NFPE - EASTERN ZONE STUDY CAMP - 2nd DAY (28-04-2013)

The 2nd day (28-04-2013) of 

NFPE EASTERN ZONE STUDY CAMP 

at Guwahati held at BSNL Auditorium.

More than 250 delegates including nearly 30 women comrades were attended.

1st Session : at 10.30 am, Presided by Com.S.K.Bardan, President, R-III

Subject : History of Postal Trade Union Movement and our present day task

Speaker : Com.M.Krishnan, Secretary General, NFPE

Com.M.Krishnan very elaborately narrated the history of postal trade union movement in India from its emergence in 1880, exampled with a collection of valuable material gathered by him. The speech continued for 2.30 hrs very impressively and made the delegates dumbfound.

After conclusion of the speech, Com.M.Krishnan replied to the questions raised from the delegates.

2nd Session : at 2.45pm, presided by Com.R.Sivannarayana, President, Gr.C (CHQ)

Subject : Service Rules & Role of Unionists

Speaker : Com.K.V.Sridharan, former General Secretary, AIPEU Gr.C

Com.K.V.Sridharan impressively explained the application of rulings on certain occassions by quoting many examples for  good acquaintance of knowledge to a union representative, while rendering the service for his members. 

After conclusion of the speech, Com.K.V.Sridharan replied to the questions and queries raised from the delegates.

Com.P.Pandurangarao, General Secretary, AIPEU-GDS(NFPE) & Com.R.N.Parashar, Asst. Secretary General are also addressed in the session.

The session ended with the cordial presentation of vote of thanks by Com.Mausumi Mazumdar,  Asst. Circle Secretary, AIPEU Gr.C, Assam Circle.

Com.M.Krishnan addressing

Attention of Delegates to the speeches

                                                           Com.K.V.Sridharan Addressing

Com.R.N.Parashar Addressing

Com.Mausumi Mazumdar presenting vote of thanks

Reception Committee members viz., Com.S.Rahaman, R-III., Com.G.Talukdar,R-III, Com.L.P. Saikia, Gr.C., Com.D.K.Debnath, R-III., Com.Moinulla Huq, P-IV, Com.Suresh Sharma, GDS  and many other Comrades deserved all appreciation for their best efforts to made all arrangements and warm reception to conduct this study camp successfully.

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Proposal for functioning of post offices as banks: Govt reply in Rajya Sabha

Department of Posts raised a proposal for setting up the Post Bank of India and providing banking services with a network of 1.55 lakh post offices with special focus on rural areas and financial inclusion. 

Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has informed that all commercial banks have been constituted by the Government by various Acts of the Parliament. 

Hence, to set up the Post Bank of India (PBI) by an Act of Parliament, necessary legislation will need to be framed and passed by the Parliament. 

Or to set up the Post Bank as banking company, the same would require a banking licence from RBI as per RBI’s extant guidelines issued in February, 2013. 

RBI is of the view that it is useful to take up a detailed Cost Benefit Analysis on the proposal. 

In addition, viability and strategic study, market research, business plan and profitability analysis including business projections for next 4-5 years needs to be carried out to assess the commercial viability of the proposal. 

The above information was submitted by Fin Min in reply of undermentioned Rajya Sabha Questions:-

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

MINISTRY OF  FINANCE

RAJYA SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO-3153

ANSWERED ON-23.04.2013

Functioning of post offices as banks

3153 .       SHRI C.P. NARAYANAN

(a)            the reasons for not allowing Indian Post Office system to function as a banking system to mop upmoney lying idle with people while the declared policy of the Union Government is inclusive development and extension of banking operations to all rural people;

(b)   whether post would be enrolled as one among the new banks with about 1,55,000 branches all over the country and with a good track record of successfully running Post Office Savings Bank for many years; and

(c)    whether it is possible to substantially improve the quality of service of post offices in the process if so, the details thereof?

ANSWER

The Minister of State in the Ministry of Finance (Shri Namo Narain Meena)

(a)            to (c): **see above**

Source: Rajya Sabha Q&A [qref=191160]

NFPE - EASTERN ZONE STUDY CAMP - GUWAHATI

NFPE - EASTERN ZONE STUDY CAMP – GUWAHATI

Two days (27 & 28 April 2013)NFPE Study Camp is being held in Guwahati, Assam Circle.

