Postman to obtain biometric authentication using handheld device
The Department of Posts (DoP) is likely to soon start a Rs 1,370-crore mega project that will allow India's 1.3 lakh postmen in rural regions to use network-connected handheld terminals for postal delivery.
The
project, awarded last year to a consortium that includes state-run
Telecom Consultants of India (TCIL), system integrator Ricoh India and
Hyderabad-based VisionTek, which provides handheld devices, was delayed
due to unavailability of components.
Big
IT companies such as HP and Wipro were also in the running for the
contract rolled out by the ministry of communications & information
technology. "Based on terminal devices on network, the DoP initiative is
likely to happen later this month. The project was delayed as the
private company took time to deliver the components," TCIL's chairman
and managing director Vimal Wakhlu told ET.
The
devices will have a biometric module to authenticate an individual's
identity using the Aadhaar number, solar-powered panel for charging
terminals and a thermal printer to instantly print receipts.
"This
is completely an indigenous project, including devices and components,
and strengthens the concept of 'Make in India'," said Wakhlu.
The
initiative is aimed at preventing postal losses and minimising
procedural delays. The service will require a digital signature of the
addressee that can be automatically transferred to a central server and
an acknowledgement sent to the person.
TCIL is roping in state-owned telecom operator Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd for providing network connectivity.
The
movement of postmen can be tracked using GPS on this device. It will
help monitor the entire system and ensure more efficiency as post
offices play a vital role in India's rural economy, Wakhlu said. "This
programme is a step towards financial inclusion of the people of rural
India as it will facilitate financial transactions. Money can be
delivered and accepted through this device, with proper bank account and
receipts delivery," he said.
Ricoh
will act as the systems integrator, managing installations, maintaining
hardware and supplying peripheral devices for the project.
"We
have won the Rs 1,370-crore contract from DoP for the supply of
hardware solutions under the department's modernisation
initiatives. Ricoh will be providing maintenance services for rural ICT
devices for a period of five years," said Ricoh India's managing
director Manoj Kumar.
Source : Economic Times
Empowered Committee Meeting likely on 11th June – Staff Side JCM, Nodal Officers from all Ministries to participate – Committee’s report may be handed over govt by June 30.
New Delhi: The Empowered Committee of Secretaries (CoS) headed by
Cabinet Secretary P K Sinha processing the report of the Seventh Central
Pay Commission is expected to meet on June 11 to finally wrap up its
report on the remuneration of government employees.
It is reported that the secretaries panel will finally hear out all the
stakeholders, including the Central ministries and Departments, and
finalise its report, which will be handed over to the government on June
30.
Sources added that even the Prime Minister's Office is keen on a
favourable pay hike for the central government employees, so the panel
is likely to recommend a minimum salary at Rs 24,000 and the highest
salary at Rs 2,70,000.
The 7th pay panel headed by AK Mathur had recommended the minimum salary at Rs 18,000 and maximum salary at Rs 2,50,000.
Sources added that the government is exploring options for meeting the
additional payout over and above what was recommended by the 7th pay
panel. The payout could be substantial with salary hike and arrears
adding up to a Rs 1.02 lakh crore burden on government finances.
However, it seems that the government employees will have to wait more
for the salary hike. Once the report moves from the table of the
empowered group of committee to the cabinet, it is likely to take
another month before the notification on pay hike will eventually come.
Even the Finance Ministry is keen that higher salaries reach government
employees just before the festive season starting mid-August, as spurt
in consumption during the festive period will have a domino effect on
the economy.
Source: http://zeenews.india.com/
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