The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved the Cadre Review of Indian Telecommunications Service, Group Á’.

The proposal has the following salient features:

(a) Creation of one Apex level post of Director General of Telecom.
(b) The number of Duty posts has been fixed as 853.
(c) A Deputation Reserve of 310 posts has been provided for deputation of ITS • officers to other Departments / organizations.
(d) A special diminishing reserve has been provided for posting of ITS officers in BSNL/MTNL.
(e) Cadre strength restricted to the present working strength of 1690.

The approval would result in strengthening of the cadre structure both at the DoT headquarters and in the field units on the basis of functional requirement. It will also meet the requirement of skilled manpower in BSNL/MTNL. This will reduce the existing stagnation of ITS officers.

Background:

Indian Telecom Service Group ‘A” was constituted in 1965 to meet the policy, technical and managerial functions of the government in areas related to telecommunications. Selected through Engineering Services examination conducted by Union Public Service Commission, the officers of ITS are working in management and administrative positions in the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) and its PSUs (BSNL, MTNL and TCIL), Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI), Telecom Dispute Settlement Administrative Tribunal (TDSAT), and also in other Central Ministries/ Departments/ Autonomous Bodies and State governments on deputation.

The Cadre Review of ITS has been undertaken after 28 years – Last Cadre Review was done in 1988. Since the time of last Cadre review, telecom service provision functions have been hived off from DoT, but newer functions related to telecom licensing, monitoring, enforcement of license conditions, network security, interoperability, standardization, lawful interception and universal service obligation etc. have been added. In addition, a host of other functions, which were earlier embedded in operations, have increased significantly both in volumes as well as criticality. Robust Telecom infrastructure is the backbone of a Digital Society. Paradigm shifts are taking place in the Sector – bringing to fore complex issues of regulation, enforcement and security – requiring higher levels of technical supervision in the Department of telecommunications. Hence, a cadre structure of ITS officers has been proposed, which is considered essential for discharge of the role & obligations of the Department of Telecommunications. In addition, the role of ITS officers in revival of BSNL & MTNL has also been kept in view.

These facts coupled with the stagnation in various grades of the service necessitated a review of the structure of ITS.

The Cadre Strength has been restricted to the present working strength of the cadre, and the cadre review would entail no fresh financial commitment for Government.

The Reception Committee for the successful conduct of Tamil Nadu Circle conference at Shencottai on 19th & 20th February, 2017, has been formed in the meeting held at Tirunelveli on 18-12-2016.  Com.S.Mohandoss, CHQ Vice President and Circle President controlled the proceedings. Com.C.K.Narasimhan, Circle Secretary welcomed the gathering and explained briefly about the functioning of AIBDPA and the importance of the circle conference. Coms.K.Kaliprasad, CHQ Organising Secretary, C.Samy Gurunath, Circle Vice President, BSNLEU, K.Selvaraj, District President, TNTCWU and a host of leaders addressed.

Reception Committee with Com.V.Ponraj (Chairman) Com.A.Meenakshisundaram (Working Chairman) Com.D.Gopalan (General Secretary) and Com. S.Muthusamy (Treasurer) were elected unanimously.

The Circle Executive Committee Meeting of Kerala held at K.G.Bose Bhawan , Ernakulam on 21-12-2016 has decided after thorough discussion to organise Mass Dharna on 10-01-2017 at CCA Office, Thiruvananthapuram and SSAs of Kottayam, Ernakulam, Thrissur, Malappuram, Palakad, Kozhikode and Kannur in protest against the undue delay in the settlement of 78.2% IDA cases despite a speaking order to settle all the cases before 31-12-2016.

The CEC was inaugurated by Com.K.G.Jayaraj, General Secretary with an elaborate speech on the current developments including CHQ’s efforts to ensure payment of pension in the wake of post demonetisation sufferings and also the intervention at DoT level for early settlement of 78.2% IDA cases. Com.R.Aravindakshan Nair, Circle President presided over the meeting. Com.N.Guruprasad welcomed and presented the report for the intervening period. Com.A.V.Kuriakose , Circle President, BSNLEU ,speaking on the occasion, assured all the help in strengthening AIBDPA and also appreciated the positive role of AIBDPA in the struggles to protect BSNL. All the district Secretaries and most of the Circle Office Bearers participated in the discussion.

The CEC also decided to join enmasse in the humam chain in Kerala on 29-12-2016 being organised against the attack on the co-operative sector cosequent on demonetisation.

Com.K.R.R.Varma , Asst Circle Secretary proposed vote of thanks.

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No. Confdn/Strike/2016-19                                                                     Dated – 18^th December 2016

To,

The Cabinet Secretary

Cabinet Secretariat

Government of India

Rashtrapati Bhawan

New Delhi – 110001

Sir,

This is to give notice that employees who are members of the affiliated organisations of the Confederation of Central Government Employees and Workers will go on one-day strike on 15^th February 2017. The Charter of demands in pursuance of which the employees will embark upon the one-day strike action in enclosed.

