29.1.13

59th Conference- SG Report


59th
NATIONAL CONFERENCE
17th& 18th JANUARY, 2013

AT
Com. R.S. Pande Manch
Com. M.K. Pandhe Nagar
(AMBAJHARI, NAGPUR)


SECRETARY GENERAL’S REPORT

AIDAEA (HQ)
(Estd. 1925)
Recognised by Govt. of India
10A, S.K. Bose Road, Kolkata-700 001

                   


Hon’ble President, Delegates, Observers,

Wish you all a Happy New Year and express my heartfelt thanks for attending the 59th National Conference of AIDAEA (HQ) Kolkata. I convey my deepest sense of gratitude to the host unit of Nagpur. City of Nagpur has a rich heritage of struggle towards Indian freedom movement against British rule that started nearly three century back under leadership of Peshwa Raghoj iBhonsle. Anglo-Maratha wars, Non Co-operation movement symbolize the courage and sacrifices of Marathas to establish rights of the natives. In sixties Dalit movement of Nagpur was led by Dr. B R Ambedkar.  We do respectfully remind the National martyr and Hero of Nagpur Late Hemant Karkare, a brave Police officer who sacrificed his life in terrorist attack at Mumbai for sake of safety of the Nation.
Fashion and modern civilization has also started journey from this small city. First textile mill of the country was established in this city. Renowned film celebrity Ronit Roy is also hailed from this beautiful city. We are really proud to arrange this prestigious National Meet in this central city of the country.

Obituary
Before coming to any other issues of the report let us pay homage to Com. Madhukar Kashinath Pandhe, an eminent Trade Unionist and CPI (M) leader for his valuable contribution towards the down trodden and the working class people and died on 20.8.11. Our Homage to Pandit Ravi Shankar, The Indian legendary Sitarist and composer died on 12.12.12 in southern California.

With great appreciation we would like to recall the multifaceted activities of Sri I.K. Gujral, Former Prime Minister, Sibsena Suprimo Balasaheb Thackeray, Sri K.C. Pant, Former Defence Minister, Sri Vilas RaoDeshmukh, Former Chief Minister of Maharashtra, Captain Laxmi Saigal, the Freedom Fighter, Pandit Vim Sen Joshi, the Vocalist, Bhupen Hazarika, the Singer and composer, Maqbul Fida Husain, the renowned Artist and Painter. We sincerely pay homage to all the above personalities who rendered their exemplary services to different faculties of life. We also extend our sincerest tribute to the sports personalities- Nawab Mansur Ali Khan Pataudi, Toni Greig, Leslie Claudius, Olympiad S. Manna & for their exceptional contribution to their respective sporting fields. Film legends – Deb Anand, Rajesh Khanna, Shammi Kapoor, A.K. Hangal and Yash Chopra passed away during the period creating irreparable loss to the Indian film Industry.
It is a most shocking that in the intervening period between the 58 & 59 National Conference thousands of people lost their lives, properties due to unprecedented natural calamities. We pay our sincere condolence to their bereaved families.

We also pay homage to all our Hon’ble MEMBERs who passed away untimely while in service during the period and express our deepest sense of condolence to the bereaved families.

Organisation
This august Conference is expected to focus the future guidelines of Kolkata association. Our organisation stands on three main pillars i.e. Honesty, Democracy and true sense of struggle. The 88 year old organisation has a rich tradition of struggle to achieve rights of the DAD employees around the country.
Bonus for all, Extension of retirement age, Secretariat scale etc. are the achievements of our long drawn consistent struggle.
The AIDAEA (HQ) Kolkata always makes ceaseless efforts to work under a democratic environment as far as feasible. Utmost effort is given to nominate our central leadership from every Zone of DAD offices all over the country as far as practicable. However, 1/3rd strength of CEC members are required from Kolkata and its outskirts to execute huge administrative work of the association HQr. This is not only a convention from the inception of the association but an absolute need for smooth running of day to day disposal of correspondences to various DAD offices and our Branches regarding staff grievances, circulation of program, organisational works etc. Moreover, being the HQrs. it is naturally privileged with the prerogative to nominate a sizeable number of CEC members to face the immediate challenges both organizationally and constitutionally, irrespective of leadership acumen and potentiality.
Nevertheless, more vacancies in CEC have been created for our upcoming and efficient leaders around the country by reducing the strength of Kolkata-stationed CEC members. However CEC may be expanded in future to provide more accommodation for outstation efficient leaders.   

