ICICI Prudential life policyholders can pay their premiums at the 529 e-payment enabled post offices across Andhra Pradesh

Private life insurance player, ICICI Prudential Life Insurance, on Thursday tied up with India Post to reach out to rural markets through the latter’s network of 16,159 post offices across Andhra Pradesh.

“Under this referral agreement partnership, India Post will give us business leads. Customers who want to save towards their long-term financial goals through ICICI Prudential’s plans will be referred by India Post to the company’s banassurace officer. Over 1,160 postal staff have been trained in raising referrals,” Anup Rau, senior vice-president and head (sales), ICICI Pru, told mediapersons.

ICICI has also launched this service in Gujarat, Karnataka and Uttar Pradesh. It plans to take this tie up to the pan-India level in the next one month. India Post gets a commission in the range of 10 per cent to 25 per cent on each referral.

“With this tie up, the existing ICICI Prudential life policyholders can also pay their premiums at the 529 e-payment enabled post offices across Andhra,” said KV Sundar Rajan, chief postmaster general (Andhra Pradesh circle).

Post offices will deliver the warrants, court notices and other documents sent by e-Courts via e-mail to the party by taking print out

The proposed e-courts of Delhi High Court will start functioning from December. These e-courts, along with reducing the paperwork, are environment friendly also.

"The necessity of e-courts has arisen due to shortcomings of a paper-based system like storage, maintenance and wastage of a lot of paper," said Justice B.D.Ahmed, who is responsible for the e-court committee, while presenting the project to the judges and lawyers on Thursday.

Underlining the requirement for cases to be resolved at the earliest, he said that e-courts will help courts function in a more organized way and will provide aces to any case file for anyone from anywhere across the globe.

"We are also working on the project in which live court proceedings would also be seen on the website," Justice Ahmed said, adding that “the project will be first started in one court and will soon be started in all other courts, including the five district courts in the capital”.

He said that this will make the jobs of lawyers and litigants easier as they need to carry a CD or USB of their case.

"Recording of evidence in any case will be done electronically. We are planning to have centres all across the capital from where the person can record his statement and the court can see it via video-conferencing. This will help us in saving a lot of time not only of litigants but also of the court," said Justice S. Muralidhar, another member of the e-court committee.

He also mentioned that e-courts will help in decreasing the number of adjournments.

With the help of e-courts, warrants, court notices and other documents can be sent via e-mail to the party or the post office concerned from where a service slip will be sent back confirming the receipt.

"We will also ensure that courts shall provide adequate facility to the lawyers while they argue their case using the laptops. Judges will also be given a touch screen handbook which will be like their computer screen and they can read it like a file," Justice Ahmed said.

"We are also planning to introduce a system where court fees can be paid online so that entire work is done at a click of mouse," Justice Ahmed said, while mentioning that these courts will provide the litigants with more transpacrency, accountability and accessibility.

Source : India-Server.Com

GRANT OF DEARNESS RELIEF TO THE CENTRAL GOVERNMENT PENSIONERS WHO ARE IN RECEIPT OF PROVISIONAL PENSION

Copy of Dept of Pension & Pensioners' Welfare Memo No 42/12/2009-P&PW(G) dated 17.11.2009

Subject : Grant of Dearness Relief to the Central Government Pensioners who are in receipt of provisional pension or pension in the pre-revised scales of 5th CPC w.e.f. 1.7.2009.

In continuation to this Department of OM of even No dated 27.3.2009 and 22.10.2009, sanctioning the Dearness Relief to those Central Government Pensioners who are in receipt of provisional pension or pension in the pre revised scles of 5th CPC, the President is pleased to grant the Dearness Relief to these Central Government pensioners as under:

1. Those who are in receipt provisional pension or pension in the pre revised scales of 5th CPC are entitled to Dearness Relief @ 73% w.e.f 1.7.2009 2. The surviving CPF beneficiaries who have retired from service between the period 18.11.1960 to 31.12.1985 and are in receipt of ex-gratia @ Rs 600/- p.m. w.e.f. 1.1.1997 under this Department's OM No 45/52/97-P&PW (E) dated 16.11.1997 are entitled to Dearnes Relief @ 73% w.e.f. 1.7.2009

2. The following categories of CPF beneficiaries who are in receipt of ex-gratia payment in terms of this Department's OM No 45/52-97-P&PW(E) dated 16.12.1997 are entitled to DR @ 65% w.e.f. 1.7.2009

(i) The widows and dependent children of the deceased CPF beneficiary who had retired from service prior to 1.1.1986 or who had died while in service prior to 1.1.1986 and are in receipt of Ex-Gratia payment of Rsw 605/- p.m. (ii) Cenral Government employees who had retired on CPF benefits before 8.11.1960 and are in receipt of Ex-gratia payment of Rs 654/-, Rs 659/- Rs 703 and Rs 965/-

3. This issues with the concurrence of Ministry of Finance, Department of Expenditure vide thier UO No 363/EV/09 dated 23.10.2009 and UO No 373/EV/2009 dated 16.11.2009

Click here to see Memo No 42/12/2009-P&PW(G) dated 17.11.2009

Bill to rename NREGA after Mahatma Gandhi

A bill seeking to name the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act after Mahatma Gandhi was introduced in the Lok Sabha today.

