Tuesday, March 27, 2018

Guiding norms for imposition of punishment on Loco Pilots/ Assistant Loco Pilots in cases of Passing Signals at Danger (SPAD) - NFIR's suggestions for further relaxation

NFIR

No. II/34/2018
Dated: 26/03/2018
The Secretary (E),
Railway Board,
New Delhi
Dear Sir,

Sub: Guiding norms for imposition of punishment on Loco Pilots/ Assistant Loco Pilots in cases of Passing Signals at Danger (SPAD) - NFIR's suggestions for further relaxation - reg.

Ref: Railway Board's Letter No.2017/Safety (A&R)/18/11 dated 08.01.2018

While appreciating and thanking the Railway Board for their deep analysis and thorough study on the subject of "Guidelines for minimum punishment to be imposed for LPs/ALPs, in cases of SPAD", which has resulted in issuance of revised instructions vide Board’s letter no. cited above (i.e. dated 8.1.2018), duly taking into account the inputs given by NFIR vide its letter No. II/34/Part.17 dated 04.01.2018 (also taking cognizance of NFIRs Charter of Demands - SPAD Definition to be reviewed to prevent harassment and victimization of Running and Safety categories' staff -Item No. 30, on which Strike Notice was served), the Federation places its views on the revised instructions as below for appropriate review:-

NFIR's views:

I. Para 1.1, condition 1.1.1
i) For Loco Pilots:- Reduction may be done to the next lower stage of pay level instead of reducing as LP/ Shunter for a period of one year and he may be put to work as Co-Pilot. wherever possible.
ii) For Assistant Loco Pilots, the prescribed punishment may further be relaxed.
iii) NFIR suggests that SPAD cases involving IBSS (Intermediate Block Stop Signal), may be brought under the provision of this condition (1.1.1), since as per General Rules of 1976, Rule no.3.11, Intermediate Block Stop signal is the Home signal provided at an Intermediate Block post. In the present order, it is classified under condition 1.2.

II. Para 1.1, condition 1.1.2 & Para 1.2:
In this condition, the stipulation of capital punishment of "Removal or Compulsory retirement from service", where entirely due to neglect of loco pilot, may be relaxed for imposing any other punishment.

III. Para 1.3, condition 1.3.1 & 1.3.2
i) For Loco Pilots:- Reduction may be done to the next lower pay, instead of reducing as LP/ Shunter for a period of one year.
ii) For Assistant Loco Pilots, the prescribed punishment may further be relaxed
IV. Para 1.5
In this condition, the penalty of capital punishment of Removal or Compulsory retirement from service, whei-e entirely due to neglect of loco pilot, may be further relaxed and any other punishment may be prescribed.

V. Para 2.0
Punishment for Assistant Loco Pilot, shall not be at par with Loco Pilot, unless otherwise serious dereliction of duty is proved.

VI. Para 6.0
Separate representation has already been sent on Para 6.0 vide NFIR letter No. II /34 /Pt. dated 06.03.2018, which may be considered.

VII. Para 9.0
A review of previous two years cases be allowed to be undertaken and accordingly Board's instructions dated 08/01/2018 be modified.
Yours faithfully,
S/d,
(Dr. M. Raghavaiah),
General Secretary
Source : NFIR

Provision of telephone facilities and reimbursements to officers of Government of India

Provision of telephone facilities and reimbursements to officers of Government of India

F.No. 24(3)/E.Coord/2018
Ministry of Finance
Department of Expenditure
New Delhi, the 26th March 2018
OFFICE MEMORANDUM

Subject :- Provision of telephone facilities and reimbursements to officers of Government of India.

The Department of Expenditure has from time to time issued instructions on provision of telephone facilities, monetary ceilings on reimbursement to the officers of the Government of India. Given the increasing dependence on telecommunication technology including mobile telephones for carrying out official work, the existing instructions have been comprehensively reviewed, revised and the following instructions are hereby circulated for compliance by all Ministry/Departments, in supersession of all earlier instructions issued by this Department on the subject.

1. Official Telephones

1.1 All officers of the level of Deputy Secretary equivalent and above are entitled for office telephone with STD facility. For officers of the level below Deputy Secretary, Ministry/Departments may decide in consultation with the Financial Advisers on providing STD facility depending on their functional requirements.

1.2 ISD facility is allowed on official telephones in respect of Administrative Secretaries only.

1.3 All other cases for providing ISD facility on official telephone for officers of the level below Secretary to the Government of India may be decided by the Administrative Secretary in consultation with the concerned Financial Adviser.

1.4 Administrative Secretary/ Head of Departments may in consultation with the concerned Financial Adviser provide officers below the level of Deputy Secretary official telephones with STD facility on functional basis. This facility should not be given in a routine manner but extreme caution and austerity should be exercised.

