Commemorative Postage Stamp & First Day Cover released by Department of Posts on the occasion of pilot launch of India Post Payments Bank (IPPB)
Monday, January 30, 2017
First Inauguration snapshot of pilot launch of India Post Payments Bank (IPPB) at Raipur & Ranchi on 30th January 2017
First Inauguration snapshot of pilot launch of India Post Payments Bank (IPPB) at Raipur & Ranchi on 30th January 2017
IPPB launched on January 30th, 2017 in Ranchi and Raipur
At India Post Payments Bank, we believe that a nation can only grow when every citizen gets an opportunity to prosper, regardless of their way of life. With simple, diverse and growth oriented offerings, IPPB aims to give every Indian access to efficient banking services.
Incorporated as a Public Sector Bank under the Department of Posts with 100% GOI equity, IPPB has launched on January 30th, 2017 in Ranchi and Raipur with the objective of being present in all corners of India by the end of the year.
For now, IPPB is offering Savings account upto a balance of Rs 1 Lakh, along with digitally enabled payments and remittance services of all kinds between individuals. In due course, IPPB will also provide current accounts and access to third party financial services like insurance, mutual funds, pension, credit products, forex, and more..
IPPB’s PHILOSOPHY:
Here are the 3 features central to IPPB’s operating philosophy:
Convenience at your fingertips: We promise to make banking a simple, affordable and convenient experience for Indians across the nation. That’s why we make sure that citizens across the nation get seamless access to government benefits directly from their respective IPPB bank accounts and make the most of the financial opportunities available to them.
Pioneer in inclusive banking: At IPPB, we encourage smart saving and investment habits with our easily accessible banking services. Our vision is to extend banking facilities to the remotest corner of the nation. Our services transcend geographical borders. That’s how we aim to simplify banking and bring prosperity to every doorstep.
Efficiency of banking network: IPPB provides the most effective, accessible and readily available banking network across the nation. IPPB will soon offer banking services through digital channels like mobile, UPI, debit cards which can be used at ATMs, PoS and mobile-PoS. This facilitates all-round connectivity with your bank and helps you access your account details instantly.
Income Tax Rates FY 2016-17 (AY 2017-18) - Finmin Orders
CIRCULAR NO : 01/2017
F.No.275/192/2016-IT(B)
Government of India
Ministry of Finance
Department of Revenue
Central Board of Direct Taxes
North Block, New Delhi
Dated the 2nd January, 2017
SUBJECT: INCOME-TAX DEDUCTION FROM SALARIES DURING THE FINANCIAL YEAR 2016-17 UNDER SECTION 192 OF THE INCOME-TAX ACT, 1961.
Reference is invited to Circular No.20/2015 dated 02.12.2015 whereby the rates of deduction of income-tax from the payment of income under the head "Salaries" under Section 192 of the Income-tax Act, 1961 (hereinafter ‘the Act’), during the financial year 2015-16, were intimated. The present Circular contains the rates of deduction of income-tax from the payment of income chargeable under the head "Salaries" during the financial year 2016-17 and explains certain related provisions of the Act and Income-tax Rules, 1962 (hereinafter the Rules). The relevant Acts, Rules, Forms and Notifications are available at the website of the Income Tax Department- www.incometaxindia.gov.in.
2. RATES OF INCOME-TAX AS PER FINANCE ACT, 2016:
As per the Finance Act, 2016, income-tax is required to be deducted under Section 192 of the Act from income chargeable under the head "Salaries" for the financial year 2016-17 (i.e. Assessment Year 2017-18) at the following rates:
2.1 Rates of tax
A. Normal Rates of tax:
B. Rates of tax for every individual, resident in India, who is of the age of sixty years or more but less than eighty years at any time during the financial year:
C. In case of every individual being a resident in India, who is of the age of eighty years or more at any time during the financial year:
Clarification on purchase of Air Tickets from Unauthorized Agents
To
The Secretary, OFB, ID-A, S.K. Bose Rd, Kol-01
All Sr. General Managers/All General Managers
All Sr. General Managers/All General Managers
Ordnance/ Equipments Factories.
