Saturday, March 31, 2018

The Nellore dist. Department of P & T Employees Coop Credit Society :: Election Schedule

Nominations : 16-04-2018
Withdrawals : 18-04-2018
Election on   :   22-04-2018 ( 08.00 am to 02.00 pm)
Declaration of Results : 22-04-2018 evening





Payment of Gratuity (Amendment) Act, 2018 brought in force on 29th March, 2018 -- PIB

Decision:The Payment of Gratuity (Amendment) Bill, 2018 has been passed by Lok Sabha on 15th March, 2018 and by the Rajya Sabha on 22nd March, 2018, has been brought in force on 29th March, 2018.

Background: The Payment of Gratuity Act, 1972 applies to establishments employing 10 or more persons.  The main purpose for enacting this Act is to provide social security to workman after retirement, whether retirement is a result of superannuation, or physical disablement or impairment of vital part of the body.  Therefore, the Payment of Gratuity Act, 1972 is an important social security legislation to wage earning population in industries, factories and establishments.

2.  The present upper ceiling on gratuity amount under the Act is Rs. 10 Lakh. The provisions for Central Government employees under Central Civil Services (Pension) Rules, 1972 with regard to gratuity are also similar.  Before implementation of 7th Central Pay Commission, the ceiling under CCS (Pension) Rules, 1972 was Rs. 10 Lakh.  However, with implementation of 7th Central Pay Commission, in case of Government servants, the ceiling has been raised toRs. 20 Lakhs.

3. Therefore, considering the inflation and wage increase even in case of employees engaged in private sector, this Government decided that the entitlement of gratuity should also be revised in respect of employees who are covered under the Payment of Gratuity Act, 1972.  Accordingly, the Government initiated the process for amendment to Payment of Gratuity Act, 1972 to increase the maximum limit of gratuity to such amount as may be notified by the Central Government from time to time. Now, the Government has issued the notification specifying the maximum limit to Rs. 20 Lakh.

4.  In addition, the Bill also envisages to amend the provisions relating to calculation of continuous service for the purpose of gratuity in case of female employees who are on maternity leave from ‘twelve weeks’ to ‘such period as may be notified by the Central Government from time to time’.  This period has also been notified as twenty six weeks.

Major Impact:  The Bill as passed by both the Houses of Parliament, andassented to by the Hon’ble President and notified by the Government. This will ensure harmony amongst employees in the private sector and in Public Sector Undertakings/ Autonomous Organizations under Government who are not covered under CCS (Pension) Rules. These employees will be entitled to receive higher amount of gratuity at par with their counterparts in Government sector.

JN/AK
***

Minutes of the Committee on Compassionate Engagement(CCE) for considering the compassionate Engagement of dependents of GDS-Andhra Pradesh Circle.

The following applicants selected in Gudur Division :

P.Pavan Kumar, GDSMC/MD, Degapudi BO, Kalichedu SO
P.Haribabu, GDSMC/MD, Kalluru BO, Kotapolur SO

Gudur NFPE conveys congratulations to the selected GDS officials.

Income Tax benefits in Sukanya Samriddhi Account (SSA)

Payment of interest and maturity value of Small Savings Instruments through Savings Account

Gazette Notification on Gratuity: Amount, Effective Date and Maternity Leave



“Gratuity Ceiling Amendment Notifications issued by Government of India regarding Upper limit of Gratuity Payment, Date on which come into force and Maximum Period of Maternity Leave…
MINISTRY OF LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT
NOTIFICATION
New Delhi, the 29th March, 2018
S.O. 1419(E).—In exercise of the powers conferred by sub-section (2) of section 1 of the Payment of Gratuity (Amendment) Act, 2018 (12 of 2018), the Central Government hereby appoints the 29th day of March, 2018 as the date on which the said Act shall come into force.
[No.S-42012/02/2016-SS-II]
MANISH GUPTA, Jt. Secy.
NOTIFICATION
New Delhi, the 29th March, 2018
S.O. 1420 (E).—In exercise of the powers conferred by sub-section (3) of section 4 of the Payment of Gratuity Act, 1972 (39 of 1972), the Central Government hereby specifies that the amount of gratuity payable to an employee under the said Act shall not exceed twenty lakh rupees.
[No.S-42012/02/2016-SS-II]
MANISH GUPTA, Jt. Secy.
NOTIFICATION
New Delhi, the 29th March, 2018
S.O. 1421 (E).—In exercise of the powers conferred by clause (iv) of the Explanation to sub-section (2) of section 2A of the Payment of Gratuity Act, 1972 (39 of 1972), the Central Government hereby specifies for the purposes of the said clause that the total period of maternity leave in the case of a female employee shall not exceed twenty-six weeks.
[No.S-42012/02/2016-SS-II]
MANISH GUPTA, Jt. Secy.