1.5 Financial Advisors shall submit a half-yearly report to D/o Expenditure on the number of ISD facility concurred/approved during a financial year.

2. Residential telephones

2.1. All officers of the level of Deputy Secretary equivalent and above are entitled for one official residential landline telephone with STD facility.

2.2 Residential telephone can be allowed to officials below the rank of Deputy Secretary equivalent on functional basis subject to the condition that this facility shall be restricted to 25% of the sanctioned strength of Group 'A' officers in a Ministry/Department. This limit will equally apply to Attached and Subordinate offices.

2.3 ISD facility shall not be allowed on residential telephones.

2.4 Personal staff of Ministers [Private Secretary, Additional Private Secretary and 1st PA of Ministry] and Administrative Secretary [Principal Staff Officer (PSO)/ Senior Principal Private Secretary/ Principal Private Secretary/Private Secretary], Section Officer (Parliament) and Assistant Section Officer (Parliament) are entitled to the facility of one residential landline telephone.

3. Mobile Phone Handsets

3.1 Officers of the level of Secretary and equivalent will be entitled to reimbursement for one mobile handset costing not more than Rs.25,000/-(Rupees Twenty Five thousand only) once during the whole tenure. Global roaming facility shall not be allowed on the mobile connection.

4. Reimbursement of telephone call charges

4.1 Reimbursement of telephone call charges of residential telephone/ mobile phone/broadband/mobile data/data card shall be as per entitlement given below:

SI. No.Level/DesignationLimit on reimbursement
1Secretary to the Government of India and

equivalent level
Rs. 4200/- per month + taxes as applicable
2Additional Secretary to the Government of India and equivalent levelRs. 3000/- per month + taxes as applicable
3Joint Secretary to the Government of India and equivalent levelRs. 2700/- per month + taxes as applicable
4Director/Deputy Secretary to the

Government of India and equivalent level
Rs. 2250/- per month + taxes as applicable
5Below the rank of Deputy Secretary and
equivalent to the Government of India
(restricted to 50% of the sanctioned strength
of Group 'A' officers in a Ministry/
Department/Attached/Subordinate office)
Rs. 1200/- per month + taxes as applicable

4.2 No SIM/data-card will be provided by office.

4.3 There will be no separate ceiling for the landline/ mobile/broadband/mobile data/data card. The amount reimbursable will cover landline and / or mobile /broadband/mobile data/data card connection and shall be limited to the ceiling prescribed or as per actuals whichever is lower. Call charges over and above the ceiling prescribed along with taxes thereon shall be paid by the officers

4.4 The amount shall be reimbursed on submission of bills/receipt by the concerned officer. Officers are at liberty to choose the service provider and the tariff package for residential landline/mobile phones.

4.5 In case where husband and wife are sharing the same residential landline telephone and both are entitled for reimbursement, only one of them will be allowed reimbursement against the residential landline telephone. The claim for mobile phone charges shall be treated separately for each of the officer subject to the entitled ceiling.
4.6 Reimbursement for mobile will be restricted to the officer in whose name the mobile connection is registered.

4.7 The entitlement of an officer drawing pay in a scale intervening between that of Director and Joint Secretary would be at par with that of Deputy Secretary/Director.

4.8 Excess expenditure upto 30% of the ceiling amount (applicable to the officer) can be reimbursed to officers of Joint Secretary equivalent and above and also to Private Secretary/ Officers on Special Duty to the Ministers subject to their submitting a certificate, duly justifying that excess expenditure incurred was for official purpose and unavoidable. This reimbursement would require the concurrence of the Financial Adviser concerned and sanction of the Administrative Secretary/ Secretary Equivalent of the Department/ Organization. In so far as Secretary/ Secretary equivalent officer are concerned, they shall be competent to exercise the aforesaid powers in their own cases. The power to sanction this expenditure shall not be delegated.

4.9 Telephone reimbursement will not be admissible in cases of Leave (of any nature) and trainings which are for more than one calendar month (s).

5. Mobile Facility during official visits abroad

5.1 Officials and delegations visiting abroad for the purpose of short official visits/meeting/conferences/workshops may be provided SIM card by our Mission / Embassy. In case SIM card is not provided by our Mission / Embassy, there will be a monetary ceiling of Rs.2000/- per day for officer above the level of Additional Secretary and equivalent and Rs.1000/- per day for other officers towards reimbursement of call charges.

