United States Financial System is in turmoil….

No!!! Never!!!
Then……………………..

$700,000,000,000 for what?

First, it was the shock. Then it began to sink in. Then it came to anger.
In a little over a week the American people first heard of, then digested and are now grappling with the worst financial crisis since the Great Depression of the 1930s and with the Bush administration’s demand that they hand over $700 billion of their hard-earned tax dollars to bail out Wall Street. The Bush administration has proposed a massive bailout plan of at least $700 billion (maybe as much as $1.7 trillion) to stabilize the financial system amid the biggest economic crisis since the Great Depression. Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson, a Bush appointee, and the President are pushing for Congress to rapidly pass the plan this week with little debate and no amendments. The right wing and the banks want a plan that gives a blank check to Wall Street with no oversight.
The full extent of the current crisis and its impact on working people cannot now be fully comprehended, but the crisis is deep and cannot be easily resolved is apparent. Furthermore, the criteria for any plan to solve the crisis must be what’s good for the working people of United States of America and the world, not what’s good for the mega-rich and massive monopolies that got ordinary American into this mess.
If comments of people on the street here are any indication, there is deep resentment about having to trade, as New York Times columnist Paul Krugman put it, “cash for trash.”

John Sweeney, president of the American Federation of Labour-Congress of Industrial Organasations, the nation’s largest labour federation, said last week, that the American people were faced with the choice of committing more than a trillion dollars of public money to rescue the financial system, or facing a complete collapse of the credit markets, and all the economic activity that relied on credit. He further voiced his doubts as to how the programme would be implemented? “Would we finally help the millions of Americans losing their jobs, their homes, their health insurance and their pensions? Or would this be another bailout without conditions, leaving Main Street in crisis and guaranteeing that Wall Street’s crisis will continue in another form?”
Permanent solutions can only be found, Sweeney said, “in the economic programme of re-regulation of the financial markets, a government focused on creating good jobs by investing in infrastructure and solutions to the energy crisis, health care for all Americans, a government that will protect and improve Americans’ retirement security and a guarantee that American workers can bargain for their fair share of the wealth they create.”
Developments are evolving fast and their full impact has yet to be felt, but let’s make sure that American workers, those who made their country rich, do not further suffer at the expense of the financial elites, those who have created this crisis. Working people of America Slogan is “Save Main Street not Wall Street!”
So what?
We Indians are in no way affected by this crisis!!!
Is it so?
Our GDP is so Strong!!
Our Growth rate is so excellent!!!
Our Potential is so rampant!!!!
All Jingoistic Slogans will sustain.
What is the reality?
Rate of Inflation is 12.5%
78 per cent of Indian people just about manage to survive on less than Rs 20 a day
Beware!!!
Our pension funds are to be invested in Dalal Street!!!
Do Not Forget….
Already Workers' Provident Fund Amounts have been gifted to Corporates!!!
The trustees of the Employees Provident Fund at the behest of the Central government (tainted Manmohan Singh Government) have handed over huge amounts of workers Provident Fund contributions to Finance companies for speculative purposes. By this decision around Rs 2, 40,000 crore in the corpus fund and another Rs 30,000 crore of the annual incremental fund will be literally gifted to the Corporates.
The Character of Dalals is similar in nature whether in United States of America or in India. Here also the time is not far that we may also coin the similar slogan.
“Save Main Street not Dalal Street!”
Beware of these polices
Prepare for the struggle.

Prevent such disaster

An Interaction with the leader

Recently one of the comrades wanted to know as to what the programmes of the Association had actually achieved. He was of the strong view that it was of no use to agitate for the association had failed, for instance in computerisation despite all its agitation.
I was surprised at his argument.
What the comrade has failed to understand was that the association did not oppose the computerisation in total but only attempted to prevent the implementation of technology rendering many of us jobless. The Association had succeeded in its endeavour to certain extent. I am sure that those who had watched the progress will agree that the agitation programmes brought a regulated and transparent rules and procedures and saved many from being declared redundant. It is now for the comrade to decide whether the programmes of the Association stopped immediate reduction in man power. Let the ones like this comrade contemplate on this point- what will happen if you do not agitate against the atrocities of the authorities?

