Friday 30 September 2011

Interview with CPMG Dated 29-09-11

No.P3/Interview/CPMG          Dt. 29.09.2011.
To
Smt. Shanthi  Nair , IPS,
Chief Postmaster General,
Tamilnadu Circle,
Chennai 600 002.
                 
Sub:    Interview with the  CPMG, TN Circle- Reg.
      Ref:     1.Our Circle Union letter  dt. 15.09.2011 & 19.09.2011.
                 2. Circle Office letter dt. 16.09.2011.
                  -:oOo:-
Since  there is no opportunity given to us to meet  our  Chief PMG on one reason or the other and to discuss / redress  the grievances of  the staff  matters   which are  in general   nature, we  perforce  to bring the following  to   her kind  notice.  The  kind intervention of the  CPMG  is much requested, so as to cancel/ stop such  orders   in the interest of  the  common staff.  If not  possible  to cancel such orders immediately,  at least   they may be kept in abeyance,  till  a suitable  date  is fixed for  any  discussions with us.

1. Issue related to the latest developments on Foreign posts and   the unhelpful attitude of the    Foreign post   administration to carry out the public service smoothly.
On the   intervention  of  our Circle Union , as assured   with the CPMG on date,  the  agitation was stopped immediately.  The entire staff   engaged themselves  with full involvement and cleared all the pending   works  even  staying at late night  hours.  But  to the dismay  ,  the  Director  is acting vehemently  and  issuing  FR 17 A notices,  besides  initiating  Charge memo. under   Rule 16  to his Staff.   Such actions of the  local administration are  creating mental agony  among the staff and again  spoiling  the  working  atmosphere. The kind intervention of the CPMG is much requested so as to stop such hate actions against the  staff  and  to maintain a peaceful atmosphere, in the interest of staff  and  the service.
2.Request for restoration of  the abrupt and arbitrary abolition of GDSV posts at Central Region, resulting   in  hampering of  MPCM counter services at  the HOs.
 
