CONFEDERATION WRITES TO MINISTRY OF FINANCE

COM. M. KRISHNAN, SECRETARY GENERAL, NFPE & CONFEDERATION & GENERAL SECRETRY, AIPEU GROUP-C (CHQ) RETIRES FROM SERVICE ON SUPERANNUATION ON 31-08-2014

Com. M. Krishnan, Secretary General, National Federation of Postal Employees (NFPE) & Confederation of Central Govt. Employees & Workers, General Secretary, All India Postal Employees Union Group-C (CHQ), Leader, JCM Departmental Council, Department of Posts, Member, JCM National Council will be retiring from service on superannuation on 31st August, 2014.

                   As per the decision of NFPE Federal Executive meeting held on 21-08-2014 and Central Working Committee meeting of AIPEU Group-C (CHQ) held on 22nd to 24th August, 2014 at Ongole (Andhra Pradesh) Com: M.Krishnan, will continue to function in the NFPE & P-3 CHQ till next Federal Council of NFPE (May 2016) and All India Conference of AIPEU Group-C (June 2015).  He will also continue to lead the entire Central Government employees as Secretary General, Confederation till the next National Conference (2016).

                   Com: R.N.Parashar, Asst. Secretary General, NFPE, will take charge as Secretry General, NFPE from 01-09-2014 till next Federal Council as per the decision of NFPE Federal Executive meeting.  Com.N.Subramanian, Deputy General Secretary, AIPEU Group-C (CHQ) will officiate as General Secretary, AIPEU Group-C (CHQ) till next AIC, as per the decision of CWC meeting of AIPEU Group-C.

                   NFPE CHQ, AIPEU Group-C (CHQ) and the CHQs of all other affiliated unions of NFPE extend our best wishes to Com.M.Krishnan and we are sure that he will lead us in the coming days also.

                   We are reproducing below the resolutions adopted by NFPE Federal Executive meeting and Central Working Committee meeting of AIPEU Group-C on the services rendered by Com.M.Krishnan.  We are also reproducing a letter received from Shri.D.Theagarajan, Secretary General, FNPO.

I.  RESOLUTION ADOPTED BY NFPE FEDERAL EXECUTIVE.

            The Federal Executive of NFPE records its full appreciation for the yeoman service rendered by Comrade M.Krishnan as the Secretary General of NFPE. The Federation has scaled new heights during his stewardship and the unity of Postal regular employees and Gramin Dak Sewaks entered into a new chapter under his leadership. The united movements of Postal Workers under the banner of Postal JCA as well as the independent struggles under the mighty National Federation of Postal Employees are further strengthened under his able leadership. He provided a militant, progressive leadership with farsightedness for the betterment of Postal Workers. It is  under his leadership that the NFPE claimed its historic vanguard role of leading the entirety of CG Employees under the platform of Confederation of CG Employees & Workers and it can be seen that the movement of central government employees has launched a powerful movement including strikes for the establishment of 7th CPC with Comrade M.Krishnan as its Secretary General. The integration of Postal and CG Employees with the entirety of Indian working class organisations in developing the path of united struggles against the neo-liberal policies of Government has further been cemented during his tenure. The leadership of confederation has come back to the Postal Organisation after a long period of 44 years and comrade Krishnan is leading the movement of CG employees in the path of struggle with firmness and it is noteworthy to mention that the unity of all JCM National Council organisations has reached its zenith with all coming together in championing the cause of three lakhs of Gramin Dak Sewaks and thousands of casual labourers in Postal and CG services due to his firm efforts. Ideological education of all cadres and employees through several All India and Regional Trade Union Camps under the banners of NFPE and Confederation; Concrete organisational steps for mobilizing the women employees of Postal Department as well as the Confederation level are some of the landmark achievements of Comrade Krishnan. The National Executive notes with happiness that all the affiliates of NFPE have always maintained a unified stand on all important activities of the Federation and this unity is due to the confidence created amongst all affiliates by the unifying leadership of Comrade Krishnan. The relinquishing of charge as the Secretary General of NFPE by him due to his superannuation from the Government Service is a huge loss to the movement but the Executive wishes to get his valuable advice and guidance to the Federation in the days to come. The National Executive places on record its unstinted gratitude to Comrade M.Krishnan for his able leadership to the historic organisation of NFPE not only as Secretary General but in numerous other capacities as well during his long service.  The Federal Executive further resolves that Com.M.Krishnan will continue to be in the Federal Executive of NFPE even after handing over charge, till the next Federal Council meeting to be held in May 2016.

