Thursday, March 10, 2016
PROBATIONERS OF INDIAN POSTAL SERVICE, INDIAN TELECOM SERVICE AND P&T BUILDING WORKS SERVICE CALL ON THE PRESIDENT
Press Information Bureau
Government of India
President's Secretariat
09-March-2016 18:07 IST
Probationers of Indian Postal Service, Indian Telecom Service and P&T Building Works Service call on the President
A group of Probationers of Indian Postal Service, Indian Telecom Service and P&T Building Works Service called on the President of India, Shri Pranab Mukherjee today (March 09, 2016) at Rashtrapati Bhavan.
Speaking on the occasion, the President said that the part privatization of Postal and Telecom sector in the era of liberalization has witnessed drastic changes in technology and exponential growth of the consumers. If they have to survive in the competitive world, they have to keep pace with the fast changing Information and Communication Technology.
The President said that India has undergone a telecom revolution during the last two decades. The launch of mobile telephony and faster internet network in India has enabled India tap its vast digital potential. India is emerging as a fast digital hub. It is the need of the hour to have best quality telecom and internet services. India now has about 46 crore internet users and 37 crore mobile users. The numbers are likely to increase exponentially with enhanced levels of education and cheaper rate of internet and mobile telephony. He expressed hope that the Postal Academy and National Telecommunications Institute are providing requisite technical and non-technical inputs to enable the probationers to take up the ensuing challenges in the postal, telecom and building works sector. They have to work with professionalism, transparency and integrity to meet the aspirations of large number of people of India.
The probationers of the Indian Postal Service are presently undergoing professional training at the Rafi Ahmed Kidwai National Academy, Ghaziabad while probationers of Indian Telecom Service and P&T Building Work Service are undergoing their induction training at National Tele-communications Institute for Policy Research, Innovation & Training, Ghaziabad.
AKT/HS/VK
(Release ID : 137574) (O9.03.2016)
(Release ID : 137574) (O9.03.2016)
GOVERNMENT ROLLS BACK PROPOSAL TO TAX PROVIDENT FUND
New Delhi, Mar 8 (PTI) In the face of all round attack, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley today completely rolled back the controversial proposal to tax the employees' provident fund (EPF) at the time of withdrawal.
Taking the first opportunity available, he made a suo motu statement in the Lok Sabha in which he also announced withdrawal of imposing monetary limit for contribution of employers to provident and superannuation fund of Rs 1.5 lakh for taking tax benefit.
Jaitley, however, left untouched the proposal tax exempt 40 per cent of National Pension Scheme and services provided by EPFO to employees.
"In view of the representations received, the government would like to do comprehensive review of this proposal and therefore I withdraw the proposals in para 138 and 139 on my budget speech. The proposal of 40 per cent exemption given to NPS subscribers at the time of withdrawal remains," the Minister said.
Wednesday, March 9, 2016
Ministry of Personnel decides to allow non entitled employees to travel by air and claim LTC restricted to fare entitlement.
New Delhi: All non-entitled central government employees have been allowed to travel by air whileavailingLeave Travel Concession (LTC) with a condition that reimbursement in such cases shall be restricted to the fare of their entitled class of train or actual expense.
The Ministry of Personnel had recently eased norms for processing claims of LTC -- which allows grant of leave and ticket reimbursement to eligible central government employees to travel to their home towns and other places.
"Government employees not entitled to travel by air may travel by any airline. However, reimbursement in such cases shall be restricted to the fare of their entitled class of train, transport or actual expense, whichever is less," an order issued by the Ministry said.
The move comes after the government received a number of queries in this regard. In many cases, employees did not have railway station or good road network to their home towns and they had requested for permission to travel by air to save time, which was being denied, officials said.
Now, they will be allowed to travel by air and by any airline, they said. At present, those entitled to travel by air have to mandatorily travel by Air India.
A government servant may also apply for advance for himself or his family members 65 days before the proposed date of the outward journey and he or she would be required to produce the tickets within ten days of the withdrawal of advance, irrespective of the date of commencement of the journey, as per the new norms.
There are about 50 lakh central government employees.
All central government employees have been asked to share photos and interesting details of their holidays.
The DoPT has decided to put a limit of one month for verification of LTC claim after the LTC bill is submitted by government employee for settlement and final payment.
"Efforts should be made to reduce the duration of processing of LTC applications or claims at the earliest. The maximum time limit should be strictly adhered to and non- compliance of time limit should be adequately explained," its directive said.
Source : http://zeenews.india.com/
NOTICE FOR MEETING WITH SECRETARY GENERALS OF NFPE, FNPO AND BPEF TO DISCUSS THE ISSUES RELATING TO THE 7th CPC.
