Tirupati Darshan Tickets now at Post offices

Residents of Chennai planning for a pilgrimage to Tirupati can now book special darshan tickets through post offices.

On Tuesday, the Department of Posts launched this facility at the T. Nagar and Mylapore post offices on a pilot basis.

The ticket booking system has already been launched in Andhra Pradesh.

The Chennai city region of the Postal Department has tied up with TTD for the facility. Officials of the department said entry tickets are to be sold at Rs. 300 each and permits registration for six persons.

Each person will get two free laddus.

J.T. Venkateswarulu, postmaster general (mails and business development), said customers can book 56 days in advance of their journey. At present, tickets can be booked for four slots of darshan _ 10 a.m., 11 a.m., 12 p.m. and 1 p.m. Devotees have to produce photo identity cards to book tickets.

At present, TTD has limited number of bookings through post offices to 5,000 tickets per day.

Source : http://www.thehindu.com/

eMail IDs of CBS CPC, Odisha Circle

Types of Issues
                    Related e-mail ID
For any user ID/Agent ID related
finacleuserid.cpcodisha@gmail.com
For finacle related errors/problems
spocodisha@gmail.com
For ATM related issues
atmodisha.dop@gmail.com
Don’t sent e-mail to       cbscpc.od@indiapost.gov.in
Only this is used by CBS CPC for communication to S.O.s

GeM complies with laws, CVC circulars: Govt to HC

New Delhi, Nov 2 (PTI) Government today told Delhi High Court that the Government e-Marketplace (GeM), a pilot project for public servants for procuring office supplies, was in compliance with all laws and circular of Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) and there was no irregularity in it.

A division bench headed by Chief Justice G Rohini was informed by Additional Solicitor General (ASG) Sanjay Jain that the Directorate General of Supplies and Disposal (DGS&D), which has been tasked to run the website, has given a detailed reply to the representation given by petitioner, an NGO which had alleged corruption in the operation of the portal.

The ASG contended that DGS&D had replied to the October 15 representation by the Maulik Bharat Trust on October 28.

After hearing the submission, the bench asked the advocate appearing for the petitioner to file a fresh petition if they had any grievances on the reply by DGS&D.

"Now, there is a response (from DGS&D). You can file a fresh petition," the bench said.

However, petitioner's counsel Archana Pathak Dave claimed that DGS&D was not complying with CVC circulars.

To this, the bench said, "Without anything in pleadings, why should we hear you? You can file a fresh writ petition. We are not saying anything on the merits. Now there is a reply which has been communicated to you".

"If you have any grievances, you can file a fresh petition with proper pleadings. Do not get so excited. This is a public interest litigation," the bench said.

In the petition, the trust has alleged that due to illegal actions of certain individuals in DGS&D, products were being bought on GeM at prices which are in excess of the prescribed rates.

It was alleged in the petition that this was causing a loss of over Rs 2,500 crore to the public exchequer and amounted to "corruption of the highest order and denial of human rights".

The petitioner has claimed that some people "with vested interests have acted in complete violation of the mandate being provided to them and thereby have been running GeM without complying with the mandatory statutory law, rules, DGS&D manual and circulars of CVC".

The plea had said that the Committee of Secretaries (Cos) has given sanction for pilot project of GeM on March 10.

The PIL had said that the deficiencies in GeM need to be studied and improved before it is developed as a full fledged platform.

RPLI - information & Tables

Selection for the Post of Trainers in Woking Place Computer Training Centers in Odisha Postal Circle

Department of Posts, India,

Office of the Chief Postmaster General,

Odisha Circle, Bhubaneswar- 751001

RE/Misc-2012

Dated 01.11.2016

To

The Postmaster General 

            Sambalpur/Berhampur (GM) Region

            All SSPOs/SPOs/SSRM/SRMs in Odisha Circle

            The Supdt. PSD/CSD Bhubaneswar

            The Supdt. PSD Sambalpur

            The Manager, Postal Printing Press, Bhubaneswar

            All Group Officers, Circle Office, Bhubaneswar           

Sub:     Selection for the post of Trainers in Workplace Training Centres (WTCs) of Odisha Circle. 

            Applications are invited from willing and eligible officials to work asTrainers in following  11(Eleven)  WTCs of Odisha Circle.

