Government to set the terms of 7th Pay Panel today

Government to set the terms of 7th Pay Panel today

NEW DELHI: The union cabinet will on Thursday freeze the terms of reference of the seventh pay commission, allowing the government to take credit for recalibration of salaries of central government employees that could take up to two years.

The cabinet will also consider a proposal to set up a non-statutory coal regulator and also another one to convert 7,200 kms of state roads to national highways, which could come handy when the UPA seeks votes.

The seventh pay commission will be headed by retired Supreme Court judge Ashok Kumar Mathur. It will submit its report in 19 months and the award will be effective January 2016, the government had said earlier this month.

The award will benefit nearly 35 lakh central government employees and also cover defence personnel.

The commission will have Petroleum and Natural Gas Secretary Vivek Rae as full time member while Rathin Roy, Director, National Institute of Public Finance and Policy will be a part time member. The terms of reference will spell out the categories of employees covered by the review that seeks to adjusts salaries usually after a decade. In the interim, central government employees get two installments of dearness allowance every year to compensate for price rise.

The government can also task the commission with any other issue tied to employee compensation.

Source: http://economictimes.indiatimes.com

Govt likely to increase and merge dearness allowance with basic pay: ToI News

Thursday, February 20, 2014

Govt likely to increase and merge dearness allowance with basic pay: ToI News

NEW DELHI: The government may increase and merge dearness allowance (DA) with basic pay with the Union Cabinet expected to include the proposal as part of the terms of reference of the 7th pay commission.

The move will facilitate announcement of interim relief to more than 50 lakh government employees and 30 lakh pensioners by the newly-constituted pay commission before the code of conduct for the Lok Sabha polls come into force.

Central government employees unions have been demanding that besides raising DA to 100%, the government should revise the pay and merge DA with basic pay, considering market inflation and price hike of essential commodities.

As per practice, DA is merged with basic pay when it breaches the 50% mark. DA merger helps employees as their other allowances are paid as a proportion of basic pay.

An official said if merger of 50% DA with basic pay was decided, it could lead to hike in salary by around 30-35%. He added that there were instances of announcing interim relief to employees apart from DA by a newly constituted pay commission prior to their implementation.

Merger of 50% DA with basic pay was done in the 5th pay commission, but the 6th commission did not recommended it.

The Centre is expected to announce next month a hike in dearness allowance by 10% which would make it 100% of basic pay. It will be the second double digit DA hike in a row as the government had announced a hike of 10% in September last year, effective from July 1, 2013.

An official said hike in DA will not be less than 10% and would be effective from January 1 this year.

 

Retirement Age 62 - All set to hike central retirement age to 62 years

Wednesday, February 19, 2014

Retirement Age 62 - All set to hike central retirement age to 62 years

It may sound like ridiculous as number of times articles regarding this topic has published in different websites and newspapers. But as per our sources and media reports, centre finally decided to hike retirement age to 62 years.The process has received PM's nod and awaiting cabinet approval which is likely to be obtained in the next meeting.

The newly set up seventh CPC has recommended this hike in an interim report which got Govt. approval.

 

As per information available with us, this move will not benefit those who are going to be superannuated in this month or those who are already in extension.

Source : www.paycommissionupdate.blogspot.in

[http://paycommissionupdate.blogspot.in/2014/02/all-set-to-hike-central-retirement-age.html]

Dharwad Head Post Office ( NK Region, Karnataka Circle ) successfully migrated to Finacle CBS on 19-02-2014

Thursday, February 20, 2014

Dharwad Head Post Office ( NK Region, Karnataka Circle ) successfully migrated to Finacle CBS on 19-02-2014

Dharwad Head Post Office ( NK Region, Karnataka Circle ) successfully migrated to Finacle CBS on 19-02-2014 

 

Sri B P Sarangi, Postmaster General, NK Region inaugurated the CBS Migration by cutting the ribbon.

