BSNL decides to discontinue 160-year-old telegram service

Smart phones, emails and SMS seem to have pushed the humble telegram service to a quiet corner with the BSNL deciding to discontinue the 160-year-old telegraph service from July 15. 

Once the main source of quick and urgent communication, the service delivered many happy and sad news to people spread all over the country. 

But with the advent of technology and newer means of communication, the telegram found itself edged out. 

As per a circular issued by Shameem Akhtar, Sr. General Manager (Telegraph Services) Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd (BSNL) Corporate office, New Delhi, the telegraph service is to be discontinued with effect from July 15, 2013. 

The circular sent to various telecom district and circle offices as per the instruction of a competent authority denotes that telegram services will be closed from 15 July and as a result all telegraph offices under the management of BSNL will have to stop booking telegrams from July 15. 

The circular has also directed the telecom offices to maintain the log books, service messages, delivery slips only for six months from the date of bookings. However, complaints, press reports and other messages from different consumer forum are to be kept for one year. 

Sources at BSNL Delhi said, "We had asked the government to support the service as it was not commercially viable and the government said the BSNL board should decide on it. 

"We have taken a decision to close the service after consultation with the Department of Posts. They also said that there are better options available," the sources said. 

The BSNL has instructed that surplus telegraph staff members would be deployed to mobile services, land line telephone, broadband services and shifting could take place within the next 3 months. 

Faced with declining revenues, the government had in May 2011, revised the telegram charges after a gap of 60 years. The telegram charges for inland services was hiked to Rs. 27/50 from Rs. 3/50, 4/50 earlier. 

Two months ago, telegram services for overseas communication was withdrawn by BSNL. 

Within a short time of BSNL handling telegram services in 1990s, the PSU had a rift with the Department of Posts following which telegrams were accepted as phonograms from various villages and other centres from telephone consumers. This too had restrictions and embargo during certain hours. 

R Pattabhiraman, the state secretary of National Federation of Telecom Employees said, "Before taking such a decision, the PSU should have consulted trade unions on the issue of deployment of the so-called surplus employees. There will be many issues and dissatisfaction among staff members when the exercise of shifting staff to some other portfolio or locations is made. 

"Similarly, it is not known whether the Government consulted or took the guidance from stakeholders like consumer councils, consumers of telegraph services and judiciary," he said. 

Pattabhiraman pointed out that Indian courts had accepted only telegrams and telegram receipts as proof of evidence in civil or criminal suits. It was also a handy mode of communication for jawans and armed forces for seeking leave, transfer or joining reports. 

Similarly, rural India was using telegram services to communicate. 

Instead of scrapping the service, it should have been handed over to the postal department which was handling the services right from its inception in the 1850s. 

Source:-The Times of India

9th FEDERAL COUNCIL OF NFPE - HYDERABAD - 09-06-2013

DOP'S MOVE TO APPLY FOR BANK LICNCE

Department of Posts to move cabinet note to apply for bank licence

MUMBAI: The Department of Posts will move a Cabinet note in order to apply for a banking license by the stipulated deadline of July 1, a senior official has said, even as a top Finance Ministry went public with doubts over the efficacy of the post office being converted into a bank. "We are moving a cabinet note now and after that we will be applying for the licence. After the cabinet note, we will go ahead with setting up the bank," Postal Services Board's member, planning, Suneeta Trivedi, told PTI here. Trivedi asserted that the Department will be making the application by July 1, which is the last date set by the Reserve Bank for receiving applications. 

The department of Posts has engaged consultancy firm Ernst & Young for helping it at the application stage by creating the "whole concept" of the bank and has already gathered all the know-how to enter the fray. However, Department of Financial Services Secretary Rajiv Takru seemed to be not so much interested at the prospect of India Posts entering the banking fray. 

There is a lot more to banking than merely having the reach and opening savings accounts, he told reporters, adding that it also involves very complex things at the back end and seemed to suggest that a Japan-like case, where the postal department has a bank, may not work in the country. When asked about the same, Trivdei said, "We have worked out all on the know how, about everything. There is nothing like that" and added that there is no rethink on the part of the Postal department. Sector watchers suggest that if financial inclusion is the ultimate aim in granting new licences in this round, the entry of the department will be highly beneficial to the agenda being pursued by the Reserve Bank and the Government. 

