Govt forms panel to revisit Gramin Dak Sevaks pay, benefits

The government has formed a committee to review pay structure and social security benefits provided to 'gramin dak sevaks'. The one-man committee will review and suggest changes in existing wage structures, facilities and other social security benefits provided to 'gramin dak sevaks' (GDS), according to a notification by the Communications and IT Ministry. Gramin dak sevaks are extra-departmental agents recruited by the postal department to serve in rural areas. They have been demanding pay and facilities at par with regular postal department employees. "The question of examining the conditions of service and emoluments and other facilities available to the Gramin Dak Sevaks (GDS) has been under the consideration of the Government of India for some time. The Government has now decided to set up a one-man committee for the purpose," the notification dated November 19 said. The Committee headed by Retired Member of the Postal Services Board Kamlesh Chandra will go into the service conditions of Gramin Dak Sevaks and suggest changes as considered necessary, it said. All India GDS Union last week had demanded that the panel should be formed under retired Supreme Court or High Court judge and not under chairmanship of a retired officer. In the letter to Secretary, Department of Posts, the union said that it will go on one-day hunger strike on November 27 at divisional offices, at circle offices on December 4 and in New Delhi on December 10 if the demand is not met. The committee will examine the system of branch post offices, employment conditions and the existing structure of wage and emoluments paid to GDS and recommend necessary changes. It will also "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 notification said. The Committee will function for a period of one year.