Monday 28 February 2011

INTRODUCTION OF POSTMASTER CADRE-AN OBSERVATION


 THE DEPARTMENT HAS ISSUED TWO LETTERS ON 8TH AND10TH FEB.ON THE POSTMASTER CADRE AND FILLING UP OF POSTS IN POSTMASTER GRADE II UNDER INITIAL CONSTITUTION CLAUSE,THE LETTERS ARE AVAILABLE IN THE WEBSITE OF NUPEGC.THE CHQ ALREADY TAKEN UP THE CASE AS PRINTED IN THE LAST ISSUE OF sENBTINEL

1after the last date fixed for options to the Postmaster Grade I,II& III the response was not encouraging because of the following reasons.
The span in the Postmaster cadre is 6 & 5 years where as in the General line it is 3 years in the both HSG I ,II now it is clarified that the Recruitment Rules for the HSG pending eith nodal ministry the span is the same and there can not any confusion.
2. The department already hinted and the orders have to be read in between the lines that the officials who are eligible for the PM Grade II  and after their promotion to Grade II will get promotion to the Grade III immediately like the adhoc promotion to HSG I here this is on regular basis
The last date for options is extended  with the clarifications.The issues were discussed with concerned by the GS and the CHQ advises the members to opt for the cadre which is more beneficial  to them.
GENERAL SECRETARY

Over Time Allowance

The inter Departmental committee constituted for recommending OTA did not consider revision.The committee recommended for continuation of present rate of OTA till new formula for performance related incentive in place of OTA.When all the allowances were either doubled or enhanced  suitably,forcing the employees on the old OTA rates is retrogressive Let the department abolish the OTA instead of old rates

Thursday 24 February 2011

9797 Post Offices in Urban Area are to be closed/merged or relocated




D.G. Posts No. 40-06/2010Plg dated 25.01.2011.

                Kindly refer to this office letter of even number dated 17.5.2010 on the subject mentioned above calling for views/suggestions from circles regarding need for rationalization and consolidation for urban network, road  map to  be followed and time frame within which the exercise should be completed,. Almost all the Circles have unanimously favoured the need for rationalization.

2.            Due to historical reasons, a major portion of urban postal network lies in the inner city areas consisting of single/double handed non delivery Sub Offices which are not in conformity with the distance criteria of location of post offices. The outer and recently developed areas, however, suffer from lack of even the basic postal facilities in most of the towns/cities. There are also requests for providing postal services in various urban agglomerations, SEZ areas, professional colleges etc. which may also be a profitable activity of the Department .However, due to non-availability of resources, the Department is not able to meet such request.

3.            While the entire rural network is subsidized, Post Offices in urban areas are expected to be initially self supporting, and should earn profit of at least 5% at the time of the First annual review , to be eligible for further retention. Despite this, as on 31.3.2010,as many as 5531 SOs in urban areas are reported to be incurring losses.

4.            Further, as per the prescribed criteria, the minimum distance between two post offices should be 1.5 Km in cities with a population of 2 lakhs and above, and 2 Km in other urban Areas. No two delivery offices should however be closer than 5 Km from each other. Moreover, a delivery post office in urban area should have a minimum of 7 Postman beats. These norms have not been followed in many cases.

5.            Our existing urban network consists of 15797 Post Offices comprising mainly of HOs and SOs.Urban expansion of the country is currently estimated to be 77370sq.kms. As per the prevalent distance norms, this area justifies only about 6000 Post Offices in urban area. This analysis suggests that we have 9797 Pos Offices in urban areas that do not conform to the prescribed norms. This situation warrants need for corrective measures.

6.            Need for rationalization of urban network  was appreciated by the Department as early as in the year 2003 which led to issuing  elaborate instructions to Circles vide D.O. letter No. 40-4/2002-Plg dated 6.1.2003 for relocation/merger of single / double handed post offices. Resultantly, 1262 post offices have been merged/relocated throughout the country. It is however felt that the pace of relocation of post offices is not satisfactory and we are losing out on various business opportunities and the people in outer areas of urban settlements are deprived of the postal services. On the other hand, the Government is not allowing us to further expand our network by creation of new posts not only in urban areas but also in rural areas. Successive Plan Periods have witnessed opening of Post Office by redeployment of posts only without any new creation.

