Monday, 28 September 2015

15th All INDIA Conference of National Union of Grameena Dak Sevaks

All  India Conference of NUGDS is going to be held at Kharaghpur, WB state from 2.10.2015 to 3.10.2015. All divisional and branch secretaries are requested to mobilize GDS officials more to participate in the meeting.

7th Pay Commission likely to recommend up to 30% pay hike for Central government employees, say sources

New Delhi: In good news for the Central government employees, the Seventh Pay Commission is likely to recommend a substantial pay hike which could be up to 30% or even more, said sources on Thursday.

There will be 5 to 6% performance-based increment every year and those who are under-performing could retire by 55 years of age or after 30 years of service, added sources. House Rent Allowance could also be hiked by 10% to 30%.

The sources say that there will be a 5 to 6 per cent performance-based increment every year.

The Seventh Pay Commission's recommendations will be implemented from January 1, 2016. The Department of Personnel and Training will examine the recommendations and consult the Finance Ministry on them.

Its term was extended by four months till December 31 to give its recommendations on revising emoluments for nearly 48 lakh central government employees and 55 lakh pensioners.

Source:http://www.ibnlive.com/news/politics/7th-pay-commission-likely-to-recommend-up-to-30-pay-hike-for-central-government-employees-say-sources-1110992.html

COMPULSORY RETIREMENT AFTER 30 YEARS OF SERVICE/ON REACHING 50 YEARS OF AGE?VIEWS OF EMPLOYEES

Recently, the Central Government Employee’s Welfare Ministry released an announcement which has created panic and commotion among the central government employees.

In the announcement it has been said that senior officials have to analyse the service record and decide whether employees who have completed thirty years of service or reached their 50th year should continue their service or be advised to leave service after three months notice.

Does it take a management to learn that an official or an employee is unfit to continue in service when he has reached his 50th year? Does it take thirty years of continuous service to assess the efficiency of an employee?

Can’t the ability of an employee be learnt during his probation period? Leaving an employee at such times and trying to force him out of service when he is old appears rather inhumane.

When problems like educations expenses of children, marriage and housing loan afflict employees, the announcement of compulsory retirement will certainly be a great shock.

Hence, Central Government should provide an explanation about the announcement and help clear the doubts of the central Government Employees. Changes have to be made at the beginning itself. If the Central Government brings changes at a very late period then the purpose for which it released this very announcement would become futile and ineffective. On the contrary, it will only lead to a loss of trust that employees have on the Central Government.

Source:http://7-paycommission.in/compulsory-retirement-after-30-years-of-serviceon-reaching-50-years-of-ageviews-of-employees/

DoP seek Cabinet nod to set up Payments Bank

The Department of Posts  is expected to seek Cabinet nod within two months for raising Rs.292 crore from public investment board to set-up Payments Bank, for which it has already got the RBI approval.

Saturday, 26 September 2015

Seventh Pay Commission Likely To Introduce Health Insurance

In a move that could benefit more than 50 lakh central government employees and 56 lakh pensioners, the Seventh Pay commission is planning to propose to introduce health insurance scheme to replace Central Government Health Scheme (CGHS) at highly subsidized rates.

The pay panel has already held detailed discussions about this with various stakeholders, including organisations, federations, groups representing civil employees as well as Defence services.

The pay panel will ask the central government to urge the insurance industry to come up with feasible health insurance solution for the central government employees and pensioners. The IRDA, the insurance regulatory body of India, will be compelled to ask the health insurance companies to offer a basic insurance to every central government employee and pensioner, regardless of age or medical condition and are not allowed to make a profit off this basic insurance.

The serving central government employees in non-CGHS areas are provided healthcare facilities under the CS(MA) Rules, 1994, but pensioners are not covered under these rules.

The pensioners are, however, entitled to a fixed medical allowance of Rs 500 per month. The pensioners residing in non-CGHS areas have the option to become a CGHS member in any CGHS-covered city of their choice to avail the medical facilities under the CGHS Scheme.