Leaders on the Dais

Com.Tapan Das, Hon'ble MP & General Secretary, CITU addressing

Com.Satajb Das Addrressing

Com.M.Krishnan, Secretary General, NFPE

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

 Com.T.Satyanarayana, General Secretary, AIP AEA

 Com.K.K.N.Kutty, Secretary General, CCGEW addressing

 Com. Ishwar Singh Dabas, General Secretary, P-IV addressing

Com.Giriraj singh, General Secretary, R-III Addressing

 Com.Pranab Bhattacharya, General Secretary, AIP AOEU addressing

Com.K.K.N.Kutty, in replying to the questions from the delegates

27-04-2013 : Day -1

Venue : District Library Auditorium, Guwahati.

 Com.Rahaman, General Secretary, Chairman, RCC, Assam invited all the leaders and guests to the dais.

Com.M.Krishnan, Secretary General, NFPE, 

Com.K.V.Sridharan, Leader, JCM Staffside, 

Com.I.S.Dabas, General Secretary, AIPEU-PM&Gr.D/MTS., 

Com.Giriraj singh, General Secretary, R-III., 

Com.T.Satyanarayana, General Secretary, AIP AEA, 

Com.Pranab Bhattacharya, General Secretary, AIP AOEU, 

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

Com.R.Sivannarayana, President, AIPEU Gr.C (CHQ), 

Com.S.P.Mukherjee, Vice President, NFPE, 

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

Com.R.K.Bardhan, President, R-III(CHQ) 

were present.

Inaugural Session :

Session presided by Com.L.P.Saikia, Chairman, Reception Committee, Circle Secretary, AIPEU Gr.C., & Orgg. General Secretary (CHQ).

Study camp inaugurated by Com.Tapan Sen, Hon’ble Member of Parliament, General Secretary of CITU with his speech on “Significance and Importance of 2013 February 20 & 21 two days strike and Future course of action”.

Com.Tapan Sen answered many questions & queries raised by the delegates.

Open session:

Session presided by Com.S.P.Mukherjee, Vice President, NFPE.

Com.Satanjib Das, Joint Convener, Joint Council of Action of Trade Unions, Assam State delivered his speech on “ Importance of joint Trade Union Movement with particular reference to Assam & North East Region”.

Vote of thanks presented by Com.R.N.Parashar, Asst. Secretary General, NFPE for the Inaugural & Open sessions.

Post Lunch session:

Presided by  Com.T.Satyanarayana, General Secretary, AIPAEA.

Com.K.K.N.Kutty, Secretary General, Confederation of CGE & W delivered his speech on “ Role of Confederation in the Central Government Employees Movement”.

After conclusion of the speech, Com.K.K.N Kutty replied to the questions raised by the delegates.

Com.M.Krishnan, Secretary General, Com.I.S.Dabas, General Secretary, Com.Giriraj singh, General Secretary, Com.Pranab Bhattacharya, General Secretary delivered their speeches on the present day situation in the postal department and future course of action by the postal working class against privatization & corporation policies of the Govt.

Com.D.K.Debdutta presented the vote of thanks.

More than 350 delegates attended the sessions. Reception Committee, Assam Circle made very good arrangements for the delegates and smooth conduct of the sessions.

Next adjourned to 28-04-13 morning at 09-00am.

DA order (DoP)

DA order for Central Govt. Employees (MoF order)

POSTAL WORKERS STRUGGLE SUCCESS IN USPS - NEWS

USPS BOG  (Board of Governors) backs off five-day delivery,  

may seek exigent rate increase

The USPS Board of Governors announced that it has decided not to go forward with the plan to end Saturday delivery on August 5, 2013.

The Board acknowledged that the Continuing Resolution passed recently by Congress means that the Postal Service must continue delivering the mail six days a week.  Apparently a recent analysis from the GAO and pressure from some members of Congress trumped Darrell Issa's contention that the Postal Service could proceed with the new delivery schedule under current law. 

The BOG said it was “disappointed with this Congressional action,” but it will “follow the law” and delay implementation of the new schedule until Congress passes legislation permitting it.

Given the Postal Service’s “extreme circumstances and the worsening financial condition,” the Board is now looking for other ways to cut costs and increase revenues.  The BOG has therefore directed management “to seek a reopening of negotiations with the postal unions and consultations with management associations to lower total workforce costs.”  It’s not clear what kind of workforce reductions the BOG is envisioning, but we’ll undoubtedly hear more about that soon.

The BOG has also told the Postmaster General to consider requesting an exigent rate increase from the PRC.  That’s not going to make mailers happy.  

In case you’re not up on the subject of exigent rate increases, this refers to the fact that the Postal Accountability and Enhancement Act (PAEA) of 2006 capped postal rate increases at the rate of inflation (as measured by the Consumer Price Index).  If the Postal Service wants to raise rates beyond the CPI, it must ask the PRC to approve an exigent rate increase. 

