SEVENTH CENTRAL PAY COMMISSION MEMORANDUM by AISBCEU - Your Comments Please

ALL INDIA SAVINGS BANK CONTROL EMPLOYEES UNION

(Service union under Dept. of Posts)

CHQ UNION WEBSITE: http://www.aisbceu.blogspot.in/

[HQ- # 32 RANI KATRA CHOWK, LUCKNOW - 226 003  UTTAR PRADESH CIRCLE]

P.A.MATHRE                                        R. K. TANDON                        P.K.MISHRA

PRESIDENT                                         GENERAL SECRETARY        TREASURER

SBCO, MAHIM HO                                O/ O CPMG, U.P.CIRCLE       CPU, New Hyderabad

MUMBAI-400016                                    LUCKNOW – 226001              LUCKNOW – 226007

CELL: 09819188067                               CELL: 09415025900,               09451028656

                                                                        09616500831

Email: prakashamhatre@gmail.com             Email: rakeshshobha@gmail.com

SEVENTH CENTRAL PAY COMMISSION MEMORANDUM

Introduction of SBCO cadre:

            Our Union is one of the recognized services Union under the Department of Post for the staff of SAVINGS BANK CONTROL ORGANIZATION [SBCO].The total number of staff in SBCO cadre is approximately 3500 in all over the 900 Head Post Offices in India. One SBCO branch is established with minimum staff strength of 3 to 7 officials to audit   the daily Savings bank transactions of Head Offices and Sub Offices.

          The SBCO [Savings bank Control Organisation] wing is one of the separate identity cadre in the Department of Post to attend the audit function of Postal Savings Bank transactions.

           The P&T board decided in 1960 to take over the SB control work from the A.G P&T and abolish the duplicate ledger card system maintained in branch Audit office. The approval of the A.G, P&T, C.A.G and Ministry of Finance was also obtained. Initially, the scheme was started w.e.f.1.1.1961 and then extend in all office w.e.f.01.10.1965. As such, our parent cadre is Postal Audit and even after bifurcation from audit office, still we are doing the auditing work as a separate group with separate identity called as SBCO cadre in all Head Post Offices. The brief history of our cadre is enclosed in Annexure-I

           The Ministry of Finance had issued an order vide Lr.No: 6/82/E-III[B]/91 Dt.28.02.2003 to revise the pay scales of all organized accounts cadre and the same had been implement in all audit cadre/wing offices except to our SBCO cadre, since we have been placed in the Head Post Office .The copy of the order is enclosed in Annexure-II

            Our Union made a representation to the Secretary [P] to implement the revised pay scales recommended to the organized accounts cadre by the Ministry of Finance  with the comparative statement of SBCO cadre and Postal Accounts cadre pay scales is given below to your kind information. Our demand is rejected by the Department vide DG[P] Lr.No:1-25/2003 Dt.13.06.2005 [Copy enclosed in Annexure-III] that as the recruitment rules, pay scales, promotional avenues of SBCO staff differ from the Postal accounts cadre, SBCO staff have no relation with the accounts cadre of the Department of Post.

          Since the Department channel was closed, our Union took up this matter with  Kolcutta CAT Bench under O.A.No:793 of 2006,the judgment was issued on 15.01.2008 that  since the 6^th Central Pay Commission is now examining the pay scales across the Governments entire spectrum, the applicant will be liberty to approach the departmental authorities to move the 6^th CPC for redressal.

          Our Union took up this matter with 6^th Central Pay Commission vide our Union letter No: CHQ/SBCO/Postal/153-2008 Dt: 22.02.2008. Since the judgment was delivered in late on 15.01.2008 and also the 6 Central Pay Commission offices had finished all its business, our Union was informed that since the submission of our proposal is too late, this office is not in position to consider our demand.

Copy of the Lr.No: CHQ/42/2003 Dt.15.11.2003 addressed to Smt.Padma Balasubramaniam, Secretary [P], I Floor, Dak Bhavan’ New Delhi-110 001

Respected Madam,

                        Sub: Request to revise the pay scales of SBCO staff on par with Organised Accounts  Department

                        Ref: 1.CHQ/11/2003 Dt.18.10.2003

                        In continuation of our Union letter, I wish to furnish some more information’s for your kind consideration in this matter.

1. The SBCO set up was formed is each Head Office to discontinue the maintenance of duplicate ledger cards in Branch Audit Office. Previously, this work was operated in the Postal Accounts office.

