Friday, 14 September 2012
Soon, the postman will knock, tablet in hand
Very soon, your friendly neighbourhood postman will bring along a tablet
computer when he knocks at your door, to carry out all transactions
related to delivery of cash, banking activities and a few more.
Infosys’ Vice-President and Head for India Business Raghu Cavale told Business Line
that India Post is in talks with the IT major to source hardware and
software for the next phase of its computerisation. This project will
involve sourcing of low-cost 7-inch and 10-inch tablets and the
development of apps for them. Infosys will also develop intellectual
property (IP) out of its Bangalore office for these apps.
While the tablets will be used by the postman to enter data such as
digital signatures and a delivery challan, the apps will be used by
India Post to update its backend database in real time, helping it cut
down on errors and fraud. India Post covers about 200 million customers
across India and offers small savings schemes, postal life insurance,
rural postal life insurance, pension payments and wage disbursements.
The postal department is looking at these solutions as a part of its
modernisation drive and to increase operational effectiveness.
Growth forecast
On its part, Infosys sees its India business growing to about $1 billion
in the next four years. It recently bagged a key IT outsourcing and
consulting deal with India Post and another deal from the Income-Tax
Department for its electronic TDS division.
At present, the India operations of Infosys contribute 2 per cent of its
$7-billion revenues but the software major considers India one of its
key emerging markets. This importance can be gauged from the fact that
Infosys’ India business is one of the four verticals within Infosys that
reports to the board directly.
The India Post project, which Infosys bagged recently, is worth Rs 700
crore. This project is aimed at spreading financial services across 1.5
lakh post offices in the country. As part of the project, Infosys will
also install 1,000 ATMs for India Post to increase the effectiveness of
its delivery channel.
The Hindu Business Line, Sept 12, 2012
'Dakiya' back in 'khaki'
INDORE: Once the ubiquitous postman, whose uniform was changed from
'khaki' to blue to give him a corporate look, has been longing to go
back to his original dress code. In fact, after the switch from 'khaki'
uniform with a matching 'Netaji' cap, postmen feel that they had lost
their 'friendly' image and wish to regain the image a 'dakiya' (popular
name in Hindi for postman) through the 'khaki.'
There are 3,129 postmen in Madhya Pradesh who would now don back the khaki with the new India Post red logo. The team includes 119 women who would be supplied with khaki sarees replacing the existing blue ones. For men, the reverted khaki uniform, however, would not have the old Netaji cap.
There are 3,129 postmen in Madhya Pradesh who would now don back the khaki with the new India Post red logo. The team includes 119 women who would be supplied with khaki sarees replacing the existing blue ones. For men, the reverted khaki uniform, however, would not have the old Netaji cap.
It was in 2004 when the Union government changed the uniform of postmen
from khaki to sky-blue shirts and deep-blue trousers. For women, the
sky-blue sarees has a dark-blue border. The department of post personnel
had been long demanding reverting the dress code.
"The blue uniform had not only nudged us out of market, but even made us look strangers," said president of postal employees association Prahlad Jaiswal, who has been spear-heading the fight to win back the almost lost-craze for the postman. "A crucial meeting on 'khaki uniform' with senior officials of the Madhya Pradesh circle will be held on September 13 at Bhopal, and we have been asking the Union government to reconsider our demand of going back to khaki," he said.
"The change from khaki to blue aimed to give a corporate touch from the drab-sounding and dull-looking khaki. However, no one realized that the change in uniform will make the postmen invisible," said the secretary of the association, Raju Yadav.
"The khaki uniform had given us the look of a government employee and made us look something different from run of the mill. Look at the uniform of forest officials and policemen, they are still the same and make them stand out from the rest of security agencies and other uniforms worn by the government employees," said Yadav.
"The decision to return back to khaki has already been taken," said a senior official of the postal department preferring anonymity. "It is a matter of time when postmen would be distributed the khaki uniform," he said.
