Tuesday, October 27, 2009

AGITATE

Dated 20-11-2009


Dear Comrades,



The call for ‘PROTEST DAY’ on 05-11-2009 by JAC of Audit and Accounts Organisations has evoked good response from the members of AIRASA and reports are pouring in about the successful implementation of the programme. It is to your knowledge AIRASA has been representing the grievances instantaneously and never waste time. Now the hot issue is the MACP anomalies. The CGII appointee Sr.SO(A)s, Group D appointee AAs and transferees from one unit to another on request are not covered under the scheme, the reason being that they have exhausted 3 promotions. While AIRASA has already taken up the issue with Railway Board, it is proposed to mount pressure for an early solution to the issue. Hence I request all the AAs, Sr.SO(A)s/Sr.TIAs/Sr.ISAs who could not get financial upgradation under MACP to submit a uniform individual representation to FC, Railways through their zonal FA&CAOs as per the specimen enclosed and send a copy of the same to GS/AIRASA. I am writing a separate letter to all FA&CAO’S in this regard.



While drafting this letter I come to know that Finance Ministry vide its O.M dated 16-11-2009 has once again disturbed the Parity in pay scales of Assistants of CSS and Accounts Assistants established by the VI PC by granting Grade Pay of Rs.4600/- to Assistants of CSS. This gross injustice has to be fought tooth and nail. Now we have anomaly in almost all grades of Accounts department. We have to come together once again and fight for all the 12 demands we placed while observing ‘PROTEST DAY’ on 05-11-2009. I desire young staff from AC, JAA, AA cadre to come forward and lead the fight at Divisional, Zonal and all India levels. Let us show our unity and solidarity at the highest level possible so that the Government not only be compelled to rectify the present anomalies but also should not dare to heap the same on the Railway Accounts Staff in future also. To achieve this, the first step should be to strengthen the Association at root level. I request all the Units/divisional branches to have an elected body of the branch at the earliest and mobilize members for all the future agitations.



Yours Comradely,





(N.SRINIVASAN)

From











To



SMT. SOWMYA RAGHAVAN thru’ proper channel

FINANCIAL COMMISSIONER, RAILWAYS

RAIL BHAVAN

NEW DELHI – 110001





Respected Madam,

Sub: Anomaly in MACP - Reg.

Ref: 1. ACP Scheme Rly Bd. Lr no: PC-V/99/I/1/1 Dt

01/10/99.

2. MACP Scheme Rly Bd. Lr no: PC-V/2009/ACP/2 Dt

10/06/09. (RBE101/2009).

-----------------

I am stagnating in the SO(A)/TIA/ISA cadre for the past years and I was hoping to get some relief in the MACP Scheme. To my utter disappointment I have not been considered for placement in the next higher Grade Pay i.e Rs. 5400/-. Whereas my juniors who entered service as Direct Recruit JAAs from 1982 onwards have been placed in the Grade Pay of Rs. 5400. I joined service as Clerk Grade II and was promoted as JAA after passing App IIA and On qualifying the App.IIIA Exam I was empanelled along with the Direct Recruit JAAs for promotion as SO(A)/TIA/ISA. As per the empanelment seniority I was promoted as Sr.SO(A)/Sr.TIA/Sr.ISA. Now my junior has been placed in Grade Pay Rs.5400/- ubder MACP. This has not only degraded my status and deprived me of the monetary benefits but also made me to draw lesser emoluments (more than Rs.4000/- per month) than my junior.

Worse than this, my subordinate, an AA who has not qualified App. IIIA Exam is placed in the Grade pay of Rs.5400/- on completion of 30 years just because he has entered the Service as JAA. There may be instances of a subordinate drawing more total emoluments than the supervisor just by virtue of his longer years of Service. But if a subordinate is placed in a higher Grade than the Supervisor what control can the supervisor exercise over his subordinate and what command he will have over him?.

MACP unfortunately has not addressed this anomalous situation, while the earlier ACP Scheme(August 1999 )did not even allow any Financial upgradations to certain selection posts ( vide rule 6). MACP merely prohibits stepping up of pay if any Junior gets higher pay fixed under MACP than their seniors but does not speak about the position if the Supervised and Supervisors are placed on equal footing Grade Pay - wise or with an imbalance of higher Grade Pay to the Subordinates than the Supervisor duly disturbing the relativity that should exist in any organization.

The Government - accepted recommendations of the 6th CPC aver that

1. Grade Pay will determine the status of a Post with a Senior Post being given higher Grade Pay (vide para 2.2.11) and

2. Seniority of a post will depend on the Grade Pay drawn. This will invariably be more for a higher level post. Pay scales will largely become irrelevant for the purpose of computing Seniority. Thus, the present situation where frequently a Junior draws higher salary (albeit in lower pay scale) vis-a-vis his senior because of longer years of service will no longer be of any essence for purposes of computing seniority (vide para 2.2.13(i)



It could be seen from the above that the MACP Rules do not go hand in hand with the 6th CPC rules in respect of the following:



1. The distinct status of the Supervisors and subordinates gets blurred and the position of supervisors is subverted due to the award of same or higher Grade Pay to the subordinates violating accepted recommendations of para 2.2.11. That is, the Seniors are denied higher grade pay in the implementation of MACP despite the motive of 6th CPC being “ to avoid uneven benefits to the employees” as could be seen from para 6.1.15 of 6th CPC Report..

