Thursday 30 June 2011

TALKS FAILED STRIKE INEVITABLE

DISCUSSION WITH POSTAL BOARD AGAIN FAILED

DEPARTMENT ADAMANT ON IMPLEMENTING McKINSEY RECOMMENDATIONS

CENTRAL JCA DECIDES TO GO AHEAD WITH THE STRIKE

The third round of discussion held with the Postal Board today (27.06.2011) at 3 PM also failed due to the adamant position taken by the Department. Ms. Radhika Doraiswamy, Secretary, Department of Posts, Sri. P. K. Gopinath, Member (Personnel), Mrs. Manjula Parashar, Member (Operations), Sri. Kamaleshwar Prasad, Member (HR) and other Senior Officers were present. Staff side was represented by Secretary Generals, NFPE, FNPO and other General Secretaries.

Immediately on commencement of the meeting the Staff Side expressed its strong resentment and protest against the decision of the Department to go ahead with the Mckinsey recommendations regarding Mail Network Optimization Project. The Staff side demanded that the already failed experiment of speed post hubs should be withdrawn immediately and the decision to implement first class mails hubs and delivery hubs and closure/merger of offices should be dropped. After heated discussion for about two hours no consensus could be arrived on this important agenda of the Charter of Demands. Hence meeting ended with disagreement.

The Central JCA met after the discussion with Postal Board and took the following decisions: -

1. The JCA unanimously decided to go ahead with the strike decision.

2. Campaign and preparations at grass root level for the strike should be further intensified.

3. The indefinite strike shall commence at 6 AM on 05.07.2011

4. 100% strike should be ensured in all Branches/Divisions and Circles.

5. Strike shall not be withdrawn unless and until result – oriented settlement is reached on important items of Charter of Demands.

Wednesday 29 June 2011

Enhancement of SB Allowances to PAs


Dte Memo No : 113-07 / 2010-SB
SB Order No. 10 / 2011.

Enhancement of SB Allowance to PAs working in Savings Bank Branches.

The undersigned is directed to refer to this office letter of No. 2-2/93-SB Dt. 08.10.2004 (SB Order No. 17/2004) vide which it was conveyed that Ministry of Finance (DEA) has conveyed its approval for increase in the SB Allowance from Rs.60 to Rs.150 & from Rs.30 to Rs.75 per month wef 08.10.04.

02. After implementation of 6th CPC, increase in teh SB Allowance was taken up with MoF (DEA), which has not vide its OM No. 17/1/2001-NS-II Dt. 10.06.11 has conveyed its approval for enhancement of SB Allowance as per the following rates wef 01.09.08.

01. Staff Fully engaged in SB / SC work - present Rs.150 - new rate from 01.09.08 Rs.300.
02. Staff Partially engaged in SB / SC work - present Rs.75 - new rate from 01.09.08 Rs.150.

03. All other conditions for grant of SB Allowances will remain unchanged.

Sd/-
S.Manik Lakra
ADG (FS)

Thursday 23 June 2011

EXPECTED DEARNESS ALLOWANCE(DA) JULY 2011

The most eagerly awaited payment for a central government employee is his DEARNESS ALLOWANCE.We know that the Dearness Allowance which is announced twice in a year (ie: in the month of January and July.) is being calculated on the basis of  AICPIN(IW).

Of all the allowances begetted by a central govt employee, it is only the DA that holds a special place.

The AICPIN for the month of January,February,March and April have been published.Based on these presently the percentage of DA is 56 %.The AICPIN for the month of May and June have to be still announced.Then only  the exact percentage of DA can be calculated.


For reducing inflation Reserve Bank of India often increasing the interest rates .As a results the inflation is controlled but not reduced.Hence chances for reduction of numbers in AICPIN  for the month of May and June are not visible.At the same time increase in numbers are also not there immediately.

If the same condition pervades for longer times there would be no doubt that the percentage of  dearness Allowance July 2011 would be 57 or 58%.


