NFIR Oral evidence before 7th Pay Commission

NFIR Oral evidence before 7th Pay Commission on 13th April 2015 and 14th April 2015

NFIR has responded to the invitation of 7th Pay Commission and had participated in the deliberations on 13th and 14th April 2015. All the issues raised in the NFIR’s 7th CPC Memorandum besides Railway related issues listed in the ]CM Memorandum were discussed with the 7th Pay Commission very successfully. Brief account is given below:-

13th April 2015 – Monday

Direct Recruitment Entry Qualification may be enhanced with improved Pay Scales (Open ended) for certain categories.
Rationalization and Simplification be done wherever jobs are allied in nature. By merger at entry level.
6th CPC had recommended qualification related Pay Structure. However, in certain categories, the same has not been allotted. (Example: C&M Staff – Entry qualification B. Tech/M.Sc. Chemistry – whereas Grade Pay of Rs.4200/- only was allotted.
Entry qualification for Technician be revised to Matriculation Plus ITI and introduction of Pay scale as per NFIR’s Memorandum.
Course Completed Act Apprentices may be inducted in Technical categories against vacancies.
Master Technician be introduced for availing masterly skills of Technical Staff.
Training/Retraining/Refresher Training/Special Training for various categories be further improved.
Designations of certain categories be revised commensurating with the nature of jobs – ExampIe: Helper as Assistant Technician.
The existing aberrations in Grade Pays in several categories where Grade Pay is identical for promotion posts required to be rectified.
C&M Staff may be granted revised improved entry Pay Scales in view of their entry qualification being B/Tech.lM.Sc. Chemistry.
Entry Qualification ofESM be improved & equaUy pay scale be revised.
Single Grade Pay Cadres should be provided two Grade Pay Structure.
Joint contents resultant output, mental and physical efforts of staff, hard working conditions, different environmental surroundings, various hazardous in the course of performing duties, remoteness unique nature of working of Railways etc. be given greater weightage for providing pay package and incentives.
The recommendations/observations of High Level Safety Review Committee (HLSRC) headed by Anil Kakodkar be taken into account for granting benefits for different categories of staff.
The role of safety as well public image categories perform night duties throughout resulting invalidation as an inherent part of working system which should be taken into account for providing pay structure and incentives.
Injustice done to Technical Supervisors and Technicians by the previous Pay Commission be remedial. Justice Miabhoy Tribunal had recommended higher pay scale and special pay which got diluted over period of time leading to frustration. This needs to be addressed. (Extracts of Justice Miabhoy Tribunal award was handed over to Pay Commission.)
It was explained that 98.9 per cent employees remain in Group ‘C’ with only 0.5 percent in Group ‘8’ Gazetted, thus the scope of career growth is almost nil. (Special Note was given to the Pay Commission with the request to consider open ended (Gazetted) Pay Scale of Rs. 1,02,000/- to the In Charge Supervisory officials of various departments and organizations.
Itwas suggested-that the Railway Technicians be given higher Entry Pay Scale of Rs.46,000/-.
Pay Commission was explained ofNFTR’s discussion with the Railway Ministry on Station Master’s entry Grade Pay as Rs.4200/- in lieu of GP Rs.2800/-.
The hard working conditions and difficult environment in which Technicians of Diesel/Electric Loco Shed, EMU Car Shed, Workshops and Production Units were explained in detail to impress upon the Pay Commission, the need to render justice. The Pay Commission Chairman was requested to visit some of the Workshops more particularly Carriage Repair Shop (CRS) Tirupati.
The case of Track Maintainers, Gate Keepers, Trollymen, Track Maintainers Grade-IT (Keymen) and the role of JE/SSE (P.Way) and their difficult working conditions were explained which was appreciated by the Pay Commission.
The Federation also explained the Patrolling duties undertaken by Track Maintainers risking their lives apart from working on P.Way Tracks. The Pay Commission was requested to give special consideration to these categories. Risk Allowance, Trekking Allowance were also proposed.
The difficult conditions under which Track Machine staff are performing duties have been appraised to consider these factors for rendering justice.
The issue of Drawing Cadre staff as well as IE/SSE were highlighted, their accountability for stores maintenance besides inspection, certification, supervision was vividly explained to the Pay Commission.
The Role of S&T Department was explained in detail. The hard working conditions as well as the accountability of S&T Supervisors and staff for safe and efficient running of train services duly ensuring maintenance of assets in perfect conditions and in the process the field difficulties confronted by them were explained. It was also proposed that entry level qualification ofESM needs to be enhanced with the corresponding higher pay scale. (In this connection copy of Railway Board’s letter dated 24th June, 2009 and the minutes of CSTEs Conference held at Rail Bhavan were submitted to the Pay Commission Chairman). The Chairman was requested to visit the route relay inter-locking room for personally looking into the difficult conditions under which the S&T staff discharge duties.
Federation has also explained in detail the up-graded technology of Signal as well Telecom side warranting induction of higher skills. Parity for Railway Stenographers Injustice perpetuated to this category was highlighted besides quoting relevant recommendations of 6th CPC. (The Pay Commission Chairman was very attentive to these facts). ~

