Government pushes ahead with plan for SC/ST quota in promotions

Government pushes ahead with plan for SC/ST quota in promotions

HIGHLIGHTS

• A report prepared by DoPT supported quotas in promotion for SCs and STs
• The report noted that 15% and 7.5% representation of SCs and STs was not achieved in several departments

NEW DELHI: The Centre is moving ahead on the proposal to provide reservation in promotion for SC and ST employees in government jobs with a key official report saying underprivileged sections needed affirmative action.

A report prepared by the department of personnel and training (DoPT), presented to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, supported quotas in promotion for SCs and STs. “For equal opportunity and inclusive growth, there is need for reservation in promotion to continue in favour of SCs and STs,” it said.

DoPT was asked to prepare a report following a meeting chaired by Modi in March 2016 to deal with several judicial orders against reservation in promotion on the basis of a constitution bench verdict in the M Nagraj case in 2006.

The judgment said Article 16(4A) was only an enabling provision, and not mandatory, which gave freedom to the state to provide for reservation in matters of promotion to SC and ST employees.

The 2006 order said the provision could be enforced only after conditions – “backwardness”, “inadequacy of representation” and “administrative efficiency” – were met for the intended beneficiaries.

The report noted that 15% and 7.5% representation of SCs and STs was not achieved in several departments.

The report, prepared in consultation with the attorney general, said SCs/STs were economically, socially and educationally far behind other social groups in important parameters of development to justify affirmative action.

The report is a step towards the Modi government’s plan to deal with Supreme Court judgments which have made it difficult for the Centre and state governments to reserve posts for SCs/STs in promotion.

Source:- Times Of India

7th Pay Commission: Arrears on higher allowances soon says government

The government has assured that the demand for the arrears on higher allowances as per the 7th Pay Commission would be met soon. The assurance was given by the Cabinet Secretary P K Sinha after a meeting with the National Joint Council of Action or NJCA the consolidated body of employee unions. 

The NJCA which has been leading the negotiations relating to the 7th Pay Commission met with Cabinet Secretary P K Sinha and reiterated the demand of arrears on higher allowances from January 2016 onwards. The body also demanded the implementation of the report by the Committee on Allowances under the 7th Pay Commission.

The report was submitted to the finance ministry. It is still under examination. The Cabinet Secretary during the meeting assured that the same would be implemented soon. The concerns would be considered and it may take some time. The report is currently being examined by the Empowered Committee of Secretaries headed by P K Siinha. 

What are the demands? 

During the meeting the NJAC spoke about the arrears and said that the employees should be given the amount pending from January 2016 onwards. Further they also demanded that the government resolve the anomalies related to the minimum wages, fitment factor and family pension under the 7th Pay Commission. A demand for upgradation of the fitment factor from 2.57 to 3.16 for minimum wage revision was also made. However this is negotiable they said. 

Modifications suggested 

There are a few modifications that have been suggested in some allownaces applicable to all central government employees and other allowances which are applicable to specific employee categories. The 7th Pay Commission had suggested the abolition of 52 out of the 196 existing allowances, apart from subsuming 36 smaller allowances. Further it had also reduced the HRA from the existing 10, 20 and 30 per cent to 8, 24 and 16 respectively.

Source :OneIndia News