All India Postal Employee Union, Gr-C is the major constituent of National Federation of Postal Employees - The biggest Federation of the Largest Postal Network of the World highlighting the principles of unity and struggle for the advancement of postal workers
Sunday, 27 February 2022
Delivering hope: The Post as a humanitarian partner
“When we speak about humanitarian supply chains, drivers for decision-making differ from commercial ones, where it’s much more driven by cost efficiency,” explains Sophie Gligorijevic, Head of the Logistics Division at the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), on the latest episode of the Voice Mail podcast of the UPU. “When we are in an emergency, it’s not that we do not want to be cost-efficient, but the main driver is really the delivery time, and that’s what makes the main difference. We have to deliver at any cost and by any means.” This is where partnerships become indispensable.
As far as the ICRC is concerned, the main area of collaboration with the postal sector is the provision of financial services in the absence of other providers and particularly in hard-to-reach areas. According to Gligorijevic, the Post’s proximity to populations, understanding of their needs, and the trust that they enjoy with local communities are exceptionally valuable assets. “When we have a strong network of postal offices that is well-developed and that can provide financial services – cash distribution, bank transfer – this is the service that we need. (…) They usually have this extended coverage, they know the communities we are working with, because they are on the ground, and they are close to the people,” continues Gligorijevic.
As essential as it is, the provision of financial services is just the tip of the iceberg, when it comes to the ways in which the postal network can be used to facilitate humanitarian relief. According to James Hale, Environment and Sustainable Development Expert at the UPU, this vast spectrum of the Post’s humanitarian roles remains largely unexplored: “Many humanitarian organizations have already established dedicated humanitarian logistics networks, so they might not be so aware of the variety of other ways for postal operators to assist their work.”
To showcase the rich and diverse nature of potential collaborations, Hale identifies three broader themes around the Post’s role as a humanitarian partner. The first one concerns the place of the Post in humanitarian logistics and immediate humanitarian response, such as transport of emergency supplies, equipment and personnel. The unprecedented contribution made by postal operators to the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic is the brightest illustration of such work. Facilitated by the UPU through its Disaster Risk Management team and the Post4Health initiative, this contribution included the delivery of personal protective equipment (PPE) during the first stages of the pandemic, and later on – on advancing the global vaccine roll-out.
The second theme is a broader role that postal actors can assume in local disaster recovery, including but not limited to re-establishing postal communications, providing affected populations with access to financial services (including social welfare and emergency support payments), and coordinating emergency services on the ground. Thus, back in 2013, in response to the damages caused by Typhoon Haiyan, PHLPost – the postal operator of the Philippines – partnered with the national Department of Social Welfare and Development through Landbank of the Philippines to bring cash grants to about 18,000 beneficiaries of the World Food Programme (WFP). In 2011, the speedy resumption of financial service counters at Japan Post, following the Tohoku earthquake and tsunami, made headlines throughout the nation.
Last but not least are the additional services through which posts support people who have been impacted by a disaster or a protracted disruption. These vary from registration of refugees and displaced persons in the host country, to health and safety information campaigns, checking on the vulnerable in their homes and even helping displaced children to access education. The UPU’s Guide to Postal Social Services outlines the impressive number of areas in which posts can act as powerful social development and humanitarian partners. These areas are backed by concrete examples, such as the collaboration between the Turkish Post Corporation (PTT) and the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in the provision of financial aid to refugees and asylum seekers in Turkey between 2017 and 2019.
“A key message that we would like to communicate to the broader humanitarian sector is that they should consider strategic use of (and investment into) the postal infrastructure, and partnering with Posts to achieve their humanitarian goals,” concludes Hale.
With the humanitarian sector actors generally seeking help to advance their reach and with the postal sector being uniquely positioned and willing to provide such help, it seems that there is a clear match between the two. By raising awareness of this synergy and by helping posts make full use of it to support their communities, the UPU facilitates the delivery of the most demanded resource of all times, which is hope.
