This blog is meant for use by members of the Association for news and views. Send comments / suggestions / views to e-mail Id: aiaipasp.ors@gmail.com

Wednesday, November 30, 2011

Retirement of Shri L N Sahani

Shri L N Sahani, SSRM 'N' Division retired on 30.11.2011 A/N on superannuation. Earlier this month, he met with a road accident and suffered multiple fractures in his right leg. He was on leave for medical treatment. 

AIAIASP, Odisha Circle Branch wishes speedy recovery of his health and wishes him peace of mind and good-health in his post-retirement days.

Upon retirement of Shri Sahani,  Shri B C Mohanty, SSPOs, Cuttack City Division is holding additional charge of SSRM, 'N' Division.

Postings in PS Gr.B cadre

Circle Office has issued posting orders on 30.11.2011 as follows:
  1. On regular promotion to PS Gr.B cadre, Shri C M Mohapatra and Shri K P Parida have been retained at their present places of posting as SPOs, Balasore and SPOs, Bhadrak respectively.
  2. On regular promotion to PS Gr.B cadre, Shri Khageswar Mohanta is retained in Berhampur Region. His formal posting orders will be issued by RO, Berhampur.
  3. On regular promotion to PS Gr.B cadre, Shri Kartik Chandra Ghadei is posted as Asst. Manager, PPP, Bhubaneswar. Shri Satyabadi Biswal who on re-allotment to Odisha Circle was posted earlier as Asst. Manager, PPP, Bhubaneswar is now posted as AD(Legal Cell), CO, Bhubaneswar in place of Shri S N Panda allotted to Bihar Circle.
  4. Covering orders have been issued showing posting of Shri S N Panda, Shri P K Patra and Shri S K Mishra to Bihar Circle.
  5. Shri S M Sukla, SRM 'K' Division who was earlier ordered to be reverted to ASP Cadre is now allowed to continue in officiating capacity in PS Gr.B cadre. 
  6. Shri Prasanna Kumar Sahoo, AD-II, RO, Berhampur who was given a break in officiating in PS Gr.B cadre is now formally allotted to Berhampur Region for a posting by RO, Berhampur.
RO, Berhampur has posted Shri K S Giri who was allotted to Berhampur Region as SPOs, Phulbani. 

Notification for Launch of 10-Year National Savings Certificate (IX-Issue), 2011 Issued

In accordance with the decisions taken by the Government on the basis of the recommendations of the Committee for Comprehensive Review of National Small Savings Fund (NSSF), headed by Smt Shyamala Gopinath, the then Deputy Governor, Reserve Bank of India, Notifications on changes made in various small saving schemes except 10-Year National Savings Certificate, have already been issued on 25th November 2011. 


The Notification for launch of new savings instrument, namely 10-Year National Savings Certificate (IX-Issue), 2011, has been issued on the 29th November, 2011. 

The major highlights of this scheme are as follows:

· Investments in Certificate will earn Interest at the rate of 8.7% p.a. compounded semi-annually.
· On investment of Rs. 100, the depositor will get Rs. 234.35 on maturity of the Certificate.
· This Certificate will be available in the denominations of Rs. 100, Rs. 500, Rs. 1000, Rs. 5000 and Rs. 10,000. 
· There is no upper limit for investment in the Certificate. 
· This Certificate can be transferred from a post office where it is registered to any other post office and it can be pledged as a security.

The scheme will come into effect from 1st December 2011.

For details, please visit: this link.

Tuesday, November 29, 2011

Post-office savings products


While passive investors can still park funds in post-office schemes, those looking to maximise gains will have to be more nimble on their feet.

Come December 1, post-office savings products are set to offer higher interest rates. While this announcement has been cheered by investors, it may be premature to rejoice based on this proposal alone.

First, if you have read up a bit more, you would know that these new rates are not really ‘fixed' for many years, as was the case so far. The interest rates for a five-year time deposit, for example, will no longer stay put at 7.5 per cent. A new rate will be announced on April 1 each year, and this rate will be linked to the average yield on a five-year government security during the previous calendar year (actual rate will be 25 basis points higher than average yields).

