No proposal to discontinue the Digital Life Certificate for the Pensioners

There is a report in a section of press that while inaugurating an Awareness Workshop on the online Pension Sanction and Payment Tracking System “BHAVISHYA”, Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER), MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr Jitendra Singh said that the practice of submitting Digital Life Certificate for continuation of pensions will soon be done away with.

Strongly rebutting the report, it is stated that Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh has never ever expressed any opinion on the issue at any platform and, therefore, the question of having made such a statement does not arise at all.

It is clarified that, as of now, the government has no proposal to discontinue the Digital Life Certification for the pensioners.

It is to be stated that “Jeevan Pramaan” - a facility for submission of digital of life certificates by pensioners has been launched in November 2014. This is a voluntary facility provided in addition to existing provisions available for submission of life certificates. Till date 9,62,910 Digital Life Certificates have been furnished by pensioners.

Source : PIB Release, 30.11.2015

Regarding Boosting of WNX performance

 

Struggle Path Not Our Choice - Rather Enforced

Com. N. Subramanian

Ex- Dy. General Secretary, AIPEU Group C

& Postmaster Grade-II, Tirupur Cotton Market Grade-II PO

Tirupur (Tamilnadu) – 641 604

 

            Change is inevitable everywhere. We are all creatures of habit and we like to be comfortable in our own environment. We become settled in our own ways. Rather than go with the flow of change, we strive to maintain the status quo we are accustomed to. When change is abrupt and overwhelming, we have to react to that impact. This can become very dramatic with great dissension among everyone involved. When we allow change to flow naturally, we continue to remain somewhat resilient, adapting and keeping an open mind. When situations do arise, to maintain some level of diplomacy we will always be the example for others to follow. We must maintain a positive radiance for the Good of all if Change is good.  

         From birth human do not like change. We are comfortable in the womb and cry once out. We are comfortable in our mothers’ arms and cry when put down. We are comfortable in our parents’ bed and cry when put in our own bed. We are comfortable at home and cry when we have to start school. We stay in an environment even though we know we will be better somewhere else because we feel comfortable there. We continue where we are because we are uncomfortable trying to learn a new one. Our entire existence is built on a resistance to change as many changes create unknown circumstances and for many the unknown is frightening. Because everyone is comfortable with the present situation no one likes moving on to something where they don't know what to expect or what will happen.

       Breaking all the theories and concepts, we can dare to say that in India Post, because of our abundant endurance and adaptability, technology induction in a great pace become possible .

      IT modernization project was undertaken by the Department of Posts as a part of the 11^th  five year plan continuing to next level in the current 12^th  five year plan. It is designed to create a strong IT infrastructure and applications for all services provided by the DoP viz postal, retail, banking and insurance. The India Post 2012 Project aims at transforming the Department of Posts into a “Technology Enabled, Self Reliant Market Leader” by introducing IT services. It is directed towards achieving increased market shares and revenues, new products and services, improved service delivery, motivated workforce and rural development.

     Employees stand to benefit from Reduction of manual work which will increase productivity.  New opportunities to learn and enhance their skill set.  Opportunity to provide IT Enabled services to customers which will reduce customer dissatisfaction. It provide an opportunity to work in an innovation based environment and be a part of a growing and vibrant organization. Understanding all the above facts, even though the work force is giving its best efforts, hasty and impromptu bureaucrats of all levels make changes futile. The cry of the work force is unheard in time, trial and error implementation of schemes; untested softwares , outdated hardwares show the incompetency of the planners and need of their revamp .   

        The extensive IT network connecting around  1,55,000 post offices will be an asset for the central and state governments. It will help in improving the quality of services in remote areas and facilitating payment of government schemes to the citizens

      Our trade union recognise the need to keep their affiliated organisations and members to update with new trends and developments in technology, and at the moment the focus is on information and communication technology. It is committed to protect their interests and improve their working conditions, among other goals. To bargain collectively, protect workers from exploitative and abusive conditions at work are the key roles of unions.

