Union Minister of State for Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions and Prime Minister’s Office Shri V Narayanasamy has said that rtionline web portal is another milestone in the regime of RTI that will further promote participation of our citizens in the process of governance and policy making decisions of the Government.Speaking at the launch of the portal in New Delhi today he said though presently this facility has been provided to Central Ministries, DoPT will consider extending this facility to the subordinate and attached offices of Central Government also. The Minister also appealed to the State Governments to consider developing similar facility of filing online RTI applications. Referring to the RTI Act as one of the biggest achievements of our democracy, Shri Narayansamy said that it has empowered the citizenry in an unprecedented manner to participate in nation building by promoting transparency and accountability in the working of every public authority.
The rtionline web portal has been developed by National Informatics Centre (NIC) at the initiative of Department of Personnel and Training. The url of this portal is https://rtionline.gov.in.
This is a facility for the Indian Citizens to file RTI applications online and first appeals and also to make online payment of RTI fees. The prescribed fees can be paid through Internet banking of State Bank of India and its associate banks as well as by Credit/Debit cards of Visa/Master, through the payment gateway of SBI linked to this site.This facility is available for all the Ministries/Departments of Govt. of India.
This system provides for online reply of RTI applications/ first appeals, though reply could be sent by regular post also. This system works as RTI MIS also. The details of RTI applications received through post could also be entered into this system. The citizens can also check the real time status of their RTI applications/first appeals filed online.
Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has notified that the Aadhaar Card is a valid proof for opening of a bank account under the Know Your Customer (KYC) scheme.
RBI vide its circular dated 28.09.2011 has advised banks to accept the Aadhar letter issued by Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) as an officially valid document for opening bank accounts without any limitations applicable to small accounts. Further, the RBI has also advised the banks vide its circular dated 10.12.2012 that if the address provided by the account holder is the same as that on Aadhaar letter, it may be accepted as a proof of both identity and address.
This was stated by Shri Namo Narain Meena, MoS in the Ministry of Finance in written reply to a question in the Lok Sabha.
FINANCE (PENSION) DEPARTMENT
G.O.No.349, Dated: 12th August, 2013
Pension – Tamil Nadu Pension Rules, 1978 – Amendment to rule 9 of the Tamil Nadu Pension Rules, 1978 – Orders – Issued.
Read the following:-
G.O.Ms.No.31, Personnel and Administrative Reforms (N) Department, dated: 23.02.2012.
ORDER:
In para 3 of the Government order read above, among others, it has been ordered that the disciplinary cases of the pensioners who belong to State service alone be sent to the Government and other cases shall be dealt with by the Heads of the Department concerned.
2. Based on the above said Government Order, the following amendment is made to Rule-9 of Tamil Nadu Pension Rules, 1978 and accordingly the following Notification will be published in the Tamil Nadu Government Gazette, Extraordinary, dated: 12.8.2013.
NOTIFICATION
In exercise of the powers conferred by the proviso to Article 309 of the Constitution of India, the Governor of Tamil Nadu hereby makes the following amendments to the Tamil Nadu Pension Rules, 1978:-
AMENDMENTS
In the said Rules, in rule 9, –
(1) in the marginal heading, “ for the expression “Government”, the expression “competent authority” shall be substituted;
(2) in sub-rule (1), –
(a) in clause (a), –
(i) for the expression “The Government reserve to themselves”, the expression “The competent authority reserves to itself” shall be substituted;
(ii) for the first proviso, the following proviso shall be substituted, namely:-
“Provided that before passing an order under this clause, if the pensioner does not agree to such withholding or withdrawal of the pension, the Tamil Nadu Public Service Commission shall be consulted by the Government. In respect of pensioners who belonged to service other than the State Service, the Head of the Department concerned shall refer the case to the Government and the Government, after consulting the Tamil Nadu Public Service Commission, shall intimate the views of the Commission to the Head of the Department concerned for issue of final orders. The Tamil Nadu Public Service Commission
need not be consulted in cases where the pensioner agrees to withholding or withdrawal of the pension but a copy of the orders passed by the competent authority in such cases shall be sent to the said Commission:”;
(b) in clause (b), –
(i) for the expression
“the Government shall also have the right of ordering recovery”, the expression “the competent authority shall also have the right of ordering recovery ” shall be substituted;
(ii) for the proviso, the following proviso shall be substituted, namely:-
“Provided that before passing an order under this clause, the Tamil Nadu Public Service Commission shall be consulted by the
Government in respect of pensioners belonged to State Service and in respect of pensioners who belonged to service other than State Service, the Head of the Department concerned, after arriving at the amount of recovery, shall refer the case to the Government and the Government, after consulting the Tamil Nadu Public Service Commission shall intimate the views of the Commission to the Head of the Department concerned for issue of final orders.”;
(2) in sub rule(2), –
(a) in clause (a), for the proviso, the following proviso shall be substituted, namely: –
“Provided that where the departmental proceedings are instituted by an authority subordinate to the Government, that authority shall submit a report recording its findings to the Government in case of pensioners who belonged to the State Service;
(b) in clause (b), in sub-clause (i), the expression “in respect of pensioners who belonged to State Service” shall be added at the end;
(2) in sub-rule (5), for the expression “Where the Government decide”, the expression “Where the competent authority decides” shall be substituted;
(3) after sub-rule (6), the following sub-rule shall be added, namely:-
“(7) For the purpose of this rule, the term ‘competent authority’ shall mean the Government in respect of the pensioners who belonged to State Service and the Head of the Department concerned in respect of other pensioners.” .
