
AFFILIATED TO NATIONAL FEDERATION OF POSTAL EMPLOYEES...(NFPE) .......... POSTAL UNIONS OF AIPEU GROUP-C, AIPEU POSTMEN / MTS & AIPEU GDS - GUDUR DIVISION .... VIJAYAWADA REGION .... ANDHRA PRADESH CIRCLE -- 524 101
Wednesday, May 11, 2011
Tuesday, May 10, 2011
A POSTMAN'S KNOCK – LITERALLY
It was some weeks ago (Madras Miscellany, January 10th that I had referred to a book that was due to be published, Indian Postal History – Focus on Tamil Nadu. I was at the release of Dr. K. RamachandiranN's Ph.D these's-made-into-a-colourful-history the other day and heard him relate several fascinating bits of Madras-specific postal history and caught up with more in his book.
Something new I learnt was about dak bungalows, though the explanation should have been obvious. I had always thought that they were Travellers' Bungalows run by the Public Works Department. But apparently in the late 18th Century the PWD had been put under the charge of the Postal Department and, with that arrangement, the Travellers' Bungalows too came under the Postal Department. With the mail carts also accepting officials as passengers, that service too was linked with the Travellers' Bungalows and they became dakbungalows. The Dak Bearer service, as it was called, accepted private passengers too, if there was space for them after the requirements for officers had been met. This service also offered palanquins and dholis for travellers.
The first Railway Mail Service (RMS) came into operation in the Madras Circle, virtually the whole of South India, on September 29, 1871. The route it catered to was Madras-Cuddapah-Raichur. This route also pioneered the Travelling Post Office in the Madras Circle from April 6, 1874.
The first telegraph office in Madras was, I learnt, opened in 1863. Not long afterwards, in 1866, the telegraph line from Madras to Colombo across the Palk Strait was laid from Rameswaram to Talaimannar. Apparently there was a connection to Peneng too, presumably through Colombo. Then Dr. Ramachandiran N lays pointed emphasis that this boon to the business community was "particularly" beneficial to "the Nattukkottai Chettiars…. actively involved in trading with the two neighbouring countries."
Letter boxes away from post offices were introduced in the major cities of India from October 1854. That was the year the postal system introduced postmen to provide home deliveries. In February 1959, the Madras Circle had the distinction of recruiting the first postwoman in India. K.Padmakshi Amma was appointed to the Thiruvanathapuram Postal Division.
Despite this column welcoming the postman's knock, it would appear to be out of touch with all the different services the Postal Department offers. I had heard of the Postal Savings Bank, but the Postal Life Insurance Scheme was a new one on me. Apparently the success of the banking scheme introduced on April 1, 1882 led to the insurance scheme being launched on February 1, 1884, originally for postal employees alone, but gradually being extended to government and quasi-government service employees as a whole. Giving an idea of how big this business is, is the record of R. Venkadesan, Development Officer, PLI, in the Tamil Nadu Circle. For 12 years in succession he has been the country's leading generator of PLI business. In 1997-98, he began his gold-medal-winning streak with Rs.13 crore business and, increasing that figure every year, he recorded Rs.51 crore in 2008-9 and was heading for nearly Rs.100 crore the next year at the time the book was being written.
Snippets include the fact that PIN code 172114 is in Sikkim and is the highest post office in the world, at 15,500 feet, that the first postage stamp on a Tamil Nadu subject was issued on August 15, 1949, and featured a Nataraja bronze, the first Tamil Nadu Centenary to be honoured was that of the University of Madras on December 31, 1957, and that the first Tamil personages to be honoured were the legendary Tiruvalluvar on February 15, 1960 and the more recent Subramania Bharati on September 11, 1960.
And did you know that C.V.Raman, Akilan the author, R.S. Manohar and Vivek the actors, K.Balachander the film director, and Dr.V. Gopalakrishnan, the toponymist and linguist, had all served in the Postal Department at some time in their lives?
All this information and more that, reading between the lines, I sense is available warrant a much more comprehensive history of the Postal Department, the present edition just whetting the appetite.
Hindu 8.5.2011.
Liz Mathew
New Delhi: As junior minister for communications and information technology, Sachin Pilot is closely involved with telecom policy, besides overseeing the 150-year postal department. In an interview, the 33-year-old Congress parliamentarian from Ajmer spoke about the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government's plan for the postal department, and its new telecom policy that will allow for mergers and acquisitions in the sector and for sharing and trading in air waves. Edited excerpts:
How is the postal department making use of the progress in communication technology for services beyond delivering letters, such as for money transfers?
