The reasons for the protest week & Present status of the committees.

Observance of Protest week from 12th to 19th December 2016.

The reasons for the protest week& Present status of the committees.

Dear  colleagues,

You are aware FNPO and its affiliated unions have decided to observe protest week from 12th to 19th December 2016.

The reasons for the protest week:

On 30th June 2016 & 06th July 2016 Group Of Ministers called our NJCM leaders and gave assurance that a High-Level Committee will examine the 7th CPC issues, mainly the Minimum Wage and Multiplying Factor. Based  on the assurance, the JCM Constituent deferred the Strike action on 06th July 2016.

 Accordingly, the following committees were constituted .

1)  Committee to examine the 7th CPC issues mainly the Minimum Wage and Multiplying Factor: The committee met once and the outcome of the meeting not known.

2)  Allowance Committee: Met once they discussed HRA & other allowances, but no commitment from the official side. Committee chairman conducted the meeting with all Departments. On 03/11/2016, a meeting was conducted under the Chairmanship of Finance Secretary & Secretary (Expenditure) with regard to postal department. During the meeting India Post Chairman, Postal board, Member (P), DDG (Esst.), DDG (P) & Director (Esst.) were present. Secretary Generals of the three Federations represented the staff side.

The Department of Posts submitted a proposal for retaining the  following allowances.

·       Fixed Monetary Compensation to Postman.

·       Special Allowance to PO & RMS Accountants.

·       Cycle allowance to Postman.

·       Cash handling and Treasury allowance.

·       Headquarter allowance

·       Fixed Medical allowance.

·       Overtime Allowance

After a long discussion on the revision of above allowances, the Finance Secretary  asked to furnish the quantum of Fund required by the Department of Post to meet the Expenditure. Our departmental officers who were present at the meeting agreed to give the required fund details. According to our information, our department has sent the details to the Finance Secretary.

Let us hope that Finance Ministry will agree to our Departments proposal.

3) Anomaly committee was constituted department vice.

4) NPS Committee: According to our information the committee is constituted but no official information.

5) Pension option committee: To examine the feasibility to implement option -1  

Now four months have lapsed, we are yet to know the committees decision on the issues of Minimum Wage, Pay Fixation Formula, Allowances and National Pension system (NPS) etc. as on date
Besides these, after implementing the 7th CPC (only pay), the Government is accepting all the recommendations affecting the employees one by one such as the benchmark for MACP from “GOOD” to VERY GOOD” which has created unrest in the minds of every employee.

FNPO cannot be a mere silent spectator after reading the employees mind, therefore FNPO and its affiliated unions have decided to observe protest week from 12th to 19th December 2016. 

We request all Divisional / Circle secretaries to go through the programs and make it a grand success.

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PS GROUP B Examination Postponed

PS GROUP B Examination Postponed to next schedule.

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Interest rate cut by 0.10% on KVP, PPF, SCSS 2004 & Sukanya Samriddhi

Interest rate cut by 0.10% on KVP, PPF, SCSS 2004 & Sukanya Samriddhi

Press Information Bureau

Government of India

Ministry of Finance

29-November-2016 16:23 IST

Interest rate cut for long term saving schemes. The interest rates of Public Provident Fund (PPF), Kisan Vikas Patra (KVP), Senior Citizens Savings Scheme, 2004 (SCSS 2004), and Sukanya Samriddhi Account (the Girl Child Scheme) were reduced by 0.10 percentage point for the quarter 01.10.2016 to 31.12.2016, and not 0.10 percentage per annum.

The reduction in the rates of interest by 0.10 percentage point was necessitated by a significant fall in the yields on Government Securities of comparable maturities.

This was stated by Shri Arjun Ram Meghwal, Minister of State in the Ministry of Finance in written reply to a question in Rajya Sabha today.

