Senior Citizens Savings Scheme (Amendment) Rules, 2010 – Amendment in rule 8

Notification No. G.S.R. 639(E), Dated 28-7-2010

In exercise of the powers conferred by Section 15 of the Government Savings Banks Act, 1873 (5 of 1873), the Central Government hereby makes the following rules to further amend the Senior Citizens SavingsScheme Rules, 2004, namely : –

(1) These rules may be called the Senior CitizensSavings Scheme (Amendment) Rules, 2010.

(2) They shall come into force on the date of their publication in the Official Gazette.

In the Senior Citizens Savings Scheme Rules, 2004 in rule 8, for sub-rule 3 the following sub-rule shall be substituted, namely : –

“(3) In case of death of a depositor before maturity, the account shall be closed and deposit refunded on anapplication in Form ‘F’ alongwith interest as applicable to the scheme till the date on which the depositor expired, to the nominee or legal heirs in case the nominee has also expired or nomination as provided in rule 6 was not made, as the case may be. For the period between the day following the date of death of the depositor and the date on which refund is made, simple interest shall be paid at the rate applicable from time to time to saving accounts as provided in Rule 6 of Post Office Savings Accounts Rules, 1981”.

Post Office Savings Account (Amendment) Rules, 2010 – Amendment in rule 4

Post Office Savings Account (Amendment) Rules, 2010 – Amendment in rule 4

Notification No. GSR 882(E), dated 3-11-2010

In exercise of the powers conferred by section 15 of the Government Savings Bank Act, 1873 (5 of 1873), the Central Government hereby makes the following rules further to amend the Post Office Savings Account Rules, 1981, namely :—

Short title and commencement

1. (1) These rules may be called the Post Office Savings Account (Amendment) Rules, 2010.

(2) They shall come into force on the date of their publication in the Official Gazette.

Amendment of rule 4

2. In the Post Office Savings Account Rules, 1981, in rule 4, in the Table under the heading “A. Individuals Accounts”, against Serial No. 1, relating to “Single Account”, under column 2, the entry at clause (e) shall be deleted.

'SIXTH SENSE ' SOLUTION COULD SAVE 28000 POSTAL JOBS IN U.S

Cutting 28,000 jobs in the U.S. Postal Service in today's economy is ludicrous, and such talk shows a true lack of imagination and initiative on the part of the postmaster general's office.

Yes, we all know, and appreciate, the power of the Internet and how its efficiency and ability to communicate instantly has impacted the use of regular mail, but with more than 150 million potential customers falling in the 44 to 80-plus age bracket, there still remains a huge market for the U.S. Postal Service.

The Postal Service union contracts were set to expire Dec. 7, and accordingly, 252 mail processing centers (including a relatively new facility in Gary) and more than 1,500 post offices across the nation were targeted for closure, along with 28,000 jobs.

Desperate times call for desperate measures, and as opposed to putting our finger in the dike, hoping to put a temporary fix on the problem, why don't we look at the issue as business professionals, and solve this on-going saga?

Postal rates for regular surface mail in the U.S. have gone from 3 cents in 1863, to 6 cents in 1968, 22 cents in 1985, and 44 cents in 2009. The postmaster general's office has proposed a band-aid approach, i.e. a one-cent increase in 2012, and at the same time proposes major cuts in delivery service, not to mention the enormous job cuts.

If you stop to look at the levels of postal service and costs in the U.S. as compared to Europe, you will find that at the top of the list is Norway at 97 cents, Luxembourg at 50 cents, and tiny Malta at 19 cents. The bottom line is that our U.S. Postal Service is not only cheaper than most European countries, but it is also more efficient while covering much larger geographical areas than Europe. U.S. mailers are getting a huge bargain and don't realize it.

The "Sixth Sense" solution, you ask? Quit nickel and diming postal rates - instead of the band-aid approach, raise the postal rates 6 cents to 50 cents a stamp and give us, for the first time, no pennies.

