Stand of Odisha Circle in Jhansi CWC held from 23.12.2018 to 24.12.2018

A portion of the Speech Delivered by Com. B Samal, Circle Secretary in Jhansi CWC held from 23.12.2018 to 24.12.2018

Beloved Comrade President,

Respected Secy. Genl., NFPE and Genl. Secy., AIPEU, Gr-C, CHQ, Leaders on the Dais / CWC Members / Circle Secretaries, Members of Women Sub Committee / Comrades of Jhansi Division

On behalf of Odisha Circle, I would like to record my sincere obligation first of all to the Comrades of Jhansi Division for shouldering this vast responsibility of conducting our Central Working Committee Meeting in Jhansi in such a nice and organized manner. Simultaneously, a grand salute to this historic land of Jhansi which symbolises strength, valour and courage not only of queen Laxmibai but the people of undivided India through the Sepoy Mutiny of 1857, the first struggle of Indian Independence.

Comrades ! Standing on the land of Jhansi, when we are organizing our Central Working Committee meeting in a critical juncture just before the 2 days nationwide historic strike on 8^th and 9^th January, 2019, our discussions may be incomplete if we fail to remind Lord Dalhousie, the Governor-General of British East India Company from 1848 to 1856 and who is also treated as the father of India Post.

Before discussing on the core issues as per agenda, I feel it quite necessary to discuss two important aspects related to Lord Dalhousie since we are in Jhansi.

Lord Dalhousie, as the Governor-General of British East India Company devised the Doctrine of Lapse, a policy that was based on the idea that in case a ruler of any dependent princely state was either "manifestly incompetent or died without a male heir, then the right of ruling over the State reverted or 'lapsed' and such States would automatically be annexed. History says, as many as 31 princely states including Jhansi were annexed under the doctrine. This is one aspect.

The other aspect is that Lord Dalhousie is also treated as the father of India Post with adoption of Indian Post Office Act in 1854.

In his Minute dated 30^th December, 1851, he has clearly stated “It makes the Post Office what under any other system it never can be the unrestricted means of diffusing knowledge, extending commerce and promoting in every way the social and intellectual improvement of the people”. To prove this statement, honestly, if we search about an organization which provides door to door service in India, the land of heterogeneous racial, lingual, religious, and social culture upholding its rich cultural heritage through religious pluralism with Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs, Christians, Budhists, Jains etc. sharing their sorrows and happiness in 1635 rationalized and 234 identifiable mother tongues  inclusive of 22 constitutional languages and protects the national unity, social cohesion, secular and federal structure and democratic ethos, then certainly, the name of India Post comes to our mind. Competently assisting the rulers, elite and mercantile community in its various forms in ancient and medieval times, it has conveniently served both the British rulers and general public in modern times as a forceful organization in raising national and political consciousness and proving itself as the world’s largest postal network with 155000 post offices and one of the biggest Central Govt. Organizations. 

But regretfully, in the name of modernization, computerization and digitization, we invited corporatization of India Post on 1^st September, 2018 in the name of India Post Payments Bank Ltd. Soon after inauguration of IPPB Ltd, our Hon’ble Minister declared coming up of India Insurance Ltd which reminds us the implementation of the draconian recommendations of the Task Force Committee with constitution of India Parcel Ltd and two other companies, in toto, 5 holding companies under the Department of Posts. 

If we correlate these two aspects devised and stated by Lord Dalhousie, we will find that corporatization is tactfully introduced in the Department of Posts and we are being annexed phase wise to the negative recommendations of Task Force Committee which will take away the sovereignty of the Department of Posts. At this moment, I am compelled to think, “Are we manifestly incompetent or going to die without a male heir?”

My sincere appeal to the house to take a right decision at this moment to save the autonomy of this largest postal network first and then to struggle for all other genuine demands.

Important Points touched on behalf of Odisha Circle:

Apart from presenting the issues confronted by P-III employees related to FSI, CSI, IPPB, the following aspects were also stressed upon.