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Brief of the meeting held on 28.11.2016 with the Committee on Allowances

Brief of the meeting held on 28.11.2016 with the Committee on Allowances

ALL INDIA RAILWAYMEN'S FEDERATION (Estd, 1924)

4,State Entry Road, New Delhi - 110055

No.AIRF/VII CPC(Allowances)                                                         Dated: November 28, 2016

 

The General Secretaries,

All Affiliated Unions,

Dear Comrades!

Sub: Brief of the meeting held on 28.11.2016 with the Committee on Allowances

A meeting in the matter of Allowances related to the Railways was held today under the Chairmanship of Secretary (Finance), Government of India and others. Staff Side was headed by the undersigned and Com. M. Raghavaiah, General Secretary NFIR.

The discussion was initiated by me.

At the outset, I reminded the Committee, specifically the Finance Secretary, that strike situation was averted by the government by deputing three Cabinet Ministers, viz. Hon’ble Home Minister, Hon’ble Finance Minister and Hon’ble Railway Minister. On 29th June, 2016, the government issued notification and this was firmed-up by another notification on 06.07.2016 issued by the Ministry of Finance(Deptt. of Exp.). The government took four months time to decide the issues of Minimum Wage, Pay Fixation Formula, Allowances and National Pension System(NPS) etc. I pointed out that, “four months time is running out, so the reports of these committees should be published and all the allowances should be revised and sanctioned w.e.f. 01.01.2016. The matter of Breakdown Allowance, Coal Pilot Allowance, Commercial Allowance (Flag Station Allowance), i.e. Gate Allowance, Rajdhani Express Allowance, Risk Allowance, Sumptuary Allowance to Trainers, which has been abolished by the VII CPC, should be allowed to be continued”.

The matter of positive recommendations of the VII CPC in respect of granting of Train Controllers Allowance, Track Maintenance Allowances were elaborately discussed by the undersigned, pointing out that, the significance of these categories was elaborately highlighted. In addition, Additional Allowance to Running Staff was explained in detail, demanding its extension to Loco Pilot and Guards(Goods). It was also pointed out that, in the event of any train accident, Loco Pilot and Asstt. Loco Pilot are equally responsible. Difficult condition of the Goods Guard was also explained in greater detail. It was also demanded that those allowances should be extended to all the categories of Loco & Traffic Running Staff and the same should be counted for pensionery benefits. In respect of non-appearance of certain allowances in the report of the VII CPC, the vagaries of the life of the personnel working in the National

Projects were also highlighted, including Officiating Allowance, Risk Allowance etc.

The undersigned also impressed upon the Committee, especially the Secretary (Finance), that, positive recommendations of the committee should be published and all decisions in respect of allowances should take retrospective effect w.e.f. 01.01.2016.

Comradely yours,

sd/- (Rakhal Das Gupta)

President

Source: AIRF

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Instructions regading No Limit for Withdrawals in Post Offices as per RBI relaxation

Respected Sir/Madam,

Please find attached the RBI Notification regarding relaxation in the limit of withdrawal of cash from bank deposit accounts. The instructions of RBI stipulates that withdrawals may be allowed for deposits made in current legal tender notes on or after 29.11.2016 beyond the current limits preferably, available higher denomination bank notes of Rs. 2000/- and 500/- are to be issued for such withdrawals. 

This instructions of RBI is applicable only for those depositors who deposits valid legal tender notes and seeking withdrawal, for whom the current limit of (Rs. 24000/-) is relaxed. 

The following are the procedure to be followed:-

1.The withdrawal exceeding the current limits may be allowed only in the home SOL of the account holder.

2.The Finacle application should validate the withdrawals exceeding the limit for those depositors who deposit the current legal tender notes on or after 29.11.2016. For this purpose a Patch needs to be deployed.

3.The counter PA should maintain a separate register for entering details of such deposit transactions.

The proforma of the register is as follows:-

S.No.

Date
Name of the Account Holder
SB Account Number
Amount Deposited through current legal tender notes
Deno. of legal tender notes
Counter PA Sign.
PM/SPM/ Counter Supervisor Signature, Date and amount of withdrawal, if any

4. The depositors who are depositing current legal tender notes on or after 29.11.2016 should write the denomination of currency notes on the pay in slip.