2. Allotting higher Grade Pay to the Juniors/ Supervised due to operation of MACP runs counter to the Seniority determination as envisaged in para 2.2.13.



Apart from the above, Subordinates drawing higher Grade Pay than their Supervisors who had qualified in the Departmental Examinations on All India basis is not a healthy situation and the morale of the Senior Supervisors will get further sagged. This will not be a welcome trend if viewed in the perspective of modern management practices.



You are kindly requested to consider the merit of the grievances detailed above for appropriate redressing. The desired and possible solutions can be



1. Grant of Grade Pay of Rs. 5400/- to all SO(A)s on completion of 4 years on par with Section officers/PS of CSS, Administrative Officer Gr II/ equivalent (para 3.1.9, 3.1.14) and other officials holding the posts with the pre revised scale of Rs.7500-12000 and now have been allotted the Grade pay of Rs. 5400/- after rendering 4 years of service in such posts. OR

2. to consider the promotion to the post of JAA on passing the departmental Exam of App.IIA as Recruitment to that Grade and to consider further promotions as AA and SO(A) only for the purpose of MACP which will make them eligible for 3rd financial upgradation.



Thanking you,

Yours sincerely,









Dated







From











To



SMT. SOWMYA RAGHAVAN

FINANCIAL COMMISSIONER, RAILWAYS

RAIL BHAVAN

NEW DELHI – 110001





Respected Madam,

Sub: Anomaly in MACP - Reg.

Ref: 1. ACP Scheme Rly Bd. Lr no: PC-V/99/I/1/1 Dt 01/10/2009.

2. MACP Scheme Rly Bd. Lr no: PC-V/2009/ACP/2 Dt

10/06/09. (RBE101/2009).

-----------------

I was appointed in Group D service on and got promotion as Accounts Clerk on after qualifying in the Selection for Group C Service. I was promoted as JAA on after passing App.IIA Exam and as AA on

.

I am stagnating in the AA cadre for the past years and I was hoping to get some relief in the MACP Scheme. To my utter disappointment I have not been considered for placement in the next higher Grade Pay i.e Rs. 4600/-. Whereas my juniors have been placed in the Grade Pay of Rs. 4600. This has not only degraded my status and deprived me of the monetary benefits but also made me to draw lesser emoluments than my junior since I am placed in Grade Pay of Rs.4200/-.

MACP unfortunately has not addressed this anomalous situation. MACP merely prohibits stepping up of pay if any Junior gets higher pay fixed under MACP than their Seniors. PERHAPS THE AUTHORS

The Government - accepted recommendations of the 6th CPC aver that

1. Grade Pay will determine the status of a Post with a Senior Post being given higher Grade Pay (vide para 2.2.11) and

2. Seniority of a post will depend on the Grade Pay drawn. This will invariably be more for a higher level post. Pay scales will largely become irrelevant for the purpose of computing Seniority. Thus, the present situation where frequently a Junior draws higher salary (albeit in lower pay scale) vis-a-vis his senior because of longer years of service will no longer be of any essence for purposes of computing seniority (vide para 2.2.13(i)



It could be seen from the above that the MACP Rules do not go hand in hand with the 6th CPC rules in respect of the following:



1. The Seniors are denied higher grade pay in the implementation of MACP despite the motive of 6th CPC being “ to avoid uneven benefits to the employees” as could be seen from para 6.1.15 of 6th CPC Report..



2. Allotting higher Grade Pay to the Juniors due to operation of MACP runs counter to the Seniority determination as envisaged in para 2.2.13.



Apart from the above, Juniors drawing higher Grade Pay than their Seniors who have put in longer years of Service is not a healthy situation and the morale of the Seniors will get further sagged. This is unfair and against the principles of natural justice.

You are kindly requested to consider the merit of the grievances detailed above for appropriate redressing. The desired solution can be



“ to consider the promotion to the post of JAA as Recruitment to that Grade since the promotion is

1. on passing the departmental Exam of App.IIA (as the same is mandatory for the direct recruit JAAs to continue in the service) and

2. the seniority in Accounts Clerk is based on the marks obtained in the Accounts Training Examination. And further promotions as AA and above only should be taken into account for the purpose of MACP.