Today, the proposed rate on a 5-year deposit is 8.3 per cent. But it so happens that these changes have come at a time when market interest rates may be at their peak, making the picture look rosy. If market rates plummet later, so will the interest rates on your post-office savings.
Wind out of popular schemes

This is not the only tweaking these products have undergone. Other changes may force investors to reconsider whether they are still attractive at all. Consider the Monthly Income Scheme (MIS). As on March 31, 2011, MIS (outstanding of about Rs 2,18,674 crore) were the top small-savings product, constituting 35 per cent of the total outstanding of all small savings schemes put together. Aside from being popular for providing a steady stream of cash-flows every month from an initial investment, the MIS is considered an alternative to bank fixed deposits. For example, an investment of Rs 4,50,000 (upper limit) in an MIS, at 8 per cent, brings in Rs 3,000 interest every month. If this interest was invested in a post-office recurring deposit (RD) giving 7.5 per cent interest, the gain at the end of a six-year tenure, along with a bonus of 5 per cent, works out to Rs 49,254 per annum, or a return of 10.94 per cent (pre-tax).

Thus, this proved to be a good alternative at all times for people who had surplus cash to invest. More so, when long-term fixed deposit rates were much lower. Now, apart from the fact that the interest rates will change every year, there are two other changes to this scheme. One, the tenure is reduced to five years. Two, the bonus component is out. An immediate check at the current MIS (8 per cent) and RD (7.5 per cent) rates but with a five-year tenure and no bonus shows that the return from a MIS plus RD strategy falls from almost 11 per cent earlier to only about 8 per cent now. Besides, investors will also have to brace for year-to-year volatility, not only in the MIS rates but also RD rates.

Even if you lock into an MIS at an attractive rate, such as the proposed 8.2 per cent, returns on your recurring deposit investments from this cannot be locked in and will vary each year, making your ‘effective return' calculation go haywire.

Similarly, the Kisan Vikas Patra (KVP), forming 25 per cent of the total outstanding as at March 2011, has been another popular scheme.
Kisan Vikas Patra

Attributes such as free transferability, no limits on total investment, absence of TDS (tax deduction at source) on the interest amount, in addition to a promise of doubling investment in eight years and seven months, made KVPs an instant hit. Investors with income below taxable limit didn't have to worry about filing a return to claim refund of the TDS. But a wide usage of the KVP for parking unaccounted money, (given its opaque nature) has prompted the government to discontinue the scheme.

The withdrawal nevertheless narrows the choices for genuine investors, especially seniors, looking for risk-free investment options, which also promises good returns. There could, however, be a small window of opportunity in the next two days. As all the changes will take effect only on December 1, KVP sales would be discontinued only from November 30.
Calls for active money management

To give you the choice to pull out your money, schemes like the MIS, Senior Citizens' Savings Scheme, RD and time deposits already allow premature closure /withdrawal with a penalty. Now, with interest rates set to become volatile, you may be forced to take stock more often if rates turn really unattractive.

For example, if the MIS returns are unattractive and you can take some risk, you can consider investing at least a part of the amount in MIPs (Monthly Income Plans) of mutual funds. Offering a monthly dividend payout, these funds invest in short- and long-term fixed income instruments issued by governments or corporates, debentures and commercial paper. They also have a 15-20 per cent exposure to equities to provide some push to your returns (with additional risk!).

On that note, to enable you more actively manage your money, the government has lowered the burden on withdrawal of 1, 2, 3 and 5-year deposits. Premature withdrawal will now be allowed at a one per cent lower rate (2 per cent lower earlier) than the time deposits of comparable maturity. For premature withdrawals between 6-12 months of investment, Post Office Savings Account interest of 4 per cent (nil, earlier) will be paid.

There is also an interpretation that for schemes that require recurring investments, such as the PPF, every year's investment would earn the same year's rate of interest throughout the tenure of the PPF. If this is valid, it would make sense to invest the maximum possible amount when the PPF interest is high at 8.6 per cent from December 1- March 31, 2012 and then take a call on how much to invest the following year, based on the rates offered. This, again, calls for active management.
Saving for retirement

The new rules, however, seem to discourage liquidity for PPF, having raised the interest rate on loans from PPF from 1 to 2 per cent. This may be because the government wants people to look at it from a ‘saving for retirement' point of view. This is supported by the fact that the annual ceiling for investment in PPF has been raised from Rs 70,000 to Rs 1,00,000.

