“Forward ever, backward never: onwards with Breaking Through”
30/01/2016

February to be observed as ‘Sukanya Samriddhi’ month
The Department of Posts will observe February as “Selvamagal Semippu Thittam month” and a campaign for opening of Sukanya Samriddhi accounts will be conducted in all the 11 postal divisions in the central region.

About 2.9 lakh accounts have been opened in the post offices in Central Region so far under the scheme. There are more than 3,500 post offices in the central region.

Special counters would be set up in all 24 head post offices at Chidamabram, Cuddalore, Karur, Kulittalai, Kumbakonam, Melakaveri, Mayiladuturai, Sirkali, Nagapattinam, Tiruvarur, Pattukkottai, Tiruthuraipundi, Pudukkottai, Perambalur, Srirangam, Thuraiyur, Mannargudi, Papanasam, Thanjavur, Lalgudi, Tiruchi, Kallakurichi, Tirukoyilur, and Vriddhachalam.

Institutions such as schools, banks, and government offices can open accounts in bulk and contact the respective Postal Division or call 9443847055 to get the accounts opened on their premises itself.
Under the scheme, accounts can be opened in the name of girls aged below 10 by crediting a minimum amount of Rs. 1,000. Subsequent deposits can be made in multiples of Rs. 100 and a minimum of Rs. 1,000 has to be deposited in the account every financial year.

The maximum amount for a financial year is Rs. 1,50,000, a Postal Department release said.

The interest rate which was 9.1 per cent for 2014-15 has been enhanced to 9.2 per cent for 2015-16, the release added.

Source : http://www.thehindu.com


Meeting of Nodal officers of various Departments - implementation of the recommendations of the 7th CPC
Implementation of the recommendations of the 7th CPC – Meeting of Nodal officers of various Departments will be held on 2.2.2016

Meeting of Nodal officers of various Departments – implementation of the recommendations of the 7th CPC – Issues on way ahead

F.No.1-1/2016- IC
Government of India
Ministry of Finance
Department of Expenditure
New Delhi, 29.1.2016
Meeting Notice

Subject : Meeting of Nodal officers of various Departments – implementation of the recommendations of the 7th CPC – Issues on way ahead.

In order to process the recommendations of the 7th Central Pay Commission, the Cabinet has approved setting up of an Empowered Committee of Secretaries chaired by the Cabinet Secretary. Accordingly, the ECOS has been set up as per this Ministry’s OM No.1-4/2015/EIII-A dt. 27.1.2016 (copy placed on the website of this Ministry, viz, www.finmin.nic.in).

2. As provided in the said OM dt. 27.1.2016, the Implementation Cell created in this Ministry shall work as the Secretariat for the ECOS.

3. This Ministry has already requested all the Ministries/Departments vide DO letter No.1-4/2015/EIII.A dt. 21.11.2015 from JS(Pers) addressed to all the Secretaries to nominate a nodal officer at the level of a Joint Secretary to interact with the Implementation Cell during the curse of processing of the recommendations of the 7th CPC.

4. Accordingly, Joint Secretary (Implementation Cell) shall take a meeting of all the Nodal Officers of the Ministries/Departments on 2.2.2016 at 11 .00 a.m. in Conference Hall (R. No. 72), North Block, New Delhi to discuss the relevant issues in connection with the processing of the recommendations of the 7th CPC and to concretise the points of action pertaining to all the Ministries/Departments in general and also in regard to specific issues concerning individual Ministries/Departments with a view to enabling an effective, holistic and quicker processing of the recommendations of the 7th CPC and for submission of the matter before the ECOS.

5. As this is the first meeting of the Nodal Officers to formulate the action points on the way ahead on processing of the recommendations of the 7th CPC, it is requested that the concerned nodal officers may kindly make it convenient to attend the meeting.

sd-
(Amar Nath Singh)
Deputy Secretary to the Government of India

To
All the nodal officers of Ministries/Departments, as per list attached.


Authority: www.finmin.nic.in

Postal department to handle Rs.1,500 crore COD by 2015-16

Providing a boost to the e-commerce industry in India, the post departments had handled cash on delivery (COD) orders worth Rs.500 crore up to March 2015 and is expected to reach about Rs.1,500 crore by end of 2015-16, Communications Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said on Thursday.
Till December 2015, the COD value has crossed Rs.1,000 crore.
Speaking at the meeting of the Parliamentary Consultative Committee attached to the communications & IT ministry, on the e-commerce initiatives of the department of posts, he said various steps taken by the department for gearing up its capabilities for handling e-commerce parcel business as well as introducing services such as COD have revolutionized the e-commerce business in India.
Prasad also said the government's initiative to digitalize functioning would help in making e-commerce reach every corner. He said the initiative would further enhance IndiaPosts' reach as national carrier.
The department of posts had set up 48 new parcel processing centers so far and nine more such centers are coming up during the current financial year, he said.
"These efforts in the last eighteen months have resulted in an overall revenue growth in the parcel segment by 45 percent during 2014-15 and more than 100 percent in the current financial year," Prasad said.
Source: http://www.business-standard.com/

What is Zika Virus? All you Wanted to Know


Zika virus is transmitted to people through the bite of an infected Aedes mosquito. This is the same mosquito that transmits dengue and chikungunya.

index (Copy)The Zika virus is “is now spreading explosively” in the Americas, the head of the World Health Organization said Thursday, with another official estimating between 3 million to 4 million infections in the region over a 12-month period.


