Thursday, 29 October 2015

7th CPC – Modifications in LTC – Expectations..

Everyone knows that Central Government Employees are entitled to avail Leave Travel Concession (LTC) once in two years to visit home town and once in four years to visit any places in India. The employees are reimbursed full expenses for transport from the work station to the place to be visited and back.

Before the sixth CPC was implemented, availing of LTC by the employees was less in number all over India. In order to encourage employees to avail LTC, the Central Government made some impressive modifications in the rules, which saw a huge increase in the percentage of employees going for it. The employees were allowed to travel by air to Jammu & Kashmir and North Eastern States and it continued till June 2015. The modification in the rules that was brought in was the travelling expenses were given in packages depending upon employee’s designation. These visits by the employees saw a huge growth in tourism in these states. It turned out to be a great opportunity for the employees to travel to these places, to know different people, their culture and so on. But for unknown reason, the central government did not extend the orders beyond June 2015.

Home Town LTC:

Is it possible to make changes in the Permanent Address of a Central Government Employee?   

Those Central Government Employees having their Hometown on the outskirts of their work places, are automatically ineligible for availing LTC Hometown. But they are eligible for the LTC for visiting any other places in India. For the benefit of those employees, in exceptional cases,  the CCS Rules (LTC) – Change of Hometown –  allows an employee to change the Permanent Address only once in their whole service. The employee can apply for this, through their respective head of sections with detailed documents. A male employee can choose the  native place of his wife or vice versa or any other closed relation’s address. Care should be taken while applying for the changes, as the rule allows only once in their whole service. After the changes in the permanent address, the employee can apply for the LTC showing the new address.

Expecting new changes in 7th CPC  for availing LTC…

Central Government Employees should be allowed to avail LTC Home Town once in a year and All India LTC  once in three years which can bring huge changes in the department of tourism in India. It can motivate the employees to travel, visit different places, to know different people and their working conditions etc. Air travelling should be allowed to all other places in India and can be extended to other neighbouring countries also.

Let us wait and see for the recommendations…!

Source:http://www.govtstaffnewsportal.in/2015/10/28/7th-cpc-modifications-in-ltc-expectations/

Submission of Declaration of Assets and Liabilities by the Public Servant for each year-DOPT

F. No. 11013/7/2014-Estt.(A-III)
Government of India
Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions
Department of Personnel & Training
Establishment Division

North Block, New Delhi — 110001
Dated : 26 October-2015 

OFFICE MEMORANDUM 

Subject: Central Civil Services (Conduct) Rules, 1964 and the Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act, 2013 - Submission of Declaration of Assets and Liabilities by the Public Servant for each year - Regarding

The undersigned is directed to refer to the O.M. of even number dated the 23rdJuly, 2015 on the above subject wherein the time lines for filing returns regarding assets and liabilities were laid down. It was mentioned therein that all Government servants i.e. belonging to Group A . B , C and erstwhile Group D are now required to furnish the declaration of their assets and liabilities in the formats prescribed under the Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act, 2013 ('the Act').

2. Vide the Order No. 407/12/2014-AVD-IV(B) dated 30.4.2014 the date for filing returns under the Act was extended in view of the difficulties faced in filing returns under the Act and the need to simplify the forms and the process in which public servants are required to make a declaration of assets and liabilities. Vide the Order No. 407/12/2014- AVD-IV(B) dated 12th October, 2015, the deadline for filing these returns has again been extended up to 15th April, 2016 as the circumstances enumerated in the earlier orders which necessitated extension still continue.

 3. In view of the difficulty faced in filing returns under the formats prescribed under the Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act, it has been decided that the Annual Property Returns required to be filed under the CCS(Conduct) Rules, 1964 for the year 2015 which are required to be filed by the 31st January, 2016, may be filed in the forms prescribed under the CCS(Conduct) Rules, 1964. The returns would be required to be filed by all the Government servants belonging to Group 'A', 'B', 'C' and erstwhile Group 'D'.

