Mailbag

Consensus approach

Sir,

This refers to Consensus approach for running a Government, especially when coalition politics has come to exist. The coalition partners in the Central Government should for the nation's sake follow the national agenda under the able leadership of Shri Atal Behari Vajpayee who is a multifaceted personality having his friends and admirers in other parties also.

The nation demands well built massive infrastructural development for the prosperity of the countrymen. The indigenous resources alone cannot suffice. It is at this stage that the political parties bearing allegiance to whatever ideology should come out for the support of inter-social relationship at the international level and for avoiding isolation.

Liberalisation in all sectors of trade becomes paramount as it accelerates the process of inflow of money. It is, therefore, in the interest of our nation to allow foreign equity to operate in our insurance sector to enable us to earn a huge capital.

Therefore, the political parties should pass the Insurance Regulatory Authority Bill and the Patent Bill without further delay. Congress and BJP the main political parties are well set, except some minor differences, to support the bill.

Leftists should learn lesson from their mentors like China which allowed liberalisation in all spheres of trade and even Leftist Government in Bengal did the same. Two Yadav stalwarts, Mulayam and Laloo Ji should understand the timely need and vote in the support of Bill. Liberalisation does not in any way mean supremacy but to make our own trade and technology competitive and beneficial. The sooner this is followed, the better it is. Let political parties prepare themselves for reconciliation on important matters.

Yours etc...
P.L. Raina
Muthi-2.

Issue commemorative coins

Sir,

It refers to the logical demand raised in the Rajya Sabha by MPs of different parties for issuing fresh coins of common denominations of Rs 1 and 5 for wider circulation in memory of Sardar Vallabh Bhai Patel. Commemorative coins in memory of Sardar Patel have already been issued but merely for formality. For achieving true purpose of issuing commemorative coins, these should be issued in plenty for wider circulation only in most popular denominations of Rs 1 and 5. There is no sense in issuing only very limited number of coins that too in uncommon denominations like Rs 2, 10, 20 or 50 etc. However special silver-alloy coins of higher denominations may be issued as commemorative coins but to be issued at face value. Presently such higher priced coins are not issued at face value but are only available in costly coin-packs that too against cumbersome procedure of advance booking. Even forced denomination of 2-rupees coins and non-metric 25-paise coins must not be minted any more even for common circulation giving stress on minting maximum coins of Rs 1 and 5 apart from some coins of 10 and 50 paise.

Likewise there is no sense in giving pictures of only one person namely Mahatma Gandhi on currency notes of all denominations. Faces of different personalities must figure on notes of different denominations. New to-be-issued notes of Rs 1000 denomination may have figure of Sardar Vallabh Bhai Patel.

Yours etc...
Abhinav Aditya,
B-9, Ganpati Apartments,
6, Shamnath Marg,
Delhi- 110054.

Strive for superiority

Sir,

In the month of May when India conducted nuclear tests for 2nd time after a gap of 24 years the people were of the view that India in coming year will emerge a super power and will be able to balance the imbalance that was created by China which has conducted nuclear test many years ago. China has already fought a battle with India in 1962, and took a large portion of Ladakh and is still one of greatest threats to India. The scene even became worse when Pakistan conducted the nuclear test in the same month of May and became a nuclear power. As compared to China, Pakistan is a possible threat because Pak has fought three battles with India in 1947, 1965, and 1971 respectively and is running militancy in J&K and in North Eastern States. Pakistan was also involved in Proxy war against India in Punjab in which it failed.

So, both Pak and China are posing a great threat to India. It is even worse because China is capable of making long range missiles, tanks, air crafts, helicopters, and many other weapons used in war and spare parts of many weapons. China has helped Pak openly in its nuclear programme over years.

On the other hand, India mostly depended on erstwhile Soviet Union for crucial spare parts and even for engines. India's dependence on Russia is due to fact that USA never helped India. It provided Pakistan with weapons, crucial spare parts and even helped Pak indirectly to acquire nuclear technology because huge amount of money which was used in Pak nuclear programme over years came from America.

So, to cope with its defence problems India should and upgrade its old weapons.

The condition of India today is like a "ladle moving in a cooking pan with out relishing the taste of what is being cooked.''

