Time Limit for Repayment of Educational Loans

Time Limit for Repayment of Educational Loans

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF FINANCE
LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO 428

ANSWERED ON 06.12.2013

 TIME LIMIT FOR REPAYMENT OF EDUCATIONAL LOANS

428 . Shri R. THAMARAISELVAN

Will the Minister of FINANCE be pleased to state:-

(a) the existing time limit fixed by the Government/Reserve Bank of India (RBI) for repayment of educational loans taken by students to pursue higher studies abroad;
(b) whether the Government proposes to expand the said time limit; and
(c) if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor?

ANSWER

(MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF FINANCE) (SHRI NAMO NARAIN MEENA)

(a) : As per revised Model Education Loan Scheme of Indian Banks’ Association (IBA), the students are allowed repayment period of 10 years for education loans upto Rs 7.50 lakh and 15 years for loans above Rs 7.50 lakh.

Students are allowed repayment holiday/moratorium during course period plus 1 year or 6 months after getting the job which ever is earlier.

(b) & (c) : No such proposal is under consideration of the Government at present.

Source: Lok Sabha
Via: http://karnmk.blogspot.in/2013/12/time-limit-for-repayment-of-educational.html

Functioning of Ex-Servicemen Contributory Health Scheme (ECHS)

Functioning of Ex-Servicemen Contributory Health Scheme (ECHS)

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF DEFENCE
LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO 574

ANSWERED ON 09.12.2013

FUNCTIONING OF ECHS

574 . Shri KIRTI (JHA) AZAD

Will the Minister of DEFENCE be pleased to state:-

(a) whether any service of the Ex-Servicemen Contributory Health Scheme (ECHS) Polyclinics is being outsourced;
(b) if so, the details thereof, service-wise;
(c) whether the Government has received any complaint regarding irregularities in the functioning of ECHS;
(d) if so, the details thereof including the action taken against the officials found guilty; and
(e) the corrective steps taken / proposed to be taken by the Government to ensure effective functioning of ECHS?

ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE (SHRI JITENDRA SINGH) MINISTRY OF DEFENCE

(a) & (b): Yes, Madam. The On-line medical bill processing of empanelled hospitals has been outsourced to bill processing agency UTI-ITSL. ECHS has also entered into an agreement with M/s SITL for making the Smart Cards of ECHS beneficiaries.

(c) to (e): A few complaints regarding delay in payment of private hospitals bills, inadequate supply of certain medicines, inadequacy of manpower and discourteous behaviour of staff in ECHS Polyclinics have been received and directions were issued to Central Organisation, ECHS for taking corrective measures. Corrective measures taken / initiated include outsourcing of On-line bill processing for speedy payment of empanelled hospital bills, enhancement of remuneration of contractual staff of ECHS, authorizing additional manpower to ECHS, augmenting supply of medicines in ECHS polyclinics and sensitizing staff to bring in attitudinal changes towards ECHS beneficiaries. Complaints received from time to time regarding irregularities in functioning of ECHS are looked into for appropriate action.

Source: Lok Sabha
Via: http://karnmk.blogspot.in/2013/12/functioning-of-ex-servicemen.html

Restructuring of Group 'C' Staff of Specific to RDSO

Restructuring of Group 'C' Staff of Specific to RDSO

 ANNEXURE - 'H'

STATEMENT REGARDING RESTRUCTURING OF GROUP 'C' STAFF SPECIFIC TO RDSO

Annexure to Board's letter No. PC-III/2013/CRC/4 dated 08-10-2013.

