Department of Posts has won the Today’s Traveller Award for Best Customer Service Organisation for the year 2011. The award was presented by Shri Subodh Kant Sahai, Union Minister of Tourism here on 23rd August 2011.
The award citation says “Department of Posts has done a commendable job in reaching every citizen of India with its path-breaking innovations. There has been a major transformation in Department of Posts’ manpower development, whereby both the front and back office staff and the entire personnel make sincere efforts to understand and address customer’s needs, respond to their inquiries/complaints and provide efficient and reliable services with a good degree of enthusiasm.”
Government vide order read above, have introduced Paternity Leave to a male Government Servant for 10 days each for two children at the time of delivery of his wife.
The following instructions are issued for the guidance of the leave sanctioning authorities:
(i) Paternity leave will be granted for a period of 10 days during the confinement of his wife for child birth ie upto l0 days before or upto 3 months from the date of delivery of the child, subject to the production of a certificate from the medical practitioner stating the exact date of delivery.
(ii) During such period of 10 days he shall be paid leave salary as admissible under rule 92, Part I, Kerala Service Rules.
(iii) It will be allowed to combine with other kinds of leave except leave without allowance under Appendix XII A/B/C, Kerala Service Rules.
(iv) This leave shall not be debited against the leave account but the leave details should be entered in the Service Book of the employee and also in the register of special leave referred to in the Government decision below Rule 106, Part-I, Kerala Service Rules.
(v) If Paternity Leave is not availed of within the period specified in Sub rule (i) such leave shall be treated as lapsed.
These orders shall have retrospective effect from 26/2/2011.
Necessary amendments to Kerala Service Rules will be issued separately.
Pay Revision 2009 -Secretariat Service – Post of Gunman and Security Guard in the office of the Chief Secretary – Special Allowance – sanctioned- Orders issued
Government are pleased to sanction special allowance @ Rs 150 p.m to the Gunman in the office of the Chief Secretary and to enhance the rate of existing special allowance of Rs.80 to Rs.150 p.m to the Security Guard working in the office of the Chief Secretary, with effect from 01.08.2011.
Minutes of the DC/JCM (RAILWAYS) Meeting Held between Railway Board and Staff Side on 4th May & 29th June, 2010
Shri M. Raghavaiah has brought out the following issues for quick response from the Board as the workers are disappointed over the delay in resolving the same satisfactorily.
I. In CRC no substantial result in the last 18 months
CRC exercise should be undertaken on Fast Track.
II. Running Staff issues
Relating to revision of Kilometerage Rate, date of effect from 01-01-2006, Pay Fixation on posting against Stationery post, grant of Additional Allowance to all Running Staff, Restoration of ALK to the medically de-categorized Loco Pilots deployed to perform the duties of Crew Controllers should be redressed without further delay. In the separate meeting held between the Railway Board and NFIR on 24-06-2011, discussions were held at length on all these issues. The Federation has given rationale proposals justifying revision of Kilometerage Rates w.e.f 01-01-2006 onwards. All these issues should be sorted out very early.
III. There are 2.2 Lakh vacancies on Indian Railways
Staff are heavily overburdened. Immediate steps required.
IV. Quasi Administrative Staff
This is a long pending issue. While orders for introduction of “Substitutes Engagement Scheme” since issued, the Quasi Administrative Staff absorption continued unsettled inspite of separate discussions and encouraging response from Member Staff.
V. Duty hours of ECRCs
No action on the agreement arrived at in a separate meeting held with AM (Comml.) till date. Sanctity of Board’s orders (by an agreement with the Staff Side) to be retained and counter working hours to be limited to 6 hours per shift.
VI. Negotiated settlement of February, 2006 – Casual Labour attained temporary status.
Counting of entire service of Temporary Status Casual Labour for the purpose of
Pensionary benefits:-
Although Railway Board had agreed and proposal sent to DOP&T, the same has not been decided favourably. Railway Ministry should impress upon the DOP&T about complex working of Railways and re-consider the matter.