The department of post is a very old department, a very crucial part of our cultural heritage, our nationalism. As of today, we have 155,000 post offices, and a majority of these post offices, in fact 90% of them, are in rural areas.
With 800 million Indians using mobile phones, Internet services and new forms of technologies, the traditional volume and revenue streams of the department are on a steady decline. We need to re-innovate, explore new avenues for our earnings.
The network is crucial. We are trying to computerize it. We are also offering services —insurance services and financial services. We are trying to make sure that utility bills can be paid from there, railway tickets can be issued from there, to increase its foothold. The idea is to make it a strong, economically dynamic organization. We are working on re-training the skills of the people in post offices.
How do you see the postal department playing a role in the UPA government's goal of achieving financial inclusion?
Initiating changes: Pilot says the new telecom policy will allow for mergers and acquisitions in the sector. Ramesh Pathania/Mint
India is a country that has grown in the last decade at 9% GDP (gross domestic product) and the need of the hour is financial inclusion. It's probably not practical for all the banks to have branches in the 650,000 villages we have today for equitable distribution of financial goods and services.
Post offices have a physical presence in every nook and corner of the country. We are trying to synergize between the financial services sector and the trust and the faith and the sanctity the department carries... So the department of post, with its presence and skilled employees, can become the agent of change to bring about financial inclusion. So, financial inclusion, expanding the scope of these institutions to have banking systems inculcated in our services, is the objective of the department.
Ten years down the line, what do you see as the role of the postal department, given the advances in communication technology?
We will probably be doing more services in a digitized format. India has 22 official languages. In my ministry, information technology, we have encouraged people to have the local content, local language and those software applications can be used to deliver these services—financial banking, postal services, etc. The department of post is very well placed to reap the benefits of the culmination happening in ICT (information and communication technology).
As the presence of the postal department is so wide, we can use them not just for NREGA (National Rural Employment Guarantee Act) payment, which currently happens through post offices in some villages, for other social sector schemes, too.
There is a growing anger against politicians, especially among youngsters. What role can a politician like you play here?
The perception about politicians certainly needs to change. We will have to encourage people who are upright, honest and who are working with some conviction (in politics). I believe as politicians, we will have to live as examples. We have to inculcate faith in the political system. Younger people taking up that role helps in establishing that faith...
I don't think there is anything wrong in having a transparent system. If it brings out the not-so-good side of our system, so be it. Let's not be in denial. Let's fight it (corruption), let's confront it and uproot it. That's the message we want to convey. As far as the government is concerned, it's been our policy that if anyone is found in any wrong conduct, misconduct or omission, he or she would be taken to task.
The telecom ministry is in the news for the wrong reasons (controversies over the irregularities in second-generation spectrum allocation). What are the other initiatives the ministry has taken in the recent past?
What we have been able to do is to provide the cheapest call rate on the planet. What we have been able to do is to add 18 million subscribers every month. What we have been able to do is create the world's second largest telecom market. What we want to do and we will do is to have a new telecom policy... The new telecom policy will come out in a few months. We have been making sure that all the stakeholders are brought for discussion.
The government must realize reasonable revenues for its resources, which is spectrum. Very soon, we will decide on a mechanism to price it. We must also ensure robust growth for the industry. We don't want to kill the industry with our new policy. The third and most important aspect is that our people should have the best quality of services at the cheapest price. These three will form the pillars of the telecom policy.
It will be transparent, above board and will have everyone's interests in mind. We are going to allow mergers and acquisitions to take place. But we have mandated that each circle should have at least six players to operate to allow good competition. We have talked about spectrum sharing, spectrum trading, uniform spectrum charges. We will soon take a decision.
Courtesy: liz.m@livemint.com
Sunday, May 8, 2011
Saturday, May 7, 2011
Friday, May 6, 2011
The following GDS officials are selected to the cadre of Multi tasking Staff , Gudur Division ( Group D ) in the DPC held on 05-05-2011 at R.O. Vijayawada :
2009 QUOTA CATEGORY O.C G.SAI RATNA KUMAR GDSPacker Chillakur
Date of Birth : 10-06-1959
Date of Entry :01-11-1978
2010 QUOTA CATEGORY O.C K.VENKATA RAMAIAH BPM TGP V.K.Town
Date of Birth : 16-06-1960
Date of Entry : 19-01-1979
Both the Officials are NFPE Members : We Congratulate them .
