NFPE REVIEWS GOPINATH COMMITTEE REPORT

NFPE BRIEFLY ANALYSE THE GOPINATH COMMITTEE REPORT

 

GOPINATH COMMITTEE IS POSITIVE ON SOME ISSUES BUT NEGATIVE ON SOME OTHER ISSUES

 

POSTAL BOARD IS GOING TO DISCUSS THE REPORT SHORTLY

 

NO OPPORTUNITY TO PLACE OUR VIEW POINTS PROVIDED SO FAR BY THE DEPARTMENT

 

ELECTION ANNOUNCEMENT IS CREATING APPREHENSION ABOUT THE IMPLEMENTATION BEFORE FEBRUARY 2009

 

SECRETARY [P] HAS TO KEEP HER ASSURANCE OF IMPLEMENTATION BEFORE ELECTIONS

 

DEAR COMRADES!

 

GOPINATH COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS.

 

The Report of the Senior Officers Committee headed by Shri.P.K.Gopinath is of 76 pages. All issues contained in the Report are not analysed here as it would be difficult in such a short time. The major issues are analysed hereunder for the information of our comrades. There are some issues on which the positive approach shown by the Committee during our interaction on 18.12.2008. There are issues on which the contention of the Gopinath Committee is more negative than the Nataraja Murti Committee. There are issues on which both the Committees have identical views but we have our own perceptions. Generally speaking the Gopinath Committee also in favour of outsourcing of postal functions through PSSK, Franchisee outlets etc which reflect the policy directions of the liberalisation. No doubt we have to continue to oppose them as we have been doing against all such liberalisation oriented negative policies. Leaving such ideological oriented issues, we try to in nut shell analyse the following important issues.

 

As we understand, the Gopinath Committee Report is being submitted for the study and consideration of the Postal Board. There is no attempt as yet on the part of the Department to honour its commitment to consult the staff side but the Department may do so only after the Postal Board studying the whole issues. However, NFPE will communicate our considered views to the Secretary [P] shortly.

 

There is fear that unless the Department prefers to quickly go through the study and finalise the Cabinet Note for approval and implementation before the code of conduct of election rules come into play, the implementation might get unduly delayed as like last time. We hope that the Department would take enough care against any such happening as assured by the Secretary [P] on 13.01.2009 during the meeting held with the NFPE.

 

I. Gopinath Committee has responded positively to the modifications sought by the NFPE in the GDS Committee Report on the following important points:

 

1. Present DA Formula may continue till such time the Government formulates a view for computing a rural basket for all government services in rural India.
2. Retirement age 65 will continue and there will not be any reduction as recommended by Nataraja Murti Committee.
3. PLB payment as recommended by Nataraja Murti Committee to restrict the quantum to 50% of minimum PLB payable to regular government employees is not accepted by Senior Officers Committee. It recommended that the ceiling as fixed by Government from time to time shall continue to be applicable to the GDS also.
4. Date of Effect is 1.1.2006 as like the regular and the arrears will be paid under the same method of 40% - 60% in cash.
5. No decision to change any existing trade union rights related issues because they are out of terms of reference of the Nataraja Murti Committee.
6. The Gopinath Committee has pointed out that the recommendation of GDS Committee that the GDS Mailmen be treated as a wasting group may not be completely feasible.
7. No relocation of existing BOs on radial or distance basis which may cause resentment among villagers. Opening up new offices in future alone can be under the distance factor.
8. GDS age limit to appear LGO examination for PA/SA vacancies is recommended to be enhanced as 35 instead of 28 and the marks criterion is liberalised as 50% marks in 10+2 instead of not below the marks secured by the last direct recruit in PA/SA cadre in the same year.
9. Group Insurance Scheme enhanced to monthly recovery of 50/- for an insurance cover of Rs.50,000/-.
10. The historical parity with Mail Overseer, Postman and Group D for computing pro-rata wages to GDS SPM/BPM, GDS MD/SV and other Categories of GDS is accepted in principle but calculated on the basis of the 6^th CPC recommendations instead of the implemented pay scales by the Government of India.

