Recommendations of the High Power Committee to review the duty hours of running staff - Decisions thereof on Breach of Rest Allowance

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS
(\RAILWAY BOARD)

RBE No. 135/2016

No. 2014/E(P&A)II/HPC Report

New Delhi, dated 18 -11-2016.

The General Managers(P)/CAOs,
All Indian Railways
and Production Units etc.

Sub: Recommendations of the High Power Committee to review the duty hours of  running staff - Decisions thereof on Breach of Rest Allowance.


The High Power Committee, constituted to review the duty hours of running staff and other safety related categories made its recommendations on various aspects related to working hours of these categories. The recommendations have been duly considered by the Board and the following decisions relating to Breach of Rest Allowance have been made:

(i) The provisions contained in Rule 10 regarding Breach of Rest Allowance in the "The Rules for the Payments of Running and other Allowances to the Running Staff on Railways, 1981" are reiterated. Breach of rest whether at Headquarters or at outstation should be permitted only in emergent situations like accidents, natural calamities and national emergencies subject to operational exigencies.

(ii) There should be no Breach of Rest Allowance for breach of rest at Outstations. It will, however, continue to be admissible for breach of rest at Headquarters.

(iii) There should be no Breach of Rest Allowance for breach in periodical rest. However, if need does arise for curtailment of periodical rest, it should be permitted only if the running staff has availed a complete night in bed during the periodical rest.

(iv) The present rates for payment of Breach of Rest Allowance will continue.

(v) Cases of breach of rest should be regularly monitored at a sufficiently high level in divisional offices and zonal offices.

2. This issues with the concurrence of the Finance Directorate of the Ministry of Railways.

3. Please acknowledge receipt.

(Salim Md. Ahmed)
Dy. Director/ Estt. (P&A)II,
Railway Board.

Source: www.indianrailways.gov.in
[http://www.indianrailways.gov.in/railwayboard/uploads/directorate/establishment/E(P%26A)/2016/E(P%26A)II_21112016.pdf]

January Salary Of Central Employees To Follow Higher Allowances: Finance Ministry

January Salary Of Central Employees To Follow Higher Allowances: Finance Ministry

Report says that a top official of the finance ministry today told on condition of anonymity that Central government employees salaries for January will be in line with the higher allowances.

When asked whether the arrears would be paid too, he said, "This depends on the cabinet. If the cabinet gives the nod higher allowances with retrospective effect from August 2016, the arrears will be paid."

"The government faces severe attack for cash crunch because of demonetisation. But the situation will return to normalcy after the deadline of December 30 for deposit of invalid Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes."

He added, "It's better if delayed till sufficient cash is available with the banks."

The government in June approved the 7th Pay Commission recommendations for its employees with higher basic pay, which has been paid with arrears, effective from January 1, 2016 but the hike in allowances other than dearness allowance referred to the ‘Committee on Allowances’ headed by the Finance Secretary Ashok Lavasa for examination as as the pay commission had recommended of abolishing 51 allowances and subsuming 37 others out of 196 allowances.

Until acceptance of higher allowances, existing allowances are to be paid according to the 6th Pay Commission recommendations, says an earlier official statement issued by the finance ministry.
However, the committee on allowances head Finance Secretary Ashok Lavasa said recently, "We are ready to submit our report, when the Finance Minister Arun Jaitley calls up."

Source: tkbsen.in

Revised Income Tax Exemption Calculator for Interest paid on Housing Loan Income or Loss or House Property Calculation under Section 24 of the Income Tax Act

Revised Income Tax Exemption Calculator for Interest paid on Housing Loan  Income or Loss or House Property Calculation under Section 24 of the Income Tax Act.

After enactment of Finance Act 2014, maximum housing loan interest amount (Interest on house property) which can be deducted from the income of a tax payer under Section 24 of the Income Tax Act in respect of self occupied house, is Rs. 2 Lakhs (Rs. 2,00,000).

Also there is no limit specified for deduction of home loan interest amount from income in the case of House property being rented out.

How to calculate Income / loss on House Property (Deduction of Home Loan Interest from Total Income) ?

