Feedback of NJCA Meeting held on 19.2.2016 with 7th CPC Implementation Cell

Feedback of NJCA Meeting held on 19.2.2016 with 7th CPC Implementation Cell

Brief of the NJCA meeting held on 19.02.2016 with the Convener, Implementation Cell, Ministry of Finance

NJCA

NATIONAL JOINT COUNCIL OF ACTION,

4, STATE ENTRY ROAD, NEW DELHI-110055

No.NJCA/2016

Dated: 19.02.2016

Dear Comrades,

Sub: Brief of the NJCA meeting held on 19.02.2016 with the Convener, Implementation Cell, Ministry of Finance (Government of India), reg. 7th CPC recommendations and Charter of Demands of the NJCA

A meeting of the NJCA held today with the Convener, Implementation Cell, Ministry of Finance, Shri R.K. Chaturvedi, wherein we discussed and emphasized on all the 26-point Charter of Demands of the NJCA send to the Cabinet Secretary on 10.12.2015.

We agitated the issues of NPS, Minimum Wage, Multiplying Factor, deduction of HRA and all other important issues.

The Convener, Implementation Cell, Shri Chaturvedi, after hearing everybody, said that, he would put-up the issues to the Cabinet Secretary, and hopefully a meeting of the JCA would be held with the Cabinet Secretary and the Empowered Committee shortly within 15 days.

Let us not leave any stone unturned for preparations of the strike.

With Best Wishes!

Comradely yours,

sd/-

(Shiva Gopal Shrma)

Secretary (Staff Side) NC/JCM

&

Convener

Source: NC JCM Website

Removal of Grade Pay System in 7th Pay Commission – A detailed report

Removal of Grade Pay System in 7th Pay Commission – A detailed report

Will the removal of Grade Pay System by the 7th Pay Commission help Central Government employees? – This is the topic of this article.

“Unconfirmed reports say that the 7th Pay Commission is very likely to recommend the abolishing of the Grade Pay System introduced by the 6th Pay Commission.”

Not only the Government, but the Central Government employees too are hoping and wishing that the 7th Pay Commission functions independently, free from interventions. The report of the previous Pay Commissions will guide for determining the revision of pay scale and pay bands, allowances, retirement benefits and other facilities/benefits of more than 50 lakh employees. The Pay Commission also considers the recommendations, suggestions and inputs gathered from employees all over the country and presented as memorandums by federations like the NC JCM and the Confederation.

There is no rule that the new Pay Commission has to follow the same methodology and determination followed by the previous Pay Commissions. Therefore, one cannot state for sure that the 7th Pay Commission will tow the guidelines issued by the 6th or the 5th Pay Commission while deciding the new pay scale and pay bands.

One has to keep in mind the fact that the 6th Pay Commission was radically different from the recommendations and guidelines issued by the 5th Pay Commission. One has to also remember that a number of industry experts, who predicted the recommendations of the 6th Pay Commission based on the trends of the previous Pay Commission, were proved completely wrong.

If one Pay Commission has the right to recommend the splitting of the Pay Scale into two, the next Pay Commission has all the powers to completely abolish the system. But, this is not the issue!

Will the Central Government employees benefit by the removal of the Grade Pay system? This is the question now.

It will definitely be beneficial. Here are the reasons why.

It is unacceptable that a promotion, which comes after waiting for many years, brings with it an increment of just Rs.100.

None has until now accepted the splitting of the promotional hierarchy, which had been followed for years, into two.

The anomalies that prevailed due to the ‘Grade Pay Hierarchy’ which was introduced under the MACP promotional system, still remain unresolved.

When the discussions and debates on MACP system continued to grow unabated during the NC JCM Anomaly Committee meeting, it was decided that a separate meeting ought to be held to analyze this issue.

Most of the individual requests from the Central Government employees this time are about the MACP promotional system. The reason is the Grade Pay structure introduced by the 6th Pay Commission.

And also can list out many reasons to abolish the Grade Pay System.

Source: www.90paisa.org

Implementing One Rank One Pension, Seventh Pay Commission recommendations will not lead to cash crunch: Jayant Sinha

Implementing OROP, 7th Pay Commission recommendations will not lead to cash crunch: Jayant Sinha

The Minister of State for Finance, Jayant Sinha, has said that implementing the One Rank One Pension scheme for military pensioners and the recommendations of the 7th Pay Commission will not bankrupt the nation.