Two other facts also show that the government is trying create a ‘social security' net. One, the proposed introduction of a 10-year NSC instrument. NSCs, again, are locked in and don't generally provide a premature encashment facility. Two, the higher spread for the interest rate on this new NSC ( 50 basis points over g-sec rates) and the Senior Citizens' Savings Scheme (100 bps spread)

In all, passive investors looking for a reasonable risk-free return, can still park their funds in post-office schemes. But those investors looking to maximise returns or beat inflation will now have to be more nimble on their feet.

Still attractive?

Investors will feel the pinch from fluctuating interest rates more when the tax impact comes into the picture. Interest on the Monthly Income Scheme, Recurring Deposit, Time Deposits and Senior Citizens' Schemes (SCSS) are all taxable, and at times when interest rates are low, the post-tax returns will be even lower.

Unlike the 5-year time deposits and SCSS, the others don't qualify for deduction on initial investment under Sec 80C of the Income Tax Act. That said, even this will change under the Direct Taxes Code (DTC), which is expected to replace the Income-Tax Act from April 1, 2012. The SCSS scheme could then become less popular. Not only will the interest rates offered fluctuate from year to year and the interest be taxed but the deduction under Section 80C will also not be available.

Similarly, for the 5-year time deposits and the NSC, the 80C deduction will not be available under the DTC. Moreover, although interest on NSC is taxable every year, it is considered as a reinvestment and eligible for deduction currently. Once the DTC comes in, interest on NSC will also fall into the tax net.

All this is in addition to the reduction of the tenure of NSC from six years to five years, which could itself curtail the interest outgo. Assuming that the new 10-year NSC scheme will have the same product features as the existing one, its attractiveness remains to be seen as, historically, all these have become popular because of their tax benefits.

Fluctuating interest rates notwithstanding, the Public Provident Fund (PPF) appears to be attractive for those looking for long-term investment avenues.

Along with government PFs, recognised PFs and pension schemes administered by PFRDA, the PPF will continue to fall under the EEE method of taxation (i.e. no tax at the time of investing or on returns or the final proceeds) under the DTC, providing scope for overall returns to be higher.

Information supplied by Shri P K Patra, PM, Puri HO quoting businessline.

