330 Post Offices Destroyed /Damaged in Japan

31/03/2011 Today SGFNPO and President FNPO met Secretary Department Post and discussed various problems of Postman and submitted a memorandum. Secretary agreed to look into the matter. 29/03/2011 11th Meeting of Postal Services staff Well fare Board scheduled to be held on 30/3/2011 has now been postponed 28/03/2011 330 POST OFFICES DESTROYED /DAMAGED IN JAPAN Japan Post has reported that 330 post offices were destroyed or damaged by the massive earthquake and tsunami on 11 March. Road diversions and other major disruptions have affected domestic mail distribution. The international mail exchange offices are operational. Power cuts in the eastern parts of Japan, including Tokyo, have made it difficult for Japan Post to send and receive immediate track and trace data for express mail, parcels and registered items at its exchange offices (Narita Airport and Kawasaki Port), and in other offices in the affected areas. Japan Post’s network consisted of 24,539 post offices prior to the earthquake. 27/03/2011 PENSION FUND REGULATORY &DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY BILL 2011. NEW DELHI: A day after a heated discussion took place in Parliament on the WikiLeaks disclosures published in The Hindu, it was business as usual in the Lok Sabha on Thursday. Speaker Meira Kumar went through the process of ‘Papers to be laid on the Table' and then got down to the legislative business, including the introduction of the Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority Bill, 2011. As soon as she called out Minister of State for Finance Namo Narain Meena, standing for Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee, to introduce the Bill, CPI (M) leader Basudeb Acharia stood up, opposing the introduction of the Bill and demanding a division, taking the Treasury Benches by surprise. Only a handful of Ministers were present, including Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pawan Kumar Bansal, along with his deputy V. Narayanasamy. Caught unawares, the treasury benches too wore a rather thin look, enough for the government to sense trouble. Both the Ministers went up to National Democratic Alliance working chairman L.K. Advani and Leader of the Opposition Sushma Swaraj, and talked to them. It became clear that the main Opposition BJP would come to the government's rescue. Mr. Bansal cited Rule 72 on the government's legislative competence to introduce the Bill and sought to know the grounds on which Mr. Acharia was opposing it, but the CPI(M) leader refused to budge from his demand for division. The Speaker ordered division when Mr. Acharia further pressed for it. “We are opposing the introduction of the bill. I am asking for division instead of a voice vote,” Mr. Acharia said. Of the 159 members present in the 543-member House, 115 voted for introduction of the bill and 43 opposed it, while one abstained. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Leader of the House Pranab Mukherjee, UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi, several Ministers and Congress members were not present. Rashtriya Janata Dal leader Raghuvansh Prasad was heard saying that when the Speaker had already ordered division, it could not be rolled back. The bill provides for the establishment of an authority to promote old-age income security by creating, developing and regulating pension funds and to protect the interests of subscribers to pension fund schemes. It seeks to empower the Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA) to regulate the National Pension System, as amended from time to time and perform promotional, developmental and regulatory functions relating to pension funds and authorise it to levy fees for services and impose penalties for any violation of the provisions of the legislation, rules, regulations. The PFRDA Bill, 2011 is broadly based on the PFRDA Bill, 2005, as modified by the official amendments to the Bill the government proposed in January 2009. source The Hindu 25/03/ 2011 . 25/03/2011 11th MEETING OF THE POSTAL SERVICES STAFF WELFARE BOARD TO BE HELD IN THE COMMITTEE ROOM , DAK BHAWAN ,NEW DELHI- D.G Posts No.1-1/2009-WL/Sports dated the March 22, 2011. In partial modification of the Department's letter of even number dated 16.03.2011 on the above mentioned subject, I am directed to inform that the meeting of Postal Services Staff Welfare Board, which was earlier scheduled to be held on 5th April, 2011, has now been preponed to 30th March 2011.The meeting will be convened in Committee Room, Dak Bhawan , New Delhi, starting at 1430 hours. 2. All other instructions as conveyed vide letter No. 1-1/2009-WL/Sports dated 16.03.2011, ibid, remain unchanged. Sd/- (Subhash Chander) Director (Welfare & Sports) POSTAL JCA MEETING POSTAL JCA MEETING CONSISTING FNPO&NFPE WILL AT HELD AT NFPE OFFICE NEW DELHI AT 1730 HRS ON 30.03.2011 TO CHALK OUT STRATEGY AND LAUNCHING AGITATIONAL PROGRAMME AGAINST RESTOGRADE ORDERS OF THE DEPARTMENT AND ON INTRODUCTION OF PFRDA BILL IN LOK SABHA BY THE GOVERNMENT OF INDIA.

