Hon'ble Prime Minister releases stamp on Lala Jagat Narain

NEW DELHI: A commemorative stamp in the memory of freedom fighter and veteran journalist Lala Jagat Narain, who was gunned down 32 years back for opposing terrorism in Punjab, was released by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh here on Monday.

Releasing the Rs 5 denomination stamp at his residence, Singh said journalists should be honest, fearless and neutral while performing their duty, even in trying circumstances. 

The stamp was released in presence of a host of dignitaries, including Union ministers, chief ministers of Haryana and Himachal Pradesh and Punjab deputy chief minister besides editor-in-chief and CEO of Punjab Kesari newspaper, Vijay Chopra. 

Singh said Jagat Narain, in his career as a journalist, had opposed efforts to control the media and "his fearlessness is an example". 

Highlighting that Jagat Narain had opposed terrorists and had to pay with his life, the Prime Minister said he had left an important message on the role of media — "a journalist should be honest, fearless and neutral while performing duty, even in trying circumstances". 

The veteran journalist was shot dead near Ludhiana on this day in 1981 when terrorism in Punjab was at its peak.

Singh recalled that Jagat Narain left his studies at the age of 21 and joined the Non-Cooperation Movement on the appeal of Mahatma Gandhi. 

Even in jail, he contributed to the freedom struggle by working as a secretary to Lala Lajpat Rai, he said. 

He was again jailed for three years for participating in the Quit India Movement and spent a total of nine years behind the bars during the freedom struggle. 

He said the three newspapers published by his Hind Samachar Group have a daily readership of over 33 lakh. 

BJP leader LK Advani, information and broadcasting minister Manish Tewari, Himachal Pradesh chief minister Virbhadra Singh, Haryana chief minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda, Punjab deputy chief minister Sukhbir Singh Badal, former law minister Ashwani Kumar and former IPS officer KPS Gill were among those who were present on the occasion.

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President inaugurates the 11th Asian Pacific Postal Union Congress

The President of India, Shri Pranab Mukherjee inaugurated the 11th Asian Pacific Postal Union (APPU) Congress today (September 3, 2013) at Vigyan Bhavan, New Delhi. 

Speaking on the occasion, the President said that the Asian Pacific Postal Union, an inter-governmental organization of 32 countries of the region is actively working to improve cooperation among member nations in the field of postal services. He stated that the changing global scenario calls for postal administrations around the world to think differently. He called upon postal administration to be proactive to change. They must leverage their strengths to provide quality service to the people. He stated that worldwide, postal administrations enjoy the trust of people. 

The President said that globalization and easier movement of workforce across nations have opened a great window of opportunity for the postal sector. With increasing requirement for remittance channels, it can, with the guidance of the Asian Pacific Postal Union, make a difference. He added that there is a huge scope for postal services to be engaged in e-commerce, and gain from the rising demand for such business products. 

The President said that he was confident that the Asian Pacific Postal Union, having an unparalleled reach, would be successful. He stated that the Union is suitably placed to not only address the concerns facing the postal sector but also to explore the untapped opportunities. 

Among the dignitaries present on the occasion were Dr. Killi Kruparani, Minister of State for Communication & Information Technology, Smt. P. Gopinath, Secretary, Department of Posts and Mr. Mark Lawley, Chairman of Asian Pacific Postal Union Executive Council.

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SIFY Network - Limits Internet Access in Post offices which is Migrated with CBS (Sify Network)

Approved and Accessible Sites through SIFY Network:

All links Under India Post:

https://services.ptcmysore.gov.in/Speednet/
https://services.ptcmysore.gov.in/RNet
https://services.ptcmysore.gov.in/emo
https://services.ptcmysore.gov.in/uidreports/
https://services.ptcmysore.gov.in/AccountsMIS/
http://indiapostarrow.gov.in/arrow/default.asp
http://www.indiapost.gov.in/RuralInfrastructure/
http://ptcinfo.org/eiodweb/
http://www.indiapost.gov.in/ccc/
http://www.ptcinfo.org/DigiFrank/
http://www.ptcinfo.org/eurogiro/
https://services.ptcmysore.gov.in/spc/
https://www.epostoffice.gov.in/
http://indiapost.nic.in/
https://mail.gov.in/iwc_static/layout/new_login.jsp
http://www.indiapost.gov.in/SpeedPost.aspx
http://www.indiapost.gov.in/ExpressParcel.aspx
http://www.indiapost.gov.in/IMOS.aspx
http://www.indiapost.gov.in/BusinessPost.aspx
http://ipsweb.ptcmysore.gov.in/ipswebtracking/
http://services.ptcmysore.gov.in/Speednettracking/Track/UIDTrack.aspx
https://wupos.westernunion.com/agent-app/login
http://www.reliancegold.in/jsp/userLogin.jsp
https://services.dopmobile.in/MerchantApp/
http://mail.nic.in

Software Development Centre, Chennai:http://tamilnadupost.nic.in/sdc/index.htm


Private Sites:
www.google.com
www.yahoo.com

All Google Services will work, including Gmail, Blogs, etc., 

All other Sites were blocked by SIFY Network as per DOP Order.

