No. 5/1/2017-CPI
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF LABOUR & EMPLOYMENT
LABOUR BUREAU

‘CLEREMONT’, SHIMLA-171004
DATED: 31st January, 2018

Press Release

Consumer Price Index for Industrial Workers (CPI-IW) – December, 2017

The All-India CPI-IW for December, 2017 decreased by 2 points and pegged at 286 (two( hundred and eighty six). On 1-month percentage change, it decreased by (-) 0.69 per cent between November, 2017 and December, 2017 when compared with the decrease of (-) 0,72 per cent for the corresponding months of last year.

The maximum downward pressure to the change in current index came from Food grotip contributing (-) 2.37 percentage points to the total change. At item level, Rice, Arhar Dal, Gram Dal, Groundnut Oil, Chillies Green, Brinjal, Cabbage, Carrot, Cauliflower, French Beans, Green Coriander Leaves, Methi, Palak, Peas, Potato, Radish, Tomato, Banana, Sugar, ESI Premium Contribution, Toilet Soap, etc. are responsible for the decrease in index. However, this decrease was checked by Wheat Atta, Coconut Oil, Fish Fresh, Goat Meat, Onion, Tamarind, Coconut, Electricity Charges, Firewood. Secondary School Fee, Flowers/Flower Garlands, etc., putting upward pressure on the index.

The year-on-year inflation measured by monthly CPI-IW stood at 4.00 per cent for December, 2017 as compared to 3.97 per cent for the previous month and 2.23 per cent during the corresponding month of the previous year. Similarly, the Food inflation stood at 4.32 per cent ‘against 3.91 per cent of the previous month and 0.67 per cent during the corresponding month of the previous year.

At centre level, Jamshedpur and Tiruchirapally reported the maximum decrease of (7 points each) followed by Doom Dooma Tinsukia, Siliguri, Godavarikhani and Jalpaiguri (6 points each). Among others, 5 points decrease was observed in 7 centres, 4 points in 10 centres, 3 points in 9 centres, 2 points in 21 centres and 1 point in 13 centres. On the contrary, Darjeeling recorded a maximum increase of 8 points followed by Maria’ (4 points) and Srinagar (3 points). Among others, 2 points increase was observed in 2 centres and 1 point in 2 centres. Rest of the 5 centres’ indices remained stationary.

The indices of 35 centres are above All-India Index and 43 centres’ indices are below national average.

The next issue of CPI-IW for the month of January, 2018 will be released on Wednesday, 28th February, 2018. The same will also be available on the office website www.labourbureanew.gov.in.

Sd/-
(AMRIT LAL JANGID)
DEPUTY DIRECTOR

PIB

The post Expected DA Jan 2018- AICPIN for the Month of Dec, 2017 appeared first on CENTRAL GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES NEWS.

Central Government employees losing interest in Dearness Allowance?

It is becoming very obvious these days that the Central Government employees and pensioners are fast losing interest in Dearness Allowance.

Dearness Allowance is given to the Central Government employees once every six months, in order to help them maintain their lifestyle against the rising prices. Fluctuations in the prices of 392 essential items are recorded regularly at 78 various locations and their data is tabulated once every month to calculate the All India Consumer Price Index Number(AICPIN), which is then released by the Centre. Dearness Allowance is thus calculated.

For eight years now, we have been calculating the Dearness Allowance in advance and releasing the numbers. This is why we are able to sense an acute loss of interest among the Central Government employees in recent times to know their next and expected Dearness Allowance.

Dearness Allowance is calculated with the employee’s basic salary. For example, a 5 percent Dearness Allowance for an employee who draws a basic salary of Rs. 7000 per month, will translate into Rs. 350. An employee drawing basic salary of Rs. 20,000 will get an additional Rs. 200 if 1 percent Dearness Allowance is sanctioned.

All the Central Government employees, defence personnel and pensioners are now being paid as per the recommendations of the Seventh Pay Commission, from January 2016 onwards. The Seventh Pay Commission had recommended that no changes shall be made in the Dearness Allowance calculations and the method adopted by the Sixth Pay Commission continues to be followed. The centre too had accepted the recommendations.

Under the Sixth Pay Commission method, the Dearness Allowance had increased by 125 percent in the past ten years, from January 2006 to December 2015. It is worth mentioning that at least thrice, a Dearness Allowance of 10 percent was paid to the employees. The table below shows the Dearness Allowance that was paid once every six months.

The loss of interest among the employees probably has something to do with the fact that the increase in Dearness Allowance has only been marginal ever since the Seventh Pay Commission was implemented.

There was no Dearness Allowance for the first six months, January to June 2016. Dearness Allowance of only two percent was given for July to December 2016. It looked as if something was wrong with the calculations, right from the start, but the employees thought that things will improve with time. The Dearness Allowance for January to June 2017 was a mere one percent, which came as a rude shock to all.

The centre claimed that it was because they have the prices under control.

DA Table from 1.1.2016 as per 7th CPC

Via: Expected DA

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