Thanking you,

Yours sincerely,



























































Dated 20th November 2009

Smt. USHA MATHUR

ADDITIONAL MEMBER, FINANCE

RAIL BHAVAN

NEW DELHI – 110001





Respected Madam,



Kindly accept our heartfelt congratulations. The entire Railway Accounts of are elated over your elevation as Additional Member (Finance) and are looking forward to an era where their long pending genuine and unaddressed grievances will be redressed since you played a major role in setting right the huge anomaly of the V PC and rightly signed the Orders communicating the improved pay scales for the Accounts staff. We wish to bring to your kind attention that favourable decision on the following issues are awaited in the implementation of VI CPC.



1. Appropriate next higher Grade Pay available for ACCOUNTS. CLERKS, JAAs, AAs, ASVs, Sr. ASVs, Sr.SO(A)/Sr.TIA/Sr.ISAs, STENOGRAPHERS, TYPISTS, FPEs AND CASH & PAY STAFF.

2. Group ‘B’ Status to SO(A)/TIA/ISA AND Sr.SO(A)/Sr.TIA,Sr.ISA.

3. MACP anomalies : Sr.SO(A)s/Sr/TIAs/Sr.ISAs appointed as CGII and AAs appointed as Group D have not been covered under the scheme - Their Juniors have superseded them by getting next higher Grade Pay – Solution Proposed : to treat their promotion as JAA on passing App.IIA as Direct Recruitment.

4. Allotment of Grade Pay of Rs.4800/- to Sr. AAs and to AAs who got II financial upgradation under ACP.

5. Sanctioning of additional posts of TIAs & ISAs to promote those qualified IIIA and waiting for promotion since 1993.

6. Reintroduction of grant of three Additional increments to ASVs for passing App.IV Exam and increase of the percentage of Sr.ASVs as 80%.

7. Grant of Qualification increments in lieu of Qualification Allowance for passing App.II & III Examinations, ICWAI, MBA,Finance duly including it as ‘PAY’ for all purposes.



8. Promotion of all Accounts Clerks who have put in 10 years of service as J A As.

9. Promotion of all matriculate Group D Staff who have put in 10 years of service as Accounts Clerks.



Detailed representations with elaborate justifications for each demand has already been submitted to Railway Board. Reminders addressed your kindself are sent herewith. Kindly peruse them and expedite the issue of orders as the demands hold better justification than any other cadre and some are pending for several years.

Thanking you,

Yours sincerely,





(N.SRINIVASAN)

GENERAL SECRETARY











Dated 02-11-2009

Dear Comrades,
In response to my circular calling for a lunch hour demonstration on 5-11-2009, Office bearers and Members of Bhopal, Nagpur (SECR) , DLW & RCF have raised objections on the demand for Grade of Rs.4600/- for AAs. They feel that the demand should be Rs.4800/-. They have wrongly understood the Railway board’s Circular dated 03-09-2009 wherein Grade pay of Rs.4200/- has been mentioned for both AAs and Sr.AAs and have presumed that both the Cadres have been merged. In this connection I hope that the following points will clarify the above doubts.

1. The Railway Board’s letter dated 03-09-2009 has been issued by the Establishment directorate classifying the revised and merged Cadres in the Sixth Pay Commission as Selection and Non Selection and the purpose of the letter is only that and the Grade Pays mentioned in that circular are prevailing Grade Pays on that date. For instance Divisional Cashier’s Grade Pay has been modified as Rs.4600/- whereas the above Circular mentions it as Rs.4200/-.
2. The Sr.AA Cadre can never be merged with AAs since it is 5% of SO(A) Cadre and should always carry the same Grade Pay as that of SO(A). Though some of the Railways have already allotted the Grade pay of Rs.4800/- to Sr.AAs, most of the Railways have sought Railway Board’s Clarification. It is learnt from top officials of Railway Board that Clarification in this regard allowing Grade Pay of Rs.4800/- to Sr.AAs will be issued shortly.
3. AIRASA has been demanding the following Grade Pays only since the release of Sixth CPC recommendations. AC – 2800, JAA – 4200, AA – 4600, Sr. AA- 4800, SO(A) on completion of 4 years 5400. These demands were finalized after complete analysis of the Grade Pays recommended for Central Secretariat and other Ministries. The Central Secretariat Assistants with whom we are seeking parity (Arbitration Award granting 1640-2900 from 1-1-86) are now allotted only the Grade pay of Rs.4200/- and are demanding for Rs.4600/-.
4. As regards implementation of MACP, it could be seen from the Charter of Demands that AIRASA has demanded financial upgradation in the next departmental hierarchy i.e Rs.4800/- for AAs who completed 30 years or 10 years after the last promotion as AA. The beneficiaries of Second ACP as per Railway Board’s letter dated 5-4-07 shall be allotted Rs.4800/-.

AIRASA never believes in fancy and unachievable demands. The demands made are genuinely justified ones (detailed justifications have already been submitted to all concerned) and AIRASA with the support of all Accountsmen of Indian Railways will strive hard to achieve them as has been done for achieving the improved pay scales under V CPC.
I request all Accountsmen to join the Second battle for the dignity of Accountsmen ,be ready to make all sacrifices. Let us join enmasse to make the Demands Day and Lunch hour demonstration on 05-11-2009 a Great Success!.

