Category Archives: General

TRAI for removing cap on spectrum

22 Wednesday Nov 2017

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Each and every decision being taken by the Government and the TRAI is focussed on the need and requirement of the private telecom operators. This is once again proved on the decision taken by the TRAI to remove the cap on  the spectrum.

There is a cap on the spectrum at present, which is that no telecom operator can hold more than 50% of the total spectrum within a band. This condition was brought earlier, when BSNL was going high and the chance was that it may grab a majority of the same and the private companies will be in the lurch. By denying spectrum and mobile lines to the PSU, the private companies have gone far ahead.

The new development comes after the arrival of the Reliance Jio in the scene with deep pockets. If it has to grow fast as required, it may need a lot of spectrum. Secondly, Vodafone and Idea are going to be merged. Hence both these corporates require much spectrum. Hence the new directions that the cap on 50% holding of spectrum in any band is removed.

Once again it is clear that the government stands for the corporates and MNCs.

 

Aadhaar details in the public domain – Government silent

20 Monday Nov 2017

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Now and then, the government of India declares that all should register  their Aadhaar cards with banks, mobiles and what not. Government also assured that it will be safe and secret.

But what is happening? Contrary to the assurances, all these Aadhaar details are in the public domain now. Over 200 government websites have made the Aadhaar details public as per paper reports.

As usual with the Modi Government, in this case also, the assurances are broken and violated. Nothing to be  surprised!

Cabinet Secretary gets Rs. 2.5 lakh monthly salary, President of India Rs.1.5 lakh only!

20 Monday Nov 2017

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President of India is the head of the government and the Supreme Commander of the Army, Air Force and Navy. He/she is entitled to get not less than any Central government employee in the country.

But unfortunately, this is not  the present position. While the Cabinet Secretary, Chiefs of Army, Air Force and navy are being paid Rs. 2.5 lakh a month as per the recommendations of the VII Central Pay Commission, the salary of the President continues as only Rs. 1.5 lakh. This is a violation of the constitution and convention.

President of India has also become the victim of the delay of his own government!

Crime reduced in Japan, but elderly people seek refuge in jails – a reality to escape isolation.

19 Sunday Nov 2017

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Though the crime rate is reducing in Japan, a lot of elderly people are seeking jail by committing small offences to escape isolation by going in to jail. A report from WFTU is given below:

“The number of elderly prisoners in Japan has quadrupled, even though crime reached record lows in 2016, according to data released yesterday show that elderly people looking for a “home” in prison. A total of 2,498 people over 65 were admitted to prison last year, a figure four times higher than those who were imprisoned in 1997, indicated in the White Paper on crime published by the Ministry of Justice Japan. Of that number, 70.2% were repeat offenders, which shows a complex reality in the Japanese country where older people seek in prison a “home” to escape social isolation and poverty.
Most older prisoners serving sentences in Japanese prisons lacked links with family, friends or neighbors before being hospitalized, according to a study conducted in prisons Nipponese by the lawyer of Keio University (Tokyo) Tatsuya Ota. Low public pensions is the average monthly compensation of 78,000 yen (609 euros) prevent these elderly acquire the services and commodities to survive and lead them to have to find part – time jobs or commit crimes.

However, crime in Japan reached a record low in 2016, when the number of crimes continued to fall until reaching just under a million, which is already the fourteenth consecutive year decline, driven partly by the drop in the number of thefts. These figures are the best that the country has achieved since the postwar period and reveal, according to the report, “significant improvements” in the crime rate.”

OUNTRYWIDE PROTEST AGAINST PRICE RISE ON 13 DECEMBER 2017

17 Friday Nov 2017

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The Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU) has called upon the working people throughout the country, its units and affiliated unions of the workers to register countrywide protest against the continuing price rise on 13 December 2017, in every industrial centre, city, town and rural areas by staging demonstrations.
Modi government’s policies are entirely responsible for this price rise, inflicting huge sufferings and miseries on the workers and other sections of toiling masses. In fact, prices are not just increasing; they are being made to increase through policy drive of the Govt to benefit middlemen, big traders, black-marketeers and speculators. This is also an integral part of their policy of “ease of doing business” which is synonymous to “ease of looting the people”.