Seniority List Quota :
1.E.Raja Ratnam BPM Tummuru --- Postman V.K.Town
2.V.V.Sesha giri EDDA Nellatur---- Postman Sullurpeta
Merit Quota :
1. V.Nagaraju BPM Chintavaram --- Postman Naidupeta
2.G.Sreedhar BPM Cherlopalli------------ Postman Sriharikota
3.CH.Ramesh Babu BPM Vepinapi____ Postman V.K.Town
4.S.Penchalaiah BPM Siddavaram _____Postman Kaluvoya
5.V.Sivaiah GDSMD/MC Minamalamudi Postman Sriharikota
6.T.Naraiah BPM Kogili Postman Naidupeta
The above officials are likely to join on the Fore Noon of the 7th of May 2011
all the above 8 oficials are the Members of our Nfpe Union . We congratulate them.
Thursday, May 5, 2011
Social security scheme (Pension) launched for GDS
Social security scheme launched for Gramin Dak Sevaks
Department of Posts will deposit Rs.200 per GDS per month
New cover: Union Minister of State for Communications and IT Sachin Pilot and Department of Posts Secretary Radhika Doraiswamy (left) at the launch of the scheme in Gurgaon on Tuesday.
To provide post-retirement financial security to over 2.73 lakh Gramin Dak Sevaks (GDS), the Department of Posts has decided to deposit Rs.200 per GDS per month, said Union Minister of State for Communications and IT Sachin Pilot while launching a new social security scheme for GDSs and their spouses here on Tuesday.
Mr. Pilot, who launched the Service Discharge Benefit Scheme (SDBS), said it was being operationalised utilising the Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA)'s New Pension Scheme product — NPS-Lite.
The cost of the management of the scheme would be over Rs.70 crore annually, to be borne by the Union Government.
"The scheme has been designed to benefit the GDSs working mainly in the rural, remote and far-flung areas across the country. Some modifications in the NPS-Lite scheme have been made under the SDBS to suit the needs of the GDS," he added.
The Minister pointed out that the monthly deposits by the government would constantly grow through investments in different schemes/securities by the pension fund managers (PFM) appointed by the PFRDA.
"Forty per cent of the accumulations at the retirement of the GDS at 65 years will be invested to purchase an annuity, which will ensure that the GDS gets a monthly annuity throughout his/her life and later his/her spouse after his/her death. The GDS as a beneficiary will receive the balance 60 per cent of the accumulations in lump sum to meet his/her financial requirements as per their choice," he said.
"Backbone of Postal Department"
Describing the GDSs as the backbone of the Postal Department who are responsible for running the rural network of post offices, Mr. Pilot said the Department was committed to the welfare of such important constituent of postal human resources.
He also gave away Permanent Retirement Account Number (PRAN) cards to some GDSs.
According to Department of Posts Secretary Radhika Doraiswamy, "Of 2.73 lakh GDSs, 1.53 lakh have already opted for SDBS and 1.35 lakh have already received their PRAN cards. The existing GDSs have the option to join the new scheme or continue under the Severance Amount Scheme as per their choice. The new scheme is, however, mandatory for the GDS engaged on or after January 1, 2011."
Saturday, April 30, 2011
Thursday, April 28, 2011
NEW PENSION SCHEME CHALLENGED
New Pension Scheme for railway employees challenged
The new pension scheme introduced by the Union Government for railway employees has been challenged in the Madras Bench of the Central Administrative Tribunal.
An employee of the southern railway and Dakshin Railway Employees Union (DREU) have challenged the scheme terming it unconstitutional and invalid.
According to the new scheme, employees appointed on or after 01.01.2004 in the Railways would be governed by the new pension scheme which would be governed by 'Pension Fund Regulatory Development Authority' which would function under the overall control of Ministry of Finance. According to the new scheme, 10% of Pay and DA of an employee would be deducted and an equal amount would be contributed by the central government.
The entire pension scheme is being authorized through various executive orders, which cannot be done to govern the retirement benefits of government employees which has to be in tune with Articles 41 to 43 of the Constitution, alleges the application. The notifications issued by the government constituting PFRDA dated 10.10.2003 and 14.11.2008 are unconstitutional, as they have not been issued by the President of India and authenticated as required under Article 77 of the Constitution and the ordnance sanctioning this also lapsed in 2005, which renders the entire process without authority of law alleges DREU in its application.
