Thursday 17 May 2012

DoT celebrates World Telecommunication and Information Day


DoT celebrates World Telecommunication and Information Da
NICF organizes Seminar on “Women and Girls in ICT” 

On the occasion of World Telecommunication and Information Society Day today, a National Level Seminar on “Women and Girls in ICT” was organized by National Institute of Communication Finance (NICF) - an apex level National Training Institute of Department of Telecommunications. World Telecommunication and Information Day, celebrated each year on 17th May, marks the anniversary of the signature of the first international Telegraph Convention in 1865 which led to the creation of the International Telecommunication Unit. 

About 50 plus senior officer of Department of Telecommunication (DoT) from all over the country participated in the seminar at Ghaziabad Campus of NICF. Participants resolved to use and promote Information Communication Technologies (ICTs) to provide new digital opportunities to women and girls in every corner of India. Presentations were made to cover various perspectives on the theme “Women and Girls in ICT Sector”. Need for bridging the digital gap between man and woman as well as ways and means to provide gender neutral technological development in the field of ICT was recommended. The role professional women can play in further developing and servicing a dynamic and competitive ICT sector needs to be acknowledged and supported by Governments, private sector, donors, civil society and education sectors etc.

Source : PIB dtd 17/05/2012

Fresh empanelment of private hospitals and diagnostic centres -LUCKNOW

No: S.11011/23/2009-CGHS D.II/Hospital Cell / Part IX 
Government of India 
Ministry of Health & Family Welfare 
Department of Health & Family Welfare
Maulana Azad Road, Nirman Bhawan 
New Delhi 110 108 dated the 30th April, 2012.
OFFICE MEMORANDUM

Subject: Fresh empanelment of private hospitals and diagnostic centres and revision of package rates applicable under CGHS LUCKNOW.

   The undersigned is directed to invite reference to this Ministry’s Office Memoranda of even number dated the 8th December 2010, 19th January 2011 and 14.11.2011 vide which Continuous empanelment scheme has been initiated under CGHS, LUCKNOW for treating CGHS beneficiaries. The CGHS rates applicable have already been notified and are available on CGHS website. Three rates were notified, one for super-specialty hospitals, the second for hospitals that were accredited with the NABH and the third for hospitals not accredited with the NABH.

   2. The undersigned is directed to enclose further list of hospitals and diagnostic centres, under the categories mentioned in the application for continuous empanelment and tender document that have conveyed their acceptance of the CGHS rates notified under different CGHS Cities and have signed the Memorandum of Agreement with CGHS and have also furnished the appropriate performance bank guarantee. These hospitals and diagnostic centres are now taken as included in the list of approved hospitals for empanelment under CGHS, LUCKNOW. It has now been decided that in the list of hospitals and diagnostic centres enclosed, and have now been approved under the fresh empanelment procedure and have now signed the fresh Memorandum of Agreement and submitted the appropriate performance guarantee will be eligible to treat CGHS beneficiaries and charge at the revised rates with effect from the date of issue of this Office Memorandum. The empanelment shall be for a period of one year or till next empanelment, whichever is earlier.

   3. This Office Memorandum and the rates applicable under CGHS for hospitals and diagnostic centres can be downloaded from the website of CGHS, http://msotransparent.nic.in/cghsnew/index.asp

