Monday, 27 July 2020

Regarding preventive measures to contain the spread of coronavirus COVID-19-Functioning of Post/Mail Offices and services provided during the lock down: The request for precautions towards COVID-19


No. MH/RIII-RIV/ COVID-19/Lockdown/02/2020-21    Dated: 05/06/2020
To
Hon. Shri H C Agarwal (IPoS)
Chief Postmaster General,
          Maharashtra Circle,
          Mumbai 400001

Subject: Regarding preventive measures to contain the spread of coronavirus COVID-19-Functioning of Post/Mail Offices and services provided during the lock down: The request for precautions towards COVID-19

Ref: Your no. 1. O&M/Corona Virus/Instructions/20-21 dated 19-05-2020 & 01-06-2020
1.    Directorate order No. 30-01/2020 dated 03-06-2020
  1. MOH&FW SOP dated 04-06-2020
Respected sir,

We are very much thankful to your honour for conduct RCM meeting on administration side agenda on 1. To discuss the working of offices of all categories in Maharashtra Circle during the lockdown period and thereafter 2. Attendance of staff and service provided which was conducted with the fruitful and liberal manner by your kind honour and it is required at this crucial period to run the department with cooperation with staff side taking under confidence.

It is observed that the decision of RJCM is not being followed by the divisional head in true spirit. We agreed that our department comes under essential service category and we have to serve the public at our level best. While performing duty, it is our duty to see the welfare measure of staff who try to attend duty or make it convenient to staff for attend duty by offering some facilities like transportation, convenient roaster duty and the preventive measures at work places. Mostly mail offices/ MMS Offices in Mumbai & Pune are situated in containment zone. The large number of staff is being residing at containment zone and local authority has made restrictions for their movement even in the lock down 5.0 or unlock 1.0. It is not possible to all officials to resume duty even though the government has announced the lockdown 1.0 or announced some relaxation during the period. The state of Maharashtra has restricted for 15% staff attendance for duty at offices comes under Municipal Corporations of MMR, Pune, Nagpur and Aurangabad jurisdiction and Nil at containment zone.  We therefore again requested to look into following suggestions for honours kind consideration please.

I.               Zone wise Postal/Mail Services functioning during the lockdown
Regarding the Functioning of BNPL Centers in Containment zone i.e. Mumbai, Pune, Aurangabad and Nagpur be suspended or should be restricted for essential Medial items/Goods only, if necessary., As regards, unregistered mail can be processed if sufficient manpower available after utilization at NSH/CRC and Parcel Hubs. Staff should not be called duty daily. The roaster should be followed for giving priority for NSH/CRC and Parcel Hubs for process essential items.
II.             Staff Attendance:
Your honour is well aware that social distancing cannot be observed in RMS offices due to nature of work and working pattern of RMS units. Minimal staff should be booked by observing the workload and proper maintenance of Roaster by giving sufficient interval between two duties. Roaster duty should be observed in RMS as well as MMS offices for all cadres. It is also observed that some authorities are threating of disciplinary action for non-attendance of duty and pressurized for 100 percent attendance even in contentment zone.    

III.            It is observed that even though there are directives issued by circle office for maintenance of proper roaster at all offices. Same is not implemented at MMS Mumbai till the date even though staff union demanded for the same. The drivers of MMS Mumbai are being utilized for nodel delivery units due to non-attendance of outsourced agency. The most of drivers are utilized as staff car drivers for office staff of CO Mumbai, RO Mumbai or postal/ RMS divisional head as well as provision of staff car facilities to the staff working at CO, RO and divisional offices. Due to non maintenance of roaster staff of MMS is required to apply for leave. If there is roaster will be maintained then presence of  staff can be increased.

IV.           The divisional head can make arrangement for transportation by utilizing staff cars/BEST/ST or Private vehicles with a consultation with staff from residence to office of duty and charges can be bear by the staff. Now some suburban local were started by the Railway authority for their staff then administration can make arrangement of our staff being a essential service and central Government organization by taking issue at appropriate level for smooth functioning of all mail office/Post offices and MMS. It is unfair that some staff is being provided staff car facility or transportation facility through BEST/State Government with nominal charges from residence to workplace and back. It is injustice to other staff to compel them to attend their office duty through their own aim or remain absent for want of transportation. It is fact that there is no leave balance at credit of staff and it remains disheartening to note that in such a situation, salary had not been paid for the period of absence by employees, who remained unable to attend office. Payment should not be held up for any reason during the lockdown period.  Despite of guidelines in this regard, such actions cause undue financial and as a mental stress to employees who are rendering service even during this pandemic situation.

V.             It is also brought to notice of this union that no sufficient rest given to the drivers who perform duty on RTN schedules. The drivers are human being and not a Machines. Machines are also required overoiling after some intervals. The drivers performing duties on RTN are required to travel more than three to four district daily. There is no separate rest facility in drivers’ cabin and required travel on seating arrangement even though there are provided two drivers at a time.  When one person travel one district to another district then he is being quarantine for some days and there is no rest being given to drivers is unhumanitarian and it affected on his body in a long period. The drivers who performed duty on RTN may be given sufficient rest from duty after completion of his duty. His next duty should be drafted after sufficient interval and regular medical checkup should be observed in routine manner so as to he could maintain immunity power. Arrangement of proper accommodation for rest and good quality food may be given to drivers who performing duties at RTN. A daily allowance may be given to driver in cash for his duty on RTN.

VI.           Some welfare issues:
The guidelines issued by the MOH&W should be adhered without any excuse.
a.    The thermal scanner/ sanitizers should be provided at all mail offices/Post offices.
b.    Sanitization of mail offices and mail vans should be observed regular basis.
c.     Sanitizers/Handwash/Soap/Masks should be supplied to all mail offices/Post offices. The disposable hand gloves may be supplied daily to staff as per requirement. There should not be compromised for the welfare of staff.
d.    All welfare issues should be monitored by control room regular basis.
e.    The all financial and medical assistance should be provided to the official who found positive while performing duties by the divisional head or the regional control room. 

We the staff side always ready to cooperate together for performing nation duty in this epidemic period of COVID-19. Your honour is requested kindly look into the matter and give suitable instructions to all. We shall remain highly thankful to you for the same.

With warm regards,
                                                                                
Yours sincerely,
Sd/-                                                                 Sd/-
(S N Jadhav)                                                     (A B Shivtare)
Circle Secretary                                                 Circle Secretary
AIRMS& MMS Emp EU MG MTS  Gr C               AIRMS& MMS Emp EU Gr C
Maharashtra and Goa Circle                              Maharashtra and Goa Circle