Measures to improve safety on Indian Railways – Withdrawal of Railway Board’s Letter No. 2017/E(LR)III Ref. /RB1 Dated:- 30.01.2017 All India Railwaymen’s Federation

A.I.R.F.

All India Railwaymen’s Federation

4, State Entry Road, New Delhi – 110055

No. AIRF/415

Dated: September, 13, 2017

The Chairman,

Railway Board,

New Delhi

Dear Sir,

Sub: Measures to improve safety on Indian Railways – Withdrawal of Railway Board’s Letter No. 2017/E(LR)III Ref. /RB1 Dated:- 30.01.2017

As has been explained to you, there is lot of resentment amongst the Railwayen because right of all the Supervisors(working in GP Rs.4200 and GP Rs.4600 in Safety Category) becoming union office bearers had withdrawn arbitrarily by the Railway Board, vide their letter under reference, on flimsy grounds without having any discussion with the recognized federations. It was protested by the railwaymen as a whole, and because of lot of agitations, orders were deferred till 31.12.2017.

We are analyzing that serious anger is brewing at the grassroots level against these orders of the Railway Board and is creating lot of mental stress in the railwaymen in general and supervisors in particular.

It is pertinent to mention here that these orders have no legal entity and also not covered by any law.

It will be in all appropriateness if you may kindly withdraw this letter of the Railway Board to remove the mental agony of the concerned staff as well as to provide natural justice to the safety categories supervisors working in GP Rs.4200 and 4600

With Kind Regards!

Yours faithfully,

Sd/-

(Shiva Gopal Mishra)

General Secretary

ORDER COPY

Payment of Overtime Allowance to NGO/NIE as per 7th CPC – PCAFYS Order

“The payment of OTA in r/o the NGOs/NIEs of the Ordnance factory and of Allied Estt of Ordnance Factory may not be stopped w.e.f. 01.072017…”

Pay/Tech-II/73

dated 12/09/2017

Sub: Payment of OTA in r/o NGO/NIE on implementation of 7th CPC

References have been received from Br. AOs whether the payment on a/c of OT in r/o NGO/NlEs w.e.f. 01.07.2017 is applicable taking consideration of Sl No. 17 of Appendix I of Govt. Resolutionnotified by Min of Finance(Deptt of Exp) vide No 11-1/2016-lC dated 06.07.2017. As per the above notification, Overtime Allowances (OTA) is abolished except for operational staff and industrial employees governed by Statutory provisions. Ministries\Departments to prepare list Of those staff coming under the category Of ‘operational staff’. Rates of Overtime Allowance not to be revised upwards.

As per G o l, Min of Defence No.18/(5)/2008-D/Civ-II dated 10.05.2011, the OTA is a Statutory provision and it would be admissible to the employees covered under the Statutory provision of the Factory Act, 1948. Section 2(I) of the Factory Act, 1948 defines the word ‘worker’ as a person used for a manufacturing process, or in any other kind of work incidental to, or connected with, the manufacturing process, or the subject of the manufacturing process.

In view of the above, all employees engaged inside the factory premises and maintaining the same time schedule as that of the direct industrial workers are to be treated as worker irrespective of their nature of work. Hence the payment of OTA in r/o the NGOs/NIEs of the Ordnance factory and of Allied Estt of Ordnance Factory may not be stopped w.e.f. 01.072017 on the basis of the Govt. Resolution notified by Min Of Finance(Deptt Of Exp) vide No 11-1/2016-IC dated 06.07.2017.

sd/-

Asstt. Controller of Accounts (FYS)

MINISTRY OF FINANCE (Department of Expenditure), RESOLUTION(No. 11-1/2016-IC), 6th July, 2017

List of allowances recommended by the Seventh Central Pay Commission (7th CPC) along with modifications as approved by the Government of India

Statement showing the recommendations of the Seventh Central Pay Commission on Allowances and the Government’s decision thereon

Conference on Portability from Superannuation and Recognized Provident Funds to National Pension System

Conference on Portability from Superannuation and Recognized Provident Funds to National Pension System (NPS); NPS has more than 1.71 crore subscribers with total Asset under Management (AUM) of more than Rs. 2.04 lakh crores.

A Conference on Portability from Superannuation and recognized Provident Funds to National Pension System (NPS) was organized by the Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA) in coordination with Willis Towers Watson in national capital. The Prime objective of the Conference was to provide a knowledge base platform to the Corporate by providing solutions to address the issues / challenges of portability of superannuation funds to NPS.

160 participants comprising Corporate, Points of Presence (POPs), Pension Funds, Central Record Keeping Agencies (CRAs) participated in the Conference.