(Mukesh Chaturvedi)
Director (E)

Sunday, 25 October 2015

Thursday, 22 October 2015

Cabinet approved the enhancement of monthly bonus calculation ceiling to Rs 7,000/-

The Cabinet decided to enhance  the wage ceiling for calculating bonus from the present Rs 3500/- to Rs 7,000 per month for factory workers and establishments with 20 or more workers.

"The Payment of Bonus (Amendment) Bill, 2015 to enhance the monthly bonus calculation ceiling to Rs 7,000 per month from existing Rs 3,500 was approved by Union Cabinet here," a source said after the Cabinet meeting.

Monday, 19 October 2015

Govt to bring more workers under bonus ambit

Workforce of the country has another reason to cheer in this festive season as the Narendra Modi-led government is set to promulgate an ordinance to amend Payments of Bonus Act 1965 to make more employees eligible for annual bonus.

According to the proposal, those earning up to Rs 21,000 (basic + DA) a month will now be eligible bonus. This would be a steep jump from the current ceiling of Rs 10,000 (basic + DA) per month.

The Election Commission has approved the Labour Ministry’s proposal and the Union Cabinet is likely to take up the issue on promulgating ordinance next week. From this year onwards, bonus will be linked to minimum wages. The government is in the process of revising the minimum wages, a senior official in the Ministry of Labour told Deccan Herald.

In a recent meeting with trade unions and the ministry, the government agreed to amend the Bonus Act by enhancing the eligibility ceiling under section 2(13) of the Act from Rs 10,000 per month to Rs 21,000 month.

It also agreed to calculate ceiling under section 12 from Rs 3,500 per month to Rs 7,000 per month, or the minimum wage notified by the government for the category of employment, whichever is higher, an official in the Ministry told Deccan Herald.

Sources said despite reservations by the industry representatives on the revised ceilings, the government has decided to go ahead with the proposal.

Trade unions

Though the trade unions demanded the abolition on ceiling on payment of bonus due to rising inflation, the government rejected it.

The wage ceiling and the entitlement ceiling were last revised in 2007 and made effective retrospectively from 2006, said Saji Narayan, former president of Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh.

Source:http://www.deccanherald.com/content/507066/govt-bring-more-workers-bonus.html

7th pay commission Vs Retirement Age

Revising Retirement age does not come under the purview of 7th Pay Commission.

Recently the news about retirement age is blown out of proportion in Social Media. In Social Media it has been signaled casually that the retirement age will be brought down to 58 years. Initially it was said that 7th pay commission going to recommend the criteria for retirement age as either 33 years of Service or 60 Years of age whichever comes first.


And gradually it is reduced to 58 years of age or 33 years of service and finally ends up with 30 years of service or at the age of 55 years.

7th pay commission Vs Retirement Age

Does it worth to believe the news circulated in social media about 7th pay commission recommendation and retirement age..? We asked the Federation sources about this and they want to maintain anonymity told that it depends upon the individuals to decide whether it is true or not. We should not blame the media for everything. We should be able to know the difference between the news and rumors.

One of our Sources told that revising the retirement age will not fall under the purview of Pay commission. It should be decided by central government only. No Pay commission has recommended anything about Retirement age so far.
Federation Leaders were asked about this retirement age issue, when it became sensational in Print and e-Media, why don’t they come forward to clear the doubts on this sensational issue?. They told that they didn’t want do give importance to the rumors and hear says.

They said, “We need to clarify the doubts of our cadres across the country whenever it was rumored in social media about their service related sensational issues. But when sensational becomes routine, it’s not our business to respond to such hearsays on daily basis”

As far as retirement age is concerned we know that 7th pay commission cannot recommend revising the retirement age of central government employees, since it does not fall under the purview of 7th Pay Commission. Even we won’t accept it if the central government tries to reduce the retirement age,” the sources added.

Indian retirement system ranks last in global pension index: Mercer report

The Indian retirement system has been ranked last in the global pension index, according to a Mercer report. Denmark has been rated as the country with the best retirement system globally, while Australia, Germany, Japan, Singapore and the UK have increased their pension age to offset the increase in life expectancies. 

