................... GUDUR POST...........

Wednesday, January 28, 2015

CALENDAR OF DEPARTMENTAL EXMANATIONS SCHEDULED TO BE HELD IN THE YEAR 2015

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Postal Department to Come Up With Insurance Policies for Girl Child, Women

CHENNAI: The postal department is planning to come up with insurance policies pertaining to girl child and women, according to Anjali Devasher, member Postal services Board (Postal Life Insurance) and chairman of Investment Board.

Devasher told reporters after giving away National awards for outstanding performance in postal life insurance and rural postal life insurance that the new policies are at the conceptual stage and refused to give any time-frame on when it will be introduced.

Talking about the IT project of India Post, Devasher said that it will be rolled out once it is implemented in all the seven pilot circles.

She said that postal life insurance was started as an in-house life insurance scheme for the postal employees in 1884 and is now available to all employees of the Central and state governments including the defence and paramilitary forces, employees of PSUs, public sector commercial banks, autonomous bodies and universities and government aided educational institutions.

She said the scheme was extended to all persons residing in rural India in 1995 and is called Rural Postal Life Insurance Scheme.

She also said that the opening of foreign direct investment in the insurance sector will not affect the postal department. “We have a fixed clientele,” she said.

V Pati, chief general manager of Postal Life Insurance said that the number of policies in postal life insurance and rural postal life insurance is almost Rs 2.86 crore. The corpus size is Rs 55,000 crore and the total sum assured for all policies is Rs 2,01,373 crore.

Source : http://www.newindianexpress.com/

Some Letters of AIPEU P3 CHQ to Directorate

Mistakes in the Proposed revision in the Recruitment Rules (RR) of Indian Postal Service, Group ‘A’ - CLICK HERE

Re-verification of Membership for recognition of Service Association under CCS (RSA) Rules 1993 – CLICK HERE

Issue of Departmental Indentity Cards to all staff including GDS -CLICK HERE

Erroneous Answer keys in r/o LCDE- IP Exam 2014 - CLICK HERE

Source : http://www.aipeup3chq.com/2015/01/some-letters-of-chq-to-directorate_28.html

Travel by Premium Trains on LTC - Clarification - orders issued by DoPT on 27.1.2015

"travel by Premium Trains is not permissible on LTC. Hence, the fare charged by the Indian Railways for the journey(s) performed by Premium trains shall not be reimbursable for the purpose of LTC."

G.I., Dep.of Per. & Trg., O.M. No.31011/2/2015-Estt.(A-IV), dated 27.1.2015

Subject: Travel by Premium Trains on LTC- Clarification reg.

The undersigned is directed to say that several references are received by this Department from various Ministry / Departments seeking clarification regarding admissibility of travel by Premium Trains run by Indian Railways while availing of LTC.

2. The matter has been examined in consultation with Department of Expenditure, Ministry of Finance and it has been decided that travel by Premium Trains is not permissible on LTC. Hence, the fare charged by the Indian Railways for the journey(s) performed by Premium trains shall not be reimbursable for the purpose of LTC. Cases where LTC travel in such Premium Trains has already been undertaken by the Central Government Employees, the train fare may be reimbursed restricting it to the admissible normal fare for the entitled class of train travel or the actual fare paid, whichever is less.

To view Department of Personnel and Training OM No.31011/2/2015-Estt (A-IV) dated 27-01-2015 please Click Here.

It has been decided that travel by Premium Trains is not permissible on LTC.

Tuesday, January 27, 2015

Govt To Release New Series Of Consumer Price Index (CPI) Next Month - NEWS

New Delhi: For presenting a more accurate and realistic price situation, government will release next month a new series of Consumer Price Index (CPI) with 2012 as base year for computing retail inflation rate.

The first series (revised) would be compiled for January which will be released on February 12.

From January 2016 onwards, inflation rates would be compiled using the actual CPI of the revised series, according to an official release

The Central Statistics Office (CSO) has been releasing Consumer Price Indices (CPI) for Rural, Urban and Combined, at state/UTs and all India level, since January 2011.

