REVISED PATTERN AND SYLLABUS FOR DEPARTMENRALEXAMINATION IN RESPECT OF POSTAL ASSISTANTS /SORTING ASSISTANTS

No.60-10/2011-SPB-I

Government of India

Ministry of Communication & IT

Department of Posts

Dak Bhavan, New Delhi-110001.

Dated the 10, March.2011

Ernakulam Banergy Post Office Closed- Agitation going on.....

Circular issued by the CCC, Kerala,Trivandrum is at above.

Combined Working Committee on 20th

NOTICE

This is to notify that the Combined Working Committee of NFPE Unions of Ottapalam Division will be held at Ottapalam HPO premises on 20-03-2011 (Sunday) from 0930 hrs. All Working Committee Members are requested to attend the meeting in time. The meeting will commence sharply at 0930 hrs. The following will be the agenda of the meeting:

1) Review of Divisional Level agitations

2) Organisational Review

3) Issues of Part Time Employees

4) Financial Review

5) Other items with the permission of the Chair.

Secretary, PIII, PIV, GDS Union, Ottapalam

Flash News:

Engagement of Casual Labours /Part Time contingent staff
======================================================
Orders have been issued by the SPOs, Ottapalam Division to restore normalcy in engagement of Part Time Contingent staff: Order No. A8/Rlgs dated 08-03-2011.
The out sourcing is only to be considered when the present incumbant vacantes the post.

GDS BOnus Recovery:
================
Reply to the Notice will be sent to all GDS within a week. All are requested to wait till receipt of the reply from Union. Group leaders are requested to guide the GDS properly in this regard.

Reimbursement in relaxation of rules in emergent cases under CGHS/CS(MA) Rules, 1944

NO.S.14025/2/2011-MS

Government of India

Ministry of Health and Family Welfare313,

'D' Wing, Nirman Bhawan,

New Delhi -110108Email: so2ms-mohfw@nic.in
Dated 11th,January, 2011

OFFICE MEMORANDUM

Subject:Delegation of powers of Head of Department to Head of Office for settling permission cases and post facto approval to reimbursement in relaxation of rules in emergent cases under CGHS/CS(MA) Rules, 1944.

The undersigned is directed to invite reference to para (ii) of this Ministry's Office Memorandum NO.S.14012/9/75-MC (MS) dated 18.06.1982, as mentioned at point 4 under Appendix-VIII of CS(MA) Rules, 1944 relating to reimbursement in relaxation of rules in emergent cases, which stipulates that powers for settling permission cases and post facto approval should not be exercised by authorities lower than Heads of Departments. 2. The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has examined the question of further delegation of powers to Head of Offices/officers at Under Secretary level, in such offices, which are not headed by officers equivalent to a Deputy Secretary, in the matter and it has been decided with the approval of the competent authority to delegate such powers in the following manner:-
"In case of medical reimbursement, delegation of power can be given to Under Secretaries in the Departments of Central Government declared as Heads of Offices subject to the condition that upto Rs. two thousand for taking treatment in OPD and upto Rs. Five thousand for taking treatment in IPD under CGHS/CS(MA) Rules, 1944. This delegation of powers can be exercised as per the prescribed rate list of nearest CGHS covered city or actual whichever is lower for CS(MA} beneficiaries and as per package rate for CGHS beneficiaries in CGHS cities."3. This order is applicable to both CGHS and CS(MA) beneficiaries. 4. This Office Memorandum issues with the approval of Ministry of Finance vide 10 No 14(1)/E.IIA/2010 dated 06.07.2010.

S/d

(Sanjay Pant)Under Secretary to the Government of India.

=========================================================================

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.
======================================

SC NOTICE TO CENTRE/STATES ON CIVIL SERVICES BOARD

New Delhi, Mar 4 (PTI) The Supreme Court today issued notices to the Centre, all states/UTs on a PIL for setting up of high-powered statutory Civil Services Boards to decide transfers/postings of civil servants to rid the bureaucracy of political interference, corruption and inaction.

A bench of justices Dalveer Bhandari and Deepak Verma sought response from the Union Cabinet Secretary and respective Chief Secretaries on the petition jointly filed by 83 former bureaucrats through counsel Menaka Guruswamy.

"There is an urgent need to make the civil servants accountable, sensitive and responsive. If this is achieved, there will be across-the-spectrum benefits. At present, the system of transfers, postings, promotions, disciplinary action and other personnel matters pertaining to the higher civil services are ad-hoc and non-transparent.

LATEST NEWS

It is learnt that Induction Training for Postal Assistant/ Sorting Assistant candidates will commence at Trivandum from 2nd week of March-2011.

=================================================================

TIME- LIMIT FOR DISCIPLINARY ACTION AGAINST

GOVT. SERVANTS

The Government had appointed a three member Committee of Experts to examine and suggest measures to expedite the process involved in Disciplinary/Vigilance Proceedings. In its Report, the Committee has recommended that a time limit of two months may be prescribed for completion of minor penalty disciplinary inquiries and 12 months for major penalty disciplinary inquiries. The report of the Committee is under examination. As part of preventive measures for checking corruption, it is imperative that Disciplinary Proceedings are completed in time, and delinquent officers are punished.