India's index value fell from 43.5 in 2014 to 40.3 in 2015, primarily because of a recent review conducted by the Economic Intelligence Unit that showed a material reduction in its household savings rate. 

The Melbourne Mercer Global Pension Index (MMGPI) report 2015 is now in its seventh year, and has measured 25 retirement income systems against more than 40 indicators, under the sub-indices of adequacy, sustainability and integrity. The report covers almost 60% of the global population, and also suggests how governments can provide adequate and sustainable benefits that protect their citizens against longevity risk, ie. the risk of their aging population outliving their savings. This year's MMGPI looked beyond the annual rankings to observe changes over the last seven years and assess which pension systems will continue to deliver and which ones are at risk. 

"The National Pension System (NPS) is gradually gaining popularity in India. Continuing to improve education and communication will help increase coverage of pension arrangements for the working population in the organised sector, particularly popularising the corporate model of NPS among Indian employers," said Anil Lobo, India business leader for retirement, Mercer India. 

Author of the report and senior partner at Mercer, David Knox, said, "Implementing the right reforms to improve pension systems and provide financial security in retirement has never been more critical for both individuals and societies." 

The Index is used internationally both to highlight the relative strengths of pension systems and to identify opportunities and options for improvement. 

Suggested measures to improve India's system include introducing a minimum level of support for the poorest aged individuals, increasing coverage of pension arrangements for the unorganised working class, introducing minimum access age so that it is clear that benefits are preserved for retirement purposes, and improving the regulatory requirements for the private pension system. 

The Index looks objectively at both the publicly funded and private components of a system as well as personal assets and savings outside the pension system. It is published by the Australian Centre for Financial Studies (ACFS) in conjunction with Mercer and is funded by the Victorian State Government.

Source:-The Economic Times

Payments banks want RBI to ease Rs 1 lakh limit

Successful applicants for the payments bank licence are lobbying with the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to increase the limit of Rs 1 lakh per customer on the grounds that this could lead to 'reverse financial exclusion'. In a meeting with the central bank on Thursday, the applicants said that there are several instances where those without access to banking services might end up being excluded because of having funds in excess of the Rs 1-lakh limit. 

Applicants are also pushing for some flexibility in investing part of their deposit in money market instruments so that they can have a better yield with liquidity. However, the RBI is worried that granting payments banks permission to invest in high-yield instruments could trigger a rate war between them and commercial banks. 

Meanwhile, the applicants are looking at coming together and forming an association so that the industry can come up with common standards and there is some sharing of resources at the last mile for cost reduction. The central bank is supportive of shared infrastructure and wants interoperability among the payments banks so that there is enough efficiency in the system. In Thursday's meeting, the applicants said that there are several rural areas in India where rich farmers are forced to hold their wealth in cash because the nearest bank is a long distance away. In many cases, there are government officers on deputation to remote areas who have the income but no access to banking services, they said. 

RBI guidelines on payments banks state that since their primary role is to provide payments and remittance services and demand deposit products to small businesses and low-income households, payments banks will initially be restricted to holding a maximum balance of Rs 1,00,000 per customer. Of the deposits raised, 75% have to be invested in government bonds and 25% in deposits with commercial banks. 

Although it is two months since the RBI granted in-principle approval to payments banks, many of them have not made much headway. The ones who have been granted a licence are Aditya Birla Nuvo, Airtel M Commerce, Cholamandalam Distribution Services, Department of Posts, Fino PayTech, National Securities Depository, Reliance Industries, Dilip Shantilal Shanghvi, Vijay Shekhar Sharma, Tech Mahindra and Vodafone m-pesa.

Source:-The Times of India

Trade Unions slam government proposal to set up factory workers' panel

In what could affect the government's plan to set up an independent mechanism to deal with the terms and conditions covering factory workers, trade unions have slammed the proposal saying that giving sweeping powers to the board will be detrimental to the employees. As part of the amendments to the Factories Act1948, thelabour ministry had proposed constituting an Occupational Safety and Health Board of India, comprising a chairman and two members appointed by the government. 