VII. With 51% DA, Running Staff Allowance /ALK needs to be hiked by 25%.
VIII. MACPS has created a lot of problems
There are aberrations noticed while granting Financial Upgradation under MACPS to staff which led to dissatisfaction. The fact that several changes had taken place in the cadres like abolition/ upgradation of grades during the previous years was not taken into account. NFIR had already addressed of letters to Railway Board through its letters to examine all these issues in depth for finding solution. NFIR specifically pointed out the injustice meted out to the former CG–II/ CG–I of Accounts Department in respect of grant of MACP. Those recruited as JAA later on got the advantage of MACPS while those incumbents recruited as CG–II/ CG–I initially are deprived of MACP. This needs to be reviewed for granting benefit to the staff, as the structural changes done replacing CG–I with JAA.
Needs separate discussions, particularly in the light of meeting held between the DOP&T and Staff Side on 15-03-2011. In the meantime, Zonal Railways may be advised not to withdraw the benefit extended to some categories (Drawing Office Staff, Pharmacists, etc.).
IX. In Health Directorate order dated 03-05-2011, the last sentence needs to be modified and revised orders issued, covering past cases relating to Type-II diabetes case of Running Staff, etc.
X. In LARSGESS Scheme, Compassionate Ground appointment policy should be applied.
XI. Pay Commission anomalies
Proposals on Seven core issues have been sent by Railway Ministry to MOF one year back. There has been no progress. This needs to be pursued. The Federation has also brought this matter to the notice of Hon’ble Ministers of State for Railways in the General Managers’ Conference held on 11-06-2011.
XII. Promotion to higher post with no Grade Pay Benefit
This anomaly is prevalent in Running Staff category. This needs to be rectified by allotting higher Grade Pay on promotion.
XIII. RELHS-97 Scheme needs to be an open-ended scheme.
XIV. Welfare activities are totally ignored due to shortage of funds. Quarters/Colonies are in a very bad shape. Immediate action required.
XV. On West Central Railway, Substitute Teachers put in 18 years continuous service are not screened done for regularization inspite of provision exists for absorption on completion of 3 years. These staff deserve to be regularized
XVI. Quantum of punishment in VIth CPC Pay – Board’s order needs review for meeting hardship to staff.
XVII. Anomaly arisen in the case of Senior Loco Inspectors should be resolved. The issue was discussed in the EDs Committee also.
XVIII. Action may be taken for implementation of Joint Committee Report on career growth of Trackmen category and package on working/service conditions.
XIX. Pass entitlement order be made applicable for RCP and Retired Staff also.
While concluding, Mr. M. Raghavaiah wished Member Staff, Shri V.N.Tripathi and family members a happy and prosperous retired life and assured NFIR’s continued affection in future days also.
The Union Minister for Communication and Information Technology, Shri Kapil Sibal today informed Rajya Sabha in written reply to a question that the Telecom Unsolicited Commercial Communications (UCC) Regulation, 2007, issued by the TRAI has not been fully effective and needed revision. Accordingly TRAI has issued “The Telecom Commercial Communications Customer Preference Regulations, 2010” on 1st December 2010 with the objective to provide an effective mechanism for curbing Unsolicited Commercial Communications.
The Telecom Commercial Communications Customer Preference Regulations, 2010 have been framed keeping in view the interest of the customers and telemarketers while ensuring effective implementation. These regulations, inter-alia, provide for the following punitive action:-
Deduction from Security Deposit of telemarketers ranging from Rs. 25,000/- to Rs. 2.5 Lakhs
Disconnection of Telecom resources of defaulting telemarketers
Provision of blacklisting of telemarketers
Provision of disconnection of resources of unregistered telemarketers
Financial disincentive on Access Service Providers ranging from Rupees on lakh to Ten lakhs
The Union Labour & Employment Minister Shri Mallikarjun Kharge has informed the Rajya Sabha that the Expert Committee constituted by the Central Government to review the Employees’ Pension Scheme, 1995 has submitted its report on 5th August, 2010, which is under consideration of the Central Board of Trustees (EPF). The report also includes recommendations on contribution to be made by all concerned viz. employers, employees and Central Government under various options.
The Minister was replying to a written question whether Government has completed a review of the recommendations of the committee appointed to look into the various aspects of Employees Pensions Scheme (EPS) 1995.
There is no such proposal to close the inoperative Employees Provident Fund accounts. However, from 1st April, 2011, interest is not being credited to the account of a member from the date on which it has become inoperative account.
As per un-audited Annual Accounts of the Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation, an amount of Rs. 14,914.81 Crore is lying in Inoperative Accounts of the Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation as on 31.03.2011.
