Very bad news about closer/Merger of TSO

Subject:             Rationalisation and consolidation of urban network.

D.G. Posts No. 40-06/2010Plg dated 25.01.2011.

                Kindly refer to this office letter of even number dated 17.5.2010 on the subject mentioned above calling for views/suggestions from circles regarding need for rationalization and consolidation for urban network, road  map to  be followed and time frame within which the exercise should be completed,. Almost all the Circles have unanimously favoured the need for rationalization.

2.            Due to historical reasons, a major portion of urban postal network lies in the inner city areas consisting of single/double handed non delivery Sub Offices which are not in conformity with the distance criteria of location of post offices. The outer and recently developed areas, however, suffer from lack of even the basic postal facilities in most of the towns/cities. There are also requests for providing postal services in various urban agglomerations, SEZ areas, professional colleges etc. which may also be a profitable activity of the Department .However, due to non-availability of resources, the Department is not able to meet such request.

3.            While the entire rural network is subsidized, Post Offices in urban areas are expected to be initially self supporting, and should earn profit of at least 5% at the time of the First annual review , to be eligible for further retention. Despite this, as on 31.3.2010,as many as 5531 SOs in urban areas are reported to be incurring losses.

4.            Further, as per the prescribed criteria, the minimum distance between two post offices should be 1.5 Km in cities with a population of 2 lakhs and above, and 2 Km in other urban Areas. No two delivery offices should however be closer than 5 Km from each other. Moreover, a delivery post office in urban area should have a minimum of 7 Postman beats. These norms have not been followed in many cases.

5.            Our existing urban network consists of 15797 Post Offices comprising mainly of HOs and SOs.Urban expansion of the country is currently estimated to be 77370sq.kms. As per the prevalent distance norms, this area justifies only about 6000 Post Offices in urban area. This analysis suggests that we have 9797 Pos Offices in urban areas that do not conform to the prescribed norms. This situation warrants need for corrective measures.

6.            Need for rationalization of urban network  was appreciated by the Department as early as in the year 2003 which led to issuing  elaborate instructions to Circles vide D.O. letter No. 40-4/2002-Plg dated 6.1.2003 for relocation/merger of single / double handed post offices. Resultantly, 1262 post offices have been merged/relocated throughout the country. It is however felt that the pace of relocation of post offices is not satisfactory and we are losing out on various business opportunities and the people in outer areas of urban settlements are deprived of the postal services. On the other hand, the Government is not allowing us to further expand our network by creation of new posts not only in urban areas but also in rural areas. Successive Plan Periods have witnessed opening of Post Office by redeployment of posts only without any new creation.

7.            For rationalization of postal network in urban areas by way of relocation of Post Offices in new areas and creation of bigger Post Offices by merger of single /double handed Post Offices as per stipulated distance and other norms, the Circles should keep the following into consideration:

(i)                   There are some Post Offices which are loss making due to high rentals e.g. Post Offices at Railway Stations, important bus terminals, airports etc. We may however not relocate them due to their strategic importance, convenience they offer to the people and high number of footfalls they attract.

(ii)                 While assessing the need for postal facilities we should have close liaison with local bodies like Municipal Corporation/Municipal Committees, Town Area Committees etc. so that we can be aware of their future plans of expansion of cities and we can accordingly formulate our strategies and have a long-term plan for extending our network in such areas. Regular coordination meetings may be prescribed with such bodies at appropriate levels.

(iii)                Post Offices which have been covered under Project Arrow/Post Offices functioning in departmental buildings should not be earmarked for relocation. If there are other Post offices in their vicinity the same may be considered for relocation.

(iv)               Post Offices paying high rentals, having low volume of transactions and running in losses should be considered for relocation/temporary merger/permanent merger.

(v)                 Distance from the nearest post office and the business being transacted should be the main criteria for relocation. Merger of Post Offices.

(vi)               In addition to relocating post offices from one area to another, we can also create bigger Post Offices, not below the rank of LSG Offices, by merger of several smaller scattered Post Offices. The bigger Post Offices will be well equipped to cater to the latest postal facilities like IMO,eMO,Videsh MO, IMTS etc. These newly created Post Offices will be manned by redeployment of staff/posts from the nearby post offices.

(vii)              It may also be considered to reduce the number of delivery Post Offices, which may lead to obviating the need for the nodal delivery system for Speed Post articles as it is not providing to be cost effective. In any case there is a need to strictly follow the norms of the distance of at least 5 KMs between two delivery offices and also that of delivery Post Office in Urban area having a minimum of 7 Postman beats.

(viii)            If opening of a post office is justified in an area, but it is not possible to open post office by relocation or under the Plan targets, opening of franchise outlets may be considered for such area.

