MINUTES OF CWC MEETING HELD AT KHARAGPUR

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 24^th 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 23^rd &24^th 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 23^rd and 24^th 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)

NEXT CWC MEETING ON 22-02-2011

Dated 25th January’ 2012

Dear Comrades,

For functioning of any Organisation active participation of not only the Office bearers but also the members is necessary. Many Accounts Staff simply ask IS AIRASA FUNCTIONING?. This may be due to the facts that there was no communication from the General Secretary after the circulation of Minutes of the 15th July ’11 CWC Meeting and the Resignation General Secretary on his promotion to Group B Services after 14 years of selfless service to the Railway Accounts Community. AIRASA IS FUNCTIONING AS USUAL. Correspondence with the authorities concerned on various pending demands are going on regularly. But to make it more active and vibrant Unit level Meetings and participation of Every Accounts Staff is more necessary. At the Apex level It was decided to convene a CWC Meeting to nominate a Central Office bearer to function as General Secretary till next BGM. But unfortunately no unit came forward to organize the same during October and November 2011. Shri. Ashok Dwivedi, Addl. Genl Secy talked to the DMW , Patiala staff and planned for a Meeting at Patiala on 27th January’2012. But most of the CWC members did not prefer the date because of the severe cold season over there and in the meantime Assembly Elections were also announced which made us to drop the plan.

Then Shri. Partha Bhattacharjee talked to Shri Suryanarayana, Jt. Secretary and asked him to host the Meeting at Kharagpur. Since the only community Hall near to Railway Station is available only on 22nd February, after consulting all Office bearers, it has been decided to hold the next CWC Meeting on 22-02-2012 at DURGA MANDIR, GOLE BAZAR, KHARAGPUR.

All the CWC members are requested to attend without fail and contact Shri. P.Suryanarayana, Jt.Secretary, AIRASA over Mobile No.09679755066 OR Partha Bhattacharjee on09433061426, Subhasisdas Mahapatra 09002081129 to confirm their participation and on arrival at Kharagpur Rly Station.

No Unit/Zone has remitted the membership dues since the last BGM held at Nagpur in Nov’2010 and with the meager balance available the Central Office it is difficult to carry on the activities of the Association and all CWC Members are requested treat the matter very serious and arrange for immediate remittance of the central portion of the membership collection.

Yours Comradely,

(REJI GEORGE)

SECRETARY-FINANCE

GREETINGS

AIRASA WISHES ALL ACCOUNTS FRATERNITY A HAPPY, SUCCESSFUL, HEALTHY AND PROSPEROUS NEW YEAR

2012

November 2011

Dated November 2, 2011

SHRI. DINESH TRIVEDI

HON’BLE MINISTER OF RAILWAYS

RAIL BHAVAN

NEW DELHI – 110001

Respected Sir,

Sub: Anomaly in MACP - Reg.

Ref: 1. MACP Scheme Rly Bd. Lr no: PC-V/2009/ACP/2

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

2. Railway Board’s letters No.PC-V/2009/ACP/7/SCR dt

29-04-2011 & No.PC-V/2010/ACP/MISC/1 dt 12-05-

2011.

3. CAT /MAS orders dated 05-08-2011 and 07-10-2011.

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Kind reference is invited to the CAT/ MAS’ orders dated 05-08-2011 and 07-10-2011 on the OAs No.1075 of 2010 and 993/2010 respectively filed by the aggrieved Sr. Supervisors of Southern Railway who got their promotions as early in 1980 and onwards and stagnating in the cadre and who have been denied the upgradation to the Grade Pay of Rs.5400/-, the benefit of MACP granted to their juniors and subordinates.

CAT/ MAS have disposed of the above OAs in the following terms. “ There will be a direction to the respondents to grant the revised pay to the applicants by extending the benefit of MACP scheme in favour of the applicants by fixing their Grade Pay of Rs.5400/- from the date on which the said benefit was extended to their juniors and to disburse the accrued arrears, if any to the applicants within the period of four weeks from the date of receipt of copy of this order”.

In this connection this Association has been representing since September 2009, the serious anomaly resulted in the implementation of MACP in Railway Accounts department. Practically 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. If the purpose of ACP is to give some financial benefit to those who are stagnated in their present grade for more than 10 years, the same is not achieved in the MACP scheme since the same has not benefited the Section Officers/TIAs/ISAs who got their promotions as early in 1980 and onwards and stagnating in the cadre.

MACP has inflicted degradation of status and deprivation of monetary benefits to the Senior staff while their Juniors and Subordinates are better placed in comparison.

