Wednesday, December 31, 2014


Now, post offices can provide ATM cards, account statements

Post offices moved a step closer to becoming banks. The government has allowed certain eligible branches to issue ATM cards to their account holders and also account statements instead of giving out passbooks, as most private sector banks do. 

On Tuesday, the government issued a gazette notification amending the Post Office Savings Bank General Rules, 1981. The rules will come into force immediately. These facilities will be available to the branches that are working on core banking solution software, essentially branches that part of an electronic network. 

Post offices currently provide savings account, recurring deposits, fixed deposits and many other small savings schemes run by the government including the popular Public Provident Funds. 

The funds raised by them largely go to finance central and state governments. India post currently has about 1.55 lakh branches, nearly 90% are in the rural areas, which many experts see as a good vehicle for financial inclusion. The notification says the post office savings bank could issue automated teller machine or debit card to account holders on request or otherwise which can be used to withdraw funds from any of the branches having core banking. 

The deposits to these accounts could be made and accepted through any electronic mode. The RBI had decided against issuing a banking licence to India Post when it gave out licence to IDFC and Bandhan Financial Services saying it would decide after consultation with government. The new rules notified by the government will push India Post closer to banks. 

Source : The Economic Times

Launch of PAHAL (DBTL) scheme on 1st January 2015 in entire Country



1.      The Direct Benefit transfer of LPG (DBTL) scheme PAHAL (Pratyaksh Hanstantrit Labh) has been re-launched in 54 districts on 15.11.2014 in the 1st Phase and will be launched in the rest of the 622 districts of the country on 1.1.2015.
2.       Consumers who wish to join the scheme will have to either link their Aadhaar number into their bank account and their LPG consumer or if they do not possess Aadhaar number, they will have to link their bank account directly with their 17 digit LPG Id. Once a Consumer joins the scheme, he will get the cylinders at market price and will receive LPG subsidy directly in his bank account. A sum of Rs.568 will be paid in advance to the consumer, in the bank account, who now joins the scheme, as soon as he makes the first booking for a cylinder after joining the scheme to ensure that he has extra money required to pay for the first LPG cylinder at market price. This is in addition to subsidy that is paid on each cylinder.  Camps are being set up at various banks, and LPG distributor’s premises to enable LPG consumers to open bank account and enroll for Aadhaar if they need to do so to join the scheme.
3.      To keep consumers informed about their status in the scheme, consumers will receive SMS at every stage in the scheme. To avail of this feature all LPG consumers are requested to register their mobile number with their distributor if they have not done so. They are also advised to receive cylinders only with cash memos to be assured of their subsidy transfer.
4.      The scheme will cover over 15.3 crore consumers across 676 districts of the country. Currently over 6.5 crore consumers i.e. 43% have already joined the scheme and will receive subsidy in their bank account.
5.      DBTL is designed to ensure that the benefit meant for the genuine domestic customer reaches them directly and is not diverted. By this process public money will be saved. All LPG customers are requested to immediately join the scheme as above (Detailed Scheme is in Annexure).
6.      All LPG consumers who are yet to join the scheme must do so quickly. Those who do not have bank accounts must first open bank accounts and then submit the required details to their LPG distributor/Bank for becoming cash transfer compliant.
7.      As on 30.12.2014, an amount of Rs.624 Crore has been transferred to over 20 Lakh LPG consumers since the launch of the scheme on 15th November 2014.
8.      LPG consumers who do not wish to avail the LPG subsidy for LPG cylinders can simply choose to opt out of subsidy. Over 12000 citizens have already voluntarily given up subsidy freeing up crores of subsidy amount for their less privileged brethren.