sd/- 
(V.P. Singh) 
Deputy Secretary to Government of India

Click here to view OM and fresh Empanelment Hospitals

Book and Authors 2012


Latest Books and Authors

True Colours — Adam Gilchrist
Storm Over the Sutlej–Akali Politics — A.M. Narang
My Life Struggle — Khan Abdul Gaffar Khan
Asking for Trouble — Amreek Singh
Sandy Storms — Sandeep Patil
Runs in Ruins — Sunil Gavaskar
Assam-A Valley Divided — Shekhar Gupta
Speaking for My Life — Cherry Blair
The Things About Thugs — Tabish Nair
The Heritage of Sikhs — Harbans Singh
Secular Perception in Sikh Faith — K.M. Duggal
Basanti — Bhishma Sahani
Rich Like Us — Nayantara Sehgal
Reflection on our Time — P.N. Haksar
Hinduism — Nirad C. Chaudhari
Bliss was in that Dawn — Minoo Masani
Netaji and Gandhi — Shashi Ahluwalia
Survivors — Randheer Khare
Alone in the Multitude — Amrita Pritam
Swami and Friends — R.K. Narain
Terrorism in India — Shaileshwar Jha
Struggle For Change — K.B. Lal
The Indian Epics Retold — R. K. Narayan
Indian Drama — Chelapati Rao
The Last Hero — Mihir Bose
You cannot Please every one — Kavita Sarkar
Mrs. Gandhi’s Second Regime — Arun Shourie
The Emerging Developing Countries — P.G. Salve
Pakistan-The Gathering Storms — Benazir Bhutto
The Morarji Papers — Arun Gandhi
The Lord of the Flies — William Goldings
Agnigarbha Amrat Lal Nagar
World Power — Jonathan Steel
M.N. Roy-The Man — J.B.H. Wadia
We the People — Nani Palkiwala
The Islamic Bomb — Steave Baseman & Herber Cronsne
Portrait of a Lady — Henry James
My India — S. Nihal Singh
View from the U.N. — U. Thant
Inside Third World — V. Harrison
India’s Nuclear Status — Dhirendra Sharma
Indian Women’s Battle for Freedom — Kamala Devi Chattopadhyaya
Indian Cinema — Feeroz Rangoonwala
Cricket My Style — Kapil Dev
Sunny Days — Sunil Gavaskar
By God’s Decree — The Autobiography of Kapil Dev
The Famished Road — Ben Okri
Scarlett — Alexandra Ripley
Freedom from Fear — Aung San Suu Kyi
The Power and the Glory — Graham Green
Against the Grain — Boris Yeltsin
My Childhood Days — Taslima Nasreen
Myth of Mahatma — Michael Edwards
The City of Joy — Dominique Lapierre
God of Small Things — Arundhati Rai
The Tin Drum — Guentar Grass
Development as Freedom — Amartya Sen
Disgrace — J.M. Coetzee
Speed Post — Shobha De
My Century — Guentar Grass
A New World — Amit Chaudhury
Interpreter of Maladies — Jhumpa Lahiri
Soul Mountain — Gao Xingjian
The Brief History of Time — Stephen Hawking
The Transparent Mind — Ingram Smith
The True History of the Kelly Gang — Peter Carey
Bradman’s Best — Rolland Perry
Living History — Hillary Rodham Clinton
Business at the Speed of Thought — Bill Gates
The Impressionist — Hari Kunzru
Ignited Minds — Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam
Wings of Fire — Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam
Life of Pi — Yann Martel
Long Walk to Freedom — Nelson Mandela
The Writer and the World — V. N. Naipaul
Two Lives — Vikram Seth
The Family and the Nation — Dr. A. P. J. Abdul Kalam and Acharya Mahapragya
Curfewed Night — Basharat Peer
Sustaining India’s Growth Miracle — Jagdish N. Bhagawati
The Namesake — Jhumpa Lahiri
Straight From the Heart — Kapil Dev
My Life — Bill Clinton
Magic Seeds — V. S. Naipaul
To a Hunger Free World — Dr. M. S. Swaminathan
The Line of Beauty — Alan Hollinghurst
The Piano Teacher — Elfriede Jelinek
Shalimar, the Clown — Salman Rushdie
The Sea — John Banville
Guiding Souls : Dialogues on the — Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam
Purpose of Life — with Arun K. Tiwari
Identity and Violence : The Illusion of Destiny — Prof. Amartya Sen
The Last Moghul — William Darlymple
In the Line of Fire : A Memoire — Parvez Musharraf
Mohandas : A True Story of a Man, Once Upon a Time in the Soviet Union — Dominique Lapierre
My Country My Life — L. K. Advani
Jinnah : India-Partition-Independence — Jaswant Singh
Humbling — Philip Roth
The Museum of Innocence — Orphan Pamuk
Arming the Indian Arsenal — Deb Mohanty
The Year of the Flood — Margaret Atwood
The Post American World — Farid Zakaria
Yours Sincerely — Natwar Singh
The British, the Bandits and the Bordermen — P.V. Rajgopal
After the Ice : Life, Death and Geopolitics in the New Arctic — Alun Anderson
A Tale of Two Revolts : India 1857 and the American Civil War — Rajmohan Gandhi
The Red Sari — Javier Moro
The Fragrance of Forgotten Years — Bilkees Latif
Securing the State — David Omand
Before Memory Fades — Autobiography : Fali S. Nariman
Obama’s Wars — Bob Woodward
Convenient Action : Gujarat’s Response to Challenges of Climate Change — Narendra Modi
Decision Points — George W. Bush
Civil Disobedience — L. C. Jain
 

