Opening a postal bank account just a phone call away

Opening a postal bank account just a phone call away

Post Offices are going to function as Commercial Banks. Postman are going to act as mini ATM. Pensioners & account holder will get benefited

Postal Bank to be launched soon – Minister says postal bank account can be opened by just dialing designated phone number – Swiping Machines to be carried by Postmen for transaction at place of account holder

NEW DELHI: Opening a postal bank account is just one phone call away and if you are a pensioner, the money will reach at your door step through your friendly postman. These are a few of the many customer friendly initiatives approved last week by the Postal Board.

Aimed at making postal banking a major commercial success, the board has identified a number of touch points that required ease of customer interface. Customers will soon be able to drop cheques in those forgotten red post boxes, to deposits money in their postal account. In order to open postal bank accounts, all a person has to do is call a number that will be announced soon. This call will be diverted to the local postman of the area. The postman will speak to the called number that will be displayed on his smartphone/tab, (to be soon issued to all post man) and fix an appointment to visit the caller.

He will take pictures of the necessary documents on his smart phone/tab and get it processed at the postal bank. Union Minister for Communications, Information Technology and Post Ravi Shankar Prasad has received the decisions taken by the board and is understood to have approved them.

The major support that postmen will offer is to the more than 5.5 million pensioners in India, who will soon get the benefit of receiving pensions at their door steps, delivered by their postman. “We have a target to launch these services before March 2017,” sources in the Department of Post said.

Among other benefits to customers include Core Banking Systems at all the places of historical, cultural and tourist importance, as well as all state capital cities. Which means that all the facilities that are available at major postal offices will be available to them The core banking system at all major post offices are in advanced stages of connecting to CBS.

New roles galore

• The post man will also act as a mini ATM, to help the old and infirm to deposit and withdraw money
• Postmen will carry hand held card swipe machines that will accept deposits and also withdraw money, if a prior request is made
• The Department of Port is aiming at a launch date before March 2017
• 5.5 million pensioners will get the benefit of receiving pensions at the doorstep, delivered by postmen
• The post man will also act as a mini ATM, to help the old and infirm to deposit and withdraw money
• Postmen will carry hand held card swipe machines that will accept deposits and also withdraw money, if a prior request is made
• The Department of Port is aiming at a launch date before March 2017
• 5.5 million pensioners will get the benefit of receiving pensions at the doorstep, delivered by postmen

Source:  newindianexpress.com

PIL seeks review of One Rank One Pension (OROP) scheme

PIL seeks review of One Rank One Pension (OROP) scheme

A plea filed in the Delhi High Court has asked for the ‘One Rank, One Pension’ scheme to be reviewed and a public hearing to take note of the grievances of ex-servicemen.

Chief Justice G. Rohini and Justice Jayant Nath have now ordered for the PIL to be listed before another Bench on Thursday.

The PIL has also sought extension of the term of the one-man commission of L. Narasimha Reddy, who was former Chief Justice of the Patna High Court. The Commission was instituted to review the ‘One Rank, One Pension’ scheme after several veterans of the Army objected to it.

Filed by ex-serviceman S.P. Singh, the PIL sought directions to the Ministry of Defence (MoD) and the Commission “to give an effective public hearing to those affected or aggrieved by implementation of One Rank One Pension (OROP)”.

According to the petition, a letter from the Ministry of Defence dated April 13, 2016, said: “Defence Forces pensioners/family pensioners, Defence Pensioners’ Associations can submit their representation, suggestions/views on the revised pension as notified, to the MoD, through post or by email within 15 days i.e. by April 29, 2016”.

‘Notice not published’

The petitioner also claimed that the notice was not published in newspapers, as a result of which most people did not know about it. It also said that the time given to submit grievances and suggestions was very little, and that asking those the scheme will affect to forward their grievances to the Ministry was “unfair and in violation of principles of natural justice”.

It also said that the mechanism for consultation only allowed written representations, which violated “the basic concept of effective hearing”.

The petition also said that the Central government did not provide the address and contact information of the Commission despite “repeated requests”, due to which those affected by the scheme would not be able to put their objections before it ahead of the mid-June deadline.

Source: thehindu

Government to promote Hindi in central government offices

Government to promote Hindi in central government offices

In a bid to promote the use of the Hindi language, Union Minister Jitendra Singh said the use of Hindi would be encouraged in central government offices, and in North East and South India to make the language more popular.