“Now the CSO is in the process of revising the Base Year from 2010=100 to 2012=100,” it said adding that with this (base) revision, the gap between Price Reference Year (Base Year) and the Weight Reference Year has been minimised.

Apart from base revision, a number of methodological improvements have been introduced in the revised series.

Prices of Antyodaya Anna Yojanna (AAY) have also been included in addition to Above Poverty Line (APL) & Below Poverty Line (BPL) prices being taken in the existing series.

The weight of food and beverages would be 45.86 in the new series compared to 47.58 in 2010 series for national index.

The weight of fuel and light segment would be 6.84 in the new series which is 9.49 in the 2010 series.

The weight of clothing and footware segment would be increased to 6.53 from 4.73. The weight of housing will also be increased to 10.07 from 9.77.

The weight of pan, tobacco and intoxicants will be increased to 2.38 from 2.13. Similarly the weight of miscellaneous will also be increased to 28.32 from 26.31 in the new series.

The number of priced items has been changed from 437 to 448 in rural and from 450 to 460 in urban at all India level.

In the revised series, 11 new priced items have been added, without dropping any item, in rural sector at all India level. In case of urban, 7 priced items have been dropped and 17 new priced items have been added.

PTI

Opening of Account and subsequent Deposit in Sukanya Samriddhi Account

From: Kawaljit Singh

Sent: 22 January 2015 16:35

To: CPC Ambala; "Sandhya Kumari spocbihar"; "Iqbal spcc_up_incharge"; "mahrashtra cbs_SPOC"; "SPOC andhrapradesh"; "spoc karnataka2"; "SPOC_karnataka"; sonikathakur4101@gmail.com; adfs-dl.dop; cbs-asm.dop; "spoc tamilnadu"; cpccbsdelhi@gmail.com; "mrtechcell dop";osdcbs.keralapost@gmail.com; "Sri Tapas Deb Barma_spoc"; cbskarna@gmail.com; dop ap;cpcrajas@gmail.com; cpc.hyd@gmail.com; cpc.mah@gmail.com; cpc_gujarat; adtcobhopal@mppost.in; mp_spoc_2; spocodisha@gmail.com; mp_spoc_2; himachal pradesh hp_spoc; uttarakhand spoc spoc_uttarakhand; spoc_raipur chatthisgarh; spocjharkhand@gmail.com; cpcwestbengal@gmail.com; Jammu spoc_JK; Sonika Thakur; manojsaini0713@gmail.com; support.cbs@keralapost.in; cbs cpcddn; "Vimal"; "Prasanna VK"; "rajagopal nisg"

Cc: cbs-cept.dop; Director (CBS); Sakthivelu VM; Giriraj Ponnambalam; DDG (Financial Services); CPMG Andhra Pradesh Circle; CPMG Assam Circle; CPMG Bihar Circle; CPMG Chattisgarh Circle; CPMG Delhi Circle; CPMG Delhi Circle; CPMG Gujrat Circle; CPMG Haryana Circle; CPMG Himachal Pradesh Circle; CPMG Jammu & Kashmir Circle; CPMG Jharkhand Circle; CPMG Karnataka Circle; CPMG Kerala Circle; CPMG Madhya Pradesh Circle; CPMG Maharashtra Circle; CPMG North East Circle; CPMG Orissa Circle; CPMG Punjab Circle; CPMG Rajasthan Circle; CPMG Tamilnadu Circle; CPMG Uttarakhand Circle; CPMG West Bengal Circle

Subject: Opening of Account and subsequent Deposit in Sukanya Samriddhi Account

Dear all

Please refer to the SB order No.2/2015 sent yesterday on the subject. Sanchay Post Patch has been uploaded in SDC Chennai web site for operating this scheme. Development of full fledged SSA product in Finacle is under progress and is likely to be deployed sometime in February 2015. To allow account opening and acceptance of subsequent deposit in SSA, an interim process (work around) has been developed in Finacle . A document regarding how to open account, accept subsequent deposit and what validations a user and Supervisor has to manage manually is enclosed. Till a full fledged product is deployed, all necessary validations mentioned in the notification and SB Order are to be ensured by Users and Supervisors.

