MINUTES OF THE 11TH MEETING sOF POSTAL SERVICES STAFF WELFARE BOARD (PSSWB) HELD ON 16.05.2012 UNDER THE CHAIRMANSHIP OF HON`BLE MINISTER OF STATE FOR COMMUNICATION &IT (P).

D.G. Posts No. 1-01/2009-WL/Sports         Dated 11.06.2012

            A meeting of Postal Services Staff Welfare Board(PSSWB) was held on 16.05.2012 in Shri G.P. Roy Committee Room , Dak Bhawan, under the Chairmanship of Hon`ble Minister of State for Communications & IT.

            Secretary (Posts) , while welcoming the Hon`ble Chairman, explained in brief the various welfare schemes being run by the Department of Posts, with special reference to the initiatives recently taken in regard to Garmin  Dak Sevaks. It was assured that the schemes would be run more efficiently under the guidance of the Chairman.

            After the Minutes of the Meeting of the Board and the action report thereon, was confirmed by the Board, discussion on the agenda items began. During the deliberations of the meeting, the following decisions were taken:

1.         Opening of Holiday Homes.

            The members of the Board were explained that the power to set up holiday homes stands delegated to the Heads of Circles. However, the proposal to have Holiday Homes at various places was discussed and it was decided to issue instructions to all the circles to take action keeping in view the demand as also the powers delegated. In regard to booking of holiday homes on line, the Board was informed that this facility would become available shortly.  

2.         Timely allotment of Welfare Funds.

            The Board was explained that whatever delay occurred in allotment of funds in the recent past was due to late receipt of audited accounts from the Circles. The matter has been re-considered and it has been decided to ensure timely release of funds to those Circles whose audited accounts have been received in time. The Circles which delay submission of accounts will be released funds in the second installment.

3.         Enhancement of powers of head of circle for grant of financial assistance in case of prolonged illness/major surgical operations to postal employees/Gramin Dak Sewaks/full time and part time casual lbourers.

            The following decisions were taking in this regard.

-       In case of Gramin Dak Sewaks, the limit of Rs. 5000/- which is being observed for grant of financial assistance for prolonged illness/ major surgical operations was raised to 10000/-.

-       All cases for grant for financial assistance under category (both regular employees as well as GDSs)will be considered by a committee comprising of the CPMG, DPS and DAP..

4.         Enhancement of immediate death relief of the family / dependents on the death of postal employees and Gramin Dak Sewaks/full time and part time casual labourers.

      -     All other things remaining unchanged, it was decided to raise the amount of financial assistance payable to family/dependents of Postal Employees/GDSs /full time and part time casual labourers from the existing Rs.7000/- to Rs. 10000/- in case of death due to accident while on duty.

5.         Enhancement of financial assistance under Education Scheme:

            The following decisions were taken in this regard.

a)         It was decided to increase the existing amount of scholarships both for technical and non-technical courses by 25%.

b)         It was agreed to increase the mount of book award to Gramin Dak Sevaks by 25%. However, the grant of book award to regular employees of he Department was dropped as this facility is now a component under CEA being granted for school education.

            The issue of revision of pay ceiling for grant of Scholarship was also decided to be examined in the context of MTS where both husband and wife are working.

6.         Introduction of scholarship for Post Graduation.

            -           It was decided to grant scholarship for all technical courses at Post Graduation      level on par with under graduate courses.

7.         Grant of award for outstanding performance of children of employees in the Public Examination for 10^th Standard.

            -           The Board was informed that some of the education boards follow grading System in place of percentage of marks. Therefore, it was decided to examine the       issue   in         the light of grade criterion fixed by various education boards, for which all Heads         of         Circles will be addressed.

8.         Provision of Canteen in Circle Head Quarter.

            -           The Board was explained that there are centralized instruction of the            Department    of             Personnel and Training regarding provision of various             categories of canteens,        depending upon manpower of an office. All    infrastructural facilities are provided by the         Department in the running of      canteens and its employees are Departmental employees.        There is no    provision to grant any subsidy in this regard.