In the case of Self Occupied House Property:

Actual annual value of Interest paid on Home loan or Rs. 2,00,000 whichever is maximum

In the case of House Property rented out:

1. Actual annual value of Interest paid on Home loan
2. Add annual rental value of the house property
3. Less House property Tax paid
4. Less Rebate 30% of the Annual Value of Rent as Repairs and Maintenance

Section 80EE reintroduced in Finance Act 2016
As per Finance Act 2016, the tax payer is entitled to claim additional deduction of Rs. 50,000 under Section 80 EE if you are a first time home buyern interest. This deduction is over and above the Rs 2 lakhs limit under section 24 of the income tax act. Read more about deduction of Rs 2 lakhs on interest on home loan here.

Section 80EE was introduced effective 2013-14 and was available for 2 years, FY 2013-14 and FY 2014-15 only (assessment year 2014-15 and 2015-16). However, this section has been reintroduced effective FY 2016-17 (assessment year 2017-18).

Who can avail this Deduction?

• This is the 1st house you have purchased
• Value of this house is Rs 50 lakhs or less
• Loan taken for this house is Rs 35 lakhs or less
• Loan has been sanctioned by a Financial Institution or a Housing Finance Company
• Loan has been sanctioned between 01.04.2016 to 31.03.2017
• As on the date of sanction of loan no other house is owned by you

Submission of Pre-budget Views of Central Government employees for consideration and inclusion in the Central Budget for the year 2017-18

Submission of Pre-budget Views of Central Government employees for consideration and inclusion in the Central Budget for the year 2017-18 - Request - Regarding

REF: CONFDN/BUDGET/2016-17

DATED  -12-2016

To,
Shri. Arun Jaitley,
Hon'ble Finance Minister,
Government of India,
North Block, New Delhi - 110001

Sub: Submission of Pre-budget Views of Central Government employees for consideration and inclusion in the Central Budget for the year 2017-18 - Request - Regarding.

Respected Sir,
Confederation of Central Government Employees and Workers is the umbrella organization comprising of various Unions/Associations/Federations of the Central Government employees. Central Government employees are the important segment of the society and contributing for the growth of this country through effective implementation of the policies of the Government of India. Hence, the views of this segment of important stakeholders, I submit, may also be heard and considered. With this request, this organization is bringing the following views for consideration by your good self, as a part of the pre-budget exercise to finalize the budget for the year 2017-18.

Issues of the Central Government employees:

1. New Pension Scheme: Lakhs of employees who joined the Central Government Departments on or after 01-04-2004 are vulnerable to the market fluctuations due to the NPS. It has been pleaded several times to scrap this NPS or grant guarantee of minimum pension at the rate of 50% of last pay drawn. It is requested to concede this request in this budget by making required amendments.

2. Income Tax: It is submitted that Government employees are the most tax compliant segment of the society. At the same time they are the hard hit with heavy tax burden. For many years it is requested to raise the tax exemption limit. It is requested to consider increasing the tax exemption limit for employees to Rs. 5,00,000/-. It is also requested not to include the compensatory allowances in the taxable income.

3. Interest concession on loans and advances: Nationalized Banks are extending housing loans, personal loans for their employees at a lesser rate than the market rate. This facility may also be extended to the Central Government employees.

4. Education loans to the Children of the Central Government employees: In the present set up no bank is giving education loans for pursuing higher studies without keeping immovable property as collateral security. One has to cross many hassles for obtaining education loan for his ward. It is requested that education loan for the ward of a Central Government employee should be hassle free and without any guarantee or collateral security except the employee himself/herself. The total loan should cover the entire fee and living expenses without any restrictions.

5. Minimum Wage & Fitment formula: The minimum wage of Rs.18000/- recommended by 7th CPC is needed to be revised to Rs.26000/- to confirm to the realistic and accepted norms of the wage determination. Accordingly the fitment factor should also be proportionately changed.

6. Curtailment of litigation: Presently due to the policy of DOP&T the Central Government employees are forced to engage in avoidable litigation in the Courts of Law, even on those similar Service matters, which were decided by the Highest Court of the Land. This is resulting in lot of expenditure of Government employees. The judgments of the Courts should be applied to all the similarly placed employees without forcing them to file cases on the very matter.

7. Compassionate appointments: The eligible wards of the employees who died in harness should be given employment by removing the present artificial ceiling of 5% on such employment.

8. Housing needs of the employees working in N.E and Assam Circles: The employees working in these States are facing hardship due to lack of housing facilities. Hence, it is requested to construct more General Pool Resident staff quarters for all the Central Government employees working in N.E. and Assam regions.

