Postmasters Odisha

STAFF SIDE TO INTERFERE ON POSTMASTERS CADRE

As we have experienced earlier, during prevalence of TBOP / BCR Scheme two separate lines of Postal Assistants were continuing – TSPA – TBOP – BCR and TSPA – LSG – HSG II – HSG I. The TSPA / TBOP / BCR line PAs have been deprived of the benefits of LSG / HSG II / HSG I line. Now, consequent upon implementation of the Modified ACP Scheme and creation of Postmasters Cadre, there will be three separate lines for the P As as follows.

1. TSPA – 10 MACP – 20 MACP – 30 MACP ( PA for all purpose ).

2. TSPA – LSG – HSG II – HSG I ( Supervisor / Cadre-less Postmaster ).

3. TSPA – Postmaster Grade I – Postmaster Grade II – Postmaster Grade – III – Postmaster PS Group B ( Gazetted ) – IPoS ( Group-A ).

As apprehended, the creation of such a cadre showing a long path from PA to Group-A is just to build castles in the air on the part of a P A to be promoted to Group-A through this Postmasters Cadre since the so called future vacancies( 25 % ) that will come out of the identified posts under Sr. Postmaster Cadre ( 116 ) for these general line officials on all India basis will be too negligible and will not satisfy the needs of the cadre in any manner.

Further Para - 5 ( vi ) of the Directorate’s letter No. 4-17/2008-SPB-II, dated 22.11.2010 directs to fill up 75% posts of Sr. Postmaster by IPs with 6 years of regular service on the basis of limited departmental examination. Thus, it is clear that for the unidentified posts of P S Group-B, limited departmental examination is likely to continue to the extent of 19% for IP line with 5 years regular service and 6% for the general line officials with 5 years in LSG / HSG-II / HSG-I or in all as usual.

Illustratively, it can be stated that since 495 posts have been identified as Postmaster Grade – III out of 1622 posts of HSG-I, 1127 HSG-I officials, if desire may appear PS Group-B examination for 6% vacancy and 495 Grade – III Postmasters cannot appear but wait for their nominations only (which may not come due to meagre vacancy) since once they exercise their options for the Postmasters Cadre, they will not be allowed to withdraw the same and their career progression will be in the hierarchy of Postmasters Cadre only {Para - 6 ( i & iii ) of the Directorate’s letter No. 4-17/2008-SPB-II, dated 22.11.2010}. Thus, again the Postmasters Cadre is going to divide the HSG-I officials in two different categories.

Further possibility of arising serious anomalies out of this Postmasters Cadre may not be ignored. Since the number of posts identified for Postmaster Grade – I is more and the same for Grade – II and Grade – III are less, an LSG official may have the chance to enter into Postmasters Cadre where as an HSG-II / HSG-I official may not get the same chance for entry in spite of exercising option. Thus, such situation may be created when an LSG official entering into Postmaster Grade – I will be promoted to Postmaster Grade – II after 6 years superseding his senior HSG-II officials who are deprived of entering into Postmasters Cadre due to limited vacancy.

Since implementation of the recommendations of 5^th CPC, the Staff Side had tried to give justice to the Group-C postal employees in particular but did not succeed in giving Rs.5500/- scale of pay to the LSG officials in spite of court cases etc. Now time has come to represent and solve the issue through cadre restructuring. Argument of the Staff Side in the informal meeting with DDG (Estt.) and other officers on the issue of Cadre Restructuring held at the Directorate on 23.11.2010 to give Grade Pay of Rs.4200/- to LSG is most welcome. At all the Govt. realizes that these Group-C postal employees are really fit to meet the present day requirement of specialization in postal office management in the wake of introduction of technology, challenges from market and to increase the productivity and the Department of Posts is really interested to do something for the betterment of these Group-C postal employees, there should not be any differences in the name of nomenclatures / designations and all the Postal Assistants should be treated equally. To sort out the differences / anomalies, let us think, if the Staff Side can place the following demands before the Government;

1. That after creation of Postmasters Cadre, all the posts of Postmasters starting from Grade – I to Sr. Postmaster need to be manned by the general line officials only.

2. That the Postmasters Cadre should cover all the existing posts of LSG, HSG-II, HSG-I and Senior Postmaster.

3. That further there may not be any LSG, HSG-II and HSG-I post but only Postmaster Grade – I, Grade – II and Grade – III. A PA appearing the examination after 5 years of regular service will only be promoted to Postmaster Grade – I with Grade Pay Rs.4200/- and not to LSG.

4. That Postmaster Grade – II should be declared Gazetted Group-B.

5. That all the LSG, HSG-II and HSG-I posts should be filled in on regular basis before implementation of Postmasters Cadre and all the officials joined as such may be given appointment as Postmaster Grade – I, Grade – II and Grade – III without calling for any option.