President of India inaugurates bank and post office at their new locations in the President’s estate

The President of India, Shri Pranab Mukherjee inaugurated the President’s Estate Branch of United Bank of India and Rashtrapati Bhavan Post Office in their new buildings today (July 24, 2014).

The President’s Estate Branch of United Bank of India was established on February 28, 1976 and inaugurated by the then President of India, Late Dr. Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed.

The Rashtrapati Bhavan Post Office started functioning as Viceroy’s Camp Post Office at Shimla on June 10, 1904. In 1948, it was renamed as Governor-General Post Office and in 1950, it was again renamed as President-Camp Post Office. On December 7, 1950 it got its present name. This Post Office caters to the needs of President’s Secretariat as well as residents of the President’s Estate.

The Bank and Post Office were relocated from a heritage building as part of measures to implement the Comprehensive Conservation Management Plan for the President’s Estate.

A fitness centre for the staff of the President’s Estate was also inaugurated by the President today. 

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Unstarred questions answered in Parliament about GDS

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

                         MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO 490

ANSWERED ON 14.07.2014

GRAMIN DAK SEWAKS

490 . Shri RAM TAHAL CHOUDHARY

Will the Minister of COMMUNICATIONS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY be pleased to state:-

 

(c) the corrective steps taken/being taken by the Government in this regard?

ANSWER

THE MINISTER OF COMMUNICATIONS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY & LAW AND JUSTICE (SHRI RAVI SHANKAR PRASAD)

(a) No, Madam, They are not eligible.

(b) Gramin Dak Sevaks are not regular govt. employees. They are part time workers and are governed by a separate set of Conduct and Engagement Rules. They do not form part of theregular civil service. They are engaged for only 3-5 hours daily work. It is mandatory for them to have an independent source of livelihood before being engaged as Gramin Dak Sewak. Hon’ble Supreme Court in the case of Union of India and Others vs. Kameshwar Prasad 1998 SCC (L&S) page 447 held that P&T Extra Departmental Agent (C&S) Rules, 1964 are a complete code governing service, conduct and disciplinary proceedings against Extra Departmental Agents [now called Gramin Dak Sevaks]. On discharge from service on attaining the age of 65 years or on death, Gramin Dak Sevaks [GDS] are paid Ex-Gratia Gratuity and Severance Amount as approved for them by the Cabinet.

The Ex-gratia Gratuity is paid at the rate of half months basic Time Related Continuity Allowance [TRCA] drawn immediately before discharge of service for each completed year of service subject to a maximum of Rs. 60000 or 16.5 months basic TRCA last drawn whichever is less. The minimum service prescribed for this is 10 years. In addition, Severance Amount is paid at the rate of Rs. 1500 for every completed year of service subject to a maximum of Rs. 60000. The Government has already introduced Service Discharge Benefit Scheme in lieu of severance amount scheme effective from 01.04.2011 for the benefit of Gramin Dak Sevaks on the basis of the New Pension Scheme (NPS), specifically NPS Lite Scheme launched by the Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA). Under this scheme, the Government as well as Gramin Dak Sevaks concerned now contributes @ Rs. 200/- per month.

(c) Does not arise in view of reply to (b) above

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Lokpal Act notified: Employees to declare assets, including those of their spouses and dependent children.

The central government has notified rules under the Lokpal Act making it mandatory for all its employees to file declarations of their assets and liabilities and those of their spouses and dependent children.

It has issued new forms for filing these returns which have fields to give details on cash in hand, bank deposits, investment in bonds, debentures, shares and units in companies or mutual funds, insurance policies, provident fund, personal loans and advance given to a person or any entity, among others.

The employees need to declare motor vehicles, aircraft, yachts or ships, gold and silver jewellery and bullion possessed by them, their spouses and dependent children, according to the form.

They need to give detail of their immovable properties and statement of debts and other liabilities on first appointment or as on March 31 of every financial year. 

There are about 50 lakh central government employees, including IAS, IFS and IPS, among others.

The rules, Public Servants (Furnishing of Information and Annual Return of Assets and Liabilities and the Limits for Exemption of Assets in Filing Returns) Rules, 2014-- were notified by the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) last week. [Click here to view Format of Asset Return under Lokpal]

As per the rules, notified under Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act, every public servant shall file declaration, information and annual returns of his assets and liabilities as on March 31 every year on or before July 31 of that year.

These declarations are in addition to such returns being filed by the government employees under various services rules.

However, the competent authority may exempt a public servant from filing the information in respect of any asset if its value does not exceed his or her four months basic pay or Rs two lakh, whichever is higher, the rules said.

The employees, who have already filed their declarations, information and annual returns of property, shall file revised declarations as on August 1, 2014, to the competent authority on or before September 15, this year.

According to the Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act, a public servant shall furnish to the competent authority the information relating to the assets of which he, his spouse and his dependent children, jointly or severally, own.

He is also mandated to declare his liabilities and that of his spouse and his dependent children, as per the Act.

Read more at: http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/lokpal-act-babus-to-declare-assets-under-new-rules/articleshow/38801323.cms

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