NFPE WISHES A HAPPY AND PROMISING NEW YEAR TO ALL THE MEMBERS

POSTAL JOINT COUNCIL OF ACTION
NATIONAL FEDERATION OF POSTAL EMPLOYEES
FEDERATION OF NATIONAL POSTAL ORGANIZATIONS
ALL INDIA POSTAL EXTRA DEPARTMENTAL EMPLOYEES UNION
NATIONAL UNION OF GRAMIN DAK SEVAKS
NEW DELHI
DISCUSSION WITH POSTAL BOARD - NO PROGRESS
JCA DECIDES TO GO AHEAD WITH THE STRIKE DECISION
HOLD MASS DHARNA ON 10.01.2012 IN FRONT OF
CIRCLE/REGIONAL/DIVISIONAL OFFICES

On 27.12.2011, Discussion on 25 point Charter of Demands has been held with the Postal Board -Member (Personnel), Member (Operations), Member (PLI) and Member (Planning). The discussion lasted for eight hours. Even though the staff side has elaborately explained all the demands raised in the Charter, there was no favourable or result-oriented settlement on any of the demands. Thereafter the Central JCA met and decided to go ahead with the strike decision. It is decided to intensify the campaign. Accordingly the Central JCA calls upon all the Branch/Divisional/Circle Union to organize MASS Dharna in front of all Circle/Regional/Divisional offices on 10.01.2012. It is also decided to organize candle-light protest demonstration/procession/rallies on all important places on 16.01.2012. Further all intensive campaign such as squad work, conventions, general bodies, press conferences etc may be organized at all levels. Make the indefinite strike from 17.01.2012 a historic success.
-- M.KrishnanSecretary General NFPEOn 27.12.2011, Discussion on 25 point Charter of Demands has been held with the Postal Board -Member (Personnel), Member (Operations), Member (PLI) and Member (Planning). The discussion lasted for eight hours. Even though the staff side has elaborately explained all the demands raised in the Charter, there was no favourable or result-oriented settlement on any of the demands. Thereafter the Central JCA met and decided to go ahead with the strike decision. It is decided to intensify the campaign. Accordingly the Central JCA calls upon all the Branch/Divisional/Circle Union to organize MASS Dharna in front of all Circle/Regional/Divisional offices on 10.01.2012. It is also decided to organize candle-light protest demonstration/procession/rallies on all important places on 16.01.2012. Further all intensive campaign such as squad work, conventions, general bodies, press conferences etc may be organized at all levels. Make the indefinite strike from 17.01.2012 a historic success.
-- M.KrishnanSecretary General NFPE

View of NFPE coordination committe tamil nadu circle observed hunger fast programme in front of office of CPMG Tamilnadu circle in support of Central JCA leader's hunger fast before postal directrote Newdelhi

Flash - Sr Postmaster Examination postponed

Directorate has informed that the limited Departmental Competitive Examination for Promtion to the cadre of Senior Postmaster scheduled to be held on 31.12.2011 is postponed indefinitely. Further date of conduction will be intimated later on.

HUNGER STRIKE BY J.C.A LEADERS IN FRONT OF THE POSTAL DIRECTORATE TO ACHIEVE THE STRIKE DEMANDS .STARTED FROM 10 AM TODAY