Rural Development Minister C P Joshi said the title of the Act is proposed to be amended as Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Programme.

The statement of objects and reasons of bill says that the association of the name of the Mahatma with the Act will reinforce its thrust towards equity and inclusiveness.

The Act is premised on rural households volunteering to do unskilled manual labour and the association of Mahatma Gandhi's name with it underscores the dignity of labour, it said.

Tax free bonds by Indian Railway Finance Corporation (IRFC) shortly

The targeted amount of Rs. 9,170 crore would be raised by Ministry of Raiwlays through various financial instruments including tax free bonds. The Indian Railway Finance Corporation (IRFC), a public Sector Undertaking under the Ministry of Railways, has been mandated to raise market borrowings to the tune of Rs. 9,170 crore in the current financial year to mainly finance acquisition of rolling stock. A part of the borrowing is expected to be raised through issue of tax free bonds by IRFC. Issue of notification to authorize IRFC to issue the tax free bonds is under process in the Ministry of Finance.

This information was given by the Minister of State in the Ministry of Railways Shri K.H. Muniyappa in a written reply in Lok Sabha today. (26.11.2009)

Incidents of disproportionate assets cases

The CBI has registered 517 disproportionate assets cases since 1.1.2004 to 31.10.2009. The year-wise figures are as given below:-

YEAR
2004	2005	2006	2007	2008	2009(Up to 31.10.09)
75	147	78	79	86	52

Government is fully committed to implement its policy of “Zero Tolerance against Corruption” and is moving progressively to eradicate corruption from all spheres of life by improving transparency and accountability. Several steps have been taken to combat corruption and to improve the functioning of Government. These include:

(i) Issue of Whistle Blowers Resolution, 2004;
(ii) Enactment of Right to Information Act, 2005;
(iii) The pro-active involvement of Ministry/Department through Annual Action Plan on Vigilance as a preventive measure;
(iv) Issue of comprehensive instructions on transparency in tendering and contracting process by the CVC;
(v) Issue of instructions by the CVC asking the organisations to adopt Integrity Pact in major Government procurement activities; similar instructions have been issued by the Central Government on 16th June 2009 advising the State Governments to adopt Integrity Pact in major procurements;
(vi) India is amongst the countries who have signed the United Nations Convention against Corruption;
(vii) Introduction of e-Governance and simplification of procedures and systems;
(viii) Issue of Citizen Charters.

This information was given by Minister of State in the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, Shri Prithiviraj Chavan in written reply to a question raised in Rajya Sabha today.

CHEQUES CAN BE WRITTEN IN REGIONAL LANGUAGE - HONOURABLE MINISTER OF STATE FOR FINANCE

Reserve Bank of India (RBI) vide its Master Circular dated July 1, 2009 has advised all Scheduled Commercial Banks (excluding Regional Rural Banks) that all cheque forms would be printed in Hindi and English. The customer may, however, write cheques in Hindi, English or in the concerned regional language.

This information was given by Minister of State for Finance, Shri Namo Narain Meena in written reply to a question raised in Rajya Sabha today. (24.11.2009)

JOBS FOR PHYSICALLY CHALLENGED PERSONS

Section 33 of the Persons with Disabilities (Equal Opportunities, Protection of Rights & Full Participation) Act, 1995 provides for reservation of posts in government establishments. Special Recruitment Drives are launched by the Government from time to time to ensure that reservation is provided accordingly. In order to encourage employment of persons with disabilities in the private sector, a new Scheme of Incentives to the Private Sector for Employment of Physically Challenged Persons has been launched, w.e.f. 01.04.2008. Under this Scheme, the Government of India provides the employer’s contribution for Employees Provident Fund(EPF) and Employees State Insurance (ESI) for 3 years, for physically challenged employees employed in the private sector on or after 01.04.2008, with a monthly salary upto Rs. 25,000. 144 persons have availed this benefit through the Employees Provident Fund Organisation and 261 persons have availed this benefit through Employees State Insurance Corporation under this scheme in private sector till 30.09.2009.

Source : Press Information Bureau

Russian post office says it will cut 33,000 jobs

MOSCOW: 23.11.2009 The Russian post office said on Monday that it intended to cut its staff by at least eight percent in 2010, leading to about 33,000 job losses.