9.         Implementation of health insurance scheme.

            -           The proposal does not fall within the purview of PSSWB of Department of   Posts and therefore no action is warranted.

10.       To increase the subscription of Group Insurance Scheme.

            -           The subject matter concerns Ministry of Finance.

11.       Increase in subsidy to crèche.

            -           It was decided to examine the issue regarding revision of financial assistance            being provided for meeting recurring and non-recurring expenditure in the matter of        crèches which includes monthly remuneration to ayahs/helpers, visits by Doctors,          remuneration to lady supervisor, expenditure of medicine, supplementary nutrition and    contingencies like soap oil & deodorant etc.

12        .Increase of grant of scholarship/Transport charges to handicapped/physically challenged and ward of Postal employees and GDS.

            -           It was decided to examine the revision of financial assistance being provided to         physically challenged Postal Employees/GDS and physically challenged wards of          employees, including GDS.

13.       Allocation of Funds under the Head SC-Sub Plan & ST-Sub Plan.

            -           The item does not fall within the purview of PSSWB.

14.       To make provision for including representatives of All India P&T SC/ST Welfare Association in all Circle Welfare Board and Circle Sports Board.

            -           It was agreed to issue suitable instructions in this regard to all Heads of Circles.

15.       To make provision of IQ for Circle/Divisional representatives of P&T SC/ST Welfare Association, irrespective of any scale/Posts.

-           The Bard was explained that provision of IQ in not one of the trade union facilities where office bearers of the association could be given preference. The eligibility for the IQ is to be decided as per standing instructions.

16.       To increase Postal Hospital as there is no facility in CGHS Dispensaries for indoor treatment, OPD in evening shift on working days and Sundays/Holidays.

            -           The Board appreciated the view point of the Circle representatives about lack of         adequate             medical facilities being made available to the Postal Employees. The Board   was informed   that this matter also came up for consideration in the 10^th Meeting of the    Board and as a             result thereof, the matter was taken up at the level of Hon`ble      Minister with the Ministry of     Health & Family Welfare. The matter is being pursued and             monitored very closely.

17.       To fix time limit for deciding representation/appeals/petitions/Review Petitions etc. by the concerned Authorities.

            -           Does not fall within the purview of PSSWB.

18.       To make provision for granting festival advance on the Birth day Celebration of Dr. Br. Ambedkar and Sant Siromani Guru Ravidas Ji.

            -           Does not fall within the purview of PSSWB.

19.       To exempt from duty work the retirees on the day of retirement so that he/she may complete all formalities without any tension.

            -           Does not fall within the purview of PSSWB

20.       Issue of Plastic Card/Smart Card to all employees /Pensioners for availing medical facilities irrespective of places/areas.

            -           The Chairman appreciated the suggestion and it was decided to start it in one or        two Circles and based on their experience, it may be followed in other Circles also. The          selection of circles will be finalized soon.

21.       Opening of Postal Dispensary at Madurai or extension of CGHS scheme to Postal Staff at Madurai Corporation.

            -           Does not fall within the purview of PSSWB.

22.       Grant in aid to P&T Residential Welfare Association (RWA).

            -           The issue was discussed at length to understand the activities of the RWAs on           which the amount of financial assistance is to be spent. The Heads of Circles will be      addressed to invite their comments in this regard.

23.       Annual Medical check up for those who are above 45 years of age.

            -           It was decided to have annual medical cheek up of employees of and above the         age of 50 years. Suitable instructions in this regard will be issued to All Heads of Circles.

24.       Sanction of loan from Circle/Regional Welfare Fund for purchase of a computer to the wards of the employees studying Degree/Engineering /Polytechnic etc.

            -           Does not fall within the purview of PSSWB

25.       Increase of voluntary contribution to Circle Welfare Fund.

            -           The members of the Board were explained that being voluntary contribution, it may   not       be desirable for the Department to make it mandatory, to contribute towards this    fund.    However, if the representatives of the union give in writing to the Department           conveying        willingness of their members, the issue would be examined.