Annexure
Salient Features/Timelines of the modified DBTL scheme
What if LPG consumer had joined the scheme earlier?
LPG consumers who had joined the scheme earlier by linking his Aadhaar number in LPG and Bank database will get the cylinder at Market price w.e.f 1.1.15 and the subsidy will be transferred into their bank account. They do not have to do anything further. They can check CTC (cash transfer compliance) status on www.mylpg.in.
How to Join the modified Scheme?
For joining the scheme, the consumers have to fill up a form available with distributors and also on www.mylpg.in. The options are as under:
1.      LPG consumers can join the scheme by providing their Aadhaar number to LPG distributor and to Bank.
2.      LPG consumers who do not have Aadhaar number can
a.       Give Bank details to LPG distributor OR
b.      Give 17 digit LPG ID to the Bank (select banks only).
 What happens if the LPG Consumer joins the scheme or if he doesn’t join it?
Once the scheme is launched on 1.1.15, LPG consumers who join the scheme will get a one time permanent advance of Rs.568/- as soon as they book a cylinder after joining the scheme.
All consumers who have joined the scheme will get LPG cylinders at market price and subsidy amount in their bank account after launch of the scheme in their district/state.
Between 1st January 2015 and 31st March 2015 (three months), any LPG consumer who does not join the scheme will get the cylinder at subsidized price as they are getting it today.
Between 1st April 2015 and 30th June 2015 (three months), those LPG consumers who still do not join the scheme will start getting the cylinder at market price and subsidy will be parked with the OMCs. As soon as they join the scheme within this 3 month period, the parked subsidy would be sent to their bank account, else it will lapse.
From 1st July 2015, consumers who have still not joined the scheme will get the cylinder at market price, but subsidy will not be admissible. Subsidy will be transferred only to the bank account of those consumers who have joined the scheme prior to 30th June 2015.
Any consumer joining the scheme after 30th June 2015 will get permanent advance and subsidy with prospective effect.
What happens to the LPG Consumers of the 54 districts where the scheme is ongoing?
1.      All consumers who have joined the scheme from 15th November 2014 are getting LPG cylinders at market price and cash in their bank accounts. They have also got the one time permanent advance of Rs.568/- on booking a cylinder after joining the scheme.
2.      Between 15th November 2014 and 14th February 2015 (three months), LPG consumers in these 54 districts who do not join the scheme will continue to get the cylinder at subsidized price as they are getting it today.
3.      Between 15th February 2015 and 14th May 2015 (three months), those LPG consumers who still do not join the scheme will start getting the cylinder at market price and cash admissible will be parked with the OMCs. If they join the scheme within this 3 month period, the parked cash would be sent to their bank account, else it will lapse.
4.      From 15th May 2015, consumers who have still not joined the scheme will get the cylinder at market price, however, cash subsidy will not be admissible. 
 MJPS/Rk
Source : PIB (Release ID :114245)

Conducting of Limited Departmental Competitive Examination for Promotion of to the cadre of Inspector Posts (66.66%) Departmental quota for the year 2014 held on 22nd and 23rd November 2014 - Display of Provisional Key

Conducting of Limited Departmental competitive Examination for promotion of Lower Grade Officials to the cadre of Postal Assistants/ Sorting Assistants for the year 2014 held on 23-11-2014 - display of Provisional Key - Regarding

Tuesday, December 30, 2014

Quote of the Day December 30

Observe good faith and justice toward all nations. Cultivate peace and harmony with all. - George Washington

Clarification regarding issue of medicines under CGHS



No. 2-2/2014/CGHS(HQ)/PPTY / CGHS(P)
Government of India
Ministry of Health & Family Welfare
Department of Health & Family Welfare
Nirman Bhawan, Maulana Azad Road
New Delhi 110 108
Dated: the 23rd December, 2014
OFFICE MEMORANDUM
With reference to the above mentioned subject the undersigned is directed to state that the situation arising out of issue of Office Memorandum No 2/2014/CGHS(HQ)/PPTY / CGHS(P) dated the 25th August ,2014 has been engaging the attention of Government for quite some time. Various representations about the difficulties being encountered have been received from different stakeholders i.e., beneficiaries and doctors, necessitating a review of the matter. It was accordingly considered by a Committee under the Chairmanship of AS&DG,CGHS. After careful review and keeping the recommendations of the Committee in mind, the following guidelines are issued to streamline the functioning of the Wellness Centres:
i. The medicines are to be issued as per the CGHS Formulary and guidelines issued by this Ministry in this behalf.
ii. In case the prescribed medicines are not available in CGHS formulary, but are essential for the treatment of the patient, they can be issued / indented by the doctors of the CGHS Wellness Centre on the basis of a valid prescription of the authorized specialist subject to the condition that such medicines are neither dietary supplements/ food items nor banned drugs. Instructions on this issue i.e., non-admissibility of food items etc. issued vide O.M .No. 39-3/2003-04/CGHS/MSD/RS dated 23rd July 2009 and 3rd August 2009 must be followed.
iii. In case of anti-cancer drugs and other life-saving drugs that are not approved by the DCG1 for use in India, each case should be considered by the Expert Committee under the Chairmanship of Special DG(DGHS).
iv. The technical Standing Committee constituted vide 2-2/2014/CGHS(HQ)/PPTY / CGHS(P) dated 27.08.2014 of this Ministry will review addition or deletion of drugs in the CGHS Formulary/ list of Treatment procedures / investigations / listed implants. The Technical Committee will meet once in three months or as per need, whichever is earlier. In the meantime reimbursement for unlisted procedures / implants will be made at the rates approved by AIIMS/GB Pant Hospital / actuals, whichever is less.
2. The O.M. of even number dated 25.08.2014 is superseded to the above extent while O.M. of even number dated 1.10.2014 is withdrawn.
Sd/-
(Bindu Tiwari)
Director, CGHS(P)
(Tel 2306 1831)

