MoC Shri. RAVI SHANKAR PRASAD Replied in RAJYA SABHA on 1.8.2014 regarding
STATUS ON DEMANDS OF GRAMIN DAK SEVAKS
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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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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