WELFARE SCHEMES FOR GRAMIN DAK SEVAKS

EXISTING WELFARE SCHEMES INTRODUCED FOR GRAMIN DAK SEVAKS

1	Maternity Grant	Women GDS are provided Maternity Grant for each child up to the birth of maximum of two children limited to maximum of two confinements resulting into birth of first two children only during the entire engagement period of a Woman GDS equivalent to three months TRCA with DA.  Women GDS’s like Mail Deliverer and Mail Carrier have also been prescribed to be considered for lighter duties wherever possible during the pre and post confinement period.
2	Maternity Leave	Women GDS have also been provided to be granted maternity leave not exceeding six months covering the pre and post confinement period.
3	Extra Departmental Group Insurance Scheme	Gramin Dak Sevaks are provided with insurance coverage of Rs. 50000/- under the Group Insurance Scheme available to them on death.
4	Service Discharge Benefit Scheme	A Service Discharge Benefit Scheme has been introduced by the Government for the benefit of Gramin Dak Sevaks working in the Department of Posts on monthly contribution basis (from Department’s side only @ Rs. 200/-pm) devised on the basis of New Pension Scheme (NPS)-Lite scheme launched by the Pension Fund Regulatory & Development Authority (PFRDA). This Scheme has been offered in lieu of the existing Severance Amount Scheme on an optional basis for the existing Gramin Dak Sevaks while it is mandatory for the new Gramin Dak Sevaks entering into service with effect from 01.01.2011.  The Scheme provides a certain percentage as lump sum at the time of discharge plus mandatory investment of certain percentage in annuity that would provide them monthly benefits in the shape of pension.
5	Leave	Gramin Dak Sevaks are allowed to be granted 20 days paid leave in a year without accumulation.
6	Limited Transfer Facility	Gramin Dak Sevaks are provided with the facility of limited transfer in cases of posting at a distant place on redeployment in the event of abolition of the post, on being appointed on compassionate grounds and posted at distant place, on marriage/remarriage of woman GDS, on suffering extreme hardship due to a disease and for medical attention/treatment of self on production of valid medical certificate from the medical officer of a Government Hospital and on requirement of looking after the welfare of a physically handicapped/mentally handicapped person/dependant requiring to move to different places to give support to such dependant. Such facility is provided for only one transfer during the entire career and on rendering a minimum service of 3 years subject to fulfillment of other conditions. Based on recommendation made by one man Committee, an exception has been made for women Gramin Dak Sevaks, who availed the transfer facility on the ground of extreme hardship due to a disease and for medical attention/treatment before their marriage and now they can avail the facility for a second time in the event of their marriage/re-marriage.
7	Assistance from Welfare Fund	Following assistance from welfare fund are allowed to the Gramin Dak Sevaks:- S. No. Name of Welfare Scheme Admissible amount of Financial Assistance 1 Financial Assistance in case of death Rs. 7000/- 2 Death occurring due to enemy action in war or border skirmishes or action against militants, terrorists, extremists, etc. Rs. 1,50,000/- 3 Funeral Expenses* Rs.500/- 4 Nutritional diet to the GDS suffering from Tuberculosis : (a)     Indoor treatment. (b)   Outdoor treatment. Rs.400/- p.m. Rs.200/- p.m. 5 Financial Assistance in case of prolonged and serious illness / major surgeries Rs. 5000/- 6 Scholarship and book award scheme To ensure better coverage for GDSs, their wards be granted relaxation by 10% marks as in case of SCs/STs and OBCs, in so far as grant of book award is concerned. *Payable from the Circle Welfare Fund, only in cases in which last rites of deceased Postal Employee are performed by brothers or sisters or near relatives in the absence of any other next of kin.
8	Compassionate Engagement	A new transparent Scheme for engagement of dependents GDS on compassionate grounds with merit points and procedure for selection has been introduced allocating points for each attribute of indigence on a 100 Point Scale. Spouse [widows] has been allowed 15 grace points over and over. Hard and deserving cases have been prescribed as cases over and above 50 Points.
9	Medical Facilities	GDS being a separate and distinct category, they are not covered by CS (MA) Rules and they are also not extended the CGHS facility. Under the existing provisions, they are allowed financial assistance to the extent of Rs. 5000/-from Circle Welfare Fund provided such GDS must have put in at least six years of service in the Department, treatment should have been taken from Government hospital and produced medical certificates and the illness is at least 2 months old. Regional/Circle Heads have been conferred discretionary powers to sanction financial assistance to the extent of Rs. 10000/- in each case. In rare and exceptional circumstances, further financial assistance can also be considered from Central Welfare Fund.
10	Avenues for absorption on regular departmental posts	GDS being Extra Departmental, their absorption as departmental employee to the cadre of MTS/Postman/PA is through direct recruitment under the statutory recruitment rules. Under the statutory Recruitment Rules of the cadre of MTS, GDS are considered for 25% vacancies against seniority quota and further 25% vacancies through Limited Departmental Examination (LDE). As per Recruitment Rules of Postman cadre, GDS are considered against 50% vacancies through LDE. In addition, GDS can also be considered for direct recruitment to the post of Postal Assistant (PA) / Sorting Assistant (SA) against unfilled promotion quota vacancies of PA/SA on the basis of examination subject to fulfillment of the following conditions as on 01st January of the vacancy year:- (i)                 GDS should have obtained at least 50% marks in 10+2 standard or 12th class with English as a compulsory subject (excluding vocational streams) and have put in a minimum service of 5 years (ii)               They should be within 30 years of age (35 years for SC/ST & 33 years for OBC)

Authority:  Annexure III to LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1402 DATED 6.03.2013