All Group controllers & Branch AOs
All Group controllers & Branch AOs
Sub: Clarification on purchase of Air Tickets from unauthorized agents for non- entitled officials to travel by air
Kindly refer to DoP&T letter No.31011/3/2015-Estt(A.lV) dated 18/02/2016 wherein it is mentioned under points 14 & 15 that Govt employees not entitled to travel by air, may travel by any airline. However, reimbursement in such cases shall be restricted to the fare of their entitled class of train/transport or actual expense, whichever is less. In all cases whenever a Govt servant claims LTC by air, he/she is required to book the air tickets either directly through the airlines or through the approved travel agencies viz M/s Balmer Lawrie & Co. Ltd/ M/s Ashok Tours & Travels Ltd/ IRCTC. Booking of tickets through any other agency is not permissible.
This is for your information, guidance and necessary action please.
Dy.Controller
Accounts(Fys)
Accounts(Fys)
LTC Claims for the Period from 28.11.2015 to 31.05.2016 can be allowed - Central Civil Services (Leave Travel Concession) Rules, 1988 — Relaxation to travel by private airlines to visit Jammu & Kashmir.
No.31011/7/2014-Estt.(A-IV)
Government of India
Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions
Department of Personnel and Training
Establishment A-IV Desk
North Block, New Delhi-110 001
Dated: January 13, 2017
OFFICE MEMORANDUM
Subject:- Central Civil Services (Leave Travel Concession) Rules, 1988 — Relaxation to travel by private airlines to visit Jammu & Kashmir.
The undersigned is directed to refer to this Ministry’s O.M. of even no. dated 28.11.2014 on the subject noted above and to say that vide aforesaid O.M., facility to travel on LTC by private airlines to Jammu & Kashmir (J&K) under the special dispensation scheme was allowed for a period of one year. This facility ended w.e.f. 28.11.2015 and was re-introduced on 01.06.2016.
2. Many references have been received about Govt. Employees who had inadvertently travelled by private airlines to J&K during the gap period, i.e. from 28.11.2015 to 31.05.2016, under the impression that the facility was still operational and were later facing difficulties in settlement of their LTC claims.
3. The issue has been examined in consultation with the Department of Expenditure and Ministry of Civil Aviation. In relaxation to this Department’s O.M. of even no. dated 28.11.2014, it has been decided to allow the claims of those Government employees who had travelled by private airlines to Jammu & Kashmir on LTC during the gap period of 28.11.2015 – 31.05.2016. This shall be subject to the condition that tickets have been booked through the authorised modes and at LTC-80 fare or less and other conditions prescribed in DoPT’s O.M. No. 31011/7/2014-Estt.A-IV dated 28.11.2014.
(Surya Narayan Jha)
Under Secretary to the Government of India
Tuesday, January 24, 2017
Circle Union writes to Chief PMG, Odisha Circle not to organize meetings/melas/workshops on Sundays/Holidays
No. P3Odisha/05-01/2017
Dated at Bhubaneswar the 24th January, 2017
To
The Chief Postmaster General
Odisha Circle, Bhubaneswar – 751 001
Sub: Organizing Mela / Meetings / Workshops on Sundays/Holidays
Respected Sir,
In spite of clear instructions issued vide Directorate’s letter No. 16/56/2011-SR dated 8.7.2011 not to hold meetings / melas on Sundays and Holidays and reiterating the same vide letter No 08/15/2011-SR dated 09.01.2012 to follow the instructions in letter and spirit, it has come to our notice that some Divisional Heads are still organizing meetings and workshops on Sundays / Holidays and thus depriving the employees of their legitimate right to avail the weekly break/holidays which have their own significance.
Recently SPOs Aska Division called a workshop of all PMs and SPMs (A class & B Class) on 22.01.2017(Sunday) vide his letter No BD/Genl-24 dated 17.01.2017. Not only Aska, but several other Divisions are also compelling the staff to attend mela / meetings / workshops on Sundays / Holidays.
In this context, it is worth mentioning here is that this union has taken up this particular issue several times before with the Circle administration with positive result of shifting the date(s) to working days.
We may not commit a mistake in suggesting our authorities that motivation in a well designed manner realizing and addressing the employees’ difficulties can earn more revenue and achieve targets but not compulsion. But unfortunately, we are in such trends where compulsion supersedes motivation. We are not opposing in any manner to suspend any programme(s) of the Department that will take us towards our goal but just suggesting to reschedule it so that employees will be encouraged to participate in the same programmes of their own accord.
Rather, we are in favour of arranging frequent Melas/meetings/workshops on working days in small groups instead of a huge one continuously on Sundays/Holidays.
