'नॅनो'ला मुहूर्त २३ मार्चचा!

"नॅनो'चा लॉंचिंग सोहळा २३ मार्च रोजी मुंबईतील "ताज हॉटेल'मध्ये अध्यक्ष रतन टाटा यांच्या प्रमुख उपस्थितीत होण्याची शक्‍यता आहे.

मुंबई - बहुप्रतीक्षित लाखाची "नॅनो' अखेर सुमारे सहा महिने उशिराने भारतीय बाजारात दाखल होत आहे. एप्रिलच्या पहिल्या आठवड्यात "नॅनो' शोरूममध्ये उपलब्ध होईल; तर याच महिन्याच्या दुसऱ्या आठवड्यात "नॅनो'साठी बुकिंग करण्याची सोय उपलब्ध होईल, असे "टाटा मोटर्स'ने आज अधिकृतररीत्या जाहीर केले. "टाटा'च्या "नॅनो'चा लॉंचिंग सोहळा २३ मार्च रोजी मुंबईतील "ताज हॉटेल'मध्ये अध्यक्ष रतन टाटा यांच्या प्रमुख उपस्थितीत होण्याची शक्‍यता आहे.
रतन टाटा यांच्या स्वप्नातील कार म्हणून एक लाख रुपयांची "नॅनो' गेल्या वर्षी १०  जानेवारी रोजी नवी दिल्लीच्या "ऑटो शो'मध्ये सादर करण्यात आली होती. त्याच वर्षीच्या ऑक्‍टोबरमध्ये "नॅनो' बाजारात आणण्याचा संकल्प टाटा यांनी यानिमित्ताने सोडला होता; मात्र राजकीय वादात कंपनीचा सिंगूर (पश्‍चिम बंगाल) येथील कारनिर्मिती प्रकल्प बंद पडल्याने, त्याचे सादरीकरण लांबले होते.
आज मात्र कंपनीने प्रसिद्धिपत्रक काढून "नॅनो' मुंबईत २३ मार्च रोजी समारंभपूर्वक सादर करण्यात येईल, असे घोषित केले. तसेच कंपनीच्या वितरकांकडे "नॅनो' एप्रिलच्या पहिल्या आठवड्यात उपलब्ध असेल आणि "नॅनो'साठी याच महिन्याच्या दुसऱ्या आठवड्यापासून बुकिंग करता येईल, असेही कंपनीने म्हटले आहे. कंपनी "नॅनो'च्या उपलब्धतेसाठी वितरकांचे जाळे वाढविण्याच्या तयारीत असल्याचे या पत्रकात म्हटले आहे.
पहिल्या टप्प्यात १,५०० नॅनो उपलब्ध?
"टाटा मोटर्स'च्या "नॅनो'ची सध्या उत्तराखंड येथील पंतनगर प्रकल्पातून निर्मिती करण्यात येत आहे. त्याचबरोबर कंपनीच्या पुण्यातील प्रकल्पातही "नॅनो'च्या जुळवणीचे काम सुरू आहे. कंपनीच्या कारखान्यात सध्या ९०० "नॅनो' तयार आहेत. उर्वरित महिन्याच्या कालावधीत आणखी ६०० "नॅनो' "टाटा मोटर्स'ला तयार कराव्या लागणार आहेत. कंपनीच्या पंतनगर प्रकल्पाची दिवसाला २५ ते ३० वाहननिर्मिती क्षमता पाहता, हे उद्दिष्ट सहज पूर्ण होण्यासारखे आहे. यानंतर कंपनी गुजरातमधील साणंद येथून "नॅनो'चे उत्पादन सुरू करील; मात्र वर्षाला सुमारे अडीच लाख वाहननिर्मिती क्षमता असलेला हा प्रकल्प यंदाच्या ऑक्‍टोबर-नोव्हेंबरनंतरच सुरू होण्याची शक्‍यता आहे.
- २३ मार्चला मुंबईत सादर होणार
- एप्रिलच्या पहिल्या आठवड्यात शोरूममध्ये
- एप्रिलच्या दुसऱ्या आठवड्यापासून बुकिंग
- किंमत एक लाख ३० हजारांच्या पुढे
- बुकिंगसाठी ७० हजार मोजावे लागणार
- निवडक वितरक, स्टेट बॅंकेत सोय उपलब्ध

Shri S.B. Ghosh Dastidar honoured with Padmshri Award

Born on 1^ST April 1947, Shri S.B. Ghosh Dastidar, graduated in Mechanical Engineering from Bengal Engineering College, Shibpur, Kolkata. He joined Indian Railway Traffic Service (IRTS) in 1969. Prior to joining as Member Traffic/Railway Board & ex-officio Secretary to Government of India, he was General Manager of Central Railway.

An officer of varied experience, Shri Ghosh Dastidar held various key positions on different Zonal Railways. He has worked as Chief Freight Transportation Manager, South Eastern Railway; Divisional Railway Manager of Bilaspur Division on the South East Central Railway and Chief Operations Manager of South Central Railway. Before assuming the charge of General Manager, Central Railway, he was holding the post of Additional Member Traffic in Railway Board.

Though a Mechanical Engineer, he has rich experience on working of different Departments and his specialization includes Operations, Commercial, Safety, besides General Management.

He had been on deputation to Jordan Railways as “Traffic Adviser” to Aqba Railway Corporation. Had his higher studies in “Transport Management & Multi Modal Operations” from the School of Merit Studies, UK. He was the Leader of the Indian Delegation for renewal of the “Samjhauta Express” and freight operations between India and Pakistan.

Govt gives 6% additional DA for its employees

The Union government approved a six per cent increase in Dearness Allowance to its over 80 lakh employees and pensioners, although it would pinch its pocket by Rs 6,020 crore in the 14 months till February 2010.

The move would, however, put more money in the hands of the salaried class whose spending may boost the economy.

The employees and pensioners would get the DA with effect from January 2009 and payable with their salaries starting next month, as per a decision cleared by the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) in New Delhi.

It was only in September 2008 that government servants got higher salaries after the Centre implemented the sixth Pay Commission's recommendations with some modifications.

The revised DA would be 22 per cent against 16 per cent at present, Home Minister P Chidambaram told reporters in New Delhi on Thursday after the CCEA meeting.

The combined burden of the increased DA to the working and retired employees will be Rs 6,020 crore in 14 months from January 2009 to February 2010.

However, the exchequer will take a hit of Rs 5,159 crore for a full year, he said.

The decision to increase DA was taken because of the rise in the consumer price index for industrial workers.

DA is revised twice a year, from 1^st January and 1st July, payable in salaries of 1^st March and 1^st September, respectively.

Written test at Ajmer for post of Asst Station Master postponed

In a joint operation by police  of three States, an alleged racket involving leaking of Railway Recruitment Board (RRB) examination papers was busted on Sunday with the arrest of 109 people, including some aspiring candidates, after raids in Jaipur and Bhopal.

Following the arrests, the written test for the post of Assistant Station Master by the RRB, Ajmer scheduled on Sunday was postponed and a new date would be announced later, the board’s chairman C L Bharti said.

While the arrests were made in Jaipur and Bhopal by the police of the respective states, they were working on a tipoff from Uttar Pradesh Police. “With the help of Rajasthan SOG and Bhopal Police raids were carried out in Jaipur and Bhopal.

Lal said, “Bediram, who was a travelling ticket examiner in NE Railway, is the mastermind. In December last year he was arrested from Allahabad by the STF, which busted a similar racket there, and was released on bail recently.” He said after he was nabbed by the STF, the railways terminated Bediram’s services. “We are trying to nab the kingpin, who is at large since being released from jail,” he added.

Brij Lal said that in December last year; the STF busted a gang leaking question papers for a railway examination, in which a few aspirants were also arrested.

“Since then the state police was tracking the gang members. Through electronic surveillance, we came to know that they have leaked the question paper of an examination being conducted by RRB Ajmer today,” he said.

The ADG said that based on the surveillance inputs two teams of UP STF were constituted to crack the network.

In Jaipur, ADG Kapil Garg, ATS & SOG, Rajasthan told reporters that the gang used to charge Rs 4 lakh per candidate. They used to tell aspiring candidates to initially pay Rs 1,000 and submit their original documents including mark sheets and certi?cates as collateral security before the examination.

Aspiring candidates would then have to pay a second instalment of Rs 50,000 after they had been able to match the leaked question paper with the actual one and ?nal payment of the balance amount had to be paid on their selection, Garg said.

Pay panel award to cost Railways Rs. 13,600 crore

                  

The Sixth Pay Commission award to 14 lakh employees and 11 lakh pensioners will cost the Indian Railways Rs 13,600 crore during 2008-09 and over Rs 14,000 crore in the coming fiscal.

The 2008-09 Rail Budget had originally provided for an ad-hoc allocation of Rs 5,000 crore to meet the incremental commitments arising from the Pay Commission award, including Rs 4,000 crore towards salaries and Rs 1,000 crore on account of pensions.

