EDITORIAL POSTAL CRUSADER NOVEMBER-2017

EXISTENCE OF POSTAL DEPARTMENT AND

 POSTAL EMPLOYEES

UNDER ATTACK

WE HAVE TO RESIST IT AT ANY COST.

                   Government has unleashed an unexpected and most damaging attack on Post Office Small Savings Schemes.  Notifications are already issued permitting all Nationalised Banks and three Private Banks (ICICI Bank, Axis Bank and HDFC Bank) to accept deposits for all small savings schemes, viz: Recurring Deposit (RD), Time Deposits (TD), Monthly Income Scheme (MIS), Senior Citizens Savings Scheme (SCSS) Sukanya ‘Samridhi Account (SSN), Kisan Vikas Patra (KVPs) and National Savings Certificate (NSC VIII issue) with effect from 10th October, 2017.

                   Small Savings Schemes are controlled by Finance Ministry and Postal Department is running it on agency basis.  Finance Ministry is paying compensation to Department of Posts for various Small Savings Schemes related work.  About 40% of the total yearly revenue of the Department of Posts comes from Small Savings Schemes.  Permitting Banks including private banks to do small savings business means huge erosion in the revenue of Postal department.  Even otherwise Postal department is running on heavy loss and the decision to outsource small savings business will further aggravate the deficit situation. 

                   Out of total work load of the Post offices 50% workload relates to Savings Scheme work.  In some Post offices even 70% of the work load relates to Savings Bank Branch.  Not only the public directly coming to the Post Office counter for deposits and withdrawls, lakhs of MPKBY Agents and SAS Agents also canvas for various small savings schemes and contribute to the revenue and work load of Post Offices.  Once the banks including private banks starts the Small Savings Business aggressively, the number of transactions in Post Offices will come down.  This will result in reduction in the sanctioned posts for SB work and ultimately staff, especially clerical staff will become surplus.

                   Few years back, a committee appointed by Reserve Bank of India to study the functioning of Post office Small Savings Scheme, headed by Ms. Shymala Gopinath, then Deputy Governor, Reserve Bank, has recommended gradual phasing out of MPKBY/SAS Agents. The Committee has recommended to reduce the Commission paid to the Agents by 1% every year till it reaches 1% level from the present 4% commission.  The commission to SAS Agents are also reduced.  Due to the struggle and intervention of MPKBY/SAS Agents Associations and lefet parties Members of Parliament the commission is retained at 4% for MPKBY Agents.  The present decision of the Government to outsource Small Savings Schemes to Banks will definitely affect the job security of MPKBY/SAS Agents also.

                   Wage revision orders of Central Govt. employees were issued on 25-07-2016.  The demands raised by staff side to raise minimum pay and fitment formula is not yet considered favourably, even though Group of Ministers had given categorical assurance on 30-06-2016.  Consequent on appointment of 7th Pay Commission, Government appointed a one man committee headed by Sri. Kamalesh Chandra, Retired Member (Personnel), Postal Services Board on 19-11-2015 to examine the wages and service conditions of about three lakhs Gramin Dak Sevaks working in the Postal Department.  The Committee submitted its report to Government on 24-11-2016.  Almost one year is over but the favourable recommendations of the GDS Committee are yet to be implemented.  The file was sent to finance Ministry by Postal Board after approval of the Communications Minister.  Queries after queries are being raised by Finance Ministry and the file is still pending clearance.  7th Central Pay Commission Report was submitted on19-11-2015 and it took eight months for implementation of pay revision.  Seventh CPC report was in respect of more than one crore (100 lakhs) personnel including 32 lakhs Central Govt. employees, 33 lakhs Civilian pensioners and about 40 lakhs military personnel and pensioners.  Regarding GDS, there are only about three lakhs employees.  One year delay for implementation is quite unjustified and it shows the attitude of the Government to the most downtrodden section of employees.

                   Re-verification of membership under check off system was conducted for regular employees as per the CCS (RSA) Rules in the year 2015.  Now two years are over, but result of the verification is withheld by the Government for reasons best known to it.  GDS Membership Re-verification process was almost completed and recovery of subscription from pay in respect of Applicant Association/Unions commenced in the month of September 2017.  Suddenly Department issued orders to stop the GDS Membership verification process.  It is learnt that BPEDEU (BMS) which represents only 3 to 5% membership and  not going to get recognition has filed a complaint and based on the complaint the GDS verification process was stopped by the Government.

