INDIA POST NEEDS A COMMITMENT

Postal Department is attempting to regain its lost glory by implementing and monitoring its traditional services through Project Arrow and digital network that make all at every level of service accountable. Until the introduction of the courier service in the country people had no second choice than going to the Post Office to get their postal business transacted. At that time, the officers and the employees were much sincere and cooperative as far as possible in providing service to the clients. But the Post Office service began to deteriorate when the courier service landed in the country, situation further declined when instead of giving quick and better after sale service, the department officials showed one kind of lethargy, which is one of the reasons to divert the customers to the courier service.

            It is complained that the post offices situated in the rural areas do not open on time. Clients here wait patiently because rural customers still do not have other option except to use Post Office. Sometimes, Post Offices are managed single handed because some of the employee do not agrees to go to the rural areas to serve. This trend was required to be checked by the officers of the department in order to give more emphasis to the rural sector where the department has potential to serve but unfortunately here the pace remain very slow. While serving the people of rural area department can generate substantial revenue from Micro Insurance and cross selling of SB accounts to MGNREGS beneficiaries. Some times in rural area, it is seen that treatment to first class mail is given to that of second class for which letters do not reach destinations in time. Sometimes, letters and parcels arriving from other post offices are not or cannot be delivered in time, which put the receivers in great anxiety. Despite these odd situation people’s hope still lie with the Post Offices over the courier so we must catch it by providing better service. Now-a-days department is using extensive technological tools. It is fact that all the departmental Post offices through out India have already been computerized and connected through WAN or broad band connectivity. Besides, there is planning to equip the Extra Departmental Branch Post Offices with ICT devices. With the continuing improvement in the quality of services through the facility of track and trace, our premium products i.e. Speed Post and EMS is contributing significantly to the revenue of the department. Increased booking of International Parcels and sale of Flat Rate Boxes can turn out to be major revenue earners for the Department.

            We have post offices and a delivery system which comes in contact with every household every day. Our primary objective should therefore be to utilize the network optimally to create and provide new service without effecting core operation and traditional service. It has to be a well managed diversification. One thing that the Post Office requires is the freedom to work under such condition that it can react quickly to the demand of the customer. To address the challenge of aligning access to postal retail services with customer needs, the Postal Service has to expand access in deprived areas and squeeze its size in over served areas—but the Postal Service does not consider this criteria. If this happens it may be able to close facilities and adjust access to retail services according to customer needs.

            Still it is hoped that future is likely to favour the post office if it can mobilize resources and technology to create new products and services, use its network for a variety of services and improve the way existing services are delivered. By doing so it would have also defeated the dire predictions that email would make physical mail obsolete. All that is required is a serious commitment to all managerial level in the circles, division of work by creating new jobs as is being done in banks, aggressive marketing, proper training, human resource development and close monitoring at every level to curtail the expenditure and increase the revenue resources. The officers should listen to the worker by shunning their bureaucratic approach.

CONDOLENCE

With deep heart, it is informed that with Akal Purakh Hukam the father of Sh. Narinder Singh ASP Khanna left for heavenly abode on 24-11-12 .Antim Ardas will be held on Sunday, 2-12-2012. Association conveys its heartfelt condolences. May God rest the departed soul in peace and give our comrade and his family the courage to bear the loss.

GS COMMUNICATION TO DTE.- A RIGHT MOVE

To,

Ms Manjula Prasher,

Director General,
Department of Posts,
Dak Bhavan, Sansad Marg,
New Delhi 110 001. 

Subject Omission in recruitment rules for Limited Departmental Competitive Exam for promotion to the cadre of Inspector of Posts for the year 2012     

Ref.     :  Directorate recruitment division Letter No. A34012/04/2011-DE dated 14.7.2011 and Letter No. A34012/07/2012-DE dated 7.6.2012 & 22.8.2012

Respected Madam,

IPASP Association wishes to share its concern over the LDCE system in vogue in the department. Ever since CMC has taken over the reins of examination system of DOP there is complete chaos and as such created mockery of the examination system. The papers are not framed in conformity to the syllabus circulated by the department. As a result the prospective candidates have to suffer.  In the recently held Inspector Post examination, Paper-IV (IPO) question booklet was given an ‘option’ either to answer 50 questions of ‘General English’ or ‘General Hindi’ (Samanya Hindi) whereas it was mentioned in the revised syllabus particularly Paper IV shall consist of ENGLISH LANGUAGE, G.K. & REASONING /INTELLIGENCE , thereby completely  excluding HINDI LANGUAGE. Obviously, the Dept. by explicitly including ‘English language’ has left out ‘Hindi language’ from the ambit of syllabus for Paper IV. In these circumstances the prospective candidates appearing for the said examination were naturally supposed to prepare ‘English language’ paper in accordance with Department’s revised syllabus ignoring the ‘Hindi language’ (as it was omitted and not specified in the revised syllabus). The logic of omitting the national language ‘Hindi’ from the revised syllabus was surprising. Had there been an option either to choose ‘English language’ or ‘Hindi language’ in the revised syllabus, many of the candidates would have preferred ‘Hindi language’ being more proficient in the same. Despite of the fact that the schedule for the examination was postponed on three occasions, the Department never realised / rectified the error crept in their circular dated 14.7.2011 omitting ‘Hindi language’. Hitherto the department had to cancel the Paper-III of the same cadre being the law paper out of syllabus.

