POST BANK OF INDIA SANS POSTAL EMPLOYEES
POST BANK OF INDIA SANS POSTAL EMPLOYEES
It seems that the Post Bank of India (PBI) may become a reality in the near future. For the last more than fifteen years we have been told about the Post Bank and even the Parliamentary standing committee on Communications & IT has repeatedly demanded the Government for commencing Post bank. Several attempts have been made, but the Finance Ministry always took a negative stand, for one reason or the other. Majority of the bank managements including nationalized banks have been opposing the entry of the Postal department into commercial banking. The reason is obvious. They foresee a potential threat to their existence once Post Bank enters into their field and during the course of time the Post Bank may become one of the biggest Bank.
It seems that the Post Bank of India (PBI) may become a reality in the near future. For the last more than fifteen years we have been told about the Post Bank and even the Parliamentary standing committee on Communications & IT has repeatedly demanded the Government for commencing Post bank. Several attempts have been made, but the Finance Ministry always took a negative stand, for one reason or the other. Majority of the bank managements including nationalized banks have been opposing the entry of the Postal department into commercial banking. The reason is obvious. They foresee a potential threat to their existence once Post Bank enters into their field and during the course of time the Post Bank may become one of the biggest Bank.
Post Bank of India will be an independent entity, separate from the current operations of small savings schemes being carried out by the Department of Posts on behalf of Ministry of Finance. Department has accordingly submitted an application to the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on 28.06.2013 seeking banking license subject to necessary cabinet approval. RBI has said that new banks will have to set up at least three branches in villages with a population of less than 10000, for each branch they establish in other areas. Although Post Bank does not intend to open a bank in every Post office, the plan is to meet the financial inclusion goal through these Post offices. India Post had 1,54,822 Post offices across the country as on 31.03.2013, the largest for any department in the world, and close to 90% of them – 1,39,086 – are in rural India. This is more than four times the number of rural branches run by India’s Banks put together. According to plan prepared by Ernst & Young, India Post will become Post Bank of India’s banking correspondent. PBI will use Post office infrastructure but very frugally. Carefully done PBI can be a game – changer in rural areas.
India post is among 26 applicants that sought banking licenses from RBI. India Post has to develop the standards to meet RBI guidelines. In its guidelines for new banking licenses announced on 22nd February 2013, RBI required applicants to prove their eligibility on several fronts – from promoter holding to past experience to business plans. The minimum capital required by the applicants for license is Rs. 500 crores and foreign share holding in the new banks is capped at 49% for the first five years. The new banks have to be set up under a non-operative Financial Holding company (NOFHC). They also have to maintain minimum capital adequacy ratio – the ratio of risk weighed assets, a measure of financial strength of the bank – of 19 % for the first three years. New banks also need to list their shares within three years of starting operations.
The main argument put forward by those opposing the Post Bank is that Postal department has no experience when it comes to giving credit (loans). Department has only been taking deposits till now. Sanctioning and disbursing of credit needs an entirely different aptitude. India Post has no specialized experience in the business. It is reported that unlike many believe, the Post Bank of India will be a completely new entity with no legacies of a government department and very little to do with its parent department, except using some of its network. It will have an independent Board. Separate recruitment has been planned to have specialised banking staff. Of course, the Post Bank will be a subsidiary organisation of India Post, which need to be registered as a public sector Bank and Government equity in this new entity could be diluted. Whatever reforms and regulations Government implements in Nationalised Banking sector will be fully applicable to Post Bank of India also.
There are many talented and qualified Postal employees who want to switch over to the Post bank and to work as employees under the Post Bank. The reports that separate recruitment will be made for the Post Bank has cast shadow upon their hope to work in the Post Bank. NFPE demands that the existing Postal employees who want to switch over to the Post Bank shall be given chance to exercise option and if need be a trade test to assess their capability can also be conducted before selection. Selected officials can be imparted with intensive training in commercial banking business. In any case 100% open market direct recruitment is an injustice to those talented Postal employees who may not be able to apply for open recruitment due to age factor etc. we urge upon the Postal Board and Finance Ministry to give due consideration to this aspect, before the new Bank is rolled out.
The next and 47th National Council JCM meeting is expected to be held by the end of October 2013 - Confederation News
The next and 47th National Council JCM meeting is expected to be held by the end of October 2013 - Confederation News
Confederation Secretary General Shri M.Krishnan informed through his official blog today that the next meeting of National Council JCM is expected to be held by the end of October 2013.
CONFEDERATION DEMANDS INCLUDED IN THE AGENDA OF THE JCM NATIONAL COUNCIL
Agenda for next meeting of the JCM National Council has been finalized on 27.08.2013 in consultation with DOP&T Twelve demands raised by Confederation in the charter of demands are included. (including GDS employees demand) Next meeting of National Council JCM is expected by the end of October 2013.
