MEMORANDUM, CHARTER OF DEMAND AND AGITATION PROGRAMMES OF AIPSBCOEA AS DECIDED IN THE CWC HELD AT NEW DELHI FROM 28.2.20 TO 29.2.20
Ref. No.:
AIPSBCOEA/CHQ/memorandum/2020
dated- 09.03.2020
MEMORANDUM
To
The Secretary,
Department of Posts,
Dak Bhawan, Sansad Marg,
New Delhi – 110 001.
Sub:
Submission of Phasewise agitation programmes on 20 Charter of Demands.
Sir,
Our
Association is constrained to note that no action was taken upon the genuine
demands of SBCO cadre even though they were already submitted to the
Directorate several times i.e. on 18.9.19 , 5.11.19 & 17.1.20. Non consideration of even single demand is
causing unrest and agony among the staff. In the Central Working Committee
Meeting of our Association held in New Delhi from 28.2.20 to 29.2.20 heated
debate was witnessed and came to conclusion unanimously as there is no other
option except to go for struggle programme. Details of demands and series of
struggle programmes are enclosed.
PHASEWISE
AGITATIONAL PROGRAMMES OF THE ALL INDIA POSTAL SBCO EMPLOYEES ASSOCIATION:-
1.
LUNCH HOUR GATE MEETING AT ALL HEAD OFFICES on 20.04.2020
2.
BLACK BADGE CAMPAIGN on 27.04.2020 & 28.04.2020
3.
POSTCARD CAMPAIGN on 04.05.2020
4.
HUNGER FAST
AT ALL CIRCLE OFFICES on 11.05.2020
5.
HUNGER FAST AT DIRECTORATE on 18.05.2020
CHARTER OF DEMANDS:
1..Audit status to SBCO staff and
change of nomenclature as Auditor in place of PA(SBCO) & grant of
promotions accordingly:
The G/S on behalf of AIPSBCOEA has
already submitted cadre restructuring proposal on 15.1.14 to the Department
where in the justification for change of nomenclature of PA(SBCO) into Auditor
has been elaborated. The two round discussion with Chairman Cadre restructuring
committee have also been held on 05.02.14 & 07.02.14. After introduction of
CBS the SBCO staff have been ordered for Auditor’s training in Postal Training
Centres.In view of aforesaid discussion the nomenclature of PA(SBCO) into
Auditor should be accepted and the house expressed his concern accordingly to
pass the resolution. It is learnt that the SBCO staff was decentralized / born
from Audit & Accounts and are liable
to promotional avenues at par with them, Proposed Nomenclature &
their promotional avenues are as under:-
|
Present
Designation
|
Proposed
Designation
|
MACPs
|
|
Proposed
Scales of pay
|
|
PA(SBCO)
The duties of
UDCs (SBCO) are at Present assigned
to them
|
Auditor
(Entry level)
|
-
|
5200-20200
|
GP-2800
|
|
|
|
MACP –I
|
9300-34800
|
GP-4200
|
|
|
|
MACP-II
|
9300-34800
|
GP-4600
|
|
|
|
MACP-III
|
9300-34800
|
GP-4800
|
|
LSG
(Supervisor)
|
Sr. Auditor
|
-
|
9300-34800
|
GP-4200
|
|
HSG –II (Sr. Supervisor
|
Chief Auditor
|
-
|
9300-34800
|
GP-4600
|
|
HSG – I (Chief Supervisor)
|
Executive Auditor
|
-
|
9300-34800
|
GP-4800
|
|
-
|
Chief Executive Auditor (Gazetted)
|
-
|
9300-34800
|
GP-5400
|
Ultimately
SBCO section is dealing with the work of audit only (ie) downloading the datas
from Finacle and voucher checking with
utmost concentration. The term AUDIT defines “an official inspection of an
organizations account by an independent body and it cannot be expected to
detect every fraud”.
Fortunately
the work presently done by SBCO has coincided with the definition of AUDIT .
SBCO cadre are called as distinct category according to the department, in
other words independent body. POSB is very large banking institution under the
Department of Posts having crores of account holders and multi crore of rupees
as investment by the people. Proper audit to POSB system is inevitable.
