Merger of 78.2% IDA with basic pension benefit to the absorbed BSNL Pensioners -Minutes of the 26th SCOVA meeting 03-02-2015
inutes of the 26th meeting of Standing Committee of Voluntary
Agencies (SCOVA) held on 03rd February, 2015 under the Chairmanship of
Hon’ble MOS(PP).
SCOVA Meeting
No. 42/39/2014-P&PW(G)
Government of India
Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions
Department of Pension & Pensioners’ Welfare
3rd Floor, Lok Nayak Bhavan,
Khan Market,
New Delhi – 110003
Date: 26th Feb,2015
To
All the Pensioners Associations under present SCOVA
Subject:
Minutes of the 26th meeting of Standing Committee of
Voluntary Agencies (SCOVA) held on 03rd February, 2015 under the
Chairmanship of Hon’ble MOS(PP).
Please find enclosed herewith a copy of minutes of the 26th meeting
of Standing Committee of Voluntary Agencies (SCOVA) held on 03rd
February, 2015 under the Chairmanship of Hon’ble MOS (PP) at Vigyan
Bhawan Annexe, New Delhi for your kind perusal and necessary action.
Enel: as above
Sd/-
(Sujasha Choudury)
Dy. Secretary (P)
Tele No. : 24635979
E-mail: sujashachaudhary.edu@nic.in
Minutes of the 26th meeting of Standing Committee of
Voluntary Agencies (SCOVA) held on 03.02.2015 under the Chairmanship of
Hon’ble MOS (PP) at Vigyan Bhawan Annexe, New Delhi.
The list of participants is at Annexure-A
At the outset Joint Secretary (Pension) welcomed Hon’ble MOS (PP),
Secretary, Pension & Pensioners’ Welfare, representatives of
Pensioners Associations and the participating officers of various
Ministries/Departments. It was stated that SCOVA is a multi¬party forum
and a platform for sharing views. Under the able leadership of the
Hon’ble Minister, the Department will continue to streamline the various
policy issues for the benefit of the pensioners.
Thereafter, Hon’ble MOS (PP), Chairman, SCOVA, welcomed all participants
to the meeting. He said that presently the number of pensioners is more
than the number of employees in service. Hence, there is a large pool
of experience which can be utilized in a constructive manner. MOS (PP)
also mentioned that the Department has been able to effectively deliver
on most of what was promised. Fixed Medical Allowance (FMA) has been
increased from ‘ 300 to ‘ 500, online grievance monitoring system
CPENGRAMS is being used to keep the number of outstanding grievances to a
minimum, BHAVISHYA (online pension sanction and payment tracking
system) has been extended to 25 Ministries/Departments. MOS(PP) also
stated that the Pensioner’s Portal is a part of the e-governance system
which is in itself a priority of the present Government. He said that
initiative “Sankalp” had immense potential to contribute to the welfare
of pensioners who could continue to contribute to the society after
their retirement.
Regarding the issue of agenda points suggested by the various
Pensioners Associations being summarily rejected, it was informed that
due importance was attached to all agenda points. However, owing to time
constraints some of them are taken up for discussion during the SCOVA
meeting and the items which were specific to a particular Department
were forwarded to the concerned Ministries/Departments for taking
necessary action. Hon’ble MOS(PP) emphasized that each Department should
look at the pensioners as their own responsibility and treat them as
their family members.
It was pointed out by Pensioners’ Associations that there has been
delay in payment of the enhanced amount of Fixed Medical Allowance in
several Postal Circles. The instructions of Department of Posts to
Postal Circles for accessing the orders from the website of DoP&PW
and send the copies to the Pension Disbursing Offices without delay are
not being followed. A suggestion was made that the Heads of Postal
Divisions (instead of the designated Officer in Postal Circle Offices)
may be authorized to download the relevant order from the website of
DoP&PW and send the copies to the Head Post Offices to effect timely
payment to the Pensioners.
Thereafter, the Action Taken Report of 25th SCOVA meeting and Fresh
Agenda items of 26th SCOVA meeting were taken up for discussion.
