ALL INDIA POSTAL EXTRA DEPARTMENTAL EMPLOYEES UNION (CHQ)
First Floor, Post Office Building, Padamnagar, Delhi 110007
No. GDS/CHQ/05/1/2010 Dated: 16-09-2010
To
All Circle Secretaries/Divisional Secretaries/Branch Secretaries
All Members of the CWC AIPEDEU
Dear Comrades,
We are furnishing hereunder some recent developments concerning the postal employees in general and GDS employees in particular.
One day strike on 07.09.2010
At the outset AIPEDEU Headquarters congratulates all the rank and file GDS workers including Postal & RMS who have participated in the 07.09.2010 historic general strike. This time the reports are encouraging. About six crore workers, employees & teachers had participated in the strike. This is one of the biggest strikes in the post independent India. Once again we salute all those who made the strike a grand success.
Introduction of a new Service Discharge Benefit Scheme (SDBS) for the Gramin Dak Sevaks.
Much awaited ANNUITY PENSION (SDBS) has been granted to the GDS employees. The orders issued by the Government Deptt. of Posts letter No. 6-11/2009-PEII dated 1.09.2010. By this time you must have gone through the orders. The Department comes to some conclusion regarding its implications. We feel that you must have also underlined the areas where improvements/modifications in the order or its implementation is required. The Pension Fund Regulatory & Development Authority (PFRDA) has launched a New Pension Scheme called NPS-Lite for the benefit of Common man and workers in unorganized sectors. Using the same platform of NPS-Lite, a proposal for introduction of Service Discharge Benefit Scheme (SDBS) for the benefit of the Gramin Dak Sevaks (GDS), working in this Department, on monthly contribution basis (from Department's side only) has been under examination and consideration in this Department for quite some time. The Proposal has been approved by the Government for introducing Service Discharge Benefit Scheme (SDBS) for the Gramin Dak Sevaks in the Department of Posts, throughout the country. This scheme will, however, be offered in lieu of the existing Severance Amount scheme on an optional basis for the existing Gramin Dak Sevaks while it will be mandatory for the new Gramin Dak Sevaks entering into the service with effect from 1-1-2011. The existing scheme of payment of Ex-gratia Gratuity to the Gramin Dak Sevaks shall, however continue of the existing terms and conditions without any change.
For opted to new scheme, the severance amount @ Rs.1500 per annum for every completed years of service will be added to the accumulated contributions at the time of discharge for annuitization. Govt shall contribute Rs200/- and no recovery from GDS. The contributions shall be credited to the Trustee bank designated by the PFRDA. Not eligible during Put off periods, Provisional appointments and substitutes. On promotion, the accumulations shall be transferred under New Pension Scheme. On attaining the age of 58,the GDS can withdraw 20% of the accumulations. At the time of discharge 60% will be paid. 40% shall be invested for purchase a Life Annuity from Insurance Company. On removal & dismissal no amount will be paid. Option should be given before 30.9.2010. However all are requested to ask all members to give their option to new scheme of SDBS.
Comrades, many queries are forthcoming as to whether the scheme contribute by GDS staff by Rs. 200/- . This contribution only Department will pay not for employees. The existing Gramin Dak Sevaks who are left with three years or less service as on 01-01-2011, shall not be eligible to join the Service Discharge Benefit Scheme (SDBS). This area needs some improvement. We are working on betterment of the scheme. Anyway, the orders have been issued and any valuable suggestion from any corner is welcome.
We request you kindly to suggest within three weeks the specific improvements that we should seek. We are also studying the orders very minutely and on receipt of the feedback from Circle/Division/Branch and CWC members we shall prepare a detailed letter seeking improvements.
We shall also, hold the CWC meeting sometime next month to discuss the whole issue in detail.
CABINET APPROVES D.A 10%:-
The central cabinet approves 10% hike in Dearness Allowance from 1st July 2010 based on the price index now D.A. will be 45% shortly Orders will be issued. Further an updated wholesale price index ended on 17.09.2010 with the government launching a new series that captures price movements of many more goods and with a change in the base year from 1993-94 to 2004-05. The new series is more representative in character than the one it replaces. Many of the 241 items added to the portfolio are consumed by the fast growing middle class, which means the index will more efficiently capture the structural changes that are taking place in the economy. Many commodities now in the list, such as cell phones, were not in widespread use 15 years ago. The cities and towns from which data will be sourced have also been increased and there will be a uniform method for collating the data. Even with all the improvements, the new series does not quite capture the change in the cost of living in this fast growing economy. Services, which contribute over half of the economic activity, remain excluded. The WPI data will continue to be released at monthly intervals and the data on the prices of food articles and commodities at weekly intervals. Over the medium term, India should move towards the international practice of relying on a representative consumer price index for policy purposes, Present D.A. price index will be change.
Appeal
The CHQ already made a humble appeal to all our members. You are aware of the efforts that we have made and a little benefit that have come on account of the same. We are not in the habit of asking for donations. But now is the time that we should have our own union building as also a separate legal expenses fund.
We call upon all our members to contribute Rs.200/- per member out of the arrears towards the Building fund and the legal expenses fund. The Divisional/Branch Secretaries are requested kindly to make special efforts for collection of the fund which may be sent to us giving the details of the collection.
We wish all our members a very happy Dussera.
S.S.Mahadevaiah
General Secretary
All India Postal Extra Departmental Employees Union