Tuesday, July 22, 2008

Invitation from Host Unit

CIVIL ACCOUNTS OFFICERS ASSOCIATION
O/O the ACCOUNTANT GENERAL (A&E)-II, MAHARASHTRA, NAGPUR
(Recognised by the Comptroller and Auditor General of India)
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No.CAO/NGP/ Dated: 17th July, 2008


Dear Comrade,

All India Accounts & Audit Officers Association conference at Nagpur

You must have received the Notification from the Secretary General of All India Accounts & Audit Officers Association regarding 33rd biennial Conference to be held at Nagpur from 28th August to 30th August, 2008. The Conference of the officers Association is being held at a crucial juncture. The unprecedented inflation and rise in prices of the essential commodities and its accelerating trend caused due to the pursuance of the anti-people economic policies of globalization, liberalization and privatization has made the employees and officers’ life miserable and unbearable. The raging inflation nullifies whatever increase in DA is granted by the Central and State Governments and will wipe out any financial benefit that might accrue to the officers & employees if the VI-Central Pay Commission recommendations are modified and implemented.

The status and Pay packet of AOs/Sr. AOs has not only been ignored by the 6th CPC but also downgraded by recommending the Pay Scale much lower than the Pay Scale of Cadre, the work of which is being supervised by us. In our department the danger which is looming large on our head is regarding computerisation and ultimately surrendering of accounting functions, Increase in workload of Accounts/Audit officers day by day without any norms and discussions. Similarly, the percentage of audit is pathetically reduced to make the functions of Audit a mere formality. The audit wing of establishment, contingencies and works had become endangered species. Selection of review topics have done liberally and the staff surrender had begun in a great way. Many of our genuine demands like removal of age limit for promotion to I.A. & A.S, Conferring Status directly in the rank of DAG/DD instead of AAG/AD to Sr.A.Os promoted to I.A. & A.S. by giving weightage to their long years of experience, Creation of the post of Welfare Officer in each field office within IA&AD, Review of Audit Plan, Increasing Promotion Quota to I.A &A.S. to 50% from the existing 33 1/3%,Group A status to our cadre and maintaining horizontal/vertical relativity with different cadres of IA&AD have not been considered by the Department for the past so many years.

It is opportune time for us to discuss and decide our future course of action in this Conference. If we falter now, then the future of our cadre will be doomed and future generations would curse us for not taking appropriate action. In this background, the organising Committee has made elaborate arrangements for holding the Conference at Central Place in Nagpur to facilitate fruitful discussion and to arrive at unanimous decision on future course of action.

The venue has been fixed at Sugandha Mangal Karyalaya, Opposite Bhagawagarh Park, Ajit Bakery road Dharampeth, Nagpur 440010 from 27th August to 31st August. 2008. The venue is about 3 K.M. away from Railway Station and 4 K.M. from Maharashtra State Transport Bus Stand. Further, our volunteers will be present at Main porch of the Nagpur Railway Station (near Platform No.1) on 27th and 28th August, 2008 during day time. The volunteers will help the delegates/observers in getting prepaid auto services to reach the venue. The climate of the Orange City during this period will be hot and humid. The delegates are advised to bring light clothing only. Catering arrangements at the venue have been made from 27th evening to 31st Midday. The delegate fee/observer fee is fixed @ Rs.400/-(Rs. four hundred only) per delegate. The participant organisations are requested to intimate the names of delegates and programme of arrival at Nagpur latest by 20th August, 2008 so that proper arrangements can be made.
All the organisations of the IA&AD irrespective of their affiliation are requested to attend this conference in order to chalk out a united policy and programme. The Organisation Committee hopes that your unit will participate in large number in this conference so that we can unitedly take a proper decision to face the challenges.
With fraternal greetings,


Fraternally yours,


(S.V. Deshpande)
Secretary,
Reception Committee.
Mob:09423681336

PS: In case of any problem or help, the delegates are requested to contact any of the following office bearers: 1) Sh.A.S.Majumdar, 9420254539 (2) Sh.S.M. Tijare, 9423805694 (3)Sh. S.M. Darwhekar, 9226891553 (4)Sh. C.S.N. Murthy, 9422809103 and Sh. R.K. Srivastav,9422807600

Sunday, July 20, 2008

Dear Comrades,

Please post your comments on the following message on Corporatisation of food.

