Monday 20 November 2017

AIDTOA welcomes the decision of MoD asking the DRDO to indigenously develop and produce Man-Portable Anti-Tank Guided Missile (MPATGM) for the Army.

All India DRDO Technical Officers’ Association (AIDTOA) welcomes the decision of Ministry of Defence asking the DRDO to indigenously develop and produce Man-Portable Anti-Tank Guided Missile (MPATGM) for the Army cancelling the $500 million deal for Spike ATGM with Israel.

DRDO has successfully produced the Nag and Anamika ATGMs and is confident about providing the Army with an MPATGM of 3rd generation missile technology, at par with Spike. It won’t also need any transfer of technology. Importing a foreign ATGM at this stage would adversely impact the programme for indigenous development of the weapon system by DRDO. 

In 2009, the MoD accepted the requirement of buying 321 ATGM launchers and 8,356 missiles, with 30 per cent offsets and a transfer of technology clause. An option of approaching the US for buying Javelin ATGM was also explored, but the US government was not amenable to transfer of technology.

Spike missiles of Rafael, Israel underwent trials in 2011-12 and the trials highlighted a problem with one of the two homing devices in the launcher which led to constitution of a study group. In the experts committee to review the evaluation report and explore the possibility of an indigenous missile system, there was divergence in the views of the DRDO representatives and Army representatives over the case. The matter was eventually resolved earlier this month with Army headquarters agreeing to retract the Request for Proposal (RFP) for ATGM launchers and missiles.

Friday 17 November 2017

REVISED HOUSE BUILDING ADVANCE (HBA) RULES FOR CENTRAL GOVERNMENT OFFICERS & EMPLOYEES INCORPORATING THE ACCEPTED RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE 7TH PAY COMMISSION

Press Information Bureau
Government of India
Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs

House Building Advance 2017


The Government has revised the House Building Advance (HBA) rules for Central Government Employees incorporating the accepted recommendations of the 7th Pay Commission.  Following are the salient features of the new rules:-

1.         The total amount of advance that a central government employee can borrow from government has been revised upwards.  The employee can up to borrow 34 months of the basic pay subject to a maximum of Rs. 25 lakhs (Rs. Twenty Five Lakhs only), or cost of the house/flat, or the amount according to repaying capacity, whichever is the least for new construction/purchase of new house/flat.  Earlier this limit was only Rs.7.50 lakhs.
2.         Similarly, the HBA amount for expansion of the house has been revised to a maximum of Rs.10 lakhs or 34 months of basic pay or cost of the expansion of the house or amount according to repaying capacity, whichever is least. This amount was earlier Rs.1.80 lakhs. 
3.      The cost ceiling limit of the house which an employee can construct/ purchase has been revised to Rs.1.00 crore with a proviso of upward revision of 25% in deserving cases. The earlier cost ceiling limit was Rs.30 lakhs.
4.      Both spouses, if they are central government employees, are now eligible to take HBA either jointly, or separately.  Earlier only one spouse was eligible for House Building Advance.
5.      There is a provision for individuals migrating from home loans taken from Financial Institutions/ Banks to HBA, if they so desire.
6.      The provision for availing ‘second charge’ on the house for taking loans to fund balance amount from Banks/ Financial Institutions has been simplified considerably. ‘No Objection Certificate’ will be issued along with sanction order of HBA, on employee’s declaration.
7.      Henceforth, the rate of Interest on Housing Building Advance shall be at only one rate of 8.50% at simple interest (in place of the earlier four slabs of  bearing interest rates ranging from 6% to 9.50% for different slabs of HBA which ranged from Rs.50,000/- to Rs.7,50,000/-) .
8.       This rate of interest shall be reviewed every three years.  All cases of subsequent tranches/ installments of HBA being taken by the employee in different financial years shall be governed by the applicable rate of interest in the year in which the HBA was sanctioned, in the event of change in the rate of interest.  HBA is admissible to an employee only once in a life time.
9.      The clause of adding a higher rate of interest at 2.5% (two point five percent) above the prescribed rate during sanction of House Building Advance stands withdrawn. Earlier the employee was sanctioned an advance at an interest rate of 2.5%  above the scheduled rates with the stipulation that if conditions attached to the sanction including those relating to the recovery of amount are fulfilled completely,  to the satisfaction of the competent authority, a rebate of interest to the extent of 2.5% was allowed.
10.  The methodology of recovery of HBA shall continue as per the existing pattern recovery of principal first in the first fifteen years in 180 monthly instalments and interest thereafter in next five years in 60 monthly instalments.
11.   The house/flat constructed/purchased with the help of House Building advance can be insured with the private insurance companies which are approved by Insurance Regulatory Development Authority (IRDA). 
12.       This attractive package is expected to incentivize the government employee to buy house/ flat by taking the revised HBA along with other bank loans, if required.  This will give a fillip to the Housing infrastructure sector.
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DOP&T letter dated 30.10.2017 addressed to Secretary, Staff Side , National Council JCM stating that the demand for increase in Minimum Pay and Fitment Formula will not come under the purview of National Anomaly Committee.

LATEST POSITION REGARDING MINIMUM PAY AND FITMENT FORMULA -- GOVT INFORMED STAFF SIDE NATIONAL COUNCIL JCM THAT INCREASE IN MINIMUM PAY AND FITMENT FORMULA WILL NOT COME UNDER ANOMALY COMMITTEE ITEM.

During the last 2 - 3 months both print and electronic media are continuously reporting that increase in 7th CPC Minimum Pay and Fitment Factor is under serious consideration of the Govt. and National Anomaly Committee will give its recommendation to Govt. and orders for increased Minimum Pay and Fitment Formula will be given effect from April 2018. 


Govt. vide DOP&T letter dated 30.10.2017 addressed to Secretary, Staff Side , National Council JCM  stated that the demand for increase in Minimum Pay and Fitment Formula will not come under the purview of National Anomaly Committee. Further Govt. has not yet constituted the HIGH LEVEL COMMITTEE for increasing Minimum Pay and Fitment Formula as assured by the Group of Ministers including Home Minister Sri Rajnath Singh, Finance Minister Shri Arun Jaitley on 30.06.2016. 


The so-called Senior Officers Committee has also not discussed this agenda even though staff Side has repeatedly demanded discussion and settlement as per the assurance given by Senior Cabinet Ministers. Now 17 months are over. 32 lakhs Central Govt. Employees and 33 lakhs Pensioners are being continuously betrayed by the Govt.