GOVT. SHELVES PFRDA BILL - A VICTORY TO OUR MARCH TO PARLIAMENT

TIMES OF INDIA Govt shelves Pension, Companies bills

21 Dec 2011, 2004 hrs IST, AGENCIES

After being forced to keep on hold FDI in retail, Government faced fresh hurdles when two major legislations-- Pension Bill and the Companies Bill--had to be shelved in the face of dissent again from its ally Trinamool Congress (TMC) as well as from main opposition BJP. TMC on Wednesday (December 21) made it clear that it was not in a position to support some of the provisions of the Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA) Bill just days after it forced Government to suspend the decision to allow 51 per cent FDI in multi-brand retail. Sources said the government has decided to shelve the PFRDA and the Companies Bills in the ongoing Winter Session of Parliament as it does not have the necessary numbers to get it passed in the Rajya Sabha with BJP and Left parties also opposing the legislations West Bengal Chief Minister and TMC Chief Mamata Banerjee is understood to have shot off a letter to Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee today, stating her party's position on the important pension legislation. As in the case of FDI in multi-brand retail, TMC's opposition to PFRDA is apparently due to political compulsions in West Bengal where her main political adversaries, the Left parties, have been campaigning for long opposing the measure. One of the major issues on which TMC has voiced its Opposition is the question of 'assured returns' on pension if a portion of it is invested in the stock market, sources said. The sources said the Congress did not want to face the embarrassment of its ally TMC opposing this Bill in the House. Mukherjee had earlier reached out to BJP to get its support for both the PFRDA and the Companies Bill. The government had agreed to the BJP demand to fix quantum of FDI for pension management in the PFRDA Bill itself and gave up its earlier proposal of bringing this through an executive decision. Another demand of the BJP was on the issue of assured returns to retired employees. Parliamentary Standing Committee on Finance, headed by BJP leader Yashwant Sinha, had also made this recommendation. In the Companies Bill, though the government had incorporated some of the changes suggested by BJP, the main opposition party was not satisfied. BJP had suggested that since the Bill is virtually new as it has undergone considerable alterations, it should be sent to the Standing Committee concerned once again. The party had conveyed this to Mukherjee on December 19 when he met its leaders L K Advani, Yashwant Sinha, Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Sushma Swaraj and her Rajya Sabha counterpart Arun Jaitley. Government is understood to have conceded to BJP's demand for allowing Limited Liability Partnership (LLP) which would enable a group comprising only of professionals from one category, like Chartered Accountants or Company Secretaries, to form their own company. The Act would also protect the interest of the Indian companies. Corporate Affairs Minister M Veerappa Moily was to move the Companies Bill in the Lok Sabha on December 19 itself but since then, though it has been regularly listed in the agenda every day, the government has not moved it. The Bill was also listed in today's agenda for the Lok Sabha but was not moved. With BJP and Left parties not supporting the Companies Bill, the government apparently realised that it would not get passed in the Rajya Sabha where the ruling coalition is in a UPA minority. PFRDA Bill was supposed to have been moved for passage in Lok Sabha today according to the agreement reached earlier in the Business Advisory Committee. However, it did not find mention in today's list of business.

Merry Christmas

SENIOR POSTMASTER EXAMINATION 2011
CLARIFICATION ON ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA

Sub: Senior Postmaster Examination, 2011-Clarification on eligibility Criteria Reg.
D.G. Posts No.4-58/2011-SPB.II dated 21 December, 2011.

I am directed to say that references have been received from some Circles seeking clarifications as to whether Asstt. Supdt. Posts (ASPO) who are in the grade of Rs.4600/- and those ASPOs granted Rs. 4800/-as Grade pay under MACP scheme are eligible to appear for the ensuing Limited Departmental Competitive Examination for Senior Postmasters (Gazetted) to be held on 31.12.2011 and whether the Inspector of Posts who have been granted Grade Pay of Rs. 4600/- under MACP are eligible to appear for the said Senior Postmasters Examination.

2. According to the Recruitment Rules, 75% of the vacancies in the grade of Senior Postmaster are required to be filled up by the Inspector of Posts (IPOs) with six years of regular service in the grade by promotion through Limited Departmental Competitive Examination and 25% of vacancies by promotion from amongst the officers holding the post of Postmaster Grade.III with two years regular service (including regular service in HSG-I, if any). Therefore, ASPOs holding the post on regular in the grade pay of Rs.4600/- and such ASPOs who are in receipt of Grade Pay of Rs.4800/- under MACP scheme are not eligible to appear in the said examination.

