Friday, April 30, 2021

 PRESS STATEMENT

THE FOLLOWING STATEMENT WAS ISSUED TO THE PRESS BY THE JOINT PLATFORM OF CENTRAL TRADE UNIONS AND SECTORAL FEDERATIONS AND ASSOCIATIONS TODAY 28TH   APRIL 2021. 

Trade Unions write to the Prime Minister

Deplore callous attitude of government in handling covid 19 crises

Calls for observing May Day

Against the anti worker, anti farmer, anti people policies of the Government

The online meeting of Joint Platform of Central Trade Unions and Independent Sectoral Federations held on 28th April 2021 expressed grave concern at the cruel insensitivity of the Government at the centre in addressing and combating the second wave of the Covid Pandemic. The alarming country wide surge of this second wave of Covid has thrown the lives of the people, working people in particulars in total jeopardy. The daily infection count has already crossed 3 lakhs and is estimated to grow further in the coming days. Number of daily deaths too has surged. A substantial part of deaths are preventable, being caused due to non-availability of basic infrastructure, oxygen, hospital beds and essential medicines. The CTUs and Sectoral Federations/Associations have written to the Prime Minister(The letter attached)

In the midst of such grave humanitarian crisis, the Central government ridiculously draws satisfaction over overcoming the crisis under the leadership of Narendra Modi! The Union Finance Minister has made mindless self congratulatory statement that their programme of privatisation/disinvestment is on track and in progress!

Caught unprepared, despite the warning about a second country wide wave,  the Central government is now trying to blame the people, the state governments and everybody except itself for the surge of casualty with much more intensity and speed. The reprimand of EC by some High Courts has Vindicated the stand of Trade Unions having taken time to time. Now only the order has come not to organise any rally, celebration from 2nd to 15th may in the election bound states.                                                             

There is serious shortage of vaccines, testing facilities, hospital beds, ventilators, oxygen, medicines and above all trained personnel – doctors, nurses and other medical staff. The front line workers and employees are overworked and lack adequate protection. Instead of addressing these serious issues, BJP leaders including union ministers are engaged in shifting the responsibility to the state governments and indulging in blame games.

In the midst of this, the vaccine policy announced by the government puts corporate profits above the precious lives of people. Today, it is crucial to strictly regulate, under direct government supervision, the entire vaccination process to ensure that the entire population is vaccinated within a definite time frame. Vaccine production must be urgently scaled up; it must be imported as necessary. But the government is shamelessly succumbing to the profit hungry international drug mafia and liberalised vaccine sales. The new vaccine policy liberalises the vaccine sale by deregulating the prices through a discriminatory process that too without taking any concrete measures for augmenting availability.

States are not given the promised doses of vaccines. This has severely affected the first phase of vaccination itself. The new vaccine policy of Modi government stipulates that the state governments have to procure the vaccines from the open market with higher price of Rs 400/Rs 600 per dose as announced by the two vaccine companies in India. They will be thrown into unhealthy competition with each other and also with the private sector hospitals which are also free to procure the vaccines at Rs 600/ Rs 1200. More such notorious announcements are expected to pour in the days to come with the Govt-corporate nexus. It is atrocious that the Serum Institute which has announced Rs 400 per dose of vaccine for the state governments and Rs 600 for private hospitals in India.

Covisheild is priced at 1.78 Euro (Rs 160) in Europe and at $4 (Rs 300) in the US and Bangladesh, at Rs.237 in Brazil, at Rs. 226 in UK

This  pro-corporate deregulation on vaccine and other essential ingredients of pandemic management will further facilitate hoarding and black marketing which is already going on in case of essential medicines like Remdesivir and oxygen. Overwhelming majority of our people who cannot afford the huge price of the vaccine would be excluded. Policies of exclusion have now become the hallmark of the Central government.    

The local and regional lockdowns and curfews being imposed in several states are creating uncertainties about the work and income among the working people, the migrant workers and workers in the unorganised sector in particular. Reminiscent of the migrant workers’ march around one year back, migrant workers are again heading to their native places. None of the orders under Disaster Management Act issued so far by various authorities on curfew or scaling down of operation by industry etc had cared to concretely direct the employers to protect employment/livelihood of workers, their incomes and residences. It is again an attempt by the governments, as last year, to sacrifice the lives and livelihood of the workers and the toiling people to safeguard the interests of the employers’ class.  

