Latest 7th Pay Commission News

Minimum Guaranteed Pension under National Pension System (NPS) – BPMSREF: BPMS/17th TC/NPS/Cir/33

Dated: 31.03.2018

To,

The Office Bearers and CEC Members

Bharatiya Pratiraksha Mazdoor Sangh

&

The President/ General Secretary

Unions affiliated to the federation

Subject: One day Agitational Programme on 24.04.2018 on Minimum Guaranteed Pension under National Pension System (NPS).

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

Sadar Namaskar

It is hoped that all of you are well and busy in accelerating trade union activities. As all of you know that the Central Executive Committee Meeting of this federation was held on 26, 27 and 28 March 2018 in Dehu Road, Pune where it was decided to hold one day agitational programme on 24.04.2018 on Minimum Guaranteed Pension under National Pension System (NPS).

A resolution to this effect was also passed in the CEC Meeting held at Hyderabad during September 2015 and subsequently several correspondence were made. However, in spite of lapse of such a large time, no tangible action has been seen from the Govt side on the issue.

Therefore, in absence of any concrete step from the Govt side on the issue it becomes necessary to register our displeasure over the lethargic attitude of the Government and register our protest to constrain the machinery to redress the Grievance.

Hence, you are requested to hold one day agitation programme on 24.04.2018 using all feasible and effective trade union instruments like Gate Meeting, Use of Black Badges, Slogan Shouting, publicizing of programme at humongous level through posters/ hoardings/ banners/ pamphlets/ social media so that the issue may be resolved at the earliest. Further, you are requested to submit a memorandum addressed to Prime Minister of India through proper channel on 24.04.2018.

With regards,

Brotherly yours

(M P SINGH)

General Secretary

Source: BPMS

Grant of One Time Relaxation for Compassionate Appointments – BPMS

Govt. of India, DoP&T O.M. No. 14014 / 6 / 94- Estt (D) dated 09th Oct 1998 read with O.M. No. 14014/23/ 99- Estt (D) Dated 03rd Dec 1999 has a provision to give a compassionate appointment to one of the dependent for the survival of his family, if the employee unfortunately dies during his service period; leaving his family behind to survive, but it is limited to 5% of the vacancies falling under direct recruitment quota in any Group ‘C’or ‘D’ post. Not only this, under this 5% quota DR of Group ‘C’ & ‘D’ defence civilians, the dependants of Group ‘A’ & ‘B’ defence civilians and all uniformed personnel (of Army, AirForce & Navy) are being granted compassionate appointment but the 5% vacancies under DR of Group ‘A’ & ‘B’ defence civilians and uniformed personnel are not added. Due to this, a large number of wards are waiting for their appointment on compassionate grounds to look after the family.

This federation has made lot of efforts on the subject and it may be noteworthy to mention the following correspondence (1) BPMS Letter No. BPMS / MOD / Comp. Apptt. /219 (8/3/L) . dated 04.04.2016 (2). Hon’ble RM’s DO No. 4930/VIP/RM/2016, dated 02.06.2016 (3). MOD ID No. 19(1)/2016-D(Lab), Dated 05.07.2016 (4). OFB letter No. 039(6)/PER/POLICY, Dated 14.07.2016.

Further, this issue has been discussed on several occasion with the present Raksha Mantri also but no action is seen as yet.

On the other hand, the families of dependents are suffering and are becoming desperate on account of inaction on such an important and sensitive issue.

The Central Executive Committee Meeting being held at Dehu Road (Pune) took serious cognizance of the issue and demands that the Government should take immediate necessary steps to solve the issue.

Resolution passed on 28/03/2018.

Drastic reduction in Budgetary support to Ordnance Factories – BPMS

REF: BPMS / MOD / Budget / 186 (8/1/R)

Dated: 10.02.2018

To

Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman,

Defence Minister,

Government of India,

South Block, New Delhi

Sub :- Drastic reduction in Budgetary support to Ordnance Factories

Hon’ble madam,

With due regards, I would like to bring the following for your kind personal intervention at the earliest please:-

We were not surprised on your statement speaking on the eve to mark 90 years of the setting up of leading industry body FICCI on 14.12.2017 when you said: “This may be a proper and suitable occasion to say that I am doing a major review of the ordnance factories, to make sure we understand where they are, what is it that they have to be given, are they going to be in a position to be joint venture partners for people trying to benefit from transfer of technology… so OFBs (ordnance factory boards) are also being looked into.” 

But we are consternated to note that all of a sudden the government has drastically cut down the Budgetary support of the Ordnance Factories, both for the Revised Estimates for the year 2017-18 and the Budgetary Estimates for the year 2018-19. In the current year Value of Issue for Army was planned at Rs. 14496 crore which has been reduced to Rs. 11419 crore (reduction by 21.22%). Budget Estimate for the year 2018-19 indicates reduction from Rs. 14872 crore to Rs. 11743 crore for issues to Army. 

Due to this, spares of ‘A’ Vehicles and Artillery Guns, sighting Systems and Electronics, General Stores and Clothing, Small Arms cannot be supplied to Army. This will have a cascading adverse effect on the capacity utilization of concerned 12 Ordnance Factories, pay pocket of employees and society at large.As a major stakeholder, this development is being view with great concern as it directly and brutally affects not only the Defence Production sector per se, but the war preparedness of the Nation too. 

In this connection we seek to bring to your kind attention various correspondence of this Federation wherein we have reiterated the fact that depending on the Private Sector on critical supplies have been a failure till date and will continue to be so in the future too, after all, this sector cannot just perform on the single point agenda of “return on investment”, the mainstay of the private enterprises.Suffice to mention once again that the private sector can only make sound & fury but cannot deliver due to the vagarity of the situation prevalent in defence purchases. 