In July 2010 the Postal Service submitted a request for an exigent rate increase of 5.6% percent, which would have brought in an extra $3.2 billion annually.  The request went back and forth between the Postal Service and the PRC (and even ended up in court).  One of the key questions was simple enough to understand but difficult to answer: How much of the Postal Service’s deficit was due to the recession (an “extraordinary circumstance” that justified a rate increase) and how much was due to electronic diversion (a systemic problem that should not be solved by a rate increase). 

The Postal Service determined that its losses due to the recession for 2008-2009 were somewhere between 67 percent and 97 percent, depending on how one did the calculations.  (The Internet, in other words, had much less to do with the Postal Service's financial condition than we're constantly led to believe.)

As a result of its exchanges with the PRC, the Postal Service reduced the rate increase request from 5.6 percent to 4 percent (about $2.3 billion a year).  Then in August 2011, due largely to pressure from big mailers, it looked as if the Postmaster General had decided not to pursue an increase at all.  But in November 2011, the Postal Service said it was proceeding with the request.  

Sometime after that, the Postmaster General changed his mind again and dropped the request.  As recently as last September, he was described as “standing by his guns" and saying he wouldn't pursue the increase. 

Now the increase it back on the table.  The big mailers will put up a huge fight to prevent it, just as they did the first time around.  They're probably calling their lobbyists right now, telling them to press Congress to pass legislation that allows the Postal Service to end Saturday delivery and take other cost-cutting steps that would make a rate increase unnecessary.  In fact, the Board of Governors may have raised the prospect of an exigent rate increase for precisely that reason.  

Speaking of threats, the USPS press release also quotes the BOG saying, "Delaying responsible changes to the Postal Service business model only increases the potential that the Postal Service may become a burden to the American taxpayer, which is avoidable."  

Now even the BOG is crying "bailout."

Comment:

The postal workers continuing their agitation against the reforms, privatization, pay-cuts, denial of benefits to the employees by the USA Govt., closure of POs, Sale of POs, having national heritage historic buildings etc., for the last few months, educated the citizens on the changing developments in the USPS, enlighted the issues to the public representatives (Senate members) to debate in Parliament in such a way by conducting rallies, hunger fast with public on the roads to save the American Postal system. At last won in the service of public with 6 days delivery.

REVENUE GENERATION THROUGH MODERNIZATION IN THE DEPARTMENT -- NEWS

New services push postal dept revenue

ALLAHABAD: While postal department is pushing for modernisation of its services, its revenue has also increased. Allahabad postal region earned revenue of more than one billion rupees in the last financial year. Other than transmission of letters and selling postage stamps, the department also provides services like banking, insurance and other financial services.

Director, postal services of Allahabad region, Krishna Kumar Yadav said the department has increased its revenue in various sectors and compared to rupees one billion seven crore of financial year 2011-12 Allahabad Region has earned a revenue of rupees one billion eighteen crore thirty two lakh during financial year 2012-13, which is 10% more than the last financial year. 

Out of this, postal operations account for Rs 41 crore and banking services accounts for Rs 77.92 crore, while in the last financial year their share was Rs 39.54 crore and Rs 68.05 crore respectively. Yadav said after implementation of core banking and other modernisation initiatives, the department will generate more revenue.

Yadav added that Allahabad Region has also performed well in the field of postal life insurance. Total business of life insurance amounts to rupees one billion eighty three crore, out of which Postal Life Insurance accounts for Rs 84 crore and Rural Postal Life Insurance for Rs 89 crore.

He said that other than traditional services, premium services like speed post, express parcel post, business post have also received good response from public. Against the allotted target of Rs 18 crore for these services, Allahabad Region has achieved revenue of Rs 23.54 crore. The online 'Track and Trace' facility of speed post has increased the popularity of this service. Yadav said monitoring of postal services are being ensured at each level for better service delivery. Under 'Mail Network Optimization Project', main emphasis is on timely and fast delivery of postal articles.

source: Times of India

If this is the situation while modernization succeeds in the department, what is the need to go for privatization / corporation ?