Source : http://potools.blogspot.in/

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Post Offices for Women

The objective for opening of all women post offices in the country is to lay focus on women’s empowerment and to achieve Departments objectives and mission to sustain its position as the largest postal network in the world. It is an effort to integrate gender equality and women’s empowerment for good governance by ensuring that women employees working at various levels in the Department have a real voice in the decision making of the Department as well as have a role in the management of post offices in the country. The all women post offices are the post office where all employees are women and they have been given the responsibility of managing the events of the post offices. This is done with a view to promote leadership and managerial qualities in women employees of the Department. These post offices are opened in major cities and at present 34 all women post offices are functioning in the country. These post offices are functioning within the postal network of the Department in the country and not a separate set up of post offices. 

Besides this, from customers’ perspective, Post Offices offer products and services like small savings, postal life insurance and other mail related products which are used by the common man. All Women Post Office offers a secured environment to our woman customers from all strata of society to transact postal business with a level of comfort and familiarity with women employees of the Department. 

This information was given by Dr. Smt. Killi Kruparani, Minister of State for Communications and Information Technology in a written reply to a question in the Rajya Sabha today.

Source : PIB

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POST BANK OF INDIA SANS POSTAL EMPLOYEES

POST BANK OF INDIA SANS POSTAL EMPLOYEES
It seems that the Post Bank of India (PBI) may become a reality in the near future. For the last more than fifteen years we have been told about the Post Bank and even the Parliamentary standing committee on Communications & IT has repeatedly demanded the Government for commencing Post bank. Several attempts have been made, but the Finance Ministry always took a negative stand, for one reason or the other. Majority of the bank managements including nationalized banks have been opposing the entry of the Postal department into commercial banking. The reason is obvious. They foresee a potential threat to their existence once Post Bank enters into their field and during the course of time the Post Bank may become one of the biggest Bank.

Post Bank of India will be an independent entity, separate from the current operations of small savings schemes being carried out by the Department of Posts on behalf of Ministry of Finance. Department has accordingly submitted an application to the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on 28.06.2013 seeking banking license subject to necessary cabinet approval. RBI has said that new banks will have to set up at least three branches in villages with a population of less than 10000, for each branch they establish in other areas. Although Post Bank does not intend to open a bank in every Post office, the plan is to meet the financial inclusion goal through these Post offices. India Post had 1,54,822 Post offices across the country as on 31.03.2013, the largest for any department in the world, and close to 90% of them – 1,39,086 – are in rural India. This is more than four times the number of rural branches run by India’s Banks put together. According to plan prepared by Ernst & Young, India Post will become Post Bank of India’s banking correspondent. PBI will use Post office infrastructure but very frugally. Carefully done PBI can be a game – changer in rural areas.

India post is among 26 applicants that sought banking licenses from RBI. India Post has to develop the standards to meet RBI guidelines. In its guidelines for new banking licenses announced on 22nd February 2013, RBI required applicants to prove their eligibility on several fronts – from promoter holding to past experience to business plans. The minimum capital required by the applicants for license is Rs. 500 crores and foreign share holding in the new banks is capped at 49% for the first five years. The new banks have to be set up under a non-operative Financial Holding company (NOFHC). They also have to maintain minimum capital adequacy ratio – the ratio of risk weighed assets, a measure of financial strength of the bank – of 19 % for the first three years. New banks also need to list their shares within three years of starting operations.

The main argument put forward by those opposing the Post Bank is that Postal department has no experience when it comes to giving credit (loans). Department has only been taking deposits till now. Sanctioning and disbursing of credit needs an entirely different aptitude. India Post has no specialized experience in the business. It is reported that unlike many believe, the Post Bank of India will be a completely new entity with no legacies of a government department and very little to do with its parent department, except using some of its network. It will have an independent Board. Separate recruitment has been planned to have specialised banking staff. Of course, the Post Bank will be a subsidiary organisation of India Post, which need to be registered as a public sector Bank and Government equity in this new entity could be diluted. Whatever reforms and regulations Government implements in Nationalised Banking sector will be fully applicable to Post Bank of India also.

