Pensioners Portal Orders - SCOVA Minutes of 23rd Meeting
F. No. 42/6/2013-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: 07th October, 2013
OFFICE MEMORANDUM
Subject: Forwarding of minutes of the 23rd meeting of Standing Committee of Voluntary Agencies (SCOVA).
Please
find enclosed herewith a copy of minutes of the 23rd meeting of
Standing Committee of Voluntary AgenCies (SCOVA) held on 20th September,
2013 under the Chairmanship of Hon'ble MOS (PP) at Vigyan Bhawan
Annexe, New Delhi for your kind perusal and necessary action.
sd/-
(Sujasha Choudhu )
Dy. Secretary (P)
Minutes
of the 23rd meeting of Standing Committee of Voluntary Agencies (SCOVA)
held on 20.09.2013 under the Chairmanship of Hon'ble Minister of State
(PP) at Vigyan Bhawan Annexe, New Delhi.
The list of participants is at Appendix-I
2.
At the outset Joint Secretary (P) welcomed Hon'ble MOS(PP),
representatives of Pensioners Associations and the participating
officers of various Ministries/Departments. She mentioned that Standing
Committee of Voluntary Agencies was set up in 1986 and over the years,
it has served very useful purpose. The SCOVA highlighted the issues of
pensioners, facilitated policy decision and provided discussion forum,
where various nodal Ministries can interact. She added that the
Pensioners Associations also have done good work and they deserved
appreciation for their contribution. This Department itself has made
sincere efforts towards simplification of rules and procedures for
payment of pension and sanction of these payments. Streamlining the
procedure has helped both the pensioners and the implementing agencies.
The list of recent changes has been provided on the Department's
website. However, all these have been possible only because of the
dynamic leadership provided by the Hon'ble Minister, who has directed
that no stone should be left unturned for the benefit of the pensioners.
3.
Welcoming the participants, Hon'ble MOS (PP) stated that as promised
last time, the SCOVA meeting was being held for the second time in a
year. The Minister appreciated the selfless service of the Pensioners
Associations. On the basis of recommendation made by the Department
related Parliamentary Committee, this Department is in the process of
increasing the existing number of Pensioners Associations from 30 to 50.
The Department has launched a web-based 'Pensioners Portal', a Mission
Mode Project under National e-Governance Plan of the Government. The
portal CPENGRAMS (Centralized Pension Grievance Redress and Monitoring
System) serves as a one stop information source for the pensioners of
Government of India across the country. He further highlighted the
significant recent initiatives taken by the Department in the best
interest of pensioners and family pensioners.
4.
Thereafter, the Action Taken Report (ATR) of 22nd SCOVA meeting and
Agenda items of 23rd SCOVA meeting were taken up for discussion.
5. Action Taken Report (ATR) on the points raised in the 23rd meeting of SCOVA.
i) Sl.No. 1 of ATR of para 5:
Status of issue of revised PPOs to pre-2006 pensioners.
While
the target date for completion of this work for CPAD, Railways, Posts
was 31st March, 2013, the status and further course of action was as
follows:
a) CPAO informed that as on
08.08.2013, 71,334 cases (34,733 pre-1990 and 36,601 pre-2006), of Civil
MinistriesjDeptts, are pending for revision. Approximately, 82% work of
Civil Ministries/ Departments have been completed. The major reason for
non-revision of the remaining cases by Ministries/Departments are
non-availability of records of the pensioners in CPAO,
Ministries/Departments and Banks. Efforts are also made to approach the
pensioners through advertisements, however, as pension has already been
revised by the banks, response from pensioners was not encouraging.
To
strengthen the monitoring at the level of the Secretary of the
administrative Min/Deptt, this item has been made a part of the monthly
D.O to the Cabinet Secretary.
Target date: - 31st December 2013.
b)
Ministry of Railways informed that they have completed the revision of
5,87,035 out of 10,93,772 cases and due to non-availability of complete
information from the pensioners, they are not able to revise the
remaining PPOsfor which they have asked the banks to help them. They
have also issued fresh instructions in May, 2013 that the PPOs may be
revised suo-moto and the revised deadline is December 2013. These cases
are closely monitored by the Ministry of Railways. Hon'ble MOS (PP)
desired that the Ministry of Railways should give advertisements in
concerned regional languages. MOS(PP) will take up the issue with the
Railway Minister, demi-officially.
