Celebration 2 nd International Day of Yoga on 21.06.2016

Fresh ownership model to run India Post Payments bank professionally: Ravi Shankar Prasad

Union Communications and IT Minister, Ravi Shankar Prasad Friday said the government is considering a different ownership structure to “professionally” run the payments bank of the Department of Posts.

The government, which has committed to invest Rs 400 crore in the payment bank of the postal department, is hoping to launch the bank by March 2017 said Prasad. “We propose to have Rs 400 cr investment by the government and the rest by way of equity. It would be a separate architecture from the postal department. The bank will be run professionally,” said Prasad.

The Postal department was one of the 11 entities to be given in-principle approval by the RBI to launch payments banks. However, at least three companies – Cholamandalam, Tech Mahindra and Dilip Shanghvi-Telenor-IDFC – have already said they would be surrendering their licences citing aggressive play by competition.

Prasad said the postal department has begun giving 4,000 hand-held devices to the rural postmen on a pilot basis and will soon be rolling out 1.3 lakh of such machines, which will help them sell third-party products, make e-commerce deliveries, etc. According to him, a major chunk of the department’s over 1.5 lakh post offices are in the hinterlands, which contributes over 60 per cent of the e-commerce players’ catchment area.

Prasad on Friday said over 22,000 post offices have already been connected under the core banking system and the department has also started over 800 ATMs.

Prasad also said that the government’s ambitious Digital India programme is empowering the people across the country. He said the government has been working with a mission of “banking the unbanked, funding the unfunded, securing the unsecured and pensioning the unpensioned”.

Dak Adalat - Customer Grievance

The Department of Posts will conduct a regional-level Dak Adalat at 11 a.m. at the Head Post Office here on June 20 when grievances of customers would be heard in person. 

Customers can send their complaints to S.A. Mujeeb Basha, Assistant Director (RPLI and INC), Office of the Post Master General, Central Region, Tiruchi 620 001, on or before June 8. If the complaint is about a postal article, the complaint should contain full details such as date and time of posting, full address of the sender and addressee, registration receipt number with date and office of booking for MO, VP, registered, insured or speed post articles.

 If the complaint is about savings schemes,postal life insurance or rural postal life insurance, it should contain the details of the recovery, account number, name and full address of the depositor/insured, name of the post office and any reference of the Postal Department . 

Only those cases which have already been taken up with the divisions or units but have not been resolved to the satisfaction of the complainant would be taken up at the divisional level. No fresh cases will be entertained. 

Complaints could be sent through ordinary or registered post. Grievances sent through private couriers will not be accepted. The covers should be super scribed as Dak Adalat – June 2011, says J.Charukesi, Postmaster General, Central Region, Tiruchi.

Source : The Hindu

Cabinet gives ex-post facto approval to the cadre review of Indian Postal Service (IPoS)

Press Information Bureau 

Government of India

Cabinet

25-May-2016 15:37 IST

Cabinet gives ex-post facto approval to the cadre review of Indian Postal Service (IPoS) 

The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi today granted ex-post facto approval to the proposal for undertaking cadre review of the Indian Postal Service. 

The cadre review will enable the Department of Posts to meet the functional requirements and strengthening the cadre structure both in the headquarters and in the field on the basis of functional requirement, which will provide more avenues to earn review and respond effectively to the customer needs, reduce the existing stagnation and improve the career prospects of Indian Postal Service officers. 

The proposal will be implemented through measures that include creation of a post of DG(Postal Operations) in the Apex scale, creation of post of Additional DG(Coordination) in the HAG+ scale, one post in HAG level, 5 posts in SAG level and 4 posts at the JAG level, and also increase of 84 posts at JTS level by down-grading from STS and overall decreasing STS posts by 96 for adjustment of new posts proposed to be created, without any overall change in the total number of posts in the cadre. 

For undertaking the above exercise, necessary consultations on the CRC recommendations with Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions have been duly completed. The Department of Expenditure have conveyed their ‘no objection’ to the proposal. 