S. Mohan.

Hungry for change

Karl Marx once noted, “The rate of profit is the motive power of capitalist production. Things are produced only as long as they can be produced with a profit.” Does this apply to food?
Every day millions worldwide are going hungry as food prices shoot up. In India prices jumped 12 percent in 2008 and are expected to raise more for the remaining part of the year. Eggs are up almost 30 percent. Milk is up more than 15 percent. Grains, fruits, vegetables and meats are sky high. A trip to the supermarket and Vegetable mandi has become a painful experience for low- and middle-income people as they contemplate the gold-plated prices and try to figure out how to put a decent meal on the table.
Yet food is nothing but a highly profitable commodity for giant agribusinesses Conglomerates like Archer Daniels, Midland, Cargill and Reliance dominate the worldwide production, processing and distribution of food, destroying local sustainable agriculture in the process, and reap mammoth profits as a result. For example, Cargill’s profits jumped by 82 percent last year, as food riots erupted in many poverty-stricken areas of the world and in our own country low- and middle-income people were forced to choose between paying for groceries or for rent, mortgage payments.
While fuel costs, biofuels, weather disasters and environmental degradation are all factors in rising prices, so is the pursuit of ever-bigger profits by investors and corporate chiefs. And food has become another hot item in Dalal Street portfolios. Many experts charge that speculation on food commodities has helped drive prices to the record highs we see in our supermarkets today. While the soaring prices are causing hardships for consumers, families of farmers are going under to the food conglomerates.
Wholesome and affordable food is a basic necessity of life. Corporations and private greed should not be deciding who eats and who doesn’t. Dalal Street speculators cannot be allowed to treat our food as their profit-making commodity. Strict regulation should be imposed to prevent this.
More fundamentally, we need a comprehensive national food and agriculture policy that protects consumers, family of farmers and our nation’s food supply and farmland. This is a real national security issue that needs urgent attention.

Monday, July 14, 2008

Circular No 4 of All India Accounts and Audit Officers Association

ALL INDIA ACCOUNTS AND AUDIT OFFICERS ASSOCIATION
(Recognised by the Comptroller and Auditor General of India)
Ref. No. 59/NGE(JCM) 27-2006(Vol-II) dt. 12-03-2007
E Mail ID ‘auditacounts@gmail.com’
Website:’auditaccountsofficers.blogspot.com’
No. AIAAAOA/Circular/2008-09/4 16.07.2008


To
The National Executive Members &
The Secretaries of the Affiliates

Dear Comrades,

NATIONAL CONVETION OF CENTRAL & STATE GOVT EMPLOYEES, UNIVERISTY COLLEGE TEACHERS & SCHOOL TEACHERS CALLS FOR STRIKE ON 20TH AUGUST 2008:The Joint Convention of Central and State Government Employees, University College Teachers and School Teachers held at Shah Auditorium at Delhi on 8th July 2008 decided to mobilise employees and teachers for a one day strike on 20th August 2008 against the anti-people economic policies of the government and the sky-rocketing price rise.

On behalf of our Federation, President Com.Radhakrishna participated in the Convention of Central and State Government Employees’ jointly organized by the Confederation of Central Government Employees & Workers’ and All India State Govt Employees’ Federation on 8th July , 2008. Com Rajesh Menon, Secretary General Confederation of Central Govt Gazetted Officers Organisations also attended the convention as an invitee. The convention unanimously decided to join the General strike of workers on 20th August 2008 being organized by the sponsoring committee of Central Trade Unions including Bank, LIC, and Public Sector etc. Com Rajesh Menon addressing the Convention declared that all efforts will be made to organize Gazetted Officers Organisations to join the strike. Com Radhakrishna while addressing the convention assured that the members of our Federation will join the strike on 20th August and will also serve strike notice on 4th August along with other organizations.

