Revised telephone/ broadband/ mobile reimbursment of CSIR Scientist/ Technical Officers/ CCO

Things investors need to know about New Pension Schemes

New Pension Schemes (NPS) are in news for quite some time now. With India finally gearing up to have its own government-regulated pension plan, on the lines of the ‘401K-retirement plan’ in the US, the excitement hovering around NPS is obvious.

While the scheme is already operational for central govt employees, its opening for general public on May 1, 2009. Unlike the traditional retirement solutions, such as PPF and EPF; NPS is not a defined benefit, but rather a defined contribution plan. Thus, while investment in PPF and EPF attract a fixed rate of interest, returns from NPS will be market determined.

The market here, however, is not confined to equity alone, but includes corporate bonds and government securities. Investment in these papers is to be actively managed by fund managers. Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA) have designated six asset management companies (AMCs) for the purpose.

So, does it imply that NPS is just another mutual fund scheme?

Though the NPS will be managed by fund houses, the autonomy lies with the PFRDA. While AMCs take investment decisions for NPS, their operational freedom shall be confined to the guidelines issued by PFRDA from time to time. Again, while an MF investor can enter and exit an scheme at free will, NPS will bind them till the retirement age of 58 years. The current guidelines do not permit a pre-mature withdrawal or any loan against the investment in NPS.

The onus of deciding the structure of investments and selecting the fund house has, however, been left to the investor. The investor is free to choose the right mix of equity (E), corporate bonds (C) and government securities (G) in his/her portfolio. Alternatively, investor can choose auto option, wherein his investment in NPS will divided in pre-determined proportion of 15% (E), 45% (C) and 40% (G). In the case of automatic allocation, the entire investment will be equally distributed among all six fund managers in the first year. From second year onwards, however, the allocation will be pro-rated on the basis of the first year’s performance.

NPS can also be distinguished from an MF scheme in terms of its cost structure. While an MF scheme charges an entry-load of about 2.25% and an average management charge of 1.5%, NPS carries a bare minimum fee of 0.0009%. Virtually free; as one might put it! But hold on. For, while NPS may prima facie appear an art of charity, investors would do well to note that there is never a free lunch.

NPS requires maintenance of all records and the same will be done by NSDL, which will act as the central record keeping agency (CAR). Each investor will thus be required to pay NSDL an account opening charge of Rs 50. Besides, there will be a maintenance charge of Rs 350 per year and an additional charge of Rs 10 per transaction.

PFRDA has also appointed selected banks as point of presence (POPs) to facilitate quick and hassle-free transactions. However, these services are not free either. According to an industry source, POPs will also charge an investor an account opening fee of Rs 20 and an additional charge of Rs 20 per transaction. This implies that an investor seeking to invest Rs 500 per month will actually end up paying around Rs 560 per month. That’s nearly 11% transaction cost, considerably higher than 8% return offered by PPF.

So does this render NPS more costly visà-vis an MF scheme?

The current cost structure of NPS is as good as fixed in nature, while that of an MF is a percentage of investment. Thus, the higher the investment, the higher would be the charges in case of an MF scheme (See Table). Given the current cost structure, NPS appears to be more beneficial to those with a higher amount of periodic investment.

Another factor that needs major consideration is the tax treatment. NPS does not enjoy any tax benefits, either at the investment stage or at the time of maturity. This makes it less attractive vis-à-vis other retirement plans available in the market. While PFRDA is understood to have approached the government to grant NPS the tax status of (exempt-exempt-exempt) EEE, the fact that PFRDA bill is yet to be approved by Parliament may procrastinate the process. Thus, while the step in the right direction has been taken, a lot needs to be done to make NPS as competitive as 401K.
Courtesy : TOI

Tree Tracking goes Hi-tech in India

A team of botanists in Mumbai are planning to map trees with the help of GPS based etchnology. Environmentalist, Ramesh Madav and his team, who have founded Terracon Ecotech Pvt. Ltd, will be out with equipment that can determine the exact location of a tree using global positioning system, or GPS, a satellite-based technology typically used in vehicle navigation and location-based information search.

Each unit, costing around INR 85,000, records the latitude and longitude of a tree, achieving an accuracy of within 5m. In addition, the botanists will record other details such as the height, canopy and condition of each tree in digital format, all of which will be transferred to a master information system that will plot the data on maps. This will make it easier to audit data and regulate illegal or irregular tree felling. The company has signed a contract with Thane's municipal corporation to conduct a tree census for the district over the next few months.

