GDS Committee Report: Key Recommendations of Kamlesh Chandra Committee

GDS Committee Report: Key Recommendations of Kamlesh Chandra Committee

Kamlesh Chandra Committee submitted its report to the Government - Details of Recommendations

To examine the system of Branch Post Offices, engagement conditions, existing structure of allowances and all other welfare issues pertaining to Gramin Dak Sevaks, a one-man Committee under the Chairmanship of Shri Kamlesh Chandra, Retired Member Postal Services Board was set up. The Committee has submitted its report to the Government.

Details of the recommendations made by the Committee

The old system of payment of Time Related Continuity Allowance (TRCA) is dispensed with and replaced with a new wage payment system. Under the new wage payment system, 11 TRCA slabs are subsumed into 3 Wage Scales with two Levels each for BPMs and for other than BPMs. One wage scale would be common for both the categories of GDSs.

The minimum working hours of GDS Post Offices and GDSs are increased to 4 hours from 3 hours.

The new working hours for GDS Post Offices will be 4 hours and 5 hours only.
The Level 1 GDS Post Offices / GDSs will have 4 hours as working hours and Level - 2 will have 5 hours as working hours.

The Point System for assessment of workload of BPMs has been abolished.

The new wage payment system is linked to revenue generation of GDS Post Offices. Under the new system, there will be no increase in wages of BPMs from Level -1 to Level -2 on the basis of workload but the same will be increased based on achievement of prescribed revenue norms which is fixed at 100% for normal areas and 50% for special areas.

The GDS Post Offices not achieving the prescribed revenue norm within the given working hours will have to open GDS Post Offices for minimum of additional 30 minutes beyond the prescribed working hours.

The GDS BPMs will be paid Revenue Linked Allowance @10% beyond level-2 wage scale if they will be successful in achieving revenue beyond prescribed norms
The GDS Post Offices have been categorized into A, B; C and D categories based on the revenue generation norms. The GDS Post Office in A category will achieve 100% revenue norm. The Committee has recommended a set of actions for each category of GDS Post Offices.

The six approved categories of GDSs are subsumed into two categories only. One category will be Branch Post Master and all other 5 categories of GDSs are subsumed into one Multi Tasking Category.

The GDSs working in the GDS Post Offices will be known as Assistant Branch Post Master (ABPMs) and those working in the Departmental Post Offices will be known as Dak Sevak (DS).

The minimum wage has been increased to Rs. 10000/- per month and maximum pay to Rs. 35480/- per month.

The rate of annual increase is recommended as 3%.

A Composite Allowance comprising of support for hiring accommodation for GDS Post Offices as well as mandatory residence, office maintenance, mobile and electricity usage charges etc. has been introduced for the first time.

Children Education Allowance @Rs. 6000/- per child per annum has been introduced for GDSs.

Risk & Hardship Allowance @Rs. 500/- per month for GDS working in the special areas has also been introduced.

A Financial upgradation has been introduced at 12 years, 24 years and 36 years of services in form of two advance additional annual increases.

The Ceiling of ex-gratia gratuity has been increased from Rs. 60,000 to Rs. 5,00,000
The GDS Contribution for Service Discharge Benefit Scheme (SDBS) should be enhanced maximum up to 10% and minimum up to 3% of the basic wage per month, whereas the Department should contribute a fixed contribution of 3% of the basic wage of the GDSs.

The coverage of GDS Group Insurance Scheme has been enhanced from Rs. 50000/- to Rs. 5,00,000/

The contribution of Department in Circle Welfare Fund (CWF) has been increased from Rs. 100/ per annum to Rs. 300/ per annum.

The scope of CWF is extended to cover immediate family members such as spouse; daughters, sons and dependent daughters in law in the scheme.

The Committee also recommended 10% hike in the prescribed limits of financial grants and assistances in the Circle Welfare Funds.

The Committee has recommended addition of Rs. 10,000/ for purchase of Tablet / Mobile from the Circle Welfare in the head "Financial Assistance of Fund by way of loans with lower rate of interest (5%)".

Provision of 26 weeks of Maternity Leave for women GDS has been recommended.
The wages for the entire period of Maternity Leave is recommended to be paid from salary head from where wages of GDSs are paid.

The Committee has also recommended one week of paternity leave.

Leave accumulation and encashment facility up to 180 days has been introduced.
Online system of engagement has been recommended.

Alternate livelihood condition for engagement of GDSs has been relaxed.
Voluntary Discharge scheme has been recommended.

The Discharge age has been retained at 65 years.

The Limited Transfer Facility has been relaxed from 1 time to 3 times for male GDSs. There will be no restriction on number of chances for transfer of women GDSs. The powers for transfer has been delegated to the concerned Divisional head.

The ex-gratia payment during put off period should be revised to 35% from 25% of the wage and DA drawn immediately before put off.

