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COM.S R SWARGIARY, FOUNDER DISTRICT SECRETARY, GUWAHATI PASSED AWAY- Com. M R Das, AGS has reported that Com. S R Swargiary, founder District Secretary and presently District Treasurer has breathed his last on 27-07-2020. He was a very sincere and committed leader and held several positions during his service , including Secretary, P&T Local Co-ordination Committee, Guwahati. CHQ pays respectful homage to Com.Swargiary and conveys heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family and comrades.
MAHARASHTRA SURGES AHEAD- TWO MORE DISTRICT BRANCES FORMED.
In Maharashtra two more district brances have been formed in Solapur and Nanded.
In Solapur, the meeting of retirees, including VRS retirees was held on 13-07-2020 and the District Branch formed with the folowing important functionaries;
Com. Y D Sangitrao (President) , Com. S V Dussal (District Secretary) and Com. A K Koli (Treasurer).
The meeting of pensioners was held at Nanded on 25-07-2020 under the presidenship of Com. V D Nilawad. The meeting elected the office bearers unanimously with;
Com. V D Nilawad (President), Com. B N Totod (District Secretary) and M R Rayalwad (Treasurer)
WITHDRAW THE THE PROPOSED DANGEROUS AMENDMENTS TO THE ENVIRONMENT RULES- NCCPA CIRCULAR
NATIONAL CO-ORDINATION COMMITTEE
OF PENSIONERS ASSOCIATIONS.
13-C Feroze Shah Road, New Delhi. 110 001.
Website: nccpahq.blogspot.in.
E mail: nccpahq@gmail.com.
PRESIDENT: COM.SHIV GOPAL MISHRA.(97176 47594)
SECY. GENERAL: COM.K.K.N.KUTTY. (98110 483030)
26th July, 2020.
Environment and People are dispensable at the whims of International Corporates!
Indian People and Environment is dispensable to the economic interests of International Corporates!The proposed amendment to Environment Rules by Central Government is dangerous to us! The lives and environment is more precious than the unquestioned entry of FDI!Let us voice our opinion to the Government to stop the intended Act in Parliament!
All our Affiliates and Individuals are requested to send the following email to the Secretary of Forest and Climate Change, Government of India in the Email ID: secy-moef@nic.in
TEXT OF EMAIL
To
The Secretary,
Forest and Climate Change,
Union Government of India,
New Delhi.
Respected Sir,
The Central Ministry has proposed a change in existing Environment Impact Assessment processes (EIA Notification, 2006) through a draft EIA Notification, 2020. The proposed notification will destroy the process of environmental protection and affecting the environment irreversibly, also making it easier for the corporates to get environmental clearances for their projects. Hence, We the people oppose the draft Environment Impact Assessment Notification, 2020, and request you to withdraw the same.
Amidst the pandemic situation, it is improper to take decisions that will have an irreversible impact on the environment. However, the Union Ministry is keen on making changes in Environment rules and granting clearances. It is evident from the fact that over 30 projects, located in some of India’s most biodiverse forests have been urgently cleared or taken up for clearance in online meetings during the lockdown (April 23). Site inspections are a crucial component of project evaluation and are difficult during a pandemic. Ministry appears to be relying only on digital documents uploaded by the project developers. Even more surprisingly these projects have been cleared at a time when Covid-19 has revealed dramatically how seriously the loss of forest land and biodiversity can increase zoonotic diseases.
Environmentalists also have raised their voice and wrote to Environment Minister regarding how forest and environment clearances were being granted across India during the lockdown. On that note, shockingly, the Ministry has put out a draft notification for public comments amidst global economic and public health emergency when there is restricted public movement.
Major Issues:
• The new amendment poses a serious threat to the environment and there are some areas of concern like granting post-facto clearances to Industries and leaving aside them with Fine alone in case of any violations. For several projects, the whole process of EIA is made simpler and fails to meet the standards of basic environmental protections. However, in an order on April 1, the Supreme Court held that “ex post facto environmental clearances” are contrary to law. It said: “Environment law cannot countenance the notion of an ex post facto clearance. This would be contrary to both the precautionary principle as well as the need for sustainable development”.
