Tour of D. Ayyappan, General Secretary to Delhi from 21st to 25th February, 2011

I. Part B Grade Payt to Left-out categories of teachers:

Meeting with HRD Minister: The meeting with Shri Kapil Sibal, Honble Minister of HRD fixed for 24^th February, 2011 at 3.30 p.m. through Com PK Biju, MP [CPI (M)] from Kerala, was cancelled as the Minister was busy with JPC resolution in the Parliament. However, Com PK Biju agreed to meet the Minister later on and submit the Memorandum to him on this issue.

Meeting with Secretary (School Edn & Literacy) in the Ministry of HRD: General Secretary met Ms Anshu Vaish, Secretary (School Edn & Literacy) in the Ministry of HRD at Shastri Bhavan and submitted a Memorandum to her on the issue. She wanted to know whether the upgraded Part B Grade Pay was given to all the teachers, HMs, Librarians, etc. of Daman & Diu, Lakshadweep, etc. Since we were not having any documentary proof about the above UTs, the Secretary (Schoold Edn) asked the Association to furnish that information also. However, she assured to examine the matter by the Ministry.

II. ISDA during summer vacation to teachers

The matter was taken up with the Secretary (Expenditure) in the Ministry of Finance. Copy of the representation was submitted to the concerned Joint Secretary and Section Officer, the latter assuring the General Secretary to examine the matter immediately.

III. Meeting with Home Secretary

The General Secretary had a meeting with Shri Gopalkrishna Pillai, Home Secretary, Govt. of India at his North Block office. The following issues were taken up with the Home Secretary:

i) Grant of upgraded Grade Pay under Part B of CCS (RP)

Rules to left-out categories of teachers

ii) To provide a forum/mechanism on the lines of JCM at the national level for the reddressal of the grievances of employees working under the A & N Admn. Home Secretary assured the General Secretary that he will provide some kind of forum within the next 5 – 6 months.

iii) ISDA to teachers during summer vacation

iv) Exemption of ISDA from Income Tax Calculation

v) Upgraded Grade pay for LGCs and HGCs

IV. Demand for upgraded Grade Pay for LGCs and HGCs

General Secretary submitted a Memorandum to the Secretary, Department of Personnel & Training, Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pension on this matter. Copies of the Memorandum was submitted to Secretary (Expenditure) and Home Secretary.

It was learnt from Confederation sources that the matter relating to the upgraded Grade Pay (Rs. 4200) for UDCs in the Central Secretariat Cadre is in the active consideration of the Ministry of Finance.

V. Exemption of ISDA from Income Tax:

General Secretary submitted a Memorandum to the Secretary (Expenditure) in the Ministry of Finance with copy to Home Secretary on this matter. A separate Memorandum was also submitted to the Union Finance Minister on this issue.

VI. VLWs issue:

General Secretary had discussion with the officials of Rural Development (Development Department) and officials of Directorate of Panchayats under the Govt. of NCT of Delhi about the higher Grade Pay granted to the VLWs in Delhi. It was learnt that the higher Grade Pay was granted to VLWs of Delhi after merging the posts of VLW and Sr. VLWs on the recommendation of Sixth CPC. Copy of the old Recruitment Rules was obtained from the above officials. Revision of RRs for the merged post of VLW has not yet been completed.

VII. Anomaly Issue of Agriculture Staff:

General Secretary submitted a Memorandum to the Secretary (Agri & Coop) in the Ministry of Agriculture demanding to remove the anomaly in the pay of Agriculture Assistant/Agriculture Field Assistant with those serving under the Delhi Government/NDMC, etc. Copy of the Memorandum was given to Com. Basudeb Acharya, CPI (M) leader in the Lok Sabha who is also the Chairman, Standing Committee on Agriculture.

Copies of the representations/letters submitted by the General Secretary to various Ministries were also submitted to Com Basudeb Acharya, MP for taking up the matter with the concerned Ministries.

