Sunday 31 July 2016
Ministry of Communications & IT bifurcated to MoC & ME & IT
he Ministry of Communication and Information Technology was an Indian government ministry. It was bifurcated into Ministry of Communications and Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology in July 2016. It contained three departments viz.Department of Telecommunications, Department of Electronics and Information Technology (Deity) and Department of Posts.
The following cadre controlling authority of the Civil Services (including Indian Telecommunication Service, Indian Postal Service, Indian Radio Regulatory Service, Telegraph Traffic Service and Indian Posts and Telegraphs Accounts and Finance Service) are under the administration and supervision of the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology.
Thursday 28 July 2016
Saturday 23 July 2016
RESERVATION FOR SC/ST AND OBC
Article 16(4) of the Constitution enables provision of reservation to Backward Class of citizens, who are not adequately represented in the State. Reservation is provided to Scheduled Castes (SCs), Scheduled Tribes (STs) and Other Backward Classes (OBCs) through executive instructions issued from time to time, which has force of law, as held by the Supreme Court in Indira Sawhney case.
As per extant instructions, reservation is provided to Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and Other Backward Classes at the rate of 15%, 7.5% and 27%, respectively, in case of direct recruitment on all-India basis by open competition. In case of direct recruitment on all-India basis otherwise than by open competition, the percentage fixed is 16.66%, 7.5% and 25.84%, respectively.
As per information received from 71 Ministries/Departments, the representation of Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and Other Backward Classes in the posts and services under the Central Government as on 01.01.2014 is 17.35%, 8.38% and 19.28%, respectively.
While the representation of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes is as per the prescribed percentage, the representation of Other Backward Classes is less than the prescribed percentage due to the following reasons:-
(i) Reservation for Other Backward Classes started only from the year 1993.
(ii) OBC candidates who are appointed upto 1993, that is before introduction of reservation for OBCs, are not included for counting their representation;
(iii) There is generally a time gap between occurrence of vacancies and filling up such vacancies, as recruitment is a time consuming process.
Based on recommendations of a Committee headed by the Secretary, Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, time bound action plan for filling up backlog reserved vacancies has been intimated to all concerned Departments/Ministries on 20.11.2014 for filling up such vacancies by August 2016. The Action Plan includes study of reasons for non-filling of backlog reserved vacancies, review of prescribed standards, if required; conducting Special Recruitment Drive and conducting pre-recruitment training programmes.
This was stated by the Minister of State for Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions and Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office Dr. Jitendra Singh in a written reply to a question by Shri Laxmi Narayan Yadav and Shri Harishchandra Chavan in the Lok Sabha.
RECRUITMENT OF GRAMIN DAK SEVAKS - RS - Q & A
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS
DEPARTMENT OF POSTS
RAJYA SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.598
TO BE ANSWERED ON 22ND JULY, 2016
RECRUITMENT OF GRAMIN DAK SEVAKS
598. SHRI SANJIV KUMAR:
Will the Minister of COMMUNICATIONS be pleased to state:
(a) the total number of Gramin Dak Sevaks proposed to be recruited in Jharkhand and in the country during the financial year 2016-17;
(b) the action being taken against agents who are allegedly collecting large sums of money from people with the promise of facilitating appointments as Gramin Dak Sevaks in Jharkhand; and
(c) the steps being taken to ensure a transparent and non-discretionary system of recruitment of Gramin Dak Sevaks?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE (IC) OF THE MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS &
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS
(SHRI MANOJ SINHA)
(a) Circle-wise requisite information is attached as “Annexure-I”. However, 391 Gramin Dak Sevaks are proposed to be recruited in Jharkhand, and 31361 Gramin Dak Sevaks, in total, in the country during Financial Year 2016-2017.
(b) As per the information received from office of Chief Postmaster General, Jharkhand Circle, Ranchi; “No such case has come to notice”.
(c) Selection process is done through open notification duly following the provisions of Recruitment Rules for Gramin Dak Sevaks issued by the Directorate from time to time to ensure transparency and non-discretion in the process of recruitment of GDS.
