Wednesday, April 29, 2015
MASSIVE AND IMPRESSIVE RALLY AND PARLIAMENT MARCH OF CENTRAL GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES – 28.04.2015
NATIONAL JOINT COUNCIL OF ACTION DECLARES
NATIONWIDE INDEFINITE STRIKE FROM 23RD NOVEMBER 2015
PRESS STATEMENT
We
send herewith a copy of the resolution adopted by the massive rally of the
Central Government employees held today 28.4.2015 at Jantar Mantar. New Delhi
declaring that if no settlement is brought about on the ten points
charter of demands, the Central Government employees in all the De-departments
of the Government of India will go on indefinite strike action from 23.11.2015.
The rally was held under the chairmanship of Shri M. Raghavaiah, General
Secretary, National Federation of Indian Railwaymen. Shri Shiv Gopal
Mishra convenor of the NJCA conducted the proceedings. The
resolution was moved by Com. K.K.N. Kutty, President, Confederation of Central
Government employees and workers, New Delhi. Besides, the Chairman and
Convenor of the NJCA, the other who spoke at the rally include S/Shri Rakal
Dasgupta, President, All India Railwaymen Federation, Guman Singh and Bhatnagar
of the National Federation of Indian Railwaymen, Shri M. Krishnan, Secretary
General, Confederation of Central Government employees and workers, R.N.
Parashar, Secretary General, National Federation of Postal Employees, Shri D.
Theagarjan, Federation of National Postal organisations, Shri Sreekumar and
Pahak of All India Defence Employees Federation, Srinivasan of the Indian
National Defence Workers Federation, Harbhajan Singh Sidhu, General Secretary,
HMS and many others. It was decided that the Railway and Defence Federation
will take the strike ballot in the month of October, 2015. More than a
lakh of workers participated in the rally. The copies of the resolution
were handed over to the honourable Speaker, Lok Sabha and the Honourable Prime
Minister by a delegation of the National Joint Council of Action
We shall be grateful for favour of coverage of the decision in your esteemed
daily/Newspaper /weekly.
Thanking you,
Yours faithfully,
Shiv Gopal Mishra
Convenor
NATIONAL JOINT COUNCIL OF ACTION OF CENTRAL
GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES
4, STATE ENTRY ROAD,
NEW DELHI
RESOLUTION ADOPTED AT THE MASSIVE RALLY AT JANTAR
MANTAR (PARLIAMENT STREET) ON 28 APRIL 2015
The massive congregation of the
representatives of Central Govt Employees who have come from various parts of
the country held at Jantar Mantar before the Indian Parliament on 28-04-2015
decided to commence the indefinite strike action from 23rd November
2015 from 6 AM having failed to elicit any positive response from the
Government in settlement of the 10 point Charter of Demands submitted months
back. It was also decided that the Railways and Defence organizations will
conduct the strike Ballot as per the provision of the Industrial Disputes Act
and Recognition Rules before commencing the strike from 23-11-2015.
The massive gathering adopted the resolution
unanimously exhorting the central Govt. Employees to prepare for the eventual
strike action in all earnestness and make it a historic one.
The meeting congratulates the employees for
forging exemplary unity and carrying out various programmes chalked out by the
National Joint Council of Action (NJCA) after the national convention on 11th December
2014. Even though the Govt. was compelled to set up the 7th CPC
on account of the sanctions generated through the action programmes, Govt. has
refused to grant Interim Relief and merger of DA and excluded the Gramin Dak
Sewaks of the Postal Department from the ambit of the 7th CPC.
It is a matter of regret that in spite of
public admission of non-privatisation of Indian Railways by Prime Minister of
India and assurance of Minister of Railways on various occasions, including
Parliament, Dr. Deb Roy Committee had submitted a report which is a clear
roadmap for privatisation of IR.
The meeting noted that the Government has
purposely ensured the closure of Joint Consultative
Machinery, the negotiating forum set up in
1966 for Central Government Employees to discuss and bring about settlement of
their demands.
The meeting chaired by Secretary (Personnel)
on 25th February 2015 did not bring about settlement on
any single issue of the Charter of Demands.
The meeting unanimously decided to demand
before the Government to convene the meeting of National Council, JCM
immediately and settle the following charter of demands, if at all it wants to
avoid confrontation with its own employees.
CHARTER OF DEMANDS:
1. Effect wage revision of the Central Government
Employees from 01.01.2014, accepting the memorandum of the Staff Side JCM;
ensure 5-year wage revision in future; grant Interim Relief and Merger of 100%
of DA. Ensure submission of the 7th CPC report within the
stipulated time frame of 18 months; include the Grameen Dak Sewaks within the
ambit of the 7th CPC. Settle all anomalies of the 6th CPC.