Therefore, it is requested kindly to instruct all Regional / Divisional Heads to follow the instructions issued vide Directorate’s letters referred to above in letter and spirit and not to arrange meetings/melas on Sundays/Holidays.
A line of reply on the action taken in this regard is highly solicited.
With regards.
Yours faithfully,
( BRUHASPATI SAMAL)
Circle SecretaryFrom the Desk of the Circle Secretary
NB: Hard copies are being sent to all Divisional Secretaries for distribution amongst our members as per the list supplied in the 9th Circle Biennial Conference.
KAMALESH CHANDRA COMMITTEE REPORT ON GDS
ONE STEP FORWARD
Sri Kamalesh Chandra, Retired Member, Postal Services Board & Chairman Gramin Dak Sevak Committee has submitted it's report to Government on 24th November 2016. Even though earlier GDS Committee reports were published on the same date of submission itself , this time the Postal Board kept it pending for two months and published only on 19th January 2017. Against the unjustified delay in publishing the report , NFPE & AIPEU - GDS conducted series of agitational programmes like protest demonstrations , mass dharnas and finally declared indefinite hunger fast of Secretary General and all other General Secretaries in front of Postal Directorate (Dak Bhavan) from 18th January 2017.
The main recommendations of the Committee relates to simplification and rationalisation of categories of GDS and the number of Time Related Continuity Allowance (TRCA) slabs, increasing the wages of GDS and other welfare measures of GDS. The Committee has not attempted to analyse the justification of our demand for grant of Civil Servant status to GDS and has refrained from making any recommendations on the legal status of the GDS stating that the matter is presently subjudice and hence left it to the outcome of the court case. The committee , however , observed that there is a tendency to withhold the legitimate demands of GDS which are due to them , based on the apprehension that they will get closer to regular employees , and their claim for regularisation will be strengthened in the court of law , if such demands are allowed.
The Committee has further observed that the future survival of the Postal department will largely depend on the successful management of the GDS post offices, which effectively form it's "soul" and it would be difficult for the department to survive without the "soul". The Committee felt that the India Post Payment Bank (IPPB) which is going to be rolled out shortly , will use the strength of the GDS network and experiences of more than 2.60 lakhs trustworthy Gramin Dak Sevaks.
Under the new wage structure recommended by the Committee, eleven (11) TRCA slabs are subsumed into three (3) wage scales with two levels each for Branch Postmasters (BPMs) and for other than BPMs. Out of three wage scales , one scale will be common to both categories of GDS. The minimum scale for GDS other than BPM is fixed as 10000 for 4 hours duty and the minimum scale for 5 hours duty is 12000. Similarly, the minimum scale for BPM with 4 hours duty is fixed as 12000 and minimum scale for 5 hours duty is 14500. There will be only three categories of GDS with nomenclature BPM, Assistant BPM and GDS. All GDS working in Branch Post offices (other than BPM) are re-designated as Assistant Branch Post Masters (ABPM). All GDS working in Departmental Post offices are designated as Gramin Dak Sevaks (GDS).
The minimum working hours of GDS is fixed as 4 hours (Level - 1) , instead of 3 hours at present and maximum working hours is 5 hours (Level - 2). Point system for assessment of workload of BPM is abolished. The new wage structure is linked to revenue generation of GDS Branch Post offices. Based on revenue generation , all GDS Post offices will be categorised as A(Green), B (Orange) , C (Pink) , D (Red) and efforts to be undertaken by the GDS BPM and the departmental officers to increase revenue of each category is explained in detail in the report. Committee has recommended that existing TRCA should not be reduced. If the BPM in the category D (which is the lowest category as per revenue earning) is not ready to improve the revenue earning , extension of working hours of Post office , stoppage of increment , withholding of promotion under financial upgradation scheme , relocation of the Post office etc are also recommended. The GDS BPM will be paid a revenue linked additional allowance @10% beyond level - 2 wage scale , if the revenue earned exceeds the limit fixed for category "A" offices. The increment rate recommended is 3%.