Can this app transform India's postal chaos?

Watch this video
 
(CNN) -- Most Indian cities are busy with cluttered streets, winding and hidden alleyways -- every postman's nightmare. Informal structures stand side by side with formal ones making navigation challenging -- even for locals -- and these cities are only going to keep sprawling, fast. By some estimates, the country's urban population alone will surpass 500-million by 2030: almost double the entire population of the US.
 
Zippr's Aditya Vuchi hopes to fix the broken postal format in India's exploding economy.
 
CNN: Why do you think India needs a service like Zippr?
 
Aditya Vuchi: Newer localities, newer cities are now coming up much faster than even the postal department is able to keep up with. As a result, large parts of India today don't have structured addresses.
 
CNN: There are often no building numbers or street names. How will Zippr tackle this?
 
AV: It solves the problem of explaining your address in a complicated way. We have mobile applications -- Android and IOS -- as well as on the web, where you go on to the app. Point on your map where your home or office is, give all your address information one time including landmarks, and the system generates a Zippr code.
 
That short 8-character unique code can then be shared with others, taking users to an exact location on Google Maps with directions.
 
CNN: More than 80 per cent of India's population still lives in an offline world of SMS messages and phone calls. How will Zippr reach these potential customers?
 
AV: Going forward, we're going to enable finding out an address via SMS channels where you text a Zippr code to a number and get an automatic response back with the full address, as well as directions to get there.
 
CNN: How many people do you think the service has the scope to reach?
 
AV: The vision that we are chasing at Zippr is to impact a billion lives. We feel that we have a serious shot at making lives so much better in India.

'Technology to be used to provide quick postal services'

VISAKHAPATNAM: The postal  department will use new technology to provide quick service to customers and  introduce new products to generate revenue, Chief Post Master General of Andhra Pradesh Circle  B V Sudhakar said here today.

Launching a smart phone-based Andriod solution to monitor letter box  clearance at the Lawson's Bay Colony post office here today, he said that the  facility is now functioning at Hyderabad and Vijayawada. 

The facility will enable people and the postal department to know the status of  letter box clearance and its dispatch to customers through a a smartphone which  would be given to postal clearance personnel who clear post boxes.

He  said that 700 post boxes are being monitored using the solution, which would be  extended to more than 500 post boxes in Visakhapatnam in a phased manner by  February 2015.
 
He said that the Andhra Pradesh circle has decided to sell Tirumala Darshan  tickets of Rs 50 and Rs 300 denomination through all 95 head post offices in  Andhra Pradesh and Telangana region from January 5, 2015. The facility would be  extended all sub-post offices in the circle from February 2015, he said.

He said that the postal department had already begun selling non-judicial stamps  through post offices in the Telangana region.

Cashless transactions  would be introduced in post offices in the rural areas, he said.

He  said that payments for registered post, parcels and other services would be  accepted debit and credit cards by installing swiping machines at post offices.


In rural areas where there is no banking facility, the postal department would  allow customers to draw upto Rs 1,000 from post offices.