    The changes in the department of posts based on the trend of new technology and current social environment are fully acceptable to the workers to the extent of its relevancy and usefulness. The unscientific approach in its implementation by the bureaucrats without consulting the main stakeholders viz the employees is a great concern to the staff especially to the Postal assistants placed in the last mile connectivity. The Postal assistants at counters are the real face of the department in the eyes of the public. Their anger and dissatisfaction arise out of the incompetent technology providers and hasty management focused sharply on the poor staff at counters.

    The poor network, lack of planning, inept softwares, irresponsible vendors, torturous management, ancient computer peripherals apart from all anti labour policies are the present day environment .

      At this juncture, it is needless to illustrate that  Struggle path is not our choice - rather enforced. Do it be heard.

C B S Go-live of Madhabnagar S O under Bhadrak Division on 30.11.2015

 INAUGURATION OF CBS GO LIVE ON 30.11.2015 OF MADHABNAGAR POST OFFICE-756181 UNDER BHADRAK DIVISION BY SHRI A. K. MOHANTY, OAS-I, HON’BLE DISTRICT MAGISTRATE, BHADRAK IN PRESENCE OF SHRI BIPIN BIHARI MOHANTY, SPOS, BHADRAK DIVISION.

 

 

 

 

 

Allowances allow tax saving but some may be obsolete and outdated

Sounds odd, but Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) personnel receive a haircutting allowance at the rate of Rs 5 per month, the lowest among 196 government allowances that prevail today. This allowance should have been discarded long ago, as haircutting is very much a part of the CISF cadres' composite personal maintenance allowance. But no one probably had spotted this till the 7th Central Pay Commission found it "outdated" and recommended its abolition.

The list of outdated government perks is pretty long. Sample this: select postal department employees are entitled to a Rs 90-per month cycle allowance, if the employee fulfills a number of conditions including the submission of proof that there has been an "extensive use" of the bicycle. Indian Foreign Service officers are given a monetary incentive that's ridiculously low for learning an optional foreign language — Rs 100 per month if the officer turns "proficient" in that language and Rs 200 per month if the officer becomes "above proficient"!

So, when the 7th Central Pay Commission chairman Justice AK Mathur along with two members of the Commission had to evaluate the demands of IAS, IFS, IPS, Central government services and defence personnel in several rounds of meetings spanning nearly two years, they encountered a humongous task of rationalising as many as 196 allowances in addition to weighing in on the core issues of pay hike and pay parity. The list of allowances includes the well-known ones like DA (dearness allowance) and HRA (house rent allowance). But there exist perks such as shoe allowance, spectacle allowance, boiler watch keeping allowance and secret allowance, many of which are not known at all to the people working outside the government.

And the Central Pay Commission, which submitted its report 10 days ago to the finance ministry, clearly recommended abolition of 52 allowances that they found obsolete. ET Magazine picks out 10 of the more quirky allowances where the Commission articulated a clear view before recommending their abolition or retention:

 

Source :  http://economictimes.indiatimes.com

Govt to bring Bonus Act amendment bill

New Delhi, Nov 28, 2015, DHNS:

Government will introduce a bill in the ongoing winter session to amend the Bonus Act, 1965, Prime Minister Narendra Modi told Parliament on Friday.
Replying to the two-day special debate to mark the Constitution Day and Dr BR Ambedkar’s 125th birth anniversary, Modi said: “We are going to bring an important bill in this House to amend Bonus Act. The Cabinet has already approved it. This is a very important bill for our workers. We are taking decisions and working for welfare of the labour class.”

Bonus calculations

 
The amendment bill seeks to enhance extent of coverage for payment of bonus from the existing wage limit of Rs 10,000 to Rs 21,000 per month as well as the calculation limit for payment of bonus from Rs 3,500 to Rs 7,000 per month.

The Union Cabinet had approved the amendment in the Payment of Bonus Act 1965 for the Industrial workers last month, making them eligible for the reward.

