Confederation Of Central Government Employees & Workers

DIAMOND JUBILEE YEAR (1956-2016)

25th National Conference of the Confederation of

Central Government Employees & Workers

2016 August 16th, 17th & 18th - Chennai

Dharma Prakash Kalyana Mandapam

Circular No.1/2016-19 Dated: 19-08-2016

Report

The Diamond Jubilee Year (1956-2016) 25th National Conference of the Confederation of Central Govt. Employees and Workers was successfully held at Chennai, Dharmaprakash Kalyana Mandapam, from 16th to 18th August, 2016. The auditorium was named as “Com.S.K.Vyasji Auditorium” in memory of the great legendary leader of Central Govt. employees and Ex-Secretary General & President, Confederation Late Com.S.K.Vyas. The Reception Committee under the able and dynamic leadership of Com. T.K.Rangarajan, MP (Chairman) and Com.Durai Pandian (General Secretary) made excellent arrangement for the successful conduct of the historic conference.

Inaugural Session (Open Session):

The National Conference commenced on 16th August, 2016 morning with flag hoisting ceremony. Com.T.K.Rangarajan,MP and Chairman, Receiption Committee hoisted the National Flag and Com.K.K.N.Kutty, National President, Confederation hoisted the Confederation flag. Tribute to the martyrs was paid by offering flowers at the Martyrs column by all Guests, Leaders, delegates and observers.

The inaugural session started at 11.15 AM. Com.K.K.N.Kutty presided, Com.T.K.Rangarajan, MP delivered welcome address. Com.A.K. Padmanabhan, National President, CITU, inaugurated the 25th National Conference. In his inaugural address Com.A.K.P. has elaborately spoken on the following important issues and points - the role of the Indian Working Class in the freedom struggle of our country, historic struggle and strikes conducted by Central Govt. employees viz. 1960 five days strike, 1968 September 19th strike, 1974 Bonus strike lead by Railway Federations etc., the need of unity of working class and Central Govt. employees, 2016 September 2nd General Strike call of Central Trade Unions and independent Federations , role of BMS and effort being made to bring BMS also to the united movement, FDI in Railways, defence and strategic sale of Public Sector undertakings, Govt’s refusal to hold serious negotiations with the Central Trade Unions, the reluctance of the Cabinet Sub Committee constituted by Prime Minister under the Chairmanship of Finance Minister to hold meaningful negotiations, Govt. understands only the language of struggle and strikes, need of intensive campaign to take the message of Sept. 2nd strike and charter of demands to every nook and corner of the country, social oppression in the name of caste and religion taking place in various parts of the country which has become a great challenge to the unity of the working class, need and importance of united struggle to defeat the neo-liberal policies and also communalism. Finally he called upon the leaders, delegates and observers attending the Conference to make the 2nd September 2016 strike a historic success, especially in the Central Govt. employees sector.

Sri.R.S.Bharati, MP, DMK addressed the National Conference and conveyed best wishes.

Com.T.M.Murthy, National Secretary, AITUC, in his address to the Conference narrated in detail the importance of September 2nd strike and the issues raised in the charter of demands. He criticised the totally negative attitude of the NDA Government towards working class and the common people of the country. He conveyed the warm greetings of AITUC to the conference.

Com.Shiv Gopal Misra, General Secretary, AIRF, Convenor, NJCA and Secretary, JCM National Council staff side, Dr.M.Reghavaiah, General Secretary, NFIR, Chairman NJCA and Leader, JCM (NC) staff side, Com.C.Srikumar, Secretary General, AIDEF and Member NJCA also addressed the open session. All the three leaders explained in detail, the developments which resulted in the deferment of the 11th July indefinite strike call of NJCA. They pointed out that it is only because of the total unity and preparedness of the entire Central Govt. Employees including Railways, Defence, Postal and Confederation, the Govt. finally came down and the Prime Minister intervened and directed the Senior Cabinet Minister’s Committee to negotiate with the NJCA. Govt. initially was under the impression that once the pay commission recommended pay scales and benefits are announced by the Cabinet, the NJCA’s strike threat will automatically fizzle out. But Govt’s calculations went wrong and NJCA took a firm stand. On 30th June Group of Ministers assured increase in the minimum pay and fitment factor and appointment of a High Level Committee to make recommendations for fulfilling their assurance. The leaders made clear that in case the Government go back from its assurance, the deferred indefinite strike will be revived by the NJCA. They assured that the NJCA and JCM staff side will make maximum efforts to get positive results from the five committees proposed by the Govt. viz. 1) Allowance Committee headed by Finance and Expenditure Secretary, 2) Anomaly Committee, 3) Committee to take decision on the feasibility of option-I of Pension Fixation recommendation of 7th CPC, 4) Committee for streamlining the implementation of the New Pension System (NPS), 5) High Level Committee as per the assurance of Group of Ministers. They stressed the need to further strengthening of unity and NJCA.

