Hyderabad: Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Saturday assured the Gramin Dak Sevaks (GDS) that their demands would be brought to the notice of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Communication Minister Manoj Sinha.
Interacting with the GDS at a community hall in Chikkadapally area of the city, the Union Minister said she came here on the directions of the Prime Minister. She said the revision of GDS wages by the Union Government was not a favour, but their right, because they were getting low wages since long. While praising the GDS services, the Union Minister said the GDS are playing a key role in the implementation of Central schemes in rural areas. Even though the District Collector is present, people in rural areas believe that the Post Office is the Central government. Ms Sitharaman asked the GDS to work sincerely for the development of the Department. The Union Cabinet has approved the revision in the wage structures and allowances of GDS on June 6. The revision in the wage structure would entail an estimated expenditure of Rs 1,257.75 crore. About 2.75 lakh DGS will be benefited by this wage revision. Of them 30,030 will be benefited in Telanagna. As per the wage revision, the GDS categories are reduced to two from six. The slabs of Time Related Continuity Allowance (TRCA) reduced to three from 11. The new slabsRs 10000 from Rs 2295, Rs 12,000 from 2745 and Rs 14,500 from Rs 4115. The average hike of TRCA is 56.1 per cent.
For payment of arrears, 2.57 fitment formula will be applied for the period from January 1,2016 to the date of implementation. The minimum wage has been increased to Rs 10,000 per month and maxim to Rs 35,480. The rate of annual increase is 3 per cent. DA will be paid on par with Central Government employees. Exgratia gratuity increased from Rs 60,000 to Rs 1.5 lakhs, Severance Amount increased from Rs 60,000 to 1.5 lakhs. Approved 180 days Maternity leaves to female GDS with full TRCA+ DA. This is the first time. Composite Allowance from BPM is increased from Rs 100 to Rs 500, Boat Allowance increased to Rs 115 from Rs 50. Introduced Risk and Hardship Allowance fro the first time Rs 500 per month. Cycle Maintenance Allowance increased to Rs 180 from Rs 90, Combined Duty Allowance increased to Rs 1170 from Rs 500. Earlier, the GDS demanded the implementation of Kamlesh Chandra Committee recommendations, including an ex-gratia of Rs five lakh, pension and 30 common leaves instead of five, among others.
