Paramilitary jawan Plan and the Officer Plan -BSNL

BSNL launches Special Tariff Plans for Paramilitary Jawans and Officers

Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited ( BSNL ), India’s largest integrated telecom service provider has launched Special Tariff Plans for Paramilitary Forces serving the nation. With these special tariff plans, BSNL endeavours to benefit over 9 lakh Paramilitary jawans . The two plans launched are the Paramilitary Plan and the Officer Plan for the jawans & officers respectively.

Paramilitary Plan for jawans

With daily free talk time for 20 minutes on any two BSNL numbers, jawans can talk with their own family, anywhere in country under the Paramilitary Plan. The facility is also free of cost while on roaming. Other than that the Paramilitary Plan offers Reduced Calling charges @ 0.20 P/ min on any two BSNL numbers; be it mobile or landline. Another plan in the offing is Reduced Calling charges @ 0.30 P/ min on any one BSNL number to talk with a relative, anywhere in the country. The Paramilitary Plan is available both on 2G and 3G along with reduced video calling charges @ 0.70 P/ min.

Apart from this, an economical plan has been launched with Fixed Monthly Charges of Rs.99 (Tax Inclusive), where one can enjoy Per Second Pulse and tariff beyond freebies @ 1 Paisa / Sec. Out of Rs.99 of Fixed Monthly Charges, apart from facilities mentioned above, the jawans can also avail additional talk time worth Rs.75/- per month. For control on expenditure, BSNL has also launched a pre-paid plan, whereby jawans can recharge their mobiles using by vouchers.

Officers Plan

Under the Officers Plan, serving officers can avail unlimited free calls to any BSNL numbers within a circle and 500 free SMS, both local & national. Besides this, they can avail 1500 minutes / month free STD calls on any BSNL numbers. This also includes 300 minutes of free I/C roaming call and 200 minutes of free O/G roaming call. The other features of the plan include per minute pulse, free night calling on one’s own network, unlimited free GPRS in Home LSA, STD calls @ 0.40 P / min, video calls @ 0.70 P / min. All this comes at a fixed monthly charge of Rs.425 + Taxes.

Speaking on the Special Tariif Plan launched for Armed Forces Personnel, Shri R. K. Upadhyay, Chairman & Managing Director, BSNL said, “ BSNL has always endeavored to provide the most competitive plans for all its customers. We at BSNL wanted to treat our jawans & officers serving our nation with some smart yet easy-on-the-pocket kind of schemes. The special tariff plan has been launched with an aim to bring a large number of these jawans & officers to actively use and experience our entire bouquet.

Dynamic Assured Career Progression (DACP) Scheme- AMC OFFICERS

Career boost scheme for military doctors: AFT

In a significant move the Chandigarh bench of the Armed Forces Tribunal on Monday, reprimanded the central government and directed it to issue instructions for implementation of Dynamic Assured Career Progression (DACP) scheme for military doctors of the Army Medical Corps (AMC) within three months. The Tribunal has passed these directions on a petition filed by a senior AMC officer of Command Hospital. The move is bound to bring cheer to thousands across the country.

On the recommendations of the 6th Pay Commission, the government had directed the implementation of DACP for all doctors under every ministry of the central government including those holding isolated posts. The said scheme involves four time bound grade pay progressions till 20 years of service. While the first three grade pay progressions in AMC are similar to other services, the non-grant of fourth progression of Rs 10000 grade pay on 20 years of service affected AMC officers. The scheme which was accepted by the cabinet was till now not implemented for AMC since the Principal Personnel Officers Committee (PPOC) comprising military officers had not given their nod to the issuance of implementation instructions stating that the Defence Ministry should first remove anomalies related to non-medical officers before implementing the scheme. The PPOC had also opined that grant of higher grade pay to AMC officers would create internal seniority problems between AMC and non-AMC officers.

