Cabinet to approve the DA hike soon

“The Central cabinet is likely to give its approval to a two percent Dearness Allowance hike, with effect from January 2017, to the Central Government employees.”

The cabinet is, at its next meeting, expected to give its approval to the additional Dearness Allowance of two percent to Central Government employees and pensioners, to come into effect from January 1, 2017 onwards.

The 2% Additional Dearness Allowance hike will be calculated on the basis of the basic pay as recommended by the Seventh Pay Commission, and will be given to more than 47 lakh Central Government employees and 53 lakh pensioners, of which 14 lakh employees and 18 lakh pensioners are from the defence forces.

The Dearness Allowance, issued once every six months, is given to Central Government employees and pensioners to help them manage the increase in prices of essential commodities. The Dearness Allowance is calculated on the basis of the Consumer Price Index Numbers for Industrial Workers on Base Year 2001=100.

The percentage for January 2017 was arrived at by recording the prices of essential commodities at 78 towns and cities across the country, for the months of July 2016 till December 2016. Based on the data and calculation, the percentage may be fixed at 4.95 percent. But, according to the method prescribed by the Pay Commission, the decimal numbers are ignored. Hence, a Dearness Allowance of four percent will be issued with effect from January 1, 2017 onwards.

The table is given below for more information to arrive the percentage calculation.

M/Y	CPI(IW)  BY 2001=100	Total 12 Months	12 Monthly Average	% Increase Over 261.42 for DA
Jul -16	280	3245	270.42	3.44
Aug – 16	278	3259	271.58	3.88
Sep – 16	277	3270	272.50	4.23
Oct – 16	278	3279	273.25	4.53
Nov – 16	277	3286	273.83	4.75
Dec – 16	275	3292	274.33	4.95

Central Government Employees to observe today as ‘Black Day’

CONFEDERATION NATIONAL SECRETARIAT CALLS UPON ALL CENTRAL GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES

Observe 6th March 2017 as BLACK DAY

Against the betrayal of Central Government employees and pensioners by Group of Ministers of NDA Government.

Demanding increase in minimum pay and fitment formula.

Dear comrades

We know that all of you are in the midst of hectic preparation and campaign for making the 16thMarch Strike action a great success. As has been explained in the article, which we have placed on our website, the NDA Government, led by BJP has exhibited the worst anti-employee attitude in the post independent era of our country. This Government has treated its own employees as its worst enemy. The decision taken by the Union Cabinet on 29th June, 2016 rejecting even the recommendations made by the high level committee chaired by the Cabinet Secretary was unprecedented. Even the setting up of various committees was nothing but an eye wash. Nothing will come out of that. Even the NPS Committee on which the young comrades had pinned some hope of at least getting a minimum guaranteed pension will produce nothing. The discussions at the JCM fora has been converted into mostly monologues i.e. the official side simply listening and not reacting. The Government, it appears, has made the Pension department to reject the one and only recommendation of the 7th CPC which was considered to be positive i.e. Option No.1 for pensioners on the specious ground that the same is not feasible to be implemented. The allowances committee has dilly dallied its deliberation and would now submit its report after the extended period of 6 months expires on 22.02.2017. Even if they make any positive recommendation, which is seldom expected, the NDA Government would not act upon it. They have very successfully postponed the payment of the revised allowanced for 15 months.

In the face of such terrible onslaught, betrayal and chicanery, which no Government in the past has every indulged in, it is surprising that some of our friends who has a predominant role in the movement of the Central Government employees has unfortunately chosen to wait and watch. It appears that they have chosen to wait endlessly hurting the cause of the workers.

We have no hesitation to affirmatively state the obvious that we have chosen the right path, the path of struggles, which can only the choice of the working class against tyrannical attitude of the employer, howsoever, powerful they may be. We must realize that those who are in the saddle of power today are not permanently posted there. We were witness to the abysmal downfall of persons who were arrogant personified. It appears that the reasonableness, righteousness and patience we had exhibited have been taken as signs of cowardice. The undeniable fact is that those who fight, only can win. We, therefore, appeal to you to carry on with conviction and courage.

Eight months will be over on 6th March, 2017, when the Group of Ministers held out the assurance of revisiting the minimum wage and multiplication factor. It is now crystal clear that that was an act of chicanery. No committee was set up and no discussions were held to seriously consider the issue. We, therefore, appeal to all of you to ensure that the day, i.e. 6thMarch, 2017 is observed as a day of betrayal and all our members are requested to wear a Black badge with the following words inscribed on it in bold letters and conduct demonstrations in front of all Central Government offices.

HONOUR THE COMMITMENT MADE ON

30th June & 6th JULY, 2016

REVISE THE MINIMUM WAGE AND

MULTIPLICATION FACTOR

6TH March 2017 must be yet another occasion to mobilize our members to ensure their participation in the 16th March, 2017 strike action and ultimately win all the demands in the charter.

We fight to win and we shall win.With greetings,

Yours fraternally,

(M Krishnan S/G Confd.)