***

AKT/VBA/SH

Source : http://pib.nic.in/newsite/PrintRelease.aspx?relid=145643

ORAL EVIDENCE TO GDS COMMITTEE

A delegation of NFPE & AIPEU-GDS consisting of Com. R.N.Parashar, Secretaryy General, Com.P. Pandurangarao, General Secretary, AIPEU-GDS, Com.M.Krishnan, Secretary General, Confederation Com.K.V.Sridharan, former General Secretary, AIPEU Gr.C., Com. Giriraj singh President, NFPE and Com. Balwinder Sing, Financial Secretary, Gr.C (CHQ) tendered oral evidence before the Chairman, GDS Committee, headed by Shri Kamalesh Chandra in New Delhi on 26-05-2016.

The following are the gist of discussions and the demands placed by delegation.

BRIEF NOTE FOR DISCUSSION IN THE GDS COMMITTEE SCHEDULED TO BE HELD ON 26.05.2016

1. MAIN DEMANDS

The GDS are ‘holders of civil post’ as per the Supreme Court judgement and they can not be kept apart as a separate class with in the class. They should be covered under Article 309 & 311 of the Constitution of India. They should be treated as ‘civil servants’ apart from regular service but within the ambit of ‘Civil service’ with pro rata benefits as applicable to the regular employees according to the working hours and also the workload.

Notwithstanding our claim for departmentalization of GDS and Grant of Civil status, under Article 309 & 311 of union constitution the following issues are requiring consideration.

(i) The Nomenclature of GDS shall be declared as ‘Rural Postal Employees’ or Gramin Dak Karmachari”.

(ii) Make GDS full time job by extending various innovative schemes.

(iii) Prorata wages at par with regular civil servants.

2. NORMS

Norms may be introduced for calculation of wages instead of honorarium & incentives.

(i) Work related to RPLI like procurement of proposal & issuing receipts

(ii) Work related to verification of Electoral & Election work

(iii) Work related to collecting statistics for Census etc.

(iv) Work related to M.G.National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme

(v) Verification of Mobile Phone Bill Connections of various companies & BSNL

(vi) Collection of Telephone Bills at BOs

(vii) Acceptance of Electricity Bills at BOs

(viii) Acceptance of Water Bills at BOs

(ix) Carrying out business activities through BOs like delivering of E-post etc.

(x) Various social security schemes & Direct Benefit Transfer schemes introduced in various States through BOs.

(xi) Cash remittance from BOs to Accounts office.

(xii) Opening of new accounts

(xiii) Marketing activities.

(xiv) Old age Pension & Disability Pension

3. WAGE STRUCTURE

(i) No GDS should be employed less than 5 hours work, per day.

(ii) Maximum of 8 hours with ½ hour lunch break.

(iii) Pay equations:

GDS BPM : Postal Assistant
GDS MD/SV: Postmen
GDS Packer
GDS MC MTS
GDS MM

(iv) Increment shall be at par with regular employees.

(v) The Nomenclature of TRCA shall be replaced with pay.

(vi) Weightage:The length of service shall be taken and Point to Point fixation for GDS.

(vii) Date of effect shall be 1.1.2016

(viii) Wages should not be reduced under any circumstances.

4. ALLOWANCES

(i) HRA must be granted to GDS at Par with regular employees.

(ii) Transport Allowance proportionate to regular employees.

(iii) For attending holiday & Sunday duties, double the allowance shall be paid

(iv) TA/DA shall be granted to seasonal Post offices.

(v) Split Duty Allowance for GDS Packrs in Sub Offices

(vi) Children Educational Allowance has to be introduced.

(vii) Boat allowance shall be Rs.350/- PM.

(viii) Special Duty Allowance to GDS (NE) – Proportionate to regular employees.

(ix) Revival of Uttarakhand Allowance @ Rs.1000/- PM.