An Accounts Clerk (in the initial recruitment grade) can skip two promotional Grades in hierarchy i.e Junior Accounts Assistant and Accounts Assistant and directly become a Section officer (Accounts) after qualifying the Appendix III (IREM) Examination conducted by Railway Board.

A Panel Seniority is being allotted on qualifying the Examination in the order of hierarchy of the post held by the Candidates qualified in the Examination and that Seniority position is reckoned for further promotions.

Under the MACP Scheme those Section officers who were directly recruited as Junior Accounts Assistants and those who were directly promoted from Accounts Clerk and Junior Accounts Assistant Grade have got the benefit of 3rd Financial upgradation under MACP and are placed in the next higher Grade Pay of Rs.5400/- despite being Juniors in the Panel Seniority.

Subordinates drawing higher Grade Pay than their Supervisors who were promoted after qualifying in the Departmental Examinations conducted on All India basis is not a healthy situation and the morale of the Senior Supervisors has got further sagged. This is not a welcome trend if viewed in the perspective of modern management practices.

A comparative analysis of the discriminatory nature of MACP scheme is enclosed from which the grave injustice heaped on the Sr. Supervisors can be seen.

Such an aggrieved position is not obtaining in any other department of Railways / other Central Government Departments in view of the continuous professional examinations (Training Exams, Appendix II, Appendix III) taken for their promotions instead of getting the elevation purely on seniority basis by other Railway Departments / Government Departments.

Hence this Association requests you to implement the above CAT Orders. An immediate positive action in this matter will boost the morale of thousands of Senior Supervisors who play a major role in the management of Railway Finance and Compilation of Accounts and have been denied the benefit of MACP.

Thanking you,

Yours Sincerely,

(M.S UNNIKRISHNAN)

ADDL.GENERAL SECRETARY

Dated November 2, 2011

SMT. POMPA BABBAR

FINANCIAL COMMISSIONER, RAILWAYS

RAIL BHAVAN,NEW DELHI – 110001

Respected Madam,

Sub : DESIGNATION CHANGE

Ref : 1. Rly board’s letter no. RBE/134 of 14-09-2010

2.This Assn’s letter dated 29-11-2010, 21-02-2011 & 11-07-2011.

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Railway board vide their letter cited have announced provisional revised designations for the merged cadres. The same is not in conformity with the designations held by organized Accounting organizations of central govt. with whom Railway Accounts is having parity in cadre and pay structures. Hence Railway board is requested to declare the following designations on par with other Audit and Accounts which will also match with the duties and responsibilities of Accounts staff and reflect the true nature of the dispensations.

Present Designation                                                 Proposed Designation

Peon Office Assistant

Accounts Clerk                                                       Accounts Assistant

Jr. Accounts                                                            Asst. Junior Accountant

Accounts Asst.                                                        Senior Accountant

Sr. Accounts                                                           Assistant Supervisor

Stock Verifier                                                         Stores Auditor

Sr. Stock Verifier                                                   Senior Stores Auditor

Section Officer (Accounts)                                     Assistant Accounts Officer

Travelling Inspector of Accounts                            Asst. Accounts Officer /SN (Station Inspection)

Inspector of Stores Accounts                                 Asst Accounts Officer/SI (Stores Inspection)

Thanking You.

Yours sincerely,

(M.S UNNIKRISHNAN)

ADDL.GENERAL SECRETARY

Dated November 2, 2011

SHRI. RAVI PRABHAT

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, ACCOUNTS

RAIL BHAVAN,

NEW DELHI – 110001

Respected Sir,

Sub : Promotion of erstwhile Gr. D now classified as Gr.C.

Ref : This Assn’s earlier letter dated 29-11-10, 21-2-2011

& 11-07-2011.

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It is to your knowledge that VI CPC has abolished Group D cadre in Central Govt. services and classified the existing Group D as Group C. Most of the Group D staff available in the Accounts department are Matriculates/Graduates/Post Graduates. Hence it is requested that the existing Gr. D staff in Grade Pay Rs.1800/- may be promoted as Accounts Clerks on Seniority basis against available vacancies. Vacancies that arise after the promotion of all the existing Gr. D Staff can be filled up by direct recruitment.

As all the promotees will be required to pass Accounts Training Examination and Appendix IIA Examinations for further elevation in their Career. The above proposal may kindly be considered and orders issued accordingly.

Thanking you,

Yours sincerely,

(M.S UNNIKRISHNAN)

ADDL.GENERAL SECRETARY

Dated November 2, 2011

SMT. POMPA BABBAR

FINANCIAL COMMISSIONER, RAILWAYS

RAIL BHAVAN,NEW DELHI – 110001

Respected Madam,

Sub : Introduction of 5% quota for unqualified Sr.AAs in

Supervisory cadre.