It is worth to mention here that erstwhile Defence Minister, Shri Manohar Parrikar had been encouraging the Ordnance Factories’ employees/organization as they ensured defence production upto Rs 14,000 crore in the financial year 2015-16. He noticed that the output of the ordnance factory had improved for the first time by 17 per cent. It was stagnant for four to five years and hovering around Rs 10,000 to Rs 11,000 crore.

 He used to say, “Ordnance Factories have achieved new milestones in production of ammunition and defence weapons.These defence establishments have a bright future for feeding defence products for security of the nation. Now, ordnance factories are eyeing production of Rs 20,000 crore in near future,”The drastic reduction in Budgetary support, it is apprehended, will entail stoppage of supplies of various critical spares, general items, electronic items and even small arms and ammunitions, directly affecting the work load of more than a dozen factories and thousands of workmen.

In view of the above, we seek your kind personal intervention in the matter with an request to restore the budgetary support to its original state to avoid a major collapse of supplies which may eventually cause impediment to the war preparedness of the Nation.

An immediate action in the matter is therefore solicited.

Thanking you in anticipation.

Sincerely yours

(MUKESH SINGH)

Secretary/BPMS &

Member, JCM-II Level Council (MOD)

Source: BPMS

Budget disappointing for the Labour – Bhartiya Mazdoor Sangh

Press Statement Bhartiya Mazdoor Sangh

Ref-BMS/D-20/37/2018

Dated-01-02-2018

Press statement issued by Sri Virjesh Upadhyay , General Secretary ,BMS ON 1st February 2018.

Budget disappointing for the Labour – BMS to hold countrywide demonstrations on 2nd February

Even though today’s budget for the first time has given more thrust to rural development, agriculture, health, infrastructure etc., it has totally neglected the woes of labour. Anganwadi workers, ASHA karmis and other scheme workers who belong to the poorest paid workers appointed under the Central Government have nothing as relief in the budget. Middle class employees are unhappy with no increase in their ceiling for tax exemption; at the same time the cess on income tax is increased from 3% to 4%. This was done at a time when the budget claimes 41% increase in the tax payers’ net.

Moreover the Government treasury has been hugely benefitted by the new GST regime, demonetization and digitalized bank transactions. Now there is a system by which last paise to be paid as direct or indirect tax will reach the Govt. treasury.

The unorganized sector workers’ Social security fund is also not given any support in the budget. Budget says the women employees need to pay only 8% contribution to EPF in startups. The increase in take home salary for women will reduce 16% of their future savings in the EPF when they leave their establishment within few years. The burden of merger of Insurance Companies also will be on the workers, and there is no Government’s assurance on their job security, transfer, promotion etc.

There is also no provision for revival of viable sick CPSUs, instead the Government is focusing its attention on Strategic sale of 24PSUs; increase in EPF pension from the current Rs.1000/- and budget allocation for cess withdraw from 9 labour welfare funds. Budget also omitted to increase allocation for MGNREGA so that it can increase the wage and number of working days.

Budget unilaterally announces fixed term employment to be extended to all employment. All labour related changes in law has to be discussed in the tripartite forum and then finalized. Now the draft notification on fixed term employment issued on 8th January is pending consultation with trade unions. In the meanwhile it is totally unfair on the part of Government to unilaterally announce it in Budget.

All these shows the total neglect of Government on labour. It is a labour unfriendly budget.

Hence, BMS decided to protest against Budget. It directs all its units to hold demonstrations demanding review on budget proposals.

its future course on unsettled issues related to labour will be decided in the coming National Executive Committee meeting to be held on 6-8 February .

Yours faithfully,

sd/-

(Virjesh Upadhyay)

General Secretary

Source: Confederation

Meeting held with Hon’ble RM Smt Nirmala Sitharaman on 09.11.2017

REF: BPMS / MOD / Meeting / 173 (8/1/M)

Date: 09.11.2017

To,

Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman,

Defence Minister, Government of India,

South Block, New Delhi

Subject – Meeting with BPMS delegation.

Hon?ble Madam,

We are grateful to your good self for granting an opportunity to reflect our concerns/views on the following matters:-

1. On the recommendations of Shekatkar Committee/Committee of Experts, 14 Station Workshops, 04 Ordnance Depots, 43 Military Farms, Army Postal Services are going to be closed down/disbanded. All the Army Base Workshops are going to be run on the „GOCO? model. Implementation of the above will affect the 31012 permanent Civilian employees and more than 01 lakh indirect workers.

Disbandment of above Defence Installation will adversely affect the job opportunities to the communities like Scheduled Caste, Scheduled Tribe, Other Backward Classes, Minorities, Female, Differently Able Persons, Meritorious Sports Persons, reemployment of ex-serviceman, regional development through direct/indirect employment, non-employment issues like school/colleges, market, hospitals etc. in the vicinity of the establishments, monopolistic approach by the private players, public

welfare.

In such circumstances, how can the Government fulfill the dreams of Hon?ble Prime Minister of India Shri Narendra Modi “Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas: Collective Efforts, Inclusive Growth”?

Considering the impact on the regular employees, casual workers, contract workers and society as a stakeholder due to disbandment of above defence establishments, this federation requests to your good self to reconsider and revoke the decision of disbandment/closure of these Defence Installations.

2. Grant of one time relaxation from the ceiling of 5% limit for compassionate appointment in Defence establishments is pending since long in Min of Defence. You are requested to expedite the same.

3. You are requested to grant a separate meeting for discussion on vital issues of Ordnance Factory Organization (OFB).

Thanking you in anticipation.

Sincerely yours

(MUKESH SINGH)

Secretary BPMS

Source: BPMS

Payment of “Washing Expenditure” to Industrial Employees with revised rate – BPMS

Dated: 01.10.2017

Respected Sir,

With due regards, it is submitted that the industrial personnel in Min of Defence have been authorized for protective clothing/garments such as water-proofs, warm overcoats, overall, Dangries, Apron and protective accessories such as gum boots, boiler suits, goggles and gauntlets etc. These protective clothing & accessories are being issued to the specified categories whose duties require the issue of these accessories. Protective garments and accessories are provided either as a protection against inclement weather for those who works out-doors or against hazards such as are encountered in factories etc (kindly refer Para 1 & 2 of Chapter 64 – Staff Amenities, 3rd CPC Report and Para 26.44 of 4th CPC Report).