5.2 No mobile phone facility shall be provided during training period whatsoever including training abroad.

6. These orders shall be effective from the date of issue of this Office Memorandum.
S/d,
(H.Atheli)
Director

Delay in Payment to Empanelled Hospitals

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO: 4758
ANSWERED ON: 23.03.2018
Delay in Payment to Empanelled Hospitals
RAJIV PRATAP RUDY
Will the Minister of
HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE be pleased to state:-

Will the Minister of HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE be pleased to state:

(a) whether there is a delay in the payment to empanelled hospitals under Government sponsored health programmes such as Central Government Health Scheme (CGHS) and Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojana (RSBY);

(b) if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor;

(c) whether CGHS and RSBY has been effective in reducing the burden of out of pocket spending of poor households, if so, the details thereof; and

(d) the total number of beneficiaries and total funds allocated under CGHS and RSBY over the last four years, State/UT wise including Bihar?

ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND
FAMILY WELFARE
(SHRI ASHWINI KUMAR CHOUBEY)

(a) & (b): Under CGHS there is some delay in payment to empanelled hospitals. Following are the reasons for delay in settlement of hospital bills under CGHS:-
i. Resource constraints particularly in the last quarter of Financial Year.
ii. Need for consultation with Specialists in some cases.
iii. Time taken in scrutinizing of Hospital bills.

Under RSBY, Insurance Companies make payment, as due and admissible, to the empanelled hospitals as per their claim. Details are not maintained at Central level.

(c): Under CGHS, the beneficiaries, who are primarily Central Government Employees and Pensioners, are provided health facilities including OPD, medicines, reimbursement of expenditure incurred on hospitalization etc. and they do not have to incur out of pocket expenditure. They have to bear additional expenditure only if they opt for specific brand of implants costing more than CGHS rates.

Under RSBY, claims amounting to Rs. 5012.17 Crore have been settled since 2011-12 to 2016-17, which may be construed as a reduction in out of pocket expenditure for the beneficiaries under RSBY, who have availed the hospitalization benefits.

(d): There are 32,53,219 number of CGHS beneficiaries as on 13.03.2018.
The total funds allocated under CGHS over the last four years is as under:-

Year Funds Allocated (Rupees in Crores)
2013-14 1772.75
2014-15 1734.02
2015-16 1872.29
2016-17 2026.91

Under RSBY no funds are allocated to States. Funds as central share of premium are released on receipt of proposals from State Governments. The State-wise list of beneficiaries under RSBY over the last four years including Bihar is at Annexure.
Source : LokSabha

Booking to Tatkal Tickets & Measures to Avoid Misuse of Tatkal Scheme

Ministry of Railways
Booking to Tatkal Tickets & Measures to Avoid Misuse of Tatkal Scheme
27 MAR 2018
On Indian Railways, reserved accommodation including Tatkal accommodation can be booked through computerised Passenger Reservation System (PRS) on first come first served basis. During peak rush periods/days when demand outstrips  the availability, reserved accommodation especially in higher classes and on popular routes gets exhausted within short duration of opening of reservation.  However,   during lean periods, on non-popular and lower classes, the accommodation remains available for longer duration.  The phenomenon is more relevant for Tatkal where limited accommodation is earmarked. This happens as the available limited accommodation is accessed simultaneously through more than 10,300 counters at 3465 computerised Passenger Reservation Centers as well as through internet.

To avoid misuse of Tatkal Scheme, there are some inbuilt features in Tatkal scheme which includes provision of not granting refund on cancellation of confirmed Tatkal tickets except in case of certain special circumstances indicated in the scheme, not allowing any modification of Tatkal ticket, etc. Some additional steps have also been taken to facilitate the passengers and to avoid the misuse, some of which are:-
  • Staggering of the timings of reservation under Tatkal scheme.
  • Captcha implementation in Registration, Login and Booking page to check fraudulent booking through automation software.
  • Imposition of minimum time limit before proceeding for payment gateway as well as after making payment while booking tickets through internet.
  • Making OTP(one time password) compulsory for all net Banking Payment options.
  • Disabling authorised agents to book Tatkal tickets during first half an hour of opening of reservation.
To keep a check on the activities of touts, preventive as well as regular checks are conducted jointly/individually by Vigilance, Security and Commercial Departments, and the action against the culprits is taken as per provisions of Section 143 of Railways Act, 1989.

This information was made available in reply to a question in Rajya Sabha.

PIB

Repayment of 8.24% GS 2018

Ministry of Finance

Repayment of 8.24% GS 2018
27 MAR 2018
The repayment of following security is due as per details given below: 

Table: Details of GoI Securities maturing on April 22, 2018
Sl. No. Name of Security Scheduled Date of Repayment Effective date of Repayment No Interest Accrual from scheduled date of Repayment
(1) (2) (3) (4) (5)
1. Repayment of '8.24% GS 2018' April 22, 2018 (Sunday) April 21, 2018 (Saturday) April 22, 2018 (Sunday)
 

The outstanding balance under 8.24% GS 2018 will be repayable on the effective date of repayment as indicated in column 4 of above table. In the event of a holiday being declared on effective day of repayment by any State Government under the Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881, the Loan/s will be repaid by the paying offices in that State on the previous working day.

