NOTICE FOR FEDERAL SECRETARIAT

No. PF-01(c)/2012                Dated 09^th May, 2012

NOTICE

          It is hereby notified that the Federal Secretariat of NFPE will be held at NFPE Office, 1^st Floor North Avenue Post Office Building, New Delhi 110001 on 21.05.2012 at 05.00 P.M.

          All General Secretaries and All India Office Bearers of NFPE available at Delhi HQ are requested to attend the same as per schedule.

         The Agenda of the Federal Secretariat is mentioned below:

AGENDA

1.      Implementation of Confederation decisions.-26^thJuly, 2012 Parliament March.

2.    Consideration of the application for the grant of Associate membership to newly   

       formed GDS Union.-AIPEU GDS(NFPE).

3.    Review of JCA agitation – regarding.

4.    Any other item with the permission of Chair.

Yours Comradely,

Sd/-

{M. Krishnan}

Secretary General

NFPE CIRCULAR

No. PF-1(e)/02/2012                             Dated: 09^th May 2012

CIRCULAR

To

            All General Secretaries/NFPE Office Bearers.

            All Circle Secretaries of NFPE Unions.

Sub:    ONE DAY HUNGER FAST ON 21^st MAY, 2012.

           

Dear Comrades,

            It has been decided by the JCA of NFPE and FNPO that all the General Secretaries and available All India Office Bearers of both the Federations will sit on hunger fast in front of Dak Bhawan, New Delhi on 21^stMay 2012. (Monday) from 10.00 A.M. to 05.00 P.M. against non-settlement of agreed items of strike charter of demands.

            Similarly all the Circle Secretaries will sit on hunger fast on the same day i.e. 21.05.2012 in front of all Chief PMG Offices. (Copies of both the letters addressed to Secretary Department of Posts in this regard are enclosed.)

            With revolutionary greetings.

A BRANCH POSTMASTER BECOMES AN IAS OFFICER

ONE SELVI S.ARUNADEVI, GDS BPM, URALPATTI BO A/W KOMARALINGAM SO, UDAMALAPET HPO, TAMIL NADU HAS COME OUT SUCCESSFUL IN ALL FORMS OF IAS (INDIAN ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICE) EXAMINATION (PRELIMINARY, MAIN & INTERVIEW) IN ONE ATTEMPT. SHE DID HER SCHOOL STUDIES IN A RURAL SCHOOL AND COLLEGE STUDIES IN A PRIVATE COLLEGE AT UDAMALAPET. SHE BROUGHT UP FROM A POOR FAMILY BACKGROUND. SHE PREPARED FOR THE IAS ON HER OWN WITHOUT ANY COACHING. A VERY POOR GDS FROM A RURAL BACKGROUND, STUDIED NOT IN ANY REPUTED CORPORATE INSTITUTIONS AND WITHOUT ANY COACHING, COMING OUT SUCCESSFUL IN IAS, IS A GREAT ACHIEVEMENT.

NFPE   CONGRATULATE HER AND CONVEY GREETINGS.

Mrs. Sayeeda Afthar mother of Comrade S.A. Raheem General Secretary, AIPCWEA expired yesterday (7th May-2012) evening. NFPE convey its heartfelt condolences.

SUBSCRIBERS TO NPS TO NOW HAVE CHOICE OF ANNUITY SERVICE PROVIDERS; PFRDA TAKES IMPORTANT STEP TOWARDS PROVIDING AN EXIT ROUTE TO THE SUBSCRIBERS.

           Subscribers to the National Pension System (NPS) will now have a choice of Annuity Service Providers, from whom they can choose their annuity schemes on their exit from NPS on attainment of 60 years of age. Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA) has empanelled the following six IRDA approved life insurance companies for providing annuity services to the subscribers of National Pension System (NPS).

