Advance Reservation Period for Booking Reserved Train Tickets Reduced to 60 Days from Existing 120 Days from Tomorrow i.e. 1ST May 2013

The Ministry of Railways has decided that the Advance Reservation Period (ARP) for booking reserved train tickets will be reduced from existing 120 days to 60 days (excluding the date of journey) from tomorrow i.e. 1st May 2013. The details are as below:- 

I. With effect from 01.05.2013, the ARP will be of 60 days (excluding the day of journey) and booking will be done accordingly. However, all the bookings done upto 30.4.2013 under the ARP of 120 days will remain intact. 

II. Cancellation of the booking made beyond the ARP of 60 days will, however, be permitted. 

III. There will be no change in the case of certain day time express trains like Taj Express, Gomti Express etc. where lower time limits for advance reservations are at present in force. 

IV. There will also be no change in the case of limit of 360 days for foreign tourists. 

Source:- PIB

Review of SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989

The Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) {PoA} Act, 1989, extends to the whole of India except Jammu and Kashmir, and responsibility for its implementation rests with State Governments/Union Territory Administrations. 

The States/Union Territories are provided due Central assistance under a Centrally Sponsored Scheme, for effective implementation of the PoA Act. They are also addressed from time to time to, inter-alia, implement provisions of the Act in letter and spirit. A Committee under the Chairpersonship of Union Minister for Social Justice & Empowerment, constituted in 2006 also reviews implementation status of the PoA Act in various States/Union Territories. The Committee has so far held twenty meetings wherein implementation of the PoA Act was reviewed in 24 States and 4 Union Territories. 

The continuing incidence of occurrence of offences of atrocities against members of SCs and STs leads to an impression that the deterrent effect of the PoA Act is not adequately felt by the accused. Occurrence of such incidents also highlights the need for more effective precautionary and preventive measures. Such aspects called for an assessment to consider amendments in the PoA Act. Accordingly, this Ministry, after due consultation process with the concerned agencies, has commenced the process of amendments in the Act. 

This information was given by the Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment, Shri P. Balram Naik in a written reply to a question in Lok Sabha today. 

Source:-PIB

UPU News:-Better integration of products and processes key

The UPU’s Postal Operations Council and Council of Administration concluded their sessions Thursday 25 April after three weeks of intense meetings at UPU headquarters in Berne, Switzerland.

Some 800 delegates attended the UPU sessions in Berne, Switzerland

Integration of international products and services and better streamlining of the supply chain were central themes during the POC, the body dealing with operational issues.

Over the next four-year cycle, the UPU will work on getting mail to move across borders more efficiently by improving customs processes and transportation.

This is important as Posts increasingly position themselves as key players in e-commerce for the physical delivery of goods to counter dwindling physical letter-post volumes.

At the same time, there was much talk about the importance of simplifying rules for letter-post, parcels and express mail at the UPU level to better meet customers’ expectations and needs.

Chris Powell, chair of the POC’s product strategy and integration group, says the organization must improve the way it works to offer a sustainable product range in the face of growing competition. “We need to change our approach,” says Powell. “We are not the only game in town, we are the biggest one by far, but we are not the only ones.”

Focus on trade and financial inclusion

Trade facilitation and financial inclusion will also take on new dimensions at the UPU after the CA created new groups to work on these issues.

The groups will help Posts strengthen their role as facilitators of cross-border exchanges and lift people out of poverty by giving them access to financial services.

Brazil will chair the trade facilitation group. The country launched a successful programme years ago to enable small and medium-sized businesses to export their goods abroad more easily and it has quickly expanded to other Latin American countries. The UPU and the Brazilian government in January renewed their commitment to work together to help member countries implement similar programmes elsewhere in the world.

For its part, the new financial inclusion group will work on policy issues and best practices and hold an annual forum to stimulate dialogue between postal operators, governments, central banks and other market players.

