MINUTES OF CWC MEETING
HELD AT KHARAGPUR
The Central Working
Committee (CWC) meeting of our Association was held at KHARAGPUR on 22-02-2012.
Nearly 50% of the Central Office Bearers
/CWC Members from attended the meeting apart from a host of members from the
hosting division /zone around. The
notable among the participants were the Chief Guest and the Assosiation’s
former General Secretary N.Srinivasan,AFA/MTP/MAS and Shri.Asim Halder, DYFA&CAO/SE
Rly who was the Guest of Honour.
Ms.K.Sudha Patraik WS/KGP, Ms.Rupa
Patraik, WS/ KGP, Ms.Banti, MTP and Ms.Kanika,E.Rly/TA accosted the CWC members
and received them with bouquets. The meeting started at 11 am presided by theWorking
President Shri. Partha Bhattacharjee, Shri.Tapas Mukherjee,Vice –President,
Kharagpur Unit welcomed the delegates. Shri Asim Halder, DyFA &CAO/SERly
delivered the inaugural address. While delivering the presidential address Shri.Partha
Bhattacharjee elaborated the efforts taken by AIRASA regarding various
anomalies since last CWC Meeting held at Newdelhi in July 2011.MACP anomalies
are being given top priority and at the same time when the Parliamentary
Petition Committee met at Bhubaneshwar in September 2011 an opportunity was
given to give oral evidence before them on the issue of grant of Group B status
on par with other organized Audit and Accounts organizations , the same was
utilized and the committee was briefed on the justifications of the demand by
the team of Office bearers led by former GS Shri N, Srinivasan. He also
announced the resignation of Shri, N. Srinivasan General Secretary consequent
on his promotion as AFA and asked the CWC to decide on the adhoc arrangements
to be made till next BGM. On concluding his speech, President invited the Zonal
representatives to report on the functioning of their zone/ divisions and put
forward their opinions and issues / problems they wanted to highlight.
Accordingly Shri. Ganesh Biswas, Zonal President Eastern Railway spoke on the
organizational matters..He also wanted the meeting to endorse the handing over of
the responsibility of the General Secretary to M.S. Unnikrishnan, AGS holding
the charge temporarily which was applauded by all. Then Shri. Ramesh
Kumar,N.Rly,Secretary, Communication, AIRASA was invited to speak. He wanted a
road-map for the Association to move forward. He also wanted the unity and
strength of the Association to be maintained. Speaking among other things , he
seconded the view expressed by Shri. Ganesh Biswas regarding looking after the
duties of GS by AGS M.S. Unnikrishnan which the committee nodded with clap of
hands. Then Shri Tapan Baisya rose to Speak. Referring to the portfolio of GS he
said, it was automatic and concluded. Dwelling on the question of MACP he
pointed out the injustice done to the CG II cadre and wanted to pursue the
matter of considering JAA as entry level for all. Then Shri. Regi George,
Secretary Finance detailed the financial crisis of the Association. He said the
Association could not be run without collecting membership. He further
expressed his anguish over the fact that certain units /divisions/zones who
collected membership have also not remitted the Central quota. He further
beseeched the members and office bearers of each committee at every level to
ensure that funds are properly accounted and expenditure and bank statements
are correctly maintained and shown/ accessed to members/ committees without
giving room for misgivings. He also praised Kamal Gupta of Adra Division, a
differently abled comrade who is moving with the aid of wheel-chair for having been
more regular than many Central Office bearers in attending the meetings. Shri
George also reminded the members that there was no ACP scheme in Accounts Dept except
for the Group D cadre and Accounts clerks. In 2007 ACP scheme was introduced
for the first time consequent on the incessant fight of AIRASA. Next, Shri. Kamal
Gupta addressed the delegates and detailed the activities. He also handed over
a brief to the General Secretary (i/c) for information and follow up. He also blamed
the communication gap between the central / zonal leadership and the division/
unit level committees/members.
Next spoke Shri Ashish Banerjee,
Kanchirapara workshop (?) Eastern Railway. He appealed to Shri. N. Srinivasan,
Ex.G.S.to remain as special Adviser to AIRASA. He also wanted AIRASA to project
the cause of extending the benefit of CCL to widower/ sole-parent fathers who
are destined to take care of their children due to the demise/disability of the
spouse. He also cited the instance of an employed father who was struggling to
rear the child in the absence of mother without having the benefit of maternity
leave or CCL or any other relaxations. The delegates were moved and all agreed
to make it a resolution and the meeting adopted the same. Shri.K.C.
