Thursday, April 30, 2015

EDITORIAL POSTAL CRUSADER MAY -2015

FIGHT FOR EMANCIPATION OF GDS

            At the insistence of the Postal JCA the Postal department again wrote to the Government for referring the GDS issues to 7th CPC last month but it is confirmed that the Government has rejected it unjustifiably. There appears to be no place in the heart of the Prime Minister and all his words of Man Ki Baat do not show any reference to this toiling and exploited section of postal family. The Postal Department accordingly is preparing to constitute another Nataraja Murthy type of Officer Committee to go into the wage structure issues of the GDS. This exercise will no doubt result in repetition of our age old experience of denial of justice to GDS and will not even be useful to rectify some fundamental errors in fixation of pay to various categories of GDS on par with its historically comparable category of regular employees. The Postal Employees movement cannot tolerate this type of callous attitude from the Government that spends more time only with the issues of Indian and foreign corporates.

            NFPE and the Postal JCA are committed to fight for the cause of GDS and for their inclusion in the ambit of 7th CPC. NFPE was successful in unifying the entirety of the CG Employees movement including the Railways and Defence to effectively place before the government through the Staff Side JCM as well as an important demand in the charter for struggle by the CG Employees. The distraction caused by the industrial action of GDS at the call of some other organisation has been taken advantage of by the government to foist an officer committee by applying divide and rule theory. NFPE and Postal JCA are not going to fall for the tactics of the Government but will raise the banner of struggle as promised time and again since the formation of the Pay Commission.

            There can be only a single reason for the adamant attitude of the Government. It is clear that if a Pay Commission gives out its recommendations it will be highly difficult for it to reject it but it can reject easily the recommendations of any judicial committee as was done to Justice Talwar Committee recommendations. It can of course obtain a very favourable report through an officer committee. But the movement had lived through this game of the Government throughout its existence. We cannot allow the Government to succeed this time and once again cheat the two and a half lakhs of GDS, who always stood strongly in all struggles of the Postal Employees movement by undergoing all types of sacrifices including during the times of bonus ceiling struggle. It is time to repay to the cause of GDS by the Postal regular employees work force.

            The Task Force Committee’s recommendations to effect a complete structural change of the India Post and open the doors for the ultimate privatisation of the India Post pose a serious challenge to the entire postal movement. The recommendations cannot be ignored as the same are coming out of the high power committee constituted by the Prime Minister and headed by a former Cabinet Secretary. Any let up on our side will result in a fate-accompli situation and once the Government takes a final decision on the recommendations it will be too late for the existence of the Postal Department as a Government Service. The Postal JCA cannot be a silent spectator to the destruction of the entire edifice of Postal Department before its own eyes.

            There are other serious issues in the Charter but the existence of the Postal Department as a government department and referring the wage issues of two and a half lakhs of GDs to 7th CPC as against the decision of the Government to constitute once again an officer committee and cadre restructuring  of all  cadres, are the important  issues  on which no compromise can be made by the postal movement.

            Time to get into the arena of struggle with total confidence that united struggles always win. We appeal to all GDS employees that irrespective of their loyalties all should join this crusade against injustice being perpetrated against them time and again. We appeal to all departmental regular employees that it is time for our movement to be ready for making any sacrifice for the cause of our downtrodden GDS brothers and sisters. Let us march ahead in the path of indefinite strike and register victory.


RAJYA SABHA Q & A REGARDING POST BANK OF INDIA &
TASK FORCE RECOMMENDATIONS ON PBI

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
DEPARTMENT OF POSTS     
RAJYA SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.163 TO BE ANSWERED ON 24TH APRIL, 2015
POSTAL BANKS
163. DR. PRADEEP KUMAR BALMUCHU:
Will the Minister of COMMUNICATIONS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY be pleased to state:
(a)       whether it is a fact that Government is urging the Department of Posts to come up with opening of Postal Banks in the country, if so, the details thereof;
(b)       whether the Subramanian Committee, to which the matter had been referred, has submitted its report and has made recommendations in this regard; and
(c)        if so, the details thereof?

