Special Recruitment Drive to fill up the backlog reserved vacancies for Persons with Disabilities

SPECIAL RECRUITMENT DRIVE FOR PWD MOST IMMEDIATE TIME BOUND


No.36038/2/2008-Estt.(Res.)
Government of lndia
Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions
Department of Personnel and Training
North Block,New Delhi
Dated the 7 th Novemb er, 2009



OFFICE MEMORANDUM

Subject : Special Recruitment Drive to fill up the backlog reserved vacancies for Persons with Disabilities.



The undersigned is directed to invite attention to this Department's OM of even number dated idh December. 2008 whereby a Special Recruitment Drive was launched to fill up the backlog reserved vacancies of the persons with disabilities. The OM stipulated that reservation and

backlog reserved vacancies would be determined on the basis of vacancies arising in the establishment in accordance with the instructions contained in this Department's O.M. No. 36035/3/2004-Estt(Res) dated 29.12.2005. However, the High Court of Delhi in W.P.(C)

No.l5828/2006[National Federation of the Blind Vs. UOI & Ors.] held that reservation to persons with disabilities should be calculated on the basis of the strength of the establishment and passed orders for computing the quota and backlog of reservation as per their directions.

This Department, subsequently filed a Special Leave Petition (No. 7541 / 2009 ) in the Supreme Court challenging the order of the Hon'ble High Court, and without prejudice to the outcome of SLP, issued OM No. 36012/23/2009- Estt.(Res.) dated 4.5.2009 requesting all the Ministries / Departments etc. to implement the order of the High Court. Since the principles on the basis of which the Special Recruitment Drive dated 10.12.2008 was launched were not in line with the orders of the High Court, the Drive could not be continued after the decision of the High Court.

2. The Supreme Court vide their interim order dated 6.1 1.2009 in SLP No.7541/2009 (Union of lndia & Others Vs. National Federation of Blind) stayed the directions of the High Court and reaffirmed the interim order passed by it on 31.8.2009 whereby the Union of lndia was directed to file a detailed status report regarding the extent to which the posts had been identified and filled up and also indicating the steps taken to fill up the vacancies that had arisen after the commencement of the 1996 Act. Pending final decision of the Supreme Court, reservation for persons with disabilities shall now be determined and implemented in accordance with this Department's O.M. dated 29.12.2005.

3. Keeping all aspects in view, it has been decided to launch a fresh Special Recruitment Drive to fill up the backlog reserved vacancies of persons with disabilities existing as on 15.11.2009

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Regional Labour Commissioners

Thirty three (33) Regional Labour Commissioners (Central) [RLC(C)], 05 at Chief Labour Commissioner (C) Headquarter, and the other twenty eight (28) in the field offices, have been appointed to look into among other works, the complaints received from registered trade unions in various public sector undertaking for which Central Government is the appropriate Government. These Regional Labour Commissioners (Central) are assisted by 56 Assistant Labour Commissioners (Central) and 162 Labour Enforcement Officers (Central) for looking into cases arising in Central Sphere in the country.


Moreover, Deputy Chief Labour Commissioners (Central), have been advised from time to time to liquidate the pendency of Industrial Disputes/Complaints. As there has been no substantial increase in the pending cases, the present strength of the above mentioned machinery is considered sufficient presently.

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Discrepancies in One Rank One Pension Scheme

A Committee was constituted under the Chairmanship of Cabinet Secretary to look into the issue of One Rank One Pension and other related matters. After considering all aspects of the issue, the Committee did not find it administratively feasible to recommend One Rank One Pension, as such. However, several other recommendations to substantially improve pensionary benefits of Personnel Below Officer Rank (PBOR) and Commissioned officers have been made, which have been accepted by the Government:-


(i) Inclusion of Classification Allowance for PBOR from Jan 01, 2006.

(ii) Removal of linkage of full pension with 33 years from Jan 01, 2006.

(iii) Revision of Lt Gen Pension after carving out a separate pay scale for them.

(iv) Bringing parity between pension of pre and post October 10, 1997 PBOR pensioners.

(v) Further improving PBOR pensions based on award of GOM, 2006.

(vi) Broadbanding of percentage of disability/war injury pension for pre Jan 01, 1996 disability/war injury pensioners.

(vii) Removal of cap on war injury element of pension in the case of disabled pensioners belonging to Category ‘E’.

Recommendations at (i) and (ii) stand implemented by issue of Government letter dated October 30, 2009.

This information was given by Minister of State for Defence Shri MM Pallam Raju in a written reply to Smt Sushma Swaraj and others in Lok Sabha today.

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Discrepancies in One Rank One Pension Scheme

A Committee was constituted under the Chairmanship of Cabinet Secretary to look into the issue of One Rank One Pension and other related matters. After considering all aspects of the issue, the Committee did not find it administratively feasible to recommend One Rank One Pension, as such. However, several other recommendations to substantially improve pensionary benefits of Personnel Below Officer Rank (PBOR) and Commissioned officers have been made, which have been accepted by the Government:-
(i) Inclusion of Classification Allowance for PBOR from Jan 01, 2006.
(ii) Removal of linkage of full pension with 33 years from Jan 01, 2006.
(iii) Revision of Lt Gen Pension after carving out a separate pay scale for them.
(iv) Bringing parity between pension of pre and post October 10, 1997 PBOR pensioners.
(v) Further improving PBOR pensions based on award of GOM, 2006.
(vi) Broadbanding of percentage of disability/war injury pension for pre Jan 01, 1996 disability/war injury pensioners.
(vii) Removal of cap on war injury element of pension in the case of disabled pensioners belonging to Category ‘E’.
Recommendations at (i) and (ii) stand implemented by issue of Government letter dated October 30, 2009.
This information was given by Minister of State for Defence Shri MM Pallam Raju in a written reply to Smt Sushma Swaraj and others in Lok Sabha today.

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Regional Labour Commissioners

Thirty three (33) Regional Labour Commissioners (Central) [RLC(C)], 05 at Chief Labour Commissioner (C) Headquarter, and the other twenty eight (28) in the field offices, have been appointed to look into among other works, the complaints received from registered trade unions in various public sector undertaking for which Central Government is the appropriate Government. These Regional Labour Commissioners (Central) are assisted by 56 Assistant Labour Commissioners (Central) and 162 Labour Enforcement Officers (Central) for looking into cases arising in Central Sphere in the country.

Moreover, Deputy Chief Labour Commissioners (Central), have been advised from time to time to liquidate the pendency of Industrial Disputes/Complaints. As there has been no substantial increase in the pending cases, the present strength of the above mentioned machinery is considered sufficient presently.

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Reduction in call rates

BSNL has recently offered “one paise per second plan” and “all@49 plan” under 2G prepaid mobile services which are either cheaper or competitive to the tariff offered by private operators.

MTNL is continuously introducing new tariff plans keeping in view the various factors including the market conditions. This reply was given by Shri Gurudas Kamat, Minister of State for Communications and Information Technology in Lok Sabha today.

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Special Recruitment Drive to fill up the backlog reserved vacancies for Persons with Disabilities

SPECIAL RECRUITMENT DRIVE FOR PWD MOST IMMEDIATE TIME BOUND

No.36038/2/2008-Estt.(Res.)
Government of lndia
Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions
Department of Personnel and Training
North Block,New Delhi
Dated the 7 th Novemb er, 2009

OFFICE MEMORANDUM
Subject : Special Recruitment Drive to fill up the backlog reserved vacancies for Persons with Disabilities.