(x) Grant of Remote Area/Naxalite Threat Area/Hill Area Allowance to GDS.

(xi) Miscellaneous Allowances viz., bad climate Allowance, Project allowance may be extended.

5. WELFARE

(i) Medical Attendance facilities – Reimbursement of Medical Claims for in Patient & out Patient treatments.

(ii) Funeral Allowance of Rs.10,000/- to the family of deceased GDS.

(iii) Circle Welfare Fund Scheme – Subscription shall be Rs.50/- per month.

6. LEAVE :All kinds of leave to be granted at par with regular employees-

(i) Encashment of leave salary to be extended to GDS.

(ii) Provision of Commuted leave facilities.

(iii) Retrograde Provisions of 180 days shall be dispensed with.

(iv) Maternity leave – 180 days from Government exchequer and not from the Circle Welfare Fund. Circle Welfare fund shall meant for grant for illness, education etc.

(v) Child care leave, Child Adoption leave to GDS.

(vi) Special disability leave to GDS – can also be extended from Dog, Snake bite etc. as in the case of Postmen.

7. SOCIAL SECURITY SCHEME

(i) Proportionate Minimum pension/Family Pension at par with regular employees.

(ii) GDS shall be brought under the Gratuity Act.

(iii) SDBS Pension Scheme shall be replaced with regular scheme. At least 10% of Pay shall be recovered from GDS & 20% shall be credited by Government as a Welfare Scheme. The present sanction of Rs.1500/- per year for Severance Amount to Pre 2011 GDS shall be enhanced.

(iv) Commutation Pension shall be introduced.

(v) Group Insurance Scheme – Monthly subscription Rs.100/- for the insurance coverage of Rs.2,00,000, 50% of Subscription shall be borne by the Department. Savings Fund shall be reviewed and enhanced.

8. APPOINTMENT & PROMOTIONS

(i) The word ‘engagement’ shall be replaced with appointment.

(ii) 100% Posts in MTS & Postmen cadres shall be reserved for GDS.

(iii) GDS shall be permitted to write LGO Exam alongwith Postmen/MTS for recorded vacancies.

(iv) Three Financial upgradations after completing 10, 20 & 30 years of service.

(v) No Minimum service for appearing Postmen examination.

9. CONDUCT & DISCIPLINARY RULES

(i) The existing GDS Engagement & Conduct Rules, 2011 shallbe replaced with CCS (CCA) Rules, 1965 & Conduct Rules 1964.

(ii) The GDS Rules must be declared as statutory Rules as per proviso of Article 309.

10. MISCELLANEOUS

(i) Present income & cost of BOs calculation should be reviewed along with all the new items of work

(ii) Foot beat & cycle beat may be revived.

(iii) Idle wait of GDS MCS shall be include in the work norms.

(iv) Uniforms to outdoor staff.

(v) Rationalisation of GDS into three categories of GDS one Postmaster, the second Postmen and third auxiliary MTS staff. They may be fixed with only two scales of running pay (Minimum 5 hours & for upto 8 hours with uniform annual increase of 3% per annum.

(vi) BO shall open for minimum 5 hours and maximum of 8 hours.

(vii) GDS in Metropolitan cities shall be upgraded to MTS Posts.

(viii) All GDS MM Posts in larger Platforms shall be upgraded to Mailmen MTS posts.

(ix) FSC at par with Departmental Post offices to BOs.

(x) LTC facilities may be extended to GDS

(xi) Lunch break/Tea break shall be provided

(xii) Total length of the GDS Service shall be taken as Qualifying service for all purposes.

(xiii) Rescind the restrictions and restore status Quo ante in case of compassionate appointments in GDS cadre.

(xiv) Advances like Festival, HBA, Motor Car, Computer Advance shall be introduced to GDS. Flood Advance shall be revised to Rs.10000/-.

(xv) Rent for BOs shall be fixed as per the market rates and paid by the Department.

(xvi) Office Maintenance Allowance shall be modified as ‘office rent’.

