Wednesday, October 28, 2015

AIPEU, Gr-C, CHQ writes to the Secretary(Posts) regarding untold sufferings of staff members of CBS offices

ALL INDIA POSTAL EMPLOYEES UNION GROUP ‘C’
CHQ: Dada Ghosh Bhawan, 2151/1, New Patel Road, New Delhi - 110008
 
Ref: P / 4 – 4 / CBS-CIS,                                                                         Dated – 20.10.2015

 To,

Ms. Kavery Banerjee
Secretary,
Department of Posts,
Dak Bhawan, New Delhi 110 001 

Madam, 

Sub: - Untold sufferings faced by the workings staff in CBS rolled out offices throughout the Country – Immediate and personal intervention is requested– Reg. 

A kind attention is invited to our earlier references on the subject, wherein the problems mentioned therein are almost unaddressed till date. It is a known fact that CBS migration is undergoing in large no. of offices in many Circles. Till time more than 5000 offices are rolled out to CBS, because of the pressure applied by the  Department in  haste.  Because of such a fast approach, the end users   at the Counter area are affected badly, and the public also suffering a lot. 

Whereas in Banking Sector, when such migration is undertaken, it has been carried out in a phased manner for eg. in SBI, the leader in Banking sector, migration was made only in 100 branches at the  first year. 

You may aware that the staff are struggling with outdated computers and peripherals, which were purchased during  the  year 2000 to 2005 and no funding is  made so far to replace them  till date and as a whole the  Department  is  surviving with very old hardwares. Even proper up gradation of CPU is not made in many areas and the Software loaded is up to Windows XP, almost in most of the offices. Finacle can be  loaded only with Windows 7 and  hence  the  officers at ground level are  pressurized to use pirated version of Windows 7, which is  totally illegal and  leads to  legal litigation from  Microsoft. The staff are compelled to work in the outdated mode with pirated software, resulting in non operation. 

The MOU made with M/s Sify, for net work integration is limiting to low bandwidth such as 128 Kbps to 256 Kbps in single and double handed offices, and 256 kbps to 512 kbps in ‘A’ class to LSG offices resulting in sluggish connectivity and takes hours together to transform the data. This results in hang over and the transactions could not be able to be made at the instant, as the Department expects. It requires at least 1 to 4 Mbps and M/s Sify refused to increase the bandwidth now.                                                                                    

End of day process cannot be made after validation/supervisor verification and the staff has to wait for the nod from the Infosys, even after midnights on several days and at times it can be made on the next day morning.  Even the women employees are compelled to   complete the EOD process in midnights and their husbands or wards waiting till midnights to carry home. They could not attend even their family, personal and social obligations, resulting in loss of mental balance, family problems, stress and social problems. There is no safety and security for the women employees leaving the office by late nights, especially in rural areas, where there is no transportation available. It is our responsibility to ensure the safety and security of the women employees and no untoward incident should be allowed to happen as in case of Jyoti Singh Pandey of New Delhi. 

Even the Help desk provided is not answering and the end users are taken to task  and  receiving brick bats from the irate public.  This results in  closing of  accounts in large numbers  that too,  can be made  not on the  date of presentation but  after few days  and  our  Department  looses  large  chunk of customers, because of the miscalculations, wrong estimations  and over ambitious stand of the  bureaucrats. 

Consequent to the increase in large number of Post Offices on CBS, it was observed for the past two months that the Data Centre Closure process is executed during day time that too during peak Counter hours. This results in slow accessibility of Finacle throughout the country. Irrespective of bandwidth, the  Finacle slowness has been experienced in all Post Offices in the recent past. This affects the public services very badly during the peak hour viz. from 11.00 am  to  03.00 pm on daily basis. 

Further, due to Finacle slowness, the most affected operation is the Cheque Clearing operations.  The Clearance House sends the images of the cheques to the Head Offices at around 08.00 am in the morning. The onus of furnishing the information pertaining to Bounced Cheques, that too before 11 am to the clearing house, lies on the respective Head Offices.  If the information pertaining to Bounced Cheques is not received before 11.00 am from the concerned HOs, the entire amount of Inward Clearance cheques are deemed to be CLEARED by  the clearance house.  This leads to encashment of bounced cheques, the  responsibility of which lies  on the shoulder of the  poor officials and they have to face contributory negligence  recoveries. 

