Blot on Postal Service of India

News related to the blemishes of postal department services’ often keep on hitting both form of media that is electronics and print, and in score of cases it has seen that stuff forward from other countries to India through parcels either they disappear or receiver gets intimation to collect which are open hence receiver left with no other choice but to deny to collect it as score of items in the forward parcel they find missing. When alert, vigil receivers dare to lodge complaints of it at concern post offices’ then they get calculated reply from them as they pass on the buck to Delhi custom office and respond that it was open at New Delhi by custom department as they now check by opening instead of scanning procedure, so nothing can be done in this regard at their level from here. Recently a shocking story published in a newspaper in which resident of Punjab state suppose to receive two parcels forward from two different countries by name New Zealand and America on 22 January and 4 February respectively in the year 2011 and unfortunately Kapil Takiyaar was victim of discrepancies of postal department services’ as till date he has not receive both the parcels in spite of the fact that when parcels were forwarded then his relatives inform him that in coming ten days time he will receive them, contrary to it one parcel disappear and second was open when he get intimation from department to collect the parcel but shockingly score of  forward items were missing in that parcel. So he lodge complaints at different levels whose result is that not only he does not have any satisfactory response from postal department but now postal department is not delivering magazines and post forward under his name. Below is brief glimpse of Kapil Takiyaar’s tragic and shocking story as it unfold through leading newspaper – 

•  Ashish son of Kapil Takiyaar, resident of Tanda, Hoshiarpur had forward parcel on 22 January,2011 to his father(Kapil) from New Zealand and inform his father that in coming ten days period he will receive the parcel, so his father made contact with his areas postal department and inform them about the parcel which was on the way from New Zealand, with every passing day he start getting frustration related to collecting parcel and later on it was reveal that staff distributed the forward stuff among them, its interesting here how Kapil came to know that postal staff has distributed the items among them, well its answer is that his son after passing few more days ask his father to make contact on to his sim number which he taken with him but return to India in the parcel, then call receive by Amrik Singh fourth class employee at post office, when he made contact with the postal department and post master deny they had receive any such parcel from New Zealand. Then his father immediately block the sim and lodge complaint. His story does not ends here as another parcel under his name was forward from America on 4^th February, 2011 by his niece and till date he have not any information about that parcel also. When he discuss with the higher authority about the talking on to his son’s sim then department call him to get in touch with them in next three to four days and surprisingly they arrange the parcel but opened but score of items were missing in it, so when he reached there in the company of few well known persons of his locality he deny to collect it due to status of the parcel, when he complaint about it then staff told him that it is received by them in  this condition from New Delhi itself, as now custom department instead of scanning open every forward parcels, then he left with no other choice but to lodge complaints against it at different levels, so that he can get compensation of missing items as parcel was insured. Postal department asked him to submit document made by sending postal department only then postal department can disburse compensation to him otherwise we cant help him in this regards, so now not only he become frequent visitor of postal department as sending point confirm that parcel was sent from their side but denying to value the parcel, more over now his post also effective as he is not receiving the magazines or other post regularly and often it goes missing.

In the environment of competition it is utmost necessary for the service provider to improve its services’ and remove any bad sector if it exit in there system otherwise it wont take much time to loose business drastically courtesy poor, tainted services’.    

Unique Children Bank

Legally in India child labour is crime, but still if we look around ourselves then we will find countless children are doing work unofficially and behind there is score of reasons like- 

•  To help lift financial condition of family 
•  Run away from homes due to scold by senior members of families especially by parents 
•  Kids weak in study

it has seen in score of cases that more then sixty percent working children becomes part of exploitation or cheated on the money matters, so for these categories kids to keep their earning safe at reliable source is a big issue, and for these kids in the capital during beginning of twenty first century with the help of organisation working for the rights of  children has started bank by name “Children Development Khajana”, salient feature of this bank is that it is operated by children itself and account holders choose amicably after the gap of six months two Managers for one branch, the bank gives five percent interest on the money. Bank has strict terms that it does not allow children to have account in the bank which earn money from begging or drugs. Below is brief story of the “Children Development Khajana”-

       In the year 2001 “Children Development Khajana” comes into existence in the capital with the back up by organisation active for children rights, now the number of branches is increase to twelve in the capital itself and has one thousand account holders which are in the age group of nine to seventeen years old, plus it has spread its wings in the other countries also other then India and have total three hundred branches in below coded countries – 