Ref : Railway Board’s letter dated 05-04-2007 and this

Assn’s earlier letters dated 2-05-2007,14-6-07,

16-6-09,9-9-09,20-9-09,7-12-09, 2-2-10,12-03-10,

28-4-10, 11-6-10, 20-7-10, 17-9-10, 29-11-2010&

11-07-2011.

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

Kind reference is invited to the numerous letters cited on the above subject. Railway Board’s letter No. PC V/98/I/II/23(pt) dated 14—07-2011 communicating freezing of the number of posts of Sr. Accounts Assistants created vide 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 has come as jolt to the entire Accounts community when staff of every other department in Railways are reaping the benefits of more promotional opportunities out of Cadre restructuring. The introduction of 5% unqualified quota, 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.

All the other Organised Accounts ans Audit departments have already issued orders calculating the unqualified quota in the merged Cadre of Section officer and Sr. Section Officers consequent on the implementation of VI PC.

Hence this Association requests Railway Board to remove this discrimination and modify its orders dated 14-07-2011 and introduce 10% unqualified quota as available in other organized Accounts and Audit where the beneficiaries are designated as Supervisors.

Thanking you,

Yours sincerely,

(M.S UNNIKRISHNAN)

ADDL.GENERAL SECRETARY

Dated November 2, 2011

SHRI. P.K. MISHRA

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, PAY COMMISSION

PRAGATI MAIDAN,NEW DELHI – 110001

Respected Sir,

Sub: Anomaly in MACP - in cases of

own/mutual transfer on lower Grade to another

division/unit of same railway.

Ref: 1. Rly Bd. Lr no: PC-V/2009/ACP/2 dt 10/06/09. (RBE101/2009).

2.This Association’s earlier letter dated 28-4-10, 20-7-10,&17-9-

10, 29-11-2010 , 21-02-2011& 11-07-2011.

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The employees who are transferred on mutual/own request basis on lower grade from one division/unit to another division/unit of the different seniority unit within the same Railway on lower/initial grade and subsequently they are again promoted have not been given the benefit of MACP in terms of para 24 of Annex of letter no. PC V/2009/ACP/II DT. 11.6.09. For example an employee appointed as JAA and after getting his AA promotion, he has been transferred on own request to another division/unit of the different seniority unit within the same Railway as JAA. In the new division/unit he again gets promoted as AA and S.O(A/Cs). In these cases Railways are counting his promotion of AA twice ( i.e. one of parent office & second of new office.)and are rejecting 3rd ACP.

In this regard it is stated that it is incorrect to count the promotion as AA twice. Further it is also pointed out that in some of the Zonal Railways there is Zonal seniority and in others division-wise seniority. In such cases if one employee joined as JAA in Central Railway and on completion of three years he was promoted as AA and transferred to other division, he doesn’t loses his 3rd ACP, whereas in case of another employee who joined in Western Railway as JAA and after getting AA’s promotion he seeks own request transfer to other division he is reverted on lower grade as JAA and takes his promotion based on the new seniority. In both the above cases being recruited through same RRB but posted in different Railways one gets 3rd MACPS benefit and another not. This Association requests your kindself to look into this anomaly and take suitable action to modify the rule under Para 24 of MACP Circular so that they are treated atleast on par with their juniors in the new Unit/Organisation.

Thanking you,

Yours sincerely,

(M.S UNNIKRISHNAN)

ADDL.GENERAL SECRETARY

Dated November 2, 2011

SMT. POMPA BABBAR

FINANCIAL COMMISSIONER, RAILWAYS

RAIL BHAVAN,NEW DELHI – 110001

Respected Madam,

Sub : Restructuring of Accounts cadres.

Ref : This Asociation’s earlier letter dated 20-09-

2010,29-11-2010,21-02-2011 & 11-07-2011.

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We understand that Cadre Restructuring Committee has been formed by Railway Board to restructure the percentage of various cadres in all the departments of Railways. As regards Accounts department we would like to present the following for your favourable consideration.

The Accounts Clerks are stagnated in the Cadre for more than 10 years for want of vacancies in JAA cadre. Hence it is requested for a change in the 80 : 20 pattern of Direct Recruitment Vs Promotions as 20 : 80 since virtually there are no direct recruitments.

Similarly the ratio of ASVs : Sr. ASVs may be modified from the present 65 : 35 to 20 : 80 as large number of posts are in work charged posts under Sales Organisation which varies from year to year. At present virtually only 10 % are in ASV cadre.