But, according to the revised estimates presented on Friday, the outgo would be much higher at Rs 13,596 crore – Rs 9,000 crore for salaries and the remaining towards pension.

Worse, for the coming fiscal, the total provision is Rs 14,614 crore (Rs 9,952 crore on salaries and Rs 4,662 crore on pension).

“If there was no Pay Commission award, staff costs would have constituted 44 per cent of our ordinary working expenses. But now, this would go up to 50 per cent this fiscal and a budgeted 52 per cent for 2009-10,” the Financial Commissioner of Indian Railways, Ms Sowmya Raghavan. But huge % is for Officer’s Pay & Pensioners Pension Only!

But, according to her, much of this extra burden is due to arrears that are in the nature of a one-time payment liability.

“The arrears component works out to Rs 15,700 crore (Rs 11,000 crore salaries and Rs 4,700 crore pension) payable over two years. The situation will hopefully revert to normal by 2010-11,” she added.

In his Interim Budget speech, the Railway Minister, Mr Lalu Prasad, sought to underplay the Pay Commission impact, claiming that the organisation will implement its recommendations “with relative ease” because of its “strong financial position”.

Unlike the experience during the Fifth Pay Commission, when the Railways ended up deferring payment of dividend to the tune of Rs 2,800 crore in 2001 and 2002, no default will take place this time, he said.

Pay Fixation in case those who were promoted/Upgraded Between 01-01-2006 to 01-09-2008

Running Staff Unity Zindabad

As NRMU Demanded Administration has agreed for Pay Fixation as per fixation table in case of those who were promoted / Upgraded Between 01-01-2006 to 01-09-2008, In-spite of their Running Pay Band/Grade Pay is same. It was the NRMU’s Payment Case Item.

NRMU Zindabad

kamagaar ekta iJandabaad

Surgical strikes are feasible militarily, says Army chief

Clarifies that there is no confusion about 'nuclear command'

Against the back drop of much-debated option of surgical strikes against terror infrastructure in Pakistan postMumbai terror attack, Army Chief Gen Deepak Kapoor has said that such strikes are "very much feasible" militarily.

"Surgical strikes are definitely feasible but whether you wish to take that decision or not is a separate issue," he said when asked whether such strikes were feasible. "Definitely yes. Whether you would like to look at doing it (carrying out such strikes) by air or artillery or by another means or physically there," he said in reply to questions.

Asked if the armed forces were ready for such strikes if the political leadership had given the go-ahead, Kapoor said, "We are an army which has been involved in operations in Kashmir and Northern Command on a perpetual basis and on an on-going basis. There fore, the question of not being ready is frankly not relevant. And we would have been fully ready to do our task."

During the wide-ranging interview, the army chief also sought to dispel the impression that there was no clarity about the nuclear command when Prime Minister Manmohan Singh was hospitalised for heart surgery last month.

Kapoor said "Yes I can say that as far as we are concerned such things keep coming up in the media at times and normally you find the prime minister does not talk about it. But as far as we were concerned, there was a lot of clarity. There was no confusion." Asked if there was no confusion and whether they were clear about who controlled the nuclear button, he said "Yes, there was no confusion at all."

Asked about apprehensions in the West of a conflict-like situation emerging in the wake of Mumbai terror attack, the army chief said over the past few weeks there seemed to have been a gradual acceptance of reality of involvement of outfits based on Pakistani soil in the Mumbai attack amongst the Pakistani establishment.

TUITION FEES PAID FOR CHILDREN U/S 80C

 

Today we will discuss important points regarding deduction available for payment of tuition fees .we try to cover each and every aspect on the issue ,if any left ,or you have different opinion than of us ,please record in comments.
Relevant part of the section 80c is reproduced here under.
"(xvii) as tuition fees (excluding any payment towards any development fees or donation or payment of similar nature), whether at the time of admission or thereafter,
(a) to any university, college, school or other educational institution situated within India;
(b) for the purpose of full-time education of any of the persons specified in sub-section (4) "
"(4) The persons referred to in sub-section (2) shall be the following, namely:

(a) ......................
b) .......................

c) for the purposes of clause (xvii) of that sub-section, in the case of an individual, any two children of such individual."
on the basic of above following points are to be noted .

1. Deduction for tuition Fees is available up to Rs.100000 /-
2. The limit of one lac as above is total limit u/s 80C for all type of savings ,plus section 80CCC(pension policy) plus u/s 80CCD(Contributory Pension Plan).Means the aggregate amount of deduction under above referred sections can not exceed Rs. 1,00,000.
3. The deduction is available to Individual Assessee and not for HUF.
4. The Deduction is available for any two children.
5. This the only clause u/s 80 C where assessee can not claim tax benefit for expenditure done on himself.Means if assessee has paid tuition fess for his studies ,he will not be eligible.
6. Deduction is not available for tuition fees paid for studies of spouse.
7. The deduction is available for Full Time courses only,so no deduction for part time or distance learning courses.(This is my opinion but point is not very clear)
8. The fees should be paid to university, college, school or other educational institution,so no rebate for private tuitions.
9. Tuition fees paid for coaching courses for admission in professional courses or any other type of courses are not covered as that fees is not paid for FULL time education.
10. The centre mention above in point 8 must be situated in India,so location should be in India though it can be affiliated to any foreign institutes.
11. In This section tuition fees has a wide meaning than normal parlance ,means here tuition fees means total fees paid minus any payment towards any development fees or donation or payment of similar nature.so admission fees is also allowed.
12. In My Opinion Transport charges ,hostel charges,Mess charges ,library fees ,scooter/cycle/car stand charges is not allowed.
13. Building fund or any donation etc not allowed.

Questions which are commonly asked regarding tuition fees eligibility u/s 80C given hereunder.

Que:Can Mother claim the benefit of tuition fees paid for his son/daughter.
Ans:Assessee means both mother and father both can take the benefit u/s 80 C for amount paid by them respectively.

Ques:If a couple have four children,can they both claim fees for two children each?
Ans:Yes ,husband and wife both have a separate limit of two children each ,so they can claim deduction for 2 children each.

Ques:If a Couple has one child and paid a fees of 200000 rs can they both claim tuition fess 100000 each ?
Ans. :yes ,they both can claim deduction for 100000 each subject to they have actually paid same amount .If husband has paid 1.50lac and wife has paid 50000 then husband can claim 100000 and wife can claim 50000.

Ques:Ram has paid tuition fees for his child 2000/- in February 2008 relates to period march to june 2008 ,how much amount he can claim deduction in assessment year 2008-09?
Ans: He can claim full 2000 rs in assessment year 2008-09 , as this deduction is available on the basis of payment and it may or may not be related to the period in which it has been paid.

Ques: Is Late fees paid with tuition fees is eligible for deduction ?
Ans:No,late fees is not eligible for deduction.

Ques:is tuition fees admissible for pre nursery class also?

Ans: pre-nursery ,play school and nursery class fees is also covered under section 80C (circular 9/2008 & 8/2007)

Ques:Ram has paid rs 36000 (rs 8000 admission fees, rs 5000 development fees rs 5000 caution money, rs 12000 annual charges and rs 6000 @rs 2000 per month for april-june 2008 fees) in dec 2008. how much he can claim reimbursement as well rebates/deductions in 2008-09 and 2009-10.
Ans:As explained above in the article, tuition fees meaning is wide in income tax as generally perceived ,so in my opinion admission fees rs 8000 ,12000 annual charges and 6000 fees is covered for claim u/s 80C .Development fees is not allowed and caution money,as it is refundable amount ,hence not allowed.You can claim the tuition fees on payment basis whether relates to this financial year ,old or coming financial year.

Ques:Are there any particular educational courses for which income tax exemption is given?
Ans:No specific course defined in the Income tax act ,but course should be in India and a full time course.

please comment.

HOUSE LOAN BENEFIT AND SECTION 80C

All most 25 % queries online are regarding housing loan benefits under income tax act and second after Queries Relating to Pan Allotment. In this post we will discuss only points relating to benefit of house loan under section 80C.we have tried to cover all the important issues but if any left or you have different thoughts than ours please record in comments section.

