Tuesday, November 30, 2010

Revision of Fixed Monetary compensation (FMC) to delivery staff and remuneration to other staff

File No. 10-7/2001-P.E.II
Government of India
Ministry of Communications & IT
Department of Posts
(Establishment Division)
Dak Bhawan Sansad Marg New Delhi – 110001
Dated the 24-11-2010

Chief Postmaster General
Postmaster General
General Managers (Finance)
Director of Accounts Postal

Subject: - Revision of Fixed Monetary compensation (FMC) to delivery staff and remuneration to other staff

Sir/Madam,

I am directed to refer to Directorates letter of even number dated 4-9-2002 and 28.1.2003 on the above subject.

2. The Department has received a number of references from the staff Associations requesting for upward revision of fixed Monetary compensation (FMC) admissible to Postmen staff. A Committee of Senior Officers was constituted for looking into the issue and the report of the Committee has been examined carefully in consultation with integrated Finance wing and the Competent Authority has ordered enhancement of the Fixed Monetary compensation (FMC) admissible to Postmen staff. The details are as under:

  1. When One Postman performs duty of an absentee Postman  by combination of duties from Rs.29 per day revised to Rs.50 per day
  2. When two Postmen perform duty of an absentee Postman by sharing the beat from Rs.14 per day revised to Rs.24 per day
3. The competent Authority has also ordered fixation/revision of Holiday Monetary Compensation payable to Postmen Staff and other Departmental staff brought on duty on 2nd consecutive Holiday if three consecutive holidays occur as shown under:
Remuneration to
  1. for Supervisor  Rs.85 per holiday for 4 hours
  2. for Postal Assistant Rs.85 per holiday for 4 hours
  3. for Postmen/Sorting Postmen Rs.85 per holiday
  4. for Multi tasking staff Rs.60 per holiday for 4 hours
4. All other conditions for payment of Fixed Monetary compensation (FMC) issued vide OM No.10-23/87-PE.I dt. 21.12.93 and delivery of Unregistered letters on holidays issued under 9-25/92-CI dt. 10.9.92 will remain unchanged.

5. The Expenditure on account of revision has to be met from the allocated funds of the units under the prescribed Head of account.

6. These orders will take effect from the date of issue.

7. This issues in concurrence with the Integrated Finance Wing vide their diary number 286/FA/10/CS dated 24.11.2010.

Sd/-
(K. Rameswara Rao)
Asst. Director General (Estt)





All India Consumer Price Index Numbers for Industrial Workerson Base 2001=100 for the Month of October, 2010

All India Consumer Price Index Number for Industrial Workers (CPI-IW) on base 2001=100 for the month of October, 2010 increased by 2 points and stood at 181 (one hundred and eightyone).

During October, 2010, the index recorded an increase of 11 points in Kodarma centre, 7 points in Giridih centre, 6 points in Mercara centre, 5 points each in Bhilwara and Ghaziabad centres, 4 points each in 4 centres, 3 points in 4 centres, 2 points in 12 centres and 1 point in 32 centres. The index decreased by 2 points in Ludhiana centre, 1 point in 3 centres, while in the remaining 17 centres the index remained stationary.

The maximum increase of 11 points in Kodarma centre is mainly on account of increase in the prices of Rice, Wheat, Fish Fresh, Milk, Onion, Garlic, Vegetable & Fruit items, etc. The increase of 7 points in Giridih centre is due to increase in the prices of Rice, Wheat Atta, Milk, Onion, Vegetable items, etc. The increase of 6 points in Mercara centre is due to increase in the prices of Rice, Goat Meat, Onion, Garlic, Vegetable items, Firewood, etc. The increase of 5 points in Bhilwara centre is due to increase in the prices of Rice, Goat Meat, Milk, Onion, Tea (Readymade), Firewood, Auto Rickshaw Charges, etc. and in case of Ghaziabad centre it is due to increase in the prices of Rice, Wheat Atta, Vegetable items, Tailoring Charges, etc. However, the decrease of 2 points in Ludhiana centre is due to decrease in the prices of Wheat Atta, Arhar Dal, Masur Dal, Moong Dal, Vegetable & Fruit items etc.