2.      Before the take over of S.B.Control work from Audit, the branch audit offices used to maintain duplicate Savings Bank ledger card in respect of every S.B.account in addition to the ledgers maintained in the Head Post Offices.

3.    The approval of the A.G. P & T, C.A.G. and Ministry of Finance was also obtained for this change of set up.

4. The Control Organisation is now required to submit a monthly statement containing statistics of number of accounts, transactions, balances etc. at the close of the month to the Postal Accounts Office.
5. In the Postal Accounts Office, these statistics are consolidated for all the Head Offices in the Circle in order to arrive at the final closing balance of the Circle at the end of each month.
6. The consolidated statistics of Deposits, Withdrawals and closing balances under each category of accounts are intimated by the Postal Accounts Office to the Directorate by due date.

It is crystal clear from the above operations that the SBCO cadre is an Organised   accounts Cadre. So far, the SBCO cadre is declared with  ’Separate Identity’ and the staff of SBCO are not allowed to appear Group “B” and “Fast Track Examination”.

In addition to the above, I herewith enclosed a comparative statement about the other benefits offered to the SBCO cadre and Postal Accounts cadre for your kind information.

In all over India, the total strength of SBCO staff is only 3500 and in case of implementation of this revised scale. The total expenditure will cover only 21 lakhs per month, i.e. each official will get Rs.500/= as additional benefit in this pay.

Since, the Ministry of Finance has given clear standing instructions to revise the scale in all organized accounts cadre, the scale revision could be ordered by our Department itself.

Hence, the revised scale recommended by MOF for organized account cadre may please be ordered to SBCO cadre w.e.f 1.1.1996 for re-fixation and the pay benefit from 19.02.2003 like other auditing staff.

                                                                                                            SD. xxxxxx

Encl: Comparative statement                                 [J.SUKUMAR, General Secretary]

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COMPARATIVE STATEMENT OF SBCO CADRE AND POSTAL ACCOUNTS CADRE

SL.NO	SBCO CADRE	POSTAL ACCOUNTS CADRE
1.	The SBCO staff offered TBOP/BCR promotion	The Postal accounts cadre staff offered ACP promotion
2.	The both basic cadre was LDC/UDC Later date, it is called as PA, SBCO The pay scale 4000-100-6000 Now. It is to be revised as 4500-125-7000	The same in Postal accounts cadre. Later date, it is called as Auditor/Accountant The pay scale 4000-100-6000 It was already revised as 4500-125-7000
3.	In SBCO, pre 1983 the pay scale of LSG Supervisor post 425-15-500-15-560-20-700 equivalent to IPO scale, but the scale of LSG Supervisor in Post side 425-15-560-20-640 After 1983, the scale 1400-40-1800-50-2300 After 1996, 4500-125-7000 But, as per the original scale pre1983, the equivalent scale 5000-150-8000 Hence, the new scale may be revised as 5500-175-9000	Pre1983, the pay scale for Senior Accountant/Auditor post 425-15-500-15-560-20-700 After1983, 1400-40-1600-50-2300-60-2600 After 1996, 5000-175-8000 Now, the revised scale 5500-175-9000
4.	In HSG-II and BCR grade Pre 1996, 1600-50-2300-60-2660 After 1996, 5000-150-8000 Normally in every pay commission, some two three scales will be merged. Just like, since no other equivalent scale is referred to this cadre, the next above scale 6500-200-10500 may be recommended as in order.	In Section Officer Post, pre 1983, 1640-60-2600-75-2900 After1983, 5500-175-9000 Now, revised scale 6500-200=10500
5.	HSG-I post Pre 1996 2000-60-2300-75-3200 After 1996, 6500-200-10500 Now, the new scale 7450-225-11500	AAO Pre 1996, 2000-60-2300-75-3200 After 1996, 6500-200-10500 New revised scale 7450-225-11500 Both are same

                                                                                                    

In the above statement, it is very clear other than BCR/HSG-II cadre, in all other cadres, the scale are same in both SBCO cadre as well as in Postal Accounts cadre. In BCR/HSG-II cadre, since there is no equivalent scale and also, the cadre is one of the higher cadre then TBOP/LSG, the next above higher scale is to be recommended automatically.

         Hence, now our Union takes up this matter with Seventh Central Pay Commission to consider of demand in favour in view of the following reasons.

1.      The SBCO set up was formed is each Head Office to discontinue the maintenance of duplicate ledger cards in Branch Audit Office. Previously, this work was operated in the Postal Accounts office.

