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ILLITERACY GROWING IN RURAL INDIA- SAYS SOCIAL ECONOMIC AND CASTE CENSUS.

The Socio Economic and Caste Census released on 3rd July, 2015 gives a grim picture on rural India. 36 per cent of the 884 million people in rural INDIA  are illiterate. According to the Census of India, 2011, it was 32%,and there is an increase of 4% in illiteracy in rural India. And even among the 64% literate more than one fifth have not even completed primary education.

Further the poor state of rural education is reflected in the fact that 23.5% of rural households had no adult above the age of 25 who are literate.

State wise , Rajasthan tops with 47 per cent rural illiterates while Lakshadweep has the lowest illiteracy of 9.3% followed by Kerala-11.4%.

                                                                                                   ( Source: The Hindu) 

 

BSNL PROPOSES OUTSOURCING BROADBAND SERVICES.

 

The decision by BSNL Management to outsource broadboard services and maintenance is arbitrary and a wrong step. In broadband,  BSNL is in leading position and comparatively the services  are good. The staff who are looking after bb are still available. Earlier 197 outsourced, now broadband. Whether the management is proposing to outsource each and every work.
The management should reconsider and drop the proposal to outsource.

 

 

MERGER OF BSNL AND MTNL- REPORT AWAITD FROM IIM, BANGALORE.

Final decision on merger of BSNL and MTNL will be taken after getting report of IIM, Bangalore – says Secretary, DoT.

Shri Rakesh Garg, Secretary, DoT has stated that the government has directed the Indian Institute of Management (IIM), Bangalore to prepare a feasibility report on the merger of BSNL and MTNL. The Secretary, DoT, has stated that the report of the IIM, Bangalore, is likely to be submitted shortly. He has further stated that it would take 4 to 5 months for the government to take a final decision on the issue, after receiving the IIM report. It may be recollected that the Forum has opposed the merger of BSNL and MTNL, without settling the disinvestment and financial liability issues of MTNL.

(Source: PTI)

BSNL LAUNCHES MOBILE WALLET- ANOTHER WELCOME INITIATIVE.

On 3rd July, 2015 BSNL has launched a pre-paid card linked mobile wallet service which would allow the customers to transfer money, pay for services and  cash withdrawal up to Rs. 1 lakh.

The wallet service enables a customer to load money even if he does not have a bank account. The money thus loaded in mobile wallet can be transferred to a bank account and withdrawn from bank branches or BSNL outlets.

Minister for Communications and IT Shri. Ravi Shankar Prasad inaugurated the service. Shri. Anupam Shrivastava, CMD, BSNL said that BSNL customers who don’t have bank account, can also load money by visiting any BSNL retail outlet.

The service is launched in partnership with IT company, Pyro.

                                                                                             ( Courtesy: The Hindu ) 

ALL INDIA CONFERENCE AT TIRUPATHI, ANDHRA PRADESH CIRCLE.

T  kapila_thertham (3) The second triennial All India Conference of All India BSNL DOT Pensioners Association is due to be held in February, 2016. The Andhra comrades under the leadership of Com. J. Sampath Rao, AGS and Circle Secretary, BSNLEU had consented to host the conference. Accordingly formal decision in this regard was taken in the Central Executive Committee Meeting held at Jamnagar on 28-29, April, 2015.

Now it is proposed to form the Reception Committee for the successful conduct of the AIC at Tirupathi, the temple city on 6th July, 2015. Com. V. A. N. Namboodiri, Advisor, Com. J. Sampath Rao and Com. Ramachandradu, Circle Secretary, AIBDPA, AP will participate in the reception committee formation meeting.

SOLIDARITY DHARNA BY AIBDPA & BSNLEU IN SUPPORT OF THE STRUGGLE OF KSRTC PENSIONERS.

Pensioners of KSRTC, the state owned public transport service of Kerala, are in a continuous struggle to get their pension. The Congress led UDF government is least concerned about the plight of its pensioners and refuse to implement even promises given by the Chief Minister. 