                   The above happenings are not isolated.  It is a prelude to bigger attacks that is going to come in the coming days.  The job security of Postal employees, their wages and trade union rights are under attack.  We have to resist it at any cost, just like we have resisted and defeated Govt’s move to amend Indian Post Office Act, Closure of 9797 Post offices, closure of 300 RMS offices, Mckinsey Consultancy’s recommendations and the TSR Subramanian Committee’s recommendations, for corporatisation and privatisation of Postal department. 

                   NFPE has already given a call for countrywide demonstrations at all centres and infront of all offices on 23rd October, 2017.

                   Further, major demands raised in our 23rd August, 2017 strike charters of demands are also pending settlement.  NFPE Federal Secretariat shall meet shortly and declare further agitational programmes.

                   NFPE and all its affiliated Unions/Associations calls upon the entirety of Postal and RMS employees including Gramin Dak Sevaks and Casual, Part-time Contingent employees to unitedly resist and defeat this onslaught on our life and livelihood.

CHQ writes to Secretary(Posts) on CSI issues in Cuttack City Division.

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Calling for Nominations for the seats allocated for training programmes at APPC, Bangkok, Thailand for the Calender year 2018

Public Provident Fund account will be closed, NSCs encashed if holder turns NRI

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NRIs are not allowed in instruments like the National Savings Certificates, Public Provident Fund, Monthly Income Schemes and other time deposits offered by the post office.

Amending rules on post office savings schemes like the National Savings Certificates (NSC) andPublic Provident Fund (PPF), the government has notified that such accounts would be closed prior to maturity in case of holders changing their personal status to become non-resident Indians(NRIs).

The amended rules were notified in the official gazette earlier this month.

The amendment to the PPF Scheme, 1968, says: "If a resident who opened an account under this scheme, subsequently becomes a non-resident during the currency of the maturity period, the account shall be deemed to be closed with effect from the day he becomes non-resident."

The interest payable would be up to the date of the account closure, it said.

A separate notification on NSCs said in case of a similar change of status of the certificate holder before the maturity period, "the certificate will be encashed, or deemed to be encashed on the day he becomes non-resident" and interest will be paid accordingly.

NRIs are not allowed in instruments like the National Savings Certificates, Public Provident Fund, Monthly Income Schemes and other time deposits offered by the post office.

Asked to comment in this regard, an investment consultant said that it is unclear why NRIs are not allowed to invest in post office schemes.

Last month, the government had retained the interest rate on Public Provident Fund for October-December unchanged at 7.8 per cent, in line with the rates for small savings schemes.

Source :  The Economic Times

UIDAI to empower government, bank staff to clear Aadhaar enrolment

PTI

NEW DELHI, OCTOBER 29, 2017

The UIDAI will soon evolve a process for authorised employees of banks, post offices and the government to biometrically sign off Aadhaar enrolment and updation form collection, as the process of applying for the id moves into such premises.

The move is aimed at addressing the security concerns around collection of biometric and other information, Ajay Bhushan Pandey, CEO of the Aadhaar-issuing body, the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI), told PTI.

The UIDAI had earlier asked States to ensure that enrolments, even those by private agencies, shift to government or municipal premises from external private operator-run sites.

Moreover, it has directed private as well as public sector banks to set up Aadhaar enrolment facility in at least one out of 10 branches. “The enrolment and updates will happen largely in banks, post office and government premises. “There also, during enrolment, the authorised employee of the banks, post offices or the government will have to biometrically sign the Aadhaar enrolment or updation application,” Mr. Pandey said.

A process for this additional layer of security and supervision is being evolved and the proposed mechanism is likely to be in place by January, he added. The mechanism entails a staff, authorised for the purpose, to biometrically sign off the application form after it is received.

Earlier, data collection was by a private operator and the form was verified by government-appointed verifier.

But now the biometric signature of the designated official will be taken, fortifying the collection process and making it more secure, according to the UIDAI.

“Earlier the private operator — even though he was a certified operator — used to sign it, now it will have to be counter signed through biometrics by a government, bank or post office employee,” Mr. Pandey added.

Source : The Hindu

Special CWC of AIPEU,Group-C, Odisha Circle in Bhubaneswar on 29.10.2017

 The Special CWC of AIPEU,Group-C, Odisha Circle was successfully conducted in Bhubaneswar on 29.10.2017. 

Special thanks to Com. B B Mohapatra, Trainer, WTC, C O for his deliberation on CSI. 

Thanks to all the participating Circle Union Office bearers and Divisional Secretaries.

Details with resolutions will be published soon.

