Par panel flags OBC quota deficit in Posts dept
A parliamentary committee chaired by Lok Sabha MP Ganesh Singh has expressed concern over the shortfall in Other Backward Classes (OBC) representation in the Department of Posts and urged the Union Ministry of Communications to strictly adhere to the mandated 27 per cent reservation quota across all cadre levels.
The report of the Committee on Welfare of Other Backward Classes was presented in the Lok Sabha on Thursday, laying out six major recommendations aimed at addressing backlog vacancies, boosting rural infrastructure, and ensuring social equity.
Highlighting a sharp deficit, the parliamentary panel noted that OBC representation in Group ‘A’ stands at a meager 7.2 per cent at the Junior Time Scale level. In Group ‘B’, OBCs constitute only 19.5 per cent of Inspectors of Posts and 21 per cent of Stenographers. The figures are marginally better in Group ‘C’, where representation stands at 25.2 per cent among Postal Assistants and 26.1 per cent among Postmen — yet still below the prescribed threshold.
Expressing dissatisfaction that representation remains incomplete even after three decades of the policy’s rollout, the panel urged the department to immediately initiate Special Recruitment Drives to clear 207 Group ‘C’ backlog vacancies, the majority of which (204) are in the West Bengal Circle.
Taking note of the financial hardship faced by over 2.5 lakh Gramin Dak Sevaks (GDS) who perform essential doorstep postal and payments bank services in rural areas on a basic monthly remuneration of Rs 10,000 to Rs 12,000, the panel recommended an immediate upward revision in their regular pay.
Among other key observations, the committee directed the department to strictly enforce reservation rules for temporary and contractual appointments lasting 45 days or more, as per DoPT guidelines. It also advocated for operating more rural post offices from Gram Panchayat Bhawans to deepen financial inclusion and cut rental overheads, while recommending that basic facilities be granted to recognised OBC Employees’ Welfare Associations.
Emphasising the vision of inclusive development, Shri Ganesh Singh stated that reservation must extend beyond mere percentage fulfillment to deliver real socio-economic empowerment and equal opportunities for eligible youth.
