Monday 30 June 2014

Monday, June 30, 2014

Confederation writes for removal of limit of 3 spells for Child Care leave in a calender year.

MoC&IT RECIPROCATES on our GREETINGS


NFPE Writes for empowering Head Postmasters to grant relief for CCL par with

Secretary. DOP wants Cleanliness. Speedy Public Greivance Redressal ,Stopping of Repeated Reports calling from Operative Offices

Revised Delivery Norms for Speed Post

EDITORIAL - POSTAL CRUSADER - JULY 2014

NAKED NEPOTISM AND ARBITRARY DISCRIMINATION

In an unprecedented move, the Government of India, Ministry of Communications &; IT, Department of Posts, has issued orders on 24.06.2014, granting trade union facilities to the Bhartiya Postal Employees Federation (BPEF) and all its affiliated Unions. Even though in the order it is mentioned as limited trade union facilities, in effect almost all the facilities granted to recognized Federations / Unions is extended to BPEF also, including channel of communications, meeting with senior officers and office accommodation subject to availability.

We vehemently oppose the above decision of the Government, not because trade union facilities are granted to BPEF, but because of the way in which it is granted, flouting all the existing rules. Government of India has issued the New Recognition Rules (NRR) in the year 1993 viz., the CCS (RSA) Rules, 1993 and it clearly stipulates certain conditions for grant of recognition and trade union facilities to Federations and Unions. As per the CCS (RSA) Rules - 1993, membership verification shall be conducted under check-off system once in five years. Those unions getting minimum 35% will be recognized as the first Union and those getting minimum 15% membership will be granted recognition as second union. Accordingly last membership verification was conducted in the Postal Department in the year 2010 and those NFPE Unions got 35% and FNPO Unions got 15% are granted recognition and trade union facilities.

Most of the BPEF Unions except one Union in Postal Accounts got less than 5% membership only and hence they were not granted recognition and trade union facilities. Now in blatant violation of the provisions of NRR and also circumventing the rules for recognition, Government of India has issued an executive fiat granting trade union facilities to BPEF and all its affiliated Unions. Thus, those who are the custodians of the law themselves have violated it. This is nothing but naked nepotism and hence we protest and oppose the order.

Secondly, it is a case of arbitrary discrimination. FNPO affiliated Unions which failed to secure 15% membership in the last verification are not granted any trade union facilities so far. Similarly, the request for grant of recognition and trade union facilities to the newly formed Gramin Dak Sewaks Union of NFPE [AIPEU GDS(NFPE)is still pending before the Government, even though it commands support of more than 60% membership of Gramin Dak Sevaks. How can the Government single out BPEF Unions alone for trade union facilities? Why such facilities are denied to similarly placed Unions? Where is the provision for such arbitrary discrimination? It reminds us the famous writings of George Orwell – “All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others”.

Thirdly, when the Writ Petition of BPEF Unions for grant of recognition and trade union facilities as well as challenging the provision of CCS RSA Rules, 1993 was rejected by the Honourable Madras High Court in the year 2010, and consequently the Government of India, the Department of Posts had completed the membership verification under the CCS RSA Rules, 1993 and granted recognition to the eligible Federations and Unions, how the Executive can ignore the judicial pronouncement and grant trade union facilities to BPEF Federation and Unions?


NFPE vehemently oppose this arbitrary orders issued by the Government, which smacks of nepotism and discrimination. We demand the Government to review the orders and ensure justice and fair play. 


(M. Krishnan)
Secretary General
NFPE

Friday 27 June 2014

Saturday, June 28, 2014

NOTICE - NATIONAL SECRETARIAT CONFEDERATION

No. Confd/2014                                                                                         Dated : 25th June,2014

NOTICE

           It is hereby notified that  National Secretariat Meeting of Confederation of Central Government Employees and Workers will be held at Confederation  H.Q. at 1st Floor North Avenue Post Office Building, New Delhi-110001 on 17th July 2014 at 2 PM.

