MODIFIED ACP AND PAYMENT THROUGH POSB
NFPE DELEGATION MET POSTAL BOARD MEMBER [P] AND DISCUSSED GDS COMMITTEE IMPLEMENTATION AND PAYMENT OF SALARY TO STAFF THROUGH POSB INSTEAD OF BANKS
NFPE DELEGATION ALSO MET DDG [Estt] ON MODIFIED ACP
Dear Comrades – NFPE Delegation consisting of Secretary General and General Secretaries met Member [P] on 18.06.2009. The GDS Committee implementation is a priority issue and that should not take more time now was the response of the Member [P]. The clearance from the Ministry of Finance is expected at any time and then the Cabinet Note for the consideration of the Cabinet will be taken up. NFPE however hope that after the Budget the GDS Committee would be implemented.
On compulsory payment of salary through Banks and direct credit system, the Member [P] though in agreement with our proposal for disbursement through our own POSB instead of Banks, suggested that we discuss this issue with the Secretary and DDG [PAF] since the order was issued with the concurrence of the Secretary [P]. NFPE Delegation will try to meet the DDG [PAF] and the Secretary [P] on Monday.
We also discussed the issue of Data Entry Operators of Tamilnadu DAP Office who are facing recovery due to the decision of the Department of Posts to deny 4000-6000 pre-revised pay scales to them on consideration as directed by the Honourable Madras High Court. Comrades Santhosh Kumar the Circle Secretary of Postal Accounts Tamilnadu Circle and Balasubramanian Vice President of Postal Accounts TN Circle also accompanied the Delegation to meet the Member [P] to discuss the issue of DEO and supplied all the documentary proof of justification in support of higher scale for DEOs. The Member [P] assured to look into the whole case.
NFPE Delegation earlier met the DDG [Estt] and came to know that the Modified ACP orders for Postal Employees are under preparation. The DDG informed us that the orders will be a comprehensive one with full details of fixation models for different categories and that is why the preparation is taking some time. After the orders are prepared the same will be submitted to the consent of the JS&FA and then orders will be issued by the Directorate for implementation. Contrary to the earlier information, the DDG [Estt] asserted that there appears to be no need to submit the orders for approval of the DOPT and clearance by JS&FA would be sufficient. It is expected that another 15 days may take for finalization of the orders and we can expect the same to be issued next month.
POSTAL JCA PROGRAMME OF ACTION
The urgent issues and problems faced by the Postal Employees due to:
the orders of compulsory payment through Banks only;
the harassment meted out to the employees particularly to the Postmen staff and Postmasters and other staff in the offices of Project Arrow;
the abnormal delay in implementation of GDS Committee and also the discrimination perpetrated on the GDS in implementing the bonus ceiling orders;
the need to focus immediately the removal of arbitrary cap of 60 days in payment of PLB to postal employees by the MOF while Railways and other PLB employees are granted without any such cap as the calculations have started for PLB 2008-2009 by the Directorate;
the need to expedite filling up of ADR vacancies of 2005-2006 and 2006-2007 and to insist that all cadres and all wings shall be taken into account for filling up the vacant posts;
to focus the abnormal delay in refixation of wages to all casual labourers and part time contingent as well as the RRR candidates on the basis of the 6th CPC wages;
to demand expediting the Cadre Review of all cadres in
Department of Posts since the same is being carried out in many other Government Departments like Railways, Income Tax etc;
to express our plight due to failure to re-fix the new pay level in the 6th CPC scales of pay for OTA entitlement and to demand immediate payment of all pending OTA bills; and
to alleviate the difficulties faced by women employees in getting the Child Care Leave sanctioned in spite of the eligibility under the tightened guidelines of DOPT;
were considered by the Postal Joint Council of Action of NFPE and FNPO. It has been decided that a call attention is required to the Department of Posts on all these issues. Therefore the Postal JCA has called upon the rank and file to organize the following two programmes:
29.06.2009: Mass Dharna in all Divisions / Branches jointly by the NFPE and FNPO organizations;
3.7.2009: On the day of opening of Budget Session of Parliament, there shall be a Massive Demonstration in front of Dak Bhawan and a Joint Memorandum would be submitted to the Honourable Minister of Communications & IT and also the Honourable Minister of State for Communications & IT in Delhi.
