On the issue of New Pension Scheme, AIRF apprised Hon’ble Minister that Railwaymen are second line of defence and work in most precarious and arduous conditions. Many railway employees lay down their lives while working on duty to keep the nation on move and trains on the run, therefore, like Armed Forces, concept of New Pension Scheme may also be abolished from Railways. The New Pension Scheme, i.e. National Pension System, introduced w.e.f. 01.01.2004, has totally eroded the Social Security, and the staff appointed on or after this crucial date is always worried about their future, which also diverts their proper attention from their duty. AIRF insisted that Hon’ble Minister should raise the matter with Hon’ble Finance Minister Shri Arun Jaitley and ensure that Government of India keeps railway employees out of the ambit of New Pension Scheme. More……..

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No.AIRF/24(C)                                                                                                                                   Dated: 23.12.2015

The General Secretaries

All Affiliated Unions

Dear Comrades,

Sub: Abolishing National Pension System(NPS) from the Railway System – Feedback of the         meeting held today with Hon’ble Minister for Railways 

Hon’ble Minister for Railways, Shri Suresh Prabhu, met today with the federations to discuss various issues of the Railwaymen, and the following issues were discussed at length.

Hon’ble MoSR, Shri Manoj Sinha, along with CRB, MS, FC, MT and ED(IR), Railway Board, was also present on this occasion:-

  1. New Pension Scheme

On the issue of New Pension Scheme, AIRF apprised Hon’ble Minister that Railwaymen are second line of defence and work in most precarious and arduous conditions. Many railway employees lay down their lives while working on duty to keep the nation on move and trains on the run, therefore, like Armed Forces, concept of New Pension Scheme may also be abolished from Railways. The New Pension Scheme, i.e. National Pension System, introduced w.e.f. 01.01.2004, has totally eroded the Social Security, and the staff appointed on or after this crucial date is always worried about their future, which also diverts their proper attention from their duty. AIRF insisted that Hon’ble Minister should raise the matter with Hon’ble Finance Minister Shri Arun Jaitley and ensure that Government of India keeps railway employees out of the ambit of New Pension Scheme.  On this, Railway Minister has agreed to raise the matter with concerned Ministries of Government of India. Shri Suresh Prabhu also handed over the copy of D.O letter (Copy enclosed) written by him to Minister of Finance on 20.11.2015.

  1. 7th Pay Commission Recommendations

AIRF also raised the issue of retrograde recommendations given by 7th Pay Commission in its report. AIRF apprised the Railway Minister about anger and anguish of railwaymen in respect of 7th Pay Commission recommendations. AIRF urged upon the Railway Minister to raise the matter with Ministry of Finance before accepting report of 7th CPC. Hon’ble Minister assured that views on 7th Pay Commission will be taken and forwarded to implementation cell formed by MoF.

  1. Engagement of Course Completed Act Apprentices

AIRF pointed out that large scale resentment has occurred amongst the youths, who have completed Act Apprentice Course and Railway Board have refused to engage them in Railways. Hon’ble Minister has assured that concrete measures would be taken to address this issue.

  1. Absorption of Quasi Administrative Staff in Railways

AIRF raised the matter of absorption of Quasi Administrative Staff in railways as there are lots vacant posts available in the Railways.

  1. Inter-railway transfers

AIRF complained that, earlier with the persuasions of AIRF, 5-year Residency Period for inter-railway transfer was reduced from 5 years to 2 years. It is surprising that, the same has been amended from 2 years to 5 years without consultation of the federations.

Many other issues, like merger of Tech. II with Tech I in Grade Pay Rs. 2800, replacement of Grade Pay 4600/- with GP 4800/- as also issues related to Running Staff, were discussed.

With kind regards!

GS-Sign

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