A study into the impacts of reservations in public sector jobs on efficiency and productivity has revealed that there has been no reduction in productivity. On the contrary, productivity and efficiency have increased in some sectors. The report of the study, the first of its kind, by Ashwini Deshpande, Professor, Delhi School of Economics and  Thomas Weisskopf, Professor of Economics at the University of Michigan, was published in the World Development journal. The study was conducted on Group A and B level officers recruited from Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes in the Indian Railways between 1980 and 2002. 

                                                                                                            ( source: The Hindu )

The National Convention of Pensioners Organisations scheduled to be held at Nagpur on 15th February, 2015 stands postponed. The decision in this regard has been communicated by Com. B. P. Petkar, General Secretary, Co-ordination Committee of Pensioners Associations, Nagpur who is hosting the National Convention. The postponement is warranted due to hospitalization of Com. S. K. Vyas, Secretary General, BCPC &NCCPA who has undergone angioplasty at a Jaipur hospital.

The United Forum of Bank Unions (UFBU) has  decided to revive the strike programme for a reasonable wage agreement. Earlier, it has deferred the one day strike as well as the 4 days strike following little progress in the negotiations with Indian Banks Association. But it expressed unhappiness on the continued negative stand by IBA on the wage revision talks.

Now, as per the new time schedule announced by UFBU, the four days strike will be from 25th February and the indefinite strike from 16th March, 2015. The strike is being called at a time when the Parliament will be in session and is meant to draw the attention of the union government on this vital issue.

Com. VAN Namboodiri, Advisor, AIBDPA, met Shri Rakesh Agrawal, Member (Services), DOT, today, 3rd February,  and discussed about the delay in finalising the Cabinet Note on 78.2% IDA pension fixation for the BSNL retired employees, pre-2007 as well as post-2007. Com.Namboodiri expressed the plight of the retirees, who are losing substantial amount of pension and pressed for early finalisation. Member(Services) stated that it has been sent to Finance. Com.Namboodiri tried to meet Member (Finance), but she was in a conference and could not meet. It was assured by the Secretary that the Note will be finalised early about two weeks back, but still the same is not finalised. But it is understood that it is in the final stage.

BSNL Employees Union, District Branch, Kozhikode organized a novel program on Mahatma Gandhiji’s Martyrdom Day,30th January, 2015. In the meeting held Com. U. Hemanthkumar delivered the speech on secularism. Com. K. G. Sanjeevan, District Secretary, AIBDPA presided and Com. K. V. Jayarajan, District Secretary, BSNLEU welcomed the gathering.

NO. 22011/1/2014-Estt(D)
Government of India
Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions
(Department of Personnel and Training)

North Block, New Delhi – 110001
Dated- 14th November, 2014

OFFICE MEMORANDUM

Subject: – Inclusion of eligible officers who are due to retire before the likely date of vacancies, in the panel for promotion-Regarding.

           The undersigned is directed to invite reference to the Department of Personnel and Training Office Memorandum No. 2201114/98-Estt(D) dated October 12, 1998 regarding consideration of retired employees who were within the zone of consideration in the relevant year(s) but are not actually in service when the DPC is being held. The said OM provides as follows:

“……..There is no specific bar in the aforesaid Office Memorandum dated April 10, 1989 or any other related instructions of the Department of Personnel and Training for consideration of retired employees, while preparing year-wise panel(s), who were within the zone of consideration in the relevant year(s). According to legal opinion also it would not be in order if eligible employees, who were within the zone of consideration for the relevant year(s) but are not actually in service when the DPC is being held, are not considered while preparing year-wise zone of consideration/panel and, consequently, their juniors are considered (in their places), who would not have been in the zone of consideration if the DPC(s) had been held in time. This is considered imperative to identify the correct zone of consideration for relevant Year(s). Names of the retired officials may also be included in the panel(s). Such retired officials would, however, have no right for actual promotion. The DPC(s) may, if need be, prepare extended panel(s) following the principles prescribed in the Department of Personnel and Training Office Memorandum No.22011/8/87-Estt.(D) dated April 9, 1996.”

2. Appointment Committee of Cabinet has observed that DPCs often do not consider such eligible officers who are retiring before the occurrence of the vacancy in the panel year. These undesirable trends negate the very purpose of the above said Office Memorandum No. 22011/4/98-Estt(D) dated October 12, 1998 and it is also against the principle of natural justice.

3. All the Ministries/Departments are therefore advised to ensure strict compliance of the instructions of the Department of Personnel & Training issued vide this Department’s OM No. 22011/4/98-Estt(D) dated October 12, 1998.

4. These instructions may please be brought out to the notice of all concerned including attached and subordinate offices.

(S.K.Prasad)
Under Secretary to the Govt. of India

There seems to be a misunderstanding that customers are not approaching BSNL for getting services and are approaching private telecom companies only. This is not at all true. People like to get BSNL services despite the fact that the services are not so good as they would like.
The people know that BSNL does not cheat the subscriber like the private operators. Hence their request for BSNL services. Even for landlines, there are good number of requests for getting broadband in which BSNL is the master service provider.
But what is happening?
These applications are being closed by BSNL after one or two months, stating that they are not feasible. The main reason is lack of cable and other equipments. Mobile connection requests could not be provided as Sim cards are not available.
It is the duty of the BSNL Management to ensure supply of equipment. It has to take immediate action for procurement of required equipment. If funds are not available, they should take loan and do business and make profit. If the management can not even provide equipment and ensure expansion, development and maintenance, what exactly is the meaning and duty of management? Taking hefty salary only for laziness and inactivity? This has to change. The management should become real management, instead of presiding over a declining company. The wake up call for the management has already rung. It is for them to act.