 

Sri M Nagesh SSPOs Dharwad Division and Sri S P Kadadi Postmaster Dharwad HO were presentduring the inauguration.

News by : Postmaster, Dharwad HO, 580001

All post offices to start working on new technology by 2015 - Finance Minister P Chidambaram

Tuesday, February 18, 2014

All post offices to start working on new technology by 2015 - Finance Minister P Chidambaram

Finance Minister P Chidambaram

NEW DELHI, FEB 17: All 1.55 lakh post offices will starting working using modern technology by next year, Finance Minister P Chidambaram said today.

“The IT modernisation project of the Department of Posts with outlay of Rs. 4,909 crore will be operational by 2015 in all 1.55 lakh locations,” the finance minister said.

The IT modernisation project with this outlay was approved by Cabinet Committee of Economic Affairs (CCEA) in November 2012. It has to be implemented through eight projects which include core banking system technology, IT-based management at post offices, business intelligence system to analyse and project new business opportunity.

The project aims at increasing efficiency, quickening transactions and enhancing transparency at all 1.55 lakh post offices in the country.

Under the project all rural post offices are to be provided with 1,30,000 handheld devices which will come with smart card readers for financial transactions, solar panels for charging them, biometric readers for immediate identification and thermal printers for immediate printing of receipt.

The devices will enable post offices to deliver services at the door step of the customer.

The postal department has computerised about 25,000 departmental post offices but rural post offices will be provided handheld devices for digitising records.

(This article was published on February 17, 2014)

Monday, February 17, 2014

DOP sought clarification about the defination of Central Govt. Employees for inclusion of GDS employees within the purview of 7CPC.

To view copy of DO letter No. 17-13/2014-GDS dated 17.2.2014 issued by Member (P) to Joint Secretary (Estt) DoPT, please CLICK HERE.

Circle Conference of IP/ASP Association, AP Circle Branch on 08/09.03.2014

During the Circle Working Committee meeting of the All India Association of Inspectors & Asst Supdt Posts, Andhra Pradesh Circle Branch held on 01.02.2014, it was decided to hold the biennial Circle conference on 08 & 09 th March 2014. 

The venue of the conference is Regional Telecom Training Centre (RTTC) , Gachi bowli, Hyderabad. Sri S.Prasad Rao, adhoc Circle Secretary has appealed to all members of the association to attend the conference, participate in the deliberations and make it a grand success. 

Family Pension to the children of illegally wedded wife

Government of India issued clarification on eligibility of family pension to the children of illegally wedded wife.

CLICK HERE to view the OM issued on 27/11/2012 by the Government of India.

Reservation in Promotion for OBCs

This information was given by the  Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions and Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office SHRI V. NARAYANASAMY to a written reply in Lok Sabha on 5.9.2012.

The Supreme Court in its judgment dated 19.10.2006 in the matter of M. Nagaraj & others v. Union of India & others [Writ Petition (C) No.61/2002] while upholding the validity of the Constitutional Amendments, viz. the 77th Amendment, the 81st Amendment, the 82nd Amendment and the 85th Amendment stipulated that the State concerned will have to show in each case the existence of the compelling reasons, namely, backwardness, inadequacy of representation and overall administrative efficiency before making provision for reservation in promotion.

Relying on the judgment of the Supreme Court in M. Nagaraj case, the High Court of Rajasthan and the High Court of Allahabad have struck down the provisions for reservation in promotion in the services of State of Rajasthan and the State of Uttar Pradesh, respectively. The Supreme Court in its judgment dated 27.4.2012 in the case of UP Power Corporation Ltd. v/s. Rajesh Kumar & Ors. upheld the decision of the High Court of Allahabad.

An all Party Meeting was held by Hon’ble Prime Minister on 21.8.2012 to discuss the issue.

At present, there is no proposal under consideration of the Government to provide reservation in promotion to OBCs and Backward minorities. The provisions of the Constitution do not enable the Government for making provisions for reservation in promotion in favour of OBCs.

