Shortage of Houses for Government Employees.

   Union Minister for Urban Development Shri Kamal Nath has said that there is shortage of accommodation for Central Government employees in cities like, Kolkata, Mumbai, Delhi, Bangalore and Chennai.  The position is comfortable at other stations.
 
   He said in a reply to a question in Lok Sabha today that the following initiatives have been taken to increase availability of houses:-

 
   (i) Construction of residential and office/commercial accommodation at Ghitorini Delhi;
 
   (ii) Redevelopment of old Government colonies, namely, East Kidwai Nagar, Netaji Nagar, Srinivaspuri, Mohammadpur, Kasturba Nagar, Thyagaraja Nagar and Sarojani Nagar in Delhi for utilizing the maximum available floor area ratio (FAR);
 
   (iii) Acquiring 96 flats of various categories in the Common Wealth Games Village, New Delhi; and
 
   (iv)Construction of 130 units of Type-V and Type-VI categories at Hyderabad Estate, Mumbai by demolishing 48 Type-VI flats which have been declared dangerous and meanwhile hiring  50 flats equivalent to Type-VI category to instantly meet the deficiency caused by demolition of existing flats.
 
   Details of Demand and Availability of General Pool Residential Accommodation in Delhi
Status as on 08-03-2013
House Type Stock in GP Total Demand as on Date Shortage/Surplus 
(+) – Shortage 
(-) - Surplus
1 16722 16788 66
2 23716 34832 11116
3 11723 20189 8466
4 5343 9290 3947
4S 792 3117 2325
5A 1402 2148 746
5B 860 2265 1405
6A 791 1457 666
6B 146 305 159
7 181 372 191
8 125 254 129
Total 61801 91017 29216

Employment to Disabled Persons.

   As per Section 33 of the Persons with Disabilities (Equal Opportunities, Protection of Rights and Full Participation) (PwD) Act, 1995, every appropriate Government shall appoint in every establishment such percentage of vacancies not less than three percent for persons or class of persons with disability of which one per cent. each shall be reserved for persons suffering from-

   (i) Blindness or low vision;

   (ii) Bearing impairment;

   (iii) Loco motor disability or cerebral palsy, in the posts identified for each disability:

   Further, with a view to encourage employment of Persons with Disabilities in private sector, the Government provides the employer’s contribution for Employees Provident Fund (EPF) and Employees State Insurance (ESI) for 3 years, for employees with disabilities including visually impaired persons employed in the private sector on or after 01.04.2008, with a monthly salary upto Rs.25, 000 under its Scheme of Incentives to the Private Sector for Employment of Physically Challenged Persons.

   Government has issued uniform and comprehensive guidelines for conducting examination for the persons with disabilities for regular and competitive examinations.

   Government has issued instructions that such persons having disability certificate should be provided reservation in all groups of identified posts in the matter of direct recruitment, and in Group ‘C’ and ‘D’ posts identified in the matter of promotion.

   This information was given by the Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment, Shri D. Napoleon in a written reply to a question in Rajya Sabha today.

Housing Schemes by CGEWHO

   As reported by CGEWHO, housing Schemes under the organization to provide houses to Central Government Employees in different parts of the country are as under: -

Housing projects where construction
is in progress are:
Housing projects
under planning are:

i. Chennai (Ph-II); 
ii. Mohali (Ph-I); 
iii. Bhubaneswar (Ph-I); 
iv. Meerut (Ph-I); 
v. Kolkata(Ph-II); 
vi. Bhubaneswar(Ph-II); 
vii. Mohali (Ph-II)
i. Vishakapatnam; 
ii. Meerut (Ph-II); 
iii. Greater Noida; 
iv. Chennai (Ph-III); 
v. Mohali (SAS Nagar)

   As reported by CGEWHO Schemes are planned after conducting a demand survey and thereafter making attempts to acquire land from State Government Authorities. In case of non-availability of land from State Government Authorities, housing schemes are planned as turnkey projects wherein land is also provided by the construction agency.

