IP(A)SP ANDHRA

Rule -38 Transfers in PA cadre of Vijayawada Region

2012-03-17T10:57:00.000+05:30

The following transfers under Rule-38 of Postal Manual Volume-IV in the cadre of Postal Assistants (under DR quota) are ordered by the Competent Authority with immediate effect vide PMG Vijayawada memo no No.ST-I/Rule-38/PA/DR(S)/2011 dated 16-03-2012.

Sl.No.	Name of the official S/Shri/Smt.	Division in which the official is working at present	Division to which the official is transferred under Rule-38
1.	B. Kusuma Kumari	Narasaraopet	Guntur
2.	Sk. Rahamtullah	Prakasam	Nellore
3.	T. Kiranmayi	Gudivada	Vijayawada

2012-13 వార్షిక బడ్జెట్‌లోని ముఖ్యాంశాలు

2012-03-17T08:59:00.000+05:30

కేంద్ర విత్తమంత్రి ప్రణబ్ ముఖర్జీ శుక్రవారం 2012-13 సంవత్సరానికి గాను వార్షిక బడ్జెట్‌ను ప్రవేశపెట్టారు. ఇందులో 2012-13 బడ్జెట్ మొత్తం వ్యయం అంచనారూ.14,19,925 కోట్లుగా ప్రకటించారు. ఇందులో 2012-13 ప్రణాళిక వ్యయంగా రూ.5,21,025 కోట్లు, ప్రణాళికేతర వ్యయం రూ.9,69,900 కోట్లు, 2012-13 సంవత్సరానికి ద్రవ్యలోటు అంచనా 1,85,752 కోట్లుగా అంచనా వేశారు. అయితే పన్ను వసూళ్లలో రూ.32వేల కోట్ల తగ్గుదల కనిపించనుంది. ఈ బడ్జెట్‌లో ద్రవ్యలోటు 5.9 శాతంగా ఉండగా, 2011-12 వృద్ధి రేటు 6.9 శాతం నమోదైనట్టు ఆయన తెలిపారు. ఈ బడ్జెట్‌లో కీలక రంగాలకు కేటాయించిన వివరాలు ఇలా ఉన్నాయి.

* రక్షణ శాఖకు రూ.1,93,407 కోట్లు
* ఆక్వా రంగానికి రూ.5000 కోట్లు
* చేనేత రుణ మాఫీ రూ.3,884 కోట్లు
* బలహీన వర్గాలకు రూ.8,400 కోట్లు
* ఏఐడిపి కార్యక్రమానికి రూ.14 వేల కోట్లు
* మధ్యాహ్న భోజనానికి రూ.11,930 కోట్లు
* సర్వ శిక్షా అభియాన్‌కు రూ.25,555 కోట్లు
* హరిత విప్లవ పథకానికి రూ.1000 కోట్లు
* విద్యుత్ రంగానికి రూ.10 వేల కోట్లు
* కృషి వికాస్ యోజనకు రూ.7860 కోట్లు
* దేశంలో కొత్తగా 7 మెడికల్ కాలేజీలు
* తాగునీరు, పారిశుద్ధ్యం రంగానికి రూ.14 వేల కోట్లు
* తక్కువ ఖర్చుతో ఇళ్ల నిర్మాణానికి అనుమతి
* ప్రధానమంత్రి సడక్ యోజనకు రూ.24 వేల కోట్లు
* చిన్న, మధ్య తరహా పరిశ్రమల కోసం రూ.5 వేల కోట్లు
* జాతీయ గ్రామీణ ఆరోగ్య మిషన్‌కు రూ.20,822 కోట్లు
* వెనుక బడిన ప్రాంతాల అభివృద్ధికి రూ.12,040 కోట్లు
* నీటి పారుదల రంగం బలోపేతానికి రూ.300 కోట్లు
* వ్యవసాయ రుణ లక్ష్యం రూ.5.75 లక్షల కోట్లు
* కేరళ వ్యవసాయ విద్యాలయానికి రూ.100 కోట్లు
* ఆనంద్ రూరల్ మేనేజ్ మెంట్ సంస్థకు 25 వేల కోట్లు
* నేషనల్ స్కిల్ డెవలప్‌మెంట్ కార్పోరేషన్ కు రూ.1000 కోట్లు
* హైదరాబాద్ ఎన్‌జి.రంగా వ్యవసాయ వర్సిటీకి రూ.వంద కోట్ల నిధి
* పరిశ్రమలకు పన్ను మినహాయింపు కోసం టర్నోవర్ రూ.కోటికి పెంపు
* ఎల్‌సిడి, ఎల్‌ఈడి దిగుమతి సుంకం తగ్గింపు, ధరలు తగ్గే అవకాశం
* వితంతు పింఛన్లు రూ.200 నుంచి రూ.300కు పెంపు
* నాబార్డ్, ఇతర వ్యవసాయ బ్యాంకులకు రూ.15,888 కోట్లు
* 1000 మంది జనాభా ఉన్న పల్లెలకు కూడా స్వాభిమాన్ పథకం
* గుంటూరు, ప్రకాశం జిల్లాలో హ్యాండ్లూమ్ క్లస్టర్ల ఏర్పాటు
* రైతులకు స్వల్పకాలిక రుణాలకై నాబార్డ్ ద్వారా రూ.10 వేల కోట్లు
* కుటుంబ లబ్ధి పథకం కింద రూ.10 వేల నుండి రూ.20 వేలకు పెంపు
* 12వ ప్రణాలికలో పారిశ్రామిక మౌలిక వసతుల కోసం రూ.50 లక్షల కోట్లు
* జాతీయ రహదారుల సంస్థకు బాండ్ల ద్వారా 10 వేల కోట్లు సమకూరుస్తాం
* కొత్తగా రాజీవ్ గాంధీ ఈక్విటీ స్కీం, రూ.50 వేలు ఆదాయ పన్ను రాయితీ
* జాతీయ రహదారుల అభివృద్ధి పథకంలో 8,800 కి.మీ. జాతీయ రహదారులు.
* మార్కెట్ ధరకే ఎల్ పీజీ గ్యాస్ అమ్మకం, తొలిదశలో మైసూర్ లో అమలు.

పొరుగు రాష్ట్రాల ప్రజాప్రతినిధులు సాకారం చేసుకున్న రైల్వే ప్రతిపాదనల పుణ్యమా అంటూ రైల్వే బడ్జెట్లో ఆంధ్రప్రదేశ్‌కు 25 రైళ్లు దక్కాయి

2012-03-17T08:36:00.004+05:30

నిజంగా చిత్రమంటే ఇదేనేమో! మన రాష్ట్ర ప్రజల రైల్వే అవసరాల సంగతి మన ప్రజాప్రతినిధుల కన్నా పొరుగు రాష్ట్రాల ప్రజాప్రతినిధులకే బాగా తెలిసినట్లు కనిపిస్తోంది. మన అవసరాలకు తగినట్లుగా స్పందించని ప్రజాప్రతినిధులు, పంపకపోతే బాగోదేమోననుకుంటూ చిట్టచివరి క్షణాల్లో ఏదో మొహమాటంకొద్దీ తమకు తోచిన ప్రతిపాదనలు పంపి చేతులు దులుపుకున్నారు.

అయితే, ఆ ప్రతిపాదనల్లో చాలావరకు రైల్వే మంత్రి పరిశీలించలేదు. కానీ, పొరుగు రాష్ట్రాల ప్రజాప్రతినిధులు అందుకు భిన్నంగా బడ్జెట్‌కు చాలాకాలం ముందే మేల్కొని తమ ప్రతిపాదనలు పంపి, అవి అంగీకారముద్రకు నోచుకునేలా చేసుకున్నారు. అలా వారు సాకారం చేసుకున్న రైల్వే ప్రతిపాదనల పుణ్యమా అంటూ మనం కూడా పరోక్షంగా లబ్ది పొందే అవకాశం కలిగింది.
మన రాష్ట్రానికి వచ్చిన 25 రైళ్లలో
సగానికి సగం రైళ్లు పక్క రాష్ట్రాల నుంచి వెళ్లిన ప్రతిపాదనల కారణంగానే రాష్ట్రంలో తిరిగేందుకు సిద్ధమయ్యాయి. కొన్ని డబ్లింగ్, ట్రిబ్లింగ్ పనులకు, కొత్త రైల్వే లైను నిర్మాణాలకు కూడా అనుమతులు కూడా వచ్చాయి. కొత్త రైళ్ల మంజూరులో ఆంధ్రా, తెలంగాణ ప్రాంతాలకు ప్రయోజనాలు కలుగుతాయి. సికింద్రాబాద్ నుంచి షాలిమార్ వెళ్లే రైలు తెలంగాణలోని కొన్ని జిల్లాల మీదుగా ప్రయాణిస్తుంది. బీదర్ నుండి సికింద్రాబాద్, సికింద్రాబాద్ నుంచి బెల్లంపల్లి, విశాఖపట్నం నుంచి షిర్డీ వెళ్లే ఎక్స్‌ప్రెస్‌లు కూడా తెలంగాణ ప్రజలకు ఉపయుక్తంగా ఉంటాయి. సికింద్రాబాద్ నుంచి బయలుదేరే జైపూర్ రైలు, అదిలాబాద్ నుంచి నాందేడ్, సికింద్రాబాద్ నుంచి నాగపూర్ రైలు, కరీంనగర్ నుంచి తిరుపతి రైలు, హైదరాబాద్ నుంచి ఆజ్మీర్ వెళ్లే రైళ్లు అనేక తెలంగాణ జిల్లాలను తాకుతూ ప్రయాణించనున్నాయి.

ఒరిస్సా నుంచి బయలుదేరే కొన్ని రైళ్లు ఆంధ్రా ప్రాంతంలోని అనేక ప్రాంతాలను కలుపుతూ సాగనున్నాయి. ఒరిస్సాలోని పూరి నుంచి యశ్వంత్‌పూర్ వెళ్లే రైలు విశాఖ, గుంటూరు మీదుగా ప్రయాణిస్తుంది. భువనేశ్వర్ నుంచి తిరుపతి నుంచి వెళ్లే రైలు విశాఖ, గూడూరు మీదుగా వెళ్తుంది. షాలిమార్ నుంచి చెన్నైకి, చెన్నై నుంచి పూరికి వెళ్లే రైళ్లు విజయవాడ మీదుగా వెళ్తాయి. అమన్‌సోల్ మీదుగా చెన్నై వెళ్లే రైళ్లు విజయనగరం, విజయవాడల మీదుగా పయనిస్తాయి. ఇదే సమయంలో తెలంగాణ నుంచి వెళ్లే కొన్ని రైళ్లు కూడా ఆంధ్రా ప్రాంతం నుంచి పయనించడంతో కొంతవరకు రెండు ప్రాంతాలకు ఉపయుక్తంగా ఉంటాయని అంటున్నారు. కొన్ని రైళ్లు రాయలసీమ నుంచి కూడా పయనించేలా బడ్జెట్‌లో కేటాయింపులు ఉండడం విశేషం.
దినేష్ మార్కు రైల్వే బడ్జెట్లో ఛార్జీల పెంపు సంగతేమో కానీ.. ఆంధ్రకు పెద్ద సంఖ్యలో కేటాయించిన రైళ్లను చూసిన రాష్ట్రప్రభుత్వం మాత్రం తెగ మురిసిపోతున్నట్లు కనిపిస్తోంది. బడ్జెట్లో ఆంధ్రప్రదేశ్‌కు 25 రైళ్లు దక్కాయి. ఆయితే, ఇదంతా తమ ప్రయత్నాల వల్లే నెరవేరినట్లు ఇప్పటికే కొందరు ఎంపీలు కూడా స్వోత్కర్షలకు పోతున్నారు. ఇదంతా చూస్తున్న సామాన్య ప్రయాణికులు మాత్రం మీ గురించి మాకు తెలియదా అనుకుంటూ ఒక నవ్వు నవ్వుకుని తమ ప్రయాణాల్లో నిమగ్నమయ్యారు. గత బడ్జెట్ల మాదిరిగానే ఈసారి బడ్జెట్ కూడా రాష్ట్ర ప్రయోజనాల పరంగా ఏమంత గొప్ప బడ్జెట్ కాకపోయినప్పుటికీ, గుడ్డిలో మెల్ల చందంగా అయినా అవసరాలను పాక్షికంగా తీర్చే అవకాశం ఉంది. source : Web Dunia

Income Tax exemption limit raised to Rs 2 lakh.

2012-03-17T08:01:00.003+05:30

The exemption limit for the general category of individual taxpayers has been enhanced to Rs. 2,00,000 from Rs. 1,80,000 in the General Budget 2012-13, presented by the Union Finance Minister Shri Pranab Mukherjee in the LokSabha here today. This measure will provide tax relief uptoRs. 2,000 to every taxpayer in this category.

The Finance Minister, Shri Mukherjee introduced the DTC (Direct Taxes Code) rates for personal income tax, marking progress in the direction of movement towards DTC and GST (Goods and Services Tax).

It has also been proposed to raise the upper limit of 20 per cent tax slab from Rs. 8 lakh to Rs. 10 lakh. The proposed personal income tax slabs are:

Income uptoRs. 2 lakh	Nil
Income above Rs. 2 lakh and uptoRs. 5 lakh	10 per cent
Income above Rs. 5 lakh and upto Rs.10 lakh	20 per cent
Income above Rs. 10 lakh	30 per cent

In another relief to the individual taxpayers, a deduction of uptoRs. 10,000 has been proposed for interest from savings bank accounts. This would help a large number of small taxpayers with salary incomes uptoRs. 5 lakh and interest from savings bank accounts uptoRs. 10,000 as they would not be required to file income tax returns.

It has also been proposed to allow deduction of Rs. 5,000 for preventive health check up.

For senior citizens not having income from business, it has been proposed to exempt them from payment of advance tax.

