Complaints against Seventh Central Pay Commission: Lok Sabha Q&A

Complaints against Seventh Central Pay Commission: Lok Sabha Q&A

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF FINANCE
LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO: 586
ANSWERED ON: 18.11.2016

Complaints against Seventh Central Pay Commission

ANTO ANTONY

Will the Minister of FINANCE be pleased to state:-
(a) whether the Government has received complaints against the implementation of Seventh Central Pay Commission''s recommendations especially from the Armed Forces and Nurses;
(b) if so, the details thereof and the response of the Government thereon; and
(c) whether the Government has any plan to review the said recommendations pertain to Armed Forces and Nurses and if so, the details thereof?

ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF FINANCE
(SHRI ARJUN RAM MEGHWAL)

(a) to (c): Representations have been received from various quarters some of which pertain to Armed Forces and Nurses. While approving the recommendations of the 7th Central Pay Commission on pay, pension and other related issues, the Government has set up various Committees to examine and address some of the issues arising out of implementation of Commission’s recommendations. Based on the recommendations of these Committees on these issues, appropriate decisions will be taken by the Government.

Source: http://164.100.47.190/loksabhaquestions/annex/10/AU586.pdf

Disability Pension for soldiers during the 6th CPC and under the 7th CPC: Details given in Lok Sabha

Disability Pension for soldiers during the 6th CPC and under the 7th CPC: Details given in Lok Sabha

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF DEFENCE
LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO: 544
ANSWERED ON: 18.11.2016

Disability Pension of Soldiers

BALKA SUMAN
R. VANAROJA
PREM SINGH CHANDUMAJRA
SRINIVAS KESINENI

Will the Minister of
DEFENCE be pleased to state:-

(a) whether the Government has decreased / reviewed the disability pay / pension of soldiers and war veterans;

(b) if so, the details thereof along with the disability pay-scale for soldiers during the Sixth Central Pay Commission and under the Seventh Central Pay Commission;

(c) whether the Government proposes to abolish percentage based disability pension regime and restore the earlier slab based system and if so, the details thereof;

(d) whether there is no separate category for disability pension due to war injury and if so, the details thereof; and

(e) whether there has been anomalies in determining the disability pension for defence personnel under the Seventh Central Pay Commission and if so, the details thereof and corrective measures taken in this regard?

ANSWER


MINISTER OF STATE (DR. SUBHASH BHAMRE) IN THE MINISTRY OF DEFENCE

(a) to (e): Disability element of disability pension is payable for disability in other than war or war like situation whereas war injury element is payable for disability in war or war like situation. With effect from 01.01.2006, the disability element is paid based on 30% of last emoluments drawn for 100% disability which is reduced pro-rata for lower percentages of disability.

The war injury element is paid at 60% and 100% of last drawn emoluments for 100% disability for discharged and invalided out pensioners respectively, which is reduced pro-rata for lower percentages of disability. The service element / service pension is paid in addition to Disability / War injury element.

7th Central Pay Commission (CPC) has recommended slab system for disability element for Defence Forces Personnel. However, for civil side, the 6th CPC dispensation of calculation of disability element on percentage basis continues which has resulted in an anomalous situation. The issue has accordingly been referred to the Anomaly Committee.

Source: http://164.100.47.190/loksabhaquestions/annex/10/AU544.pdf

Abolition of Overtime Allowance in 7th Pay Commission: Fin Min's statement in Lok Sabha

Abolition of Overtime Allowance in 7th Pay Commission: Fin Min's statement in Lok Sabha

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF FINANCE
LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO: 492
ANSWERED ON: 18.11.2016

Abolition of Overtime Allowance

G. HARI
Will the Minister of
FINANCE be pleased to state:-

(a) whether the expenditure on overtime allowance provided to Government employees had increased from Rs.797 crore to Rs.1629 crore during 2012-13 and if so, the details thereof; and

(b) whether the Government is considering to abolish overtime allowance in Government offices and if so, the details thereof?

ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE FOR FINANCE (EXPENDITURE)
(SHRI ARJUN RAM MEGHWAL)

(a) Yes Sir. The expenditure of Rs.796.90 crore in 2006-07 was excluding the expenditure on overtime allowance in respect of employees of Union Territories whereas the expenditure of Rs. 1629.02 crore during year 2012-13 is including the expenditure in respect of employees of Union Territories.

