Saturday, February 27, 2016

ALL POST OFFICES TO BE COMPUTERIZED BY 2017

Over 1.55 lakh post offices in the country would be computerised by next year with an outlay of Rs 4,909 crore under the IT Modernisation Project of the Department of Posts.

"At present, the project is at implementation stage and is likely to be completed by 2017," the Economic Survey 2015-16 tabled in Parliament on Friday said.

The project involves computerisation and networking of all post offices.


Besides, it envisages networking and computerisation of all mail offices, accounts offices and administrative offices in the country, including approximately 1,30,000 branch post offices in rural areas run by 'gramin dak sevaks'.


A total of 27,736 departmental post offices, including mail offices and administrative offices, have been networked and connected to a data centre, the survey said.


"It is the largest single organisation WAN (wide area network) in the country. A data centre has been established at Navi Mumbai and has been functioning since April 2013, while a disaster recovery centre has been operationalised in May 2015," it said.


India Posts is the largest postal network in the world and provides access to affordable services to all citizens in the country through its vast network. Out of 1.55 lakh post offices, 1.39 lakh are in rural areas and the remaining 15,736 in urban areas.


Under the project, Core Banking Services have been rolled out in 16,461 post offices and ATMs have been installed in 430 locations.


Core Insurance Solution (CIS-PLI) has been rolled out in 25,406 post offices. The Department of Posts has also launched pilot project of Rural information and communication technology (ICT) in Rajasthan, Bihar and Uttar Pradesh on December 28, 2015.


The DoP plays a crucial role in disbursing wages to Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) beneficiaries. Nearly 6.92 crore MGNREGS accounts have been opened in post offices up to December 2015, the survey said.


"Towards financial inclusion, the number of post office savings bank (POSB) accounts has increased from 30.86 crore to 33.97 crore," it said.


Total deposits in these accounts and cash certificates stood at Rs 6.53 lakh crore, the survey added.


More than 80 lakh Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana accounts have been opened with a cumulative investment of more than Rs 2,900 crore since the launch of the scheme on January 22, 2015.


Apart from this, more than 1.84 crore kisan vikas patras have been sold, attracting an investment of more than Rs 16,429 crore since launch on November 18, 2014, the survey said

RURAL SOLUTION WILL ENABLE APPROXIMATELY 130000 ED POST OFFICES TO IMPROVE LEVEL OF SERVICES

Rural solution will enable approximately 130000 ED Post Offices to improve level of services 

7th Pay Commission: Salary hike unlikely to destabilise prices, says Economic Survey

New Delhi: The hike in wages under the Seventh Pay Commission is unlikely to destabilise prices and will have little impact on inflation, the Economic Surveysaid Friday.

"For most of the current fiscal year, inflation has remained quiescent, hovering within the RBI's target range of 4-6 percent. But looming on the horizon is the increase in wages and benefits recommended for government workers by the Seventh Pay Commission (7th PC).



"If the government accepts this recommendation, would it destabilise prices and inflation expectations? Most likely, it will not," the survey, tabled in Parliament, said.



Citing example of implementation of the Sixth Pay Commission, the pre-Budget document said the Commission award barely registered on inflation despite the lumpiness of the award, owing to the grant of arrears.



"If the 6th Pay Commission award barely registered, the 7th Pay Commission is unlikely to either, given the relative magnitudes, even if fully implemented," it said.



The Survey noted expected wage bill (including railways) will go up by around 52 per cent under the Seventh Pay Commission vis-a-vis 70 percent under the 6th pay commission.



Elaborating further on impact of implementation of pay commission on inflation, the Survey said in principle, inflation reflects the degree to which aggregate demand exceeds aggregate supply and pay awards determine only one small part of aggregate demand.



"Since the government remains committed to reducing the fiscal deficit, the pressure on prices will diminish, notwithstanding the wage increase," it added.



Besides, pre-Budget Survey said theory does suggest that a sharp increase in public sector wages could affect inflation if it spilt over into private sector wages and hence private sector demand.



"But currently this channel is muted, since there is considerable slack in the private sector labour market, as evident in the softness of rural wages," it said.



The 7th Pay Commission has recommended a 23.55 percent hike in salary, allowances and pension, involving an additional burden of Rs 1.02 lakh crore, to central government employees and pensioners.