He said that the  postal department's revenue deficit had come down from Rs 465 crore in 2011-12
to Rs 265 crore in 2013-14, adding that it has been planned to wipe out the  deficit in 2014-15.

Source : 
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/
 
 

PREPARE FOR INDEFINITE POSTAL STRIKE FROM 2015 MAY 6TH.

GRAMIN DAK SEVAKS DO NOT WANT SEPEREATE GDS COMMITTEE

SEPERATE COMMITTEE (WHETHER JUDICIAL OR BUREAUCRATIC) 
IS A WASTE AND FARCE.

Ø    2.76 lakhsGDS do not want a separate GDS Committee.
Ø    2.76 lakhs GDS want inclusion of GDS in the 7th CPC.
Ø    NFPE & AIPEU-GDS(NFPE) demanding inclusion of GDS in 7th CPC.
Ø    FNPO & NUGDS demanding inclusion of GDS in 7th CPC.
Ø    Confederation of Central Govt. Employees & Workers demanding inclusion of GDS in 7th CPC.
Ø    JCM National Council (staff side) organisations including Railway & Defense Federations demanding inclusion of GDS in 7th CPC.
BUT RECOGNISED GDS UNION OF SHRI.MAHADEVAIAH IS DEMANDING SEPARTE COMMITTEE FOR GDS
*      Hon’ble Supreme Court stated that GDS are Civil Servants and they are Central Govt. Employees.
*      Justice Singhal, Chairman 4th PC stated GDS are Civil Servants and they are Central Govt. Employees.
*      Justice Charanjit Jalwar stated that GDS are Civil Servants and they are Central Govt. Employees.
*      Talwar Committee recommended to the Govt. that GDS should be included in Pay Commission and no separate committee should be appointed in future.
*      Govt. appointed 7th Pay Commission for Central Govt. Employees.
*      NFPE & AIPEU-GDS (NFPE) says GDS are part of Central Govt. Employees and they should be included in 7th CPC itself.
*      Confederation of Central Govt. Employees & Workers says that GDS are part of Central Govt. Employees and they should be incuded in 7th CPC itself.
*      JCM National Council (staff side) orgisastions including Railway & Defence Federations says GDS are part of Central Govt. Employees and they should be included in 7th CPC itself.
*      BUT RECOGNISED GDS UNION OF SHRI. MAHADEVAIAH ACCEPTED THE GOVT. STAND THAT GDS ARE NOT PART OF CENTRAL GOVT. EMPLOYEES AND HENCE HE IS DEMANDING SEPERATE COMMITTEE FOR GDS.  HE DON’T WANT GDS TO BE INCLUDED IN 7TH CPC.  HIS MAIN DEMAND IN THE CHARTER OF DEMANDS IS SEPERATE COMMITTEE FOR GDS .
*      NFPE & AIPEU-GDS (NFPE) declared joint indefinite strike under the banner of JCA from 2015 May 6th for inclusion of GDS in 7th CPC.
*      FNPO & NUGDS also declared joint indefinite strike under the banner of JCA from 2015 May 6th for inclusion of GDS in 7th CPC.
&     Confederation, Railways & Defence Federations organised joint National Convention of entire JCM staff side orgnisations and decided to organise massive Parliament March in April 2015 to declare indefinite strike of entire Central Govt. Employees.  Inclusion of GDS in 7th CPC is included in the charter of demands as number one demand.
RECOGNISED GDS UNION OF SHRI MAHADEVAIAH DON’T WANT JOINT STRIKE OF GDS & REGULAR EMPLOYEES.  HE ALWAYS DECLARES FRAGMENTED STRIKE TO TORPEDO THE UNITY OF GDS AND REGULR EMPLOYEES.  HE IS DESPERATELY TRYING TO RETAIN HIS CONTROL OVER GDS.  HE HAS WRITTEN TO THE GOVT. NOT TO ALLOW NFPE & FNPO TO DISCUSS GDS ISSUES.  GOVT. ALSO WANTS TO DIVIDE GDS AND REGULAR EMPLOYEES SO THAT THEY CAN EASILY DENY THE LEGITIMATE DEMANDS OF THE GDS INCLUDING CIVIL SERVANT STATUS AND ALL BENEFITS OF REGULAR EMPLOYEES.
LET US ORGANISE JOINT INDEFINITE STRIKE OF FIVE LAKHS GDS & REGULAR EMPLOYEES FROM 2015 MAY 6TH UNDER THE BANNER OF POSTAL JOINT COUNCIL OF ACTION (NFPE, FNPO, AIPEU-GDS (NFPE) & NUGDS) DEMANDING INCLUSION OF GDS IN 7TH CPC & GRANT OF ALL BENEFITS OF REGULAR EMPLOYEES TO GDS ALSO.
RECOGNISED GDS UNION OF MAHADEVAIAH IS AGAINST FILING CASE IN SUPREME COURT  for grant of Civil Servant status and all benefits of regular employees to GDS.  NFPE & AIPEU-GDS (NFPE) has filed a Writ Petition in Supreme Court and after the preliminary hearing Supreme Court transferred the case to Delhi High Court.  The next hearing of the case in Delhi High Court is on 4th February, 2015.
But Shri. Mahadevaiah had filed a case in the Karnataka High Court for his own benefit requesting to grant Foreign Service benefits to him.  (Writ Petition No.24106/2005 (S.CAT).  
When he has filed Writ Petition in High Court for his own benefit it is perfectly alright, but when NFPE & AIPEU-GDS (NFPE) filed case in Supreme Court for the benefit of 2.76 lakhs GDS he is ridiculing it and opposing it.

