Pay and allowances and other benefits / facilities are provided to the Armed Forces Personnel as per Government orders issued from time to time. Apart from pay, the Armed Forces Personnel deployed on borders in tough conditions, are being given certain compensatory allowances i.e.
Field Area Allowance,
Siachen Allowance,
High Altitude Allowance,
Island Special Duty Allowance, etc.
and special clothing and ration as per extant rules. Improvement of facilities, service conditions, pay and allowances of the Armed Forces personnel is also a continuous process.
Further, provisioning of facilities to soldiers is a command function. It is ensured that all soldiers are provided facilities as per their entitlements. However, if in any case it is found that this is not done, suitable action is taken if any personnel is found to be erring.
This information was given by Defence Minister Shri Manohar Parrikar in a written reply to Shri Gopal Shetty in Lok Sabha today.
Government is aware that Ex-Servicemen Associations have been agitating for implementation of One Rank One Pension (OROP) Scheme from 2008 onwards.
The policy of “One Rank One Pension” has been adopted by the Government to address the pension disparities, in the budget 2014-15.
The modalities for implementation of OROP are under consideration of the Government. It will be implemented once the modalities are approved by the Government.
This information was given by Defence Minister Shri Manohar Parrikar in a written reply to Dr. Shashi Tharoor and Shri Ninong Eringin LokSabha today.
The minister of state in the ministry of external affairs Gen. (Dr) V. K. Singh (retd) informed the members of Lok Sabha today in reply to a question that (i) It would be incorrect to say that a large number of applicants seeking passport services are unable to use online method as often server goes down and the process of giving information is complex. Effective technical infrastructure is in place to ensure that the Passport Seva system is available for access at all times from any location. The Passport Portal (www.passportindia.gov.in) is accessible to anyone, anywhere and anytime. With a view to address the challenge of digital divide, especially in the rural hinterland, the Ministry in association with CSC e-Governance Services India Ltd. (which is promoted by the Department of Electronics and IT), has facilitated online filing of passport applications, through the vast network of over one lakh Common Service Centres (CSCs) across rural hinterland. Under the Passport Seva Project, a robust information system has been created to offer a bouquet of online passport services.
(ii) Comprehensive information relating to passport application procedure, requirement of supporting documents, applicable fees, location of Passport Offices, Passport Seva Kendras, police station jurisdiction is posted on the Portal to make it user-friendly. It is kept updated with Advisories/Notices and Press Releases relating to Passport services developments. Status of applications can be tracked through the Passport Portal.
(iii) An e-mail based helpdesk facility and a 24×7 National Call Centre has been set up to provide requisite information to citizens.
(iv) The Passport Seva system sends four free of cost SMS to applicants – (i) at the time of dispatch of passport, (ii) in ‘returned undelivered’ passport cases, (iii) rejection of request for counter delivery cases and (iv) clear Police Verification(PV) report in pre-PV PCC cases or review of PV and clearance by the PIA. In addition, a premium optional SMS Service, on nominal payment basis, has been made available to enable citizens to receive alerts and updates regarding detailed progress of their passport applications and pending actions. The service can be availed from any mobile phone.
(v) mPassport Seva mobile app provides passport related information including PSK locator, applicable fees, mode of submission and tracking of passport application status on smart phones.
(vi) For assistance, citizens can call toll-free helpline 1800-258-1800.
(vii) The Passport system has interface with the police for verification of personal particulars of applicants and with India Post for tracking delivery of passports.
The following additional steps have been taken by the Government to further simplify the mechanism of issuing passports:–
I. Police Verification: Police Verification of applicants’ particulars plays an important role in timely dispatch of passports. The Ministry as well as the Passport Offices continue to engage closely with the Police Departments across States/Union Territories and with concerned Home Departments to reduce time taken in police verification.
II. The Government has set up 77 PSKs across the country. The number of public dealing counters has been increased from the erstwhile 350 to 1610 in the new system and public dealing hours have gone up from 4 hours to 7 hours a day.
III. Greater outreach: The Government is working on setting up 18 more PSKs in addition to the existing functional 77 PSKs across the country. Five of these additional have already been operationalised.