Sunday, November 27, 2011

Meeting of Gr.C Union functionaries with Senior officers of Directorate

On 24. 11.2011, Com. M. Krishnan, Secretary General NFPE and President CHQ, General Secretary Com. K. V. Sridharan and Com. Satyanarayana, General Secretary, Postal Accounts met the Secretary and discussed the issues. The need for review meeting on the decision arrived on strike demands and convening JCM Departmental Council meeting was discussed and stressed. Secretary (P) Ms. Manjula Prashar assured to convene the meeting shortly.
Thereafter, Secretary General & General Secretary P3 met Member (P), DDG (P) and other senior officers and discussed various issues. The following are the outcome and information, we gathered from the Directorate.
1. LGO Exam: - Decision has been taken ignore the language papers and exam result will be decided based on the marks secured in Arithmatic Paper (25 X 2) communication will be sent to CMC for valuation of arithmetic paper and finalise results.
2. IPO Exam: A Committee has been constituted to review the out of syllabus questions on law paper. The Committees report is expected within a forthnight Threafter decision will be taken about the valuation of IPO exam papers. It seems that it will take atleast a month’s time for finalistion.
3. HSG I Recruitment Rules: At last, the UPSC approved the Recruitment Rules for HSG I, the file will be forwarded to Law Ministry for approval of draft for Gazette notification of HSG I Recruitment Rules and it will be finalized within a month.
4. Postmaster Grade III: - The Issue will be finalized within a month as the file relating to HSG I Recruitment Rules had been approved. Volunteers will be called for among the HSG I after releasing DPC for HSG I and the posts will be filled first with the HSG I officials opted for postmaster Grade III. The remaining posts will be filled as per the Recruitment Rules of Postmasters.
5. Cadre review: - DDG (P) assured that he will finalise a draft from the Department side and discuss the same in the first weak of December 2011. We explained the urgency and the need for the earliest finalization of this major demand.
6. Postman Recruitment Rules : - Based on our strike demands to modify the Postman Recruitment Rules and also to have a discussion about this with staff side, a meeting with DDG (P) will be held on 2.12.2011 at 11.00 hours at Directorate.
7. Allowance Committee: - The Committee constituted for review of allowances has finalized its recommendation and is expected to submit before the end of this month. Our CHQ views, as learnt, has taken note of while considering the issues. Orders may be expected.
8. GDS Demands: - i) Despite strong recommendation by the Department, JS (FA) has once again return the file with some objections relating to the case of reduction of point from Rs. 20,000/- to Rs. 10000/- we should exert more pressure.
(ii) Similarly the enhancement of Bonus ceiling file was also returned by the internal finance stating that the GDS are doing duties less than 5 hours. This should also be taken vigorously
9. Casual Labourers: - The Committee constituted to consider about application of revision of wages and also the future of the existing casual labourers/contingents has sought information from various circles. The finalisation of Committee, it is leant, will take more time, there are 21000 contingent part time casual labourers. We may think of suggesting to convert such posts as GDS or may be absorbed in the unfilled vacancies of GDS which were kept under skeleton.
10. Postmaster Grade I: - The declined vacancies have been filled up with the remaining successful candidates of all the circles except five circles from which no informations were received. They have been addressed. No examination was held in Kerala Circle due to court cases.
11. PA Recruitment: - PA Direct recruitment for the vacancies up to 2011 December may be scheduled in the month of April 2012 and the revised recruitment Rules will be brought in to effect. Directorate has initiated the process.
12. Confirmation Exam: - In the revised PA recruitment rules, the confirmation examination has been removed. There is no examination hereafter. All will be confirmed by DPC committee as per 6 (i) (12) of the said rules. This is a major achievement so far our P3 Comrades.
13. Rules 9 Cases/Review petitions: - Member (P) Ms. Yasodhara Menon informed that time bound action has been initiated to clear all pending Rule 9 Cases/Review petitions. She assured result-oriented action on other issues also.

Thursday, November 24, 2011

Result of IP Exam 2011 will take some time to be out

The information posted by GS in CHQ blog on 24.11.2011 is reproduced below for information of all concerned. 

"Today, I visited the Postal Directorate and it came to notice that a committee has been constituted to review the out of syllabus questions in law paper i.e. Paper-III.  Committee's  report is expected within a fortnight. Thereafter, decision will be taken about the valuation of IP Examination papers. It appears that it will take at least a month’s time for finalistion."

SB Orders issued by Directorate on POSB scheme

Directorate has issued following SB orders on 24.11.2011. For details please visit: this link.

S B ORDER 22 / 2011, Dated 24.11.2011
Discontinuance of Kisan Vikas Patras with effect from 01.12.2011
S B ORDER 23 / 2011, Dated 24.11.2011
Revision of Maturity Period and Maturity Value  of 6 years National Savings Certificate ( NSC ) VIII Issue with effect from 01.12.2011
S B ORDER 24 / 2011, Dated 24.11.2011
Revision of maximum limit of subscription in a financial year , rate of interest on balance in the PPF Accounts and rate of interest charged on loan taken from PPF Account with effect from 01.12.2011
S B ORDER 25 / 2011, Dated 24.11.2011
Revision of Maturity Period , rate of interest and discontinuation of 5% bonus on maturity of Monthly Income Account scheme with effect from 01.12.2011
S B ORDER 26 / 2011, Dated 24.11.2011
Revision of interest rate on balance at credit in Post Office Savings Account with effect from 01.12.2011
S B ORDER 27 / 2011, Dated 24.11.2011
Revision of rate of interest of Time Deposit Accounts with effect from 01.12.2011
S B ORDER 28 / 2011, Dated 24.11.2011
Revision of rate of interest of Recurring Deposit Accounts with effect from 01.12.2011
S B ORDER 29 / 2011, Dated 24.11.2011
Revision of rate of commission payable to SAS and MPKBY Agents and discontinuance of commission to PPF Agents with effect from 01.12.2011

Wednesday, November 23, 2011

Posting of allotted PS Gr.B Officers awaited

The posting of PS Gr.B Officers allotted to Odisha Circle on the basis of DPC held on 28.10.2011 is expected next week.