Thanking you,

Yours faithfully,

(M. Krishnan)

Secretary General

Mob: 09447068125

Email: mkrishnan6854@gmail.com

Encl: –  Charter of Demands

CHARTER OF DEMANDS

1. Settle the demands raised by NJCA regarding modifications of 7^th CPC recommendations as submitted in the memorandum to Cabinet Secretary on 10^th December 2015. (See Annexure-I). Honour the assurance given by the Group of Ministers to NJCA on 30^th June 2016 and 6^thJuly 2016, especially increase in minimum wage and fitment factor. Grant revised HRA at the existing percentage itself i.e. 30%, 20% and 10%. Accept the proposal of the staff side regarding Transport Allowance. Settle all anomalies arising out of implementation of 7^th CPC recommendations, in a time bound manner.

2. Implement option-I recommended by 7^th CPC and accepted by the Government regarding parity in pension of pre-2016 pensioners, without any further delay. Settle the pension related issues raised by NJCA against item 13 of its memorandum submitted to Cabinet Secretary on 10^th December 2015. (See Annexure-I).

3. Scrap PFRDA Act and New Pension System (NPS) and grant pension and Family Pension to all Central Government employees recruited after 01.01.2004, under CCS (Pension) Rules 1972.

4.   Treat Gramin Dak Sewaks of Postal department as Civil Servants, and extend all benefits like pay, pension, allowances etc. of departmental employees to GDS. Publish GDS Committee report immediately.

5. Regularise all casual, contract, part-time, contingent and Daily rated mazdoors and grant equal pay and other benefits. Revise the wages as per 7^th CPC minimum pay.

6. No Downsizing, Privatisation, outsourcing and contractorisation of Government functions.

7.  Withdraw the arbitrary decision of the Government to enhance the bench mark for performance appraisal for promotion and financial upgradations under MACP from “GOOD” to VERY GOOD” and also decision to withhold annual increments in the case of those employees who are not able to meet the bench march either for MACP or for regular promotion within the first 20 years of service. Grant MACP pay fixation benefits on promotional hierarchy and not on pay-matrix hierarchy. Personnel promoted on the basis of examination should be treated as fresh entrants to the cadre for grant of MACP.

8.  Withdraw the draconian FR 56 (J) and Rule 48 of CCs (Pension) Rules 1972 which is being misused as a short cut as purity measure to punish and victimize the employees.

9.   Fill up all vacant posts including promotional posts in a time bound manner. Lift ban on creation of posts. Undertake cadre Review to access the requirement of employees and their cadre prospects. Modify recruitment rules of Group-‘C’ cadre and make recruitment on Reginal basis.

10.  Remove 5% ceiling on compassionate appointments and grant appointment in all deserving cases.

11.  Grant five promotions in the service carreer to all Central Govt. employees.

12.  Abolish and upgrade all Lower Division Clerks to Upper Division Clerks.

13.  Ensure parity in pay for all stenographers, Assistants, Ministerial Staff in subordinate offices and in all organized Accounts cadres with Central Secretariat staff by upgrading their pay scales. Grant pay scale of Drivers in Loksabha Secretariat to Drivers working in all other Central Government Departments.

14.  Reject the stipulation of 7^th CPC to reduce the salary to 80% for the second year of Child Care leave and retain the existing provision.

15.  Introduce Productivity Linked bonus in all department and continue the existing bi-lateral agreement on PLB wherever it exists.

16.  Ensure cashless medical treatment to all Central Government employees & Pensioners in all recognized Government and Private hospitals.

17.  Revision of Overtime Allowance (OTA) and Night Duty Allowance (NDA) w.e.f 01.01.2016 based on 7^th CPC pay scale.

18.  Revision of wages of Central Government employees in every five years.

19. Revive JCM functioning at all levels. Grant recognition to the unions/Associations under CCS (RSA) Rules 1993 within a time frame to facilitate effective JCM functioning.

20. Implementation of the Revised Pay structure in respect of employees and pensioners of autonomous bodies consequent on implementation of CCS (Revised Pay) Rules 2016 in respect of Central Government employees and pensioners w.e.f. 01.01.2016.

21. Implementation of the “equal pay for equal work” judgement of the Supreme Court in all departments of the Central Government.

THE STRIKE IS FULLY JUSTIFIED IN THE WAKE OF NAKED BREACH OF ASSURANCE  GIVEN TO THE JCM ,STAFF SIDE BY THE GROUP OF MINISTERS AND IT AMOUNTS TO SHEER BETRAYAL. THE NDA GOVERNMENT IS CONTINUING ITS NEGATIVE APPROACH TOWARDS THE GENUINE MODIFICATIONS,SOUGHT ON MINIMUM PAY, FITMENT FORMULA, MEDICAL ALLOWANCE AND IMPLEMENTATION OF OPTION 1 FOR THE PENSIONERS. AIBDPA CALLS UPON ALL ITS UNITS TO EXTEND FULL SUPPORT AND ORGANISE SOLIDARITY ACTION ON THE DAY OF THE STRIKE.