 

ପୁଞ୍ଜିବାଦ ମଣିଷର ଦୁ୍ର୍ଗତିର କାରଣ

CHQ writes to Member (T) on CSI issues

17 central govt officials face CBI FIR for subletting quarters

New Delhi, Oct 26 (PTI) Sub-letting government accomodation proved costly to 17 central government officials in Chennai who have been booked by the CBI along with their tenants for corruption charges.

The agency has filed an FIR against 17 government employees, their tenants and middlemen for allegedly giving their government quarters on rent to private persons.

"The other unknown accused public servants of Estate and CPWD department also abused their official position and knowingly allowed the private persons to occupy the government quarters," the agency has alleged in its FIR.

The CBI has alleged that the private persons, who are illegally occupying the Governmnt quarters, have got Aadhaar cards, ration cards, gas connections in their names at CPWD quarter address.

The employees booked by the CBI are lower rung officials working in various central government departments who have been given accomodation in KK Nagar locality of Chennai. PTI ABS DIP .

Demonetization : What was the result ? - An Odia article published in the daily 'The Samaja' on 28.10.2017

Stop outsourcing in the DoP

Circle Union writes to CHQ on problems arising out of CSI rollout in Odisha Circle

No. P3NFPE – Odisha / 15 – 10 / 2017

Dated at Bhubaneswar the 27^th October, 2017

To

Com. R N Parashar

General Secretary

AIPEU, Group-C, CHQ

Dada Ghosh Bhawan, New Delhi - 110008

Sub: - Problems arising out of CSI rollout in Odisha Circle  

Respected Comrade,

This is to bring your notice that with the recent launch of the Pilot Project of Core System Integrator (CSI) in Cuttack City Division, the Department has been facing technical glitches for the past few days. Ever since the CSI rollout in the division on October 6, the shift from the old system is moving at a snail’s pace and this has slowed down the transactions in all most all the post offices across the Division.

As brought to the notice of this Circle Union by our Divisional Union, Cuttack City, all the staff members of Cuttack City Division have not been trained in operating new version of the software. The entire treasury branch of Cuttack GPO including supervisors are neither imparted with any training nor assigned with defined work as required under CSI environment. As a result, many important treasury functions are now stopped i.e. CTS cheque clearing works, remittance received/drawn from bank, payment through cheques and issue of cheques etc inviting serious public resentment.

In addition, all most all the single/double handed SPMs are unable log in and access to the CSI software due to non-availability of compatible hardware and thereby counter transactions have almost come to a halt inviting public anger. Contradictorily, suitable trained officials preferably User Champions are not available for instant solution. 

            In this context, we have written to / discussed severally with the Chief Postmaster General, Odisha Circle with request to defer next phase CSI roll out dates till installation of the required number of compatible hardware and smooth completion of proper User Champion and End-User Training to avoid future complicacies.

            Now, the proposed 2^nd phase rollout on 17.10.2017 which had been rescheduled to 27.10.2017 has now been dropped since the TCS failed to resolve the existing issues by the dates so fixed.

            As per information gathered from our staff members of Cuttack City Division who are presently working and members of other Divisions who are undergoing User-Champion / End-User training, the following deficiencies are coming to our notice.

1.    The trainings are not being imparted as per TCS Blue Book on CSI which requires at least 18 days for User-Champion Training. Instead, our User-Champions are being imparted with such training for 8 days which becomes very difficult to follow and educate themselves to train the End-Users suitably. Similarly while the End-Users are to be trained in 11 modules for at least 29 days in average, they are practically being trained just for 3 days in Odisha Circle for two different modules only. The most unfortunate thing is that neither the User-Champions nor the End-Users are supplied with a guide book and the Trainers from TCS are moving hastily just to complete the training programme for name sake.

2.    Both the hardware and software are not compatible as per  TCS Blue Book for CSI. The mandatory check-list for compatible OS, updated service pack etc. are grossly ignored. It is too piteous that most of the offices in Odisha Circle are having pirated version of windows 7 which will certainly hamper data transfer.

In spite of several correspondences / discussions, the outdated systems, and other accessories like printers (both dot-matrix and laser including Pass Book Printers), barcode scanners etc beyond the prescribed life period have neither been condemned nor new systems supplied to suit the need of CSI as per Blue Book. Even when the CSI software interface is very large and can be properly view on 19 inches or more bigger size  monitors, most of the post office are having small size (15 inches)  monitors which put more strain on the of our officials. Every time the discussions are ended with paucity of funds for purchase of new systems / accessories as required.

Adding salt to the injury, no prompt and effective step is taken by the administration for immediate repairing of UPS, Generator and replacement of damaged batteries in spite of continuous discussions and correspondences. Many Post Offices are now running with direct current and suffering a lot during power failure. The offices in rural areas are the worst sufferers.