Sl No.	Name of WTC	No of Trainer to be selected
1	Puri	1
2	Kendrapara	1
3	Balasore	1
4	Bhadrak	1
5	Baripada	1
6	Jagatsinghpur	1
7	Dhenkanal	1
8	Keonjhargarh	1
9	Balangir	1
10	Koraput	1
11	Phulbani	1

1. Eligibility:

(i) Postal Assistant/Sorting Assistant with 08 years of regular service in the Department as on last date fixed for the receipt      of application i.e. 18.11.2016.

(ii) Candidate should preferably be a Graduate.

(iii)Candidate with training experience and/or having done DTS (Direct Training Skill) course may be preferred.

(iv) Should be articulate with good knowledge of language. 

            (v)  Should be smart and tidy with unblemished record of service.

            (vi) Should have good knowledge of Departmental Rules/Softwares.

(vii)Should not be more than 52 years of age as on the last date prescribed for the receipt of application.

3.         Service Conditions:

 (i)        CPMG or P.M.G. can utilise the services of Trainers for training purpose in any other WTC of the Circle/Region in exigencies.

(ii)           The Trainer of WTC will be on probation for six months and initial appointment will be  for a period of two years. The tenure will be of maximum four years and after initial two years, the tenure will be extendable upto two years, on year to year basis, based on performance.

(iii)          Each Trainer of the WTC will have the liability to serve for a minimum period of one year in any PTC.

4.         Entitlements:

            Training allowance as admissible from time to time (at present 15% of basic pay) will be payable during tenure.

            Applications received from the eligible officials in the prescribed proforma given in Annexure-1 should be sent to this office duly recommened or Not recommended along with proforma report in Annexur-II in excel sheet so as to reach C.O latest by 28.11.2016. The Controlling authorities are requested to verify the candidate’s capability to become a Trainer and give his personal recommendation to this effect before forwarding the application.

           

It is requested to give wide publicity.

Encl:  As above.

                                                Asst. Director (Staff)

For CPMG, Odisha Circle,

Bhubaneswar - 751001

ANNEXURE-1

PROFORMA

Application for the post of Trainer at WTC

1.            Name of the Official (in Block Letters):

2.            Designation and place of work:

3.            Date of birth & age as on 18.11.2016:

4.            Date of entry in PA/SA cadre & period

         of service rendered as on 18.11.2016 :

5.            Educational qualification:

a)    Academic

b)    Technical

6.            Knowledge of computers with details:

7.            Teaching experience, if any:

8.            Training courses attended:

9.            Name of the WTC where the candidate is willing to be posted, if selected (Give order of preference):

10.          Any other relevant information:

Date                                                                                                           Signature of applicant

For office use only

1.            Column 1 to 5 are verified & found correct.

2.            Recommended/Not recommended.

 Signature & designation

   of controlling authority      

Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana: Important watchouts before you invest

Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana (SSY) is targeted towards a girl child and her financial needs such as education and marriage. However, as the exact age at which she would require the funds is uncertain, the scheme tries to be flexible. The investors, on the other hand, need to keep in mind five important years or time spans before taking the plunge in SSY. Consider, for instance, the girl child's age, and the time left for her education and marriage. 

Opening an account (0-10 years) 

An SSY account can only be opened in the name of a girl child (beneficiary) below 10 years, as on the date of the opening of the account. The date of birth proof is, therefore, essential. The rules allow for the opening of a maximum of two accounts for two girls in a family. One can't open two accounts for one girl. The girl child's age is very important to find out the duration of the scheme. Here's why: 

5 years 

The request for the first premature closure of an SSY account can be put forward after the completion of five years of the account opening. That too, as per the rules, on extreme compassionate grounds such as medical support in life-threatening diseases. Still, if the account has to be closed for another reason, it will be allowed, but the entire deposit will only get interest of a Post Office Savings Bank account. 

10 years 

When the beneficiary, i.e., the girl child crosses the age of 10, she can operate the account on her own. She can make any future contributions to her own account. The parents, too, can continue to deposit in the same account. 

15 years 

To open an SSY account, a minimum initial deposit of Rs 1,000 is required. Thereafter, a minimum of Rs 1,000 up to a maximum of Rs 1.5 lakh can be deposited in the account annually. To keep the account active, deposits need to be made only for the initial 15 years. For a 9-year-old, deposits have to continue till the child turns 24. Between ages 24 and 30 (when the account matures), the account keeps earning interest on the balance. 

SSY is a long-term investment scheme. The partial and full withdrawal window is sacrosanct subject to applications made to foreclose the account prematurely. 

