NFIR : 7th CPC – Payment of Hospital Patient Care Allowance (HPCA)/Patient Care Allowance (PCA) to the Railway employees

NFIR : 7th CPC – Payment of Hospital Patient Care Allowance (HPCA)/Patient Care Allowance (PCA) to the Railway employees

No. I/5(g)/Part V

 Dated: 05/02/2018

The Secretary (E).,
Railway Board,
New Delhi

Dear Sir,

Sub: Payment of Hospital Patient Care Allowance (HPCA)/Patient Care Allowance (PCA) to the Railway employees working in Railway Hospitals and Health Units/Clinics — revision of rates as per 7th CPC-reg.

Ref: Railway Board’s letter No. E(P&A)II-2017/AL-3 dated 30/01/2018.

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Federation invites kind attention of the Railway Board to the instructions issued vide letter dated 30/01/2018 revising the rates of Hospital Patient Care Allowance (HPCA)/Patient Care Allowance (PCA) to the Railway employees working in Railway Hospitals, Health Units/Clinics. Federation is disappointed to note that the rates of payment of HPCA/PCA has been revised by the Board in respect of Group ‘C’ and ‘D’ staff (non-ministerial) only as per R1H3 of the newly proposed Risk & Hardship Matrix recommended by 7th CPC ignoring the ministerial staff working in the Railway Hospitals/Health Units/Clinics. This decision of the Railway Board is not only arbitrary but also discriminatory.

In this connection, Federation invites attention of the Railway Board to the resolution dated 6th July 2017 of the Ministry of Finance wherein it has been mentioned vide Item No. 11 that ministerial staff to continue to get HPCA/PCA as per R1H3 of the 7th CPC Pay Matrix upto Level-9, after making modifications to the recommendations of 7th CPC. Federation further desires to mention that the Government while making modifications to the recommendations of 7th CPC has justified payment of HPCA/PCA to the ministerial staff due to the reason that the ministerial staff as well the staff of entire Hospital carry the risk of communicable diseases, therefore, they are also eligible to receive HPCA/PCA. Incidentally, it is mentioned that the clarification on HPCA/PCA issued by the Department of Expenditure (7th CPC matters) under the signature of Under Secretary on 13/11/2017. allowing payment of HPCA/PCA to both ministerial and non-ministerial of Group ‘C’ and ‘D’ staff working in the Government Hospitals/Institutes, is also relevant and cannot be ignored.

NFIR, therefore, requests the Railway Board to consider the above points and issue instructions to the Zonal Railways etc., to grant payment of Hospital Patient Care Allowance (HPCA)/Patient Care Allowance (PCA) to both ministerial and non-ministerial staff of Group ‘C’ and erstwhile Group ‘D’ working in the Railway Hospitals/Health Units/Clinics, and remove discrimination and consequent frustration among the ministerial staff who have been wrongly deprived of payment. A copy of the instructions issued may be endorsed to the Federation.

Yours faithfully,
S/d,
(Dr. M. Raghavaiah)
General Secretary

Source : NFIR