Revision of National Holiday Allowance

NFIR’s note was presented to ih CPC proposing revision of NHA equivalent to OTA for one day when the employee is made to forego National Holiday. In this context the recommendation of Jagannath Oas Pay Commission was highlighted for favourable recommendation.

Classification of period as night duty.

It was proposed that the period from 18 hours to 6 hours should be classified as “Night duty” for the purpose of payment of NDA

The Federation has also discussed the proposed revision of vanous allowances such as DA/HRA/CCA/HPCA/PCA, Risk Allowance, Hazardous Duty Allowance, Tracking Allowance, Special Allowance of Controllers, Road Mileage, Enhancement of Special Allowance to Gate Keepers, Stores Maintenance Allowance to In Charge Supervisor Officials, Special Allowance to Trolleymen, Revision of Special Duty Allowance to NE Region, Revision of Shoe Allowance, Heavy Traffic Allowance to operating staff etc. Fixed Medical Allowance was also proposed to be revised to not less than Rs.2,000/- per month. Payment of Washing Allowance to all categories was suggested.

It was also suggested that grant of Non-Practice Allowance to Legal cadre and Pharmacists be considered: The facilities-proposed in the NFIR’s Memorandum for Women employees were explained to Pay Commission for consideration .

Citing NFIR’s Memorandum relevant Para’s, it was requested to grant special increments/ incentives for additional qualification.

MACPS

The aberrations arising due to MACPS implementation were explained in detail. The Commission has assured to look into the points for taking a view.

The discussions with the Pay Commission were very cordial. S/Shri Guman Singh, Dr. M. Raghavaiah, R.P. Bhatnagar, B.C. Sharma, P.S. Suriyaprakasam, and V. Gopalakrishnan and NFlR Team consists of 14 representatives have participated in the deliberations.

Evidence on 2nd Day – 14th April 2015 Tuesday

Special Issues:

Placement of JA Grade Officers in PB-4:

Railway Board’s O.M. dated 12/02/2014 was cited with request to recommend placement of all JA Grade Officers in PB-4 for elimination of discrimination

Residential accommodation, Leased accommodation to Railway employees, Rent free Quarters on remote places:

The conditions under which the staff are working were explained in detail.

Study Leave:

It was requested to allow Study Leave without imposing restriction when such study is useful and advantageous to Railway activities.

Operating Department: Station Master:

Replacement of Entry Grade Pay of Rs. 28001- with 42001- corresponding to improved Pay Scale
(open ended) was urged.

Section Controller:

The difficult conditions of this category were cogently explained by the Federation before the Pay
Commission which were well received by the Chairman.

Cabin Man, Lever Man, Points Man, Gate Man etc:

The Pay Commission assured to give due consideration to the points brought out by NFIR in its
Memorandum.

Trains Clerk:

Entry Grade Pay to b~ revised with revision of qualification besides allotment of higher pay scale.

Shunting Master & Shunting Jamadar:

Case explained for giving them higher pay scale

Traffic Saifaiwala & Safaiwali:

The Commission has assured to look into the problems.

Traffic Assistants, Metro Railway, Kolkata:

NFIR’s proposal for placing them at par with the Assistant Station Master was agreed to be considered.

Running Staff:

Assistant Loco Pilot:-

Entry qual ification of the ALP be revised to “Diploma” with corresponding improved Pay Scale and revision of Designation as Co-Pilot.

The concept of promotion from same grade pay to same grade pay shouldering higher responsibilities causing serious frustration among Running Staff was also highlighted. Federation requested allotment of higher pay scales for Loco and Traffic Running Staff.

Additional Allowance to Running Staff:

It was explained that Railway Ministry had agreed but however, due to non-responsive approach of Finance Minister, the proposal did not materialise. The Pay Commission was requested to recommend additional allowance to all categories of Running Staff. In this connection, a copy of Railway Board’s O.M. was also cited.

Train Guards:

It was suggested that the Grade Pay system be modified facilitating allotment of higher pay scales. Pay Commission was also requested to consider revision of designation a6thTrain Manager”.

Running Allowance -admissible to Running Staff and determination of pay element:

The Federation strongly pleaded that this subject is within the domain of Railway Ministry and the two Federations and hence Pay Commission should leave it to Railway Ministry. It was also pointed out that the previous Pay Commissions expressed views that the Running Allowance issues are to be dealt by the Railway Board with the Federations.