There are many talented and qualified Postal employees who want to switch over to the Post bank and to work as employees under the Post Bank. The reports that separate recruitment will be made for the Post Bank has cast shadow upon their hope to work in the Post Bank. NFPE demands that the existing Postal employees who want to switch over to the Post Bank shall be given chance to exercise option and if need be a trade test to assess their capability can also be conducted before selection. Selected officials can be imparted with intensive training in commercial banking business. In any case 100% open market direct recruitment is an injustice to those talented Postal employees who may not be able to apply for open recruitment due to age factor etc. we urge upon the Postal Board and Finance Ministry to give due consideration to this aspect, before the new Bank is rolled out.

Source : http://nfpe.blogspot.com/

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Safeguards in New Banking Licence Norms

Reserve Bank of India (RBI) issued guidelines for setting up new banks in the private sector vide Press Release dated 22.02.2013. The last date for receipt of applications was 01.07.2013. In all, RBI has received 26 (twenty six) applications. 

At the first stage, the applications will be screened by RBI to ensure prima facie eligibility of the applicants, including the assessment of ‘fit and proper’ status of applicants. Thereafter, the applications will be referred to a High Level Advisory Committee to be set up by RBI. In view of the processes involved, it is expected to issue ‘in-principle’ approvals for new banks by the first quarter of 2014. 

The safeguards and prudential regulations which have been put in place in the guidelines for the new bank, the parent Non-Operative Financial Holding Company (NOFHC) and the consolidated bank to serve as adequate safeguards to deal with conflict of interest situations, inter-alia, include ‘fit and proper’ criteria; corporate structure of the Non-Operative Financial Holding Company (NOFHC); no exposure to the promoter group by bank, NOFHC and other financial sector entity under the NOFHC and; corporate governance of NOFHC and stipulation of majority of independent directors on the Board of the Bank. 

This was stated by Minister of State for Finance, Shri Namo Narain Meena in written reply to a question in Rajya Sabha today.

Source : PIB

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Passengers can now place order for personalized stamps at Chennai airport

CHENNAI: Air passengers will now be able to place an order for postal stamps with their photo on them at the post office counter that was opened at the Chennai airport's new domestic terminal on Monday.

Passengers can place an order for 12 personalized stamps by paying Rs 322 at the counter. They should fill up a pro forma at this counter with ID proof and one recent passport size photo. The twelve stamps will be sent by the postal department to the given address within 10 days. 

The postal counter will also offer internet browsing (Rs 25 for half an hour), fax (per page Rs 20 for domestic and Rs 50 for international), photocopying (Rs 5 per page), postal ID card (Rs 270) and postal life insurance. The post office was set up as passengers did not have access to the facility after operations shifted to the new domestic building.

Source : http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com

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IT firms slam door on postmen, reject mail

CHENNAI: Hundreds of rakhis, letters and articles sent by speed post to IT companies in Sholinganallur, Perungudi and Thoraipakkam were returned to India Post offices after the companies refused to accept them, saying they do not have the men or machinery to distribute the items to staff.

Confirming the incident, postmaster general Merwin Alexander criticised IT firms for what he described as a "gross violation of human rights". "How could companies stop their employees from receiving letters and rakhis?" he asked.

"Some postmen reported that when they go to deliver post at IT companies, they are treated with scant respect and are asked to leave," he said, adding that his department will hold talks with the IT majors next week. "They should cooperate with us, if not as their bounden duty to their employees, then at least as part of what they call  'corporate  social responsibility'."

India Post officials said at least 4,500 letters, some with credit and debit cards, greetings and more than 1,500 rakhis are lying in the Sholinganallur, Perungudi and Thoraipakkam post offices.

"I wear the India Post uniform and have an identity card but security guards at the companies, most of whom speak only Hindi, refuse to allow me inside. The guards say they are acting on the instructions of company officials," said a postman from Perungudi.

Paresh Khatri, a software professional, said his sister sent a rakhi to him by speed post on Saturday but it had not reached him even after five days. "An postal employee called me on Thursday and asked me to collect the parcel from the post office because my office does not allow postmen to deliver mails or packages," he said.

An official with a leading IT company said his firm does not intentionally stop mail from being delivered to employees. "If at all some mails or gifts have not been delivered, it was probably due to a wrong address," he said.