“We will have to raise awareness among all stakeholders, especially governments and central banks, to the idea of selling basic financial products through the postal network to improve citizens’ lives,” said Amin Benjelloun Touimi, director general of the Moroccan Post, who chairs the new financial inclusion group.

One billion people are banked through the postal network, but it remains underused in terms of financial inclusion, according to a recent UPU report.

The next POC and CA session will take place from 28 October to 15 November 2013.

LPG subsidy directly in bank accounts from October 1

The government plans to provide subsidy to 14 crore LPG subscribers directly in their bank accounts from October 1, using the Aadhaar payment platform.

The government, official sources said, has decided to launch "Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) for LPG throughout the country tentatively from October 1".

"This (transfer of LPG subsidy) would require a much larger number of beneficiaries to be covered for opening of bank accounts and linked to Aadhaar and banks have been asked to get ready for the launch," said one official.

A consumer will have to get his or her bank account seeded with Aadhaar number for getting the LPG subsidy. The annual subsidy per consumer is estimated at Rs 4,000. The supply of subsidised LPG cylinder has been capped at 9 cylinders per year for a consumer.

While about 32 crore Aadhaar cards have been issued by UIDAI, only 80 lakh bank accounts have linked to the unique identity numbers so far.

Under a pilot project for LPG subsidy transfer, 20 districts in the country will be covered by May 15.

While the exact procedure to transfer the subsidy is being worked out, sources said subscribers will have to buy the LPG bottle at prevailing market price (currently Rs 901.50 per 14.2-kg cylinder in Delhi) and subsequently the subsidy amount will be transferred to the bank account.

The Finance Ministry has asked the public sector banks to speed up the process of linking accounts with Aadhaar.

The government expects that the DBT will eliminate all ghost LPG connections and diversion of cylinders.

Under the DBT scheme, subsidies and other benefits are transferred directly into the Aadhaar linked bank account of the beneficiary.

Meanwhile, Finance Minister P Chidambaram, Planning Commission Deputy Chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia, Petroleum Minister Veerappa Moily and Rural Development Minister Jairam Ramesh would review the DBT scheme with state officials on Monday.

Source:-The Economic Times

GS writes to Secretary (Posts) regarding transparency in examination system being conducted by CMC.

No. CHQ/IPASP/IP-Exam-12/2012                                   Dated :     29/4/2013.

To,

Ms P. Gopinath,

Secretary, 

Department of Posts,

Dak Bhavan, Sansad Marg,

New Delhi 110 001.  

Subject : Request to bring transparency in examination system  being conducted by CMC.  

Ref.         :  Directorate recruitment division Letter No. A34012/04/2011-DE dated 14.7.2011 and Letter No. A34012/07/2012-DE dated 7.6.2012 & 22.8.2012 

Respected Madam,            

        IP/ASP Association wishes to share its concern over the LDCE system in vogue in the department. Ever since CMC has taken over the reins of examination system of DOP there is complete chaos and as such created mockery of the examination system. The papers are not framed in conformity to the syllabus circulated by the department. As a result the prospective candidates have to suffer.  In the Inspector Post examination held in 2012, Paper-IV (IPO) question booklet was given an ‘option’ either to answer 50 questions of ‘General English’ or ‘General Hindi’ (Samanya Hindi) whereas it was mentioned in the revised syllabus particularly Paper IV shall consist of ENGLISH LANGUAGE, G.K. & REASONING /INTELLIGENCE , thereby completely  excluding HINDI LANGUAGE. Obviously, the Department by explicitly including ‘English language’ has left out ‘Hindi language’ from the ambit of syllabus for Paper IV. In these circumstances the prospective candidates appearing for the said examination were naturally supposed to prepare ‘English language’ paper in accordance with Department’s revised syllabus ignoring the ‘Hindi language’ (as it was omitted and not specified in the revised syllabus). The logic of omitting the national language ‘Hindi’ from the revised syllabus was surprising. Hither to paper-III of IPO examination 2011 was ordered to conduct afresh being almost all the paper out of syllabus.   