The new pension scheme, which is mandatory to government employees curtails them from exercising any option said V. Daniel, a Helper in Southern Railway. According to the New Pension Scheme, any citizen of India can join the Scheme and they can choose their Fund Managers or opt for different schemes whereas no such option is available to government servants.
The application also raised serious apprehension over the way in which their funds are being exposed to market risk and they cite the risk clause in the offer document of the NPS which says that "there are no guarantee on investments and investments involve risks such as trading volumes, settlement risk, liquidity risk, default risk, including possible loss of principal'. The application also cited the statement of PFRDA Chairman that pension fund managers regulated by PFRDA are not giving minimum guarantee on returns in their products.
Besides seeking quashing of the notification and grant retiral benefits to all employees on par with those who joined prior to January 1994, the application sought an interim injunction against the notification and also to release family pension and gratuity to certain employees who died after the introduction of the new scheme.
The matter came up before the Madras Bench of the CAT comprising Members K. Elango and R. Satapathy. Counsel R. Vaigai advanced arguments on behalf of the DREU and highlighted how the funds of the employees are being entrusted with private players and are subjected to undue risks. She also apprised the Bench that the government as an employer cannot transfer its funds to a private player and expect him to discharge government's obligation.
After hearing the arguments on behalf of the applicant and of the central government, the Bench ordered interim relief directing the railway authorities to offer gratuity and family pension to all employees who joined after January 2004 within four weeks from the date of application and posted the matter for June 1.
Saturday, April 23, 2011
Vacancies DP--5 DR--1 Seniority--2
Since none DP candidates qualified all 5 vacancies transferred to DR quota i.e., to GDS officials
Thorough examination
S/S V.Nagaraju,BPM,Chintavaram BO a/w Chillakur SO
S/S G.Sridhar,BPM,Cherlopalli BO a/w Manubolu SO
S/S CH.Ramesh babu,BPM,Vepinapi BO a/w Rapur SO
S/S S.Penchalaiah,BPM,Siddavaram BO a/w Rapur SO
S/S V.Sivaiah,GDSMD,MMMudi BO a/w Kotapolur SO
S/S T.Naraiah,BPM,Kogili BO a/w Yellasiri SO
Through seniority
S/S E.Rajarathnam,BPM,Thummur BO a/w Naidupet SO
S/S V.V.Seshagirirao,GDSMC/MD, Nellatur BO a/w Gudur HO
All the above six candidates who passed through examination are attended the coaching classes conducted by the NFPE,Gudur
first month salary they are going to get is Rs. 14375/-
Clarification regarding Fresh empanelment of private hospitals and revision of package rates applicable under CGHS
Government of India
Ministry of Health & Family Welfare
Department of Health & Family Welfare
New Delhi 110 108 dated the 11th April, 2011.
[R Ravi]
Director
Thursday, April 21, 2011
HATS OFF TO GDS HEROS
Since 1995 ,first verification of membership, only AIPEDEU is being recognised as single union in GDS cadre.
Though verification process completed, since one year back, result could not be announced due to various obstructions/hundles moved by the NUPE/BPEF GDS unions. However, the results of 2010 declared by the government on 15-4-11
For 1st recognition--35%
For 2nd recognition--15%
Other both GDS unions failed to secure even 15% declarations among the GDS employees
Government of India
Ministry of Communications & IT
Department of Posts
Dak Bhawan, Sansad Marg.
New Delhi-110001
No.13/02/2010-SR Dated the 15-April, 2011
To
All Heads of Postal Circle,
All Postmasters General,
Director of Postal Staff College, Ghaziabad (UP)
CGM, PLI Directorate, Chanakyapuri PO, New Delhi
CGM BD & M Directorate, Dak Bhawan, New Delhi
CGM(MB&O), Dak Bhawan, New Delhi
DDG(PAF)/Chief Engineer (Civil)/ADG (Admn), Department of Posts
Postmaster General, Foreign Mails, Mumbai
All Directors, Postal Training Centres
Directors Foreign Mails Chennai, Kolkata and Delhi
All Directors/Dy. Directors of Accounts (Postal).
DOP&T, JCA Section, North Block, New Delhi,
Subject; Recognition of Associations of Gramin Dak Sevaks under EDA (RA Rules, 1995 – Declaration of results of the verifications process 2010.
