A memorandum was submitted to Sri Gurudas Kamat, Honorable Minister of State for Communications during his visit to Circle Office, Bangalore on 17^th March, 2010.

The excerpts of memorandum are as follows:

Memorandum to the Honorable Minister of State for Communications and IT.

Respected Sir,

We welcome you heartily to Bangalore, the capital of the State of Karnataka. We bring to your kind notice the following long pending issues:

1. Injustice meted out in implementation of 6^th CPC.

We belong to the Postal Superintendents Service Group “ B” cadre. This cadre is crucial for the implementation of many policies and programmes of the Dept. of Posts and the Govt of India. They are responsible for the day to day operations in the department viz. collection and delivery of mails and various types of financial services viz. Small savings, Postal Life Insurance, Rural Postal Life Insurance and payment to the beneficiaries under National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (NREGA). Our duties and responsibilities are available in Chapter II of Postal manual Vol VIII. A Postal Superintendent is in charge of the Post Offices in a Division. Some times, a Postal Division covers more than one Revenue District. With so much duties and responsibilities, there grade pay is fixed at Rs 4800/- The difference between the cadre next below the Superintendent of Post Office is just Rs.50/ in the pre-revised scale. And, the difference in Grade Pay is just Rs.200/- A Superintendent of Post Offices has subordinates in Gazetted cadre like the Asst. Supdts and also Postmasters in HSG I cadre. All are in Pay band II. No other cadre has such a low difference in Grade Pay in the hierarchy of promotion than this cadre, while there is marked difference in the duties and responsibilities of this cadre and the cadre below this. We feel that while fixing the Grade Pay, no attention is paid to the enormous duties and responsibilities this cadre is shouldering. This sort of shabby treatment of this cadre contributes to the weakening of authority at Divisional level and the causality is efficiency in service. With the introduction of Modified Assured Career Promotions, promotion to this cadre has lost its attraction. 75% of the posts are filled up through promotions on regular service on seniority cum fitness basis. After the introduction of limited competitive examination to fill up 25 % of the posts, the time span to get a promotion to the Superintendent is woe fully stretched to 27 years. And, this is the last leg of an Inspector’s career spanning more than three decades in the department The reward for having come out successful in a competitive examination, and having toiled across the circle in all regions of different topography, villages in deep jungle, hillocks to ensure prompt postal service to the masses, he/she gets a promotion to this cadre after 27 years and to retire with the difference of Rs 200 in Grade Pays between him and his subordinate in the general line. An inspector gets his promotion to PSS Group “B”after 27 years and his grade pay after 27 years is fixed at Rs.4800, whereas the Grade Pay of JAO is fixed at Rs 4800. Junior Accounts Officer now upgraded to Asst. Accounts Officer is a subordinate to the Supdt. of Post Offices in Circle Stamp Depot. The duties and responsibilities of JAO is far below than that of the Supdt. But, the Supdt. is placed on par with the JAO. The promotion to the cadre of JAO is by a qualifying examination after three years of initial service of in Group ‘C’ but to the basic Inspector cadre is by competitive examination after five years of service as Postal /Sorting/Office Assistants or Junior Stenographers. A comparative study of duties and responsibilities of many other cadres and posts under the Central and State Governments will reveal how deep and extensive the duties and responsibilities of Postal Superintendents than any other cadre.

Postal manual Vol VIII contains the duties and responsibilities of various categories of officers in this department. Page 1 to 72 covers the powers of Heads Of Circle. From page 73 to 202, the duties and responsibilities of Superintendent of Post Offices are spelt out. The duties and responsibilities of Postal Inspector is covered in pages 223 to 232, and that of Inspector of RMS and Asst. Supdt. RMS from pages 233 to 247. Of the 259 pages dealing with duties and responsibilities of five categories of officers and officials, 130 pages are having details of duties and responsibilities of Postal Superintendents. We feel badly neglected, shabbily treated and let down, when more and more duties and responsibilities are thrust upon us to augment the revenue of the Department and implementation of various programmes and plans of the Department viz. computerization, new business schemes and Project Arrow etc. Most of us work day in and day out without any holidays and round the clock. But, the cadre is not recognized and not given the due status and pay as has been given to many other cadres in the Department of Posts and other organizations of Government. Hence, we earnestly request you to use your good offices to fix the initial Grade Pay of PSS Group ‘B’ officers at Rs 5400 considering the arduous nature of duties and responsibilities.