Source : PIB

Surplus Qualified LGO Candidates - Allotment of Divisions

2012-03-16T17:15:00.001+05:30

Circle Office, Hyderabad has issued allotments to the following surplus qualified candidates of LGO Examination held on 16-10-2011 vide Memo.No.RE/2-2/2011 dated 15-03-2012.

Sl.No.	Name of the candidate S/Shri	Division to which belongs.	Division to which allotted.
1.	G.N. Koti Reddy	Guntur	Narasaraopet
2.	S.V. Ramana	Vizianagaram	Parvathipuram
3.	Shaik Chand Basha	Kurnool	Wanaparthy
4.	A. Sanjeeva Reddy	Guntur	Narasaraopet
5.	G. Yadagiri	Nalgonda	Hyderabad GPO
6.	U. Gajendra Reddy	Kurnool	Wanaparthy
7.	Moka Venkatesulu	Kurnool	Hyderabad GPO
8.	G. Bose Babu	Gudivada	Narasaraopet
9.	K. Satyanarayana	Eluru	Tadepalligudem
10.	H. Gareeb Basha	Kurnool	Mahaboobnagar
11.	B. Satyanarayana	Eluru	Rajahmundry
12.	N.S. Nagamalleswara Rao	Guntur	Suryapet
13.	I. Srinivas	Adilabad	Karimnagar
14.	M. Satyam	Pedapalli	Karimnagar
15.	V. Raghupathi	Pedapalli	Hyderabad GPO
16.	K.V.S.R.S. Murthy	Bhimavaram	Rajahmundry
17.	P. Baby Padmaja	Tenali	Vijayawada
18.	B. Govardhana Reddy	Warangal	Suryapet
19.	K. Subba Rayudu	Cadapa	Nellore
20.	B. Abdul Gani	Ananthapur	Secunderabad
21.	N. Krishna Murthy	Bhimavaram	Kakinada
22.	S.V.H. Bapanna Sastry	Bhimavaram	Suryapet
23.	K. Penchalaiah	Gudur	Sangareddy
24.	S. Pandurangaiah	Chittoor	Sangareddy
25.	P. Lakshminarayana	Visakhapatnam	Anakapalli
26.	G. Narayanappa 8375568M	Chittoor	Medak
PART-B (Physically Handicapped)
1.	B. Chandramohan	Hanamakonda	Hyderabad City
2.	Shaik Shabjal	Visakhapatnam	Srikakulam

Employees' Provident Fund rate lowered to 8.25% for 2011-12

2012-03-16T08:44:00.002+05:30

The Finance Ministry has given its nod for the Labour and Employment Ministry to fix the rate of interest payable to Employees Provident Fund subscribers at 8.25 per cent for 2011-12, instead of at 9.5 per cent paid in 2010-11.

The decision was taken in keeping with the finances of the Employees' Provident Fund Organisation, which manages the PF fund, a senior official said.

“They are paying from the interest they get from what they invested two or three years ago in financial institutions. So what is reflected now to the PF subscribers relates to the investment made earlier and the rate of interest that prevailed then in the market.”

The Board of Trustees of the EPFO, which includes representatives of labour unions too, approved the proposal to leave the financial decision on the interest rate to the Labour and Finance Ministries, the official said.

The Board, at its meeting on December 23 last, empowered the Labour Ministry to take the decision in view of the plea for reducing the interest this year (2011-12) to 8.25 per cent.

In 2010-11, the rate was fixed at 9.5 per cent, thanks to availability of a surplus fund of Rs. 1,731 crore.

Later, the Labour Ministry prepared a note mentioning that the rate for 2011-12 could be fixed at 8.25 per cent, to benefit about five crore PF subscribers. This is to ensure that the rate matched the interest rate being offered to Public Provident Fund scheme customers in scheduled banks.

Performance Related Incentive Scheme (PRIS) for Central Govt Employees

2012-03-16T08:28:00.002+05:30

The Sixth Central Pay Commission has recommended the introduction of new performance based pecuniary benefit, over and above the regular salary, for Government employees. The benefit will be called Performance Related Incentive Scheme (PRIS) and will be payable taking into account the performance of the employees during the period under consideration. The recommendation has been accepted by the Government. Guidelines are being worked out through inter-departmental consultation. This was stated by the Minister of State for Ministry of Personnel, Public Gruievances and Pensions and the Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office, Shri V. Narayanasamy in a written reply in Rajya Sabha ON 15.03.2012. Source : PIB

Minutes of the meeting of Committee on Cadre Restructuring of MMS Staff

2012-03-16T08:21:00.000+05:30

A committee comprising of following members constituted by Secretary Post vide Directorate letter No. 01/01/2011 –SR dated 20.01.2012 on the Cadre Restructuring of MMS Staff met on 12.03.2012 and 13.03.2012 in the office of the Chief Post Master General, A.P. Circle, Hyderabad.

1. Ms. K. Sandhya Rani, PMG (BD) - Chairperson

2. Director (MV) -Member-Official Side

3. Sri Giri Raj Singh - Member Staff Side

4. Sri D. Theagarajan -Member –Staff Side

1. Chairperson welcomed the Committee members. It was agreed to conduct the Committees proceedings/discussions keeping in perspective the VI CPC framework and address the genuine concern/grievances of different MMS cadre to the best and reasonably possible extent.

2. The Committee Co-opted Shri L. Arshad Khan, Manager MMS, Hyderabad as member of the Committee. A presentation on the current MMS organizing structure of different cadres and related Recruitment Rules and existing promotional avenues of each cadre was made by him. Staff Side committee members placed their views on the above cadres to the Committee.

3. The Committee was apprised of brief history and the functioning of MMS, MMS Units are having the following categories of staff.

I Technical Staff- Artisans and MTS(Cleaners,

Semi Skilled Artisans.

II Non Technical Staff.

(i)Traffic Staff – Drivers

(ii)Administrative Staff-Postal Assistants &

MTS(Peon, Gatemen, Pumpmen, Duftry,

Safai Karmachary, Caretaker,Chowkidar,

Wiremen,Orderly,Store peon).

III Supervisors:

(i)Non Technical: Assistant Manager, Store Officers

(ii)Technical Supervisors.

(IV) Officers- Deputy Manager(Group ‘B’)

(V) Head of the Division-Managers (Technical Group A)

4. The Committee members discussed the promotional avenues of different MMS Staff cadres and possible ways for restructuring so as to improve the functioning of MMS efficiency and to motivate the staff.

5. The Committee discussed and agreed that there is a need to intake qualified Artisans and Drivers. In view of up-gradation of Technology in the Automobile field, it has become mandatory to the Artisans /Drivers to have the knowledge of computer and operation of Electronic gadgets to be used to diagnose the defects of the vehicles and to repair them. In view of the above the Committee feels that existing Essential Qualifications for different cadres need revised and enhanced.

6. The Committee discussed in detail cadre issues relating to the following cadres:

1. Multi Tasking Staff (Group-C)

(2) Drivers/Dispatch Riders

(3) Artisans (4) Charge hand

7. It was agreed to discuss issues relating to other cadres in the next meeting of the Committee to be held from 3^rd April to 4^th April 2012 at 11.00 a.m.

8. The meeting ended with vote of thanks.

Mechanism to Lodge on line Complaints

2012-03-14T21:47:00.001+05:30

For on-line lodging of grievances in general by members of public, Department of Administrative Reforms & Public Grievances has set up a web-based portal called Centralised Public Grievances Redress and Monitoring System (CPGRAMS), enabling citizens for lodging grievances from any geographical location and also viewing the status of redressal of the grievances. The Public Grievances portal can be accessed at http://pgportal.gov.in

Secheme for Engagement of GDS on Compassionate grounds-Merit points and Revised selection procedure

2012-03-14T21:22:00.002+05:30

Copy of D.G. Posts letter no No. 17-17/2000-GDS dated 09Mar 2012on the above subject matter is reproduced below.

A reference is invited in this Directorate letters of even number dated 14 Dec 2010 and 01 Aug 2011 vide which the scheme for engagement of GDS on compassionate grounds with merit points & procedure for selection as modified was circulated and made effective for all the compassionate engagement cases to be considered on or after 01.01.2011.

2. The scheme has recently been reviewed in this Directorate and in partial modification in the existing provisions of the Scheme, the following provisions are hereby ordered to be substituted with the approval of the competent authority:

(a) The attribute of assessing indigence appearing at Ser 7- Educational Qualification of Applicant on Page 3 of this Directorate letter No. 17-17/2010-GDSdated 14.12.2010 is deleted.

(b) The attribute of assessing indigence appearing at Ser 2- Outstanding liabilities for Education/Marriage of dependent children on Page-2 of this Directorate letter No. 17-17/2010-GDSdated 14.12.2010 is substituted as under:

Ser	Points	Criteria
1	20 for two or more dependent children	For education of children
	15 for one dependent child
2	20 for two or more dependent daughter	For marriage of daughters
	15 for one dependent daughter

(c) The attribute of assessing indigence appearing at Ser 6-Discharge Benefits i.e Ex-gratia gratuity ,Severance Amount, Service Discharge benefits under NPS Lite and Group Insurance Benefits received by family on Page 3 of this Directorate letter No. 17-17/2010-GDSdated 14.12.2010 is substituted as under:

Ser	Points	Slabs for benefits on discharge
1	20	Rs. 75000 & below
2	15	Below Rs. 150000 but above Rs. 75000
3	10	Rs. 150000 & above.

(d) The word “Proposed” appearing under Criteria 1,3,5,& 6 on page 2&3 of this Directorate letter No. 17-17/2010-GDSdated 14.12.2010 may be taken as deleted.

(e) Apart from the above cases where the wife of the deceased GDS has applied for compassionate engagement for her, she shall get 15 additional points as grace points. This is the line with the general principle that the widow needs to be give preference for compassionate engagement. Such grace points shall not be permissible in the widower applicant.

3. All other provisions contained in the Scheme dated 14.12.2010as further modified under letter of even number dated 01.08.2011 shall continue to apply as already prescribed and all compassionate engagement shall be approved with in the ambit of the prescribed Scheme only. It is reiterated that the existing criteria of 50 Points and above for adjudging hard and deserving cases stands.

4. The above changes shall take effect from the date of application of the original Scheme. All cases which were considered & rejected by the CRC based on the earlier provisions of the new Scheme may be reconsidered afresh based on application of the revised criteria within the time frame allowed under Para7 (e) of the Directorate’s letter No. 17-17/2010-GDSdated 14.12.2010 as fresh cases subject to availability of vacancies in the division concerned in view of removal of ceiling of 10% already without further reference to this Directorate.

5. Pursuant to the provisions now revised where the widow now applies for the compassionate engagement following rejection of the case of one of her child case may also be taken as a fresh case to be considered as per the new Scheme as modified. Thus before the already rejected cases are reconsidered the widow may be given an option to be exercised in writing within one month of date of receipt of the communication to be issued by the Circle treating the application of her child as withdrawn & consideration of her application afresh to follow in due course . Where such as option is exercised, the already rejected application of her child may be considered and her fresh application may be got processed expeditiously.

Sd/

(Surender Kumar)

Assistant Director General (GDS)

List of officials promoted to the cadre of APM Accounts (LSG) - orders isuued by the Circle Office

2012-03-14T21:09:00.002+05:30

Announcement of Inspector Posts exam Result

2012-03-12T22:30:00.000+05:30

It is ascertained that Directorate will take some more time to announce the result of Inspector Posts Examination 2011. Though everything is ready to announce the result, it could not be announced because of allowing of Postmaster Grade I cadre officials to write the examination erroneously by some of the circles and the Directorate is examining the various options to avoid the possible CAT / Court cases before announcement of the result.

Revised recruitment rules for HSG I & HSG I adhoc arrangements

2012-03-12T22:09:00.002+05:30

UPSC has approved revised recruitment rules for HSG I. after several rounds of discussions with the officers of India Post. The Department of Posts has fulfilled the requirements of the UPSC. Now the file may go to Law Ministry .After that our Department will issue gazette notification notifying the revised recruitment rules for HSG I.

Department of Posts has approached DOPT for approval of adhoc arrangements for HSG I. Approval is expected with in a week and formal orders likely to be issued shortly.

Proposed new postal security standards for International Mail

2012-03-12T21:52:00.000+05:30

The UPU’s official bodies, the Council of Administration and the Postal Operations Council, last week endorsed a proposed resolution on minimum security standards for international mail.

The proposal will be put forth for formal adoption by UPU member countries at the 25th Universal Postal Union Congress in Doha, Qatar, in September/October 2012.

If approved, the proposed standards would force Posts worldwide to apply measures to better screen international mail and take custody of it. Posts would have to apply minimum security standards to critical facilities in their network, such as international offices of mail exchanges, which process arriving and departing international mail.

According to UPU Postal Security Expert David Bowers, the standards would establish a security baseline to the global postal network, thus reassuring civil aviation and customs organizations that international mail has gone through minimum screening measures. “Our goal is to harmonize our international standards with the ones developed by the International Civil Aviation Organization to guide air transportation of mail,” explains Bowers.

International effort

The new proposed standards are the result of two years of work by the UPU’s inter-committee on security group. It includes representatives from UPU member countries and major international organizations, such as the International Air Transport Association, the International Civil Aviation Organization, the World Customs Organization and the United States Transport Security Agency, among others.

The UPU set up the group to tighten security standards for the global postal supply chain after rigorous TSA screening measures were unilaterally applied to international mail travelling to the United States in late 2010 after two packages containing bombs were found on private courier flights destined for the United States. The packages, sent from Yemen, were intercepted in Dubai and the United Kingdom.

The UPU launched a concerted effort among all relevant parties to come up with standardized security standards for the global postal supply chain to increase the security of mail travelling by air.

Member countries had adopted recommended security standards at the last Universal Postal Congress in Geneva in 2008, but there was no obligation to implement them.

