VI BGM & AFTER

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HAPPY NEWYEAR
2011








Dated 2nd December 2010
Dear Comrades,
I along with Sri. PARTHA BHATTACHARJEE, Working president camped in New Delhi from 29th to 30th November’2010 to follow up the pending demands with Railway Board. We had fruitful meetings with top Railway Board Officials and submitted representations on all the pending demands.
We had detailed discussions with all Officials of Board including FC on the following issues.
1. Regarding the anomalies in MACP, when we brought to the notice of the Officials about the Recorded Notes on the MACP anomalies committee meeting held on 15-09-2010 issued by DOPT, Railway Board officials informed that they are not aware of the same and assured to initiate file on treating the promotion as JAA on passing Appendix IIA Exam as Recruitment. We also pointed out the case of denial of MACP to those who came on interdivisional/interdepartmental transfer.
2. We brought to the notice of the Officials about the rejection of calculating the Sr.AA posts as 5% of on the combined strength of SO(A)s and Sr.SO(A)s since both the cadres have been merged by VI Pay Commission and placed the copies of letters issued by Ministry of Finance in respect of Civil Accounts Staff and requested reconsideration of the issue.
3. We reiterated the demand for promotion of erstwhile Group D Staff now in Group C Status on seniority basis to the post of Accounts Clerk and the officials agreed to examine the matter. We also demanded modification of Recruitment Rules in this regard.
4. Regarding Cadre Restructuring in Accounts department, we placed the following proposals.
a. To mitigate the grievance of Accounts Clerks stagnated in the cadre for want of vacancies in JAA cadre, AIRASA requested for change in the 80 : 20 pattern as 20 : 80 since there are no direct recruitments being made. The proposal was well received and the Accounts directorate Officials promised to initiate papers in this regard.

b. Similarly the ratio of ASVs : Sr. ASVs may be modified from the present 65 : 35 to 20 : 80 as large number of posts are in work charged posts under Sales Organisation which varies from year to year. At present virtually only 10 % are in Sr.ASV cadre.
c. The Sr.AAs cadre should be raised to 10% of merged strength of Section Officers on par with other organized Audit and Accounts depts.

We submitted reminders on the following issues.
a. Reintroduction of Grant of increments for passing App. IIA, App.IIIA and App.IV Examinations.
b. Modification of Recruitment Rules for selection to the post of AAOs and submitted the copies of Recruitment Rules of other Organised Accounts and Audit which contains selection by seniority cum suitability only.
c. On the issue of TIA/ISA group App III passed candidates waiting for promotion for more than 15 years , reminders have been submitted to give adhoc promotions as available in CAG’s Offices and the officials were also requested to give directions to all the Zonal Railways to create additional posts of TIAs and ISAs.
d. Improved VI PC Grade Pays in respect of Accounts Clerks, JAAs, AAs, FPEs, Typists and Stenoraphers.
e. We also insisted the need for extending the Special Allowance to those ASVs who came from the Cadre of JAAs. We also pointed out that many Railways are not granting MACP to Stock Verifiers duly taking their combined service in AA and ASV cadre and requested for issue of clarifications in this regard.

Group B Status to SO(A)/TIA/ISA.
We expressed our anguish over non affording of Group B Status to SO(A)/TIA/ISA to top Railway Board Officials including FC and Member, Staff and requested them to have a fresh look into the issue since the demand is based on the upgradation of these posts to the Scale of Rs.7500-12000 by the VI PC vide para 7.56.9.
Minutes of the BGM held at Nagpur on 18 & 19, Nov’2010 is sent herewith.
Yours Comradely,