For the washing of some of these protective clothing garments, all the concerned industrial workers employed in Army Ordnance Corps were granted ‘Washing Allowance’ Rs. 4/ per month per worker and this amount was revised to Rs. 8/- per month vide MoD letter No. 82147/P.Clo/OS- 10A/2876/D(O-II), Dated 08 Sep, 1998 (copy enclosed).

Later, a corrigendum was issued vide MoD Letter No. 82147/P.CIo/OS-10A/1626/D(O-II), Dated 06 May 1999 (copy enclosed) to define that “Washing Allowance” mentioned in the letter dated 08.09.1998 will be “Washing Expenditure”. In due course, this “Washing Expenditure” has been revised on the introduction of subsequent Central Pay Commissions.

Now, on the recommendation of 7th CPC “Washing Allowance” being granted for the washing of uniform has been abolished and subsumed in dress allowance in respect of Nurses as per DoE, Min of Fin, Resolution No. 11-1/2016-IC, Dated 06.07.2017. It has to be kept in the mind that the “Washing Expenditure” being granted to industrial personnel for washing of protective clothing has not been abolished or subsumed in the dress allowance and there is no mention of “Washing Expenditure” in the 7th CPC’s Report or in the Resolution of Govt of India dated 06.07.2017.

In such circumstances, you are requested to take appropriate action so that entitled industrial employees may be granted the “Washing Expenditure” unflagging with revised rate.

Sincerely yours

(MUKESH SINGH)

Secretary/BPMS &

Member, JCM-II Level Council (MOD)

Resolutions adopted in the Central Executive Committee of BPMS

REF:BPMS/RESOLUTION/10(7/1/M)

Dated: 25.09.2017

To,

Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman,

Defence Minister,

Government of India,

South Block, New Delhi – 11

Subject: Resolutions adopted in the Central Executive Committee of BPMS.

Hon?ble Madam,

With due regards, it is submitted for your kind information that the 4th Central Executive Committee meeting of 17th Term of this federation has held at Ordnance Factory Estate Medak (Telangana) on 20th & 21st September, 2017 and 02 Resolutions have been unanimously adopted by the CEC of the federation & the same are enclosed herewith for your kind consideration and further necessary action please.

This federation is in full hope to get favourable consideration in this regard.

Thanking you in anticipation.

Sincerely yours

Enclosed: As mentioned

(M. P. SINGH)

Copy to: General Secretary

The General Secretary,

Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh

27, Deen Dayal Upadhyay Marg,

New Delhi – 110002

– For your kind information please.

Resolution No. 1: Granting of one time relaxation for Compassionate Appointment in Defence Establishments.

The Govt. of India vide DOP&T O.M. No. 14014 / 6 / 94- Estt (D) dated 09th Oct 1998 read with O.M. No. 14014/23/ 99- Estt (D) Dated 03rd Dec 1999 has issued instructions to give a compassionate appointment to one of the dependent for the survival of his family, if any employee unfortunately dies during his service period; leaving his family behind to survive, but it is limited to 5% of the vacancies of direct recruitment.

The appointment on compassionate ground is an exception to the equality clause under Article 14 and if an employee dies while in service then according to rule framed by the Central Government or the State Government to appoint one of the dependants shall not be violative of Articles 14 and 16 of the Constitution because it is to mitigate the hardship due to the death of the bread earner of the family and sudden misery faced by the members of the family of such employee who had served the Central Government or the State Government. Hon?ble Supreme Court of India has held that while framing any rule in respect of appointment on compassionate ground the authorities have to be conscious of the fact that this right which is being extended to the citizen under Articles 14 and 16 of the Constitution. As such there should be a proper check and balance. Further, though the compassionate appointment is the exclusive domain of the State which extends it to a family member of the deceased Government Servant to come out of the penurious situation and the crippling crisis that had arisen due to the sudden demise of the employee, the exercise to make such appointments is not routine in all cases and only in exceptional cases where the situation is such that grant of appointment is absolutely warranted, as otherwise, the family would sink down and collapse due to penury.

The Apex Court held that the very concept of giving a compassionate appointment is to tide over the financial difficulties that are faced by the family of the deceased. It has been held by the Hon?ble Supreme Court in the case of Umesh Kumar Nagpal vs. State of Haryana and others reported in (1994) 4 SCC 138, which read as under:-

“2. The question relates to the considerations which should guide while giving appointment in public services on compassionate ground. It appears that there has been a good deal of obfuscation on the issue. As a rule, appointments in the public services should be made strictly on the basis of open invitation of applications and merit. No other mode of appointment or any other consideration is permissible. Neither the Governments nor the public authorities are at liberty to follow any other procedure or relax the qualifications laid down by the rules for the post. However, to this general rule which is to be followed strictly in every case, there are some exceptions carved out in the interests of justice and to meet certain contingencies. One such exception is in favour of the dependants of an employee dying in harness and leaving his family in penury and without any means of livelihood. In such cases, out of pure humanitarian consideration taking into consideration the fact that unless some source of livelihood is provided, the family would not be able to make both ends meet, a provision is made in the rules to provide gainful employment to one of the dependants of the deceased who may be eligible for such employment. The whole object of granting compassionate employment is thus to enable the family to tide over the sudden crisis.