Source : http://economictimes.indiatimes.com

Rule-38 Transfer : Case of Sri Chakrapani Dalapati, PA, Jatni MDG

 

 Department of Posts: India

                          Office of  the Senior Supdt of POs, Puri Divn. Puri - 752001.

   Memo  No. B-22/Genl./Ch IV                                   Dated at Puri the 7^th June 2013

In pursuance with the Chief Post Master General, Odisha Circle, Bhubaneswar Memo No  ST/45-Rule-38 dated 22.02.2013, and in continuation to this office memo of even No. dated 14.03.2013, the following official of Puri Division whose transfer under Rule-38 of P & T Manual Vol-IV has been approved for Koraput Division on mutual basis and place of posting communicated by the SSPOs, Koraput Division vide memo No. B1/Rue-38/2013 dated 03/06.05.2013, is hereby ordered to be relieved from his present post on the arrangement noted below.

Sl. No.	Name & Designation of the official	Name of the Division to which transferred	Place of psoting on transfer under Rule-38	Relieving arrangement
01.	Sri Chakrapani Dalapati PA, Jatni MDG	Koraput Division	PA, Rayagadda HO	On office arrangement.

                                                          

            The transfer of the aforesaid official is subject to the following terms & conditions.

1)     The official is not entitled to any TA/TP.

2)     The seniority of the official in the new unit shall be determined strictly in accordance with the provisions of Rule-38 of P & T Manual Vol.IV.

3)     The official shalll not claim repatriation back to her parent unit at a later date before completion of five years of service in the new unit.

4)     The pay of the official will be fixed under normal Rules of fixation.

5)   All other terms and conditions of transfer under Rule-38 as amended from time to time shall be applicable to her.

            .

                                                                                                                    

                                                                                                        (M.D.Sethi)

Senior Supdt. of POs,

Puri Dn.,Puri-752001

Copy of this memo is issued to:

1.            The Asst. Director (Staff), O/O the  C.P.M.G, Odisha Circle, Bhubaneswar-751001, w.r.t. CO Memo No. ST/45-Rule-38 dated 22.02.2013.

2.                      The SSPOs, Koraput Division, Jepore (K), 764001, w.r.t. CO Memo No. ST/45-Rule-38 dated 22.02.2013 and his Memo No. B1/Rue-38/2013 dated 03/06.05.2013.

3.                        The official concerned

4.             The Postmaster Jatni MDG for information & n/a.

   5.             The Postmaster Puri HO for information

        6.             PF of the official.

7-9.          Steno/Acct./Bldg Branch Divisional office, Puri

10-1.       Office copy/Spare

Senior Supdt. of POs,

Puri Dn.,Puri-752001

Ways to stem politics at the workplace

Workplace politics, whatever the reason, could hamper an employee's performance and affect team fabric. Hence it is crucial for team leaders to be able to handle such situations deftly. Rica Bhattacharyya finds out how they can do so. 

Keep the Structure Lean 

"Bureaucracy adds to the competitive and negative environment. Lean structures, on the other hand, reduce the chances of such situations," says Sudhir Dhar, senior VP & head — HR, Motilal Oswal Financial Services. 

Create Open Forums 

Dhar gathers his entire team at the start of each week to discuss the action plan. Each team member is given an equal chance to communicate, and all other members are aware of the required information about his work. "Open communication channels like these can stem the opportunity for politics within teams," he says. 

Resolve it Immediately 

If a leader sees even a hint of politics at the workplace, he or she should deal with it immediately. "Confrontation meetings, counselling and mediation can prevent major damage at the workplace," says Dhar. 

Depend on Informal Networks 

A leader should have first-hand knowledge of such through his or her internal networks. "Building relationships within the team and cross-functionally helps in building this informal network, which can keep you updated and ultimately help in knowing about workplace politics," says Dhar. 

Maintain Openness 

It is the responsibility of the leader to maintain and encourage an open and transparent culture at the workplace so that such situations can be best avoided or nipped in the bud. "If enough transparency is maintained when any team member is appreciated or criticised, an open culture develops throughout the organisation. This will leave no scope for biases or gossip," says Dhar.

