Reservation to SC/ST in Private Sector
A high level Coordination Committee under the Chairmanship of Principal Secretary to Prime Minister was constituted in October 2006, to carry forward the dialogue with the Industry on Affirmative Action, including reservation in Private Sector. The Coordination Committee is serviced by the Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion. The Coordination Committee has been holding meetings with the apex Chambers from time to time. The Industry Associations viz. Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI), Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (ASSOCHAM) and Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) have developed their respective Voluntary Code of Conduct (VCC) for member companies wherein stress has been laid on equal opportunities in employment for all section of society, removing bias in employment to disadvantaged sections of society, increasing employability of socially disadvantaged sections through skill upgradation, continuous training and providing scholarships. The details of the actions taken on Affirmative Action in the Private Sector in respect of three Industry Associations as provided by the Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion (DIPP) is as follow:
i) Confederation of Indian Industry (CII)
a) Affirmative Action Council (AAC) has been formed under the aegis of Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of Hero Honda Motors Ltd. The AAC has identified 4 areas of Affirmative work- Employability, Entrepreneurship, Education and Employment.
b) Affirmative Fund has been set up.
c) 198610 candidates from SC/ ST community have been trained in various vocational skills.
d) 97697 Scholarships have been provided to SC/ ST students.
e) 101 Entrepreneurship development training programmes have been held
f) Mid day meal programmes have been started in backward districts in all four zones of the country.
g) 395 Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) have been adopted for upgradation.
h) 892 companies have adopted Voluntary Code of Conduct.
i) 85080 SC/ST personal have been employed.
j) 5 districts have been adopted for interventions under affirmative action.
ii) Federation of Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FICCI)
a) 131416 candidates from SC/ ST community have been trained in various vocational skills.
b) 1469 Scholarships have been provided to SC/ ST students.
c) 3776 Entrepreneurship development training programmes have been held.
d) 13825 SC/ST students have been provided free education
e) 463 companies have adopted Voluntary Code of Conduct.
f) 3754 SC/ST candidates have been employed.
iii) Associated Chamber of Commerce and industry (ASSOCHAM)
a) 1021 companies have adopted voluntary Code of Conduct
b) 161 ITIs adopted for upgradation
c) 2299 scholarships provided to SC/ ST students for studying in premier institutions like IITs/ IIMs
d) 3 districts have been adopted
e) 221 Entrepreneurship Development Programmes have been held.
This information was given by the Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment, Shri Vijay Sampla in a written reply to a question in Lok Sabha here today.
Source:pib | |
Wednesday, December 3, 2014
Reservation to SC/ST in Private Sector
Simplification of Pension Procedure
Simplification of Pension Procedure
The Ministry of Rural Development is administering National Social Assistance Programme (NSAP), Indira Gandhi National Old Age Pension Scheme (IGNOAPS), Indira Gandhi National Disability Pension Scheme (IGNDPS), Indira Gandhi National Widow Pension Scheme (IGNWPS), National Family Benefit Scheme (NFBS) and Annapurna. These Schemes are for the households living Below Poverty Line (BPL). Under these schemes pension/assistance is provided to the eligible BPL households on fulfilling the eligibility criteria prescribed by the Government.
On the basis of representation received from various quarters for simplification of procedure and process for implementation of schemes under NSAP, the Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment has issued two advisories, requesting States/UTs to adopt such procedure and process which do not put the onus of identification and selection on the beneficiaries and as far as possible adopt a procedure which is simple and requires minimum documents and certification. Copies of the Advisories issued.
This information was given by the Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment, Shri Vijay Sampla in a written reply to a question in Lok Sabha here today.
Source:pib  | |
FDI in Defence Sector
FDI in Defence Sector
In May 2001, the Defence Industry sector, which was hitherto reserved for the public sector, was opened up to 100% for Indian private sector participation with FDI permissible up to 26%, both subject to licensing. Vide Press Note No.7 (2014 Series), Department of Industrial Policy & Promotion (DIPP), Ministry of Commerce & Industry has raised the FDI limit in Defence Sector up to 49% through FIPB route and above 49% through Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) on case-to-case basis, wherever it is likely to result in access to modern and state-of-the-art technology in the country. FDI limit of 49% is composite and includes all point of foreign investments i.e. Foreign Direct Investment (FDI), Foreign Institutional Investors (FII), Foreign Portfolio Investment (FPI), Non Resident Investments (NRIs), Foreign Venture Capital Investor (FVCI) and Qualified Foreign Investors (QFI).