Source :  http://www.deccanherald.com

Central govt employees observe ‘black day’ against pay commission report

New Delhi: Several Associations representing central government employees on Friday observed as a “black day” to protest against some of the “retrograde recommendations” of the seventh pay commission.

 “Almost all the Central Government employees have joined today’s (Friday) protests and have pledged for sustained struggle,” Shiv Gopal Mishra (centre), Convener, National Joint Council of Action (NJCA) of central government employees said.

Shiv Gopal Mishra, Convener, National Joint Council of Action (NJCA) of central government employees “almost all the Central Government employees have joined today’s (Friday) protests and have pledged for sustained struggle”.

He further said, “If the Central Government does not remove retrograde recommendations of the Seventh Pay Commission and resolve long-pending genuine demands of the more than 30 lakh employees central government employees, working in the Railways, Defence, Postal and other Central Government Organisations, will be forced us to go for indefinite strike”.

Against their demand for a minimum pay of Rs 26,000, the seventh pay commission has recommended Rs 18,000, thereby widening the pay gap between the minimum pay and maximum pay from existing 1:12 to 1: 13.8 which is more than their demand of ratio of 1: 8.

A huge rise in pay has been given to the Group A officers by the pay commission whereby the ratio between the minimum and the maximum pay level comes 1:13.

The fifth and sixth Central Commissions have given a pay rise of 40 per cent, while this Pay Commission has only given a pay increase of 14.29 per cent.

Additionally, the pay commission reduced the House Rent Allowance (HRA) from existing 30 per cent to 24 per cent, 20 per cent to 16 per cent and 10 per cent to 8 per cent.

The Pay Commission scrapped various existing allowances like risk allowance, small family allowance, festival advance, motor cycle advance.

The Pay Commission has not made any recommendation against the New Pension Scheme (NPS), while employees’ body strongly demanded to implement old pension system.

Instead of it, changes have been made to the existing 730 days Child Care Leave (CCL) with salary for women employees, the Commission recommended that Child Care Leave (CCL) should be granted at 100 percent of the salary for the first 365 days, but at 80 percent of the salary for the next 365 days.

The most of railway employees have been annoyed that the commission didn’t propose any better facilities for them who are exposed to riskier working conditions.

Through the protest rallies all over the country on Friday, central government employees with wearing black badges conveyed the government on Friday to improve the pay gap ratio of the seventh pay commission recommendations and for non-implementation of some of the adverse recommendations of the Pay Commission.

However, the Finance Ministry said the Ministry will examine the report and only then a decision will be taken at ministry level before cabinet nod.

Source :  http://www.tkbsen.in/2015/11/central-govt-employees-observe-black-day-against-pay-commission-report/

Launch of Atal Pension Yojana (APY) through CBS HOs from 1st Dec. 2015

From : Director (CBS)

Sent: 26 November 2015 18:00

To: CPMG Andhra Pradesh Circle; CPMG Assam Circle; CPMG Bihar Circle; CPMG Chattisgarh Circle; CPMG Delhi Circle; CPMG Gujrat Circle; CPMG Haryana Circle; CPMG Himachal Pradesh Circle; CPMG Jammu & Kashmir Circle; CPMG Jharkhand Circle; CPMG Karnataka Circle; CPMG Kerala Circle; CPMG Madhya Pradesh Circle; CPMG Maharashtra Circle; CPMG North East Circle; CPMG Orissa Circle; CPMG Punjab Circle; CPMG Rajasthan Circle; CPMG Tamilnadu Circle; CPMG Uttar Pradesh Circle; CPMG Uttarakhand Circle; CPMG West Bengal Circle

Cc: DDG (Financial Services); ADG (FS I); Kawaljit Singh; Member (Banking & HRD); ADG (IMTS&MO)

Subject: Launch of Atal Pension Yojana (APY) through CBS HOs from 1^st  Dec. 2015  

Respected Sir/Madam,

 

I am directed to inform that under Pradhan Mantri Jan suraksha Yojana, Atal Pension Yojana (APY) the Pension Scheme where minimum monthly pension is guaranteed  by the Government of India for the section of society who joins between the age of 18-40 years and Government is also contributing 50% of the contribution or Rs.1000/- whichever is less for 5 Years for those who will joint the scheme by 31st December 2015 subject to the condition that the beneficiary should not be Income Tax Payee and not beneficiary of any other Social Welfare Scheme of the Government. 

