11^th MEETING OF THE POSTAL SERVICES STAFF WELFARE BOARD WILL BE HELD IN SHRI G.P. ROY COMMITTEE ROOM OF DAK BHAWAN, NEW DELHI ON 16.05.2012 UNDER THE CHAIRPERSONSHIP OF HO`NBLE MINISTER OF STATE FOR COMMUNICATIONS & IT

The Editorial published greeting the formation of AIPEU GDS (NFPE) Union in the Postal Life APRIL 2012 is reproduced here under for the consumption of our viewers.

Our Sincere thanks to our Com. I. S. Dabas, General Secretary, AIPEU Postmen & MSE/Group ‘D’ and also requesting all P3 & P4 Divisional Secretaries to kindly assist the CHQ in formation of branches in respect of all divisions at the earliest.

DAWN OF A NEW GDS ORGANISATION

The P&T Trade Union movement right from its inception had taken up the cause of the downtrodden Extra Departmental employees in the Postal. The NFPTE leadership led by Dada Ghosh stood firm and not relented by declining to withdraw the call of the indefinite strike until the then Government conceded the demand for constitution of the ED Pay Committee called the Rajan Committee in 1957. Step by step improvements and in between snatching away of the hard won rights of this lowest strata of the postal workers by the authorities is the life storey of EDAs who are currently called as the GDS. NFPTE was denied the right to form a separate union as its affiliate in 1954 by the Government on the grounds that they are not regular employees. Even the latest New Recognition Rules follows the footsteps of the earlier policy and that is the background of the NFPE recognised without GDS Union affiliation.

However the NFPE succeeded in forming a strong union of GDS in 1999 because of the great role played by the then Secretary General NFPE Comrade K. Adinarayana. Despite his word was ‘gospel’ amongst the lakhs of GDS at that time and despite the situation that anyone named by him could win hands down as the General Secretary of the newly constituted AIPEDEU, he chose to accept the proposal of others and unanimous panel was elected at Kaiwara foundation conference of AIPEDEU. The magnanimity of Comrade Adinarayana was notonly not reciprocated by the leadership but step by step anti-NFPE platform became the bulwark of the AIPEDEU leadership. Trade Union democracy was butchered in its subsequent AICs to prevent any democratic forces capture the leadership.

The achievements if any gained by the EDAs or the GDS are purely because of the joint movement built up by the NFPE. But attacking the NFPE and its leadership at every available opportunity has become the basic strategy of AIPEDEU leadership. NFPE has been blamed for any failures on the part of the leadership of AIPEDEU. United movement and joint struggle have been the fundamental policy of the NFPTE and NFPE. But adventurist and individual action to undermine the NFPE and joint action in order to get cheap popularity had become the fundamental direction of AIPEDEU. All the efforts taken by the NFPE including measures to normalize the relation with the AIPEDEU to build a common movement in the interest of all postal employees both regular and GDS are always been nullified by the strategic ambition of the leadership of AIPEDEU to tarnish the Federation. Democratic traditions have been buried and major decisions including indefinite strikes and anti-NFPE actions have been taken without even convening the managing bodies like the CWC. The net result of the above course of action has resulted in huge losses to the three lakhs of GDS. The GDS became the target point of attack by the Authorities and Government due to the disunity created by the whole approach of the AIPEDEU. The mass of GDS are under attack but the AIPEDEU leadership has no answer except to blame the NFPE for all ills caused by its own failures.

The suffocation of large masses of GDS who always cherished the united movement under the banner of the NFPTE and NFPE have raised the above questions in the latest AIC of AIPEDEU in Mozri Conference and they have also raised so many questions about the mismanagement of the finances of union collected from the poor GDS all over the country. The leadership has no answer to the pointed questions of the delegates except to deny them their democratic opportunity to speak. At the height of the undemocratic attitude of the leadership, the delegates from several circles including many major circles condemned the leadership and came to the conclusion that any continuance under this undemocratic leadership will result in further huge losses to the GDS interests and a new organisation for the GDS has become the urgent requirement for launching united movement in advancing the cause of the downtrodden GDS masses. They came forward to form such a new organisation with the title “All India Postal Employees Union – GDS[NFPE]” there itself and elected an Adhoc Office Bearer body to form the union from grass roots to the apex level within a time frame of six months. Hundreds of delegates from several circles and hundreds of visitors attending the AIC have then walked out of the AIC and their huge and long procession ended in another accommodation ‘Shiv Mandir’ where they have conducted the first ever meeting of the new born organisation AIPEU-GDS[NFPE] and resolved to build the organisation and strive for united movement under the able guidance of the NFPE federation.

NFPE formed its first ED Union in 1999 to build a powerful joint movement but the effort was thwarted by the leadership with its own selfish goals and designs. Now a new organisation with the declared policy of united functioning under the guidance of NFPE and its affiliated regular employees’ organisations is born on 7^th April, 2012. The P4 CHQ extends its warm congratulations to the leadership of the AIPEU-GDS[NFPE] and assures total cooperation at all levels from the CHQ to branch levels. The P4 organisation will stand shoulder to shoulder with the new formation and will fight to its potential as was the tradition created by our organisation under the leadership of Comrades V. G. Dalvi and K. Adinarayana. We hail the dawn of this new GDS organisation and wish it gains strength from strength organisationally and ideologically and emerge as the real champion of three lakhs of GDS masses.

EDUCATION LOANS TO MNORITIES

New Delhi, April 24, 2012(PIB): India Banks’ Association (IBA) has circulated revised Model Educational Loan Scheme to its member banks. Banks can adopt the scheme with discretion to make changes as deemed fit. The scheme is for all students including students from minority communities. 

Indian Nationals who have secured admission to professional/technical courses in India or abroad through an entrance test/merit based selection process are eligible for educational loans under the scheme. 

Complaints received from various channels regarding non-sanction, non-disbursal, delay in sanction, disbursal of education loans are taken up with the concerned banks for immediate corrective measures. 

The performance of Public Sector Banks (PSBs) under educational loan scheme is reviewed on an ongoing basis. The banks have been advised to ensure that the Educational Loan Scheme is implemented in letter and spirit and that loan applications are disposed of within the prescribed time limit. 

This information was given by the Minister of State for Finance, Shri Namo Narain Meena in written reply to a question in Rajya Sabha toda

India post's gold offer on Akshya tritiya

For those who are eager to bring wealth and prosperity to one’s doorstep, going by the new-found aura of Akshaya Tritiya, India Post is all set to create avenues for investment in gold coins. And to make the option really attractive for customers, a six per cent discount is being offered on purchases.

On Akshaya Tritiya, which falls on April 24, buying gold is an important part of the worship of Lakshmi, the Goddess of Wealth. India Post is offering the special discount on gold coins of any denomination purchased through post offices during the period from April 1, 2012, to June 30, 2012. The coins are manufactured by the world-renowned Valcambi SA, Switzerland.

Trai says one paisa per second plan mandatory

NEW DELHI: The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has asked all service providers to ensure that they offer their customers atariff plan of one paisa per second along with other offerings. 

The regulator in a tariff amendment order said it had become "mandatory" for service providers to offer in each service area at least one tariff plan each for both postpaid and prepaid subscriber with a uniform pulse rate of 'one second'.

"The service providers will be at liberty to offer alternative tariff plans with any pulse rate within the overall ceiling of 25 tariff plans," TRAI said in a statement.

The rates for premium rate services currently levied by service providers are substantially higher as compared to the normal tariff applicable for a two-way communication due to the fact that the charges levied also include the price for content.

Keeping in view the fact that calls and SMS made for participating in competition and voting hardly contain any content, TRAI's Telecommunication Tariff (Fifty First Amendment) Order 2012 also mandated that tariff for such calls and SMS shall not exceed four times of the applicable local call or SMS charges.