The Convention of Central and State employees and teachers on 8th July 2008 decided the following action programmes:

1. Joint Conventions at States/District/Industrial centres to be completed by 15th July,2008.
2. Massive demonstration/mobilization/dharna in all the states and Industrial centres on 30th July, 2008.
3. Serving of strike notice through demonstration on 4th August, 2008.
4. One day Strike on 20th August 2008.
It is requested that all our affiliated units should start effective campaign for the successful implementation of the strike on 20th August 2008. The Declaration of the Convention is already posted.

ON 6th Central Pay Commission Rumours are flying thick and Head Quarter is flooded with enquiries on Committee of Secretaries’ report on 6th Central Pay Commission. It is understood that it may be submitted to Government around 20th July 2008. The chances of core issues raised by the employees and officers being addressed are remote. Rather the govt. may go for cosmetic changes that will not benefit our cadre much. Our President met Asst.Comptroller & Auditor General (N) and other Officers in Comptroller & Auditor General’s Office and discussed certain important issues. In respect of Pay Scales of our cadres, the Asst.Comptroller& Auditor General (N) informed that the Department has presented before the Committee of Secretaries that the Pay Commission recommendation of merging of AAO and AO cadre should be annulled and that the Pay Scale of SAO should not be less than that of Under Secretary. A presentation has also been made before the Cabinet Secretary on the subject. It is further informed that the files regarding anomaly, our proposed amendments to the Constitution are still under process.

33rd Conference of All India Accounts and Audit Officers Association: (Dates Changed)The 33rd Conference of our Association is going to be held for 3 days from 28th to 30th August at the Orange City of Nagpur The venue of the Conference will be Sugandha Mangal Karyalaya, Opp to Bhagawagarh Park, Ajit Bakery road Dharampeth, Nagpur .No doubt, it is our conference to be held once in two years to talk about us, think about us, decide the future course of action to improve our working environment, living conditions and about our department. It is requested that all the affiliated units should send their respective delegates to the conference without fail.

With greetings,


Yours fraternally,


S.Mohan.
Secretary General.

Saturday, July 12, 2008

All India Accounts & Audit Officers Association

Dear Comrades,

The declaration adopted in the Delhi Convention is for your information.

S.Mohan.
Secretary General.

8th JULY DELHI CONVENTION DECLARATION

Adopted unanimously at the convention of Central and State Government employees, University, College and School Teachers.

This Joint Convention of Central & State Govt. employees, Defence workers, University, College and School Teachers and other employees held this day, the 8th July, 2008 adopts the following declaration.
The Convention notes with distress that the Govt. of India and many State Governments in the country have been following the World Bank-IMF dictated neo-liberal economic policies unabated since 1991 despite the sustained and continued opposition and resistance of the working people. While fabulously enriching a few in the topmost strata of the society and allowing comfort to the high segment of the middle class, it has pushed millions of our countrymen to penury and poverty. While the economy is claimed to have grown at a faster pace during this period, the workers, peasants and common people became poorer in a much more accelerated manner.
The unprecedented inflation and rise in prices of the essential commodities and its accelerating trend caused due to the pursuance of the anti-people economic policies of globalization, liberalization and privatization has made the workers' and poor people's life miserable and unbearable. The raging inflation nullifies whatever increase in DA is granted by the Central and State Governments and will wipe out any financial benefit that might accrue to the employees if the VI-CPC recommendations are modified and implemented
The Central and State Govt. employees and the teaching community have always been in the forefront of the struggles and industrial actions organized under the auspices of Sponsoring Committee of Trade Unions. This convention, therefore, strongly supports the decision of the Sponsoring Committee to organize yet another one day countrywide united strike on 20th August, 2008 to oppose the disastrous economic policies and force the Govt to effectively control and bring down the rampant escalation of prices of commodities
The present ferocious trend of price-rise which has already touched about 12% has become a killer disease for the ordinary countrymen, but most astonishingly, the Central Government is betraying an extremely callous and indifferent attitude to this type of unforeseen price-rise and pooh-poohing it as nothing but a 'world phenomenon'.
The trade unions of the country including those in the Govt sector can not remain just as spectators, when employees and the common people are writhing with unbearable pain of this phenomenon. It is, therefore, the bounden duty of all trade unions to rise up to the occasion with vigorous protest compelling the Govt to control the spiralling price rise of essential commodities and rescue the people from this extremely tormenting and fatal situation.
It is diabolical that while the country is reeling under the unprecedented and uncontrolled price rise, the Govt. is crazy in pursuing the Nuclear Deal even at the cost of national sovereignty. Hence the needs for joining the countrywide strike on 20 August 2008.
This convention recognizes the fact that the Govt's attempt for withdrawal of the Statutory Pension Scheme of Govt. Employees to replace it with a contributory system is conceived to transfer funds from poor to rich and to finance the stock market operations. The mass scale outsourcing of regular jobs, contractorization, and privatization have become the modern instruments of exploitation. This is being applied in all Govt sectors including the teaching community and the teaching institutions. In all sectors; be it private, public or Government; denial of legitimate wages to the workers are encouraged blatantly by the Govt. Basic and hard earned labour welfare legislative enactments are sought to be replaced by reactionary ones to provide room for unhindered exploitation of workers and to appease the Trans-national Corporations.
Right to Strike for the Govt. employees has not yet been formally granted. This year is the 60th year of Declaration of Human Rights by the ILO. Govt. of India is a member State of the ILO. However, for the last 60 years Govt. of India has been consistently refusing to ratify the ILO convention 87, 98 in regard to TU rights and 151 concerning such rights to workers in public services. This convention demands of the Government to ratify the convention in 87, 98 and 151 and afford the right to strike to the Government employees.