Since from the day of the first migration, the staff unions are complaining about the deficiency in services provided my M/S Infosys Ltd, especially facing enormous problems in the Finacle Software, besides bandwidth, net work, transmission and Server problems. On each and every occasion or from the day we are complaining at all levels, there is one word reply that, everything will be set right and put into rails one by one as this is only a transition period and everybody should bear with, in the interest of the Department. This is the saying mooted out and spread everywhere, from top to bottom.  Now the 2 years Contract period for total the implementation is nearing completion and there is no sign of improvement and the problems persist and aggravate everywhere. It is most unfortunate to mention that we are all bearing with all these hardships and sufferings, in the interest of M/S Infosys. 

Because of all these deficiencies the Department not only losing  the  customers, besides there is  huge loss of man days and  due to non operation  there is huge loss of  money. This should be compensated with. There is a penalty clause in the Contract for deficiency in service. Instead of pulling the poor ground level officials, the application of penalty clause may perhaps be considered and applied on the service providers viz. Ms. Infosys and M/s Sify. It is reported that India Post has undertaken the project for switching over to  Core Banking Solution  platform with a total project outlay of Rs. 800 crores.  Hence, in the interest of the Department, we request the Secretary Posts to pursue with, on the direction, in order to pull the vendor and to save the customer services, the image of the Department and the public money. 

Based on the above, our  Union  requests  the  Secretary Posts 

i)                 to stop  such unmindful migrations into  CBS/CIS  immediately till settlement of the problems reported ; 

ii)                to provide adequate  infrastructure to the  ground level offices,  such as replacement of systems, computer peripherals , UPS, battery, printers  etc.  immediately; 

iii)              to improve the bandwidth  of sify network   at least to the  level of  512 kbps in single handed offices and to the level of  4Mbps in Head Post offices ; 

iv)              to centralize the EOD process at CPC  level  in all circles and to relieve the official at ground level after  completion of validation process , without  late night detention ; 

v)               to centralize the cheque clearance work  at  CPC  level, since  it is  now under  CBS ; 

vi)              to ensure  the operation of  CBS  without  interruption / slowness during  peak hours  to cater  the  need of the  common public . 

Soliciting immediate response and reply. 

With kind regards, 

Yours sincerely, 

(R. N. Parashar)
General Secretary

Finacle / Mccamish receipt Printing in Dot matrix Printers - Suggestion reg.

Finacle  and Mccamish receipts printing can be done in Dot matrix Printer itself in legible, readable way by changing the settings as below:

Open the PDF document to Print 

--Go to File

--Print

--Properties

-- Advanced

-- Below Paper Quality, Graphic appears and 120x72 dots per inch stands selected defaultedly. If you click on 120X72, a combo box will appear. From the drop-down, select 240X216 dots per inch.

--Give Ok.

--Ok.

--Print.

         I am doing in the above manner and printing reports in Finacle and Mccamish. Its a humble suggestion for our colleagues suffering without Laser printers. I faced hardship without laser printer and then tried and found it by trial and error method. I would like to inform you so that you will let our colleagues know. 

Thanks to 

K. Radha, SPM,
Srirangam West S.O.
Trichy-620006.
ph: 9486311338.

Seventh Pay Commission Likely To Allow Work From Home For Disabled, Women Employees

http://sapost.blogspot.in/

New Delhi: Seventh pay commission is likely to ask the government to consider allowing disabled and women central government employees to work from home.

The commission may recommend government to ask Information and Technology department, whether it is possible to have systems in place for monitoring and supervising work being done remotely by disabled and women central government employees .

“Allowing disabled and women central government employees a choice in where and how they work can increase employee loyalty and job satisfaction, and the government needs to apply it for a big win to boost their confidence, which will also give the productivity,” said a pay panel official.

The studies revealed those disabled and women employees who have the option of working outside of the office also reported somewhat lower levels of stress and exhaustion. And studies have suggested that employees tend to get higher performance evaluations.

Allowing employees to work away from a government office means increased opportunities for those women and those persons with disabilities. It can also help the environment, as the employees are able to eliminate lengthy commutes.

The work from home filtered into jobs that have little to no stress and minimal travel.