The indices in respect of the six major centres are as follows:

Ahmedabad =178        Delhi = 168       Bangalore = 184    Kolkata =177
Chennai = 162             Mumbai = 181

The point to point rate of inflation for the month of October, 2010 is 9.70% as compared to 9.82% in September, 2010.


Monday, November 22, 2010

ORDERS IN RESPECT OF POSTMASTER CADRE ISSUED

No.4-17/2008-SPB-II
Government of India
Ministry of Communications & IT
Department of Posts
Dak Bhawan, Sansad Marg
New Delhi – 110001
Dated, 22nd November, 2010

All Chief Post Masters General

Sub: - Introduction of Postmaster Cadre in Postal Wing.


Sir/Madam,

I am directed to say that Department of Posts operates mainly through its about 25500 Departmental Post Offices. The services it offers have grown in the traditional areas of sale of stamps, booking of Money orders and Registered letters as also in Savings Bank functions, especially where Post Offices disburse NREGA wages to beneficiaries. In many post offices these activities are carried out electronically, new services like e-payment, e-post etc is also offered. Further the Department has also entered into agreements with private players like Western Union for money transfers. In the area of mail, both express, parcel and traditional, the Department of Posts faces tremendous competition. It has to offer excellent services by way of continuous upgrades in quality and in the add on value of its mail products, like IOD, national billing, same day delivery of corporate mail etc.

2. In spite of the long existence of the Post Offices and challenges being faced by the Department from private players in the field there had never been an exclusive cadre for Postmasters. The Postal Assistants, LSG/HSG-II, I etc. are posted to man the posts of Postmasters. This system served the Department quite well till some time back. But now in order to improve/upgrade the functioning of the Post Offices, meet the present day requirement of specialization in Postal office management in the wake of introduction of technology, challenges from market and to increase productivity it has absolutely become essential to ensure that key Post Offices are headed by professional managers. Thus, in order to ensure that professionally qualified, trained and meritorious officials head they key Post Offices, it has been decided to introduce a separate cadre of Postmasters comprising the following grades by carving out the posts from existing General Line posts as ordered vide this Directorates letter No. 13-2/2010-PE-I dt. 03.02.2010.
  1. Senior Postmaster 116 Posts (Rs. 9300-34800 + Rs.4800 Grade Pay)
  2. Postmaster Gr – III 495 Posts (Rs.9300-34800 + Rs.4600 Gr. Pay)
  3. Postmaster Gr-II 511 Posts (Rs. 9300-34800 + Rs.4200 Gr. Pay)
  4. Postmaster Gr-I 2097 Posts (Rs. 5200-20200 + Rs.2800 Gr. Pay)
3. The Recruitment Rules of the above stated grades have since been framed and notified. A copy of the Recruitment Rules called the Department of Posts, Senior Postmaster (Group B Gazetted), Postmaster (Grade ‘ III and II’ – Group B non – Gazetted) and Postmaster (Grade I-Group C non-Gazetted) Recruitment Rules, 2010, dated 9th September, 2010 is forwarded herewith.

4. The number of posts in the various grades of the Postmaster carved out of the existing General Line Posts in various Postal Circles is being issued separately.

5. Thus it may be noted that:

I. A separate cadre of Postmasters has been created at the level of LSG, HSG-II, HSG-I and PS Group ‘B’ by carving out the cadre from the existing General Line Cadre Posts in Postal Wing and PS Group ‘B’ and designated as Postmaster Gr –I, Postmaster Gr.II , Postmaster Gr.III and Senior Postmaster.

II. Initial constitution of the various Grades of Postmasters shall be done by inviting options/applications from the existing incumbents of LSG, HSG-II, HSG-I in Post offices and PS Group, ‘B’.

III. In subsequent years all the vacancies in Postmaster Gr.I shall be filled up through a Limited Departmental Competitive Examination, From amongst PAs with 5 years regular service in the grade.