Source: Universal Postal Union News

120 days Advance Rail reservation from 10.03.2012

2012-03-12T21:49:00.000+05:30

You can book your rail ticket 120 days in advance from Saturday i.e.10.03.2012. The Ministry of Railways has decided to increase the reservation period for train tickets from the existing 90 days to 120.

On Saturday, reservation opened for all trains starting from July 8. It is expected that the four-month advance reservation period will help the commuters who travel during festivals or summer vacation period. To ensure transparency in the Tatkal booking period, recently the railway has reduced the Tatkal booking period from 48 hours to 24 hours to prevent misuse of the facility.

Introduction of new trains & Extension of existing trains

2012-03-09T23:36:00.000+05:30

The Minister of Railways, Shri Dinesh Trivedi today announced introduction of 26 new trains, extension of five existing trains, increase in frequency of two existing trains and introduction of new five sub-urban trains. In case of new trains, they will be flagged off in next 7 to 10 days.Extension and increase in frequency of the existing trains will be introduced with immediate effect, as operationally feasible.

The list of new trains, extension of existing services etc. is given below:

Sl	Train no. and name
1	12297/12298 Pune-Ahmedabad AC Duronto (Tri-weekly)
2	22209/22210 Mumbai Central-New Delhi AC Duronto (Bi-weekly)
3	19405/19406 Ahmedabad-Yesvantpur AC Express (Weekly)
4	12567/12568 Saharsa-Patna Rajya Rani Express (Daily)
5	22101/22102 Manmad-Mumbai Rajya Rani Express (Daily)
6	19261/19262 Porbander-Kochuvelli Express (Weekly)
7	22901/22902 Udaipur-Bandra(T) Express (Tri-weekly)
8	18511/18512 Visakhapatnam-Koraput Intercity Express
9	57477/57478 Tirupati-Guntakal Passenger (Daily)
10	58301/58302 Koraput-Sambalpur Passenger (Daily)
11	59425/59426 Bhuj-Palanpur passenger (Daily)
12	66302/66303 Ernakulam-Kollam MEMU (6 days a week)
13	77683/77684 Jalna-Nagarsol DEMU (6 days a week)
14	77686/77685 & 77688/77687 Kacheguda – Nizamabad DEMU (6 days a week)
15	77681/77682 & 77679/77680 Falaknuma-Medchal DEMU (6 days a week)
16	19027/19028 Bandra (T)-Jammu Tawi Vivek Express (Weekly)
17	12293/12294 Allahabad- Mumbai AC Duronto (Bi-weekly)
18	22454/22453 Meerut-Lucknow Rajya Rani Express (Daily)
19	13423/13424 Bhagalpur-Ajmer Express (Weekly)
20	12371/12372 Kolkata-Jaisalmer Express (Weekly)
21	22451/22452 Mumbai-Chandigarh Express (Weekly)
22	19407/19408 Varanasi-Ahmedabad Express (Weekly)
23	15033/15034 Haridwar-Ramnagar Express (Tri-weekly)
24	66019/66020 Salem-Katpadi MEMU (6 days a week) (Railway Budget 2010-11)
25	66300/66301 Ernakulam-Kollam MEMU (6 days a week) (Railway Budget 2010-11)
26	Introduction of Anandvihar-Kathgodam Shatabdi Express (4 days a week)

EXTENSION:

1. 59803/59802 Nagda-Kota Passenger extension upto Ratlam

2. 19603/19604 Sultanpur-Ajmer Express extension upto Ahmedabad

3. 12965/12966 Udaipur-Gwalior Express extension upto Khajuraho

4. 55007/55008 Hajipur-Thawe Passenger extension upto Kaptanganj

5.12891/12892 Bhubaneswar-Baripada Express extension upto Bangriposi

INCREASE IN FREQUENCY:

1. 59025/59026 Surat-Amravati Fast Passenger from 2 to 3 days a week.

2. 15279/15280 Saharsa-Adarsh Nagar Delhi Express from weekly to bi-weekly

SUBURBAN:

1 Avadi-Chennai Beach

2 Chennai Beach-Gummidipundi

3 Gummidipundi-Chennai Beach

4 Chennai Central-Tiruvallur

5 Tiruvallur-Chennai Central

Adhoc promotion to PS Group B

2012-03-09T23:20:00.001+05:30

Circle Office Hyderabad has issued orders extending the "Adhoc promotion to PS Group B cadre" of the following officers vide CO memo no ST/12-1/Adhoc Gr.B/2012 dated 09.03.2012.

1.Sri S.M.S.S.V.Prasad SPOs Rajmundry (extension given for 5 months)

2. V.Venkateswarlu SPOs Medak Dn (extension given for 3 months)

3. P.Bharatha Lakshmi SPos Adilabad Dn.(extension given for 3 months)

Adhoc promotions to ASP Cadre

2012-03-08T16:18:00.003+05:30

Circle office Hyderabad has issued Adhoc promotions to ASP cadre to the following senior ASPs vide C.O. Memo.No.ST-92/Adhoc/2012 dated 08-03-2012 for a period not exceeding 11 months or joining of regular incumbents in the posta whichever is earlier.

Sl.No.	Name S/Shri	Present post	Region to which allotted
1.	Y. Ramakrishna	IP, Kaikaluru	Vijayawada
2.	P. Komal Kumar	IP, Narsipatnam	Visakhapatnam
3.	DLRSJ Prasuna Reddy	IP, Visakhapatnam Dn.	Vijayawada
4.	D. Siddhardha	IP, Bhadrachalam	Vijayawada
5.	Syed Ansar	IP, Pamarru	Vijayawada
6.	Sisupal Singh	IP(BNPL), Hyd. Stg. Dn.	Kurnool
7.	JNMVR Prasad	IP, RO, Kurnool	Kurnool
8.	P. Venkataswamy	IP, Machilipatnam	Vijayawada

A Brief History of International Women's Day

2012-03-06T22:47:00.000+05:30

The idea of an International Women's Day first arose at the turn of the century, which in the industrialized world was a period of expansion and turbulence, booming population growth and radical ideologies.

On 8 March 1857, women working in clothing and textile factories (called 'garment workers') in New York City, in the United States, staged a protest. They were fighting against inhumane working conditions and low wages. The police attacked the protestors and dispersed them. Two years later, again in March, these women formed their first labour union to try and protect themselves and gain some basic rights in the workplace.

On 8 March 1908, 15,000 women marched through New York City demanding shorter work hours, better pay, voting rights and an end to child labour.

They adopted the slogan "Bread and Roses", with bread symbolizing economic security and roses a better quality of life. In May, the Socialist Party of America designated the last Sunday in February for the observance of National Women's Day.

Following the declaration of the Socialist Party of America, the first ever National Woman's Day was celebrated in the United States on 28 February 1909. Women continued to celebrate it on the last Sunday of that month through 1913.

An international conference, held by socialist organizations from around the world, met in Copenhagen, Denmark, in 1910. The conference of the Socialist International proposed a Women's Day which was designed to be international in character. The proposal initially came from Clara Zetkin, a German socialist, who suggested an International Day to mark the strike of garment workers in the United States. The proposal was greeted with unanimous approval by the conference of over 100 women from 17 countries, including the first three women elected to the parliament of Finland. The Day was established to honour the movement for women's rights, including the right to vote (known as 'suffrage'). At that time no fixed date was selected for the observance.

The declaration of the Socialist International had an impact. The following year, 1911, International Women's Day was marked for the first time in Austria, Denmark, Germany and Switzerland. The date was March 19 and over a million men and women took to the streets in a series of rallies. In addition to the right to vote and to hold public office, they demanded the right to work and an end to discrimination on the job.

Less than a week later, on 25 March, the tragic Triangle Fire in New York City took place. Over 140 workers, mostly young Italian and Jewish immigrant girls working at the Triangle Shirtwaist Company, lost their lives because of the lack of safety measures. The Women's Trade Union League and the International Ladies' Garment Workers Union led many of the protests against this avoidable tragedy, including the silent funeral march which brought together a crowd of over 100,000 people. The Triangle Fire had a significant impact on labour legislation and the horrible working conditions leading up to the disaster were invoked during subsequent observances of International Women's Day.

As part of the peace movement brewing on the eve of World War I, Russian women observed their first International Women's Day on the last Sunday in February 1913. Elsewhere in Europe, on or around 8 March of the following year, women held rallies either to protest the war or to express solidarity with their sisters.

With 2 million Russian soldiers dead in the war, Russian women again chose the last Sunday in February 1917 to strike for "bread and peace". Political leaders opposed the timing of the strike, but the women went on anyway.

The rest is history: Four days later the Czar of Russia was forced to abdicate and the provisional Government granted women the right to vote. That historic Sunday fell on 23 February on the Julian calendar then in use in Russia, but coincided with 8 March on the Gregorian calendar used by people elsewhere.

Since those early years, International Women's Day has assumed a new global dimension for women in developed and developing countries alike.

In December 1977 the UN General Assembly adopted a resolution proclaiming a United Nations Day for Women's Rights and International Peace. Four global United Nations women's conferences have helped make the demand for women's rights and participation in the political and economic process a growing reality.

In 1975 the UN drew global attention to women's concerns by calling for an International Women's year and convening the first conference on women in Mexico City. Another convention was held in Copenhagen, Denmark in 1980.

In 1985, the UN convened a third conference on women in Nairobi, Kenya, to look at what had been achieved at the end of the decade.

In 1995, Beijing hosted the Fourth World Conference on Women. Representatives from 189 different countries agreed that inequalities between women and men has serious consequences for the well-being of all people. The conference declared a set of goals for progress of women in various areas including politics, health, and education. The final document issued by the conference (called the "Platform for Action") had this to say: "The advancement of women and the achievement of equality between women and men are a matter of human rights and a condition for social justice and should not be seen in isolation as a women's issue."

Five years later, in a 23rd special session of the United Nations General Assembly, "Women 2000: Gender Equality, Development and Peace for the 21st Century" reviewed the progress the world has made towards achieving the goals set out by the Beijing conference. This conference has come to be known as the "Beijing +5" conference. Delegates found both progress and perservering obstacles. The delegates made further agreements to continue carrying out the initiatives of the 1995 women's conference.

NO LEGAL IMMUNITY FOR GOVT SERVANT IN CRIMINAL CASES: SC

2012-03-06T22:43:00.001+05:30

New Delhi, Mar 6, 2012 (PTI): A public servant facing charges of corruption, cheating and other criminal cases in the discharge of his or her duties does not enjoy any legal immunity as no prior sanction is required for prosecuting such officials.A bench of justices R M Lodha and H L Gokhale set aside the concurrent findings of the Punjab and Haryana High Court and a sessions court which had quashed the prosecution and summons issued to a Deputy Excise and Taxation Commissioner, Gurgaon.Citing the apex court ruling in the Prakash Singh Badal (2007) case, the bench said, “The offence of cheating under Section 420 or for that matter offences relateable to Sections 467, 468, 471 and 120-B can by no stretch of imagination by their very nature be regarded as having been committed by any public servant while acting or purporting to act in discharge of official duty.”While Section 420 relates to cheating, sections 467, 468, 471 pertains to forgery and 120-B applies in cases of criminal conspiracy.
In the present case the official was accused by Omkar, a transporter, of collecting Rs two lakh money from him after impounding his three vehicles and refusing to issue any receipt.
Based on Dhankar’s complaint, judicial magistrate, Gurgaon, on June 2, 2001 issued him summons to face trial under Sections 420 (cheating), 406 (criminal breach of trust) and 161 (illegal gratification by a public servant) IPC.
On a criminal revision appeal filed by the official, the additional sessions judge quashed the summons and a single judge of the high court affirmed the order while dismissing Dhankar’s appeal. Aggrieved, he filed the special leave petition in the apex court.

The “Humble” Post Card: The Ordinary “People’s” Communication Mode

2012-03-04T07:33:00.001+05:30

One of the leading humor writers in Malayalam – Shri N Goplakrishnan – has defined a cardiologist as one who writes letters only on post “cards”! He describes himself as one of the leading cardiologists in his home town!

There is a little magazine in Malayalam called “Innu” (meaning “today”) which is published only as a letter card. It has now entered the 30^th year of its publication, with the letter card being posted more than 10,000 subscribers all over the world!!

Here follows a collection of facts concerning the post card, the letter card and the art and science of Deiltology.

