Friday 31 October 2014

JCM NATIONAL COUNCIL STAFF SIDE - ALL INDIA CONVENTION ON 11.12.2014



JCM NATIONAL COUNCIL STAFF SIDE - ALL INDIA CONVENTION ON 11.12.2014




CONFEDERATION OF CENTRAL GOVT. EMPLOYEES & WORKERS


1st Floor, North Avenue PO Building, New Delhi ñ 110001


Website: WWW. Confederationhq.blogspot.com


Email: Confederationhq@yahoo.co.in











Patron
S.K.Vyas
09868244035
President
K.K.N.Kutty
09811048303
SecretaryGeneral
M.Krishnan
09447068125



Ref: CIRCULAR NO. 20


DATED ñ 31.10.2014



Dear Comrades,


We send herewith copy of the letter from the Secretary, Staff Side, JCM intimating of the decision taken by the Staff Side to hold a National Convention at New Delhi on 11th December, 2014. We have already placed the said letter in our website. The decision is the outcome of the efforts the Confederation representatives in the Staff Side of the National council and must be considered a step in the justify direction in pursuance of the Charter of demands, especially the important issues like wage revision, interim relief, merger of DA, scrapping of the new Pension scheme, privatization, outsourcing etc. As indicated in the letter of the Staff side Secretary, the staff side is likely to meet in the second fortnight of November, 2014 to finalize the draft declaration and the programme of action. We shall place the draft declaration on our website as and when the same is finalized.



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Bank DA Calculation for Nov 2014 - Hike of 49 Slabs





Bank DA Calculation for Nov 2014 - Hike of 49 Slabs




Bank D.A. for Nov'14 onward : Hike of 49 slabs.



 Consequent upon the release of All India Consumer Price Index Numbers for Industrial workers(AICPIN) Base Year 2001=100 for the month of Septemberí14. by the Ministry of Labour and Employment to day,which stood at 253 points without any change while compared to August figure,the confirmed average AICPIN(IW) Base 1960=100 for the quarter will be as follows:



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Expected DA from Jan 2015 - AICPIN for the month of September 2014








Expected DA from Jan 2015 - AICPIN for the month of September 2014





No.5/1/2014- CPI


GOVERNMENT OF INDIA


MINISTRY OF LABOUR & EMPLOYMENT


LABOUR BUREAU


‘CLEREMONT’,  SHIMLA-171004:


Dated the 31st October, 2014


Press Release





Consumer Price Index for Industrial Workers (CPI-IW) – September, 2014





The All-India CPI-IW for September, 2014 remained stationary at 253 (two hundred and fifty three). On 1-month percentage change, it remained stalic between August, 2014 and September, 2014 when compared with the rise of 0.42 per cent between the same two months a year ago.



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Thursday 30 October 2014

Ban on creation of Plan and Non-Plan posts - Finance Ministry






Ban on creation of Plan and Non-Plan posts - Finance Ministry


Posts that have remained vacant for more than a year are not to be revived except under very rare and unavoidable circumstances and after seeking clearance of Department of Expenditure.





Domestic and International Travel


While officers are entitled to vanous classes of air travel depending on seniority, utmost economy would need to be observed while exercising the choice keeping the limitations of budget in mind. However, there would be no bookings in First Class."





Purchase of vehicles:


Purchase of new vehicles to meet the operational requirement of Defence Forces, Central Paramilitary Forces & security related organizations are permitted. Ban on purchase of other vehicles (including staff cars) will continue except against condemnation.






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NC JCM STAFF SIDE UNITY SHOULD BE FOR STRUGGLE






NC JCM STAFF SIDE UNITY SHOULD BE FOR STRUGGLE - Central Government Employees are eagerly waiting for the outcome of the National Convention which will be held on 11.12.2014.





NDA Government which came to power after General Election has rejected all the main demands of the Central Government Employees which includes merger of DA , Interim Relief...





NFPE  firmly believes that if the present unity among the JCM staffside organizations is not channelized for building up united struggle including indefinite strike of entire Central Government Employees the National Convention will become a futile exercise and an eye-wash to cool down the growing discontentment among the employees...






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Extension of validity of empanelment of All Health Care Organizations empanelled under CGHS cities outside Delhi/NCR



Extension of validity of empanelment of All Health Care Organizations empanelled under CGHS cities outside Delhi/NCR





F.No: S.11045/36/2012/CGHS (HEC) (Pt.)


Government of India


Directorate General Of Central Govt. Health Scheme





Maulana Azad Road, Nirman Bhawan


New Delhi 110108, dated the 30th October, 2014





OFFICE ORDER





Subject: Regarding extension of validity of empanelment of All Health Care Organizations empanelled under CGHS cities outside Delhi/NCR.





Attention is drawn to the Office Memorandum issued earlier extending validity of empanelment of all health care organizations under CGHS outside Delhi/NCR till 31st October, 2014.



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Dopt issued policy guidelines for Extension of tenure of Board level Incumbents where vigilance clearance is not available



Dopt issued policy guidelines for Extension of tenure of Board level Incumbents where vigilance clearance is not available





No.17(9)EO/2014-ACC


Government of India


Secretariat of the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet


Department of Personnel & Training


Office of the Establishment Officer





North, Block, New Delhi


Dated : 30.10.2014





OFFICE MEMORANDUM





Subject: Policy guidelines for Extension of tenure of Board level Incumbents where vigilance clearance is not available.





As per extant policy, in case the initial term of 05 years of a Board-level appointee come to an end prior to his/her date of superannuation, extension of his/her tenure upto the date of superannuation is considered with the approval of the ACC subject to his/her being free from vigilance angle and meeting the prescribed performance parameters. In terms of existing instructions, services of any Board-level appointee cannot be terminated on completion of his Initial term, if he/she is due for extension, without specific orders of the ACC. There are many cases, however, where vigilance clearance Is not given in time by CVC/concerned administrative Ministry/Department due to complaints/inquiries pending against the concerned officer.



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Wednesday 29 October 2014

Early Closure of Offices on 30th October, 2014 in connection with the “Run for Unity” flag off at Vijay Chowk by Our PM - Dopt Orders


Early Closure of Offices on 30th October, 2014 in connection with the “Run for Unity” flag off at Vijay Chowk by Our PM - Dopt Orders





Early Closure of Offices on 30th October, 2014 in connection with the “Run for Unity” flag off at Vijay Chowk by the Hon’ble Prime Minister of India





No.12/17/2014-JCA 2 


Government of India 


Ministry of Personnel Public Grievances and Pensions 


(Department of Personnel and Training)


North Block, New Delhi


Dated the 29th October, 2014





OFFICE MEMORANDUM





Sub: Early Closure of Offices on 30th October, 2014 in connection with the “Run for Unity” flag off at Vijay Chowk by the Hon’ble Prime Minister of India.