Yours Comradely,

(N.SRINIVASAN)



Dated 20th October 2009
Dear Comrades,

I along with Sri. D.P. Khuntia, CWC Member camped in New Delhi on 30th Sept and 1st Oct to follow up the pending demands with Railway Board. We had fruitful meetings with top Railway Board Officials.
During our discussions with the Officials of Board we were given to understand that
1. A proposal for granting Grade pay of Rs.4800/- to Sr. AAs has been put up for the approval of competent authority and orders for the same is expected shortly.

2. the proposal sent to Finance Ministry for grant of higher Grade Pay Rs.4200/- to JAAs and Rs.5400/- to Sr.SO(A)/Sr.TIA/Sr.ISAs is still under consideration. We were also informed that VI PC Grades in respect of other categories like FPEs is still in pipeline.

3. Orders on Revised Qualification Allowance will be issued shortly. AIRASA has demanded reintroduction of Grant of increments for passing App. IIA and App.IIIA.

4. On the important issue of creation of additional posts of TIAs/ISAs , Hon’ble Minister of Railways has been addressed to give adhoc promotions.

The anomaly in MACP orders was represented with illustrations showing how a subordinate is being placed in a higher Grade Pay than his Superviser and Senior will draw lesser pay than his Junior. ED, Accounts promised to analyse the issue raised and put up the matter to FC.

Group ‘B’ Status to SO(A)/TIA/ISA.
We brought to the notice of top Railway Board Officials including Member, Staff that the CAG has merged the SO(A) cadre with AAOs in Audit and has granted Group B Status and that similar action has been taken by Controller General of Accounts (Civil Accounts) and Postal Accounts . They promised to have a fresh look into the issue on the basis of these letters. The delegation met EDPG to Hon’ble Minister of Railways and sought MR’s intervention in this matter. We met Member, Staff and detailed him of the genuineness of the demand. He appreciated the points raised and assured his support.



We also demanded for modification of Recruitment Rules for selection to the post of AAOs and submitted the copies of Recruitment Rules of other Organised Accounts and Audit which contains selection by seniority cum suitability only.

Restoration of three Additional increments to ASVs.
We thanked the officials for permitting the Cash Office Staff who qualified App. IIA to volunteer for selection to the post of Accounts Stock Verifiers. We also conveyed the deep anguish of the serving ASVs for not restoring the Three additional increments. The Special Allowance of Rs.1000/- has not attracted the AAs/JAAs to volunteer for the post of ASV. Hence we pointed out that the only way out is to restore the grant of three additional increments for qualifying in the App.IV Exam. We also insisted the need for extending the Special Allowance to those ASVs who came from the Cadre of JAAs.

Reminders on all other pending demands raised by AIRASA were also placed before the Railway Board. Copies of the same are enclosed for circulation

APEX JAC MEETING HELD ON 01-10-2009.
A Meeting of the Apex JAC of Audit and Organised Accounts Employees Organisations was held at New Delhi on 01-10-2009. Detailed discussion over the functioning of JAC, the Charter of Demands and the future course of action on the Charter of Demands were discussed. A copy of the APEX JAC Circular is enclosed. I request all the branches to stage lunch Hour demonstration on 05-11-2009 as decided by the JAC. Apart from the common Charter of demands we may include all our pending demands also while submitting the Memorandum. A copy of the same is enclosed

Yours Comradely,


(N.SRINIVASAN)
General Secretary


RESOLUTION

This meeting of the AIRASA (name of Unit) ________held today the 5th November 2009, urges upon the Government of India to negotiate and settle the following Demands of the Accounts and Audit Employees and Officers with the apex level Joint Action Committee of Accounts and Audit Employees and Officers organizations.

Demands:

1. Implement arbitration award by granting higher pay scale notionally w.e.f.1-1-1986 and effectively w.e.f 1-1-2006.
2. Upgrade Accounts Clerks by re-designating them as Acctts/Audit Assistants and following pay sales to different cadres-
Accounts Assistant PB-1 with Grade Pay Rs.2400
Accountant (JAAs)/FPEs/Jr. Steno PB-2 with Grade Pay Rs.4200
Sr. Accountant (AAs)/ASV/ Sr. FPE /Sr. Steno PB-2 with Grade Pay Rs.4600
Section Officers/Sr. AAs/Sr.ASV/ CFPE /PS PB-2 with Grade Pay Rs.4800
PB-3 with Grade Pay Rs.5400
on completion of 4 years

3. Extend Group ‘B' Status to SO(A)/TIA/ISA and Sr.SO(A)/Sr.TIA,Sr.ISA.
4. Grant ACP on departmental hierarchy basis.
5. Grant Qualification increments in lieu of Qualification Allowance for passing
App.II & III Examinations duly including it as ‘PAY' for all purposes.
6. Step up pay of Senior Promotees who exhausted ACP in the event of junior
drawing more pay and getting ACP in compliance with apex court judgment.
7. Re introduce grant of three Additional increments to ASVs for passing App.IV
Exam.
8. Grant adhoc promotions to all Appendix IIIA (TIA/ISA Group) passed Candidates.
9. Promote all App. IIA qualified Accounts Clerks as JAAs against DR quota.
10. Promote all Accounts Clerks who have put in 10 years of service as J A As.
11. Promote all Staff in Grade Pay 1800 (erstwhile Gr.D) as Accounts Clerks on
Seniority basis.
12. Grant recognition to All India Railway Accounts Staff Association.