With regards,

Commercial comrade.

A Caution Note from commercial comrade

The C&AG's office is insisting that every Association should amend its constitution prescribing a quorum of 1/3 of the primary membership for its meeting. The C&AG's office is fully aware that in the Audit wing it will be impossible to mobilise such a quorum as the members are always on field duty or in Resident Audit Parties at outstation and hence it will be an expensive exercise for the Association. But why then is this insistence? The idea appears to be to immobilise the Recognised Associations. When associations are immobilised anything will be a simple task for the Authorities.

comrades beware !!!!

With regards to you All,

Commercial Comrade

Resolution for adoption on 19th September 2008

The General Body meeting of the ……….(name of the Association) held on 19th September 2008 at ………….(place) made a detail analysis of the notifications and orders issued by the Government of India for the implementation of the VI central pay commission recommendations in respect of Indian Audit and Accounts Department. After analysis the meeting notes that:

Non consideration of the demand for granting the pay scale equivalent to Under Secretary and Deputy Secretary Posts of Central Secretariat to Audit/Accounts and Senior Audit/Senior Accounts Officers of Indian Audit & Accounts Department was very disappointing. The non consideration of the demand though it was justified both on merits and historical background was further disheartening. It further negated the basic foundation of wage fixation in the Indian Audit & Accounts Department by introducing an argument that the parity of pay scales between the Central Secretariat employees and the IA&AD employees were never agreed to by the Government of India ignoring the conscious decision taken by the conclusions of the IV and V Central pay Commission in this regard. This decision has contributed to the merger of the Cadre of Section Officers (Group B non-Gazetted) and Asst. Audit Officers/Asst. Accounts Officers (Group B Gazetted) into a single Grade Pay. Further the placement of Sr. Divisional Accounts Officer cadre above the level of Audit Officers/Accounts Officers though the Divisional Accountants are not expected to qualify in the SOG Exam and are supervised by the AOs in their functions has created Cadre specific anomalous situation. The negation of the benefit accrued to the Employees/Officers of IA&AD after prolonged struggle which was also based on an arbitration award under the scheme of JCM as well as the decision of the Government of India represented by the Group of Ministers based on merit is further creating displeasure in the minds of the Employees and Officers of Indian Audit and Accounts Department. The denial of the existing benefits of restructuring in the IA&AD enjoyed from 1.3.1984 and endorsed and expanded by the IV and V central pay commissions is not acceptable.

The meeting therefore, after careful examination urges upon the Government of India that the Audit/Accounts Officers and Sr.Audit/Sr.Accounts Officers of IA & AD be granted pay band PB3 with grade pay of Rs.6600/ and Rs.7600/ respectively. The meeting also urges upon the Comptroller & Auditor General of India to intervene immediately in the matter of pay scales of Audit/Accounts Officers and Sr.Audit/Sr.Accounts Officers.

The meeting further resolves to forward the copy of the resolution to Honourable Prime Minister, Honourable Finance Minister Government of India, the Comptroller and Auditor General of India urging their immediate intervention in the matter.


President

Resoloution on Policy and Programmes of our Conference

The 33rd Conference of the All India Accounts and Audit Officers Association held in Nagpur on 29th and 30th August 2008 discussed the problems confronting the Central Government Employees’ & Officers in particular and the working Class of this country in general in the background of developments at the national and international level. The conference notes that the uncontrolled inflation has resulted in spiralling prices making the living conditions of the working Class including the middle class to which majority of Central Government Employees’ & Officers belong miserable. The meeting notes that even after the implementation of VI CPC recommendations real wages has eroded as a result of inflation.