//copy//

Wednesday, March 28, 2018

Relaxation of Norms for NPS -- PIB

The Government of India has recently made three changes in the National Pension Scheme (NPS) including withdrawal norms. The details are as under:
  • Partial withdrawal during the service: The Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA), with an objective to meet the subscriber’s sudden financial requirement enrolled under NPS, has liberalized norms for partial withdrawals which also include reduction of requirement of minimum years of being enrolled under NPS from 10 years to 3 years from the date of joining. Suitable amendments were made through “Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (Exits and Withdrawals under the National Pension System) (First Amendment) Regulations, 2017 and the same has been notified on 10.08.2017.
  • Increase in the joining age under NPS: With an objective to allow individuals (under NPS-All Citizen Model and Corporate Sector Model) who are in the age bracket between 60 years and 65 years to join NPS system. Suitable amendments were made through “Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (Exits and Withdrawals under the National Pension System) (Second Amendment) Regulations, 2017 and the same has been notified on 06.10.2017.
  • Exit in case of disability and incapacitation of the subscriber: With an objective of facilitating easy exit & withdrawal in case of disability and incapacitation of the subscriber covered under NPS, PFRDA has made suitable amendments through “Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (Exits and Withdrawals under the National Pension System) (Third Amendment) Regulations, 2018 and the same has been notified on 02.02.2018.
This was stated by Shri Ship Pratap Shukla, Minister of State for Finance in a written reply to a question in Lok Sabha today.


Setting up of Circle Processing Centre ( CPC) for implementation of Core Banking Project

Grant of Dearness Relief to CG Pensioners/family pensioners - DoP Order

Clarification on the convenience fee to be collected from the residents for various Aadhar related Service


File your Income Tax Return before 31st March, 2018

Revision of interest rates for Small Savings Schemes -- unchanged from the previous quarter


Preventive checks/actions to avert/unearth and investigate fraud in CBS POs.....

Regarding smooth completion of End of Year (EOY) activities

This is in continuation of my earlier e-mail sent on 19.03.2018 on the captioned subject. The whole matter has again been reviewed and now it has been decided to conduct POSB business in Finacle on 31st March, 2018 up to 5 P.M. for the convenience of the customers / depositors.

In view of above, 31st March, 2018 will be a full transaction day, with extended counter hours up to 5 P.M. The 2nd April, 2018 will be a NO TRANSACTION DAY for smooth completion of End of Year (EOY) activities.

Accordingly, it is requested to replace the existing public notices with the following - 

"BUSINESS IN POSB SCHEMES WILL BE ACCEPTED ON 31st MARCH, 2018 UP TO 5 P.M. The 2nd APRIL, 2018 WILL BE A NO BUSINESS DAY DUE TO COMPLETION OF END OF YEAR ACTIVITIES."

Necessary action in this regard may be taken accordingly.

This issues with the approval of Competent Authority.​

With Regards.
Sachin Kishore,
DDG (FS)
Dak Bhawan,
//copy//

Inclusion of Aadhaar in respect of Small Savings Schemes ---- date extended

Annual closing of Government Accounts .................... RBI

Monday, March 19, 2018

7th CPC Minimum Pay and Fitment Factor: Confederation writes to NJCA


CONFEDERATION WRITES TO NJCA LEADERS
Ref: Confdn/Genl/2016-19
Dated – 14.03.2018

To
1. Shri M. Raghavaiyya
Chairman,
National Joint Council of Action of JCM (NC) Staff Side organisations (NJCA) & General Secretary
National Federation of Indian Railwaymen
Leader Staff side NC (JCM)
3, Chelmsford Road, New Delhi – 110055

2. Shri Shiv Gopal Misra
Convenor, NJCA & General Secretary
All India Railwaymen’s Federation (AIRF) & Secretary, Staff side,
National Council (Staff Side) JCM
13- C, Ferozeshah Road, New Delhi – 110001

Dear Comrade,
As you may be aware the Govt. of India, Ministry of Finance, has given the following written reply in Parliament for a question asked to Minister of Finance, regarding our demand – “Increase in Minimum Pay and Fitment Formula”.



Reply given by Minister of state for Finance:

“The minimum pay of Rs.18000/- p.m. and fitment factor of 2.57 are based on the specific recommendations of the 7th Central Pay Commission in the light of the relevant factors taken into account by it. Therefore, no change therein is at present under consideration”.

