Launch of India Post Gold Coin for sale through Post Offices

SATYENDRA PRAKASH
Director (M&C)
(M/o Communications, IT & Shipping)
Room No. 113
23382145 9868136618 DATED: APRIL 29, 2010

INVITATION

Dear Sir/Madam,
You are cordially invited to attend and cover Press Conference By Chief Post Master General Delhi Circle on the launch of India Post Gold Coin for sale through Post Offices tomorrow as per the following programme:
DATE : April 30, 2010 (Friday)
TIME : 3.00 pm
VENUE : PIB Conference Hall, Shastri Bhavan,
New Delhi

Yours sincerely,

(Satyendra Prakash)

Director (M&C) (Comm.&IT)

To All Accredited Correspondents All Accredited Cameramen (Still/Movie cameramen) All TV Channels DD News/AIR Photo Division Photo Unit, PIB – Kindly release the photo and provide 2 copies.

Source : Source : PIB

Project Arrow

Project Arrow has been launched with objective of modernizing the post offices and make visible, tangible and noteworthy differences in the post offices operations that matter to “Aam Aadmi”. It was launched initially on proof of concept basis in 50 post offices in Phase I. After the successful completion of the Phase I it was implemented in 450 post office in Phase II and in 500 post offices in Phase III across the country including the rural areas. Project Arrow aims at comprehensive improvement of the core operations of the post office as well as the ambience in which postal transactions are undertaken.

The response of the general public and the staff of the Department to the initiative has been overwhelmingly positive and Project Arrow offices have shown significant increase in revenue earnings. The initiative Project Arrow – Transforming India Post has also won the Prime Minister’s award for Excellence in Public Administration for the year 2008-09.

Due to budgetary constraints, only 500 Post Offices across the country are being modernized and upgraded in every financial year. In view of this, it is not possible to say by when all the Post Offices in Himachal Pradesh would be covered under this Project.

This information was given by Minister of State for Communications & Information Technology, Shri Gurudas Kamat in written reply to a question in Rajya Sabha today.

PIB Release dated 29.4.2010

Disclosure of third party information under the RTI Act, 2005.

Copy of Department of Personnel and Training Memo No NO. 8/2/2010-lR dated 27.4.2010

Subject: Disclosure of third party information under the RTI Act, 2005.

The undersigned is directed to say that the Government,'in a number of cases makes inter departmental consultations. In the process, a public authority may send some confidential papers to another public authority. A question has arisen whether the recipient public authority can disclose such confidential papers under the RTI Act, 2005. If yes, what procedure is required to be followed for doing so.

2. Section 11 of the Act provides the procedure of disclosure of 'third party' information. According to it, if a Public Information Officer (PIO) intends to disclose an information supplied by a third party which the third party has treated as confidential, the PIO, before taking a decision to disclose the information shall invite the third party to make submission in the matter. The third party has a right to make an appeal to the Departmental Appellate Authority against the decision of the PI0 and if not satisfied with the decision of the Departmental Appellate Authority, a second appeal to the concerned Information Commission. The PI0 cannot disclose such information unless the procedure prescribed in section 11 is completed.

3. As defined in clause (n) of Section 2 of the Act, 'third party' includes a public authority. Reading of the definition of the terin, 'third party' and Section I 1 together makes it clear that if a public authority 'X' receives some information from another public authority 'Y' which that public authority has treated as confidential, then 'X' cannot disclose the infonnation without consulting 'Y', the third party in respect of the information and without following the procedure prescribed in Section 11 of the Act. It is a statutory requirement, non-compliance of which may make the PI0 liable to action.

4. The Public Information Officers and the First Appellate Authorities should keep these provisions of the Act in view while taking decision, about disclosure of third party information in general and disclosure of the third party information, when third party is a public authority, in particular.

Department of Personnel and Training Memo dated 27.4.2010

Clarification for the memo dated 13.4.2010 of the DOPT on treating ACRs with below benchmark grading - DOPT Memo dated 27.4.2010

Copy of Department of Personnel and Training No No. 2101111/2010-Estt.A dated 27.4.2010

Sub : ACRs with below benchmark grading considered in past DPCs-reg.

The undersigned is directed to state that this Department has issued O.M. of even number dated 13.04.2010 that if an employee is to be considered for promotion in a future DPC and his ACRs prior to the period 2008-09 which would be reckonable for assessment of his fitness in such future DPC contain final grading which are below the benchmark for his next promotion, before such ACRs are placed before the DPC, the concerned employee will be given a copy of the relevant ACR for his representation, if any, within 15 days of such communication. The representation is to be decided by the competent authority as per provisions in para 2 of aforesaid O.M.