In connection with the arrangements for the “Run for Unity” flag off at Vijay Chowk by the Hon’ble Prime Minister of India on 31st October, 2014, it has been decided that the Government offices located in the buildings indicated in the Annexure I to this O.M would be closed early at 14:00 hrs. on 30th October, 2014 (Thursday) and will remain closed till 09.30 AM on 31st October, 2014 (Friday).


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CG EMPLOYEES FEDERATIONS OBSERVE 'NATIONAL PROTEST DAY' - DEMANDS INCLUDING DA MERGER, INTERIM RELIEF, MACP & BONUS...






CG EMPLOYEES FEDERATIONS OBSERVE 'NATIONAL PROTEST DAY' - DEMANDS INCLUDING DA MERGER, INTERIM RELIEF, MACP & BONUS...





Observation of 'National Protest Day' on 5.12.2014





Central Government Employees Federations to observe Protest Day on 5th December





Press Note





CGEC, NOCGE, INTUC


To observe “NATIONAL PROTEST DAY” ON 5th December, 2014


All Over India along with all Central Trade Unions in India





New Delhi, Nagpur, Mumbai, Ranchi, Bangalore, Cochin; 24/10/2014





Central Government Employees Confederation (CGEC); National Organisation of Central Government Employees (NOCGE) and INTUC have unanimously resolved to observe “NATIONAL PROTEST DAY” on 5th December, 2014 all over India along with all Central Trade Unions in India (Viz: INTUC, BMS, CITU, HMS, AITUC, TUCC, AIUTUC, AICCTU, UTUC, SEWA, LPF and all Federations of Banks, Railways (NFIR & AIRF), Defence (INDWF & AIDEF), Insurance, Central/State Govt. and other Service Establishments Employees).



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Reimbursement of Medical claim pertaining to in-patient treatment to the Defence Civilians who are getting Fixed Medical Allowance - BPMS






Reimbursement of Medical claim pertaining to in-patient treatment to the Defence Civilians who are getting Fixed Medical Allowance.





BHARATIYA PRATIRAKSHA MAZDOOR SANGH


(ALL INDIA FEDERATION OF DEFENCE WORKERS)


AN INDUSTRIAL UNIT OF B.M.S


(RECONGNISED BY MINISTRY OF DEFENCE GOVT.OF. INDIA)


CENTRAL OFFICE: 2-A, 


NAVEEN MARKET, KANPUR – 208001, 


PH & FAX : (0512) 2332222


MOBILE: 0915733686, 09235729390, 09335621629, 


WEB : www.bpms.org.in





Ref: BPMS / CSMA / 156 (8/1/L)                                                                                     


Dated:25.10.2014


To,


The Under Secretary, D(Civ-II),


Govt of India, Min of Defence,


‘B’ Wing, Sena Bhawan,


New Delhi – 110011





Subject: Reimbursement of Medical claim pertaining to in-patient treatment to the Defence Civilians who are getting Fixed Medical Allowance.





Reference: MOD ID No. 9(1)/2010/D(Civ-II),Dated 09.09.2014





Respected Sir,





With due regards, it is submitted that this Federation has raised the subject matter before the Secretary, MOH&FW and Min of Defence on 05.07.2011and reminded from time to time that Fourth Central Pay Commission (04th CPC) recommended in Para 16.9 as under;



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Allotment of ground floor residential accommodation to disability persons under discretionary quota on medical grounds - Directorate of Estates Orders



Allotment of ground floor residential accommodation to the applicants with disabilities under discretionary quota on medical grounds





No. 12035/2/97.Pol II(Vol III)


Government of India


Ministry of Urban Development


Directorate of Estates





Nirman Bhavan,


New Delhi — 110 108.


Dated the 7 October, 2014





OFFICE MEMORANDUM





Sub: Guidelines for discretionary out of turn allotments of general pool residential accommodation in Delhi — allotment of ground floor residential accommodation to the applicants with disabilities under discretionary quota on medical grounds.





The undersigned is directed to refer to Department of Personnel and Training O M.No.36O35/3/2013.Es(Res) dated 31.3.2014 and to say that it has been decided by the competent authority that preferably ground floor accommodation will be allotted to the applicants with disabilities under the discretionary allotments on out of turn basis on medical grounds as per the extant guidelines of the Directorate of Estates issued vide No.12035/2/97 Pol(pt) dated 17.11.1997.



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Dopt orders on enhancement of grant-in-aid to Resident Welfare Association



Dopt orders on enhancement of grant-in-aid to Resident Welfare Association





No. 5/11/2010-Welfare


Government of India


Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions


Department of Personnel & Training





Lok Nayak Bhawan, New Delhi-110003,


Dated the 8th May 2013





To 


The sectetary


Resident Welfare Association


(As per list attached )





Subject:- Enhancement of grant-in-aid to Resident Welfare Association-reg.





Sir, I am directed to s4 that Department of Personnel and Training has been sanctioning grant-in-aid to recognized Residents Welfare Associations subject to a maximum of Rs. 4,500/- per annum to enable them to meet part of their expenses to be incurred by the Association on the welfare activities/programmes to be organized within the financial year. The existing limits were fixed in 2001. Now, It has been decided to revise the quantum of grant-in-aid to Resident Welfare Associations to Rs. 101000/-.





2. The pattern of grant-in-aid to RWA’s will be as under:-





“The pattern of grant-in-aid given by the Department of Personnel and Training to RWAs will be linked to the number of members Groupwise i.e. quantum of grant-in-aid to Group ‘C’ employees would be two times the amount of subscription realized from regular members, for Group ‘A’ and ‘B’ only matching grant would be provided subject to a limit of Rs.10,000/-.”





3. The increased grants as above would be applicable from this financial year i.e. 2013- 2014. All other term and conditions governing sanction of grant-in-aid remain unchanged.











4. This issues with the concurrence of AS&FA(H) vide their Dy. No; VID/0086 dated 01/02/2013





Yours faithfully,


(Pratima Tyagri


Director(Canteen)





Source:www.persmin.gov.in


[http://ccis.nic.in/WriteReadData/CircularPortal/D2/D02adm/n.pdf]





Latest Hot News...





















UIDAI Based Biometric Attendance system in government offices - Aadhaar is now the world’s largest biometric database






UIDAI Based Biometric Attendance system in government offices - Aadhaar is now the world’s largest biometric database





Press Information Bureau 


Government of India


Ministry of Rural Development 


28-October-2014 16:49 IST





The Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) has issued 70 crore Aadhaar numbers as on 28th October 2014. 





As on date, nine states including Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, Delhi, Himachal Pradesh, have crossed 90 percent Aadhaar coverage, while sixteen states have Aadhaar coverage of over 70 percent. UIDAI is also conducting Aadhaar enrolments in the newly assigned states of Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Uttarakhand and Chhattisgarh, at a fast pace. These four states with a combined population of about 34 crore, were added earlier this year to UIDAI’s mandate by the government. Till date, Aadhaar numbers have been issued to 8.93 crore residents in these states, which is 26% of the target population. 