FDI policy in the Defence Sector is applicable to Defence Industries, subject to Industrial Licensing under the Industries (Development and Regulation) Act, 1951. The list of defence products requiring industrial license has been notified vide Department of Industrial Policy & Promotion (DIPP) Press Note-3 (2014 Series) dated 26th June, 2014.
The Defence Production Policy, 2011 aims at achieving substantive self-reliance in the design, development and production of equipment / weapon systems / platforms required for defence in as early a time frame as possible; creating conditions conducive for the private industry to take an active role in this endeavour; enhancing potential of SMEs in indigenisation and broadening the defence R&D base of the country. The policy also highlights the need to build up a robust indigenous defence industrial base by pro-actively encouraging larger involvement of Indian private sector, design, development and manufacture of defence equipment.
This information was given by Defence Minister Shri Manohar Parrikar in a written reply to Shri P Bhattacharya and Shri Husain Dalwai in Rajya Sabha today.
Source:pib | |
CENTRAL GOVT EMPLOYEES DEMANDS LIKE DA MERGER,INTERIM RELIEF NOT YET CONSIDERED BY GOVT-CONFEDERATION
CENTRAL GOVT EMPLOYEES DEMANDS LIKE DA MERGER,INTERIM RELIEF NOT YET CONSIDERED BY GOVT-CONFEDERATION
EDITORIAL POSTAL CRUSADER DECEMBER-2014
NDA AND UPA
TWO SIDES OF SAME COIN
New Central Govt. under the leadership of our Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri. Narendra Modi has completed six months in office. As far as the common people and working class of this country is concerned, no positive action has been taken by the Govt. to mitigate their woes and grievances. Instead much negative steps are taken during this six months period.
Government has withdrawn the guidelines which controls the pricing of essential medicines through National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority. As a result, the prices of essential medicines for treatment of cancer, blood pressure, colestorol, diabetics, heart-deceases etc will shoot up in the market. Prices of medicines for treatment of cancer itself which now costs Rs.8500 may go upto Rs.1,08,000/-. Pharmaceutical corporate companies are the beneficiaries.
Government has made its intention clear that the number of gas cylinders (LPG) per year will be reduced from existing 12 to 9 and also to link it to Aadhar and subsidies through direct cash transfer to Bank accounts. Earlier UPA Govt. has reduced the gas cylinders from 12 to 9 but subsequently it has been withdrawn the order due to widespread protests.
Govt. has deregularised the pricing of diesel. Earlier UPA Govt. has deregulated petrol prices and now the NDA Govt. has deregularised diesel price. Petroleum companies will now be free to decide the prices of petrol and diesel. Even-now the prices of petrol and diesel in India are 40% higher than the prices in the international market.
Govt. has decided to allow 100% Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in Defence Production. Earlier this move of the UPA Govt. was opposed by NDA saying that it is against the national interest and security of the country. Defence production will now be completely privatised.
Govt. has decided to allow 100% FDI in Railways and also public-private-partnership (PPP). During his speech delivered in Australia Prime Minister has called upon the Industrialists of that country to country to invest in Indian Railways. Doors for privatisation of Railways is opened.
Govt. has decided to allow 49% FDI in Insurance sector. The bill for amending the Insurance Act for this purpose is pending in the Parliament and Govt. spokes person has hoped that the bill will be passed in this winter session of Parliament.
Govt. has decided to disinvest the share of all public sector nationalised banks upto 48%. Road map for privatisation of banking sector is drawn.
Govt. has made it clear that 100% FDI will be allowed in Pension Funds. The future of those who are under the New Pension Scheme will be uncertain due to Pension Fund Privatisation.
Govt has decided to sell the shares of profit making public sector undertakings such as ONGC, BHEL, coal India Ltd. etc to the tune of 25%.
Govt. has made it clear that Indian Post Office Act 1898 will be amended to facilitate grant of licences to multi-national courier services. This will pave way for privatisation of postal sector.