The Post Card
            In official terms, the post card can be defined as a type of open communication written on a card of prescribed size. The common dimensions of the card are 14 × 9 cm.
Post cards are commonly available in two varieties – either as a single card for just sending a communication or as a set of two attached cards – one for the outgoing communication and the other for the receiver of the card for immediately sending a reply. The replier cannot delay the return communication since the card has already been paid for by the initiator of the correspondence!
One of the little known information about the post card is that they can be used for transmission within India only. An individual or institution can also print cards for communication of messages among their staff or consumers. Such privately manufactured post cards should also follow the dimensions of the official post cards. They should not be thinner or more flexible than an embossed post card, and they should have the same size and thickness of embossed post card.
History of Indian Post Card
            The quarter anna post card was introduced for the first time by the Indian Post Office in July 1879. This was meant to provide postage from one place to another within British India. This was the cheapest form of post provided to the Indian people to date and proved a huge success.
The establishment of a large postal system spanning India resulted in unprecedented postal access where a message on a postcard could be sent from one part of the country to another part (often to a physical address without a nearby post office) without additional postage affixed. This was followed in April 1880 by postcards meant specifically for government use and by reply post cards in 1890. The postcard facility continues to this date in Independent India.
Post Cards Elsewhere
            The private postal card was developed by John P. Charlton of Philadelphia in 1861 for which he obtained the copyright which was later transferred to H.L. Lipman. The cards were adorned with a small border and labeled "Lipman's Postal Card, Patent Applied For". They were on the market until 1873 when the first Government Postcards appeared.
The United States issued pre-stamped postal cards in 1873. The United States Postal Service was the only one allowed to print the cards until May 19, 1898 when Congress passed the Private Mailing Card Act which then allowed private firms to produce cards. The private mailing cards cost one cent to mail instead of the letter rate which was two cents. The term "Private Mailing Card" was required to be printed on cards that were not printed by the United States Postal Service. Only the government was allowed to print the word "Postcard" on the back of postcards. Private printers used the terms, Souvenir Card, Correspondence Cards and Mail Cards.
Inland Letter Card
            The Inland Letter card is different from the post card in that here the communication is not open. In order to see what is written one will have to open the flaps of the inland letter card. What is written on a post card can be seen by every one who handles the card.
            Technically, the inland letter card is a communication contained on a sheet of paper with prescribed size & folding. Inland letter card is also used for transmission within India only. For sending messages to foreign countries one will have to make use of special inland letter cards of higher values called the aerogramme.
            The Malayalam magazine Innu (meaning today) is printed entirely on such an inland letter card. It contains every thing from poems to editorials to cartoons to letters to the editor that can be seen in a full size magazine – but in the smallest scale imaginable!!
Dieltology
Deltiology is the study and collection of post cards. Professor Randall Rhoades of Ashland, Ohio, coined a word in 1945 that became the accepted description of the study of picture postcards.
Worldwide, deltiology is thought to be the third largest hobby after stamp collecting and coin/banknote collecting. Postcards are popular because just about every subject imaginable has been, at one time or another, pictured on a postcard. History itself can be tracked on postcards, from famous buildings, important personalities, various art forms, and many more subjects like these.
However, Compared to philately (the systematic collection of postage stamps), the identification of the place and time of production of a post card can often be an almost impossible task. This is mainly because postcards, unlike stamps, are produced in a largely unregulated manner.
Because of this many collectors often limit their acquisitions to cards by specific artists and publishers, or by time and location.
One of the most popular specializations in dieltology refers to town views. These refer to actual scenes from a particular town or region. Most of these collectors centre around the views of the town where the collector reside or the town where he or she grew up.
Preserving Your Post Card Collections – Some Tips
·         The major enemies of post cards are fire, humidity, dirt, sunlight, mold, and bugs. It is best to keep your collection safe in a deposit box, that is cool, dry and dark.
·         Do not use albums with plastic sleeves. This Poly Vinyl Chloride (PVC) substance will cause chemical damage to antique paper if left for long periods of time.
·         If descriptions of individual post cards have to be noted for exhibition purposes it must be ensured that it is done using pencil. Do not use tapes or such material to attach post cards to exhibition panels.
·         When exhibiting old post cards special care has to be taken that they are never exposed to direct sun light. (PIB Feature by Dr. K. Parameswaran.)

Bangalore City Rly Station boasts of BluFI

2012-03-03T22:31:00.008+05:30

The Bangalore City Railway Station on Friday became the first in the railway network to offer BluFi, a combination of Bluetooth and Wi-Fi that will provide passengers with a wealth of information.

The facility was launched by Railtel Corporation of India in collaboration with TeleBrahma, a mobile advertising solutions provider.

While Telebrahma provides the Bluetooth solution, Railtel offers free Wi-Fi facility.

To get Internet access, passengers should send their mobile numbers through the Wi-Fi registration portal. The passwords would be sent through SMS. A passenger could use Internet for 45 minutes; if he wished to continue, he had to start a fresh session.

Bluetooth will work on all Bluetooth-enabled mobiles and Wi-Fi will work on Wi-Fi-enabled handsets and laptops.Now onwards,No need for passangers to stay in que and keep ear tight on announcement in BG city Rly station.

Awards for PLI / RPLI Best performers in AP Circle

2012-03-02T07:43:00.014+05:30

Sri D.Sridhar Murthy, DPS Vijayawada receiving Award


M.Srinivas, InspectorPosts T.Pgudem Best Performer in RPLI

Photos of the Felicitation function held at Hyderabad on 29.02.2012

Newly elected body of IP/ASP Association - Activities undertaken

2012-03-02T06:49:00.001+05:30

The newly elected body of our association comprising the following made a courtesy call on Chief Postmaster General at Circle office on 27/02/2012.

1. G.V.Srinivasulu, Circle President & ASP (Hqrs), Kurnool

2. Y.Venkateswarlu, AGS & ASP, Siddipet

3. K.Raghunadha Swamy, Circle Secretary & ASP (Hqrs), Nalgonda

4. S.Shabbir, former CS & AD (BD&Tech), RO, Hyderabad

5. S.Prasada Rao, ACS & ASP, CO, Hyderabad

6. M.Narendra Babu, Org.Secy & IP (BD), CO, Hyderabad

7. H.Sharat Kumar, Org. Secy & IRM, Z Dn, Hyderabad

The association gave representations to the CPMG on implementation of CO orders on providing MTS assistance to Sub Divisions in total and providing of better accommodation for Sub Divl offices and Grant of Road mileage on tours.The CPMG positively responded to our requests and agreed to arrange to issue orders positively on the issues raised by us.Click here to view the full text of the representations submitted to CPMG.

The association also requested CPMG informally to give staff for PLI/RPLI to the Divisions as decentralization of PLI/RPLI to the extent of 80% to the divisions is creating of lot of work pressure on the existing staff and also to grant incentive instead of honorarium which is limited to Rs 4000/- p.a. including all other items of work like working as IO, PO etc., The CPMG asked us to give a proposal on this item to take it up with Directorate.

A local body meeting was also convened in Hyderabad and the available members from Hyderabad City Region and Hyderabad Region attended the meeting. The available newly elected office bearers introduced themselves to the members and appraised them of the meeting with CPMG and their future course of action.

The association proposes to give a letter to the CPMG very shortly on the issues concerning PLI/RPLI as above.

The resolutions passed during the General Body of our association on 19/02/2012 in which intervention of CHQ required were sent to the GS for further course of action at the CHQ.Click here to view the letter sent to GS.

Click here to view the details of Resolutions passed in the General Body meeting .

SP& IPs of Suryapet Dn met with a road accident

2012-03-01T20:23:00.002+05:30

SPOs Suryapet and his team met with a road accident at 0700 PM on 29.02.2012 on National Highway-9 near Haritha Restaurent which is about three kilometres to Suryapet while returning in Inspection Vehicle from Hyderabad after attending MNOP meeting at Circle Office.The accident was occurred due to hitting the vehicle from opposite direction by an unknown person who died subsequently in the Hospital. Sri Gautam Kumar, IP Suryapet and the Driver received minor injuries.SPOs Suryapet and IP Huzurnagar escaped unhurt.The vehicle which was badly damaged was seized by the police.

Three more Information Commissioners in the Central Information Commission

2012-03-01T19:45:00.002+05:30

Sri Satyanand Misra, the Chief Information Commissioner, administered the Oath of office to three new Information Commissioners in New Delhi today. They are: Sri. Rajiv Mathur, Sri. Vijai Sharma and Sri. Basant Seth.
Sri. Rajiv Mathur is a retired I.P.S. officer while Sri. Vijai Sharma last worked as an expert Member with National Green Tribunal, Principal Bench, New Delhi. Sri. Basant Seth is a retired Banker. The term of Information Commissioner is for a period of five years or sixty five years of age whichever is earlier.
With the induction of three new Information Commissioners, the strength of Information Commissioners in the Central Information Commission will be eight, apart from Chief Information Commissioner.

Upgradation of Railway Infrastructure for introduction of MMTS (Phase –II) in twin cities

2012-03-01T19:36:00.000+05:30

The Cabinet Committee on Infrastructure approved the upgradation of Railway Infrastructure for introduction of multi-modal transport system (Phase - II) in twin cities of Hyderabad and Secundrabad.
The upgradation will be able to serve the habited areas of the rapidly expanding twin cities of Hyderabad and Secunderabad.
The total expenditure involved will be Rs.632.68 crore. Two-thirds of this , i.e. Rs.421.79 crore will be borne by the Government of Andhra Pradesh. One-third of the cost will be funded from the gross budgetary support of Indian Railways.
The project will be completed in three years during 12th Plan Period.
A large number of people residing in and around the twin cities of Hyderabad and Secundrabad areas will benefit from this project. Source : PIB

Civil Services (Main) Exam, 2011 Result Announced

2012-03-01T19:28:00.002+05:30

The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) have announced the result of Civil Services (Main) Examination, 2011 and Roll Numbers of the candidates who have qualified for Personality Test for selection to the Indian Administrative Service, Indian Foreign Service, Indian Police Service and other Central Services (Group ‘A’ and Group ‘B’). Personality Tests of these candidates will commence from 19^th March, 2012.Result is available on PIB website i.e www.pib.nic.in and also on the U.P.S.C. website i.e. www.upsc.gov.in.

CHQ News - latest position of issues relating to IP / ASP

2012-03-01T07:41:00.002+05:30

Sri Vilas Ingle G.S IP/ASP Association has visited the Directorate along with Ex-GS Shri Roop Chand on 29.02.2012 and met with the Member (P), various DDGs and other concerned officers. The following issues were discussed with them. The present status in respect of the issues as reportedn in CHQ Blog is as follows.

1. Up-gradation of GP of IP from Rs. 4200/- to Rs. 4600/-.

File relating to implementation of Hon. CAT Ernakulam Bench judgement dated 19/10/2011 is still under examination in view of our letter dated 22/2/2012. File is likely to be sent to Ministry of Finance shortly.

2. Restructuring of Inspectors Posts Cadre.

Next Meeting of the committee constituted to look into promotional prospects of IPOs/ASPs is likely to be convened by the Department in near future in view of decision of AIC conveyed to the Member (P) on 22/2/2012.

3. Holding of supplementary DPC for promotion to PS Gr. B for the year 2011.

Decision has been taken by the Department to hold supplementary DPC. This process is likely to be completed within next 3-4 months.

4. Holding of DPC for the promotion to JTS, Group A.

File is under process, which is likely to be completed within 2-3 months.

5. Declaration of result of IP examination 2011.

Marksheet from CMC has been received by the Department which is under scrutiny. After scrutiny the result will be declared shortly.

6. Revision of rates of remuneration for performing duty as Invigilator in the examination.

File is still pending with Internal Finance.

7. Re-allotment of surplus IPs to their Home Circles.

The issue is not under consideration at Directorate. Surplus IPs can go to their Home Circle only after relieving by the concerned circle in which they are working.

Govt filed Appeal on modified parity in pension to the pensioners retired prior to 1.1.2006

2012-02-29T18:44:00.000+05:30

The Government has filed an Appeal against the 1ST November 2011 judgment of the Principal Bench of Delhi Central Administrative Tribunal on modified parity in pension to the pensioners retired prior to 1.1.2006. You may remember that the Principal Bench of Delhi CAT had directed implementation of OM dated 1.9.2008 based on the Government's Resolution dated 29.08.2008 accepting the recommendation of 6th CPC for modified parity of pension to pre 1.1.2006 pensioners by nullifying the clarificatory orders issued subsequently that denied the real content of the 6th CPC recommendation as accepted earlier by the Union Cabinet through its Resolution dated 29.08.2008. However now the Government has filed an Appeal against the judgment of the CAT.

Awards for PLI / RPLI Best performers in AP Circle

2012-02-29T07:32:00.001+05:30

As a part of celebration of February 2012 as Postal Life Insurance month, a valedictory function is being organized on 29.02.2012 at 17.00 hrs at Asman Mahal Community hall, P& T Officers Quarters, Khairatabad to felicitate the best PLI/RPLI performers in Andhra Pradesh Postal Circle. The awards are being presented in the following categories for procuring highest business in PLI/RPLI during the year 2010-2011.


Sl No	Category	Best performer in PLI	Best Performer RPLI

1.	Best Region	Vijayawada	Vijayawada

2.	Best division	Visakhapatnam	Khammam

3.	Best Development Officer (PLI)	K Ramakrishnaiah O/o SSPOs, Secunderabad division.	-

4.	Best Departmental Employee	Y Madhava Rao, PA Guntur division of Vijayawada Region.	M Sreenivas, IP Tadepalligudem sub dn of Vijayawada Region

5.	Best Direct Agent	Md Osman Basha V.V.Reddy Nagar, Proddatur, Kurnool Region	G Venkata Rao, Tadepalli BO, Vijayawada Region.

6	Best Field Officer	M. Sreeramulu Hyderabad City Region	-

7.	Best Gramin Dak Sewak	-	S.Muralidhar BPM, Satyanarana puram BO,Tirupathi division Kurnool Region.

Ms Rachel Chatterjee,, Chair Person, APPSC, has consented to be the Chief Guest and give away the awards to the best performers. Ms.Karuna Pillai, Chief Postmaster General, Andhra Pradesh Circle will preside over the function.

National Pension Schemes will be linked to Aadhar

2012-02-28T20:18:00.001+05:30

The Rural Development Minister Shri Jairam Ramesh today said that National Social Assisstance Programme, NSAP will be completely restructured and all payments under the scheme will be done through Aadhar-based payment system. Talking to a select group of media persons here, he said, the restructured system will be in place by 10th of March this year and it will ensure that each beneficiary under old age, disabilities and widow pension schemes will get one’s entitlement every month and there will be no delay in payments. He said, the Central government spends nearly 8,000 crore rupees under the NSAP scheme, but the devolvement of funds is being done in a complicated process in a layered manner, which he said will be rectified and only one State Agency will be identified for receipt of funds for final disbursement to pass book holders through Aadhar-based system.

The Minister informed that he had already written to the Finance Ministry for relaxation of certain norms like reducing the criteria for disability to 40% from the existing 80%, which leads to exclusion of a very large number of disabled persons in rural areas. Moreover, they also face problem in getting a medical certificate verifying 80% criteria. Shri Ramesh said, presently the Indira Gandhi National Widow Pension Scheme gives assistance of Rs-200 per month to BPL widows over the age of 40, which can be modified to cover widows over the age of 18. There is also a demand to enhance the amount under National Family Benefit Scheme from Rs-10,000 to Rs-20,000, which is paid to a BPL family whose main bread-winner dies, besides inclusion of children/youth in the 5 to 20 age group to get the disability pension benefit, which is now restricted to those over the age of 20.

