Network-connected handheld devices for postal delivery soon

Network-connected handheld devices for postal delivery soon

NEW DELHI: The Department of Posts (DoP) is likely to soon start a Rs 1,370-crore mega project that will allow India's 1.3 lakh postmen in rural regions to use network-connected handheld terminals for postal delivery.

The project, awarded last year to a consortium that includes state-run Telecom Consultants of India (TCIL), system integrator Ricoh India and Hyderabad-based VisionTek, which provides handheld devices, was delayed due to unavailability of components.

Big IT companies such as HP and Wipro were also in the running for the contract rolled out by the ministry of communications & information technology. "Based on terminal devices on network, the DoP initiative is likely to happen later this month. The project was delayed as the private company took time to deliver the components," TCIL's chairman and managing director Vimal Wakhlu told ET.

The devices will have a biometric module to authenticate an individual's identity using the Aadhaar number, solar-powered panel for charging terminals and a thermal printer to instantly print receipts.

"This is completely an indigenous project, including devices and components, and strengthens the concept of 'Make in India'," said Wakhlu.

The initiative is aimed at preventing postal losses and minimising procedural delays. The service will require a digital signature of the addressee that can be automatically transferred to a central server and an acknowledgement sent to the person.

TCIL is roping in state-owned telecom operator Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd for providing network connectivity.

The movement of postmen can be tracked using GPS on this device. It will help monitor the entire system and ensure more efficiency as post offices play a vital role in India's rural economy, Wakhlu said. "This programme is a step towards financial inclusion of the people of rural India as it will facilitate financial transactions. Money can be delivered and accepted through this device, with proper bank account and receipts delivery," he said.

Ricoh will act as the systems integrator, managing installations, maintaining hardware and supplying peripheral devices for the project.

"We have won the Rs 1,370-crore contract from DoP for the supply of hardware solutions under the department's modernisation initiatives. Ricoh will be providing maintenance services for rural ICT devices for a period of five years," said Ricoh India's managing director Manoj Kumar.

 Source : http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com

SUPREME COURT JUDGEMENT ON POSTMAN PAY SCALES FROM 01-01-1996.

Revised Rates of Service Tax for PLI /RPLI Premia

EDITORIAL POSTAL CRUSADER JUNE-2015

ONE YEAR OF MODI GOVERNMENT

DISAPPOINTING TO WORKING CLASS

            Modi Government has completed ONE YEAR. Within this one year. No remarkable change or development is being seen. So many populous slogans and promises during election campaign and thereafter coming in power were made and people of India were hypnotized and got their Votes and formed the government with full majority and this happened after 30 years when a single party came in power with full fledged majority. Working class in general and salaried class in particular was very hopeful for “ACHCHHE DIN” (Good Days) and they were expecting D.A.  merger, Interim Relief and raising in income tax exemption limit. But Government denied everything instead of giving any relief to the working class, all round  attacks were started in several  forms in the shape of Labour  Laws amendments, attack on wages and lively hood of working class who create wealth for the nation and ban on recruitment in Central Government Services for one year, attack on social security  rights doing away with the employees provident fund scheme and diverting a part of fund for speculation in share market doing away with ESI converting the same in to an insurance scheme under IRDA Drastic cut on  social sector expenditure and allocation on welfare schemes like ICDS, Mid Day Meal, NHRM, MNREGA with the Motive of finally doing away with such pro-people schemes  and programmes altogether.

            A vigorous campaign has been launched to  change the  labour laws like Industrial Dispute Act 1947, Factories Act, Contract Labour (Regulation and Abolition Act) and all wages related legislations etc, in favour of employers with the object to throw away the   Working Class of country out of purview of protection under the labour laws and Completely dismantling  entire labour law enforcement machinery,

            Never before the Working Class has faced such a situation. This is the working class who create GDP to Nation and profits to employers.

            In Central Government Sector also these attacks are being intensified. 100% FDI has been declared in Railway and 49% in Defence Production paving way for capitalists/corporates to enter in to these sectors. Disinvestment has been started in profit making public sectors like NTPC, NHPC, Coal India etc. and planning to disinvest all profit making sectors.