 ANSWER

THE MINISTER OF COMMUNICATIONS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
(SHRI RAVI SHANKAR PRASAD)

(a)       Sir, the Department of Posts has submitted an application to Reserve Bank of India on 30.1.2015 seeking license for setting up Post Bank of India under the rubric of “Payments Bank”. The Government is committed to increasing access of the people to the formal financial system and in this context; Government proposes to utilize the vast Postal network with nearly 1, 54,000 points of presence spread across the villages of the country.  The Government hopes that the Postal Department will make its proposed Payments Bank venture successful so that it contributes further to the Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana. The details of the proposed Post Bank would be finalized once the Reserve Bank of India takes a favourable decision on application submitted by Department of Posts. In the recent budget speech also the Finance Minister has appreciatingly talked about Post Bank.

(b) & (c )         The Task Force on Leveraging the Post Office Network under the Chairmanship of retired Cabinet Secretary Shri. T.S.R.Subramanian, has submitted its report during November-2014. The said task force has recommended for setting up Post Bank of India. The details of the recommendations are reproduced in the Annexure- ‘A’ enclosed herewith.

Annexure-A

Recommendations of Task Force on Leveraging Post Office Network with respect to Setting up of Post Bank of India:-
(i)     The proposal is not to convert the PO Network into a Bank, but to set up a fully professional new Bank to further financial inclusion and meet the objectives of the Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojna, which specifically provides for the extension of credit to all Indians resident in every part of India, particularly in rural areas.
(ii)     This opportunity for achieving universal financial inclusion via technology and the institutional reach of the PO Network must not be lost. There is admittedly a risk involved, as there is in any new venture into uncharted waters. The risk involved can and must be managed in the interests of the overall larger national objectives.
(iii)       The PBI must be professionally managed and operated, with credit and other risks being handled by experienced experts hired from the market. In its own interest, its operations must be fully in line and compliant with RBI Guidelines.
(iv)      A new institution, to be called the Post Bank of India or by some other suitable name, should be set up as a commercial bank offering the full spectrum of financial and banking services.
(v)     As the owner of the proposed PBI, the Government of India may take decisions as appropriate on structural and organizational issues and other details, including the funding requirements.
(vi)     The Task Force is of the view that the PBI should be set up under an Act of Parliament and that establishing the PBI as a statutory institution and a Government Bank would enhance its credibility, insulate it from local pulls and greatly facilitate its operations.
(vii)    It is essential to structure the proposed PBI in such a manner as to pre-empt the possibility of outside interests influencing its day-to-day operations.
(viii)   The Task Force also recommends that the PBI should initially be set up as a Public Sector Bank wholly owned by the Government of India.
(ix)     The initial capital requirement, estimated at Rs. 500 crores as per RBI requirements would be fully funded by the Government.
(x)       After the Bank establishes itself in 3 to 5 years, the Board of Directors could take a view on floating an IPO to raise fresh capital.
(xi)     The PBI will focus on fulfilling the Government’s mandate of financial inclusion and on bringing the un-banked and under-banked segments of the population, particularly in rural, semi-rural and remote areas within the ambit of the formal monetized economy.
(xii)    A view needs to be taken on how best to seamlessly integrate the earlier banking operations into the proposed new structure, The best and seamless method would be to fully absorb the POSB in the new proposed Bank (PBI).
(xiii)     The PBI will offer services including credit, which are beyond the remit of the POSB.
(xiv)    The PBI will develop financial products and services which are specially tailored to the needs of the rural and urban unbanked population, if necessary in collaboration with other banks.
(xv)     The PBI will function as a commercially viable and self-sustaining entity without the need for continuing Government subsidies.
(xvi)      After the Initial gestation period, it should generate its own resources and sustain itself in the competitive market environment.
(xvii)     The PBI should price its services on a cost plus basis and revise these rates from time to time, so that its operations do not become a continuing and increasing burden on the Government exchequer.
(xviii)   The PBI will start with a Head Office Main Branch and will thereafter expand its operations by opening Branch offices in the Metro towns and State capitals, to be manned by banking professionals.
(xix)    The longer term objectives would be to establish a Branch Office of the PBI in each District Headquarter over a 3 to 5 year period, to be operated mostly by banking professionals.
(xx)      The 150,000-plus Departmental and Branch POs will act as Banking Correspondents for the PBI.
(xxi)      Careful consideration should be given to the various types, elements and levels of risk involved in the PBI’s operations.
(xxii)     Robust System Protocols and Standard Operating Procedures should be put in place to manage these risks effectively.
(xxiii)    The PBI should recruit/commission the services of banking experts to manage its credit, portfolio and market risks.
(xxiv)    Appropriate management capabilities should be mobilized from the market and robust systems and processes should be put in place to ensure that Non-Performing Assets are kept within acceptable limits.
(xxv)      It is neither necessary nor desirable to mandate a waiting period before the PBI enters into credit and lending operations.
(xxvi)    The PBI should be constituted and begin working as a credit and lending Bank immediately, without any trial/waiting/learning period.
(xxvii)  The PBI should be set up as an independent Statutory and corporate entity offering the full bouquet services, including credit, to its customers.
(xxviii) The PBI will primarily target currently unbanked and under-banked customers in rural, semi-rural and remote areas, with a focus on providing small and affordable loans and simple deposit products.
(xxix)    Customers will be provided with full-fledged Savings Accounts, which can be retained even with zero balances, as provided for in the PMJDY.
(xxx)     Credit risks will be managed by hiring professionals from the banking sector and by developing and implementing robust protocols for building checks and balances in the system. Market and robust systems and processes should be put in place to ensure that Non-Performing Assets are kept within acceptable limits.  


