HIKE IN SOME ALLOWANCES AFTER DA CROSSED 50%

D.A. reached 51%, Following allowances and advances to increase by 25%, automatically. As per the announcement the Dearness Allowance is increased by 6% from 45% to 51% to Central Government Employees and Pensioners.The decision would also change the allowance structure.There is no recommondations in 6th CPC that Dearness Allowance crosses 50% would merge with baisc pay. But some allowances and advances will be increased by 25% on crossing of Dearness Allowance by 50%.

All the following allowances are to be increased with effect from 01.01.2011.

1. Children Education Assistance & Reimbursement of Tuition FeeRs.12,000 (Per Year - Per Child) - Rs.15,000 (Per Year - Per Child) DOPT 12011/03/2008-Estt.(Allowance) 2.9.2008

2. Advances for purchase of Bicycle Advacne, Warm clothing Advance, Festival Advance, Natural Calamity AdvanceRs.3,000 - Rs.3,750 Fin.Min. No.12(1)E.II(A)/2008 7.10.2008

3. Special Compensatory Hill Area AllowanceRs.600 / Rs.480 - Rs.750 / Rs.600 Fin.Min.4(2)/2008-E.II (B) 29.8.2008

4. Special CompensatoryScheduled / Tribal Area AllowanceRs.400 / Rs.240- Rs.500 / Rs.300 Fin.Min. 17(1)/2008-E.II (B) 29.8.2008

5. Project AllowanceRs.1,500 / Rs.1,000 - Rs.1,875 / Rs.1,250 Fin.Min. 29.8.2008

6. Speical Compensatory (Remote Locality) AllowanceRs.2,600 / Rs.2,100/ Rs.1,500 / Rs.400 -- Rs.3,250 / Rs.2,625/ Rs.1,875 / Rs.500 Fin.Min. 3(1)/2008-E.II(B) 29.8.2008

7. Cycle Maintenance AllowanceRs.60 (Per month) - Rs.75 (Per month) Fin.Min. 19039/3/2008-E.IV 29.8.2008

8. Mileage for road journey all components of daily allowance on tour, rate of transportation of personal effects.Rs.500 / Rs.300 / Rs.200 / Rs.150 / Rs.100 - Rs.625 / Rs.375 / Rs.250 / Rs.190 / Rs.125 Fin.Min.19030/3/2008-E.V 23.9.2008

9. Rates of Conveyance Allowance under SR-25Rs.370 / Rs.480 / Rs.640 / Rs.750 / Rs.850 - Rs.470 / Rs.600 / Rs.800 / Rs.940 / Rs.1,070 Fin.Min.19039/2/2008-E.IV 23.9.2008

10. Washing AllowanceRs.60 - Rs.75 Fin.Min.14/3/2008-JCA 11.9.2008 11. Split Duty Allowance Rs.200 - Rs.250 Fin.Min.9(11)/2008-E.II (B) 29.8.2008

12. Spl. Allowance for Child Care for Women with Disabilities and Education Allowance for disabled childrenRs.1,000 per month- Rs.1,250 per month DOPT12011/04/2008-Estt.(Allowance) 11.9.2008

13. Cash Handling AllowanceRs.600 / Rs.500 / Rs.400 / Rs.300 / Rs.150 - Rs.750 / Rs.625 / Rs.500 / Rs.375 / Rs.190 DOPT4/6/2008-Estt.(Pay.II) 1.10.2008

14. Risk Allowance DOPT21012/1/2008-Estt.(Allowance) 12.3.2009

15. Postgraduate AllowanceRs.1,000 / Rs.600- Rs.1,250 / Rs.750 Min.of HohfwA.45012/4/2008-CHS.V 16.4.2009

16. Desk AllowanceRs.600 - Rs.750 DOPT 1/10/2009-PIC 17.4.2009 17. Bad Climate AllowanceRs.400 / Rs.240 - Rs.500 / Rs.300 Fin.Min.1/10/2008-E.II(B) 29.8.2008

ಇದೀಗ ಬಂದ ಸುದ್ದಿ

ಕೇಂದ್ರ ಸಚಿವ ಸಂಪುಟವು ದಿನಾಂಕ ೦೧.೦೧.೨೦೧೧ ರಿಂದ ಜಾರಿಗೆ ಬರುವಂತೆ ಕೇಂದ್ರ ಸರಕಾರೀ ನೌಕರರಿಗೆ ಶೇ. ೬ ರಷ್ಟು ತುಟ್ಟಿಭತ್ಯೆ ಮಂಜೂರ್ ಮಾಡಿದೆ.