Thanking you,

Yours sincerely,

(M.S UNNIKRISHNAN)

ADDL.GENERAL SECRETARY

MINUTES OF CWC MEETING HELD AT NEWDELHI 0N 15-07-2011

Dated 31st August’ 2011
Dear Comrades,

Accepting the request of the Central Committee to host the CWC Meeting at New Delhi, S/Sri. Ramesh kumar and Jogindar Babbar with the help of Office Bearers of AIRASA, Traffic Accounts, N Railway had made excellent arrangements for the smooth conduct of the CWC Meeting ON 15-07-2011 at Baraat Ghar in Railway Colony.
Sri. Ramesh Kumar, Secretary, Communications welcomed the delegates. The Meeting started with paying homage to Sri. P.M Balai, CWC Member and Sri. Mohanraj, Jt. Secretary, South Zone on their untimely demise. Sri. R.K. Saraswat, President, AIRASA presided over the Meeting and outlined the agenda of the Meeting and narrated the current position of the demands and the outcome of the detailed discussions had by the team of Central Office bearers led by him on 13th &14th July with Railway Board Officials on all the pending demands.
Sri. N. Srinivasan, General Secretary outlined the activities of Central office since the BGM held at Nagpur in November 2010. While giving the details of discussions with Railway Board Officials he said
1. that Railway Board has replied to the letter received from DOPT to point out the anomalies that has arisen out of grant of MACP which included the Supervisors drawing less than the supervised, promotion in the same grade pay etc., and a decision or reply from DOPT is expected soon.
2. Regarding calculation of 5% unqualified quota i.e Sr.AA posts in the combined strength of SO(A)s and Sr.SO(A)s, the PC Directorate is in favour and the Accounts Directorate is refusing to understand the genuine arguments put forth by the Association including the need for maintaining parity with other Organised Accounts and Audit departments. Matter is being pursued further.
3. As regards the improved Grade Pays for various Cadre EDPC took the details of our demand for Grade Pay of Rs.4200/- for JAAs and assured to pursue the same. The team argued that the demand is based on VI PC Report ( Chapter 7 & 3) and that the diploma engineers have been granted Rs.4200/- whereas the First Class Graduate JAAs are given only Rs.2800/-
4. The following issues were also raised during the discussions and reminders were submitted.
a. the demand for promotion of erstwhile Group D Staff now in Group C Status on seniority basis to the post of Accounts Clerk.
b. Change of designations on par with the Organised Accounts and Audit departments.
c. Reintroduction of Grant of increments for passing App. IIA, App.IIIA and IV Examinations.
d. 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.
e. the issue of TIA/ISA group App III passed candidates waiting for promotion for more than 15 years.
f. the need for extending the Special Allowance to those ASVs who came from the Cadre of JAAs and granting of MACP to Stock Verifiers duly taking their combined service in AA and ASV cadre and requested for issue of clarifications in this regard.

Regarding Cadre Restructuring in Accounts department, he said that the following proposals have been placed before Rly Board.

a. To mitigate the grievance of Accounts Clerks stagnated in the cadre for want of vacancies in JAA cadre, AIRASA requested for change in the 80 : 20 pattern as 20 : 80 since there are no direct recruitments being made.
b. Similarly the ratio of ASVs : Sr. ASVs may be modified from the present 65 : 35 to 20 : 80 as large number of posts are in work charged posts under Sales Organisation which varies from year to year. At present virtually only 10 % are in Sr.ASV cadre.
c. The Sr.AAs cadre should be raised to 10% of merged strength of Section Officers on par with other Organized Audit and Accounts depts.

As for Group B Status to Senior Supervisors he said that the matter has been taken up through the Petitions Committee of Parliament Which is under process of obtaining the evidence from the Officers of Railway board at Bhubaneshwar in the second week of September 2011.

In the discussion that followed the following Central Office Bearers and CWC Members present participated. Smt. Ekta Gupta, WC Railway, S/Shri. Ashok Dwivedi, Nanoma, and Sudhakar of Western Rly, Rakesh Guptha of Northern Railway, Shajad Ahmad of EC Rly, Partha Bhattacharjee and Suryanarayana Rao of S E Rly, Ashish das of E. Rly, Kamaleshwar Chaturvedi of N E Railway, Somchand Bhringraj and B.K. Panda of S E C Rly. The achievement of AIRASA, Jullundhar Unit in arranging the payment of revision of Election duty honorarium to the tune of Rs.2.88 lakhs was appreciated by one and all. The highlights of the points observed in the Meeting included the following.

