Ref: CONFD/NS/2020-                                Dated – 29.06.2020

DECISION OF THE NATIONAL SECRETARIAT MEETING HELD ON 28.06.2020

The National Secretariat Meeting of Confederation of Central Government Employees & Workers was held on 28.06.2020 through Video Conference. Com. Ravindran B. Nair presided. About 21 office bearers attended. Senior leaders Com. K. K. N. Kutty and M. Krishnan were present.

Before Commencement of the meeting, one minutes silence was observed paying homage to the Jawans who were martyred on the India-China border and also to the departed leaders.

Com. R. N. Parashar, Secretary General, presented a brief report on the agenda items and also about the activities taken place during the period after the Nagpur national Conference. Thereafter the agenda items were taken for discussion. Detailed discussion took place on all agenda items. Many other issues faced by the Central Government Employees, especially COVID-19 related issues, were also discussed.

The following decisions are taken.

1.        Review of the 26^th National Conference held at Nagpur

The Conference was well organised and the arrangements made were excellent. About 36 affiliates and 13 state level COCs attended. 213 delegates and 13 visitors attended (Male – 238, Female-18). The Conference was jointly inaugurated by Com. Tapan Sen (General Secretary, CITU) and Com. Amarjeet Kaur (General Secretary, AITUC). The National Secretariat congratulated the COC, Vidarbha Region, Nagpur under the leadership of Com. Nilesh D. Nasare, for making best arrangements for the successful conducting of the meeting.

2.        Setting up of a committee for finalisation of Accounts for the period from 2016 to 2019.

Secretary General reported that the Accounts for the period from 2016 April to 2019 March could not be presented in the national Conference, as the then Financial Secretary, Com. Vrigu Bhattacharjee, had not attended the Conference. Com. Vrigu Bhattacharjee has emailed the Receipt and Expenditute statements for the period from 2016 to 2019 to the then President. Com. K. K. N. Kutty on 7^th February 2020. As it was not signed by the Financial Secretary nor it was audited, the Conference decided to appoint a committee of incoming office bearers and outgoing President and Secretary General. The Conference further decided that after finalisation of the accounts, it should be audited by the internal auditor of Confederation and presented before the National Council for adoption. Com. R. N. Parashar, Secretary General, reported that he had written to Com. Vrigu Bhattacharjee, Ex-Financial Secretary to hand over the accounts alongwith all connected documents to him. But no reply was received. He has also contacted Com Vrigu Bhattacharjee over phone and requested to hand over the accounts. But, Com. Vrigu Bhattachajee was reluctant to hand over the accounts to the newly elected Secretary General. The issue was discussed at length in the National Secretariat and following decisions are taken.

(a)   Secretary General, Confederation, shall write another letter to Com. Vrigu Bhattacharjee, Ex-Financial Secretary, to handover the accounts from the period from April 2016 to January 2020 along with all connected records, citing the decision of the national Secretariat held on 28.06.2020.

(b)   If Com. Vrigu Bhatacharjee, Ex-Financial Secretary, still refuse to handover the Accounts to the Secretary General, then the Secretary General Shall circulate the skeleton of Accounts sent by Com. Vrigu Bhattacharjee to Ex-President on 07.02.2020, which is not signed by the Financial Secretary nor it is audited, to all National Executive Committee members to verify whether there is any discrepancies in the accounts. After getting reply from national Executive Committee members, the accounts will be finalised by a Committee of following office bearers, for presentation in the next National Executive Committee meeting to be convened by Video Conference.

Committee Members

1.      Com. Ravindran B. Nair, President, Confederation

2.      Com. R. N. Parashar, Secretary General

3.      Com. S. B. Yadav, Financial Secretary

4.      Com. K. K. N. Kutty, Vice President & Ex-President

5.      Com. M. Krishnan, Vice President & Ex-Secretary General

The National Secretariat decided that after completing the above formalities, the Accounts should be presented before the National Executive Committee meeting by not later than 15.08.2020.

