Secretary Report of 61st National Conference

Hon’ble President and dear delegates,

At the outset I pay my gratitude to the leaders of the host unit, the local Reception Committee and convey my heartfelt thanks to all of you, who have come from different parts of the country to attend the 61^st National Conference of All India Defence Accounts Employees’ Association Kolkata on the land of Jabalpur, the Marble city.  We are proud to name the Auditorium ‘Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam’ a great personality of the century. The great man not only enriched the nation in Science and technology but made the nation pride in global arena as the President of world’s largest democratic country, India.

We are happy to hold this National event on the of soil this versatile culture. Vinova Bhabe, the great philosopher once named this land - ‘Sanskar-dhani’, the capital of culture. The place is enriched with two renowned holy rivers- Narmoda and Sone. We are proud that number of Defence industries of the country are situated in this beautiful place and empowering our armed forces to protect the nation. While selecting the venue we had three nominations. Finally we choose this place because this is most convenient for the leaders to attend here from any part of the country and the state has great importance in tourism India. I must gratefully acknowledge the Zonal Secretary of our Central Region Shri R.K. Beohar and his team who came forward to organize this big event. I hope we shall have many sweet memories to keep in our album after completion of this National Conference.

CONDOLENCES

We express our heartfelt condolences on the demise of our beloved co-workers P.L. Gupta, P.K. Haldar and R.B Deb.  We also convey our heartfelt condolence to the leaders, officers and staffs of DAD, who have left us during the period.

On behalf of AIDAEA (HQ) I express condolence to the bereaved family of Late S.N. Safai, Ex-President AIDAA CB Pune. I had a short spell to work together with him ten times at HQr. JCM level III meetings. Whatever difference of opinion with AIDAA CB Pune, but myself in JCM table used to support him on most of our common issues towards welfare of DAD people. You may recall that both of us made joint appeal to the DAD employees to go for strike on 7 CPC deprivations at the call of NJCA. The joint call was probably the first time ever in our DAD history of more than nine decade old two organisations.

INTERNATIONAL SITUATION

It is less than a decade that world economy sank into the Great Recession. Since the stock market crashed in 2008, recovery became slow. However economic recovery rose more than 92% over the past five years. But again in second half of 2015 the U.S. market volatility kicked in. In 2016 the economic recovery again came down to almost 9%. U.S. unemployment dropped upto 10%. The Great Recession in Europe has been a persistent issue since the Europe represents a significant part of the world economy. The European Central Bank has to take some extraordinary measure like austerity to stimulate growth. But austerity measures by European Union and IMF become gradually unpopular among some European countries and reduced the growth rate and debt burdens high. This may put an end to the euro experiment. A collapse of the euro would have widespread negative consequences for the world economy.

The Chinese economy has grown by an extraordinary amount over the past few decades. Chinese GDP is second in the world only after the United States. Many economists believe that China will shortly be a biggest economy of the world. Chinese government however imposes capital controls in order to keep its money within the country. Therefore, as the Chinese middle class has grown, they have the options to invest their new wealth into Chinese stocks and real estate . In 2015 the Chinese stock market raised abnormally higher than rest of the world's stock market. Meanwhile, the real estate boom has led to overproduction of building; resulting in so-called ghost cities; entire urban landscapes remain vacant, where nobody lives. The market sees that the oversupply cannot meet demand; prices may collapse in the Chinese housing market. If the Chinese economy slips into recession, it is likely to drag down the rest of the world economy as well.

The debt crisis that accompanied the Great Recession had a lot to do with the burden of home mortgages that were issued to people who simply could not pay them back and bundled into securities and sold to investors. Today, something similar seems to be going on in the student loan market. The U.S. government backs nearly all student loans, so ratings agencies pin a high create rating to these debts, even though a student may not have the ability to repay. Right now, the government is on the hook for over $1.2 trillion in outstanding student loans that need to be paid back. Not only could a wave of defaults impede the U.S. Treasury's ability to function properly, but student loan burdens prevent young people from engaging in other economic activity such as buying homes and cars.

In U.S. the unemployment rate jumps to 10.59% In other side steady decline in the labor force making the industries close one after another. The actual unemployment rate when accounting for the declines in the workforce participation rate is much higher. Even for those working, the real wage has remained fairly stagnant. The real wage accounts for the effects of inflation, and a stagnant real wage can indicate a weak economy. So indication is there that we may have to face another global recession. India may be one of the victims of another global recession. This is the negative effect of the globalisation.

NATIONAL SITUATION

In recent demonetisation on 8^th November, 2016, the entire currency notes of 500 (48%) and 1000 (39%) have been banned as legal tender. This have already hit the economy hard in the country. The surprise move will grind the consumption activity in the Indian economy to a virtual halt. The service sector, which dominates economic activity and involves a sizeable chunk of cash transactions, will likely be hit the hardest.

