OPEN INVITATION

AN INVITATION TO ALL COMRADES
Dt- 22.01.08
Dear Comrades,

I take this opportunity to address you through this open circular.

Let us all pray that the New Year brings the best for all of us.

This year the 6th CPC is scheduled to give its recommendations and serious negotiations are on the cards. It is a crucial period considering the Government’s proclaimed anti-Government staff attitude. A series of measures are being envisaged by the Government to curtail the existing benefits of the Government employees whether in the matter of pay revision, pension scheme, the existing medical facilities, or continuance of the services itself as such.

The issues specifically concerning our department and cadre as such are: the cadre review now under process, the introduction of LTU and its effects on the working of the department, the impending implementation of GST and the necessity to gear up to face its onslaught, etc.

These issues are all elaborately discussed in our earlier circulars. All those materials are made available in our Association’s blog : aiceia.blogspot.com

In the light of the above, the requirement for the cadre to be organised and united needs no emphasis. Towards this goal, this Association has been consistently working at various levels, along with similarly placed Service Associations in the Department of Revenue as well as in the other Departments of the Central Government. In fighting against the new Pension Scheme, which is nothing but putting our pension benefits at the mercy of the stock markets, we have joined hands even with the Service Associations of the State Governments.

During the above experiences, we have come across comments from the Association representatives of other Central Government departments in certain places that the Staff of Central Excise do not participate in the programmes. This invariably gives a very negative impression about our department and cadres to the other Government employees, let alone the general public. These impressions are definitely not going to help us achieve our legitimate demands from the hands of the Government.

Some units of the erstwhile AIFCEEO (which had been renamed as AICEIA due to the requirement of the CCS(RSA) Rules) had taken a stand of wait and watch in as much as they were not sure as to how many of the cadre supported this Association. However, now that issue has been settled with the recognition granted to this Association by the Government. The copy of the letter of recognition and amendment are enclosed for ready reference.

Hence we hereby appeal through this Open Circular to all the units of the erstwhile AIFCEEO to consider the above position and join hands to restore the unity of the cadre and strengthen this Association so that entire cadre is benefited.

The Central Executive Committee meeting of AICEIA is scheduled to meet at Calicut (Kozhikode), Kerala on 8th of February, 2008. The copy of the notice of the said meeting also is enclosed. Whether to join this Association or as observers atleast, all Units are requested to kindly make it convenient to send delegates/Office Bearers for the meeting.

We sincerely hope that we will be able to make up for the Organisational weakness suffered by our Cadre for the past several years and meaningfully proceed on matters concerning the cadre and department.

I request the recipients of this Circular to kindly circulate it widely so that it reaches every once concerned, even if due to non availability of the current addresses I could not reach out to them directly. It is requested that this may kindly be taken as a personal invitation on behalf of the Cadre.

Once again hoping that representatives from all over India will meet at the CEC on 8.2.08 and take important decisions and implement them in a decisive manner.


Encl : Recognition letters and notice for CEC.

Fraternally yours,

.
(R. Manimohan)
Secretary General.

Letters on Recognition

Letter to administration:

Ref.No. AICIEA/Recognition/01/2008 7.01.2008

To
Shri. S.K.SHINGAL,
Chairman,
Central Board of Excise and Customs,
North Block, New Delhi – 01.

Sir,

Sub:- Recognition of ‘All India Central Excise Inspectors’ Association’ - reg.

Ref:- CBEC F.No.B.12017/1/2004-Ad.IV A dated 31.12.07.

Kind reference is invited to the above cited communication intimating recognition of this association as per the CCS (RSA) Rules, 1993.

On behalf of the entire cadre of Inspectors of Central Excise, we express our sincere thanks for the said recognition.

We assure the administration our fullest co-operation and positive action towards betterment of the service conditions of our cadre and the department as a whole.

Towards enabling restoration of the mutual dialogue between the staff side and the administration at the Commissionerate and Chief Commissionerate levels, it is requested that necessary instructions may kindly be issued to restore the facility of Regional Council of the Joint Consultative Machinery where ever it has been discontinued.

Necessary instructions may also kindly be issued that all correspondences to this association from the Board/Ministry, may be addressed in the name of the Secretary General, who is the Chief Executive of this association.

Thanking you,

Yours truly,


(R. Manimohan)
Secretary General

Copy to:
1) Shri. P. CHIDAMBARAM, Hon’ble Minister for Finance, New Delhi.
2) Shri. S.S. PALANIMANICKAM, Hon’ble Minister of State for Finance (Revenue), North Block, New Delhi.
3) Shri. P.V.BHIDE, Revenue Secretary, North Block, New Delhi.
4) Shri. A.K.RAHA, Member (P & V), CBEC, North Block, New Delhi.
5) Shri. P.C.JHA, Member (Central Excise), CBEC, New Delhi.
6) Shri. Shri. J.M.K. SEKHAR, Member (Budget), CBEC, New Delhi.
7) Shri. DEVANDER DUT, Member (Customs), CBEC, New Delhi.
8) Shri. LALITHKUMAR GUPTA, Joint Secretary (Admn), CBEC, New Delhi.
9) The Under Secretary, Department of Personnel and Training (JCA), North Block, New Delhi 11 0001.
10) The Under Secretary (Coordination Section), Department of Revenue, North Block, New Delhi (with a request that the address for correspondence given on this letter-head be noted for future correspondence with this association)
11) All Chief Commissioners /Commissioners of Customs and Central Excise under CBEC. (THROUGH THE CIRCLE/BRANCH OFFICE BEARERS CONCERNED)


(R. Manimohan)
Secretary General


Letter to Confederation:


Ref.No. AICIEA/Recognition/03/2008 7.01.2008


To
Com. K.K.N Kutty,
Secretary General,
Confederation of CG Employees and Workers,
New Delhi.