Com.A. Sreekumar, General Secretary, All India State Govt. Employees Federation (AISGEF), Com.Chellappa, Asst. General Secretary, BSNL Employees Union, Com.K.Raghavendran, Deputy Secretary General, NCCPA, Com.S.Mohan, Secretary General, Gazetted Officers Confederation (CCGGOO),Com.Elangovan, DREU, Com.A.G.Pasupathy, Ex-President, Confederation, Tamil Nadu, Com.K.V.Sridharan, Ex-GS, AIPEU Group-C also addressed the Conference. Com.A.V.Venkatraman, Veteran leader of Central Govt. Employees, formerly Secretary General of Audit & Accounts Employees Assn. and Postal Accounts Employees Assn. (former President of Confederation, Tamil Nadu) was honoured in the Conference. Com.AVV also addressed the conference.

Com.Durai Pandian, General Secretary, COC Tamilnadu State and Reception Committee offered vote of thanks.

Special Address of Justice K. Chandru:

In the afternoon session Justice K.Chandru (Retired Justice of Madras High Court) delivered a special address on the subject - “Neo-liberal economic Policies and Labour Law reforms”. The speech was more informative and educative (full text of the speech will be published in the Confederation website later).

Delegate Session:

Delegate session commenced at 5 PM on 16-08-2016. Com.KKN Kutty, presided. Com.M.Krishnan, Secretary General, welcomed the delegates and visitors. Resolution on homage to matyrs was presented by Com. K.P.Rajagopal (Secretary), Resolution on Com.S.K.Vyasji was presented by Com.R.N.Parashar (Joint Secretary), condolence resolution was moved by Com.Pijush Roy (Joint Secretary). House observed two minutes silence.

Thereafter President read over the notice for the 25th National Conference and agenda items. House approved the agenda without any amendments. The following committees were constituted for the smooth conducting of the Conference.

1. Presidium: Com.KKN Kutty (President), Com.M.S.Raja (Working President), Com.T.Narasimhan, Com.Ashok B.Salunkhe, Com.M.Durai Pandian, Com.N.Somaiah, Com.Giriraj Singh (all Vice Presidents).

2. Minutes Committee: Com.R.N.Parashar (Convenor), Com.Nilesh D.Nazare, Com.Arup Chatterjee, Com.Venkatasubramanian, Com.R.P.Singh (members).

3. Credential Committee: Com.Vrigu Bhattacharjee (Convenor), Com.Ashok Kanojia, Com.P.Suresh, Com.R.Seethalakshmi, Com.Iswar Singh Dabas (Members).

4. Resolution Committee: Com.K.P.Rajagopal (Convenor), Com.Pijush Roy, Com.K.V.Jayaraj, Com.Nageswara Rao, Com.Satyanarayana, Com.Mani Achari (members).

Agenda No.1: Confirmation of the minutes of the 24th National Conference held at Kolkata from 4th to 6th May, 2013.

Secretary General presented the minutes of the last conference and the house unanimously approved it.

Agenda No.2,3, & 4:

No.2. Presentation, discussion and adoption of

(a) Report for the year 2013-2016.

(b) Audited Accounts for the year 2013-2016.

No.3. 7th CPC related issues and common demands of Central govt. employees - Review of deferred NJCA strike from 11th July 2016.

No.4. Implementation of the 2016 September 2nd General Strike decision of Indian Working Class. It was decided to take up all the above three items together along with organisational review.

