Signing of Tripartite MOU for broadband services to Post Offices

Press Information Bureau 
Government of India
Ministry of Communications & Information Technology 28-April-2017 17:35 IST

Signing of Tripartite MOU for broadband services to Post Offices 

A tripartite Memorandum of Understanding has been signed today among BBNL, Department of Posts and BSNL for providing broadband connectivity of BharatNet to Post Offices in rural areas. The MoU signed under the chairmanship of Minister of Communications Shri Manoj Sinha is the first tri-partite agreement to provide broadband connectivity to about 1.3 lakh, post offices in rural areas and 25,000 sub-post offices for high speed internet connectivity to the rural masses.

Speaking on the occasion, Shri Sinha said that the first phase of connecting about one lakh Gram Panchayats is nearing its completion and in the remaining one and a half lakh Gram Panchayats 100 mbps broadband connectivity will be completed by December, 2018. In reply to a question, the Minister said that BharatNet is one of the 9 pillars of realising the Prime Minister’s vision of Digital India.

Shri Sinha said that provision of citizen services is the focus of BharatNet and in the agreement signed today, BSNL is the service provider, that would provide broadband services, the cost of setting up of infrastructure and the operational expenses would be paid by the Department of Posts. Since the BharatNet is the National Network, BBNL would facilitate and coordinate this entire operation. In future, MoUs with other Government Departments are also proposed to be signed.

CONFEDERATION NEWS : CELEBRATE MAY DAY IN A BEFITTING MANNER

CONFEDERATION OF CENTRAL GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES & WORKERS

CENTRAL HEADQUARTERS,  NEW DELHI-110 001.

CELEBRATE MAY DAY IN A BEFITTING MANNER

HOIST FLAGS IN FRONT OF ALL CENTRAL GOVT. OFFICES.  

 
CONDUCT JOINT RALLIES & MEETINGS

        From time immemorial relentless battles are being waged against the slavery and misery of the humanity.  The rebellious flag of Spartacus against the Roman Empire, the heroic fight of Africans for generations together in search of Freedom from slavery, the flutters of red flag to save the human values which are under deadly attack on the anvil of industrial revolution.... all are noble struggles to stop the human exploitation.  19th Century stood mute witness to the bloody human history writ with oppression and suppression to maximize the profit at the cost of human lives.  Later part of the19th Century ushered in a new creed of slavery to machines.  The madness for profits peaked and the workers were reduced to the state of machines and the worker in the factory was a mere tool to earn profit for his master.  There were no definite working hours.  There were no respect for labour.   There was no value for labourer.  It is not exaggeration to say that the smoke ridden factories sucked out the life of a labourer at the young age of mere 20 years.  This was the state of condition of workers world over.

          Many dreamt a great society free from exploitation; many wished for a society of eternal source of full realization of human potential in a pleasant and healthy environment; respect for labour, equal opportunities are the hall marks of a new ideal society.  Many dedicated their lives to realize their dream society.  Many more risked their lives to realize and reach that goal.  Every defining moment, every upheaval in the history was the result of the struggles waged by progressive  minds.  These are the struggles that steered and decided the course of history of mankind.

          At its national convention in Chicago, held in 1884, the Federation of Organized Trades and Labour Unions (which later became the American Federation of Labour), proclaimed that “eight hours shall constitute a legal day’s labour from and after May 1, 1886.”  Working class heroes of Hey Market embraced the hanging noose with smile on their lips.  The fight for eight-hour working day spread like a wild fire throughout the Continents.  European and Russian workers jumped into strikes and walked out of their factories.  In India for the first time Howrah Railway workers went on strike for working hours in the year 1882.  Later on Indian workers struck the work for more than 25 times on the demand of working hours between 1882 - 1890.  Eight-hour work; Eight-hour recreation; Eight-hour sleep had become the slogan of the workers worldwide.

          The struggle for eight-hour work has become a stepping-stone for future architect of a new society.  The thought itself is horrifying that, had those struggles not happened and but for their sacrifices what would have been our condition in the present day society!  How degrading it would be to have no control on our own lives?  The struggle for eight-hour work challenged that de-humanizing state annihilating all the atrocities, laid a solid foundation for building a better future society.  Thus, the struggle which appears simple and of no consequence for this generation, stood as a single cause for sweeping changes in the present day society.