Source : http://economictimes.indiatimes.com

PENSION FUND REGULATORY AND DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY

 

NPS TRUST ACCOUNT NUMBERS & CONTACT DETAILS OF NEW TRUSTEE BANK (CLICK HERE FOR DETAILS)

SHRI G.K PADMANABHAN PASSED AWAY

Shri G.K Padmanabhan Ex. SG FNPO expired   on 06/06/2013 at New Delhi. He has played an important role in building up the Joint Council of Action (NFPE/FNPO) and organized united struggle of Postal and RMS Employees. AIPEU,PURI  expresses its deep condolences on the sad demise of Sri G K Padmanavan.

Central govt employees’ retirement age to be extended by 2 years to 62 - Financial Express

The government is planning to extend the retirement age of all central government employees by two years — from the current 60 to 62 years. Sources said that an in-principle decision has been taken in this regard and the department of personnel and training (DoPT) has begun the work to implement the same. A formal announcement to this effect is expected this year itself.

The last time the government extended the retirement age of central government employees was in 1998. It was also a two-year extension from 58. This was preceded by the implementation of the 5th Pay Commission, which had put severe strain on government’s finances. Subsequently, all state governments followed the Centre’s policy by extending the retirement age by two years. Public sector undertakings followed suit too.

The decision to extend the retirement age is well-timed both politically and economically.

The UPA government reckons the move would be a masterstroke. At a time when it is buffeted by several corruption cases, it is felt that the extension of the retirement age will go down well with the middle classes. Economically also, the move makes sense because by deferring payment of lump sum retirement benefits for a large number of employees by two years, the government would be able to manage its finances better.

“An in-principle decision has been taken to increase the retirement age by two years within this year itself. This would reduce the burden on the fisc from one-time payment of retirement benefits for employees including defence and railways personnel,” an official involved in the discussion said. With the fiscal consolidation high on the government's agenda, this deferment would come handy.

There’s some flip side too if the retirement age is extended by two years. Those officials empanelled as secretaries and joint secretaries would have to wait longer to actually get the posts. And of course, there is the issue of average age profile of the civil servants being turning north.

It is also felt that any extension is not being fair with a bulk of people who still look for jobs in the government.

However, officials point out that at least it prevents an influential section of the bureaucracy to hanker for post-retirement jobs with the government like chairmanship of regulatory bodies or tribunals.

“As it is, a sizeable section of senior civil servants work for three to five years after the retirement in some capacity or the other in the government,” said a senior government official. The retirement age of college teachers and judges are also beyond 60.

As per a study, the future pension outgo for the existing Central and State government employees is estimated at a staggering Rs 1,735,527 crore or 55.88% of GDP at market prices of 2004-05.

SOURCE;FINANCIAL EXPRESS

Shri Pawan Ku. Singh assumed the charge of DPS(HQ)

Shri Pawan Ku. Singh assumed the charge of DPS(HQ), O/o the Principal Chief Postmaster General Odisha Circle, Bhubaneswar-751001 on 03-06-2013(A/N).

  AIPEU GROU -C ,PURI, Divisional  Branch PURI congratulates the new DPS(HQ) and wishes him all the best.May Lord Jagannath bless him for his new assignment.

RETENTION OF GENERAL POOL ACCOMMODATION ON RETIREMENT/TRANSFER/DEATH

RETENTION OF GENERAL POOL RESIDENTIAL ACCOMMODATION ON RETIREMENT/TRANSFER/ DEATH OF AN ALLOTTEE POSTED TO A NON-FAMILY STATION IN INDIA. CLICK HERE FOR DETAILS

ALLOTMENT OF GENERAL POOL RESIDENTIAL ACCOMMODATION TO THE EMPLOYEES OF STATE/UNION TERRITORIES GOVERNMENTS POSTED IN DELHI. CLICK HERE FOR DETAILS

SOME IMPORTANT ORDERS

Children Education Allownace 

Additional Relief on death/disability of Govt. Servants covered by the Defined Contribution Pension System (NPS)

Use of R-Net Software for processing of Registered articles

Decletion of question pertaining to "Diabetes" and "Hvpertension" from PLI Proposal forms (1.1.24) and RPLi Proposal forms (PLI-01)

Revision of rate for "Address Verification Service'

Submission of representation/petitiosn or advance copies of representations to Directorate-Reg

•  

EDITORIAL CRUSADER-JUNE-2013

EDITORIAL POSTAL CRUSADER-JUNE-2013

GDS – CONFRONTATION INEVITABLE

Even after 65 years of independence, “ED System”, one of the legacies of the British Raj, with three lakhs work force is being continued, carried forward, and entrenched as the system of cheap labour and exploitation by the Government of India in the Department of Posts. 

