New Delhi: Air India unions are likely to meet next week in the national capital to discuss their strategy amid the government going ahead with the disinvestment process.
People familiar with the matter say efforts are on to bring all staff unions of Air India including those of the pilots and engineers on one platform and work out a strategy to deal with the situation arising out of the government’s decision to offload its stake in the flag carrier.
Air India, which has over 20,000
employees on its roll, has as many as six recognised unions, representing
ground and commercial staff, pilots, cabin crew and engineers, among others,
besides, several unrecognised unions.
To revive the loss-making state-run
carrier, which also has a debt burden of over Rs 50,000 crore, the government
has decided to go for its strategic disinvestment and the modalities are being
worked out by a Group of Ministers headed by Finance Minister Arun Jaitley.
The Cabinet Committee on Economic
Affairs (CCEA) had on June 28 given in-principle nod for strategic divestment
of Air India and five of its subsidiaries. The government has already
invited applications for engaging up to two advisers, a legal adviser and asset
valuer for the strategic disinvestment of Air India and its subsidiaries/ joint
venture.
The finance ministry, which has been pumping small doses of money every year into Air India, seems reluctant to spend more. The airline had landed up in this situation because of the loans it had taken to add some 111 aircraft to its ageing and depleted fleet.
Earlier this month, Tata conglomerate showed interest in bidding for Air India as the group needs to increase the sizes of its aviation business.
According to media reports, some companies including low-cost Indian carrier IndiGo, owned by InterGlobe Aviation, ground handling company Bird Group and Turkey’s Celebi Aviation Holdings have expressed an interest in buying some of Air India’s various businesses.
The finance ministry, which has been pumping small doses of money every year into Air India, seems reluctant to spend more. The airline had landed up in this situation because of the loans it had taken to add some 111 aircraft to its ageing and depleted fleet.
Earlier this month, Tata conglomerate showed interest in bidding for Air India as the group needs to increase the sizes of its aviation business.
According to media reports, some companies including low-cost Indian carrier IndiGo, owned by InterGlobe Aviation, ground handling company Bird Group and Turkey’s Celebi Aviation Holdings have expressed an interest in buying some of Air India’s various businesses.
SRINAGAR: Minister for
Communications Manoj Sinha on Monday launched e-IPO (Indian Postal Order) in
the denominations of Rs. 10 to Rs. 100 as a pilot project in Bihar, Delhi and
Karnataka.
He said that in the next two months, the service will cover the entire country.e-IPO will be used for all purposes like fee payment for RTI/ educational institutions/ Court/ online registration for Cable Operators etc. Customer can purchase e-IPO online from one’s home or workplace, as per one’s convenience.
He said that in the next two months, the service will cover the entire country.e-IPO will be used for all purposes like fee payment for RTI/ educational institutions/ Court/ online registration for Cable Operators etc. Customer can purchase e-IPO online from one’s home or workplace, as per one’s convenience.
This launch is a part of Digital India Initiative as the payment will be made through Debit Card/ Credit Card / Net Banking. eIPO can be purchased online at https://www.epostoffice.gov.in or, it can also be accessed through a link at Official website of India Post i.e. http://www.indiapost.gov.in
The minister said that government
is working on setting up 650 India Post Payments Bank and gearing up fast to
provide its financial services through all of 1.55 lakh post offices to fulfil
the Prime Minister’s vision of financial inclusion. Speaking here on the
occasion of World Post Day, he said that Indian Postal Department is undergoing
major transformation with changing times, be it the inter-operability of ATMs,
core banking or providing of Passport Seva and Aadhar enrolment. He said that
so far 57 Post Offices are providing Passport Seva and in coming days 93 more
will be added to the list.
He launched International Tracked Packet service designed specially to meet the cross border requirements of e-Commerce sector in Asia-Pacific Region. He said, at the beginning, the service will be available to 12 countries and gradually the whole world will be covered. This new service has many special features like affordable price, track & trace, volume discounts, pick up facility, compensation for loss or damage and, therefore, high value for money.He said, with the launch of this service, Department of Posts is set to start a new chapter of close collaboration between the post office and the business in India that want to reach to their customers abroad.
He launched International Tracked Packet service designed specially to meet the cross border requirements of e-Commerce sector in Asia-Pacific Region. He said, at the beginning, the service will be available to 12 countries and gradually the whole world will be covered. This new service has many special features like affordable price, track & trace, volume discounts, pick up facility, compensation for loss or damage and, therefore, high value for money.He said, with the launch of this service, Department of Posts is set to start a new chapter of close collaboration between the post office and the business in India that want to reach to their customers abroad.
The Minister also launched e-IPO (Indian Postal Order) in the denominations of Rs. 10/-, Rs. 20/-, Rs. 50/- &Rs. 100/-, as a pilot project in Bihar, Delhi and Karnataka and said that in the next two months, the service will cover the entire country.e-IPO will be used for all purposes like fee payment for RTI/ educational institutions/ Court/ online registration for Cable Operators etc. Customer can purchase e-IPO online from one’s home or workplace, as per one’s convenience. This launch is a part of Digital India Initiative as the payment will be made through Debit Card/ Credit Card / Net Banking.eIPO can be purchased online at:https://www.epostoffice.gov.in or, it can also be accessed through a link at Official website of India Post i.e. http://www.indiapost.gov.in
Shri Sinha also unveiled the revamped website of the India Post which is made more user-friendly and informative to meet the need of customers in a better way. The citizens shall benefit by getting relevant information fast and in a user- friendly manner.
