Utility of Postmaster Cadre in the Department of Posts: India

The DOP itself realized the necessity of creation of Postmaster Cadre keeping in mind the following cogent reasons as mentioned in the para 2 of the Dte’s letter dtd 22/11/2010.

i)        In spite of the long existence of the Post Offices and challenges being faced by the Department from private players in the field there had never been an exclusive cadre for Postmasters.

ii)      The Postal Assistants, LSG/HSG-II, I etc. are posted to man the posts of Postmasters. This system served the Department quite well till some time back.

iii)    But now in order to improve/upgrade the functioning of the Post Offices, meet the present day requirement of specialization in Postal office management in the wake of introduction of technology, challenges from market and to increase productivity it has absolutely become essential to ensure that key Post Offices are headed by PROFESSIONAL MANAGERS.

iv)    Thus, in order to ensure that professionally qualified, trained and meritorious officials head the key Post Offices, it has been decided to introduce a separate cadre of Postmasters.

2.      Being the head of important post offices they are serving as face of India Post as desired in the Directorate order no 13-2/2010-PE.I dated 25/11/2010.

3.      The Postmaster Cadre has been designed to meet the challenges of the present day’s scenario encountered by the DOP from various corners such as the issues related to Technological Implementation, Customers’ Satisfaction, Marketing Management, effectively carrying out of Strategies and Policies of the Department, to reach out the targeted groups in a desired and fruitful manner, speedy implementation of new products at grass root level etc. The need of the creation of Postmaster Cadre is already well established and proves its essentiality.

4.      They are the only tested category of officers having sound knowledge about the  products and services of DOP, Principles of Marketing, Assessment of related Products and Services,  General Principles of Technology, Basic Technology requirement – Computer, Server, Laptop including  Connectivity of Computers apart from departmental rulings. No such marketing and technology subjects are forming part of other LDCEs like Inspector Posts and Postal Services (PS) Group B.

5.      This cadre is specially trained under an exclusive MANAGERIAL TRAINING PROGRAMME which has been designed to make them PROFESSIONAL MANAGER to cope up with the change management environment in the department and to show courtesy to the customers.

6.      Project Arrow has been perfectly implemented in the offices of Postmaster Cadre with Look & Feel and zero pendency.

7.      “National Cleaning Drive” is found strictly implemented as per workbook in their offices.

8.      They are the pioneer in implementing various projects of the DoP at grass-root level and setting examples to others. In case of new Sukanya Samriddhi Account, Postmaster Cadre officials have already set example.

9.      The Postmasters chosen through competitive examination are young, talented, motivated, enthusiastic, well-responsive to the changes and their adaptability to rapid changing working environment is faster. These qualities are not expected from others at base level.

10.  They are computer savvy, capable of safe and secure handling of sensitive data, be it financial or others and providing smart customer services that may be introduced from time to time.

11.  Most of the Postmaster Cadre officials have come with sound technological skills and they are confident of solving numerous problems arising out of their day to day activities.

12.  The Department is successfully implementing the web-based services like CBS, McCamish, ePayment, eCommerce etc with the positive co-operation, dedication and involvement of Postmaster Cadre officials.

13.  In the practical field at grass-root level, general employees are depending on Postmaster Cadre for solving their day-to-day technological problems. Because only two or three system assistants in a postal division are not enough to provide technological support to all.

14.  The DOP started its dream-flight towards computerisation with the active co-operation of Fast Track LSG Officials in 2004. Fast Track Examination stopped from the year 2005. The gap is now filled up by the more advanced group of officials of Postmaster Cadre having both Technological and Management skill. 

15.  Postmaster is the face of the Department shouldering all the responsibilities in implementing all the schemes and delivering all the goods and services to the citizens towards generation of a lion share of revenue to the DOP. They act as the bridge between the common men and the Govt. The feedback of common men and their grievances are basically solved and communicated by them. No other cadre enjoys such a close interaction with common men and has the privilege to serve the country socially and economically.