Please circulate this to all CBS Post Offices. Finacle will not print any report till new product is fully developed. By that time, LOT and Consolidation has to be prepared manually and amount under SSA has to be entered in SB Cash as well as Cash Book.

Regards,

(Kawal Jit Singh)

Assistant Director (SB-II)

Postal Directorate

New Delhi

Contact No. 011-23036224, 011-23096108

Mob:- 09899998054
Click Here to view Workaround (interim process) for SSA Scheme

Good days will come for Central Government Employees, get 6% dearness allowance

Modi Government is set to big announcement on Budget in view of 7th Pay Commission

It is certain that 6% increase in DA is guaranteed. Here it is necessary to mention that the DA is increased twice in a year. Central government employees are paid from the first of January and July. As we're told that the DA is 6 percent of total will be 113%. But it is also a provision that if the DA crossed 100 mark will be merged in the basic salary. The employee unionsare pressing hard for the merger of DA in the basic pay. But neither the government nor the Seventh Pay Commission is committed at this point. The government has also not in mood to merge the DA in the basic pay. If that happens, this will be bad news for the employees.

Union workers are now engaged on the expected budget has to be presented in February. Employees are hoping that the finance minister will must bring good day for them. On the other side the employee organizations has started to pressure on government to merge the DA in basic pay. The employees union are also pressing for provision of fund for implementation of Seventh Pay Commission in the budget. Trade union leaders are confident that a big announcement can be in budget

MUMBAI & MAHARASHTRA STATE GETTING READY FOR INDEFINITE STRIKE

As per the decision of Joint Convention of Joint Consultative Machinery of Central Government Employees (JCM constituents) held at New Delhi on 11.12.2014, a meeting of leaders of JCM constituent organizations in Mumbai was held in Jagdish Ajmera Sabhagruh, WREU Complex, Grant Road (West), Mumbai on 14.01.2015 at 15.30 hours in order to form a Joint Action Committee for Mumbai & Maharashtra State.

Accordingly, The Joint Action Committee was formed consisting of 22 leaders from Western Railway, Central Railway, Defence, Naval Dockyard and Confederation of Central Government Employees & Workers with Postal, Income Tax, Atomic Energy.

With Com. J.R. Bhosale, Leader of Railways & C.G. Employees, as its Convener and Com. R.P. Singh, Com. Pravin Bajpai and Com. Satyanarayan C.H. as Joint Conveners. The Committee decided to meet on 19.01.2015 at 16.00 hours in CRMS Office, CSTM, Mumbai.

The Committee decided to call a Joint Convention on 23.02.2015 at 14.00 hours at CSTM Auditorium, Fourth Floor at Platform No.14, CST, Mumbai. It has been also decided to have Joint Conventions in major industrial towns all over Maharashtra and a grand rally in Azad Maidan in protest against Government’s retrograde policies adversely affecting workers and to achieve 10 Points Charter of demands.

ATTENTION GENERAL SECRETARIES OF C-O-Cs

General Secretaries of all C-O-Cs of Confederation are requested to send reports of State level & District level convention and also all other activities in connection with proposed Parliament March and Indefinite strike of National Joint Council of Action. All the reports of State & District Committees will be published in the confederation website along with photos if any.

M. Krishnan

Secretary General

Confederation of Central Government

Employees & Workers

Ph: - 09447068125

E-mail: - mkrishnan6854@gmail.com

Seventh CPC News : Commission's visit to Andaman & Nicobar Islands

The Commission, headed by its Chairman, Justice Shri A. K. Mathur, proposes to visit Andaman & Nicobar Islands from 4^th to 7^th February, 2015.

The Commission would like to invite various entities/associations/federations representing any/all categories of employees covered by the terms of reference of the Commission to present their views.

Your request for a meeting with the Commission may be sent through e-mail to the Secretary, 7^th Central Pay Commission at secy-7cpc@nic.in. The memorandum already submitted by the requesting entity may also be sent as an attachment with this e-mail.