9. It is also requested that cash less and Hassle free Medical facilities to serving and retired employees for in-patient and out-patient may also be favourably considered.

General Issues:

Central Trade Unions in their Memorandum dated 19-11-2016 has brought several issues like price raise, strengthening the Public Distribution System, safeguarding the Public Sector, Foreign Direct Investment, employment generation, Same Pay for Same Work, Social Security for unorganized workers, Labour Law Reforms, regularization of Contract and Casual Labour, which has a bearing on the lives of the common masses, employees and workers. This Federation completely endorses their viewpoint on these important issues and requests you to kindly initiate necessary corrective steps in this Budget.

It is earnestly requested to seriously consider the above suggestions for inclusion in the Budget for the year 2017-18, which will go a long way in fulfilling the long pending aspirations of the Central Government employees.

Thanking you,

Yours Sincerely,
(M. Krishnan)
Secretary General
Mob:09447068125
E- mail: mkrishnan6854@gmail.com

Processing of Pension cases mandatorily through Bhavishya (Online Pension Sanction & Payment Tracking System) w.e.f 01/01/2017

Processing of Pension cases mandatorily through Bhavishya (Online Pension Sanction & Payment Tracking System) w.e.f 01/01/2017 - reg.

No. 55/14/2014/P&PW(C)Part-1
Government of India
Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pension
Department of Pension & Pensioners Welfare

3rd Floor, Lok Nayak Bhawan,
Khan Market, New Delhi

Dated: 29th November, 2016

OFFICE MEMEORANDUM

Sub: Processing of Pension cases mandatorily through Bhavishya (Online Pension Sanction & Payment Tracking System) w.e.f 01/01/2017 - reg.

Department of Pension and Pensioners’ Welfare is responsible for formulation of policy and coordination of matters relating to pension policy and welfare of Central Government pensioners. It has been seen that despite detailed guidelines and instructions to the contrary a large proportion of retiring employees do not get their retirement benefits and the Pension Payment Order(PPO) in time. It is likely that such retired employees find it difficult to get the process completed after retirement. The sanction process starts more than a year before the date of retirement and requires cooperation amongst various agencies. This department has, therefore, launched Bhavishya - an online pension sanction and payment tracking system. The system by keeping track of the progress of each case introduces transparency and accountability. Both the retiring employees as well as administrative authorities can monitor progress at each stage.

2. The system has been running successfully in the main Secretariat of all ministries/departments for the last one year. It has since been extended to cover over 3000 Drawing and Disbursing Officers and Pay and Accounts Offices from various ministries/departments and their attached offices.

3. It has now been decided that all Heads of Offices will henceforth mandatorily process all pension cases only through Bhavishya. In this, where necessary, they will assist the retiring employee to submit the online application form. The Pay and Accounts Offices will process cases generated through Bhavishya through the pension module in COMPACT till the Public Financial Management System(PFMS) is made operational and integrated with Bhavishya.

4. It is to be noted that all authorities will strictly follow the timelines prescribed under the CCS(Pension) Rules and in no case will the pension case be delayed on account of electronic processing through Bhavishya.

5. These instructions take effect from 1st January, 2017.

6. This issues with the approval of competent authority.

Sd/-
(Seema Gupta)
Director

Source : ccis.nic.in

No Change in the 15th December Parliament March - Confederation

No Change in the 15th December Parliament March - Confederation

MOST IMPORTANT & URGENT

DECEMBER 15th PARLIAMENT MARCH



NO CHANGE

PROGRAMME WILL BE CONDUCTED

ON DECEMBER 15th ITSELF


IT IS REPORTED THAT SOMEBODY IS SPREADING FALSE NEWS IN SOCIAL MEDIA THAT THE DECEMBER 15TH PARLIAMENT MARCH IS POSTPONED.

THIS IS TOTALLY FALSE NEWS.

THERE IS NO CHANGE IN THE DATE OF THE PARLIAMENT MARCH.

IT WILL BE HELD ON DECEMBER 15TH ITSELF.

