Visit of GS to Directorate- updates on pending issues

GS visited Directorate on 28th July 2014 and met with higher officers and discussed the pending issues. The progress of few issues are as under: 

1.   Repatriation of PS Gr. B officers to their parent circle. 

Information called by Directorate under Memo No.9-33/2013-SPG dated 16^th July 2014 is yet to receive from Assam / Gujarat / Kerala / Odisha and Uttarakhand Circle.  It was requested during the course o visit to Directorate, not to link up the repatriation issue with supplementary DPC and consider the request applications of the officers for repatriation to their home circle immediately, was requested during the visit to Directorate to consider the request applications of the officers for repatriation to their home circle immediately, as they have already completed the requisite years of service outside their home circle and their cases are badly delayed for one or other reasons. Directorate has given assurance that on receipt of information from above circles, repatriation cases will be considered on top priority basis and now will not be linked up with result of supplementary DPC. 

2.   Supplementary DPC for promotion to PS Gr. B. 

The following information is required from circles; 

Circle	Name of officer	Requirement
Bihar	Anil Kumar Gupta	Incomplete information received at Directorate and zerox copies of CRs/APARs are not received
	Balram Mandal
	Vishnu Deo Ram (SC)
	Tiket Das (SC)
	Vinay Kumar Singh (ST)
	Raj Balabh Paswan (SC)
Haryana	Ram Phal Singh (SC)	zerox copies of CRs/APARs
Kerala	K. Narayanan	2 Officers Vig clearance and zerox copies of 3 officers CRs/APARs
	V P Ahmed Asharaf
	B. Satya Narayana
MP	Nathi Lal Yadav	Neither vigilance clearance report nor zerox copies of CRs/APARs received
	G. Narayanan
	Bhujbal Singh Tomar
	Ms Rooplata Sundareshan
	Moti Chandram Yadev
	S. Mustafa
	Parmanand Pandey
	Rajmal Jain
	S. K.Jain
	T. S. Parte (ST)
	Shivram (ST)
Odisha	Isidor Ekka (ST)	zerox copies of CRs/APARs not received
	Madhu Mirdha (ST)
Rajasthan	R S Shekhawat	Only 10 officers vig. Clearance received and zerox copies of all officers CRs/APARs not received
	O P Sodia
	Gauri Shankar
	T D Vasihnav
	Bajrang Lal Sharma
	S K Mishra
	S D Swami
	Ram Swaroop Munot (SC)
	Ishra Ram (SC)
	Babhu Lal (SC)
	Ratan Lal (SC)
	L. R. Parihar (SC)
UP	S P Pandey	zerox copies of CRs/APARs not received
	Ram Mahesh Shakya
	G. C. Ojha
	D N S Yadav
	R L Rajbhar
	B C Dixit
	P L Gupta
	B K Singh
	B K Gupta
	G C Bhatt
	Y N Tripathi
	R P Singh
	Rameshwar Bajpai
	R C Srivastava
	Laxshminarayan
	Man Singh
WB	Amal Krishna Ghosh (SC)	zerox copies of CRs/APARs not received
	Tapan Kumar Malik (SC)
	Nikhil Ranjan kamila (SC)
	Vishnu Pada Khanra (SC)

 

3.   Convening of DPC for promotion to the cadre of JTS Gr. A for the year 2013-14. 

The information of following two officers required at Directorate:

a)   Shri S. Modi (Gujarat) : ACRs/APARs not received at Directorate.

b)   Shri P. R. Alia (Uttar Pradesh) : CRs for 2007-08 (from Uttarakhand Circle) and APARs 2007-08, 2009-10 and 2010-11 (from UP circle) not upgraded by circles.  

On receipt of above information from Circles, file is said to be sent to UPSC for convening DPC for 45 to 46 posts in JTS Gr. A for the vacancies of 2013-14. 