The object is not to give a member of such family a post much less a post for post held by the deceased. What is further, mere death of an employee in harness does not entitle his family to such sources of livelihood. The Government or the public authority concerned has to examine the financial condition of the family of deceased, and it is only if is satisfied, that but for the provision of employment, the family will not be able to meet the crisis that a job is to be offered to the eligible member of the family. The posts in classes III or IV are the lowest posts in non-manual and manual categories and hence they alone can be offered on compassionate grounds, the object being to relieve the family, of the financial destitution and to help it get over the emergency. The provision of employment in such lowest posts by making an exception to the rule is justifiable and valid since it is not discriminatory. The favourble treatment given to such dependant of the deceased employee in such posts has a rational nexus with the object sought to be achieved, viz., relief against destitution. No other posts are expected or required to be given by the public authorities for the purpose. It must be remembered in this connection that as against the destitute family of the deceased there are millions of other families which are equally, if not more destitute. The exception to the rule made in favour of the family of the deceased employees is in consideration of the services rendered by him and the legitimate expectations, and the change in the status and affairs, of the family engendered by the erstwhile employment which is suddenly upturned.”

Further, there are certain cases where the employee dies during performing his duties, due to Accident / Explosion / Bullet injury or due to some technical fault, either due to defective system or carelessness of the management, with no fault of the worker/employee.

These cases are also being dealt under the same aforesaid provision of Compassionate appointment, whereas, it is an entirely different case and should be dealt under Compulsory Appointment and which should be apart from 5% quota.

It is worth to mention here that considering the vacant posts in Group „C? & „D? (erstwhile) the then Defence Minister Shri Arun Jaitley, Shri Manohar Parrikar and Dr. Jitendra Singh, MoS (PMO, P.PG&P) Govt of India had assured this federation to do the needful to resolve this issue by granting one time relaxation from the ceiling of 5% limit for appointment on compassionate grounds in Defence Establishments. It is very painful to note that the matter is still unresolved.

The CEC of BPMS hereby adopts the above resolution unanimously and demands from the Government of India, Min of Defence for granting of one time relaxation from the ceiling of 5% limit for appointment on compassionate grounds in Defence Establishments.

Resolution No. 2: Scrap Recommendations of Shekatkar Committee

The Government had appointed an 11 member committee headed by Lt.Gen. D.B. Shekatkar (Retd) primarily to enhance combat capability and rebalance defence expenditure. The committee submitted its recommendations to the Government on 21-12-2016 and as per media reports, out of the 99 points, the Cabinet has accepted 65 recommendations.

Acting on the same, Government have announced complete closure of Military Farms vide its Letter No.7(1)/2016/D(QS)/2017 dated 20/07/2017 and the Government has also decided to restructure EME Workshops on GOCO (Government Owned Contractor Operated) pattern and also to close down certain Ordnance Depots. As for redeployment and rationalizing of manpower, the Shekatkar Committee has recommended that the role of non-combat organisations paid for and sustained by the defence budget be subjected to a performance audit. Some of these organisations mentioned in the report are Defence Estates, Defence Accounts, DGQA, Ordnance Factory Board (OFB), and DRDO. Interestingly, the committee has said that OFB needs to include private companies and has suggested using private-public partnerships to speed up production, ensure better quality and cut down delays.

Further, the Committee has also recommended closure 11 DRDO Labs which has been identified as Non-Core.

The executive committee of BPMS, while examining the various end results of the Government?s move to accept the recommendations, have opined that since there will be massive redeployment and/or retrenchment of Civilians, apart from restructuring of several important organisations, BPMS being a major recognised Federation of Civilian employees should have been consulted.

However, most unfortunately, without even adhering to the basic tenets of democracy which envisages talks/discussions, the Government has unilaterally taken decisions which directly affects the employment status of civilian employees and also destabilises several important institutions which provides strong logistical support to the combat preparedness of our Forces.

The Ministry of Defence Annual report itself states that the challenges to internal security in India can be categorized into four threats viz cross border terrorism in Jammu & Kashmir, militancy in the North East, Left Wing Extremism (LWE) in certain states and terrorism in the hinterland. The report categorically states that 106 districts of 10 states are affected by LWE

As such, it is not clear as to how the Shekatkar Committee recommends the closure of Army Postal Establishments in “Peace Areas”, as there is nothing called peace area as per the Ministry?s own report.

Border Roads Organisation has earned a reputation of being the only road construction agency to construct and maintain roads in difficult, isolated and inhospitable terrain in inclement climatic conditions. The Border Roads Organisation started operations in May 1960 with two Projects. It has now grown into an 18 Project Organisation. Nine BRO projects are located in Western India (4 in J&K, 2 in Himachal Pradesh, 2 in Uttarakhand and 1 in Rajasthan), 8 BRO projects are located in Eastern India (1 in Sikkim, 4 in Arunachal Pradesh, 1 in Nagaland, 1 in Mizoram and 1 in Tripura) and 1 in Bhutan.

BRO has constructed approximately 51,000 Km of roads, 498 major permanent bridges of 45,263 m length and 19 airfields in these areas of the country. At present, BRO is working on 852 roads (39,049 Km), which include new construction, improvement from single lane to double lane (530 Nos and 22, 803 Km) and maintenance of 322 roads of 16247 Km. These 852 roads also include 61 Indo- China Border Roads (ICBRs). The construction of 22 ICBRs has already been completed and initial connectivity to further 26 roads has been achieved. BRO is also maintaining five airfields. In addition, 2 Nos of Tunnels viz. Rohtang

Tunnel (8.8 KM) in Himachal Pradesh and Theng (0.578 Km) in Sikkim are under construction.

As such it is bizarre that even comments are being made about such a vital organization and efforts are on to place them in private hands. DRDO labs are grouped into seven technology clusters namely, Aeronautical Systems (AERO), Armament and Combat Engineering Systems (ACE), Electronics and Communication Systems (ECS), Life Sciences (LS), Micro Electronic Devices and Computational Systems (MED & CoS), Missiles and Strategic Systems (MSS) and Naval Systems and Materials (NS&M). Each of these clusters function under cluster DGs. The seven DG offices are located at Bangalore (Aero and ECS), Pune (ACE), Delhi (MED & CoS and LS), Hyderabad (MSS) and Vishakhapatnam (NS&M)

Each of the DRDO Labs are engaged in Core activities itself and hence identifying some as functioning on “non-core” area is highly objectionable. DRDO has a total strength of 24,578 employees, out of which 7,410 are in Defence Research and Development Services (DRDS), 9,297 in Defence Research and Technical Cadre (DRTC) and 7,871 are in Administration and Allied Cadre. As such, BPMS strongly opposes any redeployment and/or retrenchment in DRDO.