AIBDPA members along with BSNLEU staged a solidarity Dharna in support of the KSRTC PENSIONERS today the 4th July in front of the Calicut Bus Station.

Com.K Damodaran (state Organising Secretary, AIBDPA) inaugurated the function. Com. Vijayakumar ( All India Asst. Secretary BSNLEU) also spoke on the occasion.

Yesterday, 3rd July, 2015, the solidarity Dharna participated by CGPA and AIBDPA members was inaugurated by Com. V. A. N. Namboodiri, Advisor, AIBDPA.

Kunhanandan MP's photo.
Kunhanandan MP's photo.
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COM. V. A. N. NAMBOODIRI ADDRESSES HUGE MEETING AT KOZHIKODE.

 

AIBDPA, Kozhikode District Branch organized a largely attended meeting on 1st July, 2015 at Telephone Exchange Recreation Club, Kozhikode.

Inaugurating the meeting Com. V. A. N. Namboodiri, Advisor spoke elaborately on all the issues with particular reference to the current position of 78.2% IDA merger, the 2 days hunger fast on July 21,22  and National Strike on September 2, 2015.

Com. K. Prabhakaran, District President presided. Com. K. G. Sanjeevan, District Secretary welcomed the gathering. Com. M. P. Kunhanandan, CHQ Treasurer etc addressed.

NATIONAL MOBILE NUMBER PORTABILITY ROLLS OUT.

Telecom operators are ready to roll out the much-awaited National Mobile Number Portability (NMNP) feature from today, allowing customers to retain the same mobile number across the country, even if they shift from one city to another.

Under MNP, a customer will be able to choose a different operator in the new city/circle without changing his/her mobile number.

For example, an Airtel customer in Delhi will be able to shift to Vodafone when he moves to Mumbai, retaining the Delhi number.

Operators have been offering benefits to woo users such as the option of transferring a prepaid balance or carrying forward any unbilled/ billed amount in the case of post-paid services.

Airtel has introduced faster processing of porting requests, free incoming on roaming, balance transfers and carry forward options.

Customers who want to avail of MNP can apply for it on a company’s website or seek it through customer care services or via SMS. Some companies promise MNP will be done within 24 hours of the porting request.

                                                                                           (courtesy: Business Line.)

RECOGNITION OF LAKSHMI HOSPITAL, DIWAN’S ROAD , ERNAKULAM UNDER CS(MA) RULES, 1944.

Recognition of Lakshmi Hospital, Diwan’s Road, Ernakulam, Kerala, for treatment of Central Government employees under CS (MA) Rules, 1944

No. S. 14021/08/2014-MS
Government of India
Ministry of Health & Family Welfare
Nirman Bhavan, New Delhi-110108

Dated the 11th June, 2015

OFFICE MEMORANDUM

Sub:  Recognition of Lakshmi Hospital, Diwan’s Road, Ernakulam, Kerala, for treatment of Central Government employees under CS (MA) Rules, 1944.

The undersigned is directed to say that the proposal received for recognition of Lakshmi Hospital, Diwan’s Road, Ernakulam, Kerala, for treatment of Central Government Employees and their family members under CS(MA) Rules, 1944 has been examined in this Ministry and found to be in order. It has been decided to recognized Lakshmi Hospital, Diwan’s Road, Ernakulam, Kerala, under Central Services (Medical Attendance) Rules, 1944.