Dr. B. S. Bhandari, Whole Time Member (Economics), PFRDA, highlighted the need to expand the coverage of NPS in an efficient and sustainable way. He asserted the fact that there are more employees in the Corporate – Private sector than in the government sector and hence there is a great potential for NPS in the corporate sector. PFRDA has been constantly engaging with its stake holders in the NPS and has been working with industry associations for promotion of NPS in the Corporate – Private sector. To make NPS entry easy and the interface user friendly, various modifications have been carried out in the product.

Shri Rohit Jain, Head, Willis Towers Watson (India), speaking on the occasion, told that the average life expectancy of persons in India has risen and hence there is a greater need for a retirement / pension product for all. Traditional pension products cover only 30% of the population. In this changing scenario there is a latent demand for product like NPS as there is no universal pension product.

Shri Hemant Contractor, Chairman, PFRDA in his key note address, informed that, earlier, people used to retire from the same job not only in the government sector but also in private sector. With opening up of economy people started getting more job opportunities switching jobs suitable to their skills and talents. Job switching has become more frequent and people seek more controls on their finances, when they start moving jobs and place from one to another. The concept of portability came in and people started thinking about having better control on their retirement savings.

Defined Benefit Pension schemes, which were predominant, became unsustainable not only for the government sector but also for the private sector because of various factors. A Defined Contribution scheme was therefore launched in 2004 which was initially only for Central Government employees, but which was later extended to State Government employees and later to the private sector. This scheme is the National Pension System (NPS), which is regulated by PFRDA.

NPS addressed the concerns of subscribers relating to portability and freedom of choice, and gradually started to pick up momentum in the private sector. The other features of NPS, namely, low cost, attractive returns, transparency, flexibility and domain expertise in each area of pension activity were the other factors which appealed to the private sector. Innovations and changes are made from time to time in the NPS product and processes, some recent examples being, introduction of two new life cycle funds, inclusion of alternative assets in investment portfolio, online entry and exit etc.

The entry age to NPS is now proposed to be increased to 65 years from 60 years and there is an option to continue up to age of 70 years.

The Chairman also mentioned that NPS should also be explored, as an additional retirement benefit, for corporates where superannuation funds are not available and employees are covered only under the mandatory EPFO schemes.

He highlighted the growth of 47% in AUM and 26% in number of subscribers in the last financial year (2016-17). He also made a reference to Atal Pension Yojana, the pension platform available for unorganized segment through Government of India / PFRDA and its year on year growth indicating the underlying demand for pension products in India.

During the conference, a panel discussion comprising industry experts such as Willis Towers Watson, HDFC Pension Funds, Siemens Limited, Vedanta Group and NSDL e-Governance Infrastructure Limited eyeing the opportunities, addressing the challenges / issues and preparation of necessary guidelines on superannuation funds and NPS portability was conducted.

In the second half, a Conference for Point of Presence (PoPs), the distribution channel for NPS, was conducted.

Shri Hemant Contractor, Chairman, PFRDA, in his keynote address stressed on the need for robust distribution of the NPS through the current distribution network being managed by POPs which are Banks and other financial institutions. He also laid emphasis on the fact that, the key to last mile connectivity is increased distribution network by the POPs by registration and activation of more branches and through awareness campaigns. He informed that PFRDA has empanelled IL&FS Skill Development Corporation Limited as its training agency to impart training on NPS to POPs and Corporate and urged the POPs to utilise the services of the Training Agency for training of their staff member on NPS.

During this conference, awards were distributed to the POPs, for their performance in FY 2016-17 under various categories.

Currently, NPS has more than 1.71 crore subscribers with total Asset under Management (AUM) of more than Rs. 2.04 lakh crores.

PIB

Advance Payment of September 2017 Salary to Railway Staff

As you are aware that Pooja festival are starting from 28th September, 2017.

It would, therefore, be in all appropriateness that necessary orders from Railway Board should go to all the Zonal Railways for making advance payment of September, 2017 Salary to the Railway staff so that they can enjoy the Pooja festival

7th CPC Pension/Gratuity/ Commutation/Family Pension i.r.o. Commissioned Officer retiring/dying on or after 01.01.2016: PCDA Order 12.09.2017

OFFICE OF THE PR. CONTROLLER OF DEFENCE ACCOUNTS (PENSION)

DRAUPADI GHAT, ALLAHABAD- 211014

No. G-1/M/01/ICO’s/ 7th CPC/ Vol. II/2017

dated:12.09.2017

To,

The PCDA (O)

Golibar Maidan

Pune-411001

Subject: Implementation of the Government decision on the recommendations of the Seventh Central Pay Commission in respect of Commissioned Officers, Retiring or dying in harness on or after 1.1.2016 (Post-2016).

Reference: GoI, MoD letter No.17(02)/2016-D(Pen/Pol) dated :04.09.2017.