8.            In, view of the above, Circles are requested to take the following action:

                (i)            Identification of Post Offices which are at lesser distances than that prescribed                                                under   norms. In case, more than one Post Offices are not fulfilling the distance                           norms, Post Office                 (s) may be earmarked for relocation on the basis of :

(a)    Condition of building

(b)    Profitability of Post Office

(c)     Business of Post Office

                (ii)           PMsG/CPMsG will interact with all the stakeholders and convince them that                                    relocation and merger would help in providing postal facilities to public and it is in                               larger public interest.

                (iii)          Identity needy urban and rural areas where there is justification for new Post                                   Offices.

                (iv)          Post Offices once indentified as per (i) above, will be relocated /merged  This will                            outside the Plan targets.

9.            Circles are requested to complete the exercise in respect of sub para (i),(ii)and (iii) {of para 8) by 31.03.2011 and in respect of sub para(iv){para 8} by 30.06.2011. Circles are also requested to send monthly progress reports of action taken, to this Directorate(proforma enclosed).

10.          Since the need for opening of Post Offices in new locations seems to be ever increasing , Circles are also requested to open Post Offices by redeployment of posts/staff from the existing office(s), by curtailing  staff strength of the existing offices even to less than the justified workload of the office/offices. This exercise would, however, be subject to Plan targets set by the Directorate. The powers for redeployment of Group 'C' and 'D' posts have already been vested with the HoCs vide Directorate letter No. 2-2/93-PE-I dated 7^th of Sep, 1993.Under no circumstances should the surplus posts be abolished.

                This issue wit h the approval of the competent authority.

Sd/-

(Anurag Priyadarshee)

Director (R.B

New features for our Department.

Dear Comrades,

As you are aware, Department of Posts has embarked upon the ambitious IT Modernisation Programme- 'India Post 2012'with an objective of transforming the Department into a "Technology Enabled" Self Reliant Market Leader" The Programme envisages computerization and net working of all post offices across the country to facilitate prompt and increased service delivery levels.

                For  the last 150 years, India Post has been the backbone of India's communication and core of the country's socio-economic development, Significant trends such as liberalization and globalisation, urbarnisation, increased demand for financial services , increased funding by government for weaker sections and rural sector, now require India Post to develop new processes and supporting  technology.

                The Department, at the present juncture, also faces the twin challenges posed by increasing competition and continuing advances in communication technology, especially mobile technology and the World Wide Web. In order to equip itself with modern technology, providing best in class service delivery to customers, identification of new services and business areas and improving operational efficiency, India Post intends to engage in an end to end India Post 2012 project..

                The Department has undertaken computerization of Post Offices under two phases in the current plan. Under the 1^st Phase approval of Government was obtained in February, 2009 for computerization and networking of all post offices up to double handed level, up gradation of hardware in the post office which were supplied with computers in the 9^th Plan, computerization of the administrative officers, setting up of project management unit for managing the IT project etc. So far more than 16000 Post Offices are computerized and provided with connectivity.

                Under Phase-II of computerization, the need was felt to create comprehensive solutions for all products and solutions and to create IT infrastructure. The project "INDIA POST 2012' also envisages computerization of all the non-computerized Post Office in the country including GDS Post Offices phased over the financial years 2010-11,2011-12 and 2012-13.

The project has the following components:

●             It will establish IT infrastructure of Data Centre and Disaster Recovery Centre and networking of all Post Offices including Branch Posts Offices in the rural area..

●             The project envisages development of integrated modular scalable applications for mail, banking, postal life insurance and solutions for accounts and HR operations of the Department.

●             The rural post offices will be provided with rural ICT devices with required applications for performing postal, banking, insurance, retail operations can connect to the central server in

on line/offline mode.

●                Provision for training , changes management, capacity building of the employees of the department along with setting up of the Project Management Units at Department, Circle, Region and Division levels for smooth and timely implementation of the project.

Project management and implementation follows a 4-tier structure:

●                Department Level PMU

●             Circle Level PMU(22)

●                Region Level PMU(37)

●                Division Level PMU(511) (Including RMS Divisions)

                The RFPs are under process to select the vendors who will help the Department in development of the software and establishing the IT infrastructure .All single handed Pos are proposed to be computerized this year.

This programme will deliver benefits across multiple dimensions like:

                100% of our post offices will be computerized or connected

                There will be a radical increase in access to financial protection in rural in rural area (e.g. Rural post life insurance).

                There will be a significant enhancement in revenue growth.

                Multitude of products will be improved and new products will be launched (e.g.egovernace,          Rural ICT)

                The rural customer experience shall be re-engineered.

                Our service delivery levels will increase substantially.

This programme will benefit the employees of India Post in various ways too:

                Employees will have an opportunity to learn, build and enhance new skills and expertise.

                There will be a reduction in manual and enhanced productively level.

