PAYMENT OF FEE UNDER THE RTI ACT BY INDIAN POSTAL ORDER.
CLLICK HERE FOR THE ORDERM.Krishnan
Secretary General NFPE
Saturday, April 30, 2011
Friday, April 29, 2011
CONFEDERATION OF CENTRAL GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES
WFTU REPORT
16TH CONGRESS OF WORLD FEDERATIONOF TRADE UNIONS
AT ATHENS-GREECE 6TH APRIL, 2011 TO 10TH APRIL, 2010:
A report from Com. K.K.N. Kutty,
Secretary General, Confederation of CGE & Workers
The XVI Conference of the World Trade Union Congress was held at Athens, National Capital of Greece from 6th to 10th April, 2011. On behalf of the Confederation of Central Government Employees and workers, Com. K.K.N. Kutty, Secretary General and Com. M. Krishnan, Secretary General, National Federation of Postal Employees participated at the Conference as delegates. Confederation is affiliated to the Trade Union International, Public and Allied Employees, an arm of the WFTU
.
The inaugural session of the Conference was held to a packed house on 6th evening at the Tae Kwon Do Stadium, Athens The session presented a beautiful spectacle by the participation of young workers of various organizations of PAME the militant trade union movement of Greece. While the delegates for the conference were seated in the middle of the stadium, the side galleries were filled up with enthusiastic comrades waving flags to welcome the delegates, observers and guests for the conference. 881 delegates representing 106 countries from five continents attended the conference. Besides the President and General Secretary of WFTU, the inaugural session was addressed by the First Vice President of Greek Parliament, Mayor of the City of Athens and the General Secretary of PAME.
In his address at the inaugural session, Com. George Mavarikos, General Secretary spoke on the plight of the working class impacted by the global financial crisis, the burden shifted by almost all Nations on its working population, the imperialist aggression for acquisition of natural resources in various parts of the world, the agony of the people of Afghanistan, Palestine, Cuba, Venezuela, Bolivi a, Iraq, North Korea, many other Latin American countries, Libya etc.
PAME, the host organisation had made excellent arrangements for the comfortable stay and conduct of the conference. The delegate session commenced the next day at 9.30 AM at the Stadium of Peace and Friendship and continued the deliberations till 10th April, 8.30 PM. On 7th the Communist Party of Greece hosted a dinner to the participating delegates at the Party Head Quarters. The theme of discussion for the conference was the report submitted by the General Secretary titled "Athens Pact" containing various activities of the WFTU during the last five year period and improvement it registered in uniting the working class of the world under one platform to bring about an open democratic and class oriented movement. Referring to the activities of the ICFTU, Com. General Secretary asserted that the ICFTU had been collaborating with the IMF, WTO and Word Bank throughout the period and along with its affiliates it had been striving to bring about compromise with the capitalist class on the mistaken notion of co-existence. He particularly referred to the fact that the last Conference of the ICFTU which has now become the ICTU was addressed and inaugurated by the Managing Director of the IMF.
The session commenced with the presentation of video images of the struggles undertaken by different organizations affiliated to WFTU throughout the world and the repression unleashed by the respective Governments in support of the capitalist class.
Detailing the class struggles undertaken, the report emphasized the necessity of increasing the role of working women, the participation of young comrades in the movement and building up a class oriented movement. The delegates who participated in the discussions which spanned for the next two days detailed the struggles undertaken by them in the last five years against the capitalist onslaught. The business of the house was conducted by a presidium elected every day and Com. A.K. Padmanabhan, President, CITU was a member of the Presidium on the first day. The delegates were provided with a book written by Com. Sukomal Sen, Vice President of CITU and Sr. Vice President, All India State Government Employees Federation on the
history of the WFTU. During the business session, the meetings of the Regional Councils and various TUIs were held simultaneously in the adjacent halls. The TUI
PAE whose functions had almost become defunct after the last conference at Brasilia, Brazil also met on 8th. Most of the Directive Committee members and others who participated in the discussion pointed out the deterioration in the functioning of the TUI which was once the best organized TUI under WFTU. The need for the revival of the TUI was emphasized by all the participants. Com.K.K.N. Kutty, one of the Vice Presidents, pointed out that quite a number of amendments had been brought in at the last Conference to the Constitution of TUI and the amended version of the Constitution had not been circulated. After about 3 hour discussion, it was decided that the General
Secretary will circulate the amended version of the Constitution immediately and the names of the directive committee members would be placed on the TUI website. It was also decided that the next Directive Committee meeting of the TUI will be held at Katmandu, Nepal in August, 2011. The main agenda for discussion at the Directive
Committee meeting would be the expansion of TUI and elicit the participation of public Services Unions from countries which have presently no representation in the TUI PAE.
