News Letter from General Secretary

To
All Circle Secretaries, CHQ Office Bearers and active members
News letter No.01/2009

Dear friends,
First of all I wish you all a happy and prosperous new Year 2009.

Promotion to PS Group B by nomination:
Promotion order to PS Group B for 146 IP/ASP have since been issued by the Department of Posts in Memo No. 9-31/2008-SPG dated 26.12.2008. Confidential Reports were called for during April 2008. DPC was convened only after 8 months ie. on 25.11.2008. Promotion order was issued after a gap of one month i.e on 26.12.2008. The department has promoted some ASPs who have already passed PS Group B exam and some of them have already retired from service. This is the standard and quality of functioning of the highest body of the 154 years old prestigious Postal Department. Many officers at Member level are promoted and posted to the Directorate at the fag end of their service only for grabbing the benefit of pay, perks and retirement benefit and not for really serving the nation. From the day no.1 in the Directorate either they are on internal tour or external tour. They never bother about official working under them. That is why several of our members have retired without seeing the promotion to PS Group B. Had the promotion order been issued well in advance or at least during November 2008, the remaining promoted officers would have tasted the benefit of drawing the annual increment on 01st July 2009. Since the order was issued on 26.12.2008. all the promotee officers will have to join the new posts only after January 2009 and thus they have lost the benefit of drawing annual increment 1st July 2009. Now these officers can draw the increment only the next year i.e. on 1st July 2010. What a wonder department it is!

Alas! Your GS also one among the less fortunates.

The last candidate selected
OC - Shri.S.P.Chaurasia of 1982 Batch.
SC - Shri. Abhimanyu Bahera of 1986 Batch
ST - Shri. M.Devidas of 1982 Batch

Setting up of Anomaly Committee
Anomaly Committee is being constituted by the Government vide Memo No.11/2/2008-JCA dated 12 January 2008 to settle the disputes arising out of implementation of Sixth Central Pay Commission. We have already discussed the anomalies pertaining to our cadre with DG and other officers in the Directorate and also submitted a memorandum describing the details of anomaly. Hope the Department will give due consideration to our demands and render justice. GS will visit Dak Bhavan from 21 to 23 January 2009. This will be brought to the notice of DG once again.

Non- Payment of CHQ Quota of subscription:
We are all eagerly awaiting up-gradation of Grade Pay. We question the CHQ often about the delay in getting higher grade pay for IP/ASP. We expect a lot from the Association. It is good. Every one of us has the right to expect something from the Association but forget our obligation. We have to introspect ourselves whether we pay subscription to the Association. If subscription is recovered, whether 40% of the same is remitted to CHQ? Many of the Circle Secretaries are keeping mum on this issue. They are not remitting 40% to CHQ for the past 12 months. Some of the circles have paid only a small amount as a token payment. In the absence of financial support, how can the CHQ function? How can the Circle Secretaries demand higher pay? If we fail in our duty, how can we achieve anything in our life? Please introspect! Circle Secretaries are requested to tour each division, collect donation and improve the circle financial status. Who knows, tomorrow we may like to knock the doors of the courts seeking justice for which a huge sum is required. CHQ does not expect any donation from circles. It wants only the 40% quota of subscription due from each circle.

Provision of pension at 50% of emoluments last drawn
The provision of payment of pension at 50% of the emoluments (pay last drawn) or 50% of average emoluments received during the last 10 months, whichever is more beneficial to the retiring employee, shall be applicable to all Government servants retiring on or after 1.1.2006. However, only those government servants , who retired during 1.1.2006 to 1.9.2008 after completion of 33 years of qualifying service, will be eligible for full pension and the pension of those government servants, who retired during 1.1.2006 to 1.9.2008 with qualifying service of less than 33 years, will continue to be proportionate to the full pension based on their actual qualifying service.
(Auth: Government of India, Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions OM No. F.No.38/37/08-P&PW(A) dated 11.12.2008.
Entitlement of Daily Allowances on Tour (with effect from 1.9.2008)
( As per Swamy’s FR & SR part II)
1. Absence from headquarters on calendar day basis, i.e, from midnight to midnight.
Absence not exceeding 6 hours - Nil
Absence exceeding 6 hours but not exceeding 12 hours - 70%
Absence exceeding 12 hours - 100%

2. For local journey, D.A is only at half the rate.

3. No D.A for Sundays and Holidays unless the employee is actually is actually and not merely constructively on camp. No D.A for leave and restricted holidays availed while on tour – SR 72, GIO(1).

4. Full D.A is admissible for the first 180 days of continuous halt at a station on tour/temporary transfer/training. No D.A beyond 180 days.

The above are the basic Rules which have not been changed so far. Then what is rate of Daily Allowance? It is prescribed by the Sixth Pay Commission as “Food Bill per day not exceeding Rs 150/-“ for those who are drawing Grade Pay Rs 4200 to 4800. This is the rate of D.A now.

In the implementation order No.19030/3/2008-E.IV dated 23.9.2008, it is said that in case of stay/journey on Government ships, boats etc. or journey to remote places on foot/mules etc.for scientific/data collection purposes in organization like FSI, Survey of India, GSI etc. daily allowance will be paid at rate equivalent to that provided for re-imbursement of food bill. However, in this case, the amount will be sanctioned irrespective of the actual expenditure incurred on this account with the approval of the Head of the Department/controlling officer. Head of the Department/ Controlling Officer is competent to pass the bill.Data collection means collection of statistics. Are we not collecting statistics while inspection of BOs/SOs in rural area? Many department had referred the matter to Finance Ministry for clarification whether food bill should be produced or not. For which the Finance Ministry has not give any clear reply. The Government has not mentioned the names of all the department, but mentioned like this “ FSI, Survey of India, GSI etc. The abbreviation “etc” includes Department of Posts also. T.A bills in some Divisions have been passed. In some Divisions all T.A.bills are kept in pending since 01.9.2008.

This issue has been taken up with the Directorate on 5.11.2008 and from there it has been referred to the Ministry of Finance.

I am posted as Deputy Director, Mumbai GPO. But I have not seen the order so far even after 20 days of its issue. In such a rotten condition all Circle Offices are also functioning like Directorate.

Thanking you.

More news will follow.
(S.Samuel)
General Secretary