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Protection of Women against Sexual Harassment at Workplace Bill, 2010

The Union Cabinet today approved the introduction of the Protection of Women against Sexual Harassment at Workplace Bill, 2010 in the Parliament to ensure a safe environment for women at work places, both in public and private sectors whether organised or unorganized. The measure will help in achieving gender empowerment and equality.

The proposed Bill, if enacted, will ensure that women are protected against sexual harassment at all the work places, be it in public or private. This will contribute to realisation of their right to gender equality, life and liberty and equality in working conditions everywhere. The sense of security at the workplace will improve women's participation in work, resulting in their economic empowerment and inclusive growth.

Salient features of the Bill are as follows:

1. The Bill proposes a definition of sexual harassment, which is as laid down by the Hon'ble Supreme Court in Vishaka v. State of Rajasthan (1997). Additionally it recognises the promise or threat to a woman's employment prospects or creation of hostile work environment as 'sexual harassment' at workplace and expressly seeks to prohibit such acts. 
2. The Bill provides protection not only to women who are employed but also to any woman who enters the workplace as a client, customer, apprentice, and daily wageworker or in ad-hoc capacity. Students, research scholars in colleges/university and patients in hospitals have also been covered. Further, the Bill seeks to cover workplaces in the unorganised sectors.
3. The Bill provides for an effective complaints and redressal mechanism. Under the proposed Bill, every employer is required to constitute an Internal Complaints Committee. Since a large number of the establishments (41.2 million out of 41.83 million as per Economic Census, 2005) in our country have less than 10 workers for whom it may not be feasible to set up an Internal Complaints Committee (ICC), the Bill provides for setting up of Local Complaints Committee (LCC) to be constituted by the designated District Officer at the district or sub-district levels, depending upon the need. This twin mechanism would ensure that women in any workplace, irrespective of its size or nature, have access to a redressal mechanism. The LCCs will enquire into the complaints of sexual harassment and recommend action to the employer or District Officer.
4. Employers who fail to comply with the provisions of the proposed Bill will be punishable with a fine which may extend to ` 50,000. 
5. Since there is a possibility that during the pendency of the enquiry the woman may be subject to threat and aggression, she has been given the option to seek interim relief in the form of transfer either of her own or the respondent or seek leave from work.
6. The Complaint Committees are required to complete the enquiry within 90 days and a period of 60 days has been given to the employer/District Officer for implementation of the recommendations of the Committee.
7. The Bill provides for safeguards in case of false or malicious complaint of sexual harassment. However, mere inability to substantiate the complaint or provide adequate proof would not make the complainant liable for punishment.

Implementation of the Bill will be the responsibility of the Central Government in case of its own undertakings/establishments and of the State Governments in respect of every workplace established, owned, controlled or wholly or substantially financed by it as well as of private sector establishments falling within their territory. Besides, the State and Central Governments will oversee implementation as the proposed Bill casts a duty on the Employers to include a Report on the number of cases filed and disposed of in their Annual Report. Organizations, which do not prepare Annual Reports, would forward this information to the District Officer.

Through this implementation mechanism, every employer has the primary duty to implement the provisions of law within his/her establishment while the State and Central Governments have been made responsible for overseeing and ensuring overall implementation of the law. The Governments will also be responsible for maintaining data on the implementation of the Law. In this manner, the proposed Bill will create an elaborate system of reporting and checks and balances, which will result in effective implementation of the Law.

Orders to filling up of  PA /SA for the year 2009 and 2010 by Direct Recruitment- issued

All India Consumer Price Index Number for Industrial Workers (CPI-IW) on base 2001=100 for the month of September, 2010 increased by 1 point and stood at 179 (one hundred and seventynine).

All India Consumer Price Index Numbers for Industrial Workers on Base 2001=100 for the Month of September, 2010

All India Consumer Price Index Number for Industrial Workers (CPI-IW) on base 2001=100 for the month of September, 2010 increased by 1 point and stood at 179 (one hundred and seventynine).

During September, 2010, the index recorded an increase of 6 points each in Darjeeling, Durgapur and Jalpaiguri centres, 5 points each in Siliguri and Delhi centres, 4 points each in Angul Talcher, Rajkot and Belgaum centres, 3 points in 12 centres, 2 points in 13 centres and 1 point in 24 centres. The index decreased by 3 points in Bhopal centre, 2 points in 4 centres and 1 point in 4 centres, while in the remaining 12 centres the index remained stationary.