           All National Secretariat Members are requested to attend the meeting in time.

           The following will be the agenda of the meeting:

AGENDA
(1)      Organizational review.
(2)      7th CPC and related issues.
(3)      15 Point Charter of Demands and future course of action.
(4)      Any other items with the permission of chair.


(M. KRISHNAN)
SECRETARY GENERAL

 Copy to:
1.       Com. S.K. Vyas, Advisor.
2.       Com. K.K.N. Kutty President.

3.       All National Secretariat Members.

Friday, June 27, 2014

NATIONAL FEDERATION OF POSTAL EMPLOYEES
1st Floor, North Avenue Post office Building, New Delhi - 110001



Ref: PF/NFPE/CBS                                                             Dated – 27.06.2014

To

Ms Kaveri Banerjee
Secretary
Department of Posts
Dak Bhawan, New Delhi – 110001

Madam,

Sub: -  Incalculable miseries and untold suffering to the operative staff in CBS rolled out offices – Immediate remedial and rescue operations sought for – reg.

At the outset, we appreciate the efforts leads to technological advancements and extend our fullest cooperation in the journey to reach the desired goals of implementing innovative customer centric services and operational efficiency enhancement by inducting state of art technology.

But to our dismay, the CBS migrated offices are now facing incalculable miseries and untold sufferings due to lack of adequate network capabilities and software support of the vendors. The following are the issues to be set right in war foot manner at the initial stage itself otherwise leads to garboil and distress among the stake holders especially among the working staff.

1)      Insufficient bandwidth Network:
            Providing of strong and stable network is base of successful implementation of India Post project.   Now almost all HOs have been given 2 MBPS bandwidth line, LSG SOs 512 KBPS line and B and C class offices have been given 256 KBPS line. If ‘India Post Project-2012’ is fully implemented, all the work of Post Offices will depend on these network. Present bandwidth speed is very less and due to low bandwidth, Finacle page is either not opening and  some time opening very slowly.   Due to this PO staff are forced to work up to night 10 pm many days. In many occasions in every CBS migrated office, the ‘Login’ is inconsistent and for each transaction “Login” is forced.

If CSI and PLI are migrated and placed on this network the situation may further worsen. Hence we request to provide at least 4 MB bandwidth line to HOs, 2 MB bandwidth line to LSG SOs and 1 MB bandwidth line to B and C class offices.

2) Failure of Sify:
            In India Post Project 2012, NI Vender is Sify. On observation of quality and quantity of service being provided by them it is very much proved that  M/S Sify is incapable to give service to this  big department.  They do not have sufficient skilled manpower and it seems that they are not intending to give good quality service also.   At initial stage itself they have not made proper survey of all offices.  Before installing and commissioning they were very keen on taking installation report from concerned Postmasters/Sub Postmasters. 


            It is told that, as per MOU, all offices should be provided with NSP-1 and NSP-2 lines.  In almost all offices, NSP-1 is BSNL line and NSP-2 is either Sify line or Airtel datacard.   It is observed that in many offices they have installed Airtel datacard ,where as  Airtel signal is  not available at that place.

            It is also observed that M/S Sify is not recharging Airtel datacard  installed.  Instead they are recharging on receipt of complaint from concerned offices.  By doing this they are deviating from MOU and leaving the staff in the field in distress.

3) Finacle Problem:
            If we come to Finacle part, it is another tragedy.   Initially it was boosted that Finacle is fully foolproof software and successfully implemented in many banks.  We could not understand why Infosys is not utilizing experience gained in banks and  implementing  here.  There are so many bugs in the software and  more surprisingly  even after lapse of 6 months of implementation, nothing is changed.   All the issues raised at the time of January-2014 is still not resolved.  Moreover Finacle server becomes inaccessible many time in peak business hours or responds very slow. It is a naked truth that we are losing clientle and distancing from the customers only due to faulty service of vendors.

