The government has come up with an attractive incentive scheme to woo doctors to serving in rural areas.
The remotest mountainous terrain or parts of the Naxalite-infested Red Corridor are places where doctors fear to tread.
Faced with a massive health care delivery system shortcoming in the Indian countryside, the Health Ministry is planning incentives for doctors.
To take doctors out their cities home and practice, the Health Ministry is offering an attractive salary hike for a rural posting which will be between 25 and 50 per cent.
While 25 per cent hike will be given to those posted in difficult areas, 50 per cent hike is for those areas that are almost unreachable by road.
The most difficult areas have been identified as Naxal-affected districts of Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh and Bihar, remote areas in the North-East, interiors of Jammu and Kashmir, the Thar Desert stretch of Rajasthan, Lakshwadeep and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
The government seems all set to upwardly revise pension of ex-servicemen to bring them closer to the long-demanded ‘‘one-rank,
one-pension’’ mechanism.
Though holding that full OROP is neither financially nor administratively possible, the government promises to resolve the existing anomalies in the pension structures of ex-servicemen which have been accentuated by the 6th Pay Commission.
On Thursday, cabinet secretary K M Chandrasekhar, who heads the committee of secretaries (CoS) looking into the issue, made a presentation to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. He is also said to have discussed the pros and cons of granting the OROP demand based on the nearly two-month study that the committee carried out on the subject.
Others present during the presentation included finance minister Pranab Mukherjee, defence minister A K Antony, home minister P Chidambaram and minister of state (personnel) Prithviraj Chavan. The UPA government has already committed itself to taking a decision on the subject by the end of June in President Pratibha Patil’s address to the joint sitting of Parliament on June 4.
Just before the crucial fourth phase of polling on May 7, the defence ministry had declared that a committee headed by the cabinet secretary had been constituted to ‘‘reduce the gap in the pensionary benefits to officers and jawans, bringing it as close to OROP as possible’’.
source:Times of India
Holidays to be observed in Central govt offices for the year 2010
It has been decided that the holidays as specified below (list 1) will be observed in all the Administrative Offices of the Central Government located at Delhi/New Delhi during the year 2010. In addition, each employee will also be allowed to avail himself/herself of any two holidays to be chosen by him/her out of the list of Restricted Holidays in list 2.
2. Central Government Administrative Offices located outside Delhi / New Delhi shall observe the following holidays compulsorily in addition to three holidays as per para 3.1 below:
list 1.
1. REPUBLIC DAY
2. INDEPENDENCE DAY
3. MAHATMA GANDHI'S BIRTHDAY
4. BUDHA PURNIMA
5. CHRISTMAS DAY
6. DUSSEHRA (VIJAY DASHMI)
7. DIWALI (DEEPAVALI)
8. GOOD FRIDAY
9. GURU NANAK'S BIRTHDAY
10. IDU'L FITR
11. IDU'L ZUHA
12. MAHAVIR JAYANTI
13. MUHARRAM
14. PROPHET MOHAMMAD'S BIRTHDAY (ID-E-MILAD)
List 2.In addition to the above 14 Compulsory holidays mentioned in para 2, three holidays shall be decided from the list indicated below by the Central Government Employees Welfare Coordination Committee in the State Capitals, if necessary, in consultation with Coordination Committees at other places in the State. The final list applicable uniformly to all Central Government offices within the concerned State shall be notified after seeking prior approval of this Ministry and no change
can be carried out thereafter. It is also clarified that no change is permissible in
regard to festivals and dates as indicated.
1. AN ADDITIONAL DAY FOR DUSSEHRA
2. HOLI
3. JANAMASHTAMI (VAISHNAVI)
4. RAM NAVAMI
5. MAHA SHIVRATRI
6. GANESH CHATURTHI / VINAYAK CHATURTHI
7. MAKAR SANKARANTli
8. RATH YATRA
9. ONAM
10. PONGAL
11. SRI PANCHAMI / BASANTA PANCHAMI
12. VISHU/ VAISAKHI / VAISAKHADI / BHAG BIHU / MASHADI UGADI/ CHAITRA SAKLADI / HETI CHAND / GUDI PADA 1ST NAVRATRA / NAURAJ
- No substitute holiday should be allowed if any of the festival holidays initially declared subsequently happens to fall on a weekly off or any other nonworking day or in the event of more than one festivals falling on the same day.