The Extraneous Departmental Agents which was the nomenclature of the GDS during the British regime and equated with the Government employees became the "extras" of the Department after independence. Justice Talwar declared that they are holders of Civil Posts as per the Supreme Court Judgment and should be called as Grameen Dak Karmachari with departmental status. But the Government of India has chosen the nomenclature as Grameen Daks Sevaks not as Karmachari and not accorded the civil servant status for all purposes.

The GDS Rules were subsequently amended in 2001 and 2011 and made the GDS as holder of Civil Post "outside the civil service" categorically with the fixed definition that they should not be equated with the regular Government servants and applied only to the Disciplinary rules which is also not a statutory one. They have been denied the prorate wages at par with the Departmental employees. The pay has been termed as Time Related Continuity Allowance (TRCA). All the positive recommendations of Justice Talwar Committee were buried and cemented after the implementation of Natarajamuthy Committee. Even the pro rata to the minimum of the Government scale has not been ensured to the existing GDS and there is a heavy loss to all the GDS after the implementation of his report.

The GDS is now equated with the part time workers like Anganwadi workers. Their status has been lowered. The rules were modified to deny everything to this exploited category further. The protection of TRCA which was in existence since 1970s was taken back. The recruitment rules for postmen and MTS were amended deleting the provisions of seniority selection among GDS and introduction of open market recruitment. The combination of duty is the order of the day. The conditions put forth for filling up the vacant GDS posts will never allow to fill up the posts regularly. The medical benefits have not been implemented.

The Bonus which was granted at par with Departmental employees was snatched away and files were constructed in such way to deny all the benefits to GDS permanently. There is a clear discrimination between the regular and GDS officials and they lost many things. Protection of pay granted in 1986 was frozen. Now after one year there is no protection and the reduction will take place. Bonus ceiling reduced to Rs.2500 from Rs.3500. The GDS workload norms were tightened. The vacant GDS posts have not been filled up. The indiscriminate combination of duties is the order of the day and there is no pro-rata wages to GDS as per the Sixth CPC. The 100% promotional avenues enshrined for the GDS in MTS and Postmen recruitment rules were modified and open market recruitment is resorted to. The relaxation of standard in the question papers has been withdrawn and now tightened with the pattern of CBSE Xth standard resulting many vacancies were not filled up and will go to the open market, thus the GDS will be deprived of fair chances.

            The economic development during the six decades as a whole in the nation in general and in the villages in particular has brought several modern changes in the livelihood of the common man in the country. His needs and wants have been upgraded. The Department of Posts is considered as the most useful vehicle to reach out to all those common men in the country for delivering the packages of different Ministries, departments of Government and for State Governments. 

            The most important products of Postal Life Insurance and Rural Postal Life Insurance are getting introduced to the general public through these Grameen Dak Sewaks and these sections of the Postal Workers are the mainstay in the business development of these products in the present competitive insurance sector. There are multifarious products and works that are being carried out by these Grameen Dak Sewaks and it is beyond doubt that the scope of business among the crores of rural population wholly dependent on these segments of Postal Workers. Such a vital section of Postal Employees is being treated as non-regular Government Employees by the Government is nothing but naked exploitation for the purpose of denying legitimate dues to them. 

This NFPE appeals the Government to implement the Justice Talwar Committee recommendations at least on civil servant status to the GDS as it is categorical in its recommendations that ED Employees are to be treated as Civil Servants for all purposes and that all perks, privileges and benefits are to be extended as like the other regular Government Employees. 

The NFPE calls upon the Government of India to change its mind-set on the system of ED employees or Grameen Dak Sewaks from that of non-regular exploitative cheap labour system into the system of regular departmental employees and that a methodology should be construed to departmentalize all the existing GDS within a time frame.

