Saturday 3 November 2012

Right to Education: A voucher-based system for transferring funds to the deserving will be more democratic

The Right to Education (RTE) Act promises free and compulsory education to each and every child, to be delivered by the central and state governments, with the help of families and communities.

The immediate question that arises is whether to fund students or schools? If schools are funded, then the basis and proofs of admission of the 25% remains a challenge. If students are funded, then the challenge is to establish intended usage by children or their parents.

Although there exist several delivery mechanisms for transfer of funds - in bank accounts, by bank drafts or by cash - each has its own merits and demerits: for example, not all beneficiaries will have bank accounts, writing of cheques/drafts and the logistics involved in delivering the same and, of course, the possibility of cash being siphoned.

Appropriate back-end systems and MIS that can provide reliable and timely information related to identification of appropriate beneficiaries for corresponding neighbourhood schools, admissions, reimbursement, record maintenance, students transfer as well as learning assessment are other missing pieces of the puzzle.

Unwillingness of high-end private schools to accept the provision of 25% reservation ended on April 13, 2012, when the Supreme Court upheld the constitutional validity of the RTE reserving 25% seats for poor students in government and private unaided schools, except minority institutions. The need of the hour is a transparent, simple, fair, accountable and easy-to-implement system that ensures implementation of this revolutionary Act in its correct spirit.

One simple, yet innovative solution can be use of specialised and secure voucher system for education. Studies have shown that education vouchers do help in enhancing access and quality, especially for the needy families. Further, it introduces more accountability and transparency in all stakeholders: governments, schools and students, thereby raising the quality of governance. Vouchers are extremely helpful in allocating convenience and benefits to citizens at large. As a payable instrument, it has evolved and resonated into a secure, accountable and transparent mechanism that delivers benefits under public social programmes: be it education, public distribution system or health. So, let's understand the functionality of vouchers in the education sector.

Basically, an education voucher delivered directly to beneficiary family empowers the deprived students by providing them with an opportunity to enrol in a school of their choice. The money spent by governments on government schools is converted into education vouchers and distributed directly among the poor students. Instead of funding schools, the government funds students. Therefore, universalisation of school access and education is ensured. The government schools that are able to attract students get funded based on the number of vouchers (students) they are able to produce. The funding to the school is not automatic and arbitrary but based on the number of students that government schools have.

All the schools' resources are automatically linked to this and it automatically introduces competition among the government schools, thereby introducing competition and enhancing quality of education. Similarly, under the RTE provisions, students from the economically-backward and weaker sections get an opportunity to study in private schools as well. As a result, the underprivileged get the equality of choice as the rich and this choice of the poor increases competition in the education sector. The private schools are also motivated by the fact that vouchers provide them with complete transparency about their reimbursement and that uncertainty about their payment mechanism is removed.

Thus, the combination of choice and competition provide universal access and higher quality of education to all. The education voucher system provides for a system that is absolutely evidence-based.

Many benefits like school textbooks, school uniform, bicycles to eligible students, scholarships for particular usage, etc, can also be administered through this mechanism of evidence-based usage system.

Many countries have seen drastic changes after the introduction of education vouchers. Sweden has actually converted its school education into a universal voucher system where every child, irrespective of parental income, gets a voucher to go to a school of her choice among private or government schools. Ticket Junaeb in Chile and Dote Scoula in Italy are other examples. 
( By: Sandeep Banerjee, MD & CEO, Edenred India in The Economic Times, 3 Nov, 2012)

Microsoft offers Windows 8 for Rs 1,999 to cajole users of pirated OS

NEW DELHI: Offer a sophisticated operating system for the price of a pair of branded jeans. This seems to be Microsoft's strategy to cajole millions of users running pirated copies of its flagship Windows operating system (OS) to turn a leaf and become legitimate, paying customers.
The Redmond, Washington-based software giant is offering a deep discount on Windows 8 for a few months, selling a copy priced at Rs 11,999 for Rs 1,999. From a computer that runs Windows XP, Vista or Windows 7 - pirated or otherwise - users can download a licensed copy of Windows 8 Pro, the version with all the bells and whistles, for an 83% discount. No questions asked.

