Tuesday, January 24, 2017
KAMALESH CHANDRA COMMITTEE REPORT ON GDS
ONE STEP FORWARD
Sri Kamalesh Chandra,
Retired Member, Postal Services Board & Chairman Gramin Dak Sevak Committee has
submitted it's report to Government on 24th November 2016. Even though earlier
GDS Committee reports were published on the same date of submission itself ,
this time the Postal Board kept it pending for two months and published only on
19th January 2017. Against the unjustified delay in publishing the report ,
NFPE & AIPEU - GDS conducted series of agitational programmes like
protest demonstrations , mass dharnas and finally declared indefinite hunger
fast of Secretary General and all other General Secretaries in front of Postal
Directorate (Dak Bhavan) from 18th January 2017.
The main
recommendations of the Committee relates to simplification and rationalisation
of categories of GDS and the number of Time Related Continuity Allowance (TRCA)
slabs, increasing the wages of GDS and other welfare measures of GDS. The
Committee has not attempted to analyse the justification of our demand for
grant of Civil Servant status to GDS and has refrained from making any
recommendations on the legal status of the GDS stating that the matter is
presently subjudice and hence left it to the outcome of the court case. The
committee , however , observed that there is a tendency to withhold the
legitimate demands of GDS which are due to them , based on the apprehension
that they will get closer to regular employees , and their claim for
regularisation will be strengthened in the court of law , if such demands
are allowed.
The
Committee has further observed that the future survival of the Postal
department will largely depend on the successful management of the GDS post offices,
which effectively form it's "soul" and it would be difficult for the
department to survive without the "soul". The Committee felt that the
India Post Payment Bank (IPPB) which is going to be rolled out shortly , will use
the strength of the GDS network and experiences of more than 2.60 lakhs
trustworthy Gramin Dak Sevaks.
Under
the new wage structure recommended by the Committee, eleven (11) TRCA slabs are
subsumed into three (3) wage scales with two levels each for Branch Postmasters
(BPMs) and for other than BPMs. Out of three wage scales , one scale will be
common to both categories of GDS. The minimum scale for GDS other than BPM is
fixed as 10000 for 4 hours duty and the minimum scale for 5 hours duty is
12000. Similarly, the minimum scale for BPM with 4 hours duty is fixed as 12000
and minimum scale for 5 hours duty is 14500. There will be only three
categories of GDS with nomenclature BPM, Assistant BPM and GDS. All GDS working
in Branch Post offices (other than BPM) are re-designated as Assistant Branch
Post Masters (ABPM). All GDS working in Departmental Post offices are
designated as Gramin Dak Sevaks (GDS).
The
minimum working hours of GDS is fixed as 4 hours (Level - 1) , instead of 3
hours at present and maximum working hours is 5 hours (Level - 2). Point system
for assessment of workload of BPM is abolished. The new wage structure is
linked to revenue generation of GDS Branch Post offices. Based on revenue
generation , all GDS Post offices will be categorised as A(Green), B
(Orange) , C (Pink) , D (Red) and efforts to be undertaken by the GDS BPM and
the departmental officers to increase revenue of each category is explained in
detail in the report. Committee has recommended that existing TRCA should not
be reduced. If the BPM in the category D (which is the lowest category as
per revenue earning) is not ready to improve the revenue earning ,
extension of working hours of Post office , stoppage of increment , withholding
of promotion under financial upgradation scheme , relocation of the Post office
etc are also recommended. The GDS BPM will be paid a revenue linked additional
allowance @10% beyond level - 2 wage scale , if the revenue earned
exceeds the limit fixed for category "A" offices. The increment rate
recommended is 3%.