IV. All the vacancies in Postmaster Gr. II Posts shall be filled up by promotion from amongst Postmaster Gr. I with 6 years regular service in the grade (including regular service in LSG, if any).

V. All the vacancies in Postmaster Gr. III posts shall be filled up by promotion from amongst Postmaster Gr. II with 5 years regular service the grade (including regular service in HSG II, If any).

VI. 25% of vacancies in the grade of Sr. Postmaster will be filled up by promotion of Postmaster Gr. III with 2 years of regular service in the grade (including regular service in HSG, I if any) and 75% by Inspector of Posts (IPOs) with 6 years of regular service in the grade on the basis of Limited Departmental Competitive Examination (LDCE).

VII. The officials in PS Gr ‘B’ and Senior Postmaster (Gazetted) would be eligible for induction in IPOs, Gr ‘A’ on the basis of a consolidated eligibility list.

6. To begin with the Postal Circles, as per the provisions of the Recruitment Rules, may call for the options/applications with their bio-data from the willing officials holding the posts in the equivalent grades for appointment as Postmaster grade I, II and III respectively. While inviting for the applications it may be categorically stated that:

Once and official submits his application he will not be allowed to withdraw the same.

Officials who are still left with at least two years of service to retire may only apply in order to avoid their dislocation at the fag end of their service.

In the event of their appointment as Postmaster their further career progression will be in the hierarchy in the Postmaster cadre only as per the provisions in the relevant Recruitment Rules and not in the General Line.

7. The applications so received may be scrutinized to find out the eligibility of the applicants. Thereafter the applications of the eligible applicants may be placed before the Screening Committee mentioned under Col. 11 of the respective grades for assessing their suitability based on their ACRs and vigilance clearance provided they attain the minimum bench mark of ‘Good’ Those who are found suitable they may be arranged in the order of seniority for appointment in respective grade of postmaster as they enjoyed in the General Line.

8. If after filling up the posts as per procedure mentioned in above paragraph certain number of posts still remain unfilled the same shall be filled up by promotion as per the provision contained in col. 12 of the respective Recruitment Rules. It may please be noted that in that event the unfilled posts in Postmaster Gr. I will have to be filled up on the basis of Limited Departmental Competitive Examination. The pattern and scheme for Limited Departmental Competitive Examination to fill up the vacancies in the grade of Postmaster Gr.I would follow shortly.

9. All the Postal circles are requested to follow the time-line mentioned below to fill up the posts of Postmaster:

(i) Date of Issue of Circular calling for the options/applications for appointment as Postmaster Grade I, II and III. - 14.12.2010
(ii) Last date for receipt of options/applications along with bio-data - 15.01.2011
(iii) Completion of scrutiny of applications and obtaining Vigilance Clearance and ACR dossiers. - 31.01.2011
(iv) Submission to Screening Committee. - 10.02.2011
(vi) Submission of the minutes to the appointing authority for approval - 01.03.2011
(vii) Issue of appointment orders - 16.03.2011

10. Thereafter the Postmasters so appointed may be deputed for training immediately in consultation with the Training Division of the Directorate.

11. The receipt of the letter may please be acknowledged.


Yours faithfully,
Sd/-
(V. C. Kajla)
Director (SPN)
Tel. No. 23096092








































































Tuesday, November 16, 2010

Opening of Post Offices

The existing number of Post Offices in urban and rural areas of the country is 15,797 and 1, 39,182 respectively as on 31.03.2010. Opening of Post offices in Rural and urban areas of the country is an ongoing exercise and these are opened subject to fulfilment of prescribed norms. In view of the poor socio-economic conditions prevalent in rural areas, there are liberalized population and financial norms for opening of Post offices there. During the current financial year 2010-11, target for opening of 200 Branch Post Offices (BOs) and 110 Sub Post Offices (SOs) has already been issued to Circles.