•  Afghanistan 
•  Bangladesh 
• India 
•  Kyrgyzstan 
•  Nepal 
•  Sri lanka

working point of these bank is based in the homeless kids areas and there it built red colour square cabin, beside deposit it also helps children of free food stuff, support for education and blankets to sleep. Whole work is look by kids in the branches and the selection is make through transparent and amicably selection process, and in a branch there are two managers at one time selected by account holders after the span of every six months. Present manager of one of the branch by name Karan who is fourteen years of age during day times works then in the evening sit on a table to update the passbooks plus collect money from the depositors and once the process completed then bank close down. As per words of Karan if some account holder wants to close down his account then first he advise and then with the approval of other children he act as per desire of account holder. To collect deposited amount and deposit it in Nationalize Bank with whom it is affiliated so that it can earn interest on to deposited money, a senior employee present during working period. Sharren Jacob attached with the organisation said that the kids do hard work to earn money like – 

•  work in shops 
•  selling products through roaming

but have not safe place to put their hard earned money without any tension, in this scenario Children Development Khajana is a good tool for them to rely on. It has also seen that some account holders children minds change after they earn money and wants to share it with their families because step taken at the heat of the moment now they feel sorry, below are few such cases- 

•  Sameer working at a confectionery shop and account holder said that he run away from his house at the age of eleven as his father beat him when he steal a utensil from the shop, then he slept at Railway platforms where he was often beat by police and drug sellers pressurize him to work for them, now wants to go to home but feel shame. 
•  Ram Singh wants to do his own business but due to shortage of money he is working and once he pile up desire money of his own then one day he will start his own business, he is sure about it. 
• Raju, fifteen years old, deposited four thousand in the bank during past seven months and said wants to send shirt and wrist watch to his dear father plus also wants to seek apology from him and will request him to take him home back as I missed everybody badly.

Children Development Khajana is doing applaudable works for the helpless and homeless kids as in today’s environment lonely and small kids easily exploited and cheated if issue comes of money, moreover branches are giving services to the kids at their localities itself, beauty of this service is that it is function by children themselves, so one can code here –

               Bank is to the children, by the children and for the children.

Governments, Elections & Stringent Policies

It is quite common practice in India among all the ruling parties or alliance to avoid take stringent steps or impose taxes to increase government exchequer or revise prices of basic services’ which are related to public few months before elections time or during elections time contrary they announce populist policies or scheme to lure voters but once the elections over then they are unstoppable to declare anti public policies without any worry. Below coded are two examples of it-

•  Punjab State Assembly Elections were completed in the mid March, then state government pass budget for the 2012-13 session which was without new taxes despite  huge deficit and there was not mention of any new policy how to cover the losses, but it has other side of story as in the coming days span of fortnight state had to go for local bodies elections in lot of areas, hence state finance ministry don’t touch revenue side by playing with taxes’, once the elections of local bodies completed, then one more by poll election were due of Dasuya assembly seat due to sad, sudden and untimely death of Amarjit Singh Sahi, now seat is won by ruling party candidate and from the time of announcement of by polls constituency areas get round the clock non stop electricity despite other parts of state was under huge undeclared power cuts. It appears that coming days store for public of harsh policies as ruling alliance has no more election burden on to them in coming days hence first glimpse was seen on gone by  Monday when  Chairperson of Punjab State regulatory Commission Romila Dubey declared new tariff policy for the period of 2012-13 and shockingly it will be effective from April of this year but state public was vocal for the service of electricity corporation as state was going through the period of power cuts, then why public will pay in coming days the money through arrear whom they have never receive , nobody can justify it. below is glimpse of different categories of customers existing and new tariff -

  Sr.No:	Slabs	Existing Rates	New Rates	Increase in Tariff Paisa/Unit	Percentage
  Domestic Category
  a	upto 100 Units	3.11pa	3.48 pa	37 pa	11.90%
  b	101 to 300	4.52 pa	4.88 pa	36 pa	7.96%
  c	above 300	4.78 pa	5.15 pa	37 pa	7.74 %
  Non Residential Category
  ---	---	5.19 pa	5.56 pa	37 pa	7.13%
  Industrial Category
  1	Small power	4.14pa	4.47 pa	33 pa	7.97%
  2	Medium	4.58 pa	4.95 pa	37 pa	8.08%
  3(i)	Large(General Industry)	4.58pa	4.95 pa	37 pa	8.08%
  3(ii)	Large(PIU)	4.58 pa	4.95 pa	37 pa	8.08%
  3(iii)	Large(Arc Furnace)	4.58 pa	4.95 pa	37 pa	8.08%

• Country is going to have election for the President of India on 20^th July, no doubt in this election participation of public directly or indirectly is almost zero but rumour is in the air among media circles that government of India has made mind to take stringent action why increasing the price of diesel which will boil public as it will leave effect on every sector and will boost inflation, and it will declare by government after President elections.