4) Lack of Guidance:
            No separate rulings are received to suit Finacle Environment. No authorities are giving authoritative guidance on many issues. 
For example
§  Role of SOSB in HO after implementation of Finacle at SOs,
§  Role of SBCO at HO
§  Fate of manual records on transfer accounts from one Finacle office to other etc.

5) Supply of Printers and Computers:
            At initial stage  new Computers and printers are supplied to pilot offices.  Rest of the offices are having   more than 5 year old  Computers and Printers  which are not suitable to present scenario.  Administration is pressing  hard to migrate offices without supplying required hardware. The old computers and peripherals either to be revamped or replaced to make it compatiable to the present environment.

6) Problem of User credentials:
            One each User credential is given to  trained staff.  But it is not clearly told what action to be taken while SPM/PA goes on leave especially in B class offices.   As sharing of  user credential is very  risky and dangerous, alternative arrangement  should be made immediately.

7) Due to slow network and frequent failure of server customers of the department are frustrated and moving out the department and needed immediate attention.

8. You may aware that we are struggling with outdated Computers and peripherals, which were purchased during the year 2000 to 2005 and immediate supply of needy new hardware to ensure the technological transformation in and effective manner.

9. Even proper up gradation of CPU is not made in many areas and the Software loaded is upto Windows XP in most of the offices. Presently it is a fact that windows XP is not supported by the Microsoft with updates.

10. Finacle can be better loaded with Windows 7 and hence the officers at ground level are pressurized to use pirated version of Windows 7, which may lead to litigation with Microsoft apart from non supporting with updates.

11. The MOU made with M/s Sify, for net work integration is limiting to low bandwidth such as 256 Kbps to 512 Kbps in many areas, serving with 1 server and 4 to 5 nodes, resulting in sluggish connectivity and takes hours together to transform the data. This results in hang over and the transactions could not be able to be made at the instant, as the Department expects, It requires atleast 2 to 4 Mbps and M/s Sify refused to increase the bandwidth now.

12. Further in the Data Centre, it requires to the level of 400 Mbps on the Network to receive the Data transmitted at a time from all the 680 offices but Sify is learnt to be provided with a minimum of 200 Mbps capacity. This affects the receipt of data from the end users at a time and take hours to complete the process. Further expansion is required when there is further migration.

13. The area of occupation in the main server at Mumbai maintained by M/S Reliance Ltd. is also not sufficient, which results in sluggish transmission of data from the entire 680 offices at present, at a time and even the validation cannot be made before 8:00 PM or 10:00 PM on all the days.

14. End of day process cannot be made even on daily basis and the staff have to wait for the nod from the Infosys even after midnights on several days and at times it can be made on the next day morning. Even the women employees are compelled to complete the EOD process in midnights and their husbands or wards waiting till midnights to take them to home.

15. Even the Help desk provided is not answering and the end users are taken to task and receiving brick bats from the irate public.

16. This results in closing of accounts in large numbers that too, can be made not on the date of presentation but after few days and our Department looses large chunk of customers, because of the miscalculations, wrong estimations and over ambitious activities and inadequate technological support.

17. Even the first and prestigious ATM of our Department unveiled by the ex Finance Minister Sri. P. Chidambaram at T. Nagar HO is not functioning from the date of installation and only 10 ATM cards are supplied on the first instant, that too only to the staff and some friendly users of T. Nagar HPO. But the ATM is provided with 24x7 A/C and a paid Guard, making huge loss to the Department and receiving severe criticism from the Print media.

18. The women employees should be relieved from this area of operation, till the situation improves, in order to avoid late night stays at offices inviting gender problems and unsafe returns to their home at midnights.

19. Further, adequate hardware and infrastructure should be given immediately to the CBS migrated offices with sufficient man power and proper remuneration for the extended hours, the staffs re serving.