The meeting resolves that the copies of the Resolution adopted shall be forwarded to the Prime Minister of India, South Block, New Delhi, Finance Minister, Government of India, head of the organization and the Convener, Apex JAC of Accounts and Audit Employees and Officers organizations, New Delhi.


President of the meeting


Dated 30th September 2009
Shri. D.M. GAUTHAM
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, PAY COMMISSION
RAILWAY BOARD
NEW DELHI.


Respected Sir,

Sub : Introduction of 5% quota for unqualified Sr.AAs in
Supervisory cadre.
Ref : Railway Board’s letter dated 05-04-2007 and this
Association’s earlier letters dated 2-05- 2007 and
14-06-2007,16-06-2009 & 09-09-2009.

----------------------

As per Railway Board’s letter No. PC V/98/I/II/23(pt) dated 05-04-07 reserving 5% of the posts of SO(A)s to be designated as Sr. Accounts Assistants for promotion of Senior most Accounts Assistants intended to provide promotional opportunities to the thousands of Accounts Assistants stagnated in the same grade for more than 20 years, has indeed benefited around 50 Accounts Assistants only for the entire Indian Railways. The benefit did not reach the Accounts Assistants serving in any of the production units since the 5% of Accounts Assistants worked out to less than 0.5. Now that the posts of Section officer and Sr. Section Officer have been merged consequent on the implementation of VI PC , this Association requests Railway Board

1. to issue necessary orders to calculate the 5% of Sr. AAs on the total strength of Section officers and Sr. Section officers and to ensure creation of atleast one Sr.AA post in Production units/ Railways wherever 5% of SO(A) posts works out to less than 0.5.

2. to modify the scheme on par with the 10% unqualified quota available in other organized Accounts and Audit where the beneficiaries are designated as Supervisors.
Thanking you,
Yours sincerely,


(N.SRINIVASAN)
GENERAL SECRETARY









Dated 30th September ’2009

SMT. SOWMYA RAGHAVAN
FINANCIAL COMMISSIONER, RAILWAYS
RAIL BHAVAN, NEW DELHI – 110001

Respected Madam,

Sub :- Avenue of Promotion to Appendix IIIA passed candidates – TIA &
ISA Group.
Ref :- This Association’s earlier letters dated 06-02- 2006,12-05- 2006
10-10-2006, 02-12-2006, 19-12-2006, 22-01-2007, 19-03-2007,
02-05-2007 ,02-09-2007, 10-10-2007 , 06-11-07, 18-12-2007 ,
28-2-2008, 24-06-2008, 15-10-2008 &15-12-2008, 12-03-2009
16- 6-2009 & 09-09-2009.
--------------
Railway Board’s orders dated 30-11-2006 restructured the Supervisor and supervised ratio as 1 : 3 for SO(A) cadre alone. This had created an anomalous situation wherein the seniors who qualified TIA and ISA Group more than 16 years ago are still remaining as Accounts Assistants whereas their juniors are promoted as SO(A)s.
In this connection, this Association placed many suggestions vide letters cited above for creation of additional posts of TIAs and ISAs as done during 1981 when a similar situation prevailed. Though Railway board has left the issue of creation of additional posts to Zonal Railways, Zonal Railways have not come forward to create additional posts.
As the TIA/ISA group qualified staff are suffering the ignominy for more than 16 long years, this Association requests Railway Board to consider upgradation of the posts of AAs who have qualified App. IIIA ( TIA & ISA group ) and waiting for promotion temporarily as TIA/ISA and the same may be down graded as and when vacancies in TIA & ISA cadre arises /additional posts are created in future. The financial implication will be very less and temporary under this scheme.” This practice of giving adhoc promotions is already in vogue in CAG’s Offices for SAS qualified candidates. (Copy enclosed)
Please consider this proposal and arrange for issue of necessary orders.
Thanking you,
Yours sincerely,


(N.SRINIVASAN)
GENERAL SECRETARY










Dated 30th September 2009

Ms. MAMATA BANERJEE
HON’BLE MINISTER OF RAILWAYS
RAIL BHAVAN
NEW DELHI – 110 001.


Respected Madam,

Sub : Grant of Group B Status to SO(A)/TIA/ISA
Cadre of Accounts department.
Ref : This Association’s earlier letter dated 16-06-2009
& 09-09-2009.