3. Further, as per Modified Assured Career Progress Scheme (MACPS), on grant of financial upgradation under the scheme, there shall be no change in the designation, classification or higher status. The financial upgradation would be on non-functional basis. Thus, those regular IPOs who have been granted financial upgradation under MACP would continue to function against their existing posts. Therefore, higher Grade Pay derived by IPOs because of financial upgradation under the MACP scheme will not be a bar to such IPOs to appear in the Limited Departmental Competitive Examination for the post of Senior Postmaster as they continue to be the regular incumbents of the post of IPO.

4. Circles are requested to take into account the above clarifications while deciding the eligibility of officers holding the post of ASPO and IPO for Senior Postmaster Departmental Examination, 2011.
Sd/-
(Alka Tewari)
Assistant Director General (SPN)

FILLING UP OF SHORT TERM VACANCIES IN THE
NEWLY INTRODUCED CADRE OF POSTMASTER

Sub: Filling up of short term vacancies in the newly introduced cadre of Postmaster-Reg.

D.G. Posts No. 4-61/2011-SPB.II dated 21 Dec 2011.

I am directed to say that references are being received from Circles seeking clarifications with regard to filling up of the short terms vacancies in Postmaster Grade-I,II & III. It has been reported that representations have been received from Postmaster Grade-I /II officials asking for officiating promotion to Postmaster Grade-II/III although such officials do not fulfill the prescribed eligibility criteria stipulated under the relevant Recruitment Rules.

2. It has been clarified vide Dte's letter of even number dated 7/8-2.2011 that the posts of Postmaster Grade-III should not be filled up under initial constitution clause by appointing HSG-I officials for the reason that sufficient number of regular officials in HSG-I would not have become available. It was further clarified that these posts can be filled up only after reviewing the position in the light of options received from eligible officials and appropriate decision taken by the Directorate in the matter. As per clarification No. 4 of Directorate's letter of even number dated 10.2.2011, the posts identified for Postmaster Cadres will be deemed to have been designated as Postmaster Grade-I, II & III with effect only from the dates those are filled up regularly. Therefore, the Post of Postmaster Grade III will be deemed to be so designated only when these are filled up through initial constitution clause. Infact, in terms of the clarification No.4 dated 10.2.2011, these posts cannot be treated as vacant by the Circle. In the given circumstances when at present there are no posts of Postmaster Grade-III in existence, the question of filling up through officiating arrangement does not arise. Thus, till the posts so identified as Postmaster Grade-III will continue to be manned by officials in General line.

3. Regarding officiating arrangement in the vacancies of more than 45 days in Postmaster Grade-I & II, which have become vacant after they are designated as Postmaster Grade-I & II by filling up through initial constitution as clause as per the provisions of Recruitment Rules, the clarification No. 3 given vide Dte. Letter of even number dated 10.2.2011 was issued stating inter-alia that for filling up of leave vacancies / adhoc vacancies for more that 45 days in Postmaster Grade, the procedure prescribed in Dte's letter No. 137-99/2009-SPB.II dated 23.12.2009 should be followed. It is envisaged in the said letter that only those employees in feeder grade fulfilling the eligibility condition prescribed in the Recruitment Rules should be considered for adhoc promotion.

4. Subsequently, Directorate has issued instructions vide letter No. 137-64/2010-BPG.II dated 28.7.2011 permitting grant of officiating pay and Allowances to Selection Grade Officials who officiated in LSG/HSG-II/HSG-I posts in term of Rule 27 of Postal Manual Vol. IV against the vacancies not exceeding three months. As per this Rule, the list of approved officers is prepared by the DPC and approved by the appointing authority and only when administrative exigencies required it, a person not in the list or not the first in order in the list may be appointed.

5. Similar benefit has also been allowed to Selection Grade officials in terms of Rule 50 of Postal Manual Vol. IV which provides for officiating arrangement against the vacancies of short duration i.e. not more than ne month and more than four months in the cadres in which promotion is made from officials working in different stations, sub-divisions or divisions in a Circle and in the cadres in which promotion is made from officials working in the same office or station.