Commemorative Postage Stamps


Commemorative Postage Stamps

In all 330 commemorative postage stamps on freedom fighters and 430 on eminent personalities have been issued between August, 1948 and April, 2012.
The commemorative postage stamps issued by the Department of Posts are determined based on the following rules:-

1. Commemorative postage stamps will be issued on subjects that have a national or international stature or have made national/international contribution or impact or reflect national/international areas of concern.
2. The Annual Issue Programme shall reflect regional, cultural and ethnic balance.
3. Stamps on a particular subject shall issue only once, except thematic such as wild life, environment, transport, flora fauna etc. or regular issues like Children’s Day, Season Greetings and sets on heritage, nature, culture, art, architecture etc.
4. Stamps shall be issued only on the apex institutions, not on branches of any institution or organization.
5. There shall be not over 50 issues (maximum 100 stamps) of commemorative stamps per annum.
6. Stamps on personalities shall not exceed 10% of the Annual Issue Programme.
7. The Union Minister incharge of the Ministry of Communications & IT may approve 5% of the Annual Issue Programme.
8. The date of issue shall be fixed by the Philately Division keeping in view the significant dates relating to the subject and the availability of slots in the printing schedule.
9. Dates of issue once fixed shall not be changed. A proponent may hold a presentation function on any day on or after the date of issue.
10. Proposals may be sent by any citizen of India.
11. Proposals should be sent at least two years in advance for consideration by the Philatelic Advisory Committee (PAC) and approval by the competent authority.
12. Proposals must be submitted in the format available on indiapost.gov.in.
13. Proposals will be considered and recommended/not recommended by the PAC. They will not be carried forward for the next PAC meeting.
14. Proponents shall follow the protocol for release functions.
15. The Department of Posts will decide the subject matters, prohibited subjects renewal of philatelic products, procedure for proposal consideration and issue/release of a stamp, period of sale of commemorative/special stamps and for definitive stamps and postal stationery. It will also determine issue policy, withdrawal policy and archival policy.
16. The denominations of postage stamps shall be in consonance with domestic and international postal tariffs.
17. The personalities on whom commemorative stamp may be issued should be of national or international importance. The occasion to be commemorated must be the birth centenary or 10th /25th /50th /100thdeath anniversary. No stamp will be issued sooner than ten years after an individual’s death. A commemorative stamp shall be issued in honour of the head of State on his/her first death anniversary.
18. A stamp on an institution, building, monument etc. may be issued on its centenary/125thanniversary/ 150thanniversary etc. The building, institution to be so honoured must be Heritage site of national/international importance or site recognized by ASI of national/international importance. Building of regional importance may be commemorated with issue of special cover with special cancellation.
19. At least 25% of the stamps issued in a year will be on popular themes like flora, fauna, culture, heritage etc.
20. Proponents for the stamps relating to institutions/events/large organisations are required to make a mandatory purchase of a minimum number of 1 lakh stamps and the requisite philatelic ancillaries.
This information was given by the Minister of State for Communications & Information Technology Shri Sachin Pilot in a written reply in the Lok Sabha yesterday.