(N.SRINIVASAN)
General Secretary






MINUTES OF VI BGM HELD ON 18TH &19TH NOV’2010 AT NAGPUR

Dated 2nd December 2010
Dear Comrades,

The VI BGM of AIRASA was held on 18th and 19th November 2010 at Maheshwari Panchayat Bhavan, Tekdi Road, Sitabuldi, NAGPUR. The Reception committee welcomed the delegates in the Nagpur Station and sent them by vehicles to the Venue. Registration of delegates started at 10.00 a.m.
The proceedings for the Meeting started with the call given by Com. H.R.Maurya at 11.00 A.M on behalf of the Organising Committee. Lighting of traditional lamp by Com.G.K. Motghara, the Seniormost Member and Accounts Assistant from Nagpur Division, Nagpur, C. Rly and joined by Central Office Bearers marked the beginning of the BGM. The Flute accompaniment by Com.B.N. Kinake gave a solemn touch to the event. The Meeting was presided by President, Com. R.K. Saraswat. Welcome Address was delivered by Com. Deepak G Dudhane, Central Org. Secretary, AIRASA who was the Chairman, Reception Committee. Then the Central Office bearers and Special Invitees were honoured with bouquets by the host division organizers. Two minutes silence was observed paying homage to the Members and their relatives who lost their lives since the last meeting and to pay condolence to the families of the departed souls of Accounts fraternity.
General Secretary presented the Working Report in which two years eventful functioning, milestones and achievements were consolidated. During reporting, the General Secretary narrated the present position of pending demands and the anomalies resulted in the implementation of VI CPC report. While discussing the current scenario, the GS pointed out that the V and VI PCs failed the employees and the Gross Pay drawn by them constitutes more allowances than the pay element. This will result in post retirement impoverishment as pension will be calculated only on the pay element which will be only around 25% of the present salary. Then GS narrated the Challenges before the Accounts Staff and the Organisation. Emphasis was laid on the need to regroup and rejuvenate the Accounts Staff under AIRASA and the Cadre to understand how successfully the Government has divided them into so many groups thru’ VI PC and MACP implementation and the need to come together to fight for the injustice heaped on each other. Emphasis was also made to prepare the Organisation and its leaders to take on further with full vigour from where we slowed down after achieving improved pay scales. The various pending demands, Court judgements and the fate of Arbitration Award listed for rejection motion was discussed. The speech was concluded with a call for soul search as to the contribution of each Office Bearer and Member in the last couple of years.
Then Com. Reji George, Secretary- Finance presented the audited Financial Report for the years 2008 and 2009. He also suggested enhancement of membership fees from the present Rs.50/- to Rs.100/- from 2011. After the presentation of Financial Report, Working President, Com.Partha Bhattacharjee addressed the gathering which was followed by the Speech of Com. Ashok Dwivedi.
After a break for lunch, Com. Sudhakar, W. Rly opened the discussion on General Secretary’s Report and Finance Report. Com. A.D. Gupta (E. Rly), Com. Tapan Baisya(CLW), Com. C.P. Singh (NW. Rly), Com. C.D.Naidu (C. Rly), Com. Dilip Tamuli (N.F Rly), Com.R.K. Mishra (C. Rly), Com. Ashish Banerjee (E.Rly), Com. P. Suryanarayana (S E Rly), Com. N.C. Dey, CLW, Com. Ekta Gupta (W C Rly), Com. Deepak Dudhane (C. Rly), Com.K.C. Tripathy (E.Co. Rly), P.S. Anand, (S. Rly), Com. Ashish Das ( E. Rly) and Com. H.R. Maurya (C. Rly) participated among others in the discussion which included improving of membership, increasing of Membership Fees from Rs.50/- to 100/-, conducting of CWC Meetings in less active areas, non release of Pay scales to AC, JAA, AA, ASV, Sr. ASV, FPE, Stenographer, Typist and Cash & Pay cadres, Extension of ACP benefit to promotee JAAs, Grant of increment on 01-01-2006 to those who had drawn their increment between 1-2-2005 to 1-6-2005, Change of Designations, de merging of SO(A) and Sr. SO(A) grades by granting Rs. 5400/- and Group B Status to Sr. SO(A)s/Sr. TIAs.Sr. ISAs, lesser pay fixation to the pre 1-1-2006 appointees than the post 1-1-2006 appointees recommended by the VI PC, Refusal by Board to show App. IIIA Answer papers in Court and Board’s decision to destroy the answer sheets, Provision of Office Room to AIRASA by N F Rly Administration ( received with loud applause) etc., The Session ended with this.
The last Meeting of the outgoing Central Committee was held at 17.30 hrs with the agenda to review the discussion of the GS’ Report, performance of each zone and Office bearers, Resolutions to be passed, Assessment of Financial position and recommendation of the next Central body. The General Secretary ascertained the implementation of various resolutions on divisional/zonal level agitations from the members present and expressed dissatisfaction over the non implementation by some of the Railways. The Meeting decided to adopt resolutions (1) for Change of designations on the line of Organised Audit and Accounts,(2) to take up the issue of Promotees drawing less than the Direct Recruits in fixation of pay,(3) to take up the issue of grant of two MACPs for those who are stagnating in the Cadre for 20 years as on 1-9-2008 and after,(4) to resolve to encourage Members of various Railways/Divisions to file Cases in CATs for MACP anomalies/Stepping up of pay,(5) to reiterate the demand for uniform working hours/days/holidays for all Accounts Offices including Workshop Accounts Offices and Construction Accounts Offices,(6) to conduct next AGM at Kota in Feb/March 2011,(7) to enhance membership fee from Rs.50/- to Rs100/- per annum and (8) to advise the change in the Address of the Registered office to the Registrar of Trade unions. The Working Committee also formulated a draft panel of Office bearers to be proposed for the Central Body and Meeting disposed at 30 minutes past midnight i.e 00.30hrs of 19-11-2010.
Cultural Evening :
1. Magic Show : The delegates were thrilled to see the MAGIC SHOW by Smt. Sujatha Kondra, Accounts Assistant and her party which had all the items displayed by a versatile professional. Every one commended the performance and the Central Committee presented Rs.1000/- in cash as a token of appreciation.
2. Music programme : The Light Music programme by Shri. Pradip Gokhale and Party was enjoyable, fantastic and good food to the ear when everybody was served with a splendid dinner. All the delegates enjoyed it and many of them presented the party with their contribution. AIRASA also presented Rs.1000/- as a token of appreciation.