As per sub-regulations 24 (2) and 24(3) of Government Securities Regulations, 2007 payment of maturity proceeds to the registered holder of Government Security held in the form of Subsidiary General Ledger or Constituent Subsidiary General Ledger account or Stock Certificate shall be made by a pay order incorporating the relevant particulars of his bank account or by credit to the account of the holder in any bank having facility of receipt of funds through electronic means. For the purpose of making payment in respect of the securities, the original subscriber or the subsequent holders of such Government Securities, shall submit the relevant particulars of their bank account well in advance.

However, in the absence of relevant particulars of bank account / mandate for receipt of funds through electronic means, to facilitate repayment of the Loan on the due date, holders may tender the securities, duly discharged, at the Public Debt Offices, Treasuries / Sub-Treasuries and branches of State Bank of India and its Associate Banks (at which they are enfaced / registered for payment of interest) 20 days in advance of the due date for repayment.

Full details of the procedure for receiving the discharge value may be obtained from any of the aforesaid paying offices.

PIB

Combined Defence services Examination (i)-2018 Declaration of written result

Combined Defence services Examination (i)-2018 Declaration of written result

On the basis of the results of the COMBINED DEFENCE SERVICES EXAMINATION (I), 2018 held by the Union Public Service Commission on 04th February, 2018, 8261 candidates with the following Roll Numbers have qualified for being interviewed by the Service Selection Board of the Ministry of Defence, for admission to (i) Indian Military Academy, Dehradun 146th Course commencing in January, 2019 (ii) Indian Naval Academy, Ezhimala, Kerala, Course commencing in January, 2019 (iii) Air Force Academy, Hyderabad (Pre-Flying) Training Course (205 F(P)) commencing in February, 2019 (iv) Officers Training Academy, Chennai 109th SSC Course (NT)(for Men) commencing in April, 2019 and (v) Officers Training Academy, Chennai, 23rd SSC Women (Non-Technical) Course commencing in April, 2019.

The candidature of all the candidates, whose Roll Numbers are shown in the lists below, is provisional. In accordance with the conditions of the admission to the examination, they are required to submit the original certificates in support of age (Date of Birth), educational qualifications, NCC (C) (Army Wing/Senior Division Air Wing/Naval Wing) etc. claimed by them along with self attested copies thereof, to Army Headquarters, A.G.'s Branch/Rtg./CDSE Entry Section for males and SSC Women Entry Section for women candidates, West Block-III, Ground Floor, Wing 1, R.K. Puram, New Delhi-110066 in case of IMA/SSC as their first choice and to IHQ of MoD (Navy), DMPR (OI & R Section), Room No. 204, 'C'-Wing, Sena Bhawan, New Delhi-110011 in case of Navy as their first choice, and to PO 3 (A) Air Headquarters, ‘J’ Block, Room No. 17, Opp. Vayu Bhawan, Motilal Nehru Marg, New Delhi-110011 in case of Air Force as their first choice. The original Certificates are to be submitted within two weeks of completion of the SSB Interview and not later than 13th November, 2018 for AFA and not later than 01st January, 2019 for IMA and not later than 01st January, 2019 for admission to NA (1st April, 2019 in case of SSC only). The candidates must not send the original Certificates to the Union Public Service Commission.

All the candidates who have successfully qualified in the written exam are required to register themselves online on the Indian Army Recruiting website joinindianarmy.nic.in within two weeks of announcement of written result. The successful candidates would them be allotted Selection Centres and dates, of SSB interview which shall be communicated on the registered e-mail ID. Any candidate who has already registered earlier on the site will not be required to do so. In case of any query/Login problem, e-mail be forwarded to dir-recruiting6-mod@nic.in.

In case, there is any change of address, the candidates are advised to promptly intimate directly to the Army Headquarters/Naval Headquarters/Air Headquarters as the case may be.

The Union Public Service Commission have a Facilitation Counter near Examination Hall Building in its Campus. Candidates may obtain any information/clarification regarding this examination on working days between 10.00 AM to 5.00 PM, in person or over telephone No.011-23385271, 011-23381125 and 011-23098543 from this Facilitation Counter. Candidates can also obtain information regarding their result by accessing UPSC website http://www.upsc.gov.in

The marks-sheet of candidates who have not qualified, will be put on the Commission’s website within 15 days from the date of publication of the final result of OTA (after conducting SSB Interview) and will remain available on the website for a period of 60 days.

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