The company is currently building a proprietary software platform called Vruksha Sharad to map and analyse the tree data more effectively. It also wants to increase its current team of 60 field officers, each a qualified botanist, to around 200.

'Go green': New IT Mantra

On the occasion of the Earth Day that was served April 22, 2009 most of IT companies pledge to conserve the environment's resources and save energy costs in the bargain. According to the study conducted by IDC in the Asia-Pacific region, 18 percent of the organisation consider the greenness of the IT suppliers before making a selection, and another 30 per cent are expected to do so in the near future.

Maharashtra-based Chitale Diary, for instance, consolidated its IT environment into three physical servers (from 10) in one data centre. These servers host 20 virtual servers running multiple applications and operating systems. With a virtualised environment, the firm reduced hardware acquisition costs by 50 per cent, server deployment time came down from three weeks to a few hours. And it brought in 50 per cent reduction in power, cooling, and real estate. IBM has committed over $1 billion to the Big Green Innovation initiative launched in 2007. The project focuses on intelligent energy (smart grids and alternative energy), carbon management, water management, and computational modelling. Intel, on its part, integrated 'Design for Environment' principles into its production.

The Climate Savers Computing Initiative (CSCI), co-founded by Intel and being led in India by Nasscom, CII, TERI and WWF works globally with manufacturers and consumers to increase the energy efficiency of personal computers (PCs) and servers by 50 per cent with the help of power-management tools. Cisco has also launched Energy Wise, a technology that makes it possible for businesses to reduce carbon emissions, by managing energy consumption of devices on the network when they are not in use. While Wipro has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with WWF to collaborate in several areas of sustainability like the application of IT solutions to ecological sustainability. IT companies are aiming to reduce CO2 emission by 54 million tonnes a year and cut energy costs by $5.5 billion by 2010.

Courtesy: e Gov

National policy on safety, health and environment at workplace

The Union Cabinet has approved the National Policy on Safety, Health and Environment at Workplace to address the issue of securing health and safety of workers in the country as envisaged in the Constitution.
It provides general guidelines for all stakeholders such as Governments, inspection authorities employers, research and development institutions, educational institutions, etc. for developing a safety culture and environment at all work places.
The policy envisages actions for improving safety, health and environment at workplace by providing for a statutory framework, administrative and technical support, system of incentives, prevention strategies and their monitoring and inclusion of safety health and environment aspects in other related national policies.
It also spells an action programme comprising development of standards and codes of practices, encouraging compliance by stakeholders, increasing awareness, promoting and proving for research and development, knowledge and skill development, practical guidance and providing financial and non-financial incentives.
The provisions of the policy would be reviewed every five years, if necessary.

Payment of Interest on Savings Bank Account on a Daily Product Basis

RBI/2008-09/452

DBOD. No. Dir. BC.128/13.03.00/2008-09

April 24, 2009

All Scheduled Commercial Banks (Excluding RRBs)

Dear Sir

Payment of Interest on Savings Bank Account on a Daily Product Basis

Please refer to paragraph 88 of the Annual Policy Statement announced by Governor on April 21, 2009 (extract enclosed), in terms of which it has been proposed that payment of interest on savings bank accounts by scheduled commercial banks would be calculated on a daily product basis with effect from April 1, 2010. In terms of extant guidelines, as per paragraph 2.2B of the Master Circular dated July 1, 2008 on Interest Rates on Rupee Deposits held in Domestic, Ordinary Non-Resident (NRO) and Non-Resident (External) (NRE) Accounts, banks have been advised that in the case of savings deposits, interest should be calculated on the minimum balance to the credit of the deposit account during the period from the 10th to the last day of each calendar month and credited to the account only when it is Re.1/- or more. Several banks had suggested that interest on savings bank accounts may be calculated either on the minimum balances in the deposit accounts during the period from the first to the last day of each calendar month or on a daily product basis. The matter was referred to the Indian Banks' Association, which was of the view that payment of interest on a daily product basis would be feasible only when computerisation in banks is completed. 2. We advise that on a review, and in view of the present satisfactory level of computerisation in commercial bank branches, it is proposed that payment of interest on savings bank accounts by scheduled commercial banks would be calculated on a daily product basis with effect from April 1, 2010. In order to ensure a smooth transition, banks may work out the modalities in this regard.