While extending red-carpet welcome to the corporates and multinational companies, the Govt. has declared that all the labour laws which put hurdles before them will be amended. Govt. has already moved in Parliament Labour Law amendments to remove all the protections and rights now enjoyed by the working class including right to strike and right to form unions.
Government has declared that all the loss-making public sector undertakings will be closed or privatised. Air India, BSNL etc. are all in the hit-list.
Government has made it clear that its slogan is “minimum government and maximum governance”. It has imposed a total ban on creation of new posts and for filling up of posts which are lying vacant for more than one year.
Regarding Central Government Employees, none of their legitimate demands are conceded by the Government. DA merger, Interim Relief, Inclusion of Gramin Dak Sevaks (GDS) under 7th CPC, Date of effect of 7th CPC as 1-1-2014, Removal of 5% condition for compassionate appointment - everything stands rejected.
Regarding Postal employees none of the 39 demands raised by Postal JCA (NFPE & FNPO) is settled. Three lakhs GDS are still not included in the 7th CPC and their future is uncertain, Revision of wages of Casual, Part-time, contingent employees with effect from 01-01-2006 is pending before the Government from 2008 onwards. Cadre Restructuring, issues of Postmaster Cadre, Accountants, System Administrators, MMS etc. all pending or rejected.
It is in the above background the Central Trade Unions, JCM National Council staff-side, Confederation of Central Govt. Employees & Workers and Postal JCA has decided to organise following agitational programmes.
1. As a part of nation-wide agitation by all Central Trade Unions including BMS, INTUC, HMS, AITUC, CITU etc. has decided to organise Parliament March on 5th December, 2014 to protest against the anti-people, anti-labour policies of the NDA Government. In the march they will declare future struggle programmes.
2. All the organisations in the JCM National Council (Staff side) including Railways, Defence and Confederation has decided to organise a National Convention on 11th December, 2014 to decide future course of action for realisation of the legitimate demands of the Central Government employees.
3. Postal JCA comprising NFPE, FNPO, AIPEU-GDS (NFPE) and NUGDS has decided to organise a massive Parliament March of 20000 Postal& RMS employees including Gramin Dak Sevaks and Casual, Part-Time, Contingent employees on 4th December, 2014 demanding settlement of 39 point charter of demands. PJCA has decided to go for indefinite strike.
NFPE calls upon the entirety of five lakhs Postal employees to participate in all the above programmes and make it a grand success. Let us pledge that we shall continue our struggle till success.
Source:http://confederationhq.  | |
Bank Strike: Wage Negotiations with Bank Employees Unions/ Associations
Wage Negotiations with Bank Employees Unions/ Associations
Indian Banks' Association
Press Release
Wage Negotiations with Bank Employees Unions/ Associations
IBA is issuing this press statement in the backdrop of proposed relay strikes and agitational programs by Employee Unions/ Associations causing severe inconvenience to bank customers and general public.
2. Last bipartite settlement with the workmen unions was signed on 27.4.2010 and was valid from 1.11.2007 to 31.10.2012. Joint note with officers’ associations was also effective w.e.f. 1.11.2007. As per practice, wage revision in banks is done every five years.
3. The apex level workmen unions and officers’ associations submitted their Charter of Demands in October 2012 for wage revision. The management team under IBA took up bipartite talks almost immediately thereafter. With a view to increase profitability and market share, we proposed productivity linked compensation structure. Plan to introduce cost to company concept of compensation and splitting of wages into fixed and performance linked variable components were placed before unions/ associations. Unfortunately unions/associations rejected our proposals.
4. The Negotiating Committee of IBA has convened 14 rounds of meetings with the representatives of Unions/ Associations so far and two important issues viz., effective date of settlement and merger of CPI at 4440 points (60.15%) as on November 2011 have been amicably settled. The wage revision in banks is done keeping in view the paying capacity of the banks. It is pertinent to note that in the recent years, while operating profits of Public Sector Banks have shown some growth, the net profits have shown declining trends. Staff expenses have gone up substantially in excess of increases in income mainly due increases in dearness allowances which compensate for the impact of inflation. As such, the banks are not in a position to accept the demand of the Unions/ Associations for 23% hike in salary and allowances. Moreover, the banks are required to implement Basel-III norms by 2018 for which additional capital is to be infused. Raising capital from the market will require banks to better their profitability. Considering the present paying capacity of banks, a hike of 11% on salary and allowances has been offered.
