Wednesday, April 22, 2015

6% DA for TamilNadu State Government Employees from Jan 2015

6% DA for TamilNadu State Government Employees from Jan 2015

An another announcement of hiking in Dearness allowance to the employees of State Government of Tamil Nadu today.

Tamilnadu Chief Minister announces an additional DA to state employees from 1.1.2015.

More than eighteen lakh state government employees will get the hike, which is effective from 1.1.2015.

Following the Central Government, the state government has declared DA to its employees from the existing rate of 107% to 113% with effect from 1.1.2015.

Pensioners Portal Orders: Pension by linking Aadhaar with Bank Accounts and PPO

Pension by linking Aadhaar with Bank Accounts and PPO – Pensioners Portal Orders

Aadhaar-based biometric verification system – Jeevan Pramaan

Government of India
Ministry of Personnel, P.G. & Pensions
Department of Pension & Pensioners’ Welfare
Message

In November, 2014, the Prime Minister has launched an Aadhaar-based biometric verification system “Jeevan Pramaan” to enable pensioners to submit a digital Life Certificate on-line. This is an important step in realising the vision of Digital India. This facility has been provided in addition to the other existing methods of submitting Life Certificate.

2. “Jeevan Pramaan” aims at sparing the pensioners and family pensioners the trouble of visiting bank or any other pension disbursing agency for submission of Life Certificates. It is possible to submit the Life Certificate from personal computers and laptops or by visiting a conveniently located Common Service Centre. Further, banks will ensure authenticity of pension and other payments by linking Aadhaar number with bank accounts and PPO numbers.

3. All the pensioners/family pensioners are, therefore, advised to get themselves and their family members registered for Aadhaar and furnish this information to the Pension Disbursing Authority. This exercise may be completed at an early date so as to avoid inconvenience at the time of submission of Life Certificate in November, 2015.

4. For further details please visit https://jeevanpramaan.gov.in.
sd/-
(Vandana Sharma)
Joint Secretary to the Government of India
All pensioners/family pensioners of Government of India
Click to view the order

Source: Pensioners Portal Orders

Special concessions to Central Government Employees working in Kashmir Valley in attached/subordinate offices or PSUs falling under the control of Central Government

Special concessions to Central Government Employees working in Kashmir Valley in attached/subordinate offices or PSUs falling under the control of Central Government.

No.18016/3/2011-Estt.(L)
Government of India
Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions
(Department of Personnel & Training)
***
New Delhi, the 20th April, 2015.

OFFICE MEMORANDUM

Subject:- Special concessions to Central Government Employees working in Kashmir Valley in attached/subordinate offices or PSUs falling under the control of Central Government.

The undersigned is directed to refer to this Department’s O.M. No. 18016/3/2011-Estt.(L) dated 27th February, 2014 on the subject mentioned above and to state that it has been decided by the competent authority to extend the package of concessions/incentives to Central Government employees working in Kashmir Valley for a further period of two years w.e.f. 01.01.2014. The package of special incentives for the year 2014 will continue to be the same as in 2013 and the package from 01.01.2015 to 31.12.2015 has been revised. The package for two years is as per Annexure.

2. The package of incentives is uniformly applicable to all Ministries/ Departments and PSUs under the Government of India and they should ensure strict adherence to the rates prescribed in the package. The concerned Ministry/Department may ensure implementation and monitoring of the package in conformity with the approved package, and therefore, all Court cases in which verdicts are given contrary to the package would have to be contested by the Ministry/Departments concerned.
Encls: As above.
(Mukul Ratra)
Director
To
All Ministries/Departments of the Govt. of India. (As per list)
ANNEXURE
ANNEXURE to DOPT’s O.M. No.18016/3/2011-Estt.(L) dated the 20th April, 2015

DETAILS OF PACKAGE OF CONCESSIONS TO CENTRAL GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES WORKING IN KASHMIR VALLEY IN ATTACHED/SUBORDINATE OFFICES OR PSUs FALLING UNDER THE CONTROL OF CENTRAL GOVERNMENT.