4. The list of Restricted Holidays appended to this O.M. is meant for Central Government Offices located in Delhi / New Delhi. The Coordination Committees at the State Capitals may draw up separate list of Restricted Holidays keeping in view the occasions of local importance but the 9 occasions left over, after choosing the 3variable holidays in para 3.1 above, are to be included in the list of restricted
holidays.
5.1 For offices in Delhi / New Delhi, any change in the date of holidays in respect of Idu'l Fitr, Idu1 Zuha, Muharram and Id-e-Milad, if necessary, depending upon sighting of the Moon, would be declared by the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions after ascertaining the position from the Govt. of NCT of Delhi.
5.2 For offices outside Delhi / New Delhi, the Central Government Employees Welfare Coordination Committees at the State Capitals are authorised to change the date of holiday, if necessary, based on the decision of the concerned State Governments / Union Territories, in respect of Idu1 Fitr, Idu1 Zuha, Muharram and Id-e-Milad.
5.3 It may happen that the change of date of the above occasions has to be declared at a very short notice. In such a situation, announcement could be made through T.V. / A.I.R. / Newspapers and the Heads of Department / Offices of the Central Government may take action according to such an announcement without waiting for a formal order, about the change of date.
6. During 2010, Diwali (Deepavali) falls on Friday, November 5, 2010 (Kartika' 14). In certain States, the practice is to celebrate the occasion a day in advan'(:e, i.e., on "Narakachaturdasi Day". In view of this, there is no objection if holiday on
account of Deepavali is observed on "Naraka Chaturdasi Day (in place of Deepavali Day) for the Central Government Offices in a State if in that State that day alone is
declared as a compulsory holiday for Diwali for the offices of the State Government. However, in the year 2010, Diwali (Deepavali) and Narak Chaturdasi Day, both are falling on the same day i.e. November 5,2010.
7. Central Government Organisations which include industrial, commercial and trading establishments would observe upto 16 holidays in a year including three national holidays viz. Republic Day, Independence Day and Mahatma Gandhi's birthday, as compulsory holidays. The remaining holidays / occasions may be determined by such establishments / organisations themselves for the year 2010, subject to para 3.2 above.
8. Union Territory Administrations shall decide the list of holidays in terms of
Ministry of Home Affairs letter No.14046/27 /83- GP-I dated 15.2.1984 by which they would observe a total of 16 holidays including the three National Holidays Viz. Republic Day, Independence Day & Mahatma Gandhi's birthday.
9. In respect of Indian Missions abroad, the number of holidays may be notified in accordance with the instructions contained in this Department's O.M. No.12/5/2002-JCA dated 17th December, 2002. In other words, they will have the option to select 11(Eleven)holidays of their own only after including in the list, three National Holidays and Milad-Un-Nabi or Id-E-Milad, Mahavir Jayanti, Idu'l Fitr, Dussehra (Vijaya Dashami), Guru Nanak's Birthday, Christmas Day included in the list of compulsory holidays and falling on days of weekly off.
10. In respect of Banks, the holidays are restricted to 15 days in a year in terms of the instructions issued by the Department of Economic Affairs (Banking Division)
The list of holidays for central govt employees for the year 2010
With the State employees turning the heat on Assam Government, Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi decided to convey to the Union Finance Ministry the decision to hike the salaries of the State Government employees according to the recommendations of the Sixth Pay Commission. The Chief Minister was slated to meet Union Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee and discuss about a number of proposals being worked out by the State Government to ease the impact of the financial crisis.