2. No privatisation, PPP or FDI in Railways and
Defence Establishments and no corporatisation of postal services.
3. No Ban on recruitment/creation of post.
4. Scrap PFRDA Act and re-introduce the defined
benefit statutory pension scheme.
5. No outsourcing; contractorisation,
privatisation of governmental functions; withdraw the proposed move to
close down the Printing Presses; the publication, form store and stationery
departments and Medical Stores Depots; regularise the existing daily rated/casual
and contract workers and absorption of trained apprentices.
6. Revive the JCM functioning at all levels as an
effective negotiating forum for settlement of the demands of the CGEs.
7. Remove the arbitrary ceiling on compassionate
appointments.
8. No labour reforms which are inimical to the
interest of the workers.
9. Remove the ceiling on payment of Bonus.
10. Ensure five promotions in the service career.
The meeting authorized the National JCA to
take appropriate and necessary steps needed to make the indefinite strike
beginning from 23rd November 2015 an unprecedented and grand
success.
(Shiva Gopal Mishra)
Convener
28.04.2015
National Joint Council
of Action
RAJYA SABHA Q&A regarding Post Bank of India & Task force Recommendations on PBI
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
DEPARTMENT OF POSTS
RAJYA SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.163
TO BE ANSWERED ON 24TH APRIL, 2015
POSTAL BANKS
163. DR. PRADEEP KUMAR BALMUCHU:
Will the Minister of COMMUNICATIONS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY be pleased to state:
(a) whether it is a fact that Government is urging the Department of Posts to come up with opening of Postal Banks in the country, if so, the details thereof;
(b) whether the Subramanian Committee, to which the matter had been referred, has submitted its report and has made recommendations in this regard; and
(c) if so, the details thereof?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF COMMUNICATIONS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
(SHRI RAVI SHANKAR PRASAD)
(a) Sir, the Department of Posts has submitted an application to Reserve Bank of India on 30.1.2015 seeking license for setting up Post Bank of India under the rubric of “Payments Bank”. The Government is committed to increasing access of the people to the formal financial system and in this context, Government proposes to utilize the vast Postal network with nearly 1, 54,000 points of presence spread across the villages of the country. The Government hopes that the Postal Department will make its proposed Payments Bank venture successful so that it contributes further to the Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana. The details of the proposed Post Bank would be finalized once the Reserve Bank of India takes a favourable decision on application submitted by Department of Posts. In the recent budget speech also the Finance Minister has appreciatingly talked about Post Bank.
(b) & (c ) The Task Force on Leveraging the Post Office Network under the Chairmanship of retired Cabinet Secretary Shri. T.S.R.Subramanian, has submitted its report during November-2014. The said task force has recommended for setting up Post Bank of India. The details of the recommendations are reproduced in the Annexure- ‘A’ enclosed herewith.
Annexure-A
Recommendations of Task Force on Leveraging Post Office Network with respect to Setting up of Post Bank of India:-
(i) The proposal is not to convert the PO Network into a Bank, but to set up a fully professional new Bank to further financial inclusion and meet the objectives of the Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojna, which specifically provides for the extension of credit to all Indians resident in every part of India, particularly in rural areas.
(ii) This opportunity for achieving universal financial inclusion via technology and the institutional reach of the PO Network must not be lost. There is admittedly a risk involved, as there is in any new venture into uncharted waters. The risk involved can and must be managed in the interests of the overall larger national objectives.
(iii) The PBI must be professionally managed and operated, with credit and other risks being handled by experienced experts hired from the market. In its own interest, its operations must be fully in line and compliant with RBI Guidelines.
(iv) A new institution, to be called the Post Bank of India or by some other suitable name, should be set up as a commercial bank offering the full spectrum of financial and banking services.
(v) As the owner of the proposed PBI, the Government of India may take decisions as appropriate on structural and organizational issues and other details, including the funding requirements.
(vi) The Task Force is of the view that the PBI should be set up under an Act of Parliament and that establishing the PBI as a statutory institution and a Government Bank would enhance its credibility, insulate it from local pulls and greatly facilitate its operations.
(vii) It is essential to structure the proposed PBI in such a manner as to pre-empt the possibility of outside interests influencing its day-to-day operations.
(viii) The Task Force also recommends that the PBI should initially be set up as a Public Sector Bank wholly owned by the Government of India.
(ix) The initial capital requirement, estimated at Rs. 500 crores as per RBI requirements would be fully funded by the Government.
(x) After the Bank establishes itself in 3 to 5 years, the Board of Directors could take a view on floating an IPO to raise fresh capital.
(xi) The PBI will focus on fulfilling the Government’s mandate of financial inclusion and on bringing the un-banked and under-banked segments of the population, particularly in rural, semi-rural and remote areas within the ambit of the formal monetized economy.