The Pay Commission recommendations, when implemented, would have bearing on remuneration of 47 lakh central government employees and 52 lakh pensioners. Subject to acceptance by the government, the recommendations will take effect from January 1, 2016.


PTI ( Source : http://zeenews.india.com/)

Central government employees demand minimum Rs 26,000 pay hike; threaten strike

Central government employees have demanded a hike in the minimum pay in the upcoming Budget 2016 to be presented by the Finance Minister on February 29. 
The government employees have demanded a minimum salary of Rs 26,000 as against Rs 18,000 recommended by the 7th Central Pay Commission while threatening to go on strike if demands not met.
"Minimum Pay needs to be revised to Rs 26,000 per month and the minimum pay of Rs 18,000 as recommended by the 7th Central Pay Commission is not acceptable," said Minutes of the meeting of Joint Secretary (IC) with the members of the Staff-Side of the Standing Committee (National Council-JCM).
The Secretary, Staff-side, Standing Committee (National Council-Joint Consultative Machinery) said, the Staff-side is "not at all happy" with the recommendations of the 7th Central Pay Commission and, in fact, "no section of the employees is satisfied", as the Commission has recommended a minimal pay increase as compared to the previous Pay Commissions.
The Secretary further stated that an amicable and mutually negotiated settlement of these demands is necessary as "non-acceptance would further cause resentment in the employees".
The Secretary "informed that Staff-Side has already made their stand clear to go on strike from April 11, 2016, if their demands are not considered and no amicable settlement happens", the Minutes said.
The meeting was held to discuss the issues raised by the National Joint Council of Action (NJCA) in their letter addressed to the Cabinet Secretary, regarding their Charter of Demands on the recommendations of the 7th Central Pay Commission.
The Staff-Side also said the central government employees need to be excluded from the National Pension Scheme (NPS), a long pending demand. The fixed monthly medical allowance for pensioners who are not covered by the Central Government Health Scheme (CGHS) and REHS needs to be increased from Rs 500 to Rs 2,000 is another major demand.
The Joint Secretary (Implementation Cell) assured the Staff-Side that the concerns and demands made by them would be placed before the Empowered Committee of Secretaries for consideration after examining the same in the light of the recommendations of the Commission.
The scheme of Joint Consultative Machinery (JCM) is a platform for constructive dialogue between the representatives of the Staff-Side and the official side for peaceful resolution of all disputes between the Government as the employer and the employees.
The demands are submitted to the Implementation Cell, created in the Finance Ministry, to work as Secretariat for the Empowered Committee of Secretaries headed by the Cabinet Secretary P K Sinha.
The 7th Central Pay Commission recommendations, when implemented, would have a bearing on the remuneration of 47 lakh central government employees and 52 lakh pensioners. Subject to acceptance by the government, the recommendations will take effect from January 1, 2016.
Source: dnaindia.com

Network Integration overview

Data Centre Facility under I T Modernization Project


Thursday, February 25, 2016

PROJECT TO COMPUTERISE 1.55 LAKH POST OFFICES TO COST NEARLY RS 5,000 CRORE

A Rs 4,909 crore project for computerization and networking of 1.55 lakh post offices across the country is being implemented by the government, Lok Sabha was informed on Wednesday.
Telecom Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said the project involves providing a central server-enabled integrated, modular and scalable solution for all operations of the Department of Posts.
These include provision of Core Banking and Insurance Solutions in all departmental post offices and provision of 1,000 ATMs.

"As on February 22, 2016, 17,057 post offices are utilizing Core Banking Solution. Core Insurance Solution is rolled out in 805 head post offices and the corresponding sub offices. 510 ATMs have been installed," he said during Question Hour.

Prasad said multiple safeguards have been built into the system to ensure stable internet connectivity for the post offices. Most of the post offices have been provided with two Network Service Providers.

OUR POSTAL STAFF SON WON BRONZE MEDAL IN ASIAN CUP 2016 KARATE TOURNAMENT HELD AT KUALA LUMPUR MALAYSIA

Our Postal Staff son won bronze medal in Asian cup 2016 Karate tournament held at Kuala Lumpur Malaysia.

Our Postal Staff at St. Thomas Mount HO (Chennai) Smt. Vimalarani's son Benny (a) J V Ishi Abhraham, 7 years old won bronze medal for individual fighting in Asian Cup 2016 Karate tournament held at Kuala Lumpur. Out of 1200 participants from 10 countries participated in that tournament he got this distinction. So be a proud mother to feel proud the achievement of ur son. Hats Off.