The PMG , CR has abruptly ordered abolition of GDSSV posts at all HOs under Central Region and directing the SPOs.,/SSPOs.,  for  redeployment of  them  vide ESB/125-11/2011/TR dated 25.08.2011. This  created  chaos among the working staff at HOs , since already they are over-burdened in MPCM counters  with multifarious activities such as collection of Telephone bills, cell phone bills,  EB bills, booking speed post, Registered post, bulk mailers, BNPL customers, parcels, Insurance, VP , EPP Booking and other  agency works  etc. etc.  and  the public  standing  in queues  already curses  the staff.  Now  they are further burdened   with  manual stamp sales,  due to the abolition of GDSSV posts. In Most  of the  HOs   there is  an average of sale  of  Rs.5000.00 to Rs.10000.00 per day/per official , leading   to 8 to 10 hours  justification  for GDSSV posts,  which  could not  be    manageable  to the  working MPCM  counter staff.  Definitely, in turn  it would affect  the public  services also.  The common public  would scold the man at the counter, who is  the  face of the  Department.  Even the proposal of abolition of GDSSV cadre  is put into back burner at  Directorate level also. Hence we request the CPMG, TN to cancel such orders , in order to protect the  interest of the public service and the common staff.
3.Arbitrary fixing of tenures for S.A.s at Central Region .
he PMG, CR vide his letter No.. Misc/Dlgs/Divisional Heads/Meets/11 dt. 29.08.2011 instructed that all the system manager/DSM/System Administrators also to be rotated once in four years without fail.No such instructions have been issued by the Directorate or by circle office to adhere tenure to the System Administrators. The only grace, they are having in the midst of heavy work and performing without minding time and energy is the immunity from transfer. This move will demotivate them.
Further such policy cannot be taken in isolation in one region in our circle. At the time of implementation of full-fledged modernization which is offing and to be exercised in 2012, this mass scale rotation will hamper the implementation and service also. We request our CPMG to cause appropriate instructions to withdraw the provision of R. T. to such categories till the cadre is created and the modernization is fully taken place in the department.
4.Arbitrary and abrupt  withdrawal of outsourcing in Central Region .
The PMG CR has ordered to stop outsource vide R.O. Letter No. ESB/130-447/OS/2011/TR dated 25.08.2011.In this connection it is to point out  that  still there is  acute shortage  of staff in clerical side despite the mass recruitment  made during  the year 2010 on the following  reasons:-
1. There are  about  10 to 15 PA posts  vacant in each Division  as current year vacancy .
2. There  are  about to 2 to 3   P.A.s on APS  deputations .
3. There are about 2 to 6  deputations    on RPLI/PLI  at  Circle  /  Regional Offices.
4. There are about  4  to 6  P.As. drawn from  general establishment   to work as M.E./ DSM/SA in each Dn.
5. There are about 2 to 4 P.A.s  drawn   for  RPLI/ PLI works  at  Divl. Office due to  decentralization.
6. There are about 4 to 8  long  Maternity / CCL  leave  ,  due  to  the increase of  women employees.
7. There are about 2 P.A.s  exclusively drawn for  IMT  works at  each  Division , since we are the toppers.
Besides  this ,  no establishment  is available   for RPLI  works  at  HOs for  making Data entry of SO transactions for  which there  is no  norms  or incentive. There is no establishment norms  for the new  item of agency works  such as  EB Bills, BD activities etc.   Beyond all the above,  there  are  mismatch  in  almost all the Divisions between sanctioned and working  strength.This is because of  wrong assessment of  vacancies   in the past,  taking   more than one year unfilled posts as vacant  posts  and  treating   such  posts as  deemed to  be abolished one , by the Divl. heads.  Actually the  work was attended by  somebody  and  hence   these posts   should not be  treated as abolished.  Hence such a shortage scenario   is , almost in all the  Divisions  in P.A. cadre.  You may aware  that the Dte. is  recently  asked   such  things  to be  reviewed  and  reported  by 15.10.2011.
Hence  in such   circumstances,    the abrupt withdrawal of outsource  is badly affecting   the  Divisions and even several SPOs., complained of the situation as unmanageable.  We  request  the  CPMG, TN therefore,  to kindly intervene  in this matter and to  restore  the original  position.  If anything  against  to decide on outsource on policy,   at least   Retired pensioners  may  kindly be  allowed   to meet  the shortage , which  is  already permitted by  the   Directorate.