1. Life Insurance Corporation of India

2. SBI Life Insurance Co. Ltd.

3. ICICI Prudential Life Insurance Co. Ltd.

4. Bajaj Allianz Life Insurance Co. Ltd.

5. Star Union Dai-ichi Life Insurance Co. Ltd.

6. Reliance Life Insurance Co. Ltd.

         Under the provisions of NPS, a maximum of 60% of corpus accumulated at the time of exit, normally on the attainment of 60 years of age, can be withdrawn but a minimum of 40% corpus has to be utilized for purchasing an annuity from one of the empanelled annuity service providers. Subscriber can choose from any of the six above mentioned annuity service providers and can also make their choice of the annuity scheme from amongst the schemes being offered by these providers.

          With the above empanelment, PFRDA has taken an important step towards providing an exit route to the subscribers. Source: PIB

LINKING OF GPF INTEREST RATES WITH EPFO

                The rates of interest on General Provident Fund (GPF) is 8% for the period from 1.4.2011 to 30.11.2011 and 8.6% from 1.12.2011 to 31.3.2012, whereas the rate of interest on EPF for the financial year 2011-12 is 8.25%. Rate of interest on EPF is fixed on the recommendation of the Central Board of Trustees (CBT) by the Employees Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO), Ministry of Labour and Employment based on the income earned on the accumulated fund during the financial year. However, rate of interest on GPF is generally fixed after taking into consideration the average secondary market yields on government securities of similar maturity.

This information was given by the Minister of State for Finance, Shri Namo Narain Meena in written reply to a question in the Lok Sabha today. Source: PIB

DEPARTMENT CALLED EOI TO CREATE POST BANK OF INDIA

          Postal department invited Expression of Interest from the Bidders to submit detailed Project report to Create Post Bank Of India. The last date for submitting the applications are 24/05/2012 and the bids will be opened on 25/05/2012. In the tender document it is clearly mentioned the objectives for setting up the Post Bank Of India are as follows:

(i) Provide banking which means the accepting, for  the purpose of lending or investment, of deposit of money from the public, repayable on demand or otherwise, and withdrawal by Cheque, draft, order or otherwise. PBI will be engaged in various types of banking as mentioned in Section 6 of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949.

(ii)  Provide banking services with special focus on rural areas.

(iii) Provide means of additional revenue generation for the DoP.

(iv) Ride on the Core Banking Solution which is proposed to be provided in all the post offices.

(v)  Provide a platform for financial inclusion.

(vi) Provide higher order value added services to over 250 Million existing Post Office Savings Bank account holders.

MONTHLY SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT EVENTS OF DEPARTMENT OF POSTS FOR MARCH, 2012

Postal Network to be leveraged to Financially Include BPL Households

Given below is a brief summary of significant events pertaining to Dept of Posts for the month March ,2012.

Department of Posts have disbursed wages amounting to Rs. 540 crores to 5.45 crores MGNREGS account holders across the country (except in Bihar Circle) during February this year.

An MoU was signed with UIDAI for enrolment and dispatch/ delivery of Aadhaar letters. As per the UIDAI portal, 53.31 lakhs enrolments have been done till 26.03.2012 at post offices. And approx. 9.01 crore Aadhaar letters have been booked till 03.04.2012.

Under the IT modernization project of the Department approved by the CCEA, 8 RFPs have been issued for selection of vendors. 5 LOI (Letter of Intent) have been issued and in 2 RFPs the financial evaluation is in progress.

MoU signed between Kerala water Authority and Kerala Postal Circle for acceptance of water charges through Post Offices.

Preliminary discussions were held with Idea Cellular Pvt. Ltd. for accepting payment for recharge of pre and post paid connections through e-payment.

Training for Savottam Certification of officials of five selected Head Post Offices was arranged by PTC Vadodara .

Project Arrow initiated to improve the “core activities” of the Department and “Look and Feel” aspect of post offices has been implemented in 15597 post offices and 1759 post offices, respectively.