26.       Enhancement of cost of memento presented to the retiring officials.

            -           Not covered under any of the Welfare Scheme of the Department, and hence no          action.

27.       For all Postal Colonies constitution and membership of RWAs should make compulsory so that P&T Colonies could be managed well.

            -           The item was well taken by the Board and it was decided o issue suitable       instructions to All Heads of Circles, taking into account the step taken by Rajasthan          Circle in this regard. It was also decided to ensure membership of RWAs while issuing     letters regarding allotment of quarters as also their continuation.

28.       Raising of the present limit for 500 KMS for Excursion Trip.

            -           The Board, after deliberations, agreed to raise the limit existing 500 Kms. to 700         Kms. for Excursion Trip. Further, not more than one Excursion Trip will be arranged in a             year.

            In the summing up of the meeting, the Hon`ble Chairman stressed on the need to hold the meeting of the PSSWB at least once in a year. The need to have full utilization of the grant-in-aid for the benefit of the employees/GDSs was also highlighted by the Chairman with clear direction to the Board to submit a complete proposal towards that during the next 3 to 4 months.

            The meeting ended with vote of thanks to the Chair.

Source : http://nfpe.blogspot.in/

SMS Service for Different Kinds of Train Related Enquiries on “139-Rail Sampark”

“139-Rail Sampark”, the national enquiry for Indian Railways has been in operation for around 5 years now.  The services on this number i.e. 139 handles enquiries pertaining to PNR Status, Current Train running position, Accommodation availability and Fare Enquiry.

Apart from voice enquiry on IVRS, the above mentioned services are also available through SMS. Passenger can get the desired information by sending SMS to 139 in the following format.

The details of SMSs services available and the format are as under:

 1.      For ticket status Enquiry:

SMS “PNR <10 Digit PNR Number> 

For example: PNR 4341568666

2.      For Train Arrival/Departure Enquiry:

SMS “AD <Train number> <STD code of Station>” 

 For example: AD 12012 011

3.      For Accommodation  availability:

SMS “SEAT <Train number> <DOJ**ddmmyy> <Station from: STD code> <station to: STD code> <class> <Quota>***

For example SEAT 12561 010712 0542 0571 SL G

4.      Fare enquiry

SMS “FARE <Train number> < DOJ**ddmmyy> <Station from: STD code> <station to: STD code> <class> <Quota>***

For Example: FARE 12561 010712 0542 0571 SL G

5.      Time table:

SMS “TIME <train number>

For example: TIME 12561

6.      Spot/  Locate train:

SMS “SPOT <train number> or LOCATE <train number>

For example: SPOT 12561 or LOCATE 12561

7.      Train Name/Number:

SMS “TN <train number> or SMS “TN <train name>

For Example TN 12724 or TN AP EXPRESS

8.   Getting all syntaxes

To get the above all mentioned  syntaxes, SMS HELP or RAIL  to 139

Note: Quota is optional field. For example, please enter G for general, CK for tatkal

          For CLASS field, please enter 1A for First AC, 2A for Second AC, 3A for third AC, SL for Sleeper, CC for AC Chair Car, 2S for Second Sitting       

The service is also available on USSD for Reliance, Uninor, Docomo and Vodafone Telephone Service Providers.  Just dial *139# to avail the USSD facility for enquiry of PNR, Arrival/Departure etc.

Source PIB Release June 14, 2012

Courtey: http://aipeup3bbsr.blogspot.in

Introduction of a new Centrally-sponsored Scheme of Pre-Matric Scholarship for Scheduled Castes Students, studying in Classes IX & X

The Finance Minister in his budget speech for 2011-12 had announced introduction of a new pre-matric Scholarship Scheme for needy students belonging to the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, studying in class IX & X.  Pursuance of this announcement, the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs has approved  the introduction of a new Centrally-sponsored Scheme of "Pre-Matric Scholarship for SC students studying in classes IX & X", which will be implemented with effect from July 1, this year.

The salient features of the Scheme are as follows:

The objective of the Scheme is to provide financial assistance to needy students belonging to Scheduled Castes studying in Classes IX & X in recognized educational institutions in India.