The state-controlled post office plans "gradual cuts of the total staff of no less than eight per cent," it said in a statement, adding that cuts would affect the management at its branches.

The number of postal workers has fallen by three percent since the beginning of the year, and now totals 415,000 people, the statement said.

The Russian post office has 42,000 branches across the country.

Source : Times of India - Internation Business dated 23.11.2009

NURSERY CLASS CLARIFIED BY DEPT OF PERSONNEL AND TRANING FOR CLAIMING CHILDREN EDUCATION ALLOWANCE

Dept of Personnal and Traianing Memo No. 1201 1 /03/2008-Estt.(Allowances) dated 23.11.2009

Subject: Clarification on Children Education Allowance

The undersigned is directed to refer to DOP&T O.M. of even No. dated 2.9.2008 on the above subject. Para l(c) of the said O.M. says "Reimbursement will be applicable for expenditure on the education of school going children only i.e. for children from classes nursery to twelfth including classes eleventh and twelfth held by junior colleges or schools affiliated to Universities or Board of Education".

Various clarifications are being sought with regard to the definition of 'nursery' as the same is being called by different names in different institutions. This matter was considered in consultation with Ministry of Finance. It is clar5ed that 'classes nursery to twelfth' will include classes I to XI1 + 2 classes prior to class I irrespective of the nomenclature.

It is further clarified that in respect of schools/institutions at nursery, primary and middle level not affiliated to any Board of education, the reimbursement under the Scheme may be allowed for the children studying in a recognized school/institution. Recognized school/institution in this regard means a Govt. school or any educational institution whether in receipt of Govt. aid or not, recognized by the Central or State Govt. or Union Tenitory Administration or by University or a recognized educational authority having jurisdiction over the area where the Institution is situated.

Department of Personnel and Training Memo dated 23.11.2009

LEAVE ENCASHMENT ALSO APPLICABLE WHEN SPOUSE AVAILED LTC IN PUBLIC UNDERTAKINGS/AVAILED CONCESSION IN RAILWAYS/NATIONAL AIRLINES

Copy of Dept of Personnel and Training Memo No NO. 1402812/2009-Estt.(L) dated 24.11.2009

Sub: Encashment of earned leave alongwith LTC -Clarification

The undersigned is directed to refer to DOP&T 0.M.No.310111412008-Estt.(A), dated 23'* September, 2008 allowing encashment of earned leave alongwith LTC and to say that various references are being received from MinistriesIDepartments with regard to the applicability of Rule 38-A of the CCS (Leave) Rules, 1972 to the Central Govt. employees. In this regard it is clarified that
(1) Central Govt. employees governed by CCS (Leave) Rules, 1972 who are entitled to LTC but opt for the facility of LTC provided to their spouses employed in PSUslCorporationlAutonomous Bodies etc. and
(2) Central Govt. employees governed by CCS (Leave) Rules, 1972 who are otherwise not entitled to LTC, on account of their spouse being employed in Indian Railways/National Airlines who are entitled to privilege passeslconcessional tickets
are entitled to leave encashment while availing the LTC facility of their spouselprivilege passes/concessional tickets of their spouse on fulfillment of all the conditions as stipulated in Rule 38-A of the CCS (Leave) Rules, 1972 twice in a four years block of LTC.

Department of Personnel and Training Memo dated 24.11.2009

Rly exams in regional languages simultaneously: Mamata

Nov 21 (PTI) Against the backdrop of MNS attacking candidates from North India appearing in railway exams in Maharashtra, Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee today said the tests will be conducted in regional languages simultaneously.

"The railway exams will be conducted in regional languages simultaneously apart from English and Hindi. In Maharashtra, the exams will be held in Marathi and in other states, these will be held in local languages," she told reporters here.

"The decision was taken after a review was carried out and a new policy was formulated," she said, adding that besides English, Hindi and Urdu, tests will be held in regional languages.

Banerjee said this after Chief Minister Ashok Chavan said at a function that "locals must be given importance. Whoever is a domicile of Maharashtra must first get an employment opportunity.

Source : PTI News

REVISED WAGES FOR GRAMIN DAK SEVAKS - INFORMATION SUBMITTED TO RAJYA SABHA BY HON'BLE MINISTER

The Government has revised the wage structure and other amenities of all categories of Gramin Dak Sevaks including those engaged to distribute letters in rural areas in the country.

The revised Time Related Continuity Allowance (TRCA) of Gramin Sevaks will be implemented w.e.f. 01.01.2006 while other allowances will be implemented w.e.f 09.10.2009. Women Gramin Dak Sevak will be provided Maternity Grant equivalent to three months TRCA with DA for the birth of two children out of the welfare fund of the Department.