The other major recommendations are (a) Composite Allowance comprising of support for hiring accommodation , office maintenance , electricity charges etc (b) Children Education Allowance (c) three promotions (financial up gradations ) on completion of 12 ,24 and 36 years. (c) Enhancement of ex-gratia ceiling and Group Insurance Scheme amount (d) 26 weeks maternity leave for women GDS and one week Paternity leave (e) 30 days General leave (instead of paid leave) with provision for carry forward and leave surrender benefit upto 180 days of accumulated General leave at the time of retirement ( f ) five days Emergency leave like casual leave (g) Minimum one year service for writing promotional examination (h) liberalisation of grants and financial assistance from welfare fund and (h) Risk and hardship allowance.
Regarding Pension, no major change is recommended by the Committee, except increase in severance amount and increase in contribution to Service Discharge Benefit Scheme (SDBS). Similarly, there is no favourable recommendation regarding medical facilities. While recommending that the existing policy of relocation /redeployment should be vigorously pursued to relocate GDS post offices which are not justified as per norms, the Committee had also recommended that the department should not order closing of any GDS post office to further reduce the existing number of GDS post offices. The existing rule that the maximum hours of duty of GDS should not go beyond five hours , is retained by the Committee. There is also a recommendation that two separate unions should be formed for GDS, one exclusively for BPMs and one for all other categories of GDS.
Now comes the question of implementation. Normally Department will appoint a Postal Board Member to study and process the recommendations of the GDS committee for implementation. Then Postal Board has to approve it after seeking the comments of Joint Secretary & Financial Advisor. Then it is to be approved by other nodal Ministries like Department of Personnel & Training, Ministry of Finance, Law Ministry etc. After completing all these process, the final proposal will be submitted to Cabinet for approval.
NFPE & AIPEU - GDS will be making an in depth study of the recommendations and shall submit a detailed memorandum to the Department demanding immediate implementation of the favourable recommendations and also demanding modifications , improvement and rejection where ever required. NFPE & AIPEU -GDS will make sincere effort to get maximum benefits to the GDS. In case Government refuse to implement or dilute the favourable recommendations NFPE & AIPEU GDS will not hesitate to organise serious trade union action including indefinite strike.
All of us should keep in mind that the favourable recommendations of the GDS committee is a product of sustained struggles conducted by the entire Postal employees under the banner of NFPE , AIPEU -GDS , PJCA and Confederation of Central Government Employees and Workers. Let us be ready for the 16th March 2017, one day strike, for further improvement of our service conditions. Let us unitedly fight and shall not rest till our final goal ie; civil servant status to GDS is achieved. No doubt, Kamalesh Chandra Committee report is ONE STEP FORWARD. Let us hope for the best.
**********
IMPORTANCE OF THE 16th MARCH 2017
ONE-DAY STRIKE
The meeting of the National Joint Council of Action (NJCA) was held on 17th January 2017, Leaders of Railways, Defence, Postal and Confederation attended the meeting, Unfortunately, there was no consensus regarding revival of the deferred indefinite strike of the 11th July 2017. Hence no decision could be taken.
The clear picture that emerged from the NJCA meeting held on 17.01.2017 is that there is no possibility of a joint strike or revival of deferred indefinite strike in the near future. It is also a fact that Government may implement the recommendations of Allowances Committee, Pension Committee etc before or immediately after March 2017; It has become certain that the Pension Committee has rejected Option. I recommended by the 7th Central Pay Commission, which is the one and only favorable recommendation, and the Implementation Cell of the Finance Ministry is processing the recommendation, of Pension Committee for Cabinet approval.
Whether the Allowances Committee will recommend any change in the recommendation of the 7th CPC (i.e. %ge of HRA etc.), nobody can predict. The request of the Secretary, JCM staff side and NJCA Convener to convene one more meeting with staff side was not conceded by the chairman of the Allowance Committee (finance Secretary ) till date. There is every possibility that the Government may not implement the revised allowances from 01.01.2016, instead it may implement it from 01.01.2017 or 01.04.2017, thereby denying arrears on allowances. After Government unilaterally implementing everything, declaring a strike is a futile exercise and betrayal of employees. We should strike when the iron is hot.
The unilateral decision of the Government to implement “Very good” bench mark for MACP promotions has cast shadow on the future promotional prospects of a large number of employees who are not in the good book of the Government and administration for reason best known to them. The NPS Committee constituted by the Government is not mandated to recommend scraping of New Pension Scheme, but it is for recommending cosmetic changes in NPS in the name of streamlining the NPS as recommended by the 7th CPC.