Meeting of the Empowered Committee of secretaries (E-CoS) headed by Cabinet Secretary on 7th Central Pay Commission recommendation with members of the Standing Committee of the JCM National Council Staff Side will be held on 1st March 2016 at 06:45 PM

Some important infomation on Core Banking Solution under IT Modernization Project

CBS CPC Flyer


Postal Life Insurance overview

PLI CPC Flyers


Important information by FSI(CBS) Team, CEPT on Validations at HISCOD

From: FSI (CBS) Team, CEPT <cbs-cept@indiapost.gov.in>
Date: 24 February 2016 at 14:00

Subject: Important : Validations at HISCOD

Dear SPOC,
This is regarding  validations build at HISCOD ( EOD menu executed at SOL level). Yesterday night, it was intimated by EOD support team that patch meant for validation  at HISCOD for blocking transactions, was deployed.

While executing HISCOD at SOL level, will check for pending blocking transactions. If any  blocking validation exists, SOL will not complete HISCOD  and appropriate error  will be displayed on the same screen  like  " Transactions pending for posting",  "Transactions pending for verification", "Inventory authorisation pending" , "Inward zone not closed" etc.,

Based on error, user has to check in HFTI ( Unposted ( Entered) / unverified/ partly posted pending), HAFI ( account verification pending), HIMC / HICHB( Inventory authorisation pending), HMICZ ( Inward zone pending closure) , to know the details for clearing blocking validations

The same may please be intimated to all SOLs. 

Note 1 :  If HISCOD is executed with SET ID,  no validations will be done for any SOL and change of date will be initiated for all the SOLs in the SET, without displaying any errors. But while running HSCOD, if any blocking validations are present, HSCOD will fail for the SOL(s).  Infosys has informed that validations could not be built with SET ID due to performance issues. Further it was agreed by infosys that a incremental patch will be deployed for displaying  ALERT message while executing HISCOD with SET ID.

Note 2 : Please note that if any transaction is done by the user  after  completion of HISCOD by SOL and before completion of HSCOD  by CPC, HSCOD will FAIL. Hence please instruct the SOLs not to do any transaction after execution of HISCOD and before completion of HSCOD.

To overcome this, soon after completion of  HISCOD by SOLs,  please accord priority to run HSCOD   by CPCs to facilitate the SOLs to enter pending BO transactions, if any, after completion of HSCOD

Please educate the SOLs to enter next day transactions  only after completion HSCOD ( i.e, after change of date of the SOL)

Thanks & regards,
CEPT - FSI Team


Illustration:
Screen shot of Bhubaneswar GPO while running HISCOD having Unverified Transaction

Indian E-Commerce Boom Opens Gates for India Post

POST OFFICES IN INDIA EXPECT BUSY YEARS AHEAD
As villagers in the Indian countryside turn to the web for shopping the national postal service might see black digits for the first time in years.
India, with its gigantic population of over one billion, has already seen that the country's e-commerce might very well explode within the near future. This is of course good news for the logistics giant India Post which, according to MailOnline, has struggled with a huge deficit for years.
Creates Work for 155,000 Post Offices
Over the last two years the postal service has signed deals with 400 e-commerce companies, including India's favourite website of October last year, Amazon. The work of delivering goods from the e-retailers to their customers now creates jobs all over the country. India Post has a total of 155,000 post offices and a network of 460,000 employees, MailOnline reports.
- Until recently, people in these rural areas had aspirations but no means to access the market. Now we are delivering women's clothes and latest electronic gadgets even in the remote regions of country like Leh and Ladakh, said Kavery Banerjee, secretary of India Post, to AFP.
A big problem for the e-commerce revolution is however the poor infrastructure that is still the reality in some parts of India, and many postal workers use bicycles which makes it difficult to deliver multiple parcels.
Cash on Delivery For Security
Also, a huge part of the population is still very new to the Internet. This made India Post introduce cash on delivery-payment, which has helped insecure customers to rely on online shopping.
And this has become a huge success. Since the first e-commerce deals were signed, India Post has seen its parcel deliveries become as many as 75,000 a day, which is 15 times more than two years ago.
- These companies give us a variety we don't get in our local markets, quality at competitive rates and a doorstep delivery, said Surinder Singh Yadav, government clerk from rural Ula Hedi village in Neemrana district.