In our
strong opinion , an robust internal audit should, be mooted out in POSB like
various audit organizations (ie) P & T audit General, Audit Civil Audit, Defence and Railway Audit,
taking in account of safety of public
money.
Now the
Government/Department should take initiative to declare the SBCO as SB audit
organization and its cadres as Audit and
cause order the DPS/AO ICO(SB)/AO GM PA & F as controlling authority
straightaway delinking powers of Divisional Heads and Postmasters of HO over
SBCO. Letter already written by the Association AIPSBCOEA/CHQ/Audit status/2019
dated 25.11.19, dated 2.12.19, 7.1.20, 17.1.20, 22.1.20 etc.
2.The
Role of SBCO cadre in future
:
The recent Directorate order
F.No.04-05/2015-SPB-I, Government of India, Ministry of Communications,
Department of Posts, Dak Bhawan , Sansad Marg, New Delhi. Dated 18.09.2019
regarding Framing of DOP (Postal
Assistant and sorting Assistant)
Recruitment Rules, 2019 – regarding
, Our Association would like to inform the Department that the cadre of PA(SBCO) should not be merged with General line PA
and any decision may be taken only after
discussion and suggestion of Union representatives
of SBCO cadre . A
separate detailed letter was sent regarding this, Letter
already written by the Association AIPSBCOEA/CHQ/Audit status/2019 dated
25.11.19, dated 2.12.19, 7.1.20, 17.1.20, 22.1.20 etc for
maintaining separate identity of SBCO and grant of Audit Status to SBCO and if
at all merger is necessary , SBCO officials to be merged with Director of
Postal Accounts from which they were bifurcated as nature of work is similar
and Controlling Officer needs to be the Accounts Officer of GM PA & F.
3.Change of Administrative control:
It is learnt that SBCO was part of the AG P&T and
through an Act of amendment by Nodal Ministry (Ministry of Finance) Small
savings Audit & accounting work was transferred from the Audit office to
the Post Office in 1961 with formation of new nomenclature as “SBCO”. Since
then miseries of SBCO Employees started and in the last 55 years, have lost
everything from Designation to the pay & perks. On similar lines the
Account wing was also introduced in the Department of Posts w.e.f. 01.04.76 in
the form of Office of Director of Accounts (Postal). Both wings of the
Department were part of AG P & T but there is vast difference in pay &
perks with promotional avenues between SBCO and Postal Account staff. In Postal
Account Office directly recruited. Jr Accountant are getting Rs. 5400 G.P. by
way of MACPs in the SBCOs, the PA being similarly situated is getting Rs.
4600/- G.P. The Department of Posts is undergoing a sea-changes because of
modernization and technological advancement. The Department has launched its
prestigious project CSI and in the post modernization and in CSI environment
SBCO has its specific role . The Association demands that the SBCO wing should
be brought under the control of Director of Accounts(Postal) being same nature
of work and in recent days a order regarding the work of NSCs & KVPs is
also assigned to SBCO cadre which was previously done by DAP.
3 (i)Restoration of powers for
recording APARs of SBCO staff to AO ICO (SB) in place of Divisional Heads:
SBCO functions are devised for
checking, auditing and accounting according to the prescribed procedures. PAs
(SBCO) belong to circle cadre and their
Appointing Authority is Director of Postal Services. The progress of the work
performed by the officials of SBCO is virtually reviewed by AO ICO(SB) acquire
knowledge about the staff and their performance. Since the SBCO is an audit
section, it has to bring out the deficiencies and discrepancies of the SB
Branch by raising objections and reports. This action is not relished by the
Divisional Administration and the SBCO Branch is being considered as nuisance
by them. As such, the power of writing of CRs over SBCO staff vested with Divisional
Administration to coerce the SBCO staff for not raising genuine objections.
Hence, it is resolved to restore the power of writing of CRs to AO ICO (SB) to
enable the SBCO staff for maintenance of proper accounting and auditing as per
SB Control Procedure and pattern independently.
4.Contributory Negligence/Irregular
Recovery imposed on SBCO staff:
The duties of SBCO staff are well defined in Manual for SB Control, Pairing & ICO Procedure.
