PRESS RELEASE 24th APRIL 2020
From
CENTRE OF INDIAN TRADE UNIONS (CITU)
CITU DENOUNCES CENTRAL GOVT DECISION TO FREEZE AND CONFISCATE INCREASE IN DEARNESS ALLOWANCE FOR CENTRAL GOVT EMPLOYEES AND PENSIONERS
The Centre of Indian Trade Unions denounces the Central Govt’s decision to freeze, rather confiscate the increase in Dearness Allowance payable to Central Govt employees and pensioners falling due from January 2020 and also future dues, falling due on July 2020 and January 2021 on the plea of financial crisis arising out of COVID 19 vide Finance Ministry Order no 1/1/2020-E-II(B) dated 23rd April 2020.
No doubt, the country has been passing through a financial crisis but why should the workers and employees be made the sacrificial item for the same who themselves suffer most owing to Covid-19 followed by lockdown. Quite a number of employees are deployed and consequently are involved in various governmental activities and services meant to combat the spread of the pandemic Covid-19 especially of those departments declared as emergency services viz, health, postal, defence, railways etc. While taking such decision Govt did not bother to consult the unions and federations of the central govt employees, displaying rabid authoritarianism.
CITU strongly urges that response to financial crisis by the central govt must start with measures to garner resources where it is there aplenty at the disposal of handful of ultra rich class. As Per OXFAM Report, combined wealth amassed by only 63 billionaires in India is more that the total Union Budget in 2018-19 which was at Rs 24, 42, 200 crore. Top 10% of population cornered 77% of national wealth. Wealth of India’s richest 1 per cent is 4 times more than the bottom 70%. Govt must tap this huge accumulation of wealth with barely 5% of ultra-rich, amassed mostly through undue and illegitimate patronization of the economic policy regime, through appropriate direct taxation/wealth tax measures instead of brutally pouncing on the working peoples’ earnings and livelihood. And this right is vested with the Central Govt only
CITU strongly condemns this retrograde decision of the Central Govt to confiscate outright the legitimate dues of the employees and pensioners on account of increase in DA till January 2021, although prices of all essentials will continue to increase to further increase the profit of the big-business/corporate.
CITU demands withdrawal of this DA Confiscation order by the central government also demands that the state governments be extended financial help to enable continuity of variable DA payment to their employees. CITU calls upon the Govt employees’ movement in particular and the trade union movement in general to unitedly oppose this retrograde anti-worker measures.
(Tapan Sen)
General Secretary
Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU)
B. T. Ranadive Bhawan, 13 A, Rouse Avenue, New Delhi- 110 002
Phone nos 91-11-23221288,23221306, Fax- 91-11-23221284
website:citucentre.org
CONFEDERATION OF CGE&WORKERS ADDRESSED TO THE CABINET SECRETARY
FREEZING OF DEARNESS ALLOWANCE TO CENTRAL GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES AND DEARNESS RELIEF TO CENTRAL GOVERNMENT PENSIONERS AT CURRENT RATES TILL JULY, 2021.
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---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------No. Confd./DA-2020 Dated :24.04.2020
To
The Cabinet Secretary,
Government of India,
Cabinet Secretariat
Rashtrapati Bhawan,
New Delhi
Sub: Freezing of dearness allowance to Central Government employees and
Dearness relief to Central Government pensioners at current rates till
July, 2021.
Dear Sir,
We solicit your kind reference to the O.M. No. 1/12020-E.I (B) dated 23rd April, 2020issued by the Department of Expenditure, Ministry of Finance on the above subject in view of the crisis arising out of the pandemic Covid-19.
The Central Government employees throughout the country noted the contents of the above cited O.M. with surprise and anguish. As you are aware, the Central Government employees responded admirably the call of the Honourable Prime Minister to donate one day’s salary to the Prime Minister’s Relief fund to enable the Government to meet out the financial exigencies arising out of the pandemic. This apart, both the employees and pensioners have contributed immensely to the Prime Minister’s and respective Chief Minister’s public relief funds voluntarily.
It was unfortunate that the Government did not cause any consultation with the standing committee of the JCM, the negotiating forum of the Central Government employees and took an arbitrary and unilateral decision on a vital matter like freezing the wages.
The Government are aware that quite a number of employees are deployed and consequently are involved in various governmental activities and services meant to combat the spread of the pandemic Covid-19 especially of those departments declared as emergency services viz, health, postal, defence, railways etc. endangering even their life. Not taking into confidence the employees’ representatives before taking decision to impose a mandatory freeze of dearness allowance is in utter disregard to the norms and procedure followed by the previous Governments when such situation had arisen. Besides at no previous occasion, the Government of India had resorted to impounding the dues arbitrarily. We, therefore, oppose the arbitrary decision of the Government to impound the DA .
Further, we are to inform you that the decision to deny the payment of the freezed amount even after overcoming the crisis is totally unacceptable to the employees. We are pained to note that the Government has been shifting the financial burden of the crisis on to the employees and workers, when in fact they require the financial assistance from the Government to face the crisis caused by the pandemic.
In the circumstance, we request you to direct the Ministry of Finance to rescind the decision to impound the DA and withdraw the O.M., as the Government has no legal or moral authority to take such a decision. The refusal to accede to this demand will only pave the way for an avoidable confrontation and agitation.