5. After acceptance of deposit by post office, the concerned PA should acknowledge the tendering of currency notes on the back side of the counterfoil of the pay in slip and write the Sl. No. of the entry in above mentioned register.

6. While allowing withdrawal the Counter PA should consult the prescribed Register and make necessary entries for the cash withdrawal from the respective account.

7. Counter PA should maintain the details of cash received and remitted to Treasurer separately for WOS Notes and Current Legal Notes.

CEPT team/FSI vendor is requested to put in place necessary validation by deploying a Patch in Finacle application. Further detail will be intimated in due course. 

In the meanwhile, necessary instructions may be issued to all concerned. 

With regards,

Sachin Kishore

Director (CBS)

Sansad Marg,

Dak Bhavan

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New Schedule for Observance of Protest Week.

7th CPC recommendations have created unrest in the minds of Central government employees in general and Postal employees particularly-Observance of Protest week from 12th to 19th December 2016 by FNPO affiliates.

Observance of Protest week from 12th to 19th December 2016 by FNPO affiliates.

To

All Circle/Division/Branch Secretaries of FNPO affiliates.

Dear colleagues,

FNPO affiliated unions decided to observe protest week from 12th to 19th December 2016 on the 16 points Charter of Demands.

Program of the Protest week 

12/12/2016- Demonstration  at Divisional office.

14/12/2016- To submit a letter to the Prime Minister through the State Governors by the Circle Secretaries.

16/12/2016 Lunch hour Demonstration at Circle/Regional offices

19/12/2016 Lunch hour Demonstration at Directorate & submission of  letter to the Prime Minister.

Our Circle/Division/Branch Secretaries of FNPO affiliated unions are requested to observe the above program in their respective places in an energetic manner.

With regards,

SG FNPO. 

Circle Secretaries are requested to organize March to Raj Bhavan preferably on 14/12/2016 at all State Capitals and submit the letter to the Prime Minister through State Governor.

MODEL COPY OF LETTER TO THE GOVERNOR AND THE PRIME MINISTER.

To 

His/Her Excellency Shri.……………………………………… 

Governor of …………………………………. 

State Capital 

Respected Sir/Madam, 

Sub: Request to consider the issues of Postal employees related to 7th CPC & other related issues.

We, the Circle Secretaries of FNPO affiliated unions, submit to you the enclosed  letter addressed to the Honourable Prime Minister of India with our kind requests to forward the same to the Prime Minister. 

This  letter  to voice our grave concerns. 

We also request that you may kindly use your good offices to impress upon the Central Government  by conveying our genuine feelings.

 We are highly thankful for your valuable time. Thanking you, Sir,

 Yours Sincerely, 

(Circle Secretaries)

******************************************

 

LETTER  TO THE HONOURABLE PRIME MINISTER OF INDIA BY THE FEDERATION OF NATIONAL POSTAL ORGANIZATIONS AND ITS AFFILIATED UNIONS / ASSOCIATIONS. 

To 

Shri Narendra Modiji,

Hon’ble Prime Minister of India,

South Block,

Raisina Hill,

New Delhi-l10011

Respected Sir, 

We, the Federation of National Postal Organisations and its affiliated unions submit this letter to express our deep concern and request for honor the commitment given by the Group of Ministers held meetings with JCM (Staff Side) leaders on 30th June 2016 & 06th July 2016 and consequently assurance was given that a High Level Committee will examine 7th CPC issues mainly Minimum Wage and Multiplying Factor. On this assurance, JCM Constituent organizations have deferred Strike action on 06th July, 2016.

Though a Committee was constituted under the chairmanship of Addl. Secretary (Exp), Ministry of Finance and discussions held, the response has been disappointing. The employees of  the Postal and other Central Government employees are greatly disappointed over non-settlement of the main issues through discussions.Furthermore  many of the 7th CPC recommendations have created unrest in the minds of Central government employees in general and Postal employees particularly.