The letter give by Com. Umraomal Purohit, Secretary, JCM (NC) and the 12 demands included in the agenda are given below:
M. Krishnan
Secretary General
Dopt Orders on Risk Allowance - Risk Allowance to Central Government Employees - clarification reg.
The order said that 'there is no need for issuing separate instructions continuing payment of Risk Allowance beyond 31.12.2012'.
No.21012/01/2010-Estt. (Allowance)
Government of India
Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances & Pension
Department of Personnel & Training
Block No.IV, Old JNU Campus,
New Delhi, 26th August, 2013.
Office Memorandum
Reference in invited to this Department’s O.M. No.21012/01/2008-Estt.(Allowance) dated 18th June, 2012 wherein the grant of Risk Allowance was extended at the then existing rates beyond 30.06.2012 and upto 31.12.2012. Subsequently, vide this Department’s OM. No.21012/01/2010-Estt. (Allowance) dated October 18, 2012 the rates of Risk Allowance were revised with effect from 1st September, 2008, implying that grant of Risk Allowance would be at revised rates w.e.f. 1st September, 2008 onwards. Hence, there is no need for issuing separate instructions continuing payment of Risk Allowance beyond 31.12.2012.
This issues with the approval of Joint Secretary (Establishment).
sd/-
(S.G.Mulchandaney)
Under Secretary to the Govt. of India
Source :www.persmin.gov.in
[http://ccis.nic.in/WriteReadData/CircularPortal/D2/D02est/21012_01_2010-Estt.Allowance-26082013.pdf]
Changes in the scheme of selection process for recruitment to the promotion quota of various cadres of All India Services
It has been approved in principle, to consider a few changes in the scheme of selection process for recruitment to the promotion quota of various cadres of All India Services. As per the existing regulations, the assessment of the suitability of a candidate is made on the basis of his service records. As per the revised scheme, it is proposed to assess the candidate on the basis of four components i.e. ‘Written Examination’, ‘Length of Service’, ‘Assessment of Performance Appraisal Reports’ and ‘Interviews’.
The above decision was taken after consulting the State Governments and the concerned Cadre Controlling Authorities (CCAs i.e., the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Ministry of Environment and Forest). Further, to implement the scheme, necessary amendments in the concerned rules/regulations are necessary. The State Governments & the CCAs concerned have been consulted on this aspect also. The Central Government has received certain objections from different quarters, such as that the new scheme will be detrimental to the interests of senior state services officers, the officers belonging to the categories of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes; it would also undermine the element of experience viz-a-viz academic knowledge and would be against the larger public interest as the officers would prefer studying in place of doing public service, etc. The inputs received in this regard from the State Governments and other quarters will be kept in view in firming up the regulations.
This was stated by Shri V. Narayanasamy, Minister of State in the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pension and Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office in written reply to a question by Dr. Chandan Mitra today.
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KSD/SAMIR/sk
Annexure A
SUMMARY OF THE AFFIDAVIT BY THE GOVERNMENT
The salient features of the affidavit are as under:
a. Non Interference in Investigation
Non-interference in investigation of CBI in PC Act offence cases is already provided in the DSPE Act.
b. Appointment of Director, CBI
Appointment of Director CBI by the President on the recommendation of a Committee consisting of Prime Minister as Chairperson, Leader of Opposition in the House of People as Member and the Chief Justice of India or a Judge of the Supreme Court nominated by him as Member.
c. Removal of Director, CBI
Removal of Director CBI, only by order of the President on grounds of proved misbehavior and incapacity after the Central Vigilance Commission on a reference made to it by the President has reported that the Director is guilty based on an inquiry conducted in accordance with the AIS Rules in this regard.
d. Director, CBI as member of Selection Committee
Induction of Director CBI as full-fledged member in the Selection Committee for recommending selection of officers of CBI of the level of SP and above.
e. Superintendence on Non-PC Act offences
Superintendence of the Delhi Special Police Establishment for all cases (other than Prevention of Corruption Act offences whose superintendence is with Central Vigilance Commission) has been in the Central Government, with a rider that while exercising the powers of superintendence, the Central Government shall not exercise powers in such a manner so as to require the Delhi Special Police Establishment to investigate or dispose of any case in a particular manner.
f. Timeline for prosecution of officers under Section 6(A) of DSPE Act
On the required approval of the Central Government before conducting inquiry or investigation against officers of JS level or above under Section 6(A) of DSPE Act, it has been provided that the Central Government shall take a final decision within a period of 3 months and an order declining such request would contain reasons in support thereof.