Pay of seniors getting less pay than juniors to be hiked

Recent Office Memorandum issued by DOPT for stepping up of pay of Senior Employees at par with junior employees who are getting more pay than seniors on account of ACP:

Check the following Office Memorandum issued by DOPT in this issue

ACP- Govt allows stepping up of of pay of Senior Employees at par with Junior Employees if by virtue of ACP junior employee drawing more pay (OM No: 35034/1/97-Estt.(D) dated 04.10.2012)

The Tribune in its latest release explains this stepping up of pay as follows

Removing certain anomalies in its career progression scheme, the Central government has ordered stepping up of pay of employees in cases where a senior is getting lower emoluments than his junior.

The disparities had arisen between employees who came under the scheme before 2006 and those who got benefits between 2006 and 2008 consequent to the implementation of the Sixth Central Pay Commission (SPC).

Orders issued by the Department of Personnel and Training earlier this month state, “It has been decided to allow stepping up of pay in such cases where the senior, but for the pay revision on account of the SPC, would have continued to draw higher pay”.

A large number of Central government employees will be financially benefited by this order. The employees affected had taken up the matter with the government and the anomalies committee, following which the issue was examined by the Department of Expenditure.

The government’s Assured Career Progression Scheme (ACPS), which granted two financial upgrades on completion of 12 and 24 years of regular service to employees who did not get promotion in the existing grade, was applicable up till August 2008.

It was replaced in September 2008 by the Modified Career Progression Scheme. As the revised pay scales under SPC were applicable with effect from January 2006, those employees who received benefits under ACPS between 2006 to 2008 got financial upgrade in the revised scales. Consequently, senior employees who got benefit under ACPS prior to 1996 began drawing lesser pay than their juniors.

The new order stipulates that for pay to be stepped up under the scheme, the junior and senior employee should belong to the same cadre and the posts in which they have been promoted or upgraded should be identical. Further, the senior employee should have been drawing equal or more pay than the junior before receiving ACPS benefits.

Source: IRTSA and Tribune

CTS-2010 standards for cheques issued by Government Departments

CTS – 2010 (Cheque Truncation system) is a standard prescribed by RBI in respect of cheques issued by Banks as well as Government for the purpose of avoiding any fraudulent activities.

 

In order to maintain standard prescribed in the RBI Manual for CTS 2010, the Ministry of Finance has issued following Office Memorandum dated 22.10.2012

No.9(4)/2011/TA/680

Ministry of Finance

Department of Expenditure

Controller General of Accounts

 Lok Nayak Bhawan, Khan Market

New Delhi, Dated: .22.10.2012

OFFICE MEMORANDUM

Subject: Standardization and enhancement of security features in Cheque Forms-CTS-2010 Standard -reg.

1. Reserve Bank of India has prescribed certain benchmarks towards achieving standaridization of cheques viz. CTS 2010 Standard and requested for making arrangements to ensure that the PAOs procure only the CTS 2010.

2. In this connection, instructions issued by this Office vide O.M. No.9(40)/2011/TA/362 dated 17.5.2012 may also be referred to. it is informed that this Office has already requested GM, Govt. of India Press, Nasik vide our letter No.9(40)/2011/TA/468 dated 12.7.2012 to ensure that cheques printed at ISP, Nasik for use by all Government Ministries/Departments fully comply the "CTS 2010 Standard'.

3. All Ministries/Departments are requested to ensure that all cheques printed/procured for use by Government offices should adhere to the "CTS 2010 Standard".

Sd/-

(T.R.Padmavathy) 

Assistant Controller of Accounts

Reservation for Other Backward Classes in Civil Posts and Services under the Govt. of India -Sub-quota for Minority Communities

No. 12-1/ 2012-SCT

Government of India

Ministry of Communications & IT

Department of Posts

Dak Bhavan, Sansad Marg,

New Delhi – 110 116

Dated: 1st October, 2012.