We have a great product in the U.S.P.S. and its employees, so let's recognize that fact and get them back on their feet. The internet is here to stay, and social media continues to soar on a daily basis. Three quarters of Americans 18 to 34 own a MP3 player, but only 56 percent of the next oldest group (ages 35-46) own a MP3.

In 2012, the U.S. will have more than 100 million citizens 50 and older, and this group still represents a significant marketing opportunity for the U.S.P.S. It is time to get creative and develop that market.

NOT ONLY IN INDIA , BUT ALSO IN U.S

It would be like taking your identity, ripping away a part of you.

For the people of Socorro, closing down its only post office would be a slap in the face.

The city has had tough times lately -- a bitter recall of a mayor, tensions on the City Council, a council member arrested, investigations of police officers and suits against the city.

Now the U.S. Postal Service is considering closing the only post office for miles around.

It's enough to get you mad as hell.

Socorro Mayor Trini Lopez and more than 4,000 people want to keep their post office open, and they are ready to fight.

On Friday, Lopez and a group of Socorro residents met with postal representatives in San Antonio and submitted 4,600 signatures in favor of keeping the post office open.

Lopez is encouraging customers to write letters of support while the future of the post office remains uncertain.

The U.S. Post Office at 10550 North Loop is among thousands of post offices, branches and stations in the country the agency is considering shuttering.

Many of those may be replaced by "village post offices," in which postal services are offered in stores, libraries or government offices.

No other post offices in El Paso have been signaled for closure. Elsewhere in Texas, post offices in Catarina, Armstrong, Belmont and Wrightsboro were closed in the past two months.

U.S. Postmaster General Patrick Donahoe announced in July that the agency was going to have to make tough choices because the use

of the Postal Service has dropped significantly.   According to a U.S. Postal Service written statement, the annual mail volume has declined by more than 43 billion pieces in the past five years and is continuing to fall.

Lopez said he will do whatever he can so people in the area have a post office they can call their own.

He has been collecting signatures, seeking the support of lawmakers and meeting with Postal Service representatives.

Lopez has been able to get letters of support from U.S. Rep. Silvestre Reyes, D-Texas; state Reps. Chente Quintanilla and Joe Pickett; state Sens. Carlos Uresti and José Rodríguez; and El Paso County Judge Veronica Escobar.

Closing this particular post office will hurt people from Agua Dulce, Montana Vista, Horizon City and other nearby communities who travel to Socorro to mail letters or to pick up mail and packages, Lopez said.

The closest post office is about four miles from Socorro, farther from other parts.

"There is a lot of people from other communities who rely on Socorro's postal office. It's like a central office," Lopez said.

Albert Ortiz, who has lived in Socorro since 1986, said he helped collect signatures and was surprised to find out how many people used the post office there.

"If they close it here, the next one will be Ysleta or San Elizario. It's the only one we have compared to El Paso that has so many," he said.

Ortiz said the community is growing and a post office is a must.

He said one of his concerns is that handicapped and elderly people will have to travel greater distances to access postal services.

The post office has been open for almost 20 years and has about 50 employees.

As part of a study to evaluate the possible closing of the office in Socorro, the Postal Service mailed a survey a couple of months ago so people could give their opinions, and today is the last day for people to return them, Lopez said.

The mayor is also encouraging people to write letters of support.

Lopez said people must mail the surveys and letters to: District Manager, 1 Post Office Drive, San Antonio, TX 78284.

Sam Bolen, a spokesman for the U.S. Postal Service Rio Grande District, said public comment will be reviewed and a report will be submitted to the district manager in San Antonio and subsequently will be sent for review to the agency's headquarters in Washington, D.C.

If the agency decides to close the Socorro post office, a notice will be posted in the lobby of the post office for 60 days, he said.

Bolen said people opposing the decision have 30 days after the notice is posted to appeal to the independent Postal Regulatory Commission.

It can take up to 120 days to review the appeal, he said.

If no appeal is made, the office will close after 60 days of the initial posted notice, he said.

"No official decision has been made yet," Lopez said. "We have to keep working, and that's why we're asking for people's support."

Aileen B. Flores may be reached at aflores@elpasotimes.com; 546-6362.