According to the draft of the Act circulated to all stakeholders for their comments, the board would be responsible for framing regulations on occupational safety, health, welfare and general working conditions of the workers in factories as well as regulating the functioning of employers. It is also proposed to have the power of licensing. 

According to a majority of trade unions that ET spoke to, including the RSS-affiliated Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh (BMS), the structure and functions of the board suggest that it would be an independent body with extraordinary powers to regulate through notifications, unlike the Act where changes require Parliament's approval. Therefore, they see this proposed changes as dangerous to the welfare of workers. 

"The government has vested too much powers to the proposed board which is not acceptable as everything will be driven through a simple notification and forced upon the workers," said DL Sachdeva, national secretary of the All India Trade Union Congress

A majority of trade unions felt that no such board was required to be set up under the Factories Act, AD Nagpal of Hind Mazdoor Sabhasaid. "This board does not have a defined role for trade unions and hence we are against any such proposal," he said. Pawan Kumar of BMS said the government should revisit the structure and function of the board and that the proposal in its current form was not acceptable.

Source:-The Economic Times

Rates of Bonus for Rural Postal Life Insurance for 2011-12 - Gazette Notification


Type of Insurance Policy
Rate of Bonus
i.  Whole Life Assurance (WLA)
Rs.65/- per thousand Sum Assured
ii. Endowment Assurance (Including Children Policy)
Rs.50/- per thousand Sum Assured
iii.  Anticipated Endowment Assurance (Including GY Policies)
Rs.47/- per thousand Sum Assured
iv.   Convertible Whole Life Assurance
Whole life bonus rate would be applicable  but on conversion endowment bonus rate will be applicable.
Click here to view the Gazette Notification dated 05.10.2015

Deputation of Smt N.R.Visalatchy, DPS Vizag to Telengana State Govt

it was ordered by Postal Directorate, vide memo no 14-14/2015 - SPG dated 14.10.2015, that the services of Smt N.R.Visalatchy (IPos 2002), DPS, Visakhapatnam region are placed at the disposal of Government of Telengana state for a period of two years from the date of her taking over the charge or until furthe orders.

Wednesday, 14 October 2015

Survival of postal service hinges on ability to quickly change, innovate, UN highlights on World Day



9 October 2015 – On World Post Day, the head of the Universal Postal Union (UPU) is highlighting that the future of postal services strongly depends on their ability to innovate and to embrace new technologies.

“From liberalization to privatization and the emergence of competition, the Post has faced many challenges to its survival, but none so daunting as the development of modern information technology,” said Bishar A. Hussein, Director General of the UPU in a message.

“Today, the traditional postal business line – letter post – has been greatly challenged by faster and more efficient ways of communication thanks to advancements in information and communications technologies,” he added.

However, the Director General underlined that successful postal services have taken these challenges as opportunities to innovate and establish new market segments. They understand “that a faster and more efficient communication medium is actually what the Post needs in order to build a new business value chain.”

Mr. Hussein said the message is clear: the survival of postal services hinges on its ability to quickly change and innovate. “Customer expectations, needs and tastes are changing, and the Post must change as well to meet these new demands,” he explained.

Meanwhile, with this realization, the draft World Postal Strategy for 2017–2020 identifies postal industry reform as the key driver. “In its blueprint, Vision 2020, the UPU focuses on innovation, integration and inclusion as the main factors that will drive postal business in the future.”

To achieve innovation, Mr. Hussein said it will be critical to develop digital competencies, along with the relevant regulatory frameworks that will support the new environment. For successful integration, post services will need to build a “seamless network that is connected both virtually and physically,” and that has a local and international presence.

Furthermore, with the adoption in September of the new Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by all world leaders, UPU’s Director General said postal services today “have an even more relevant role to play as an infrastructure for development.”

“Given its universal nature, the Post is best placed to drive the economic, social, financial and digital inclusion of all citizens of the world,” he stated. “Through its vast network, the Post should target micro, small and medium-sized enterprises as well as the unbanked population as a new business frontier and create appropriate products to support the market.”

He added that achieving success in this area is one of the best ways to ensure the achievement of the SDGs, for the benefit of the global community.