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Tuesday 28 October 2014

7th Central Pay Commission’s visit to Shimla, Himachal Pradesh from 12th to 13th November, 2014








7th Central Pay Commission’s visit to Shimla, Himachal Pradesh  from 12th to 13th November, 2014





Commission’s visit to Shimla, Himachal Pradesh





The Commission, headed by its Chairman, Justice Shri A. K. Mathur, proposes to visit Shimla, Himachal Pradesh from 12th to 13th November, 2014. The Commission would like to invite various entities/associations/federations representing any/all categories of employees covered by the terms of reference of the Commission to present their views.






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National Convention of the NC (JCM Staff Side) for DA Merger and Interim Relief






National Convention of the National Council (JCM Staff Side) to be held on 11.12.2014.





Shiva Gopal Mishra


Secretary





Ph: 23382286


National Council (Staff Side)


Joint Consultative Machinery for Central government Employees


13-C, Ferozshah Road, New Delhi – 110001


E Mail : nc.jcm.np@ gmail .com





Ref. No.NC-JCM/2014/SC





Dated: October 25, 2014





All Constituent Organisations,


National Council(JCM)





Dear Comrades,


Sub: Holding of National Convention of the National Council (JCM)(Staff Side)





As you are aware, the Staff Side, JCM National Council had, as desired by the 7th CPC, submitted a separate memorandum on Interim Relief and Merger of DA, copy of which had also been sent to the Finance Ministry. During the Informal Discussions the Staff Side had with the Pay Commission, they had assured us to take up the issue with the Government seeking amendment to the Terms of Reference to enable them to act upon our memorandum.






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Monday 27 October 2014

Employment News Weekly Report – From 25 to 31 October 2014



Employment News Weekly Report – From 25 to 31 October 2014





Every week Employment News Weekly is publishing the new job lists for young unemployed youth. This week explore new vacancies from Central Coalfields Limited, Ranchi and Steel Authority of India Limited etc.,





Weekly Job Highlights :


1. Utkal University, Bhubaneswar


Name of Posts – Professor, Assistant Professor, Reader and Lecturer in Anthropology, Bio-Technology, Botany, Business Administration, Physics etc.


No. of vacancies- 49


Last Date – 05.11.2014






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Sunday 26 October 2014

Medicines under CGHS can be issued for up to 3 months at a time in chronic diseases – Amendment CGHS Order on 21.10.2014



Medicines under CGHS can be issued for up to 3 months at a time in chronic diseases on the basis of a valid prescription and for up to 6 months for those beneficiaries who are going abroad.





Issue of medicines / reimbursement of expenditure on investigations / treatment procedures / implants and other medical devices under CGHS- regarding





F.No 2-2/2014/CGHS PPT/CGHS(P)


Government of India


Ministry of Health & Family Welfare


Department of Health & Family Welfare





Nirman Bhawan, Maulana Azad Road


New Delhi 110 108


Dated: the 21st October , 2014





OFFICE MEMORANDUM





Sub- Issue of medicines / reimbursement of expenditure on investigations / treatment procedures / implants and other medical devices under CGHS- regarding





With reference to the above mentioned subject the undersigned is directed to draw attention to paragraph (c) and (d) of the Office Memorandum of even No dated the 25th August 2014 and to state that in response to the representations received from CGHS beneficiaries in this regard , it has now been‘decided by the competent authority to withdraw the provisions under para (c) and para (d) of the Office Memorandum No 2-2/2014/CGHS HQ/ PPT/CGHS(P) dated the 25th August , 2014 [view] and to restore the status existing prior to the issue of above stated OM dated the 25th August, 2014.



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Suggestions for review of Staff Benevolent Fund – Regarding



Suggestions for review of Staff Benevolent Fund – Regarding





No.2/1/2014-Welfare


Government of India


Ministry of Personnel Public Grievances and Pensions


(Depart of Personnel & Training





Lok Nayak Bhavan, Khan Market


New Delhi, dated October 20, 2014





To


Joint Secretary (Admn.),


All Ministries/Departments,


Government of India,


New Delhi.





21 OCT 2014





Subject:- Suggestions for review of Staff Benevolent Fund – Regarding





Sir/Madam,





The undersigned is directed to say that the Central Government being the largest single employer in the country, bears the major responsibility of looking after the welfare of a large number of employees spread all over the country. This Ministry recognizing that welfare of employees is one of prime tasks of personnel management, provides and aids a large network of staff welfare programmes underlining the fact that improvement in the working and living conditions of the employees and their families, leads to efficiency and high morale amongst them. A compendium of instructions giving a brief account of such welfare programmes was brought out by this Ministry in 2001. A need is felt to update/revise the compendium.



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Saturday 25 October 2014

PM's surprise visit to Siachen: PM said the promise of *One Rank, One Pension* had been fulfilled



PM’s surprise visit to Siachen; celebrates Diwali with officers and jawans of the Indian Armed Forces





PM to jawans: I come to celebrate my first Diwali as PM with you. Happy to be among my own.





PM to jawans: You make it possible for 125 crore Indians to celebrate Diwali happily.





“Your dreams and responsibilities are the responsibility of us all. The entire nation stands shoulder to shoulder with you.”





The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today made a surprise visit to Siachen. Addressing officers and jawans of the Indian Armed Forces at Siachen Base Camp at a height of over 12,000 feet, he praised their valour and courage, saying that 125 crore Indians could celebrate Diwali today, and go about their lives in comfort, because the jawans stood guard at the borders, prepared to make every sacrifice for the nation. The nation is proud of all three wings of the armed forces, the Prime Minister added.



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EU Budget

The right wing press is having a field day.  The papers are full of headlines such as "One Step Nearer to the EU Exit", "Britain closer to quitting EU", "Cameron defies wealth tax" etc.  The language of the press is one of war.  War against our closest neighbours and most important trading partners.  Our prime minister banged his hand down on the table, went red and puffy in the face and spoke of his anger and said "I'm not going to pay that bill!"  Certain backbench Tories screamed that the demand was "illegal" and he was told to ignore it.

Judging by Twitter, Europhiles are left wringing their hands in despair, almost giving up the fight.  This is a gift for the Eurosceptics, must be an inside job by a UKIPer at Brussels, total idiocy by the EU, makes it hard to defend them etc.  Certainly a chunk of Labour is seeking to out Tory the Tories, as they have done on immigration, by rushing to get behind the populist call to stop Brussels in its latest outrage.  Let's just turn the pan off boil for a moment and look at all this a bit more dispassionately.


