Welcome to the Official website of National Federation of Postal employees । नेशनल फेडरेशन ऑफ़ पोस्टल एम्प्लाइज की आधिकारिक वेबसाइट पर आपका स्वागत है।

Friday, February 20, 2009

HEADQUARTERS DEVELOPMENTS

NFPE WRITES TO HONOURABLE PRIME MINISTER ON CHILD CARE LEAVE
 
NFPE DEMANDS WITHDRAWAL OF 9.2.2009 ORDER ON BONUS CEILING BY DEPARTMENT OF POSTS
 
FEDERATION REQUESTS MEETING ON POSTMASTERS CADRE CREATION ISSUE
 
LETTER TO SECRETARY PROTESTING OUTSOURCING OF OPERATIONS IN PROJECT ARROW OFFICES
 
DOUBLING OF SPECIAL ALLOWANCE TO JAOs DEMANDED BY NFPE
 
NFPE WRITES ON DELAY IN PAYMENT OF PENSION ARREARS
 
LETTER SEEKING PROPORTIONATE RECOVERY OF RENT FROM SPMs
 
NFPE WRITES TO STAFF SIDE SECRETARY OF JCM NATIONAL COUNCIL AND CONFEDERATION ON RURAL DA INDEX
 
NFPE LETTER ON SOME MORE ANOMALIES FOR NATIONAL ANOMALY COMMITTEE
 
Dear Comrades!
 
1. Child Care Leave: NFPE has sent an email as well as a letter to the Honourable Prime Minister of India for cancellation of the DOPT orders restricting the women employees from availing the Child Care Leave. The letter written to Hon'ble PM is furnished below:
 
PF-16/2009                                                                          Dated 19th February 2009

 

 

To

 

Dr. Manmohan Singh

Honourable Prime Minister

Government of India

New Delhi – 110001

 

Sub: Request for withdrawal of unjustified DOPT conditions denying the Child Care Leave to women employees of Central Government – reg.

 

Respected Sir,

 

The National Federation of Postal Employees wishes for your speedy recovery and recuperation of full health and submit the following for your kind consideration.

 

The Government issued orders accepting the recommendation of the 6th pay Commission to grant 'Child Care Leave' to women employees serving under the Government of India. The decision of the Union Government  to implement such a great women friendly recommendation was indeed a historic act as well as first of its kind in any services in India.

 

The above decision of the Government was whole heartedly welcomed by all the women folk and there was all-round appreciation. But the DOPT issued another order on 18.11.2008; virtually nullifying the benefit through several restrictive clauses like it can be availed only by those employees who have no Earned Leave at her credit etc.

 

The probable reason for making such a somersault after issuing the order for grant of Child Care Leave is not known. But the retracting orders of the DOPT to deny the benefit that made the entire women employees jubilant earlier, has left a deep sense of resentment amongst them.

 

This Federation would request your kind intervention in this matter, concerning the interests of lakhs of women employees to cause withdrawal of unjustified 18th November 2008 orders of the DOPT.

 

Thanking you Sir,

 

Yours faithfully,

 

Sd/- 

[K.Ragavendran]

Secretary General
 
2. Bonus Ceiling to GDS: The order released by Directorate on 9.2.2009 by way of clarification for payment of enhanced bonus ceiling has caused a situation of denial of higher ceiling to GDS. This order is in fact superseding the earlier orders of the Directorate issued on the intervention of the Secretary [P] after our struggle for application of enhanced bonus ceiling to GDS. We have demanded withdrawal of this latest clarificatory orders. We feel there is no MOF clarification obtained by the Department of Posts on this matter. Even though there is no mention about recovery, some DDOs are trying to recover from the GDS. We have taken up the matter and would even go to the MOF during first week of March 2009 after the leaders of the Confederation are back in Headquarters. The letter addressed to Secretary [P] is furnished below:
 

PF-16(g)/2009                                                                       Dated 19th February 2009 

 

 

To

 

Ms.Radhika Doraiswamy

Secretary

Department of Posts

Dak Bhawan

New Delhi – 110001

 

 

Sub: Applicability of enhanced Bonus Ceiling to GDS – reg.

 

Madam,

 

This Federation likes to draw your kind attention to the orders issued on 21.10.2008 by the Directorate on your personal intervention superseding the earlier orders issued on 15.10.2008 for facilitating grant of enhanced bonus ceiling @ 3500/- to GDS also.