          This May Day is the occasion for remembering reverently all the sacrifices and prepare to shoulder the responsibilities.  Still the exploitation is continuing.  Only deference is that the exploiter and exploitation has wrapped in sophistication!  The form of exploitation changed but the reason and essence remains the same.  This situation encompasses all the countries in the world.  The three decades of implementation of so called omnipotent new economic policies destroyed the economic fabric of our country.  The country became dependent on foreign powers.  Our agriculture sector doomed.  Monopoly of our farmers on their own seeds ceased.  Health and education is not within the reach of common man.  Wealth of the nation has been handed over to the private corporates for plundering.  Corporate Sector dented the jealously guarded right of 8-hour work. Now we will find casual and outsourced labour working for 12 hours a day. Technology has not ceased the drudgery of the worker.  Instead workload increased due to the ban on filling up of vacancies.  Unemployment and under-employment increased alarmingly. Central government employees are facing onslaught on their dignity by not honouring the assurance given on the minimum pay, fitment factor and allowances.  Attempts are afoot to weaken and render the unions and working class irrelevant.

          As the conscious workers, employees and citizens of this country, this May Day has manifolded our responsibilities.  The silenced voice of the Chicago Martyrs should explode in reverberation in the raised fists, throats and thoughts of millions of workers.  Let’s march in unison with the inspiration of May Day!  Let’s protect our own rights and be part of that great effort to build a society of equality, justice and usher in peace and prosperity to the toiling millions of our countrymen.

GRANT OF CASUAL LEAVE FOR HOLDING OF SEMINAR ON “TECHNOLOGY INDUCTION IN POSTAL AND ITS IMPACT” TO BE HELD AT THIRUVANANTHAPURAM ON 6th May, 2017-REG

GRANT OF CASUAL LEAVE FOR HOLDING THE MEETING OF THE “FEDERAL EXECUTIVE OF NATIONAL FEDERATION OF POSTAL EMPLOYEES” TO BE HELD ON 12th MAY-2017 AT NEW DELHI

One day dharana programme by Balasore Division on 27.04.2017

Committee on Allowances headed by Shri Ashok Lavasa, Finance Secretary and Secretary (Expenditure) submitted its Report to the Union Finance Minister Shri Arun Jaitley

Press Information Bureau 
Government of India
Ministry of Finance

28-April-2017 16:38 IST

The Committee on Allowances headed by Shri Ashok Lavasa, Finance Secretary and Secretary (Expenditure) submitted its Report to the Union Finance Minister Shri Arun Jaitley yesterday; The Report will be now placed before the Empowered Committee of Secretaries (E-CoS) to firm-up the proposal for approval of the Cabinet. 

The Committee on Allowances, constituted by the Ministry of Finance, Government of India to examine the 7th CPC recommendations on Allowances, submitted its Report to the Union Finance Minister Shri Arun Jaitley yesterday. The Committee was headed by Shri Ashok Lavasa, Finance Secretary and Secretary (Expenditure),M/o Finance, Government of India and had Secretaries of Home Affairs, Defence, Health & Family Welfare, Personnel & Training, Post and Chairman, Railway Board as its Members and Joint Secretary (Implementation Cell) as its Member Secretary.

The Committee was set-up in pursuance of the Union Cabinet decision on 29.06.2016 when approving the 7th CPC recommendations on pay, pensions and related issues were approved. The decision to set-up the Committee was taken in view of significant changes recommended by the 7th CPC in the allowances structure and a large number of representations received in this regard from various Staff Associations as well as the apprehensions conveyed by various Ministries / Departments. The 7th CPC had recommended that of a total of 196 Allowances, 52 be abolished altogether and 36 be abolished as separate identities by subsuming them in another allowance.

The Committee took note of all the representations received from various stakeholders on the 7th CPC recommendations on Allowances. Representations and demands for modifications were received in respect of 79 allowances which have been examined in detail by the Committee. In doing so, the Committee interacted with all the members of the Standing Committee of National Council (Staff Side), Joint Consultative Machinery (JCM) as well the representatives of various Staff Associations of Railways, Postal employees, Doctors, Nurses, and Department of Atomic Energy. It also interacted with the representatives of the Defence Forces, DGs of Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) namely CRPF, CISF, BSF, ITBP, SSB, and Assam Rifles as also senior officers from IB and SPG to understand the viewpoint of their personnel.  As mentioned in the Report, the Committee held a total of 15 meetings and was assisted by a Group of Officers headed by Additional Secretary (D/o Expenditure) in examining the representations. 

Based on such extensive stakeholder consultations and detailed examination, the Committee has suggested certain modifications in the 7th CPC recommendations so as to address the concerns of the stakeholders in the context of the rationale behind the recommendations of the 7th CPC as well as other administrative exigencies. Modifications have been suggested in some allowances which are applicable universally to all employees as well as certain other allowances which apply to specific employee categories such as Railway men, Postal employees, Scientists, Defence Forces personnel, Doctors and Nurses etc.

