R.S.
Nataraja Murti
Chairman
GDS
Committee
No
2-32/2007-GDS Committee
Dated: 23-10- 2007
Dear
In the rural , remote and hilly
areas of country, Postal Services are provided
through a network of 1,25,350 rural Post Offices
. The Rural Post Offices are manned by Grain Dak
Sevak Branch Post Masters who work on a part time
basis ranging from 3 hours to 5 hours.
The system of Extra Departmental Post
Offices which came into existence in 1866-67 was
primarily established to cater to the Postal needs
of the rural community living in the dispersed
area. Gramin Dak Sevaks are employed as GDS Sub
Postmaster/Branch Postmasters/Mail Deliverers, Mail
Carriers and Mail Packers. For GDS SPM/BPM the
minimum educational qualification prescribed is
matric pass, while for all other category of GDS the
educational qualification is middle standard
pass. with preference, given to those with
Matriculation qualification. Persons who are
selected as GDS SPM / BPM are required to
take up residence at the Post office village.
The other category of GDS are required to
reside in the PO Jurisdiction/ originating
point of mail.
The Time Related Continuity Allowance
payable to the Gramin Dak
Sevaks
is given below:-
|
Category of
Gramin Dak Sevak
|
Scale of
Time Related Continuity Allowances |
|
GDS Sub
Postmaster |
Rs.2125-50-
3125 (5 hours) |
|
GDS Branch
Postmaster
|
Rs.1280-35-1980 (3 hours)
Rs.1600-40-2400 (>3 hours) |
|
GDS Mail
deliverer/
Stamp vendor |
Rs.1375-25-2125 (3 hrs 45 min)
Rs.1740-30-2640 (> 3hrs 45 min) |
|
GDS Mail
Carriers/ Packers |
Rs
1220-20-1600 (3 hrs 45 min)
Rs
1545-25-2020 (> 3hrs 45 min) |
The GDS have been given one time
increase of 5% in their basic allowance wef 1.4.2004.
On the TRCA GDS are paid DA, the present DA being 91% of
TRCA wef 1.7.2007.
The Gramin Dak Sevaks are
now provided with ex-gratia gratuity upto Rs 18,000
and severance allowance upto Rs. 30,000 at the
time of discharge . They are provided with Group
insurance scheme wherein the dependent of
deceased Gramin Dak sevak is paid Rs.10,000. In
case of death while in service in addition to payment of
accumulation in the savings fund. On discharge the
amount accumulated in the savings fund is paid to the
GDS.
In the past the service
conditions and other aspects of the Gramin Dak Sevaks
were reviewed from time to time by the Government. The
Government of India has now constituted a committee
to examine the system of Extra departmental Post
offices. The terms of reference of the committee
inter-alia include the following :-
(a) To
examine the system of extra departmental post
offices,
conditions of employment, method of recruitment,
wage structure
of
Gramin Dak Sevak.
(b) To
examine the reasonableness of introducing a social
security
scheme for
providing provident fund and retirement benefits to GDS.
(c) To
review the facilities provided to the public by
the rural
post offices.
I will be
grateful to have your valuable views and
suggestions at the
earliest on the issues relating to
Gramin Dak Sevaks as per the enclosed annexure or
any other issues which you may consider relevant for
consideration by the committee.
Yours
faithfully,
(R.S. Nataraja Murti)
Chairman
GDS Committee
011-24122960
e-mail:
gdscommittee@indiapost.gov.in
List
of issues for eliciting views of public functionaries
PART A
1. The committee would like to know
the existence of s similar system in the State
Government or else where a job of regular
nature is being executed through part
time skilled/unskilled
workforce/outsourcing agencies/Franchised outlets.
2. Terms and conditions of employment and
recruitment rules
3. Wages/ salary, other allowances,
duty hours, social security benefits, Provident
fund, leave entitlement medical
facilities, welfare measures etc.,
4. Minimum education qualification prescribed
5. Nature of duty performed
6. Periodical increase of emoluments per annum.
7. Furnishing of Security Bond
PART B
1.
Presently a Branch Post Office is opened in
Rural areas provided they
fulfill the
following norms :-
Normal Rural areas
(a)
Minimum distance of 3 kilometers from a nearest
Post Office
(b)
Population of 3000 in a group of villages.
(c)
Proposed post office meeting one third of the
cost.
Backward / Tribal/Hilly and
inaccessible areas
i)
The minimum distance criteria of 3 kilometers in
hilly areas is
relaxable
by Postal Directorate.
ii) 500 population in an
individual village or 1000 population in a
group
of villages.
iii) The proposed post office
is expected to generate 15%
of
income of its cost.
The Committee would like to have
views and suggestions on the existing access
criteria for opening of post offices in rural
areas.
2. In the
rural areas, not meeting the above norms for
opening of Branch Post Offices, what should be the
preferred alternative option for extending the
postal facilities viz,
(a) By opening a regular post office by
relaxing the norms.
(b) Authorizing the Gramin Dak
Sevak mail deliverer to sell postage stamps ,
Booking and delivery of Registered letters,
Booking and payment of Money orders, Collection of
Bills, and unregistered articles during his / her
visits to
villages.
(c) By extending basic postal
facilities through Panchayat sanchar Seva Kendra (PSSK).
(d)
Through a Franchised outlet.
3. The Committee would like to
have views and suggestions in respect of :-
(a)
Improving the quality of services viz., collection
delivery of letters, booking and payment of
money orders booking and delivery of registered
letters, collection of bills, savings bank
transactions and rural postal life insurance
through post office network.
(b) Expansion and introduction
of new services like payment from Government
under various welfare schemes like NREGS, old age
pension, micro credit, payment of electricity
and telephone bills, in computerized environment.
(c)
The quality of services rendered presently
and scope for further improvement..
4. Suggestions for improving the working
conditions of Gramin Dak sevaks and
introduction of Social Security Scheme |
Gramin
Dak Sevak Committee
Report
of the Gramin Dak Sevak Committee
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