22/03/2011 6% DA Declared for Central Government Employees and Retd pensioners. MATERNITY GRANT TO THE WOMEN GDS Government of India Ministry of Communications & IT Department of Posts (Establishment Division) Dak Bhawan, Sansad Marg. New Delhi-110001 No.17-9/2011-GDS Dated the 21-Mar 2011 To All Chief Postmaster General, Sir/Madam, Reference is invited to this Directorate letter No.6-1/2009. PE.II dated 09 October 2009 providing for Maternity Grant to the women GDS. 2. One man Committee under Shri RS Nataraja Murti constituted under Resolution No. 6- 1/2007-PE II dated 23rd July 2007 examined the system of Extra Departmental Post Offices and wage structure of Gramin Dak Sevak & submitted its report on 29th October 2008. After approval of Cabinet, the Department issued orders under No. 6-1/2009 PE II dated 09 October 2009. It was prescribed under Para 9 of the ibid that "women GDS will be provided Maternity Grant equivalent to three months TRCA with DA for the birth date of issue of the order". 3. The recommendations made by the One man Committee in Para 16.10.1have been examined further and it has been decided that Maternity Grant equal to three month's TRCA with DA out of welfare fund will be payable from the welfare fund at the disposal of the Circles effective from 09 October 2009 on fulfillment of the following conditions;- (a) Maternity Grant will be payable to a woman GDS for each child up to the birth of maximum of two children limited to a maximum of two confinements resulting into birth of first two children only during the entire engagement of the following of a woman GDS. (b) The women GDS must have rendered a minimum of one year service of becoming eligible for grant under the provision. (c) No Financial Grant will be admissible for medical termination of pregnancy (abortion). Miscarriage and still births. 4. The scheme of allowing Maternity Grant is like any other ongoing welfare scheme paid out of welfare fund. Funds will be allocated for this scheme by welfare section of this Directorate to the Circles. Heads of the Division will be competent to sanction Maternity Grant to the women GDS out of welfare fund placed at their disposal by the Circle concerned. 5. Woman Gramin Dak Sevaks like Mil Deliverer and Mail Carrier may also be considered for lighter duties wherever possible during the pre and post confinement period for a maximum period of six months. 6. Woman GDS shall be granted Maternity Leave not exceeding six months covering the pre and post confinement period. For the period of Maternity Leave, Woman GDS will be paid Maternity Grant for three months and leave for another three months may be granted without allowances. 7. Existing powers of Divisional Heads for grant of leave beyond 180 days leave without allowances availed by GDS to work against in Group D and Postman vacancies would also cover period of three month Maternity Leave with allowances (Maternity Grant) and another period of leave for three months without allowances if availed by Woman GDS. 8. The contents may be brought to the knowledge of all concerned. This has the approval of the competent authority.

Yours faithfully, Sd/- (Surender Kumar) Assistant Director General (GDS/PCC)

20/3/2011 CALENDAR OF DEPARTMENTAL EXAMINATION FOR 2011. Directorate vide memo No. A-34012/02/2010-DE dated 16.03.2011 has notified Calendar of Departmental Examination for 2011 in supersession of Directorate earlier letter dated 29.12.2010. I. Centralized Examinations : Sl. Name of Exam Date of Exam 01. LGOs exam for promotion to PAs / SAs 01.05.2011 02. PSS Gr. B examination 2010 15.05.2011 03. PAs / SAs Direct Recruit 2011 10.07.2011 04. Inspector of Posts 06 & 07.08.2011 05. Jr. Engineer (C&E) 10.09.2011 06. Asst Engineer (C&E) 11.09.2011 07. Postmaster Grade I 15 & 16.10.2011 08. Senior Postmaster 16.10.2011

