Grant of special paid leave for GDS employees going for Covid -19 treatment / home quarantine- SG FNPO sent letter to Chairman Postal Services Board.
Ref:No.4/NUGDS/FNPO/2020 Dtd.20/07/2020
To
Shri.Pradipta
Kumar Bisoi
The
Chairman,
Postal
Services Board,
DakBhawan,
Respected Sir,
Sub: Grant of special paid leave for GDS
employees going for
Coved -19 treatment / home quarantine.
This regarding the GDS working during this Covid-19
period without any amenities, facilities. The GS NUGDS has addressed a letter
to some Heads of the circles and the copy of the same is sent to my Federation
the same is enclosed for your kind reference. Therefore my Federation to bring
to your notice the following facts and request for appropriate directions to
the concerned.
1. It is fact that the Government of
India declared the Postal service is essential service. This service includes
the GDS who manage the POs in the interior villages of the country and thus
without the service of the GDS the postal service cannot render its service to
every house of the country.
2. The Postal service has stood
firmly during this hour of crisis and renders services such as AEPS
transactions, opening of IPPB accounts, delivery of medicines, medical
equipment, and food products to the needy people. The Postal department
disbursed many DBT payments and crore of rupees has been paid at the doorstep
of the needy and aged ones by way of effecting EMO payments.
3. Behind all such services the
services of the GDS are remarkable. During the entire lock down the roster
system cannot be applied to the GDS, the reduced work hours cannot be applied
to the Branch Post offices. Since lock down in the entire country the transport
is crippled, literally there is no transport facility. The GDS putting aside
this hardship, braving the threat of Corona worked normally, hundred percent
and reached every house to render service. Thus the role of GDS in ensuring
postal service during this Pandemic is remarkable.
4. Now in all over the country it is
reported that many GDS are infected during the course of their duty in the
department as they daily come directly come in contact with the public and
provided the space constraints and unawareness among the many villagers it is
practically difficult to maintain the social distance. It is reported that many
GDS tested positive, admitted to various hospitals, many are on home quarantine
for the one or the reason.
5. In many cases even the GDS is not
infected, if the PA/SPM of a particular office is tested positive, the GDS of
that office being the primary contact forced to go on home quarantine.
6. At present there is no direction
from the department regarding the kind of leave that is to be granted to the
GDS when they are infected or sent on home quarantine. Where ever such
incidents are reported the DHs are directing the GDS to apply LWA and to go on
home quarantine or treatment as the case may be.
7. The department very well knows the
salary structure of the GDS. Such poorly paid are made to apply LWA in case of
infection or home quarantine it is nothing but pushing the GDS and his family
to starvation.
8. The infection or home quarantine
is not self committed mistake of any GDS. It is happened in the course of
rendering essential service to the customers. Hence it is the responsibility of
the department to grant paid leave for such period so that the GDS and their
families will not starve.
My
Federation requests to treat this as a special case and issue directions to
grant special leave or paid leave for Covid-19 cases of GDS. This is the social
responsibility of the department in protecting the persons who rendered service
putting their lives at risk.
I again request to treat this as special case and
cause necessary action.
In anticipation of early reply
Thanking you,
Yours sincerely
(B.SHIVAKUMAR)
Secretary General
Copy to:
1] The CPMG Kerala Circle Tiruvanathapuram Kerala for
information
2] File