Salaried taxpayers may be spared filing returns

Salaried taxpayers with no other income could get a respite from filing tax returns. The income-tax (I-T) department is open to examining a proposal to exempt them from the annual chore.
Asked whether the department would think about doing away with income-tax returns for employees, who had no other income apart from salaries in a financial year, Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) Chairman Sudhir Chandra said the department would certainly consider the proposal.
He agreed that for a substantial chunk of salaried employees, savings bank interest is the only additional income and that in most cases, this not substantial. This proposal, if approved, will benefit a large section of people and would reduce the I-T department's workload in a big way.
Of the country’s 35 million taxpayers, roughly half are salaried employees.
The proposal to do away with returns for salaried taxpayers was earlier internally mooted within CBDT a few years ago. The argument in favour of the proposal was that income records for this class of taxpayer were available with both employers and banks.
In an interaction with mediapersons today, Chandra also promised small taxpayers another major relief. He said the I-T department is planning to release all small-value refunds before March 31. "I will ask my officials to give most refunds by the end of the current financial year," he said.
“We will try to clear most refunds in a month. At least small refunds can be given by March 31,” Chandra added. The newly-appointed chairman said he would communicate this to his officials.
Some of the refunds will be given to taxpayers directly through State Bank of India under the refund banker scheme.
NO PAIN
What is the proposal?Scrap returns for those with no other income apart from salary
What is the logic?Records for these taxpayers are held by employers and banks
What is the upside?Will benefit several taxpayers and reduce I-T dept’s workload
Under this, tax refunds are sent to taxpayers by SBI, either through the electronic clearing service mode or in physical form. The scheme was launched four years ago in Delhi and Patna and later extended to other cities.
In 2009-10, the I-T department gave over Rs 58,000 crore in refunds, which was 50 per cent more than the previous year. CBDT has increased its target for processing refunds to Rs 70,000 crore in the current financial year. Refunds increased by 19.5 per cent to Rs 44,000 crore up to December, 2010.
The I-T department has opened a Central Processing Centre in Bangalore for faster processing of claims for electronically-filed returns. It will roll out three more centres in the Manesar, Pune and Kolkata. While the first two will come up within a year, the third will be operational in two years.

ಅಖಿಲ ಭಾರತ ಅಧಿವೇಶನ

ಗ್ರೂಪ್ ಸಿ ಸಂಘದ ೨೮ನೆ ಅಖಿಲ ಭಾರತ ಅಧಿವೇಶನವು ಆಳಂದಿ (ಪುಣೆ ಜಿಲ್ಲೆ) ಮಹಾರಾಷ್ಟ್ರದಲ್ಲಿ ವೈಭವದಿಂದ ನೆರವೇರಿತು. ಅಧಿವೇಶನದ ಬಹಿರಂಗ ಅಧಿವೇಶನದಲ್ಲಿ ಸುಮಾರು ಐದು ಸಾವಿರಕ್ಕೂ ಅಧಿಕ ಜನರು ಭಾಗವಹಿಸಿದ್ದರು. ಕೇಂದ್ರ ಸಂಪರ್ಕ ರಾಜ್ಯ ಸಚಿವರಾದ ಶ್ರೀ ಗುರುದಾಸ್ ಕಾಮತ್ ರವರು ಅಧಿವೇಶನದಲ್ಲಿ ಉಧ್ಘಾಟನಾ ಸಮಾರಮ್ಬದಲ್ಲಿ ಭಾಗವಹಿಸಿದ್ದರು ಮತ್ತು ಇಲಾಖೆಯು ಮುಂದಿನ ದಿನಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ಸಂಪೂರ್ಣ ಆಧುನಿಕತೆಯತ್ತ ಹೊರಳಲಿದೆ ಅದಕ್ಕೆ ನಿಮ್ಮ ಸಹಕಾರ ಅಗತ್ಯ ವಿದೆ ಎಂದರು. ಸಂಸದರಾದ ಶ್ರೀ ಸೀತಾರಾಮ್ ಯೆಚೂರಿ ಮಾತನಾಡಿ ನೌಕರರಿಗೆ ನೀಡುವಾಗ ಯಾವಾಗಲು ಸರ್ಕಾರಕ್ಕೆ ಒಂದು ರೀತಿ ಸಂಕಟ ಹಾಗಾಗಿ ಇಂದಿಗೂ ನೌಕರರು ಕಷ್ಟದಲ್ಲಿದ್ದ್ದಾರೆ. ಇದನ್ನು ಕೊನೆಗಾಣಿಸಬೇಕಾದರೆ ನಿರಂತರ ಹೋರಾಟ ಅಗತ್ಯ ಎಂದರು. ಅಧಿವೇಶನದಲ್ಲಿ ಅನೇಕ ನಾಯಕರುಗಳು ಮಾತನಾಡಿದರು. ನಂತರದ ವಿಷಯನಿಯಾಮಕ ಸಭೆಗಳಲ್ಲೂ ಅತಿ ಹೆಚ್ಚಿನ ಸದಸ್ಯರುಗಳು ಭಾಗವಹಿಸಿದ್ದರು.