Source: PIBRelease ID :80585

Dependent children of widowed/separated daughters to be included in CGHS

2012-02-28T20:12:00.001+05:30

The ministry of health and family welfare decided to expand the ambit of Central Government Health Scheme (CGHS) to include dependent children of widowed/separated daughters as beneficiaries under the government’s comprehensive health scheme. Till now, serving central government employees, pensioners, current and former members of Parliament, serving and retired judges of Supreme Court and high court, freedom fighters, accredited journalists, former governor and former vice president of India could avail of CGHS benefits.

“The move has been initiated with the aim of empowering widowed and separated daughters who live with parents who are CGHS beneficiaries,” said a health ministry official.

Though the health ministry does not have an exact count of dependent children of widowed/ separated daughters of CGHS beneficiaries, senior officials said the move would benefit thousands of children.

“It’s a conservative estimate that the number would run into thousands,” said a ministry official.

Currently, there are nine lakh CGHS beneficiaries in India, of which six lakh are serving government employees.

Currently, the health ministry spends approximately R1,200 crore on CGHS. “The number of dependent children of widowed/separated daughters of CGHS beneficiaries runs into a few thousands. It won’t result in any massive hike in the CGHS budget,” said a senior ministry official.

The decision was taken following the recommendation of the 6th Central Pay Commission to expand the definition of “family” under CGHS.

“The health ministry has examined the matter and it has now been decided, with the approval of the competent authority, to expand the definition of family under CGHS to include minor children of widowed/separated daughters, who are dependent upon the CGHS beneficiary,” a ministry circular stated.

The upper age limit of the dependents for the purpose of being eligible for CGHS medical facilities will be 18 years. “They should normally be residing with the government servant/pensioner,” the circular added.

The Central Government Health Scheme was started in 1954 to provide comprehensive health care facilities to central government employees, pensioners and their family members residing in CGHS covered cities.

The medical facilities are provided through wellness centres, polyclinics under allopathic, ayurveda, yoga, unani and homeopathic system of medicines.

Source : The Hindustan Times, Feb 28, 2012

GENERAL STRIKE ON 28 th February 2012

2012-02-28T08:11:00.000+05:30

Postal Federations have jointly given a call to all Postal employees to participate in the one day token strike on 28th February 2012 (Tuesday) based on the call given by Central Trade Unions.The unions have come together on a five-point charter, which seeks strict enforcement of all basic labour laws without any exception or exemption and stringent punitive measures for violation; a universal social security cover for unorganised sector workers without any restriction and creation of a National Social Security Fund.Workers of all 11 recognised unions and 5,000 un-affiliated unions will strike work, affecting banking, postal, port and government operations.

Minutes of the meeting of Departmental Council (JCM) held on 10.02.2012

2012-02-28T08:00:00.001+05:30

Government of India

Ministry of Communications & IT

Department of Posts

( SR Section )

Dak Bhavan, Sansad Marg,

New Delhi -110001

No.6/2/2011-SR Dated the 17^th February, 2012

Secretary General. NFPE

Secretary General, FNPO

Subject: Draft minutes of the meeting of Departmental Council (JCM) held on 10.02.2012 – Vetting thereof.

Sir,

Please find enclosed draft minutes of the meeting of Departmental Council (JCM) held on 10.02.2012. The draft will be put up for consideration of Chairperson, Departmental Council after receipt of your no objection/comments.

Yours faithfully,

(Subhash Chander)

Director(SR & Legal)

Minutes of the meeting of Departmental Council (JCM) held on 10.02.2011

……….

A meeting of the Departmental Council (JCM) under the Chairpersonship of Secretary(Posts) was held on 10.02.2012. The following were present:

Official Side

Staff Side

1. Ms. Manjula Prasher, Secretary(P) & Chairperson, Departmental Council(JCM)

2. Ms. Yesodhara Menon, Member(P)

3. Ms. Suneeta Trivedi, Member(Plg.)

4. Shri Santosh Gauriar, Member(O)

5. Kalpana Tiwari, CGM MB&O

6. Shri S.K. Sinha, CGM PLI

7. Shri Tilak De, DDG(MM&Estates)

8. Shri V.P. Singh, DDG(Estt.)

9. Shri Salim Haque, DDG(P)

10. Ms. Aindri Anurag, DDG(PO&CP)

11. Shri A.S. Prasad, DDG(FS)

12. Shri V.K. Tiwary, DDG(R&P)

13. Shri Subhash Chander, Director(SR&Legal)

1. Shri K.V. Sridharan, Leader

2. Shri Giriraj Singh,

3. Shri M. Krishnan,

4. Shri D. Theagarajan

5. Shri D. Kishan Rao

6. Shri Ishwar Singh Dabas

7. Shri T. N. Rahate

8. Shri P. Suresh

9. Shri Pranab Bhattacharjee

10. Shri A.H. Siddiqui

11. Shri K. Ragavendra

12. Shri S. Karunanidhi

13. Shri Surinder Pal

The meeting started with introductory remarks of the Chairperson wherein she apprised of the staff side about the proposal of recognition of federations heaving been taken up for consideration and approval of the competent authority. This was followed by the staff side thanking the Chairperson for timely convening of the meeting. Thereafter agenda items were taken up for discussion and the gist of discussions held during the meeting is as follows:-

Annexure – I

1. Long distance schedules of MMS

The staff side was apprised of the instructions having been issued to Heads of Circles on 15.06.2010 to increase the utilization of vehicles by extending the existing schedules up to 300 kms. The position about clearance of Ministry of Finance regarding purchase of new vehicles as also replacement of old vehicles happening much faster was also explained to the staff side.

The contention of the staff side was that the aforesaid instructions are not being observed and it was agreed to reiterate the said instructions.

2. Diversion of MMS vehicles

The staff side averred that the vehicles allotted to MMS for operational purposes were diverted to Circle/Regional offices, which is adversely affecting the efficiency of mail delivery. They desired issue of strict instructions in the matter so that vehicles are used for the purpose for which they are procured.

The instructions issued in this regard by the Department from time to time were brought to the notice of the staff side with an understanding to reiterate the instructions once again.

3. Holding of examination for filling up the posts of AMM in MMS

The staff side pointed out delay in finalization of Rules of Recruitment for the post of Assistant Manager in MMS, with a request to finalise it on priority. The Chairperson advised the official side to complete the pending action in regard to finalization of Recruitment Rules within 2 months.

4. Holding of DPC for filling up the posts of Deputy Manager MMS

It was agreed to complete the process within 2 months.

5. Appointment to the grade of Supdt. Stg. In RMS

The contention of the staff side was that the 4 posts of Supdt. Sorting in RMS which were meant for general line officials are either manned by ASPs or by PSS/PMS Group B officials. Further, the Circles in which these posts exist are also not known. During discussions, a reference was also made to 4 posts of AD (Recruitment) out of which 3 are lying vacant. Besides requesting for filling up of the above posts, the staff side mentioned about their merger with main stream of Group B posts and increasing quota of General line officials from the existing 6% to a higher percentage.

The Chairperson advised the Personnel Division to find out the availability of posts and to fill all the posts meant for general line officials from that category only.

6. Acute shortage of ‘C’ Bags

The staff side was explained that for the year 2011-2012, much of the supply has already started and there are only 2 companies which are yet to start it. Further, action has already been initiated to ensure timely supply of bags for 2012-2013 & 2013-2014. The staff side was also apprised about the constitution of a Committee which will consider decentralization of procurement of stores of other than prescribed sizes, and the Committee will submit its report within one month.

7. Change of nomenclature of cleaners in MMS

Redesignation of Cleaner as Helpers may go against their interest and, therefore, it was agreed to drop the item.

8. Change of Recruitment Rules ensuring parity in recruitment to the posts of Postmen and Mailguards in the Department of Posts

The Recruitment Rules for the posts of Postmen and Mailguards have been revised and notified in the Gazette of India after due deliberations. In the background of the above, it was agreed to drop the item.

9. Recruitment in the cadre of erstwhile Group D upgraded as Multi Skilled Employees in the Department of Posts

In the background of Revised Rules of MTS it was agreed to drop the item.

10. Providing additional hand to single handed offices due to decentralization of RD Work etc.

The staff side drew attention to the agreement reached in an earlier meeting of the Departmental Council (JCM) in 2006 in the wake of which a Sub Committee was constituted, which submitted its report in favour of the proposal. In turn, it was reported to them that norms for the work of decentralized schemes like RD/MIS have already been finalized and further, redeployment was within the power of the CPMSG.

11. Implementation of recommendations of the 5^th CPC with regard to payment of cash handling allowance to treasurers and Asst. Treasurers in Post Offices.

The Staff Side was informed that the proposal was taken up with the Ministry of Finance in 2010 but it was not agreed to.

12. Payment of OSA and other benefits to MMS staff on par with RMS Staff.

The proposal of the Staff Side was agreed to.

13. Allot 19% Group B vacancies for General line and permit all Group C officials in Postal, RMS, Admn. And Postal A/Cs with minimum 20 years of service to appear in the exam by dispensing with present reservation of posts to RMS & Admn. Staff.

It was agreed to constitute a Committee which will look into the matter and submit its report within 2 months.

14. ACP Scheme to wiremen and electrical staff.

In the background of instructions issued by the Department vide No. 2-13/2009/PCC dated 12.08.2012, it was agreed to drop the item.

15. Streamlining the work of Cash Certificates and causing uniform work procedure.

The staff side was informed about the norms having been issued on 26.04.2010, a copy of which was supplied.

16. Anomaly in the preparation of PA gradation list. Date of confirmation should not be taken now and d ate of appointment be taken for construing seniority. Fixing seniority based on the date of confirmation in unconstitutional and discriminatory and dropping of confirmation examination.

It was agreed to refer the matter to the Committee constituted to consider item No.13.

17. Ensure speedy verification of caste.

It was agreed to reiterate the instructions of DOPT to the Maharashtra Circle.

18. Merger of Despatch Riders with the Drivers.

In the background of different rules of recruitment for the post of Despatch Riders and Drivers, the proposal could not be agreed to.

19. Allowing lift operators to sit for the LGO examination.

It was explained that it was a different category altogether and thus it would not be possible to allow the Lift Operators to sit for LGO examination.

Annexure -2

1.Non absorption of Lift Operators

Referring to the case of 5 Lift operators working at Howrah Post Office building, the Staff Side was informed that it appeared to be a case of absorption of Casual Labourers and not Lift operators and therefore it was agreed to drop the item.

2. Relaxation of educational qualification in respect of widow applicant for compassionate appointment.

The staff side was apprised of the position that prior to implementation of the recommendations of 6^th CPC, in case of widows the provision to relax the educational qualification existed subject to the condition that it would not adversely affect the work. The above clause has been found missing in the 6^th CPC recommendation and, therefore, its continuance thereafter will be ascertained from the Department of Personnel & Training.

3. Request for correct identification of Speed Post Hubs.

The staff side was informed that selection of Speed Post Hubs was done as part of Mail Network Optimisation Project after a comprehensive study of the network and taking into account mail volume Air/Rail/Road connectivity into account. In regard to Asansol, the Chairperson explained her discussions with the CPMG West Bengal in which he was asked to increase the mail business during the next 3 months and the position will be reviewed thereafter.

4. Request to issue instructions to the Heads of Circles to follow the Directorate order in respect of Speed Post Norms.

The instructions have already been issued and therefore it was agreed to drop the item.

5. Request to extend the Station Tenure to Senior Manager Cadre in MMS.

The proposal of the Staff Side that rotational transfers should be done on time, was agreed to by the Chairperson.

6. Incentive structure for handling UIDAI (Aadhar) cards to the PO staff.

The contention of the staff side was that Aadhar Cards were being handed over to the Postmen for delivery along with other dak which form part of their normal duties without considering their limitations in this regard. Mention was also made about higher rate of incentive being paid in Andhra Pradesh Circle with a request to maintain uniformity in the Circles.

It was clarified to the staff side that there is a provision to ensure delivery of Aadhar Cards within 15 days from the date of booking and it was quite a relaxed condition, in comparison to other Speed Post articles. In the matter of payment of incentive, the Chairperson agreed to reiterate the instructions in relation to Speed Post articles (including Aadhar) of the Department to all Heads of Circles. Higher incentive cannot be approved.

7. Reassessment of the Role of the Office Supdts. Working in Circle Administrative offices including the office of the DPLI and upgradation of them as the holder of Gazetted Group-B posts.

It was agreed to drop the item.

8. Promotion of senior most HSG-I in each regional office as office Supdt.

It was agreed to drop the item.

9. Release the Pension/DCRG of employees against whom minor penalty proceedings concluded after retirement.

In the light of instructions having been issued by the Department and reiterated vide letter dated 10.02.2012, it was agreed to drop the item.

10. Pay protection to employees who seek transfer to a lower post under FR 15(a)/transfer under Rule 38.

It was agreed to have a relook into the matter5.

11. Construction of Departmental Buildings for Postal Accounts Offices at Hyderabad, Trivandrum and Patna.

The Staff side was informed that all the 3 projects will be considered for construction during the 12^th Plan period, subject to availability of funds.

12. To fill up the time scale Driver Post at MMS.

It was agreed to have a relook into the matter of filling up of all residual vacancies of Drivers in the MMS.

13. Revival of Bandel and Barasat RMS in West Bengal Circle.

The staff side was explained that in view of the networking exercise, L1 and L2 has to be followed and therefore this item become irrelevant. It was further clarified that in the wake of networking exercise, number of mail offices with less than 10,000 mails are being allowed to continue. In the light of the above discussions, it was agreed to drop this item.

14. Problem arisen subsequent on centralization of Tax related work at HO in S.B.Branch.

The staff side was apprised that TDS is a mandatory income tax requirement and is part of the statutory requirement when commission is paid to agents. There is every possibility that the issues raised by them will be sorted out by the new software. It was further stated that in case the issue does not get resolved with the new Financial Services software, this would be examined separately.