The amendment also provides flexibility to service providers to applyrevision in international long distance tariff uniformly for new as well as existing subscribers.

TRAI had issued a consultation paper in October last year on "Certain issues relating to Telecom Tariff" seeking views of stakeholders.

Most of the operators opposed when asked if one standard plan for all service providers particularly for a prepaid subscriber would be relevant in the present scenario of Indian telecom market.

The regulator has also retained the existing cap of 25 tariff plans that can be offered by access service providers including post-paid and pre-paid.

Prime Minister’s Speech on Civil Services Day, 2012

The following is the text of the speech of the Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh on the occasion of the Civil Services Day Today: 

“On this occasion of the seventh Civil Services Day I warmly greet all members of our civil services. This annual event provides our civil services an opportunity to reaffirm their collective commitment to serve our country and our people to the best of their ability. It is also an occasion for the civil servants to introspect and reflect on their role and performance, and how these can be made more effective, more meaningful.

I have seen the three themes for today's deliberations. They all cover issues that are important for the country and of immediate relevance to the functioning of our civil servants. I am sure that you will have productive discussions during the course of the day. But I also believe that the significance of today’s event lies equally in sending out a message that we are all determined to make our civil services more competent, more professional, and alive to the requirements of the twenty first century and capable of facilitating rapid social and economic progress in our country.

I have always believed that there is no dearth of talent in our civil services. Many of our civil servants would rank among the best in the world. They have done excellent work. They have delivered results in the face of adversity. Several civil servants have been shining examples of probity and integrity, working selflessly for the public good. Indeed, we have just been introduced to the work of some outstanding civil servants. I congratulate today’s award winners and wish them even more success in the future.

As I said earlier, the Civil Services Day should also be an occasion for introspection. Even as we celebrate our successes, we should also be honest in admitting our failures and our deficiencies. I would like to take today's opportunity to flag some issues about the civil services which I believe agitate the public mind.

There is a growing perception, right or wrong, that the moral fiber of our civil servants and public servants in general, is not as strong as it used to be some decades back and that our civil servants are now more likely to succumb to extraneous pressures in their work. These perceptions might be exaggerated but I do think that there is a grain of truth in them.

The decisions that the civil servants take must be fair and objective in nature, based on sound evidence and deep analysis and designed to serve the best interests of our country. Their judgment and advice should not be affected by the nature and color of the political leadership. If this does not happen, the impartiality and fairness of the decision making processes in public administration would get compromised and the quality of our output would be sub-optimal. I think, therefore, this is a vigil that the civil servants must maintain constantly. I also believe that there is a growing perception in the public that over the years the attributes of objectivity in work has been diluted. I leave it to the civil servants to ponder to what extent this perception is true and what they can collectively do to remove it from the public mind.

This brings me to yet another issue that I would like to flag today. We live in times of great change. Our society and our economy are undergoing rapid transformation. Every day we are exposed to new technology and to new ways of doing things. Not only this, technology has made the world smaller and best practices now get disseminated much faster than ever before. We should therefore ask ourselves the question whether, in our ways of doing things, we are keeping pace with the changes taking place all around us. I think it is generally felt that the civil services have somewhat lagged behind in this area. I am aware that it is not very easy to change systems, procedures and processes in the public sector. But this should be taken as a challenge and our civil servants should redouble their efforts to adopt more modern methods and practices.

In my last Civil Services Day address on April 21, 2011 I had outlined the measures that our government had taken or was contemplating to tackle the menace of corruption in public life. I believe that since then we have made substantial progress towards strengthening the legislative framework and revamping our administrative practices to enable us to fight corruption better. Even as our government moves forward in these efforts, which I don't want to list in detail today, it should be our endeavor that there is no witch hunting in the name of fighting corruption. It is our government's commitment to put in place a system and create an environment in which our civil servants are encouraged to be decisive, and no one is harassed for bonafide mistakes of errors of judgment. We stand committed to protecting honest and well meaning civil servants who might have made genuine errors in their work. And I sincerely hope that these intentions of our government are shared by the state governments too.

On their part, the civil servants in our country should fight the tendency of not taking decisions because of the fear that things might go wrong and they might be penalised for that. We cannot have a bureaucracy which is hundred percent risk averse. In fact we should encourage boldness in decision making, provided that the decisions are well considered and as per the law of the land. A civil servant who does not take decisions might always be safe, but at the end of the day he or she would have contributed nothing to our society and to our country. Source : PIB

Let me also very briefly comment on the topics that will be deliberated upon today. The first theme "Security for the Marginalized: Vision for a Caring India" particularly relevant to all of us in the context of our commitment and efforts towards inclusion towards the integration of Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and religious minorities in the national mainstream. As we enter the Twelfth Plan period we should redouble our efforts for building a society and country in which the fruits of development are shared by each and every citizen. Our growth would not have much meaning if we fail in building a truly inclusive society and country. Indeed, without inclusion, social and economic, the very sustainability of our growth processes comes under question. The other two themes relate to making our civil services corruption free and more transparent and accountable, and also to enable them to improve service delivery to our citizens. These issues are of abiding relevance to all of us. I once again wish you very productive discussions on all these issues.

Let me end by stating that we have full faith in our civil services. They have served our country well. Our civil servants have made a very substantial contribution to our country's progress. I congratulate them for their achievements. I wish them all the best for the future. But I also hope that they would constantly endeavor to improve, upgrade and modernize the systems and processes they adopt and operate in the best interests of our country.”

