Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No 3268. Dated 23rd March 2022.
Will the Minister of COMMUNICATIONS be pleased to state.
(a) whether the Government proposes to regularise rural Dak Sevaks/BPMs etc.,
(b) if so, by when and if not, the reason therefor,
(c) whether it is a fact that the Government had set up committee(s) for disposal of their demands,
and
(d) If so , the details of the recommendations made by the above committees and the action taken by the Government on these recommendations till date?
ANSWER
SHE STER OF STATE FOR COMMUNICATIONS (SHRI DEVUSINH CHAUHAN)
(a) No, Sir.
(b) Gramin Dak Sevaks (GDS) are outside the Civil Services of the Union .They are not at par with
Central Government employees .They work for a minimum of four hours and maximum of five hours a day .For this Limited hours work, they are paid ‘TIME Related Continuity Allowance (TRCA).
(c) Yes Sir. Kamlesh Chandra Committee was set up made resolution No. 17-13/2013-GDS dated 19th November, 2015 by the Government of India for examining the conditions of service, emoluments and other facilities available to the Grameen Dak Sevaks.
(d) The Cooumttee submitted its report on 24.11.2016. Details of Major recommendations and their status is given at Annexure—I.
Annexure referred to in reply to Part (d) of Lok Sabha unstarred Question No. 3268 for 23.03.2022 regarding Rural Dak Sevaks.
Details of Recommendations and status of implementation:- Mojor recommendations in brief.
The old system of payment of Time Related Continuity Allowance (TRCA) is recommended to be Dispensed with and replaced with a new wage payment system. Under the new wage payment system, 11 TRCA slabs are recommended to be subsumed into 3 Wage Scales math two Levels each for BPMs and for other than BPMs. One wage scale is recommended to be common for both the categories of GDSs.
Recommended New Wage Scale
10,000 - 24,470 (Other than BPM Level 1)
12,000 - 29,380 (Other than BPM Level 2 & BPM Level 1)
14,500 — 35,480 (BPM Level 2)
The minimum working hours of GDS Post Offices and GDSs are recommended to be increased to 4 hours from 3 hours.
The new working hours for GDS Post offices are recommended to be 4 hours and 5 hours only.
The Level 1 GDS Post Ottices.GDSs are recommended to be 4 hours as working hours and Level —2 are recommended 5 hours as working hours.
: Implemented
The Point System for assessment of workload of BPMs is recommended to be abolished.
: Not Implemented
The new wage payment system is recommended to be Linked to revenue generation of GDS Post Offices. Under the new system, there should be no increase in wages of BPMs front Level -1 to Level -2 on the basis of workload but the same are recommended to be increased based on achievement of prescribed revenue norms which to be is fixed at 100% for normal areas and 50% for special areas which presently have 15% anticipated income norms.
: Not Implemented
The GDS Post Offices not achieving the prescribed revenue norms within the given working hours are recommended to be opened for minimum of additional 30 minutes beyoud the prescribed working hours.
: Not Implemented
The GDS BPMs are recommended to be paid Revenue Linked Allowance @10% beyond level-2 wage scale in case they are successful in achieving revenue beyond prescribed norms.
: Not Implemented
The GDS Post Olfices are recommended to be categorized into A B, C and D categories based on the revenue generahon norms. The GDS Post Office in A category should be able to achieve 100% revenue. The Comittee has recommended a set of actions for each category of GDS Post Offices.
: Not Implemented
The six approved categories of GDSs are recommended to be subsumed into two categories only. One category is recommended to be of Branch Post Master and all other 5 categories of GDSs are recommended to be subsumed into one Multi-Tasking Category.
: Implemented
The job profile of Multi-Tasking GDS is recommended to be expanded to include work such as Busuiess Development and Marketing etc. Their jobs should no more be confined to their old designations. The Assistant BPM should assist BPMs for increasuig revenue generation.
: Implemented
The GDSs working or the GDS Post Offices are recommended to be known as Assistant Branch Post Masters (ABPM) and those working in the Departmental Post Offices are recommended to be known as Dak Sevaks(DS)
: Implemented
The minimum wage is recommended to be increased to Rs.10000-per month and maximum pay is
Rs.35480/-per month.
