8th Pay Commission: Can Post Office Gramin Dak Sevaks get 8th CPC salary? Know what 7th CPC said

"It is brought to your notice that about 2.75 lakh Gramin Dak Sevaks (GDS) are serving the Department of Posts and providing essential postal services in rural areas, equivalent in nature and importance to the services rendered in urban regions," the MP wrote in a letter to the prime minister.

"However, it is a matter of concern that separate departmental committees headed by retired bureaucrats are being constituted to examine the pay structure and service conditions of GDS. As a result, they are deprived of the substantial benefits extended to regular employees through successive Central Pay Commissions," he added.

Only central government employees are eligible for the salaries and benefits recommended by a central pay commission. Currently, GDS are not treated as central government employees. Hence, they are ineligible for the 8th CPC or even the 7th CPC salary.

While it remains to be seen whether the government will include GDS under the purview of 8th CPC, Valmiki requested the PM to do it, saying, "...it is earnestly requested that the Gramin Dak Sevaks (GDS) may kindly be included in the purview of the 8th Central Pay Commission, so that they receive equitable pay revisions and service benefits at part with other employees of the Postal Department."

"Such inclusion would not only ensure justice and fairness to this large section of dedicated postal workers but also help in improving the efficiency and morale of the Department's rural postal network," he added.

What the 7th Pay Commission said

The 7th Pay Commission report noted that the Grameen Dak Sevaks are not recognised as Central Government employees. Hence, the 7th CPC even recommended the Department of Posts to budget and account for remuneration of GDS under a Head distinct from "Salaries". As the Head "Salaries" is required to be used only for central government employees.

"Examination of the existing classification of expenditure provisions of the Department of Posts reveals that expenditure on personnel in respect of pay and allowances of regular Central Government personnel serving in the department as well as that of Gramin Dak Sevaks are clubbed together under the head ‘Salaries.’ Since Gramin Dak Sevaks are not reckoned as Central Government personnel, expenditure on pay and allowances of this category of personnel should be distinct from regular Central Government personnel," the 7th CPC said in its report.

"The Commission accordingly recommends that the Department of Posts budget and account for remuneration of Gramin Dak Sevaks under a head distinct from ‘Salaries,’ as they are not reckoned as Central Government employees," it added.