The department of posts may soon start selling cars. The department has initiated talks with car majors, including Maruti Suzuki [ Images ], to promote their vehicles in the rural parts of the country. DoP is also planning to act as a registrar of information for the Nandan Nilekani-led Unique ID project.
Speaking to reporters after signing up with Sistema Shyam Teleservices (which offers phone services under the 'MTS' brand) to offer e-recharge services at 50 post offices here, Chennai City Region post master general M S Ramanujan said DoP has over 1,50,000 points of presence and about 25,000 offices across the country, a majority of which are located in the rural parts of the country.
"We will sell and collect application forms (for cars), which will then be submitted to the nearest Maruti dealer," Ramanujan said.
Courtesy : Rediff-Business
October 26, 2009
Post offices may sell cars, in talks with Maruti
The department of posts may soon start selling cars. The department has initiated talks with car majors, including Maruti Suzuki [ Images ], to promote their vehicles in the rural parts of the country. DoP is also planning to act as a registrar of information for the Nandan Nilekani-led Unique ID project.
Speaking to reporters after signing up with Sistema Shyam Teleservices (which offers phone services under the 'MTS' brand) to offer e-recharge services at 50 post offices here, Chennai City Region post master general M S Ramanujan said DoP has over 1,50,000 points of presence and about 25,000 offices across the country, a majority of which are located in the rural parts of the country.
"We will sell and collect application forms (for cars), which will then be submitted to the nearest Maruti dealer," Ramanujan said.
Courtesy : Rediff-Business
October 21, 2009
GOVERNMENT'S AMBITIOUS PENSION PLAN FOR ALL CITIZENS (NEW PENSION SCHEME) YET TO ATTRACT
The government's ambitious pension plan for all citizens does not seem to be attracting people as since its launch on May 1, it has been able to get only 2,100 subscribers with Rs 3.8 crore as collection.
The New Pension System has a multiple point of presence through which the scheme is being extended to the common man, in particular to people from unorganised sectors. The points of presence are extension counters provided by six fund managers appointed by the pension regulator, the Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA).
According to PFRDA, so far 2,183 accounts have been opened by various collection and distribution centres. The country's largest private sector lender ICICI Bank has opened the maximum number of 393 accounts, while SBI has opened 264 accounts through its 38 designated branches.
The poor response has forced PFRDA to take some corrective measures. It has asked all points of presence to come up with their business plans as it feels more effort is needed to enthuse investors. The NPS was extended to all citizens from May 1 this year. Earlier, it was implemented only for government employees who joined service on or after January 1, 2004.
Source : Times of India and PFRDA WebsiteOctober 20, 2009
Eurogiro welcomes India Post
India Post plans to launch remittance service via Eurogiro network during this month. Probably 24th October 2009. The EUROGIRO's headquarters is at Copenhagen, Denmark. The news published by them in their website is reproduced below for information. For details visit EUROGIRO website
India Post plans to launch its remittance service via the Eurogiro network in October 2009. Across its vast network of post office branches, the Post will provide its customers with cash and account transfers for both incoming and outgoing payments.
Indians working abroad will now be able to send payments for either cash pickup at a postal branch, or request to send cash directly to their relatives at their doorstep. India Post will provide account-to-account international payments like the banks in India, and they also plan to provide an outbound payment service with Eurogiro members for cash receipt.
India Post is a 100% government-owned postal and financial institution, established over 150 years ago to promote postal services and small savings development in India. The strength of India Post lies in its vast network and the end-to-end rural reach it provides in retail and cash management.
The Post has a vast network of 155,035 post offices (as on 31st March 2008), and is the largest postal organisation in the world. As a result it has become a popular mechanism for last mile delivery of both private commercial and governmental services.
India Post as a retail outlet has been increasing in popularity. The rapidly changing Indian economic scenario - liberalization, globalization, and a widespread technological revolution –has given rise to the need for efficient delivery of a variety of services. The Post provides not only universal postal services, but it also serves as a useful channel for other socially significant schemes like small savings, payment of Pension, Postal Life Insurance, especially for rural India.
The Post Office Savings Bank is the oldest and largest banking institution in India. It has over 200 million savings accounts and provides deposit facilities at over 154,000 branches spread out throughout India. In addition to its current deposit based activities, it also distributes a number of investment options including mutual funds, pension funds and non-life insurance.