PM "goes to war"

We're being Singled Out

The first general reaction yesterday seemed to be that Britain was being singled out by "Brussels" by arbitrarily having a bill slapped on it to pay a great deal of money in a completely unreasonable space of time.  People were asking if this was deliberate spite by Brussels, or whether it was designed to push us out.  In total it was, perhaps predictably, a typically UK centric reaction.  It is of course the one that's being carried through in the tabloids. 

I looked at the story and asked myself whether any one else had been given a similar demand.   It turns out that 11 of the 28 member states have in fact been asked to pay more.  So clearly it's not just us.

Our figure, €2.1 billion, is however far larger than any other country's.  Except the British economy and population is far larger than say the Netherlands': we have 64 million inhabitants, they have 16 million people.  So I took the figures that were being reported and did a 3 second calculation.  We are being asked for €2.1 billion extra; the Netherlands are being asked for €642 million (I had to go to the Dutch press for that as the reaction was so uniquely UK-centric at first).

So that's a demand of €32 per person for the year from every Briton and one of... oh, 20% more than that, or €38 per person, from every Dutch person.


Suddenly it's becoming a bit tricky to see this as a hate campaign directed solely at Perfidious Albion, masterminded by a garlic munching Frenchman and a beer-swilling German, over a waffle in a side street Belgian café, determined to get their revenge for our success at Empire and the War.

It's "Brussels' Fault"

Some people talk about Brussels as if it is some huge amorphous blob made up of foreigner bureaucrats that is designed solely to make our lives miserable.   It is all imposed on us from abroad, with no democratic input whatsoever.  They seem oblivious to the fact that all the important decision making, the really key stuff, is made by a body called the European Council.

Who is the European Council made up of?  It's the heads of state or government of the national states.  Yep: it's David Cameron for the United Kingdom.  It's a tiny body: 28 people for each one of the member states, plus the Council president and the Commission president.  This isn't thousands of foreign civil servants.  It's our democratically elected national leaders setting out the political agenda and workings of the EU. 

The Council determines how the EU works, by creating and amending treaties, and by making decisions.  One of those decisions was made back in 2007 and it was unanimously adopted.  It wasn't anything sexy or exciting: it concerned the method for calculating the annual EU budget, and in particular the dreary way statistics are calculated.  Once the rule is made, it's then over to the hordes of bureaucrats at the Commission, Eurostat and other EU bodies.  Remember every one of these bodies was set up as a result of the decisions of the democratically elected national leaders, to carry out their will.

Don't like the rules?  Blame our leaders, who created them.  It's not the fault of people whose job it is to carry the rules as they have been instructed to.  If they're doing their job poorly they deserve criticism, but if they are applying the rules as they are supposed to, it is hard to blame "Brussels".  Unless you're a complete idiot, of course.


(Picture in no way linked to preceding sentence)

Why the Demand?

Britain has been consistently reporting too low values for our Gross National Income over the last years.  Hence there has been a large adjustments upwards.  It's that simple.  We weren't happy with the way the statistics were calculated by everyone, wanted the system to be fairer, and have now found out we've been underpaying. 

The reason the story has hit the news is that the FT published a leaked draft report on the statistics.  You can read here in detail why the report says what it does, but here it is in essence:
  • In May of every year the EU Commission is required to meet with representatives of each state to estimate what their Gross National Income will be for the coming year.  
  • Every autumn they meet again to see if there are any revisions to the numbers.  This is a purely mathematical revision.
  • It enables the Commission to set the revised figures in stone on 1 December of each year, as it is required to do.
This year, the difference was that because Heads of Government insisted on it, the statistics provided in May were calculated on a different basis.  The aim was to make sure each country calculates its statistics in exactly the same way, to ensure what everyone pays is fair and above board.  It's not a bad principle.  The calculations used 1995 as a benchmark year.

Patrizio Fiorilli is the spokesman for the EU budget commissioner.  He commented "The timing is far from ideal, but there are rules we have to follow."   As for using 1995 as the benchmark year for calculating the impact of GNI figures: “Member states including Britain insisted on this. It is their decision,” he said.

This is a one-off large scale revision: in the UK's case it actually relates to 11 years of underpayment that works out to £155 million a year on average.  It is a historic correction, not an ongoing demand for massive new contributions as many no doubt think.  The Commission confirmed this yesterday: "With all these issues now cleared, future such corrections will again be rather minor, as they were in recent years."

Addendum: What hope is there when the national broadcaster wrongly claims as it did in this report, that it is an annual additional £1.7 billion that has to be paid?  (They've since corrected it):


The Financial Times by contrast described the £155 million figure as "a sum that would barely deserve a footnote in the annual UK national accounts.

The 1 December deadline

The Commission hasn't plucked this date from the air either.  It is the date that is set out in the rules that are followed every year, as described above.   Apparently the PM found out about the issue on Thursday.  The government admits the Chancellor knew on 21 October, but didn't tell the PM until 23 October.  If this is such a massive issue (more on that below) you'd think George would have texted Dave and warned him WW3 was about to break out.  Maybe he didn't have his mobile number.  In turn, the Commission confirmed member countries were told of the revisions on 17 October.  You'd assume someone would have sent an email off to the Chancellor a bit faster than all that.

Our representatives in all this, the people on the ground, are employees of the Treasury.  A good question was whether they realised that there would be a large revision, or whether it was sprung on them.  They are the ones who prepared the statistics for the meeting in May.  It seems a little unlikely that someone didn't notice the massive difference in the GNI figures that led to the €2bn recalculation.

HM Treasury.  George's patch
Labour’s new shadow Europe minister, Pat McFadden, said last night that he had found evidence that ministers must have been aware of the upcoming changes five months ago when they were sent an Office for National Statistics report which stated that growth figures would be used in a recalculation of Britain’s contribution to the EU budget.

Did the Government delay making news public about this expected revision to the UK’s EU contribution because of fears about how it would play out for the Conservative party?” he asked.  Never!  Our PM would never allow a paralysing fear of UKIP to affect something as important as this just because of his party interests.  Surely.

Turning the Tables

The Prime Minister has ruled out paying the €2.1 billion on 1 December.  He hasn't ruled out paying it entirely on a different date.  He really can't: he is part of the club that has agreed the way all this works.  It's not up for him to argue that rules should be bent: a constant criticism of others is that they don't stick to the agreed rules and should do so.  It is also interesting to imagine a situation where it transpired the UK had been overpaying, rather then underpaying.  I can't imagine we'd be throwing our toys out of the pram if that were the case. 

It's the exact position Germany and France are in, for example.  They have been overpaying for years and are entitled to a reduction on that basis.  I don't see why they should agree to give up that refund of money, in the same way we never would.  In terms of the bigger picture, Germany contributes more to the EU budget than the 19 smallest states do combined.  They contribute not that far off double what the UK does.

