Saturday, 31 August 2013
Pension Arrears from
01.01.2006 as per Court Order: Govt reply in Parliament
Friday, August 30, 2013
The orders for implementation of the decision taken by the
Government on the recommendations of 6th CPC for revision for pension of past pensioners were issued vide this Department’s OM
No.38/37/08-P&PW (A) dated 1.9.2008. The provisions of Para 4.2 of this OM
were clarified vide this Department’s letter dated 3.10.2008.
The Central Administrative Tribunal,
Principal Bench, New Delhi in its order dated 1.11.2011observed that
by the OM dated 3.10.2008 the original orders of 1.9.2008 have been modified.
Hon’ble CAT directed that the past pensioners may be granted, w.e.f.
1.1.2006, a minimum pension @ 50% of the minimum pay corresponding to the pre-revised pay scale
with reference to the fitment table applicable for revision of pay of serving
employees.
A Writ Petition was filed in the Hon’ble High Court of Delhi challenging the above mentioned
order. In its order dated 29.4.2013, the Hon’ble Delhi High Court has upheld
the order dated 1.11.2011. After considering the order of Hon’ble High Court of Delhi and various representations received in this regard,
Special Leave Petition was filed by the Department of Pension and Pensioners’ Welfare in the Hon’ble Supreme Court of India.
This SLP came up for hearing recently on 29.7.2013 before the
Hon. Supreme Court and has been dismissed. [click here to see]
The above information submitted by Min of Personnel, Public
Grievances & Pensions in reply of undermentioned Lok Sabha Question:-
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF PERSONNEL,PUBLIC GRIEVANCES AND PENSIONS
LOK SABHA
ANSWERED ON 07.08.2013
DELAY IN PAYMENT OF
ARREARS TO PENSIONERS
670 . Shri VILAS BABURAO
MUTTEMWAR
Will the Minister of PERSONNEL,PUBLIC GRIEVANCES AND PENSIONS be pleased to state:-
(a) the reasons for
inordinate delay in implementation of Hon`ble High Court`s order to give effect to the payment of arrears
w.e.f. 01.01.2006 to pensioners retired before 2006;
(b) whether the Government have received representations from
employees organizations and other bodies in this regard; and
(c) if so, the details thereof and the reaction of the Government on the
representations?
ANSWER
Minister of State in the Ministry of Personnel, Public
Grievances and Pensions and Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office.
(SHRI V. NARAYANASAMY)
(a) to (c): *** see above ***
Source: Lok Sabha Q&A
Thursday, 29 August 2013
Wednesday, 28 August 2013
Tuesday, 27 August 2013
Tuesday, 20 August 2013
Friday, 16 August 2013
Thursday, 15 August 2013
Retirement age 62 – No hike in Retirement age of Central Government employees…
Retirement age 62 – No hike in Retirement age of Central Government employees…
Millions of Central Government employees were looking for the announcement of hike in retirement age in the Prime Minister’s Independence Day speech today, but no such matter was announced. please click the below link to view the complete speech of Prime Minister’s address.
There was widespread speculation in the media about the announcement of retirement age past two weeks. And retiring employees are in hope still on this issue..!
Finance ministry asks India Post to reroute bank proposal.
New Delhi: The expenditure department of the finance ministry has sent back India Post’s draft cabinet note seeking Rs.1,900 crore to set up a commercial bank to another wing of the ministry and asked it to first seek the approval of the expenditure finance committee (EFC). The entity is proposed to be named Post Bank of India.
New Delhi: The expenditure department of the finance ministry has sent back India Post’s draft cabinet note seeking Rs.1,900 crore to set up a commercial bank to another wing of the ministry and asked it to first seek the approval of the expenditure finance committee (EFC). The entity is proposed to be named Post Bank of India.
The postal department is among 26 applicants that sought banking licences from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on 1 July, part of the government’s initiative to expand the Rs.77 trillion banking industry and widen access to financial services among the 40% of the population that are yet not included in the system.