5. Extension of speed counters at late night in various city Divisions, leading to 10.00 to 10.00 duty for Counter PAs, Gr.Ds, APMs, Treasury & Mail  Departments etc. against  norms.
This  is  against   the  International  Labour  Norms   and no official  could be  drawn to  duty  beyond  the prescribed  period of  8 hours  regularly, even on OTA basis. It is totally  unhuman.   While  discussing  this matter  with  the  PMG, CCR  he  assured  that  no official would be drawn to duty beyond  the prescribed 8 hours and the  staff interest  would be protected.But  still  this    is  continuing and  besides  the  Counter staff, the back office  staff  such as  SPMs, Treasurer , Mail PA  and  Gr. D  has to wait  till 10.00 PM and there is no second set of staff  in such offices.Hence we  request our CPMG  to kindly   take action so as to withdraw the orders immediately.
6.Arbitrary extension of business hours  of the MPCM and  SB counters upto  7 hrs at Central Region against the orders  of  the  Department and Arbitrary extension of  Business hours  in CCR Region also against  the  orders of the Department.
The PMG , CR   has  abruptly ordered  extending  business hours  of the  Counters up to 7 hours  vide  minutes of Divsional head meeting dated  05.08.2011 and  this was now  implemented. In CCR Region also  the  business hours  has been extended  in such a way. 
The norms of business hours   is  fixed by the  Department  as 5.00  hours ,  in order  to  have a lunch break of  1/2  hour   and   the  rest   of the  period  was allotted  to attend  the back office work  ,  such as  tallying  the cash/Cheques  and remitting   with  the  Treasury,  segregating   the    booked  RLs,  parcels, M.O.s , EMOs,  TRC bills, Cell Bills, EB Bills and  getting print outs , re-booking  of   special journal, BNPL  registered /Speed articles  entering with full address and office of delivery in the R- Net ,  Speed net,  dealing  with business mails etc. Etc., taking   print outs  of   all  the  connected  reports,   Data  transmission  into net  etc. etc.  Even the  available  time of 2 ½  hours  is  not sufficient  for such activities.  Also it is against  the  orders  of  the   Department  and against   the orders  issued  by  the  CPMG, TN Circle  in lr. No.TCA/52-39/97 dt. 13.06.2006. Hence  we request to  take  necessary action so as to withdraw  such  unscientific  orders  immediately   and  to save  the staff from  further  harassment.
7.Request  to stop  abrupt  closure  of  P.O. s  and  to honour  the  credence of  Secretary Posts , who entered with  the  JCA  in  05.07.2011 proposed  strike  by  giving    signed  agreement.
You may well aware that   the Secretary Posts has  entered into a written agreement with  the  JCA  leaders  of all the Union  Vide No. 08/09/2011-SR dt.06.07.2011  and recorded that  there would be no closure of Pos & whenever needed  it  would  be  relocated.    But it is  the order of the  day in Tamilnadu Circle to close  the Pos saying one  reason or the other.  For  eg. there is   recent   proposals/ orders  of  closure  of Pos in Chennai City North,  Chennai City South,  Tiruvannamalai,  Erode  etc. Divisions and   almost in all such places  there are large scale public agitations  and   media  coverage   spoiling  the  image  of our  Department.  Though   our  Department  is  recorded in writing  that  there would be no  closure  of  PO,  it  is  not known,   who decides  such  closures  spoiling  public  service  and    spoiling  the image of  the Secretary Posts.  The staff  side  is  always prepared  to improve   the  services  and improve the transactions  in any PO  lacking  the required income  or  work hour.  But   no officer   is interested to have discussions with  the  ground level representatives of  the unions   for  any such  improvement.  