[Kashmir Valley comprises of ten districts namely, Anantnag, Baramulla, Budgam, Kupwara, Pulwama, Srinagar, Kulgam, Shopian, Ganderbal and Bandipora]

I. ADDITIONAL H.R.A AND OTHER CONCESSIONS :
(A) Employees posted to Kashmir Valley:
(i) These employees have an option to move their families to a selected place of their choice in India at Government expense. T.A. for the families allowed as admissible in permanent transfer inclusive of transportation of personal effects, lump-sum payment for packing etc.
(ii) Departmental arrangements for stay, security and transportation to the place of work for employees.
(iii)HRA as for Class ‘Y’ city applicable for employees exercising option at (i). Such employees will be eligible for drawing the normal HRA as well at their place of posting provided Departmental arrangement is not made for his/her stay.
(iv)The period of temporary duty extended to six months. For period of temporary duty daily allowance at full rate is admissible, apart from departmental arrangements for stay, security and transporation.
(B) Employees posted to Kashmir Valley who do not wish to move their families to a selected place of residence :

II PER DIEM ALLOWANCE FOR THE YEAR 2014:
A per diem allowance of Rs.10/- is paid for each day of attendance to compensate for any additional expense in transportation to and from office etc. This will be in addition to the transport allowance, which the employee is otherwise eligible for under Ministry of Finance order No. 21(2)/2008-E.II(B) dated 29.08.2008.

III. MESSING FACILITIES FOR THE YEAR 2014 :
Messing Allowance to be paid to the employees at a uniform rate of Rs.15/- per day by all Departments, or in lieu messing arrangements to be made by the Departments themselves. This rate of allowance will have to be adhered to uniformly by all the Ministries/Departments with effect from 01.07.1999. The slightly higher rate of Rs.25.50/- adopted by the Department of Telecom and Posts and allowed to be continued as a special case by the Department of Personnel in consultation with the Ministry of Finance, would, however, continue to be paid at the said rate.

IV PER DIEM ALLOWANCE FOR THE YEAR 2015:
The per diem allowance of Rs. 10/- paid for each day of attendance to compensate for any additional expense in transportation to and from office etc. is raised to Rs.50/- per day at par with the above reimbursement of travel charges for travel within city.

V MESSING FACILTIES FOR THE YEAR 2015 :
Messing allowance of Rs. 15/- & 25.50 is revised at par with rates of ration money given to CAPFs personnel i.e. Rs. 85.96.

VI. PAYMENT OF MONTHLY PENSION TO PENSIONERS OF KASHMIR VALLEY:
Pensioners of Kashmir Valley who are unable to draw their monthly pensions through either Public Sector Banks or PAO treasuries from which they were receiving their pensions, would be given pensions outside the Valley where they have settled, in relaxation of relevant provisions.

NOTE :-1. The package of concessions/facilities shall be admissible in Kashmir Valley comprising of ten districts namely, Anantnag, Baramulla, Budgam, Kupwara, Pulwama, Srinagar, Kulgam, Shopian, Ganderbal and Bandipora.

2. The package of concessions/facilities shall be admissible to Temporary Status Casual laborers working in Kashmir Valley in terms of Para 5(i) of the Causal Laborers (Grant of Temporary Status and Regularization) Scheme of Government of India, 1993.

3. The benefit of additional HRA admissible under the Kashmir Valley package shall be admissible to all Central Government employees posted to Kashmir Valley irrespective of whether they are natives of Kashmir Valley, if they choose to move their families anywhere in India subject to the conditions governing the grant of these allowances.

4. The facilities of Messing Allowance and Per Diem Allowance shall also be allowed to natives of Kashmir Valley in terms of the Kashmir Valley package.