II.          RESOLUTION ADOPTED BY CWC MEETING OF AIPEU GROUP - C (CHQ)

                   RESOLUTION ON THE SERVICES OF COM. M.KRISHNAN, GENEARL SECRETARY, AIPEU GROUP-C CHQ & SECRETARY GENERAL NFPE/CONFEDERATION

            The Central Working Committee of All India Postal Employees Union Group ‘C’ (CHQ) held in Ongole (Andhra Pradesh) from 22.8.2014 to 24.8.2014 unanimously appreciates the sincere, superb and outstanding services rendered by Com. M. Krishnan as General Secretary of AIPEU Group ‘C’ (CHQ) and Secretary General of NFPE & Confederation during his tenure and like to place on record our whole hearted compliments,greetings and commendations to him and also acknowledge and recognize him for his unparalleled and appreciated service, which definitely resulted in charming the organization to new heights and also in settling many of the long pending demands of the Postal employees, especially Postal Group ‘C’ staff.

Com. M. Krishnan’s contributions in enhancing the prestige and image of AIPEU Group ‘C’ and thereby NFPE as well as the Confederation, will be remembered forever. In order to strengthen the organization and also to enhance the organizing capacity of the rank and file leaders the P3 CHQ  & NFPE CHQ under the leadership of Com. M. Krishnan is maintaining constant communication with the general membership through website and also the Bhartiya Post and Postal Crusader monthly journals. The Trade Union classes and workshops organized by Com M.Krishnan, General Secretary for the NFPE and the Confederation has also contributed to a great extent in improving the quality of the organization. The need of the unity amidst the working class of all sections as well as Government employees, organized and unorganised workers, he preached and also practiced during his tenure upsurge him to the  standard of a great statesman and a living legend. It is only Com M. Krishnan, who spends more than 20 hours daily for the working class all along during his tenure.

Com. M.Krishnan is a vivacious, vibrant,meticulous hard working and fully committed leader and is always working for the upliftment and welfare of the Postal employees, especially most down-trodden three lakhs Gramin Dak Sewaks. He has also extended his helping hand to all affiliated unions of the NFPE as the Member and then Leader of the JCM (Departmental Council) Staff side. He is also the All India Secretary General of the Confederation of Central Government Employees & Workers and is at the forefront in implementing all the programmes of the Confederation. The two days strike in February 2014 demanding the formation of the Seventh Pay Commission cut the ice and is one of the milestone in the history of the CG employees’ movement.

Com M.Krishnan has pioneered and crusaded his best in making the General Strikes conducted as per the call of Central Trade Unions and other Federations including NFPE against the anti-people and anti-worker policies of the Govt. a grand success in the Postal Sector. As the Secretary General, National Federation of Postal Employees he built the unity of all the Postal employees and conducted various trade union actions which have prevented the adverse effect of implementation of the new economic policy in the postal sector and to save the postal service as a public utility service. The mass recruitment to the extent of 30% and more in the postal is the major advancement of the Federation for which the skill and negotiating capacity of the Secretary  General NFPE Com M. Krishnan are fully exploited. The fight against closure of 9797 Postoffices and 300 RMS offices in the name of McKincey Consultancy’s recommendation, the campaign against the New Postal Policy and the move of the Govt. to privatise postal services by granting licence to Courier Services, the Cadre Restructuring agreement etc are examples of his uncompromising stand, hard-bargaing and negotiating skill. His capacity to make inspiring and educative speeches and also taking class are worth emulating.

This Central Working Committee of this Union, while saluting Com. M. Krishnan for his devoted and dedicated service to the Central Govt. Employees and Postal employees, especially to the CHQ of AIPEU Group ‘C’ hereby resolved to utilize the valuable and experienced services of Com. M. Krishnan in the AIPEU Group ‘C’ (CHQ) till the next All India Conference to be held in June 2015.

III.  E.MAIL RECEIVED FROM SHRI.D.THEAGARAJAN, SG, FNPO.

In regard to the services rendered by Sri M.Krishnan to the employees, I am unable to find words to express my appreciation towards him. In the last few years my relationship with him is very cordial and it became useful to the Postal employees.  His manner of approaching official side with the issues of staff is bold as well as of positive nature .

So far I do not find negative attitude in him during the negotiation with official side. The retirement of Shri  M.Krishnan from the Department is a great loss to the Postal employees in particular and  central government employees  in general .

In fine , I feel that a good friend of mine is retiring from the service.. I pray to  the Almighty to shower blessings on him and his family members to give happiness and prosperity .