It might seem instinctively "cruel" or "perverse" that Greece is being included in the countries that is being required to make an increased payment this year given its economic situation.  But hold on one moment: it is being requested to pay an adjustment of €89.4 million.  That is, with respect, chicken-feed in terms of a national budget, even a country like Greece that has been ravaged by the inhuman policies of austerity.  The fact they are being asked for the payment reflects solely the fact that they have been underpaying previously and there is a fair, objective application of the rules across the board.


Another important thing to note is the stat contained in the bottom right hand of the above table.  This isn't the EU conducting a "cash-grab" as has been suggested.  The budget will actually be €419 million shorter on revenues than had been expected as a result of the application of the rules.  Was it the Prime Minister or was it Farage (I genuinely forget) who excitedly said "This isn't fair, they weren't expecting this extra money!" - the fact is they are going to be working off less money, not more next year. 

Sex and Drugs

Some people in my timeline got terribly excited about the fact that our "black economy" was being included in the statistical calculations for the first time, and that this could be responsible for the increased payment.

It is correct that our GDP was given a £10 billion boost after officials worked out that paid sex work represented £5.3 billion for the economy.  In other EU countries such as Germany and Netherlands such work is legal and taxed, and has therefore been included in the statistics for years.  It is therefore fair (as the national leaders agreed) that everything should be calculated on the same basis.  Another £4.4 billion was added from the sale of illegal drugs.  However, our economy is worth $2,900 billion.  These figures represent under 1% of GDP and are hardly responsible for most or all of the €2.1 billion repayment figure.

Still, a headline of "Sex work and drugs lift EU bill" gets the clicks, I guess.

Huge Numbers

It's so hard for us mere mortals to understand numbers involving multiple rows of zeros on the end.  What does a million anything look like?  A billion?  A trillion?  We can only go on the outrage that politicians express and if they sound terribly cross, assume this must be a massive thing.  €2.1 billion sounds like a huge deal anyhow.  Will we ever be able to afford it?



It is undoubtedly a lot of money.  Just three days ago, however, it became clear that government borrowing was 10% higher than a year ago.  Its spending last month was £11.8 billion.  That's in one month.  The overshoot in spending was - wait for it - £1.6 billion higher (€2.03 billion) in that single month than it had been in September 2013.  The Tories' careful management of the economy involved an overspend that was a full £1 billion over the expectations of the City.

This sparked ABSOLUTE OUTRAGE.  TALK OF WAR.  CAMERON BANGING TABLES.  RIOTS IN THE STREETS.  WITHDRAWAL FROM EVERYTHING.  Oh. Actually, there was a story in the Guardian and one in the economics section of the Telegraph and everyone just carried on.

It's clear that utter double standards apply, and people just aren't applying critical faculties to this.  The EU payment is a one-off, correcting possibly twenty years of underpayment by us, which was because of the statistics we supplied.  It is in accordance with the rules we insisted on.  The Government is slashing spending left right and centre, quite deliberately taking away payments from the long term disabled, and yet they are overspending to the tune of £1.6 billion in a single month.  Hardly an eye brow is raised.

Where are the howls of outrage on the front page of the Mail or the Express over this?  The simple fact is that the howls in the EU case come from the fact that Johnny Foreigner is seen as making the "unfair" demand, and nothing sells as well as xenophobia in today's toxic Britain.

EU Myths and Lies

Whilst we're on the subject of myths let's get something straight about EU spending.  It is not going on an army of fraudulent, lazy bureaucrats in Brussels, and it does not represent a mountain of gold.

The EU budget was €144 billion in total in 2013.  The member states' national budgets were €6,400 billion by contrast.  It stands at around 1% of the 28 EU countries' GDP, whereas the budgets of national governments represent 49% of their GDP on average.  The EU budget is always balanced, so there is no deficit or debt - unlike with national governments.

94% of what we pay into the EU comes back on expenditure in EU countries on policies and programmes that directly benefit people who live in the EU.  That includes to you and me on all sorts of programmes, regional spending etc - £5.2 billion in the United Kingdom every year.  6% goes on administration.  Less than 0.2% of EU spending goes on fraud.

On top of everything the UK still gets an annual rebate on its payments: a legacy of Mrs Thatcher that is worth over €3 billion a year to us.  That's pure special treatment for Britain.


The Commission estimates that in 2013 the average EU citizen paid only €0,89 a day (£0.70) towards the EU budget.  It points out that's less than half the price of a cup of coffee.  It genuinely is hardly very expensive given the benefits that the EU brings its citizens.  The CBI puts the value of UK membership of the EU at between £62bn and £78bn a year in extra trade and intangible benefits.  This means jobs and income for ordinary people.  €8.6 billion in and over £60 billion back out?  That seems a pretty darn good deal to me.

Final Word: over to Carl

So there we have it.  In summary, we asked for these rules.  We've been paying too little for years.   The chutzpah of David Cameron is amazing.  He truly is a showman: he's successfully convincing people in this country that the EU really is a conspiracy that has unfairly singled out Britain (and pretty much Britain alone) to stump up loads of cash unfairly.  This hasn't been known for months: oh no, it's just come to light.  And it's a massive, massive amount of money with loads and loads of zeros (unlike the amount his chancellor and best mate is overspending on literally a monthly basis) that we can't and won't pay.  And Europhiles and Labour supporters are falling hook line and sinker for this utter tosh.

I have no idea who Carl Hornsey is, but this was retweeted into my timeline.  He puts it all much more succinctly than I do.  I like his style.









KVS Orders - Payment of Dearness Relief @ 107% w.e.f. 01/7/2014



KVS Orders - Payment of Dearness Relief @ 107% w.e.f. 01/7/2014





KENDRIYA VIDYALAYA SAN GATHAN (HQ)


18, Institutional Area, SJ. Marg, New Delhi-110016.





F. No.110230/1.Corr.-SBI/2014/KVS/P&I/1077


Dated: 20-10-2014


The Manager(Instt.)


State Bank of India,


Main Branch(4th Floor),


Parliament Street,


New Delhi-110001.





Sub.: Payment of Dearness Relief @ 107% w.e.f. 01/7/2014.





Sir,





The Department of Pension & Pensioner Welfare, Ministry of Personnel Public Grievances & Pension vide O.M. No.42/10/2014-P&PW(G) dated 29th September,2014 has already enhanced the existing rate of Dearness Relief @ 100% to 107% w.e.f. 01/7/2014, the same has already been implemented by the KVS.





You are therefore, requested to ensure payment of Dearness Relief @ 107% to all the Pensioners of KVS w.e.f. 01/07/2014.





Yours faithfully,


sd/-


(B.C.D. KUMAR)


Assistant Commissioner(Fin.)





Source: www.kvsangathan.nic.in


[http://www.kvsangathan.nic.in/GeneralDocuments/ANN-22-10-14%281%29.PDF]





Latest Hot News...


















