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Wednesday, September 30, 2015

Rate cut: Government to take a fresh look at small savings interest

The government has decided to review the small savings rates, which remain sticky at 8.4-8.5%, limiting banks' ability to lower deposit rates and slowing down the transmission of Reserve Bank of India's softer monetary policy decisions.

"It has been decided that with regard to the transmission of the rates, the government will undertake a review of the small savings rate also," economic affairs secretary Shaktikanta Das said."Small savings is a decision the government has taken in response to the policy rate announced by the RBI," he said.

The decision to cut small savings rates is a tricky one since no ruling party wishes to become unpopular to the vote bank they depend upon. However, lowering of the small savings rates is directly linked to the rates at which companies borrow from banks. "There is no time limit. We will do it in due course," 
finance minister Arun Jaitley said. RBI governorRaghuram Rajan surprised all by a 50 basis points repo rate reduction but doubts prevail on how banks across the spectrum transmit the easy policy rate into lowering of lending rates unless they manage to soften deposit rates. RBI has reduced repo rates by 125 bps since January, yet the transmission of the rate cuts into the real economy has been relatively weak.

Rajan indicated that there would be a shift in focus from policy rates to greater transmission of these rates. Banks reduced deposit rates aggressively over the last three quarters with some lowering term deposit rates by 50-75 bps but matching cuts in lending rates come with a lag. But they have time and again whined that high interest rates on small savings such as public provident fund or post office monthly income schemes are stopping them from lowering deposit rates beyond a point and this inability prevents them from making loans cheaper.

Senior citizens get 9.3% from post offices, 100-130 bps higher than what they get from most state-run banks. "A major part of small savings comes from the risk averse segments and for them it is the means of subsistence. It (lowering small savings rate) is easier said than done," said India Ratings managing director Ananda Bhowmik. "So, the transmission of policy rate will continue to be an issue. Historically, monetary transmission remains limited to 25-40% of policy rate cuts. It may increase a bit but not beyond 50% due to the structural bottlenecks," he said. The country's largest bank, 
State Bank of India, cut deposit rates by 25 bps across maturities effective from October 5.

Its medium-term deposit rate is 7.75% at present while small savers enjoy 8.4% rate for deposits below five years from post offices and for the popular monthly income scheme. Public provident fund offers 8.7% rate a year.

Source:-The Economic Times

Scheme for setting up of Gymnasium and augmentation/replacement of equipment of existing Gymnasium in the Ministries/Departments.

Scheme for Promotion of Adventure Sports & similar activities amongst Central Government Employees

Philatelic expo

The Department of Posts will celebrate Gandhi Jayanthi by organising a philatelic exhibition at Gandhi Museum in Hasthampatti Post Office in the city from October 2 – 15.

A sales counter will be opened at the exhibition to facilitate the public to collect latest stamps, to place ‘My Stamp’ order and to open philatelic deposit accounts, B. Arumugam, Senior Superintendent of Post Officer, Salem East Postal Division, told presspersons here on Monday.
 
Post Shoppe
 
The Postal Department has also proposed to launch ‘Post Shoppe’, a new channel for business development activity, at Salem Head Post Office on October 3. The general public can purchase stationery items and books from ‘Post Shoppe’. Manju P. Pillai, Postmaster General, Western Region, Coimbatore, will inaugurate the philatelic exhibition on October 2.
 

S B Order No. 11 / 2015 ; Acceptance of Passport, Aadhar Card and PAN Card as a valid document for age proof of girl child for opening of SSA

C B S Go - Live programme of Bhubaneswar Division for the month of October, 2015

Sl No
Name of the PO
Date of Go-Live
1
Nayapalli S.O
05.10.2015
2
Baramunda Colony PO
05.10.2015
3
Madhusudannagar S.O
16.10.2015
4
IRC Village S.O
16.10.2015
5
Sainik School S.O
28.10.2015
6
Bhubaneswar R.S.S.O
28.10.2015

Shift duty chart of CPC, Odisha for the month of October, 2015


Uploading of Salary and Pension in CBS Finacle

Copy of eMail dated 30.09.2015 from CPC, Odisha

Dear Sir/Madam,
This is regarding uploading of Salary and Pension in the A/cs standing in CBS Finacle of Dept. of Posts.

It is come to the notice of CPC, Odisha that some Head Post Offices (GPO/HO) are not uploading Salary and Pension in the A/cs standing at CBS Sub-Post Offices.  Instead list is being sent to S.Os and they are using CTM or CXFER for deposit which is irregular.