Dharna in support of the 'Parliament March'

PRESS NOTE

In support of the Parliament March on 23rd February 2011 at New Delhi, CITU & Non Gazetted Govt. Officers' Association , A& N Islands organised a day long Dharna at Tiranga Park, Port Blair from 09.00 am to 05.00 p.m. After the Dharna, a public meeting was organized at the same venue. Shri B.Chandrachoodan, Gen. Secty, CITU, Shri T.S.Sreekumar, Asst. Gen. Secty, NGOs' Association and Shri S.P.Kalairajan, BSNLEU etc., spoke on the occassion. Shri S.B.Chatterjee presided over the meeting. Similiar programmes were also organized at Diglipur and Rangat.

General Secretary's Delhi Visit

PRESS NOTE

Shri D Ayyappan, General Secretary, Non-Gazetted Govt. Officers’ Association during his recent visit to New Delhi met Ms. Anshu Vaish, Secretary (School & Literacy), Ministry of Human Resources Development and submitted a memorandum urging her intervention for the grant of Upgraded Grade Pay under Part B of the CCS(Revised Pay) Rules 2008 to all left out categories of teachers like Headmasters, Physical Education Teachers, Librarians, Craft Instructors etc., working under the Andaman and Nicobar Administration. She assured him that a decision on the matter will be taken as early as possible. Shri Ayyappan had also met Shri. Gopal Krishna Pillai, Home Secretary, Govt. of India and submitted representations on various issues pertaining to the Govt. Employees working under A & N Administration. The Home Secretary assured Shri Ayyappan that some kind of forum like the Joint Consultative Machinery existing at the Central Govt. level will be provided for the redressal of the grievances of the Govt. Employees working under the A & N Administration. The General Secretary had also submitted a memorandum to the Secretary (Expenditure), Ministry of Finance for the enhancement of the Grade Pay of Lower Grade Clerk and Higher Grade Clerks working under Andaman & Nicobar Administration. He had also requested the Secretary (Expenditure) to exempt the Island Special Duty Allowance (ISDA) from the Income Tax Calculation.

Com. D Ayyappan in New Delhi

The General Secretary, NGOs' Association, A & N Islands is in New Delhi from 20.02.2011. He has been sent by the Association to pursue various pending issues /demands of different categories of employees & teachers with the Govt. of India.

He is likely to meet Shri. Kapil Sibal, Minister HRD and Home Secretary on 24.02.2011. Settlement of upgraded Grade Pay to certain sections of teachers, staff of Agriculture Department, AC Cadre etc., are high on the agenda of General Secretary.

Asst. Gen. Secretary

National Anomaly Committee Meeting - Andaman and Nicobar Islands Issue discussed

News Item

The Third meeting of the National Anomaly Committee was held on 15^thFebruary, 2011 at New Delhi. During the discussion the Staff Side brought to the notice of the official side that the issues pertaining to the employees of Andaman and Nicobar islands, which were taken out of the agenda during last meeting on the plea that the same would be discussed separately by a Committee to be set up by the Andaman Administration, have not been settled. As per the communication received from Shri KKN Kutty, Secretary General of the Confederation of Central Govt. Employees & Workers, New Delhi, who is also a Member of the National Anomaly Committee, the Staff Side stated in the meeting that the Non-Gazetted Govt. Officers’ Association of A & N Islands have brought to the notice of the staff side that the A & N Administration has not taken any steps to resolve the problems even though similar issues pertaining to the employees of Pondicherry and Delhi were settled. The Official side has promised to take up the issue with the concerned in the Home Ministry to ensure that the issues are addressed expeditiously.

The Agenda Items dropped during the last meeting of the National Anomaly Committee were (i) extending the Part B Grade Pay to Headmasters working under the A & N Administration and (ii) extending the Part B Grade Pay to other categories of teachers. Besides these two items, the demand for upgraded Grade Pay for the Lower Grade Clerks and Higher Grade Clerks were also raised by the Association before the Government of India.