Regarding increase in Minimum Pay and Fitment formula, no High Level Committee is constituted till date, as assured by the Group of Senior Cabinet Ministers to NJCA leaders on 30.06.2016. A Group of Senior Officers held two round discussion with the staff side, but surprisingly they had not come prepared to discuss increase in Minimum wage and Fitment formula. They made a mockery of the meeting by disclosing in the first meeting that they are not fully aware of the details of the issue and in the second meeting they told that they came for discussing Allowances (another committee for Allowances is already constituted) and not Minimum wage and fitment formula!!! The last meeting was held in October 2016 and thereafter no meeting is notified. All the anomalies arising out of implementation of 7th CPC recommendations remain unsettled.
There is no improvement in the issues relating to Gramin Dak Sevaks (GDS). It will take time for implementation of GDS Committee report which is published on 19.01.2017. Other demands submitted to Government by NJCA on 10thJune 2016 along with the strike notice are also pending. The four months time fixed for Allowance committee already extended to six months. The four months time for increasing Minimum pay and fitment formula expired on 30.10.2016.
All the employees and pensioners are totally disappointed and are voicing their anger and protest through various forums and social media. In the above circumstances, everybody expected that NJCA shall revive its deferred indefinite strike. Inspite of our best efforts, that is not happening.
When the three Cabinet Ministers including Shri Rajnath Singh, Home Minister, Shri Arun Jaitley, Finance Minister and Shri Suresh Prabhu, Railway minister have gone back from their assurances and betrayed the entire employees and Pensioners, when the Government is unilaterally going ahead with all retrograde measures, we cannot remain silent spectators and accept every decision of the Government lying down, without any protest, Somebody should come forward to protest and, if necessary, to suffer and sacrifice and history has bestowed that responsibility on Confederation.
It is in this background the Confederation of Central Government Employees and Workers has decided to go for one day strike on 16.03.2017. As the biggest affiliate of Confederation, NFPE and all its affiliates shall implement the decision in its true spirit and make the one day strike a thundering success.
"TRUST SHALL NOT BE BETRAYED"
7th Central Pay Commission has quoted in para - 1.29 of " Foreword " , the following observations of the Supreme Court in the case of Bhupendranath Hazarika and another Vs State of Assam and others (reported in 2013 (2) Sec 516).
"It should always be borne in mind that legitimate aspirations of the employees are not guillotined and a situation is not created where hopes end in despair.......... A sense of calm sensibility and concerned sincerity should be reflected in every step. An atmosphere of trust has to prevail and when the employees are absolutely sure that their trust shall not be betrayed and they shall be treated with dignified fairness ; then only the concept of good governance can be concretized. We say no more."
Unfortunately, the NDA Government and the Group of Ministers consisting of Sri Rajnath Singh, Hon'ble Home Minister, Sri Arun Jaitley, Hon'ble Finance Minister, Sri Suresh Prabhu, Hon'ble Railway Minister who gave assurance on 30th June 2016 that Minimum wage and Fitment formula will be increased and a High Level Committee will be Constituted with a time - frame of four months , have given least concern for the above observations of the Apex Court. Now seven months are almost over. Further there is no guarantee that Allowance Committee will increase the percentage of HRA recommended by 7th CPC. Instead there is every chance, to deny retrospective effect from 01.01.2016 to the revised allowances and it may be implemented prospectively from 01.01.2017 or 01.04.2017, thus denying the eligible arrears for one year or more. It has become certain that the Option - 1 for pensioners recommended by 7th CPC, which is the one and only favourable recommendation, stands rejected. Orders on abolition of Advances including Festival advance and imposing "very good " condition for MACP are issued unilaterally .
Request of the JCM National Council Staff side Secretary to give one more opportunity to present it's case before the Allowance Committee is not conceded by the Finance Secretary, who is the Chairman of the Committee. The request of the JCM Staff side to modify the Terms of Reference of Anomaly Committee is also not yet considered by the Department of Personnel and Training. The Committee constituted for New Pension Scheme is only for streamlining the NPS by making some cosmetic changes as recommended by 7th CPC and not for considering the demand of the JCM Staff side to scrap NPS. Not even a single demand of the staff side submitted to Cabinet Secretary on 10th December 2015, requesting modifications in the recommendations of 7th CPC is settled by the Government.