Regarding returning the money in Inoperative accounts to their account holder, publicity through print media and electronic media is made to educate the members to file their claims for settlement or transfer to their existing account. Similarly, the employers’ and employees’ unions have also been requested to advise the members to file their claims for settlement.
This information was given by the Minister of Labour and Employment Shri Mallikarjun Kharge in reply to a written question in the Lok Sabha today.
Improvement in pension is an ongoing process. Though the demand for One Rank One Pension (OROP) has been considered by various Committees in the past but it has not been found feasible to accept it. However, keeping in mind the spirit of the demand a Committee was set up under the Chairmanship of Cabinet Secretary to look into the issue of OROP and other related matters, which submitted its report on 30.6.2009. The Committee made seven recommendations to substantially improve pensionary benefits of Personnel Below Officer Rank (PBOR) and Commissioned Officers, which have been accepted by the Government. Department of Ex-Servicemen Welfare, Ministry of Defence has accordingly issued orders in implementation of the same vide Government letters dated 30.10.2009, 19.1.2010, 20.1.2010 & 8.3.2010 which are also available on www.pcdapension.nic.in. These orders have substantially increased the pension of pre 2006 retirees.
The yearly statement of booking of Defence Pension Expenditure during and up to the month of March ending (2009-2010 & 2010-2011) shows that the total amount allotted for Defence Pension Expenditure has been booked in full and no amount is lying unspent. Further as per the reports received from various pension disbursing authorities including Public Sector Banks/Private Sector Banks almost 98.5% cases requiring revision have been cleared. Only few cases are pending for revision, which are also being pursued for early settlement.
The process of revision of pension is being monitored regularly by the Department of Ex-Servicemen Welfare (ESW), Controller General of Defence Accounts (CGDA) and the Department of Financial Services.
This information was given by Minister of State for Defence Shri MM PAllam Raju in written reply to Shri K.E. Ismail in Rajya Sabha today.
The Government constituted a Committee to evolve a comprehensive policy on the issue of autonomy of Higher Educational Institutions. The Terms of Reference of the Committee are as under:-
(i) To review the state of autonomy of Central Educational Institutions (CEIs) such as Central Universities, IITs and IIMs vis-à-vis bodies like the UGC as well as the Central Government.
(ii) To recommend mechanism for norm-based funding of CEIs for development and maintenance with an aim to enhancing financial autonomy of the institutions.
(iii) To examine the diffusion of autonomy within the CEIs and to suggest measures by which institutional autonomy can percolate to governance structures within the university and to the teacher.
(iv) To review and recommend measures on the present governance structures of the CEIs and to provide for substantive and procedural autonomy to them vis-à-vis the UGC and other Central Regulatory Bodies and the Central Government.
(v) To recommend measures for fostering accountability of CEIs as public institutions.
(vi) Any other issue relevant to the promotion of autonomy of Central Educational Institutions in a manner to achieve the objectives of the universities as stated in their respective statues and in the light of the recommendations of the Committee on Renovation and Rejuvenation of Higher Education (Yashpal Committee) and the National Knowledge Commission (NKC).
The Committee held consultations with stakeholders such as Directors of Indian Institutes of Management, Directors of Indian Institutes of Technology and Vice Chancellors of Central Universities before finalizing its report and submitting the same to the Ministry. The Ministry have constituted a Task Force to formulate the modalities for implementation of the recommendations of Committee.
This information was given by the Minister of State for Human Resource Development Dr. D. Purandeswari, in a written reply to a question, in the Lok Sabha today.
The Union Public Service Commission will hold the Indian Economic Service/Indian Statistical Service Examination (IES/ISS), 2011 commencing from December 03, 2011 for recruitment to Grade IV of the Indian Economic Service and Indian Statistical Service. The examination will be held at various centres across the country.
For details regarding eligibility conditions, the syllabus and scheme of the examination, centres of examination, guidelines for filling up application form etc. aspirants must consult the detailed notice of the examination published in the employment News/Rozgar Samachar dated July 30th, 2011 or the UPSC website www.upsc.gov.in.
Department of Posts has won the Today’s Traveller Award for Best Customer Service Organisation for the year 2011. The award was presented by Shri Subodh Kant Sahai, Union Minister of Tourism here on 23rd August 2011.