20. In spite of all above cited problems the Postal staff is being worked on finacle software as matter of challenge and trying to give best services to the customers. In spite of all efforts the customers are not satisfying/delighting which hampers the reputation of the department. No PO which is upgraded with finacle are being closed before 8 PM every day. We are ready to work hard provided, solution for above problems are to be solved.

It is requested to sort out all the issues arising out of the CBS Migration and all the vendors need to be instructed to provide all the technological support as required by the field staff. As this is the pilot and sorting stage, if we failed to pull up the vendors to the level of expectation and necessity, later full implementation, restoration may be difficult with this vendor support.

It is further requested to spare some time and provide opportunity to present and brief our case in person for the welfare of our department staff and the clientle. Your immediate intervention as if house on fire is requested.

A line in reply is highly appreciated.

With profound regards,

Yours faithfully,


(M. Krishnan)

Secretary General
MODEL CONSTITUTION FOR THE RESIDENTS WELFARE ASSOCIATIONS RECOGNIZED BY THE GOVERNMENT OF INDIA, DEPARTMENT OF PERSONNEL AND TRAINING-REGARDING. (Click the link below for details)

AMENDMENT OF FUNDAMENTAL RULES/SERVICE RULES (Click the link below for details)


GRANT OF HONORARIUM TO INQUIRY OFFICERS (IO)/PRESENTING OFFICERS (PO). (Click the link below for details)


Friday 20 June 2014

IDENTIFICATION OF PENSIONERS ASSOCIATIONS UNDER THE PENSIONERS' PORTAL- A MISSION MODE PROJECT UNDER NeGP. (Click he link below for details)

ENGAGEMENT OF CONSULTANT UNDER THE PLAN SCHEME PENSIONERS PORTAL (Click he link below for details)


Thursday, June 19, 2014

DOPT ISSUES REVISED GUIDELINES ON COMMENCEMENT OF PENSION 

The Government has streamlined procedures for retiring employees so that delays may be overcome in earliest commencement of pension. This follows directions issued by Dr. Jitendra Singh, Minister of State for Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions to the workshop held with the Pension Secretaries of various State Governments here on June 12, 2014. 
Delegates pointed out during the course of deliberations that the release of pension after retirement gets delayed mainly due to two reasons. Primarily, the delay in receipt of intimation by the pensioner that pension papers have reached the bank and secondly, delay on the part of pensioner in approaching the bank for submission of undertaking that he shall refund any amount paid to him to which he is not entitled.
 As per the new guidelines, the Government has decided that the requisite undertaking may be obtained by the Head of Office from the retiring employee and forwarded to the pension disbursing bank along with the Pension Payment Order (PPO). The bank shall credit the pension to the account of the pensioner as soon as this undertaking is received along with the pension documents
This change in procedure has an added advantage that the PPO can now be handed over in person to the retiring employee along with other retirement dues. Earlier the pensioner had to approach the bank for PPO.
 With this change in rules and procedures, the pensioners would be saved of considerable inconvenience and delay and his pension will commence as soon as he retires. 
******KSD/PK/BK/sk
(Release ID :105712) 18 June,2014
GUIDELINES REGARDING HANDLING OF COMPLAINTS IN MINISTRIES/DEPARTMENTS (CLICK HERE FOR DETAILS)

