NFIR – Special Allowance to Nursing Superintendents working in Operation Theatre/Intensive Care Unit-revision of Allowances

NFIR – Special Allowance to Nursing Superintendents working in Operation Theatre/Intensive Care Unit-revision of Allowances

No.I/5(g)/Part VI

Dated: 18/04/2019

The Secretary (E),
Railway Board,
New Delhi

Dear Sir,

Sub: Special Allowance to Nursing Superintendents working in Operation Theatre/Intensive Care Unit-revision of Allowances-reg.

Ref: (i) NFIR’s PNM Item No. 1-B/2012.
(ii) Railway Board’s OM No.E(P&A)I-2009/SP-1/Gen1/1 dated 09/07/2010 and 08/10/2013.
(iii) NFIR’s letter No. I/5(g) dated 08/11/2012 & no.1/5(g)/Pt.V dated 02/09/2013 and 13/01/2014.
(iv) Ministry of Health & Family Welfare letter no. Z.28015/2012013 – N dated 17th October 2013 copy endorsed to NFIR.
(v) Railway Board’s letter No. E(P&A)I-2012/FE-4/1 dated 23/01/2014.
(vi) NFIR’s letter No. I/5(g)/Part V dated 21/10/2014, 20/10/2015, 30/05/2017 & letter No. I/5(g)/Part VI dated 20/09/2017.
(vii) O.M. No. Z.28015/52/2017-N dated 27th September, 2017 issued by the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare to all ministries/departments (Government of India).
(viii) NFIR’s letter No. I/5(g)/Part VI dated 16/10/2017.
(ix) Railway Board’s letter No. E(P&A)I-2017/SP-1/MH-1 dated 27/12/2017.
(x) NFIR’s letter No. I/5(g)/Part VI dated 05/01/2018.
(xi) Railway Board’s letter No. E(P&A)I-2012/FE-4/1 dated 27/02/2018 to GS/NFIR

The Railway Board vide reply sent to the Federation under letter dated 27/02/2018 (NFIR’s PNM Agenda Item No. 1-B/2012) on payment of Special Allowance to Nursing Personnel working in Operation Theatre/Incentive Care Units etc., has admitted that the issue is still under consideration in consultation with MoH & FW, the nodal Ministry, whose reply is still awaited despite several reminders and the Ministry of Railways cannot take decision for revision of rates of the Special Allowance from Rs. 120 p.m. to Rs. 360 pm. unilaterally and that as and when such a communication is received from MoH & FW, the rates will be revised. Similar position has also been conveyed to the Federation during NFIR’s PNM meeting held with the Railway Board on 10/11-05-2018 through Action Taken Statement as the Agenda Item could not be discussed due to paucity of time. Federation feels sad that though a period of more than ten months passed, there has been no progress in the matter, while the subject is under discussion since over six years.

In this connection, Federation places following points for consideration in order to take independent decision on the issue:-

The 6th CPC vide Para No. 4.2.81 relating to Miscellaneous Allowances made following recommendation :-

“Similarly, rates of Allowances specific to different Ministries/Departments/ Organizations not covered in this report will also be doubled. The rates of these Allowances will be increased by 25% every time the Dearness Allowance payable on revised pay scales goes up by 50%”.

The above recommendation of the 6th CPC was accepted by the Government as notified in the Gazette of India: Extraordinary-29/08/2009.

Consequently, the operation Theatre Allowance (Special Allowance) to Nursing Personnel working in the Operation Theatres/ICUs etc., should have been doubled from Rs.120 p.m. to Rs.240 p.m. w.e.f. 01-09-2008. This amount should have been revised to Rs.300 p.m. w.e.f 01-01-2011 due to DA hike upto 50%. Similarly, the Special Allowance should have again been revised to Rs.360 p.m. w.e.f. 01-01-2014 as the DA touched 100% of pay.

It is noteworthy to appreciate that the Railway Board have issued orders independently, revising the rates of Operation Theatre Allowance and other Specialized Allowances to the Nursing Personnel working in the Railway Hospitals vide letter dated 27-12-2017, consequent upon acceptance of the recommendations of 7th CPC.

Note: Railway Board may also take into account that many Nursing personnel have since retired after 01-09-2008, therefore they should also be covered for payment of the Special Allowance.

Federation also brings to the notice of Railway Board that the first O.M.vide No.E(P&A)I-2009/SP-1/Genl/1 dated 09-07-2010 was sent by the Railway Ministry to the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare i.e more than nine years ago which shows that abnormal delay had already been caused in the matter while the Allowance as per the 7th CPC recommendations have already been implemented.

NFIR again requests the Railway Board to consider the above points and accord approval, revising the Special Allowance from Rs.120 p.m to Rs.240 p.m., Rs.300 p.m and Rs.360 p.m. to the Nursing Personnel with effect from the dates mentioned above. A copy of the order may be endorsed to the Federation.

Yours faithfully,

(Dr.M.Raghavaiah)
General Secretary

Source: NFIR