Grant of Hospital Patient Care Allowance (HPCA) & Patient Care Allowance (PCA)…

Government of India
Ministry of Railways
Railway Board

RBE No.36/2016.

No.E(P&A)II-98/HW-6 Vol.III

New Delhi,  dated: 18.04.2016.

The General Managers/CAOs,
All Indian Railways &
Production Units etc.

Sub: Grant of Hospital Patient Care Allowance (HPCA) & Patient Care Allowance (PCA) to Group ‘C’ & ‘D’ (non-ministerial) Railway employees working in Railway Hospitals & Health Units/Clinics.

Ref: PNM/AIRF Item No. 7/2010, PNM/NFIR Item No.12/2015.

Hospital Patient Care Allowance/Patient Care Allowance was introduced on the Railways in terms of Railway Board’s letter no. E(P&A)II-98/HW-6 dt. 09.01.2008.

As per paragraph 2 (a) (ii), of the letter dt. 9-1-2008 Pharmacists were also made eligible for grant of HPCA/PCA subject to fulfillment of the conditions of admissibility except exclusive store Pharmacists who were not involved in dispensing of medicines. Both the recognised Federations, namely AIRF and NFIR have raised the issue in the forum of PNM stating that there is no particular designation of Store Pharmacists in the Indian Railways. The matter has been considered in consultation with the Health Directorate of Railway Board and it has decided to remove the exception made for exclusive Store Pharmacists in paragraph 2(a)(ii) in Railway Board’s letter no. E(P&A)II-98/HW-6 dt. 09.01.2008. Pharmacists will be entitled for payment of Hospital Patient Care Allowance / Patient Care Allowance. This would have effect from 01.01.2008 as mentioned in Railway Board’s letter no.E(P&A)II-98/HW-6 dt 09.01.2008.

Other terms and conditions would remain the same as per Board’s letter no. E(P&A)II-98/HW-6 dt. 09.01.2008 and Board’s letter No.E(P&A)II-2013/AL-3 dt.20.02.2013

This issues with the concurrence of Finance Directorate of the Ministry of Railways.

Please acknowledge receipt.

(Salim Md.Ahmed)
Dy.Director/E(P&A)II
Railway Board.

Click Here…to view the Order

NPS - Benefit for money to Income tax

 Income Tax benefit available under National Pension System (NPS) – AIRF

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA (BHARAT SARKAR)
MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS (RAIL MANTRALAYA)
(RAILWAY BOARD)

RBE No. 31/2016

No 2012/F(E)III/1(1)/4

Dated: 07.04.2016

The GMs/FA&CAOs,
All Indian Railways/Production Units/RDSO.
(As per mailing list)

Subject: Tax benefit available under National Pension System (NPS)

A copy of Pension Fund Regulatory & Development Authority (PFRDA)’s letter No.PFRDA/23/CORP/20/5 dated 25.02.2016 on the above subject is enclosed for information and compliance. The contents of the letter regarding opening of e-NPS account shall apply mutatis mutandis on the Railways also. ·

2. Please acknowledge receipt.

(Sanjay Prashar)
Deputy Director Finance, (Estt.)lll,
Railway Board.

Source: AIRF

Click to view the PFRDA Letter dt:25.2.2016

Amendment to Payment of Bonus

Amendment to Payment of Bonus Act, 1965 – Revision of wage calculation limit from Rs.3500/- p.m. to Rs.7000/- p.m. with effect from 01-04-2014 – Payment of P.L., Bonus to Railway employees at revised rate of Rs.7000/- p.m.

National Federation Of Indian Railwaymen
3, CHELMSFORD ROAD, NEW DELHI – 110 055
Affiliated to:
Indian National Trade Union congress (INTUC)
International Transport workers Federation (ITF)

No.I/10/Part IV

Dated: 07-03-2016

Shri Suresh Prabhu,
Hon’ble Minister for Railways
Rail Mantralaya
New Delhi.

Respected Sir,

Sub: Amendment to Payment of Bonus Act, 1965 – Revision of wage calculation limit from Rs.3500/- p.m. to Rs.7000/- p.m. with effect from 01-04-2014 – Payment of P.L., Bonus to Railway employees at revised rate of Rs.7000/- p.m. -reg.

Ref: Railway Board’s reply vide No.E(P&A)II-2014/PLB-8 dated 16-02-2016 to GS/NFIR.

while thanking the Railway Ministry for its prompt reply to NFIR under reference No.E(P&A)II-2014/PLB-8 dated 16-02-2016, the Federation re-iterates the following facts for taking appropriate steps by the Government.

(i) The chronological developments since decades need to be taken into account for processing the case for payment of PL Bonus to the Railway employees at the revised wage calculation ceiling limit i.e.Rs.7000/- p.m. w.e.f. 01-04-2014.

(ii) When the Bonus Act was amended, raising the wage calculation ceiling from Rs.750 to 1600, the Railway employees were paid PL Bonus at the revised wage calculation ceiling limit. subsequently, when the Bonus Act was amended, revising the wage calculation limit from Rs.1600/- to Rs.2500/-, the said rate was adopted by the Railway Ministry and PL Bonus paid to the Railway employees at the revised rates.