                                                            

2.      Before takeover of S.B.Control work from Audit, the branch audit offices used to maintain duplicate Savings Bank ledger card in respect of every S.B.account in addition to the ledgers maintained in the Head Post Offices.

3.      The approval of the A.G. P & T, C.A.G. and Ministry of Finance was also obtained for this change of set up.

4.      The Control Organization is now required to submit a monthly statement containing statistics of number of accounts, transactions, balances etc. at the close of the month to the Postal Accounts Office.

5.      In the Postal Accounts Office, these statistics are consolidated for all the Head Offices in the Circle in order to arrive at the final closing balance of the Circle at the end of each month.

       

6.      The consolidated statistics of Deposits, Withdrawals and closing balances under each category of accounts are intimated by the Postal Accounts Office to the Directorate by due date.

7.      Before bifurcation our cadre from Director of Postal Accounts in 1965, which work was attended by the audit office staff regarding the Savings Bank Transactions, the same is being continued in SBCO branch under the control of Accounts Officer placed in Internal check Organization called as ICO in each PMGs office. Here, the Accounts officer is the Postal Accounts cadre staff. If we are not doing the auditing work, what is the necessity to appoint an accounts Officer to supervise our auditing work.

8.      In the SB-7 voucher [Withdrawal Form] , a separate square fox is printed as Auditor to place our signature to ensure the auditing voucher.

9.      In the Departmental of Expenditure memorandum Dt:25.02.2003, there is no specific condition was given for not applicable to postal wing, instead it is clearly mentioned that it may be extended to the corresponding categories in all the organized Accounts cadre.

10.  In our cadre name, it is called as SAVINGS BANK CONTROL ORGANIZATION [SBCO] , if we are not organized cadre, there is no need to specify the name  as Control Organization.

11.  In the recent our Department CBS implementation, our role is defined as Auditor for controlling the daily Savings Bank Transactions.

     In addition to the above reasons, our Union will explain in details during our call for appearing before the 7^th CPC about our genuine demand for implementing the Organized Accounts cadre pay scales to SBCO staff w.e.f. 28.02.2003.

PROMOTION CHANCES IN SBCO CADRE:

THREE PROMOTIONS IN MACP – After completion of 10 Years – MACP I

                                                         After completion of 20 years – MACP II

                                                         After Completion of 30 year –   MACP III        

Norm Based post promotions – LSG Supervisor – According to seniority after the completion of minimum 20 to 25 years

                                                        HSG –II – Senior Supervisor – After completion of 3 years service in LSG cadre – during every 1^st January – next DPC will consider it

[Totally the officials has to wait for four years including the current DPC year.

                                                       HSG – I – Chief Supervisor - After completion of 3 years service in HSG-II cadre – during every 1^st January – next DPC will consider it

[Totally the officials have to wait for four years including the current DPC year.

Facing problems in the promotions:

a.  Regarding MACP promotion, there is no major problem other than considering ‘APAR’ in favour.

b.  In the case of LSG promotions, conducting DPC is not done properly in time every year. Resulting, more number of LSG posts are in vacant and manned by the most junior staff,

c.  Regarding HSG-II, after getting LSG promotion the official has to wait for another four years completion in LSG post. Since the official got HSG-II promotion in his 30^th year service, he may come to the stage of retirement due to administrative delay and policies followed in the promotions.

d.  Regarding HSG-I, after getting HSG-II  promotion the official has to wait for another four years completion in HSG-i post. Since the official got HSG-I promotion in his 35^th  year service, he may come to the stage of retirement due to administrative delay and policies followed in the promotions

In view of the above conditions, more number of HSG I & II posts are lying vacant without filling for a long time and the senior officials could not enjoy the full benefit.

The following are suggested to avoid the above anomalies.

1.      According to the Seniority, the LSG promotions have to be issued without delay.

2.      The HSG I & II promotions have to be issued purely according to the gradation list instead of prescribing the service condition as 3 years completion. Then only, all the vacant posts could be filled up by the senior officials and the senior officials could discharge their higher responsibilities.

Expectation in the 7^th Central Pay Commission approval

a.    Our cadre must be declared as Organized Accounts cadre w.e.f  retrospective from 28.02.2003

b.    All the Pay benefits & fixation of pay should be effected retrospective effect.

c.    The anomalies in the norm based posts of LSG, HSG I & II has to be removed, and instead these posts should be filled up only on seniority basis.

d.     The three level MACP may be upgraded as five level promotion during the completion of  10 years, 8 years, 6 years, 6 years and 2 years, since the most of the new recruits come to the Govt services between the ages 28 to 30 years,

e.     The officials working as Chief Supervisor may be promoted as Inspecting officer in Group ‘B’ Grade.