The Joint Platform of Central Trade Unions and Federations demands the government to withdraw the new pro-corporate as well as discriminatory vaccine policy and take immediate measures to ensure 100% procurement of the vaccine, adequate supply of vaccines to the states, free of cost, utilising the PM care fund. The government, sufficiently empowered by Disaster Management Act must not abdicate its responsibility of prioritising protection of the lives of the people during this grave pandemic, over profiteering by vaccine-pharmaceutical barons.

The joint platform of Central trade unions and Federations point out that it is the public sector companies that are, as ever, coming to the rescue of the nation in this critical situation. It is the public sector steel companies that are producing and supplying oxygen; it is the Indian Railways that is transporting Oxygen to the needy states. We also remind the government that it was the public sector financial institutions in our country that have protected the country against the 2008 world crisis. The joint platform of trade unions demand that the government must immediately stop its mindless privatisation drive. We demand that immediate measures be taken to strengthen the existing public sector medicine and oxygen production units which are already playing a frontline role in producing/supplying oxygen and other necessities and establish new ones to ensure universal and comprehensive public health care.

The Joint Platform also demands that the Govt must ensure that any order issued by any authorities under Disaster Management Act imposing restrictions in movement, curfew etc must accompany strict enforceable orders to all employers and all concerned banning retrenchment, wage-cut and eviction from residences etc. It cannot be just an advisory but a stringently enforceable direction and the Disaster Management Act adequately empowers the Govt to issue such orders and enforce.

The Joint Platform calls upon the workers and toiling people to observe the forthcoming May Day, the international working class solidarity day through jointly organizing agitation in as many locations throughout the country to press for the following demands, while expressing solidarity with the working class movement going on throughout the world:

1.    Ramp up vaccine production and ensure universal free vaccination within a definite time frame. Ensure free supply of oxygen in the crises as in present situation.

2.    Ensure adequate hospital beds, oxygen and other medical facilities to meet the Covid surge

3.    Scrap anti-people discriminatory pro-corporate Vaccine Policy

4.    Strengthen public health infrastructure including recruiting the necessary health personnel

5.    Any order under Disaster Management Act issued by any authority imposing restrictions in movement, curfew etc must accompany strict order on all employers and all concerned banning retrenchment, wage-cut and eviction from residences etc and same must be strictly enforced.

6.    Scrap anti-worker Labour Codes and anti-people Farm Laws and Electricity Bill

7.    Stop privatization and Disinvestment

8.    Cash transfer of Rs 7500 per month for all non income tax paying families

9.    10 kg free food grains per person per month for the next six months

10.  Ensure non Covid patients get effective treatment in government hospitals

11.  Ensure availability of protective gear, equipments etc for all health and frontline workers and those engaged in pandemic-management work including ASHAs and anganwadi employees along with comprehensive insurance coverage for them all

 

Covid protocols – wearing masks, maintaining physical distance etc should be strictly followed by all our leaders, cadres, activists and members to safeguard their own health and the health of their comrades, colleagues and family members.

Sunday, April 25, 2021

 

GREETINGS ON MAHAVIR JAYANTI

 GREETINGS AND BEST WISHES ON THE AUSPICIOUS OCCASION OF MAHAVIR JAYANTI

'महावीर जयंतीके पुनीत अवसर पर  हार्दिक बधाई एवं शुभकामनाएं 

Saturday, April 24, 2021

 



Dated: 20.4.2021.

May day reminds  us of the great struggles and sacrifice of American workers at haymarket in Chicago in 1886.  It was the manifestation of the impact created by the Communist manifesto  written by Karl Marx and Engels and released in 1848.  The demand for restricting the working hours to eight hours per day had moved the industrial workers especially in Germany, France and England in Europe and the United States of America.  Equally determined was the bourgeoisie to suppress the revolutionary movement by all means and hiring goons they hurled bombs against the workers who had assembled to realise the demand for eight hour working day.  The impact of the movement and the indignation of the haymarket incident was so great that the world Nations had to adopt legislative measure to enforce the dictum of 8 hour work. In most of the countries May day is  declared a paid holiday.  