3.        Financial review and strengthening of funds position

After detailed discussion it is decided that the Secretary General and Financial Secretary shall issue notice to all affiliates and COCs directing them to remit up to date quota and to clear all arrears of quota and dues within one month. The Financial position will be further reviewed in the next national Executive meeting to be held before 15.08.2020.

4.      Freezing of DA and DR and other related issues.

5.      Charter of demands of Confederation.

Both the above agenda items were discussed together. It is decided that protest programmes should be organised, exclusively on Central Govt. Employees demands, by Confederation. In the revised Charter of demands adopted by the Nagpur National Conference, the following demands are to be added.

(a)   Withdraw the orders, freezing the DA and impounding of arrears of Central Govt. Employees & Pensioners till June 30^th 2021.

(b)   Stop the unjustified increasing of prices of Petrol and diesel. Reduce the price by reducing the excise duty by Central Government.

(c)    Settle all COVID-19 related issues pertaining to the Central Govt. Employees (detailed note will be attached). Treat the period of absence during lockdown as duty. Grant wages to casual, part-time, contingent and contract workers including daily-rated mazdoors, during the lock-down period. (It is reported that in Tamilandu Postal Circle no wages are paid during lockdown period to Casual/Contract workers inspite of Finance Ministry & DOP orders.)

  

Secretary General and President is authorised to re-draft the Charter of demands and Circulate among all National Secretariat member for approval before publishing in website. The date of the protest programme is to be decided by President and Secretary General, preferably in the 3^rd or 4^th Week of July 2020. Next phase of programme will be decided by the National Executive Committee meeting to be held before 15.08.2020.

6.        Organizational Review

The National Secretariat felt that the disruptive activities initiated by the Ex-Financial Secretary has not affected the overall functioning of Confederation. Efforts are to be made to sort out the issues and to bring back the misguided comrades and to further strengthen the functioning of all affiliated organisations and COCs. It is decided that indiscipline and anti-organisational activities from any corner should not be compromised or tolerated.

7.        Date of next National Executive Committee meeting

The meeting authorised President and Secretary General to fix and notify the date of next National Executive meeting by not later than 15.08.2020.

8.        Central Trade Unions Programme on 03.07.2020

The meeting decided to organise the protest programme against the anti-people and anti-worker policies of the Central Government at all important Centres on 03.07.2020. The Central TUs has included the DA freeze and impounding of arrears as one of the main demands. All affiliates and COCs are requested to ensure participation of Central Govt. Employees in the joint protest programmes of Central Trade Unions.

9.        It is decided to prepare a detailed note on the present situation and the issues faced by the Central Govt. Employees for wide circulation among Central Govt. Employees through Websites and Social media. Com. K. K. N. Kutty, Vice President will prepare the draft.

The meeting concluded with vote of thanks by Com. R. N. Parashar, Secretary General.

Fraternally yours,

(R. N. Parashar)

Secretary General

Confederation of Central Government Employees and workers endorse the call of Central trade unions and appeal to all Constituent organisations to conduct protest demonstration on 3rd July 2020 at all work places, maintaining all norms of social distancing and others of Covid 19.

05th June, 2020

Central Trade Unions call for 3rd July as Nation Wide Protest Prepare for Countrywide Struggle of Non Cooperation and Defiance

The Central Trade Unions (CTUs) in their meeting on 3rd June 2020 congratulated the workers for responding enthusiastically to the nation-wide protest call demanding immediate halt to changes in labour laws, abrogating the rights won over after a struggle of 150 years among other demands. The meeting took serious note of the continuous aggressive attack on the workers’ rights ignoring all the joint representations to the Government on the matter including the nationwide protest on 22nd May 2020.

The Government not only failed in getting its own orders and advisories implemented in regard to payment of wages to workers, no retrenchments to be carried during lockdown period. Instead, it withdrew its own decision in the face of the case in Supreme Court by the employers of some companies. The Government did not heed to the demand of cash transfer of Rs. 7500/- to all non income tax paying households including unorganised labour (registered or unregistered) for the months of April, May, June, neither the demand for Government support to pay the wages of workers of MSMEs for these three months. The ration to all working people for at least six months to be made available universally also did not find favour with the Government. Neither our demand for workers safe journey home paid attention to.