Target date: - 31st December,2013.
c)
Department of Posts informed that the after re-verification the number
of pre-2006 pensioners have come down to 1,96,000 and now the DOP has
completed 84.78% of the work. 29,855 cases are pending which will be
covered by 30th November, 2013. The DOP are going through a transition
from non digitisation to digitisation form, and the Department has
already started ERP solution, by putting all the legacy data into ERP
solution.
Target date: - 30th November, 2013.
d)
Department of Telecommunication informed that as on date 53,000 cases
remain to be revised. The main problem was that DOT has to depend on
BSNL for the records. The Secretary of DOT will address all heads of
circles of BSNL to expedite the cases by constituting a Coordination
Committee at each CCA. As per their plan of action the DOT will be able
to wipe out pending cases by 31st March, 2014. To enable this 31st
December, 2013 has been kept as a target date for BSNLto provide all the
documents relating to it.
Target date: - 31st March, 2014.
e)
Ministry of Defence informed that they have started issuing corrigendum
PPOs. Corrigendum PPOs could not be issued by the concerned Pension
Sanctioning Authorities (PSAs) for want of computerised data. There was
some mismatch in data between the PSAs and with the PDAs. It has been
reported that the records in respect of Post 2006 pensioners have since
been computerised and database exists for 4.5 lac pensioners (approx.).
Digital records of 5.88 lac pensioners have also been created in respect
of pre 2006 pensioners under Project SANGAM so far. Implementation of
the Cabinet decision of September 2012 regarding enhancement of pension
was a priority and the entire entitlement had to be revised again. MOD
has set a target of issuing around 1 lac PPOs every month. Further since
the orders issued in this regard did not include all categories of
invalid penstoners, the file had to be moved again for amending the
orders. The file is still with the Defence/Finance. MOS(PP) directed
that a reference demi-officially from him to
the Defence Minister may be sent.
While
the digitisation of pension data will be completed by 31st March, 2014,
the revision exercise for all cases is proposed to be completed by
September, 2014.
(Action: CPAO, M/o Railways, D/o Posts, D/o Telecom, M/o Defence & D/oPBtPW)
ii) S1. No 2 of ATR
a) Revision of ex-gratia amount to CPF/SRPF retirees.
b) Uniform rates of DR.
d) Ex-gratia to those who voluntarily retired after 20 years of service in respect of pre 1986 CPF/SRPF retirees.
e) Ex-gratia should not be less than minimum pension and the same should be effective from 01.01.2006.
As regards (a), (b) &(e):-
The
rates of CPF ex-gratia have been revised to bring these in tune with
the SRPF rates w.e.f 04.06.2013. The ex-gratia payable to the families
of CPF as well as SRPF beneficiaries has been increased to Rs 645/- per
month w.e.f 04.06.2013.
Necessary instructions
have been issued by D/o P&PW & M/o Railways vide D/o P&PW OM
No.1/10/2012-P&PW(E) dt 27.06.2013 & Ministry of Railways
letter No.F(E)III/98/PN/Ex.Gr./3 dt 15.11.2006, &
No.F(E)III/2008/PN1/Ex.Gr./2 dt 31.07.2013 respectively and these points
be dropped.
As regards (d) :-
Necessary
instructions have been issued by % P&PW & M/o Railways vide
D/oP&PW OM No. 41/26/2010-P&PW(E) dt. 25.06.2013 & M/o
Railways OM No. 2012/F(E)III/4(1)4 dt. 15.07.2013.
Hence the item was closed.
iii) Sl. No.3 of ATR:
(13)
- 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.
16
(i) Medical facilities for existing P&T pensioners.
The
representative of Ministry of Health & FW informed that the matter
regarding withdrawal of OMs dated 01.08.1996 and 01.09.1996 (which
provide that the P&T pensioners not participating in CGHS while in
service may not be extended this facility) is sub-judice.
(Action: M/o Health & FW)
(ii) Regarding merger of P&T dispensaries with CGHS.