As part of overall “Modernization Drive”, Army Ordinance Depots are also being upgraded with Modern Infrastructure and Automation. In this connection CCS approved Modernization Project of COD Agra and Jabalpur on April 11, 2007 for an amount of R 751.89 crore. The work was originally to be executed by DRDO, but later transferred to MES on March 4, 2008. The modernization plan encompasses the conversion of old store house shelters into large span modern Pre Engineered Building (PEB) structures (largest size 198m x 54m) for warehousing. These structures have modern stacking and retrieval system of stores with Mechanized Handling Equipment and Very Narrow Aisle (VNA) tracks. Various modern facilities such as High Rise Inventory Storage System, Warehouse Management Software, Fire Fighting Arrangements and Access Control are incorporated in the scheme of things. In addition, administrative buildings and OTM accommodation/ escort lines area is being constructed.

Thus, any move of the Government to restructure, corporatize and/or privatise any of the Ordnance Deports is being strongly opposed by BPMS.

The Directorate General Defence Estates, New Delhi, has advisory and executive functions in matters relating to management of Defence lands and Civic Administration in 62 Cantonments. The Directorate General presently functions through six Principal Directorates at Jammu, Chandigarh, Kolkata, Lucknow, Pune and Jaipur. The Principal Directorates in turn supervise a number of field offices, such as offices of the Defence Estates Officers, Assistant Defence Estates Officers and Cantonment Boards. These field offices are entrusted with the day-to-day management of defence lands and Cantonment Boards across the length and breadth of the country.

The Ministry of Defence owns approximately 17.57 lakh acres of land throughout the country which is managed by the three Services and other Organizations like Ordnance Factory Board, DRDO, DGQA, CGDA etc. Directorate General Defence Estates is also responsible on behalf of the Ministry of Defence to control, monitor and supervise the Civic Administration in Cantonments. There are 62 Cantonments in India. These are located in 19 States, including National Capital Territory of Delhi. The Cantonment Boards are „bodies corporate?, functioning under the overall control of the Central Government and under the provisions of the Cantonments Act, 2006. Half of the members of the Cantonment Boards are elected. The Station Commander is the President of the Cantonment Board .Supervision and control over the working of these bodies is exercised through the General Officers Commanding in Chief and Principal Directors, Defence Estates at the intermediate level and by the Central Government through Directorate General Defence Estates at the apex level. As can be seen above, Civilian role is actively involved in the Defence Estates

Organisation and hence any move to restructure it should be done only after exhaustive discussions with the Federation.

The role of Corps of Electrical & Mechanical Engineers [EME] is to achieve and maintain the operational fitness of electrical, mechanical, electronic and optical equipment of the Army. The Electrical and Mechanical Engineers who light to factory-level repairs to everything the Army uses. With their forward repair teams based on customized armoured vehicles, they function within a battlefield, recovering equipment casualties from their point of collapse. Back at base workshop, they strip and rebuild anything that the Army owns be it fighting vehicles, electronics, or data processing equipment.

The history of the Corps, born in 1943, is indeed glorious. Over the decades, the Corps has, with remarkable speed, welded itself into a fine and efficient organisation. It is imbued with requisite zeal and determination to overcome, if necessary by improvisation, all the impediments it faces in the rapidly changing technological environment. The efficacy with which an organisation performs its role is dependent to a large degree upon the sense of union developed amongst its elements – the esprit de corps. These 56 years have built up traditions and relationships of a lasting kind. These have sustained amongst its troops the concept of honour, courage, fidelity to the organisation, professional integrity and a pride in developing technical skills.

The Corps is responsible for providing engineering support to the army equipment ranging from light vehicles to tanks, guns, missiles, radars, computers, helicopters, communication equipment, night vision devices, simulators and so on during war and peace. Over the years there has been phenomenal rise in the sophistication, quantum and variety of military hardware. The Corps has effectively met the challenges arising from the proliferation of such multi-disciplinary high technology military hardware through continuous evolution of its engineering support system.

There are some schools of thought who maintain that war is just a fight between soldiers in combat arms; this is not the case. It is true that an army is a fighting machine, but there are three basic needs if it is to achieve its full potential in battle – leadership, equipment and training. Wars involve the employment of a great deal of modern and sophisticated equipment and the EME plays a major role in assisting the Army’s posture of operational preparedness and combat effectiveness to win any war. If combat arms are the teeth of the Army then EME has a vital function of keeping them sharp.

Through the war and the many operations that the Indian Army undertook over the past five decades, the Corps has proven itself as a first class repair, recovery and in many cases as a design and development organisation. It is actively involved in counter insurgency operations both in J & K and in North-East.

EME History

From the role of mere servicing the arms and ammunition, the Corps of Electronics and Mechanical Engineers (EME) rose to the level of managing technology for the Armed Forces. In this odyssey, the corps crossed many hurdles and carved a niche for itself in the service of the nation.

The story of warfare, in essence, is a story of man’s struggle for existence. Earlier, man used to shape tools and weapons to outwit his opponents. Later, he projected his need to someone else to make weapons for war. Consequently, the need of craftsman arose. By the turn of the nineteenth Century, Inspectors of Ordnance Machinery (IsOM) were responsible for repair of guns, small arms and instruments in arsenal workshops in India. Later, in 1925, a new cadre of Ordnance Mechanical Engineers (OMEs) was brought in and the IsOM came on the roll of Indian Army Ordnance Corps. Later, the Supplies and Transport Corps emerged as the Royal Indian Army Service Corps (RIASC). There were 11 transport workshops providing first and second line repair cover to the vehicle fleet. They stocked spares, assemblies and fitment items required for the vehicles. By mid 1942, allied war production gained ground and a large number of equipment like tanks and guns were coming to India for the Allied Forces.