To,

All Heads of Postal Circles
 
Subject:- Reservation for Other Backward Classes in Civil Posts and Services under the Govt. of India-Sub-quota for Minority Communities-reg

Sir/ Madam,

I am directed to refer to this Division's letter of even number dated 3.2.2012 on the above subject and to say that certain clarifications were sought from DoPT on issues raised by some of the circles in the matter. DoPT vide their O.M. No. 36028/4/2012-Estt(Res) dated 11.9.2012 have clarified that the provisions contained in DoPT's O.M. No. 41018/2/2011-Estt (Res), dated 22.12.2011 stand quashed as per the order of the Hon'ble High Court of Andhra Pradesh. It is also intimated by DoPT that an SLP has been filed against the decision of Hon'ble High Court of Andhra Pradesh in Supreme Court by the Ministry of Human Resources Development. However, the Hon'ble Supreme Court has not granted any stay order against the judgement of High Court of Andhra Pradesh.

  Yours faithfully,

Sd/-

(Amit Pankaj) 

Asstt. Director General (SCT)

Asstt. Director General (SCT)

PFRDA introduces new NPS - Corporate CG Scheme for employees of Corporate sector

Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority

1st Floor, ICADR Building,Plot No.6, Vasant Kunj

Institutional Area, Phase II, New Delhi-11 0070

CIRCULAR

 PFRDAICIR/1/Corporate-CG/1

 Date: 18th October 2012

SUBJECT: Change in Central Government Investment Model for the Corporate Sector

Under the NPS-Corporate sector model, the Corporates have been provided option to select the Central Govt. Investment model if the investment option is exercised by the corporates for their underlying employees. The subscriber’s contribution is distributed among the three PFMs (S81, LlC and UTI) and the asset allocation replicates the scheme as applicable to the central Govt. employees. (Refer page No-10 of NPS corporate sector brochure)

2. In terms of the PFRDA circular No- PFRDA/CIR/1/PFM/1 dated 31.08.12, with effect from 1st November 2012, the private PFMs will be free to decide the Investment Management Fee within the upper ceiling of 0.25% p.a. prescribed by PFRDA at present.

3. Due to this differential Fee offered by the PFMs from 1st November 2012, a new scheme called ‘Corporate-CG scheme’ will be introduced w.e.f. 1st November 2012. The Scheme will follow the Central Govt. investment guidelines issued from time to time. The salient features will be as under:

a) This scheme will be offered by only public sector PFMs, who have obtained registration under the PFRDA (Registration of Pension Funds for Private Sector) Guidelines – 2012.

 b) The system of distribution of funds among three PFMs, as at present, will no longer be available for the corporates under CG scheme and the Corporate will have to choose only one PFM offering this scheme.

4. Existing Corporate Sector Subscribers under the CG Scheme:

a) The existing three public sector PFMs (SBI, UTI & LlC) offering CG scheme will introduce the new scheme ‘corporate-CG scheme’ w.e.f. 1st November 2012 with units of face value of Rs.10.00 and an initial NAV of Rs.10.00 per unit. The funds / assets in the existing CG Scheme in respect of Corporates will be transferred to the new scheme and proportionate units in the new Corporate

CG Scheme will be allotted.

 b) The existing corporates under CG scheme are allowed a time period of 60 days from 1st Nov 2012 i.e. up to 31st December 2012 to choose anyone PFM for shifting their assets. Till such times, the fee chargeable to them will be as applicable to the Central Govt. employees, whereafter charges applicable to Pvt. Sector shall be levied.

sd/-

Deepa Kotnis

(General Manager)

Source: PFRDA

NIMS, Hyderabad to set up separate block for CGHS

To provide quick cashless medical facilities to CGHS patients the Central Government Health Services (CGHS), Hyderabad is collaborating with Nizam’s Institute of Medical Sciences (NIMS) to offer exclusive services to CGHS beneficiaries at NIMS.