BK/AT/PM



Source : PIB

An – Interesting CAT Decision

Abnormal delay in issuing a charge-sheet to an employee for his omissions and commissions leads to quashing of charge-sheet and also return of recovered money, if any amount is recovered from the charge-sheeted employee
Facts: While the Applicant was working as Accountant with effect from 21.5.1996 and BCR with effect from 1.7.2007, he was issued with a charge-memo under rule 16 of CCS (CCA) Rules vide Memo, dated 11.12.2008 for a matter which related to October, 1997, i.e. more than 11 years old. A recovery of Rs1,94,791 was to be recovered as per the order of SPOs, Sitapur, dated 27.03.2009. His appeals were rejected. Hence he filed this OA for setting aside his punishment.
The Applicant, Accountant-II, states that no undertaking was taken from him in regard to recovery of amount if any amount is paid by him incorrectly and that B. K. Tripathi, Accountant-I is fully responsible for the lapse and an amount of Rs.24,442 only is to be recovered from him. Further, the punishment order is non-speaking and hence liable to be quashed.
The Respondents sustain their orders based on various instructions of the Ministry of Finance and Chief Postmaster-General of U. P. Circle, Lucknow. They further state that an enquiry was conducted in the misappropriation of money and four persons including the Applicant was found responsible. Out of four, one had retired and another died. Hence no action was taken against them The Applicant and B. K. Tripathi, another employee were found guilty and an amount of Rs. 194791 and Rs. 24,442 respectively are to be recovered from them.
The Applicant placed reliance on the case of P. V. Mahadevan v. M. D. Tamilnadu Housing Board (2005 AIR SCWs 690), wherein the charge memo was quashed due to inordinate delay. In the case of State of M. P. v. Bani Singh, reported in AIR similar view of delay led to quashing of the charge-sheet. In the case of State of A. P. v. N. Radhakrishnan (1998 (4) SCC 154), it was held that in all situations in respect of delay in conclusion of departmental enquiry may vitiate the proceedings. Following these judgments, the tribunal passed similar orders in O. A. No. 427 of 2006. Jhabbar Yadav v. Union of India and others decided on 16.10.2008.
The Tribunal considering the delay in this case of 11 years which pertained to a case 11 years back examined the issue of charge-sheet and punishment thereon. The two employees now punished reportedly committed the mismanagement of money and on the pretext of having given and underataking for recovery, if found guilty is not sustainable. In that connections. It was held:
Held: “In view of aforesaid discussion, we come to the conclusion that there was an inordinate delay of about 11 years in issuing the charge-sheet for initiating disciplinary proceedings for which there is no proper explanation from the side of the Respondents. Therefore, having regard to the aforesaid preposition of law laid down by Hon. Apex Court (Supra) in the above cases, the disciplinary proceedings in question, deserved to be quashed, including order of recovery against Applicant initiated through charge-sheet, dated 11-12-2008 along with recovery Order, dated 27.03.2009. for the same reasons, the Appellate Order, dated 29.6.2009 is also liable to be quashed and accordingly it is so ordered. It is further directed that the amount already recovered, if any from the pay of the Applicant, shall also be refunded.”
The OA is allowed accordingly to the above extent.
(Chandrika Prasad v. Secretary, Department of Posts, Dak Bhawan, New Delhi and other 5/2012, Swamynews 61 (Lucknow) date of judgment 25.8.2011)
OA No. 297 of 2009
Courtesy: Swamy News, May 2012
via-http://www.aipeup3chq.com/

SUPPLY OF GOOD QUALITY UNIFORM TO THE POSTAL EMPLOYEE

SUPPLY OF GOOD QUALITY OF UNIFORM TO THE POSTAL EMPLOYEE, ETC. SUBMISSION OF SAMPLES OF CLOTH-REGARDING.

Government of India
Ministry of Communications &IT
Department of Posts
Dak Bhawan, Sansad Marg
New Delhi
No. 23-5/2007-UPE    Dated 9th May, 2012.

To
            The Secretary General,
            National Federation of Postal Employees,
            1st Floor North Avenue P.O.  Bldg.
            New Delhi
           
Sub: Supply of good quality of uniform to the Postal Employee, etc. Submission of   samples of cloth-Regarding.
Sir,
            Postal Joint Council of Action and JCM of Department of Posts have raised following demand in their agenda items:
(i)         Supply of good quality of cloth of uniform
(ii)        Replacement of umbrella with rain coat for Postmen.
(iii)       Grant of uniform kit maintenance allowance for uniform, staff.

            The matters have been examined in consultation with Department of Personnel &
Training (DOPT) vide OM No. 14/1/2012-JCA2 dated 7.2.2012 (Copy enclosed) and necessary instructions to that effect has since been issued to the Heads of Circles of Department of Posts vide letter of even number dated 9th May, 2012 (Copy enclosed). This is for your information.