1.    Fill up of Vacant Posts – Creation of new posts for    SAs/BEs/PLI GLs/PAs & Supervisors in CBS/PLI        CPCs.

2.    Upgradation of all Single handed SOs to double         handed SOs.

3.    Close of Aadhaar Centres in all Single / double           handed SOs.

4.    Merger of Postmaster Cadre in General Line.

5.    Change of nomenclature on each promotion. 

6.    Increase in financial powers of Selection Grade         Postmasters.

7.    Benefit of 3% Pay fixation to all PAs promoted to       LSG Cadre even after getting TBOP / MACP.

8.    Gazetted status to HSG-I Postmasters.

9.  Threatening by Divisional Heads in WhattsApp         groups.

10. Agitational programmes on P-III sectional issues.
11. Deficiencies in Cadre Restructuring including divisionalization of LSG cadre.

 = B SAMAL =

Circle Secretary

Filling up the posts of Deputy Manager(Group B' Gazetted), Mail Motor Service, Department of Posts.

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Provisional Answer Keys in respect of LGO exam held on 09.12.2018 (for promotion from Postman/Mail Guard and MTS to PA/SA Cadre).

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Result of Provisionallv Admitted Candidates - Limited Departmental Competitive Examination (LDCE) for promotion to the cadre of Postal Service Group 'B' (PS Gr. 'B') for the years 2O12-13 to 2OL6-17, held on 18th December, 2O16.

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Transfer/posting of regular Higher Administrative Grade(HAG) officer of Indian Postal Service, Group 'A'.

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Final All India Seniority List of Inspector Posts for the year 2001 and 2002

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Annual Inspection Programme of Members,postal services Board & Addl.DG (Coord.) for the inspection year 2019.

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Duration of time after which the Speed Post article is to be treated as lost Regarding

UPU Remuneration Systems – New Frontiers for an Old World?

Conference on Postal Regulation – 9 April 2019

The UPU Council of Administration is launching a public consultation on the UPU remuneration systems through the Conference on Postal Regulation, which will be held on Tuesday, 9 April 2019 under the theme "UPU Remuneration Systems – New Frontiers for an Old World?".

The conference will be organized as a forum for broad consultation, beyond the most direct stakeholders of the UPU. As part of the consultation process, all interested parties are invited to submit their papers for the conference. See below for more information about the deadlines and submission guidelines for conference papers.

Background

The UPU and the international treaties it oversees do not set the prices that a retailer or shopper, be it a private individual or a company, pays to a postal operator (designated operator) for the international delivery of postal items, including e-commerce items. This is a matter for the designated operator and its customer, and where domestic postage prices are controlled by a government, the government concerned.

The purpose of the UPU remuneration systems is to compensate the designated operators of destination countries for the cost of handling, transporting and delivering postal items from abroad. Although the relationship between the UPU remuneration systems and postage is indirect, UPU remuneration does constitute a major cost component that needs to be taken into consideration by the sending designated operator when it receives, processes and dispatches a postal item sent to an addressee residing in another country. For destination countries, receiving cost-covering remuneration is important to ensure the sustainability and development of the universal postal service.

UPU member countries are responsible for negotiating, approving and implementing the treaty rules governing the UPU remuneration systems. As a result, the terminal dues and other UPU remuneration are constantly reviewed and updated in line with market conditions and other important principles, such as those of ensuring cost coverage and non-discriminatory access by the world's citizens to an affordable universal postal service.

The review of the UPU remuneration systems is entering an important phase as some of the work on the development of proposals for a new integrated remuneration system has been expedited. At its meeting in October 2018, the Council of Administration decided that, in support of this work, the regulatory and market impacts of the current UPU remuneration systems should be thoroughly assessed and that the learnings from this review should be fully taken into account when proposals for the remuneration systems are presented to UPU member countries for their consideration and approval.