Source : http://www.ecomony.com

In six months, postal debit cards will work at bank ATMs

CHENNAI, February 23, 2016


Chennai's Park Town head post office’s new postal ATM.—Photo: R. Ragu 

In six months, those having accounts with post offices can use their postal debit cards to withdraw cash from Automated Teller Machines (ATM) operated by banks too.

With the inauguration of an ATM facility at the Park Town head post office on Monday, all the city’s nine head post offices, including the ones at Mylapore, Avadi and St.Thomas Mount, have ATMs now.

In the Park Town head post office, to start with, 250 customers will be provided with debit cards and more customers will get theirs soon. Charles Lobo, chief postmaster general, Tamil Nadu circle, inaugurated the ATM and distributed debit cards.

Once the facility of interoperable ATMs are in place, bank customers can withdraw cash from ATMs at post offices too, said Mervin Alexander, postmaster general (Chennai City Region) at the function.

At present, there are 52 lakh postal savings account holders in the Chennai city region. Of these, nearly 16,000 account holders have been provided with debit cards.

Officials of the postal department say that such cards were given to those who maintain a minimum balance of Rs. 500. Steps are being taken to create more awareness about postal ATMs among customers.

Customers are likely to soon enjoy the benefits of net banking with the department now operating it on a trial basis. Post offices in the Chennai north division are conducting a campaign to get residents, especially autorickshaw drivers and vendors in the Park Town area, to take up Pradhamar Natchathra Paadhukappu.
Source :  http://www.thehindu.com/

Go-Live of Daringibadi SO on 23.02.2016 as 20th CBS office of Phulbani Division.

CBS facility started at Daringibadi SO from 23.02.2016.

Tuesday, February 23, 2016

Budget 2016 may implement 7th Pay Commission: Financial Express reports

Budget 2016 may implement 7th Pay Commission, Indian rupee at 30-month low, Gold prices slips below 29,000 on weak global cues, more. Important points from the report published by Financial Express is given below

Union Budget 2016: A $16 billion pay rise courtesy the 7th Pay Commission on pay and pension for public servants and costly food and farm programmes could force Finance Minister Arun Jaitley to cut capital spending in the Union Budget 2016-17 that will be presented on February 29th, officials and economists say. It could also eat into capital spending needed for railways, roads, ports and power projects, seen as vital to India's integration into the global economy. "It is not going to be a revolutionary or inspirational (budget) ... given the spending pressures," said Shilan Shah at Capital Economics. "It is most likely to lead to a sell-off in the bond market if the salary increase is implemented."

The rupee today dropped by 15 paise to end at a fresh 30-month low of 68.61 per dollar on renewed demand for the American currency from banks and importers on the back of higher greenback overseas amidst sustained foreign capital outflows.

Trading stayed in the positive zone for the better part of the day. The Sensex ended higher by 79.64 points, 0.34 per cent, at over a two-week high of 23,788.79.

The 30-share Sensex had gained over 517.18 points in the past three sessions. At the close, the NSE Nifty was up 23.80 points, or 0.33 per cent, at 7,234.55.

Review Report On Pay Commission Recommendations Likely By April-End

New Delhi: The Empowered Committee of Secretaries, headed by Cabinet Secretary P K Sinha on the Seventh Pay Commission’s recommendations is expected to submit its review report to the Finance Ministry by April end, official sources said.
Finance Minster Arun Jaitley presents budget on February 29 and is expected to implement the recommendations of Seventh Pay Commission to hike pay for central government employees.

“The reports is still in the process of finalisation by the the Implementation Cell of the Pay Commission, which has been created in the Finance Ministry to work as the Secretariat of the Empowered Committee.

After processing, it is likely to be received in the Empowered Committee of Secretaries by the April,” the official said.

“After submission of the report by the Implementation Cell, the report would be examined by the Empowered Committee for cabinet nod immediately,” he added.

The Empowered Committee will go into the service conditions of central government employees, salaries and allowances and suggest changes as considered necessary on the pay commission recommendation, they confirmed.

Finance Ministries officials told us the salaries of central government employees might see a increase due the Seventh Pay Commission made a width pay gap discrimination between employees and higher officers from existing 1:12 to 1: 13.8 and the Implementation Cell is receiving employees’ associations approval to decrease the pat gap.