SCOPE

(i)            Scholarships under the Scheme will be available for studies in India only and will be awarded through the Government of the State/Union Territory to which the applicant belongs i.e. where he/she  is domiciled.

(ii)           Candidates belonging to one State but studying in another State will be awarded scholarships by the State to which they belong and will submit their applications to the competent authority in that State.

CONDITIONS OF ELIGIBILITY

(i)            The student should belong to Scheduled Caste.

(ii)           His/ her Parent/Guardian`s income should not exceed Rs. 2 lakh per annum.

(iii)          She / he should not be getting any other Centrally-funded Pre-Matric Scholarship.

(iv)          She/ he should be a regular, full time student studying in a Government School or in a school recognized by Govt. or a Central/State Board of Secondary Education.

(v)           Scholarship for studying in any class will be available for only one year, if a student has to repeat a class, she / he would not get scholarship for that class for a second (or subsequent) year.

VALUE OF SCHOLARSHIP

The value of scholarship includes the following for the duration of the course:-

(i)         scholarship and other grants,

(ii)        additional   allowance   for   students   with   disabilities   studying   in   private   un-aided recognized Schools.

Rates of scholarship and other grants will be as follows:

Item	Day Scholars	Hostellers
Scholarship (Rs. p.m.)  (for 10 months)	150	350
Books and Ad hoc Grant (Rs. p. a.)	750	1000

 Additional Allowances for SC students with disabilities studying    in private unaided Schools

Under the Centrally-sponsored Scheme of `Inclusive Education of the Disabled at Secondary Stage (IEDSS) implemented by the M/o HRD, D/o SE&L -assistance @Rs.3000/- p.a. is already being given under its "Student Oriented Component" to students with disabilities studying at the Secondary stage in Govt.  Local body and Govt aided schools. However, students in un-aided schools are not covered under IEDSS. Therefore, SC students with disabilities, studying in classes IX & X only inprivate un-aided recognized schools will be eligible for allowances under this Scheme, as follows:

Allowances    for    students    with    disabilities studying in Private un-aided Schools	Amount (In Rs.)
(i)   Monthly Reader Allowance for Blind students	160
(ii)  Monthly Transport Allowance for students with disabilities   (as   defined   in   the  Persons   with Disabilities Act  1995),  if such  students  do  not reside in the hostel which is within the premises of the Educational Institution.	160
(iii)  Monthly   Escort   Allowance   for   Severely Disabled (i.e. with 80% or higher disability) Day Scholars/Students with low extremity disability	160
(iv) Monthly Helper Allowance admissible to any employee of the hostel willing to extend help to a severely   orthopedically   handicapped    student residing in the hostel of an Educational Institution who may need the assistance of a helper.	160
(v)   Monthly  Coaching  Allowance  to  Mentally Retarded and Mentally ill Students	240

DURATION AND RENEWAL OF AWARDS:

(i)        The scholarship will be payable for 10 months in an academic year.

(ii)           The  award  once  made  will  continue  subject to  good  conduct  and  regularity  in attendance. It will be renewed for Class X after the student passes Class IX.

 Source : PIB Release, June 14, 2012

Courtesy : http://aipeup3bbsr.blogspot.in/

Facts at Glance- Presidential Elections 2012

The term of office of the present President of India is upto 24^th July, 2012. Thus a election is due to held for electing a new President before the 24^th July, 2012.

   Under the provisions of sub-section (3) of section 4 of the President and Vice-President Elections Act, 1952, the notification under sub-section (1) of section 4 of the said Act calling the election can be issued by the Election Commission on or after the sixtieth day before the expiry of the term of office of outgoing President.

  That is, the notification containing the programme of election to the office of the President, can be issued by the Election Commission on any day after 25^th May, 2012.

  The election to the Office of the President, to be held in the next, will be the fourteenth of its kind. The earlier elections to this office were held in 1952, 1957, 1962, 1967, 1969, 1974, 1977, 1982, 1987, 1992, 1997, 2002 and 2007. 