In the meantime, Circle Office has modified its orders of direct posting of PS Gr.B officers in Berhampur and Sambalpur Regions. Now Regions will issue orders of place of posting of the following officers.

Berhampur Region
Shri K S Giri
Shri Jumbel Munda

Sambalpur Region:
Shri Krutartha Behera
Shri Trinath Sahoo

Monday, November 21, 2011

Postal Assistant/Stg Assistant- Revised Recruitment Rules 2011


Department of Posts has notified Department of Posts ( Postal Assistants and Sorting Assistants) (Group-C Non-gazetted) Recruitment Rules, 2011.  These have been published in Official Gazette on 3.11.2011.  They come into force from the date of publication in Official Gazette.

For direct recruitment 10+2 or 12 Standard candidates with atleast 60% marks with English as compulsory subject [ excluding vocational stream], 55% for OBC and 45% for SC/ST will be eligible].

GDS should have obtained 50% marks in +2 or 12th standard with English as a Compulsory subject and should have put in minimum 5 years service.They should be within 30 years of age (35 years for those belonging to Scheduled Castes/ Scheduled Tribes and 33 years for other Backward Classes).

Source: CHQ Blog

Lokpal panel may scrap need for sanctions to prosecute MPs, bureaucrats


NEW DELHI: Prior sanction for prosecution of public servants like bureaucrats and MPs in a criminal case will not be required if the strong consensus within the parliamentary committee examining the Lokpal bill is reflected in the panel's recommendations. 

At present, presiding officers of the two Houses of Parliament are required to give their assent for prosecution of MPs while the government is the relevant authority for civil servants. But the proposed Lokpal's view might be final if the ombudsman is convinced of the gravity of charges against a public servant. 

The prospects of this key provision becoming part of the Lokpal law are bright as there was convergence on doing away with prior sanctions in the deliberations between government representatives and Team Anna in June when a joint drafting committee had been formed. 

Provisions regarding prosecution in a criminal case are separate from the protection accorded to civil servants under Article 311 dealing with dismissal, removal or reduction in rank which states that "a civil servant cannot be removed by an authority subordinate to that by which he was appointed". 

Panel to clarify law that shields babus 

Members of civil service serve at the pleasure of the President and Article 311 protects them from politically motivated or vindictive action. But this provision is also likely to be reviewed as the Lokpal may be able to recommend departmental proceedings. 

The emerging view within the parliamentary standing committee on personnel, law and justice is that a recommendation for disciplinary action can only be rejected by the secretary of a department or a higher authority after submitting reasons in writing. So, some modicum of protection to civil servants will remain. 

The committee may need to clarify on the controversial "single directive" that shields bureaucrats of the rank of joint secretary and above from a CBI probe in a corruption case. Sanction in this case lies with the department where the official is serving - a clear case of conflict of interest. While the committee has negated Team Anna's demand that MPs' powers to speak and vote in Parliament be brought within the ambit of the law, they will be vulnerable to action for corrupt practices outside the two Houses once the sanction of presiding officers is done away with. 

In the context of prosecution of public servants, the committee is likely to recommend waiver of legislations including the Prevention of Corruption Act's section 19, CrPC 197 and the Delhi Special Police Establishment Act section 6A. These mandate that the investigating authority must take permission from the central or state government before initiating investigation against a public servant. 

The committee is also likely to agree with the government draft over the possible punishment for the accused. While Team Anna had demanded life imprisonment, the government draft suggests 10 years behind bars. 

Responding to Team Anna's view that CBI's anti-corruption wing should report to the Lokpal, committee chairperson Abhishek Manu Singhvi said, "It's easy to be prescriptive but more difficult to be operationally pragmatic. We believe we have arrived at a good equilibrium ensuring independence of CBI from political control to a degree never done before, demarcation between investigation and prosecution that has increased quality and objectivity of each and creation of an independent and autonomous directorate of prosecution frequently desired but never hitherto created." 

Significantly, the committee has so far incorporated only one of three issues mentioned in the resolution passed by Parliament in August.