Instead  they are  much  interested  to close   the Pos.  Hence  we request   the CPMG TN   to kindly  take  this  issue   seriously  and   to stop  such things  affecting  the image of our  Department. We assure that ,  If anything  needed   for  improvement of services in any PO,  we are prepared  to  direct  the  Secretaries  of  our Union  to  get them involved in such directions.  The ground level officers  may also kindly be  instructed  to  discuss  such things  with their  staff side, in the interest  and improvement of  our organisation.
8.Conduct of  Training  classes/ meetings  on Sundays  against  the  orders of  Directorate .
It is brought to our notice that  vide PMG, CR  lr.  No.Misc/Dlgs./Divl. Heads/Meet /11  dt. 29.08.2011, several SPOs.,  ordered   to conduct  training classes to  BPMs  and  other  GDS  on Sundays. Likewise  SPOs., Pattukkottai  in his  lr. No. BI/IR dt.26.09.2011 ordered   for such  training on Sundays.  It is against  the   orders  of  Dte. In no. 16/56/2011-SR  dt. 08.07.2011 and  denying  the  legitimate  rights  to  the  employees  to  avail  the  only  week  holiday , Sunday. The staff   are harassed  much   that  even they could not spare  time  with their  husband/wife/children   and to attend  their  personal  needs.  The  very  purpose of  declaring  week holiday is much  defeated  and  such  type  of activities  leads to slavery.   We hope  that  you may feel  the ground reality .  We  request  your kind  intervention  to  stop  such  anti labour  activities of  the  ground level officers at  the immediate.
9.Request to Drop the proposal for Co-location of  Delivery Branch of  Vellore Fort S.O with Vellore H.O 
It has been ordered by the SSPO’s Vellore to co-locate the Delivery Branch of Vellore Fort S.O with Vellore H.O.In this regard it is to  state that Vellore Fort S.O.  is functioning in a building owned by the Department located in the heart of the city. The delivery establishment of Vellore Fort comprises of 6 P.A.s , 14 Postmen,1 sorting Postman, 1 Head Postman, 3 Group-D , 1 GDS PKR, and 1 GDSMC  and  you may  imagine  that    this office   is  just  equal  to a  MDO  or HO.  It  is marked as one of the Project Arrow Offices in Phase-III and the delivery is being effected more efficiently in a time bound manner. Now  the delivery  establishment of Vellore Fort is co-located with Vellore H.O, and  the  H.O become cramped and there is no sufficient space for accommodating  the delivery establishment . Resultantly  the  delivery  is  badly  suffered inviting  public complaints and with larger  media criticism.
It has been informed by the SSPO’s Vellore  to the Divl. Union that the co-location is ordered because of a subject taken by one of the service unions to demolish and reconstruct the Vellore Fort building as the existing building is in damaged condition. This is not true.  The subject taken by the service union is to demolish and reconstruct the back yard portion and to clear the blockage in the toilet only. The major portion of the building is in good condition and a minor portion has only to be demolished and reconstructed. Also it has been informed by the SSPO’s  to the Divl. Union that,  request for allotment of funds on priority basis for renovation of Vellore Fort building was placed by the civil wing in the year 2009 itself and the same is yet to be approved by R.O. Hence on any ground  there is no justification  for  such  a co-location, affecting  public  services.  The  staff of Vellore  feel  that   this is  not  the  real reason  and   there is  some hidden  agenda on this move,  This may kindly be  taken into note of.  Hence  we  demand   the immediate  restoration of   Vellore  Fort  PO services  as in the   past   and to  save  the public  services.