Hence it is requested to kindly instruct GPOs/HOs to upload Salary and Pension in the A/cs standing at CBS Post Offices (GPOs/HOs/SOs).  Office A/c of GPOs/HOs for Salary and Pension should only be used and Office A/c of SO must not be used.  After uploading only the intimation slip may need to go the offices. The brief is as under.


A/c type
Reasons for uploading / Remarks
1
Salary A/c
Less time consuming.  No cash accounting at counter.  These will not appear in general SB LOT. Total transaction will come at GPOs/HOs report. SO A/cs will be treated as Inter SOL transactions. Deposit using CTM or CXFER is not allowed as it is not the proper way of credit and the transaction will come in LOT. 
2
Pension A/c
Less time consuming.  No cash accounting at counter.  These will not appear in general SB LOT. Total transaction will come at GPOs/HOs report. SO A/cs will be treated as Inter SOL transactions.  Deposit using CTM or CXFER is not allowed as it is not the proper way of credit and the transaction will come in LOT.    Further normal deposit is not allowed in Pension A/c.


Single Point of Contact (SPoC), 
CBS CPC, Odisha Circle
9439913805, 0674-2575449

Confederation News : Programme of All India Women's Workshop at Hyderabad from 9th to 10th October, 2015

CONFEDERATION OF CENTRAL GOVT EMPLOYEES & WORKERS
ALL INDIA WOMEN’S WORKSHOP
2015 OCTOBER 9TH TO 10TH
HYDERABAD
*************VENUE:
 
MEHDI MANZIL, INCOME TAX QUARTERS,
ROAD NO. 12, BANJARA HILLS, HYDERABAD

PROGRAMME:
09TH OCTOBER 2015, FRIDAY

08.30 AM                         :           Registration of delegates

10.00 AM                         :           Flag hoisting & Homage to Martyrs.

 
10.30 AM                         :           INAUGURATION AND CLASS - I

Welcome address           :           Com. V. Nageshwara Rao, General Secretary, C-O-C, Andhra &
                                                   Telangana

Presided by                    :           Com. Usha Bonepalli, Chairperson, Women’s Sub Committee,
                                                   Confederation

Inauguration by              :           Com. K. Hemalatha, Convenor, All India Working Women’s
                                                   Cordination& National Secretary, CITU
 
Subject                           :           INDIAN WORKING CLASS- CHALLENGES AND OUR TASK
 
12.00 AM                         :           CLASS – II (OPEN SESSION)
 
Class by                          :           Prof.. G. Haragopal (ICSSR, National Fellow, TATA Institute of
                                                   Social Sciences, Visiting Prof.., National School of Law, Bangalore)
Subject                           :           NEW LIBERAL ECONOMIC MODEL - WOMEN
 
01:30 PM                         :           Lunch
 
03:00 PM                         :           CLASS – III
 
Class by                          :           Ms. Shyama Sundari (Advocate, Supreme Court)
 
Subject                           :           LEGAL AWARENESS ON WOMEN’S LAW
 
05:30 PM                         :           Cultural Programme
                                      
10TH OCTOBER 2015, SATURDAY

10.00 AM                         :          CLASS - IV

Presided by                      :           Com. R. Seethalakshmi, Convenor, Women’s Sub Committee,
                                                   Confederation
 
Class by                          :           Com. M. Girija, Asst General Secretary, All India Insurance
                                                   Employees Association

Subject                           :           Role of Women in Trade Union and Society

01.00 PM                         :           Lunch

 
02.30 PM                         :           INTERACTIVE SESSION - CLASS V

Subject                           :           7th Pay Commission and Role of Confederation
                                                   National Leaders of Confederation will participate
 
04.15 PM                         :           Workshop Review
 
04.30 PM                         :           Vote of thanks

                           Com: Manushi Choudhary (Women’s Sub Committee, Hyderabad)
05.00 PM                         :           End

 
K. K. N. Kutty                              R. Seethalakshmi                                         M. Krishnan    
President                                    Convenor, Women’s Committee                   Secretary General

Commemorative Stamp on Dr. B.R. Ambedkar released


A Commemorative Stamp on Dr. B.R. Ambedkar was released jointly by the Minister Social Justice & Empowerment Shri Thaawar Chand Gehlot and Union Minister for Communication & Information Technology Shri Ravi Shankar Prasad here today. This was part of 125th Birth Anniversary celebrations.