It is pertinent to mention here that when for the first time department conducted PS Group “B” examination through outsourcing as per the revised syllabus contained in Directorate memo no. 9-59/2010-SPG dated 08.03.2011, the IPASP Association raised an issue for not giving option to write paragraph bi-lingual (Hindi & English).At that time candidates were not allowed to write paragraph in Hindi by the staff of CMC Ltd. at Delhi Centre whereas staff of CMC Ltd. allowed candidates to write paragraph in Hindi at Dehradun Centre. In UP Circle, staff of CMC Ltd. allowed the candidates initially to write paragraph in Hindi and later on disallowed and instructed the candidates to write paragraph in English only. Though this irregularity was brought to the notice of department yet directorate took it lightly and gave no importance to this association letters thereby given benefit to one section of candidates.

            Madam, you will agree that considerable importance attached to the provision in article 351 that Hindi should be so developed that it may serve as a medium of expression for all the elements of the composite culture of India; and every encouragement should be given to the use of easy and simple diction. It is not understood why the DOP has a hate for official language.

            Association therefore suggest you that enquiry may kindly be constituted for above chaos and set in that Hindi language is given its due place. It will be fair if the examination work is given to SSC/UPSC as is done by other departments instead of CMC. 

             Hoping for a favourable action and line of action is requested

             With warm regards,

sd/-

(General Secretary)

OBITUARY

Members of the IPASP Association are shocked to hear the sudden demise of the father of Sh. Pawan Kumar Bansal Inspactor (PG) Ferozepur. Association conveys its heartfelt condolences. May God rest the departed soul in peace and give our comrade and his family the courage to bear the loss.

PLI CLIENTELE ELIGIBILITY EXTENDED

As a positive development and an appropriate strategy for publicity and securing business Department of Post has approved expension of the clientele eligible for PLI. Henceforth, the PLI can be extended to the following group:

• Employee engaged/appointed on contract basis by Central/State Goverment, where the contract is extendable.
• Employees of Joint Venture in which Central/State Government/Public Sector Undertaking/ Nationalised Banks have minimum holding of 10 percent.
• Members/employees of credit Cooperative Socities and other cooperative socities registered with Goverment under the Cooperative Socities Act and partly or fully funded from the Central /State Govt./RBI /SBI/ NABARD Nationalised Banks and other such institute notified by Government.
• Employees of Deemed Universities and Educational Institutes accredited by recognised bodies such as National Assessment and Accreditation Council, All India Council of Technical Education, Medical Council of India, etc.and or affiliated to Universities/ Boards etc.
• Employees of all Scheduled Commercial Banks.

 

HAPPY DONATIONS

• Members of the IPASP Association congratulate Sh. M.L.Gulati Asstt. Director on the eve of the marriage of his son and extend wishes and blessings to the newly wed couple for their future and always. Association thanks him for the donation of Rs.1100/- on account of this gracious occasion.
• There is also a donation of Rs.500/- from Mrs. Rekha Sethi ASRM (HQ) on being deputed to her desired Station to join her family at the posting station of her husband. Though the Association will feel the absence of her guidance yet will get benefited from her new assignment while working in Directorate New Delhi. Association is grateful to such helpful members.  
• Punjab IPASP Association has remitted donation of Rs.5000/- to CHQ as a gesture and support to file GP CAT case. If any individual intends to donate funds to this cause, he can remit the amount directly in State Bank of India (A/C No. 32353016466 having IFS Code No. SBIN0001467 standing in the name of Vilas S. Ingale and Santosh S. Kulkarni) at Vakola Branch Mumbai through Core Banking.   

GS WRITES TO DG(P) ON DPC ISSUE

No. CHQ/IPASP/DPC/2012                                    Dated:    5/11/2012.

To,

Smt. Manjula Prasher,

Director General,

Department of Posts,

Dak Bhavan, New Delhi 110 001.

Sub:     Convening of regular DPC for promotion to PS Group ‘B’

Respected Madam,

Kindly refer to this Association letter of even number dated 7/5/2012 and reminders dated 25/7/2012 & 27/8/2012 wherein various after effects and injustice being meted out to our members due to non convening of timely DPC was brought to your kind notice but unfortunately no attention seems to have been paid by the Directorate in this regard. The members are taken as granted every time and none of their demands has been settled so far. As such members of the association are insisting me to resort to trade union activities including participating in the ensuing P-III strike, starting non cooperation movement to the administration.     