Source : http://ccis.nic.in/WriteReadData/CircularPortal/D2/D02est/18016_3_2011-Estt.L-20042015.pdf

Operation Five Minutes – Now Unreserved Ticketing on your Mobile Phone

‘Operation Five Minutes’ – Now Unreserved Ticketing on your Mobile Phone

Press Information Bureau
Government of India
Ministry of Railways
22-April, 2015
Suresh Prabhu Launches Mobile App for Paperless Unreserved Ticketing
Fulfilling yet another commitment of the Railway Budget 2015-16, the Minister of Railways Shri Suresh Prabhakar Prabhu launched Mobile Application for Paperless Unreserved Ticketing through video conferencing on Egmore–Tambaram Suburban Section of Chennai, at a function here today. Referring his Railway Budget announcement, the Railway Minister said that for the passenger, the Indian Railways is committed to ‘Operation Five Minutes’ – that is, purchase of an unreserved ticket within five minutes and today’s launching of Paperless Unreserved Mobile Ticket is the first step in this area. He said that it will allow the passenger to buy a ticket on the move and allow him or her to board the train with the ticket secured on his or her mobile phone, without any need for printing the ticket. Shri Suresh Prabhu commended all the members of CRIS to develop the Paperless Unreserved Ticketing Mobile Application and hoped for speedy implementation of other IT projects in the pipeline. The railway Minister said that the innovative ideas are always welcome and said that he has set up ‘Kayakalp’ Council which will consider innovative ideas for the betterment of Indian Railways. He said that Shri Suresh Prabhu also unveiled the plaque for the foundation of the Indian Railways Datacentre in Centre for Railway Information Systems (CRIS), an IT wing of Indian Railways, which will provide state-of-the art facilities to house the required computer equipment. Shri Prabhu said that he would expect this new building to be environmental friendly and called upon the officials to complete the construction of this building before scheduled deadline ensuring quality with less cost.

Speaking on the, Chairman, Railway Board, Shri A.K.Mital said that CRIS, a IT arm of Indian Railways since 1986, has proved capable of managing large railway-wide IT applications such as Passenger Reservation System, Unreserved Ticketing System and Freight Operations Information System. He said that over the years, CRIS has implemented other centralised applications such as Control Officer Application, Crew Management System and Integrated Coaching Management System. Shri Mital said that with CRIS taking up the challenge of developing and implementing these large system, the Indian Railways will see a sea-change in the effectiveness and utilisation of its assets, cutting down cost and improving its services.
Member Traffic, Railway Board, Shri Ajay Shukla said that the Unreserved Ticketing System is an important revenue generating system developed by CRIS. He said that nearly two crore passengers obtain unreserved tickets daily through nearly 11470 counters and 5836 locations generating about Rs. 52 crore of revenue per day. He congratulated CRIS for successfully developing Application App for paperless unreserved ticketing system on Indian Railways.

To move forward in line with digital India, Centre for Railway Information Systems (CRIS) has developed a paperless Unreserved Ticketing feature in Mobile Application “utsonmobile” both for Android and Widows platforms. This will eliminate the need for printing of Unreserved Tickets on ATVMs at the stations. User can download ‘App’ from Google Play Store or Window Store.

The application is being rolled out as a pilot between Chennai Egmore & Tambaram suburban Section of Southern Railway covering 15 stations. For paperless ticketing, GPS co-ordinates of suburban railway track on the Chennai Egmore-Tambaram section, plus 15 meters on either side of the tracks have been earmarked as Geo-Fencing area within which no ticket booking is allowed in order to ensure that passengers have ticket before commencing the journey. After implementation of paperless ticketing, facility of printing paper ticket at ATVM will not be available on Chennai-Egmore to Tambaram Section.

The application provides necessary on-screen alerts to guide the passenger during the booking process. Payment for the ticket is done through the “Railway Wallet” feature in the “App”. After booking the ticket, the passenger will get the ticket confirmation screen which contains limited information of the ticket. The paperless journey ticket will be stored in the local mobile application database in the encrypted form which cannot be tampered with. The passenger has to start the journey within 1 hour as per policy for suburban sections. Ticket booked in paperless mode cannot be cancelled in order to prevent claiming of refund after travel.
The ticket has distinct colour scheme everyday and it is embedded with Quick Response (QR) code. It cannot be forwarded to another mobile or edited or printed. The old invalid tickets will be removed from the mobile device through a sync feature in the ‘App’.

For the purpose of ticket checking, the application has various features such as colour scheme, show ticket features, secret code of the day, booking time of the ticket and scrolling of legend “IR UNRESERVED TICKETING’. In case of mobile in disconnected mode, it will be checked through QR Code.