The JCA Circulars have already been sent by post to all Circle Secretaries with a request to circulate copies to all branches. The Postal JCA calls upon all NFPE and FNPO unions to observe this Programme of Action with all zest and vigour through maximum mobilization of employees.
Postal Joint Council of Action
NATIONAL FEDERATION OF POSTAL EMPLOYEES
1st Floor, North Avenue Post Office Building, New Delhi - 110001
FEDERATION OF NATIONAL POSTAL ORGANISATIONS
T-24, Atul Grove Road, New Delhi – 110001
JCA/1/2009 Dated 18th June 2009
To
All General / Circle Secretaries
NFPE & FNPO Union
MASSIVE DHARNA / MASS DEMONSTRATION ON THE OPENING OF BUDGET SESSION OF PARLIAMENT
The Postal JCA of NFPE and FNPO Federations call upon the entirety of Postal Employees to organise a massive Dharna jointly under the banner of Joint Council of Action on 29.06.2009 at the level of Divisions / Branches for calling the attention of the Department of Posts to the following burning issues. As far as the Delhi Circle is concerned, there shall be a massive demonstration in front of Dak Bhawan during lunch hour on 3.7.2009, the first day of Budget Session of Parliament. A Memorandum on the following items shall be submitted to the Honourable Minister of Communications & IT and Honourable Minister of State for Communications & IT by the JCA on 3.7.2009.
The Burning issues that shall receive focus:
All our Divisions and Branches are called upon to take the programme call very seriously and mobilise our full strength behind the call.
With Greetings,
[D.Theagarajan] [K.Ragavendran]
Secretary General Secretary General
FNPO NFPE
* All Circle Secretaries are requested to take Photostat copies of this JCA Circular and send to all divisions and branches immediately.
CORPORATE PLAN OF DEPARTMENT OF POSTS
CORPORATE PLAN OF DEPARTMENT OF POSTS EXHIBITED IN THE DEPARTMENT WEBSITE
Department of Posts has announced a Corporate Plan in its website. It is stated that this Corporate Plan is due to Major Change in Postal Policy. The major change in policy is attaining self sufficiency within the next five years as the Government of India may not find it feasible to subsidize the postal operations any more.
The Corporate Plan declares some goals. These Goals are:
1. Post within easy reach of all by year 2013-14.
2. To be a focal point for delivery of all social security schemes of the State
by the year 2011-12.
3. To be a self-sustaining organization by the year 2013-14.
4. To increase financial inclusion of the unbanked population by at least 10%
by the year 2013-14.
The declared Goals are good. They try to concentrate on core postal functions and POSB. But these goals are expected to be arrived at by depending on mainly the Franchisee outlets and not on recruitment of staff or opening of new post offices. The Corporate Plan clearly states " The objective of providing basic postal facilities within easy reach (defined as within 1.5 km) cannot be achieved by opening more post offices. The objective of opening of post offices would be expensive and would go against the other objective of financial self-sufficiency. Accordingly, the strategy would be more on giving out franchisees to individuals, shops, institutions, etc. This would reduce the cost of achieving this objective, besides bringing in additional revenue to the Department."
No proper study of Franchisee system has been made and no opportunity was given to the staff side to look into the franchisee working scheme with transparency so far. The stand of the NFPE on this issue had been amply communicated to the Department. Despite our insistence no purposeful meeting is being arranged by the Department for mutual discussion nor the blue print of full operations of all the franchisees have been supplied to us. Now blindly the Department want to go ahead with more and more expansion of Franchisee schemes by offering to shops, institutions etc in addition to the individuals. They are the masters and we are the slaves and slaves require no convincing.
The Department had estimated that the value of USO [Universal Service Obligation] compensation was Rs.668 crores for 2004-05. The Document says that the funding of USO could be from: (i) Government funding--- the government is responsible for funding any deficit incurred in operation of universal postal services;(ii) Industry funding-- in this model, other postal players pay a fee for the operation of universal postal services by the public postal operator;(iii) Reserved price area-- a specific area of service reserved for the universal service provider so that revenues from reserved area help in 11 financing the universal postal services. The reserved service area must be clearly defined on the basis of three elements: (a) class of service (b) item weight (c) price protection for reserved services. These are issues which need to be given a legal basis by having them incorporated in the Indian Post Office Act.