The All India Conference of the Confederation of Central Government Employees & Workers held in August 2016 at Chennai had taken a decision to request all constituents of NJCA to revive the indefinite strike , if Government is not ready to honour it's commitment before 30th October 2016. The AIC had further decided that, in case NJCA is not ready to revive the deferred indefinite strike, then Confederation should organise independent trade union action including strike. Confederation strongly feels that there in no meaning in waiting indefinittely for Government's decision. We cannot cheat the employees like NDA Government. As no consensus decision could be taken in NJCA, Confederation had decided to go for one day strike and organised country wide demonstrations, mass dharnas and massive Parliament March. Strike notice for one day strike on 15th February 2017 was served on 28th December 2016. Due to announcement of assembly elections in five states by Election Commission of India and 15th February being a polling day, the strike was postponed to 16th March 2017.
Intensive campaign and mobilisation is going on in full swing all over the country. About 13 to 15 lakhs Central Government employees will participate in the strike, with the full support and solidarity of about 34 lakhs pensioners, Central Trade Unions, independent Federations of State Government employees, Bank and Insurance employees and other public sector employees.
After reviewing the participation of employees in the one day strike, Confederation shall explore the possibility of declaring higher form of trade union action including indefinite strike .
M. KRISHNAN
Secretary General
Confederation
Mob & WhatsApp : 09447068125
Email : mkrishnan6854@gmail.com
Saturday, January 21, 2017
AGAIN ASSURANCES
WE DON'T WANT ANY MORE ASSURANCES --- WE WANT POSITIVE ACTION AND NEGOTIATED SETTLEMENT -- SEVEN MONTHS ARE OVER AFTER THE JUNE 30th ASSURANCES -- AGAIN SWEET WORDS AND ASSURANCES BY HON'BLE HOME MINISTER AND CABINET SECRETARY -- THIS TIME NO TIME FRAME --- PENSION COMMITTEE REPORT UNILATERALLY SUBMITTED TO CABINET WITHOUT REACHING ANY NEGOTITED SETTLEMENT WITH STAFFSIDE -- THE ONE AND THE ONLY POSITIVE RECOMMENDATION OPTION -1 FOR PENSIONERS IS GOING TO BE REJECTED -- FATE OF OTHER COMMITTEES MAY NOT BE DIFFERENT IF THERE IS NO NEGOTIATED SETTLEMENT -- ALLOWANCE COMMITTEE NOT YET CONCEDED THE DEMAND OF JCM STAFFSIDE SECRETARY FOR GIVING ANOTHER CHANCE FOR DISCUSSION -- NO NEGOTIATED SETTLEMENT ON ANY ISSUES -- GOVT MADE JCM FORUM ONLY A TALKING SHOP -- NEIROS ARE FIDDELING WHEN ROME IS BURNING -- CENTRAL GOVT. EMPLOYEES AND PENSIONERS CANNOT BE FOOLED ANY MORE -- ENOUGH IS ENOUGH -- MAKE THE 16th MARCH 2016 ONE DAY STRIKE A THUNDERING SUCCESS.
M. KRISHNAN
Secretary General
Confederation
Mob & WhatsApp: 09447068125.
Email : mkrishnan6854@gmail.com
Secretary General
Confederation
Mob & WhatsApp: 09447068125.
Email : mkrishnan6854@gmail.com
Friday, January 20, 2017
MAJOR RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE GDS COMMITTEE
The Committee’s major recommendations are summarized below.
1. The old system of payment of Time Related Continuity Allowance (TRCA) is dispensed with and replaced with a new wage payment system. Under the new wage payment system, 11 TRCA slabs are subsumed into 3 Wage Scales with two Levels each for BPMs and for other than BPMs One wage scale would be common for both the categories of GDSs.
New Wage Scales
1. 10,000 - 24,470 (Other than BPM Level 1)
2. 12,000 - 29,380 (Other than BPM Level 2 & BPM Level 1)
3. 14,500 - 35,480 (BPM Level 2)
2. The minimum working hours of GDS Post offices and GDSs is increased to 4 hours from 3 hours.
3. The new working hours for GDS Post Offices will be 4 hours and 5 hours only.
4. The Level 1 GDS Post Offices/GDSs will have 4 hours as working hours and Level- 2 will have 5 hours as working hours.
5. The Point System for assessment of workload of BPMs has been abolished.
6. The new wage payment system is linked to revenue generation of GDS Post Offices. Under the new system, there will be no increase in wages of BPMs from Level – 1 to Level – 2 on the basis of workload but the same will be increased based on achievement of prescribed revenue norms which is fixed at 100% for normal areas and 50% for special areas which presently have 15% anticipated income norms.
