NATIONAL CO-ORDINATION COMMITTEE OF PENSIONERS ASSOCIATIONS
Dated: 22nd January, 2021
Dear Comrades,
The National JCA has called upon the employees and workers to observe 1st Feb. 2021 as call attention day to bring to the notice of the Government of the growing discontent amongst the employees over the long pending demands. The Confederation of Central Government employees and workers, while endorsing the call, as they are integral part of the NJCA has asked the employees to observe the 1st Feb. 2021 as protest day. As you are aware we sail in the same boat in as much as the Government has so far lent a deaf ear to the issues of Pensioners in the country. The dearness relief, the two instalments of which have already become due along with the third would be kept freezed and the consequent arrears permanently forfeited. So far as you are aware, the major chunk of the benefits of the 20 trillion package has gone to the corporate houses in the country, especially the Adanis and Ambanis. The Circular letter of Confederation, which is reproduced hereunder pin points the objective to be achieved during the observance of the protest day on 1st February, 2021. The NJCA and Confederation together is the biggest united platform of Central Government employees.
The NCCPA calls upon its affiliates and State Units to join the struggle along with the working employees on 1st Feb. 2021 and organise dharna or demonstration in as many places as possible to convey the message that the Pensioners share the same perception as explicitly spelt out by the Secretary General, NJCA and the Confederation. By synchronizing our action with that of the working employees we are uniting all those who are opposed with the Government policies. The farmers of the country are waging a very determined battle undaunted by the threats and repressive measures unleashed by the Government. They must win and their victory shall be the first salvo against an authoritarian regime. On 1st February, 2021, while we demonstrate for getting our demands conceded, it will also be to pay the solidarity and support to the struggling farmers of the country. Kindly talk to the leaders of the working employees and ensure that the programme has the largest participation of the Pensioners. The charter of demands we had finalised and that we have decided to pursue through struggles is enclosed.
Wishing your efforts to make the programme on Ist Feb. 2021, the day the Budget for the year 2021-22 is likely to be presented by the Finance Minister reverberate throughout the country with cent per cent participation of the members and with greetings,
Yours fraternally,
KKN Kutty
Secretary General.
NCCPA CHARTER OF DEMANDS.
1. Implement Option No. 1 as a pension fitment formula as recommended by the 7th CPC.
2. Revise the Pension of BSNL absorbed retirees immediately with 15% fitment; recommended by the 3rd PRC and approved by the government from 01-01-2017, delinking the wage revision in BSNL. Clear all pending medical bills and medical allowance;
3. Evolve a policy for automatic grant of pension and other pensioner’s benefits to the pensioners and retirees of the autonomous bodies on par with the Central Govt. Pensioners.
4. Provide (a) notional fixation of pension under Option No. 3 on the basis of the pay scale/pay
level of the cadre or grade from which the pensioner retired. (b) Provide fixation of pension in the case of all pre 2006 pensioners on the basis of the grade pay/pay level or pay scale of
the post or cadre from which one has retired as per the judgments of Courts.
5. Extend the benefit of CS(MA) Rules to all pensioners who are not covered by CGHS.
6. Increase the FMA to Rs. 2000 as has been granted to PF Pensioners.
7. Raise the minimum pension to 60% of the Minimum wage. i.e. Rs. 10,800 p.m.
8. Restore the commutation portion of pension after 10 years.
9. Provide increased rates of pension on attainment of 70 years onwards.
10. Scrap the New Contributory pension scheme and restore the defined benefit pension
11. Revise the pension of the Punjab National Bank pensioners and settle the anomalies in pension and other benefits arising out of the amalgamation of Banks.
12. Provide the benefits arising from the court judgements to all similarly placed pensioners. Viz. the court order for the grant of one notional increment for those who retire on 30th June and grant of MACP with effect from 1.1.2006
13. Introduce medical insurance scheme for pensioners, whoever opts for such a scheme as per the recommendation of the Pay Commission.
14 Orders be issued by DPE for payment of IDA instalments due from 01-10-2020 and 01-01-2021 to BSNL Pensioners.
Copy of Confederation’s circular letter of date on observance of protest day on Ist Feb. 2021.
Dear Comrades,
During our campaign to make the 26th November one day General Strike a grand success, we faced innumerable queries over the long pending demands of the Central Government employees, especially, the freezing and denying the DA/DR payment up to 30th June, 2021, the continuing impasse over the NPS; the dubious attitude of the Government over honouring the assurance held out in 2016 etc. The lamenting of the Cabinet Secretary over the financial health of the Government when the Staff Secretary met him recently would be considered by the rank and file of the membership as nothing but a pitiful distraction. There had been no such situation when the promise was held out in 2016 . In fact the Government had been boasting of the steady growth of the economy then. Even during covid days they merrily went ahead with the privatisation spree; On the contrary the Government had been taking advantage of a pathetic situation of the people at large in pushing through their agenda. There had been no response from the Government to very many issues and problems of the employees faced with the covid-19 pandemic. They had no qualms in pushing through the despised legislations over the labour code during this period.
The Indian farmers has no doubt shown the way as to how to combat the situation emanating from sheer chicanery. They have proved that the unflinching determination is the only way forward. We must salute them and imbibe the qualities they have demonstrated in no uncertain terms.