Health insurance would be available for central government employees and pensioners till death, with the insured employees and pensioners will have to pay 50% of the premium from their salaries and pensions and the remaining 50% premium may be paid by the central government.

The health insurance would cover a family of six the employee and pensioner himself or herself, the spouse, two children and two parents. The maximum sum assured for family in a year could up to Rs 5 lakh.

Under the CGHS, the annual per capita expenditure is more than Rs 5,000. In contrast, the National Rural Health Mission (NRHM), which caters to the rural masses, spends just Rs 180 per head.

The CGHS is financed mainly through the Centre’s tax revenues. Though beneficiaries do contribute a share of their wages towards premium, ranging from Rs 600 to Rs 6,000 a year depending on their pay scale, this accounts for just about 5 per cent of the total expenditure. The government shells out the remaining 95 per cent.

So, the central government also wanted for ending the CGHS in its current form and to move to an insurance-based health scheme to cut costs.

TSTNew Delhi: Seventh Pay Commission is ready with its recommendations on revising emoluments for nearly 48 lakh central government employees and 55 lakh pensioners, and will soon submit report to the Finance Ministry.

Earlier in August, the government had extended Commission's term by another four months tillDecember 31 to give recommendations.

"The Commission is ready with recommendations and the report will be submitted soon," according to sources.

The Commission, whose recommendations may also have a bearing on the salaries of the state government staff, was given more time by the Union Cabinet just a day before its original 18-month term was coming to an end.

Headed by Justice A K Mathur, the Commission was appointed in February 2014 and its recommendations are scheduled to take effect from January 1, 2016.

The government constitutes the Pay Commission almost every 10 years to revise the pay scale of its employees and often states also implement the panel's recommendations after some modifications.

As part of the exercise, the Commission holds discussions with various stakeholders, including organisations, federations, groups representing civil employees as well as defence services.

Meena Agarwal is the secretary of the Commission. Other members are Vivek Rae, a retired IAS officer of 1978 batch and Rathin Roy, an economist.

Sixth Pay Commission was implemented with effect from January 1, 2006, the fifth from January 1, 1996 and the fourth from January 1, 1986.


Source:http://www.tkbsen.in

Swachh Bharat Mission - Programme in Post offices

The Secretary (Posts) has instructed all Circle Heads to take immediate action under the Swachh Bharat Mission as per the following program detailed below:

25th to 27th Sept 2015 - Special cleanliness drive for all Departmental Post Office and administrative office buildings.

28th to 30th September 2015 - Special cleanliness drive for all Departmental Post Office and administrative office campuses.

1st to 5th October 2015 - Special cleanliness drive for all Branch Post Offices.

6th to 10th October 2015 - Weeding out of old record, unserviceable items as well as carrying out minor maintenance of departmental buildings.

11th October 2015 - Special cleanliness drive organized by all Postal employees and officers to clean public places in the immediate vicinity of Post Offices; attempt should be made to involve local self Government bodies and district administration


It has also been instructed to complete the programmes in true letter and spirit and to send high resolution photos in soft copy to the Directorate for each and every programme. 

Tuesday, 22 September 2015

No restrictions on WhatsApp, Facebook? Modi government withdraws draft encryption policy

Following a public uproar over threat to privacy, the government today withdrew the draft encryption policy which made it mandatory for storage of all messages, including social media, for 90 days. 

"I personally feel that some of the expression used in the draft are giving rise to uncalled-for misgivings. Therefore, I have written to DeitY to withdraw that draft, rework it properly and thereafter put in the public domain," Telecom Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad told reporters here. 

