Cabinet okays revised wages for Gramin Dak Sevaks
New Delhi, June 6: The Union Cabinet headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday approved the revision in wage structure and allowances of Gramin Dak Sevaks (GDS), effecting manifold hike in the remuneration of around 3.07 lakh Dak Sevaks.
The government has also introduced the risk and hardship allowance for the Dak Sevaks for the first time.
Briefing reporters after the meeting, Union Minister of State for Communications Manoj Sinha said the hike would improve the living standards of the Dak Sevaks who provided an important link in communication in rural areas.
The Dak Sevaks who were earlier getting Rs 2,295 per month would now get Rs 10,000 per month and those getting Rs 4,115 will now get Rs 14,500 per month, the minister said.
The Gramin Dak Sevaks work for part time ranging from three to five hours per day and supplement their income from other vocations. They remain in service up to the age of 65 years.
All the Dak Sevaks have been brought under two categories -- Branch Postmasters (BPMs) and Assistant Branch Postmaster (ABPMs).
Giving details he said that the present 11 Time Related Continuity Allowance (TRCA) slabs will be merged into only three TRCA slabs with two levels each for BPMs and ABPMs.
The Minimum TRCA for Level 1 BPM engaged for four hours will be Rs 12,000 while for Level 2 BPM engaged for five hours will be Rs 14,500.
Minimum TRCA for Level 1 ABPM or Dak Sevaks engaged for four hours will be Rs 10,000 while those engaged for five hours it will be Rs 12,000.
Sinha said that the Dearness Allowance will continue to be paid as a separate component, and also revised from time to time whenever it is revised for central government employees.
He said arrears for the period January 1, 2016 to the date of implementation will be paid by increasing the basic TRCA drawn during the period by a factor of 2.57. The arrears will be paid in one instalment.
"The Branch Post Offices are the fulcrum for provision of communications and financial services in the village and are located in remote areas. With the roll out of the India Post Payment Bank (IPPB), the CDS network is expected to play a key role in the process of financial inclusion of the rural population," Sinha said.
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B'desh: Lawyer killed in clash between security personnel, followers of Hindu leader
Dhaka, Nov 26: A lawyer was killed on Tuesday during clashes between the security personnel and followers of a Hindu community leader, who was denied bail and sent to jail by a Bangladesh court, according to local media reports.
The victim was identified as Saiful Islam, a 35-year-old assistant public prosecutor and a member of the Chattogram District Bar Association, the Dhaka Tribune newspaper reported.
Citing Dr Nibedita Ghosh, a duty doctor at the emergency department of Chittagong Medical College Hospital, the paper said that six others were injured in the clashes that erupted after Chattogram’s Sixth Metropolitan Magistrate court denied bail to prominent Hindu leader Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari, arrested on sedition charges.
Nazim Uddin Chowdhury, president of the Chittagong Lawyers' Association, said that protesters dragged a lawyer from beneath his chamber and hacked him to death.
As Das was being taken away in a police van, he addressed the crowd through a hand mike, urging them to remain calm.
Around 3 pm, the law enforcement agencies resorted to sound grenades, tear gas shells, and baton charges, dispersing the protesters.
Deputy Commissioner of City Police Liaquat Ali confirmed one death but said they were still investigating the cause.
The Daily Star newspaper reported that at least 10 people, including journalists, were injured during the clash.