P.PANDURANGA RAO                                                          R.N.PARASHAR
General Secretry.                                                                  Secretary General,
AIPEU-GDS(NFPE)                                                                NFPE.


(NB:  Shri.Mahadevaiah has published in December 2014 a circular in his website in which again he has used filthy and unparliamentary language against the NFPE leadership.  He has called the leadership of NFPE as “Cowards” “impotent” and “liars”.  NFPE & AIPEU-GDS (NFPE) don’t want to stoop to the level of Shri. Mahadevaiah by replying him using such indecent and low-level third-rate language in our writeups).

Save paper: Officials asked to write notes on both sides

With an aim of saving precious paper pulp, Labour Department of the Delhi government has asked all its officials, including all deputy commissioners, to write notes on both sides of paper and type in single space. 


The department has issued a circular directing officials to take such steps to minimise the impact on environment as trees are the major source of paper pulp production. 

"Injudicious use of paper not only leads to infructuous expenditure but also impacts the environment as trees are the major source of paper pulp production," said a senior government official. 

The official said notes should be typed/written on both sides of the paper or note sheet, adding that besides, typing should be done in single space. 

The department's move come after Finance Ministry recently issued such guidelines to all Ministries in this regard. 

According to the department, copies should not be typed again in the case the draft itself is legible and does not contain many corrections. 

It further added that policy instruction and guidelines issued through orders and office memorandums etc. may be uploaded on website and number of hard copies of such communication may be limited to the required minimum. 

Manual submission of forms etc., wherever stipulated, either under statutory obligations or otherwise, should be discouraged and switching over to e-forms, online submission of forms etc. may be encouraged, the department said.

Source : The Economic Times
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Another good chance for GDS to select for PA/SA category :

It is learnt that about 200 vacancies in PA/SA category is going to be notified for GDS in A.P Circle.

Process for notification is going on.

EMAIL SENT TO SECRETARY DEPARTMENT OF POSTS FOR IMMEDIATE ENDORESEMENT OF FMA ORDERS

ALL INDIA POSTAL & RMS PENSIONERS ASSOCIATION (CHQ)


To

The Secretary
Department of Posts,
Dak Bhawan         
New Delhi – 110001

Sub: Request for causing immediate endorsement orders of Ministry of Pension & Pensioners Welfare on enhanced FMA w.e.f. 19.11.2014 – regarding.

Madam,

You may be aware of the fact that the Government had enhanced the quantum of Fixed Medical Allowance to Pensioners not covered under CGHS from 300/- to 500/- per month from 19.11.2014 vide its order No. 4/25/2008-P&PW(D) dated 19.11.2014.

The above orders of the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions (Department of Pension & Pensioners Welfare) require to be endorsed by the Department of Posts for facilitating payment of enhanced FMA with effect from 19.11.2014 to Postal Pensioners.