The issues raised after 7thCPC implementation  & other  long pending requests are enclosed.

We request  your kind attention to the issues listed in the enclosure and action thereof.

.

With Pranams,

Yours sincerely,

sd

The above letters sent by our Federation to all FNPO affiliated unions Circle secretaries through Federal sentinel (November 2016).  

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Ban Lifted for PS Group B Exam.

Conduct of Limited Departmental Competitive Examination for promotion to the cadre of P.S. Group 'B' scheduled on 04th December, 2016.

The Directorate has now issued to instruction to Circles video DE Section Letter No.A-34012/08/2016-DE dated 29th November, 2016 issue Admit Cards to the eligible candidates of the Examination scheduled on 04th December, 2016.

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Withdrawal of Cash from Savings Accounts - Clarification.

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Goa will be First State to go Cashless from December 31, 2016

Highlights

• While cash transactions are not being banned, the move is to encourage a cashless society. 
• People will be able to buy perishables such as fish, meat, vegetables or anything else at the press of a button on their mobile.

PANAJI: Goa is likely to become the first state in India to go cashless from December 31, as people will be able to buy perishables such as fish, meat, vegetables or anything else at the press of a button on their mobile. 

There will be no need to carry your purse for purchases and the profession of pickpocketers may become extinct soon, as all transactions will be done on the mobile. "The money on purchases will be debited to the person's bank account," chief secretary R K Srivastava told STOI. 

One has to dial *99# from their mobile phone, not necessarily a smart phone, and follow the instructions to complete the transcation. This system is being introduced to transfer money to small vendors who do not have swipe machines. Swiping of ATM and credit cards at shops and establishments will also continue. 

A drive to create awareness on how to operate the cashless transaction for vendors and small shops and the public will commence on Monday at Mapusa and Panaji, in Goa. 

While cash transactions are not being banned, the move is to encourage a cashless society. Also, there will be no minimum limit on the cashless transfer of money. Chief minister Laxmikant Parsekar said no fees will be charged for any of these transactions over the mobile. 

Defence minister Manohar Parrikar on Saturday held a meeting with government officials and all the major nationalized and private banks. During the meeting, Parrikar discussed the modalities to implement the cashless scheme in the state. 

Parrikar said at the Vijay Sankalp Rally at Sankhali on Friday that PM Narendra Modi had a dream about a cashless society and "they told me that Goa can become the first state to go cashless".

"One thing we decided is that whenever India becomes a cashless society, Goa will become the first. We have to support the prime minister's dream," Parrikar added saying that your mobile can become your bank and one can do anything once he/she has registered her/his mobile number with the bank under the central government unified payment interference (UPI).

Srivastava said that Goa has an added advantage to be become the first cashless society because it is a small state with about 15 lakh population and 17 lakh mobile phone connections. "We have 22 lakh bank accounts, which means that one person has more than one account," he said. Most of the people in Goa use debit or credit cards while purchasing and hence it will not be a problem to go cashless, he added.

He also said that from Monday, people will be educated on the cashless transaction and the exact plan would be finalized on Sunday. Explaining how it works, Srivastava said that every vendor who registers with the bank would be given an MMID code.

Once a person purchases fish, vegetable etc. the customer just needs to dial the designated number (*99#) and punch in details of her/his account and the amount the customer needs to transfer to the vendor and then the customer has to enter the MI code of the vendor to transfer the funds. Within no time, the money would be transferred from the customer's account to the vendor's account.

"Everybody should have an account, card and the account should have money," Srivastava said.

   

Source : http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/

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The note ban protest.

While CPM called for a Bharat Bandh, 

The Congress said it will protest but won't participate in a bandh. 

The JD(U), too, decided not to be part of the proposed bandh, as Bihar CM Nitish Kumar has supported demonetisation. 