We are, therefore, happy to note that the National JCA has decided to hold a protest demonstration on 1st Feb. 2021, the day when the Finance Minister will rise to present her budget proposal before the Parliament. We would like to name the programme as protest day rather than the call attention day for this Government has no intention to listen to any legitimate grievances of the people. The protest day may be organised in front of all offices, eliciting the participation of the entirety of the employees. The occasion must be used to explain the chicanery indulged in by the Government by not honouring the assurances held out on revision of minimum wage; how unprecedented and wrong was it to deny the Dearness Allowance/Relief to employees and pensioners; how the NPS will deny the requisite pension to the employees even after collecting contribution from them; as to how the privatisation of public sector and Government run organisations is amounting to selling away the Nation’s assets for a song to the cronies of the ruling party; as to how the negotiating forum has been permanently shut down etc. etc. Above all it must be the occasion to congratulate the farmers of the country for their determination, courage, conviction and unflinching faith in struggles as the certain way to success. While explaining the grievances of the farmers emanating from the enacted farm laws, we must also point out as to how the parliamentary system was overturned by dubious methods, when the Government had no majority in Rajya Sabha.
It will also be pertinent to point out that the enacted legislation has the strange provision in as much as the farmers are not entitled to approach the judiciary (the courts of law at any level) to settle their dispute with the giant corporates. The Law stipulates that such disputes are to be brought before the Government appointed bureaucrats, whose decision would be deemed to be final. For not anything, at least for this obnoxious and extremely untenable provision alone, the enactment must be scrapped
In the charter of demands, prepared by the NJCA and endorsed, all important demands have been included. For the sake of uniformity, we would not like to incorporate any other issue. We would like to convey a strong message of unity of the Central Government employees to the Government.
We request all affiliates, State COCs to immediately convey to the Branches and through them to all members of the programme slated for 1st Feb. 2021 and take immediate steps required to make the programme a grand success on Ist Feb. 2021. All Branches, divisions, regions of all affiliates, the district and state units of COCs must ensure that each and every member of the unit and present on that day at the office takes part in the demonstration adhering to the norms and stipulations made by the concerned Governments to arrest the spread of COVID-19.
We have convened the meeting of the National Sectt. to discuss and decide as to how to make the programme participative of all members and a grand success. With greetings,
Yours fraternally,
Sd/-
R.N. Parasar
Secretary General.
Copy of NJCA’s letter dated 20th January, 2021 to all constituent organisations:
Sub: Call attention day by Central Government employees on the day of presentation of the Budget on 1st. Feb. 2021.
You are well aware that the present Government taking advantage of the COVID-19 pandemic situation have started implementing many anti-labour decisions including arbitrarily passing the 4 labour codes in the Parliament in spite of the opposition and the protest by the Central Trade Unions. It is also pertinent to mention that none of the major demands of the Central Government employees including threw 7th CPC related demands, MACP issues and NPS is settled. Adding salt to the wound the Government has frozen the three instalments of DA/DR due to the Central Government employees/pensioners. 56 J is being used as a weapon to punish the employees and the trade union leaders. Corporatisation and privatisation in Railways and Defence is being implemented ruthlessly by the Government. In this background in consultation with the Senior leaders of the constituent organisations of the NJCA it has been decided to observe CALL ATTENTION DAY BY CENTRAL GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES on the day of the presentation of the Budget 2021 on 01.02.2021 by holding massive demonstrations at all Central Government establishments/units/branches and wherever possible joint agitation in a central place of the city. District headquarters/town etc. . In Delhi also we will plan for a centralised agitation at Jantar Mantar. Therefore, it is requested that all your affiliates may be directed to observe the protest programme in an effective manner in support of the following demands. (Charter of demands enclosed)
*NJCA CHARTER OF DEMANDS*
1. Withdraw the decision to corporatize Railway Production Units, 41 Ordnance Factories, GOCO Model in Army Base Workshops and stop Privatization and Outsourcing of permanent and perennial jobs.
2. Immediate release of three instalments of DA / DR due to the Central Government Employees and Pensioners from 1/1/2020, 1/7/2020 and 1/1/2021
3. Implementation of the assurances given by the Group of Ministers on 7th CPC demands including minimum pay and fitment factor etc.
4. Settle all the 7th CPC Anomalies pointed out by the Staff Side of NC – JCM including extension of one more option to switch over to 7th CPC, restoration of certain allowances and advances and grant of two increments while on promotion / MACP etc.
5. Withdrawal of NPS and restoration of the Guaranteed defined Pension under CCS (Pension) Rules 1973.
6. Withdrawal of FR 56(j) which is being misused as a measure of punishment
7. Issue Government Orders on all the demands agreed in the meeting of the Standing Committee of NC JCM and in the 47th Meeting of the NC-JCM
8. Settle the demands of the Staff Side with regard to regularization of the absence of the employees during COVID-19 pandemic and Lock down Period due to non-availability of Public Transport and home quarantine etc.
9. Payment of compensation to the Central Government employees who died due to COVID – 19 Virus infection.
10. Ensure 100% Compassionate Appointment to the wards of the deceased Central Government Employees and those who are medically invalidated from service.
11. Implement the following Supreme Court Judgments for the similarly placed employees:-
(i) Grant of Notional Increment to those employees who retired / retiring on 31st January / 30th of June.
(ii) Implementation of MACP Scheme w.e.f. 1/1/2006
12. Payment of Night Duty Allowance to the employees detailed on Night shift duty without any basic pay ceiling limit
13. Reimbursement of the Actual Amount charged by the CGHS empanelled Hospitals for the treatment of COVID-19 infection
Sd/-
Shiv Gopal Misra
Convenor.