The Union Minister of Finance Arun Jaitley had a meeting with the financial experts in New Delhi yesterday. Following the meeting, Mr. Jayant Sinha spoke to the mediapersons. He said –

“We are managing the country’s finances very well. Experts have appreciated our efforts. The government’s financial condition is very stable. Therefore, there wouldn’t be a cash deficit even if the government implements the recommendations of the 7th Pay Commission. Similarly, the government can very well manage the additional cash burden incurred by implementing the One Rank One Pension scheme for the military.

Implementing the OROP will result in additional expenses of Rs.8000-10,000 crores this year. The 7th Pay Commission’s recommendations will be submitted to the government in December this year. Giving increments to the Central Government employees will result in additional expenses to the Government. He confirmed that the government can comfortably manage these expenses.

A lot of important issues, including financial burdens, increasing employment opportunities and agricultural outputs, were discussed at the pre-Budget consultation. Some of the leading names in financial management in India had participated in the meeting. It is normal for governments to hold such meetings prior to the annual budget, but it is unusual that such a meeting was held with six months to go before the next Budget is due. Sinha said that the valuable suggestions that were given by the experts have made the meeting worthwhile, and have convinced them that holding such meetings in advance was a good move.

A number of useful suggestions were given on the schemes that have to be implemented in the current and the next Financial Years. The meeting also paved way for the joint implementation of many a schemes, he said.

Discussions on agriculture and the issues related to it took up most of the time at the meeting. “We discussed a number of suggestions on how to improve our agricultural production. We talked about financial deficits and ways to reduce expenses and austerity measures. We had also discussed public investment options and the importance of making them profitable.

“The other most important topic that we had talked about was the Ministry of Finance. We had discussed the need for increasing the loans offered to farmers, and to the micro-, small- and medium-sized enterprises, and the necessity for increasing job opportunity for youngsters. We had also discussed the steps that need to be taken to boost the large-scale and production-based industries, which are among the biggest sectors that offer employment.”

An analysis of extending the term of 7th Pay Commission – GServants

An analysis of extending the term of 7th Pay Commission – GServants

Pros and Cons of extending the term of 7th Pay Commission

Recently the central government announced the extension of term of 7th pay commission by four months till 31st December 2015. By the time there were news started coming about seventh Pay Commission that it would ask one month extension to submit the report, Unexpectedly the central government itself granted four month extension to 7th central pay commission in its Cabinet Meeting held on 26th August 2015

One day before the announcement made by central government on granting extension to the pay commission, according to PTI news report, Justice A.K.Mathur, Chairman, 7th Pay Commission, said that by the end of September 2015 the Pay commission report would be submitted to the government.

Why the central government granted four month extension when the commission itself if asked one month time?

What will happen if the 7th pay commission submits its reports on 31st December 2015?

Before to answer that, It will be very useful to know that what happened in sixth pay commission, after submission of report and how much time it took to get announced the implementation of pay commission recommendation.

·         The Sixth Central Pay commission was set up by Union Cabinet of India on 5th October 2006. The Commission, headed by Justice B.N.Srikrishna.The Other members of the commission were Prof. Ravindra Dholakia, Mr. J.S.Mathur and Member-Secretary Ms Sushama Nath, IAS.

·       
The Pay Commission submitted its report to Finance Minister P. Chidambaram on 24 March 2008.

·        
The United Progressive Alliance (UPA) Government headed by Manmohan Singh, approved the Sixth Pay commission recommendations with some modifications. In the cabinet meeting held on 14th August 2008, the Union Cabinet headed by Manmohan Singh gave its approval for implementation of the recommendations of the Sixth Central Pay Commission.

·        
It was announced that the revised pay scales will come into effect from 1/1/2006 and revised rates of allowances from 1/9/2008.

From the above reference it is known that after submission of report it will take six month time to get its approval from Central Government for implementation of pay commission recommendation.

The decision of extending the term of seventh pay commission could be a major blow to central government employees by the way as follows

1. The 7th pay commission has been made to submit its report on 31st December 2015. The stipulated time is extended as 22 Months instead of 18 months for 7th pay commission to submit its report

2. As the central government would like to ground upon the Precedents and it will take six month time from the date of submission of report to announce its approval for implementation of 7th pay commission recommendations

3. So the Cabinet approval for implementation of 7th pay commission recommendation will be granted by the Month of June 2016

4. Only the Revised Pay Scale will come into effect from 1.1.2016

5. The revised rate of allowances will come into effect from prospective date that is with effect from the day of Order is issued.