CLARIFICATIONS ONN RECRUITMENT RULES PA/SA

GDS SHALL MARCH FORWARD UNDER THE BANNER OF NFPE
NEW UNION HAS BORN. NEW LEADERSHIP IS ELECTED
Dear Comrade,
Formation of AIPEU – GDS (NFPE) Union
Declaration
At the outset, I am meeting all of you through this circular with the happy note and message that ‘Let us unite and fight for the justice and emancipation of GDS’ with the cooperation of all departmental employees without any segregation or individualistic attitude. We further pledge you that the GDS money being collected in the form of Quota/donation shall not be misused for personal gains and shall be utilized only for the right cause particularly for their emancipation.
End of Nero’s regime
All of you are very well aware that there is a serious attack on GDS on every issues and Com. S. S. Mahadevaiah General Secretary has done nothing to the GDS except dividing the departmental and GDS employees by his chauvinist attitude and action. He never bothered on settlement of problems and even did not attend the strike negotiations held in seven rounds during June & July 2011.
Not champion! Only an immatured chauvinist
He had neither taken up the cases in a proper manner nor allows the Federation to take up the genuine cases of GDS. He is truncated with the theory of ‘He is above every one’ and even dare to write the Department that no reference from anyone except him should be entertained. When the P3 CHQ and NFPE has released a valuable Book of Compilation on GDS called “Crusader to Gramin Dak Sevak”, instead of appreciating the efforts, he raised objections and released another book just copying all the contents including the printing mistakes and omissions from the GDS Crusader released by the P3 CHQ & NFPE. He even published an open letter against NFPE in his journal “Rural Postal Employees’ in May 2011 maligning the NFPE leadership and showing he is the only champion of GDS employees.
NFPE – the sine-quo-non of GDS
Let us have a realistic analysis about the plight of the GDS Employees after the taking over of Com. S. S. Mahadevaiah as the General Secretary of AIPEDEU at Kaiwara (Karnataka) in the first All India Conference of AIPEDEU. Till Kaiwara conference NFPE was conducting so many struggles for the realization of GDs demands and the following demands have been achieved.
Before the taking over of Com. Mahadevaiah
NFPTE raised the demand for departmentalization of GDS in the 1960 & 1968 strikes. The GDS demands were also included in the Charter of demands of 1946 strike by UPTW, the replica of NFPTE.
There were no fixed duty hours or fixed consolidated allowance. NFPTE compelled the Government to fix duty hours and consolidated allowance through continuous struggle.
There was no Dearness Allowance for GDS. Through struggle NFPTE achieved the demand and DA was granted to GDS.
There was no Bonus for GDS. Only because of the strike call given by NFPTE, the Bonus was paid to GDS. Bonus was paid on the same rate as paid to the regular employees.
5. Com. K. Adinarayana former Secretary General of NFPE gave call for one day strike on 19.09.1984 exclusively for the demands of GDS. Interim relief was granted and DA which was stopped was also restored.
6.There was no pay scale, leave, increment, gratuity or retirement benefit to the GDS. NFPE took effort to mobilize all 6 lakhs Postal Employees under the banner of Joint Council of Action (JCA) and the historic 4 days strike of December 1993 was conducted. Resultantly, the Government was compelled to appoint a judicial committee headed by a retired Judge of High Court under the Chairmanship of Justice Charanjeet Talwar.
7.Justice Talwar Committee submitted its report in the year 1997. Government refused to implement the favourable recommendations of the Talwar Committee. NFPE conducted eight (8) days indefinite strike in July 1998 for implementation of Justice Talwar Committee. Again, it gave a call for indefinite strike from Dec 18th 1998.
8.Finally Government was compelled to announce the GDS package in the Parliament on 17.12.1998.
9.Thus TRCA (Pay Scale), Future entitlement (increment), Paid leave, Gratuity and Severance amount etc were granted to GDS. Severance amount to promotees was also granted.
10.All the above demands were achieved by NFPE only. GDS Union was formed n the year 1999 i.e. after the implementation of Talwar Committee report.
11.It was at this stage i.e. in 1999 the GDS All India Union (AIPEDEU) was formed in the 1st AIC at Kaiwara. Com. S. S. Mahadevaiah was elected as the General Secretary of AIPEDEU and he was continuing as General Secretary.
Let us verify what all the gains are for GDS after the taking over of Comrade S. S. Mahadevaiah as the General Secretary.
After taking over charge of Com. Mahadevaiah
No achievement except attacking and blaming NFPE and creating division among the Postal workers.
NO GAINS AT ALL
Not even a single demand of GDS was settled after 1999, i.e. after the taking over of Com. S. S. Mahadevaiah. Immediately on taking over charge he shifted his loyalty to the anti NFPE Group. He went on attacking NFPE. His first enemy is NFPE and not the Government. Even now he is continuing the same malicious propaganda against NFPE. Recently he has published an article written by a retired leader closely connected with anti – NFPE lobby maligning the NFPE and its leadership and describing Com. S. S. Mahadevaiah as the only champion of Postal GDS employees in the “Rural Postal Employees” May 2011 issue!!!
At the same time what has happened to the GDS after 1999 under the leadership of Com. S. S. Mahadevaiah.
1.NFPE decided to boycott the Natarajamurthy Committee. But Com. Mahadevaiah decided to cooperate with the committee and surrendered before the Government. Thus a chance for taking a united approach to boycott was spoiled.
2.50% merger of DA was denied to GDS by Government. Due to NFPE’s effort 5% TRCA was granted. A delegation of NFPE met Prime Minster with Com. Basudev Acharya, M. P. Mahadevaiah has no role. But he is claiming that he had settled the case. Shame!
3.GDS Bonus has been reduced from 3500/- to 2500/-. Mahadevaiah could not prevent it. But he is blaming NFPE.
4.Government issued orders for combination of duties of GDSMCs and hundreds of posts had been abolished. Mahadevaiah has not raised his voice against it.
<!--[if !supportLists]-->5. <!--[endif]-->Department issued order for abolition of thousands of GDSV posts and GDSMM posts. Mahadevaiah could not prevent it.
6.Department issued orders for 25% outside recruitment to the post of Postman and thereby denying the GDS their promotional avenue. Mahadevaiah has done nothing. Only the joint agitation led by NFPE compelled the department to assure that modification will made.
7. Government recently issued orders restricting compassionate appointment to GDS limiting it to 10%. Earlier 100% appointment was given. Mahadevaiah could not do anything. Only the joint agitation led by NFPE compelled the department to revise the orders.
8.Government issued order tightening BPMs work norms. Instead of 1 point for 1000 rupees cash handling, it is raised to 20000/-. Further 1 point of Rs. 45/- rupees stamps sale is raised to Rs. 900/- No points for NREGS work and many other new works. TRCA of BPM is being reduced to minimum. Mahadevaiah don’t bother and also is helpless. Only joint struggle led by NFPE, the Minister assured that it will be reviewed.
9.Now the Dept has amended the GDS (Conduct & Employment) Rules 2001 as GDS (Conduct & Engagement) Rules 2011 and made the GDS appointment only as “Engagement” like casual part time etc. There is no serious protest so far from the GDS All India Union. Com. Mahadevaiah has accepted it and surrendered the hard-won right of GDS.
GDS lost many due to lack of unity
Thus one by one all the benefits achieved by NFPTE/NFPE through struggles are being taken away. But Mahadevaiah is keeping quite. Still he claims that he is the only champion of GDS by rousing the cadre sentiments of GDS against NFPE. Com. Mahadevaiah does not want the unity of Postal employees to advance GDS demands. He always wants disunity. Before the July 2011 strike settlement seven rounds of discussion were held with Postal Board. Com. Mahadevaiah has not attended even in a single negotiation. NFPE leadership argued for GDS and made a break through possible. His strike call in December 2008 yielded nothing but rightly divided the Postal workers is the testimony of his ulterior motive. Because of this type of wicked and narrow minded attitude, GDS are the victims and they are losing heavily, but the Leader is gaining.
Unity spoiled! Resulted delay over one year in implementation of GDS Committee recomendations
He refused to join a joint action against the Government to modify the retrograde recommendation of the Natrajamurthy Committee. NFPE was ready for a joint action of all Postal employees from 6th January 2009. But Mahadevaiah gave sudden call for indefinite strike from 18th December 2008 i.e. 16 days ahead of the date proposed call by NFPE. He divided the Postal Employees and clearly played in the hands of the Government. Thus resulted in unconditional call off the strike on the third day. Nothing was settled. But still he is blaming NFPE for his failure and untimely action. Will he deny the assurances of Postal Board made on 16.12.2008 for implementation of GDS committee recommendations before 31.12.2008 and no establishment norms will be revised? Due to the ill advice of one retired P3 leader he proceeded the strike to show his championship but caused one year delay in settlement of GDS issues. Knowing that Com. Mahadevaiah is against NFPE and the employees are divided, Government started attacking the GDS. Who is responsible for breaking the unity? Who is responsible for allowing the Govt. its “divide and rule” policy? Of course, Com. Mahadevaiah alone is responsible. He acted as an agent of the Postal Board and the Government by breaking the rock like unity built by NFPE.
Is it pension?
No modification in the so-called pension scheme (SDBS) recommended by the Nataraja Murthy committee could be made by Com. Mahdadevaiah. But yet the retired leader says that “Pension” is the achievement of Mahadevaiah. No; not at all. It is result of the struggle conducted by the entire postal employees. When there is nothing at his credit, he wants to take credit for it. Shame!!
Anti – NFPE Propaganda:
1.He is openly declaring that he is not with NFPE and he is running a separate union. He is even objecting the GDS comrades from shouting the slogan “NFPE Zindabad” and printing the NFPE emblem also on flags and banners etc.
2.He is not ready to coordinate with NFPE by accepting the offer of Associate membership of NFPE or by any another form like co-ordinating committee set-up despite the NFPE leadership attempted on several occasions for the unity.
Undemocratic method: Com. Mahadevaiah, never allowed democratic election to change his leadership. At Perumbalur AIC, goondaism was organized and delegates were brutally attacked. In many circles the Divisional disputes are organized by Com. Mahadevaiah and adhoc committees are imposed. In Tamilnadu a candidate for the Circle Secretaryship was man handled by the supporters of Mahadevaiah in his presence. More than 4000 GDS were kept out of membership in Tamilnadu Circle alone.
Looted GDS money! Tips of iceberg!
Apart from the above, there are several financial irregularities in the CHQ accounts.
(i)He is GDS MD, Doorvaninagar – Maximum he can work as postmen in officiating chances with minimum pay for postmen without HRA & TA. Do you know how much he has taken salary from the C.H.Q?
(i) Six months per year, he was forced to work as GDS MD, Doorvaninagar after 2008. He has drawn salary as GDS MD from the department.
(ii) As such what will be his entitlement? (Six months salary maximum at Postmen officiating pay plus six months GDS salary) (i.e) Rs. 196X30 days X 6 months = 35280 + 42000=77280). But do you know how much he has taken from the CHQ. As per his report. For 2010-11, he has taken Rs. 2,59,238 plus conveyance of Rs. 20370/-). For 2009-10, he has taken Rs. 1,94293/- plus conveyance of Rs. 19150/-)
(Pay Commission arrears to G/S & Tr: Rs. 119409 + Rs. 186129 = Rs. 305538. Rs. Three Lakhs, five thousand + more); Oh! God!. Any of you have drawn arrears of GDS committee beyond Rs. 70,000/-
(iii) You go through his accounts submitted in the last AIC! Luxuries and not for GDS The GDS sweat & money is being misused by both the General Secretary & Treasurer.
(iv) There is no accounting for building fund. No where the accounts related to Building funds were furnished.
(v) Total expenditure for two years exceeds 36 lakhs by the CHQ.
(vi)There was a strong news that he has purchased a bungalow costing crores of rupees in proper Bangalore city which is disproportionate to his income.
Manipulations! thy name is Mahadevaiah
When all the irregularities were pointed out by the majority of the delegates, there was no response and attempts were made to hush up the conference with the brute of manipulated voting strength. For examples in Rajasthan there was manipulation to the extent of 46 delegates? Where are they? Similar is the case of Himachal, Punjab & other circles where there is no presence.
Dawn to GDS!
Finally majority of the delegates met in the same venue and decided to form a separate union for GDS with name of All India Postal Employees union – GDS (NFPE) and decided to function under the guidance of P3, & P4 and NFPE leadership by consolidating total unity among the Postal employees. An adhoc body has been constituted to formulate circle/branch unions and there after full pledged All India Conference will be held to elect the office bearers democratically.
List of office bearers
President : Com. Bijay Gopal Sur (West Bengal)
Working Presidents : Com. Pramod Kumar Singh (Uttar Pradesh)
Com. Nirmal Ch. Singh (Orissa)
Vice Presidents : Com. Suprava Pal (North East)
Com. Gana Acharya (Assam)
General Secretary : Com. P. Pandurangarao (Andhra Pradesh)
Dy. General Secretary : Com. R. Dhanraj (Tamilnadu)
Asst. General Secretaries : Com. B. R. Jagadeesh (Karnataka)
Com. K. C. Ramachandran (Tamilnadu)
Financial Secretary : Com. V. Murukan (Kerala)
Asst. Financial Secretary : Com. Balaram Singh Thakur (Madhra Pradesh)
The following decisions have been taken unanimously.