15. Posting of in charge of BPC – regarding.

It was agreed to look into the matter.

16. Request for procurement and supply of scanner to HOs and SOs in Maharashtra Circle effecting MSEDEL bills on e-payment.

The staff side was informed that the matter had been discussed with the CPMG Maharashtra Circle and the possibilities were being explored to split the existing Barcode of Maharashtra State Electricity Board so that it comes within 12 digit Bar code reader. It was also explained that the Department would not be in a position to procure scanner so as to suit the requirement of different organizations, utilizing the services of the Post Office. In the background of the above, the item was dropped.

17. Delivery/Remarks on Speed Post articles pertaining to Pass Port - Clarifications sought for.

After discussions, it was agreed to reiterate the instructions of the Department to all concerned.

18. Irregularities in the accounting procedure in Post Offices – case of Delhi Circle.

It was agreed to look into the matter.

19. Postal Assistant Direct recruitment – compulsory education in regional language – regarding.

After detailed discussions, it was agreed to drop the item.

20. Reduction of tenure in the Naxalite threat areas in Baster division, Chattisgarh circle.

The staff side was informed that the issue falls within the purview of the Circle Office.

21. Holding of JAO part II Examination – regarding.

It was informed to the staff side that the matter was earlier taken up with the Ministry of Law & Justice and is now under consideration in consultation with the Department of Personnel & Training. It was also stated that in case of eligible candidates, the examination may be conducted without much delay.

22. Arbitrary & irregular Audit objection and recovery of licence fee from the officials provided with rent free recommendation.

In the wake of instructions issued by the CPMG West Bengal, it was agreed to drop the item.

23. Removal of age limit for appearing in IPO exam.

After detailed discussions it was agreed to drop the item.

24. Evolution of norms for all duties performed my Multi tasking staff (erstwhile Group-D).

The staff side was informed that norms for all the duties performed by MTS are being evolved.

25. Creation of justified additional posts while implementing new system for delivery work and allowing postmen to write correct remarks for non delivery.

The issue is under examination by the Postmen Committee, under the Chairpersonship of CGM PLI.

26. Grant of uniform and kit maintenance allowances.

The fact of the matter having been taken up with the Department of Personnel & Training vide letter dated 02.02.2012 was brought to the notice of the staff side.

27. Providing Security to cash overseers.

The staff side was informed that the present cash limits are not so high to provide for the security and further the Circle Heads would be instructed to ensure adherence to the line limits by all concerned. It was also agreed to examine the feasibility of raising line limits and to provide security guards in the Post Offices located in highly sensitive areas. The issue of utilizing services of the bank branches located in the area will also be examined.

28. Incentive to Mail overseers for procuring PRLI Business.

It was agreed to issue a clarification to the effect that Mail Overseers are also eligible for incentives on par with other departmental officials and depending upon the suitability, they can be engaged for this work.

29. Weight and size limit of express post parcels delivery of by Postmen.

It was agreed to reiterate the existing instructions on the subject to all Heads of Circles.

30. To keep status quo in the post of Departmental Stamp Vendor.

The staff side was informed that the issue is covered by the standing instructions on utilization of surplus manpower and redeployment of posts and therefore, the plea to maintain status quo cannot be approved.

Postmen to now collect data for calculation of rural Consumer Price Index (CPI)

2012-02-28T07:43:00.000+05:30

NEW DELHI: The postman in rural areas across the country has his hands full. Apart from his regular job, he now has to go out three to four times a week to collect data from retail outlets which is then used to calculate the rural consumer price inflation.

Faced with an acute manpower shortage, the ministry of statistics and programme implementation tied up with the department of posts to get over the problem of collecting such massive amount of data from rural areas across the country.

"When we were discussing about the comprehensive CPI data we were looking for a department which had reach across the country. We zeroed in on the postal network," said Pronob Sen, adviser in the Planning Commission and former chief statistician of the country.

It was a perfect opportunity for the postal department, which readily accepted the offer. Rising competition and new technology has posed serious challenges for the department of posts. It is working on several ideas to maximize revenues and use its vast network to help other government departments.

"We were looking at new avenues for raising our revenue and we entered into a memorandum of agreement with the ministry of statistics and progamme implementation," said Sachin Pilot, minister of state for communications and information technology.

He said the rural CPI data is being collected by 1,181 rural post offices. About 1,800 employees undertake the exercise for 3 to 4 hours a week. The statistics ministry paid the department of posts Rs 6.32 crore in 2010-11 and is to pay Rs 7.66 crore in 2011-12. "We just collect the data, the CPI is calculated by the statistics ministry on department of posts and National Sample Survey Office (NSSO) inputs," Pilot said.

Price data is collected from selected towns by the Field Operations Division of NSSO and from selected villages by the department of posts. This data is then fed into web portals being maintained by the National Informatics Centre.

Postal employees identified for the mission were put through intensive training sessions. "They were taught how to collect the data, the questions to be asked and how to put the data in the portal," Sen said, adding most employees had education up to Class 8.

"There were initial hiccups for about 3-4 months but then it settled down. They collect data and then feed it into the computers available in the post office. The data is carefully examined before it is used," said Sen, adding that the department of posts compensates the employees for collecting data.

Data collection in the country faces several hurdles and often international agencies and analysts question the quality of Indian data. Government officials say lack of competitive salaries forces students with economics and statistics background to explore opportunities in the private sector. They say even now the NSSO has vacancies for nearly 800 analysts and statisticians.

The Central Statistics Office on Monday unveiled the first comprehensive annual inflation rates based on the consumer price indices series. Provisional annual inflation rate based on all India general CPI (combined) for January stood at 7.65% while the inflation rates for rural and urban areas were 7.38% and 8.25% respectively, the CSO data showed.

Source:-The Economic Times

House panel for hiking IT relief limit to Rs.3 lakh

2012-02-25T07:58:00.001+05:30

Parliamentary Committee, scrutinising the Direct Taxes Code (DTC) Bill, will recommend raising the annual income-tax exemption limit to Rs.3 lakh and hiking the limit on tax breaks for investments to Rs.2.50 lakh following a broad consensus among its members.

“There is a consensus among the members that the annual tax-exemption limit be raised to Rs.3 lakh,” sources said after a meeting of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Finance, chaired by senior BJP leader Yashwant Sinha.

Some members had earlier suggested that the annual income-tax exemption limit be raised to Rs.5 lakh from Rs.1.80 lakh at present, in view of high inflation and erosion in purchasing power of the rupee.

The DTC Bill proposes the tax exemption limit at Rs.2 lakh and also provides for revising the tax slabs for all the three categories.

At present, income in the bracket of Rs.1.80-5 lakh attracts 10 per cent tax, 20 per cent for Rs.5-8 lakh. It is 30 per cent for above Rs.8 lakh.

Members also felt that the limit for the total tax saving deductions, which include investment in provident fund, life insurance, children education and infrastructure bonds, should be raised to Rs.2.50 lakh from Rs.1.2 lakh, sources said.

At present, investments up to Rs.1 lakh in specified instruments are deducted while calculating the tax liability.

In addition, investments up to Rs.20,000 in infrastructure bonds are also exempted from tax.

To finalise report

The Standing Committee on Finance has decided to finalise its report on DTC by March 2, enabling Parliament to consider the ambitious reforms in the direct tax regime in the budget session beginning March 12.

“The committee will present its report to Parliament in the third week of March”, sources said.

Source : The Hindu 25.02.2012

Task Force on an Aadhaar Enabled Unified Payment Infrastructure Submits Report to Finance Minister

2012-02-24T08:03:00.000+05:30

The Union Finance Minister Shri Pranab Mukherjee said that Aadhaar-Enabled E-payment system would help not only in ensuring the timely payments directly to the intended beneficiaries but would also help in reducing the time taken, transaction costs and the leakages among others. The Finance Minister said that this would also help in bringing transparency in the system and reducing avoidable delays. The Finance Minister Shri Pranab Mukherjee was speaking after receiving the Final Report of the Task Force on Aaadhar-Enabled Unified Payment Infrastructure presented to him by Shri Nandan Nilekan, Chairman UIDAI and the Task Force, here today. The Finance Minister Shri Mukherjee further said

that pilot projects be upscaled and implemented in more areas and in more States. So far pilot projects are mainly implemented in the areas of LPG, kerosene, fertilizers and MGNREGS which can be further expanded, the Minister added. Today’s meeting was also attended among others by the Union Agriculture Minister, Shri Shard Pawar, Rural Development Minister, Shri Jairam Ramesh, Minister of State (Independent charge) for Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, Shri K.V. Thomas, the Minister of State for Chemicals and Fertilizers, Shri Srikant Jena, Secretaries of various Departments/Ministries and senior officials of Ministry of Finance and Planning Commission among others.

Earlier, the Chairman UIDAI and the Task Force, Shri Nandan Nilekani made a presentation highlighting the various recommendations made by the Task Force in its Final Report. Shri Nandan Nilekani said that a strategic transformation of the governance can be brought about by the usage of electronic payments across the board. Shri Nilekani said that the Task Force has recommended a systematic platform based approach for the electronic payments.

The Task Force which was chaired by Chairman, UIDAI, Shri Nandan Nilekani also included Secretaries of the Departments of Expenditure, Financial Services, Fertilisers, Petroleum, Agriculture, Rural Development, and Food and Consumer Affairs among others. The members also included DG, UIDAI, Controller General of Accounts (CGA), representatives from the NIC, RBI, IBA and NPCI. The Task Force was constituted in September 2011 to recommend, inter alia, a detailed solution architecture for direct transfer of subsidy through a payments bridge wherein funds can be transferred into any Aadhaar–enabled bank account on the basis of the Aadhaar number.

The salient recommendations of the Task Force include that beneficiaries of all social safety net programs (MGNREGS, SSP, JSY, IAY, scholarships, etc.) and recipients of direct subsidy transfer payments (LPG, Fertilisers, kerosene, etc.) can greatly benefit by receiving their payments electronically, directly into accounts of their choice at either banks or post offices. The Task Force recommends that frontline development workers such as school teachers, Anganwadi workers, ASHA workers, etc. who often do not receive their salaries on time, can also receive their salaries by direct deposit into their accounts at banks and post offices. It also recommends that a network of 10,00,000 interoperable microATMs operated by Business Correspondents will have to be set-up across the country for people to access their accounts at their own convenience. In order to set-up this network quickly, the Task Force has recommended that a last mile transaction fee of 3.14% with a cap of Rs.20 per transaction be paid by Government to banks for Government payments. This will also lead to positive network externalities such as reduction in leakages and achieving financial inclusion. In order to reduce the use of cash in the economy, the Task Force also recommends that Government and Government owned institutions accept electronic payments at all locations where they collect payments from citizens, without any additional surcharge. The Task Force also recommends that over a period of time, all payments of Government over the sum of Rs.1,000 should be made or received electronically. Transacting all Government business using electronic payments will help reduce graft, and bring about greater transparency and accountability. This reform will require a systematic platform-based approach to payments. For this the Task Force has recommended the adoption of the following:

1. Government e-Payments Gateway (CGA): Enable straight-through processing and release of funds from Ministry of Finance to the Line Ministries;

2. Aadhaar account opening and authentication platform (UIDAI): Provides electronic account opening capability along with real-time authentication of residents;

3. Aadhaar Payments Bridge (NPCI): An interoperable system operated by NPCI for transferring funds into accounts at banks and post offices on the basis of Aadhaar number;

4. MicroATM network (Banks and India Post): An interoperable network of Business Correspondents deploying MicroATMs for balance query, deposits, withdrawals, and remittances; and

5. Mobile banking: Provide self-service banking capabilities through mobile phones for everyone. The Union Finance Minister accepted the Task Force Report in-principle and stated that necessary steps would be taken to implement the recommendations of the Report. The Task Force report is available on the Ministry of Finance website i.e. www.finmin.nic.in

RTI Queries Don't Affect Govt. Work

2012-02-24T07:50:00.001+05:30

The time spent by government officials replying to RTI is so little that it cannot be a pretext for them to shirk that task.

In August 2011, the Supreme Court made an observation which had some unintended consequences on the Right to Information (RTI) process. The judgement by Justice R.V. Raveendran is turning out to be a seemingly legitimate excuse for government officials to restrict information.

Aditya Bandopadhyay went to court when the Central Board of Secondary Education declined to provide his examination answer sheets under the RTI Act. While the court allowed access to answer sheets, it also observed that the cherished right to information should not affect administrative efficiency.

In his judgement, Justice R.V. Raveendran said:
“The nation does not want a scenario where 75 percent of the staff of public authorities spends 75 percent of their time in collecting and furnishing information to applicants instead of discharging their regular duties. The threat of penalties under the RTI Act and the pressure of the authorities under the RTI Act should not lead to employees of public authorities prioritising information furnishing at the cost of their normal and regular duties.” Government officials are now using this excuse with increasing frequency saying that even the court agrees. Central Information Commissioner Shailesh Gandhi says 75 percent government staff spending 75 percent of their time on giving information would mean 56 percent (0.75 X 0.75) of their total time spent only on replying to RTI queries.

Gandhi says that at the most optimistic estimate not more than one crore RTI applications are likely to be received by all public authorities across the country in 2012. The average time to attend to each would be less than three hours. That means no more than three crore hours spent by all officials.

Assuming that an average government employee works for just six hours a day for 200 days a year, it would mean he would work for a total of 1,200 hours in a year. That means 25,000 (3 crore divided by 1,200) employees would be required full time. The Centre and all state governments have about 1.2 crore employees. So, the total time spent by government employees on replying to RTI queries would be 0.208 percent (25,000 divided by 12,000,000).
In other words, no more than 4.6 percent officials are spending 4.6 percent of their time on giving information. This is based on conservative assumptions. Surely, government officials work for more than six hours a day! Doesn’t look like they have much space to hide.