(iii) When the wage calculation ceiling was again revised to Rs.3500/- w.e.f. 1st April 2006, the Federation took up the issue and explained the merits of the case for adopting the rate of Rs.3500/- w.e.f. 01-04-2006 for ensuring payment of PL Bonus. The Railway Ministry had processed the case and obtained Union Cabinet’s approval and issued orders vide letter No.E(P&A)II-2008/PLB-10 dated 03-10-2008, duly revising the wage calculation ceiling to Rs.3500/- wit retrospective effect i.e. from 01-04-2006, consequently, PLB arrears for the year 2006-07 were paid to the Railway employees in October 2008.

From the above facts, it could be seen that the payment of P.L.Bonus has been ensured commensurating with the revision of wage calculation ceiling limit made through amendments to Bonus Act,1965 without any deviation. Similarly When the wage calculation ceiling limit has been raised to Rs.7000/- p.m., the Railway Employees are entitled for payment of P.L.Bonus at revised rates for the year 2014-15.

NFIR, therefore, requests the Hon’ble Railway Minister to kindly arrange to process the case on top priority for obtaining the approval of the Union Cabinet for making payment of PL Bonus arrears pertaining to the year 2014-15 to the Railway Employees at the earliest.

Yours sincerely,

Sd/-
(Dr.M.Raghavaiah)
General Secretary

Source: NFIR

Strike Ballot – 95% Railway employees want strike

Strike Ballot – 95% Railway employees want strike

PRESS RELEASE

New Delhi: 14th February, 2016 – On the clarion call of the National Joint Council of Action(NJCA) and All India Railwaymen’s Federation(AIRF), strike ballot was conducted all over the Indian Railways among the Railwaymen on 11-12 February, 2016 against retrograde recommendations of the VII CPC, 11-point Charter of demands of the Central Government employees as also non-settlement of long pending genuine demands of the Railwaymen.

The Convener of the NJCA and General Secretary AIRF, Shri Shiva Gopal Mishra said, “there is serious resentment among the Central Government employees in general and the Railwaymen in particular on against retrograde recommendations of the VII CPC and non-settlement of their long pending genuine demands. As a result of which, in the strike ballot conducted all over the Indian Railway on 11-12 February, 2016, more than 95% Railwaymen casted their votes in favour of the strike with full enthusiasm”.

Shri Mishra further said, “overwhelming voting in favour of strike ballot has proved that the Railwaymen are totally in favour of the strike”.

Shri Mishra also told that, “keeping in view result of the strike ballot, notice for withdrawal of labour, i.e. Strike Notice, will be served to the respective general Managers on 11th March, 2016 for “indefinite strike” from 06:00 hrs. of 11th April, 2016, in case the government does not resolve the genuine demands of the employees and this will be the biggest and historical strike of the Railway employees, responsibility of which shall be of the Government of India”.

Press Release in Hindi – Click here

Source: AIRF

Massive demonstrations to protest against retrograde recommendations of the VII CPC

November 23, 2015 Maha  AIRF Edit Post

Massive demonstrations to protest against retrograde recommendations of the VII CPC

Today, in the meeting held in the office of NC/JCM(Staff Side), 13-C, Ferozshah Road, New Delhi, it has been decided that, all the constituents of NJCA shall give direction to their affiliates to hold massive demonstrations, bearing black badges, on 27th November, 2015, against the following retrograde recommendations of the VII CPC

All India Railwaymen’s Federation

No.AIRF/24(C)

Dated: November 20, 2015

The General Secretaries,
All Affiliated Unions,

Dear Comrades,
Reg.: Massive demonstrations to protest against retrograde recommendations of the VII CPC

Today, in the meeting held in the office of NC/JCM(Staff Side), 13-C, Ferozshah Road, New Delhi, it has been decided that, all the constituents of NJCA shall give direction to their affiliates to hold massive demonstrations, bearing black badges, on 27th November, 2015, against the following retrograde recommendations of the VII CPC.

Against the demand of the Staff Side, National Council(JCM) for Minimum Wage Rs.26,000, the VII CPC has recommended Rs.18,000, thereby widening the gap between Minimum and Maximum Wage as 1:13.8 while our demand was to keep this ratio not more 1:8.

The present rate of HRA, i.e. 30%, 20% and 10% has been reduced to 24%, 16% and 8% respectively.

The number of interest-free advance, like Festival Advance, etc. have been recommended to be stopped.

Instead of removing the existing anomalies in the MACPS, the Pay Commission has introduced examination for granting MACP benefit.

The Pay Commission has also refused to make any recommendation against the NPS.

In case of Child Care Leave for women employees, leave wage shall be reduced to 80% for second spell of 365 days CCL.

All of you are requested to comply with the aforementioned decision of the NJCA, and the report of the same should be sent to NJCA Headquarters Office, i.e. 4 State Entry Road, New Delhi.

Yours faithfully,
sd/-
(Shiva Gopal Mishra)
General Secretary
Source: AIRF