Category	Pay Structure as per 6th CPC		Existing %age after merger of Grade(s)	Revised percentage
	PB	GP (Rs)
Scientific Asstt./ Supervisors (Psycho Tech Cell)/RDSO	PB-2	4600	70	80
	PB-2	4200	30	20
Scientific Staff (Research)/RDSO	PB-2	4600	50	65
	PB-2	4200	50	35
Scientific Staff (Design)/RDSO	PB-2	4600	50	65
	PB-2	4200	50	35
Technical Staff (Mech. etc.)/ RDSO	PB-2	4600	70	80
	PB-2	4200	30	20

Source: AIRF

Restructuring of Group 'C' Staff of General Administration and Personnel, Statistical and Publicity Department

Restructuring of Group 'C' Staff of General Administration and Personnel, Statistical and Publicity Department

 ANNEXURE – 'G'

STATEMENT REGARDING RESTRUCTURING OF GROUP 'C' STAFF OF
GENERAL ADMINISTRATION/ PERSONNEL, STATISTICAL & PUBLICITY DEPARTMENT

Annexure to Board's letter No. PC-III/2013/CRC/4 dated 08-10-2013.

Category	Pay Structure as per 6th CPC		Existing %age after merger of Grade(s)	Revised percentage
	PB	GP (Rs)
Staff & Welfare Inspectors	PB-2	4600	50	65
	PB-2	4200	50	35
Official Language Staff (Junior/Senior Translator)	PB-2	4600	25	40
	PB-2	4200	30	60
	PB-1	2800	45
Hostel Management Staff of Oak Grove School, Jharipani,	PB-2	4200	20	33
	PB-1	2800	40	40
	PB-1	2400	40	27
Canteen Staff (Group-II)	PB-2	4200	5	12
	PB-1	2400	30	40
	PB-1	2000	35	25
	PB-1	1900	7	8
	PB-1	1800	23	15
Canteen Staff (Group-III)	PB-2	4200	15	25
	PB-1	2400	25	25
	PB-1	2000	20	23
	PB-1	1900	40	27
Statistical Inspectors	PB-2	4600	50	65
	PB-2	4200	50	35
Publicity Inspectors	PB-2	4600	50	60
	PB-2	4200	30	25
	PB-1	2800	20	15

Source: AIRF

Feedback on the meeting held today with the Member Staff, Railway Board on Staff Grievances - AIRF

Feedback on the meeting held today with the Member Staff, Railway Board on Staff Grievances - AIRF

 All India Railwaymen's Federation

No.AIRF/24(C)

Dated: December 13, 2013

The General Secretaries,
All Affiliated Unions,

Dear Coms.,
Sub: Feedback on the meeting held today with the Member Staff, Railway Board on Staff Grievances
Ref: Strike Ballot

The Member Staff, Railway Board, invited us called me for an meeting today at 15:00 hrs. on the above-noted subject.

During course of meeting, I explained him all the circumstances under which AIRF was forced to take the decision of Strike Ballot.

I also explained him that, due to non-redressal of genuine long-pending demands of the Railwaymen, like removal of anomalies (Running Staff grievances, merger of Technician II with Technician I, GP Rs.4800 to all the Supervisory Staff, abolition of GP Rs.2000 for the purpose of MACP Scheme), non-implementation of unanimously agreed decisions of the Railway Board - unanimous recommendations of Jt. Committee on Trackmen, regularization of railway accommodation in favour of wards of railway employees recruited under LARSGESS, extension of LARSGESS to the staff working TRD, Bridge and Power departments, cadre restructuring without matching savings, absorption of quasi-administrative offices staff in the Railways, parity in the case of Stenographers working In the field as well as Zonal Railways and Production Units, creation of additional posts in commensurate with increase in the number of trains and work load, stopping of outsourcing of perennial nature jobs, violating the provision of Contract Labour, etc. etc,

Similarly, judgements of various courts, in regard to MACP in hierarchical grade. Accounts Staff and Stenographers, reckoning of 100% Casual Labour Service rendered as Qualifying Service for seniority and pensionary benefits, have not being implemented. On the one hand, Railways are said to be the second line of defence, but the Ministry of Railways have not done any effort to pursue the matter with the Government of India to bring all the Railwaymen in Old Pension Scheme, as has been done by the Home Ministry in regard to Defence Staff.

I explained to the MS, AM (S) and ED(IR), Railway Board, present in the meeting, that though we had all along advised the Railway Board, right from top to bottom, every decision of the General Council as wel as 88th Annual Convention of the AIRF, and also in between no positive steps have been taken by the Railway Board in regard to Resolution of Charter of Demands submitted by the AIRF to the Railway Board, and that is the reason, our Patna 89th Convention of AIRF also put its seal on Strike Ballot (20-21 December, 2013) decision of the General Council of the AIRF as well as & 8th Annual Convention of the AIRF.