Thursday 23 October 2014

Transport Allowance and Travelling Allowance Rules at a glance






Transport Allowance and Travelling Allowance Rules at a glance





At first glance, both transport allowance and traveling allowance might look the same. But, the two are very different for Central Government employees. Recent spate of orders issued by the DOPT and Finance Ministry on TRAVELLING ALLOWANCE was the inspiration behind this write-up.





In its order last week, the DOPT said that senior officers who have to travel by air for official purposes may not have to submit the boarding passes while settlement of TA claims. They will have to henceforth submit the passes only when required. The very next day, the Finance Ministry issued an order that made it mandatory for senior officials to submit boarding passes alongwith TA bills for air journey performed on Government account.






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Wednesday 22 October 2014

National Convention will adopt a joint resolution on DA Merger, Interim Relief






National Convention will adopt a joint resolution on DA Merger, Interim Relief





JCM STAFF SIDE NATIONAL CONVENTION ON 11TH DECEMBER 2014 AT NEW DELHI.





WILL DECLARE JOINT PROGRAME OF ACTION ON CENTRAL GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES COMMON DEMANDS





JCM Staff Side leadership has decided to organize a National Convention of all Central Government Employees (Railway, Defence & Confederation) on 11th December 2014 at New Delhi from 12 PM to 4 PM. Convention will adopt a joint resolution on the common demands of the Central Government Employees viz; Merger of DA, Interim Relief, Inlcusion of GDS under 7th CPC, Scrap New Pension Scheme etc and will declare joint programs of action.






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Tuesday 21 October 2014

Commencement of online booking of Touring Officer’s Hostel/Guest House in Nizam Place, Kolkata



Commencement of online booking of Touring Officer’s Hostel/Guest House in Nizam Place, Kolkata.





No. D-11020/1/2013-Regions


Government of India


Ministry of Urban Development


Directorate of Estates


Nirman Bhawan, New Delhi


Dated 14.10.2014





Office Memorandum





Subject: Commencement of online booking of Touring Officer’s Hostel/Guest House in Nizam Place, Kolkata.





Renovation work in B Block of Guest House, Nizam Place, Kolkata has been completed by CPWD. It has been decided to commence online booking of room available in B Block may be made with immediate effect. Details of Booking Authority are as follow :






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Grant of House Rent Allowance to Central Government Employees on Transfer from one station to another station – MoD orders



Grant of House Rent Allowance to Central Government Employees on Transfer from one station to another station – MoD orders





Tele : 23012408


No. A/81397/DGQA/ADM/RMD (CW)





9 Oct 2014





MINISTRY OF DEFENCE 


DGQA/ADM/RMD (CW)





GRANT OF HRA TO CENTRAL GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES ON TRANSFER FROM ONE STATION TO ANOTHER – INSTRUCTIONS REGARDING





1. As per the instructions contained in Min of finance (Departments of Expenditure) OM No. 11014/2/Ell(B)/82 dt 19 Mar 1983 read in conjunction with Min of Finance OM No. F2(37)-Ell(B)/64 dt 27 Nov 1965, ” A Government servant, who, on transfer, has been permitted to retain Government accommodation at the old station on payment of normal rent or penal rent or retains Government accommodation unauthorisedly on payment of market rent etc, will not be entitled to HRA at the new station for the period beyond 8 months from the date of his transfer”.






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Uploading of RTI replies on the respective website of Ministry/Department



Uploading of RTI replies on the respective website of Ministry/Department - Dopt Orders





No.1/1/2013-IR


Government of India


Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions


Department of Personnel & Training





North Block, New Delhi-1


Dated : 21-10-2014





OFFICE MEMORANDUM





Subject: Uploading of RTI replies on the respective website of Ministry/Department.





Attention is invited to DOPT’s guidelines on suo motu disclosure issued vide 0M. No.1/6/2011-IR dated 15-4-2013 whereby Public Authorities have an obligation to proactively disclose RTI applications and appeals received by them and their responses on their websites.





2. In order to facilitate uploading of RTI applications/appeals received and their responses on the website, a new feature has been added to the CPIO/FAA’s module on the ‘RTI online” portal on pilot basis for DOPT. This feature provides an option to the CPIO and FAA to upload the reply to RTI application and first appeal respectively on the website of the Department.






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Monday 20 October 2014

One hour in-house weekly training for all Group of Central Government employees



One hour in-house weekly training for all Group of CG employees





An another important orders has been published by the Dopt regarding the 'In-house Weekly Training' for all Group of CG employees.





Department of Personnel & Training has started in-house weekly training for its employees which was inaugurated by the Additional Principal Secretary to PM on 9th October 2014. All officials from LDC up to Under Secretaries will be nominated in batches of 45-50 and the training will be conducted every Wednesday from 10.00 am to 11.00 am.






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7th Pay Commission proposes to visit Mumbai from 6th to 8th November 2014






7th Pay Commission proposes to visit Mumbai from 6th to 8th November 2014





The commission has, in its first phase of interaction, been seeking the views of various stakeholders on its terms of reference. To this end, meetings have been held in Delhi with various organisations and heads of various agencies.





In its second phase of interaction, the Commission has started holding meetings in different parts of the country to facilitate stakeholders staying in various areas to present their views personally before the Commission and ensure larger representation. This exercise is being undertaken to enable the Commission to get a first-hand impression about the functioning and the condition of service prevailing in different parts of the country.






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Revision of Grade Pay of Lab Technicians – GP 4200 effect from 1.1.2006



Revision of Grade Pay of Lab Technicians – GP 4200 effect from 1.1.2006





Up-gradation of Grade Pay from 2800 to 4200 to Laboratory Technician working in O. F Hospitals. Text of Order received by email from Shri Vikas Garg is reproduced below:





BY COMNET





No. 042/BPMS/CAT/PER/M


Government of India


Ministry ofDefence


Ordnance Factory Board


10 A: S. K Bose Road


KOLKATA – 700 001.





Date: 17-10-2014





To


The Sr. General Manager/ General Manager


Ordnance & Ordnance Equipment Factories





Sub: Up-gradation of Grade Pay Laboratory Technician working in O. F Hospitals.


Ref: (i) MOD ID No. 50(7)/2012-D (Estt./NG) dt.15-10-2014.





The Competent Authority in the Government of India has agreed to revise the Pay Scale of the post of Lab Technicians working in the Hospitals of DGOF Organisation as under:



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Grant of Dearness Relief to CPF beneficiaries in receipt of ex-gratia payment w.e.f. 01.07.2014



Grant of Dearness Relief to CPF beneficiaries in receipt of ex-gratia payment w.e.f. 01.07.2014.