This convention views the recommendations of the 6th Central Pay Commission as yet another manifestation of the intent of the ruling class to intensify the neo-liberal economic policies. The 6th CPC has discarded all the established norms and principles of wage determination and has advanced untenable arguments to deny the employees the minimum wage. It has openly advocated Corporatisation and even privatization of major departments of the Govt. of India, Railways and Defence in particular. This convention asks the Government to deist from the practice of Corporatisation and privatization of Government departments. In consonance with the practices prevailing in the western world, the commission has suggested hefty pay packets and benefits for the top echelons in the bureaucracy denying in the process even the legitimate and genuine demands of the employees. The commission's recommendation to dispense with the existing Bonus scheme and introduce a system of performance related wage structure being bereft of any logic or merit has been rejected by all the organizations of Central Govt. employees unanimously. The convention condemns the suggestion made by the 6th CPC to abolish Group D Cadre and to stop recruitment of Group D employees as being superfluous in the Govt. departments and permit contractorization of these functions henceforth. This direction of the 6th CPC, if implemented by the Central Govt, will play havoc in the States, where the number of Group-D employees is in colossal numbers. This convention therefore demands the Govt. to enter into a meaningful discussion with the employees' organizations and bring about a satisfactory settlement on the recommendations made by the 6th CPC and ensure that the retrograde recommendation on stoppage of Group D recruitment is rejected.
The 6th CPC has not recommended to extend the existing defined benefit Pension Scheme for new recruits, which the Govt has stopped without any statutory sanction This is unacceptable and the Convention demands that the proposed new Contributory Pension Scheme which is yet to receive the assent of Parliament should be scrapped and all Govt. employees (including those recruited after 1.1.2004) brought within the ambit of the statutory defined pension scheme.
In addition to the above demands of the Govt sector in particular, the Convention fully adopts the Charter of Demands and endorses the programme of actions chalked out by the Sponsoring Committee in its national Convention held at New Delhi on 13th May, 2008 and calls upon the central and State Govt. employees, University, College and School Teachers to organize a day's countrywide strike on 20th August, 2008 in unison with the other sections of the working class in the country and carry out the following preparatory programmes of action.
Joint Conventions at States/District/Industrial centres to be completed by 15th July, 2008.
Massive demonstration/mobilization/dharna in all the states and Industrial centerson30thJuly, 2008.
Serving of strike notice through demonstration on 4th August, 2008.

This Convention urges that Central and State employees' organizations, Teachers and other section of employees in the Govt sector should take steps for successful observance of the Strike through unified and coordinated action in all States.