Com.M.Krishnan, Secretary General, presented the Triennial report for the period from 2013-2016. Com.Vrigu Bhattacharjee, Finance Secretary, presented the audited accounts for the period 2013-2016. House adjourned at 7 PM.

On the second day the delegate session reassembled at 4 PM. (Forenoon there was Women’s National Convention of Confederation - see separate report). Discussion on agenda item 2,3,4 and on organisational review took place. Discussion continued upto 1.30 PM on18-08-2016. 36 delegates representing various affiliates of Confederation participated in the discussion. Thereafter Secretary General replied to the points raised in the discussion. Finance Secretary replied to certain queries raised about the audited accounts. The house approved and passed the Report and audited Accounts for the period 2013-2016 unanimously.

Agenda No.6 - Presentation, discussion and adoption of Resolution on Policy and Programme:

Policy and programme resolution was presented by Secretary General. The following paragraphs is proposed to be added as the last para (para 8) of the Policy and programme already pointed and circulated among the delegates.

Para 8: This 25th National Conference ratify the decision taken by the National Secretariat of the Confederation held at New Delhi on 24th July 2016, regarding organising independent agitational programmes for realisation of the common demands of the Central Govt. employees. The Conference at the same time resolved to maintain the unity under the banner of NJCA in tact and also resolved that Confederation while conducting its own independent agitational programmes, shall fully implement all the programmes of NJCA also at all levels. Accordingly the following programme of action is adopted unanimously by the Conference.

1. Demonstrations of all Centres/at all office gates and forwarding of resolutions adopted on charter of demands to Prime Minister, Finance Minister and Head of the Departments.

2. Mass dharna at all state capitals.

3. Massive Parliament March in the month of November/December, 2016.

Dates of the programmes and charter of demands will be finalised by the newly elected National Secretariat of the Confederation.

House unanimously adopted the policy and programme resolution with the above programme of action.

Agenda No.7 - Consideration and adoption of resolutions on demands:

Resolutions, other than those already printed and circulated, was presented by Com.K.P.Rajagopal, Convenor of the resolution committee. All the resolutions were passed unanimously (for resolutions see list attached).

Credential Committee Report:

Com.Vrigu Bhattacharjee, Convenor, Credential Committee presented the following credential report.

1. Number of affiliated organisations attended

the Conference 34

2. Number of State level/Coordinating Committee (COCs)

attended 11

3. Number of delegates attended 180

4. Number of observers (Visitors) attended 76

5. Total number of delegates and visitors 256

6. No. of male delegates 188

7. No. of women delegates 68

8. Age profile of delegates/visitors

(a) Below 40 years 37

(b) From 40 years to 60 years 212

9. Number of delegates who faced victimisation 37

10. Arrested/Jailed 6

Agenda No.5 - Amendment to Constitution.

The following amendment was moved on behalf of the National Secretariate and unanimously approved.

Article 13 - Election

Article 13 (b) The National Secretariat (Office Bearers)

Existing clause:

The following office bearers (Members of National Secretariat) shall be elected from among the delegates attending the National Conference, in a democratic manner.

1. One President 2. One Working President

3. Five Vice Presidents 4. One Secretary General

5. One Secretary 6. One Finance Secretary

7. Five Asst. Secretaries 8. Twelve Organising Secretaries.

Amendment proposed:

National Secretariat (Office bearers):

The following office bearers (members of National Secretariat) shall be elected from among the delegates attending the National Conference, in a democratic manner.

1. One President 2. One Working President

3. Five Vice President 4. One Secretary General

5. One Secretary 6. One Finance Secretary

7. Five Asst. Secretaries 8. Eighteen Organising Secretaries.

In addition the office bearers of the Women’s Sub Committee of the Confederation will be special invitees to the National Secretariat meeting.

Agenda No.8 - Election of office bearers ie. National Secretariat Members

The 25th National Conference unanimously elected the following as the office bearers (National Secretariat members) of the Confederation of Central Govt. Employees, and Workers for the period 2016-2019.

