Circular No 8

All India Audit and Accounts Officers Association decides to

organise Day Long Mass Dharna

Dear Comrades,

On behalf of the All India Audit and Accounts Officers Association we convey our sincere thanks, appreciation and gratitude to all affiliated units & comrades who participated in the Lunch Hour Mass Dharna in local Heads of Offices on 17th Dec, especially to those who made efforts for the success of this momentous Programme.

The extended meeting of the National Executive Committee of All India Audit and Accounts Officers Association held at Mumbai on 5th & 6th September 2009 deliberated upon the refusal of the Government of India to accept granting of higher grade pay to AOs and Sr.AOs. By denying our genuine demand without any justifiable reason, the meeting noted, the wage structure of AO and Sr.AO cadres has been suppressed which will have a devastating impact for many years to come. The meeting came to the conclusion that the Government's decision warrants serious agitational approach and decided to call upon its affiliated units to mobilize themselves for a Day Long Dharna before the C&AG’s office to generate necessary pressure to compel the C&AG and the Finance Ministry to enter into meaningful discussion over these issues with our Federation and to settle them satisfactorily.

In this back ground, the All India Audit and Accounts officers Association has decided to organize a Day Long Mass Dharna on 5th February, 2010 demanding settlement of its Charter of demands including the grant of Higher Grade pay to AOs and Sr.AOs, Conferment of Group A Status to Sr.AOs, Removal of Age restriction for promotion to I.A.A.S cadre, Increasing promotion quota to I.A.A.S, Extension of MACP benefits to AOs and Sr.AOs.
All the affiliated organizations are requested to mobilise their members to participate in the Day Long Mass Dharna on Feb 5th under intimation to All India Audit and Accounts Officers Association.

Intensive campaign, culminating into one day Dharna before CAG Office, is absolutely necessary to force the reluctant Government, Finance Ministry, Expenditure Secretary and C&AG to negotiate meaningfully and settle the demands. Kindly ensure that this message reaches every member to make him/her realize the gravity of injustice and the intensity of discrimination meted out to us by the top echelons of bureaucracy while implementing the recommendations of the 6th CPC. Each affiliated unit should ensure their presence by mobilizing large numbers of members in the day long Dharna and are requested to plan in advance to book their tickets in such a way to be at the venue of the Dharna on 5th Feb. Participants will have to make their own arrangement for accommodation at Delhi. After the Dharna on the same day the National Executive along with representatives of the units shall meet to decide further course of action.

Our offer to the administration of C&AG to settle these issues through a discussion has not been responded to. This is a challenge to our self respect, dignity and our very position as the back bone of this department. This is a challenge thrown by the unreasonable bureaucracy and an administration that have routinely turned a blind eye and deaf ears to our genuine demands routinely for the past three decades. We are left with no option but to meet the challenge by resorting to this direct action.

Let us march together, shoulder to shoulder, with determination, courage and sincerity towards our goal with the conviction that success is the product of struggles and Mass Dharna is one of the means towards this end.

With New Year Greetings,



Yours Fraternally,


(S.Mohan)
Secretary General

Circular No 6

To
The National Executive Members &
The Secretaries of the Affiliates

Dear Comrades,

The response to the call of the Association for the Week long programme of Black Badge wearing from 19th to 23rd October is heartening. The success on account of the participation by a great majority of the members is a definite step forward towards our goals- for better recognition, respect, the status we deserve and the pay scales we deserve. The overwhelming response to the call has sent a clear message to the authorities that our pursuit shall be relentless, unified and mass based. But it is not enough to reach our ultimate destination.
Meeting with Pr.Director of Staff: Com.S.V.Deshpande President and Com.S.Mohan, Secretary General of the Association met the Pr.Director of Staff on 30th October 2009 in her Chamber. The meeting is informal and discussed various issues including our demand for up gradation of Grade pay of AOs/Sr.AOs. From the responses, official and unofficial, a message emerges loud and clear. The message is that the top bureaucracy of the Ministry of Finance is in no mood to consider our just demand brushing aside all our representations, justifications and recommendations from various quarters.
This deliberate casualness and cultivated resistance with which our demands are treated needs to be countered with determination and unity. The Association has drawn up various agitational programmes aimed at breaking the bureaucratic resistance and to force the powers heed to our demand. The Association is confident that the members shall make every programme a resounding success by participating without exception and ensuring the participation of other comrades.
Observe Reminder Day on November 18th: The immediate action is the observation of “Reminder Day” to be observed by every one of us on November 18th.On this day everyone of us shall sign the personal memorandum (Enclosed) and hand the same over to the General Secretary of the respective Association (In duplicate) in the general body meeting to be held on the same day. One set of the memorandums thus received shall be handed over to the respective heads of Institutions for on ward transmission to C&AG in a mass deputation.
This programme is aimed at ensuring that the authorities are made aware of the fact that the agitation shall continue till our goal is achieved. Our success lies in unceasing united action. Ensure success of the programme “Reminder Day” on November 18th.Let us build a rock like unity of All India Audit and Accounts Officers to cause of our Up Gradation of Grade pay.The members must show that we cannot be demoralized or demotivated by denying our genuine demand of up gradation of pay scales. But that such heinous denial by the Pay Commission, by the Government and by the Department will only make us stronger.

Indivadual representation
To
The Comptroller & Auditor General of India,
No 9, Deen Dayal Upadhyay Marg,
New Delhi 110024.

(Through Proper Channel)
Sub: UpGradation of Grade Pay for AO/Sr.AO

Sir,

I--------------------------------------------------member of the ---------------------------------------------------------------------Association submits the memorandum for the kind consideration of Comptroller and Auditor General of India.

In all pay revisions and cadre restructure, only one cadre which has received a raw deal was the cadre of AOs/Sr.AOs The vertical relativity between the cadre of Audit/Accounts Officers and that of Sr. Divisional Accounts Officers is that the Audit/Accounts Officers is at the higher level than that of Sr. Divisional Accounts Officers. This vertical relativity has been disturbed when the recommendations of the VI pay commission was implemented by the Notification dated 29th August 2008. In this notification the cadre of Sr.Divisional Accounts Officer of Indian Audit & Accounts Department has been granted the scale of Rs.8000-13500 and placed them in PB3 with a grade pay of Rs.5400 treating them on par with the Sr.Audit/Accounts Officers in the same Indian Audit & Accounts Department while placing the Audit/Accounts Officers in PB2 with the same Grade Pay. Thus the Audit and Accounts Officers have been placed below the Sr.Divisional Accounts Officers. This has disturbed the vertical relativity established by the recruitment rules leading to an anomalous situation defeating the very recruitment rules which place the Sr.Divisional Accounts Officers in the scales applicable to the Assistant Audit/Accounts officers of the department and hence necessarily require placing the Sr.Divisional Accounts Officers below the Audit/Accounts Officers.It is further submitted that historically the cadre of Divisional Accountant was placed below the cadre of Section Officer of the IA & AD. Following hierarchal setup was maintained for decades in IA & AD.

Auditor /Accountant
Divisional Accountants
Section Officer
Asstt. Audit /Accounts Officer
Audit / Accounts Officer
Sr.Audit/Accounts Officer

Even the Pay Scale of Divisional Accountant up to IV Central Pay Commission was lower than the Pay Scale of the Section Officer. It was during the cadre of Divisional Accountant was restructured and the post of Divisional Accounts Officer Grade III, Grade II & Senior Divisional Accounts Officer were created. The Pay Scale of Divisional Accounts Officer Grade II was brought at par with Section Officer; however the Pay Scale of Sr. Divisional Accounts Officer was one scale below the Pay Scale of Audit / Accounts Officer.

The Audit/Accounts Officer supervise the work of S.O.G Examination passed Section Officers. Every Audit and Accounts Officer supervises the work of 4 to 5 S.O.G. passed Section Officers and 16 to 20 Sr. Auditors/Accountants; where as the Sr. Divisional Accounts Officer supervises the work of Clerk in the Division.

