UPU News:- From direct mail to direct marketing

Why has the UPU’s Direct Mail Advisory Board changed its name to the Direct Marketing Advisory Board?

Although direct mail still makes up a significant part of letter-post volumes, the 2012 Doha Congress decided the UPU should branch out by embracing all innovative postal products and services and all means of direct marketing used by postal clients.

Technological developments over the last two decades have led Posts to combine the traditional direct-mail product with other forms of direct marketing, in a multimedia environment.

“It was important for the UPU to reflect the new reality. Several Posts today can support integrated multi-channel campaigns that go beyond direct mail,” says Raquel Ferrari, manager of the UPU’s direct marketing and stakeholder relations programme.

The UPU will help Posts expand their knowledge of direct marketing and develop strategies to diversify their offerings with innovative products and services. Posts will work to position themselves as key players in the direct marketing process, and contribute to the segment’s economic and commercial growth.

Several Posts have already created digital media divisions, or have acquired subsidiary companies specializing in direct marketing. For example, Canada Post is expanding into digital media offerings, with a focus on the collection and use of data. Norway’s Posten has acquired client relations agency Bring Dialog to plan campaigns from start to finish, including the distribution of items through various digital channels.

The Direct Marketing Advisory Board has 47 members, including Posts and private companies and associations. Its first meeting will take place in April 2013 during the UPU’s Postal Operations Council session.

Submission of Annual Property Returns by Group A and PS Group B Officers

To view Department  of Posts (Personnel Division) Letter NO. 20-8/2008-SPG  dated 18th January, 2013 please Click Here.

Small savings schemes offer plenty of options for retail investors

S. Varadharajan

2

Retail investors have lots of avenues for investing their savings. But they have to choose right options, depending on their needs. They should keep in mind factors such as age, disposable income, their liabilities and assets and size of the family before selecting the schemes. Among the options available they select instruments offering safety, liquidity, returns, and, most importantly, tax benefits. Savings schemes have advantages and limitations. There are ‘active’ investors who have awareness about the schemes and time to go through the details. Many others do not find time due to their pre-occupation with their jobs and lack of knowledge about the schemes. These investors should consult reliable investment consultants. Always diversified portfolio of savings schemes would help in securing decent return and safety on investments.

Most of the investors prefer post office savings schemes, which are popular. As a retirement option, they also look for long-term public provident fund offered by post offices and public sector banks. The government had effected changes in public provident funds (PPF) to make it particularly attractive. A tax payer can invest up to Rs. one lakh and claim tax benefits under Sec. 80 C of the Income-tax Act. The return on PPFs is 8.6 per cent. Post offices also offer recurring deposit, time deposit and national savings certificates.

Small savings schemes have facilities for nomination and in case of death of depositor, his / her nominee (s) can easily withdraw the deposits with interest. The schemes can be transferred from one post office to another.

There is a scheme called pay roll savings scheme under which employers can deduct the amount from the salaries and remit it to the savings schemes opted by the employees. Besides post offices, State Bank of India and select branches of nationalised banks offer public sector provident funds. Deposits are payable on maturity after 15 years along with interest rates compounded annually. Loans also can be availed from the third financial year. The minimum deposit is fixed at Rs. 500 in a financial year. The maximum number of deposits is 12 in a financial year. Premature withdrawal is permissible every year after completion of 5 years from the end of the year of opening the account. The accounts can be transferred from one post office to another, from a bank to another and from a bank to post office and vice-versa. Income Tax rebate is available on the deposits made under Section 88 of Income tax Act, as amended from time to time, and the interest credited every year is tax-free.

The post office monthly income scheme offers an interest rate of 8.5 per cent payable monthly with effect from April 1, 2012. The maturity period is 5 years. But no bonus is available on maturity with effect from December 1, 2011. There is tax deduction at source, and no tax rebate is applicable.

The minimum investment amount is Rs.1,500 or in multiple thereafter. The maximum amount is Rs. 4.50 lakh in a single account and Rs.9 lakh in a joint account. The scheme is suitable for retired employees/ senior citizens and for those who need regular monthly income.

Senior citizens scheme

Post offices offer 9.3 per cent per annum on senior citizens savings scheme from the date of deposit on quarterly basis with effect from April 1, 2012.

The minimum deposit is Rs. 1,000 and multiples thereof, and the maximum limit of Rs.15 lakh. The maturity period is five years and can be extended for a further period of three years.