PJCA MEETING
Meeting of PJCA Leaders with Secretary Posts held at Dak Bhawan, New Delhi 0n 30.04.2015 in connection with Strike Charter of Demands.

Takls in conclusive.


Keep the tempo on.

Postal JCA Dharna infront of Dak Bhawan -









FAQ on Children Education Allowance, OTA/NDA, Honorarium/Fee, Leave.

G.I., Dep. of Pers. & Trg., O.M.No.I-11020/1/2014-Estt.(AL), dated 28.4.2015

Establishment (Allowance) Section

SI.No. Question Answer

Children Education Allowance

1. Whether reimbursement of Children Education Allowance is admissible for the:
(a) Nursery/LKG/UKG as there is no provision of recognition of these classes in most of the States/UTs;
Reimbursement is permissible only if the child is studying in a recognised educational institution.


(b) Third child if either of the first two children is disabled to the extent that he/she cannot go to school;
Reimbursement is allowed to only the two eldest surviving children of the Government servant except when the 2nd child birth results in multiple births or the 3`d child is born due to failure of sterilization operation.

(c) The children borne out of second marriage or the children of second wife/husband in additions to children from first marriage;
Reimbursement is allowed to only the two eldest surviving children of the Government servant.

(d)  Entitlement of number of Note Books.
Reimbursement is permissible for any number of note books as may be prescribed by the recognised educational institution.

OTA/NDA

2. The reasons for not enhancing rates of OTA/NDA
The 5th and the 6th Central pay Commission did not recommend enhancement of rates of OTA/NDA.

Honorarium/Fee

3.  Whether honorarium is payable to the Chairperson/Members of the DPC and also such other Departmental Committees, viz., Committee on Sexual Harassments at work place, etc.?
In terms of the provisions of FR 46 (b), the Central Government may grant or permit a Government servant to receive an honorarium as remuneration for work performed which is occasional or intermittent in character and either so laborious or of such special merit as to justify a special reward. Except when special reasons, which should be  recorded in writing, exist for a departure from this provision, sanction to the grant or acceptance of an honorarium should not be given unless the work has been undertaken with the prior consent of the Central Government and its account has been settled in advance.

Guidelines for payment of Honorarium under FR 46 (b) have already been laid down inter alia vide this Department’s OM No.17011/9/85- Estt. (AL), dated 23.12.1985 and OM No. 17020/1/91- Estt. (AL), dated 18.11 .1991. It has also been clarified that no honorarium should be granted for temporary increases in work.

4. Whether retention of “Fee” for delivering lectures in Government/private bodies is permissible? As per para 6 of DoP&T’s O.M.No. I 6013/1/79-Estt.(AL) dated 11th February, 1980, payments received by Government servants as income from books, articles, papers and lectures on literary, cultural, artistic, technological and scientific subjects including management sciences; will not be subject to crediting one-third of the amount to the general revenues.