6. In view of the above, to make officiating arrangements in vacancies nots exceeding three months and vacancies of short duration i.e. not more than one and four months in Postmaster Grade I & II, which become vacant after they are designated as Postmaster Grade-I & II, the Circles may follow the instructions contained in Dte. Letter No. 137-64/2010-SPB-II dated 28..7.2011.

Sd/-
(Alka Tewari)
Assistant Director General (SPN)

STRIKE NOTICE

Government of India

Ministry of Communications & IT

Department of Posts

SR Section

Dak Bhawan, Sansad Marg,

New Delhi -110001.

F.No. 8/15/2011-SR Dated the 22nd December, 2011

Sujbect:- Notice of indefinite strike from 17.01.2012 served by Postal Joint Council of Action comprising NFPE, FNPO, AIl Postal Extral Departmental Employees Union and National Union of Gramin Dak Sevaks – Meeting of Members, Postal Services Board with the Postal Joint Council of Action.

This has refreence to note of even No. Dated 16.12.2011 dealing with notice for indefinite strike from 17.01.2012 served by Postal Joint Council of Action along with their 25-point Charter of Demands. Vide the above note, all Division heads were requested to furnish comments/Action Taken Reports in regard to the issues concerning them.

2. As decided with the approval of Secretary(Posts), the issues raised in the Charter of Demands will be discussed in the meetings to be taken by respective Members, Postal Services Board with the Postal Joint Council of Action on 27.12.2011 in Shri K.R. Murthy Room, Dak Bhawan, New Delhi as per timings indicated below:

(i). Member(P) will take meeting in the Forenoon stating at 10.30 AM.

(ii). Member(O) – 2.30 P.M.

(iii). Member(PLI) -3.30 P.M

(iv). Member(Planning) -4.30 P.M

All the concerned heads of divisions will make it convenient to attend the meeting along with updated comments/ATRs, which may also be sent to SR Section by 23.12.2011.

3. As regareds issue relating to Postal A/Cs Wing/Civil Wing, DDG(PAF)/CE(Civil) will take the meeting in the afternoon of 27.12.2011, timing for which will be fixed keeping in view convenience of both the sides.

Sd/-

(Subhash Chander)

Director (SR & Legal)

RESERVATION FOR OTHER BACKWARD CLASSES IN CIVIL POSTS AND SERVICES UNDER THE GOVT. OF INDIA — SUB-QUOTA FOR MINORITY COMMUNITIES

MOST INIMEDIATE

No.4I018/2/2011-Estt. (Res.)

Government of India

Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions

Department of Personnel & Training

North Block. New Delhi- 110001

Dated the 22nd December, 2011

OFFICF MEMORANDUM

Subject: Reservation for Other Backward Classes in Civil Posts and Services under the Govt. of India — Sub-quota for Minority Communities.

The undersigned is directed to invite attention to this Department's O.M. No.36012/22/93-Estt.(SCT) dated 8th September, 1993 regarding reservation for Other Backward Classes in civil posts and services under the Government of India.

2. The Government of India had set up the National Commission for Religious and Linguistic Minorities to suggest criteria for the identification of the socially and economically backward sections amongst Religious and Linguistic Minorities and to recommend measures for their welfare, including reservation in Government employment. The Commission submitted its report to the Government on 10th May. 2007, wherein it had, inter-alia, recommended creation of a sub-quota for minorities from within the reservation of 27% available to OBCs, in Government employment.

3. The Government have carefully considered the above recommendation and it has been decided to carve out a sub-quota of 4.5% for minorities, as

defined under Section 2 (c) of the National Commission for Minorities Act. 1992, from within the 27% reservation for OBCs as notified by the aforesaid O.M. The castes / communities of the said minorities which are included in the Central list of OBCs, notified state-wise from time to time by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, shall be covered by the said sub-quota.

