MEETING ON ALLOWANCES
A meeting on Department of Posts specific allowances was held with the Committee on allowances under chairmanship of Secretary Finance and secretary Expenditure. From Department of Post, Secretary (Post), Member (Personal), DDG (Personal), DDG (Estates) , DDG(Estt. & SR), Director Estt. attended the meeting. From Staff Side Com. R.N. Parashar, Secretary General NFPE,Shri Theagarajan, Secretary General FNPO & Shri S.K. Mishra , Secretary General, BPEF, participated in the meeting. Many other officers of DOP&T, Finance, Health Ministries also participated.
Three meetings were held with Department and Administration and Unions after discussing threadbare came to conclusion and accordingly presentation was prepared which was presented before the Committee. Secretary (Finance) shown much interest and he asked so many questions and raised queries on each allowance and asked the Department to submit a report on financial implications.
The meeting was concluded in a very co-ordial manner and we should hope for positive outcome. On the following allowances we submitted our proposal which is mentioned below:
Fixed Monetary Compensation to Postman:
Proposal: Not to abolish the allowance. It is proposed to grant Rs.300/- per day for additional full beat and Rs.150/- per day for sharing of beat(half beat) and further proposed to increase by 25% every time when DA reaches at 50%.(Department earlier proposed that allowance as Rs.200/- and Rs.100/- but on the demand of Federations, now it is proposed same as Rs.3oo/- and Rs.150/-
Special Allowance to PO & RMS Accountants:
Proposal: The allowance is required to be continued as this special allowance has been sanctioned in lieu of higher pay scale. If abolished, one increment is to be allowed on promotion which costs more to the Department. Therefore, it is proposed to grant special allowance equivalent to one increment which will be kept separately and not to be added in the basic pay. Other conditions applicable to present allowance will remain in force. (i.e. if this allowance is drawn for three years it will be added to basic pay while pay fixation on promotion.)
Cycle Allowance to Postman:
Proposal: Must be retained while doubling the amount to Rs.180 p.m. and further increase by 25% every time the DA increases by 50%
Cash Handling and Treasury Allowance:
Proposal: The Cash Handling Allowance should be retained and need to be doubled and further increase by 25% every time the DA increases by 50%.
Fixed Medical Allowance:
Proposal: 33 Postal Dispensaries may be merged with CGHS.
All Postal Pensioners irrespective of their participation in CGHS while in service should be covered under CGHS after making requisite subscription.
Till such time, the FMA may be allowed @ Rs.2000/- per month enhancing from Rs.500/- p.m. being paid at present.
Headquarter Allowance:
Proposal: Proposes to retain the Headquarters Allowance at the uniform rate of 10% of the basic pay subject to ceiling of Rs.9000/- per month.
Overtime Allowance:
Proposal: Department recommends to grant additional duty allowance in lieu of OTA in operative offices only for performing additional duty of absentee official.
It is proposed Rs. 100/- per hour maximum of three hours in a day and further increase by 25% every time the DA increases by 50%.
Besides these we demanded S.B. Allowance and Supervisory allowance to be continued and enhanced proportionately.