2. The Schedule of charges for the treatment of Central Government Employees and the members of their family under the CS (MA) Rules, 1944, will be the rates fixed for CGHS non-NABH Thiruvananthapuram rates. The approved rates are available on the website of CGHS (http://msotransparent.nic.in/cghsnew/index.asp) and may be downloaded/printed

3. The undersigned is further directed to clarify as under:-

(a) “Package Rate” shall mean and include lump sum cost of in-patient treatment//day care/diagnostic procedure for which a CS(MA) beneficiary has been permitted by the competent authority or for treatment under emergency from the time of admission to the time of discharge, including (but not limited to)-(i) Registration charges, (ii) Admission charges, (iii) Accommodation charges including patient’s diet, (iv) Operation charges, (v) Injection charges, (vi) Dressing charges, (vii) Doctor/consultant visit charges, (viii) ICU/ICCU charges, (ix) Monitoring charges, (x) Transfusion charges, (xi) Anesthesia charges, (xii) Operation theatre charges, (xiii) Procedural charges / Suregon’s fee, (xiv) Cost of surgical disposables and all sundries used during hospitalization, (xv) Cost of medicines, (xvi) Related routine and essential investigations, (xvii) Physiotherapy charges etc, (xviii) Nursing care and charges for its services.

(b) Cost of Implants is reimbursable in addition to package rates as per CGHS ceiling rates for implants.

(c) Treatment charges for new born baby are separately reimbursable in addition to delivery charges for mother.

(d) Lakshmi Hospital, Diwan’s Road, Ernakulam, Kerala shall not charge more than the package rates fixed for CGHS non-NABH Thiruvananthapuram rates.

(e) Expenses on toiletries, cosmetics, telephone bills etc. are not reimbursable and are not included in package rates.

4. Package rates envisage duration of indoor treatment as follows:

Upto 12 days:  for specialized (Super Specialities) treatment
Upto 7 days: for other Major Surgeris
Upto 3 days: for Laparoscopic surgeries/normal Deliveries
1 day:  for day care/Minor (OPD) surgeries.

No additional charge on account of extended period of stay shall be allowed if that extension is due to infection on the consequences of surgical procedure or due to any improper procedure and is not justified.

In case, there are no CGHS prescribed rates for any test/procedure, then AIIMS rates are applicable. If there are no AIIMS rates, then reimbursement is to be arrived at by calculating admissible amount item-wise (e.g. room rent, investigations, cost of medicines, procedure charges etc) as per approved rates/actually, in case of investigations.

5. (a) CS (MA) beneficiaries are entitled to facilities of private, semi-private or general ward depending on their basic pay. The entitlement is as follows:-

S.No. Pay drawn in pay band Ward Entitlement
1. Upto Rs. 13,950/- General Ward
2. Rs. 13,960/- to 19,530/- Semi-Private Ward
3. Rs. 19,540/- and above Private Ward

(b) The package rates given in rate list of CGHS are for semi-private ward.

(c) The package rates prescribed are for semi-private ward. If the beneficiary is entitled for general war there will be a decrease of 10% in the rates; for private ward entitlement there will be an increase of 15%. However, the rates shall be same for investigation irrespective of entitlement, whether the patient is admitted or not and the test, per-se, does not require admission.

6. The hospital shall charge from the beneficiary as per the CGHS prescribed rates or its own rate list whichever is lower. The hospital shall charge CGHS Non-NABH Thiruvananthapuram rates.

7. (a) The maximum room rent admissible for different categories would be:

General ward  Rs. 1000/- per day
Semi-private ward Rs. 2000/- per day
Private ward  Rs. 3000/- per day
Day care (6 to 8 Hrs.) Rs. 500/- (same for all categories)

(b) Room rent mentioned above at (a) above is applicable only for treatment procedures for which there is no CGHS prescribed package rate.

Room rent will include charges for occupation of bed, diet for the patient, charges for water and electricity supply, linen charges, nursing charges and routine up keeping.

(c) During the treatment in ICCU/ICU, no separate room rent will be admissible.

(d) Private ward is defined as a hospital room where single patient is accommodated and which has an attached toilet (lavatory and bath). The room should have furnishings like wardrobe, dressing table, bed-side table, sofa set, etc. as well as a bed for attendant. The room has to be air-conditioned.

(e) Semi Private ward is defined as a hospital room where two or three patients are accommodated and which has attached toilet facilities and necessary furnishings.

(f) General ward is defined as hall that accommodates four to ten patients.