 

On TRCA:

 

Cadre	Nataraja Murti	Gopinath Committee	NFPE Demand
GDS SPM		4800-100-7800	5075/- + 3%
GDS BPM [75 Pts]	2745-50-4245	2880-60-4680	3045/- + 3%
-do- [75 – 100]	3660-70-5760	3840-80-6240	4060/- + 3%
-do- [Above 100	4575-85-7125	4800-100-7800	5075/- + 3%
GDS SV [3 Hrs]	2665-50-4165	2840-60-4640	2880/- + 3%
-do- [3Hrs 45 Mt	3330-60-5130	3550-75-5800	3840/- + 3%
-do- [Above 3.45	4220-75-6470	4500-90-7200	4800/- + 3%
GDS MC [3 Hrs]	2295-45-3695	2295-50-3795	2805/- + 3%
-do- [ 3-3.45 Hrs]	2870-50-4370	2870-60-4670	3740/- + 3%
-do- [Above 3.45]	3635-65-5585	3640-75-5890	4675/- + 3%

 

 

The Nataraja Murti Committee has constructed pay scales without taking into account the 5% extra TRCA granted to GDS. It has also taken comparison with that of the pre-revised scale of Mail Overseer and Postmen instead of upgraded and revised pay band + Grade Pay of Mail Overseer and Postman.

 

The Gopinath Committee has included the left out 5% TRCA into fixation of TRCA. But Gopinath Committee also taken into account the pre-revised pay level of Mail Overseer Postmen [3200-4290] for BPMs and pre-revised level of pay of Postmen [3050-4290]for GDS MD/SV.

 

NFPE demand is on pro-rata basis of the revised pay band of Mail Overseer Postmen for BPMs [PB-1 + Grade Pay 2400/-] and Postmen for GDS MD/SV [PB-1 + Grade Pay 2000/-] as implemented vide Directorate Order No.1-9/2008-PCC dated 15.01.2009. There may not be any difficulty in modifying the TRCA accordingly since there is no difference in the perception of the GDS Committee and Gopinath Committee in maintaining the comparison with the Mail Overseer and Postmen pay scales. The only difference is on upgraded Group C scales for other categories of GDS on which the Department is requested to consider the view points.

 

II. POINTS ON WHICH FURTHER MODIFICATIONS ARE ESSENTIAL TO BE MADE BY THE DEPARTMENT.

 

The following are the issues on which the Department should come forward to make modifications of both the recommendations of Nataraja Murti and Gopinath Committees:

 

1. Rate of Increment:

 

The Nataraja Murti Committee had recommended 1.74% to 1.96% of the minimum of the proposed TRCA.

 

The Gopinath Committee has made it 2% rounded off to the next higher five (5) rupees for a time span of 30 years.

 

The methods applied by both Nataraja Murti Committee and Gopinath committee have tried to fix static annual increment on the minimum level of TRCA only.

 

Our demand:  The rate of increment should be 3% of the TRCA of each GDS concerned and as in the case of 6^th pay commission, the increment shall be added with the TRCA for calculating the next annual increment of 3%.

 

2. Fixation formula:

 

The Nataraja Murti Committee had recommended that the pre-revised TRCA as on 1.1.2006 [without including the 5% extra TRCA granted to GDS w.e.f. 1.1.2004] should be multiplied by 1.74 and then 40% of the maximum of the pre-revised TRCA should be added for reaching the revised TRCA level.

 

The Gopinath Committee has included the left out 5% extra TRCA with the basic TRCA as on 1.1.2006 and then to multiply it with 1.74 for reaching the revised TRCA.

 

Our Demand: We demand that after revising the TRCA on pro-rata basis as per the revised pay scales of corresponding categories of regular employees, weightage should be granted @ one increment for every two years of service to avoid all GDS are placed in the minimum of the revised TRCA irrespective of their length of service rendered.