Expecting  your  kind  action   and  favorable decision. 
Thanking you Madam,
With regards,
(J. RAMAMURTHY)
CIRCLE SECRETARY.
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NFPE GPO

SB Unlimited!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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Please click the title "SB Unlimited!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" to view the order on changes in limits of SB Account maximum balance.

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NFPE GPO

Sunday 25 September 2011

Revision of wages for Mazdoors w.e.f. 1.4.2011

Hi All, 

Please click the title  "Revision of wages for Mazdoors w.e.f. 1.4.2011" for the updates on the same.

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NFPE GPO

Views from our General Secretary


Are the India Post is really doing business? Will there be any profit and loss accounts to analyze the business activities? Whether the so called marketing activities really reveal the skills of marketing? A Thousand million Dollar Question?
With no conceptualism, one business product or the other is being introduced with profit orientation. Every sale of product is clamored with nice presentation of designed table of statistics in the absence of Profit and loss account and balance sheet for each product. Men and materials involved in such business activities are not at all taken in to account.
The RPLI was introduced 12 years back. But still, a token amount was allotted to Salary head. Cost of stationary, Policy, Printing forms etc are even met from the general allotment only. Then how can it be a separate business product? Is there any Profit & loss account separately for RPLI or PLI?
The trust of general public with post offices is now being used for sale of promotion of M/s RML gold coins. Without any efforts, the RML is having 75% of the profit of sale of Gold coin at PO. If the Department would have imported the same from World Gold Council and marketing it through post offices, it will be the real business.
When we are having our own products like PLI, RPLI, we are marketing the ICICI Prudential, UTI etc through Post office. The Postmasters and staff are also fixed with unrealistic targets. The goodwill of Post office was spoiled due to the marketing of UTI Mutual funds after the fall down of share market and gullible public who are relying the Post office curse the officials still for such adventure because they made the investment on trust with the post office and the staff.
While we are marketing our Speed Post (EMS) for international mails, we are also allowing Fedex to open a counter in the Post office for their business offering at lower price and we are saying that it is business tie up. Is it good business to allow our competitors inside our premises and swallow our own mails in the name of business tie up? Whether such tie up is available in any other sector? Unfortunately, the officials are also harassed with targets to market their products.
The Departmental of Post is having a tie up with western Union Money transfer and more business is being brought under this tie up. Well? But what is the Commission? Whether the Commissions are fully paid? Will it resemblance to the working expenditure? If anybody knows, Please explain. However we are having more business. But now we are having tie up with another international money transfer organization which is rival to western union money transfer. Will it be advisable to have two horses run at one time?
In Maharashtra Circle, unrealistic target have been fixed to sale the books on yoga published by Baba Ram Dev at the cost of Rs. 250/- per book. Is it our duty? One Calendar called as’ Mahalaxmi Dindarsika’ is being marketed across counter and targets fixed to staff for the cost of Rs. 18/- whereas the same is available for Rs. 15/- in the open market. Mahalakshmi lottery tickets are being marketed in Punjab circle.
Railway department allotted 3000 Sq ft portion to India Post for their activities in Manmad R.S in Maharashtra Circle in which the department is utilizing for the Patanjali Herbal Products of Baba Ramdev. Herbal Products & medicines are marketed in the PO. Whether are we having any licence to sell medicines in POs? If any mishap happens who will be held responsible?
Chotukool, the small refrigerator of Godrej company is marketed by the post office for the Price of Rs. 3490/-. But it is available in the market for the MRP of Rs. 3250/-. In Maharashtra circle, all GDS & departmental officials are being compelled to purchase chotukool due to the unrealistic target fixed for its sale. The SSPOs, Aurangabad division provided pay recovery for GDS in case of loans obtained from Postal Co-op society for purchase of chotukool. Where is the provision? Whether the recovery from Salary to GDS can be extended for their personal loans from the same cooperative societies? Then why it was rejected by Directorate several times on the plea that they are not regular employees? How it can be extended for their personal loans for this chotukool purchase from the same cooperative societies?
Many big parcels are being booked under BNPL but there is no mention about the weight. There is no stamp. How it can be checked? Will it not lead to the leakage of revenue? Whether the entire amount charged under BNPL have been realized? Is there no dues? If there is dues who will be held responsible? Where is the security for big parcels sold by BNPL under the present threat of Bomb blast by anti-social elements? How can we forget the victim of letter bomb held at Suryanagar, Bhubaneswar?
What is the need for marketing ‘Bhagwan ka Prasad’. If the Prasad sent by post perished and become food poisons, who will be held responsible? Why should we propagate such superstition through post office?
The business corporate and industrialists are using the Postal department for their profits and gains by misusing the creditability of postal department earned over centuries. We need not budge to such corporates and industrialists and we can develop our own business.
Some of the Circle/regional heads are very fancy in appearing before the press frequently with various announcements of tie ups but forgetting their main job of strengthening the postal delivery. One PMG is extending the MPCP counter hours of HOs up to 2100 hours forgetting the concept of Night Post office. Entire Treasury, all branches remain open for closure of accounts and office. What is the cost involved? What are the electricity charges for the extended hours? When the central Govt. shifted to five days’ work to reduce the expenditure on Electricity, up keep etc and extended one hour work daily, what is the need to open the counters for 11 hours by bringing the staff on OTA/off? Whether any work performs through MPCM will run to any other service if it closes at 1800 hours. The same regional head has indirectly contributed the loss of MO service to the tune of 116 crores every year. These are all only the tips of ice bergs. Many more are still there.
Let us have more targets to expand our PLI, RPLI Services. Let us tie up with business of marketing activities with State Govt. Public Sector and Central Govt. organizations. Let us do all the business pertaining to collection of Taxes, electricity bills, water bill etc across the counter. There is no need for fixing any unrealistic targets other than our own products. Let us do the census work, UDAI work, NREGIS and all other socially committed jobs with the existing staff. Let us strengthen our own S. B. and the proposed Post Bank. Above all, we shall concentrate our prime work (i.e) collection, transmission and delivery of mails in effective manner by taking the Staff Side into confidence at the time of making changes and defeat the real challenge now posed before the Postal Department.
Other business tie ups will not earn any benefits to the department but mar the image of the postal department which was earned by hard work, trust worthy over centuries among the public. Otherwise it is nothing but an ostrich look of way that earth becomes dark.