“The level of concern is high, as is the level of uncertainty,” Dr. Margaret Chan, WHO’s director-general, told her organization’s executive board members. “We need to get some answers quickly.”
The lack of any immunity to Zika and the fact that mosquitoes spreading the virus can be found most “everywhere” — explains the speed of its transmission, said Dr. Sylvain Aldighieri, an official with the WHO and Pan American Health Organization.
Some 80% of those infected with the Zika virus don’t even feel sick, and most who do have relatively mild symptoms such as a fever, rash, joint pain or pink eye. But there are major worries about the dangers pregnant women and their babies face.
Chan said that, where the virus has arrived, there’s been a corresponding “steep increase in the birth of babies with abnormally small heads and in cases of Guillain-Barre syndrome.” Having small heads can cause severe developmental issues and sometimes death. Guillain-Barre is a rare autoimmune disorder that can lead to life-threatening paralysis.
Health authorities began to suspect a connection between Zika and neurological ailments, especially in fetuses and newborns. Brazil alone has reported more than 4,000 cases of microcephaly — a neurological disorder resulting in the births of babies with small heads — in infants born to women infected with Zika while pregnant.
“We expect more countries to be affected,” she said.
U.S.-based researchers Daniel Lucey and Lawrence Gostin urged the WHO leader to “mobilize international resources to curb the rapid spread of Zika worldwide, including aggressive mosquito control, active surveillance, accelerated vaccine research and travel advisories for pregnant women.”
“It is far better,” said the Georgetown University public health expert, “to be overprepared than to wait until a Zika epidemic spins out of control.”

What is Zika virus infection?

Zika virus infection is caused by the bite of an infected Aedes mosquito, usually causing mild fever, rash, conjunctivitis, and muscle pain.
The virus was isolated for the first time in 1947 in the Zika forest in Uganda. Since then, it has remained mainly in Africa, with small and sporadic outbreaks in Asia. In 2007, a major epidemic was reported on the island of Yap (Micronesia), where nearly 75% of the population was infected.
In May 2015, the public health authorities of Brazil confirmed the transmission of Zika virus in the northeast of the country. Since October 2015, many other countries  have reported the presence of the virus.

What are the symptoms?

The most common symptoms of Zika virus infection are mild fever and exanthema (skin rash), usually accompanied by conjunctivitis, muscle or joint pain, and general malaise that begins 2-7 days after the bite of an infected mosquito.
One out of four infected people develops symptoms of the disease. Among those who do, the disease is usually mild and can last 2-7 days. Symptoms are similar to those of dengue or chikungunya, which are transmitted by the same type of mosquito. Neurological and autoimmune complications are infrequent, but have been described in the outbreaks in Polynesia and, more recently, in Brazil. As the virus spreads in the Americas, giving us more experience with its symptoms and complications, it will be possible to characterize the disease better.

How is Zika virus transmitted?

Zika virus is transmitted to people through the bite of an infected Aedes mosquito. This is the same mosquito that transmits dengue and chikungunya.

What treatment is there?

There is no vaccine for Zika. Treatment consists of relieving pain, fever, and any other symptom that inconveniences the patient. To prevent dehydration, it is recommended to control the fever, rest, and drink plenty of water. There is no vaccine or specific drug for this virus.

Can it cause death?

It is a new virus that up until now has had a very limited geographical and demographic distribution, and there is no evidence that it can cause death. However, sporadic cases have been reported of more serious manifestations and complications in patients with preexisting diseases or conditions, causing death.

Who is at risk of Zika infection?

Anyone not previously exposed to the virus and who lives in an area where the mosquito is present, and where imported or local cases have been reported, may be infected. Since the Aedes mosquito is found throughout the world, it is likely that outbreaks will occur in other countries that have not yet reported any cases.

What is the difference between Zika, dengue, and chikungunya?

All these diseases present similar symptoms, but certain symptoms suggest one disease or another:
Dengue usually presents with higher fever and more severe muscle pain. There can be complications when the fever breaks: attention should be paid to warning signs such as bleeding.
Chikungunya presents with higher fever and more intense joint pain, affecting the hands, feet, knees, and back. It can disable people, bending them over so that they cannot walk or perform simple actions such as opening a water bottle.
Zika does not have clearly characteristic features, but most patients have skin rashes and some have conjunctivitis (inflammation of the conjunctiva of the eye).

What causes rapid transmission of Zika virus?

There are two factors for rapid transmission – 1) Since this is a new virus to the world, the entire population is susceptible, lacking defenses to Zika virus 2) The Aedes mosquito is widespread in the world, given the climatic conditions, temperature, and humidity in tropical countries.

Is it advisable to travel to countries where Zika virus is circulating?

PAHO/WHO does not recommend any travel or international trade restrictions related to Zika virus outbreaks. Travelers are advised to take the suggested precautions to prevent mosquito bites.

What measures should be taken to prevent Zika virus infection?

Prevention involves reducing mosquito populations and avoiding bites, which occur mainly during the day. Eliminating and controlling Aedes aegypti mosquito breeding sites reduces the chances that Zika, chikungunya, and dengue will be transmitted. An integrated response is required, involving action in several areas, including health, education, and the environment.
To eliminate and control the mosquito, it is recommended to:
  • Avoid allowing standing water in outdoor containers (flower pots, bottles, and containers that collect water) so that they do not become mosquito breeding sites.
  • Cover domestic water tanks so that mosquitoes cannot get in.
  • Avoid accumulating garbage: Put it in closed plastic bags and keep it in closed containers.
  • Unblock drains that could accumulate standing water.
  • Use screens and mosquito nets in windows and doors to reduce contact between mosquitoes and people.