The undersigned is directed to invite attention to this Department's OM of even number dated idh December. 2008 whereby a Special Recruitment Drive was launched to fill up the backlog reserved vacancies of the persons with disabilities. The OM stipulated that reservation and
backlog reserved vacancies would be determined on the basis of vacancies arising in the establishment in accordance with the instructions contained in this Department's O.M. No. 36035/3/2004-Estt(Res) dated 29.12.2005. However, the High Court of Delhi in W.P.(C)
No.l5828/2006[National Federation of the Blind Vs. UOI & Ors.] held that reservation to persons with disabilities should be calculated on the basis of the strength of the establishment and passed orders for computing the quota and backlog of reservation as per their directions.

This Department, subsequently filed a Special Leave Petition (No. 7541 / 2009 ) in the
Supreme Court challenging the order of the Hon'ble High Court, and without prejudice to the outcome of SLP, issued OM No. 36012/23/2009- Estt.(Res.) dated 4.5.2009 requesting all the Ministries / Departments etc. to implement the order of the High Court. Since the principles on the basis of which the Special Recruitment Drive dated 10.12.2008 was launched
were not in line with the orders of the High Court, the Drive could not be continued after the decision of the High Court.
2. The Supreme Court vide their interim order dated 6.1 1.2009 in SLP No.7541/2009 (Union of lndia & Others Vs. National Federation of Blind) stayed the directions of the High Court and reaffirmed the interim order passed by it on 31.8.2009 whereby the Union of lndia was directed to file a detailed status report regarding the extent to which the posts had been identified and filled up and also indicating the steps taken to fill up the vacancies that had arisen after the commencement of the 1996 Act. Pending final decision of the Supreme Court, reservation for persons with disabilities shall now be determined and implemented in accordance with
this Department's O.M. dated 29.12.2005.
3. Keeping all aspects in view, it has been decided to launch a fresh Special Recruitment Drive to fill up the backlog reserved vacancies of persons with disabilities existing as on 15.11.2009

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UDC Limited Departmental Examination Result announced

Staff Selection Commission has announced the result of U D Grade Limited Departmental Examination 2008 for selection in the Upper Division Clerks in different cadres.

172 candidates have been declared successful in the said examination. The service-wise break-up of the successful candidates is as under:-

SERVICE	UR	SC	ST	TOTAL
CSCS	116	15	06	137
RBCS	02	01	-	03
AFHQ	32	-	-	32
TOTAL	150	16	06	172

Details of the result are available on the website: http://ssc.nic.in/
869 candidates applied for the examination and 421 appeared in the exam held in October 2008.

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Expert Advice On Savings,Spending &Investment

Budget your savings, not just expenses In our personal lives, we normally budget our expenses, but not our savings. That’s a mindset change that we need to bring about now. A budget is a plan for saving as well as spending. Here are a few quick tips that will help you maintain a budget and improve your cash flows.

Spend less than you earn: Thinking anything to the contrary seems blasphemous, but try saying this to today’s youngsters. For a start, make an estimate of your monthly expenses, and ensure that you keep a maximum of two months’ expenses in the bank.

Debit not Credit : An ex-colleague of mine once told me: “What you don’t have, you don’t spend.” If you did use only a debit card, you would not be able to swipe it for the new flat screen TV set you saw in the mall the last weekend.

Budget your savings: Instead of starting with a list of expenses (and all seem almost unavoidable, if you have the funds, ensure that you target, say, 30% or 50% of your monthly earnings as savings. Then ensure that this is invested immediately. It may even be prudent not to use your salary account for expenditure; transfer just the amount you need to spend to the other account through which your debit card is linked.

Review expenditure heads: There are certain unavoidable expenses such as house rent, school fees, electricity bills. Then there are some which can be controlled like telephone bills, eating out and gifts. One of my clients actually has separate envelopes for eating out, petrol expenses and the like. If the family falls short on an eating-out budget, it goes to a South Indian fast food joint instead of the boutique Italian restaurant.

Don’t over-speculate: At the other end of the spectrum, there could be some of you who want to make every rupee earn the maximum it can. This obviously means a lots more risk, and the possibility of losses. Take the example of an individual taking home Rs 30,000 per month, but spending Rs 25,000 per month. Instead of trying to invest the net savings of Rs 5,000 per month aggressively, this individual would get a 50% return by cutting his expenditure by only 10% (Rs 2,500 per month).
source:Economic Times

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Classes till the seventh standard to be in primary section

          Maharashtra Government has decided to include classes till the seventh standard in primary section.


            The state cabinet passed a resolution for coming out with an ordinance to the effect, at a meeting here last night.

         As of now, students from class I to IV come under this section.

          The move comes in the backdrop of implementation of Right to Education Bill passed by the Central Government recently.
     
            According to the Bill, education to children in the age group of 6 to 14 is compulsory and free. A primary meeting to discuss the ways of implementation of the bill was held in Mumbai recently.

         Class VII has been included in the primary section as it will be easier to implement the Right to Education for school children between 6 and 14 years of age, an official said.

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Utterkhand seeks CAG's intervention on Pension issue

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Ramesh Pokhariyal Nishank today asked the Comptroller and Auditor General of India to effectively intervene in the pension issue between Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand.

As the new state of Uttarakhand came into being in 2000, Uttar Pradesh had to pay Rs 6,696 crore till 2014-15, but that state has failed to provide any amount so far, Nishank told Vinod Rai, Comptroller and Auditor General of India, an official release here said.

Nishank hoped that Rai would effectively intervene in the matter between the two states.Rai was on a visit here for laying foundation stone for office and residence buildings of Auditor General of Uttarakhand.

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Legal assistance to senior citizens

The Government of India is proposing to provide legal assistance to senior citizens, the dependent family members of para military forces and the persons affected by terrorism in the country. Giving this information in the Lok Sabha to a written question Dr.M.Veerappa Moily, Minister of Law and Justice said that the proposal is to amend Section 12 of the Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987 so as to include Senior Citizens whose income is upto one lakh twenty thousand rupees per annum, dependent family members of Defence Forces personnel and personnel of such other Armed Forces as the Central Government may specify by notification, who died in action and victims of terrorist/extremist violence and riots.

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Tax free bonds by Railways

The targeted amount of Rs. 9,170 crore would be raised by Ministry of Raiwlays through various financial instruments including tax free bonds. The Indian Railway Finance Corporation (IRFC), a public Sector Undertaking under the Ministry of Railways, has been mandated to raise market borrowings to the tune of Rs. 9,170 crore in the current financial year to mainly finance acquisition of rolling stock.

A part of the borrowing is expected to be raised through issue of tax free bonds by IRFC. Issue of notification to authorize IRFC to issue the tax free bonds is under process in the Ministry of Finance.

This information was given by the Minister of State in the Ministry of Railways Shri K.H. Muniyappa in a written reply in Lok Sabha today.
source:PIB

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Daughters Against Dowry’ campaign launched

On the occasion of International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, the Ministry Women and Child Development launched here today a campaign 'Daughters against Dowry’ for bringing about a change in daughters' perspective.

Expressing concern over the continuing cases of harassment of women due dowry, Smt. Krishna Tirath, the Minister for Women and Child Development said that law only can not help to get rid off the evil of dowry completely and civil society should also come forward in a big way to run a mass campaign to fight against this evil.

She said that her Ministry has launched this campaign to involve the schools girls to inculcate the will to fight against dowry and to create a strong opinion against it. She informed that the Ministry plans to reach the schools under this campaign to sensitize the girls who would be encouraged to take a pledge to oppose the custom of dowry, in any form. It is expected that the daughters would also sensitize their parents about the issue.

Addressing the participants, the Union Minister of Home Affairs Shri P. Chidambaram said that violence against women and girl child in a civilized society is totally unjustified and unacceptable. He said that informed and educated sections of the society should actively come forward and expose the evil completely and work towards wiping it out. He said that the society may itself evolve fresh ideas with regard to the institution of marriage to abolish dowry. He expressed the hope that younger generation, especially the girls would work to fight the evil of dowry and child marriage.