But the big question is as to whether the Government has got the will to legal protection of letter mail monopoly etc by suitable amending the PO Act which it could not do on the face of stiff opposition from the corporate courier lobby. Three times such legislation was attempted in vain. Protection of letter mail monopoly; protection upto 500 grams for letters; protection of letters up to 300 grams all got diluted upto 150 grams but that too not could not be legislated.
A growth trajectory has been aimed at. It is also said that to achieve the projected growth it would require: (a) improving the quality of service by streamlining operations, and (b) working with stakeholders to increase the mail flow through the India Post system. We have no issue with improving the quality of service to customers but the interpretation of quality service differs between the staff side and the official side. The method adopted to improve the delivery efficiency in Project Arrow Offices by reducing the number of deliveries or reducing the number of postmen by the Administrative Officers at different levels are certainly at a different wavelength in contrast to our own wavelength of quality service to public. Quality service by not providing sufficient hands means quality service by magic in their interpretation. There is no meeting ground and there is no sincere attempt to reach a meeting ground. They perhaps think that they alone are ordained by nature to think and create and the workers are ordained to carry out without murmur anything and everything. Project Arrow bears full stamp of this approach. We do not know as to whether the Corporate Plan is going to be different at all!
The Corporate Plan spells out that the Rural Postal Life Insurance (RPLI) which was started in 1995, may be further strengthened, if need be, by setting up a company. This means corporatisation / privatisation of PLI/RPLI functions.
The entire Corporate Plan of the Department of Posts is available by clicking the following LINK. All our rank and file comrades are requested to go through the whole Corporate plan and send their considered view points in writing preferably by E-mail to nfpehq@gmail.com
NO WITHHOLDING OF PENSION DUE TO MINOR PENALTY PROCEEDINGS ANYMORE
Draconian unilateral orders of the DOPT vide its OM Number dated 31.07.1987 facilitating withdrawal or withholding of pension against officials for even as a result of minor penalty proceedings has been struck down by the Principal Bench CAT Delhi. Consequently the DOPT has recently withdrew its OM dated 31.07.1987 and restored its earlier OM No.134/10/80-AVD-1 Dated 28.02.1981. Accordingly pension or gratuity cannot be withheld or withdrawn in lieu of Minor Penalty Proceedings any more. The Divisional Secretaries are requested to take this into consideration and help any official who is affected presently due to withholding of pension / gratuity etc on account of minor penalty proceedings. The latest orders of the DOPT in this matter are available by clicking the Link Below:
http://persmin.gov.in/WriteData/CircularNotification/ScanDocument/110_9_2003-AVD-1.pdf
CONFEDERATION HAS WRITTEN A LETTER ON BONUS CEILING DISCRIMINATION FOR GDS TO DOPT AND SECRETARY DOP ON OUR REQUEST
CONFEDERATION ALSO HAS WRITTEN TO DOPT AND EXPENDITURE SECRETARY AND ALSO TO SECRETARY DOP ON POSTMASTERS' CADRE CREATION
Dear Comrades - The Confederation Secretary General has written two letters to DOPT / Expenditure Secretary and also to the Secretary Department of Posts on GDS Bonus Ceiling issue as well as the issue of creation of Postmasters' Cadre. The letters are reproduced below for the information of our members. However our Divisional / Branch Unions are requested to move the CAT and obtain necessary stay orders against causing any recovery either from the GDS or from the Accountants / DDOs since the payment was caused only on the basis of the superceding orders of the Directorate dated 21.10.2008 in supersession of orders dated 15.10.2008. But for the superseding orders no payment would have been caused by the DDOs and therefore there is no fault on the HOs in making the payment. As we are getting reports from one or two circles that orders are being issued for effecting recovery from DDOs / Accountants in the background of stay orders obtained by the GDS in different courts. Therefore this precaution of moving the courts for getting the stay orders is suggested pending our attempt to resolve the issue at the level of the DOPT / MOF through the Confederation. The letters written by the Confederation are reproduced below for information:
CONFEDERATION OF CENTRAL GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES & WORKERS
New Delhi – 110027
No.F1-15(A)/09 Dated 5th June, 2009
To
1. Secretary
Department of Posts
Dak Bhawan
New Delhi – 110001
2. Secretary
DOPT
North Block
New Delhi - 110001
Sub: Creation of Postmasters Cadre with revised Recruitment Rules – as a part of restructuring of Postal Cadres.