CONFEDERATION WRITES TO MINISTRY OF FINANCE

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CWC, AIPEU GROUP 'C' HELD AT ONGOLE - A REPORT

In continuation of the CWCs already held at Hyderabad and Guwahati, the third Central working committee of AIPEU Group ‘C’ was convened at Ongole – A. P. from 22.08.2014 to 23.08.2014, after the Last AIC.

The NFPE & AIPEU Group ‘C’ flags were upraised by Com. Giriraj Singh President NFPE and Com. R. Sivannarayana CHQ President respectively. Out of 15 office bearers the following Thirteen were present.

1.      Com. R. Sivannarayana, President

2.      Com. Mangesh Parab, Working President

3.      Com. N. Gopalakrishnan, Working President

4.      Com. R. C. Mishra, Vice President

5.      Com. C. P. Shobana, Vice President

6.      Com. M. Krishnan, General Secretary

7.      Com. N. Subramanian, Dy. General Secretary

8.      Com. R. N. Parashar, Asst. General Secretary

9.      Com. A. Veeramani, Asst. General Secretary

10.  Com. Balwinder Singh, Financial Secretary

11.  Com. U. K. Tiwari, Org. General Secretary

12.  Com. S. A. Hamid, Org. General Secretary

13.  Com. L. P. Saikia, Org. General Secretary

Com. Gaurang Dev Maity, Asst. General Secretary & Com. H. P. Diwakar, Asst. Financial Secretary were absent.

Out of 22 Circles, barring Delhi Circle in Organisational dispute all the 21 circles represented. Six Mahila Committee members were also present.

Com. Giriraj Singh President NFPE & General Secretary, AI RMS & MMS EU Group ‘C’ inaugurated the CWC session.

Com. R. Sivannarayana, President CHQ presided over the CWC and the Working Presidents & Vice Presidents assisted him during the session. On behalf of receiption committee Com. DASV Prasad, Circle Secretary, Andhra Pradesh Circle gave welcome address.

The General Secretaries of Sister unions and office bearers of NFPE & Leaders took part amidst the active session and presented their speech.

Com. Seethalakshmi, General Secretary, AIPEU Postmen & MSE/Group ‘D’

Com. P. Suresh, General Secretary, AI RMS & MMS EU MAILGUARDS & MTS GROUP 'C'

Com. V. K. Tiwari, General Secretary, All India Postal SBCO Employees Union Group ‘C’

Com. P. Pandurangarao, General Secretary, AIPEU-GDS (NFPE)

Com. P. Mohan, General Secretary, AIP Casual, Part Time, Contingent, Contract Workers Federation

Com. S. Raghupathy, Asst. Secretary, NFPE

Com. I. S. Dabas, Ex-General Secretary, AIPEU Postmen & MSE/Group ‘D’

Com. K. V. Sridharan, Ex-General Secretary, AIPEU Group ‘C’

Com. Manoharan, Working President, NFPE

Com. B. G. Tamhankar, Ex-President, AIPEU Group ‘C’ & NFPE

Com. Appanraj, Ex-General Secretary, All India Postal SBCO Employees Union Group ‘C’

The CWC eleaborately discussed in length and breadth of all the issues related to technology, Core Banking solutions, Core Insurance solutions, MACPs, Cadre restructuring JCM Departmental Council items, Postal JCA Charter of demands and programme of action and Confederation Charter of demands etc.

The following are the important decisions arrived by concensus in the CWC.

1.      The Confederation’s effort for inclusion of GDS demands in 7^th CPC, DA merger etc has been endorsed.

2.      The upgradation of pay scale of PA/SA and supervisory posts will be given due importance while oral evidence with 7^th CPC.

3.      CWC full endorsed the AIPEU Group ‘C’ (CHQ) Memorandum to 7^th CPC.

4.      The CWC endorses memorandum submitted by NFPE, JCM NC, Confederation, demanding minimum wage as per 15^th ILC, DA merger etc. Five promotion & inclusion GDS in true spirit.

5.      The CWC decided to insist the department to implement the agreed cadre restructuring proposal at the earliest.

6.      The CWC directed all Divisional and Branches as well as the Circle Secretaries to celebrate the Diamond Jubilee of NFPE in a befitting manner by holding conventions, meetings, recognize the services of old leaders etc.

7.      The CWC requested all the divisions and branches to observe Postal JCA programme of actions to clinch all the 39 demands.

8.      To end the election dispute of Delhi Circle, it has been decided to conduct General Body by CHQ itself on the basis of actual membership being existed in the divisions after obtaining legal opinion.

Further to the above decisions, the following resolutions have been passed unanimously.

