Govt to hike Dearness Allowance by 10%; benefit 80 lakh Employees & Pensioners

Ahead of festival season, central government will this month announce a hike in dearness allowance to 90% from existing 80%, benefiting about 50 lakh central employees and 30 lakh pensioners.

According to official source, dearness allowance hike will be 10% and would be effective from July 1, this year.

The sources further said the exact amount of dearness allowance, as a proportion of basic pay, works out to over 90% after factoring in the revised all India Consumer Price Index for Industrial Workers (CPI-IW) for June.

According to revised data released on August 30, retail inflation for factory workers for June stood at 11.63%, higher than provisional estimate of 11.06% for the month released on July 31.

Sources said that since the revised estimate for the month of June is available, the finance ministry would soon prepare a proposal for the purpose for seeking Union Cabinet nod.

They further said the proposal will be moved this month. There would be a double digit hike in DA after about three years. It was last in September, 2010, that the government had announced a hike of 10% to be given with effect from July 1, 2010.

DA was hiked to 80% from 72% in April, 2013, effective from January 1, this year.

As per the practice, the government uses CPI-IW data for past 12 month or a year to arrive at a number for the purpose of any DA hike. Thus, the retail inflation for industrial workers between July, 2012 to June 2013 will be used to take a final decision.

Source : The Times of India

Legal recognition of electronic records & digital signatures - implementation in DoP

SIFY Network - Limits Internet Access in Post offices which is Migrated with CBS(Sify Network)

 Approved and Accessible Sites through SIFY Network:

All links Under India Post:

https://services.ptcmysore.gov.in/Speednet/
https://services.ptcmysore.gov.in/RNet
https://services.ptcmysore.gov.in/emo
https://services.ptcmysore.gov.in/uidreports/
https://services.ptcmysore.gov.in/AccountsMIS/
http://indiapostarrow.gov.in/arrow/default.asp
http://www.indiapost.gov.in/RuralInfrastructure/
http://ptcinfo.org/eiodweb/
http://www.indiapost.gov.in/ccc/
http://www.ptcinfo.org/DigiFrank/
http://www.ptcinfo.org/eurogiro/
https://services.ptcmysore.gov.in/spc/
https://www.epostoffice.gov.in/
http://indiapost.nic.in/
https://mail.gov.in/iwc_static/layout/new_login.jsp
http://www.indiapost.gov.in/SpeedPost.aspx
http://www.indiapost.gov.in/ExpressParcel.aspx
http://www.indiapost.gov.in/IMOS.aspx
http://www.indiapost.gov.in/BusinessPost.aspx
http://ipsweb.ptcmysore.gov.in/ipswebtracking/
http://services.ptcmysore.gov.in/Speednettracking/Track/UIDTrack.aspx
https://wupos.westernunion.com/agent-app/login
http://www.reliancegold.in/jsp/userLogin.jsp
https://services.dopmobile.in/MerchantApp/
http://mail.nic.in

SDC Chennai:
tamilnadupost.nic.in/sdc/index.htm


Private Sites:
www.google.com
www.yahoo.com


All other Sites were blocked by SIFY Network as per DOP Order.

Source : http://potools.blogspot.in/

POST BANK OF INDIA SANS POSTAL EMPLOYEES

It seems that the Post Bank of India (PBI) may become a reality in the near future. For the last more than fifteen years we have been told about the Post Bank and even the Parliamentary standing committee on Communications & IT has repeatedly demanded the Government for commencing Post bank. Several attempts have been made, but the Finance Ministry always took a negative stand, for one reason or the other. Majority of the bank managements including nationalized banks have been opposing the entry of the Postal department into commercial banking. The reason is obvious. They foresee a potential threat to their existence once Post Bank enters into their field and during the course of time the Post Bank may become one of the biggest Bank.
Post Bank of India will be an independent entity, separate from the current operations of small savings schemes being carried out by the Department of Posts on behalf of Ministry of Finance. Department has accordingly submitted an application to the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on 28.06.2013 seeking banking license subject to necessary cabinet approval. RBI has said that new banks will have to set up at least three branches in villages with a population of less than 10000, for each branch they establish in other areas. Although Post Bank does not intend to open a bank in every Post office, the plan is to meet the financial inclusion goal through these Post offices. India Post had 1,54,822 Post offices across the country as on 31.03.2013, the largest for any department in the world, and close to 90% of them – 1,39,086 – are in rural India. This is more than four times the number of rural branches run by India’s Banks put together. According to plan prepared by Ernst & Young, India Post will become Post Bank of India’s banking correspondent. PBI will use Post office infrastructure but very frugally. Carefully done PBI can be a game – changer in rural areas.