CONSTITUTIONAL PROVISIONS:-

  The President of India is elected by the Members of an Electoral College consisting of (a) the elected members of both Houses of Parliament and (b) the elected members of the Legislative Assemblies of the States [including National Capital Territory of Delhi and the Union Territory of Puducherry vide the Constitution (Seventieth Amendment) Act, 1992 (Article 54). The nominated members of either House of Parliament or the Legislative Assemblies of State are not eligible to be included in the Electoral College.

  Detailed provisions regarding the election are contained in the Presidential and Vice-Presidential Elections Act, 1952 (No.31 of 1952) and the rules made thereunder, viz., “The Presidential and Vice-Presidential Elections Rules, 1974”.

  The manner of voting in the Presidential Election is contained in Rule 17 of the Presidential and Vice-Presidential Elections Rules, 1974.

  The Constitution (Eighty-fourth Amendment) Act, 2001 provides that until the relevant population figures for the first census to be taken after the year 2026 have been published, the population of the States for the purposes of calculation of value of votes for the Presidential Election shall mean the population as ascertained at the 1971-census.

   Total Value of votes of all members of each State Assembly is worked out by multiplying the number of elective seats in the Assembly by the number of votes for each member, for example 294x148=43,512 for Andhra Pradesh. The total value of votes of all the States added together is divided by the total number of elected members of Parliament (Lok Sabha 543 +Rajya Sabha 233) to get the value of votes per each Member of Parliament.

SYSTEM OF PROPORTIONAL REPRESENTATION BY MEANS OF SINGLE TRANSFERABLE VOTE.

   The election shall be held in accordance with the system of Proportional Representation by means of the single transferable vote and the voting at such election shall be by secret ballot.

   The ballot paper does not contain any election symbol. There will be two columns in the ballot paper. Column 1 of the ballot paper contains the heading “Name of Candidate” and column 2 contains the heading “Mark order of preference”.

VALUE OF VOTES:-

   Each Elector shall have as many preferences as there are candidates, but no ballot paper shall be considered invalid solely on the ground that all such preferences are not marked.

   The value of vote of each elector is pre-determined. For example, the value of vote of each Member of Parliament is 708. The value of vote of each Member of the Legislative Assembly of Uttar Pradesh is 208 and that of Sikkim is 7. Thus the value of votes for the Members of each Legislative Assembly varies.

QUOTA FOR ELECTION:-

After calculating the total value of votes polled by each candidate, the Returning Officer totals up the value of all valid votes polled. The quota for declaring a candidate as elected is determined by dividing the total value of valid votes by 2 and adding one to the quotient, ignoring the remainder, if any. For example, assuming the total value of valid votes polled by all candidates is 1,00,001. The quota required for getting elected is: -

1,00,001 + 1 = 50,000.50 + 1 (Ignore.50)

                  2

Quota = 50,000+1 = 50,001

v  After ascertaining the quota, the Returning Officer has to see whether any candidate secured the quota for being declared as elected on the basis of the total value of first preference votes polled by him/her.

  If no candidate gets the quota on the basis of first preference votes, then the Returning Officer proceeds further to second round of counting during which the candidate having lowest value of votes of first preference is excluded and his votes are distributed among the remaining candidates according to the second preference marked on these ballot papers. The other continuing candidates received the votes of excluded candidate at the same value at which he/she received them in the first round of counting.

  The Returning Officer will go on excluding the candidates with lowest number of votes in subsequent rounds of counting till either one of the continuing candidates gets the required quota or till only one candidate remains in the field as the continuing candidate and shall declare him/her as elected. 

ELIGIBILITY FOR ELECTION

  No person shall be eligible for election as President unless he -

(1)        is a citizen of India;

(2)        has completed the age of 35 years; and

(3)        is qualified for election as a member of the House of the People (Article 58).

  A person shall not be eligible for election as President if he holds any office of profit under the Government of India or the Government of any State or under any Local or other Authority subject to the control of any of the State Governments.