The conference notes with concern the decision to implement the recommendations of the VI Central Pay Commission with effect from 1.1.2006 without considering any of the demands made by Staff Side JCM and Officers Organisations. The VI Central Pay Commission while agreeing to grant the wages linking with raising prices and Dr.Ackroid’s formula had erred in adopting the norms. The selection of wrong basis for the calculation of the minimum need for a family based on price level created by a newspaper and ‘adhoc’ addition of 20% towards housing transport and medical needs of the Employees’ totally ignoring the 25% addition towards social obligation and educational need, has resulted in lesser minimum wage minimum pension/family pension to the employees in the lower strata and officers up to Group ‘B’ level. The assumption that the Group D scales are going to be subsumed in the future and providing the ‘minimum wage’ at the level of “Group C” entry stage had thrust upon a permanent injustice on the Central Government Employees and Pensioners. The failure to provide equal fixation benefit for all grades of Central Government Employees by adopting the multiplication factor of 2.625 of pre revised basic pay, the proposal to introduce revised price Index for Central Government Employees as well as an adverse commutation table, withdrawal of existing benefits like CGHS, CCA, benefit of fixation on promotion at the rate of 10 percent of grade pay and pay in pay band with a minimum benefit of Rs.1000, denial of loans and advances at reasonable rates from consolidated fund of India, and denial of Interest free advances to the lower strata of employees etc, coupled with introduction of the contractorisation and outsourcing at the level of Joint secretaries and above has increased the discontent among the Central Government Employees and Officers.

It is therefore demanded that the Government of India should discuss the proposals made by the ‘Staff side – JCM’ and the other Employees’/pensioners’ Federation/Officers’ Confederation with a view to settle the ’above said anomalies’ at an early date. This 33rd Conference of All India Accounts and Audit Officers Association, therefore, endorsed the “18 point Charter” finalised by the Confederation of Central Government employees and workers and authorise the National Executive to endorse the programme of action finalised by the Confederation of Central Government employees and workers, including the decision to participate in the “Indefinite Strike” action during December’08 if such an action is inevitable.

In respect of the Employees and Officers working under the Indian Audit and Accounts Department, the Conference notes with dismay that the VI Central Pay Commission totally ignored the demand made by the employees and officers Federations. It further negated the basic foundation of wage fixation in the IA&AD by introducing an argument that the parity of pay scales between the central secretariat employees and the IA&AD employees were never agreed to by the Government of India ignoring the conscious decision taken by the conclusions of the IV and V Central pay Commission in this regard. This decision has contributed to merge the Cadre of SOs (Group B non-Gazetted) and AAOs (Group B Gazetted) into a single pay band and placement of Divisional Accounts Officer cadre above the level of AOs though the Divisional Accountants are not expected to qualify in the SOG Exam and are supervised by the AOs in their functions. Such action has resulted in the negation of the benefit accrued to the Employees/Officers of IA&AD after prolonged struggle which was also based on an arbitration award under the scheme of JCM as well as the decision of the Government of India represented by the Group of Ministers based on merit. The denial of the benefits of restructuring in the IA&AD enjoyed from 1.4.1984 and endorsed and expanded by the IV and V central pay commissions has to be highlighted and protected by suitable organisational action. The continued denial of Group ‘A’ status to the Sr.AOs, the arbitrary conditionality of age restriction of 53 years for entry into the cadre of Group ‘A’, failure to enhance the percentage of promotional avenue to the Sr.AOs to 50% of the Group A sanctioned strength and other organisational grievances which are listed in the charter of demands merit further pursuance with C&AG of India. The task of getting adequate TA & DA on tour for IA & AD employees also needs continued attention.

It is noted with concern that the cadre of AOs/Sr.AOs were not subjected to review so far. The Officers serving in the Central Government enjoy promotional avenues as well as ACP up to the level of Joint Secretaries. The Government of India has now extended the benefit of ACP to the Group “A” services as well. The Conference therefore authorises the National Executive Committee to initiate the ‘Dialogue” to explore the possibilities of “Cadre review” of SAO/AOs in the IA & AD.