Sir/Madam,
I am directed to refer to the Department's letter of even number dated 18-02-2010 regarding re-verification of membership of Gramin Dak Sevaks Associations through 'Check-off system' for grant of recognition. Three Associations namely, All India Postal Extra Departmental Employees Union, National Union of Gramin Dak Sewaks and Bharatiya Extra Departmental Employees Union, participated in the re-verification process, in this category.
2. Based on the information received from the Circles, the Competent authority has decided to grant recognition to All India Postal Extra Departmental Employees Union which secured 60.15% membership. The recognition so granted will be valid for a period of 5 years from the date of issue of this letter.
3. With the issue of this communication, the facilities, if any being availed by other Associations of this category, stand withdrawn.
Yours faithfully,
Sd/-
(Subhash Chander)
Director (SR & Legal)
Copy to;-
All India Postal Extra Departmental Employees Union and other applicant Associations.
All Officers and Sections of the Department of Posts.
Tuesday, April 19, 2011
PENSIONS BILL CHALLENGED IN SRILANKA,PENSIONS BILL CHALLENGED IN SUPREME COURT – NOT IN INDIA – BUT IT HAPPENS AT SRILANKA:
The new Employees Pensions Bill which has drawn the ire of employees, employers and trade unions, has been challenged in the Supreme Court by the Ceylon Bank Employees Union (CBEU) on a fundamental rights (FR) issue.
Meanwhile President Mahinda Rajapaksa, conscious of the barrage of criticism over the scheme which is to be made mandatory contrary to earlier promises of a voluntary pensions plan, has invited trade unions for a meeting on April 25 – two days before the bill is to be debated in parliament – to discuss issues that concern workers. Anton Marcus, President of the Free Trade Zones and General Service Employees Union which is associated – along with other unions - with the CBEU in the petition, said notices of the FR application have already been sent to the Parliamentary Speaker and the Attorney General. "We are filing a motion in court next week to take up the matter on April 28 and thus it is unlikely that parliament will be able to debate it on April 27," he said. Courts have been on vacation and due to reopen in last week April.
T.M.R.Rasseedin, President of Ceylon Federation of Labour (CFL), like most trade union leaders, is skeptical of meetings with the President. "Going on past experiences, these meetings are an informal gathering mostly attended by pro-government unions. Its not a real dialogue … just some 'mock' discussions with little outcomes, followed by lunch," he said, adding however that his union would attend the meeting.
Mr Marcus said the President's Office should only invite unions represented on the National Labour Advisory Council, which has been raising issues over the pensions scheme, instead of all unions.
E. K. Vithana, Vice-President of the CBEU has been cited as the petitioner in the application which was filed on April 12 and he says the bill is inconsistent with the Constitution which he claims is violated in many ways. He says the bill deprives members of the Employees' Trust Fund of their due entitlements to the dividends realized from the investment of the moneys of this Trust Fund.
Among other issues the CBEU is contesting is that the scheme is mandatory for every employee; there are contradictions in the bill itself as to who becomes members; that it imposes restrictions to legal heirs to claim lump sum amounts upon the death of a member who has fully contributed to this scheme. It says the scheme must be made voluntary.
The petition says that under the bill once an employment is declared to be a 'covered employment' the employees concerned in these employment categories automatically become members without their consent to joining it. All workers who become members of the fund are forced to forgo a certain percentage of their remunerations to be remitted to the said fund. Workers don't have any choice but to remit their hard-earned remuneration to the fund against their will, it said.
".. there are no whatsoever provisions in the bill to the effect that the worker and in his absence his dependents will be entitled without any hindrance to the amount so deducted from the worker and to the interest accrued to that amount," the petition said.
It said workers who make contributions must have a minimum period of 10 years of contributions to qualify for a pension. If an employee does not have the respective number of years required he or she will have to make the balance payments relating to such period, without being employed, which would also include the monthly contribution of the employer as well.
If the employee is unable to make this balance payment he will stand to lose all deductions that were made from earnings. The petition says a large number of young female employees are employed in industrial and export processing zones and the duration of employment of most of these employees is often below 10 years. In such instances, they will stand to lose their remunerations.
The petition has also raised issue over withdrawal of the remittances before a worker completes 10 years of service. Early withdrawal would entitle the worker to only 60% of the contributions.
PRIVATISATION OF ROYAL MAIL - DEFERRED FOR 10 YEARS
Government announces amendments to Postal Services Bill – Temporarily saved from 100% privatization of Royal Mail, U.K.
The government has outlined safeguards which it hopes will help protect the long-term futures of the Royal Mail and Post Office network.
