The Union Cabinet has accepted the proposal of the Ministry of Railways for payment of Productivity Linked Bonus (PLB) equivalent to 78 days` wages for the financial year 2012-13 for all eligible non-gazetted Railway employees.
The financial implication of payment of 78 days` PLB to Railway employees has been estimated to be Rs.1043.43 crore. The wage calculation ceiling prescribed for payment of PLB to the eligible non-gazetted railway employees is Rs. 3500/- per month.
About 12.37 lakh non-gazetted Railway employees all over the country are likely to benefit.
Payment of PLB to eligible railway employees is made each year before the Dusshera/Puja holidays. The decision of the Cabinet shall be implemented before the holidays for this year as well.
PLB is based on the productivity indices reflecting the performance of the Railways and its payment is expected to motivate the employees for working towards improving the same in future.
The condition of applying for family pension in Form 14 on the death of pensioner has been causing inconvenience to widows, specially on account of the requirement of attestation by two Gazetted Officers.
The Minister of State for Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions Shri V. Narayanasamy informed the members of Standing Committee of Voluntary Agencies (SCOVA) that the Government has decided to do away with the requirement of submission of Form 14 for commencement of family pension where the pensioner and spouse hold a joint account. The spouse may inform the Bank of death of the pensioner by way of a simple letter enclosing a copy of death certificate. The paying bank will identify the spouse based on the information given in the PPO and its own “Know Your Customer” procedures.
In other cases, i.e., where the pension is not being credited to the joint bank account of the pensioner and his/her spouse, the condition of attestation of Form 14 has been done away with and giving witness of two persons has been considered as sufficient.
F.No.7/22/2008 E-III(A)
Government of India
Ministry of Finance
Department of Expenditure
E III (A) Branch
New Delhi, the 3rd October, 2013.
OFFICE MEMORANDUM
Subject:- Grant of Non-Productivity Linked Bonus (Ad-hoc Bonus) to Central Government Employees for the year 2012-13 – Extension of orders to Autonomous Bodies.
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Orders have been issued vide this Ministry’s Office Memorandum No.7/24/2007 E-1I1(A) dated 2ih September, 2013 authorizing 30 days. emoluments as Non-PLB (Ad-hoc bonus) for the accounting year 2012-13 to the eligible Central Government employees not covered by the Productivity Linked Bonus Schemes, subject to terms and conditions laid down therein.
2. The undersigned is directed to say that it has now been decided that the Non-PLB (Ad-hoc) bonus so admissible subject to the terms and conditions laid down in the aforesaid orders, may be extended to the employees of autonomous bodies, partly or fully funded by the Central Government which (i) follow the pattern of pay structure and emoluments identical to that of the Central Govern-ment and (ii) do not have any bonus or ex-gratia or incentive scheme in operation.
3. In case of doubt as to the operation of these orders the clarificatory orders, circulated vide this Ministry’s O.M. No.14(10)E-Coord/88 dated 4.10.88, as amended from time to time, may be kept in view, mutatis mutandis
4. Any request for funding by the Government to meet the liability on account of Non-PLB (Ad-hoc bonus) in respect of various autonomous organizations would not be considered by the administrative Ministries concerned, having regard to the stipulation of aforesaid O.M. dated 2ih September, 2013 that the expenditure on Non-PLB (Ad-hoc bonus) should be met from within the existing budgetary provisions of the respective organizations. While the Autonomous Bodies not funded by the Central Government may also adopt these orders as per their own administrative and financial judgment in respect of their employees, no liability for funding will, in any case, lie on the Central Government on this account.
(Amar Nath Singh)
Deputy Secretary to the Govt. of India
F.No. 14034/01/2013-Estt.(D)
Government of India
Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions
(Department of Personnel & Training)
North Block,
New Delhi
Dated the 3rd Oct, 2013
OFFICE MEMORANDUM
Subject : Consolidated Instructions on incentives for sports persons. regarding.
The undersigned ¡s directed to refer to the subject mentioned above and to say that various instructions have been issued by the Government from time to time to provide incentives for recruitment, promotion, Increment etc. of meritorious sportsmen. All the instructions issued till date have been consolidated under easily comprehensible headings for the facility of reference and guidance of all concerned.
These consolidated Instructions have been uploaded on this Department’s website http://www.persmin.nic.in in the dynamic form (OM & Orders -> Establishment -> (B)Personnel -> (I)Service Matters -> (m) Sportsperson/Sports Quota). This may be brought to the notice of all concerned for Information, guidance and necessary action.
