Union cabinet approved release of 7% DA from 1.1.2012

The Union Cabinet today gave its approval to release an additional instalment of Dearness Allowance (DA) to central government employees and Dearness Relief (DR) to pensioners w.e.f. 1.1.2012 representing an increase of 7% over the existing rate of 58% of the Basic Pay/Pension, to compensate for price rise.

The increase is in accordance with the accepted formula, which is based on the recommendations of the 6th Central Pay Commission. The combined impact on the exchequer on account of both dearness allowance and dearness relief would be of the order of Rs.7474.53 crore per annum and Rs.8720.32 crore in the financial year 2012-13 (i.e. for a period of 14 months from January, 2012 to February, 2013).

Grant of Cycle maintenance allowance to postmen

D.G. Posts F. No. 1-02/2012-PAP dated 17^th January, 2012.

            The undersigned is directed to say that the issue of grant of Cycle Maintenance Allowance to Postmen without any limitations of distance of their beats has been under consideration of a Committee on special Allowance, headed by Shri Santosh Gauriar, Chief Postmaster General, Madhya Pradesh Circle.

2.         The recommendations of the Committee have been examined in consultation with the Integrated Finance Wing of the Department and the Competent Authority is please to approve that all the postmen, who are utilizing cycles for delivery of mails, be granted Cycle Maintenance Allowance without any distance criteria, after due approval of the Divisional Heads concerned subject to satisfaction of prescribed conditions. This will be further subject to strict adherence to the instructions on rotation of postmen beats.

3.         These orders shall take effect from the date of their issue.

4.         This has been vetted by the Departmental IFW vide their Diary No. 20/FA/12/CS dated 17.1.2012.

Grant of TA & DA to Mail overseers in place of night halt allowance

D.G. Posts F. No. I-o2/2012-PAP dated 17^th January, 2012.

            The undersigned is directed to say that the issue of granting full travelling and daily allowances to the Mail Overseers in this Department has been under consideration of a Committee on special Allowances, headed by Shri Santosh Gauriar, Chief Postmaster General, Madhya Pradesh Circle.

2.         The recommendations of the Committee have been examined in consultation with the Integrated Finance Wing of the Department and the Competent Authority is pleased to accept the recommendations as below:

(i)         The Mail Overseers will be entitled to normal Travelling and Daily allowances for their journeys beyond Eight Kilometers from their Headquarter Stations and reimbursement of Actual Travelling Expenses for their journeys with the sphere of Eight Kilometers from their Headquarter Stations, in accordance with the Fundamental and Supplementary Rules(Part-II TA Rules)

(ii)        The existing Night Halt Allowance payable to the Mail Overseers is ordered to be withdrawn with immediate effect.

3.         These orders shall take effect from the date of their issue. Expenditure on the TA and DA of the Mail Overseers shall be debited to the normal Travelling Allowance Expenditure Head of the concerned Units/Divisions and be met from their sanctioned grants.

4.         This has been vetted by the Departmental IFW vide their Diary No. 21/FA/12/CS dated 17.1.2012.

Clarification on premature closure of TD accounts - SB ORDER NO. 33/2011

SB ORDER NO. 33/2011

F.No.113-01/2011-SB

Government of India

Ministry of Communications & IT

Department of Posts

Dak Bhawan, Sansad Marg,

New Delhi-110001, Dated: 13.12.2011

To

All Heads of Circles/Regions

Addl. Director General, APS, New Delhi.       

Subject:-                                Issue of clarifications regarding premature closure of TD accounts.

Sir / Madam,

The undersigned is directed to refer to this office SB Order No. 27/2011 dated 24.11.2011 vide which decisions taken by Min. of Finance regarding changes in POTD scheme effective from 1.12.2011 were circulated.

2.             Some circles have asked for clarifications regarding applicability of reduction in interest rate to be charged on premature closure of TD accounts to the old accounts. It is clarified that:-

(i)            In case of premature closure of 1 Year, 2 Year, 3 Year or 5 Year account which were opened even before 1.12.2011, if the deposit is withdrawan after 6 months but before the expiry of one year from the date of deposit, simple interest at the rate applicable to from time to time to post office savings account shall be payable. The rate of interest shall be 3.5% up to the period 30.11.2011 and 4% thereafter.

(ii)           In case of premature closure of 2 Year, 3 Year or 5 Year account which were opened even before 1.12.2011, if the deposit is withdrawan after the expiry of one year from the date of deposit, interest on such deposits shall be                calculated at the rate, which shall be one per cent less than the rate which was applicable at the time of opening of TD account. Interest calculation tables for the TD accounts opened before 1.12.2011 and opened on or after 1.12.2011 and applied for premature closure on or after 1.12.2011 are enclosed.

3.             It is requested that this clarification and interest calculation table may be circulated to all post offices immediately for information and necessary guidance please.

4. This issues with the approval of DDG(FS)

Yours faithfully,

(Kawal Jit Singh)

Assistant Director (SB)

Encl:- as above

Provision of Toll free numbers for PLI/RPLI purpose

The following Toll free Numbers have been provided at PLI Directorate New Delhi to give  improved services to the Customers in PLI/RPLI matters.  Customers can  dial either of these two numbers from any where in the country free of cost  for any information or grievance redressel.

Toll free Numbers : 155232  and  18001805232    

Postal Assistant/Stg Assistant- Revised recruitment rules 2011

Department of Posts has notified Department of Posts ( Postal Assistants and Sorting Assistants) (Group-C Non-gazetted) Recruitment Rules, 2011.  These have been published in Official Gazette on 3.11.2011.  They come into force from the date of publication in Official Gazette.

For direct recruitment 10+2 or 12 Standard candidates with atleast 60% marks with English as compulsory subject [ excluding vocational stream], 55% for OBC and 45% for SC/ST will be eligible.

GDS should have obtained 50% marks in +2 or 12th standard with English as a Compulsory subject and should have put in minimum 5 years service.They should be within 30 years of age (35 years for those belonging to Scheduled Castes/ Scheduled Tribes and 33 years for other Backward Classes).

Post Office Savings Deposits to earn Higher Interest

 Post office savings bank deposits without any fixed maturity will earn interest of 4 per cent up from 3.5 per cent now.

And interest rates on other small saving instruments, such as the National Savings Certificate, will be indirectly linked to the market. The new rates could be notified from July 1, 2011 for the current fiscal year.

High interest rates offered by the banks seem to be luring people to withdraw money from the small savings. The Government was expecting Rs 24,182 crore through small savings during this fiscal, but till date far from any fresh accretion, there has been a net outflow of approximately Rs 11,000 crore. This means people withdrew more money than making fresh deposits.

There is also a proposal to discontinue the Kisan Vikas Patra scheme.