Gramin
Dak Sevaks are not regular Govt. Employees not eligible for PF, Pension
Gratuity
Gramin Dak Sevaks are not regular Govt.
Employees not eligible for PF, Pension Gratuity: Govt said in Lok Sabha in reply of undermentioned
Lok Unstarred Question:-
GOVERNMENT
OF INDIA
MINISTRY
OF COMMUNICATIONS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
LOK
SABHA
UNSTARRED
QUESTION NO 490
ANSWERED
ON 14.07.2014
GRAMIN DAK SEWAKS
490 .
Shri RAM TAHAL CHOUDHARY
Will the Minister of COMMUNICATIONS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY be pleased to state:-
Will the Minister of COMMUNICATIONS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY be pleased to state:-
(a) whether the Gramin Dak Sewaks are not
eligible for normal facilities like Provident Fund, Pension, Gratuity etc. like the other
postmen in the country;
(b) if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor; and
(c) the corrective steps taken/being taken by the Government in this regard?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF COMMUNICATIONS AND
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY & LAW AND JUSTICE (SHRI
RAVI SHANKAR PRASAD)
(a) No, Madam, They are not eligible.
(b) Gramin Dak Sevaks are not regular govt.
employees. They are part time workers and are governed by a separate set of
Conduct and Engagement Rules. They do not form part of
the regular civil service. They are engaged for only 3-5 hours daily
work. It is mandatory for them to have an independent source of livelihood
before being engaged as Gramin Dak Sewak. Hon’ble Supreme Court in the case of
Union of India and Others vs. Kameshwar Prasad 1998 SCC (L&S) page 447 held
that P&T Extra Departmental Agent (C&S) Rules, 1964 are a complete code
governing service, conduct and disciplinary proceedings against Extra
Departmental Agents [now called Gramin Dak Sevaks]. On discharge from service
on attaining the age of 65 years or on death, Gramin Dak Sevaks [GDS] are paid
Ex-Gratia Gratuity and Severance Amount as approved for them by the
Cabinet.
The
Ex-gratia Gratuity is paid at the rate of half months basic Time
Related Continuity Allowance [TRCA] drawn immediately before discharge of
service for each completed year of service subject to a maximum of Rs. 60000 or
16.5 months basic TRCA last drawn whichever is less. The minimum service
prescribed for this is 10 years. In addition, Severance Amount is paid at
the rate of Rs. 1500 for every completed year of service subject to a maximum
of Rs. 60000. The Government has already introduced Service Discharge
Benefit Scheme in lieu of severance amount scheme effective from 01.04.2011 for
the benefit of Gramin Dak Sevaks on the basis of the New Pension Scheme (NPS),
specifically NPS Lite Scheme launched by the Pension Fund Regulatory and
Development Authority (PFRDA). Under this scheme, the Government as
well as Gramin Dak Sevaks concerned now contributes @ Rs. 200/- per month.
(c) Does not
arise in view of reply to (b) above.