Around 500 girl students along with their teachers were sensitized on various aspects of the Dowry Prohibition Act: Issues and Challenges on the occasion. It was followed with A National seminar "Implementation of Dowry Prohibition Act”. Four break-out sessions to have a threadbare discussion on various aspects of the Dowry Prohibition Act like- existing legal framework on dowry and its strengthening, social awareness generation, advocacy and media, medical treatment and care and rehabilitation of dowry victims were held. Experts from various walks of life participated in sessions. On the occasion, the Minister of Women & Child Development also released a booklet on the prohibition of child marriage. It provides information on the provision of the Act and enlists the responsibility of various stakeholders in a simple and user-friendly manner.
source:PTI

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Workmen compensation Amendment Bill Introduced in LS

A bill to provide better compensation and amenities to the working class was today introduced in the Lok Sabha.The Workmen's Compensation (Amendment) Bill, 2009, introduced by Labour Minister Mallikarjun Kharge, also seeks to increase the amount given to workers for performing last rites to Rs 5,000.

The compensation given to workers would be now be based on the price index.In case of injury or death of a workman, compensation up to Rs 1.40 lakh would be paid, Kharge said.He said cases involving compensation would be solved within three months under the new Act.

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Clarification on MACP for Industrial Employees in OFB

Ordnance Factory Board.,Ministry of Defence ,issued a clarification on MACP for Industial Employees ,In which it is clarified that upto 31-8-2008 any promotion or upgradation from Semiskilled to Skilled Grade for those who recruited against Skilled vacancies should be ignored for the purpose of granting MACP wef.01-09-2008.

Industrial Employees of OFB in the grade of Skilled,Highly Skilled,MCM who were granted two ACP's before 31-08-2008 are entitled for 3rd MACP in the Grade Pay of Rs.4600 as and when they complete 30 years of service or 10years after getting 2nd promotion/ACP provided they fulfil conditions laid down in MACP order.

Click the images to view the order clearly

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Clarification on Children Education Allowance

No. 1201 1 /03/2008-Estt.(Allowances)
Government of IndiaMinistry of Personnel,
Public Grievances and Pensions
Department of Personnel & Training
New Delhi, the 23rd November, 2009

OFFICE MEMORANDUM
Subject: Clarification on Children Education Allowance

The undersigned is directed to refer to DOP&T O.M. of even No. dated 2.9.2008 on the above subject. Para l(c) of the said O.M. says
"Reimbursement will be applicable for expenditure on the education of school going children only i.e. for children from classes nursery to twelfth including classes eleventh and twelfth held by junior colleges or schools affiliated to Universities or Board of Education".

Various clarifications are being sought with regard to the definition of 'nursery' as the same is being called by different names in different institutions. This matter was considered in consultation with Ministry of Finance. It is clarified that 'classes nursery to twelfth' will include classes I to XII + 2 classes prior to class I irrespective of the nomenclature.

It is further clarified that in respect of schools/institutions at nursery, primary and middle level not affiliated to any Board of education, the reimbursement under the Scheme may be allowed for the children studying in a recognized school/institution. Recognized school/institution in this regard means a Govt. school or any educational institution whether in receipt of Govt. aid or not, recognized by the Central or State Govt. or Union Tenitory Administration or by University or a recognized educational authority having jurisdiction over the area where the Institution is situated.
(SIMMI.R.NAKRA)
Director

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Clarification on Children Education Allowance

No. 1201 1 /03/2008-Estt.(Allowances)
Government of India
Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions
Department of Personnel & Training
New Delhi, the 23rd November, 2009
OFFICE MEMORANDUM
Subject: Clarification on Children Education Allowance

The undersigned is directed to refer to DOP&T O.M. of even No. dated 2.9.2008 on the above subject. Para l(c) of the said O.M. says
"Reimbursement will be applicable for expenditure on the education of school going children only i.e. for children from classes nursery to twelfth including classes eleventh and twelfth held by junior colleges or schools affiliated to Universities or Board of Education".

Various clarifications are being sought with regard to the definition of 'nursery' as the same is being called by different names in different institutions. This matter was considered in consultation with Ministry of Finance. It is clarified that 'classes nursery to twelfth' will include classes I to XII + 2 classes prior to class I irrespective of the nomenclature.

It is further clarified that in respect of schools/institutions at nursery, primary and middle level not affiliated to any Board of education, the reimbursement under the Scheme may be allowed for the children studying in a recognized school/institution. Recognized school/institution in this regard means a Govt. school or any educational institution whether in receipt of Govt. aid or not, recognized by the Central or State Govt. or Union Tenitory Administration or by University or a recognized educational authority having jurisdiction over the area where the Institution is situated.
(SIMMI.R.NAKRA)
Director

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Encashment of earned leave alongwith LTC -Clarification

NO. 14028/2/2009-Estt.(L)

Government of India
Ministry of Personnel, P.G. and Pensions
(Department of Personnel and Training)
New Delhi, dated the 24'h November, 2009.

                                OFFICE MEMORANDUM

Sub: Encashment of earned leave alongwith LTC -Clarification

The undersigned is directed to refer to DOP&T 0.M.No.31011/4/2008-Estt.(A), dated 23'* September, 2008 allowing encashment of earned leave alongwith LTC and to say that various references are being received from Ministries/Departments with regard to the applicability of Rule 38-A of the CCS (Leave) Rules, 1972 to the Central Govt.employees. In this regard it is clarified that

(1) Central Govt. employees governed by CCS (Leave) Rules, 1972 who are entitled to LTC but opt for the acility of LTC provided to their spouses employed in PSUs/Corporation/Autonomous Bodies etc. and

(2) Central Govt. employees governed by CCS (Leave) Rules, 1972 who are otherwise not entitled to LTC, on account of their spouse being employed in Indian Railways/National Airlines who are entitled to privilege
passeslconcessional tickets are entitled to leave encashment while availing the LTC facility of their spouselprivilege passes/concessional tickets of their spouse on fulfillment of all the conditions as stipulated in Rule38-A of the CCS (Leave) Rules, 1972 twice in a four years block of LTC.

                                                          ( Simmi R. Nakra )
                                                                Director

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Encashment of earned leave alongwith LTC -Clarification

NO. 14028/2/2009-Estt.(L)
Government of India
Ministry of Personnel, P.G. and Pensions
(Department of Personnel and Training)
New Delhi, dated the 24'h November, 2009.
OFFICE MEMORANDUM
Sub: Encashment of earned leave alongwith LTC -Clarification
The undersigned is directed to refer to DOP&T 0.M.No.31011/4/2008-Estt.(A), dated 23'* September, 2008 allowing encashment of earned leave alongwith LTC and to say that various references are being received from Ministries/Departments with regard to the applicability of Rule 38-A of the CCS (Leave) Rules, 1972 to the Central Govt.employees. In this regard it is clarified that
(1) Central Govt. employees governed by CCS (Leave) Rules, 1972 who are entitled to LTC but opt for the Facility of LTC provided to their spouses employed in PSUs/Corporation/Autonomous Bodies etc. and
(2) Central Govt. employees governed by CCS (Leave) Rules, 1972 who are otherwise not entitled to LTC, on account of their spouse being employed in Indian Railways/National Airlines who are entitled to privilege
passes/concessional tickets are entitled to leave encashment while availing the LTC facility of their spouse/privilege passes/concessional tickets of their spouse on fulfillment of all the conditions as stipulated in Rule38-A of the CCS (Leave) Rules, 1972 twice in a four years block of LTC.

( Simmi R. Nakra )
Director

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HP approves financial benefits to contractual employees

          The Himachal Pradesh government today approved financial benefits to the contractual employees in line with revised pay scales.

              The move will benefit around 8,000 employees.

           A meeting of the state cabinet presided over by Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal decided to provide emoluments equal to minimum of the pay band plus grade pay of the specific category to contractual employees working in different departments of the state government with effect from next month.