“Since the proposal has financial consequences, we have told India Post to first approach the expenditure finance committee with their proposal before going for an inter-ministerial consultation on the matter,” said a finance ministry official who didn’t want to be named.
A second finance ministry official confirmed this. He said the expenditure finance committee was yet to receive the note from the postal department. He said, however, that the committee was likely to clear the proposal once it’s received.
“We cannot pre-empt how much money EFC will approve, however I am sure the proposal makes sense because they have such a vast network which they should utilize. The only thing is they have to develop the standards to meet the RBI guidelines,” he added.
Approval of the expenditure finance committee, headed by the expenditure secretary, is required for proposals involving spending of more than Rs.300 crore and the setting up of new autonomous organizations, regardless of the amount.
A second finance ministry official confirmed this. He said the expenditure finance committee was yet to receive the note from the postal department. He said, however, that the committee was likely to clear the proposal once it’s received.
“We cannot pre-empt how much money EFC will approve, however I am sure the proposal makes sense because they have such a vast network which they should utilize. The only thing is they have to develop the standards to meet the RBI guidelines,” he added.
Approval of the expenditure finance committee, headed by the expenditure secretary, is required for proposals involving spending of more than Rs.300 crore and the setting up of new autonomous organizations, regardless of the amount.
The postal department, faced with the dwindling of its main business as more people switch to electronic means of communication and courier companies, wants to leverage its extensive reach across India by entering the banking business. It’s currently involved in the financial industry to the extent that it runs post-office savings schemes, besides collecting deposits for tax-free savings programmes.
In its guidelines for new banking licences announced on 22 February, RBI required applicants to prove their eligibility on several fronts—from promoter holding to past experience to business plans. The minimum capital required by applicants for licences is Rs.500 crore, and foreign shareholding in the new banks is capped at 49% for the first five years.
The new banks have to be set up under a non-operative financial holding company (NOFHC), RBI said. They also have to maintain a minimum capital adequacy ratio—the ratio of capital to risk-weighted assets, a measure of financial strength—of 13% for the first three years. New banks also need to list their shares within three years of starting operations.
The finance ministry has been reluctant to allow India Post to enter the commercial banking business.
The new banks have to be set up under a non-operative financial holding company (NOFHC), RBI said. They also have to maintain a minimum capital adequacy ratio—the ratio of capital to risk-weighted assets, a measure of financial strength—of 13% for the first three years. New banks also need to list their shares within three years of starting operations.
The finance ministry has been reluctant to allow India Post to enter the commercial banking business.
In order to apply for a licence, the department of posts will have to create a legal entity to segregate its banking and postal businesses, said a second finance ministry official.
“It will have to be a government-owned company or a bank under a statute since a government department cannot become a bank,” said the official, who didn’t want to be identified.
“Added to that, the postal department has no experience when it comes to giving credit. They have only been taking deposits till now. Sanctioning and disbursing credit needs an entirely different aptitude,” the official said. “We had conveyed our views to EY, when they had approached us on this issue,” he added. EY (formerly Ernst & Young) is consultant to India Post’s bid for a banking licence.
“It will have to be a government-owned company or a bank under a statute since a government department cannot become a bank,” said the official, who didn’t want to be identified.
“Added to that, the postal department has no experience when it comes to giving credit. They have only been taking deposits till now. Sanctioning and disbursing credit needs an entirely different aptitude,” the official said. “We had conveyed our views to EY, when they had approached us on this issue,” he added. EY (formerly Ernst & Young) is consultant to India Post’s bid for a banking licence.
A third finance ministry official said it will be difficult for India Post to get a banking licence from RBI since the guidelines call for a non-operative financial holding company.
Besides that, although India Post boasts of a strong 150,000 branch network, a majority of these may not get converted into bank branches in the event it gets a licence, this official added.
Besides that, although India Post boasts of a strong 150,000 branch network, a majority of these may not get converted into bank branches in the event it gets a licence, this official added.