"The blue uniform had not only nudged us out of market, but even made us look strangers," said president of postal employees association Prahlad Jaiswal, who has been spear-heading the fight to win back the almost lost-craze for the postman. "A crucial meeting on 'khaki uniform' with senior officials of the Madhya Pradesh circle will be held on September 13 at Bhopal, and we have been asking the Union government to reconsider our demand of going back to khaki," he said.
"The change from khaki to blue aimed to give a corporate touch from the drab-sounding and dull-looking khaki. However, no one realized that the change in uniform will make the postmen invisible," said the secretary of the association, Raju Yadav.
"The khaki uniform had given us the look of a government employee and made us look something different from run of the mill. Look at the uniform of forest officials and policemen, they are still the same and make them stand out from the rest of security agencies and other uniforms worn by the government employees," said Yadav.
"The decision to return back to khaki has already been taken," said a senior official of the postal department preferring anonymity. "It is a matter of time when postmen would be distributed the khaki uniform," he said.
Source : The Times of India, Sept 12, 2012
Five foreign consultants in race for ‘Post Bank of India’ project
The Department of Posts has issued request for proposals (RFP) to five
top notch foreign consultancy firms for the proposed Post Bank of India
project.
The five short-listed firms are Accenture Services, Boston Consulting
Group, Ernst & Young, KPMG Advisory Services and McKinsey & Co.
The Department of Posts (DoP) is looking to set up a bank — Post Bank of
India (PBI) — to provide banking services with special focus on rural
areas.
Besides providing a platform for financial inclusion, the Post Bank of
India will provide means of additional revenue generation for the DoP.
The consultancy firms chosen, out of the five short-listed ones, will as
part of the assignment focus on Detailed Project Report (DPR) on
creation of PBI, financial viability of PBI, proposed organisational
structure of PBI in the light of RBI regulations, and relationship
between PBI and Post Office Savings Bank.
Source : http://www.thehindubusinessline.com
Officials working in the posts of PO & RMS Accountant are eligible for Special Allowance even after grant of MACP upgradation - orders of Directorate
It was ordered by Postal Directorate
vide O.M F.No 1-02/2011-PAP dated 31.08.2012 that both the unqualified
and qualified officials posted against the posts of PO&RMS
Accountants are entitled to necessary
Special Allowance on their financial up gradation under MACP Scheme.
The Special allowance shall however be discontinued on their functional
promotion.
These orders will apply mutatis mutandis to the officials working in the posts of Cashiers /Treasurers also.
Click here to view the said Directorate letter in original.
Amendment to CCS(Commutationof Pension) Rules, 1981
Click here to view the Gazette notification on amendment to Central Civil Services (Commutation of Pension ) Rules, 1981
National Anomaly Committee Meeting Minutes issued by DOPT
Department of Personnel and Training has issued detailed minutes with agenda items of the meeting of National Anomaly Committee held on 17th July, 2012.
Click the link to view the order...
Click the link to view the order...
DOPT issued ‘Frequently Asked Questions’ (FAQ) on ‘Right to Information Act’ (RTI)
DOPT issued FAQ on RTI
Department
of Personnel and Training has issued an another clarifications on Right
to Information Act (RTI) as in the form of FAQ. Nearly seventeen
questions and answers are compiled with simple and effective
information. We reproduced the contents of the FAQ and given below for
your reference…
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQs) ON RTI (AS ON JANURARY 2012)
Q.1. What is Information?
Information
is any material in any form. It includes records, documents, memos,
e-mails, opinions, advices, press releases, circulars, orders,
logbooks, contracts, reports, papers, samples, models, data
material
held in any electronic form. It also includes information relating to
any private body which can be accessed by the public authority under any
law for the time being in force.
Q.2 What is a Public Authority?
A
"public authority" is any authority or body or institution of self
government established or constituted by or under the Constitution; or
by any other law made by the Parliament or a State Legislature; or by
notification issued or order made by the Central Government or a State
Government. The bodies owned, controlled or substantially financed by
the Central Government or a State Government and non-Government
organisations substantially financed by the Central Government or a
State Government also fall within the definition of public authority.