Since 1969, more than 150 countries mark World Post Day each year on 9 October, the anniversary of UPU’s establishment in 1874 in the Swiss capital, Berne.

Source: www.un.org


Seventh Pay Commission Faces Pay Gap Problem

New Delhi: Seventh Pay Commission Faces Serious Challenge In Submitting Its Recommendation To Government Till December For Hiking Salaries And Allowances For Central Government Employees As The Employees’ Unions Test Its Account Of Controversial Pay Gap Between Top And Bottom Level Government Officials.

The previous pay commission showed a wide gap in pay between the top bureaucrats and the government employees at the bottom.

The first pay commission was recommended pay of the top bureaucrats 41 times higher than the government employees at the bottom. The top bureaucrats were given salary Rs 2,263 while the lowest earning employees got Rs 55.

Subsequent pay commissions reduced the ratio of pay between lowest earning employees and top bureaucrats from 1:41 in 1947 to about 1:12 in 2006. The minimum basic salary of central government employees is now Rs 7730 while maximum salary at the level of Secretary is Rs 80,000.

Accordingly, the Seventh Pay Commission will have to consider reduction in the disparity of pay ratio between its highest and lowest paid employees because it determines the socialism view of the government and the higher number of central government employees are in the minimum pay slabs.

The pay gap increases employee’s turnover and work-related illness, with all the associated economic consequences.

The bureaucrats with high pay are generally happier, healthier and a better place to live for almost everyone in them compare to the lower earning employees.

A pay gap is calculated as the ratio of the pay of the highest paid employee of an organisation to the pay of the average or lowest paid employee in that organisation.

Seventh Pay Commission can make recommendations on promoting pay fairness in the central government employees’ fraternity by tackling disparities between the lowest and the highest paid central government servants.

The Seventh Pay Commission, headed by Justice Ashok Kumar Mathur was appointed in February 2014 and its recommendations are scheduled to take effect from January 1, 2016.

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

The Commission is ready with its recommendations on revising emoluments for nearly 50 lakh central government employees and 55 lakh pensioners, and will submit report to the Finance Minister till December 31.

Source : http://www.tkbsen.in/

Promtions, Allotments and Reallotments in the cadre of Asst Supdt Posts


Circle office, Hyderabad has ordered the following Promotions, Allotments and Reallotments in the cadre of Asst Supdt Posts vide CO memo no ST/92-1/A SP/DPC/2015/Corr dated 14.10.2015.


Monday, 12 October 2015

Declaration of Asseets and Liabilities by Public Servants under Section 44 of Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act, 2013-extension of last date of filing of returns

Last date of filling declaration under Lokpal Act has been extended further from 15th October 2015 to 15th April 2016.

The last date of filing revised return for the year 2014 (as on 01.08.2014) and the return for the year 2015 (as on 31.03.2015) by Public Servants under the rule has now been further extended from 15th October 2015 to 15th April 2016.
Click here to  view Department of Personnel and Training OM No.407/12/2014-AVD-IV(B) dated 11th October, 2015.

Deduction of TDS under Section 194 A of Income Tax Act : S B Order No. 13 / 2015

Postal Directorate has issued clarification on  deduction of TDS under Section 194 A of Income Tax Act 1961 (amended by finance act 2015) vide SB Order  No. 13 / 2015 dated 09.10.2015.

Saturday, 10 October 2015

Bonus Ceiling : Revision of eligibility and calculation ceilings are expected after Bihar Elections


Enhancement of the ceiling of bonus
NC JCM Staff Side Secretary said in the letter regarding the issue of bonus ceilings, the letter reproduced and given below…
Shiva Gopal Mishra
Secretary
Ph.: 23382286
National Council (Staff Side) Joint Consultative Machinery
Central Government Employees
13-C, Ferozshah Road, New Delhi – 110001
E Mail : nc.jcm.np@gmail.com
No.NC/JCM/2015
Dated: October 9, 2015
All Constituent Organizations of National Council(JCM)(Staff Side)
Dear Comrades,
Sub: Enhancement of the ceiling of bonus
Ministry of Labour(Government of India) has sent a proposal to the Cabinet for enhancement of ceiling of bonus from Rs.3500 to Rs.7000 with a cap of maximum payment of Rs.20,000.
Though the Election Commissioner has cleared it, but it has not been included in the Cabinet Agenda for the reasons best known to government, but we are hopeful that, it may be finalized after Bihar elections.
Yours faithfully,
sd/-
(Shiva Gopal Mishra)
General Secretary
Source: NC JCM Staff Side 
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Friday, 9 October 2015