The Chief Minister hinted that the Government was looking at an additional burden of Rs 5000-6000 crore.However, the State Government is still in the process of working out the period from which the hike would be made effective. The official declaration is expected to come in the state budget.
source: assam tribune.
The Burma Civil Pensioners/family pensioners are presently being paid ex-gratia ad-hoc allowance such that this allowance, which is being paid by the Govt. of India, plus the existing pension being paid by the Govt. of Myanmar taken together is Rs.3500/- as on 1.1.2006. As per the existing orders, the Dearness Relief as announced by the Govt. of India from time to time is also admissible on this amount.
2. It has been brought to the notice of this Department that Govt. of Myanmar extends family pension subject to the following conditions:-
a) In the event of death of the Government servant while in service, family pension will be payable to the family for a period of ten years or upto the date on which the deceased government servant would have attained the age of 65 years, whichever period is earlier: and
b) In the event of death of the Government servant after retirement, the family pension would be payable for the unexpired period of ten years from the date of retirement or upto the date on which government servant would have attained the age of sixty five years, whichever period is earlier.
3. Considering the hardship the affected family pensioners would face in case the family pension is discontinued as per the instructions of the Government of Myanmar, Government of India has condidered the matter sympathetically. The President is now pleased to dicide that the ex-gratis adhoc allowance would be continued to be paid to the Burma Civil Family Persioners by the GovernmentOf India even after the period specified in para 2 above irrespective of the discontinuance of family pension by the Government of Myanmar. This would however be subject to the overall ceiling as prescribed by this Department from time to time.
4. Policy and procedure regarding payment of ex-gratia adhoc allowance will continue to be governed by the existing instructions issued in the matter so far.
Over 23-lakh employees of the Maharashtra Government, local self-government bodies and teachers would go on an indefinite strike from August 4 to demand parity with Central government staff in allowance as per the Sixth Pay Commission report.
The strike would cover state government staff, zilla parishad employees, gazetted officers, Kulthe said adding the teaching and non-teaching government staffs would also observe a day's strike on July 14.
source: the hindu
The new judicial pay commission appointed by the Supreme Court in April this year will submit its recommendations in a month's time.
Given the Sixth Pay Commission recommendations for central government babus, a proportionate increase in salaries of judicial officers, who had demanded a three-fold increase, is on the cards.
But, Justice E Padmanabhan heading the new judicial pay commission, the second one after the first one under Justice Jagannath Shetty, said there would be no delay on his part in meeting the deadline for submitting the recommendations. The Supreme Court had posted the hearing on the matter concerning the pay of subordinate court judges for July 28.
The petition seeking increase in the salary of the trial court judges was filed in the Supreme Court shortly after the Chief Justice of India and judges of the SC and the high courts got a three-fold salary hike earlier this year.
The logic for seeking appointment of a new pay commission was that the first judicial pay commission headed by Justice Shetty had said that whenever there was an upward revision of salaries of HC judges, the salaries of lower court judges should also be proportionately revised.
source: the times of india
Central Government Employees & Pensioners Health Insurance Scheme (CGEPHIS).
As per the recommendations of the sixth CPC, the Misnistry of Health and family Welfare, Government come up with a detailed plan of a health insurance scheme in lieu of the CGHS.
Over View
Central Government Health Scheme (CGHS) is a scheme for providing health care to serving Central Government employees and their dependant family members. Over the years, the scheme has been extended to cover central government pensioners, their dependant family members and certain other categories like members of parliament and ex-members of parliament, freedom fighters etc. Employees of some select autonomous bodies as also PIB accredited journalists have also been extended CGHS facilities on cost-to-cost basis in Delhi.