Loco Inspectors:

It was explained that the relativity existed during the period of 6th Pay Commission should be got
restored so as to see that the pay scale of Loco Inspectors need higher than the Loco Pilot. The point was appreciated.

Motorman of Metro Railway Kolkata:

It was requested to see that parity is granted.

Commercial Department:

Enquiry – cum- Reservation Clerk and Commercial Clerk:

As part of rationalisation, ECRC and Commercial Clerk categories may be amalgamated with the entry qualification of graduation duly recommending higher pay scale.

Ticket Checking Staff:

The Injustice done to Sr. Ticket Examiner be removed duly replacing existing Grade Pay 2400/- in
GP 2800/- with appropriate open ended higher pay scale.

Medical Department:” Nursing Staff:

It was explained that they deserve to be given satisfactory Pay Structure. Pay Commission was requested to visit Northern Railway, Central Hospital at New Dethi to personally ascertain the conditions under which Nursing Staff perform duties.

Dieticians:

The case was explained very effectively. Pay Commission was requested to remove the disparity in Pay Structure by referring the case of Safdarjung Hospital New Dethi. A note with relevant documents was given to Chairman for taking appropriate action.

Laboratory Staff:

It was explained that the candidates with B.Sc. plus Diploma qualifications are being inducted and accordingly they be allotted higher pay scale.

Pharmacist:

Suggested to eliminate GP 28001-. Background relating to introduction of GP 42001- by the Government of India was explained. Detailed note was also handed over to the Pay Commission Chairman who has appreciated the well documented material.

Health and Malaria Inspectors:

Case was explained in detail. The additional duties on account of implementation of Food Safety Act were explained. Equally the improved pay scales granted by 5th Central Pay Commission in the year 1996 were explained and highlighted the relegated pay structure for rectification.

Safaiwala & Safaiwali (Medical Department):

Highlighted the pathetic condition of this category and requested to see that they are provided relief.

Radiographer:

Request was made to go through the proposals made to the NFIR’s Memorandum under Chapter IX
for consideration.

ECG/EEG/Holter/TMT Technicians etc:

It was pleaded that these categories should be given higher pay scales in view of entry qualification being B.Sc + Diploma.

Cardiac/Cathlab Technicians:

Wherever single Grade Pay structure exists like Cardiac/Cathlab Technicians, it was requested to see that proper pay structure is provided with higher pay scales.

Artificial Limb Centre:

Being common category, as a national issue, this subject will be dealt with by the Pay COlnJpission.

Dental Hygienist:

NFIR’s Memorandum will be looked into to award justice.

Accounts Department:

Revision of qualification entry level proposed to be made as ‘graduation’ with higher pay scales.

IT Cadre:

The proposal mentioned in NFIR’s Memorandum will be examined.

Ministerial Staff:

Entry qualification of Office Clerk is requested to be revised to graduation with improved pay scales.

Legal Cadre:

Points raised in the NFIR’s Memorandum were re-iterated.

Stores Department:

The Chairman was requested to give due consideration to the inputs given in Chapter No. XIV of
NFIR’s Memorandum.

Railways to be exempted from New Pension Scheme:

NFIR explained the commitment given by the Railway Ministry to the Federations and consequent proposal sent on 29th March 2014 by the Hon’ble Railway Minister to the Finance Minister (Government of India). Federation also explained the discussions it had with the Railway Board on ] Ith March 2015 in the P M Meeting and handed over copies of the communications. NFIR specifically requested the Chairman to consider recommending the exemption.

The NFIR’s delegation was led by its President, General Secretary, Working President. In addition, following have also patticipated:-

B.C. SHARMA, JT. GENERAL SECRETARY, P.S.SURIYAPRAKASAM/AGS
V. GOPALAKRISHNAN, ZONAL SECRETARYINFIR K. HEMANT KUMAR
SHAIK ANWAR BASHA
S.K. MEHTA
K.S .AHLAWAT
V. SATYANARAYANA PRAMOD KHIRODKAR K.VIDYASAGAR S.N.MALIK
P.S. NARAYANA RAO
R. JAY ARAMAN SMT. M. REV ATI
MOHD. MUZAFFARRUDDIN
U. VENKATESWARLU M.K. HARISH G.NARASfMHAM S.PURUSHOTTAM P.RAJASEKAR P.K.SAHOO E.SUDHAKAR BHUMJKA
B.P. SINGH

Before summing up the discussions on 14th April 2015, the NFIR has also handed over a note on wasteful expenditure to the Chairman, Seventh Central Pay Commission for consideration .