India post is among 26 applicants that sought banking licenses from RBI. India Post has to develop the standards to meet RBI guidelines. In its guidelines for new banking licenses announced on 22nd February 2013, RBI required applicants to prove their eligibility on several fronts – from promoter holding to past experience to business plans. The minimum capital required by the applicants for license is Rs. 500 crores and foreign share holding in the new banks is capped at 49% for the first five years. The new banks have to be set up under a non-operative Financial Holding company (NOFHC). They also have to maintain minimum capital adequacy ratio – the ratio of risk weighed assets, a measure of financial strength of the bank – of 19 % for the first three years. New banks also need to list their shares within three years of starting operations.

The main argument put forward by those opposing the Post Bank is that Postal department has no experience when it comes to giving credit (loans). Department has only been taking deposits till now. Sanctioning and disbursing of credit needs an entirely different aptitude. India Post has no specialized experience in the business. It is reported that unlike many believe, the Post Bank of India will be a completely new entity with no legacies of a government department and very little to do with its parent department, except using some of its network. It will have an independent Board. Separate recruitment has been planned to have specialised banking staff. Of course, the Post Bank will be a subsidiary organisation of India Post, which need to be registered as a public sector Bank and Government equity in this new entity could be diluted. Whatever reforms and regulations Government implements in Nationalised Banking sector will be fully applicable to Post Bank of India also.

There are many talented and qualified Postal employees who want to switch over to the Post bank and to work as employees under the Post Bank. The reports that separate recruitment will be made for the Post Bank has cast shadow upon their hope to work in the Post Bank. NFPE demands that the existing Postal employees who want to switch over to the Post Bank shall be given chance to exercise option and if need be a trade test to assess their capability can also be conducted before selection. Selected officials can be imparted with intensive training in commercial banking business. In any case 100% open market direct recruitment is an injustice to those talented Postal employees who may not be able to apply for open recruitment due to age factor etc. we urge upon the Postal Board and Finance Ministry to give due consideration to this aspect, before the new Bank is rolled out.
Source : http://nfpe.blogspot.com/

DISCUSSIONS ON THE PENDING JCM SUBJECTS IN THE JCM (DC) STANDING COMMITTEE MEETING HELD IN 23.08.2013

The standing committee meeting of JCM (DC) was held on 23.08.2013 under the chairmanship of Member (O) to discuss the pending items of the last JCM (DC). Com. K. V. Sridharan, Leader Staff side, Com. Giriraj Singh, Secretary Staff Side, Com. M. Krishnan, Secretary General NFPE Com. D. Theagarajan, Secretary General FNPO represented the staff side. Com. Ishwar Singh Dabas, General Secretary, P4 NFPE, Com. T. N. Rahate General Secretary P4, FNPO were also present to discuss the postmen related issues.

The following are the decision in respect of important items.

1.    A new chairperson will be nominated with in a fortnight for further continuance of cadre restructuring proposal. A meeting with the staff side will be held within one month.

2.     The case of System Assistant will be looked into by the cadre review committee. The uniform duties and other ten demands pertaining to system administrators will be discussed in the same committee.

3.        Droping the practice of obtaining fidelity bond will be reviewed once again.

4.          The protection of pay of the defunct scale of PO & RMS Accountant case is being reviewed.

5.         The revision of cash allowance to the SPMs handling cash in the absence of treasurer will be finalized at the earliest possible.

6.         The committee reports for enhancing the line limits for cash remittance will be decided within a month. Providing van for cash conveyance for MNERGA payment will be considered.