NEW PAY SCALES FOR THE CONSIDERATION OF 7^TH CPC W.E.F. 01.01.2016

6th CPC PAY STRUCTURE				EXPECTED PAY STRUCTURE OF 7TH CPC
Pay Bands	Grade Pay	Pay in the Pay Band	Pay  Scale	Pay Band	Grade Pay	Pay in the Pay Band	Pay Scale
5200-20200	1800	5200	7000	15000-60000	5000	15000	20000
5200-20200	1900	5830	7730	15000-60000	7000	17000	24000
5200-20200	2000	6460	8460	15000-60000	9000	20000	29000
5200-20200	2400	7510	9910	15000-60000	11000	23000	34000
5200-20200	2800	8560	11360	15000-60000	13000	26000	39000
9300-34800	4200	9300	13500	30000-100000	15000	30000	45000
9300-34800	4600	12540	17140	30000-100000	17000	35000	52000
9300-34800	4800	13350	18150	30000-100000	19000	40000	59000
15600-39100	5400	15600	21000	50000-150000	21000	50000	71000
15600-39100	6600	18750	25530	50000-150000	23000	60000	83000
15600-39100	7600	21900	29500	50000-150000	25000	70000	95000
37400-67000	8700	37400	46100	100000-200000	30000	100000	130000
37400-67000	8900	40200	49100	100000-200000	35000	110000	145000
37400-67000	10000	43000	53000	100000-200000	40000	120000	160000

GRADE PAY:

The present Grade pay system is not favor to the Govt.official, since   it is proposed with a marginal increase and in uniform manner. In some stages, it gives the benefit of Rs.200/ only during promotions is not sufficient to meet two meals cost. The promotion of the official has to be honored by giving some additional benefits not less than minimum Rs.2000/= from one Grade pay to another Grade pay, then only the officials will opt the promotions. At present, most of the promotions were denied by the Govt. officials for the main reason of financial hardship. Hence, the minimum increase of the Grade Pay must be Rs.2000/= during the promotions from one Grade pay to another Grade pay.

           

Increment

In fact the single date increment system has brought lot of  anomalies. In our Opinion, the commission must recommend, for administrative expediency, two specific dates as increment dates. Viz. 1st January and 1st July.

 Those recruited/appointed/promoted during the period between 1 Jan and  June, will have their increment date on l January and those recruited/appointed/promoted between 1st July and 31st December will have it on 1st July next

This apart the Commission is required to specifically recommend that those who retire on 30th June and 31st December are granted one increment on the last day of their service.

     The increment must be classified as two types of increments called as Annual Increment and Promotional Increment.

a. Annual Increment may be increased from 3% to 4% as in present

b. Promotional Increment may be considered during promotions @ 5%, since the officials are facing financial hardship during promotions by loosing less salary than the drawn already and also additional establishment for self.

c. Irrespective of MACP, the promotional increment has to be considered during norm based promotions or promotions by passing Departmental examination. without changing the Grade Pay to avoid hierarchy anomalies.

MACP with 5 financial up gradation :

There should be 5 financial upgradation in the departmental promotional hierarchy. MACP is a time bound promotional scheme, The scheme is required to be continued to motivate personnel at all levels and at all departments especially in those organizations, where normal promotional avenues are few and far between. Normal promotions are dependent upon the availability of vacancies at higher levels. The job requirement of certain organizations may not be capable of creating requisite number of higher level positions whereas it might need large number of personnel at lower levels. Hence, the three stages MACP may be upgraded as five stages promotion during the completion of  10 years, 8 years, 6 years, 4 years and 2 years, since the most of the new recruits come to the Govt services between the ages 28 to 30 years,

Allowances & Advances

The existing allowances need to be retained. They are at a realistic level having been evolved by successive Pay Commission over detailed deliberations. Other than HRA & HBA, all allowances/advances are to be multiplied by 2.5 times according to the ratio of Dearness allowance and inflation.

The rates of all the above allowances shall automatically increase by 25% whenever the Dearness Allowance payable on the revised pay bands goes up by 50%.

HOUSE RENT ALLOWANCE:

The existing rate of HRA for the  A1- Cities as 30% and the A, B-1 &2 Cities as 20% may be continued. But, in the class of C areas, the 10% is not sufficient while comparing the actual rent paid by the Govt. official. Hence, it may be raised to 15% for all C class areas.