4.   Holding of periodical meeting to Secretary (Posts)  

Director (SR) has issued 2^nd reminder to DDG (P) and DDG (Estt) to furnish the comments on agenda items. Directorate will communicate the date of meeting soon.   

5.   LDCE for the promotion to the cadre of PS Gr. B for 2013 and 2014. 

Question bank on revised syllabus is not ready at Directorate. Examinations will be held separately for 2013 and 2014.

6. Promotion case of Shri Karunakaran PM (HSG-I) Dindigul HO (Tamil Nadu)

        Department has filed case in High Court of Tamil Nadu against the judgment dated 28/11/2011 delivered by special court Madurai.  

7.   Holding of regular DPC for promotion to PS Gr. B cadre for 2013-14

After the completion of supplementary DPC process, the list of officers in the ZOC will be circulated to all circles for submission of zerox copies CRs/APARAs and vigilance clearance in time frame program.

8.   Death case of Ms Mohini Gupta, ASP Ajmer (Rajasthan)

The report from Rajasthan Circle is awaited. It was requested to issue reminder to CPMG Rajasthan to speed up the enquiry.

             All Circle Secretaries and CHQ Office Bearers are once again requested to ensure submission of above information by their circle/s to Directorate and inform to GS.

Five day week to continue.... no proposal to enhance EL & CL for Central Govt. Employees

There is no proposal to change the present five-day week for the employees of central government ministries and departments, Lok Sabha was informed today. 

 

"No," said Jitendra Singh, Minister of State for Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions in a written reply to a question whether the government plans to change the five days per week working for central government servants.There were reports that the government was considering increasing the five-day week schedule to six days. 

   

The minister said there was also no proposal to enhance earned leave and casual leave being granted to the employees. "There is no such proposal under consideration of the government," he said.

All Central Govt. Employees to submit details about their assets and liabilities

All Central Government employees will now have to compulsorily submit a detailed report on their properties and debt owed by them…

Already, each year, the Group-A officials are required to submit information about the immovable properties owned by them. Now All categories of Central Government employees too have been asked to submit these details. The DOPT has issued relevant orders to this effect. The Government has issued this order in accordance with the Lokpal rules. According to this rule, Central Government employees will now have to submit all details regarding the cash-in-hand, bank investments, share certificates, stocks and bonds, mutual fund investments, insurance policies, P.F. details, loans, motor vehicles, gold and silver ornaments, and precious metals, to the Government.

The employees have to also submit details of movable and immovable properties owned by their spouses and children. Application forms will be given to all the employees, to be filled up and submitted before the 31st of July for each financial year. There are more than 50 lakh Central Government employees, including IAS, IPS and IFS officers, all over the country. All of them will have to henceforth submit details of their properties. If the total property owned by the employee is less than his/her four months’ basic salary, or if the total amount is less than Rs. 2 lakhs, then he/she could be considered for exemption from submitting the information.

Those who have already submitted the details will have to re-submit the form for the current financial year on or before September 15, 2014. Information also has to be furnished about the properties owned by the spouse and children. On January 1, President Pranab Mukherjee gave his approval for the Lokpal Act and regulations. Following this, amendments were made to the Lokpal Act to make it compulsory for all Central Government employees to furnish their property details.

Top priority for digital connectivity of all post offices- says MOC

New Delhi, July 21:  Proper digital connectivity of all post offices in the country is top priority for the Government, Telecom Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad told the Lok Sabha here on Monday.Replying to questions related to his Ministry, Prasad said the Prime Minister was personally monitoring a host of departments and postal services were one of them.

“The Prime Minister spent about one-and-a half–hours on the postal department and has given suggestions, which will be considered,” he said, in reply to a query by Biju Janata Dal’s Tathagata Satapathy on the status of the banking licence applied for by the postal department. Prasad said there was need for reforms in postal reforms as also upgradation of Grameen Dak Ghar Services, catering to the rural population.