During the function, commemorative stationery in the Post Card, Inland Letter and Envelope Category, each featuring five postal heritage buildings viz. Patna G.P.O, Delhi G.P.O, Mumbai G.P.O, Shimla G.P.O & Kolkata G.P.O.was also issued. For the first time, the stationery has been issued in multi-color format.
Members of Parliament MeenakshiLekhi, Dr.Udit Raj and Ramesh Bidhuri graced the occasion as guest of honour. Secretary (Posts) A. N. Nanda and Member (Planning) MeeraHanda were also present on the occasion.
India Post celebrates the National Postal Week every October from 9th to 15th October, starting with World Post Day which is celebrated each year on 9th October, the anniversary of the establishment of the Universal Postal Union (UPU) in 1874 in Berne. The purpose of World Post Day is to create awareness of the role of the postal sector in people’s and businesses’ everyday lives and its contribution to the social and economic development of countries. Moving a step ahead, Department of Posts celebrates National Postal Week undertaking programme / activities aimed at generating a broader awareness of its role and activities among the public and media on a national scale.
source: kashmirreader
As many as 17,721 parcels were
handled by western region in October
With consumers making more online
purchases during the festival season, the Postal Department saw a jump in the
e-commerce packets it handled in the western region this year.
According to data available with
the department, between October 1 and 18, as many as 17,721 parcels were
handled in this region, registering postal revenue of ₹19.13 lakh
for orders delivered within the country.
An official with the department in
Coimbatore said that Amazon continued to have the largest volume with more than
5,000 parcels.
What came as a boost this year was
the use of speed post by a couple of local retailers to deliver parcels
purchased by customers online.
The department sold Sri Krishna
Sweets gift coupons and also distributed its orders booked online.
This included delivery to buyers in
countries such as Singapore and the U.S. Within the country, the department
delivered about 1,000 parcels during these 18 days only for Krishna Sweets.
Two more retailers - one from Salem
and another from Coimbatore - had also tied up with the department for delivery
of parcels booked online.
“We were able to deliver the
parcels within two days and there are no complaints. We will leverage on Speed
Post for delivery of online orders,” the official said.
Compared to last year, the postal
revenue and volume of parcels (e-commerce) handled by the postal department in
this region was certainly high.
Apart from this, there were many
who booked parcels by registered post to send gifts to friends and relatives,
the official added.
source: the hindu
The Sen Times
New Delhi: Salaries and allowances of central government employees have seen hikes in 2016 and 2017 respectively but raising the minimum pay has remained static ever since the 7th Pay Commission’s recommendations was approved one and a half years ago.
Finance Minister Arun Jaitley had promised to hike minimum pay for the central government employees day after the cabinet approval of the 7th Pay Commission’s recommendations, June 30, 2016.
“The minimum pay of central government employees Rs 18,000 was made on recommendations of the 7th Pay Commission. But government will consider hiking it after discussions with all stakeholders,” Finance minister Arun Jaitley had earlier said in a meeting with the central government employees’ unions leaders on June 30, 2016.
This announcement had thrilled the central government employees for getting more hike in pay but it’s almost now like rubbing salt into the wounds of millions of central government employees.
The cabinet had given nod overall 23.55 percent increase in salaries, allowances and pension in June, 2016 but shockingly, minimum pay Rs 18, 000 of the central government employees have been unchanged.
The central government employees unions have been demanding minimum pay Rs 26,000 and asked to raising fitment factor 3.68 times from 2.57 times. However, the government has never refused to budge, pretext financial crunch etc but has not accepted till date.
Unwilling to tolerate the government insensitivity any longer, the central government employees unions have now decided to observe Dharna today.
“After a full month’s work, we get just Rs 18,900 including dearness allowance as pay. so we can’t even feed our children properly through that. So how can we celebrate Diwali? It’s only politicians and bureaucrats who can celebrate the festival,” said one of the low paid central government employees.
So far, the plight of central government employees has failed to move the government. However, the Finance Minister Arun Jaitley has done little to support the employees’ demand to form National Anomaly Committee (NAC) headed by Secretary, Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) in September, 2016 to look into pay anomalies arising out of the implementation of the 7th Pay Commission’s recommendations.
“The NAC meeting is likely to be held in this month. And the government has asked the NAC to go ahead for hike in minimum pay Rs 21,000 from Rs 18,000 from the existing 2.57 to fitment factor 3.00,” a top official of the finance ministry told The Sen Times on condition of anonymity.
“The Union Cabinet will take up the proposal for hike in pay with fitment factor 3.00 in January,” the official assured.
“If the 2.57 fitment formula is tinkered with, then salary and pension in general for all segments of employees will go up,” the official confirmed.
The government is still dithering over whether to hike pay of its employees, hence, Diwali this time will be a dark one for the central government employees.
