks.
7.In their application to the pensioners/family pensioners belonging to Indian Audit and Accounts Department, these orders issue after consultation with the C&AG.
8.This issues in pursuance of Ministry of Finance, Department of Expenditure vide their OM No. 1/3/2008-E.II(B) dated 07th April, 2017.
9.Hindi version will follow.
sd/-
(Charanjit Taneja)
Under Secretary to the Government of India
Government revamps jobs on compassionate ground for Gramin Dak Sevaks
Dependents of GDS to get benefit within 3 months
Department of Posts has revamped the existing compassionate engagement scheme offered to the dependent family members of Gramin Dak Sevak. A GDS who dies in harness, the dependents of such GDS will benefit from a liberalized and time bound procedure for engagement on compassionate grounds. Henceforth, any death of a Gramin Dak Sevak while on engagement would be compensated by a compassionate engagement to a dependent family member irrespective of the circumstances or indigence. Upper age limit of the applicant could also be relaxed wherever found to be necessary. Thus the new scheme of compassionate engagement will provide greater relief to the members of the family of the deceased GDS who belong to weaker and poorer sections of the society and are thrown into penury and hardship.
The ambit of dependent family member has also been expanded to include:
•Married son living with parents and dependent for livelihood on the GDS on the date of death of the GDS
•Divorced daughter wholly dependent on the GDS at the time of death of the GDS
•Daughter in law of the deceased GDS who is wholly dependent on the GDS, if the only son of the GDS is pre deceased.
This expansion of definition of family members aims to bring greater relief to women in our society who are subjected to difficult circumstances in the unfortunate event of demise of their spouse/parent.
The present system of relative merit points to ascertain the degree of indigence has been dispensed with. Keeping in view the unique and distinct service conditions, socio economic aspects and to relieve the family from financial destitution, the time consuming process of consideration by Circle Relaxation Committee has been done away with. Henceforth, a request received for compassionate engagement would be considered and decided within three months from the date of receipt of the application.
Further to ensure least displacement, it has been decided that to the extent possible, compassionate engagement would be offered to the dependent of the deceased GDS, to a GDS post near the place where the family of the deceased normally resides.
A high-level committee headed by finance secretary Ashok Lavasa on Thursday submitted its report on allowances to 47 lakh central government employees to finance minister Arun Jaitley. The Ashok Lavasa committee was constituted in June last year after the government implemented the recommendations of the 7th Pay Commission.
The Pay Commission had recommended abolition of, or subsuming of, allowances like acting, assisting cashier, cycle, condiment, flying squad, haircutting, rajbhasha, rajdhani, robe, shoe, shorthand, soap, spectacle, uniform, vigilance and washing.
After submitting the report to Jaitley, Lavasa said the committee has taken into account representations made by various stakeholders. The report will now be examined by the empowered committee of secretaries and following that it will be placed before the Cabinet, he said.
Out of total 196 allowances, it had recommended abolition of 52 and subsuming of another 36 into larger existing ones. The Pay Commission had recommended hiking the HRA in the range of 8-24%.
If the 7th Pay Commission recommendations on allowances are implemented fully, then as per estimates the cost to the exchequer will be Rs29,300 crore.
Lavasa said the government will take the final call on the date of payout of revised allowances to government employees.
Payment of Dearness Allowance to Gramin Dak Sevaks effective 01.01.2017
No. 14-1/2016-PAP
Government of India
Ministry of Communication
Department of Posts
(Establishment Division)/P.A.P. Section
********
Dak 8hawan, Sansad Marg,
New Delhi-110001
Dated 27th April, 2017.
To,
All Chief Postmaster General
All G.Ms.(PAF(/Directors of Accounte (Posts)
Subject: Payment of Dearness Allowance to Gramin Dak Sevaks (GDS) effective 01.01.2017 onwards – reg.
Consequent upon grant of another instalment of Dearness Allowance with effect from 1st January, 2017 to the Central Government Employees vide Government of India, Ministry of Finance, Department of Expenditure’s O.M. No. 1/3/2008-E-II (B) dated 07.04.2017, duly endorsed vide this Department’s letter No. 8-02/2011-PAP dated 12.04 2017, the Gramin Dak Sevaks (GDS) have also became entitled to the payment of Dearness Allowances on basic TRCA at the same rates as applicable to Central Government employees with effect from 01.01.2017. It has, therefore, been decided that the Dearness Allowance payable to the Gramin Dak Sevaks shall be enhanced from the existing rate of 132% to 136% on the basic Time Related Continuity Allowance, with effect from the 1st January, 2017.
2. The Dearness Allowance payable under this order shall be paid in cash to all Gramin Dak Sevaks.
3. The expenditure on this account shall be debited to the relevant head of account and should be met from the sanctioned grant.
4. This issues with the concurrence of Integrated Finance Wing vide their Diary No.14/FA/2017/CS dated 27/04/2017
(K.V. Vijayakumar)
Assistant Director General(Estt.)