The Supreme Court had to take cognizance finally asking the Governments of Centre and States not to demand passenger fares from workers, give them proper shelter and food till they are transported to their homes. Nineteen High Courts had taken cognizance of workers, frontline fighters and hospital services etc during this period.

We re-iterate that the Central Government chose the cover of COVID-19 lockdown to push through its agenda of disinvestment and wholesale privatisation of Public Sector Enterprises, 100 percent FDI in core sectors - Indian railways, Defence, Port and Dock, Coal, Air India, Banks, Insurance etc., steps in favour Corporates of Indian & Foreign brands to usurp natural resources and business of the country while mouthing behind the slogan of Aatma-Nirbhar Bharat. The earlier decisions and those taken during COVID-19 lockdown on privatization/corporatization/commercialization in Defense, Coal, Space science, Atomic energy, Insurance, Banks and most of the PSUs are being pursued with vigour and arrogance. The decision of DA freeze of 48 lakh Central Government Employees and DR freeze of 68 lakh pensioners, which is also having impact on the state government employees, is not withdrawn despite vehement opposition from Government employees and CTUs.

In this back ground various sections are now in agitation mode. The electricity workers and engineers have jointly observed countrywide protest against Electricity Amendment Bill 2020 on 1st June 2020. While welcoming the sectoral struggles which are developing in various sectors, CTUs support the protest programmes taken up by Defence federations including “strike ballots” and those in the coal mine sector on 10-11 June 2020.

The scheme workers, ASHA, Anganwadi, MDM, 108 ambulance employees, etc and the nurses and doctors who are in the front ranks among the front line warriors working at the community level for combating Covid 19 Pandemic are agitated for their demands for safety measures not being addressed appropriately and neither they are provided proper health care on falling sick from COVID-19 infection, nor the social security and insurance coverage being extended to the families who are succumbing to the disease. The scheme workers are also being denied payment of honorarium for lockdown period.

ASHAs, anganwadi employees, Doctors, Nurses, Safai Karamcharis, have been in the protests now and then in various parts of the country on similar demands. The CTUs support all these agitations on their just demands.

The so-called 20 lakh crore package of the Government is nothing but a hoax and cruel joke on the suffering people; this mainly comprises of loan guarantee to various sectors and the actual relief package reaching people is not even 1 percent of GDP. Even, previously announced budgetary allocations and welfare schemes such as PM Kisan Samman Nidhi, Construction Workers Welfare Board and District Mineral Funds etc have been unscrupulously repackaged to befool the people.

The workers who have reached back to their villages would need work, so there is dire need of additional amount to cover these workers also along with the existing needs of rural labours. But the sum announced was paltry in face of demand at the ground level. We demand that the coverage of MNREGA must be enhanced sufficiently to meet the demand for livelihood and work for all including the returned migrant workers; similar employment guarantee should also be extended for the urban areas to meet the demand for work and livelihood for all including the most suffering unorganized sector workers; they should also be provided universal social security including health care and food support.

Now with the opening up of some industrial units the complaints are that all workers are not being taken back, only a small percentage is finding their place back in jobs and that also on reduced wages and refusal to pay lockdown period salary. Such denial of employment and pressure for wage-reduction have to be unitedly combated and we also demand upon the governments for immediate corrective interventions in that direction.

The jobless are more than 14 crore and if we add the daily wagers/contract/casual, it is more than 24 crores who are out of livelihood at present. The MSMEs themselves are reporting that 30% to 35% units may not be in position to start their activities. The unemployment rate is already reached 27%. ILO has said in its report that more than 40 crore people would be pushed into deeper poverty. According to eminent scientists & medical experts, India is faced with stark reality, that malnutrition would increase, hunger deaths would become a daily reality, and there is real threat of depression resulting in suicides amongst workers.

Modi Government has most insensitively dealt with the problem of COVID 19 as law & order issue instead of treating it as medical emergency for the human being and society. It has caused immense miseries to millions of workers, farmers and other vulnerable sections of the society. Whereas, Government stood only by Corporates & big businesses.