A special block with dedicated team of senior doctors to cater to CGHS insured persons here is on the cards.  Discussions to set up such a facility for CGHS beneficiaries at NIMS are already under way.

“In principle, the institute authorities have agreed to the proposal. Our aim is to provide quick cashless medical facilities to CGHS patients,” Additional Director, CGHS, Hyderabad, Dr. P. Parthasarathy said.

At present, CGHS beneficiaries spend nearly three days to avail specialised diagnostic facilities like CT and MRI scans at NIMS. Even for non-specialised medical facilities like outpatient services and simple diagnostic tests, pensioners are forced to spend the whole day.

In case of medical emergencies, these patients have to pay medical bills upfront at the institute and later claim through reimbursement from CGHS.

For diagnostic tests like CT and MRI scans, they have to submit a referral letter from the local CGHS dispensary, collect doctor’s prescription of NIMS and submit it back for approval. On an average, it takes three days for the CGHS beneficiary to complete this process.

“During emergencies, beneficiaries can directly get admitted to NIMS. But, they have to pay medical bills upfront and later apply for reimbursement. However, not all pensioners can handle medical billsthis way. Exclusive services for CGHS at NIMS should be started quickly,” says general secretary, National Coordination Committee of Pensioners Association (NCCPA).

According to CGHS authorities, details on billing their patients are yet to be finalised.

“We are planning in such a way that patients need not pay anything up front. All the bills from NIMS will be directly sent to us. We have assured them that the bills will be cleared by us quickly,” Dr. Parthasarathy adds.

Additional Director, CGHS, Hyderabad, Dr. Parsthasarathy and NIMS Director, A. Dharma Rakshak have held meetings to hammer out the details for the project. “We are hoping that such services for CGHS patients will start by December if not later,” Dr. Parthasarathy said.

Source: The Hindu

PLB announced for 60 days for the year 2011-12

Postal Directorate, New Delhi vide file No. 26-05/2012-PAP dated 18/10/2012 announced 60 days PLB (Productivity Linked Bonus) for the accounting year 2011-12 for postal employees in MTS, Gr-C and non Gazetted Gr B cadres and exgratia payment of Bonus to regularly appointed GDS. No change in ceiling of Rs 3,500/- to MTS, Gr-C and non Gazetted Gr B cadres and Rs 2,500/- to GDS.

Promotion and posting to the post of Member, Postal Services Board

CLICK HERE to view the Directorate orders of promotion and posting as Member, Postal Services Board.

Training of IPs/ASPs in Bangkok

As per Postal Directorate Memo No. 10-24/2012-TRG dated 16.10.2012 the following postal delegates will participate in the training programme on ‘Express Mail Service’ to be held at Asian Pacific Postal College, Bangkok (Thailand) from 22-10-2012 to 9-11-2012. 

1) Sh. G.Gunasekatran, Manager, SPC, Coimbatore. T.N.Circle.

2) Smt. Padmja V. Kamat, ASP (Bag) PSD Mumbai. Maharashtra Circle.

3) Sh.D.S.Pandey,  Manaager, NSPS, Raipur HO. Chhattisgarh Circle.

4) Sh.Devender Kumar Sharma,  ASP (MBC), N.Delhi Sorting Dn. Delhi Circle.

5) Sh.Hitesh Saikia, Manager, SPC, Shillong GPO. N.E.Circle.

6) Sh. Debraj Sethi, Manaager, NSPS, Bhubneshwar.  Odissa Circle.

7) Sh. Manish Tikadar, Inspector Posts, Kolkata Airport Sorting Dn., W.B. Circle.

8) Sh. Arvind Kumar, Inspector Posts (BD&M), Postal Directorate, New Delhi.

 

Source :- CHQ

Enhancement in monthly subscription for All India Association of IPs & ASPs

Postal Directorate vide letter No. 15/4/2002-SR dated 12/07/2012 approved amendment to Article 38 of the constitution of our association enhancing the monthly subscription per member from Rs 30/- to Rs 50/- under check off system. 