Announced as amendments to the Postal Services Bill, which is currently going through Parliament, the safeguards include an assurance that the Royal Mail will remain the sole provider of the universal service for the next 10 years and that MPs will be kept updated on the commercial relationship between Royal Mail and the Post Office so that further large-scale closures of branches can be prevented.
Under the Postal Services Bill, the government plans to privatise Royal Mail and 'mutualise' Post Office Limited (POL), splitting the two organisations. The mutualisation plans for the Post Office aim to give more say to sub postmasters in the running of the network however the National Federation of Sub Postmasters has called for a 10-year working arrangement between Royal Mail and the POL in order to ensure the its survival.
The announcement was welcomed by Communication Workers Union general secretary Billy Hayes. "The amendments on the universal service and the commercial relationship between Royal Mail and the Post Office have been key campaign aims for the union and we are delighted the government has listened," he said.
Monday, April 18, 2011
Saturday, April 16, 2011
Friday, April 15, 2011
National Roundtable Conference on Mainstreaming of Rural Postal Network
National Roundtable Conference on Mainstreaming of Rural Postal Network Postal network with its size and reach across the country is the unique institution having potential to serve the rural community. Post Office is a microcosm of the rural community and is susceptible to changes in the environment. Therefore Department of Posts (DoP) needs to clearly redefine and reinvent the role of the Post Office in this new environment. This was stated by Shri Kapil Sibal, the Union Minister of Communications and Information Technology while inaugurating the National Roundtable Conference on Mainstreaming of Rural Postal Network here today. The Minister said that the Department is already on the road to Information Technology induction. Rural Information Communication Technology (ICT) segment of this project will throw up opportunities for serving customers on high end of the economic scale and development on initiatives as well as for ensuring last mile delivery.
Understanding that technology is not the end but is means to end like good governance and better quality of service India Post must adopt a holistic approach to technology led transformation. This platform be used to understand and conceptualise how important process reengineering, skill development and enhancement and resource planning is for implementing the new technology in our post offices. In the new environment possibilities of the rural post offices and Gramin Dak Sewaks being empowered and developed to become the “Vehicle of financial inclusion” and “Agents of last mile reach” in the digital age may be explored, he added.
India Post is the biggest postal network in the world, a major portion of which, consisting of about 1,39,000 post offices, is located in the rural India. Through a unique model of its rural branches, run by personnel drawn from the local communities, India Post has been providing mail, financial, and retail products to the remotest and most backward areas in a cost-effective manner. Its network is highly trusted and accessible to all the sections of the society. The network is however facing challenges of its under-utilization due to falling volumes of physical mails in rural areas. There are concerns that such sub-optimal utilization may be a loss of opportunity for this valuable national institutional capital.
India Post has the largest outreach among all the Central Government departments and agencies. This network has been and is continued to be used by other Government agencies in order to reach the people residing in the hinterland of the country due to its overarching reach. It is also the largest financial delivery network in the country and thus is ideally situated to deliver various instruments of financial inclusion, and social and economic development, particularly in rural areas. Moreover, rural postal personnel possess valuable information-capital on the households that can be leveraged to efficiently identify the prospective recipients of the social protection programmes. An ambitious programme of computerizing and digitally connecting the entire postal network is likely to further strengthen the potential and the capabilities of the network.
Rural post offices (called Branch Post Offices) function for three to five hours on all working days. They book registered letters, money orders, and collect ordinary letters through letter boxes located in all the villages even when they do not have a post office. They also deliver letters, both ordinary and registered and money orders at the doorsteps of all the addressees residing in their delivery jurisdiction. They open and service various kinds of deposit accounts and sell Rural Postal Life Insurance. They also provide retail services such as telephone and electricity bill collection. Some branch post offices (BOs) perform very specialized functions, e.g. 1,181 BOs collect data in respect of about 275 items of consumption every month on behalf of Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation for computation of Price Indices. The BOs are also involved in wage distribution to MGNREGA workers through more than 4.83 crore accounts.