For Productivity Linked Bonus (PLB), present calculation of Ex-gratia bonus by applying the calculation ceiling of Rs. 2500 as basic TRCA+DA shall continue to be adopted till such time a new scheme is devised by the Department.

Arrears of TRCA w.e.f 1.1.2006 to 31.10.2009 have been ordered to be paid in cash in two instalments of 40% and 60% spread over the financial year 2009-10 and 2010-11 after adjusting the payments made toward the basic monthly TRCA+ DA drawn from time to time. The 2nd instalment of 60% arrears will be payable only after issue of specific instructions in this regard.

This was stated by Shri Gurudas Kamat, Ministry of Communications and Information Technology in Rajya Sabha today.

Source : Press Information Bureau

INCREMENT @ 3% SHOULD BE GIVEN WHILE FIXING NON FUNCTIONAL SCALE TO SECTION OFFICERS OF CSS

Department of Personnel and Training Memo No 6/3/2009-CS-I(S) dated 19.11.2009

Subject : Pay fixation of grant of non-functional scale to Section officers of CSS subsequent to implementation of CCS (Revised Pay) Rules, 2008.

The undersigned is directed to refer to this Department's Order No 21/36/03-CS.I dated 13.11.2009 regarding introduction of Non Funcational scale of Rs 8000-275-13500/- to Section Officers of Central Secretariat Service (CSS) and to say that the matter relating to pay fixation of grant of non-functional scale to section Officers of CSS subsequent to implementation of CCS(Revised Pay) Rules, 2008 has been considered in the Department of Personnel and Trainig [both CS Division and Estt.(Pay)Division] in consultation with the Department of Expenditure.

2. It has been clarified by Estt. (Pay) Division vide their U.O. No 5/2/2009-Estt.(Pay-I) dated 17.9.2009 that at the time of grant of non-functional upgradation to Section Officers belonging to CSS, their pay fixation may be done under Rule 13 of CCS(Revised Pay) Rules, 2008 i.e they should be granted one increment @ 3% of their basic pay and to the figure so arrived at, the difference in grade pay (Rs 5400-Rs 4800) = Rs 600) should be added. Further, this dispensation may be implemented w.e.f. 1.1.2006.

All the cadre units of CSS are requesed to take further necessary action.

Quami Ekta Week to be observed from tomorrow

Quami Ekta Week (National Integration Week) will be observed all over the country from tomorrow. Several programmes, with a specific theme on each of the seven days, will be held/observed during the week. Meetings, symposia, seminars, special literary functions, cultural functions and programmes to highlight themes under focus would mark the observance of Quami Ekta Week. The week would begin with National Integration Pledge. National Integration, Welfare of Minorities, Linguistic Harmony, Weaker Sections, Cultural Unity, women’s issues and Conservation are the themes for the Week. Activities related to a specific theme would be under focus on each day.

Quami Ekta Week is observed from November 19-25 every year with a view to fostering and re-inforcing the spirit of communal harmony, national integration and pride in our vibrant composite culture and nationhood. In view of recent developments in various parts of the country, there is a need to take all possible measures for dissemination and reaffirmation of these values among all sections of our people. The Minister of Home Affairs, Shri P. Chidambaram has written to different Ministries under Government of India for organising programmes/events befitting the occasion. The National Foundation for Communal Harmony (HFCH), an autonomous organisation with Ministry of Home Affairs also organises Communal Harmony Campaign during the week.

This occasion provides us an opportunity to reaffirm our age old traditions and faith in the values of tolerance, co-existence and brotherhood in a multi-cultural and multi-religious society. The observation of the “Quami Ekta Week” will also help to highlight the inherent strength and resilience of our nation to withstand actual, and potential threats to the eclectic and secular fabric of our country, and nurture a spirit of communal harmony in its widest sense.

Source : Press Information Bureau

Promotions earned or upgradations granted in the existing Group 'D' scale under ACP scheme 1999 should be ignored for Group 'D Cadre.

Copy of Ministry of Personnel and Training Memo No N0.3503413/2008-Estt(D) dated 16.11.2009

Subject : MODIFIED ASSURED CAREER PROGRESSION SCHEME (MACPS) FOR THE CENTRAL GOVERNMENT CIVILIAN EMPLOYEES - CLARIFICATIONS REGARDING.