:Implemented
The rate of annual increase is reconvnended as 3%
:Implemented
A Composite Allowance comprsing of support for hiring accommodation for GDS Post Offices as well as mandatory residence, office innuitenance, mobile and electricity usage charges etc. has been recommended to be introduced for the first time.
:Implemented
Children Education Al1owance @Rs. 6000. -per child per annum is recommended to be introduced for GDSs.
:Implemented
Risk & Hardship Allowance @.Rs 500.'- per month for GDS working in the special areas has also been recommended.
:Implemented
A Finacial up-gradatiou has been recommended to be introduced at 12 years, 24 years and 36 years of services in form of two advance additional annual increases.
:not implemented
The Ceiling of ex-gratia gratuity has been recommended to be increased from Rs.60,000 to Rs.5,00,000.
: Implemented . ceilling enhanced to 1.5 Lakhs
The GDS Contrbiution for Service Discharge Benefit Scheme (SDBS) is recommended to be enhanced to between a range of a mininnun of 3% to a maximum of 10% of the basic wage per month, whereas the
Department should contribute a fixed contribution of 3% of the basic wage of the GDSs.GDS contribution enhanced from Rs 200 to Rs 300 and matching contribution of the government of Rs.300.
:Implemented
The coverage of GDS Group Insurance Scheme has been recommended to be enhanced from Rs.50000. to Rs.5,00,000
:Not implemented
The contribution of Department in Circle Welfare Fund (CWF) has been recommended to be increased from Rs.100.per annum to Rs.300. per annum
:Not implemented
The scope of CWF is recommended to be extended to cover immediate family members such as spouse, daughters, sons and dependent daughters or law in the scheme.
:Not implemented
The Committee also recommended 10% hike in the prescribed Linits of financial grants and assistance in the Circle Welfare Funds.
:Not implemented
The Committee has recommended addition of Rs. 10,000 - for purchase of Tab1et \ Mobde front the Circle Welfare under the Head “Financial Assistance of Fund by way of loans with lower rate of interest (5%)”.
:Not implemented
Provision of 26 weeks of Matemity Leave for women GDS has been recommended.provision of 180 days of maternity leav to femail GDS
:Implemented.
The wages for the entire period of Maternity Leave is recommended to be paid front salary head from where wages of GDSs are paid.
:Implemented
The Committee has also recommended one week of Paternity leave
:Rejected
The Committee has recommended 5 days of emergency leave per annum.
:Implemented
Leave accumulation and encashment facility up to 180 days has been recommended to be introduced.
:Rejected
Online system of engagement has been recommended.
:Implemented
The maximum age Limit of 50 years for Direct Recruitment of GDSs has been recommended to be abolished.
:Implemented
Minimum one year of GDS service is recommended for Direct Recruitment into Departmental cadre such as MTS\Postnman\Mail Guard. GDS is eligible to appear for competitive examination for MTS and post man \mail guard after completion of 3 years and 5 years engagement period respectively.
:Implemented.
Alternate Livelihood condition for engagement of GDSs has Oeen recommended to be relaxed.
:Implemented
Voluntary Discharge scheme has been recommended.
:Implemented
The Discharge age has been recommended to be retained at 65 years.
:Implemented
The Limited Transfer Facility has been recommended to be relaxed from 1 time to 3 times for male GDSs. There should be no restriction on number of chances for transfer of women GDSs. The powers for transfer has been recommended to be delegated to the concerned Divisional head.3 chance for female GDS and 2 chance for male GDS
:Implemented.
The ex-gratia payment during put olf period is recommended to be revised to 35% front 25% of the wage
and DA drawn immediately before put off.
:Not implemented
The Committee has recommended preferring tranfer before put off duty. A provision has been made for transfer on administrative/vigilance grounds
:Implemented
The Compassionate Engagement of GDSs has been recommended to be relaxed to given benefits to eligible dependents in all cases death of GDS while in service.
:Implemented
