Local issues taken up with the CCIT(CCA), Mumbai

The following issues of importance to our members have been taken up with CCIT(CCA) and a meeting with the Admn. will be held on 26.9.2012. 

                                                                                                                   Dated: 10.9.2012

The Chief Commissioner of Income-tax (CCA),

Mumbai.

Sir,

                        Sub: Issues concerning the staff members

                              -------------------------------------------------

            We have been taking up with the admn. various issues of concern to our members in regular meetings. However, on many issues there is no positive action inspite of agreement and assurances. Even the issues on which direction has been given by the CBDT, no action has been taken by the Admn. 

           

In the circumstances, we are enclosing herewith a list of issues which needs to be resolved without further loss of time. Kindly make it convenient to arrange a meeting with our Managing Committee so that the issues can be discussed in detail.

           

Thanking You,

            Yours faithfully,

            Ravindran B. Nair                                                                                                                                                                 

            General Secretary.

Local issues:                                                                                                            

1. Air Conditioners Ranges: The Board has approved provision of 6 Air Conditioners in each range Range offices. Only 50% of the Ranges will be covered during the current year. Al the CCsIT (CCA) have been asked to identify the ranges and send the proposals in the performa circulated to them. (copy of the communication sent to CCIT(CCA) by the Board is enclosed herewith). However, as per our information no such proposal has gone from the Admn. in Mumbai even though more than 3 months have passed. This may be expedited in consultation with the ITEF.
2. Funds for Welfare of staff members: Every year funds meant for the welfare of the staff members are used in various City charges without any uniformity. In some of the City charges nothing is provided to the staff members. This needs to be looked into and uniformity should be brought about so that there is no discrimination.
3. Bus Service from Kurla Station to BKC: This issue was discussed on various occasions and in the last meeting the ITEF was asked to give a proposal for consideration. In this regard we have collected information from the BEST which provides buses on contract basis which is highly subsidized. Accordingly we have prepared a proposal along with the required budget per month/year which we feel needs to pursued to its logical conclusion as our members and officers are facing a lot of difficulties in traveling from Kurla and Bandra stations to the BKC office.
4. Grievance redressal cell: We had demanded the establishment of a Grievance Rredresal cell for handling the problems faced by pensioners and also family members of those who die in harness in getting their dues, Pension etc.
5. Centralization of DDOs: While over the years we have been demanding centralization of the DDOs as the members of staff are finding it difficulty in getting their various dues due to shortage of staff in DDOs. The decision at that point was to have one DDO in every building. However, so far no progress has been made in this regard. Further, the DGIT(IT) stationed at New Delhi has now created a DDO(TP) in Mumbai without any staff or necessary paraphernalia. We are unable to understand the rationale in having two DDOs in the DIT(TP) and DIT(IT) except for use or misuse of funds by the respective Range heads. Therefore we demand immediate steps to reduce the number of DDOs and augment the staff in various DDOs so that our members are not made to suffer.
6. Provision of A/Cs and Compactors in S.B Cell/DDO-Admn/Pension Cell etc.: The staff members working in the above offices are finding it difficulty in storing the files etc. It is also requested to provide air conditioners in the above offices.
7. Repair & Renovation Work in staff quarters, Offices: As we have already pointed out on various occasions there is no proper monitoring of the work being done at staff quarters and also in the offices. It is therefore necessary that steps are taken to ensure that the work done by the CPWD is properly supervised.
8. Service Book Copies not provided to all : The department had decided to provide a copy of the Service Book in CD to all the employees. This was implemented to some extent. However, later this was not pursued to its logical conclusion and many staff members are yet to receive the same.
9. Fire Safety Measures: There is no proper fire safety measure in place in Aayakar Bhavan and other Income-tax buildings. Even the fire fighting equipment is out dated and the base of Aayakar Bhavan is more like a godown. There are at least 3 carpenters who have set shop and furniture is lying everywhere. These aspects need to be taken seriously. Fire drill needs to be carried out.
10. Inter-Charge transfer: Kindly refer to our letter dated 23.8.2012 on this issue which is self explanatory.
11. Internet facility in Welfare & Pension Cell etc: Internet connectivity in the Welfare section and Pension is very much required as they have to access many orders etc issued by various Govt. authorities etc. This should be done on priority basis.
12. Installation of Booster for improved mobile connectivity: The mobile connectivity in Aayakar Bhavan, Earnest House etc are very poor especially of MTNL.
13. Repair & Renovation in various rented premises: In the rented premises housing Income Tax Offices like Pirmal Chambers etc no proper maintenance and repair is being carried out. Even though numerous requests are made to the landlords they hardly take any steps to improve the situation. In Piramal chambers it is indeed surprising that the same landlord does proper maintenance and repair on the upper floors housing Central Excise and looks far better than the floors housing the Income-tax department. In this regard it is suggested that in all the rented premises of the department the payment of rent should be withheld till the repair and renovation as demanded by the department is done. Here, an NOC should be obtained from the building in-charge of the respective buildings before the disbursement of rent by the Admn. from Aayakar Bhavan every month.
14. Lockers for Staff Car Drivers: As many of the lockers provided to the staff car Drivers is damaged new lockers may be provided.
15. Goregoan Guest House: The newly recruited ACs are staying the in the Guest House for too long and this creates problem in  getting accommodation to staff members who are coming to Mumbai for cancer treatment etc. The allotment of guest house for the newly recruited officials should be for a specific period and not for indefinite period. It has come to our notice that some of the CCITs/CITs/Addl.CITs etc. who came on transfer are staying in the departmental guest houses for months together thereby blocking the rooms for visitors. We also understand that such Officers are also drawing HRA which is against the Rules.
16. Conveyance to Notice Servers & Inspectors: There is an inordinate delay in payment Conveyance allowance. In the  case of Notice Servers even though the payment is to be made out of the office expenses, the DDOs are not preparing and sending the bills in time on the pretext of non-availability of funds etc. We are unable to understand how there could be shortage of funds in the office expenses regularly. In the case of Inspectors Conveyance also bills are not cleared on time and here also there is a shortage of funds. It is therefore requested to give necessary directions to the DDOs to prepare and send the bill at least on quarterly basis and funds are provided whenever required.
17. ITEF office at Aaayakar Bhavan & Piramal Chambers: Proposal repair and renovation of the office at Aayakar Bhavan is pending for more than a month after new room was allotted to the ITEF. This needs to be expedited. Proposal for furnitures etc for union office at Piramal chambers was sent to the Admn. from long back. However, in spite of assurances on various occasions given by the Addl.CIT(HQ)Admn. nothing has been done so far.
18. Utilisation of 1% incentive of F.Y.2009-10: The Finance Minister has approved utilization of 1% incremental revenue earned during F.Y. 2009-10 amounting to Rs.80.63 crore. In this regard suggestions for utilization of the same have been sought from all the Chief Commissioner of Income-tax by the Directorate of Income Tax (Admn) taking the inputs from ITGOA/ITEF/IRS Assocciation (copy enclosed). It is therefore requested to take the ITEF in to confidence before the suggestions are finalized.
19. Renovation of Aayakar Bhavan Canteen: The proposal for renovation of the canteen was given by the ITEF long time back. After persuing the matter continuously with the admn. at last the renovation work was started. But the progress of the work is very slow. There is no proper co-ordination between the Electrical and Civil wings of the CBDT thereby delaying the work. In this it is suggested that regular meetings should be held with the CPWD and the work should be completed in a time bound manner as the functioning of the canteen cannot be curtailed for too long as our members are facing problem.

Note: Alongwith these issues the matter of provision of sim cards to newly recruited MTS is also taken up.