Reference is invited to the Department of Personnel and Training (D0PT)'s Office Memorandum of even number dated the lgth May, 2009 regarding the Modified Assured Career Progression Scheme (MACPS). Consequent upon the implementation of Sixth Pay Commissions recommendations, the four pre-revised Group 'D' pay scales viz., Rs.2550- 3200, Rs.2610-3540, Rs.2610-4000 and Rs.2650-4000 have been upgraded and replaced by the revised pay structure of grade pay of Rs.1800 in the pay band PB-1. As per the recommendations of Sixth CPC, Government.sewants in these four pre-revised Group 'D' scales have been granted the Group 'C' revised pay structure of grade pay of Rs.1800 in the pay band PB-1. It has been decided on the analogy of point-5 of Annexure-l of MACPS dated 19.05.2009 that promotions earned or upgradations granted under ACP Scheme of August,-1999 in the past to the four pay scales mentioned above, which now carry the grade pay of Rs.18001- shall be ignored for the purpose of MACPS. However, promotions/financial upgradations earned by existing Group 'D' employees to grade pay of Rs.1900 (pre-revised scale of Rs.3050- 75-3590-80-4590) shall be counted for the purpose of MACPS.

cLICK here to view the OM dated 16.11.2009

OFFICIALS WHO RETIRED DURING THE PERIOD FROM 1.1.2006 TO 31.8.2008 ARE ALSO ELIGIBLE TO ENCASHMENT OF HALF PAY LEAVE

Ministry of Personnel and Training Memo No N0.14028/3/2008-Estt.(L) dated 16.11.2009

Subject:-Recommendations of the Sixth Central Pay Commission relating to encashment of leave in respect of Central Government employees.

The uudersigned is directed to refer to this Department's O.M. of even number dated 25th September, 2008 on the subiect mentioned above according to which encashment of leave in respect & central Government employees will be considered both for earned leave and half pay leave subject to overall limit of 300 days and in respect of encashment of half pay leave, no reduction shall be made on account of pension and pension equivalent of other retirement benefits. In case of shortfall in earned leave, no commutation of half pay leave is permissible. The order was made effective from the lSt September, 2008. The matter was reconsidered in this Department in consultation with the Department of Expenditure (Implementation Cell) and it has been decided to modify the date of effect of this Department's 0.M of even number dated 25th September, 2008 to "O1.01.2006 instead of 01.09.2008 subject to the following conditions:-

(i) The benefit will be admissible in respect of past cases on receipt of applications to that effect from the pensioners concerned by the Administrative Ministry concerned.
(ii) In respect of retirees who have already received encashment of earned leave of maximum limit of 300 days together with encashment of HPL standing at their credit on the date of retirement, such cases need not be reopened. However, such cases in which there was a shortfall in reaching the maximum limit of 300 days can be reopened.
(iii) Calculation of cash equivalent in respect of HPL at credit shall be made mutatis mutandis in the manner given in this Department's O.M. of even number dated 25.09.2008.

2. In respect of persons serving in the Indian Audit & Accounts Departments, these O.M. issues with the concurrence of the Comptroller and Auditor General of India.

The postmaster with a healing touch

MADHAVPUR (Howrah): His life revolves around two M's mail and medicine. On one side of the village post office is his chamber' where he treats' patients, and the on other side of the dingy premises, he is seen busy sorting mail and receiving the villagers' small savings deposits.

Welcome to Madhavpur, barely 15 km from Uluberia, where 52-year-old Parbati Kumar Charui, the postmaster of this Howrah village for 23 years, doubles up as the lone doctor'. Even a wooden partition has been placed in the post office to demarcate the chamber. The lone physician' even makes time from his busy schedule to visit more serious patients at their homes if he gets a call.

Charui pursues his official profession and his passion for treating' the ailing with equal ease during his 12-hour working day, shuttling as he does between either partition at different times of the day. Beginning his day at 9 am, Charui opens the post office to sort mail that he hands over to his lone postman for delivery. He also attends to clients who have small savings.

At noon, Charui takes a break from what remains of the post office work and shifts across the partition to don the robes of a doctor'. For the next two hours, till 2 pm, he attends to a queue of patients. Then, he is back as postmaster for another three hours, till 5 pm and then, shuttles back to his chamber' where he treats' patients till 9 pm.

Charui has no qualms about his unusual dual role or about using half the post office premises as the chamber'. "Am I at fault?" he asks. "I try to be honest and justify both my postmaster's salary and the paltry fees I accept from my patients. I serve both the ailing and users of the postal system," he argues. In fact, he does not even charge those who are too poor to pay the Rs 10 he accepts as fees' from his patients.

The story of the postmaster-turned- doctor' dates back to 1986. "I had just joined as the postmaster of Madhavpur when a young woman died of abdominal pain before anybody could diagnose her ailment. The very next year, I got an opportunity to get myself trained at a medical camp at Uluberia organised by the Red Cross. Thus began a new chapter in my life," Charui said.

After a year's course in alternative medicine, Charui took practical lessons from renowned doctors working at Uluberia hospitals for two years. Then, he decided to split the post office with a partition and started practising'.

