Dibrugarh: Hundreds of postal employees under the banner of the Bharatiya Gramin Dak Karmachari Sangh on Wednesday staged a protest in front of the Postal Division Office in Dibrugarh, demanding better working conditions, fair compensation, and an end to alleged harassment by authorities.
The protesters, primarily Gramin Dak Sevaks (GDS), flagged long-standing grievances related to pay structures and workplace treatment. Their key demand is the inclusion of GDS employees in the 8th Central Pay Commission or, alternatively, the constitution of a separate high-level pay commission exclusively for GDS workers, to be headed by a Supreme Court judge.
“We have been serving in the most remote corners of the country, ensuring postal services reach every village and hamlet. Yet, we are consistently overlooked when it comes to fair compensation,” a senior member of the union said. “We demand recognition of our contributions through inclusion in the 8th Central Pay Commission or a dedicated pay commission that addresses our unique challenges,” they added.
The protesters also raised serious concerns over alleged harassment in the name of meeting targets. According to union representatives, GDS employees face pressure in the form of salary withholdings, arbitrary transfers, threats of office closures, and being placed off duty without proper justification.
They said such practices have created a hostile work environment, affecting the workers’ ability to deliver essential services to rural communities.
Another major issue highlighted during the dharna was the abolition of GDS posts and the rationalisation or relocation of branch post offices in rural areas. The union warned that these measures would severely impact rural populations that depend on postal services for banking, communication, and access to government welfare schemes.
“Closing rural post offices cuts off essential services to vulnerable communities. These offices are lifelines in villages where banking facilities and digital infrastructure remain inadequate,” a union leader said, urging the government to reconsider the decisions.