At present, the strength of disabled employees in the total workforce of the central government is 9,339, which constitutes 0.3 per cent of the total staff strength of 29.59 lakh, according to an RTI reply to The Indian Express from the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT).

Women employment under central government has been estimated to the tune of 3.37 lakh, which is 10.93 percent of the total regular central government employment, according to census of central government employees as on March 31, 2011.

“We are looking at whether it is technologically possible to allow disabled and women employees for working from home,” said the official.

“A need was felt to provide work from home facility to persons with disabilities and women to enable them to effectively discharge their duties.,” he added.

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.

Headed by Justice Ashok Kumar Mathur, the four-member Commission was appointed in February 2014 and the commission will hand over its recommendations to government within December 31, 2015.

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

The Sixth Pay Commission was implemented with effect from January 1, 2006, the fifth from January 1, 1996 and the fourth from January 1, 1986. The Seventh Pay Commission will be implemented with effect from January 1, 2016.

source : http://www.tkbsen.in/

Monday, October 26, 2015

Submission of agenda items and nomination of member for Four Monthly Meeting, scheduled to be held on 04-11-2015 at 11AM.


N F P E
ALL INDIA POSTAL EMPLOYEES UNION GROUP-C
ODISHA CIRCLE BRANCH,BHUBANESWAR-751007
Trilochan Parida                                                  R.C.Mishra
President                                                     Circle Secretary,
                                                        Vice-President CHQ & Leader RJCM




To,

The Chief Post Master General

Odisha Circle, Bhubaneswar-751001.

Sub- Submission of agenda items and nomination of member for Four Monthly Meeting, scheduled to be held on 04-11-2015 at 11AM.



Ref- CO letter No WL/UNF-3/CPMG/2013 Dated 16-10-2015



Respected Sir,

The agenda items for above meeting, desired vide letter under reference are placed below for favour of kind information. Sri B.Samal, Vice-President of this Circle Union, PM Ashoknagar MDG, Bhubaneswar-751009 division will accompany me for the said meeting. It is requested for making necessary relieving arrangements.

AGENDA ITEMS

Item No-1-10/2015:- Request for action to remove slow connectivity of bandwidth & slow running of finacle in CBS Offices resulting torture to staff and undue hardship.

Brief:- In this connection, this Union̢۪s letter No UN/AIPEU, Gr-C/Odisha/07-2015 dated 20-07-2015, dated 09-09-2015 & dated 17-10-2015 may kindly be referred to through which we have narrated in detail the problems faced by staff, working in CBS offices. We urge for taking up the following at the end of Circle level & also with Directorate level for betterment of CBS work and to remove the plights of staff.

1- To Bandwidth between BSNL Cloud and Central Server should be enhanced to 1GB 2- All Offices should be provided with minimum Bandwidth of 512 KBPS as per formulae 256 KBPS per Node + 128 KBPS.
2- To stop of inhuman orders issued by CPC over telephones to come beyond office hour for clearance of blocking validations. If the work of the day is not finished within time due to slow connectivity & unseen technical problems the staff should leave the offices after end of the office and attend next day on usual time to complete previous day̢۪s work first and then start the to-day̢۪s work.
3- To stop conversion of offices to CBS & data migrations etc till restoration of normalcy in connectivity and proper running of finacle.
4- Payment of due compensation to staff on detention after office hours. 5- Protection to staff & office valuables due to vibrant actions by customers for slow running of finacle & link failure. 6- Supply of required hardware & technical support to the CBS offices. 7- To remove all the soft ware problems causing hardship to staff in working.



Item No-2:- Request to stop irregular orders to staff for attending various trainings at Darabhanga and other outside States at the eleventh hours without giving sufficient time to have train reservation etc.



Brief:- It has observed that the divisional heads throughout the circle are issuing orders to staff to attend various training programmes at Darabhanga and other outside training centres just a week before without taking into consideration the availability of train reservations. The staff are posed to undue hardship and to mental tension out of such orders and the training programmes become unfruitful also. Hence, it is urged for issuance of instructions to all divisional heads to stop issuing such orders & to issue order of of training prior to three months from the trainings or otherwise. If possible the training programmes of the year may be circulated well in ahead for giving sufficient time to have their reservations and for success of training programmes.