Call for papers

As part of this consultation process, interested parties will have the opportunity to submit research and policy papers within the scope of the conference topics. All papers received by the International Bureau by 8 March 2019 will be published on a dedicated web page. There is no requirement to register or participate in the Conference on Postal Regulation in order to submit a paper.

Following a review process, a number of papers will be selected for publication in the conference volume titled UPU Remuneration Systems – New Frontiers for an Old World? Papers selected for the book will be announced at the Conference on Postal Regulation on 9 April 2019. Papers will only be published in print upon written consent by the authors.

Please take into account the following important dates:

* All papers will be published in English on the dedicated website. Papers originally submitted in French will be translated into English and published in both French and English on the website.
Deadline for paper submission in English or French*	08	March	2019
Review deadline for print publication	31	March	2019
Acceptance notification for print publication	04	April	2019
Conference on Postal Regulation	09	April	2019
Release of conference volume	15	June	2019

Submission guidelines

Authors can submit two types of papers: short papers (up to 10 A4 pages in length) and full papers (up to 20 A4 pages in length), plus unlimited pages for references. Page limits include diagrams and appendices. Authors are advised to submit their papers as soon as possible, but no later than 8 March 2019. There is no guarantee that papers received after the deadline will be considered. Authors do not need to register or participate in the Conference on Postal Regulation for their paper to be considered for print publication. No fees apply for the submission and publication of papers (online and print).

Submissions should be formatted according to the instructions in the general guidelines, using the template.

Papers can be submitted by e-mail to:
paul.schoorl(at)upu.int, copy to virginia.espinoza(at)upu.int.

For more information on the public consultation and the Conference on Postal Regulation, please contact:

Paul SCHOORL

Function:

Remuneration Development Expert

Address:

Policy, Regulation and Markets Directorate
International Bureau
P.O. Box 312
3000 BERNE 15
SWITZERLAND

Telephone:

+41 31 350 35 91

Fax:

+41 31 350 31 10

E-mail:

paul.schoorl(at)upu.int

Disclaimer

Any material and content presented within the scope of the conference, including presentations, speeches and papers, whether published on the UPU website or in the print edition, solely reflects the views of the author(s), not the UPU or any of the UPU bodies.

Conference Programme

Theme: UPU remuneration systems – new frontiers for an old world?

•  Download [471kB]

Paper submission guidelines

Call for papers – Conference on Postal Regulation – 9 April 2019.

•  Download [61kB]

Paper submission template

•  Download [42kB]

Source : http://www.upu.int/en/the-upu/conferences-on-postal-regulation/about-conferences-on-postal-regulation.html

PM releases commemorative stamp and coin on Paika Rebellion; dedicates IIT Bhubaneswar campus to the nation

Prime Minister's Office

PM releases commemorative stamp and coin on Paika Rebellion; dedicates IIT Bhubaneswar campus to the nation

Posted On: 24 DEC 2018 2:47PM by PIB Delhi

The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, visited Odisha on 24th December, 2018.

At the IIT Bhubaneswar campus, the Prime Minister released a commemorative stamp and coin on the Paika Rebellion. The Paika Rebellion (Paika Bidroha) was fought against British rule, in Odisha in 1817. 

The setting up of a Chair on the Paika Rebellion, in Utkal University, Bhubaneswar, was announced.

The Prime Minister inaugurated the Lalitgiri Museum. Lalitgiri in Odisha is a famous Buddhist centre of archaeological importance, comprising Stupa, Viharas (monasteries) and images of Lord Buddha. 

Shri Narendra Modi dedicated the IIT Bhubaneswar campus, to the nation. He also inaugurated the new ESIC Hospital at Bhubaneswar. He laid the Foundation Stone for pipeline and road projects. 

Speaking on the occasion, the Prime Minister said that the total worth of projects which were either inaugurated, or for which the Foundation Stone was laid today, is over Rs. 14,000 crore. He said the Union Government aims to develop eastern India as the gateway to South-East Asia.