General Secretary

NGOs' Association

A & N Islands

Newly Elected Office Bearers of SATB

The newly elected Office Bearers of South Andaman Teachers' Branch :

Vice President : Shri H L Prasad

Secretary : Shri Venkat Rama Rao

Joint Secretaries :

Shri P Jay Murthy

Shri R.Shashi Kumar

Organizing Secretaries:

Shri G P Mondal

Shri Kuldeep Singh

Shri R D Yadav

Shri Sashikumar

Shri Ashok Sharma

Smti Nasreen Begum

Treasurer : Shri R Surendran Pillai

Office Secretary : Shri S L Vinjit

ANNUAL GENERAL BODY MEETING OF SATB

News Item

The Annual General Body Meeting of the South Andaman Teachers’ Branch of the Non-Gazetted Govt. Officers’ Association was held at 9.30 a.m. on 12^th February, 2011 at Govt. Model Senior Secondary School, Port Blair. Shri. C.Nachiappan, Assistant Director of Education (Admn.), A & N Administration was the Chief Guest at the Inaugural Session. Appreciating the efforts made by the Association in raising various demands and issues relating to the teaching community before the authorities of the Administration, Shri C.Nachiappan informed the gathering that the Directorate of Education has already taken steps to settle these issues in a time-bound manner. He sought the co-operation of the Association to implement various provisions of the Right to Education Act, 2009 in these islands. Earlier, Shri. H.L.Prasad, Vice President, South Andaman Teachers’ Branch welcomed the gathering. Shri Pronob Banerjee, former President, NGOs’ Association and Shri S.C.Biswas, President, NGOs’ Association also addressed the meeting. Shri. Venkat Rama Rao, Secretary, South Andaman Teachers’ Branch presented the Secretary’s Report while Shri R.Surendran Pillai, Treasurer presented the Audited Accounts in the organizational session. Shri. T.S.Sreekumar, Asst. General Secretary and Shri Sadanand Rai, Organising Secretary of the NGOs’ Association highlighted the current issues of teachers at the meeting. A large number of teachers working in the schools of Port Blair and South Andaman areas have attended the meeting.

The meeting through a resolution called upon the authorities in the Administration not to increase the working hours of the teachers till all other provisions of the Right to Education Act, 2009 like providing infrastructural facilities, reducing teacher-student ratio etc., are implemented in the islands. Resolutions on various other demands related to teachers were also adopted in the meeting. Shri. P.Jay Murthy, Joint Secretary, South Andaman Teachers’ Branch proposed the vote of thanks.

ANNUAL GENERAL BODY MEETING OF SATB

SOUTH ANDAMAN TEACHERS’ BRANCH

of

Non-Gazetted Government Officers’ Association

Cordially invites all the teachers of Port Blair & South Andaman Area to attend

ANNUAL GENERAL BODY MEETING

At the Auditorium of

Govt. Model Senior Secondary School, Port Blair

on

Saturday the 12^th February, 2011 at 9.30 a.m.

Shri. C.Nachiappan,

Assistant Director of Education (Admn.)

Andaman and Nicobar Administration

Has kindly consented to be the Chief Guest of the Inaugural Session

(Venkat Rama Rao) Secretary

Rate of Calculating entitlement to Earned Leave and Half Pay Leave

No.13026 /1/2010-Estt. ( Leave)
Government of India
Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions
Department of Personnel & Training
***

New Dlehi, the 7^th Februay, 2011

OFFICE MEMORANDUM

Sub: Rate of calculating entitlement to Earned Leave (E.L) and Half Pay Leave (HPL).

The undersigned is directed to say that matter regarding entitlement of a Government servant, who dies while in service, to Earned Leave under Rule 27(2)(b) and Half Pay Leave Rule 29 (2) (c) of the CCS (Leave) Rules 1972 has been under consideration of this Department.

2. At present rule 27 (2) (b) says ‘when a Government servant is removed or dismissed from service or dies while in service, credit is allowed at the rate of 2 1/2 days per completed calendar month up to the end of the calendar month preceding the calendar month in which he is removed or dismissed from service or dies in service.’