-----------

The Sixth Pay Commission vide Chapter 7.56,[7.56(9)] had grouped all Accounts Audit departments of Central Government as Organised Accounts and Audit and recommended uniform Grades of pay to them. While doing so the Commission recommended upgradation of pay scales of SO(A)s and Sr,SO(A)s of Rs. 6500-10500 and Rs.7450-11500 as Rs. 7500-12000 and allotted Grade Pay of Rs.4800/- with Group B Status which was accepted by Government of India and Finance Ministry notified the same accordingly vide Notification no 304 dated 29-8-08, Para no 1/1/2008-I C. X© page no 29-30. The same was implemented by all Audit and Accounts departments of Central Government.
Though Railway Board vide letter RBE No. 124/2008 dated 22-09-2008 allotted Grade Pay of Rs.4800/- to SO(A),TIA,ISAs and Sr.SO(A)/Sr.TIA,Sr.ISAs, it stated that they will retain their Group C status. Thus Railway Board has not yet implemented the Cabinet decision notified vide Gazette Notification No.470 dated 29-08-2008 that parity between posts in various organized Audit and Accounts department has to be maintained.

In this regard the following may kindly be considered.
1. The pre revised scale in the Fifth PC scales and the revised pay structure in the Sixth Pc scales corresponds to the Grade Pay of Rs. 4800/- viz., Rs.7500-12000 is the one allotted to the Group B Gazetted officers of Ministry of Railways. Therefore, it is logical to extend the same to the Supervisory Grades of Accounts department who have been placed in Grade pay of Rs.4800/-.


2. Railway Accounts forms part of organized Accounts of Central Government and similarly placed staff of other organized Accounts department and IA&AD have already been given Group’B’ status as per Finance Ministry Notification. Copies of the Notifications issued by C&AG, Department of Posts, Ministry of Communications & IT, Controller General Of Accounts, ministry of Finance are enclosed.
3. As in other Organised Audit and Accounts, promotion to the Grade of SO(A) is ordered only on qualifying an all India Examination (Appendix.IIIA) Examination conducted by Railway Board.
4. Just prior to VI PC, Financial powers of Section officers have been enhanced which no other supervisory cadres of other departments of Indian Railways are entrusted with.
5. Also, SO(A) AND Sr.S0(A) can be involved in the Tender Finalisation up to a certain limit which will fulfill the avowed objective of the VI PC of improving the delivery mechanism. I am sure that all the members of the Railway board will be very appreciative of this.
6. The fear of similar claim from supervisory staff of other departments will not have sufficient strength as such supervisors have not passed an All India Exam conducted by Railway Board and the VI PC has not recommended pre revised scale of Rs.7500-12000 for them and the Grade pay of Rs.4600/- allotted them as against the Group B Grade pay of Rs.4800/-.
7. The following table will clearly indicate that Accounts supervisors were placed in higher scales of pay even in the III Pay Commission and by granting Grade Pay of Rs.4800/- VI CPC has only restored the old status which others were not holding.
Category III Pay Commission IV Pay
Commission V Pay
Commission
Section Officers
of Railways

Office Superintendents/
Section Engineers
Rs.500-900


Rs.550-750 Rs.1640-2900


Rs.1600-2660 Rs.6500-10500
(notionally w.e.f
1-1-96 to 18-02-2003)
Rs.6500-10500
Sr.Section Officers of Railways
Chief Office Superintendents/
Sr. Section Engineers
Rs.775-1000


Rs.700-900 Rs.2000-3200


Rs.2000-3200
Rs.7450-11500


Rs.7450-11500
The strength of the above arguments may please be taken note of for according Group B Status to Supervisory Cadres of Railway Accounts on par with other Organised Accounts and Audit Cadres.
Thanking You.
Yours sincerely,


(N.SRINIVASAN)
GENERAL SECRETARY














Dated 30th September 2009
Shri. D.M. GAUTHAM
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, PAY COMMISSION
RAILWAY BOARD
NEW DELHI.


Respected Sir,

Sub : Fixation of Pay for the II ACP beneficiaries and
Sr. AAs in the implementation of VI PC Scales.

Ref : This Association’s earlier letter dated 16-06-2009 &
07-09-2009.
-------------

Confusion prevails among many Zonal Railways in fixing the Grade Pay for the Sr.Accounts Assistants Cadre carved out from 5% of the Section Officers Cadre vide Railway Board’s letter No.PC V/98/I/II/23(pt) dated 05-04-07.

It is learnt that a few Railways including C. Rly, N W Rly and E.Co Rly have rightly extended Grade Pay of Rs.4800/- as per the extant orders. But most of the Railways are waiting for clear cut orders from Board and the above kind of Staff have been fixed only the Grade pay of Rs.4200/- without extending the benefit of promotion.

In this connection, it is submitted that

• the Sr. AAs are promoted against the 5% posts of SO(A) Cadre under unqualified quota and hence are eligible to draw pay equivalent to Section Officers.
• Similarly placed persons in other Organised Accounts and Audit have also been placed in the Grade pay of Rs.4800/-.