An analysis of extending the term of 7th Pay Commission – GServants



Recently the central government announced the extension of term of 7th pay commission by four months till 31st December 2015. By the time there were news started coming about seventh Pay Commission that it would ask one month extension to submit the report, Unexpectedly the central government itself granted four month extension to 7th central pay commission in its Cabinet Meeting held on 26th August 2015

One day before the announcement made by central government on granting extension to the pay commission, according to PTI news report, Justice A.K.Mathur, Chairman, 7th Pay Commission, said that by the end of September 2015 the Pay commission report would be submitted to the government.

Why the central government granted four month extension when the commission itself if asked one month time?
What will happen if the 7th pay commission submits its reports on 31st December 2015?

Before to answer that, It will be very useful to know that what happened in sixth pay commission, after submission of report and how much time it took to get announced the implementation of pay commission recommendation.
  • The Sixth Central Pay commission was set up by Union Cabinet of India on 5th October 2006. The Commission, headed by Justice B.N.Srikrishna.The Other members of the commission were Prof. Ravindra Dholakia, Mr. J.S.Mathur and Member-Secretary Ms Sushama Nath, IAS.
  • The Pay Commission submitted its report to Finance Minister P. Chidambaram on 24 March 2008.
  • The United Progressive Alliance (UPA) Government headed by Manmohan Singh, approved the Sixth Pay commission recommendations with some modifications. In the cabinet meeting held on 14th August 2008, the Union Cabinet headed by Manmohan Singh gave its approval for implementation of the recommendations of the Sixth Central Pay Commission.
  • It was announced that the revised pay scales will come into effect from 1/1/2006 and revised rates of allowances from 1/9/2008.
The Gazette Notification for implementation of sixth pay commission published on 29th August, 2008.

From the above reference it is known that after submission of report it will take six month time to get its approval from Central Government for implementation of pay commission recommendation.

The decision of extending the term of seventh pay commission could be a major blow to central government employees by the way as follows

1. The 7th pay commission has been made to submit its report on 31st December 2015. The stipulated time is extended as 22 Months instead of 18 months for 7th pay commission to submit its report

2. As the central government would like to ground upon the Precedents and it will take six month time from the date of submission of report to announce its approval for implementation of 7th pay commission recommendations

3. So the Cabinet approval for implementation of 7th pay commission recommendation will be granted by the Month of June 2016

4. Only the Revised Pay Scale will come into effect from 1.1.2016

5. The revised rate of allowances will come into effect from prospective date that is with effect from the day of Order is issued.

6. So the central Government employees will be losing the benefit of revised rate of allowances for the period of six months , which they supposed to get from 1.1.2016, provided the order for implementation of 7th pay commission will be issued on 1.7.2016.

Supreme Court judgement on Aadhar card

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Tuesday ruled that Aadhar card is not mandatory for the citizens.
Here are five important things you should know:
  1. A Constitution Bench of the Supreme Court ruled today that the citizens of India are not mandatorily required to have Aadhar card. The court has even instructed the Central government to publicise the decision widely.
  2. The court ruled that Aadhar card will remain optional for availing various welfare schemes of the government.
  3. However, Aadhar card will continue to be required for PDS and LPG distribution system.
  4. The court also directed the authorities to ensure that no personal information of Aadhar card holders is shared.
  5. The court has allowed the use of details of Aadhar card holders for criminal investigations.

Click to View Supreme Court Order

Recruitment Rules of Multi Tasking Staff(MTS) - Clarifications

Postal Directorate has issued clarifications on the issues connected with MTS Recruitment Rules,2015 vide letter no 37-33/2009-SPB-I dated 09.09.2015.
Copy of the said Directorate letter is reproduced below.