The last date for receiving request for meeting is 31^st January 2015 (1700 hours).

KARNATAKA STATE GETTING READY FOR INDEFINITE STRIKE

As per the decision of Joint Convention of Joint Consultative Machinery of Central Government Employees (JCM constituents) held at New Delhi on 11.12.2014, a meeting of leaders of JCM constituent organizations in Bangalore was held on 12.1.15 and on 22.01.2015 at 17.30 hours at SWRMU office in order to form a Joint Action Committee for Karnataka State.

Accordingly, The Joint Action Committee was formed South Western Railway Defence, Postal and Confederation of Central Government Employees & Workers as its members.

Com. Amd Dcrouz, General Secretary of SWRMU of Railways & C.G. Employees, as its Convener and Com. S. Radhakrishna (COC), Com. P. S. Prasad (COC) and Com. M. K. Ravindranan Pillai (AIDEF), Com. Thirumalai (AIDEF), Com Raghavendra (SWRMU), Com Jawarigowda (Postal), Com A. Srinivas (RMS) & Com Shivakumar (FNPO) as committee members. The Committee decided to form district level JCA committees a within fortnight.

The Committee decided to call a Joint Convention on 10 charter of demands on 4.03.2015 at from 10 am to 3 pm hours at Railway grounds Banglaore in which 5000 delegates will attend the said convention It has been also decided to have Joint Conventions in major industrial towns all over Karnataka.

The posters will be printed shortly and distributed to all offices including taluk level offices for state wide distribution.

CENTRAL TRADE UNIONS SUBMITS JOINT MEMORANDUM TO FINANCE MINISTER
17th January 2015

The Hon’ble Minister of Finance, Govt. of India,
North Block, New Delhi

Dear Sir,
We thank you for inviting the central trade unions representing the working people in the country in both organized and unorganized sector for this pre-budget consultation.

In the previous pre-budget consultation meeting with you held on 6th June 2014, we urged upon you to please consider a directional change in the economic policy regime from that pursued during the previous government which, you have also admitted, had landed the country’s economy in a bad situation. In fact, we had articulated our views and proposals on that premise. But we like to submit candidly that our proposals did not receive a positive response and the economic policies followed the same trajectory and made situation worse for the mass of the people during the intervening period.

Sir, the Mid Term Economic Analysis (2014-15) by Govt of India itself admitted that for the period under review despite increase in GDP growth rate, and a much bigger increase in profit of the corporate sector and big business lobby, the wages for the working people who actually create the GDP in both rural and urban areas plunged on the average. Overall standard of living of people deteriorated and unemployment situation in the country has not improved in the least. Much more jobs were lost owing to closure/lockout, retrenchment than created during the intervening period. And in the midst of such situation, the Govt has already decided to cut already budgeted expenditure in the social sector such as MNREGA, Health, Education etc which we strongly deplore. Such a phenomenon warranted serious reconsideration on directional change in the economic policy regime and we again urge you for the same.

We express our serious concern and dismay over the manner the Govt have been pushing various major economic policy related decisions through promulgation of Ordinances. At least eight Ordinances were promulgated during last eight months of the new Govt. We record our determined opposition to such practice of Ordinance route of governance. In particular we also oppose the Ordinance on coal sector, insurance sector and on Land Acquisition Act and want you to please take note of the rousing opposition and struggles by the workers and the farmers against such disastrous exercises. We demand all such Ordinances should be withdrawn forthwith.

We wish that our candid observations, considered views and concrete proposals are taken in the right spirit and responded with all seriousness and given appropriate reflections in the ensuing budget 2014-15.

Our proposals:
Some of these specific proposals have time and again been placed by us in various policy making fora including the earlier pre-budget consultations. However, we would like to reiterate them, urging your positive response:

Take effective measures to arrest the spiraling price rise and to contain inflation; Ban speculative forward trading in commodities; Universalise and strengthen the Public Distribution System; Ensure proper check on hoarding; Rationalise, with a view to reduce the burden on people, the tax/duty/cess on petroleum products.