Rural areas are served by regular Departmental Post Offices manned by regular Departmental employees and Extra Departmental Post Offices manned by part time Gram Dak Sevaks. Departmental employees are paid regular salary as being paid to the Central Government employees, while Gramin Dak Sevaks who work on a part time basis, are paid Time Related Continuity Allowance (TRCA) on a pro-rate basis and normal Dearness Allowance. The Gramin Dak Sevaks are not paid regular salary at par with Central Government employees as they are outside the regular civil service.



Thursday, November 4, 2010

All readers/members/well wishers

Protection of Women against Sexual Harassment at Workplace Bill, 2010

The Union Cabinet today approved the introduction of the Protection of Women against Sexual Harassment at Workplace Bill, 2010 in the Parliament to ensure a safe environment for women at work places, both in public and private sectors whether organised or unorganized. The measure will help in achieving gender empowerment and equality.

The proposed Bill, if enacted, will ensure that women are protected against sexual harassment at all the work places, be it in public or private. This will contribute to realisation of their right to gender equality, life and liberty and equality in working conditions everywhere. The sense of security at the workplace will improve women's participation in work, resulting in their economic empowerment and inclusive growth.

Salient features of the Bill are as follows:
  1. The Bill proposes a definition of sexual harassment, which is as laid down by the Hon'ble Supreme Court in Vishaka v. State of Rajasthan (1997). Additionally it recognises the promise or threat to a woman's employment prospects or creation of hostile work environment as 'sexual harassment' at workplace and expressly seeks to prohibit such acts. 
  2. The Bill provides protection not only to women who are employed but also to any woman who enters the workplace as a client, customer, apprentice, and daily wageworker or in ad-hoc capacity. Students, research scholars in colleges/university and patients in hospitals have also been covered. Further, the Bill seeks to cover workplaces in the unorganised sectors.
  3. The Bill provides for an effective complaints and redressal mechanism. Under the proposed Bill, every employer is required to constitute an Internal Complaints Committee. Since a large number of the establishments (41.2 million out of 41.83 million as per Economic Census, 2005) in our country have less than 10 workers for whom it may not be feasible to set up an Internal Complaints Committee (ICC), the Bill provides for setting up of Local Complaints Committee (LCC) to be constituted by the designated District Officer at the district or sub-district levels, depending upon the need. This twin mechanism would ensure that women in any workplace, irrespective of its size or nature, have access to a redressal mechanism. The LCCs will enquire into the complaints of sexual harassment and recommend action to the employer or District Officer.
  4. Employers who fail to comply with the provisions of the proposed Bill will be punishable with a fine which may extend to ` 50,000. 
  5. Since there is a possibility that during the pendency of the enquiry the woman may be subject to threat and aggression, she has been given the option to seek interim relief in the form of transfer either of her own or the respondent or seek leave from work.
  6. The Complaint Committees are required to complete the enquiry within 90 days and a period of 60 days has been given to the employer/District Officer for implementation of the recommendations of the Committee.
  7. The Bill provides for safeguards in case of false or malicious complaint of sexual harassment. However, mere inability to substantiate the complaint or provide adequate proof would not make the complainant liable for punishment.
Implementation of the Bill will be the responsibility of the Central Government in case of its own undertakings/establishments and of the State Governments in respect of every workplace established, owned, controlled or wholly or substantially financed by it as well as of private sector establishments falling within their territory. Besides, the State and Central Governments will oversee implementation as the proposed Bill casts a duty on the Employers to include a Report on the number of cases filed and disposed of in their Annual Report. Organizations, which do not prepare Annual Reports, would forward this information to the District Officer.

Through this implementation mechanism, every employer has the primary duty to implement the provisions of law within his/her establishment while the State and Central Governments have been made responsible for overseeing and ensuring overall implementation of the law. The Governments will also be responsible for maintaining data on the implementation of the Law. In this manner, the proposed Bill will create an elaborate system of reporting and checks and balances, which will result in effective implementation of the Law.





Monday, November 1, 2010

Orders to filling up of  PA /SA for the year 2009 and 2010 by Direct Recruitment- issued