Consequent upon issue of GoI, MoD letter No. 17(02)/2016-D(Pen/Pol) dated 04.09.2017 (Annexure A), pensionary awards of Commissioned Officers (including MNS and Territorial officers) of three Services who retired/ discharged/ released/ invalided out or died in harness on or after 01.01.2016 are to be sanctioned under orders contained therein.

2. It is therefore, requested to initiate claim/revision claim as detailed below along with the enclosed LPC-cum-Data Sheet for initial/revised pension claims, as the case may be, so that initial PPO/Corrigendum PPO may be issued in affected cases by this Office:-

(a) Initial Claims for Retiring Pension, Invalid Pension, Service Element as well as Disability Element of Disability/ Liberalised Disability/ War Injury Pension:

Initial Claims for Retiring Pension, Invalid Pension, Service element as well as Disability Element of Disability/ Liberalised Disability/War Injury Pension in respect of Commissioned officers of Indian Army who retired/discharged/released/invalided out on or after 01.01.2016 and who are in receipt of pay & allowance under respective Army Officers Pay Rules 2017 shall be preferred in usual manner on revised LPC-Cum-Data Sheet No. PHP-G1M-01/2017(7th CPC) as per specimen enclosed (Annexure B) and submitted as usual along with data in electronic form. The instructions for the filling up LPC cum Data Sheet are enclosed as Annexure E.

(b) Claim for revision of retiring pension – commissioned officers, retired/discharged on or after 01.01.2016.

Data Sheet PHP-G1M-03/2017(7th CPC) (Enclosed as Annexure C) will be used for revision of pensionary awards as per 7th CPC in those cases where Pension has already been notified as per 6th CPC . This data sheet will be used only once for revision of Pensionary awards already notified from 01.01.2006 to 30.09.2017, thereafter, any amendment/ revision will be done through Data Sheet (Rev) PHP-G1M-02/2017(7th CPC) (Enclosed as Annexure D) for corrigendum of pensionary awards.

(c) Claim For Corrigendum of Pensionary Awards (PHP-G1M-02/2017(7th CPC)) :

Data Sheet (Rev) PHP-G1M-02/2017(7th CPC) (Enclosed as Annexure D) for corrigendum of pensionary awards in respect of commissioned officers will be used for amendment /revision of 7th CPC pensionary awards i.e. pensionary awards already notified as per VI CPC and subsequently revised as per 7th CPC through data sheet “PHP-G1M-03/2017(7th CPC).

NOTE :- Old Data sheet (Rev) for corrigendum of pensionary awards will continue to be used for revision/amendments of pensionary awards of officers retired/discharged/invalided out prior to 01.01.2016.

3. COMMUTATION OF ADDITIONAL PENSION IN REVISION CASE:

Pensioners who have retired between 1.1.2016 and date of issue of orders for revised pay/ pension based on the recommendations of the 7th CPC, shall have an option, in relaxation of provisions of relevant Pension Regulations, not to commute the pension which has become additionally commutable on retrospective revision of pay / pension on implementation of recommendations of the 7th CPC. Option form is enclosed as Appendix ‘A ’ to be used for this purpose.

Option for commutation of additionally commutable amount will required to be submitted within 4 months from the issue of the Govt. letter by the Armed Forces officers. Option exercised after expiry of 4 months from the issue of the Govt. letter will not be entertained. The claim submitted without exercising said option or if no option for commutation of additionally commutable amount of pension is received within stipulated time period as mentioned above, it will be presumed that pensioner is not willing to commute additionally commutable amount.

4. DISABILITY PENSION/WAR INJURY PENSION

4.1 There shall be no change in existing provisions regulating the Disability Pension/War Injury Pension under casualty pensionary award so.

4.2 The amount of all kind of pension shall be subject to a minimum of Rs. 9,000/-. The maximum amount of normal rate, enhanced rate of ordinary family pension and retiring pension shall be 30%, 50% and 50% respectively, of the highest pay in the Government which is Rs. 2,50,000/- with effect from 1.1.2016. The maximum ceiling is, however, not applicable in the cases of Disability Pension/War Injury Pension etc., applicable under casualty pensionary awards.

5. Ex-GRATIA LUMP SUM COMPENSATION IN CASES OF INVALIDMENT :

Ex-gratia lump sum compensation to Defence Service Personnel who are boarded out of service on account of disability/ war injury attributable to or aggravated by military service, shall be paid @ Rs. 20 lakh for 100% disability subject to provisions as stipulated in MoD letter No. 2(2)/2011/D(Pen/Policy) dated 26.12.2011. For disability/ war injury less than 100% but not less than 20%, the amount of Ex-gratia compensation shall be proportionately reduced. No Ex-gratia compensation shall be payable for disability/war injury less than 20%. The proportionate compensation would be based on actual percentage of disability as certified by the Invaliding Medical Board, without applying broad banding provisions as contained in Para 7.2 of MoD letter No. 1(2)/97/D(Pen-C) dated 31.01.2001.