Trinamool Congress also will take part in the protest but is not supporting the bandh.

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Cashless Transaction facility at Visakhapatnam Corporation

All 4,041 Cities/Towns asked to shift to cashless transactions; Madhya Pradesh to do so by March next year

Internet banking, Online payments and PFMS to be adopted

Shri M.Venkaiah Naidu launched cashless transaction facility of Visakhapatnam Corporation

As a part of the ongoing efforts to move towards cashless transactions of all kind, the Ministry of Urban Development has asked all the statutory 4,041 Urban Local Bodies to shift to e-payments at the earliest. These cities and towns account for about 75% of the total 40 crore urban population in the country.

Central Government’s message to the officials of these 4,041 urban local bodies was conveyed by Shri Rajiv Gauba, Secretary(Urban Development) through interactive video-conferencing. Senior officials of concerned States also participated during the half day long interaction on various aspects of ensuring cashless transactions.

State and city level officials were asked to promote internet banking (RTGS/NEFT), online banking using credit and debit cards for cashless transactions besides using Public Finance Management Systems(PFMS) developed by the Ministry of Financing for fund transfer, accounting and reconciliation up to the level of cities and towns.

Shri Gauba emphasized that all transactions relating to both income and expenditure of urban local bodies needs to be shifted to e-payment mode. These include payment of Property Tax, Professional Tax, all user charges like water and power bills, all kinds of fee and license charges, online booking of community halls, issue and renewal of birth and death certificates, registration of shops and other establishments, enrollment of library membership etc.

Expenditure to be made cashless include payment of salaries and wages to all regular and contractual employees, all contract and work relate payments, procurements, beneficiary payments like social security etc.

City governments were asked to take up necessary infrastructure and capacity building, awareness campaigns for opening of accounts for employees of all categories and their family members.

States have been asked to adopt Public Finance Management systems (PFMS) up to city level to enable transfer, accounting, reconciliation and monitoring of transfer of funds under various government schemes.

To illustrate the transaction volumes, 59 cities have collected tax revenues of Rs.1,722 cr during November so far including dues payable. These include; Ahmedabad-Rs.187 cr, Bhopal-Rs.27 cr, Chennai-Rs.80 cr, Faridabad- Rs.17 cr, Guwahaty-R.s. 14 cr, Hyderabad-Rs.208 cr, Indore-Rs.32 cr, Kakinada (AP)-Rs.20 cr, Kalyan(Maharashtra)-Rs.170 cr, Lucknow-Rs.23 cr, Raipur-Rs.17 cr, Visakhapatnam-Rs.16 cr, Amritsar-Rs.12 cr, Kanpur-Rs.30 cr, Mumbai-Rs.167 cr and New Delhi Municipal Council-Rs.84 cr.

Officials from Madhya Pradesh informed that the major 7 cities have already enabled cashless transactions and all the 378 cities and towns would do so by March next year. Uttar Pradesh and Goa have reported using PFMS up to city level and found it to be very useful.

Minister of Urban Development Shri M.Venkaiah Naidu inaugurated such cashless payment system introduced by the Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation and orientation camps for educating citizens on e-payment.

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The List of Closed Holidays for the Year 2017

The List of Closed Holidays for the Year 2017 (To be observed by All Central Govt Offices in Tamilnadu as per DoPT Letter Dated 24th June 2016.)

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Rs 32,631 cr deposited in post offices since demonetisation

New Delhi, Nov 27 (PTI) People have deposited a staggering Rs 32,631 crore in nearly 1.55 lakh post offices across the country following demonetisation of Rs 500/1000 currency notes.

The post offices have also exchanged about Rs 3,680 crore of old currency notes between November 10 and 24, Department of Posts Secretary B V Sudhakar told PTI.

"From November 10 to November 24, we have exchanged 578 lakh notes of value of about Rs 3,680 crore. If you look at the deposits, 43.48 crore old Rs 500 and Rs 1000 notes were accepted as deposits, and their value is about Rs 32,631 crore," he said.