There must be massive investment in the infrastructure in order to stimulate the economy for job creation. The Mid Term Economic Analysis(2014-15) published by Govt of India has clearly mentioned about the failure of the PPP experiments in infrastructure development and opined for public investment. It is our considered view that the Public sector should take the leading role in this regard. The plan & non-plan expenditure should be increased in the budget to stimulate jobs creation and guarantee consistent income to people.

Minimum wage linked to Consumer Price Index must be guaranteed to all workers, taking into consideration the recommendations of the 15th Indian Labour Conference as enriched by Apex Court of the country as reiterated in 44th ILC in 2012. In any case, it should not be less than Rs.15,000/- p.m.

FDI should not be allowed in crucial sectors like defence production, telecommunications, Railways, financial sector, retail trade, education, health and media.

The public sector units played a crucial role during the year of severe contraction of private capital investment immediately following the outbreak of global financial crisis. PSUs should be strengthened and expanded. Disinvestment of shares of profit making public sector units should be stopped forthwith. Budgetary support should be given for revival of potentially viable Sick CPSUs

In view of huge joblosses and mounting unemployment problem, the ban on recruitment in Govt. deptts, PSUs and autonomous institutions (including recent Finance Ministry’s instruction to abolish those posts not filled for one year) should be lifted as recommended by 43rdSession of Indian Labour Conference. Condition of surrender of posts in govt. departments and PSUs should be scrapped and new posts be created keeping in view the new work and increased workload.
§ Proper allocation of funds be made for interim relief of 20% and 100% DA merge with basic pay and allowances including neutralization percentage be paid on merged DA in view of 7th CPC to all Govt. employees. Similarly, 100% DA of PSU employees be also merged with basic pay.

The scope of MGNREGA be extended to agriculture operations and urban areas as well and employment for minimum period of 200 days with guaranteed statutory wage be provided, as unanimously recommended by 43rd Session of Indian Labour Conference. The drastic cut already inflicted on the MNREGA allocation should be restored.
The massive workforce engaged in ICDS, Mid-day meal scheme, Vidya volunteers, Guest Teachers, Siksha Mitra, the workers engaged in the Accredited Social Health Activities (ASHA) and other schemes be regularized. No to privatization of centrally funded schemes. Universalisation of ICDS be done as per Supreme Court directions by making adequate budgetary allocations.

Steps be taken for removal of all restrictive provisions based on poverty line in respect of eligibility coverage of the schemes under the Unorganised Workers Social Security Act 2008 and allocation of adequate resources for the National Fund for Unorganised Workers to provide for Social Security to all unorganized workers including the contract/casual and migrant workers in line with the recommendations of Parliamentary Standing Committee on Labour and also the 43rd Session of Indian Labour Conference.

Remunerative Prices should be ensured for the agricultural produce and Govt. investment public investment in agriculture sector must be substantially augmented as a proportion of GDP and total budgetary expenditure. It should also be ensured that benefits of the increase reach the small, marginal and medium cultivators only;
Budgetary provision should be made for providing essential services including housing, public transport, sanitation, water, schools, crèche health care etc. to workers in the new emerging industrial areas. Working women’s hostels should be set up where there is a concentration of women workers.

Requisite budgetary support for addressing crisis in traditional sectors like Jute, Textiles, Plantation, Handloom, Carpet and Coir etc.
Budgetary provision for elementary education should be increased, particularly in the context of the implementation of the ‘Right to Education’ as this is the most effective tool to combat child labour.

The system of computation of Consumer Price Index should be reviewed as the present index is causing heavy financial loss to the workers.
Income Tax exemption ceiling for the salaried persons should be raised to Rs.5 lakh per annum and fringe benefits like housing, medical and educational facilities and running allowances, Railways Running Staff and a staff in other deptts should be exempted from the income tax net in totality.