            In Postal Department also there is danger of corporatization and privatization if the recommendations of Task Force Committee headed by Shri T.S.R. Subramanian are implemented. Though at present on account of stiff resistance by PJCA (NFPE/FNPO) the recommendations have not been implemented but these have also not been rejected by the Department of Posts and may be introduced at any time after changing the forms so we have to keep a vigilant watch over this.

            Contrary to this all schemes and planning’s are being made to give  benefits to Corporates /Capitalists by way of promulgating ordinances for decentralization of Coal mining  sector, de-regularization of other Mineral resources  through auction route totally being unconcerned about the lively hood of  local and tribal peoples and forest dwellers.

            The peasantry and agriculture workers are also worst suffers due to the policies of Modi Government. The prices of seeds, fertilizers, power, diesel, Water for irrigation have been increased many folds but the MSP of Wheat and rice has been increased by Rs.50/- per quintal only. The land of farmers will be snatched away without their consent in favour of capitalists and if the present amended land acquisition act is implemented

            So based on the above  facts, it is crystal clear  that the policies of present Modi Government  are totally in  favour of Capitalists/Corporates and against the interests of Working Class . The hope of “ACHCHHE DIN” (Good Days) is now diminished and working class and common man of this country is disappointed.

Distribution of DAVP Booklets booked as Speed Post articles.

Distribution of DAVP Booklets booked as Speed Post articles.

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MPs demand salary hike

MPs demand salary hike

 The Joint Committee on Salaries and Allowances of Members of Parliament, meeting here on Wednesday, will consider a memorandum signed by 40 MPs cutting across party ines seeking an enhancement of all emoluments.The MPs want their salaries to be at least on a par with that of Secretaries to the Government of India.

The last pay hike for MPs was in 2008. That year, the memorandum says, 

 the salary of MPs was fixed at Rs. 1,10,000 (Rs. 50,000 as pay,
 Rs. 45,000 as constituency allowance and Rs. 15,000 as office allowance),
at a time when a Secretary received a salary of Rs. 80,000. Now, thanks to inflation,
the dearness allowance (DA) of a Secretary has climbed to Rs. 90,000,
 meaning that the salary plus DA is now Rs. 1,70,000.

The MPs, pointing out that the only salaries paid by the government that do not have a
 DA component are those paid to MPs,
 have therefore made two requests: one, that their salaries be re-fixed keeping in mind
 the present price index; and two,that a provision be made for DA. 
The MPs have also sought an enhancement of the allowances for those on their staff,
with the inclusion of a DA component.
They have requested that each MP be assigned three PAs,
 one in Delhi and two in the constituency.

Letter for Inclusion of the issues of GDS within the purview of 7th CPC

Letter for Inclusion of the issues of GDS within the purview of 7th CPC

Constitution of Inter Ministerial Committee to hold discussion with representatives of Central Trade Unions on 10 point charter of demands and other issues.

Press Information Bureau

Government of India

Ministry of Labour & Employment

26-May-2015 11:48 IST

PRESS NOTE

            The Government has decided to constitute following Inter Ministerial committee to hold threadbare discussions with representatives of Central Trade Unions on 10 point charter of demands and other issues being raised by them and for recommending measures to address those issues:-

1.Shri Arun Jaitley, Finance Minister

2.Shri Bandaru Dattatreya, Minister of State(I/C) for Labour&Employment

3.Shri Dharmendra Pradhan, Minister of State(I/C) for Petroleum&NaturalGas

4.Shri Piyush Goyal, Minister of State(I/C) for Power

5.Dr.Jitendra Singh, Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office

            The Secretarial assistance to this committee will be provided by the Ministry of Labour & Employment.Ministry of Labour and Employment Government of India New Delhi:  May 26, 2015    Source: PIB

 ________________________________________________________________________

Pay fixation of direct recruit Assistants appointed after 1.1.2006-Stepping up of pay of DRs with reference to the pay of junior promotee Assistants- Clarification CLICK HERE FOR DETAILS

CENTRAL TRADE UNIONS NATIONAL CONVENTION OF WORKERS WAS HELD ON 26.05.2015 DECLARATION.

          The National Convention Calls upon the Central Trade Unions All India General Strike on 2nd September, 2015. 