II. De-centralized Examinations : Sl. Name of Exam Date of Exam 09. LDCs to Jr. Acct in PAOs 05 & 06.11.2011 10. Confirmation exam for DR Jr. Account in12 & 13.11.2011 PAOs 11. Postman Exam for Direct Recruit and27.11.2011 Departmental Promotion 12. Direct Recruit Exam for appointment as11.12.2011 Multi Tasking Staff

18/3/2011 9.5 %INTEREST FOR PF DEPOSITS The union Finance Ministry on Thursday approved 9.5% percent in interest to more than 4.7 core depositors of the Employees Provident Fund Organization for 2010 -11 The EPFO has been paying 8.5 per cent since 2005-6

14/03/2011 MACP SUB COMMITTEE WILL BE HELD ON 15/03/2011 details will published soon Procedure to be observed by the Departmental Promotion Committees (DPCs) - Model Calendar for DPCs and related matters - Regarding. click here to see the order

The advance notice of a minimum period of 40 days should ordinarily be given for every departmental examination" click here to see the order

11/03/2011 FNPO NUR 'C' INTUC NATIONAL UNION OF RMS & MMS EMPLOYEES GROUP ‘C’ 18th All India Conference started in a grand maner at Sri Kala & Preethi Marriage Hall, East Coast Road, Puducherry HON V. VAITHILINGAM Chief Minister, Puduchery Union Territory

SRI V.P. SIVAKOZHUNDU

Ms. SHANTHI NAIR, IPS, CPMG, T.N greeted the function in person. Shri.Neil Anderson UNI greeted the function through video conference . Detailed news will follow 09/03/2011 NEW MEMBERS TO POSTAL SERVICES BOARD Directorate vide letter no 1-56/2003-SPG dated 08-03-2011 has issued postings/transfers to the grade of Member Postal Services Board, Indian Postal Services, Group-A in the pay scale of Rs 75500-80000/-.

Sl no Name of the officer Presently posted Posting on Remarks promotion

1 Ms.P.Gopinath Presently on Member(Tech) Vacant post (1977 Batch) Deputation

2 Col.Kamleswar Prasad CPMG Bihar Member (HRD) Vice Sri V.Sada (1977 Batch) Circle sivam trfd.

08/03/2011 RETIREMENT AGE FOR CIVIL SERVENTS AT 62 FROM 60 The top two officials in the state administration, chief secretary, Mr S.V. Prasad, and the director-general of police, Mr K. Aravinda Rao, will benefit from the Centre’s decision to set the retirement age for civil servants at 62 years from the present 60 years. Mr Aravinda Rao was due to retire in June and the chief secretary in September. Sources told this newspaper that the Cabinet subcommittee of the Union government gave its nod for enhancing the retirement age, and orders amending the service rules are expected much before the retirement of the two officials. The Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh, was keen to enhance the retirement age of bureaucrats. Sources said that though the proposal is ready for implementation, there will be a few months’ delay because the government wants to make Mr Pulok Chatterjee the new Cabinet secretary at the Centre and prefers to wait for bureaucrats senior to him to retire before it makes the announcement. Mr Chatterjee had earlier worked with the UPA chairperson, Mrs Sonia Gandhi, and is considered a natural choice to take over from the incumbent Mr K.M. Chandrasekhar. “There are a few bureaucrats senior to Mr Chatterjee and the Centre will wait for their retirement in April,” explained a senior official. Back here in the state, the government will be keen to retain the services of Mr Prasad and Mr Aravinda Rao who have proved to be assets when the state is passing through turbulent times. The former chief minister, Mr K. Rosaiah, appointed the two officials to the top posts and his successor Mr N. Kiran Kumar Reddy did not make any changes. Another senior bureaucrat, Ms Janaki Kondapi, will also benefit from the change in the new retirement age as she is due for retirement in the next few months.