DO NOT BELIEVE SUCH FALSE NEWS

M.KRISHNAN
SECRETARY GENERAL
CONFEDERATION

Source: confederationhq

Review the Various Pension related issues requiring close monitoring: Minutes of the Meeting under the Chairmenship of CGA

Review the Various Pension related issues requiring close monitoring: Minutes of the Meeting under the Chairmenship of CGA:

No.CPAO/CO-ORD/(107)/2016-17/496

MINISTRY OF FINANCE, DEPARTMENT OF EXPENDITURE

CENTRAL PENSION ACCOUNTING OFFICE

TRIK00T -II, BHIKAJI CAMA PLACE, NEW DELHI-110066

Dated: 24.11.2016

Minutes of the Meeting

Please find enclosed herewith a copy of minutes of the Meeting held on 11th November, 2016 at 11.00 AM at O/o CGA under the chairmanship of controller General of Accounts to review the various pension - related issues requiring close monitoring by Pr.CCAs/CCAs/CAs for further necessary action.

(Vijay Singh)

Sr. Accounts Officer

Minutes of the meeting held on 11.11.2016 under the chairmanship of Controller General of Accounts at Mahalekha Niyantrak Bhawan, INA, New Delhi.

A Meeting was held on 11.11.2016 at 11.00 AM under the Chairmanship of Controller General of Accounts in the Conference Hall 'Swasti' Mahalekha Niyantrak Bhawan, Office of CGA, Block-E, General Pool Office Complex, INA Colony, New Delhi to discuss pension related issues.

At the outset Chief Controller (Pension) welcomed all the participants. Controller General of Accounts in his opening remarks highlighted the need for quick processing of pension cases to avoid delays and prompt disposal of Pensioners’ grievances and advised all concerned CCAs/CAs that issues regarding pending grievances and delays in receipt of pension & revision cases from HOOs/DDOs should be raised in the Senior Officers’ Meetings chaired by respective Secretaries. He stressed that all Pr. CCAs/CCAs/CAs must use their dashboards provided by CPAO to monitor the disposal of grievances and uploading of lists of retiring employees and submission of pension cases.

List of participants is at Annexure-I.

Following agenda items were discussed and decisions taken:

1. Agenda Item No. 1-A: Pending cases of revision under OM dated 6th April, 2016: Delinking of revised pension from qualifying service of 33 years:

It was observed that total 88,550 cases were due for revision. Out of that 61,778 cases were already revised. However, still 26772 cases (30%) were pending for revision. Out of these cases, 2551 2 cases (95%) were pending with 9 ministries/ departments i.e. Home Affairs (23,307), Atomic Energy, Prasar Bharti, CBEC, I&B, Agriculture, HIED, Civil Aviation and Supply. Vide various OMs issued by CPAO, concerned CCAs/CAs were requested to revise pending cases urgently. CGA directed to finalize all the pending cases within one month. PAO wise pendencies were reviewed specifically for MHA & Atomic Energy and they were advised to regularly review the status with their high pendency PAOs.

Action: All Concerned CCAs/ CAs

2. Agenda Item No. 1-B: Status of revision of pending Pre-2006 pension cases

It was observed that total 4617 cases of Pre-2006 (1,199 of Pre-2006 & 3,418 of Pre-90) were pending for revision in civil Ministries/Departments. Highest pendencies pertained to Home Affairs (963), Atomic Energy (442), CBEC, HRD, and Prasar Bharti. It was informed by the CCAs/CAs that these cases are pending due to non-availability of required information either with PAOs or with HOOs & Banks in spite of all out efforts made. Following points decisions were taken:

(i) CPAO to prepare fresh list of live pending cases on the basis of e-scrolls received which may reduce the number of pending cases. This list would be provided to the concerned Ministries/Departments to again review the pendency and check the availability of records. If records are not available even after this exercise, the certificate of non availability of records would be furnished by concerned CCAs/CAs to CPAO to enable it to take further necessary action. If any pensioner represents for revision of his/her pension in future the same would be revised on the basis of records provided by him/her subject to verification of the record.

(ii) The above list would also be provided to concerned pension disbursing banks to check the genuineness of these pensioners on the basis of KYC records available with them and get the relevant records required for revision for such pensioners. The banks will also be asked to furnish the copies of life certificates received from these pensioners to CPAO by 15th Feb, 2017.