Item No -3/10-2015:- Request for convening of supplementary DPCs in LSG, HSG-II & HSG-I for left behind vacancies after regular DPCs as done in case ASP cadre recently.



Brief:- This union has come to know that recently supplementary DPC was conducted for promotion to ASP Cadre and for Class-II cadre taking in to vacancies created during the period after holding of regular DPC. Many a posts have lying vacant in LSG & LSG APM (Accounts) Cadre due to declination after the regular DPC and it is also urged upon for filling up of such vacancies arising within this mean period by constitution of supplementary DPCs. It is also requested also to fill up the residual vacancies, aroused in HSG-II & HSG-I if any during the intervening period after the regular DPCs. 

Yours faithfully



(R.C.Mishra)

Circle Secretary



Copy to- Com. B.Samal, Vice-President AIPEU, Gr-C, Odisdha Circle and he is requested to attend the meeting on the sheduled date & time.



(R.C.Mishra)

Circle Secretary

"BORDER SECURITY FORCE" POSTAGE STAMP

A Commemorative Postage Stamp on "Border Security Force" has been released by Shri Vasumitra, Chief Postmaster General, Delhi Circle in presence of Hon'ble Minister of Home Affairs, Shri Rajnath Singh at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi on 21/10/2015

S B Order No. 15 / 2015 : Clarifications to S B Order No. 12 / 2015 issued in c/w mandatory use/opening of Savings Account in CBS Post Offices


Let us reaffirm our commitment to Make India corruption free and engage in ceaseless efforts to achieve this goal, says President

The President of India, Shri Pranab Mukherjee in a message, on the occasion of the Vigilance Awareness Week has called for reaffirmation of our commitment to make India corruption free and engage in ceaseless efforts to achieve this goal. 

Writing to the Central Vigilance Commissioner, the President has said “I am happy to learn that the Central Vigilance Commission is observing Vigilance Awareness Week from October 26 to October 31, 2015. 

Corruption affects the growth of a nation, reduces the Government’s income and creates inequalities in distribution of income and wealth. It is a major factor hindering development. It is critical that awareness is generated and public opinion developed on the evils of corruption. Corruption needs to be treated like a disease and focus should be on prevention. It is appropriate that the Commission has adopted the theme of “Preventive Vigilance as a tool of Good Governance” for the current year. The measures adopted for Preventive Vigilance would help not only reduce corruption but also contribute towards good governance by way of increasing efficiency, transparency and adherence to rule of law. I am happy that the Central Vigilance Commission is also focussing on students and youth for creation of awareness against corruption and promotion of good governance. 

I extend my greetings to all those associated with observance of the Vigilance Awareness Week, 2015. Let us reaffirm our commitment to make India corruption free and engage in ceaseless efforts to achieve this goal”.
Source : PIB Release, 26.10.2015

Issue of Small Savings Lottery Coupons through web-generated method by DSSO, Khorda


Bank Employees to Go on Nationwide Strike on December 2

Bank Employees to Go on Nationwide Strike on December 2 – Opposing merger of associate banks with SBI and dictation of SBI management on service conditions of employees in associate banks, Mishra said “we want autonomy for associate banks.”
An All India bank strike is scheduled for December 2nd. A day prior to the strike across all banks, the State Sector Bank Employees Association (SSBEA) has called upon its members to strike work in all associate banks of State Bank of India.
SBI’s fiat to associate banks instructing them to implement SBI Career Progression Policy seems to have irked the unions.
Explaining why they (SBI associate bank employees) refuse to accept SBI Career Progression Policy, Mahesh Mishra, Chairman, SSBEA said “the associate banks are all separate entities and part of the public sector banks in the country. But government guidelines are not implemented; SBI instead seeks to illegally thrust SBI service conditions in associate banks.”
“It means increase in working hours by one hour each day, 7 day banking, shift system and round the clock banking, outsourcing all manual jobs like sweepers, peons, increased passing powers for clerical staff on par with officers and periodical transfer in clerical and sub-staff cadre like officers and posting in rural and semi-urban areas ,” he said.
Opposing merger of associate banks with SBI and dictation of SBI management on service conditions of employees in associate banks, Mishra said “we want autonomy for associate banks.”
C H Venkatachalam, General Secretary, All India Bank Employees Association (AIBEA) said “bilateralism is given a go-bye and unilateralism sought to be made the rule. Law is ignored and trade union rights over-looked.”
Alleging the SBI management of not respecting the bipartite settlement and tending to move unilaterally, arbitrarily, illegally and dictatorially against employees interest, the AIBEA General Secretary said the General Council of Unions met in Chennai last evening and decided to launch the stir.
The agitational programme, according to the AIBEA release, will start from October 26, with lunch-time demonstration in front of the head offices of all associate banks.