Thursday, November 17, 2011

Postings / Reversions in PS Gr.B / ASP / IP cadres

On 16.11.2011 Circle Office has issued posting orders of following Gr. B officers who are working outside and reallotted to Odisha Circle. Place of posting is shown against each. 
Shri Trinath Sahoo - SPOs, Dhenkanal
Shri Krutartha Behera - SRM 'K' Division, Jharsuguda
Shri Jumbel Munda - SPOs, Phulbani
Shri Satyabadi Biswal - Asst. Manager, PPP, Bhubaneswar

Shri K S Giri who was continuing on leave is posted as AD (Staff/ Vig), RO, Berhampur

The following  officers officiating in PS Gr.B cadre are ordered to be reverted to ASP cadre against the posts noted below:
Shri A K Mohanty - ASP(HQ), Bhubaneswar
Shri B K Patra - ASP(Inv), CO, Bhubaneswar
Shri A K Dash, ASP, Sambalpur Region (place of posting to be shown)
Shri R K Mishra, ASP I/c, Baripada Central
Shri S M Sukla, Sambalpur Region (place of posting to be shown)

The following IPs who were officiating as ASPs are ordered to be reverted to IP cadre against posts noted below:
Shri G P Kar - IP(PG), Cuttack South Division
Shri U K Sahoo, IP (PG), Baripada
Shri S Choudhury, IP, CSD, Bhubaneswar
Shri J Garnaik, IP, Sambalpur Region(place of posting to be shown)

In the meantime, allotment of officers nominated for promotion to PS Gr.B Cadre has been made by Directorate to Odisha & Bihar Circles on 17.11.2011. Some modifications in the postings / reversion orders of CO made on 16.11.2011  are expected. 

PS Gr.B nominations

The following IP line officials of Odisha Circle have got nomination for promotion to PS Gr.B cadre as per Directorate Memo. No.9-1/2011-SPG dated 17.11.2011. Circle allotment is shown against each.

Sl. No.
Sl. No. in the Dte order
Name of the Officer
Circle to which allotted
1
36
K C Ghadei
Odisha
2
37
Khageswar Mohanta
Odisha
3
57
C M Mohapatra
Odisha
4
103
K P Parida
Odisha
5
105
S N Panda
Bihar
6
108
Prasan K Patra
Bihar
7
122
S K Mishra
PTC, Darbhanga, Bihar
OC Category = 140 officers ( Last serial 117 of 1988 batch - Shri R M Vora of Gujarat Circle)
SC Category = 28 officers ( Last serial 332 of 1989 batch - Shri D Jadav of Gujarat Circle)
ST Category = 14 officers ( Last serial 393 of 1989 batch - Shri Sivasubramania Dasan of Kerala Circle)
TOTAL = 182 OFFICERS
The detailed list is at http://ipaspkarnataka.blogspot.com/2011/11/ps-gr-b-orders.html (link from Karnataka Circle blog)
AIAIASP, Odisha Circle Branch congratulates all officers who have got the nomination for promotion.

Orders granting MACP to Inspectorial staff released

Circle Office, Bhubaneswar has released orders vide No.ST/15-5/2009 dated 14.11.2011 granting MACP to Inspectorial staff of HQ Region whose cases were left-out earlier and who have become eligible to get MACP in the meantime.
A scanned copy of the order is reproduced below for information of all concerned.
RO Berhampur & Sambalpur were earlier asked to look into the cases of Inspectorial staff in their respective unit. 
Cases, if still left-out may be mentioned to the CS through e-mail (to Id: aiaipasp.ors@gmail.com ) for taking up the same with CO/RO.

Wednesday, November 16, 2011

Four-monthly meeting with Chief PMG

The CS alongwith Shri Pitabasa Jena, Circle Treasurer-cum-AGS(CHQ) attended the four-monthly meeting with Chief PMG on 16.11.2011.

The following items were discussed::
1. Resumption of supply of Swamysnews to Inspectorial Staff of Circle Office:

 Chief PMG did not agree on the ground that rulings are available on net.

2. Referring the cases of ad hoc appointments of ASPs and PS Gr.B to DOPT through Directorate for regularisation of ad hoc period instead of applying method of break after 11 months of work to deprive the ad hoc appointees of financial benefit of earning increments in officiating post:

Reply is given to the effect that the matter will be taken up with Directorate.

3.  Issue of orders in respect of all left-out cases of financial upgradation under MACPS without further delay.

Reply is given to the effect that orders will be released shortly.