The Petition had however pointed out that according to the government’s gazette notification, higher grade pay did not affect seniority between different cadres. The Defence Ministry had also observed on file that the PPOC could not have overridden what was already approved and notified by the cabinet and the government. It was also observed by the Ministry that the contention of seniority problems due to higher pay was misconceived since doctors always traditionally enjoyed an edge in pay. The govt had however submitted before the Tribunal that they were examining the issue holistically before implementing the scheme. It also came on record that the Govt, the Director General Armed Forces Medical Services, the Navy and the Air Force had separately favoured the implementation of DACP.

While issuing directions in the matter, the AFT has observed that delay in the implementation of DACP had been detrimental to the interests of AMC since it had come into force in 2008 in all other departments.

Interestingly, similar reservations regarding inter-se seniority were expressed by para-military organisations also before implementing DACP for uniformed paramilitary doctors but the scheme was finally implemented for all paramilitary doctors when the Home Ministry intervened and asked paramilitary forces to strictly enforce DACP for all doctors.

Army opposed to BSF replacing Assam Rifles on Myanmar border

Turf battle over control of border

Defence, Home Ministries in Turf War Over Myanmar Border Security

After demanding ``operational control'' over ITBP along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) with China, the Army has now also stepped on the gas to scuttle the move to replace Assam Rifles with BSF along the border with Myanmar.

The Army, backed by the defence ministry, contends Assam Rifles is much better suited to guard the 1,643-km long border with Myanmar, especially in the backdrop of the ever-increasing Chinese strategic footprint as well as presence of Indian insurgent groups across the border.

While Assam Rifles is administratively under the home ministry as one of its seven central armed police or paramilitary forces, it works under the Army's operational control unlike the other six. The officer cadre of Assam Rifles, which has 65,000 personnel in 46 battalions, is also drawn almost entirely from the Army.

The large land borders with both China and Pakistan, as also Myanmar, Bangladesh and Nepal, continue to suffer from a lack of coordination among the different forces deployed along them, ranging from BSF, ITBP and Sashastra Seema Bal to Assam Rifles and, of course, the Army, which report to different bosses and ministries.

This when both the Border Management Task Force after the 1999 Kargil conflict, and the subsequent Group of Ministers' report on ``reforming the national security system'' in 2001, had strongly recommended the ``one border, one force'' strategy.

``Multiplicity of forces on the same borders has inevitably led to the lack of accountability as well as problems of command and control,'' held the GoM report. But since then, both the previous NDA and the present UPA regimes have taken only half-hearted steps to plug the gaps.

The home ministry is arguing that the Assam Rifles has failed to effectively deliver on the dual problem of keeping the border secure and fighting off inflitration attempts by insurgents

Abid to realize operational control of the security apparatus along the border between India and Myanmar, which is vulnerable to illegal intrusions, has degenerated into an ugly face-off between the home and defence ministries.

At present the border is manned by the central paramilitary Assam Rifles.

The irreconcilable differences have forced the government to refer the matter to the cabinet committee on security (CCS), which is headed by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

Defence minister A.K. Antony, home minister P. Chidambaram, finance minister Pranab Mukherjee and external affairs minister S.M. Krishna are the other members of the country’s highest decision-making body on national security.

India shares a 1,643km border with Myanmar; it borders the states of Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Manipur and Mizoram. Insurgent groups such as the United National Liberation Front (UNLF), the National Socialist Council of Nagaland (Khaplang) and the National Socialist Council of Nagaland (Isak-Muivah) operate out of Myanmar.

The home ministry is arguing that the Assam Rifles has failed to effectively deliver on the dual problem of keeping the border secure and fighting off inflitration attempts by insurgents. It has demanded that they be replaced with another central paramilitary, the Border Security Force (BSF), presently deployed at the borders with Pakistan and Bangladesh.

The defence ministry, on the other hand, has opposed the idea and argued that dismantling or replacement of the Assam Rifles would rob the government of domain knowledge of the area that could be useful to hold off a Chinese military offensive.

The CCS, due to meet this week, will find it difficult to take a decision, especially given that there is a long history to the dispute. A group of ministers set up in 2001 had recommended that since the home ministry oversees border management, the defence ministry should hand over operational control of the Assam Rifles, a decision that was rejected by the defence ministry.