1. Deduction for house loan /installment available up to Rs.100000 /-
2. The limit of one lac as above is total limit u/s 80C for all type of savings ,plus section 80CCC(pension policy) plus u/s 80CCD(Contributory Pension Plan).Means the aggregate amount of deduction under above referred sections can not exceed Rs. 1,00,000.
3. The payment of loan should be made towards cost of purchase/construction of new residential house property.
4. The house property income should be assessable in the hand of assessee in simple term assessee should be the owner of the house property.
5. The payment should not be for addition or alteration to,or renovation or repair of house property done after completion of house.
6. Completion of house means
   1. completion certificate in respect of the house property by the authority competent to issue such certificate or
   2. house property or part has been occupied by the assessee or any other person on behalf of assessee or
   3. has been let out;
7. Housing loan for more than one house can also be claimed.
8. All the benefit of tax u/s 80 c will reversed if house property is sold with 5 year from purchase of house property
9. The tax benefit under section 80C is available on residential house property only and not available on commercial house property.
10. Loan should be taken from Specified institutions/deptt only given below
    1. Central or State Government
    2. any Bank including co-operative bank
    3. LIC or National Housing Bank
    4. public company formed and registered in India or co-operative society with main object to provide long term finance for construction purchase of houses in India.
    5. Assessee Employer if public company or public sector company or university established by law or a college affiliated to such university or local authority or co-operative society.
11. The benefit is available only to Individual assessee and to HUF assessee.
12. The above benefit is available even assessee already has another house property.
13. The benefit is available on payment basis ,no matter to which year payment is relates to or payment overdue or not.
14. From total amount of installment paid of house loan reduce amount availed under deduction section 24.(INTEREST)
15. The Benefit under this section is available whether residential house property is rented or self occupied,but it should be completed as define above by end of the previous year in which loan is repaid.
16. Pre EMI are also eligible for deduction if house property is completed by the end of previous year.
17. Stamp duty, registration fee and other expenses for the purpose of transfer of such house property to the assessee is also eligible for deduction under this section even assessee has not taken any loan .
18. There is no requirement that for loan ,house property should be mortgaged to the institution from which the loan has been taken ,but it should be used for the purpose of purchase /construction of house property.

please comment
cont......I will complete it u can give comment on above any way

राष्ट्रीय नैतिकतेचे अधःपतन

चंगळवादासाठी अशा मार्गाने पैसे सनदी अधिकारी गोळा करू लागले; तर देशातील नीतिमत्ता ढासळायला वेळ लागणार नाही!….

लोकसत्ताक राज्यव्यवस्थेची काही वैशिष्ट्ये व पथ्ये असतात. लोकशाहीतील सत्ता केंद्रे नागरिकांनी निवडून दिलेल्या प्रतिनिधींच्या माध्यमातून दिसून येतात. याचाच अर्थ सर्वार्थाने लोकशाहीतील सत्ता ही शेवटी देशातील प्रत्येक नागरिकांत समाविष्ट झालेली असते. नागरिक वेळोवेळी आपले प्रतनिधी निवडून देतात व त्यातूनच प्रशासनाची विविध अंगे अस्तित्वात येतात. विधिमंडळे, कार्यकारी प्रशासन व न्यायव्यवस्था ही तिन्ही अंगे लोकशाहीचे पायाभूत घटक आहेत.

राज्य, घटना व देशातील विविध विधिसंहिता यांच्या आधाराने लोकशाही राज्यप्रणाली राबविली जाते. अशा वेळेस प्रशासनाच्या सर्व घटनांतून चोख व सचोटीवर आधारित कारभार अपेक्षित असतो. प्रशासनातील पारदर्शकता, विश्‍वासार्हता, राष्ट्रनिष्ठा, प्रामाणिकता व कर्तव्यदक्षता या नैतिक मूल्यांवर लोकशाहीचे यशापयश अवलंबून असते. यातील कुठल्याही एका मूल्याला धक्का बसल्यास त्याचे गंभीर पडसाद संपूर्ण राष्ट्रभरात पसरतात म्हणूनच लोकशाहीत वैयक्तिक मोठेपणा व स्वार्थ यांना थारा नसतो.

लोकशाही मूल्ये जपताना त्यात भ्रष्टाचार, वशिलेबाजी व गैरकृत्ये यांचा शिरकाव होऊ नये म्हणून फार काळजी घ्यावी लागते. राजसत्तेतील व प्रशासनातील प्रत्येक व्यक्ती चारित्र्यसंपन्न, कर्तव्यदक्ष, संयमशील, सर्वाप्रती समभाव व न्यायप्रणालीचा आदर करणारी असावी लागते. तरच लोकशाहीचा प्रचंड रथ चालू शकतो. अन्यथा त्यात विकल्प होण्याची शक्‍यता असते. गेल्या काही वर्षांपासून देशातील नैतिकतेला प्रचंड हादरे बसल्याचे आपण पाहत आहोत. राजकीय भ्रष्टाचार व नीतिनियमता धाब्यावर बसवून स्वार्थ साधण्याचे अनेक प्रकार उघडकीस आल्याचे दृश्‍य दिसते.
गेल्या काही दिवसांत राष्ट्रीय नैतिकतेच्या अधःपतनाची परिसीमा झाल्याचे दिसून येते. त्यातील काही उदाहरणे अतिशय बोलकी व दुर्दैवी आहेत. पहिले उदाहरण म्हणजे निवडणूक आयोगातील सदस्यांत चाललेली सुंदोपसुंदी होय. देशातील न्यायसंस्था, लष्कर, निवडणूक आयोग, लोकसेवा आयोग व तत्सम राष्ट्रीय धोरणे ठरविणारी प्रशासनाची अंगे आपल्या कार्यात अतिशय चोख व कर्तव्यदक्ष असली पाहिजेत ही सर्वांचीच किमान अपेक्षा असते. परंतु त्यात बिघाड झाल्यास काय होऊ शकते याची प्रचीती निवडणूक आयोगातील सदस्यांच्या भांडणातून स्पष्ट दिसून आली.

मुख्य निवडणूक आयुक्त व त्यांच्या सहकारी आयुक्तात व्यक्तिगत स्तरावर संघर्ष झाला. त्याची परिणती कनिष्ठ असलेल्या आयुक्तांना त्वरित पदावरून हटविण्यात यावे, अशी शिफारस राष्ट्रपतींकडे करण्यापर्यंत झाली. हे भांडण अंतस्थ व विभागीय स्वरूपाचे असते, तर त्याची विशेष अशी दखल कुणी घेतली नसती, पण दोन अतिशय उच्चपदस्थ आयुक्तांचे भांडण प्रसारमाध्यमांपर्यंत पोहोचले व त्याला अनावश्‍यक राजकीय महत्त्व प्राप्त झाले. निवडणूक आयुक्तांकडे देशातील सर्व स्तरावरील निवडणुका कायदेशीर व शांततेच्या मार्गाने व्हाव्यात म्हणून फार मोठी जबाबदारी असते.
आयुक्तांची निवड उच्चपदस्थ, अनुभवी व प्रगल्भ सनदी अधिकाऱ्यांच्या माध्यमातून करण्यात येते. तारतम्य व संयम असलेले अधिकारी म्हणून त्यांचा नावलौकीक असतो. अशा अधिकाऱ्यांतच व्यक्तिगत भांडणे व्हावीत व ती त्यांनी चव्हाट्यावर आणावीत यासारखे दुसरे दुर्दैव नाही. काही महिन्यांतच लोकसभा व विधानसभांच्या निवडणुका उभ्या ठाकल्या आहेत. पुढे येणाऱ्या अत्यंत जबाबदारीच्या काळात परस्परांवर आरोप करणारे निवडणूक आयुक्त मिळाले तर लोकशाही प्रक्रियेवर काय परिणाम होईल हे प्रत्येकानेच ठरवावे. यामुळे प्रशासनाची विश्‍वासार्हता धोक्‍यात येईल.

दुसरे गंभीर उदाहरण म्हणजे गोव्यातील हरयाणा कॅडरमधील एका आयपीएस पोलिस अधिकाऱ्यानेच चक्क त्याच्या ताब्यातील मादक द्रव्याची विक्री करून लाखोंनी रुपये कमविण्याचा प्रयत्न केला. कुंपणच शेत खाते तशातला हा अत्यंत चीड आणणारा प्रकार आहे. वास्तविक सनदी अधिकाऱ्यांचे प्रशासनातील स्थान अतिशय उच्च व वादातीत असते. कायदा व सुव्यवस्था राखणे हे त्यांचे कर्तव्य असते. निर्भिड व कुठलाही पक्षपात न करता प्रशासन चालविणारे म्हणून त्यांची ख्याती असते, पण या अधिकाऱ्याने आचारसंहिता व नैतिक मूल्ये धाब्यावर बसवून सर्व प्रशासन यंत्रणेची अब्रू वेशीला टांगली.

चंगळवादासाठी अशा मार्गाने पैसे सनदी अधिकारी गोळा करू लागले; तर देशातील नीतिमत्ता ढासळायला वेळ लागणार नाही. ही दोन्ही उदाहरणे अंतर्मुख होऊन विचार करण्यासारखी आहेत.

उच्चपदस्थ अधिकारीच अशाप्रकारे बेजबाबदार वागू लागले; तर त्यांच्यावर कडक कारवाई होणे आवश्‍यक आहे. सनदी अधिकाऱ्यांना निर्भिडपणे व कुणाचाही हस्तक्षेप न होता प्रशासन करता यावे, म्हणून त्यांची निवडप्रक्रया व सेवाशर्ती इतरांपेक्षा वेगळ्या असतात. त्यांना प्रशासकीय संरक्षण दिलेले असते. केंद्र किंवा राज्य शासनाच्या परवानगीशिवाय त्यांच्यावर शिस्तभंगाची कारवाई करता येत नाही. प्रशासन व अधिकाऱ्यांनी आपल्या गैरवागणुकीचे काय परिणाम होतील, याची वेळीच काळजी घेतली पाहिजे. तसे न झाल्यास त्यांना मिळणाऱ्या संरक्षणाच्या आवश्‍यकतेचा शासनाला फेरविचार करावा लागेल. कर्तव्यभ्रष्ट अधिकाऱ्यांना वेळीच रोखल्यास संभाव्य दुष्परिणाम टाळता येतील.

