Tuesday, February 21, 2017

CONFEDERATION NATIONAL SECRETARIAT CALLS UPON ALL CENTRAL GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES

Observe 6th March 2017
as
BLACK DAY

v Against the betrayal of Central Government employees and pensioners by Group of Ministers of NDA Government.
v  Demanding increase in minimum pay and fitment formula.

Dear comrades

We know that all of you are in the midst of hectic preparation and campaign for making the 16thMarch Strike action a great success.  As has been explained in the article, which we have placed on our website, the NDA Government, led by BJP has exhibited the worst anti-employee attitude in the post independent  era of our country.  This Government has treated its own employees as its worst enemy. The decision taken by the Union Cabinet on 29th June, 2016 rejecting even the recommendations made by the high level committee chaired by the Cabinet Secretary was unprecedented. Even the setting up of various committees was nothing but an eye wash. Nothing will come out of that.  Even the NPS Committee on which the young comrades had pinned some hope of at least  getting a minimum guaranteed pension will produce nothing.  The discussions at the JCM fora has been converted into mostly monologues i.e. the official side simply listening and not reacting.  The Government, it appears, has made the Pension department to reject the one and only recommendation of the 7th CPC which was considered to be positive i.e. Option No.1 for pensioners on the specious ground that the same is not feasible to be implemented. The allowances committee has dilly dallied its deliberation and would now submit its report after the extended period of 6 months expires on 22.02.2017. Even if they make any positive recommendation, which is seldom expected, the NDA Government would not act upon it.  They have very successfully postponed the payment of the revised allowanced for 15 months. 

                In the face of such terrible onslaught, betrayal and chicanery, which no Government in the past has every indulged in,  it is surprising that some of our friends who has a predominant role in the movement of the Central Government employees has unfortunately chosen to wait and watch.  It appears that they have chosen to wait endlessly hurting the cause of the workers. 

                We have no hesitation to affirmatively state the obvious that we have chosen the right path, the path of struggles, which can only the choice of the working class against tyrannical attitude of the employer, howsoever, powerful they may be. We must realize that those who are  in the saddle of power today are not permanently posted there. We were witness to the abysmal downfall of persons who were arrogant personified.  It appears that the reasonableness, righteousness and patience we had exhibited have been taken as signs of cowardice. The undeniable fact is that those who fight, only can win. We, therefore, appeal to you to carry on with conviction and courage.

                Eight months will be over on 6th March, 2017, when the Group of Ministers held out the assurance of revisiting the minimum wage and multiplication factor.  It is now crystal clear that that was an act of chicanery.  No committee was set up  and no discussions were held to seriously consider the issue.  We, therefore, appeal to all of you to ensure that the day, i.e. 6th March, 2017 is observed as a day of betrayal and all our members are requested to wear a Black badge with the following words inscribed on it in bold letters and conduct demonstrations in front of all Central Government offices.
                                               

HONOUR THE COMMITMENT MADE ON
30th June & 6th JULY, 2016
REVISE THE MINIMUM WAGE AND
MULTIPLICATION FACTOR

6TH March 2017 must be yet another occasion to mobilize our members to ensure their participation in the 16th March, 2017 strike action and ultimately win all the demands in the charter. 

                We fight to win and we shall win.
                               
                With greetings,
Yours fraternally,



(M Krishnan)
Secretary General
Confederation

Monday, February 13, 2017

COM. S. K. VYAS JI REMEMBRANCE DAY  13THFEBRUARY 2017
             
  Com. S. K. Vyasji, the legendary leader of the Central Govt. Employees and Pensioners passed away on 13th February, 2015.
                   Com. Vyasji was the Secretary General and President of the Confederation of Central Govt. Employees & Workers for forty years from 1967 to 2006.  He was the President and Secretary General of All India Audit & Accounts Association for a long time.  He continued as the Advisor of the Confederation and also as the Secretary General of National Co-ordination Committee of Pensioners Association (NCCPA) and Bharat Central Pensioners Confederation (BCPC) till death. 
                   Com. Vyasji has led various struggles and strike actions of the Central Govt. Employees and was in the forefront of the leadership which organised the first indefinite strike action of the Central Govt. employees after independence, in the year 1960.  Com. Vyas was jailed and dismissed from service.  He played an important role in rallying the Central Govt. employees along with the striking Railway employees in the year 1974.  He was an able and uncompromising negotiator with the Government in the JCM National Council and Standing Committee.  He was responsible for many of the benefits and allowances enjoyed by the Central Govt. employees.  The cost indexation of wages was earned by the Govt. employees through the sustained struggles and efforts in 1960s under his leadership.  Confederation of Central Govt. employees and workers representing about 15 lakhs Central Govt. employees is in the forefront of the incessant struggle and strike actions organised by Indian Working Class against the neo-liberal economic policies of the Government.  Com. S. K. Vyasji’s vision and ideological clarity has made the Confederation, part and parcel of the mainstream of the working class movement in India.
                   Com. Vyasji was a friend, philosopher, guide and everything for the Central Govt. Employees movement.  In the more than six decades long trade union life, Com. Vyasji endeared himself to every section of the Central Govt. Employees.  His death has caused irreparable and irreplaceable loss to all of us.  He was a great leader, symbol of simplicity, a gem of a person and a leader who is down to earth, extremely polite, kind hearted and compassionate; one of the finest human being, tallest leader, a gentle mentor and a legend.
                   He is in our hearts!  His memories will be forever with us!  His long saga of struggle and sacrifice for the Central Govt. employees and pensioners will inspire the generations to come.
                   