Establishment (Leave) Section:

5. Whether male Government servant, who is single parent, can be allowed Child Care Leave? No. CCL can be granted to female employees only.

6.  Whether Bond on Study Leave can be transferred from Central Government to State Government?
No. Bond executed by the Government servant while proceeding on study leave cannot be transferred on his/her appointment in State Government/PSU/Autonomous bodies.

7.  What is the limit of leave encashment while availing LTC by dependents or spouse within the same block year?
The Government Servants governed by the CSS (Leave) Rules, 1972 and entitled to avail LTC may en-cash earned leave up to 10 days at the time of availing both types of LTCs., i.e., `Hometown’ and `Anywhere in India’. However, when the one and the same LTC is being availed of by the Government Servant and his family members separately in a block year, encashment of leave would be restricted to one occasion only.

Source : DOPT
[ http://ccis.nic.in/WriteReadData/CircularPortal/D2/D02est/I-11020_1_2014-Estt.AL-28042015.pdf ]

Wednesday, April 29, 2015


MASSIVE AND IMPRESSIVE RALLY AND PARLIAMENT MARCH OF CENTRAL GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES – 28.04.2015

NATIONAL JOINT COUNCIL OF ACTION DECLARES NATIONWIDE INDEFINITE STRIKE FROM 23RD NOVEMBER 2015
  
PRESS STATEMENT

            We send herewith a copy of the resolution adopted by the massive rally of the Central Government employees held today 28.4.2015 at Jantar Mantar. New Delhi declaring that if no settlement is brought about  on the ten points charter of demands, the Central Government employees in all the De-departments of the Government of India will go on indefinite strike action from 23.11.2015.

            The rally was held under the chairmanship of Shri M. Raghavaiah, General Secretary, National Federation of Indian Railwaymen.  Shri Shiv Gopal Mishra convenor of the NJCA conducted the proceedings.   The resolution was moved by Com. K.K.N. Kutty, President, Confederation of Central Government employees and workers, New Delhi.  Besides, the Chairman and Convenor of the NJCA, the other who spoke at the rally include S/Shri Rakal Dasgupta, President, All India Railwaymen Federation, Guman Singh and Bhatnagar of the National Federation of Indian Railwaymen, Shri M. Krishnan, Secretary General, Confederation of Central Government employees and workers, R.N. Parashar, Secretary General, National Federation of Postal Employees, Shri D. Theagarjan, Federation of National Postal organisations, Shri Sreekumar and Pahak of All India Defence Employees Federation, Srinivasan of the Indian National Defence Workers Federation, Harbhajan Singh Sidhu, General Secretary, HMS and many others. It was decided that the Railway and Defence Federation will take the strike ballot in the month of October, 2015.  More than a lakh of workers participated in the rally.  The copies of the resolution were handed over to the honourable Speaker, Lok Sabha and the Honourable Prime Minister by a delegation of the National Joint Council of Action

            We shall be grateful for favour of coverage of the decision in your esteemed daily/Newspaper /weekly.

            Thanking you,

Yours faithfully,

Shiv Gopal Mishra
Convenor

NATIONAL JOINT COUNCIL OF ACTION OF CENTRAL GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES
4, STATE ENTRY ROAD,
NEW DELHI

RESOLUTION ADOPTED AT THE MASSIVE RALLY AT JANTAR MANTAR (PARLIAMENT STREET) ON 28 APRIL 2015

The massive congregation of the representatives of Central Govt Employees who have come from various parts of the country held at Jantar Mantar before the Indian Parliament on 28-04-2015 decided to commence the indefinite strike action from 23rd November 2015 from 6 AM having failed to elicit any positive response from the Government in settlement of the 10 point Charter of Demands submitted months back. It was also decided that the Railways and Defence organizations will conduct the strike Ballot as per the provision of the Industrial Disputes Act and Recognition Rules before commencing the strike from 23-11-2015.

The massive gathering adopted the resolution unanimously exhorting the central Govt. Employees to prepare for the eventual strike action in all earnestness and make it a historic one.