Price Cut & Election-2009

 

किंगफिशरच्या पायलटांची वेतनकपात

म. टा. प्रतिनिधी

किंगफिशर एअरलाइन्सने पायलटच्या पगारात ८० हजार रुपयांची कपात करण्याचा निर्णय घेतला आहे. यापूवीर् पायलटना महिन्याला साडेचार लाख रुपये इतका पगार मिळत होता. आता तो ३ लाख ५० हजार रुपये करण्यात आला आहे, अशी माहिती नाव न छापण्याच्या अटीवर एका पायलटने दिली. पगार कपातीबरोबरच पायलटचे कामाचे तासही कमी होतील, असे याबाबत बोलताना एअरलाइन्सचे प्रवक्ते म्हणाले.

लोखंडेंचे नाव श्रम विज्ञान संस्थेला

म. टा. खास प्रतिनिधी

भारतातील कामगार चळवळीचे जनक आणि सत्यशोधक चळवळीतील बिनीचे नेते रावबहादुर नारायण मेघाजी लोखंडे यांची स्मृती चिरंतन राहण्यासाठी परळच्या महाराष्ट्र श्रम विज्ञान संस्थेला त्यांचे नाव येत्या सोमवारी ९ फेब्रुवारी रोजी समारंभपूर्वक देण्यात येणार आहे.
राज्य सरकारच्या उद्योग, ऊर्जा व कामगार विभागाच्या अधिपत्याखाली शिक्षण आणि संशोधन यासंबंधी कार्यरत असलेली सदर संस्था राज्यामध्ये आणि राज्याबाहेर देखील कामगार क्षेत्रातील एक प्रथितयश पदव्युत्तर शिक्षणसंस्था म्हणून नावाजली जाते. येत्या ९ फेब्रुवारी रोजी रा. लोखंडे यांच्या स्मृतिदिनी संस्थेचा नामकरण समारंभ सकाळी १० ते ११.३० या वेळात कामगारमंत्री नवाब मलिक यांच्या अध्यक्षतेखाली साजरा होणार असून उपमुख्यमंत्री छगन भुजबळ हे प्रमुख पाहुणे म्हणून उपस्थित राहणार आहेत. सामाजिक न्यायमंत्री चंदकांत हंडोरे, वैद्यकीय शिक्षण राज्यमंत्री सुरेश शेट्टी, गृह राज्यमंत्री नितीन राऊत, खासदार मोहन रावले, आमदार दगडूदादा सकपाळ, कामगार विभागाच्या सचिव कविता गुप्ता, संस्थेचे संचालक डॉ. राजन तुंगारे आदी मान्यवर उपस्थित राहणार आहेत.
कामगार भवनाचे उद्घाटन
याच दिवशी दुपारी ३ वाजता वांदे-कुर्ला कॉम्प्लेक्समधील इ ब्लॉक येथे कामगार भवनाचेही उद्घाटन होणार आहे. राज्य सरकारच्या उद्योग, ऊर्जा, व कामगार विभागाच्या अंतर्गत असणाऱ्या या कामगार भवनात विविध औद्योगिक सुरक्षा, आरोग्य संचालक इत्यादींची कार्यालये असतील. कामगार मंत्री नवाब मलिक यांच्या हस्ते हे उद्घाटन होणार असून वैद्यकीय राज्यमंत्री डॉ. सुरेश शेट्टी, खासदार प्रिया दत्त, आमदार जनार्दन चांदूरकर तसेच विविध कामगार संघटनांचे प्रतिनिधी यावेळी उपस्थित राहणार आहेत.

मोरू, मोरूचा बाप आणि भारतीय 'प्रजासत्ताक'!

