Swatch Bharat Mission

177 Head Post Officers/Sub-Post Officers, 85 Branch Post Officers and 67 Mail officers were visited by senior officers of the level of Chief Postmaster General/Postmaster General in the month of October 2014 to ensure that the Post Officers are maintained spotlessly clean and to monitor the working of the Post Offices as per the given mandate. 

Secretary, Department of Posts earlier on October 02, 2014 administered “Swachhata Shapath” to all officers and staff of the Department. For carrying out various activities under “Swatchh Bharat Mission” one year action plan (up to December 02, 2015) was also prepared and is under implementation. 

India Post collects over Rs 280 crore via Cash-on-Delivery for e-commerce firms

Within a year of joining the e-commerce bandwagon as a distribution channel, government entity India Post has transacted business worth Rs 280 crore in the Cash-on-Delivery (CoD) segment alone for firms like Flipkart, Snapdeal and Amazon.

While the amount of revenue generated for itself could not be ascertained, government officials said India Post is very keen on developing its e-commerce related services as a major revenue model going ahead.

"India Post collected over Rs 280 crore from consumers and gave it to e-commerce firms, since CoD facility was started in December 2013. The department with its huge network can serve as the best agency for not just delivering products, but also collecting money," a government official said.

However, this is a small chunk of the overall market size for e-commerce in India, which runs into billions of dollars already and is growing at a fast pace every year.

CoD has emerged as one of the most sought after services for e-commerce entities and 50-75 per cent of orders are placed with various online retailers with this payment option, while the remaining opt for credit card or bank payments.

In India, customers tend to prefer CoD as the online payment modes are yet to catch up in many parts of the country while many people are not comfortable with advance payments for products purchased online.

India Post's cash handling services like core banking solutions, money transfer and a robust account system can further help e-commerce firms in collecting cash from users in urban as well as rural areas, the official said.

India Post has about 1.55 lakh post offices, making it the world's largest postal network. On an average, a post office serves 21.21 sq km area and about 7,175 people.

Another official said various e-commerce firms have been using India Posts CoD facility since it was introduced. Firms like Flipkart, Snapdeal, Amazon, Shopclues, Naaptol, Telebrands and Homeshop18 are some of them.

India Post has set up booking counters in the premises of some customers like Amazon and Naaptol, while for Snapdeal it is exploring setting up of e-commerce booking kiosks in post office locations.

Communications and IT Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad has also said previously that India Post is best suited to offer delivery services to e-commerce players, given its wide reach across rural, urban and semi-urban areas.

The Minister has directed officials from the Department of Posts to focus on opportunities in e-commerce sector.

India Post is also ramping up its infrastructure to grab a major chunk of the distribution, delivery or logistics, which will touch about $9 billion by 2021. According to market experts, e-commerce business in India was about $6 billion in value in 2012 and is expected to touch $76 billion by 2021 of which distribution, delivery and logistics constitutes around 12 per cent.

Source:-The Economic Times

Pre-implementation activities towards preparedness of Branch Post Office for Rural ICT implementation:-

I.        The BO should have table to place the Handheld Device and for charging the device.

II.   The electrical power connection is required to charge the Solar UPS wherever power is available. In the locations where electrical power is not available, the UPS will be charged from Solar Panel.

III.   The locations where electrical power connection is there, it should have proper earthing and with one or two plug points along with on/off switch.

IV.   The above site preparation is to be done before the roll out starts for the particular Division.

V.   The data on BO such as the name of the BPM, contact details, address of the BO with land marks etc. may be updated and kept ready.

VI.   The availability of the network connectivity (Vodafone/ BSNL / Airtel etc.)at the BO location may also accessed and the best signal available in the BO may be identified and kept in order to facilitate the Vendor with details to drive best out of the project. If the network signal is not available, we have to identify as Off-line BO.

VII.   Similarly identification of the BOs where the solar UPS is not required due to installation problems of the solar panel or good power availability for more than 6 hours daily, has to be also done.  

To view the format for collection of desired information in respect of Branch Post Offices please Click Here.

The complete information in respect of all BOs is to be uploaded to the specific webpage domain name (to be circulated shortly) on the India Post website by 30-12-2014.

Source : Department of Posts (RB Division) Letter No.01-07/2014-RB dated 27-11-2014.

Merger of ASP cadre in to PS Gr. B cadre.....updates!!!