                 "It decided to follow recommendations of provident fund regulation and development authority for management of new contributory pension scheme on the lines of Central government and other states and link the same with the market trends so as to ensure maximum gains to the contributing employees," social welfare minister Sarveen Chaudhary told reporters briefing about cabinet decisions.

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Let govt decide on your demand,don't agitate: GJM told

                 The West Bengal government today asked the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha not agitate if it wants the state to look into its demand of regularising the temporary employees of Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council.


        "Our stand is very clear. We will not move (if they continue with agitation)," Home Secretary Ardhendu Sen told reporters at the state secretariat.

          "The state government had assured the GJM of looking into its demand of making temporary employees of the Hill Council permanent as early as possible. But the more they agitate, the more it will get delayed," he said.

     Stating that work for various schemes of the Hill Council was being stalled due to bandhs and agitation, Sen was critical of the GJM workers gheraoing the Darjeeling district magistrate on Thursday.

        Whether all 6,000 temporary employees of the Hill Council would be made permanent, he said, "all of them will not be made permanent.
source:PTI

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Railway exams in regional languages

             Against the backdrop of MNS attacking candidates from North India appearing in railway exams in Maharashtra, Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee today said the tests will be conducted in regional languages simultaneously.

          "The railway exams will be conducted in regional languages simultaneously apart from English and Hindi. In Maharashtra, the exams will be held in Marathi and in other states, these will be held in local languages," she told reporters here.
       
          "The decision was taken after a review was carried out and a new policy was formulated," she said, adding that besides English, Hindi and Urdu, tests will be held in regional languages.

            Banerjee said this after Chief Minister Ashok Chavan said at a function that "locals must be given importance. Whoever is a domicile of Maharashtra must first get an employment opportunity.

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Railway exams in regional languages

Against the backdrop of MNS attacking candidates from North India appearing in railway exams in Maharashtra, Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee today said the tests will be conducted in regional languages simultaneously.

"The railway exams will be conducted in regional languages simultaneously apart from English and Hindi. In Maharashtra, the exams will be held in Marathi and in other states, these will be held in local languages," she told reporters here.

"The decision was taken after a review was carried out and a new policy was formulated," she said, adding that besides English, Hindi and Urdu, tests will be held in regional languages.

Banerjee said this after Chief Minister Ashok Chavan said at a function that "locals must be given importance. Whoever is a domicile of Maharashtra must first get an employment opportunity.

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Encashment of Leave-Clarification

N0.14028/3/2008-Estt.(L)
Government of India
Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions
[Department of Personnel & Training]
New Delhi, the I 6h November, 2009.

OFFICE MEMORANDUM
Subject:-Recommendations of the Sixth Central Pay Commission relating to encashment of leave in respect of Central Government employees.

The undersigned is directed to refer to this Department's O.M. of even number dated 25th September, 2008 on the subiect mentioned above according to which encashment of leave in respect & central Government employees will be considered both for earned leave and half pay leave subject to overall limit of 300 days and in respect of encashment of half pay leave, no reduction shall be made on account of pension and pension equivalent of other retirement benefits. In case of shortfall in earned leave, no commutation of half pay leave is permissible.

The order was made effective from the lSt September, 2008. The matter was reconsidered in this Department in consultation with the Department of Expenditure (Implementation Cell) and it has been decided to modify the date of effect of this Department's 0.M of even number dated 25th September, 2008 to O1.01.2006 instead of 01.09.2008 subject to the following conditions:-

(i) The benefit will be admissible in respect of past cases on receipt of applications to that effect from the pensioners concerned by the Administrative Ministry concerned.

(ii) In respect of retirees who have already received encashment of earned leave of maximum limit of 300 days together with encashment of HPL standing at their credit on the date of
retirement, such cases need not be reopened. However, such cases in which there was a shortfall in reaching the maximum limit of 300 days can be reopened.

(iii) Calculation of cash equivalent in respect of HPL at credit shall be made mutatis mutandis in the manner given in this Department's O.M. of even number dated 25.09.2008.

2. In respect of persons serving in the Indian Audit & Accounts Departments, these O.M. issues with the concurrence of the Comptroller and Auditor General of India.

(Zoya C.B.)
Under Secretary to the Govt. of India.

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Revised wages for Gramin Dak Sevaks

The Government has revised the wage structure and other amenities of all categories of Gramin Dak Sevaks including those engaged to distribute letters in rural areas in the country.

The revised Time Related Continuity Allowance (TRCA) of Gramin Sevaks will be implemented w.e.f. 01.01.2006 while other allowances will be implemented w.e.f 09.10.2009. Women Gramin Dak Sevak will be provided Maternity Grant equivalent to three months TRCA with DA for the birth of two children out of the welfare fund of the Department.

For Productivity Linked Bonus (PLB), present calculation of Ex-gratia bonus by applying the calculation ceiling of Rs. 2500 as basic TRCA+DA shall continue to be adopted till such time a new scheme is devised by the Department.

Arrears of TRCA w.e.f 1.1.2006 to 31.10.2009 have been ordered to be paid in cash in two instalments of 40% and 60% spread over the financial year 2009-10 and 2010-11 after adjusting the payments made toward the basic monthly TRCA+ DA drawn from time to time. The 2nd instalment of 60% arrears will be payable only after issue of specific instructions in this regard.

This was stated by Shri Gurudas Kamat, Ministry of Communications and Information Technology in Rajya Sabha yesterday

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No class X Board examination for students studying in CBSE’schools

The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) in consultation with the Ministry of Human Resource Development and keeping in view the spirit of National Policy of Education, 1986 has decided to introduce the following education reforms:-

i) There will be no class X Board examination w.e.f. 2011 for students studying CBSE’s Senior Secondary Schools and who do not wish to move out of the CBSE system after Class X. The students studying in CBSE’s Secondary Schools will, however, be required to appear in Board’s external examination because they will be leaving the Secondary School after Class X.

ii) The Continuous and Comprehensive Evaluation has been strengthened in all CBSE affiliated schools w.e.f. October, 2009 in Class IX.

iii) The new Grading System has been introduced at Secondary School Level (for Class IX and X) effective from 2009-10 academic session. The Right of Children to Free & Compulsory Education Act 2009 has been enacted, which envisages significant reforms in the Elementary Education sector especially with reference to admission, attendance and completion of elementary education by all children in schools which conform to specified norms and standards.

Appropriate policy reforms in the higher education sector have also been undertaken, Section 6 of the Central Universities Act, 2009 provides for academic reforms in newly established Central Universities. The reforms are being extended to other Central Educational Institutions also.

This information was given by the Minister of State for Human Resource Development Smt. D. Purandeswari, in a written reply to a question, in the Rajya Sabha today.

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MACP-CLARIFICATION

N0.3503413/2008-Estt(D)
Government of lndia
Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions
(Department of Personnel and Training)
New Delhi 1 10001
16th November, 2009
OFFICE MEMORANDUM

SUBJECT:- MODIFIED ASSURED CAREER PROGRESSION SCHEME(MACPS) FOR THE CENTRAL GOVERNMENT CIVILIAN EMPLOYEES - CLARIFICATIONS REGARDING.

