Periodical Meeting at Dak Bhawan, New Delhi_Brief

As scheduled the periodical meeting took place on 02-12-2021 at 11:00 hrs under chairmanship of Shri Alok Sharma, Director General (Posts) in G.P. Roy committee Room, 2^nd Floor, Dak Bhawan, New Delhi. Among others Shri Mervin Alexander, Member (Personnel), Shri Arvind Verma, Deputy Director General (Personnel), Ms. Smriti Sharan, Deputy Director General (Establishment) and Shri Pawan Ku Singh, Deputy Director General (FS) were present.

Two representatives (i.e. General Secretary along with one representative) from each Service Association were invited to attend the meeting. From All India Association of Inspectors and Assistant Superintendents, Posts Shri Pitabasa Jena, General Secretary and Shri Babu G, President attended the said meeting.

Shri Arvind Verma, Deputy Director General (Personnel) who holds additional charge of DDG(SR) extended a warm welcome and offered the introductory remarks. He also gave a Presentation on various orders issued by Directorate during last two years on staff Welfare/demands of Associations which includes

·         Mitigation of the hardships faced in appointment on compassionate grounds of a dependent of a deceased Departmental employee in a Division/Unit far away from the place of residence of deceased employee's family. [Department of Posts Personnel Division No. X-12/3/2021-SPN-II-DOP dated 02-06-2021]

·         Grant of extension who were completing their tenure during COVID-19 pandemic. [Department of Posts Personnel Division No. 12-1/2019-SPB-II(Part-I) dated 19-05-2020]

·         Transfer of MTS officials under provisions of Rule 38 of Postal Manual
Volume IV from one wing to another.  [Department of Posts Personnel Division No. X-12/3/2021-SPN-II-DOP dated 16-11-2021]

·         Recruitment under Sports quota. 21 Circles have already notified for 1571 vacancies which is to be completed by end of February, 2022.

·         Regularization of absence during COVID-19 pandemic period. [Department of Posts Personnel Division No. X-20/4212020-5PN-II dated 09-07-2021]

·         Regular CRC meetings at Circle levels. 19 Circles have already issued orders for appointment of 614 candidates during the current year.

·         Limited Transfer facilities for all categories of Gramin Dak Sevaks (GDS). [Guidelines issued Department of Posts GDS section No. 17-31/2016-GDS dated 15-07-2021]

·         Compassionate engagement cases of dependent of deceased/missing GDS. [DDG (Establishment) DO No. 17-14/2021-GDS dated 12-08-2021]

Thereafter the agenda items were discussed and the agenda items submitted by this Association was as follows: -

Sl.	Agenda Items [Item No.CHQ/AIAIAPASP/Corr-01-103/2021]	Reply
1.	Strengthening of Sub-Divisional Offices in Department of Posts by provisioning of one post of office Assistant to assist the Sub-Divisional Officer	The matter of providing one Office Assistant has been discussed in Postal Services Board (PSB) meeting held on 08-11-2021 and the board has decided that the Circles already have the powers to redeploy posts as per exigencies of operations and the issue was agreed to be dropped from the Board meeting;   Discussion: From the Association side it was emphasized to expunge “as per exigencies” as it is invariably required and it was pointed that unless one clear instruction goes from Directorate Circles may take it seriously. DG(Posts) agreed to the suggestion and issued instruction for issuance of a clear instruction to Circles. Delegation of financial power to Sub-Divisional Officer was raised from Association side and DG(Posts) asked for submission of a detail proposal on it.
2.	Cadre Restructuring of Inspector Posts cadre	The file submitted to Ministry of Finance for approval was returned with some query, which is being complied and will be send to DoE soon with required information.   Discussion: From the Association side concerns over slow processing of the case was expressed. DG(Posts) instructed to Establishment Division for submission of the compliance by15th December, 2021 and to keep liaison with DoE. DG(Posts) also assured that he will personally keep a watch on it.
3.	Issuance of “Standard Verification Procedure” for complete verification of SB work in Branch Post Offices.	FS Division has requested CPMG, Tamil Nadu and Kerala Circles to formulate and share a draft standard verification procedure, which once received will be finalized and issues by Directorate.   Discussion: Association side has pointed out that Account holders of PO Savings Accounts standing in RICT-CBS Branch Posts Offices can now avail ATM, e-Banking and m-Banking facilities from 01-08-2021 and interoperability of Post Office Savings Account (POSA) with accounts of India Post Payments Bank (IPPB) is already in vogue and expressed the concern on difficulties in verification of Passbooks in changed scenario. DDG(FS) informed that Department is considering for dispensing with the same in consultation with Ministry of Finance. Probably the system of “Statement of Account” may be introduced instead of Passbook updating and verification thereof.

 

Among other issues, informally the issue of subsidiary offender was discussed and DG(Posts) told that recently guidelines has been issued vide No.INV-17/18/2021-INV-DoP dated 29-11-2021 and definitely there will be improvement in coming days.

After agenda item discussion, Shri Vineet Pandey, Secretary (Posts) addressed the meeting, appreciated the hard work being done by this cadre. He also conveyed that the Hon’ble Minister of Communication is pleased with the services being provided by the Department. At the same time, he informed the loss being incurred by the Department and sought contribution of all cadres to minimize the loss. 

 

The meeting was concluded with vote of thanks by DDG(SR) and followed by group photo and working Lunch.