The Convention also calls upon the State Govt. employees and Teachers to organize solidarity action programme as and when the Confederation of Central Govt. Employees and Workers and other sections of the Central Govt. employees go for strike and other industrial action demanding satisfactory settlement of the 6th CPC recommendations.

The 6-Point Charter of Demands adopted by the Sponsoring Committee in National Convention of Trade Unions on 13 May 2008.
Take urgent step to contain price-rise through (a) universalizing the public distribution system throughout the country to cater all essential commodities at controlled price through PDS, (b) ban on futures and forward trading in all essential commodities, (C) reduction of tax in petrol and diesel, (d) stringent action against hoarding and black marketing.
Strict implementation of all labour laws particularly in respect of minimum wages, working hours, social security and safety and stringent action against all cases of violations; stop contractorisation and outsourcing.
Scope of the Unorganised Sector Workers Social Security Bill pending in Parliament should be expanded to cover all unorganised sector workers irrespective of BPL or APL category to ensure a national minimum social security benefit for them as per unanimous recommendation of the National Commission for Enterprises in the Unorganised Sector (NCEUS) and the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Labour with Central Govt Funding.
Farmers Loan Waiver Scheme to be extended to loans from private moneylenders; nationalized banks to extend easy credit to peasants at lower interest rate.
Lift ban on recruitment in Govt services; remove the negative and discriminatory features in the recommendation of 6th Pay Commission and finalise the same for implementation in consultation with the employees’ organisations; expedite regularization and grant of pension to 'gramin dak-sevaks.
Expedite wage negotiation for the employees of Central Public Sector Undertakings including the contract workers without any conditionality.

Thursday, July 10, 2008

All India Accounts & Audit Officers Association
This poem was recently nominated by UN for an award for the 'Best Poem'
- Written by a Kenyan student.
When I born,.... I black
When I grow up,....I black
When I go in Sun,.... I black
When I scared,.... I black
When I sick,....I black
And when I die,.... I still black
And you white fellow........
When you born, you pink
When you grow up, you white
When you go in sun, you red
When you cold, you blue
When you scared, you yellow
When you sick, you green
And when you die, you grey
And you calling me coloured??

Comrades this also applies to us (particularly many times) in the IAAD in a different context.
Please think it over…….
Courtesy to the Kenyan Student.
S.Mohan.

Tuesday, July 8, 2008

All India Accounts And Audit Officers Association
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Dear Comrades,
One day strike on 20th August, 2008.
National Convention of Central and State Govt. employees and teachers.

The sponsoring Committee of Trade Unions in the country has decided to organize one day strike action on 20th August, 2008 against the neo liberal economic policies of the Govt. of India. The latest manifestation of these policies is the report of the 6th Central Pay Commission. The report has discarded all the established norms and procedure in the determination of the wages of the Central Government employees and have openly advocated for outsourcing of its various functions, especially those presently carried out by the low paid workers belonging to Group D cadres. The existing relativities of the pay scale between the employees, officers and Class I officers have been disturbed wildly in favour of the Class I officers. The two major organizations of the Govt. of India i.e the Defence ordinance factories and Railways have been recommended to be corporatised. Besides there had been a subtle but definite attempt to drag the existing employees, officers into the vortex of the new contributory pension scheme. As the neo liberal economic policies of the government of India and its sixth pay commission report is having direct impact to our cadre, it had been and continues to be our endeavour to ensure the participation of all Central Govt. employees and Officers who are organized under the banner of the Confederation of Central Govt. employees and workers in such united industrial actions.

It has now been decided to hold a convention under the auspices of the Confederation of Central Govt. employees and workers, All India State Govt. employees Federation, the Federation of University and School Teachers of India on 8th July, 2008 at New Delhi. The venue of the Convention is:

M.P.C.U Shah Auditorium, Gujrati Samaj Marg, Near: Civil Lines Metro Station Delhi-110 054.

The Convention will commence at 1.30 PM and shall be concluded by 6.00 PM. In this regard, it is informed that the President of our Association Com.S.Radhakrisna will participate in the Convention on behalf of us.

With greetings,

S.Mohan.
Secretary General.