“Expertise in (handling) National Savings Certificates will not be enough for giving credit,” he added, making the point that the department has no specialized experience in the business.
India Post had 154,822 branches across the country as of 31 March, the latest data available, the largest for any postal department in the world, and close to 90% of them—139,086—are in rural India. This is more than four times the number of rural branches run by India’s banks.
RBI has clarified that the conditions it has set are merely the necessary ones and that all applicants meeting them won’t be given a licence. The central bank will screen the applications, refer them to an advisory committee and take a final call on licences based on its recommendations.
India Post had 154,822 branches across the country as of 31 March, the latest data available, the largest for any postal department in the world, and close to 90% of them—139,086—are in rural India. This is more than four times the number of rural branches run by India’s banks.
RBI has clarified that the conditions it has set are merely the necessary ones and that all applicants meeting them won’t be given a licence. The central bank will screen the applications, refer them to an advisory committee and take a final call on licences based on its recommendations.
If the focus is financial inclusion, the focus should be on looking for solutions rather than raising barriers, said Ashvin Parekh, national leader, global financial services at EY.
“Nobody is saying to convert the existing Post Office Savings Bank (POSB) into a commercial bank. Post Bank of India has to be a subsidiary which needs to be registered as a company and the government equity in this new entity could be diluted,” he said. Through the POSB, India Post collects deposits starting as low as Rs.20 with an annual interest rate of 4%.
Naina Lal Kidwai, country head of HSBC India and president of the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry lobby group, said in an interview that though she is opposed to creating any more public sector banks, she supports the idea of the Post Bank of India.
“Nobody is saying to convert the existing Post Office Savings Bank (POSB) into a commercial bank. Post Bank of India has to be a subsidiary which needs to be registered as a company and the government equity in this new entity could be diluted,” he said. Through the POSB, India Post collects deposits starting as low as Rs.20 with an annual interest rate of 4%.
Naina Lal Kidwai, country head of HSBC India and president of the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry lobby group, said in an interview that though she is opposed to creating any more public sector banks, she supports the idea of the Post Bank of India.
“The postal authority is a very interesting one because of its ability to deliver cash where banks have never been able to reach. To create a post bank, which many countries have done, is quite interesting. So for those exceptions, we could and should look at giving (it a) banking licence,” she added.
However, Kidwai wants the government to reduce its share in the banking system from 70% now to 30-50%, besides which she’d like to see consolidation of the sector.
“We have to fund such banks through taxpayers’ money. These banks can rarely raise money from the capital market. Some of those can actually be merged so that we create fewer banks. So we should see a restructuring of our entire banking sector,” she added.
“We have to fund such banks through taxpayers’ money. These banks can rarely raise money from the capital market. Some of those can actually be merged so that we create fewer banks. So we should see a restructuring of our entire banking sector,” she added.
Wednesday, 14 August 2013
Monday, 12 August 2013
DA formula may going to be changed -------
New series of Consumer Price Index (Base for calculation of
D.A) under preparation :
Ministry of Labour and Employment, Government of India has
decided to prepare a new series of Consumer Price Index for Industrial Workers.
For this purpose, Government has set up a Standing
Tripartite Committee (STC) to advise the Government on issues pertaining to the
Consumer Price Index for Industrial Workers (New Series).
The STC will go into details of various parameters that are
taken into consideration for updation of the base year such as the weighting
diagram, consumption basket, selection of centres, sample size of
establishments for price collection etc.
Government has no specific information about the
skilled/semi-skilled worker outsourced by the Central Government /State
Governments through contractors not being paid as per the CPI.
However, the Contract Labour Act, 1970 inter-alia, contains
provisions for payment of wages to these category of workers.
The contract workers are also entitled to receive minimum
wages as notified by the appropriate Governments from time to time.
This information was given by Minister of State for Labour
& Employment Shri Kodikunnil Suresh in the Lok Sabha today in reply to a
written question.