   Hence no definite time frame can be planned for such housing schemes. Allotment of houses under each Scheme is made to eligible applicants after the draw. The specific allocation of dwelling unit number in a particular project is made at the time of the completion of the project. Allotment has been made in the following housing schemes:
 
Schemes Time Schedule
i. Chennai (Ph-II); 
ii. Mohali (Ph-I); 
iii. Bhubaneswar (Ph-I); 
iv. Meerut (Ph-I); 
v. Kolkata (Ph-II); 
vi. Bhubaneswar (Ph-II); and 
vii. Mohali (Ph-II);
Within three months after
formal closure of the scheme,
allotment has been made
in all the schemes.
 
   CGEWHO housing Schemes are initially planned with an anticipation of getting the processes completed as per estimates and plan.

   However, prior permission has to be obtained from statutory municipal and development authorities and No Objection Certificates from related state departments like fire, airport, environment etc. before commencement of construction. Even after the completion of the works, the requisite completion/occupancy certificate from the statutory authorities and subsequent service connections viz. electricity, water, sewage etc. also get delayed which are beyond the control of CGEWHO.

   This was stated by Shri Ajay Maken, Minister of Housing & Poverty Alleviation in a written reply to a question in the Lok Sabha today.

Vacant Posts of Scientists in DRDO.

Vacant Posts of Scientists in DRDO

   As on 31st December 2012, a total of 217 posts of scientists were vacant in Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).

   Regular recruitments through Direct Advertisement, Campus Recruitments from IITs, IISc& NITs, Registration of Students with Scholastic Aptitude (ROSSA) Scheme, Non Resident Indians (NRIs) Scheme and Lateral Entry, etc. are carried out as per the requirements to fill the existing vacancies created during the year.

   At present, there is no proposal for launching special recruitment drive.

   This information was given by Defence Minister Shri AK Antony in a written reply to Shri Thaawar Chand Gehlotin Rajya Sabha today.

Guidelines for New Mobile Connections.

   Department of Telecom (DoT) has issued revised instructions to Cellular Mobile Telephone Service and Unified Access Services Licensees vide letter dated 09.08.2012 on verification of Mobile Subscribers after review of existing instructions. New instructions are aimed at improving customer verification compliance. These instructions inter-alia prescribe the following:

   (i)    A passport size photograph should be pasted on the Customer Acquisition Form (CAF) and the documents as proof of identity and proof of address of the subscriber should be attached with the CAF.

   (ii)    The person at the Point of Sale has to get the CAF duly filled and signed (in case of illiterate person thumb impression) by the subscriber with date. The authorized person at PoS has to record in the CAF that he has seen the subscriber and matched the photograph attached on the CAF with the subscriber and verified his copies of documents of proof of address and proof of identity attached with the CAF with the original and has to put his signature on the CAF & all attached documents.

   (iii)    The mobile connection is to be activated only after the requirement of filling up CAF and copies of documentary proof as per requirement have been fulfilled by the customer and the subscriber details have been updated in the subscriber database of the Licensee and the employee of licensee has verified the same.

   (iv)    After activation of SIM also the subscriber is to be tele-verified by the Licensee.

   As far as retailers are concerned, they are contractors of the licensees and these instructions are not addressed to the retailers.

   The detailed instructions dated 09.08.2012 are available at DoT website at http: //www.dot.gov.in/as/2012/DOC181012.pdf

   In these instructions, apart from the penalties prescribed in other instructions issued form time to time, the following additional provisions of penalty have inter-alia been made in these instructions:

   (i)    In case, the Licensee fails to intimate about the disconnection to TERM Cell within 7 days of disconnection, a penalty of Rs. 3000/- per connection per week or part thereof shall be levied.

   (ii)    If it is detected that the number was not actually disconnected on or before the date of confirmation/disconnection, then a penalty @ Rs. 1000 per day from the date of intimation to the Licensee to the date of actual disconnection shall be levied in addition to the penalty for non-disconnection.

   The following provisions have inter-alia been re-iterated in these instructions regarding point of sale/ franchisees in case of forged document cases:

   (i)    Police complaint/ FIR shall be lodged by the Point of Sale (PoS)/Franchisee against the subscriber in case forged documents are submitted by the subscriber and originals are also forged.

   (ii)    Licensee shall lodge FIR/ Complaint against the subscriber and Franchisee/PoS in case of failure of PoS/Franchisee in lodging complaint/FIR against subscriber.