Comrade,

Sub:- Recognition of ‘All India Central Excise Inspectors’ Association’ - reg.


Please find enclosed the letter of CBEC in F.No.B.12017/1/2004-Ad.IV A dated 31.12.07 communicating the decision of the Government to recognize this Association in terms of the CCS (RSA) Rules, 1993.

We express our heartfelt thanks for the support of the Confederation during the trying times when the cadre had to face the onslaught of the administration, without grant of recognition in spite of our having fulfilled the requirements as per the rules.

We look forward towards contributing in a much more effective manner in all the activities of the Central Government employees movement.

Yours fraternally,
(R. Manimohan)
Secretary General

CIRCULAR 1/08

CIRCULAR- 1/08 Date : 7.01.08.

Dear Comrades,

NEW YEAR CHEERS
AND ADDED RESPONSIBILITY

The New Year has brought us cheers. The Ministry has communicated the much-awaited recognition of our Association vide its letter in F.No. B.12017/1/2004-Ad.IV A dated 31.12.07.

The letter not only grants us recognition in the present name, but also recognises us as the formerly All India Federation of Central Excise Executive Officers. This has vindicated the proceedings since the historic Convention at Kolkata in September 2003.

We salute each and every member who stood steadfast by this association for the past more than 4 years, during which period our strength has been under severe test. Every Office bearer at every level of the association during the said period, require to be specially appreciated for their undaunted endeavours to organize the cadre and maintain its unity and strength against all odds.

At this juncture, we also recollect with gratitude, the valuable support given to us by the Confederation during these years.

This association has bravely faced all the onslaughts unleashed by the administration at various places, whether in the form of humiliations, victimizations or harassment. The cadres were kept out of the negotiating table and the collective voice chocked at places. Forums like the JCMs were withdrawn. Special Casual leave was denied. Using the vacuum created, transfer norms were violated with impunity. Office bearers were charge sheeted for all and sundry reasons. But the onslaughts were faced and fought. We knew that those who were using non-recognition as an excuse were indeed having other designs. We knew with conviction that non-recognition itself was not due to our fault. We had fulfilled the requirements as per the rules. If the verification process was not undertaken by the authorities we could not be blamed. In certain pockets, members even stated that even if there is no recognition, it did not prohibit them from forming and conducting an association because, the Constitution of India grants that right. That was the fighting spirit. And the fight for getting the legitimate recognition continued simultaneously. It was the responsibility of the department to identify the real representative of the cadre and discuss with them. Otherwise it will be jungle raj.

We kept on pressurizing the Board. After the first round of DDO certificates were found to be wanting due to their falling under two different years, we once again collected the forms and submitted them. After that, constantly we kept reminding and requesting the authorities – every one concerned with the file. When the reminders were not effective, we approached the Rev. Secretary. Further, during the vigilance awareness week, we sent the issue up to the Prime Minister and particularly to the CVC. (pl see the copy of the letter dt. 12.11.07 circulated in Circular No.8) The Confederation also joined in by raising the issue of non-recognition of Service Associations in the CBEC and the resultant non-functioning of the DCM in the Department of Revenue, with the Standing Committee of the National JCM in December 2007. Constant reminders, requests and persistent representation to various authorities and ultimately the decision to launch agitations with the issue regarding delay in recognition in the charter, communicated to the Chairman, all put together forced the authorities to grant us the due recognition.

The lessons learnt in the past four years have to be preserved in the memories of each and every one connected with the events. Our organization suffered due to regionalism and lack of organizational discipline. These weaknesses have been effectively capitalized by the vested interests, within and outside the cadre. The fight would have been easier with a more organizational approach. Unfortunately though our cadre consists of an enlightened citizenry, individually, collectively we have not learnt to conduct proceedings. Projection of individuals, lack of respect for a democratic approach, lack of financial discipline, etc, have plagued our organization for the past two decades.

After September 2003, we got an opportunity to become more organized. The dividends are there for us now.

The present recognition brings with it added responsibilities for the Association.

We have to concentrate on broad basing the organization. Membership should be reached and interacted with. Core committees with persons specializing in specific service issues should be formed and should effectively function to assist the chief executive during the negotiations and interactions with the authorities. A deeper knowledge regarding the functioning of the JCM, the provisions and requirements of the Recognition Rules, service conditions prevailing in other departments etc., have to be gained. The functioning of the organization should be tuned absolutely on the lines of the Constitution of the Association. Proper maintenance of membership and financial accounts at every level of the organization will alone ensure that next verification and renewal of recognition will be a smooth affair.

All Office bearers should imbibe the habit of visiting the blog (www.aiceia.blogspot.com) of this association regularly and circulating the information found therein. Regular perusals of the JCM Bulletin and interaction with the Confederation counterparts have to be ensured.

Let us start afresh with renewed vigour. Let safeguarding of the self-respect of the cadre be our primary motive.

Once again commending each and every member and Office bearer of the association for having reached this milestone, let us now proceed on the responsibilities ahead.

Fraternally yours,


(R. Manimohan)
To
All Office Bearers/ members of AICEIA.