The Conference adopted the report of the General Secretary and the document titled Athens Pact unanimously. The document had inter alia outlined:
(i) the global financial crisis and its disastrous impact on the working class;
(ii) the growing unemployment in ll developing and developed countries which has led to increased crimes, social tension and anti-social activities;
(iii) the fruits of advanced technologies being garnered by the entrepreneurs;
(iv) the increasing population of poverty stricken people and malnourished children;
(v) the alarming decline in the age of life expectancy especially in African countries and in those National which are victims of imperialist aggression;
(vi) the necessity to demand the waiver of debt of the third world countries by the IMF and World Bank in the context that every of them have repaid the principal loan amount with substantial interest;
(vii) the unbridled exploitation of the natural resources of third world countries by the rich nations.
The report has detailed the spontaneous struggles that have sprung up in many countries against the exploitation and despotic rules, some of which have taken the shape of national upsurgence and has emphasized the need to harmonise all of them into class oriented struggles led by the working class to bring about lasting changes for the benefit of the common people in those countries. It has rightly cautioned that these struggles which are manifestation of the desire of the common people for a fundamental change might by hijacked by the capitalist class with the active involvement of the imperialist nations.
The Congress noted with satisfaction that since the last conference at Havana, the WFTU could improve its functioning tremendously and has succeeded in uniting workers of the world in struggles. It could organise a world wide action on 7th September, 2010.
Amongst the delegates who participated in the congress, about 33% were reported to be women. The Congress has resolved to enlist more and more women in active trade union work. In the coming years. The Congress elected Com. Mohammed Shabban Azzouz of Syria as the President and Com George Mavarikos from Greece as the General Secretary. The Presidential Council has 40 elected members from different countries. Com. A.K. Padmanabhan, President, CITU has been elected as one of the Vice Presidents. Com. Mahadevan (Secretary AITUC) presently Deputy General Secretary, in charge of Asia Pacific Region has been re-elected. Com. Swadesh Deve Roye, National Secretary of CITU (incharge of International affairs) has also been
elected as one of the Secretaries of the WFTU. The 16th Congress of WFTU was a resounding success both in its conduct and deliberations and conclusions. The Congress has resolved to develop WFTU into a mighty militant world body of working class to lead the workers to an uncompromising and sustained struggle against
capitalism.
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M.Krishnan
Secretary General NFPE
OUTSOURCING OF DENTAL SERVICE IN CGHS DELHI- DIVISION 'A'(SOUTH & CENTRAL ZONE)
CLICK HERE FOR DETAILS/ORDER--
M.Krishnan
Secretary General NFPE
GROUP 'B' EXAMINATION POSTPONED TO 29TH MAY 2011
No. A-34012/02/2010—DE
Government of India
Ministry of Communications & IT
Department of Posts
(DE Section)
Dak Bhawan, Sansad Marg
New Delhi – 110116
Dated: 27.04.2011
To,
1. All Heads of Circles,
2. The Additional Director General, APS, New Delhi
Sub: -Calendar of departmental Examinations scheduled to be held in the year 2011
Sir/Madam,
In partial modification of this office letter of even number dated 26.04.2011, the Examination for promotion to Postal Service Group 'B' Examination 2011 will be held on 29th May 2011 instead of 15th May 2011.