CGHS
has taken over 19 P&T dispensaries in 12 cities w.e.f 01.08.2013
vide M/o H & FW notification dated 09.07.2013 circulated by
Department of Posts vide circular No. 2-3/2009- Medical dated
18.07.2013. Accordingly, P&T pensioners residing in these cities can
join CGHS to avail its facilities including inpatient medical
treatment/hospitalisation etc.
Hence the issue was closed.
(iii) S.No 6 of ATR :-
Regarding additional dispensaries.
Ministry
of Health & FW informed that due to the financial and logistic
constraints it is not possible to open more dispensaries. Ministry is
however mooting a proposal to open CGHS dispensaries at all State
Capital not yet covered by CGHS. MOS(PP) said that for opening of
dispensary at Panchkula, the matter from his level will be taken up
again.
Ministry of Health & FW informed that with the
merger of 19 P&T dispensaries with CGHS, the problem of
non-availability of hospilalisation facility has been mitigated to a
large extent.
Regarding empanelment of hospitals, the Ministry
of Health & FW informed that in smaller cities, the empanelment of
hospitals has been done only in those places where CGHS dispensaries are
available. This is because the number of patients in such cities is
sizeable.
On the question of computerisation of CGHS
dispensary at Jammu, the Ministry of Health & FW informed that the
matter is under process.
(Action: M/o Health & FW)
iv) Sl. No 4 of ATR
Dissemination of information in real time.
Department
of Posts vide dt. 11.10.2012 has issued instructions for payment of DR
to pensioners on the basis of OM issued by Department of Pensions and
Pensioners Welfare, and without waiting for the separate circular. These
instructions were again reiterated vide dt. 25.06.2013.
In view of this the item was closed.
v) 51. No 5of ATR
Nomination facility for Family Pensioners drawing Life Time Arrears of Family Pension.
The
matter has been again examined in consultation with the D/o Legal
Affairs. It has been decided that since family pension is granted only
for the sustenance of the family of the deceased Govt. servant/pensioner
it is not legally correct to consider the same as property of the
family pensioner and therefore to facilitate nomination for the same. At
the same time, instructions have been issued to allow payment of
lifetime arrears up to Rs. 2,50,000 without succession certificate when
no member in the family is eligible for family pension. In view of the
foregoing, it is proposed that the item may be closed.
vi) 51. No 7of ATR
Nomination facility for reimbursement of expenses incurred under CGHS.
In
D/o P&PW letter dated 30.07.2013, Ministry of Health was informed
that seeking Affidavits/NOC etc. on stamp paper from the legal
heirs/family members may cause avoidable inconvenience to them. The
feasibility of reimbursing the hospitalization expenses in respect of
the deceased employee/pensioner to the nominee for the purpose of GPF,
gratuity, CGEGIS, etc. could, therefore, be examined. Ministry of Health
& FW was again requested to re-consider the matter and to inform
the decision taken in this regard.
Ministry of Health &FW informed that in the light of the observations of D/o P&PW, the issue is being re-examined.
(Action: M/o Health & FW)
vii) 51 No 8 of ATR
Extension of duty hours of CGHS Dispensaries:-
The
working hours of CGHS dispensaries have since been revised to 8.00AM to
3.00 PM with a 30 minutes lunch break from 1.00 PM to 1.30 PM. It has
been made applicable across the country at all CGHS locations. Hence the
item was closed.
viii) S1. No 9 of ATR
CGHS sites on the net:-
Link of current website of CGHS is available. Hence, the item was closed.
ix) Sl. No 10 of ATR
Anomaly in fixation of pension to DoT employees absorbed in BSNL, who retired between 1.10.2000 and 31.7.2001.
The
representative of Department of Telecornmurtlcatlons informed that the
matter has been re-examined by them and a fresh proposal will be sent to
D/o P&PW for consideration before 30.09.2013.
(Action: D/o Telecommunications & D/o P&PW)
x) 51. No 1.1. of ATR
Merger of 78.2% IDA with basic pension benefit to the absorbed BSNL Pensioners:-
The
representative of Department of Telecommunications informed that the
matter has been re-examined by them and a fresh proposal will be sent to
% P&PW for consideration before 30.09.2013.
(Action: D/o Telecommunications & D/o P&PW)
6. FRESH AGENDA ITEMS FOR 23rd SCOVA MEETING.
(23.1) Submission of application in Form 14 be dispensed with for sanction of Family Pension.