Yours faithfully

(P. Vijaya Bhaskar) Chief General Manager

Encl: as above

Reserve Bank of India Annual Policy Statement 2009-10

Part B. Developmental and Regulatory Policies 2009-10

II. Interest Rate Policy

(b) Payment of Interest on Savings Bank Account on a Daily Product Basis

88. At present, interest on savings bank accounts is calculated on the minimum balances held in the accounts during the period from the 10th day to the last day of each calendar month. Several banks have suggested that interest on savings bank accounts may be calculated either on the minimum balances in the deposit accounts during the period from the first to the last day of each calendar month or on a daily product basis. The matter was referred to the IBA, which was of the view that payment of interest on a daily product basis would be feasible only when computerisation in banks is completed. In view of the present satisfactory level of computerisation in commercial bank branches, it is proposed that: • payment of interest on savings bank accounts by scheduled commercial banks (SCBs) would be calculated on a daily product basis with effect from April 1, 2010. Modalities in this regard will be worked out in consultation with banks.

US seek access to India's traditional knowledge database

New Delhi, Apr 24 (PTI) The US is in talks with India seeking to gain access to the country's rich database on unani, ayurveda and yoga, country's traditional health and medical practices.
"We are in talks with the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) for giving access to its Traditional Knowledge Digital Library (TKDL) to the US authorities,"Dominic Keating, First Secretary for Intellectual Property at the US Embassy in India, told PTI.

According to Keating, who is involved in talks, American officials and CSIR would hold a meeting in May to resolve the issues in the draft agreement on accessing TKDL data by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

TKDL is a joint project between the apex scientific research organisation of the country CSIR and Department of Ayurveda, Yoga & Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homeopathy (AYUSH) to preserve the old knowledge of India.

When asked about the delay in agreement, Keating said "We had some issues with the agreement document of CSIR and we are trying to resolve it, so that patent examiner can access the database in order to avoid any duplication of innovation." PTI

Publish reasons for all decisions that affect the public, CIC tells UT Admn

The Central Information Commission (CIC) has directed the Chandigarh Administration to publish reasons for all its decisions that affect the public and ensure proper implementation of the Right to Information (RTI) Act.

The CIC also asked the Administration to convert all records in electronic format, catalogue, index and computerise them and then put them online for easy accessibility. The UT has been given three months to comply with the directions.

The commission referred to the instructions of the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, dated September 21, 2007, on the matter, which says: “The clause (Section 4) also requires the public authority to have its records computerised and connected through a network all over the country. ” The directions were issued in response to 52 separate complaints — later clubbed by the CIC — filed against various UT departments .

Information Commissioner M L Sharma ordered: “The public authorities are required to publish all relevant facts about such policies and decisions for the information of the public at large, as mandated under Section 4(1)(c) of the Act.” The order said such information should be provided free of cost. It read: “The information disclosed by the public authorities is proactive disclosure and they are required to provide immediate access to this material as and when requested, without the requirement of filing any written request and charging any fee.”

The CIC said all public authorities should also take immediate steps to publish detailed, complete and unambiguous information under the 16 categories of Section 4(1)(b) and thereafter update the information as and when necessary, but definitely every year. It added: “The names, room numbers, telephone numbers, e-mail address of the CPIOs/ACPIOs may be prominently displaced in each office. If the complete disclosures are also available with any other officer(s) other than the CPIO, ACPIO, their names, designations, room numbers and telephone numbers must be prominently displayed.”

Addressing the contentions of the complainant, regarding difficulty in submitting the fee for RTI , the commission said: “The CPIO should accept the requisite fee without delay. Such fee should be acceptable in any form as prescribed under the rules by way of cash against proper receipt or by demand draft or banker’s cheque or Indian postal order. The ‘payee’ or the name of the officer in whose favour payment is to be made should be displayed on the notice board of the public authority.” The commission held that no particular format was necessary to seek information under the RTI Act.

Courtesy: Indian Express

सुबहे बनारस ( Sunrise at Varanasi)

You all must have noted that I have not updated my Blog in previous week i.e from 12/4/2009 to 18/4/2009. During this week I was on vacation to attend my Brother-in-Laws marriage ceremony at Varanasi, my hometown. There I was able to witness one of the most beautiful moments of Varanasi i.e Sunrise after long time. Here are some of the photographs taken from my cellphone camera. Although picture quality might not be good but the moment was amazing.
But I was sad to see a Government motorboat polluting the ambiance in the early hour of morning. As an student of ecology I know that the current level of pollution in River Ganga is a holistic problem and it needs a holistic treatment . One or two retrogressive steps wipes out all the positive measures.