6. So the central Government employees will be losing the benefit of revised rate of allowances for the period of six months , which they supposed to get from 1.1.2016, provided the order for implementation of 7th pay commission will be issued on 1.7.2016.

Source: www.gservants.com

Four Months Extension to 7th Central Pay Commission - Finmin Notification

4 Month Extension to 7th Pay Commission – Finmin issued Notification

Department of Expenditure has issued resolution for amending para 5 of the earlier resolution issued on 28.2.2014…

भारत का राजपत्र
The Gazette of India
असाधारण
EXTRAORDINARY
भाग I-खण्ड-I
PART I—Section 1
प्राधिकार से प्रकाशित
PUBLISHED BY AUTHORITY

सं0- 235]	नई दिल्ली, बुधवार, सितम्बर 9, 2015/भाद्र 18, 1937
No. 235]	NEW DELHI, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2015/BHADRA 18, 1937

व‍ित्त मंत्रालय
(व्यय विभाग)
संकल्प
नई दिल्ली‍, 8 सितम्‍बर, 2015

सं.1/1/2013-ई. III(क).—भारत सरकार ने यह निर्णय लिया है कि इस मंत्रालय के दिनांक 28.02.2014 के संकल्प‍ सं. 1/1/2013-ई.III(क) का पैरा 5 निम्न प्रकार से संशोध‍ित क‍िया जाएगा:—

“आयोग अपनी सिफारिश 31 दिसम्‍बर, 2015 तक प्रस्तुत करेगा। आयोग, यद‍ि आवश्य‍क हो, सिफार‍िशों को अंतिम रूप दे द‍िए जाने पर कसी भी मामले म र‍िपोर्ट भेजने पर विचार कर सकता है।”

रतन पी. वातल, वित्त सच‍िव

MINISTRY OF FINANCE
(Department of Expenditure)
RESOLUTION
New Delhi, the 8th September, 2015

No. 1/1/2013-E. III(A).—The Government of India have decided that the Para 5 of this Ministry’s Resolution No. 1/1/2013-E.III(A) dated 28.2.2014 shall be modified as under :—

“The Commission will make its recommendations by 31st December, 2015. It may consider, if necessary, sending reports on any of the matters as and when the recommendations are finalized.”

RATAN P. WATAL, Finance Secy.

Flash News : FINANCE MINISTRY ISSUED GAZETTE RESOLUTION FOR THE EXTENSION OF 4 MONTH TO 7TH CENTRAL PAY COMMISSION

Click to view the Gazette Notification

Click to view the report of Cabinet approval

Terms of References of all Pay Commissions

Authority: http://egazette.nic.in/

Courtesy: http://www.staffnews.in/

7th Pay Commission proposes to increase HRA of Central Government Employees

7th Pay Commission proposes to increase House Rent Allowance of Central Government employees

Seventh Pay Commission To Propose Higher HRA

New Delhi: The Seventh Pay Commission is likely to propose to increase House Rent Allowance (HRA) of central government employees, besides their basic salaries.

By giving House Rent Allowance hikes, the Pay Commission is likely to seek to encourage property owners to rent out their properties, reduce the shortage of dwellings and to provide ‘housing for all central government employees’.

Besides the basic salary, a large portion of central government employees’ salary is the House Rent Allowance; some changes will be made in that category this time.

Instead of the existing three areas for house rent, four are likely to be created. ‘X’ class cities Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Chennai, Delhi, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Mumbai and Pune, where employees will get 40 percent of their basic salary as House Rent Allowance (HRA), increasing from the existing 30 percent.

Employees posted at ‘Y’ class cities covers near about 90 stations, will receive 30 percent of basic salary, instead of the existing 20 percent.

A new area will be opened for the district towns; the central government employees will get 20 percent of their basic salary as House Rent Allowance (HRA) there.

In other areas, the house rent allowance will be 10 percent of basic, which is the existing rate of House Rent Allowance (HRA) of ‘Z’ class cities.

The existing qualifying threshold of population for HRA classification is 50 lakh and above for X, 5-50 lakh for Y and below 5 lakh for Z class cities.

However, the central government’s salary bill will rise by 9.56% to Rs 1,00,619 crore with the implementation of the recommendations of the Seventh Pay Commission, according to a statement tabled in Parliament by Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley on August 12.

