National Safety Awards - Vishwakarma Rastriya Puraskar - for the performance year 2007

Shri Mallikarjun Kharge gives away Vishwakarma Rashtriya Puraskar and National Safety Awards

The Union Minister of Labour & Employment, Shri Mallikarjun Kharge has said that the Government is committed to the Occupational Safety and Health of the working population in the country. He was speaking here today after presenting the “Vishwakarma Rastriya Puraskar” and “National Safety Awards” for the performance year 2007.

Speaking on the occasion, Shri Kharge said that the Government has already declared the National Policy on Safety, Health and Environment at work place earlier this year to give a clear direction to the issues relating to the workers’ safety and health. He said that industrial injuries and fatalities were showing declining trend over the years in the manufacturing sector. As per the information available, in 2.5 lakh factories having an employment of over one crore, there were a total of 34,524 reportable accidents out of which 1387 fatalities were reported.

“I have a dream to see India as a Zero accident country” the Minister asserted and appealed to the industry and other concerned agencies to demonstrate their commitment for positive results.

Shri Kharge expressed satisfaction over the fact that some of the progressive and enlightened industrial establishments are implementing voluntary and self-regulated Occupational Safety and Health Management Systems (OSH-MS) as well as the food safety management systems in their organizations for promotion of occupational safety and health. Congratulating such industrial organizations for their pro-active approach, the Minister also exhorted other companies to emulate them in establishing safe and healthy work culture.

Shri Kharge also appealed to the Trade Union fraternity to co-operate with the managements to make worker-participative schemes like Suggestions Schemes, Quality Circles. Kaizens etc successful in the industrial establishments.

The Ministry of Labour and Employment, instituted the “Vishwakarma Rastriya Puraskar” (Previously known as Shram Veer National Awards) and “National Safety Awards” in 1965. The Awards schemes are operated by the Technical Wing of the Ministry, namely the Directorate General Factory Advice Service and Labour Institutes (DGFASLI), Mumbai.

There are 28 Vishwakarma Puraskars being shared by 120 winners from different Industries for the performance year 2007. Similarly, for the same performance year, the total number of National Safety Awards, Winners and Runners-up in all the twelve schemes add up to 101 ( 60 winners & 41 runners-up) under various schemes.

VRP is awarded in the form of cash prize and a certificate of merit in three classes: Class ‘A’ – Five (5) of Rs.75,000/- each, Class ‘B’ – Eight (8) of Rs.50,000/- each and Class ‘C’–Fifteen (15) of Rs.25,000/- each.

VRP is awarded in recognition of outstanding suggestions given by a worker or group of workers and implemented by the management during the previous calendar year resulting in improvement in quality, productivity and working conditions such as safety, health and environmental conservations in the Industrial undertakings where “Suggestion Schemes” are in operations.

The National Saftey Awards are given in recognition of outstanding safety performance of industrial establishments, construction sites and ports to stimulate and maintain the interests of both the management and the workers in accident prevention programmes. The applications received for VRP as well as NSA are adjudged by a Tripartite Awards committee constituted by the Ministry of Labour and Employment, comprising of representatives from Employers’ organizations, Employees’ organizations and Central/State Governments. Besides the Tripartite representation, there are experts in the committee from renowned Institutions, Universities and Industries in the field of Safety, Health, Environment, Productivity and Quality.

The complete list of award winners is available on PIB Website :- www.pib.nic.in

Click here for -: LIST OF VISHWAKARMA RASHTRIYA PURASKAR (VRP)

Click here for -: LIST OF NATIONAL SAFETY AWARDS (PERFORMANCE YEAR – 2007)

Hindi Fortnight being organized in DoT from 14th September

Hindi Fortnight being organized in DoT from 14th September

Department of Telecommunication (DoT) is organizing Hindi Fortnight from 14th to 30th September 2009 to promote the use of official language in DoT. Employees are participating in different competitions with great enthusiasm. During this period various competitions in different categories will be held. The competitions being organized in Hindi include essay writing, noting and drafting, grammar knowledge, dictation, translation, debate, creative writing, on the spot writing and quiz.