Monday, May 25, 2015

HEARTFELT CONDOLENCE Father of Comrade R.N. Dhal, Ex. Circle Secretary All India RMS & MMS Employees Union Group-C   Odisha Circle expired on 22 May 2015 due to Heat Stroke. He was 83 years old. AIPEUPostmen/MTS Odisha Circle conveys its heartfelt condolences to Comrade R.N. Dhal and his bereaved family members. D B MOHANTY  Circle Secretary

THE DOP HAS PLANS TO SET UP POST BANK OF INDIA UNDER PAYMENTS BANK LICENCE.

            The Reserve Bank of India has already issued licensing norms for niche banks - payments banks and small banks.

            There will be no job losses during transformation of the Department of Posts, Communications and IT Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad assured Friday. "I assure all employees that no one will lose their job during the transformation of Department of Post.

            There is a need for capacity building," Prasad tweeted while sharing highlights of his address to circle heads of Department of Posts.

            The Minister has been asking postal employees to transform themselves and help in transformation of post offices. "Computerisation of all Post Offices must be completed soon.

            This is my priority and I will personally monitor the progress of this work," he tweeted. The minister said that proposed Post Bank of India will be a game changer for the department as it will take financial inclusion to a new level. "Post offices must gear up for this," he said.

            The DoP has plans to set up Post Bank of India under payments bank licence. The Reserve Bank of India has already issued licensing norms for niche banks - payments banks and small banks.

            Prasad said that DoP officers should reach out to eCommerce companies and offer them logistics services. "eCommerce is a great opportunity. India Post must use this opportunity to take eCommerce to the every corner of India," Prasad said.

            India Post has launched a mobile application and an e-commerce centre at Safdarjang, New Delhi that will handle e-retailing exclusively. The centre is capable of handling 30,000 parcels per day. Online retail players such as Amazon, Paytm and Snapdeal are using the Postal Department's services for their parcels.

            He said that post offices in rural India must also improve their facilities and improve their visibility by placing sign boards so that people can locate it easily.

            "Department of Post has to play a bigger & more active role in transformation of India. No other govt agency has such deep understanding of India," Prasad tweeted.

Source: PTI, Courtesy : http://www.moneycontrol.com/

Leave Travel Concession

Central Civil Services (Leave Travel Concession) Rules, 1988- Clarification regarding eligibility of Home Town Concession- Frequently Asked Questions.

G.I., Dept. of Per. & Trg., O.M.No. 31011/4/2007-Estt.(A-IV), dated 18.5.2015

Subject: Central Civil Services (Leave Travel Concession) Rules, 1988- Clarification regarding eligibility of Home Town Concession- Frequently Asked Questions.

            The undersigned is directed to say that this Department receives a number of references from Government servants/ various Ministries/Departments seeking clarifications regarding the eligibility of Government employees in respect of Home Town LTC. The point of doubts raised and their clarifications are as under :-

S.No. / Query / Clarification

1. Whether the employees whose Headquarters/ Place of posting and Home Town are same, are eligible for Home Town LTC?

            No. Government employees whose headquarters/place of posting and Home Town are one and the same are not eligible for Home Town LTC.

2. Whether the employees who are not eligible for Home Town LTC may avail the Special Concession scheme of conversion of Home Town LTC to travel to North East Region, allowed by DoPT’s 31011/3/2014-Estt.A-IV 26.09.2014?

            No. Employees whose Home Town & Headquarters are same are not eligible for Home town LTC and hence, the question of conversion of Home Town LTC to travel to these places under special concession scheme does not arise.

3. Whether the employees residing in cities / towns outside Delhi which fall under other states of National Capital Region (NCR) are eligible for Home Town Concession?

            Yes, Cities/Towns which outside Delhi and fall in other states of NCR are not to be treated as Delhi Headquarters. Hence, the Government employees whose headquarters are Delhi and reside in cities/towns outside Delhi falling in other states of NCR, are eligible for Jammu & Kashmir & Andaman & Nicobar Islands as eligible for Home Town Concession.

