Benchmarking for the purpose of granting financial upgradation under MACPS – Recommendations of the VII CPC – Reg

Your kind attention is invited towards AIRF’s correspondence on the above-mentioned subject matter, vide letter No.AIRF/MACPS dated 30th January, 2017, followed by reminders dated 17th March, 2017, 17th May, 2017 and 22nd May, 2017. AIRF, explaining the scenario in the Indian Railways, in regard to APARs of the Railway Employees’. ……

No.AIRF/MACPS                                                                                                 Dated: January 28, 2019

The Chairman,
Railway Board,
New Delhi
Dear Sir,

Sub: Benchmarking for the purpose of granting financial upgradation under MACPS – Recommendations of the VII CPC – Reg.

Your kind attention is invited towards AIRF’s correspondence on the above-mentioned subject matter, vide letter No.AIRF/MACPS dated 30th January, 2017, followed by reminders dated 17th March, 2017, 17th May, 2017 and 22nd May, 2017. AIRF, explaining the scenario in the Indian Railways, in regard to APARs of the Railway Employees’. AIRF has repeatedly requested the Railway Board to review the benchmarking from Very Good to “Good”, so that, maximum number of Railwaymen are not deprived of financial benefits under the said scheme. Railway Board vide their letter No.PC-V/2016/MACPS/1 dated 19.05.2017 had declined to accede to the demand of the Federation(AIRF), stating that, as DoP&T is the Nodal Department of the Government for the purpose of MACPS, Railway Board cannot deviate from the instructions issued by them. AIRF had further demanded, at several occasions, that, at least in case of those employees who were eligible for financial upgradation under MACPS prior to 25.07.2016(the date of implementation of revised benchmarking) should be given this benefit, even though they are having “Good” benchmark in their APARs, i.e., to say that, their cases should be dealt with on the criteria of benchmark for MACPS that was in vogue prior to 25.07.2016. In this connection, attention is also drawn towards Office Memorandum No.1/Org./MACP/2018(186)/117 dated 10th January, 2019 of Sashastra Seema Bal; a copy of which is being enclosed for ready reference. It may be noted from the aforementioned Office Memorandum dated 10.01.2019 of the SSB, that, they have taken a decision in the matter at their own level and have clarified that, for grant of financial upgradation under MACPS, the prescribed benchmark would be Very Good w.e.f. 25.07.2016 onwards and APAR grading “Good” for the period prior to 25.07.2016 be treated as “Very Good” while considering such cases by the Screening Committee for granting benefit of financial upgradation under MACPS.

It would, therefore, be quite appropriate that, Railway Board should also issue similar clarification to all the Railway Administrations, so that, the cases in which employees were eligible for financial upgradation under MACPS prior to 25.07.2016, the benchmark “Good” be treated as “Very Good”, and revised benchmark should only be insisted upon in case of 25.07.2016 onward.

An early action in the matter shall be highly appreciated.

 

 

 

Copy to: General Secretaries, all affiliated unions – for information.