Chairing a meeting of Hindi Advisory Committee, Union Minister Jitendra Singh said that, in spite of government’s emphasis on increased use of Hindi in official work, still a lot needs to be done in this direction.
Singh said that Hindi has the capacity to serve not only as a common medium of communication for whole country, but it also carries high stakes for youngsters who aspire for jobs in corporate sector and multi-national companies where knowledge of Hindi is given an additional weightage during selection.

Friday’s meeting was held with the motive to promote the use of Hindi language in central administration.
Minister of State for Personnel Singh said the move does not aim to impose Hindi, but to inspire voluntary adoption of the language in the larger interests of administration and ease of governance.

Inputs from PTI

Central government employees getting 4th place in non-athletic events to get incentives

Central government employees getting 4th place in non-athletic events to get incentives

Central government employees achieving even the fourth position in a non-athletic sporting event will now be entitled to special incentives.

The Ministry of Personnel has changed a six-year-old rule in this regard ahead of Rio Olympics 2016, scheduled to begin in August 5.

In the case of non-athletic or equivalent sporting events, individuals or members of teams achieving first and second positions in the finals and both the losing semi-finalists achieving third and fourth places shall be said to have achieved excellence for the purpose of grant of incentives or increment, it said in a new order.

However, the grant of incentives to those achieving third and fourth positions is subject to a condition that more than three individuals or teams have participated in the sporting event.

“This benefit, however, is allowable to only one individual or team, if the number of individuals or teams that participate in a sporting event is less than three,” the ministry said.

The period of participation in a national or international sporting event, including the time spent in travelling to and fro, by central government employees are considered as working days and they are entitled to salary.
They also get special casual leave of 30 days in a year.

As per a 2010 rule, sports persons participating in sporting events (both individual and team events) of national and international importance would be treated as having achieved excellence for the purpose of grant of increment if he or she achieves first, second or third position in the finals of the events.

PTI

Ayush ministry may request centre to declare International Yoga Day a public holiday

Ayush ministry may request centre to declare International Yoga Day a public holiday

New Delhi: Ayush ministry may request the Union government to declare the International Yoga Day, which falls on June 21, as a public holiday if such a demand comes, Ayush minister Shripad Naik said today.

Speaking ahead of the second IYD celebrations, he said that his ministry would consider such a demand and request Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the interest of promoting a practice with multiple benefits to the masses.

“It is not needed, nobody has demanded that. Last year, also no such demand came. But if the demand comes, I will request the Prime Minister to do so.

“Yoga’s time is early morning. It will go on around 8 am.

There is no need of a holiday but if there is a demand for that, we will request the government,” Naik said during National Health Editors’ Conference on the theme – ‘Yoga for Holistic Health Recent Researches’ here.

June 21 this year falls on Tuesday while last year, it fell on a Sunday.

He also dismissed the controversy related to chanting of Om during the event and it has not been made compulsory.

“There is always some opposition whenever some good work is done. There is no opposition this year to it. We have not made it compulsory. Without OM, yoga cannot be complete. We have made those people who are opposing understand this and it seems they have understood,” he said.

A fresh controversy had broke out recently over the UGC’s directive asking universities and colleges to follow Ayush ministry’s yoga protocol that begins with chanting of ‘Om’ and some Sanskrit sholakas during Yoga Day celebrations on June 21.

Both the government and BJP, however had insisted that last year’s protocol has been maintained and no changes have been made. “There is no compulsion to chant ‘Om’,” the Ministry had earlier said.

Asked about the controversy which had erupted over performing of ‘Suryanamaskar asana, the minister said that this particular ‘asana’ had not been kept last year and this year, it will not be performed.

“The Surya namashkar asana, last year also we had not taken it. Its a complex exercise. It is difficult to do in 45 minutes and for people who are new to the exercise.

Therefore we have not kept this one,” Naik said.

PTI

Recognition of Trade Unions – New Rule Proposed by the Govt – Has to have at least 66% Support of the Workers

Recognition of Trade Unions – New Rule Proposed by the Govt – Has to have at least 66% Support of the Workers

Recognition of Trade Unions – In case no union garners the prescribed majority, the Bill provides for the formation of a collective bargaining council.

Soon, managements of companies will have to recognise trade unions that has the support of at least two-thirds or 66 per cent of workers, if the proposed Industrial Relations Code is enacted. Currently, there are no norms for recognising unions.

A union proving the requisite amount of support will also be considered as the representative body of workers to engage in dialogue with the management in case of a dispute. The revised Bill, containing this provision, has been sent for approval to the law ministry by the labour ministry.

In case no union garners the prescribed majority, the Bill provides for the formation of a collective bargaining council, where different unions will send their representatives. In such a case, a union gets a seat on the council for every 10 per cent of votes. Unions that do not get at least 10 per cent votes would not be included in the council.

