Railway Employees General Demands on setting up of 7th CPC, Pay, allowances, Bonus, MACP etc – Railway Board’s Reply to AIRF

AIRF has represented Railway Board on general demands of Railway Employees such as 7th Pay Commission, Merger of DA with Pay, NPS, Stepping up of Pay, Medical Allowance, Exempting Transport Allowance and Special Duty Allowance, Increase in ceiling of Productivity Linked Bonus, Parity in Pension for Pre-2006 Pensioners, Increase in Income Tax Exemption Limit, Rectification of MACP anomalies, etc from time to time.

Railway Board has replied in such matters as follows

S.No.	Item	Officer(s) concerned	Comments from the concerned Dte.
1.	Setting up of VII Central Pay Commission without further delay.	EDPC-II	The issue raised under this item comes under the purview of Ministry of Finance. Accordingly, the matter referred to MOF.
2.	Merger of DA with pay	EDPC-II	The issue raised under this item comes under the pruview of Ministry of Finance. Accordingly, the matter referred to MOF.
3.	Scrap New Pension Scheme and cover all the staff with pension and family pension scheme as available to staff appointed prior to 1.1.2004.	EDF(E)	The decision of introducing New Pensoin System for all the new entrants to Government/Railway Service on or after 1.1.2004 is of the Government of India taken in the Ministry of Finance, Department of Economic Affairs. The Ministry of Railways, being an Administrative Ministry in respect of pensionary matter is bound to adhere to the decision taken by the Government and is not empowered to take any unilateral decision in the matter. Accordingly, the matter referred to Deptt. of Financial Services.
4.	Stepping up of pay of senior employee on par with junior employee consequent on modification of ACP Scheme as MACP is pending with the Railway Board.	EDPC-I	For the purpose of MACP Scheme, Department of Personnel and Training is the nodal Department of the Government and instructions issued by them on this usbject ar adopted by this Ministry in reapect of Railway Employees. The issue regaring stepping up of pay of senior employees at par with their Junior drawing higher pay under MACPS has been examined in consultation with DoP&T on a reference from the Fedetations. DoP&T have advised that stepping up of pay of senior at par with thier junior drawing higher Grade Pay under MACPS is not admissible. Since, DoP&T is the nodal Department for the purpose of MACPS, this Ministry is not in position to take any unilateral decision on the matter.
5.	Increase the amount of Fixed Medical Allowance to all RELHS beneficiaries.	EDPC-I	For the purpose of Fixed Medical Allowance (FMA), Department of Pension & Pensioners’ Welfare is the nodal Department of Govt. and instructions issued by them on FMS, are adopted by this Ministry in respect of Railway pensioners. As such, this Ministry is not in position to take any unilateral decision on this subject. Accordingly, the matter referredt ot DOP&PW.
6.	Exempt Transport Allowance and Special Duty Allowance for the pruview of Income Tax deduction.	DF(X)-I	The matter regarding increases in the eligible exemption limit in the case of tranport allowance from Rs.800/- p.m. to Rs.3200/- p.m. was referred to the Ministry of Finance. However, the request of the Ministry of Railways has not been agreed to by the Ministry of Finance. 2. The matter regarding exemption of Special Duty Allowance for the purview of Income Tax has been referred to the Ministry of Finance vide Boards O.M. No. F(X)I-2009/23/6 dated 24/9/2012. Reply is still awaited therefrom.
7.	Raise the ceiling limit of Rs. 3500 for the purpose of payment of PLB.	EDPC-I	Productivity Linked Bonus is paid on the Railways in accordance with the scheme of Productivity Linked Bonus arrived at in consultation with the recognized federations and approval of the Government. The computation ceiling for payment of PLB has been prescribed as Rs.3500/- p.m. by the Ministry of Finance, which is the nodal Ministry and this ceiling is applicable to all Ministries & Departments of the Central Govt. Ministry of Railways cannot unilaterally take a decision in the matter.Accordingly, the matter referred to MOF.
8.	Upgrade all categories of staff in Grade Pay of Rs. 2400 to Rs. 2800	EDPC-II	The pay scale of various categories of Central Government employees including Railway employees are based on the recommendations of the Central Pay Commission and accepted by the Central Government. A unilateral decision cannot be taken by Ministry of Railways on the demand raised by the Federation as it is beyond the purview of Ministry of, Railways. Accordingly, the matter referred to MOF.
9.	Granting of one increment for the employees in the categories Like MCMs, Loco Running Staff, SMs, P.Way Supervisors etc when they get horizontal promotions without reckoning the same as “Promotion” for the purpose of granting financial up gradation under MACP.	EDPC-I	For the purpose of MACP Scheme, Department of Personnel & Training is the nodal Department of the Govt. and instructions issued by them on this subject are adopted by this Ministry in respect of Railway employees. As per the instructions contained in Para-8 of Annexure to policy instructions on MACPS, promotion earned in the post carzying same Grade pay in the promotional hierarchy as per recruitment rules shall be counted for the purpose of MACPS. Since, DoP&T is the nodal Department for the purpose of MACPS, this Ministry is not in position to take any unilateral decision on the matter. Accordingly, the matter referred to MOF.
10.	Grant parity in pension and family pension to the staff/family retired prior to 01.01.2006	EDF(E)	In this regard it is stated that neither the 6th Pay Commission appointed by the Government has recommended nor any decision for giving full parity in pension to pre-2006 retirees with post 2006 retirees has been taken by the Government. The Ministry of Railways being an Administrative Ministry in respect of pensionary matters is bound to adhere to the decision taken by the nodal department, the DOP&PW,Accordingly, the matter referred to Ministry of Personnel, PG & Pension.
11.	Raise the ceiling of Incorne Tax deduction‚ from Railway employees, Ministry of Railways are from Rs. 2.00 lakh to Rs. 3.00 lakh, as recommended by the Standing Committee on Finance.	DF(X)II	In all matters relating to recovery of Inocme Tax from Railway employees, Ministry of Railways are guided by the provisions of Income Tax Act, 1967 and various instructions received from the Ministry of Finance (Central Board of Direct Taxes) from time to time. The MoF is the nodal ministry dealing with this subject. As such, the Ministry of Railways can not take any unilateral decision in che matter. Accordingly the matter referred to MOF.
12.	Implement pending Board of Arbitration Awards on House Rent Allowance, Over Time, Transport Allowance besides pay scales of Accounts Department staff.	EDPC-I	For the purpose of these subjects, Ministry of Finance is the nodal Department of Govt. and this Ministry is following instructions issued by them from time to time. So far no decision as such on these issues from Ministry of Finance has been received. As MoF is the nodal Ministry on these subjects, it is not possible to take any decision unilaterally.Accordingly, the mattter referred to MOF.
13.	Rectification of MACP anomalies.	EDPC-I	For the purpose of MACP Scheme, Depatment of Personnel & Training is the nodal Department of the Govt. and instructions issued by them on this subject are adopted by this Ministry in respect of Railway employees. The issues raised by the Federations from time to time are examined in consultation with DOP&T and decided accordingly. Since, DOP&T is the nodal Department for the purpose of MACPS, this Ministry is not in position to deviate from the instructions/clarifications issued by them on the subjects. Accordingly, the matter refer to DOP &Trg.
14.	Enhancement of Income Tax exemption limit in the case of Running Staff	DF(X)II	The matter regarding enhancement of Income Tax Exemption Limit in the case of Running staff reckoning of Running Allowance as pay for the purpose of deduction of Income Tax was referred to the inistry of Finance. However, the request of the Ministry of Railways has not been agreed to by the Ministry Of Finance.

Source: AIRF