               

                Employees will be able to deliver enhanced IT enabled services to their customers leading                 to a significant reduction in customer complaints.

                This programme will help in improving employees engagement and empowerment.

                Will give the employees and opportunity to work in an innovation based culture.

                Lastly but  not the least India Post employees will be proud to be part of a growing and vibrant                 organization.

                As you are aware, India Post has a large employee base, spread across the country. The changes will impact all operational units of the network, in a number of operations and administrative units with new management system. The Circles, Regions, Divisions and Post Offices will be dealing with implementation of multiple solutions. Major and medium size post offices will be implementing a number of solutions. The accounting and administrative units will be involved in new management systems. The change leadership has to be very high across organization and levels to handle these multiple changessimpacting almost allmajor cadre of the organization. Therefore, it will be necessary to engage employees from all levels to induct the changes.

Following issues assume importance:

●                Capacity building-Existing capacity redeployment and additional capacity building is an important component.

●             The existing training infrastructure will need to be augmented to cope with the skilling and deskilling activities.

●                Computer literacy at all levels will need to be ensured particularly the GDSs.

●                Modernisation and Investment in Customer facing solutions will demand commutation, education and support services. In addition the customer facing workforce will need to be knowledgeable  about products and should have very strong customer facing skills.

●                Ongoing performance support and training.

                The Department proposes to run a massive Change management plan to meet these challenges.

                Your role is critical to the success of this Programme and we look forward to your fullest cooperation. We look forward to your continued support participation to make this a success.

R.S.KALANGE

Organising Secretary,

Maharashtra Circle.

REGULARIZATION OF RTP SERVICE- A GOOD MOVE BY DIRECTORATE

IMMEDIATE

No.44-1/2011-SPB-II

Government of India

Ministry of Communication & IT

Department of Posts

New Delhi, Dated the 13.01.2011

To,

All Heads of Postal Circle

Subject: - Counting of adhoc services rendered by Reserve Trained Pool (RTP) PAs/SAs for promotion.

Sir,

I am directed to enclose herewith a copy of letter No.P/1-1/AIC, dated 29.12.2010 addressed to Hon’ble MOS (C&IT) (K) by the General Secretary, All India Postal Employees Union Group ‘C’, New Delhi on the above subject.

2. It may be stated that Department of Posts had introduced a scheme in the year 1983 to enable candidates from the Reserve Training Pool (RTP) of Postal Assistants (PAs)/Sorting Assistants (SAs) to opt for service in Army Postal Service (APS). After having been brought on the RTP, they were appointed for a short period as PA/SA on adhoc basis and then deputed to the APS. The RTP candidates deputed to APS were eligible to get the benefit of regular appointment in the Civil Post from the date their immediate junior was appointed on a regular basis in the Civil Post. RTP scheme has since been abolished w.e.f 04.03.86.

Hon’ble Supreme Court in C.A. No. 5739 of 2005 in the case of UOI Vs. Shri. Mathivanan vide their judgment dated 09.06.2006 had held that adhoc service rendered in APS should be counted for the purpose of grant of financial upgradation under TBOP scheme. Keeping in view the Apex court’s decision in M. Mathivanan’s case and the fact that TBOP is not to be granted on the basis of seniority it was decided to extend the benefit of the Apex court’s order to similarly placed serving officials vide Directorate’s letter No. 93-25/2003-SPB-II dated 26.07.2010.

The Service Association in their letter under reference has stated that existing regular PAs/SAs who were earlier retained in the RTP and appointed on ad-hoc basis in the Circles had approached Hon’ble CAT and their adhoc service has been counted as regular service for all purposes. Thus, they have demanded to extend the same benefit to similarly placed persons. In this connection, the circles are requested to furnish the following:

(a) No. of officials retained by the Circle under RTP scheme and the after appointed as PA/SA on ad-hoc basis.

(b) No. of such ad-hoc officials who were thereafter appointed as PA/SA on regular basis and (i) retained in the Circles as such and (ii) deputed in APS.

(c) Whether any of such PA/SA appointed after rendering ad-hoc service and regularized and retained in the Circle itself has approached Hon’ble CAT for regularization of their ad-hoc service?

(d) If so, number of such PA/SA regularized may be intimated and

(e) Copies of the Court’s orders, CO order implementing these court orders along with letter number of Directorate under which approval has been obtained by the Circle for implementation of the Court’s orders may be furnished to the Directorate.

Encl: As above

Yours faithfully,

Sd/-

(Suran Bhan)

Asstt. Director General (SPN

Engagement of Contingency staff - Orders issued

Comrades,
                Now, we can engage contingency staff i.e.Gardner, Sweeper, Scavanger
for Post offices.

The item was discussed in monthly meeting of Jan.2011 with the SSPO's, Satara.

                This is one of the historical decision. Our union is fighting against injustice.