4. Similar instructions in respect of public sector undertakings and financial institutions including public sector banks will be issued by the Department of Public Enterprises and by the Ministry of Finance respectively.

5. These orders will have effect from 1st January, 2012 and the O.M. No. 36012/22 93-Estt. (SCT), dated 8th September, 1993 stands modified to the above extent.

6. The Hindi version of the O.M, follows.

REMEMBERING GREAT INDIANS

Happy Bday to human mathemtical machine MR SRINIVASA RAMANUJAN..........

Born:22nd dec 1887

Died:26th april 1920

DEMONSTRATIONS ON DAY OF SERVING STRIKE NOTICE

CULTURAL MEET

GENERAL BODY MEETING OF P3 P4 GDS UNIONS ON PROPOSED INDEFINITE STRIKE FROM 17/01/2012 HELD AT DR.BR AMBEDKAR BHAVAN GUDUR ON 18/12/2011

NON-INVESTMENT OF NPS FUND

A total amount of Rs. 971.48 crore, collected towards contribution for Government employees, from 2004 to March 2008, under the New Pension System (NPS), was credited to the Public Account of India.

The institutional architecture for NPS could not be operationalised by the Interim Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA). Therefore, the contribution for the Government employees under the NPS could not be invested in the market.

The funds were credited to Public Account and interest @ 8% p.a. was paid on the contribution.

The establishment of institutional architecture by the PFRDA, based on objective and financial criteria, took some time, therefore, the question of conducting an enquiry does not arise.

The interest @ 8% p.a. was paid on the contribution by the Government.

This information was given by the Minister of State for Finance, Shri Namo Narain Meena in written reply to an Unstarred Question in Lok Sabha today.

New health insurence scheme on cards in place of existing CGHS

Government on Friday said it was contemplating introduction of a health insurance scheme for central government employees and pensioners on a pan India basis.

In reply to a question in Lok Sabha, Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad said the scheme would be an alternative to the existing CGHS scheme.

"The proposal is to make this scheme voluntary and contributory for serving employees and pensioners. However, it is proposed to be made compulsory for new entrants in Government service," Azad said.

Replying to another question, he said the government was also considering a plan to construct a super speciality wing in the campus of Safdarjung Hospital.

"A detailed project report for the construction of a 360 bedded super speciality wing in the campus of the Safdarjung Hospital has been received," Azad said.

Source : PTI

GLIMPSES CULTURAL FEST AND MEETING HELD IN GUDUR ON 18/12/2011

గూడూరు డివిజన్ తపాల ఉద్యోగుల కళాభినయం - 18-12-11 తేదిన జరిగిన పోటీ లో విజేతలు

PROCEDURE FOR OPENING OF BPL A/Cs - DTE. ORDER

New Pension Scheme

New Pension Scheme (NPS) is a defined contribution scheme, its payout depends upon the amount of contribution and the growth on the investment over a period of time for an individual while defined benefit schemes payout is defined and is based on salary and number of years in service etc. at the time of retirement of an individual.
At the time of normal retirement after attaining 60 years, the subscriber can withdraw 60% of the accumulated wealth and will be required to invest remaining 40% of the accumulated wealth to buy a life annuity from insurance company approved by Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority (IRDA). The mandatory provision of annuitisation will be invested to buy life annuities as per various options available to him. The amount of annuity varies depending upon the option selected by him. Registration of ASPs (Annuity Service Providers) is under process and as soon as they get registered, other details will be made available.
In old pension scheme government pays pension after retirement as its liability while in NPS government co-contributes to employee during his service period to build up a corpus on which annuities will be paid.
This information was given by the Minister of State for Finance, Shri Namo Narain Meena in written reply to a question in the Rajya Sabha today.