(xii) A view needs to be taken on how best to seamlessly integrate the earlier banking operations into the proposed new structure, The best and seamless method would be to fully absorb the POSB in the new proposed Bank (PBI).
(xiii) The PBI will offer services including credit, which are beyond the remit of the POSB.
(xiv) The PBI will develop financial products and services which are specially tailored to the needs of the rural and urban unbanked population, if necessary in collaboration with other banks.
(xv) The PBI will function as a commercially viable and self-sustaining entity without the need for continuing Government subsidies.
(xvi) After the Initial gestation period, it should generate its own resources and sustain itself in the competitive market environment.
(xvii) The PBI should price its services on a cost plus basis and revise these rates from time to time, so that its operations do not become a continuing and increasing burden on the Government exchequer.
(xviii) The PBI will start with a Head Office Main Branch and will thereafter expand its operations by opening Branch offices in the Metro towns and State capitals, to be manned by banking professionals.
(xix) The longer term objectives would be to establish a Branch Office of the PBI in each District Headquarter over a 3 to 5 year period, to be operated mostly by banking professionals.
(xx) The 150,000-plus Departmental and Branch POs will act as Banking Correspondents for the PBI.
(xxi) Careful consideration should be given to the various types, elements and levels of risk involved in the PBI’s operations.
(xxii) Robust System Protocols and Standard Operating Procedures should be put in place to manage these risks effectively.
(xxiii) The PBI should recruit/commission the services of banking experts to manage its credit, portfolio and market risks.
(xxiv) Appropriate management capabilities should be mobilized from the market and robust systems and processes should be put in place to ensure that Non-Performing Assets are kept within acceptable limits.
(xxv) It is neither necessary nor desirable to mandate a waiting period before the PBI enters into credit and lending operations.
(xxvi) The PBI should be constituted and begin working as a credit and lending Bank immediately, without any trial/waiting/learning period.
(xxvii) The PBI should be set up as an independent Statutory and corporate entity offering the full bouquet services, including credit, to its customers.
(xxviii) The PBI will primarily target currently unbanked and under-banked customers in rural, semi-rural and remote areas, with a focus on providing small and affordable loans and simple deposit products.
(xxix) Customers will be provided with full-fledged Savings Accounts, which can be retained even with zero balances, as provided for in the PMJDY.
(xxx) Credit risks will be managed by hiring professionals from the banking sector and by developing and implementing robust protocols for building checks and balances in the system. Market and robust systems and processes should be put in place to ensure that Non-Performing Assets are kept within acceptable limits.
Tuesday, April 28, 2015
Postal ATM makes debut in Odisha
BHUBANESWAR: Postal ATMs made an entry into the state on Monday morning, with one unit each in the state capital and Cuttack.
"By introducing the ATM facilities, the postal department aims to reach out to more people with the help of latest technology. Through these ATMs people can withdraw cash from their service accounts and also avail other banking facilities. We have plans to extend our services to rural areas of the state," said chief postmaster general, Odisha circle, Tilak De.
There are 1 crore 15 lakh postal savings accounts in the state, he added.
The two units will provide the same services as normal ATMs for savings account holders in post offices. The postal department has plans to open 44 ATMs in the state in the 2015-16 financial year and would link them with commercial banks soon.
With the launch of the postal ATMs in the city, customers will get all the facilities that they get in core banking, such as cash withdrawals, mini statements, fast cash, balance enquiry, PIN change and so on. A maximum of Rs 40,000 can be withdrawn at one time, De said, adding that with the launch of the ATM, all modern and core banking facilities have been made available at the post office.
Postal department sources said, 35 Head Post offices in the state have been implementing core banking solutions and upgraded a post office into savings banks, meaning customers can operate their accounts and avail account-related services from any post office, regardless of where they maintain their accounts.
"India Post is in a reviving mode," said De, adding, three more ATMs will also be opened in Puri, Rourkela and Sambalpur next week, he added.
The postal department has also plans to link Postal Life Insurance service with core banking solutions. As a result, people can pay premiums online and check their policy status. The department will also roll out core insurance solutions, official sources said.
There are 8,200 post offices in the state, while Bhubaneswar Division has 71, with 5.79 lakh customers.
Source:-The Times of India
Unemployment, root cause of social unrest: trade union leader
The root causes of social unrest in many parts of the world were acute unemployment, especially youth unemployment, and income disparity, said Noriyuki Suzuki, general secretary, International Trade Union Confederation – Asia Pacific (ITUC-AP), on Friday.