Charui treats patients with cough and cold, fever, anaemia and diarrhoea, among other diseases. He even stores medicines for some common ailments. "I have never failed to attend to patients for a single day till date," he says proudly.

Asserting that he doesn't neglect his postmaster's job, Charui loves speaking about his role as a doctor'. "I keep updating myself every day on the medical science. I have bought a digital instrument to measure blood pressure because that is more accurate," he says.

Needless to say, villagers have no problem with Charui using half the post office for his practise'. "He is the only doctor' in a 10-km radius. If he can take time out of his schedule as a postmaster and treat patients, why should we bother? He even visits patients at their homes whenever he gets a call," says Aroop Mondal, one of the many patients waiting outside Charui's chamber' for his healing touch.

Courtesy : Times of India Kolkatta (15:11.2009)

Government employees should be polite with the Public : High Court

Madurai, Nov 14 (PTI) Observing that government employees are expected to be polite in their interaction with public visiting their offices, the Madras High Court bench here today directed police to investigate a complaint accusing a staff of passport office here of rude behaviour with two applicants.

Justice Raja Elango, disposing of a petition by one of the passport applicants, directed police to verify the complaint and register a First Information Report if any cognisable offence was made out.

The petitioner Imam Hussain, a lawyer, said he had gone to Madurai Passport Office along with his wife on Sept 15 when one of the officials refused to accept bank passbook as a residential proof. Then he took up the matter with the Passport Officer

Source : PTI

CHILEREN EDUCATION ALLOWANCE/HOSEL SUBSIDE - CLARIFICATION

Department of Personnel and Training Memo No 12011/16/2009-(Allowance) dated 13.11.2009

Subject:Children Education Allowance1 Hostel Subsidy - Clarification.

The undersigned is directed to refer to DOP&T OM No.120111312008-Estt. (Allowance) dated 2" September, 2008 on the above subject and to say that this Department has been receiving various references from Government servants, Ministries1 Departments seeking clarification whether Vidyalaya Vikas Nidhi (VVN) charged by Kendirya Vidyalayas is reimbursable as per items detailed in para l(e) of the above mentioned OM. The matter has been considered in consultation with Ministry of Finance. It is clarified that Vidyalaya Vikas Nidhi charged by Kendriya Vidyalayas will also form part of para l(e) of the said OM and can be claimed for reimbursement under the scheme of Children Education Allowance subject to the annual ceiling of Rs. 12000 per child. Where Vidyala Vikas Nidhi has not been admitted for reimbursement in past cases, the same may now be considered for reimbursement, subject to the other conditions.

This Department has also been receiving references seeking clarification whether Children Education Allowance can be claimed in respect of any two children by Government Servants who have more than two children. It is clarified that Children Education Allowance is admissible for the two eldest surviving children only, except when the number of children exceeds two due to second child birth resulting in multiple births. 2. Hindi version will follow.

Click here to see the OM dated 13.11.2009

PRE-REVISED PAY SCALE OF RS 6500-10500 MERGED WITH THE SCALE OF RS 7450-11500

Ministry of Finance OM No 1/1/2008-IC dated 13.11.2009

As per the OM cited above, the pre-revised scale of Rs 6500-10500 as on 1.1.1006 which were granted the normal replacement pay structure of GP of Rs 4200 has now been granted with GP of Rs 4600/- Hence, the pay will be fixed again and the benefits will be given from 1.1.2006. In our Department Personal secretaries who were in receipt of GP of Rs 4200/- will be benefited.

Click here to see the OM dated 13.11.2009

Thiru. A. Raja launched National Micro Insurance Drive for Rural PLI in Tamil Nadu

The Union Minister of Communications & I.T. Thiru. A. Raja launched the National Micro Insurance Drive for Rural Postal Life Insurance (PLI) at Sholur Mattam, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu today.

The Minister informed in his speech that Postal Life Insurance is being provided by the Department of Posts since as far back as 1884. Started as a Welfare Scheme for Postal employees alone, Postal Life Insurance has been extended to cover Central and State Government Employees, personnel of Defence forces and Paramilitary and Employees of Public Sector Undertakings and Banks. Rural PLI was introduced by Department of Posts in 1995 with a specific mandate to cover people living in rural areas with emphasis on weaker section in general and women in particular. Till March, 2009, there were around 4 million PLI policies and around 7.8 million Rural PLI policies.

In keeping with its mandate to cover weaker sections of the society in rural areas with special focus on women, the Department of Posts launched the Proof of Concept for Micro Insurance Drive focussing on providing insurance cover to the weaker sections in rural areas. The existing policies of Rural Postal Life Insurance with a Sum Assured of Rs.10,000/- to Rs.25,000/- were propagated in this scheme. In a short span of about a month, more than 1.3 million rural lives have been covered under this scheme.