The Second day’s proceedings started at 11.00 hrs on 19-11-2010 with the outgoing Central Committee on the dais. The General Secretary replied to all the deliberations. During the reply speech the GS pointed out to the leadership crisis in the organization as many of them become inactive/redundant. Membership record in many Zones are very poor and “Only NF Railway has recorded continuous excellent results in membership drive for the last 12 years”. He appealed to all the other Zonal Rlys/units to emulate NF Rly. After GS’s clarifications on the points raised during the discussion, Secretary, Finance clarified on the Financial Statement. Then the Meeting approved the General Secretary’s Report and Finance Report with applause.
Then, the General body nominated Election Officer Shri. M.S. UnniKrishnan rose to conduct the elections for the next Central Office bearers even as the existing Central Committee Members retired to their Seats in the audience leaving the dais. Before this the General Secretary obtained the approval of the General body for increasing one post each of Vice- President, Central Organising Secretary and Joint Secretary. A draft panel proposed by the outgoing Central Working Committee as detailed below was read out by the Election Officer. All the Office Bearers were declared unanimously elected since there was no opposition to the panel proposed by the outgoing CWC. The election of 33 Office bearers was done and the approval for the list of 22 Permanent Invitees to the Central Working Committee was accorded in a peaceful manner.
The Central Office bearers elected are :
NAME POST DESIGNATION UNIT/OFFICE S/SRI/SMT
1. R.K.SARASWAT PRESIDENT Sr. SO(A) TA/C. Rly
2. PARTHA WORKING
BHATTACHARJEE PRESIDENT JAA GRC/SE Rly
3. N.SRINIVASAN GENL.SECRETRAY. Sr. SO(A) Hqrs, S. Rly
4. REJI GEORGE SECY-FINANCE A A Hqrs, S. Rly
5. EKTA GUPTA VICE-PRESIDENT A A KOTA, WC Rly
6. C. SARATH BABU ,, Sr. SO(A) BCT, W. Rly
7. P.MAHANTO ,, A A HQRS, N F Rly
8. C.M. CHENGAPPA ,, Sr.ISA MYS, SW Rly
9. RAKESH GUPTHA ,, A A JUC, N. Rly
10. D. GOVINDARAJULU ,, A A BZA, S C RlY
11. C.P. SINGH ,, Sr. SO(A) AJMER, NW Rly
12. M.S. UNNIKRISHNAN ADDL. GS Sr. SO(A) TPJ, S. Rly
13. ASHOK DWIVEDI ,, A A Hqrs, W. Rly
14. R.RAMANI SECY. COMM Sr. SO(A) TPJ, S. Rly
15. RAMESH KUMAR ,, Sr. SO(A) COFMOW
16. TAPAN BAISYA ,, Sr. SO(A) CLW
17. R.K. MISHRA DY. GENL.SECY Sr. SO(A) Hqrs, C. Rly
18. P.S. ANAND DY. GENL.SECY Sr. SO(A) MDU, S. Rly
19. A.D.GUPTHA ,, A A Hqrs, E.Rly
20. SHAILENDRA KUMAR CENT.ORG.SECY Sr. SO(A) Danapur, EC. Rly
21. MEHBOOB JAKATI ,, Sr. SO(A) Parel WAO,W.Rly
22. N.K. MONDAL ,, Sr.ISA Siliguri, N F Rly
23.ASHISH DAS ,, A A W/KPA E Rly
24.S.SURYANARAYANA RAO ,, A A NGP, C Rly
25. Md. DAWOOD ,, Sr. SO(A) Hqrs, S C Rly
26. SOMCHAND BHRINGRAJ ,, A A Bilaspur, S E C Rly
27. P. SURYANARAYANA JOINT. SECY A A W/KGP, S E Rly
28. K. CHATURVEDI ,, Sr. SO(A) GKP, N E Rly
29. K.C. TRIPATHI ,, Sr. SO(A) BBS, E.Co Rly
30. MUKESH KHARE ,, A A JHANSI, N C RLY
31. C.GOVINDARAJU ,, Sr. SO(A) I C F
32. T.S. MOHAN ,, Sr. SO(A) HUBLI, SW Rly
33. UTHAM KUMAR GUPTHA ,, Sr. SO(A) Hajipur, EC. Rly
PERMANENT INVITEES to the Central Working Committee apart from Zonal Presidents & Zonal Secretaries.
S/Shri/Smt
1. S.C.MAHAPATRA E. Co. Rly
2. D.P.KHUNTIA ,,
3. S. MITRA DLW
4. M.N.SUDARSHAN I C F
5. L.VENKATA RAMANI I C F
6. MANOJ SHUKLA C. Rly
7. NANAK DEV R C F
8. P.K. MANDAL W C Rly
9. MANOJ GUPTHA ,,
10. S. VENKATESWARAN S Rly
11. M.K. LOGANATHAN S Rly
12. G. S. VISWANATHAN S Rly
13. D. NAGESHWARA RAO S C Rly
14. JOGINDERPAL N. Rly
15. SURESH SHARMA N W Rly
16. IRFAN ABIDI RE/LKO
17.DIPANKAR BHATTACHARJEE, METRO Rly,
KOLKATHA
18. ASHOK GUPTHA N E Rly
19. K. CHAKRABORTY E. Rly
20. RAMESH KUMAR MISHRA W/JMP,
E Rly
21. P.M. BALAI N W Rly
22. NAVAL GUPTHA C Rly