18 years 

The next window for withdrawals is allowed when the girl turns 18. And the rules make it clear that the funds are for her needs and not used for any other purpose. A maximum of 50 per cent of the account balance of the preceding year may be withdrawn for the purpose of higher education of the girl. 

For this, not just a written application, but a documentary proof in the form of a confirmed admission offer in an educational institution or a fee slip from such institution clarifying such financial requirement is required. Further, the withdrawal amount will be restricted to the actual demand of fee and other charges required at the time of admission as shown in the offer of admission or the relevant fee slip issued by the institution. 

21 years 

Irrespective of the age, the SSY account will run for 21 years from the date of its opening. So if the girl child's age is 9, the scheme will mature when she turns 30. The rules, however, permit final closure anytime before 21 years if the parent files an application for such premature closure for the purpose of her marriage and confirms through an affidavit that the applicant is not below 18 years on the date of marriage. At times, this could be a roadblock as the closure is subject to conditions as seen above. 

The attractiveness 

SSY carries the highest tax-free return with sovereign guarantee and comes with the exempt-exempt-exempt (EEE) status. The annual deposit (contributions) qualifies for Section 80C benefit and the maturity benefits are non-taxable. SSY can be opened in a post office or a bank. One can also make deposits through electronic means, i.e., e-transfer to the concerned post office or bank if either has access to the core banking facility. 

Alternative investments

 

SSY is a dedicated scheme for a girl child's needs. Public Provident Fund (PPF), a 15-year scheme that also comes with loan and partial withdrawals facilities, can be an alternative. Although a PPF account can be extended in block of five years after the initial 15 years, the possibility of funds being used for other purposes exists. 

As per the rules, at any point of time, the interest rate of SSY will always be higher than that of PPF. For both schemes, the government fixes the interest rate on quarterly basis based on the G-sec yields.The interest rate and spread that SSY enjoys over the G-sec rate of comparable maturity is 75 basis points compared to PPF's 25. 

Currently, the interest rate of SSY is 8.5 per cent per annum compounded annually, while it is 8 per cent per annum for PPF. Mark the date in SSY as there will not be any interest on the amount deposited after the 10th for that specific month. Even when compared to traditional life insurance plans, SSY scores higher, especially when combined with a term insurance plan. 

Conclusion 

Estimate how much inflated-adjusted funds would be needed for the education and marriage of the girl child. SSY is a debt investment, therefore, for a long-term need, relying more on equities helps. One may use it to invest a portion of the funds earmarked for the girl child's needs and not entirely depend on it.

 

This could apply even to those who have exhausted their annual Section 80C limit of Rs 1.5 lakh. Simultaneously, buy a pure term insurance to provide adequate life cover to the financial dependents. Understandably, for younger kids, the time duration for accumulating funds would be more compared to those nearing 10 years, but still SSY can be a part of one's portfolio 

Source : The Economic Times

IPPB to Increase the Business of POSB indirectly

The India Post Payments Bank is working on striking synergies with the Post Office Savings Bank of the Department of Posts to ensure that its customers don’t look elsewhere for parking deposits exceeding ₹1 lakh.

In view of the regulatory restriction that a payments bank can hold a maximum balance of ₹1lakh per individual customer, the India Post Payments Bank (IPPB) is planning to create a mechanism whereby balances over this limit get automatically transferred to the Post Office Savings Bank (POSB). In this regard, the IPPB is closely examining a clause in the Reserve Bank of India’s payments bank guidelines whereby it can accept a large pool of money to be remitted to a number of accounts provided at the end of the day the balance does not exceed ₹1 lakh.

The IPPB and the POSB apparently want to make sure that as far as possible the customer’s money stays within the government-owned postal system. So, a customer opening a savings bank account with IPPB will be given the option to also open a linked POSB account. The IPPB has been set up under the Department of Posts (DoP) as a public limited company wholly owned by the government of India. The DoP received ‘in-principle’ RBI approval to set up payments bank in August 2015.

The POSB currently offers investment options, including savings bank account, recurring deposit account, time deposit, monthly income scheme, senior citizens savings scheme, and public provident fund, to small investors. These services are offered as an agency service for the Finance Ministry.

As per RBI guidelines, payments banks can accept demand deposits — current deposits and savings bank deposits from individuals, small businesses and other entities. They can neither accept fixed deposits and NRI deposits nor can they give loans.