More clarifications on CHILDREN EDUCATION ALLOWANCE SCHEME (CEA) by DOPT

NO PROPOSAL TO DECLARE DA AS DEARNESS PAY, AFTER DA CROSSES 50% IS UNDER CONSIDERATION OF THE GOVERNMENT

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA – MINISTRY OF FINANCE – LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO 859 / ANSWERED ON 25.02.2011

DA OF CENTRAL GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES
859 . Smt. P. JAYA PRADA NAHATA
NEERAJ SHEKHARYASHVIR SINGH

Will the Minister of FINANCE be pleased to state:-
(a) whether Government has plans to increase dearness allowanceeffective from January,2011 for Central Government employees with a rate that commensurates with the inflationary trends and plights of working class in the past few months;

(b) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefore;

(c) whether Government has any proposals to declare DA as Dearness Pay when it will cross 50 per cent, as it was done during the 5th Pay Commission;

(d) if so, the details thereof; and
(e) if not the reasons therefore?

National Anomaly Committee meeting
Fourth Meeting of the National Anomaly Committee to discuss the anomalies arising out of the implementation of the recommendations of the Sixth Central Pay Commission is scheduled to be held on Thursday, the 5th January, 2012 at 3.00 P.M. in Room No.119, North Block, New Delhi, Secretary, Department of Personnel & Training will chair the Meeting.

Sixth pay commission|performance based incentive|Grievances V Narayanasamy

NEW DELHI: The Central Government is contemplating introduction of a performance based incentive for its employees like in the private sector.
"The Sixth Pay Commission has recommended the introduction of a new performance based pecuniary benefit, over and above the regular salary, for Government employees."The benefit will be called Performance Related Incentive Scheme (PRIS) and will be payable taking into account the performance of the employees during the period under consideration," Minister of State for Personnel and Public Grievances V Narayanasamytold the Lok Sabha in a written reply."This recommendation has been accepted by the Central Government and guidelines are being worked out through inter-departmental consultation," he added.

Postal dept stares at R6,000-crore loss, blames managerial failure for sales dip - NEWS

New Delhi: With declining snail-mail traffic, dipping revenue and mounting losses, the Indian postal department is struggling to maintain its relevance in the age of internet and emails. According to the figures from India Post, there has been a 30% dip in its revenue from the sale of postage stamps in last four years — from R777 crore in FY08 to R555 crore in FY11. Worse still, the sale of postage stamps has declined in 20 states in the last four years, which translates into nearly 60% of the 154,000 post offices in India.
Sales of postage stamps is considered the benchmark for measuring the popularity and efficiency of India Post. In its own admissions, the postal department has accepted that there had been an overall decline in mail traffic in the last three years. And this comes at a time when the Indian postal department is staring at a revenue loss of around R6,000 crore while its gross expenditure has virtually doubled to around R14,000 crore in the last four years.
In its submissions made to a Parliamentary panel recently, India Post has conceded “negligence” on the part of its officials and termed “managerial failure” for the sharp shortfall in the revenues realised from the sale of postage stamps in the country.
“Regarding ordinary mail, first-class mail, I agree that there has been some negligence for quite some time now. The staff were doing exactly as they wanted. Mainly, I would agree, it was a managerial failure,” a senior postal department official told a Parliamentary panel recently.
According to the latest India Post figures relating to the last three years, sales of postage stamps declined sharply in states such as Gujarat, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu and Uttarakhand. Sales dropped marginally in states like Bihar, Assam, Himachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir, among others. The only saving grace for the department are the states of Andhra Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh, where the sales of postage stamps saw a healthy growth.
“The decline in postage stamp sales can also be gauged from the shortfall of around 7 crore mail traffic in the last three years. Mail traffic includes both unregistered and registered mail,” said a government official.
As reported by FE in August, the Parliamentary Standing Committee has already pulled up India Post. The panel had directed the department to concentrate on increasing its revenues using all available means, including increasing revenues from the sale of postage stamps.
“The department should pay focused attention on ordinary mail and identify areas where the revenue has been declining,” the panel had said. The postal department has also been told to expand its business activity by adopting aggressive marketing strategy.
While there are over 150,000 post offices operational in the country, there are over 400,000 villages that still do not have a post office.
However, not all is lost for India Post. Its figures indicate the fast-growing popularity of its Speed Post courier service. The revenue contribution of the service to the department has jumped by 45% over the last three years. In 2008-09, Speed Post generated R515 crore in revenue, which grew to R749 crore in 2010-11.
“The traffic for Speed Post and express parcel posts in 2007-08 stood at R18.37 crore which jumped to R28 crore in FY11,” the postal department said. As a result, now the government is aiming to add 40 premium Speed Post delivery centres this financial year.