 MONTHAICPIN  % OF DA
 January 188 53
 February  185 54
 March 185 55
 April 186 56
 May - -
 June expected57 or 58

Wednesday 15 June 2011

LET ME THINK, "IF I AM AN ACTIVE MEMBER, OR JUST BELONG?"

Am I an active member, quite strong and bold,
Or, I am just satisfied because my name is enrolled ?
Do I know my constitution with goals and objectives,
Or just careless because known to my leaderships ?
Am I aware of the activities undertaken by my union,
Or just I have kept a watch on the problems of my own ?
Do I attend the meetings regularly and try to realize,
Or just stay at home and intend to criticize?
Do I keep any interest for welfare of the mass,
Or just satisfy my own, saying "Yes Boss"?
Do I like to come together with the flock?
Or just stay alone to find fault and knock? 
Have I ever visited a member who is sick?
Or shift the responsibility to a few and talk about the clique?
The existence of my Organization is at stake – Am I aware,
Or my status and pension are intact! – Am I quite sure?
Post Offices will be closed and A Company will rule,
If I don't react to save, won't I be a fool?
 Things will be outsourced and there will be a blow,
What shall I do and where shall I go?
Helter-skelter everywhere, false assurances perplexing,
Can't I do something to see my people smiling?
India is mine, so also India Post and its employees,
Right time has come for me to know and realize.
July 5th Indefinite Strike is the right occasion to answer,
Active participation for a total success irrespective of cadre.
If not this time, everything will be wrong,
Let me think, if I am an active member, or just belong?

Monday 13 June 2011

POSTAL JOINT COUNCIL OF ACTION

A meeting of NFPE, FNPO and GDS Union held at Delivery hall of Jalandhar City HO on 11/06/2011 to form JCA at Divisional Level. Sh.Dharam Pal Singh ( Divisional Secry NAPE Group C) was elected as President and Sh.Hazara Ram (Divisional Secry AIPEU Group C) was elected as Convener of JCA. It has been decided that JCA will serve the notice of strike to SSPOs Jalandhar Division on 14/06/2011 and then tour programme of the Division will be conducted to motivate the employees to participate in the Strike of 5th July.
Click here for Strike Notice
Click here for Charter of Demands

Thursday 9 June 2011

Recommendation of Shyamala Gopinath committee on NATIONAL SMALL SAVINGS FUND

Government Panel recommendations on small Investment Schemes
RBI Deputy Governor Shyamala Gopinath (left) presenting the report of the Committee on Comprehensive Review of National Small Saving Fund to Union Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee in New Delhi on Tuesday. 


NEW DELHI: A government panel, set up to review the small investment schemes of post offices and banks, has recommended discontinuation of the popular Kisan Vikas Patra, among other changes.


The committee has also proposed a 0.5% raise in the interest rate for post office savings account to 4%, reduction in the maturity period of National Savings Certificates (NSCs) to five years from six, and raising the annual contribution limit in Public Provident Fund ( PPF )) toRs 1 lakh, from the current Rs 70,000.

The panel, headed by Reserve Bank of India (RBI) deputy governor Shyamala Gopinath, submitted its report to the finance minister on Wednesday, a finance ministry statement said.

The proposals are in line with the suggestions made by experts, the RBI and commercial banks to ensure transparency, have market-linked rates, and reform the small savings plans offered by the government.


If the proposals are accepted, it could lead to big changes in the way the National Small Savings Fund (NSSF) is managed and the returns it generates for investors.

The finance ministry had formed the panel after it accepted the recommendations of the 13th Finance Commission to examine all aspects of the National Small Savings Fund.

To address the need for a long-term investment instrument, it has recommended introduction of a 10-year NSC scheme. The panel has also adviced benchmarking of interest rates on other small savings schemes to rates of government securities of similar maturity with positive spread of 25 basis points with two exceptions.

The first is 100 basis points spread for senior citizens' schemes, keeping in view its social objective, and the second is 50 basis points spread for the recommended 10-year NSC, keeping in view of its higher illiquidity.