2. Department has developed  APY Module in CBS Application which will be launched from 1st December 2015 and will be available in all CBS Post Offices. But to start with, Department has decided to register CBS HOs only with PFRDA as NLCC. Therefore, only those HOs would be able to register APY subscribers which have NLCC number. List of such HOs is attached with NLCC number. A chart containing contribution amount based on the entry age criteria and the option of payment of contribution i.e Monthly, Quarterly or Half Yearly is also enclosed. This is very important to note that only Savings Account  Holder of any CBS  Head Post Office can enroll for APY and there will not be any cash deposit or deposit through any other mode except auto debit from savings account. For sensitizing the staff about features of APY, FPRDA has already conducted workshops in all the circles and that concerned staff may be aware with the features of the scheme. 

3. It is requested that counter as well as Supervisory staff of CBS HOs should be asked to be ready for the launch  from 1st December 2015  and Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) along with Subscription Forms of the scheme will be circulated in a day or two through a separate mail. 

 

 With regards,

Sachin Kishore

Director (CBS)
Sansad Marg,
Dak Bhavan 

List of Closed & Restricted Holidays to be observed by the CG employees in Odisha during 2016

 

 

Overwhelming response received for Sovereign Gold Bond Scheme (SGB)

Overwhelming response received from the retail investors for Sovereign Gold Bond Scheme (SGB) ;

 

63,000 applications received for a total of Rs 246.20 crore by the Banks and Post Offices for 917 kgs of gold;

 

Number of decisions taken to improve the reach of Gold Monetisation Scheme (GMS)

 

The Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi had launched three Gold related Schemes i.e. Sovereign Gold Bond Scheme (SGB), Gold Monetisation Scheme (GMS) and Indian Gold Coins and Bullions on 5th November, 2015. There has been a mixed response to these schemes from the public. The status of two of the schemes implemented by Department of Economic Affairs (DEA), Ministry of Finance is as follows:-

Sovereign Gold Bond Scheme (SGB):

The main objectives of the scheme is to reduce the demand for physical gold and shift a part of the gold imported every year for investment purposes into financial savings through Gold Bonds.

The first tranche of SGB was issued on behalf of the Government of India by RBI at the branches of scheduled commercial banks and designated post offices through its e-kuber system from 5th November, 2015 to 20th November, 2015. More tranches will be issued during the financial year 2015-16.

This scheme saw an overwhelming response from the investors throughout the country and initial figures show that about 63,000 applications were received for a total of Rs 246.20 crore by the Banks and Post Offices for 917 kgs of gold.

It may be noted that this overwhelming response has been received from the retail investors who are the focus of this scheme. The positive response to this new and innovative saving instrument has elicited response from across the country and it is expected that subsequent tranches will continue to receive such enthusiastic response.

Gold Monetisation Scheme (GMS):

The Gold Monetization Scheme (GMS) provides different options to the people to monetize the gold. The idea is to mobilize the gold held by households and institutions in the country and putting this gold into productive use. The scheme aims to reduce the country’s reliance on the import of gold to meet the domestic demand.

Presently there are 33 Collection and Purity Testing Centres (CPTCs) and 5 refiners that have been notified in the scheme. This had resulted into signing of limited number of tripartite agreements among banks, CPTCs and refiners. After the slow response to this scheme, a meeting of all the stakeholders of the scheme was held in the Department of Economic Affairs. In the meeting, a number of decisions were taken to improve the reach of the scheme. These decisions include:-

• Gold depositors can give their gold directly to the refiner without involving the Collection and Purity Testing Centres (CPTCs) where ever it is acceptable to the Banks. This will encourage the bulk depositors like HUFs and Institutions to participate in the scheme.