The Conference therefore authorises the National Executive to draw suitable programme of action in the event of a failure to get a negotiated settlement with C&AG. The Conference notes with satisfaction the progress made in Joint struggles by the Group ‘B’ and promotee Officers through the Confederation of Central Government Officers and the Joint Struggle by Co-ordination Committee of Audit and Accounts employees and Officers Organisations. The Conference also authorises the National Executive to develop the Co-ordination and to implement the call given by these mass organisations.

The result of Computerisation, Contract employment and outsourcing of employees coupled with unscientific reduction of Staff strength based on the recommendation of the ‘task forces’ appointed by the C&AG, failure to fill up the vacancies under the lower level and the failure to operate the leave reserve etc has thrust enormous work load on the AOs & SAOs. We are also concerned with the wilful negation of the C&AG of India in discharging his Constitutional functions under the guise of Audit Plan, Performance Audit, arbitrary reduction of “Audit Paragraphs” under the Suo-motto reviews, waiver of basic accounting checks of classification and restriction placed on the normal checks while authorising the Entitlement functions to the State Government Employees and the constraints under which the officers in IA&AD are subjected to work. Our demand for sanction of adequate staff for “Local Body Audit Function” and continued reluctance to bring the public Sector organisations like LIC, Banks under the audit purview of the C&AG of India also merit sustained struggle till these demands are achieved. To achieve these objectives the Conference authorise the National Executive to organise Convention and improve the public awareness about the role of audit in the parliamentary democracies. Regarding the demands listed in the departmental Charter the National Executive committee can take up at departmental level and authorises for fruitful negotiations.

The Conference also notes the harmful effect of the uncontrolled price rise and ever increasing inflation in the house hold of our Officers/employees besides the poor and unorganised sector. The Conference was of the opinion that the organisation cannot be silent spectator when anti-employee decisions are thrust on the working class. The Conference was of the unanimous decision that the organisation shall resist the anti employee decision of the Government by organising joint struggles with other trade unions and mass organisations. The Conference also resolved to fight the “New pension Scheme”, attempts to take away CGHS by introduction of Health Insurance scheme and investment of pension/PF funds in speculative market etc. with our full strength and to defeat them in the interest of the nation.

All these can be achieved only when our unity is maintained and developed. To this end we authorise the National Executive to initiate dialogue/ discussions with other organisations in the IA&AD to bring them all under “one umbrella” In this connection our efforts to secure recognition for P&T Audit, Railways and Defence Audit Associations early shall continue. Workers of the World unite shall be our guiding principle.

The Conference further authorises the Secretariat to take appropriate action for the pursuance and implementation of the above policy and programme decision from time to time in consultation with various decision making forums of the organisation.

Sd/-
President of the Conference

Circular No 7

To
The National Executive Members &
The Secretaries of the Affiliates.
Dear Comrades,