Old Item:
4. Issue of gradation list of IPs and ASPs:

Reply is given to the effect that the corrected list will be issued by 31.12.2011.

National Postal Policy

New Delhi, Nov. 13:

The Government has started the exercise to formulate the new National Postal Policy 2012, to rejuvenate and bring the postal sector to the centre-stage of economic development.

The Department of Posts (DoP) will organise a roundtable conference next month to discuss various dimensions of the policy with key stakeholders.

“DoP may complete this (discussion) exercise by April, 2012,” the Minister of Communications and Information Technology, Mr Kapil Sibal, said, adding that the agenda of the same should be submitted by November 20.

The Government said the National Postal Policy (NPP) would have clear goals, a defined role for various operators in the sector and a regulatory mechanism.

“The postal sector is a key information medium that contributes to both economic and social development. In recent years, the postal marketplace has grown increasingly competitive, complex and essential,” Mr Sibal added.
In line with market dynamics

The Minister, in his communication to the DoP, has indicated that the new policy should be in line with market dynamics and postal sector should contribute to social and economic development of the country.

The DoP had earlier come up with a National Postal Policy, which is viewed as ‘prototype' of the policy, a senior ministry official said.

The policy was written by couple of postal department officers without consultation with the industry, the official added. The new policy will be framed in consultation with various stakeholders of the Indian postal sector which will include various players in logistics, courier and e-commerce business.
Clear goals

“NPP'12 will have clear goals in terms of job creation, potential investment, guidelines for postal services and strategic focus area for the sector,” the official said.

With over 1.5 lakh post offices India's Department of Posts has the one of the largest postal network in the world.

To match the rapid growth of the country, the DoP is undergoing various radical changes, which include a proposal to convert over 1.5 lakh post-offices across the nation into full-fledged banks.

Supplied by: Shri Prasant K Patra

Declination of promotion to JTS Gr.A by Shri Jeeban Sahu

Shri Jeeban Sahu, Oftg Manager, PPP, Bhubaneswar had got nomination for promotion to JTS Gr. A grade and was allotted to Chhatisgarh Circle. Shri Sahoo represented for re-allotment to Odisha Circle where there are a number of vacancies in JTS Gr.A posts. His representation was not considered favourably. Shri Sahu then declined promotion to JTS Gr.A. Upon declination of promotion Shri Sahoo is reverted to PS Gr.B cadre and posted as Supdt, CSD, Bhubaneswar against the vacant post.

Tuesday, November 15, 2011

Minutes of the meetings of the Committee constituted to look into the promotional prospects of IPOs/ASPOs held on 18.10.2011 and 03.11.2011 in Dak Bhawan, New Delhi


Minutes of the meeting of the Committee constituted to look into the promotional prospects of IPOs/ASPOs.

In a meeting taken by Secretary (Posts) with All India Association of Inspectors and Assistant Superintendents of Posts on 11.08.2011, it was decided to constitute a Committee which will look into promotional prospects of IPOs/ASPOs.  Accordingly, a Committee was constituted under the Chairpersonship of Member (Personnel) vide Department’s Office Order No.1/1/2011-SR dated 09.09.2011.  The Committee had its first meeting on 18.10.2011, followed by another meeting on 03.11.2011.  The following were present.
Official Side                                                            Staff Side                       
1.       Member(Personnel)                                             1. Shri  Dinesh KharePresident
2.       DDG(Estt.)                                                          2. Shri  Roop Chand, General Secretary
3.       Director(T&C)                                                     3.Shri  Hari Mohan, Circle Secy. Punjab
4.       Director(SR & Legal)
5.       Director (Establishment)
6.       Director (Staff)

The meeting started with the Chairperson welcoming the Staff side. Thereafter, the Staff side explained in detail the stagnation being faced by them in the cadre of IPOs/ASPOs and the long span of service running up to 26 years which they have to put in, before they get promotion to Group-B.  The Staff side also referred to the restructuring of IPOs/ASPOs cadre which the Department took long back but the proposal did not get through.  The Staff side also made a mention of the Grade Pay and promotional prospects of Inspectors in the Departments like Income Tax and Central Excise etc. and pleaded for parity with them.

