Modernization of government offices

Modernization of government offices

The modernization, computerization & digitization of paper based records is a continuous ongoing process in the Government of India. The Department of Administrative Reforms & Public Grievances (DAR&PG), Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions does not maintain any centralized data/information relating to it. However, as part of an overall process of administrative reforms, the DAR&PG has been implementing a scheme for ‘Modernization of Central Government Offices’ based in Delhi since year 1987-88. Under the scheme funds are released by DAR&PG for financing 75% costs of the modernization projects, which involves civil & electrical works and acquisition of furniture, computers & electronic office equipment. Till date DAR&PG has extended financial assistance of Rs.72.40 crore for 453 modernization proposals.

The DAR&PG has the mandate to implement e-Office in all Central Ministries/Departments. As on 15.11.2016, 9 Central Ministries/Departments are on 100% e-Office platform, 14 additional Ministries/Departments are going to be 100% e-Office by 31.12.2016 and further 32 Ministries/Departments by 31st March, 2017. This also is a continuous ongoing exercise.

This was stated by the Minister of State in the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions and Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office, Dr. Jitendra Singh in written reply to a question by Shri M. Chandrakasi in the Lok Sabha today.

CGHS : Enhancement of ceiling rate from Rs. 2 Lakhs to Rs. 5 Lakhs

CGHS : Enhancement of ceiling rate from Rs. 2 Lakhs to Rs. 5 Lakhs

No. S.11011/20/2014-CGHS (P)/EHSS

Government of India

Ministry of Health & Family Welfare

Department of Health & Family Welfare

EHS Section

Nirman Bhawan, New Delhi

Dated: the 23 November, 2016

OFFICE MEMORANDUM

Subject: Delegation of powers to Heads of Departments in various Ministries / Departments for settling permission cases and post facto approval relating to referral system and medical reimbursement under CGHS — Enhancement of ceiling rate from Rs. 2 Lakhs to Rs. 5 Lakhs without consultation of IFD of concerned Ministry – Reg.

The undersigned is directed to refer to this Ministry’s OM No. S.12020/4/97-CGHS (P), dated 27.12.2006 and its clarification issued vide this Ministry’s OM No. S.11011/20/2014-CGHS (P), dated 20.06.2014, wherein financial powers were delegated to the Heads of Departments/Ministries to settle all such cases where there is no relaxation of rules involved and admissibility of claim was worked out with reference to the CGHS approved rate list and guidelines.

2. This Ministry has been receiving requests from different Ministries/Departments for enhancement of delegation of financial powers to Head of Departments to settle medical claims/medical advance cases involving financial implications upto Rs. 5 Lakhs without referring the case to Internal Finance Division (IFD).

3. The matter regarding enhancement of delegation of financial powers to the Heads of Departments/Ministries has been examined in this Ministry and it has been decided with the approval of the competent authority to enhance the existing limit of Rs. 2 Lakhs to Rs. 5 Lakhs to settle all cases where there is no relaxation of rules and the entitlement was worked out with reference to the rate list prescribed.

In respect of cases involving payment exceeding Rs. 5,00,000/- (Rupees 5 Lakhs only) but as per the prescribed rate list, the concerned Departments/Ministries may settle such cases in consultation with their respective Internal Finance Division. Only in those cases where the settled scheme / rules are required to be relaxed, should the case be referred to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.

4. This issue with concurrence of Internal Finance Division vide FTS No. 91725, dated 01.11.2016.

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(Sunil Kumar Gupta)

Under Secretary to the Govt. of India

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Special Aadhaar Enrolment drive for Pensioners, from May 30 to June 10, 2016

Special Aadhaar Enrolment drive for Pensioners, from May 30 to June 10, 2016

Pensioners will also get opportunity to seed data for digital life certificate

The Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) has launched a special enrolment drive for pensioners who are yet to enroll for Aadhaar. The drive is being conducted to enable Pensioners avail the convenience of Jeevan Pramaan, an initiative of Department of Pensions and Pensioners’ Welfare, Government of India.

Every year, pensioners need to provide a life certificate to an authorized pension disbursing agency such as a Bank, Post office etc., for receipt of pension. To get a life certificate the pensioner is required to either personally present oneself before the Pension Disbursing Agency or have the Life Certificate issued by the department/authority where they served earlier and have it delivered to the disbursing agency. This entails considerable hardship to the senior Citizens.

Jeevan Pramaan, a digital life certificate which utilises the Aadhaar identity platform, addresses this very problem by digitizing the whole process of securing a life certificate. A pensioner just needs to biometrically authenticate at the nearest centre. After successful authentication, the digital life certificate is stored in a Life Certificate Repository, which can be accessed by the Pension Disbursing Authority.

To facilitate pensioners to avail the facility of Jeevan Pramaan, which is based on Aadhaar Identity platform, UIDAI and Department of Pensions and Pensioners’ Welfare have taken initiative to carry out special enrolment drive for Pensioners through banks which are Registrars for enrolment for Aadhaar as well as Pension Disbursing Authorities.