The Indian Railways Datacentre will be a new building in the premises of existing CRIS office. Indian Railways depends heavily on Information Technology for its customer facing commercial activities, train operations, and internal management. Critical IT applications run 24 hours a day, seven days a week, throughout the year, to support Railway operations. These applications cannot be shut down for even a minute on account of any outage of power or cooling.

Sensitive computer equipment used by these IT applications such as high-end servers, storage, network switches etc. needs a controlled environment with precision air-conditioning, uninterruptible power supply (UPPS) , adequate network bandwidth, fire suppression, access control and comprehensive security/surveillance.

The existing datacenters of Indian Railways are nearing their fully capacity. As the number of critical applications increases, this capacity needs to be expanded and the infrastructure brought in line with global standards. To achieve this, the IR Datacentre in CRIS has been planned to ensure state of the art infrastructure for continuous power, precision cooling and protection to the equipment. Complete redundancy and physical security will be provided in the datacenter facilities through the latest technologies in this area. A secure Internet gateway with high bandwidth datacom circuits already exists, and will be expanded further.

The Indian Railways Datacentre can also cater to its PSUs and will help Railways to provide better services to its customers and management.

PIB

Indian Railways to launch App tomorrow for paperless ticketing in unreserved category

Indian Railways to launch App tomorrow for paperless ticketing in unreserved category

Rail Minister Suresh Prabhu
Rail Minister Suresh Prabhu

New Delhi: Come tomorrow and rail commuters can use a mobile phone App to obtain tickets in the unreserved category as the Indian railways takes forward its initiative for paperless ticketing.

“We are launching a mobile-based paperless unreserved ticketing application tomorrow,” said a senior Railway Ministry official.

Having booked a ticket using the App, a commuter need not take a print-out of the same and can show its soft copy on the cellphone to the TTE.

Apart from being a green initiative, the paperless ticketing system would also save time for passengers as it allows them to avoid lining up at the ticket window.

As per the plan, one may download the App from the Google App store for Android-based mobile phones. After the download, the user will get a registration ID number for creation of a railway e-wallet.

Money for buying tickets will have to be loaded through the e-wallet mobile payment system either online or at a ticket counter at any station.

Passengers have the option of topping up the e-wallet at ticket counters or on the IRCTC website using a credit or debit card, the official said.

Besides booking tickets, one can even renew season tickets using the App, which the official said will be a great help for commuters in the unreserved ticketing segment.

The App-based ticketing system was tried out in the Mumbai suburban sector on a pilot basis. The App will be available for cellphones running on the Android operating systems. An App for Blackberry will be available later.

PTI

Minimum Guaranteed Pension for Disability/War injury element as per CSC 2012 recommendation.

Minimum Guaranteed Pension for Disability/War injury element as per CSC 2012 recommendation.
No. 16(01)/2014-D(Pension/Policy)
Government of India,
Ministry of Defence.
Department of Ex-Servicemen Welfare
New Delhi, the 10th April 2015
To
The Chief of the Army Staff,
The Chief of the Naval Staff,
The Chief of the Air Staff,

Subject: Minimum Guaranteed Pension for Disability/War injury element as per CSC 2012 recommendation.

The undersigned is directed toth refer to this Ministry’s letter No. 17(4)2008(1)/D(Pen/Pol)/ Vol-V dated 15 February 2011 1ilssued in implementation of the Government decision on the recommendations of 6th CPC, which prescribe minimum guaranteed rate of various casualty pensionary awards for pre -2006 Armed Forces Officers and Personnel Below Officer Ranks(PBOR).