Sir,
Restructuring of Postal Cadres as recommended by the VI CPC is at present being considered by your Department. The National Federation of Postal Employees have requested you vide their letter No.PF-32/2009 dated 3.2.2009 that the proposal about the creation of a Postmasters' Cadre and the amended Recruitment Rules [RRs] may be supplied to them so that they are enabled to offer their comments and also discuss with you.
This has not been done. As a matter of fact the amended RRs for Postmasters' Cadre has been unilaterally forwarded to DOPT for their approval without any consultation with Staff Side.
I am, therefore, to urge upon you that before DOP&T considers the proposed RRs for the post of Postmasters' newly being created, these proposals are intimated to NFPE and discussed with them so that complete transparency is observed in restructuring of Postal Cadres.
Thanking you,
Yours faithfully,
Sd/=
[K.K.N.Kutty]
Secretary General
CONFEDERATION OF CENTRAL GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES & WORKERS
New Delhi – 110027
No.F1-15(A)/09 Dated 5th June, 2009
To
1. Secretary
Department of Posts
Dak Bhawan
New Delhi – 110001
2. Secretary
Department of Expenditure
North Block
New Delhi – 110001
3. Secretary
DOP&T
North Block
New Delhi – 110001
Sub: Grant of enhanced bonus ceiling or Rs.3500/- to Gramin Dak Sewaks of Postal Department.
Ref: Deptt. of Expenditure OM No.7(23)/EIII-A/2007 Dated 10.10.2008
Deptt.of Posts letter No.26-04/2008-PAP Dated 15.10.2008
Deptt. of Posts letter No.26-04/2008-PAP Dated 21.10.2008
Deptt. of Posts (Estt. DN) letter No.26-04/2008-PAP dated 9.2.2009.
Sir / Madam,
Consequent on amendment to Section 2(13) and Section 12 of Payment of Bonus Act, 1965 enhancing the calculation ceiling effective from 1.4.2006, the Government of India had decided that calculation of payment of PLB & Adhoc Bonus to all eligible Central Government Employees be revised to Rs.3500/- from earlier ceiling of Rs.2500/- with effect from 1.4.2006 i.e., from the year 2006-07 onwards (OM Dated 10.10.2008).
The Gramin Dak Sewaks of Postal Department were also getting the PLB at the calculation ceiling of Rs.2500/- up to financial year 2005-06, should have been granted the revised calculation ceiling of Rs.3500/- for years 2006-07 onwards. This was not done which caused indefinite fast by Postal Joint Council of Action.
The Department of Posts vide their above cited letter dated 15.10.2008 clarified that the revised calculation ceiling of PLB i.e., Rs.3500/- may be extended to the regular employees of the Department of Posts (only).
However, the Department of Posts (Estt. Division) have forwarded a copy of Department of Expenditure OM Dated 10.10.2008 for information and necessary action in supersession of their letter Dated 15.10.2008.
It is reported that six out of 22 circles of Postal Department granted revised calculation ceiling of PLB to Gramin Dak Sewaks treating them as done before. Many other Circles preferred clarifications. After waiting for some months, the Department of Posts issued a clarificatory orders dated 9.2.2009 to deny the benefit to Gramin Dak Sewaks.
The result is that 16 Circles of Postal Department have not granted calculation ceiling of PLB to Gramin Dak Sewaks and in six circles action is being taken to effect recovery of bonus paid for years 2006-07 onwards. This is being done on the plea that revised calculation ceiling is applicable to eligible Central Government Departmental Employees and Gramin Dak Sewaks are not Central Government Employees.
I am, therefore, to request that GDS employees who had been getting the calculation ceiling of Rs.2500/- up to financial year 2005-06 treating them as regular employees of Postal Department for the purpose of PLB may also be treated as regular employees of Postal Department and granted the revised calculation ceiling of Rs.3500/- for PLB for financial years 2006-07 onwards. When this benefit has been extended to contingent employees, it is necessary that GDS are not excluded from this benefit on the plea that they are not Central Government Employees.
