Monday, January 31, 2011

All India Consumer Price index Numbers for Industrial Workers on base 2001=100 for the Month of December, 2010

All India Consumer Price index Numbers for Industrial Workers on base 2001=100 for the Month of December, 2010

All India Consumer Price Index Number for Industrial Workers (CPI-IW) on base 2001=100 for the month of December, 2010 increased by 3 points and stood at 185 (one hundred and eighty five).

During December, 2010, the index recorded an increase of 9 points in Quilon centre, 8 points in Guntur centre, 7 points each in Tiruchirapally, Vadodara and Belgaum centres, 6 points in 4 centres, 5 points in 6 centres, 4 points in 10 centres, 3 points in 16 centres, 2 points in 15 centres and 1 point in 8 centres. The index decreased by 2 points each in Kodarma and Tripura centres, 1 point each in Durgapur, Ranchi Hatia and Ludhiana centres, while in the remaining 9 centres the index remained stationary.

The maximum increase of 9 points in Quilon centre is mainly on account of increase in the prices of Rice, Coconut Oil, Fish Fresh, Onion, Vegetable & Fruit items, Tea (Readymade), Firewood, etc. The increase of 8 points in Guntur centre is due to increase in the prices of Rice, Groundnut Oil, Onion, Tamarind, Vegetable & Fruit items, etc. The increase of 7 points each in Tiruchirapally, Vadodara and Belgaum centres is due to increase in the prices of Rice, Wheat, Jowar, Goat Meat, Eggs (Hen), Onion, Vegetable items, Sugar, Petrol, etc. However, the decrease of 2 points each in Kodarma and Tripura centres is due to decrease in the prices of Rice, Wheat Atta, Vegetable items, etc. and the decrease of 1 point each in Durgapur, Ranchi Hatia and Ludhiana centres is due to decrease in the prices of Rice, Wheat Atta, Vegetable items, etc.

The indices in respect of the six major centres are as follows :
1. Ahmedabad - 183
2. Bangalore - 186
3. Chennai - 169
4. Delhi - 169
5. Kolkata - 180
6. Mumbai - 184

The All-India (General) point to point rate of inflation for the month of December, 2010 is 9.47% as compared to 8.33% in November, 2010. Inflation based on Food Index is 7.98% in December, 2010 as compared to 5.35% in November, 2010.

CGEGIS-1980-Tables of Benefits for the Savings fund for the period from 01/01/2011 to 31/12/2011

Dear Comrades,
Department of expenditure issued Tables of Benefits for the savings fund of CGEGIS-1980 for the period from 01/01/2011 to 31/12/2011 vide memo No.7(1)/EV/2010 dated 31/01/2011. The same is placed here for the information of the members.

Click here to get the order copy

Workers Struggles: Asia, Australia and the Pacific

Asia

Bangladeshi pharmaceutical worker killed in police attack

On January 23, temporary worker Enamul Haque, 25, died of injuries after police stormed a sit-in protest by over 400 Advanced Chemical Industries (ACI) factory workers in Siddhirganj, near Dhaka. Witnesses said that police fired over 30 teargas canisters and 100 rubber bullets hospitalising over 100 employees.
The strike was part of a long-running dispute over wages and permanency. The factory employs 167 full-time workers and 240 temporary workers on the minimum wage. Temporary workers, many who have been at the factory for over 20 years, are not paid bonuses or other entitlements. One worker told the media that management “hired or fired workers at whim”.
ACI is a major Asian manufacturer and distributor of drugs, agricultural chemical and pesticide products, and basic health products.

India: 

Andhra Pradesh government employees return to work

The Joint Action Committee (JAC) representing over one million state government employees, including teachers, office workers and pensioners, called off a three-day strike commenced on January 19, following an agreement with the government on implementation of pay commission recommendations. The government agreed to implement six of JAC’s 12 demands immediately with further negotiations on the rest.
Demands accepted by the government included a 20 percent pay increase, 20 percent increase in rent allowances, filling of all vacancies, improved medical facilities, abolition of the teachers’ apprentice system, improved promotional arrangements and regularisation of village officials in temporary posts.

Andhra Pradesh police fire at protesting cement workers

Jindal cement factory management at Gadivemula, Kurnool called police on January 23 to intervene against a rally at the factory by employees demanding compensation for the family of a construction worker who fell to his death at the plant. Police fired bullets over the heads of the protesting employees. Workers ended the protest after the manager agreed to pay the compensation demanded.

Tamil Nadu stainless steel utensil workers remain on strike

Over 1,000 workers in the stainless steel utensil manufacturing zone at Anupparpalayam, Tirupur have been on strike since December 29, after 11 rounds of talks for a new pay agreement failed. The negotiations began in October, after the previous 30-month agreement expired.
In an attempt to wind up the dispute and appease the employers the eight registered unions, including the Centre of Indian Trade Unions, All India Trade Union Congress and Labour Progressive Front, reduced their original pay demand from 70 percent to 30 percent while employers have increased their offer from 17 percent to 25 percent.
Utensil workers have not had a pay increase for three years. The average inflation rate over the past decade is over 8 percent and food prices are projected to rise by over 15 percent in 2011.

Tamil Nadu noon-meal workers arrested

At least 79 members of the Tamil Nadu Noon Meal Employees Association were arrested on January 21 while protesting in Udhagamandalam to demand payment of salaries on a time scale basis and their inclusion in the list of government employees. The protest was part of a state-wide struggle by the state school midday meal workers for regularisation of service, wage increases and a pension and general provident fund.
In August, Tamil Nadu’s Dravida Munnettra Kazhagam government ordered the arrest of almost 10,000 protesting noon-meal workers, most of them women, as they travelled to the state capital Chennai to demonstrate for their demands. Over 2,000 demonstrators at 18 separate locations in Chennai were arrested and held in community halls.