7.     Fixing of norms to PSD and CSD will be considered only after the implementation of IT modernisation project.

8.      Allowing the physically challenged officials to appear in the IP examination, the referred case has not yet been finalized by the department of Social Justice. One more reminder and personal approach to expedite the approval will be made.

9.       The revised HSG I Recruitment rules ensuring 100% HSG I Posts to General line is under process. The revised recruitment rules for HSG I will be finalized within two months.

10.    The proposal for payment of incentive instead of honorarium for processing PLI/RPLI proposal will be finalized shortly. We pointed out about non-payment of RPLI incentive on monthly basis as per 2009, orders in most of the circles. It was assured to issue instructions to adhere the said instructions scrupulously. We pointed out the inadequate allotment of funds of clearing the pending incentive bills to the field officers and Agents and requested to allot the sufficient fund to wipe out all the pending bills forthwith. This was assured.

GRANT OF COMPUTER ADVANCE - 2012-13.

PRINCIPAL CONTROLLER OF DEFENCE ACCOUNTS
107, LOWER AGRAM ROAD, AGRAM POST, BANGALORE-560007

NO. AN/II/1832/Comp.Adv   

DTD: 24th June 2013

To:
1) All Sections in Main Office
2) All Sub-Offices under PCDA Bangalore
3) All HAL (DAD) Offices

SUB: GRANT OF COMPUTER ADVANCE - 2012-13.

   It is proposed to prepare a fresh panel of applicants for Computer advance for the year 2013-14. All those Officers / Staff who are eligible as per conditions given below and are desirous of applying may be advised to submit their applications in the Prescribed Proforma alongwith Invoice / estimates from the authorised dealer.

   1) All those Staff / Officers whose Pay in the Pay-Band of Rs.8560/­- or more can apply fur Computer advance.

   2) Such of those Officers / Staff who had applied earlier, but have Not been sanctioned Computer advance are also required to submit Fresh applications. In-complete applications received will not be Entertained

   3) Individuals who fulfill the conditions of Rule 17 (ii) & Rule 21(5) Of GFR Pt-II only have to apply for Computer advance.

   4) The advance for purchase of Computer is subject to availability of Funds.

   5) The contents of the Circular may please be brought to the notice of All staff members and their applications forwarded immediately, so as to reach this office on or before 10th July 2013 positively.

   6) Applications only in respect of eligible persons may be forwarded to this office duly recommended by the Head of the Office.

   Please acknowledge receipt.

Sd/-
ACDA(AN)

Disclosure of personal information under the RTI Act, 2005

No.11/2/2013-IR (Pt.)

Government of India

Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions

Department of Personnel & Training

North Block, New Delhi,

Dated the 14th August 2013

OFFICE MEMORANDUM

Subject: Disclosure of personal information under the RTI Act, 2005. 

The Central Information Commission in one of its decisions (copy enclosed) has held that information about the complaints made against an officer of the Government and any possible action the authorities might have taken on those complaints, qualities as personal information within the meaning of provision of section 8 (1) (j) of the RTI Act, 2005.

2. The Central Information Commission while deciding the said case has cited the decision of Supreme Court of India in the matter of Girish R. Deshpande vs. CIC and others (SLP (C) no. 27734/2012) in which it was held as under:-

“The performance of an employee/Officer in an organisation is primarily a matter between the employee and the employer and normally those aspects are governed by the service rules which fall under the expression personal information, the disclosure of which has no relationship to any public activity or public interest. On the other hand, the disclosure of which could cause unwarranted invasion of the privacy of that individual." The Supreme Court further held that such information could be disclosed only if it would serve a larger public interest.

3. This may be brought to the notice of all concerned.

End: As above.

sd/-

(Manoj Joshi)

Joint Secretary (AT&A

IMPORTANT POINTS TO BE CHECKED BY SUB DIVISIONAL HEADS DURING THEIR VISIT TO SUB POST OFFICE.