 

3. Pension:

 

The Nataraja Murti Committee had recommended that a Service Discharge Benefit Scheme in which the Government to make a contribution of Rs.200/- per month for the GDS on duty. The fund may be managed by PLI Directorate etc to secure adequate returns. The accrued quantum and the eligible Severance Amount eligible to the GDS on his retirement shall be annutised and monthly payments made to the retiring GDS.

 

However, Gopinath committee has not supported that contention. It did not encourage the concept of Nataraja Murti Committee for a monthly payment like pension. Gopinath Committee is totally negative to say that this needs detailed examination as there may be long term legal and financial implications. It even questions the wisdom of making a monthly payment by Government for a discharged GDS.

 

Our demand: We demand that the recommendation of Nataraja Murti Committee should be further improved so that the contribution of the Government is enhanced from 200/- to ensure a better monthly payment of Service Discharge Benefit.

 

4. Ex-Gratia Gratuity:

 

Ex-Gratia Gratuity shall be as per the Gratuity Act 1972 and not below that. Both the Committees  comply with the provision of Gratuity Act on the matter of half month basic allowance for each completed year of continuous service subject to the maximum of 16 ½ months. But both Committees violated the Gratuity Act on two counts: First they did not include the quantum of DA along with the basic TRCA and secondly the maximum eligibility quantum is fixed as 60,000 instead of the quantum fixed under Gratuity Act 1972.

 

5. Welfare measures:

 

Surprisingly the Gopinath Committee has remarked that the status-quo-ante on many matters of welfare issues should continue without accepting the recommendations of GDS Committee. Gopinath Committee did not take into account that probably the Nataraja Murti Committee has considered the fact that the welfare quantum for regular employees is likely to undergo enhancement in post-6^th CPC time. We demand that subject to revision of welfare quantum to regular, the recommendations of Nataraja Murti Committee on welfare to GDS should be accepted and not rejected as recommended by Gopinath Committee.

 

6. Combined Duty Allowance:

 

The recommendation of the Nataraja Murti Committee is further diluted by the Gopinath committee. Even the amount of Rs.500 recommended by GDS Committee for each item of work for GDS BPM and the amount of Rs.250/- recommended for attending the delivery in BO Village itself are reduced as Rs.200/- and Rs.100/- respectively. Similarly the recommendation of the GDS Committee for grant of Rs.250/- towards conveyance is also reduced as Rs.125/- by Gopinath Committee.  The stand of the Gopinath Committee is more negative and not acceptable to us.

 

7. Transfers:

 

Though the negative recommendations of Nataraja Murti Committee to deny and tighten the existing transfer facilities to GDS are not accepted by Gopinath Committee and recommended for continuation of the existing transfer facilities, the assurances of the Honourable Minister of State for Communications & IT for considering liberal transfers to GDS are not reflected in the Report of Gopinath Committee. We shall continue to request the Department for grant of liberal transfer facility to GDS.

 

III. Establishment related Issues:

 

On establishment related issues, both the recommendations of GDS Committee and the Report of the Senior Officers Committee require to be subjected to deeper study. There are many negative recommendations by both Committees like abolition of GDS SV posts, GDS SOs, Time factor for cash counting etc. We would only try to impress upon the Department of Posts to keep all such recommendations under proper study and revaluation and then after due consultations with the staff side take final decisions.

 

IV. NFPE STAND ON IMPLEMENTATION:

 

As such our endeavour would be to request to take urgent steps to modify the Pay and Allowances related issues and retirement benefits by giving due consideration to the view points of the Staff Side and send the proposals to Cabinet early for implementation before February 2009.

 

The basic modifications needed on pay and allowances and retirement related benefits be considered first on urgency basis and Cabinet Note sent accordingly to avoid delay in acceptance by Government and implementation.

 

All other issues shall be subjected to further study and consultations before implementation.

 

 

--
K.Ragavendran
Secretary General NFPE