INDEFINITE STRIKE DATE CHANGED FROM 3rd JANUARY TO 17th JANUARY, 2012.

TAKING INTO CONSIDERATION THE DIFFICULTIES EXPRESSED BY SOME OF CIRCLE SECRETARIES AND GENERAL SECRETARIES GDS UNIONS FOR ORGANIZING STRIKE IN AN EFFECTIVE MANNER WITH IN A SHORT PERIOD, THE CENTRAL JCA HAS DECIDED TO POSTPONE THE DATE OF INDEFINITE STRIKE FROM 3rd JANUARY TO 17th JANUARY, 2012. THERE IS NO CHANGE IN THE STRIKE NOTICE SERVING DATE AND HUNGER FAST BY GENERAL SECRETARIES.

COPY OF THE STRIKE NOTICE AND CHARTER OF DEMANDS WILL BE EXHIBITED IN THE WEB SITE SHORTLY.

SAGA OF VARIOUS POSTAL SERVICES IN INDIA -

Postal JCA decides to go on Indefinite strike from 03.01.2012

The meeting of the Central JCA held on 03.12.2011 at New Delhi, have reviewed the post-5^th July deferred strike settlement situation and have to come unanimous conclusion that Postal Board has failed to implement the assurances given by the Secretary [Posts] on agreed demands, even after a lapse of four months. Further it is going ahead with the unilateral implementation of the Mail Network Optimization Project [MNOP] in spite of vehement opposition of the Staff Side.

The Central JCA after in depth analysis of the entire situation, have decided to go on indefinite strike from 3^rd January, 2012. It was also decided to serve the strike notice on 15.12.2011 and to conduct mass demonstrations / dharnas in front of all Chief PMG / PMG Offices and Divisional Offices on that day. As a second phase of the agitation, the Secretary Generals of NFPE and FNPO and the General Secretaries and CHQ Office Bearers of Federations /All India Unions / Associations of the JCA shall sit on hunger fast in front of Dak Bhawan on 26.12.2011.

LIST OF CLOSED HOLIDAYS TO BE OBSERVED IN OPERATIVE & ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICES OF A.P POSTAL CIRCLE FOR THE YEAR 2012.

NREGA's new avatar: Work later, take home cash now

NEW DELHI: The government is likely to allow advance part payment of wages in a bid to restore faith of beneficiaries in its flagship rural jobs scheme. The proposal is part of a slew of measures to address mounting criticism of the centrally-funded Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) which is beset by administrative logjam and charges of leakages.

The rural development ministry has asked states to initiate a monthlong pilot project in select districts or panchayats where payments are especially delayed. Based on the feedback, a firm advance payments scheme can be designed. "We have asked states to do the pilots in those areas where delay in payment is primarily due to shortage of staff," said an official in the rural development ministry who did not wish to be identified.

"The amounts paid in advance will get adjusted from actual payment due whenever measurement of assets is over and wages due are calculated," the official added. Wages are often delayed for more than six months because of inadequate bank penetration, postal network and human resource. Delays in measurement of work done under the scheme and lack of personnel to process muster rolls also causes payments to be stuck at various administrative levels. "It has been suggested that till the Banking Correspondent (BC) network is augmented and till the postal network spreads out to all panchayats areas, part payments to workers may be considered as an option," a letter written by the rural development ministry to the state governments says. Under the BC model, agents are used to deliver services on a commission mission basis to increase banking penetration in rural areas.