(BY ORDER OF THE GOVERNOR)
K. SHANMUGAM,
PRINCIPAL SECRETARY TO GOVERNMENT.
Original Order :
http://cms.tn.gov.in/sites/default/files/gos/fin_e_349_2013_0.pdf
The current Pension Rules provide that after the death of pensioner and his/her spouse a fresh Pension Payment Order would be issued for children and dependent parents for grant of family pension to them. Difficulties were being faced by disabled children/siblings and old parents in getting the family pension sanctioned after the death of the employee/pensioner.
The Government has therefore decided that an employee/pensioner/family pensioner may at anytime make a request to the Appointing Authority for advance approval to the grant of family pension for life to a permanently disabled child/sibling or dependent parents. On the basis of this approval, authorisation shall be made in the original Pension Payment Order (PPO) at the time of retirement or by issuing a revised authority. The permanently disabled child/sibling/ dependent parents will receive family pension at the appropriate time, i.e., after the death of employee/pensioner and/or after the death/ineligibility of any other member in the family who was eligible to receive family pension prior to the disabled child/sibling/dependent parents.
Where there are other eligible prior claimants to family pension, the names of disabled child/children/dependent parents/permanently disabled sibling will be added to the PPO issued to the preceding eligible family pensioner. Family pension to these permanently disabled child/children/siblings/dependent parents will be payable after the death/ineligibility of the prior claimant, as the case maybe.
Detailed instructions are available in OM No. 1/27/2011-P&PW(E), dated July 01, 2013 at the website of Department of Pension & Pensioners’ Welfare www.persmin.nic.in.
The data of the freedom fighters and their eligible dependents drawing Central Samman pension, provided by various Public Sector banks, was scrutinized by Internal Audit Wing of Ministry of Home Affairs. The audit made observations regarding discrepancies observed by them in disbursal of pension to the freedom fighters/dependents. The data indicated a number of identical names of the pensioners/eligible dependents. Since complete details such as father’s/husband’s names, addresses, correct Pension Payment Orders’ numbers in many cases had not been provided by the banks, they were advised to reconcile and update the data after verification. Some of the banks have reported discrepancies in disbursal of pension to the freedom fighters/dependents in a few cases which include disbursal of dependent family pension to the pensioners’ widows who themselves are Central Samman Pensioners, disbursal of full family pension to each of two widows of a deceased freedom fighter, crediting of pension to the accounts of the Central samman pensioners even after their death, and disbursal of State Pension from Central Government account. The concerned banks have been advised to disburse family pension to eligible dependents of Central samman pensioners in accordance with the instructions issued in this regard and to recover excess payments from the concerned pensioners/dependents. The banks who have disbursed State freedom fighters pension from the Central Government account have been advised to refund such payments along with penal interest. The Public Sector banks have taken steps to rectify the discrepancies in disbursal of Central samman pension. As per the information furnished by the banks, approximately Rs.76 lakh has been recovered by them and remitted to Central Government account. RBI and office of C&AG have been advised to conduct comprehensive audit of disbursal of pension by the banks and State Treasuries respectively.
This was stated by Shri R.P.N.Singh, Minister of State in the Ministry of Home Affairs in written reply to a question by Shri Uday Singh, Shri Asaduddin Owaisi in the Lok Sabha today.
No. 21-1/2011-E.II(B)
Government of India
Ministry of Finance
Department of Expenditure
***
North Block, New Delhi
Dated: 5th August, 2013
OFFICE MEMORANDUM
Subject : Grant of Transport Allowance to Orthopaedically handicapped Central Government Employees
The Undersigned is directed to refer to this Ministry’s Office Memorandum No.19029/1/78-E.IV (B) dated 3rd December, 1979, as amended from time to time and to say that the criteria for Orthopaedically handicapped employees to draw Transport Allowance at double the normal rates has been reviewed in consultation with the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare. It has been decided that in partial modification of para 1 of Office Memorandum dated 3rd December, 1979 referred above, Double Transport Allowance shall be allowed to an orthopaedically Handicapped Government Employees if he or she has a minimum of 40% permanent parial disability of either on or both upper limbs or one or both lower limbs OR 50% permanent partial disability of one or both upper limbs and one or both lower limbs combined. The other conditions of O.M. dated 3rd December, 1979 for granting Double Transport Allowance to orthopaedically handicapped Central Government Employees shall remain unchanged.