ENCASHMENT OF EARNED LEAVE:

The Govt. official may be permitted to encash the Earned Leave up to 15 days every year. Now, it is allowed only at the time of availing LTC only. It will increase the man power in the office hours to keep the work without pending.

CONVERSION OF HALF PAY LEAVE:

The officials may be allowed liberally to convert the half pay leave as EL at the time of need of the Govt. official without any condition

REIMPURSEMENT OF MEDICAL EXPENSES:               

The present prescribed rates are not sufficient to the Govt.officials. It may be increased according to the average claim of the leading Hospitals. In respect of major deceases, the actual rate charged by the approved Hospital must be reimbursed.

MEDICAL INSURANCE:

One new Medical insurance has to be announced with higher premium not more than 1000 rupees per year to cover the medical expensed of all members of the Govt.official and Pensioner with half rate of regular Govt.official.

SPECIAL ADVANCE OR PERSONAL LOAN

In all the Banks, the bank employees are allowed to get personal loan at a lower rate of interest of SB rate 4% to meet the urgent family expenses of the Govt.official for their children higher education and marriage expenses. This may be allowed once is a year upto the limit of their 5 Times of Basic pay+Grade pay recoverable in 20 installments. It will reduce the financial hardship.

PAYMENT OF BONUS:

The 7th CPC must make note of the recommendations of the 5th CPC & Bazle Karim Committee Report which are yet to be acted upon by the Government. The present system of Productivity linked bonus is the product of bilateral agreements and cannot be changed through unilateral decisions. What is needed is that the Government must issue necessary guidelines to enable all departments to enter into such bilateral agreements with their staff unions so that the adhoc bonus system presently in vogue in many departments could be abolished. The minimum bonus prescribed Rs: 2500/= was raised as Rs:3500/= per 30 days is not sufficient to meet their festival expenses of all members minimum to 4 persons. It may be recommended to raise to Rs.6000/- for 30 days, then only the purpose for it is declared will serve its intention.

HOUSE BUILDING ADVANCES:       

It may be raised to 60 times if Basic pay+ Grade pay and recoverable in 240 installments or the remaining number of years multiplying in months, The simple rate constant interest may fixed as 8% for which providing a house to every citizen is the Govt.policy.

TRAVELLING ALLOWANCE:

While claiming the food allowance, the Govt.Official should not be compelled to produce the voucher for the food expenses. Actual orescribed rate must be allowed.

 LEAVE TRAVEL CONCESSION [LTC]       - At present it is allowed once in year for Home town and once four year for other places on  LTC. The once in four year may be considered to reduce as three years. And also, the Goyt. Official may be allowed to avail the LTC with out the condition to return from the last point in short cut route, he may be allowed to visit some stations in different route with a restriction of Total number of KMs as per the eligible Grade as allowed in Nationalized Bank staff. In the case of non availability of Train reservation, the Govt.official may be allowed by Approved Taxi on road mileage.

GROUP INSURANCE SCHEME                     -

The Commission recommends that the rate of monthly subscription and the amount of insurance cover under the Central Government Employees Group Insurance Scheme should be enhanced as under:-

GROUP                       RATE OF MONTHLY SUBSCRIPTION             INSURANCE COVER

      A                                                   720                                                                  7,20,000

      B                                                    360                                                                  3,60,000

      C                                                   180                                                                  1,80,000

DA MERGER: 50% DA merger as done before submission of last 6^th CPC report

INTERIM RELIEF: PRAY FOR 20% INTERIM RELIEF

PENSION:

• Commutation table has to be revised by two time of the existing rate. 
• Instead of the new Pension scheme of 2004, the existing pension scheme must be allowed to the employees who had joined in the Department on or after 01.01.2004. 
• The existing pensioners pension has to be revised as per the new formula for the new pay fixation with a minimum pension of Rs. 8500/=. 
• At present, the enhanced pension is being allowed after attaining the age of 80m it may be considered after attaining the age of 75 years.

Dear Comrades,             The pay commission memorandum is prepared and covered all our grievances and expectation in the 7CPC. In case of, any items are left out, it may be brought to my notice with your comment to my Email Id. jskumarpost@gmail.com Cell No: 90289 68647 – The comments should be send to me on or after 27.05.2014, since it should be submitted to the Pay Commission office on or before 31.05.2014. J.Sukumar Date: 23.05.2014                                                   Ex.General Secretary