The offer is valid till January 31, 2013. An upgrade DVD costs Rs 3,499 and if you bought a Windows 7 computer after June 2012, an upgrade is yours for Rs 699.


Microsoft
is silent on whether this is a security loophole or a deliberate strategy. Company officials declined comment. Raju PP, editor of tech blog Techpp.com, who installed Windows 8 on a non-activated Windows 7 installation by paying Rs 1,999, said: "I have strong reasons to believe that this was a deliberate move to push up initial sales. Microsoft is big and wise enough to do a basic check for legitimacy of Windows 7 installation. They could have done a background check of the installation or could have asked for the Windows 7 licence key. But they didn't".
For years, the hordes of users who used pirated copies of the flagship Windows OS represented a tricky knot for software giant Microsoft. They were potentially robbing the company of billions of dollars in revenue. And yet, cracking down would have made them turn to free, open-source platforms.

This would have diluted the immense network effect that benefits Microsoft and helps preserve its market dominance. So, Microsoft mostly cracked down on piracy among companies and enterprise users and left personal users alone.


That seems to be changing as the company unveiled Windows 8, a touchscreen-optimised OS that marks a radical departure in its user interface to usher in a tile-based system common to personal computers, tablets and mobile devices. With these upgrade offers, within four days of its launch, 4 million licences of Windows 8 have been bought and downloaded globally.


The deep discount is likely to find many takers among users in emerging economies who run pirated versions of the OS. "They are obviously trying to lure pirated users, which is a big market. Not many enterprises plan to move to Windows 8 as they are still in the process of moving from Windows XP to Windows 7. Microsoft is trying to tap into the big market of pirated Windows, which is much bigger than their enterprise market," said Vishal Tripathi, principal research analyst, Gartner.


As per Netmarkershare.com, Windows currently has over 80% market share worldwide in
desktop OS. The main reason for piracy is the high price of a legitimate Windows copy. A genuine Windows 7 OS costs at least 5,000 (Home Basic) even today, while a pirated copy of Windows 7 Ultimate, legally priced at 11,488, can be bought for a few hundred rupees in the grey market. There has been great consumer interest in Windows 8, which clocked 16 million downloads for preview. 
Source : The Economic Times, 3 Nov, 2012

Special Collection Centres for Diwali Greetings Mail

Special arrangements for receiving Diwali Greetings Mail have been made by Delhi Postal Circle. Thirty four Post Offices and 2 RMS Offices at Railway Stations as per following list will accept Diwali Mail from 07.11.2012 to 16.11.2012.  Separate reception counters have been set up at these Post Offices for the purpose.  Members of the public are Welcome to post their Diwali Greetings mail at these collection centres.  
 
1.
Ashok Vihar PO
19.
New Delhi GPO
2.
Civil Lines PO
20.
New Subzi Mandi PO
3.
Chankyapuri PO
21.
Naraina Ind.Estate PO
4.
Delhi GPO
22.
Patel Nagar PO
5.
Delhi Cantt.PO
23.
Paschim Vihar PO
6.
Hauz Khas PO
24.
Ramesh Nagar PO
7.
IPHO
25.
Rohini PO
8.
Janakpuri PO
26.
R.K. Puram V PO
9.
Krishna Nagar PO
27.
R.P. Bhawan PO
10.
Karol Bagh PO
28.
Sansad Marg PO
11.
Keshav Puram PO
29.
Sarojini Nagar PO
12.
Kalkaji PO
30.
SRT Nagar PO
13.
Lodi Road HO
31.
Seelampur PO
14.
Lajpat Nagar PO
32.
Sriniwas Puri PO
15.
Malviya Nagar PO
33.
Saraswati Vihar PO
16.
Malka Ganj PO
34.
R.K. Puram (Main) PO
17.
Mehrauli PO
35.
Delhi RSTMO (Delhi Rly Station)
18.
Mayapuri PO
36.
New Delhi RS TMO (New Delhi Rly Station)
In addition to the normal provisions, these centres will help in timely delivery of greetings considering of the mail rush on the occasion.

News from CHQ : Casual Labourer's Case



NFPE News : Meeting with Member (Operations)

UNIQUE ID FOR GPF SUBSCRIBERS.........