The senior citizens should be 60 years or more, while 55 years or more but less than 60 years is applicable for those who have retired under a voluntary retirement scheme or a special voluntary retirement scheme on the date of opening of the account within three months from the date of retirement.

The tax is deducted at source on interest if the interest amount is more than Rs. 10,000 annually.

National savings certificates

Under the national savings certificates (NSC) scheme, the NSC VIII Issue (five years) carries 8.6 per cent interest with effect from April 1, 2012 while on NSC IX (10 years), the interest rate is 8.9 per cent.

There is no tax deduction at source, and investment up to Rs one lakh per annum qualifies for income tax rebate under section 80C of IT Act.

The postal time deposits and the monthly income scheme (MIS) have a lot in common with the fixed deposits of banks. There are a number of schemes under the small savings category to suit the various needs of investors.

As banks were given freedom to fix their own rates, the Government should ensure that the interest rates are aligned to market rates from time to time to encourage small savings as these play a significant role in public finance of the Union Government.

Source:-The Hindu

Amendment in Rule 5(2), 29, 29-A, 30 ,31, 32(1), 37, 37(A), 48A(5),48(B) and 48(C) of CCS(Pension) Rules, 1972

To view MINISTRY OF PERSONNEL, PUBLIC GRIEVANCES AND PENSIONS (Department of Pension and Pensioner's Welfare) NOTIFICATION dated 21st December, 2012 please Click Here.

UPU News:- Mail for Syria can get through via Amman

The Syrian Post has asked the Universal Postal Union to inform all member countries to route international mail destined for Syria via Amman, the Jordanian capital.

The Syrian Post will use trucks to retrieve mails that arrive in Amman, some 175 kilometers from Damascus, and bring it back for processing and delivery. Outgoing international mail from Syria already transits through Amman.

The United Nations specialized agency for postal services welcomed the arrangement by the Syrian and Jordanian postal authorities and handling services at Amman International Airport to ensure that mail gets through despite the ongoing situation.

“This measure will make sending international mail to Syria more fluid and regular,” said Abdellatif Meskine, manager of the Arab programme at the UPU.

This will provide relief to countries that were finding it difficult to send international mail directly to Syria as a result of the suspension of many flights to Damascus, he added.

A message sent yesterday by the UPU to all its member countries says that it is now possible to route dispatches destined for Syria via Amman Airport, “in cases where a lack of suitable flights makes air transport impossible.”

In 2011, Syria received 1.6 million international letter-post items a year from abroad, as well as 53,000 registered items, 22,000 express mail items and 8,500 parcels, according to UPU figures.

Information on 2012 mail volumes is not yet available. According to Syrian postal authorities, postal services continue to be provided nationally.

The Syrian Post manages some 600 post offices and employs more than 3,000 employees.

Sorting letters to get quicker

HYDERABAD: To sort out mail quickly, the postal department (India Post) will set up its state-of-the art automatic mail processing centre (AMPC) at Pedda Golkonda village near Shamshabad. The integrated facility will sort out letters and parcels at a central place.

On Monday, Union minister of state for communication & information technology Killi Kruparani visited a three-acre site where the AMPC would be built at a cost of Rs 40 crores over a period of two years. Hyderabad would become the third city in the country after Mumbai and Chennai to have an AMPC.

The AMPC would have two machines, one for sorting letters and another for large size articles. The letter sorting machine (LSM) would have the capacity to sort about 35,000 letters per hour, while the mixed mail sorting (MMS) machine could handle 20,000 articles per hour. In Andhra Pradesh Circle, 20 lakh mails are handled daily, with 8.2 lakh of mail pieces handled in Hyderabad city alone.

Another uniqueness feature of these machines is the latest optical character recognition (OCR)-Video Coding System (VCS) that can read address written on mail and sort them to the correct destination.

Source:-The Times of India

Say cheese: Your face is now on a stamp

 Mahatma Gandhi and Jawaharlal Nehru are among the greats whose portraits are used as stamps by India Post. Now, your picture could also be a stamp on the letter you send to your dear one. India Post will introduce "the facility of converting personal photographs as legally valid stamps" in Chennai in a couple of weeks.

The personalised stamp will have two parts - the currency part and the photograph - detachable from each other. You can choose these backgrounds: zodiac signs, flowers, Taj Mahal, Panchatantra tales, trains, wildlife and aeroplanes. You may submit your photograph or get photographed at the post office for no extra cost. You get a set of 12 stamps of 5 denomination for 300, but only after police verification that may take one week.