Karnataka tyre workers’ strike in third month

Over 300 temporary employees of Falcon Tyres in Mysore have been on strike since November 4 to demand benefits on par with regular and contract employees. Falcon employs over 1,680 personnel, including 550 regular employees, 800 contract workers and 334 temporary workers.
A Falcon Tyres Badali Karmikara Sangha union official has alleged that management is refusing to implement decisions agreed to at a meeting witnessed by the labour minister and workers’ representatives. The deal included a provision to employ temporary workers in place of retired regular employees.
The company manufactures tyres for the local and export markets under the brand names of Dunlop, Donin and Falcon.

Uttar Pradesh public servants strike

Hundreds of UP Ministerial Collectorate Karmchari Sangh members stopped work and demonstrated at district headquarters in Varanasi last week in support of 14 demands. Workers want improved pay scales and other facilities on par with secretariat employees. One speaker claimed that village level government employees were drawing better salaries than collectorate employees. The public servants also want more senior officers at district offices.
The protesters threatened to strike from February 8 to 10 and hold a sit-in demonstration in Lucknow from March 9 to 11 if their demands are not met.

Kerala resident doctors walk out

Up to 430 resident doctors at the Kozhikode Medical College Hospital walked off the job for an indefinite period on January 25 as part of a state-wide campaign called by the Kerala Medical Postgraduates Association (KMPA) over conditions and allowances.
KMPA members want the recent fee increases revoked, accommodation on campus for all resident doctors, 24-hour access to laboratory facilities, adequate supply of medicines in operation theatres and payment of festival allowances. The resident doctors are postgraduate and diploma students who are paid a fixed stipend for their work at the hospital.

Gujarat power-loom workers end strike

Tens of thousands of migrant textile workers who operate over 450,000 power-looms in Surat, Gujarat ended their five-day strike on January 21 after employers agreed to increase wages. They were demanding a 10 paise (0.1 rupee) increase per metre of cloth produced. No detail of the employers’ offer has been released to the media.
Many factories, however, remained closed last weekend because many of the striking employees were reluctant to return to work fearing employer reprisals. Many protesting workers were injured during the strike after police intervened in demonstrations and arrested 80 strikers and several union delegates.
The Surat weaving sector manufactures 30 million metres of fabric per day and employs about 700,000 migrant workers from Orissa, Bihar, Andhra Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra.

Sri Lankan postal workers lift work bans

Up to 15,000 postal workers across the island have lifted an over-time ban which paralysed 600 post offices, nine mail sorting centres and delaying delivery of hundreds of thousands of postal items, including postal voting leaflets for the forthcoming Provincial Elections. The bans were lifted after the postal minister agreed to fulfil some of the demands.
Postal Trade Union Front members imposed bans between January 21 and 24 to demand the immediate filling of 7,000 vacancies, payment of salaries and overtime before the tenth day of the month, and resolution of various promotion anomalies.

Pakistan power company reinstates thousands of sacked workers

At least 4,300 Karachi Electric Supply Company (KESC) employees made redundant on January 19 have been reinstated, following pressure from the government. KESC, in line with cost-cutting measures following its privatisation, offered termination packages to 4,500 non-technical and non-core employees. Only 400 workers accepted the offer.
Sacked workers began picketing KESC’s head office in Gizri on January 20 but were attacked by police and hired thugs. The KESC accused the provincial government of having “aided, abetted and even instigated” the violence.
The former state-owned KESC sold more than 70 percent of its shares to a Middle Eastern consortium in 2005. The government has been critical of the utility’s failure to increase power generation, which it says was one of the conditions of the sell-off.
Australia and the Pacific

Australian truck drivers begin rolling stoppages

TWU members employed by the logistics company TNT Australia began four-hour rolling stoppages on Friday and imposed an indefinite ban on the loading and unloading of vehicles operated by outside hire companies at all TNT sites.
The 2,500 workers, including drivers and dockhands, voted for action after TNT cancelled a fresh round of negotiations scheduled for Tuesday in a dispute for a new work agreement.
While TNT and the union have agreed to an 8 percent pay rise over two years, the company has rejected claims for an extra 2 percent employer contribution to superannuation and site rate increases for 3,000 casual or labour hire employees.
The union claims to have already negotiated a 12 percent pay rise over three years for logistics workers at Linfox, including an agreement from the operator to lift superannuation to 15 percent.

New South Wales power workers continue strike action

Over 60 casual contract workers manning a picket at the Eraring Power Station on Lake Macquarie have voted unanimously to continue their dispute for a second week over wages and conditions. The Australian Workers Union (AWU) members are employed by contract company Power Projects International to do a $600 million upgrade on one of the power station’s four boilers.
An AWU official said their members were doing construction type work but paid under a maintenance agreement. According to the official, the construction pay rate was $10 an hour above the maintenance rate with additional allowances. Fair Work Australia was due to begin hearing the case on January 21.

New South Wales community nurses demonstrate

Community and mental health nurses in the Hunter Area held a lunch time rally on January 24 outside the Charlestown electoral office of state Labor member of parliament Matthew Morris to demand they be included in the new work agreement currently being negotiated with the NSW Nurses Association.
On January 12, the Nurses Association shut down statewide industrial action by its members after the government offered to enter talks. The nurses, who had shutdown 600 beds across the state, want a one-to-four nurse-to-patient ratio and improved wages. The government’s offer did not include community and mental health nurses.

Western Australian waterside workers strike

Maritime Union of Australia (MUA) members employed by stevedoring company Patrick at the Western Australian southern ports of Fremantle and Albany have voted unanimously to strike for up to five days beginning this Saturday. Workers want a 30 percent pay rise over three years, improved safety and an end to casual employment. At least 200 MUA members in Western Australia walked off the job in December after Patrick refused to negotiate. Two weeks ago colleagues at the Geelong and Webb docks in Melbourne struck for 24 hours and 72 hours respectively over the issue.
Three port workers have been killed in fatal accidents in 2010 and 60 percent of the Patrick workforce are employed as casuals, with some having remained casuals for up to 9 years.