At present the Assam Rifles, which has a strength of 46 battalions, of which 31 are deployed for counter-insurgency operations and 15 for border-guarding duties, is operationally under the control of the defence ministry while its administrative control is with the home ministry. It is tasked with preventing the infiltration of arms and drug trafficking from the other side of the border.

“It is a turf war between the two arms of the government,” said B.G. Verghese, a political analyst. “Since Assam Rifles is doing operational duties, it can be placed under the army. But if it is performing peace duties, home ministry can have control over it.”

According to official documents, prepared ahead of the CCS meet and reviewed by Mint, the home ministry has raised serious questions on the effectiveness of the Assam Rifles.

“Assam Rifles has traditionally been a counter-insurgency (CI) force. The Assam Rifles is located not exactly at the border, but very much inside in the interiors to be also able to conduct CI operations. The attention of an essentially CI force to both guarding border and carrying out CI results in neither of the objectives being addressed effectively,” the note said.

The home ministry, therefore, argues that freeing the Assam Rifles of border duty would allow it to focus on counter insurgency.

“Like Pakistan and Bangladesh, where the BSF performs the role of the first line of defence, on Myanmar border also during war, if any, BSF will perform the similar role. Therefore, any force deployed at this border need not be under the operational control of Army as suggested by the MoD (ministry of defence),” the home ministry said in its argument.

It further argued that though the defence ministry was supportive of raising 26 additional battalions (nearly 30,000 security personnel) in the Assam Rifles, the army, which is already facing a shortage of officers, will not be able to provide its officers to man the new battalions. The force is officered primarily by army officers on deputation.

The defence ministry supported the idea of raising additional battalions in the Assam Rifles but refused to hand over their operational control to the home ministry. Consequently, the home ministry decided to raise 41 battalions in the BSF for deployment along the Myanmar border.

The defence ministry’s remarks appended to the same note suggested that it viewed this debate from its perception of a potential threat from China.

“The Chinese interests in infrastructure development in Myanmar with the aim of enhancing its military capabilities, the haste to construct Stilwell Road and development of several air fields with specifications not corresponding to aircrafts held by Myanmar belie its intentions,” the defence ministry said.

Given that Arunchal Pradesh and Nagaland are vulnerable to any Chinese miltiary intrusion, the defence ministry is pusing to keep the area under the operational control of the army. “Any replacement of this force will result in loss of vast domain knowledge and rich operational experience in the region, which the replacing force if at all will take years to build up.”

“There is no harm in replacing Assam Rifles with BSF, provided that MHA (ministry of home affairs) deployed seasoned police officers in BSF at the border,” said E. Ramohan, formera director general of the BSF.

Revision of pension/family pension

Revision of pension/family pension under rules 40 and 41.

No. 38/37/08-P&PW(A)

Government of India

Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions

Department of Pension & Pensioners’ Welfare

Lok Nayak Bhawan, New Delhi-110003

Dated the 22nd July, 2011.

OFFICE MEMORANDUM

Sub:- Revision of pension/family pension in respect of the pensioners who were in receipt of compulsory retirement pension and compassionate allowance under Rules 40 and 41 of CCS(Pension) Rules, 1972

The undersigned is directed say that in accordance with para 4.2 of this Department’s OM. No. 38/37/08-P&PW(A) dated 1.9.2008, the revised pension of pre-2006 pensioners shall, in no case, be lower than fifty percent of the minimum of the pay in the pay band plus the grade pay corresponding to the pre-revised pay scale from which the pensioner had retired. In the case of HAG+ and above scales, this will be fifty percent of the minimum of the revised pay scale.