(xvii) Electricity charges for BO shall be borne by the Department.

(xviii) Combination of duty which is having adverse effect shall be dispensed with.

(xix) Alternate source of Income shall not be insisted for GDS appointments.

(xx) Incentive for promoting small family norms shall be introduced to GDS also.

(xxi) Incentive to GDS Sports Person has to be introduced.

(xxii) Grant of TA/DA for conveyance of cash – At least Rs.100/- per occasion shall be granted.

(xxiii) Any GDS summoned for witness in Inquiry shall be paid TA/DA

(xxiv) All terminal benefits shall be paid to GDS on the date of retirement at par with regular employees.

(xxv) The date of retirement of shall be the last date of the month.

(xxvi) If any additional work is entrusted, the establishment review must be under taken to enhance the pay.

(xxvii) Security Bond system to be dropped, as per Vth CPC report.

(xxviii) Co-operative dues can be recovered from GDS.

(xxix) BO Rule book with updated correction shall be supplied once in two years.

(xxx) The exam fee shall be waived.

(xxxi) Identify card to the GDS shall be supplied by the Department at departmental cost.

(xxxii)There should be no loss of annual increase/increment on availing the transfer facilities to GDS.

(xxxiii)Revenue generated from all items of work has to be added for apportioned income of BOs.

(xxxiv)BPM should be treated as a skilled worker as it requires a technical certificate for the recruitment.

(xxxv)Training & retraining must be given frequently in the guise of Rural ICT and introduction of various new schemes.

11. TRADE UNION

(i) All Trade Union facilities like meetings, special casual leave etc. as if available to regular staff at all levels.

(ii) The Facility of Foreign Service and JCM Provision shall be extended the GDS. Allocation of seats in the JCM (DC) for GDS shall be considered.

DATED : 26-05-2016

NEW DELHI

(P.PANDURANGARAO)

GENERAL SECRETARY

AIPEU-GDS

The Chairman, GDS Committee gave a patience hearing on the above all items and assured consideration.

Acceptance of POSB business in case Finacle CBS application is not accessible

Acceptance of POSB business in case Finacle CBS application is not accessible or slow to accept transactions presented at the counter invoking Business Continuity Plan (BCP)

To view please Click Here.

Meeting with GDS Committee Chairman and Secretary at GDS Committee office

Meeting with GDS Committee Chairman and Secretary at GDS Committee office.

A Meeting was held on 25.05.2016 with GDS Committee Chairman Shri Kamalesh Chandra and Secretary Shri T.Q. Ahmed at GDS Committee office to give oral evidence on AIGDSU memorandum. Com. S.S. Mahadevaiah, General Secretary, Com. B.V. Rao, Asst. General Secretary and Circle Secretary A.P Circle, Com. Lakhwinder Pal Singh, Treasurer CHQ and Circle Secretary Punjab Circle, Com. Rajendra Prasad Singh, Working President CHQ and Circle Secretary Bihar Circle, Com. C.B. Tiwari, Asst. General Secretary and Circle Secretary U.P. Circle, Com. Dhanya Kanth Borah, Org. Secretary CHQ and Circle Secretary Assam Circle, Com. Vijay Sharma, Circle Secretary, Haryana Circle, Com. Pradeep Singh, Asst. Circle Secretary U.P. Circle participated in the meeting.

At first the delegation of AIGDSU honoured the Chairman and Secretary with flower Boquet. The Secretary welcomed the delegation. After introduction, the committee saw the documentary films made by Com. S.S. Mahadevaiah, General Secretary on GDS system.

Discussion were held from 10-00 A.M to 4-00 P.M. nearly six hours in pleasant atmosphere on each and every point of Memorandum. The General Secretary submitted documentary evidence to support the argument on every item.

The Chairman and the Secretary showed much attention and interest and pleased with the arguments of the representatives response has come from the GDS Committee. We hope that the GDS committee will make the best recommendations for the betterment of GDS and the same assurance was given by the Chairman and The Secretary.