This fact was taken note of by the 6th Central Pay Commission which decided that “this parity will need to be maintained” and placed the Sr.Divisional Accounts Officers in the scale of 8000-13500 with grade pay of 5400 and placed them in PB3. However the Pay Commission ignored its own conception and placed the Audit/Accounts officers in the PB 2 (8700-34800), merging them with the Assistant Audit/Accounts Officers, with a Grade pay of 4800 in PB2 without any logic. Though the Government did make an attempt to correct this anomalous recommendation, it was only half step as Audit/ Accounts Officers were continued to be placed in PB2 with grade pay of Rs.5400. This resulted in placing the cadre of Audit/Accounts Officers below that of Sr.Divisional Accounts Officers.

The Audit/Accounts officers are better qualified (SOG Examination) and are eligible for consideration for promotion to the cadre of IA&AS after promotion to the cadre of Sr. Audit/Accounts Officers. They also supervise the Sr.Divisional Accounts Officers. This being the actual relative status in the Department, it is illogical and anomalous to retain the Audit/Accounts Officers in PB 2. They should, in fact, be placed at a higher status by granting them the Grade Pay of 6600 in PB 3. The Sr. Audit/Accounts Officers being a higher cadre to Audit/Accounts Officers and constituting the promotional channel to the cadre of IA&AS, should, in all fairness and equity, be granted the Grade Pay of 7600 in PB 3. The present scales and Grade Pays granted to Audit/Accounts Officers & Sr. Audit/Accounts Officers are anomalous.

The revised scales, it is the considered opinion; only perpetuate injustice to Audit/Accounts Officers / Sr. Audit/Accounts Officers which has been suffering since long. The Association is, therefore, constrained to reiterate its arguments.

1. The reasons cited in the Pay Commission report to deny higher pay scales to Sr. Audit/Accounts officers and Audit/Accounts officers is very hollow and unscientific. Traditionally Audit/Accounts Officers of IA&AD were always on a grade higher than that of Section officers of Central Secretariat Services. In that background only the Sr. Audit/Accounts officers were in the scale of 8000-13500 as per the recommendations of the V CPC. It is another issue that the VI CPC did not attempt proper evaluation of the work and status of the cadre. This horizontal relativity was disturbed by a decision of the government to grant the Section Officers of Central Secretariat Services with four years of service pay scale of Rs.8000-13500 in October 2003, which was not recommended by any Pay Commission. The Section Officer with four years of Service is a feeder cadre to Group A posts in Central Secretariat Services. The VI Pay Commission has examined their case and approved it. Therefore logically the Section officers of our department who become Assistant Audit/Accounts officers after 3 or 4 years should have been granted this scale of pay instead of the scale of 7450-11500. Unfortunately this scale has not been extended to Assistant Audit/Accounts Officers.

2. The Commission has placed the Section Officers in the Pay Band of 8700-34800 on the logic that the merger of the scales 5000-8000, 5500-9000 and 6500-10500 would place the posts of Sr.Auditors/Accountants and the Section officers in an identical pay and grade pay even though the former are a feeder cadre for promotion to the latter and hence the post of the Section Officer had to be upgraded to the scale 8700-34800 with grade pay of Rs.4800. According to the pay commission, this necessitated up gradation of the scales of Assistant Audit/Accounts officers and Audit/Accounts officers. However it has recommended the same scale and grade pay of Section officers to the Assistant Audit/Accounts officers and Audit/Accounts officers, without any stated logic. Going by the same logic which determined the vertical relativity between Sr.Auditors/Accountants and Section officers that the commission has recognised, the scales of Assistant Audit/Accounts Officers, to which the Section officers constitute the feeder cadre, should have been upgraded to higher grades. By the same logic, the position of Sr. Audit/Accounts Officers should have been arrived at as follows.
Cadre Pre revised pay scales Grade Pay
Section officers 7500-12000 4800
Assistant Audit/Accounts Officers 8000-13500 5400
Audit/Accounts officers 10000-15200 6600
Sr. Audit/Accounts officers 12000-16500 7600
3.The recruitment Rules framed by the President of India under Article 148(5) maintain a clear vertical relativity of the cadres placing the Audit/Accounts officers above the Assistant Audit/Accounts officers and the Sr. Audit/accounts officers above the Audit/Accounts officers . As per MSO (Admn) Volume I, the Accountant General’s are assisted by the Audit/Accounts/Senior Accounts/Senior Audit Officers. All outgoing correspondences (Authorisations / Audit notes and observations) bear their signatures. Moreover, the Audit/Accounts officers invariably partake as a member of DPCs for Group C&D cadres. The statutory role under Provident Fund, Pension Acts, contains ‘Authorisation responsibilities’ to Audit/Accounts officers /Sr. Audit/Accounts officers for expenditure out of Public Fund. Special powers to approve Inspection Reports and settle observations and objections of minor nature are significant nature to the post of Sr. Audit/Accounts Officers/Audit/Accounts Officers. The Sr. Audit/Accounts Officers and Audit/Accounts Officers function as Branch Officers. They have been delegated technical and administrative powers that require them to take independent decisions. They are subject to only partial supervision and they act as independent field officers. Going by the logic of the Pay Commission, they constitute the cutting edge and have to be granted higher scales and Grade Pay.
4.When the implementation of MACP in the department most of the seniors in the merged cadre of SOs/AAOs would, on account of the run away stagnation in the department, become eligible for placement in the Grade pay of Rs.5400 placing the supervisors and the supervised in the same Pay Band and Grade Pay. This has fuelled the frustration already existing in the minds of Audit and Accounts Officers and Sr.Audit and Sr.Accounts Officers further. With the implementation of MACP Scheme there will be less motivation factor to take up SOG Examination seriously unless Grade Pay of the Supervising Cadres is suitably upgraded and further promotional avenues are opened up for the AOs/SAOs.
I---------------(Name of the member), therefore, urges that the anomaly is rectified by revising the scales as above.

Signature
Name of the Member
Name of the Association.

"A man who stands for nothing……..
Will fall for anything."

On behalf of All India Audit and Accounts Officer’s Association and on my own behalf, I salute all the members who have participated in the Week long Black Badge Wearing Programme. (From Oct 19 – 23).

S.Mohan.

Secretary General
.

“If there is no struggle there is no progress”

Observance of Black Badge wearing week

The All India Audit and Accounts Officers Association
Call upon its affiliates & its members to observe
a week long programme of wearing Black Badge
From 19th October to 23rd October.

On the last day of the programme i.e on 23rd October,

Hold General Body Meeting,

Adopt the Memorandum,

Submit the Memorandum by Mass deputation to Local Heads of Offices.

On this auspicious festival of lights,

May the glow of joy, prosperity, and happiness...

Illuminate your days in the year ahead.

May lights triumph over Darkness.

May peace transcend the Earth.

May the light that we celebrate at Diwali

Show us the way and lead us together

On the path of peace and social harmony

"WISH U A VERY HAPPY DIWALI"

1st General Body Meeting of P&T Audit Officer's and Sr.Audit Officer's Association

Veteran Leader one of the Tri-Moorthies of the Audit Movement Com.Barada Bhattacharjee paid floral tributes to Martyrs

Com.S.Vyas, Leader of Central Government Employees, another Tri-Morrthies of Audit Movement paid floral tributes to Martyrs.

Our Seretary General Com.S.Mohan Paid floral tributes to Martyrs

Our Secretary General with the Veteran Leader

President of the Association Com I.N.Kirtania and General Secretary Com S.Burua along with other leaders in the Dias.

Com.Swapan Kumar, Asst.Secretary General of All India Audit and Accounts Officers Association welcome the Gathering

A view of audience present in the Meeting.

The First General Body Meeting of P&T Audit Officer's and Sr.Audit Officer's Association was held at Kolkotta on 9th October 2009. The Association got recognised after its bitter fight with the authorities for more than 2 years and now it is affiliated to our Federation. During that event Some of the photos are placed .

Day Long Convention

By

Co-ordinating Body of Audit and
Accounts Officers Associations in Kolkotta

On

10th October

At

Treasury Building in
O/o the Pr.AG (A&E) West Bengal Kolkotta

To

Discuss about
The Problems faced by us.

Unity is the Need of the Hour to achieve our Demands

Long Live our Unity

All India Audit & Accounts Officers Association

Our Tasks in Coming Days………..

Keeping in mind to go for Mass Casual leave during the second week of January if there is no concrete development towards our main demand of up gradation of Grade Pay, the Extended National Executive Committee Meeting unanimously decided on the following Programmes.