33rd Conference of All India Accounts and Audit Officers Association:
The 33rd Conference of the All India Accounts and Audit Officers Association was held at Sugandha Mangal Karyalaya Dharampeth, Nagpur from 29.08.08 to 30.08.08 as notified. 47 Delegates and 18 observers representing 17 units attended the Conference.
Felicitation to our Leaders: Com. M. Badrudeen,Additional Secretary General of the Association, Com.Limsay Veteran Leader from Nagpur who had already retired and Com.N.Kannan General Secretary Association of AOs & SAOs(Commercial) who is to retire in January 2009 were felicitated in the convention venue.
Convention on Strengthening Audit & Accounts to safeguard people’s rights:
On the eve of the 33rd All India Conference, the Federation has organized a Convention at the Multipurpose Hall in the O/o of the Accountant General (A&E) II, Maharashtra Nagpur on 28.08.08 at 3 p.m. focusing on the importance of “strengthening the functioning of Auditing and Accounting functions of the Supreme Audit Institution to safeguard the people’s Rights” by maintaining its independence, impartiality, high democratic values and traditions expected from the instrumentality by the framers of the Constitution and at the same time by equipping it to take on the challenges arising out of the contemporary national needs. The Convention was presided over by Com.S.Radhakrishna, President of the Association. Com.Rupchand Pal, M.P., Chairman COPU inaugurated the Convention. The key note address was delivered by Com.S.Mohan Secretary General of the Federation. Com.S.K.Vyas President, Confederation of the Central Government Employees and Workers, Com.Manohar Deshkar AITUC and Com.R.K.Srivatsav (former President of All India Audit & Accounts Association) Chairman, Reception Committee of the 33rd Conference, addressed the convention. The convention culminated in release of a declaration which suggested certain immediate corrective steps that would make this most important public accountability mechanism an effective one.
Inaugural Session of the Conference: 29-08-08 Com.S.Radhakrishna, President of the Association hoisted the Flag and saluted the martyrs in the presence of Com.S.K.Vyas. Com.R.K.Srivatsav Chairman, Reception Committee welcomed the delegates and leaders of fraternal organisations. The Conference was inaugurated by Com.S.K. Vyas, who highlighted the failures of VI CPC in adopting the norms prescribed by the 15th ILC and the consequent reduction in the minimum wage/minimum pension, at the Group ‘D’ Level. The failure to revise the minimum wage/pension, not increasing the rate of increment, non acceptance of fitment formula suggested by JCM staff side would force the central government employees to resort to ‘Indefinite Strike’ action by December 2008. He demanded a meaningful negotiation with the Staff Side JCM and other employees/officers organization at an early date. Shri.Nitin Gadkari M.L.C and the President of BJP, Maharashtra State Unit appreciated the role of Audit in exposing the failure of Government in disbursing the ‘Debt relief’ to the indebted farmers. He deplored the failure of C&AG of India for substituting “Performance audit”for “Financial and Regularity Audit”. As a member of the Committee of Economic affairs in the BJP he promised to support the Audit Accounts Officers Organisation. Com. Asai, General Secretary, CITU, Nagpur Com.Rajesh.D.Menon, Secretary General, Confederation of Central Government Officers Organasations Com.M.S.Raja Secretary General, All India Audit and Accounts Association and Com.P.K.Dass General Secretary, Confederation of Central Government Employees and Workers Nagpur greeted the Conference.
Delegate Session: 29-08-08 The Delegate Session was presided by the Presidium consisting of Com.Radhakrishna and Com.A.S.Mazumdar. The Secretary General presented the minutes of 32nd Conference held at Bangalore which was adopted unanimously by the Conference. Com.S.Mohan then presented his report for the period from 2006 to 2008 and explained the salient features of the report. More than 14 delegates from various affiliated units took part in the discussion. Finally the report of Secretary General was adopted with certain modifications/additions in the ‘Homage’ paragraph and paragraph on victimization of Association functionaries in the field unit as well as national executive Committee members. The Secretary General’s report adopted by the Conference shall be circulated shortly. Then the Secretary General presented the Audited Accounts for the year 2006-07 & 2007-08 which were unanimously adopted by the Conference. The amendments proposed to the Constitution of All India Accounts and Audit Officers Association with amendments as suggested by the C&AG’s office were adopted by the conference unanimously.
Resoloutions: 30.08.08 The resolutions considering the General Secretary of the Association of AOs &SAOs (Comml)) as well as the General Secretary Association of P&T Audit Officers and Sr.Audit Officers as Ex- Officio members of the National Executive Committee and inclusion of 5 more permanent invitees, including a representative from the ‘Lady Officers’ was also adopted. The Secretary General then moved the resolution of policy and programme which was adopted unanimously. The resolutions regarding the Closure of RAPs in the Commercial Audit wing, Victimization, Reduction of staff was proposed by the Secretary General which were adopted unanimously. Com.K.T.Sridharan convenor, Subject Committee summed up the specific demands relating to various Audit/Accounting wings in the IA&AD and the Conference gave mandate to the Secretariat of the Association to finalize the charter of Demands.
Programme of Action: The Conference decided to Observe the Demands day on 19.09.08 to adopt and present the resolution to the C&AG through the Accountant General/Director of Audit by Mass Deputation of members of respective units. This will be a prelude to our fight to achieve the grant of pay scales equivalent to the Under Secretary/Dy.Secretary of the Central Secretariat to the AOs/SAOs respectively. We should also note with concern the ignominy of Divisional Accounts Officers being made equal to the Audit Officers despite the fact that they are not required to qualify in the SOG Exam and are liable for supervision by Audit Officers. The Grade Pay has been upwardly revised at ten stages in favour of Gr A officers, but not a single upgrade revision, not even for rectifying the anomalies pointed out in the construction of Pay Bands, have taken place in the case of PB1 & PB 2. For senior Gr. A officers, another Pay Scale has been created called HAG+ (Higher Administrative Grade). It is very clear that the government expressly ignores the vast majority of employees and promotee Officers, their whole concern is a negligible percentage of Gr A officers. Other injustices thrust upon us by the VI CPC also are to be resisted. Let us prepare for a strike Ballot for Indefinite Strike after the observation of ‘Campaign week subject to the decision of the National Executive Committee, scheduled to be held at Hyderabad Com.D.S.Thakur, Com.D.Balasubramanian, advisors to the All India Association, and Com.Badarudeen, Com.A.S.Majumdar outgoing office bearers of the All India Association addressed the Conference.
Election to the National Executive: Com.N.Kannan (General Secretary Association of AOs &SAOs (Commercial)) was appointed as Election Officer to conduct the election of the National Executive for the period 2008 to 2010 by the Conference. The list of office bearers elected unanimously to the National Executive, the General Auditor nominated and the Advisors for the All India Audit and Accounts Officers Association unanimously approved by the conference is enclosed. After the acceptance speech by the President (elect) & Secretary General, valedictory address by the Former President, the conference was concluded after the adoption of resolution thanking the Host Unit for their splendid efforts in organizing the Conference successfully.
Each unit leadership should undertake extensive campaign by holding activists’ meetings, group meetings etc to mobilise the employees for the mass Deputation on 19th September 2008. The report on the Implementation of the programme action may be communicated to the Secretary General without loss of time.