The neo-liberal economic policies whose  theme is greater exploitation of workers to maximise profit had been moving with that single point objective for the last a decade, the end result of which in our country was to increase the working hours to 12 per day and amend the labour code to make this possible.  The entry of this nefarious idea into the Indian statute book must be characterised as the single great achievement of the present day Mody Government.  The Government of India by making it possible to have such a legislation passed by the Indian Parliament by means of surreptitious methods, has thrown the challenge to the very existence of the working class movement in the country.  The May day 2021 must be viewed in this context and the determination to defeat it and meet the challenge squarely must be demonstrated in no uncertain terms, despite the pandemic.  

It must not only be seen as a challenge and indication of a renewed attempt to increase the level of  suppression.  It is undoubtedly an attack on modern principles of democratic polity, decent living standards, and the very culture and civilization of this great country.  The labour code is the most effective tool handed over to the corporate entrepreneurs in the country to intensify the exploitation of the Indian working class. 

The significance of the May day this year is to remind and be reminded of the great need to build up the most powerful and united struggle of the workers to. bring back the country to the assembly of civilised Nations of the world and throw out the perpetrators of this grave and inhuman injustice, whose mind-set dates back to the medieval days . 

The pandemic situation in the country has entered the worst phase after a short respite.  India which had the biggest and the most efficient manufacturing facility for the production of vaccines is now reeling under its shortage.  The Indian facility which was hitherto operated as a public sector enterprise was dismantled during the neo liberal days.  It could have produced the life saving vaccines at the cheapest cost and faster than any unit in the world.  Never in the history of our country, especially after independence, vaccination against the epidemic diseases had been charged by the Government.  The lack of production facilities, caused by the dismantling of public sector units  the need for faster vaccination to arrest the spread of the pandemic, the increased cost of production when done in the private sector, all have conjured up a situation whereby  the affected poor are left with no alternative but to die.  To cater to the requirements of the increased number of patients, our Public health care system, which had also been attacked over the years, do not have beds, medicines, ICUs, Ventilators and workforce.  This human made tragedy is what has been contributed by the so called liberal economic policies, where people do not matter.  The Government is clueless for what is dismantled or destroyed cannot be resurrected or reconstructed with the same speed with which it was destroyed.  The mutation of the genetic structure of the virus had added fuel to the fire.  

The present pathetic situation in the country is the product the policies pursued by the ruling class, intensified by the crony capitalism of the present day Government .  The CITU in their may day manifesto  2021 has rightly called upon the Indian working class to realise the situation and react and react vehemently  to throw out the present ruling dispensation of the country.   It has exhorted the workers in their May day communication, (the full text of which is placed on our website):

In view of comprehensive all round onslaught on the people, the economy, democratic system, societal harmony and the national integrity as a whole, the fight back  by a class oriented working class has to base itself on comprehensive understanding of the character   of these attacks of the ruling class, in all its expressions, linking one with the other.  It has to be the united battle of the working class along with the  people to defend the rights  and dignity of the workers and the people, their livelihood, defend the democratic system and values, defend the national economy and resources and above all to defend the unity of the people.  This requires consistent and continuous efforts to expose the inherent exploitative character of the capitalist system, its inhuman machinations and the politics that promote it.  This May Day let us pledge to take up this task in right earnest.

Confederation of Central Government employees and workers are in full consonance with the views expressed in CITU manifesto 2021 and calls upon its affiliates, State COCs  and other fraternal organisations to unite and be an integral part of the struggles for a pro-people alternative system of governance.

 

With greetings,

Yours fraternally,

 

R.N. Parashar

Secretary General



Circular no 28/2021

 

To

 

All office bearers of CITU

All state committees of CITU

All general council members of CITU

All industrial federations of CITU

 

Dear Comrades

 

Sub: Observation of May Day 2021

 

It is sad that this year too we have to observe May Day in the midst of the raging second country wide wave of Covid 19 with unprecedented number of infections and deaths across the country.