At end the delegation expressed heartfelt thanks to the GDS committee and meeting was ended in friendly manner.

ALL INDIA TRADE UNION EDUCATION CAMP-2016 AT DEHRADUN, UTTARAKHAND

ALL INDIA TRADE UNION EDUCATION CAMP-2016 AT DEHRADUN, UTTARAKHAND.

The trade union education camp at Dehradun, Uttarakhand organized by Confederation of Central Government Employee & Workers begins with pump & ceremony. As usual the workshop was started with flag hosting & floral tribute to the Martyr’s. The Confederation flag was hosted by Com. KKN Kutty, President of Central Government Employees & Workers Union New Delhi. After tribute to Martyr’s the camp was inaugurated by the great Com. M. Krishnan, Secretary General Central Government Employees & Workers Union among others the Vice President of CITU Uttarakhand grace over the occasion.

In the first half of the 1st session the class was taken by Sri Venkitesh Ramkrishnan, Senior Associate Editor Front Line (THE HINDU) on the subject “The growth New Liberal Communal Combo politics and its implication on Indian working class”.

After lunch break the Eminent Scholar & Principal RBS degree college of agriculture took the class on trade union & social issue. During his deliberation Dr. S.P. Kashyap suggests the Trade Union to take a special attention on social discrimination issue related to Union work policy.

In the 2nd half of the 2nd session the most vital class of the 7th CPC was taken by KKN Kutty Central Government Employees & Workers Union. Com. Kutty explained the retrograde recommendation of 7th CPC and stand of the staff side on the issue.

Around 200 members participated in the work shop. The reception committee under the abled supervision of COC Uttarakhand made all the arrangement of accommodation & fooding. On behalf of the NFPE Puri Division to record our sincere thanks to reception committee for all such arrangement. 

P

CIRCLE UNION LETTER TO OUR GENERAL SECRETARY ON FINACLE INACCESS ISSUE - REQUESTING TO ANNOUNCE TRADE UNION ACTION

CIRCLE UNION LETTER TO OUR GENERAL SECRETARY ON FINACLE INACCESS ISSUE - REQUESTING TO ANNOUNCE TRADE UNION ACTION

CIRCLE UNION LETTER TO PMG, CCR AGAINST ISSUANCE OF CHARGE SHEET FOR NON PERFORMING OF 'YOGA' AND REPLY RECEIVED FROM PMG, CCR

CIRCLE UNION LETTER TO PMG, CCR AGAINST ISSUANCE OF CHARGE SHEET FOR NON PERFORMING OF 'YOGA' AND REPLY RECEIVED FROM PMG, CCR

CLARIFICATION REGARDING LETTER OF AUTHORIZATION FOR CHANGE OF OPTION IN APRIL

CLARIFICATION REGARDING LETTER OF AUTHORIZATION FOR CHANGE OF OPTION IN APRIL

Divisions are asking for clarification that in some places the division head is insisting for the authorization form having Director ( SR) signature.In this connection please down load this letter and submit to the competent authority

General Secretary

IS CADRE RESTRUCTURING IS REALLY A BOON TO POSTAL STAFF ??

Need for cadre restructuring to the Postal Staff under Group - C:-

At present the promotional channel for P.A cadre to LSG is not beneficial . The PAs are getting promotion to Grade pay of Rs2800/- (LSG grade pay) even though they are drawing pay in grade pay Rs.4200 /- and above. The so called promotion is granted with a note that those who are drawing more G.pay of Rs.2800/- no need to fixation of pay. This seems to be a paper promotion and most of them are declining this promotion at the edge of their retirement. Similarly HSG-II and HSG-I promotions. Hence this cadre may be restructured.

The Position of LSG, HSG-II and HSG-I Posts of A.P circle as on 25.02.2008 is follows.

On after implementation of POSTMASTER cadre the position is changed as:-

Present status: The Ministry of Finance has been approved the Cadre restructuring and implementation by the department.