1. President : Com.KKN Kutty (ITEF)

2. Working President : Com.M.S.Raja (Audit & Accounts Association)

3. Vice Presidents : 1. Com.T.Narasimhan (NFPE)

2. Com.Ashok Kanojia (ITEF)

3. Com.Nageswar Rao (Audit & Accounts Assn.)

4. Com.Giriraj Singh (NFPE-R3)

5. Com.R.Seethalakshmi (Women’s Committee Convenor, P4, NFPE)

4. Secretary General : Com.M.Krishnan (NFPE)

5. Secretary : Com.Rupak Sarkar (ITEF)

6. Asst. Secretaries : 1. Com.R.N.Parashar (NFPE P3)

2. Com.Pijush Roy (COC West Bengal)

3. Com.K.V.Jayaraj (NFAEE, Atomic Energy)

4. Com.Ravi B.Nair (ITEF)

5. Com.Subhash Chandra Pandey (Audit & Accts. Assn.).

7. Finance Secretary : Com.Vrigu Bhattachargee (Civil Accts.)

8. Organising Secretary : 1. Com.Arup Chatterjee (BSIEA)

2. Com.Nilesh D. Nazare (IBMEA)

3. Com.Bibhash Dey (GSIEA)

4. Com.Balasundaram (GWBEA)

5. Com.Shanthanu Bhattacharjee (Civil Accts.)

6. Com.Mani Achari (NFAEE)

7. Com.S.Santhosh Kumar (NFPE Postal Accts)

8. Com.Tapas Bose (Audit & Accts Assn.)

9. Com.P.Suresh (NFPE R4)

10. Com.TKR Pillai (NSSO)

11. Com.Gurprit Singh (DMI Employees Assn.)

12. Com.P.Panduranga Rao (NFPE-GDS)

13. Com.Gopalakrishnan Nair (Civil Accts)

14. Com.Virender Tiwari (NFPE-SBCO)

15. Com.J.P.Singh (ITEF)

16. Com.R.B.Suresh (COC Tamilnadu)

17. (COC Karnataka)

18. (COC Assam/North East)

Special Invitees (Women Sub Committee Office Bearers):

1. Com.Usha Boneppalli (Chairperson)

2. Com.Manisha Majumder (Vice Chairperson)

3. Com.K.N.Jayasree Raj (Vice Chairperson)

4. Com.Gita Bhattacharjee (Jt. Convenor)

5. Com.Sarita Divakaran (Jt. Convenor)

Auditor : Com.R.P.Singh (Agmark) COC Mumbai.

The house authorised the newly elected National Secretariat to fill up the two vacant posts by co-option from COC Karnataka and COC Assam/North East.

Agend No. 9- Appointment of Auditor:

The Conference nominated Com. R.P.Singh, (Agmark) of COC, Maharashtra, Mumbai as the Auditor of the Confederation for the period 2016-2019.

Venue of the Next (26th) National Conference

The COC Nagpur expressed their willingness to hold the next National Conference of the confederation at NAGPUR (Maharashtra). The house unanimously approved the proposal. Next conference will be held at NAGPUR in the year 2019.

National Women’s Convention:

National Women’s convention of the confederation was held at Chennai on 17-08-2016 along with the 25th National Conference of the confederation. About 200 women delegates from various states attended the convention.

Com: Usha Boneppali, chairperson, women’s subcommittee presided over the convention. Com. A. Manjula (ITEF) women’s sub committee, Tamilnadu welcomed the guests and delegates. Dr. V. Vasanthi Devi, former Vice Chancellor, Manonmaniam Sundaranar University, Tirunelveli and former chairperson of the Tamilnadu state Women’s Commission, inaugurated the convention. (Text of the inaugural address will be published later). Com Usha Binappalli delivered presidential address and Com. R. Seethalakshmi, Convener, Women’s sub committee presented the organisational report. In the discussion that followed about 22 delegaes participated. Com.R.Seethalakshmi summed up the deliberations, 'New women's Sub Committee with following office bearers is elected unanimously.

Chairperson - Com. Usha Boneppalli (ITEF) Hyderabad

Vice Chairpersons - 1) Com. Manisha Mazumder (printing and stationery, COC West bengal) Kolkata

2) Com. K.N. Jayasree Raj, (Audit and Acc/s Assn. AG’s Office, Bangalore)

Convenor - Com. R. Seethalakshmi (NFPE) Delhi

Joint Convenors - 1) Com. Gita Bhattacharjee (NFPE) Delhi

2) Com. Sarita Divakaran (NFAEE Atomic Energy, Mumbai)

(List of members of women’s sub committee will be published later). Com: Angel Sathyanathan (Mahila sub committee) delivered vote of thanks.