The Prime Minister said that IIT Bhubaneswar would spur the industrial development of Odisha, and work towards technology to improve the lives of the people. It would help generate employment for the youth of Odisha, he added. 

The Prime Minister said that an Indian Institute of Science Education and Research at a cost of Rs. 1600 crore would be set up in Berhampur. He said that the Union Government has approved many  such institutes of education, science and technology over the last four years. He added that this is part of the Government's effort to make New India a hub of modern technology and start ups. 

The Prime Minister mentioned the plans to expand the healthcare infrastructure, road network, and oil and gas pipeline infrastructure in the State. He explained how over 1100 health and wellness centres are being set up under Ayushman Bharat Yojana, which would transform healthcare in the State. 

In oil and gas infrastructure, the Prime Minister said that the Paradip-Hyderabad pipeline will bring a lot of opportunities for the youth of the State, and will make Odisha a hub for petroleum products. He said the Pradhan Mantri Urja Ganga Yojana is progressing rapidly for expansion of piped gas supply in Eastern India. 

On the Paika Rebellion, the Prime Minister announced the setting up of the Bakshi Deenbandhu Chair at the prestigious Utkal University. He said this Chair would research subjects related to all nationalist movements, including the Paika Rebellion. 

On the Lalitgiri Archaeological Museum, the Prime Minister said that it would help showcase Odisha's rich spiritual traditions. He said it would be of interest to research scholars, and boost tourism as well. 

The Prime Minister reiterated the Union Government's commitment towards the all-round development of Odisha. 

Acceptance of RPF Recruitment Constable (Ancillary) Examination - 2018 fee through e-Payment at Post Offices across India - reg

Revision of Pension of Pre-2016 Pensioners Stagnation Increment regarding

Note submitted to the committee constituted to examine the issues related to the Postmaster Cadre

ALL INDIA POSTAL EMPLOYEES UNION GROUP 'C'

(Central Head Quarters)

2151/1, D. G. Bhawan, New Patel Road, New Delhi - 110008

Ref: P/4-1/Staff                Dated – 20.12.2018

To

The Secretary

Department of Posts

Dak Bhawan, New Delhi - 110001

Sub: Constitution of committee to examine the to the issues related to the Postmaster Cadre

Sir,

We are demanding the following items for your kind consideration.

1.      POSTMASTER GRADE

We are demanding merger of the Postmaster cadre with general line due to the following reasons.

i.        There is no discrimination among the Postmasters who are attending the same work and under the present changed scenario all the General line Postmasters are having more responsibilities similar to the Postmaster cadre.

ii.      After carving out the Postmaster cadre, it become a dying cadre in respect of promotional aspects other than the seniority cum fitness and with no scope of promotional avenues which are available to the General line officials.

iii.    Since the work of the General line and the postmaster cadre is similar and one and the same there is no need to keep a separate hierarchical cadre in the Postmaster cadre.

It is most unfortunate that this cadre is totally neglected after its formation and after the cadre review in PA cadre, This cadre is totally frustrated. Even the P.O.s having the earlier status equal to PM Grade I post is now HSG II; whereas the PM Grade I is still in LSG and equated with the status of single handed post offices.

It must be considered by enhancing their status of PM Grade I and II as HSG II & HSG I. The PM Grade III should be equated with NFG and the existing officials should be accommodated in the relevant posts. There is no need to keep the cadre separately with the exploitation and could be merged with the existing HSG II, & HSG I. The relaxation of recruitment rules may be accorded to that extent, to provide one time relaxation to all the existing incumbent Postmaster cadre officials to be placed in the higher HSG II, HSG I & NFG posts.

While carving out the Postmasters cadre and framing separate recruitment rules for Postmaster cadre, it was declared that the Postmaster cadre is a separate hierarchical and not transferable to other cadres. After carving out a separate cadre of Postmaster from General & IP line, 100% of the senior Postmaster & Chief Postmaster Posts have not been declared to the hierarchical cadre of Postmaster and the IPOs have been allowed to continue as Senior Postmaster till now. In the last six years there was no promotion accorded as per the recruitment rules to the Senior Postmaster cadre.