The Minister for State for Communications and IT, Shri Sachin Pilot, Member Planning Commission, Shri Mihir Shah, Secretary Rural Development, Shri B.K. Sinha, Secretary (Posts) Ms Radhika Doraiswamy, Director Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Shri S. Parsuraman, experts, academicians and officers were present. The roundtable is being attended by various stakeholders in addition to the policymakers within India Post. It will explore various opportunities of engagement of the rural postal network towards social and economic development of rural communities and improvement of revenues of India Post in the process. This process will lead to drawing up of a roadmap for the rural postal network to bring it to the social and economic mainstream of rural India. This roadmap will also inform the Rural Entrepreneurs program for Gramin Dak Sewaks (Rural Postal Personnel). The conference will deliberate and try to identify initiatives for mainstreaming of rural post offices in the community they serve; inform stakeholders the opportunities coming up for the rural post offices in the near future through Rural ICT of India Post 2012 and bring out valuable inputs for orienting the Rural Entrepreneurs program for Gramin Dak Sewaks to address the needs of the community served by the Post Office effectively
Source: PIB
******
Thursday, April 14, 2011
A COPY OF MEMORANDUM TO BE SUBMITTED ON 20-04-2011 & CHARTER OF DEMANDS
JOINT COUNCIL OF ACTION
NATIONAL FEDERATION OF POSTAL EMPLOYEES
FEDERATION OF NATIONAL POSTAL ORGANIZATIONS
ALL INDIA POSTAL EXTRA DEPARTMENTAL EMPLOYEES UNION
NATIONAL UNION OF GRAMIN DAK SEVAKS
NEW DELHI
No. JCA/AGTN/2011 Date – 20.04.2011
To
Ms. Radhika Doraiswamy
Secretary
Department of Posts
Dak Bhawan, New Delhi – 110001
Madam,
Sub: - Problems faced by the Postal and RMS Employees – Submission of Charter of Demands – regarding
Ref: - Our Letter No. JCA/AGTN/2011 dated 01.04.2011
The joint meeting of the National Federation of Postal Employees (NFPE), Federation of National Postal Organisations (FNPO) and GDS Unions has reviewed the situation prevailing in the Department of Posts and has decided to organize agitational programmes culminating in indefinite strike from 5th July 2011 for realization of the genuine demands of the Postal and RMS Employees and also to stop the disastrous policy offensives unleashed by the authorities such as closure/merger of Post offices/RMS offices, outsourcing, contractorisation etc. we have already submitted a letter dated 01.04.2011 detailing the issues which are agitating the minds of the entirety of Postal/RMS employees including Gramin Dak Sevaks.
Accordingly, we hereby submit a Charter of Demands containing the items which are to be discussed and settled amicably, failing which we will be compelled to resort to agitational programmes as mentioned in our letter dated 01.04.2011.
With regards,
Yours faithfully,
| M. Krishnan Secretary General, NFPE | D. Theagarajan Secretary General, FNPO |
| K. V. Sridharan General Secretary, AIPEU Group ‘C’ | D. Kishan Rao General Secretary, NAPE Group ‘C’ |
| Ishwar Singh Dabas General Secretary AIPEU -Postmen & MSE/Group ‘D’ | T. N. Rahate General Secretary NAPE Postmen, MTS & Group ‘D’ |
| Giriraj Singh General Secretary AIRMS & MMS EU Group ‘C’ | D. Theagarajan General Secretary,R-3, FNPO |
| P. Suresh General Secretary AIRMS & MMS EU MG & Group ‘D’ | A. H. Siddique General Secretary,R-4, FNPO |
| Pranab Bhattacharjee General Secretary,AIPAOEU – NFPE | O.P.Khanna General Secretary,AIPAOA(FNPO) |
| S. S. Mahadevaiah General Secretary, AIPEDEU | P.U.Muralidharan General Secretary, GDS – NUPE |
| T. Satyanarayanan General Secretary, AIPAEA | H.L. RAMTEKE General Secretary, AIPAOA |
| S. Appanraj General Secretary, AIPSBCOEA | S. Sambandam General Secretary, NASBCO |
| S. A. Raheem General Secretary, AIPCWEA | Pratha Pritam Ghorai General Secretary, NUCWE |
CHARTER OF DEMANDS
1. Stop closure /merger of PO/RMS Offices including BOs. Review the orders implementing Speed Post Hubs and Delivery Hubs and restore status quo ante. Stop outsourcing the works of Postal, RMS & MMS functions.
2. Grant status as Central Civil Servant to GDS employees for all purposes including service matters, pay scale, increment, allowances, pension, promotion and other terminal benefits, leave, bonus and trade union facilities. Scrap new recruitment rules for appointment as postmen which curtails promotional avenues – restore previous rules and withdraw tighten norms assessing BPM’s work. Drop reduction of allowances in case of reduction of workload.