1. Lack of interest from the cadre in participation of activities of AIRASA was deplored and stress was made in strengthening of the Organisation in all the Railways particularly in places where there has been no activities at all. All Central Office bearers in the nearby areas were requested to help in mobilizing the support.
2. Zonal / Divisional Committees of AIRASA shall be reorganized and local issues of the members shall also be taken up with the Administration based on the merits of the case.
3. CWC Meetings/AGM/BGM should be organized in new places where Meetings have not taken place so far.
4. Demands / grievances taken up by the Central Office shall be popularized among the members by carrying the message person to person with due emphasis on the demands of ACs, JAAs and AAs being pursued by AIRASA.
5. The fight for Entry Grade Pay of Rs.4200/- for Accounts department (as being raised by technical cadres and Station Masters) should be taken serious and followed up.
6. The waiting period of 3 years for promotion to the next higher Grade in Accounts department should be revised as 2 years as implemented for other executive departments.

The General Secretary’s request to relieve him of the post in view of his domestic situation was debated without arriving at a solution.

Mr. Reji George, Secretary, Finance detailed the present financial position of the Association and said that no Unit/Zone has remitted the membership dues since the last BGM held at Nagpur in Nov’2010 and said that with the meager balance available it will be difficult to carry on the activities of the Association and urged the members present to take the matter serious and arrange for immediate remittance of the central portion of the membership collection.

Shri. Jogindar babbar proposed vote of thanks.

The CWC Meeting at NEW DELHI will be remembered not only for the detailed discussions and exchange of ideas but also for the hospitality shown by the volunteers of AIRASA, Northern Railway including S/Shri. Ramesh Kumar, Jogindar babbar, R.C. Khurana, J.K. Ahuja, Raj Kumar, Jai Prakash, O.P. Tiwari, Balvindu, Sunil Kumar, Rakesh Guptha , Ram Gopal Singh and Subash Chandra Marwal.

The delay in preparing this communication is deeply regretted.

Yours faithfully,

(N.SRINIVASAN)
GENERAL SECRETARY

CWC MEETING AT NEWDELHI ON 15-07-2011

Dated 25th June 2011
Dear Comrades,
I am aware that majority of the members are upset and angry over the absence of any communication from the General Secretary for the past four months. During this period, although I have been in touch with many Office Bearers and enquiring/updating the position regarding our major anomalies over phone and internet, I could not communicate the same due to pressing domestic problems. You may be aware that Government and Ministry of Railways have not come forward to solve any of the VI CPC and MACP anomalies. All JCM/Anomaly Committee Meeting minutes are evidences to this. The position is the same as for our Accounts Cadre anomalies also. The present generation Officials of Railway Board do only lip service whenever the Office Bearers of AIRASA meet them and nothing fructifies. They are least bothered about the Group C & D Employees and their grievances and are not ready to consider, argue and put up to PC directorate of the Railway Board about the special nature of Accounts department where qualifying in departmental Examinations decide the elevation to higher Cadres. Our adversaries i.e Railway Board Secretariat Service Officials dominated Pay Commission directorate is bent upon rejecting all our genuine demands just by quoting the Rules without examining the lacunae pointed out by this Association. The latest being the Railway Board’s letter No. PC-V/2010/ACP/Misc/1 dated 12-05-2011 addressed to both the Federations rejecting our plea for treating promotion to JAA grade on passing the Appendix II Examination as per the Record Note on the II Meeting of the MACP Anomaly committee Meeting. There seems to be no progress regarding other demands also. The only way out to draw the attention of the authorities is to agitate vigorously. Unless we show the same Unity and Solidarity as we had shown between 1998 to 2003, we may not be able to get any of our anomalies rectified. In the circumstances, in order to decide next course of action, it has been decided to conduct the next Central Working Committee Meeting at Newdelhi on 15th July 2011 at 10.00 a.m. All the CWC members are requested to attend without fail and contact Shri. Ramesh Kumar, Secretary, Communications over Mobile No.09717644361 for Venue and accommodation.
Your Comradely,

(N.SRINIVASAN)
General Secretary

GREETINGS TO TEAM INDIA

AIRASA CONGRATULATES TEAM INDIA FOR ITS EMPHATIC WIN IN THE FINALS OF WORLD CUP CRICKET AND FEEL PROUD OF SHRI. R. ASHWIN SON OF N. RAVICHANDRAN, AA , ASST.SECRETARY, AIRASA HQ BRANCH, SOUTHERN RAILWAY. WE WISH HIM A SUCCESSFUL CAREER.