The meeting congratulates the employees for forging exemplary unity and carrying out various programmes chalked out by the National Joint Council of Action (NJCA) after the national convention on 11th December 2014. Even though the Govt. was compelled to set up the 7th CPC on account of the sanctions generated through the action programmes, Govt. has refused to grant Interim Relief and merger of DA and excluded the Gramin Dak Sewaks of the Postal Department from the ambit of the 7th CPC.

It is a matter of regret that in spite of public admission of non-privatisation of Indian Railways by Prime Minister of India and assurance of Minister of Railways on various occasions, including Parliament, Dr. Deb Roy Committee had submitted a report which is a clear roadmap for privatisation of IR. 

The meeting noted that the Government has purposely ensured the closure of Joint Consultative   
Machinery, the negotiating forum set up in 1966 for Central Government Employees to discuss and bring about settlement of their demands.

The meeting chaired by Secretary (Personnel) on 25th February 2015  did not bring about settlement on any single issue of the Charter of Demands.

The meeting unanimously decided to demand before the Government to convene the meeting of National Council, JCM immediately and settle the following charter of demands, if at all it wants to avoid confrontation with its own employees.

CHARTER OF DEMANDS:

1.    Effect wage revision of the Central Government Employees from 01.01.2014, accepting the memorandum of the Staff Side JCM; ensure 5-year wage revision in future; grant Interim Relief and Merger of 100% of DA. Ensure submission of the 7th CPC report within the stipulated time frame of 18 months; include the Grameen Dak Sewaks within the ambit of the 7th CPC.  Settle all anomalies of the 6th CPC.

2.    No privatisation, PPP or FDI in Railways and Defence Establishments and no corporatisation of postal services.

3.    No Ban on recruitment/creation of post.

4.    Scrap PFRDA Act and re-introduce the defined benefit statutory pension scheme.

5.    No outsourcing; contractorisation, privatisation of governmental  functions; withdraw the proposed move to close down the Printing Presses; the publication, form store and stationery departments and Medical Stores Depots; regularise the existing daily rated/casual and contract workers and absorption of trained apprentices.

6.  Revive the JCM functioning at all levels as an effective negotiating forum for settlement of the demands of the CGEs.

7.    Remove the arbitrary ceiling on compassionate appointments.

8.    No labour reforms which are inimical to the interest of the workers.

9.    Remove the ceiling on payment of Bonus.

10. Ensure five promotions in the service career.


The meeting authorized the National JCA to take appropriate and necessary steps needed to make the indefinite strike beginning from 23rd November 2015 an unprecedented and grand success.

                                                                                                       (Shiva Gopal Mishra) 
                                                                                                                    Convener
28.04.2015                                                                          National Joint Council of Action

Cabinet okays increasing penalty for corruption

New Delhi, Apr 29 (PTI) Bringing corruption into the heinous crime category, the Union Cabinet today approved official amendments to an anti-graft legislation enhancing the penalty under it to a maximum of seven years imprisonment from the present five years.

The proposed amendments to the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 provides for more stringent punishment for the offences of bribery--both for the bribe giver and the bribe taker.

"Penal provisions being enhanced from minimum six months to three years and from maximum five years to seven years (the seven year imprisonment brings corruption to the heinous crime category)," a press release said.

To ensure speedy conclusion of corruption cases, a time limit of two years has been proposed.

"The average trial period of cases under PC Act in the last four years has been above eight years. It is proposed to ensure speedy trial by providing a trial completion (period) within two years," it said.

It is also proposed to extend the protection of prior sanction for prosecution to public servants who cease to hold office due to retirement, resignation etc.

"Further, prior sanction for inquiry and investigation shall be required from the Lokpal or Lokayukta, as the case may be, for investigation of offences relatable to recommendations made or decision taken by a public servant in discharge of official functions or duties," the release said.

The official amendments, approved today by the Cabinet will be the part of the Prevention of Corruption (Amendment) Bill, 2013 pending in Rajya Sabha, also provides guidelines for commercial organisations to prevent persons associated with them from bribing a public servant.

Public Servants (Furnishing of Information and Annual Return of Assets and Liabilities and the Limits for Exemption of Assets in Filing Returns) Amendment Rules, 2015.

Frequently Asked Questions in respect of Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act, 2013.