F.No.42/10/2014-P&PW(G)


Government of India


Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions


Department of Pension & Pensioners’ Welfare





3rd Floor, Lok Nayak Bhavan,


Khan Market, New Delhi – 110003





Date: 20th Oct, 2014





OFFICE MEMORANDUM





Subject: Grant of Dearness Relief to CPF beneficiaries in receipt of ex-gratia payment w.e.f. 01.07.2014.





In continuation of this Department’s OM No.42/10/2014-P&PW(G) dated 7th May, 2014, the President is pleased to grant the Dearness Relief at the rate of 5th CPC w.e.f. 1.7.2014 to the following :





(i) The surviving CPF beneficiaries who have retired from service between the period 18.11.1960 to 31.12.1985 and are in receipt of ex-gratia @ Rs.600/ p.m. w.e.f. 1.11.1997 under this Department’s OM No. 45/S2/97-P&PW(E) dated 16.12.1997 & revised to Rs.3000, Rs.1000, Rs.750 & Rs.650 for Group A, B. C & D respectively w.e.f 4th June, 2013 vide OM No.1/10f2012-P&PW(E) dt. 27th June, 2013 are entitled to Dearness Relief @ 212% w.e.f. 1.7.2014.



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Sunday 19 October 2014

Carry On Rome

The Lord Giveth

What a week it's been in the Carry On Rome series.  In case, you missed it, an interim draft report on the family came out earlier this week from a Synod of over 200 Roman Catholic Bishops.

This document included some "liberal", "inclusive" language on gay people.  It was only a working draft report for a fuller synod next year, but it was enough for people to speak of an "earthquake" in Rome.   In some respects, an earthquake it was; this move was pretty much unthinkable under John Paul II or the arch-conservative Benedict XVI.  The Catholic Bishops' work certainly got some great responses online from the more excitable faithful:


However, if you're not wrapped up in a bubble of Catholic belief, and aren't entirely sure whether Our Lady of Fatima is referring to:
  • A) the former Olympic British javelin thrower; or 
  • B) the ghostly apparition of a 2000 year old dead Jewish woman, who apparently appeared to some Portuguese shepherd children in 1917
Then this requires further examination.

By any normal, non-Church standards the language in the interim church shouldn't have got you praying.  The most positive thing it said was that homosexuals have gifts and qualities to offer to the Christian community.  Wow, we're human beings who have qualities.  Groundbreaking.  It then posed the question whether the Church was capable of welcoming "these people" into the Church and described us as an "important educative challenge".  Having given these crumbs and posed a question, it went on to affirm that "unions between people of the same sex cannot be considered on the same footing as matrimony between man and woman" and spoke about the "moral problems connected to homosexual unions".

So, the above words, which said our unions are second class and mentioned their moral problems, was heralded as a ground-breaking, liberal, welcoming document that threatened schism within the Church.  Guys, this isn't actually exactly the Pope coming out on stage wearing a rainbow tutu accompanied by the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence.  Srsly.

And the Lord Taketh Away

But then even the crumbs were scraped back.  This was because of a vocal backlash amongst conservative bishops.  Watered down language was instead proposed that removed the revolutionary statement that we have gifts and qualities to offer.   As the new version really didn't "give" gay people anything that wasn't already the case, it's extraordinary that 62 bishops are so deeply homophobic they felt the need to vote against it.   It therefore failed the 2/3 majority required and a new, third draft was created.  The "welcoming" language was thus entirely removed and we are left instead with a document that states:
There is no basis whatsoever to assimilate or to draw even remote analogies between same-sex unions and the plan of God for marriage and family.
So my steady, loving, same-sex relationship may not have any even remote analogies drawn between it and a marriage.  It does not constitute a family in the eyes of Rome - nor do those of countless same-sex couples across the world, many of whom are bringing up children, very happily and very successfully.

Justified Discrimination

Amazingly, in the same breath, and without seeing any contradiction at all, the document then goes on to say we must be accepted with respect and sensitivity, and every sign of unjust discrimination should be avoided.

I love the insertion of the word "unjust".  The Bishops are at least not so blind that they realise that actively encouraging over a billion of their faithful to treat us as less than everyone else does indeed constitute discrimination.  It's just they think it's okay, and is what their god wants.  It's the kind of statement a die-hard supporter of Apartheid might have said.  Shutting out black people from opportunity and civic life by means of racial discrimination was legal, and in their minds entirely justified.  As long as it was done with sensitivity, no problem at all.

Let's then throw in U.S. Cardinal Burke's comments during the Synod that a couple should keep their grandchildren away from their gay son or daughter at Christmas.  That "moral dilemma" was, he said, "made more delicate by the aggressiveness of the homosexual agenda".  Because, as any reasonable person knows, expecting to be welcomed by your own flesh and blood at Christmas is highly aggressive, and just the type of militant thing we homosexuals so unreasonably demand. 

A time of goodwill to all mankind. Unless they're LGBT.
If you'd like to read the exact texts of the draft report as proposed, and as passed, here's a link.  With typical English understatement, the Catholic commentator Damian Thompson put it like this:


The Catechism

None of this should of course be unsurprising if you're familiar with the language of the Catechism of the Catholic Church, which was put together in the 1990s by the later Pope Benedict XVI.  It's remarkably recent.  Everything you need to know is there in 2357 and 2358, just below the stuff on incest and rape.  It states that homosexual acts are acts of grave depravity, contrary to natural law and intrinsically disordered.   It says under no circumstances can they be approved of.  We who have "deep-seated homosexual tendencies" have an inclination which is objectively disordered.  It apparently constitutes "a trial" for most of us and is a "condition" the psychological genesis of which remains largely unexplained.  The only way to deal with this trial is celibacy.

As this Catholic priest and psychotherapist comments, "any effort by a gay person to reach out for human sexual love, no matter what the circumstances, is judged as evil.  The Vatican says that "if gay people enter into a human sexual love relation they know evil and will separate themselves from the love of God."  If this isn't religious extremism, I'm not sure what is.  The priest concerned calls the Catechism the worst document issued from the Church since it declared in 1866 that "slavery itself.. is not all contrary to the divine and natural law."

Not just gay Catholics, but all gay men and women around the world are dealt with in this way, in a few lines, following on from the subject of rape.  A nice question mark is vaguely, but entirely deliberately cast over our mental health.  Of course pretty much every reputable psychological association around the world has concluded from actual empirical evidence that homosexuality does not imply psychological disorder, but that didn't stop Benedict.  Having thrown this slur out there, the text then goes on, just as is the Synod discussion paper, to say we should of course be treated with respect, compassion and sensitivity, blah blah.

I should like to remain charitable, but I'm struggling.  In both instances there is a massive inherent contradiction: you cannot say we should be treated with respect and sensitivity, when you also systematically state we are worth less than you, that our relationships can in no way be placed on a par with yours, that we have a psychological condition, and that if we have sex with our partners we know evil and cut ourselves off from the love of the god that you're so keen on.  