 

Now, it is seen that the Directorate has again issued another order dated 9.2.2009, practically superseding the order issued by your intervention on 21.10.2008 to deny the enhanced bonus ceiling to GDS. The order is so worded to deny the benefit to GDS. This Federation understands that the interpretation is given purely at the level of Postal Directorate. No MOF clarification seems to have been obtained. The clarification dated 9.2.2009 runs against the spirit and intention of the 21.10.2008 orders issued at your intervention.

 

The GDS are eligible to the enhanced bonus ceiling either as Government employees or as non-government employees. Bonus ceiling was revised for all non-government employees in the last financial year itself. If the GDS are to be bracketed with non-government employees, then enhanced ceiling should have been granted last year itself. Since it was not done, it is derived that the GDS is bracketed with the regular government employees covered under PLB scheme. Either way the enhanced bonus ceiling under the Bonus Act cannot be denied to the GDS.

 

This Federation would once again request your personal intervention to cause to withdraw the clarification issued by the Directorate on 9.2.2009 and to enable the GDS in all circles draw the enhanced bonus.

 

Thanking you,

 

Yours faithfully,

 

Sd/

[K.Ragavendran]

Secretary General

 

3. Postmasters' Cadre Creation: NFPE has demanded the details of the proposals and the amended RR Rules for creating Postmasters' Cadre and also a meeting to discuss with the Staff Side. We are afraid that the proposals of the Department might legalise the division between the LSG and TBOP by keeping the LSG at a higher scale and TBOP at a lower level. On getting the details we have to decide about our future course of action. The letter written to the Secretary [P] is as follows:
 

PF-32/2009                                                               Dated 20th  February 2009

 

 

To

Ms. Radhika Doraiswamy

Secretary

Department of Posts

Dak Bhawan

New Delhi – 110001

 

Sub: Creation of Postmasters' Cadre - Unilateral Decision of Postal Services

          Board – reg.

Ref: Our letter of even No. dated 3.2.2009.

 

 

Madam,

 

This Federation draws a kind reference to our letter dated 3rd February 2009 and requests that the proposals of the Department about the creation of a Postmasters' cadre and the RR Rules that have been amended and sent to the DOPT may kindly be supplied to us.

 

This Federation conveys the concerns of the staff caused by lack of transparency on the part of the Directorate in this matter and the failure to take the staff side into confidence before taking such vital decision.

 

We also request that a meeting to discuss about the above proposals with the Staff Side may please be arranged at the earliest.

 

Thanking you,

 

Yours faithfully,

 

Sd/- 

[K.Ragavendran]

Secretary General

 

4. Outsourcing in Project Arrow Offices: NFPE learns that in the background of denial of exemption from the Screening Committee application for the existing vacancies, the Department is contemplating on outsourcing of postal operations in the Offices of Project Arrow. This is a negative step and we cannot permit such an action to go ahead unprotested. A letter has been given to the Secretary [P] expressing our intention to launch protest. The copy of letter is reproduced below:

 

PF-66/2009                                                                             Dated 20th February 2009

 

 

To

 

Ms.Radhika Doraiswamy

Secretary

Department of Posts

Dak Bhawan

New Delhi – 110001

 

 

Sub: Outsourcing in Project Arrow offices – reg.

 

Madam,

 

This Federation is apprehensive of the news pouring in that the Department of Posts is considering outsourcing of certain postal operations in the Project Arrow Post Offices and would therefore urge upon you to take the staff side into confidence and inform the staff side about any such proposals.

 

This Federation has been demanding lifting of ban on recruitment of posts as well as getting exemption from the purview of Screening Committee to enable filling up all the existing vacancies in the department. We were assured of getting such an exemption by the Honourable Minister as well as by the Administration. As of now we learn that such an exemption has been rejected by the DOPT. This would result in abolition of more than 18,000 posts with a blow to the contemplated expansion of Project Arrow. More over the staff shortage has already crossed bearable limits.

 

This Federation would urge upon the intervention of the Honourable Minister of Communications & IT and Honourable Minister of State for Communications & IT to take appropriate action for getting exemption from the Screening Committee application.

 

However, we would like to place it on records that in the event of any outsourcing contemplated in the Project Arrow Offices in the backdrop of refusal of the DOPT to exempt us from Screening Committee; this Federation would have no option but to protest the move.

 

Thanking you,

 

 

Yours faithfully,

 

Sd/- 

[K.Ragavendran]

Secretary General

 

5. Doubling of Special Allowance to JAOs: The JAO qualified officials in the IA&AD have been granted with the Special Allowance at the rate of 160/- and 240/- by doubling the existing Special Allowance. The issue has been taken up with the Secretary [P] for similar action to the JAO qualified officials in the Department of Posts also. The letter sent to Secretary [P] on this issue is reproduced below:

 

PF-16(j)/JAO/2009                                                     Dated 19th February 2009

 

 

To

 

Ms.Radhika Doraiswamy

Secretary

Department of Posts

Dak Bhawan

New Delhi – 110001

 

 

Sub: Doubling of the Special Allowances to JAO qualified – reg.