A Government which has no respect and concern, towards the rights and basic survivalentitlements of workers and the people does not deserve any co-operation. We the workers/employees and trade unions need to do everything possible to be in solidarity with each other, unitedly face the disease taking all precautions necessary, stand with each other to defend our rights of unionization, collective bargaining, decent working condition, wages & future securities etc. This Govt has demonstrated cruel insensitivity of the basic human needs of the workers and people. This cannot be endorsed and cooperated with.

We cannot accept lying down the designs for imposition of slavery on workers through total nullification of all labour laws; nor can we remain onlooker to the Govt project of wholesale privatization of our PSUs through multipronged routes; we cannot silently accept the aggressive structural changes in the agricultural economy in favour of corporate-landlord lobby putting already distressed majority of the agricultural populace in deeper miseries besides endangering food security for the entire people. Trade union movement cannot endorse or cooperate with this process; we have to totally non-cooperate, defy and resist through united struggles such disastrous anti-people, anti-worker and anti-national designs being imposed on the society taking advantage of the lockdown situation in an unscrupulous manner. The Central Government has defied its constitutional obligation.

Hence we the Central Trade Unions, independent Federations and Associations in this background have jointly decided to observe Nationwide Protest Day on 3rd July 2020, by the workers and employees of formal & informal sector and service establishments, maintaining physical distancing and other precautions. This programme is in preparation and prelude to further united struggle of prolonged Non-Cooperation and Defiance of the anti-people, anti-national policies of the Govt and in defence of our rights and basic entitlements. Preceding the nationwide protest, to generate awareness about the changes being made in labour laws and other policy issues, the state level joint meeting/seminars/conventions may be held.

We demand upon the Government to immediately hold the long overdue Indian Labour Conference to dwell upon the 12 point Charter of Demands, the labour and trade union rights, issues of job losses, wages, job security, the migrant workers’ issues including their journey to home and return journey to those who desire to join back their work, instead of frequently meeting only the employers and corporates organisations.

We call upon the working class and trade unions of all affiliations to make the programme of Nationwide Protest Day on 3rd July 2020 a massive success throughout the country, in all workplaces and centres in preparation to countrywide united struggles of Non-Cooperation and Defiance to anti-worker, anti-farmer, anti-people and anti-national policies of the Govt for at least six-months period to defend the rights of the people and save and defend the national economy. The concrete form of Non Cooperation and Defiance including nationwide general strike will be decided by the joint platform of Central Trade Unions and independent Federations and Associations at appropriate time in the next phase after the observance of the Nationwide Protest Day.

  

And Together with the Federations and Associations of various sectors

  No.PF-NFG /2020                                                                 Dated:   27^th June, 2020

To

The Secretary

Department of Posts

Dak Bhawan,

New Delhi-110001

Sub:-   Immediate need to promote all HSG-I officials who have completed 2  years in HSG-I to HSG-I (NFG) without linking to availability of posts in  HSG-I (NFG) as per the recommendations  in the report of the committee constituted to examine the issues relating to the    Postmaster cadre

Ref:- Directorate office order No.25-19/2018-PE-I dated 25^th February 2019

 Sir,

         Vide Directorate office order No.25-19/2018-PE-I dated 12.10.2018, a committee was constituted to examine the issues relating to the Postmasters cadre. The said committee has submitted its report and the report was circulated vide Directorate office order referred above. At Para 4.1.4 committee has given recommendations w.r.t. other allied issues. At 4.1.4 (a) the committee recommended that ‘‘ As per present  provision, financial upgradation to HSG-I officials (NFG) is available on seniority basis on the availability of limited number of posts. Usually, NFG is given after completion of certain period of service without linking to availability of posts. The committee is of the view that appropriate proposal be initiated for seeking approval of the competent authority to allow NFG for all HSG-I officials after two years of sevice in that grade.’’

