All India Audit & Accounts Association: November 2012

The festival mood is over; the festival of the workers is nearing. When the entirety of the central government employees would go on strike under the banner of Confederation of Central Govt Employees and Workers, the audit and accounts employees cannot keep away - rather they should lead.

All the units might have joined the evening Dharna during 20-23 November in their respective stations. Campaign for the strike on 12-12-12 as per Circular 26 might have also been started by now.

Confederation has published campaign material on the charter of demands in its website. The same is being placed in our site also and also being mailed. (Being bit lengthy, the same cannot be sent by post). All Units are requested to make use of the material and start the campaign, non-stop.

We should take note that every organisation has started demanding constitution of 7^th CPC – even those who have never demanded it. It shows the decision of the Confederation is taking the right course and the campaign has hit the imagination of the employees. It is the time to channelise it organisationally.

It is the time that we get over and stand on our feet, mobilising one and all for the strike on 12^th December 2012. It is a testing time and we should do our best to make the strike a total success in all our units.

46^th CONFERENCE

As reported in previous circulars, the 46^th Conference would be held at Guwahati from 11^th March to 14^th March 2013. The host unit has informed that the accommodation will be available from 10^th March 2013 to 15^th March 2013.

The host unit has informed that 76 member Reception Committee with Com Bhawani Pada Bhattacharjee (our former President) as Chairman and Com GK Gohain as General Convener with 10 subcommittees has been formed. would issue detailed circulars intimating the address of the venue, accommodation details, delegation fee etc.

The National Executive that met at New Delhi on 29^th October 2012 decided to hold Women's Convention during the Conference. All the units may therefore ensure to bring woman comrades –atleast one should be delegate where as others could be observers.

The National Executive and the Central Working Committee would meet on the eve of the Conference at Guwahati ie in the afternoon of 10^th March 2013.

All the Units may arrange their to and fro tickets well in advance. Sr Auditor/Sr Accountant having been declared as Gr B Non Gazetted, comrades can consider availing LTC to NE region (conversion of home town LTC – by flight from the station of origin).

All the units may intimate their arrival details to the host unit immediately on receipt of Circular from the host unit, with copy to HQrs.

CAG YET TO RESPOND ON PAY SCALES

It is nearly four months since the meeting with Joint Secretary, DOPT and Jt. Secretary/Expr did take place on the Grade Pay to various audit/accounts cadres. Nearly three months have elapsed since the DOPT wrote to CAG for his comments on the staff side proposals.

Till this date, the response has not gone. We have been promised that it would be sent in a couple of days.

Meanwhile those who never agitate and did a great disservice by getting an adverse judgement from the Supreme Court have started their usual activity ie rumour mongering – that higher grade pay has already been granted! Somebody went to the extent of saying - Cabinet has approved, CAG is yet to approve! (is it an indirect way of propagating that CAG is against we getting the higher pay scales? – then we condemn it).

We have one appeal to this people – it is understood you cannot serve the interest of the audit and accounts personnel; please don't do further damage to the cause.

With greetings,

Yours fraternally

(M.S.Raja)

Secretary General

Saturday, November 24, 2012

Circular 28

Dear Comrades

Please find Circular 28-2012 posted below.

With greetings

M. S. Raja

Secretary General

ALL INDIA AUDIT & ACCOUNTS ASSOCIATION

CSV WARRIER BHAWAN

15/1089-90, VASUNDHARA, VASUNDHARA (P.O.), Dt. GHAZIABAD (U.P), PIN-201012

Ph: 0120-2881727/4101593/ 0 – 98681 45667

E-mail: auditflag@gmail.com

Website: www.auditflag.blogspot.com

Reference: AIA/Circular-28/2012 Dated: 24^th November 2012

Unit Secretaries,

Members & Spl. Invitees – NE &

Members of Women's Committee

Dear Comrades,

Of late, a debate is on the statement by Shri V Narayanasamy, MOS/Personnel that the Govt is thinking of making the institution of CAG a multi-member body.