2. In this connection, pleas also refer Annexure – II of this office letter No. A-34012/01/2011-DE dated 06.04.2011, the date of dispatch of filled in Application Forms to CMC by the Circle Nodal Officers (DPS HQrs.) has been extended upto 04.05.2011 and CMC will issue Hall permits to eligible candidates latest by 13.05.2011.
3. This may please be brought to the notice of all concerned and receipt of this letter may be acknowledged.
4. This issues with the approval of Secretary (P).
Yours faithfully,
Sd/-
(L. Mohan Rao)
Asst. Director General (DE)
NO FRANCHISEE OUT LET – IT WILL BE "POSTAL SHOPEE"
LET US FIGHT AGAINST PRIVATISATION OF POSTAL SERVICE
No. 40-28/2010-Plg.
Government of India
Ministry of Communications & IT
Department of Posts
(Planning Division)
Dak Bhawan, New Delhi – 01
Dated – 04.04.2011
To
All HoCs
[except Maharashtra]
Subject: Review of Alternative/Franchisee Schemes – Rename of 'Franchisee Outlets' as 'Postal Shopees' – Regarding comments thereon.
Sir/Madam,
I am directed to say that Directorate is in the process of review of the alternative/franchisee schemes to formulate a consolidated/comprehensive scheme [for urban areas] to make it more attractive/remunerative to the franchisees. In this connection, all the Circles were requested to furnish their comments/suggestions on the proposed review of the schemes. The Maharashtra Circle has given one of the suggestions that 'Franchisee Outlets' be renamed as 'Postal Shopee' as public are not aware of the word franchisee. You are requested to kindly furnish you comments on the proposed change of name whether it is suitable/acceptable. If not, a suitable name may be suggested and communicate the same to this Directorate by 15th April, 2011. If no reply is received from your circle within the aforesaid time, it will be presumed that the proposed change is acceptable.
Yours faithfully,
(Sunil Kumar Biswas)
ADG (Planning)
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M.Krishnan
Secretary General NFPE
FORGETTING THE ROOTS AFTER CLIMBING THE TOP
INDIAN POSTAL SERVICE – NEED TO RETURN TO ITS ROOTS
It is a pleasure to go to one of the post offices anywhere in Europe – small or big. These are places where people come to post parcels and letters in large numbers. The Post Offices are clean and efficiently run and everyone waits patiently in the queue. When you send a letter, it is sure to be delivered in any part of Europe within three days and if you should put a small amount of currency, you can be certain it will not be abstracted en-route. All this is impossible to expect in India.
There are still a lot of things that need to be moved physically and an efficient postal system will help the poorest with a cost effective service without resorting to expensive couriers; the courier industry is incidentally amongst the most profitable in our country. We in India are increasingly disillusioned with our postal service and for that top management not the one in the field but in New Delhi needs to be faulted. It has lost its script and is now attempting to smarten its urban office Potemkin fashion while neglecting its rural sector where it has enormous strengths and where it massively under-invests.
The Postal Service in India must return to its roots – of serving the people with a variety of services that they need and at costs which they can afford. It is a sad commentary on the management that it has yet to find a way to reach five thousand rupees as inexpensively across India as someone with a bank account can transfer a couple of lakhs of rupees almost instantaneously to another account across the country for less than Rs.50. It is high time the Post Office is run on a PPP model with a lot more empathy for our less well off citizens and with a lot more public oversight than the ineffective formal ones we have in place.