2. The Hon'ble Supreme Court in their judgement dated 12.05.2008 in Civil Appeal No. 763 lof 2002 (Dev Dutt vs Union of India) had held that the 'good' entry in the ACR of the appellant which had not been communicated to him and considered in a past DPC which found him unfit for promotion, should be communicated for representation and if upgradation is allowed by the competent authority, he should be considered for promotion retrospectively by the DPC. When the petitions in SLP (Civil) No. 5770/2009, now converted to Appeal Civil No. 2872 of 2010 (Union of India vs. A.K. Goel & Ors.) were called for hearing, the Supreme Court has taken note of the apparent conflict between the decisions of the Hon'ble Court in Dev Dutt case on one hand and the judgemetns of Supreme Court in Satya Narain Shukla Vs UOI 2006 (9) SCC 69 and K.M. Mishra vs. Central Bank of India & Ors. 2008 (9) SCC 120 on the other hand and by their Order dated 29.03.2010, the Hon'ble Court has referred these appeals to a Larger Bench (copy attached).

3. In the light of the Orders issued by Hon'ble Supreme Court in the aforesaid SLP (Civil) No. 1577012009, Union of India Vs. A.K. Goel & Ors.,all MinistrieslDepartrnents are advised that wherever petitions have been filed in the Courts to grant relief on the basis of the aforesaid decision of the Supreme Court in Dev Dutt case, the latest Orders of the Supreme Court in A.K. Goel case may be brought to the notice of the Court.

Department of Personnel and Training Memo dated 27.4.2010

Read the comments of AEPEU-P3 on this Memorandum

Below benchmark gradings in ACRs prior to 2008-09 and consideration of representation by the Competent authority - DOPT Memo dated 13.4.2010

Copy of Dept of Personnel and Trainig Memo No 21011/1/2010-Estt.A dated 13.4.2010 is reproduced below. As per this OM, the below benchmark gradings for the period prior to 2008-09 should be communicated to the official concerned for representation If any within 15 days of such communication. The representation should be considered by the competent authority, and the competent authority should get the report of reporting/reviewing authorities also before upgradation such ACR.

Sub : Below Benchmark gradings in ACRs prior to the reporting period 200849 and objective consideration of representation by the competent authority against remarks in the APAR or for upgradatin of the final grading.

The undersigned is directed to say that prior to the reporting period 2008-09, only the adverse remarks in the ACRs had to be communicated to the concerned officer for representation, if any to be considered by the competent authority. The question of treating the grading in the ACR which is below the benchmark for next Dromotion has been considered in this De~arbnenat nd it has been decided that if an employee is to be considered for promotion in a future DPC and his ACRs prior to the period 2008 09 which would be reckonable for assessment of his fitness in such future DEcSont ain final grading which are below the benchmark for his next promotion, before such ACRs are placed before the DPC, the concemed employee will be given a copy of the relevant ACR for his representation, if any, within 15 days of such communication. It may be noted that only below benchmark ACR for the period relevant to promotion need be sent. There is no need to send below benchmark ACRs of other years.

2. As per existing instructions, representations against the remarks or for upgradation of !he final grading given in the APAR (previously known as ACR) should be examined by the competent authority in consultation, if necessary, with the Reporting and the Reviewing Officer, if any. While considering the representation, the competent authority decides the matter objectively in a quasi-judicial manner on the basis of material placed before it. This would imply that the competent authority shall take into account the contentions of the officer who has represented against the particular remarkslgrading in the APAR and the views of the Reporting and Reviewing officer if they are still in service on the points raised in the remesentation vis-a-vis the remarkstaradinas given bv them in the APAR. The UPSC has informed this ~epartrnentth at the Commission hasobsebei that while deciding such representations,t he competent authorities sometimes do not take into account the views of RewrtinaIReviewina Officers if thev are still in service. The Commission has further observed that in a'majGty of succ cases, the competent authority does not give specific reasons for upgrading the below benchmark ACRlAPAR gradings at par with the benchmark for next promotion.

3. All MinistrieslDepartments are therefore requested to inform the competent authorities while forwarding such cases to them to decide on the representations against the remarks or for upgradation of the grading in the APAR that the decision on the representation may be taken objectively after taking into account the views of the concerned ReportinqlReviewing Officers if they are still in se~ice'and in case of upgradation of the final grading given in the APAR, specific reasons therefor may also be given in the order of the competent authority.

Dept of Personnel and Training Memo dated 13.4.2010

Photographs of Prime Minister distributing Award for Excellence in Public Administration to Our Secretary

Relaxation for travel by air to visit North Eastern Region under LTC is extended for further years from 1.5.2010

Department of Personnel and Training vide Memo No F.No. 3 101 11412007-Estt.(A)dated 20.4.2010 has extended the facility of travel by Air to visit North Eastern Region under CCS (LTC) Rules, 1988 fur further two years beyond 1.5.2010.

Source : Department of Personnel and Training memo dated 20.4.2010

Project Arrow – Transforming India Post, Government of India bags the PM Award for Excellence in Public Administration’ for the year 2008-09.

Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh will inaugurate the fifth Civil Service Day today. He will also give away the 'PM Award for Excellence in Public Administration’ for the year 2008-09. Nine outstanding initiatives in three categories – individual, group and organization – have been selected for the award. Of these the ones in the individual category are: (i) Removal of Encroachments of Structures of Different Religions – Maintaining of Communal Harmony (Madhya Pradesh) (ii) Involvement of Community under National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme in Naxalite Affected Areas (Madhya Pradesh) (iii) Making medicines affordable(Rajasthan) (iv) River Linking Project at Jalgaon (Maharashtra) and (v) Cervical Cancer Screening Evolving a new methodology – A life saving initiative of Chennai Corporation, Chennai (Tamil Nadu).