Currently, there is no law that makes it mandatory for managements to recognise a trade union. Although there is a fundamental right to form unions and a statutory right to get it registered, there is no corresponding legal obligation on the employer to recognise a trade union, whether registered or not, even if they truly are representative.

“Recognition of a trade union is very different from registration. There have been numerous cases before tribunals where the management has refused to recognise a union as the bargaining body of workers. This provision will benefit both employers and workers as this will ensure a smooth dialogue process,” said a senior labour ministry official.

According to another ministry official, trade unions had objected to the original proposal of allowing a union that has even a per cent of votes higher than the second largest union as the sole negotiating agent during tripartite negotiations. For instance, in a situation where one union gets 41 per cent vote and the other 40 per cent, the second largest union with 40 per cent would have become irrelevant.

“They felt that it would have rendered a union with 40 per cent support useless and render smaller unions without bargaining power,” the official said.

Source: BS

7th Pay Commission News – Strike Notice by Defence Workers

7th Pay Commission News – Strike Notice by Defence Workers

7th Pay Commission News – Serving of Strike notice by Unions affiliated to INDWF on behalf of all Defence Workers – Indefinite Strike starts from 11th July 2016

In line with Indefinite Strike proposed by NJCA from 11th July 2016 relating to 7th Pay Commission Issues, INDWF, one of the largest Defence workers Federations, has announced its decision to proceed with Strike of all Defence Workers from 11.07.2016.

INDIAN NATIONAL DEFENCE WORKERS FEDERATION

INDWF/M of D/Strike/2016

Date : 05.06.2016

To

The Secretary to Government of India
Ministry of Defence
South Block
New Delhi 110 011.

Sub : Serving of Strike notice by Unions affiliated to INDWF to Head of Establishments/Units in all Directorates under Ministry of Defence – reg.

Sir,

The constituent Federation/Associations of National Council (JCM) have jointly submitted 11 point Charter of Demands to the Cabinet Secretary during July 2015 demanding him to settle the 11 point Charter of Demands (Enclosed as Annexure ‘A’).

Further, after submission of 7th CPC recommendations to the Finance Minister on 19.11.2015, on behalf of National Joint Council of Action (NJCA) submitted a memorandum to Cabinet Secretary vide letter No.NJC/2015/7th CPC are retrograde and the Central Government employees are very much agitated due to meagre increase of 14% wages.

The Charter of Demands on the recommendations of the 7th CPC, we demanded that the Government of India to settle the demands by holding a bilateral negotiations within February 2016.  It has been also intimated that if the desired settlement through bilateral discussions is not brought about by the first week of February 2016, NJCA will be constrained to go indefinite strike in the First week o March 2016.

Since, there was no settlement reached through bilateral negotiations, INDWF being one of the constituent of NJCA, it was jointly decided to go for an indefinite strike w.e.f.11.04.2016 and accordingly we have decided and directed all the affiliated union in Defence to conduct Strike Ballot on 12.02.2016 and serve the Strike notice on 11.03.2015.

After meeting the High Power Committee under the Chairmanship of Cabinet Secretary, Government of India, on 01.03.2016, as mentioned by him to the National Joint Counci9l of Action representative to give some more time to consider the demands, we have decided to defer serving of Strike notice to 09.06.2016 and to go on Indefinite Strike w.e.f. 11.07.2016.  Since there was no progress/development by holding a meeting to discuss the charter of Demands the constituent organisations of Central Government employees met on 03.06.2016 at Delhi and decided to serve Strike Notice on 09.06.2016 and to go on Indefinite Strike w.e.f.11.07.2016 0600 Hrs in order to achieve the demands both common as well as the demands pertaining to Defence Civilian Employees.

We are hereby informing the Government of India, Ministry of Defence all the affiliated unions of INDWF after serving the notices to their respective head of the establishments in all the Directorates under M of D, will proceed to Indefinite Strike w.e.f.11.07.2016 demanding the Government of India to settle the demands.

The Charter of demands are enclosed.

Yours Sincerely

(R. SRINIVASAN)

General Secretary

Source : INDWF

References from Ministries/Departments seeking advice of the DoP&T regarding further course of action to be taken on the order of Tribunal/Courts.

References from Ministries/Departments seeking advice of the DoP&T regarding further course of action to be taken on the order of Tribunal/Courts.

No. 43011/4/2015-Estt(D)
Government of India
Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions
(Department of Personnel and Training)

North Block, New Delhi
Dated the 07th June, 2016

OFFICE MEMORANDUM

Subject:- References from Ministries/Departments seeking advice of the DoP&T regarding further course of action to be taken on the order of Tribunal/Courts.

