Pranab may dole out tax sops to salaried class, farmers

Pranab may dole out tax sops to salaried class, farmers
DDI News
Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee is likely to give tax concessions to the salaried class and offer incentives to farmers in his Budget 2011-12 Monday to give relief from high prices and keeping an eye on elections in five states.

It is widely expected that the Budget will raise the income tax exemption limit to Rs 1.80 lakh from the current Rs 1.60 lakh per annum.

The Finance Ministry is already committed to raising the exemption limit to Rs 2 lakh per annum in the Direct Taxes Code (DTC) which is to be implemented from April 2012.

Mukherjee may also consider raising the limit for investment in tax-free infrastructure bonds to give a boost to the fund-starved sector. Investments up to Rs 20,000 in infrastructure bonds enjoy tax exemption now.

Experts said with fiscal deficit projected to come down sharply to 4.8 per cent, the Finance Minister would have some leeway to provide these tax concessions.

The Economic Survey 2010-11 presented in Parliament projected fiscal deficit at 4.8 per cent, down from the budget estimate of 5.5 per cent for the current fiscal.

With five states -- Assam, Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, Kerala and West Bengal-- heading for polls, it is unlikely that Mukherjee would completely roll back the stimulus and come out with harsh measures to increase government revenues and bring down fiscal deficit, experts said.

Mukherjee's third consecutive budget is also expected to increase the credit flow to the farm sector.

On tax rationalisation, Mukherjee had said, "The sustained growth has been possible due to rationalisation of tax structure, improvement in tax administration and persistent efforts of the employees of Income Tax department."

Inflation has remained above the comfort level for most part of the current fiscal and will be another focus area for Mukherjee.

The overall inflation at 8.23 per cent is higher than the comfort level of the Reserve Bank at 5-6 per cent. Food inflation had also touched at a high of 18.23 per cent in December, but moderated to 11.49 per cent in mid-February.

Industry fears that Mukherjee may roll back some of the stimulus to fight inflation. Moreover, the Survey had also projected the economy is recovering fast and is expected to return to the pre-crisis growth rate of 9 per cent in 2011-12.

Stimulus package provided by the government at the time financial meltdown helped India grew by 6.8 per cent in 200809, and by 8 per cent in 2009-10.

The economy grew by 8.9 per cent in the first half of 2010-11.

But the tax incentives and higher public expenditure also pushed up the fiscal deficit to 6.3 per cent in 2009-10.

In the Budget 2010-11, Mukherjee had estimated fiscal deficit to be Rs 3,81,408 crore.

Even as there could be some decline in government revenue due to higher exemption limits, Mukherjee would pin hopes on increased economic activity with a high growth rate of 9 per cent to bring in money to Centre's kitty.

National Anomaly Committee meeting discussion points...

As indicated in our circular letter No.3, we give hereunder the decisions taken on each of the items discussed at the National Anomaly Committee meeting held on 15th Feb. 2011.

With greetings,
Yours fraternally,
K.K.N. Kutty
Secretary General.

Item No.11.
The Staff side has agreed to specify the items of allowance which requires to be given effect to from 1.1.2006.

Item No.12. & 13.
Revision of Transport allowance:
The Staff side is to give a comparative statement indicating the rate of Transport allowance given to various categories to substantiate their demand for having a uniform rate for all Govt. officials.

Item No.14.
Risk and Patient Care allowance to be doubled.
The Government will bring about the Insurance scheme in consultation with the Staff Side within six months. If the scheme is not implemented by that time, these allowances will be doubled.

Item No. 20.
Quantification of daily allowance in case not able to present the bill The Department of Expenditure will examine the issue further in the light of the discussion and will convey their final decision in the next neeting.

Item No. 28.
Assigning grade pay in PB 3 for Accounts officers.
This will be discussed with the Staff Side separately.

Item No. 31.
Child Care leave:
Revised orders have been issued. The demand of the Staff Side that the discretionary powers to grant or otherwise or restrict the number of days presently given to the authorities must be dispensed with will be discussed at the next meeting of the Committee.

Item No. 37.
Waiver of recovery of higher DA drawing between 1.1.2006 and 1.08.2008.
Not agreed to.