Meeting regarding merger of ASP cadre into PS Group B cadre was held in the chamber of DDG (Estt) on 28/11/2014. Following were present.

1.     Smt. Trishaljit Sethi, DDG (Estt.), Postal Directorate

2.     Shri Harinder Singh, Director (Estt.), Postal Directorate

3.     Shri Tarun Mittal, ADG (PE-1)

4.     Shri Vilas Ingale, General Secretary

5.     Shri Roop Chand, Ex-General Secretary

6.     Shri Santosh Kulkarni, Ex-CHQ Treasurer

7.     Shri Yadagiri G. Nyalapelli, CHQ Treasurer

8.     Shri P. Ajith Kumar, Asstt. General Secretary-I

9.     Shri Parmanand Kumar, ASP (PMU), Directorate

DDG (Estt) welcomed the representatives of the Association and requested for healthy and fruitful discussion to resolve this vital and long pending issue. The proposal submitted by the Association on 20/11/2013 was discussed in detail. Official side expressed their difficulties in implementing the proposal in toto. It was stated by the official side that there are 2106 posts of Inspector Posts and 1990 posts of ASP in the Department. During the course of discussion, it was proposed to upgrade few posts of ASP in Divisional Office into PS Group B cadre in Group A Postal / RMS divisions, CO/RO etc. as well as to retain the Gazetted status of remaining ASPs in their personal capacity till their retirement / promotion in case of merger of IP cadre and ASP cadre into a single cadre. Inspector, Posts will get Grade Pay of Rs. 4600/- after merger at par with Inspectors in CBDT/CBEC as per our demand. Meeting was held in a cordial atmosphere.

In view of the discussions held in the meeting, official side desired a fresh proposal from the Association. The same will be submitted very soon.

Central Civil Services (Conduct) Second Amendment Rules, 2014.

To view original copy, please CLICK HERE. 

In the Central Civil Services (Conduct), Rules, 1964, for rule 3C, the following rule shall be 'substituted, namely :-

3C. Prohibition of sexual harassment of working women, - (1) No Government servant shall indulge in any act of sexual harassment of any woman at any work place.

(2) Every Government servant who is incharge of a work place shaii take appropriate steps to prevent sexual harassment to any woman at the work place.

Explanation. - (I) For the purpose of this rule, -

(a) "sexual harassment" includes any one or more of the following acts or behaviour (whether directly or by implication) namely : -

(i) physical contact and advances; or

(ii) a demand or request for sexual favours; or

(iii) making sexually coloured remarks; or

(iv) showing pornography; or

(vi) any other unwelcome physical, verbal, non-verbal conduct of a sexual nature.

(b) the following circumstances, among other circumstances, if it occurs or is present in relation to or connected with any act or behaviour of sexual harassment may amount to sexual harassment : -

(I) implied or explicit promise of preferential treatment in employment; or

(ii) implied or explicit threat of detrimental treatment in employment; or

(iii) implied or explicit threat about her present or future employment status; or

(iv) interference with her work or creating an intimidating or offensive or hostile work environment for her; or

(v) humiliating treatment likely to affect her health or safety.

(c)"workplace" includes,-

(i) any department, organisation, undertaking, establishment, enterprise, institution, office, branch or unit which is established, owned, controlled or wholly or substantially financed by funds provided directly or indirectly by the Central Government;

(ii) hospitals or nursing homes;

(iii) any 'sports institute, stadium, sports complex or competition or games venue, whether residential or not used for training, sports or other activities relating thereto;

(iv) any place visited by the employee arising out of or during the course of employment including transportation provided by the employer for undertaking such journey;

(v) a dwelling place or a house.'. 

Central Civil Services (Classification, Control and Appeal) Third Amendment Rules, 2014.

To view original copy, please CLICK HERE. 

In the Central Civil Services (Classification, Control and Appeal) Rules, 1965, in rule 11, in the Explanation, after item (viii), the following item Shall be inserted namely :-

"(ix) any compensation awarded on the recommendation of the Complaints Committee referred to in the proviso to sub-rule (2) of rule 14 and established in the Department of the Government of India for inquiring into any complaint of sexual harassment within the meaning of rule-3 C of the Central Civil Services (Conduct) Rules, 1964". 

Aadhaar based authentication of Life Certificate for pensioners.