(K.R.Sharma)
Under Secretary to the Government of India
No.1/1/2013-IR
Government of India
Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions
Department of Personnel & Training
North Block, New Delhi
Dated: 12/08/2013
OFFICE MEMORANDUM
Subject: Extension of RTI web portal for online filing of RTI application.
In continuation of this Department’s O.M. of even number dated 22/04/2013, it is intimated that the facility of RTI online web portal has been extended to 37 Ministries/Departments of Government of India, so far (list enclosed). This facility would be extended to all the remaining Ministries/Departments of Government of India with effect from 21 st August, 2013. This facility is presently not proposed to be extended for field offices/attached/subordinate offices.
2. It is again requested that training to all the CPIOs and First Appellate Authorities (FAAs) may be provided by the concerned Ministry/Department, through the officials trained by DoPT/NIC. If required, further training can be provided by DoPT/NIC, on the request of the concerned Ministry/Department. User name/password to all the CPIOs and FAAs are to be provided by RTI Nodal Officers of the concerned Ministry/Department. It is imperative that the RTI Nodal Officers update the details of CPIOs/FAAs in the system and issue user name and password to them at the earliest.
3. The contents of this OM may be brought to the notice of all concerned.
(Manoj Joshi)
Joint Secretary
LIST OF MINISTRIES / DEPARTMENTS TO WHOM RTI ONLINE WEB PORTAL FACILITY HAS BEEN EXTENDED
1. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE RESEARCH & EDUCATION
2. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE & COOPERATION
3. DEPARTMENT OF ANIMAL HUSBANDRY, DAIRYING & FISHERIES
4. DEPARTMENT OF AYUSH
5. DEPARTMENT OF CHEMICALS & PETROCHEMICALS
6. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
7. DEPARTMENT OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS
8. DEPARTMENT OF DISINVESTMENT
9. DEPARTMENT OF FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
10. DEPARTMENT OF INDUSTRIAL POLICY & PROMOTION
11. DEPARTMENT OF PERSONNEL & TRAINING
12. DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC ENTERPRISES
13. MINISTRY OF CULTURE
14. MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
15. MINISTRY OF FOOD PROCESSING INDUSTRIES
16. MINISTRY OF HEALTH & FAMILY WELFARE
17. MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS
18. MINISTRY OF INFORMATION & BROADCASTING
19. MINISTRY OF PANCHAYATI RAJ
20. MINISTRY OF POWER
21 MINISTRY OF ROAD TRNSPORT & HIGHWAYS
22.MINISTRY OF STEEL
23. PRESIDENT SECRETARIAT
24.VICE-PRESIDENT SECRETARIAT
25. MINISTRY OF WATER RESOURCES
26. UNION PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION
27. DEPARTMENT OF ECONOMIC AFFAIRS
28. DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE
29. DEPARTMENT OF YOUTH AFFAIRS
30. MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT & FORESTS
31.DEPARTMENT OF HEAVY INDUSTRY
32. MINISTRY OF TOURISM
33. MINISTRY OF SOCIAL JUSTICE & EMPOWERMENT
34. MINISTRY OF SHIPPING
35. MINISTRY OF CORPORATE AFFAIRS
36. PLANNING COMMISSION
37. DEPARTMENT OF ADMINISTRATIVE REFORMS & PG
Women Short Service Commissioned Officers (SSCOs) of all Arms/ services are eligible for substantive promotion to non select ranks of Captain, Major and Lieutenant Colonel on completion of two, six and 13 years of reckonable commissioned service respectively, at par with Men SSCOs. However, old term optee Women SSCOs and Men SSCOs are governed by different terms and conditions. Based on their respective terms and conditions, old term optee Women SSCOs are eligible for substantive rank of Captain on completion of five year of service, while old term optee Men SSCOs are eligible for promotion to quasi-substantive rank of Captain on completion of nine years of service.
Presently, Permanent Commission is applicable to Women officers from Army Education Corps and Judge Advocate General branch. These women officers are being considered for promotion to the select rank, based on the same criteria as applicable to Male officers.
Navy:
In the Indian Navy, officers are eligible for substantive promotion to the rank of Lieutenant, Lieutenant Commander, Commander and Captain (Time Scale) after completion of 2 years as Sub Lieutenant, 4 years from the date of promotion of Substantive Lieutenant, 11 years from the date of promotion of Substantive Lieutenant and 26 years of reckonable commissioned service respectively. Promotions on these lines are subject to officers fulfilling other criteria as per extant rules. This policy is equally applicable to both men and women officers.