Contd…2/-
-2-
Annexure - 1
S. No.
|
Circle
|
No. of GDSs proposed to be recruited during F.Y. 2016-17
|
1
|
Andhra Pradesh
|
1472
|
1a
|
Telengana
|
805
|
2
|
Assam
|
348
|
3
|
Bihar
|
1266
|
4
|
Chhatisgarh
|
1380
|
5
|
Delhi
|
237
|
6
|
Gujarat
|
3915
|
7
|
Haryana
|
385
|
8
|
Himachal Pradesh
|
496
|
9
|
Jammu & Kashmir
|
218
|
10
|
Jharkhand
|
391
|
11
|
Karnataka
|
1173
|
12
|
Kerala
|
473
|
13
|
Madhya Pradesh
|
1932
|
14
|
Maharashtra
|
2126
|
15
|
North East
|
381
|
16
|
Odisha
|
1433
|
17
|
Punjab
|
472
|
18
|
Rajasthan
|
958
|
19
|
Tamilnadu
|
1155
|
20
|
Uttar Pradesh
|
3991
|
21
|
Uttrakhand
|
681
|
22
|
West Bengal
|
5673
|
Total :-
|
31361
| |
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Thursday 21 July 2016
Casual Workers - One day paid weekly off for working in offices having five day week - DoPT order
It has been decided that casual workers working in offices having a five day week may be allowed one day paid weekly off provided they have worked for a minimum of 40 hours during the said week. The relevant provisions of the Department of Personnel and Training OM No.49014/2/86-Estt (C) 7th June, 1988 are amended to this extent.
Friday 8 July 2016
DEFERRING OF THE INDEFINITE STRIKE – CLARIFICATIONS
M. Krishnan, Secretary General,
Confederation of C. G. Employees & Workers
Dear Comrades,
We are in receipt of messages and emails from our grass root leaders and workers conveying their concerns over the decision of NJCA to defer the indefinite strike. Comments are circulated in other social medias like whats app etc. also. As it is not practically possible to reply to all the queries and comments, to put the record straight, we are clarifying below the common points raised by most of our comrades and well-wishers. We sincerely thank all those leaders, comrades and well-wishers, who have conveyed (and still conveying) their views, opinions, criticisms and concerns to the confederation CHQ.
1. CONVEYING THE DEFERMENT OF THE STRIKE EVEN BEFORE THE NJCA FORMALLY ANNOUNCED IT:
NJCA has taken serious note of this incident and shall take precautionary measures in future.
2. WHETHER IMPLEMENTATION OF THE CABINET DECISION ON 7TH CPC RECOMMENDATIONS WILL BE DELAYED FURTHER FOR FOUR MONTHS
The question of keeping in abeyance the implementation of the Cabinet decision on 29th June 2016 regarding 7thCPC recommendations, till the High Level Committee submits its report to Govt, was discussed in the NJCA meeting. It is decided that NJCA should not demand it, as the employees may be put to hardship, especially those who are in the verge of retirement. Com Shiv Gopal Misra, Convenor, NJCA has confirmed from the Finance Ministry that Govt notification on 7th CPC recommendations is under process and it will be issued shortly, payment may be made from August salary.
3. WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN EMPOWERED COMMITTEE CONSTITUTED EARLIER AND THE NEW HIGH LEVEL COMMITTEE?
The new High Level Committee is the product of the discussion held by Group of Ministers including Home Minister, Finance Minister and Railway Minister with NJCA leaders after announcement of the Cabinet decision, in the wake of an impending indefinite strike. Govt is compelled to appoint the new Committee, as the decision taken by the Govt on the proposals submitted by the Empowered Committee headed by Cabinet Secretary (details of proposals of ECoS is not known to staff side) is not acceptable to the NJCA. Hence the new Committee shall be to reconsider the decision of the Govt. especially regarding minimum wage and fitment formula. Inspite of the assurance of the Groups of Ministers that the Committee is being constituted to reconsider the Govt. decision, if the Govt. again reject our demand, the NJCA have to reconsider its stand and deferred strike shall be revived.
4. POSITION REGARDING ALLOWANCES
All allowances including HRA, transport allowance, fixed medical allowance to pensioners etc. are referred to a committee headed by Finance Secretary. Committee shall submit its report within four months. Pending final decision based on the report of the Committee, all existing allowances to be paid as per the existing rates in existing pay structure. Govt. may try to deny arrears of revised rate of allowances by implementing it from prospective date as in the past. This issue will be further discussed by the NJCA with the proposed Committee.
5. WE WOULD HAVE GOT A BETTER SETTLEMENT IF NJCA HAS GONE AHEAD WITH THE INDEFINITE STRIKE
All of us are aware that NJCA is not a monolithic, composite organization. It is a united forum of independent organisation. Each Federation has its own identity and individuality and take decision as per the direction of the managing bodies of each organization. Hence different views may emerge in the NJCA, but final decision is taken by consensus. If each organization stick on to its own stand and others to follow it, there is no question of consensus and NJCA will not exist.
