No.08/11/2013-SR
Government
of India
Ministry
of Communications & IT
Department
of Posts
(S.R.
Section)
Dak Bhavan, Sansad Marg
New
Delhi dated the 8th July, 2013
To
Shri
I.S. Dabas
General Secretary
All
India Postal Employees Union Postmen & MSE Gr.’D’
17/3-D,
Type-III, P&T Quarters
Kali
Bari Marg
New
Delhi-110 001
Shri
T.N. Rahate
General Secretary & President FNPO
National
Union of Postal Employees Postmen Gr ‘.D’
Central
Head Quarters, Dalvi Sadan, Khurshid Square
P&T
Colony, Civil Lines
Delhi
– 110 054
Subject: Memorandum submitted to the Secretary,
Department of Posts on urgent issues of Postmen and MTS Staff
Sir,
Reference
your letter No. Memorandum/Postmen JCM/2013 dated 07/06/2013 (received in SR
Section on 18/06/2013) on the above subject.
The issues raised in the memorandum have been examined in consultation
with all officers concerned in the meeting held under the chairpersonship of
Secretary (Posts). The decisions taken
on the various issues, raised by the unions, are enclosed.
It
is reiterated that no purpose is served by agitations. On the contrary, disruption of work
undermines the prestige of the Department and affects the business. You are, therefore, requested again to stay
away from such activities and call off the proposed Dharna / strike.
Yours faithfully,
Encl: as above.
(Arun Malik)
Director (SR)
Decisions
taken in the meeting under the chairpersonship of Secretary (Posts) held on
24/06/2013 on memorandum submitted by Postmen & MTS Staff Unions
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Sl. No.
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Agenda Item
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Decisions taken
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1.
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Postmen
Committee Recommendation not Implemented
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(a)
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Extraction
of data entry work from Postman: Suitable instructions / Orders to all the
Circles are to be issued by 30/04/2012; nothing has been done so far. An early issue of orders is required to
implement them.
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It has been decided
that circles will make necessary arrangements at WCTC or DO/HO to impart
training on Saturdays/Sundays to all those Postmen who are unable to perform
data entry work to bring proficiency.
It is essential for Postman to perform data entry work as the
Department is moving from a present computerized mode to the CSI Software and
Hand Held device for the Postman.
Under MNOP data entry of articles for delivery is a part of the
delivery system. The Hand Held device
will be given to the heavier SP/Regd. Post delivery POs the data of articles
for delivery in a delivery PO coming through CSI Software will be down loaded
into the HH device. The Postmen will
then have to tick ( ) when article is delivered on or choose
from a drop down menu for reasons of non-delivery. Necessary training for
Postmen will be given.
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(b)
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Revision
of postmen norms: Postmen
norms issued by the Department are very old.
The decision taken in the committee are not convincing. As such it is suggested that formation of
fresh Internal Work Study Unit with one / two staff side members to review
all work performed by postmen staff with door to door measurement of beats
was requested. Internal Work Study
Unit for this job is to be ordered by the Directorate as the same does not
come under the jurisdiction of the Committee.
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The norms for Postmen
were issued on 05/02/2010 after discussions with Postal Unions and were
further revised on 19/07/2012.
Therefore, the demand for constitution of a fresh committee for
revised norms is not justified.
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(c)
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Change
in procedure for payment of Speed Post delivery incentive: At present the
procedure for payment of incentive is very lengthy. Nobody prepares bills. In case the bills are prepared they remain
under verification of PRI/SDI/ASP then go to sanction to the Divisional
Head. After sanction of bills from
Divisional Head to DDOs for payment.
Then bills are to be prepared DDOs for payment office wise. It is suggested that module for payment of
Speed Post Incentive in the computer software be installed and give powers of
payment to the concerned postmaster on weekly/ monthly. After payment the concerned vouchers be
sent to the DDOs for accounting purpose.
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It was decided that
software module for generation of speed post incentive bills shall be
developed for installation in the Post Office. However, the sanction of the incentive bill
will continue to be done by Divisional Office.
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(d)
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Combination
of beat: It was decided in the above meeting that
limit of combination of beat in the post office having 4+ strength will be
removed since it adversely affects the delivery efficiency. But orders on this item are yet to be
issued by the Directorate. This needs
to be done at the earliest.
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It was decided that
combination of beats will continue wherever essential due to leave and other
contingencies so that delivery of mail which is the core business of Post
Office is not adversely affected.