IV. In order to speed up passport issuance, Walk-in facility has been allowed for certain categories of services/ citizens having Application Registration Number (ARN) to enable them to apply for Tatkaal services ; issue of Police Clearance Certificate (PCC) ; deletion of Emigration Check Required(ECR) status; inclusion of name of spouse in passport and new booklets where pages have been exhausted. Senior citizens (above 60 years); minors below 15 whose parents hold valid passports; differently-abled persons; central/state government servants and their spouse/dependent minor children, have also been permitted walk-in facility.
V. With a view to meet heavy and seasonal demand for passport services, Passport Melas are organized on weekends from time to time by Passport Offices.
VI. Passport Seva Camps: In order to provide closer and speedier passport services to people located far away from PSKs, Passport Seva Camps are being organized at various locations in the country.
VII. Passport Adalats, on need basis, are also conducted by Passport Offices to redress passport service grievances by dealing with citizens directly.
VIII. Simplification of procedure: A number of steps have been taken to simplify passport application submission procedure such as acceptance of (a) registered rent agreement as proof of address, (b) self-attested documents replacing the requirement of attestation by gazetted officers, (c) Photo passbooks issued by Scheduled private sector Indian banks and Regional Rural banks also as proof of address and identity. The Government has also liberalised the requirement of acceptance of Birth Certificate of abandoned/orphaned children besides the requirement of NOC by Govt. officials for passport applications.
The online system and establishment of PSKs have facilitated better accountability, transparency and streamlining of passport service delivery. This has also helped in issuing error-free and more secure passports. The time taken in issuing passports has decreased since the introduction of online application system and opening of PSKs. During the period January–June, 2015, 90% passports were issued within 14 days (excluding the time taken for verification) compared to 59% during January-June, 2014.
No.12031/1/2013-Pol.II
Government of India
Ministry of Urban Development
Directorate of Estates
Nirman Bhawan,
New Delhi-110 108.
Dated the 17th July, 2015
OFFICE MEMORANDUM
Subject: Guidelines on regularization/ allotment of alternate general pool residential accommodation in the name of the eligible spouse / ward of the allottee in the event of death/retirement/transfer of the allottee.
Vide instructions of this Directorate O.M. of even number dated 18.2.2014, guidelines on regularization / allotment of alternate general pool residential accommodation in the name of the eligible spouse / ward of the allottee in the event of death/retirement/transfer of the allottee were issued. On review of the said guidelines, it is found that the issue related to regularization of general pool residential accommodation in the name of eligible spouse/ward of allottee, who owns a house at the place of posting or his / her family owns a house at the place of posting, but his /her policy is covered by allotment of that house has not been inadvertently incorporated in the OM dated 18.2.2014.
2. Therefore, paragraph 2(iv)(f)(i) of the said guidelines is modified and shall be read as below instead of existing entries in the OM dated 18.2.2014:
“Where the allottee or any member of his / her family owns a house at the place of posting where regularization is being sought. However, either one type below accommodation or same accommodation may be regularized in the name of ward / spouse only in case his / her date of priority was covered on the date of retirement of the retiring allottee or on the date of death of the deceased allottee, irrespective of the fact that they are house-owner at the place of their posting subject to the condition that the licence fee is charged on house owing allottees of general pool residential accommodation as per the guidelines from time to time; and.”
(Swarnali Banerjee)
Deputy Director of Estates(Policy)
No.12035/9/89-Pol.II (Vol.II)
Government of India
Ministry of Urban Development
Directorate of Estates
Nirman Bhavan,
New Delhi-110 108.
Dated the 20th July, 2015
OFFICE MEMORANDUM
Sub: Modification of paragraph 6 of the guidelines dated 19.9.2014 of Inter-pool exchange between General Pool Residential Accommodation and Departmental Pool and inter-pool transfer of accommodation with General Pool in Delhi
The undersigned is directed to refer to the Directorate of Estates O.M. of even number dated 19.9.2014 vide which guidelines for Inter-pool exchange between General pool residential Accommodation and Departmental Pool and inter-pool transfer of accommodation within General Pool in Delhi have been issued.
2. The matter has been reviewed and it has been decided by the competent authority to substitute the paragraph 6 of the existing guidelines dated 19.9.2014 as below:
“6. Inter-pool exchange may be allowed only in cases where a Department is offering a higher type of accommodation from its Pool in lieu of lower type of accommodation of General Pool in respect of Type I to VI(Special) accommodation. However, in respect of exchange of Type V and above accommodation, inter-pool exchange may be allowed if the same or higher type of accommodation is offered by the Department from its Pool in lieu of the type of accommodation in General Pool.”
