Dearness Allowance from 01 Jan 2011

Thursday, March 10, 2011
Cabinet Committee likely to approve today 6% Dearness Allowance to CG Employees...
The Union Cabinet Committee likely to release of additional instalment of 6% Dearness Allowance to Central Government Employees and Dearness Relief to Central Government Pensioners due from 1.1.2011.
The hike in the Dearness Allowance has been done in accordance with the recommended formula in sixth Central Pay Commission. According to the calculation with last six months of All India Consumer Price Index Numbers(AICPIN) published by Labour Bureau Govt. of India, from July 2010 to December 2010, may be given 6% of additional Dearness Allowance from January 2011 to Central Government Employees and Pensioners.
The proposed DA hike, to be approved by the Central Government today, this enhancement is taking the Dearness Allowance from 45 to 51 per cent of the basic pay and also some allowances and advances rise in 25% from the existing rates as per the recommendations in Sixth CPC.
Only thing to cheer is the fixed allowances such as Children Education Allowance, Conveyance Allowance for serving personnel will be 25% more as the D.A. will certainly cross the 50% mark. It may be remembered that D.A. linked allwances such as Transport Allowances will be unchanged.
There is a respite in Onion prices which made everyone weep as prices peeked to Rs 95/ per Kilogram- this was almost a $1- beating the US rates of $0.45 per pound!
Govt approves 6 pc hike in DA

National Disaster Management Agency- Can it manage Tsunami's?

Vision
To build a safer and disaster resilient India by developing a holistic, pro-active, multi-disaster and technology-driven strategy for disaster management through collective efforts of all Government Agencies and Non-Governmental Organisations
Role
NDMA as the apex body is mandated to lay down the policies, plans and guidelines for Disaster Management to ensure timely and effective response to disasters. Towards this, it has the following responsibilities:-

Lay down policies on disaster management

Approve the National Plan;

Approve plans prepared by the Ministries or Departments of the Government of India in accordance with the National Plan

Lay down guidelines to be followed by the State Authorities in drawing up the State Plan

Lay down guidelines to be followed by the different Ministries or Departments of the Government of India for the Purpose of integrating the measures for prevention of disaster or the mitigation of its effects in their development plans and projects

Coordinate the enforcement and implementation of the policy and plan for disaster management

Recommend provision of funds for the purpose of mitigation

Provide such support to other countries affected by major disasters as may be determined by the Central Government

Take such other measures for the prevention of disaster, or the mitigation, or preparedness and capacity building for dealing with the threatening disaster situation or disaster as it may consider necessary

Lay down broad policies and guidelines for the functioning of the National Institute of Disaster Management.

Friday, 11 Mar 2011
TSUNAMI IN JAPAN
After seeing the news reports of today’s devastating Tsunami in Japan, people were reminded of the worst memories of 2004 Tsunami that hit the Indian Ocean and there have been apprehensions and constant enquires about today’s Tsunamis’ impact in the Indian Coast.
The Indian Tsunami Early Warning Centre located in INCOIS, Hyderabad generated a bulletin within 8 minutes of the occurrence of a devastating tsunami that hit the coast of northeast Japan today in the aftermath of an 8.6 magnitude earthquake about 80 miles offshore and its location was off Honshu, Japan's most populous island. The quake's epicenter was 373 kilometers (231 miles) away from Tokyo, as per United States Geological Survey.
Based on the bulletin issued by INCOIS, Shri M.Shashidhar Reddy, Hon’ble Vice Chairman, National Disaster Management Authority, speaking to the media outside Andhra Pradesh Assembly in Hyderabad today, said that there is no threat for the Indian Ocean in the aftermath of this Tsunami. He further said that he has appraised the Prime Minister’s Office and also personally spoke to the Union Home Minister about the present situation.
He also stated that NDMA Control Room is constantly monitoring the situation.
NDMA official Webpage
NMDA without a Mission- Can it take on a Tsunami creating 10M Tidal waves on the shores Bay of Bengal and Arabian Sea?
Click here to read RMS Blog Posts on NDMA
Can Corrupt NDMA Officials filling his own coffers manage National Disasters?
NDMA Secretary takes Rs50 lakhs bribe from distiller

One Rank One Pension Echoes in Parliament

Dear Sirs,
Mr. Rajeev Chandrasekhar, during the discussion on Union Budget 2011-12 in the Parliament yesterday, has yet again urged the Hon’ble Finance Minister and the Hon’ble Defence Minister for a resolution of the One Rank, One Pension demand of the Armed Forces veterans.
Please find below the link to Mr. Chandrasekhar’s speech, for your information:
click here.
Warm regards ,
Vidya Narayanan

March 10, 2011
Extracts of Speech
...Lastly, the issue of One Rank, One Pension for our Veterans. Sir, I feel disappointed that as a nation that we are seeing a need to have this discussed in Parliament at all. These proud men and their families have served our nation selflessly, with a certain belief that the nation and their people will look after them, when it comes to their turn to be looked after. At a time, when there are visible signs of crony capitalism and hundreds of thousands of crores of largesse and benefits being given to vested interests, how can we look into the eyes of these veterans and deny them their legitimate demand quoting budgetary constraints. Let not a few hundred crores come in the way of our duty to these men and their families. I hope the Finance Minister and Defence Minister respond to this plea.
Speech by Shri Rajeev Chandrasekhar, MP During the Debate in Parliament on Union Budget 2011-12

ONE RANK, ONE PENSION ISSUE
Dear Sh. Rajeev Chandrasekhar,
1. We, the Defence Veterans are grateful to you for raising the issue of OROP in the Parliament once again on 10 Mar 2011.
2. The Govt continues to ignore all efforts to get Justice to the Defence Forces. One way to make the Govt see reason is, if a sufficiently large group of MPs cutting across the party lines speak unitedly to ask the Govt to accept the long pending demand of OROP which had been promised by PMs, RMs for the last 30 years and had been on many occasions strongly recommended by the All Party Parliamentary Committees on Defence.
3. May we request you to assist us in making presentation to a group of MPs who feel that the demand of Defence veterans is genuine and must be accepted. We will make presentation to them.
4. The Defence Veterans have decided to continue with their struggle to get Justice. In a Rally held on 06 Mar 2011 the following important resolutions were unanimously passed by raising hands by all attendees with words “Jai Hind” and – Yes, renting the air:
a) They will continue with their struggle till their demands are met.
b) They will not only not take back the medals already deposited with the president but will continue to deposit the same in future.
c) They will bring back medals if President did not receive these herself.
d) The parties in power in the States would be requested to support their demand of OROP and have a resolution passed in their State Assemblies. If they did not do so, the Party in power in the State will have no right to ask for their ‘Votes’ in any future elections.
e) The party in power at the Centre if it does not accept the demand of OROP will have no right to ask for their votes in any future election.
5. Report on the Rally dated 06 Mar 2011 at Jantar Mantar New Delhi linked here-click here.
6. We look forward to your positive response please.
With Regards,
Jai Hind
Yours Sincerely,
Maj Gen (Retd) Satbir Singh, SM
Vice Chairman, IESM