Following this, the delegates unanimously passed the following Resolutions.
1. to appeal to Railway Board for Change of designations on the line of Organised Audit and Accounts.
2. to take up the issue of Promotees drawing less than the Direct Recruits in fixation of pay with the authorities concerned.
3. to take up the issue of grant of two MACPs for those who are stagnating in the Cadre for 20 years as on 1-9-2008 and after with Rly Board.
4. to encourage Members of various Railways/Divisions to file Cases in CATs for MACP anomalies/Stepping up of pay.
5. to reiterate the demand for uniform working hours/days/holidays for all Accounts Offices including Workshop Accounts Offices and Construction Accounts Offices.
6. to conduct next AGM at Kota in Feb/March 2011.
7. to enhance membership fee from Rs.50/- to Rs.100/- per annum.
8. to advise the change in the Address of the Registered office to the Registrar of Trade unions and
9. Any Central Office bearer who do not attend three meetings in a row will lose his eligibility for contesting the next elections.
The Open Session started at 4.00 P.M as planned. Com. P.G. Tale welcomed the Guests and the gathering. Shri. D.M.M. RAO, Sr. DFM/ S E C RAILWAY, Shri. HASAN BARNE, President, AICAEA, Shri. GURPREET SINGH, Secretary, DMIEA were Guests of Honour.
In his presidential address Com. R.K. Saraswat, President detailed the achievements of the Association apart from highlighting the historic achievement of improved V P C pay scales to the Rly Accounts Staff which was extended to the other organized Audit and Accounts also.
Com. M.S. UnniKrishnan, Addl. Genl. Secretary delivered the key note address. Com. M.S. UnniKrishnan during his speech narrated the development of AIRASA from the day we gave the call for All India Strike by Railway Accounts Staff at Nagpur in Jan’1999 till this BGM today. He narrated the incident of our conducting meeting at the premises of a Ganesh temple in the army land opposite to the DRM’s Office due to the resistance of certain forces. He pointed out the onetime historic movement of AIRASA and the present progress which is wrongly understood by many as a weakness of AIRASA forgetting the political scenario and change in the outlook of Ministers who took over after Shri. Nitish Kumar. He also pointed out our unfinished agenda and the milestones to be crossed like arbitration award, grant of improved pay scale arrears, higher status, recognition for AIRASA etc.,. While pointing out the challenges ahead, outsourcing and the proposed change in accounting pattern was highlighted. The impending implementation of accrual based accounting and the new trend of dispensing with cash and investible surplus in budget was detailed. He also mentioned the anomaly in granting higher personal pay for the newly passed candidates for appendix IIIA while the seniors who were waiting for promotion were still allowed only lesser pay fixation on promotion taking into account old rates. He also pointed out the case of denial of MACP to those who came on interdivisional/interdepartmental transfer and repatriated from other cadre including the staff in excadre.
Com. Partha Bhattacharjee , Working President in his speech enumerated the pending demands and described how justified the cause espoused is and how the Accounts Staff are discriminated against and the steps being taken by the Association. He called for the physical participation and monetary support of all members in achieving the pending demands.
