GOVT. STAND ON OUR
GDS DEMANDS
MoC
Shri. RAVI SHANKAR PRASAD Replied in
RAJYA SABHA on 1.8.2014 regarding
STATUS
ON DEMANDS OF GRAMIN DAK SEVAKS
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Sl. No.
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Issue
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Action taken / Government’s view
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1
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Demand for regularization as Government servant.
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Gramin Dak Sevaks, about
2,65,000 in number are a distinct category of employees, who do not form part
of the regular civil service. They are governed by a separate set of conduct
and engagement rules. They are engaged for 3 to 5 hours in a day.
Their livelihood is not solely dependent on the allowances paid by the Postal
Department. They are mandatorily required to possess independent
sources of income for adequate means of livelihood. They are discharged on
attaining the age of 65 years and while in employment are required to have
residence mandatorily within the post village/delivery jurisdiction of the
post office.
The Hon’ble Supreme Court in the
matter of Superintendent of Post Offices vs. PK Rajamma (1977)(3) SCC has
also held that the Extra Departmental Agents [now called Gramin Dak Sevaks]
are holders of the civil post outside the regular civil service.
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2
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Demand for restoration of parity in bonus ceiling with
departmental employees
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Bonus
ceiling stands revised at par with departmental employees vide DG Posts
letter No. 26-04/2013-PAP dated 04.10.2013.
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3
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Demand for cent percent compassionate engagement to GDS
posts from dependents of Gramin Dak Sevaks dying while in employment
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Compassionate engagement is
allowed in only hard and deserving cases. The term, ‘hard and deserving
cases,’ is defined as cases earning more than 50 points designed from a point
based criteria based on indigence. There is no justification to allow
compassionate engagement in cent percent cases in cases of death of Gramin
Dak Sevaks irrespective of indigence.
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4
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Request to ban direct recruitment to Multi-Tasking Staff
(MTS)/Postman posts and filling up of 25% posts of MTS/Postman based on
seniority by GDS employees.
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Statutory Recruitment Rules for
MTS provide for direct recruitment/absorption directly to MTS against 25% of
the direct recruitment vacancies on the basis of selection cum seniority
& another 25% by direct recruitment on the basis of competitive
examination restricted to GDS. Statutory Recruitment Rules for Postman provide
for direct recruitment from amongst GDS to the extent of 50% of the vacancies
on the basis of limited departmental examination.
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…
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5
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Request for filling up of all
vacant posts in all categories of GDS in Postal and RMS.
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Instructions have been issued to all
Circles to fill up all vacant posts of GDS Branch Postmaster and justified
posts of all other approved categories.
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6
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Request for extending one more option to GDS for enrolment
under the service Discharge benefit Scheme (SDBS) and allowing GDS to make
contribution to the Scheme
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Existing GDS have already been
provided one more and last option for their enrolment under the Scheme before
31.01.2014. GDS beneficiaries have also been allowed to contribute towards
the scheme at the rate of Rs. 200 per month per GDS effective from October,
2013.
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7
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Request for merger of 50% DA to the remuneration of GDS.
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This is based on the similar demand made by Central
Government Employees. The Government has not taken any decision on the issue
for the Central Government employees either.
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8
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Demand for inclusion of Gramin Dak Sevaks within the
purview of the 7th Central Pay Commission.
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The Government has successively constituted Committees for
revision of the wage structure and other service conditions of GDS from time
to time after each Central Pay Commission. The last such Committee was
constituted by the Department in the year 2007 named Shri RS Nataraja Murti
Committee. The latest request for their inclusion in the 7th CPC
stands referred to the Ministry of Finance, Department of Expenditure.
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