Source: TST

Cabinet Agrees to Give Four Months Extension to 7th Pay Commission

Cabinet Agrees to Give 4 Months Extension to 7th Pay Commission

“The cabinet has consented to give four more months for the 7th Pay Commission to submit its report.”

Following the request from the 7th Central Pay Commission, the cabinet has given an additional four months’ grace time, according to a government release.

The 7th Pay Commission was constituted on 28.02.2014 by the centre. The 18 months’ time given to the Commission ends today. The Commission has stated that there is excess of pending workload to prepare final report and that they want to intensive consultation with stakeholders. Hence, the cabinet gave a nod to extend the time until December for the Commission to carry out its work.

As a result of this new development, the Commission will submit its report in January 2016.

Rumours and unconfirmed news about this began to circulate since Monday. The meeting of the defence minister and the finance minister with the prime minister held in the week begining onwards. And the Pay Commission’s chairman’s interaction with the prime minister – all these activities led to a lot of speculations.

There were talks that the Prime Minister’s Office was getting ready to make some important announcements regarding the One Rank One Pension scheme.

Until last month, employees were confident that the 7th Pay Commission will submit its report on time. This belief was further strengthened by a series of incidents that took place. Employees are extremely disappointed to hear this announcement.

And, Central Government employees are now wondering what the real reason could be for the sudden delay..!

Source: www.cgstaffnews.in

Central Government Employees : 30% salary hike confirmed in 7th Pay Commission

30% salary hike confirmed in 7th Pay Commission for CG Employees

“The wages of public sector bank employees are revised once every five years. The recent 10th Bipartite wage agreement gave them an increase of 15%.”

United Forum of Bank Unions (UFBU) had initially put forth a demand of 21% wage hike. It was only after an extensive series of negotiations that the Indian Bank Association agreed to settle for 15%.

For Central Government Employees, once every ten years, a high level committee is constituted by Central Government to revise the pay and allowances. The commission will examine pay structure, concessions and facilities/benefits as well as retirement benefits of Central Staff based on Terms of reference given to them. The Commission has to submit its recommendations within 18 months of the date of its constitution.

All the employees’ Trade unions, Associations and Federations are given a chance to meet the committee and present their demands and expectations in the form of memorandums. All these stages have been completed. The pay commission is expected to submit its report to the central government this month.

The prime question which comes naturally in every oneís mind is ñ how much increase the Central Government employees will get?

In our point of view, all Central employees can surely get a uniform 30% increase in salaries with effect from 01.01.2016, irrespective of ranks and length of service.

Let us assume that an employee who had been recruited after the implementation of the 6th Pay Commission, draws a salary of, on an average, Rs.30,000, including all allowances. Then, after the implementation of 7th Pay Commission, his salary will increase by 30%, and be Rs.39,000.

Everybody, including the NC JCM and the news websites, is expecting maximum hike. That is entirely their discretion. They would have a reason too – simple reason is ‘if you want to get what you want then you should ask more than thatí. They are hoping for a 60% to 70% increase’.

This is where most misconceptions occur. Even English newspapers are no exceptions, and have misquoted the numbers.

The minimum basic pay, as decided by the 6th Pay Commission, was Rs.7000. The basic salary of the lowest rank employee, who was recruited after the implementation of the 6th Pay Commission, was Rs.7000 per month, plus allowances. Almost ten years later, the basic pay of the same lowest ranked employee who was recruited after July 2015, is Rs.15330 (7000 + 119% DA) and allowances. The Dearness Allowance, which is given twice a year, began at zero and has increased to 119% in the past 10 years.

The Central Government employees’ Federation, NC JCM Staff Side had, in its memorandum to the 7th Pay Commission, hoped for a revised minimum basic pay of Rs.26000 (a 70% hike), instead of Rs.15330. The Federation had detailed and defended with irrefutable explanations and justification for their demands.

In News Media , Articles are being written questioning the basis on which the Federation is demanding a 3 times hike in salary..?

In fact, it is not clear on what basis they are publishing articles that Federations were asking a 3 times salary hike and central govt employees can get 3 times hike !

“An employee’s salary hike depends on a number of factors, including the pay commission, wage revision, promotion, etc. The normal procedure to find out the percentage of hike is to calculate it on the basis of the pre-hike salary. But, it is ridiculous to see some people calculate the increase based on the salary drawn by the employee ten years ago, and claim that they are going to receive multiple-times of salary hike.”

It is almost tragic to see employees, lured by the misguiding claim of a Multiplication Factor of 2.86, assuming that there will be a threefold salary hike.