The Prime Minister chaired the first meeting of the National Committee on Nationwide Celebration of 125th Birth Anniversary of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar on the 23rd July 2015. The objective of year long celebrations is to make the world aware about the life and the work of Dr. Babasaheb Ambekdar as a champion of the underprivileged.

Speaking on the occasion the Minister for Social Justice & Empowerment Shir Thaawar Chand Gehlot said that the Government has taken up a number of programmes and is organizing various activities on the 125th Birth Anniversary celebrations wherein a tableau on Dr. Ambedkar would be part of the 26th January celebration, 100 students will be sent to Columbia University and London School of Economics for study tour, Dr. Ambedkar Memorial at 26 Alipur Road, Delhi will be developed in a befitting manner. The village Ambadve in Ratnagiri District (Maharashtra), to which the parents of Dr. Ambedkar belonged will be developed as a Model Village under PMAGY Scheme (Adarsh Gram). He further added that the life and works of Dr. Ambedkar is an inspiration to the millions.

Speaking on the occasion Shri Ravi Shankar Prasad, Minister for Communication & Information Technology said Dr. Ambedkar was the chief architect our constitution and was in 1990 bestowed with Bharat Ratna. The Department of Posts is happy to issue a commemorative postage stamp on this occasion. He was also a champion of fundamental rights.

Present on the occasion were Shri Krishan Pal Gurjar, MoS, SJE, Shri Vijay Sampla, MoS, SJE, Secretary, Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities Shri Lov Verma, Addl. Secretary, SJE Shri Arun Kumar and Member (Planning), Department of Post Shri S.K. Sinha and other officials / officers of the Ministry and Ambedkar Foundation.

Source : PIB

Yoga Training Sessions for the benefit of Central Government Employees and their dependents at Jalebi Chowk Lawn, north Block, New Delhi.

Government Simplifies the Format and Procedure for Self Declaration in form No.15G or 15H


Government Simplifies the Format and Procedure for Self Declaration in form No.15G or 15H to Reduce the Cost of Compliance and Ease the Compliance Burden for both, the Tax Payer and the Tax Deductor; Procedure for Submission of the Forms by the Deductor also Simplified;
Payee Can Submit the Self-Declaration Either in Paper form or Electronically; the Deductor will Not Deduct Tax and will Allot a Unique Identification Number (UIN) to all Self-Declarations in Accordance with a well Laid Down Procedure to be Specified Separately.
 
 
Tax payers seeking non-deduction of tax from certain incomes are required to file a self declaration in Form No. 15G or Form No.15H as per the provisions of Section 197A of the Income-tax Act, 1961 (‘the Act’). In order to reduce the cost of compliance and ease the compliance burden for both, the tax payer and the tax deductor, the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) has simplified the format and procedure for self declaration in Form No.15G or 15H.  The procedure for submission of the Forms by the deductor has also been simplified.
 
Under the simplified procedure, a payee can submit the self-declaration either in paper form or electronically. The deductor will not deduct tax and will allot a Unique Identification Number (UIN) to all self-declarations in accordance with a well laid down procedure to be specified separately. The particulars of self-declarations will have to be furnished by the deductor along with UIN in the Quarterly TDS statements. The requirement of submitting physical copy of Form 15G and 15H by the deductor to the income-tax authorities has been dispensed with. The deductor will, however be required to retain Form No.15G and 15H for seven years.
 
            The revised procedure shall be effective from the 1st day of October, 2015.
 
The Notification issued vide S.O. No.2663 (E) dated 29th September 2015 is available on the website of the Department at www.incometaxindia.gov.in
 
Source : PIB

Promotion and posting in the Grade of Member, Postal Services Board, Indian Postal Service, Group 'A ' and transfer/posting of a Member, Postal Services Board

Department endorses revised D A order effective from 01.07.2015 issued by Ministry of Finance


Tuesday, September 29, 2015

Seventh Pay Commission: Non-Secretariat Staff Upset Over Pay Disparity With Secretariat Staff

New Delhi: As the Seventh Pay Commission is likely to submit its report on raising the salaries and allowances for central government employees to Finance Minister Arun Jaitley within December, non-central secretariat staff across the country are a seething lot.
Finance Minister Arun Jaitley
Finance Minister Arun Jaitley
In fact, the Assistants and Section Officers get pay grade Rs 4600 and Rs 4800 in central Secretariat service while the Assistants and Section Officers of non-central secretariat service get pay grade Rs 4200 and Rs 4600 respectively. Not only this but also the non-functional pay scale of Rs 15600-39100 (PB-3)+Rs 5400 (Grade Pay) is admissible to the Section Officers of the central Secretariat service on completion of 4 years service in that grade but no such system for the Section Officers of non-central secretariat service and this has led to much heartburn of non-central secretariat staff.
 