   (iii)    The Licensee shall lodge the compliant / FIR against the Franchisee/ point of sale and financial penalty shall also be imposed in case forgery has been done by point of sale/ franchisee.

   (iv)    In case action as above is not taken by the Licensee or Licensee itself is involved in forgery, Telecom Enforcement Resource & Monitoring (TERM) Cell of DoT shall lodge Complaint/ FIR against Licensee. Penalty shall also be imposed on all such forged cases.

   (v)    Where it is found that the act of issuing connections was done by PoS using the document of some other subscriber or any person, or the documents were forged by the franchisee/PoS, the concerned PoS/franchisee may be terminated by the Licensee in addition to lodging of complaint / FIR against it. Other Licensees shall also terminate/ not appoint any such PoS.

   In the new instructions, some additional safeguards have been made in the interest of national security. There does not seem any provision leading to undue hardship to consumers.

   This information was given by Shri Milind Deora, Minister of State for C&IT in a written reply to a question in Lok Sabha today.

whether the ACRs of SC/ST employees of Central Government and PSUs are graded as good and fair only?

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF PERSONNEL,PUBLIC GRIEVANCES AND PENSIONS
LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO 1446

ANSWERED ON 06.03.2013

TRANSPARENT ACRS PROCESS

1446 .    Dr. SOLANKI KIRITBHAI PREMAJIBHAI

   Will the Minister of PERSONNEL,PUBLIC GRIEVANCES AND PENSIONS be pleased to state:-

   (a) whether the ACRs of SC/ST employees of Central Government and PSUs are graded as good and fair only;

   (b) if so, the extent to which their promotion opportunities have been affected as a result thereof;

   (c) whether the Government proposes to formulate a transparent process in ACRs especially for the SC/ST employees; and

   (d) if so, the details thereof and if not, the corrective measures taken by the Government to ensure justice to the SC/ST employees?

ANSWER

   Minister of State in the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions and Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office. (SHRI V. NARAYANASAMY)

   (a): No, Madam.

   (b): In view of above, question does not arise.

   (c) & (d): Government instructions already provide for communicating full ACR (nomenclature now modified as Annual Performance Assessment Report (APAR)/ Performance Appraisal Report (PAR) to all officers/employees. The object is to give an opportunity to the public servant to improve the performance and to make Performance Appraisal System more consultative and transparent. All officers/employees are given the opportunity to make representation against the entries and the final grading given in the Report.

Source:http://164.100.47.132/LssNew/psearch/QResult15.aspx?qref=135937

SEVENTH PAY COMMISSION MUST BE SET UP FORTHWITH

   The recent statement of the Minister concerned in the Parliament, that the Govt. does not propose to set up the seventh Pay Commission at this stage is most unjustified and frustrating for the Govt. employees.
 
   Fifth Pay Commission had recommended for a Pay Revision after every five years instead of the past practice to set it up after 10 to 13 years. But the Govt. did not accept this recommendation.

   The Fifth Pay Commission also recommended for Merger of DA after it crossed 50%. Govt. accepted the same and belatedly implemented it from April 2004.

   But the Sixth Pay Commission did not favour even the Merger of DA after it crossed 50% and the Govt. obvious followed suit and did not Merge the same when it crossed 50% in 1-1-2011 - in spite of the demand by all concerned.

   As such, the existing Pay and Pension structure have lost all the relevance and is continuously eroding due to heavy inflation and defective system of compilation of Price Index - which itself is out dated due to the changed economic scenario and requirements of the Industrial Worker of the Country.

   All this makes it essential that the Seventh Pay Commission be set up early to compensate for the erosion of real wages and to remove the serious Anomalies of Sixth CPC Report - which the Govt. and the Anomalies Committee have failed to address as well as to bridge the vast gap of wages between the Government employees and those of the Corporate Sector etc. all which are having a very demoralising effect amongst the Govt. employees and Pensioners.

Er. HARCHANDAN SINGH
General Secretary, IRTSA.

Source:http://www.irtsa.net/pdfdocs/Seventh_Pay_Commission_Must_Be-Set_Up.pdf

INVESTMENT GUIDELINES FOR PRIVATE SECTOR NPS.