Discussion on ATR of 25th SCOVA meeting:-
Sl . No 1 of ATR: Status of issue of revised PPOs to pre-2006 pensioners.
CPAO informed that 29,615 cases were pending for revision. Despite
several efforts, no further information was coming forth in respect of
the pre- 1990 PPOs. They have approached banks and pensioners to obtain
the missing information. CPAO was advised to hold meetings with
individual Ministries and sort out cases issue wise so that solutions
could be worked out and the pendency brought down to zero. CPAO was also
advised to discuss the issue with Ministry of Railways and Department
of Defence who had shown remarkable progress and brought down the
pendency to Nil.
(Action: CPAO)
b) One of the Pensioner Association intimated that a number of cases
were still pending in the Maharashtra Circle post offices. The
Department of Posts intimated that they would consider delegating
authority of revision to sub-post offices. In case of Patiala Circle,
date of birth of spouse is not indicated in the revised PPOs. In respect
of the comments of other Pensioners Associations, they were requested
to give specific case wherein revised authority has not been issued.
(Action: Department of Posts)
c) The Ministry of Railways informed that only 5000 cases are pending
where no records are available and revised PPOs could not be issued.
However, the Pensioners Association informed that in Firozpur, Ambala
and Delhi revised PPOs in some cases have not been issued. Ministry of
Railways was therefore asked to reconfirm their figures of revised PPOs.
(Action: Ministry of Railways)
d) Department of Telecommunications informed that as on date 867
cases are pending and out of which 665 cases pertain to BSNL. Necessary
action to revise these are being taken.
(Action : Department of Telecom)
e) D/o Ex-Servicemen Welfare informed that revised PPOs have been
issued in most of the cases. This was refuted by the Defence Pensioner
Association. Pensioners Associations were requested to give the list of
the pending cases to the Department of Ex-servicemen Welfare, which will
take the matter with CGDA. However, CGDA was asked to also reconfirm
their figures.
(Action: Ministry of Defence)
Jt. Secretary (P) requested all the Ministries/Departments to issue
revised authorities for all pending cases before the next SCOVA meeting
so that this item could be closed finally.
On the issue of Pension Adalat, the associations wanted that they be
allowed to represent the cases of the illiterate family pensioners. It
was clarified that they could very well represent the cases as
individuals and not as representatives of Pensioners’ Associations.
Pension Adalats were being held regularly by Survey of India for their
organization, and Ministry of Defence were also conducting the same
regularly hence the item may be closed.
(ii) Sl.No 2 of ATR :- Broad Banding of Disability Element for Pre-1996 cases.
The Department of Ex-Servicemen Welfare informed that the orders have
been issued. The Department was advised to speedily implement the
orders so that the benefit could percolate to all concerned pensioners,
it was therefore decided to close the matter.
(iii) Sl.No 3 of ATR:- Health Insurance Scheme for pensioners including those residing at non-CGHS areas.
The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare intimated that the EFC Memo
has been recast and has been sent to IFD for approval. Ministry of
Health and Family Welfare was advised to expedite a decision in this
respect.
One of the pensioner association requested that the prosthesis issued
to the orthopedically disabled may also be considered for insurance for
easy replacement/repairs thus saving expense.
(Action: Ministry of Health & Family Welfare)
(iv) Sl.No.4 of ATR:- Dedicated day for Pensioners.
It was pointed out that in the case of Defence Pensioners, though a
mechanism had been created in September, 2014 no meetings were held. The
Ministry of Defence representatives were requested to hold regular
meetings. Since, most of the Departments have set up institutional
mechanism for meeting with the pensioners, the agenda item was closed.
(v) Sl.No 5 of ATR :- Special Family Pension for the Widows of Disabled War Veterans.
The Department of Ex-servicemen Welfare informed that the matter is
being reconsidered by CGDA. One of the Pensioners Associations clarified
that this issue is only for the war disabled veterans invalided out of
service who are very few in number and deserved empathetic
consideration. To hasten the process DoPPW may take up matter with the
Hon’ble Raksha Mantri.