It is pertinent to mention here that when for the first time department conducted PS Group “B” examination through outsourcing as per the revised syllabus contained in Directorate memo no. 9-59/2010-SPG dated 08.03.2011, the IP/ASP Association raised an issue for not giving option to write paragraph bi-lingual (Hindi & English). At that time candidates were not allowed to write paragraph in Hindi by the staff of CMC Ltd. at Delhi Centre whereas staff of CMC Ltd. allowed candidates to write paragraph in Hindi at Dehradun Centre. In UP Circle, staff of CMC Ltd. allowed the candidates initially to write paragraph in Hindi and later on disallowed and instructed the candidates to write paragraph in English only. Though this irregularity was brought to the notice of Department vide letter of even number dated 19/11/2012, but Directorate took it lightly and gave no importance to this Associations letter thereby given benefit to one section of candidates. 

In Inspector Posts Examination-2012 held  on 13^th and 14^th October, 2012 again incorrect checking of answer paper has been detected and matter has been taken by prospective candidate appeared under roll No.1241400353 for rectification of his result. Association while forwarding his representation to Directorate has also raised doubts over fairness of examination system being conducted though CMC an outsourcing agency; as such type of many applications would have been received directly at Directorate from the candidates. 

This Association therefore once again suggest your honour that enquiry may kindly be constituted for above chaos in the larger interest of candidates. Vigilance enquiry is the only solution to bring transparency in the examination system. It will be fair if the examination work is given to SSC/UPSC as is done by other departments instead of CMC.  

         It is hoped that the undersigned will be obliged with a reply.  

        With warm regards,                                      

                                  Yours sincerely,

Sd/-

(Vilas Ingale)

General Secretary 

Copy forwarded for information and necessary action to :  

Shri S. Sarkar, Member (P), Department of Posts, Dak Bhavan, Sansad Marg, New Delhi 110 001.

UPU News:-Mail services could soon resume in Somalia

After 23 years with no postal services, Somalia could soon start receiving mail again, thanks to talks facilitated by the Universal Postal Union.

Somali Minister Abdullahi E. Hersi (r.) calls for help to rebuild his country's postal sector with UPU DG Bishar A. Hussein present

Under a memorandum of undestanding, the parties committed to negotiating the details of an agreement that would see Dubai act as a hub for handling mail destined for Somalia in future.

Abdullahi E. Hersi, Somali minister of information, posts, telecommunication and transports, and Emirates Post president, Fahad al Hosani, signed the memorandum on April 22 with the UPU director general, Bishar A. Hussein, present.

“It is time for our government to provide postal services,” said Minister Hersi, who added that communication is a human right. “People may have the internet and phones, but these will never replace the benefit of receiving mail from a distance,” he said.

UPU Director General Hussein said the agreement signaled an important step toward launching mail services again in Somalia, but it is just the beginning, he said.

The postal network is practically non-existent in Somalia, which covers more than 637,000 square kilometres and has a population of 9.9 million people. In 1991, the country had some 100 post offices and a postal staff of 2,165. Today, there is one general post office in the capital and some 25 staff.

During the signing ceremony, Hersi appealed to the postal community to help rebuild the Post in his country. “We ask for all means of assistance as we have to start from ground zero,” he said.

The current Somali government came into power in September 2012 after years of civil war, chaos and a number of transitional governments. Some two million Somalis live abroad.

Re-allotment/ Transfer/Posting of JTS/STS Officers in Indian Postal Service Group 'A'

To view please Click Here.

Posting on promotion in JTS of Indian Postal Service Group 'A'

To view Directorate Order No.4-5/2012-SPG dated 26/04/2013 please Click Here.

All India Association of Inspectors and Assistant Superintendents of Posts, Odisha Circle Branch congratulates Shri A.K. Ganguly on his promotion.  

Active Post Offices and Letter Boxes in the Country

The year-wise number of post offices and letter boxes operational in the country from 2003- 2004 to 2011-12  are given in the table below.