Reference is invited to the Department of Personnel and Training (D0PT)'s Office Memorandum of even number dated the lgth May, 2009 regarding the Modified Assured Career Progression Scheme (MACPS). Consequent upon the implementation of Sixth Pay Commissions
recommendations, the four pre-revised Group 'D' pay scales viz.,
Rs.2550- 3200, Rs.2610-3540, Rs.2610-4000 and Rs.2650-4000 have been upgraded and replaced by the revised pay structure of grade pay of Rs.1800 in the pay band PB-1. As per the recommendations of Sixth CPC, Governmentserants in these four pre-revised Group 'D' scales have been granted the Group 'C' revised pay structure of grade pay of Rs.1800 in the pay band PB-1.
It has been decided on the analogy of point-5 of Annexure-l of MACPS dated
19.05.2009 that promotions earned or upgradations granted under ACP Scheme of August,-1999 in the past to the four pay scales mentioned above, which now carry the grade pay of Rs.18001- shall be ignored for the purpose of MACPS. However, promotions/financial upgradations earned by existing Group 'D' employees to grade pay of Rs.1900 (pre-revised scale of Rs.3050- 75-3590-80-4590) shall be counted for the purpose of MACPS.

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Health insurance scheme for govt employees on anvil

              The government has formulated a scheme that will allow its employees to choose between a health insurance plan provided by an insurer or that from state run Central Government Health Scheme (CGHS).

        At present, the Central government employees are covered under the CHGS scheme, being operated by the health ministry. "The scheme is already formulated...It will open the choice for government servants," G C Chaturvedi, Additional Secretary in the Finance Ministry told news agency.

           The new scheme, which will be placed before the Union Cabinet for approval soon, will immediately benefit at least three lakh Central government employees, he said. The new scheme, Chaturvedi said, will be more beneficial to the employees who are posted at places where there are no CGHS dispensaries or they are far away from the place of posting. CGHS dispensaries and hospitals are located only in 26 places in the country.
        "Those who are residing outside CGHS dispensaries areas will immediately opt for it... There are over three lakh employees which will immediately opt for it, others will take some time," Chaturvedi said. The government had earlier appointed a inter-ministerial committee to work out a health insurance scheme to supplement the CGHS scheme to provide better coverage to its employees.

         The government has formulated a scheme that will allow its employees to choose between a health insurance plan provided by an insurer or that from state run Central Government Health Scheme (CGHS).

             At present, the Central government employees are covered under the CHGS scheme, being operated by the health ministry."The scheme is already formulated...It will open the choice for government servants," G C Chaturvedi, Additional Secretary in the Finance Ministry told news agency.

            The new scheme, which will be placed before the Union Cabinet for approval soon, will immediately benefit at least three lakh Central government employees, he said.

         The new scheme, Chaturvedi said, will be more beneficial to the employees who are posted at places where there are no CGHS dispensaries or they are far away from the place of posting.

            CGHS dispensaries and hospitals are located only in 26 places in the country. "Those who are residing outside CGHS dispensaries areas will immediately opt for it... There are over three lakh employees which will immediately opt for it, others will take some time," Chaturvedi said.

  The government had earlier appointed a inter-ministerial committee to work out a health insurance scheme to supplement the CGHS scheme to provide better coverage to its employees.

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Health insurance scheme for govt employees on anvil

The government has formulated a scheme that will allow its employees to choose between a health insurance plan provided by an insurer or that from state run Central Government Health Scheme (CGHS).

At present, the Central government employees are covered under the CHGS scheme, being operated by the health ministry. "The scheme is already formulated...It will open the choice for government servants," G C Chaturvedi, Additional Secretary in the Finance Ministry told news agency.
The new scheme, which will be placed before the Union Cabinet for approval soon, will immediately benefit at least three lakh Central government employees, he said. The new scheme, Chaturvedi said, will be more beneficial to the employees who are posted at places where there are no CGHS dispensaries or they are far away from the place of posting. CGHS dispensaries and hospitals are located only in 26 places in the country.

"Those who are residing outside CGHS dispensaries areas will immediately opt for it... There are over three lakh employees which will immediately opt for it, others will take some time," Chaturvedi said. The government had earlier appointed a inter-ministerial committee to work out a health insurance scheme to supplement the CGHS scheme to provide better coverage to its employees.

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CCTV cameras in the government hospitals in haryana

        In a bid to monitor interaction between the doctors and patients, the Haryana government today said that it would install CCTV cameras in the government hospitals.

       "These cameras would also record the behaviour of the doctors with the patients in the OPDs," Chief Parliamentary Secretary Ram Kishan Fouji said, while addressing a public gathering here.

          He said that a scheme was being proposed to provide round the clock services in all the Primary Health Centres of the state, which would also redress the grievances of people about hospitals remaining closed at odd hours.

             Mini dispensaries would also be opened for providing health facilities to the poor people residing in the slums of urban areas, he said.

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Joint appeal to Railwaymen for Strengthening Railway System

         Union Railways Minister, Kumari Mamata Banerjee alongwith both Ministers of State for Railways, Shri E. Ahamed and Shri K. H. Muniyappa, the entire Railway Board and the Chiefs of various Unions of Railway employees in a single written joint appeal to railwaymen have called upon them to strengthen the Railway system through sincere efforts and hard wok so that the Railways do not lag behind any other organization in efficiency.


           The joint appeal letter which is being sent to all members of the Railway family across the country has pointed out that the mammoth railway machinery has been working efficiently only due to shear dedication and hard work of railwaymen.

            Reposing full faith in the confidence, capacity and capability of railwaymen, the joint appeal has called upon them to continue their hard work and dedication for realizing the motto ‘Service with Smile’ in the best interest of the public and the nation.

            Referring to the safety aspects in train operations, the joint appeal has emphasized the need for the railway men to be fully vigilant as safety never sleeps. The letter of appeal has categorically mentioned that resorting to short cut methods in discharge of duties is unacceptable.

          Referring to the recent pay hikes in salaries and allowance, the joint appeal has underscored that it has now thrown a greater responsibility on railwaymen to pay back to the general public in the form of improved efficiency and a high quality service that is safe, secure and punctual. The joint appeal exhorts all employees to ensure observance of all procedures and rules so as to enable Indian Railways to achieve its goal of efficiently transporting passengers and goods across the country.

              The joint appeal also reminded railway employees of their duty to caution their fellow railwaymen who may be adopting unsafe and undesirable practices which may lead to bad consequences.



        Referring to the achievements of the Railways in the first six months of the current financial year, the joint appeal has pointed out that Railways have registered a growth of 6.45 per cent in freight transportation and 4.50 per cent growth in passenger transportation as compared to last year. The Railways’ earnings have also shown growth of 6.7 per cent from over Rs. 37732 crore last year to over Rs. 40259 crore in the current financial year. Safety record of Railways has also improved with 68 consequential accidents (April – September, 2009) as compared to 91 accidents last year.

        Besides Union Railway Minister, Kumari Mamata Banerjee and Ministers of State Shri E. Ahamed and Shri K.H. Muniyappa, the other signatories to the joint appeal include Chairman, Railway Board, Shri S.S. Khurna, Financial Commissioner, Ms. Sowmya Raghvan, Member Electrical, Shri Sudesh Kumar, Member Engineering, Shri Rakesh Chopra, Member Mechanical, Shri Praveen Kumar, Member Traffic, Shri Shriprakash, Secretary, Railway Board, Shri K.B.L. Mittal, General Secretary (AIRF), Shri S.G. Mishra, General Secretary (NFIR), Shri M. Raghaviah, General Secretary(AIRPFA), Shri U.S. Jha, General Secretary (IRPOF), Shri Jitendra Singh and General Secretary(FROA), Ms. Ragini Yechury

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Joint appeal to Railwaymen for Strengthening Railway System

Union Railways Minister, Kumari Mamata Banerjee alongwith both Ministers of State for Railways, Shri E. Ahamed and Shri K. H. Muniyappa, the entire Railway Board and the Chiefs of various Unions of Railway employees in a single written joint appeal to railwaymen have called upon them to strengthen the Railway system through sincere efforts and hard wok so that the Railways do not lag behind any other organization in efficiency.

The joint appeal letter which is being sent to all members of the Railway family across the country has pointed out that the mammoth railway machinery has been working efficiently only due to shear dedication and hard work of railwaymen.

