GDS Employees Salary Structure and other Service Matters
A Kamlesh Chandra Committee was set up vide resolution No. 17-13/2013-GDS dated 19th November, 2015 by the Government of India for examining the conditions of service, emoluments and other facilities available to the Gramin Dak Sevaks.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS
LOK SABHA
STARRED QUESTION NO: 240
ANSWERED ON: 04.08.2021
Grameen Dak Sevaks
C.N. Annadurai
Dhanush M Kumar
Will the Minister of COMMUNICATIONS be pleased to state:-
(a) the number of Grameen Dak Sevaks (GDS) presently employed in the country, State/UT-wise including Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra;
(b) whether there is shortage of GDS across the country and if so, the details thereof including the number of vacant posts of GDS, State/UT-wise including Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra;
(c) whether the services rendered by GDS are beneficial to rural populace and if so, the details thereof;
(d) whether pay/remuneration of GDS has not been increased as per the recommendations of Seventh Pay Commission, if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor;
(e) whether the Government had constituted any committee to look into the salary structure, other service matters and problems of GDS, if so, the details and the major recommendations thereof; and
(f) whether the Government has implemented the recommendations of the aforesaid committee, if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF RAILWAYS, COMMUNICATIONS &
ELECTRONICS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
(SHRI ASHWINI VAISHNAW)
(a) to (f) A statement is laid on the Table of the House.
STATEMENT TO BE LAID ON THE TABLE OF THE LOK SABHA IN RESPECT OF PARTS (a) TO (f) OF LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 240 FOR ANSWER ON 4TH AUGUST, 2021 REGARDING “GRAMEEN DAK SEVAKS”
(a) The number of Gramin Dak Sevaks (GDS) presently employed in the country including Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra are 2,37,441. The State/UT-wise details are at Annexure-I.
(b) Vacancies of GDS occur on continuous basis across the country due to various reasons viz. discharge of GDS on attaining 65 years of age, death, voluntary discharge, attrition, absorption into Department on promotion etc. The number of vacant posts of GDS, State/UT-wise including Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra is at Annexure-II. Filling up of GDS vacancies is a continuous process, which is undertaken through laid down GDS online engagement process.
(c) Yes Sir. Gramin Dak Sevaks render a number of mail and financial services which meet the requirement of rural populace and are beneficial to them. These inter-alia include running of Branch Post Offices in rural areas and providing services like sale of stamps, booking and delivery of mail articles including Speed Post, booking and delivery of e-money orders, all transactions related to various Post Office Savings Schemes including Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana and of Rural Postal Life Insurance Schemes & Postal Life Insurance Schemes, and services of India Post Payments Bank which include door step banking, AEPS based withdrawals from bank accounts, submission of Digital Life Certificate etc.
(d) No Sir. Gramin Dak Sevaks do not come under the purview of Pay Commission.The Gramin Dak Sevaks are holders of civil posts, but are outside the regular civil service. Seventh Pay Commission recommendations are, therefore not applicable to GDS.They work for a minimum of four hours and a maximum of five hours a day. This work is part time in nature and for this work they are paid Time Related Continuity Allowance (TRCA).
(e) Yes Sir. A Kamlesh Chandra Committee was set up vide resolution No. 17-13/2013-GDS dated 19th November, 2015 by the Government of India for examining the conditions of service, emoluments and other facilities available to the Gramin Dak Sevaks. The Terms of Reference of the Committee included the following: –
(i) To examine the system of Branch Post Offices, employment conditions and the existing structure of wage and emoluments paid to the Gramin Dak Sevaks and recommend necessary changes;
(ii) To review the existing Service Discharge Benefit Scheme/other social security benefits for the GDS employees and suggest necessary changes;
(iii) To review the existing facilities/welfare measures provided to the Gramin Dak Sevaks and suggest necessary changes;
(iv) To examine and suggest any changes in the method of recruitment, minimum qualification for appointment as Gramin Dak Sevaks and their conduct and disciplinary rules, particularly keeping in view the proposed induction of technology in the Rural Post Offices.
The Committee submitted its report on 24.11.2016. Details of Major recommendation are at Annexure-III.
(f) The major recommendations of the Committee have been accepted and implemented by the Department. Some of the recommendations have not been accepted due to reasons that included extra financial burden on the Government and certain recommendations being at variance from the policy guidelines of the Government. Details are at Annexure-IV.
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