World Post Day message from the UPU Director General

Berne, 9 October 2015Innovation, Integration and Inclusion are the key drivers for the future of the Post
As we celebrate World Post Day today, we can look back with satisfaction on a rich history of transformation in the Post, which has always been able to find its place in the world market. Indeed, the Post can pride itself on being the oldest medium of communication, one that still plays a key role in the sending of information and goods.

From liberalization to privatization and the emergence of competition, the Post has faced many challenges to its survival, but none so daunting as the development of modern information technology. Today, the traditional postal business line – letter post – has been greatly challenged by faster and more efficient ways of communication thanks to advancements in information and communications technologies.

Verify Employees’ Service Annually: Centre Tells All Depts

All central government departments have been asked to verify service recordsof their employees’  annually and inform them of any deficiencies thereof in order to check delay in processing their pension. 

A copy of DoPT OM on the above subject matter is reproduced below :




18019/7/2013-Estt. (L)
Government of India
Ministry of Personnel, PG and Pensions
(Department of Personnel & Training)
JNU Old Campus, New Delhi
Dated the 30thSeptember, 2015.
OFFICE MEMORANDUM
Subject: Simplification of procedure for verification of service- adherence to the revised format – regarding.
The undersigned is directed to refer to this Department’s OM of even number dated 23 rd October, 2013 for simplification of procedure for verification of service and adherence of the revised format of the Service Book prescribed by this Department’s OM No, 17011/1/99-Estt. (L) dated 11.03.2008 whereby the revised format of the Service Book was circulated for being adopted. The said revised format also includes Part V where under the record of verification of service is to be maintained.
2. It has been brought to the notice of this Department that the aforesaid provisions of the OM dated 23rd October, 2013 and Supplementary Rules as also the provisions of the CCS(Pension) Rules, 1972 as referred to in that OM are not being followed. Consequently, the gaps in service verification, get detected at a very late stage when the concerned Government servant is due to retire on attaining the age of superannuation.
3. In view of this and with the objective of eliminating delays in processing of cases of retiring Government Servants, the aforementioned rules and the instructions of this Department are reiterated and it is stated that it may be ensured that the following are strictly adhered to:
(i) The record of verification of service may henceforth be maintained only in Part V of the revised format of the Service Book as per the new format prescribed by this Departments aforesaid OM of 11-03-2008.
(ii) The exercise for ensuring completion of the entries of service verification in the Part V of the new format, in respect of employees who are retiring within five years, may be undertaken immediately, by the concerned administrative authorities and concluded within a defined time frame, as may be worked out by such authority.
(iii) Any gap in the verification of service may be intimated to the employee concerned, and simultaneously appropriate action for ensuring verification of missing spells may be taken by the Head of Office.
(iv) The concerned Government servant may also be informed of deficiencies and gaps as regards missing entries relating to verification of service and the period thereof.
4. The Department of Pensions and Pensioners’ Welfare have also suggested that the administrative authorities, to preclude and to cut down on delays in payment of retiring benefits to Government servants retiring of superannuation, may consider adoption of the following mechanisms and processes:
(i) Annual service verification and intimation to every officer regarding Service Verification Status so that any lapse is timely ascertained and corrective action taken.
(ii) The exercise of Annual verification be monitored by every Ministry/ Department/Cadre Controlling Authority on a quarterly basis.
5. All Ministries/ Departments are accordingly requested to issue suitable instructions to all Heads of Offices/Pay & Accounts Offices for strict compliance of the above instructions so as to preclude any delays in disbursement of retiral benefits of Government servants.
(Mukul Ratra)
Director
Source: www.persmin.gov.in