2.       Needless to say, that convening of timely DPCs and draw up panel for future vacancies is obligatory on the part of administration and legitimate right of the employees but this year neither any supplementary DPC for left out 23 posts of 2011 has been convened nor the pace of execution of DPC seems to be such that regular DPC for the vacancy year 2012 would be held before December 2012. Due to this arbitrariness and unplanned action our 23 senior most members have already been deprived of their legitimate right of promotion and now the others are being left out to face the apathy of the department. In order to provide us justice Directorate can pull the staff sitting at the helm of the affairs in Circles to send DPC records to Directorate; else the DPC can be conducted from the available records.

3.       At present, the most isolated and depressed is IP cadre which is struggling for getting GP of Rs.4600/- at par with analogous Inspectors of Customs & Central Excise and now they are struggling even to get regular promotion after remaining 25 – 28 years of service in IP Cadre.  The only charm left at the fag end of one’s service career is Non functional grade pay of Rs.5400/- that too after four years of regular service in PS Group B Cadre. Apparently, the delay in regular promotion (mercy grant) to those at their verge of retirement would be the most sufferers for non grant of Non functional grade pay, having cascade effect to their pensionary benefits and retirement life.      

4.         In view of the above, it is again requested that emergent action plan may kindly be put in place to immediately convene the DPC giving adequate time to the officers to join well before December-2012 the crucial date of getting increment and qualifying service for entering into GP of Rs.5400/-.

With profound regards and Diwali Greetings,

Yours sincerely,

Sd/-

(Vilas Ingale)

OBITUARY

Members of the IPASP Association are shocked to hear the sudden demise of the daughter of Sh. Jaskaran Singh Sr. Postmaster Amritsar, who was just 24 years old. Association conveys its heartfelt condolences. May god rest her soul in peace and give our comrade and his family the courage to bear the loss.

PLIGHT OF IPs

Our CHQ many a times raises various issues informing after effects and injustice being meted out to our members due to non convening of timely DPC but unfortunately no attention seems to have been paid by the Directorate in this regard. The members are taken as granted every time and none of their demands has been settled so far. We as members of the association are also in no mood to show our strength to the department.Convening of timely DPCs and draw up panel for future vacancies is obligatory on the part of administration and legitimate right of the employees but this year neither any supplementary DPC for left out 23 posts of 2011 has been convened nor the pace of execution of DPC seems to be such that regular DPC for the vacancy year 2012 would be held before December 2012. Due to this arbitrariness and unplanned action of the department our 23 senior most members have already been deprived of their legitimate right of promotion and now the others are being left out to face the apathy of the department.

Presently, the most isolated and depressed is IP cadre which is struggling for getting GP of Rs.4600/- at par with analogous Inspectors of Customs & Central Excise and now they are struggling even to get regular promotion after remaining 25 – 28 years of service in IP Cadre.  The only charm left at the fag end of one’s service career is Non functional grade pay of Rs.5400/- that too after four years of regular service in PS Group B Cadre. Apparently, the delay in regular promotion (mercy grant) to those at their verge of retirement would be the most sufferers for non grant of Non functional grade pay, having cascade effect to their pensionary benefits and retirement life.      

In para 6(e) of the rejection letter the department has elaborated duties of Inspectors CBEC/CBDT without mentioning the duties with Inspector Post because they know that duties and responsibility of Inspector Post are not in any case less than the duties of Inspector CBEC/CBDT and Assistant of CSS. Infect Inspector Post being in Group B has been given the responsibility as recruiting officers, appointing authorities, as sub divisional officer has to manage total postal affairs. We are investigating authority, inquiring authority, attend court cases like law officer, handle technology deals like IT professional and process legal cases such as police cases, forum cases, labour court cases, achieving targets still we are said to be inferior to Inspectors of CBDT, what an irony !. We are recruited through the same examination (Graduate Level Examination) as is in the case of other inspectors than how the cadre of Inspector Posts cannot be compared with other inspectors. No body is comparing the total emoluments being drawn by Group “B” officer of CBDT/CBEC and elevation period to their counter part in Postal Service Group “B” who have to look into full Division and control strength of nearly 6000 postal employees. The PS Group “B” officer is elevated after 25 years of service in DOP whereas in other department this period is 10 to 15 years. Prior to 6^th pay commission and before introduction of MACP the promotion to ASP Cadre was considered a promotion to curtail stagnation in IP cadre. Now consequent upon implementation of recommendation of 6th pay commission it does not matter at all, what matters is the initial fixation in the pay band that is Rs. 13500/- for IPs and 17140/- for other analogous post. On promotion only one increment of 3%+ difference of GP is given that makes hardly any difference so promotion to any cadre may be in ASP/ Group “B” do not have any financial benefit and charm at the end.

          The association should immediately and without loosing time file case as suggested by the counsel of Sh. Permanand.