Seventh Pay Commission has not been properly reviewed the pay gap between minimum and maximum pay, the association pointed. They said in their representation that every pay commission made up pay gap between employees and higher officers from second Pay Commission 1:41 ratio to Sixth pay commission 1:12.

They strongly opposed 14.27 per cent increase in basic pay, which was recommended by the Seventh Pay Commission. They said sixth pay commission had recommend 20 per cent increase in basic pay, which was better than current pay commission.

The government doubled the sixth pay commission recommendation to increase in basic pay while implementing it in 2008 for boosting central government employees.

Accordingly the associations are pressing hard to double the percentage of pay hikes what the Seventh Pay Commission recommended with examining the all previous pay commissions’ reports.

The government may take positive on above suggestions of associations to improve the financial health of the central government employees. These steps will have to motivate the government employees to better work culture in government offices.

So, the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) asked the secretaries Committee to process on this way soon.

A populist budget, ahead of assembly elections in Kerala, Assam, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu and Puducherry, this year, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley presents February 29 and which is expected to implement the recommendations of Seventh Pay Commission to raise pay and pension for 48 lakh central government employees and 52 lakh pensioners, which will result in an additional annual burden of Rs 1.02 lakh crore on exchequer.

TST

PIB clears India Post's Rs 800 crore proposal for payments bank

NEW DELHI :The Public Investment Board has approved the Rs 800-crore proposal from India Post for setting up a payments bank and it will be placed before the Cabinet within a month for final approval. 

PIB, under the Finance Ministry, whets the investment proposals by state-run entities.

"The PIB meeting has been held on January 19 and the proposal has been approved. The recommendations of PIB will now be placed before the Cabinet for final approval," a senior official of Department of Post (DoP) told PTI.

The department is also in the process of finalising selection of a consultant for setting up of the India Post payments bank.

It had shortlisted six consultants but only three of them submitted the bids.

The India Post payments bank will primarily target unbanked and under-banked customers in rural, semi-rural and remote areas, with a focus on providing simple deposit products and money remittance services.

The pilot for the payments bank is set to start from January 2017 and the full-fledged operations may start by March.

As many as 40 international financial conglomerates including World Bank and Barclays have shown interest to partner the postal department for setting up the bank.

The Reserve Bank has granted payments bank permit to the department, which is already into providing financial services and has 1.55 lakh branches across the country.

As per the RBI guidelines, a payments bank can offer limited services such as demand deposits and remittances.

They will not be allowed to undertake lending activities and will initially be restricted to holding a maximum balance of Rs 1 lakh per individual customer.

They will be allowed to issue ATM or debit cards as other prepaid payment instruments but not credit cards. 

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

Hike In DA From January 2016 For Central Government Employees May Be Announced Soon


Zee News has reported that hike in DA from January 2016 would be announced soon. Even as 7th Pay Commission Recommendations has taken into account the likely DA from January 2016 as 125% for the purpose of merging the same with basic pay with effect from 1st January 2016, increase in DA from January 2016 would be announced soon by Govt as reported by this television media.


If Govt issues orders for the hike in DA from January 2016 now, then Central Government Employees including Railway Employees, Defence Personnel and all Central Government Pensioners will be paid Dearness Allowance at the rate of 125% on the existing pay in pay band and grade pay till the implementation of 7th Pay Commission recommendations which is likely to be effective from 1st January 2016. Once 7th Pay Commission recommendations are implemented, increase in basic pay and Dearness Allowance on the same will have to be paid as arrears of pay.

Report of Zee News on the likely increase in DA from January 2016 is as follows

Narendra Modi government is likely to hike dearness allowance (DA) by 6 percent to 125 percent.

The likely increase in dearness allowance by six percent to 125 percent from existing 119 percent would benefit over 10 million central government employees and pensioners.

The new rate of DA will be implemented from January 1, 2016, which will be applicable for 4.8 million central government employees and 5.5 million pensioners. DA is paid as a proportion of basic pay of employees.

The proposal to hike DA is moved by the Finance Ministry on the basis of accepted formula for calculation. The Union Cabinet approves the DA hike for its employees.


The Centre revised DA twice in a year on the basis of one year average of retail inflation for industrial workers as per the accepted formula.