To view, please CLICK HERE. 

Alignment of Service Rules with the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act 2013.

To view DoPT Memo No. 11013/2/2014 Estt.(A.III) dated 27th November 2014, please CLICK HERE. 

Air Travel to J&K on LTC : Private Airlines allowed

Government Servant while availing LTC to J&K may travel private airlines in Economy Class only an at LTC-80 fare of Air India or less. 

To view DoPT Memo No. 31011/7/2014-Estt(A-IV) dated 28th November 2014, please CLICK HERE.

Inspector Posts Induction training at Saharanpur

Following seats are allotted to circles for Inspector Posts Induction Training at Saharanpur (UP) from 19/1/2015 to 18/4/2014 (13 weeks). 

Sl. No.	Name of the Circle	Seats Allotted
1	Andhra Pradesh	2
2	Chhattisgarh	2
3	Himachal Pradesh	1
4	Kerala	4
5	Madhya Pradesh	7
6	Maharashtra	6
7	North East	1
8	Odisha	3
9	Punjab	1
10	Rajasthan	3
11	Uttar Pradesh	2
	Total	32

Retirement........

Following PS Gr. B / JTS Gr. A (adhoc) officers retired from Govt. Service on superannuation on 30/11/2014.

Sl. No.	Name of Officer	Designation	Circle
1	Shri N. Ravi	APMG (Rectt) o/o CPMG, Chennai	Tamil Nadu
2	Shri Deep Singh	SSP, Shimla	Himachal Pradesh
3	Shri P. V. Janardhan	SSP, Calicut Division	Kerala
4	Shri P. L. Raghunathan	APMG (PLI) o/o CPMG, Cheenai	Tamil Nadu
5	Shri P. P. Chacko	APMG (Tech & GA) o/o CPMG, Trivandrum	Kerala
6	Shri Nirmal Chandra Mondal	SSP, South Hoogly Division	West Bengal
7	Shri Man Mohan Mahapatra	SSRM, RMS “N” Division, Cuttack	Odisha
8	Shri Asit Baran Roy	AD (PG) o/o CPMG, Kolkata	West Bengal

S. Aruldoss, CS Tamil Nadu and N. Ravi APMG (Rectt.) o/o CPMG Chennai

S. Aruldoss CS Tamil Nadu and P. L. Raghunathan APMG (PLI) o/o CPMG Chennai

CHQ wishes them a very happy, healthy and long peaceful life retired life.

Meeting with Member (P)

GS and his team met Member (P) on 28/11/2014 and discussed the following pending issues. Member (P) assured to look into it. 

S. No.	Pending issues
1	Non holding of supplementary DPC 2013-14 and DPC for the promotion to the PS Gr. B cadre for 2014-15
2	Issue of seniority list of Inspector Posts cadre since 2000 onwards
3	Reduction of quota of General Line in PS Gr. B Examination from 6% to 3%
4	Revision of monetary ceiling of briefcase / ladies purse for official purpose
5	Grant of Honorarium to part time IO/PO for conducting inquires under Rule-10 of GDS (Conduct & Engagement) Rules, 2011  revision of financial powers delegated to CPMG for sanction of the Honorarium.
6	Request for grant of GP Rs. 5400/- to the ASPs after completion of 4 years of regular service in GP of Rs. 4800/- earned under MACP Scheme
7	Issue of revised Recruitment Rules for the post of Assistant Manager in MMS
8	Non holding of PS Gr. B Examination for the year 2013 and 2014
9	Vigilance enquiry in the death case of Ms Mohini Gupta Ex-ASP Ajmer(Rajasthan circle)

Filling up of vacancies on deputation in Centre for Excellence in Postal Technology.

To view, please CLICK HERE.
 

Deputation of Inspector Posts/Assistant Superintendent of Posts in the Directorate

To view, please CLICK HERE.
 

Merger of ASP cadre in to PS Gr. B cadre.....updates!!!

Today, meeting regarding merger of ASP cadre into PS Group B cadre was held in the chamber of DDG (Estt). Following were present.