1.      In the wake of retirement of Com. M. Krishnan, General Secretary on 31.08.2014, Com. N. Subramanian Deputy General Secretary will officiate in the post of General secretary and Com. M. Krishnan will continue to function in the CHQ till ensuing AIC.

2.      Repairing of building of Tarapada Bhawan at New Delhi may be executed as the present state of the building needs rewiring plastering of roof and floor etc. The proposed expenditure will be around Rs. One Lakh.

In precise, the CWC has gone in a constructive manner and the discussions were in detail. The decision taken above will be the road map to the CHQ for its effective functioning. The views and suggestions deliberated by the CWC members have been taken proper note of and they will be taken up with the Directorate and other levels.

CWC recorded its special and sincere thanks to the host of the CWC, (i.e) the Andhra Pradesh Circle Union and in particular to Com. D. A. S. V. Prasad, Circle Secretary, Andhra Pradesh and the divisional union, Prakasam division for volunteering to host the CWC and for the elaborate grand arrangements they made for this meeting and also the wide publicity given through posters and website.

Com. N. Subramanian, Deputy General Secretary has delivered vote of thanks on behalf of CHQ.

Com. D. A. S. V. Prasad Circle Secretary A. P. delivered vote of thanks on behalf of Receiption Committee.

In total, the CWC at Ongole ended with a historic success.

SPEED POST - PASSPORT SERVICE WITH EXCLUSIVE BAR CODES w.e.f 15-09-2014

Gramin Dak Sewaks in rural areas are proposed as Business Correspondent of Banks in Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana

Press Information Bureau
Government of India
Ministry of Finance

27-August-2014 17:58 IST

Prime Minister to Launch Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana Tomorrow:

To Dedicate Mobile Banking Facility on Basic Mobile Phones to the Nation  

            The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi will launch the Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY) tomorrow at a function in the national capital. On this occasion, an exhibition on Technology and Financial Literacy will be organized. The Prime Minister will visit this exhibition. A film on ‘Financial Inclusion’ will also be screened. The Prime Minister will unveil a Logo and a Mission Document on Financial Inclusion.  He will also distribute awards to the winners of the Logo contest and the ‘account opening kit’ to five beneficiaries on this occasion. He will dedicate the mobile banking facility on the basic mobile phone (USSD) to the nation. 

The Union Finance Minister Shri Arun Jaitley, Minister of State for Finance, Ms. Nirmala Sitharaman, Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister, Cabinet Secretary and Governor, Reserve Bank of India (RBI) will be present on this occasion among other dignitaries. 

Under PMJDY, Comprehensive Financial Inclusion based is proposed be achieved under the six pillars as under: 

Phase I (15^th August ,2014-14^th August,2015)- 

     Universal access to banking facilities

     Providing Basic Banking Accounts with overdraft facility of Rs.5000 after six months and RuPay Debit card with inbuilt accident insurance cover of Rs. 1 lakh and RuPay Kisan Card

      Financial Literacy Programme 

Phase II (15^th August 2015-15^th August,2018)- 

     Creation of Credit  Guarantee Fund   for coverage of defaults in overdraft  A/Cs

     Micro Insurance

     Unorganized sector Pension schemes like  Swavlamban  

In addition, in this phase, coverage of households in hilly, tribal and difficult areas would be carried out. Moreover, this phase would focus on coverage of remaining adults in the households and students. 

        All the rural & semi urban areas of the country is proposed to be mapped into Sub Service Area (SSA) comprising 1000-1500 households with an average 3-4 villages with relaxation in NE/ Hilly states.

        It is also proposed that looking to the viability of each centre around 74000 villages with population more than 2000 which were covered by Business Correspondents under Swabhiman Campaign will be considered for conversion into full fledged Brick & Mortar branches with staff strength of 1+1/1+2 in the next three years.

        All the 6 lakh villages across the entire country are to be mapped according to the Service Area of each Bank to have at least one fixed point Banking outlet catering to 1000 to 1500 households, called as Sub Service Area (SSA). It is proposed that SSAs shall be covered through a combination of banking outlets i.e branch banking and branch less banking. Branch banking means traditional Brick & Mortar branches. Branchless banking comprises of fixed point Business Correspondents agents, who act as representative of Bank to provide basic banking services.

        The implementation strategy of the plan is to utilize the existing banking infrastructure as well as expand the same to cover all households. While the existing banking network would be fully geared up to open bank accounts of the uncovered households in both rural and urban areas, the banking sector would also be expanding itself to set up an additional 50,000 Business correspondents (BCs), more than 7000 branches and more than 20000 new ATMs in the first phase .

        The comprehensive plan is necessary considering the learnings from the past where a large number of accounts opened remained dormant, resulting in costs incurred for banks and no benefits to the beneficiaries.  

