Suggestions for the General Budget 2015-16

A.I.R.F.
All India Railwaymen’s Federation
4, State Entry Road, New Delhi – 110055

No.AIRF/60

Dated: January 20, 2015

Hon’ble Finance Minister,
Ministry of Finance,
(Government of India),
New Delhi

Dear Sir,
Sub: Suggestions for the General Budget 2015-16

All India Railwaymen’s Federation(AIRF), representing more 1.3 million Railwaymen, being the largest and oldest organization of the Railwaymen in India, wish to put-forth following important suggestions to be considered favourably while finalizing General Budget proposals for the Financial Year 2015-16:-

1. Railwaymen are always termed as “Second Line of Defence” in our country. While National Pension Scheme(NPS) was introduced w.e.f. 01.01.2004 for all the Central Government Employees, however, Defence personnel have since been exempted from this scheme and are covered by the Old Traditional Pension Scheme/Family Pension Scheme with full social security.

AIRF is also struggling hard from the day-one to exempt the Railwaymen also from the NPS, and ultimately the then Hon’ble Minister for Railways Shri Mallikarjun Kharge on persuasions of the AIRF had recommended this issue to the then Hon’ble Finance Minister vide his letter No.2012/F(E)III/1/4-Part dated 29th March, 2014. AIRF, therefore, urges that, necessary provision to this effect may be made in the ensuing General Budget, so as to cover all the Railwaymen, irrespective of their date of appointment under Old Pension/Family Pension Scheme.

2. The BJP in the election campaign of the 16th Lok Sabha had repeatedly assured to raise ceiling limit of Income Tax adequately. It may be appreciated that, due to market inflation, the actual value of the “Rupee” has devaluated to the greatest extent as the Dearness Allowance being paid to compensate the devaluation the rupee has already crossed 107%. Therefore, it would be highly appreciated, if ceiling limit of the Income Tax is raised to at least Rs.5 lakh.

3. Education and medical facilities are gradually going out of reach of the common man because of business type institutions and private hospitals. The public education system and medical facilities have deteriorated over the years, due to inadequacy of funds being allocated under these heads. There being urgent need of augmenting education and medical facilities for the common man, allotment of funds under these heads needs to be raised to 6% and 4% of the GDP respectively.

4. In the wake of Hon’ble Prime Minister of India’s announcement at Varanasi on 25th December, 2014, while celebrating “Good Governance Day”, that different railway stations of the Indian Railways shall be augmented for the purpose of skill development, adequate fund allocation needs to be made for this purpose, so that necessary facilities are created on the earmarked railway stations for this purpose.

5. In the Rail Budget for the year 2009-10, 2010-11, 2011-12, the then Hon’ble Minister for Railways made announcement for establishment of Medical/Technical Institutions on certain important Railheads, but on account of paucity of funds, these welfare schemes could not see the day of light. Therefore, with a view to augment educational facilities of medical and technical education, some funds may be provided from the General Budget for this purpose.

6. Indian Railways being the lifeline of the country urgently need adequate budgetary support from the General Budget to augment the services as also to run this organization more safely and efficiently. It may also be appreciated that, since Indian Railways is a government organization, no Dividend and Lease Charges should be recovered from the Railways.

7. Indian Railways employ more than 13 lakh employees, and the former Hon’ble Minister for Railways had also announced “Own Your House Scheme”. Therefore, that scheme should be launched, so as to provide them house well before their retirement.

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All India Railwaymen Federation, one of the biggest federation in Railway Department has brought to Railway Board the issue of compulsory attendance on 2nd October 2014. The letter said, many of employees have already planned along with their children for outing. Moreover, Ashtami and Navmi are on 2nd October when many people use to perform “Pooja” and forcing the staff to attend the Shapath on 2nd October will be against the religious sentiments.