7. The GDS Post Offices not achieving the prescribed revenue norm within the given working hours will have to open GDS Post Offices for minimum of additional 30 minutes beyond the prescribed working hours.
8. The GDSs BPMs will be paid Revenue Linked Allowance @10% beyond Level 2 wage scale if they will be successful in achieving revenue beyond prescribed norms.
9. The GDS Post Offices has been categorized into A, B, C and D categories based on the revenue generation norms. The GDS Post Office in A category will achieve 100% revenue. The Committee has recommended a set of actions for each category of GDS Post Offices.
10. The six approved categories of GDs are subsumed into two categories only. One category will be Branch Post Master and all other 5 categories of GDSs are subsumed into one Multi Tasking Category.
11. The job profile of Multi Tasking GDS is expanded to include work such as Business Development and Marketing etc. Their jobs will no more be confined to their old designations. The Assistant BPM will assist BPMs for increasing revenue generation.
12. The GDSs working in the GDS Post Offices will be known as Assistant Branch Post Master (ABPMs) and those working in the Departmental Post Offices will be known as Dak Sevak (DS).
13. The minimum wage has been increased to Rs.10000/- per month and maximum to Rs.35,480/- per month.
14. The rate of annual increase is recommended as 3%.
15. A Composite Allowance comprising of support for hiring accommodation for GDS Post Offices as well as mandatory residence, office maintenance, mobile and electricity usage charges etc. has been introduced for the first time.
16. Children Education Allowance @ Rs.6000/- per child per annum has been introduced for GDSs.
17. Risk & Hardship Allowance@ Rs.500/- per month for GDSs working in the special areas has also been introduced.
18. A Financial upgradation has been introduced at 12 years, 24 years and 36 years of services in form of two advance additional annual increases.
19. The Celling of ex-gratia gratuity has been increased from Rs.60,000 to Rs.5,00,000/-.
20. The GDS Contribution for Service Discharge Benefit Scheme (SDBS) should be enhanced maximum up to 10% and minimum up to 3% of the basic wage per month, whereas the Department should contribute a fixed contribution of 3% of the basic wage of the GDSs.
21. The coverage of GDS Group Insurance Scheme has been enhanced from Rs.50,000/- to Rs.5,00,000/-.
22. The contribution of Department in Circle Welfare Fund (CWF) has been increased from Rs.100/- per annum to Rs.300/- per annum.
23. The scope of CWF is extended to cover immediate family members such as spouse; daughters, sons and dependent daughters in law in the scheme.
24. The Committee also recommended 10% hike in the prescribed limits of financial grants and assistance in the Circle Welfare Fund.
25. The Committee has recommended addition of Rs.10,000/- for purchase of Tablet/Mobile from the Circle Welfare Fund in the head “Financial Assistance from Fund by way of loans with lower rate of interest (5%)”.
26. Provision of 26 weeks of Maternity Leave for women GDSs has been recommended.
27. The wages for the entire period of Maternity Leave is recommended to be paid from salary head from where wages of GDSs are paid.
28. The Committee has also recommended one week of Paternity Leave.
29. The Committee has recommended 5 days of emergency leave per annum.
30. Leave accumulation and encashment facility up to 180 days has been introduced.
31. Online system of engagement has been recommended.
32. The maximum age limit of 50 years for Direct Recruitment of GDSs has been abolished.
33. Minimum one year of GDS service will now be required for GDSs for Direct Recruitment into Department cadres such as MTS/Postman/Mail Guard.
34. Alternate livelihood condition for engagement of GDSs has been relaxed.
35. Voluntary Discharge Scheme has been recommended.
36. The Discharge age has been retained at 65 years.
37. The Limited Transfer Facility has been relaxed from 1 time to 3 times for male GDSs. There will be no restriction on number of chances for transfer of women GDSs. The power for transfer has been delegated to the concerned Divisional head.
38. The ex-gratia payment during put off period should be revised to 35% from 25% of the wage and DA drawn immediately before put off.
39. The Committee has recommended preferring transfer before put off duty.
40. The Compassionate Engagement of GDSs has been relaxed to give benefits to eligible dependents in all cases of death of GDS while in service.
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