An American Tank Detachment Commander, Lt Col Rothwell H Brown was on duty with the British forces in India for the purpose of advising them on maintenance and operation of armoured vehicles. He suggested the urgent need for improving the efficiency of the mechanical engineering service of the Army.

Accordingly, the Commander-in-Chief of British Forces approved the raising of an equivalent of the REME in India. On May 1, 1943, the Mechanical Engineering Directorate at General Headquarters (India) was formed and units were allocated. On September 15, 1944, Lt Gen Sir Clarence A Bird was appointed as the Colonel Commandant of IEME. The new born Indian Electrical and Mechanical Engineers had the motto Omni fascimus meaning-‘We can do everything’.

On October 15, 1943, the actual transfer of personnel from IAOC to IEME took place. This resulted in the birth of the Indian soldier craftsman and since then October 15 is observed as the EME Corps Day.

The nascent Corps almost doubled its strength in a matter of two years to establish 632 different IEME units including 12 training centres, 13 commands, 6 bases and 113 station workshops. The IEME personnel distinguished themselves in every theatre of war where they operated.

When India became a Sovereign Republic in 1950, the Corps dropped “I” from its name to be called as EME. The design of the new Corps badge was to promulgate the ethos of the Corps. The design prepared by Maj SE Doig when Brig IH Reeves was the DME, was approved in 1953 and taken into use from 1955. The motto was also changed to ‘Karm hi Dharam’ which means-“Work is Supreme Duty”.

The advancements in technology in the 80s and 90s resulted in use of electronics in all types of equipment. In tune with the times, the equipment profile of the Army had predominance of electronics which necessitated the Corps to change its outlook from electrical to electronics. In January 2001, the corps was re-christened as the Corps of Electronics and Mechanical Engineers. During last six decades, the corps proved itself with distinction in all the tasks assigned to it.

Army Base Workshops (ABW)

Eight Army Base Workshops (ABWs) were established during the Second World War to carry out repairs and overhaul of weapons, vehicles and equipment to keep the Indian Army operationally ready. Towards this end, they also undertake manufacture of spares. The ABWs work under the overall control of Director General Electronics and Mechanical Engineers (EME) who functions under the Master General of Ordnance (MGO).

Headquarters Base Workshop Group is responsible for planning and co-ordination of functions of the ABWs.

The ABWs are co-located with the ordnance depots which feed them with repairable and spares. The overhauled/repaired equipments are received by these depots for issue to the user units. The production/repair capacity of ABWs is determined on the basis of manpower and is fixed in terms of standard units (SUs) which are equivalent to 100 man hours. Various committees have recommended norms for the functioning of the ABWs from time to time.

The workshops of EME are the centers where military equipment gets a new lease of life. At present, there are eight Army Base Workshops (ABWs) at Delhi, Agra, Meerut, Kirkee, Jabalpur, Kankinara, Allahabad and Bangalore.

Headquarters, Base Workshop Group located at Meerut coordinates all the activities of ABWs in consonance with the policy laid down by Army Headquarters. The 505 Army Base Workshop in New Delhi overhauled a variety of ‘A’ and ‘B’ vehicles which include Churchill, Stuart, Sherman, AMX-13 and Vijayanta tanks and armoured cars like Diamler, Humber and GM Fox. The workshop has carried out repowering of Vijayanta tanks with T-72 engines, upgrading them with night vision devices, fire control system and fire detection equipment.

The latest achievement of this workshop is manufacture of Windy-505, a fast attack vehicle. Recipient of ISO 9001 : 2000 certification during 2002-2003, 507 Army Base Workshop overhauls ‘B’ vehicle engines and also manufactures spares. Its major activity includes overhaul of Kraz vehicles of Army and Air Force.

While 509 Army Base Workshop is a specialist workshop responsible for base repairs of radar systems, electronic test equipments, optical and fire control instruments and night vision devices, 510 Army Base Workshop located at Meerut overhauls air defence and guided missiles systems. It carries out overhaul of Schilka and Kvadrat weapon systems, multi-barrel rocket launchers and specialist heavy-duty vehicles.

The 512 Army Base Workshop takes credit for upgrading T-55 tanks in the 70s under Project May flower and Sun flower. In the late 80s, T-55 tanks overhauled with Polish technology rolled out of its production line. At present, it is undertaking overhaul of T-55 and its variants.

Originally known as 10 Advance Base Ordnance Workshop, 515 Army Base Workshop undertakes repairs of ‘B’ vehicles, small arms, armaments and engineering equipment. At present, it is manufacturing simulators for the Army and para-military forces. One Advance Base Workshop looks after the equipment in the Eastern Theatre. EME’s 3 Advance Base Workshop undertakes base repairs for units in Northern Command like overhaul of guns and engines. Recently it has become a nodal centre for repair of thermal imaging and electronics equipment. It has also designed, developed and manufactured electronic equipment like Ashi Pillai which has been instrumental in saving

valuable lives in counter-insurgency operations.

Thus, BPMS strongly opposes the Government move to give away these prestigious organizations on a platter to the Private Sector.

The above aspects were deliberated in the Central Executive Committee Meeting of the Federation held at Hyderabad (Medak) and the delegates strongly opposed the regressive policies of the Government.

Time and again, vide its various written and oral communications, BPMS has conveyed to the Government its strong opposition to any move to destabilise the existing Defence Production, Maintenance and Supply structure.

The Central Executive Committee meeting at its deliberation held at Hyderabad (Medak) on 20th & 21st Sep. 2017 has decided to pass the resolution calling upon the Government to reconsider its decision and to ensure that the recommendations of the Shekatkar Committee are rejected by the Government.