This is the latest in a series of measures India Post has taken to survive in a world of instant messaging, where a letter by post is a thing of the past. This scheme, called 'My stamp', allows photographs to be printed on a five-rupee stamp.

The concept, which has been popular in the US, Australia, New Zealand and Singapore, was launched in the country during the World Philatelic Exhibition in 2011 in Delhi. 'My stamp' was introduced in Maharashtra, Bihar, Gujarat and Uttar Pradesh, but not many know about it. In Chennai, select post offices will offer the facility in a fortnight.

While the idea of one's own photograph as stamp has excited many, some feel it would take away the sanctity of a postal stamp.

"A stamp is something like legal tender. I think this move may take away that identity," said S Ulaganathan, a shopkeeper who sends money orders to his home in Tirunelveli every month.

But the younger lot is happy. "It would be fun having my stamp on the cover of my birthday invite," said 16-year-old R Vinay, who has never posted "snail mail".

It is people like Vinay that India Post is targeting.

"The internet has taken away from people the habit of writing letters. We hope 'My stamp' will bring youngsters back to us," said an India Post official.

"I would like to send a love letter with my stamp on the cover," said a college student. His friend cautioned him: "But what if her dad receives the letter?"

In a land of political cut-outs and graffiti, 'My stamp' may find takers in political parties to send party communique with the leader's stamp on the cover. Those planning to gain commercial mileage, however, may be put off as India Post has clarified that only individuals, not businesses can make use of the 'My stamp' scheme.

Source:-The Times of India

Transfers and postings of the officers of the Grade of Member (Postal Services Board), lndian Postal Service, Group A

To view Department of Posts (Personnel Division) Memo No.1-10/2009-SPG dated 28th January, 2013 please Click Here.

Transfers and postings of Junior Administrative Grade (NFSG) officers of Indian Postal Service, Group A

To view Department of Posts (Pesonnel Division) order No. 2-8l2011-SPG dated 28th January, 2013 please  Click Here. 

Promotion and postings in the Non-Functional Selection Grade (NFSG) of the Junior Administrative Grade officers of Indian Postal Service Group A

To view Department of Posts (Personnel Division) Notification dated 28th January, 2013 please Click Here. 

Revision of pension of pre-2006 pensioners - reg. (Revised concordance table)

To view Ministry of Personnel, PG & Pensions, Department of Pension & Pensioners' Welfare OM No.38/37/08-P&PW(A) dated 28th January, 2013 please Click Here.

Check list for sending proposals to DOPT for framing/amendment of Recruitment Rules.

To view Ministry of Personnel, PG & Pensions (Department of Personnel & Training) OM No. AB.14017/37/2012-Estt (RR) (6943) dated 28th January, 2013 please Click Here.

Posting of Officers from Odisha Circle allotted to Assam and NE Circles in PS Group-B Cadre:-

    

Sl. No.	Name of the Officer S/Shri	Designation in Odisha Circle	Place of Posting in PS Group ‘B’ Cadre
1.	Biajay Ku. Patra	Offtg SPOs, Bhadrak Division	SPOs(HQ), Imphal
2.	Ajit Ku. Dash	Offtg SRM, BG Division, Berhampur	SPOs, Dharmanagar
3.	C.B. Meher	Offtg Supdt, CSD, Bhubaneswar	Sr.Postmaster, Shilong GPO
4.	Bhagabat Sethi	Offtg Supdt, PSD, Bhubaneswar	SPOs(HQ), Itanagar
5.	P.K. Nanda	Sr. PM, Cuttack GPO	SPOs(HQ), Kohima
6.	P.K. Patra	Postmaster, Sambalpur HO	Sr. Postmaster, Silchar
7.	P.K. Sahu	Dy. Manager, PPP, Bhubaneswar	Manager, MMS, Guwahati
8.	Sarbeswar Mishra	Offtg AD(FS), CO, Bhubneswar	Dy. Director, PTC, Guwahati
9.	B.B. Mohanty	Offtg AD(RE/Accounts), CO, Bhubaneswar	SRM, RMS 'GH' Division, Guwahati
10.	R.K. Mishra	ASPOs(I/C), Phulbani	SPOs, Dhubri

Note:-         Shri Sitanath Dash, ASPOs(HQ), Balasore Division, Balasore has declined the promotion. Posting Order of Shri A.K.Panda, Offtg AD(Staff), CO, Bhubneswar is yet to be issued by Assam Circle.              