Hence kindly issue orders confirming the above and clearing the doubts of Zonal Railways.

Thanking You.
Yours sincerely,


(N.SRINIVASAN)
GENERAL SECRETARY

Dated 30th September 2009
Shri. B.N. MAHAPATRA
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, ACCOUNTS
RAIL BHAVAN
NEW DELHI.



Respected Sir,

Sub : Grant of Qualification Incentive for qualifying Appendix II &
Appendix IIIA IREM Examinations.
Ref : This Association’s earlier dated 07-09-2009.

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The quantum of the Qualification Allowance has not been increased after the implementation of VI Pay Commission. This Association has already submitted that a special dispensation should be given to Accounts department in this regard considering the tough standards of these Examinations and the stringent conditions attached to it linking it as a qualification to continue in service and for promotions at every stage. Hence it will be a real incentive for those who clear the Appendix II and IIIA Examinations if some increments are granted in place of a meager Qualification Allowance without any additive benefits.

This Association suggests that Two increments for qualifying Appendix II and Four increments for Qualifying Appendix IIIA will be of some incentive for those who aspire for the promotion to JAA and SO(A) Cadre respectively. Further these incentive increments should be doubled if the qualified staff does not get promoted within Five years. Kindly do the needful.

Thanking You,
Yours sincerely,


(N.SRINIVASAN)
GENERAL SECRETARY















Dated 30th September 2009
SMT. SOWMYA RAGHAVAN
FINANCIAL COMMISSIONER, RAILWAYS
RAIL BHAVAN
NEW DELHI – 110001


Respected Madam,

Sub : Modification in Recruitment Rules for the post of
Assistant Officers in Accounts Department – Para
210 of IREC Vol.1- Request of.
Ref : This Association’s earlier letter dated 07-09-2009.
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The Sixth CPC has grouped all the Accounts and Audit organizations of Central Government as Organized Accounts and Audit and has recommended uniform of Pay structure. Already these organizations are having uniform cadre structure also. Thus everything is uniform for the organized Accounts and Audit except the group B classification for Section Officers and Recruitment Rules for Assistant Officers in Accounts department. Copies of the Recruitment Rules for Assistant Officers in C&AG Offices and Controller General of Accounts under Ministry of Finance which provides promotion on seniority basis to the post of Accounts Officers are enclosed. The Recruitment Rules of Assistant Officers in Postal and Defence Accounts organization are also on the same lines.

Hence, kindly modify the Recruitment Rules of the Assistant Officers in Accounts department of Railways also on the same lines and oblige.

Thanking You,
Yours sincerely,


(N.SRINIVASAN)
GENERAL SECRETARY















Dated 5th September 2009
Dear Comrades,

The Financial position of AIRASA is very weak. Every month we have to spend a huge amount on Speed Post, Fax, Telephone, Xerox, stationary etc. Apart from the FD amount, we have got only Rs. 19,000 as per Pass Book whereas our Expenditure of more than Rs.50,000/-met from AIRASA, South Zone Fund is still outstanding.

The month of September is the ideal one for collecting outstanding membership(atleast Rs.100/- for the last two years) from the Members in view of the ensuing payment of the 60% Pay Commission arrears, Bonus, DA, ACP, MACP arrears etc., This is the right time for the Central, Zonal and Divisional Office bearers to act. The members are always ready to pay the membership since their conscience knows that they should contribute to this Association which has done a lot for the Accts people during the last 12 years and is taking up all anomalies of VI PC.

We have got miles to go for which we need money to make AIRASA strong enough. It is needles to say once again that only with the help of maximum recorded membership we can fight for Recognition and Negotiating rights for our Association. I request all the Central, Zonal and Divisional Office bearers to share the responsibility in this regard.

Once again I request all of you to contribute generously to AIRASA. Members who have not contributed their Annual subscription for the last 3 years , may now contribute. Members who have got benefits in Restructuring, ACP, MACP may contribute liberally any amount according to their wish.

Collected Amount may be credited to SBI Churchgate Mumbai A/c No. 11037325652 and may be intimated to the undersigned over Phone 09444032733 or 044 26711733 and also send a letter with names to No.19, Senthil Avenue, Ponniamman medu P.O. Chennai 600110. Divisions and Units who need Membership Books may please contact me.
Matter may be treated as most Urgent .
Yours sincerely


( REJI GEORGE)
SECRETARY- FINANCE

Dated 16th October 2009


SHRI. PRITHVIRAJ CHAVAN
HON’BLE MINISTER OF STATE FOR DOPT
SOUTH BLOCK
NEW DELHI.