The role of CAG has been agitating the members of the All India Audit & Accounts Association for quite long. For long the issue was revolving around how the institution of CAG could be strengthened in the interest of parliamentary democracy and the people at large.

In the National Conventions held in 1981 on 'Role of Audit in Parliamentary Democracy' and in 1989 on 'on strengthening of Audit & Accounts', the work papers presented and the declarations adopted were very clear on this aspect. The statements in the work papers presented in the Conventions had a theme – "whenever democracies get replaced by other forms of Government, the first victim is the independence of audit".

In the Convention held on 22.11.1981 on the "Role of Audit in parliamentary Democracy" Justice VR Krishna Iyer had stated in his message – "Let me enter a caveat. Our Parliamentary democracy will perish and eventually our independence itself will vanish if our economic advance is allowed to be disrupted by the mishandling of public finances and by the creeping disease of escalating corruption in public offices at the higher levels. Today, more than everbefore, everybody suspects the top brass in the administration, especially where big money is at stake. Therefore, the credibility of the administration and the final social integrity of the political government make a monetary morality and constitutional compulsion that the audit authority is assigned a high place and fearless security of tenure'.

This holds good even today – rather more starkingly.

But as stated, these conventions did not go beyond the postulations on how to save the audit from executive interference, make it financially non-dependent of the executive and convert it as an effective tool in public accountability. Constitutional amendments and changes to the DPC Act, 1971 were mooted in that direction.

It was in 1995-'96, the issue of the composition of CAG was first formally discussed and finally decided, organisationally. In the work paper circulated in 1995-96, the Association had proposed:

'1. At present it is administrative expenses of the office of CAG of India is charged upon Consolidated fund of India under Art 148(6) of the Constitution of India. By a constitutional amendment, the administrative expenses of the entire IA&AD should be charged upon the Consolidated fund of India. This would ensure that the funds needed for full discharge of audit functions are not subjected to cuts even by the Parliament.

2. The person selected for the post of the CAG should be from the panel of Public men of repute prepared by the Union Govt and even opposition parties and selected by the President of India.

3. As done in the case of Election Commission more than one person may be appointed as CAG to function as a Bureau/Board/Commission in determining the extent & contents of auditorial functions.

4. A system of Report on activities of the IA&AD being presented to Parliament annually for examination by the appropriate Parliamentary Committee followed by a discussion in both the Houses of Parliament.'

The government of the day may have some ulterior motive in proposing a multimember CAG. There is no iota of doubt that the thrust for proposing a change is without any good intention of strengthening the institution of audit to safeguard the people's interest.

Indian Constitution does not lay down qualification for the post CAG nor the manner of his selection, though it was discussed during the Constituent Assembly debates held in May 1949. The result is that since 1978, all those who have been appointed as CAG are from the IAS.

The personnel working in IA&AD need not be told how we are suffering today – functionally, as well as, as personnel working in the department. Enough damage has already been done to the concept of audit as a tool to strengthen Public Accountability by overstressing on Performance Audit and thematic audit, there by scuttling micro level audit. In the days to come the CAG would live through media glares, not by its performance and discharge of its duty to the people of the country.

The recent public spats on the veracity of audit of 2G spectrum allocation has brought about an avoidable skepticism. A multimember CAG would definitely have thwarted this sort of unwarranted and uncalled for controversy.

This Association takes strong exception to the public statements of former DG of Audit, P&T. Every one of the higher officer forget that the audit report is basically the collective product of the audit party or parties that has taken great pains – working overtime. True to the character of the Group A cadre, the labour of those who worked hard is hardly appreciated and all credits are being appropriated by those at top echelons.

The idea to the CAG as a multimember body is not something to be opposed blindly, though we have reservations of the government's motives. Collective functioning would always be better than what it is today. Today's functioning is opaque; a multimember CAG would make it somewhat transparent.

With greetings,

Yours fraternally

(M.S.Raja)

Secretary General

Friday, November 16, 2012

Circular 27

Dear Comrades

Please find Circular 27 posted below.