 

Despite the predictions and warnings about a second wave and the bitter experience of the huge loss of lives, jobs, incomes, the BJP government did nothing to protect the workers, particularly the migrant workers and unorganised workers. The demands raised by the trade unions, eminent economists and many other sections of the people about cash transfers, free food grains, strengthening public health care etc were all arrogantly brushed aside.

 

The BJP government has failed in ramping up production and supply of the vaccine for the people of the country. It has neglected to ensure adequate amount of vaccine is available to our people. Instead of ensuring universal free vaccination against Covid 19, the BJP government has now abdicated its responsibility and asked the state governments to buy the vaccine in the open market even while announcing vaccination for all above 18 years from 1st May.

 

The employers have already started taking advantage of the government orders under Disaster Management Act and are resorting to job cuts, wage cuts and other such attacks on the livelihood and lives of the workers. Most of the state governments remain as indulgent onlookers. Thousands of migrant workers have already started leaving the industrial centres for their native places.

 

Similar onslaught on the working people have been witnessed during the first wave and are being witnessed during the subsequent waves of Covid, in all the capitalist countries across the world.

 

Hence, this May Day, in addition to reiterating international working class solidarity, opposing the BJP government attacks on the working class and the toiling people including the attacks on 8 hour working day and other hard won rights of the workers through the labour codes and exposing the inherent exploitative character of the capitalist system and rededicating ourselves to the struggle for a socialist society, we should focus on the following immediate demands of the people:

 

·         Ensure wages without any cuts are paid to all workers wherever lockdown or curfew are imposed and they are not able to go to work      

·         Any measure by the government imposing restrictions on movement, curfew etc for containing the spread of the virus must be accompanied with strict orders banning retrenchments, wage-cuts and eviction from residences etc to all employers and all concerned; it must be strictly enforced.

·         Cash transfer of Rs 7500 per month for all non income tax paying families

·         10 kg free food grains per person per month for the next six months

·         Ramp up vaccine production and ensure universal free vaccination within a definite time frame

·         Ensure adequate hospital beds, oxygen and other medical facilities to meet the Covid surge

·         Strengthen public health infrastructure including recruiting the necessary health personnel

·         Ensure non Covid patients get effective treatment in government hospitals

·         Ensure availability of protective gear, equipments etc for all health and frontline workers and those engaged in pandemic-management work including ASHAs and anganwadi employees along with comprehensive insurance coverage for them all

 

All CITU affiliated unions, state committees and industrial federations are requested to ensure that the above demands are effectively raised through placards, festoons and banners while observing May Day.

 

Covid protocols – wearing masks, maintaining physical distance etc should be strictly followed by all our leaders, cadres, activists and members to safeguard their own health and the health of their comrades, colleagues and family members.

 

Please send reports of the observance with not only quantitative details but also reflecting the feelings of the workers – their attitude towards the present critical situation and their mood about trade union interventions.

 

With greetings

 

Yours comradely

Tapan Sen

General Secretary

Friday, April 23, 2021

 PREVENTIVE MEASURES TO CONTAIN THE SPREAD OF NOVEL CORONA VIRUS (COVID-19) - VACCINATION OF ALL CENTRAL GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES - REG(CLICK THE LINK BELOW TO VIEW)

https://dopt.gov.in/sites/default/files/11013-9-2014-esttAIII.pdf

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RATE OF INTEREST ON GENERAL PROVIDENT FUND (GPF) AND OTHER SIMILAR FUNDS INCLUDING SPECIAL DEPOSIT SCHEMES, 1975 (SDS, 1975) FOR NON-GOVERNMENT PROVIDENT, SUPERANNUATION AND GRATUITY FUNDS FOR FIRST QUARTER OF FINANCIAL YEAR 2021-22 (CLICK THE LINK BELOW TO VIEW)

https://dea.gov.in/sites/default/files/OM-%20Interest%20Rate%20on%20GPF.pdf

Wednesday, April 21, 2021

 VERY SAD AND SHOCKING NEWS

Com. T. P. Mishra, a legend, veteran trade union leader of NFPE and Confederation, U. P. Circle expired today on 21st March 2021at Noida Hospital. 