मोरू कडाडला, 'प्रजासत्ताक, कसले प्रजासत्ताक?... प्रजासत्ताक शब्दाचा अर्थ ठाऊक आहे का तुम्हाला? प्रजासत्ताक म्हणजे प्रजेची सत्ता. प्रजेने, प्रजेचे, प्रजेसाठी चालवलेले राज्य. आहे इथे प्रजेची सत्ता? चालते इथले राज्य प्रजेसाठी? ही सत्ता प्रजा चालवते?...'
अख्खा आठवडा लोटला; बाळासाहेब ठाकरेंचा वाढदिवस, नेताजी सुभाषचंदांची जयंती हे सारे दिवस आले आणि गेले. भारताचा प्रजासत्ताक दिन अगदी उद्यावर येऊन ठेपला. चाळीत जोरदार तयारी सुरू झाली. घराघरात दरडोई गणती करून वर्गणी जमा होत होती. त्यासाठी चाळीतले शूर शिपाई सकाळपासूनच जोमाने कामाला लागले होते. त्यामुळे चाळीतली गजबजही वाढली होती. वातावरण उत्साहाचे होते.
मोरू मात्र तसाच बिछान्यात निपचित पडला होता. डोळ्यावर ऊन यायला लागले, म्हणून त्याने मोठ्या कष्टाने कूस बदलली आणि सूर्यावर उपकार केल्याच्या थाटात त्याने डोक्यावर पांघरुण ओढले. मोरूचा बाप जवळच खुचीर्त बसून पेपर वाचता वाचता मोरू उठण्याची वाट पाहात होता. त्याची आशा फळण्याची चिन्हे दिसेनात. तेव्हात तो अखेर खुचीर्तून उठला आणि बालमानसशास्त्रातील धड्यांमध्ये लिहिल्याप्रमाणे आवाजात शक्य तितके मार्दव आणण्याचा प्रयत्न करीत तो म्हणाला, 'मोरू, बेटा ऊठ. बघ, पूवेर्ला सूर्यनारायणाचे आगमन झाले आहे. त्याच्या सोनेरी किरणांच्या छटांनी विश्व व्यापून टाकले आहे... वगैरे वगैरे'. मोरूचा बाप बराच वेळ असे काही तरी लहानपणच्या कवितांच्या वर्णनांत वाचलेले बोलत होता. अखेर मोरूच्या बिछान्यात हालचाल दिसली. ती पाहून मोरूचा बाप गहिवरला, 'अरे वा! मोरू, उठतोस तर'. मोरू पुटपुटला, 'सूर्य रोजच उगवतो. रोजच त्याच्या सोनेरी किरणांच्या छटांनी जग मोहरतं. आजच विशेष काय? मला झोपू द्या. तुमची ती प्रभातगीतं आईला ऐकवा...'
पण मोरूच्या बापानं धीर सोडला नाही. त्याने बिछान्यापाशी खुचीर् ओढली आणि आवाजातील मार्दव कायम ठेवत तो म्हणाला, 'मोरू, अरे, आजचा दिवस महत्त्वाचा. २६ जानेवारी १९५०ला अशाच सकाळी भारतीय जनतेने स्वतंत्र देशाच्या राज्यघटनेचा स्वीकार केला आणि एका भव्य प्रजासत्ताकाचा जन्म झाला. त्या घटनेला उद्या ५९ वषेर् पूर्ण होणार आणि भारतीय प्रजासत्ताकाचा हीरकमहोत्सव सुरू होणार. तो दिवस अवघ्या एक दिवसावर येऊन ठेपलाय. म्हणून आजची सकाळ महत्त्वाचीच...' आपल्या भावस्पशीर् भाषणाचा मोरूवर काय परिणाम होतोय, हे पाहण्यासाठी मोरूचा बाप बिछान्याकडे टक लावून पाहू लागला.
कूस न बदलता मोरू कडाडला, 'प्रजासत्ताक, कसले प्रजासत्ताक?... प्रजासत्ताक शब्दाचा अर्थ ठाऊक आहे का तुम्हाला? प्रजासत्ताक म्हणजे प्रजेची सत्ता. प्रजेने, प्रजेचे, प्रजेसाठी चालवलेले राज्य. आहे इथे प्रजेची सत्ता? चालते इथले राज्य प्रजेसाठी? ही सत्ता प्रजा चालवते?...' आपल्या मुलाच्या मनात आततायी विचार जागे होत असल्याचे जाणवल्याने मोरूचा बाप चरकला. पण त्याने धीर सोडला नाही.
' मोरू, आपण दर पाच वर्षांनी मतदान करतो. या मतांवरच तर आपले लोकप्रतिनिधी निवडून येतात. ते आपले सरकार निवडतात. हे सरकार दर पाच वर्षांनी, किंवा अधुनमधून निवडणुकांद्वारे पुन्हा पुन्हा जनतेला सामोरे जाते आणि नव्याने कौल घेते. म्हणजेच हे प्रजेचे, प्रजेसाठी चाललेले सरकार नाही काय?' आपण हुकमाचे पान टाकून मोरूला गारद केले, याचे छद्मी हास्य मोरूच्या बापाच्या चेहऱ्यावर विराजमान होणार, तोच आतापर्यंत आडवा असलेला मोरू चादर झटकून देऊन बिछान्यातच बसला.
मोरू उठला, हा मोरूच्या बापाचा विजयच होता. पण मोरू त्वेषाने म्हणाला, 'आम्ही देतो आमचे लोकप्रतिनिधी निवडून? तसे असते, तर निवडणुकीच्या आदल्या रात्री लुगडी, धोतरजोड्या, दारू आणि पाचशेच्या नोटा वाटण्याची गरज का पडली असती? बरे, दारोदार फिरून मतांचा जोगवा मागणारे हे दास हनुमान मतदानाच्या दुसऱ्याच दिवशी वीर हनुमान का बनतात? पुढची पाच वषेर् ते कुठे गायब होतात? ते पोलिस स्टेशनात गंुडांना जामीन मिळावा म्हणून प्रयत्न करताना आणि बिल्डर्सबरोबर एफएसआय वाढवून घेण्याच्या योजना आखतानाच का दिसतात? मुंबईत प्रलय झाला, तेव्हा ते कुठल्या बिळात शिरून बसतात? आणि अतिरेक्यांचा हल्ला झाला, तेव्हा तोंडे का लपवतात? ते प्रजेसाठी कारभार करतात, तर यूएलसीचा कायदा बहुमताच्या जोरावर कसा संमत होतो? आणि एका भ्रष्ट न्यायमूतीर्विरुद्धच्या अभियोगाच्या कारवाईविरुद्ध मतदान कसे होते? 'पोटा'चा आवश्यक कायदा केवळ राजकारण म्हणून बहुमताच्या जोरावर कसा रद्द होतो? संसद भवनावर हल्ल करणाऱ्या अफझल गुरूच्या फाशीच्या शिक्षेची अंमलबजावणी होण्यासाठी लोकप्रतिनिधी आग्रह धरत नाहीत पण स्वत:चे वेतन व भत्ते वाढवण्याची विधेयके कशी बिनविरोध संमत होतात? लोकसभेत सर्वांसमक्ष नोटांची बंडले ओतली जातात, तरी दोषी कोण याचा पत्ता मात्र लागत नाही... ही सगळी प्रजेच्या राज्याची लक्षणे आहेत का, बाबा?'
मोरूच्या बापाला हे बाऊन्सर चुकवणे कठीण जात होते आणि ते खेळणे तर अशक्य होते. पण तरीही मोरूच्या बापाने पराभव मान्य केला नाही. 'मोरू, भारतीय प्रजासत्ताक अद्याप नवे आहे. ब्रिटिश लोकशाहीला चारशे वर्षांची, तर अमेरिकन लोकशाहीला दोनशे वर्षांची परंपरा आहे. आपले आसपासचे देश पाहा. नेपाळ, बांगला देश, श्रीलंका, पाकिस्तान या साऱ्या देशांच्या राज्यघटना पाहा. त्या किती वेळा बदलल्या? आपली घटना ५९ वषेर् टिकली. हे घटनेचे सार्मथ्य आणि राज्यर्कत्यांचे कसब नाही का?' मोरूच्या बापाचा सवाल बिनतोड होता.
पण मोरू बापाइतकाच हट्टी आणि पेटलेला होता. त्याचा युक्तिवाद पुढे सुरू झाला. 'बरोबर आहे, १९५० साली डॉ. बाबासाहेब आंबेडकरांनी जी घटना तयार केली, तीच आजही आहे. पण ती खरेच तशीच आहे का? या घटनेत शंभराहून अधिक सुधारणा झाल्या. अनेक कलमे गळली, अनेक नवी आली, काही दुरुस्त झाली. तरीही तीच घटना कायम आहे, असे सांगूत तुम्ही कोणाची फसवणूक करता? जगाची की, तुमची स्वत:चीच? ५९ वषेर् घटना टिकली, असे मानले, तरी त्यामुळे कोणाचे भले झाले? गरीब गरीबच राहीला आणि श्रीमंत अधिक श्रीमंत झाला. समतेच्या आणभाका घ्यायच्या आणि दुसऱ्या बाजूला रिझवेर्शनच्या जाती वाढवण्याच्या मागणीला राजकारण म्हणून पाठिंबा द्यायचा? आथिर्क विषमता वाढत चालली, सुशिक्षित बेकारांच्या संख्येत वाढ झाली, २१वे शतक उजाडले, विज्ञानाची प्रगती झाली, असे सांगितले जाऊ लागले, तरी शेतकऱ्याच्या आत्महत्या वाढतच राहिल्या; हातांना काम नाही आणि कामाला मोल नाही. तरी आमची प्रगती झाली असे मानायचे, कारण काय, तर सेन्सेक्स वधारला. मुंबईवर अतिरेक्यांचा हल्ला झाला, तर तो करणाऱ्या अजमल कसाबला न्यायालयात वकील मिळवून देण्यासाठी काहींची निर्लज्ज धडपड. का? तर म्हणे घटनेत प्रत्येकाला न्यायालयात स्वत:चा बचाव करण्यासाठी वकील देण्याची सरकारची जबाबदारी आहे. ज्याने भारतीय भूमीत घुसून निरपराध नागरिक व पोलिसांवर गोळ्या झाडल्या, त्याला कायद्याचे संरक्षण आणि गरीब मात्र वकिलाची फी देण्याची ऐपत नाही, म्हणून न्यायापासून वंचित, असे जर घटनेच्या नावाखाली होत असेल, तर काय करायचे?'
मोरू बापाकडून उत्तराची अपेक्षा करत होता, पण सारे कसे शांत शांत! आपला बाप अचानक अदृश्य झाल्याचे मोरूच्या ध्यानात आले. त्याने इथे तिथे शोधले, तर मोरूचा बाप मोरूच्याच अंथरुणात शिरून डोक्यावरून पांघरुण ओढत आपला चेहरा लपवत होता. (Mah.Times)

ये बंदा कौन हॅ ?

"एक बंदा हॅ, जो रोटी बनाता हॅ
एक बंदा हॅ, जो रोटी खाता हॅ
एक बंदा और हॅ, जो न रोटी बनाता हॅ न वो रोटी खाता हॅ
ये बंदा रोटी से खेलता हॅ
ये बंदा कौन हॅ ?
और ईस बात पे हम मौन हॅ."

माथेरान मिनी ट्रेनची ट्रॅक्‍टरला धडक, पर्यटक-कर्मचारी बचावले

 

सकाळ वृत्तसेवा

माथेरान मिनी ट्रेनचे इंजिन अपघातानंतर असे कोसळले होते. ट्रॅक्‍टरची झालेली अवस्था. (छायाचित्र- सकाळ छायाचित्र सेवा)

माथेरान - माथेरानवरून नेरळकडे निघालेल्या मिनी ट्रेनला शनिवारी सकाळी मोठा अपघात झाला. या अपघातात मिनी ट्रेनमधील साठ पर्यटक आणि नऊ रेल्वे कर्मचाऱ्यांचे प्राण वाचले आहेत.

दीड महिन्यातील हा दुसरा मोठा अपघात आहे. नेरळ पेट्रोल पंपासमोर कर्जत-कल्याण राज्यमार्गावरील क्रॉसिंगवर गेटमन नसल्याने दुसऱ्यांदा हा अपघात घडला. या अपघातात धडक बसलेल्या ट्रॅक्‍टरचे मोठे नुकसान झाले असून चालक जखमी झाला आहे. त्याच्यावर खासगी रुग्णालयात उपचार सुरू आहेत. दरम्यान या घटनेची नोंद घेण्याची तसदी रेल्वे पोलिसांनी घेतली नाही. रेल्वेच्या अधिकाऱ्यांना कर्जत रेल्वे पोलिसांकडे पाठविण्यात आले आहे.
आज मिनी ट्रेनमधून ६० पर्यटक प्रवासी प्रवास करीत होते. माथेरान येथून ही ट्रेन सकाळी ९ वाजून २५ मिनिटांनी सुटली. नेरळ स्टेशनपासून दीड किलोमीटर अंतरावरील १२ क्रमांकाच्या क्रॉसिंगवर या मिनी ट्रेनची धडक कर्जतकडून नेरळकडे जाणाऱ्या मातीने भरलेल्या मालवाहू ट्रॅक्‍टरला बसली. क्रॉसिंगवरील गेटवर लोखंडी साखळ्या लावण्यासाठी रेल्वेचा गेटमन नसल्याने हा अपघात घडला. या अपघातात मिनी ट्रेनची धडक एवढी जबरदस्त होती की, ट्रॅक्‍टर २०-२२ मीटर लांब फेकला गेला. त्याच वेळी मिनी ट्रेनचे इंजिन रुळावरून खाली घसरले. मिनी ट्रेनच्या पहिल्या वर्गाच्या डब्यात दोन, तर दुसऱ्या श्रेणीच्या डब्यात ५६ प्रवासी होते.
घाबरलेल्या पर्यटकांनी अपघातानंतर दीड कि.मी. अंतर सामानासह चालत नेरळ गाठले. नेरळ पेट्रोल पंपावरील कर्मचाऱ्यांनी घटनास्थळी धाव घेतली. अपघातामुळे राज्यमार्ग बंद झाला होता. तो पोलिसांनी तासानंतर मोकळा केला.
दरम्यान, या घटनेचा माथेरानच्या पर्यटन व्यवसायावर कोणताही परिणाम होऊ म्हणून पनवेलचे प्रांताधिकारी मुकेश काकडे, नायब तहसीलदार रवींद्र कुंटे, सहायक पोलिस निरीक्षक मालोजी शिंदे यांनी पर्यटकांना धीर देण्याचा प्रयत्न केला. ट्रॅक्‍टरचा चालक राम मुकणे नेरळमधील खासगी रुग्णालयात उपचार घेत आहे.