16.  Thus the image of the department depends on their activities. But owing to lack of channel of communication, Directorate does not get adequate information regarding their dedication, involvement in workplace, etc.

17.  In accordance with the DG Posts D.O. No. 1-28/2010- Trg dated 11/08/2011 addressed to all new entrants of Postmaster Cadre, “this cadre is the front runners of the department and they are made to bring back the past glory of the department”. Thus it is crystal clear that the Department has confidently created this cadre keeping the challenges ahead like implementations of technological projects, banking. eCommerce etc. Already newly created Postmaster Cadre has fulfilled its essentiality / utility.

18.  At the time of purposeful creation of this cadre by way of carving out the posts from LSG & HSG Cadre, there was no scope of providing separate Pay Scale / separate financial benefit to this cadre.

19.  This cadre deserves for higher Grade Pay but has to put in lower rank during its birth. The cadre is clearly underfed causing desperation and frustration among the entrants of this cadre. Still there are about 500 vacant PM Gr-I  posts after four years of creation.

20.  Basic eligibility, educational qualification, minimum qualifying service etc are same for both the Inspector of Posts Examination & Postmaster Grade I Examination. Both are Merit based and not qualifying in nature.

21.  IP Line officers are playing a very important administrative role. On the other hand, the Postmaster Cadre Officers excel the department with their technological knowledge, effective customer handling, grabbing business for the department etc.

22.  IPs / ASPs are not directly involved in the process of generation of revenue to the DOP. On the other hand, Postmasters are directly involved in the process of generation of revenue with leading role. They have to interact with the peoples directly and take decisions on spot towards satisfaction of our valued customers.

23.  Now the traditional duties of the IP Line officials have been drastically reduced together with much reduction of inspection time which will be the extreme minimum after full implementation of centralised platform Core System Integrator (CSI) within one or two years. Monitoring of the works in post offices will be done mechanically and system generated in near future.          

24.  Upto 4^th CPC, senior ASPs got promotion to the post of HSG-I Postmasters. Duties and responsibilities of the then HSG-I Postmasters were much higher than that of ASPs. Then HSG-I Postmasters were paid almost same salary of the then Class-II Divisional Heads.

25.  But in present day scenario when Financial Services Integration (FSI) is taking an important role, duties and responsibilities of PM Gr-III have surpassed the duties and responsibilities of the then HSG-I Postmasters. Income tax uploading is now added as a challenging job. Central Processing Centres are being set up for PLI & RPLI  at all Head Post Offices for  Issuance of New Policy, Claim Request processing and disbursement, Updating customer file for Premium Payment, Loan request processing, Policy Servicing requests like revival, nomination change etc with with the help of the McCamish application that will require more involvement of PM Gr-III.

26.  Postmaster Cadre officers are the Appointing /Disciplinary Authorities for Postmen, MTS  & GDS etc excepting TSOs. Their offices are separate unit. In Head Post Offices they are acting as DDO.

27.  Ultimately the motive of creation of Postmaster Cadre is more effective marketing of goods & services of the DoP as well as serving the purpose of reaching out the goals and fulfilling the needs of survival and betterment of its every point of presence stationed at all important terminals and junctions scattered in every nooks and corner of the country.

28.  The DoP can launch and go ahead as planned or will plan in future by advancing the work force at all important field levels and the role and utility of Postmaster Cadre cannot be under estimated who leads at fields for such transformation.

29.  This cadre is now capable to replace the usefulness of IP / ASP Cadre to a great extent as majority of the big offices serving as the face of the Department is being managed by Postmaster Cadre Officers.

30.  Therefore, this cadre requires equal nourishment and support like IP line officers for betterment of both the department as well as this cadre.

30. Needless to say the Postmaster Cadre has great potential and utility for betterment of services of DoP.

 TeamAIAPC