Source: Deccan Chronicle 06/03/2011 FNPO NUR 'C' INTUC NATIONAL UNION OF RMS & MMS EMPLOYEES GROUP ‘C’ All are Welcome to 18th All India Conference -

OPEN SESSION DATE : 10-3-2011 TIME : 5.00 P.M. We cordially invite you for our 18th All India Conference at Sri Kala & Preethi Marriage Hall, East Coast Road, Puducherry Presidential Address : SRI V.P. SIVAKOZHUNDU & LION M.J.F.V.P. RAMALINGAM Managing Directors, Sapthagiri Hotel, Hotel Green Park, Puducherry In the presence of Sri SUBRATO CHOUDRY, President, NUR ‘C’ Patron : Dr. P. CHINNAIYAN HOD Madha Medical College, Chennai Vice Chairmen : Sri PE.SU. MANI, Tamil Research Scholar Sri M. AMMAVASAI, M.A., M.Com., BL Advocate Sri G.K. PADMANABHAN, Ex-Secy, Gen., FNPO Sri A. SOMASUNDARAM, Ex-VP, NUR ‘C’ Welcome Address : Sri D. THEAGARAJAN, G.S. NUR ‘C’ Inauguration : HON V. VAITHILINGAM Chief Minister, Puduchery Union Territory Chief Guest : Hon. K.N. NEHRU Transport Minister, T. Nadu Ms. SHANTHI NAIR, IPS, CPMG, T.N. Greetings by : SrI.D.Kishan Rao G.S. NAPE`C' Sri. T.N. Rahate G.S. NUPEPM& Gr`D' Sri. A.H. Siddiq G.S. NUR-4 Sri. P.U. Muralidharan G.S. NUGDS Sri. O.P. Khanna G.S. AIPAOA Sri. P.P.Ghroy G.S. NUPCW Sri. H.L. Ramteke G.S. AIPAOA(DPA) Sri. S. Sambandam G.S. IPSSA(FNPO) sri R. ANAND, Director, (Tech), New Delhi Sri PRONNOY SHARMA, Director, (MB), N.Delhi Hon. R. RADHAKRISHNAN, Speaker, Puducherry Hon. E. VALSARAJ, Home Minister, Puducherry Hon. M.O.H.E. SHAHJAHAN Minister for Public Works, Puduchery Hon. MALLADI KRISHNA RAO Revenue Minister, Puduchery Hon. M. KANDASAMY Hon. A. NAMASIVAYAM Minister for Public Health, Puduchery Sri. R. SIVA, MLA Sri. N. ANAND, MLA Sri. K. LAKSHMI NARAYANAN, MLA

Sri JOHN KUMAR, Vice Chairman, Puducherry Sri T. JAYAMURTHY, Ex-MLA, Congress Committee, Puducherry Sri S.B. KUMAR, G/S, Congress Committee, Puducherry Sri G. NEHRU, Founder, PCC, Puducherry Sri G. RAVICHANDRAN, President, INTUC, Puducherry Sri K. DURAI, G/S., INTUC, Puducherry. Vote of Thanks : P. KUMAR, CS NUR ‘C’ Secretary, Reception Committee 03/03/2011 Shri G.P. Naidu father of Shri G.P. Muthukrishnan, FNPO, Vice President has lost his breath on 02.03.2011. Shri G.P. Naidu was an Ex- NFPTE Leader in Telecom sector. He was suspended for 20 months during 1968 strike. FNPO deeply condole his death and our deepest regrets to Shri G.P. Muthukrishnan and his family members.

