GDS Online Software implementation

GDS Online Software implementation - reg.

Remarkable comments on GDS system by Shri Kamalesh Chandra Committee in its Report -2016.

In brief, the comments are extracted here :

…..The GDSs working in the net work of GDS Post Offices are Ambassadors of Department of Posts, Ministry of Communications in the rural and remote areas of India……

…..The Govt of India still holds the same position and has so far held that the Gramin Dak Sevaks are not departmental employees. They are outside the Civil Services of the Union and shall not claim to be at par with the Central Government Employees……

……Currently, a large number of well educated, talented and capable youths are joining GDS posts and strengthening the GDS system and this trend is likely to propel growth of the Department in the coming days……

……. The Committee observed that in last several decades, the Department has not invested enough to strengthen the network of GDS Post Offices until recently……

……. The quality of life of GDSs and their family’s needs to be improved by  harmonizing their wages and other emoluments in tune with present day’s needs and aspirations of young GDSs joining the workforce….

……. The Committee also noted that a large number of them are totally dependent upon the emoluments received from the Department and has no other means of livelihood to supplement their income…….

…… The Committee views that the demand of regularization of their services is due to better emoluments, reliability and security of regular government service. The Committee noted that GDSs are exploited at the hands of their local supervisors because of existing wage structure and their legal status. The administrative powers such as “put off duty” are exercised on frivolous charges and frequently used for exploitation rather than as remedial measures.

…… The Department recognizes the engagement of GDSs as contractual, but the present method of engagement and disciplinary proceedings, job contents, risks and responsibilities are getting closer to the regular employees of the department….

…...that there is tendency to withhold the legitimate demands of GDSs which are due to them, based on the apprehension that they will get closer to regular employees and their claim for regularization will be strengthened in the Court of Law, if such demands are allowed. The Committee finds this as unreasonable and counter productive for the Department. It also deprives them of living a happy life in the changed situation where financial dependence on GDS position is increasing day by day because of shrinking alternate means of livelihood…….

…….the Department has lost its tag of having the largest network for providing financial services to the customers by decelerating expansion of network based on the assumption that GDS post offices are loss making and adding to the overall deficit of the Department….

….The Committee observed that the ‘Rationalization of Postal Network Scheme’ has also not worked on the expected line….. the Committee supports the demand for presence of postal facility in the headquarters of each of 2.50 lakhs Gram Panchayats and revamping of PSSK and FO Schemes my making it more remunerative as opening of regular or GDS Post Office in each of such location may not be feasible….

…….the GDS Post Offices, is around 45% of the total deficit (Net Expenditure – Revenue) of Rs.6258.60 crores and around 15% of the total expenditure of Rs.17894.58 crores in the Financial year 2014-15………..the Committee found that total expenditure on GDS system is far less than deficit of the Department.

………. Future survival of the Department will largely depend on the successful management of GDS Post Offices, which effectively for its “soul”.. It would be difficult for the Department to survive without the soul…..

…….trust of GDS network which enables the Department to deliver trustworthy services in each and every village of the country that can not be quantified in terms of revenue…

…..the Committee observed that the Sub Post Masters of single handed Sub Post Offices do not encourage Branch Post Masters to increase their workload as it results into increase in the workload of Sub Post Offices which they are unable to handle properly due to lack of manpower……

…… Sub Post Office by utilizing the services of capable and willing GDSs in the single handed sub post offices…..

….the India Post Payment Bank which is going to be rolled out shortly will use the strengths of the GDS net work and experiences of more than 2.60 lakhs trustworthy Gramin Dak Sevaks serving in the Department of Posts….

…..the GDS network can potentially wipe out the deficit (gap between the expenditure and revenue) of the Department and emerge as rural digital hubs for delivery of DBT and other postal, financial, remittance, third party and several e-services to the rural population and forming an integral part of fulfilling SABKA SAATH  SABKA VIKAS agenda of the Central Government.

source: GDS Committe Report (Executive Summary)

Important Recommendations made by GDS Committee

= Categories of GDS:

Present Nomenclature	Category
BRANCH POST MASTER	All Branch Post Masters
ASSISTANT BRANCH POST MASTER	GDS  MD, GDS MC
DAK SEVAK	GDSSV,GDS PKR , GDSMM

..

= Viability of GDS Post Offices:

New norms for calculation of GDS Pos are recommended.

Further Categorization of GDS POs based on proportion of Revenue / Expenditure

Category of GDS PO	Revenue Norm
Urban & Rural (Normal)	100% of its expenditure
Rural (special)	50% of its expenditure

..

Category	Colour	Proportion of Revenue to expenditure
A	Green	100% or more of prescribed form
B	Orange	75% to 99% of prescribed form
C	Pink	50% to 74.99% of prescribed form
D	Red	Less than 50% of prescribed form

=Workload assessment:

In place of point system, the Committee recommends the new wage payment system. The new system linked to revenue generation and not to work load.