MAILS AND PROJECT ARROW

1. Mail in deposit – check the remarks given by Postman on deposit mail, arrange delivery of mail by contacting the addressees over phone, if possible.
2. Check whether mail has been date stamped before delivery?
3. Check the quantity of stamping and take appropriate action to improve the quality of stamping.
4. Check whether opening of mail bags is done properly. Check whether unpaid, missent and deliverable mails are segregated properly.
5. Check % of RTS mail. Check % of missent mail and take action to improve the % of RTS and missent. Check that RFD targets are being achieved by the SO (in case of project arrow office)
6. Check the returns from Postman and satisfy yourself that Postman has taken all efforts to deliver the mail.
7. Check whether “Unpaid Taxation Register”, “Bag Opening Register” are maintained properly.
8. Check whether Due Mail and Sorting List is on records and whether it requires any changes?


ACCOUNTS

9. Check whether Memo of Authorized balances is on records and does it require any changes? If so review and get it reissued.
10. Check whether SO is having stock of Postage stamps and stationery as authorized in Consolidated Memo of Authorized Balances?
11. Check whether SO is supplying the stamps and stationery to BOs as per Memo of Authorized Balances and whether any BO is having the stock of stamps less than the authorization. If so, get the supply made by SO immediately.
12. Check whether stock of IPOs is being replenished by the HO as per Memo of IPOs sold. Check whether SO is having stock of IPOs as per authorization.

SAVINGS BANK AND CBS

13. Check whether signature scanning is completed.
14. Check whether stock of NSCs is available at SO as per authorization and SO is having sufficient stock of NSCs of small denominations.
15. Check whether staff on the counter is aware about the target of SO and he/she is making all efforts for opening of new accounts against closed one and issue of certificates against discharged one.
16. Check whether the stock of Passbooks is available with SO commensurate with target allotted to SO.
17. Check what is the ratio for closure to open accounts of the SO. Try to improve the ratio by opening of 4 accounts against each closed account.
18. Check the Minus Balance cases status and take appropriate action.
19. Check the SBCO objection status and take appropriate action.
20. Check the status for data migration from SO to HO.

Aadhar e-KYC : Fast, Secure & Cost Effective

The Unique Identification Authority of India, UIDAI has developed the e-KYC (Electronic – Know Your Customer) service, which promises to substantially improve customer services in the near future.  The new offering,  e-KYC allows an Aadhar number-holder to authorize UIDAI to release his personal details to any service provider to allow instant activation of services like bank account, mobile connection etc. 

Towards paperless transaction

Know Your Customer or KYC is a mandatory process that most financial institutions and mobile companies need to complete in regards to all their customers. Aadhar card is already a valid KYC instrument, still the KYC process takes much longer time and involves documentation.   The e-KYC service being offered by UIDAI will  enable to electronically verify identity and address proof of the residents, which will cut down time required on many things like getting a new mobile connection, opening a Bank account or a trading account etc.

“Not only will this service streamline the process of on-boarding new customers but it will also simplify the process of linking existing customer accounts to their respective Aadhaar numbers in an easy, yet secure manner. The eKYC service will extend the power and convenience of Aadhaar KYC to paperless transactions. Using the eKYC service, residents can authorise the UIDAI to release their KYC data to a service provider,” says UIDAI Chairperson Nandan Nilekani.

The authorization for release of personal data can either be done in person – through biometric authentication or it can be done online using OTP (One Time Password).  Upon successful authentication and consent of the resident, the UIDAI will provide the resident’s name, address, date of birth, gender, photograph, mobile number (if available), and email address (if available) to the service provider electronically.

Public sector banks faces shortage of 56,000 employees

Public sector banks face a shortage of 56,022 personnel across various cadres and the lenders are at different stages of filling these posts, official sources said.

In the officer category, 25 public sector banks have 23,794 vacancies as of March, 2013. Of this, 5,815 officer level posts are in Bank of Baroda (BoB) only, sources said.

Syndicate Bank has 1,500 vacancies of officer level posts. Andhra Bank is facing a shortage of 1,484 officers. The number for the same in Bank of India is 1,473. Allahabad Bank needs to hire 1,450 officers, Punjab & Sind Bank 1,454 and Punjab National Bank 1,119.