INVESTMENT GUIDELINES FOR PRIVATE SECTOR NPS

1. Guidelines

1.1 The PF will manage the following separate schemes, each investing in a different asset class, being:

  1.1.1. Asset class E (equity market instruments) — (a)The investment by an NPS participant in this asset class would be subject to a cap of 50%. This asset class will be invested in shares of the companies which are listed in Bombay Stock Exchange or National Stock Exchange and on which derivatives are available or are part of BSE Sensex or Nifty Fifty Index. subject to restrictions outlined in Clause 2 below

   (b)The permitted cap, as mentioned above, is expected to be maintained at that level at all points in time. However, the amount of funds invested in that asset class can differ from the specified cap by no more than 5% for purposes of portfolio balancing.

   1.1.2 Asset class G (Government Securities) — This asset class will be invested in central government bonds and state government bonds subject to restrictions outlined in Clause 2 below.

   1.1.3 Asset class C (credit risk bearing fixed income instruments) — This asset class contains bonds issued by any entity other than Central and State Government. This asset class will be invested in Fixed deposits and credit rated debt securities. This includes rated bonds/securities of Public Financial Institutions and Public sector companies, rated municipal bodies/infrastructure bonds and bonds of all firms (including PSU/PSE), subject to restrictions outlined in Clause 2 below.

   1.1.4 Corporate CG – Presently applicable to only SBI Pension Funds Private Ltd, UTI Retirement Solutions Ltd & LIC Pension Fund Ltd. and replicates the scheme as applicable to Central Government employees and subject to instructions from PFRDA/NPS Trust in this regard from time to time.

   1.1.5 NPS Lite – Investment pattern similar to that prescribed by the Central Government for its own employees as amended from time to time (charges applicable as per Schedule VII).

   1.2 The PF must not leverage the portfolio. For the purpose of this Schedule, the PF shall be deemed to have leveraged the portfolio if it:

   1.2.1 enters into borrowings or other financial arrangements or creates or purports or attempts to create any security, charge, mortgage, pledge, lien or encumbrance of any kind whatsoever on the assets of the portfolio or any part thereof;

   1.2.2 undertakes any transaction the result of which would overdraw the account maintained by the Custodian on behalf of the PF for the purpose of settling transactions;

   1.2.3 commits the Trustee to supplement the assets of the portfolio or the account maintained by the Custodian on behalf of the PF for the purpose of settling transactions without the prior written consent of the Trustee by a Proper Instruction, either by borrowing in the name of the PF or the Trustee or by committing the PF or the Trustee to a contract which may require the Trustee to supplement those assets; or

   1.2.4 allows market movement to result in a leveraged position.

2. Investment Universe

2.1 Asset class E (equity market instruments)

2.1.1 Authorised Investments

   Investment in shares of the companies which are listed in Bombay Stock Exchange or National Stock Exchange and on which derivatives are available or are part of BSE Sensex or Nifty Fifty Index.

2.1.2 Restrictions

   a. the assets are not to be encumbered.

   b. the PF shall buy and sell securities on the basis of deliveries and shall in all cases of purchases, take delivery of relative securities and in all cases of sale, deliver the securities and shall in no case put itself in a position whereby it has to make short sale or carry forward transaction or engage in badla finance (except as permitted under the extant regulations, from time to time).

   c. the investment exposure in an industry sector (classification as per NIC classification) shall be restricted to 15% of all NPS schemes portfolio of each PFM .

   d. the investment in any equity stock of a sponsor group shall be restricted to 5% of the paid up equity capital of all the sponsor group companies or 5% of the AUM of the concerned NPS scheme (Tier I and ll taken together) , whichever is lower. The investment in equity stock of the investee company of sponsor group shall be restricted to 5% of the paid up equity capital of the concerned investee

   company of the sponsor group or 5% of the AUM of the concerned NPS scheme (Tier I and ll taken together) , whichever is lower

   e. the investment in any equity stock of a non-sponsor group shall be restricted to 10% of the paid up equity capital of the concerned group companies of a non- sponsor group or 10% of the AUM of the concerned NPS scheme (Tier I and II taken together) , whichever is lower. The investment in any equity stock of the concerned investee company of non-sponsor group shall be restricted to 10% of the paid up equity capital of the investee company of a non- sponsor group or 10% of the AUM of the concerned NPS schemes (Tier I and ll taken together) whichever is lower.

   f. investment in IP0s/FPOs is not allowed

   g. investment in unlisted equity shares or equity related instruments is not permitted except in derivatives for the purpose of hedging and portfolio balancing only in accordance with the guidelines issued by SEBI/RBI

   h. no loans for any purpose can be advanced by the PF.

   i. pending deployment of funds of a scheme in securities in terms of investment objectives of the scheme, funds may be invested in short-term deposits of schedule commercial banks or in call deposits or in short term money market instruments or other liquid instruments or liquid schemes of mutual funds not exceeding a limit of 10% of the scheme corpus on temporary basis only.