The ministry has admitted in the letter that timely payment of wages remains a hindrance to successful implementation of the scheme. Though the ministry has received just 50 complaints related to nonpayment of wages under the scheme, it is believed that the figure does not reflect the enormity of the problem because most beneficiaries do not lodge a complaint. Payments in most cases under the pilot project are likely to be done through cash transfers even as the ministry's move does not necessarily allow for direct cash transfer of wages.

"It is not linked to the mode of payment but as it is an alternative to the BC model and post office payments, states will prefer direct cash transfers," an official with a state rural development department told ET. The pilot project is being initiated as the ministry's efforts to extend the outreach of banks and post offices are likely to take time to get fully rooted.

The ministry had two months ago issued guidelines to all states to ensure compulsory payment of wages only through bank and post office accounts. Within a month, however, rural development minister Jairam Ramesh announced that due to lack of infrastructure and human resource the option was not feasible in all parts of the country.

The minister had, therefore, made concession in the rule by allowing cash transfers in 60 Maoist-affected affected districts in the country. Tamil Nadu is the only state where all wage payments are transferred directly in cash. Advance payment has been supported by experts like National Advisory Council member Harsh Mander who say that such a move will not only restore faith of the workers, but also increase the rate of completion of works.

Options Exercised Earlier on TBOP will not be a Bar for regular promotion as LSG Accountants

National Pension Scheme offers investors a low-cost avenue to save for retirement

Does retirement planning mean simply putting surplus funds into a well-guarded piggy bank and never looking at it till one reaches the age of 60? How should an investor plan his/her retirement through regular investments or via cautious savings?And the bigger question: why should I sacrifice today to fend for tomorrow? These are never-ending questions, with no definite answers. The key point to understand is that proactive investors can make judicious investment decisions throughout their life span to create a savings pool, which comes handy post retirement.Irrespective of the lifestyle, work profile or financial commitments, it is imperative that an investor has a strong corpus to finance his/her post-retirement needs. Building such a corpus calls for meticulous planning on the part of investors, that, too, across their lifespan.The National Pension Scheme (NPS) provides investors across age groups (18-55) a lowcost avenue to do financial planning. Under NPS, an investor can start with an amount of Rs 6,000 annually and at the same time take exposure to multiple asset classes. The scheme would invest via professional fund managers and also provide tax benefits.The Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA) opened this scheme for the general public in 2009. Having been in existence for over two years, the performance so far reflects that NPS has delivered returns higher than traditional saving instruments like corporate bond funds and government securities funds.If this performance continues over longer time frames, then it can help generate sizeable corpus for retirement savings. Such performance clearly indicates the usefulness of the scheme to generate higher inflation-adjusted returns for a safe and secure retired life.NPS is a savings-cum-investment alternative, which gives investors the best of both worlds. While it offers investors flexibility in terms of the amount they wish to invest, it also gives them an opportunity to diversify investments into different streams. Investors, based on their risk-bearing capacity, have the discretion to allocate funds towards any of three asset classes . E (equity), C (corporate bond fund) and G (government securities fund).The risk-return tradeoff is as follows: E - high risk and high returns; C - medium risk, moderate returns; G - low risk, low returns Investors can seek a choice of six fund managers to make their investments as well as switch across fund managers.This ensures an element of competition between fund managers and helps the scheme generate market-linked returns. Investors can either choose the asset class/classes they want to invest in the desired proportion or choose the auto choice or lifecycle fund scheme by default.Here, at the lowest entry age (18 years), the asset allocation would be 50% in E, 30% in C and 20% in G till the investor turns 35. The ratio of investment in E and C will then decrease annually, while the proportion of G will rise. At 55 years, G will account for 80% of the corpus, while the share of E and C will fall to 10% each.

GUDUR/NELLORE POSTAL EMPLOYEES PARTICIPATION IN MARCH TO PARLIAMENT ON 25-11-11