Non-central secretariat staff reiterated their demand to ensure parity with the central Secretariat staff, they seemed unsure about whether or not the Seventh Pay Commission would accept their pay anomalies which, they added, they had demanded such type of pay parity before Sixth Pay Commission also and the commission accepted it but the government didn’t give its nod about it.
 
Before Sixth Pay Commission implementation, the respective pay scales of Rs 6500-10500 and 5000-8000 existed for Assistants in central Secretariat and non central Secretariat and pay scales 7500-12000 and Rs 6500-10500 existed for Section Officers in central Secretariat and non central Secretariat. The Section Officers in central Secretariat also got the pay scale of Rs.8000-13500 on completion of four years service in the lower scale of 7500-12000 while pay scale of Section Officers of non-central secretariat service was never upgraded in the same post.
 
A newly recruited Group A officer begins with the pay scale of Rs 15600-39100 (PB-3)+Rs 5400 (Grade Pay) but central Secretariat service staff begin their group A service on the promotion of Under Secretary with the pay scale of Rs 15600-39100 (PB-3)+Rs 6600 (Grade Pay).
 
Complaints have been raised against the above the anomalies in the Seventh Pay Commission.
 
Alleging that the central government has taken a number of steps time to time to give higher pay to the central Secretariat service staff at the cost of non-central secretariat service staff.
 
The non-central secretariat service staff raised their voice to get paid equally as their counterparts central Secretariat staff before Seventh Pay Commission. The Seventh Pay Commission is likely to advice to make a equal in pay disparity with central secretariat staff but it is the big matter, will the government accept it without a question?
Source :http://mobile.tkbsen.in/

Streamlining Action on Pension grievances - uploading of replies given by the Ministries/Departments to the petitioner on CPENGRAMS.

Awareness Programme Under Pensioners’ Portal

The Department of Pension and Pensioners Welfare, Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions is implementing a web based mission mode project on pensions namely Pensioner’s Portal under the National e-Governance Plan. The Department has also started initiative called SANKALP for channelizing the experience and skill of Pensioners towards meaningful social activities.

The Department is proposing to conduct the next such Awareness Programme for Pensioners on October 08,2015 at Ahmedabad Medical Association, AMA House, Opp H.K.Arts College. The meeting will be chaired by Shri Devendra Chaudhry, Secretary (P,AR&PG).

The basic objective of the project is to facilitate redressal of Pensioners’ Grievances as also to provide information and guidance to pensioners on various pension and retirement related matters. User Ministries/Departments, Pensioners, Banks, Controller General of Accounts (CGA), Central Pension Accounting Office (CPAO), Post Offices etc. are the stakeholders in this venture aimed at welfare of the Pensioners.

With a view to providing know how about the operational aspects of this Portal and the Grievances Redressal Mechanism in particular, the Department of Pensions is conducting Awareness Programmes at different locations in the country. So far such programmes have been conducted at Chandigarh, Bangalore, Bhubaneswar, Pune, Lucknow, Thiruvanthapuram, Kolkata, Jallandhar, Vadora, Shillong , Agartala and Kohima for Pensioners/Pensioners’ Association who are major stakeholders.
Source : PIB

8th Biennial Conference of AIPEU Group-C and Postmen & MTS, Berhampur Divisional Branch (Odisha Circle)

Open Session was concluded on 27.09.2015 and  addressed by Com. R C Mishra, Circle Secretary, Com. B K Pathy Circle Vice-President and Com. P C Moharana, Divisional Secretary, AIPEU, Gr.-C, Koraput Division.
 
Com. Jeydeep Chakrabarty, Com. Sibananda Dash and Com. Pradeep Kumar Jena were elected as Divisional President, Secretary and Treasurer respectively for the ensuing session.
 
AIPEU, Group-C, Bhubaneswar Division congratulates all the newly elected office bearers.
 