Central Government Health Scheme is available in 25 cities [Delhi (including Noida, Gurgaon, Faridabad, and Ghaziabad), Ahemdabad, Allahabad, Bangalore, Bhopal, Bhubaneshwar, Chandigarh, Chennai, Dehradun, Guwahati, Hyderabad, Jabalpur, Jaipur, Jammu, Kanpur, Kolkata, Lucknow, Meerut, Mumbai, Nagpur, Patna, Pune, Ranchi, Shillong and Thiruvanthapuram]. Central Government Employees living outside the CGHS areas are entitled to reimbursement for medical attendance and treatment under the Central Services (Medical Attendance) Rules [CS(MA) Rules]. Pensioners of the Central Government are not covered under these rules. At present, Central Government Pensioners living in non-CGHS areas are paid a sum of Rs. 100 p.m. for meeting their medical expenditure. Consequently, there has been a long standing demand from Central Govt. pensioners residing in non CGHS areas for medical services at par with those available to Central Govt. pensioners in CGHS areas. The VIth Pay Commission has recommended the introduction of a health insurance scheme in lieu of the CGHS.
BENEFICIARIES
All personnel of the Central Government including All India Service officers, serving, newly recruited, retired and retiring and others who are covered under the existing CGHS(Central Government Health Services) and under CS (MA) [Central Services (Medical Attendance) Rules] Rules shall be offered Health Insurance Scheme on voluntary or on compulsorily basis . This could be:
1. CGEPHIS shall be compulsory to new Central Government Employees who would be joining service after the introduction of the health Insurance Scheme.
2. CGEPHIS shall be compulsory to new Central Government retirees who would be retiring from the service after the introduction of the Insurance Scheme.
3. CGEPHIS would be available on voluntary basis for the existing Central Government Employees and pensioners serving in CGHS area/ covered by CGHS. In this case such serving Central Government Employees and Central Government existing Pensioners shall have to opt out of CGHS scheme. They will also have the option of choosing both CGHS and Insurance policy. In such case the total premium has to be born by the beneficiary.
4. CGEPHIS would also be available on voluntary basis for the existing serving employees and pensioners in non-CGHS areas not covered by CGHS. In this case such serving Central Government Employees and existing Pensioners (who have opted for CGHS facility) shall have to opt out of CGHS scheme. They will also have the option of choosing both CGHS and Insurance policy. In such case the total premium has to be born by the beneficiary.
Family Size / Age Limit
1. Serving Employees: Self, spouse, two dependent children and dependent parents (New born shall be considered insured from day one).
2. Retired Employees: Self, spouse and one dependent child.
3. Additional dependent family member can be covered under the scheme by paying the fixed percentage of premium per additional dependent family member. The premium shall be borne by the beneficiary.
4. All beneficiaries shall be insured till survival.
5. The definition of dependent shall be as per guidelines issued by Central Government.
Insurance Coverage
In addition to the coverage afforded under a standard medical insurance policy, the following shall also be covered under CGEPHIS:
1. Pre-existing diseases
2. Maternity benefit
3. Day-one Coverage for all diseases
4. New-born babies
5. Pre and Post hospitalization cover of 30 days and 60 days respectively
6. Domiciliary Hospitalization
More details here
Doctors reject sixth pay commission recommendations in Tamil Nadu
The Government Doctors’ Association has rejected the sixth pay commission salary hike announced by the government as their main demands had not been considered in the Pay Commission recommendations, state Secretary Senthil said.
Though the government had ordered implementation of the Sixth Pay Commission recommendations, our demands had not been met. “The anomalies were sought to be removed in the new fixation of pay scale. But the same has not been done. Till they are rectified we will not give our approval letter accepting the sixth pay commission recommendation,” he told reporters today.
States urges central government to bear half burden of Pay revision
The Centre held pre-budget interaction with states which demanded that central government bear 50 per cent of extra expenditure on pay revision of employees.
The demand, if accepted, will further aggravate the ballooning fiscal deficit of the Union Government.
"Most of the states have started implementing their own pay revision schemes following the Government of India's decision... All the states asked, for at least one year, if the 50 per cent of the additional burden can be borne by the Central Government," VAT Panel Chairman Asim Dasgupta said.
Last year, the Centre implemented Sixth Pay Commission report which hit the exchequer by Rs 22,100 crore for 2008-09.