The Department of Posts ( DoP) has decided to leverage its extensive network in rural as well as in urban areas to financially include BPL households by opening their savings accounts at their nearest Post Offices. These accounts will not only serve the purpose of financial inclusion but also constitute critical infrastructural support to transfer cash benefits to the BPL households. This will go a long way in reducing their poverty and furthering the mandate of Government of India and the State Governments. More than 1.2 crore such accounts have already been opened so far across the country. Various Ministries and Departments of Government of India have been addressed to consider delivering cash components of their social security and welfare schemes targeting the BPL households through these accounts.

Stamps were issued on Vasant Dada Patil ( 1st March), Shyama Charan Shukla (9th March) and 100 years of Civil Aviation (14th March).

FROM FOREIGN PRESS ON THE INDIA POST BANK Banking on ways to save postal service

            Talk about killing two birds with one stone; here’s an idea that can take down a whole flock.

            It’s called postal banking, and it could help rescue the Postal Service, make banks nicer to the little guy, raise the national savings rate and cut the cost of financing the national deficit.

            This is not a new idea. A vast array of nations from Germany to India offer their citizens financial services through the post office. We do too, a little, by selling money orders and package insurance. But we used to do much more.

            From 1910 to 1967 Uncle Sam ran the Postal Savings System. It paid 2 percent on deposits (which peaked at $3.4 billion in 1947) and reaped 2.5 percent by putting the money into local banks, thus covering the cost of operations. Customers could save as little as 10 cents at a time by filling a postal savings card with stamps and then turning it in for credit.

            Consider the possibilities. The Postal Service is in financial trouble partly due to meddling by Congress, but also because the digital revolution is driving down mail volume. Congress wants the place run like a business, but won’t let the service set prices, close money-losing outlets or otherwise be businesslike. The government, meanwhile, backstops the for-profit banking system without charging for this valuable service. These same banks treat low-income customers like pinatas, beating fees out of them at every turn.

            The postal banking alternative is old, established and could easily work here. There are post offices all over America, and they already handle lots of cash. Postal deposits could be invested in Treasury securities for ironclad safety, and these new funds would likely reduce Uncle Sam’s cost of borrowing, saving money for taxpayers. Instead of the certificates used by the old Postal Savings System, depositors would get debit cards.

            A postal bank could make money in several ways. Users could pay modest fees for checking and other services, and the system could pay out less in interest than it earns on the Treasuries it would buy.

            Since the goal isn’t to drive banks out of business, individual accounts could be capped at some appropriately modest sum, and there would be no loans except to Washington. Even so, this new postal competition should force banks to treat their smaller customers a little better — while rescuing many poor Americans from the teeth of costly check-cashing outlets and payday lenders.

            Could postal banking be big enough to make a dent in Postal Service deficits? Well, the Japanese postal bank has more than $2 trillion in deposits, and the United States is nearly three times as populous. It’s not inconceivable to imagine an American postal bank throwing off an annual profit of $5 billion, which is what the Postal Service lost in its last fiscal year (although losses seem to be accelerating).

            Besides, aiding the Postal Service is the least of the plan’s virtues — and postal banking by itself can’t save the system, which needs to change regardless. More important is that postal banking would put the government once again on the side of encouraging thrift. People with savings don’t need payday lenders, after all. Accumulating capital can help them weather emergencies, start businesses and buy homes.

            A postal savings system would give people a trusted place to save right in their own communities, without outrageous fees or sales pitches for tricky products. Postal banking could take its place alongside other cherished non-market institutions, such as Social Security and public libraries, that help Americans help themselves. People love their libraries. Why not let them bank on their Postal Service?

• Daniel Akst is a columnist for Newsday.

SOME IMPORTANT CORRESPONDENCES

Dear Comrades,

In general we are not publishing any letters being sent to the Department in the website and those will be published in the Bhartiya Post. Since we are receiving numerous phone calls as well as E-mails, we are furnishing some of the important correspondences made recently to Department of Posts. To read the contents click below on the subjects.