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(e)
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Delivery
of Heavy parcels and EPP articles: It was pointed out by the staff side that
Postman faces difficulty in delivery of registered parcels weighing more than
5 Kgs each and EPP articles of which the maximum weight of 35 Kgms., per
articles has been fixed. It was
highlighted that either some reasonable rate and mode of conveyance for
delivery EPP articles should be fixed or the rates of coolie charges fixed in
the past should be revised for efficient delivery of the registered
parcel. It was decided that the
Directorate will consider reiterating the instructions on coolie charges to
all the Circles so that the delivery of heavy parcels is not adversely
affected. Whether coolie charges
pertaining to heavy parcels have been enhances due to high prices. As regards EPP parcels, whether mode of
conveyance with rate of each mode have been decided by the Directorate.
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It
was decided that the new Parcel Division will examine the proposal keeping in
view issues of the heavy parcel and EPP articles.
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(f)
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Corrigendum
on density of population: The
staff side drew attention of the committee to the note of Sl.8 in the
Directorate letter No.9-1/2005-WSI/PE.I dated 05/02/2010 which stipulates
that area having a density of population 2500 per Sq. KM may be taken as
congested area “and pointed out that the same has incorrectly been printed as
it should refer to 2500 per sq. Mile instead of 2500 sq. meter. They quoted a clarification received from
PTC, Mytore which has cited Directorate letter dated 19/02/1976 indicating
establishment norms for Postmen and defining congested area or having a
density of population of 2500 sq. per Mile.
After discussion it was agreed that Directorate would examine and
issue suitable amendment / corrigendum to the Note 8 of the revised norms of
postmen establishment.
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Matter was examined
and found that vide letter NO.l9-1/2005-WS.I/PE.I dated 05/02/2010, norms for
Postmen Establishment were circulated in which under note 8 – density of
population mentioned 2500 per sq.km., and still holds good. The union is confusing with earlier order
issued in the year 1975.
PTC, Mysore will also
be informed to correct their compendium and send correction to every booklet
sold.
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(g)
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Creating
of justified additional posts: In
this connection while implementing the system for delivery work and allowing
postmen to write correct remarks for non-delivery. The staff side drew attention to item No.
25 minutes of the last JCM meeting issued on 01/03/2012 wherein it is
mentioned that the issue is under examination by the Postman Committee being
chaired by CGM (PLI). After
discussion, the view emerged that this item is not part of Committee’s
mandate and the issue pertains to creation / re-deployment of Posts which is
basically a policy issue. However, the
staff side mentioned that Postmen were not able to write correct remarks for
non-delivery of article due to heavy work in the project Arrow Offices, it
was, therefore, decided that the experience gathered after implementation of
Project Arrow in various Post Offices could be examined. Result on examination has not been
communicated so far in this regard.
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It was decided that
the commitment made in respect of Project Arrow implementation will be
examined by Director (Mail Management). Accordingly, the issue was
examined. As per Postal Manual (Vol.
VI, Part 3), when an undelivered article or MO entered in the Postman’s book
(M 27) is brought back, a remark as to why it was not delivered or paid
should be written briefly but legibly by the Postmen. Therefore, recording the reasons for
non-delivery is part of Postmen’s job, ever since Postal manuals were written.
As Hand Held device
shall soon be issued to Postmen of heavier SP/Regd. Post delivery offices and
GDS – BPM and delivery agents, the entry of reasons for delivery/non-delivery
can be ticked from the drop down option menu by Postmen at the time of
effecting delivery itself.
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2.
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Cadre
Restructuring of Postman an MTS: The first and foremost issue on which a
bias against the Postman is clearly visible is that of cadre restructuring
for this cadre. The Department through
conceded to form a Cadre Restructuring Committee during the strike
negotiations with the Postal Joint Council of Action had issued orders
omitting the cadre of Postman and MTS from the ambit of cadre
restructuring. This shows the mind-set
of the Department on the important issue of cadre restructuring of Postman
and MTS cadre. The stand of the Postal
Directorate was against the direction of the Official Side in the National
Anomaly Committee that every department shall go into the issue of cadre
restructuring for boosting the promotional avenues of employees rather than
depending too much on the MACP Scheme for that purpose. It is a known fact that the cadres of
Postman and MTS have no in-situ promotion in their cadre except the promotion
to the cadre of Postal Assistant through a competitive examination. Every other cadre other than the cadres of
Postman and MTS have their own hierarchical promotions in their own cadre and
this discrimination cannot be ended without a proper cadre restructuring in
place for the Postman and MTS cadre.
Even the flimsy promotion for the cadre of Postman earlier to the
introduction of TBOP / BCR like Head Postman, sorting Postman etc., have
disappeared from the scene and as on date no promotion in the cadre is
available to both these cadres.
Unfortunately, the Department of Posts not only not in a position to appreciate our
contention as well as the proposal for cadre restructuring based on
percentage basis as available to all cadres in the Department of Railways but
no inclined to consider any cadre restructuring proposal to these
cadres. The absence of any promotion
to them in their own cadre leaves them total frustrated and takes away any
incentive to perform better to the services.
This has to be properly appreciated and attended to by the Postal
Directorate in the absence of Cadre Restructuring Committee failed to find
out any alternate proposals to ‘our proposal based on percentage.’
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It was decided to
ascertain as to how many Postmen / GDS / MTS have passed the examination
during the last five years and how many Postmen vacancies were filled through
direct recruitment.
Cadre restructuring
for Group ‘C’ employees was not found justified.
There is only one
cadre i.e. Postal Asstt. after the Postman cadre. The functional requirement of PA Cadre
includes knowledge of computers. They
are also recruited on examination both from DR and promoted. Hence a chance for those who measure up is
already provided subject to fitness.
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3.
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Door to Door Scientific Measurement of
Beats: (A) – At present the door to door beat measurement
system adopted by the department is not only unsatisfactory but also
incorrect one as neither scientific device like foot meter nor cyclo meter is
used to assess the actual length of beat.
The measurement of beats is generally done while sitting on the table
by guess work only. Moreover the
workload of mail delivery and number of houses to be visited during duty of
eight hours has no where been laid down causing extreme harassment to postmen staff.
It is demanded that the number of houses to be visited and number of
articles to be delivered should be laid down in the interest of delivery
efficiency and rationalization of workload of postmen staff as well.
The Directorate ordered for rationalizing of
Postman beats after hearing our complaints that Postman beats are constructed
unscientifically with long distances humanly impossible to cover on a
day. Many examples like more than 70
kilometers beats were brought to the notice of the Postman Committee to
substantiate our complaints. Based on
the discussions the Directorate agreed to issue orders for measuring the
beats and rationalizing them appropriately.
Unfortunately the CHQs of our Unions are receiving complaints from our
Circles that re-measuring of beats is being done most unscientifically
without using either the cyclo-meters or foot-meters but applying their
imaginary calculations. This has
complicated the problem more and there is wide spread resentment among the
Postman staff. Both our unions urge
upon you to issue strict instructions to measure all Postman beats only by
using cyclo-meters or foot-meters for the purpose of rationalizing the beats.
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The representative
beats intimated by staff side in Delhi
and Haryana Circles have been assessed and the assessment / study report is
enclosed. It has been found that in
Delhi Circle the two POs have excessive manpower while in Haryana the
manpower is short of its requirement.
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(B)
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To fix the meeting
of Committee for Modification in Order No. 31-38/79-PE-I dt. 22-5-1979:- The Committee
Constituted for examination of Modification in Departmental Order No.
31-38/79-PE-I dt. 23-5-1979 in R/O footwork of the Postman from door to door
walk in R/O Item DO 4 of Periodical Meeting held on 29-11-2012 and
Departmental Council Meeting on 28-12-2012.
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This issue was
deliberated by the committee constituted to examine the issues related to
postmen under the chairmanship of the then CGM (PLI) Shri Shekhar Sinha. The committee was of view that the time
factor for door-to-door distance travelled by foot by the postmen is being
taken care of in the time factor provided for delivery of mail The committee
further noted that this aspect has been duly clarified in the note No. 11 of
Directorate letter dated 5/2/2010 which is reproduced below:
“Distance travelled
means distance covered on the main roads, lanes and bye-lanes. Distance
travelled/covered for entering various houses is included in the time factor
for delivery of articles.”
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4.
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. Revision of
Syllabus to Departmental Exams Modification:- (A) As narrated in the earlier paragraph the
only avenue open to the cadre of Postman / MTS for higher promotion is that
Postal Assistants through competitive examinations. The Department opted for
revision of syllabus and pattern of examinations and the Staff Side too
agreed to it. It was told to us that the revision of syllabus and pattern of
examinations would go a long way to help more candidates get through the
examination to avoid many vacancies go unfilled after every examination. It
took a long time for finalizing the syllabus and new method of examination
introduced for LGO exam. However it is found that contrary to what was told
by the Department the examinations of LGOs as well as the examinations from
GDS to Postman and MTS have become so tuff that it has become extremely
difficult to answer many questions.
Many questions are of such a standard that even IPS Officers may not
be able to answer easily. This has led to a situation wherein the candidates
could not get through these examinations and a large number of vacancies
remain unfilled after the examinations. Both of our unions urge upon you to
set up a high level committee of Officers with Staff Side Members in it to
review the whole syllabus for suitably modifying it.
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It
was decided that the question papers of the last three years will be examined
by DDG(P) to see whether any question
was out of the syllabus and report submitted in 15 days. The question papers in respect of minimum
three circles will be examined for the report. Revision of syllabus is not recommended as
syllabus is linked to job content and should not be compromised in these days
of stiff competition from couriers and public expectancy of service delivery.
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(B)
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Request to
conduct special examination for recruitment to the Postman & MTS
cadres for the years 2009, 2010, 2011
and 2012 : To
avoid recurring vacancies due to leaving of qualified employees of high
standard in the background of
submission made above, it is requested that –
1. To fill up the
vacancies for the years 2009 to 2013 in the Postman and MTS cadre a special
examination only for GDS/MTS employees may be conducted.
2. The question
paper may be set on the basis of practical and relevant work routinely
done by the regular MTS and Postman employees.
3. The work of setting
question paper may be got done by a promotee officer who is having
practical knowledge of the nature of work being done by the MTS and Postman
employees.
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The
posts are to be filled as per the provisions of the modified Recruitment
Rules, which are statutory in nature.
However, no deviation from the RRs is permissible. However, all circles will be addressed to
hold the examination as per prescribed periodicity. Circles will also be advised to hold
training classes on holidays in Divisions on a fee basis of competiting
employees to ensure that syllabus based training is imparted to upgrade
knowledge and skills. Divisional
Supdt. will only be enablers for this process.
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(C)
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Filling up vacant posts with Residual
vacancies:-
All vacant post of Postmen & Group D/MTS should be filled in within 30th
June 2013 as directed by Directorate. There is no chance to fill up vacant
posts in due time as no notification has been issued in many circles like
A.P. and Assam Circle etc.
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Status
of vacancies will be reviewed on receipt of feedback from the circles in the first
/ second week of July, 2013 which is the time limit given to Circles for this
task.
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5.
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Improving the
Quality of Uniforms and timely supply of all kit items:-The Postman and MTS
are called the uniformed staff in the Department of Posts. Unfortunately
these cadres who are actually moving among the members of public pose a poor
picture to the image of the Department because of the inferior quality of the
uniform cloth. Despite the agreement with the All India Unions by the
Department that facilitated inclusion of staff side member from the Unions in
the purchase committee of uniform cloth to ensure purchase of better quality
of cloth,, the problem persists. This cannot be sorted out unless the cost
price permitted by the DOPT is enhanced on the face of escalating prices of
all commodities including the textiles. The cost price permitted by the DOPT
cannot ensure better quality uniform cloth from the market. Added to this are
the violations here and there in Circles where the Administration is not
sincerely ensuring inclusion of staff side members in the purchase committee
and no protection against ensuring supply of the selected quality of cloth
only to the staff. These have to be addressed immediately.
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This
issue relates to purchase of good quality of uniform and non inclusion of
representatives of staff side in the purchase committee was taken up with
DOPT by this Department. DOPT had
furnished their comments for procurement of uniform which are as under:
“After
coming into effect of GFR 2005 this Department has issued an OM
No.14/7/2003-JCA dated 25/11/2005 which was in supersession of the earlier
instructions, clarifying that the further procurement should be made as per
the relevant rules in the new GFR’s.
This implies that Ministries / Departments can now decide to
procure uniform from anywhere and on rates subject to complying with the
provisions of GFR 2005”.
This advice of DOPT is being circulated to all
Circles for necessary action. Further,
Circles will be asked to comply with specifications circulated for uniform
while making supply. Union is
requested to bring specific instances with details and samples for
examination, if necessary.
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6.
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Stop Unscientific
Measurement of Postmen Beats:
The
Directorate ordered for rationalizing of Postman beats after hearing our
complaints that Postman beats are constructed unscientifically with long
distances humanly impossible to cover on a day. Many examples like more than
70 Kilometres beats were brought to the notice of the Postman Committee to
substantiate our complaints. Based on the discussions the Directorate agreed
to issue orders for measuring the beats and rationalizing them appropriately.