 

Mobile networks :

 

Prasad said the Government’s priority was also to improve BSNL services. Responding to a question raised by Congress MP Ashok Chavan on poor mobile network in Naxal-affected regions in Maharashtra, Prasad said mobile networks, under the Universal Service Obligation Fund (USOF) scheme in such areas are likely to be set up in 15 months.A proposal to install mobile towers at 1,836 locations in nine States affected by Left Wing Extremism with funding support from USOF has already been approved, he added.

The Minister said Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd (BSNL) had installed mobile towers at 363 locations for which financial support to meet operational expenses would be provided through USOF.On a question on lack of diesel supplies to BSNL mobile towers leading to their non-functionality and affecting security, he admitted there were concerns on diesel supply and “there is scope for improvement“.The idea of using solar power for telecom towers was also being looked into, especially in the hilly regions of North East, Prasad said.

Association impact- Draft copy of gradation list of IPs-2000 batch released

Directorate has released the draft copy of seniority list (Gradation list) of Inspector Posts 2000 batch and requested circles to rectify the omissions found therein at the earliest.

Directorate calls for vacancy position in Group B cadre from all Circles

To view Directorate's letter No. 9-33/2013-SPG dated 16th July 2014, please CLICK HERE.  This information is required for consideration of request applications of the officers who are working outside their home circle. 

All Circle Secretaries and CHQ officer bearers are requested to keep liaison with their Circle administration and ensure submission of requisite information immediately to Directorate by email. 

No plans to raise the retirement age of Central Govt. Employees

Following is the text of the Press Statement issued by the Department of Personnel & Training, Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions today, to clarify that there is no proposal before the Government regarding raising the retirement age of Central Government employees from 60 years to 62 years :-

 

“Attention of the Government has been drawn to reports appearing in some sections of the media regarding raising the retirement age of Central Government employees from 60 to 62 years.

 

In order to put at rest all such speculations, it is clarified that there is no such proposal before the Government.”

Germany lifts FIFA World Cup 2014

Mario Goetze scored a superb extra-time winner as Germany beat Argentina 1-0 to become the first European team to win a World Cup held in South America on 13 July 2014 (Sunday). Bayern Munich star Goetze struck in the 113th minute to finally break Argentina's resistance as Lionel Messi's dream of emulating Diego Maradona ended in defeat.Germany has now won four World Cups, putting the European powerhouses just one behind Brazil's record tally of five.

“It's unbelievable what we have achieved. Whether we have the best individual player doesn't matter at all, you just need to have the best team,” said delighted Germany captain Philipp Lahm. The decisive moment of the World Cup  brimming with wonderful goals came in the close of the extra time with penalties looming in front of 74,738 fans at Rio de Janeiro's famous Maracana Stadium. Andre Schuerrle burst clear down the left flank and crossed for Goetze. The 22-year-old took the ball on his chest and then volleyed past Sergio Romero to spark delirium amongst the largely pro-German crowd. 

winning goal by Mario Goetze in the 2nd half of extra time

Germany earned a much-deserved World Cup, finally topping a wonderful era for this generation, who had lived the past eight years in the shadow of Spain's imperious reign. It was a fitting passing of the baton. Germany also became the first European country to win a world title in the Americas, and only the second country after Brazil (1958, 2002) to win a World Cup outside their respective continent.

Awards

The following awards were given at the conclusion of the tournament:

Golden Ball : Lionel Messi (Argentina)

Golden Boot: James Rodríguez (Colombia)

Golden Glove: Manuel Neuer (Germany)

Best Young Player: Paul Pogba (France)

FIFA Fair Play Trophy: Colombia

The Winner team Germany will be getting US$35 million as prize money.

Revised rates of honorarium for IO/PO -not implemented in DOP

As per the recommendations of the Expert Committee, DoPT vide its OM No. 142/15/2010-AVD-I dated 31st July 2012 revised the rates of honorarium and other allowances payable to IO both serving and retired officers and PO (serving). 

"The honorarium is normally regulated under the financial powers delegated to the Ministries/Departments and taking into account the quantum of work involved in individual disciplinary cases". 