No. ITD-CGA/07-11/GPF-MIDS/Pt. file III/888-925
Ministry of Finance, Department of Expenditure
Office of the Controller General of Accounts
Lok Nayak Bhavan, Khan Market
New Delhi — 110 003
 (IT. Division)
Date : 29th October, 2012.
OFFICE MEMORANDUM

     Reference is invited to dais office OM of even no. 673-708 dated 14.09.2012, vide which all the Pr.CCAs/CCAs/CAs were requested to direct all the PAOs under their administrative control to update the General Information (GI) data of all the GPF subscribers in COMPACT with their Date of Birth, Date of Joining Government Service, Date of Superannuation and PAN allotted by Income Tax Department so that the multiple accounts of GPF subscribers could be mapped and Unique IDs could be allotted to all the Account holders.

 2.   However, on verification from the report available on e-Lekha, it has been observed that the GI data has been updated only by very few PAOs. The multiple accounts of GPF subscribers could be mapped only after receipt of the complete information.

 3.   Pr.CCA/CCA/CA may instruct all the PAOs under their payment control to update the GI data urgently so that this office may take steps towards allotment of Unique IDs to the individual GPF subscribers. It may be ensured that all the GPF account numbers are maintained through GPF module of COMPACT only by the respective PAOs.

 4.   A report to check the status of updation of GI data by the PAOs is available on e-Lekha. The Controller level user of e-Lekha can view this report viz., 'PAN No. Updation Status for GPF Subscribers', under sub module MIS-8 of e-Lekha.

sd/-
(Alok Kumar Verma)
Dy. Controller General of Accounts (ITD)

Suspension of Booking of holiday home at Mysore for two more months (from 16.10.2012 to 31.12.2012) regarding.


No. D-11016/16/87-Regions
Government of India
Ministry of Urban Development
Directorate of Estates
Nirman Bhawan, New Delhi
Dated 25-10-2012
Office Memorandum
Subject: Suspension of Booking of holiday home at Mysore for two more months (from 16.10.2012 to 31.12.2012) regarding.

The work of vertical extension of existing holiday home at Mysore has not completed till now and it will likely to take two more months. Due to construction activities, there is disturbance within the premises of holiday home at Mysore.

Accordingly, booking of Holiday Home at Mysore is being suspended for two more months i.e. from 16.10.2012 to 31.12.2012. Application for booking for the aforesaid period will not be entertained by the booking authority.

sd/-
(N.S. Chauhan)
Assistant Director of Estates (Regions)

Source:www.holidayhomes.nic.in

BSNL Launches Automatic Validity Extension Facility in 5 Prepaid Plans



Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd (BSNL) today announced the launch of Auto Renewal facility for customers using Per Second, Per Minute, General, New Nesam Special and Anbujodi Special prepaid plans in Tamilnadu and Chennai circle.
With the launch of this Auto Renewal facility, If sufficient prepaid balance is available in customers account, then the amount of plan validity vouchers will be deducted (only for the customers of the above mentioned 5 plans) and plan validity will be extended as per PV/PCV.
The customer will be informed by an SMS from BSNL regarding the extensions of plan validity by Auto Renewal System and freebies as per the PV/PCVs will be credited in customers account accordingly.





SOurce : http://telecomtalk.info

Vigilence Clearence for Promotion - Comprehensive review of Instructions

Vigilence Clearence for Promotion - Comprehensive review of Instructions


Click here to view O M F.No.22034/4/2012 -Estt. (D), Dated 02.11.2012 issued by Department of Personnel & Training, Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions on the above subject matter.