From the above it is crystal clear that Govt. has gone back from the assurance given on 30.06.2016 by Group of Ministers including Sri Rajnath Singh, Home Minister, Shri Arun Jaitley, Finance Minister and Shri Suresh Prabhan, then Railway Minister, that Minimum Pay and Fitment formula will be increased and for that purpose a High Level Committee will be appointed to submit report within four months.

Now that Govt. has gone back from its assurance, I on behalf of Confederation of Central Govt. Employees & Workers, which is a constituent organisation of NJCA, request you revive our deferred agitational programmes immediately and for that purpose, if necessary, an urgent meeting of the NJCA may be convened.

Awaiting response,
Yours fraternally,

(M. Krishnan)
Secretary General
Mob: 0944768125
Email: mkrishnan6854@gmail.com

Identification of sensitive and non-sensitive 

Directorate No.4-7/2009-Vlg dated 8th march 2018
Department of Posts 

INDEFINITE STRIKE IN MAY 2018 BY AIPEU-GDS

Dear Comrades,
The 3rd All India Conference of AIPEU-GDS held in Allahabad (UP) from 16th to 17th March 2018 unanimously decided to go on indefinite strike during the month of May 2018.

Demands :
1. Implement all the positive recommendations of  Kamalesh Chandra Committee Report immediately.
2. Complete the process of Membership  Verification of GDS immediately.
Start campaign and preparations for the indefinite strike now itself.
Make all the programmes a grand success

Fraternally yours,
P.Pandurangarao
General Secretary

Thursday, March 8, 2018

Cabinet approves two percent Dearness Allowance to Central Government employees

The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given its approval to release an additional instalment of Dearness Allowance (DA) to Central Government employees and Dearness Relief (DR) to pensionersw.e.f. 01.01.2018 representing an increase of 2% over the existing rate of 5% of the Basic Pay/Pension, to compensate for price rise.

This will benefit about 48.41 lakh Central Government employees and 61.17 lakh pensioners.

The combined impact on the exchequer on account of both Dearness Allowance and Dearness Relief would be Rs.6077.72 crore per annum and Rs.7090.68 crore in the financial year 2018-19 (for a period of 14 months from January, 2018 to February, 2019).

This increase is in accordance with the accepted formula, which is based on the recommendations of the 7thCentral Pay Commission.
***

Cabinet approves the Arbitration and Conciliation (Amendment) Bill, 2018

The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved the Arbitration and Conciliation (Amendment) Bill, 2018 for introduction in the Parliament. It is a part of the efforts of the Government to encourage institutional arbitration for settlement of disputes and make India a centre of robust Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) mechanism.
Benefits:
The Amendments in the Act of 1996 will facilitate achieving the goal of improving institutional arbitration by establishing an independent body to lay down standards, make arbitration process more party friendly, cost effective and ensure timely disposal of arbitration cases.
Salient features:
  1. To facilitate speedy appointment of arbitrators through designated arbitral institutions by the Supreme Court or the High Court, without having any requirement to approach the court in this regard. It is envisaged that parties may directly approach arbitral institutions designated by the Supreme Court for International Commercial arbitration and in other cases the concerned High Courts.
  2. The amendment provides for creation of an independent body namely the Arbitration Council of India (ACI) which will grade arbitral institution and accredit arbitrators by laying down norms and take all such steps as may be necessary to promote and encourage arbitration, conciliation, mediation and other ADR Mechanism and for that purpose evolve policy and guidelines for the establishment., operation and maintenance of uniform professional standards in respect of all matters relating to arbitration and ADR mechanism. The Council shall also maintain an electronic depository of all arbitral awards,
  3. The ACI shall be a body corporate.   The Chairperson of ACI shall be a person who has been a Judge of the Supreme Court or Chief Justice or Judge of any High Court or any eminent person. Further, the other Members would include an eminent academician etc. besides other Government nominees,
  4. It is  proposed to amend  sub section (1) of section  29A by excluding International Arbitration from the bounds of timeline and further to provide that the time limit for arbitral award in other arbitrations shall be within 12 months from the completion of the pleadings of the parties.
  5. A new section 42A is proposed to be inserted to provide that the arbitrator and the arbitral institutions shall keep confidentiality of all arbitral proceedings except award. Further, a new section 42B protects an Arbitrator from suit or other legal proceedings for any action or omission done in good faith in the course of arbitration proceedings.
  6. A new section 87 is proposed to be inserted to clarify that unless parties agree otherwise the Amendment Act 2015 shall not apply to (a) Arbitral proceedings .which have commenced before the commencement of the Amendment Act of 2015 (b) Court proceedings arising out of or in relation to such arbitral proceedings irrespective of whether such court proceedings are commenced prior to or after the commencement of the Amendment Act of 2015 and shall apply only to Arbitral proceedings commenced on or after the commencement of the Amendment Act of 2015 and to court proceedings arising out of or in relation to such Arbitral proceedings.
Background:
The Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996, was amended by the Arbitration and Conciliation (Amendment) Act, 2015 in order to make arbitration process user friendly, cost effective and ensure speedy disposal and neutrality of arbitrators. However, to give a boost to institutional, arbitration vis-a-vis ad hoc arbitration and to remove some practical difficulties in applicability of the Arbitration and Conciliation (Amendment) Act, 2015, a High Level Committee (HLC) under the Chairmanship of Justice B. H. Srikrishna, Retired Judge, Supreme Court of India, was constituted by the Central Government, The HLC was given the mandate
  • to examine the effectiveness of existing arbitration mechanism by studying the functioning and performance of Arbitral Institutions in India;
  • to devise a road map to promote institutionalized arbitration mechanisms in India;
  • to evolve an effective and efficient arbitration eco-system for commercial dispute resolution and submit a Report on suggested reforms in the statute.
The HLC submitted its Report on 30th July, 2017 and has recommended for amendments in the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996. The proposed amendments are as per the recommendations of the High Level Committee.
***