POSTAL ASSISTANT / SORTING ASSISTANT DIRECT RECRUITMENT EXAMINATION QUESTION PAPER (COPY)

POSTAL ASSISTANT / SORTING ASSISTANT DIRECT RECRUITMENT EXAMINATION - 

FIRST PHASE HAS BEEN HELD ON 21-04-2013 

EXAMINATION SCHEDULED IN  ANDHRAPRADESH, GUJRAT, KARNATAKA, MAHARASHTRA & TAMIL NADU ON 21-04-2013 : 

QUESTION PAPER COPY IS PUBLISHED HERE UNDER :

Part - A  : General Knowledge (English & Hindi) (questions : 01 to 25)

Part - B  : Mathematics ( English & Hindi) (questions 26 to 50 )

Part - C  : English (questions 51 to 75)

Part - D  : Reasoning & Analytical ability (questions 76 to 100)

The following question paper copies are extracted from other websites for information only & the part of Hindi version in the question paper is visible  incomplete and  available part (English) is published.

THE NEXT PHASE OF EXAMINATION IS SCHEDULED ON 05-05-2013 IN ASSAM, MADHYA PRADESH, CHATTISGARH, JARKHAND, NORTH EAST, ORISSA, WEST BENGAL CIRCLES.

9th Federal Council of NFPE - Reception Committee formed in Hyderabad - A.P

RECEPTION COMMITTEE FOR 

9^th FEDERAL COUNCIL OF NFPE  

  HYDERABAD, A.P

NFPE 9^th Federal Council Reception Committee formation meeting held at B-1, P&T qrs. Chikkadapally, Hyderabad- 500 020 on 19-04-2013.

The meeting was presided by Com.R.J.Madhusudanarao, Chairman, Circle Coordination Committee & Circle Secretary, R-III, NFPE. Com.K.Ramachandram, Convener, CoC invited all the leaders to the dais.

Com.M.Krishnan, Secretary General, NFPE inaugurated the meeting by elaborately narrated the role of  NFPE in the postal trade union movement and the significance of present 9^th Federal Council in the background of policies of the Govt.

Com.V.Nageswararao, General Secretary, CCGEW, Com.T.Satyanarayana, General Secretary, AIPAEA, Com.P.Suresh, General Secretary, R-IV, Com.P.Pandurangarao, General Secretary, AIPEU-GDS(NFPE), Com.M.N.Reddy, General Secretary, APRPA, Com.P.Mohan, General Secretary, AIPCPCCWF, Com.R.Sivannarayana, President, Gr.C(CHQ), Com.Sk.Humayun, President, P-IV (CHQ), Com.Y.Nagabhushanam, Working President, AIPCPCCWF, Com.A.P.Sasthry (former All India President, AIPAEA), Com.M.Nagavardhanarao, Leader, RJCM & Former Circle Secretary, R-III were present and addressed the meeting.

The other leaders viz., Com.D.A.S.V.Prasad, Circle Secretary, Gr.C., Com.B.Narasimhulu, Circle Secretary, R-IV, Com.T.Suresh, Charman, City Coordination Committee, K.Narayanarao, Circle President, Gr.C., Com.B.Pamulu, Circle President, R-III, Com.Sudhakar, Dy.Circle Secretary, AIPAEA were also present and addressed the meeting.

Com.M.S.Baig, Divl Secy, Hyd. City Dn., Com.S.S.R.A.Prasad, ACS, Gr.C., Com.Ramachander, Divl Secy, MMS unit, Com.Jagadeesh, P-IV., Com.Nagaraju, Divl Secy, AIPCPCCWF, Com.S.A.Naidu, R-IV, Com.Gopal, Divl. Secy, R-IV, Com.Manohar, Divl Secy, R-III, Com.K.Muktar Ahmed, Divl Secy, ‘Z’ dn. Were are also participated in the meeting.

Reception Committee :

Chairman                  : Prof. K.Nageswar, 
                                      Member of Legislative Assembly, A.P

Working Chairman : Com.D.A.S.V.Prasad, 
                                     Circle Secretary, Gr.C.

General Secretary : Com.K.Ramachandram, Convener, 
                                   Circle Coordination Committee, NFPE

Financial Secretary : Com.D.Narasimhamurthy, 
                                  Treasurer, Circle Coordination Committee, NFPE

All the General Secretaries, All India Presidents, CHQ office bearers representing NFPE affiliated Unions, all Circle Secretaries, all Circle Presidents of NFPE unions and many other comrades & representatives of NFPE affiliated Unions are in the Reception Committee & various committees formed for 9^th Federal Council.

Committees formed:

Finance Committee,       
Food Committee,            
Transport Committee,                   
Publicity committee

Programs Committee,   
Cultural Committee,       
Stage & Decoration committee, 
Mahila Committee

Meeting concluded with the vote of thanks by Com.Ramireddy, R-III.

8% DA announced

Release of additional installment of Dearness Allowance to central government employees and Dearness Relief to pensioners, due from 1.1.2013 

The Union Cabinet today gave its approval to release an additional installment of Dearness Allowance (DA) to central government employees and Dearness Relief (DR) to pensioners with effect from 01.01.2013 at the rate of 8 percent over the existing rate of 72 percent. 