The Report, now being examined in the Department of Expenditure, Ministry of Finance, will be placed before the Empowered Committee of Secretaries (E-CoS) set-up to screen the 7th CPC recommendations and to firm-up the proposal for approval of the Cabinet. It may be recalled that while recommendations of the 7th CPC on pay and pension were implemented with the approval of Cabinet, allowances continue to be paid at old rates. After consideration by the E-CoS, the proposal for implementation of 7th CPC recommendations on Allowances after incorporating the modifications suggested by the Committee on Allowances in its Report shall be placed before the Cabinet for approval.

NFPE, Odisha State CoC organized one day dharana programme in front of C O, Bhubaneswar on 27.04.2017 demanding implementation of Shri Kamalesh Chandra Committee Report on GDS

Grant of funds for Modernisation of Non-statutory Departmental Canteens located in Central government Offices

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Inviting proposals for grants to ATIs and AICs under the various components of the Centrally Sponsored Scheme on Improving Transparency and Accountability in government through effective implementation of Right to Information Act for the year 2017-18

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Grant of Dearness Relief to Central Government Employees who had drawn lump sum amount on absorption in a PSU/Autonomous body and are in receipt of 1/3rd resorted commuted portion of pension.-Revised rate effective from 1.1.2017.

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Grant of Dearness Relief to the Burma Civilian pensioners/family pensioners and pensioners/families of displaced Government Pensioners from Pakistan who are Indian Nationals but receiving pension on behalf of Government of Pakistan

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Remuneration to be paid to Gramin Dak Sevaks engaged as substitutes in short term vacancies of Postmen/Mail Guards and MTS.

Payment of Dearness Allowance to Gramin Dak Sevaks (GDS) effective 01.01.2017 onwards.

DOP&T APPROVED AGENDA ITEMS FOR STANDING COMMITTEE NATIONAL COUNCIL JCM TO BE HELD ON 03.05.2017.

The DOP&T has now circulated the following agenda items for discussion in the Standing Commitee meeting of the National Council JCM scheduled to be held on 3rd May 2017.It is understood that regarding the agenda items relating to Ministry of Health and Department of Pension (which is not included in the notified items) , these two Departments may hold seperate meetings with the Standing Committee. Other items including those related to 7th CPC etc are not included in the notified items.

M.KRISHNAN

Secretary General

Confederation

Mob & WhatsApp:  09447068125.

Email : mkrishnan6854@gmail.com

CLICK HERE TO VIEW - AGENDA ITEMS

Government revamps jobs on compassionate ground for Gramin Dak Sevaks : Dependents of GDS to get benefit within 3 months

Press Information Bureau 
Government of India
Ministry of Communications & Information Technology

27-April-2017 11:50 IST

Government revamps jobs on compassionate ground for Gramin Dak Sevaks 

Dependents of GDS to get benefit within 3 months 

Department of Posts has revamped the existing compassionate engagement scheme offered to the dependent family members of Gramin Dak Sevak. A GDS who dies in harness, the dependents of such GDS will benefit from a liberalized and time bound procedure for engagement on compassionate grounds. Henceforth, any death of a Gramin Dak Sevak while on engagement would be compensated by a compassionate engagement to a dependent family member irrespective of the circumstances or indigence. Upper age limit of the applicant could also be relaxed wherever found to be necessary. Thus the new scheme of compassionate engagement will provide greater relief to the members of the family of the deceased GDS who belong to weaker and poorer sections of the society and are thrown into penury and hardship. 

The ambit of dependent family member has also been expanded to include:

•Married son living with parents and dependent for livelihood on the GDS on the date of death of the GDS

•Divorced daughter wholly dependent on the GDS at the time of death of the GDS

•Daughter in law of the deceased GDS who is wholly dependent on the GDS, if the only son of the GDS is pre deceased.

This expansion of definition of family members aims to bring greater relief to women in our society who are subjected to difficult circumstances in the unfortunate event of demise of their spouse/parent. 

The present system of relative merit points to ascertain the degree of indigence has been dispensed with. Keeping in view the unique and distinct service conditions, socio economic aspects and to relieve the family from financial destitution, the time consuming process of consideration by Circle Relaxation Committee has been done away with. Henceforth, a request received for compassionate engagement would be considered and decided within three months from the date of receipt of the application. 

Further to ensure least displacement, it has been decided that to the extent possible, compassionate engagement would be offered to the dependent of the deceased GDS, to a GDS post near the place where the family of the deceased normally resides.