Source : http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com

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UTTARAKHAND TRAGEDY - DOP SANCTIONED 70 LAKHS

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Information on IT Modernisation Project

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11th ALL WOMEN POST OFFICE INAUGURATED IN GUJARAT CIRCLE

Rajkot Race Course Road SO of Rajkot Division in Rajkot Region (Gujarat Circle) ALL WOMEN POST OFFICE was inaugurated on 01.08.2013 by Madam Neelam Gupta Ms Rambharosa Postmaster General Rajkot Region Rajkot. Shri Rambharosa Hon’ble Post Master General Rajkot, Shri D. R. Vankar Dy. Accountant General, Shri K. Mohanchandra Sr. AO, Shri R.M Parmar SSPO’s Rajkot Division, Shri G.R Bhanani, P.M.Rathod, G.A Bhat ADPS o/o PMG Rajkot were present on the occasion along with other officers of RO Rajkot and staff of R.O, DO and post offices around Rajkot HO. Rajkot Race Course Road SO is located at most prominent place centrally situated near Race Course in the building premises of Accountant General Office. The establishment of this office is SPM + 2 Postal Assistant & 1 MTS. The post office is fully computerized and having full proof security arrangement and all amenities pertaining to women employees.

In Gujarat Circle it is Second All-Women Post office established. First was established at IIT Ahmedabad on 02.07.2013. The post office is part of a national initiative to set up all-women post offices to empower women and encourage gender equality in various sectors. This is the Eleventh All-Women Post Office in the country. The first such office was inaugurated at Shashtri Bhavan in Delhi on 8th March 2013, International Women Day. 

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Creation of a new RMS Division at Dehradun in Uttarakhand Circle.

To view Directorate Memo No. 20-34/2010-D (Pt.I) dated 27th July 2013, please CLICK HERE.

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Special Postal Cover of Chennai AIR station released

The cover has a photograph of AIR, Chennai, which is celebrating its platinum jubilee
 Photo: K.V. Srinivasan - Hindu

Everyone who gathered at the All India Radio station here on Tuesday had memories to share of their favourite medium of entertainment that celebrates its platinum jubilee year.

Former Supreme Court judge S. Mohan who released the platinum jubilee souvenir recalled his younger days when radio was the only medium of communication and entertainment.

“I was moved by Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru’s speech, broadcast after Mahatma Gandhi’s death. Radio has been a launch pad for renowned musicians,” he said.

A special postal cover, carrying a photograph of the AIR station in Chennai and a brief description about its services, was released exclusively for the occasion.

S.K. Agarwal, additional director general, AIR, south zone, elaborated on the digitisation of the stations that was aimed at better quality of broadcasting.

Source : The Hindus

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India Post celebrates the Bangalore city’s history

India Post employee H.S. Rajeshwari celebrated the introduction of the permanent pictorial cancellation and release of the special cover on the Kempe Gowda Tower at Lalbagh with a resplendent rangoli. Also seen are Hilda Abraham, Chief Postmaster General, Karnataka Postal Circle; Veena Srinivas, Postmaster General (BD & Marketing); and Arundathy Ghosh, Postmaster General Karnataka. Photo: K Gopinathan

Philatelists snap up the series that represents the iconic Kempe Gowda Tower

Maybe you’re an inveterate communicator in cyberspace. But here’s the chance to really impress people by sending them a bit of the city’s history. For, India Post has introduced the latest pictorial cancellation (the seal on postcards/stamps) in its series: the Kempe Gowda tower in Lalbagh.

This is the 32 permanent pictorial cancellation and one of the few depicting Bangalore — the other notable one being the Vidhana Soudha. The other form of pictorial cancellation is the special one on specific occasions.

Hilda Abraham, Chief Postmaster-General, Karnataka Postal Circle, who unveiled the latest pictorial cancellation at the General Post Office (GPO) here on Tuesday, said the main aim of the cancellations was to make children aware of places of historical importance in the State. “It was decided after much deliberation, including discussions with philatelists, that the newest permanent pictorial cancellation will be the Kempe Gowda tower, as it represents an important part of history of the city,” she said.

Though the newest pictorial cancellation was brought out after over two years, Ms. Abraham said India Post was eager to bring out more.

The pictorial cancellation with the Kempe Gowda tower on Lalbagh rock also has geological significance, apart the historical importance attached to it as it was established by the founding father of the city to mark the boundaries of Bangalore, said Jagannath Mani, member of the Karnataka Philately Society. “The Lalbagh rock is called the pillow or bubble rock which was formed nearly 3,000 million years ago when a single bubble of lava settled there,” he explained.

Packing a punch

Simultaneously, a pictorial cancellation pack was also introduced with a collection of all 32 cancellations introduced so far, including the ones depicting Bandipur National Park, Nagarahole, Badami and Aihole. Thematic packs featuring bilateral issues, great personalities, and flora and fauna were also made available. In fact, no less than a 100 such packs were snapped up in an hour.

Philatelists and those who knew about the collection made a beeline. Prem Kumar, a retired engineer, was seen buying three different thematic packs for his doctor-son who is an ardent philatelist.

Source : The Hindu

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