The financing of the body or the NGO by the Government may be direct or
indirect.
Q.3 What is a Public Information Officer?
Public
authorities have designated some of its officers as Public Information
Officer. They are responsible to give information to a person who seeks
information under the RTI Act.
Q.4 What is an Assistant Public Information Officer?
These
are the officers at sub-divisional level to whom a person can give his
RTI application or appeal. These officers send the application or
appeal to the Public Information Officer of the public authority or the
concerned appellate authority. An Assistant Public Information
Officer is not responsible to supply the information. The Assistant
Public Information Officers appointed by the
Department
of Posts in various post offices are working as Assistant Public
Information Officers for all the public authorities under the Government
of India.
Q.5. What is the Fee for Seeking Information from Central Government Public Authorities?
A
person who desires to seek some information from a Central Government
Public Authority is required to send, along with the application, a
demand draft or a banker’s cheque or an Indian Postal Order of Rs.10/-
(Rupees ten), payable to the Accounts Officer of the public authority as
fee prescribed for seeking information. The payment of fee can also be
made by way of cash to the Accounts Officer of the public authority or
to the Assistant Public Information Officer against proper receipt.
However, the RTI Fee and the mode of payment may vary as under Section
27 and Section 28, of the RTI Act, 2005 the appropriate Government and
the competent authority, respectively, by notification in the Official
Gazette, make rules to carry out the provisions of this Act.
Q.6. What is the Fee for the BPL applicant for Seeking Information?
If
the applicant belongs to below poverty line (BPL) category, he is not
required to pay any fee. However, he should submit a proof in support of
his claim to belong to the below poverty line.
Q.7. Is there any specific Format of Application?
There
is no prescribed format of application for seeking information. The
application can be made on plain paper. The application should, however,
have the name and complete postal address of the applicant.
Q.8. Is it required to give any reason for seeking information?
The information seeker is not required to give reasons for seeking information.
Q.9. Is there any provision for exemption from Disclosure of Information?
Sub-section
(1) of section 8 and section 9 of the Act enumerate the types of
information which is exempt from disclosure. Sub-section (2) of section
8, however, provides that information exempted under sub-section (1) or
exempted under the Official Secrets Act, 1923 can be disclosed if
public interest in disclosure overweighs the harm to the protected
interest.
Q.10. Is there any assistance available to the Applicant for filing RTI application?
If
a person is unable to make a request in writing, he may seek the help
of the Public Information Officer to write his application and the
Public Information Officer should render him reasonable assistance.
Where a decision is taken to give access to a sensorily disabled person
to any document, the Public Information Officer, shall provide such
assistance to the person as may be appropriate for inspection.
Q.11. What is the Time Period for Supply of Information?
In
normal course, information to an applicant shall be supplied within 30
days from the receipt of application by the public authority. If
information sought concerns the life or liberty of a person, it shall be
supplied within 48 hours. In case the application is sent through the
Assistant Public Information Officer or it is sent to a wrong public
authority, five days shall be added to the period of thirty days or 48
hours, as the case may be.
Q.12. Is there any provision of Appeal under the RTI Act?
If
an applicant is not supplied information within the prescribed time of
thirty days or 48 hours, as the case may be, or is not satisfied with
the information furnished to him, he may prefer an appeal to the first
appellate authority who is an officer senior in rank to the Public
Information Officer. Such an appeal, should be filed within a period of
thirty days from the date on which the limit of 30 days of supply of
information is expired or from the date on which the information or
decision of the Public Information Officer is received. The appellate
authority of the public authority shall dispose of the appeal within a
period of thirty days or in exceptional cases within 45 days of the
receipt of the appeal.
Q.13. Is there any scope for second appeal under the RTI Act?
If
the first appellate authority fails to pass an order on the appeal
within the prescribed period or if the appellant is not satisfied with
the order of the first appellate authority, he may prefer a second
appeal with the Central Information Commission within ninety days from
the date on which the decision should have been made by the first
appellate authority or was actually received by the appellant.