Our immediate task
(i) Approach each and every member of AIPEDE Union and explain the position and enroll them as members of the newly formed union. Submitting withdrawal of membership form from AIPEDE Union from each membership to DDO/Divisional head (As per Dte. letter no. 13-2/94, SR (Vol II dt. 18.09.1995, any one wants to withdraw his declaration, he may give an application in that effect to the DDO, who will accept such request with future effect. No recovery of subscription will be made thereafter).
iii) Approach all members to obtain declaration from each member for our union.
iv) Will conduct a Monthly/Bimonthly journal called as “GDS Crusader’, with the subscription of Rs.5/- per copy.
(v)Draft constitution of the union will be compiled and forwarded to all circles/divisions.
(vi) Request the assistance/help of P3/P4 divisional secretaries of NFPE in respect of all divisions in obtaining more membership forms and also to guide the office bearers since the GDS union has been decided to function under the guidance of P3, P4 leadership of NFPE.
(vii) Requesting all the members who are in no contact with the office bearers to contact the General Secretary & others in guiding them to form branches and started functioning of divisional/circle levels, where the GDS members are being kept in darkness by the erstwhile leadership.
AIPEU GDS – launched its website & office
Our union has launched its website today and Com. M. Krishnan Secretary General put his first message. We will update the website regularly. Website is http://www.aipeugdsnfpe.blogspot.in/
Similarly, one e-mail ID has been created for the CHQ for the regular contacts with all GDS comrades. The e-mail ID of CHQ is: aipeugdsnfpe@gmail.com
The GDS CHQ will shortly start function at the Headquarters temporarily from the P3 CHQ head quarters. All correspondences may please be made to the following address.
Com. P. Pandurangarao, General Secretary, AIPEU-GDS (NFPE), Central Head Quarters, Dada Ghosh Bhawan, 2151/1, New Patel Road, New Delhi - 110008
An appeal to all the P3/P4 Divisional Secretaries
We are in the initial stage of formation. We can advance only with your co-operation only. Many GDS divisional secretaries are still in dark about the developments. We fervently request you to appraise the existing GDS union secretaries to join the main stream and strengthen this organisation. In case of non acceptance, kindly choose some good and efficient comrades for the Post of Divisional/Circle Secretaries who shall be a dedicated cadre belong to NFPE and send their Home address and Bio date to CHQ. So that we can approach them for the formation of branches of all levels.

We seek you cooperation and assure that we will work jointly under the banner of NFPE.
An Appeal

All are requested to kindly extend all their possible efforts for the growth of our union. We will function under the guidance of NFPE.

Comradely yours,
(P. Pandudranagarao)
General Secretary

POSTMEN RECRUITMENT RULES
25% OUTSIDE RECRUITMENT
DOP&T AGREED TO REMOVE it

Com. M. Krishnan, Secretary General, NFPE, met Senior officers of the Directorate today, DDG (P) informed that regarding 25% outside recruitment in Postmen cadre the DOP&T has given approval for removal of “25% outside quota recruitment”. The file has been sent to Law Ministry for clearance. It may take minimum two weeks to one month for getting approval from Law Ministry. After that revised recruitment rules will be notified and Postmen Examination for the year 2011 and 2012 will be held.

GRADE I EXAM WILL BE ON 03-06-2012

Turmeric may help lower heart attack risk in people post bypass surgery, thanks to curcumin, the yellow pigment present in the spice which has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.
Bypass surgery improves blood supply to the heart muscle. However, during the surgery that is usually performed with the heart stopped, the organ can be damaged by prolonged lack of blood flow, increasing the patient’s risk of heart attack.
The new findings suggest that curcumins may reduce such risks when added to traditional drug treatments.
The results need to be confirmed through further research, said Wanwarang Wongcharoen from Chiang Mai University in Thailand, who led the study, the American Journal of Cardiology reported.
Researchers at the Thai university studied 121 patients who had non-emergency bypass surgery between 2009 and 2011. Half the patients were given one-gram curcumin capsules to take four times a day, starting three days before their surgery and continuing for five days afterwards. The other half took the same number of drug-free placebo capsules.
The researchers found that during their post-bypass hospital stays, 13 per cent of the patients who’d been taking curcumins had a heart attack, compared to 30 per cent in the placebo group.
After accounting for any initial pre-surgery differences, Wongcharoen and his colleagues calculated that people on curcumins had a 65 per cent lower chance of heart attack.
“It’s very, very encouraging,” said Bharat Aggarwal of the study. Aggarwal works with the MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Texas, which studies the use of curcumins in cancer therapy, according to the Daily Mail.
According to researchers, it is likely that the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties of curcumin may have helped limit heart damage in the patients.