                   Com. S. K. Vyasji Amar Rahe!
           Long live Com. S. K. Vyasji !!
           Long live, Long live !!!

Saturday, February 11, 2017

Central Civil Services (Leave Travel Concession) Rules, 

1988 - Fulfillment of procedural requirements- 

Clarification reg.  


TO VIEW, PLEASE CLICK HERE. 

Thursday, February 9, 2017

Warm Greetings to all Members on the Occasion of

FEDERATION DAY


65th Foundation Day of Income Tax Emplotyees Federation

on 10th February, 2017.


Flag Hoisting infront of Aayakar Bhavan at 11.30 am.


Red Salute to all known and unknown Comrdes who have sacrificed their yesteryears for the bettrment of the Income Tax Employees in Particular and Central govt. Employees in General.


ITEF - ZINDABAD !


Monday, February 6, 2017

Sub-Committee meeting on NPS

 



NPS committee constituted by the Government to streamline the National Pension System has called the JCM Staff Side for second round of discussion on 10.02.2017. As per the notified agenda, the committee is proposing discussion on only cosmetic changes in NPS. Basic issues such as (1) scrapping of NPS (2) Guaranteed Minimum pension to NPS Pensioners  ie; 50% of the last pay drawn should be guaranteed by Government as minimum pension even if the returns from annuity insurance scheme amount is less than the 50%. and (3) Exemption of Central Govt. Employees from the purview of NPS, are not included in the agenda of the meeting. From reading the agenda it can be seen that main demands of the Staff Side are avoided, thus betraying the cause of thousands of younger generation Central Government Employees who joined service after 01.01.2004. Their hopes are shattered and belied. NJCA should revive the deferred strike to protect the interest of younger generations. Let us make the 16th March 2017 Confederation Strike a grand success.

Saturday, February 4, 2017

                 CIRCULAR FROM ITEF(CHQ)                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                         Dated, 3rd  February, 2017
Dear Comrades,

65th   Anniversary of the Income Tax Employees Federation

The 10th February of every year is very important for us as we celebrate this day as the “Federation Day” in remembrance of its formation of this Federation in 1953.  This year 10th February is the 65th anniversary of the Federation.  On the occasion, as is the practice, the President of Income Tax Employees Federation has penned his message conveying the importance of the occasion and the need for keeping our unity and strength. Considering the present socio-political situation of the country in general and the CG employees in particular, the message urges all of us to be in preparedness for the big battle against the attack on the working class and to protect the hard earned rights.  It is needless to say that the Federation day should be celebrated in befitting way by hoisting the Flag in all Offices and conveys the message of the President to every member.  The President’s message is enclosed.    

Strike on 16th March, 2017

As decided in the Secretariat meeting, to mobilise our members for participation in the ensuing strike to be organised on 16th March, 2017 on the call of the Confederation of Central Govt. employees, the campaign programme is enclosed herewith. All Circle Secretaries are requested to contact with respective Comrades who will visit the places in your Circle and make all arrangements with a request to follow the schedule and ensure that all Branch Office Bearers join the campaign programme.

With warm greetings to all on the “Federation Day”.

Yours fraternally,
signature             
                                                                                                                                                                   (Rupak Sarkar)

                                                                                                                                                              Secretary General
Message  of the President of ITEF on the eve of the 65th Foundation Day.

It is the proud privilege of the President to place a message to the members of ITEF on the eve of the Foundation Day.  i.e. 10th February every year, a tradition commenced by my illustrious predecessors and  continued un-interrupted till date.  This is an occasion to recall the important happenings of the year gone by and the way it had impacted all of us and to think about as to how to combat the possible adversities emanating from some of them.   Before I do so, I take this opportunity to convey my fraternal greetings and good wishes to all our members.

