Postal Department Plans 45-Day Leave Carry Forward & Digital Records for GDS

The Department of Posts has come forward with two major proposals to improve the working conditions of Gramin Dak Sevaks (GDS) across the country. These changes aim to provide more flexibility, better record-keeping, and fairer support during emergencies.

Let’s break down the two proposals in simple words:

✅ Proposal 1: Save Paid Leave Up to 45 Days

🔴 The Current Leave System

At present, GDS employees are allowed 10 days of paid leave every 6 months. However, there’s a catch —
If the leave is not used within that period, it gets lapsed (cancelled automatically), even if the employee genuinely couldn’t take it.

This system often causes problems:

• Leave gets wasted even when not used.
• GDS employees feel helpless during personal or medical emergencies.
• There’s no flexibility to plan for long breaks.

✅ What’s Changing?

The department is proposing that GDS employees be allowed to accumulate paid leave up to 45 days.

That means:

• If you don’t use your leave in one 6-month period, it won’t be lost.
• You can keep saving it until you have a total of 45 days available.
• This gives you the power to take longer leave when truly needed (e.g., illness, marriage, family matters).
• However, the proposal does not include encashment — which means you can’t convert unused leave into money.

🎯 Why This Matters

This change supports the GDS community by:

• Reducing mental stress about "use it or lose it" leave.
• Offering real support during emergencies.
• Giving flexibility without any extra financial burden on the department.

📢 Important: No additional cost will be added to the Department for this benefit.

💻 Proposal 2: Digital Service Records via e-Engagement Roll

📝 Current System

Right now, all service-related records of GDS employees (like joining date, transfers, leave taken, salary changes, disciplinary actions, etc.) are maintained in manual paper files. These files are:

• Difficult to manage
• Easy to lose or damage
• Not easily accessible or transparent

✅ What’s Changing?

The department plans to introduce a digital service record system called the e-Engagement Roll, which will be part of the new HRMS module under IT 2.0.

It will be:

• Maintained digitally by the Drawing and Disbursing Officer (DDO)
• Accessible in real time
• More secure, organized, and transparent

The e-Engagement Roll will include:

• Date of engagement (joining)
• Leave history
• Transfer orders
• Disciplinary actions (if any)
• TRCA (Time Related Continuity Allowance) revisions
• Financial upgrades
• Date of discharge/retirement

🎯 Why This Matters

This will ensure:

• Transparency in service records
• Easy access during promotions, transfers, or complaints
• Fewer chances of errors or missing documents
• Reduced paperwork and faster service processing

🕒 Deadline for Feedback: 25 August 2025

All Chief Postmasters General and stakeholders have been asked to share their comments on this draft proposal by 25th August 2025.

If any Circle or stakeholder does not send feedback by the deadline, the Department may go ahead and implement the proposals without further delay.

📌 Final Thoughts

These two proposals show that the Department is moving in the right direction to improve the work life of GDS employees.

✅ Summary of Benefits:

• Leave can now be saved up to 45 days – no more waste!
• Digital e-Engagement Roll will replace old manual files
• More flexibility, security, and transparency
• No extra cost to the government

We hope these changes are implemented soon to support lakhs of GDS workers across India.

Stay connected for updates — and share this article with other GDS friends so they’re aware of what’s coming!