2. Hindi version will follow.
(Arunoday Goswami)
Under Secretary to the Government of India
No.1/27/2011-P&PW(E)
Government of India
Ministry of Personnel, P.G. & Pensions
Department of Pension & Pensioners’ Welfare
3rd Floor, Lok Nayak Bhawan,
Khan Market, New Delhi
Dated: 20th September, 2013
OFFICE MEMORANDUM
Sub: Submission of Form 14 by the spouse to the pension disbursing bank after the death of the pensioner – instructions reg.
The undersigned is directed to draw attention to the requirement of applying for family pension in Form 14 as given in rule 81 (2) (A) (ii) of the CCS (Pension) Rules, 1972.
2. This Department has been receiving representations from various quarters to do away with the condition of applying for family pension in Form 14 as it is causing inconvenience to widows, who find it difficult and embarrassing to presentthemselves before two Gazetted Officers/persons of repute for attestation of Form 14.
3. Before commencement of family pension, personal identification details of the spouse such as specimen signature, personal mark of identification and left hand thumb impression, proof of age/date of birth of spouse and an undertaking from him/her for recovery of excess payment are to be obtained by the bank. Form 14 serves as a standard processing sheet, which defines and delineates the exact requirement of information to be given to the pension disbursing Bank. It was apprehended that in the absence of this standard, the widows may be asked to submit any relevant or irrelevant information by the bank. This could also lead to delay in commencement of the family pension.
4. The matter has been examined and it has been agreed that in case the pensioner and spouse are holding a joint account, the possibility of claim for family pension from someone else does not arise. Therefore, in such cases, there is no requirement of Form 14. The spouse may inform the Bank of death of the pensioner and request the bank for commencement of family pension, through a simple letter. He/she may enclose a copy of death certificate of pensioner, PPO, proof of his/her own age/date of birth and an undertaking for recovery of excess payment. In other cases, i.e., where the pension is not being credited to the joint bank account of the pensioner and his/her spouse, Form 14 will be continued to be obtained by the banks. However, the condition of attestation of Form 14 has been done away with and witnessing by two persons has been considered as sufficient.
5. For all future cases, Head of Office will forward to the PAO, along with similar details for the pensioner, the specimen signature, personal mark of identification, left hand thumb impression, the proof of age/date of birth and an undertaking from the spouse regarding recovery of excess payment. After the death of the pensioner, the spouse of the deceased pensioner will be required to provide only death certificate to the paying bank, who will identify the spouse based on the information given in the PPO and its own “Know Your Customer” procedures. Where the pensioner and his/her spouse do not have a joint account, Form 14 will be required as in para 4 above.
6. This issues with the concurrence of Department of Expenditure, vide their ID No. 601/E.V/2013, dated 13.09.2013.
(D.K. Solanki)
Under Secretary to the Government of India
Original Order :
http://ccis.nic.in/WriteReadData/CircularPortal/D3/D03ppw/PPWE_200913.pdf
No.7/24/2007/E III (A)
Government of India
Ministry of Finance
Department of Expenditure
E III (A) Branch
New Delhi, the 27th September, 2013
OFFICE MEMORANDUM
Subject : Grant of Non-Productivity Linked Bonus (ad-hoc bonus) to Central Government Employees for the year 2012-13.
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The undersigned is directed to convey the sanction of the President to the grant of Non-Productivity Linked Bonus (Ad-hoc Bonus) equivalent to 30 days emoluments for the accounting year 2012-13 to the Central Government employees in Groups ‘C’ and ‘D’ and all non-gazetted employees in Group ‘B’ who are not covered by any Productivity Linked Bonus Scheme. The calculation ceiling for payment of ad-hoc Bonus under these orders shall continue to be monthly emoluments of Rs. 3500/-, as hitherto. The payment of ad-hoc Bonus under these orders will also be admissible to the eligible employees of Central Para Military Forces and Armed Forces. The orders will be deemed to be extended to the employees of Union Territory Administration which follow the Central Government pattern of emoluments and are not covered by any other bonus or ex-gratia scheme.
2. The benefit will be admissible subject to the following terms and conditions:
(i) Only those employees who were in service as on 31.3.2013 and have rendered at least six months of continuous service during the year 2012-13 will be eligible for payment under these orders. Pro-rata payment will be admissible to the eligible employees for period of continuous service during the year from six months to a full year, the eligibility period being taken in terms of number of months of service (rounded off to the nearest number of months).