• A public hearing has been exempted to many industries (those producing acids, paints, fertilizers, pesticides, etc.) located in Notified Industrial Zone, this will create serious problems in areas that depend entirely on ground and river water for agricultural usage. Public consultation has also been exempted from a list of linear projects. Projects such as roads and pipelines in border areas will not require any public hearing. The ‘border area’ is defined as “area falling within 100 kilometers aerial distance from the Line of Actual Control with bordering countries of India.” That would cover much of the Northeast, the region with the country’s richest biodiversity. Exemption from public hearing goes against International environmental law and agreements.
• Increased validity of the environment clearance for mining projects and river valley projects from 30 years currently to 50 years and, 10 years currently to 15 years respectively, thus increasing the risk of irreversible environmental, social, and health consequences on account of the project remaining unnoticed for long.
• Through the draft, it is enough for the industries to provide an annual environmental compliance report rather than half-yearly reports. Past experiences show that industries have continued to provide data that are false and inaccurate. Seeking an annual report provides an opportunity for the industries to further underestimate any socio-environmental issues arising in their projects.
• The Public consultation process is diluted. The period for the public to submit their views and responses during a public hearing for any application seeking Environment clearance has been reduced from 30 days to 20 days. It is aimed at denying the proper opportunity to record the objections of the people of the region.
The various provisions of the draft are aimed at facilitating the government’s doctrine of “ease of doing business”. Hence, we would like to reiterate that it is our generation that will be a victim of the devastating effects of these twisted and diluted laws like the new EIA draft. In this age of high pollution levels in our cities, we need to strengthen the EIA 2006 instead of allowing amendments that will dilute the rules and encourage environmental violations.
The current draft lacks understanding of the adverse effects of activities like disturbances in eco-sensitive zones, extensive minings. The notification was released on 23rd March 2020, surprisingly right before the day of nationwide lockdown. There has been no wide publicity given to the same except being uploaded on the website. The Covid-19 pandemic has been a time to stay safe and protect oneself. Hence, the government must understand it is not the right time to make amendments in EIA Notification for its aspiration of doing business. We sincerely hope that the Environment Ministry will encourage informed public participation as committed through Principle 10 of the Rio Declaration and the principle of Natural Justice. The EIA can be used to bring India out of the Covid-19 pandemic as an environmentally aware country through a green recovery that strengthens the role of environmental and social protection of all people and nature instead of justifying the present forms of harmful development.
So, we request you to kindly withdraw the Draft EIA Notification – 2020, right now.
Thanking you,
Signature:
Name:
Organisation:
District/ State:
ALL AIBDPA UNITS ARE REQUESTED TO SEND THE EMAIL URGENTLY AND REPORT BE SENT TO CHQ.
PETITION TO THE HON’BLE PRESIDENT OF INDIA BY THE CENTRAL TRADE UNIONS.
24th July, 2020
Shri Ram Nath Kovind
Hon’ble President of India,
Rashtrapati Bhawan,
President’s Estate, New Delhi,
Delhi 110004
Respected Sir,
We hopefully place on record the following few facts which are agitating the toiling people of the country.
1. The sudden, unplanned national lockdown imposed by the Government of India and its administration, statedly on account of COVID – 19 pandemic, catastrophically affected the working people, the migrant workers amongst them being the worst hit. That they simply had no life support became clear as the days passed. Even the “advisories” issued belatedly by the Ministry of Labour, the Ministry of Home Affairs did not help, in fact they were withdrawn by the government without being implemented.
2. The health system was exposed to be woefully inadequate-the private hospitals either simply refused to cap the rates, as appealed by the government, for treatment of Covid patients, stating they were uneconomical or simply closed doors. The ventilators, PPEs, sanitizer required were in extreme short supply. Only the public health system-the public hospitals, their doctors, their staff, the health scheme workers(ASHA Workers), anganwadi workers, the municipal sanitation workers worked tirelessly, risking their own lives including being affected and even lost lives and won everyone’s admiration and gratitude. It were the Ordnance Factory workers who swung into action to produce the much needed ventilators and PPEs. The much touted private enterprise failed completely.
3. Then the attention turned towards putting the wheels of the economy back on rails. The steps taken in this regard by the government defy all logic and the past experience as well as the advice of renowned Indian economists. The economy was already in recession from prior to the onset of the pandemic and was due to majority of Indian people lacking even the minimum purchasing power. It was necessary to put money in their hands. The sudden lockdown compounded the problem.