The Chairperson brought to the notice of the Staff side the difference in the hierarchical structures that exists in the Department of Posts and other Departments like Income Tax and Central Excise as also Central Secretariat.  It was explained to the Staff side that, while in other Departments Inspectors get promotion direct to Group-B, in the Department of Posts there was an intermediary grade of ASPOs who had been conferred the gazetted status about 5 years ago.  The Staff side was also informed of the response of the Ministry of Finance, Department of Expenditure in the matter of raising the Grade Pay of Inspectors from the existing Rs.4200 to Rs.4600 so as to bring them on par with Inspectors in other Departments. While discussing the possibility of upgrading certain posts in the Circle Offices and other field formations to Group-B so as to accelerate the promotional prospects of IPOs/ASPOs, it was made very clear to the staff side that in view of the response of the Department of Expenditure, they would first have to forego the gazetted status of ASPOs so as to have single level in the cadre as it may facilitate raising the grade pay of IPOs from the existing Rs.4200 to Rs.4600, and may pave way for speedier promotion due to upgrading of certain posts to Group-B.

The Staff side intimated that they are to have their next CWC meeting in the 2nd half of January 2012 where they would discuss the proposal of foregoing the gazetted status of ASPOs and up- gradation of IPOs, as discussed in the preceding paragraph and would revert back to the Department with a final proposal.

The meeting ended with a vote of thanks to the Chair. 

Source: Dte Letter No.No.01-01/2011-SR dated 14.11.2011 as published in CHQ blog.

Monday, November 14, 2011

US apologises to APJ Abdul Kalam for frisking incident


NEW DELHI: The US has apologised to former President APJ Abdul Kalam for subjecting him to frisking at New York's JFK Airport, an incident that had provoked sharp reactions from India which threatened retaliatory action. 

In a written apology to Kalam and the Indian government, the US said, "Appropriate procedure for expedited screening of dignitaries had not been followed". 

"We deeply regret the inconvenience that resulted for him (Kalam) as a result of the September 29 incident involving the security screening at JFK Airport in New York," a statement from the US Embassy here said, noting that it had the utmost respect for Kalam.

They also said that US was actively working to prevent such incidents from occurring in the future. 

Taking serious note of the incident, India had threatened retaliatory action with external affairs minister SM Krishna directing Indian ambassador to US Nirupama Rao to take up the matter in writing at the "highest level" with Washington. 

The US said that subsequent to the frisking incident, US Charge d' Affairs Peter Burleigh personally hand delivered a letter from the US transportation security administrator to Kalam and a similar letter was delivered to the government of India regretting the incident. 

Maintaining that it "deeply values and appreciates" the strong relationship and partnership with India, the US said, "We are confident that despite this regrettable incident, we will continue working closely with India in the many areas of our strategic partnership". 

80-year-old Kalam was frisked in New York on September 29 before boarding an Air Indiaflight. 

Sources said that even after Kalam had taken his seat in the aircraft, the US security personnel forced the crew to open the door and took away the jacket and boots of the former president to check for explosives since they had forgotten to do so before his boarding. The items were later returned to Kalam.

Saturday, November 12, 2011

Now, tatkal booking only 24 hrs in advance

NEW DELHI: Railways on Friday decided to reduce the advance reservation period for Tatkal tickets from 48 hours to 24 hours in a move to prevent misuse of the scheme introduced to facilitate emergency travel. 
Complaints of touts misusing the scheme were increasing day by day and this left Rail Bhawan mandarins worried. While there will be no refund on confirmed Tatkal tickets except in case of cancellation of trains and late running trains, the restriction for agents to book Tatkal ticket has been extended from one hour to two hours (8 am to 10 am). 

Now, one has to produce identity proof to buy Tatkal tickets and there will be only four passengers per PNR for such tickets. 

Tatkal reservation period was reduced from 48 hours to 24 hours to prevent misuse by unscrupulous elements who resort to speculative booking. According to the changed system, no duplicate Tatkal ticket shall be issued and it would be done only in exceptional cases on payment of full fare including Tatkal charges. 

"There were many complaints regarding misuse of Tatkal tickets. The changes that will be effective within a week has been made to prevent its misuse," Vinay Mittal, chairman, Railway Board, said.