Monday, 21 September 2015

Joint bi-ennial conference of NAPE Gr-c, PM&MTS and NUGDS of Visakhapatnam Division

The joint bi-ennail conference of Gruop-c, Postman and NUGDS of Visakhapatnam Division was held on 20.9.2015 Sunday under the presidenship of Sri L.Krishnaprasad. Sri Gulamrabbani CS PIV, Sri Ch.Lakshminarayana CS NUGDS, Sri VS Arunkumar RR Vishakapatnam Region, Sri Vijayarao DS Srikakulam, Sri MVS Prasad DS Anakapalli and Sri Adinarayana DS Vizayanagaram were attended the meeting addressed the gathering. CS grup-c  shared the latest news about the strike position, 7th cpc issues, Indiapost Project, orgainastaion matters and local problems.   Sri K.Appaji, Sri K Prasadareddy were elected as Divisional President and Secretary respectively. Sri L.Krishanparasad was elected as Asst. Divisional Secretary. Retired officials were felicitated.  










Seventh Pay Commission: Employees’ Delight, Govt’s Despair

The Seventh Pay Commission report is awaited, the new pay scales will be applicable to Central government employees with effect from January 2016.
50 lakh central government employees and 56 lakh pensioners including dependents hope to get this gift from April next year. The revised pay scales are likely to be implemented retrospectively starting 1 January 2016.

Many commentators say that the average increase in basic fair pay for all government employees will be in the region of 40-45%.

This is a very rough average because for senior level officers, like the Cabinet Secretary or officials at the secretary level, the payback could increase by more than 50%.

As the Pay Commission numbers come through there could be a 30-40 per cent increase for each central government employee.

An increase of salary and allowances would boost middle class central government employees to spend more time with their families for marketing.

The economy would get a major boost from a pickup in consumption, resulting from an increase in salaries but the flip side to the hike will be a spike in inflation.

The reports of Seventh Pay Commission will be implicated from April next year as Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said in the Parliament on February 27, “The Seventh Pay Commission impact may have to be absorbed in 2016-17.”

Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said above statement in his pre-budget speech. His statement indicates that the government may implement Seventh Pay Commission report from April 2016.

The strongest criticism of Pay Commission awards is that they play havoc with government finances. The pervious pay commissions’ rollout has been negative for fiscal balances.

The recommendations of the second pay commission were accompanied with a financial impact of about Rs 39 crore. The financial burden of the implementation of the third, fourth, fifth pay and sixth pay commission recommendations has been estimated at around Rs 144 crore, Rs 1,282 crore, Rs 17,000 crore and Rs 20,000 crore respectively.

Initial estimates suggest the seventh pay commission could add Rs 1,00,619 crore to the central government’s wage bill.

The central government pay and allowances amount to 1 per cent of GDP today. State wages amount to another 4 per cent, making for a total of 5 per cent of GDP.

The medium-term expenditure framework recently presented to Parliament by Finance Minister Jaitley, which looks at an increase in pay of 16 per cent for 2016-17 consequent to the Seventh Pay Commission award. That would amount to an increase of 0.8 per cent of GDP. This is a one-off impact.

One Rank One Pension is also a rider to enforcement of the seventh pay commission’s recommendation. The government is committed to OROP for the armed forces. This would impose an as yet undefined burden on Central government finances.


Source : http://www.tkbsen.in

AP Circle : Examination for filling the posts of Postman/Mail Guard with GDS/MTS - Examination schedule announced

Circle ofice Hyderabad has announced the schedule for Postma/Mail Guard Examination for the year 2015 vide CO letter dated 15.09.2015. The last date for submission of applications by the eligible GDS and MTS staff  to appear for the examination is 15.10.2015. The schedule date of limited departmental competitive examination is 01.11.2015. The examination centres are Hyderabad, kurnool,vijayawada and Visakhapatnam. 

Total Postman vacancies are 332 and Mail Guard vacancies are 13. 

Click here to view the Co letter dated 15.10.2015 containing the details like Examination pattern & Syllabus, Eligibility criteria, Division wise details of vacancies, Proforma Application  etc.

Friday, 18 September 2015

CGHS Rates for Cancer treatment in impanelled Hospitals - Revised rates

The revised rates for Cancer treatment and Surgery in CGHS empanelled Hospitals has been communicated by Director General of CGHS vide office order dated 07.09.15.
Click here to view the CGHS approved rates  for cancer treatment communicated vide D.G, CGHS order above. 