Source : Forbes India, Feb 23, 2012

CHQ News - Communication of AIC resolution on IP Grade pay

2012-02-23T15:44:00.000+05:30

No. CHQ/IPASP/1/2012 Dated : 22/2/2012.

To,
Ms Yesodhara Menon,
Member (P),
Department of Posts,
Dak Bhavan, Sansad Marg,
New Delhi 110 001.

Subject : Minutes of the meeting taken by Secretary (Posts) with All India Association of Inspectors and Assistant Superintendents Posts on 3/11/2011.

Ref. : Directorate Letter No. 01/01/2011-SR dated 14/11/2011.

Respected Madam,

The 37th All India Biennial Conference of this Association was held at Bangaluru on 28th and 29th January, 2012. In the Conference, the matter related to merger of the posts IP and ASP was deliberated in depth and the house passed a resolution unanimously as under:

“This Association is against the merger of Inspector Posts and Assistant Superintendents Posts Cadre. Inspector Posts should be granted Grade Pay of Rs. 4600/- with effect from 01/01/2006 at par with Inspectors of CBDT / CBEC in tune with directions of the Hon’ble CAT, Ernakulam Bench”.

In view of the above resolution, it is requested that action may please be taken to implement the orders of Hon’ble CAT, Ernakulam Bench to upgrade the grade pay of Inspector Posts from Rs. 4200/- to Rs. 4600/- with effect from 1.1.2006.

Yours sincerely,

(Vilas Ingale)

General Secretary

2012-02-23T06:03:00.001+05:30

Sri N.Umamaheswara rao Inspector Posts RMS "V" Dn Visakhapatnam was felicitated at Potti Sriramulu Telugu University, Hyderabad on 18.02.2012 for winning first prize to his childrens story book "Melerigina Manishi" in children story Books competition (Bala Sahitya Grandhala Poti) from Arunodaya Art Creations and Rashtra Bala Sahitya Parishad, Hyderabad. Other dignitaries present on the occasion are Sri P.Vijayababu, Editor Andhra Prabha daiy, Sri K.V.Ramanacari, I.A.S., Sri Giri Babu, Cine actor, sri Venugopal, Editor, AASHA monthly, Sri Voleti Parvateesam, Doordarshan, Hyderabad and Sri Pradeep cine & TV actor. Congratulations to our friend.

Consideration of compassionate engagement to Depandants of GDS discharged on medical grounds prior to 14.12.2010

2012-02-23T05:15:00.001+05:30

Government of India

Ministry of Communication & IT

Department of Posts

(GDS Section)

Dak Bhawan, Sandad Marg

New Delhi – 110001

No. 19-19/2009-GDS Dated: 21 Feb 2012

Chef Postmaster General

Postmaster General

Subject :Consideration of compassionate engagement on GDS posts to Depandants of Gramina Dak Sevaks discharged on medical grounds based on proof of invalidation prior to 14.12.2010

A reference is invited to Para 7(d) of this Directorate letter No. 17-17/2010-GDS dated 14.12.2010 wherein it was provided that "this percentage of 10% shall only apply to cover cases of wards of deceased GDS and not to GDS acquiring disability during service defined in the Persons with Disabilities Act, 1995. Section 47 of the Persons with Disabilities Act, 1995 provides that no establishment shall dispense with or reduce in rank an employee who acquires a disability during his service as also no promotion shall be denied to a person merely on the ground of his disability. In case of a GDS acquiring a disability during his service and is considered to be unsuitable for the GDS post he was holding, could be shifted to some other post with the same TRCA." The ceiling of 10% was further removed with revised provisions under this Directorate letter No. even dated 01.08.2011.

2. The issue of allowing compassionate engagements to one of the dependant of the GDS discharged on invalidation on medical grounds supported by the invalidation proof has been considered in this Directorate and it has now been decided to allow considering compassionate engagement to one of the words of invalidated GDS discharged before the date of issue of this Directorate letter No. 17-17/2010-GDS dated 14.12.2010 on consideration of the indigent condition of the family taking recourse to the application of the same provisions of compassionate engagement and process as were in force at the time of discharge of the GDS on invalidation, without a further reference to this Directorate.

3. It is, however, clarified once again that the provision contained in Para 7 (d) of this Directorate letter No. 17-17/2010-GDS dated 14.12.2010 as amended may be observed scrupulously and no GDS is allowed to be discharged on invalidation observing the provisions of Section 47 of the Persons with Disabilities Act, 1995. In case a GDS acquires a disability during his service and is considered to be unsuitable for the GDS post he was holding, he/she may be shifted to some other post with the same TRCA. If at all some genuine difficulty arises about the nature of work to be extracted from him and the concerned HOC is personally convinced of the grounds in individual cases, the Circles may take up the issue of appropriate cases with the Training Division of this Directorate.

4. The instructions contained in Para 7(d) of this Directorate letter No. 17-17/2010-GDS dated 14.12.2010 & the present instructions would cover the cases of the GDS where a GDS was permitted to be discharged during the period from 01.01.1996 to 13.12.2010 by the prescribed appointing authority based on medical invalidation by a medical board of a Government Hospital and the disability would cover only the disabilities mentioned and defined in Section 2 of the PWD Act, 1995." While considering the cases under this provision, Head of the Circle would personally ensure that only the cases fulfilling the requisite conditions are considered for compassionate engagement.

5. The above provisions may be brought to the notice of all concerned for strict compliance. This issue with the approval of Secretary(Posts).

Sd/-

(Surender Kumar)

Assistant Director General (GDS)

pension Fund Regulator invited Bids to manage NPS funds

2012-02-22T17:45:00.000+05:30

Pension fund regulator PFRDA has invited bids from financial institutions to manage funds of Central Government Employees under the New Pension Scheme (NPS) for the next three years beginning April 1, 2012.

The fund managers will be required to manage the pension assets of Central government employees, according to Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA).

The three pension fund managers will have to submit bids by March 15, PFRDA said. At present, pension funds of government employees are managed by three pension fund managers (PFMs) — LIC Pension Fund, SBI Pension Fund, and UTI Retirement Solutions. The total corpus of the government employees as on December 2011 was Rs 12,769 crore.

These three fund managers are also eligible for participating in the bidding process, the regulator said. The total average monthly subscriptions of government employees is around Rs 500 crore.

National Pension System (NPS) was introduced on January 1, 2004, and is mandatory for central government employees (except armed forces personnel) appointed on or after January 2004. The scheme was made available to all citizens on a voluntary basis from May 1, 2009.

Even though NPS is an immensely beneficial financial product for unorganised sector employees, especially those who do not manage a steady source of income after retirement, it has received lukewarm response till now.

To popularise the scheme, PFRDA, in September 2010, introduced the Swavalamban scheme. Under this scheme, the government contributed Rs 1,000 per year to each NPS account opened in the year 2010-11 and for the next three years, i.E., 2011-12, 2012-13 and 2013-14. To be eligible, a person has to make a minimum contribution of Rs 1,000 and maximum contribution of Rs 12,000 per annum.

Source: Times of India

India Post Web site - Taken new look

2012-02-22T17:27:00.001+05:30

Home page of India Post Web site www.indiapost.gov.in is completely changed now. Nothing to get panic on non availability of Quick links option in Indiapost new website. Speednet, Rnet, UID,eMO, ePayment, Accounts ,Project Arrow,NREGS MIS are provided in "Employee Corner" option in new home page. Pl click this link provided at the bottom of web page to access these MIS pages.

Result of Inspector Post Exam - An update

2012-02-22T16:40:00.000+05:30

It was informed by General Secretary of IP/ASP association that he contacted the concerned officers in the Postal Directorate on announcement of result of Inspector Post Examination-2011 and he was informed that CMC has not submitted the marksheet so far. Hence, result will be announced by the DE Division only after scrutiny of marksheet received from the CMC which will take some more time.

Children Educational Allowance - Clarification

2012-02-21T19:29:00.002+05:30

I. Department of Personnel & Training has issued clarification vide OM no 12011/07(i)/2011-Estt(AL) dated 21.02.2012 on reimbursement of Development fee/ parents contribution charged by Schools , Fee charged for catering the needs of the child with Disabilities and on minimum age condition of the child. As per this clarification, there is no minimum age for any child for claiming reimbursement of Children Educational allowance.

Click here to View the DOPT OM in original.

II. In another OM no 12011/07(ii)/2011-Estt(AL) dated 21.02.2012, clarification was issued on reimbursement in case of loss of original receipts issued by School/Institution and on allowing reimbursement of 50% of eligible amount in Ist quarter.

Click here to view the DOPT OM in original.

Chraging Extra premium on PLI policies taken by physically Challenged persons - High Court Delhi raps Govt.

2012-02-21T19:18:00.003+05:30

Complaints of discrimination against the disabled are common in matters of civic amenities, job appointments and admissions to educational institutions. But now one such case has emerged in relation to a life insurance scheme floated by the central government itself.

Slamming the Centre, the Delhi High Court has said it will quash its postal life insurance policy that charges the physically challenged extra premium.

State and central government employees are the beneficiaries of this policy. As per its rules, the assured sum for the disabled is much less while the premium much more than what is applicable to ordinary employees. The discrimination was brought to the notice of the court by a PIL filed by a visually challenged lawyer, Pankaj Sinha.

"Why this discrimination? How can you charge the disabled extra premium? They have the same risk factor as ordinary policyholders. The premium should be linked to various ailments — not disability," a bench headed by acting chief justice AK Sikri told the Centre's counsel.

"Disability is not a disease or a medical problem. We are going to quash the policy," the court said. Sinha told the bench: "While non-handicapped persons are insured for a maximum of Rs 5 lakh, disabled people are insured for a maximum of only Rs 1 lakh. The premium paid by disabled people is also more than the premium for non-disabled people."

The court rejected the Centre's argument that disabled people are more prone to accidental risks as compared to persons without any disability and therefore the premium charged should be marginally different.

Source : The Hindustan Times, Feb 20, 2012

AP Circle conference - New office bearers elected

2012-02-20T06:41:00.001+05:30

39th Biannual Circle Conference of All India Association of Inspectors and Asstt. Supdt Posts, Andhra Pradesh Circle Branch was held at Kurnool on 18th and 19th February 2012. The new office bearers of the Association elected for the next two years term are as follows.
1.G. V. Srinivasulu, ASP (HQ) Kurnool Division as Circle President.
2.G.Siva Naga Raju , ASP (HQ) Gudivada Dn as Vice President.
3.K. Raghunathswamy, ASP (HQ) Nalgonda Division as Circle Secretary.
4.G.Bala Saraswathi , IP (PMI) o/o PMG Vijayawada region as Asst Circle Secretary I.
5.. Shri P. B. Srinivas, ASP (Marketing) o/o CPMG, Hyderabad as Circle Treasurer.

New office bearers of Chattisgarh Circle

2012-02-20T06:31:00.001+05:30

7th Biennial Circle Conference of IP / ASP Association of Chhatisgarh Branch held at Raipur on 18.02.2012. Kum. Sandhya Devgirikar, ASP (HQ) Raipur Division and Shri A. K. Singh, SDI (P) Baloda Bazar Sub Division, Raipur are elected as Circle President and Circle Secretary respectively.

Guide Line for Newly introduced Mail net work system

2012-02-20T06:27:00.001+05:30

The existing mail offices have been classified into Level 1 (L-1) and Level 2 (L-2) mail offices. There would be 89 L-1 and 244 L-2 mail offices under the new set up.

All L-1 mail offices will close direct bags for each other. An L-1 office will also close bags for all L-2 offices as well as delivery post offices mapped/attached to it.

All L-2 offices attached/mapped to it an L-1 office can close bags for that particular office. An L-2 office may also close bags for all other L-2 offices mapped to the same L-1 office if the need be. It will also close bags for all delivery post offices mapped to it.

An L-2 mail office would not close bags for any other L-1 office to which it is not mapped. Similarly an L-2 office will not close bags for any other L-2 office which is not mapped to the same L-1 office. However, there may be a situation where an L-2 office may require closing bags for an L-1 or L-2 office falling in the same circle or neighboring circle for transmission advantage. Circles should try to keep this number to the bare minimum to the extent possible. In all such exceptional cases, the circle concerned should furnish the list of such offices and destinations for which bag closing is required and seek approval of the Directorate.

Post Offices would prepare two kinds of bags (separate for unregistered and registered mail) for their parent mail office (L-1 or L-2 as the case may be), which would be as follows.

A bag containing TD mail to be delivered by post offices mapped to the same parent mail office (for unregistered mail).

A bag containing non-TD (NTD) i.e. all mail other than TD , to be delivered by post offices not mapped to the same parent mail office (for unregistered mail).

A bag containing TD mail to be delivered by the post offices mapped to the same parent mail office ( for registered mail).

A bag containing non-TD (NTD) mail, i.e. all mail other than TD, to be delivered by post offices no mapped to the same parent mail office (for registered mail).

Post Offices would continue to retain station article i.e. articles to be delivered from the same post office in case of both unregistered and registered articles.

The new operational network has put into operation from 15th February, 2012.

Deputation of Dr. P.V.S. Reddy (IPoS-1993) to NIPHM, Hyderabad

2012-02-20T06:22:00.000+05:30

Dr. P.V.S. Reddy (IPoS-1993), DPS(BD&Technology), O/o CPMG, Odisha Circle Bhubaneswar is relieved on 17.02.2012 A/N to join as Registrar National Institute of Plant Health Management(NIPHM), Hyderabad on deputation for three years vide Directorate, New Delhi Memo No.14-14/2009-SPG dated 17th February, 2012.

Result of LGO examination held on 16/10/2011

2012-02-17T17:37:00.002+05:30

Result of Departmental competitive Examination of Lower Grade officials for promotion to the cadre of postal Assistants/ Sorting Assistants held on 16-10-2011 pertaining to AP Circle is declared.

Click here to view the result division wise.