Threshold limit of 20 employees in EPF Scheme be brought down to 10 as recommended by CBT-EPF. Pension benefits under EPS unilaterally withdrawn by the Govt. should be restored. Govt. and Employers contribution be increased to allow sustainability of Employees Pension Scheme and for provision of minimum pension of Rs.3000/- p.m.
New Pension Scheme be withdrawn and newly recruited employees of central and state govts on or after 1.1.2004 be covered under Old Pension Scheme;
Demand for Dearness Allowance merger by Central Govt. and PSUs employees be accepted and adequate allocation of fund for this be made in the budget;
All interests and social security of the domestic workers to be statutorily protected on the lines of the ILO Convention on domestic workers.
The Cess Management of the construction workers is the responsibility of the Finance Ministry under the Act and the several irregularities found in collection of cess be rectified as well as their proper utilization must be ensured.

In regard to resource mobilization, we would like to emphasize the following:

A progressive taxation system should be put in place to ensure taxing the rich and the affluent sections who have the capacity to pay at a higher degree. The corporate service sector, traders, wholesale business, private hospitals and institutions etc. should be brought under broader and higher tax net. Increase taxes on luxury goods and reduce indirect taxes on essential commodities as at present the overwhelming majority of the populations are subjected to Indirect taxes that constitute 86% of the revenue.

§ Concrete steps must be taken to recover huge accumulated unpaid tax arrears which has already crossed more than Rs.5 lakh crore on direct and corporate tax account alone, and has been increasing at a geometric proportion. Such huge tax-evasion over and above the liberal tax concessions already given in the last two budgets should not be allowed to continue.

The SIT constituted for unearthing black money must deliver visible result which is yet to be seen. Effective measures should be taken to unearth huge accumulation of black money in the economy including the huge unaccounted money in tax heavens abroad and within the country. Finance Minister should make provisions to bring back the illicit flows from India which are at present more than twice the current external debt of US $ 230 billion. This money should be directed towards providing social security.

Concrete measures be expedited for recovering the NPAs of the banking system which is on the increasing trend again from the willfully defaulting corporate and business houses. By making provision in Banking Regulations Act, CMDs and Executives to be made accountable for creation of NPAs.

Tax on Long term capital gains to be introduced; so also higher taxes on the security transactions to be levied.

The rate of wealth tax, corporate tax, gift tax etc. to be expanded and enhanced.

ITES, outsourcing sector, Educational Institutions and Health Services etc. run on commercial basis should be brought under Service Tax net. Govt.

Small saving instruments under postal and other agencies be encouraged by incentivizing commission agents of these scheme

OUR SERIOUS CONCERN:
We would like to express our strong resentment that the previous Govt. failed to positively respond to the collective voice of the Central Trade Unions on the very important issues concerning the working people of India, both organized and unorganized, consistently repeated in the form of a ‘10 point charter’ backed by several collective nationwide programmes. We expect that this Govt. will take initiative to discuss these issues with the Central Trade Unions in order to find a solution.

We also express our opposition to the so called Banking Reforms encouraging private sector/capitalists banking at the cost of public sector banks which saved the economy to an extent during the last global financial meltdown. We also oppose increase in limit of FDI and disinvestment of equity in insurance sector and FDI in pension. We strongly oppose the FDI in Defence and Retail Sector. Several such measures against the working men and women in this country including anti workers proposals contained in the New Manufacturing Policy have our strong opposition, as in our experience these kinds of measures have helped the growth of only a small section of the capitalists while the larger sections of the working population continue to be marginalized and impoverished.

We also oppose the hectic measures of changing labour laws in the name of labour reform both by the central and the state governments which are basically aimed at legitimizing ongoing widespread violations by the employers’ class and also throw out overwhelming majority of the workforce of the purview of the labour laws themselves at the total mercy of the employers.

POST BUDGET MEETING WITH TRADE UNIONS

Successive Finance Ministers have agreed to hold post budget meetings / consultations with the central trade unions. However, it has not been materialized except for one occasion. We understand such meetings did take place with the Corporate Associations/Employers Federations. We would like to importunate upon you to arrange such post budget meeting with trade unions also.