Item No. 38 and 39.
Anomaly in fixation of Grade Pay and Pay Bands: will be further discussed at the next meeting.

Item No. 40.
Grant of Notional increment for those who retire in June. Not accepted.

Item No.41.
Grant of promotional increment for those promoted in the same PB and Grade Pay.
The Official side stated that to decide whether the two grades have distinct functions is the prerogative of the concerned Ministry/Department. If they so decide, the promotional increment would be granted. But in that case, the same will be treated as a promotion and will count as such for the purpose of MACP.

Item No. 42.
MACP issue.
The same will be discussed in the sub committee once again.

Item No.43.
Anomaly in HAG scale of pay:
Not discussed being a Group A issue. But the issue has been reported to have been settled and orders issued.

Item No. 44.
Anomaly in Library Information Assistant:
Will be further discussed at the next meeting.

Item No. 45.
Anomaly in fixation of pension for those in receipt of stagnation increment/ In the light of the court judgment, the item will be discussed further in the next meeting.

Item No. 46.& 49 & 51
Parity for Stenographers in the filed and Central Sectt.
The demand for grant of grade pay of Rs. 4600 for those in the pay scale of 6500-10,500 has already been settled and orders issues. The question of Grant of Grade pay of Rs. 5400 after completion of three years for those in the pay scale of 7500-12000 will be examined if not already extended.

Item No. 48.
Restoration of commutation value of pension after 12 years.
Not agreed upon. The Staff side has asked for the basis on which the demand has been rejected.

Item No. 50/
Disparity in the pay scale of official language staff.
The Staff side has agreed to provide a copy of the Court order in the matter.

Item No. 52 and 53.
Andaman Nicobar Items:
The Official side will report in the next meeting of the development on these issues.





Source: Confederation Website

MACPS for KVS Employees - Appeal for your kind intervention for its implementation for Teaching cadre in KVS

ALL INDIA KENDRIYA VIDYALAYA TEACHERS' ASSOCIATION
(Reg. No. 10296)
DEJURE RECOGNISED BY
Kendriya Vidayalaya Sangathan, Ministry of HRD, Govt. of India

A.S.Mazumdar PRESIDENT

B-81, Southend Floors Sohna Road, Gurgaon - 122 018 19.2.2011

Sh.Kapil Sibal ji
Hon'ble Minister HRD, Govt. of India
301, C-Block, Shashtri Bhavan,
New Delhi - 110 001

Sub: MACPS for KVS Employees - Appeal for your kind intervention for its implementation for Teaching cadre in KVS.

Hon’ble Sir
Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan(KVS), an autonomous organization fully financed by Ministry of HRD, has accepted the recommendation of the 6th Pay Commission. How ever the three tier Financial up gradation scheme, which is referred as Modified Assured Career Progression Scheme(MACPS) recommended by the 6th CPC for the civilian employees of GOI, has been partially implemented in KVS; granted only for the non-teaching employees, Gr. A, B & C, working under it, vide KVS order dtd.9-02-2011 F11029/16/2009/KVSHQ(ADMN 1). The same order has not revealed anything regarding the implementation MACP Scheme for the teaching cadres of KVS who form the main workforce of the organization. This is nothing but discrimination and marginalization of a highly dedicated and motivated work force of teachers who have earned laurels for KVS over a long period of time by their innovative approach to quality education at the School level. KV teachers deserve the benefit of the implementation of MACPS and any reasonable consideration of the followings may further satisfy your good self on the merits in our pleadings for the same.

- 6th CPC has made special mention about due consideration to be given to teachers and nurses owing to their significant role in society. But here the teachers are not considered at all while implementing the MACP Scheme by the HRD in KVS.

- At present in KVS there is no assured time based promotion or any type of financial up gradation scheme for the employees. At least in the present context of implementation of the 6th CPC recommendations, by considering the welfare of the employees , the MACPS financial up gradation scheme should have been introduced without any delay.

