Demand to absorb Grameen Dak Sevaks as Postman
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATION AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
RAJYA SABHA
QUESTION NO 2511
ANSWERED ON 01.08.2014
2511 SHRIMATI
GUNDU SUDHARANI
Will the Minister of COMMUNICATION AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY be pleased to satate:-
(a)whether it is a fact that undivided Andhra Pradesh was the second largest State having 2.7 lakh Grameen Dak Sevaks (GDSs) working;
Will the Minister of COMMUNICATION AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY be pleased to satate:-
(a)whether it is a fact that undivided Andhra Pradesh was the second largest State having 2.7 lakh Grameen Dak Sevaks (GDSs) working;
(b whether there have been demands for absorbing them as Postman;
(c) if so, how many GDSs have been absorbed as Postman during the last ten years, year-wise and State-wise with a particular reference to Andhra Pradesh; and
(d) the other demands being made by Grameen Dak Sevaks and the action taken by the Ministry on those demands?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF COMMUNICATIONS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
& LAW AND JUSTICE (SHRI RAVI SHANKAR
PRASAD)
(a) The number of Gramin Dak Sewaks (GDS) in
Andhra Pradesh and Telengana taken together is 27,087 (Twenty Seven Thousand
Eighty Seven). In terms of strength of GDS as on 01.07.2014, it is 2nd largest
in the Country.
(b) The issue of demand by Gramin Dak Sevaks for
absorption to Postman cadre does not arise as provision already exists for
their absorption to the cadre of Postman, based on limited departmental competitive examination.
(c) Details of Gramin Dak Sevaks absorbed to the
cadre of Postman during the last 10 years, year-wise and State wise with
particular reference to Andhra Pradesh are as under:-
State
|
2004
|
2005
|
2006
|
2007
|
2008
|
2009
|
2010
|
2011
|
2012
|
2013
|
Andhra Pradesh
|
13
|
15
|
160
|
78
|
35
|
53
|
265
|
236
|
63
|
178
|
Telangana
|
7
|
52
|
45
|
8
|
8
|
175
|
145
|
16
|
66
|
33
|
TOTAL
|
20
|
67
|
205
|
86
|
43
|
228
|
410
|
252
|
129
|
211
|
(d) Status of other demands made by Gramin Dak Sevaks is as per Annexure I [As above].
STATUS ON DEMANDS OF GRAMIN DAK SEVAKS
Sl. No.
|
Issue
|
Action taken / Government’s view
|
1
|
Demand for regularization as Government
servant.
|
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.
|
2
|
Bonus ceiling stands revised at par with departmental employees vide DG Posts letter No.
26-04/2013-PAP dated 04.10.2013.
|
|
3
|
Demand for cent percent compassionate
engagement to GDS posts from dependents of Gramin Dak Sevaks dying while in
employment
|
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.
|
4
|
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.
|
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.
StatutoryRecruitment 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.
|
5
|
Request for filling up of all vacant posts in
all categories of GDS in Postal and RMS.
|
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.
|
6
|
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
|
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.
|
7
|
Request for merger of 50% DA to the
remuneration of GDS.
|
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.
|
8
|
Demand for inclusion of Gramin Dak Sevaks
within the purview of the 7thCentral Pay Commission.
|
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.
|
The above statement
was attached as Annexure I with the reply of undermentioned Rajya Sabha
Question:-
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