With regards,
Yours sincerely,

Points submitted by Central Trade Union for Pre Budget Meeting with FM

The Hon’ble Minister of Finance, Govt. of India,
North Block, New Delhi

Dear Sir,

We thank you for inviting the central trade unions representing the working people in the country in both organized and unorganized sector for this pre-budget consultation.

Our proposals:

Some of these specific proposals have time and again been placed by us in various policy making fora including the earlier pre-budget consultations. However, we would like to reiterate them, urging your positive response:

FDI should not be allowed in crucial sectors like defence production, telecommunications, Railways, financial sector, retail trade, education, health and media.

Proper allocation of funds be made for interim relief of 20% and 100% DA merge with basic pay and allowances including neutralization percentage be paid on merged DA in view of 7th CPC to all Govt. employees. Similarly, 100% DA of PSU employees be also merged with basic pay.

The massive workforce engaged in ICDS, Mid-day meal scheme, Vidya volunteers, Guest Teachers, Siksha Mitra, the workers engaged in the Accredited Social Health Activities (ASHA) and other schemes be regularized. No to privatization of centrally funded schemes. Universalisation of ICDS be done as per Supreme Court directions by making adequate budgetary allocations.

Budgetary provision should be made for providing essential services including housing, public transport, sanitation, water, schools, crèche health care etc. to workers in the new emerging industrial areas. Working women’s hostels should be set up where there is a concentration of women workers.

Requisite budgetary support for addressing crisis in traditional sectors like Jute, Textiles, Plantation, Handloom, Carpet and Coir etc.

Budgetary provision for elementary education should be increased, particularly in the context of the implementation of the ‘Right to Education’ as this is the most effective tool to combat child labour.

The system of computation of Consumer Price Index should be reviewed as the present index is causing heavy financial loss to the workers.

Income Tax exemption ceiling for the salaried persons should be raised to Rs.5 lakh per annum and fringe benefits like housing, medical and educational facilities and running allowances, Railways Running Staff and a staff in other deptts should be exempted from the income tax net in totality.

New Pension Scheme be withdrawn and newly recruited employees of central and state govts on or after 1.1.2004 be covered under Old Pension Scheme;

Demand for Dearness Allowance merger by Central Govt. and PSUs employees be accepted and adequate allocation of fund for this be made in the budget;

All interests and social security of the domestic workers to be statutorily protected on the lines of the ILO Convention on domestic workers.

The Cess Management of the construction workers is the responsibility of the Finance Ministry under the Act and the several irregularities found in collection of cess be rectified as well as their proper utilization must be ensured.
In regard to resource mobilization, we would like to emphasize the following:

Concrete steps must be taken to recover huge accumulated unpaid tax arrears which has already crossed more than Rs.5 lakh crore on direct and corporate tax account alone, and has been increasing at a geometric proportion. Such huge tax-evasion over and above the liberal tax concessions already given in the last two budgets should not be allowed to continue.

Tax on Long term capital gains to be introduced; so also higher taxes on the security transactions to be levied.

The rate of wealth tax, corporate tax, gift tax etc. to be expanded and enhanced.

ITES, outsourcing sector, Educational Institutions and Health Services etc. run on commercial basis should be brought under Service Tax net. Govt.

Small saving instruments under postal and other agencies be encouraged by incentivizing commission agents of these scheme

OUR SERIOUS CONCERN:

We would like to express our strong resentment that the previous Govt. failed to positively respond to the collective voice of the Central Trade Unions on the very important issues concerning the working people of India, both organized and unorganized, consistently repeated in the form of a ‘10 point charter’ backed by several collective nationwide programmes. We expect that this Govt. will take initiative to discuss these issues with the Central Trade Unions in order to find a solution.

POST BUDGET MEETING WITH TRADE UNIONS

With regards,
Yours sincerely,

Brijesh Upadhyay BMS	S Q Jama INTUC		Harbhajan Singh Sidhu HMS		D L Sachdeva AITUC
Tapan Sen CITU	R K Sharma AITUC		S P Tewari TUCC		Monali SEWA
Santosh Roy AICCTU		Ashok Ghosh UCTU		Shanmugam LPF