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स्पैम मेल में हो सकते हैं आतंकियों के गुप्त संदेश

नई दिल्ली:- अगर आप अपने ई-मेल के इनबाक्स में आने वाले स्पैम मेल को बेकार का संदेश समझकर बिना देखे ही मिटा देते हैं तो थोड़ा सतर्क हो जाएं। यह आतंकवादियों का अपने साथियों को भेजा गया कूटबद्ध संदेश भी हो सकता है।

अपनी उपद्रवकारी गतिविधियों की योजना बनाने और उन्हें अंजाम देने के लिए आतंकवादी अब इंटरनेट और अन्य संचार प्रौद्योगिकी का धड़ल्ले से इस्तेमाल कर रहे हैं। खुफिया एजेंसियों का अनुमान है कि रोजाना लाखों की संख्या में भेजे जाने वाले स्पैम मेल में से कुछ आतंकवादियों का काम हो सकते हैं।

गृह मंत्रालय के एक वरिष्ठ अधिकारी ने शुक्रवार को कहा, 'वर्तमान में कई साफ्टवेयर और वेबसाइट उपलब्ध हैं जिनसे कोई भी आसानी से ई-मेल धारियों को स्पैम भेज सकता है। आतंकवादी तकनीक के इस्तेमाल के मामले में पहले की तुलना में अब कहीं अधिक सक्षम हो गए हैं। वे लाखों लोगों को एक साथ स्पैम भेज रहे हैं। इनमें से एक संदेश उस व्यक्ति को भी जाता है जिसे वह भेजना चाहते हैं।'

उन्होंने स्पष्ट किया कि लाखों लोगों तक गुप्त संदेश भेजने के इस तरीके का इस्तेमाल करने के पीछे आतंकवादियों की किसी भी तरह के खतरे से बचने की मंशा हो सकती है। उन्होंने कहा, '99 फीसदी लोग स्पैम मेल को देखने की जहमत नहीं उठाते। ये स्पैम मेल आमतौर पर ई-मेल सेवा प्रदाता के मजबूत फायरवाल के जरिए भेजे जाते हैं। आमतौर पर लोग उसे मिटा देते हैं। लेकिन, आतंकियों के संदेश कूटबद्ध होते हैं इसलिए कोई साधारण व्यक्ति उन्हें समझ नहीं सकता।'

गरीब रथ

मंडलों की लड़ाई में खिलौना बनी गरीब रथ

 

कानपुर :- नई दिल्ली से रांची जाने वाली गरीब रथ एक्सप्रेस को जबरन कानपुर सेंट्रल तक लाने का पूरा मामला एक 'शर्मनाक नाटक' था। रेल मंडलों के वर्चस्व की लड़ाई में कानपुर के चालकों ने अफवाह फैलाई थी ट्रेन को अप्रशिक्षित चालक लेकर निकल भागे। जबकि ट्रेन लाने वाले गाजियाबाद के दोनों चालक मेल और एक्सप्रेस के हैं। अलबत्ता रेलवे अफसरों की चुप्पी के कारण यह घटना सनसनी बन गयी।

बुधवार को नई दिल्ली से चली गरीब रथ एक्सप्रेस को चालक हर स्वरूप और सहायक चालक रामेश्वर कानपुर सेंट्रल लाए। ट्रेन के यहां पहुंचने से पहले ही कानपुर सेंट्रल के चालकों ने जबरन ट्रेन लेकर आने की अफवाह फैला दी। इसे लेकर बवाल हो गया। रेल मंडल प्रबंधक दीपक दबे ने गुरुवार को बताया कि कानपुर में कुछ चालकों ने अफवाह फैलाई थी, सच्चाई यह है कि गाजियाबाद के दोनों चालक मेल एक्सप्रेस के हैं। उन्हें ही ट्रेन लानी थी। वे नशे में भी नहीं थे। इसलिए उन पर कोई कार्रवाई नहीं की जाएगी। गाजियाबाद के दोनों चालक सेंट्रल स्टेशन से रात में ही अपने डिवीजन के लिए रवाना हो गए। फिर भी पूरे मामले की जांच होगी। जिन्होंने अफवाह फैलाई, उनके खिलाफ जांच के आधार पर कार्रवाई की जाएगी। दरअसल, मामला इलाहाबाद और दिल्ली मंडल के वर्चस्व का है। कोई भी नई ट्रेन चलती है तो दोनों मंडल का स्टाफ उसे लेना चाहता है।

नई ट्रेन क्यों लेना चाहते हैं मंडल :

सूत्रों के अनुसार नयी ट्रेन लेने के पीछे उद्देश्य होता है कि इसमें मंडल के टीसी, टीटीई, चालक, गार्ड या सभी अतिरिक्त स्टाफ समायोजित हो जाता है। चालक, गार्ड व अन्य स्टाफ को यात्रा भत्ता भी किमी के हिसाब से फिक्स हो जाता है। पदोन्नति के मौके भी बढ़ जाते हैं।

इन ट्रेनों को लेकर हो चुका विवाद :

स्वर्णशताब्दी एक्सप्रेस को लेकर लखनऊ और कानपुर मंडल में ठनी। प्रयागराज एक्सप्रेस चली तो कानपुर और इलाहाबाद मंडल में टकराव हुआ। उद्योगनगरी एक्सप्रेस व बेतवा एक्सप्रेस चली तो झांसी मंडल और कानपुर मंडल आमने-सामने आए। गरीब रथ एक्सप्रेस को लेकर दिल्ली और कानपुर में तनातनी है।

डब्बावाला की तर्ज पर यूएस में टिफिन मील्स

 

न्यूयार्क:- मुंबई में 'डब्बावाला' की सफलता से प्रेरित होकर अमेरिका के एक रेस्तरां चेन ने बोस्टन और कैंब्रिज के आफिसों व घरों में टिफिन में भोजन पहुंचाने की शुरुआत की है। इन सेवाओं को कंपनी 'टिफिन मील्स' नाम के अंतर्गत दे रही है।

बोस्टन में रेस्तरां चेन के एक समूह 'वन व‌र्ल्ड क्विजीन' ने कहा कि घरों व आफिसों में खाना पहुंचाने की शुरुआत कर दी गई है। ऐसी सेवाएं पहले से ही ब्रिटेन, आस्ट्रेलिया और सिंगापुर में लोकप्रिय हैं। समूह को अमेरिका में भी इसके खासे लोकप्रिय होने की पूरी उम्मीद है।

उल्लेखनीय है कि टिफिन में पारंपरिक भारतीय भोजन को आफिसों और घरों तक पहुंचाने में मुंबई के डब्बावालों को महारत हासिल है।

रेस्तरां चेन 'वन व‌र्ल्ड क्विजीन' ग्रुप के अध्यक्ष अमरिक पाबला ने कहा कि 'टिफिन मील्स' को अपनी सेवाओं में शामिल करके हम बहुत उत्साहित हैं। अब हमारे ग्राहक कंपनी की वेबसाइट पर बस एक क्लिक कर अपने मनपसंद खाने का आर्डर दे सकते हैं। उन्होंने बताया कि टिफिन मील्स के खानसामा रोजाना सुबह ताजा भोजन तैयार करते हैं। जिन टिफिन में खाना भेजा जाता है, उन्हें ग्राहकों को लौटाने की जरूरत नहीं होती है।

मौजूदा समय में टिफिन मील्स केवल दोपहर का भोजन ही उपलब्ध करा रहा है। फिलवक्त ये सेवाएं बोस्टन और कैंब्रिज तक ही सीमित हैं। टिफिन में सूप के अलावा दाल, चावल, प्याज, चटनी और नान दिया जाता है।

House Building Advance to Central Government Employees

HBA

1. The Scheme of House Building Advance to Central Government Employees is aimed at providing assistance to the Government employees to construct/acquire house/flats of their own. The scheme was introduced in 1956, as a welfare measure. Ministry of Urban Development & Poverty Alleviation act as the nodal Ministry for the same.