Queensland bus drivers locked out

Sunbus drivers on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast were locked out by management on Tuesday after attending a stop work meeting outside their depot. This is the fifth time in seven weeks that the company’s buses have been off the road over a new work agreement. The Transport Workers Union (TWU) called off planned strike action in early January after the owner and operator of Sunbus, Transit Australia Group (TAG), agreed to resume talks. TAG failed to attend the meetings, however, and instead demanded that the dispute be referred to the national workplace relations tribunal Fair Work Australia.
According to the TWU, TAG wants to force its 200 drivers back onto award pay rates and conditions. This means wage cuts of up to $4 an hour and the elimination of allowances won over the last 10 years. The TWU wants a 4 percent pay rise and current entitlements maintained.
Courtesy:wsws.org

MOST
IMMEDIATE



No.45-2/2011-SPB-I
Government of India
Ministry of Communications & IT
(Department of Posts)
Dak Bhavan, Sansad Marg,New
Delhi-110001
Dated 27th January, 2011.
To


1.       All Chief Postmaster General.
2.       CGM,PLI



Subject: Action to be taken to fill up the vacancies on the basis of latest
Recruitment Rules for the post of Multi Tasking Staff.


Sir/Madam,

I am directed to forward herewith a copy of Recruitment Rules for the posts of
Multi Tasking Staff dated 16th December, 2010 gazette notified on 20th
December, 2010. It may be observed that the notified Recruitment Rules provide
to fill up the vacancies as under (For full text pleases refer to the Recruitment Rules):

Vacancies in Circle and Administrative Offices:


i.(a)    25% by appointment of Casual Labourers conferred with temporary status on the basis of selection-cum-seniority failing which by,


(b) Appointment of existing Casual labourers engaged on or before 1.9.1993 working, for full hours viz. 8 hours, on the basis of selection-cum-seniority failing which by,
(c)   Appointment of existing part-time Casual Labourers, engaged on or before1.9.1993, on the basis of selection-cum-seniority failing which by,
(d)   Direct recruitment as per the scheme circulated by the Department of Posts form time to time.



 
ii.     75% by direct recruitment as per the scheme circulated by the Department of Posts from time to time.

Vacancies in Subordinate Offices:


i)      50% by direct recruitment from amongst Gramin Dak Sevaks of the recruiting Division or Unit, on the basis of selection-cum seniority.

ii)    (a)   25% by direct recruitment of the basis of Competitive Examination restricted to the Gramin Dak Sevaks of the Division or Unit failing which by,


(b)   Direct recruitment from amongst Gramin Dek Sevaks of the recruiting Division or Unit, on the basis of selection-cum-seniority.


iii)    (a)   25% by appointment of Casual Laborers conferred with temporary status on the basis of selection-cum-seniority failing which by.

(b) Appointment of Casual Laborers conferred with temporary status in the
neighboring Division or unit on the basis of selection-cum-seniority failing
which by,

(c) Appointment of Casual Laborers conferred with temporary status in the
neighboring Division or unit on the basis of selection-cum-seniority failing
which by,

(d) Appointment of Casual Labourers engaged on or before 1.9.1993, working for  full hours viz 8 hours, of the neighboring Division our unit on the basis of
selection-cum-seniority failing which by,

(e)  Appointment of part-time Casual Labourers engaged on or before 1.9.1993, of the recruiting Division or Unit on the basis of selection-cum-seniority failing
which by.

(f)    Direct recruitment from amongst Gramin Dak Sevaks on the basis of their
seniority in the Division or unit.

Failing (i), (ii) and (iii) above by direct recruitment from open market.


2.    In order to initiate action to fill up the vacancies of the years 2009 and 2010 the Circles may work out the vacancies falling under various modes of filling up as
provided in the Recruitment Rules. Wherever applicable the vacancies may be
assessed Division/Unit wise. The direct recruitment vacancies of the
erstwhile Group 'D' not cleared under Annual Direct Recruitment Plans of the years 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2008 should not be taken in to consideration while assessing the vacancies.

3.    The vacancies so assessed may please be furnished to the Directorate by 10th February, 2011 positively in the enclosed proforma.

4.    Once the Circles complete the process of identification of vacancies to be filled up by various modes they may proceed further to fill up the following vacancies:
(a)   Vacancies in Circle and Administrative Offices:
      
       25% of vacancies to be filled up by appointment of Casual labourers.

(b)   Vacancies in Subordinate Offices:
      
i)     50% of vacancies to be filled up by direct recruitment from amongst
Gramin Dak Sevaks of the recruiting Division or Unit, on the basis of
selection-cum-seniority.
     
ii)    25% of vacancies to be filled up by appointment of Casual Laborers.
5.    The Circles are requested to process the above said appointments in such time-frame so that the appointment orders are issued by 29th March, 2011.

6.    As regard the vacancies to be filled up by Departmental Examination and direct recruitment, the Directorate is in the process of finalizing the syllabus and scheme for examination. The same will be conveyed to the Circles shortly to enable them to fill up those posts also.
7.    Receipt of this letter may be acknowledged.



                                                                                    Yours faithfully,
Sd/-(Salim Haque)
Deputy Director General
                                                           Tel.No.23096093



OFFICE OF THE CONTROLLER GENERAL OF DEFENCE ACCOUNTS
ULAN BATAR ROAD, PALAM DELHI CANTT - 110010

CIRCULAR

No.AT/IV/4462/Orders/Vol-III
dated: 06th Jan 2011

All PCsDA/CsDA PC of A (Fys) Kolkata

Sub: Additional fare by the entitled class to Govt. Servant on transfer.