2. Further, orders were issued as per recommendation of CSC 2012 for determining the minimum guaranteed pension in respect of Pre-2006 pensioners/ family pensioners. The minimum guaranteed pension has been stepped up to 50% and 30% in respect of Service Pension and Family Pension respectively of the minimum of the fitment table for the ratng in the revised pay structure issued for implementation of recommendations of 6 CPC instead of the minimum of the pay band. The question of extending this benefit to disability element in respect of Pre-2006 Armed Forces Pensioners was under consideration of the Government. Now, the President is pleased to decide that the minimum guaranteed Disability/ War Injury Element of Pre-2006 Armed Forces Personnel should be determined with reference to the minimum of the fitment table for the rank in the revised pay structure issued for implementation of recommendations of 6t CPC instead of the minimum of the pay band, subject to consideration that the rate of disability element/ war injury element of lower rank may not exceed that of higher rank. The Disability/ War Injury Element of Pre-2006 shall be further stepped up as under:-
 
Disabiliy Pension

3. The disability element revised in terms of Para 2.2 of this Ministry’s letter dated 4.5.2009 as amended from time to time shall not be less than 30% of the minimum of the fitment table for the rank in the revised gay structure issued for implementation of recommendation of 6t CPC instead of t e minimum of the pay band corresponding to pre-revised scale held by Armed Forces personnel at the time of retirement / discharge 1 invalidment for 100% disability.

3.1 For disability less than 100%, the disability element shall be proportionately reduced as per the period and degree of disability accepted.

3.2 In cases where permanent disability is not less than 60%, the disability pension (i.e. total of serv1ce element revised in terms Para 2.1 of this Ministry’s letter dated 4.5.2009 as amended from time to time plus disability element) shall not be less than 60% of minimum of the fitment table for thehrankin the revised pay structure issued for implementation of recommendation of 6t CPC instead of minimum of the pay band corresponding to the pre-revised scale held by Armed Forces personnel at the tlg‘le of retirement / discharge/ invalidment, subject to minimum of Rs.7000/- per month.

Liberalized Disability Pension

4. The disability element revised in terms of Para 2.2 of this Ministry’s letter dated 4.5.2009 as amended from time to time shall not be less than 30% of the minimum of the fitment table for the rank in the revised pay structure issued for implementation of recommendation of 6t CPC instead of minimum of the pay band corresponding to pre-revised scale held by Armed Forces personnel at the time of retirement / discharge finvalidment for 100% disability.

4.1 For disability less than 100%, the disability element shall be proportionately reduced as per the period and degree of disability already accepted. However, in no case the revised disability pension (i.e. aggregate of service element revised in terms of Para 2.1 of this Ministry’s letter dated 4.5.2009 as amended from time to time plus disability element) shall be less than 80% of the minimum of the fitment table for the rank in the revised pay structure issued for implementation of recommendation of 6 CPC instead of the minimum of the pay band corresponding to pre-revised scale held by Armed Forces personnel at the time of retirement / discharge /invalidment.

War Injury Pension

5. The War Injury element revised in terms of Para 2.3 of this Ministry’s letter dated 4.5.2009 as amended from time to time shall not be less than 100% in case of invalidment and 60% in case of retirement/discharge, of the minimum of the fitment table for the rank in the revised pay structure issued for implementation of recommendation of 6t CPC instead of the minimum of the pay band corresponding to pre-revised scale held by Armed Forces personnel at the time of retirement discharge invalidment for 100% disability.

6. All Pension Disbursing Agencies (PDAs) handling disbursement of pension to Defence pensioners are hereby authorized to pay revised Disability / War Injury Element 1n respect of Pre-2006 retired/ discharged/ invalided out pensioners from service, in terms of these orders without calling for any application from the Defence pensioners and without any further authorization from the concerned Pension Sanctioning Authorities(PSAs). PCDA (Pensions) Allahabad will issue further implementation instructions while circulating these orders to all the PDAs concerned.

7. This order will take effect from 24th September 2012. There will be no change in the amount of revision of disability element/ war injury element paid during the period 01.01.2006 to 23.09.2012. Therefore, no arrears shall be allowed for this period.

8. All other terms and condition shall remain unchanged.

9. Pension Regulation of all the three services will be amended in due course.
10. This issues with the concurrence of Finance division of this Ministry vide their ID No PC-3 to MF
10(12)2012/FIN/Pen dated 23.03.2015

11. Hindi version will follow.
Yours faithfully
(Prem Parkash)
Under Secretary (Pen/Pol)
Click here to download Original

CSS demands status equivalent with IAS officers

CSS demands status equivalent with IAS officers

Minister of State for Personnel Jitendra Singh

New Delhi: The Central Secretariat Service (CSS) is demding for a status equivalent with the IAS officers (Indian Administrative Service officers).