Last year this day, all of us were hoping that the NDA Government will consider the issues, problems, grievances and demands placed by the National Council Staff Side on behalf of the entirety of the Central Government employees over the recommendations made by the 7th CPC on wage revision and service conditions.  The NJCA which was formed to spearhead the movement for the realization of common demands of the Central Government employees had by that time received the respectability and acceptance of all employees over its persistent efforts to present a common front before the Government, the determination it has shown to pursue the issues through struggles and the unity it could bring about at the grass root levels.   The all-round unity had rejuvenated the movement of the central government employees and could even elicit the willing participation of the officers in all programmes of actions.  An atmosphere of camaraderie existed as never before.  Therefore, when the NJCA decided to postpone the strike action from the month of April to July, 2016 on account of the State assembly elections in five States, there had been no voice of dissent at all.  By the end of June, 2016, the preparation for the strike action, coming as it is after more than three decades, had reached its peak.

The 29th June, 2016 Cabinet decision of the government rejecting almost all demands of the employees was, therefore a bolt from the blue for not only for the NJCA but all the affiliates and their members.  The spontaneous anger of the rank and file of the workers was clearly visible.  The unanimous and determined stand of the NJCA on 30th June, 2016 to go ahead with the strike action was that everyone expected.   Before the expiry of 24 hours the Government had to set up a Group of Ministers and invitation extended to the leaders of the NJCA on 30th June, for discussions.   The government held its talks at the residence of the Home Minister on 30th June, night.  The offer of revisiting the issue  of Minimum wage and multiplication factor; setting up of a committee and issuance of orders within a time frame of four months, even though explicable in the circumstances, shattered the unity of NJCA assiduously built over a period.   Many comrades genuinely felt that the NDA Government was indulging in chicanery and the four months period was conceived to demolish the unity of the employees.  That apprehension nurtured by a section of the employees however turned out to be right as no Committee was set up nor any fruitful discussions were held with the NJCA during the said period on the two vital issues of Minimum wage and multiplication factor.  When the NJCA met again on 17th January, 2017,  after about six and half months, the natural course ought to have   been to revive the decision of the strike action , which had been rightly deferred on  6th July , 2016 as a sequel to the confabulations  with the Group of Ministers.  Despite such a plea advanced by the representatives of the Confederation, the NJCA decided to tread the path of negotiation before the eventual action of strike is resorted to. 

It is in this background that we must look at the decision of the Confederation to organize a one day strike action initially on 15th Feb. 2016, now postponed to 16th March, 2017 on account of the commencement of the election process in five states.   ITEF is duty bound to make the action a cent per cent success.  I know I have written a lengthy message to narrate the developments so far, which I could not have or should not have avoided.  The decision of the Confederation to which ITEF is an affiliate rather a founding member,  in the context it is taken,  is the one and only right course left to a militant organization which believes in struggles.  From my experience in the movement for the last 40 years I am fully aware of the hurdles ahead in organizing the strike especially when the Confederation has been compelled to tread a lonely path.  This struggle is to expose those in authority, who are, to say the least behaved like cheats, liars and those who practice double speak as a profession.  I know the generation-next may not blame us in our inability in negotiating a better and decent wage structure but will certainly not forgive us if we do not stand up to deceit and insult.  I, therefore, appeal to my colleagues and comrades to overcome all difficulties as none of them are insurmountable and make the 16th March strike action a cent per cent success as had been the case on all previous occasions for ITEF in the last sixty five years. 

Our Secretary General has written to the Chairman, CBDT to convey the brewing situation in the Department vide his letter dated 23rd January, 2017.  The contents of the said letter were the outcome of the discussions, the National Secretariat had in its meeting held on 21st Jan,2017. The entire personnel in the Income Tax Department had been saddled with unbearable burden of workload, in the first six month of the fiscal, due to the Income Disclosure Scheme, the next three months due to the advancement of the limitation period from 31st March to 31st December and the last quarter with the onerous objective   of reaching the budget target of revenue collection and to attend on to the plethora of information flown to the system in the post demonetization period.  Stupendous is the amount of information and data received by the Department through the Banks and other agencies dealing with financial transactions in the Country, the inquiry into which alone can help to unearth the black money in the economy.  Of the 70,000 and above personnel, the Department has been sanctioned with, 45 to 50% is lying vacant.  The major reason is the absence of finalization of the recruitment rules, the files and noting of which traverse between the Department of Revenue and Department of Personnel.  Whatever might be the issue, it affects and affects adversely the very functioning of the Department.  To combat the situation, the local administration has resorted to large scale outsourcing and local employment on daily rated basis compromising the very security and confidentiality of the functions of the Department.  In the present style of functioning, it is heard that the bureaucrats are supposed to listen and not to talk.  Similarly stake holders have only been afforded the right to present their case and grievances but cannot demand discussions.  In the said scenario, there is no likelihood of the grievances reaching the top or finding a resolution in the near future.  We must expect that the issues would be sorted out by the end of the fiscal year.  Thereafter it will have to be a continuous and sustained struggle. 

Once again, let me take this opportunity to convey our best wishes and greetings to all our members on this auspicious occasion of the 65th anniversary of our Federation.


Ashok Kumar Kanojia

President.