3.    All the post offices in Odisha Circle migrated to CBS Finacle in Odisha Circle till date are having 512 Kbps under NSP-1 and 256 Kbps under NSP-2 irrespective of the systems in use by the offices. But as per TCS Blue Book for CSI, 1 Mbps is mandatory for offices having 1 or 2 PCs and similarly 3 Mbps is required for offices having more than 5 PCs. Regretfully, some post offices are there in Phulbani and Koraput Division where both NSP-1 and NSP-2 are non-functional. In spite of several discussions with both the Chief PMG and Regional PMG, the issues are still unsettled.

4.    Another important thing to intimate that Odisha Circle has experimentally started RICT in three Divisions only. There are still 15 Divisions for RICT roll out. If CSI roll out is initiated without completing RICT, then the PMs/ SPMs working in MDGs/SOs will have to log in to B O User ID for every purpose, viz. Cash Receipt, Cash Remittance, Receipt of Accountable Articles, Rebooking of B O Transactions etc. Since the work has to be finished on the day itself, the BOs having huge number of transactions will certainly create problems for their Account Offices. Therefore, completions of RICT before CSI roll out needs to be considered first.

                       

Therefore, under the above facts and circumstances, we would like to request you to take up the issue at the Directorate level for instructing Odisha Circle not to go ahead with the CSI roll out further till completion of RICT in the Circle and suitable solutions to the above hardware, software, connectivity and training issues.

Awaiting your positive action and immediate response.

With regards.

 Yours Comradely,

 (B SAMAL)

Circle Secretary

Financial Inclusion Will Be Marketed By India Post Payments Bank

October 26, 2017 

Manoj Sinha, the Communications Minister, this week claimed that the government is operating on setting up 650 outlets for India Post Payments Bank to make easy the financial enclosure, and revealed 2 new schemes by the postal division.

“We will be opening almost 650 outlets for India Post Payments Bank all over India. Two, namely in Ranchi and Raipur, have already commenced. The goal is that via 650 banks for post payments, we can force financial enclosure in 1.55 Lakh rural areas,” Sinha claimed to the media.

Sinha urged the postal workers to carry on reorienting themselves with disruptions and technological changes in order to drive innovative schemes to users, all the while keeping the communal values.

“Given the disruptions and with the approach technology is changing, it is fine to connect yourself with tech but values of department too have to be preserved, and that is the largest defy,” he claimed pointing out the long past of postal services in India, specifically the importance of the postman in rural area of the country.

The minister who was talking at an occasion to memorialize National Postal Week also declared 2 new schemes namely e-IPO (Indian Postal Order) and International Tracked Packet Service. The e-IPO was rolled out in denominations of Rs 50, Rs 20, and Rs 100 and now can be employed for educational institutions for fee payment and other causes. Previously, e-IPO of Rs 10 might be utilized only for RTI purposes.

The e-IPO has been launched out as a lead project in Delhi, Bihar, and Karnataka and is anticipated to be rolled out in the whole nation in the upcoming 2 Months. “Users can obtain e-IPO online from workplace or home of their own, as per their convenience. This roll out is a fraction of Digital India proposal since the transaction will be made via credit card, debit card, and net banking,” claimed Department of Post to the media in a statement.

The minister claimed that the postal department of India has undergone a huge change over the time, be it core banking, inter-operability of ATMs, or Aadhaar enrolment and providing of Passport Seva.

Source : http://columnistnews.com/

NFPE, Odisha writes to Chief PMG regarding engagement of Outsourced Postal Agents in Bhubaneswar Division

No. NFPE – ODI / Corr / 2017

Dated at Bhubaneswar the 27^th October, 2017

To

Dr. Santosh Kumar Kamila, IPoS

Chief Postmaster General

Odisha Circle, Bhubaneswar – 751 001

Sub:-  Regarding Engagement of Outsourced Postal Agents

Respected Sir,

It has come to the notice of this Federation that SSPOs, Bhubaneswar Division has issued a public notice in some popular local daily newspapers to engage Outsourced Postal Agents for booking and delivery of Registered, Speed Post and Parcels and a walk-in-interview has been scheduled on 30.10.2017 in Divisional Office, Bhubaneswar.

Our delivery staff are now engaged in picking up the Registered, Speed Post and Parcels including ordinary articles from the door points of the customer and the statistics is gradually increasing day by day. We are also experiencing your personal efforts to make aware the delivery staff during your visit to different offices and also in several workshops and meetings. In this context, engagement of OPAs seems to be contradictory. Delivery of accountable articles will certainly affect the workload of the delivery staff who will be only left with delivery of ordinary articles and thus there will be a negative impact on the staff strength also.