5. Considering the financial constraints / depleting profits of banks, IBA advised unions/ associations that IBA is not in a position to increase more than the last offer of 11% in pay slip. This works out to 12.5% on Bank's establishment cost taking into account cost of superannuation benefits. However, IBA is willing to negotiate further if Unions/ Associations reduce their demand substantially from 23%. Despite the appeal by the IBA and Chief Labour Commissioner (C) at the conciliation meeting held on 10.11.2014 not to go on strike and resolve the issue through bipartism, the Unions/ Associations did not pay heed to the appeals and went on strike on 12.11.2014. While IBA is always flexible and keen on early settlement of wage negotiations, the Unions/ Associations are stonewalling suggestions to improve productivity and profitability and demanding unaffordable wage increases. The relay zonal strike programme being launched by unions/ associations from December 2, 2014 is unreasonable, unethical and unwarranted. We appeal to the unisons/associations to give up the agitational path and return to the negotiating table.
6. IBA deeply regrets the inconvenience caused to bank customers and general public due to the agitational programme launched by the employee unions/ associations.
M V Tanksale
Chief Executive
Source: http://www.iba.org.in/ | |
Implementation of One Rank One Pension
Implementation of One Rank One Pension
The principle of One Rank One Pension for the Armed Forces has been accepted by the Government. The modalities for implementation were discussed with various stakeholders and are presently under consideration of the Government. It will be implemented once the modalities are approved by the Government.
One Rank One Pension (OROP) implies that uniform pension be paid to the Armed Forces personnel retiring in the same rank with the same length of service irrespective of their date of retirement and any future enhancement in the rates of pension to be automatically passed on to the past pensioners. This implies bridging the gap between the rate of pension of the current pensioners and the past pensioners, and also future enhancement in the rate of pension to be automatically passed on to the past pensioners.
This information was given by Minister of State for Defence Rao Inderjit Singh in a written reply to Shri Rajeev Chandrasekhar in Rajya Sabha today.
Source:pib  | |
Living the Impossible
The human imagination is a powerful thing.
It is a place where the impossible is made possible, where no idea is too outlandish or far-fetched, a limitless land where we can dream big fantastic dreams.
There is no doubt that though unreal, these dreams are still important. They have allowed us to overcome many obstacles in our world. Just take a look around you: your lamp, your computer, your cell phone; even the electricity flowing through these objects to give them function were at one point just dreams in the minds of inventors, designers and engineers.
But, like so many other things, the imagination is a double-edged sword.
It is when these dreams become more important to us than our realities, when we simply cannot possibly be happy, successful or fulfilled without them, that they become destructive forces in our lives.
We chase such dreams of excessive wealth and grandeur all the time, fantasizing about hill-top mansions and seaside villas. We delude ourselves with promises like “if only I had that shiny new Lamborghini, then I’d finally be happy” or “my house must be at least 7 times bigger in order for me to be successful.”
The first step in learning how to love yourself is doing away with such delusions, or at least the ideals that you associate with them. All they do is contribute to the growing “gap” of ingratitude and leave you just as empty as before if and when they do become a reality.
“But how?” you may ask yourself, glancing out the window at your 10-year-old Daewoo.
“How can I stop wishing I had a Porsche?”
Simple: be grateful for what you do have. TIP: Don’t start with the Daewoo. Save the harder stuff for later.
Most of you reading this will be doing so on your home PC, which means not only do you have a PC, you also have electricity to power it and a high enough income to have been able to afford it. And let’s not forgot the most important bit of all: you can read!
Those four things alone already mean you’re better off than the majority of the world’s population. But I want to boil it down a little further. I want to nibble on the chewy centre of existence, instead of slurping my way through the hard outer layers. Forget the material for now. Let’s focus on the simplest thing that life offers us: living itself.
Do you know how improbable the fact that you, dear reader, are alive actually is?