Talking to reporters after the meeting, Dasgupta, who is also West Bengal Finance Minister said states placed their financial problems before Mukherjee.
They also sought freedom to go for additional market borrowings to help tackle the economic slowdown even if the current limit for fiscal prudence is breached.
At present, states are allowed to raise money from market only if their fiscal deficit remains below 3.5 per cent of their state's GDP. Now, they are demanding that this limit be raised or scrapped till the economic slowdown continues.
Mukherjee, however said, "High level of fiscal deficit are not sustainable in the medium to long term, both for the states and the Centre.
source:PTI
Madhya pradesh pay commission:
In Madhya Pradesh around six-lakh government employees will get fatter pay packets with the state cabinet accepting recommendations of the State Pay Commission. The decison was taken at the meeting of the state cabinet chaired by Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan.It was officially stated on Wednesday 10/06/2009. The recommendations of the Sixth Pay Commission will be implemented with retrospective effect from January 1, 2006.
The Commission would also consider the need for continuing the separate pay allowance and service conditions for the employees drawing salaries from Contingency Fund.
It would also consider measures to modernise the institutions of the state government and to make them more professional.
source: Hindu
Instructions regarding numeric grading on All india service Rule (perfomance Appraisal Report)
With the implementation of the All India Services (Performance Appraisal Report) Rules, 2007, the conventional gradings awarded to the members of the All India Services in the old All India Services (Confidential Roll) Rules, 1970 has been changed to numerical gradings in a scale of 1 to 10, where 1 refers to the lowest grade and 10 to the highest. The Government of India instructions issued on 18th July, 2008 envisages that high credit should not be given to the members of the Service in a routine manner by the Reporting/Reviewing Authorities and this should be restricted to 20% of the officers under their supervision. Further, the Government of
India instruction issued on 3rd December, 2008 provides that any grading of more than 8 for each attribute must be justified by giving reasons in writing in a separate sheet.
For the adoption of the new system of Performance Appraisal, it has been observed that in the absence of commonly understood benchmark, there is wide disparity in awarding numerical grading amongst reporting authorities.
In order to bring about uniformity in the interpretation of numerical grades, the following guidelines are issued which Reporting Authorities may keep in mind while awarding numerical gradings:
1. Members of the Service graded between 8 and 10 will be rated as 'outstanding' and will be given a score of 9 for the purpose of calculating average scores for empanelment/promotion.
2. Members of the Service graded between 6 and short of 8 will be rated as 'very good' and will be given a score of 7.
3. Members of the Service graded between 4 and 6 short of 6 will be rated as 'good' and given a score of 5.
4. Members of the Service graded below 4 will be given a score of 0 (Zero).
Assessment of numerical grading in the above manner will be done for the purpose of promotion/empanelment and for utilizing PAR document for any purpose pertaining to personnel management.
Good bye to long queues in Railway Booking Stations. Indian railway signed a deal with india post for booking of railway tickets through post offices.
This facility is available only in major post offices now. But it will be expanded to all the post offices through out the country. Ie train tickets can be booked from 1,50000 post offices in the country. Now the people in the rural areas can easily book their tickets.
Indian Railways will be providing the hardware and software for issuing railway tickets at post offices, while space and personnel would be managed by Indian Post.
For each ticket booked, 10 Rs is for IRCTC and 10 Rs for Post office in second class category.
More over Bus tickets and Air tickets can also be booked from post offices.
Maharashtra Government is on the way to implement the Sixth Pay Commission scales for college and university level teachers in the state within a month.
Higher and Technical Education Minister Rajesh Tope said during question hour that
the issue will be discussed in the cabinet and that arrears for last three years amounting to Rs 1,500 crore, would be paid.
Tamil nadu government orders release of sixth pay commission scales. The announcement came from Finance Secretary of state, Mr K. Gnanadesikan.
Revised pay-scales, effectively a hike of about 25 per cent and a doubling of allowances, will benefit over 12 lakh State Government employees and over 6 lakh pensioners and family pensioners.
