Non-payment of Hospital Patient Care Allowance/Patient Care Allowance (HPCA/PCA) to the Kitchen Staff working in the Railway Hospitals

Non-payment of Hospital Patient Care Allowance/Patient Care Allowance (HPCA/PCA) to the Kitchen Staff working in the Railway Hospitals

National Federation of Indian Railwaymen
3, CHELMSFORD ROAD, NEW DELHI – 110 055
Affiliated to:
Indian National Trade Union Congress (INTUC)
International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF)

No. I/5(g)/Part V

Dated: 23/11/2016

The Secretary (E),
Railway Board,
New Delhi

Dear Sir
Sub: Non-payment of Hospital Patient Care Allowance/Patient Care Allowance (HPCA/PCA) to the Kitchen Staff working in the Railway Hospitals-reg.
Ref: (i) NFIR’s PNM item No. 12/2016.
(ii) Railway Board’s letter No. E(P&A)II-98/HW-6 dated 09/01/2008, 20/02/2013 & letter No. E(P&A)II-9/HW-6-Vol III dated 31/07/2015.
(iii) Railway Board’s letter No.E(P&A)II-98/HW-6 Vol.III dated 02/06/2016.
(iv) NFIR’s letter No.I/5(g)/Part V dated 09/06/2016.
(v) Railway Board’s letter No. E(P&A)II-2016/FE-/2 dated 09/11/2016 addressed to GS/NFIR

On perusal of the report of EDs Committee constituted to examine the feasibility for payment of Hospital Patient Care Allowance/Patient Care Allowance (PCA) to the Kitchen Staff working in the Railway Hospitals/Health Units, the Federation finds that the following vital points have been ignored by the Committee while finalizing its recommendations:-

• Railway Board vide letter No. E(P&A) II-98/HW-6 dated 09/01/2008 issued orders for payment of Hospital Patient Care Allowance (HPCA). Patient Care Allowance (PCA) to the Group ‘C’ & ‘D’ staff working in Railway Hospitals/Health Units/Clinics with effect from 01/01/2008 pursuant to the directives issued by the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare vide OM No. Z. 28015/24/2001-H dated 4th February 2004 duly removing ambiguity in this regard.

• The Principal Bench/CAT, New Delhi vide order dated 21st February 2014, while deciding OA No. 974/2013, has also relied on Railway Board’s circular dated 09/01/2008 and directed to pay HPCA/PCA to the Kitchen Staff working in the Railway Hospitals/Health Units/Clinics i.e. form 01/01/2008.

• Railway Board have issued orders granting HPCA/PCA to a few more categories such as Physiotherapist, Pharmacist working in the Railway Hospitals/Health Units/Clinics and these staff have been paid the HPCA/PCA w.e.f. 01/01/2008.

The Kithchen staff working in the Northern Railway Central Hospital are disappointed consequent upon issuance of unjustified order by the Railway Board for payment of HPCA/PCA from prospective date i.e. 02/06/2016 instead from 01/01/2008. A copy of representation dated 08/11/2016 received by the Federation from the Kitchen Staff of Northern Railway, Central Hospital is enclosed for reference as the representationists have been rightly demanding payment of HPCA/PCA from 01/01/2008.

NFIR, therefore, requests the Railway Board to re-consider the matter and issue instructions for allowing payment of HPCA/PCA to all Kitchen Staff working in Railway Hospitals/Health Units/Clinics w.e.f. 01/01/2008.

The issue will be discussed in NFIR’s PNM meeting to be held with the Railway Board on 22nd/23rd December 2016.

Yours faithfully,
(Dr. M. Raghavaiah)
General Secretary

The Chairman, Railway Board,
New Delhi

Respected Sir,
Sub: Payment of arrears of Hospital Patient Care Allowance/Patient Care Allowance (HPCA/PCA) to the Kitchen Staff working in the Railway Hospitals-reg.
Ref: Railway Board’s letter No. E(P&A)II-98/HW-6 Vol.III dated 02/06/2016.

We the following staff working the Kitchen of Northern Railway Central Hospital are thankful to the Railway Board for issuing orders for payment of Hospital Patient Care Allowance/Patient Care Allowance vide Railway Board’s orders dated 02/06/2016, pursuant to the demand raised vide NFIR’s PNM Item No. 12/2016. We are however, constrained to bring to your kind notice that our case has not been dealt with on merit and the payment of HPCA/PCA has been made w.e.f. 02/06/2016 only which is not justified.

In this connection, we place below following facts for the kind consideration and passing further orders in this case:-

• That pursuant to the directives issued by the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Railway Board vide letter No. E(P&A)II-98/HW-6 dated 09/01/2008 issued order for payment of HPCA/PCA to the categories of Group ‘C’ & ‘D’ staff working in the Railway Hospitals and Health Units/Clinics w.e.f 01/01/2008.

• Subsequently, some more categories of staff working in Railway Hospitals/Health Units/Clinics like Physiotherapist, Pharmacist etc., were added by the Railway Board who have also been paid HPCA/PCA w.e.f 01/01/2008.

• We are disappointed to note that in our case justice has not been awarded because payment of HPCA/PCA has been ordered only with effect from 02/02/2016, though our categories have been included vide Board’s order dated 02/06/2016.

The points mentioned above clearly established that the orders issued vide Board’s letter dated 02/06/2016 are discriminatory and do not impart justice to us.
We, therefore, request your kind honour to kindly consider our case for payment of Hospital Patient Care Allowance/Patient Care Allowance (HPCA/PCA) to us w.e.f. 01/01/2008, similar to other categories of staff receiving the Allowance since 01/01/2008 and remove discrimination.

Date: 08/11/2016

Source: NFIR