Dr.Uday Balakrishnan
Dr.Uday Balakrishnan recently retired on VRS as Member, Postal Services Board and is now a visiting fellow at the Central European University, Budapest. His interests include financial empowerment of the poor, child labour and contemporary Indian history Courtesy : GKC Blog
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M.Krishnan
Secretary General NFPE
Wednesday, April 27, 2011
NEW PENSION SCHEME CHALLENGED
| New Pension Scheme for railway employees challenged | |
| The new pension scheme introduced by the Union Government for railway employees has been challenged in the Madras Bench of the Central Administrative Tribunal. An employee of the southern railway and Dakshin Railway Employees Union (DREU) have challenged the scheme terming it unconstitutional and invalid. According to the new scheme, employees appointed on or after 01.01.2004 in the Railways would be governed by the new pension scheme which would be governed by 'Pension Fund Regulatory Development Authority' which would function under the overall control of Ministry of Finance. According to the new scheme, 10% of Pay and DA of an employee would be deducted and an equal amount would be contributed by the central government. The entire pension scheme is being authorized through various executive orders, which cannot be done to govern the retirement benefits of government employees which has to be in tune with Articles 41 to 43 of the Constitution, alleges the application. The notifications issued by the government constituting PFRDA dated 10.10.2003 and 14.11.2008 are unconstitutional, as they have not been issued by the President of India and authenticated as required under Article 77 of the Constitution and the ordnance sanctioning this also lapsed in 2005, which renders the entire process without authority of law alleges DREU in its application. The new pension scheme, which is mandatory to government employees curtails them from exercising any option said V. Daniel, a Helper in Southern Railway. According to the New Pension Scheme, any citizen of India can join the Scheme and they can choose their Fund Managers or opt for different schemes whereas no such option is available to government servants. The application also raised serious apprehension over the way in which their funds are being exposed to market risk and they cite the risk clause in the offer document of the NPS which says that "there are no guarantee on investments and investments involve risks such as trading volumes, settlement risk, liquidity risk, default risk, including possible loss of principal'. The application also cited the statement of PFRDA Chairman that pension fund managers regulated by PFRDA are not giving minimum guarantee on returns in their products. Besides seeking quashing of the notification and grant retiral benefits to all employees on par with those who joined prior to January 1994, the application sought an interim injunction against the notification and also to release family pension and gratuity to certain employees who died after the introduction of the new scheme. The matter came up before the Madras Bench of the CAT comprising Members K. Elango and R. Satapathy. Counsel R. Vaigai advanced arguments on behalf of the DREU and highlighted how the funds of the employees are being entrusted with private players and are subjected to undue risks. She also apprised the Bench that the government as an employer cannot transfer its funds to a private player and expect him to discharge government's obligation. After hearing the arguments on behalf of the applicant and of the central government, the Bench ordered interim relief directing the railway authorities to offer gratuity and family pension to all employees who joined after January 2004 within four weeks from the date of application and posted the matter for June 1. | |
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M.Krishnan
Secretary General NFPE
CONFEDERATION
CONFDN/10/2011 DATED:25.4.2011
Dear Comrade,
OBSERVE MAY DAY
The Ist May this year falls on Sunday. In our country, perhaps the only offices which are open on May Day are the Central Government offices. This explains amply the attitude of the Indian ruling class towards the working class especially the Central Government employees being on Sunday, it gives us an opportunity to all our members to be participant in the common programmes organized by the working class jointly in all places in the country. We appeal to our affiliates and State COC to issue necessary instructions to our members to take part in large numbers in those functions.