Accordingly the SBCO staff are exercising the decentralized Audit &
Accounts duties and their work actually start after accounting of the
transactions. Therefore , penalizing the SBCO employee by imposing recovery of
loss irrationally for frauds committed in the Savings Schemes in Sub Offices /
Branch Offices is contrary to statutory Rules. The SBCO staff is not directly
related to any type of monetary transaction and accordingly they should not be
imposed as offender/co-offender in misappropriation cases. It is learnt that
under Rule 11 (iii) of CCS (CCA)Rules 1965 the penalty of recovery can be
imposed on a Govt. servant who is
directly responsible for the act of negligence or breach of orders causing the financial loss and
accordingly the SBCO staff should not be held responsible for any type of
recovery in misappropriation cases, so that the SBCO staff be exempted from
contributory negligence as they are not directly involved in any monetary
transactions. Many officials of SBCO are not getting their usual MACPs, LSG/HSG
I & HSG II promotions due to the non-related contributory negligence cases
and irregular recovery imposed against them which is highly injustice done on
the SBCO officials which should be immediately withdrawn.
5.Filling up the vacant posts in SBCO:
The SBCO is facing acute shortage of
staff in all the Circles and the G/S has addressed a detailed reference on
12.3.16 to the Secretary (Posts) which is unattended to. After role out of CBS
hundred percent vouchers checking and other CBS works have been assigned to
SBCO subject to there should not be more than 2-3 days pendency, but it is
impossible to carry out the work in under staffed situation. The checking of
NSCs & KVPs vouchers have also been deployed to SBCO in these situations
are unmanageable without staff. That a special drive for recruitment of SBCO
staff may be launched to make good the shortage of staff in SBCO as early as
possible to avoid the pendency because about 50% to 60% posts of PA(SBCO) are
lying vacant in all the Circles of the Deparment. . The Department of Posts
may conduct the exams directly for filling up of vacancies raised as and when instead
of conducting exams through the SSC as the recruitment process is very much
slow when handled by the SSC.
6.To Dispense the work of
FRMU Alert from SBCO:
With reference to the Directorate letter
No.F.1-3/2017-PCO/PMLA Dated 15.4.2019,
it is brought to the kind notice
of the administration that reply
was given to
the association that the circles
have been asked to strengthen the circle FRMU/AML unit by posting Inspectors/Asp and staff at a Central location
for checking alerts and
that there is no
specific order from
Directorate relating to any other
staff. But when
this is being
implemented at Division level it is cited that as per the Directorate letter No. 17-15/2016-Inv dated 8.5.2019 regarding SOP for processing
FRMU alerts it is
stated that the
SBCO Supervisor to
do the following
checks
.
- Cross verify with the closure voucher (SB-7A)
- Verify the Signature using IES Menu in Finacle
- Check the CIF modification details using HAFI menu of Finacle
- For subsequent accounts, check with AOF/SB-3 form.
The above
4 points mentioned
for the SBCO supervisor to
verify is not in
the SB control procedure and
moreover the work
which is already
being carried out in SBCO
as 100% checking
of vouchers by
PAs and 5%
verification done by
the supervisor SBCO. All
closures including PMCs
are checked as a
part of
duty by the SBCO branch as per the control procedure
and SB order 14/2015 and the Addendums.
As per the above
points it is
duplication of work
as after few months again alerts
have been sent to verify once again from the beginning which will cause wastage of
time and manpower
to check the
same work again , as of
now all SBCO
units are suffering
from acute shortage
of staff and
regular supervisor are
very few. It will moreover
accumulate pending of
current voucher checking at
SBCO branch. As far as the checking of CIF modification
and signature verification using IES is concerned , it is not in the control procedure
of SBCO and it is a routine to be completed at the counter level itself before
payment of the amount to the depositor.
Even after
clarification issued from the Directorate dated 30.10.2019 that only in
suspicious cases, verification to be done by the postmasters in consultation of
SBCO supervisor as the relevant records/vouchers are in SBCO; the FRMU alerts are directly sent to SBCO for
verification of the same which is highly irregular. It is requested that the
copy of the clarification issued regarding FRMU alerts from Directorate to the Association dt
30.10.2019 may be circulated to all the Circle heads for implementing the same
and not to pressurize the SBCO staff.