  However, a person shall not be deemed to hold any office of profit by reason only that he is the President or Vice-President of the Union or the Governor of any State or is a Minister either for the Union or for any State.

NOMINATION AND SECURITY DEPOSIT

  For a valid nomination, the following qualifications and requirements are to be satisfied:

 (i) The candidate should be a citizen of India;

(ii) He should have completed the age of 35 years; and

(iii) He should be qualified for election as a member of Lok Sabha.

a) The candidate shall not hold any office of profit under the Government of India or the Govt. of any State or under any local or other authority subject to the control of any of the said Governments.

b)  A nomination paper of a candidate for the election in the prescribed form (Form 2 appended to 1974 rules) has to be subscribed by at least fifty electors as proposers and at least fifty electors as seconders. The nomination paper must be presented in person to the Returning Officer, either by the candidate himself or by any of his proposers or seconders.

c) The security deposit for the election is Rs.15,000/- which will be required to be made along with the nomination paper. This amount can either be deposited in cash with the Returning Officer at the time of presentation of the nomination paper or receipt showing that such amount has been deposited by the candidate or on his behalf in the Reserve Bank of India or in a Government Treasury can be furnished along with the nomination paper.

d) Each nomination paper shall be accompanied by a certified copy of the entry relating to the candidate in the electoral roll for the Parliamentary constituency where he is registered as an elector.

e) No elector shall subscribe, whether as proposer or as seconder, more than one nomination paper at the same election and if he does so, his signature shall be inoperative on any paper other than the one first delivered to the Returning Officer.

f) The Returning Officer shall not accept any nomination paper, which is presented on any day, appointed for that purpose, before 11.00 a.m. and after 3.00 p.m.

TOTAL ELECTORS

The total number of members in the Electoral College for the Presidential election in 2012 is 4896, as detailed below

	HOUSE	SEATS
(a)	Rajya Sabha	233
(b)	Lok Sabha	543
(c)	State Assemblies	4120
	Total	4896

                       

RETURNING OF OFFICER/ASSISTANT RETURNING OFFICERS

  By convention, the Secretary General, Lok Sabha and the Secretary General, Rajya Sabha are appointed as the Returning Officers on rotation basis. For the 2007 Presidential Election, the Secretary General, Lok Sabha was appointed as Returning Officer. Therefore, for the 2012 Presidential Election, the Secretary General, Rajya Sabha has been appointed as the Returning Officer. Two other senior officers of Rajya Sabha Secretariat and the Secretaries and one more senior officer of Legislative Assemblies of all States including NCT of Delhi and Union Territory of Puducherry have also been appointed as the Assistant Returning Officers.

PLACES OF POLL

  A Room in the Parliament House in New Delhi and a room in all State Legislative Assembly Secretariats are generally designated as places of poll. The Members of Parliament normally vote in New Delhi and the members of the State Legislative Assemblies, including the members of the Legislative Assemblies of NCT of Delhi and Union Territory of Puducherry, normally vote at the place fixed in each State Capital. However, facilities are provided by the Commission for any Member of Parliament to vote in the capital of his State and similarly if any Member of any State Legislative Assembly unavoidably stays in Delhi on the date of poll, he is given the facility to vote at the polling booth set up in the Parliament House. However, due intimation of such intention to vote at a place other than the place where a member is designated to vote must be received in the Commission well in advance to make necessary arrangements.

RETURN OF FORFEITURE OF CANDIDATE’s DEPOSIT

  The deposit shall be forfeited if the candidate is not elected and the number of valid votes polled by him does not exceed one-sixth of the number of votes necessary to secure return of a candidate at such election. In other cases, the deposit will be returned to the candidate.

DISPUTE OVER ELECTION

(i)         An election petition calling in question an election to the office of the President may be presented by any candidate at such election or by any twenty or more electors joined together as petitioners.

(ii)        The authority having jurisdiction to try an election petition is the Supreme Court of India.

(iii)       An election petition shall be presented within 30 days from the date of publication of the   

          declaration containing the name of the returned candidate.

Source : PIB Release, June 13, 2012