The salaries of all Central Government employees from January 2016 onwards will be 30% higher than the pay of December 2015.

People who differ from this opinion, and those who are convinced that it is very low, are requested to calculate the percentage of salary hike of December 2005 and January 2006. This was the hike recommended by the 6th Pay Commission. Also, if possible, try to find out the percentage of increase in salary of December 1995 and January 1996. This was hike recommended by the 5th Pay Commission.

It has become very obvious that the Central Government employees are under some kind of spell when it comes to salary hikes. This is an attempt to dispel the illusion.

I shall resume this article with your esteemed feedback.

Source: 90Paisa 

(Central Govt Employees News Blog)

A concise introduction of pay commissions for Central Government Employees…

A concise introduction of pay commissions for CG Employees

Central Pay Commissions and Central Government Employees…

Generally, Central Government Employees who works in different ministries and departments under the Central Government, play major roles in the smooth functioning of the country. Employees under different departments work so hard to maintain law and order, stabilizing the economy, security to the people and defending our nation from enemies. Even though they are not large in numbers, their work during major crisis like natural calamities, earthquake and floods, stands apart. They are even asked to work 24 hours a day on all working days during emergencies. Our Defence Forces have done breathtaking efforts and marvellous work to evacuate Indian citizens from foreign countries which are under civil wars. They are bold enough to cross the border of our neighbouring country to fight against terrorists who had earlier ambushed and killed our security forces. Everyone must be proud of our defence forces for their bravery and skills.

Students after completing their tough academic career in different streams, keeps their first preference to get a government job. Though the pay packages are lower than multinational companies, they think that government jobs give more security to them.

As everyone knows that the pay and allowances for the central government employees are fixed by the central government as per the recommendations of Central Pay Commissions (CPCs). The central government constitutes Pay Commissions by appointing highly placed personalities as Chairman and Members. The commission then studies the economic conditions, day today difficulties of employees, their ideas etc., and give its recommendations to revise pay packages for the employees in every ten years. The commission submits its recommendations to the central government and the government in turn, takes final decision to implement the Pay Commission. Usually, the commission is given 18 months time to submit its report on the recommendations on pay revision:

PAY COMMISSIONS:

The First Pay Commission was appointed on May 1946, and it submitted its report in May 1947.
The Second CPC was appointed on August 1957, and it submitted its report in August 1959.
The Third CPC was appointed on April 1970, and it submitted its report in March 1973.
The Fourth CPC was appointed on June 1983, and three reports were submitted in June 1986, December 1986 and May 1987 respectively.
The Fifth CPC was appointed on April 1994, and submitted its report in January 1997.
The Sixth CPC was appointed on October 2004, and submitted its report in March 2008.

SEVENTH PAY COMMISSION:

The Seventh Central Pay Commission was constituted on the 28th of February 2014 under the Chairmanship of Justice Shri Ashok Kumar Mathur, Shri Vivek Rae as full time member and Smt. Meena Aggarwal as Secretary. The Commission has been given 18 months from the date of its constitution to make its recommendations.

From the date of its constitution, the commission travelled all over the country meeting different delegates, officers, trade union leaders, associations, employees etc., under different departments to take stock of the economic conditions faced by the employees and the impact of rising prices of essential commodities on them.

Finally, the Chairman of the 7th CPC in their final meeting with the National Council JCM, has said that Commission will submit its report to the central government in September 2015. Points regarding the implementation of the 7th CPC were discussed. The Chairman denied any proposal to implement the recommendations from 01.01.2014 and said that the revised pay structures and recommendations will be implemented from 01.01.2016.

Let us hope for the best!!!

Source: www.govtstaffnewsportal.in

NC JCM Staff Side Pleaded Important Proposals before 7th Central Pay Commission

NC JCM Staff Side Pleaded Important Proposals before 7th Central Pay Commission – Detailed Report From NFIR

NFIR

National Federation of Indian Railwaymen

3, CHELMSFORD ROAD, NEW DELHI – 110 055

Minimum Wage of Rs.26000/- and Open Ended Pay Scales

JCM DELEGATION PROPOSED BEFORE THE 7TH CENTRAL PAY COMMISSION

During 2 days deliberations on 23rd & 24th March, 2015, the JCM (Staff Side) delegation have pleaded before the 7th Central Pay Commission to recommend minimum wage of Rs. 26,000/- per month on the basis of 15th ILC Norms/Aykroyd Formula. Some of the important submissions made before the Pay Commission are listed below:

Wage ratio between the lowest and highest should be 1:8.