Earlier in September last year, DA was increased to 119 percent from 113 percent which was effective from July 1, 2015. In April last year, the government had hiked DA by 6 percentage points to 113 percent of their basic pay with effect from January 1, 2015

Sunday, February 21, 2016

Govt to monitor 'integrity' of Central Government Employee

 The "integrity"of central government employees will now be under watch.
A confidential circular by the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) has asked all officers of the rank of joint secretaries and above to rate the integrity of their subordinates.
The move forms part of reforms and making bureaucracy more accountable and functional. The intergrity report will be part of the annual confidential appraisal reports (ACARs).

The ACAR is designed to adjudge the performance of government servants every year in the areas of work, conduct, character and capabilities.

The ratings will be "beyond doubt, doubtful, most doubtful".

The circular has created a flutter within bureaucracy. Many officials told dna that it has not defined the integrity.

It has also asked supervisory officers to maintain a confidential diary to note the integrity and actions of subordinate staff, and consult this diary when filing the integrity column in the ACARs.
The filing of ACARs, which starts on March 31, has to be completed by May 23.

"Officers have been asked to make a note in the diary about instances that raise suspicion about the integrity of a subordinate and the action taken to verify the truth," said a senior central government official.

It further says that senior officers till the rank of secretaries should also note the action taken by supervisors while making confidential departmental inquiries or referring the matter to the police for further action.

Though a clause of integrity was incorporated in the ACAR some years back, reporting officers were not making a clear and categorical noting.

Now, with clear classification in the columns, they will have to report and rate the integrity of staff, said a DoPT official.

Meanwhile, Union minister of state in-charge of DoPT Dr Jitendra Singh said that the government will soon devise an institutional mechanism for the welfare and utilisation of the vast resource pool of pensioners.

At present, there are more pensioners than serving employees, he said. Retired employees need to engage themselves and contribute to government initiatives like educating people to use the accounts opened under Jan Dhan Yojana, Swachh Bharat Swachh Vidyalaya and Kaushal Vikas Yojana etc as per their interests, he suggested.

Source : http://www.dnaindia.com

7th CPC - Minimum pay likely to be increased to “a balanced compromise”


Finance Minister Arun Jaitley will include the increase the pay hikes of central government employees in the budget in this month.

The recommendation of the Pay Commission will be included in the budget but will not see the minimum pay Rs 18,000.

The commission findings of pay hikes of central government employees were published in November, with a promise of Finance Minister Arun Jaitley to include the increase the pay hikes of central government employees in the budget in this month.


All trade unions and central government employees associations are unhappy with the proposed increase of minimum pay.
Some of the unions and associations had called for the minimum pay to be increased to Rs 26,000, while another wanted it raised to Rs 24,000.
Yesterday, the Finance Ministry official, works with implementation cell, said the minimum pay will be increased to “a balanced compromise”, while trade unions have said the increase should be made to good enough.


The Economists claimed minimum pay increase would cripple government finance as pay of all central government employees will be hiked on the basis of minimum pay, which also against the Pay Commission recommendations.


One of the famous economists, who requested to remain anonymous said , “policy decisions must be based on hard evidence, not aspirations. It is deeply frustrating to see important policy decisions being made in the absence of the necessary economic evidence.”


“There is no justifiable economic argument for increasing the minimum pay beyond the pay panel. It is sad to say but the only reason for the increase is political survival in the upcoming election of West Bengal, Assam, Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Puducherry in April-May,” he added



The Finance Ministry official said, “the evidence based approach, which is used by the Finance Ministry indicates that the Indian Economy can sustain a modest increase in the minimum pay of central government employees, without causing harm to other government businesses.”
Accordingly, the government determines to to hike Basic salary at least Rs 20,000 from Rs 18,000 recommended by the Seventh pay commission,

The The Seventh Pay Commission recommended raise in basic pay, a key segment that determines several allowances, is only 14.27 per cent – the lowest in 70 years. The previous commission had recommended a 20 per cent hike, which the government doubled while implementing it in 2008

PM Narendra Modi has asked implementation cell to give beneficial pay commission report

Government proposes to strike down several “irrelevant” laws

Press Information Bureau
Government of India
Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions

20-February-2016 17:25 IST
Government proposes to strike down several “irrelevant” laws: Dr Jitendra Singh

Aims to achieve the goal of ‘minimum government and maximum governance’
Addressing a meeting of Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) to review the action plan for the year 2016, Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER), MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances, Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr Jitendra Singh said here today that Government plans to strike down “irrelevant” laws by repealing or revoking more than thousand existing ones as a part of its mission to achieve the goal of minimum government and maximum governance.