3.All other terms and conditions laid down in the guidelines dated 19.9.2014 will remain unchanged.
(Swarnali Banerjee)
Deputy Director of Estates(Policy)
The principle of One Rank One Pension for the Armed Forces has been accepted by the Government. The modalities for implementation were discussed with various stakeholders and are presently under consideration of the Government. It will be implemented once the modalities are approved by the Government.
This information was given by Minister of State for Defence Rao Inderjit Singh in a written reply to Shri Neeraj Shekhar and others in Rajya Sabha today.
A Government servant can draw the Leave Travel Concession advance 65 days before the proposed date of outward journey.
Indian Railways has fixed the advance reservation period as 120 days excluding the date of journey w.e.f. 01.04.2015 for all long distance mail/express trains as well as Shatabdi Express trains.
The issue of any change in instructions relating to drawal of advance for LTC has to be decided keeping in view all factors including changes made by the Railways, as well as financial implications.
This was stated by the Minister of State in the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions and Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office, Dr. Jitendra Singh in a written reply to a question by Shri Kiranmay Nanda in the Rajya Sabha today.
No.2/5/2014-E,II(B)
Government of India
Ministry of Finance
Department of Expenditure
New Delhi, 21st July, 2015.
OFFICE MEMORANDUM
Subject:- Re-Classification / Upgradation of Cities/Towns on the basis of Census-2011 for the purpose of grant of House Rent Allowance (HRA) to Central Government employees.
Reference is invited to this Department’s O.M. No. 2(13)/2008-E.11(B) dated 29.08.2008 relating to grant of House Rent Allowance (HRA) to Central Government employees on the recommendations of the 6th Central Pay Commission (CPC) whereby a list of cities/towns classified as “X”, “Y” and “Z” for the purpose of grant of HRA was enclosed as Annexure. The matter relating to re-classification of cities/towns on the basis of Census-2011 for the purpose of grant of HRA to Central Government employees has been considered by the Government.
2, The President is pleased to decide that in supersession of all the existing orders relating to classification of cities/towns for the purpose of grant of HRA to Central Government employees, cities/towns shall now be re-classified as “X”, “Y” and “Z” for the purpose of HRA as enumerated in the Annexure to these orders.
3. Consequent upon implementation of the recommendations of the 5th Central Pay Commission, certain cities/towns were placed in a lower classification as compared to their existing classification for HRA purpose, vide this Department’s G.M. No. 2(30)/97- E.II(B) dated 03.10.97. However, these cities/towns were allowed to retain their existing higher classification, vide Para 3 thereof; and further extended vide O.M. No. 2(21)/E.II(B)/2004 dated 16.03.2005 & O.M. No. 2(13)/2008-E.II(B) dated 07.01.2009. As other cities/towns to which protection of retaining earlier higher classification was allowed, got upgraded during the intervening period and as on date only two cities i.e. Ajmer in Rajasthan and Durgapur in West Bengal were retaining such protection. Consequent upon upgradation of these two cities also on the basis of their population as per Census-2011, provisions contained in Para 3 of this Department’s O.M. No. 2(30)/97-E.II(B) dated 03.10.97 which Were allowed to further continue vide G.M. dated 16.03.2005 & 07.01.2009, stand withdrawn/discontinued.
4. Special orders allowing continuance of HRA at Delhi (‘X” class city) rates to Central Government employees posted at Faridabad, Ghaziabad, NOIDA and Gurgaon, at Jalandhar CY” class city) rates to Jalandhar. Cantt., at “Y” class city rates to Shillong, Goa & Port Blair vide this Department’s O.M. No.2(13)12008-E.11(B) dated 29.08.2008, and continuance of HRA at par with Chandigarh (“Y” class city) to Panchkula vide this Department’s O.M. No,2(13)/2008-E.II(B) dated 04.03.2011, shall continue to be applicable till the recommendations of 7th CPC are considered by the Government.
5. These orders shall take effect from 1st April, 2015.
6. The Orders will apply to all civilian employees of the Central Government.The orders will also be applicable to the civilian employees paid from the Defence services Estimates. In respect of Armed Forces personnel and Railway employees, separate orders will be issued by the Ministry of Defence and the Ministry of Railways, respectively.