So it shows that ruling parties or alliances shun to take needed policy on right time but wait for elections to complete so that it may not effect the results and become reason of defeat of their candidate, in this regard demand of Anna Hazare of Right to Recall and Right to Reject should have tool with public so that it make ruling parties or alliances on their toes to take correct steps always as it will remain always in their back of mind when there is no elections.

Good & Bad News For NRI Community

Countrymen goes to other countries on work permit to lift the economical condition of the family and then use to send money back in the country through banks or money transfer agencies, but now from 1^st July,2012 onwards using these channels to send money will start pinching a lot to NRI’s as Finance Ministry of the country has drag this facility in the service tax bracket @ 12.36 percent. From Punjab State countless youth opt other countries to start their career or do work or settle down in life especially from Doaba region of Punjab hence they keep on demanding from time to time on different platforms airport near their region, and if all goes well then their demand of Adampur airport for civil flights on domestic and international routs can be possible in very near future, so last week gone with mix of good and bad stories for the NRI Community. 

•  Punjab State government ministers and ruling alliance parties leaders are busy in the campaign of Dasuya by elections polls as seat was void due to sad and sudden death of Mr. Amarjit Singh Sahi of BJP, and deputy CM Mr. Sukhir Singh Badal has pointed in the recent press conference that once the election process of Dasuya by elections polls over then under the leadership of the Chief Minister of State Mr. Parkash Singh Badal a panel will meet Prime Minster of India to request him to look again into the issue of service tax  on to the money send by NRI’s to India from 1^st July onwards as not only it will effect the economy of Punjab State but also boost the Hawala business, so now NRI will think lot of times to send money through banks or money transfer agencies as it is under service tax bracket which is more then double digits that is 12.36 percent effective from 1^st July Finance Ministry of India has imposed service tax on the amount which will forward in the country from foreign countries. Even NRI committee of Punjab has taken serious note of it and has taken stand against the service tax with anger and has requested CM to take personnel interest in this matter and meet immediately with Prime Minister without any further delay. Head of committee while talking to media persons has said that committee members are receiving phone calls from NRI’s settled across globe and they are expressing anger on to the service tax. While talking to media persons committee head come up with stats that every year country receive sixty five billion dollars and out of it sixty one percent amount is for the use of family purposes as it is endorse by concerned ministry of India, so if it won’t roll back then it will increase Hawala business to send money in the country which is by no mean good for the country from any angel. 
• From Doaba region of Punjab State as per rough estimates on an average one member of the family is in abroad and during their journey to the country their quite common problematic part of journey starts when they come out from the Airport of New Delhi as it is not only very lengthy but tedious also because it takes from eight to twelve hours time to reach their destinations or they need to shed extra money to land at Amritsar Airport but this facility is not available from all the destinations of other countries barring few. Recently deputy CM Mr. Sukhbir Singh Badal who has civil aviation ministry also has said that letter has forward to the civil aviation ministry of India for permission of domestic and international flights from Adampur Airport. He said that it is demand of the region peoples to open Adampur Airport for flights on national and international routs from very long period. He was positive that most probably favourable results will pour in coming time of five to six months period. He said that central government has given its nod to erect terminal at the Airport, plus this is very first time that state government has taken initiatives through writing for getting clearance from civil aviation ministry of India for civil flights operational from Adampur airport.

So past week was mix of stories for NRI as on one hand they will have to bear 12.36 percent of service tax on to the money forward in the country through banks or money transfer agencies or opt for illegal channel that is Hawala business and perhaps soon their long demand will be fulfilled if central government give permission for domestic and international flights from Adampur Airport.          