COMBINED MASTER LIST OF IPO EXAMINATION - 2011

http://www.indiapost.gov.in/DOP/Pdf/Results/IPO_Master_15-10-2011.pdf

PAYMENT OF DEARNESS ALLOWANCE TO GRAMIN DAK SEVAKS (GDS)

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS & IT
DEPARTMENT OF POSTS
(ESTABLISHMENT DIVISION)
Dak Bhawan Sansad Marg
NEW DELHI-110 001
No.14-01/2011-PAP Dt.12th April,2012

To
All Chief Postmasters General,
All G.Ms.(PAF)/Director of Accounts (Postal).

Subject: Payment of Dearness Allowance to Gramin Dak Sevaks (GDS) at revised rates with effect from 01-01-2012 onwards - Reg.

1. Consequent upon grant of another installment of dearness allowance with effect from 01st JANUARY, 2012 to Central Government Employees, vide Government of India, Ministry of Finance, Department of Expenditure O.M. No.1(1)/2012-EII(B), dated 3rd April, 2011, duly endorsed vide this Department's letter No.8-1/2012-PAP Dated 3.4.12, the Gramin Dak Sevaks (GDS), have also become entitled to the payment of dearness allowance on basic TRCA at the revised rate with effect from 01-01-2012. It has, therefore, been decided that the dearness allowance payable to the Gramin Dak Sevaks shall be enhanced from the existing rate of 58% to 65% on the basic Time Related Continuity Allowance, with effect from 1st January, 2012.

2. The additional installment of dearness allowance payable under this order shall be paid in cash to all Gramin Dak Sevaks. The payment of arrears of dearness allowance for the month of January to March, 2012, shall not be made before the date of disbursement of TRCA of March, 2012.

3. The expenditure on this account will be debited to the Sub Head 'Salaries' under the relevant head and should be met from the sanctioned grant.

4. This issues with the concurrence of Integrated Finance Wing vide their Diary No.104/FA/12/CS, dated 12TH April, 2012

Yours faithfully
Sd/-
(KALPANA RAJSINGHOT)
DIRECTOR (ESTT)
TELE:23096036/23036793
FAX:011-23096007/23096036

Points for Guidence

1. Whether reimbursement of conveyance charges will be allowed for the work entrusted on Sundays & holidays?

Ø Yes. The MOF OM No. 1/7/EII (A)/98 dt. 31.07.1998 stipulates that reimbursement of conveyance charges are allowed in case of a non Gazetted employee is deputed on duty to a place away from his head quarters but within the municipal limits of the same city, attending office on Sundays and closed holidays.

If he is deputed beyond 8 kms for such duty, he is covered by T.A rules and entitled for DA. etc.

2. Whether the staff quarters can be forcibly allotted to an employee even though he has not offered his willingness?

Ø No. It should not be thrusted upon any employee against his will and in the absence of a written request for allotment of a Quarter from the employee.

However, it is mandatory for the employee to occupy the rent free attached Quarters provided and if he refused to occupy the same, no HRA can be drawn. This is as per the Dte letter dt. 11.07.2000.

As such, no one should be compelled to accept allotment in Staff quarters.

3. What is the cutoff date for the condition of having not more than two surviving children for family planning Allowance?

Ø The order was issued on 06.07.1999 in which it was categorically stated that the Family Planning Allowance shall be admissible in future only to those C. G. Employees with not more than two surviving children. As such, the condition is not applicable for those having more than two children prior to 06.07.1999. In any place, if the allowance is not drawn, please make representation by citing the above provisions.

Further as per the rules the Allowance is not entitled for those underwent family planning after 50 years age in case of male employee and 45 years in case of female employee.

4. An official is on leave for one month from 10th to 9th of next month. Whether the Transport allowance is entitled for leave period or not?

Ø As per the orders dated 22.02.02, if the period of absence does not cover any calendar month in full, Transport Allowance is admissible for the entire month. The one month leave as stated is spread over for two calendar months. Therefore the official is entitled for Transport Allowance for both the months.

5. What is the time limit for claiming T.A. bill?

Ø As per SR 194-A, it should be preferred within one year. For LTC, it should be preferred within three months from the date of completion of return journey and if advance is paid, it should be preferred within one month.

LIMITED TRANSFER FACILITY TO GAMIN DAK SEVAKS – CLARIFICATION THEREOF.

Department issued clarification on Limited Transfer Facility. The existing provisions governing Limited Transfer Facility do not prescribe any restriction for allowing transfer form one category to another and amongst the various categories of Posts irrespective of TRCA slabs prescribed for these categories and even from one wing to another i.e., RMS to Postal or vice versa.

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS & IT
DEPARTMENT OF POSTS :: (GDS Section)

Dak Bhawan, Sansad Marg,
New Dehil – 110 001

No.19-10/2004-GDS (Part)

Dated:10 April, 2012

To

Chief Postmaster General
Kerala Circle
Thiruvananthapuram – 695 033

Sub:-LIMITED TRANSFER FACILITY TO GAMIN DAK SEVAKS – CLARIFICATION THEREOF.

This has a reference to your office letter No.CO/LC/21/OA/12 dated 27th Mar 2012 received only on 29.03.2012seeking advice if the various categories of the GDS Posts as prescribed in Rule 3 (d) of GDS (Conduct & Engagement) Rules, 2011 could be classified based on the skills or hierarchy or TRCA slabs within these categories.