The country of India is the largest receiver of international remittances. The World Bank estimates that US $45 billion of remittances were received by India in 2008, compared to $27 billion in 2007. In its annual report of 2008-09, the RBI said the global economic downturn had not dampened the flow of remittances to India, owing to many factors such as depreciation of the rupee, hike in interest rate ceilings on NRI deposits and uncertainties in oil prices.
For more information on connecting with India Post via the Eurogiro network, please contact Ms Manisha Sinha at manishasinha@indiapost.gov.in
October 19, 2009
Unique ID to soon become 'pervasive & ubiquitous'
NEW DELHI: THE proposed Unique Identification Number could eventually become mandatory, as it may be required for making a passport, getting driving licence and opening a bank account.
Though the 16-digit Unique Identification Number will not give citizenship rights, it will be used for identifying Indian citizens. At present, UID is completely voluntary, but it will become “pervasive and ubiquitous” later, Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) chairman Nandan Nilekani was quoted as saying by a news agency.
"When you have to get a passport, they will say where is your UID number, when you go to get a driving licence, they will say where is your UID number, when you go to tax authorities, they will say where is your UID number, you go to open a bank account, they will say where is your UID number. Sooner or later you will have to get your UID number,” Mr Nilekani said.
All the mentioned documents will start displaying the UID number, he said. “It is not mandatory but more applications will make it a prerequisite. So sooner or later, your life becomes simpler if you have the number,” he said.
Various agencies and ministries were prepared to partner with UIDAI and use the UID number in their database. Further, Mr Nilekani said by avoiding duplicate accounts, UID will help in checking black money and result in higher tax collections. “Once bank accounts start having UID, then you can’t keep unaccounted money in the banking system. UID will sort of act as a check on keeping black money and all that. It will also strengthen security,” he said.
UID scheme may roll out the first number in 12-18 months and may cover 600 million people over the next four years. Mr Nilekani, who quit as cochairman of Infosys to undertake the project, had said that UID will give access to people who are “outside the system” , as there are millions of people in the country who are “non-persons” .
The UID number, with a one-time registration fee of Rs 30-40 , can also be used for availing welfarescheme benefits. A centralised database, it will have basic demographic and biometric information about an individual. This will help even security agencies in accessing information under appropriate laws. While listing out benefits of the scheme, Mr Nilekani has cautioned about addressing the privacy issue. He had said that it was time for the country to evolve a “policy on privacy” after he was faced with questions about confidentiality of individual’s data.
Source Economic TimesOctober 15, 2009
MICRO LIFE INSURANCE FOR RURAL PEROPLE WITHOUT HEALTH CHECKUP
People living in rural parts of the country will soon be able to avail insurance cover without being subject to mandatory health check-ups as is the norm for life insurance policies.
The department of posts is set to launch a major micro life insurance policy which will no more require the insurees to disclose their present health condition or diseases at the time of buying the policy, a move aimed at expanding the coverage in rural India.
The proposed insurance scheme, which can be availed by economically weaker sections (EWS) of the society and particularly women, will provide a risk cover up to Rs 25,000, said an official in the ministry of communication and information technology. The aim is to cover around one-tenth of Indians and become one of the potent players in the Indian insurance sector by easing out the procedural formalities that precedes purchase of any life insurance scheme.
While the new scheme has been made customer friendly, the postal department will put in place system and process to address the issue of fake claims. To ensure that relaxation over disclosing the insuree’s health condition does not lead to wrong claims, the claimant has to file a death certificate issued by a government doctor on the deceased’s cause of death, the official said. If the medical report says that the insuree was suffering from any ailment that existed prior to the purchase of the insurance policy, the postal department has an option not to honour the insurance claim. The policy premium will vary according to the age of the insuree and the duration of the policy.
India Post expects to cover around 100 million Indians by the end of 2011 under the scheme, this policy is assumed to play a major role in attaining this objective. The move is a part of the initiative taken by India post to put a major thrust on its insurance services and have a strong presence in the insurance sector specially in rural areas,” the official added.
Eight million lives and a sum of Rs 40,000 crore have been insured, since the launch of rural postal life insurance scheme launched in 1995, under various policies offered by India Post under the rural postal life insurance. The department also plans to align its investment norms for life insurance policies to pump in part of its daily collections in revenue-generating instruments including stocks, a move which is likely to start from October 1, 2009.