Air Force:
In the Air Force, officers are eligible for substantive promotion to the rank of Flt. Lieutenant, Squadron Leader, Wing Commander and Group Captain (Time Scale) after completion of 2 years, 6 years, 13 years and 26 years of reckonable commissioned service respectively. Promotions on these lines are subject to officers fulfilling other criteria as per extant rules. This policy is equally applicable to both men and women officers.
This information was given by Defence Minister Shri AK Antony in a written reply to Shri A.K.S. Vijayanin Lok Sabha today.
As per the present system, recruitment of Other Ranks (ORs) in Army is carried out through Open Rally System and efforts are made to cover each district of the country by recruitment rallies at least once in a recruitment year. As the location of the recruitment centre has little bearing on the recruitment process, there is no proposal to open new recruitment centres. Further, no new training centres for recruits in Army is envisaged.
Two stray incidents of violence have occurred due to overcrowding in recruitment rallies at Gaya (May, 2012) and Agra (July, 2012) leading to loss of life and property. A number of measures have been taken to obviate recurrence of such incidents. These include close coordination with civil administration for maintenance of law and order and adequate police cover during recruitment rallies; increasing the number of rallies to reduce crowding; development of automation of recruitment activities at rally site; continuous refining of recruitment procedure etc.
This information was given by Defence Minister Shri AK Antony in a written reply to ShriS. Pakkirappa and Shri Kapil Muni Karwariyain Lok Sabha today.
New Health Insurance Scheme 2012 for the employees of Government Departments and Organisations covered under this Scheme- Consolidated List of Hospitals covered under the Scheme based on the recommendations of the Accreditation Committee for empanelment of Hospitals- Notified – Orders Issued.
Read:
1. G.O.Ms.No.139 Finance (Sal.) Department, dated, 27.04.2012.
2. G.O.Ms.No.243 Finance (Sal.) Department, dated, 29.06.2012.
3. G.O. Ms.No.309 Finance (Sal.) Department, dated, 14.08.2012.
4. From the Commissioner of Treasuries and Accounts, Lr.Rc.No.33701/2012 NHIS/ dated 23.04.2013, 28.5.2013 & 04.06.2013.
*****
ORDER:
In the Government Order first read above, orders have been issued for the implementation of New Health Insurance Scheme 2012 to provide Health Care Assistance to the employees of Government Departments, Public Sector Undertakings, Statutory Boards, Local Bodies, State Government Universities, Willing State Government Organisations/Institutions and their eligible family members with a provision to avail assistance up to Rs.4.00 lakhs (Rupees four lakhs only) for a block of 4 years on selection of a suitable Public Sector Insurance Company through National competitive bidding.
2. In the Government order second read above, the Government has awarded the tender to United India Insurance Company Limited and the said Company has executed an agreement with the Government for the implementation of the New Health Insurance Scheme, 2012.
3. As per the orders issued in the Government order second read above, the additional list of Hospitals covered under the scheme will have to be notified and also hosted on the websites of Government of Tamil Nadu in Finance Department, Treasuries and Accounts Department, United India Insurance Company Limited and Third Party Administrator for reference from time to time.
4. In the Government Order third read above, Government has constituted an Accreditation Committee for empanelment of accredited hospitals and to monitor the quality of treatment consisting of the Commissioner of Treasuries and Accounts, the Director of Medical and Rural Health Services and a representative of the United India Insurance Company Limited.
5. As per the orders issued in para 6 of the Government order third read above, the Accreditation Committee shall submit a report to Government with specific recommendation for accreditation of Hospitals under the New Health Insurance Scheme, 2012 within three months from the date of formation of the Committee.
6. In the letter fourth read above the Commissioner of Treasuries and Accounts has forwarded the recommendations of the Accreditation Committee for empanelment of Hospitals and requested orders at Government level.
7. The Government after careful examination of the recommendations of the Accreditation Committee hereby issues the following orders:
i. The consolidated list of approved hospitals as in Annexure I shall be notified for availing assistance under New Health Insurance Scheme 2012;
ii. The list of hospitals providing cashless assistance since inception of the New Health Insurance Scheme 2012 and which are in the process of signing Memorandum of Understanding shall be notified as in Annexure II.
iii. The list of District wise and other State Co-ordinators and Nodal Officers under New Health Insurance Scheme 2012 shall be notified as in Annexure III.
iv. The list of 21 hospitals as in Annexure IV which were already included in the list of 167 hospitals in the Government order second read above shall be deleted from the list of network hospitals under the New Health Insurance Scheme 2012.
(BY ORDER OF THE GOVERNOR)
K.SHANMUGAM
PRINCIPAL SECRETARY TO GOVERNMENT
Original Order & Annexure I for LIST OF APPROVED HOSPITALS UNDER NEW HEALTH INSURANCE SCHEME – 2012 :