Saturday, 10 August 2013
IMPLEMENTATION OF REDESIGNED NETWORK FOR FIRST & SECOND CLASS MAIL: REVIEW OF BAG CLOSING PATTERN REGARDING
Implementation of Redesigned Network for First & Second Class Mail: Review of Bag Closing Pattern regarding.
O.M. No. 30-7/2012-D dated 07.08.13 dated 07.08.13.
Reference is invited to Directorate O.M. even number dated 01.02.2012 regarding implementation of the redesigned network for First Class mail followed by OMs of even no. dated 21.03.12 and 28.09.12 with respect to manner of sorting and bag closing by Business Post Centres (BPC) and Mail Business Centres (MBCs) handling outward bulk mail only. Attention is also drawn to the Directorate O.M. no. 30-19/2012-D dated 09.05.2012 regarding implementation of redesigned network for Second Class Mail.
2. The manner of closing of bags between mail offices as prescribed under redesigned network for First and Second class mail was under review at this Directorate and it has now been decided that all L 1 and L 2 mail offices situated within a circle would be permitted to close bags for each other with respect of First Class (unregistered and registered) and Second Class mail in addition to the pattern of bag closing prescribed earlier. Thus, the revised arrangement, the pattern of bag closing would be as under:
(a) All L-1 mail offices will close direct bag for each other. All L-1 and L-2 mail offices situated within a circle will close direct bag for each other. An L-1 office will also close bags for all L-2 offices as well as delivery post offices mapped /attached to it.
(b) All L-2 offices attached/mapped to an L-1 office can close bags for that particular L-1 office. Now an L-2 mail office will also close direct bag for all other L-1 and L-2 mail offices of the same Circle as well. An L-2 office will also close bags for all delivery post offices mapped to it.
(c) In case of inter-Circle mail, any demand for exceptions in terms of closing of bags between one mail office and another, which in not prescribed under the redesigned network, would continue to be approved by the Directorate. However, as an exception, all L-1 and L-2 mail offices geographically falling under Assam and NE Circle may close bags for each other as communicated earlier in July 2012.
3. The First Class unregistered and Registered bags to be closed between L-1 offices, between all L 1 and L 2 offices situated within a circle, between L-1 office and L-2 offices mapped to it and vice versa, and between L-1/-2 offices and post offices mapped to them and vice versa will be traded as “Due Bags”. These would be no due bags in case of second class mail.
4. CEPT Mysore would make necessary changes in R-Net mapping release the revised script to all circles immediately
.
5. The existing instructions with respect to bag closing by Business Post Centres would continue.
6. Circles may issue revise the Due Mail and Sorting list at the mail offices concerned immediately.
Sd/-
(Rishikesh)
Doctor (Mail Management)
Implementation of Redesigned Network for First & Second Class Mail: Review of Bag Closing Pattern regarding.
O.M. No. 30-7/2012-D dated 07.08.13 dated 07.08.13.
Reference is invited to Directorate O.M. even number dated 01.02.2012 regarding implementation of the redesigned network for First Class mail followed by OMs of even no. dated 21.03.12 and 28.09.12 with respect to manner of sorting and bag closing by Business Post Centres (BPC) and Mail Business Centres (MBCs) handling outward bulk mail only. Attention is also drawn to the Directorate O.M. no. 30-19/2012-D dated 09.05.2012 regarding implementation of redesigned network for Second Class Mail.
2. The manner of closing of bags between mail offices as prescribed under redesigned network for First and Second class mail was under review at this Directorate and it has now been decided that all L 1 and L 2 mail offices situated within a circle would be permitted to close bags for each other with respect of First Class (unregistered and registered) and Second Class mail in addition to the pattern of bag closing prescribed earlier. Thus, the revised arrangement, the pattern of bag closing would be as under:
(a) All L-1 mail offices will close direct bag for each other. All L-1 and L-2 mail offices situated within a circle will close direct bag for each other. An L-1 office will also close bags for all L-2 offices as well as delivery post offices mapped /attached to it.