The Salient features of the agreement are as follows :

1. Number of LSG posts will increase from 8 % to 22 %

2. Number of HSG II posts will increase from 2 % to 12 %

3. Number of HSG I posts will increase from 1.5 % to 4 %

4. After completion of 2 years in HSG I the official will be promoted to 4800 GP (Non-functional Basis)

5. The above proposal will be applicable to RMS, Circle Office and SBCO in the same ratio

6. Postman/Mail guard will get the same ratio of promotion.

1. The Post of SPM in Single and Double Handed Post offices will be placed under 2800/- Grade Pay ie All LSG and I MACP officials would man the offices.

2. The Post of SPM in Triple Handed and LSG Post offices will be placed under 4200/- Grade Pay ie All present HSG II / MACP II officials would man the offices and Posts.

3. The Post of HSG I and HSG II would be merged and placed under Grade Pay of 4600/- and be granted 4800/- on non functional basis after 4 Years.

4. The Post of Existing Postmaster Cadre officials will be modified in light of the same on approval of the Cadre Restructuring...

The Present Postmaster Grade -I Offices are likely to be placed under the Grade Pay of 4200/-

The Grade I Posts are likely to get ungraded to Grade II , creating wide opportunity for the Postmaster Cadre Official to get promoted to Grade II and Placed within the same division.

The Present Grade II offices are likely to be placed under 4600/- Grade Pay creating more number of offices for HSG I and II officials.

The Norms of the Postmaster Grade III Offices would be modified so as to identify 1/3rd of the merged HSG I and II for Postmaster Grade III.

As per this cadre restructure came into force the increase in posts are likely to be

Promotion is not meant for seniority cum fitness, at the same time the cadre should be strengthened by increasing the LDCE cadre i.e Postmaster cadre to face the present technological and banking challenges. 

** On after implementation single /double handed office should be filled by PAs with 10 years of service (MACP-I) / Postmater Grade-I officials by granting G.Pay Rs.2800/-.

** The Post of Triple handed/ LSG (present) / Postmaster Gr-I upgraded to G.Pay of Rs.4200/-. All HSG-II /MACP-II / Postmater Grade-II officials will be filled.

** Present HSG-II & HSG-I posts are merged. Similarly PM Grade-II and PM Grade-III posts are merged to grant G.Pay Rs.4600/- Their G.Pay after 4 years will be Rs.4800/-

It is clear that the cadre is Restructured by :-

1) Increasing the Number of Posts so that the promotional channel is widen.

2) Providing opportunity to work in same divisions.

3) Maintaining balance in promotion through seniority and LDCE .

4) Giving more financial strength to the cadres.

5) The irregularity in LSG promotions rectification.

6) Full utilization of Human resources.

7) Removal of work burden on juniors.

8) More pay more responsibility

9) Quick Promotions.

10.Scope for occupancy of posts on promotion.

Date of Implementation:- This will be announced by the Department through O.M. for effective date.

Note:- The above information and given figures are only rough calculated figures.

Filling up of one post of Under Secretary of CSS in Department of Directorate of Marketing & Inspection, Faridabad

No.5/1/2016-CS.I(U)
Government of India
Ministry Personnel, P.G. and Pensions
(Department of Personnel & Training)

2nd Floor, Khan Market,
Lok Nayak Bhavan, New Delhi – 110003.
Dated the 24th May, 2016.

OFFICE MEMORANDUM

Subject: Filling up of one post of Under Secretary of CSS in Department of Directorate of Marketing & Inspection, Faridabad – regarding.

The undersigned is directed to say that one post of Under Secretary of CSS in Department of Directorate of Marketing & Inspection, Faridabad will fall vacant w.e.f. 01.06.2016. The post is to be filled up in terms of RTP. It is requested that Under Secretaries of CSS willing to be considered to the aforesaid post may submit their application in the attached format latest by 31 st May, 2016 through proper channel.