It is requested to consider the above and cause appropriate decision preferably merger of PM Grade I posts with HSG II, PM Grade II posts with HSG I and PM Grade III with NFG so that the grievances of the officials will be mitigated and the existing incumbent in the posts may be promoted and accommodated in the upgraded posts by granting one time relaxation of recruitment rules and also introduction of LDCE to LSG to the extent of 20%.

2.      CADRE RESTRUCTURING  IN P.A. CADRE – WAY TO FILL UP ALL HSG II, HSG I  POSTS AFTER CADRE RESTRUCTURING.

Heavy shortage is now faced in the feeder cadre, due to non filling up of upgraded HSG II and HSG I Posts, because of the non-availability of eligible officials, fulfilling the minimum required service condition, as per Recruitment rules.

This results in undue hardship experienced by the working staffs who are facing the public at the field. The services are much hampered. More no. of staff have opted for voluntary retirement by within a short period, because of unmanageable work load. 

To come over the crisis, one time relaxation of the recruitment rules should be made to fill up all the  LSG, HSG II and HSG I posts without applying minimum eligibility condition and purely on seniority basis  and  all the Supervisory posts  be filled up by giving promotions notionally, as was done  during the year 2002, when TBOP and BCR are declared as Financial up gradations.  For that, suitable proposal should be submitted to DOPT immediately, without loss of time.

Till such time of getting approval for relaxation from DOPT, wherever there is no qualified hand for filling up of promotional posts such as HSG II/HSG I, the posts should be operated to the next level, till the officials getting required eligibility for promotion, in order to fill up maximum no .of promotional posts either on regular or on adhoc basis. This will pave way to fill up all vacancies in the shortage scenario.

Chain of vacancies should be taken into account while notifying the vacancies for current year and further recruitments, in order to  wipe out  the shortage in  the feeder cadre.

3.      ANY OTHER  MATTER RELATING TO CADRE RESTRUCTURING IN P.A. CADRE

1.      GRANTING OF NFG:-

As per the Department memo.No.25-04/2012-PE-I(Vol.III) dt. 5.12.2018, it was clarified that these LSG, HSG II, HSG I and HSG I (NFG) posts will be deemed to have been upgraded to these grades only w.e.f. the dates they are filled up ie. from the date the promoted official assumes the charge. Otherwise the post will remain in the lower grade.

Whereas, In principle, NFG is a non functional grade and hence the eligible officials should be granted with NFG Scale and the question of filling up the post does not arise. This is being done in the case of other cadres like Gr. B or Gr.A, where NFG is awarded.

Further, as per para No. 4.2 of the Dept. memo. No. 25-4/2012-PE-I (Vol.II) dt. 10.11.2017, in order to avoid inconvenience to the staff in the initial stage, the officials can be given NFG on the basis of seniority, wherever they are posted in HSG I by upgrading the HSG post to NFG and simultaneously downgrading the NFG position to HSG I elsewhere. Hence the question of promoted official assuming the charge in HSG I (NFG) does not arise and they are already working in that post carrying the same responsibility.

                                                                                                                                               

Moreover, as per clarification under sl. (2) of the DOP Memo. No.25-04/2012-PE- I (Vol.II) dt. 16.3.2018, HSG I(NFG) is just a non functional grade, it should not affect the hierarchical order or channel of Reporting of the office as the purpose of introducing the NFG was to provide some financial benefit to the senior most employee of the HSG I grade. HSG I (NFG) officials will continue to do the same work and man the same post in the hierarchy. Here also the question of promoted official assuming the charge in HSG-I (NFG) does not arise.