Tripathy of ECo Rly who spoke next pointed out the grave anomalies of MACP
scheme in Accounts. Shri.P.Suryanarayana of SE Rly wanted the CWC to meet once
in 3 months and deliberate on the issues. He expressed concern over the
decreasing strength of the lekha parivar and pointed out that there was no
fresh recruitment after 1990.Then Shri N. Srinivasan , Ex.G.S /AFA/MTP was
invited to address participants. Before beginning his speech he handed over the
minutes book and other documents to the Acting General Secretary
M.S.Unnikrishnan as a symbolic gesture amidst loud applause. During his speech
Shri. Srinivasan revealed the days and the spirit of the struggle he spearheaded
and recalled the efforts of many present and past Office bearers and asked the
associates to follow the path of professionalism and humanism in official and
organizational matters which the Association has always advocated and followed
under his stewardship. Shri. Srinivasan also pointed out the ‘catch’ in the
present pay structure which affords more by way of allowances and less by way
of pay and increments resulting in less pension and hence lower life standard
and style during the post-retirement period. He wished the Association all the
best and offered all possible helps and continued guidance in the years to come
for the career development of Accountsmen. After the erudite speech of the all
time top functionary and ace General Secretary of the Association Sri.
Srinivasan, Sri. M.S. Unnikrishnan, the General Secretary (in charge) rose to
speak. After thanking for the faith reposed, G.S.promised all efforts and
initiative to take forward the Association. The need for the membership
campaign was also stressed. While emphasizing what secretary Finance has told,
it was reiterated that the Association could not be run in this fashion without
membership and offered to attend every zone /division as part of membership
drive to receive funds for the central committee whenever invited. Shri.Debanto
Bhattacharya of MTP/CAL who spoke next drew the attention of the CWC to the
complaints related to the valuation of Appendix III A papers. He said
destroying answer sheets were like destroying evidence. He said he himself was
an affected person. He also cited the case of Shri.Biswas who eventually
retired without a remedy or benefit. Shri. Debanto wanted transparency in the
affairs related to the conduct of examinations and he wanted the conductors of
Appendix III A to be employee friendly. Sri.Maruti Prasad, Divisional President
/ KGP wanted the CWC to organize agitations and liaison with Board pursuing the
demands and urged for lobbying at MR level,if needed to materialise the same. Shri D. Govindarjulu SC Rly, BZA expressed
concern at the stagnations in Accounts cadre. Shri.Mohapatra/ ECo Rly, Khurda
Road wanted AIRASA to pursue its old demand of merger of Accounts clerk and JAA
cadre. He appealed to all to complete membership drive by the end of June and
be ready with the list and central quota before the BGM. During the break GS
consulted the available CWC members and after contacting zones announced that
the Binniel General Body meeting would be held in South Zone at Madurai at the
end of July. (The dates have since been decided as 23 rd and 24th of
July 2012). It was also requested that the delegates at the BGM should submit
the list of members and central quota before receiving the pass / badge for the
Madurai conference as an organizational formality. Association’s internal
auditor Shri. Nirmal Dev of CLW while speaking pointed out the anomalies in the
MACP scheme and fixation problem. He cited the instance of the AGS Shri. Ashok
Dwivedi who also encountered problem with his fixation. Shri.D. Nageswara Rao, SC
Rly, Permanent invitee to CWC detailed the way we have crossed and the path ahead.
He pointed out the present state of affairs and wanted things to change for the
better and offered all help. Shri Abijith Roy, HWH Division wanted the
Association to insist and fight for MACP to next departmental scale and cited
the demand for progression from 4200 to 4800 and not to 4600 as is due in the
departmental hierarchy. He detailed his struggle to get his Appendix III A paper
for perusal by obtaining order from Delhi High Court and wanted the matter to
be mentioned in Parliament. Next spoke Shri. DilipRoy of SE Rly who said the
AAs should get Rs.6600 as III ACP to which Shri. N. Srinivasan clarified that
the next GP available in the higher scale ie PB III is Rs 5400 only. Navakumar
Chaterjee President of KGP workshop unit greeted the delegates and said the CWC
should chart out a programme of action. Shri. Dilip Tamuli , NF Rly demanded
that printing of membership book should be decentralized which the meeting discussed
and left it to be decided by the next BGM. He said Association would fight for
GP according to Departmental hierarchy which meant one stage higher. Shri. N.
Srinivasan clarified the difference between ACP&MACP and said in simple
terms ACP would afford the next higher departmental scale where as MACP would
give only the next available grade pay. The CWC ended with the delegates in a
positive spirit and the General Secretary (i/c) inducing more optimism while
extending thanks to the participants and organizers.
The CWC passed the following
resolutions unanimously.
1. The
top Central Office bearers shall visit Newdelhi in the month of April to meet
the new FC and follow up our pending demands.
2. The
next BGM will held at MADURAI in Southern Railway on 23rd &24th
of July 2012.
3. To appeal for extending the benefit of CCL to
widower/ fathers who are destined to take care of their children due to the
demise/disability of the spouse
After the CWC, open
meeting was held at Durga Mandir,Gole Bazar,Kharagpur in the evening.
