A PROPOSAL TO SOLVE THE MAJOR LEAVE ISSUES OF SINGLE HANDED SPMs,

Dear Com.

I herewith put forth my suggestion of to solve leave related problems
of Singled Handed SPMs, I found this idea in the   blogspot of Tamluk
Division of West Bengal Circle.

Proposal:
It is observed that most the Postal Divisions are running with acute
shortage of staff in Postal Assistant (PA) cadre in our Circle..  The
Leave Reserve Postal Assistant (LRPA) posts in most of the postal
divisions are vacant now.  As a result, the PA working in the single
handed post offices are facing a lot of trouble getting leave in time.
Most of the P.A.s  working in single handed post offices can not even
avail 8 days Casual Leave in a calendar year. Their social and
personal life is hampered badly due to this reason.  The Divisional
Head is well aware of this fact happening in single handed post
offices .This problem is very much acute in most of the divisions in
our circle


In the present situation, there is very less probability of filling up
the LRPA posts in near future in post offices .  So we  have an
alternative proposal which may be considered for the benefit of the
employees ,as well as to provide better service to the customers of
Post Offices especially single handed post offices .

If any PA who is working in a single handed Post Office  seeks leave ,
then a departmental PA from a nearby double or triple handed post
office may be deputed to that post office  to work as Officiating SPM
of that single handed post office.  A Gr-D / Postman/ GDS (Gramin Dak
Sevak ,  preferably GDSBPMs ) may be engaged at that vacant post of
Departmental PA in that double or triple handed post office, from
where  one Departmental PA has been deputed to a single handed Post
office, to fill up the shortage (so that customer service at that post
office can not be hampered) .   Such GDS may engage a nominee in his
original post , or job combination may be arranged in his original
post.  That GDS will also get the minimum pay and allowance of the
post of PA ( i.e. his basic pay will be 5200 + 2400=  Rs. 7600 along
with Dearness Allowance ) , till he works at the post of departmental
PA (i.e. for the deputation period ).  All vacant post of PA may be
filled in such way engaging GDS/Postmen/ Gr-D inviting option from the
eligible GDS/Postmen/ Gr-D officials.  Due to higher pay and
allowances, the GDS will also be interested to work as PA .  In this
way , all the vacant post of PA in all Head post offices as well as
sub post offices may be filled up immediately.  But it should be
ensured that all the GDS should work under the sole supervision of a
Departmental PA in all the aforesaid post offices.  The GDS may be
engaged in the SB Branch, Mail Branch, Accounts Branch …..etc related
works , but they should not be posted in the Treasury Branch or such
type of sensitive branches. The GDS should not be engaged in any
Supervisory post (i.e. SPM or APM ) in post offices. It should be
ensured that a GDS may be engaged to work in the vacant post of PA in
post offices under the sole supervision of a Departmental PA . A
circular may be issued in this regard.   Presently the GDS are engaged
in the vacant posts of Postman and Group D ( i.e. MTS) and get Daily
Wages / Extra Cost.  In the same manner, the GDS/Postmen/ Gr-D may be
engaged in the vacant post of Departmental PA and draw the  Daily
Wages / Extra Cost in the same way / manner . But the GDS/Postmen/
Gr-D should not be posted / deputed in the vacant PA post of a single
handed Post office (i.e. the post of SPM in a single handed post
office ) .  Other than that, they (i.e. GDS ) may be engaged in all
types of job in post office. The willing GDS/Postmen/ Gr-D may  work
in the vacant post of Departmental PA with his sole risk and
responsibility , and will get the minimum pay and allowances attached
to that post. The Divisional Superintendent should have the power to
engage the willing GDS/Postmen/ Gr-D in the vacant post of
Departmental PA after getting a proposal in this regard from the
concerned SPM / Post Master .

If this proposal be accepted, then many problem in the departmental
post offices will be solved immediately:-

1)                  All the works, which remains pending in the
departmental post offices due to shortage of staff, will be updated /
completed early. As a result, the customers can get better and
satisfactory customer service from the departmental sub post offices.
2)                  The existing Postal Assistants can work with a happy mind.
3)                  The PA, who are working in single handed post
offices as SPM , can get leave easily in time whenever they require.
It will also reduce headache of Divisional Superintendents to grant
leave to a SPM of a single handed post office and making subsequent
arrangement to depute a PA at that post from nearby post offices
without hampering customer service at that post office. The incidence
of closer of single handed post offices for some days can be avoided.
4)                  The Gramin Dak Sevaks (GDS) will also be benefited
getting better salary working in the vacant posts  of PA cadre.
5)                  All the works related to post offices will be
updated quickly. So the Circle Office / Regional Office can get any
type of report quickly whenever they require from the Divisional
Heads.  The works in respect of CBS (Core Banking Solutions) can be
started early in near future , if all records/ works  of a post office
remain updated / completed.
6)                  Better accountability can be expected from the GDS
officials  regarding their work in the vacant post of departmental PA,
which can not be expected from the DRMs (Daily Rated Mazdoors )
presently engaged in many post offices. As the GDS are working in this
department , so they usually do not try to misappropriate anything /
any record for sake of safety of their service. The same
accountability and responsibility can not be expected from some
unemployed youths, who are presently engaged  as DRM in many
departmental post offices and working in post office counters.


Presently a GDS can work in the vacant post of Postman or Gr. D (i.e.
MTS).  A departmental PA can work in the vacant post of  Inspector  as
officiating SDI(P).  So a  willing GDS/Postmen/ Gr-D should not be
prohibited to work in the vacant post of Departmental PA . Please give
them this opportunity changing the present rules and regulations in
this regard for the sake of better customer service in post offices as
well as for the benefit of staff side.