(g) Normally the treatment in higher category of accommodation than the entitled category is not permissible. However, in case of an emergency when the entitled category accommodation is not available, admission in the immediate higher category may be allowed till the entitled category accommodation becomes available. However, if a particular hospital does not have the ward as per entitlement of beneficiary, then the hospital can only bill as per entitlement of the beneficiary even though the treatment was given in higher type of ward.

If, on the request of the beneficiary, treatment is provided in a higher category of ward, then the expenditure over and above entitlement will have to be borne by the beneficiary.

8. In case of non-emergencies, the beneficiary shall have the option of availing specific treatment/investigation from any of the empaneled hospitals of his/her choice (provided the hospital is recognised for that treatment procedure/test), after the specific treatment/investigation has been advised by Authorised Medical Attendant and on production of valid ID card and permission letter from his/her concerned Ministry/Department.

9. The hospital shall honour permission letter issued by competent authority and provide treatment/investigation facilities as specified in the permission lette.

10. The hospital shall also provide treatment/investigation facilities to the CGHS beneficiaries and their eligible dependent family members at its own rates or rates approved under CS (MA) Rules, whichever is lower. The hospital shall provide treatment to pensioner CGHS beneficiaries after authentication through verification of valid CGHS Cards.

11. However, pensioner CGHS beneficiaries would make payment for the medical treatment at approved rates as mentioned above and submit the medical reimbursement claim to the Addl. Director, CGHS through the CMO i/c of the CGHS Wellness Centre, where the CGHS Card on the beneficiary is registered.

12. In case of emergencies, the beneficiary shall have the option of availing specific treatment/investigation from any of the empaneled hospitals of his/her choice (provided the hospital is recognised for that treatment procedure/test), on production of valid ID card, issued by competent authority.

13. During the in-patient treatment of the CS (MA) beneficiary, the Hospital will not ask the beneficiary or his attendant to purchase separately the medicines/sundries/equipment or accessories from outside and will provide the treatment within the package rate, fixed by the CGHS which includes the cost of all the items.

14. In case of treatment taken in emergency in any non-recognised private hospitals, reimbursement shall be considered by competent authority at CGHS prescribed Package/rates only.

15. If one or more minor procedures from part of a major treatment procedure, then package charges would be permissible for major procedure and only 50% of charges for minor procedure.

16. Further, Lakshmi Hospital, Diwan’s Road, Ernakulam, Kerala, shall undertake the pre-investigations/diagnostic tests/consultations/ examinations as a service provider for conducting the Annual Medical Examination of the Civil Services Group ‘A’ Officers of above 40 years of age as per the prescribed protocol for Annual Medical Examination, as per Annexure.

17. The hospital will not charge the Central Government Employees for Annual Medical Examination more than Rs. 2000/- for conducting the prescribed medical examinations of the male officers and Rs. 2200/- for female officers, who come to the hospital with the requisite permission letter from their Department/Ministry concerned. The above rates for Annual Medical Examination are valid until such time when the above rates are revised by the Central by the Government.

18. Any legal liability arising out of such services shall be the sole responsibility and shall be dealt with by the concerned empaneled hospital. Services will be provided by the Hospital as per the terms given above.

19. Ministry of Health & Family Welfare reserves the right to withdraw/cancel the above recognition without assigning any reason.

20. The order takes effect from the date of issue of the O.M.

21. The authorities of Lakshmi Hosptial, Diwan’s Road, Ernakulam, Kerala, will have to enter into an agreement with the Government of India to the effect that the Hospital will charge from the Central Government employees at the rates fixed by the Government and they will have to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) within a period of 3 months from the date of issue of the above mentioned OM failing which the Hospital will be derecognized (Two original copies of MOU duly signed by the Hospital to be sent for acceptance). Subject to above, the Hospital can start treating Central Government employees covered under CS (MA) Rules, 1944.

22. A communication in acceptance of the para 21 above may be sent to the undersigned within a week from the receipt of this Office Memorandum.

(R.S. Nayal)
Under Secretary to government of India