Yet what is being done? The increase in DA of government employees and DR of pensioners is withheld, Labour laws, including many of Hon’ble Supreme Court’s judgments on Equal Pay for Equor 1000 or more days through executive orders/Ordinances in many states, (The ILO had to remind the government of its commitment to various ILO Conventions), a slew of public sector enterprises were opened for privatisation, 100% FDI, ranging from blue chip companies such as the BPCL, LIC, Coal India, Electricity Sector, Ordnance Factories, the Railways, train routes as well as their manufacturing/repair workshops, airports, all during the continuing lockdown. Migrant Workers were al Work, are flouted mostly, with inspection being curtailed in the name of “ease of doing business”. Now even the Labour Laws, in whatever form they exist, were sought to be suspended factually sought to be prevented from going back to their villages by vested interests in the private sector. Their helpless crowding of stations was treated as law and order issue! The Hon’ble Supreme Court had to intervene to direct the government to handle the issue humanely and with top priority. Agriculture is pushed to corporatization through Ordinances. The Rs.20 lac crore package announced is once again Supply-side move rather than the necessary Demand-side push. Repeated Demands by the entire trade union movement for direct income-support and adequate food-support to all poor and non-income-tax-paying households is being arrogantly ignored.
4. Now it is coming to light that the ASHA Workers, who did the crucial Corona surveys, have not been paid at all! State governments have not been paid their share of GST. The income tax paying social strata has not been roped in to share the burden, but the non-income tax paying people are further burdened with relentless price increase of petrol and diesel. While GDP figures are bandied about as a measure of “national progress”, the question of equitable distribution is plainly ignored.
5. The entire trade union movement of the country has time and again raised these issues with the concerned ministries, through representations, demonstrations and even sectoral strikes. But the government is totally unresponsive. It has not even convened the Indian Labour Conference, the top most tripartite body in the country, in spite of repeated requests, since 2015.
In view of above points and issues, we the undersigned, urge you, as the Constitutional Head of the Government of India for the following reliefs:-
To direct Central and State Governments:-
1. To adequately compensate the dependents of those migrant workers, who lost their lives due to sudden lockdown effected from 12 Midnight of 25th March, 2020;
2. To provide free ration to all non-income- tax-paying people for the next six months, irrespective of whether they hold any ration card;
3. To pay every non-income- tax-paying person Rs.7500/- pm for the next six months; and pension of Rs.3000/-pm linked to cost of living to all above 60 years of age;
4. To issue Smart Id Card to all the workers with their Aadhar card number valid throughout India which should be useful for social security benefits;
5. To provide a corpus of Rs.10000 crores – a revolving annual FUND for the purpose of implementing Social Security Schemes under the provisions of Un-organised Sector Workers’ Social Security Act, 2008;
6. To withdraw the proposed move of the Government to convert the 41 Ordnance Factories into a corporation and then to privatise the same and to convert the Army Base Workshops to GOCO Model by handing over these Workshops to Private Sector;
7. To withdraw move for Corporatisation of Railway Production Units and handing over 109 Railway routes to private Sector and privatization of railway stations;
8. To cancel the Privatisation of Public Sector enterprises and Services including State Transport, LIC, Banks, Insurance, Coal, BPCL, Air India, Airports, Telecom, Ports & Dock and Municipal services etc.
9. To put on hold any labour law amendments through codification of all labour laws in to four codes and to convene Indian Labour Conference immediately; scrap all the Ordinances and executive orders altering and/or suspending operation of labour laws in many states.
10. To Invest in and expand health, education and agriculture; scrap all the three Ordinances on Agriculture including on amendment of Essential Commodities Act.
11. To increase budgetary allocation for effective implementation of National Rural Employment Guarantee Act, 2005, increasing the job allocation for 200 days per annum and extend the similar scheme for urban areas also to address the issue of unemployment on war footing. The daily wage should be enhanced from Rs. 202/- to Rs. 500/-.