Revised pay scales and allowances should be given effect from 01/01/2014.

3.7 multiplication factor should be applied to arrive at the revised pay. Special Pay concept should be restored back.

HRA should be revised to 60%, 40% and 20% of pay for ‘X’ ‘Y’ and ‘Z’ class localities/cities respectively.

Children Education Allowance should be revised and extended to cover higher studies also.

Increment rate should be 5% of pay.

Five promotions during service.

Special Duty Allowance for North Eastern Region be revised to 37-1/2%.

House Building Amount should be increased and interest rate should be reduced.

6th CPC Anomalies may be got addressed through a special mechanism.

Flexi timings for women employees besides additional leave facilities etc.,

Pension

Pay Commission was urged to recommend parity in Pension.

Minimum Pension should be fixed at 67% of last pay drawn.

Gratuity amount should be upwardly revised.

All the issues contained in the J CM memorandum were explained to the Commission with cogent logic, merits and Precedents. S/Shri M. Raghavaiah, Leader JCM (Staff Side), Guman Singh, NFIR President, R.P. Bhatnagar, Working President and BC. Sharma, Joint General Secretary have participated in the deliberations.

No.IV/NFIR/7TH CPC/Corres/Pt.V

Dated : 28/03/2015 V

(Dr M. Raghavaiah)

General Secretary

Source: NFIR

NFIR’s Meeting with 7th Central Pay Commission on the 13th & 14th April 2015

NFIR’s Meeting with 7th Central Pay Commission on the 13th & 14th April 2015

MEENA AGARWAL
SECRETARY

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

SEVENTH CENTRAL PAY COMMISSION

D.O No. 7CPC/158/Meetings/2015

19th March, 2015

Dear Shri Raghavaiah,

The Seventh, Central Pay Commission has, from the time of its constitution, engaged with a variety of stakeholders on the issues which it has been mandated to cover in accordance with its terms of reference. Based on the wide ranging interaction the Commission has had in this period, certain broad issues have emerged before the Commission. The Commission has also been seeking from individual Ministries / Departments their views on the issues posed, in relation to matters that are relevant to the Ministries.

The Commission has had the occasion to interact with the Federation in May 2014. A meeting was also held on 25 February 2015 with the National Council (Staff side) wherein it was agreed that the Commission would have a detailed engagement with the Staff side as part of its final deliberations.

Accordingly, a meeting with the 7th Central Pay Commission has been scheduled for the Federation on two successive days viz. 13 and 14 April 2015. between 10.30 am and 1 pm in the Conference Room 1st floor B-14/A, Chatrapati Shivaji Bhawan, Qutub Institutional Area, New Delhi,

With Regards

Yours sincerely,

sd/-

(Meena Agarwal)

Shri. M.Raghavaiah
General Secretary
National Federation of Indian Railwaymen
3, Chelmsford Road
New Delhi – 110055

Source: NFIR

No Fund Allocation to 7th Pay Commission – Central Government Employees Protest

No Fund Allocation to 7th Pay Commission – Central Government Employees Protest

Employees of the Income Tax Department, located in Nungambakkam, launched a protest yesterday condemning the fact that the Central Budget had not allocated sufficient funds to the 7th Pay Commission.

A meeting was held at the Income Tax office premises yesterday by the Central Government Employees Sammelan, during which the recently announced budget was analyzed and criticized. The protests were led by the Sammelan’s general secretary, Duraipandi. While addressing the gathering, he said,

“The economic report submitted by the Government is not in favour of the masses. During the election campaigns, BJP promised to reduce inflation, bring back black money, and to eradicate unemployment.

“But the fact remains that even when the prices of petroleum and crude oil fell by nearly 50% around, the world, the Central Government had actually increased the excise tax and made sure that the benefits of falling global prices don’t reach the general public. The increase in service taxes led to an all-round increase in prices.

“While the Government reduces corporate taxes on cash-rich companies from 30% to 25, it provided no relief to the salaried classes. Allocations to social welfare, medicines, and education remain extremely insufficient. Moreover, sufficient funds were not allocated to the 7th Pay Commission. We are going to hold protests outside the Parliament on April 28 to protest this callous attitude of the Government, to object to its decision to not merge the dearness allowance and basic pay, and to demand immediate announcement of interim relief.”

Source: cgemployeesnews.in