ಅಭಿನಂದನೆ

ಇತ್ತೀಚಿಗೆ ನಡೆದ ಅಂಚೆ ಸಹಾಯಕರ ಪರೀಕ್ಷೆಯಲ್ಲಿ ಶಿವಮೊಗ್ಗ ದೊಡ್ಡಪೇಟೆ ಅಂಚೆ ಕಚೇರಿಯ ಅಂಚೆ ಪೇದೆಗಳಾದ ಶ್ರೀಮತಿ ಹೆಚ್ .ವಿ. ಶರಾವತಿ ಮತ್ತು ಶ್ರೀ ತೀರ್ಥ ಪ್ರಕಾಶ್ ಹಾಗು ಸಾಗರ ಪ್ರದಾನ ಅಂಚೆ ಕಚೇರಿಯ ಪೋಸ್ಟ್ ಮ್ಯಾನ್ ಶ್ರೀ ಚಂದ್ರ ಶೇಖರ್ ರವರುಗಳು ಪಾಸಾಗಿರುತ್ತಾರೆ. ಇವರೆಲ್ಲರೂ ನಮ್ಮ ಸಂಘದ ಸದಸ್ಯರಾಗಿರುವುದು ನಮಗೆಲ್ಲ ಹೆಮ್ಮೆಯ ವಿಷಯವಾಗಿದೆ. ಇವರೆಲ್ಲರಿಗೂ ಶಿವಮೊಗ್ಗ ಪೋಸ್ಟ್ ವಿಭಾಗದ ಎಲ್ಲ ನೌಕರರ ಪರವಾಗಿ ಅಭಿನಂದಿಸುತ್ತದೆ. ಹಾಗೂ ಇವರುಗಳು ಇನ್ನೂ ಹೆಚ್ಚಿನ ಪರಿಶ್ರಮ ತೋರಿ ಇನ್ನೂ ಮೇಲ್ದರ್ಜೆಗೆರಲಿ ಎಂದು ಹಾರೈಸುತ್ತದೆ.

CADRE REVIEW

A formal meeting for discussion of the cadre review proposal was held on 27.12.2010. There was no concrete decision arrived in the meeting but there was more progress. The following are only the gist of proposals.

1. Postman: - The present establishment inexistence in this cadre is as follows

Basic – Postmen : - 46381

Mail overseers : 2955

Cash overseers : 739

Head Postmen : 594

Sorting Postmen : 2456

Overseer Postman : 424

7168 - 7168 (Around 16%)

Among the above establishment, TBOP - 12900

BCR - 3195

(No figures on MACP I, II & III available)

At present, there is no supervisory cadre in existence for Postman. Earlier Mail overseers, Sorting Postmen etc were called as LSG and there after it lost significance after introducing TBOP/BCR promotions.