Selection Process for engagement to all approved categories of GDS Posts - Review thereof

Click here to  view Department of Posts (Establishment Division (GDS Section) letter No.17-39/2012-GDS dated 16-09-2015 on the above subject matter.

Fixation of Coolie charges for delivery of Heavy Parcels in AP Circle

Circle Office, Hyderabad vide its letter no BD/Mktg/IV/146/Coolie charges/2015 dated 11.09.2015 has communicated the coolie charges fixed for delivery of Heavy Parcels in AP Circle.
Copy of the letter is reproduced below.

Central Govt asked the Departments to move compulsory Retirement proposals in respect of Employees who are inefficient and doubtful Integrity

Central Govt has asked the Departments to move compulsory Retirement proposals in respect of Employees who are inefficient and having doubtful Integrity..

The move by the Department of Personnel and Training follows a meeting chaired byCabinet Secretary P K Sinha recently on mechanisms to be adopted to ensure probity among government servants. 

Revision of Cycle Maintenance Allowance of GDS Mail Carrier / Mail Deliverers

Postal Directorate vide memo no F. NO 41-1/2011 - PAP dated 15.09.2015 has issued orders revising the CMA of GDS to Rs 90/- per month with immediate effect. It was also ordered that the CMA will be increased by 25% as and when the DA payable on revised pay scales goes up by 50% in future.
Copy of the Directorate order is reproduced below.

sale of Non Judicial Stamp Papers through Post Offices of Telangana State - Instructions

It was reported by C&IG, Registration & Stamps that, the e-payment receipt is being pasted on the left side of the Non Judicial Stamp paper which is causing inconvenience to the public and left with very minimum blank space for writing the document.

In this connection, CO,Hyderabad has issued instructions to direct  all the Post Offices to  paste receipt generated on the top right corner (below the emblem) and date stamp may please be impressed so that it cover both epayment receipt and the NJ stamp paper.

Salaries of central govt staff to exceed Rs 1 lakh crores - Seventh Pay Commission Recommendations will likely be implemented in 2015-16 fiscal

Ahead of the assembly elections of West Bengal, Assam, Kerala and Tamil Nadu in May’ 2016, the Central government will implement the recommendations of the Seventh Pay Commission after receiving the report of the pay panel within this year, which will benefit 50 lakh central government employees and 56 lakh pensioners including dependents.
Central government’s salary expenditure will exceed Rs 1 lakh crore in the current fiscal and is projected to increase further with the recommendations of 7th Pay Commission, posing risk to public finances, Finance Ministry said today.
According to the Medium-Term Expenditure Framework Statement tabled in Parliament, the salary outgo of central government employees will go up by 9.56 per cent to Rs 1,00,619 crore in current fiscal.
The pace will increase further in 2016-17 at 15.79 per cent to Rs 1.16 lakh crore with the likely implementation of the 7th Pay Commission award, said the statement tabled by Finance Minister Arun Jaitley in Parliament.
The outgo towards salary will further rise in 2017-18 to over Rs 1.28 lakh crore. “The award of VII Central Pay Commission (CPC) and its impact on government finances poses a risk,” said the statement.
It also raised concerns about the rising pension bill of government employees saying it will rise to Rs 88,521 crore in current fiscal. It has been pegged at over Rs 1.02 lakh crore in 2016-17, and over Rs 1.12 lakh crore in 2017-18. “Like in salaries, higher than normative growth, has been provided for the projection of outlay on pensions during 2016-17. For the second year of the projection (2017-18), a normative growth has been assumed. Award of VII CPC and its impact on Government finances poses a risk,” it added.
The recommendations of the 7th Pay Commission, which was set up by in February 2014, is likely to be implemented from January 1, next year.
Source : Hindu Business line

Sunday, 6 September 2015

Circle Secretary out of the Circle Head quarters

Due MACP II traing at PTC mysore from 7.9.2015 to 19.9.2015 Circle Secretary will be out side from the AP Circle. For any emergency matters please contact with Sri K.Venugopalreddy and Sri P Yadagirgoud RR's of City region and Hyd Region. 