Regardless of whether you do or not, I’m going to spend the rest of this post telling you anyway.
The Improbability of Existence
Every organism on the planet is made up of billions of cells, which are made up of infinitely smaller particles called atoms, which are in turn made up of even smaller constituents. You, as a human (I hope), are but a sequence of these particles: a sequence that has 1 in 3 google-plex chance of existing. And when I say google, I don’t mean everyone’s favorite search engine; I mean the number with one hundred 0’s attached to it.
That’s right.
One hundred 0’s.
Keep the change.
Remember those elementary school math lessons where your teacher, let’s call her Ms Whippersnapper, wrote down equations on the blackboard? Well it would take little Ms Whippersnapper, armed with a piece of chalk and a shiny new pair of spectacles, approximately 20 minutes to write a google on the board.
Not too bad, right? Right. But you’re forgetting one thing: it’s a google-plex we’re talking about here. If my anecdotes of class-room mathematics have conjured up some bad childhood memories, then you best skip the next paragraph as it only gets worse. Infinitely worse.
Enter the googleplex, the google’s much bigger brother.
A googleplex is a google to the power of a google. In other words: it’s a google googles, a google times. Quite a mouthful perhaps, but is it really that big? Try asking Ms Whippersnapper who, after 1.584 X 10 to the power of 90 centuries, isn’t even half way.
How’s that arthritis holding up, Doreen?
Yes folks, we are talking about a very large number. A ridiculously large number. And I could go on for pages about just how ridiculous and large it really is, but for the purposes of maintaining some coherent point in this post I won’t just yet. Instead, I’m going to show you how this number forms the first step in helping you love yourself.
Yes, that’s right. Wipe that drool off your face and the glazed look from your eyes because we’re going to be breaking that age-old oxymoron of Math and real-world relevance.
What 1 in 3 Googleplex Means for You
I began this post by saying that you, as an individual, have a 1 in 3 google-plex chance of existing (in other words, for those who skipped the math, one in a very big number). That means that out of all the trillions upon trillions of potential people, you were chosen.
You. As in direct second-person.
Your eyes.
Your nose.
Your lips.
You.
And whether you believe this choice was up to chance or the work of your God doesn’t matter (I find both beliefs equally beautiful); my point remains the same: you are very very lucky to be alive.
So instead of only being “happy” when you get that nice new Ferrari, be overfilled with joy that our planet has just right conditions for human life. And instead of considering yourself a failure until you have three degrees and are pulling down $90K a year, know that you, once upon a time, won a swimming marathon for your very survival against countless millions of other competitors. And that makes you pretty damn successful in my book.
You may think you have a boring or difficult life. You may even think it a life not worth living at all. And you have every right to harbor these thoughts. But I’ve based my existence around the belief that every life, including my own, is worth living. And although there are still many things I do not know and much wisdom I have yet to gain, nothing has ever felt more right for me than this.
So if you only take one thing away from this post, let it be this simple truth:
You are special
It is a place where the impossible is made possible, where no idea is too outlandish or far-fetched, a limitless land where we can dream big fantastic dreams.
There is no doubt that though unreal, these dreams are still important. They have allowed us to overcome many obstacles in our world. Just take a look around you: your lamp, your computer, your cell phone; even the electricity flowing through these objects to give them function were at one point just dreams in the minds of inventors, designers and engineers.
But, like so many other things, the imagination is a double-edged sword.
It is when these dreams become more important to us than our realities, when we simply cannot possibly be happy, successful or fulfilled without them, that they become destructive forces in our lives.
We chase such dreams of excessive wealth and grandeur all the time, fantasizing about hill-top mansions and seaside villas. We delude ourselves with promises like “if only I had that shiny new Lamborghini, then I’d finally be happy” or “my house must be at least 7 times bigger in order for me to be successful.”
The first step in learning how to love yourself is doing away with such delusions, or at least the ideals that you associate with them. All they do is contribute to the growing “gap” of ingratitude and leave you just as empty as before if and when they do become a reality.
“But how?” you may ask yourself, glancing out the window at your 10-year-old Daewoo.
“How can I stop wishing I had a Porsche?”