There seems to be an  undue delay in endorsing the above orders by the Postal Directorate and even after the lapse of more than a month from the issue of orders by the Pension & Pensioners Welfare Department, the Postal Department has not yet endorsed it. This undue delay is causing huge concern and agony to thousands of Postal Pensioners.

The CHQ of the  All India Postal & RMS Pensioners Association seeks your kind intervention for causing the immediate release of endorsement orders.

Thanking you,
Yours faithfully,
K.Ragavendran
General Secretary

All India Postal & RMS Pensioners Association. 

AIPRPA FORMATION IN ALL DISTRICTS OF KERALA IN FULL SWING

FORMATION OF AIPRPA IN FULL SWING 

IN KERALA STATE


Kottayam and Palakkad Districts hold Conventions 

to form AIPRPA


Kottayam District Convention (Kerala)  of AIPRPA held on 17th December 2014. Pensioners Day celebrated and District Committee formed with Comrade Thomas Pothen Ex - Circle President of AIPEU Group-C as President and Comrade B. Purushothaman Ex - Circle Vice President P3 as District Secretary. Com M. Krishnan, Ex - Secretary General, NFPE attended as the Chief  Guest and delivered keynote address.

AIPRPA Palakkad District Committee Formation meeting held at Palakkad on 19.12.2014. Com M. Krishnan, Ex - Secretary General, NFPE inaugurated. Com V.A. Mohanan, State Secretary, AIPRPA Kerala and Com T.S.Parameswaran State Vice President are seen on the dias.

Photos of both the above conventions:








Bank Strike: IBA's letter to Chief Executives of Member Banks which are parties to the Bipartite Settlement


Bank Strike: IBA's letter to Chief Executives of Member Banks which are parties to the Bipartite Settlement
Indian Banks’ Association
HR & Industrial Relations
No.CIR/HR&IR/Q/2014-15/1084
December 23, 2014
Chief Executives of Member Banks
which are parties to the Bipartite Settlement

Dear Sirs,
Notice of Strike by United Forum of Bank Unions
The Convenor of United Forum of Bank Unions (UFBU) has served a notice of strike dated 22nd December, 2014 (copy enclosed) informing us of their decision to go on All India Bank Strikes as per details enclosed, demanding immediate withdrawal of IBA’s direction to Banks to re-visit the Mandate & immediate settlement of wage revision. A copy of the Notice listing their demands is also enclosed.

In the event of the strike materializing on the 7th & from 21st to 24th January 2015, we request you to take necessary steps/action including enforcing wage cut as may be necessary as per extant Government guidelines and guidelines issued by IBA from time-to-time and our circular No.PD/CIR/76/Q/ 177 dated 3rd May, 1993 and our circular No.CIR/HR&IR/76/Q/2009-10/ 1224 dated 25th August 2009. Please also advise all your branches/offices to prominently display a suitable notice regarding the proposed strike on as mentioned above for the benefit of customers and the general public.

We note to keep member banks informed of developments arising out of conciliation proceedings, if any, which may be initiated by the Conciliation Officer.

Yours faithfully,
(KS Chauhan)
Senior Vice President
Encl:

Dated this day of 22nd December 2014
To
The Chairman,
Indian Banks Association,
World Trade Centre,
Cuffs Parade, Mumbai

Sir,
In accordance with the provisions contained (1) of Section 22 of the I.D., Act - 1947, we hereby give you notice that the members of all the constituent unions of United Forum of Bank Unions (AIBEA, AIBOC, NCBE, AIBOA, BEFI, INBEF, INBOC, NOBW, NOBO) propose to go on

(i) One day’s strike on the 7th January, 2014;
(ii) Four day's Strike on the 21st January, 2015 to 24th January 2015; and 
(iii) Indefinite Strike from 16th March 2015 onwards;
Demanding:1, IMMEDIATE WITHDRAWAL OF IBA'S DIRECTION TO BANK TO RE-VISIT THE MANDATE
2. IMMEDIATE SETTLEMENT OF WAGE REVISION

The details of the programme and the Statement of the case are furnished herein.

(M.V. MURALI)
CONVENOR

Encl.: 1. Details of Agitational Programme
2. Statement of the Case
[Click here to view Notice of Strike by United Forum of Bank Unions - Statement of the Case]