* Additional outgo of Rs 5,155.79 crore (from Rs 21,000 cr to 26,000 crore)
* Effective notionally from January 1, 2006
* Monetary benefit accruing from January 1, 2007
* Arrear payout of Rs 11,093 crore to be paid in three equal annual instalments beginning from the current year.
Idea Ties Up with India post for selling of mobile recharge coupons
In kerala Idea Cellular has partnered with India Post to make its mobile recharge coupons available through the vast network of post offices.
Idea proposes to sell its prepaid recharge vouchers of various denominations ranging from Rs 10 to Rs 100.Initialally all head post offices in the state will sell the vouchers and Later, this service will be expanded to other post offices across kerala.
B Ramakrishna, Chief Operating Officer of Idae Cellular said “The Department of Posts has a well-knit network covering rural and urban towns of Kerala. This association will help us in building a strong rural network, and will provide easier access to the 44-lakh Idea subscribers in Kerala to purchase recharge coupons.These vouchers will be in a special design.
Shoba Koshy, Chief Post Master General, Department of Post(CPMG), Kerala circle, Unveiled the special voucher.She also said that India Post is planning to launch more value added services and e-based products soon.
source: expressbuzz
The Tamil Nadu state government has doubled the amount being paid for most of the 26 types of allowances. Even an employee at the bottom rung stood to gain.
The hike, with retrospective effective from June 1, in the cash component of these allowances would benefit employees including police personnel, nurses, cooks in prisons and forest bungalows, copy-writers in courts and registrar offices, uniformed personnel, employees working in hilly areas, junior assistants in ministerial services, assistant public prosecutors and doctors.
The present overcoat allowance of Rs.265 and Rs. 300 paid to civil assistant surgeons and civil surgeons respectively would be doubled. Similarly, doctors, technicians and attendants conducting post-mortem would receive double the allowance.
Winter allowance has been revised for those working in places situated at 1,000 metres and above while the hill allowance has been retained at the rate of 20 per cent of pay subject to enhancement of the maximum ceiling limit from Rs 450 to Rs 900 per month. Employees drawing grade pay of Rs 8,800 or more are eligible for air or airconditioned first class rail travel.
Officers drawing the grade pay of Rs 10,000 and above are eligible to travel by air in executive class.
Source: expressbuz.com
Gujarat government has decided to increase the wages of subordinate judges in different courts in the state with retrospective effect. The decision was taken at the meeting of the cabinet.
Sources says that it would cause a burden of Rs 129 crore on the state exchequer besides a regular increase in the salary bill of Rs 42 crore.
A government release said that the increase with effect from 2006 is in accordance of a recent judgment of the Supreme Court which had asked the state to adhere to Shetty Pay Commission. Consequently, Civil Judge will get 42.3 percent of the revised basic of High Court judge.
In the case of Civil Judge SD it is 58.5 percent, District Judge (Entry level) 71.6 percent, District Judge (Selection Grade) 80 percent and District Judge (Super time Scale) 91.7 percent.
The arrears will be paid in three equal annual installments starting from this financial year.
Source: Gujrat - global
Government came with a clarifcaion on the entitlement of earnled leave (EL) along with the LTC.
Earlier Government servants are permitted to encash earned leave upto 10 days at the time of availing Leave Travel Concession subject to the condition that earned leave of at least an equivalent duration is also availed of by the Government servant
simultaneously.
Now it has now been decided to permit Government servants encashment of earned leave upto 10 days at the time of availing LTC without any linkage to the number of
days and the nature of leave availed while proceeding on LTC.
Government came with an clarification on the O.M. of even No. dated 23rd September, 2008 which says that the travel entitlements while on LTC and official tour/transfer will be the same but no daily allowance shall be admissible for travel on LTC. Subsequently, the Ministry of Finance had stipulated that in the case of travel on LTC for those entitled to travel by air, only the cheapest economy fare ticket will be allowed,irrespective of their entitlements on tour.