India's 64th Republic Day

How is water intake linked to good health?

Water plays a very important role in helping us maintain good health. Altogether the quantity as well as quality of water influences the health and well being of an individual.

Today, we have Dr. K.M. Sunsesara - General Physician, Mumbai and Ms. Eileen Canday - Chief Dietician at Breach Candy Hospital, Mumbai help us understand the concept of how water intake is linked to good health... 

Why is water intake important for good health? 

75% of our body and 85% of our brain is made up of water. Dr. Sunesara says, "More than food, water is the most important nutrient needed for the wellbeing of your body. In order, to complete your daily tasks, it is necessary to consume sufficient amount of water daily. To maintain proper health and to keep running throughout the day, your body needs lots and lots of water. Sufficient intake of water is not only good for your health, but also for your diet. Water also aids in proper functioning of various systems. It helps in digestion, absorption of food, regulating body temperature, efficient blood circulation, regulating cells of the body by transporting nutrients and oxygen to them and by removing various toxins from the body in the form of urine. Besides, water also helps in movement of the joints, protects various tissues and also boosts your metabolism." Dr Sunesara says that we must drink plenty of water to avoid detrimental effects on our bodies due to dehydration and to perform your daily functions effectively. 

Why is dehydration bad? 

Sufficient intake of water will help to keep your body very well hydrated. Dr. Sunesara says, "Dehydration is very bad for your body. When you are dehydrated, your body has to work more to evenly distribute the available water throughout your body, it is like solving math's by not knowing the formula. The various side effects of dehydration are joint pain, stomach pain, back pain, dizziness and ulcers. Besides, dehydration can damage each and every part of your body, including your psychological functioning. Hence, to avoid dehydration and its harrowing effect, keep drinking water at regular intervals." 

How much water do we need? 

"An average healthy individual needs to consume at least 1 ½ - 3 liters of water everyday," says Eileen. The consumption of water depends on the physical activity level of an individual. If a person is very active, he needs to drink more water, in order to substitute replacement. Besides, you can also judge, if you are drinking sufficient water by noticing the color of your urine. If your pee is pale white, that means you are fulfilling your daily ration of water, but if it is pale yellow then it means you probably have to increase your water intake. 

How can one increase water intake? 

-Drink water when you wake up, when you get back from work and when you go to bed. 

-Drink before starting any physical activity like walking etc. 

-Drink water while you work. 

-Drink before meals. 

-Drink while you are travelling. 

-Replace coffee with water. 

-If you find your water tasteless, then add a dash of lime juice and get refreshed. 

Source:-The Times of India

CHQ News...

1. Date to convene the DPC for promotion to JTS Gr. 'A' Cadre is yet not fixed.  

2. Inspector Posts Examination 2012 result of 'West Bengal' Circle is ready and will be declared soon. 

3. Result of DPC for promotion to 'JAG' cadre is likely to be released soon. About 33 Officers from 'STS' cadre are in the zone of promotion.  

Eid Milad Un Nabi Mubarak

Eid Milad Un Nabi Mubarak

Tamam Bani Nooh

Jinnat-E-Insaano

Ko

The HOLY Prophet

Muhammad (Saww)

Ka Jashan-E-Zahoor Bohat

Mubarak Ho.

Shri Bijay Ku Patra relieved on 22/1/2013(A/N) to join in PS Group'B' Cadre

Shri Bijay Ku Patra, Offtg Supdt, Bhadrak Division, Bhadrak has been relieved from Odisha Circle on 22/1/2013(A/N) to join in PS Group'B' Cadre on regular basis in NE Circle.  

All India Association of Inspectors and Asst Superintendents of Posts, Odisha Circle Branch will miss him. 

Recommendations of the Committee of Experts on Disciplinary and Vigilance Inquiries (Hota Committee).

To view please Click Here. 

Shri B.B. Mohanty & Shri Sarbeswar Mishra relieved from Odisha Circle to join in PS Group 'B' Cadre on regular basis

Shri B.B. Mohanty, Offtg AD(RE&A/Cs), CO and Shri Sarbeswar Mishra, Offtg AD(FS), CO, Bhubaneswar have been relieved from Odisha Circle on 22/1/2013(A/N) to join in PS Group'B' Cadre on regular basis in Assam Circle. As per their travelling plan they will start their journey on 2/2/2013 after availing the joining time.  