I am happy to intimate that now our organisation is enriched with good number of efficient, dynamic, young and educated leaders in both national and Branch level. As you know that an ideal leadership must keep constant touch with the members so that our beloved members feel free to communicate their grievances to our leaders as a valuable member of the AIDAEA family. We may not solve all the problems, but may explain the reason with logic and patience to our members why any problem remains unsolved. Our well educated members certainly realise the limitation of a leadership and the organisation running under the periphery of the government rules. Senior leaders should always co-operate the new leadership for greater interest of the organisation. We must remember ‘Kal khel mey hum rahe na rahe, gardish me tara rahenga sada…’
You are aware that we had been in acute crisis in the late years of the past decade while reforming process of our Central leadership. We even lost representation in JCM levels and could not table the then staff grievances for 2 years through any forum. But honesty, transparency and democracy brought us back to the present position. As a result membership strength has been substantially increased during the period. We have been able to open up new AIDAEA Branch Units in certain offices hitherto barred to us. It is a sorry state of affairs that leadership of our sister organisation AIDAA (CB) Pune is speaking lie everywhere that Kolkata Association has since been defunct and not functioning to enhance their membership cunningly. I would like to inform you convincingly that our organisation is now strong enough and all crises are over. A large number of young and dedicated members and leaders have come up to our fold to strengthen AIDAEA (HQ) Kolkata leadership. They are capable enough to run the HQr. efficiently in the days to come.
It cannot be denied that our leaders are very often victimized, this is because of the fact the we never compromise with the authority on staff welfare issues and fight and press on towards achieving our genuine demands. HQr. leaders never confine themselves within the perimeter of speech but also participate in various National program like March to Parliament, strikes, gate meetings, office campaigns etc. which are part and parcel of our functioning to protest against the deprival.

International situation
Twenty first century has brought a lot of progress in the world of electronics and communication. The world is now at our finger tips. Computer, Laptop, Notepad etc. brought a new dimension in every sphere of our daily life. The e-commerce, e-payment, website, blogs, twitters, e-mail etc. made the communication and transactions easy and faster. But, the majorities of the people especially in the third world countries are still in darkness and have no capability to enjoy these facilities when they are struggling to manage their livelihood since a blind has no effect of light and colour in his life. During the period under review a drastic change has taken place in socio-economic field globally. The global economic crisis since 2007 has mainly originated from European Nations due to reckless lending and uncontrolled economy. Recession, unemployment and outsourcing of job have created political turmoil not only in the developed countries but also affected in the under developed country like us, which further aggravated the condition of working class people. In this acute economic crisis imperialism led by US is trying to shift their burden of crisis to the developing countries.US led developed countries are intensifying military intervention through NATO in west Asia to establish control over Asian region. The world economic situation and prospect 2012 released a note by United Nations that growth rate of 4% during 2010 came down to 2.8% in 2011. It is speculating another risk of recession in coming days. Trade Unions and some NGOs of almost all the nations have been fighting against the neo-liberal economic policies in their respective countries; but it is very difficult to resist such policies wherever ruling government established imperialism and working under pressure of the capitalist economy classes. The imperialist hegemony of the US and former European colonizers have significantly changed many political regimes and developments in developing countries to satisfy the US ambition.
In India the struggle against imperialism, globalization and the anti-people neo-liberal policies are inter-linked. The US led capitalist countries are constantly trying to establish imperialism in third world countries initially by the form of globalization and neo-liberal policies. This 59th Conference of All India Defence Accounts Employees’ Association appeals to all our members to extend their solidarity and support to the struggle against imperialist domination and defend National sovereignty.

