NAPE GROUP C WRITES TO THE DEPARTMENT ON THE PROJECT ARROW

69 – 108 /2010 27th January 2010

To
The Secretary,
Dept. of Posts,
New Delhi 110 001

Madam,
Sub: - Harassment of officials in implementing Project Arrow Scheme

A kind reference is invited to this Union letter of even No. dated 25.6.09 on the above subject. Though seven months have elapsed, my Union is not favored with any reply regarding the action taken in this regard.

Further to our letter cited above the following problems were also brought to the notice of the CHQ:
In adequate Staff Strength: To implement the Project Arrow Scheme and to keep the office with full strength, staffs are being brought on deputation and it has its impact on the strength and work load of their own offices. This is resulting in creating mental stress amongst the staff which is not fair as per welfare measures also.

2. Incorrect software: Software installed is not fulfilling the detailed procedures stipulated in the departmental rules and provisions. The Divisional Heads are orally ordering to stop manual work but this is not possible for the reason stated above. Treasury and Savings Bank branches continue double maintenance of work. The authorities who are pressing the staff for completion of work by shortcut methods are not excusing the staff for minor lapses as per rules and regulations.

The Postman Module software can be cited as an example of incorrect software. The Post offices are finding it difficulties in speed net because speed post articles which are returned undelivered with remark as “refused, left, incomplete address, deceased” are not shown as “deemed delivered in performance report whereas it is correctly reflected in case of Regd. Articles. Due to such type of provision, the returned article figure of speed post articles is increased and shown in “deemed delivered” in performance report whereas it is correctly reflected in case of Regd. Articles. Due to such type of provision, the returned article figure of speed post articles is increased and shown in “Red danger Zone” for which the delivery staff is held responsible.
3. Series of Reports: Besides departmental periodical reports, a series of reports in connection with Project Arrow office are to be submitted daily on phone, fax, e-mails directly to the concerned authorities. The submission of hourly reports appears to be creating mental torture to the staff. These kinds of extra works be stopped at once and for this software must be developed full-fledged and adequate for the system. The information sought would have been fetched and saved by any authority as and when required without wastage of extra man hours of the concerned offices. This will also save the huge sum spent towards stationery, phone bills, postage and time.
4. Training for Project Arrow & Core banking schemes: Mostly these trainings are arranged on Saturday, Sunday and holidays for which no extra remuneration are paid to the staff and also this is against human rights. Hence this practice should be stopped.
5. Expectation of better feedback from customer:

Department expects better feedback from our customers in absence of sufficient manpower & infrastructure to improve our services up to the mark but out shortcomings should never be neglected. It becomes practically impossible to provide separate counter when the number of Customer exceeds (7) Seven due to non availability of manpower, computer, space for separate window, printers etc.

6. Outsourcing without responsibility: Actually the work of date feeding doesn’t mean total computerization and to get this work done through outsourcing may result in lapses and base for misappropriation. The responsibility in such cases will be thrown on those innocents in future who have not dealt with the work actually.

7. Baseless experiment of fixation of norms/time through citizen charter:
Authenticated machinery has not lost its existence as on today. The norms and time factors for different services are approved by such an authority till this date. However an experiment to evaluate different norms time factors for one and the same service at different stations (sometimes within one metropolitan city) appears to be started. How these norms will gain authenticity in absence of approval of the competent authority is not understood by us. You also will be agreeable to maintain uniformity in norms and time factors for all services. Alternative suitable arrangement (instead of citizen charter) as per present provisions for fixing norms and time factors will only be convenient.

8. Delivery of accountable articles like registered letters, speed post articles, M.Os etc:-

The expectation of cent percent delivery to improve DET KPI Score through postman by fixing responsibility towards office-in-charge appears unjustified and impracticable. Insisting repeated trials for one and the same article creates unwarranted extra duty to all the concerned staff and the office-in-charge. It results in race to raise KPI by hook and crook even with wrong deliveries or with returning the articles on same day which inspires the need for courier services in the minds of the addressees. Hence we request for convenient alternative provision to maintain proper image of the department and to protect our monopoly.

9. SB and SBCO Section: Due to introduction of so many new schemes, decision by the Directorate regarding decentralization of RD, MIS, Senior Citizen saving schemes and its rollback to HPOs has created huge problems. No data is available at HPOs for 8- 10years. Expectation under Project Arrow for updating data of this work by hook and crook with outsourcing will pave a base for frauds. Staff shortages, use of different software, threatening attitude by officers to the staff for completing the work like data posting, revival of silent accounts, SB minus balance etc. within shortest span of time without considering basic difficulties and provisions in rules will invite loss of control over saving bank business. Actually decisions taken by authorities without consultations with expertise and the present work position will create more crisis in saving bank. To prepare authenticated data of each category in scheduled time frame supporting rules and provisions will only help to maintain S.B business properly. Any violation by oral and local orders by different authorities must be avoided. Considering S.B as major business, a firm policy may please be adopted.

10. Frequent interference with oral orders violating the departmental rules:

Under the name of Project Arrow Scheme nowadays as like dictators, some administrative authorities are giving oral instructions and orders through which violation of departmental rules appears clearly visible now and then. Nobody dares to confirm those orders in writing. Getting the work done irregularly and punish the operative staff by recalling departmental ruling has become an usual practice. The staff is forced to work more than usual every day up to late night hours. The Sixth CPC has given up to satisfaction to each and ever cadre including operative staff and this feeling automatically is reflected in working of operative staff but this theme is lacking in some officers. Hence the administrative officers issuing only oral orders creating terror should be held responsible for the consequences arising in future.

Due to project arrow and its follow up as reporting to different authorities, all the staff welfare matters are lying unattended at Divisional Office, Regional office and thereby at Circle level. Any administrative decision as transfers, promotions, personal grievances is totally neglected by these authorities.

Even periodical meetings with Unions, response to and actions on agenda items references therein on various issues are badly delayed with negative approach which is creating unrest and feeling of insecurity among the staff. The examples of suspending officials and officers at Mumbai, Pune, Nsik and Bhandara resulted in tightening the situation.

My Union strongly condemns such an attitude and hope for Co-operation and Co-ordination to save the image of the department and moral of the staff.

My Union shall be grateful for a line in reply.

Yours sincerely,

Sd/-
(D. KISHAN RAO)
GENERAL SECRETARY.