2.2 Asset class G (Government Securities)

2.2.1 Authorised Investments

   1. Government of India Bonds

   2. State Government Bonds restricted to 10% of the AUM of the Scheme and 5% to any individual state government

2.2.2 Restrictions

   a) the assets are not to be encumbered

   b) no loans for any purpose can be advanced by the PF.

   c) pending deployment of funds of a scheme in securities in terms of investment objectives of the scheme, funds may be invested in short-term deposits of schedule commercial banks or in call deposits or in short term money market instruments or other liquid instruments or liquid schemes of mutual funds not exceeding a limit of 10% of the scheme corpus on temporary basis only.

   2.3 Asset class C (credit risk bearing fixed income instruments)

 2.3.1 Authorised Investments

   (i) Fixed Deposits of not less than 365 days of scheduled commercial banks with following filters:

   a) Net worth of at least Rs.500 crores and a track record of profitability in the last three years.

   b) Capital adequacy ratio of not less than 9% in the last three years. Net NPA of under 5% as a percentage of net advances in the last year

   c) List to be reviewed half-yearly

   (ii) (a) Debt securities with maturity of not less than three years tenure issued by Bodies Corporate including scheduled commercial banks and public financial institutions [as defined in Section 4 (A) of the Companies Act]

   (b) Provided that at least 75% of the investment in this category is made in instruments having an investment grade rating from at least two credit rating agency. Apart from the ratings by agencies, PFM shall undertake their own due diligence for assessment of risks associated with the securities before investments

   (iii) Credit Rated Public Financial lnstitutions/PSU Bonds

   (iv)Credit Rated Municipal Bonds/Infrastructure Bonds/Infrastructure Development Funds.

Investment Restrictions

   1. The assets are not to be encumbered

   2. The investment exposure in an industry sector (classification as per NIC classification) shall be restricted to 15% of all NPS schemes portfolio of each PFM.

   3. The investment exposure in debt securities of a sponsor group shall be restricted to 5% of the net worth of all the sponsor group companies or 5% of the AUM of the concerned NPS scheme (Tier I and ll taken together), whichever is lower. The investment exposure in debt securities of the investee company of sponsor group shall be restricted to 5% of the net-worth of the concerned investee company of sponsor or 5% of the AUM of the concerned NPS scheme (Tier I and ll taken together), whichever is lower.

   4. The investment in debt securities of a non-sponsor group shall be restricted to 10% of the net worth of all companies of a non- sponsor group or 10% of the AUM of the concerned NPS scheme (Tier I and ll taken together), whichever is lower. The investment in debt securities of the investee company of non-sponsor group shall be restricted to 10% of the net worth of the concerned investee company of a non- sponsor group or 10% of the AUM of the concerned NPS scheme (Tier I and ll taken together), whichever is lower.

   5. Investment decisions should be taken by PF in the best interest of subscribers with emphasis on safety, prudence, optimum return, sound commercial judgement and avoiding funds to remain idle.

   6. Any moneys received on the maturity of earlier investments reduced by obligatory outgoings shall be invested in accordance with the investment pattern.

   7. In case of any instruments mentioned above, the PF should take all steps to ensure that the interests of the subscribers are not compromised towards this and amongst other steps the investment should be under continuous monitoring and be reviewed from time to time to detect any signal of impairment /downgrade in rating of the security and the PF should take immediate steps to ensure that the interest of the subscriber are protected.