Reiterating the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi’s call to do away with avoidable laws and rules, Dr Jitendra Singh said that the Government will abolish several of the existing laws which have ceased to be relevant in the present date and time. Disclosing that as many as 1053 laws are pending for Parliament approval to be repealed, Dr Jitendra Singh said about 649 laws have been sent and circulated among Ministries and States for comments and the process of repealing or revoking them will be carried forward after obtaining the comments of the concerned Ministries and Departments.

Dr Jitendra Singh said that the DoPT proposes to reduce the number of tribunals from 36 to 17 and at the same time, reduce or restructure as many as 685 autonomous bodies/institutions during the year 2016. In the times to come, the DoPT will also chalk out a possible plan for exit of Government sectors from hospitals, air services etc and a sunset clause will also be attached to every new scheme.

In a bid to ensure ease of governance, Dr Jitendra Singh said that a mechanism will be worked out wherein the information already available on the official websites or official portals is not to be asked for through RTIs etc, in order to reduce the pendency and workload accruing from such queries. While the work on simplified one-page form and self-attestation of certificates has already begun, the DoPT is also working out the feasibility of issuing the Residence/Domicile certificates as well as SCs/STs/OBCs certificate at primary age to every child by class 5, he added.

Shri Sanjay Kothari, Secretary DoPT and senior officers of the Department were present at the meeting

Centre admits employees not happy with minimum pay recommended Pay Commission

New Delhi: Central government has admitted that central government employees are not happy with the minimum pay, which has been recommended by the Seventh Pay Commission.
 
The recommendation of the Pay Commission will be included in the budget but will not see the minimum pay Rs 18,000.
The commission findings of pay hikes of central government employees were published in November, with a promise of Finance Minister Arun Jaitley to include the increase the pay hikes of central government employees in the budget in this month.
All trade unions and central government employees associations are unhappy with the proposed increase of minimum pay.
Some of the unions and associations had called for the minimum pay to be increased to Rs 26,000, while another wanted it raised to Rs 24,000.
Yesterday, the Finance Ministry official, works with implementation cell, said the minimum pay will be increased to “a balanced compromise”, while trade unions have said the increase should be made to good enough.
Click here to read the complete article

Saturday, February 20, 2016

CENTRE LIKELY TO HIKE DA TO 125% FROM EXISTING 119%

New Delhi: The Centre is likely to hike dearness allowance (DA) to 125 per cent from existing 119 per cent, which would benefit its over 10 million employees and pensioners.
“Average rate of Consumer Price Index-Industrial Labour from January to December, 2015 was 6.73 per cent. Thus, the Centre will increase dearness allowance by six percentage points to 125 per cent from existing 119 per cent as per accepted formula for calculation,” Confederation of Central Government Employees and Workers President K K N Kutty told PTI.
The new rate of DA will be implemented from January 1, 2016, which will be applicable for 4.8 million central government employees and 5.5 million pensioners.
DA is paid as a proportion of basic pay of employees.
The proposal to hike DA is moved by the Finance Ministry on the basis of accepted formula for calculation. The Union Cabinet approves the DA hike for its employees.

However, dissatisfied over the meagre hike in DA in the backdrop of high cost of living, Kutty said, “The real inflation ranges between 220-240 per cent, but we will get only 125 per cent.”

The Centre revised DA twice in a year on the basis of one year average of retail inflation for industrial workers as per the accepted formula.

Earlier in September last year, DA was increased to 119 per cent from 113 per cent which was effective from July 1, 2015.

In April last year, the government had hiked DA by 6 percentage points to 113 per cent of their basic pay with effect from January 1, 2015.

