All India Conferenece - Pune

The 23rd All India Conference of Postal Officers Association, India, was held at Vaikunth Mehta National Institute of Cooperative Management in Pune on 28th – 30th May, 2010. Shri Rajashekar, Asst. Director, SK Regional office and your circle secretary represented the meeting on behalf of the circle. Thirty three representatives have participated in the conference.

The highlights of the conference are given below:

1. Demand for Grade pay of Rs.5400 at entry level of PSS Group ‘B’ officers has been discussed seriously. We have expressed serious concern over the efficacy of the Divisional Heads in view of equal grade pay granted to other officials as a result of MACP. We have reached a situation, when the Fourth Pay Commission equated TBOP with IPs, and the resultant dilution of authority at sub divisional level. A great damage has been done irretrievably following the recommendations of Fourth CPC. Similar situation has developed as result of the recommendations of the Sixth CPC and due to the casual attitude to our pleas to upgrade the status of Divisional level authority.
2. It is also proposed to launch agitation in case the issue not settled within a month.
3. The Abnormal delay in holding DPC has been also debated in deep and a decision was taken to move CAT for timely holding of DPC.
4. To brighten the promotional prospects of PSS Group “B”, it is demanded to upgrade all Divisions to Group "A" status. This is in tune with upgrading of many LSG posts to HSG II and HSG II posts to HSG I to enhance the promotional prospects of General line officials. At the same time, the department has ignored the legitimate aspirations of the PSS Group ‘B’ officers. There has been no cadre review for the last 20 years. It was emphasized to press for immediate cadre review.
5. The establishment of Business Development Cell for augmenting the revenue of the department has been created at Directorate and Circle level. But, no such mechanism is available at Divisional level and the Divisional Heads are to manage the work with the existing staff. A demand has been made for separate establishment at Divisional level too for Business Development.
6. Decentralization of the functions o RPLI at Divisional and Post Office level as in case of Small Savings Scheme to cut down delay in processing of payment toward claim etc.
7. Demand has been made to increase rate of incentive for RPLI work and the quantum of honorarium paid to the Divisional level staff.
8. Filling up of short term vacancies in officiating capacity/ad-hoc promotion instead of resorting to the short cut method of additional charge.
9. Independent departmental inspection vehicle to all Divisions instead of resorting to outsourcing as outsourcing will not help unscheduled visits by Divisional Heads, more particularly in rural areas.
10. Relaxation of eligibility condition for adhoc promotion from PSS Group ‘B’ to JTS Group ‘A’ from the present three years to two years as per the guide lines of department of Personnel and Training. This situation is acute in Maharastra Circle.
11. Provision for Laptops to all PSS Group ‘B’ and Group ‘A” officers is also demanded. As the operations are being computerized and monitoring can be made anywhere by the officers, laptops are essential for effective administration for a better service to the customers.
12. It is also proposed to maintain alliance with IP & ASP Association to have more bargaining power as the interests of these two associations are analogous and interlinked.
13. The vexatious non-settlement of special allowance Rs.800 to PSS Group 'B' Officers working in Circle/Regional office was discussed. While in AP circle, all officers are getting the special allowance, in few other circles including Karnataka, special allowance is denied to the officers working in CO. The rule does not specify that this should be paid in respect of sanctioned posts only. While officers get their salary from the same establishment, it is not fair to deny payment of this allowance to PSS Group 'B' officers working in CO/RO. CHQ was requested to vigorously pursue this issue with Directorate. The trend in certain quarters to misinterpret the rules to counter the legitimate right of the PSS Group 'B' officers has come under criticism.

The following are new office bearers, who were elected on consensus among the members.



President – Shri Sutar, APMG (BD), Maharastra Circle

General Secretary – Shri Surendera Kumar Bansal, ADG, Directorate.

Treasurer – Shri Kumaraswamy, AD, Directorate.



From Karnataka Circle, Shri Rajashekar, AD, SK Regional Office has been elected as Asst. General Secretary.



The host circle has made elaborate arrangements for the conference. Our special thanks to the Reception Committee of Maharastra Circle.

The venue of next CWC will be Mysore, Karnataka Circle, Bihar Circle and Orissa Circle, and next All India Conferenec at Hyderabad.