           But this recommendation of the committee which is fully justified based on the usual practice adopted while giving NFG is not implemented resulting in denial of  natural justice to HSG-I officials who are shouldering the responsibilities  of appointing authorities and disciplinary authorities to GDS, Postmen, MTS and also in cases  while  imposing  minor penalties for PAs and also attending the duties of DDOs drawing pay and allowances to  the staffs and even to higher officers and recently attending the work attended earlier by the divisional heads of the duties of  approval of new PLI/RPLI policies  and  sanction of claim on maturity and claim in death cases of PLI/RPLI policies. All these works require higher knowledge and skills in the present scenario of technology advancement in our department. As such the implementation of the recommendation of the committee to give NFG to all HSG-I officials after completion of 2 years of service in that grade is fully justified.

            Under the circumstances, it is requested to implement the recommendations of the committee recommended at Para 4.1.4 (a) in true spirit  by giving notional promotion to NFG to those officials who have completed 2 years service in HSG-I and in Postmaster Grade III cadre retrospectively from 27.05.2016 the date of order of cadre restructuring, duly considering the justification. In Karnataka circle, HSG-I (NFG) is given to those officials who have completed 2 years service in HSG-I notionally from 27.05.2016 vide CPMG Karnataka Circle Bengaluru Memo No.BI/1-3/2018-19 dated 14.11.2018. This date of notional promotion to HSG-I (NFG) should be made applicable to all those officials who have completed 2 years service in HSG-I including the service in Postmaster Grade III on 27.05.2016 so that seniors who were in Postmaster Grade III cadre in the year 2016 till merger of Postmaster Grade III cadre with  HSG-I are not denied their legitimate and justified promotion.  This will also facilitate correcting of anomaly existing now because of  promotion given to juniors who were in HSG-I and promotion denied to seniors who were in Postmaster Grade III cadre on 27.05.2016.  

 An early action is  solicited.

Yours Sincerely,

(R.N. Parashar)

Secretary General

Regular Train cancelled up to 12th August 2020

Regular Train cancelled up to 12th August 2020

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Notification - Competitive Examination for recruitment to the cadre of MTS from eligible GDS for the vacancy year 2019 (01.01.2019 to 31.12.2019) & 2020 (01.01.2020 to 31.12.2020) scheduled to be held on 02.08.2020

CLICK HERE FOR DETAILS ODISHA CIRCLE  JHARKHAND CIRCLE UTTAR PRADESH CIRCLE  MAHARASTRA CIRCLE CHATTISGARH CIRCLE HARYANA CIRCLE  HIMACHAL PRADESH  ANDHRA PRADESH  KARNATAKA CIRCLE DELHI CIRCLE   AND TELANGANA ,TAMILNADU KERALA 

COVERAGE UNDER CENTRAL CIVIL SERVICES (PENSION) RULES, 1972, IN PLACE OF NATIONAL PENSION SYSTEM (NPS) IN TERMS OF DOPPW OM DATED 17.02.2020 - CLARIFICATIONS- REGARDING. (DATED 25/06/2020)

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 National Federation of Postal Employees

1^st 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

 

Ref: PF/NFPE/Resolution                                                                                                 Dated – 26.06.2020

To

The Secretary

Department of Posts

Dak Bhawan, New Delhi – 110001

Sub: - Resolution on bifurcation of DAP office into Hyderabad & Vijayawada and staff management regarding.      

Sir,

The below mentioned Resolution passed unanimously by the Federal Executive held on 19.06.2020 is sent herewith for taking necessary action.

RESOLUTION

“This Federal Executive Committee of National Federation of Postal Employees, in its meeting held on 19.06.2020, unanimously resolved to express its anguish, displeasure and disappointment over the unilateral Bifurcation of the combined Postal Accounts Office Hyderabad in to Andhra Pradesh and Telangana PAOs at Vijayawada and Hyderabad respectively causing irreparable damage to the lives of officials without considering the submissions and suggestions put forth by the staff side. It is highly disappointing to mention that the empowered Committee of CPMsG of both states have not considered/adopted the Bifurcation procedure/methods that were adopted at the time of formation of other Postal Accounts Offices in India or Circle Office or any other Office of Central Government in the state.