(K. V. Sridharan)
General Secretary

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NFPE GPO

Renovation of 2,500 post offices is on cards

Hi All,

Views from PMG , Pune region

Colonel (retd) KC Mishra, postmaster general, pune region, talks about plans to revamp the image of India post.In his thirty years of service, Colonel (retd) KC Mishra, postmaster general, Pune region, has served with the India Post in various capacities. During his tenure, the looks and facilities of the postal service have witnessed many changes. Mishra spoke with Soumabha Nandi about the future of the organisation.

What are the reforms that have been introduced to make postal services more user-friendly?
India Post is a very large organisation that boasts of 157 years of history. Over the years, it has graduated with the demands of the changing trends. Today, services like speed post, speed post passport services, business post, bill mail service, e-post, e-payment, e-MO, IMO and others have been initiated to make the postal services more customer-friendly. Moreover, the look of the post offices has also undergone a sea change. Most of the offices are computerised, and connected through Internet.

Has the advent of private courier services posed any threat to the services offered by the India Post?
Courier services can never be a competition to the postal services. We are too large an organisation for them. We provide door-to-door services with a personal touch. Our services are far more reliable than theirs. Courier services are available only in A-listed cities, whereas we can reach the remote corners of the nation. Besides, we are registered with the Universal Postal Union (UPU), a United Nations (UN) body.

Letter writing is on the verge of extinction. Do you think that emails, SMSes and social networking sites have made letter writing a rare habit altogether?
Letter writing has gone down drastically. Though business post has gone up to large extent, the number of personal mails has gone down drastically. The world of SMSes and emails is largely responsible for it. But we are coming up with ways to tackle this problem. Letter writing was fun in itself. We will discuss the issue at a meeting of MAHAPEX 2012 on September 23. The meet will be attended by the state governor.

Many regard postal services as outdated. Do you agree with it? What are the problem areas that need to be addressed?
It is a wrong notion altogether. We have the complete support of the ministry of finance. In fact, it is the most trusted organisation of the government. However, there is definitely room for improvement. The issues of Adhar card, core banking facilities and ATM cards have already started making their way into the service.
Renovation of most of the post offices across India including the 2,500 offices in Pune is on the cards. We aim to complete the renovation by the 12th Five Year Plan.

Moreover, we need to change the mindset of the people working in post offices as per the changing times. We plan to organise soft skill training programmes as well.

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NFPE GPO

Grant of Training allowance to the trainers

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Please click the title "Grant of Training allowance to the trainers " for viewing the updates on the same.

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NFPE GPO

Bonus order for our Dept of Posts

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Please click the title "Bonus order for our Dept of Posts" to view the order.

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NFPE GPO

Meeting with PMG CCR : 20-9-2011


Today we met the  PMG CCR  and discussed the following  burning issues of CCR .

1. Extension of speed Post Counters at late night in various offices in CCR leading to 10.00 AM to    10.00 PM duty for the counter PAs,  Gr. D, APMs, Treasury and Mail Branches.
2  Extension of  business hours  of  MPCM  upto 06.00 PM  in various offices in CCR.

PMG CCR discussed with us  in depth  and  totally seized of the issue.  He informed
that  the intention of the  administration is to  extend  counter facilities  to the  public especially in city area. However   he categorically assured that  no official will be  brought into duty beyond the prescribed eight hours.  He further instructed his subordinate over phone  that  all SSPOs., should be  suitably instructed  accordingly  with  specific instruction of   operating  separate spells of  counters ie. 
a) 10.00 AM to  06.00 PM. and
b) 01.00 PM to 09.00 PM.
We have further raised the apprehensions  of the officials doing  back office work  like Treasury,Mails and  Supervisor,  he has assured  to mitigate  the problem too; further informed that  it is only on trial basis  and will be reviewed after  3 months.  Even after this  if  there be  any ground level problem , so arises,   that  would also be addressed  positively.

We thank  PMG CCR  for  his  kind   intervention.

.........J.R. , CIRCLE SECRETARY.

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NFPE GPO