Action: All Concerned CCAs/CAs, CPAO and Banks

3. Agenda Item Number-2: Delay in receipt of fresh PPOs

It was observed that only 29 percent of fresh PPOs were received in CPAO from PAOs before the date of retirement of government servants. All the CCAs/CAs present in the meeting informed that delay in finalizing fresh pension cases is because of late submission of pension papers by the HOOs to concerned PAOs. However, status of Atomic Energy was quite satisfactory where 85% fresh PPOs were received before the date of retirement. The Joint CA, Atomic Energy informed that they are regularly reviewing the status of receipt of fresh pension cases with the department and in case of any problem; they are holding the meetings with senior officers so that timely receipt of cases in PAOs may be ensured. CGA appreciated the efforts of Atomic Energy and advised other CCAs/CAs also to take up the matter regularly with concerned Administrative Authorities i.e. HODs/DOOs/DDOs for receiving the pension cases in PAOs as per prescribed time schedule and use the dashboards provided under WRPS to monitor the delays.

Action: All Concerned CCAs/ CAs

4. Agenda Item Number-3: Seeding of Aadhaar

Significant progress was observed in respect of Aadhaar Seeding in fresh PPOs by the Ministries/Departments as overall seeding percentage had reached 61%. Ministries/Departments where seeding percent was low were Home Affairs, PPG and Supply. In some Ministries/Departments, like Health & Family Welfare, HRD, Prasar Bharti and UD seeding was more than 90%, CCA, MHA was requested to ensure increasing the number of Aadhaar seeding in fresh PPOs as the low percentage of IVIHA had brought down overall percentage very significantly. Representative of PPG&P pointed out that low percentage of Aadhaar seeding in PPG&P was due to low Aadhaar seeding by Director of Accounts, Cabinet Secretariat (DACS) which uses PAO code of PPG&P but they are not in the administrative control of CA, PPG&P. On this issue, it was decided that while CPAO may take up the matter with DACS; PPG&P was also advised to coordinate with DACS to resolve this issue on regular basis. Most of the CCAs/CAs informed that PAOs are indicating Aadhaar numbers in fresh PPOs wherever the same is made available by the concerned HOOs and efforts are made to make it 100%.

Action: All Concerned CCAs/CAs

5. Agenda Item Number-4: Web Responsive Pensioners Service:

A. Grievances: Under WRPS, total 570 grievances were received, out of that 375 pertained to the concerned 15 ministries. Out of these 375 grievances, 70 grievances were replied back by PAOs to CPAO and 56 settled. 305 grievances were still pending with PAOs. CGA advised all concerned CCAs/CAs to review the status of pending grievances through WRPS on weekly basis and settle the grievances in time bound manner. CC (P) also requested CCAs/CAs to regularly review the pending grievances available under their dashboards under WRPS and ensure not to allow any pendency beyond 30 days. All the CCAs/CAs assured to regularly review the pending grievances and take necessary action to bring down the number of pending grievances.

Action: All Concerned CCAs/ CAs

B. Quarterly List of retiring Employees: Lists of only 1734 retiring employees were uploaded so far by the PAOs of concerned Ministries/Departments. Since annually about 35 thousand of fresh pension cases are received in CPAO, this small number of uploading of lists showed that still either many PAOs are not uploading complete lists of retiring employees or not uploading at all.

To ensure the timely submission of list of retirees by the HOOs to the concerned PAOs the CCAs/CAs present in the meeting were advised to take up the matter with their HODs on regular basis to get the complete list of retiring employees wherever the same is not being provided by the HOOs. CGA advised CCAs/CAs to pay special attention to those PAOs where details of not even single employee has been uploaded so far.

Action: All Concerned CCAs/ CAs

6. Agenda Item Number-5: Discrepancies in the bookie of Expenditure under Pension grant:

It was observed that there were many discrepancies in the booking of expenditure under pension grant No.35 in the year-2016-17 (up to 2nd quarter) by many Ministries/Departments i.e. expenditure in excess of budget, expenditure without budget, misclassification between charged and voted expenditure, expenditure booked in minus etc. An OM dated 11.11.2016 with details of discrepancies had already been issued to CCAs/CAs. All concerned CCAs/CAs were advised to regularly review the booking of expenditure under various heads of pension grant in their Ministries/Departments with the help of reports available under e-lekha/PFMS and ensure to avoid any discrepancies in booking under pension grant.

Action: All Concerned CCAs/ CAs

7. During the meeting, CCA, Home Affairs and CA, Agriculture requested CC (P) to organize workshop for their pension processing PAOs in CPAO on WRPS and various pension related issues. It was agreed that workshop for PAOs of Ministry of Agriculture would be organized on 18th November, 2016 and for MHA on 1st December, 2016 at CPAO. Other Ministries were also requested to work out schedule of workshop for their PAOs in consultation with CPAO.