The
real purpose of FRMU
will not serve unless
and until the
depositors are personally
met with by
the investigating / field officers
and SBCO is
not a investigation branch also.
It is therefore
kindly requested to
dispense the above
work mentioned as
per the Directorate
letter No. 17-15/2016-Inv dated
8.5.2019 regarding SOP
for processing FRMU alerts
which is an
extra burden on SBCO.
Letter already written by the Association
AIPSBCOEA/CHQ/FRMU/2019 dated 28.8.19.
7.One time relaxation of RRs of
HSG I & HSG II Posts for SBCO as the eligible
officials are very less for the Supervisory posts. Letter already written by the Association
vide AIPSBCOEA/CHQ/One time relaxation of RR of HSG I & HSG II dated
20.1.2020.
8.Higher Pay scales for higher
responsibility Posts (LSG, HSG-II &HSG –I):
It is learnt that after introduction of
financial upgradation schemes the NB
Supervisory Posts are downgraded in their grade pay while they are shouldering
higher responsibilities and supervision of the work of the officials under him.
Accordingly the officials promoted against these NB posts are not interested to
carry out the higher responsibility resultantly maximum no. of posts are still
unfilled. It is pertinent to mention
that the Department of Posts is only a Department where on promotion the officials are getting
less grade pay and by virtue of that refusals for promotion arise.
9.Cadre restructuring of SBCO staff:
The cadre restructuring proposal was
accepted by the staff side in 2014 with agreement between official side and
only Pas (PO) have been awarded restructuring on 27.5.2016 and SBCO cadre have
been left out. Thus the promotional avenues of SBCO cadre are held up. The 7th
CPC has also directed to evaluate the cadre structuring to all Central Govt.
employees. Thus the fundamental rights of SBCO cadre is hammered despite of
subsequent agitational programmes.
The Association would most
humbly bring to the kind notice of the
administration that Savings
Bank Control Organisation is presently doing the Audit work of the Post Office
Savings Bank Accouts. Ours being a circle cadre and
promotional oppurtunities are very megre for the youngsters who enter the department with
professional and technical
qualifications . Also the number of LSG, HSG II and HSG I posts are
very limited that
every time the LSG or HSG promotions when awarded to the officials,
they are not able to
accept it as
either there are no post available
in the areas with HRA
or feasible to
them or there are
no posts in
that region where
the official is
working.
For illustration, if one circle like Tamilnadu
is taken, there are only around
49 LSG Supervisor posts in SBCO
whereas there are around
60-70 in general
line for the PAs
in a division itself. So, comparatively the chances for
promotion for the
SBCO PA is very less. As also many
senior officials are
retiring whose posts are
lying vacant and
the young officials who have just
entered the department
are forced to
take up the incharge
seat without any financial/cadre upgradation
as there is
no officiating arrangement
in SBCO.
It is
therefore kindly requested to implement the Cadre Restructure to SBCO
wing which will enable the young
officials working at SBCO
to get their
promotions under LSG ,
HSGII and HSG I at the
earliest in service
without disappointing them. Letter already written by the
Association AIPSBCOEA/CHQ/Cadre restructure/2019 dated 28.8.19 and
acknowledgement for the same received on 27.9.19. A Committee was constituted
for the Cadre restructuring of Group ‘C’employees of RMS/Savings Bank Control
Organisation (SBCO)/CO/RO vide memo No. dated 13.12.2019 to work out the
functional justification and make recommendation for utilization of the posts
which have been proposed to be created for upgradation in LSG,HSG II, HSG I
& HSG I(NFG) grades in RMS,SBCO and CO/RO under the chairmanship of Shri.
Charles Lobo , CPMG, Karnataka circle to submit its report/recommendations
within 3 months. Now that its going to be three months it is requested that
the process of cadre restructuring for SBCO may be implemented immediately as
it is the only promotional avenue of the SBCO employees.
Recently a committee has also been constituted
for Cadre review/restructuring of Gr ‘C’/Gr ‘B’(Non –Gaz) of PAOs vide memo
dated 05.03.2020 under the chairmanship of Sr. DDG (PAF). As our Association is already demanding for
bringing the SBCO staff under the Director of Postal Accounts(PAO) the Cadre
restructuring may be done for both SBCO and PAO employees together and place
them together on seniority basis.