A copy of Ministry of Finance, Department of Expenditure E.IV Section OM No.19030/1/2006-E.IV dated: 6th February 2006 and subsequent corrigendum issued vide No.19030/1/2006-E.IV dated: 22nd March 2006 on the above subject is forwarded herewith for information, guidnace and necessary action.


s/d
(S.Parthasarthy)
For C.G.D.A


Click here to read rest of the order...

Saturday, January 29, 2011

LIVING ON THE TOP FLOOR? GET YOURSELF AN INBOX

BANGALORE: The postman, an integral part of urban life, is having to keep pace with Bangalore's vertical growth. Their daily grind has changed from miles to go, to climbing up and down apartment blocks to deliver the day's cargo. While a few may term it an occupational hazard, the postman's humble requests for mailboxes on the ground floor have gone unheard.
Anticipating such a situation in 1989, the postal department had issued a circular saying an appeal be made to residents of multi-storeyed buildings to install letter boxes for each flat on the ground floor. Thousands of high-rises have come up in the city, but not all have lifts, and aged postmen are forced to sweat it out, sometimes to deliver a single envelope.
A copy of the circular is in possession of The Times of India. However, a senior postal official said a similar order was issued in 2001 again but nothing has changed. "It's only optional and the department has a mandate of door delivery. Speed post and money orders have to be door-delivered, only ordinary post can be dropped off in mailboxes."
A senior postman explained how difficult work can be at times. "In apartments with security personnel, we don't need to enter, and leave all envelopes with them. But in some apartments, there is no security. We end up climbing stairs and it's risky because we carry money orders and cheques. If we are attacked, there is no safety. Some of us have gone through bitter experiences," he said.
Even if lifts are available, postmen prefer taking the stairs. They reason: "Lifts can be scary as you never know when we might get stuck. What if the person standing next to us snatches the envelopes and runs away?"
"The public demands door delivery. People have no time to collect their own mail. People should set up mailboxes on the ground floor at least," says S S Manjunath, state secretary for Group C Employees Union.
AGE FACTOR
R Seethalakshmi, state secretary for Union of Postmen and Group D Employees, says at least 30% postmen are aged over 50, and 50% are in the 40-50 age group. "Besides, we are managing with just 55% staff. Recruitment is on," she added.
Postmen also complain that people do not come forward to receive posts which contain notices from banks and courts. "If they anticipate such notices, residents do not even open the door. Every day, each postman deals with five or six such notices. We intimate the neighbours, but not many collect their mail from us. When the final notice arrives from the bank or court, the postal service is blamed," Seethalakshmi said.
Times of India, Jan 25, 2011.

Friday, January 28, 2011

INDIA POST INVITES SUGGESTIONS FROM THE MEMBERS OF PUBLIC:

            Department of Posts (DOP) a more than 150 years old organization, provides
services through its network of 1,50,000 offices, a majority of them being in rural areas. India Post connects all of India with mail, banking and insurance services. It is also the last mile provider of Government schemes such as payment of old age pension and Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme.

2. Urbanization, increased demand for financial services, increased funding by the government for the weaker sections in the rural sector have opened up new opportunities for the Department of Posts which has necessitated development of new processes and supporting technology. The DOP is also faced with the challenge of keeping pace with the advances in communication technology. In order to provide the best-in-class customer service, deliver new services and improve operational efficiencies, the DOP is undertaking an end to end IT modernization project to equip itself with the requisite modern tools an technologies. Some of the salient features that are expected to be in place in the next two years are:-

- All the post offices to be fully networked and ICT enabled.
- Centralized Banking Services for Urban and unbanked rural
   population.
- End to end tracking of accountable articles.
- 24 x 7 call centres.
- Multiple channel of access to customers e.g., post office counters,
  kiosks, internet, ATMs etc.

3. The Department of Posts thus envisions to connect people, organizations and government using physical and electronic networks with the following objectives:-

(i) Modernization of postal services.
(ii) Improving the reach of postal services.
(iii) Improving the quality of services and develop, implement and operate a system of standards with accountable performance.

4. We are in the process of developing a Strategic Plan for the Department which will set the roadmap for achieving the above objectives. As important stakeholders in this journey, India Post, requests its customers to share their views on how India Post can achieve its objectives. Feedback on the following is requested by 04/02/2001 at ddg-cp@indiapost.gov.in.

(i) What kind of post office would meet your expectation – the
     infrastructure in the post office, facilities and services?

(ii) How to make postal service customer friendly?

(iii) How can the existing products and services be made more attractive?

(iv) What new services and facilities can India Post provide to meet the
      new and emerging needs of customers?
EXTENSION OF RISK ALLOWANCE TILL 30.062011 
 
No.21012/01/2008-Estt. (Allowance)
Government of India
Ministry of Personnel, P.G. & Pensions
Department of Personnel & Training
****
New Delhi, dt.25th January, 2011.
OFFICE MEMORANDUM
Subject:- Extension of Risk Allowance till 30.06.2011.
The undersigned is directed to refer this Department’s OM No.21012/01/2008-Estt.(AL) dated 13.10.20 10 vide which payment of Risk Allowance was extended till 3 1.12.20 10. Extension of Risk Allowance for a further period of six months beyond 31.12.2010 has been considered and it has been decided that Risk Allowance may be continued for a further period of six months upto 30.06.201 1 or till such time Risk Insurance Scheme is implemented, whichever is earlier. All the MinistriesDepartments are requested to ensure implementation of Risk Insurance Scheme before 30.06.2011. No further extension will considered thereafter.
s/d
( Zoya C.B.)
Under Secretary to the Govt. of India
www.persmin.nic.in
 

CVC Disposed of 804 Cases in December 2010 Major Penalty Proceedings Recommened against 226 Officers

The Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) disposed of 804 cases during December 2010 referred to it for advice. Of these, 667 complaints were sent for necessary action/ATR whereas 48 complaints were sent for investigation and report. No action was required on 123 complaints.