12. To launch drive to recover loans from Willful Defaulters, by using criminal prosecution.
Yours sincerely,
INTUC, AITUC, HMS, CITU, AIUTUC, TUCC, SEWA, AICCTU, LPF, UTUC
THE FENCE IS EATING THE CROPS IN BSNL EVEN DURING THE PERIOD OF FINANCIAL CONSTRAINTS.
BSNL is in serious financial crisis that paymant of medical bills and allowances to the retirees are pending since 2018; salaries are not being paid in time, contract workers are not being paid their wages for months togethert. And the CMD always talk about implementing strict austerity measures and curtailed drastically the ceiling for outdoor medical facilities. But we are surprised to note that austerity measures are not applicable to the top officers of BSNL. We give hereunder a complaint lodged with the Chief Vigilance Commissioner against the extravagance indulged in by the Chief Vigilance Officer.
(Courtesy: BSNLEU Website)
| Sr.No. | Subject | Details | Facility equivalent To |
| (1) | Leased vehicles (CRs) | Availing petrol and drivers expenses | Directors of BSNL Board |
| (2) | Mobile Handset (Two) | (1) Rs.88,000/ on 09.06.2018 against his entitlement.
(2) One more handset taken without entitlement. |
Directors of BSNL Board |
| (3) | Sofa cum Bed at his Residence | Cost Rs.43,799/ – Date 27.07.2019 | Directors of BSNL Board |
| (4) | Double Bed at his Residence | Cost Rs.43,158/ – Date 27.07.2019 | Directors of BSNL Board |
| (5) | 2 Air conditioners at Residence | Approx. Rs.1 lakh (taken from the inventory of BSNL electrical wing) | Directors of BSNL Board |
| (6) | One (01) i-pad | Cost Rs.1 .59 lakh on 22.07.2019 | Directors of BSNL Board |
| (7) | One (01) laptop | Cost Rs.1.11 lakh on 26.08.2019 | Directors of BSNL Board |
| (8) | India Habitat Centre (IHC) for himself and his wife. | For Rs.23,500/- on 25.08.2019 | Directors of BSNL Board |
How to Pay CGHS Subscription through Bharatkosh portal ?
CGHS Subscription by Central Government pensioners for making CGHS cards shall hereinafter be deposited through Bharatkosh Portal. The steps to be followed by Pensioners submitting CGHS contribution through Bharatkosh portal are enumerated as under for their convenience
F.No 1-030/2020/ CGHS /AD(HQ)/027 /DIR/CGHS
Min. Of Health & Family Welfare
Directorate General of CGHS
545-A Nirman Bhawan, New Delhi
Dated the 21st July, 2020
OFFICE MEMORANDUM
Subject: Payment of CGHS Contribution through Bharatkosh portal
With reference to the above mentioned subject and in compliance of the directives of Ministry of Finance that all types of Non-Tax Receipts are to be brought under NTR Portal https://bharatkosh.gov.in/, the undersigned is directed to state that CGHS contribution by Central Government pensioners for making CGHS cards shall hereinafter be deposited through Bharatkosh Portal. The steps to be followed by Pensioners submitting CGHS contribution through Bharatkoshportal are enumerated as under for their convenience:
(Beneficiaries are also advised to peruse the “FAQs” on Bharatkosh portal before making the payment through Bharatkosh).
Before making payment online, the applicant shall confirm from the Office of Additional Director, CGHS regarding eligibility for CGHS facility and the subscription to be made.
Beneficiary may login using URL is https://bharatkosh.gov.in/, preferably using Internet Explorer as the web browser.
Beneficiary can login in 2 ways:
a. As “Registered User”may register himself/herselfby creating a user ID and password and entering his/her details including mobile number and email ID. Once user ID and password are registered, he/she can login using the same.
b. Alternatively, the option of “Non-Registered User” may be used and accordingly may click on the relevant button
Either way, the payment Modules shall open.
3.Under “Payment purpose” the following fields are to be filled:
a. Depositor’s category: kindly choose – Individual
b. Purpose: Please click on search icon to reach the “Search Purpose” window.
In the window that opens selectand click “Health and Family Welfare” from the drop down menu under “Ministry”.
c. In the “Purpose” window please type “Pensioner” and select the relevant City from the choices seen. Then click the Blue “Search” button to display the “Purpose”, “Payment Type” and “Function Head”.
d. Click on the link “Pensioner Contribution for CGHS Card” written in blue, to open the next window, where the beneficiary shall select the correct Drawing Disbursing Office (DDO)of the CGHS City from drop down.