Honouring of the Reception Committee Office bearers/Volunteers”

The house honoured the office bearers and volunteers of the Reception Committee who worked hard with full commitment and dedication for the last more than six months, especially during the conference days, which made the 25th National Conference a grand success.

All arrangements including accommodation, food, transportation were made in a flawless manner and overall it was excellent. The conference congratulated all members of the Reception Committee headed by Com. T.K. Rangarajan, MP (Chairman) and com. Durai Pandian (General Secretary) and placed on record its thanks and appreciation for the commendable work done by them for making the Diamond Jubilee year National Conference a memorable event.

The Conference concluded at 3.30 PM on 18th August 2016 with vote of thanks by Com. R.N Parashar, Assistant Secretary Confederation and Secretary General NFPE.

Resolutions adopted by the conference (already printed in the Report)

(1) Price rise (2) Filling up of posts (3) New Pension system (NPS) (4) Civil rights of Govt. employees (5) Right to strike (6) Functioning of JCM, implementation of arbitration awards and settlement of anomalies. (7) Downsizing, Outsourcing, Contractonsation etc (8) Modified assured career progression scheme (MACP) (9) Ban on recruitment and creation of posts (10) Gramin Dak Sevaks of Postal department, (11) on non-regular workers in Central Government Offices, (12) Solidarity with the working class of West Bengal (13) Abolition of APAR system (14) Introduction of productivity linked Bonus (PLB) in all departments and removal of ceiling. (15) Compassionate appointments (16) Five promotions, (17) Revision of Overtime allowance and Night Duty Allowance.

Resolutions received from the affiliates/COCs and passed by the conference.

1. Take immediate steps to stop atrocities on women, dalits, minorities and all other weaker sections.

2. Fill up all vacancies in the Government Departments and undertake cadre Review to assess the requirement of employees and their career prospects.

3. Regularisation of all Casual/Contingent employees and fill up all the vacant MTS Posts from among the casual/contingent workers. The remaining casual/contingent staff be given Temporary Status.

4. The DOPTs instruction for payment of Rs. 467/- per day to casual contingent workers from 1-1-2006 be made applicable to all casual/contingent workers across the Departments.

5. To provide one paid holiday per week to all casual/contingent workers in all departments uniformly.

6. Transfer & Posting of Group C & B Officers be made to the place of their choice or to nearby stations. Women employees, particularly be accommodated at their place of choice.

7. Recruitment to Group C posts be conducted region wise to mitigate the huge vacancies in various departments and to avoid non acceptance of offer of employment and dropping out on account of postings at far away place/regions/ states.

8. Higher limit of Honorarium to Government Employees be increased from the present Rs. 2500 to Rs. 25000 per year taking into account the inflation.

9. Income Tax limit be increased to Rs. 5 lakhs for salaried persons and restore the provision of standard deduction and full exemption for house rent allowance.

10. Extend the facility of Joint Consultative Machinery to the employees of Andaman Nicobar Islands.

11. Upgraded Pay to LGCs and HGCs of A & N Administration.

12. Withdraw all vindictive actions initiated against the Union functionaries of Atomic Energy Department.

13. Ensure cash free medical treatment to all Central Government Employees in Private Hospitals and all Recognised Hospitals, increase and modernize the facilities in the CGHS Hospitals.

14. All Cities be upgraded as and when the population cross the minimum required number.

15. Provision of Education allowance be extended up to post Graduation level

16. Residency period for promotion of employees and Officers from one level to next level should not exceed 3 years and stop the practice of filling up of promotional posts by Deputation when sufficient number of eligible candidates/employees are waiting for promotion.

17. Implement the DOPT instructions to consider and provide all promotional benefits to retired persons if their names come under the consideration zone of DPC.

18. Due to the change of policy of purchasing vehicles to hiring of Vehicles with chauffeur, a large number of Staff Car Drivers are idle without vehicles. They may be merged with mainstream cadres at appropriate levels.