With greetings

Sd/-

M. S. Raja

Secretary General

ALL INDIA AUDIT & ACCOUNTS ASSOCIATION

CSV WARRIER BHAWAN

15/1089-90, VASUNDHARA, VASUNDHARA (P.O.), Dt. GHAZIABAD (U.P), PIN-201012

Ph: 0120-2881727/4101593/ 0 – 98681 45667

E-mail: auditflag@gmail.com

Website: www.auditflag.blogspot.com

Reference: AIA/Circular-27/2012 Dated: 16^thNovember 2012

Unit Secretaries,

Members & Spl. Invitees – NE &

Members of Women's Committee

Dear Comrades,

12-12-12

The Confederation of Central Govt Employees and Workers has decided that the Confederation and all its affiliated Unions/Associations will serve strike notice on 19^th November 2012.

Accordingly, the All India Audit & Accounts Association would serve strike notice to CAG on 19^th November 2012. Copy of the strike notice is attached. No separate strike notice need be served by the Units. But each Unit may hold lunch hour meeting and endorse the strike call on 19^th November 2012.

Report on the holding of meeting may please be sent by sms followed by e-mail/post.

Get into the Strike mode

As given in the Circular 26, each Unit may strictly follow the campaign-cum-preparation schedule given there-in vis,

"19th November 2012 - Meeting of Executive Committee of each Association.

Strike notice would be served by the CHQ on 19th November 2012, Units may hold lunch hour meeting and explain the demands.

20th November 2012 – Activists meeting

Units to participate in the evening Dharna - call for which has been given by Confederation – as decided by local COCs.

21-22-23 Nov. 2012 - Popularisation of demands, through boards, posters, handbills etc

26-30 November 2012 – Group meetings of members/employees

3-7 December 2012 – Hand bill on 3 demands each day (total 15 demands)"

Evening Dharna

Confederation has given a call for 4-day evening dharna for three hours on 20-21-22-23 November 2012 at a common venue decided by COC. The Executive Committee of the Unit may decide the participation of members batch-wise on each day.

Report on participation in 4-day dharna may please be sent by sms followed by email/post.

With greetings,

Yours fraternally

Sd/-

(M.S.Raja)

Secretary General

ALL INDIA AUDIT & ACCOUNTS ASSOCIATION

CSV WARRIER BHAWAN

15/1089-90, VASUNDHARA, VASUNDHARA (P.O.), Dt. GHAZIABAD (U.P), PIN-201012

Ph: 0120-2881727/4101593/ 0 – 98681 45667

E-mail: auditflag@gmail.com

Website: www.auditflag.blogspot.com

Reference: AIA/B-1/82/2012 19^th November 2012

The Comptroller & Auditor General of India,

9, Deen Dayal Upadhyay Marg,

New Delhi – 110124

Subject: One day strike on 12-12-2012 – Reg.

Sir,

This is to give notice that members of All India Audit & Accounts Association which is affiliated to the Confederation of Central Govt Employees and Workers will go on one day's strike on 12^th December 2012. The charter of demands in pursuance of which the Confederation has given notice to the Cabinet Secretary for the one day strike action is enclosed.

Thanking you in anticipation,

Yours faithfully,

Sd/-

(M. S. Raja)

Secretary General

CHARTER OF DEMANDS

1. Revise the wages of the Central Government employees including Gramin Dak Sewaks with effect from 1.1.2011 and every five years thereafter by setting up the 7^th CPC.

2. Merge DA with pay for all purposes with effect from. 1.1.2011 including for Gramin Dak Sewaks.

3. Remove restriction imposed on compassionate appointments and the discrimination on such appointments between the Railway workers and other Central Govt. employees.