g. Appointment of Director (Prosecution)
Director of Prosecution is to be selected based on the recommendation of the Selection Committee, headed by the Central Vigilance Commissioner with Secretary DoPT, Secretary MHA, and Secretary Department of Legal Affairs as members and Director CBI as member convener. The categories of persons who shall be eligible for appointment, apart from cadre officers of the Ministry of Law & Justice, would include a person who has been in practice as an advocate for not less than 15 years and has been designated as a senior advocate. Powers and functions of the Director of Prosecution have been delineated.
h. Institutional accountability of CBI
Establishment of an Accountability Commission has been proposed to ensure institutional accountability of CBI. The Commission will consist of three whole time Members, to be appointed by the President, from amongst the retired judges of the Supreme Court or the High Court with the senior most judge as the Chairperson of the Commission and the CVC as an ex-officio Member. The salary and allowances and the other terms and conditions would be as may be prescribed by the Government. The jurisdiction, functions and powers of the Commission have been detailed. The Commission would entertain and inquire into allegations of misbehavior, incapacity, impropriety or irregularity on the part of officers and staff of DSPE. However the complainant has to approach the Director in the first instance.
i. Financial Autonomy:
Apart from functional autonomy to CBI, the financial powers of the Director shall be equivalent to the powers exercisable by the Director General of Central Reserve Police Force.
j. In accordance with Cabinet`s approval the Central Government shall introduced a Bill containing the necessary amendments in Parliament and the same shall be moved in accordance with Parliamentary procedure.
Children of divorced, illegally wedded wives of deceased entitled to pension
Children of divorced or those born to illegally wedded wife of a deceased all India services officer are entitled to get family pensions, according to new rules notified by the central government.
"Where the deceased member of service or pensioner is survived by a widow but has left behind eligible child or children from a divorced or an illegally wedded wife or wives, the eligible child or children shall be entitled to the share of family pension which the mother would have received at the time of the death of the member of service or pensioner had she not been so divorced or had she been legally wedded," they say.
Earlier, children born outside wedlock of a government servant had no claim on family pension and the legally wedded wife was the sole recipient of the post-retirement benefit.
The amended All India Services (Death-cum-Retirement Benefits) Rules, 1958, also have provisions to provide equal share of pension to more than one widow of a deceased officer.
The rules have a provision to recognise marriage and family of a member of the services after his or her retirement and have made such family member eligible to receive pension after the death of an officer.
They also provide for monetary support to mentally retarded children of an officer of Indian Administrative Service (IAS), Indian Police Service (IPS) and Indian Forest Service (IFoS).
"If the son or daughter of a member of service is suffering from any disorder or disability of mind including the mentally retarded or is physically crippled or disabled so as to render him or her unable to earn a living even after attaining the age of twenty-five years, the family pension shall be payable to such son or daughter for life," the rules said.
If there are more than one such son or daughter suffering from disorder or disability of mind or who are physically crippled or disabled, the family pension shall be paid in the order of their birth and the younger of them will get the family pension only after the elder next above him or her ceases to be eligible, the rules clarified.
In case both wife and husband are members of service and are governed by the provisions of the rules and one of them dies while in service or after retirement, the family pension in respect of the deceased shall become payable to the surviving husband or wife and in the event of the death of the husband or wife, the surviving child or children shall be granted the two family pensions in respect of the deceased parents, they said.
Retired all India service officials will also get additional pensions after completing 80 years of age, according to them.
Such retired government officials will get 20 per cent of additional pension after they complete 80 years of age, 30 per cent of after completing 85 years, 40 per cent after crossing 90 years of age, 50 per cent after reaching 95 years and 100 per cent of additional pension after completing 100 years of age, the rules said.
If there are more than one such son or daughter suffering from disorder or disability of mind or who are physically crippled or disabled, the family pension shall be paid in the order of their birth and the younger of them will get the family pension only after the elder next above him or her ceases to be eligible, the rules clarified.
In case both wife and husband are members of service and are governed by the provisions of the rules and one of them dies while in service or after retirement, the family pension in respect of the deceased shall become payable to the surviving husband or wife and in the event of the death of the husband or wife, the surviving child or children shall be granted the two family pensions in respect of the deceased parents, they said.
Retired all India service officials will also get additional pensions after completing 80 years of age, according to them.
Such retired government officials will get 20 per cent of additional pension after they complete 80 years of age, 30 per cent of after completing 85 years, 40 per cent after crossing 90 years of age, 50 per cent after reaching 95 years and 100 per cent of additional pension after completing 100 years of age, the rules said.
Source : The Times of India
