Port Blair, Jan 30: PCC President Kuldeep Rai Sharma has also taken up the issue of grant of Grade Pay of Rs.2000/- to the Followers of IRBn employed under the A & N Administration with the Union Home Minister Mr Shushil Kumar Shinde during his meeting on 29 1 2014.
Kuldeep has submitted that the Andaman and Nicobar Administration with the approval accorded by the Hon’ble President of India and in accordance with the guidelines issued by the Government of India, Ministry of Home Affairs vide No. II-27011/102/2000-PF.II (i) dated 26.07.2001 has raised an India Reserve Battalion(IRBn) on the pattern of CPMFs having a sanctioned strength of 1007 Personnel which includes 69 posts of Followers of different categories viz. Follower Cook 24 Nos, Water Carrier 15 Nos, Sweeper 15 Nos, Dhobi 08 Nos. and Barber 07 Nos. On the basis of the recommendations of Sixth Pay Commission, Pay Band-I with Grade Pay of Rs. 1800/- has been extended to the Followers effective from 1st January, 2006 and their pay is being drawn in the same structure in pursuance of Ministry of Home Affairs Order No. II 27011/26-PF.II dated 29th October, 2009. In this context, Kuldeep has stated that ” it is imperative to mention that, where the Followers working under CPMFs/Assam Rifles after successful completion of training imparted by the concerned organization have been made eligible for being absorbed in the grade of Combatant Constables against regular vacancies in the Pay Band-I with Grade pay Rs. 2000/-, the Followers of IRBn under the UT Administration of the Andaman & Nicobar Administration continues to draw the pay in the Pay Band-I with Grade Pay of Rs. 1800/-.”
Kuldeep has then advocated that, as the IRBn in the UT of Andaman & Nicobar Administration has also been raised in pattern similar to CPMFs and the Followers working under the IRBn of this Administration are subjected to nature of duties and service conditions as that of CPMFs there exists full justification of granting them Pay Band-I with Grade Pay of Rs.2000/- instead of Rs.1800/- which they are getting at present.Conceding to the above stated fact, the Andaman & Nicobar Administration initially took up the case of the Followers of IRBn and recommended to Ministry of Home Affairs, Govt. of India to extend them the Pay Band-I with Grade Pay of Rs.2000/- vide the Administration letter No. 54-70/2006-Home date the 11th July, 2011 but the decision is still resting with the ministry. Then Kuldeep has submitted the copy of the latest communication done between the A & N Administration and the Ministry of Home Affairs vide A & N Administration Letter No.45-70/2011-Home(RR)/PF dated 23.07.2013 for kind perusal of the Union Home Minister and requested that since the matter to get resolved has consumed considerable time, the Home Minister may kindly look into the matter sympathetically and resolve the issue in favour of the Followers of the IRBn of the A&N Administration at an early date.
The Home Minister has given a patient hearing of the whole case and has assured to take care of the issue raised by Kuldeep Rai Sharma.