With Fraternal Greetings,

Yours Comradely,

S.Mohan
Secretary General.

Composition of National Executive Committee ofAll India Accounts & Audit Officers’ Association

I.National executive Committee Members :
1 President: S. V. Deshpande O/o Accountant General (A & E) II Maharashtra, Nagpur
2 Vice President:K. T. Sridharan O/o Accountant General (C & RA) Tamil Nadu, Chennai
3 Secretary General:S. Mohan O/o Accountant General (Commercial Audit) Maharashtra, Mumbai
4 Additional Secretary General:R. S. Dubey O/o Accountant General (A & E) Uttar Pradesh, Allahabad
5 Asst. Secretary General (F): P. Prabhakar Principal Director of Audit, South Central Railway, Secundrabad
6 Asst. Secretary General:S. C. Sahu O/o Accountant General (A & E) Orissa, Bhubaneshwar
7 Asst. Secretary General:Swapan K. Chattopadhya Principal Director of Commercial Audit and Member Audit Board IV, New Delhi At Kolkatta.
8 Asst. Secretary General:K. V. Nagaraju O/o Principal Accountant General (Audit), Karnataka, Bangalore

II Ex-officio Members of the National Executive

9 The General Secretary, Association of SAO (Commercial) & AO (Commercial)
10 The General Secretary, P&T Audit Officers’ & Sr.Audit Officers’ Association

III Special Invitee to the National Executive

11 N. Raveendran Pillai, O/o the Pr. Accountant General (Audit) Kerala,
12 O.P.Goel, O/o the Accountant General (A&E) Gwalior
13 Smt.Vanaja Ramabadran, O/o the Accountant General (A&E) Tamil Nadu
14 Samir Kumar Bhar, O/o the Pr. Director of Audit (Central) Kolkotta
15 S.Venkat Reddy, O/o the Accountant General (A&E) Andhra Pradesh, Hyderabad
16 S.Radhakrishna, Former President, All India Accounts and Audit Officers Association
17 M.Badruddin, Former Additional Secy. General, All India Accounts and Audit Officers Association