The primary objective of a payment banks is to further the cause of financial inclusion by providing small savings accounts and payments/remittance services to migrant labour workforce, low-income households, small businesses, other unorganised sector entities and other users.

Among the reasons cited by banking industry experts for mainstream banks to pick up stakes in entities having ‘in-principle’ RBI approval to start payments banks are to provide their banking expertise, the opportunity to tap deposits exceeding ₹1 lakh, and cross-selling loans.

For example, Reliance Industries and State Bank of India have signed an agreement to set up a payments bank with equity contribution of 70 per cent and 30 per cent, respectively. Kotak Mahindra Bank has acquired 19.90 per cent stake in Airtel Payments Bank.

WITHDRAWAL OF THE PROPOSED INDEFINITE HUNGER FAST IN FRONT OF DAK BHAWAN FROM 3rd NOVEMBER, 2016 AND TWO DAYS STRIKE ON 9th & 10th NOVEMBER 2016.

POSTAL JOINT COUNCIL OF ACTION
NATIONAL FEDERATION OF POSTAL EMPLOYEES
FEDERATION OF NATIONAL POSTAL ORGANISATIONS
ALL INDIA POSTAL EMPLOYEES UNION – GRAMIN DAK SEVAKS
NATIONAL UNION OF GRAMIN DAK SEVAKS
NEW DELHI - 110001
No.PF-PJCA-12/2016                                                                              Dated : 01.11.2016

To,
            The Secretary,
            Department of Posts,
            Dak Bhawan, New Delhi-110 001

Sub: Withdrawal of the proposed indefinite hunger fast in front of Dak Bhawan from 3rd November, 2016 and two days strike on 9th & 10th November 2016
                                              
Sir,
            While expressing our sincere thanks to you and the Postal Board for taking positive action for settling the demand for bonus parity to Gramin Dak Sevaks, we would like to request your sympathetic and immediate intervention for implementing the Directorate orders for payment of revised wages to Casual, Part time Contingent employees working in the Postal Department with effect from 01.01.2006.

      The Directorate has issued orders for payment of revised wages (6th CPC minimum) to casual labourers in the month of January 2015. Subsequently the queries raised by some Chief PMGs were also clarified by Directorate. Even though 21 (twenty-one) months are over, the Directorate orders are not yet implemented in some circles. We have already brought the case to your notice and the notice of the concerned Chief PMGs several times, but the issue still remains unsettled. Hence we were compelled to include this demand also as the second demand of the proposed indefinite fast in front of Dak Bhawan from 3rd November and two days strike on 9th & 10th November 2016.

         As you have assured us that the grievances of this poor and most downtrodden section of workers will be settled in a time-bound manner, we hereby inform you that we have decided to withdraw the proposed hunger fast from 3rd November and two days strike on 9th & 10th November 2016.

          We once again request you to issue strict instructions to all Chief PMGs to implement the Directorate orders in a time bound manner, say, before 30th November 2016.
       
              Thanking you in anticipation

                                                    Yours faithfully
                                                                                                                      
R. N. PARASHAR                                                                             D. THEAGARAJAN
Secretary General                                                                              Secretary General
      NFPE                                                                                                        FNPO
                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                      
P. PANDURANGARAO                                                            P. U. MURALEEDHARAN
General Secretary                                                                              General Secretary
      AIPEU-GDS                                                                                             NUGDS

Copy to:

1.         The Director General, Department of Posts, Dak Bhawan, New Delhi-110001.
2.         The Member (P), Department of Posts, Dak Bhawan, New Delhi-110 001
3.         The Director (SR & Legal) Dak Bhawan, New Delhi-110 001

AICPIN for the month of September 2016

AICPIN for the month of September 2016
Written By Admin,PoTools on Nov 1, 2016 | 10:32 AM

The All-India CPI-IW for September, 2016 decreased by 1 point and stood at 277

BANK STAFF DA GOES UP FOR NEXT QUARTER(NOV’16 TO JAN’17) WITH 23 SLABS

All India Consumer Price Index Numbers (AICPIN)for Industrial Workers (Base 2100=100)for the month of September’16,stood at 277 points with a decrease of 1 point,compared to August’16 figure,as per data published to day by Labour Bureau,Ministry of Labour and Employment.