It is pertinent to mention here few relevant things, that the Bifurcation of the state of Andhra Pradesh has necessitated the Bifurcation of Postal Circle and then the Postal Accounts Office. From the beginning, the staff side is holding that they would welcome the formation of a new Postal Accounts Office for residual Andhra Pradesh. They also reiterated that the staff of Postal Accounts Office Hyderabad would support their best for smooth running and gradual establishment of the Postal Accounts Office at Andhra Pradesh. It is also a fact that some of the staff members have already given their willingness for Vijayawada PAO and joined there for rendering their services permanently there and another team of thirty two officials have moved there for rendering their services for one year as per PA Wing’s letter dated 15.11.2019. Additionally, till date, around thirty new recruits have joined in new PAO at Vijayawada and fifty JA/LDCs are going to join in coupe of days. A part of work of PAO, Vijayawada is being dealt there and the remaining work is being handled at Hyderabad.

Notwithstanding this, the empowered Committee has done permanent Bifurcation which causes irreparable damage to the lives and families of staff of PAO Hyderabad which has to be reviewed and revamped in the interest of justice.

·         Postal Accounts Offices are centralized offices. One Postal Accounts Office is located in every Postal Circle. Before bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh, the Postal Accounts Office was working from Hyderabad.

·         Officials who have joined in this office did not expect any transfer in their life time as inter - state or any type of transfer is not provided as per the Service Conditions.

·         Bifurcation of State of Andhra Pradesh necessitated the Bifurcation of combined PAO Hyderabad.

·         Officials have given their OPTION to Telangana as almost all of them have put up more than twenty years of service. They have established their families in Hyderabad with a hope of no transfer until their retirement. 

·         Many Postal Accounts Offices in India have been bifurcated in the past. But nowhere the officials of parent office were sent forcibly to newly formed office against their willingness but, unfortunately, in case of bifurcation of PAO Hyderabad, the officials are forcibly allotted/sent to Vijayawada.

·         The Postal Directorate is contemplating several alternatives so as to avoid permanent physical deployment of officials of parent office. As a part of this course 32 officials were sent to Vijayawada for one year in the month of December 2019 clearly mentioning the condition; after completing one year they would be repatriated to their parent office i.e. Hyderabad. They have also put another provision that even before completion of one year, if new officials would join through direct recruitment, the process of repatriation shall start.

·         Some more number of staff would also go on the same lines if required and this process may continue till required strength is recruited at Vijayawada.

·         Now the Directorate has allotted 67 new Junior Accountants and 15 LDCs to Vijayawada additionally providing 56 Junior Accountants as a course of implementing above alternatives, out of which 32 have already joined till date.

·         But the local authorities, without considering to our requests, without studying the procedure undertaken while bifurcating the other offices, without considering the alternative provisions made by the Directorate has issued a Bifurcation Order on 6.03.2020 and permanently allotted officials to Vijayawada.

·         It is disheartening that the provision of one year deployment made during December 2019 had been ruthlessly cancelled through the Bifurcation Order of March 6^th.

·         It is pertinent that the present PAO at Hyderabad is functioning with half of the sanction strength and many retirements are going to take place in coming years. In this situation it would be a good and humanitarian decision to continue the posting of officials for one year at Vijayawada on rotational basis, till the required staff strength is recruited in Vijayawada.

·         Humanitarian and sympathetic view of the issues is required in this regard rather than the technical persuasion. The same humanitarian and sympathetic view can be seen in the previous cases of bifurcation of PAOs of other Circles and also while issuing the order of 15.11.2019 for sending 32 SAs for a period of one year.

·         It is reiterated that the staff of PAO Hyderabad are ready to go to PAO Vijayawada for some more terms on Temporary Transfer/Deputation.”

Hence in this background the Federal Executive Committee of National Federation of Postal Employees urges upon the Authorities to review the entire process of Bifurcation and to cause justice to the officials by setting aside the Bifurcation Order dated 06.03.2020. It is further requested to kindly consider the bifurcation of staff, based on humanitarian approach rather than on the technical aspects, and save the staff from distress, agony and uncertainty. It is also urged to have a comprehensive dialogue with Staff side.