• Fees to the banks on account of testing , transport , refining and storage services at Collection and Purity Testing Centres (CPTCs ) and refiners for Medium and Long Term Government Deposits will be reimbursed based on the actuals, removing such doubts in the minds of the Banks.

• A circular clarifying the tax treatment clauses on the scheme is being published to clarify that, tax exemptions on Income Tax and Capital Gains Tax would be available to the customers.

• BIS is expected to complete the registration of 55 numbers of Collection and Purity Testing Centres (CPTCs) by the end of December 2015.

• BIS has published an EOI on its website inviting applications from the more than 13,000 licensed jewellers to act as a CPTC in the scheme provided they have tie-up with BIS’s licensed refiners.

• BIS has modified the licensing condition to refiners already having NABL accreditation from existing three years refining experience to one year refining experience. This is likely to increase number of licensed refiners to nearly 20.

• To increase the awareness among depositors, Government will continue the awareness campaign in the print media, social media, Radio and Television.

The above steps and the clarifications are expected to fetch a better response from the depositors. Above two schemes are innovative schemes and these are early days of implementation. Based on the feedback received from the stakeholders of the schemes, Government will continuously monitor and review the progress of the schemes at the regular intervals and make necessary improvements, in order to increase the reach of the schemes.

Source : PIB Release, 27.11.2015

Mid-Career Training Programme should include Field Visits to Villages: Secretary, DOPT

The Secretary, Department of Personnel & Training (DoPT), Shri Sanjay Kothari has said that "going back to their roots" for officers, Mid-Career Training Programme (MCTP) should invariably include Field Visits to Villages / attachment with NGOs at their project sites. He was addressing the concluding cession of the Conference of Heads of Administrative Training Institutes (ATIs), Central Training Institutes (CTIs) and Cadre Controlling Authorities (CCAs) and a workshop for Training Managers of Central Ministries/Departments, here today.

Shri Sanjay Kothari said that behavioral skills including module on ethics in training programmes should be incorporated. He observed that the prevailing training capacities are inadequate to train all Class 2 & 3 employees in the government.

The Secretary, DoPT said that the Ministry is devising a Management Information System that will include a pool of National Trainers and Institutes. He also said that MCTP should include foreign visit, but officers will have to submit Project Report that will form part of their APARs.

Source : PIB

Inviting suggestions for improving the format of e-service book

Click here to view

Commemorative Postage Stamp on "EEPC India" released on 24th November , 2015

Department of Posts has released a Commemorative Postage Stamp on "EEPC India", on 24th November , 2015.

Revision of Foreign Postage Rates of Letter Post Items with effect from 01.12.2015

Click here to view Department's letter No. 1-20/2014-15/T & C, dated 26.11.2015.

Gazette Notification downloaded from

http://egazette.nic.in/WriteReadData/2015/166792.pdf

 

 

Confederation News : National Secretariat decides for Indefinite Strike of all C G employees including Railways and Defence under the banner of National JCA for modification of retrograde measures recommended by 7th CPC

Date : 27-11-2015

Dear Comrades,

National Secretariat of the Confederation of Central Govt. Employees  & Workers held on 27-11-15 at New Delhi after detailed deliberations on the recommendations of the 7^th Central Pay Commission (CPC) has decided as follows :

1.The National Secretariat has come to the unanimous conclusion that many of the recommendations of the 7^th CPC are most retrograde and require to  be modified before implementation by the Government, especially the faulty and depressed  minimum wage arrived at by the 7^th CPC and the fitment formula. Some of the recommendations such as abolition of certain allowances etc., are to be rejected.

2. The National Secretariat is of the firm opinion that a united struggle of entire Central Govt Employees including Railways, Defence and Confederation under the banner of National Joint Council of Action (NJCA) can only compel the Government to modify or reject the retrograde recommendations of the 7^th CPC and hence it is decided to further strengthen the unity.