1. Observance of Black Badge wearing week: The affiliated organizations are directed to observe a week long programme of wearing black Badge during 19th October to 23rd October. On the last day of the programme i.e on 23rd October, hold General Body Meeting, Adopt the Memorandum, submit the Memorandum by Mass deputation to Local Heads of Offices. Specific Instruction should be given to Officers who are supervising in the field to observe this programme.

2. Remainder day on Nov 18th: The affiliated units are directed to hold the remainder day on Nov 18th. The intermittent period should be utilized for collection of individual representation/memorandum in duplicate signed by each member of the affiliated unit should be submitted to the local heads of Institution followed by Mass Deputation. One set of copy of the representation/Memorandum should be submitted by the each affiliated unit to the Federation before the centralized Dharna at Delhi.

3. Day Long Dharna: It has been decided to hold a dharna in Delhi in front of CAG’ s Office(or at a near place to CAG’s Office in case of any difficulty from law enforcing agencies) during the winter session of Parliament probably 3rd week of December participated by all the affiliated units in a massive manner followed by the submission of memorandum to the CAG Authorities. On the eve of Dharna, review the developments, by the convening extended National Executive and consider the programme to go on Mass Casual Leave during the second week of January by the Officers of the Indian Audit and Accounts Department. The Secretariat will explore the possibility of converting this programme to a joint programme with employees’ organization.


Secretary General

Tax Code is unfair to the Salaried

The tax rates proposed for the future in the Direct Taxes Code are generally being welcomed. In this hype, one tends to lose sight of the huge tax burden, hardships and inequities, to which a major section of the taxpayers namely the salary earners is going to be subjected, if the Code is enacted in the present form. Unable to curb large-scale tax evasion, the I-T department has been eyeing soft targets like salary earners for many years now. The Standard Deduction available to them (a lumpsum deduction for employment-related expenses) was discontinued on the specious ground that these were 'personal expenses.' Then, through the Finance Bill, 2009, the benefit of section 89(1) to salaried people for amounts in excess of Rs.5 lakh, received on account of voluntary retirement, which is exempt under section 10(10C), has been discontinued, though nearly half a dozen high courts have held that both the benefits can be claimed by such taxpayers. The "most unkindest cut of all" could turn out to be new Code. Consider these:

For umpteen years, VRS payment, commuted pension and retirement gratuities, received by employees on retirement have been considered exempt without any conditions. These are now to be considered as salary income and should be subjected to tax, if these are not invested in permitted savings/intermediary in accordance with the scheme framed and prescribed by the central government. Also, the retirees will have to keep such amounts locked in the account indefinitely as any withdrawals made or amounts received, under whatever circumstances from this account, are to be included in the income of the persons.
A person saves during his service period so that when he retires, the drop in his income may be made up, to some extent, by accumulated savings invested in the manner he thinks appropriate. Also, money may be required to meet the family obligations like marriages of the children, their education, unexpected illness, etc. Once the code comes into force, this would be possible only after the payment of income-tax, which could be as high as 30%. This amounts to autocratic decision-making.
Under the new Code, the salary will also include, inter-alia, the following:-
The value of rent-free or concessional accommodation provided by the employer, irrespective of whether the employer is government or any other person. The value of rent-free accommodation is to be determined for all employees in identical way.
The values of any leave travel concession.
The amount received on encashment of un-availed earned leave or retirement or otherwise.Medical reimbursement.The value of free or concessional medical treatment paid for or provided by the employers.
To equate government and other employers is, prima facie, irrational as it treats unequals as equals. Article 14 of the constitution permits a reasonable classification. Covernment employees constitute a well defined class of taxpayers. In matters of emoluments and perquisites, they are far behind the private sector employees. The highest salary in the government is Rs 90,000/- pm (of the Cabinet secretary) but many new recruits from the business schools start career with a lakh of rupees or more per month. Then how the government employees can be equated with them? No reasons have been given for making change in a position prevalent from decades.

Likewise, taxing medical reimbursements and medical benefits provided by employers would be unjustified. These payments are made to keep the human machinery fit (for which no depreciation is permissible under the tax law) so that the work could be performed energetically and efficiently. When businessmen can get deduction of any amount on repairs of plant/machinery, etc., which are also eligible for depreciation (even additional depreciation), there seems to be no ground for taxing medical benefits in the hands of the employees. This proposal merely shows inhuman face of the tax department, which can cause more damage in various forms vis-à-vis meagre revenue generated.

Not permitting deduction of various expenses, which have become essential in the present competitive times to keep oneself updated for retaining his present job and future advancement, other than commuting expenses, is harsh and is tantamount to shutting the eyes towards real-life situations. A tax code, which ignores this basic aspect concerning nearly 4 million taxpayers, cannot be considered as a model Code. One more measure that is likely to hit salaried employees is the one about self-occupied house. Deduction for interest and principal loan payment that is presently available, is to be withdrawn. Also, withdrawals from PFs are to be taxed under the exempt-exempt-tax (EET) regime. As against the above, considerable benefits are being proposed for big taxpayers viz.Losses can be carried for set off against future incomes for unlimited number of years; Wealth-tax limit is being raised from Rs 30 lakhs to Rs 50 crore; Rate of wealth-tax is being reduced from 1% to 0.25%; Financial assets, like shares/bonds, etc, are to be valued at lower of cost or market value. This blatantly favours high-net worth taxpayers. The new tax Code is to be for many years to come. Regrettably, it lacks vision, fairness, and balance of approach and justice for all.

(The author is former chairman, CBDT)

Courtesy: Economic Times Dated 25th Aug 2009.

Circular No 4

To
The National Executive Members &
The Secretaries of the Affiliates

Dear Comrades,

OBSREVE DEMANDS DAY ON 28TH AUGUST 2009: The move of the C&AG administration to invite tender notice (expression of interest) to conduct work study and there-by to decide the man power requirement of Gr B & C cadres is a grave potential threat to the Department’s continuance as “watch dog of Indian Finances” and it could certainly create uncertainties to the job security and promotional prospects of existing personnel. This threat should be neutralized without any loss of time.
All out efforts to propagate our demands and mobilise the employees and officers for their achievement should be made by the unit leadership. Lunch hour general body meetings may be held in every unit and the following resolutions (1) On charter of demands and (2) On the move to call for expression of interest be adopted and handed over to heads of the Department by the Executive Committee in a delegation.

Extended National Executive Meeting at Mumbai on 5th & 6th Sept 2009: The venue of the Meeting and arrangements for the Lodging to the delegates has been made in the New Visava Rest House” near Saket bldg., opp. R. A. Potdar Hospital, Jaywant Palkar Marg, Worli, Mumbai-18. Phone No. 022-24930912. The suburban railway station nearest to the venue is “DADAR”. After getting down at DADAR one has to take a Taxi. The famous land mark is R. A. Potdar Aayurvedic Hospital. The Taxi charges may be around Rs. 50 to 60. Taxi may take 20 to 30 minutes to reach the venue. All the affiliated units should ensure their representation in the Extended National Executive to and help in taking democratic, momentous decisions to consolidate and strengthen the organization to move forward with hard bargaining power achieved by organizational struggles and to achieve our major demand of up gradation of Grade Pay.
Contact Nos. Kanade: 09757163919, Chandran: 0986965544 & Karpate 09869229383.

Yours fraternally,
(S.Mohan)

Secretary General

Draft Resolution No.(1)

This general body meeting of ………..Association held on 28th August 2009 endorses the decision of the National Executive Committee of All India Audit and Accounts Association to pursue the demands of the employees and officers of the Indian Audit & Accounts Department in association with All India Audit & Accounts Officers Association.