As per information available with us, such engagement in other Circles like Maharastra etc is not yet implemented.

Thus, for the welfare of the staff members, we would like to request you to kindly allow us for a constructive discussion in this regard as per your convenience. And till then, SSPOs, Bhubaneswar may kindly be instructed to stop engagement of OPAs.

Expecting your kind response, Sir.

 With regards.

Yours faithfully,

(BRUHASPATI SAMAL)

Chairman

NFPE Odisha State CoC  

Observance of Vigilance Awareness Week, 2017

Metro pillars are the new postal addresses

 

The other section that is grateful for the new landmark is cab drivers.   | Photo Credit: K_MURALI_KUMAR

They have become easily identifiable landmarks

Jayavelu P., owner of a photo studio in J.P. Nagar, used to have a tough time telling his clients where his shop was located. But over the past few months, he has found a landmark to help identify his shop easily: metro pillar number 59.

“Earlier, I would ask people to come near a bakery near my studio. But only residents living in the area would identify it. This pillar number makes it easy for everybody to locate my shop,” he said.

Not just shops; the landmark for several apartments and homes is also changing. The trend has gained popularity after Namma Metro’s Green Line stretch between Sampige Road and Yelachenahalli became functional.

This has not only changed the way people are commuting across the city, but also the postal address of several people living along the metro line.

Even the Postal Department has acknowledged this trend and are treating it as an advantage.

S. Shivaram, Chief Postmaster, Bengaluru GPO said including metro pillars would be a big advantage for postmen. “Normally in the postal address people include landmarks such as shops, banks or other establishments. But a postman can identify it easily only if he is familiar with the landmark. But with the pillar numbers included, it will be easily to spot them along the metro line,” he said.

Devaraju S., a postman who works near J.P. Nagar, said he has now increasingly been seeing people tweaking their postal address to to include their pillar number in J.P. Nagar and Yelachenahalli over the past three months.

“I have been working for several years in this area and can locate the house by just glancing at the address once. So this will not serve much purpose for us. But it will certainly help others locate places more easily,” he said.

The other section that is grateful for the new landmark is cab drivers. Madan D., a cab driver, said that the practice has become common in the last few months.

“It is extremely easy to locate if the customer tells the metro pillar number close to their house. They can use a pillar to tell us where to take a u-turn or take a right turn. It becomes very useful as a landmark,” he said, adding that this helps identify and reach his destination quicker. 

Source : http://www.thehindu.com

Postal dept ready to deliver traffic e-challans by speed post

 Mumbai, Oct 25 (PTI) The Maharashtra and Goa circle of the postal department has expressed willingness to deliver e-challans to traffic offenders by speed post.

The department has written a letter to the Mumbai Traffic Police as well as the state government in this regard, an official said.

The traffic police had been sending e-challans to motorists for violating norms through SMSes. However, this system is reportedly not working well as e-challans are not getting delivered properly because of frequent change in mobile phone numbers of offenders.

"Therefore, we have come forward and written to the traffic police as well as the state government to let us deliver e-challans to their (offenders') doorstep through our speed-post service.

"The violators can deposit challan amount in the nearest post office through e-payment mode of the department," said H C Agrawal, Chief Post Master General (CPMG) of the Maharashtra and Goa Circle.

But this move (delivering e-challans through speed post) will put additional financial burden on the police department's budget. Therefore, the traffic police alone will not be able to go ahead with the proposal," Agrawal said.

The official suggested that to overcome the financial burden, the speed post cost could be recovered from offenders themselves.

If e-challans are printed and delivered at violators address with an acknowledgement receipt, it will ensure offenders pay the fine and police get their rightful revenue, he said, "this will also sending a message to motorists to follow traffic rules." With a view to digitise the entire process of recovering fines from road rule violators, the Mumbai traffic police, in January this year, launched e-challan system.

It set up CCTV cameras across the city to monitor traffic violations. Whenever a motorist broke traffic rules, his/her vehicles number was captured on CCTV cameras.

Later, an SMS was sent about fine to be paid after obtaining the offender's mobile phone registered with the RTO.

According to figures, on an average 5,000 e-challans are issued daily in Mumbai, mostly for over-speeding, signal jumping, not wearing helmets, triple-riding on two wheelers, talking on phone while driving, driving without seat belts and overstepping at zebra crossings. PTI APM RSY .

Source : http://www.newindianexpress.com