With a huge presence in the country with around 1.55 lakh post offices, the postal department is slowly developing itself as a centre for distributing diversified services like National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (NREGS), life insurance and financial solutions to its customers apart from its mail delivery system
Source : Economic Times
October 14, 2009
Department of Post Selects Accenture to Design and Develop New Information Technology Architecture and System
NEW DELHI; Oct. 12, 2009 - The Department of Post (DoP) has awarded a 45-month information technology (IT) modernization contract to Accenture (NYSE: ACN) to design a new enterprise IT architecture and migrate the DoP to a more efficient, reliable and user-friendly IT system.
Accenture also will advise DoP on the development of a wide-area network environment that helps connect all post offices on which various online services can run, and will study the feasibility of implementing an enterprise solution for the department’s core banking and advanced financial services.
“The technology enablers will help DoP transform itself by increasing operational performance and achieving efficiencies through “last mile” connectivity,” said Krishna G.V. Giri, who leads Accenture's Management Consulting practice within its Health & Public Service operating group in the Asia Pacific region. “Armed with greater speed, efficiency, and flexibility at DoP, the government will be much better positioned to share various social schemes, such as the Mahatma National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme, with even the most remote citizens.”
Accenture’s work began in September with a business process re-engineering (BPR) exercise across key departments and core operations, such as mail operations, banking and advanced financial systems. Following the BPR exercise, Accenture will help select and monitor a vendor to enable the DoP to consolidate its technology infrastructure and applications.
The project is designed to help the DoP drive greater revenue and regain market share in different services and products, including bill payment, e-posts, life insurance, money transfer and banking.
According to Giri, DoP expects that the technology upgrade also will benefit citizens via speedier and more efficient banking and insurance services, track and trace abilities, and retail services. In addition, DoP will be able to compete effectively against local and international courier companies and increase revenue in the mail and logistics business.
About Accenture Accenture is a global management consulting, technology services and outsourcing company. Combining unparalleled experience, comprehensive capabilities across all industries and business functions, and extensive research on the world’s most successful companies, Accenture collaborates with clients to help them become high-performance businesses and governments. With approximately 177,000 people serving clients in more than 120 countries, the company generated net revenues of US$21.58 billion for the fiscal year ended Aug. 31, 2009. Its home page is www.accenture.com.
October 13, 2009
SMS TRACKING FACILITY FOR eMO and SPEED POST
Department has introduced facility to track the eMO and Speed Post Articles through SMS from 1.10.2009. The message format is given below for information:-
For EMO
EMO space eMOPNR_No or MO space eMOPNR_No to 55352
For Speed Post Artcle
SP space SpeedPostArticleNo or EMOS space SpeedPostArticleNo to 55352
For other details visit indiapost.gov.in
October 11, 2009
EXCEL SHEET TO CALCULATE ARREARS FOR GDS ON IMPLEMENTATION OF GDS COMITTEE
Excel sheet is available to calculate the arrears due for the GDS as per the guidelines given by the Directorate
The following information have to be entered/pasted in the sheet
1. Name, Desig, office where working, Existing TRCA code ( 1 to 7), Basic on 1.4.2004, Basic on 1.1.2006
2. No days worked during each month falling between January 2006 to September 2009. Actual number of days of the month has been taken as default. Number of days worked to be modified for each GDS if they have not worked for full month.
3. Increment month for old TRCA and new TRCA. In the new TRCA, increment month will be January. However, if the GDS did not work for full month, the increment may postpone. Hence, increment month for the new scale is also to be modified
The above details are to be entered in the fields provided in the respective work sheet
The following sheet are generated automatically :-
(a) Pay Fixation in the new TRCA (next above after applying formula)(b) Due Drawn statement
(c) 40% arrears due
Link to download the excel program file available in the side bar
October 10, 2009
ORDERS FOR IMPLEMENTATION OF GDS RECOMMENDATATIONS RELEASED!!!
Directorate has issued orders for implementation of GDS Committee vide Memo No 6-1/2009-PE-III dated 9.10.2009 the memo is available in sahuliyat.com
HIGH LIGHTS OF GDS IMPLEMENTATION ORDERS
1.Fixation of TRCA in the revised TRCA
Basic TRCA as on 1.1.2006 + 5% increase as on 1.4.2004 multiplied by a factor of 1.74 and then adding 40% fitment as arrived at the 20th stage of pre-revised TRCA and fixation at next above the stage in the revised slab of Time Related Continuity Allowance.