Number of Post Offices and Letter Boxes in the Country from 2003-04 to 2011-12
Year	No. of Post Offices(*)	No. of Letter Boxes (*)
2003-04	1,55,669	5,97,149
2004-05	1,55,516	5,84,006
2005-06	1,55,333	6,01,319
2006-07	1,55,204	5,89,666
2007-08	1,55,035	5,91,054
2008-09	1,55,015	5,85,087
2009-10	1,54,979	5,79,595
2010-11	1,54,866	5,73,749
2011-12	1,54,822	5,62,075
(*) Numbers  as on 31st March

28,877 letter boxes were removed in the last nine years.

 Complaints were received in Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat and Kerala Circles and those complaints were settled with restoration of letter boxes  wherever justified as per  prescribed norms.

Government has decided to install 66,666 new letter boxes in rural areas under the Plan Scheme –“Rural Business & Acess to Postal Network” in the current Plan subject to availability of plan funds.

This information was given by Dr. (Smt.) Killi Kruparani, Minister of State for C&IT in a written reply to a question in Rajya Sabha today.

Source:-PIB

Postal Department expresses regret

Tamil Nadu Postal Circle has handled more than one lakh insured parcels containing SSLC, higher secondary and CBSE examination materials in the past one and a half month period, according to a press release from the office of Senior Superintendent of Post Offices, Madurai.

These parcels, which were booked from various remote locations in the State, were delivered to evaluation centres.

“The Department of Posts sincerely regrets the loss of insured article booked at Sathyamangalam and the damaging of answer sheets at Vriddhachalam Railway Junction due to an accident,” the press release added.

The Department has taken serious notice of these incidents and employees who were involved have been suspended. Steps are being taken to avoid recurrence of such events in future. Standard Operating Procedures are being amended.

Source:-The Hindu

Re-Notification for CWC Meeting

ALL INDIA ASSOCIATION OF INSPECTORS & ASST. SUPERINTENDENTS OF POSTS ODISHA CIRCLE BRANCH, BHUBANESWAR 751001 e-Mail: aiaipasp.ors@gmail.com

Sk. Md Noman President 9437377430

Sri Pitabasa Jena Circle Secretary 9437630182

Sri Bibhudatta Behera Treasurer 9437194138

RE-NOTIFICATION

No. AIAIPASP/CWC-3/2013 Dated 26/4/2013

Under the provisions of Article-46 of the Constitution of All India Association of Inspectors and Asst. Superintendents of Posts, it is hereby notified that a meeting of the Circle Working Committee of the Association which was scheduled to be held on the 5^th May, 2013 will be held on 26^th May, 2013 (Sunday) at 10.30 hrs in the Postal Recreation Club of Bhubaneswar GPO.

The agenda for the meeting will be as under:

1)      Confirmation of the proceedings of the last CWC.

2)      Brief on development of various issues in the Circle / agendas taken up at Circle / RO level.

3)      Up-gradation of Grade pay – CAT Case

4)      Issue raised by Odisha Circle:- Uniformity in Promotion of IPs to ASP cadre throughout the country.

5)      Repatriation of surplus qualified IPs posted in other Circles to Odisha Circle.

6)      Inspection Questionnaire.

7)      Organizational and Financial Review.

8)      Issues to be taken up with the Administration.

9)      Any other item with the permission of Chair.

Sri S K Mohapatra, Circle Secretary, Postal Officers’ Association, Odisha Circle Branch and Shri Bipin Bihari Mohanty, Ex-Circle Secretary and Vice President (CHQ) (Subject to availability) will be the special invitees/guests in the CWC meeting.

All office-bearers and CWC members of the Association are requested to attend the said meeting in time. Members who are neither office-bearers nor CWC members but willing to join the CWC meeting (without the provision of special CL) are also welcome to attend the CWC meeting as invitees.