The letter is reproduced and given below for your information…

All India Railwaymen’s Federation
4, State Entry Road,
New Delhi – 110055 INDIA

No.AIRF/150

Dated: September 29, 2014

The Secretary,
Railway Board,

New Delhi

Dear Sir,

Sub: Swachh Bharat Mission – Taking of “Swachhata Shapath”

Ref.: Board’s letter No.20I4/G/SBM dated 29.09.2014

We are surprised with the circular issued from your good office, wherein you have mentioned that all the administrative offices will be remained open on 2nd October, 2014, for taking “Swachhata Shapath”. Though we fully support Swachh Bharat Mission, but we disagree with this circular because 2nd October is a National Holiday, and many of the staff have already planned along with their children for outing. Moreover, Ashtami and Navmi are on 2nd October when many people use to perform “Pooja” and forcing the staff to attend the Shapath on 2nd October will be against the religious sentiments.

It is pertinent to mention here that, in Bengal everybody knows that nowadays it is festive season and lots of people are against these orders of the Ministry of Railways and Government of India.

I do hope, you will issue an amendment to this letter, making it the said ShapathVoluntary, so that the employees who are not in a position to attend the same are not forced to do so, otherwise it will be detrimental to noble cause, for which Hon’ble Prime Minister has sponsored this mission.

Yours faithfully,

(Shiva Gopal Mishra)

General Secretary

Railway Board issued orders to take Cleanliness Pledge…

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

No.E(G)/2014/CL 4-4

New Delhi, dated 1.10.14

The General Managers/Equivalents
All Indian Railways

Directors/Training Institutes
CMDs of Railway PSUs

Sub: “Swachch Bharat Mission” – Cleanliness Pledge reg.

Further reference to letter of even number dated 29.9.14, all the offices shall remain open at the Headquarters, Regional/Zonal/Field Offices/Workshops, Attached/Subordinate Offices and Autonomous Bodies etc. on 2.10.14 in the forenoon to take Cleanliness Pledge and to carry out voluntary cleaning drive of their offices premises both inside and outside.

The whole exercise is to promote the Cleanliness Campaign and is to be carried out voluntarily. It is, however, clarified that 2nd October, 2014 being a National Holiday and attendance being voluntary, payment of National Holiday allowance etc. shall not be payable.

However, the officers and staff should be encouraged to participate in the exercise.

(P.C.Gajbhiye)
Secretary, Railway Board

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All India Railwaymen‟s Federation(AIRF), being the oldest and the largest organization, representing over a million Non-Gazetted employees in the Railways, established in British era in the year 1924, represents nearly half of the Central Government employees in India.

AIRF is recognized by the Railway administrations along with its constituent unions in 16 Zonal Railways as also as in Metro railways Kolkata and Rail Coach Factory Kapurthala, based on the results of secret ballot elections for the recognition of the unions. Its affiliates are leading trade unions in the 6 other Production Units of Indian Railways, where secret ballot system is yet to be introduced. AIRF is thus the second major stakeholder after the Joint Consultative Machinery, National Council (JCM/NC)(of which AIRF is the largest constituent.) before the Seventh Central Pay Commission It is, however, a matter of serious concern that even after more than six decades of independence, some of the basic issues of the Central Government employees continue to haunt the Working Class, without any proper redressal either by the successive Pay Commissions, including the VI CPC or by the
Government, thereby causing much frustration, leading to industrial unrest that resulted in three major strikes in 1960, 1968 and 1974, besides serving of Strike Notices by the Central Trade Unions, including the AIRF in 1997 and 2006 when the strikes were averted by settlements of certain issues.

Even though some of the issues could be resolved through negotiated settlements over the years, the continuous denial of justice by the successive Pay Commissions, especially on the following issues, are the root cause of major unrest among the Railwaymen even after submission of the report by these CPCs:-

(i) “Even the Need Based Minimum Wage” – as per recommendations of the 15thLabourConference (1957), as modified under Supreme Court‟s orders;

(ii) Parity of Pay with(Central) Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs);

(iii) Reduction in Periodicity of Wage Revision of Central Government employees to 5 years – at par with PSUs;

(iv) Removal of anomalies of the successive Pay Commissions;

(v) Implementation of decisions of Anomaly Committees & Board of Arbitration.

(vi) Compulsory Arbitration for settlement of Disputes;

(vii) Compensation for special Conditions of Service in the Railways.

Click to download AIRF’s Memorandum to 7th CPC

Source: AIRF

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