This general body meeting held on 28th August 2009 further endorses the Joint charter of demands formulated by the National Executive Committee of All India Audit & Accounts Association in association with All India Audit & Accounts Officers Association which is given below:

1. Vacate victimisation; Restore Trade Union Rights.
2. Fill up all vacant posts including Gr D, No matching savings at the cost of Gr B, C & D cadres.
3. Regularise all casual, temporary, contract, daily wage workers.
4. Permit self certification for TA/DA claims.
5. Upgrade LDCs by re-designating them as Acctts/Audit Assistants and grant following pay sales to different cadres-
Accounts/Audit Assistant PB-1 with Grade Pay Rs.2400
Accountant/Auditor/ Steno Gr.II PB-2 with Grade Pay Rs.4200
Sr. Accountant/Auditor/ Steno Gr.I PB-2 with Grade Pay Rs.4600
SO/JAO/AAO/PS PB-2 with Grade Pay Rs.4800
On Completion of 4 years PB-3 with Grade Pay Rs.5400
Accounts/Audit Officer PB-3 with Grade Pay Rs. 6600
Sr. Accounts/Audit Officer PB-3 with Grade Pay Rs. 7600

6. Remove age restriction for induction to IA&AS; Increase promotional quota to IA&AS from 33¹⁄³rd % to 50 %. & Conferrment of Group A status to Sr.A.Os.
7. Stop down sizing, outsourcing and privatisation of any function in IA&AD.
8. Restore unilateral transfer policy.
9. Earmark 20% of AAO post for seniority cum fitness promotion (supervisor).
10. Restore traditional auditing and accounting methodologies and sanction appropriate party days on scientific work norms.
11. Remove differential treatment on pay fixation on promotion vis-à-vis direct recruitees in all cadres.
12. Re-imbursement of hotel charges to Railway Audit personnel wherever Railway accommodation is not allotted while on tour.

This general body meeting urges the Comptroller & Auditor General of India to negotiate this charter of demands with these two Federations and settle them.
This General body meeting resolves to carry on the struggle in pursuance of the above charter of demands till settlement is arrived at and urges upon the leadership of both Federations to intensify the agitation in the absence any concrete and positive settlement on all items in the charter of demands.
This meeting resolves to send a copy of this resolution to Comptroller & Auditor General of India through proper channel.
Also resolves to send a copy of this resolution to Secretaries General of both the Federations vis All India Audit & Accounts Association and All India Audit & Accounts Officers Association.
Adopted Unanimously.
Signature
(………….)
President of Meeting
…………….Association


Draft Resolution No. (2)

This general body meeting of …………..Association held on 28th August 2009 expresses its grave concern over the move to appoint a Consultant to conduct a work study in IA&AD to decide the man power requirement of Gr B and Gr C cadres.

This meeting endorses the concerns expressed by All India Audit & Accounts Officers Association vide its letter No.AIAAAOA/CAG/Corres/2009-10/14 dated 03.08.09 (copy enclosed)

This meeting urges the Comptroller & Auditor General of India to reconsider the decision to involve an outside agency for evaluation of work norms and, instead, go for an in house study using the expertise available within the department. In the considered view of this General Body only such a study would do justice to the basic ethos of the Department being totally true to the mandate bestowed under the Constitution of the Country.

This meeting further urges upon the Comptroller & Auditor General of India to direct his administration to initiate discussion on the Cadre Review with this Federation as assured by DAI in the Formal meeting with Delegation of All India Audit & Accounts Officers Association on 16th April 2009.

Resolved that copy of the resolution be forwarded to the Comptroller & Auditor General of India, New Delhi through proper channel.

Also resolves to send copy of this resolution to Secretary General, All India Audit & Accounts Officers Association.

Adopted unanimously.
Sd/-
President
……………………Association




Copy of the Letter No.AIAAAOA/CAG/Corres/2009-10/14 Date: 03.08.09

To
The Comptroller & Auditor General of India,
No 9, Deen Dayal Upadhyay Marg,
New Delhi 110024.

Sir,
Sub: Expression of Interest
----
This Association notes that the department has invited EOI for appointment of consultant for conduct of work study to redefine/established work norms relevant in the current context for optimized staffing of Group B & C cadres. The Association appreciates the attempt of the C & AG to have a study of established work norms in IA&AD as it has been a long pending demand of our Association. When the Association was demanding for scientific study of work norms it was also clear in its perception that it has to be done by in house expertise in the department in consultation with the representatives of the recognized Federations/Association. It is a well considered opinion of this Federation that any such study by outside agency/third party is fraught with perils and shortcomings as such an outside agency may not be able to understand and appreciate the intricacies of the functioning of the department and scientific process and credibility, legal authority and sanctity involved in the preparation and placement of Audit Reports. Therefore this Association is communicating its views in the matter.

1. From the notification published in the web site of the department it is observed that the “Purpose of this exercise is to classify the audit functions into following broad categories: Expenditure audit, Receipt audit (with compliance, financial attestation and performance aspects)". The plain reading of the notification on the face of it would appear that the department is to restrict the scope of the department’s work to routine and regular audit. The main stay of the audit work has been examination as pets of 'propriety' in public spending and this has been excluded from the study.
2. Over the years there have been changes in the functions of the Government and the methodologies adopted there for. This has resulted in a very complex situation whereby the very nature of the work done by the IA&AD requires a redefinition. It apprehended whether an outside agency will have the basic knowledge to understand and to appreciate the various complexities involved in the work done by the Department and to redefine the scope.
3. In view of the fact that the existing work practices are not comprehensively codified and it will be, if it is conceived, an impossible task for a third party to comprehend the actual work requirements and the scope of work being carried out by the various units and cadres of the department and consequently this Association is left with no choice but to express its fears that the involvement of third party for this work could affect not only the cadres but also the very functioning of this department.
4. In the A&E offices also the introduction of computerized systems has not altered the work norms of the relative roles of the cadres. In fact the work load has increased on account of the constant failure to fill up the vacancies and on account of perennial stagnation.

This Association therefore urges the Comptroller and Auditor General of India to reconsider the decision to involve an outside agency for evaluation of work norms. This Association further urges the C & AG to establish a departmental committee comprising officers with sufficient knowledge and experience and a real appreciation of the work being done by the various cadres and units of this department and direct that committee to have consultation with employees’ organization in the matter. This, in our view would assure the officers and staff that the assessment will be objective, just and acceptable to all sections.
Thanking you in anticipation,

Yours Faithfully,
S.Mohan.
Secretary General

Circular No 3

Dear Comrades,

It has been our experience with the successive pay commissions that we have been treated as ministerial staff and sometimes even lower. Our representations to the Comptroller and Auditor General, to the pay commissions, to the Ministry and every authority concerned have been simply ignored or rejected off hand with out any justification. The sixth Pay Commission is no exception. It has, in fact, added insult to injury by deliberately denying even the minimum benefit to the Audit and Accounts Officers/Sr.Audit and Sr.Accounts Officers and by down grading these two cadres.

A culture of human exploitation and disrespect for the law prevails, and we are expected to discharge public accountability at cheaper cost to enable certain people to pocket extra profit. Disrespect for human beings is in the DNA of the current system. While slavery is, of course, the most extreme situation in the field level offices, the truth is that the Audit/Accounts officer is being ruthlessly exploited. Our Officers perform backbreaking work, at the very low pay scales; have no DA/TA benefits and virtually there is no regard for his self-respect. Historically Audit and Accounts Officers have been and continue to be excluded from Indian fair labour standards and are prevented from unionizing. The cruelty of modern-day slavery prevailing in the Indian Audit and Accounts Department has motivated our officers to continue fighting for their rights, prompting the Government agencies to support our demands that include better pay scales and working conditions and new environment.

Our thirst for justice has remained unquenched for five decades. In fact it has been deliberately allowed to be aggravated by repeated injustice by the Pay Commissions and by the Authorities who seem to have taken upon themselves the task of suppressing us and pushing us further and further in to virtual slavery. Our thirst for justice is real, acute and painful. We can quench our thirst for a fair deal only when we, every one of us, establish emphatically that we are capable of sustained struggle. Our thirst will be quenched when every one of us demonstrate that “it is nobler to take arms against the sea of trouble and by opposing end them”

The extremely good response, spanning from Sikkim to Trivandrum, to the call of the Association for holding General Body meeting in all the offices, amply demonstrates the prevailing sense of discontent among the AOs/SAOs and their resolve to fight for the just cause. If all the calls of the Association are implemented with same commitment and vigor our goal will be achieved shortly and with honour.