   8. The investment should be made by the PF through a Stock Exchange, or directly with other counterparties in respect of Government Securities and other debt instruments at the best possible rate available at the material time of transactions. The PF shall not purchase or sell securities through any broker (other than an associate broker) which is an average of 5% or more of the aggregate purchases and sale of securities under all schemes, unless the PF has recorded in writing the justification for exceeding the limit of 5% and reports of all such investments are sent to the Trustees on a quarterly basis. Provided that the aforesaid limit of 5% shall apply for a block of three months. The PF shall not utilise the services of the sponsor or any of its associates, employees or their relatives, for the purpose of any securities transaction. A PF may utilise such services only after obtaining prior permission of the Trustees.

   9. NPS Funds shall not be used by the PF to buy securities/bonds held in its own investment portfolio or any other portfolio held by it or in its subsidiary or in its Sponsor.

   10. The PF shall buy and sell securities on the basis of deliveries and shall in all cases of purchase, take delivery of relative securities and in all cases of sale, deliver the securities and shall in no case put itself in a position whereby it has to make short sales or carry forward transactions or engage in badla finance (carry forward).

   11. The PF may enter into derivatives transactions, if it is in the interest of the subscribers’, only for the purpose of hedging and portfolio balancing, in

   accordance with the guidelines issued by SEBI/RBI. These derivatives transactions should be entered into only in recognised stock exchange. Credit default Swap are also approved derivatives for the purpose.

   12. The PF shall enter into transactions relating to Securities only in dematerialised form. The PF shall, for securities purchased in the non depository mode get the securities transferred in the name of the NPS Trust on account of the Scheme.

   13. Transfer of investments from one Scheme to another Scheme in the same PF, shall be allowed only if:-

   13.1 such transfers are made at the prevailing market price for quoted Securities on spot basis (Explanation: spot basis shall have the same meaning as specified by Stock Exchange for spot transactions)

   13.2 the Securities so transferred shall be in conformity with the investment objective of the Scheme to which such transfer has been made.

   14. Pending deployment of funds of a scheme in securities in terms of investment objectives of the scheme, funds may be invested in short-term deposits of schedule commercial banks or in call deposits or in short term money market instruments or other liquid instruments or liquid schemes of mutual funds not exceeding a limit of 10% of the scheme corpus on temporary basis only.

   15. The PF may alter these above stated restrictions from time to time to the extent the PFRDA Regulations change, so as to permit the Schemes to achieve their investment objective.

3. Investment Objectives

   The investment objectives for the three asset classes are outlined below:

3.1 Asset class E

   3.1.1 Benchmark — the performance of the scheme will be measured by reference to the total performance (dividends reinvested) of the BSE Sensex and NSE Nifty 50 Index.

   3.1.2 Performance objective — the investment objective is to optimise returns while investing in the chosen index over a rolling annual basis.

3.2 Asset class G

   3.2.1 Performance objective — the investment objective is to optimise returns.

   3.2.2 Risk — It is expected that the PF will be able to identify and justify the additional risks relative to the return, while managing the portfolio on an absolute return basis.

3.3 Asset class C

   3.3.1 Performance objective — the investment objective is to optimise returns.

   3.3.2 Risk — It is expected that the PF will be able to identify and justify the additional risks relative to the return, while managing the portfolio on an absolute return basis.

4. Allocation of funds across asset class for “Auto choice”

   The methodology for allocating funds in the three asset classes are outlined in the table below which illustrates the allocation of each asset class for “Auto Choice” option based on age of the investor:-

Age

Asset Class E

Asset Class C

Asset Class G

Up to 35 years

50%

30%

20%

36 years

48%

29%

23%

37 years

46%

28%

26%

38 years

44%

27%

29%

39 years

42%

26%

32%

40 years

40%

25%

35%

41 years

38%

24%

38%

42 years

36%

23%

41%

43 years

34%

22%

44%

44 years

32%

21%

47%

45 years

30%

20%

50%

46 years

28%

19%

53%

47 years

26%

18%

56%

48 years

24%

17%

59%

49 years

22%

16%

62%

50 years

20%

15%

65%

51 years

18%

14%

68%

52 years

16%

13%

71%

53 years

14%

12%

74%

54 years

12%

11%

77%

55 years

10%

10%

80%

Source:http://pfrda.org.in/writereaddata/linkimages/INVESTMENT%20GUIDELINES%20FOR%20PRIVATE%20SECTOR%20NPS147808164.pdf