National Federation of Postal Employees
1st Floor North Avenue Post Office Building, New Delhi-110 001
Phone: 011.23092771 e-mail: nfpehq@gmail.com Mob: 9718686800/9319917295 website: http://www.nfpe.blogspot.com
No. PF-Covid-19/2020 Dated: 31st March-2020
To
Shri Ravi Shankar Prasad Ji ,
Hon'ble Minister for Communications & IT,
Govt of India,
Sanchar Bhawan ,
New Delhi - 110001
Respected Sir,
Sub : Request for opening only limited number of Postal and RMS offices during lock down period declared by Central / State Governments - reg.
This appeal is made with the most fervent hope that the Hon'ble Minister will be kind enough to intervene on behalf of five lakhs Postal employees of Department of Posts.
Postal Directorate has issued instructions to open all offices during the lock down period declared by the Central/State Governments. Unlike many other Departments, in Postal Department, there are 155000 offices and about 500000 employees , out of which 130000 Branch Post offices and 300000 Gramin Dak Sevaks are in rural villages. Opening and functioning of such a large number of offices during the lock down period itself is a health hazard. The nature of duties performed by the employees such as counter services , delivery of articles at the door step of customers , clearance of street letter boxes , sorting of articles collected from various sources etc shall expose the employees to high risk of Corona virus infection and also spreading the same among public. Almost all the departments of Govt of India has issued instructions , either to close down offices or wherever it is unavoidable , to bring only minimum number of staff on duty.
We are fully aware that Postal services are declared as essential services by the Government of India and Postal department is bound to provide essential services to the public. But for providing ESSENTIAL services, entire offices need not be opened and all the staff need not be brought on duty. As Technology induction and upgradation is almost completed in Postal department , opening of a few selected offices in each Division , will serve the purpose. In fact, as per the original instructions of the Postal Directorate to the Head of Circles , only selected offices were opened and functioned to provide essential services. It worked well and there was no complaint from public regarding inadequacy of services by Postal Department. All required essential services are provided in all Circles . The need of the public as well as the protection of the staff, both was given a balanced consideration.
But to our surprise, all on a sudden, Postal Directorate modified the original instructions and ordered opening of all offices including Branch Post offices in the rural villages. These instructions were issued in a most mechanical manner , without taking into consideration, the ground realities and also the safety of the employees as well as the public.
98% of the Postal employees are residing at places from where they cannot reach offices without transport facilities. As both road and rail transport are completely suspended by the Central/State Governments in all parts of the country , it is practically impossible to provide transport facilities by any Government to all Postal employees who are scattered at various places in every nook and corner of the country.
Further , as already stated above , duties performed by the Postal employees involve high risk of corona virus infection. In majority of the offices department could not provide any preventive measures , except issuing instructions to the lower authorities. Postal employees are also not included in the list of beneficiaries of 50 lakhs Insurance Scheme , declared by the Hon'ble Prime Minister.
Taking into consideration , all the above facts and circumstances , we , on behalf of five lakhs Postal employees , most humbly request the Hon'ble Minister to give due consideration to the above grievances raised by us and to issue suitable instructions to the Postal Directorate on the following suggestions made by staff side.
1.Only minimum number of selected offices may be opened in each Division for providing essential services to the public.
2. Only minimum number of employees may be brought on duty for providing essential services to the public at selected offices which are identified for providing essential services.
3.Postal employees who are ordered to work for providing essential services , may also be included in the list of beneficiaries listed in the 50 lakhs Insurance Scheme declared by the Hon'ble Prime Minister of India.
4. All items recommended by Health Ministry of Central/ State Governments , as preventive measures for those exposed to the public , may be provided to the employees who are ordered to perform duty during the lock down period.
With profound regards
Yours Sincerely,
(R.N Parashar)
Secretary General,
NFPE
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