2. House Building Advance is admissible to all those temporary employees also who have rendered 10 years of continuous service. The Ministries/Departments are delegated powers to sanction House Building Advance to their employees in accordance with the House Building Advance Rules.

3.With effect from 27-11-2008, the following provisions of grant of House Building Advance shall be in operation, until further orders:-

(i).The maximum limit for grant of HBA shall be 34 months’ of pay in the pay band subject to a maximum of Rs. 7.50 lakh or cost of the house or the repaying capacity whichever is the least, for new construction/purchase of new house/flat.

(ii).The maximum limit for grant of HBA for enlargement of existing house shall be 34 months’ pay in the pay band subject to a maximum of Rs. 1.80 lakh or cost of the enlargement or repaying capacity, whichever is the least.

(iii).The cost ceiling limit shall be 134 times the pay in the pay band subject to a minimum of Rs.7.50 lakh and a maximum of Rs.30 lakh relaxable up to a maximum of 25% of the revised maximum cost ceiling of Rs.30 lakh.

4. The rate of interest on House Building Advance is between 5% to 9.5% ,depending on the loan amount.

5. The repaying capacity of Govt. servants who have more than 20 years of remaining service has been revised from 35% to 40% of pay. (Pay means pay in the pay band).

6. The salient features of House Building Advance Rules are as follows-

1. ELIGIBILITY

• Permanent Government employees.
• Temporary Government employees who have rendered at least 10 years continuous service.
• To be granted once during the entire service.

If both the husband and wife are Government of India employees and eligible for HBA, it shall be admissible to only one of them.

2. PURPOSE

HBA is granted for:

1. Constructing a new house on the plot owned by the official or the Official and the Official’s wife/husband jointly.
2. Purchasing a plot and constructing a house thereon.
3. Purchasing a plot under Co-operative Schemes and Constructing a house thereon or acquiring house through membership of Co-operative Group Housing Scheme.
4. Purchasing /construction of house under the Self-Financing scheme of Delhi, Bangalore, U.P., Lucknow etc.
5. Outright purchase of new ready-built house/flat Housing boards, Development Authorities and other statutory or semi-Government bodies and also from private parties.*
6. Enlarging living accommodation in an existing house owned by the official or jointly with his/her wife/husband. The total cost of the existing structure (excluding cost of land) and the proposed additions should not exceed the prescribed cost ceiling.
7. Repayment of loan or advance taken from a Government or HUDCO or Private source even if the construction has already Commenced, subject to certain conditions.
8. Constructing the residential portion only of the building on a Plot which is earmarked as a shop-cum-residential plot in a Residential colony.

* Private party means registered builders but not private individuals.

3. CONDITIONS:

a) The applicant or spouse or minor child should not already own a house in the town/Urban agglomeration where the house is proposed to be constructed or acquired.

b) The title to the land should be clear. The land may be owned either:

- by the Government employee; or

- jointly by the Government employee and spouse.

c) COST CEILING

134 times of pay in the pay band subject to a minimum of Rs. 7.50 lakh and a maximum of Rs.30 lakh

Administrative Ministry may relax the cost ceiling to 25% of cost ceiling mentioned above in the individual cases on merits.

(Effective from 27th November, 2008)

d) AMOUNT OF ADVANCE:

• will be the LEAST of the following:-

(i) 34 times the pay in the pay band.

(ii) The cost of construction.**

(iii) Rs. 7,50,000/- ***

(iv) Repaying Capacity.

** 80% of cost in rural areas.

*** Rs. 1,80,000/- in case of enlargement of existing house.

e) REPAYING CAPACITY:-

Repaying Capacity is computed on the following basis:-

S. No.	Length of remaining service of the applicant.	Repaying Capacity
1.	Retiring after 20 years.	40% of pay @
2.	Retiring after 10 years but not later than 20 years.	40% of pay @ plus 65% of * Retirement Gratuity
3.	Retiring within 10 years	50% of pay @ plus 75% of * Retirement Gratuity.

@ Pay means pay in the pay band

4. DISBURSEMENT OF ADVANCE:

S. No.	Purpose of HBA	Disbursement
(1)	(2)	(3)
(i)	For construction/enlargement (single or double storeyed).	50% - 50%	on execution of mortgage deed on construction reaching plinth level (Ground Floor).
(ii)	For purchase of land and construction (Single storeyed)	40% or - actual cost 30% - 30% -	for purchase of plot on execution of agreement and production of Surety Bond. On execution of Mortgage deed. On construction reaching plinth level.
(iii)	For purchase of land and construction (Double storeyed)	35% or actual cost 32.5% - 32.5% -	for purchase of plot on execution of agreement and production of Surety bond. On execution of the mortgage deed. On construction reaching the plinth level.
(iv)	For purchase of ready built house/flat	100% - in one lumpsum.
(v)	For acquiring flat/house from Co-operative Group Housing Society.	20% - 80% -	Towards purchase of land by the Society. in suitable installments on receipt of demand (pro-rate basis)
(vi)	For purchase of flat under SFS of Development Authorities etc.		No payment for initial registration Deposit. May be released in not more than 5 instalments. But the fifth and final instalment should not be less than 10% and is to be released for making final payment.

5. TIME SCHEDULE FOR UTILISATION OF HBA:

S. No.	Purpose	Time limit
(a)	Purchase of registered plot on which construction can commence immediately.	Sale deed to be produced within 2 months.
(b)	Purchase of ready built house.	Acquisition and mortgage to Government to be completed within 3 months.
(c)	Purchase/construction of new flat	Should be utilised within one month of sanction.

6. REPAYMENT OF ADVANCE:

The recovery of advance shall be made in not more than 180 monthly installment and interest shall be recovered thereafter in not more than 60 monthly installments. In case Government servant is retiring before 20 years, repayment may be made in convenient installments and balance may be paid out of Retirement Gratuity.

7. INTEREST

The rate of interest on Housing Building Advance with effect from 1^st April, 2003 are as follows:-

S. No.	Amount of Advance sanctioned to a Government Servant	Rate of Interest on HBA (Per Annum).
1.	Upto Rs. 50,000/-	5%
2.	Upto Rs. 1,50,000	6.5%
3.	Upto Rs. 5,00,000/-	8.5%
4.	Upto Rs. 7,50,000/-	9.5%

8.COMMENCEMENT OF RECOVERY:

Construction of a house or enlargement of living accommodation	* From pay for the month following the completion. Or The pay for the 18th month after date of payment of the 1st installment, whichever is earlier.
Purchase of land and construction.	* From pay for the month following the completion of the house. Or The pay for the 24th month after date of drawl of instalment for purchase of land, whichever is earlier.

Ready built flat.	* Pay for the month following the month in which advance was drawn.
Purchase of Flat under SFS from Development Authority/Housing Society.	* From the pay for the 18th month after date of payment of 1st instalment.

* The sanctions of HBA should invariable stipulate a higher rate of interest at 2.5% above prescribed rates with the stipulation that if conditions attached to the sanction are fulfilled, rebate of interest to the extent of 2.5% will be allowed.

9. CREATION OF SECOND MORTGAGE:

The Government servants who have obtained HBA from the Government may be permitted to create a second charge on the property provided they obtain prior permission of the Head of the Department and the draft deed of second mortgage is submitted to the Head of the Department for scrutiny. Such a second charge may be created only in respect of loans to be granted for meeting the balance cost of houses/flats by recognised financial institutions.

10.PROVISIONS FOR SAFE RECOVERY OF HOUSE BUILDING ADVANCE:

(i). As a safeguard of the House Building advance, the loanee Government employee has to insure the house immediately on completion or purchase of the house, as the case may be, at his own cost with Life Insurance Corporation of India and its associated units. The house/flat constructed/purchased with the help of House Building advance can also be insured with the private insurance companies which are approved by Insurance Regulatory Development Authority(IRDA). However, the insurance should be taken for a sum not less than the amount of advance against damage by fire, flood and lightning, and has to be continued till the advance together with interest is fully repaid to Government.

(ii).The house constructed/purchased with the help of House Building Advance has also be mortgaged in favour of the President of India within a stipulated time unless an extension of time is granted by the concerned Head of the Department. After completion of the recovery of the advance together with interest thereon, the mortgage deed is re-conveyed in a proper manner.

Modification in the Travelling Allowance

New order dated 22.01.09

At last CG Officers working in field formations could breath easy after this new stand taken by the department on TA Rules.

As you are all aware of the modified Travelling Allowance Rules as per Office Memorandum dated 23.09.08 consequent on Sixth pay commission recommendations, which was based on reimbursement principle (i.e.) Officers have to produce receipts for the amount spent on accommodation, food, transportation etc.

This principle may be fine for the officers who travel to a cities, as the charges for lodging, transportation etc could be claimed at actual subject to a maximum ceiling.

However, Officers who had to travel on duty to remote places like villages sea shores were really put to hardship because they could not get the receipts for the amount spent by them for food as it would be meaningless to ask for serially numbered bill from a small Hotelier or “Dhabawala” in those places.  Even for those who travel long distances in trains in which fare is not inclusive of food, it would be very difficult to get receipts for food from pantry car or railway platform salesmen.