These rates may be notified by the government afresh at the beginning of every financial year based on the average yields on government securities in the previous calendar year.

Bankers say the recommendations are in the right direction. "We will have to study them in detail, but it certainly looks like a first step in the right direction," said RK Bansal, executive director, IDBI Bank .

The committee has proposed that the mandatory component of investment of net small savings collections in state government securities be reduced to 50%. States can access up to 80% of NSSF for financing their annual expenditure.

The funds are given as a 25-year loan carrying 9.5% interest, higher than rates at which states can borrow from the market.

The balance amount could either be invested in central government securities or could be on-lent to other states on basis of requirement or could be lent for financing infrastructure projects requiring long-term finance, according to the panel.

It has been proposed that the tenure of these loans may be reduced from the current 25 years, including moratorium of 5 years, to 10 years.

Monday 6 June 2011

SB LATEST ORDERS

PAYMENT OF DEPOSITS/CERTIFICATES BELONG TO MINORS- A CLARIFICATION REGARDING.


SB ORDER NO. 8/2011
F.No.113-01/2011-SB
Government of India
Ministry of Communications & IT
Department of Posts
Dak Bhawan, Sansad Marg,
New Delhi-110001, Dated: 25.05.2011

To

All Heads of Circles/Regions
Addl. Director General, APS, New Delhi.

Subject: - Payment of deposits/certificates belong to minors- a clarification                     regarding.

Sir / Madam,

            The undersigned is directed to say that this office is in receipt of complaints regarding insistence of issuing cheques of maturity/premature value of deposits/certificates in the name of minors instead of guardians by some post offices when at the time of payment, the minor not attained majority causing hardship to the depositors/certificate holders.

2.         This issue has been examined in detail in this office and based on the provisions made in Section 10 of the Government Savings Bank Act 1873 and Section 5 of the Government Savings Certificate Act 1959, following clarification is being issued:-

In case of accounts:-

Payment of deposits to minor or guardian:-

(a) In case of Minor Account opened by guardian on behalf of minor where at the time of payment minor not attained majority, all payments should be made to the guardian after taking prescribed certificate. In case, minor attained majority before date of payment, prescribed procedure for conversion of account from the name of guardian to the name of minor who attained majority should be followed and payment should not be made to the guardian.

(ii) In case of individual accounts opened by minors of the age of 10 years or above in Savings/RD/TD or MIS schemes, all payments should be made to the minor himself who made the deposits irrespective of minor attained majority or not.

In case of certificates:-

Payment of certificates to minor or guardian:-

(i) In case of certificates purchased by guardian on behalf of minor, where at the time of payment, minor not attained majority, all payments should be made to the guardian after taking prescribed certificate. In case, minor attained majority before date of payment, prescribed procedure for conversion of certificate from the name of guardian to the name of minor who attained majority should be followed and payment should not be made to the guardian.

(ii) In case of certificates applied by minor and issued in the name of minor, all payments should be made to the minor himself who applied for issue of certificates irrespective of minor attained majority or not.

3. It is requested to bring this clarification to the notice all post offices for strict compliance.

4. This issues with the approval of DDG(FS).

Yours faithfully,
(Kawal Jit Singh)
Assistant Director (SB)

EXTENSION OF PPF SCHEME UP TO POST OFFICES WITH SANCTIONED STRENGTH OF 2+1 ('A' CLASS POST OFFICE) W.E.F 1.7.2011


SB ORDER NO. 7/2011
F.No.32-01/2011-SB
Government of India
Ministry of Communications & IT
Department of Posts
Dak Bhawan, Sansad Marg,
New Delhi-110001, Dated: 25.05.2011
To
            All Heads of Circles/Regions
            Addl. Director General, APS, New Delhi
.
Subject: - Extension of PPF Scheme up to Post Offices with sanctioned                           strength of 2+1 ('A' class post office) w.e.f 1.7.2011.