Action: All Concerned CCAs/CA, CPAO, MHA, Agriculture

The meeting ended with vote of thanks to the chair.

Annexure-I
List of Participants

	SI. No. Ministry/Department	Name of Representative
1	CPAO ,	1. Sh. Sanjai Singh ,CC(P)
		2. Sh. Subhash Chandra, CA
		3. Sh. Davinder Kumar, TD, NIC
		4. Sh. S. P. Sharma, Consultant
		5. Mrs. Krishna Sharma, Sr. AO
		6. Sh. Vijay Singh, Sr. AO
2	Industry	Sh. Siya Sharan, CCA
3	CBEC	1. Sh. Pradeep Kr. Berwah, CCA
		2. Sh. Laxman Ram Kurnhar, Sr. AO
4	MHA	1. Sh. Rajesh Kumar, CCA
		2. Sh. Robin Jain, Sr. AO
5	Urban Development	Sh. Shyam S. Dubey, CCA
6	I&B	Sh. Jeetendra K. Jha, CA
7	HRD	Sh. B. K. Agrawal, CA
8	CBDT	Dr. Dilip Kumar, CA
9	Agriculture	Sh. Taranjit Singh, CA
10	PPG&P	1. Mrs. Rita Barisal, Dy CA
		2. Mrs. Saroj Grover, Sr. AO
11	Atomic Energy	-Sh. Chetrarn. Singh, Joint CA
12	Supply	Sh. S.K. Arya, Sr. AO
13	Civil Aviation	Sh. D.K Saini, Sr. AO

Source: www.cpao.nic.in

Relaxation on withdrawal of cash from bank deposit accounts - RBI Instructions on 28.11.2016

Relaxation on withdrawal of cash from bank deposit accounts - RBI Instructions on 28.11.2016

Withdrawal of cash from bank deposit accounts - Relaxation

RBI/2016-17/163
DCM.No.1437/10.27.00/2016-17

November 28, 2016

The Chairman / Managing Director/ Chief Executive Officer,
Public Sector Banks/ Private Sector Banks / Foreign Banks /
Regional Rural Banks / Urban Cooperative Banks/
State Cooperative Banks/ District Central Cooperative Banks

Dear Sir,
Withdrawal of cash from bank deposit accounts - Relaxation

It has been reported that certain depositors are hesitating to deposit their monies into bank accounts in view of the current limits on cash withdrawals from accounts.

2. As it is impeding active circulation of currency notes, it has been decided, on careful consideration, to allow withdrawals of deposits made in current legal tender notes on or after November 29, 2016 beyond the current limits; preferably, available higher denominations bank notes of Rs. 2000 and Rs. 500 are to be issued for such withdrawals.

Yours faithfully,
(P Vijaya Kumar)
Chief General Manager

Authority: www.rbi.org.in

Payment of Dearness Allowance to Gramin Dak Sevaks (GDS) on basic TRCA from 125% to 132% at revised rates w.e.f. 01.07.2016 onwards

Payment of Dearness Allowance to Gramin Dak Sevaks (GDS) on basic TRCA from 125% to 132% at revised rates w.e.f. 01.07.2016 onwards

Postal Department Circular on Payment of Dearness Allowance to Gramin Dak Sevaks (GDS) at revised rates w.e.f. 01.07.2016 onwards

    No. 14-01/2011-PAP
    Government of India
    Ministry of Communication & IT
    Department of Posts
    (Establishment Division)/P.A.P. Section
    Dak Bhawan, Sansad Marg, New Delhi - 110 001

Dated 24 Nov, 2016,

To

All Chief Postmaster General

All G.Ms. (PAF)/Directors or Accounts (Posts).

Subject: Payment of Dearness Allowance to Gramin Dak Sevaks (GDS) at revised rates w.e.f. 01.07.2016 onwards - reg.

Consequent upon grant of another installment of Dearness Allowance, with effect from 1st July 2016 to the Central Government Employees vide Government of India. Ministry of Finance, Department of Expenditure’s O.M. No, 1/3/2008-E.II(B) dated 9th November 2016 duly endorsed by this Department vide letter No. 8-02/2011-PAP dated 18th November, 2016, the Gamin Dak Sevaks (GDS) have also become entitled to the payment of Dearness Allowances on basic TRCA at the revised rate with effect than 01.07.2016. It has. therefore, been decided that the Dearness Allowance payable to the Gramin Dak Sevaks shall be enhanced from the existing rate of 125% to 132% an the basic Time Related Continuity Allowance, with effect from the 1st July, 2016.