Similarly Rule 29 (c) says ‘When a Government servant is removed or dismissed from service or dies while in service, credit of half pay leave shall be allowed at the rate of 5/3 days per completed calendar month up to the end of the calendar month preceding the calendar month in which he is removed or dismissed from service or dies in service.’

3. These rules adversely affect cases where the death of a serving Government Servant occurs on the last day of the month as the day of death is treated as his last working day. Clause (b) of sub rule (2) of rule 27 and clause (c) of sub-rule (2) of rule 29 of the CCS Leave Rules is modified as under :-

Rule 27 (2) (b) ‘When a Government servant is removed or dismissed from service, credit is allowed at the rate of 2 1 /2 days per completed calendar month up to the end of the calendar month preceding the calendar month in which he is removed or dismissed from service. When a Government Servant dies, while in service, credit of Earned Leave shall be allowed at time rate of 2 1/2 days per completed month of service up to the date of death of the Government Servant.’ Rule 29 (2) (c) ‘When a Government servant is removed or dismissed from service, credit of Hall Pay Leave shall be allowed at the rate of 5/3 days per completed calendar month up to the end of the calendar month preceding the calendar month in which he is removed or dismissed from service. When a Government Servant dies while in service, credit of Half Pay Leave shall be allowed at the rate of 5/3 days per completed month of service up to the date of death of the Government Servant.’

4. These orders take effect from the date of issue.

5. So far as persons serving in the Indian Audit & Accounts Departments are concerned, these orders are being issued after consultation with the C&AG of India.

s/d
(Zoya C. B.)
Under Secretary to the Government of India

Filling up of Posts under AC Cadre in A & N Admn.

News Item

Shri D. Ayyappan, General Secretary of the Non-Gazetted Government Officers’ Association, today (08.02.2011) met the Chief Secretary, A & N Administration and brought to his notice the delay occurred in the filling up of the posts of Deputy Secretary, Assistant Secretary, Office Superintendent, Head Clerk and Higher Grade Clerk under the Amalgamated Clerical Cadre of the Administration. A large number of these posts have become available following the recent restructuring of the Amalgamated Clerical Cadre by the Administration. He has informed the Chief Secretary that due to one or other reason, the promotion to the above posts is delayed and requested him to look into it as some of the officials are retiring from service shortly.

National Anomaly Committee Meeting

As per the news received from the Confederation of Central Government Employees, New Delhi, the next National Anomaly Committee meeting will be held on 15.02.2011.

We hope the following issues to be discussed in the meeting…

Employees whose date of increment is between Feb-June in Vth CPC issue…

Stepping up of pay of senior on par with the pay of higher pat granted to new entrants…

Health Insurance Scheme…

Demand to Exempt ISDA from Income Tax

3-12/CC/2011 01.02.2011

News Item

The Non-Gazetted Govt. Officers’ Association, Andaman and Nicoabr Islands has demanded exemption of Island Special Duty Allowance (ISDA) from the Income Tax. In a letter sent to the Secretary in the Department of Expenditure, Ministry of Finance, Govt. of India, New Delhi recently, Shri D. Ayyappan, General Secretary of the Association said that the government employees working in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands are being paid Island Special Duty Allowance ranging from 12 ½% to 25% depending upon the area of posting. However, this Allowance has been included in the taxable income while calculating income tax. He said that though this Allowance can be classified as compensatory in nature taking into account the high cost of living and other unsuitable conditions prevailing in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, the same has not yet been excluded from the taxable income. Shri D. Ayyappan informed the Secretary (Expenditure) that Defence personnel posted in these islands are exempted from paying income tax on this Allowance.

He has requested the Secretary (Expenditure) to examine this matter and exempt the Islands Special Duty Allowance from income tax treating this Allowance as compensatory in nature, which will be of great relief to thousands of government employees working in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

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(D. Ayyappan)

General Secretary