Beneficiaries are advised to carefully choose the “Purpose” and “DDO” corresponding to the city where they are to be registered as CGHS beneficiaries, to avoid inconvenience.
e. Next step is that the beneficiary will fill in the “amount” and “Payment frequency period” (if any).
f. Under “Remarks” the beneficiary should enter Pension Payment Order (PPO) number (in case of all new CGHS pensioner cards),Token number(generated in case of new card applied online), P/J/Ex MP (i.e, Pensioner/accredited Journalist/Ex MP). Then he may click on “add”.
g. In the next window, enter the name of beneficiary and other details of Individual -please remember that dot (.) or dash (-) or any special character is NOT accepted. Verify and “Save” Depositor details and then click “Confirm”.
h. In the window that opens choose the payment modality “Online”
The Internet Banking Debit and Credit Cards based on integration available from respective resource may be utilized.
The depositor can use NEFT/RTGS mode for depositing the Challan. The Challan (GAR-7)/ Deposit slip can be generated and amount can be remitted to designated bank by intra-bank transfer or using NEFT/RTGS using the format generated by NTRP system. Fill in your details and enter OTP received on your email/Mobile and click verify. At the very right side you will see a column named as “Enter UTR NO.” Click on the hyperlink and enter UTR No. provided by the Bank and wait until it gets verified.
i. After successful payment, both receipt and challan generated on-line through Bharatkosh and shall be saved by the beneficiary as proof of payment. They have to be submitted to the office of Addl. Director, CGHS along with relevant documents for issue of CGHS Card.
The Helpline number (011-24665534) and email ID (ntrp-helpdesk@gov.in) may be accessed in case of further difficulty on the portal.
AIBDPA HAD DEMANDED EXTENSION FOR SUBMISSION OF LIFE CERTIFICATE OF SAMPANN PENSIONERS UPTO 30-11-2020. NOW DOT HAS ISSUED CLARIFICATION EXTENDING THE DATE FROM 30-06-2020 UPTO 30-09-2020 .
CHQ writes to CMD BSNL on provision of FTTH at the residences of retired BSNL employees with concession.
AIBDPA/ BSNL-FTTH/2020 22nd July, 2020
To
Shri P.K. Purwar,
CMD, BSNL,
Bharat Sanchar Bhawan,
Janpath,
New Delhi -110 001
Sir,
Sub: – Provision of FTTH at the residences of retired BSNL employees with concession – reg.
Ref: (1) BSNL CO No.2-7/2007-PHA dated 20-07-2007.
(2) BSNL CO No.2-6/2005 dated 03-06-2011.
We wish to bring to your kind notice the following issue for favourable consideration.
BSNL Retirees have been provided with rent free residential land line connection and granted broadband with concession vide orders referred to above.
You may be aware of the fact that in many places landline phones are not being maintained due to shortage of staff and lack of accessories. As such the services are virtually denied to the retirees. In the case of broadband, the assured speed of a particular plan opted is not at all available in the sub premises.
Now, BSNL is concentrating on FTTH and many broadband subscribers, including pensioners are switching over to FTTH. So, we request you to kindly grant concession to Retirees in FTTH, as in the case of broadband.
It is regretted to point out that our repeated requests to grant concession in broadband to DOT Retirees are yet to be considered. We would request you once again to extend the same concession being given to BSNL retirees to the DoT Retirees also.
Awaiting early positive action and
Thanking you,
Yours sincerely
K.G. Jayaraj
General Secretary
CC: (1) Shri Arvind Vadnerkar, Director (HR), BSNL, Bharat Sanchar Bhawan, Janpath, New Delhi-110 001
(2) Shri S.K. Gupta, Director (Finance), BSNL, Bharat Sanchar Bhawan, New Delhi – 110001
(3) Shri Vivek Banzal, Director (CFA), BSNL, Bharat Sanchar Bhawan, Janpath, New Delhi – 110 001
(4) Shri Ashutosh Gupta, GM (Admn.), BSNL CO., Bharat Sanchar Bhawan, Janpath, New Delhi – 110 001
<<view letter>>
Provisional release of retirement benefits as per Rule 64 of CCS (Pension) Rules, 1972 during COVID Pandemic time.