The maximum increase of 6 points in Darjeeling, Durgapur and Jalpaiguri centres is mainly on account of increase in the prices of Rice, Wheat Atta, Vegetable items, Electricity Charges, etc. The increase of 5 points in Siliguri and Delhi centres is due to increase in the prices of Rice, Wheat, Wheat Atta, Onion, Vegetable items, etc. The increase of 4 points in Angul Talcher, Rajkot and Belgaum centres is due to increase in the prices of Rice, Wheat, Goat Meat, Onion, Vegetable items, Tea (Readymade), etc. However, the decrease of 3 points in Bhopal centre is due to decrease in the prices of Rice, Wheat, Goat Meat, Arhar Dal, Vegetable items, etc.

The indices in respect of the six major centres are as follows:
1. Ahmedabad – 176
2. Bangalore – 185
3. Chennai – 162
4. Delhi – 169
5. Kolkata – 176
6. Mumbai – 178

The point to point rate of inflation for the month of September, 2010 is 9.82% as compared to 9.88% in August, 2010.

Grant of Dearness Relief to Central Government pensioners who are in receipt of provisional pension or pension in the pre-revised scale of 5th CPC w.e.f 1.7.2010

Payment of Commutation value of additional amount of pension in resspect of employees who retired on/after 1.1.2006 but before 2.9.2008 and expired before exercising option for commutation of additional amount of pension - Regarding

HAPPY DASSERA TO READERS, POSTAL WORKERS AND ALL BPEU MEMBERS

Extension of Risk Allowance till 3 1.12.2010.

Record Note of the Second Meeting of the Joint Committee on MACPS held under the Chairmanship of the Joint Secretary(E) DOPT on 15th September, 2010.

Implementation of Government's decision on the recommendations of Sixth Central Pay Commission - Revision of pension of pre-2006 pensioners/family pensioners etc. (clarification reg. proof of age/date of birth for additional pension/family pension) (dated 28/09/2010)

Special benefits in cases of death and disability in service payment of Disability Pension/Family pension regarding (dated 30/09/2010)

Orders for Payment of DA to GDS at revised rates w.e.f. 01/07/2010 issued by Deptt of Post

SOME DEVEPLOMENT : PL BONUS

PL BONUS TO POSTAL EMPLOYEES IS BEING DECLARED AS 60 DAYS AS DECIDED ON LAST YEAR FORMULA MAXIMUXM AMOUNT WILL BE RS 6908/-

RTI applications received by a public authority regarding information concerning other public authority - authorities.

Postal Scam involving Rs. 2.56 crore - CBI has arrested two accused

The Central Bureau of Investigation has arrested two accused (private persons) in a scam of Rs 2.56 crores relating to the senior citizen saving scheme (SCSS) accounts at a post office in Vadodara (Gujarat).

A case was registered on 18.9.2010 against four Officials of Chemical industries Sub Post Office, Vadodara; an authorized postal agent; two private persons and others under sections 120B, 420,467,468,471 IPC and 13(2) r/w 13(1) (d) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988.

It was alleged that the accused private persons in connivance with the accused Officials of sub post office reactivated 58 Senior Citizen Saving Scheme (SCSS) accounts, which were already closed and the credits of the amount were shown in these accounts in the computer of the post office. About 8 savings accounts were opened in the name of accused, their relatives and friends in the same post office The balance shown against these SCSS accounts was withdrawn. The amounts withdrawn from the SCSS accounts were deposited in the newly opened saving accounts in cash on the same day to prevent detection of cash flow variation by the Head Post Office. The accused, subsequently withdrew the amount from saving accounts by issuing cheques routed through clearing house. Thus, the accused have caused loss to the Government of India to the tune of Rs. 2.56 crores (approx) by withdrawing the amount against the closed SCSS accounts.

Searches were conducted at the residential/office premises of accused persons at eight places and documents related to investments by one of the accused to the tune of Rs. 47 lakhs (approx) were recovered.

Both the arrested accused were produced in the Designated Court at Gandhinagar and remanded to CBI custody up to 28.09.2010.