(b) The Seventh Central Pay Commission has recommended to abolish OTA (except for operational staff and industrial employees who are governed by statutory provisions) and in case the Government decides to continue with OTA for those categories of staff for which it is not a statutory requirement, then the rates of OTA for such staff should be increased by 50 percent from their current levels. Recommendation of the 7th CPC on allowances are yet to be finalised.

Source: http://164.100.47.190/loksabhaquestions/annex/10/AU492.pdf

Railways Earning: Impact of implementing recommendations of the 7th Central Pay Commission

Railways Earning: Impact of implementing recommendations of the 7th Central Pay Commission

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS
LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO: 88
ANSWERED ON: 16.11.2016

Proposal for bail out


PRATHAP SIMHA
Will the Minister of
RAILWAYS be pleased to state:-

(a) whether railways has initiated a proposal for the bail out to foot higher wage bill from the Finance Ministry, including waiver of dividend payment;

(b) whether Railways is 8-10% short of revenue target during the 1st quarter of the current financial year;

(c) whether Railways has also requested Finance Ministry to share the Service Tax collected from railway services, if so, whether Finance Ministry has acceded to proposal of Railways;

(d) whether Railways has also requested Ministry of Defence and Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment to provide for the concessional tickets offered to defence personnel and Persons with Disabilities, if so, response of these Ministries to share the subsidy burden; and

(e) the measures being taken by the Ministry to implement 7th Pay Commission award?


ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS
(SHRI RAJEN GOHAIN)

(a) & (b): Impact of implementing recommendations of the 7th Central Pay Commission on pay and pension assessed to be around Rs.20,000 crore annually has been provided in the expenditure budgeted for 2016-17. However, in view of trend of shortfall in earnings in the current year which in the Ist quarter fell short of the proportionate target by Rs.6,755 crore (14.8%), some steps need to be taken to avoid eventuality of having inadequate resources to meet the expenditure. These may, besides increasing earnings & economy measures to curb expenditure; include deferring the payment of dividend, seeking help of the Ministry of Finance for reimbursing cost of social services obligation being borne by the Railway, etc.

(c) & (d): No request as such has been made to Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Defence & Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment.

(e): The recommendations of the 7th Central Pay Commission as approved by Government have been implemented on Railways.

Source: http://164.100.47.190/loksabhaquestions/annex/10/AU88.pdf

Ex-Servicemen Contributory Health Scheme: Aim, Objective

Ex-Servicemen Contributory Health Scheme: Aim, Objective

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF DEFENCE
LOK SABHA

STARRED QUESTION NO: 56
ANSWERED ON: 18.11.2016

Ex-Servicemen Contributory Health Scheme

MD. BADARIDDOZA KHAN
Will the Minister of
DEFENCE be pleased to state:-


(a) the details of aims and objectives of the Ex-Servicemen Contributory Health Scheme (ECHS);

(b) whether ECHS has fulfilled its mandated aims and objectives;

(c) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;

(d) whether shortcomings / deficiencies in the implementation of ECHS have come to the notice of the Government; and

(e) if so, he details thereof and the corrective measures taken by the Government thereon?


ANSWER
MINISTER OF DEFENCE (SHRI MANOHAR PARRIKAR)

(a) The aim and objective of the scheme is to provide quality healthcare to the Ex-Servicemen (ESM) pensioner and their dependents.

(b) & (c): Yes, Madam. Ex-Servicemen Contributory Health Scheme (ECHS) was launched on 1st April 2003. Its growth has been phenomenal. It had a beneficiary base of only about 3.5 lakh in 2003 and its beneficiary base has expanded to approximately 50 lakh. Having started with 13 Regional Centres and 227 Polyclinics, the Scheme expanded in October 2010 with 15 more Regional Centres and 199 Polyclinics, taking the total to 28 Regional Centres and 426 Polyclinics. Presently all Regional Centres and 421 Polyclinics are operational across the country. Further, ECHS has a large number of empanelled medical facilities.

(d) The shortcomings / deficiencies in the functioning of the empanelled hospitals, supply of medicines, budgetary and manpower matters, have come to the notice of the Government.

(e) Corrective steps taken / being taken to overcome the shortcomings / deficiencies include outsourcing of pharmacy, authorization of local chemists, enhancement of financial power of Officer in-charge of ECHS polyclinic to obviate the shortage of medicines, processing of medical bills of all 28 Regional Centres on-line as per rules, appropriate use of ECHS funds by the service hospitals, adherence to the terms and conditions of Memorandum of Agreement by the empanelled hospitals, recruitment of the manpower in ECHS polyclinics, de-duplication of ECHS smart cards etc.