Union Cabinet approved to Railway Employees for payment of Bonus (PLB)

Productivity Linked Bonus for Railway Employees

The Union Cabinet today approved the proposal of the Ministry of Railways for payment of Productivity Linked Bonus (PLB) equivalent to 75 days’ wages for the financial year 2008-2009 for all eligible non-gazetted Railway employees (excluding RPF/RPSF personnel).

The salient features of the PLB scheme evolved as a result of review of the scheme and approval of the Cabinet on 23.09.2000 and applied for making payment for the financial years 1998-99, 1999-2000, 2000-01 and 2001-02 are as under :-

a) The output for a year is reckoned by the equated net tonne kilometres by adding together:-

(i) Total goods revenue net tonne kilometres.
(ii) Non-suburban passenger kilometres converted by a factor of 0.076.
(iii) Suburban passenger kilometres converted by a factor of 0.053.

b) The input is taken as the non-gazetted staff strength (excluding RPF/RPSF personnel), increased by the incremental increase/decrease in capital during the year. Incremental capital is confined to Rolling Stock utilised for movement of trains. The measurement of capital is in terms of tractive effort (Diesel Electric & Electric) for Locomotives, carrying capacity for Wagons and seating capacity for Coaches. The tractive effort of locomotives and carrying capacity of Wagons/Coaches together are given equal weight. The relative weight of wagons and coaches is determined on the basis of ratio of goods train kilometres and passenger train kilometres in the total train kilometres. Based on this principal, the relative weights are 0.50 for Tractive Effort, 0.20 for Wagon Capacity and 0.30 for Seating Capacity. Thus, the percentage increase in Tractive Effort over the base year is multiplied by 0.50; similarly the percentage increase in Wagon Capacity and Seating Capacity is multiplied by 0.20 and 0.30 respectively and added up to arrive at the total percentage increase in capital. The labour input i.e. non-gazetted staff strength is then increased to the extent of this percentage increase in the incremental capital.

c) The ratio of the output to the input is the productivity index for the year.

Background :

Railways were the first departmental undertaking of the Government of India wherein the concept of PLB was introduced. The main consideration at that time was the important role of the Railways as an infrastructural support in the performance of the economy as a whole. In the overall context of Railway working, it was considered desirable to introduce the concept of PLB as against the concept of Bonus on the lines of ‘The Payment of Bonus Act – 1965’. Even though the Payment of Bonus Act does not apply to the Railways, yet the broad principles contained in that Act were kept in view for the purpose of determining the “Wage/Pay Ceiling:, definition of ‘Salary’/’Wage’, etc. The PLB Scheme for the Railways came into force from the year 1979-80 onwards and was evolved in consultation with the two recognised federations viz. All India Railwaymen’s Federation and National Federation of Indian Railwaymen and with the approval of the Cabinet. The scheme envisages a review every three years.

Implementation Strategy and targets:

Sixth Central Pay Commission in para 4.4.5 of their report had recommended that all Departments should ultimately replace the existing productivity linked bonus schemes with Performance Related Incentive Scheme (PRIS) and also that in places where PLB is applicable and it is not found feasible to implement PRIS immediately, the existing productivity linked bonus schemes may be continued in a modified manner where the formula for computing the bonus has a direct nexus with the increased profitability/productivity under well-defined financial parameters. In respect of the Railway’s PLB scheme, the VIth CPC in Para 4.412 of their report have opined that a new formula for computing PLB that is based on financial parameters and where profit is computed as per the established principles of commercial accounting, wages with appropriate adjustments for increases, the impact of the capital investment, element of subsidy, etc. needs to be devised in case the PRIS is not implemented immediately in Ministry of Railways.

The Government on the said recommendations of the Sixth CPC relating to the PLB schemes has decided to examine the same separately. However, the recommendation regarding PRIS has been accepted by the Government. Thus individual Ministries / Departments are required to devise PRIS in accordance with their own organizational structure and need as per guidelines to be issued by the nodal Ministry. Since no guidelines on PRIS have been received so far and as such PLB scheme is to continue till introduction of PRIS.

Major Impact

This will be the highest PLB payment ever to be made by Railways. PLB is based on the productivity indices reflecting the performance of the Railways.