The Minister informed that the Rural Postal Life Insurance policies are being marketed now not only by the Postal staff and Gramin Dak Sewaks but by also engaging Direct Agents, Aanganwadi workers, Self Help Groups and Co-operatives to facilitate people to get themselves covered under Rural Postal Life Insurance. He also distributed policy documents to Insurants and Licences to Direct Agents on this occasion.

The Minister lauded the Department of Posts with special mention of Postal Circles of Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh for their commendable performance in the Proof of Concept for Micro Insurance and hoped that more and more people living in rural areas would be able to get the benefit of insurance cover under this scheme.

The function started with a welcome address by Thiru. S.K. Sinha, Chief General Manager, Postal Life Insurance. Thiru Uday Balakrishnan, Member, Postal Life Insurance delivered the Key Note address. In his address, he outlined the plans of the Department for expansion of Postal and Rural Postal Life Insurance aimed at providing insurance cover to about 100 million people by 2010. He also informed about the steps being taken by way of Technology upgradation for speedy issue of documents and settlement of claims.

Meant to be an awareness drive for Rural Micro Insurance, the function was well attended by target audience comprising among others, large number of Aanganwadi workers and rural farmers. Thiru K. Ramachandran, Minister for Khadi, Government of Tamil Nadu, Thiru A. Soundarapandiyan, MLA, Coonor, Smt. S. Gomathi, District Panchayat Chairman & District Planning Chairman, Thiru K.M. Raju, Chairman, Kothagiri Panchayat Union, Thiru S.T. Thamizharasan, President, Denad Panchayat were also present on this occasion.

SANCHAY POST WILL CONTINUE....?

Times of India Bangalore dated 6.11.2009

BANGALORE: IT city is stepping on the gas — it is now at the heart of India’s post-office revolution. Software product ‘Sanchay Post’, designed by engineers of Bangalore-based Datanet Systems, is transforming the gargantuan Indian postal system into a more secure and tech-savvy savings hub, as good as any modern bank, making life easier for thousands of families who swear by postal savings.

Software Sanchay Post is doing what customers have sought for long — computerized post offices. By March 2010, 16,000 post offices across the country will offer computerized postal services that are highly secure, transparent and quick. The services will be available at main post offices in the first phase.

G H Visveswara, CEO of Datanet Systems, said: “India Post has computerized 9,500 post offices so far. The plan is to computerize 6,000 more this year. By March 2010, with 16,000 computerized post offices, the post office will be India’s largest computerized banking system. We are happy Sanchay Post is at the middle of this postal transformation, and more so because it is helping the common man who reposes faith in the post office.”

WHEN DID IT START?

The postal department started its computerization plans around 1998-99, and Datanet Systems was selected through a tender. Around 2000, when the first version of the software was released, 184 post offices had been computerized. Between 2000 and 2007, only 480 post offices had been computerized as the postal department “was going slow”.

An unprecedented change, however, took place after March 2007 “owing to persuasion by CAG that all operations be computerized”. Between March 2007 and October 2009, computerized branches increased from 480 to a whopping 10,000. With 6,000 more planned by March 2010, the Indian postal department is now doing what no limited banking institution in the country has ever done: computerizing 16,000 branches in three years flat, from March 2007 to 2010.

Feedback from post offices to the new software and computerization has been positive. “India Post’s plan to computerize 6,000 branches more with the software is testimony that it has been working well for them. If it was not, such a major decision on such a large scale would not be taken place,” Visveswara said

Shortage of staff affects the customer.

News item published in the Times of India - Ludhiana dated 2.11.2009

LUDHIANA: While Project Arrow was launched with customers’ convenience in mind, it now seems postal department’s efforts have not borne results as people visiting head post office at Bharat Nagar chowk are in a fix as to which counter to visit for getting their work done.
Project Arrow was launched in May 2008 to revitalize the postal department and reposition its brand as one that cares for its customers. Sources said 50 post offices in the first phase, 450 in the second and 4,500 in the third phase were scheduled to come under the umbrella of Project Arrow. Post offices have already assumed a new look with a new logo of India Post and homogeneous architecture of white buildings with red lines under the Arrow project.
On condition of anonymity, a staff member of the department said the main problem is non-availability of the enquiry counter at the postal department as people from all walks of life come to the post office. The elderly are often at a loss to make out as to which counter to visit, resulting in inconvenience for customers and employees. He added that customers are often confused about the counter to be visited for speed post, which results in delay.
For customers’ ease, the department has already installed display boards mentioning the time-frame for completing different kinds of work, but time taken to locate the enquiry counter delays things.
There is not even a single counter where a person could get information about where to get his or work done, said Harpinder Kaur, a city resident. She added that for the educated, things are comparatively easier. For the elderly, however, the going tends to get tough, which is the reason she always accompanies her grandfather to the post office and they have never observed any work being completed within the time-frame notified on the display board.
Talking to TOI, Bant Ram Multani, senior post master, said he agreed customers were facing inconvenience, which was due to staff shortage. He added that the department had already invited applications and recruitment was on for the department to deploy someone to guide customers

Restriction on pay plus Deputation (Duty) Allowance- regarding.