A team of CSS officers met Dr Jitendra Singh, Minister of State for Personnel, seeking a new pay package, perks and promotion.

The Central Secretariat Service (CSS) is one of the earliest organized services in the country. The origin of the service can be traced back to the year 1919.

The CSS Officers at the middle and lower management levels of the administrative machinery are responsible for assisting in the formulation and monitoring implementation of policies concerning subjects, which are the main responsibility of the central government.

There are around 2,200 CSS officers in the Government starting from Under Secretaries to Additional Secretaries.

Finance Minister Jaitley to meet officials again to keep Income Tax Return forms simple

FM Jaitley to meet officials again to keep Income Tax Return forms simple

Finance Minister Arun Jaitley
Finance Minister Arun Jaitley

New Delhi: Facing criticism over the new Income Tax Return (ITR) forms that seek details on bank accounts and foreign trips, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley will hold another round of meeting with officials to simplify the procedure.

Soon after his trip from Washington yesterday, Jaitley had held a meeting with tax officials on the new ITR forms that have evoked sharp reactions from experts and others alike.

“The Finance Minister will be taking another meeting to finalise changes in the new forms,” said a source.
The Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT), the apex policy-making body of the Income Tax department, had notified the forms for the current assessment year, seeking additional details to check the menace of black money.

As it stands, the new ITR forms, including the ITR-1 and ITR-2, require an assessee to furnish the number of bank accounts held by the individual “at any time (including opened/closed) during the previous year” with the last balance in the account as on March 31 of the just-concluded fiscal.

The assessee will also have to furnish the name of the bank, account number, address, IFSC code and any possible joint account holder’s name.

On Saturday, Revenue Secretary Shaktikanta Das had said the government will reconsider the new ITR forms to make it simple. Jaitley had called him up from Washington, asking him not to proceed further on the matter.

Experts and consultants have criticised the new forms, saying the government was seeking too much of data. They felt that the addition of new information would make the process of filing returns difficult.
PTI

Submission of Memorandum to the 7th Central Pay Commission – Request for oral evidence – AICAEA

Submission of Memorandum to the 7th Central Pay Commission – Request for oral evidence – AICAEA
All India Civil Accounts Employees Association
(RECOGNISED BY GOVT. OF INDIA)
CENTRAL HEADQUARTER

No.AICAEA/HQ/ A-41/7CPC/2015/246
Dated 30th March 2015
To
The Member Secretary,
7th Central Pay Commission,
Chatrapati Shivaji Bhawan,
1st Floor, B-14/A, Qutab Institutional Area,
New Delhi 110016
Tel Number:- 26517097
E-mail:- secy-7cpc@nic.in

Subject:- Submission of Memorandum to the 7th Central Pay Commission – request for oral evidence regarding.

Madam,

This Association, vide its forwarding letter No.AICAEA/HQ/A-41/7CPC/2014/988 dated 28th July 2014 has submitted a “Memorandum” to the 7TH Central Pay Commission.

This Association is a part of the JCM Scheme and one of the members of the Departmental Council of Ministry of Finance.

This Association represents nearly 7000(Seven thousand) employees belonging to the cadres of MTS, LDC, Staff Car Driver, DEO, Computer Operator, Accountant, Senior Accountant, Stenographer, Private Secretary, Hindi translator/officer etc. of the Departmentalized Accounts organization functioning under the Controller General of Accounts, Ministry of Finance, Department of Expenditure.

I, on behalf of this Association, request you to kindly extend us the opportunity of tendering oral evidence in support of the Memorandum submitted by us. We may kindly be intimated the date for tendering oral evidence at least a fortnight ahead so that our representatives from other stations are able to take part.
Thanking you,
Yours sincerely
(V. BHATTACHARJEE)
Secretary General

Nomination of Nodal bank branches under Single Window Scheme (SWS) for reimbursement of Railway Pension

Nomination of Nodal bank branches under Single Window Scheme (SWS) for reimbursement of Railway Pension

G.I., Railway Board Orders, RBA No.02412015, No. 2010/AC-II/21/8(PART), dated 16.04.2015

Sub:- Nomination of Nodal bank branches under Single Window Scheme (SWS) for reimbursement of Railway Pension.