I just can't don't see how you square a belief in the Catechism or that Synod draft and saying these things to my face, with at the same time being sensitive, compassionate and respectful to me.  You can't.  It's like sensitively inviting a vegetarian along to watch the slaughter of a pig followed by compassionately and respectfully offering them a nice gammon steak. 

We, the Disordered

Oh, but try they do.  A couple of Catholics have tried to explain to me that I shouldn't be offended in the slightest by any of this.  No, no, the words "objectively disordered" is just technical language that carries a special meaning in this context.  It simply means that when gay people have sex they are deprived of "god's gift" of creating a child.  According to Rome, only sex acts which can result in babies are natural: everything else is by definition disordered in the sense that you don't reproduce as a result.

I must therefore, I am patronisingly told by a heterosexual Catholic on Twitter, feel a personal loss that when I make love to my boyfriend because he can't get pregnant as a result.  Except I don't.  Not for one moment.

Not on the top of my shopping list. No, really.

What is lacking here (apart from any sensitivity, compassion or respect) is any understanding that people's moral beliefs and indeed their desires in life differ.  I am not a Catholic.  I am not a Christian.  I do not believe in a magical being who dictates, 2000 years after his son allegedly rose from the dead, through an elderly celibate German man sitting in Rome, what I should or should not do in bed with the man I love.

As positive as some aspects of Christian faith have undoubtedly been during history, I personally find belief in a god as a superstitious, somewhat ridiculous and unfathomable thing.  I don't think sex is about having as many babies as you possibly can.   Like me, millions disagree with the idea that sex is purely for reproduction, and it's extraordinarily arrogant to think only you possess the absolute moral truth, because the institution you belong to has spoon-fed you that "truth".  But that's the Catholic Church in a nutshell, I guess.

What I do feel is a rising amount of anger at trying to twist the meaning of words which have a very normal, natural definition.  You cannot expect to throw terms like "act of grave depravity" and "objectively disordered" at an individual about their life and not expect them to be irritated and offended.   The special Catholic meaning of the words is just not the way I or any reasonable bystander will interpret them.  Let's look at that term "disordered":


It is a little naïve to suppose that anyone outside the narrow little world of strict Catholic belief will not give the meaning "dysfunctional, disturbed, unsound, sick or diseased" to the term.  Looking at the specific context in the Catechism, and the fact this expression follows on from "act of grave depravity" I see absolutely no reason to believe Benedict did not intend the natural, offensive meaning in any case.  The other favourite trick is to say "oh YOU are not disordered/depraved"; it's just what you do that is depraved.  Because that's far better and far less insulting to me, obviously.

The same Catholic went on to describe my love making with my boyfriend as "using him as a sex-toy" for "masturbatory purposes".   He was hardly helping his case of coming across as sensitive and respectful by doing that.  Throw in a later comment from him that "a man who contracepts is using his wife as a sex aid" and 95% people are going to think him a sexist pig, as well as a homophobic idiot.

This is all from a man who claims he is fighting the "REAL" homophobes within the Church.  He says his god's love is limitless (and presumably extends to me if I torture myself by not being in a loving relationship for the rest of my life).  I'm afraid I ended up telling him to fuck off.  I further expressed the wish that said fuck resulted up in a nice baby, because that is all that he is reducing the sex act to.  Shucks, it takes the patience of a saint to deal with these people online.  I failed.  I gather from what he's saying to me it's a career choice which is probably ruled out to me now, anyhow.

Someone else had reserved my name anyway

Joking aside, the actual disorder here is in fact plain for me to see: it's the brainwashing abilities of the Catholic Church which are capable of convincing someone he is being a reasonable compassionate person, whilst spewing this bile to a non-Catholic, who has repeatedly asked him to stop it.  Why should I have to put up with this?  It's hate speech and it's absolute poison.

Why Does It Matter?

If you're therefore wondering why it should matter to me what Rome has decided to do this week, I should have thought it actually rather obvious.  The Churches collectively still wield a massive amount of influence.  Look for example at the way the Tories fell over themselves to give quadruple locks to Christian Churches to allow them to exclude us and discriminate against us legally on equal marriage.  That's in this country, which by large, is not a religious one at all.  Still the Churches are given enormous special treatment and "belief" is still accorded an official respect in our society which I find baffling.

The attitudes of the Church, particularly on human morality, have determined to a large extent what people thought privately for the last two millennia.  I can think of no other institutional driver of  homophobia (past and present) than the Christian Churches.  This homophobic legacy has a very real effect today.  Ours is a country where in 2013 you still can have your life torn to pieces for holding your boyfriend's hand in public.  Read that link, please, and consider the effect of these dehumanising, degrading words by such a powerful institution as the Church.  It's a country where this week a gay couple was thrown off a London bus after the homophobic driver told them they weren't real men and to fuck off.   Sad to say, but without knowing a single thing more about it, my money is instantly on it being more likely than not that "Jesus" was involved in that story in some way.

Many British Christians appear to love screaming that they are being persecuted.  They have zero idea of what it is to like to be shouted at, thrown out of a store or to be fearful for their loved one walking down a street.  They have no idea what it feels like to hear the language of violence and hate being spoken in school playgrounds from the youngest age.   They have no idea of the fear that gay teenagers feel that they may be rejected by their parents for simply being themselves: the most unnatural act of all.  They have no idea what it feels like to be bullied.  They have no idea what it feels like to have be told on Twitter their relationship is worth less than everyone else's by a person who doesn't even know them. 

Inside and outside the UK, the Vatican contributes to making the lives of LGBT people utter misery.  The Church, if it cared about the well-being and dignity of all people, should be screaming from the rooftops about the injustices we face.  Instead they remain at its vanguard, perpetuating the hatred and poison in 2014 with their words and acts.  Millions of ordinary people, thoroughly decent souls who actually make up the Catholic Church, disagree with the stance of the bishops: that's part of the background of why this Synod was called.  That's a truly wonderful thing - but look at the result.  Despite a Pope who has achieved some remarkable things, Rome has moved one step forward and two steps back.

1 Corinthians 13

I've genuinely no desire to pollute myself with the bitterness I have experienced from some of the so-called Christians I've encountered, on a routine basis, over the years on Twitter.  So I shall quote Corinthians and try to wash it right out of my hair.
If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal... If I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing.  Love.. does not dishonour others..  Love never fails..  And now these three remain: faith hope and love.  But the greatest of these is love.
Your Bible may contain the most absurd logical flaws, and a load of stuff I couldn't believe in a million years, but it's sometimes great for a quote.  What truly beautiful words and sentiments.  LGBT people will not go away simply because you wished we didn't exist.   Show some love and show some real humanity, Rome, rather than the farce this week and the utter poison and hatred you've been spewing forth for hundreds of years.  It is, after all, what you're supposedly all about.