(b) All L-2 offices attached/mapped to an L-1 office can close bags for that particular L-1 office. Now an L-2 mail office will also close direct bag for all other L-1 and L-2 mail offices of the same Circle as well. An L-2 office will also close bags for all delivery post offices mapped to it.
(c) In case of inter-Circle mail, any demand for exceptions in terms of closing of bags between one mail office and another, which in not prescribed under the redesigned network, would continue to be approved by the Directorate. However, as an exception, all L-1 and L-2 mail offices geographically falling under Assam and NE Circle may close bags for each other as communicated earlier in July 2012.
3. The First Class unregistered and Registered bags to be closed between L-1 offices, between all L 1 and L 2 offices situated within a circle, between L-1 office and L-2 offices mapped to it and vice versa, and between L-1/-2 offices and post offices mapped to them and vice versa will be traded as “Due Bags”. These would be no due bags in case of second class mail.
4. CEPT Mysore would make necessary changes in R-Net mapping release the revised script to all circles immediately
.
5. The existing instructions with respect to bag closing by Business Post Centres would continue.
6. Circles may issue revise the Due Mail and Sorting list at the mail offices concerned immediately.
Sd/-
(Rishikesh)
Doctor (Mail Management)
Thursday, 8 August 2013
BHARATIYA POSTAL EMPLOYEES FEDERATION
( AN ALL INDIA INDUSTRIAL UNIT OF B.M.S.)
T-21, Atul Grove Road New Delhi-110 001
Ref.
No. BPEF/10th Federal Council/Oct. 13/Notice Dated: 01-08-2013
NOTICE
Under the provision as
contained under Article 18 read with Article 14 ( C)
of the Constitution of Federation,
it is hereby notified that the 10th Federal Council
of the Bharatiya
Postal Employees Federation will be held at Kurtkoty Shankarachar
Nayas, Old
Ganganagar Naka , Nasik- 422 005 (Maharashtra) from 1st October, 2013
to 2nd October, 2013. Shri Man Mohan Sharma,
President, of the BPEF will preside
over the Federal Council meeting.
The following shall be the agenda:
- Homage to the
martyrs-condolences to the departed leaders.
- Adoption of Annual
Report of the Federation.
- Adoption of Annual
Accounts of the Federation.
- To Discuss Mission 2015.
- Organizational review-union wise.
- To Discuss the increasing / loosing membership on the base divisional membership list of union of July, 2013.
- Review of the Financial Position.
- Amendment in Constitution if any.
- Resolution on staff problems relating to General matters.
- Policy and Programme resolution.
- To discuss the 6th Central Pay Commission anomalies including GDS issues.
- Election of office bearers of the Federation.
- Venue of the next Federal Council.
- 14. Any other item with the permission of the chair.
(S.K. Mishra)
Secretary General.
Copy to:
1. All office bearers of the BPEF.
2. All General
Secretaries of affiliated Unions.
3.
All
Circle Secretaries through their General Secretaries.
4.
The
Secretary, Deptt. of Posts, Dak Bhawan, New Delhi-110 001 .With request to issue instructions to Head of
Circles for grant of special casual leave to the Federal councilors of our
recognized as well as due leave to un-recognized union.
5. Shri B.N. Rai Ji ,
General Secretary , BMS (Central) Dattopant Thangdi Bhawan, 27 D.D.U. Marg,
Raous Avenue, New Delhi- 110 002 .
6.
Shri
B.K. Rai ji , Prabhari , (Postal) Industrial Unit of BMS.
7. Shri V.G. Pendharkar,
Convener, Reception Committee, 10th Federal council of BPEF , 11
Samrudhi Appartment , Chhitranjan Housing Society , Shankar Nagar, Nasik- 422
013 .Mob. No. 09423555504.
(S.K. Mishra)
Secretary
General.