While deciding the representation of one of the IO (Retired) in connection with inordinate delay in sanctioning honorarium it was intimated by Directorate that Nodal Ministries ibid letter was sent to all concerned for information and necessary action vide memo No. C-32016/12/2011 dated 8.1.2013. It is further mentioned that neither it has the approval of the Finance Wing nor can it be implemented without revising the powers of the Heads of the Circle and Secretary (Posts). The aforesaid letter was circulated to all concerned for enabling them to submit proposal for revision of the financial powers of the Heads of Circle for grant of honorarium to IO and PO vide para 2 of the annexure-I enclosed with the letter. 

In view Directorate's above reply, it is clear that revised rates of honorarium to IO/PO for conducting of departmental enquiries are not put into implementation.

GS writes to Secretary (P) again to revise the monetary ceiling of brief case/ladies purse

No. CHQ/AIAIPASP/Misc/2013                                 Dated :           12/7/2014

To,

Ms. Kavery Benerjee,  

Secretary (Posts)

Department of Posts,

Dak Bhavan, Sansad Marg,

New Delhi 110 001.

                

Subject : Revision of monetary ceiling of briefcase/ladies purse for official purposes-reg. 

Ref.    : This Association’s letter of even number dated 31/7/2013 and Directorate memo No. 15-1/2011-GA dated 26.10.2012

Respected Madam,  

IP/ASP Association would like to bring to your kind notice that Directorate vide letter No. F. No. 15-1/2011-GA dated 26.10.2012 has circulated revised monetary ceiling limit for purchase of briefcases / ladies purses for official purposes for the officers working in different capacities in Directorate. Whereas similar situated officers working in Circles are being deprived of this revision by Circles. Thus the old ceilings up to limit of Rs.1000/- is still in vogue in many Circles.

IPs/ASPs who are entitled to procure brief cases/ladies purses of their own choice from any of the private/ public outlet are asked to purchase the same from market but thereafter given reimbursement of Rs.1000/- whatsoever cost of the said purchase maybe. No matter even if it does not commensurate to the market price too.  Few circles have already revised the limit as per the Directorate’s above referred letter.

It is to further bring to your kind notice that the issue was discussed with the then Member (P) in informal meeting held on 23/9/2013 and he has assured that the copy of ibid letter will be circulated amongst all circles. But despite lapse of considerable period no step has been taken to circulate the copy of said letter to circles / regions.  

            It is therefore humbly requested to your kind honour to pass an order to all circles/regions with the direction to maintain uniformity at all levels as per revised limit contained in Directorate letter ibid. If needs be copy of Directorate letter dated 26.10.2012 may kindly be ordered to circulate amongst all so that circles may not have any excuse to adhere to the prescribed limit.

         

With profound regards,

Yours sincerely,

Sd/- 

(Vilas Ingale)

General Secretary

Economic Survey pegs GDP growth at 5.4-5.9%

The Economic Survey 2013-14, which was tabled on Wednesday in the Lok Sabha, has pegged GDP growth for the year 2014-15 in the range of 5.4-5.9 per cent. "There are downside risks to the economy arising from a poor monsoon, the external environment and the poor investment climate. GDP growth slowed to below 5 per cent for two consecutive years, i.e. 2012-13 and 2013-14. The combination of domestic structural constraints, inflationary pressures, particularly food inflation and uncertainty in the global economy, has affected growth and posed challenges for macroeconomic stability," said the Survey. 

Agriculture and allied sector grew at 4.7 per cent, while industry grew at 0.4 per cent in 2013-14."The key reasons for poor performance have been contraction in mining activities and deceleration in manufacturing output. Manufacturing and mining sector GDP declined by 0.7 per cent and 1.4 per cent respectively in 2013-14. The underlying cause of the poor performance of these two sectors has been considerable deceleration in investment, particularly by the private corporate sectorduring 2011-12 and 2012-13," it said.Consumer price inflation declined from 10.21 per cent during FY 2013-14 to about 9.49 per cent in 2013-14. However, food inflation remained stubbornly high during FY 2013-14. Contribution of the commodity sub-groups, ‘fruits and vegetables’, as well as ‘egg, meat and fish’ to the food inflation has been very high. 