Copy of Department of Personnel and Training Memo No No. 2/22/2008-Estt. (Pay II) dated 3.11.2009

The undersigned is directed to say that consequent upon acceptance of the recommendations of Sixth Central Pay Commission, the deputation (duty) allowance shall be restricted as under:
"Basic pay, from time to time, plus Deputation (Duty) Allowance should not exceed the maximum of the pay band PB-4 (Rs. 67000) plus the grade pay of the post held on deputation subject to the grade pay not exceeding Rs. 10,000. The term 'basic pay' in the revised pay structure means pay drawn in the prescribed pay band plus the applicable grade pay but does not Include any other type of pay like special pay, etc."
2. These orders shall take effect from 1" September, 2008.
3. Insofar as application of these orders to the officers of the Indian Audit and Accounts Department is concerned, these orders issue in consultation with the Comptroller and Auditor General of lndia.

Department of Personnel and Training OM dated 3.11.2009

Post office employee robbed inside the office

News article in Times of India - Bangalore

Bangalore - 29.10.2009

An intruder, in the guise of posting a letter, threw chilly powder on the face of a post office employee and robbed her of Rs 39,220.

The incident took place on Tuesday afternoon at Chamarajpet post office. At 12.15 pm, Shashikala, who sits in stamps counter noticed that a person has been in the post office for over 30 minutes. When asked, the person said he was waiting for a friend to send a registered post.

Ten minutes later, the power went off in the post office. The person headed straight to Shashikala, threw chilly powder on her face, took the money on the table through the transaction window and ran away.

Though other employees gave him a chase, the intruder managed to escape in one of the narrow lanes.

USE OF OWN CAR/HIRED TAXI ON LTC JOURNEY ON ACCOUNT OF PHYSICAL HANDICAP

Department of Personnel and Training Memo No F. No 31011/3/2009-Estt.(A) dated 28.10.2009

The undersigned is directed to refer to this Department's O.M. No. 3101114/2008- Estt.(A) dated 23.9.2008 in which it was stipulated that LTC facility shall be admissible only in respect of journeys performed in vehicles operated by the Government or any corporation in the public sector run by the Central or State Government or a local body.

2. Instances have come to notice where Government servants on account of physical handicap/disability of self or dependant family members are unable to perform the LTC journey by the authorized modes of transport and are compelled to undertake the journey by own car or private taxi. Representations are being received to allow reimbursement in such cases. Matter has been examined in consultation wid). the Ministry of Finance, Department of Expenditure and it has been decided in relaxation of LTC Rules to authorize the Head of Department to allow use of own/hired taxi for LTC journey on account of disability of the Government servant or dependent family member after obtaining following papers/conditions to avoid misuse of such relaxation:-

(i) Medical Certificate from competent authority.
(ii) Undertaking from Government servant that journey in authorized mode IS not feasible and he actually travelled by own car/hired taxi.
(iii) such claim should not be more than journey performed by the entitled class by rail/air by the shortest route.

Click here to see the Memo dated 28.10.2009

PROCESSING OF APAR (Annual Performance Appraisal Report) is going to be computerised.

Government has issued orders to disclose the confidential reports to the officials and now renamed it as Annual Performance Appraisal Report (APAR)and the official has to keep the copies for future reference. Chances have also been given to make appeal if any adverse remarks are communicated. Now the Department of Personnel and Training has issued orders about the proposal of computerise the process of keeping the APARs. The order is reproduced below for information:-

Extract of the Memo

The undersigned is directed to say that this Department is in the process of computerisation of the work relating to maintenance of APARs and subsequently develop an online system for submission and monitoring of APARs. NIC has been requested to develop a common software for all Ministries/cadre units, which shall be made available in due course of time.

As soon as the relevant software is made available, CS Division will move ahead for computerisation, so that in future, data on APARs of CSS Officers shall be made available with a click of a button to the authorised users. In order to speed up such a process all cadre units may furnish to CS Division the details of nodal officers in their respective Ministries/Departments alongwith their address, phone numbers, e-mail IDs etc. who are currently responsible for keeping a watch on the progress of the completion of ACRs/APARs. The officers so identified (not below the rank of Under Secretary) shall be provided with usernames and passwords to enable them to operate the APARs software of DO P&T.

Click here to see the memo