Source : Times of India

Mann Ki Baat: No interviews for non-gazetted government jobs, says PM Narendra Modi

By IANS | 25 Oct, 2015, 12.32PM IST

NEW DELHI: There will be no more interviews for non-gazetted government posts for lower posts from 2016, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced on Sunday.

Making the announcement Modi in his monthly radio programme " Mann Ki Baat" sought to remind listeners about his Independence Day address, when he had said that interviews should be done away with for lower posts.

"The process is almost complete... There will be no interviews for non-gazetted government jobs for group D, C and B non-gazatted posts in central government. It will come into effect from January 1, 2016," Modi said.

He said the practice was being abolished since it bred corruption and the poor people were being looted by 'dalals'.

"People were getting robbed for getting employment and even when they could not get a job. It often crossed my mind as to why there was the need for an interview for small jobs. I have never heard of a physcologist who can evaluate a person during aninterview of one to two minutes," Modi said.

He said abolition of the practice will particularly help the poor who would have to resort to "recommendations" or fall prey to brokers who made way with their money.

In his Independence Day speech, Modi had said he had seen youth often looking for 'sifarish' (recommendation) after getting an interview call. "Even poor widows are compelled to look for recommendations for interview of their children," he had said then.

Recently, Minister for Personnel Jitendra Singh had written a letter to all Chief Ministers asking them to identify such posts which could be exempted from interviews.

"The governments view is that the interviews should be discontinued for recruitment to junior level posts where personality or skill assessment is not absolutely required.

"The objective behind abolition of interviews for such posts is that it will curb corruption, ensure more objective selection in a transparent manner and substantially ease the problems of the poor and resourceless aspirants," he had said in his communication to the CMs.

Source : http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/

Government plans to focus on financial literacy; postmen to tutor rural India on banking system

NEW DELHI: The government is looking to utilise the services of postmen to teach people in rural areas how to use banking services and access various state-sponsored financial inclusion schemes. The finance ministry is working on developing a structured NEW DELHI: The government is looking to utilise the services of postmen to teach people in rural areas how to use banking services and access various state-sponsored financial inclusion schemes. The finance ministry is working on developing a structured programme as part of a new strategy for financial inclusion under which banks will pay a fee to use the services of the postal department.

"The idea is to turn a post office into a financial literacy hub. We will organise weekly literacy camps and selected post office employees will undergo a structured training programme developed by banks on financial literacy," said MS Ramanujan, member (banking and HRD), Department of Posts.

India Post is among the 11 successful entities that recently got in-principle approval for a payments bank licence from the Reserve Bank of India. Tentatively named as 'India Post Payments Bank,' the entity will have an initial capital of Rs 300 crore.'

"We are looking to leverage our entire postal network," said Ramanujan. He said banks will pay a small fee to use the services of the
postal department depending on the location, details of which are being worked out.

A senior finance ministry official said the government is looking to focus on financial literacy as part of its financial inclusion programme. "Now that the accounts have been opened, we want to ensure that people take advantage of all other schemes, including soft loans under the MUDRA Yojana," said the official, who did not wish to be named.


So far, about 18.86 crore accounts have been opened under the Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY), with deposits of nearly Rs 25,700 crore.

"Around 40% of these accounts have zero balance. We want them to develop a habit of banking, so that they can have a credit history and use other services," the official said.

The Centre had last year launched three social security programmes - the Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana (PMSBY), the Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana
(PMJJBY) and the Atal Pension Yojana (APY) - to bring the excluded under the fold of formal financial services. The drive is billed as 'Jandhan to Jansuraksha' or people's money to public security.

The government has set a target of Rs 1.22 lakh crore for loans to be given by staterun banks to promote new entrepreneurs under the Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana, which will seek to "fund the unfunded".