Air India LTC-80 Fares updated as on 25-10-2012

Air India has released Air India LTC-80 Fares with effect from 25.10.2012.  LTC-80 fare rates gain significance among central government employees as they are eligible to travel by air only using LTC 80 while they avail LTC.
TABLE IV‐ LTC Fares updated as on 25-10-2012
S No SECTOR & V.V HLTC DLTC Airline Fuel   Charge
Base Fare Base Fare
1 Agartala Guwahati 4831 9056 1750
2 Agartala Kolkata 3891 7753 1750
3 Agartala Silchar 4401   1750
4 Agatti Bengaluru 10691   1750
5 Agatti Chennai 10646   2050
6 Agatti Kochi 8571   1750
7 Agatti Kozhikode 7471   1750
8 Ahmedabad Chennai 7426 24361 2800
9 Ahmedabad Delhi 4851 15137 2050
10 Ahmedabad Hyderabad 7076 18254 2050
11 Ahmedabad Mumbai 4351 11965 1750
12 Aizawl Guwahati 5351   1750
13 Aizawl Imphal 4466 6640 1750
14 Aizawl Kolkata 4626 10231 1750
15 Allahabad Delhi 6541   1750
16 Allahabad Kanpur 4751   1750
17 Amritsar Delhi 4366 11140 1750
18 Aurangabad Delhi 8801 20287 2050
19 Aurangabad Mumbai 4451 9191 1750
20 Bagdogra Delhi 9716 19199 2800
21 Bagdogra Guwahati 4536 7651 1750
22 Bagdogra Kolkata 5436 11728 1750
23 Bengaluru Chennai 4701 9231 1750
24 Bengaluru Delhi 9901 27160 3500
25 Bengaluru Goa 5151 11837 1750
26 Bengaluru Hyderabad 5451 11363 1750
27 Bengaluru Kochi 4501 9896 1750
28 Bengaluru Kolkata 9701 28974 3500
29 Bengaluru Mumbai 6851 14896 2050
30 Bengaluru Pune 6184 15046 1750
31 Bengaluru Trivandrum 5451 12107 1750
32 Bhopal Delhi 4801 13396 1750
33 Bhopal Indore 4281 7786 1750
34 Bhopal Mumbai 5356 14100 1750
35 Bhubaneshwar Chennai 8291 16790 2800
36 Bhubaneshwar Delhi 9001 25423 2800
37 Bhubaneshwar Kolkata 5406 11399 1750
38 Bhubaneshwar Mumbai 9401 27693 2800
39 Bhubaneshwar Port Blair 11216   2800
40 Chandigarh Delhi 4301 9461 1750
41 Chandigarh Mumbai 8836 24470 2800
42 Chennai Coimbatore 4251 10706 1750
43 Chennai Delhi 8456 27744 3500
44 Chennai Goa 6311 14757 1750
45 Chennai Hyderabad 4451 13013 1750
46 Chennai Kochi 5251 13170 1750
47 Chennai Kolkata 8566 25718 2800
48 Chennai Madurai 4251 10706 1750
49 Chennai Mumbai 8571 16798 2800
50 Chennai Portblair 9411 23134 2800
51 Chennai Trivandrum 5601 13177 1750
52 Chennai Vishakhapatnam 4801 13323 1750
53 Coimbatore Delhi 9751 30507 3500
54 Coimbatore Kozhikode 4451 6070 1750
55 Coimbatore Mumbai 8001 17601 2800
56 Dehradun Delhi 5221 12520 1750
57 Delhi Gaya 6851 18254 2050
58 Delhi Goa 8821 23933 3500
59 Delhi Guwahati 9811 24258 3500
60 Delhi Gwalior 5051 9155 1750
61 Delhi Hyderabad 8401 23923 2800
62 Delhi Imphal 9081 25255 3500
63 Delhi Indore 4851 14692 1750
64 Delhi Jabalpur 6401   1750
65 Delhi Jaipur 3551 7950 1750
66 Delhi Jammu 4401 11721 1750
67 Delhi Jodhpur 5706 12830 1750
68 Delhi Kanpur 5701   1750
69 Delhi Khajuraho 5651 13648 1750
70 Delhi Kochi 12351 35905 3500
71 Delhi Kolkata 9061 22444 2800
72 Delhi Kozhikode 10051 30507 3500
73 Delhi Kullu 6301   1750
74 Delhi Leh 5501 13681 1750
75 Delhi Lucknow 4821 11348 1750
76 Delhi Ludhiana 4351   1750
77 Delhi Mangalore 9901 27160 3500
78 Delhi Mumbai 8951 20915 2800
79 Delhi Nagpur 7171 16163 2050