Q.14. Whether Complaints can be made under this Act? If yes, under what conditions?
If
any person is unable to submit a request to a Public Information
Officer either by reason that such an officer has not been appointed by
the concerned public authority; or the Assistant Public Information
Officer has refused to accept his or her application or appeal for
forwarding the same to the Public Information Officer or the appellate
authority, as the case may be; or he has been refused access to any
information requested by him under the RTI Act; or he has not been given
a response to a request for information within the time limit specified
in the Act; or he has been required to pay an amount of fee which he
considers unreasonable; or he believes that he has been given
incomplete, misleading or false information, he can make a complaint to
the Information Commission.
Q.15. What is Third Party Information?
Third
party in relation to the Act means a person other than the citizen who
has made request for information. The definition of third party
includes a public authority other than the public authority to whom the
request has been made.
Q.16. What is the Method of Seeking Information?
A
citizen who desires to obtain any information under the Act, should
make an application to the Public Information Officer of the concerned
public authority in writing in English or Hindi or in the official
language of the area in which the application is made. The application
should be precise and specific. He should make payment of application
fee at the time of submitting the application as prescribed in the Fee
Rules.
Q.17. Is there any organization(s) exempt from providing information under RTI Act?
Yes,
certain intelligence and security organisations specified in the
Second Schedule, are exempted from providing information excepting the
information pertaining to the allegations of corruption and human
rights violations.
Source: www.persmin.nic.in
Courtesy : http://90paisa.blogspot.in/
DOPT issued FAQ on RTI
Department
of Personnel and Training has issued an another clarifications on Right
to Information Act (RTI) as in the form of FAQ. Nearly seventeen
questions and answers are compiled with simple and effective
information. We reproduced the contents of the FAQ and given below for
your reference…
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQs) ON RTI (AS ON JANURARY 2012)
Q.1. What is Information?
Information
is any material in any form. It includes records, documents, memos,
e-mails, opinions, advices, press releases, circulars, orders,
logbooks, contracts, reports, papers, samples, models, data
material
held in any electronic form. It also includes information relating to
any private body which can be accessed by the public authority under any
law for the time being in force.
Q.2 What is a Public Authority?
A
"public authority" is any authority or body or institution of self
government established or constituted by or under the Constitution; or
by any other law made by the Parliament or a State Legislature; or by
notification issued or order made by the Central Government or a State
Government. The bodies owned, controlled or substantially financed by
the Central Government or a State Government and non-Government
organisations substantially financed by the Central Government or a
State Government also fall within the definition of public authority.
The financing of the body or the NGO by the Government may be direct or
indirect.
Q.3 What is a Public Information Officer?
Public
authorities have designated some of its officers as Public Information
Officer. They are responsible to give information to a person who seeks
information under the RTI Act.
Q.4 What is an Assistant Public Information Officer?
These
are the officers at sub-divisional level to whom a person can give his
RTI application or appeal. These officers send the application or
appeal to the Public Information Officer of the public authority or the
concerned appellate authority. An Assistant Public Information
Officer is not responsible to supply the information. The Assistant
Public Information Officers appointed by the
Department
of Posts in various post offices are working as Assistant Public
Information Officers for all the public authorities under the Government
of India.
Q.5. What is the Fee for Seeking Information from Central Government Public Authorities?
A
person who desires to seek some information from a Central Government
Public Authority is required to send, along with the application, a
demand draft or a banker’s cheque or an Indian Postal Order of Rs.10/-
(Rupees ten), payable to the Accounts Officer of the public authority as
fee prescribed for seeking information. The payment of fee can also be
made by way of cash to the Accounts Officer of the public authority or
to the Assistant Public Information Officer against proper receipt.
However, the RTI Fee and the mode of payment may vary as under Section
27 and Section 28, of the RTI Act, 2005 the appropriate Government and
the competent authority, respectively, by notification in the Official
Gazette, make rules to carry out the provisions of this Act.