2. The issue has been examined in this
Directorate and I am directed to clarify the position as under:

(a) Rule 3 (d) the Department of Posts, Gramin Dak Sevaks (Conduct and Engagement) Rules, 2011 currently recognizes only The five categories of Gramin Dak Sevaks i.e. GDS BPM, GDS MD, GDS MC, GDS Mail Packer and GDS Stamp Vendor.
(b) With the issue and implementation of orders relating to downgrading the EDSO's to EDBO's the category of GDS SPM is not in vogue. For the purposes of TRCA, Gramin Dak Sevaks are closed as three categories i.e. GDS BPM, GDSMD/SV & GDS MC/Packer, Their TRCA has been fixed based on pre-revised scales of pay of the corresponding categories of regular Government employees on pro-rata bases. Their TRCA is further based on workload assessed as per laid down norms and slabs.
(c) There is no concept of higher or lower post or skilled within a category and /or amongst various approved categories as recognized from time to time. For the purpose of direct recruitment to MTS Group C post, their seniority is reckoned with reference to date of entry in any GDS post based on seniority in the concerned division as a whole. There is no categorization of various GDS posts into 'White Collar' or 'Blue Collar' and such a classification is not also defined anywhere.
(d) The 'Recruiting Authority' mentioned in Rule 4 and further defined in the Scheduled annexed to the Department of Posts, Gramin Dak Sevaks(Conduct and Engagement) Rules, 2011 is based on working arrangement and for administrative convenience only. As the Gramin Dak Sevaks are entitled to protection under Article 311 (2) of the Constitution as held by Apex Court, the concerned authority will exercise his disciplinary jurisdiction as per the categories of GDS, for which one is designated as recruiting authority.
(e) The existing provisions governing Limited Transfer Facility do not prescribe any restriction for allowing transfer form one category to another and amongst the various categories of Posts irrespective of TRCA slabs prescribed for these categories and even from one wing to another i.e., RMS to Postal or vice versa. The requirement is fulfilled of required qualification and other conditions for limited transfer facility.
(f) While circulating the Department of Posts, Gramin Dak Sevaks (Conduct and Employment) Rules. 2001 vide DG letter No. 22-1/2000-ED & Trg dated 24.04.2001, it was clearly provided in Para 4(ix) of letter dated 24.04.2001 that "executive instructions issued and published below the respective rules as also those brought out in other sections such as method of recruitment, etc of Swamy's Compilation of Service Rules for the Postal ED Staff shall also stand revised/ amended mutandis in keeping with the amended/revised rules. Thus, the executive instructions providing for metnod of recruitment issued prior to circulation of the 2001 rules was provided by amending the Note II (iv) of Rule 3 of Rules and in accordance with the amended provision, limited Transfer Facility was provided under this Directorate letter No. 19-10/2004- GDS dated 17.07.2006 subject to terms and conditions mentioned therein.
(g) Hon'ble Supreme Court in the case of UOI Others vs. Kameshwar Prasad 1998 SCC (L&S) page 447 wherein the system and object of engaging EDA's and their status was considered and adjudicated upon, Held that P&T Extra Department Agent (C&S)Rules, 1964 are a complete code governing service, conduct and disciplinary proceedings against EDA's P&T EDA's Rules, 1964 were repealed and a fresh set of rules replacing the earlier rules was issued under GDS (Conduct and Employment) Rules, 2001 & thereafter 2001 rules have also been replaced by GDS (Conduct & Employment) Rules, 2001 & thereafter 2001 rules have also been replaced by GDS (Conduct and Engagement) Rules, 2011.
(h) So far protection of TRCA is concerned, this Directorate letter No. 14-16/2001-PAP(Pt.) dated 11.10.2004 issued in supersession to all previous provisions provided for protection of TRCA on reduction of workload and redeployment of staff on abolition of post and not in cases where redeployment was made on request. These provisions were not applicable under transfers which have occurred under Limited Transfer Facility extended to GDS under this Directorate letter No. 19-10/2004-GDS dated 17.07.2006. Para 3 (iii) of this Directorate letter dated 17.07.2006 prescribed that TRCA of the new post shall be fixed after assessment of actual workload of the post measured with respect to the cycle beat in respect of GDS MD/MC/Packer/Mail Messenger in this Directorate letter No. 14-11/97-PAP dated 1.10.1987. Based on this analogy, the incumbents of GDS BPM post in terms of points. This Directorate vide letter No. 19-10/2004-GDS (part) dated 21.07.2010 prescribed further that on transfer to a new post, the GDS cannot have any claim for protection of their TRCA drawn in the old post and his/her TRCA will be fixed at the minimum of the TRCA slab of the transferred post depending upon the workload of the said post.
(i) The power to allow transfer under the Limited Transfer Facility is vested only with the Head of the Circle and not with any other lower functionary. The position on this has recently been clarified under No.19-10/2004-GDS (part) dated 19.03.2012.

3. In view of the foregoing, immediate action may please be taken to get rectified the stand in conformity with the above. In order to avoid controversies and different stands before the Court of Law in future, prior consultation/approval of the Head of the Circle in each court case is prescribed to the mandatorily required before taking a stand before the Court of Law.

Sd/-
(Surender Kumar)
Assistant Director General
9GDS/PCC

Copy to:-

All Heads of Postal Circles except Kerala Circle- for information & disseminating the contenets to the notice of all concerned for strict compliance.

AIPEDEU LETTER TO DEPARTMENT

GDS/CHQ/4/3/2012 Dated: 30.03.2012
To
The Secretary,Department of Posts, Dak Bhawan, New Delhi-110001.

Madam,

Subject: - Limited request Transfers – irrelevant instructions to deny transfers to GDS – cases of AP Circle.
…..

Please find three communications received from the administration by the aggrieved GDS officials of AP Circle. The matter is self explanatory. There is provision in the instructions to allow request transfer from one post to the other. There is no specific instruction that the GDS of a specific category should apply for transfer to specific category e.g. BPM should seek transfer to BPM POST and GDSMD to GDSMD etc.

The instructions are very clear that transfer is permissible from one post to the another post. Of course eligibility criteria such as SSLC/10 std/matriculation pass for BPM may be insisted. Almost all GDS, recruited of late, are having said Matriculation qualification after 1987.

Hence it is requested to intervene in the matter and direct the circle head of AP circle to allow transfer of GDS from one post to another without any problems Subject to the Directorate Orders. Since the matter has gone to even courts/CAT your urgent intervention/direction is felt very essential.

A line in reply with nature of action taken in this regard will be highly appreciated at this end.

Thanking you,

Yours faithfully,

Sd/-
(S.S. Mahadevaiah)
General Secretary

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS & IT
DEPARTMENT OF POSTS :: (GDS Section)

Dak Bhawan, Sansad Marg,
New Dehil – 110 001

No.19-10/2004-GDS(Part) Dated:19 Mar 2012

To
Chief Postmaster General
Kerala Circle
Thiruvananthapuram – 695 033

Sub:-LIMITED TRANSFER FACILITY TO GAMIN DAK SEVAKS – CLARIFICATION THEREOF.

This has a reference to your office letter No.ST/120/RLGS/IX, dated 27th Jan 2012 regarding issue of clarification on competent authority empowered to allow limited transfer facility to the Gramin Dak Sevaks in the light of revised instructions concerning powers & functions of Chief Postmaster General/Postmaster General (Region) issued under this Directorate letter No.33-1/88-PE-II dated 05th Dec 1989 read with para 4 of this Directorate letter No.19-10/2004-GDS dated 17th Jul 2006, para 5 of letter No.19-10/2004-GDS (Part) dated 21-07-2010 and in particular the judgement of the Hon'ble CAT, Ernakulam Bench dated 16th Feb 2009 in OA No.286/2008 wherein it was held that the request of the applicant should not have been considered and rejected by the lower functionary.
2. The issue has been examined in this Directorate. As a matter of fact, the issue of extending limited transfer facility to GDS was considered by the Postal Services Board in its 3rd meeting held on 29-06-2006 & it did not agree with the proposal vesting the power for this purpose with the Head of the Region instead approved the proposal restricting the vesting of power only with the HoC. It was thus made clear in para 4 of this Directorate letter No.19-10/2004-GDS dated 17-07-2006 that "power in this regard will vest with the Heads of Circles who will decide each individual case on merit keeping in view the aforementioned criteria and standard of "public interest". Following recommendations made by Shri RS Nataraja Murti Committee, the issue was considered for certain modifications in this Directorate & it was made clear in para 5 of this Directorate letter No.19-10/2004-GDS (Part) dated 21-07-2010 that "the Heads of Circles are requested to keep the above modifications in view while deciding the case of transfer application of Gramin Dak Sevaks".
3. In view of the foregoing, I am directed to clarify that the power for the purpose vests only with the HoC & the lower functionaries including Regional PMG are not empowered to consider and reject the requests even in cases where such requests are not covered under the terms and conditions of limited transfer facility. Thereby, the role of the lower functionaries is restricted to receive, verify details and forward such cases with recommendations for consideration of the empowered authority and finally conveying the decision of the empowered authority. Further this facility as extended under this Directorate letter No.19-10/2004-GDS dated 17th Jul 2006 & further modified under this Directorate letter No.19-10/2004-GDS(Part) dated 21st Jul 2010 holds good under GDS (Conduct and Engagement) Rules, 2011.
This may be brought to the notice of all concerned for strict compliance.