1. Protection of pay of defunct PO & RMS Accountants

2. Cadre Restructuring - case of systems assistants

3. Regarding incorrectness in Answer key of Paper -II in the competitive examination for promotion to the post of IPO/IRM held on 15th October 2011

4. Non counting of training period for drawal of increment - case of Karnataka Circle

5. Recruitment of PAs - Case of Chindwada Divisionin M. P. Circle

6. Surplus IP Candidates ofWest Bengal Circle

7. Notification of PostmasterGrade-I examination

8. Irregularities indeclaration of PO& RMs Accountant exam – case of West Bengal Circle

9. Counting of Special Pay toPO & RMS Accountants on TBOP Promotions

10. Grant of special Allowanceto unqualified Accountants

11. Stepping up of Pay ofsenior officials on par with juniors in case of anomaly arising out of fixationof pay on placement to TBOP/BCR scales clarification

12. Allowing the Postmaster Grade I officials toappear in IP/Group B examination

13. Irregular interpretation ofrotational transfer guidelines 2012-2013 circulated

14. Memorandum submitted by the Circle union,Chattisgarh during your visit on 09.04.2012

15. Maintenance of APAR in caseof Postman and Group ‘D’ by LSG SPM

16. Stepping up of pay in caseof Postman and Group ‘D’ officials

17. Irregular commutation of LRstrength

18. Irregularities in calculation and notificationof vacancies in IP cadre - case of U. P. Circle

19. Arbitrary stoppage of SB Allowance on acquiringMACP - case of Maharashtra Circle

CONFEDERATION CIRCULAR NO. 5 CONFEDERATION OF CENTRAL GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES AND WORKERS CIRCULAR NO. 5 DATED 30th APRIL, 2012 REGARDING DECISIONS OF NATIONAL EXECUTIVE MEETING HELD AT KOLKATA.

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1gYBkXze6zagp4P0yS0k35VaVguWIn4N753Y1OPRAfbI/edit?pli=1

NFPE & FNPO DECIDES TO CONDUCT ONE DAY FAST IN FRONT OF DAK BHAWAN AND ALL CHIEF PMG OFFICES ON 21.05.2012

DAMANDING ORDERS ON PENDING AGREED ITEMS OF CHARTER OF DEMANDS

MAKE THE PROGRAMME A GRAND SUCCESS

NATIONAL FEDERATION OF POSTAL EMPLOYEES

FEDERATION OF NATIONAL POSTAL ORGANIZATIONS

NEW DELHI

RefJCA/AGTN/2012                                                                                              Dated 02.05.2012

To,

Mrs. Manjula Prashar

Secretary

Department of Posts

Dak Bhawan, New Delhi – 110001

Madam,

Sub: -  Undue delay in settlement of agreed items of the strike charter of Demands.

Ref: -   Our letter even no. dated 22.03.2012

Kindly refer to our letter dated 22.03.2012 on the above subject (copy enclosed for ready reference) where in we have brought to your notice the undue delay taking place in settling the already agreed items of the charter of Demands. It is regretted to inform you that evenafter a lapse of one month no remarkable improvement has taken place and more or less the position remains almost the same.

In view of the above, notice is hereby given that the secretary Generals of NFPE & FNPO and also all other General Secretaries shall be sitting on one day hunger fast in front of the Dak Bhawan and also in front of all Chief PMG offices on 21^st May 2012, Monday from 10.00 AM to 05.00 PM demanding settlement of the agreed items without any further delay. We hope that the administration shall come forward to settle the issues amicably as we do no intent to precipitate the issues further to a stage of confrontation and direct action.

Awaiting favourable response,

Yours faithfully,

                                                                                                                                     

     (M. Krishnan)                                                                                                 D. Theagarajan

     Secretary General, NFPE                                                                              Secretary General, FNPO

NATIONAL FEDERATION OF POSTAL EMPLOYEES

FEDERATION OF NATIONAL POSTAL ORGANISATIONS

Ref: JCA/AGTN/2012                                                                                          Dated – 22.03.2012

To,

Mrs. Manjula Prashar

Secretary,

Department of Posts

Dak Bhawan, New Delhi – 110001

Madam,

Sub: - Undue delay in settlement of agreed items on the Charter of Demands.