The Committee has recommended preferring transfer before put off duty

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Delay in 7th CPC Allowances: Is any compensation on the way

Delay in 7th CPC Allowances: Is any compensation on the way

Committee on Allowances has concluded his exercise as the last meeting was held on 6th April, 2017 and the confirmation of the submission of report to Govt. has not yet available from authentic sources. Cabinet Secretary has already assured to JCM that he will put-up the report to the Cabinet for early approval. There is an indication that govt is considering for compensation to Central Government Employees for inordinate delay of implementation of the allowances as per recommendation of Seventh Central Pay Commission.

Source has decoded that the Government is planning to make the announcement for a Compensation on Allowances in lieu of delay in allowances recommended by the 7th Pay Commission. There are so many questions here and also have been analyzed to judge you on this matter.

When the allowances at the new rates will be implemented?
According to the earlier posts of  the Cabinet to adjudge on 7th CPC revised allowances before April 23 and the other hand the RBI is not in the mood to outlaw the govt to implement the revised allowances. Read the full article RBI is not against the HRA hike as per 7th CPC HRA; Analysis.

What is the crucial date of effect of allowances at the rate recommended by 7th Pay Commission and the committee of allowances?
Answer of this question is factual under two sides, first the demand of employees and the second the way of implementation of 7th CPC. The employees and their union are pressing hard on the implementation of revised allowances from the date of implementation of 7th CPC i.e. 01.01.2016. Whether the demand of employees union is illegitimate? Not fully, in view of the timing of constitution of the 7th CPC. The unions are blaming to the committee and the government for the delay.

The delay in implementation of 7th CPC was not from the employees side.
The constitution of the 7th CPC was notified vide the resolution dated 28th of February 2014 under the Chairmanship of Justice Shri Ashok Kumar Mathur, Shri Vivek Rae as full time member and Smt. Meena Aggarwal as Secretary, with the condition to give the report in 18 months. As per initial notification the report was to be submitted in the month of August 2015, but the commission got the extra 3 months for submission of report and finally the commission handed over the report to govt on Nov, 2015 after 3 months. Although, two to four months were enough to complete the other formality for implementation by implementation cell of finance ministry, but govt handed over the all exercise to a empowered committee. Lastly the govt has approved some recommendation of the 7th CPC for implementation to Central Government Employees on 25th July, 2016 after 8 months of receiving of report and the employees was entitled to get the arrears of revised basic pay from 01.01.2016 and new salary from the month of August, 2016.

What will be the effective date of revised allowance from 01.01.2016 or 01.08.2016 or the month after the approval of report of allowances committee?
As the employees union are demanding the effective date of allowances from 01.01.2016, is seems hard to be accepted by the govt. We knows the allowance in 6th CPC and previous CPCs were also not implemented retrospectively as the revised basic pay means the allowances were given from the date of approval/implementation of revised pay as per respective CPC.

Hence it is easily interpreted that the revised allowances will not be given from the date of revision of Basic Pay in 7th CPC i.e. 01.01.2016. Now the question arise here, what about the date of approval/implementation of 7th CPC to Central Government Employee by the Govt. Perhaps, the date can be 01st August, 2016. The all the facts says that the employees are eligible to get the revised/enhanced allowances from the date of approval of the 7th CPC as the withheld decision in the formulation of a committee by fully from the Govt. side. As the employee unions were objected on many issues like minimum pay, advances, allowances etc. but govt delayed only the allowances.

Whether govt will revised the allowances with retrospective effect?
To find the answer of the above question, the pay and allowances as per the 7th CPC norms should be analyzed as a summary. Here the lowest pay scale is taken to understand the difference between 6th CPC & 7th CPC Pay:-

The lowest Pay Scale was in the 6th CPC = PB 1 (5200-20200) & Grade Pay 1800
The employee in this scale was getting the following prior the 7th CPC on 01.01.2016 -

Basic Pay: Rs. 5200 + Grade Pay 1800 = Rs. 7000
(The pay for newly appointee was differ)
DA on 01.01.2016 = Rs. 8330
For X Group City
HRA - 2100
Tpt All - 600 + 714 = Rs. 1314
Total Gross Salary = 17430
The employee in this scale was eligible in the 7th CPC with effect from 01.01.2016 -
Basic Pay = Rs. 18000
HRA = Rs. 4320 and Tpt = 1350

Now
Difference in Basic Pay is Rs. 2670
Difference in Allowance (HRA only) is Rs. Rs.2220

As per above illustration the difference of revised basic pay and revised allowance (HRA) is nearly 85%. Means govt has saved 85% corpus of expenditure in enhancement of pay and allowances of Central Government Employee by delaying the approval of allowances. By this central government employees was loosing this amount since August, 2016. Hence it is also instituted that Govt employees are eligible for a compensation in situation of not getting the revised allowance from the date of implementation of 7th CPC i.e. August, 2016.

