FALSE
PROPAGANDA & UNFOUNDED CRITICISM BY SUPPORTERS OF NDA GOVERNMENT’S DECISION
ON ALLOWANCES
Immediately on announcement
of Govt’s decision on Allowances a well-orchestrated propaganda was unleashed
by the NDA Govt through media and its political machinery and also through some
organizations and employees who supported the Government’s decision. The crux
of the propaganda is as follows :-
1)
It has been decided by the Government that HRA shall not be less than 5400,
3600 & 1800 for X, Y, and Z category of cities respectively. This floor
rate has been calculated @ 30%, 20% and 10% of the minimum pay of 18,000-. This
will benefit more than 7.5 lakhs employees belonging to pay level 1,2, and 3.
2)
It is because of the JCM Staffside Federations who opposed and rejected the HRA
rate recommended by Pay Commission, the employees have lost one and half years
arrears of allowances. Government was ready to implement HRA and allowances
from 01-01-2016 along with Revised Pay.
3)
Even in the past, Revised HRA and
other Allowances were not given from the same date. HRA and other Allowances
are implemented from a later date without retrospective effect.
The propaganda and
criticism, though not succeeded, should not go uncountered. This is part
of a deliberate attempt by the Govt. and its political machinery to misguide
the general public and employees.
The following facts will reveal the hollowness of the propaganda of the Govt, and the criticism of those who supports the Govt’s decision.
(1)
More than 7.5 lakhs lower level employees ( in pay level 1, 2 and 3) will
be benefited due to the decision of the Govt. to retain minimum HRA of 5400,
3600 and 1800 as 30, 20 & 10% of minimum pay of 18,000-.
It will not benefit 7.5
lakhs employees in lower level 1, 2 and 3. It will benefit only few thousand
employees.
In Pay level – I the
starting pay is 18,000-. After getting eight (8) increments (eight years
service) pay will become 22,800-. An employee drawing 22,800- will get HRA
above 5400, 3600, 1800 even if the HRA is 24% (5472) 16% (3648) and 8% (1824).
In Pay level – 2 the
starting pay is 19,900- After getting five increments (5 years service) pay
will become 23,100-. The official will draw 5544 (24%) 3696 (16%) and 1848 (8%)
even if the minimum 5400, 3600, 1800 is not retained.
In Pay level – 3 the
starting pay is 21,700-. After getting 2 increments the pay will become 23,100-
. 24% (5544), 16% (3696) and 8% (1848) will be above 5400, 3600 and 1800-.
From the above it can be
seen that only those officials below 8 years service in
Pay level – 1, below 5 years
service in Pay level – 2 and 2 years services in Pay level – 3 will be
benefited by the decision of the Govt to retain 5400-, 3600- and 1800- at level
1, 2 and 3 as minimum HRA at X, Y and Z class cities respectively. How many
central Govt employees below 8 years service in level -1 and below 5
years service in level -2 and below 2 years service in level – 3 will be
working in the Central Govt departments as on date. Only few thousands. All
others in level -1,2 and 3 will draw more than 5400-, 3600- and 1800-even if
HRA is 24%, 16% and 8%. This being the reality, Govt through its press release
given to media made false propaganda that 7.5 lakh employees will be
benefited by the Govt’s decision !!! And those who welcomed the Govt’s
decision are repeating the same lies.
(2) It
is because of the Federation leaders representing JCM National Council
Staffside who opposed the HRA rate recommended by 7th CPC, employees
lost one and half year arrears.
What is real fact?
Every time when Pay
Commissions submit its report to Govt, Implementation Committee or Empowered
Committee is constituted by the Govt to examine the recommendations of the CPC
and submit report to the Govt for acceptance by Cabinet. The
implementation Committee or Empowered Committee will call for suggestions /
modifications to the CPC recommendations from all organizations including National
Council JCM Staffside. This time also Govt and the Implementation Committee
followed the same procedure.
Accordingly, National
Council JCM Staffside submitted detailed memorandum to Govt and Implementation
Committee / Empowered Committees, seeking 26 modifications in the
recommendations including Minimum Pay, Fitment formula, Allowances including
HRA, Transport Allowance, Advances, MACP conditions, CCL conditions etc.,. The
JCM Staffside also presented their view points before the Implementation Committee
headed by Joint Secretary and Empowered Committee headed by Cabinet Secretary.
Suppose the JCM Staffside leaders / Federations decides not to submit any
memorandum seeking modifications in the retrograde recommendations of the 7th
CPC before the Implementation Committee / Empowered Committees and keep quite (
as argued by those who criticize the leaders and support the 7th CPC
recommendations), what will be the reaction of the employees ? Will they not
blame the leaders for silently supporting the Govt for implementing all the
retrograde and negative recommendations of the 7th CPC ?
Inspite of JCM Staffside
requesting for modifications the Cabinet meeting held on 29-06-2016 decided to
accept the recommendations of the 7th CPC on Pay Scale without any
modifications, rejecting the modifications requested by the Staffside. Cabinet
also decided to refer all the allowances including HRA to a Committee headed by
Finance & Expenditure Secretary.
Cabinet on 29-06-2016 has
not decided to grant 24%, 16% and 8% HRA recommended by 7th
CPC. Then where is the question of accepting or rejecting the decision of the
Govt when there was no such decision by the Cabinet.
Not only JCM Staffside
Federations almost all the Unions / Federations / Associations have submitted
memorandum to Govt seeking modifications in the retrograde recommendations of 7th
CPC. What is wrong in it ? The fact is that Govt deliberately constituted the
Allowance Committee and referred HRA and other Allowances to the Committee to
delay and deny the arrears from 01-01-2016. Instead of protesting against the
Govt’s decision (that is what Confederation has done), those who are
desperately trying to turn the anger and resentment of the employees against
Unions / Federations who demanded modifications, are bound to fail, as Central
Govt employees are not that much fools to believe that propaganda.
(3) Even
in the past, HRA and Allowances were not given retrospective effect.
Govt and those who welcomed
and thanked Govt for its decision on allowances are continuously repeating the
argument that in the past also allowances were not given retrospective effect
from the date of Revision of Pay. But what is the actual fact?
In the past, revised
allowances including HRA were granted from the month / next month of
notification of Revised Pay Rules. Even then JCM Staffside has not welcomed or
thanked the Govt but strongly protested and demanded grant of allowances from
the same date from which Revised Pay is implemented. Even if the old practice
is taken as precedence, this time employees have every right to get revised
allowances including HRA from 01-07-2016 as Revised (Pay) Rues was notified on
25-07-2016. Those who welcomed the Govt’s decision are consciously and
deliberately hiding this fact as many employees do not know what has happened
in the past. More over never in the past any Pay Commission has recommended
reduction in HRA rates.
The NDA Govt and its
political machinery has made this type of propaganda when the Cabinet approved
the recommendations of Pay scales recommended by the 7th CPC on
29-06-2016 without any modifications. At that time the propaganda was “big
bonanza” to Central Government employees. This time also the same method of
propaganda is adopted and the unfortunate part of it, is that some of our
friends representing employees too contributed to such a false and baseless
propaganda.
Yours comradely,
(M.KRISHNAN)
Secretary General
Confederation
Mob&whatsapp:09447068125
E-mail:mkrishnan6854@gmail.com
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