Two years have passed after the implementation of 6th CPC in KVS (i.e. 2008).It is also a fact that most of the Primary teachers , Secondary and Higher Secondary teachers are retiring from KVS without any incentive and/or promotions even after their long service of 25-35 years. From the date of their entries to dates of retirement they are destined to continue in the same cadre and grade. In this context , the speedy implementation of the MACPS would have been a blessing to these teachers and could have solved the problems of ‘stagnation’ in the same cadre.

- In KVS the available selection promotion avenues are purely based on Seniority cum Merit. It is highly restricted to a limited number of senior members of the staff. Even in case of promotion, the financial benefit to teachers is meager. The newly introduced MACPS i.e. financial up gradation after every 10years- after10th ,20th and 30th years of service – to all employees irrespective of their seniority is purely based on the principle of equality. Every employee is benefited out of this new scheme. As such HRD Ministry should have speeded up the implementation of this scheme in KVS. Even if no promotion chance is given to them to higher posts, the employees would have been partially satisfied through this financial up gradation.

- As per the National Education Policy and National Curriculum Framework(NCF) the teachers are bound to shoulder heavy responsibilities and social commitment in moulding the future citizens and skill formation for the future development of India . But it is a truth that the teachers up to Higher Sec. level are low paid in our country especially when compared to the university teachers who enjoy the bounties of the UGC Scheme. There is a wide gulf between the payment and work load and ethics of these two groups of teaching personnel. Considering the foundational character of the Primary and Secondary teaching, the scheme of financial up gradation(MACP) should compulsorily be implemented in KVS.

- The Financial implications of education and human skill development will be always positive in the long run in respect of country’s economic growth and development. The brain power or human resources development is the need of the hour especially when our country has targeted to become the No 1 economic power in the coming decades as has been emphasized by the Former Prime Minister late Rajiv Gandhiji and Former President APJ Abdul Kalamji. Hence the investment in the professional growth of teaching community is essential and the introduction of MACPS would definitely promote teachers welfare thus professionalism in KVS.

- In all Central Govt. Departments the “Assured Financial Up gradation Scheme (MACPS)” has been introduced. Hence its non-implementation for KV Teachers has a demoralizing effect on them which ultimately have its impact on the education of children even as it points towards non-recognition of the role and contribution of KV teachers towards National Integration through quality education.

Sir, in the above context our earnest request is to please ensure that the teaching community of KVS are in no way sidelined vis-à-vis the benefits of Assured Financial Up gradation Scheme(MACPS). It would go a long way in solving the problem of ‘career stagnation’ a chronic disease existing in this organization for the last 50 years i.e. from the very beginning of KVS. Need not to state that KVS positioned it self as the pace setting organization in the field of National Education and National Integration due to dedicated service rendered by its Teachers.

With deep regards

Yours faithfully
s/d
A S MAZUMDAR

Source: AIKVTA

NFIR welcomes the Rail Budget – 2011-12

Railway Minister’s Budget Speech – Brief Extract
On subjects related to Staff Welfare on 25-02-2011

1. The wheels of the railways continue to move 24 hours, all 365 days. Railway’s services are comparable to emergency services, required all the time. I am proud of the 14 lakh members of my railway family, who toil day and night with unparalleled dedication. I am also grateful to all passengers without whose cooperation and consideration, we could not have run this vase system. I have also received unstinted support from our two recognized federations and staff and officers’ associations.

II. Our employees are biggest asset and it is they who keep the wheel of progress moving. Some of the measures I propose to take for their welfare are:-

    i. Expand the scope of Liberalized Active Retirement Scheme for Guaranteed Employment for Safety category staff by enhancing the existing criteria of grade pay from . 1800 to . 1900.

    ii. Considering the Indian Family structure and values, extending Medical facilities to both dependent father and mother of Railway employees.

    iii. Increasing the scholarship for the girl child of gangmen and group ‘D’ employees to . 1200 per month for higher education.

    iv. Setting up of a Railway Vidhalaya Prabandhan Board (RVPB) to improve quality of education to children studying in 269 Railway schools. The Board will draw up a plan for improving the physical and educational infrastructure of these schools to be implemented in a time frame of three years.

    v. In order to provide easy access to medical facilities in remote and inaccessible areas for our employees, it is proposed to provide 20 Medical Road Medical Vans at different locations to begin with.

    vi. All the proposed 20 hostels for children of railway employees have been commissioned and another 20 would be set up next year, i.e. 2011-12.