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Observance of Protest Week

Observance of Protest Week from 12th to 19th December 2016 by FNPO affiliates - SG FNPO 
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Click here to view the circular.
To

All Circle/Division/Branch Secretaries of FNPO affiliates.

Dear colleagues,

FNPO affiliated unions decided to observe protest week from 12^th to 19^th December 2016 on the 16 points Charter of Demands.

Program of the Protest week

12/12/2016- Demonstration  at Divisional office.

16/12/2016 Lunch hourDemonstration at Circle/Regional offices

19/12/2016 Lunch hour Demonstration at Directorate & submission of Memorandum to The Cabinet Secretary through  Chairman Postal board.

Our Circle/Division/Branch Secretaries of FNPO affiliated unions are requested to observe the above program in their respective places in an energetic manner.

With regards,

Secretary General, FNPO. 

CHARTER OF DEMANDS

1.      Settle the demands raised by NJCA regarding modifications of 7^th CPC recommendations as submitted in the memorandum to Cabinet Secretary on 10^th December 2015. Honour the assurance given by the Group of Ministers to NJCA on 30^th June 2016 and 6^th July 2016, especially the increase in minimum wage and fitment factor. Grant revised HRA, at the existing percentage itself, i.e. 30%, 20% and 10%. Accept the proposal of the staff side regarding Transport Allowance. Settle all anomalies arising out of implementation of 7^th CPC recommendations, in a time bound manner.

2.      Implement option-I recommended by 7^th CPC and accepted by the Government regarding parity in pension of pre-2016 pensioners, without any further delay. Settle the pension related issues raised by NJCA against item 13 of its memorandum submitted to Cabinet Secretary on 10^th December 2015.

3.     Scrap PFRDA Act and New Pension System (NPS) and grant pension and Family Pension to all Central Government employees recruited after 01.01.2004, under CCS (Pension) Rules 1972.

4.      Treat Gramin Dak Sewaks of Postal department as Civil Servants, and extend all benefits like pay, pension, allowances etc. of departmental employees to GDS.

5.      Regularise all casual, contract, part-time, contingent and Daily rated mazdoors and grant equal pay and other benefits. Revise the wages as per 7^th CPC minimum pay.

6.      No Downsizing, Privatisation, outsourcing and contractorisation of Government functions.

7.  Withdraw the arbitrary decision of the Government to enhance the benchmark for performance appraisal for promotion and financial upgradations under MACP from “GOOD” to VERY GOOD” and also decided to withhold annual increments in the case of those employees who are not able to meet the bench march either for MACP or for regular promotion within the first 20 years of service. Grant MACP pay fixation benefits on promotional hierarchy and not on pay-matrix hierarchy. Personnel promoted on the basis of examination should be treated as fresh entrants to the cadre for grant of the MACP. 8. Withdraw the draconian FR 56 (J) and Rule 48 of CCs (Pension) Rules 1972 which is being misused as a shortcut as a purity measure to punish and victimize the employees.

9.      Fill up all vacant posts, including promotional posts in a time bound manner. Lift ban on creation of posts.

10.  Remove 5% ceiling on compassionate appointments and grant appointment in all deserving cases.

11. Grant five promotions in the service career to all Central Govt. Employees..

12.  Reject the stipulation of 7^th CPC to reduce the salary to 80% for the second year of Child Care leave and retain the existing provision.

13.  Ensure cashless medical treatment to all Central Government employees & Pensioners in all recognized Government and Private hospitals.

14.  Revision of Overtime Allowance (OTA) and Outstation allowance (OSA) w.e.f 01.01.2016 based on 7^th CPC pay scale.

15.  Revision of wages of Central Government employees in every five years.

16.  Revive JCM functioning at all levels.

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Red Salute to Com.Fidel Castro

Fidel Castro, Cuban Revolutionary Who Defied U.S., Dies at 90.
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Former Cuban President and legendary Leftist revolutionary Fidel Castro is no more. The 90-year-old lawyer-turned-revolutionary was an iconic figure of 20th century and his popularity wasn't limited by borders.