Source: Loksabha.nic.in [Click to view/download]

7th Pay Commission Allowances to Government Employees: Official Answer in Lok Sabha

7th Pay Commission Allowances to Government Employees: Official Answer in Lok Sabha

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

MINISTRY OF FINANCE

LOK SABHA

STARRED QUESTION NO: 57
ANSWERED ON: 18.11.2016

Allowances to Government Employees

VIJAY KUMAR S.R.
SUDHEER GUPTA

Will the Minister of
FINANCE be pleased to state:-


(a) whether the Government has deferred the Seventh Pay Commission’s recommendations on various allowances, perks and perquisites and referred the matter to a Committee;

(b) if so, the details thereof along with the terms of reference and aims and objectives of this move;

(c) whether the Committee has submitted its report to the Government and if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons for the delay; and

(d) the timeframe drawn for the Committee to submit its report to the Government and the date from which the allowances including house rent, education and transport allowances are likely to be made effective?



ANSWER


FINANCE MINISTER (SHRI ARUN JAITLEY)

A Statement is laid on the Table of the House

Statement Annexed with the Lok Sabha Starred Question No. 57 for 18.11.2016 by Shri S. R. Vijayakumar and Shri Sudheer Gupta on Allowances to Government Employees

(a) & (b): In view of the number of representations received with regard to substantial changes with the existing provisions relating to Allowances recommended by the 7th Central Pay Commission, the Government has set up a Committee to examine the recommendations of the Commission on allowances (except Dearness Allowance). The Committee has been asked to go into the recommendations of the Commission on various allowances and, having regard to the representations made by the staff associations as also the suggestions of the concerned Ministries/Departments and to make recommendations as to whether any changes in the recommendations of the Commission are warranted and, if so, in what form. Till a final decision is taken by the Government based on the recommendations of this Committee, all allowances (except Dearness Allowance) will continue to be paid at existing rates in the existing pay structure. The Committee, constituted vide order dated 22.7.2016, is to submit its report within four months.

(c) & (d): The Committee has been interacting with various stake-holders to discuss their demands and has so far held discussions with National Council (Staff Side), Joint Consultative Machinery, representatives from staff associations and officials from Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Ministry of Home Affairs and Department of Posts. The Committee may also interact with the representatives of some other major Ministries/Departments and stakeholders with whom consultations are yet to be held before finalizing its Report. On submission of the Report, the matter pertaining to allowances will be considered by the Government and appropriate decision will be taken thereafter.

Source: Loksabha.nic.in

Instruction to Banks for Advance Salary to Central Government Employees

Instruction to Banks for Advance Salary to Central Government Employees

Government of India
Department of Expenditure
Office of Controller General of Accounts
Mahalekha Niyantrak Bhawan
Block-E, G.P.O. Complex, I.N.A., New Delhi-110023
Ph:No.011-24665337-40/Fax No.011-24627678

No.S-11012/1(6)/Banks/2016-17/RBD/1815-47

Dated: 18.11.2016

To
Shri P.Vijaya Kumar,
Chief General Manager,
Reserve Bank of India
Department of Currency Management,
Central Office, 4th Floor, Amar Building,
Sr.P.M.Road, P.B.No.1379,
MUMBAI - 400001

FAX NO:022-22662442

Sir,
This is with reference to Ministry of Finance, Department of Expenditure OM No.25(30)/E.Coord/2016, dated 17th November 2016 regarding release of Part Salary in advance amounting to Rs.10000/- form the salary for the month of November 2016 in the form of Cash Pay-out to all Non Gazetted Employees of Central Government. Also refer your office letter dated 11.11.2016 which mentions that Government Departments may be allowed to draw cash beyond the stipulated limit of Rs.10,000/- in exceptional cases only on production of evidence justifying their cash requirements in writing.

Necessary instructions may please be issued immediately to all the banks in view of the Ministry of Finance OM dated 17.11.2016 referred above to enable Govt. offices to release advance salary as per above mentioned OM.

Yours faithfully,
sd/-
(Dr.Shakuntla)
Joint Controller General of Accounts

Click to view the order
Authority: www.finmin.nic.in

Interest rate on the long term saving deposits in post offices

Interest rate on the long term saving deposits in post offices

Interest rates on bank deposits are not uniform and vary from bank to bank. Hence, a one-on-one comparison of interest rates may not be possible.