ET View

The Postman Rings a Second Time

As services and requirements change, so will jobs. A robust system should be able to leverage the existing infrastructure, including human resources, to perform new functions. The decision to leverage the familiarity and trust associated with the postman to improve financial inclusion is a smart move.

The government could also consider redefining the role of other government functionaries
to improve the manner in which different programmes and schemes are accessed by the rural population.

Source : http://economictimes.indiatimes.com

Have SOPs to check corruption: CVC to govt depts

All central government departments have been asked to do away with "outdated" processes and to have Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) to check corruption, Central Vigilance Commissioner K V Chowdary said on Friday. 


Besides, the anti-corruption watchdog has asked people to send it complaints against central government employees under its jurisdiction with proper details to ensure speedy action.


"We have requested the Chief Vigilance Officers of all organisations to identify areas where there is a scope for corruption, where there is scope for delay. Infact delays are occurring where the procedures and processes have become outdated in the current scenario and giving rise to some attitude of bribe seeking," he told reporters here.


Chowdary said the CVOs, who act as distant arm of the Commission, have been asked to take appropriate steps to streamline the procedures, may be avoid or delete the provisions relating to the discretion powers available with the officers.


"More importantly to bring what we called SOPs how to deal with applications in what sequence and on what criteria. We have got a very good feedback from our CVOs and they are in the process of reviving them," he said.


Chowdary said that people need to be aware on the ill affect of corruption to check bribe giving.
"One thing is to bring into public attention the ill affect of corruption. Corruption is not taking money or giving money but it has a much larger significance of the process being compromised. We must bring awareness among public," he said.


The systems and processes should be set in place so as to generate alarm in case of anything happening beyond the prescribed processes. "It is important to bring changes in the system so that we can prevent such misconducts," Chowdary said.


The chief of probity watchdog has advised people to send complaints with proper details.


"We get complaints related to power and water supply, which is not our jurisdiction, which we forward to concerned departments. So there is a lack of awareness (as to where to send what complaint). We want people to be aware on it. We will request people to send complaint, but with concerned authority. I will also ask public to please come forward with specific and proper allegations so that action is faster," he said.


Chowdary said the CVOs have been made to access the pendency of corruption related cases pertaining to their organisations through the Commission's website, thus speeding up the disposal of cases and reduction in pendency.


"In one case (of delay in finalising corruption case), we had to take unpleasant step of initiating disciplinary proceedings against the inquiry officer himself as to why he has delayed it so long. Is there a genuine reason or it is just negligence or there is any malafide. This is bound to produce a lot of good results. But of-course it is going through much more work at the Commission. There is awareness among the CVO as well as the officer in CVC that we need to live up to the timeline set," he said.


The prime focus of the Commission is to curb the pendency of cases. The number of cases pending sanction for prosecution (for more than four months) were 28 as on June 20, 2015 which were reduced to 15 as on August 31, thus coming down to half within two months, Chowdary said. He was speaking at a press conference called on vigilance awareness week beginning from Monday.


Chowdary said that the purpose of vigilance awareness week is to generate awareness in the public at large about the bad effects of corruption. He said that this year the CVC is organising lectures at school and college levels. This will take the message of preventive vigilance to the young minds and they will be in a position to influence the society at large, the CVC said. 

Source : http://www.dnaindia.com/

Thursday, October 22, 2015

Happy dussehera to all

Pay Commissions to submit report soon

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 till December 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 AK 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. 

The 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:-The Times of India

NFPE writes to Secy(Posts) on non-settlement of pending issues

National Federation of Postal Employees

1st Floor North Avenue Post Office Building, New Delhi-110 001

Phone: 011.23092771                                                      e-mail: nfpehq@gmail.com

     Mob: 9868819295/9810853981                       website: http://www.nfpe.blogspot.com

No.PF-PJCA/2015                                                                       Dated: 19th October, 2015

To

            The Secretary,

            Department of Posts,

            Dak Bhawan,

            Sansad Marg, New Delhi-110 001

Sub:    Non-settlement of pending issues-regarding.