With all its inherent weakness and limitations, the NJCA has successfully challenged the NDA Govt’s stand that there is no negotiation with the staff side on the 7th CPC recommendations. Govt. thought that once the Cabinet decision is announced unilaterally, followed by unleashing of well-orchestrated media propaganda that big bonanza is given for Central Govt. Employees, the NJCA will be forced to withdraw its indefinite strike decision. But the calculation of the Govt went wrong. NJCA took a firm stand that unless and until the retrograde recommendations especially minimum wage and fitment formula is modified, there is no question of withdrawing the strike. All the Federations are firm on this demand which ultimately compelled the Hon’ble Prime Minister to intervene. (NJCA has written to Hon’ble Prime Minister for intervention even before the Cabinet decision, but the Govt. ignored the NJCA’s appeal at that time). As per the direction of the Hon’ble Prime Minister, Hon’ble Home Minister Sri Rajnath Singh, Finance Minister Sri Arun Jaitly and Railway Minister Sri Suresh Prabhu discussed the main issues raised in the Charter of demands with NJCA leaders, and assured that Govt. will appoint a High Level Committee to reconsider the decision of the Govt., especially on minimum pay and fitment formula. This assurance was given with the approval of Hon’ble Prime Minster.
Inspite of it, the NJCA has not deferred the strike and insisted written confirmation of the assurance regarding constitution of High Level Committee. Again Hon’ble Home Minister Sri Rajnath Singh called the NJCA leaders and reiterated the earlier assurances and informed that the Finance Minister will issue a press statement confirming the assurance given to NJCA. Only after receipt of the copy of the press statement issued by the Finance Ministry, NJCA has deferred the strike till the finalization of the report of High Level Committee.
As the Hon’ble Prime Minister of our country has intervened and as three Cabinet Ministers of Govt. of India discussed the demands with NJCA leaders and gave assurance that the demands, especially minimum pay and fitment formula will be reconsidered, and as the Home Minister has again reiterated the assurances to NJCA leaders and Finance Minster has issued press statement confirming the constitution of High Level Committee, the NJCA felt that before embarking upon an indefinite strike which is the last weapon in the hands of the workers, we should give time to the Govt. to implement the Minister’s assurances given as per the direction of the Prime Minister and honour its commitment given to NJCA leaders. NJCA taking a stand that we don’t believe the Ministers and their assurance and shall go ahead with the strike, may not be taken in good spirit by the general public and the media. In case the Govt. backs out from its assurances, the NJCA has got every right to revive the deferred indefinite strike.
Com. Shiva Gopal Mishra, Convenor, NJCA has made it clear in the circular issued on 7th July 2016, which reads as follows: -
“Though there is positive assurance from the Govt. of India, but all of you will not take rest and assume counseling the cadre and ground staff that they should remain in full preparedness, because if there will not be SATISFACTORY OUTCOME, we will be having no alternative except to agitate the issues again.”
6. WHAT ABOUT PARITY IN PENSION? WILL IT BE IMPLEMENTED AS THERE IS A CLAUSE IN THE GOVT DECISION THAT THE PROPOSED COMMITTEE WILL EXAMINE THE FEASIBILITY OF IMPLEMENTATION OF THE OPTION No I, ie PARITY IN PENSION TO PAST PENSIONERS
This issue was raised before the Group of Minister by Com. K. K. N. Kutty, who is also the Secretary General of NCCPA (National Co-ordination Committee of Pensioners Associations). It was pointed out to the Finance Minister that even though the Govt. has decided to accept 7th CPC recommendation to have two options to pensioners, it is qualified with the words “subject to feasibility.” The Finance Minister categorically assured the delegation that the Govt. has accepted the recommendations in toto and the Pension Department has only been asked to sort out the difficulties in implementation of the Option-No-I, if any.
7. WHAT ABOUR DEMANDS OF THE GRAMIN DAK SEVAKS, AS NJCA IS MORE CONCERNED WITH MINIMUM PAY FITMENT FORMULA ONLY
Any increase in the minimum pay and fitment formula for departmental employees (MTS, Postman & PA) will be extended to Gramin Dak Sevaks also proportionately as the GDS Pay Scales are decided based on the pay scales of corresponding category of departmental employees. So, the demand to increase minimum pay and fitment formula of MTS, Postman and PA is equally important for GDS also.