Appointment of New Joint Secretary at CSIR

The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet has approved the proposal to appoint Shri K. Jayakumar, IAS(SK:87) as Joint Secretary, in the Department of Scientific & Industrial Reaserch/Council of Scientific & Industrial Research, in the pay band of Rs.37400-67000 /- (PB-4) plus grade pay of Rs. 10000/-, for a period of five years from the date of assumption of charge of the post or until further orders.

seniority list of CCO (FA) as on 1/1/2009 (released on 20/4/2009)

Revokation of referral of CGHS beneficiaries to Narender Mohan Hospital Gazaibad

Option for zonal wise posting of Common cadre Officers

Promotion to the post of S.O(G)/(FA)/(SP)

Implementation of Government’s decision on the recommendation of the VIth CPC – revision of CCS (Extraordinary Pension) Rules

No.45/6/2008-P&PW (F)

Ministry of Personnel Public Grievances and Pensions

Department of Pension and Pensioners Welfare

*******

3^rd Floor, Lok Nayak Bhawan,

Khan Market, New Delhi-110 003

Dated 16th April, 2009

OFFICE MEMORANDUM

Subject: Implementation of Government’s decision on the recommendation of the VIth CPC – revision of CCS (Extraordinary Pension) Rules,

1939 – Constant Attendant Allowance.

……………..

The undersigned is directed to say that on the Recommendations of Sixth Central Pay Commission in para 5.1.44 of its Report, orders were issued vide Department of Pension & Pensioner's Welfare O.M. No.38/37/2008-P&PW (A) dated 2.9.2008 that:

“In the case of pensioners who retired on disability pension under the CCS (Extraordinary Pension) Rules, 1939, for 100% disability (where the individual is completely dependent on somebody else for day to day function), a Constant Attendant Allowance of Rs.3,000/- p.m. shall be allowed in addition to the disability pension, on the lines existing in Defence Forces.”

2. Accordingly, the payment of the Constant Attendant Allowance (C.A.A.) shall be governed by the provisions as under:-

(i) Constant Attendant Allowance (C.A.A) will be Applicable to cases where the disability for which Constant Attendance Allowance is payable is attributable to or aggravated by service.

(ii) Constant Attendant Allowance (C.A.A) may be granted to a Government servant who is awarded a disability pension for 100 percent disablement, if in the opinion of the medical board, he needs the services of a constant attendant for at least a period of three months, and the necessity arises solely from the condition of the accepted disability or disabilities.

(iii) Constant Attendant Allowance (C.A.A) shall not be payable for any period during which the pensioner is an inmate or an in-patient of a Government institution or hospital.

(iv) Payment of Constant Attendant Allowance (C.A.A) shall be made along with disability pension. Payment shall be made on the basis of declaration as in Annexure which shall be submitted to the Pension Disbursing Authority in May & November each year.

3. Formal amendments to the Central Civil Services (Extraordinary Pension) Rules, 1939, are being issued separately.

4. These orders are issued with the approval of the Ministry of Finance, Department of Expenditure vide their U.O.No.7.32/10/2009-IC dated 23^rd February, 2009.

5. In their applicability to the personnel of the Indian Audit and Accounts Department, these orders issue in consultation with the Comptroller & Auditor General of India.

6. Ministry of Agriculture, etc. are requested to bring the contents of these orders to the notice of the Heads of Departments, their Attached an Subordinate Offices, Controller of Accounts, Pay & Accounts Officers, etc. under their administrative control.

Indian scientists sequence fish genome

The genome which, because of its similarity to the human genome, holds several clues to identifying genes that cause diseases in human beings

New Delhi: Scientists at the Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology (IGIB), a Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) laboratory, have sequenced the genome of a fish, which, because of its similarity to the human genome, holds several clues to identifying genes that cause diseases in human beings.
Vinod Scaria, IGIB scientist, said that the wild zebrafish strain analysed, was a first of it’s kind genome analysis in India.
“To my knowledge, it’s the first time that a vertebrate’s whole genome has been analysed in an Indian lab,” said Scaria. Globally, scientists have studied zebrafish genomes before, but Scaria said these were mostly hybrids cloned in labs.
“Studying a wild type strain is vital to understand the complete genetic variation within a species. Without that it’s not possible to determine which genes are responsible for certain diseases,” he added.

Comment received

"Dear Arvind Khanna,

Thanks a lot for covering the zebrafish genome on your Blog. I have also gone through your blog and find it very interesting and informative.