Hence observe Protest Day on 13th December 2017 in a massive way.

SMOG-FILLED INDIAN, PAK CITIES COULD TURN INTO DANGEROUSLY UNHEALTHY SNOW GLOBES: NOAA 2017-11-16

16 Thursday Nov 2017

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Washington, Nov 16 : Smog-filled cities in north India and Pakistan will continue to experience dangerous level of air quality over the next several months, a top American atmospheric organisation has said, warning that the cities could turn into dangerously unhealthy “snow globes”.
“This is just the start to the smog season in northern India and Pakistan, as the monsoon will last for much of the upcoming winter. That means there are plenty of more opportunities for cold, stagnant air to fill with pollution, turning cities into dangerously unhealthy snow globes,” National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) said in a statement yesterday.
NOAA released satellite pictures and explained the reasons behind such a polluting atmosphere in major parts of north India and Pakistan.
Widespread smog caused by the combustion of fuels, and the burning of crops and fires made it dangerous to be outside in cities in northern India and Pakistan, it said. (PTI Report)

Health Insurance Scheme for Pensioners.

16 Thursday Nov 2017

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The Kerala State government has announced a Health Insurance Scheme for the employees as well as pensioners with effect from 1st April 2018. This is in addition to the existing schemes. This is being implemented on the basis of the recommendations of the Tenth State Pay Commission.

Congratulations to the Kerala LDF Government!

14th November – Children’s Day

16 Thursday Nov 2017

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One more Children’s Day had been celebrated. But even after 70 years of Independence and celebrating Children’s Day for more than 50 years, still children are dying in thousands without getting medical care. Child labour continues in many parts of the country with brutal exploitation. Children are compelled to beg for their existence. Universal education is not implemented. Children die due to poverty. Children, who should get priority and protection, are ignored.

The Governments, both Central and states should act to protect and help the children! There should be a change of approach to the children’s issue.

 

 

NCCPA Dharna at Megh Doot Bhawan New Delhi on 25-10-2017

14 Tuesday Nov 2017

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Com. Tapan Sen, General Secretary, CITU, addressing the NCCPA Dharna at New Delhi on 25th October 2017. NCCPA leaders including Coms. VAN Namboodiri, Patron, K.K.N.Kutty, General Secretary and  other leaders can be seen in the dais.

RBI CIRCULAR ON BANKING FACILITY TO SENIOR CITIZENS AND DIFFERENTLY ABLED.

14 Tuesday Nov 2017

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Herewith reproducing the RBI circular providing certain facilities to the Senior Citizens and Disabled. Read and help the senior citizens and disabled.

RBI CIRCULAR ON BANKING FACILITY TO SENIOR CITIZENS AND DIFFERENTLY ABLED.
Statement on Developmental and Regulatory Policies – October 4, 2017- Banking Facility for Senior Citizens and Differently abled Persons
RBI/2017-18/89
DBR.No.Leg.BC.96/09.07.005/2017-18
November 9, 2017

All Scheduled Commercial Banks (including RRBs)
All Small Finance Banks and Payments Banks

Dear Sir/ Madam

Statement on Developmental and Regulatory Policies – October 4, 2017-Banking Facility for Senior Citizens and Differently abled Persons

Please refer to Paragraph 8 of Statement on Developmental and Regulatory Policies, released by Reserve Bank of India on October 4, 2017 as part of Fourth Bi-monthly Monetary Policy Statement 2017-18, a copy of which is enclosed. It has been observed that there are occasions when banks discourage or turn away senior citizens and differently abled persons from availing banking facilities in branches. Notwithstanding the need to push digital transactions and use of ATMs, it is imperative to be sensitive to the requirements of senior citizens and differently abled persons.

2. In view of the above, banks are required to put in place appropriate mechanism with the following specific provisions for meeting the needs of such customers so that they are able to avail of the bank’s services without difficulty.

(a) Dedicated Counters/Preference to Senior Citizens, Differently abled persons

Banks are advised to provide a clearly identifiable dedicated counter or a counter which provides priority to senior citizens and people who are differently abled including visually impaired persons.