(Pitabasa Jena)

Circle Secretary

Copy to:

1.     The Chief Postmaster General, Orissa Circle, Bhubaneswar for kind information. Necessary orders may kindly be issued to all concerned for grant of special casual leave to office bearers and CWC members as per the enclosed list from the station outside Bhubaneswar.

2.     Sri Vilas Ingale, General Secretary, AI Assn of Inspectors & ASPs, CHQ, New Delhi (Superintendent.(Stg.) APSO Inland, Mumbai 400099) for information.

3.     The President and all office-bearers and CWC members of the Association.

4.     The Secretary, Bhubaneswar GPO PRC for kind information. He is requested to spare the accommodation in the PRC for CWC meeting on 26.05.2013 (Sunday).

5.     The Sr. Postmaster, Bhubaneswar GPO for kind information.

6.    Sri Sanjay Kumar Mohapatra, Circle Secretary, Postal Officers’ Association, Odisha Circle Branch for kind information. He is cordially invited to grace the CWC meeting as a Special Invitee/Guest.

7.    Shri Bipin Bihari Mohanty, Ex-Circle Secretary and Vice President (CHQ), SRM, RMS “GH” Division, Guwahati. He is cordially invited to grace the CWC meeting as a Special Invitee/Guest.

8.    Shri Gopesh Das, Shri B. Maheswar Rao and Shri B.K. Satpathy of Berhampur Region &  Shri B.N. Purohit, Shri A.K. Rath and Shri Mukunda Behera of Sambalpur Region are cordially invited to attend the CWC as special invitees.

Circle Secretary

AIAIASP, Orissa Circle Branch

Request of the CPMG to defer the CWC meeting scheduled to be held in 05.05.2013

CHQ News:-Supplementary DPC for promotion to the post of PS Gr. B for the year 2012-13.

During the course of meeting with Secretary (Posts), on 6/2/2013 the issue of supplementary DPC for the promotion to the post of PS Gr.B was discussed and accordingly, Directorate vide memo No. 9-23/2012-SPG (Pt.) dated 22/4/2013 have called for the certain records / documents of 84 officers for convening the supplementary DPC for the promotion to the post of PS Gr. B for the year 2012-13 by return FAX.

OC : Last candidate of 1989 batch : A. Karunanithi (Tamil Nadu)

SC : Last candidate of 1990 batch : K. C. Velayudhan (Kerala)

ST : Last candidate of 1990 batch : Ram Krishan (Himachal Pradesh)

All the officer bearers and Circle Secretaries are requested to keep liasion with their circle and ensure timely submission of records / documents by the circles to Directorate.

UPU News:-UPU and CEPT agree to work together

The European Conference of Postal and Telecommunications Administrations (CEPT) and the UPU have agreed to work together on issues of technical cooperation and share more information on regulatory issues.

“Our goal is to give a better service to the public using competitive and legal bases.” Ulrich Dammann

Ulrich Dammann, co-president of CEPT, a European intergovernmental organization and restricted union of the UPU, and Bishar A. Hussein, director general of the UPU, signed a memorandum of understanding to this effect at UPU headquarters on 25 April 2013.

CEPT already participates in the UPU’s work, particularly through its European Committee for Postal Regulation (CERP). It has supported the joint implementation of UPU regional development plans and provided expertise in seminars for regulators in the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA).

The MOU establishes a cooperation framework between the two parties in areas of common interest, such as the universal postal service obligation and postal regulation and policy.

CEPT and the UPU will promote and exchange best practices among countries and restricted unions. They will cooperate in specialized studies and on projects within their respective fields.

While solutions can differ, regulatory issues are often the same in various parts of the world, says Dammann. That includes getting rid of inefficient structures that hinder postal development, setting up an independent regulator to oversee the market and ensuring that the postal operator has the right tools to increase its ability to finance itself.

“European regulators are eager to share their experience and help countries from having to reinvent the wheel,” says Dammann. “Our goal is to give a better service to the public using competitive and legal bases.”