Please refer to Board’s letter no. 2010/AC-11/2i/2 dt. 31.3.2011(RBA No. 15/2011), 16.5.2012(RBA No. 13, 14/2012), 9.1.2013 (RBA No% 2/2013), 15.1.2013 (RBA No. 3/2013), letter no. 2010/AC-II/21/2(PART) dt. 8.10.2013(RBA No.. 23/2013) and 2013/AC-11/21/8 dt. 28.07.2014(RBA No. 12/2 14), 13.2.2015(RBA No. 12/ 2015) & 7.4.2015( RBA No. 24/2015) where in instructions on implementation of SWS system for pension payment to Railway Pensioners through various Banks were issued. These instructions envisage nomination of nodal branches by the Banks covered under this scheme for submission of Pension Debits by the banks to the designated FA&CAOs. Consequent upon authorization of &CAO/RCF/Rae Bareli and FA&CAO/RWP/Bela for issue of PPOs, the branches as indicated in the Annexure shall be the nodal branches for these units for submission of PPOs.

Kindly acknowledge receipt and ensure compliance.

List of Nominated Nodal BrancheRailway Orders-3
Source: Indian Railways

Bharat Pensioners Samaj writes to Prime Minister

Bharat Pensioners Samaj writes to Prime Minister

Bharat Pensioners’ Samaj writes a letter to Prime Minister as reply for his letter dated 31.03.2015. The content of the letter is reproduced and given below for your information…

BHARAT PENSIONERS’ SAMAJ
(All India Federation of Pensioners’ Associations)
2/13-A, LGF Backside, Jangpura ‘A’, New Delhi-110014
BPS writes to Prime Minister
NO SG/PM/01/51

To
The Hon’ble Prime Minister
Government of India
New Delhi
Ref: Prime Minister’s letter dated 31.03.2015 to Elderly

Sir,
Greetings,

On behalf of Bharat Pensioners Samaj, a conglomeration of around 650 Pensioners organizations, the undersigned extends gratitude for the feelings conveyed through your letter dated 31-03-2015 addressed to Elderly. BPS is not only delighted but proud that the country has a Prime Minister who truly believes in Indian ethos, cares and respects his elderly. Sir, you justifyfully deserve the blessings of the Elderly of the country.

Encouraged by your open heartedness, undersigned on behalf of BHARAT PENSIONERS SAMAJ avail the privilege writing follow lines for your consideration:

Rightly Prime Minister Sir, Present day Elderly which includes the fraternity of Civil Pensioners, belongs to the privileged generation which has had the honor of contributing of both India’s independence, &consequent Nation building. Forgoing 8.33% matching Govt. contribution to PF and accepting salaries which were intentionally designed at lower level to cater to the pension to be paid after retirement. The Civil Pensioners’ of today, during their productive years worked hard for the development of the country with the hope that the Nation will take care of them during the evening of their lives. Even today whenever need arises due to natural calamities or otherwise, they are first to come forward with monetary as well as physical support & stand shoulder to shoulder with the administration and the fellow citizen to the extent of donating organs & even the whole body so that others may live to serve this beautiful country. Despite old age they make endless contributions to their families, communities and society. They contribute as family care givers, as workers, consumers, volunteers and taxpayers. In-fact they are the ones who have been & are still paying Taxes most honestly.

Earnestly they look forward to a peaceful and healthy life. And a life of dignity and respect where they are free from want and able to live with the standard they were used to. Prime minister Sir, Civil Pensioners only aspire for uniform & discrimination-free application of what is laid down in the constitution, what the supreme court has pronounced, what is covered by their service conditions and to what they have contributed.
Sir, in this country Supreme court / high court judges, CAG, Cab, Secy & Secys, enjoy 100% parity of pension between pre & post retirees. You have also promised One Rank One Pension to Defense Personnel. Why then the other civil Pensioners are being discriminated against. Are they 2nd class Citizens?. At least for them carry forward the modified parity formula enunciated by Vth CPC & accepted by the then Govt. but discontinued due to disillusioned recommendations of 6th CPC. And reduce the Ratio between minimum & maximum paid to the international level with equal % rise in pension of all.