Abolition of Posts


The Department of Expenditure in its consolidated compendium of instructions/ guidelines dated 12.04.2017 directed all the Ministries/Departments to abolish all the posts which are lying vacant for more than five years and submit a report. At the same time, Department of Expenditure has also decided that now vacant posts would fall under deemed abolished category after a period of two/three years against earlier norm of one year subject to laid down conditions. Deemed abolished posts can be got revived from Department of Expenditure subject to fulfilling of stipulated conditions.
  
This was stated by the Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) of the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER), MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr. Jitendra Singh in written reply to a question in the Lok Sabha today.

****  
PIB

Wednesday, February 28, 2018


REJECTING CHILD CARE LEAVE WITHOUT PROPER REASON -FACE LEGAL ACTION

Child care leave created happiness among all women employees . A woman is the backbone of the family. Some critical situation might arise when children are deceased or to attend board examination to enter higher studies. Availing Leave is the only remedy to handle this situation.

Nowadays scoring high marks in board examination only determine the admission in good colleges.

The 7th Pay commission recommends CCL can be granted to women employees in central government service having minor children below the age of 18 years, for a maximum period of 2 years (i.e. 730 days) during their entire service, for taking care of up to two children. During this period women will be paid leave salary equal to the pay drawn immediately before proceeding on leave. As per 7th pay commission recommendations employees will get full salary for 365 days only and the remaining days with 80 percent of salary.

Actually getting CCL is not so easy. Some departments right away, rejecting the leave application. The reason behind this is, acute shortage of staff to run the office. Even though there are enough number of employees to take care of the office ,the leave sanctioning authority rejecting the application.

CCL is not a basic right, even though Central government approved the CCL recommendations for women's welfare because women are the only best and real support for the family.

In most of the cases women employees will not move to court to get justice in this regard. Because they have to be very cautious after filed complaint against higher officials. They may have to face action like Transfer in the future

Central government must interfere in this matter and form a committee to analyzing the situation. Then only woman employees will get appropriate result in this. One more thing they can always do that to use RTI to get full details of the application received and no of applications rejected by the authorities with the reasons. It will help women employees to reach a solution in child care leave matters.

National commission for women will assist for Generation of legal awareness among women, thus equipping them with the knowledge of their legal rights and with a capacity to use these rights.

Child Care Leave – Frequently Asked Questions


[Q] Who are entitled for Child Care Leave?

[A] Child Care Leave can be granted to women employees having minor children below the age of 18 years, for a maximum period of 2 years (i.e. 730 days) during their entire service, for taking care of up to two children whether for rearing or to look after any of their needs like examination, sickness etc. Child Care Leave shall not be admissible if the child is eighteen years of age or older.


[Q] Am I eligible to draw Salary for the period for which Child Care leave is availed?

[A] During the period of such leave, the women employees shall be paid leave salary equal to the pay drawn immediately before proceeding on leave.

[Q] Whether CCL can be debited against any other type of Leave admissible to the employee?