     The plan, therefore, proposes to channel all Government benefits (from Centre/State/Local body) to the beneficiaries to such accounts and pushing the Direct Benefits Transfer (DBT) scheme of the Union Government including restarting the DBT in LPG scheme. MGNREGS sponsored by Ministry of Rural Development (MoRD, GoI) is also likely to be included in Direct Benefit Transfer scheme.

        Keeping the stiff targets in mind, in the first phase, the plan would focus on first three pillars in the first year starting from 15^th August, 2014.

        The target for setting up additional 50,000 BCs is quite challenging given the constraints of telecom connectivity.

         In order to achieve this plan, phase wise and State wise targets for Banks have been set up for Banks for the period 15^th August, 2014 to 14^th August, 2015. 

        In order to achieve a “demand” side pull effect, it would be essential that there is Branding  and awareness of Business Correspondent model for providing basic banking services, Banking Products available at BC outlets and RuPay Cards. A media plan for the same is being worked out in consultation with banks.

        A Project Management Consultant/Group would be engaged to help the Department implement the plan.

        It is proposed to launch the programme simultaneously at National level in Delhi, at every State capital and all district headquarters.

        A web-portal would be created for reporting/monitoring of progress.

        Roles of various stakeholders like other Departments of the Central Government, State Governments, RBI, NABARD, NPCI and others have been indicated.

     Gram Dak Sewaks in rural areas are proposed as Business Correspondent of Banks.

        Department of Telecom has been requested to ensure that problems of poor and no connectivity are resolved. They have informed that of the 5.93 lakh inhabited villages in the country (2011 census) only about 50,000 villages are not covered with Telecom connectivity.

India Post's banking application: RBI lobs ball in government's court

MUMBAI: Reserve Bank Deputy Governor R Gandhi today said the Union government has to take a final call on application for banking licence by the India Post, which has a network of over 1.5 lakh post offices countrywide.

"India Post is in the hands of the government. It is the government which has to approve them to come to us for licence," Gandhi told reporters here.

RBI, which approved only two names out of the 25 applicants in February this year, had left it to the government to decide on the way ahead with India Post's application.

According to reports, the Ministry of Finance, which controls 27 state-run commercial banks, is averse to the idea of the postal department getting into banking.

The RBI says that deepening the financial inclusion is a key objective of granting more licenses and according to some experts the existing network of India Post makes it an ideal candidate.

Meanwhile, on payment and differentiated banks, Gandhi said RBI has received a slew of suggestions on the draft guidelines and is analysing them. He reiterated that this is a priority area for the central bank and it will come out with final guidelines by the end of the year.

India Post to roll-out 1,000 ATMs

MUMBAI, AUG 26:  

The Department of Posts will roll-out 1,000 ATMs in the next couple of years as part of its plans to hive off its financial services business into a bank.

Currently, the Department, which is also known as India Post, has two ATMs – one each at Chennai and Delhi.

Kalpana Tewari, Member (Planning & Technology), Department of Posts, said the ATM roll-out is linked to putting the post offices on the core banking platform.

Since 2012, the Department has put 676 Post Offices on the core banking platform. By end of March 2016, it expects to put 25,000 such offices on the platform, which entails networking of branches to enable customers to access their account from and perform transactions at any of these networked offices.

The Department has a budget of Rs. 5,000 crore for modernising its operations, said Tewari.

On the Department’s plans to foray into banking, she observed that while the intention of her Department is to enter the banking space, when and how it will be done remains to be seen.

Given that India Post has been handling financial services such as Post Office savings schemes, postal life insurance and money remittance services for several decades, it is likely that it will opt to become a payments bank.

Tewari said the Department, which has 30 crore accounts with deposits aggregating Rs. 6 lakh crore, as a standalone entity as well as a partner to banks is an ideal vehicle for achieving the goal of financial inclusion.

Among the challenges facing the Department include technology and setting up accounting systems, she added.

(This article was published on August 26, 2014)

AS PER CALL OF CONFEDERATION COC DELHI STATE OBSERVED WEST BENGAL  SOLIDARITY DAY BY HOLDING  DHARNA IN FRONT OF IP HO NEW DELHI-110 002 ON 27-08-2014 UNDER THE PRESIDENTSHIP OF COM. GIRI RAJ SINGH PRESIDENT COC.

JCA MEMORANDUM SUBMITTED TO SECRETARY DEPARTMENT OF POSTS BY JCA LEADERS (NFPE&FNPO) AT 1230 HRS ON TODAY DATED 28TH AUGUST 2014.