India and Sri Lanka play out a sensational tie

2012-02-15T07:47:00.002+05:30

It was a face-off of the gladiatorial kind. The world's foremost death overs paceman against a feared finisher. It was Lasith Malinga versus Mahendra Singh Dhoni at the Adelaide Oval.

India required four runs off the last ball. Malinga, his mane gleaming under the lights, steamed in. Dhoni settled into his stance. The crowd held its breath.

The Sri Lankan's thunderbolt was full and outside off. Dhoni, with an acrobatic one-legged slash, fired the ball over cover.

The Indian captain and last man Umesh Yadav ran three amid tension, suspense and hectic Sri Lankan fielding. The match ended in a nerve-jangling tie.

Dhoni, sweat streaming down his visage, was once again India's savior in the climactic stages. Man of the Match he was.

The Commonwealth Bank ODI series threw up one more thriller here on Tuesday. Both teams finished with identical scores – 236 for nine.

India now has ten points from four matches and Sri Lanka two from three.

Skipper Dhoni, unbeaten on a 69-ball 58, walked back with a wry smile.

Opener Gautam Gambhir, who set up the chase for India, continued his fine form with a 106-ball 91.

One never knows what might have been had the 30th over of the innings – sent down by Malinga – not been a five-ball one.

The match twisted and turned going into the final stretch. India needed 24 from the last two overs. Irfan Pathan swung a full toss from seamer Angelo Mathews for a six before being run-out by the bowler.

Then, Dhoni thwacked the bowler past the mid-wicket ropes to reach his half-century.

India took 15 from the 49th over and required nine from the final one.

The over built up towards an edge-of-the-seat finish. Vinay Kumar was run-out by Mathews, finding the target from mid-off from the fifth delivery. Then came the game's final act.

The players had felt the pressure as the game neared conclusion. Even experienced men made mistake. Sangakkara, with the big gloves on, grassed a skier from Ravichandran Ashwin. The Indians ran two for the stroke.

But then, paceman's Thisara Perera putting down a return catch off Dhoni when the Indian captain was on 10 proved a lot more expensive for the Sri Lankans.

The Sri Lankans fought hard. Mahela Jayawardene shuffled his bowlers around cleverly, kept a single-denying field to build pressure, and saved Malinga for the last.

The Sri Lankans never lost belief and there was some assistance for the bowlers – some movement and spin – from the surface. The crafty Rangana Herath impressed with his left-arm spin.

The dismissal of a well-set Gambhir was the turning point. Dhoni and Gambhir had added 60 runs for the fifth wicket when India ran into a truckload of problems. Dhoni pushed Malinga to mid-on, stopped after initially setting out for a run, and Gambhir was stranded at the non-striker's end with Kulasekara hitting the stumps.

Earlier, Sachin Tendulkar – Virender Sehwag sat out of the game with a back spasm – nicked an attempted drive off Nuwan Kulasekara early on.

The Indians lost wickets at regular intervals. Virat Kohli played across to an off-cutter from seamer Thisara Perera. Mahela Jayawardene scored a terrific direct hit from point to end Rohit Sharma's tenure.

And Suresh Raina, unable to time his glance off Malinga, was splendidly taken on the leg-side by a diving Sangakkara.

Meanwhile, Gambhir batted with balance and poise. He was light on his feet and heavy with his strokes. The southpaw cover-drove with a still head. With dexterous wrists, he whipped the ball into the open spaces.

When Malinga bounced, Gambhir pulled. When Rangana Herath flighted, he split the off-side field with a front-footed drive.

Dhoni has this ability to pick runs unnoticed before he launches into the big blows. The Indian skipper picks his moments to strike, possesses a calm head that weighs options. Dhoni's six over wide long-on off Perera was a massive blow.

The Sri Lankan innings revolved around a fine 91-ball 81 from Dinesh Chandimal. He used his feet and found the gaps.

He rocked back to cut and pull, jumped out to either strike the ball over the infield or drive it between the fielders or simply worked it around for the singles.

The 94-run fourth-wicket partnership – in 100 balls – between Chandimal and Mahela Jayawardene powered Sri Lanka before the side lost momentum. Jayawardene (43), rediscovering form, played with soft hands and sure footwork.

The Sri Lankans, however, turned powerless in the batting Power Play.

The five overs – between overs 36 and 40 – fetched the Sri Lankans just 18 runs while they lost three wickets.

Mahela Jayawardene perished trying to turn a off-cutter from Vinay Kumar, Chandimal was done in by Rohit Sharma's quick release to Dhoni from short cover and Perera walked back after attempting to slog Ravichandran Ashwin. Sri Lanka had surrendered advantage.

Earlier, the consistent Vinay Kumar found the edge of Upul Tharanga's bat with a back-of-a-length ball that seamed away. The steady Irfan Pathan – in the team because Zaheer Khan was nursing a strained right calf – removed Tillakaratne Dilshan when the batsman under-edged a drive.

Off-spinner Ashwin bowled capably. The off-spinner took out Kumar Sangakkara, stroking the ball, fluently, with a teasing delivery that spun away from the left-hander.

Scoreboard: Sri Lanka: U. Tharanga c Dhoni b Vinay Kumar 0 (2b), T. Dilshan c Dhoni b Pathan 16 (23b, 1x4, 1x6), K. Sangakkara c Gambhir b Ashwin 31 (56b, 2x4), D. Chandimal (run out) 81 (91b, 6x4, 1x6), M. Jayawardene lbw b Vinay Kumar 43 (49b, 2x4), A. Mathews (run out) 17 (30b, 1x4), T. Perera c Kohli b Ashwin 5 (9b), N. Kulasekara c Gambhir b Vinay Kumar 12 (25b), S. Senanayake (not out) 22 (14b, 3x4), L. Malinga (run out) 0 (0b), R. Herath (not out) 1 (1b); Extras (lb-3, w-5): 8, Total (for nine wkts. in 50 overs): 236.

Fall of wickets: 1-0 (Tharanga), 2-28 (Dilshan), 3-79 (Sangakkara), 4-173 (Jayawardene), 5-178 (Chandimal), 6-184 (Perera), 7-210 (Mathews), 8-232 (Kulasekara), 9-235 (Malinga).

India bowling: Vinay Kumar 10-1-46-3, Pathan 9-0-38-1, Yadav 9-0-51-0, Ashwin 10-1-30-2, Jadeja 10-0-58-0, Rohit 2-0-10-0.

India: G. Gambhir (run out) 91 (106b, 6x4), S. Tendulkar c Sangakkara b Kulasekara 15 (24b, 2x4), V. Kohli lbw b Perera 15 (25b, 1x4), Rohit (run out) 15 (27b, 2x4), S. Raina c Sangakkara b Malinga 8 (19b), M.S. Dhoni (not out) 58 (69b, 3x4, 1x6), R. Jadeja c Jayawardene b Perera 3 (10b), R. Ashwin c Senanayake b Malinga 14 (13b, 1x4), Irfan (run out) 8 (5b, 1x6), Vinay (run out) 1 (2b), U. Yadav (not out) 0 (0b); Extras (lb-1, w-6, nb-1): 8; Total (for nine wkts. in 50 overs) 236.

Fall of wickets: 1-24 (Tendulkar), 2-61 (Kohli), 3-94 (Rohit), 4-118 (Raina), 5-178 (Gambhir), 6-184 (Jadeja), 7-212 (Ashwin), 8-223 (Irfan), 9-233 (Vinay).

Sri Lanka bowling: Malinga 10-1-53-2, Kulasekara 10-0-39-1, Mathews 5-0-35-0, Perera 9-0-45-2, Herath 10-1-33-0, Senanayake 6-0-30-0.

Man-of-the-match: M.S. Dhoni
Courtesy : The Hindu

Group B Postings in Hyderabad Region

2012-02-15T07:36:00.001+05:30

Sri K.Janardhna Reddy SPM Repalle MDG and qualified Group B candidate from General line Qouta of PS Group B Examination 2010 who stands alloted to Hyderabad Region is now posted as SPOs Sangareddy Division.

Civil Services (Pre) Exam, 2012 to be Held on May 20

2012-02-15T07:31:00.000+05:30

The Union Service Public Commission (UPSC) will hold the Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination, 2012 on May 20, 2012 for recruitment to the Indian Administrative Service, Indian Foreign Service, Indian Police Service and certain other Group ‘A’ and Group ‘B’ Central Services/Posts. The examination will be held at various centers across the country.

For details regarding the syllabus and scheme of the examination, centers of examination, guidelines for filling up application form etc. aspirants must consult the website of the Commission (www.upsc.gov.in) from 04.02.2012. Detailed Notice of the examination is being published in the Employment News/Rozgar Samachar on 11.02.2012. Candidates must apply online using the website www.upsconline.nic.in. Detailed instructions for filling up online applications are available on the above-mentioned website.

In case of any difficulty in filling up of the on-line application form, candidates are advised to contact the facilitation counter of the Commission or over telephone no.011-23389366/Fax No.011-23387310, on working days during working hours.

The online applications can be filled up to March 5, 2012 till 11.59 pm after which the link will be disabled. The candidates are strongly advised to apply online well in time without waiting for last date for submission of online application.

United States Postal Service Ranked No. 1

2012-02-14T18:05:00.000+05:30

WASHINGTON, Feb. 6, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- A review of the performance of universal postal service providers by the Oxford Strategic Consulting (OSC) firm ranks the U.S. Postal Service the best postal service within the world's top 20 largest economies for access to services, resource efficiency and public trust.

"We're proud to lead the world in postal services and we will continue to deliver superior performance for future generations," said Postmaster General and CEO Patrick Donahoe. "Our best days are ahead of us. I have no doubt the Postal Service will overcome its current financial challenges and endure as the world's leading postal service."

The review ranked USPS, Japan Post, Australia Post, Korea Post and Deutsche Post in its top five. USPS earned the premier ranking due to its high operating efficiency and public trust in its performance.

The ranking considered such factors as the average number of citizens served by the postal system in a country, the number of letters and parcels delivered by each postal employee and data on service reliability and public trust measured over three years.

The report found that USPS delivers nearly double the number of letters per employee as its closest competitor and more than five times more letters per employee than fifth-place Deutsche Post.

Despite increasing competition from digital communications, postal services continue to perform a key role in societies across the globe. The expansion of e-commerce means there's an even greater need for fast, efficient and reliable postal services.

"People tend to think the Internet has made the postman redundant," said Professor William Scott-Jackson, director, OSC. "But postal services provide the backbone for e-commerce deliveries."

To receive a copy of the full report, contact Scott Druck at sd@oxfordstrategicconsulting.com.

The Postal Service receives no tax dollars for operating expenses and relies on the sale of postage, products and services to fund its operations.

A self-supporting government enterprise, the U.S. Postal Service is the only delivery service that reaches every address in the nation, 150 million residences, businesses and Post Office Boxes. The Postal Service receives no tax dollars for operating expenses, and relies on the sale of postage, products and services to fund its operations. With 32,000 retail locations and the most frequently visited website in the federal government, usps.com, the Postal Service has annual revenue of more than $65 billion and delivers nearly 40 percent of the world's mail. If it were a private sector company, the U.S. Postal Service would rank 29th in the 2010 Fortune 500. Black Enterprise and Hispanic Business magazines ranked the Postal Service as a leader in workforce diversity. The Postal Service has been named the Most Trusted Government Agency six consecutive years and the sixth Most Trusted Business in the nation by the Ponemon Institute.

Courtesy : http://www.sacbee.com

Result of Inspector Posts Exam 2011 - Update

2012-02-13T19:25:00.001+05:30

It was informed by CHQ that the result of Inspector Posts Examination 2011 will likely be announced in the next week i.e. 3rd week of this month.

National award for excellence in financial inclusion under MGNREGA

2012-02-11T20:49:00.001+05:30

K.Raghunadha Swamy ASP(Hq) Nalgonda Dn and K.Sivaiah BPM, Molkacherla BO a/w Miryalaguda HO were selected for presentation of National award for excellence in financial inclusion under MGNREGA. Shri Jairam Ramesh, Hon'ble Minister for Rural Development, Govt.of India has presented the Awards in MGNREGA Sammelan, 2012 held on 02/02/2012. Among the 30 awardees from the entire country, 12 from Dept of Posts.Besides the above two, other Awardees from AP state are Dist Collector, Vizianagaram and one Bharat Nirman Volunteer from Prakasam District.

Congratulations to all the Award Winners.

Committee to examine GDS matters

2012-02-11T20:04:00.003+05:30

3rd India Post Cup Cricket Tournement - Income Tax Team is the Winner

2012-02-11T19:44:00.000+05:30

INCOME TAX Dept Team won the 3^rd India Post Cup for Cricket Tournament on Friday, defeating BSNL by eight wickets in final.

Brief Scores

BSNL – 171 in 45 Overs (Anshul Kapur 86, M Suresh Babu 4/26). Income Tax 172/2 in 40.2 Overs (Rajesh Tabiyar 53 not out)

Famous actress Sharmila Tagore released a Special Cover on Mansur Ali Khan Pataudi, Ex Captain of Indian Cricket team during a function held at the Jadavpur University campus ground on 10.02.2011. The BCCI vice-president, Chitrak Mitra, was present on the occasion.

Grant of Special CL to Delegates of Kurnool Circle conference

2012-02-10T18:09:00.000+05:30

Circle office Hyderabdad has issued orders vide CO memo no U/3-8/2011-12 dated 27-01-2012 to grant Special Casual Leave to the Delegates and CWC members for attending 39 th Circle conference of All India Association of Inspectors & Asst Supdts Posts APcircle Branch scheduled to be held at Kurnool on 18.02.2012 and 19.02.2012. Special CL may also be granted for to and fro journey periods. Click here to download the CO letter in original.

Regional allotment in PS Group B cadre

2012-02-10T17:58:00.001+05:30

Sri K.Janardhna Reddy SPM Repalle MDG and qualified Group B candidate from General line Qouta of PS Group B Examination 2010 is alloted to Hyderabad Region vide CO memo dated 10.02.2012.