The demonetisation is expected to have also negative impact on inflation. Consumer spending activity fell to bottom line. Consumers are refraining from making any purchases except essential items. Activity in the real estate sector, which includes a lot of cash transactions, slowed down significantly in Metropolitan and Tier 1 cities up to 30% fall in house prices.

The huge numbers of employees in un-organized sector like small scale industries, real estate etc. has already lost their job. Peasants have no cash for purchasing seeds and fertilsers. National agriculture will likely to be fall down in current fiscal year. No one knows what would be the future effect on Indian economy since a large volume of liquid money floating in the market of 125 crore population, if suddenly withdrawn. Recovery of black  or unaccounted money could not be traced to a sizeable amount till date.

As regard central government establishments disinvestment, privatization, New Pension Scheme and all anti-employees’ measures have been continuing by the government. BJP led NDA government has already decided 100% FDI into the Railway and Defence sectors. Licences have been issued to private companies for manufacturing  the products which are now being manufactured in the Ordnance factories. In UPA regime when 49% FDI was proposed in Defence sector BJP opposed the proposal vehemently. Now 100% FDI in Defence sector means India will have to depend upon foreign companies for arms and ammunitions. This will not only threaten security of the country but jeopardise the future of lakhs of Defence civilian employees working in production and administrative jobs. Defence Minister has already opined that Ordnance Factories which are manufacturing clothing and leather items are no more required in the Government. These items can easily be procured from private sector. Factory management has already been told to reduce unit cost; otherwise no work order would be allotted. They have to compete with the private sector for getting workload. Two year target has been fixed for the ordnance factories.

On the other hand service of government employees in other sectors are also going in stake. In future they will not get annual increment if their performance is not up to the mark. The benchmark for performance appraisal for promotion and financial up-gradation has been enhanced to very good from good level. MACP scheme will continue to be same as 10, 20 and 30 years of service as before.

DEPARTMENTAL ISSUES

As regard output of 7^th CPC, we the central government employees are very much disheartened. I on behalf of our staff members met the Hon’ble Chairman 7CPC by person with my Addl. SG Sondeep Mukherjee and handed over our DAD pay proposals up to the rank of Sr. A.O. We also executed directives of NJCA and JAC in protest against 7 CPC report. The recommendation of commission not only affected pay worst in the lower grade employees but ever worst in 4 decades. Time and again 7 CPC recommendations were delayed. Allowances are not yet been finalised. This could have finalized before demonetization. But delay tactics continued by different tactics.

The day we stepped into the C.G.D.A. office as JCM member, our agenda on priority was repatriation. I am thankful to the HQr. administration and placement officers who have co-operated us to consider the valid cases and repatriated a large number of DAD staff and AAOs to their home or choice stations during last two years. The process is continuing with transparency.  In present situation it is very difficult to run all DAD offices within acute staff shortage (around 3000) of Auditors when new guys are not joining DAD as per demand.

A considerable number of lady employees have already been either posted to their home station or in a reasonable distance from home as far as possible. Although repatriations from few stations are prolonged due to paucity of new recruit Auditors and bulk superannuation. We are very much passionate about our outstation SAs and putting our continuous effort and suggestions to solve out their repatriation issue. We suggested local and regional recruitment in DAD offices, except the stations where maximum repatriations are pending. Once we attain the equilibrium in home posting then it would be long term solution. Utmost effort should be given for home or choice station posting to all categories of staff and officers. 100% efficiency and devotion towards work from the outstation officials in any cadre of DAD can’t be achieved without mental peace of the individuals and their families.

This august house will decide the way that Kolkata association should run in future. The organisation has now good number of efficient leaders. Sometime our leaders lose popularity among the members due to communication gap.  An ideal leader must keep constant touch with the members. Sometime the leaders ignore social support to the members as colleague.  It reduces confidence over the leader. So always keep in touch with your members. Try to understand their problem. Branch Executives should conduct executive meetings regularly so that staff and office problems are discussed and matters can be settled with administration amicably or in Regional Office Council. The leaders should build up uninterrupted contact with the members, so that they can communicate their inconveniences freely as member of AIDAEA family. You may not solve all the problems, but should try to explain the members logically why the problem is unsolved. Our educated members will certainly understand the reason of our failure. If we ignore the members then gap will gradually increase between leaders and members. We should not play tricks with our members as well as HQr. leadership. Truth may be bitter, but we must communicate the truth honestly. Truth may lead unpopularity for a limited period but dishonesty never exists for indefinite period.