National Situation
It has been experienced that during the past decade Union Govt. is recklessly trying to implement pro-rich and neo-liberal economic policies in the name of economic reforms or globalization. As a result poverty is intensifying day by day. Peasants find no way to survive and working class people are on the threshold of starvation. Prices of essential commodities, diesel, LPG, electricity are mounting high. On the other hand the number of millionaires in the country is on the increase. Un-employment is on the sharp rise. The latest NSS data shows that total employment growth rate in India came down to 0.8% during 2005-10 while the same rate was 2.7% during 2000-05. Wealth and assets of big business houses have reached to sky high in past two decades. UPA-II government is putting its best efforts to disinvest core Banking and National Insurance sectors, welcoming FDI. Globalisation requires ‘labour market flexibility’ which ultimately converts a labour to a bonded labour and reduces the rights to Trade Unions. In United States only 7% labour are registered out of total labour force working in the country.
Now let us find out the reason why Union Govt. is trying to disinvest various sectors despite experiencing recession of developed European countries and welcoming FDI, which further destroy the future of small scale industries and retailers of the country. The recession and protest against outsourcing in Western countries have created massive curtailment in our Service & IT sectors resulting reduction of export capital. To balance the export, our import is also required to be reduced to stable the national economy. This is called ‘Current Account Deficit’ control. Higher the CAD rate greater the inflation. Unfortunately the present pro-US Govt. will not stop importing foreign goods because they are on the same boat of economic liberalisation and globalisation. The alternate solution is to put more finance and resources to lessen CAD rate. Since a huge amount of interest is periodically paid towards IMF loan it is not possible to provide mammoth financing at this juncture. Hence foreign investors are invited in various sectors with their laid down conditions. Besides levies on fertilizers, fuels, LPGs etc. are withdrawn to arrange more finance to control CAD rate. In such way National Economy can be controlled for a limited period and not for ever. By this way developing countries are exploited by the US-led foreign investors to establish economic imperialism. The situation can only be permanently solved by boosting national industries, small scale industries and controlling high level of corruption. Later one will be a permanent solution for a healthy economy.
In our country poor economy is the root cause of all the menaces, be they economic, social or otherwise. Our Government miserably fails to provide basic needs of food, shelter and education to all. The utter disparity of wealth and wide gap between the haves and have-nots cause darkness to the society which erupts criminal activities vigorously. The crime incidences of Molestations on women are happening everyday around the country. We are helpless to save our daughters. This House strongly condemns every humiliation committed against any women and children. The wrong-doers must be sentenced by exemplary punishments.

Central Govt. Employees Movement :
The history of revision of the wages of CG employees shows that they have to struggle for wage revision for each occasion. The wage revision in last 6 CPC w.e.f.1.1.06 has lost its relevance with hike of prices of all essential commodities. Hence revision of existing pay structure appointing 7 CPC immediately from 1.1.11 is extremely logical. There are five major factors in support of the demands. Firstly, wage revision in PSUs and other sectors usually take place in every 5 years. But we need to wait for more than a decade for the same. Secondly, the existing pay structure by 6 CPC from 1.1.2006 is not only anomalous but also irrational. There is no logical derivation of fitment benefits. Normally amount of fitment benefit is the difference of revised and pre-revised minimum pay and derived in pre-revised percentage. In 6 CPC only 40% of pre-revised maximum has been given as Grade Pay or fitment benefit. In fact, after 1.1.2013 CG employees will be getting lesser emoluments than that would have got as per 5 CPC wage structure. Thirdly, in 5CPC structure we were awarded merger of 50% DA with Pay to rationalize our pay structure. Unfortunately, 6CPC formula strips of the benefit that we received earlier. So, we had to go for strike on these issues alongwith other demands viz. withdrawal of PFRDA Bill (NPS), withdrawal of bonus ceiling etc. Fourthly- to establish the right to strike. CG employees are compelled to go for strike as last weapon when Govt. failed to honour its commitments to provide minimum facilities for survival of a Govt. employee. Fifthly- withdrawal of restriction to Compassionate Appointments. Purpose of such appointment is to provide support to the bereaved families immediately on humanitarian aspect. Should it be restricted by any means when the ill-fated families need extreme monitory support after passing away of their dear ones?
So, Confederation of CG Employees had to express the grievances by March to Parliament on 26.2.12 followed by one day token strike on 12.12.12 on 15 point Charter of demands. Nearly ten lakhs CG employees including AIDAEA (HQ) Kolkata took part on one day token strike on Dec, 12. Though the demands are common and logical ones for all the CG employees, unfortunately a few sections of employees kept themselves away from such movements. We, the leaders must introspect whether we have any lacuna to make all the employees aware and conscious about the indispensability of the Strike action. Let this 59th NC evolve some guidelines to our leaders on the strength of which  we may achieve 100% participation in such programs in future.  


Departmental Issues:
DAD employees all over the country have grievances in many issues time to time which need to be addressed sincerely and properly in the various level of JCM. HQr Association always pays attention to sort out all grievances of staff members within the periphery of Govt. rules.
During the last tenure we sorted out several issues like Promotion of Canteen employees, conducting of departmental examination for MTS, promotion of MTS to the grade of Clerk, Promotion of Record clerk to Clerk on priority basis, payment of HRA and its arrear to DAD employees who are not residing in govt. accommodation, Repatriation after immediate completion of tenure, long pending Compassionate ground appointments, MACP benefits to DEOs, publication of All India seniority list of Auditors for pay fixation, Duplicate copy of Service Book to the individuals etc.
Besides, some are the issues like stepping up of pay in respect of promoted Auditors and direct recruited Auditors, promotion of Clerks and Auditors after completion of 5yrs. and 3yrs. of service respectively, Pay parity for SO/AAO at par with IA&AD, Repatriation from Non-tenure station at own/state expenses, Retrospective effect for belated promotion, Posting of spouse at same station, Reduction of station tenure for Aruvankadu/Wellington, Regularization of daily wages labour engaged in PCDA(Navy) Mumbai, more DAD accommodation at Mumbai, Extension of CSD Canteen facilities, Fixation of retention period/tenure for Jaipur station are on our priority list of constant effort and persuasion towards its implementation.