Shri.A.N.Banerjee,Sr DFM/ KGP was the chief guests and Sri. Pranab Chaudary, AFA,
Shri. S.Nanda DFM, Shri.N.Srinivasan,AFA/MTP/Chennai, Shri. R. Sarkar DFM were guests of honour. Shri.Partha
Bhattacharya in his Presided over the Meeting. Shri. M.S. Unnikrishnan, GS (i/c)
detailed the deliberations taken place in the CWC. The co-operation of all
FA&CAOs was requested to materialise the demands like one-time
exemption etc., It was also mentioned
that Accounts fraternity expects much more from Smt.Vijaya Kant, the Hon.F.C. A
true mother would pass the Solomon’s test and the expectation was expressed
that Smt. Vijaya Kant would not fail in this regard. It was also mentioned that
AIRASA could not get an audience with subsequent Railway Ministers after Shri. Nitish
Kumar who in every respect proved himself a patron of Accounts fraternity and
Railway Parivar in general. The reason behind this general trend was explained
as a paradigm shift in the rulers who are after the market forces. It was also
stated how AIRASA as the umbrella organization of lekha parivar took care of its
leader Com.R.T. Agacy during his last days and last rites at Chennai and how an
ailing child/daughter of a visiting SSO(A) from Central Railway to Trichy was
provided medical assistance and care and similar such instances umpteen number
of cases through out India.While eulogizing the services of its general
Secretary N.Srinivasan it was vividly and emotionally detailed how the G.S gave
his berth to the present GS (i/c) while going to Gorakhpur for meeting to
accommodate an unwell then COS unmindful
of his own fractured hand sleeping near the doorway floor. Such was the care
and attention Shri. Srinivasan had for his organizational colleagues and such
were the hardships and sacrifices the leaders and cadres suffered and made
during the days of the struggle for improved pay scales. It was added that Sri.
Srinivasan will not be seen off; but a formal felicitation would be given at
MDU. G S (i/c) concluded the speech quoting Walt Whitman, adopting a stanza
from his Leaves of Grass’,modifying thus:
Camerado,
this is no ordinary Association;
Whoever
toucheth it
Toucheth
the heart of Accounts man!
Shri.N.Srinivasan, former G S and
AFA/MTP/Chennai in his felicitatory address detailed the Association’s
activities and the deliberations had at the Board level. He also briefed on the
present position of the demands and the tribunal and court judgments on the
same. Former GS also stated THAT THE NEED OF THE HOUR IS THAT ACCOUNTSMEN
SHOULD COME TOGETHER AND TAKE THE STREETS NEAR PARLIAMENRT AND SHOW TO THE GOVT
AND ADMINISTRATION THAT WE WILL FIGHT UNITEDLY TILL WE ACHIEVE OUR DEMANDS. He
profusely thanked all for their co-operation and participation in the struggle
and organizational activities during his long innings, first as President and
then as General Secretary. He urged the members to continue the same spirit of
activism and the feeling of human touch he always tried to cultivate. He
appealed the fraternity never to let down the Association, offered all his help
and guidance and wished them the best. While addressing the audience,
Shri.A.N.Banerjee, Sr DFM/KGP praised the Association for their service to the
Accounts staff and said that no other departmental staff can claim equality
with the accounts staff. All other guests wished all success for the
Association and accounts staff. Shri.
Suryanarayana proposed vote of thanks.
The closing ceremony was a wonderful
presentation of a cultural extravaganza led by Smt.Swagata Maji, wife of
Shri.Tapas Maji of Workshop Accounts/KGP. If the rendering of old melodies by
Shri.Pronoy Kumar Dutta,Sr.stock verifier (Accounts) was soulful, the
Bharatnatya and Kuchipuri numbers of Smt. Swagata Maji,Kumaris V.Revathi, Neha
Sharma,K.Swetha Y.Lavanya.Anitha Singh, Vaishali Sharma and Bagyashree were a
feast for the eyes and ears. Swagata team, the SE Railway classical dance champions
has previously won Inter Railway competitions in Bhavnagar (WR-2009), Chennai
(SR-2010) and Mugulsarai (ECR-2011). Hence the Kharagpur CWC had a colourful
end and created a lasting impression, thanks to the Zonal, Divisionaland
Workshop Accounts personnel who organized the event under the leadership
comrades Partha- Bhattacharjee and Suryanarayana. All delegates were
appreciative and grateful to the hosts for their hospitality and arrangements.
While penning the
heartful thanks to all the organizers of the event on behalf of the
central-office bearers, General Secretary (i/c) personally records his
indebtedness to the Associates of KGP and SE Rly for having made the event a
pleasant and memorable one. It is also hereby communicated that our next BGM (Biennial
General Body Meeting) will be held at Madurai on 23rd and 24th
of July 2012 and all are invited. Let our get-together on Nag-Panchami day
strengthen our Association.A souvenir will be issued on the occasion and your
contributions,ads,articles and photos are invited.
And last but not the least,
the membership drive requires momentum and we cannot function without minimum
funds. Hence the MDU BGM should be members meet in every sense.
AIRASA ZINDABAD
(M.S.UNNIKRISHNAN
NAIR)
(General
Secretary (i/c)
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