With Castro's demise, India's current Prime Minister Narendra Modi said, "India mourns the loss of a great friend." He said that because there's a long history the Cuban legend shared with India.
The Bear Hug moment with Indira Gandhi
The Cuban leader who was the chairman of Non Aligned Movement - a third-front comprising of developing countries to stay neutral during the Cold War between United States and Soviet Union - had arrived in New Delhi for the NAM summit in 1983. As the NAM's norm is, the host country takes the chairmanship for next three years.
While handing then Indian PM Indira Gandhi the gavel, Castro "enveloped her in a huge bear hug: Ms Gandhi, never an emotionally demonstrative person, visibly recoiled from that hug, managing only a faintly polite smile in the interest of diplomatic niceties," author Pranay Gupte writes in Mother India: A Political Biography of Indira Gandhi.
While the moment signaled one of the many instances of India's close relationship with Cuba, Castro skipped Gandhi's funeral in 1984.
Jawaharlal Nehru's Hotel Visit
In New York for United Nations general assembly in September 1960, Castro, who had overthrown the Cuba's US-backed dictator Fulgencio Batista a year ago, was greeted with hostility in the United States. In fact, initially no hotel in New York agreed to rent him a room.
But India's first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru dropped by Castro's hotel room soon after he managed to find one.
"...Castro moved into a hotel in Harlem in New York City. This was unprecedented. It made headlines. Castro said to me, 'Do you know which leader was the first to come to meet me in Harlem? The great Jawaharlal Nehru. I was thirty-four-years of age. I was inexperienced. I was tense. I had never been to any international conference. Nehru boosted my morale, enhanced my self-confidence. I will never forget Nehru's magnanimous gesture,'" K. Natwar Singh, former External Affairs Minister, wrote in Walking With Lions : Tales From A Diplomatic Past.
Before this, Nehru had hosted Castro's comrade and Argentine revolutionary Che Guevara in New Delhi in 1959. It was also the official acknowledgement - one of the very first - of Cuba as a socialist state under Castro.
"Bread of India"
"In December 1992, while Cuba was passing through severe economic difficulties, the Communist Party of India (Marxist), the Communist Party of India and other friendly forces, including the Congress party, mobilised the nation and the common people to donate 10,000 tonnes of wheat and 10,000 tonnes of rice, which was highly appreciated by Cuba.
Fidel Castro personally welcomed the vessel that brought the grain and, making some of his characteristic calculations, immediately labelled it the 'Bread of India' because it was sufficient for one loaf of bread for each one of Cuba’s 11 million people," former Cuban ambassador to India, Miguel Ángel Ramírez Ramos wrote on the 50 years of friendship between India and Cuba.
The many meetings with Indian leaders
Castro was one of the few world leaders to have seen India's rise from a decade-old independent country to the thriving economic hub in Asia. Castro, who visited India twice, hosted several Indian Prime Ministers and dignitaries apart from Nehru and Indira Gandhi during his lifetime.
Former PM Rajiv Gandhi visited Cuba in 1985. The next Indian PM's visit came in 2006 when ex-PM Dr Manmohan Singh landed in Cuba.
In 2013, Vice-President Hamid Ansari met an ailing Castro in Havana. He was granted a rare 65-minute audience with the popular leader who had receded from the limelight due to ill health.
Jyoti Basu meets Castro
It was veteran Communist Party of India (Marxist) leader and former West Bengal Chief Minister Jyoti Basu who led the campaign for sending food stock to Cuba in 1992, during the famous 'Bread of India' episode. 
Years after the fall of Soviet Union, Basu personally visited Havana in September 1993 to meet Castro where he had long conversations with him. The conversations resulted in a warm relationship that the iconic revolutionary leader unexpectedly dropped at the guest house where Basu was staying, to see him off

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