Departmental issues are very much related with the present economic policy of the Union Government. The international and national developments are important factors to decide in what way departmental issues would come up and how we are to combat the problems.  So we too are partially dependent upon the mainstream trade union united movement. Vital issues of our staff interests in our department are being ignored by the Central Government. A number of anomaly cases and demands are lying unsolved in DOPT since long. Departmental council and JCM - III at the level of CGDA are not paying proper attention to solve the problems.  So comrades, we have no alternative but to choose a long-drawn agitation program which should be started immediately. 
Decentralization: The Authority thinks that decentralization is essential to meet the needs of the user services promptly.  On many occasions we differ with the authority on policy matters since hardship and distress of the DAD employees are ignored while decentralization of the DAD offices. Defence Accounts always has been upholding a tradition of work culture that never lets down our clients to raise any adverse complaint. We believe that quality of work in DAD cannot be improved until mental and physical condition of the DAD people is properly evaluated. Before decentralization of any office attention should be given to back up with other tasks in compensation for survival of the employees concerned. In fact, the creation of new PCDA, CDA offices in different places are only to provide promotion of IDAS at the cost of transfer of general staff for manning of new offices. Early days DAD was controlled by only 11 Controllers and now those have been increased to more than 40. For example Factory Command was efficiently controlled by one Controller and more than 5000 staff including officers working under the Controller.  Now Factory Command is on the process of decentralization to create higher posts. Hence, decentralization will simply cause abolition of lower posts from an office which later intensify the probability of transfer and unrest among general staff members, Moreover, overloading of jobs, inhuman transfer etc. are squeezing scope of employment in lower posts as well as promotions in certain cadres. 
Compassionate appointments on harness ground are extremely necessary for the bereaved families immediately after passing away of their only earning member of the family. We have strongly opposed the decimation of old cases (more than three years) since the affected families have no lapse in formalities. Some long pending cases of recruitment on compassionate ground has already been materialised by constant negotiation with the authority. Residual cases of compassionate appointments expected to be sorted out shortly.
As regard transfer it is a ground reality that our department has not yet created a comprehensive transfer policy with a pragmatic approach, so that both office and staff will be benefited, despite our unending solicitation through table talks and series of written communications.  We should have a realistic thought to run the DAD offices smoothly. Office interest and staff problem both has to be taken into account while manning in DAD offices. It is experienced that outstation transfer of staff is neither beneficiary to the office nor beneficiary to the staff. Posting of employees to distant stations do not only increase individuals’ personal and his family problem but also deteriorates service quality of the employees concerned who are transferred to outstations. They take frequent leaves to visit their home stations and it further enhances Govt. expenditure to a large extent. These unwanted problems hampered the work of the Department as a whole. People having all India transfer liability serving throughout the country in a complex network of Army, Air Force and Navy need to have a realistic transfer policy with a human face motivating transferees to take up their new assignments after completion of their tenure without any reservation or resentment.  Further, people residing nearer to or in the distant station should not be disturbed at the cost of others.  Unfortunately some HoD still use transfer as their tool to harass staff without having valid reason. 
Our Association has demanded Zonal Transfer, exemption of transfer of lady employees, no transfer beyond 50 years of age, posting at choice station immediately after completion of tenure of hard/tenure station etc. since long. We strongly condemn CGDA’s any change in the existing transfer policy without any consultation with both the Association in JCM forum. The discussions over suggestions/proposals submitted by both the Associations for formulation of transfer policy had been held time to time. The same could not be finalized so far. Our outlook and perception on the subject is clear that the policy should be formulated on the basis of humanitarian angle. We are also sincerely thinking to find a solution in this regard. Our proposed Zonal Transfer Policy can only solve staff deficiency in certain offices as well as staff resentments. Authority should realize that the matter cannot be solved by them alone by ruthless administrative ruling. In this 59th National Conference the AIDAEA may further review the transfer policy on the present context and take a unanimous decision for smooth running of offices and find relief and save employees from their mental agonies.
Of late CG’s attitude and response is positive and realistic to some extent in this regard. Fresh recruits who are being posted far off places outside their home state/zone are being repatriated to the station of their choice after completion of tenure. Utmost effort has been given to post lady employees to their home or choice stations. At this stage we are optimistic to reduce staff grievances on outstation transfer and be able to formulate a comprehensive transfer policy in consultation with the HQr Office.