No.12/9/2020-P&PW(C)-6450
Government of India
Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances & Pension
Department of Pension & Pensioners’ Welfare
8th Floor, Janpath Bhavan,
Janpath, New Delhi,
Dated: 17th July, 2020
OFFICE MEMORANDUM
Provisional release of retirement benefits as per Rule 64 of CCS (Pension) Rules, 1972 during COVID Pandemic time.
The undersigned is directed to say that in view of the unprecedented situation which has arisen due to the outbreak of COVID-19, there may be cases where the processing of pension case of a retiring Government servant gets delayed due to various factors. A Government servant may find difficulty in submission of his pension Forms (Form 5, Form 3, etc.) to the Head of Office (HOO) or the Head of Office (HOO) may not be able to forward the claim form in hard copy along with service book to the concerned Pay & Accounts office in time, particularly when both the offices are located in different cities. There may also be cases where the Pay & Accounts Office is not able to process the case for authorization of pension before the retirement of the Government servant.
2.Rule 64 of the CCS (Pension) Rules, 1972 provides for sanction of provisional pension and provisional gratuity in cases where a Government servant is likely to retire before finalization of his pension and gratuity. In order to ensure timely payment of pension and retirement gratuity on retirement of a Government servant, wherever a Government servant is likely to retire before finalization of his pensionary benefits, the Head of Office may rely upon the information as available in the official records and take action to sanction provisional pension and provisional gratuity, with the approval of the Head of Department. The provisional pension and provisional gratuity may be sanctioned in those cases also, where retiring Government servant is unable to submit the pension claim Forms for any reason. In cases where it is not possible to verify the entire length of qualifying service immediately, provisional gratuity may be sanctioned in respect of the verified continuous spell of service immediately preceding the date of retirement. A copy of the draft letter for sanction of provisional pension and provisional gratuity is enclosed.
3.The Pay & Accounts Office shall consider the case on the basis of details of last emoluments and length of qualifying service indicated by the Head of Office and release the provisional pension and provisional gratuity in the same manner as pay and allowances of the establishment are paid. The Pay & Accounts Office shall not insist for complete documents of the case, including service book, at the stage of release of provisional pension and provisional gratuity.
4.These instructions shall also be applicable in cases where the Government servant retires otherwise than on superannuation, i.e. voluntary retirement, retirement under FR 56, etc.
5.In cases where the amount of provisional pension is later found to be in excess of the final pension, the excess amount of pension may be adjusted in the manner indicated in Rule 64 of CCS (Pension) Rules, 1972.
6.The payment of provisional pension sanctioned in accordance with para 2 above, may initially continue for a period not exceeding six months from the date of retirement. The period of provisional pension may be further extended, in exceptional cases, with the concurrence of PAO and after approval by the Head of Department. However, the total period of provisional pension shall, in no case, be more than one year from the date of retirement.
7.The date from which the final pension shall be commenced by the Pension Disbursing Authority(PDA), may be indicated by the Pay & Accounts Office in the PPO. The date for commencement of final pension by the PDA shall be at least two months after the date of issue of the PPO, taking into consideration the time likely to be taken by CPAO and CPPC to process the pension case. Pay & Accounts Office shall record a note in the PPO, as mentioned below, while authorizing the final pension.
“Provisional pension has been/shall be paid by the office for the period from to _ @ Rs.________plus DA. The payment of final pension shall commence from the bank w.e.f…….”
The payment of provisional pension shall, accordingly, continue from the office till the date mentioned in the PPO for commencement of final pension by the PDA so that there is no gap between the date upto which the provisional pension is to be paid and the date of commencement of final pension by the PDA.
8.The instructions in this OM, in so far as they are at variance with the provisions of rule 64, shall be applicable till the work in offices is affected due to the outbreak of COVID-19. These instructions would be reviewed by this Department after normalcy is restored. The provisions of Rule 64 of the CCS (Pension) Rules, 1972 shall stand relaxed to the extent indicated above.
9.The Administrative Divisions of all Ministries/Department and attached/subordinate offices are requested to bring these instructions to the notice of all concerned for compliance.
This issues with the approval of the competent authority.