Implementation strategy to ensure 100 percent core banking system for post offices
Ministry of Communications
Implementation strategy to ensure 100 percent core banking system for post offices discussed at Post-Budget webinar
Use of postal network for delivery of financial and banking services under aegis of Ministry of Rural Development also discussed
Posted On: 24 FEB 2022 9:52AM by PIB Delhi
Post Budget Webinar on “Leaving No Citizen Behind” was organised yesterday. Budget announcement related to bringing 100 percent post offices on core banking system and interoperable post office account and its impact on the lives of rural poor especially women was discussed.
Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi addressed inaugural session of the webinar. The session on “Anytime Anywhere Banking Services and Interoperable Services through India Post” under “Assuring all rural poor especially women access to livelihood options and access to financial services” was chaired by Minister of Rural Development and Panchayati Raj, Shri Giriraj Singh. It was attended by experts from NITI Aayog and other agencies, and by a large section of people and stakeholders associated with post office schemes from different part of the country. Wide range of discussion took place on implementation strategy to ensure 100 percent core banking system along with deployment of interoperable service for post office accounts. The participants also discussed ways to explore possibilities of the use of postal network for delivery of financial and banking services under aegis of Ministry of Rural Development. Shri Ajit Pai, Distinguished Expert from NITI Aayog stressed that the post office can play a significant role in the area of credit, financial literacy and overall achievement of financial inclusion.
Department will prepare a detail roadmap to ensure timely implementation of the action items emerging out of the discussion in the webinar.
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Saturday, 26 February 2022
Saturday, 12 February 2022
PREVENTION OF SEXUAL HARASSMENT AT WORKPLACE
Ministry of Women and Child Development
PREVENTION OF SEXUAL HARASSMENT AT WORKPLACE
Posted On: 11 FEB 2022 5:42PM by PIB Delhi
The Government of India has enacted ‘the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013’ (SH Act) with the aim to provide safe and secure work environment to women. The Act is applicable to all women irrespective of their age or employment status, working in organised or unorganised sector. The Act casts an obligation upon all States to constitute Local Committees (LCs) in every district to receive complaints from organizations having less than 10 workers or if the complaint is against employer himself, for receiving complaints of sexual harassment at workplace.
The responsibility of implementation of the Act at State and District levels rests with the appropriate Government i.e. the respective State Governments in respect of all workplaces, which are established, owned, controlled or wholly or substantially financed by funds provided directly or indirectly by the State and any other workplace falling within its territory. They are responsible for monitoring the implementation of the Act and maintaining the data on the number of cases filed and disposed of. The data of State/ UT/ district-wise details of number of cases of sexual harassment filed and resolved is not maintained centrally. However, the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) compiles data regarding sexual harassment in work/ office premises (Section 354A of IPC) since 2017 in its publication namely 'Crime in India'. The published report is available till the year 2020, which is available at its website https://ncrb.gov.in.
The Act casts an obligation upon every employer to create an environment which is free from sexual harassment. For the purpose, employers are required to organize workshops, orientation and awareness programmes at regular intervals for sensitizing the employees and towards building the capacity of Internal Committee (IC) members around the provision of this legislation and display at any conspicuous place notice regarding the constitution of Internal Committee and penal consequences of sexual harassment etc.
To ensure effective implementation of the Act, a handbook and a training module have been developed. In addition, Ministry of Women and Child Development, from time to time, has issued advisories to all State Governments/ UT Administrations, Ministries/ Departments of Government of India and business associations/ chambers to ensure effective implementation of the Act. Video conferences have also been held with all State Governments/ UT administrations requesting them to establish and build capacity of LCs in each district of the country.
The Ministry has developed an online complaint management system titled the Sexual Harassment electronic–Box (SHe-Box, www.shebox.nic.in) for registering complaints related to sexual harassment of women at workplace.
On 31st July 2018, the Ministry of Corporate Affairs, at the request of this Ministry, has amended the Companies (Accounts) Rules, 2014 making mandatory the inclusion of a statement about compliance with the provisions relating to the constitution of IC under the SH Act in the Report of the Board of Directors.
The Department of Personnel and Training, Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, Government of India has also issued advisories to all the Central Ministries/ Departments directing them to complete the inquiry in a time bound manner and to include the information related to number of cases filed under the SH Act and their disposal in their annual report.
This information was given by the Minister of Women and Child Development, Smt. Smriti Zubin Irani, in a written reply in Lok Sabha today.