India has every kind of aircrafts, tanks, Radar systems and submarines but it is unable to manufacture their spare parts. So, Government should do something or either it will be not good for India's defence.

Yours etc.....
Kamal Deep Rana
Doda City
Near Police Station

Release HRA & CCA

Sir,

The Government of Jammu & Kashmir Finance Department issued a notification bearing No. A/1(92)-142 dated 30.3.1992 signed by Mr J A Khan, the then Additional Chief Secretary, Finance J&K Govt. Jammu which contains the laws, regulations and rules passed for the House Rent Allowance and City compensatory Allowance to all the Government employees of the State of J&K.

The aforesaid notification makes it clear that HRA & CCA laws, rules and regulations shall be regulated as per the Jammu & Kashmir Civil Services House Rent Allowance and City Compensatory allowance Rules 1992, as contained in schedule XXII of SRO-76 dt 30.3.1992. The scheduled XXII of SRO 76 dt. 30.3.1992 which came into force w.e.f 01.1.1992 gives the extent of the application of HRA & CCA rules, laws and regulations and clearly states/indicates that these rules shall apply to :-

* All State Government servants who are whole time employees working either in permanent or quasi-permanent/temporary capacity.

* Government servants under suspension or on leave subject to the limitations prescribed in these rules.

* Such other categories of services as may be specified by the government from time to time. However, these rules shall not apply to :-

-Members of All India Services.

- Government servants in part time employment.

- Persons engaged on contract.

- Persons engaged on work charged establishment.

- Government servants paid out of the contingencies.

Hence, while properly going through the above mentioned extent of the application of these HRA and CCA rules the govt. no where and in no way denies a migrant employee of the benefit of HRA & CCA allowances.

There are many Drawing and Disbursing officers (DDOs) who have rightly understood the extent of the applicating of HRA and CCA rules and they are drawing these allowances in favour of the migrant employees working under their kind control w.e.f 01.01.1992.

But, it is quite strange and surprising that some drawing and disbursing officers (DDOs) have either not fully understood the schedule XXII of SRO-76/Notification No. A/(92)-142 dt. 30.03.1992 with ref. Art 41- (1) or have not deliberately draw and are not still drawing HRA and CCA in favour of the migrant employees which becomes due to them. w.e.f 01.01.92 as per SRO-76 dt. 30.3.1992.

It may not be out of place to mention it here that Chief Accounts Officer (Migrant Cell), Directorate of School Education Jammu is one such Drawing and Disbursing Officer who is not drawing HRA and CCA in favour of the migrant teachers which becomes due to them in light of SRO-76 dt. 30.3.1992.

Since 1992, various associations of the migrant employees in general and the displaced employees forum in particular staged dharnas, and submitted many memoranda to the concerned authorities including Chief Minister, J&K State, Dr Farooq Abdullah, J&K State, Chief Secretary Mr Ashok Jaitly, Commissioner-cum-Secretary to Government, J&K Finance and General Department requesting them to release HRA & CCA in favour of the migrant employees w.e.f 1.1.1992 but nothing concrete came to light except the matter has been examined by the Apex Level Committee constituted by the government and referred to the State cabinet for approval. But the Government is still silent about it.

To my mind the matter should not have been referred to the Apex Level Committee but should have been solved at the root level because the government through SRO-76 Schedule XXII dated 30.3.1992 no where denies a migrant employee of the benefit of HRA and CCA. But it is the fault of the Drawing & Disbursing Officers (DDOs) who have wrongly denied the migrant employees of the benefit of HRA and CCA since 01.01.1992.

Thus, to conclude it is requested to the concerned higher authorities to direct the Drawing and Disbursing Officer (DDO's) to release HRA and CCA in favour of the migrant employees w.e.f 1.1.1992 as these allowances nowhere stand stopped by the government as per SRO 76 dt. 30.3.1992 but by the Drawing and Disbursing Officers (DDO's) themselves.

Yours etc...
Ashok K Koul (Lalpuri)
President.
Graduate, Trained Graduate,
Post Graduate & Trained,
Post Graduate, Migrant,
Teachers Forum J&K Jammu.