BPMS therefore urges the Government to take strong cognizance of the above resolution and do the needful at the earliest, failing which BPMS will be compelled to resort to agitation, suffice to mention that under the flag of Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh, a massive protest rally will be held on 17-11-2017 against the various anti-labour policies of the Government at New Delhi.

Source: BPMS

BPMS – Stoppage of Holiday Over-Time in Ordnance Factories

Dated: 19.08.2017

NEW DELHI — 110 011

I have been directed to bring the following for your kind immediate intervention.

Vide Ministry of Defence letter cited under reference above, Ordnance Factory Board has been directed to completely stop Holiday Overtime in the Factories.

In this connection we submit that the said order issued by concerned officials is totally unjustified and is without proper application of mind, suffice to say that Over time in the Ordnance Factories is not granted as a matter of routine or luxury but there is a time tested and logical formula vis-à-vis production output on the basis of which the action is taken and it is quantifiable.

Here it may also be pertinent to note that as per the annual statement of accounts of the factories, the total cost of labour on the cost of production is constant between 12 to 13% whereas other elements like Material, Fixed Over heads ,Variable Over heads consumes bulk of cost of production.

Thus targeting Labour to cut cost is not only an unprofessional approach but also shows the biased mindset of the concerned Officials of MoD which is adversely affecting the moral, dedication of the employee and output of the OFB organization.

There is large scale resentment amongst employees as a result of which whimsical diktat of the Ministry and we seek your immediate personal intervention in the matter to provide justice to the workmen.

We therefore once again demand that status quo ante be restored, pending further discussion on the matter.

Thanking You,

Sincerely yours

(M P SINGH)

General Secretary

Payment Of Night Duty Allowance Without Any Ceiling As Per 7th CPC

Dated: 29.06.2017

REMINDER

Dated 06.01.2017

With due regards, your attention is invited to the Anomalies Committee meeting held on 26.12.2016 under the Chairmanship of AS(J) Shri J Rama Krishna Rao wherein we have reflected our concern that the Night Duty Allowance was being paid on the notional basic pay of 4th CPC. Later, based on the Hon’ble Supreme Court judgment NDA is revised in 6th CPC pay scale and extended to all including non-petitioners w.e.f. 01.04.2007. Subsequently, PC of Fys imposed ceiling limit to the employees of Ordnance Factories that Rs.12380/-. OFB has referred the matter to MoD to remove the ceiling but this is not yet settled.

Therefore, you are requested to take necessary action so that the payment of Night Duty Allowance in defence establishments on the revised pay of 07th CPC may be granted without any ceiling.

Sincerely yours

(MUKESH SINGH)

Secretary/BPMS &

Member, JCM-II Level Council (MOD)

Payment Of Overtime Allowance As Per 7th CPC To The Employees Of Defence Industrial

Payment of Overtime Allowance (OTA) as per revised pay to the employees of Defence Industrial Establishments under Factories Act, 1948 consequent to implementation of the 7th CPC recommendations. REMINDER

Ref:BPMS/MOD/OTA/43A(7/2/R)

Dated: 29.06.2017

To

The Deputy Secretary (CP),

Govt of India, Min of Defence,

`B’ Wing, Sena Bhawan,To,

New Delhi – 110011

Subject: Payment of Overtime Allowance (OTA) as per revised pay to the employees of Defence Industrial Establishments under Factories Act, 1948 consequent to implementation of the 7th CPC recommendations.

Reference: This federation’s letter of even No. Dated 03.01.2017

Respected Sir,

With due regards, your attention is invited to the Anomalies Committee meeting held on 26.12.2016 under the Chairmanship of AS(J) Shri J Rama Krishna Rao wherein we have reflected our concern over the delay in the revision of statutory nature allowance (Over Time Allowance under the Factories Act, 1948) in defence establishments.

In turn, the AS(J) pleased and instructed to resolve the matter of the payment of Over Time Allowance as per revised pay consequent to implementation of 7th CPC recommendations.

Therefore, you are requested to take necessary action so that the issue of the payment of overtime allowance in defence establishments on the revised pay of 07th CPC may be resolved without further delay.

Thanking you.

Sincerely yours

(MUKESH SINGH)

Secretary/BPMS &

Member, JCM-II Level Council (MOD)

Source: BPMS

Minimum Pay should be enhanced to Rs 24000 – Agitation against Central Government

Circular for Agitation against Central Government from 17-22 July, 2017

REF: BPMS/ Cir/ 17th TC/ 22

Dated: 04.07.2017

To,

The Office Bearers and CEC Members

Bharatiya Pratiraksha Mazdoor Sangh &

The Presidents/ General Secretaries

Unions affiliated to the federation

Subject: Agitational Programme from 17 July 2017 to 22 July 2017.

Dear Brothers and Sisters

Sadar Namaskar

It is hoped that all of you are well and busy in accelerating trade union activities to uplift the organization.On 28 June 2017, the Cabinet Committee approved allowances as per 7th CPC recommendations with very minor changes or without any change. This time employees were expecting a better remuneration as promised by the Government but the Government did not change its attitude which led to financial loss to Government employees.

Therefore, Government Employees National Confederation has decided to conduct Agitational Programme from 17 July, 2017 to 22 July 2017.Being a constituent of GENC, this federation has decided that all the unions will conduct the Agitational Programme from 17 July, 2017 to 22 July 2107 on the following demands:

1. HRA should be rationalized to 30%, 20% and 10% of the Basic Pay for Class X, Y and Z Cities respectively.

2. All the allowances should be granted from 01.01.2016.

3. All the allowances which have been decided to be abolished should be retained.

4. All other allowances which are statuary in nature as overtime allowance under the Factories Act should be granted without any further delay.

5. Minimum Pay should be enhanced to Rs 24,000/-.

6. Multiplication factor for pay revision should be enhanced to 3.42.

7. Minimum Pension should be guaranteed as per Supreme Court verdict for NPS beneficiaries.

8. 7th CPC related anomalies should be resolved.

