Thursday, July 2, 2009

Minutes of Delhi Visit- June'09

Dated 2nd July 2009


Dear Comrades,

I along with Sri. R.K. Saraswat, President and Sri. Partha Bhattacharjee, Working President and Reji George, Secy, Finance camped in New Delhi from 17th to 19th June to follow up the pending demands with Railway Board. We had fruitful meetings with top Railway Board Officials, though FC was able to hear us only for a brief time since she was understandably busy in preparing Railway budget. But in the short time she spent with us she promised to look into the demands and said that action has been initiated on some of the demands.

During our discussions with other top Officials of Board we were given to understand that a proposal has been 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. We were also informed that VI PC Grades in respect of other categories like FPEs and Cash & Pay cadre is still in pipeline.
On the important issue of creation of additional posts of TIAs/ISAs, Once again Board reiterated that such dispensation falls well within the jurisdiction of GMs of Zonal Railways and Board have got nothing to do with it. All the Zonal Office Bearers therefore have to approach the GM/FA&CAOs for necessary action.

Consequent on the merger of both SO(A) and Sr.SO(A) cadre, the 5% of Sr.AA post should be calculated from 100% of the merged Cadre instead of erstwhile SO(A) Cadre alone. When we requested Board to issue Orders for the same, the officials opined it should have been done automatically by Zonal Railways and Board will confirm the action if approached.

The MACP orders will benefit all the Accounts Staff except Group D promotee AAs and CG II promotee SO(A)s. We raised the issue during our discussions and expressed that the promotion to Class III Cadre and promotion to JAA Cadre should be taken as Direct Recruitment. We were told by the Officials that the same could be represented after implementation and the final decision rests with DOPT.

The MACP Orders are clear that those who got the II ACP prior to 1-9-2008 should be granted Grade pay of Rs.4800/-. But the same DR JAAs who qualify for ACP after 1-9-2008 will be granted Grade Pay of Rs.4600/-. Though the order itself says that it will not be deemed as an anomaly, the issue will be raised after implementation of the order.

We also reminded the Board of the non issue of orders on Qualification Allowance and requested for consideration of AIRASA’s demand for reintroduction of Grant of increments for passing App. IIA and App.IIIA.


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. They promised to have a fresh look into the issue on the basis of this letter.

We also demanded the stopping of Examinations for selection to the post of AAOs for which they told that it can be done only thru modification of Recruitment Rules and asked for the copies of Recruitment Rules of other Organised Accounts and Audit. I have already collected copies of the same and Board is being approached for modification of the Recruitment Rules for the post of AAOs.


Restoration of three Additional increments to ASVs.
While we thanked the officials for granting Special Allowance of Rs.1000/- for passing App.IV Exam, 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.
Reminders on all other pending demands raised by AIRASA were also placed before the Railway Board.


APEX JAC MEETING HELD ON 19-06-2009.

A Meeting of the Apex JAC of Audit and Organised Accounts Employees Organisations was held at New Delhi on19-06-2009. Detailed discussion over the functioning of JAC, the Charter of Demands and the future course of action revealed the shortcomings and weaknesses in the JAC. The meeting concluded that the main hurdle in the effective implementation of programmes given by Apex JAC is that there hardly exist any JAC at local level, except few stations. The meeting of Apex JAC deliberating the issue in detail decided to convene a Joint meeting of the National Executives of all Constituent Organisation in the third week of July 2009 in New Delhi to address the issue of proper functioning of local JACs.

Now the Convenor of JAC has indicated that the date of the joint meeting will be 21st July 2009. The meeting shall be from 10 am to 5 pm. Venue of the meeting shall be Gandhi Peace Foundation Hall, Deen Dayal Upadhyay Marg(Rouse Avenue), New Delhi. This Joint meeting of National Executives of all Constituent Organisations will, apart from discussing the formation and proper functioning of local JAC, will discuss and decide on the charter of demands and future course of action(s).

However it is not possible for AIRASA to convene a Central Committee Meeting at a very short Notice and that too in New where we have no strong Branch to organize the same. At the same time we have to be a part of JAC to fight for the common grievances. Hence I request all those Central Committee Members who can make it to New Delhi on 21-07-2009 to attend the Meeting at the venue mentioned above. On reaching the Venue they can contact the General Secretary for further guidance.


MEMBERSHIP :

Despite the serious concern expressed in the CWC Meeting held at Mysore over the poor financial position of the Association, there has been no receipts so far in the Central quota of Membership. ALL ARE REQUESTED TO TAKE THE MATTER SERIOUS AND ENSURE COLLECTION AND REMITTANCE OF MEMBERSHIP QUOTA TO CENTRAL BODY AT THE EARLIEST. If the position does not improve in the following months the Central office may cease to function. Those Divisions/Units who have remitted the Membership so far may kindly send the details to Shri. REJI GEORGE, SECRETARY-FINANCE, AIRASA, 19, SENTHIL AVENUE, PONNIAMMAN MEDU, CHENNAI – 600110. (E-MAIL : geo_reji1959@yahoo.co.in).
Yours Comradely,


(N.SRINIVASAN)
General Secretary

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