Fiscal impact of 7th Pay Commission under watch: DBS

Bulk of the impact of Seventh Pay Commission, under which salaries of government employees will be reviewed, is likely to be absorbed by the Budget of the next financial year, 2016-17, says a DBS report.

The global financial services major said pay/allowances could rise by 16 per cent following the rollout of the Seventh Pay Commission.

“If adopted, bulk of the impact (of the Seventh Pay Commission) will be absorbed by the FY16/17 Budget,” the DBS report said adding that “historically, the pay commission’s rollout has been negative for fiscal balances.”

As per DBS, the increase in bonus payments and pay/ allowances would cumulatively imply a first-round increase in spending to the tune of 0.2-0.3 per cent of GDP in FY16/17, “putting deficit targets at risk”.

“These higher spending needs will require the government to either re-channel fiscal savings, restrain spending elsewhere or renege on the fiscal deficit targets,” it added.

The Seventh Pay Commission, set up by the government to revise remuneration of about 48 lakh central government employees and 55 lakh pensioners, will submit its report by December 31.
DBS said that the full impact would get clearer when the pay commission tables its recommendations later this year.

The recommendations of the Seventh Pay Commission are scheduled to come into effect from January 1, 2016.

The previous Sixth Pay Commission was rolled out in the third quarter of 2008, at a time when the economy was reeling under the impact of the global financial crisis.

“Implementation of the revised salaries/ pensions (plus arrears), along with farm loan waivers and other stimulus measures saw the fiscal deficit balloon from -2.5 per cent of GDP in FY07/08 to -6.0 per cent in FY08/09 and stay high for another year before easing off,” the report added.

The government constitutes the Pay Commission almost every 10 years to revise the pay scale of its employees and often these are adopted by states after some modifications.
First Published on September 04, 2015 5:40 pm

Source:http://www.financialexpress.com/article/economy/fiscal-impact-of-7th-pay-commission-under-watch-dbs/130586/

Friday, 4 September 2015

PM interacts with school children on the eve of Teachers' Day

PM releases commemorative coin on Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan, and launches Kala Utsav website

The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today interacted with school children from across the country, on the eve of Teachers' Day. In a unique event anchored entirely by school children themselves, the Prime Minister released commemorative coins of denomination Rs. 125, and Rs. 10, to mark the birth anniversary of India's second President, Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan. The Prime Minister also launched the website for Kala Utsav, an initiative of Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD) to promote arts in education by nurturing and showcasing the artistic talent of school students at the secondary stage in the country.

In his opening remarks on the occasion, the Prime Minister said that there is a special significance of interacting with school children on the eve of Teachers' Day. He said a teacher is known by the accomplishments of his students. He said that while a mother gives birth, it is the teacher who actually provides life.

The Prime Minister explained that the teacher and the student, both have a unique importance for each other. He said that teachers should also write about their experiences with various children. He said teachers consider all students as important, and should remember them all – not just the ones who excelled academically.

The Prime Minister recalled former President Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam, and said Dr. Kalam wanted to be remembered as a teacher. He said that Dr. Kalam had a passion for teaching, and he was interacting with students even upto the final moments of his life.

The Prime Minister said India had great teachers even today, who were helping to create engineers, doctors and scientists that were making a mark globally. He said the aim of teachers should be to avoid creating robots, but to nurture an entire generation.

Union Minister for Human Resource Development Smt. Smriti Zubin Irani, and Union Ministers of State Shri Upendra Kushwaha, Shri Ram Shankar Katheria, and Shri Jayant Sinha were present on the occasion.

Source:http://www.pib.nic.in/newsite/erelease.aspx