The government has now been decided to restore the travel entitlements for LTC . The Ministry of Civil Aviation may bring out a scheme on the lines of LTC 80 for travel by business class. The officers and their families may chose to travel on LTC by any airline provided the fare does not exceed the fares offered by NACIL (Air India) under their new LTC scheme or business class.
download circluar here
President Pratibha Patil addressed the joint session of Parliament. Here's the key points the government is going to focus.
1. 25 KG rice for poor.
2. 1/3 Reservation for Woman.
3. To reshape relationship with Pakistan.
4. Road map for divestment in PSU s while ensuring 51% govt equity.
5. Yearly Reports on Health.
5. Secure energy and Environment.
6. Maintain communal Harmony.
7. New Policies for Farmers Development.
8. Encourage Foreign Investment.
9. Encourage Health insurance
10. Stern measures to handle insurgency.
11. 15 lakh houses for Urban Poor.
12. No slums in India after 5 years.
13. Extend e-governance in all areas.
14. Further improve relations ship with United States.
15. Internal security is a priority.
16. Mobile Education Schemes.
17. National Female Education Program
18. Development for Minorities.
19. Govt will ensure holistic development.
20. Increase Rural Development.
21. Modernize Banks and Post Offices.
22. Health centers in Districts.
23. Zero tolerance to Terrorists.
24. Contributions to rehabilitates in Sri Lanka.
25. Prudent fiscal management
The finance ministry is considering bringing back standard deduction of up to Rs 20,000 in individual taxable incomes.
According to revenue department officials, the government may be willing to take a small hit in return for a spike in spending that it hopes will result from a bigger disposable income with the salaried classes.
Till the budget for 2005-06, a standard deduction of Rs 30,000 or 40 per cent of income, whichever was lower, was allowed to salaried employees with an annual income between Rs 75,000 and Rs 5 lakh. For those earning more, the standard deduction was fixed at Rs 20,000.
The standard deduction was meant to compensate salaried people for the fact that self-employed small business persons or entrepreneurs paid tax only on their net income after deducting business expenditure.
Industry has been demanding the re-introduction of standard deduction so that individual taxpayers are able to spend more and stimulate domestic demand. As Indira Gandhi’s finance minister, Pranab Mukherjee had in fact, raised it from Rs 5,000 to Rs 6,000 in the budget for 1983-84.
P Chidambaram had as finance minister removed the standard deduction after overhauling tax slabs and raising the exemption limit to Rs 1 lakh. He had introduced three slabs of 10 per cent, 20 per cent and 30 per cent for individuals in the Rs 1 lakh to Rs 1.5 lakh income bracket, Rs 1.5 lakh to Rs 2.5 lakh and over Rs 2.5 lakh respectively.
Source: The Indian Express
Sixth Pay commission Recommendations for Tamilnadu state govt employees.
Tamil Nadu Government has announced wage revision for its employees and pensioners in line with the recommendations of the Sixth Pay Commission. The pay revision representing an additional outgo of Rs 5,155.79 crore will be effective notionally from January 1, 2006, with the monetary benefit accruing from January 1, 2007.
The revised pay-scales, effectively a hike of about 25 per cent and a doubling of allowances, will benefit over 12 lakh State Government employees and over 6 lakh pensioners and family pensioners.
The revised pay scales will be implemented with immediate effect and employees will get the revised pay next month.
Some Features:
Emoluments like House Rent Allowance and City Compensatory Allowance will be doubled, while the same are granted for the first time to all employees on Special Time Scales of Pay including the noon meal workers.
As part of accepting the long pending request of employees, pensioners and family pensioners, the existing Medical Allowance has been revised from Rs 50 to Rs 100 per month.
Ceiling limit of Death-cum-Retiring Gratuity has been enhanced from Rs 3.5 lakh to Rs 10 lakh.
Arrears in the pay revision after adjustment of interim arrears will be paid in three equal instalments.
Daily allowance has also been doubled.