Thanking you,
Yours faithfully,
Sd/-
[K.K.N.Kutty]
Secretary General
Encl:
Deptt. of Expenditure OM No.7(23)/EIII-A/2007 Dated 10.10.2008
Deptt.of Posts letter No.26-04/2008-PAP Dated 15.10.2008
Deptt. of Posts letter No.26-04/2008-PAP Dated 21.10.2008
Deptt. of Posts (Estt. DN) letter No.26-04/2008-PAP dated 9.2.2009.
ENCASHMENT OF EARNED LEAVE ALONG WITH LTC
DOPT has issued orders to permit Government servants encashment of earned leave upto 10 days at the time of availing LTC without any linkage to the number of days and the nature of leave availed while proceeding on LTC.
A Click on the Link Below will provide you the full text of the Government Orders:
http://persmin.gov.in/WriteData/CircularNotification/ScanDocument/14028_4_2009-Estt.(L)0001.pdf
Department of Posts issued its endorsement order dated 20.05.2009 and accordingly the Exercise of Option allowed for officials within one month up to 19.06.2009.
Mainly this order is to provide one more option for those employees who got promotion either before or after 1.1.2006 but opted the promotional pay scale from the date of their next increment even before the release of 6th CPC recommendations, that turned out to be detrimental / financial loss to them. Divisional and Branch Secretaries are requested to widely circulate the under-mentioned order amongst all such employees immediately. Remember the last date of exercising the option is 19.06.2009.
Government of India
Ministry of Communications & IT
Department of Posts
Dak Bhawan, Sansad Marg,
New Delhi – 110001
No.4-4/2008-PCC Dated 20.05.2009
To
All Heads of Circles
Subject:-Implementation of Sixth Pay Commission of pay and grant increments in the revised pay structure – clarification regarding.
Sir/Madam,
I am directed to enclose a copy of Ministry of Finance, Department of Expenditure Implementation Cell O.M.F.No. 1/1/2008-IC dated 29th January, 2009 on the above mentioned subject for information and further necessary action.
2. In this context it is clarified that Ministry of Finance, Department of Expenditure, Implementation Cell vide their UO No.10/1/2009 dated 15-5-2009 (copy enclosed) agreed to allow exercise of the split option by the eligible employees within one month of the copy of the O.M. cited above is circulated by the Department to the Subordinate / Circle Offices. Accordingly, the officials are allowed to exercise their option by 19-06-2009 i.e. upto one month from the date of issue of this order.
Yours faithfully,
Sd/-
(K.Romeswara Rao)
Asst.Dir.General (Estt)
TRAVEL ENTITLEMENT FOR LTC BY AIR:
DOPT issued orders to restore the travel entitlements for LTC as stipulated vide O.M. dated 23rd September, 2008. The Ministry of Civil Aviation may bring out a scheme on the lines of LTC 80 for travel by business class. The officers and/or their families may chose to travel on LTC by any airline provided the fare does not exceed the fares offered by NACIL (Air India) under their new LTC scheme for business class.
The text of full orders can be downloaded by clicking the Link Below:
http://persmin.gov.in/WriteData/CircularNotification/ScanDocument/31011_4_2008-Estt.(A)-1.pdf
~
PF-67-01/2009 Dated 01ST June 2009
To
The Secretary
Department of Posts
Dak Bhawan
New Delhi – 110001
Sub: Payment of Salary through Bank / Cheque.
Ref: DG Posts Order No.2-1/2007-08-PA[Tech.I] / D-255-34 Dated 14.05.2009
Sir,
This Federation is shocked to see that despite earlier denials by the Directorate that there was no instructions issued to compulsorily pay salary through cheques or direct credit, an order has been now issued directing to pay salary to all employees only through cheques or direct credit in any of the banks governed by the Reserve Bank of India regulations. The decision of the Department is definitely in contravention of the instructions issued by the MOF earlier.
It is shocking to see that the option for PO SB Account is also not considered by the Department and no consultations whatsoever was preferred with the staff side. It is very painful that the unilateralism on taking decisions by the Directorate is continued. Difficulties to be faced by the employees working and living in rural and semi-urban areas also have been ignored while taking such decisions.
It is requested that the option may be left to the individual employee concerned. It is also requested that pending a discussion with the staff side, the orders issued as above may kindly be caused to be kept in abeyance.
A favourable action and a line in reply would receive our high appreciation.
Thanking you,
Yours faithfully,
Sd/-
[K.Ragavendran]
Secretary General