01/03/2011 India Post 2012 - Project Over View Click here to see the details 01/03/2011 Discontinuation of conducting examination in APS Units/Centres. Copy of Directorate’s Memo No. A-34020/11/2011-DE dated 15/2/2011 is reproduced below: Subject : Discontinuation of conducting examination in APS Units/Centres. Sir, I am directed to say that system of all Departmental Examinations is being revised. In this connection, Competent Authority has decided that the following Examinations hitherto being conducted in the APS units are discontinued. i) Examination for promotion to Postman cadre; ii) Examination for promotion to PAs/SAs (LGO); iii) Examination for promotion to Inspector Posts; Candidates working in APS who wish to attend the above mentioned Examinations will have to appear at the nearest possible Postal Centres. Yours faithfully, Sd/- (L. Mohan Rao) Assistant Director General (DE) Highlights of Union Budget 2011-2012 TAXES * Standard rate of excise duty held at 10 percent; no change in CENVAT rates * Personal income tax exemption limit raised to Rs 180,000 from Rs 160,000 for individual tax payers *For senior citizens, the qualifying age reduced to 60 years and exemption limit raised to Rs 2.50 lakh. *Citizens over 80 years to have exemption limit of Rs 5 lakh. * To reduce surcharge on domestic companies to 5 percent from 7.5 percent. * A new revised income tax return form 'Sugam' to be introduced for small tax payers. * To raise minimum alternate tax to 18.5 percent from 18 percent * Direct tax proposals to cause 115 billion rupees in revenue loss * Service tax rate kept at 10 percent * Customs and excise proposals to result in net revenue gain of 73 billion rupees * Iron ore export duty raised to 20 percent *Nominal one per cent central excise duty on 130 items entering the tax net. Basic food and fuel and precious stones, gold and silver jewellery will be exempted. *Peak rate of customs duty maintained at 10 per cent in view of the global economic situation. *Basic customs duty on agricultural machinery reduced to 4.5 per cent from 5 per cent. *Service tax widened to cover hotel accommodation above Rs 1,000 per day, A/C restaurants serving liquor, some category of hospitals, diagnostic tests. *Service tax on air travel increased by Rs 50 for domestic travel and Rs 250 for international travel in economy class. On higher classes, it will be ten per cent flat. * Electronic filing of TDS returns at source stabilised; simplified forms to be introduced for small taxpayers. * Works of art exempt from customs when imported for exhibition in state-run institutions; this now extended to private institutions.

SUBSIDIES * Subsidy bill in 2011-12 seen at 1.44 trillion rupees * Food subsidy bill in 2011-12 seen at 605.7 billion rupees * Revised food subsidy bill for 2010-11 at 606 billion rupees * Fertiliser subsidy bill in 2011-12 seen at 500 billion rupees * Revised fertiliser subsidy bill for 2010-11 at 550 billion rupees * Petroleum subsidy bill in 2011-12 seen at 236.4 billion rupees * Revised petroleum subsidy bill in 2010-11 at 384 billion rupees * State-run oil retailers to be provided with 200 billion rupee cash subsidy in 2011-12

FISCAL DEFICIT * Fiscal deficit seen at 5.1 percent of GDP in 2010-11 * Fiscal deficit seen at 4.6 percent of GDP in 2011-12 * Fiscal deficit seen at 3.5 percent of GDP in 2013-14

SPENDING * Total expenditure in 2011-12 seen at 12.58 trillion rupees * Plan expenditure seen at 4.41 trillion rupees in 2011-12, up 18.3 percent

REVENUE * Gross tax receipts seen at 9.32 trillion rupees in 2011-12 * Non-tax revenue seen at 1.25 trillion rupees in 2011-12 * Corporate tax receipts seen at 3.6 trillion rupees in 2011-12 * Tax-to-GDP ratio seen at 10.4 percent in 2011-12; seen at 10.8 percent in 2012-13 * Customs revenue seen at 1.52 trillion rupees in 2011-12 * Factory gate duties seen at 1.64 trillion rupees in 2011-12 Service tax receipts seen at 820 billion rupees in 2011-12 * Revenue gain from indirect tax proposals seen at 113 billion rupees in 2011-12 * Service tax proposals to result in net revenue gain of 40 billion rupees in 2011-12

GROWTH, INFLATION EXPECTATIONS * Economy expected to grow at 9 percent in 2012, plus or minus 0.25 percent * Inflation seen lower in the financial year 2011-12

DISINVESTMENT * Disinvestment in 2011-12 seen at 400 billion rupees * Government committed to retaining 51 percent stake in public sector enterprises.

BORROWING * Net market borrowing for 2011-12 seen at 3.43 trillion rupees, down from 3.45 trillion rupees in 2010-11 * Gross market borrowing for 2011-12 seen at 4.17 trillion rupees * Revised gross market borrowing for 2010-11 at 4.47 trillion rupees

POLICY REFORMS * To create infrastructure debt funds * FDI policy being liberalised. * To boost infrastructure development with tax-free bonds of 300 billion rupees * Food security bill to be introduced this year * To permit SEBI registered mutual funds to access subscriptions from foreign investments * Raised foreign institutional investor limit in 5-year corporate bonds for investment in infrastructure by $20 billion * Setting up independent debt management office; Public debt bill to be introduced in parliament soon * Bills on insurance, pension funds, banking to be introduced. *Constitution Amendment Bill for introduction of GST regime in this session. *New Companies Bill to be introduced in current session