Membership position:
Lot of irregularities towards exercising Option for Association Membership has been taken place at different offices throughout the country. Unfortunately, the roles of administration in some offices were not impartial. Even administration in some offices indulged in unfair means to help increase membership strength of our sister association and simultaneously hatched plans to reduce AIDAEA membership strength. In many offices guidelines of CGDA in this regard are not maintained properly. Option forms are distributed in a bunch without having any serial number or being registered. This is because of the fact that AIDAEA(HQ) KOLKATA never compromises with the administration and becomes a stooge or yes-man in the hands of administration. It is only the staff interest and welfare of the staff which is be all and end all of its existence.  Despite all these problems we could however increase our membership strength notably in the last year. Membership strength of PCA(Fys) Main Office and BGF has been increasing gradually. Strength also enhanced in Allahabad, Delhi, Meerut, Chandigarh, Nagpur, Chennai etc. As per the latest official information our present membership strength accounts for 6207 – less than 1735 than the membership strength of our sister organization which is bent upon opposing our entry in the offices of PCDA(O) Pune, PCDA(SC) Pune and CDA, Guwahati PCDA, Bangalore by undemocratic means The aforesaid offices account for a sizable number of employees - more or less 4000 in number which wholly belongs to our counterpart and which makes all the difference.

An Employees’ Association must be functioning in a vibrant and dynamic way with definite purpose. It should have the capacity to organize members of different nature and should fight for its members to achieve justice. On the other hand it would be the constant endeavour of the primary members to make themselves aware of the mainstream movement and to spend minimum time when campaign programs are held. The Branch leadership at the base level is the nuclear force of all activities and carries out program under directive of HQr. association. They should have regular contact with the members as well as HQr. association. Efforts should be given to keep regular contacts with the members who are vacillating and lacking confidence towards the organization. They should draw out the latent power of members who have the capacity to enrich our organization. Branch leaders should regularly pass on information on HQr activities as communicated to the grass root members.

Comrades, our 88 year old organization has a glorious history of struggle for achieving our rights in DAD department. The benefits that we are enjoying now are the result of united movement and dedication of our past and present leadership. A section of employees believe that our authority or Govt. provides us certain benefits on suo-moto basis. It is their ignorance or lack of awareness towards the activities of association since they neither participate in any program of the association nor enrich the organization by any other support. Unfortunately they only restrict themselves by criticizing the association/organization. Criticism with sincerity and objectivity is welcome for an organization but criticisms with a malefied purpose never strengthen us and ultimately reduce the resources of the organization. Sadly, this association of ours also undergoes decadence and negativity arising out of unrestricted personal ambitions of a few which get the better of the wellbeing of the organization as a whole. These so called associationists prove themselves to be sheer power- mongers and obsessed with posts and parks. Kolkata association never compromises with injustice, never believes in tricks. We do fight for the employees in true sense. We respond to the main stream programs of Confederation. We physically take part in national program like March to Parliament & strikes for our logical demands.

Lastly I would like to remind you that the Association leadership has no magic-stick so that all our grievances can be solved instantly. The duty of the association is to raise voice on our demands through meetings, rallies and campaigns. Only your active support in response of our call is the basic need to achieve our demands. Unfortunately, a section of people neither join in any meeting nor give passive support to the organisation and restrict themselves to the roll of critic. They become conscious only when they themselves are individually victimized. It is an irony of fate that this set of people dream to reap rich dividend by weakening the association. Practically, this is an absurd phenomenon. One can never be blessed with automatic benefits from an association which has become a victim of their overt or covert opposition day in and day out.  Of late a good number of young members have come forward to uphold the flag of Kolkata association and expand our Branches in every corner of the country. I am very much optimistic that these young members are capable enough to maintain the rich tradition of the Kolkata association in years to come.

With warm greetings,
LONG LIVE AIDAEA (HQ) KOLKATA
                                                           
                                                                       
Date :17THJanuary, 2013.                                                        G. P. DUTTA
Ambajhari                                                                      SECRETARY GENERAL

No comments:

Post a Comment