Saturday, July 9, 2011

CREATION OF 53 TECHNICAL POSTS FOR CEPT & APPROVAL OF RECRUITMENT RULES


The Directorate letter No. 43-32/2008-PE II Dt. 06.07.2011 with regard to duties to responsibilities of OSD (CEPT) at Postal Directorate in which it is stated that fresh creation of 53 technical posts for CEPT is being pursued.
The full text of the orders can be downloaded in the following link




CHILDREN EDUCATION ALLOWANCE – CLARIFICATION


Directorate's letter No. 33-4/2011-PAP dt. 05.07.2011 with regard to DOPT clarification on Children Education Allowance is reproduce hereunder in the following link.




DELAY IN PAYMENT OF SPEED POST INCENTIVE

Com. I. S. Dabas, General Secretary P4 brought to the notice of Secretary about the inordinate delay in payment of SB incentive during discussions in the Strike Charter.

Based on this, detailed instructions have been issued to all , orders to pay incentive without any delay.

For orders https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&pid=explorer&chrome=true&srcid=0BxNEVCvnmZdeYTNiYjU5YjItY2Y0Ni00OGJkLWI4M2QtNjQxMGQxMzgzYTQ3&hl=en_USplease click below

POST OFFICE SAVINGS ACCOUNTS TO BE TAXED FROM CURRENT FISCAL.


NEW DELHI: The government has decided to levy tax on the interest obtained on Post Office savings schemes from the current financial year.

The Central Board of Direct Taxes ( CBDT) has brought out a notification in this regard recently, which stipulates that any interest earned beyond Rs 3,500 (in case of individual accounts) and Rs 7,000 (in case of joint accounts) will be taxable from the running fiscal.

The CBDT-- which is the administrative authority of the Income Tax Department-- has issued the notification to all the tax collection ranges across the country for implementation.

Taxpayers will have to reflect this investment on their income tax returns.

"Taxpayers who now invest in the post office saving accounts schemes will now have to show the interest earned on this scheme while filing their income tax returns. Interest upto Rs 3,500, in case of single accounts and Rs 7,000 in case of joint accounts, is exempted," a senior I-T official said.

The Assessing Officer (AO) will compute the tax on the interest earned, beyond the exemption limit, accordingly, he said.

The current interest rates for Post Office savings deposits is 3.5 per cent per annum.

The minimum investment limit in this scheme is Rs 50 while the maximum limit is Rs one lakh for an individual account and Rs 2 lakh in case of a joint account.

REVISION OF CONSULTATION / VISITING / INJECTION FEE OF AUTHORIZED MEDICAL ATTENDANTS (AMAS) UNDER CS (MA) RULES, 1944.

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F.No.B.12012/03/2010-CGHS (P)

Government of India,

Ministry of Health & Family Welfare

Department of Health & Family Welfare

Nirman Bhawan, New Delhi



Dated: 6th June, 2011.



OFFICE MEMORANDUM



Subject: – Revision of consultation / visiting / injection fee of Authorized Medical Attendants (AMAs) under CS (MA) Rules, 1944.



The undersigned is directed to refer to this Ministry's O.M. No.S.14025/10/2001-MS, dated 31-12-2002 on the subject mentioned above and to say that the issue of further revision of consultation / visiting / injection fees of different categories of Medical Officers (Authorized Medical Attendants) appointed for the treatment of Central Government employees and their dependent family members covered under CS (MA) Rules, 1944 of various Ministry / Departments / States / Union Territories has been under consideration of this Ministry for sometime. It has now been decided to revise the same as indicated below:-



Medical Postgraduate / Specialists
In Rs.

Consultation Fees


First Consultation
100

Subsequent Consultation
60

Injection Fees


Intramuscular / Subcutaneous
20

Intravenous
40

Medical Licentiates and Medical Graduates (MBBS or equivalent)


Consultation Fees


First Consultation
70

Subsequent Consultation
40

Injection Fees


Intramuscular / Subcutaneous
20

Intravenous
40




2. These orders will supersede the earlier orders issued on the subject from the date of issue.



3. It is also clarified that now there are no separate charges for day and night consultation, as these were prevailing earlier.

4. This order will be effective from the date of issue.

5. This issues with the concurrence of IFD vide Dy. No. C-2699, dated 3.3.2011.


POST OFFICES TO OFFER CORE BANKING SOLUTION BY NEXT YEAR:

In a major exercise to boost its profitability, the Department of Posts (DoP) plans to introduce core banking solution besides setting up India Post ATMs and debit cards for its customers.

"We have set target of bringing in core banking solution by 2012. It will ensure smooth online transactions. We are giving some e-payment services, but they are fragmented," a top official from Department of Post said.

He added that the work for setting up 1,000 India Post ATMs was in advanced stage and DoP had already held parleys with vendors on this front. "We will also issue debit cards to our existing savings account-holders," the source added.


The DoP is tying up with banks so that customers can use their India Post debit card at any ATM machine pan-India. With a network reach of over 1.44 lakh post offices, DoP hopes to transform itself into a post bank.

"Yes, this is very much possible. We are offering three-fourth of a bank's services and have the widest reach. The infrastructure is almost ready. In fact, we have given this proposal to the Ministry of Finance and are waiting for its comments," he added.

The lack of modern banking facilities in rural areas and dependence of villagers on informal sector for their credit requirements prompted government to establish a post bank. "The aim of establishing a post bank is to provide banking services to the rural poor who still do not have modern banking facilities and still have to depend on informal sector for their credit requirements," he said.