7.            For rationalization of postal network in urban areas by way of relocation of Post Offices in new areas and creation of bigger Post Offices by merger of single /double handed Post Offices as per stipulated distance and other norms, the Circles should keep the following into consideration:

(i)                   There are some Post Offices which are loss making due to high rentals e.g. Post Offices at Railway Stations, important bus terminals, airports etc. We may however not relocate them due to their strategic importance, convenience they offer to the people and high number of footfalls they attract.
(ii)                 While assessing the need for postal facilities we should have close liaison with local bodies like Municipal Corporation/Municipal Committees, Town Area Committees etc. so that we can be aware of their future plans of expansion of cities and we can accordingly formulate our strategies and have a long-term plan for extending our network in such areas. Regular coordination meetings may be prescribed with such bodies at appropriate levels.
(iii)                Post Offices which have been covered under Project Arrow/Post Offices functioning in departmental buildings should not be earmarked for relocation. If there are other Post offices in their vicinity the same may be considered for relocation.
(iv)               Post Offices paying high rentals, having low volume of transactions and running in losses should be considered for relocation/temporary merger/permanent merger.
(v)                 Distance from the nearest post office and the business being transacted should be the main criteria for relocation. Merger of Post Offices.
(vi)               In addition to relocating post offices from one area to another, we can also create bigger Post Offices, not below the rank of LSG Offices, by merger of several smaller scattered Post Offices. The bigger Post Offices will be well equipped to cater to the latest postal facilities like IMO,eMO,Videsh MO, IMTS etc. These newly created Post Offices will be manned by redeployment of staff/posts from the nearby post offices.
(vii)              It may also be considered to reduce the number of delivery Post Offices, which may lead to obviating the need for the nodal delivery system for Speed Post articles as it is not providing to be cost effective. In any case there is a need to strictly follow the norms of the distance of at least 5 KMs between two delivery offices and also that of delivery Post Office in Urban area having a minimum of 7 Postman beats.
(viii)            If opening of a post office is justified in an area, but it is not possible to open post office by relocation or under the Plan targets, opening of franchise outlets may be considered for such area.
8.            In, view of the above, Circles are requested to take the following action:

                (i)            Identification of Post Offices which are at lesser distances than that prescribed                                               under   norms. In case, more than one Post Offices are not fulfilling the distance                           norms, Post Office                 (s) may be earmarked for relocation on the basis of :
(a)    Condition of building
(b)    Profitability of Post Office
(c)     Business of Post Office

                (ii)           PMsG/CPMsG will interact with all the stakeholders and convince them that                                   relocation and merger would help in providing postal facilities to public and it is in                              larger public interest.
                (iii)          Identity needy urban and rural areas where there is justification for new Post                                  Offices.
                (iv)          Post Offices once indentified as per (i) above, will be relocated /merged  This will                           outside the Plan targets.

9.            Circles are requested to complete the exercise in respect of sub para (i),(ii)and (iii) {of para 8) by 31.03.2011 and in respect of sub para(iv){para 8} by 30.06.2011. Circles are also requested to send monthly progress reports of action taken, to this Directorate(proforma enclosed).

10.          Since the need for opening of Post Offices in new locations seems to be ever increasing , Circles are also requested to open Post Offices by redeployment of posts/staff from the existing office(s), by curtailing  staff strength of the existing offices even to less than the justified workload of the office/offices. This exercise would, however, be subject to Plan targets set by the Directorate. The powers for redeployment of Group 'C' and 'D' posts have already been vested with the HoCs vide Directorate letter No. 2-2/93-PE-I dated 7th of Sep, 1993.Under no circumstances should the surplus posts be abolished.

                This issue wit h the approval of the competent authority.
Sd/-
(Anurag Priyadarshee)
Director (R.B)

Wednesday 23 February 2011

Minutes of Monthly Meeting Held on 21/02/2011

Monthly Meeting with SSPOs Jalandhar was held on 21/02/2011.  From the staff side following members wer present in the meeting:
Sh.Dharam Pal Singh, Divisional Secretary
Sh.Saurabh Mittal, O.A Jalandhar Division
Sh.Prem Chand, SPM Session court
Following items were discussed and reply has been made by the Admin:
1.Status of MACP: MACP of 10 years has already been approved ,and DPC on 20 years and 30 years is going to be held in the coming week.
2.Preparation of revised D.O.W in Head Post Offices, HSG-I offices and Divisional Office: Reminders have been issued to all PM/SPMs to submit Est-2 for neccessary action.
3.Provision of Day-Night Security Guard at Jalandhar City and Jalandhar Cantt HO-The matter of deployment of security guard has already been taken up with R.O for approval.
4.Provision of Drinking water coolers in HSG and LSG Post Offices: The matter is under progress.
5.Shortage of delivery staff at Chogitti: ASP (Central) has been directed to make the arrangement.
6.Provision of Scooter/Cycle Shed for staff at Jalandhar City HO: The shed was damaged due to construction of building in the adjoining plot.The new shed will be constructed as assured by CEO of the Hotel shortly.