All India Association of Inspectors and Asst Superintendents of Posts, Odisha Circle Branch will miss both of them and in particular the guidance of Shri Mohanty as ex-Circle Secretary of the Association. 

Budget 2013: Govt mulls higher tax exemption on savings schemes to wean away investors from gold

The finance ministry may tweak tax exemption rules in the upcoming budget to make investments in financial products more attractive than gold, two government officials familiar with the development said.

The ministry is planning to raise the 80C exemption limit, under which 1 lakh is reduced from total income for calculating tax. A plethora of investments, including PPF and insurance premium, currently qualify for 80C exemption and the budget may bring the Rajiv Gandhi Equity Savings Scheme within the ambit of this section. Further, some of the increase in the 80C limit may be carved out for investments in pension products of mutual funds.

Only one of these two options may eventually be incorporated in the budget, the officials said.

The government may also scrap long-term capital gains tax on investments in corporate and infrastructure bonds to bring them on a par with equity. "There is a need to spur long-term savings by making them attractive for investors," a senior government official told ET.

Reviving mutual funds and energising the corporate bond market have been identified as two key priorities by the government. Retail investors have been pulling out money from equity mutual funds at a time the markets are rising.

Net financial savings of households in 2011-12 were 7.8% of GDP, down from 9.3% of GDP a year ago and 12.2% in 2009-10, worrying policymakers and prompting a rethink on the need to incentivise savings by way of tax breaks. The problem has been exacerbated because investors may have bought gold to hedge against rapidly rising prices, reducing savings in financial assets.

In the nine months ending December 31, 2012, India has imported $38 billion worth of gold on top of $56 billion last year, pushing current account deficit to a record 5.4% of GDP in July-September quarter.

The government has already made gold dearer through duty increases to curb demand. But making financial savings more attractive to wean investors away from gold may be the better long-term option.

"The idea is to work out a package that would draw investors back to savings but without disrupting the ongoing fiscal consolidation move by denting revenues," another government official said.

If the popular 80C exemption is increased, the ministry is keen that the additional savings go into retirement products such as pension products of mutual funds, the official said.

The other option being deliberated is to incorporate the Rajiv Gandhi Equity Savings Scheme within the popular 80C window and also make it available to all investors.

The scheme currently allows only new investors in equity and mutual funds whose income is less than Rs 10 lakh to invest Rs 50,000 in a year and avail 50% deduction. These two measures, if implemented, will also have the spin-off benefit of moving savings into equities.

If long-term capital gains tax on corporate and infrastructure bonds is removed, the government is likely to discontinue tax-free bonds that state-owned entities operating in the infrastructure sector are allowed to issue.

"The discussion is at an early stage and final contours will emerge only by middle of next month," the second government official quoted earlier said. "The idea is to work out a package to ensure that the tax break does not dent revenues in a big way to keep them in line with the government's fiscal consolidation road map," he said.

"There is clearly a need to examine and rectify the situation so that household savings come back to the organised financial market and are used in the creation of the nation's modern infrastructure and industrial base," the Prime Minister's Economic Advisory Council had said in a report of the review of the economy in 2011-12.

Source:-The Economic Times 

UPU News:-UPU to work on return of goods bought online

E-commerce continues to be a boon for postal services, boosting mail volumes. And while it booms, the UPU is working on an international return service for customers to easily send back unwanted merchandise bought online.

An effective e-returns service is essential for developing cross-border e-commerce

On the back of a UPU Congress decision adopted in 2012, the work will include developing a transparent accounting mechanism to ensure reasonable regional air conveyance costs, defining rates to cover a destination Post’s collection costs and coordinating the new service with customs officials to ensure smooth handling of return merchandise at borders.

“This service is often available domestically, but needs to be developed at the international level. It is an essential service to have for fostering cross-border e-commerce and allowing Posts to grow their business in this market,” says Christine Bétrémieux, who manages the parcels and logistics programme at the UPU.

Joost Magielsen, from PostNL, the Dutch designated operator, leads the UPU’s return-service working group. He says having the new optional service ready by January 1, 2014, when the updated UPU Convention and regulations come into effect, will be challenging. But he hopes the UPU can piggy-back on existing systems and developments to move forward quickly. “The new service has to meet several international challenges, such as affordability, traceability and priority processing,” he says.

The UPU will work with other postal entities already operating or exploring return solutions to save on development and maintenance costs, as well as to reduce the ‘time to market’ for the new service, adds Magielsen.