ATM Complaints

Just decade ago across country with the facility to access ATM’s not only of concern banks but also of other banks yes of course with some terms, it helps a lot peoples of the country to carry plastic cash instead of hard cash as now card holders have access of countless ATM’s to get required cash round the clock without bothering strike or holiday not only in urban areas but also in rural areas, biggest advantage of ATM card is that to keep and carry unnecessarily hard cash in the pocket is story of gone years as it was full of risk and always fear of loosing it due to pickpocketers or felling down. In the country ATM facilities are provided by below categories of bank-

• Public sector Undertaking Banks
• Private Banks 
•  Multinational Banks

Although all the categories of banks keep on alerting general public about the frauds related to ATM cards misuse and aware them time to time through advertisements in the print media that don’t disclose pincode to any one plus keep on changing it on regular basis after the span of few days, but still in rural areas of the country story of frauds related to ATM cards keep on hitting the newspapers due to illiteracy among older categories of card holders and they become target of fraudsters, safest way for them to get rid from the problem is that they should keep on vigil eyes while withdrawing money and getting help from other persons and take back their card from them after transaction check that return card is their plus wait for home screen to display, so that their card cannot be clone, moreover this problem can be solve at individual levels if they are illiterate, otherwise with some command anybody can withdraw money if he/she have their ATM card and pincode.

     Just yesterday RBI forward master circular to all the categories of commercial banks in which it was stated that if card holder lodge complaints within thirty days time then concerned banks has to settle complaints within seven working days relating to non withdrawal of money but withdrawal amount debited in his/her account  as earlier it was twelve days but now it shrink to seven working days, as ATM card holders have to wait to get back his/her money in his/her account and sometimes in some cases to settle these type of cases take more then forty to fifty days but now after crossing seven days if case does not settled within seven days then concern bank will be slapped with fine of rupees hundred per day. Certainly this is good news for the ATM card holders as delay in getting money often frustrated them and their faith on the technology jolted, but with this instruction by apex bank of country it will keep card holders intact to use the service without having any fear in mind related to ATM irregularities.

    Even I myself has experience of this two times in a single day, then as it required from ATM card holder to attach photocopy of slip along with it submit application at concern bank’s branch, and when I went to my bank and submit my complaint and asked how much time it will take money to credit in my account ? Then bank’s staff member who attended me told me that we can’t say with surety as in some cases which are pending peoples are waiting to settle their cases for more then fifty days, but I was lucky that money credited in my account under ten days period.  

Indian Railways: Facilities & Actions

Most preferable mode of traveling by Indians is Railways due to comfort and economical, but still it needs control on to misuse of its schemes and upgradation of facilities to the travelers. Just yesterday three news related to the welfare of the railway passengers hit the newspapers. Below is brief glimpse of all the stories for the benefits of those fellow Indians which uses Railways but have not information about it –

• Union railway Minister Mukand Rai while responding on to the letter of Avinash Rai Khanna M.P.(Rajya Sabha) coded that Railway Ministry will soon start giving facility of internet( wi- fi) on to selected routs of railways under pilot project. As per information Mr. Khanna had written letter to Railways on 22^nd December,2011 to give wi-fi facility on Superfast Trains, while responding to the same letter above coded  was informed to Mr. Khanna  by railways ministry through letter dated 19 June and soon passengers will be able to use internet while on move. 
•  IRCT which provide services’ to the Indians for booking online Railways Tickets, to tighten the noose of problems face by passengers for booking online tickets, has block half a million email id’s whom they found suspicious as per norms, along with it as per information almost forty four thousand more email id’s were blocked which they consider of agents and were dubious in nature.
• Tightening its grip on to Tatkal Reservation of Railways booking, Indian Railways is going to come up with new plan which will bar Agents to take benefits and misuse tatkal reservations. As per words of Northern Railways GM Mr. Vijay Gupta under new plan reservation counters will equipped with CCTV’s through it there will be round the clock eyes on to booking clerks and agents. Time of opening Tatkal Reservation bookings will be 10a.m. onwards till 12 noon and will have separate window, as per new norms from 8 a.m. onwards till 12 noon Agents won’t allow to book tickets, and it will mandatory to show the proof of identity while collecting ticket of anyone and from one email id maximum three tickets can be book, mobile phone will not work on booking windows, all these initiatives will comes into force across country from coming 10^th July.

Above coded news are very positive and boosting for the Railways passengers and hopefully will help them to get rid on to the problems created by agents and phony email id’s whenever they try to book online railways tickets in the past.