The Ministries/ Departments make references to this Department seeking advice
regarding the course of action to be taken on the order of Tribunal / Courts. Generally, if the directions of the Tribunals / Court is not in consonance with the policy of DoP&T, the administrative Ministry / Department concerned is advised for filing an appeal / review in the High Court in consultation with the Department of Legal Affairs. In a few of these cases, the advice of the Department of Legal Affairs is contrary to the advice of the DoP&T. Under such circumstances, the administrative Ministries / Departments make a second reference to DoP&T and DoLA for resolving the matter. The matter has been considered in the DoP&T and it also discussed with DoLA and representatives of Department of Revenue, Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, who have in the recent past made a few references of this type. In order to avoid second reference and to effectively deal with Court Cases, it has been decided that the following course of action may be followed:-

(a) Wherever the direction of the Tribunal or court is not in consonance with the policy of DoP&T, the DoP&T may not insist on the Administrative Ministry obtaining the advice of Department of Legal Affairs.
(b) In all the cases filed in Tribunals/Courts, the administrative Ministry shall defend the policy of DoP&T as laid in various OMs and instructions by filing an appeal or review in the appropriate court.
(c) The Ministry of Law and Justice to designate a counsel for each Ministry so that the court cases are defended well.
(d) The Administrative Ministry / Department must ensure that an officer of the level of Under Secretary or above is present in the court when important issues having policy issues or contempt petitions come up for hearing in the court.
(e) Where necessary, DOP&T while giving advice on the references pertaining to court cases, will indicate that an officer of DOP&T shall be co-opted for briefing ASG. In such cases, the administrative Ministry/Department shall fix an appointment with ASG and inform this Department in advance accordingly (i.e., venue, date and time).
(f) Wherever there is a case of delay, the Administrative Ministry may fix
responsibility for the same.

2. While defending court cases, as far as possible the DoP&T, Ministry of Law and line Ministry / Department should be on the same page and put up arguments on behalf of Union of India in a coherent manner and uphold the policy of the Government applicable in the relevant case.

Download Circular

Status of Cadre Review Proposal as on 31.05.2016

Status of Cadre Review Proposal as on 31.05.2016

Status of Cadre Review proposals processed in DoPT from 1st January. 2011 to 31 st May. 2016 (status as on 08/06/2016)

A. Approved by Cabinet

S.No.	Name of the Service	CRC* Meeting	Cabinet Approval
1.	CPWD Central Engineering Service, Central Electrical & Mechanical Engineering Service and Central Architecture Service	27/06/2011	03/01/2012
2.	Military Engineering Services (Indian Defence Service of Engineers, Architect Cadre and Surveyor Cadre)	22/09/2011 and 23/01/2012	18/04/2013
3.	Indian Revenue Service	19/02/2013 and GoM** on 29/04/2013	23/05/2013
4.	Indian Radio Regulatory Service	19/02/2013	03/07/2013
5.	Central Labour Service	19/02/2013	17/07/2013
6.	Indian Customs & Central Excise	27/08/2013	05/12/2013
7.	Indian Cost Accounts Service	29/10/2013	02/01/2014
8.	Central Power Engineering Service	11/12/2013	13/05/2014
9.	Indian Ordnance Factory Service	19/03/2014	29/10/2014
10.	Indian Civil Accounts Service	17/07/2013	16/01/2015
11.	Border Road Engineering Service	26/02/2015	07/04/2015
12.	Defence Aeronautical Quality Assurance Service	08/01/2015	06/05/2015
13.	Indian Trade Service	06/05/2014	01/07/2015
14.	Indian Statistical Service	24/06/2014	29/07/2015
15.	Indian Skill Development Service	10/04/2015	07/10/2015
16.	Indian Postal Service	28/12/2015	25/05/2016