 
 
 
 
 

Selection Process for engagement to all approved categories of GDS Posts - Case of Odisha Circle

Dear Comrades,

The result of the  Direct Recruitment Examination for selection to the  GDS cadre held on 12.07.2015 has already been published  vide CPMG, Odisha Memo No. RE / 34 – 20 / 2015 (Result), dated 10.09.2015. The selected candidates have already been allotted to concerned Divisions and now the pre-engagement formalities like verification of documents etc. are under process.

          In the meantime, now, the Directorate has issued revised recruitment rules for selection of GDS vide letter No. 17-39/2012-GDS dated 16.09.2015 (already published in this site on 16.09.2015).

As known to this union, keeping in view the said guidelines contained in Directorate’s letter No. 17-39/2012-GDS dated 16.09.2015, Odisha Circle has now requested the Directorate to grant one time exemption for the purpose to Odisha Circle as a special case since GDS recruitment process has been completed by publication of result on 10.09.2015. Accordingly, all Divisional heads have been requested by Circle Office, Bhubaneswar to complete all pre-engagement formalities like verification of documents / police verification etc as usual and not to allow the selected candidates to join in their place of posting until receipt of further instruction from the Directorate.  

=  B SAMAL =
Secretary, AIPEU, Gr.-C
Bhubaneswar

Kudos to the Postmaster and staff members of Keonjhargarh HO, Odisha Circle


A gentle approach made by  Shri Susant Kumar Panigrahi, Postmaster Grade – III,  Keonjhargarh HO – 758001 greatly motivated all the Group-C and Group-B staff members of Keonjhargarh HO to decide mutually for maintaining a definite dress code by wearing  uniform  ( black pant and light violet shirt) initially on certain days of the week to develop a team spirit  amongst all.  
 

This small initiative by Shri Panigrahi will certainly go a long way in maintaining unity and fraternity amongst the staff members which is almost required during transformation of India Post.
 

The AIPEU, Group-C, Bhubaneswar Division congratulates all the staff members of Kenonjhargarh H O for their unique initiative.
 

E-commerce boom profits India Post

With 30 per cent growth month-on-month for the last five months, the AP and Telangana Circle is looking for multi-fold growth in the next three months in e-commerce revenue
 

Hyderabad: Forget the pros and cons of e-commerce business, it is celebration time for India Post. With e-commerce sector registering a phenomenal 30 per cent monthly growth, the beneficiary is the postal department which is raking in the moolah.
 

India Post AP and Telangana Circle is looking to cash in on the festival season beginning with Navaratri and ending with Christmas.Speaking to The Hans India, P V S Reddy, Postmaster General, Business Development, India Post AP and Telangana Circle said, “40 per cent of the business takes place between October and December. There would be delivery of articles on Sunday as well as on festival days.” 
 

From delivery of 1.23 lakh articles of e-commerce companies in April to 2.17 lakh articles in August, a great leap was being observed in the number of articles.
 

Sensing the huge potential, the department was planning to develop its infrastructure. Parcel hubs of 2,000 to 12,000 sq ft were being developed at Guntur, Tirupati and Hyderabad.
 

With 2,532 delivery post offices in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, the postal department is looking forward to make the most of the digital economy.
 

While private courier companies cannot reach smaller towns and villages, India Post is banking on its local knowledge and wide network.
 

It is a win-win situation for the vendors as well as the postal department. With facilities such as picking up articles from storehouses of vendors free of cost to providing 60-day credit facility,the department is making most of it and reaching out to big e-commerce companies such as Amazon, Naaptol, Flipkart and Snapdeal.  
 

“It is also smaller players such as Shopping Zone, RK Mart and others that are catering to many tier-II cities,” says Ramakrishna of the department.
 

Explaining the advantage of using India Post, a senior officer of Amazon said, “Unlike private courier services where booking is done on volumetric base,at India Post it is done on mass based weight which means even if the article is big in size only the weight is calculated. Private courier services take even space into account.”  
 

“The Postal Department also picks up the goods from the Amazon fulfillment centre (place where the goods are stored) at Kothur in Hyderabad free of cost we cannot ask for more,” added the official at Amazon.
 

With the mega sale offers by the big e-commerce players just round the corner, the good old postman was once again getting busy. Reddy says, “Customers not only get their goods within a day, but they can also track their article as it goes through 12 scans from the point of booking till delivery.”
 

Private couriers charge for return delivery while India Post sends the article back to the vendor free of cost India post collects the goods from the store houses of e-commerce companies free of cost While private players cannot deliver in smaller towns, with 2,532 delivery post offices, the department has a strong network.