The
other major recommendations are (a) Composite Allowance comprising of support
for hiring accommodation , office maintenance , electricity charges etc (b)
Children Education Allowance (c) three promotions (financial up gradations ) on
completion of 12 ,24 and 36 years. (c) Enhancement of ex-gratia ceiling and
Group Insurance Scheme amount (d) 26 weeks maternity leave for women GDS
and one week Paternity leave (e) 30 days General leave (instead of paid leave)
with provision for carry forward and leave surrender benefit upto 180 days of
accumulated General leave at the time of retirement ( f )
five days Emergency leave like casual leave (g) Minimum one year
service for writing promotional examination (h) liberalisation of grants
and financial assistance from welfare fund and (h) Risk and
hardship allowance.
Regarding
Pension, no major change is recommended by the Committee, except increase in
severance amount and increase in contribution to Service Discharge Benefit
Scheme (SDBS). Similarly, there is no favourable recommendation regarding
medical facilities. While recommending that the existing policy of
relocation /redeployment should be vigorously pursued to relocate GDS post
offices which are not justified as per norms, the Committee had also
recommended that the department should not order closing of any GDS post office
to further reduce the existing number of GDS post offices. The existing rule
that the maximum hours of duty of GDS should not go beyond five hours , is
retained by the Committee. There is also a recommendation that two separate
unions should be formed for GDS, one exclusively for BPMs and one for all other
categories of GDS.
Now
comes the question of implementation. Normally Department will appoint a Postal
Board Member to study and process the recommendations of the GDS committee for
implementation. Then Postal Board has to approve it after seeking the
comments of Joint Secretary & Financial Advisor. Then it is to be approved
by other nodal Ministries like Department of Personnel & Training, Ministry
of Finance, Law Ministry etc. After completing all these process, the final
proposal will be submitted to Cabinet for approval.
NFPE
& AIPEU - GDS will be making an in depth study of the recommendations and
shall submit a detailed memorandum to the Department demanding immediate
implementation of the favourable recommendations and also demanding
modifications , improvement and rejection where ever required. NFPE & AIPEU
-GDS will make sincere effort to get maximum benefits to the GDS. In case
Government refuse to implement or dilute the favourable recommendations NFPE
& AIPEU GDS will not hesitate to organise serious trade union action
including indefinite strike.
All of
us should keep in mind that the favourable recommendations of the GDS committee
is a product of sustained struggles conducted by the entire Postal employees
under the banner of NFPE , AIPEU -GDS , PJCA and Confederation of Central
Government Employees and Workers. Let us be ready for the 16th March 2017, one
day strike, for further improvement of our service conditions. Let us unitedly
fight and shall not rest till our final goal ie; civil servant status to GDS is
achieved. No doubt, Kamalesh Chandra Committee report is ONE STEP FORWARD. Let
us hope for the best.
**********
IMPORTANCE OF THE 16th
MARCH 2017
ONE-DAY STRIKE
The meeting of the
National Joint Council of Action (NJCA) was held on 17th January 2017,
Leaders of Railways, Defence, Postal and Confederation attended the meeting,
Unfortunately, there was no consensus regarding revival of the deferred
indefinite strike of the 11th July 2017. Hence
no decision could be taken.
The
clear picture that emerged from the NJCA meeting held on 17.01.2017 is that
there is no possibility of a joint strike or revival of deferred indefinite
strike in the near future. It is also a fact that Government may implement the
recommendations of Allowances Committee, Pension Committee etc before or
immediately after March 2017; It has become certain that the Pension Committee has
rejected Option. I recommended by the 7th Central Pay Commission,
which is the one and only favorable recommendation, and the Implementation Cell
of the Finance Ministry is processing the recommendation, of Pension Committee
for Cabinet approval.
Whether
the Allowances Committee will recommend any change in the recommendation of the
7th CPC (i.e. %ge of HRA etc.), nobody can predict. The request of
the Secretary, JCM staff side and NJCA Convener to convene one more meeting
with staff side was not conceded by the chairman of the Allowance Committee
(finance Secretary ) till date. There is every possibility that the Government
may not implement the revised allowances from 01.01.2016, instead it may
implement it from 01.01.2017 or 01.04.2017, thereby denying arrears on
allowances. After Government unilaterally implementing everything, declaring a
strike is a futile exercise and betrayal of employees. We should strike when
the iron is hot.