2. The additional installment of Dearness Allowance payable under this order shall he paid in cash to all Gramin Dak Sevaks.

3. The expenditure on this account shall be debited to the Bead “Salaries” under the relevant head of account and should be met from the sanctioned grant.

4. This issues with the concurrence of Integrated Finance Wing vide their Diary No 227/FA/2016/CS dated 24/11/2016.

(K. V. Vijayakumar)
Assistant Director , General (Estt.)

Defence Minister reply to Lok Sabha regarding number of Beneficiaries of OROP as on 12 November 2016

Defence Minister reply to Lok Sabha regarding number of Beneficiaries of OROP as on 12 November 2016

Defence Minister reply to Lok Sabha - Unstarred question No.1696

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF DEFENCE
DEPARTMENT OF EX-SERVICEMEN WELFARE
LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1696
TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 25TH NOVEMBER, 2016

ONE RANK ONE PENSION

1696. DR. SATYAPAL SINGH:
SHRI BHARTRUHARI MAHTAB:
SHRI DEEPENDER SINGH HOODA:
SHRI N.K. PREMACHANDRAN:
SHRI K.C. VENUGOPAL:
SHRI RAHUL SHEWALE:
SHRI SUNIL KUMAR SINGH:
SHRIMATI KAMLA DEVI PAATLE:
SHRI PR. SENTHIL NATHAN:
SHRI SANGANNA AMARAPPA:

Will the Minister of DEFENCE be pleased to state:

(a) whether the Ex-Servicemen are being paid enhanced pension after the implementation of One Rank One Pension (OROP) scheme, if so, the details thereof along with the total number of Ex-Servicemen benefited under the scheme;
(b) the total allocation of funds made and utilised under the scheme during the financial years 2015-16 and 2016-17;
(c) whether the Government has received requests / suggestions / objections / grievances from Ex-Servicemen associations on certain shortcomings in the said scheme,if so, the details thereof and the action taken by the Government thereon;
(d) whether it has come to the notice of the Government that an Ex-Servicemen committed suicide due to the denial of the benefit of the scheme, if so, the details of enquiry conducted and its outcome thereof; and
(e) the other steps taken / being taken for effective implementation of the scheme?

ANSWER

MINISTER OF DEFENCE (SHRI MANOHAR PARRIKAR)

(a) Yes, Madam. Details of the beneficiaries of OROP benefits, as on 12.11.2016 are as under:-

No. of cases paid (1st installment and lump sum payments)	Amount disbursed (Rs. in Crores)	No. of cases paid 2nd installment	Amount disbursed (Rs. in Crores)
19,43,606	3939.41	14,02,755	2081.56

(b) Details of the allocation and utilization of funds under OROP are as under:

Financial Year	Allocation under OROP	Utilization on account of arrears of OROP
2015-16	No separate allocation made under OROP	Rs.3000 crores (approx.)
2016-17	Rs.12456 crores	Rs.3020.97 crores (as on 12.11.2016)

(c) Yes, Madam. Around 3200 representations for addressing the anomalies on OROP were received from individuals / Associations which were examined and issues referred to the Judicial Committee on OROP for its recommendations. The Committee has submitted its report on 26.10.2016.

(d) Ex-Subedar Ram Kishan Grewal had committed suicide at Delhi on 01.11.2016. On enquiry regarding payment of the benefits of OROP to him, the pension disbursing bank has informed that he was drawing pension @ Rs.22,608/- p.m. He was entitled for revised pension under OROP @ Rs.25,634/- p.m. The total amount of arrears of Rs.53,978/- on account of implementation of OROP has been credited to Bank Account of Late Ex Subedar Ram Kishan Grewal on 08.11.2016.

(e) Public Grievance Cell in the Department is receiving grievances of the pensioners / family pensioners and taking up the matter with the concerned offices e.g. Controller General of Defence Accounts, Principal Controller of Defence Accounts (Pension), etc for redressal of their grievances. Disposal of grievances is monitored at the highest level in the Government.

Source : Loksabha