೦೧.೦೧.೨೦೧೧ ರಿಂದ ೨೮.೦೨.೨೦೧೧ ರ ವರೆಗಿನ ಬಾಕಿ ತುಟ್ಟಿಭತ್ಯೆ ಹಣವನ್ನು ನಗದು ರೂಪದಲ್ಲಿ ನೀಡಲು ಅದೇಶಿಸಿದೆ. ಮಾರ್ಚ್ ೨೦೧೧ ರ ವೇತನದಲ್ಲಿ ಹೊಸ ತುಟ್ಟಿಭತ್ಯೆಯನ್ನು ಸೇರಿಸಿ ಸಂಬಳ ನೀಡಲು ಅದೇಶಿಸಿದೆ. ಹೀಗಾಗಿ ಇದುವರೆಗೆ ಇದ್ದ ಶೇ.೪೫ ರಿಂದ ತುಟ್ಟಿಭತ್ಯೆಯು ಶೇ ೫೧ ಕ್ಕೆ ಏರಲಿದೆ.

DECLARATION OF HOLIDAY ON 14TH APRIL, 2011-

MOST IMMEDIATE
F. N0.12/2/2011-JCA-2
Government of India
Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions
(Department of Personnel & Training)
*****
North Block, New Delhi
Dated the 21st March, 2011.

OFFICE MEMORANDUM

Subject: Declaration of Holiday on 14th April, 2011- Birthday of Dr.
B.R. Ambedkar.

It has been decided to declare Thursday, the 14th April 2011, as a Closed Holiday on account of the birthday of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, for all Central Government Offices including Industrial Establishments throughout India.

2. The above holiday is also being notified in exercise of the powers conferred by Section 25 of the Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881 (26 of 1881).

3. All Ministries/Departments of Government of India may bring the above decision to the notice of all concerned.
Sd/-
(Dinesh Kapila)
Director to the Government of India
Tele:23092589

CABINET OKAYS PFRDA BILL; MAY GO TO PARLIAMENT SOON

New Delhi, Mar 17 (PTI) The Union Cabinet today approved a long-pending bill, which is aimed at giving statutory power to the pension regulator PFRDA, paving way for introduction of the same in the current session of Parliament.
The draft legislation is aimed at upgrading the status of the Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA), which has been functioning for the past eight years without Parliamentary approval.
"It has been approved and is likely to be introduced in the current session," a minister said after the Cabinet meeting presided over by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.
In the absence of statutory status, PFRDA was performing the role of the interim regulator.
Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee had sought support of the Opposition, mainly the BJP, for passage of the key pending reform bills
Source: PTI

CHALLENGES BEFORE INDIA POST

India Post's recent initiatives, which include slotting itself in cyberspace through the ePost Office, are pointers to the manner in which the world's largest postal network can be better leveraged to strengthen the financial and communication infrastructure. The Internet and other affordable alternatives have hit the basic function of post offices: delivering letters and other mails. In India, as an answer to a question raised in the Lok Sabha reveals, the volume of mail traffic fell from 6,677.18 million pieces in 2006-07 to 6,391.15 million in 2007-08, and rose marginally to 6,540.90 million in 2008-09. That the figure for 1997-98 was 15,749.30 million points to the severity of the fall. Internationally too, there are clear signs of the Internet eating into postal systems. Developed economies, in particular, saw postal businesses slump further with the onset of the recession. Statistics provided by the Universal Postal Union (UPU) show that between 2008 and 2009 domestic mail volumes were down 12 per cent globally (translating to about 13 billion pieces). Although there are signs of recovery now, particularly in the parcel and express segments, fundamental challenges posed by the emergence of alternatives to the post remain.
India's expansion of telephone services — the number of telephone subscribers increased from 76.54 million in 2004 to 764.77 million in November 2010 — and the growth of broadband are important developments that could further eat into the letter-post. Against this backdrop, the ePost Office, through which customers can carry out some basic services such as Money Order transactions, marks the beginning of what could be a new chapter for India Post. Its agreement with the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) to work more closely in socio-economic areas with the provider of unique identity ID cards will be watched with interest round the world. An excellent way of strengthening India Post's finances would be to build on its biggest strength — as the world's largest postal network whose reach extends to all households in the country — and take a range of services closer to Indian residents: financial services and insurance products, for a start. Optimism over economic growth offers India Post an opportunity to correct its deficit-ridden balance sheets and also play a larger role in development by strengthening business-to-business and business-to-consumer segments. Making this change — while maintaining its key public service role as a provider of affordable services for a country of a billion-plus people — is the strategic challenge facing India Post.
The Hindu March: 07, ೧೧

ಈ ಸಂಪಾದಕೀಯಕ್ಕೆ ನಮ್ಮ ವಲಯ ಸಂಘದ ಮಾಜಿ ಅಧ್ಯಕ್ಷರಾದ ಕಾಂ. ಎಸ್. ರಮೇಶ್ ಬರೆದ ಪತ್ರ ( ಈ ಲೇಖನವು ದಿ ಹಿಂದು ಪತ್ರಿಕೆಯಲ್ಲಿ ದಿನಾಂಕ ೦೮.೦೩.೧೧ ರಂದು ಪ್ರಕಟವಾಗಿತ್ತು)

To:
The Editor
Letters to the Editor section,
The Hindu,
Chennai.
E-Mail:letters @thehindu.co.in

Sir,

Sub: Challenges before India Post.