India’s balance-of-payments position improved in 2013-14 with current account deficit (CAD) at 32.4 billion (1.7 per cent of GDP) as against $88.2 billion (4.7 per cent of GDP) in 2012-13."India's exports at $312.6 billion grew by a positive 4.1 per cent compared to the previous year’s negative growth of 1.8 percent. Import growth decelerated from 0.3 per cent in 2012-13 to a negative 8.3 per cent in 2013-14, owing to fall in non-oil imports by 12.8 per cent primarily due to restrictions on gold imports," said the document.But public finances faced serious challenges, with a shortfall in tax revenues and disinvestment receipts and higher than budgeted subsidies, interest and pension payments, fiscal consolidation was mainly achieved through a reduction in grants for creation of capital assets and capital expenditure. 

"An important factor in the increase in the Centre’s fiscal deficit after 2008-09 has been the sharp increase in subsidies from 1.42 per cent of GDP in 2007-08 to 2.56 per cent of GDP in 2012-13. For 2013-14 the subsidy bill is 2.26 per cent of GDP," it said.The Survey identifies the need to address long run problems to improve the investment climate. It emphasises the need for creating a framework for low and stable inflation, setting public finances on a sustainable path by tax and expenditure reform, and creating the legal and institutional framework for a well-functioning market economy. 

"The Survey calls for putting public finances on the sustainable path through fiscal correction, a new Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management (FRBM) Act with teeth, better accounting practices, greater transparency and improved budgetary management. It argues that improvements on both tax and expenditure are needed to obtain high quality fiscal adjustment," said a press release.This year's Economic Survey also discusses the need for revamping some of the social sector schemes such as MNREGA, NRHM, SSA, etc."It is felt that the outlays for the different schemes have not often translated fully into outcomes owing to the poor delivery mechanism. Leveraging modern technology for efficient delivery of programmes, removing the multiple layers of governance, simplifying procedures, and greater participatory role by the beneficiaries can help in creating a better delivery mechanism," it said. 

(Data from Press Information Bureau)

Tax exemption limit raised to Rs. 2.5 lakhs

Salaried class has got something to cheer with Finance Minister Arun Jaitley on Thursday raising tax exemption limit to Rs. 2.5 lakh from Rs. 2 lakh, providing a relief of Rs 5,000. 

“I propose not to make any changes in the tax rate. However, with the view to provide relief to small and marginal and senior citizen, I propose to increase the personal income tax exemption limit by Rs. 50,000 from Rs. 2 lakh to Rs. 2.50 lakh in case of all individual tax payer who are below the ago of 60 years,” he said while presenting budget for 2014-15 in the Parliament.The proposal, according to an estimate, is likely to be benefit about 2 crore tax payers.Similarly, he raised tax exemption limit from Rs. 2.5 lakh to Rs. 3 lakh in the case of senior citizens.“I do not propose to make any change in the rate of surcharge for either for corporates or individual. The education cess for all tax payers shall continue at 3 per cent,” he said. 

Thus, tax on income from Rs. 2.5 lakh to Rs. 5 lakh is retained at 10 per cent, up to Rs. 10 lakh at 20 per cent and above Rs. 10 lakh at 30 per cent.Noting that households are main contributors to savings, he said the investment limit under 80 C has been raised to Rs. 1.5 lakh from the existing Rs. 1 lakh to encourage savings.Investment in Public Provident Fund up to Rs. 1.5 lakh would now be exempt from tax. This was earlier pegged at Rs. 1 lakh.He also raised tax deduction limit on account of interest of housing loan in case of self occupied property to Rs. 2 lakh from Rs. 1.5 lakh. 

Source: The Hindu.