3. Revise the wages of casual labourers and contingent employees w.e.f. 01.01.2006 based on the minimum pay recommended by 6th CPC. Stop outsourcing the work of casual labourers and contingent work. Grant temporary status to eligible full time casual labourers , Convert part time into full time absorb full time , part time contingent employees in vacant GDS posts.
4. Immediate revision of OTA & OSA rates.
5. Implement the assurances made on 12.07.2010 Strike Settlement and also the JCM Departmental Council Meeting held on 23.08.2010.( List enclosed) Ensure prompt holding of Departmental Council Meetings.
6. Immediate finalization of Cadre Restructuring proposals including Postal Accounts as assured by the Secretary Department of Posts and its implementation.
7. Stop decentralization of Postal Accounts, PLI and RPLI and ensure status-quo.
8. Expedite the process of filling of all vacant posts in all Wings including GDS.
9. Stop implementation of Postmaster Cadre till finalization of Cadre Restructuring. Ensure 100% filling up of LSG, HSG-II, HSG-I before implementation of Postmasters Cadre, remove the retrograde eligibility conditions for appearing the examination of Grade I and PSS Group B and allow account line officials also.
10. Stop combination of beats /double duty, stop harassment of staff insisting 100% impracticable condition for delivery under Project Arrow. Settle the demands raised in the Postmen Committee such as distance factor, number of articles, Grant of Cycle allowance without distance condition, cash payment for uniform and kit items, Supply of good quality uniforms, Revision of norms.
11. Fixing norms for new assigned works of MTS. Allow to decline postman promotion for MTS under seniority quota and review the recruitment rules of MTS to Postmen / Mail Guards.
12. Grant promotions to Drivers / Artisans at par with other C.G. organizations like Railways/Defence. Higher Pay Scales to charge hand & Drivers. Revision of CRC EPP and Logistic norms.
13. Declare SBCO Staff as Divisional cadre , Stop harassment of SBCO officials under contributory factors. Complete the Ledger Agreement Work update the SBCO before launching Core Banking.
14. Fill up all Postal Civil Wing and Electrical Wing posts as per CPWD norms. Creation of Postal /Electrical and Architectural Division in every Circle. Expedite the Restructuring of Civil Wing Cadres.
15. Ensure full fledge functioning of newly formed Postal Accounts Offices by providing adequate staff strength and accommodation. Rectify the anomaly caused due to promotion of Group ‘D’ official to the cadre of LDC after 2006. Restore the residency period of three years in respect of JA to SA promotion retrospectively w.e.f. 13.12.2006. Grant MACP to those joined in Sorter cadre treating LDC as entry grade as the Sorter grade has been defunct since 2000.
16.Drop the proposed move of ending the services of existing System Administrators by outsourcing the technology work to the outsider agencies. Create the System Administrators posts as assured and specified norms and other works.
17. Counting of past services rendered by erstwhile RTPs for promotions and MACP.
18. Implement Apex Court Judgement in case of RRR Candidates in true sprit and extend to all approved RRR Candidates awaiting for absorption.
19. Stop Harassing and victimization of innocent officials under contributory negligence factors. Implement the true spirit of Govt orders and Volumes and no recovery should be made if the concerned is not directly responsible for the loss sustained to the department.
20. Stop discrimination towards PO & RMS Accounts Cadre, Create separate cadre and earmark % of posts for norm based promotions in the same cadre, Count Special Allowance for fixation on promotion, Withdraw the recovery imposed on Postman Pay fixation and drawal of bonus to GDS. Restore the date of passing the Acct examination for according LSG promotions instead date of entry in PA cadre.
21. Enhance the LR strength on all cadres to the extent of 20% and fill up all vacant LR posts.
22. Ensure prompt grant of Child Care Leave as per the liberalized orders, unnecessary hurdles put forth should be dropped.
23. Review the MACP clarifactory orders and rectify the issues like, non drawal of spl allowance on acquiring MACP, wrong interpretation of IIIrd MACP to departmental promotes only after 30 years, Counting as double promotions as Group D & Postmen even in the case of promotion to Postman on GDS quota, non counting of training period for MACP, ignore promotions acquired on deptl exam for MACP, ignore all uncommunicated average bench marks for MACP as Judicial verdict.
24. Stop attack on Union office bearers by misusing Rule 37 transfers and Rule 9 of CCS (CCA) Rules. Dispose all Rule 9 (Pension rules) disciplinary cases pending at Directorate years together.
25. Denying the legitimate right of employees to avail holidays & Sundays by compelling them to attend frequent meetings / Melas.
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