Thanking you,
Yours Sincerely,
(R N Parashar)
Secretary General
Copy to:
The Secretary, Personnel,
Department of personnel and Training,
Government of India,
North Block, New Delhi. 110 001
NATIONAL COUNCIL (JCM) STAFF SIDE WRITES
TO THE CABINET SECRETARY
PROTEST AGAINST FREEZING OF DEARNESS ALLOWANCE TO CENTRAL GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES AND DEARNESS RELIEF TO CENTRAL GOVERNMENT PENSIONERS
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No.NC-JCM-2020/CS/PM April 23, 2020
The Cabinet Secretary
Government of India,
Cabinet Secretariat
Rashtrapati Bhawan,
New Delhi
Sub: Protest against freezing of Dearness Allowance to Central Government Employees and Dearness Relief to Central Government Pensioners.
Ref: Department of Expenditure OM No.1/1/2020-E-II(B), Dt: 23/04/2020
Dear Sir,
The constituent organizations of the National Council(JCM) are very much shocked to note the arbitrary decision taken by the Government to freeze the DA to Central Govt. Employees and Dearness Relief to the Central Govt. Pensioners up to 30/06/2021. Before taking such a major policy decision the Govt. has not bothered to consult the staff side of the NC(JCM) and without even hearing the views of the staff side, the decision taken especially on a policy matter which effects the wages of the employees and the pension of the senior citizens is against the spirit of the JCM scheme. The entire 48 lakh Central Govt. Employees (including Armed Forces Personnel) and the 65 lakh Pensioners are very much disappointed against the most drastic decision taken by the Govt. against is own employees.
The Central Govt. and State Govt. employees are the one who are playing their front line role in the fight against COVID-19 Virus, by taking all risk and working in the field exposing themselves without any sufficient Personal Protective Equipments. The Railway employees, Defence Civilian employees, Postal employees and all other Central Govt. employees have already contributed their one day wages to the PM-CARES Fund. The Ordnance Factory Employees have contributed their two days wages, In the Railways , Employees belonging to different categories are deployed for various activities such as PW Tracks, signaling, Electrical and Mechanical assests, running freight trains, parcels special trains, Transport essential goods etc. Almost all the Central Government Departments are involved in one or other activities during the entire lockdown period. The Ordnance Factory Employees are directly involved in manufacturing of various Protective Equipment required for the Doctors, Nurses & Health Care Workers and for other Civil Authorities. Ignoring all these contribution of the Govt. Employees, the Govt. is targeting them on the plea of “Crisis arising out of COVID-19”. The Staff side of the National Council (JCM) is of the firm view that the 48 Lakh Central Govt. Employees (including Armed Forces Personnel) and 65 lakh Pensioners do not deserve such a treatment from the Government.
A part from that many of all our affiliates of JCM Staff Side have contributed to PM-CARES Fund crors of rupees. As well as they are providing shelter, Food, Transport etc to mitigate the problem of poor employees / workers who have lost their job and everything in this Lockdown.
Moreover the freezing of DA will have a serious impact of the HRA of the Central Govt. employees. In accordance with 7th CPC recommendations and as approved by the Govt. the HRA rates will be revised from 24% to 27% in “X” cities, and from 16% to 18% in “Y” Cities and 8% to 9% in “Z” cities. The manner in which the price for the essential commodities are rocketing sky high, DA is expected to cross 25% from 01/07/2020 onwards. Since the DA is freezed the employees will loose this hike in the HRA also.
You will appreciate that the Pensioners who are senior citizens are most vulnerable in the fight of the COVID-19 virus and any stoppage of DA in their case at this juncture is not an appreciable decision on the part of the Government.
The decision of the Govt. has subjected the Central Govt. Employees and the Pensioners to unnecessary financial hardship and mental agony when they all are on the field fighting from the frontline against the spread of COVID-19 Virus through various official activities. Therefore we request you to convey our feelings to the Hon’ble Prime Minister and also our request to reconsider the above decision of the Govt. and withdraw the same, so as to motivate the Central Govt. employees to perform their responsibilities, especially in this crisis period.
Yours faithfully,
(Shiva Gopal Mishra)
Secretary
Copy To:- The Secretary, Department of Personnel &Training, for information & necessary Action
The Secretary, Department of Expenditure, Ministry of Finance for information & necessary Action
PRESS STATEMENT
ON FREEZING
OF DEARNESS ALLOWANCE AND DEARNESS RELIEF
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CONFEDERATION OF CENTRAL GOVT EMPLOYEES & WORKERS
1st Floor, North Avenue PO Building, New Delhi – 110001
Website: www.confederationhq.blogspot.com
President Secretary General
RAVI NAIR R.N. PARASHAR 9969234999 9718686800
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No. Confd./DA-Covid-19/2020 Dated: 24.04.2020
CONFEDERATION OF CENTRAL GOVT EMPLOYEES AND WORKERS
STRONGLY OPPOSE DA &
DR FREEZING.
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Central Government's decision to freeze three instalments of Dearness Allowance (DA) of Central Government Employees and Dearness Relief (DR) of Pensioners from 01.01.2020 to 30.06.2021 is a severe and unexpected blow to the Central Government Employees and Pensioners. Already most of the Central Government employees and Pensioners have contributed one day's salary and Pension to PM CARES Fund.
Confederation strongly oppose and protest the unilateral decision of the Central Government. We demand the Government to review the decision immediately and withdraw the DA & DR freezing orders.
Confederation CHQ is in touch with National Council (JCM) Staff Side Secretary and other leaders. Efforts are being made to arrive at a united stand and convey the same to Government through Secretary, JCM Staff Side. Detailed statement of Confederation will be issued shortly.
R.N.PARASHAR
Secretary General
Confederation of CGE& Workers
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