S.No	Name of the Service	Status
1. With Concerned Ministry – CRC meeting held and Cabinet approval pending (5)
1.	Railway Protection Force	CRC meeting held on 29/07/2013. Decision with the approval of MaS (PP) and FM has been communicated to the Ministry of Railways on 09/10/2013 for taking Cabinet approval.
2.	Indian Naval Material Management Service	The CRC meeting held on 24/10/2013. Comments of DoPT on Cabinet Note have been provided to Ministry of Defence on 21/1/2015.
3.	Indian P&T Acctt. and Fin.Service	CRC meeting held on 17/09/2015. Approval of MaS (PP) and FM has been conveyed to Department of Telecom on 17/11/2015 for taking Cabinet approval. DoT has circulated draft Note for the Cabinet. Comments of DoPT on Cabinet Note have been provided to DoT on 07/1/2016.
4.	Central Reserve Police Force	CRC meeting held on 15/12/2015. Approval of MoS (PP) and FM has been conveyed to Ministry of Home Affairs for taking Cabinet approval. MHA has circulated draft Note for the Cabinet. Comments of DoPT on Cabinet Note have been provided to Ministry of Home Affairs on 23/212016.
5.	Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME)	CRC Meeting held on 28/12/2015. Approval of MoS (PP) and FM has been obtained. MSME has to take the approval of Cabinet.
2. With Cabinet Secretariat (1)
6.	Indian Telecom Service	CRC meeting held on 18/02/2016. As per recommendation of CRC, DoE and DoT have been requested to nominate their representative in the Committee constituted under the Chairmanship of Secretary (Coord.) Nominations sent to Cabinet Secretariat. Meeting of Group of Officers held on 06/06/2016.
3. With Department of Expenditure (11)
7.	Indian Information Service	CRC Meeting held on 05/05/2016. Approval of MoS(PP) has been obtained and proposal sent to DoE for approval of Finance Minister.
8.	Central Engineering Service (Roads)	CRC Meeting held on 25/04/2016. Approval of MoS(PP) has been obtained and proposal sent to DoE for approval of Finance Minister.
9.	Border Security Force	Approval of Secretary (P) has been obtained and proposal sent to DoE for approval of Secretary (Expenditure).
10.	Indian Railways Personnel Service	Approval of Secretary (P) has been obtained and proposal sent to DoE for approval of Secretary (Expenditure) on 31/05/2016.
11.	Indian Railways Traffic Service	-do-
12.	Indian Railways Stores Service	Approval of Secretary (P) has been obtained and proposal sent to DoE for approval of Secretary (Expenditure) on 02/06/2016.
13.	Indian Railways Service of Mechanical Engineers	-do-
14.	Indian Railways Accounts Service	Approval of Secretary (P) has been obtained and proposal sent to DoE for approval of Secretary (Expenditure) on 03/06/2016.
15.	Indian Railways Service of Electrical Engineers	Approval of Secretary (P) has been obtained and proposal sent to DoE for approval of Secretary (Expenditure) on 06/06/2016.
16.	Indian Railways Service of Engineers	-do-
17.	Indian Railways Service of Signal Engineers	-do-
4. With Department of Personnel & Training (1)
18.	Indian Defence Accounts Service	A meeting was held on 23/03/2016 and MoD was advised to recast the proposal. Revised proposal received on 24/04/2016. The proposal has been examined and is under consideration.
5. With Ministry concerned for clarifications (2)
19.	Petroleum Explosive Safety Organisation (PESO)	Proposal from DIPP to form a new Organised Group A Service has been examined and the observations of DoPT have been sent on 19/04/2016. Clarifications awaited from Ministry of Commerce.
20.	Indian P&T Building Works	Clarifications are awaited from DoT on the cadre strength.

Source: Circular Portal

7th Pay Commission – Empowered Committee Expected to Submit Report by This Week End

7th Pay Commission – Empowered Committee Expected to Submit Report by This Week End

Empowered Committee of Secretaries headed by Cabinet Secretary PK Sinha is all set to meet on coming Saturday (June 11) to give final shape to the changes on 7th Pay Commission recommendation.

7th Pay Commission – Empowered Committee Expected to Submit Report by This Week End – This will give the much needed boost to lakhs of government employees.

Empowered Committee of Secretaries headed by Cabinet Secretary PK Sinha is all set to meet on coming Saturday (June 11) to give final shape to the changes on 7th Pay Commission recommendation.

This will give the much needed boost to lakhs of government employees who are anxiously waiting for the implementation of the recommendation of the 7th Pay Commission.

The secretaries group is expected to meet on June 11 to finally wrap up its report on the remuneration of government employees.

Reliable Sources further state that it will take only a few days afterwards by the finance ministry to implement the higher pay package for central government employees.

Reliable sources add, the secretaries group has recommended between Rs 2,70,000 and Rs 21,000 hike for the higher and the lower level. This is twenty thousand more in the upper limit prescribed by the 7th CPC and three thousand more in the lower level set by the commission.

It may be recalled that the government had set up a high-powered panel headed by Cabinet Secretary P K Sinha to process the recommendations of the 7th Pay Commission which will have bearing on the remuneration of 47 lakh central government employees and 52 lakh pensioners.

Source: Zee News