The NFPE also notes with concern that the stand taken by the Postal bureaucracy in the aftermath of formation of 6th CPC to deny stoutly either to remit the consideration of pay revision of three lakhs of GDS to the  6th CPC or to constitute a Pay Body headed by a Justice as like Justice Talwar had led to the formation of a retired officer headed committee called the Nataraja Murthy Committee that loaded its recommendations with a lot of anti-GDS character to snatch away several existing benefits like pro-rata wages on par with comparable departmental cadres as well as the parity in bonus ceiling quantum etc. 

This NFPE urge upon the Government that as observed by the 4th CPC it is the prerogative of the Pay Commissions to go into the issues of GDS also instead of forming any separate committees for these category of employees in the Department of Posts and hence the pay revision issue of three lakhs of GDS shall be remitted to the 7th CPC on its formation.

Notwithstanding such a revision of wages for the GDS through the 7th CPC, NFPE resolves to urge upon the Government to modify its retrograde stand of rejecting parity on bonus ceiling to GDS with all other sections of workers and employees under the Bonus Act and reducing the bonus ceiling from 3500/- to 2500/- in an arbitrary way based on the reactionary recommendation of the Nataraja Murthy Committee and come forward to remove this discrimination immediately.

NFPE urge upon the Government to direct the Authorities of Department of Posts to have a thorough discussion with the Federations and GDS Unions on all other issues of GDS and in particular the 32 charter of demands formulated by the AIPEU GDS (NFPE), the associated member of the NFPE including the time factor, the changing of Recruitment Rules of Postman and MTS that contains clauses against the interests of GDS as well as modifying the Conduct and Disciplinary Rules on par with the regular employees in every respect.

National Federation of Postal Employees also resolves to launch a powerful movement and consistent struggle along with the affiliated unions of the National Federation of Postal Employees for the settlement of all justified demands of three lakhs of GDS if the Department of Posts and the Government of India fail to redress the basic issues of this section of employees within a justified time frame.

NFPE Further like to make clear that in case the Government continuous its negative attitude towards GDS and refuse to include GDS under the purview of the 7^th CPC the entirety of the Postal and RMS employees including GDS shall go on indefinite strike till the realization of the demands. NFPE calls upon the postal and RMS employees including GDS to be ready for such an action if situation warrants.

RT MEMO AFFECTING NFPE PEOPLE CANCELLED

RT MEMO AFFECTING NFPE MEMBERS WERE CANCELLED AS PER THE PROTEST BY DIVN UNION THROUGH CIRCLE.AFTER INTERFERENCE OF CHIEF PMG O THE MEMO WAS CANCELLED .THREE OF OUR COMRADES SRI SANJAY GOCHHAYAT,SRI SUDHANSU CHHOTRAY, AND GOPI NAYAK WERE TRANSFERRED TO KURAL,NUAGAON AND DELANG SO RESPECTIVELY.THREE COMRADES HAVE NOT COMPLETED THEIR TENURE AT THEIR PRESENT PLACE OF POSTING.THE DIVISIONAL UNION STRONGLY PROTEST THIS IRREGULAR RT MEMO THROUGH CIRCLE UNION.HOWEVER OUR STAND WAS PROPERLY MADE OUT BY CIRCLE ADMINISTRATION AND FINALLY THAT MEMO WAS CANCELLED.THE SAME IS REPRODUCED HERE FOR PERUSAL OF OUR VIEWER.              

BPM DIES OUT OF TORTURE AND MENTAL AGONY

BPM KHAJURIA COM. PURNA CH SAHOO ,I/A/W BRAHMAGIRI SO UNDER PURI HO,BREATHED LAST ON 27TH MAY,2013.LATE SRI SAHOO WAS DYNAMIC MAN AND GOOD ORGANIZER OF GDS UNION OF PURI DIVN.AIPEU PURI EXPRESSES ITS DEEP CONDOLENCE ON THE SAD DEMISE OF LATE SRI SAHOO ,MAY HIS SOUL REST IN PEACE IN HEAVEN.THE EXTRACT OF SAMAJ DETAILING HIS DEATH IS REPRODUCED HEREWITH FOR PERUSAL OF OUR VIEWER.

 

Courtesy : The Samaj, 30 May, 2013