It is proposed by the staff side to provide three promotional layers to this cadre by keeping 70% in basic, 15% in the first, 10% in the second and 5% in the third promotions. It is suggested that out of four postmen, one of the post may be identified to supervise the other three postmen in ensuring 100% articles taking for delivery and remarks in the return apart from his delivery work. Similarly the postman entrusted with Data work for preparing delivery slip, taking returns etc may be provided to the status of next promotion layer and similarly the existing Mail overseers etc may be brought to the third promotional layer.

Since the cadre review pertains only to improve the promotional posts and not to review the pay scales, the pay band may be decided like 2000, 2400, 2800 & 4200 for basic, I, II & III Grades retrospectively.

2. Multi Skilled Staff (Group D)

There is 37757 Multi skilled staff in existence in the Department out of which 17700 in Postal and 14000 in RMS and the remaining are working in administrative offices.

Since the MTS are not getting any II & III MACP promotions and even some are not getting MACP I also, special attention is required. It is suggested to form three layers of Promotion like basis 70, 1^st 15, 2^nd 10 & third 5% of posts. It is suggested that the MTS assisting Treasury & Sub Accounts may be identified as higher posts. Similarly van attendant, Jamedar in RM and Record Keeper, Chowkidar etc may be identified as higher posts for providing promotions. Since MTS (Group ‘D’) is a common cadre for all Central Government employees, the identification of area and responsibility becomes a must for consideration of care review proposals.

3. Postal Assistant & Sorting Assistant

Basic cadre - 83696

LSG - 6989

HSG II - 1703

HSG I - 1649

Out of which

Postmaster Gr. I - 2097

Postmaster Gr. II - 511

Postmaster Gr. III - 495

Senior PM - 116

As on date, the total number of supervisory posts works out only 12.35% it is suggested that all the single handed & double handed post offices may be identified as LSG Posts (Single handed offices 11395 & Double handed offices 6719). Since the elevation of pay band with Grade pay Rs. 4200/- is not immediately possible to LSG since it has long process and left the decision with nodal ministries, the present LSG posts 6989 posts may be merged with HSG II cadre. (For example 2899 LSG offices plus 3732 Triple handed post offices & plus other LSG Posts). Similarly the present HSG II & HSG I posts shall be amalgamated. There will be no change of Grade pay in any cadre since it will not come under the jurisdiction of cadre review.

It is suggested that the nomenclature of existing LSG, HSG-II & HSG-I shall be revised as Supervisor/Manager, Senior Manager/ Supervisor, Chief Manager/Supervisor respectively. It is further suggested to convert the HSG-I as Gazetted as if equal to the present status of Asst. Supdt. of POs.

Whatever be the increase in the number of Supervisory post, it will have simultaneous reflection in the Post master’s cadre also.

PO & RMS Accountant, System Administrators Marketing Executive & others

After identifying the number of Grade I, I & III posts from the Postal Assistants, separate cadre for PO & RMS Accountants, Systems Assistants, Marketing Executive will be carved out from the promotional posts and declare the posts as promotional posts to Postal Assistants.

(i) The PO & RMS Accounts qualified officials will be placed in Rs. 2800/- grade pay and on qualifying they may be engaged in accounts branch. A separate promotional avenue can be carved out for APM Accounts from the existing LSG, HSG II & HSG I Posts.

(ii) Marketing Executive will be placed in Rs.2800/- Grade pay and a separate cadre will be explored in higher promotional posts.

(iii) System Administrators will also be carved out similarly to this. However, it is suggested that in respect of System Administrators, they may be placed in the Grade pay of Rs. 4200/- as if available in other Governmental organization. PMAs will be brought under the category of System Assistant.

(iv) Similarly there are 300 DOPLI and they may be placed in the Grade Pay of Rs. 4200/-

In respect of RMS, What is the proportion maintained in Postal Assistant cadre in higher posts in the postal, that will be maintained.

Circle office staff

In respect of circle office there are 2400 officials working and at present there is only one promotion of section supervisor with Grade Pay of Rs. 2800/- available.

It is proposed to form II layer of promotion as deputy office superintendent with Grade Pay of Rs.4200/- and elevate the office superintendent with Grade Pay of Rs.4600/- Similarly another layer of Director with grade pay of Rs,4800 may be formed. The Percentage proposed is 50 + 20 + 15+ 10 + 5. There are 59 regional offices in which, it is suggested to upgrade the office supervisors. Similarly all PLI section officers may be elevated to the status of office superintendent.