India Post is an organization with lot of untapped potentialities. It has 1,50,000 retail outlets and a dedicated workforce of about five and half lakhs. Its reach is vast and covers every village, hamlet and even single household in the country. Such a big organization should think big and act big. It must stop selling Temple Prasadams , T shirts, Bus passes, University prospects, etc. The Indian Post Office has proved to be a sincere and trustworthy entity in Savings Bank and Insurance fields over the decades. The organization should vigorously explore the avenues in these sectors, as the service charge and organizational expenditure will definitely be cheaper than that of private players. To achieve this necessary political will is needed and hope the powers that be will positively respond to this.

All is not lost in respect of mail traffic. The mail now handled by India Post is quite significant. But the wrong policies of the administration have helped the unwieldy growth of courier services. Even now some corrective steps and checks can redeem the situation and India Post can give better services to the people at cheaper cost.

Yours truly,


(S.Ramesh)

Incentive scheme for Central staff to be announced shortly

The incentives will be initially paid out of cost savings made by the department in that fiscal year
The United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government has finally decided to implement the Performance Related Incentive Scheme (PRIS) recommended by the Sixth Pay Commission for all Central government employees. An announcement is expected in the next couple of days, government sources told The Hindu. Those government employees who make the cut will start earning their incentives in 2012.
A Committee of Secretaries (COS) chaired by Cabinet Secretary K. M. Chandrasekhar approved the broad contours of the PRIS on March 8, and asked the Department of Expenditure and Performance Management Division, Cabinet Secretariat, to work out guidelines to implement the scheme. Members of the COS included Finance Secretary Sushma Nath, who was also member-secretary of the Commission.
Any department, to qualify for financial incentives, will have to get a performance rating of 70 per cent or more on its Results-Framework Document (RFD) and implement a bio-metric access control system in its offices. As suggested by the Commission, the incentives will be initially paid out of cost savings made by the department in that fiscal year and hence there will be no additional burden on the exchequer for implementing the PRIS, government sources said. Initially, for every rupee saved by the department, it will allow to distribute up to 15 paise depending on its performance.
The PRIS will cover all employees of the department. While incentives paid to the Secretaries will depend entirely on departmental performance reflected in the RFD, incentives paid to Joint Secretaries will depend on a weighted average of their division's performance and departmental performance. Incentives for junior employees will depend primarily on their individual performance.
However, all employees will need to go through a rigorous performance appraisal system consistent with the RFD evaluation methodology.
Indeed, incentives will start rolling out only after a department has prepared two rounds of robust RFDs, so as to truly capture departmental performance. Given that 2010-11 was the first year for implementation of 12-month RFDs, performance incentives will be paid from 2012-13 to employees who make the cut.
The decision to implement the PRIS comes in the wake of the Prime Minister's Performance Monitoring and Evaluation System (PMES) for government departments that was approved in September 2009.
Interestingly, of the departments that have gone through the exercise, there have been some notable exceptions including the Ministries of Home, Finance, Defence, External Affairs, and the Prime Minister's Office (PMO).
Objections
This has led to objections from officials of other Ministries: the feeling is that these key ministries and departments influence the work of other departments, and unless they, too, are brought under the scanner, the RFD will be redundant and unproductive.
The view from the Cabinet Secretariat is that the Prime Minister did not keep any department out of the ambit of the evaluation process, but it was felt that it would be better to implement it in phases for practical, operational reasons.
The original idea was to cover all 84 ministries and departments - it started with 59 departments in the last quarter of 2009-10, and currently covers 62 departments.

CALENDAR OF DEPARTMENTAL ESAMINATION FOR THE YEAR 2011

Directorate vide memo No. A-34012/02/2010-DE dated 16.03.2011 has notified Calendar of Departmental Examination for 2011 in supersession of its earlier letter dated 29.12.2010.
I. Centralized Examinations :
01. LGOs exam for promotion to PAs / SAs 01.05.2011
02. PSS Gr. B examination 2010 15.05.2011
03. PAs / SAs Direct Recruit 2011 10.07.2011
04. Inspector of Posts 06 & 07.08.2011
05. Jr. Engineer (C&E) 10.09.2011
06. Asst Engineer (C&E) 11.09.2011
07. Postmaster Grade I 15 & 16.10.2011
08. Senior Postmaster 16.10.2011
II. De-centralized Examinations :
09. LDCs to Jr. Acct in PAOs 05 & 06.11.2011
10. Confirmation exam for DR Jr. Account in PAOs 12 & 13.11.2011
11. Postman/Mailguard Exam for Direct Recruit and Departmental Promotion 27.11.2011
12. Direct Recruit Exam for appointment as Multi Tasking Staff 11.12.2011