10.Retaining of
posts at CPU/CPO as per justification
after diversion of Surplus posts : Diversion of
all the Circle pairing unit (CPU)/Central Pairing Office(CPO) posts
(Supervisor and PA posts) to
justified SBCO units
as per the Directorate
Letter No. F. No. 109-01/2017-SB dated
03.05.2019 after keeping atleast one supervisor and one PA at
the CPU/CPO as per
justification to attend
the pending UD and
UCs remaining due to
some non migrated offices (non
CBS) which are
still there.
11 (i).Providing full time
MTS
to SBCO as the work of SBCO branch is increasing multi fold in CSI scenario.
11 (ii).Impractical Adhoc time factor should be
modified:
The exparte adhoc time factor
formulated by the Department should be modified and enhanced as per actual time
taken for the particular work in consultation with Association’s
representative.
11 (iii).Provision of New control
procedure to SBCO to work in this modified CSI scenario which is
completely different from the
V2sbco and Sanjay post period. The software to be corrected according to the SB
ORDERS framed on day to day basis.
11 (iv).Permission to weed
out the time
barred old records at SBCO branch
periodically. In many units the same is denied due to some long pending
fraud cases. The investigation of cases
needed to be
completed within a
stipulated time period so that due dates of weeding out of
old records shall be ensured.
12.To implement the supreme court order
for the TBOP/BCR at par with junior financial
upgradation as the same is not yet implemented in almost all the circles except
very few.
13.To remove the limits for report
generation
in both live and production servers for SBCO staff as the purpose is only for
viewing the correctness of day to day transactions.
14.The
new RT guidelines are
issued for transfer
which needs to
be transparent in all ways
and it is suggested to have a
Counciling process to ensure transparency in genuine manner .
15.The
Sr. Accounts officer , ICO
(SB) should be a
member of the transfer committee for
ensuring proper transfer
movements of the
SBCO officials.
16.Officiating arrangements in Supervisory cadre with
eligible officials may be
provided to those
SBCO units wherever
regular supervisors are not available.
17.APARs not to
be taken
into account while
giving regular MACP promotions as
already CCS conduct Rules are
followed to ensure the conduct of
officials. (or)
Three out of the five years of APARs
may be taken into account for giving the regular MACP to officials
completing 10, 20 & 30 years of services as these are the only financial
upgradations given to them.
18.A common training / workshop to be
organized to all
the SBCO units to work
in CSI scenario by
the Directorate instead
of giving different trainings
in different units locally and induction trainings may be
given to all the SBCO officials as soon as appointed.
19.Necessary instructions may be issued
to provide assistance to SBCO as per SB order 14/2015 , wherever shortage of
staff is experienced.
20.Permission for appearing in PS Gr.
‘B’ Examination:
Presently the PA (SBCO) is
a common cadre of Postal
Assistant having same pay & perks but their promotional avenues are restricted and the SBCO
staff have been debarred for appearing in PS Gr ‘B’ Departmentl
Examination.This item was taken and discussed on 16.12.2014 in JCM (DC) meeting and also on 7.1.2019 in PJCA meeting.
Our
Association likes to bring to the notice of the Department that most of
the agendas mentioned above were also passed as Resolutions in the 5th
All India Conference held at Haridwar from 5.7.19 to 7.7.19 . Also all the
above agendas were passed as resolutions in the Central Working Committee
Meeting held at New Delhi , M.P. Club, North Avenue from 28.2.20 to 29.2.20. Hence
it is requested to take necessary action to solve the long pending issues in
SBCO cadre mentioned above as the
Department knows the importance of SBCO and its necessity to maintain a
separate identity.
Yours faithfully,
-Sd-
(SHP. JASMINE JALAL BEGAM)
General Secretary
AIPSBCOEA
Copy to:
The Director,
SR Legal, Department of Posts,
Dak Bhawan, Sansad Marg,
New Delhi- 110 001.
-Sd-
(SHP. JASMINE JALAL BEGAM
General Secretary
AIPSBCOEA
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