The Planning Commission had allocated Rs 5 crore during the 11th Plan period towards this purpose under the head of 'studies and miscellaneous expenditure relating to setting up of Post Bank of India'. The DoP with its huge network already provides various financial services, including a post office savings bank, postal life insurance, pension payments and money transfer services.
Source: moneycontrol.com. July 4, 2011

SIBAL HOLDS ROUND TABLE CONSULTATIONS ON PARTNERING INDIA POST: 2012 AND BEYOND:

Sh. Kapil Sibal, the Union Minister of Communications and Information Technology held a Round Table Conference here today with the stakeholders to deliberate upon "Partnering India Post: 2012 and Beyond". Opening the deliberations Shri Sibal said that this conference has been organized to enable this national asset to play a bigger and effective role in the socio and economic development of the nation. The deliberations will help understand the areas, methods and challenges for developing a symbiotic and long term relationship between India post and key stakeholders. This will also help department of posts to develop the future business model and its integration with the technological architecture of India post 2012 project - an ambitious programme of computerizing and digitally connecting the entire postal network which is likely to further strengthen our potentials and the capabilities.

Key Stakeholders from Banking/ Insurance/ Telecom/ FMCG/ IT/ e-Commerce/ Logistics/ Publications/ Financial Institutions/ Government Ministries & Departments/ Industry Associations/ Academic sector participated in the Round Table conference and engaged into discussions to give shape to the India Post 2012 Project and explore strategic tie-ups with India Post as follows:-

- Public sector banks for retailing of loan products, mutual funds and other new age financial products including micro-insurance, micro-lending, livelihood linkages, pensions, and remittances etc.

- E-commerce portals.

- Logistics for semi-urban and rural areas for consumer or FMCG goods.


- Logistics for print media companies or distance education universities / institutions.

- Central Government Ministries and State Governments for data collection services, delivery of social security schemes like MGNREGS, NRHM etc through Post Office system.
India Post 2012 Project aims at transforming Department of Posts into a "Technology Enabled, Self Reliant Market Leader." This translates into 5 initiatives covering increased market share and revenues, new products and services, improved services delivery, motivated workforce and rural development.

India Post with its vast network of 1.5 lakh Post-Offices and the huge bouquet of services including mails, logistics, finance, deposits, insurance, savings and retailing, have the potential to play an extremely vital role in accelerating economic growth.

The participants from across the industry sectors put forth a number of ideas for symbiotic strategic tie-ups, beneficial for both India Post and business partners which were duly appreciated by Shri Kapil Sibal, Hon'ble Minister of Communications and Information Technology, Government of India making the Round Table conference a success. Shri Sachin Pilot, Hon'ble Minister of State for Communications & IT, Government of India summarized the deliberations of the round table conference at the end of the conference.

Concluding the deliberations the Minister of State for Communications and IT, Shri Sachin Pilot said that today's consultations show that Department of Posts belongs to all. This should be a beginning for new endeavours, financial inclusion and opportunities for rural masses.
About seventy representatives of various Departments, PSUs, Banks and corporate world participated. Secretary, Department of Posts and senior officers of the Department were also present.
Source: PIB Release, July 4, 2011

NEW LAW FOR THE RIGHTS OF PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES

Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment

New Law for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities

The Committee appointed by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Government of India, to draft a New Legislation replacing the existing Persons with Disabilities (Equal Opportunities, Protection of Rights and Full Participation) Act, 1995, presented the final draft of the new law, "The Rights of Persons with Disabilities Bill, 2011", to Shri Mukul Wasnik, Minister for Social Justice and Empowerment. The proposed law seeks to repeal the Persons with Disabilities Act of 1995 and to replace it with a comprehensive rights based law in accordance with the provisions of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD).

The Persons with Disabilities Act, 1995 was proposed to be replaced by a new legislation by the Ministry in the light of the experience gained in the implementation of the Act, developments that have taken place in the disability sector over the years, and also the commitments under the UNCRPD.

A Committee under the Chairpersonship of Dr.(Mrs) Sudha Kaul, Vice Chairperson, Indian Institute for Cerebral Palsy, Kolkata, and consisting of experts and representatives of stakeholders including Central Ministries, State Governments, Civil Society Organisations and experts, including persons with disabilities, was therefore, set up by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment on 30.4.2010 to consider various suggestions and views and to draft a comprehensive law.

Source: PIB




INDEFINITE STRIKE FROM 5TH JULY DEFERRED

Consequent on the settlement reached between Secretary, Department of Posts and the Staff Side the Central JCA unanimously decided to defer the indefinite strike from 5th July 2011. Positive settlement is reached on major items of the Charter of demands. Gist of the settlement reached on all items of the Charter of demands will be published soon. We have made it clear to the Postal Board that if any violation of the assurances take place, or if orders on the agreed items are not issued without any delay, the Central JCA will commence indefinite strike without any further notice. We have not called off the strike. STRIKE STANDS DEFERRED. WE SHALL ALWAYS BE VIGILANT. Hectic and elaborate discussions took place with the Postal Board on 6th, 7th, 27th, 28th, 29th, 30th June 2011 and on 1st July 2011. Secretary Generals and All General Secretaries participated in the discussion.



Central JCA salutes and congratulates all the Circle/Divisional/Branch Secretaries and the entirety of Postal and RMS employees including Gramin Dak Sevaks for the mobilization made by them for the successful implementation of the strike. It is only because of the determination and courage of the grass root level workers the Postal Board is compelled to come for a settlement.

Action Taken Report circulated by DoP before talks on 30.06.2011

The Action Taken Report on all the 25 Demands in our Charter was circulated to us before the talks on 30th June, 2011. The Official Minutes is yet to be received by us. We have made many improvements to the position stated in the ATR by the Department. As soon as the Final Minutes are received, the same will be placed in the website. However, for the information of our members, full text of the ATR as mentioned above is furnished below. The text will be available by clicking the link below: