MEMORANDUM ON IMPORTANT ISSUES RELATING TO
THE SECTIONAL DEMANDS OF THIS
UNION
No. P-3/CWC/Jhansi (UP)/2018-19 Dated:
21st January, 2019
To
The
Secretary,
Department
of Posts,
Dak
Bhawan,
New
delhi-110 001
Sub: MEMORANDUM
ON IMPORTANT ISSUES RELATING TO THE SECTIONAL DEMANDS OF THIS UNION
Sir,
We are submitting hereunder
the important issues confronting the staff working in the POs and about their
service conditions, welfare, career progress etc. for your immediate attention
and action. The CWC held at Jhansi from 23.12.2018 to
24.12.2018 unanimously resolve to oppose the further moves of the Department in
corporatizing the remaining services other than the IPPB since it has a stay at
this juncture and decided to launch series of action culminating to indefinite
strike in case the department is further proceeding to corporatize the existing
postal services.
The CWC further decides that
in the event of non-consideration and settlement of the following demands, this
union will be forced to conduct programmes culminating to indefinite strike
since many of the issues could be sorted out easily at the department level and
in our opinion they are being protracted and delayed on one pretext or the other.
It is therefore requested to
kindly bestow your personal attention to mitigate the staff grievances by
giving top most priority within a time frame and ensure tranquillity and
peaceful atmosphere in the workplace for the improvement of the service and the
department.
1. Shortage of staff & Review of
assessment of vacancies in P.A. cadre in all the Divisions.
i. In
many circles, the exercise as stipulated in Directorate letter dated 23.11.2015
has not been completed properly and still there is a huge difference between
the sanctioned strength and working strength plus actual vacancies. There is
difference between the sanctioned and working strength of PAs almost in all the
Divisions, because of irregular assessment of vacancies during the 2000 – 2008.
The residual vacancies are not properly taken into account during that period
by many divisions. This results in acute shortage of staff
throughout the nation. The chain of vacancies in resultant
promotional posts is also not taken into account. Immediate review
shall be made in all the circles and revive the posts which were either kept in
skeleton or abolished unnoticed due to non-adherence of the rulings. There
should be transparency in the review in consultation with the service unions
and all the vacancies should be taken into account before notification of the
direct recruitment exam.
ii. Further
we are of the firm opinion that the recruitment through staff selection
commission may be reviewed due to inordinate delay taken place in the
recruitment. Circle wise recruitment as in the past may be re-introduced in
order to avoid in filling up the vacant posts.
iii. In
order to meet the shortage of staff in PA cadre, the willing postmen /MTS/GDS
officials possessing required qualification may be utilised in the short term
vacancies.
iv. The
Postal Assistants deputed to circle office/ regional office, IPPB, Marketing
activities may be returned back to the operative divisions since the shortage
problem persists mostly in the operative offices.
2. Grant of higher pay at entry level to
Postal Assistants to the Pay level of 6 as per 7thCPC (Rs.4200
GP) and subsequent higher levels to LSG, HSG II , HSG I & NFG.
Due to two contradictory
recommendations made simultaneously within fifteen days ie one is for the
increase of PA scale to Rs.2800 GP and the other to keep the same as Rs.2400 GP
by the department to the 7th CPC, this demand has not been
considered by the 7th CPC. Further, when the educational
qualification has been proposed to be revised as Graduation in the proposed RR
2017, the minimum pay for the PA cadre has to be revised as eligible to the
educational standard ie, Level 6. Accordingly, the entry pay of LSG, HSG II,
& HSG I should be revised and the NFG should be made as Gazetted with
higher pay.
3. Immediate
settlement of residual problems arisen due to implementation of cadre review.
Consequent upon the
implementation of cadre review, the following issues may please be sorted out
immediately.
i. The
LSG shall be made as divisional cadre and the promotions to HSG II & HSG I
can be accorded based on the PA Gradation list at circle level. At present, the
IPs are promoted to Group B without linking to the seniority of ASPOs. It will
alone minimise the dislocation and filling up of vacancies in the PA cadre.
ii. After
the identification of HSG II and HSG I, there will be no qualified LSG / HSG II
officials respectively to the extent of number of posts being upgraded due to
application of recruitment rules in which the minimum required service of 5
years is compulsory for the next promotions. As such, if one time relaxation
has not been accorded, most of the upgraded HSG II and HSG I posts remain
vacant and could not be filled up on regular basis. Further it will result in
shortage in the feeder cadre of Postal Assistant and there will be surplus PAs
due to the officiating in higher posts and the existing vacancies could not be
filled up which will hamper the service. It is therefore necessary to grant one
time relaxation in the minimum qualifying service for the grant of HSG II and
HSG I promotions. Since there will be adequate officials with 5 years’ service
in PA cadre there will be no necessary for such relaxation in the case of LSG
promotion
iii. Similarly
the minimum required service to HSG II & HSG I shall be restored to old
status quo ante position. i.e. 3 years which was earlier accepted by the DOPT.
While filling up the post of NFG, the senior most HSG I employees should be
allowed to continue the same work and in the same post. There shall be no
transfer on acquiring the NFG.
iv. In
respect of metropolitan cities like Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkata, Chennai and capital
cities, the number of posts in LSG and HSG II will be very lesser while
comparing the mofussil divisions. While implementing the orders on cadre
restructuring, there will be more dislocation/replacement of officials in such
divisions in PA cadre which will cause a great resentment amidst the officials.
The earlier practice of maintaining two gradation lists as prescribed in Volume
IV viz. one for the divisions under the metropolitan cities and another for the
mofussil divisions shall also be considered to avoid more replacement and
dislocation at the initial stage in case if the proposal for divisionalisation
of LSG is not considered. This practice is still available in respect of PO
& RMS accountants.
v. Further
the application of ‘Good’ bench mark for all the promotions up to NFG shall be
maintained. It is pertinent to submit that there is no provision in the postal
operative offices about the reviewing officers while writing the APARs and the
reporting officer is sole in the decision of the divisional heads; many times,
they use to write the APAR without knowing the person personally. Even the bias
and prejudices of such divisional head exhibits while writing the
APAR. Since the provision of review is not provided, the application
of Good bench mark shall be maintained. Further as clarified in many
departments the application of good benchmark in case of MACP and regular
promotion shall be considered to the periods prior to implementation of Very
good bench mark by the DOPT. In the event of non-consideration, the provision
of review of APAR as introduced after the Sixth CPC in our department to
upgrade the entries may be declared to upgrade the benchmark from good to very
good as one time measure for the periods prior to implementation of very good
bench mark is required for the MACP and other promotions.
4. Cadre
review of Postmaster cadre –
We are demanding merger of
the Postmaster cadre with general line due to the following reasons.
i. There
is no discrimination among the postmasters who are doing the same work and
under the present changed scenario all the postmasters are having more responsibilities
similar to the Postmaster cadre.
ii. After
carving out the Postmaster cadre it became a dying cadre in respect of
promotional aspects other than the seniority cum fitness and with no scope of
promotional avenues which are available to the General line officials.
iii. Since
the work of the General line and the postmaster cadre is similar and one and
the same there is no need to keep a separate hierarchical cadre in the
Postmaster cadre.
It
is most unfortunate that this cadre is totally neglected after its formation
and after the cadre review in PA cadre, this cadre is totally frustrated. Even
the POs having the earlier status equal to PM Grade I post is now HSG II;
whereas the PM Grade I is still in LSG and equated with the status of single
handed post offices. It must be considered by enhancing their status of PM
Grade I and II as HSG II & HSG I. The PM Grade III should be equated with
NFG and the existing officials should be accommodated in the relevant posts.
There is no need to keep the cadre separately with the exploitation and could
be merged with the existing HSG II, & HSG I. The relaxation of recruitment
rules may be accorded to that extent to provide one time relaxation to all the
existing incumbent postmaster cadre officials to be placed in the higher HSG
II, HSG I & NFG posts.
While
carving out the Postmasters cadre and framing separate recruitment rules for
Postmaster cadre, it was declared that the Postmaster cadre is a separate
hierarchical and not transferable to other cadres. After carving out
a separate cadre of Postmaster from General & IP line, 100% of the senior
Postmaster & Chief Postmaster Posts have not been declared to the
hierarchical cadre of Postmaster and the IPOs have been allowed to continue as
Senior Postmaster till now. In the last six years there was no promotion
accorded as per the recruitment rules to the Senior Postmaster cadre. Before
merging the Postmaster cadre with the general line, the posts of 114 Senior
postmaster posts shall be filled up with the senior most postmaster cadre
officials and then the merger should take place as a part of natural justice to
these neglected cadre.
It
is further suggested that in order to boost the morale of the younger officials
who are possessing qualification and skill, a LDCE promotion may be introduced
to the extent of 20% in the LSG posts and the officials who are possessing
three years continuous service may be permitted to appear the merit oriented
examination for the LSG posts.
5. Implementation of CSI Roll out and Rural ICT.
Problems need immediate redressal:
For implanting the IT
projects consists of CBS, CIS and CSI, the Department has entered in to
contract with Infosys and TCS. For Network connectivity SIFY Technologies has
been selected above BSNL. The operative staff are struggling like mouthless
creatures at the mercy of the vendors.
i. Implement
the remaining projects after full testing in the testing environment
successfully and problems faced are redressed. Adequate peripherals required
for CSI shall be ensured first. The CSI software should be modified as a user
friendly and should not be a cumbersome creating tension to the staff at
workplace.
ii. Stop
all the pending implementation of the projects forthwith and take confidence of
the service unions /staff before implementation. Network connectivity should be
improvised depending on the status of the office. Both the NSP I & II must
be ensured working.
iii. All
the officials especially the women staff should not be detained in the office
beyond working hours in the name of system failure, network failure etc., for
completing day to day work.
iv. The
following are the issues to be attended and sorted out in the CSI
a. GL Codes: A
comprehensive GL Codes should be supplied by the Department as the different GL
codes are getting us through WhatsApp etc for each items which are to be
deleted subsequently. A catalogue may please be supplied to all.
b. Non reflection of
transactions in daily accounts/ TCB then and there creating hardship. TCB is
not matching with the daily accounts on the same day in many occasions.
c. Pay roll out was
implemented very hastily resulting in non drawal of salary on due date.
Similarly the GPF payments, other bills are inordinately delayed
d. Change of user ID/
sharing of user ID and password is a serious problem. At present it is time
consuming during short term deputations and urgent occasions. The change of
user ID and password could not be done on time as the system takes more time
for such changes. Many times they are compelled to use the user ID
and password of the regular incumbent during such occasions which is very
dangerous.
e. No SOP is
communicated while implementing the CSI. For example in HOs, whether the HO
Summary is required or not; as such how the monitoring of SO transactions is
effectively possible. Similarly it is not clear whether the SO slip is
required; if not what is the alternative to despatch invoiced items including
cash and stamps to SOs. There is no clear cut instructions about the returns to
DAP and what are all those. Similar in the case of preparation/correctness of
Trial balance with GL codes. Generation of TCB/ daily account must be ensured
on the same day so that the official will leave the office peacefully.
f. Generation of
reports at DO/RO/CO levels is possible now but the PMs are being insisted to
generate the reports and forward which is unnecessary duplication of work at
the post office.
g. Supply of stamps to
SO/BOs should be simplified. User friendly menus / steps has to be introduced
to wipe out this problem since non supply of stamps to BOs will reflect the
revenue of the BOs. The sale and payment of IPOs is also a difficult one in the
SAP.
h. The employee portal
is not at all accessible to the employees for applying leave, GPF etc. The
existing procedure for salary payments should be simplified. The role of DDOs
has been minimised and the work has been centralised in the DAP resulting
inordinate delay in payment to the officials.
i. Reversal/
Deletion of entries is also a serious problem. Now the power has been vested
with the PM/DAP. This should be decentralised and the officials could not be
put under mental torture till the reversal is taken by the audit which is not
being varied out immediately. If it is on the same day the SPM may be vested
with the power before forwarding the accounts and the respective PM of the HO
may be vested with the power if it is within one month. Further a set of rules/
instructions may please be issued considering the risk of deletion/ reversal of
entries.
j. It is
very difficult for PMs to view the status of e-payment in Tcode ZFI-EPAY. This
should be delegated to the SPMs
The
above are the important items which require the special attention and make the
CSI a user friendly and there should be no hurdle while working at the
operative side.
The following are the problems to
be sorted out immediately in the RICT:
i. Approval
of Substitutes in RICT device is much complicated as the substitutes will not
be a common person.
ii. There
is no network connection even after the supply of different types of sim cards.
Minimum double sim cards shall be provided where there is unstable network.
iii. Good
quality of RICT machines must be ensured, there are many complaints about the
malfunctioning of the machines. Further permanent arrangement has to be
provided to attend the repair of the device, batteries, panel board then and
there to avoid the dislocation of the service. The GDS officials should be
imparted proper training in RICT functions and work.
iv. The
present device is with very small key board and screen and its operation is
quite difficult particularly to the senior GDSwho did not possess the knowledge
of handling such devices earlier. It is requested to consider to provide tablet
or laptop in the future by replacing the RICT devices.
The following are the problems
prevailing in Finacle/ McCamish:
i. To
avoid posting transactions of Finacle and McCamish using tool, mapping with
employee ID in SAP/CSI is required.
ii. Finacle
Menus are to be minimised.
iii. The
size of POSB passbooks should be remodelled like bank pass books making the
printing of entries therein become easy.
iv. The
McCamish site is not stale still. The process is taking more time consuming, It
should be simplified. In the approval stage, after the approval of QC, the
items will wrongly reaching in the inboxes of RO, CO etc creating abnormal
delay.
v. No
facility to generate commission bills in MCCamish is provided and no commission
is sanctioned and credited automatically. Commissions should be credited to the
SB accounts of the officials/ agents as and when the transaction is taken place
which will motivate for more business.
vi. The
functioning of SIFY is not up to the requirements and in many places this is
not working. In many places the SAP II is not working and depending only one
network that could not cater the requirements.
vii. McCamish
reports are not available every day. Hence the staff are experiencing
difficulty to tally their daily accounts. Further supervisory provisions should
be made available for any corrections if required.
viii. The
proposals are not correctly directed to corresponding ‘inbox’ of approver with
respect of the sum assured.
ix. For
the surrender cases, copies of all the documents are sent manually to the ADM
(PLI) for approval since they are not able to access the file net.
x. Bar
Code facility may be introduced for PLI/RPLI policies so that further
transactions and correspondences could be easier.
6. Posting
of additional hand to all the single handed offices:
The present software is
having doer and checker provisions which cannot be managed by a single staff at
the same time. In particular as per the CSI norms there should be operator and
checker. Further in the changed environment, technological change, introduction
of Aadhar seeding, IPPB works, all the single handed offices should be provided
with one hand immediately.
7. Issues
related to Group B Recruitment Rules:
i. As
the Postmaster cadre has been separately carved out from the general line and a
separate hierarchical promotional line has been prescribed, the entire 116 post
of the Senior Postmaster should be allotted exclusively for Postmaster cadre.
Postmaster cadre is a specialised cadre by conducting a separate examination as
if of IPs. Therefore there should be no reservation in the 116 posts for the IP
grade officials and the all the posts should be earmarked only for the
Postmaster cadre in case if our proposal of merger of postmaster cadre and
general line supervisory posts.
ii. The reservation made for
Postmaster cadre should not alter the existing representation of 6% in Group B
examination for general line as if available as on date. The existing
representation of 6% to the General line shall also be enhanced to extent of
19% as recommended by the V pay commission.
iii. It
is pertinent to note that at the time of introduction of direct recruitment of
IP cadre to extent of 33% freezing out from the PA cadre,it was assured that
the percentage of the representation in the Group B cadre shall be enhanced
accordingly. However this has not been exercised so far.
As agreed upon in the JCM
Departmental council a separate proposal has been forwarded by the staff side
much earlier about the enhancement of reservation and eligibility of Group B
examination for which no meeting has been convened so far. But to our dismay in
the proposed Group B Recruitment Rules circulated last year the exclusive
privilege of writing the exams by PAs have been extended to CO, SBCO &
Others whereas the reservation of 6% has not been enhanced. This causes a
concern. It must be increased to the extent of 19% as demanded and allowing all
to write the examination.
8. Irregular
commutation of LR strength.
It is observed that LR
strength of all categories is being calculated on the ratio of 10% of the
operative staff and this is being confirmed during the negotiations held with
the Staff Side during the strike charter demands.Whereas while referring the P&T
Manual Volume IV under Chapter I general rule 18-1, the following ratio has
been fixed for commutation of leave reserve in the P&T Department.
Administrative offices 14%.As per Rules 249 in Chapter 8 envisages the
percentage of leave reserve in post offices to be maintained as 17% and in RMS
20%. There was no amendment to the rules made subsequently. The DOPT
instructions fixing 10% LRs is applicable to only administrative offices. The
provision of child care leave introduced by the Sixth CPC has not been fully
implemented in any division/ circle due to dearth of hands and the existing
shortage of staff is made as a ruse to deny the facilities to the women
employees. The discrepancies shall may be sorted out and necessary LR posts may
be created to manage the shortage of staff and other new ventures of the
department
9. Fixation of Pay on promotion to a post
carrying higher duties and responsibilities but carrying same grade pay.
A kind attention is invited
to the OMs issued by the Department about granting of one increment to
Postmaster Grade I and IPOs on promotion to ASPOs in the case of carrying same
Grade pay.
In the Department of Posts,
the norm based posts in the cadre of LSG, HSG-II and HSG-I carry higher duties
and responsibilities ( Supervisory posts) and on promotion to these posts from
the feeder cadre are eligible for fixation of pay under FR.22(1) a(i) and
therefore, the same analogy applicable to Postmaster cadre and ASPOs shall be
applied in the promotions for LSG, Fast Track, HSG II & HSG I etc. and
grant 3% increment in such cases of promotion if the grade is one and same for
those acquired the same Grade Pay due to MACP. It is requested to cause
appropriate orders.
10. MACP Anomalies – Injustice to promotees under MACP scheme –
request implementation of CAT Jodhpur judgment and the judgment of Supreme
Court in favour of Sivakumar, Chennai North Dn, Tamilnadu circle –
The Central Administrative
Tribunal, Jodhpur vide its judgment in the cases filed under OA No. 382/2011,
OA 353/2011 & OA 354/2011 held that the previous career advancements cannot
be called as promotions for the consideration of MACP and it should be started
a new innings from the PA promotion for counting the stagnation. The CAT sets
aside the impugned cancellation of MACP orders against the applicants and
directed to repay the amount with due GPF rate of interest. The Supreme Court
has held in case of Sivakumar to accord third MACP even though he is a promotee.
The judgment is partially
implemented in the case of the officials who approached legal remedies and a
Good Govt should not drive all the similarly situated persons to knock the
doors of the Court. It should be implemented to all the similarly situated
persons.
It is therefore requested to
kindly cause immediate action and render justice to the promotees who are
aggrieved due to partial implementation of the Court orders.
11. Implementation
of Five days week in Postal
A kind attention is invited to
the earlier charter of demands for which it was replied that it will be
pursued. Under the changed atmosphere and working in the computers
uninterruptedly for more than eight hours daily the operative staff require two
days rest in a week. Further the banking sector have declared holiday on second
and fourth Saturday of a month from Sep 2015 and this is in practice in every
sector. It is therefore requested to consider and declare five days week in the
postal department at the earliest.
12. Tenure, Transfer
Policies & sensitive posts request to revisit:
In the revised Rotational
transfer policy guidelines issued by the Department, the post tenure has been
reduced to the Group C officials instead of the four years existing since from
the beginning. Similarly, the station tenure has been implemented to
non-gazetted officials also which will cause frequent dislocations to the
staff. This will cause huge expenditure by way of TA also to the Govt. and also
cause frequent disturbance in the children’s education and maintaining double
establishments. The provisions of status quo ante may be restored in case of
non-gazetted officials. Further, the sensitive posts have been widened and
under the present orders, there will be more dislocation once in two years in particular
to single and double handed post offices, systems administrators etc. This
should be revisited and the sensitive posts should be reduced.
13. Compelling
local trainees to stay in hostels in PTCs
Postal Training Centre, is
compelling the officials deputed for training from the local and neighbouring
divisions to stay in the hostel during the training period. There is no need to
compel the local trainees to stay in hostels and they can be allowed to attend
the training classes from their residences and it will reduce the TA
expenditure to the department also. The women employees who are local residents
are facing untold hardships due to this insistence.
14. Imposing
unjustified conditions for appearing IP Examination for the departmental quota
vacancies.
The following conditions were put
forth by the Department vide letter no. A 34012/7/2012-DE dated 07.06.2012 for
appearing in the IP examination which are detrimental and also against to the
existing provisions in appearing Departmental examinations.
(i) No
disciplinary action is pending or contemplated against the applicant.
(ii) No
punishment is current against the applicant.
(iii) No
adverse entry in the APAR/ACR in the last two years.
Based on the above, the
applications submitted by many officials have not been entertained this time,
merely for contemplation of Disciplinary proceedings. No promotions can be
withheld in such cases. As such denial of appearing promotional examination is
highly deplorable and will tantamount to the denial of Fundamental rights to
this officials. Even the procedure of sealed cover is available for promotion.
The new clause of adverse entry for last two years is nowhere in the earlier
rules and it is against to the interest of the officials.It is therefore
requested to rescind the conditions and status quo ante may please be restored.
15. Revised
IP Recruitment Rules – regarding
In the recruitment rules for
the IPs, the minimum service for appearing the IP examination has been enhanced
to eight years from the five years. There are more youngsters possessing higher
qualifications in PA cadre due to the mass retirement and they are forced to
wait for eight years for appearing the examination. It is therefore requested
to consider and modify the required minimum service as five years instead of
the present eight years
16. PO
& RMS Accountant - Grant of special allowance
The following demands in
respect of PO & RMS Accountants have not been considered yet causing
resentment and displeasure amidst the qualified hands.
(i) Proportionate
distribution of APM Accounts posts among LSG, HSG II and HSG-I and declare it
as a separate cadre.
(ii) The
special allowance granted to PO & RMS Accountants was withdrawn after the
implementation of seventh pay commission. The Department has not properly
appraised to MOF about the continuance of allowance which was earlier called as
special pay and taken for fixation benefits at the time of promotion to LSG.
When there is no allowance and no separate channel of promotion no one will be
willing to write the examination hereafter. When Treasury allowance is restored
similar is the case of special allowance to PO & RMS Accountant and this
should be taken up and grant the same to the Accountants retrospectively
(iii) Date
of passing Accounts exam may be taken as the criteria for APM LSG promotion,
since no amendment has so far been issued to the statutory rules. Further
the earlier passing of examination will have no relevance in future if the date
of appointment and PA seniority is taken for the promotion to LSG APMs. It will
demotivate the officials in writing the Accountant examination.
17. Grant of special allowance to the System
administrator to the extent of Rs.2000 Pm.
The work of the system
manager and the administrators is more ardent and tension in nature. They have
to work round the clock for attending the trouble shooting. It was agreed in
2008 to grant special allowance to these officials where as we demanded for
creation of separate higher cadre at that time.
Since the formation of
separate cadre to system administrator is now almost a closed subject, it is
requested to kindly consider for the grant of special allowance considering the
nature of their work.
18. Grant of Officiating Pay with all
consequential benefits for staff officiated in higher vacancies:
It is brought to our notice
that the due officiating pay has not been drawn to the incumbents officiating
in higher posts. In some circle, despite the clear instructions that MACP is
nothing but the PA, the MACP I are forcibly ordered to officiate in LSG
likewise in order to deny the drawal officiating pay. This causes a concern.
If an official possessing
five years’ service and officiated in LSG Posts he must be granted higher pay;
similarly the LSG officials officiating in HSG II & HSG I posts. Clear
orders may be released by the Directorate in order to clear the local orders
denying the drawal of officiating pay to the officials.
19. Ensuring the standard of residential
accommodation to the SPMs provided with attached Quarters.
Many post attached quarters
provided to the SPMs are either sub standard or lack many basic amenities. The
schedule of accommodation as prescribed by the Department has not been observed
while fixing PO building particularly for the post attached quarters. In rural
areas, the total rent payable to the landlord for the whole building housing
the post office and Quarters does not exceed even to Rs.800/- per month. It is
not uncommon to see that a token amount of Rs.50/- likewise is being charged
for the post office and in all such cases, the Postmasters are compelled to
stay in the accommodation which is unfit for inhabitation and also far below to
the standards. There are many post attached quarters lacking the basic
amenities of lavatories. If the Department could not provide
adequate accommodation for the Quarters as prescribed in the SOA, and arrange
basic amenities, it should provide option to the SPMs to secure his own
accommodation and in such cases the due HRA may be paid to him. The policy of
providing post attached accommodation requires reconsideration after the
services of Telegraph has totally with drawn from Post offices.
20. Maintenance of APAR in case of Postman and
Group ‘D’ by LSG SPM – regarding
Despite the fact that the
appointing authorities for the MTS and postmen have been modified as the
divisional head, still in many circles the LSG postmasters are maintaining the
APAR of the postmen and MTS working in their offices. Since the importance of
APAR is enhanced for the grant of MACP, the uniformity in maintaining the APAR
is a must and it should be at divisional level. There is no clarity on the
subject that who will maintain APAR in respect of LSG and above offices and the
old practice existed prior to 1990s is being imposed.
It
is therefore requested to issue clear orders on the subject at the earliest.
21. Stepping
up of pay in case of postman and Group ‘D’ officials
The stepping up has been denied by stating
that the seniority should be determined within the sub division where the
official is working. This defeats the purpose of maintaining the gradation list
at Divisional level in such cadres. Since the recruitment of postman and Group
'D' is being made at Divisional level and the seniority is also being
determined based on the selection list of the entire division, the stepping up
of the pay should be granted as per the divisional gradation list and not as
per the sub divisional gradation list.
22. Manning
of IPO/ASPOS to be incharge of BPCs – regarding.
A kind attention is invited
to the JCM (DC) discussions on the subject and it was assured to replace the
existing general line officials with the IP/ASPOs according to business
secured. It is crystal clear that as per BD Dte No.16-10/2000-BDD dt. 16.1.2000,
supervisory official should be posted based on the revenue generated at the
BPCs, since Contract labourers are engaged and there is every possibility of
emanating malpractices there. They are meant for the purpose of accounting,
depositing of revenue, payment, data maintenance and supervision. But instead
of entrusting this work to the IPs/ASPs in major BPCs, the Accountants of the
office are squeezed to attend this work in addition. If any fraud occurs, they
will be fixed as scapegoats and recovery will be imposed. In fact they are not
having any access to the work, turn over or payment but orders to verify the
accounting and genuineness which is nothing but a farce. This is causing a
concern. This should be stopped and suitable action should be taken in accordance
with the Dte. Guidelines.
Further, the provision of
incentive to the postal staff, out of commission earned under business package
is also denied in many circles. This may please be ensured.
23. Fixing of unrealised targets and put the
staff under pressure mental stress.
It is widely reported by all
the circles that there is a heavy torture in business activities and individual
targets are being fixed and threatened even the indoor staff. Some of the
divisional heads are threatening the staff through their whats app group which
they are maintaining that if the staff do not procure the target, their APAR
will be blemished with lesser mark which will affect their promotion and MACP
as per the recent orders. This is prevailing in all the circles. Unrealistic
targets for the indoor staff is causing a serious concern in the present
atmosphere where officials could not work peacefully in midst of
non-functioning of SAP etc. Threatening the staff at field level must be
stopped forthwith. Compelling the officials to open split accounts which is
against to the Dte order must be arrested.
It is further to state that
the officials should not be compelled to join the whats app group created by
the divisional administration and the mobile phone of the officials is purely
personal one and that should not be compelled for other purposes and in
particular giving messages in the odd hours. If the department to create such
groups it should supply phone to all the officials exclusively for the purpose
24. Revision
of OTA rates
The Ministry of Finance has
already sought for the information from the operative offices about the
revision of OTA rates and we have submitted our proposals earlier. We
don’t know the fate of the proposals. Since in all other operative
departments like Railways and Defence, the OTA rates have been revised. Whereas
still we are getting Rs.15.85 per hour as OTA. It is nothing but exploitation
of labour. The OTA rates must be enhanced to the extent of 1 ½ hour wages for
one hour extra performance under OTA.
25. Budgetary allotment for Computer Advance
and enhancement of financial power to Postmasters.
After the total
computerization of the P.O. and its functioning, the officials who desire to
purchase computers for their own should be encouraged which will motivate them
further in the computer operations. There is a resentment prevailing amidst the
officials due to poor allotment of funds under this head.
Further the present financial
powers vested to LSG, HSG II, HSG I and postmaster cadre are insufficient even
to meet the immediate requirement at counters just like minor repairs to
electricity, computer or other stationeries etc. The financial powers require
upward revision.
26. Inadequate allotment of funds under TA
& ROHSC causing abnormal delay in settlement of personal claims
It is widely reported in the
CWC meeting held at Jhansi by the circle secretaries that due to inadequate
allotment of funds, most of the TA and Medical claims are pending undisbursed
for years together. Funds allotment has not been made by the Directorate to the
extent of the claims of the officials to the respective circles. It is
requested to allot or divert funds to the needy circles immediately and wipe
out all the pending personal claims of the officials.
27. Stop
harassing staff on contributory factors for simple and flimsy reasons by
misusing the provision of ‘unbecoming of Government Servant’ deviating the
ruling contained in Volume III, FHB etc.
The Directorate guidelines
issued vide letter No. 6/8/59-Disc dt. 9.7.1959, 25/49/60-Disc dt.30.11.60 and
15-9/74-1NV dt. 10.2.75, and subsequent orders are being violated and the
officials being preceded under contributory negligence factor for flimsy
reasons and awarded with huge recoveries. The provisions contained in
Rule,106,107, 108 & 111 of Postal Volume III and the provision of honest
errors can be condoned contained in Rule 204 A (1) vol II and the provision of
Rule 58, Appendix 4 of F.H.B. volume I in dealing of recovery have been totally
ignored and sidelined. The main intention of the Government while deciding the
degree of an officer’s pecuniary liability, it will be necessary to look not
only to the circumstances of the case but also to the financial circumstances
of the officer, since it should be recognized that the tendency should not be
such as to impair his future efficiency. This union urges for proper guidelines
in the matter of contributory negligence to protect the officials being
harassed.
Recently it is brought to our
notice that even in the burglary taken place in the post offices, the SPMs and
other staff are being proceeded under contributory factors in order to recover
the amount due to the burglary. The contributory negligence factors has been
misused by the divisional administrations in almost all the circles and it
should be curbed forthwith.
Moreover, the DAs are
misusing the quasi-judicial powers to victimise the trade union office bearers
in many places for their genuine trade union activities. More divisional
secretaries are being harassed by the ill minded and arrogant officers. This
causes a concern. We request to curb such activities by suitable actions at
circle level as deems fit.
It is therefore requested to
cause suitable instructions that the extenuating factors and also if the
official is not directly responsible, no recovery should be imposed and also
direct the administration to desist such activities to make scape goat of the
innocent officials working honestly in the current environment to the
Department.
28. Grant
of Flexi Working hours – Case of bigger Cities
In most of the metro cities,
the traffic jam on roads is the common feature and regular occurrence and some
officials are being forced to attend office late by 0.30 minutes due to
unavoidable circumstances. After the introduction of biometric attendance, the
officials are forced to produce leave in such cases and in particular the women
employees are the worst sufferers. If the Flexi working hours as if introduced
in Mumbai is considered for other major cities, the officials can be ordered to
remain in the office at the equivalent time they came in late in unavoidable
circumstances, it will be very much helpful to the officials working in major
metro cities/towns.
This may please considered
considering the practical difficulties being faced by the officials working in
the metro and other bigger towns.
29. Closure
of post offices unleashed in Gujarat Circle
The Directorate has caused
clear cut directions that under no circumstances, any post office should be
closed and in the event any necessity that office will be simultaneously
reopened. Despite the orders, the Gujrat circle administration has closed
hundreds of post offices on its own and they have not been relocated. The
request of the circle union not to close the POs has not been cared for.
Suitable instructions may please be reiterated once again not to close down any
post office and in particular to Gujrat circle to reopen the closed post
offices immediately.
30. Undue trade union facilities
extended to Supervisors & BPEF Unions
Please refer this union
letter in which we have explained all the ruling positions and the decisions taken earlier
at the Directorate. The undue patronage shall be withdrawn forthwith.
The above are the important issues
confronting the officials of our section and in the event of non-consideration
of these demands within one month and no positive signal is received from the
administration, we have no other alternate except to resort trade union
programmes culminating to indefinite strike.
I fervently seek your
immediate personal attention and request to mitigate the issues at the
earliest.
May I request your response, Sir?
With
profound regards.
Yours Sincerely,
R.N.Parashar,
General Secretary
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