Sd/-
(Surender Kumar)
Assistant Director General (GDS/PCC)

First Greetings & Message From Secretary General, NFPE Com. M. Krishnan duly launching our Website

Awake! Arise!! Unite comrades!!
Rally round nfpe

Dear Comrades,

History has its own course. Nobody can prevent it.

The Gramin Dak Sevaks (GDS) Union was formed in the year 1999 by NFPE with the guidance and blessings of Com. K.Adinarayana, the Legendary Leader who scarified his whole life for the emancipation of GDS. But the union was hijacked by a group of persons who are totally against NFPE and thus Com. Adi and NFPE was cheated. They even prevented the GDS employees from shouting the slogan - “NFPE ZINDABAD”. They looted the GDS money in lakhs and crores. They purchased flats and buildings. All the benefits achieved by the NFPE through continuous struggle was snatched away by the Government one by one during the period from 1999 to 2011. Sufferings of the GDS increased but the ‘anti-NFPE group” could not do anything. Neros were fiddling when the Rome was burning. They continued to blame NFPE for their inefficiency. They published open letters in their journal challenging the NFPE leadership.

Through money power and muscle power this “anti-NFPE group” tried to silence all those who questioned the leadership and those protested were sent out of the union in a most undemocratic manner and adhoc-committees were appointed dismissing the duly elected bodies. Even in the earlier All India Conference, GDS delegates who contested against the leadership were not allowed to contest and were brutally attacked and thrown out from the conference hall.

It is at this juncture, the majority of the GDS delegates who attended the All India Conference held at Amaravathi decided to shape their own destiny. The new union of the GDS called “All India Postal Employees Union GDS (NFPE)” was formed on 7th April 2012 by the majority of the delegates. Thus the broken link of GDS with NFPE is restored after a long gap of twelve (12) years. Those black days are over. Once again the GDS are going to march forward under the banner of NFPE. We shall fight together for the cause of GDS. We shall fight against the Govt. which is totally unsympathetic towards the three lakhs Gramin Dak Sevaks.

In this joint struggle we shall abide by the great traditions of Com. Tarapada Mukherjee, Dada Ghosh, K.G.Bose, N.J.Iyer and Com. Adinarayana. Com: Adi, who fought many a battle for the emancipation of GDS shall be our guiding spirit and the mighty National Federation of Postal Employees (NFPE) shall be our hope and inspiration.

We shall restore the pride and honour of three lakhs Gramin Dak Sevaks. We shall unleash series of struggle including strike exclusively for realisation of the GDS demands. We shall restore our past fighting tradition and the glory of GDS.

Comrades,

On this occasion of launching the new website for the GDS, NFPE extend its warm greetings to the three lakhs Gramin Dak Sevaks.

Let us march ahead with determination.

Victory shall be ours.

Yours sincerely,
M.Krishnan
Secretary General,
National Federation of Postal

Employees(NFPE)

New Delhi.

New Delhi,

11-04-2012.

Payment to Government servants other than salary etc. through e- Payment from 1st April 2012

F. No.1(1)/2011/TA/292

Ministry of Finance

Department of Expenditure

Controller General of Accounts

Dated 31st March, 2012

Office Memorandum

Sub:- Payment to Government servants other than salary etc. through e- Payment from 1st April 2012

1.The Central Government Account (Receipts and Payments) Rules,1983 have been amended, inter alia, to provide for issue of Payment advices to the bank for direct credit by electronic transfer to the specified bank account of the payee. As per the amendments, the Government servants are, permitted to receive their salary by direct credit to their bank accounts through payment advices, at their option Further, the amendment also provides that all payments to government servants other than salaries exceeding the limits as specified from time to time, shall be through payment advices.

2. In accordance to the above, with effect from 1st April 2012, all Ministries/Departments of the Government of India are directed to make all payments to government servants, other than salary, above Rs.25,000. by issue of payment advices, including electronically signed payment advices.

3. Further in accordance to the amended rules, with effect from 1st April 2012, all Ministries/Departments of the Government of India are directed to make all payments towards settlement of retirement /terminal benefits such as gratuity, commuted value of pension, encashment of leave salary,CGEGIS, withdrawals from General Provident Fund, etc. by issue of payment advices, including electronically signed payment advices.

4. All Ministries! Departments and Heads of Accounting Organisations are requested to ensure the compliance of above instructions by Pay & Accounts Offices/ Accounts offices and other payment units under their control.

5. Separate orders have been issued in respect of payments to private parties such as Suppliers, contractors, grantee, loanee institutions etc,.

sd/-
(Soma Roy Burman)

Joint Controller General of Accounts

Summary of Significant Events of DoP for the Month of Feburary

The significant events pertaining to Department of Posts for the month February ,2012 include disbursal of wages amounting to Rs. 662 crores to 5.39 crores MGNREGS account holders across the country except in Bihar Circle during January, 2012.
Two postage stamps were issued during the month of February, 2012. One on the India International Centre (09.02.2012) and the other on Employees State Insurance Corporation (24.02.2012).
A special cover was released by Karnataka circle on 15.02.2012 on the occasion of the 175th Birth Anniversary of Shri. Sadguru Siddharoodh Swami, Pujyashri Vishveshwaranandagiri. Mahamandaleshwara Swami Harihara released the special cover
A Philately exhibition on Science and Technology was organized by Karnataka Philatelic Society in collaboration with India Post on the occasion of National Science Day at Philately Bureau of Bangalore GPO from 14.02.2012 to 29.02.2012. Kerala Circle also organized the 12th KERAPEX-2012 at Calicut from 14-17 February 2012, which attracted a number of school children and philatelists.
Other significant events include one day strike on 28.2.2012 by Postal Unions affiliated to Postal Joint Council of Action in the wake of nationwide one day strike call given by Confederation of Central Government Employees and Workers; A “Round Table” on National Postal Policy chaired by Hon’ble MOC&IT seeking inputs from key stake holders related to the Postal sector and continuing endeavour of Department of Posts to provide complete solution for delivering the Unique Identification Number to all the residents in the country. The Department has ramped up it’s capacity of booking Aadhar letters being printed by the three empanelled printers of UIDAI from Manipal, Medak& Mumbai. So far, Department of Posts has booked more than 6.84 crore Aadhar letters since June’ 2010. Ever since, there has been a monumental increase in booking capacity.
Source : PIB Release, April 10, 2012

On the cards: longer leave for pregnant women

A government panel headed by the women and child development (WCD) secretary has recommended a review of the Maternity Benefit Act, 1961, with a view to increase the number of days of leave that a woman worker can take. It has also suggested giving the employee the choice of utilising the period of paid absence as per her convenience.
However, the panel has not spelt out by how many days the maternity leave should be increased.
"It would be the government along with a stakeholder ministry like the WCD which will have to take a final call," said a government official.
Presently, central government employees are eligible for up to 180 days of maternity leave with full pay benefits. For state government employees, the paid leave period varies from 120 to 135 days. In the private sector, the period is of a maximum of 84 days.
The panel has also recommended an amendment to the Maternity Benefit Act to ensure that employers do not terminate the service of a woman during the period of her pregnancy under any pretext to avoid providing maternity benefits.
It has also suggested strengthening and undertaking gender sensitisation among existing committees for labour law implementation.
"The committees should be made functional and special cells formed within existing committees to monitor the implementation of legislation for women workers," the report states.
These recommendations were made by a working group on women's agency and employment, which will form the basis of the 12th five year plan on women and child development issues presently being finalised by the Planning Commission.
Besides the WCD secretary, other members of the group include secretaries of various ministries like health, labour, etc.
Source : Hindustan Times, April 10, 2012