Reposing full faith in the confidence, capacity and capability of railwaymen, the joint appeal has called upon them to continue their hard work and dedication for realizing the motto ‘Service with Smile’ in the best interest of the public and the nation.

Referring to the safety aspects in train operations, the joint appeal has emphasized the need for the railway men to be fully vigilant as safety never sleeps. The letter of appeal has categorically mentioned that resorting to short cut methods in discharge of duties is unacceptable.
Referring to the recent pay hikes in salaries and allowance, the joint appeal has underscored that it has now thrown a greater responsibility on railwaymen to pay back to the general public in the form of improved efficiency and a high quality service that is safe, secure and punctual. The joint appeal exhorts all employees to ensure observance of all procedures and rules so as to enable Indian Railways to achieve its goal of efficiently transporting passengers and goods across the country.

The joint appeal also reminded railway employees of their duty to caution their fellow railwaymen who may be adopting unsafe and undesirable practices which may lead to bad consequences.

Referring to the achievements of the Railways in the first six months of the current financial year, the joint appeal has pointed out that Railways have registered a growth of 6.45 per cent in freight transportation and 4.50 per cent growth in passenger transportation as compared to last year. The Railways’ earnings have also shown growth of 6.7 per cent from over Rs. 37732 crore last year to over Rs. 40259 crore in the current financial year. Safety record of Railways has also improved with 68 consequential accidents (April – September, 2009) as compared to 91 accidents last year.

Besides Union Railway Minister, Kumari Mamata Banerjee and Ministers of State Shri E. Ahamed and Shri K.H. Muniyappa, the other signatories to the joint appeal include Chairman, Railway Board, Shri S.S. Khurna, Financial Commissioner, Ms. Sowmya Raghvan, Member Electrical, Shri Sudesh Kumar, Member Engineering, Shri Rakesh Chopra, Member Mechanical, Shri Praveen Kumar, Member Traffic, Shri Shriprakash, Secretary, Railway Board, Shri K.B.L. Mittal, General Secretary (AIRF), Shri S.G. Mishra, General Secretary (NFIR), Shri M. Raghaviah, General Secretary(AIRPFA), Shri U.S. Jha, General Secretary (IRPOF), Shri Jitendra Singh and General Secretary(FROA), Ms. Ragini Yechury

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10 ways to cut risk of cancer

Only a few everyday choices about diet, exercise and tobacco use can dramatically reduce a person's risk of cancer, according to a Special Report on Cancer Prevention.
The Special Report examines the science and latest findings on 10 approaches that can make a real difference in preventing cancer.
Here are some highlights from the list:
1. Don't smoke: Quitting smoking reduces the risk of lung and other cancers, regardless of the number of years of smoking.
2. Eat fruits and vegetables: The American Cancer Society recommends eating at least five servings of fruits and vegetables daily because they are loaded with vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and other substances that lower the risk of cancer.
3. Limit fat in the diet: Current guidelines recommend keeping fat intake between 20 and 30 percent of total daily calories, with most fats coming from sources of polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fats, such as fish, nuts and vegetable oils.
4. Maintain a healthy weight: Being overweight or obese can increase the risk of postmenopausal breast cancer as well as cancers of the colon, endometrium, esophagus and kidney. There's evidence that obesity increases the risk of cancers of the prostate, liver, gallbladder, pancreas, stomach, ovary and cervix.
5. Be physically active: From 45 to 60 minutes of moderate to vigorous activity a day, on most days of the week, is considered optimal to reduce the risk of breast and colorectal cancers.
6. Curb alcohol consumption: Women should limit themselves to no more than one alcoholic beverage a day. Men should have no more than two.
7. Limit exposure to radiation: Ultraviolet (UV) radiation, which comes from the sun, sunlamps or commercial tanning beds, is the primary cause of skin cancer, the most common of all cancers.
8. Protect against infection: Infections caused by viruses are recognized as risk factors for several types of cancer.
9. Consider chemoprevention: Chemoprevention is the use of natural or synthetic compounds to reduce the risk of cancer or its recurrence. Tamoxifen, prescribed to prevent breast cancer in high-risk women, is the best known chemoprevention agent.
10. Get recommended screening exams: Pap tests, mammograms, colonoscopies and other routine screenings cannot prevent cancer. But screenings can help find cancers early, when treatment is most likely to be successful.
The study has been published in the November issue of Mayo Clinic Women's HealthSource. (ANI)

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DLW employees call off agitation

        Employees of the Diesel Locomotive Works (DLW) here today ended their four-day-long strike against the outsourcing of the locomotive parts to private companies bringing the entire machinery to a standstill.


       The agitating employees decided to call off their strike after talks with the chief mechanical engineer of the company Niraj Kumar.

       He assured the employees that DLW administration would consider the demand of withdrawing action initiated against them, including suspension of seven workers and lodging of FIR against 107 workers.

       Kumar said due to the target of manufacturing 250 locomotives in the current financial year, the DLW management was compelled to import the loco parts from other companies.

        But, in the near future, the process would be initiated to expand workshop on the land available at Bhullanpur to end dependency of DLW on other companies for loco parts, he said.

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Govt employees should be polite with public: HC

Observing that government employees are expected to be polite in their interaction with public visiting their offices, the Madras High Court bench here today directed police to investigate a complaint accusing a staff of passport office here of rude behaviour with two applicants.

Justice Raja Elango, disposing of a petition by one of the passport applicants, directed police to verify the complaint and register a First Information Report if any cognisable offence was made out.
The petitioner Imam Hussain, a lawyer, said he had gone to Madurai Passport Office along with his wife on Sept 15 when one of the officials refused to accept bank passbook as a residential proof. Then he took up the matter with the Passport Officer.

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Grade pay of Rs.4600 to the pre-revised scale of Rs.6500-10500

F.No. 1/1/2008-IC
Government of India
Ministry of Finance
Department of Revenue
NewDelhi,dated 13th November,2009.

Subject:- Grant of the revised pay structure of grade pay of Rs.4600 in the pay band PB-2 to posts that existed in the pre-revised scale of Rs.6500-10500 as on 1.1.2006 and which were granted the normal replacement pay structure of grade pay of Rs.4200 in the pay band PB-2

Sixth Pay commission recommended merger of the three pre-revised scales of Rs.5000-8000, Rs.5500-9000 and Rs.6500-10500 and replaced them by the revised pay structure of grade pay of Rs.4200 in the pay band PB-2. Vide para 2.2.21 (v) of its report, the Commission recommended that on account of the merger of these 3 scales, some posts which constituted feeder and promotion grades would come to lie in an identical grade. The Commission gave specific recommendations in its Report granting higher grade pay of Rs.4600 to some categories of these posts. As regards the other posts, the Commission recommended that it should first be seen if the posts in theses 3 scales can be merged without any functional disturbance and if possible, the same should be done, Further, the Commission recommended that in case it is not feasible to merge the posts in these pay scales n functional consideration, the posts in the scale of Rs.5000-8000 and Rs.5500-9000 should be merged with the posts in the scale of Rs.6500-10500 being upgraded to the next higher grade in the pay band PB-2 with grade pay of Rs.4600 corresponding to the pre-revised scale of Rs.7450-11500, the posts being upgraded from the scale of Rs.6500-10500 should be merged with the post in the scale of Rs. 7450-10500.

The above recommendations of the Sixth Pay Commission were notified vide para (ii), Section I in Parts B and C of the First Schedule to the CCS (RP) Rules,2008. While Part B of the First Schedule of he CCS(RP) Rules relates to revised pay scales for common categories of staff, Part C notifies revised pay structure for certain posts in Ministries, Departments and Union Territories. The above provisions of the Rules specifically mentioned that upgradations in terms of para (ii) Section I may be done in consultation with Department of Expenditure, Ministry of Finance.