No.06-04/2015-SR
Government of India
Ministry of Communications & IT
Department of Posts
(S.R. Division)
Dak Bhavan, Sansad Marg
New Delhi, dated the 09th March, 2016
Subject: Notice for meeting with Secretary Generals of NFPE, FNPO and BPEF to discuss the issues relating to the 7th CPC.
It has been decided to convene a meeting with the Secretary Generals of the three Federations on 31.03.2016 at 11:00 AM in G.P. Roy Committee Room, Dak, Bhavan, New Delhi under the Chair of Secretary (Posts) to discuss the issues relating to 7th CPC.
Kindly make it convenient to attend. The meeting will be followed by lunch.
(Arun Malik)
Consultant (SR & Legal)
Official Side:
1. All Members of Postal Services Board
2. DDG (P), DDG (Estt.), DDG (SR & Legal)
Staff Side:
Secretary Generals, NFPE, FNPO & BPEF
Copy for information to:
1. Sr. PPS to Secretary (Posts)
Copy also to:
(i) ADG (GA) – for booking the G.P. Roy Committee Room and arrangements of Tea/Coffee/Snacks and Lunch, through CPLO. Exact number of persons and Menu etc. will be intimated later.
(ii) Caretaker – To ensure cleanliness of Committee Room and arrange flower vase etc.
(iii) A.E. (Elect) – for ensuring functioning of mikes etc.
WOMENS DAY CELEBRATIONS
ERODE DIVISION
DINDIGUL HO - DINDIGUL DN
NILAKKOTTAI HO - DINDIGUL DN.
TIRUPUR DIVISION
TIRUNELVELI DIVISION
ST. THOMAS MOUNT HO - CHENNAI CITY SOUTH DIVISION
ADYAR - CHENNAI CITY SOUTH DIVISION
CUDDALORE DIVISION
AVADI CAMP HO - TAMBRAM DN.
RAMANATHAPURAM DIVISION
CHENNAI CITY CENTRAL DIVISION
MYLAPORE HO - CHENNAI CITY CENTRAL DN
SIRKALI HO - MAYILADUTURAI DIVISION
ARAKKONAM HO - ARAKKONAM DN.
KUMBAKONAM HO - KUMBAKONAM DN.
R.S. PURAM HO - COIMBATORE DN.
HRO, MADURAI RMS
CPC, CHENNAI
Tuesday, March 8, 2016
PJCA CIRCULAR
POSTAL JOINT COUNCIL OF ACTION
NATIONAL FEDERATION OF POSTAL EMPLOYEES
FEDERATION OF NATIONAL POSTAL ORGANISATIONS
No.PF-PJCA/2016 Dated: 08th March, 2016
CIRCULAR
To
All General Secretaries /Federation Office Bearers
All Circle/Divisional & Branch Secretaries of NFPE & FNPO
Comrades,
The National Joint Council of Action (Railway,Defence, Confederation & Postal) Meeting was held on 07.03.2016 at NC –JCM Office -13-C- Firozshah Road New Delhi.
The NJCA discussed in detail the situation arisen after the declaration of State Assembly election in 5 States as the election Code of conduct has come in to effect.
The NJCA also reviewed the discussion in the meeting of Empowered Committee of Secretaries headed by Cabinet Secretary on 1st March -2016 wherein the Cabinet Secretary had requested for some more time to arrive at conclusion on the Charter of demands raised by the NJCA.
The meeting has reached to the conclusion that it will not be feasible to conduct strike during election period and remain stick to the date of strike as 11th April-2016.
Considering the fact that as per Section 22 of Industrial Dispute Act 1947 with regard to the validity of the strike notice which is not more than six weeks from the date of serving the strike notice. It was also decided that issues of serving strike notice and strike date should be reconsidered.
Keeping in view all the above facts the NJCA took the following decisions unanimously:
1. The Indefinite Strike shall commence from 06 a.m. on 11.07.2016 (11th July,2016).
2. The Strike Notice will be served on 09th June, 2016.
3. Massive demonstrations should be held in all work place on 11th March-2016 in support of strike Charter of demands.
4. The decision of NJCA would be communicated to Cabinet Secretary.
The campaign programme of All India leaders as declared earlier is postponed.
Fresh Campaign programme will be given later.
With fraternal greetings.
