8th Pay Commission: Major update for central government employees. As the 8th Pay Commission kicks off its work, there’s a growing sense of hope for Gramin Dak Sevaks (GDS) all over the country. In the meantime, Member of Parliament Ambikaji Laxminarayan Valmiki has reached out to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, asking for 2.75 lakh Gramin Dak Sevaks to be included in the scope of the 8th Pay Commission.
In his letter to the Prime Minister, MP Valmiki mentioned, “Around 2.75 lakh Gramin Dak Sevaks work in the Postal Department, delivering crucial postal services in rural areas, which are just as important as those in urban settings.” He expressed concern that separate departmental committees, led by retired bureaucrats, are frequently set up to assess the pay structure and service conditions of Gramin Dak Sevaks. This situation prevents Gramin Dak Sevaks from receiving essential benefits that regular central government employees enjoy under the Pay Commissions’ recommendations.
GDS are not recognized as central government employees
At present, only Central Government employees qualify for salaries and allowances based on the Pay Commission recommendations. Unfortunately, GDS lack the status of Central Government employees, which means they miss out on the benefits from the 7th or 8th Pay Commission. MP Valmiki called for Gramin Dak Sevaks to be included in the 8th Central Pay Commission’s scope so they can enjoy the same pay adjustments and service benefits as other postal department staff. He added, “This move will not only bring justice to this significant group of dedicated postal workers but will also boost the efficiency and morale of the rural network within the Postal Department.”
What did the recommendations of the 7th Pay Commission indicate?
The 7th Pay Commission, in its findings, explicitly mentioned that Gramin Dak Sevaks (GDS) are not acknowledged as employees of the Central Government. Consequently, the Commission suggested that the Department of Posts allocate a separate budget for GDS salaries and allowances under the title “Salaries,” as this title should be reserved exclusively for regular Central Government employees.
The report from the 7th Pay Commission highlighted that a review of the expenditure classification within the Department of Posts showed that the salaries and allowances for both regular central government employees and Gramin Dak Sevaks were categorized under the title “Salaries.” Given that Gramin Dak Sevaks are not classified as central government employees, their salaries and allowances ought to be recorded under a distinct heading.