[A] Child Care Leave shall not be debited against the leave account. Child Care Leave may also be allowed for the third year as leave not due (without production of medical certificate).

[Q] Whether Child Care Leave can be combined with any other leave?

[A] It may be combined with leave of the kind due and admissible.

[Q] Whether Child Care Leave is applicable for third child?

[A] :- No. CCL is not applicable to third Child.

[Q] How to maintain Child Care Leave account?

[A] The leave account for child care leave shall be maintained in the proforma prescribed by Govt, and it shall be kept alongwith the Service Book of the Government servant concerned.

[Q] Whether CCL can be claimed as a matter of right?

[A] The intention of the Pay Commission in recommending Child Care Leave for women employees was to facilitate women employees to take care of their children at the time of need. However, this does not mean that CCL should disrupt the functioning of Central Government offices. The nature of this leave was envisaged to be the same as that of earned leave.

[Q] Whether we can prefix or suffix Saturdays, Sundays, and Gazetted holidays?

[A] As in the case of Earned Leave, we can prefix or suffix Saturdays, Sundays, and Gazetted holidays with the Child Care Leave.

[Q] Should we have any Earned Leave in Credit for the purpose of taking Child Care Leave?

[A] There was a condition envisaged in the Office Memorandum relavant to Child Care Leave to the effect that CCL can be availed only if the employee concerned has no Earned Leave at her credit. However, this condition was withdrawn by the Government and as such there is no need for having EL in credit to avail CCL.

[Q] Whether CCL can be availed without prior sanction?

[A] Under no circumstances can any employee proceed on CCL without prior approval of the Leave sanctioning authority.

[Q] Can we avail CCL for the children who are not dependents?

[A] The Child Care Leave would be permitted only if the child is dependent on the Government servant.

[Q] Is there any other conditons apart from the total number of holidays and the age of the child?

[A] The Conditions regarding spell of CCL, imposed upon by the Government are that it may not be granted in more than 3 spells in a calendar year and that CCL may not be granted for less than 15 days.

Further, CCL should not ordinarily be granted during the probation period except in case of certain extreme situations where the leave sanctioning authority is fully satisfied about the need of Child Care Leave to the probationer. It may also be ensured that the period for which this leave is sanctioned during probation is minimal.

[Q] Whether Earned Leave availed for any purpose can be converted into Child Care Leave? How should applications where the purpose of availing leave has been indicated as ‘Urgent Work’ but the applicant claims to have utilized the leave for taking care of the needs of the child, be treated?

[A] Child Care Leave is sanctioned to women employees having minor children, for rearing or for looking after their needs like examination, sickness etc. Hence Earned Leabe availed specifically for this purpose only should be converted.

[Q] Whether all Earned Leave availed irrespective of ‘number of days i.e. less than 15 days, and number of spells can be converted? In cases where the CCL spills over to the next year :for example 30 days CCL from 27th December, whether the Leave should be treated as one spell or two spells’?

[A] No. As the instructions contained in thc OM dared 7.9.2010 has been given retrospective effect, all the conditions specified in the OM would have to be fulfilled for conversion of the Earned Leave into Child Care Leave. In cases where the leave spills over to thc next year, it may be treated as one spell against the year in which the leave commences.

[Q] Whether those who have availed Child Care Leave for more than 3 spells with less than 15 days can avail further Child C31.e Leave for the remaining period of the current year’?

[A] No. As per the OM of even number dated 7.9.2010, Child Care Leave may not be granted in more than 3 spells. Hence CCL may not be allowed more than 3 times irrespective of the number of days or times Child Care Leave has been availed earlier.

[Q] Whether LTC can be availed during Child Care Leave?

[A] LTC cannot be availed during Child Care Lcave as Child Care Leave is granted for the specific purpose of taking care of a minor child for rearing or for looking after any other needs of the child during examination, sickness etc.

[Q] Whether Child Care Leave is applicable to All India Services?

[A] Yes. Child Care Leave is applicable to employees under All India Services.

Clarification from Directorate regarding RTP Cases

Important clarification on exemption for IT though NPS

Workshop with representatives of Service Unions on sensitization of IPPB

Wednesday, February 21, 2018

Mallam SO :: Retirement Function of GDS BPMs

Com.Rajivaramireddy, BPM, Buradagalli kothapalem & G.Kasthuraiah, BPM, Nidigurthi under Mallam SO have been retired from service. 
On this occasion, felicitation function has been arranged by staff of Mallam SO.
Com.K.Sudhakar, President, Gr.C & Com.D.S.B. Purushottam D/S, AIPEU-GDS attended and graced the function.