80 Delhi Pathankot 5101   1750
81 Delhi Patna 7151 16071 2050
82 Delhi Port Blair 21516   3500
83 Delhi Pune 9401 26383 2800
84 Delhi Raipur 7851 20652 2050
85 Delhi Ranchi 8811 20002 2800
86 Delhi Srinagar 6201 12129 1750
87 Delhi Surat 9101 19480 2050
88 Delhi Tirupati 9016 21930 3500
89 Delhi Trivandrum 12156 35905 3500
90 Delhi Udaipur 5786 13922 1750
91 Delhi Vadodra 7051 18393 2050
92 Delhi Varanasi 5681 13867 1750
93 Delhi Vijayawada 8566 24258 2800
94 Delhi Vishakhapatnam 10401 28084 2800
95 Dibrugarh Dimapur 3251 4515 1750
96 Dibrugarh Guwahati 4801   1750
97 Dibrugarh Kolkata 6526 13724 2050
98 Dibrugarh Lilabari 4051   1750
99 Dimapur Guwahati 4701   1750
100 Dimapur Imphal 4401   1750
101 Dimapur Kolkata 6101 12816 1750
102 Dimapur Shillong 4101   1750
103 Gaya Kolkata 4501 10837 1750
104 Gaya Varanasi 4851 8717 1750
105 Goa Hyderabad 5251 12659 1750
106 Goa Mumbai 5321 10180 1750
107 Goa Pune 4536 8103 1750
108 Goa Srinagar 12351 35905 3500
109 Guwahati Imphal 4901 9133 1750
110 Guwahati Jorhat 3736   1750
111 Guwahati Kolkata 5076 10407 1750
112 Guwahati Lilabari 5151   1750
113 Guwahati Silchar 5251   1750
114 Guwahati Tezpur 4436   1750
115 Gwalior Mumbai 8401 18272 2050
116 Hyderabad Kolkata 9696 23160 2800
117 Hyderabad Mumbai 5251 13597 1750
118 Hyderabad Pune 5231 12805 1750
119 Hyderabad Tirupati 4656 11111 1750
120 Hyderabad Varanasi 8811 20002 2800
121 Hyderabad Vijayawada 5051 9666 1750
122 Hyderabad Vishakhapatnam 4946 12586 1750
123 Imphal Kolkata 4281 11315 1750
124 Imphal Silchar 4601   1750
125 Indore Mumbai 4481 11177 1750
126 Jaipur Mumbai 6416 17334 2050
127 Jammu Leh 4886 8290 1750
128 Jammu Srinagar 4403 6253 1750
129 Jamnagar Mumbai 5181 11461 1750
130 Jodhpur Mumbai 7686 17210 2050
131 Jodhpur Udaipur 4231 7961 1750
132 Jorhat Kolkata 4976   1750
133 Jorhat Tezpur 4136   1750
134 Kanpur Kolkata 7401   2050
135 Khajuraho Varanasi 4936 11221 1750
136 Kochi Kozhikode 3501 6589 1750
137 Kochi Madurai 4301   1750
138 Kochi Mumbai 8401 19809 2800
139 Kochi Trivandrum 4301 7581 1750
140 Kolkata Lilabari 5801   2050
141 Kolkata Mumbai 8486 21733 3500
142 Kolkata Port Blair 11071 24955 2800
143 Kolkata Shillong 5481   1750
144 Kolkata Silchar 5001 10209 1750
145 Kolkata Tezpur 5151   1750
146 Kozhikode Mumbai 6951 15783 2050
147 Kozhikode Trivandrum 4391   1750
148 Kullu Pathankot 4001   1750
149 Leh Srinagar 4603 7541 1750
150 Lilabari Tezpur 3881   1750
151 Lucknow Mumbai 8051 23160 2800
152 Lucknow Varanasi 4626 8717 1750
153 Ludhiana Pathankot 4201   1750
154 Madurai Mumbai 7851 21835 2800
155 Mangalore Mumbai 6086 14312 1750
156 Mumbai Nagpur 5001 13757 1750
157 Mumbai Raipur 7306 19232 2050
158 Mumbai Rajkot 5281 11012 1750
159 Mumbai Ranchi 9751 20988 2800
160 Mumbai Srinagar 9016 21930 3500
161 Mumbai Trivandrum 10201 22076 2800
162 Mumbai Udaipur 4786 13947 1750
163 Mumbai Varanasi 9696 22649 2800
164 Mumbai Vishakhapatnam 9101 23047 2800
165 Raipur Bhubaneshwar 4281 9155 1750
166 Raipur Nagpur 5181 11710 1750
167 Raipur Vishakhapatnam 4251 10706 1750
168 Shillong Jorhat 4551   1750