Union demand of revised allowance from 01.01.2016 may be persuaded by the compensation
As per sources indicated that the Committee to check the 7th CPC recommendation on allowances has given the importance the union demand to give the enhanced allowances from the date of 01.01.2016. A positive note given by the committee as per suggestion to the govt. to compensate the employees for the delay in decision regarding allowances. The sources has also indicated that the compensation will be given as monthly rate from Jan, 2016 or August, 2016 upto the date of approval/decision given by govt on revised allowances.

Conclusion: It is the matter of future that what, how much and when the revised allowances will be given to the Govt. employees? But it is fact that employees are eligible for the revised allowances from the August, 2016 and either the allowances must be given retrospectively or as compensation. Which type of days will coming to the Central Government Employees after a loss of revised allowances for 9 months and how the govt makes it as "Achhe Din" to their Govt employees or govt is following their logo "Sabka Saath Sabka Vikaas".

Via: Paramnews.com

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Delegation of powers to Ministries/ Departments for payment of Sitting Fee in respect of Non-officials of Committees/ Panels/ Boards

Delegation of powers to Ministries/ Departments for payment of Sitting Fee in respect of Non-officials of Committees/ Panels/ Boards etc: Fin Min OM

No.19047/10/2016-E-IV
Government of India
Ministry of Finance
Department of Expenditure

North Block, New Delhi.
Dated: 12.04.2017

OFFICE MEMORANDUM

Subject: Delegation of powers to Ministries/ Departments for payment of Sitting Fee in respect of Non-officials of Committees/ Panels/ Boards etc.

The undersigned is directed to state that the issues related to payment of Sitting Fee to Non-officials of Committees/Panels/Boards etc. have been examined in D/o Expenditure. It has been decided that Administrative Secretaries of the Ministries/ Departments may decide the Sitting Fee in respect of Non-officials of Committees/Panels/Boards etc. in consultation with their Financial Advisors and with the approval of their Ministers.

2. While considering the proposals for payment of Sitting Fee to Non-officials, the Ministries/Departments are directed to keep in view the following instructions/guidelines:-

2.1. Categorisation of Committees: For the purpose of payment  of Sitting Fee, Committees/Boards/panels are categorized into following three categories:-

(i) High Level Committee: In terms of Cabinet Secretariat Circular No. 1/16/1/2000-Cab. dated 15.04.2002, a High Level Committee is a Committee set up with the approval of Hon'ble Prime Minister through the Cabinet Secretary and presided over by a high ranking dignitary eg. a Minister, a Judge of the Supreme Court of India, a Vice-Chancellor etc. including prominent persons in public life as Members.

(ii) Technical or Expert Committee: A Technical or Expert Committee is a Committee constituted to discharge functions as prescribed under Acts/Rules/Subordinate legislation on the subject. Such Committee is to be set up with the approval of the Minister of the concerned Ministry. In case any Member of Parliament is included in the Committee, the prior approval of Prime Minister to their inclusion is to be obtained in terms of Cabinet Secretariat Circular No.1/16/1/2000-Cab. dated 15.04.2002.

(iii) Other Committees: All other Committees will be covered under this category. These Committees will be constituted with the approval of the Administrative Secretary or Minister.

2.2 Definition of a Non-official: For the purpose of grant of Sitting Fee only such persons are to be considered as Non-officials who are not employed in any institution/ organisation/body funded by the Central Government.

3. Rates of Sitting Fee: On the basis of categorisation of Committees viz. High Level Committee, Technical or Expert Committee and Other Committees, The Ministries/Departments shall ensure that the maximum rates of Sitting Fee to be paid to Non-official Chairman/ Members will not be more than the following:-

(i) High Level Committee : Not more than Rs.10,000/- per day of Sitting.

(ii) Technical or Expert Committee : Not more than Rs.6000/- per day of Sitting.

(iii) Other Committees : Not more than Rs.4000/- per day of Sitting.

4. For arriving at the rates of the Sitting Fee to Non-official Chairman and Members of the Committees/Boards/Panels, the Ministries/Department shall observe the following conditions:

i. While considering the amount of Sitting Fee, the Ministries/Departments have to keep in view facts such as nature and scope of the Committee, importance of the subject assigned to the Committee, category of the Committee (i.e. High level Committee, Technical or Expert Committee or other Committee), level/ status of Chairperson/ Members, duration of the Committee, frequency of meetings, Terms of Reference of the Committee etc.

ii. In no case, the ceiling should exceed 10 meetings in a month in respect of all categories of Committees viz. High Level, Technical or Expert Committees and Other Committee. It is presumed that such committees are constituted for a limited duration specified in the order.

iii. It is clarified that the Govt. employees nominated to such Committees/ Boards/ Panels etc. will not be entitled to Sitting Fee.

iv. Cases seeking deviation from the above norms may be referred to M/o Finance giving full justification for seeking deviation.

3. These instructions will be effective from the date of issue of this O.M.

4. This is issued with the approval of Finance Minister.

sd/-
(Nirmala Dev)
Deputy Secretary to the Government of India

Source: finmin.nic.in

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