LATEST HAPPENINGS
AIFSC/AM/02/2008-09
21.04.2008
To
Shri P.V. Bhide,
Revenue Secretary,
Ministry of Finance,
North Block, New Delhi – 110 002.
Sub: Observation on the Recommendations of the Sixth Central Pay Commission - reg.
Respected Sir,
The members of this Federation are greatly disappointed with the recommendation of the 6th CPC on all fronts including promotion policy, pay, allowances, leave, etc.
The 6th CPC report has envisaged new pattern of pay slabs with the idea of diluting the ill effects of stagnation, but it did not throw any light to ease the severe stagnation in the cases like ours, which possibly they could not even fathom. The Superintendents of Customs, in spite of possessing all the qualities to perform excellently at the higher levels, are choked to stagnate for more than 30 years to retire with a single promotion. We feel that promotion is one of the main motivations for better performance, which salary alone can not ensure. However, the 6th CPC has remained evasive on the issue of promotion. Other issues viz. pay, allowances, etc are also grossly ignored in the cases of the middle level and lower level officers.
It is comforting news that the 6th CPC report would be examined by the constituted committee before the report is accepted and implemented by the government. In such circumstances, we put forth the following issues for favourable consideration:-
1. Promotion Policy
The acute stagnation in our Cadre has blocked the way for our career progression, thereby causing severe demoralization in our Cadre. In the present scenario, we retire with a single promotion in 30-35 years and in case adequate measures are not taken, the officers will retire without any promotion in service life. Each department may be suitable instructed to ensure minimum 3 promotions in ones service life by resorting to suitable cadre-restructuring.
2. Pay Issue
(i) The 6th CPC report has rubbed salt to our injury by recommending to keep the Group B(Gazetted) officers as untouchables from the pay band PB-3 even after getting the ACP elevation to the pay scale of Group-A. At the same time the pay band PB-2 has been formulated to amalgamate all the Group-C, Group-B and Group B(Gazetted) officers including those, who got ACP elevation to the pay scale of Gr-A. Thus, all the promotee officers have been made untouchables even if many of them are elevated to the pay scale of the Group-A. The discrimination between the Gr- B(Gazetted) officers with ACP elevation and Gr-A officers by creating separate pay bands of 8700-34800 + 5400 and 15600-39100 + 5400 may be abolished as it is against the principles of the ACP scheme. In fact, the long experience of the Superintendents of Customs should be duly evaluated while placing them in a pay band and fixing the grade pay for them.
(ii) The actual rise in salary in the cases of the Superintendents of Customs is much less than the actual rise of salary in the cases of their senior officers though both faces the same grindings from the same society. The percentage of rise in the upper order is much higher and discriminatory than that of the lower order. Care may be taken to rationalize the actual rise of salary from the top order to the bottom order of the entire pay bands/ scales.
(iii) The annual increment may be maintained at minimum 8% for first 5 years and at 10% for next 5 years considering that the term of the 7th Pay Commission might begin in an era, which would be ruled and governed by the large corporates with their hefty pay packets for their staff. Otherwise, the government servants would then feel insignificant and insecure and would not be able to perform being demoralised.
(iv) The issue having its larger perspective and being connected to all other employees, we also subscribe to the views as held by the CONFEDERATION OF CENTRAL GOVERNMENT GAZETTED OFFICERS ORGANISATION (CCGGOO), MUMBAI, being a part of the said organization.
3. Cadre Specific Allowances
(i) Uniform allowance
We, the uniformed officers, wear white uniform similar to that of the Coast Guard while performing our duties on the ship in the docks and at the airports. It has been observed by the 6th CPC very rightly that maintaining the white uniform is a difficult and expensive task. It is requested that keeping the initial grant at Rs. 16000/-, the renewal grant may be made at Rs. 7000/- for every three years for our cadre at per with the Coast Guard.
(ii) Rummaging Allowance
We, as part of Customs Preventive operation, perform rummaging of the ship and also of the Aircraft and we have been granted the Rummaging Allowance, which is Rs. 500/- per month at present. Rummaging Allowance may be granted at Rs. 3000/- per month for all the Superintendents of Customs, all of whom are regularly engaged in preventive operations.
(iii) Airport Diet allowance
We have been granted the Airport Diet Allowance of Rs. 200/- per month, which is unrealistic in the present scenario. It is requested that the Airport Diet Allowance must be increased to Rs. 2500/- per month.
4. Leave
Number of closed holidays in any year is about 17 to 18 on an average. If the number of closed holidays is reduced to 3 days, the total number of Restricted Holidays available to each employee may be maintained at 15 days with proper flexibility.
Thanking you,
Yours Faithfully,
(ANUPAM MAJUMDAR)
PRESIDENT