Sir / Madam,

            The undersigned is directed to say that PPF Scheme was introduced by the Government through PPF Act 1968 and was initially made operational through designated bank branches. The Scheme was introduced up to Head Post Level w.e.f 1.1.1979 and further extended up to LSG Post Offices w.e.f 1.7.1988. A review has been undertaken in this office to expand its operations to other Post Offices and it has been decided to expand the operation of this scheme up to 'A' class post offices i.e where one SPM and 2 PAs are sanctioned

2.         The scheme will be made operational in such post offices w.e.f 1.7.2011. It is pertinent to mention that the scheme is a centralized one under which second set of data is to be maintained in SBSO at HPOs like savings account and all functions like Opening of account, registration of nomination, Interest Calculation, Sanction of Loan, Sanction of Withdrawal, Closure Sanction etc. are to be done at HPO level.

3.         It is requested to circulate this letter to all Head Post Offices and 'A' Class post offices along with sufficient copies of all related forms/ledgers so that no one can find it difficult to make the scheme operational. It may also be ensured that working strength of such post offices may not become single handed at any point of time. Copy of PPF Rules framed by Min. of Finance under PPF Act 1968 and PPF operative rules given in POSB Manual Vol-I are enclosed for circulation to such post offices.

            This issues with the approval of Secretary Posts.
Yours faithfully,
(Kawal Jit Singh)
Assistant Director (SB)

Thursday 2 June 2011

01/06/2011
POSTAL JOINT COUNCIL OF ACTION DECIDES

TO SERVE STRIKE NOTICE ON 14TH JUNE 2011
INDEFINITE STRIKE WILL COMMENCE FROM 5TH JULY 2011
The Central JCA comprising  FNPO ,NFPE and GDS Unions has decided to serve
the notice for the Indefinite strike to Secretary, Department of Posts, on 14th June 2011.
The Indefinite Strike will commence on 5th July 2011. Copy of the strike notice will
served to all Chief PMGs, PMGs and Divisional Superintendents after
conducting massive demonstrations. All are requested to make the programme
a grand success. Copy of the strike notice will be exhibited on 6th June in
all the Websites. Central JCA leaders are meeting at Delhi on 06.06.2011 at 11:00 AM

Wednesday 1 June 2011

9 Post offices to get ATMs soon in Tamilnadu

10 lakh postal savings bank account-holders are expected to benefitChennai GPO is one of post offices where the Postal Department will set up an ATM.

CHENNAI: The Department of Posts will soon set up automated teller machines (ATM) in Chennai GPO and eight head post offices in the city and surrounding areas for its savings bank customers.
Officials of the postal department said that steps are being taken to earmark sites measuring 80 sq. ft. at the post offices. The eight HPOs are: Anna Road, T.Nagar, Mylapore, St.Thomas Mount, Park Town, Ambattur, Avadi Camp and Tambaram.
Post Master General (Chennai City Region) M. S. Ramanujam said that measures are under way to computerise the transactions of the savings account as part of the department's move to provide core banking solutions. The civil work for establishing the ATMs would begin in about two months. Customers would be able to make use of the facilities by the end of the current fiscal.
Nearly 10 lakh account holders in the nine post offices are expected to benefit from the 24-hour ATM facilities. Once the facility is in place, customers need not spend time waiting at the counters to withdraw cash. With the postal banking services popular among senior citizens, the ATMs would be immensely beneficial to them.
This would also help in cutting down the transaction cost for the department. The Department of Posts is in the process of floating tender seeking bids from ATM equipment suppliers as the facility is being introduced in various postal circles in many States.
Officials of the postal department said that the ATMs to be installed in the HPOs could also be eventually used by the customers who hold accounts with banks. The facilities would be governed by the guidelines prescribed by the Reserve Bank of India.
Such ATM facilities would be set up in the nearly 100 head post offices across the State. The department also plans to extend the service in other post offices across Tamil Nadu in a phased manner depending on the customer response, the officials added.