Though the Member Staff requested for deferment of date of strike ballot, I told him very clearly that now it is too late, and until there are sorne visible action from the Ministry of Railways and Government of India is taken, we would not be able to defer our strike balot decision, decided by our General Council and Annual Convention.

In regard to continuation of dialogue, I explained that I would inform the Railway Board about the date, only
after consulting the President/AlRF.

In the meeting issue of brutal killing of Late Sh.Sanjeeva Rao/TTE/SCR was also raised. I stressed upon the Member Staff to extend all resources so that relief to the bereaved family could be given at the earliest. I also apprised the MS about the anguish and concern of Railwaymen about this incident. Further emphasis was given to provide security for staff to avoid recurrence of such sorrow and painful incidents.

Corn. Mukesh Galav, General Secretary/WCREU and AGS/AIRF was also present during the course of meeting.

The above is for your information, and the latest update on the subject.

All of you are requested to take strike ballot as seriously as had been taken in the General Council and Annual Convention of the AIRF and motivate the Rawayrnen that, why we have been forced to go for strike ballot.

sd/-
(Shiv Gopal Sharma)
General Secretary

Source: AIRF

Employment News - Latest vacancy position in Railways - Report on Zonal wise as on 1.4.2013

Employment News - Latest vacancy position in Railways - Report on Zonal wise as on 1.4.2013

Employment News - Latest vacancy position in Railways - Report on Zonal wise as on 1.4.2013 - Total vacancies 1,311,959

The Minister of State for Railways Shri.Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury said in a statement in the Parliament on 13th December 2013 that the filling up of vacancies is a continuous process and there is always a lag between occurrence of vacancies and processing the same for filling up which involves issue of notification, holding examination, finalization of select panels and issue of appointment letters.

The total number of employees as on 1.4.2013 is 1311959*, of which SC employees is 219682*, ST employees is 94,879* and Persons with disability is 8814*.
(*Provisional)

The number of fresh face substitutes engaged directly by the General Managers in various Railway Zones in last 3 years is 1784.  General Managers on Zonal Railways have been authorized by the Ministry of Railways to engage Substitutes in exigencies of services against vacancies to the extent of 10% in Safety Category and 2% in Other Categories, in order to avoid Railway Services getting adversely affected.

The total number of vacancies in Railways, zone-wise as on 1.4.2013 is given as under:-

RAILWAYS	VACANCY
Central	19,945
Eastern	24,052
East Central	21,175
East Coast	11,457
Northern	28,958
North Central	16,577
Northeast Frontier	11,150
North Eastern	9,449
North Western	11,690
Southern	13,962
South Central	20,667
South East Central	11,332
South Eastern	16,702
South Western	6,336
West Central	10,375
Western	18,109
Total	2,51,936

Source: http://90paisa.blogspot.in/2013/12/employment-news-latest-vacancy-position.html

Suicide cases in Armed Forces - Details as on date

Suicide cases in Armed Forces - Details as on date
The below information was given by the Minister of Defence Shri A.K.Antony in a written reply to a question in the Lok Sabha on 9.12.2013

Details of suicide cases in the Armed Forces during the last three years and the current year, Service wise are as under:

Year	Army	Navy	Air Force
2010	116	1	14
2011	105	4	23
2012	95	1	15
2013 (as on date)	74	3	14

 

Studies have been conducted by Services and by Defence Institute of Psychological Research (DIPR) and College of Defence Management from time to time. Besides, Board of Inquiry is conducted in cases of suicides to establish reasons.

Government has taken a number of measures for prevention of suicide cases which include provision of Psychological counselling by psychological counsellors, conduct of Yoga and meditation as part of unit routine, establishing a grievance redressal mechanism, liberalized leave policy and improvement in living and working conditions through provision of better infrastructure and facilities.

Source: http://90paisa.blogspot.in/2013/12/suicide-cases-in-armed-forces-details.html