SECTOR SPENDING * To allocate more than 1.64 trillion rupees to defence sector in 2011-12 * Corpus of rural infrastructure development fund raised to 180 billion rupees in 2011-12 * To provide 201.5 billion rupees capital infusion in state-run banks in 2011-12 * To allocate 520.5 billion rupees for the education sector. Rs.21,000 crore for Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan. * To raise health sector allocation to 267.6 billion rupees * Rs.500 crore more for national skill development fund. * Rs.54 crore each for AMU (Aligarh Muslim University) centres at Murshidabad and Mallapuram. * Rs.58,000 crore for Bharat Nirman; increase of Rs.10,000 crore. * Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme wage rates linked to consumer price index; will rise from existing Rs.100 per day. * Increased outlay on social sector schemes. * Infrastructure critical for development; 23 percent higher allocation in 2011-12.

AGRICULTURE * Removal of supply bottlenecks in the food sector will be in focus in 2011-12 * Agriculture growth key to development: Green Revolution waiting to happen in eastern region.

* To raise target of credit flow to agriculture sector to 4.75 trillion rupees * Gives 3 percent interest subsidy to farmers in 2011-12 * Cold storage chains to be given infrastructure status * Capitalisation of National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) of 30 billion rupees in a phased manner * To provide 3 billion rupees for 60,000 hectares under palm oil plantation * Actively considering new fertiliser policy for urea * Food storage capacity to be augmented - 15 more mega food parks to be set up in 2011-12; of 30 sanctioned in previous fiscal, 15 set up. * Comprehensive policy on further developing PPP (public-private-partnership) model. * Farmers need access to affordable credit. * Moving to improve nutritional security. * Necessary to accelerate production of fodder.

ON THE STATE OF THE ECONOMY * "Fiscal consolidation has been impressive. This year has also seen significant progress in those critical institutional reforms that will pave the way for double digit growth in the near future." * "At times the biggest reforms are not the ones that make headlines, but the ones concerned with details of governance which affect the everyday life of aam aadmi (common man). In preparing this year's budget, I have been deeply conscious of this fact." * Food inflation remains a concern * Current account deficit situation poses some concern * Must ensure that private investment is sustained * "The economy has shown remarkable resilience." * Setting tone for newer, vibrant economy. * Economy back to pre-crisis trajectory. * Development needs to be more inclusive.

ON GOVERNANCE * "Certain events in the past few months may have created an impression of drift in governance and a gap in public accountability ... such an impression is misplaced." * Corruption is a problem, must fight it collectively MORE *Govt to move towards direct transfer of cash subsidy for kerosene, LPG and fertilisers. *Financial Sector Legislative Reforms Commission, to be headed by former Supreme Court judge B Srikrishna, to complete its work in 24 months; to overhaul financial regulations. * Five-fold strategy against black money; 13 new double taxation avoidance agreements; foreign tax division of CTBT strengthened; strength of Enforcement Directorate increased three-fold. * Bill to be introduced to review Indian Stamp Act. * New coins carrying new rupee symbol to be issued. * Anganwadi workers salary raised from Rs.1,500 to Rs.3,000. * Mortgage risk guarantee fund to be created for economically weaker sections. * Housing loan limit for priority sector lending raised to Rs.25 lakh. Sub: Discontinuation of 'Certificate of Posting'. D.G. Posts No.2-4/2008-PO dated 23.02.2011. Under the provisions of Rule 195 of the Indian Post Office Rules , 1933 'Certificate of Posting' is granted to the public to afford an assurance that letters and other articles for which no receipts are granted by the Post Office and entrusted to servants or messengers for posting have actually been posted. It has since been decided that' Certificate of Posting' may be discontinued immediately. A copy of Gazette Notification No. 58(E) dated 31.1.2011 deleting rule 195 of the Indian Post Office Rules, 1933 regarding 'Certificate of Posting' is enclosed for information and necessary action. This may kindly be brought to the notice of all concerned for strict compliance. The receipt of this communication may also be acknowledged. S/d NIRAJKUMAR Director (PO&I)