Best regards

Dr Vinod Scaria
Scientist
G N Ramachandran Knowledge Centre for Genome Informatics,
Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology (CSIR),
Mall Road, Delhi 110 007, India"

Complaint against NBRI director for fudging CV

15 Apr 2009, 0155 hrs IST, Neha Shukla, TNN

LUCKNOW: The director of NBRI might sustain his tenure on the claim that he passed MSc in three subjects. He might have also convinced the search committee with his curriculum vitae. But his alma mater, Gobind Ballabh Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, does not approve of the same with Gujarat University denying to the extent that it awarded a PhD in first division to the director.

GBPUAT, Pantnagar, said that Dr Rakesh Tuli, director, NBRI did not pass MSc in three subjects -- genetics, biochemistry and plant breeding, as mentioned by him in his CV. The director's CV talks of several facts which RTI responses provided by the universities contradict.

Could it be a case of a botched CV? It is now up to the prime minister to find out. A complaint containing several such revelations has been forwarded to the PM after being endorsed by the chairman, public accounts committee. The complaint has been filed by a local, Naveen Gupta who gathered the `quoted' information by way of RTI.

GBPUAT states that Tuli was awarded the MSc degree with major in genetics and minor in bio-chemistry. The fact that Tuli has a PhD degree in botany in first division from Gujarat University has also run into trouble after Gujarat University informed that he was not awarded PhD degree in 1982 by it. The university further clarified that there is no system to award class/grade while awarding PhD degree.

Tuli had been the applicant for the same post twice in the past. But he was rejected in 1997-98 and 1998-99 by the prime minister on the ground that he had used `political pull against conduct rules'. Little success came his way in 2,000 when he got selected as director, Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants (CIMAP).

But before he could take over, the then minister of science and technology, Murli Manohar Joshi recommended SPS Khanuja for the post. "To his indiscretion he pleaded for his case and also spoke lightly about other scientists," wrote Joshi in his letter, while turning down Tuli's appointment.

The complaint says that `misrepresentations' do not end here. The director had allegedly fudged information under heads like national competitive research grants awarded to him by governmental agencies, inter-institutional team work and skills in industrial networking.

Appointing a director for CSIR (Council for scientific and industrial research) laboratory calls for responsible selection. The search committee is constituted for the purpose by the vice-president (minister of science and technology) of CSIR which comprises a chairman, six experts and DG, CSIR.

But in case of Tuli the committee reportedly bypassed the norms to appoint him as the director. However, sources added, "things have started moving at the level of CSIR though proceedings might not come out in the open".
Courtesy: Times of india

CIC asks CSIR to make NET exam papers public

New Delhi (PTI): The Central Information Commission has directed the CSIR to bring NET examination papers of previous years, kept under wraps till now, in public domain to improve the overall "processes" of administering and undertaking of exams in the country.

Central Information Commissioner Shailesh Gandhi in his hard hitting order had asked CSIR to provide the information free of cost to the appellant before April 25.

Refuting the CSIR's contention that "if question papers are in public domain the scientific interest of the State will be affected", the CIC said, "transparency will only improve all institution and processes".

Disallowing the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research's (CSIR) contention that disclosing the examination papers would "expose the CSIR examinations system", the CIC in its order said, "if a student can really master all fundamentals of the Science and Technology portion, no exam system can really want to test anything else".

The CIC also dismissed CSIR's stand that "there is a limited scope of framing questions as the basic concept and their interpretation are established facts".

New ITR 1 form notified for AY 2009-10

click here for download

Engagment of cosultant- As per provision of GFR 2005

Revision fo fixation of pay of retired judges on their appointment on Commission/ Commitee of enquiry GOI OM Dated 8/4/2009

Banking Companies (Nomination) Rules, 1985–Acknowledgement of Nomination and indicating the Name of the Nominee in Pass Books / Fixed Deposit Receipts

RBI / 2008-09/ 406

DBOD.No.Leg.BC.114 /09.07.005/2008-09

March 9, 2009

All Scheduled Commercial Banks (Excluding RRBs)

Dear Sir,

Banking Companies (Nomination) Rules, 1985 – Acknowledgement of Nomination and indicating the Name of the Nominee in Pass Books / Fixed Deposit Receipts

It has been brought to our notice that some banks do not have the system of acknowledging the receipt of the duly completed form of nomination, cancellation and /or variation of the nomination. Further, it is also understood that in some banks, although there is a system of acknowledgement of nomination as provided in the Savings Bank account opening form, such acknowledgements are actually not given to the customers. In this connection, banks are aware that in terms of Rules 2 (9), 3 (8) and 4 (9) of the Banking Companies Nomination (Rules), 1985, they are required to acknowledge in writing to the depositor(s) / locker hirers (s) the filing of the relevant duly completed Form of nomination, cancellation and / or variation of the nomination.