The Commission advised imposition of major penalty against 226 officers including 50 from Department of Communications, 36 from Central Board of Excise & Customs, 23 from Ministry of Railways, 13 from State Bank of India, 10 from Vijaya Bank, 9 from Punjab & Sind Bank, 8 from M.C.D., 7 from Andhra Bank, 6 from Canara Bank, 5 each from Allahabad Bank, Bank of India, Punjab National Bank, Power Grid Corporation of India Ltd.& UCO Bank. Remaining 31 cases pertained to different departments of the Government of India and PSUs.

Recoveries to the tune of about Rs.2.78 crore were effected after Commission conducted technical examination of some departments.

Thursday, January 27, 2011

Much awaited fill up vacancies on the basis of latest recruitment Rules of Postman/Mail Guard & M.T.S released today.

 No.44-2/2011-SPB-1 Dated 27th january 2011
PLEASE CLICK LINK BELOW FOR ORDER
 PLEASE CLICK LINK BELOW FOR ORDER                                  No.45-2/2011 -SPB-1 Dated 27th january 2011 
Latest Recruitment Rules for Multi Tasking Staff

Wednesday, January 26, 2011

INTRODUCTION OF SERVICE DISCHARGE BENEFIT SCHEME (SDBS) TO GDS

 Copy available in below link

CLICK HERE TO SEE 

Officiating Period as Gr-D should be counted for Pensionary Benefits
CENTRAL ADMINISTRATIVE TRIBUNAL
ERNAKULAM BENCH
Original Application No. 514 of 2010 Tuesday, this the 18th day of January, 2011
CORAM:
HON'BLE Mr. JUSTICE P.R. RAMAN, JUDICIAL MEMBER
HON'BLE Mr. K. GEORGE JOSEPH, ADMINISTRATIVE MEMBER
K. Sankaran Nair
S/o. R. Kesava Pillai (Rtd.)
Group D Official,
Kattappana Head Post Office
Residing at Komattil House
Senapathy (P.O), Santhanpare
Pin - 685 619. ... …Applicant

(By Advocate Shri P.C. Sebastian)

Vs.

1. Union of India, represented by
Secretary to Government of India
Ministry of Communications
Department of Posts
New Delhi.
2. The Superintendent of Post Offices
Idukki Division
Thodupuzha - 685 584
3. The Postmaster General
Central Region
Kochi - 682 018 ... … Respondents

(By Advocate Shri Pradeep Krishna, ACGSC)