Honesty and dedication brought the present leadership in its right path. Let the sister organisation propagate that our Kolkata Association has been defunct before each membership month but don’t be disheartened.  I never have seen our organization defunct in my 34 year of service in DAD. Sometime internal dispute may occur. This is because this organization has no blind and yes man leader. So we necessarily raise our protest internally or externally. I am very much glad that the foundation of association is now strong enough. Large number of young and dedicated leaders has come up to strengthen the AIDAEA (HQ) Kolkata.

JCM REPRESENTATIONS

We have represented 6 Steering Committee (SCM) and 5 main meetings (MM) during this tenure. Beside Repatriation we could either solve out or effectively discussed to refer ministry the matter like conduction of MTS to Clerk examination, SAS exam. opportunity for educated MTS, Promotion of all senior and deprived MTS to the grade of RC as one time measure, ACP facilities to deprived RCs, website publication of Seniority lists in almost all categories, single probation for SAS apprentices, renovation works in DAD Panchwati complex, New Delhi, amendment of Recruitment Rules in different grades including canteen employees, choice posting to ex-service men employees taking into consideration of their previous outstation postings, regular conduction of ROCs, Deputation of Auditors etc. We strongly put written discontent on DEO pay recovery and appealed to expedite AAO up gradation.

ORGANISATION

Kolkata Association is based on three basic foundations. 1. Integrity 2. Democracy 3. Integration with main stream movement. In AIDAEA (HQ) Kolkata you never find any top most leader or commander whose integrity is doubtful. The Central Executive Committee itself discards the dishonest leader In Kolkata Association even the Chief of the organosation is not spared if necessary. This organisation never propagates false allegations towards any sister organisation to enrich membership. The 92 year old organisation has rich background of achieving rights for DAD employees. We are always with the main stream movement on common issues of central government employees. Whether it is call from JAC or Confederation or NJCA, we do follow the program sincerely.

Being Chief of this organization I am trying to steer the organization at the call of hour. I feel that association leaders should know the JCM norms, government rules, office work and management while putting any demand. Unless you know the limitation of the office management under periphery of government rules you can’t reach the goal. Leaders have to be necessarily considerate when situation demands. Ours is a client oriented service. Therefore need of the hour is to satisfy the stakeholders. Violence in own office neither serve any purpose nor the educated young employees and the management will accept the style in present scenario. So, we have to change our thoughts and style of movements. The equation is simple – if our establishment survives than only we can survive. It is a team work. So we the leaders representing a mass must maintain harmonious relation between staffs, officials and administrative brigade and vice-versa for greater interest of our establishment. We must respect to earn respect. Be honest. Be polite. Don’t take unethical personal benefit from higher authorities. You have not to be bow down to anybody. Keep your head high. Protest when you are exploited. Protest when legitimate rights are ignored by the management simply due to ego. Pen is always mightier than sword.

Since I took charge my prime object is to promote young, educated, polite and efficient guys into the frontline leadership. I believe that quality of leadership will certainly bring quantity in future. During the period I had to discard some senior leaders who had been enjoying leadership year after year under the umbrella of AIDAEA (HQ) Kolkata without any welfare activities of the staff members. Though utmost effort was given to nominate central leadership from every corner of DAD, but this is the time to evaluate the central leadership on the basis of performance and membership. Less membership indicates poor performance of a leader. Promoting such leaders in local ROC or central committee ultimately demoralize the general members and compel them to quit our organisation.  If membership drops the concern senior leader should analyse own self and make passage to the younger generation to hold his own image clean. If he is efficient than may take the role of mentor.

Branch leaders should maintain their Branch Executive Office systematically. They should classify the correspondences in different folders both manually and in PC. Haphazard filing and opening of folders in irregular manner never help you to execute a quality performance. Poor executive work of association can never perform the object of staff welfare. I am proud to mention the Branch Association office work of AIDAEA (HQ) Naval Branch Mumbai as an example.  

Evaluating the present situation and being a soldier of AIDAEA (HQ) Kolkata, I take this terminal opportunity to convey my heartiest appeal and suggestion to dedicate sincerely and honestly to strengthen the Association. Make it effective to establish your rights through intensive study of Govt. rules. Don’t misguide or bluff any general member.  Don’t hurt any member by your attitude since they approach you with pain and agony. Your days may be tougher in near future. This is the time to be united under a right platform. Kolkata association is the right platform which has a rich history of struggle in DAD. I am quite optimistic about our new generation young leaders. They have leading capability and quality to solve out DAD staff problems .

My good wishes to you all.

AIDAEA Kolkata Zindabad. 

S.K. Deb Roy

Secretary General