He lead the working class movement for more than five decades. 

He was very knowledgeable, very good orator in Hindi and militant leader. 

He lead so many struggles in U. P. Circle. 

Still at the age of 80, he was very actively giving his contribution to unions. 

We on behalf of Confederation and NFPE CONVEY OUR HEARTFELT CONDOLENCES TO BEREAVED FAMILY AND COMRADES OF U. P. Circle. 

RED SALUTE COM. T. P. MISHRA. 

COM. T. P. MISHRA AMAR RAHE, 

LONG LIVE COM. T. P. MISHRA.

              R. N. Parashar

 S. G. Confederation and NFPE.

Observation of May Day 2021

 




 RAM NAVAMI GREETINGS

 

 “ON THE AUSPICIOUS OCCASION OF RAM NAVAMI, HEARTIEST CONGRATULATIONS AND BEST WISHES “

राम नवमी की शुभकामनाएं

 

राम नवमी के पावन अवसर पर  बधाई और शुभकामनाएं

Tuesday, April 20, 2021

 PREVENTIVE MEASURES IN DELHI CIRCLE TO CONTROL THE SPREAD OF COVID-19



REGARDING BENEFITS IN PROMOTIONAL HIERARCHY UNDER MACP SCHEME - OTHER ISSUES ARISING OUT OF ORDER DATED 05.03.2020

ORDER OF HON'BLE SUPREME COURT OF INDIA DATED 05.03.2020 IN SLP(C) NO.21803/2014 UOI VS. M.V. MOHANAN NAIR & ORS. REGARDING BENEFITS IN PROMOTIONAL HIERARCHY UNDER MACP SCHEME- OTHER ISSUES ARISING OUT OF ORDER DATED 05.03.2020-REGARDING



 ATTENDANCE OF CENTRAL GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS - DOPT OM DATED 19/04/2021

Saturday, April 17, 2021

 EXTENSION OF TIMELINES FOR SUBMISSION OF ANNUAL PERFORMANCE ASSESSMENT REPORT (APAR) IN RESPECT OF GROUP A B AND C OFFICERS OF CENTRAL CIVIL SERVICES FOR THE YEAR 2020-21 (CLICK THE LINK BELOW TO VIEW THE ORDER)

https://documents.doptcirculars.nic.in/D2/D02est/APARextensionQn8QY.pdf

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REIMBURSEMENT OF COST OF OPD MEDICINES- SPECIAL SANCTION IN VIEW OF COVID-19- TILL 31ST JULY 2021 (CLICK THE LINK BELOW TO VIEW THE ORDER)

https://cghs.gov.in/showfile.php?lid=6057

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DATE OF NEXT INCREMENT UNDER RULE 10 OF CCS (REVISED PAY) RULES, 2016- MOF CLARIFICATIONS

(CLICK THE LINK BELOW TO VIEW THE ORDER)

https://doe.gov.in/order-circular/date-next-increment-under-rule-10-central-civil-services-revised-pay-rules-2016-0

Wednesday, April 14, 2021

 “GREETINGS AND BEST WISHES ON THE OCCASION OF BOHAG BIHU. VISHU . PUTHANDU. ODIA NEW YEAR AND MAHA BISHUBA PANA SANKRANTI ”

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TRIBUTE TO BHARAT RATNA DR BABASAHEB AMBEDKAR ON HIS JAYANTI

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GREETINGS AND BEST WISHES ON THE HOLY MONTH OF RAMZAN

Tuesday, April 13, 2021

 

GREETINGS AND BEST WISHES “ON THE AUSPICIOUS OCCASION OF CHAITRA SUKLADI, UGADI, GUDI PADWA, CHETI CHAND, VAISAKHI, VISHU, NAVREH AND SAJIBU CHEIRAOBA

 

Sunday, April 11, 2021

 

 DECLARATION OF BOHAG BIHU FESTIVAL AS HOLIDAY IN ASSAM