 

Sir,

 

This Federation would like to draw your kind attention that the Special Allowance granted to the JAOs have been doubled in the IA & AD vide Circular No.27/NGE/2008 No.293/NGE(Entt)/38-2007 Dated 19.11.2008 in accordance with the orders of the Government of India, Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensioners, Department of Personnel & Training O.M.No.4/6/2008-Estt (Pay. II) Dated 1.10.2008.

 

Accordingly the Special Allowance of Rs.80/- and Rs.140/- have been doubled into Rs.160/- and 280/- in the IA&AD w.e.f. 1.9.2008.

 

It is requested that similar orders doubling the special allowance from 1st September 2009 for the waitlisted JAO qualified in the Department of Posts also may kindly be issued.

 

Thanking you

 

Yours faithfully,

 

Sd/- 

[K.Ragavendran]

Secretary General

 

6. Delay in payment of arrears to Pensioners: We are receiving complaints that the Post-1st January 2006 Pensioners are not granted with the enhanced pension benefits in several places. We have taken up the issue with the Department. We have also demanded grant of 12% interest as a compensation against the undue delay. The letters written in this matter are reproduced below:

 

PF-22/2009                                                                 Dated 19th February 2009

 

 

To

 

The Secretary

Department of Posts

Dak Bhawan

New Delhi – 110001

 

 

Sub: Undue delay in drawal enhanced pensionary benefits to Post-1st January 2006 Pensioners – Request for Interest compensation against delay – reg.

 

Sir,

 

This Federation is constrained to draw your kind attention that despite clear orders of the Government of India, calculation and drawal of enhanced pensionary benefits to the post-1st January 2006 pensioners is unduly delayed in several circles.

 

This Federation would like to point out that under similar circumstances of delay in payment to the Railway Pensioners; the Railway Board has reportedly agreed to pay a compound interest @ 12% along with the accrued arrears of gratuity.

 

While we appreciate that the delay may be due to acute staff shortage, we urge upon you to cause to issue instructions to expedite the enhanced benefits without further delay. We also request that the Department may consider payment of 12% compound interest compensation against the undue delay to such pensioners.

 

Thanking you,

 

Yours faithfully,

 

Sd/-

[K.Ragavendran]

Secretary General

 

PF-17/2009                                                                             Dated 19th February 2009

 

 

To

 

The Secretary

Department of Posts

Dak Bhawan

New Delhi – 110001

 

 

Sub: Undue hardship faced by Post-1st January 2006 Pensioners due to

         abnormal delay in payment of arrears and retirement benefits in Ludhiana

         Division – reg.

 

Sir,

 

This Federation is constrained to draw your kind attention and seek your personal intervention to ensure early payment of arrears and retirement benefits for the Post-1st January 2006 Pensioners in Ludhiana Division [Punjab], where inexplicable delay is being caused by the authorities in this matter.

 

It is reported to us that as many as twenty Service Books of Post-1st January 2006 pensioners were wrongly sent to DAP Jalandhar in December 2008 by the SPOs Ludhiana [M] Division. It appears that the Service Books should have been sent to DAP Kapurthala. However on the face of delay the pensioners are forced to go from pillar to post between the DAP Jalandhar, DAP Kapurthala and Office of SPOs Ludhiana [M] Division but no one could confirm where the Service Books are lying.

 

The efforts of the Circle Union through representations to get the problem sorted out did not result in fruition so far and the agony of the retired officials is continuing despite assurances by the Circle Administration.

 

This Federation would highly appreciate the intervention of the Postal Directorate to cause tracing of the missing Service Books immediately and issue of orders for payment of arrears without further delay.

 

Thanking you,

 

Yours faithfully,

 

Sd/- 

[K.Ragavendran]

Secretary General

 

7. Recovery of HRA more than the Office Rent for the SPMs: After the 6th CPC it is noted that the rent paid to the landlords by the Department for both the office as well as quarters premises is less than the HRA recovery made from the SPMs towards rent-free accommodation. The issue is taken up with the Department demanding proportionate recovery of rent. The letter is as follows:

 

PF-16(c /2009                                                                         Dated 19th February 2009

 

 

To

 

The Secretary

Department of Posts

Dak Bhawan

New Delhi – 110001

 

 

Sub: Request for recovering proportionate quantum of HRA against low-

         Rented buildings with rent-free residential quarters – reg.

