Ref.
No: Cab
Secy/01/2020 Date: 04.05.2020
The Cabinet
Secretary,
Rashtrapathi
Bhavan, New Delhi
Sir,
Sub: Freezing of DA for
Central Government employees – as alternative request for deferment instead –
reg.
Kind reference is invited to the
decision of the Government to freeze DA that has accrued for the CG Employees
from January 2020, up to July 2021 including any further DA that could accrue
during the said period. It has also been
announced that no arrears of the same would be payable after July 2021 also.
The
immediate fall out of the above decision is that those retiring up to July 2021
will face a permanent monetary loss throughout the rest of their lives in the form
of reduced DCRG and leave encashment benefits.
Similarly, at a time when the pensioners belonging to the most
vulnerable age group have to be taken care of, their pension will get affected
adversely.
Our members have been generously
contributing to the PMREF, PM CARES, CM Relief Funds of different States/UTs
and other social organisations for relief work.
Many of our members have also organised relief work on their own,
wherever possible.
The Department of Revenue has also
made an appeal to all Government Employees to make liberal contributions to the
PM CARES towards COVID 19, from the salary of May 2020 to March 2021 vide F.
No. A-50050/42/2020-Cash dated 29th April 2020. We however fear that with the DA/DR freeze in
force, the call of the Department of Revenue may not get the same enthusiastic
response which it could have otherwise received.
It is a matter of fact that the 4%
DA that had fallen due on the first of January 2020, was only due to the
increase in the All India Consumer Price Index and hence was only to replenish
the value of income in the hands of the Government servants, which had already
dwindled. Thus freezing of DA/DR is
nothing but a reduction of salary.
When we are part of the Government,
our own Government could not have taken a decision of such great magnitude,
concerning our salary which is built up on the edifice of mutual consultation
and scientific evaluation, without even consulting our representatives on the
staff side in the National JCM.
Freezing DA/DR for 18 months will be
a loss of 72% at the least, for every employee and pensioner. Any future depletion of value of emoluments
at the hands of the Government servant due to future price rise also will go
un-replenished and the monetary loss will be much more. By a conservatory estimate, the reduction
will be at least equivalent to one month’s salary. Further, the cost of living,
due to private transport, health care, etc are only set to increase, apart from
the rate of price rise not expected to decrease any time. Hence, a compulsory deduction of salary could
be harsh.
All Government Servants contribute
through their services. To deduct salary in such an unprecedented manner would
demoralise the very work force which is in the field fighting the COVID
19. The Government servants are the ones
who come up to help overcome not only in this pandemic, but any disaster or
difficulty that the society faces any time. Even in normal times they are
essential, though it becomes perceptible only at times of difficulties. The
distinction of ‘pride of service’, cannot therefore be compromised for a mere
‘labour for wages’. It is based on this
fundamental plank that Government service itself exists. It is this fundamental
fact that gives them the moral gumption to face any difficulty before the
nation and also that which deserves due appreciation. It is therefore humbly requested that this
work force should not be allowed to get de-motivated.
When our Government itself has been
rightly insisting that private employers and contractors should continue
payments to their employees during the lock down and that house owners should
not demand rent for this period, there could not be a contrary approach to its
own service personnel. Reduction of
salary by the Government for it’s own employees, will have an adverse effect on
the emoluments of all work force down the line, having a downward spiralling
effect and for all time to come. Apart from the impact such an event could have
on the economy as a whole and the well being of the nation, we fear that the
Government, by this, will lose it’s pride and eminence as a model employer.
Further, though the Government has
instructed the Banks not to insist on EMIs on loan repayments, up to June 2020,
the Banks are learnt to have taken a stand that though the EMI could be
postponed, the interest will keep accruing. As a result, we will only be forced
to make more payments, towards our loans, during this lock down period also,
though at a later date.
Hence keeping in view the above, it
is humbly suggested that the decision to freeze DA/DR may kindly be withdrawn
altogether. If for paucity of funds, it is not possible
at this time, then as an alternative we suggest that it may only be deferred by
crediting the present instalment and any future instalments upto July 2021, to
the GPF accounts of the employees, with a moratorium on withdrawal (except
in case of grave medical emergency or death of family members) for a period of
2 years. This will also ensure that the
pensioners who are in the vulnerable age group are not adversely affected.
With fond hopes that the Government
would consider the above appeal keeping in mind the long term effects and
morale of ground level staff of its own service personnel,
We remain,
Yours truly,
(R. Manimohan)
SG, AIACEGEO
Copy
submitted to:
(1)
The
Revenue Secretary, North Block, New Delhi –
(With an assurance that on de-freezing of the DA as
requested by us above, we will mobilise contributions to the PM CARES as per
the appeal of Revenue Department dated 29.04.2020 cited in this letter)
(2)
The
Expenditure Secretary, North Block, New Delhi.
(3)
The
Secretary, DOPT, North Block, New Delhi.
(4)
The
Chairman, CBIC, North Block, New Delhi.
(5)
The
Secretary General, Confederation of Central Government Gazetted Officers Organisations
(R. Manimohan)
SG, AIACEGEO