The interest rates on term deposits are deregulated and they are determined by the banks themselves as per their Board approved policies. In contrast interest rates on Small Savings Schemes are administered interest rates linked to G-Sec rate of comparable maturity.

The percentage of savings in the savings schemes in Post Office as on 31.03.2016 is 14.84% of the deposits in the savings schemes of PSBs.

The Government has taken various steps to popularise all the existing schemes by carrying out publicity through print and electronic/Audio Visual media on an all India basis. Jan Dhan Yojana is a scheme of the Government to encourage deposits in banks and promote savings.

This was stated by Shri Arjun Ram Meghwal, Minister of State in the Ministry of Finance in written reply to a question in Lok Sabha today.

PIB

Fee for NPS Advisors

Press Information Bureau,

Government of India
Ministry of Finance

18-November, 2016

Fee for NPS Advisors

A Retirement Adviser can charge three types of fee from the subscribers to whom he/she has given retirement advice in accordance with the Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (Retirement Adviser) Regulations, 2016, as per details given below:

i. A Retirement Adviser is entitled to charge On Boarding fees for facilitating on-boarding to National Pension System. The upper ceiling of such fees is Rupees One Hundred and Twenty.
ii. For any subsequent services, the individual Retirement Adviser is entitled to charge a minimum of Rupees Twenty per transaction and maximum of Rupees One Hundred per annum.
iii. The Retirement Adviser may also charge 0.02% advisory fee from any existing subscriber, on their assets under management (AUM) of National Pension System (NPS) or any other scheme regulated by the Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA), on the date of advice, subject to a minimum of Rs. 100/- and maximum Rs. 1000/- per annum, for providing advice to the subscribers.

Further, the advisory fee can be charged by Retirement Adviser only when the subscriber has signed an agreement with the Retirement Adviser for providing advice, wherein the lower and upper limits of advisory fee, as specified by the PFRDA is incorporated. No advisory fee shall be charged at the time of on boarding of the subscriber along with on boarding fee of Rs.120/-.

The fees are chargeable as per the written agreement between the prospect/subscriber and the Retirement Adviser under advisory fee head as prescribed by PFRDA. The Retirement Adviser has to issue a receipt for each type of fee separately and collect all charges upfront.

This was stated by Minister of State in the Ministry of Finance in written reply to a question in Lok Sabha today.

PIB

One Rank One Pension (OROP)

Press Information Bureau,
Government of India
Ministry of Defence

18-November, 2016

One Rank One Pension (OROP)

Government had appointed a Judicial Committee headed by Justice L. Narasimha Reddy, retired Chief Justice of Patna High Court on 14.12.2015, to look into anomalies, if any, arising out of implementation OROP.

The Terms of Reference for the Committee is as under:

To examine and make recommendations on references received from the Central Government on the following matters:

• Measures for the removal of anomalies that may arise in implementation of the OROP letter No. 12(1)/2014/D(Pen/Pol)/ Part-II dated 07.11.2015.
• Measures for the removal of anomalies that may arise out of inter-service issues of the three forces due to implementation of OROP order ibid.
• Implications on service matters.
• Any other matter referred by the Central Government on implementation of the OROP or related issues. In making its recommendations, the Committee shall take into account the financial impact of its recommendations.

The Committee has submitted its report on 26.10.2016 which is under examination. During the Financial year 2016-17, a sum of Rs. 12456 crore has been provided for expected expenditure on account of One Rank One Pension (OROP).

The status of payment to the Defence Pensioners/ Family Pensioners on account of implementation of OROP benefits, as on 03.11.2016 are as under:

Beneficial pensioners (pre-July 2014)	No. of cases paid (1st instalment and lump-sum payment	Amount disbursed (in crore)	No. of cases paid (2nd instalment)	Amount disbursed (in crore)
20,63,529	19,35,968	3927.86	12,37,511	1817.29

Out of 20,63,529 pensioner beneficiaries, 1,27,561 Defence Pensioners/Family Pensioners are yet to get the benefits of OROP. Public Grievance Cell in the Department is receiving grievances of the pensioners/family pensioners and taking up the matters with the concerned Department for redressal of their grievances. Disposal of grievances is monitored at the highest level in the Government.

This information was given by Minister of State for Defence Dr. Subhash Bhamre in a written reply to Shri Alok Sanjar and others in Lok Sabha today.

PIB