Unfortunately the CHQs of our Unions are receiving complaints from our
Circles that re-measuring of beats is being done most unscientifically
without using either the cyclo-meters or foot-meters but applying their
imaginary calculations. This has complicated the problem more and there is
widespread resentment among the Postman staff. Both our Unions urge upon you
to issue strict instructions to measure all Postman beats only by using
cyclo-meters or foot-meters for the purpose of rationalizing the beats.
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The representative
beats in Delhi and Haryana Circles have been assessed and the assessment /
study report is enclosed.
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7.
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Cycle Maintenance
Allowance to MTS:-The
Cycle Maintenance Allowance is paid to all Postman staff without any
conditions whereas the MTS Staff who are engaged in letter box clearing or
other outside office work excluded
from the ambit of CMA. This is unjustified. The MTS Staff also are to be paid
CMA without any conditions as like Postman staff. Both our Unions urge upon
you to issue necessary orders to pay CMA to all MTS without any conditions.
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The Postman’s duty
involves daily visit to delivery letters in his beat and hence if using cycle
the allowance is admissible. Since
different persons, depending on availability of persons, are used for letter
box clearance, the allowance is not admissible. Further, the proposal that MTS staff be
paid CMA without any condition like Postman staff is not acceptable.
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(a)
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Revision of Fixed Monetary Compensation (FMC):-This has
reference to your office letter No
10-7/2003.P.E.II dated 24th Nov 2010 wherein existing rate on revision has been enhanced for each category except Multi
Tasking staff whose rate of remuneration has been reduced @ Rs 60/- per holiday for 4 hours whereas MTS
staff was getting @ Rs 63.45
per holiday for 3 hrs on hourly basis @ Rs 21.15 per hour. Protracted
correspondence made proved in fructuous. This need to be reviewed for proper
justice to the MTS staff.
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The matter will be
examined as per extant rules by DDG(Estt.) and put up in file within 15 days.
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8.
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Abolition of Nodal
Delivery Centers at all metro cities:-All Nodal delivery centers should be abolished
throughout the Country immediately to avoid complication in day-to-day
delivery system. (Example–West Bengal Circle, Karnataka Circle, Bangalore,
Maharashtra Circle Mumbai GPO).
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Male
delivery is the core business of post and everything should be done to ensure
that service to public is not compromised particularly in view of stiff
competition from the courier industry.
Nodal delivery is functioning smoothly at many places. In their memorandum, service unions have
not cited any specific reason as to what complications arise out of nodal
delivery and why Nodal delivery should be abolished. In the absence of complete information, it
is difficult to examine the matter.
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9.
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To Stop harassment:-The postman staff being tortured for
100% delivery and in various cases by asking them to work beyond duty hours
and many other ways harassment is there it must be stopped.
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100%
delivery is the duty of Post Office and Postmen and hence there is no
harassment in performing duty. No
specific instances have been brought to the notice of the Directorate by the
service unions. In case any specific
instance of harassment is brought to the notice of the Directorate by the
service unions, the same will be examined.
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10.
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Promotional posts of Postmen Cadre: The posts of Mail
Overseer, Cash Overseer, Head Postman and Sorting Postman should be
considered as promotional posts for Postmen cadre and an additional increment
or some allowance should be granted for performance duties on such posts.
Seniority criteria of postmen should be taken in view while deploying on
these posts.
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There is no separate
Grade Pay between Rs. 2000 and 2400 in the hierarchy of the Grade Pay
recommended by 6th CPC. In
case we treat these cadres as promotional cadres of the postman then they
will be losers as 1st financial upgradation will be admissible to
them in the same Grade Pay but with only one increment. For example a direct
recruit postman is presently allowed 1st financial upgradation to
the GP of Rs. 2400, 2nd financial upgradation to the GP of Rs.
2800 and 3rd financial upgradation to the GP of Rs. 4200. In the
event of treating these cadres as promotional cadres in the same GP but with
allowance, they will get 1st financial upgradation GP of Rs. 2000,
2nd financial upgradation of GP of Rs. 2400 and 3rd
financial upgradation to GP of Rs. 2800.
The special allowance provided after
introduction of TBOP effective from 30/11/1983 was withdrawn on introduction
of BCR effective from 01.10.1991. Thus for the posts of Mail Overseer, Cash
Overseer, Head Postman & Sorting Postman, no special allowance is
currently admissible.
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