2. While forwarding the application, the vigilance status of the officer concerned may also be intimated. It should also be ensured that the data in respect of officer applying for the post is complete in all respects in the web based cadre management system at cscms.nic.in.

3. Substitute in place of selected officer will be provided after his/her relieving .

(Raju Saraswat)

Under Secretary to the Government of India

To
All Ministries/Departments of Govt. of India

Special Cover on 2560th Birth Anniversary of Gautama Buddha - 21st May 2016.

Buddha Jayanti or also known as Buddha Purnima is the most sacred festivals of Buddhist. The Buddha’s birthday known as the Buddha Purnima is celebrated on the full moon of the fourth lunar month (month of Vaisakh) i.e. April or May. This day commemorates three important events of Buddha's life. (1) His birth in 623 BC, (2) His enlightment i.e. attainment of supreme wisdom, in 588 BC and (3) His attainment of Nirvana i.e. the complete extinction of his self at the age of 80. This day is a thrice blessed day.

2560th Buddha Jayanti, the birth anniversary of the Gautam Buddha was celebrated on 21st May 2016 to pay immense respect to the epitome of peace and non-violence. On the occasion of 2560th Birth Anniversary of Gautama Buddha a Special Cover was released at Hyderabad on 21st May 2016. (Special Cover approval no. AP/06/2016). The Buddha Statue having height of 58 feet in Hyderabad is the world's tallest monolith of Gautama Buddha.

Postman to obtain biometric authentication using handheld device

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: Economic Times

Preservation period of records at Branch Offices

Now it is 9th Biennial Conference Time

Sincere Appeal to all the members of AIPEU, Group-C Bhubaneswar Divisional branch to remain present in the venue one hour before the commencement of the Open Session on 29.05.2016.

= B Samal =

Secretary

President conveys his appreciation and admiration for India’s unparalleled postal network

President conveys his appreciation and admiration for India’s unparalleled postal network

Shri Pranab Mukherjee, the President of India held a meeting with Shri Ravishankar Prasad, Minister for Communications and IT at the Rashtrapati Bhavan on 20th May 2016, in which the central topic of discussion was the ongoing transformation of the postal network. The President enquiredabout the modernisation project, and was happy to learn about how the induction of IT was making service delivery at post offices contemporary. He also used the occasion to convey his fondness and admiration for the postal network to the postal staff, through the Minister.

File photo of President Mukherjee with Minister Prasad at a stamp release function in October 2014. 

Details of this interaction with the President were revealed by Shri Prasad himself, during his keynote address on 22nd May 2016, at the Conference of the Heads of Postal Circles at Hyderabad.

There have been a few other occasions in the past also when the Department has had the opportunity to benefit from President Mukherjee words of guidance and came in for praise from him. While inaugurating an international postal event at New Delhi’s Vigyan Bhavan in 2013, he had commended the unparalleled network of the Post Office and advised that there is a huge scope for postal services to be engaged in e-commerce, and that it should capitallise on the rising demand for such business products. On that occasion, he had also highlighted the need to move with the times, and said that globalization and easier movement of workforce across nations have opened a great window of opportunity for the postal sector in parcel and money remittance businesses. Further, he had emphasised that worldwide, postal administrations enjoy the trust of people and advised that the Post Office must leverage this and other strengths to provide improved quality of service to the people.

Inauguration of the new building of the Rashtrapati Bhavan PO in July 2014. 

It is no surprise then that hearing from the Minister about developments like the networking of post offices, postal savings coming on a CBS platform and the Post Office preparing to set up a Payments Bank would have been a matter of satisfaction for him. Hissending a message a message to the postal staff through the Minister is a rare gesture, which is sure to inspire them to higher standards of service delivery.

The words of appreciation from the President represent the increasing significance of the Postal network in the national mainstream and in public perception. With it also comes a higher responsibility for the management and staff of India Post, the responsibility of living up to the expectations of the country’s First Citizen.