The matter related to amendment to the Article 311 of the constitution to remove the protection shield of Government servants is being examined by a Group of Ministers.

This information was given by the Minister of State in the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions Shri V.Narayanasamy in written reply to a question in the Rajya Sabha today.

========================================================================

NORMS FOR VARIOUS WORK IN PLI/RPLI

P L I Directorate D.O.29-9/2008-LI, Dated the 24^th February, 2011.

Dear Chief Postmaster General,

This is regarding norms for various works in PLI/RPLI. I am directed to intimate that the norms for various works in PLI/RPLI have been revised keeping in view the industry standards and various regulations of statutory authorities.

These norms are as below:

Sl. No.	Particulars	Number of days
1.	Issue of Acceptance letter	15
2.	Issue of policy Bonds	15
3.	Inter Circle transfer of policies	10
4.	Settlement of claims on maturity	30
5.	Settlement of Claims on Death with Nomination	30
6.	Settlement of death claim involving investigation	90
7.	Payment of paid up value	30
8.	Loan for policies	10
9.	Change of address	10
10.	Change of Nomination	10
11.	Assignment	10
12.	Issue of duplicate policy document	10
13.	Revival of policy	15
14.	Conversion of policy	15

It is requested that these norms be given wide publicity amongst the staff as well as customers so that services are provided in a time bound manner.

=========================================================================

DISCONTINUATION OF CONDUCTING EXAMINATION IN APS UNITS/CENTRES.

Subject: Discontinuation of conducting examination in APS Units/Centres.

D.G. Posts No. No. A-34020/11/2011-DE b Dated 15/2/2011

I am directed to say that system of all Departmental Examinations is being revised. In this connection, Competent Authority has decided that the following Examinations hitherto being conducted in the APS units are discontinued.

i) Examination for promotion to Postman cadre
ii) Examination for promotion to PAs/SAs (LGO)
iii) Examination for promotion to Inspector Posts

Candidates working in APS who wish to attend the above mentioned Examinations will have to appear at the nearest possible Postal Centres.

Sd/-

(L. Mohan Rao)

Assistant Director General (DE

==========================================================================

STOP THIS WANTON DESTRUCTION

We are really shocked to read the contents of Directorate's letter No. 40-06/2010/Plg dated 225.01.2011 addressed to all CPMGs/PMGs wherein it is directed to complete the process of closure/merger/relocation of about 9797 Post offices functioning at present in Urban areas on the plea that they do not conform with the distance condition prescribed by the Directorate for opening of new Post offices. The total number of Departmental Post Offices as on 31.03.2010 is 27360. Closure of 9797 Post offices means reduction of about 36% of the existing Postal network. We cannot accept the argument put forward by the Department justifying such mass-scale closure/merger/relocation. We are at a loss to understand why our Department is resorting to such mass-scale closures, when all other private couriers and companies are competing to canvass our customer by opening more and more outlets in the urban areas for extending their services to the doorstep of the customer. We fear that in the name of rationalization and optimization, our department is giving more space for the private companies to occupy more share in the mail market segment. We have already made it clear that we are not against relocation of offices to the needy areas. Large scale closure of Post offices and RMS offices will not only lead to inconvenience to the public leading to discontentment but also adversely affect the interest of the employees. Further this is nothing but abrupt violation of strike agreement made on 12.07.2010 in which it was categorically assured that there will be no closure/merger of Post offices. We strongly protest against such unilateral closure/merger of offices.

We have already pointed out the adverse impact of the introduction of speed post hubs without taking into account the ground realities. The experience for the last six months has proved that the speed post hubs had resulted in abnormal delay in transmission and delivery of speed post articles and thereby in eroding the faith of the general public in the speed post system itself. We have already requested the Department to review the functioning of the speed post hubs and take remedial measures or to revert to the old system. We regret to note that the staff side has been totally sidelined and the department is blindly going ahead with unscientific proposals of the multinational consultancy called Mckensy. Much damage has been done and it is high time that a thorough review be conducted for removing the deficiencies by rolling back to the old scheme. A damage control exercise to regain the lost faith of the customer is the need of the hour.

The new Recruitment rules for the Postmen notified recently by the Department states that direct recruitment from open market is to be resorted to for filling up 25% Postmen vacancies. This clause virtually snatches away the right of the Gramin Dak Sevaks to get appointed against 50% of the Postmen vacancies hitherto ear-marked for GDS employees. Further unilateral orders have been issued restricting the compassionate appointment of GDS to 10% of the vacancies, tightening of norms for cash handling and stamp sale etc. Further the discrimination in payment of bonus to GDS still continues.

In spite of the assurance given by the Secretary, Department of Posts on 12.07.2010, many issues mentioned in the 13^th July strike Charter of demands and also in the minutes of the JCM Departmental council meeting held on 27.08.2010 still remains unsettled. The issues relating to the Postmen staff such as fixing of minimum and maximum distance to be traversed are yet to be resolved. The issue of cadre review, even though assured to be completed before November 2010, is still in the initial stage and formal discussion is delayed indefinitely.