The
matter has been examined in the Government. Necessary instruction for
grant of family pension with application in Form-14 where pensioner has a
joint account with the spouse and using Form-14 in other cases without
having it attested has been issued vide D/o P&PW OM No.
01/27/2011-P&PW(E) dt 20.09.2013. In view of the position explained
above the matter may be closed.
(23.2) Extension of benefit of upgraded Grade Pay to pre-2006 retirees of S-12 grade.
Ministry
of Finance has informed that the grade pay of Rs. 4600 is not the
corresponding grade pay in respect of the pre-revised pay scale of Rs
6500-10,500. This grade pay is the corresponding grade pay of the
upgraded post in the pay scale of 7,450-11,500. The corresponding grade
pay for pre-revised pay scale of 6,500-10,500 is Rs. 4200, since the
benefit of upgraded pay scale is not to be given to the pre-2006 11,500.
The corresponding grade pay for pre-revised pay scale of 6,500-10,500
is Rs.4200, since the benefit of upgraded pay scale is not to be given
to the pre-2006 pensioners, the pension of pre-2006 pensioners who
retired in the pay scale of 6500-10,500 cannot be fixed with reference
to the minimum of fitment table with grade pay of Rs. 4600. Pensioners
Associations informed that there are some CAT orders allowing benefit of
grade pay of Rs. 4600 to the pre-2006 pensioners who retired in the pay
scale of 6,500-10,500. It was decided that since the matter is
sub-judice, the final decision would be taken subsequent to court
decisions.
(Action: D/o Expenditure, D/o P&'PW)
(23.3) Complaints Against the System of Lodging of Pension Grievance.
This
Department has been forwarding the grievances on pension related
matters, received in this Department either on line through CPENGRAMSor
otherwise, to designated nodal officers of concerned
Ministries/Deptts/Organisations. Since even for monitoring those
grievances, this Department has been interacting with the designated
nodal officers, it is neither prudent not feasible to send grievances
directly to subordinate formations. However, the Department is working
on the feasibility of forwarding e-mails where email ids of nodal office
has been provided. Hence the matter may be closed.
(23.4) Broad Banding of Disability Element for Pre-1996 cases.
The
matter regarding extension of benefit of broad banding to pre-1.1.96
invalided out individuals was processed and referred to MoD(Fin) for
concurrence. But MoD (Fin) returned the matter back for knowing the
financial implications involved. CGDA, expressed its difficult in
furnishing the requisite information. MoD(Fin) was persuaded to process
the matter without the financial implications. The case has been
referred to M/o Finance by MoD(Fin) in March,2013. The DESW has been in
constant touch with the D/o Expenditure to get the case finalized.
Secretary (Pension) requested the Ministry of Finance to expedite
the disposal of cases.
(Action: M/o Finance, D/o Expenditure & D/o Ex-Servicemen Welfare)
(23.5) Appointment of Specialists and General Medical Officer in CGHS.
Keeping
in view the difficulties being faced by the aged CGHS pensioner
beneficiaries, feasibility of appointing specialists of various
disciplines in CGHS dispensaries on part time/contract basis is being
explored. Ministry of Health & FW have delegated powers to the field
level committees headed by Additional Director, CGHS of that city to
appoint retired Government doctors against the vacant posts of
specialists. Hence, the matter may be closed.
(23.6) Problems faced by non -Smart Card (old card holders) of CGHS.
CGHS
has already started issuing plastic cards at all its locations (except
Jammu). Beneficiaries may apply for the same with the requisite details
and get their plastic cards made from the Office of Additional Director,
CGHS of the city concerned. Two new vendors have been appointed for the
issue of plastic cards. Hence the matter may be treated as closed.
(23.7) Extension of benefit of OM dt. 28.1.2013 w.e.f 1.1.2006 instead of 24.9.2012.
It
was stated that a SLP filed by the D/o P&PW has been dismissed by
the Hon'ble Supreme Court on 29.07.2013. The Department was considering
further course of action in consultation with the Ministry of Finance
and Ministry of Law.
(Action: D/o P&PW)
Source : http://pensionersportal.gov.in/
[http://ccis.nic.in/WriteReadData/CircularPortal/D3/D03ppw/SCOVA_07102013.pdf]
