Post Office: Proposal for New Post Office, Details of Post Offices in Country and Shortage of Employees & Dak Sevaks

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

LOK SABHA

ANSWERED ON 05.02.2014

Will the Minister of COMMUNICATIONS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY be pleased to state:-

(a) the number of post offices in the rural and urban areas in the country, circle/category-wise;

(b) the number of post offices opened in villages during each of the last three years and the current year, circle-wise;

(c) whether the Government has received proposals for opening of post offices and branch post offices in the country separately in urban areas and villages from various States including Chhattisgarh;

(d) if so, the details thereof and the reaction of the Government thereon; and

(e) whether there is a shortage of postal employees and dak sevaks in post offices and if so, the details thereof along with the action taken by the Government in this regard?

ANSWER

(a) The Circle-wise and category-wise number of post offices in rural and urban areas in the country as on 31.03.2013 is at Annexure-I.

(b) The Circle-wise number of post offices opened in villages during each of the last three years and current year is at Annexure-II.

(c)&(d) Yes, Madam. The Circle-wise number of proposals received for opening of post offices including branch post offices and status of action taken on the proposals is at Annexure-III.

(e) No, Madam. Vacancies, whenever arises, is due to reasons like promotion, retirement, death or leave. Vacant positions are managed through ad-hoc appointments by redistribution and combination of duties and paid substitutes in post offices for delivery of postal services. Filling up of such vacancies is an on-going process. Departmental Promotion Committees are held at regular intervals to fill up promotional posts and Departmental examinations are held wherever prescribed and action is taken regularly for holding examinations to fill up posts through direct recruitment according to the provisions of the Recruitment Rules.

Shortage of Grameen Dak Sevaks in post offices does occur from time to time on attaining the age of superannuation, absorption to regular departmental posts, resignation, death, etc. The shortage is met through on going process of engagement, combination of duties or alternatively by allowing the Grameen Dak Sevaks of the neighbouring offices to function as part of stop gap arrangement.

As on 01.01.2013, there had been a shortfall of 12.40% of the sanctioned posts of approved categories of Grameen Dak Sevaks in the country and instructions have already been issued to concerned Postal Circles for filling up of all vacant posts of different categories of Grameen Dak Sevaks within a set time frame after following provisions of the recruitment rules and policy guidelines on the subjects.

Annexure-I

Circle-wise and Category-wise Number of Post Offices functional in the country (as on 31.3.2013)

ANNEXURE-II

Circle-wise number of Branch Post Offices opened during each of last three years 2010-11, 2011-12, 2012-13 & 2013-14 (upto 31.12.2013)

ANNEXURE-III

Circle-wise number of proposals received for opening of post offices including branch post offices and status of action on the proposals

Annexure Source: http://164.100.47.132/Annexture/lsq15/15/au2394.htm