The banks which include names like State Bank of India, Punjab National Bank, Bank of Baroda, Allahabad Bank, Canara Bank, have also been asked to conduct special Aadhaar seeding camps where Pensioners will be requested to provide their Aadhaar details to their respective banks from which they draw pension so that they can get a digital life certificate – Jeevan Pramaan.

The enrolment drive and the Aadhaar seeding camp is being run from May 30 to June 10, 2016.

“We hold special enrolment drives to help people who are yet to enrol for Aadhaar. This particular exercise has been initiated to make sure pensioners get an Aadhaar number if they still don’t have one and seed the Aadhaar details of pensioners so that they can get a Jeevan Pramaan,” said Director General & Mission Director of UIDAI, Dr. Ajay Bhushan Pandey.

So far over 15.41 Lakh pensioners have already registered for the Aadhaar-enabled Jeevan Pramaan service.

Source: PIB News

EPFO disbursed Rs. 47,630 crore as member benefits and Rs. 8,200 crore as monthly pensions in 2015-16

EPFO disbursed Rs. 47,630 crore as member benefits and Rs. 8,200 crore as monthly pensions in 2015-16 

In 2015-16, EPFO disbursed approximately Rs. 47,630 crore as member benefits and Rs. 8,200 crore as monthly pensions. 

To monitor the status of enrolment of contractual employees especially in municipalities, EPFO has taken steps towards putting in place a system where principal employers including government bodies who enroll workers directly or through contractors can view details of contractors including the amount paid towards PF dues on real time basis. Now, EPFO will be in a position to compare the PF dues reimbursed to contractors and the PF dues actually remitted by contractors. Mismatch in the amounts would indicate possible specific evasion that can be followed up towards seeking compliance. A facility already exists in public domain wherein all principal employers can check the amounts remitted by contactors’ establishments. Any person through this report can also check if her / his name appears in the list of employees submitted by contractor to EPFO on a monthly basis. EPFO is also in the process of digitizing compliance reporting system. It is expected that reporting in Compliance area shall be online and real time by the second quarter of this financial year. 

The process of seeding EPS pensioners’ data with Aadhaar is underway in EPFO. While seeding the data, it has been noticed that in certain cases there is data mismatch between EPF data and Aadhaar data in respect of date of birth and name of pensioner. To rectify it, pensioners / members are being advised to correct either their details provided to EPFO offices or to correct the details given in Aadhaar, whichever is correct. 

It is also seen that a number of online transfer applications by members are pending with the employers for attestation and verification of member details by the employers Field offices of EPFO have been directed to take up the matter with employers to clear this on priority. 

On the occasion of International Labour Day, EPFO launched a special mission consolidation drive “One –Employee-One – EPF Account”. The drive is to consolidate multiple accounts of members so that they are able to access variety of IT enabled services such as e-mail / SMS alerts, access to e-passbook at their leisure. Shri Bandaru Dattatreya, Union Minister of State for Labour & Employment (Independent Charge) while presiding over the function marking International Labour Day stated that this drive would result in EPF members having lifelong one EPF account and multiple conveniences. The Universal Account Number (UAN) that is Aadhaar seeded will consolidate multiple past service accounts, across various spells of employment of an EPF member. 

The month of April also saw withdrawal of notification dated 10th February 2016 on amendment in Paragraph 68 NN, 68-O and 69 and insertion of new Para 68 –NNNN in the EPF Scheme, 1952. The interest rate of 8.8% to be credited to members’ accounts for the financial year 2015-16 was also finalized by the Government as recommended by the Central Board of Trustees, EPF. 

Source: PIB

MACPS benefits in the promotional hierarchy – Clarification orders issued by Dopt on 17.5.2016

MACPS benefits in the promotional hierarchy – Clarification orders issued by Dopt on 17.5.2016

No. 22034/04/2013-Estt.(D)

Government of India

Ministry of Personnel Public Grievance & Pensions

Department of Personnel & Training

North Block, New Delhi

Dated: 17.05.2016

Office Memorandum

Subject :- References/Representations/Court Cases in various Ministries / Departments / Organisations for grant of MACPS benefits in the promotional hierarchy – reg.

In continuation of Department of Personnel Training’s earlier O.M. of even no. dated 20.01.2016 and dated 01.03.2016 on the above mentioned subject, the undersigned is directed to forward a copy of the decision dated 28.04.2016 of Hon’ble CAT, Calcutta Bench in OA No. 351/00195/2014 filed by Shri S.H.K. Murti & Others Vs. UOI &Ors whereby the demand of the applicant for MACP in promotional hierarchy has been dismissed, for necessary action and compliance. The Hon’ble Tribunal in the aforesaid decision dated 28.04.2016 has held that the MACP benefit would be given in the hierarchy of next higher Grade Pay and not in Grade Pay of promotional hierarchy which will be payable on actual promotion.

2. All Ministries/Departments are requested to upload it on their websites for wider publicity.

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(G. Jayanthi)

Director (E-I)

Authority: www.persmin.gov.in

Click to view the order