Respected Sir,

Sub: Anomaly in MACP Scheme - Reg.
Ref: - MACP Scheme - DOPT Lr No: 35034/3/2008 – (D)
Dated 19-05-2009
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The Modified Assured Carrier Progression (MACP) scheme which is said to be an improvement over the previous ACP scheme (August 1999) does not fit in to the Accounts department where promotions are based on passing stringent qualifying Examinations. It looks like a cure worse than the disease itself.
Senior employees as in the previous Pay Commissions are miserably placed in the VI CPC also and the MACP too inflicts degradation of status and deprivation of monetary benefits to the Senior staff while their Juniors and Subordinates are better placed in comparison.
Senior Supervisors in Accounts Department, for instance, who have joined the service as Accounts Clerks( then CGII ) move up the promotional ladder by qualifying in the rigorous Departmental examinations conducted by none other than the Railway Board itself reach the Supervisory position. But the MACP denies them the Grade pay of Rs.5400/- the apex one in Pay Band 2 as they are treated as having 3 regular promotions whereas their juniors who entered service as Jr. Accounts Assistants ( then CGI ) on Direct Recruitment quota and are now similarly placed as other supervisors with the Grade pay of Rs. 5400/-.


Worse than the above is the following scenario:
A directly recruited Jr. AA who works under a Senior Supervisor, (who entered service only as Accounts clerk,) will be allotted the Grade Pay of Rs. 4800/- and Rs. 5400/- in the MACP on completion of 20TH and 30th year of service respectively while his Supervisor will languish by stagnating at the Grade Pay of Rs, 4800/- as he has got 3 regular promotions. In spite of their passing tough Departmental Examinations, such supervisors will either draw the same Grade Pay of their Subordinate or less than the Grade Pay of his / her Subordinate.
MACP unfortunately has not addressed this anomalous situation, while the earlier ACP Scheme(August 1999 )did not even allow any Financial upgradations to certain selection posts ( vide rule 6). MACP merely prohibits stepping up of pay if any Junior gets higher pay fixed under MACP than their seniors but does not speak about the position if the Supervised and Supervisors are placed on equal footing Grade Pay - wise or with an imbalance of higher Grade Pay to the Subordinates than the Supervisor duly disturbing the relativity that should exist in any organization.
The Government - accepted recommendations of the 6th CPC aver that
1) Grade Pay will determine the status of a Post with a Senior Post being given higher Grade Pay (vide para 2.2.11) and
2) Seniority of a post will depend on the Grade Pay drawn. This will invariably be more for a higher level post. Pay scales will largely become irrelevant for the purpose of computing Seniority. Thus, the present situation where frequently a Junior draws higher salary (albeit in lower pay scale) vis-a-vis his senior because of longer years of service will no longer be of any essence for purposes of computing seniority (vide para 2.2.13(i)

It could be seen from the above that the MACP Rules do not go hand in hand with the 6th CPC rules in respect of the following:

1) The distinct status of the Supervisors and subordinates gets blurred and the position of supervisors is subverted due to the award of same or higher Grade Pay to the subordinates violating accepted recommendations of para 2.2.11. That is, the Seniors are denied higher grade pay in the implementation of MACP despite the motive of 6th CPC being “ to avoid uneven benefits to the employees” as could be seen from para 6.1.15 of 6th CPC Report..
2) Allotting higher Grade Pay to the Juniors/ Supervised due to operation of MACP runs counter to the Seniority determination as envisaged in para 2.2.13.

Apart from the above, Subordinates drawing higher Grade Pay than their Supervisors who get qualified in the Departmental Examinations on All India basis is not a healthy situation and the morale of the Senior Supervisors will get further sagged. This will not be a welcome trend if viewed in the perspective of modern management practices.

Detailed illustrative examples of anomalous position arising out of the implementation of MACP are provided in the Annexure.
You are kindly requested to consider the merit of the grievances detailed above for appropriate redressing.

The anomaly is thus so glaring that the same cannot be just glossed over. While this is an intra-Departmental inconsistency, a serious discrimination in the grant of Grade Pay of Rs.5400/- only to various staff of other Ministries (Except Railways) hurts us more, which can be seen from the following:

1. SO(A) s, PS in Secretariat, Administrative Officer Gr II, Sr.PS / equivalent (para 3.1.9, 3.1.14) and other officials holding the posts with the pre revised scale of Rs.7500-12000 and now have been allotted the Grade pay of Rs. 4800/- in the VI PC will be eligible for the Grade pay of 5400/- after rendering 4 years of service in such posts.

2. Where as Senior Section Officers/ Section Officers (Accounts) in Indian Railways who have been granted the pre revised pay scale of Rs. 7500-12000(para 7.56.9) and allotted the Grade pay of Rs4800/- have ironically not been extended the benefit of grant of Grade Pay of Rs.5400/- after serving for 4 years in the post of Section officer (Accounts).

To rectify the injustice and anomaly which is both intra and inter departmental, it is requested that all the Section Officers(Accounts) may be considered for the grant of Grade Pay of Rs. 5400/- if they serve for 4 years in the post of Section Officer (A).

Various Ministries have issued orders giving effect to the above and Railway Board are requested to adopt the same.

Thanking you,
Yours sincerely,

(N.SRINIVASAN)
GENERAL SECRETARY