2. Cadre Review:

For the last 25 years no cadre review has been done, whereas many other cadres have undergone many reviews in this Department and benefits have been granted to all cadres except this cadre and the feeder cadre of Inspectors. Even though the 5^th CPC recommended cadre review once in five years, nothing has been done for the last 25 years. When cadre review is done for officers belonging to Indian Postal Service Group ‘A’, many posts from this cadre is taken away in the name of matching savings. This cadre has to bear the additional burden of the posts lost on matching savings. There is a need to upgrade many posts of Superintendents to the level of Group ‘A’.

3. Denial of special allowance to the officers posted in Circle and Regional offices:

Officers posted in Circle and Regional officers are not granted special allowance, whereas their pay is drawn from the same establishment of Circle and Regional offices. As per rule, all PSS Group officers posted and working in CO and RO should get special allowance of Rs.800/- But, in Karnataka Circle this has not been granted on the dubious ground of posts not sanctioned. If posts are not sanctioned, how the pay is drawn from the establishment remains to be seen..

4. Eligibility period to Group ‘A’ promotion:

As per the standing instructions of the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pension, the minimum period of eligibility to the next promotion from a post carrying Rs4800/ grade pay is two years but this condition has not been revised despite the instruction from the concerned nodal ministry to carry out the review by Oct, 2009. But, so far nothing has been done in this regard.

5. Upgradation of Bijapur and Shimoga Postal Divisions:

Earlier Bijapur and Shimoga Divisions were placed in charge of Group ‘A’ Officers. These are the biggest divisions in this circle. Keeping them under the control of PSS Group ‘B’ officer is not advisable in view of operational efficiency and administrative reasons. These posts were downgraded on the ground of matching savings to the cadre review of IPS level officers. It is requested to upgrade the above posts to Group ‘A’ level.

6. Formation of Bangalore North Division:

A proposal has been sent to Postal Directorate for the formation of Bangalore North Division in view of establishment of new Bangalore International Airport, and better connectivity to the movement of mails handled at Air Port. Bangalore is a fastest growing metropolis in India, and almost 50% mails of Karnataka is posted and delivered in Bangalore City. Hence, one more Division is suggested without any additional cost on man power requirements. It is requested to issue sanction for establishment of Bangalore City North Division.

7. More number of Inspection Quarters / Guest House/ Holiday Home:

Bangalore is one of the six major cities in India. The Guest House /I.Q in Bangalore GPO is allotted for officers preferably at the level of Director and above. Postal Officials and officers all over India visit this city for many purpose, official and also for the education and training of their children. The officials outside Bangalore cannot afford to the high cost of hotel accommodation. Hence, it is requested to have more number of guest houses and I.Q.

8. We also suggest for:

a. Separate establishment for PLI and RPLI:

The operations in Postal Life Insurance (PLI) and Rural Postal Life Insurance (RPLI) have been decentralized to divisional level. While we welcome decentralization, we feel the need form a separate establishment at Divisional level to ensure quick and prompt service to the customers. The Insurance business is carried out by Postal officials and they are liable for transfer every four years. There is lack of professionalism in PLI and RPLI operations for want of skill and stability. A separate cadre with professional knowledge in insurance is suggested for better and quicker service to the customers.

b. Formulation of Health Insurance Schemes for rural mass through PLI:

As the present Govt. is committed to the upliftment of rural populace in general, and the poor and needy in particular, we suggest a health insurance scheme through the agency of Post Office to cover the rural people. This suggestion is not out of place as the Post Office is always within the reach of common man and we may be permitted to mention that earlier as part of health service, the Post Office was selling quinine tablets to the rural masses. Hence, the history speaks that Post Office is always associated with the welfare of people.

c. Restoration of the post of Director, S K Region.

In India almost all Postal regions are having the posts of Directors under the Postmasters General. Till December, 2009, a Director was working in the South Karnataka Regional Office. Now, there is no post of Director, South Karnataka Region. We feel that the post of Director, South Karnataka Region is to be restored to in view of better operational efficiency and administrative control. There is a new post of Director (Mails and Speed Post). Creating one more post of Director increased the multiple level of control in one area and lack of control in another area. Now, there are two Directors for five Postal units in Bangalore City, besides the Chief Postmaster General and the Postmaster General (Business Development) in the City. But, there is no post of Director at Regional level in South Karnataka having thirteen Postal Units, one Mail Division, and one major Postal Store Depot. Hence, we request you to look into this and cause restoration of the above said post of Director, South Karnataka Region.

Thank you,

Yours faithfully,

A.Xavier

Karnataka Circle Secretary

Copy To:

The General Secretary, Postal Officers Association India.