Q.6. What is the Fee for the BPL applicant for Seeking Information?
If
the applicant belongs to below poverty line (BPL) category, he is not
required to pay any fee. However, he should submit a proof in support of
his claim to belong to the below poverty line.
Q.7. Is there any specific Format of Application?
There
is no prescribed format of application for seeking information. The
application can be made on plain paper. The application should, however,
have the name and complete postal address of the applicant.
Q.8. Is it required to give any reason for seeking information?
The information seeker is not required to give reasons for seeking information.
Q.9. Is there any provision for exemption from Disclosure of Information?
Sub-section
(1) of section 8 and section 9 of the Act enumerate the types of
information which is exempt from disclosure. Sub-section (2) of section
8, however, provides that information exempted under sub-section (1) or
exempted under the Official Secrets Act, 1923 can be disclosed if
public interest in disclosure overweighs the harm to the protected
interest.
Q.10. Is there any assistance available to the Applicant for filing RTI application?
If
a person is unable to make a request in writing, he may seek the help
of the Public Information Officer to write his application and the
Public Information Officer should render him reasonable assistance.
Where a decision is taken to give access to a sensorily disabled person
to any document, the Public Information Officer, shall provide such
assistance to the person as may be appropriate for inspection.
Q.11. What is the Time Period for Supply of Information?
In
normal course, information to an applicant shall be supplied within 30
days from the receipt of application by the public authority. If
information sought concerns the life or liberty of a person, it shall be
supplied within 48 hours. In case the application is sent through the
Assistant Public Information Officer or it is sent to a wrong public
authority, five days shall be added to the period of thirty days or 48
hours, as the case may be.
Q.12. Is there any provision of Appeal under the RTI Act?
If
an applicant is not supplied information within the prescribed time of
thirty days or 48 hours, as the case may be, or is not satisfied with
the information furnished to him, he may prefer an appeal to the first
appellate authority who is an officer senior in rank to the Public
Information Officer. Such an appeal, should be filed within a period of
thirty days from the date on which the limit of 30 days of supply of
information is expired or from the date on which the information or
decision of the Public Information Officer is received. The appellate
authority of the public authority shall dispose of the appeal within a
period of thirty days or in exceptional cases within 45 days of the
receipt of the appeal.
Q.13. Is there any scope for second appeal under the RTI Act?
If
the first appellate authority fails to pass an order on the appeal
within the prescribed period or if the appellant is not satisfied with
the order of the first appellate authority, he may prefer a second
appeal with the Central Information Commission within ninety days from
the date on which the decision should have been made by the first
appellate authority or was actually received by the appellant.
Q.14. Whether Complaints can be made under this Act? If yes, under what conditions?
If
any person is unable to submit a request to a Public Information
Officer either by reason that such an officer has not been appointed by
the concerned public authority; or the Assistant Public Information
Officer has refused to accept his or her application or appeal for
forwarding the same to the Public Information Officer or the appellate
authority, as the case may be; or he has been refused access to any
information requested by him under the RTI Act; or he has not been given
a response to a request for information within the time limit specified
in the Act; or he has been required to pay an amount of fee which he
considers unreasonable; or he believes that he has been given
incomplete, misleading or false information, he can make a complaint to
the Information Commission.
Q.15. What is Third Party Information?
Third
party in relation to the Act means a person other than the citizen who
has made request for information. The definition of third party
includes a public authority other than the public authority to whom the
request has been made.
Q.16. What is the Method of Seeking Information?
A
citizen who desires to obtain any information under the Act, should
make an application to the Public Information Officer of the concerned
public authority in writing in English or Hindi or in the official
language of the area in which the application is made. The application
should be precise and specific. He should make payment of application
fee at the time of submitting the application as prescribed in the Fee
Rules.
Q.17. Is there any organization(s) exempt from providing information under RTI Act?
Yes,
certain intelligence and security organisations specified in the
Second Schedule, are exempted from providing information excepting the
information pertaining to the allegations of corruption and human
rights violations.
Source: www.persmin.nic.in
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