(ii) The quantum of Non-PLB (ad-hoc bonus) will be worked out on the basis of average emoluments/calculation ceiling whichever is lower. To calculate Non-PLB (Ad-hoc bonus) for one day, the average emoluments in a year will be divided by 30.4 (average number of days in a month). This will thereafter be multiplied by the number of days of bonus granted. To illustrate, taking the calculation ceiling of monthly emoluments of Rs, 3500 (where actual average emoluments exceed Rs. 3500), Non-PLB (Ad-hoc Bonus) for thirty days would work out to Rs.3500×30/30.4 = Rs.3453.95 (rounded offto Rs.3454/-).
(iii) The casual labour who have worked in offices following a 6 days week for at least 240 days for each year for 3 years or more(206 days in each year for 3 years or more in the case of offices observIng 5 days week), will be eligible for this Non PLB (Ad-hoc Bonus) Payment. The amount of Non-PLB (ad-hoc bonus) payable will be (Rs.1200×30/30.4 i.e.Rs.1184.21(rounded off to Rs,1184/-). In cases where the actual emoluments fall below Rs.1200/- p.m., the amount will be calculated on actual monthly emoluments.
(iv) All payments under these orders will be rounded off to the nearest rupee.
(v) The clarificatory orders issued vide this Ministry’s OM No.F.14(10)-E. Coord/88 dated 4.10.1988, as amended from time to time, would hold good.
3. The expenditure on this account will be debitable to the respective Heads to which the pay and allowances of these employees are debited.
4. The expenditure incurred on account of Non-PLB (Ad-hoc Bonus) is to be met from within the sanctioned budge provision of concerned Ministries/Departments for the current year.
5. In so far as the persons serving in the Indian Audit and Accounts Department are concerned, these orders are issued in consultation with the Comptroller and Auditor General of India.
(Amar Nath Singh)
Deputy Secretary to the Govt of India
Original Order
http://finmin.nic.in/the_ministry/dept_expenditure/notification/bonus/bonus2013.pdf
Consumer Price index Numbers for Industrial Workers (CPI-IW) August 2013
According to a press release issued by the Labour Bureau, Ministry of Labour & Employment the All-India CPI-IW for August, 2013 rose by 2 points and pegged at 237 (two hundred and thirty seven). On 1-month percentage change, it increased by 0.85 per cent between July and August compared with 0.94 per cent between the same two months a year ago.
The largest upward pressure to the change in current index came from Food group contributing 1.58 percentage points to the total change. At item level, Rice, Wheat, Wheat Atta,Goat Meat, Dairy Milk, Milk (Cow & Buffalo),Onions, Chillies Green, Tea (Readymade), Firewood, Doctors Fee, Private Tution Fee. Secendory School Books, Petrol, Tailoring Charges are responsible for the rise in index. However, this was compensated to some extent by Groundnut Oil, Fish, Fresh Vegetables and Fruit items, putting downward pressure on the index.
The year-on-year inflation measured by monthly CPI-IW stood at 10.75 per cent for August, 2013 as compared to 10.85 per cent for the previous month and 10.31 per cent during the corresponding month of the previous year. Similarly, the Food inflation stood at 13.91 per cent against 14.10 per cent of the previous month and 12.20 per cent during the corresponding month of the previous year.
At centre level, Chindwara recorded the highest increase of 8 points each followed by Jalpaiguri and Siliguri (7 points), Durgapur (10 points) and Ranchi, Hatia, Nagpur, Kolkata, Asansol and Tiruchirapally (6 points each). Among others, 5 points rise was registered in 8 centres, 4 points in 6 centres, 3 points in 12 centres, 2 points in 13 centres and 1 point in 19 centres. On the contrary, Goa reported a decline of 5 points followed by Ernakulam, Quilon and Surat (2 points each) and 3 other centres by 1 point each. Rest of the 6 centres’ indices remained stationary.
The indices of 39 centres are above All-India Index and other 38 centres’ indices are below national average. The index of Tiruchirapally centre remained at par with all-India index.
The next index of CPI-IW for the month of September, 2013 will be released on Thursday, 31 October, 2013. The same will also be available on the office website www.labourbureau.gov.in.