6. DISABILITY/WAR INJURY ON DISCHARGE /INVALIDMENT:

6.1 BROAD-BANDING OF PERCENTAGE OF DISABILITY/WAR INJURY ON DISCHARGE:

In cases where Armed Forces personnel are discharged/retired on or after 1.1.2016 under the circumstances mentioned in Para 4.1 of MoD letter No. 1(2)/97/D (Pen-C) dated 31.1.2001 with disability including cases covered under MoD letter No. 16(5)/2008/D(Pen/Policy) dated 29.9.2009 and the disability/war injury has been accepted as 20% and more, the extent of disability or functional incapacity shall be determined in the manner prescribed in Para 7.2 of said letter dated 31.1.2001 for the purpose of computing disability/ war injury.

6.2 BROAD-BANDING OF PERCENTAGE OF DISABILITY/WAR INJURY ON INVALIDMENT:

Existing provisions for broad banding of invalidment cases of Disability and War Injury Pension shall remain unchanged.

6.3 Rates for calculation of disability where composite assessment is made due to existence of disability, as well as war injury, shall be determined in terms of provision contained in Para 3(b) of MoD letter No. 16(02)/2015-D(Pen/Pol) dated 08.08.2016.

6.4 CONSTANT ATTENDANT ALLOWANCE (CAA)

Constant Attendant Allowance shall continue to be admissible under the condition as hithertofore at the existing rate from 1.1.2016 to 30.06.2017. However, with effect from 01.07.2017 it shall be admissible at the uniform rate of Rs. 6750/- per month, irrespective of the rank.

7. All out efforts may be made to submit affected cases for revision of pension duly completed in all respect (along with option for commutation, if any) to avoid correspondence and back references.

8. The Software Programme for Data entry and validation check may be collected from EDP Centre of this Office.

9. Various Orders on the subject are available on the website of this Office i.e. www.pcdapension.nic.in.

10. As far as possible, all fresh claims for grant of retiring pension should be submitted only on revised LPC-cum Data Sheet. After 01.10.2017, no fresh cases for notification of Pension will be entertained on old LPC-cum Data Sheet. However, cases on the new LPC-cum-Data Sheet received before 01.10.2017 will also be accepted if revised pay details are available. It may please be ensured that Seal of LPC cum data sheet signing officer is affixed and name of all officials signing LPC cum data sheet are clearly and legibly mentioned.

No. G-1/M/01/ ICOs/7th CPC/Vol. II

Dated: .09.2017

(Nasim Ullah)

ACDA (P)

Source :PCDA

Prescription of Medicines by Generic and legible prescriptions by Generic names: CGHS OM

Government of India

Ministry of Health and Family Welfare

Department of Health & Family Welfare

Directorate General of CGHS

Office of the Director,CGHS

No: Z 15025/83/2017/DIR/CGHS

545-A Nirman Bhawan, New Delhi

Dated the 8th September, 2017

OFFICE MEMORANDUM

Subject :- Prescription of Medicines by Generic and legible prescriptions by Generic names

With reference to the above mentioned subject attention of the Chief Medical Officers and other Medical officers of all CGHS Wellness Centres and Specialists of CGHS is drawn to the instructions issued by Ministry of Health & Family Welfare has vide Z 25015-H-l dated 18th April, 2017 reiterating the regulations of MCI as amended vide Notification dated 215t November 2016 for strict adherence.

“Every Physician should prescribe drugs with generic name legibly and preferably in Capital letters and he/she shall ensure that there is a rational prescription and use of drugs.”

Therefore, the Chief Medical Officers and other Medical officers of all CGHS Wellness Centres and Specialists of CGHS shall comply with the Notification of MCI to ensure that prescription is only by generic name wherever generic drugs are available

Sd/-

(Dr. D.C.Joshi)

Director, CGHS

1. CMOs -in-charge and other Medical Officers of all CGHS Wellness Centres through the Additional Directors of cities /Zones with instructions to display a copy of the OM in the Notice Board

2. Specialists of CGHS through Addl. Director(HO) and Addl. Directors of Cities

3. Addl. DDG(HQ) / Addl. Director(HQ) / Addl. Director(MSD)/ Addl. Director of all CGHS Cities / Zones / Addl. Director(HQ-Admin))/ Additional Director(R&H)/ Joint Director(Gr. Cell)/ Sr CMO (HEC)/ Sr CMO (Hosp. Cell) / Director ,CGHS(P) / SO, CGHS(EHS)/ NO.MCTC(CGHS)

Source: CGHS