Traffic of international parcels reached 58 million items in 2011, according to UPU statistics. Since 2006, this business segment has experienced annual growth of 5.3 per cent and it is expected to continue to increase. The Interactive Media in Retail Group predicts that total business-to-consumer e-commerce sales will pass the trillion-euro mark in 2013.

Minutes of the four-monthly meeting with Chief PMG held on 10/01/2013

Present

                            Official Side                                         Staff Side (IP/ASP)

1.	Shri S.K. Chakrabarti, Chief PMG, Odisha Circle, Bhubaneswar	1.	Shri Khageswar Mallick, Executive Body Member, AIAIASP cum Manager, Project Arrow, CO, Bhubaneswar
2.	Shri Suvendu Swain, DPS(HQ), Circle Office, Bhubaneswar
3.	Shri Pawan Ku. Singh, DPS(BD), Circle Office, Bhubaneswar	2.	Shri Dillip Ku. Samal, Executive Body Member, AIAIASP cum ASPOs(Staff), CO, Bhubaneswar
4.	Shri Sukhbir Singh, DA(P), Cuttack
5.	Shri B.N. Mishra, AD(WL), Circle Office, Bhubaneswar		(Shri Pitabasa Jena , CS, AIAIASP could not attend the meeting due to illness and authorized above Senior members to represent the Association)

New Items

4-01/2013           Request for Provision of Laptops to the remaining Inspectorial Staff in the Circle.

         

Brief: The Inspectorial Staff, particularly those working in Sub-Divisions have already been provided with Laptops. In addition to Inspectorial Staff those working Sub-Divisions a few other Inspectorial Staff   who are working in CO / RO have also been provided with Laptops. As such a majority of the Inspectorial Staff have already been provided with Laptops. A few numbers of Inspectorial Staff, particularly those are working as Office Supervisor/ASP (HQ) and ASP(OD), have been left out. With the increasing Computerization and networking of all Post Offices, Mail Offices, Administrative and other Offices of India Post, .   

The Association, therefore, requests the Circle Administration to provide Laptops to the remaining Inspectorial staff in the Circle keeping in view the India Post Technology Project 2012 which aims Computerization and networking of all Post Offices, Mail Offices, Administrative and other Offices.

Reply:-The ASP(ODs) who is given the outdoor duties and who is to remain outside Hqrs by very nature of his duty should be provided with lap tops. In respect of Inspectorial Staff, particularly those who are working as Office Supervisor / ASP(HQ), the matter may be examined and Directorate’s view in this matter may be sought for.

Action:AD(TO)

5-01/2013 Request for filling up the Mail Overseer Posts.

Brief: Pursuant to Member (P) D.O. Letter No. 37-42012-SPB-I dated 19/4/2012, all the vacant posts of Mail Overseer were reviewed and action was taken for filling up these Posts by eligible Postmen. Still there are some Mail Overseer posts lying vacant for which the Inspectorial Staff working in these Sub-Division finding it difficult to manage their Sub-Division. It has brought to the Notice of this Association that the Mail Overseer Posts of following Sub-Divisions are lying vacant.

Division	Sub-Division	Number of Mail Overseer Posts lying vacant.
Mayurbhanj	Baripada Central	01
	Baripada West	01
	Bangiriposi	02
	Udala	01
	Badsahi	01
Cuttack City	Cuttack East	01
	Cuttack West	01
	Cuttack North	01

 

This Association requests the Circle Administration to issue instruction to the concerned Divisional Heads to take immediate action to get all the above posts filled up by eligible Postmen working in their Division. 

Reply:-Divisional Heads will be asked to call for willingness from amongst those available regular Postmen staff for working as Mail Overseer. If required number of options is not forthcoming, the Divisional Head may be asked to post the junior most available Postman as Mail Overseer and in resultant vacancy in Postman cadre, make arrangement for officiating from amongst senior most available GDS officials.

Action:AD(RE)

3-2/2012   Request for availability of funds under PLI(Non Plan) and RPLI(Non-Plan) Head at Divisional level for clearance of PLI & RPLI incentive/ Commission /Medical Fees.  

Brief: It is learnt that the PLI (Non Plan) and RPLI (Non-Plan) funds allotted under the Head of Account 3201-03-101-08-01-0028(PPS) and 3201-03-101-09-01-0028(PPS) respectively have already been exhausted by most of the Divisions. Non-sanction of PLI & RPLI incentive/ Commission /Medical Fees on time may also hamper the PLI and RPLI business.