4. (a) Departmentalise all Gramin Dak Sewaks and grant them all benefits of regular employees; End Bonus discrimination and enhance bonus ceiling to 3500/-; withdraw open market recruitment in Postman / MTS cadre; Revise cash handling norms; Grant full protection of TRCA; Grant Time Bound Promotion and Medical Reimbursement facility etc,

(b) Regularise the daily rated, contingent, casual workers and introduce a permanent scheme for periodical regularisation;

5. (a) Revive the functioning of the JCM. Convene the meeting of the Departmental Councils in all Ministries/Departments. Settle the anomalies raised in the National Anomaly Committee as also in the Departmental Anomaly Committees. Hold National Council meetings as specified in the JCM constitution. (b) Remove the anomalies in the MACP Scheme.(c) Grant recognition to all Associations/Federations, which have complied with the formalities and conditions stipulated in the CCS(RSA) Rules.

6. Fill up all vacant posts and creates posts n functional requirements.

7. Stop downsizing outsourcing, contractorisation, corporatisation and privatisation of Governmental functions.

8. Stop price rise; strengthen the PDS.

9. (a) Stop the proposal to introduce the productivity linked wage system; (b) discard the performance related pay structure; (c) introduce PLB in all Departments; (d) remove the ceiling on emoluments for bonus computation.

10. Revise the OTA, Night duty allowance and clothing rates.

11. Implement all arbitration awards;

12. Make the right to strike a legal and fundamental right of the Government employees on par with the other section of the working class.

13. Grant Five promotions to all employees as is provided for in the case of Group A services.

14. (a) Withdraw the PFRDA Bill. (b) Rescind the decision to allow FDI in pension sector;(c) Scrap the new contributory pension scheme (d) Extend the existing statutory defined pension scheme to all Central Govt. employees irrespective of their date of entry in Government service.

15. Vacate all Trade Union victimisation.

****

Thursday, November 1, 2012

Circular 26

Dear comrades

Please find circular 26-2012 posted below.

Yours fraternally

(M. S. Raja)

Secretary General

ALL INDIA AUDIT & ACCOUNTS ASSOCIATION

CSV WARRIER BHAWAN

15/1089-90, VASUNDHARA, VASUNDHARA (P.O.), Dt. GHAZIABAD (U.P), PIN-201012

Ph: 0120-2881727/4101593/ 0 – 98681 45667

E-mail: auditflag@gmail.com

Website: www.auditflag.blogspot.com

Reference: AIA/Circular-26/2012 Dated: 31^st October 2012

Unit Secretaries,

Members & Spl. Invitees – NE &

Members of Women's Committee

Dear Comrades,

You will recall that the CWC meeting held on 27-28 July at New Delhi has directed the National Executive Committee to meet and take stock of the preparation for the one day strike on 12-12-12, after the 1^st round of tour programme by the leaders. Accordingly, the NE met on 29^th October 2012 at New Delhi.

The NE, after a thorough review, came to the conclusion that the call for the strike is well received by the membership, though there are some hiccups/shortcomings in the strike preparation.

NE RE-ITERATES THE STRIKE CALL

The National Executive re-iterated the decision of the CWC for a total and successful strike on 12^th December 2012 and called upon the units' leadership to undertake systematic and sustained campaign programme in the remaining days so as to ensure a magnificent strike by the audit and accounts employees. Accordingly, NE drew up a mobilisation-cum- campaign programme for all the units to follow, uniformly.

19^th November 2012 - Meeting of Executive Committee of each Association.

Strike notice would be served by the CHQ on 19^th November 2012, Units may hold lunch hour meeting and explain the demands.

20^th November 2012 – Activists meeting

Units to participate in the evening Dharna - call for which has been given by Confederation – as decided by local COCs.

21-22-23 Nov. 2012 - Popularisation of demands, through boards, posters, handbills etc

26-30 November 2012 – Group meetings of members/employees

3-7 December 2012 – Hand bill on 3 demands each day (total 15 demands)

The CHQ would supply material for campaign and handbills. Each Unit leadership should take pain for total implementation of the above programmes.

Further, every unit should see to it that the visit of leaders of Confederation to their station is made use of for mobilisation of their membership for successful strike on 12-12-12.

With greetings,

Yours fraternally

(M.S.Raja)

Secretary General