Source: NDTV

REVISED PROCEDURE FOR SIFY BANDWIDTH UPGRADATION



CLARIFICATION FROM DIRECTORATE ON PLI PAY RECOVERY POLICIES

Click below to view / download instructions from Directorate regarding PLI pay recovery policies of other departments/organizations

A MEETING OF THE NJCA HELD TODAY WITH THE CONVENER, IMPLEMENTATION CELL, MINISTRY OF FINANCE, SHRI R.K. CHATURVEDI

NJCA 
NATIONAL JOINT COUNCIL OF ACTION, 
4, STATE ENTRY ROAD, NEW DELHI-110055 
No.NJCA/2016 Dated: 19.02.2016
Dear Comrades,

Sub: Brief of the NJCA meeting held on 19.02.2016 with the Convener, Implementation Cell, Ministry of Finance (Government of India), reg. 7th CPC recommendations and Charter of Demands of the NJCA

Shri R.K. Chaturvedi
A meeting of the NJCA held today with the Convener, Implementation Cell, Ministry of Finance, Shri R.K. Chaturvedi, wherein we discussed and emphasized on all the 26-point Charter of Demands of the NJCA send to the Cabinet Secretary on 10.12.2015.

We agitated the issues of NPS, Minimum Wage, Multiplying Factor, deduction of HRA and all other important issues.

The Convener, Implementation Cell, Shri Chaturvedi, after hearing everybody, said that, he would put-up the issues to the Cabinet Secretary, and hopefully a meeting of the JCA would be held with the Cabinet Secretary and the Empowered Committee shortly within 15 days.

Let us not leave any stone unturned for preparations of the strike.
With best wishes
(Shiva Gopal Mishra)
Convenor

Unions to protest strongly against Pay Commission report on minimum pay

New Delhi: Trade unions and central government employees associations are up in arms over the Seventh Pay Commission’s proposal on minimum pay of central government employees.

The trade unions, including all central government employees associations, are planning to protest strongly against the proposals before the government.

The unions and associations have disagreed with the Seventh Pay Commission overall recommendation of minimum pay and should be increased from Rs 18,000 per month to Rs 26,000, they demanded.

In the Seventh Pay Commission report, the Pay Commission recommended fixing the minimum pay Rs 18,000 per month from current Rs 7,000. The trade unions and associations argued that the proposed rise was inadequate.

They contended that minimum pay to increase of Rs 10,250 , which would bring the minimum pay to 26,000, was “reasonable and proportionate”.

Now A lowest paid central government employee, who was appointed in the Grade Pay of Rs 1800. He gest minimum pay Rs.15,750 in existing pay rules.

Illustration- Minimum Pay = Pay Band Rs 5200 + Grade Pay Rs 1800 + Expected DA of 125%, Rs 8750 = Rs. 15750.

A trade union leader said in his statement that Rs 2250 increase, as proposed by the commission, did not go far enough to address the minimum pay of central government employees.

He urged the high-level Empowered Committee of Secretaries that the minimum pay should be increased to 26,000 from Rs 7,000 as inflation figures that showed price rises had huge picked up from 2008 to 2016.

The high-level Empowered Committee of Secretaries headed by Cabinet Secretary P K Sinha, was set up to examine the such type of issues related to the Seventh Pay Commission report.

The Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) asked the Empowered Committee of Secretaries to process the review of the Seventh Pay Commission recommendations as soon as possible for taking cabinet nod after the budget and Finance Ministry Arun Jaitley had said that budget for the next fiscal needs to provide Rs 1.10 lakh crore for implementing the Seventh Pay Commission.

Hence, the unions and associations leaders are ready to put up their demand before the committee for hike minimum pay of central government employees.

The Seventh Pay Commission headed by Justice A K Mathur presented its report to Finance Minister Arun Jaitley in November with a recommendation for raising minimum pay to Rs 18,000 per month from current Rs 7,000 while the maximum pay, drawn by the Cabinet Secretary, has been fixed at Rs 2.5 lakh per month from current Rs 90,000. For the Secretaries it has been fixed at Rs 2.25 lakh as against Rs 80,000 currently.

The panel recommended a 14.27 per cent increase in basic pay, the lowest in 70 years. The overall increase in salary, allowances and pensions is 23.55%. The increase in allowances will be higher by 63% while pensions will rise 24%.

The previous Sixth Pay Commission had recommended a 20 per cent basic pay hike of central government employees, which the the secretary-level committee on that time recommended for 40 per cent basic pay hike .

Accordingly, the government doubled while implementing it in 2008.

Source :  http://www.tkbsen.in/2016/02/unions-to-protest-strongly-against-pay-commission-report-on-minimum-pay/