Wednesday, 7 August 2013
Regularisation of Contract Workers
Press Information Bureau
Government of India
Ministry of Labour & Employment
07-August-2013
Regularisation of Contract Workers
Under the Contract Labour (Regulation & Abolition) Act, 1970, both Central and State Governments are the ‘Appropriate Government’. The estimated number of contract labourers, engaged by licensed contractors all over India in Central Sphere is 18.44 lakhs.
As per Rule 25(2) of the Contract Labour (Regulation & Abolition) Central Rules, 1971 , the wages of the contract labour shall not be less than the rates prescribed under Minimum Wages Act, 1948 and in cases where the contract workers perform the same or similar kind of work as the workmen directly employed by the principal employer of the establishment, the wage rates, holidays , hours of work and other conditions of service shall be the same as applicable to the workmen directly employed by the principal employer doing the same or similar kind of work. The liability to ensure payment of wages and other benefits is primarily that of the contractor and, in case of default, that of the principal employer.
In case of complaints, field offices of Chief Labour Commissioner (Central) Organization investigate and take action. Social security aspects of contract workers under Employees Provident Fund and Miscellaneous Provision Act, 1952 and Employees State Insurance Act 1948 are enforced by the Employees Provident Fund organization and Employees State Insurance Corporation respectively provided the establishments in which outsourced workers are working are covered under the said Acts.
There is no provision of regularisation under the Contract Labour (Regulation& Abolition) Act, 1970 and, therefore, there is no proposal to regularise the contract workers.
This information was given by Minister of State for Labour & Employment Shri Kodikunnil Suresh in the Lok Sabha today in reply to a written question.
The HinduThe Anna Road head post office is one of four in the city that have been selected for the project — File Phot
Under new project, select head post offices will have ATMs, offer internet and mobile banking
Postal customers may soon be able to access their savings bank account in any post office in the city.
The department of posts is putting in place core banking solutions (CBS) at four of its head post offices in Chennai, and the process is expected to be completed by September. This means these post offices will become like banks and offer a range of services.
The head post offices on Anna Road and in T. Nagar, Mylapore and Tambaram will soon be networked via CBS, which is one of the postal department’s flagship projects.'
At present, customers who have postal savings accounts have to go to the post office where their account is, to carry out any transaction. They also have to wait in long queues to withdraw cash or to get their monthly pensions.
But once CBS is implemented, customers can go to any post office covered under the system and carry out transactions. The project also envisages installing ATMs at these four post offices by October, so that their 2.5 lakh account-holders will be able to access their accounts at the swipe of a card.Customers who have invested in savings
certificates too, can encash them using CBS.
Officials of the postal department said they had tied up with Infosys to eventually implement CBS in 110 post offices across the city and its suburbs. Currently, software testing for the project is in progress.
Welcoming the move, 70-year-old D. Sriraman, a resident of Villivakkam, said this would benefit several people who now spend at least half an hour just to withdraw cash.
The CBS project will be rolled out in all post offices over the next two years in a phased manner. Services offered will include internet banking, mobile banking and mobile transfer of money. The department also is mulling over a proposal to integrate other postal services with CBS.
Postmaster general, Chennai city region, Mervin Alexander said there are nearly 3.3 crore savings account-holders in the region. All postal employees are now being given extensive training in CBS, he added.
Press Information Bureau
Government of India
Ministry of Labour & Employment
07-August-2013
GoM on Workers' Demands
Government has set up a Group of four Ministers led by Shri A.K. Antony to discuss the workers' demands with the United front of trade unions.
Two meetings of the Group of Ministers (GoM) were held on 18.02.2013 and 22.05.2013 in which the ten point Charter of Demand of the trade unions were discussed. The discussions remained inconclusive and it was decided that the issues/demands will be considered by the Group of Ministers themselves before further discussions with the Central Trade Unions representatives. As such, no final recommendation has been given by the GoM.
This information was given by Minister of State for Labour & Employment Shri Kodikunnil Suresh in the Lok Sabha today in reply to a written question.
PIB
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