SBCO staff

Total staff is 4100. There is no HSG II at present. It is suggested to provide four layers of promotions with the ratio of 50:20:20; 5: 5. The SBCO in charge of All Gazetted HPOs (116) may be converted to HSG I. There are 442 divisions and all the in charge of such divisional head quarters may be considered for HSG II. It is further suggested that the in charge of SBCO having up to 50,000 entries may be converted to LSG, above 50,000 up to 100000 may be to HSG II and above 1 lakh, it will be HSG I, Similarly all working in (PWCs/ICOs shall be placed in promotional posts.

Matching Savings

Official side proposed to accept closure/ merger of 3000 single handed post offices/ RMS offices as matching savings in urban areas which will be decided on the following grounds:

i. Offices having less than five hours work load (excluding sub accounts work)

ii. Post offices situated within 2.5 kilometers.

iii. The personnel relieved due to the closure/merger will be accommodated in the single/ double handed offices where work load justify for further augmentation.

The staff side seeks time to discuss on matching savings among them and to form a joint proposal on all the above discussed items.

Comrades,

Please note that the above proposals are not accepted totally and it were in the discussion stages only. A broad consensus and discussions are required to improve many of the items mentioned above. Staff side will sit shortly and discuss the above and submit its proposal shortly. The next formal meeting will be held on 22.1.2011 at 11 hours to finalize the proposal.

All are requested to offer their comments on this to have further study and improvement of our proposals.

(K. V. Sridharan)

Leader, Staff side

Filling up of GDS Posts in Branch Post Offices-review of guideline regarding.

Reference in invited to this Directorate letter No. even dated 14^th Jul 2009 on the subject cited above which provided for the manner of filling up of GDS vacant posts in single handed branch offices and branch post offices having two or more hands.

2. Provisional appointment for a brief may be resorted to only on account of sudden death, dismissal, removal, put off duty, absorption against the departmental post of Gramin Dak Sevaks and unauthorized absence for long period in case regular arrangements cannot be made immediately.

3. In the case of posts falling vacant due to discharge form service of the GDSBPM or absorption of the GDSBPM on the regular departmental posts, efforts should first be made to fill up the posts by adjusting identified surplus GDS fulfilling the prescribed qualification & other prescribed conditions failing which action should be taken in advance to fill the vacant post of GDSBPM on a regular basis by following the prescribed procedure and following other conditions prescribed under letter No. 17-103/2007-GDS dated 14 Jul 2009. The list of all the GDS, category wise, due to be discharged from service in calendar year may also be displayed on the Department's website in the month of January of each calendar year.

This issues with the approval of competent authority.

Yours faithfully,

Sd/-
(AK Sharma)
Deputy Director General (Estt.)
Phone No. 011-23096098

CENTRAL GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES ARE LIKELY TO GET 6% D.A.FROM JANUARY 2011

Whatever the price of onion is, the D.A will not be as sweet as July last year. As per the All India Index published by Labour Bureau, Govt. of India the Dearness Allowance payable to the Central Govt.staff with effect from January 2011 may not be more than 6 percent. The figure for Nov'10 has just released and it stands at 182. The December figure is expected in the end of January. Even if the figure touches 185 in December, which is very unlikely, the D.A. hike will be limited to 6%.
Only thing to cheer is the fixed allowances such as Washing Allowance,Children Education Allowance, Conveyance Allowance for some category of staff will be 25% more as the D.A. will certainly cross the 50% mark. It may be remembered that D.A. linked allowances such as Transport Allowances will be unchanged.
Source: Pay Commission Update

ನಮ್ಮೆಲ್ಲ ಓದುಗರಿಗೂ, ಬಂಧುಗಳಿಗೂ, ಸಮಸ್ತರಿಗೂ ಹೊಸವರ್ಷದ ಹಾರ್ದಿಕ ಶುಭಾಶಯಗಳು.