-Sd/-

(President)

With regards,

Yours sincerely,

(R. N. Parashar)

Secretary General

     National Federation of Postal Employees

1^st 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

 

Ref: PF/NFPE/Pay                                                                                                           Dated – 26.06.2020

To,

The Secretary (Post),

Department of Posts,

New Delhi.

Sub: - Decentralization of Pay Roll processing-Reg.

Sir,

We would like to draw your kind attention that the proposal of CEPT, Mysuru with regard to pay roll processing and disbursement by the DDOs in the CSI System, the decentralization of Pay roll processing, which was being done successfully centrally at PAOs would defeat the very basis of IT modernization project of thousands of crores in DoP.

In this connection, it is submitted that the Centralized Salary payment and off-cycle payment was the decision of Postal Service Board and accordingly the same was already implemented in PAN India. Previously, the salary and other supplementary bill payments were being processed and paid by the respective DDOs at HO level. Later, DoP replaced Meghdoot Millennium software by CSI SAP in order to reduce expenditure by centralizing everything and to monitor all happenings centrally on real time basis. Not only that, DoP has already incurred huge cost to replace Meghdoot Millennium by CSl ERP system. It is relevant to mention that total disbursement of salary and pension worth thousands of crores per month happened seamlessly and smoothly in PAN India. Even in times of Corona Pandemic, payments (Salary & Pension) were timely credited into the individual accounts on last day of every month as per expectation of the Department, If it were to be done by respective DDOs, it would have been virtually impossible. Assigning the User and Role authentication to more number of users by decentralising the work will necessitate a separate monitoring mechanism leading to more manpower and expenditure.

In this context, we would like to refer para 3.1.1 of Civil Accounts Manual which states that “As a general rule, all payments in the departmentalized system of accounting are to be made only by Pay and Accounts offices of the Ministry/ Department after proper pre-check. This centralized payment has been implemented after introduction of CSI system on the proposed structure as prescribed by the Ministry of Finance. Consequent on implementation of CSI HRMS in all Circles and in accordance with Para 7.27 of DOP_CSI_HRMS Business Blue Print, the Pay roll work was centralized at PAOs since the inception of CSI software in DoP. This is in accordance with Business Blue Book and Established procedure and approved SOP, by the Postal Service Board. It would not be out of place to mention here that there are several issues in CSI-HR Payroll such as ESS portal which is not accessible at all the times by the employees and hence all the salary data entries are uploaded by the DDOs in PA3O. Besides there is a bandwidth problem in SIFY network in almost all circles. Remote locations face greater difficulty in access and there are TNF locations also. Solutions of such issues are still awaited.

Though the centralized payment system is in a transitional period still it can be emphatically stated that the following benefits can be achieved:

1.    Efficient ESS portal works will enable us to monitor centrally at PAC level all employee related issues can be easily tackled.

2.    No manual maintenance of data anywhere.

3.    Retroactive calculation is done away with.

4.    Integration of Payroll with personal information system and accounting is an added advantage.

5.    Cash management product is brought into the system.

6.    Exceptional improvement in NPS uploads.

7.    Immediate payroll reconciliation with Bank reconciliation.

8.    Close monitoring of Budget in ceiling item heads.

9.    Auto generation of Form 16 and Form 24Q for Income Tax requirements.

10. Pre-audit of monthly payments is only possible in centralized CSI HRMS environment before disbursement. In Decentralize mode, chances of irregular payments are there as there is no pre-check.

In a nutshell, when our Department is striving hard towards modernization and digitalization of HR, the proposed decentralization of Payroll processing and payment works from PAOs to DDOs level will be a retrograde action defeating the very purpose of Human Resource Management in terms of Economy, Efficiency & Efficacy. This step if allowed amounts to trespassing into financial and accounting functions. This reversal act of Pay roll processing will lead to loss of time, wastage of human resources and drain of several crores of rupees from the government Exchequer.

It is therefore requested to kindly intervene and review the decision of CEPT on the subject matter and the disbursement of Pay roll and Pension be continued to be executed centralized at PAOs.

With regards,

Yours sincerely,

(R. N. Parashar)

Secretary General