2. Doubts have been raised in regard to the applicability of the above provision in the case of revision of pension/family pension in respect of the pensioners who were in receipt of compulsory retirement pension and compassionate allowance under Rules 40 and 41 of CCS(Pension) Rules, 1972. The matter has been examined in the light of the instructions/orders issued after Fifth Central Pay Commission for revision of pension/family pension in such cases. It was clarified in this Department’s OM. No.45/86/97-P&PW(A) dated 25.3.2004 that the provisions of OM. dated 17.12.1998 relating to stepping up of pension to 50% of the minimum of the revised scale of pay as on 1.1 .96 of the post held by the pensioner at the time of retirement shall not be applicable in case of compulsory retirement pension and compassionate allowance.

3. It has now been decided that the benefit of para 4.2 of this Department's OM. No. 38/37/08 P&PW(A) dated 1.9.2008 [as clarified vide OM No. 38/37/08- P&PW(A) (pt.l) dated 3.10.2008] will not be applicable in the case of revision of pension/family pension in respect of the pensioners who were in receipt of compulsory retirement pension and compassionate allowance under Rules 40 and
41 of CCS(Pension) Rules, 1972.

4. This issues with the concurrence of Ministry of Finance (Department of Expenditure) vide their U.O. No 152/EV/2011 dated 30.6.2011.

5. In so far as persons belonging to the Indian Audit & Accounts Departments, these orders issue after consultation with the Comptroller & Auditor General of India.

6. Hindi version will follow.

sd/-

(Tripti P Ghosh)

Directo

Central Government Employees Welfare Housing Organization

CG Employees Housing Scheme-Projects open for subscription

Central Government Employees Welfare Housing Organization (CGEWHO) is an autonomous body functioning under the AEGIS of the Ministry of Housing. It provides housing units for the welfare of Central Government employees on "self-financing" and "No Profit-No Loss" basis all over India.

As per their official announcement in CGEWHO website(www.cgewho.nic.in) the following projects for open for subscription by Central Government Employees, Retired Central and State Government Employees and General Public.

Mohali (Ph-II) Housing Scheme:

Mohali (Phase-II) Housing Scheme was announced with 10/12/2010 as the last date for applying.

Type ‘D’ flat(s) are now open to GENERAL PUBLIC ON FIRST COME FIRST SERVE BASIS.

Kolkata (Ph-II) Housing Scheme:

Kolkata (Ph-II) Housing Scheme was announced in June 2010 with the last date of applying as 13-08-2010.

Initially, the scheme was fully subscribed in type `A’ & `B’ and type `C’ & `D’ was under subscribed.

Scheme is now open for GENERAL PUBLIC on First Come First Serve basis for Working/Retired Employees of Central Govt. (PRIORITY-I), State Govt. (PRIORITY-II) & GENERAL PUBLIC (Under PRIORITY-III).

Applicants joining now will be required to pay equalisation charges as per Rule-18.

Vishakhapatnam Housing Scheme:

Vishakhapatnam Housing Scheme likely to be announced soon.

Meerut (Ph-I) Housing Scheme:

Meerut (Ph-I) Housing Scheme was announced during end’ 2007.

The scheme was initially fully subscribed and allotments made, with 14th Mar 2008 as the last date for payment of first instalment.

Scheme is now open for GENERAL PUBLIC on First Come First Serve basis for Waiting List. (subject to payment of Equalisation Charges at the end of project, as per the CGEWHO Rules).

Jaipur (Ph-II) Housing Scheme:

Jaipur (Ph-II) Housing Scheme was announced during early’ 2008.

The scheme was initially fully subscribed and allotments made, with 11th Jul 2008 as the last date for payment of first instalment.

Scheme is now open for GENERAL PUBLIC on First Come First Serve basis for types 'B' & 'C' only. (subject to payment of Equalisation Charges at the end of project, as per the CGEWHO Rules).

LIQUOR QUOTA FOR PARAMILITARY FORCES

Unlimited 'high spirits' for top police officers

It's 'hic hic' hurray time for top police officers!

A new order, for "improvement" of central police canteens on the lines of similar facilities provided to the Army, has ensured that the chiefs and Director Generals (DGs) of paramilitary forces like CRPF, BSF, CISF, ITBP and SSB will have "no limit" to obtain liquor henceforth.