Authority: www.persmin.gov.in

OPENING OF NEW POST OFFICES AND DETAILS OF COMPUTERIZATION OF POST OFFICE IN COUNTRY

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

DEPARTMENT OF POSTS

RAJYA SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1441                                           TO BE ANSWERED ON 8TH MAY, 2015

                                                                      OPENING OF POST OFFICES

1441. SHRI DILIPBHAI PANDYA:Will the Minister of COMMUNICATIONS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY be pleased to state:

(a) whether post offices have been opened in all the villages of the country;

(b) if so, the details especially to that of Gujarat and the number of post offices likely to be opened during the current financial year, State-wise;

(c) whether all post offices of the country, including those of Gujarat, have been equipped with e-mail, internet and computer facilities, if so, the details thereof; and

(d) if not, by when all post offices are likely to be equipped with above mentioned facilities, the details thereof?

ANSWER

THE MINISTER OF COMMUNICATIONS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
(SHRI RAVI SHANKAR PRASAD)

(a) &(b) No Sir, However, Department through a physical network of 1,39,182 rural post offices, 1,795 Franchise Outlets (FOs) and 2,795 Panchayt Sanchar Sewa Kendras (PSSKs) are providing basic postal services to all the villages in the country. In addition to delivery, sale of stamps and stationery is also being offered through postmen/delivery agents, while they are on their regular visits to respective beats. Expansion of postal services by relocation and redeployment is an ongoing activity. This is taken up under Plan Scheme-“Rural Business & Access to Postal Network” subject to fulfillment of certain norms prescribed by the Department for opening of post offices, availability of Plan support and manpower. Postal Circle-wise physical targets for opening of 92 Gramin Dak Sewak Post Offices (GDSPOs) by relocation/redeployment including Gujarat for the current financial year 2015-16 is at Annexure-I.

(c)&(d) Yes Sir, all 25,468 departmental post offices including those in Gujarat have been supplied with computers & peripherals and out of this 24,465 post offices are having e-mail & internet facilities and also have been switched over to the new Wide Area Network as a part of “India Post IT Project 2012”. The remaining 1003 (including 9 post offices in Gujarat) do not have these facilities yet due to technical reasons which are in the process of getting addressed and remaining post offices will be provided with e-mail & internet facilities after solving these issues. Postal Circle-wise details of number of Post Offices Computerized and provided inter-net facilities is at Annexure-II.

NNEXURE-I

Postal Circle-wise given physical targets for opening of Gramin Dak Sewak Post Offices (GDSPOs) by redeployment & relocation during 2015-16

Sl. No.	Name of the Circle	Physical Target for 2015-16 (in number)
1	Andhra Pradesh including Telangana State	6
2	Assam	7
3	Bihar	8
4	Chhattisgarh	7
5	Delhi	0
6	Gujarat	4
7	Haryana	4
8	Himachal Pradesh	3
9	Jammu & Kashmir	2
10	Jharkhand	5
11	Karnataka	4
12	Kerala	0
13	Madhya Pradesh	4
14	Maharashtra	4
15	North East	10
16	Odisha	4
17	Punjab	3
18	Rajasthan	4
19	Tamil Nadu	4
20	Uttarakhand	2
21	Uttar Pradesh	5
22	West Bengal	2
	Total	92

ANNEXURE-II

Postal Circle-wise Number of Post Offices Computerized and provided e-mail &  internet facilities.

Sl. No.	Name of the Circle	No. of Post Offices Computerized	No. of Post Offices  Provided e-mail & internet facilities.
1	Andhra Pradesh including Telangana State	2438	2439
2	Assam	626	582
3	Bihar	1046	1043
4	Chhattisgarh	343	335
5	Delhi	425	393
6	Gujarat	1335	1328
7	Haryana	493	490
8	Himachal Pradesh	464	418
9	Jammu & Kashmir	263	251
10	Jharkhand	455	454
11	Karnataka	1715	1683
12	Kerala	1506	1506
13	Madhya Pradesh	1062	1061
14	Maharashtra	2212	2213
15	North East	329	268
16	Odisha	1195	1147
17	Punjab	758	760
18	Rajasthan	1345	1334
19	Tamil Nadu	2759	2578
20	Uttarakhand	388	341
21	Uttar Pradesh	2553	2540
22	West Bengal	1758	1301
	Total	25468	24465