Consequent upon the Notification of CCS (RP) Rules, 2008, Department of Expenditure has received a large number of references from administrative ministries / departments proposing upgradations of the posts which were in the pre-revised scale of Rs.6500-10500 as on 1.1.2006 by been granting them grade pay of Rs.4600 in the pay band PB-2. The matter has been considered and it has now been decided that the posts which were granted the normal replacement pay structure of grade pay of Rs.4200 in the pay band PB-2, will be granted pay of Rs.4600 in the pay band PB-2 corresponding to the pre-revised scale of Rs.7450-11500 w.e.f.1.1.2006. Further, in terms of the aforementioned provisions of CCS (RP) Rules, 2008, in case a post already existed in the pre-revised scale of Rs.7450-11500, the posts being upgraded from the scale of Rs.5600-10500 should be merged with the post in the scale of Rs.7450-11500.

Accordingly, in terms of Rule 6 of CCS (RP) Rules, 2008, revised pay of Government servants in the pre-revised scale of Rs.6500-10500 who were earlier granted grade pay of Rs.4200 and who have already exercised their option for drawal of pay in the revised pay structure in the format prescribed in the Second Schedule to the Rules, will be fixed again in accordance with illustration 4A annexed to CCS (RP)Rules,008.

In case of all such Government servants in the pre-revised scale of Rs.6500-10500 who were earlier granted grade pay of Rs.4200 and who had opted to have their pay fixed under CCS(RP) Rules, 2008, action as prescribed in this Department’s O.M. of even number dated 30th August, 2008 will be taken. In case a Government servant desires to revise his earlier option for coming over to the revised pay structure, he may be permitted to do so without any reference to this Department.

6. On account of pay fixation in the revised pay structure of grade pay of Rs.4600 in the pay band PB-2, arrears of pay will be recalculated and difference of arrears in respect of the entire amount will be paid immediately. The manner of drawal of arrears ahs already been indicated in this Departments/s O.M. of even number dated 30.8.2008.

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Acceptance of castes certificates

No.3601113/2009-Estt. (Res.)
Government of lndia
Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions
Department of Personnel and Training
North Block
New Delhi-110 001,
Dated the 2nd September, 2009.

OFFICE MEMORANDUM

Subject:- Acceptance of castes certificates produced by candidates.

The undersigned is directed to say that this Department's O.M.
No.3601216188-Estt. (SCT) dated 24.4.1990 and
O. M. No.36012122193-Estt. (Res.) dated 15.11.1993 provide that the Caste/tribe/Community certificates in the proforrna prescribed and issued by any of the authorities stated in the said OMS will only be accepted by the appointing authorities as sufficient proof in support of a candidate's claim to belong to Scheduled Caste/ Schedule Tribe/ Other Backward Class.

It has been brought to the notice of this Department that some
Organisations do not accept the certificates in the proforma so
prescribed and ask the candidates to submit certificates in some other format. It is emphasised that instructions referred to above should be followed scrupulously.

2. All the Ministries/ Departments etc. are requested to bring the
contents of this OM to the notice of all concerned.
Under Secretary to the government of lndia
Tele No.23092110
click here to view the Full Details

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Children Education Allowance - Clarification

No. 1201 1/16/2009-( Allowance)
Government of India
Ministry of Personnel, P.G. and Pensions
(Department of Personnel & Training) New Delhi, the 1 3 th November, 2009

Office Memorandum
Sub: Children Education Allowance/ Hostel Subsidy - Clarification.

The undersigned is directed to refer to DOP&T OM No.120111312008-Estt. (Allowance) dated 2" September, 2008 on the above subject and to say that this Department has been receiving various references from Government servants, Ministries/ Departments seeking clarification whether Vidyalaya Vikas Nidhi (VVN) charged by Kendirya Vidyalayas is reimbursable

as per items detailed in para l(e) of the above mentioned OM. The matter has been considered in consultation with Ministry of Finance. It is clarified that Vidyalaya Vikas Nidhi charged by Kendriya Vidyalayas will also form part of para l(e) of the said OM and can be claimed for reimbursement under the scheme of Children Education Allowance subject to the annual

ceiling of Rs. 12000 per child. Where Vidyala Vikas Nidhi has not been admitted for reimbursement in past cases, the same may now be considered for reimbursement, subject to the other conditions.

This Department has also been receiving references seeking clarification whether Children Education Allowance can be claimed in respect of any two children by Government Servants who have more than two children. It is clarified that Children Education Allowance is admissible for the two eldest surviving children only, except when the number of children exceeds two due to second child birth resulting in multiple births.
SIMMI.R.NAKRA

Director

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Union Government steps in to help West Bengal PTTI Students

                    In order to ameliorate the plight of the affected students of the Primary Teacher Training Institutes(PTTIs) in West Bengal, the Government of India, has decided to offer a one-year Bridge Course to such students who are Class XII with 50% marks. The Course has already been formulated after joint consultation between NCTE and Government of West Bengal. It is being prepared in Bengali and is expected to be ready by November 2009. As many as 16, 759 students would immediately benefit by this.


        Arrangements have been made for helping 7,080 students, who have passed Class XII with less than 50% marks, to improve their score through the National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS) exam system. The remaining 7,302 students, who are only class X pass, can appear for Class XII exam through the open school (either of the NIOS or the State Government). Once these students attain the minimum qualification, they would also be eligible for the Bridge Course.

                  The NCTE has also granted certain concessions to the PTTIs to enable them to be recognized. After their recognition, these institutions can not only offer the Bridge Course facility to the affected students, but also provide regular pre-service training for preparing teachers for the future.

               In West Bengal, the Primary Teacher Training Institutes (PTTI) were imparting one year D.Ed (Diploma in Education) course and eligibility for admission to this course was X class. As per the norms of the National Council for Teacher Education (NCTE) the duration of D.Ed course should be two years and eligibility for admission is XII class with 50% marks. The Calcutta High Court held that the course run by these institutions were illegal as they were not recognized by the NCTE. As per the NCTE Act, no institution can offer a teacher education course without recognition. This judgement has adverse implications for 31,141 persons who were either awarded diploma by the non-recognized PTTIs or could not write the examination because of the injunction by the Court(as per information provided by the West Bengal Government).

                        The Government of West Bengal in the recent advertisement published for recruitment of primary teachers has invited applications from Class X pass persons. This is in violation of the NCTE Regulations and the spirit of the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009. The Government of India has urged the Government of West Bengal to revisit its recruitment process and ensure that persons possessing minimum qualification as prescribed by the NCTE are only recruited to avoid any future complication.

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Restriction on pay plus Deputation (Duty) Allowance

No. 2/22/2008-Estt. (Pay II)
Government of lndia
Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions
Department of Personnel &Training
New Delhi,3rd November, 2009.

OFFICE MEMORANDUM
Subject:Restriction on pay plus Deputation (Duty) Allowance- regarding.

The undersigned is directed to say that consequent upon acceptance of the recommendations of Sixth Central Pay Commission, the deputation (duty) allowance shall be restricted as under:

"Basic pay, from time to time, plus Deputation (duty) llowance should not exceed the maximum of the pay band PB-4 (Rs. 67000) plus the grade pay of the post held on deputation subject to the grade pay not exceeding Rs. 10,000. The term 'basic pay' in the revised pay structure means pay drawn in the prescribed pay band plus the applicable grade pay but does not Include any other type of pay like special pay, etc."

2. These orders shall take effect from 1" September, 2008.

3. Insofar as application of these orders to the officers of the Indian Audit and Accounts Department is concerned, these orders issue in consultation with the Comptroller and Auditor General of lndia. 4
(B.K. Mukhopadhyay)
Director

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What happens to email account after one dies?