(b) Ease of submitting Life Certificate

As per extant guidelines issued by Department of Government and Bank Accounts, in addition to the facility of Digital Life Certificate under “Jeevan Praman” Scheme (refer circular DGBA.GAD.H-2529/45.01.001/2014-15 dated December 9, 2014), pensioners can submit physical Life Certificate form at any branch of the pension paying bank. However, it is observed that often the same is not updated promptly by the receiving branch in the Core Banking Solution (CBS) system of the bank, resulting in avoidable hardship to the pensioners. It is, therefore, advised that banks shall ensure that when a Life Certificate is submitted in any branch, including a non-home branch, of the pension paying bank, the same is updated/ uploaded promptly in CBS by the receiving branch itself, to avoid any delay in credit of pension.

(c) Cheque Book Facility

(i) Banks shall issue cheque books to customers, whenever a request is received, through a requisition slip which is part of the cheque book issued earlier.

(ii) Banks are advised to provide minimum 25 cheque leaves every year, if requested, in savings bank account, free of charge.

(iii) Banks shall not insist on physical presence of any customer including senior citizens and differently abled persons for getting cheque books.

(iv) Banks may also issue cheque books, on requisition, by any other mode as per bank’s laid down policy.

It is further clarified that providing such facility in BSBDA will not render the account to be classified as non-BSBDA (c.f. Bank’s response to query number 14 and 24 of our circular “DBOD.No. Leg. BC.52/09.07.005/2013-14 dated September 11, 2013 on Financial Inclusion – Access to Banking Services – BSBDA – FAQs”).

(d) Automatic conversion of status of accounts

Presently, in some banks, even fully KYC – compliant accounts are not automatically converted into ‘Senior Citizen Accounts’ on the basis of date of birth maintained in the bank’s records. Banks are advised that a fully KYC compliant account should automatically be converted into a ‘Senior Citizen Account’ based on the date of birth available in bank’s records.

(e) Additional Facilities to visually impaired customers

Banks are advised that the facilities provided to sick/old/incapacitated persons vide Paragraph 9 of our Master Circular DBR.No.Leg.BC.21/09.07.006/2015-16 dated July 1, 2015 on Customer Service in Banks (regarding operations of accounts through identification of thumb/toe impression/mark by two independent witnesses and authorising a person who would withdraw the amount on behalf of such customers) shall also be extended to the visually impaired customers.

(f) Ease of filing Form 15G/H

Banks are advised to provide senior citizens and differently abled persons Form 15G/H once in a year (preferably in April) to enable them to submit the same, where applicable, within the stipulated time.

(g) Door Step Banking

We have issued instructions on Doorstep Banking vide circular DBOD.No.BL.BC.59/22.01.010/2006-2007 dated February 21, 2007 under Section 23 of Banking Regulation Act, 1949. However, in view of the difficulties faced by senior citizens of more than 70 years of age and differently abled or infirm persons (having medically certified chronic illness or disability) including those who are visually impaired, banks are advised to make concerted effort to provide basic banking facilities, such as pick up of cash and instruments against receipt, delivery of cash against withdrawal from account, delivery of demand drafts, submission of Know Your Customer (KYC) documents and Life certificate at the premises/ residence of such customers.

3. Banks are advised to implement these instructions by December 31, 2017 in letter and spirit and give due publicity in their bank branches and website.

Yours faithfully

(Saurav Sinha)
Chief General Manager

Statement on Developmental and Regulatory Policies, Reserve Bank of India issued by the Governor on October 4, 2017

8. Banking Facility for Senior Citizens and Differently abled Persons

It has been reported that banks are discouraging or turning away senior citizens and differently abled persons from availing banking facilities in branches. Notwithstanding the need to push digital transactions and use of ATMs, it is imperative to be sensitive to the requirements of senior citizens and differently abled persons. It has been decided to instruct banks to put in place explicit mechanisms for meeting the needs of such persons so that they do not feel marginalised. Ombudsmen will also be advised to pay heed to complaints in this context. Necessary instructions in this regard will be issued by end-October 2017.