Yes, comrades: ‘Time to fight back together’ Joint charter of demands with All India Audit and Accounts Association finalised: With this objective in the mind, the All India Audit and Accounts Officers Association has decided to revive the activities of Co-Ordination Committee with All India Audit & Accounts Association. Coms S Mohan, Secretary General and P Prabhakar, Secretary Finance, All India Audit & Accounts Officers Association attended the National Executive of the All India Audit and Accounts Association so that a detailed discussion could be held and a common approach also could be evolved. The meeting adopted a Joint Charter of Demands and decided to observe 28th August 2009 as Demands Day by holding Joint General Body Meetings and adopting the Charter of Demands

The Joint Charter of Demands adopted in the Meeting is given below:

1. Vacate victimisation; Restore Trade Union Rights
2. Fill up all vacant posts including Gr D, No matching savings at the cost of Gr B, C & D cadres
3. Regularise all casual, temporary, contract, daily wage workers
4. Permit self certification for TA/DA claims
5. Upgrade LDCs by re-designating them as Acctts/Audit Assistants and grant following pay sales to different cadres-
Accounts/Audit Assistant PB-1 with Grade Pay Rs.2400

Accountant/Auditor/ Steno Gr.II PB-2 with Grade Pay Rs.4200
Sr. Accountant/Auditor/ Steno Gr.I PB-2 with Grade Pay Rs.4600
SO/JAO/AAO/PS PB-2 with Grade Pay Rs.4800

On completion of 4 years PB-3 with Grade Pay Rs.5400
Accounts/Audit Officer PB-3 with Grade Pay Rs. 6600
Sr. Accounts/Audit Officer PB-3 with Grade Pay Rs. 7600
6. Remove age restriction for induction to IA&AS; Increase promotional quota to IA&AS from 33¹⁄³rd % to 50 %.
7. Stop down sizing, outsourcing and privatisation of any function in IA&AD
8. Restore unilateral transfer policy
9. Earmark 20% of AAO post for seniority cum fitness promotion (supervisor)
10. Restore traditional auditing and accounting methodologies and sanction appropriate party days on scientific work norms
11. Remove differential treatment on pay fixation on promotion vis-à-vis direct recruitees in all cadres
12. Re-imbursement of hotel charges to Railway Audit personnel wherever Railway accommodation is not allotted while on tour.

Extended National Executive Meeting at Mumbai on 5th & 6th Sept 2009: The venue of the Meeting and arrangements for the Lodging to the delegates has been made in the New Visava Rest House” near Saket bldg., opp. R. A. Potdar Hospital, Jaywant Palkar Marg, Worli, Mumbai-18. Phone No. 022-24930912. The suburban railway station nearest to the venue is “DADAR”. After getting down at DADAR one has to catch a Taxi. The famous land mark is R. A. Potdar Aayurvedic Hospital. The Taxi charges may be around Rs. 50 to 60. Taxi may take 20 to 30 minutes to reach the venue. All the affiliated units should ensure their representation in the Extended National Executive to and help in taking democratic, momentous decisions to consolidate and strengthen the organization to move forward with hard bargaining power achieved by organizational struggles and to achieve our major demand of up gradation of Grade Pay.

Contact Nos. Kanade: 09757163919, Chandran: 0986965544 & Karpate 09869229383.

Yours Fraternally,

S.Mohan
Secretary General

Extended National Executive Committee Meeting

Chennai, Dated: 10 th Aug 2009

Notification

The meeting of the Extended National Executive Committee of All India Audit and Accounts Officers Association will be held in Mumbai on 5th and 6th September 2009 to discuss the following agenda:
1. up gradation of Grade Pay
2. Charter of demands
3. Organizational matter
4 Any other matter with the permission of the chair.
The members of the National Executive Committee of All India Audit and Accounts Officers Association, permanent invitees, the Chief Executive of Association of Sr.Audit officer (Commercial) and Audit Officer (Commercial), the unit secretaries of the Audit officers Association, the unit secretaries of the Accounts Officers Association and the Chief Executive of Association of P&T Audit Officers and Sr.Audit officers are requested to attend the meeting without fail.

(S.MOHAN)

Secretary General

Venue:”VISAWA” Government Rest House,
Opp: Potdar Aayurvedic Hospital, Worli,
Mumbai 400 003 Ph.No. 022 24930912.

Contact No. Kanade: 09757163919 Chandran: 0986965544

Circular 2 /2009-10

To
The National Executive Members &
The Secretaries of the Affiliates

Dear Comrades,

Courtesy Meeting with Pr.Director (Staff): The delegation comprising the Secretary General Com S.Mohan, and the Secretary Finance Com. P.Prabhakar met the New Pr.director (Staff) on 17th July 2009 @ 3.30 p.m. as a courtesy in her Cabin. After formal exchange of pleasantries we presented the following issues.

Up gradation of Pay Scales of Audit/Accounts and Senior Audit/Accounts Officers:
The Ao/Sr.AOs in Indian Audit and Accounts Department are facing a very demoralising situation due to the following:
The Notification dated 29th August 2008 prescribing the new pay scales effective from 1.1.06 has granted the Sr .Divisional Accounts officer of IA&AD the scale of pay Rs. 8000-13500 with a Grade pay of Rs.5400 and placing them in PB3.The AOs of the IA&AD have been granted the same scale and Grade pay but placed in PB2. Thus the present scales have disturbed the well established vertical relativity by placing the Sr. DAO above the AO in an equal position with the SAO of IA&AD ignoring the fact that the department’s recruitment rules place the Divisional Accounts Officer in the scales equal to the AAO and the Sr. DAO has been placed in the scales applicable to the AOs only.
At the time of promotion to Audit / Accounts Officer they are entitled to one increment along with Rs.5400 as Grade pay. When they are promoted to the cadre of Sr.Audit or Sr.Accounts Officer they are granted one increment with the Same Grade Pay. When conferred IAAS also they are offered one increment with the same grade Pay.
When the implementation of MACP in the department most of the seniors in the merged cadre of SOs/AAOs would, on account of the run away stagnation in the department, become eligible for placement in the Grade pay of Rs.5400 placing the supervisors and the supervised in the same Pay Band and Grade Pay.
This has fuelled the frustration already existing in the minds of Audit and Accounts Officers and Sr.Audit and Sr.Accounts Officers further. With the implementation of MACP Scheme there will be less motivation factor to take up SOG Examination seriously unless Grade Pay of the Supervising Cadres is suitably upgraded and further promotional avenues are opened up for the AOs/SAOs.
In the background of appointment of Anomaly committee by the Government of India which is exclusively for Group ‘C’and ‘D’ employees it has been repeatedly requested that this issue be taken up through appropriate channel. Accordingly the departmental head had forward the case to finance ministry bringing the issue within the definition of Anomaly.