2. Banks are therefore advised to strictly comply with the provisions of Banking Regulation Act, 1949 and Banking Companies (Nomination) Rules, 1985 and devise a proper system of acknowledging the receipt of the duly completed form of nomination, cancellation and / or variation of the nomination. Such acknowledgement should be given to all the customers irrespective of whether the same is demanded by the customers.

3. Further, please refer to para 19.4 of our Master Circular on Customer Service (BC.No.75 dated November 3, 2008) wherein banks have been advised to introduce the practice of recording on the face of the passbooks/FDRs the position regarding availment of nomination facility with the legend "Nomination Registered".

4. In this connection, a suggestion has been received that banks should indicate the name of the Nominee in Pass Books / FDRs. Since this would be helpful to the customers / nominees, banks are advised that in addition to the legend “Nomination Registered”, they should also indicate the name of the Nominee in the Pass Books / Statement of Accounts / FDRs, in case the customer is agreeable to the same

Yours faithfully

(Prashant Saran)

Chief General Manager-in-Charge

India's 15th general election: Google initative

At Google, we believe information is fundamentally empowering. While all of our technologies demonstrate a commitment to this guiding principle, information is especially important when a society comes together to participate in democratic elections. Beginning ten days from today, more than 700 million eligible voters in India will over the course of four weeks have the opportunity to participate in the largest democratic event in human history — India's 15th general election.

Today, along with a wide range of partners, we are happy to announce the launch of the Google India Elections Centre — available in English and in Hindi.

People from across India can use the centre to do the following:

• Confirm their voter registration status
• Discover their polling location
• View their constituency on a map
• Consume relevant election-related news, blogs, videos, and quotations
• Evaluate the status of development in their constituency across a range of indicators
• Learn about the background of their Member of Parliament and this year's candidates

With still more features to be added during the election, we hope the site will be an ongoing resource for analysis, governance, and democracy in India after the election.

This project would not have been possible without the shared vision of a broad coalition of partners: the Association for Democratic Reforms, HT Media Limited, Indicus Analytics, the Janaagraha Centre for Citizenship and Democracy, the Liberty Institute, and PRS Legislative Services. These groups are the true champions of promoting a more transparent democracy, and we're privileged to be able to shine a light on their work on the occasion of India's 15th Lok Sabha polls.

We're hopeful not only that the elections centre will further a culture that seeks access to information, but that it will also yield positive changes in voting patterns during the upcoming polls.

Please visit the site, select your constituency, and get started! Spread the word about what you learn and, of course, don't forget to visit the polls.

Posted by Rishi Jaitly, Senior Policy Analyst, and Sanjay Jain, Product Manager

Vacancy at Food Safety and Standards Authority of India- Last date 30/04/2009

Vacancy at NIOS - Last Date 24/04/2009

Health Facilities in Emergencies -

A.N. Khan(Senior Scientist, Former Assistant Director, National Environmental Engineering Research Institute, Nagpur.)

Significant advances in health, social and economical development have been made in recent decades. And yet, this progress has been repeatedly tested by man-made and natural disasters. One cannot pursue long-term strategies for health for all without paying attention to this global problem.

Disaster is “any occurrence that causes damage, economic disruption, loss of human life and deterioration in health and health services on a scale sufficient to warrant an extraordinary response from outside the affected community or area”. The response to a disaster must involve all sectors of government and the whole community. Functional health facilities and trained staff are crucial in times of emergencies and disasters.

The World has long experienced many disasters and in some of these, health facilities were a major casualty. For example during December 26, 2004, tsunami —30 of the 240 health clinics were destroyed in Aceh province, Indonesia and seriously damaged 77 others. In Sri Lanka, 92 health facilities were destroyed including 35 hospitals. In 2001 in Gujarat, a magnitude of 7.7 earthquake destroyed 3812 health facilities. More than 11,000 medical institutions were damaged in China’s Wenchuan earthquake in May 2008, forcing tens of thousands of people to seek treatment elsewhere. Current conflicts in Ethiopia and Gaza are hampering primary health services, such as immunization. These are some examples of disaster situations where health services are affected and at times unavailable when needed the most.