The paramilitary forces, deployed for a variety of security duties, including border guarding and taking on anti-naxal operations, till now did not enjoy the facility of free liquor from their force canteens.

A new quota system has also been formulated for other officers and junior ranks of these forces to obtain liquor varieties like Whisky, Rum, Vodka and Beer amongst others from the vast network of police canteens spread across various formations of these forces in the country.

(1)While officials in the ranks of Special DGs and Additional DGs can have 14 bottles .

(2) Inspector Generals (IGs) and Deputy Inspector Generals (DIGs) can have 12 bottles

(3)all officers upto the rank of Commandants 10 bottles,

(4)Inspectors and Sub-inspectors -- six bottles

(5)while constabulary ranks can have 4 bottles during the same period.

Defence Pension Adalat

Defence Pension Adalat

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As per the Annual action Plan of Controller General of Defence Accounts, New Delhi in consultation with the Ministry of Defence, the Principal Controller of Defence Accounts (Pensions) Allahabad will be organising a Defence Pension Adalat at Aurangabad (Maharashtra) during the month of August, 2011 for redressal of grievances of Defence pensioners including Defence Civilians drawing pension through PUBLIC SECTOR BANKS, TOs’ and DPDOs in the State of Maharashtra and adjoining areas.

Objective

Any Defence Pensioners / Defence Family Pensioners / Defence Civilian and their families having any specific grievances relating to sanction or disbursement of Defence pension are requested to submit their representation, in writing, in duplicate to : Sri S M Deshpande, Pension Adalat Officer O/o Principal CDA (Pensions), Draupadi Ghat, Allahabad-211014, Applicants are advised to apply as per the format, for easy processing of their applications. Kindly Note Applications can either be sent by post or by E-Mail Two copies of the applications should be sent Photocopies of Pension payment order, Corr PPO, discharge certificate (wherever required) and other documents must be enclosed Each application will be allotted a unique Adalat Registration Number. The same should be quoted in all future correspondence. Individual call letters notifying the date and venue of the Adalat will be sent in due course Incomplete and unsigned representations will be rejected. The Adalat will be held in Sarvatra Cinema Hall, HQ 97 Arty Bde, Aurangabad on 25th and 26th August 2011 TA/DA will not be reimbursed to pensioners/individuals attending the Adalat for redressal of their pension related problems.

Consultation Fees of AMAs

Revision of consultation fees of AMAs

F.No.B.12012/03/2010-CGHS (P)

Government of India,

Ministry of Health & Family Welfare

Department of Health & Family Welfare

Nirman Bhawan, New Delhi

Dated: 6th June, 2011.

OFFICE MEMORANDUM

Subject: – Revision of consultation / visiting / injection fee of Authorized Medical Attendants (AMAs) under CS (MA) Rules, 1944.

The undersigned is directed to refer to this Ministry's O.M. No.S.14025/10/2001-MS, dated 31-12-2002 on the subject mentioned above and to say that the issue of further revision of consultation / visiting / injection fees of different categories of Medical Officers (Authorized Medical Attendants) appointed for the treatment of Central Government employees and their dependent family members covered under CS (MA) Rules, 1944 of various Ministry / Departments / States / Union Territories has been under consideration of this Ministry for sometime. It has now been decided to revise the same as indicated below:-

Medical Postgraduate / Specialists	In Rs
Consultation Fees
First Consultation	100
Subsequent Consultation	60
Injection Fees
Intramuscular / Subcutaneous
Intravenous	20
Medical Licentiates and Medical Graduates (MBBS or equivalent)	40
Consultation Fees
First Consultation	70
Subsequent Consultation	40
Injection Fees
Intramuscular / Subcutaneous	20
Intravenous	40

2. These orders will supersede the earlier orders issued on the subject from the date of issue.

3. It is also clarified that now there are no separate charges for day and night consultation, as these were prevailing earlier.