169 Silchar Tezpur 4101   1750
170 Vishakhapatnam Bhubaneshwar 5321 9669 1750
TABLE V‐  Remarks & Notings
Remarks & Notings
1 a) EAP30/ERT30/E30PP, SAP14/SRT14/S14PP & SAP 7/ SAPRT/S7PP Fares Levels are Advance Purchase Fares which are  available for sale upto 30 days/ 14 days, & 7 days respectively in advance before schedule date of departure of the flight.
2 Taxes, Fee & Charges
In addition to the above fares, Passenger Service fee, Airport Development Fee (wherever applicable) and Service Tax would apply.
a) Passenger Service fee is Rs. 233 except  (a) Ex Jammu,Srinagar  Leh where it is 207 (b) ex Bengaluru, Hyderabad  & Kochi it is 225/-& ( c ) ex Delhi Rs.146/-
b)
(a)  User Development Fee (UDF)  ex  Hyderabad Rs. 484, Bengaluru Rs. 260, Jaipur Rs. 150,  Mumbai Rs. 113, Amritsar Rs. 150, Trichy Rs. 150, Vishakapatnam Rs. 150, Udaipur Rs. 150, Ahmedabad Rs. 124, Mangalore Rs. 150, Varanasi Rs. 150. 
(b) UDF  from Delhi( from 15th May12-31 Mar13) : Distance upto 500 Km- Rs 260/- more than 500 Km- Rs 520/-
(c) UDF  to Delhi( from 15th May12-31 Mar13) : Distance upto 500 Km- Rs 220/- more than 500 Km- Rs 440/-
(d) UDF  from Delhi( from 1st Apr 13- 31Mar14) : Distance upto 500 Km- Rs 275/- more than 500 Km- Rs 551/-
( f ) UDF  to Delhi( from 1st Apr 13- 31Mar 14) : Distance upto 500 Km- Rs 233/- more than 500 Km- Rs 466/-
(g) Airport Development ( ADF ) ex Delhi Rs. 225/-
c) Service Tax  as applicable would be additional.
d) w.e.f. 16th July,2012 Air india has permitted levy of Transaction Fee (OC), on tickets issued by Travel Agents,for services rendered to customer.
Details as under: 
Domestic – Business class Rs 325 & Economy Class Rs 225 per ticket
3 Fare Rules: 
Fee for Refund/revalidation/re-issuance  is levied as detailed under: 
(i) First/Executive & Economy class under RBDs Y,B & M and LTC fares 
(ia) On Refund –  a processing fee of Rs.200 per coupon is levied. 
(ib) No re-issuance and revalidation fee is  applicable. 
(ii) Tickets issued  on fares  under RBDs H to T 
(iia) Refund – Permitted up to 1 hr before scheduled departure of the flight against a Refund Fee of -Rs.500 per coupon . Refund of No-show ticket, permitted  against a Refund Fee of -Rs.1500 per coupon 
(iib) Revalidation /re-issuance –  Permitted up to 1 hr before scheduled departure of the flight against a Change Fee of -Rs.500 per coupon Revalidation of No-show ticket, permitted  against a Change Fee of -Rs.1000 per coupon 
(iii) Tickets issued  on fares under RBDs E & S 
(iiia) Refund  - Permitted up to 1 hr before scheduled departure of the flight against a Refund Fee of -Rs.950 per coupon . Refund of No-show ticket: Basic Fares would be forfeited. 
(iiib) Revalidation /re-issuance –  Permitted up to 1 hr before scheduled departure of the flight against a Change Fee of -Rs.950 per coupon Revalidation of No-show ticket, permitted  against a Change Fee of -Rs.1500 per coupon 
(iv) Service Tax  as applicable would be additional. 
4 Updated Fares as on 25th  Oct , 2012 
5 These  fares are subject to Change without prior  notice. 
Source: Air India