Lok Sabha Question No. 1908 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-02-11
Subject: Gramin Dak Sevaks
Ministry: COMMUNICATIONS
Asked by: Shri Babu Singh Kushwaha, Shri Neeraj Maurya

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT OF POSTS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1908 TO BE ANSWERED ON 11 TH  FEBRUARY, 2026

## GRAMIN DAK SEVAKS

## †1908. SHRI BABU SINGH KUSHWAHA: SHRI NEERAJ MAURYA:

Will the Minister of COMMUNICATIONS be pleased to state:

(a) whether  thousands  of  Gramin  Dak  Sevaks  (rural  postal  employees)  in  Uttar  Pradesh  are demanding full implementation of the Kamlesh Chandra Committee's recommendations and departmental employee status and if so, the details thereof;

- (b) whether technical malfunctions of DARPAN devices and network problems in rural areas are seriously hindering   the performance of banking and insurance services and if so, the details thereof;
- (c) the number of postal employees in Uttar Pradesh who have received special training in digital literacy and Indian Postal Payments Bank services during the last two years; and
- (d) whether the Government intends to revise the working hours of postal employees and provide them  with  social  security  benefits  such  as  gratuity  and  medical  facilities  at  par  with  departmental employees and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR COMMUNICATIONS AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT (DR. PEMMASANI CHANDRA SEKHAR)

- (a) Kamlesh Chandra Committee, constituted in the year 2016 had examined various aspects relating to  the  wages  and  service conditions  of  Gramin  Dak  Sevaks  (GDS),  including  those  serving  in  Uttar Pradesh Circle, and had made 40 major recommendations. The Department of Posts has accepted and implemented  the  majority  of  these  recommendations,  while  a  few  were  not  accepted  after  due consideration. From time to time, certain representations are received from GDS, including GDS in Uttar Pradesh Circle, seeking full implementation of all recommendations of Kamlesh Chandra Committee and grant of departmental employee status.
- (b) The  Department  of  Posts  continuously  monitors  the  functioning  of  DARPAN  devices  (now known as the DREAM Application) and network connectivity in rural areas. While occasional technical or connectivity issues may arise in remote locations, these are addressed promptly and do not pose any serious hindrance in performance of banking and insurance services.
- (c) Knowledge of computer is an essential requirement for engagement of GDS. Basic training in the use of postal applications, including DARPAN (DREAM Application), is provided at the time of their engagement.  In  addition,  the  Department  promotes  continuous  capacity  building  through  the  Dak Karmayogi online learning platform, which includes courses on digital literacy. During the last two years, 12,372 postal employees in Uttar Pradesh have also been trained through programmes conducted by the Indian Postal Payments Bank.
- (d) GDSs are engaged on a part-time basis for four to five hours per day and are governed by a separate set of rules, distinct from those applicable to regular departmental employees. Accordingly, their service conditions and social security benefits are different. GDS are covered under schemes such as GDS  Gratuity,  Severance  Amount,  Service  Discharge  Benefit  Scheme  and  GDS  Group  Insurance Scheme, which are reviewed periodically. At present, there is no proposal to revise their working hours or to extend social security and medical benefits at par with regular departmental employees.

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