This application having been heard on 11.01.2011, the Tribunal on 18.01.11 delivered the following.
O R D E R
HON'BLE MR. K GEORGE JOSEPH, ADMINISTRATIVE MEMBER
The applicant in this O.A. entered service as Gramin Dak Sevak Mail packer (GDSMP), Santhanpura Post office on 19.11.1969. He was given officiating appointment as Group-D at Kattapana Sub Post Office with effect from 01.06.1999 considering his seniority and eligibility. He was regularly appointed as Group-D on 24.11.2000 and retired on superannuation on 31.01.2010. A minimum 10 years service is required for eligibility for superannuation pension. The applicant is having only 9 years, 2 months and 7 days of qualifying service and hence not entitled for pension. He has filed this O.A. for reckoning of his service as Group- D on daily wages from 01.06.1999 to count as qualifying service also along with the regular service.
2. The applicant submitted that he was eligible and entitled to be promoted as Group-D in the year 1999 itself and there were vacancies also. The request of the applicant for counting the officiating period prior to his promotion has not been acceded to by the respondents. The inaction on the part of the respondents in granting applicant's request for counting the officiating period prior to his promotion as qualifying service by preponing his date of promotional notionally, is unjust, arbitrary and prejudicial to his fundamental rights under Articles 14, 16 and 21 of the Constitution of India. He is similarly placed as Shri V.K. Divakaran, who was promoted as Group-D along with the applicant and was granted pensionary benefits counting the period of ad hoc service prior to his regular appointment as qualifying service for the purpose of pension. In O.A. Nos. 239/1998 and 449/1998, this Tribunal had directed the respondents to take remedial steps, if any, of the E.D. Agents in Kerala Circle who had suffered any loss by lapse on the part of the respondents in filling up the vacancies. The respondents are, therefore, duty bound to remedy the loss of pension the applicant is put to suffer on account of their lapse.
3. The respondents contested the O.A. They took the stand that the applicant submitted his willingness to officiate in a departmental post, hence he was engaged to work in a Group - D post in Kattappana South Post Office with effect from 01.06.1999. He was temporarily engaged to work in the post based on the willingness submitted by him. He was engaged to carry out the duties of a Group - D and is remunerated with the minimum of the scale and such engagements are usually intended to GDS since they are already familiar with the Post Office work. As his total qualifying service fell short of 10 years, he was not eligible for pension. There is no rule in force to give promotion from a back date if DPC could not be held in time for departmental reasons. The engagement of the applicant in the vacant Group-D post at Kattappana South P.O. with effect from 01.06.1999 can be in no way considered as officiating appointment. His engagement as Group-D was not as per the Recruitment Rules and the applicant cannot claim pensionary benefits for the work done purely on temporary basis. The period spent by an employee on purely a stop gap arrangement cannot be reckoned as qualifying service with attendant benefits. The DPC for promotion to Group-D was delayed due to various cases pending before this Tribunal and the Hon'ble High Court of Kerala. Equating the case of the applicant with that of Divakaran's case is not correct. The decision of the Hon'ble High Court in giving the benefit of ad hoc service rendered by an employee has been overruled by Hon'ble Supreme Court in the case of R.K. Mobina Singh vs. K.H. Themba Singh and Others, 2008 (1) SCC (L&S) 315. In the circumstances, the O.A. is not sustainable and liable to be dismissed.
4. We have heard Mr. P.C. Sebastian, learned Counsel for the applicant and Mr. Pradeep Krishna, learned ACGSC for the respondents and perused the records.
5. The applicant has more than 40 years of service with the respondents. After 30 years of service, he was directed to join Kattappana South Post Office in the vacant Group-D post with effect from 01.06.1999 on officiating arrangement basis. He was appointed as Group-D along with Shri V.K. Divakaran and 7 others on the basis of the order dated 08.11.2000 at Annexure A-2. When he was made to work as Group-D on officiating arrangement in 1999, he was eligible and entitled to be appointed as Group-D as vacancies were available.
6. Shri V.K. Divakaran who was given appointment in Group-D post alongwith the applicant had claimed in O.A. No. 800/2002 that his appointment as Group-D with effect from 01.03.1999, the date from which continuously working as Group-D in Thodupuzha H.O., could be considered as regular service. The said O.A. was disposed of on 02.03.2005 as under "12. In the conspectus of facts and circumstances, we set aside Annexure A-8 order and direct the respondents to grant the applicant continuity of service from 01.03.1999 and to consider him for regular appointment from that date by holding a review DPC if necessary for the purpose of pensionary benefits (alone) and pass appropriate orders within a time frame of three months from the date of receipt of a copy of this order. The O.A. is allowed. In the circumstances, no order as to costs."
The aforesaid order of this Tribunal was confirmed by Hon'ble High Court of Kerala vide its judgement dated 27.03.2008 in W.P.(C) No. 17044/2005(S).
7. This Tribunal had relied on the judgments of Apex Court in Direct Recruit Class II Engineering Officers' Association vs. State vs. State of Maharashtra and Others, (1990) 2 SCC 715 and State of West Bengal vs. Aghore Nath Dev and others, (1993) 3 SCC 371. The respondents have taken the stand that equating the case of the applicant with that of Divakaran's case is not correct. But it was not substantiated in what way the applicant's case is different from that of Divakaran's case. On going through "O.A. No. 800/2002", it is seen that the respondents had relaxed the age limit for absorbing Shri V.K. Divakaran in Group - D. But for this relaxation the applicant is similarly placed as Shri V.K. Divakaran in respect of reckoning service from the date of officiation on the Group-D post for the purpose of granting pensionary benefits.
8. Hon'ble Supreme Court in Direct Recruit Class II Engineering Officers' Association vs. State vs. State of Maharashtra and Others, (1990) 2 SCC 715, held as under :
".. If the initial appointment is not made by following the procedure laid down by the rules but the appointee continues in the post uninterruptedly till regularisation of his service in accordance with rules, the period of officiating service will be counted..."
9. Again in R.K. Mobisana Singh vs. K.H. Temba Singh and Others, (2008) 1 SCC (L&S) 315, Hon'ble Supreme Court in para 34 of the judgement, referred to its decision in M.K. Shanmugham vs. Union of India, (2000) 4 SCC 476, which is extracted as under :
".....If an ad hoc selection is followed by regular selection, then the benefit of ad hoc service is not admissible if ad hoc appointment is in violation of the rules. If the ad hoc appointment has been made as a stop gap arrangement and where there was a procedural irregularity in making appointments according to rules and that irregularity was subsequently rectified, the principle to be applied in that case was stated once again....."
10. In the instant case, the applicant was put on duty of Group-D on officiating arrangement basis. Subsequently, he was regularised. It cannot be said that he was appointed in violation of the rules. The DPC could not meet in time for administrative reasons. That it could recommend his name subsequent to his appointment in 1999 is only a procedural irregularity which was rectified in due course of time. The stand of the respondents that the engagement of the applicant as Group- D was not as per the recruitment rules cannot be vindicated in the light of the above decisions of the Hon'ble Supreme Court.
11. The officiating arrangement of the applicant on 01.06.1999 was against existing vacancy of a Group - D post. He was eligible and qualified for a regular appointment on that date and he continued in the post uninterruptedly till regularisation of his service in accordance with the rules. In such case, the appointee is not to be blamed for the deficiency for the procedural requirements in the rules at the time of his initial appointment and the appointment not being limited to a fixed period of time is intended to be a regular appointment subject to the remaining procedural requirements of the rules being fulfilled at the earliest, as held by Hon'ble Supreme Court in State of West Bengal vs. Aghore Nath Dev and others, (1993) 3 SCC 371. Therefore, in our considered view, the applicant is entitled to reckon the period from 01.06.1999 to 24.11.2000 for the purpose of granting pensionary benefits.
12. The O.A. is allowed. The respondents No. 2 and 3 are directed to issue appropriate orders granting the applicant pensionary benefits counting his service from 01.06.1999 onwards as qualifying service, within a period of two months from the date of receipt of copy of this order.
13. No order as to costs.

(K. GEORGE JOSEPH) (JUSTICE P.R. RAMAN)
ADMINISTRATIVE MEMBER JUDICIAL MEMBER

India Post Invited the Suggestions from the Members of Public to achieve its objectives and serve them in a better wa

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Tuesday, January 25, 2011

                                                             GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS
(RAILWAY BOARD)

S.No.PC-VI/245 No.PC-V/2009/ACP/2
RBE No.5/2011 New Delhi, dated 12-01-2011
The General Managers
All Zonal Rai1ways & PUs
(As per mailing list)

Sub:- Entitlement of Pass facilites under MACPS -Clarification reg.

Ref:- Board’s letter of even number dated 10-06-2009

     The issue regarding the entitlement of privilege and other passes in case of employees who have been granted financial upgradation under the MACP Scheme has been under consideration.