Expenditure involved:

The financial implication of payment of 75 days’ PLB to railway employees has been estimated to be Rs.889 crores. The wage calculation ceiling prescribed for payment of PLB to the eligible non-gazetted railway employees (excluding RPF/RPSF personnel) is Rs.3500/- p.m.

Number of beneficiaries:

About 13.05 lakh non-gazetted Railway employees are likely to benefit from the decision.

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Railway employees to get 75 day’s wages as productivity linked bonus for the year 2008-09

The Union Cabinet has approved the proposal of the Ministry of Railways for payment of Productivity Linked Bonus (PLB) to the Railway employees to the extent of 75 days’ wages for the financial year 2008-09. Approximately 13.05 lakh non-gazetted Group B, C and D employees are likely to benefit from this decision. This will be the highest PLB payment ever to be made by Railways. PLB is based on the productivity indices reflecting the performance of the Railways.

The financial implication of payment of 75 days’ PLB to railway employees has been estimated to be Rs. 889 crore. The wage calculation ceiling prescribed for payment of PLB to the eligible non-gazetted railway employees (excluding RPF/RPSF personnel) is Rs. 3500/- per month.

Last date of exercising Option for Commutation of Additional Pension

REGISTERED

OFFICE OF THE PR. CONTROLLER OF DEFENCE ACCOUNTS
(PENSION), DRAUPADI GHAT, ALLAHABAD - 211014

Dated:- 15th September, 2009

Circular No.418.
To
The OI/C,
Records/
PAO (ORs)
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Subject:- Implementation of Government Decision on Recommendations of Sixth Central Pay commission regarding pensionary benifits for Armed Forces Personnel below Officers Rank (PBOR) retiring or dying in harness on or after 01.01.2006./ Option for commutation of pension.

Reference: - This Office Important Circualr No. 400 Dated 05.12.2008 bearing File No. Gts/Tech/0165-VI dated 05.12.2008

A copy of Government of India, Ministry of Defence letter No.17(4) / 2008 (2)/ D (Pen / Policy) dated 11.09.2009 regarding option for commutation of pension, which is self explanatory is forwarded herewith for further necessary action at your end.

2. The following vital points are as under:-
LAST DATE OF EXERCISING OPTION FOR COMMUTATION OF ADDITIONAL PENSION....

More details click here...!

95th DEFENCE PENSION ADALAT at TIRUCHY(TN) in the First/Second week of November, 2009

Defence Pension Adalat

As per the Annual Action Plan of Controller General of Defence Accounts, New Delhi in consultation with the Ministry of Defence, the Principal Controller of Defence Accounts(Pensions) Allahabad will be organising the 95th DEFENCE PENSION ADALAT at TIRUCHIRAPALLI(TN) in the First/Second week of November, 2009 for redressal of grievances of Defence Pensioners / Defence Family Pensioners / Defence Civilian Pensioners drawing pension through PUBLIC SECTOR BANKS, DPDOs and Treasuries in the State of Tamil Nadu.

Objective

Any Defence Pensioners / Defence Family Pensioners / Defence Civilian and their families having any specific grievances relating to sanction or disbursement of defence pension are requested to submit their representation, in writing, in duplicate , to :

Sri P S Davakare,
Pension Adalat Officer
O/o Principal CDA (Pensions),
Draupadi Ghat,
Allahabad-211014,

A format of the representation is given on this website. Applicants are advised to apply as per the format, for easy processing of their applications.

Kindly Note

1.Applications can either be sent by post or by E-Mail
2.Two copies of the applications should be sent
3.Xerox copies of Pension payment order, Corr PPO, discharge certificate (wherever required) and other documents must be enclosed
4.Each application will be allotted a unique Adalat Registration Number. The same should be quoted in all future correspondence.
5.Individual call letters notifying the date and venue of the Adalat will be sent in due course
6.Incomplete and unsigned representations will be rejected.

The venue and date of Adalat will be notified in electronic and print media shortly.

TA/DA will not be reimbursed to pensioners/individuals attending the Adalat for redressal of their pension related problems.