A kind attention is invited to the discussions we had during strike Charter of demands and also further assurances to us that unlike in the past whatever assured during discussions will be implemented without any delay.

But to our dismay, many of the assured items are still not disposed of favourably and even the clarifications assured to be issued are still pending. Further it is learnt that the Internal Finance is rejecting the assurances given by Minister for state for communication and also the Secretary, Department of Posts. which causes a serious concern.  The following are the few items in which categorical assurance had been ensured in the minutes of the meeting and also during discussions.

1.      Separate orders communicating the decision that no mail office will be closed for next three years and no dislocation of staff to places outside headquarters.

2.      Orders communicating the decisions about no closure/merger of Post offices if no simultaneous relocation is possible.

3.      Revision of wages to casual labourers & absorption.

4.      Revised recruitment Rules for Group D & Postman as agreed and syllabus for Group ‘D’ examination (25% from GDS) & Postmen/Mailguard.

5.      Revision of cash handling norms to GDS & ensuring no reduction of TRCA under any circumstances and enhancing the Bonus ceiling to 3500/- & revise the cash allowance to BPM at the rate of Rs.50/- per trip instead of month.

6.      Orders revising the instructions liberalizing the powers to the divisional heads instead of circle heads in case of tenure posting to C and B Class offices.

7.      Reiteration of earlier instructions on the Grant of Special pay to unqualified Accountants & Counting of Special Allowance for pay fixation without filling SLP against Bangalore High Court judgment.

8.      Circulation of clarification given to Punjab circle to the remaining circles also in respect of protection of pay of defunct PO & RMS Accountants.

9.      Orders on forcible allotment of staff quarters to the town SOs SPMs as post attached quarters.

10.  Non supply of balance statement of NPS to the official as on 31.03.2011.

11.  Enhancement of financial powers to LSG, HSG II & HSG I.

12.  Enhancing the honorarium for invigilators engaged in departmental examinations.

13.  Allowing the physically handicapped candidates for appearing IPO examinations.

14.  Orders on drawal of Cash handling allowance to Treasurers, Accountants irrespective of their position in MACP.

15.  Finalisation of cadre review proposals before 31.3.2012.

16.  Payment of incentive instead of honorarium for attending the PLI/RPLI work at divisional offices after decentralization.

17.  Orders for repatriation of officials deputed for PLI/RPLI work to CO/RO to their home divisions.

18.  Allowing the Postmaster’s cadre officials to appear for IPO/PSS Group B examination.

19.  Orders permitting the Postmaster Cadre officials to officiate in HSG I vacancies.

20.  DO letter from Member (P) to all circle heads to fill up all posts of Sorting Postmen, Mail overseer, cash overseer & Head Postmen.

21.  Allowing MTS to decline promotion to postmen cadre under seniority quota without loosing MACP promotion.

22.  Reiteration of instructions for rotational transfer for SBCO staff by notifying cluster of divisions.

23.  Issue instructions to all for ensuring filling up of all sanctioned LR posts.

24.  Prompt grant of child care leave – Issue of instructions.

25.  Clarifications to be issued on MACP as agreed upon on the following:

(i)     MACP will not be deferred on the ground at contemplated disciplinary/vigilance proceedings.

(ii)   Instructions on review of ACRs/APARs by scruitiny committees.

(iii) Recovery orders by DAP in the matter of pay fixation on MACP in case of MTS

(iv)  Cases relating to declining promotion prior to issue of MACP order (Prior to 2009)

26.  Issuing clear instructions to all Chief PMGs that in the city areas where RO/Cos are situated decentralisation of RPLI/PLI should not be done to city Postal Divisions, instead the work will be done by RO/CO staff as done before.

27.  Issuing orders on the items finalized by the Postmen committee and also follow up action on certain items to be referred to work study unit.

28.  Cadre-restructuring and settlement of Group D and sorter anomaly issues relating to Postal Accounts.

29.  Follow up action on civil wing employees issues.

30.  Examination of CRC & EPP norms.

Apart from the above, the minutes of the standing committee (JCM) and also the reply to the items already discussed in the strike charter but included on JCM items are yet to be issued.