Thus the confirmed average index number for the quarter is as follows:

                                        Base 2001=100 Base 1960=100
                                        ____________ ____________

JULY’16.                         280                             6391.25
AUG’16.                          278                             6345.60
SEPT’16                          277                             6322.77
Average Index : 6353
Increase in slabs 23 (478- old 455)

As such DA payable to Bank Staff for next quarter (Nov-Jan’17)may have 23 slabs increase from existing 45.50% to 47.80%
Provided by Mohan.P

Vigilance Awareness Week begins, All encouraged to take Integrity Pledge

The Central Vigilance Commission, as part of its efforts to promote probity in public life and to achieve a corruption free society, observes Vigilance Awareness Week every year. The week in which 31st October, the birthday of late Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel falls is observed as Vigilance Awareness Week. The observance of Vigilance Awareness Week renews our commitment to achieve the goals of promoting integrity, transparency and accountability in public life. The Commission, therefore, lays greater emphasis on generation of awareness among the public as a more effective and sustainable means of fighting corruption.

“Public participation in promoting integrity and eradicating Corruption” has been chosen as the theme for Vigilance Awareness Week this year by the Commission. We need to eliminate corruption for taking the economic growth to needy sections of the society. Although various anti-corruption agencies strive to address the problem of corruption, their efforts cannot be accomplished without the active participation of all the stakeholders. It is therefore, imperative that an aware, active and empowered public is involved in any anti-corruption campaign.

The Commission believes that creation of greater awareness among public and their participation in anti-corruption efforts would strengthen the resolve to eliminate corruption from society. The Commission appeals to all stakeholders for wide participation and all around generation of awareness among all sections of society.

Addressing a Press Conference on the occasion, the Central Vigilance Commissioner Shri KV Chowdary, accompanied by the two Vigilance Commissioners, Shri TM Bhasin and Shri Rajiv, said the CVC is conducting a study of 25 CPSEs/Ministries/Departments/PSBs etc from different sectors to be covered for their ranking on the ‘Integrity Index’ based on their performance to ensure corruption free environment. The list includes the Oil Sector giants IOC and ONGC, NTPC, Power Grid Corporation, SAIL, Eastern Coalfields and Western Coalfields, PNB, Syndicate Bank, Railways, NHAI, Mumbai Port Trust, RVNL, NMDC, NALCO, BEL, BHEL, FCI, CCI, EPFO, CBDT, MTNL, DDA, South MCD and MCI.

The CVC stated that there are about 200 posts of Chief Vigilance Officers (CVOs) out of which about 150 are appointed through the DoPT and the remaining are appointed by the concerned agencies/organizations in consultation with the CVC. These posts are filled by the Government on priority and wherever vacancy, the same is managed with additional charge. Regarding the number of prosecution cases, he said all the Cadre Controlling Authorities decide the same in consultation with CVC on priority basis.

The observance of the Vigilance Awareness Week commenced with pledge taking by public servants in the Ministries/Departments/Central Public Sector Enterprises/Public Sector Banks and all other Organizations today at 11.00am. All the organizations have been advised to consider activities relevant to the theme both within their organization as well as for outreach for public /citizens during the Vigilance Awareness Week.

In addition to these activities, the Commission has envisaged a concept of Integrity Pledge, for enlisting support and commitment of the citizens and corporates/entities/firms etc to prevent and combat corruption. The pledges, one for citizens and the other for organizations, intend to affirm commitment to eradicate corruption and to uphold highest standards of ethical conduct, transparency and good governance. The pledges are available as e-pledges on the Commissions website (http://cvc.nic.in) in regional languages also. Citizens and organizations taking the Integrity pledge would be provided a certificate acknowledging and appreciating their commitment to the cause of anti-corruption.

The Commission has requested that concerted efforts may be made to reach out to the school and college students who have an important role to play in promoting integrity as well as in the eradication of corruption. During the Vigilance Awareness Week in the previous year, competitions and activities for college and school students were conducted by various organizations on a large scale reaching out to about 1600 colleges and 2300 schools in over 400 towns/cities across the country. Encouraged by the response of the activities held in the previous year, the Commission desires that this year also, all organizations may conduct various activities such as lectures, panel discussions, debates, quiz, essay writing, slogans and poster competitions on moral values, ethics, good governance practices etc. for inculcating greater awareness on corruption and anti-corruption measures for ensuring active participation of students of colleges / schools including professional colleges/institutions across the country.

As a part of the activities suggested by the Commission to be conducted within the organizations as well as the outreach activities for public/ citizens, it was advised “Awareness Gram Sabhas” would be organised for dissemination of awareness in Gram Panchayats to sensitise citizens on the ill effects of corruption.

Source:-PIB