III. The Ministry is undertaking restructuring of all the cadres in the railways to afford adequate promotional opportunities to the officers and staff.

IV. Recruitment
(a)After the new recruitment policy announced last year, recruitment process has already been set in motion for filling the vacancies of about 1.75 lakh in Group ‘C’ and Group ‘D’ posts. Steps have also been taken to fill up about 13,000 posts in Railway Protection Force. These mega recruitment drives will cover the backlog of SC/ST/Physically handicapped quota.

(b) For the first time, railways are including 16000 ex-servicemen by end of March, 2011. As also announced last year, we are also recruiting more than 12,00 ex-servicemen in RPF. It is our humble tribute to our barve jawans who defend our borders.

koi sikh koi jaat maratha
koi gurkha koi madrasi
sarhad par marnevaala
har veer tha bhaaratvasi
jo shaheed hue hain inki
jara yad karo kurbani……

V. To enhance skills of our frontline staff in dealing with the customers, a training centre is proposed to be stated at Kharagpur. Also multidisciplinary training centre would be set up at Dharwad, Kolkata and Pune including an exclusive international centre at Agra. A new basic Training Centre at Kurseong is proposed to cater to the needs of Northeast Frontier Railway including Darjeeling – Himalayan Railway.

VI. Setting up of Polytechnics Five Polytechnics will be set up at Varanasi, Machlandur, Vadodara, Bhilai and Hubli-Dharwad under MOU with Ministry of Human Resource Development. This will also contribute towards the national mission of skill development.

VII. Sports
    (a) Railways have always provided congenial and enabling environment for breeding of sports talent in the country. I take great pride in reporting that railway sportspersons brought 25 medals (including 13 Gold of the 38 won by India) in the recently held Commenwealth Games, 2010. the excellent performance of railway sportspersons continued in the Asian Games also with a contribution of 7 out of 14 Golds for India. Raiways also ran a special Commonwealth Express which was visited by 8 lakh people.

    (b) Railways will continue to strengthen the sports infrastructure and open more sports academies, stadia and multi-prupose halls. It is also proposed to create a separate sports cadre so that their aspirations are fully met.

(M.Raghavaiah)
s/d
General Secretary

NFIR welcomes the Rail Budget – 2011-12
Presented by Railway Minister Ms.Mamata Banerjee
to the Parliament on 25-02-2011

Hailing the Railway Budget as a realistic one, NFIR thanks Railway Minister for making following specific pronouncements:

  Extension of LARSGESS for employees drawing GP of 1900/-, which was demanded by NFIR in its Convention at Kolkata on 12th December, 2010 attended by MR.

  Provisioning of 20 Mobile Road Medical Vans at remote places for providing health care at the door steps of the employees in addition to the existing Mobile Vans. This is also NFIR’s proposal.   Cadre Restructuring shall be undertaken for all Cadres to afford adequate promotional opportunities.

  Scholarships of 1200/- per month for the children of lowest paid employee viz. Gangmen, Gatemen, etc – a laudable announcement.

  NFIR also thanks the Railway Minister for announcing free medical facility to both dependent father and mother of the Railway employees and additional hostel facilities to the children of employees.

  NFIR hopes that the Railway Minster would fulfill the commitment made in the previous budget for ensuring “House for all” scheme to all the Railway Employees.

  NFIR also urges the Railway Minister to see that the corporate welfare plan is further strengthened so as to see that the Railway Quarters and colonies are improved.

  NFIR specially urges the Railway Minister to direct the Railway Board not to resort to outsourcing of Safety Related Activities.

  NFIR demands to see that the High Power Committee is constituted as agreed to for reviewing the duty hours of Running Staff and other Operational Categories.

  NFIR also appeals to the Railway Minister to take initiative for rectification of VIth CPC a Anomalies as the proposals of Railway Ministry are pending with Finance Ministry.

(M.Raghavaiah)
s/d
General Secretary