PFRDA in talks with govt for more incentives to fund managers

Fund managers get only 0.0009% of the funds managed by them as incentives

In a move to popularise the National Pension System (NPS) in the private sector, sector regulator PFRDA said it is in talks with the government to increase incentives for fund managers.
“We are struggling and fighting with the government to increase incentivisation amount for pension fund managers,” Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA) chairman Yogesh Agarwal said at a CII meet.
Fund managers get only 0.0009% of the funds managed by them as incentives.
NPS is a government-run retirement scheme for individuals, including those in the unorganised sector.
Introduced on 1 January 2004, it is mandatory for central government employees (except armed forces personnel) appointed on or after January 2004. The scheme was made available to all citizens on a voluntary basis from 1 May 2009.
LIC Pension Fund, SBI Pension Funds and UTI Retirement Solutions are among the different fund managers for NPS.
“What is not doing well is...the non-government sector of NPS. When it (NPS) was extended to private sector from 1 May 2009, they forgot that huge marketing effort is involved and somebody has to take the onus of marketing,” he said.
Agarwal, however, exuded confidence that the pension scheme would become popular in the private sector as well, once the marketing and distribution issues of the product are addressed.
NPS has been extended to all citizens of India with effect from 1 May 2009.
NPS was made compulsory for all new entrants to central government services, except the Armed forces, from 1 January 2004. Since then, most of the state governments have also notified similar pension systems for their new entrants.
The PFRDA is yet to get statutory powers as the Pension Bill for the purpose is still pending in Parliament.
The total corpus of the government employees under NPS as on December 2011 was Rs12,769 crore. The total average monthly subscription of government employees is around Rs500 crore.

First circular issued by newly formed All India Postal Employees Union GDS(NFPE)

Newly formed GDS Union has opened website

http://www.aipeugdsnfpe.blogspot.com

NEW GDS UNION FORMED UNDER THE GUIDANCE OF NFPE CAMP :
LET US COME FORWARD, NOURISH AND STRENGTHEN IT

A new union of Gramin Dak Sevak comrades (erstwhile Extra Departmental) has been formed at Amaravathi, Marashtra. The name of the new organisation is 'ALL INDIA POSTAL EMPLOYEES UNION- GDS (NFPE)'

During past few years, resentment was fuming inside GDS comrades against the nontransparencies, doubtful activities, autocratic style of functioning of the General Secretary (CHQ), AIPEDEU, S.S.Mahadevaiyah. We are sorry to mention that he is the General Secretary of the poor GDS employees but he is accustomed to lead a luxurious and sophisticated lifestyle. Moreover, he was totally reluctant to launch effective movements or conflicts against the administration even when GDS 'Employment' Rules was substituted by GDS 'Engagement' Rules, thereby actually converting the GDS cadre equivalent to Casual Labours. Rather, he preferred to spend his time more to campaign against and malign NFPE, though everyone knows that the names 'NFPE' and 'GDS' are synonyms to each other. On the other hand, he never bothered to explain numerous confusions and questions arose in the minds of the members regarding him. In the ongoing All India Conference, he tried to continue same style of functioning and impose on everybody, but comrades were not ready to accept this any more. GDS comrades and NFPE had tried their best to retain the unity of Postal Employees, but finally the General Secretary, GDS Union, compelled us to divide the unity. For the struggling force, there was no other alternative but to form a new Union for the interest of GDS and Postal Employees as a whole.

Finally, a large number of delegates from various Circles, attending the All India Conference of AIPEDEU at Amaravathi, Maharashtra, walked out from the house protesting the activities of S.S.Mahadevaiyah and formed the new All India Union. The All India Committee of 'AIPEU-GDS (NFPE)' is headed by the following comrades:

-----------President: Com. Bijoy Gopal Sur (West Bengal)
-----------General Secretary: Com. Pandu Rao (A.P.Circle)
-----------Treasurer: Com. Murgham (Kerala).

Due to the prevailing situation, the GDS comrades fighting to form a struggling organisation with the banner of NFPE, sought help from and were advised appropriately from different corners of the country by prominent leaders like Com. M.Krishnan, Secretary General, NFPE, Com. K.Raghavendran (Working President, Confederation & former S.G., NFPE), Com. K.V.Sridharan (G.S., Group-C), Com. I.S.Dabas (G.S., Postmen & MSE/Gr-D), and Com. Tapan Dasgupta (Circle President Gr-C, West Bengal) & Com. Asit Das (General Secretary, SBCO, West Bengal).

Our Federation (NFPE) is committed to guide, support and nourish the development of this organisation and confident that soon this organisation will emerge as the pioneer of the GDS movement in coming days. The task of all Circle/Branch/Divisional Secretaries and organisers will be to jump into action immediately to shape the newly formed AIPEU GDS (NFPE) everywhere. This is the lesson of history that the struggling force emerges as the main and the largest platform of the workers. The case of BSNL workers is a glaring example. But it will not happen automatically. We have to make it possible.

Job Highlights from 31st March 2012 to 06 April 2012

1. 
   
   Bank of Baroda invites applications for 2000 Clerical posts. Last Date for online Registration : 10.04.2012


2. 
   
   Dena Bank requires 500 Probationary Officers. Closing Date for online Registration : 12.04.2012


3. 
   
   Indian Bank invites applications for 86 posts of Special Officers. Last Date for online Registration : 18.04.2012


4. 
   
   Medical Officer Selection Board (CAPFs)-2012 requires 514 Specialist Medical Officers (Deputy Commandant), Medical Officers (Assistant Commandant) and Dental Surgeon (Assistant Commandant). Last Date: 30 days after application.


5. 
   
   Indo-Tibetan Border Police Force requires 421 Sub-Inspector, Head Constables and Constables. Last Date : 26.04.2012


6. 
   
   Indira Gandhi National Open University, New Delhi invites applications of recruitment of 214 non-academic posts. Last date of online Registration: 20.04.2012
   Bharat Heavy Electrical Limited requires 203 Professionals. Closure of online submission : 17.04.2012


7. 
   
   HQ Training Command, IAF Bangalore, invites applications for recruitment of 117 Group ‘C’ Civilian posts. Last Date : 21 days after publication


8. 
   
   Makhanlal Chaturvedi Rashtriya Patrakarita evam Sanchar Vishwavidyalaya, Bhopal requires 112 Teaching & non-Teaching Staff. Last date : 30.042012
   Source : http://employmentnews.gov.in/

Biodata of Com. P.Panduranaga Rao

Date of Birth : 06.01.1958

Educational Qualifications : MSc

Joined as BPM on : 03.04.1993

Award taken from Dr. T.Rangarajan, Ex-Governor,A.P. : 15.10.1998

Elected as Divisional Secretary, Gudur : 10.12.2003

Elected as Circle Secretary : 13.01.2004

Elected as Director in P & T Co-op Society Nellore Dist : 15.07.2007

Elected as Asst General Secretary : 26.02.2008

Elected as General Secretary AIPEU GDS(NFPE) : 07.04.2012

Maintaining of APGDS website has been appreciated by all officers in A.P.Circle especially by Sri. Yennam. Upender IPoS, DPS Visakhapatnam Region in a P-III A.P.Circle council meeting held at Visakhapatnam

Com. Adi is the first General Secretary from A.P. who secured the place in hearts of each and every P & T Employee, all CG Employees and also common working class in entire India

Com. Panduranga Rao, who is the strong follower to Com. Adi and who is working according to the principles of Com. Adi is the second General Secretary from A.P.

K Sudhakar

ACS Gr 'C' A.P.

at

APM (Accts) Gudur HO