Ahmedabad, 13 August 2012

Leaders of Gujarat Pradesh Congress Committee today declaring third point under their “Gujarat Praja Vikas Darshan-2012”, made public their scheme concerning as many as 10 lakh government and semi-government employees and about six and a half lakh retired employees for redressal of their grievances and employees welfare, stated that if Congress party comes into power in the State, action will be taken in the direction of accepting all legitimate demands of the employees and retired employees of the State who are limbs of administration and action will be taken for their welfare as the present Bhartiya Janta Party Government has made injustice to the employees of State, semi-government Panchayat, Boards, Corporations and retired employees by recruiting them on fixed wages, outsourcing basis and has made them to suffer in extending them benefits of Fifth and Sixth Pay Commission, delays being caused in appointments, promotions and retirement.

Today, Gujarat Pradesh Congress committee President Mr. Arjun Modhwadia, Congress Legislative Party Leader Mr. Shaktisinh Gohil and the Campaign Committee Chairman Mr. Shankarsinh Vaghela spoke to media at Ahmedabad and stated that under the guises of appointments on fixed wages, part-time, temporary, outsourcing etc., youth are being appointed as Sahayaks and they are being exploited by paying them wages even below minimum wages prescribed. Hon’ble High Court of Gujarat has issued directions to start paying all such five lakh employees full wages following the principle of “equal remuneration for equal work”. The present Government ruled by Mr. Narendra Modi which has waived levy of VAT of Rs.9100 crores from ESSAR Oil Company and extending concessions worth Rs.33,000 crores at the cost of public exchequer, has approached Hon’ble Supreme Court of India challenging the said order passed by Hon’ble High Court in favor of employees. However, if Congress party comes to power in 2012, would formulate special pay-policy for those who are appointed as Sahayaks and on fixed wages basis. This existing recruitment policy, causing injustice to youth who are made to become helpless from shouldering their social responsibility towards their parents, siblings and spouse created by this Government, will be revamped.

Also making public their vision for about six lakh retired employees of the State Government, Congress leaders stated that those Government employees spent their whole life to serve public and the State. However, those employees are facing lots of hardship while retirement and thereafter. In absence of any organization of retired employees, instead of honoring such retired public servants, they are being harassed and exploited. The State Government earlier accepted to extend all the benefits as admissible under Sixth Pay Commission recommendations including medical allowances of Rs.300/- to the retired employees. However, this benefit is still not made available to them. Congress Government will extend all such benefits to the retired employees as per norms of Sixth Pay Commission as implemented by Union Government. For redressal of grievances of retired employees, District-level camps will be organized in presence of high-ranked officials. By constructing special rest houses exclusively for retired employees at pilgrim centers of Gujarat, the Congress Government of Gujarat will function as “Guardian” of employees in true spirit.

Action will be taken for removal of all the anomalies of Fifth and Sixth Pay Commission for all the in-service and retired employees of State Government.

Whenever any employee face any injustice in promotion, pay scale or cases of individual injustice, it takes long years in addressing and adjudicating such issues. For attending grievances of such issues of employees, Gujarat Administrative Tribunal (GAT) will be set up on the pattern of Central Administrative Tribunal. The employee will have benefit to approach this Tribunal directly to present his/her case of injustice.

The Congress leaders, talking about their aim to make recruitment process expedient and transparent by improving functioning of Gujarat Gaun Seva Pasandgi Mandal and Gujarat Public Service Commission, stated that it takes years together under the existing system to fill up vacant posts in Gujarat Government and it adds to sufferance by the citizens and young unemployed are not getting employments in time. This system will be simplified by following system which ensure expedient and transparent recruitment process.

In 1995, when population of Gujarat was 4.50 crores, strength of public servants (excluding Panchayats) was 2,15,000. At present the population has increased to six crores and instead of fact that demand for availing services of employees for additional works including Mela, Utsav being organized by the Chief Minister and including political programs, strength of employees has decreased to 1,74,000. There is decrease of employees by 80,000 in Corporations/Municipalities during last ten years period. Therefore, staff organization structure will be revised by conducting scientific study in this regard and strength of employees will be decided accordingly. Government employees will be given exemption from rendering their services in political programs and seminars, festivities of Chief Minister. Earlier, there was provision for appointment on compassionate ground in cases of death of employee while in service. If Congress party comes to power in the State, option will be offered to opt either ex-gratia amount or appointment on compassionate ground. Arrangements will be made to ensure that once vacancy arises, it should be filled within three months by promoting eligible candidate.

To address grievances and issues concerning employees, meetings of Employees Union will be organized, with agenda, half-yearly with Secretaries of respective departments and once a year with the Chief Secretary. One of the Ministers will be assigned responsibility of monitoring of this mechanism.

For the employees of Municipalities and Municipal Corporations, review/study of respective posts and their duties will be conducted following scientific methods and arrangements shall be made to ensure that they be also extended benefit including pay at par with Government employees and in cases of employees of Boards and Corporation also, except in cases of special circumstances, they will not be given benefits less than Government employees.

Women employed with Aanganwadi, Mid-day meal scheme and Asha-worker will be paid additional payment more and above what is being paid by the Central Government so as to ensure a respectable position with reasonable pay. No Government servant, including Aanganwadi workers, will be assigned duties of political programs.

Main features:
• Implementation of Sixth Pay Commission recommendations for 10 lakh Government/semi Government employees and 6 lakh retired employees, respectable wages to the Sahayaks.
• The Congress Government will act in true spirit ‘guardian’ for the government employees of the State Government who are limbs of the State.
• No exploitation of five lakh Sahayaks and youth employed on fixed wages and part-time employment basis – devising special pay scales for them.
• Removal of anomalies of Fifth and Sixth Pay Commissions.
• For individual grievances of employees, setting up a special Gujarat Administrative Tribunal on the pattern of Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) as is functioning for Central Government employees.
• Drastic changes in Gaun Seva Pasandgi Mandal and Public Service Commission set up to ensure speedy and transparent recruitments of employees.
• Discontinue availing services of employees in the fairs, festivals and publicity campaigns.
• Special rest houses at major pilgrim centers for retired employees.
• Option of job on compassionate ground in the event of death of employee during service period.
• Additional remuneration from the State in addition to Central Government’s wages for Anganwadi, Mid-day meal scheme, Asha- worker women and others.
• New scientific organizational structure for employees of Municipal Corporations and Municipalities

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