Yours faithfully
Sd/-
(R.B. Chawla)
Director (E&MM)
Copy to:
1.         General Secretary, All India Postal Employees Union,  Postmen & Group D/MTS, 17/3-D , Kali Bari Marg, New Delhi.

2.         General Secretary, National Union of Postal Employees Postmen & Group D/MTS, Dalvi Sadan, Khurshid Square, Civil Lines, P&T Colony Delhi-110 054

SUPPLY OF GOOD QUALITY OF UNIFORM TO THE POSTAL EMPLOYEE, ETC.  OF CLOTH-REGARDING.

D.G Posts No. 23-5/2007-UPE dated 9th May,2012.

            The Associations of Department of Posts have raised a demand for supply of good quality of uniform to the Postal Employees, replacement of Umbrellas with water proofs to the postmen and grant of Uniform Kit maintenance allowance.

2.         The matter has been examined in consultation with Department of Personnel & Training (DOPT), and the clarifications given by them vide OM No. 14/1/2012-JCA2 dated 7.2.1012 is enclosed for necessary action, which interalia states that” after coming into effect of GFR 2005 this Department has issued an OM No. 14/7/2003-JCA dated 21.11.2005 (copy enclosed), which was in supersession of the earlier instructions, clarifying that the further procurement should be made as per the relevant rules in the new GFR’s 2005. This implies that Ministries/Departments can now decide to procure uniform from anywhere and on rates subject to complying with the provisions of GFR, 2005.”

3.         Regarding eligibility/supply of Umbrellas and replacement of Umbrellas with water proofs, the procedure has been codified in rule 737(X) & (XI) of Postal Manual Volume. I. The Heads of Circles are hereby informed that necessary action in this respect may be taken as per the codified procedure in consultation with the Internal Financial Advisers.

4.         The DOP&T have clarified that common categories of staff, with which DOPT is concerned, no kit maintenance allowance is admissible and they are entitled to washing allowance, if issued with uniform.
Yours faithfully
Sd/-
(R.B. Chawla)
Director (E&MM)

Copy of DOPT O.M. No. 14/1/2012-JCA2 dated 7th February, 2012 addressed to Shri R.B. Chawla, Director (MM&VP), Ministry of Communications &IT, Department of Posts, New Delhi.
 
OFFICE MEMORANDUM
Sub:   Supply of good quality of uniform and other kit items to the Postal Employees of Department of Posts-regarding.

            The undersigned is directed to refer to Department of Post’s O.M. No. 23-5/2007-UPE dated 25th January, 2012 on the subject cited above and No. 23-5/2007-UPE dated 2nd February, 2012 regarding grant of Uniform and Kit maintenance allowances.

2.         In this connection , it is stated that after coming in to effect of GFR,2005 this Department has issued as OM No. 14/7/2003-JCAdated 21st November,2005(copy enclosed) , which was in supersession of the earlier instructions, clarifying that the further procurement should be made as per the relevant rules in the new GFR’s 2005. This implies that Ministries/Departments can now decide to procure uniform from anywhere and on rates subject to complying with the provisions of GFR, 2005. 

3.         Regarding replacement of Umbrella with raincoat for Postmen, it is stated that in case of employees not covered under common categories, Ministries administratively concerned should themselves decide the question of issue of uniform and scales/tenure in consultation with the appropriate financial authorities.

4.         In so far as issue relating to grant of Uniform & Kit maintenance allowances to all uniformed staff in Department of Posts is concerned, it is stated that for common categories of staff, with which DOPT is concerned, no such allowance is admissible and they are entitled to washing allowance, if issued with uniform.
Sd/-
(Ashok Kumar)
Deputy Secretary (JCA)

PROCUREMENT OF UNIFORMS (SUMMER/WINTER) FOR COMMON CATEGORIES OF EMPLOYEES IN THE CENTRAL GOVERNMENT MINISTRIES/DEPARTMENTS-REVISED PROCEDURE UNDER THE GENERAL FINANCIAL RULES, 2005-REG.
 