 

Sir,

 

This Federation would like to bring to your kind notice the anomalous situation arisen after the implementation of 6th CPC recommendations with regard to recovery of full HRA in lieu of rent-free quarters.

 

The post offices with quarters for the Sub-Postmasters are invariably functioning in low rented buildings all over the country. The whole rent to the Post Office building including the quarters and office area is much lower than the HRA paid to the Sub-Postmasters. It is apparent that the Government is paying the rent of the Post Office also from the HRA amount of the officials and even making a savings out of it while providing them with the rent-free accommodation with inadequate facilities.

 

This Federation therefore requests for causing a change in the rules to effect recovery of HRA only in proportion to the area provided for quarters by dividing the rent paid to landlords. This will alter the existing situation of office rent also being paid by the officials.

 

Thanking you,

 

 

 

Yours faithfully,

 

 Sd/-

[K.Ragavendran]

Secretary General

 

8. NFPE on Rural Index for Dearness Allowance: The Government has decided to compute a separate CPI [Rural] Index for calculation of prices in rural areas to pay less dearness allowance to the employees and workers in rural areas. The job of collecting rural prices is entrusted to the Department of Posts. This move of the Government is totally negative. Along with the Central Trade Unions, it is the task of the CG Employees organisations to protest the decision of the Government. The letter written on this matter by NFPE to the Staff Side Secretary and Confederation is as follows:

 

PF- 16(b)/2009                                                                        Dated 19th February 2009 

 

 

To

 

Com.Umraomal Purohit

Secretary Staff Side

JCM National Council

13, Ferozeshah Road

New Delhi - 110001

 

Com.K.K.N.Kutty

Secretary General

Confederation of Central Government Employees

New Delhi – 110027

 

Sub: Computation of Rural Formula for payment of DA to Employees and Workers  in rural areas – reg.

 

Dear Comrade,

 

The forty seventh meeting of the Technical Advisory Committee on Statistics of Prices and Cost of Living held on 4th February 2009 has revealed that the Government is going ahead with the decision to compute Consumer Price Index [Urban] and Consumer Price Index [Rural] and that the base year for computing both the above Index will be January 2009 to December 2009.

 

It is also decided that the Department of Posts would be entrusted with the work of conducting market survey and collection of prices in the rural areas.

 

The decision of the Government to segregate the Index into Urban and Rural would be detrimental to lakhs of employees and workers in rural areas. While we hope that the Central Trade Unions may object to the above decision, we think that the Central Government Employees should also voice their stout opposition to the above move.

 

We request that the Staff Side of the JCM National Council may raise its voice of protest with the Government and demand preservation of the present formula of Consumer Price Index.

 

With regards,

Yours fraternally,

 

Sd/- 

Copy: Com.S.K.Vyas

           President Confederation.                                                                                                                                       [K.Ragavendran]

Secretary General

 

9. Anomalies to National Anomaly Committee: Some of the anomalies to be taken up at the level of National Anomaly Comimttee have been forwarded to the Confederation. The letter is furnished below:

 

PF-16/2009                                                                    Dated 19th February 2009

 

To

 

Com. K.K.N.Kutty

Secretary General

Confederation of Central Government Employees

New Delhi – 110027

 

Com.S.K.Vyas

President

Confederation of Central Government Employees

New Delhi – 110001

 

Sub: Anomalies for taking up in the National Anomaly Committee – reg.

 

Dear Comrade,

 

In addition to certain general anomalies that have been communicated to you and replied by you, I am forwarding the following anomalies for your consideration to be taken up with the National Anomaly Committee:

  1. Anomaly in the grant of annual increment after promotion.
  2. In respect of elevated scales of Pay, (For example Postmen are granted with 3200-4900 scale from 3050-4590 scale; the HSG I in Department of Posts are granted with 7450-11500 from 6500-10500 scale) the pay fixation has not been made first in the pre-revised elevated pay scale and then exercised the Pay fixation. The benefit of elevated pay scale has not been availed by such officials.
  3. Similarly on promotion, if the minimum pay of the said promotional post is higher than the fixation made in the pay drawn of the official on promotion, the higher pay should be applied in such cases. For example, many HSG I officials have been affected in the lack of such provisions and their fixation was made lesser than the minimum of the HSG I pay scale.
  4. The discrimination between the Railways & others in the grant of Daily Allowance should be placed as one of the items.

With Regards,

Yours fraternally,

Sd/- 

[K.Ragavendran]

Secretary General

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
 

 



--
K.Ragavendran
Secretary General NFPE

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