Now, this hardship has been done away with by the issue of new Office Memorandum dated 22.01.2009, as the Govt has decided to sanction daily allowance on tour, based on earlier office memorandum dated 17.04.1998 in case the officers  opted to claim slab rate based daily allowance instead of reimbursement based travelling allowance prescribed vide office memorandum dated 23.09.08.

In a nutshell, this new order provides the choice to the Officers for claiming the Travelling allowance either based on old TA rates as per the office memo dated 17.04.98 or at actual using the bills for food etc as per the office memorandum dated 23.09.08.  However, Officers can not mix up these two orders for a single tour.

Download memorandum from Ministry of Finance website - http://finmin.nic.in/6cpc/TARules_6cpc.pdf

SIXTH PAY COMMISSION IMPLEMENTED TO MAHARASHTRA STATE GOVT STAFF

Pune – Lonavala Local New Time Table

Angry commuters disrupt Western Railway services Local train cancellation sparked off the agitation

Angry commuters disrupt Western Railway services Local train cancellation sparked off the agitation

Services on the busy suburban line of the Western Railway, where nearly 63 lakh people commute daily, came to a sudden halt on Wednesday morning after thousands of angry commuters blocked rail tracks demanding more trains from suburban Borivali to Churchgate.

The agitation sparked off when the railways abruptly announced the cancellation of a 9.10 am Churchgate bound fast local from Borivali. Thousands of protestors blocked the tracks and did not allow north or south bound services to operate from Borivali. Trains beyond suburban Andheri were also disrupted and many commut ers had to resort to alternative modes like road transport to get to their destinations.

According to Government Railway Police Commissioner (Mumbai) A K Sharma around 30 people, including 15 women, have been detained. Sharma said that they would be charged under relevant sections like rioting and destruction of railway property.

Commuters had to take to alternative modes like road transport to get to their destinations. State-run BEST provided extra buses to cater to people. Trains were operational in the Virar-Borivli section and Andheri-Churchgate section on the Western line, but the services were running very late. Five outstation trains were also delayed, railway officials said. "I had to take a rickshaw to get to my workplace since it was not clear when the protest would end," a commuter said. Actor and Congress MP from north Mumbai Govinda claimed that the "protests are motivated" as the number of trains had been increased on the line. "In the last five years, the number of train services on the western line have been increased considerably," he said. The WR had witnessed protests last year as well over services between the stations of Borivli and Virar with commuters demanding more trains to cater to the growing population.

According to commuters, the agitation was a spontaneous response to the problem they had been facing for the past one-year.

No Need of Mass CL Govt Agreed to Settle ALPs & Mileage Issue

As demanded by AIRF & NRMU railway board has agreed to setup a “Departmental Review Committee” instead of Pay Anomaly Committee to resolve all the Running staff Matters like: ALPs Grade Pay, Poor Mileage Rate, Arrears From 01.01.2006, HOER Committee formation, Atrocious condition of Running room etc. Now running staff problems will be solved soon within overall Limit of Two Months. Its power of Unity & faith of Running Staff towards AIRF /NRMU. Hence Masse CL programme of 12/02/2009 has been cancelled.

Running Staff Unity Zindabad

NRMU Zindabad

AIRF Zindabad

 

Passengers unhappy, Rlys decides to drop extra berth in coaches

 

Having already introduced a third foldable berth between the two side berths in around 7,000 AC-3 and Sleeper class coaches in the past few months, the Indian Railways, facing immense flak over passenger discomfort, is ready to give the idea a quiet burial.

Even as the Railway Ministry recently sought a feedback on the move from the travelling public by putting up a feedback form on its reservation website, senior Railway Ministry officials told The Indian Express that an “in principle” decision has already been taken that no new coaches manufactured from now on will have the additional berth.

Also, the Railways has dropped the idea of retrofitting another 9,000 coaches it had planned to earlier. However, the existing “high-capacity coaches”, as they are called, will continue to be used by passengers, said ministry sources.

“A significant sum of money has already been spent in providing the extra berth in around 7,000 coaches. While most of these coaches were old and retrofitted with the additional berth, some new coaches have also been made to have this provision. There is no going back on this. What we have decided is that no new coaches manufactured from now on will have this provision,” a senior Rail Bhavan official, requesting anonymity, said.

Introducing this additional berth had enabled the Railways to increase the seating capacity in AC 3 coaches from 64 to 72 and in Sleeper coaches from 72 to 81.

The Railways had also offered discounts ranging between 4 to 8 per cent in these high-capacity coaches. However, the move led to sharp public outcry with hundreds of passenger complaints pouring in.

One of the primary complaints related to the fact that the passenger using this extra-berth to sleep during the night was being accommodated with the three passenger using the berth on the cabin side to sit during the daytime. Another problem arose when the Railways decided to put a few high-capacity coaches in between conventional coaches. “This sent the entire seating system haywire. A person who was allotted a lower berth at the time of booking found himself on an upper berth at the time of travel because the conventional coach had been replaced by a high-capacity one,” an official explained.

Government okays setting up of railway locomotive factories

New Delhi, Feb 5, 2009 : The government Thursday approved a proposal to set up two Greenfield electric and diesel locomotive factories in Bihar at an estimated investment of Rs.20 billion (Rs.2,000 crore).The factories will be set up in Madhepura and Saran districts as a joint venture between Indian Railways and an international manufacturer.

The companies short-listed for the joint venture include Alstom of France, Germany’s Bombardier and Siemens, General Electric’s Indian subsidiary and EMD of the US.

The railways ministry will procure 800 electric locomotives of 12,000-horse power (HP) each and 1,000 diesel locomotives of 4,500/6,000 HP each from these factories over a period of 10 years.

These locomotives will also be maintained by the joint venture company over the next 26 years.

Jharkhand railway station named after Netaji

 

Ranchi, Jan 23 : Indian Railways Friday paid tributes to freedom fighter Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose by renaming a railway station in Jharkhand after him.Railways Minister Lalu Prasad announced the new name of the Gomo railway station that comes under the Dhanbad railway division.

The railway station will be now known as the Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose railway station, Lalu Prasad said.

Bose had stayed for some time in Gomo when his Indian National Army was fighting British rule in the country.

“In the coming months, Jharkhand will get many gifts from the Indian Railways,” Lalu Prasad said.

Departmental Review Committee Formed

As demanded by AIRF & NRMU railway board has agreed to setup a “Departmental Review Committee” instead of Pay Anomaly Committee to resolve all the Running staff Matters like: ALPs Grade Pay, Poor Mileage Rate, Arrears From 01.01.2006, HOER Committee formation, Atrocious condition of Running room etc. Now running staff problems will be solved soon. Its power of Unity & faith of Running Staff towards AIRF /NRMU.

Running Staff Unity Zindabad

NRMU Zindabad

AIRF Zindabad

 

Visit to China

Indian Railway’s Technical delegation to visit China
Dr. R. VELU TO LEAD HIGH LEVEL DELEGATION
VISIT TO FOCUS ON HIGH SPEED RAILWAY & WORLD CLASS STATIONS

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A high level technical delegation headed by Minister of State for Railways Dr. R. Velu will be visiting China from 4th to 8th February, 2009 to have an exchange of ideas on the issues of high speed railway network, world class railway stations, logistics parks, etc. The delegation includes three technical officers from Ministry of Railways (Works Planning, Signalling and Finance Divisions). It is in the context of Indian Railway’s planning large investments in these areas and exchange of ideas with Chinese Railway officials, who had executed these projects successfully and at a very fast pace. This visit would help in delivering such schemes in India in a more cost-effective and timely manner.
This visit is in pursuance of the Memorandum of Understanding on technical cooperation signed between the Chinese and Indian Railways in the presence of the Prime Ministers of the two countries in China in January 2008.

Shri. S.S.Khurana takes over as Chairman, Railway Board

 

Shri S.S. Khurana has taken over as the new Chairman, Railway Board and ex-officio Principal Secretary to the Government of India, Ministry of Railways. Prior to this he has been holding the post of Member (Staff), Railway Board since 28th December 2007. Born in the year 1950, Shri Khurana did Electrical Engineering from University of Roorkee (Now IIT/Roorkee).
As officer of 1971 batch of the Indian Railway Service of Electrical Engineering (IRSEE), Shri Khurana worked in various capacities in Indian Railways. He also served as General Manager, East Coast Railway, General Manager/Eastern Railway, Additional General Manager, Northeast Frontier Railway, Chief Electrical Engineer in the Central Organization for Railway Electrification (CORE), Allahabad, Divisional Railway Manager, Adra (SER), Additional Divisional Railway Manager, Dhanbad, Chief Project Manager, Railway Electrification at Ambala and has also worked in the research and design aspects of electric locomotives in the Research, Design & Standards organization, Lucknow.
He has also received valuable experience in foreign training in Sweden, Japan and USA. He has also attended Advance Leadership Programme at Stern Business School, New York, USA.