Further investigation is continuing

Grant of Dearness Relief to Central Government pensioners/family pensioners - Revised rate effective from 1.7.2010

Ministry of Finance, Department of Expenditure letter F.No.1(18)/E-II-A/2010 dated 13 July, 2010 regarding delegation of Financial Powers Rules, 1978 relating to 'Conveyance hire'

Implementation of Modified Assured Career Progression Scheme (MACPS)- Instructions on Benchmark regarding.

Modified Assured Carrier Progression Scheme (MACPS) for the Central Government Civilian Employees vide DOP&T O.M. No.350034/3/2008-Estt(D) 09 Sep, 2010

Modified Assured Carrier Progression Scheme (MACPS) for the Canteen Employees working in Non-Statutory Departmental Canteen/Tiffin Rooms located in Central Government Offices vide ...[more]

Disclosure of movement /tour details of the officers/officials working in the vigilance department of Govt Organisations

Department of Post circulated -Conditions  of child care leave have been relaxed -in view of demand submitted by Central BMS and GENC

Rate of monthly subscription and insurance cover under CGEGIS-1980 for erstwhile Group 'D' employees placed in PB-1, Grade Pay Rs. 1800/- and classified as Group 'C'(58 KB) (dated 10/09/2010)

Payment of Dearness Allowance to Central Govt Employees - revised rate effective w.e.f. from 01.07.2010 orders issued by Department of Finance.

GRANT OF PERMISSION FOR TREATMENT IN ANY HOSPITALS

Guidelines on Air Travel on Tours & LTC 

(please click)

No. 19024/1/2009-E.IV

Government of India

Ministry of Finance

Department of Expenditure

New Delhi, dated the 16th September, 2010

Office Memorandum

Subject: Guidelines on Air Travel on Tours / LTC

This Department is receiving repeated references seeking clarifications with regard to purchase of Air tickets through authorized agents and relaxation for travel by Airlines other than Indian Airlines. The following guidelines may be noted for compliance:

1. On Official Tours :
(i) For travel by Airlines other than Air India because of operational or other reasons or on account of non-availability of Air India flights, individual cases for relaxation to be referred to M/o Civil Aviation, as stated in this Ministry's OM No. 19024/1/2009-E.IV dated 13.07.09.

(ii) Air Tickets may be purchased directly from Airlines (at Booking counters/Website of Airlines) or by utilizing the services of Authorized Travel Agents viz. M/s Balmer Lawrie & Company, M/s Ashok Travels & Tours.

2. LTC :
(i) Travel by Air India only.

(ii) In Economy class only, irrespective of entitlement.

(iii) LTC-80 ticket of Air India only to be purchased.

(iv) Air Tickets may be purchased directly from Airlines (at Booking counters / Website of Airlines) or by utilizing the services of Authorized Travel Agents viz. M/s Balmer Lawrie & Company, M/s Ashok Travels & Tours and IRCTC (to the extent IRCTC is authorized as per DoP&T OM No. 31011/6/2002-Estt.(A) dt. 02.12.09).

3. LTC for J&K :
(i) Relaxation to travel by Private Airlines to visit J&K while availing LTC is available to all the categories of Govt. employees, including those entitled to travel by Air [DoPT OMs No. 31011/2/2003-Esst.(A-IV) dated 18.06.10 and 05.08.10 refer].

(ii) For purchase of Air tickets, however, the procedure as given under para 2 (iv) above should be followed.

4. All Ministries/Departments of Govt. of India are requested to strictly adhere to these instructions.

Sd/-

(Karan Singh)

Under Secretary to the Govt. of India

An increase of 10% in DA and DR -Release of additional instalment of dearness allowance to Central Government employees and dearness relief to Pensioners due from 1.7.2010 to compensate for price r

The Union Cabinet today decided to release an additional instalment of Dearness Allowance (DA) to Central Government employees and Dearness Relief (DR) to pensioners w.e.f. 1.7.2010 representing an increase of 10% over the existing rate of 35% of the Basic Pay/Pension, to compensate for price rise.

The increase is in accordance with the accepted formula, which is based on the recommendations of the 6th Central Pay Commission.

The combined impact on the exchequer on account of both Dearness Allowance and Dearness Relief will be of the order of Rs. 9303.2 crore per annum and Rs. 6202.1 crore in the financial year 2010-2011 (for a period of 8 months from July,2010 to February, 2011).