The
unilateral decision of the Government to implement “Very good” bench mark for
MACP promotions has cast shadow on the future promotional prospects of a large
number of employees who are not in the good book of the Government and
administration for reason best known to them. The NPS Committee constituted by
the Government is not mandated to recommend scraping of New Pension Scheme, but
it is for recommending cosmetic changes in NPS in the name of streamlining the
NPS as recommended by the 7th CPC.
Regarding increase in Minimum Pay and Fitment formula, no
High Level Committee is constituted till date, as assured by the Group of
Senior Cabinet Ministers to NJCA leaders on 30.06.2016. A Group of Senior
Officers held two round discussion with the staff side, but surprisingly they
had not come prepared to discuss increase in Minimum wage and Fitment formula.
They made a mockery of the meeting by disclosing in the first meeting that they
are not fully aware of the details of the issue and in the second meeting they
told that they came for discussing Allowances (another committee for Allowances
is already constituted) and not Minimum wage and fitment formula!!! The last
meeting was held in October 2016 and thereafter no meeting is notified. All the
anomalies arising out of implementation of 7th CPC recommendations
remain unsettled.
There is no improvement in the issues relating to Gramin Dak
Sevaks (GDS). It will take time for implementation of GDS Committee report
which is published on 19.01.2017. Other demands submitted to Government by NJCA
on 10th June 2016 along with the strike notice are also pending. The
four months time fixed for Allowance committee already extended to six months.
The four months time for increasing Minimum pay and fitment formula expired on
30.10.2016.
All the employees and pensioners are totally disappointed
and are voicing their anger and protest through various forums and social
media. In the above circumstances, everybody expected that NJCA shall revive
its deferred indefinite strike. Inspite of our best efforts, that is not
happening.
When the three Cabinet Ministers including Shri Rajnath
Singh, Home Minister, Shri Arun Jaitley, Finance Minister and Shri Suresh
Prabhu, Railway minister have gone back from their assurances and betrayed the
entire employees and Pensioners, when the Government is unilaterally going
ahead with all retrograde measures, we cannot remain silent spectators and
accept every decision of the Government lying down, without any protest,
Somebody should come forward to protest and, if necessary, to suffer and sacrifice
and history has bestowed that responsibility on Confederation.
It is in this background the Confederation of Central
Government Employees and Workers has decided to go for one day strike on
16.03.2017. As the biggest affiliate of Confederation, NFPE and all its
affiliates shall implement the decision in its true spirit and make the one day
strike a thundering success.
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FILING OF
IMMOVEABLE PROPERTY RETURNS UNDER RULE 16(2) OF AIS (CONDUCT) RULES, 1968. TO VIEW, PLEASE CLICK
HERE.
"TRUST SHALL NOT BE BETRAYED"
7th Central
Pay Commission has quoted in para - 1.29 of " Foreword " , the
following observations of the Supreme Court in the case of Bhupendranath
Hazarika and another Vs State of Assam and others (reported in 2013 (2)
Sec 516).
"It
should always be borne in mind that legitimate aspirations of the
employees are not guillotined and a situation is not created where hopes
end in despair.......... A sense of calm sensibility and concerned
sincerity should be reflected in every step. An atmosphere of trust has
to prevail and when the employees are absolutely sure that their trust
shall not be betrayed and they shall be treated with dignified fairness ;
then only the concept of good governance can be concretized. We say no
more."
Unfortunately,
the NDA Government and the Group of Ministers consisting of Sri Rajnath
Singh, Hon'ble Home Minister, Sri Arun Jaitley, Hon'ble Finance
Minister, Sri Suresh Prabhu, Hon'ble Railway Minister who gave assurance
on 30th June 2016 that Minimum wage and Fitment formula will be
increased and a High Level Committee will be Constituted with a time -
frame of four months , have given least concern for the above
observations of the Apex Court. Now seven months are almost over.