The response from the Pr.Director was positive. She explained that the department had taken much care to remove this anomalous situation and assured that this issue would be pursued vigorously.
Cadre Review:
The cadre of SAOs has no promotional prospects in the department except for induction to IA & AS cadre. The induction is a very small percentage with the conditionality of age restriction etc. Moreover the induction to IA&AS is of no incentive as it has too many unreasonable and unscientific riders and also number of promotions is very meagre. This has resulted in persons stagnating in the same cadre for more than 10 to 12 years resulting in frustration coupled with de-motivation.
To remove this acute stagnation and also to meet the functional needs of the department there is an urgent need to have fresh review of the cadre providing more promotional opportunities to the SAOs in the department. This is not exclusive phenomena for Indian Audit and Accounts Department. In all other Central Government Departments like Income Tax, Customs, and Central Secretariat the same process is on. In most of the other Departments the respective recognised federation were taken into confidence by inducting their representatives into respective Cadre restructuring Committees whereas in Indian Audit and Accounts Department only there is just a vague assurance given by the authorities that the recognised federations would be consulted before finalising the proposal of the committee.
The Pr.Director responded that there was a proposal for a cadre review in this department. The proposal was yet to crystallise. The Department is keeping a watch on the reports of similar reviews elsewhere in other departments and it has been indicated that any proposal from our departmental side would normally attract the comment of repercussion in other cadres whenever such proposal is sent to Ministry of Finance by the C&AG
Conferment of Group A status to Sr.AOs:
An immediate conferment of Group A Status to Sr.AOs of this Department as per the Notification of the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions (Department of personnel and training) Order dated 9th April 2009 is the need of the Hour. Even though this conferment would not fetch any immediate benefit to our cadre it would facilitate us to meet the illogical argument developed by 6th CPC that the AO Cadre is the Feeding cadre of Group A cadres and it would further facilitate us to get some improvement in our career and in the long run it would remove some frustration in the minds of the Sr.AOs.
The Pr.Director of Staff indicated that this matter was under examination of the top management of the Indian Audit and Accounts Department.
Transport Allowance:
As per the recommendations of the Sixth pay commission the City Compensatory Allowance has been subsumed in Transport allowance. The City Compensatory Allowance was paid to all Officers and Employees irrespective of the fact that whether the Officer/Employee was on leave or on tour in excess of 30 days. In view of the subsuming of City Compensatory Allowance in transport allowance the retention of condition disallowing transport allowance for those who were on tour for more than 30 days in a month is illogical and anomalous and needs to be deleted. In view of the nature of duties involved in the Indian Audit and Accounts Department, the Officers and Employees of the Department are more frequently subject to long tours exceeding 30 days. The non – removal of the second condition therefore affects the Employees and Officers of the Department much more than other employees and is serving as a disincentive to the employees and Officers in discharging their normal functions.
The Pr.Director of Staff concurred with our views and she agreed to instruct informally all the heads of offices in the department to bring back all audit parties once in a calendar month and she agreed to take up this issue with Government.
Amendment to the Constitution
It has been insisted that the Conference of the Association should take place once in two years despite the decision of the Executive Committee to change the period to three years. We are very much constrained that our federated units being spread all over India and it is being found to be difficult and very expensive to hold its Conference biennially. Therefore it is insisted the CAG administration to re-examine this clause of the Constitution of the All India Audit and Accounts Officers Association and to facilitate this Federation to hold its Conference once in three years.
The Pr.director of Staff has agreed to examine this issue.
Filling up of the Post of Welfare Officer:
We insisted that Welfare Officer Post should be created in each office of the Audit/Accounts office without any reference to the total number of staff working in that office. Further the Welfare officer post should be filled up on the basis of strict of seniority. More over in some offices the post of Welfare Officer remaining vacant and it has not been filled up.
The Pr.Director of Staff agreed to examine this issue and further she agreed to instruct the Director (P) in respect of filling up of Welfare Officers in certain field Offices.
Recognition to the P&T Audit officers/Sr.Audit Officers Association & North Western Railway Audit Officers Assn:
This issue is a long pending one and the respective field level associations have complied their respective compliance of the Constitution the recognition has not been accorded to above said associations so far.
The Pr.Director of Staff agreed to pursue the case further.
Entitlement of TA/DA claims:
Our authorities’ response is very negative in respect of accepting the Self Certification for Food bills and Travel bills. They fail to realise the difficulties faced by our Officers while on tour in respect of production of food bills and travel bills. In the last meeting with DAI we reminded that it was illegal, and illogical to deny the benefits of revisions of Daily allowance entitlements even after 10 years to those who opted for old DA pattern. Hence the Clarification must be the double the rate of old DA pattern or new DA/TA entitlements would be the logical one. Now it has been learnt that even the above said proposal forwarded by our Department had been turned down by the expenditure Secretary. Hence we insisted that the department should take up this issue again with Ministry of Finance for the disposal of TA/DA claims on the basis of self Certification. We pointed out that the some of the Departments have already issued orders in this regard.
The Pr.Director of Staff agreed to take up this issue with the Finance Ministry again and she assured that the department would pursue the case for disposal of TA/DA claims on the basis of self certification.
Problems relating to North Eastern region:
In the North Eastern region separate offices have been created in each state and Audit and Accounts Officers working in these offices are very minimal and they are not able to form the association as they are not able fulfill the required strength to form the association. Hence practically there is no grievance redressal machinery available in the North Eastern States except the Offices in the Assam. There are exclusive problems like Deputation, transfer from those states to other states and vice versa to be sorted out. Therefore we insisted that suitable mechanism would be worked out to have grievance redressal machinery for those states.
The Pr. Director agreed to examine this issue.
Permit to stay in hotels of appropriate entitlement to Railway Audit Personnel wherever Rest house facilities are not available:
The Officers and staff of the Railway Audit wing of the I.A&A.D while on tour duty for inspections/reviews are governed by the Railway T.A Rules envisaging travelling on Duty passes and stay in Railway Rest houses at the work spot. The difficulties are being faced by the inspection personnel on tour due to non-availability of Railway rest houses at the work spot/ non-allotment of accommodation for the required periods in the rest houses wherever available due to priority in allotment in favour of the Railway personnel on tour. The period of allotment does not exceed 3 days at a time as per the local arrangements. Besides, the touring personnel have to vacate the accommodation even after allotment for these restricted periods in the event of requirement for Railway personnel in exigencies arising out of Railway operations. As this affects the unhindered conduct/ completion of inspections/ reviews as programmed to the required satisfaction and impacts on the output it was requested during earlier meetings that the members of the inspection/ review parties may be permitted to stay in hotels of appropriate entitlement wherever Rest house facilities are not available/ accommodation not allotted during the period of inspection/ review and expenditure thereof be reimbursed to the personnel on tour duty.
The Pr. Director of Staff agreed to examine this issue.
Lower HRA to the Audit Staff& Officers At Guntapalli:
At present the staff and officers of the Railways posted to work at the Wagon Repair Shop, South Central Railway located at Guntapalli are granted House Rent Allowance at the rates applicable for Vijayawada. However the Railway Audit employees posted at Workshop Audit office, Wagon Repair Shop, Guntapalli, are granted at the rates applicable for Guntapalli only. This discrimination is affecting the morale of the Audit employees & Officers posted at Guntapalli whereas no such problem is faced by the employees in the Auditee units. This needs to be addressed.
The Pr.director of Staff agreed to examine this issue.
Observe Protest Day On 12th Aug:
Though the meeting with the New Pr.Director (Staff) was on a positive note we cannot afford to be complacent in the matter. We have no choice but to vigorously follow our negotiations through organizational efforts and create tremendous pressure to achieve our demands. Our experience all along has been that the authorities take a lackadaisical approach in all the matters relating to benefits and facilities to the AOs /Sr.AOs. The Association has, therefore decided to mobilize the entirety of its membership throughout the country and to wage a relentless battle under the banner of our Association. We have to mobilise our cadres to observe protest day on Aug 12th by holding General Body meetings and adopting resolution to this effect. (Resolution is enclosed)

Yours Fraternally,

S.Mohan.
Secretary General.

R E S O L U T I O N

This General Body meeting of ……..Association, O/o……held on 12th August 2009 notes with concern that there is no settlement of any of the demands relating to the cadres of All India Accounts and Audit officers Association on its charter of demands.
This meeting notes further, with dismay, that the implementation of the recommendations of the VI CPC the Audit and Accounts Officers of the IA&AD have been placed in PB II, with a Grade Pay of Rs. 5400. This placement has been done in spite of repeated representations of the Association justifying the demand for better scales for that cadre. The Audit and Accounts Officers have been, in this manner, placed in an anomalous position with out any justification- a fact that has been highlighted by the Association in its various memorandums and the formal meeting with the authorities seeking removal of the anomaly to which the cadres of Audit and Accounts Officers and Sr. Audit and Accounts Officers have been subjected to. This has affected the morale of the Officers and created deep frustration in their minds.
After the implementation of MACP in the department most of the seniors in the merged cadre of SOs/AAOs would, on account of the run away stagnation in the department, become eligible for placement in the Grade pay of Rs.5400 placing the supervisors and the supervised in the same Pay Band and Grade Pay. This has fuelled the frustration already existing in the minds of Audit and Accounts Officers and Sr.Audit and Sr.Accounts Officers further. With the implementation of MACP Scheme there will be less motivation factor to take up SOG Examination seriously unless Grade Pay of the Supervising Cadres was suitably upgraded and further promotional avenues are opened up for the AOs/SAOS. The existing promotional avenue of induction to IA&AS is of no incentive as it has too many unreasonable and unscientific riders and also number of promotions is very meagre.
This General Body meeting -----------------Association therefore urges upon the CAG of India for an immediate conferment of Group A Status to Sr.AOs of this Department as per the Notification of the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions (Department of personnel and training) Order dated 9th April 2009 and revision of the pay scales of the Audit and Accounts Officers placing them in PB3 with a grade pay of Rs.6600, and Sr.Audit and Sr.Accounts Officers in PB3with grade pay of Rs.7600. Further to remove acute stagnation and make optimum utilization of the experience and capacity of the experienced the issue of comprehensive review of the cadre structure may be completed at the earliest.
Adopted Unanimously
…………………….
President (of the meeting)