     In terms of Para 16 of Annexure of Board's letter referred to above, financial upgradation under the MACP Scheme is personal to the incumbent and entitles the employee to certain benefits which are linked to the pay drawn by the employee. Hence, the benefit of Passes/PTOs Corresponding to the next higher Grade Pay granted under the MACP Scheme will be available to the employee. It is also reiterated that the grant of financial upgradation under the MACP Scheme does not entail any change in the designation, classification and status of an employee. Accordingly, the benefits related to higher status inherent in the higher Pay Band and / or Grade Pay is not avaialble to such an employee who has been granted higher Grade Pay under the MACP Scheme.

3. This issue with the concurrence of the Finance Directorate of the Ministry of Rai1ways.

4. Hindi version is enclosed.

N.P.Singh Dy. Director, Pay Commission - V Railway Board
Source: AIRF

Sunday, January 23, 2011

Saving grace: Indians fare better in money management

When it comes to managing finances, Indians are ahead of citizens of United States, Japan, South Korea and some other developed countries, says the ING Consumer Resourcefulness Survey. Also, Indians turn out to be the second, out of 10 leading nations in the world, to have a basic financial literacy just behind the Japanese.

“The survey shows that Indians are better at managing their finances than most of the other countries in the survey, including being better prepared for their various life stages, especially retirement,” said Uco Vegter, chief marketing and strategy officer, ING Life . “However, they do tend to get lost in sourcing good advice to become better at money.”

The survey, conducted by ING Group, in association with the research consultancy firm Epiphany, was carried out among 5,000 consumers across 10 nations.
“Majority of Indian consumers have shown better skills in managing their household financial budget and are confident of facing any financial impediments in future, as compared to citizens of 9 other countries,” said the survey.

The survey shows a staggering 84% Indians prefer buying life insurance products compared to 54% globally and a similar percentage of Indians believe in maintaining a household budget with focus on savings. Indians are much risk averse in case of borrowing money. While average Indians manage their finances in a much organised manner, they borrow money in case of needs such as buying a home (50%) and a car (43%).
Source: HT Mumbai 14 Jan, 2011
Estonian parcel post provider Cleveron to go public

              Estonian Cleveron, which provides modern parcel post logistics solutions, mulls listing on the stock exchanges in order to implement its expansion plans. Cleveron, which operated the network of SmartPost parcel machines until last summer, has found exciting challenges in a number of European countries, including Russia, Finland, the Czech Republic and Slovakia.
              Estonia is one of the only country in the world where self-service parcel post machines have been so well-received by consumers. Already 140,000 people in Estonia have used SmartPost to send packages, writes Testmarket/LETA.
        In July 2010, Cleveron sold the SmartPost network to the Finnish logistics company Itella and is now focusing on exporting their business model.
            Cleveron supervisory board member Peep Kuld says that now Itella is interested in working with the Estonians to establish a similar network of parcel machines in Finland.
            Finns can buy a full solution from Cleveron, ranging from the cabinets and software to the know-how for operating the network in the optimum manner.
            But first the biggest order from Russia must be filled. The biggest privately owned Russian logistics company, CPCR Express, has ordered 20 package machines from Cleveron in the framework of the pilot project, of which 15 will be installed in Moscow and the rest in St. Petersburg. By February 2011, the network should be launched under the trademark PickPoint.ru. If it proves successful, another 100-200 machines will be purchased.
            While in Russia CPCR is buying the machines from Cleveron, in the Czech Republic and Slovakia a more complicated and risky scheme is being used – the Estonians would be contracted to build and launch the network themselves. Kuld says that the SmartPost experience showed that it is easier to sell a network that is in operation and has been accepted by clients, and large postal service providers are also showing major interest.
            Building the network themselves in a country that is much bigger than Estonia will require a great amount of money. Kuld confirms that the firm is considering finding investors and even becoming publicly listed.
Courtesy:baltic-course.com, 21.01.201

A Complete Manual of GDS Rulings
A Weapon in the Hands of Leaders and workers


The 410 Pages Book “Crusader to Gramin Dak Sewaks” jointly published by National Federation of Postal Employees (NFPE) and All India Postal Employees Union, Group ‘C” (CHQ) and compiled and edited by Com. K. V. Sridharan, General Secretary, AIPEU Group ‘C’ (CHQ) is an excellent and complete manual of GDS rulings. All the orders relating to GDS issued by the Department of Posts upto 31.12.2010 are included in the book. Headings and sub-headings of each Chapter with page number is given as index for easy and ready reference. It is most authoritative than any other book on GDS available. The memo number and date of each ruling is given. No such exhaustive compilation on GDS is available now.
Without having a thorough and perfect knowledge of rulings on GDS, Branch/Divisional/Circle/All India office bearers and activists of NFPE Unions cannot perform as real leaders of the most downtrodden section of the Postal Employees. Further without knowing the rules which governs one’s wages and service conditions, no GDS can safeguard his/her rights and privileges. This books serves not only as a reference book in the day to day functioning but also as a real weapon in the hands of union activists and Gramin Dak Sewaks. EVERYBODY SHOULD HAVE A COPY OF IT.
Cost of a single copy is only Rs.120/- (Rs. One Hundred Twenty Only) (Plus Postage)
NFPE recommends every Postal Employee including Officers to Gramin Dak Sewaks, to have a copy of it. Copies can be had from: General Secretary, AIPEU Group ‘C’ (CHQ), 2151/1 New Patel Nagar, Dada Ghosh Bhawan, New Delhi – 110008.