TRCA to GDS engaged on or after 1.1.2006 shall be fixed at the minimum of the revised TRCA
2.Fitment table to GDS working as on 31.12.2005 is as below:-
| Sl No | Category of GDS | Pre-revised TRCA | Revised TRCA | 40% Fitment to be allowed |
| 1. | GDS SPM | Rs 2125-50-3125 | Rs 4575-85-7125 | Rs 1250 |
| 2. | GDS BPM (75 points workload) | Rs 1280-35-1980 | Rs 2745-50-4245 | Rs 792 |
| 3. | GDS BPM (More than 75 points workload) | Rs 1600-40-2400 | Rs 3660-70-5760 | Rs 960 |
| 4. | GDS MD/SV (Workload upto 3 hrs 45 mts) | Rs 1375-25-2125 | Rs 3330-60-5130 | Rs 750 |
| 5. | GDS MD/SV (Workload more than 3 hrs 45 mts) | Rs 1740-30-2640 | Rs 4220-75-6470 | Rs 936 |
| 6. | GDS MC/Pkr/MM (Workload upto 3 hrs 45 Mts) | Rs 1220-20-1600 | Rs 2870-50-4370 | Rs 640 |
| 7. | GDS MC/Pkr-MM (workload more than 3 hrs 45 mts | Rs 1545-25-2020 | Rs 3635-65-5585 | Rs 808 |
3. Annual Increase (Increment)
The fixation of TRCA will be done on 1.1.2006 and the next increase will be allowed after 12 months only. Hence, the increment in the revised TRCA would be on 1.1.2007, 1.1.2008, 1.1.2009 and so on for all.
4. DA Rate
Same as for Central Government servants (Rate of DA from 1.7.2009 - 27%)
5. Revised rate of other allowances (effect from 9.10.2009)
| Nature of Allowance | Existing allowance | Revised allowance |
| OMA for GDS SPM/BPM | Rs 50 p.m | Rs 100 p.m |
| FSC | Rs 10 for GDS SPM/BPM and Rs 5 for other GDS | Rs 25 for GDS SPM and Rs 10 for other GDS |
| Boat Allowance | Rs 10 per month | Actual charges subject to maximum of Rs 50 per month |
| Cash Conveyance Allowance | Rs 10 per occasion plus bus | Rs 50 per month |
| Cycle Maintenance Allowance | Rs 30 per month | Rs 60 per month (condition for minimum distance of 10 Kms withdrawn) |
| Combined duty Allowance for BPM | Rs 100 per month | Rs 500 p.m for each item of work separately. Rs 250 if the delivery is made at BO village only. Rs 250 for exchanging of mails at Bus stand or at Railway Station |
| Allowances for combinationof dutyes of MD/Mail conveyance | Rs 75 per month | Rs 25 per day subject to maximum of Rs 625 per month |
| Compensation to MC who are detailed for excnage of mails | Rs 3 per hour subject to maximum of Rs 6 per day. | Rs 6 per hour subject to a maximum of Rs 12 per day. |
6. Discharge Benefits.
| Nature of Benefit | Present Benefits | Revised Benefits |
| Ex-Gratia Gratuity | Rs 18000 or 16.5 times of basic TRCA - Minimum service - 15 years | Rs 60,000 (existing conditions remain same) |
| Severance amount | Rs 30000 if completed 20 years of service. Rs 20,000 for 15 to 20 years of service | Rs 1500 for every completed year subject to maximum of Rs 60,000 (minimum eligiblity reduced to 10 years) |
7. Maternity Grant : Woman GDS will be provided Maternity Grant equivalent to 3 months TRCA with DA for the birth of two children out of the welfare fund of the Department. (This will take effect from 9.10.2009)
8. Bonus Limit - Not revised. The existing ceiling of Rs 2500 will be continued.
9. Insurance - Present EDGIS rate enhanced to Rs 50 per month with insurance cover of Rs 50,000. (The revised subscription will be effectrive from the TRCA payable for January 2010)
10.Payment of arrears
The arrears will be paid in two instalments. 40% will be paid during this financial year and 60% will be paid in the next financial year. The first instalment of arrears should be paid before 31.10.2009. Responsibility of fixation of TRCA in the new slab rests with Divisional Superintendent of Post Office/RMS Units. In other independent units like gazetted HOs, the fixation shall be done by the Sr PM/Chief PM. The authorities should send the statement of fixation of TRCA all GDS to the drawal and disbursing officers.
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