Felicitation to Com.N.Kannan, Former General Secretary of Assn Of Sr.AO(Comml) & AO(Comml)

Com.S.Mohan, Secretary General, All India Audit & Accounts Officers Association offers Shawl to Com.N.Kannan

Com.K.Ramachandra Raju, President of the Association of Sr.Accounts Officers & Accounts Officers, Tamil Nadu offers Shawl to Com.N.Kannan

Com.J.subbaroyan, General Secretary, Category II , Madras Civil Audit Association offers Shawl to Com.N.Kannan

Com.Duraipandian Offers shawl to Com.N.Kannan

Com.Gurumurthy addressed the Gathering

Com.J.Gurumurthy, Joint Secretary, All India Insurance Employees Association Offers Shawl to Com.N.Kannan

Com.K.T.Sridharan, Vice-President All India Audit & Accounts Officers Association offers Sandal Garland to Com.N.Kannan

Com.Ram tilak offers memonto to Com.N.Kannan

A view of the Audience

Com.Udaykumar, General Secretary, Assn of AAO (Comml) & SO (Comml) offers Shawl to Com.N.Kannan

Com.S.Mohan, Secretary General, All India Audit & Accounts Officers Assn.,Com.J.Gurumurthy, Joint Secretary, All India Insurance Employees Association, Com.M.Duraipandian, President, All India Audit and Accounts Assn. & Com.N.Kannan in the Dias. Com.Duraipandian, Com.N.kannan,Com.K.T.Sridharan,Vice.President All India Audit & Accounts Officers Association, & Com.Ramtilak,General Secretary Assn of Sr.AO(Comml) & AO (Comml) in the Dias.

Com.T.A.Mariappan, Vice-President, Assn.of Sr.AO(Comml) & AO(Comml) Presided over the Felicitation Meeting.

Dear Comrades,

May Day Greetings to all

Here is the Message on the International working Class Day.

Yours Comradely,

S.Mohan

May Day Greetings

The world is facing its gravest economic crisis in over 60 years. Tens of millions of jobs are being lost due to the greed, plunder and incompetence which have, through decades of free market and deregulation, led the world into deep recession. Global poverty and inequality are increasing fast, and working women and men everywhere face high levels of insecurity unprecedented in recent times.
Trade unions demand far-reaching, urgent and coordinated action to pull the world out of the quagmire of recession. Governments must act immediately and decisively to keep people in work and create new jobs, to avoid an even deeper and prolonging crisis. These actions are essential, but by themselves they are not sufficient.
We demand nothing less than a full-scale transformation of the world economy. A new global economy is required, which is built on social justice and which:
•Delivers decent work, with full respect for trade union rights, to all;
•Is based on effective, democratic and accountable global governance which puts the needs of people first;
•Ensures strong financial regulation, putting finance at the service of the real economy and the real economy at the service of people;
•Guarantees respect for the rights of all working people and puts an end to poverty, inequality, discrimination and exploitation; and,
Governments have the responsibility and the means to build the new global economy. The trade union movement will press its demand for Governments to fulfill this responsibility, and insist on full involvement at every level in making it a reality.
We will not accept a return to the politics of greed, which allowed tiny elite to amass vast wealth at the expense of the many, robbing workers of their dignity and security. Central to this is restoring the role of Government in regulating the private sector and ensuring public provision to meet fundamental social needs. Decades of free-market ideology have weakened the essential functions of Government as regulator and provider, with the IMF and the World Bank playing a major role in ensuring that Governments comply with their discredited ideology. These institutions have now been given huge responsibilities and resources to combat the recession. Their structures and their policies, and those of the WTO, must be changed drastically in order for the new global economy to be possible.
The central role of decent work in the new global economy must be fully realised. It is essential to meet the needs and aspirations of people everywhere, and is the only sustainable way to restore demand for goods and services. The rights to organise and bargain collectively are central to maintain and improve living standards and to stimulate growth. We call upon world leaders to agree urgently on a Global Jobs Pact to deliver decent work, and we insist that the ILO be placed at the heart of the governance of the world economy.
The removal of rules governing banking and finance has been the biggest single cause of the crisis. Strong national regulation is required. But in a global economy, no country can properly regulate in isolation, nor can any country alone stop taxpayers being cheated by the vast flow of money into tax havens. Governments have to work together to design the new rules and put them into place, and they must do this without delay.
World leaders have come together many times to pledge to defeat poverty and hunger, to promise development and guarantee that fundamental rights at work and in society would be respected. Yet the economic system they built ensured that many of the pledges they made would remain just words, while the crisis today is being used as yet another excuse to strip working people of their rights and entitlements. The new global economy must support, not undermine, the timeless and universal rights enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the ILO core labour standards.
The trade unions of the world will carry forward our quest for the new global economy. Building on our firm traditions of global solidarity, our capacity to mobilize for change and our determination to hold decision-makers to account for their actions, we will pursue our agenda for change with governments, at the UN and the G20 and in every other place that matters.
From the ruins of the crisis, a new Era of Prosperity, Equality, Democracy and Peace must arise.

We proclaim our continued resolve to bring this new sustainable Era into being, and to oppose, with every means at our disposal, those who stand in its way.

Circular No 1-2009-10

To
The National Executive Members &
The Secretaries of the Affiliates

Dear Comrades,
Meeting with DAI: The delegation comprising the President Com.S.V.Deshpande, Vice-President Com. K.T.Sridharan, the Secretary General Com S.Mohan, the Addl. Secy. General Com. R.S.Dubey met DAI on 16th April 2009 @ 3 p.m. in her Cabin. After formal exchange of pleasantries we presented the following issues.
Up gradation of Pay Scales of Audit/Accounts and Senior Audit/Accounts Officers:
The Notification dated 29th August 2008 prescribing the new pay scales effective from 1.1.06 has granted the Sr .Divisional Accounts officer of IA&AD the scale of pay Rs. 8000-13500 with a Grade pay of Rs.5400 and placing them in PB3.The AOs of the IA&AD have been granted the same scale and Grade pay but placed in PB2. The SAOs of IA&AD have also been granted the same scale and Grade pay but placed in PB3.Thus the present scales have disturbed the well established vertical relativity by placing the Sr. DAO above the AO in an equal position with the SAO of IA&AD ignoring the fact that the department’s recruitment rules place the Divisional Accounts Officer in the scales equal to the AAO and the Sr. DAO has been placed in the scales applicable to the AOs only. We elaborately presented our case and the injustice done to our Cadre by the Sixth Central Pay Commission and the Government through its Notification. The response from DAI was positive and she assured that our case would be pursued with Finance Ministry with due care and attention.
Removal of age limit for promotion to I.A. & A.S.