Simple: be grateful for what you do have. TIP: Don’t start with the Daewoo. Save the harder stuff for later.
Most of you reading this will be doing so on your home PC, which means not only do you have a PC, you also have electricity to power it and a high enough income to have been able to afford it. And let’s not forgot the most important bit of all: you can read!
Those four things alone already mean you’re better off than the majority of the world’s population. But I want to boil it down a little further. I want to nibble on the chewy centre of existence, instead of slurping my way through the hard outer layers. Forget the material for now. Let’s focus on the simplest thing that life offers us: living itself.
Do you know how improbable the fact that you, dear reader, are alive actually is?
Regardless of whether you do or not, I’m going to spend the rest of this post telling you anyway.
The Improbability of Existence
Every organism on the planet is made up of billions of cells, which are made up of infinitely smaller particles called atoms, which are in turn made up of even smaller constituents. You, as a human (I hope), are but a sequence of these particles: a sequence that has 1 in 3 google-plex chance of existing. And when I say google, I don’t mean everyone’s favorite search engine; I mean the number with one hundred 0’s attached to it.
That’s right.
One hundred 0’s.
Keep the change.
Remember those elementary school math lessons where your teacher, let’s call her Ms Whippersnapper, wrote down equations on the blackboard? Well it would take little Ms Whippersnapper, armed with a piece of chalk and a shiny new pair of spectacles, approximately 20 minutes to write a google on the board.
Not too bad, right? Right. But you’re forgetting one thing: it’s a google-plex we’re talking about here. If my anecdotes of class-room mathematics have conjured up some bad childhood memories, then you best skip the next paragraph as it only gets worse. Infinitely worse.
Enter the googleplex, the google’s much bigger brother.
A googleplex is a google to the power of a google. In other words: it’s a google googles, a google times. Quite a mouthful perhaps, but is it really that big? Try asking Ms Whippersnapper who, after 1.584 X 10 to the power of 90 centuries, isn’t even half way.
How’s that arthritis holding up, Doreen?
Yes folks, we are talking about a very large number. A ridiculously large number. And I could go on for pages about just how ridiculous and large it really is, but for the purposes of maintaining some coherent point in this post I won’t just yet. Instead, I’m going to show you how this number forms the first step in helping you love yourself.
Yes, that’s right. Wipe that drool off your face and the glazed look from your eyes because we’re going to be breaking that age-old oxymoron of Math and real-world relevance.
What 1 in 3 Googleplex Means for You
I began this post by saying that you, as an individual, have a 1 in 3 google-plex chance of existing (in other words, for those who skipped the math, one in a very big number). That means that out of all the trillions upon trillions of potential people, you were chosen.
You. As in direct second-person.
Your eyes.
Your nose.
Your lips.
You.
And whether you believe this choice was up to chance or the work of your God doesn’t matter (I find both beliefs equally beautiful); my point remains the same: you are very very lucky to be alive.
So instead of only being “happy” when you get that nice new Ferrari, be overfilled with joy that our planet has just right conditions for human life. And instead of considering yourself a failure until you have three degrees and are pulling down $90K a year, know that you, once upon a time, won a swimming marathon for your very survival against countless millions of other competitors. And that makes you pretty damn successful in my book.
You may think you have a boring or difficult life. You may even think it a life not worth living at all. And you have every right to harbor these thoughts. But I’ve based my existence around the belief that every life, including my own, is worth living. And although there are still many things I do not know and much wisdom I have yet to gain, nothing has ever felt more right for me than this.
So if you only take one thing away from this post, let it be this simple truth:
You are special
Tuesday, December 2, 2014
Indian Railways to Introduce Wi-Fi Services at 400 Stations
Indian Railways to Introduce Wi-Fi Services at 400 Stations
Indian Railways proposes to introduce Wi-Fi services at 400 railway stations (‘A1’ & ‘A’ category) throughout the country and in select trains.
Wi-Fi facility in three rakes of Howrah Rajdhani Express has been provided as a pilot project and Railway further proposes to provide this facility in select trains (Rajdhani, Shatabdi, Duranto Category). This facility will be provided selecting suitable technology for continuous connectivity with the World Wide Web when the train is on move.