19. Implement the Supreme Court Decision in the Case of Government. of India VS Rajeev Mohan. Wherein the principle of fixing seniority of among directly Recruited Employees and promoted Employees are laid down.

20. Scrap the new APAR System.

21. Settle all anomalies and disparity in Grade pay which arose after implementation of the VI-CPC.

22. Abolish and upgrade all the posts of Lower Division Clerks to Upper Division Clerks.

23. MACP benefit both on functional and financial should be on promotional hierarchy and pay fixation be allowed one step above after granting the increment.

24. Provide a chance to opt from CPF to GPF for those who joined before
1-1-2004.

25. While implementing CCS (Revised Pay) Rules 2016, ensure minimum 3% increase on increment at all stages and scrap the shell system in pay Matrix.

26. Implement the VII CPC recommendation of fixing the pay of seniors’ one step above if the pay of junior and senior is placed in similar pay. (bunching).

27. Allow closed holidays to the operative staff of Postal Department on all Saturdays, just like administrative staff.

28. Remove CCTV surveillance of staff in offices as it intrudes into privacy and misused for harassment and threatening.

29. Implement all arbitration awards pending for decision with the Government

30. Revise the Overtime and Night Duty Allowance.

31. The Conference authorise the Secretariat the determine all the anomalies arising on the implementation of the VII CPC and take them up at appropriate level.

32. Declare May Day as closed holiday for Central Govt. Departments.

33. Extend the Benefit of amendment to Bonus Act increasing the limit from 3500 to 7000/- to all Central Government Employees from Financial Year 2014-15.

34. Uniformity to be ensured amongst the laboratory staff having similar qualifications as recommended by 7th CPC in Chapter 7.7 under common category.

GIST of the Resolutions moved in Women’s Convention held on 17-08-2016:

(1) to oppose the economic model designed by the Neo Liberal Policies of the Government resulting misery heaped on the masses of the country and women in particular.

(2) to oppose the discrimination and gender bias and providing equal rights to both men & women employees/ workers in every sphere of working field following the country’s constitution specially following the "Equal Remuneration Act 1976''.

(3) to view the Vishakha Guidelines and Sexual Harassment Act, 2013 seriously and act accordingly to make a " full stop'' of sexual harassment in the work spot/organisation by arranging to constitute the committee concerned every where in its real and correct spirit and those must not be only " so called''.

4. Basic amenities should be provided to each and every offices/workplaces where a lady is posted, even single in number.

5. Rest Rooms/ Creches be provided in workplaces /offices, where ladies are posted.

6. Relaxation of age is demanded in special cases so far as CCL is concerned ie. disabled/ mentally retarded children.

7. Grant of CCL on re-marriage cases where the children from first marriage. has/have been detached legally from the mother, irrespective of two children restriction.

8. Grant of CCL to the fathers in special circumstances where they are single parent of their children.

9. Grant of CCL to be extended for the grand children also.

10. Problems of GDS/Casual/Contingent/out sourced women workers should be given due consideration and act accordingly to help them in a true spirit.

11. Protection should be given from attacks on women in the name of caste/politics/religion etc. etc.

12. Enhancement of minimum age for employment/recruitment for women in all sectors including Govt. sector.

13. Women should be posted in day shifts as far as possible and security in proper meaning should be provided where they are compelled to be posted in the night shifts including safe and sound travel arrangement to and from the work spot.

14. Reservation of 33% seats in the main committee of Confederation and all its affiliated Federation/Unions/Association without any delay.

15. Strengthening women employment by giving reservation in organised and unorganised sectors be made.

16. Flexy working hours/work from home should be introduced.

17. Priority for allotment of Govt. Accommodation/Qtrs .to the Women employees in Government Sector should be given.

18. Grievance Boxes should be kept every where women employees are posted to redress her grievances in real spirit and to give her healthy working atmosphere.

19. Last, but not the least, CCL for 2 years must be with full pay; The recommendation of 7th CPC in this connection is opposed vehemently and must be set-right.

M.Krishnan,

Secretary General

Confederation

Mob: 09447068125

email: mkrishnan6854@gmail.com

confederationhq@gmail.com.

Confederation Of Central Government Employees & Workers

Saturday, August 20, 2016

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