4. This order will be effective from the date of issue.

5. This issues with the concurrence of IFD vide Dy. No. C-2699, dated 3.3.2011

MHA TO OPPOSE ITBP TAKE OVER

Home Ministry likely to oppose Army''s proposal on ITBP

The Home Ministry is likely to oppose a fresh proposal of the Defence Ministry seeking "operational control" of Indo-Tibetan Border Police manning over 4,000 kilometres of the country''s boundary with China in three different states.

The move comes in the wake of reported differences between Army and ITBP jawans at the Line of Actual Control after which the Army moved a fresh proposal for operational control of the para-military force in order to have "synergy" among the forces manning the border with China, official sources said.

While the Home Ministry is officially quiet on the issue, the sources said it was of the view that such a move would be detrimental not only to the morale of the jawans of the ITBP, who have been performing their duties in utmost difficult terrain, but will also lead to confusion among the ranks of the para-military force.

They said at a meeting held recently, the Home and External Affairs ministries found themselves on the same page and were of the view that this will unnecessarily complicate issues along the LAC with China.

The Army had sought operational control of the ITBP because of the aggressive patrolling across the LAC by Chinese troops saying this would help in better border management. The ITBP has nearly four battalions comprising nearly 4,000 personnel in Leh. .

7 % HIKE IN DA IS ASSURED WEF JUL 2011

ALL INDIA CONSUMER PRICE INDEX NUMBERS FOR INDUSTRIAL WORKERSON BASE 2001=100 FOR THE MONTH OF MAY, 2011

7 % HIKE IN DA IS ASSURED

All India Consumer Price Index Number for Industrial Workers (CPI-IW) on base 2001=100 for the month of May, 2011 increased by 1 point and stood at 187 (one hundred & eighty seven) .

During May, 2011, the index recorded increase of 8 points in Ludhiana centre, 6 points in Nasik centre, 5 points each in Giridih, Mundakkayam and Sholapur centres, 4 points in 3 centres, 3 points in 4 centres, 2 points in 14 centres and 1 point in 18 centres. The index decreased by 4 points in Rangapara Tezpur centre, 3 points in Ghaziabad centre, 2 points in Guwahati centre, 1 point in 10 centres, while in the remaining 21 centres the index remained stationary.

The maximum increase of 8 points in Ludhiana centre is mainly on account of increase in the prices of Arhar Dal, Masur Dal, Mustard Oil, Vanaspati Ghee, Milk, Chillies Dry, Electricity Charges, Toilet Soap, Washing Soap, etc. The increase of 6 points in Nasik centre is due to increase in the prices of Wheat, Bajra, Chillies Dry, Vegetable & Fruit items, Petrol, etc. The increase of 5 points in Giridih, Mundakkayam and Sholapur centres is due to increase in the prices of Rice, Jowar, Vegetable & Fruit items, Tea (Readymade), Firewood, Soft Coke, Hair Oil, Washing Soap, etc. The decrease of 4 points in Rangapara Tezpur centre is the outcome of decrease in the prices of Wheat Atta, Fish Fresh, Turmeric Powder, Garlic, Vegetable & Fruit items, Pan Leaf, etc. The decrease of 3 points in Ghaziabad centre is due to decrease in the prices of Wheat Atta, Onion, Vegetable & Fruit items, etc. The decrease of 2 points in Guwahati centre is due to decrease in the prices of Wheat Atta, Vegetable & Fruit items, Pan Leaf, etc.

The indices in respect of the six major centres are as follows :

1. Ahmedabad – 180
2. Bangalore – 192
3. Chennai – 166
4. Delhi – 172
5. Kolkata – 181
6. Mumbai – 186

The All-India (General) point to point rate of inflation for the month of May, 2011 is 8.72% as compared to 9.41% in April, 2011. Inflation based on Food Index is 7.61% in May, 2011 as compared to 8.24% in April, 2011.

Accordingly DA as on 31 May 2011 stands at 57.51 thus 58% DA is assured,however it may go up to 59% due to hike in Petro products last month

The CPI-IW for June, 2011 will be released on the last working day of the next month, i.e. 29th July, 2011.