Presently, provision of Wi-Fi facility at 75 ‘A1’ category stations is in progress. Wi-Fi facility in three rakes of Howrah Rajdhani Express has already been commissioned. Provision of Wi-Fi Broadband facility in other select trains involves bandwidth from Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) and modification in Power Cars to house satellite antenna and associated equipments. It will take 18-24 months for completion, subject to availability of funds.
Wi-Fi at Bengaluru station has been commissioned in October 2014. For the balance A1 category stations, work is in progress and is likely to e commissioned in the next 12 months and subsequently work in A category stations will be taken up.
This information was given by the Minister of State for Railways Shri Manoj Sinha in written reply to a question in Lok Sabha today.
Source:pib  | |
Beauty Lies in Impermanence
The universe is a chaotic place.Giant chunks of rock and ice soar through its cold expanse with no destination, and no set path. Stars of unimaginable proportions on occasion explode, sending a blast of radiation in all directions that is so powerful, any nearby planetary bodies are incinerated within seconds.
Is there a purpose behind these occurrences?
Does Halley’s comet intentionally pose for the telescopes before whizzing off for another 75 years?
Does a red giant wake up one morning and suddenly just decide to go supernova?
No, because these events are caused by random physical laws that we have no way whatsoever of controlling. In other words: shit just happens.
But I think an unknown Shinto monk put it more eloquently when he said, “the only truths in this life are beauty and impermanence.”
So why then do we reject the impermanence of the ever-changing universe when it comes to our own lives?
Why do we cling to old, habits, places and people so dearly, even if they become negative influences?
Why do we place so much value in order and permanence, even if it means living a boring and monotonous existence?
The answer is simple: we fear change.
The Unknown Scares Us
Whether it be the change of state from life to death, a change of house or even a change of wardrobe, it signifies a transition into the unknown. What we do not know, we cannot control. What we cannot control, we fear.
It is human nature that our imaginations jump to the most unpleasant outcomes: the new neighborhood will be more dangerous despite its excellent reputation; the new job will be less satisfying even if it’s doing something we’re passionate about.
Such fears are understandable, rational even, as defense mechanisms against disappointment. But is it really necessary to shield ourselves from potential hurt at the expense of being constantly afraid? Surely not.
Fear in all its forms is negative, and the fear of change is no exception.
Make Change Work for You.
Therefore, the key in dealing with change is to try and look past its possible negative outcomes, instead seeing what it can do for you.
In every change there is great opportunity and adventure to be found – if only you look for it. Be proactive. Be a go-getter.
Instead of fearing it, be excited for it. Instead of cowering away from it, welcome it with open arms. Savor the feeling of change; as we will see in the next section, it is part of what makes you human.
Impermanence is a Blessing, not a Curse.
Imagine if everything stayed the same, if objects, people and ideas remained fixed in relation to each other in an unending state of permanence; how utterly boring everyone and everything around us would become.
Without an end to things there would no longer be any sense of meaning or beauty in the world. Nothing would age, wither or disappear but by the same token, nothing would be born, created or renewed.
We would be stuck in our present relationships forever, doomed to carry out monotonous task in a world that no longer knew what it felt like to experience something new and extraordinary. The words “new” and “extraordinary” would not even factor into the collective vocabulary.
Perfect order would have been achieved but at what cost?
Losing the very chaotic change that made our lives worth living in the first place?
There would be no cycles save for the never-ending cycle of ingratitude. Because how could we be expected to be grateful for things which have always been and always will be? How could we not take these things for granted if we had never experienced losing them?
Without Autumn, we would never appreciate Spring; without clouds we would never appreciate sunshine and without death, we would never truly appreciate life.
Our lives, fleeting as they are, are that much more beautiful because they end. Every second wasted is a moment in time that you will never get back, and this gives us motivation to make the most of them. We are able to enjoy each sunset and savor each meal because we have so little time to do so.
On the other hand, if you lived forever, I guarantee that after the first couple of hundred years, the most pristine Hawaiian sunset would seem like a bad postcard, and the finest rump steak would taste like airplane food.
Change is Inevitable
Realize that no matter how much we may try to avoid change – no matter how much we may wish that things would stay the same – it is and always will be a part of our lives.