Yours Comradely
(D. Theagarajan) (R.N. Parashar)
Secretary General FNPO Secretary General
IMPORTANT CIRCULAR
Dated – 08.03.2016
1. NJCA INDEFINITE STRIKE DATE AND STRIKE NOTICE SERVING DATE POSTPONED TO 11TH JULY 2016 & 09TH JUNE 2016
NJCA meeting held at JCM (NC) staffside office on 07th March 2016, after detailed deliberations has decided to postpone the indefinite strike date of 11th April 2016 and strike notice serving date of 11th March 2016 to 11th July 2016 and 09th June 2016 respectively. The following are the reasons which necessitated the change in dates.
a) While summing up the discussion on Charter of demands held on 1st March 2016 by Empowered Committee of Secretaries (ECoS) with JCM National Council Standing Committee members, Cabinet Secretary has stated that reasonable time should be given to the Government for a fair consideration of all the demands raised in the Charter of demands, since the issues concern inter-departmental consultations.
b) After declaration of the Election schedule in five State Assemblies, the Election Code of Conduct has come into effect. Further there will be polling on 11th April 2016 (strike commencement date) in West Bengal and Assam.
c) As per Section 22 of Industrial Disputes Act 1947 with regard to the validity of strike notice is not more than six weeks from the date of serving the strike notice. Even if we give strike notice on 11th March 2016, for commencement of indefinite strike after the election dates (ie 20th May 2016), the six weeks period will be over by that time and we have to serve fresh strike notice again.
Considering all the above aspects, the meeting took the following decisions:-
1. The indefinite strike shall commence from 6am on 11th July 2016.
2. Strike notice would be served on 09th June 2016.
3. Massive demonstration shall be held in all workplace on 11th March 2016 in support of the charter of demands and strike decision.
4. The decision of the NJCA would be communicated to the Cabinet Secretary.
5. Detailed mobilization programmes would be given later on.
Copy of the NJCA Circular dated 07th March 2016 and letter addressed to Cabinet Secretary dated 07-03-2016 are enclosed herewith.
In view of the above decisions, the state C-O-C level joint meeting of office bearers / committee members of C-O-Cs and affiliated organizations of Confederation scheduled earlier will be rescheduled after NJCA mobilisation programme is finalised. Department-wise campaign and mobilisation on charter of demands (Common demands plus Department specific demands) shall continue.
2. CENTRAL TRADE UNIONS DECIDES TO HOLD NATIONAL CONVENTION OF WORKERS IN NEW DELHI ON 30TH MARCH 2016
The Central Trade Unions in their meeting held on 27th January 2016, besides deciding to stage All India Protest Day on 10th March 2016, also decided to hold National Convention of Workers towards the end of March in New Delhi to discuss and decide on next courseof action programme against the anti-people and anti-labour policies by the Govt. The convention will now be held on 30th March 2016 at Mavalankar Hall, New Delhi. The convention will commence at 10.30 am on 30thMarch 2016.
All C-O-Cs and affiliated organisations of Confederation are requested to make the 10th March 2016 All India Protest Day a grand success jointly with other Central Trade Unions. Regarding National Convention on 30th Marfch 2016 the C-O-Cs in and around Delhi are requested to ensure maximum participation of Central Govt Employees in the Convention. National Secretariat members of Confederation, who are available in Delhi shall also attend the Convention.
Copy of the joint statement issued by Central Trade Unions is enclosed herewith.
3. WFTU- TRADE UNION INTERNATIONAL – PUBLIC AND ALLIED SERVICES - WORLD DAY OF STRUGGLE AGAINST PRIVATISATION ON 4TH APRIL 2016
The Trade Union International Public and Allied Services – World Federation of Trade Unions (WFTU) has given a call to observe 4th April 2016 as “World Day of Struggle against Privatisation”, focusing mainly on the following issues:-
1. To demand modern, efficient, quality, universal and free public services, to answer the real needs of the workers and people, against their outsourcing or privatization, refusing its use for the accumulation of profits by the oligarchy.
2. To demand the repeal of all rules affecting the rights of Public Administration workers in the countries where they are imposed.
3. To demand improvements in the working and living conditions of the Public Administration workers, namely better wages and work times compatible with their personal and family life.
4. The end precariousness of employment contracts and have guarantees of stability in public employment to ensure the independence from Capitalist Governments, either in the central, regional and local administrations and in the State – owned business sectors
5. To exercise the right of Trade Union freedom (association, meetings, demonstration, participation etc) in all workplaces and the right to negotiation and collective bargaining.
6. To implement social policies that answers the interest of the people and workers for a fairer distribution of wealth, with the rejection of charitable social policies.
7. For the rejection of all neo-liberal policies and austerity that in various parts of the world seek to destroy the labour and social rights of workers and people.