This Association, therefore, requests the Circle Administration for taking necessary action for availability of funds under afore said heads at Divisional level for clearance of pending PLI & RPLI incentive/ Commission /Medical Fees.  

Reply:-       Funds have already been allotted.

Action:DDM(PLI)

(Item closed)

Old items

4-5/2012:      Request for adherence of Time-schedule for preparation / completion of APARs of IPs/ASPs.

Brief: The time-schedule for preparation / completion of APARs has been prescribed in Dept. of Per. & Trg. OM dated 23-7-2009. But, in many instances the Reporting Officers and Reviewing Officers are not strictly adhering to the time line to complete the APARs. The root cause of delay in convening DPCs for regular / ad-hoc promotions and processing of MACP cases is the wanting APARs. The Association urges for adherence of Time-schedule for preparation / completion of APARs of IPs/ASPs and disclosure of the same to the officer reported upon.

Reply: Directorate guidelines have already been circulated and reminders have also been issued to all concerned vide letter No.ST/28-1/97/Rlg/Corr dated 29-6-2012 and 4-1-2013 to follow the guidelines. Once again these guidelines will be reiterated.

Action: AD(Staff)

5-5/2012:    Decentralisation of PLI/RPLI – Request for providing separate establishment and payment of incentive substituting honorarium

Brief: The PLI/ RPLI work has now been decentralized to the Divisions except Surrender and Death claims. This has increased enormous work pressure on the Divisional Office, particularly, the IPs and ASPs working in the Divisional Office. At present Inspectorial Staff are burdened with variety of duties in addition to what has been enumerated in Chapter-III of Postal Manual Volume-VIII.

The honorarium paid to the Inspectorial Staff attending to the scrutiny of new proposals is Rs 2/-per proposal subject to a ceiling of Rs 4000/- p.a. The ceiling of Rs 4000/- p.a. honorarium was fixed by the Department of Personnel & Training, which includes, the honorarium paid for conducting departmental inquiries as IO or PO and also other allied additional works.

The quantum of honorarium paid for scrutiny of PLI/ RPLI proposals is not commensurate with the quantum of work performed and the ceiling on honorarium is a major setback for the Inspectorial Staff working in Divisional Offices.

The Association requests the Chief Postmaster General to consider the followings:-

i.)    Provision of separate establishment at Divisional level for carrying out works related to PLI /RPLI consequent upon decentralization of the same.

ii.)   To explore the feasibility of diversion of the work related to verification of policies, sanctioning claims and under writing of PLI/RPLI from the duty of the Inspectorial Staff and to manage this extra nature of work by some other arrangement.

iii.)  To take up  at appropriate level for provision of incentive, without any ceiling, for scrutiny of PLI/ RPLI proposals at Divisional Office by replacing the existing system of payment of honorarium for this work with a ceiling limit of Rs 4000/- p.a.

Reply:           The issue raised herewith comes within the domain of policy of the Deprtment. However, the suggestion can be made from the Circle Office to the Directorate to the effect that instead of honorarium to the Inspectorial Staff for scrutiny of new proposals @Rs.2/- per proposal, the Inspectorial staff may be remunerated at the same rate not as honorarium but as incentive. If the proposal is agreed to by Directorate, the problems arising because of the ceiling of honorarium of Rs.4000/- per annum per individual will be removed.

Action: DDM(PLI)

6-5/2012:      Provision of proper infrastructure, basic amenities and proper sanitation for functioning of Sub-Divisional Offices

Brief:            The “Look & Feel” for the activities like provision of Infrastructure Equipment and Branding work of most of the Post Offices functioning in Departmental Buildings has now been completed.  But Sub-Divisional offices are made to function in the same building without proper infrastructure, basic amenities and proper sanitation.  

The Association requests the Chief Postmaster General to consider the followings:-

i.)    Provision of proper infrastructure, sanitation and supply of good quality furniture to the Sub Divisional Offices.

ii.)   Supply of Office Stationery with new logo (Envelope, Visiting Card, Writing Pad etc.)

Reply:           The Divisional Heads have been reminded vide CO Letter No.SD/6-26/2006 dated 26-10-2012 for supply of good quality furniture, Office Stationery, visiting cards, writing pads etc. to all the Sub Divisional units. Report of Compliance will be called from the Divisional Heads in this connection.   

Action: AD(MM)