The Madhya Pradesh Cabinet on Thursday approved a hike in the Dearness Allowance for all employees of the State government and local bodies.
The DA has been hiked from 80 to 90 per cent of the basic salary. The double digit hike comes less than a week after the Centre announced a 10 per cent hike for its employees. Timed before the model code of conduct for elections comes into force, the DA would be paid retrospectively from July 1.
The government announced the setting up of the Seventh Central Pay Commission (CPC) ahead of elections, heralding the prospect of salary increases for nearly 80 lakh employees and pensioners, although the actual revisions will take about three years or so and could put finances under strain at the time.
“The average time taken by a Pay Commission to submit its recommendations has been about two years. Accordingly, allowing about two years for the 7th CPC to submit its report, the recommendations are likely to be implemented with effect from 1.1.2016,” Finance Minister P Chidambaram said in a statement issued by the government on Wednesday.
The Sixth Pay Commission came into effect on January 1, 2006. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has approved the constitution of the Seventh Pay Commission, Chidambaram said in the statement. The commission’s terms of reference and its members will be announced later. Five state governments go to the polls in November while general elections are expected to be held in May next year.
The government constitutes a pay commission almost every decade to revise the pay scales of its employees, who get an inflation-linked dearness allowance twice a year but no salary revisions as in the private sector.
State governments usually adopt the recommendations after suitable modifications. The commission award tends to impose a significant burden on government finances.
Central government spending on salaries and allowances of just the civilian employees (those who don’t belong to the defence services) rose nearly 40% in 2008-09 after the Sixth Pay Commission award from a year before.
The higher spending came just as the global financial crisis broke, forcing the government to announce measures to prop up growth. The fiscal deficit rose to 6% in 2008-09 and 6.5% in 2009-10 from 2.5% in 2007-08, a slippage the government has still not managed to rein in. Chidambaram last year announced a road map to trim the fiscal deficit to 3% of GDP in 2016-17.
Although higher salaries will mean more disposable income in the hands of government employees, the pay commission award could burden government finances and push back the fiscal recovery.
“No doubt, the Seventh Pay Commission will lead to demand increase in the economy, but it will lead to consumption-led and not investment-led growth,” said Devendra Kumar Pant, chief economist, India Ratings. “If in 2.5 years, the economy does not recover, in terms of growth and fiscal deficit, it will be a big load for the centre and states.”
Trade unions welcomed the constitution of the commission but demanded that they be set up every five years. Congress party general secretary in charge of communication Ajay Maken welcomed the setting up of the pay commission on Twitter. “The government should attract best of talents…Pay commissions help in attracting and also retaining best available talents,” Maken said.
Planning Commission member Arun Maira said at a Ficci seminar in Kolkata: “All government employees will want it while others may not… This is a big election force… It is an interesting situation since it is election time.”
No.1-8/2013-E-II (B)
Government of India
Ministry of Finance
Department of Expenditure
North Block, New Delhi
Dated: 25th September, 2013.
OFFICE MEMORANDUM
Subject: Payment of Dearness Allowance to Central Government employees – Revised Rates effective from 1.7.2013.
The undersigned is directed to refer to this Ministry’s Office Memorandum No.1(2)/2013-E-II (B) dated 25th April, 2013 on the subject mentioned above and to say that the President is pleased to decide that the Dearness Allowance payable to Central Government employees shall be enhanced from the existing rate of 80% to 90% with effect from 1st July. 2013.
2. The provisions contained in paras 3, 4 and 5 of this Ministry’s O.M. No.1(3)/2008-E-II(B) dated 29th August, 2008 shall continue to be applicable while regulating Dearness Allowance under these orders.
3. The additional installment of Dearness Allowance payable under these orders shall be paid in cash to all Central Government employees.
4. These orders shall also apply to the civilian employees paid from the Defence Services Estimates and the expenditure will be chargeable to the relevant head of the Defence Services Estimates. In regard to Armed Forces personnel and Railway employees, separate orders will be issued by the Ministry of Defence and Ministry of Railways, respectively.
5. In so far as the employees working serving in the Indian Audit and Accounts Department are concerned, these orders are issued with the concurrence of the Comptroller and Auditor General of India.
6. The Hindi version of this O.M. is also issued.
(Kishori Raman Sharma)
Under Secretary to the Government of India
Original Order :
http://finmin.nic.in/the_ministry/dept_expenditure/notification/da/da01072013.pdf