World Health Day 2009 focuses on the safety of health facilities and the readiness of health workers who treat those affected by emergencies. Health centers and staff are critical life-lines for vulnerable people in disasters – treating injuries, preventing illness and caring for people’s health problems, such as safe child birth services, immunization and chronic disease care, which must continue in emergencies. Often, already fragile health systems are unable to keep functioning through a disaster, with immediate and future public health consequences.

The focus of the biennial World Disaster Reduction Campaign 2008-2009, is also on the same issue : “Hospitals Safe from Disasters – Reduce Risk, Protect Health Facilities, Save Lives”. In this global effort World Health Organisation is working with UN International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (ISDR) and World Bank so that all facilities stand upto emergencies and continue to function.

On International Day for Disaster Reduction, 8 October 2008 in New York, experts from China, India and Caribbean shared experiences with International agencies, Diplomatic Missions and health sector academics on how to make hospitals and schools safe from disasters. India outlined a ten-point approach to ‘Building Back Better’ from Gujarat’s massive 2001 earthquake, ranging from seismic risk assessment to training masons and local communities.

It was the Disaster Mitigation Advisory Group (DIMAG) that originally conceived the idea of Hospital Safety Index, which is gaining acceptance as a global tool for assessing the likelihood of a hospital remaining functional in disaster situations. A strategy should be developed to sustain current efforts to apply the Hospital Safety Index, including training the evaluators who use the safe hospital check list to assess health facilities. DIMAG will also promote creation and use of learning tools and methodologies.

DIMAG proposes that future safe hospital measures take into account the risks associated with climate change such as flooding, stronger hurricane and storm surge and increase awareness regarding these hazards.

A fire safety guide for hospitals will be developed and published and will include procedure for evacuation exercise, as part of the Hospital preparedness programme.

The Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO) and DIMAG will encourage and lend support to the June 2009 Conference on ‘Safe Hospitals’.

Several countries are working to keep hospitals safe, improving preparedness to protect lives. In Mexico, trained evaluators have diagnosed the safety of 200 health facilities, identifying which health facility needs improvements. In Japan, Pakistan and Peru health facilities are now build to withstand earthquakes. Multifunctional facilities for health education and agriculture are built in Bangladesh to aid relief after cyclones and floods – which saved thousands of lives after Cyclone Sidr in 2007. WHO is also urging health facilities to respond to internal emergencies, such as fires, and ensure the continuity of care.

The goal of raising awareness in this issue is to affect changes that will ensure that health facilities are able to function in the aftermath of emergencies and disasters. This means ensuring the structural resilience of health structures with existing technologies; keeping the equipment and supplies of these health facilities intact should an emergency happen; improving preparedness and risk reduction capacity of health workers; and involving communities in this effort.

Safe health facilities are those that are accessible and function at maximum capacity immediately after a disaster event. This is not just the work of the health sector and health professionals alone but experts from other fields such as urban planners, architects, engineers to bring not just awareness, but action.

Unfortunately, it is impossible to prevent most disasters. Nevertheless, we can forestall or alleviate many of their worst effects by anticipating them and by being prepared. Our concern is with reducing the adverse impact of disasters on human health, through preparedness and by bringing the right technology to bear in a timely, coordinated and effective manner, for each phase of operation, namely, relief, rehabilitation and reconstruction. (PIB Features)

Nishant takes off from WWII runway

BANGALORE: An abandoned World War II runway at a village near Kolar on Sunday played host to the first ever flight of an indigenous rotary engine-powered unmanned air vehicle (UAV), Nishant.The flight took off on early Sunday morning and climbed to an altitude of 1.8 kms effortlessly before cruising for a duration of 35 minutes.The air vehicle was recovered safely at the intended place at a dried-up lake, after a total flight duration of 40 mins.The engine, a Wankel rotary type, was the developmental project of the DRDO and was jointly designed and developed by NAL, a CSIR laboratory, VRDE, Ahmednagar and ADE, Bangalore.Very few countries in the world have the capability to develop and master this technology.The provisional flight clearance for the first indigenous prototype engine was given by the certifying agency, RCMA.The engine was cleared for flight after rigorous ground endurance test runs.The Wankel engine weighs about 30 kgs, and this engine type is known for its high power to weight ratio in a single rotor category.Performance check The performance of the engine during the flight met the requirements of the first flight of a engine in the air vehicle.This 55 hp indigenous engine is expected to replace the present imported engine of Nishant.The critical core engine, including the special cylinder composite nickel-silicon carbide coating and special aluminium alloy castings, was designed and developed by NAL.VRDE developed engine peripherals such as the ignition and fuel systems and ADE developed flight testing.The reconnaissance UAV, which has completed its user trials with the Indian Army, is expected to be handed over to the army shortly.
Courtesy: Express Buzz

Criteria for assessing sutability of officers where there is upgradation/ revision of pay scales GOI Om dated 9/3/2009

Revision of Pay scales- amendment in service/ recruitment rules GOI OM dated 24/03/2009

ATMs blocked as consumers cash in on fee relief

Niladri Bhattacharya / Mumbai April 03, 2009, 0:33 IST

Using third-party automated teller machines (ATMs) may be free now, but withdrawing cash from these machines has not been easy in many parts of the country.