At present, Sr.Audit/Accounts Officers are promoted to the IA&AS Cadre, according to the All India Seniority List maintained by the C & AG’s Office. But only those who have not completed 53 years of age, on the 1st July of the Panel Year are considered for empanelment. Others are not considered, even if they are otherwise qualified. This is a great injustice done to the Sr.AOs working in the Department who are stagnating for more than 15 years in the same cadre. In no other Department of the Central Government this kind of discrimination is shown to Group B Gazetted Officers. Even though the C&AG had, in the informal meetings, accepted that this was an injustice, nothing has been done in practice to remove this grave injustice. Hence the ceiling should be removed immediately. The response from DAI was positive and she explained that the department had taken much care to remove the backlog vacancies in the promotion quota in the IAAS cadre and that the situation would be reviewed after clearing the entire backlog vacancies.
Placing Sr.AOs promoted to I.A. & A.S. directly in the rank of DAG/DD instead of AAG/AD recognising their long years of experience.
At present, the Sr.AOs promoted to I.A. & A.S. cadre will be initially given the rank of A.A.G/A.D only. This is also another injustice done to the cadre of Sr.AOs. This Sr.AOs and AAGs are drawing identical scales of pay and their nature of work is also almost identical. The Sr.AOs deserves to be directly placed in the rank of DAG/Deputy Director, without being kept on probation for 2 years as A.A.G. Such probation would be appropriate only for the Direct Recruits and not to the promotee Officers with vast experience. It is pertinent to point out that the recruitment rules of IAS stipulates that the gazetted officers of the State Service will be placed in the senior times scale directly on induction in to IAS. The absence of such a stipulation in the recruitment rules of IA&AS has lead to an unacceptable anomalous situation much to the disadvantage of the SAOs of IA&AD denying them due recognition of their experience and expertise. The recruitment rules need to be revised to undo the injustice being meted out to the SAOs. The DAI stated that this view would be accommodated when a cadre review was taken up.
Increasing Promotion Quota to I.A &A.S. to 50% from the existing 33 1/3%.
There are nearly 5000 AOs/SAOs working in the I.A. & A.D. The number of IA&AS Officers working in the Department is nearly 900. Out of this, only 33 1/3 % (i.e.) 300 posts are available for promotion to nearly 5000 officers. This is totally inadequate and not in consonance with the number of AOs/SAOs working in the Department. Hence promotion quota needs be increased to 50% of the total strength of IA&AS cadre. In the Income Tax, Central Excise, Customs and other Central Government Departments, the promotion quota to Group ‘A’ posts has already been increased to 50%.The DAI has assured the delegation that this demand would be taken care of while formulating the Cadre review in our Department.
Cadre Review:
The cadre of SAOs has no promotional prospects in the department except for induction to IA & AS cadre. The induction is also a very small percentage with the conditionality of age restriction etc. This has resulted in persons stagnating in the same cadre for more than 10 to 12 years resulting in frustration coupled with de-motivation. To remove this acute stagnation and also to meet the functional needs of the department there is an urgent need to have fresh review of the cadre providing more promotional opportunities to the SAOs in the department. DAI responded that there is a proposal for a cadre review in this department. The proposal is yet to crystallise. There is tremendous work going on in respect of this in the Department. She also assured that this department would take in to confidence of the Officer’s Federation after crystallising its view in this regard.
Certain issues were also been discussed with DAI informally like, submission of food bills, travel bills for claiming the DA entitlements. Our authorities’ response is very negative in respect of accepting the Self Certification for Food bills and Travel bills. They fail to realise the difficulties faced by our Officers while on tour in respect of production of food bills and travel bills. Our Delegation had clearly presented our views in this regard as follows. The latest clarification of entitlement of TA/DA claims added further confusions. It is very obvious that the 6th Pay Commission accepted the concept of increasing the Daily Allowances whenever our Dearness Allowance increases. Whereas the Government had clarified that an option of choosing the new DA package or old DA pattern thus denying the Pay Commission benefits to those persons who have opted for the old DA pattern. It is illegal, and illogical to deny the benefits of revisions of Daily allowance entitlements even after 10 years to those who opted for old DA pattern. Hence the Clarification must be the double the rate of old DA pattern or new DA/TA entitlements would be the logical one. The DAI responded positively for this fact presented by us in this regard. She agreed to pursue this case with the Finance Ministry to enhance the old DA pattern for at least 100 percent.
We insisted that Welfare Officer Post should be created in each Audit/Accounts office without reference to the total number of staff working in that office. Further the Welfare officer post should be filled up on the basis of strictly on seniority. The DAI agreed to examine this issue. There are some positive indications in respect of the Group ‘A’ status to Sr.Aos of this Department. But DOPT clearance will be the ultimate end for this demand.
Meeting with Finance Secretary:

The Secretary General met the Finance Secretary in his chamber on 17th April at 3.00 PM. He explained our position and difficulties being faced by this cadre in respect of up-gradation of Grade pay and further explained that the anomaly cases of Group B Officers would not be considered in the Anomaly Committee recently appointed by the Government, the Finance Secretary agreed to examine the case of establishing the mechanism to redress the anomaly cases arising out of 6th pay commission for Group B Officers.
He further explained that the difficulty faced by our officers in respect of submission of Food bills, Travel bills while on tour. The Finance Secretary responded positively and he agreed that it is a genuine issue and that he would examine this case.
General Body Meeting in DGCR office:

The Lunch Hour General Body meeting of all Audit Officers/Sr.Audit Officers was arranged by the Association of Sr.Audit Officers/Audit Officers in a very short notice on 17th April at DGCR Office. The response from the Officers was very impressive. The National executive thanked the executive committee of the Association of Sr.Audit Officers and Audit Officers for their organisational commitment.
We may get so many commitments from the authorities at various times and at various levels. Ultimately these would be implemented only if a viable organisation at field level is ready for sustained organisational programmes. Be prepared for an organisational programme to defeat the forces who question our self respect and to enhance our working environment for the better.

Yours Fraternally,

S.Mohan

Secretary General

Joint Circular- 2-2008-09 Date: 15th March 2009


To
National Executive Committee Members,
Spl. Invitees, Unit Secretaries,
Members of Women’s Committee, of Both Federations,

Protest the Clarification on TA/DA by Sending Telegrams on 20th March 2009.

Dear Comrades,
The 6th CPC in its recommendations on the subject of TA/DA observed, “These rates are grossly inadequate. Most of employees and their Service association have requested rationalisation of the present entitlements of Daily Allowance for stay in hotels. The Fifth CPC had also observed that considerable difficulties were being faced by officials in securing decent accommodation while on official tour and had recommended accommodation entitlements ranging from reimbursement of actual expenditure incurred towards normal single room rent in a hotel of a category not above 5 star in case of Top Executives and to any hotel up to a specified amount, for auxiliary staff while on official tour. These recommendations were not accepted. The situation today is, therefore, that the existing rates are totally unrealistic and Government employees, while on official tour, are unable to find any decent accommodation at the prevailing commercial rates. Accordingly, the rates of daily allowance have to be modified appropriately.” Whereas The Ministry of finance, Department of Expenditure clarified that the Rates of Daily Allowance on Tour may be regulated either in accordance with provisions of this Department OM Dated 23.09.08 or as per the old rates prevalent prior to the issue of said OM, whichever claimed by the employee. It further stressed that the option to claim will be available as a complete package for a particular tour and not be part of either orders. In other words, officers may choose to be governed either by orders dated 23.09.08 or 17.04.98 in regard to daily allowance on Tour.

By the above clarification, the Government of India has issued highly illogical clarification reversing the spirit of the recommendations of the VI CPC and its acceptance by the Government thus denying the benefit of 6 CPC recommendations on Daily allowance to its Employees/Officers while on official Tour if they are not in a position to produce the receipts for reimbursement.

In short the latest clarification by the Government of India on travelling allowance did not render justice to its employees and on the contrary, it simply brushed aside the spirit of 6CPC observations and has placed the Employees/Officers in the most disadvantageous position. Further the Clarification was so hallow on settlement of TA bills of its employees pertaining to the past periods. Due to this confused clarifications each employee/Officer will loose the reimbursement of expenditure incurred during official tour ranging from Rs.3000 to Rs.5000 per month in the Indian Audit and Accounts Department from September onwards.

The simple solution to the whole problem is to remove the word ‘reimbursement” from the Office Memorandum on Travelling Allowance Rules – Implementation of Sixth Central Pay Commission.

By this, the Government is refusing to accept certificates by the claimants resulting in need for impractical documentation and likely variations in procedures for settlements of TA and DA claims. According to GFRs even certificate of payments including self certification as a valid document for reimbursement of expenditure. The scheme of daily allowance has been turned into a quagmire from which the Audit Employees and Officers can not get out without personal loss every time they proceed on tour. The scheme of "reimbursement "is unworkable and would only result in personal loss to the employees and Officers who have to be on tour duty for prolonged periods and hence it is unacceptable.

The Government challenged its own employees and Officers that if they want to avail the modified rates then they have no other option but to produce food bill and vouchers for travel Charges. It demeaned our struggle for the past one decade to change our DA rates. Moreover it denied the pay commission recommendations in respect of DA/TA revision to its employees and Officers.

In order to ventilate our anger and anguish to the Department of Expenditure, Finance Ministry, Government Of India, and demand that the C&AG immediately permit reimbursement on self certification basis by the claimants and provide relief to the Employees and Officers of Indian Audit and Accounts Department the Federations call for observing a Protest Day on March 20th 2009 by sending telegrams by the individual members of the affiliated units.


Draft Telegram

TO

ARGEL,
New Delhi

“The members are finding it too difficult to obtain receipts for food and transport expenses while on tour duty. Pray immediate intervention in the matter to accept self certified statements for regulating claims”.

Name of the Member,
Name of the Association,
Address of the Association.