The Department is going ahead with the proposal for decentralization of postal Accounts work in the name of accrual based accounting system. Similarly move is on for decentralization of PLI/RPLI work. Induction of new technology in accounting and providing online facilities at post offices shall lead to centralization and not decentralization. We oppose decentralization of the above mentioned work.

The revision of wages of the causal, part-time contingent employees with effect from 01.01.2006 is pending for the last three years. Even the eligible DA is denied in many circles. Further the work done hitherto by the casual, part time and contingent employees are indiscriminately outsourced and large scale reduction in the wages are ordered. All this has resulted in making the life of the poor, low paid employees more miserable. It is high time that justice is done to this most downtrodden and marginalized section of employees of the Postal department.

All the above issues are agitating the minds of the Postal and RMS employees and resentment among them is mounting day-by-day. The releasing of the orders for closure of large scale post offices has further aggravated the situation. Unless the Department comes forward to discuss the above issues with the Staff side for an amicable settlement, the situation may go from bad to worse.

We appeal to the Govt. of India and Secretary, Department of Posts to desist from the move to implement the retrograde orders mentioned above and also to keep the orders in abeyance, failing which we will be compelled to resort to trade union action including indefinite strike. We earnestly want to avoid such an unpleasant situation as it may adversely affect the efficiency and productivity of the Postal Services and may put the public also to inconvenience.

We hope that the Department will come forward for the negotiated settlement of the issues mentioned above and take the staff side also into confidence, so that the peace, tranquillity and the better relationship between the staff side and administration shall remain unaffected. Or else, confrontation shall become inevitable as we cannot take the onslaughts laying down. When driven to the wall we have no option but to hit back with all the forces at our command. Be prepared to face such contingency if situation warrants. Get ready for a total indefinite strike.

===========================================================================

DHARNA ON 03-03-2011- A GRAND SUCESS

Dharna protesting against the Anti GDS and P/T employees policies of the Department held at OTTAPALAM HPO premises on 03-03-2011. Circle Org. Secretary, Com. K.Vijayakumar inaugurated the Dharna. Com. U.M.Sasindran, LCC, Convener, Com. T.R.Santhosh Kumar, Chairman, LCC, Com. Abdul Rahiman TP, Secretary, PIII, Com. M.Aravindakshan, Secretary, PIV, Com. M.C.Velayudhan, Secretary, GDS Union, Com. K.Govindan, President, P/T employees Union were present in the Dharna.

A memorandum on certain Divisional issues ,as detailed below was also submitted to the SPOs, Ottapalam today.

NFPE

ALL INDIA POSTAL EMPLOYEES UNION GROUP C

ALL INDIA POSTAL EMPLOYEES UNION POSTMEN & MSEs

ALL INDIA POSTAL EXTRA DEPARTMENTAL EMPLOYEES UNION

ALL INDIA RMS AND MMS EMPLOYEES UNION GROUP C

ALL INDIA RMS AND MMS EMPLOYEES UNION MAIL GURAD & MSEs

OTTAPALAM DIVISION, OTTAPALAM-679101.

No. NFPE/Agtn /Genl/ 2011 03-03-2011

To

The Superintendent of Post Offices,

Ottapalam Division,

Ottapalam-679101.

Sir,

Sub:- Memorandum on Divisional issues-reg

The above Divisional Unions, affiliated to NFPE views with grave concern the long pending issues of this Division. Though all the issues were brought to the notice of the Divisional Administration then and there, including in monthly meetings, no favourable response / decisions taken in the issues so far, despite the assurances given to the Unions.

Therefore, the above Unions are compelled to bring the issues mentioned in the list attached, through this memorandum for immediate redressel. A detailed discussion on the issues is also solicited.

Yours faithfully,

Abdul Rahiman T.P M.C.Velayudhan M.Aravindakshan

Secretary, PIII Secretary, PIV Secretary, GDS

K.K.Sasidharan P.K.Sredharan

Secretary, RIII Secretary, RIV

List of issues:

We demand:

1) Withdraw the orders issued to recover the Bonus paid to the GDS during the years 2006-2007 and 2007-2008

2) Restoration of allowance of Part Time Contingent staff and reinstating them in respective posts, as directed by CPMG on 07-02-2011.

3) Immediate termination of deputations from Head office to Divisional office.

4) Adhoc posting of Accountant -2 at Ottapalam HO , with qualified officials.

5) Stop reduction of allowances of GDS officials.

6) Sanction of all pending MIS and Speed Post incentive bills.

7) Urgent maintenance works of Staff Quarters Palapuram and Shornur.

8) Stop unilateral abolition of GDS MC posts and combination of duties to GDS BPM/MDs.

9) Urgent replacement of old systems and accessories of offices.

10) Supply of Uniform and Postman Delivery bags to all eligible staff.

===========