N. Srinivasan, General Secretary while addressing the audience, detailed the various challenges before the Accounts fraternity and said that the Federations have failed to question the anti employee policy decisions for the past 30 years, never interfered in the Management decisions and the General Employee/ Worker of today is fed with a wrong notion about the Trade Unions. He said that the Federations failed to make a thorough study of implications of recommendations of VI CPC including MACP before their implementation and are now only raising the issues in a half baked manner. The JCM Members are in their 80s and do not reflect the sentiments of the present generation Employees and Workers. Also they failed to question the rationale behind the appointment Committee of Secretaries for the implementation of VI CPC Who only took care of Group A cadre and reaped huge benefits of the VI CPC. Nowhere in the world a person would get an increase of Rs.15,000/- just for a placement in the Selection Grade (which has been abolished in the IV PC itself in respect of Group C & D) which do not involve any additional responsibilities. He called upon the Accounts Staff to analyse and understand these things and come forward to work for the Association to fight against all these evils. He said’ KNOWLEDGE IS STRENGTH’ . And every Accounts Staff should involve themselves in all the new System Changes, study and understand them and point out the shortcomings without fear. A knowledgeable Accountsman will never fear for transfers which only drives many of our staff towards the recognized Unions. The General Secretary called for reasserting the Unity and solidarity which helped us to win the fight for improved pay scales in the V CPC. He thanked the Organisers for having hosted the BGM and made it a great and memorable one.
While speaking on the occasion, Shri. D.M.M. RAO, Sr. DFM/ S E C RAILWAY appreciated the functioning of AIRASA and praised for its role in projecting and achieving various cadre related issues for the benefit of the Accounts staff. He also called upon the staff as has been done by Com. M.S. UnniKrishnan and General Secretary in their speech to equip themselves to face the challenges by updating their knowledge, acquiring skills and by being relevant to the changing times.
Shri. HASAN BARNE, President, AICAEA extolled the role played by AIRASA in the fight for improved pay scales and said that JAC of Audit and Accounts is taking earnest steps in achieving the demands and condemned the action of Ministry of Finance for introducing a motion in the parliament for rejection of Arbitration Award. He also asked the members to be wary of the challenges ahead as mentioned by M.S. Unnikrishnan in his speech.
Shri. GURPREET SINGH, Secretary, DMIEA dwelt on the illegally operated New Pension Scheme and explained that the Pension one would get is based on Share market which is always volatile and the Government is gambling on the money recovered from the employees. The scheme does not cover Social Security for the Employees and their families since there is no scheme of Family Pension in it. Moreover the introduction of NPS is at the cost of Provident Fund scheme which provided for the savings by the employee which helped to meet out the unforeseen expenditure.
Com. PremKumar Anand extended vote of thanks. Smt. Aparna Khandekar compered the event excellently. The hospitality arrangements were very nice. The hosts, AIRASA Office bearers of Nagpur, C. Rly deserves all appreciations for making the V BGM a great success especially Comrades H.R. MAURYA, C.D. NAIDU, SURYANARAYANA RAO,V.P. JOSHI, ANIL KULKARNI, BODHE, P.G.TALE, KINHAKE, PATE, R.P. BAGDE, APARNA KHANDEKAR, SUNITA BHAGCHANDANI, AZRA KHALID and host of other staff of Sr.DFM/O/NGP. My special thanks to Com. Deepak Dudhane for leading the team in an efficient manner. In all the Nagpur BGM will be remembered for ever.
Yours Comradely,

(N.SRINIVASAN)
General Secretary