3. The National Secretariat further resolved that the form of the united struggle of NJCA should be an indefinite strike, within a time frame, as Govt is moving fast to implement the recommendations. Negotiation with the Government should precede declaration of indefinite strike and intensive campaign among the employees and mobilization, to create sanction behind the demands.

4. In case the requisite movement is not coming about for any reason, Confederation National Secretariat will meet and chalk out its own independent action.

5. Regarding the sector-wise issues relating to the employees of each department, the affiliated organizations of the Confederation in those departments shall take initiative for uniting all like-minded Federations/Associations/Unions in their department and shall organize agitational programmes on departmental specific demands.

6. The National Secretariat decided to insist that the charter of demands of the NJCA and Confederation should include the demands of Gramin Dak Sevaks, Casual / Contract labourers, filling up of vacancies and scraping the New Contributory Pension Scheme.

7. All affiliated organizations of Confederation are requested to intimate by e-mail to the Confederation CHQ  (confederationhq@gmail.com or mkrishnan6854@gmail.com) on the required modifications or additions / deletions in the common recommendations (not department-specific) of the 7^th Pay Commission on or before 05-12-2015.

8. Available Secretariat members of the Confederation will meet on 07-12-2015 at New Delhi and finalize the common demands to be included in the charter of demands of NJCA. (NJCA meeting is being held at JCM National Council, Staff-side office on 08-12-2015 to finalize the charter of demands and the further course of action).

9. The National Secretariat congratulated all the Central Govt Employees who made the 27^th November 2015 ‘All India Protest Day’ at the call of NJCA, a grand success all over the country by wearing ‘black badges’ and participating in protest demonstrations.

Other Decisions:

1.Next All India Workshop-cum-Trade Union Camp of Confederation will be held at Dehradun (Uttarakhand) before March 2016.

2. The National Secretariat extended full support and solidarity to the proposed agitational programmes of Passport Employees Association including ‘Indefinite hunger fast’.

=M.Krishnan

Secretary General

Central Govt Employees To Get PPO, Other Benefits On Retirement Day

New Delhi: The government has decided to give pension payment order (PPO) and all other retirement benefits on the day of retirement to all 50000 central government employees retiring every year, Union minister Jitendra Singh said on Thursday.

 

“The goal is to ensure 100 per cent payment of all retirement benefits and the delivery of pension payment order (PPO) to retiring employees on the day of retirement itself,” The Minister of State for Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions Jitendra Singh said at the inauguration of a workshop on ‘Bhavishya ’, an online pension sanction and payment tracking system for central government retirees.

 

“Last year of a retiring employee is spent in preparation of pension payment order (PPO) and collecting no-dues certificates as he fears no one will let him in after he retires. The reputation of a retiring government servants becomes such that he is preparing to get his pension on time. This is just not done,” Singh said

 

“Our experience shows pension payments are considerably delayed. Retirees need a dignified exit from service and can’t be expected to run around for their pension payment order (PPO) and all retirement benefits or make requests to someone for it,” said an official on this occasion.

 

Bhavishya involves preparation of advance list of employees retiring in the next 12 months and sending each such employee a login and password for ‘ Bhavishya ‘ portal eight months before the date of his retirement on his mobile phone and e-mail ID.

 

The employee fills up his details on the portal and based on that information, pension forms are auto-generated by the software and submitted for processing. The system then sends SMS and e-mail alerts to the employee, his head of department and disbur...

 

The Minister said apart from ensuring timely disbursal of pension, the Department is also holding pre-retirement counselling for employees and considering various options on how best to utilize the experience of retired personnel who can contribute a lot to the government and society as they are energetic and resourceful for long beyond 60 years of age.

Source :http:// tkbsen.in

AIPEU, Gr.-C, Postman & MTS and GDS(NFPE), Bhubaneswar Division observed BLACK DAY on 27.11.2015

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Black Day observation by Bhadrak Division

 

 

Staff members of Bhanjanagar H O ( Aska Division, Odisha Circle) observed Black Day