Lok Sabha Question No. 1379 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-07-25
Subject: Revision in Wage Structure of GDS
Ministry: COMMUNICATIONS
Asked by: SANJAY(KAKA) RAMCHANDRA PATIL, KAVITHA KALVAKUNTLA

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT OF POSTS

## LOK  SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1379 TO BE ANSWERED ON 25 th   JULY, 2018

## REVISION IN WAGE STRUCTURE OF GDS

## †1379. SHRI SANJAY KAKA PATIL: SHRIMATI KAVITHA KALVAKUNTLA:

Will the Minister of COMMUNICATIONS be pleased to state:

(a) whether  the  Government  has  approved  the  revision  in  the  wage  structure  and allowances of Gramin Dak Sevaks (GDS) recently and if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;

(b) whether  the  Union  Government  is  considering  to  constitute  new  pay  revision committee  for  GDS  engaged  in  postal  service  as  per  the  recommendation  made  by Kamlesh Chandra Committee; and

(c) the  provision  being  made  by  the  Union  Government  with  regard  to  revision  of salary of GDS as per the recommendation of Finance Commission?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE (IC) OF THE MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS & MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS (SHRI MANOJ SINHA)

(a) Yes,  Madam.  A  summary  of  recommendations  approved  by  the  Government  is annexed.

- (b) No, Madam.

(c) The system of Gramin Dak Sevaks is unique to Department of Posts, Ministry of Communication. Department of Posts vide it's resolution number 17-13/2013-GDS dated 19.11.2015 had constituted a One Man Committee under the   Chairmanship  of   Shri Kamlesh   Chandra,      retired      Member,    Postal    Services    Board,  to    look    into    the conditions of service, emoluments and other facilities available to Gramin Dak Sevaks. The  Committee  had  submitted  it's  report  on  24.11.2016.  The  recommendations  of  the Committee  were  examined  by  the  Government  and  approved  to  be  implemented  vide orders  dated  25.06.2018  and  27.06.2018.    Therefore,  there  is  no  such  proposal  for revision of salary of GDS as per recommendation of Finance Commission.

## Summary of the Implementation of Wage Structure of Gramin Dak Sevaks of Department of Posts

1. One-man committee constituted under the chairmanship of Shri Kamlesh Chandra, Retd. Member,  Postal Services Board submitted report on 24.11.2016. The Department  has  increased  the  minimum  working  hours  of  GDS  Post  Offices  and GDSs to 4 hours from 3. The minimum Time Related Continuity allowance (TRCA) is increased to Rs. 10,000 and Maximum Rs. 35,480/- in a span of 31 stages* with 3% annual  increase.  The  existing  8  categories  of  GDS  are  replaced  with  2  (two) categories  i.e.  Branch  Postmasters  (BPM)  and  Assistant  Branch  Postmasters (ABPM).  The  existing  11  Time  Related  Continuity  Allowance  (TRCA)  slabs  are replaced with  two  slabs  in  each  category  (with  4  hours  and  5  hours'  workload)  as below:-
2. The  Annual  increase  at  the  rate  of  3%  of  TRCA  once  in  a  year  has  been implemented (as applicable to serving Central Government servants) against annual increase paid earlier @Rs. 45, 50, 60, 65, 75, 85 for different TRCA slabs.
3. The New TRCA structure and allowances is effected from 01.07.2018. The payment for the period from 01.01.2016 to date of implementation is as following: -
- i. TRCA for the period mentioned above will be multiplied by a factor of 2.57.
- ii. The  difference  between  the  figure  thus  arrived  at  and  the  wages  already drawn, to be paid as arrears in one installment.
4. Other Allowances : the following allowances are implemented from 01.07.2018:-

| Category        | Revised TRCA*    |
|-----------------|------------------|
| BPMS (4 hours)  | Rs.12,000-29,380 |
| (5 Hours)       | Rs.14,500-35,480 |
| ABPMS (4 Hours) | Rs.10,000-24,470 |
| (5 Hours)       | Rs.12,000-29,380 |

| Item                                         | Pre-revised                                          | Revised                                                                                                                                                                                                                         |
|----------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| Allowances                                   | Allowances                                           | Allowances                                                                                                                                                                                                                      |
| Office maintenance allowance (For BPMs only) | Rs. 100/- pm                                         | Composite Allowance is proposed as follows (For BPMs only) BPMs providing Branch Post Office accommodation which meets the prescribed standards - Rs. 500/- BPMs having BOs at non-standard/rent free accommodation - Rs. 250/- |
| Fixed Stationary Charge (FSC)                | Rs. 25/- pm for BPMs RS. 10/- pm for other than BPMs | Rs. 25/- ABPMS and Dak Sevaks. FSC subsumed in composite allowance for BPMs.                                                                                                                                                    |
| Boat Allowance                               | Rs. 50/- pm                                          | Boat allowance may be retained @ Rs. 115/-.                                                                                                                                                                                     |

## Annxure

| Cash Conveyance Allowance   | Rs. 50/- pm                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        | Payment of Rs. 30/- and Rs. 50/- per occasion plus actual conveyance charges for cash conveyance of an amount less than Rs. 1 Lakh and more than Rs. 1 lakh respectively subject to maximum of charges incurred for transport by public bus.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 |
|-----------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| Cycle Maintenance Allowance | Rs. 90/- pm                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        | @180/- pm                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    |
| Combined Duty Allowance     | 1. GDS Branch Postmasters performing delivery or conveyance duties or both will be paid Rs. 500 P.M. for each item of work separately. 2. If the Branch Postmaster is performing delivery at the BO village only, it will be restricted to Rs. 250 P.M 3. BPM exchanging Mails at Bus stand or at Railway Stations will be compensated at the rate of Rs. 250 P.M. | BPM for delivery OR Mail conveyance work - Rs. 45/- per day subject to maximum of Rs. 1170/- per month BPM for delivery PLUS mail conveyance - Rs. 90/- per day subject to maximum of Rs. 2340/- per month ABPM for BPM work - Rs. 75/- per day subject to a maximum of Rs. 1950/- per month. ABPM/Dak Sevak for additional work of another ABPM/Dak Sevak- Rs. 45/- per day subject to a maximum of Rs. 1170/- These rates will be for combination of duties of two or more posts borne on the establishment of the office. |
| Risk and Hardship Allowance | Nil                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                | Risk and Hardship allowance @of Rs. 500/- per month to the GDS working in areas which are identified for this allowance.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     |

5. Other social welfare benefits : -
2.  Contribution to Service Discharge Benefit Scheme (SDBS) - based on NPS lite - increased from Rs. 200/- to Rs. 300/- (for both GDS and Department)
3.  Ex-gratia gratuity - enhanced from Rs. 60,000/- to Rs. 1.5 lakhs.
4.  Severance Amount - enhanced from Rs. 60,000/- to Rs. 1.5 lakhs.
5.  Maternity Leave - 180 days and wages for the period paid from salary head.

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