Saving that parting e-mail from your first love in your inbox? Well, chances are, after you pass away, your spouse and the entire family will know about the long held secret.
This is because web email services like Hotmail and Gmail do not let users specify what should happen to their messages when they die.
In fact, email services owned by Internet giants like Google and Microsoft have a policy of keeping your data after you die and letting your next of kin or the executor of your estate access it.
These services can hold tens of thousands of messages.
Accounts with Google''s Gmail can hold up to 7GB - or roughly 70,000 emails with a small to medium picture attached to each and they archive the messages you''ve written as well as received.
When it comes to deleting the data, Microsoft''s Hotmail will remove an account if it is inactive for 270 days, while Gmail leaves the responsibility to the next of kin.

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Netas and babus are the most corrupt

Politicians are perceived to be the most corrupt, followed by civil servants, said a recent survey of the Berlin-based organisation Transparency International (TI).
"Political parties are perceived to be the most corrupt institution by the Indians," said the 2009 Global Corruption Barometer, released by Anupama Jha, Executive Director of Transparency International India.
About 58 per cent of the Indian respondents identified politicians to be the most corrupt individuals, she said, pointing out that ?45 per cent of the people sampled feel that the government is ineffective in addressing corruption in the country?.
Nine ministers in the present central government have criminal cases pending against them, said S K Agarwal, Vice-Chairman of TI India, adding the number of MPs in the new Lok Sabha with a similar background has gone up to 152 from about 125 in the earlier House.
source:zopag

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CAT quashes appointment of AIIMS Professor

The Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) has set aside the appointment of Dr Anand Kumar who was the professor of the Department of Reproductive Biology in AIIMS, and gave the institute three months time to make a new selection for the post.

"Selection and appointment of Kumar on the post of professor in the department of reproductive biology is quashed holding that he was not even eligible to apply for the post," the CAT comprising Chairman V K Bali and Vice-Chairman L K Joshi said.

The tribunal passed the order on a plea of Dr N N Sarkar, the associate professor of AIIMS , challenging Kumar's appointment as the professor of the department on the ground that he did not have the requisite qualification for the post.

The premier medical institute had advertised for the post in the year 2000 in which it was mentioned that a candidate of medical stream must have MD or MS degree in the field of reproductive biology. Challenging his appointment, Sarkar pleaded that Kumar did not fulfil the eligibility as he held MD degree in Physiology and not in reproductive biology.

Kumar, however, contested the allegations, saying that there was no institute in India which was offering MD and MS in reproductive biology upto 1990, the qualification required for the post.

Not satisfied by his argument, the tribunal set aside his appointment and asked the Institute to appoint a new person for the post. "It is well settled proposition of law that no selection can be made of a candidate who does not answer the qualifications as prescribed either in the recruitment rules or the advertisement," the tribunal said.

"We order that the AIIMS advertised the post afresh immediately ... and make fresh selection for the post of professor in the department as expeditiously as possible and preferably within a period of three months," the CAT said.
Kumar was appointed as professor of the department by AIIMS on February 21, 2000.
source;zee news

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Casual worker not entitled to compensation: HC

The Delhi High Court has said a casual worker is not entitled to claim compensation from the principal employer in case he suffers an accident while performing the work under the direction and supervision of a contractor.

Justice V B Gupta said those availing the services of such casual employees through a contractor for their trade or business do not have to pay compensation in case any injury is caused to such workers in the course of work.

The court passed the order on an appeal filed by M/s Bhasin petrol pump challenging the order of Workmen's Compensation Commissioner awarding damages to a worker, Md Shoibuddin Khan on the ground that he was an "employee" under the meaning of the Workmen's Compensation Act

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Casual worker not entitled to compensation: HC

The Delhi High Court has said a casual worker is not entitled to claim compensation from the principal employer in case he suffers an accident while performing the work under the direction and supervision of a contractor.

Justice V B Gupta said those availing the services of such casual employees through a contractor for their trade or business do not have to pay compensation in case any injury is caused to such workers in the course of work.The court passed the order on an appeal filed by M/s Bhasin petrol pump challenging the order of Workmen's Compensation Commissioner awarding damages to a worker, Md Shoibuddin Khan on the ground that he was an "employee" under the meaning of the Workmen's Compensation Act

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AI pilots threaten strike from Nov 24

        Air India pilots today served the management a fresh ultimatum to sort out issues relating to salary and allowances in eight days, failing which they threatened to go on strike from November 24.
                      In a letter written to the NACIL Chairman and Managing Director Arvind Jadhav, the Indian Commercial Pilots Association (ICPA), said "if issues, including that of pending arrears, are not addressed by November 10, the letter be considered a strike notice.
                 "This grievance letter be considered as a 14-day notice of strike under section 22 of the Industrial Disputes Act, 1947, by which strike shall be effective from 1700 hrs of November 24."

             ICPA, the non-executive pilots' body of the erstwhile Indian Airlines, claims representation of 800 pilots  It claimed that the company has not paid salary allowances, which constitute almost 70-80 per cent of their salary, since August.
SOURCE:PTI

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AI pilots threaten strike from Nov 24

Air India pilots today served the management a fresh ultimatum to sort out issues relating to salary and allowances in eight days, failing which they threatened to go on strike from November 24.

In a letter written to the NACIL Chairman and Managing Director Arvind Jadhav, the Indian Commercial Pilots Association (ICPA), said "if issues, including that of pending arrears, are not addressed by November 10, the letter be considered a strike notice.

"This grievance letter be considered as a 14-day notice of strike under section 22 of the Industrial Disputes Act, 1947, by which strike shall be effective from 1700 hrs of November 24."ICPA, the non-executive pilots' body of the erstwhile Indian Airlines, claims representation of 800 pilots.It claimed that the company has not paid salary allowances, which constitute almost 70-80 per cent of their salary, since August.
source:PTI

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HRD Department prepares training for the Primary Teachers during the winter break

Gangtok: As a part of the mission of bringing about quality in education which is Hon’ble Chief Minister’s vision and dream and the emphasis of the entire HRD Department on training of teachers, a five day training programme on spoken English and Mathematics for Resource Persons was held at State Institute of Education w.e.f 26.10.09 to 30.10.09The programme was conducted by State Institute of Education, HRDD. The prime objective of the programme was to prepare Resource Persons in English and Mathematics to train Primary Teachers. Programme began with an interactive session during which Secretary HRDD, Director, Technical Education and Training and Joint Director SIE highlighted the need and importance of the programme and discussed various other related issues pertaining to the present scenario of primary education and ways and means to bring about quality in the primary education in Sikkim. Secretary also briefed the trainees about their role and responsibility ahead.The participants were mainly PGT’s and GT’s of English and Mathematics.These Resource Persons will in turn be training primary teachers in spoken English and basic Mathematics during an intensive course for a period of forty two days in forthcoming winter break.

Forty Two participants attended the training. The key resource Persons were faculty from SIE. In these five days Teachers of English were subjected to intensive session of phonetics and spoken English, where as teachers of Mathematics identified hard spots at primary level and prepared modules and teaching aids to teach these hardspots.On 30th Oct. the training ended with a valedictory programme where teachers demonstrated some of the activities designed during the training. Secretary HRD once again interacted with the teachers’ and discussed various aspects with regard to the primary teachers’ training during winters.

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Mizoram government would implement the Sixth Pay Commission

                Mizoram Chief Minister Lal Thanhawla told the assembly that the government would implement the Sixth Pay Commission for its 90,000 employees.

         Lal Thanhawla said that the cabinet's decision is being awaited and the government is keen to implement the 6th Pay Commission recommendation as soon as possible, a senior finance department official told newsmen.

                Lal Thanhawla, who also holds the finance portfolio, told the house that while the government was ready to implement the recommendations for its regular employees, the welfare of the casual and contingent workers of the government was not overlooked and it was recommended that their wages be increased.

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