DOPT O.M. No.  14-7/2003-JCA             Dated 21st Nov 2005

Reference: Ministry of Finance OM No. 1/12/E.II(A)/94 dated 29.07.2005
           
The undersigned is directed to refer to the consolidated instructions issued in the Department OM No 14/8/90-JCA dated 29.6.1990 and further orders issued from time to time dealing with the procedure for procurement and supply of summer/winter uniforms to common categories of Group 'C' and 'D' employees serving in various Ministries/Departments of the Central Government and to say as follows:

2.         Consequent to the coming into force of the new General Financial Rules, 2005 (FGRs), it has become necessary to review and modify the existing procedure for procurement/purchase of summer/winter uniforms for common categories of Group 'C' and 'D' employees serving in various Ministries/Departments of the Central Government so as to bring it in line with the provisions of revised FGRs.  In this connection, it is also relevant to note that vide OM dated 29.7.2005 cited above, the Ministry of Finance(Department of Expenditure) has clarified that the special dispensation from the process of inviting tenders/quotations provided to NCCF/Kendriya Bhandar in DOPT Welfare Division's OM dated 14.7.1981 and 11.4.1994 under chapter 8 of the old GFRs no longer holds good and that purchase/procurement of goods by Government of India offices will now be solely guided by the provisions of GFRs 2005.

3.         In the circumstances, in supersession of the extant instructions regarding procurement of summer/winter uniforms relating to Groups 'C' & 'D' employees in the Central Secretariat Ministries/Departments and its attached and subordinate offices, the purchase procedure to be followed in different exigencies and the relevant rules in the GFRs are outline below:-

(i) Chapter 7 of the GFR's 2005 pertaining to procurement of Goods and Services may be carefully perused to ensure that the procurement/purchase procedure adopted is strictly in line with the prescribed rules.  In this connection attention is specially drawn to some of the following important provisions, details of which may be obtained from the GFR's 2005
Rule 137- Fundamental Principles of Public Buying
Rule 144- Reserved items
Rule 145- Purchase of Goods without Quotation
Rule 146- Purchase of Goods by Purchase Committee
Rule 148-Demand should not be divided  into small quantities to make piece- meal purchase
Rule 160-Transparency, competition, Fairness and elimination of Arbitrariness in the procurement process
Rule 161 Efficiency, Economy and Accountability in Public Procurement system

(ii) All purchases should be made through a duly constituted Purchase Committee comprising of three members of an appropriate level as decided by the Head of the Department, including one member from the internal Finance Division and two belonging to the Administration Division.  In addition, a fourth member may be associated with the purchase committee, to be nominated by the concerned staff Associations/unions.

(iii) In case of purchase of goods of a value above Rs 15,000/- and upto 1,00,000/-, on each occasion, purchase may be made only on the recommendations of a duly constituted purchase committee defined in para (ii) above, and as decided by the Head of the Department.  The committee will survey the market to ascertain the reasonableness of rate, quality and specifications and identify the appropriate supplier.  Also, before placing the purchase order, the members of the committee will jointly record a certificate and authenticate it, as under

"Certified that we, S/Shri-------------- members of the purchase committee, are jointly and individually satisfied that the goods recommended for purchase are of the requisite specification and quality, priced at the prevailing market rate and the supplier, recommended is reliable and competent to supply the goods in question."

(iv) Subject to the exceptions incorporated in Rules 151 and 154 of GFR's 2005, invitation to tenders by advertisement should be used for procurement of goods of estimated value of Rs 25 lakhs and above

(v) In case of Ministry/Department directly procedure DGS&D rate contract goods from suppliers, the prices to be paid for such goods should not exceed the rate mentioned in the rate contract and the other terms and conditions of purchase should also be in line with those specified in the rate contract. In addition, the Ministry/Department has to make its own arrangement for inspection and testing of the goods, where so required.

3.         While observing the above change in procedure, the purchase committee/competent Authority may also keep in view the provisions of Rule 144 of the GFRs, 2005, that reads as under:-

"Rule 144, Reserved Items: The Central Government, through administrative instructions, has reserved all items of handspun and hand-woven textiles(Khadi goods) for exclusive purchase from Khadi Village Industries Commission (KVIC), it has also reserved all items of handloom textiles required by Central Government departments for exclusive purchase from KVIC and/or the notified handlooms units of ACASH(Association of Corporations and Apex Societies of Handlooms),  The Central Government has also reserved some items for purchase from registered Small Scale Industrial Units.  The Central Departments or Ministries are to make their purchases for such reserved goods and items from such units as per the instruction issued by the Central Government in this regard"