(Action: – D/o of Ex-servicemen Welfare ,CGDA and DoPPW)
(vi) Sl.No 6 of ATR :-
The Orders of Ministry of Health reiterating that all the pensioners
are at liberty to opt themselves with any of the nearest CGHS hospital/
dispensary may be widely circulated. Arbitrary orders dated 01/08/1996
and 01/09/1996 issued by Ministry of Health and Director of CGHS may be
withdrawn and the benefit of CGHS facilities be allowed to the
pensioners of Department of Post and Department of Telecom.
Medical facilities for existing P&T pensioners.
The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare intimated that various
issues including the issue relating to extension of CGHS facility to
P&T pensioners is likely to be considered in a meeting of the
Committee of Secretaries to be held shortly. As regards, the orders dtd
01.08.1996 and 01.09.1996, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
informed that the matter was still sub-judice.
(Action: Ministry of Health & Family Welfare)
(vii) Sl.No 7 of ATR:- Anomaly in fixation of pension to DoT
employees absorbed in BSNL, who retired between 1.10.2000 and 31.7.2001.
It was informed that since the last SCOVA meeting, two meetings were
held with the officials of Department of Telecom on 29.09.2014 and
30.12.2014 and Department of Telecom was advised to expedite the
details/Reply sought in DoPPW’s ID Note dtd 28.02.2014.Department of
Telecom informed that the BSNL is collecting the requisite information
sought by DoPPW from corporate offices of BSNL/MTNL. Department of
Telecom was advised to send a reply to DoPPW within a fortnight.
(Action: D/o Telecom & DoPPW)
(viii) Sl No.8 of ATR :- Merger of 78.2% IDA with basic pension benefit to the absorbed BSNL Pensioners.
It was informed that the proposal has been approved by Department of
Expenditure, in principle. Department of Telecom informed that as per
the advice of the Department of Expenditure a Cabinet Note has been
prepared and sent to their IFD for approval. Department of Telecom was
advised to finalise the draft Cabinet Note and circulate it to the
concerned Ministries by the end of February,2015.
(Action: D/o Telecom & D/o Expenditure)
(ix) Sl.No 9 of ATR :- Extension of benefit of upgraded Grade Pay to pre-2006 retirees of S-12 grade.
D/o Expenditure had earlier observed that the benefit to grade pay of
the 4600/- could not be extended to those who retired from the S-12 pay
scale before 01.01.2006 as it was an upgraded scale. However, the
Department of Expenditure has since sought to re-examine the issue and
the relevant file on the issue has been forwarded by DoPPW to D/o
Expenditure for reconsideration on 22.01.2015. D/o Expenditure was
advised to expedite a decision in this regard.
(Action: D/o Expenditure & DoPPW)
(x) S.No.10 of ATR :- Extension of benefit of OM dt. 28.1.2013 w.e.f 1.1.2006 instead of 24.9.2012
It was informed that the matter is sub- judice and the next date of
hearing in the SLP No 36148-50/2013 in the Hon’ble Supreme Court was
fixed for 17.02.2015.
(Action: D/o P&PW)
(xi) S.No11 of ATR:- Stepping up of Disability Element on the basis of Fitment Tables.
D/o Ex-Servicemen Welfare intimated that the matter is pending with
CGDA. They were advised to meet the CGDA personally to expedite the case
in one month.
(Action: D/o Ex-servicemen Welfare)
(xii) S.No 12 of ATR:- Income Certificate to be produced by the Family Pensioner.
Ministry of Railways have already reiterated their instructions. They
were advised to display these instructions on the website. The item may
therefore be closed.
(xiii) S.No 13 of ATR:- Extension Counter of CGHS Wellness
Centre at Srinagar and Upgradation of facilities at CGHS Wellness Centre
at Jammu including Construction of CGHS Hospital on the plot of land
allotted by J&K Govt. at Jammu.