In the group category the award will be given to (i) Implementation of the ST and other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006 (Madhya Pradesh), (ii) Computerization of Paddy Procurement and Public Distribution System (Chattisgarh) and (iii) Integrated Tax Payer Data Management System – A Data Mining Tool, CBDT, Government of India. Project Arrow – Transforming India Post, Government of India bags the award in the organization category.

Under this scheme of awards instituted in 2006, all officers of Central and State Governments individually or as group or as organization are eligible. The award includes a medal, scroll and a cash amount of Rs. 1 lakh. In case of a group, the total award money is Rs. 5 lakh subject to a maximum of Rs. 1 lakh per person. For an organization this is limited to Rs. 5 lakh.

An exhibition showcasing the various award winning initiatives will be put up. Books written by the Civil Servants during the last five years will also be displayed.

This Day is observed by all Civil Services to rededicate and recommit themselves to the cause of the people. It provides a unique opportunity for introspection as also chalking out future strategies to deal with the challenges being posed by the changing times.

Details of the award winners are as under:

Sl No	Category	Name of the Project	Details of nominees
1.	Individual	Removal of Encroachments of Structures of Different Religions-Maintaining Communal Harmony, Madhya Pradesh	Shri Sanjay Dubey,IAS Chief Executive Officer, Ex-officio Secretary(P&RD), Madhya Pradesh Rural Road Development Authority,Bhopal
2.	Individual	Involvement of Community Under National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme in Naxalite Affected Areas, MP	Gulshan Bamra,IAS Collector & District Magistrate, Jabalpur ( M.P)
3.	Individual	Making Medicines Affordable, Rajasthan	Dr. Samit Sharma, IAS, Collector & District Magistrate, Nagore.
4.	Individual	River Linking Project at Jalgaon’, Maharashtra	Sh. Vijay Singhal, IAS, Municipal Commissioner, Kolhapur (Maharashtra), KMC, Bhausinghji Road, Shivaji Chowk, Kolhapur.
5.	Individual	Cervical Cancer Screening Evolving A New Methodology-A Life Saving Initiatives of Chennai Corporation’, Tamil Nadu	Sh. Rajesh Lakhani, IAS, Commissioner, Chennai Corporation, Chennai.
6.	Group (3 Members)	“Computerisation of decentralized paddy procurement and public distribution system in Chhattisgarh.	Dr. Alok Shukla, IAS  JS, Election Commission, Delhi and Gaurav Dwivedi, IAS, Office of the Chief Electoral Officer, Raipur.
7.	Group (5 Members)	Implementation of “The Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006” in MP	Shri O.P. Rawat,  Vice Chairman, Navdha Ghati Vikas Pradhikaran and Ex-officio Addl. Chief Secretary, Navdha Valley Development Department,
8.	Group (3 Members)	Integrated Tax Payer Data Management System (ITDMS) – A Data Mining Tool, Government of India	Sh. S.S. Khan, Member(IT), CBDT, North Block New Delhi
9.	Organization	Project Arrow-Transforming India Post, Government of India	D/o Posts, M/o Communications & IT,

Source : Press Information Bureau

Postal department to launch pre-paid cards for shopping

NEW DELHI: The postal department will introduce pre-paid cards that will enable cashless transactions at retail outlets across the country, as it looks to leverage the cash-handling expertise of its 1.5 lakh post offices to generate revenues.

The magnetic strip-based cards could be used at merchant establishments and automated teller machines (ATMs) where cards from VISA, Mastercard and American Express are accepted, said a communications and information technology ministry official.

Bankers said this would help the government implement its inclusive growth strategy. “It is an excellent platform for reaching out to communities where financial services are difficult to tender,” said Rana Kapoor, managing director and chief executive of private sector lender Yes Bank. The department of posts is one of the most inclusive distribution networks in the country and it understands financial transactions well, he said.

The department proposes to allow top-ups in the multiples of Rs 1,000 up to Rs 50,000 and aims to complete project formalities such as procurement and training by the first quarter of fiscal 2010.

These cards, which will allow people across the country to make cashless transactions, could boost retail spending by rural households . “The cards could be used for various purposes such as at point of sale, at ATMs, on the Internet, for mobile commerce and for facilitating electronic money transfer,” the government official quoted earlier said, requesting anonymity.

The department has begun identifying a banking solutions partner. The banks will share a percentage of the revenue earned from pre-paid cards with the department, the official said. The banks will have the technology platform and disclose their technology compatibility and certifications with VISA, Mastercard and American Express.

According to the proposal, the department will provide the infrastructure and network to sell and distribute the cards while the bank will partner in operating the pre-paid cards through post offices.

The department is planning to computerise all its post offices in the next two years.

Source : Economic Times dated 29.3.2010