1.     Smt. Trishaljit Sethi, DDG (Estt.), Postal Directorate

2.     Shri Harinder Singh, Director (Estt.), Postal Directorate

3.     Shri Tarun Mittal, ADG (PE-1)

4.     Shri Vilas Ingale, General Secretary

5.     Shri Roop Chand, Ex-General Secretary

6.     Shri Santosh Kulkarni, Ex-CHQ Treasurer

7.     Shri Yadagiri G. Nyalapelli, CHQ Treasurer

8.     Shri P. Ajith Kumar, Asstt. General Secretary-I

9.     Shri Parmanand Kumar, ASP (PMU), Directorate

DDG (Estt) welcomed the representatives of the Association and requested for healthy and fruitful discussion to resolve this vital and long pending issue. The proposal submitted by the Association on 20/11/2013 was discussed in detail. Official side expressed their difficulties in implementing the proposal in toto. It was stated by the official side that there are 2106 posts of Inspector Posts and 1990 posts of ASP in the Department. During the course of discussion, it was proposed to upgrade few posts of ASP in Divisional Office into PS Group B cadre in Group A Postal / RMS divisions, CO/RO etc. as well as to retain the Gazetted status of remaining ASPs in their personal capacity till their retirement / promotion in case of merger of IP cadre and ASP cadre into a single cadre. Inspector, Posts will get Grade Pay of Rs. 4600/- after merger at par with Inspectors in CBDT/CBEC as per our demand. Meeting was held in a cordial atmosphere.

In view of the discussions held in the meeting, official side desired a fresh proposal from the Association. The same will be submitted very soon.

Age before duty: Babus to retire at 58 instead of 60

In a move that would help curb the relentless increase in the Centre’s non-Plan spending and ease the way for infusion of more young blood and professionalism into the country’s largely moribund bureaucracy, the Narendra Modi government is planning to reduce the retirement age of central government employees from the present 60 to 58.

The move that comes at a time when the Seventh Pay Commission is mulling another sharp boost to the pay structure of the Centre’s 5-million-strong workforce is also aimed at creating the requisite space for lateral entry of technically qualified professionals into the government, official sources told FE.

The retirement age was last revised in 1998, when the then NDA government led by Atal Bihari Vajpayee raised it from 58 to 60 years. The last UPA government had reportedly considered enhancing the retirement age further to 62 just before the general elections, but dropped the move.

The superannuation age was increased from 55 to 58 way back in 1962.

The total wage and salaries bill of the central government, excluding PSUs but including the railways, rose sharply between 2008 and 2010 due to the revised pay scales (along with payment of arrears) implemented as per the Sixth Pay Commission’s proposals.

The wage bill rose from Rs 1.09 lakh crore in 2007-08 to Rs 1.4 lakh crore in 2008-09, and further to Rs 1.7 lakh crore in 2009-10, before the growth moderated to Rs 1.84 lakh crore in 2010-11. The government spent Rs 2.54 lakh crore in wages and salaries in 2013-14. The railways (with 1.4 million employees), defence (civil), home affairs, India Post and revenue account for more than 80% of the total spending of the Centre on pays and allowances.

Thanks to successive pay commissions, the salaries and other emoluments of government employees have, on average, more than doubled in every decade since independence even though lack of sufficient performance incentives is still considered to be a drawback.

A merger of 50% of the dearness allowance with the basic salary, likely to be part of the Seventh Pay Commission’s award, which is to implemented from 2016, is expected to hike the Centre’s wage bill by a third and strain its fiscal situation. In February this year, the government hiked DA to 100%, from 90%, benefiting both its employees and 3 million pensioners.

The Centre’s expenditure on pension stood at Rs 74,076 crore in 2013-14 and the estimate for the current fiscal is Rs 81,983 crore. However, growth in the outgo on pension is expected to moderate due to the National Pension System based on the concept of defined contribution, launched in January 2004. The NPS has been accepted by large sections of central government employees and most state governments have shifted their employees to the new system.

According to Madan Sabnavis, chief economist at CARE Ratings, reducing the retirement age will give the government an opportunity to outsource more jobs, including by bringing in people as temporary consultants, who will then have to be paid only a fixed salary but not pension or provident fund. Their salary component will then show up as administrative costs, rather than as wage bill.

The finance ministry is weighing the pros and cons of the proposal to cut the retirement age. The move, sources said, is also in line with the BJP’s manifesto, which had promised to rationalise and converge ministries, departments and other arms of the government, open up government to draw expertise from industry, academia and society and tap the services of the youth in particular to contribute to governance.

Source : http://www.financialexpress.com/