Accordingly, monthly subscription to be recovered by DDOs from the members of our association is now Rs 50/-. Even though, CO circulated the said Directorate letter above vide letter No. U/Rlgs/XVI/2010 dated 30/07/2012, the same is not being implemented in many Divisions/ Units.

ASP (Hqrs) of all Divisions, ACS' and RRs of our circle branch association are requested to bring this to the notice of all DDOs and get the monthly subscription recovered @ Rs 50/- per member and remitted to the Circle Treasurer atleast from the Pay and allowances of October, 2012.

Protection of TRCA of GDSBPM

Postal Directorate issued a revised order on protection of TRCA of GDSBPM vide no. 5-1/07-WS-I dated 15/10/2012.

CLICK HERE to view the Directorate order.

Postings of Gr B Officers in Postal Directorate

Directorate issued orders of posting of PS Gr B officers posted to Postal Directorate vide No. 9-34/2011-SPG dated 11/10/2012.

1. Shri R.Rajendran, TN Circle posted as AD (BD Dte)
2. Shri P.Pandiaraj, TN Circle posted as AD (Trg)
3. Shri N.Prakash, TN Circle posted as AD (Tech)

Transfer of PS Gr 'B' cadre officers to their parent circles

No. 9-18/2012-SPG

Government of India

Ministry of Communications & IT

Department of Posts

Dak Bhavan, Sansad Marg,

New Delhi 110 001.

Dated : 11/10/12.

O R D E R

Sub : Transfer / posting of officers of PS Gr. B cadre.

         The undersigned is directed to convey the approval of the competent authority for the following transfers/postings on request from the officers concerned in Postal Service Group B grade:

Sl. No.	Present Circle	Present Circle	Circle allotted
1	Gautam Tarafdar	Assam	West Bengal
2	Pradeep Kr. Dey	North East	West Bengal
3	Ranjit Halder	Assam	West Bengal
4	Nikhil Kr. Mondal	Assam	West Bengal
5	Smt. T. V. Sundari	Kerala	Tamil Nadu
6	V. P.Chandrasekhar	Bihar	Tamil Nadu
7	S. A. Mujeeb Basha	Delhi	Tamil Nadu
8	T. Saharaju	Gujrat	Tamil Nadu
9	C. Karuppasamy	Postal Directorate	Tamil Nadu
10	R. Santhakumar	Postal Directorate	Tamil Nadu
11	K. Venkatachalam	Harayana	Tamil Nadu
12	M. Sriraman	Jharkhand	Tamil Nadu
13	R. Chidambaram	North East	Tamil Nadu
14	Banwari Lal Kumar	Gujrat	Rajasthan
15	Hemraj Rathore	Gujrat	Rajasthan
16	Ram Singh	Gujrat	Rajasthan
17	Bhagirath Mal Bunkar	Gujrat	Rajasthan
18	Kulwinder Pal Dutta	Harayana	Punjab
19	Inderjit Sharma	Harayana	Punjab
20	Ratikanta Swain	Jharkhand	Orissa
21	Naba Kishore Samal	Bihar	Orissa
22	Surendra Nath Panda	Bihar	Orissa
23	Suresh Yedve	Kerala	Karnataka
24	S. S. Patil	Kerala	Karnataka
25	K. V. Anantharamu	Kerala	Karnataka
26	K. Lakshmi Keshava	Maharashtra	Karnataka
27	Sudhakar G. Devadiga	Maharashtra	Karnataka
28	O. Govindappa	Delhi	Karnataka
29	M. R. Kawadkar	Jharkhand	Chhatisgarh
30	A.Kumarswamy	Postal Directorate	Delhi

2.       Benefit of TA/TP joining time etc. shall be permissible to the officers on the above transfer if he/she has been working in the present circle of posting for one year or more.

3.        Relevant charge report may be sent to all concerned in due course.

Sd/-

(B. P. Pant)

Assistant Director General (SGP)