Further there is no guarantee that Allowance Committee will increase the
percentage of HRA recommended by 7th CPC. Instead there is every
chance, to deny retrospective effect from 01.01.2016 to the revised
allowances and it may be implemented prospectively from 01.01.2017 or
01.04.2017, thus denying the eligible arrears for one year or more. It
has become certain that the Option - 1 for pensioners recommended by 7th
CPC, which is the one and only favourable recommendation, stands
rejected. Orders on abolition of Advances including Festival advance and
imposing "very good " condition for MACP are issued unilaterally .
Request
of the JCM National Council Staff side Secretary to give one more
opportunity to present it's case before the Allowance Committee is not
conceded by the Finance Secretary, who is the Chairman of the Committee.
The request of the JCM Staff side to modify the Terms of Reference of
Anomaly Committee is also not yet considered by the Department of
Personnel and Training. The Committee constituted for New Pension Scheme
is only for streamlining the NPS by making some cosmetic changes as
recommended by 7th CPC and not for considering the demand of the JCM
Staff side to scrap NPS. Not even a single demand of the staff side
submitted to Cabinet Secretary on 10th December 2015, requesting
modifications in the recommendations of 7th CPC is settled by the
Government. The so-called group of senior officer's committee had, in fact, ridiculed and humiliated the JCM Staff Side standing committee.
The
All India Conference of the Confederation of Central Government
Employees & Workers held in August 2016 at Chennai had taken a
decision to request all constituents of NJCA to revive the indefinite
strike , if Government is not ready to honour it's commitment before
30th October 2016. The AIC had further decided that, in case NJCA is
not ready to revive the deferred indefinite strike, then Confederation
should organise independent trade union action including strike.
Confederation strongly feels that there in no meaning in waiting
indefinittely for Government's decision. We cannot cheat the employees
like NDA Government. As no consensus decision could be taken in NJCA,
Confederation had decided to go for one day strike and organised
country wide demonstrations, mass dharnas and massive Parliament March.
Strike notice for one day strike on 15th February 2017 was served on
28th December 2016. Due to announcement of assembly elections in five
states by Election Commission of India and 15th February being a polling
day, the strike was postponed to 16th March 2017.
Intensive
campaign and mobilisation is going on in full swing all over the
country. About 13 to 15 lakhs Central Government employees will
participate in the strike, with the full support and solidarity of about
34 lakhs pensioners, Central Trade Unions, independent Federations of
State Government employees, Bank and Insurance employees and other
public sector employees.
After
reviewing the participation of employees in the one day strike,
Confederation shall explore the possibility of declaring higher form of
trade union action including indefinite strike .
M. KRISHNAN
Secretary General
Confederation
Mob & WhatsApp : 09447068125
Email : mkrishnan6854@gmail.com
Postponement of the one day strike from 15th February 2017 to 16th March 2017 - Confederation writes to Cabinet Secretary, Government of India
Ref: Confdn/Strike/2016-19 Dated – 23rd January 2017
To,
The Cabinet Secretary
Cabinet Secretariat
Government of India
Rashtrapati Bhawan
New Delhi – 110001
Sir,
Sub:- Postponement of the one day strike from 15th February 2017 to 16th March 2017.
Ref:- Our strike notice dated 28.12.2016.
Kindly refer to the notice served by us on 28th December 2016, for one day strike of Central Government employees on15th February
2017. (copy enclosed for ready reference). This is to inform you that
due to the notification of election to five state assemblies by the
Elected Commission of India, the proposed strike on 15th February 2017 is postponed to 16th March 2017. The Charter of demands in pursuance of which the employees will embark upon the one-day strike action is enclosed.
Yours faithfully,
(M. Krishnan)
Secretary General
Mob: 09447068125
Email: mkrishnan6854@gmail.com
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