7. In so far as the persons serving in the Indian Audit and Accounts Department are concerned, these orders issue in consultation with the comptroller & Auditor General of India.
8. Hindi version is attached.
(Subhash Chand)
Director
ANNEXURE
to O.M.NO.2/5/2014-E.II(B) DATED 21.07.2015
LIST OF CITIES/TOWNS CLASSIFIED FOR GRANT OF HOUSE RENT ALLOWANCE TO CENTRAL GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES
The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today said it is essential for Indian society to develop a consciousness towards “dignity of labour.” He was addressing the inaugural session of the Indian Labour Conference in New Delhi.
The Prime Minister said, in Indian culture, the worker is traditionally regarded as “Vishwakarma.” The country cannot be happy, if the worker is unhappy, the Prime Minister added. Emphasizing that laws alone would not bring about the desired objective, the Prime Minister said it was the combined effort of the labour unions, the industrialists and the Government, which would lead to results which were in the interest of the nation’s economy. The Prime Minister said successful examples of this kind are worth emulation. He said every effort would be made to modify laws through consensus. As part of the concept of “Minimum Government, Maximum Governance,” the Prime Minister said obsolete and unnecessary laws were being weeded out.
The Prime Minister called for giving importance to innovation among the workers. He asked how many industrialists had encouraged innovative workers to become entrepreneurs. In this context he recalled the recognition that had been given to innovators in the Indian Army, on the previous Army Day. He said Labour Unions too should join in the effort to nurture innovation. The Prime Minister said there is a thin line that separates the good of the industry and the good of the industrialist. Similarly, he added, there is a thin line that separates the good of the worker and the good of the labour union; the good of the nation and the good of the government.
The Prime Minister said 4.67 crore workers now have a portable Provident Fund Account, through a Universal Account Number, which connects them to an online network. He also mentioned other welfare initiatives of the Government, such as raising minimum pension to Rs. 1000.
The function also marked the launch of the National Career Service Portal, and ESIC 2.0: reform initiatives of the ESIC.
Union Ministers Shri Arun Jaitley and Shri Bandaru Dattatreya were present on the occasion.
A delegation of “Prasar Bharati” Contractual Employees called on Union Minister of State for Development of North-Eastern Region (DoNER), MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances ,Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr. Jitendra Singh here today and requested him to take up with the government their demand for regularization of their services.
A memorandum submitted to the Minister by the delegation representatives Shri Rajeev Sonkar, Shri Lalit Tewari and others stated that for more than a decade, they had been working in various Doordarshan channels like DD National, DD India, DD News, DD Urdu, DD Sports, Central Production Centre (CPC), DD K-Delhi, NC-KD, Archive, ADG (DC), DD Bharti, Delhi, Gangtok, Raipur, Patna, Mau, Mirzapur, Indore, Allahabad, Gwalior, Bhopal and other programme stations spread across the country, but they are paid a meager salary ranging from Rs.17,000/- to a maximum of Rs 20,000/ or Rs.25,000/- per month, which , according to them, is too less to make two ends meet.
The memorandum further stated that the number of such category of employees spread all over India is around 500 and they are highly qualified with most of them having specialized degrees in mass communication, journalism, etc. But in spite of that, they are paid a consolidated salary without any additional benefit like health insurance, Provident Fund, etc. available to other employees in the government.
Another grievance expressed by the employees was that while in other departments of the government, there is some mechanism of regularization of services of employees falling under similar categories. They said that in their case, even after putting in service for several years, there is no mechanism in place for regularization of their services. As a result, they feel discriminated in comparison to their counterparts in other departments who are holding similar position for the same length of service but are paid better off.
The employees also stated that in 2003 they were, to begin with, recruited by M/s. Broadcast Engineering Consultant India Ltd. (BECIL) an enterprise of Government of India, but subsequently, their contract was transferred from BECIL to Prasar Bharati. Thereafter, they said, they were facing constant uncertainty of job because after their contract came to an end in February 2014, they were being kept on extension which was allowed only by a period of one month at a time, as a result of which they were under constant sense of insecurity.
Dr. Jitendra Singh gave the delegation a patient hearing and said that their grievances will be forwarded to the appropriate authorities in the government.