The Minister of State (MoS) for Finance Shri Santosh Gangwar says that there is a need for creating awareness on pension at the grassroots level; expresses satisfaction that the National Pension System (NPS) is gaining recognition
NPS has more than 1.57 crore subscribers with total Asset under Management (AUM) of more than Rs.1.72 lakh crores
The Minister of State (MoS) for Finance Shri Santosh Gangwar said that there is a need for creating awareness on pension at the grassroots level and expressed satisfaction that the National Pension System (NPS) is now gaining recognition. He was speaking on the occasion of the “Third Pension Conference on Implementation of National Pension System (NPS)” of the Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA) in New Delhi today. The conference was organised with the theme of ‘Towards a Pensioned Society: The Road Ahead’.
After inaugurating the event, the MoS for Finance released a report titled “Financial Security for India’s Elderly” prepared by PFRDA in association with CRISIL. The report brings to the fore the concerns of demographic transition, existing pension provisions, need to expand the voluntary pension coverage through awareness and developing annuity market and alternatives.
During the function, the top three performing Points of Presence (POPs) under NPS and Atal Pension Yojana – Service Providers (APY- SPs) were awarded for their contribution in bringing subscribers under the social security net of NPS and APY.
Shri Hemant Contractor, Chairman, PFRDA, in his key note address stressed on the need to provide old age income security through mass awareness and training programmes and increase financial literacy among the population of India, especially among the informal sector, which is largely out of the social security net.
NPS has been uniquely designed in a manner to cater to both the organised and heterogenous unorganised sector characterised with seasonal /sporadic employment with migration, uncertain level of income and limited capacity to save. During his address, Shri Hemant Contractor informed that PFRDA is also considering an auto enrolment programme/system under National Pension System. He further assured that PFRDA will ensure to take all steps to increase the outreach of NPS and APY to meet the mandate under PFRDA Act.
Dr. B. S. Bhandari, Whole Time Member (Economics), PFRDA, in his address, highlighted the need to expand the coverage of NPS in an efficient and sustainable way and also informed the participants about the new initiatives undertaken during last financial year including the launch of two new life cycle funds and eNPS – an online platform for registration. He also informed about the growth of 47% in Asset under Management (AUM) and 25% in number of subscribers in the last financial year. He also threw light on the investment pattern and NPS architecture.
During the course of the event, Shri Suchindra Misra, Joint Secretary, Department of Financial Services, stressed that pension was not just about old age security but also about old age dignity.
The conference was followed by discussion on topics related to pension annuities financial literacy, financial behaviour studies, researches, market performance & challenges, risk mitigation strategies to safeguard market anomalies and old age income security through technical sessions.
The technical sessions were graced by panellists including Mr. Leo Puri (MD, UTI AMC), Mr. C Parthasarthy (Group Chairman, Karvy), Mr. Ashwin Parekh (Trustee, NPS Trust) Mr. Sandeep Ghosh (Director, NISM), Prathit Bhobe (Sr. GM, ICICI Bank), Mr. Mukul Asher (Professor) and Mr. Sandeep Bakshi (MD, CEO ICICI Prudential life insurance). Senior representatives and dignitaries from various financial institutions, Banks and NBFCs also graced the conference.
Currently, the National Pension System (NPS) has more than 1.57 crore subscribers with total Asset under Management (AUM) of more than Rs.1.72 lakh crores.
CPAO : Requirements from pensioner for credit of first pension to his/her account by bank
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF FINANCE
DEPARTMENT OF EXPENDITURE
CENTRAL PENSION ACCOUNTING OFFICE
TRIKOOT-II, BHIKAJI CAVA PLACE,
NEW DELHI-110068
CPAO/IT&Tech/ Simplification/2016-17/11Vol-VI/18
Dated : 24.04.2017
Office Memorandum
Subject:- Requirements from pensioner for credit of first pension to his/her account by bank.
Attention is invited to CPAO’s OM No.CPAO/Tech/Simplification/2014-15/52 dated- 28.05.2014 whereby it was intimated to all concerned that pensioners were not required to visit the bank to activate their first payment of pension. It was also intimated that undertaking for recovery of excess/over payment of pension had been made a part of PPO. Inspite of these instructions, banks used to insist on pensioners to physically appear in the bank before commencing first payment of pension. Consequently, CPAO had issued instructions vide OM No. CPAO/Tech/Life Certificate/2014-15/99-175 dated-28.07.2014 that banks should not insist on the pensioners to issue life certificate at the time of first credit of pension. They were also advised to identify the pensioner with reference to information already available with bank obtained through KYC at the time of opening of bank account. The above instructions were reiterated by 0M No. CPAO/Tech/Bank Performance/2014-15/45 dated-02.06.2016.
However. it is observed that banks are still insisting upon the pensioners for completion of formalities like submission of life certificate, letter of Undertaking and certificate of non-employment to credit their first payment and other dues to their pension account resulting into inconvenience to the pensioners defeating the very purpose of simplifying the pension procedures.
In view of the above, Heads of CPPCs and Heads of Government Business Divisions of all the banks are advised to ensure that instructions issued by CPAO are followed by CPPCs and paying branches and any inconvenience to pensioners are avoided.
This issues with the approval of competent authority.