It is constrained to inform that in the event of non settlement of the above items within one month we have decided to observe one day token fast in front of Directorate by all the General Secretaries.

We trust that your will effectively intervene and maintain tranquility in service.

With profound regards,

           

D. Theagarajan                                                                                   M. Krishnan

Secretary General                                                                               Secretary General

FNPO                                                                                                   NFPE

MAY DAY GREETINGS TO YOU ALL.

    

“THE TIME WILL COME WHEN OUR SILENCE WILL BE MORE ELOQUENT THAN OUR SPEECHES”.MAY DAY MARTYRS, FROM THE GALLOWS, JUST BEFORE HANGED. LET US PLEDGE TO MAKE THEIR DREAMS A REALITY. MAY DAY GREETINGS TO YOU ALL. M. Krishnan Secretary General, NFPE

COMRADE R.G.SAVANUR, EX AGS, AIPEU GROUP ‘C’ (CHQ) EVERLASTING GUIDING SPIRIT OF KARNATAKA BREATHED HIS LAST ON 28.4.2012 AFTERNOON DURING HIS VISIT TO DHARWAD. NFPE CONVEYS ITS HEARTFELT CONDOLENCES.

CCS (LTC) RULES, 1988 - RELAXATION FOR TRAVEL BY AIR TO VISIT NER.

            Copy of Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions, Department of Personnel & Training O.M. No. 31011/4/2007-Estt.(A) dated 20^th April, 2012.

OFFICE MEMORANDUM

Sub: CCS (LTC) Rules, 1988 - Relaxation for travel by air to visit NER.

            The undersigned is directed to refer to this Department O.Ms of even No. dated 02.05.2008 and 20.04.2010 on the subject mentioned above and to say that the relaxation for LTC travel to visit North Eastern Region under CCS(LTC) Rules, 1988 contained in the O.M. dated 02.05.2008 is extended further for two years beyond 1^st May 2012.

2.         Hindi version follows.

Sd/-

(B. Bandyopadhdyay)

Under Secretary to the Government of India

Tel:23040341.

GRANT OF HONORARIUM FOR SETTING QUESTION PAPERS, VALUATION & CONDUCTING LIMITED DEPARTMENTAL COMPETITIVE EXAMINATIONS –REVISION OF RATES

https://docs.google.com/open?id=0BxNEVCvnmZdeN0ZqcEsxdVNKRnM

11th MEETING OF THE POSTAL SERVICES STAFF WELFARE BOARD WILL BE HELD IN SHRI G.P. ROY COMMITTEE ROOM OF DAK BHAWAN, NEW DELHI ON 16.05.2012 UNDER THE CHAIRPERSONSHIP OF HO`NBLE MINISTER OF STATE FOR COMMUNICATIONS & IT

MODERNISATION OF POST OFFICES The Government plans to set up 1000 Automated Teller Machines (ATMs) and carry out computerization of Post Offices in the country as part of its ongoing modernization and upgradation drive. The Minister of State for Communications and Information Technology Shri Sachin Pilot informed the Lok Sabha today that the Department of Posts proposes to set up 1000 ATMs. 820 Head Post Offices have been identified for setting up ATMs across the country. Shri Pilot said that remaining 180 Post Offices will be identified during implementation phase. Of these a maximum 100 ATMs would be set up in Andhra Pradesh. The Minister said nearly 25000 Departmental Post Offices have been computerized. The Department offers a number of premium services like Speed Post, Express Parcel Post, Logistics Post etc. to generate additional revenue for the Department, he added. BK/AT/PM

CENTRAL GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES GROUP INSURANCE SCHEME-1980-TABLES OF BENEFITS FOR THE SAVINGS FUND FOR THE PERIOD FROM 01.01.2012 TO 31.12.2012

http://finmin.nic.in/the_ministry/dept_expenditure/notification/cgegis/CGEISTable24042012.pdf