8. To struggle for peace and internationalist solidarity against war, militarism, aggression, interference and blockades that undermine the interests of the wokers and people – in defence of national sovereignty, for the people to freely decide their destiny.
Confederation National Secretariat call upon all C-O-Cs and Affiliated organizations to observe 4th April 2016 as “World Day of Struggle against Privatisation” along with All India State Government Employees Federation (AISGEF) and Bank / Insurance Associations and Federations.
Fraternally yours
M. Krishnan
Secretary General
Confederation of Central Govt
Employees & Workers
GOVT. PLANNING MINIMUM HUMAN RESOURSE AND MAXIMUM GOVERNANCE - REPEATING VAJPAYEE FORMULA TO REDUCE THE NO. OF EMPLOYEES
Finance Minister Arun Jaitley seems to be holding a view that minimum human resources means maximum governance.
At least the Budget speech he delivered on February 29 could create such an impression as he talked, in the same breath, about IT-enabled process reforms and the need for human resource rationalisation.
The "governance and ease of doing business" section of the Budget speech talks about NDA government's "unparalleled" emphasis to good governance with special focus on process reforms, IT-enabled government processes, etc. Stating that the whole idea is to remove the irritants for the public in their interface with government agencies, Jaitley explains that a task force has been constituted for rationalisation of human resources in various ministries. A comprehensive review and rationalisation of autonomous bodies is underway, he informs.
The message seems to be favouring automation and less job openings in the Central government services in future. While one can only appreciate the government's intention to provide quicker, transparent and efficient services to its citizens, reduction of human resources need not always achieve that goal. In some cases, even replenishment of human resources could be the need of the hour.
HERE IS WHY
The Central government is already functioning with less number of employees than what is supposed to be its sanctioned strength.
Of the total sanctioned posts of 37.16 lakh in various Central government services, over six lakh remain vacant today. A huge majority, 5.3 lakh vacancies, are at the clerical and support staff level. There are over 50,000 vacancies among Group B level positions and close to 18,000 at the Group-A officers' level. A year ago, 4,802 IAS officers were in position against a total sanctioned strength of 6,375.
The Seventh Central Pay Commission, in its report in November 2015, informs that the current sanctioned strength of the Central government is approximately the same as it used to be 10 years ago (37 lakh in 2006). In other words, rationalisation of human resources has been an on-going process because of which the total sanctioned strength of 38.9 lakh in 2014 has come down to 37.16 lakh. The effective employee strength, if one takes out the vacant posts, would be 31 lakh, a figure that is closer to 29.82 lakh of sanctioned strength forty five years ago (in 1971).
The total number of sanctioned posts was perhaps the highest in 1994 (41.76 lakh) as India's economic liberalisaiton during that period saw disinvestments in sectors like telecom and resultant reduction in government jobs in the following years.
There are more reasons to believe that we may not be able to do away with too many posts immediately. In a submission before the Pay Commission, the Joint Consultative Machinery (JCM)-Staff Side had pointed out that contrary to the common perception, 88 per cent of Central government employees are either industrial or operational staff or not administrative staff. It also points to the increasing trend of outsourcing human resources through contracts, another reason, perhaps, for less-optimal performance.
Finally, this is not the first time BJP government is attempting to downsize the number of Central government employees. The first NDA government under A.B. Vajpayee had brought in a plan to optimise (not rationalise) the recruitment to Central government jobs in 2001. The government wanted to bring in 10 per cent reduction in total sanctioned strength in a phased manner over a period of time. As per the "Optimisation Scheme", all ministries and departments were mandated to prepare the Annual Direct Recruitment Plan for each year in order to prioritise the fresh intake of manpower. It continued for five years, and was extended for three more years, even after the change of regime at the Centre.
It was the Sixth Central Pay Commission which recommended the scrapping of the scheme as it felt that while "multiskilling of the government employees would increase their operational efficiency while simultaneously optimizing the staff strength", a blanket ban on filling up of vacant posts across the board can impact effective functioning of the government.
While appreciating the government's intend to right size its human resources given the changes in the work process due to technology and consequent reduction of layers, the Commission suggested more flexibility for effective service delivery. "Care has to be taken that administrative delivery structures do not become hollow or thin in critical areas", it had stated.
By explicitly announcing the government's decision to revise the pay structure of the Central government employees on the basis of the Seventh Pay Commission recommendation, Jaitley has committed to spend more on salaries. However, it should not result in the finance minister ignoring the warning given by the Sixth Pay Commission.
Rationalisation of human resources is good, if it is purely to improve governance and efficiency. Cutting jobs with the sole objective of reducing the salary burden may not be advisable.
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