(M. Krishnan)
Secretary General,

Friday, January 21, 2011


             About the Area: The Indian Postal Services, with more than 155,000 post offices across the country and close to half a million employees, is the most widely distributed post office system in the world. It reaches far-flung areas in India, including in high terrains, islands and other inaccessible regions. In addition to its traditional role as distributor of mails, in India, post offices offer savings accounts with bank-like cheque book facilities, and act as the distribution outlets for a few other government services. The plan is to develop it into a full-fledged bank and a financial super shop. With their reach, post offices can effectively help in governments ambitious financial inclusion plan.
          IT Outlay and Status: In early 2009, the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) approved the computerization and networking of post offices involving an expenditure of Rs 628.66 crore. This included the expenditure towards computerization of close to 7,000 post offices and more than 2,000 administrative offices as well as up-gradation of hardware of 1,772 post offices which were computerized in the ninth plan.
          In the second phase of the modernization, an overall IT outlay of Rs 1877.2 crore has been earmarked for modernization of post offices. This is for the period between April 2010 to September 2012. Rs 330 crore has already been utilized. The outlay include expenditure for rural ICT devices, rural connectivity and applications to rural population for services including postal, saving bank, postal life insurance and other related operations including MGNREGA wage distribution.
          IT Contracts Awarded: In October 2009, Department of Post awarded a 45-month IT modernization contract to Accenture to design a new enterprise IT architecture. Accenture is also advising DoP on the development of a wide-area network environment that helps connect all post offices on which various online services can run, and will study the feasibility of implementing an enterprise solution for the departments core banking and advanced financial services.
 By Devanshu Pandey ( Courtesy: freshersworld.com, January 16, 2011 )

   General Secretary Write Letter to Department on Revision of norms for assessment of workload of the Branch Postmasters.

Ref. No. GDS/CHQ/49/1/2011                                      Dated. 20-01- 2011
To.
Ms. Radhika Doraisamy,
Secretary,
Department of Posts,
Dak Bhawan,
New Delhi-110001.

Madam,
 
Subject:-    Revision of norms for assessment of workload of the Branch Postmasters.
 
A kind reference is invited to the Directorates letter no. 5-1/2007-WS-I(P) dated 16.12.2010 on the above subject.
 
The work load of all the GDS staff are being arrived at after application of Time factors of Postman/Group-'D' as the case may be excluding the BPMs.

In respect of BPM, points system has been prescribed instead of Time factor for each item of work as being done for Postal Assistants. The workload S.O. calculated on the baris of point system cannot be converted into hours, Minites and Seconds-like other GDS staff which results in unscientific norms and lead to reduction of TRCA on the whole.

In the connection the norms fixed for stamp sales and Treasury could be cited as an unscientific ones.
 
A BPM has to sell stamps worth of `900/- to earn one point in villages that too offices functions only for three hours of would be very difficult to sell stamps to the time of `900/- per day. Previously it was fixed as `45/- to earn the point. Now it as been enhanced to 20 times (i.e) ` 900/- This union finds no reason to enhance this item to the extent of 20 times since there is no huge sale of stamps this ` 900/- stamp sales requires to be recased to the extent ` 60/- stamp sales to earn one point.

Similarly for cash handling this has been enhanced to `20,000/- to earn one point.

Here also this has been enhanced twenty times since it was fixed `1000/- to earn one point previously. We could very strongly say that there is no sizeable increase in cash receipts in a Branch office. Further the village people are not handling higher denomination of currencies like `500/- as `1000/- as expected in Post offices functioning in semi urban and urban areas. Most of the village people are only dwelt on earning their income by daily wages etc. Which may not exceed `100/- are 150/- per day. In which care they could get handly get `100/- denomination. Since being the case are could expect denominations of Rupees up to `100/- only in a Branch Post office for postal transactions. Fixing `20,000/- to earn one point with a view of handling higher denominations of Rupees of 500/- and ` 1000/- is totally unjustified.

Due to the implementation of revised norms one points handling cash of ` 20,000/- out of 19 cases of BPMs TRCA of all the BPMs have been reduced the except there BPMs. We could like the case of Amalapuram Division, Andhra Circle vide Memo. H5/BR/BPMs/Misc dlgs/2010 dated 24/29-9-2010. Kindly imagine the pathetic situation of the above BPMs. result in unscientific norms and lead to reduction of TRCA on the whole.

As regards RPLI, it has been fixed as one point for every 10 trisection. Here also. The hard work traced out for meeting, motivating and explaining the benefits of RPLI to the poor people in village has not been well appreciated. The common people are not coming forward to insure their lives at the initial meeting itself. The GDS,BPM, GDS,MD etc are to meet the insurant many times to secure a policy from him. Hence separate norms are to be considered for entertaining the RPLI policy proposals at the initial payment of first premia.
 
We had pointed out that in view of the multiplication of work at Branch offices and introduction of several new schemes and products, the accounts maintenance has become more cumbersome and the 14 points allotted for the purpose need to be raised to 28 points. A practical view of this has got to be taken. Now it is not correct to say that counting of the remittance received or made is covered by the said 14 points. These 14 points are allotted for preparing accounts, different bags, slips and closing and sealing as also time sprat in opening and closing of the PO. It is not correct to say that these 14 points cover counting/verification of remittance received from/made to account office. This issue merits reconsideration.
 
We, therefore, request you kindly to reconsider the issue to raise the 14 points to 28 points and to include the amount of remittance made/received as cash handled.  

We have bought your kind notice about the above four items only. There are still cases to be discussed in detail on all the items.
 
In this connection we are sorry to inform you that this union has not at all been consulted before finalising at these new norms. Which is to be highly objected.

Your kind attention is invited item No. 7(C) vide DGs letter No. 08/02/2010-SR dated 14.07.2010 with regard to meeting held with the Secretary(P) on 12.07.2010 where in reply as given as "MATTER IS SUBJUCICE". However the Directorate vide letter dated 16.12.2010, Communicated the revised norms pertaining to GDS, BPMs.

This union therefore would like to request the Madam Secretary (P) kindly defer the implementation of the new norms vide letter dated 16.12.2010. We would also request you kindly to arrange for a meeting for this union to discuss with the integrated work study unit so that it could be decided on mutual understanding.
 
Your early orders are solicited.                                                     

Yours faithfully,

--
S.S.Mahadevaiah
General Secretary
All India Postal Extra Departmental Employees Union