Change is inevitable.
Our only choice in the matter is whether to accept it amicably, or be dragged, kicking and screaming, into the next chapter of our existence.
Minimum Pension to Labourers
Minimum Pension to Labourers
The Minister of State (IC) for Labour and Employment, Shri Bandaru Dattatreya has said that the Employees’ Provident Funds & Miscellaneous Provisions (EPF & MP) Act, 1952 is applicable to the establishments employing 20 or more workers. The Employees’ Pension Scheme 1995 is one of the Schemes under the Act. Government has notified a minimum pension of Rs. 1000/- per month to the pensioners under Employees’ Pension Scheme, 1995. Further, the Government is implementing Indira Gandhi National Old Age Pension Scheme. All citizens above the age of 60 years and living below poverty line are eligible for benefits under the scheme. For persons above the age of 80 years, the amount of pension has been raised from Rs. 200 to Rs. 500 per month.
In a written reply in the Lok Sabha today, Shri Bandaru Dattatreya said that the statistics regarding total number of workers employed in the organised sector in the country is not maintained centrally. However, as on 31.03.2014, total number of members under the EPF & MP Act, 1952 are 1178.13 lakhs. There are 310 lakhs contributory members as on 30.06.2014.
The Minister said that a proposal to reduce the threshold limit from 20 to 10 for coverage under EPF & MP Act, 1952 is under consideration of the Government to bring more workers under the ambit of the Act.
Source:pib | |
Ceiling limit for purchasing goods in CSD canteens
Ceiling limit for purchasing goods in CSD canteens
Press Information Bureau
Government of India
Ministry of Defence
28-November-2014 14:58 IST
Ceiling for purchasing goods in military canteens has been prescribed taking into account the budgetary allocation to the Canteen Stores Department (CSD) by the Government, actual need / requirement of the individual and their purchasing power. For ceiling purpose the officials have been divided into 5 categories as mentioned under:-
The ceiling was revised on 21st August 2006 and again on 27th October 2008 to be effective from 1st January 2009. At present no change in the ceiling limit is proposed. This information was given by Defence Minister Shri Manohar Parrikar in a written reply to ShriKeshav Prasad Maurya in Lok Sabha today. Source:PIB | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Monday, December 1, 2014
LTC Relaxation to travel by private airlines to visit J&K
LTC Relaxation to travel by private airlines to visit J&K.
No. 31011/ 7/ 2014-Estt.(A-IV)
Government of India
Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions
Department of Personnel and Training
North Block, New Delhi-110 001
Dated: 28th November, 2014
OFFICE MEMORANDUM
Subject:- Central Civil Services (Leave Travel Concession) Rules, 1988 —Relaxation to travel by private airlines to visit J&K. The undersigned is directed to refer to this Ministry’s O.M. No. 31011/3/2014- Estt.(A-IV) dated 26th September, 2014. It has been decided that the Government servants while availing Leave Travel Concession (LTC) to Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) under the special dispensation scheme allowed by the aforesaid O.M. may also travel by private airlines subject to the following conditions:- (i) Officers entitled to travel by air may also travel by private airlines from their headquarters; (ii) Officers not entitled to travel by air may be permitted to travel by private airlines between Delhi /Amritsar and any place in J&K. 2. Air travel by private airlines is to be performed in Economy Class only an at LTC- 80 fare of Air India or less. 3. Air Tickets to be purchased directly from the airlines (Booking counters, website of airlines) or by utilizing the service of Authorized Travel Agents viz. ‘M/s Balmer Lawrie & Company’, ‘M/s Ashok Travels & Tours’ and ‘IRCTC’ (to the extent IRCTC is authorized as per DoPT’s O.M. No. 31011/6/2002-Est (A) dated 02.12.2009) while undertaking LTC journey. Booking of tickets through other agencies is not permitted. 4. All other conditions prescribed in this Ministry’s Q.M. No. 31011/3/2014-Estt(A- IV) dated 26.09.2014 would continue to apply. 5. The order will remain in force for a period of one year from the date of issue of this order.
(B. Bandyopadhyay)
Under Secretary to the Govt. of India
Source:http://ccis.nic.in/  | |
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)