As regards, civil servant status the NJCA has raised this demand before the Govt and 7th CPC. Even though the 7th CPC Chairman, Retired Justice Ashok Kumar Mathur has informed the JCM staff side leaders he will not consider the GDS case as they are not included in the terms of reference of the Commission, the Chairman gave a very damaging recommendation to the Govt. that GDS are not Civil Servants but they are part – time employees and Extra-departmental agents. He further stated that all the GDS are having another main independent income from another source and GDS job is only a side-business.
NJCA leaders have raised the issue of GDS before the Cabinet Secretary’s Committee and also before the Group of Ministers. We shall again raise the issue before the proposed high level committee also.
Govt. has constituted a separate committee for GDS under the Chairmanship of Retired Postal Board Member Sri Kamalesh Chandra. NFPE, AIPEU-GDS and Confederation has submitted detailed memorandum before the Committee and Secretary General NFPE Com. R. N Parashar, General Secretary AIPEU-GDS Com, P. Panduranga Rao along with other leaders has given evidence before the GDS Committee demanding Civil Servant status.
The GDS committee will submit its report before December 2016. Further NFPE and AIPEU-GDS has filed a case in the Supreme Court for grant of Civil Servant status. Supreme Court has transferred the case to Delhi High Court which in turn transferred it to Principal Bench of Central Administrative Tribunal, Delhi. The final argument of the case will take place on 25th July 2016. NJCA, Confederation, NFPE and AIPEU – GDS are jointly trying their level best to get justice to three lakhs Gramin Dak Sevaks of the Postal Department.
If the GDS Committee report is against the GDS, then definitely NJCA and Confederation will be fully supporting the agitational programmes of NFPE & AIPEU-GDS including indefinite strike.
The main hurdle is the policy of the NDA Govt. as the Communication Minister of NDA Govt. has rejected our demand for grant of Civil Servant status to GDS.
M. KRISHNAN
Secretary General,
Confederation of Central Govt Employees & Workers
Email: mkrishnan6854@gmail.com
Mob: 09447068125
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Thursday 7 July 2016
Comm & IT Ministry splits, Manoj Sinha new Telecom Minister
The high-profile Communications and IT Ministry has been split with Manoj Sinha today taking the charge of the telecom ministry, which is all set to conduct the largest-ever spectrum auctions in the country.
Senior BJP leader Ravi Shankar Prasad, who is the new Minister for Law and Justice, will continue to look after Department of IT and Electronics. So far, Prasad was handling both Communications and IT portfolios.
"I will share my views (on telecom) day after tomorrow," Sinha told reporters after assuming the charge at his new office as Minister of State (Independent Charge).
He is a Lok Sabha MP from Ghazipur constituency of Uttar Pradesh.
Sinha, an M Tech in civil engineering, will have his hands full as the new minister for the telecom sector which boasts of the world's second largest mobile subscriber base and the lowest tariffs, and where the biggest corporate houses - RIL, Bharti Airtel, Vodafone, Idea Cellular - are slugging it out for market dominance.
While on the one hand, Telecom Department is gearing up for the mega spectrum auction, where airwaves worth Rs 5.66 lakh crore will be up for bidding, on the other, Sinha will have to address issues such as call drops wherein the Supreme Court has struck down telecom regulator Trai's plans of making operators compensate mobile phone users for call drops.
In fact, to check call drops, Trai has demanded more teeth, including imposing fine of up to Rs 10 crore on operators and jail term of up to two years for their executives, prompting the telecom companies to term such powers as 'draconian'.
Sinha will also have to handle framing of regulation on the much-debated net neutrality issue, where battlelines are already drawn between telecom operators and internet based content providers. As such, Trai has started pre-consultation process on net neutrality, and has already got written comments from industry stakeholders and members of civil society.
Former telecom minister Prasad had earlier said that the government will take a view on net neutrality after receiving Trai's recommendation.
Sinha will have the challenging task of protecting consumer interest for affordable telephony services while maintaining investor confidence in the sector.
The IT-BHU pass-out Minister will also look after the Department of Posts which is undergoing massive reforms to start 650 payments bank branches by September 2017.
It is after 20 years, the telecom ministry has been handed over to an MoS (Independent Charge). Before this, former telecom minister Beni Prasad Verma, also from UP, handled the ministry with independent charge between 1996-98.
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