GOVT. STAND ON OUR GDS DEMANDS
MoC Shri. RAVI SHANKAR PRASAD Replied in RAJYA SABHA on 1.8.2014 regarding
STATUS ON DEMANDS OF GRAMIN DAK SEVAKS
Sl.
No.
|
Issue
|
Action taken / Government’s view
|
1
|
Demand for regularization as Government
servant.
|
Gramin Dak Sevaks,
about 2,65,000 in number are a distinct category of employees, who do not
form part of the regular civil service. They are governed by a separate set
of conduct and engagement rules. They
are engaged for 3 to 5 hours in a day.
Their livelihood is not solely dependent on the allowances paid by the
Postal Department. They are
mandatorily required to possess independent sources of income for adequate
means of livelihood. They are discharged on attaining the age of 65 years and
while in employment are required to have residence mandatorily within the
post village/delivery jurisdiction of the post office.
The Hon’ble Supreme
Court in the matter of Superintendent of Post Offices vs. PK Rajamma
(1977)(3) SCC has also held that the Extra Departmental Agents [now called
Gramin Dak Sevaks] are holders of the civil post outside the regular civil
service.
|
2
|
Demand for
restoration of parity in bonus ceiling with departmental employees
|
Bonus ceiling
stands revised at par with departmental employees vide DG Posts letter No.
26-04/2013-PAP dated 04.10.2013.
|
3
|
Demand for cent percent compassionate
engagement to GDS posts from dependents of Gramin Dak Sevaks dying while in
employment
|
Compassionate
engagement is allowed in only hard and deserving cases. The term, ‘hard and
deserving cases,’ is defined as cases earning more than 50 points designed
from a point based criteria based on indigence. There is no justification to
allow compassionate engagement in cent percent cases in cases of death of
Gramin Dak Sevaks irrespective of indigence.
|
4
|
Request to ban direct recruitment to
Multi-Tasking Staff (MTS)/Postman posts and filling up of 25% posts of
MTS/Postman based on seniority by GDS employees.
|
Statutory
Recruitment Rules for MTS provide for direct recruitment/absorption directly
to MTS against 25% of the direct recruitment vacancies on the basis of
selection cum seniority & another 25% by direct recruitment on the basis
of competitive examination restricted to GDS. Statutory Recruitment Rules for
Postman provide for direct recruitment from amongst GDS to the extent of 50%
of the vacancies on the basis of limited departmental examination.
|
5
|
Request for filling
up of all vacant posts in all categories of GDS in Postal and RMS.
|
Instructions have been issued to all Circles to fill up all vacant
posts of GDS Branch Postmaster and justified posts of all other approved
categories.
|
6
|
Request for extending one more option to
GDS for enrolment under the service Discharge benefit Scheme (SDBS) and
allowing GDS to make contribution to the Scheme
|
Existing GDS have already been provided one more and last option for
their enrolment under the Scheme before 31.01.2014. GDS beneficiaries have
also been allowed to contribute towards the scheme at the rate of Rs. 200 per
month per GDS effective from October, 2013.
|
7
|
Request for merger of 50% DA to the
remuneration of GDS.
|
This is based on the similar demand made by
Central Government Employees. The Government has not taken any decision on
the issue for the Central Government employees either.
|
8
|
Demand for inclusion of Gramin Dak Sevaks
within the purview of the 7th Central Pay Commission.
|
The Government has successively constituted
Committees for revision of the wage structure and other service conditions of
GDS from time to time after each Central Pay Commission. The last such Committee was constituted by
the Department in the year 2007 named Shri RS Nataraja Murti Committee. The latest request for their inclusion in
the 7th CPC stands referred to the Ministry of Finance, Department
of Expenditure.
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