9. All cadre review should be completed in time bound manner.

10.There should not be disparity in the common category in various Ministries.

11.None of the Defence Establishments should be closed/ disbanded.

12.Grant of one time relaxation on the 5% ceiling for compassionate appointment.

13.Contract workers in Defence Establishments should be benefitted with Equal Pay for Equal work.

In the Agitation Programme gate meetings, slogan shouting and other peaceful methods as per feasibility are to be organized and a memorandum is to be submitted on the

last day of programme to your respective Head of Establishment addressed to Prime Minister so that the Government may be constrained to assuage the discontentment of employees and the copy of the memorandum is to be submitted to BPMS HQ.

Further, you are advised to give wide publicity of this Agitation Programme by propagating through Media, Posters and Pamphlets.

Appropriate Demands may be added related to your directorates/ establishments. Your humongous support is solicited.

With regards,

Brotherly yours

(M P SINGH)

General Secretary

Dated: 29.06.2017

REMINDER – 2

Respected Sir,

With due regards, your attention is invited to the letter cited under reference (1) whereby this federation has requested to issue necessary clarification for fixation of pay in various circumstances under the CCS (RP) Rules, 2016.

In turn, vide letter cited under reference (2) it has been communicated that MoD has sent a proposal to MoD(Finance) on 05.12.2016 to seek clarification about the manner of fixation of pay through illustrations prepared by D(Civ-I).

One of the doubts is still pending and that is causing discontentment amongst the employees, which is as under:-

Point of Doubt No.3: If the pay of an employee ‘XYZ’ was Rs. 12200 in PB-1 plus 2800 GP as on 31.12.2015 and after completion of 10 yrs regular service, he would be eligible for grant of financial upgradation under MACP on 15.03.2017 in the Grade pay of 4200, kindly clarify:-

(i) Whether ‘XYZ’ may opt 7th CPC w.e.f. 15.03.2017 (date of financial upgradation) and till then (14.03.2017) he will draw his wages in the existing system of 6th CPC.

It is worth to mention here that Audit Authorities state that option is available between 01.01.2016 and the date of issue of CCS (RP) Rules, 2016 only.

Therefore, you are requested to take appropriate action so that the employees may be benefitted with the fixation of pay in correct perspective without further delay.

Sincerely yours

sd/-

(MUKESH SINGH)

Secretary/BPMS &

Member, JCM-II Level Council (MOD)

Revitalisation of Army Base Workshops – BPMS

Dated: 21.06.2017

Sub :- Revitalisation of Army Base Workshops.

Sir,

This Federation has been receiving regular inputs regarding deteriorating conditions of the Army Base Workshops, non-availability of spares on time, huge backlog in repairs and overhaul of vehicles and equipments.

In view of the above, as a responsible, recognised Federation of Defence Civilians, we felt it necessary to study the issue and bring forward certain salient aspects to your kind notice for remedial measures.

There are eight Army Base Workshops, of which seven are responsible for repair and overhaul of equipment/ weapons and one workshop has been tasked with the responsibility of indigenisation and manufacture of spares.

The Indian Army has a large inventory of weapon systems and equipment which need to be maintained and sustained in battle worthy condition. The periodicity of overhauling an equipment is based on the maintenance philosophy promulgated at the time of induction for the envisaged life cycle.

As per doctrine published in 2014, the following is the intervention period for maintenance of Class “A” Vehicles.

** For equipment to serve beyond 35 years. Balance Equipment to undergo MR instead and de induct after 35 years

.

^^ Only for OH-2 equipment and service up to or beyond 40 years.

No overhaul policy for Scania, Kraz-255 B/B1 and Tatra T-815 is available and hence presently, Base workshops are accepting these vehicles of eight years vintage and above for overhaul as per the direction of EME Directorate.

124 numbers of Main Battle Tank (MBT) Arjun were inducted into the Army from 2004-05 onwards. The Tank is due for overhaul from 2020-21. However till date Overhaul agency has not been decided.

A total of 310 T-90 Tanks were initially imported from Russia through a contract signed with the OEM i.e. M/s Rosoboronexport (ROE) in February 2001 and inducted into service during 2001-05. These Tanks are due for overhaul from 2018-19 but till date Overhaul agency has not been decided.

Similarly, for Armoured Recovery Vehicles also, due to short sightness, overhaul plan and/or agency has not yet been decided.

The ARV VT-72 B is a recovery vehicle for Tank T-72. A total of 156 ARVs were procured from M/s Bharat Heavy Electricals Ltd. (BHEL) and inducted into service during the period 1994-2003. As per maintenance philosophy and intervention norms, 129 vehicles inducted up to 2001 were due for overhaul during 2010-15. However, even after 20 years of the induction of the vehicle, no overhaul facility had been created.

Similarly ARV WZT-3 is a recovery vehicle of latest technology available in Indian Army for Tank T-72. During the years 2001-07, 352 ARV WZT-3 were inducted into service through Bharat Earth Movers Limited (BEML). The equipment were due for overhaul from 2016-17 onwards. However, facility for overhaul has not yet been created.

Project Tulip for establishment of additional facilities at 512 ABW as a nucleus for repairs/overhaul of communication and night vision devices for BMP II/ IIK is still pending since 2003.

A whole lot of examples can be cited to substantiate the assertions that a section of Officials are deliberately trying to destabilise the Army Base Works.

On the other hand, as per the Offsets Policy, a large number of potential Private Sector companies are planning to deploy their offsets obligation in the Maintenance, Overhaul and Repair business due to guaranteed business.

This Federation has therefore viewed the inaction as stated above very seriously and demand that the Army Base Works be revitalised and all pending decisions such as creation of facilities for overhauling of MBT Arjun, T-90, ARVs etc be taken immediately. This will not only assure workmen of the seriousness of the government to protect the workshops, but is also in National Interest.

sd/-

(SADHU SINGH)

Organising Secretary

Member/National Council JCM