The historic May Day - the international workers day, observed throughout the world by the working class to commemorate the hay market massacre and to rededicate themselves to the emancipation of the working class from the yokes of exploitation- this year in our country comes in the wake of the emboldened attempt on the part of the UPA II Government which was unfortunately elected back to power and rules sans the support of the left parties unlike the UPA I to reintroduce the enactments to amend the existing labour laws in consonance with the neo-liberal economic policies. In so far as the Central Government employees are concerned, this May Day would be observed in the background of this Government's renewed attempt to re-introduce the PFRDA Bill to withdraw the defined benefit statutory pension system which had been in existence even during the colonial days. The fact that this Government had no qualms in soliciting the support of the BJP and the other NDA constituents to get the necessary support for the re-introduction of the Bill in the floor of the Parliament in the last session in the wake of the objection raised by Com. Basudeb Acharya, the leader of the CPI (M) in the Lok Sabha speaks volume of its commitment to the neo-liberal economic policies, its anti worker attitude; the absence of any ideological or otherwise differences with the BJP and its overwhelming desire to support the big corporate houses in maximizing their profit at the expense and cost of common man. The one and only reason as to why they would like to have the PFRDA Bill in the statute book is to make available the hard earned income of workers for corporate investment and manipulation through the Stock Exchanges. The very fact that the extant executive instructions, which have not been issued in the name of the President is unconstitutional, illegal and immortal has not deterred it in imposing the contributory pension system on employees who are recruited after 2004. Most of the State Governments in the country, barring that are ruled by the Left Front Governments, Kerala, West Bengal and Tripura have chosen to abide by this illegal diktat of the Central Government. The Government has refused to make any guarantee in the proposed bill, which now stands introduced in the Lok Sabha to the workers for the loss of investment of the pension fund if in future the Corporate house which draw on the pension fund a becomes bankrupt, a provision available even in the Mecca of the Capitalist system, i.e the United States of America.
We, therefore appeal that while our members must be taking part in the common programmes organized jointly by the working class in each place on Ist May, 2011, the affiliates and COCs are requested to issue necessary instructions to all their branches and Units to organize meetings to observe MAY DAY on 2nd May, 2011 (Monday) in front of all offices so as to ensure that every member of the Branch does participate in the congregation.
--
M.Krishnan
Secretary General NFPE
Monday, April 25, 2011
FLAT RATE PARCEL BOXES
INDIA POST OFFERS HIGH QUALITY CORRUGATED BOXES UNDER FLAT RATE PARCEL SERVICE. FLAT RATE PARCEL SERVICE ENSURES SAFE AND SECURE DELIVERY OF CONSIGNMENTS FOR ANY DESTINATION IN INDIA. TAKING ALL THE EFFORTS AND WORRY AWAY FROM THE CUSTOMERS, FLAT RATE PARCEL DELIVERS CONVENIENCE AND TRUSTWORTHINESS. THE SERVICE IS SUITABLE FOR DOMESTIC AND BUSINESS NEEDS. FLAT RATE PARCELS ARE TRANSMITTED BY AIR TO PROVIDE FASTER AND EFFICIENT DELIVERY OF PARCELS. CLICK HERE FOR DETAILS/PIB NEWS
--
M.Krishnan
Secretary General NFPE
AMENDMENT TO RULES OF CCS (EXTRAORDINARY PENSION) RULES. 1939 - ISSUE OF NOTIFICATION DATED 15TH FEBRUARY, 2011, PUBLISHED IN THE GAZETTE OF INDIA ON 22ND FEBRUARY, 2011 - REGARDING. CLICK HERE FOR DETAILS/ORDER
CLARIFICATION REGARDING FRESH EMPANELMENT OF PRIVATE HOSPITALS AND REVISION OF PACKAGE RATES APPLICABLE UNDER CGHS. CLICK HERE FOR DETAILS/ORDER
--M.Krishnan
Secretary General NFPE
| 9,797 Post Offices Facing Closure? |
| Daijiworld Media Network
Kasargod, Apr 23: It is gathered, that the central government has given initiation to a scheme of pruning down the number of post offices in the country. As per the new policy of the government, it believes that a post office every five kms will be sufficient to serve the people. If this policy is implemented, 9,797 post offices will face imminent closure, it is learnt.
Some post office employees' organizations have alleged that the government is planning to privatize post offices in rural places, by entrusting their operation to private parties on commission basis. Political parties claim that the 'Postal and Courier Service Bill-2010' proposed to be moved in the next session of the parliament, is an effort to privatize postal services in the country.
Left parties have charged the central government of aiming at providing help to capitalists and mega courier companies through the said measures. They fear that once the above procedures are through, postal services will hit a new low, and thousands of employees of postal department will lose their jobs. |
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M.Krishnan
Secretary General NFPE
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