Wednesday, June 18, 2014

PENDING DEMANDS AND NEW GOVERNMENT

New Central Government under the leadership of Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri. Narendra Modi has taken charge with a clear majority in the Lok Sabha election.  People of the country and the Central Government employees who suffered a lot under the UPA Government, have voted for a change.  Now it is the turn of NDA Government.  Coming days will prove whether the selection made by the voters is correct or not.
               Central Government employees have to take a cautious approach towards the new Government.  As the new Government has just taken over charge and expectations are very high, jumping into any sudden conclusion may not be correct on our part.  We have to give reasonable time to the new government to make its stand clear on the issues agitating the minds of the Central Government employees.  Let us hope that our past experience in the 2000 December 14 days Postal strike when the NDA Government was in power, the support extended by the party leading NDA to the UPA Government for introducing and passing the PFRDA Bill in Parliament, the infamous downsizing order of 2001 issued by the NDA Government which paved way for abolition of thousands of vacant posts in Central Government Departments and refusal to concede any of the main demands of Gramin Dak Sevaks will not be repeated by the new Government.
               The maiden budget of the new Government to be presented in Parliament in July 2014 may give us an idea on the thinking of the Government and also the attitude of the Government towards the problems faced by the common people and the Central Government employees.  Confederation of Central Government Employees and Workers has placed our demands before the new Government.  JCM National Council staff side has also written to the Finance Minister and Cabinet Secretary.  Our demands are not new.  Demands raised before the UPA Government are again placed before the NDA Government.
               While constituting 7th Central Pay Commission the UPA Government has refused to include the main demands of the Central Government employees in the terms of reference viz: (1) Grant of merger of DA (2) Grant of interim relief and (3) inclusion of Gramin Dak Sevaks under the purview of 7th CPC.  Confederation has conducted 48 hours strike in February 2014, just before the General Election is declared, demanding settlement of the 15 points charter of demands which includes the above three main demands also.  As General Election was declared we could not move further.  Central Government employees expect that the new Government will consider positively, the demands raised in the 48 hours strike.
               If the new Government also take the same stand as that of previous UPA Government and refuse to concede our genuine demands, the Central Government employees will be forced to tread the path of struggle again.  Before embarking upon such a struggle, our prime duty is to build up largest unity among all sections of the Central Government employees.  Confederation is making all out effort in this direction especially to build up total unity among JCM staff side organisations.  We are even ready to make certain compromises for the sake of unity.
               We have to give enough time to the new Government and we are ready to wait.  But we cannot wait indefinitely.  7th CPC has already commenced its work and has fixed target dates for submission of memorandums by Federations and Unions/Associations.  Chairman, 7th CPC, has also made it clear that unless the Government refer the issues of DA merger, Interim relief and GDS issues to the Commission, it will not consider these issues.  Hence the ball is now in the Government’s court.  Let us see how the things move.  Let us also be ready to face any situation.

M. Krishnan
Secretary General

MASSIVE DHARNA AT CHENNAI POSTAL ACCOUNTS OFFICE - NFPE COORDINATION COMMITTEE SUBMITTED MEMORANDUM TO CPMG

SPONTANEOUS AND STRONG RESENTMENT ON THE ACTIONS OF GM(FINANCE) CHENNAI IS EVIDENT IN AIPAEA DHARNA HELD ON 13-06-2014. ALL THE CONSTITUENTS OF NFPE PARTICIPATED AND EXPRESSED THEIR DETERMINATION TO CONTINUE THE STRUGGLE TILL THE PUNITIVE ACTIONS ARE WITHDRAWN AND NORMALCY IS RESTORED. COORDINATION COMMITTEE IS PREPARING ITSELF FOR AN INDUSTRIAL ACTION. DDG(PAF) HAS SENT A LETTER TO GM ADVISING HER ON ALL THE ISSUES RAISED BY THE CHQ.

GENERAL SECRETARY, AIPAEA ATTENDED AND ADDRESSED THE DHARNA. CHQ CONGRATULATE COM. SANTOSH, PRESIDENT CHQ, COM. SHANKER, C.S. AND EACH AND EVERY MEMBER OF CHENNAI PAO FOR THEIR DETERMINED STRUGGLE ON THE FACE OF SEVERE REPRESSION LET LOOSE BY GM(FINANCE). CHQ THANKS ALL THE LEADERS OF NFPE COORDINATION COMMITTEE, TAMILNADU CIRCLE.

IMAGES FROM DHARNA CAMP