Inaugurating the 33{+r}{+d}triennial convention of the Hind Mazdoor Sabha (HMS) here, Mr. Suzuki said that poverty eradication programmes, barring a few exceptions, had not made much impact and unemployment was assuming alarming proportions everywhere. Absence of decent work in their home countries was forcing people to go abroad in search of livelihood. India’s impressive growth rates had not translated into decent job creation. After decades of globalisation and financial meltdown in developed countries, there was no qualitative improvement and inequality was prevailing within and across countries, Mr. Suzuki said.
Mr. Suzuki pointed out that trade unions were confronted with hostile attitude from governments and employers and cases of violation of trade union rights had become rampant. Employees were denied the right to work, which was fundamental to economic justice. “Employers now want a global workforce that is powerless and passive,” he said.
Jaap Wienen, deputy general secretary, ITUC, felt that Indian politicians did not keep their promises to workers and the government served the employers well, allowing them to be as flexible as they wanted, ignoring workers’ rights. Unfortunately, a “happy few” benefited from India’s tag as an “emerging country” and poor people did not notice any progress.
Source :http://www.thehindu.com
Centre urges NGT to stay ban on old diesel vehicles
Says move will have an impact on essential services
Pleading adverse impact on essential services, the Centre on Monday urged the National Green Tribunal to stay its order prohibiting 10 and 15-year-old diesel and petrol vehicles respectively from plying in Delhi and neighbouring regions.
Stressing how the ban order would affect the livelihood of people who might not be able to replace their vehicles, the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways said it needed six-month time to work out measures on addressing pollution concerns.
The plea filed by advocate Balendu Shekhar stated that vehicles over 10 years of age are very few compared to those under 10 years of age.
It also said most countries adopt fitness tests and emission checks for curbing pollution and not the age of the vehicle.
Additional Solicitor General Pinky Anand, appearing for the Ministry, told the Bench headed by NGT Chairperson Justice Swatanter Kumar that there are only 7 per cent vehicles over 10 years age.
“Give us your views. We will go through it and pass appropriate orders. We are going to examine the matter,” the Bench said.
Quoting from the research papers published by IIT-Delhi, the ASG said all vehicles above 10 years contribute only a “negligible” amount to the pollution
.
The Centre said there are significant factors other than age which cause pollution.
The Centre pointed out that there are essential services like hospitals, postal departments and civic agencies which engage a fleet of vehicles over ten years old.
“It is relevant to mention that under the Motor Vehicles Act, 1998, no specific age limit is prescribed for vehicles. A vehicle reaches its ‘end-of-life’ when it cannot be certified as fit to move on road, even after repair and maintenance,” the plea said.
“Therefore the global best practice is to limit the life of the vehicles on the basis of fitness test, including emission checks,” the Ministry said.
Source : http://www.thehindu.com/news/
UNCLAIMED AMOUNT UNDER VARIOUS POSTAL SAVINGS SCHEMES
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
DEPARTMENT OF POSTS
RAJYA SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.179
TO BE ANSWERED ON 24TH APRIL, 2015
UNCLAIMED AMOUNT UNDER VARIOUS POSTAL SAVINGS SCHEMES
179. SHRI D. RAJA:
Will the Minister of COMMUNICATIONS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY be pleased to state:
(a) whether thousands of crores of rupees are held up in post offices as unclaimed amount in the post office savings, Public Provident Fund accounts etc.;
(b) if so, the details under various schemes and the main reasons therefor;
(c) whether the main reason therefor is name of nominee not given at the time of opening the account and hassles of completing other court procedures for claiming the amount by the dependents of the deceased account holders; and
(d) if so, the measures proposed to be taken to make the procedure to claim the amount by genuine dependents hassle-free?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF COMMUNICATIONS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
(SHRI RAVI SHANKAR PRASAD)
(a) Yes Sir.
(b) Scheme-wise figures are given in Annexure. Main reason for unclaimed amount is non withdrawal of money by depositors after maturity of their investment in Small Savings Schemes, discontinued long back.
(c) No Sir.
(d) Does not arise in view of (c) above.
Scheme – wise details of unclaimed amount in Post Office Savings Bank
| S. No. | Scheme | Amount in Rs. crores |
| 1 | Mahila Samriddhi Yojna | 3.10 |
| 2 | Fixed Deposit | 24.20 |
| 3 | 15 year Cumulative Time Deposit | 12.54 |
| 4 | Indira Vikas Patra | 894.59 |
| 5 | National Development Bonds | 0.18 |
| 6 | National Defence Certificate | 0.22 |
| 7 | 10 years National Defence Deposit Certificate | 0.54 |
| 8 | 10 years National Plan Savings Certificate | 0.31 |
| 9 | 5 years National Savings Certificate | 60.02 |
| 10 | National Savings Certificate (III) | 1.13 |
| 11 | National Savings Certificate (IV) | 3.78 |
| Total | 1000.61 |
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