= Rural Business Development and Marketing:

The Committee Recommended many items for successful realization of rural business potentials.

= Committee recommends to improve the accessibility, visibility and infrastructure of GDS POs.

PO are with 10’ X 10’ dimensions in ground floor.

Building owned by Gram Panchayat

Building owned by Central Govt or State Govt. ie.,schools or offices BPM’s own house

Proper rented accommodation in a busy place of the village

Building owned by NGOs.

With all furniture and power supply.

= Legal status of GDS:

The Committee observed that the matter is sub judice.

The Department should take suitable steps to increase security of job, prevent exploitation and increase income of GDSs so that they feel secure and live happily with in the GDS system and with the existing legal status.

= Terms and conditions of engagement.

The Committee recommends changes in Rule-3A.

Introduce voluntary discharge scheme on willing to leave the post before 65 years

Discharge from the service on the last day of the month.

Relaxation on limited transfer facility.

= Recommendations on wage structure and fixation of wages.

Committee recommends raising of minimum duty from 3 hours to 4 hours of all GDSs

Comparison : BPM = Postman

                        Asst. BPM & Dak Sevak = MTS

Minimum wage fixed at :

Rs.10,000- for 4 hours & Rs.12,000- for five hours. (Level-I)

Rs.12,000- for 5 hours & Rs.14,500- for five hours (Level-2)

Annual increase @ 3% on 1^st January or 1^st July

Wage matrix & Wage Level Table & Arrears calculation Table are given in detail.

= Allowances:

Dearness Allowance – no change

% of DA with regular employees – no change

Increased rate of DA – no change

Recommended allowances :

Composite Allowance

Cash Conveyance Allowance

Combined Duty Allowance

Children Education Allowance

Revenue linked Allowance for eligible BPMs

Risk & hardship allowance

Allowances to be withdrawn:

Office Maintenance Allowance

Fixed Stationery Allowance

Boat Allowance

Cycle Maintenance Allowance

Uttarakhand Allowance

Split Duty Allowance.

Composite Allowance Includes:

Rent for housing GDS PO, Rent for Accommodation, washing-repairs-maintenance of premises, furniture, stationery charges, electricity usage charges for office, Mobile / Telephone usage charges, Boat Allowance/ CMA/ TA, Hospitality charges for drinking water, other incidental charges.

=Performance Related Incentive

Revenue linked allowance along with the present system of incentives with automatic payment at the end of each month.

= Ex-gratia Bonus:

Dept should re-examine the formula for payment of bonus and ex gratia bonus with reference to the share of revenue generated by the departmental as well as GDS POs.

= Methods of engagement

Method of selection : on line method engagement should be introduced.

Recruiting Authority : appended to the GDS (Conduct & Engagement) Rules, 2011

Qualification :SSC/SSLC from State Board/CBSE/ICSE with certificate course or diploma course in IT

Knowledge of local language.

Maintenance of Reservation roster at divisional level.

Stop the security in the form of FG bonds, introduce 5 year TD or NSC as security.

= Career Progression

There is need to increase the Direct Recuitment quota of GDS in Postman & Mail Guard because of large working strength of GDS and to provide them with better opportunities for getting into departmental posts.

 Introduce a guaranteed special increase in wages after 12, 24 & 36 years of service with two annual increases.

Designation of GDSs should be changed after each financial upgradation.

=Leave & substitute arrangement:

Paid leave should be renamed as ordinary leave and enhanced from 20 to 30 days in a year.

Introduce Encashment of Ordinary leave.

Introduce ‘emergency leave’ for 5 days in a calendar year, but no carry forward.

No full time substitute will be engaged.

Women GDS – 26 weeks of maternity leave and paid from salary head.

Paternity leave for 7 days.

= Disciplinary Rules:

Department  should add a new punishment of ‘compulsory discharge from the service’ in the list  “major penalties’ and the content of Rule-9 of GDS (Conduct & Engagement)Rules 2011.

= Social Security Schemes:

Severance Amount : @ Rs.4,000 from 01-01-2016 for every completed year of service subject to maximum of Rs.1,50,000-.

Service Discharge Benefit Scheme (SDBS):

GDS contribution should be revised as minimum of 3% and maximum of 10%  of the basic wage per month.

Department contribution should be fixed as 3% of the basic wage.

Bring the GDS under the purview of Gratuity Act with an upper limit of Rs.5,00,000-

Group Insurance Scheme : enhance the rate of monthly subscription by Rs.500 per month with insurance coverage of Rs.5,00,000-.

 =Welfare Schemes:

GDS CWF subscription should be enhanced from Rs.20- to Rs.100- pm.

Department grant should be enhanced from Rs.100- to Rs.300- PA.

Point system should not be applied to the compassionate appointment of dependents of GDS.

Photo identity cards to all GDS with free of cost.

Proposed on line selection of all categories of GDS-Clarification reg.