Madam,

            The National Federation of Postal Employees (NFPE) has viewed with grave concern, the total negative attitude of Department of Posts  towards the settlement of genuine demands of the Postal employees which includes the revision of wages and service condition of the Gramin Dak Sevaks by 7th CPC, implementation of Cadre Restructuring Agreement and filling up of all vacant posts in all cadres  and stopping  up all types of harassments in the name of implementation of  various services and new schemes and trade union victimization.

            As the 7th CPC  has completed  its work and may submit its  report at any time but no action  has been taken  so far regarding  inclusion  of GDS in 7th CPC for revision of  their wages and service conditions.

            In view of the above serious situation earlier the NFPE had taken decision to go onindefinite strike from 23rd November, 2015. But after deferment of Strike by National Joint  Council of Action of National Council JCM Constituent  Organizations, the National Federation of Postal Employees  has reviewed the whole situation and has  taken decision unanimously to go on 2 days  strike on 1st and 2nd  Decembr,2015 for the following demands:

(i) Include GDS in 7th CPC for wage revision and other service related matters.

(ii) Implement cadre Restructuring proposals in all cadres including Postal Accounts & MMS.

(iii) Fill up all vacant posts in all cadres of Department of Posts (i.e. PA, SA, Postmen, Mail Guard, Mail Man, GDS Mail Man, MMS Driver & other staff in            MMS, PA CO, PA SBCO, PO Accounts, Civil & Electrical Wing Staff, as per actual sanctioned strength.

(iv) Stop all types of harassment in the name of implementation of various new services and schemes and Trade Union Victimization.

Thanking you.

Yours faithfully,

                                                                                        (R.N. Parashar)           (P. Pandurangarao 

Secretary General        General Secretary

Govt Doubles Monthly Bonus Calculation Ceiling To Rs 7,000 ( W.e.f April 1, 2015 )


New Delhi: The Cabinet today decided to double the wage ceiling for calculating bonus 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.

The amendment bill will be made effective from April 1, 2015. Now the bill will be tabled in Parliament for approval.

The bill also seeks to enhance the eligibility limit for payment of bonus from the salary or wage of an employee from Rs 10,000 per month to Rs 21,000.

The Payment of Bonus Act 1965 is applicable to every factory and other establishment in which 20 or more persons are employed on any day during an accounting year.

The bill also provides for a new proviso in Section 12 which empowers the central government to vary the basis of computing bonus.

At present, under Section 12, where the salary or wage of an employee exceeds Rs 3,500 per month, the minimum or maximum bonus payable to employees are calculated as if his salary or wage were Rs 3,500 per month.

The last amendment to both the eligibility limit and the calculation ceilings under the said Act was carried out in 2007 and was made effective from April 1, 2006.

This amendment in the Act to increase wage ceiling and bonus calculation ceiling was one of assurances given by the Centre after 10 central trade unions went on one-day strike on September 2.

The government had hinted at meeting workers’ aspirations on nine out of 12 demands submitted by the unions.

PTI

Tuesday, October 20, 2015

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.

Sunday, October 18, 2015

Divisional Union writes to Circle Union to take up some matters at Higher level.

              
No-PHI/AIPEU/Gr C dated at Phulbani the 14th October 2015.
To
                Com R C Mishra
                Circle Secretary, AIPEU Gr-C, Odisha Circle
                Bhubaneswar-751 007

Dear Comrade

The following agendas were taken with the Divisional administration out of which for some proposals have been sent to RO, Berhampur and for some the administrative side have told that this is not in their purview. The said are as below-

  1. Repairing of Compound Wall of Phulbani HO & G Udayagiri LSG SO-
The divisional administration has replied to the service union that the same will be done after receipt of funds from RO. So you are requested to take up this matter with RO, Berhampur.

  1. Quarter facilities for Boudhraj MDG-
The divisional administration has closed this item by showing reason that this is out of their purview. It is noteworthy that the MDG is a district headquarters office and also having strength (1+4). But only postmaster quarters is available there. So quarter facilities may be arranged for other staffs. Also in the radius of 08 KMs of Boudh there are 3 NDTSOs and 1 C Class Delivery SOs are functioning.

Comrade Please take up the issue with PMG, Berhampur to resolve the above things.
Yours fraternally


                                                       (Rabinarayan Choudhury)
                                            Secretary, AIPEU, Gr.C

                             Phulbani divisional branch