During the first two days of free ATM use, when account-holders rushed to the nearest outlet to withdraw cash, many customers have had to deal with printouts saying “transaction declined”. Customers using their own banks’ ATMs did not, however, face similar problems.

Executives at State Bank of India (SBI) and ICICI Bank, which together account for over 17,000 of the nearly 40,000 ATMs, confirmed that third-party ATM use was proving difficult. The problems were the result of overloads on the national financial switch (NFS), which enables inter-bank transactions.

Transactions on a bank’s home ATM network are processed through a different switching system, while inter-bank transactions go to NFS, the country’s largest domestic network for authentication and routing payment details of various e-commerce transactions and e-government activities.

Adding to the volumes were the higher cash withdrawals at the start of the month. Typically, cash withdrawals go up ahead of a long weekend, such as the one starting tomorrow.

“The traffic has increased manifold. NFS is yet to put in place requisite systems to handle this huge volume,” said an SBI executive.

“For inter-bank transactions the routes are different and there may be a problem with satellite connectivity,” an ICICI Bank spokesperson said. Asked about the problem, an HDFC Bank spokesperson, however, said the bank’s terminals were not affected and there was no significant surge in volumes.

Bankers said the problem had also been taken up with the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) before the shift to free ATM use from April 1. “RBI has assured us that this problem will be addressed. It will take a few days for the system to be upgraded,” a bank executive said.

Although ATM use is free, for withdrawals as well as balance enquiries, banks are yet to finalise new inter-bank transaction charges.

An RBI official said the regulator has not received any complaints and the problem was not due to any pricing-related issues.

Courtesy : Business standard

Irretrievable Breakdown of Marriage-Another Ground for Divorce

The Law Commission of India submitted to the Government of India, its 217th Report on “Irretrievable Breakdown of Marriage-Another Ground for Divorice”. The Chairman of the Commission, Dr. Justice A.R.Lakshmanan, former Supreme Court Judge, forwarded the report to the Union Law Minister, Dr. Hans Raj Bhardwaj.

Section 13 of the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955 provides grounds for presentation of a petition for divorce. Section 27 of the Special Marriage Act, 1954 similarly provides grounds for grant of divorce in the case of a marriage solemnized under the Act. However, the said Acts do not provide “irretrievable breakdown of marriage” as a ground for divorce. The Law Commission of India in its 71st Report title “The Hindu Marriage Act, 1955 – Irretrievable Breakdown of Marriage as a Ground of Divorce” recommended amendments in the Hindu Marriage Act to make irretrievable breakdown of marriage as a new ground for granting divorce among the Hindus. Recently, the Supreme Court also in Naveen Kohli V. Neelu Kohli (AIR 2006 SC 1675) recommended to the Union of India to seriously consider bringing an amendment in the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955 to incorporate irretrievable breakdown of marriage as a ground for the grant of divorce.

In view of the above, the Law Commission of India suo motu took up the study of the subject. The Commission examined the extant legislations as well as a number of judgments of the Supreme Court and High Courts on the subject and has expressed the view that “irretrievable breakdown of marriage” should be incorporated as another ground for granting divorce under the provisions of the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955 and the Special Marriage Act, 1954. The Court before granting a decree for divorce on the ground that the marriage has irretrievably broken down should also examine whether adequate financial arrangements have been made for the parties and children.

Declaration of holiday on 14th April, 2009 - Birthday of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar

F.No.12/6/2009-JCA-2
Government of India
Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions
(Department of Personnel & Training)
North Block, New Delhi

Dated the 2nd April,

Declaration of holiday on 14th April, 2009 - Birthday of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar

It has been decided to declare Tuesday, the 14th April, 2009 as a Closed Holiday on account of the birthday of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, for all Central Government Offices including industrial establishments throughout India.
2. The above holiday is also being notified in exercise of the powers conferred by Section 25 of the Negotiable Instruments Act of 1881 (26 of 1881).