15/1089-90,
VASUNDHARA, VASUNDHARA (P.O.), Dt. GHAZIABAD
Website:
www.auditflag.blogspot.com
Reference: AIA/Circular-01/2014 Dated: 1st January 2014
To
Unit
Secretaries,
Members
& Spl. Invitees – NE &
Members of
Women’s Committee
Dear
Comrades,
WELCOMING
THE NEW YEAR WITH A RENEWED RESOLVE
The year
2013 has left a good number of issues for 2014 – to be understood, answered,
resolved or confronted. The task is quite simple, but not so easy. It requires
an approach, a determination or resolve – to confront if it cannot be resolved
otherwise.
The
organisational task that we have to confront and overcome has been given in the
last Circular (28) of 2013.
No
organisational task can be accomplished if try to gloss over the harsh facts at
hand. The task gets more complicated when some of the harsh facts are hard too.
The
issue of pay scale ie parity in pay scales with Assistants in CSS,
maintaining vertical relativity has been agitating all of us for long. Struggle
for restoring parity, achieve it and then get outsmarted – this is what we have
been witnessing for the last three decades.
Sanctioned
Strength in Audit has been revised to 1:2:2.5, reducing the
sanctioned strength of Auditors, increasing that of AAO and (S)AOs. We did
object to this formula. It is quite welcome that the promotional prospects do
go up, but it should not a matching saving at the cost of (Sr) Auditors cadre
strength.
The answer
from the administration is that even this strength is in excess of the actual
requirement. Why is the question. Because the auditorial functions have been
down-sized - transaction audit is curtailed, performance audit and thematic (or
dramatic?) audit has been prioritised.
The CAG
has deviated from the role of watch dog of Indian finances, simply trying to
become a noisy dog – just to show that we do exist. But won’t bite or cause
inconvenience to anybody. From watch dog to lap dog!
The
RAOs/RAPs have been closed down. The reach of audit has been drastically
reduced. The reason advanced is nothing but atrocious – undesirable tendencies!
The fact
is that the undesirable tendencies/indulgence by the Gr A officers is going on
uncontrolled, without even a coma. Work
culture in the department is not upto mark, at all levels. The one at the top
has to be the role model for all. (It should not be a bad role model as it
happens to day – in many stations).
For
A&E offices also, cadre restructuring (if it can be called so) is
unofficially proposed – 1:3:15. Nothing is given in writing.
But there
is a rider. There will be a reduction in (Sr) Accountant cadre. The assurance
is that it will not be less than the PIP of the day. Yes, it is a fact today
that only few offices have all the four functions (ie Accounts, PF, Pension and
GED).
But
despite the advancement of computerisation and online accounting, there is a
vast scope for strengthening the accounts and that will really make the CAG and
IA&AD the real watch dog of Indian finances.
We have
objected to the implementation of the so called cadre restructuring through
back door and demanded that this may be brought as item for discussion in the
Departmental council. This cannot be discussed in isolation.
The task
is strengthening and widening audit and accounts, in reality, effectively.
Performance audit etc would give you wide publicity in the media. But the
nation is put to a loss when transaction/compliance audit is not undertaken
effectively.
Denial
of functional freedom for the Associations is a blockade that the administration
has put up. Demonstrations are banned. We have experienced such a situation during
the internal emergency in 1975-77 when the fundamental rights of the citizens
were suspended. The situation prevalent in IA&AD is similar to the
situation that existed in the country during 1975-77. Rights of the employees
are suspended – if you try to defy, you will be suspended!
The
administration of IA&AD is out of sink with the Constitution of India – the
functions of the department are concerned, it want to follow the INTOSAI
declarations, the rights of employees are concerned it has its own
interpretations, in both the cases the administration of IA&AD abhor the
Indian Constitution.
7th
CPC is announced – only in the media. The meeting that was to take place
on terms of reference is yet to be held. It is learnt that the present
government is not keen to go further (beyond the announcement made) and commit
anything more. It seems the present government would like to leave everything
else from actuation constitution of the CPC onwards to the next government that
will be formed after the general election in April/May 2014.
The issues
such as IR, DA merger, anomalies out of SCPC, the contractorisation,
privatisation and ban on recruitment etc. are to be fought and won.
The issues
are before us – we have to start prepare for resolving it, through negotiations
backed by agitations/struggles.
Let us
remember that any negotiation that is not backed by agitation is going to be a fruitless
exercise. Expression of the anger of the employees and workers displayed
through their massive mobilisations in various programmes makes any
negotiations effective, only then there is going to be meaningful negotiations.
The task is to raise ourselves, our movement to that level.
With greetings,
Yours fraternally
(M.S.Raja)
Secretary General