Based on the above, the clarification issued by the Department on 5.12.2018 cited under sl.(4)should be restricted up to HSG I level only, which are the higher posts  and should be assumed by the promoted official at the initialization period, otherwise the posts will remain in the lower grade. It should not be applied to NFG. Hence subject to the allotted posts under HSG I (NFG), the eligible officials with minimum 2 years completion of service in HSG I should be  given with NFG  up gradation, with eligible pay with effect from the date of introduction of the scheme viz. 27.5.2016.

2.      In order to come over the crisis in the changed scenario, the Leave Reserve P.A. posts should be increased to the extent of 20 percent .

3.      In all the Single handed Post offices, as per the CSI norms there should be operator and Checker. Further in the changed business environment, technological change, introduction of Aadhaar seeding, IPPB works, all the P.O.s should be  made into double handed P.O.s.  This will be a preventive measure to avoid any frauds in single handed Post offices.

In the revised Rotational Transfer policy guide lines issued by the Department the tenure of the Group C and non Gazetted Group B officials, is now reduced to 3 years and station tenure also made as mandatory condition.  This resulted innumerable transfers incurring huge amount of TA/DA and frequent disturbances in continuing education to the wards of the employees on the same Institutions, creating family problems and maintaining double establishments. Hence it is requested that, status quo ante may be maintained in case of office and station tenures.

With regards,

Yours faithfully,

(R. N. Parashar)

General Secretary

SEEDING OF MOBILE NUMBER IN POSB ACCOUNT IS MANDATORY [DO LETTER]

PENSION ENTITLEMENTS OF EMPLOYEES RETIRING FROM THE CENTRAL GOVERNMENT – NO PROPOSAL TO INCREASE OR DECREASE THE AGE OF RETIREMENT OF CENTRAL GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES

                    GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

MINISTRY OF PERSONNEL, PUBLIC GRIEVANCES AND PENSIONS

LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO: 1549

ANSWERED ON: 19.12.2018

Senior Citizen Entitlement of Employees

RAVINDRA VISHWANATH GAIKWAD

Will the Minister of

PERSONNEL, PUBLIC GRIEVANCES AND PENSIONS be pleased to state:-

(a) whether the Government has worked out a plan to lower the age of senior citizen entitlement of employees to 58 years;

(b) if so, the details thereof;

(c) whether the Government is contemplating to increase or decrease the age for pension;

 (d) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor; and

(e) the details of salient features of pension policy?

ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF PERSONNEL, PUBLIC GRIEVANCES AND PENSIONS AND MINISTER OF STATE IN THE PRIME MINISTER’S OFFICE
(DR. JITENDRA SINGH)

(a) to (d): No Madam. Department of Social Justice & Empowerment has informed that there is at present no proposal in that Department for lowering the age of senior citizen. Government employees become entitle to pension on retirement. There is also no proposal to increase or decrease the age of retirement of Central Government Employees.

(e): The salient features of the pension entitlements of employees retiring from the Central Government are as under:

i. A Government servant retiring in accordance with the rules, after completing a qualifying service of not less than 10 years, is entitled to a pension @ 50% of his last pay or 50% of average emoluments for the last 10 months, whichever is more beneficial to him/her.

ii. After completion of 80 years of age or above, additional pension @ 20% to 100% is payable to the retired Government servant.

iii. A retired/retiring Government servant is entitled to, at his/her option, a lump sum payment, by commutation of a maximum of 40% of his/her pension.

iv. On retirement, a Government employee is entitled to a retirement gratuity based on his/her emoluments and length of qualifying service.

v. On death of a Central Government pensioner, the family is entitled to a family pension the amount of which is 50% of the last pay for a period of seven years, or for a period up to the date on which the retired deceased Government servant would have attained the age of 67 years had he/she survived, whichever is earlier. Thereafter, the amount of family pension is 30% of his last pay. The amount of family pension is also increased by 20% to 100% after the family pensioner attains the age of 80 years and above.

Vi. The family of a Government servant, who dies while in service after having rendered not less than seven years’ continuous service, is entitled to a family pension 50% of the last pay for a period of ten years. Thereafter, the amount of family pension is 30% of his/her last pay.