Various issues concerning CGHS including the above issue, were
discussed by JS(P), DoPPW in a meeting with AS& DG(CGHS). Various
suggestions for providing a centre at Srinagar had been considered in
the meeting. Ministry of Health and Family Welfare informed that while
there were huge resource constraints, overall CGHS reforms were being
looked into by the Committee of Secretaries (COS). Regarding upgradation
of CGHS Wellness Centre at Jammu, it was informed that computers had
been procured and supplied. Funds have been released and the procurement
of other equipment was being processed. The work is expected to be
completed shortly.
Regarding posting of an additional doctor at the CGHS Wellness Centre
at Jammu, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare was advised to explore
the possibility of taking the services of a doctor from the State Govt.
on deputation.
(Action: Ministry of Health & Family Welfare)
(xiv) S.No 14 of ATR:- Delay in family pension to next eligible family member in case of death of widow.
There is no case pending in DoPPW and no specific case was intimated by the SCOVA members, the item may therefore be closed.
(xv) S.No 15 of ATR:- Extension of CGHS facilities to retired
BSNL employees -Issue of follow up order by the Ministry of Health and
Family Welfare & fixation of rates of contribution & ward
entitlement by DoT.
Department of Telecom informed that since the pay structure in BSNL
and Central Govt. was different, the orders of Ministry of Health and
Family Welfare regarding ward entitlement on the basis of pay band/grade
pay could not be made applicable in the case of BSNL retirees. Ministry
of Health and Family Welfare requested Department of Telecom to suggest
alternate mechanism for the retirees of BSNL. Department of Telecom was
advised to send a proposal to Ministry of Health and Family Welfare in
this regard in a month’s time.
(Action : Ministry Health and Family Welfare, Department of Telecom)
6. Discussion on Fresh Agenda Points for the 26th SCOVA meeting:-
(26.1) Simultaneous issue of orders for the release of Dearness Allowance
Department of Expenditure intimated that although they do not propose
to issue common order both for DA and DR, the proposal could be
considered and a copy of the approved Cabinet Note may be forwarded to
enable the DoPPW to issue orders at an early date. No separate approval
of Ministry of Finance would be required thereafter for issue of DR
orders.
(Action: D/o Expenditure and DoPPW)
(26.2) Co-authorisation of Family Pension of Permanently disabled children/dependent parents and permanently disabled siblings.
The Ministry of Defence were asked to proactively take up the issue and finalise the case within a week.
(Action: Ministry of Defence)
(26.3) Non-adherence of extant rules with regard to submission of life certificate.
Regarding complaints in respect of submission of life certificate,
SCOVA members were requested to give specific cases. CPAO was advised to
give wide publicity to their Toll Free number so that the complaints
could be lodged.
(Action:- CPAO and D/o Financial Services)
(26.4) Provision of CGHS facility for life time to dependent
disabled/mentally retarded children of Central Government employees/
pensioners.
Ministry of Health was advised to examine the suggestion for
extension of CGHS facilities to married disabled/mentally retarded
daughter on the analogy of continuation of family pension to such
children even after marriage. Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
intimated that they will examine the issue.
(Action:- Ministry of Health and Family Welfare)
7. Concluding, Secretary (P) stated that the public grievance module
CPENGRAMS has been streamlined and lot of improvements have come after
its merger with CPGRAMS. The website of the Department has all the
latest orders available at the click of the mouse. He urged the SCOVA
members to help the pensioners above 80 to get their Adhaar numbers so
that they could exercise the online “Jeevan Pramaan” facility which
would be of immense help to them. He urged the Department of Telecom to
resolve the pending issues with BSNL at an early date. Finally
concluding MOS(PP) indicated that Inter Departmental Communication
should extend even beyond SCOVA and each Department should look at their
pensioners as their responsibility and take out time for communicating
or meeting with them.
The meeting ended with a vote of thanks to the Chair.
Source: http://ccis.nic.in/WriteReadData/CircularPortal/D3/D03ppw/SCOVA_26-FEB-2015.pdf