Thus, the combined impact on the exchequer on account of both DA and DR would be of the order of Rs.8629.20 crore per annum and Rs. 10067.36 crore in the financial year 2013-14 (that is for a period of 14 months from January, 2013 to February, 2014). 

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Dearness Allowance from Jan-2013 News: Agenda in today's Cabinet Meeting

As per some news in leading news paper, proposals to hike dearness allowance of Central government employees by 8% is likely to be considered in today's cabinet meeting. It is known that Finance Minister is on tour and will return on 22nd April, 2013 and in last cabinet meeting on 2nd April, 2013 Govt had deferred the decision on enhancement of DA due to absence of Finance Minister.This time again leading news website has published that hike dearness allowance may be considered by govt. in cabinet meeting.  

In last para of Hindustan Times News article "Cabinet plans sops ahead of LS polls" 

"Proposals to hike dearness allowance of Central government employees by 8% and setting up a Railway Land Development Authority to improve railways financial help are likely to be considered."

In Times of India News article "Cabinet to mull over tougher laws against middlemen, buffer for retired babus" a para added about DA 

"Doubling special support to Bihar to Rs 12,000 crore under the remaining four years of the 12th Plan, the judicial commission Bill and 8% dearness allowance (DA) for government employees are also on the Cabinet agenda."

Times of India has also published an separate article on this matter :-

Cabinet may hike dearness allowance by 8%

NEW DELHI: 

The Union Cabinet is likely to approve a proposal to increase dearness allowance (DA) of central government employees by 8% on Thursday.

The move to increase DA from 72% to 80% will benefit around 50 lakh employees and 30 lakh pensioners of the central government.

"The Union Cabinet may consider the finance ministry proposal to increase DA in its meeting scheduled for Thursday," a source said, adding the hike would be effective from January 1, 2013 and employees and pensioners would be entitled to arrears.

The government had raised DA to 72% in September last year, which had come into effect from July 1, 2012.

As per usual practice, DA is merged with basic pay when it breaches the 50% cap. This helps employees get higher allowances as those are paid as proportion of the basic pay.

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IXth FEDERAL COUNCIL - NFPE CIRCULAR

No. PF-2/2013                                                                                  Dated: 17^th April, 2013

To

           

All General Secretaries NFPE Union,

            All NFPE Office Bearers,

All Circle Secretaries NFPE Unions,

Convenor Reception Committee – Hyderabad

              Subject:        IX Federal Council of NFPE at Hyderabad (A.P.)

Comrades,

            IXth Federal Council of NFPE will be held at Pragati Nagar Community Hall, Kukatpally, Hyderabad from 09.06.2013 to 12.06.2013..

            The Federal Councilors allotted as per quota received from the affiliates is mentioned below:

          

P III    -	41	SBCO                              -	01
P IV    -	43	Ex officio office bearers - (11)   + GS - 8	19
R III  -	10	Fraternal Delegates      - (non-voting) AIPEU-GDS(NFPE)	20
R IV   -	02	Casual labours Federation-	03
ADMN -	01

All General Secretaries are requested to finalize the name of Federal Councilors and ask them to book their up and down ward journey tickets at once to avoid inconvenience(Separate notice is being issued). Details of quota received , based on which Federal Councilors number is worked out, can be verified with NFPE HQ by the concerned General Secretary.

Federal Executive: 

Federal Executive of NFPE will be held at Community Hall Pragati Nagar,Kukatpally,  Hyderabad. On 9.6.2013 from 11.A.M. All NFPE Office Bearers and General Secretaries are requested to attend the meeting in time.

Federal Secretariat:           

Federal Secretariat of NFPE will be held at Guwahati on 26.04.2013 from 11A.M. All General Secretaries and available office bearers of NFPE are requested to attend the meeting.

Eastern Zone Study Camp Guwahati :   

Eastern Zone Study Camp of NFPE is scheduled to be held at Guwahati form 27.4.13 to 28.04.13. A seminar on National Postal Policy will also be organized on 27.04.2013. (Detailed programme is available in NFPE Web-site)

Northern Zone Study Camp:       

Northern Zone Study Camp (Consisting U.P.  Uttarakhand & Delhi) will be held at Ghaziabad (UP) from 22.06.2013 to 23.06.2013. (Detailed Circular will be sent separately to all concerned).

Thanking you.                                 

                                                                                                                                 Yours Comradely,

                                                            (M. Krishnan)

Secretary General

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