Health care: Sir you will agree “Health is not a luxury” and “not be the sole possession of a privileged few”.

India may be a young Nation today but is fast getting old. From govt, staff alone, over a lac are retiring every year at 60yrs. Demographic forecast suggest, every 5th Indian to be 60+ by2050, over 30% of whom will be ex govt/PSU employees. 90% 60+Indians suffer from one or other old age ailment/disability and every year millions are being pushed below poverty line due to out of pocket expenditure on health care. If adequate immediate corrective steps are not taken India will be a Nation of limping poor oldies.

As per the law laid down by the apex court, healthcare is a Fundamental justify of all present & past Employees Bharat Pensioners Samaj request the honorable prime Minister to sensitize his Govt, on-
Ensuring hassle free health care facility to all Pensioners/family pensioners without discrimination of departments & distances ; issuing Smart Cards irrespective of departments, to all Pensioners/ Family Pensioners and their Dependent for cashless medical facilities across the country. These smart cards should be valid in all Govt. hospitals all NABH accredited Multi Super Speciality hospitals across the country which have been allotted land at concessional rate or given any aid or concession by the Central or the State govt. all CGHS, RELHS & ECHS empanelled hospitals across the country.

Medical attendants: For reimbursement of bills for treatment & for hospitalization: No referral should be insisted in case of medical emergencies. For the purpose of reference for hospitalization & reimbursement of expenditure thereon in other than emergency cases, doctors/Medical officers working in different Central/ State Govt. department dispensaries/health units should be recognized as Authorized medical attendant.

The enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of health is recognized as a fundamental justify of all workers in terms of Article 21 read with Article 39 a, 41, 43, 48A and all related Articles as pronounced by the Supreme Court in Consumer Education and Research Centre & Others vs Union of India (AIR 1995 Supreme Court 922) The Supreme court has held that:

“the justify to health to a worker is an integral facet of meaningful justify to life to have not only a meaningful existence but also robust health and vigour. Therefore, the justify to health, medical aid to protect the health and vigour of a worker while in service or post retirement is a fundamental justify -to make life of a worker meaningful and purposeful with dignity of person. Thus health care is not only a welfare measure but is a Fundamental justify”.

We suggest that, all the pensioners, irrespective of pre-retrial class and status, be treated as same category of citizens and the same homogenous group. There should be no class or category based discrimination and all must be provided Health care services at par. BPS also request the Hon’ble PM to recommend to his govt. to make preventive health care an essential ingredient of all health care schemes for retired Persons. CGHS & RELHS should be expanded/improved and also CMSA Rules 1944 be extended to pensioners residing outside CGHS area.

Hospital Regulatory Authority:
To ensure that the hospitals do not avoid providing reasonable care to smart card holders and other poor citizens, a Hospital Regulatory Authority should be created to bring all NABH-accredited hospitals and NABL-accredited diagnostic Labs under its constant monitoring of quality, rates for different procedures & timely bill payments by Govt.agencies and Insurance companies. CGHS rates may be revised periodically keeping in mind the workability as per market conditions.

Fixed Medical allowance(FMA):
As is recorded in Para 5 of the minutes of Committee of Secretaries (COS) held on 15.04.2010 (Reference Cabinet Secretariat, Rashtrapati Bhavan No 502/2/3/2010-C.A.V Doc No.CD (C.A.V)42/2010 Minutes of COS meeting dated 15.04.2010) Which discussed enhancement of FMA. “CGHS card estimates for serving Personnel: Since estimates are not available separately for pensioners M/O Health & Family Welfare had assessed the total cost per card p.a. in 2007-2008 = Rs 16435 i.e. Rs.1369 per month for OPD”.

Adding to it inflation, the figure today is well over Rs 2000/- PM. Ministry of Labour & Employment, Govt of India vide its letter no. G-25012/2/2011-SSI dated 07.06.2013 has already enhanced FMA to Rs 2000/- PM for EPFO beneficiaries. Thus, to help elderly pensioners to look after their health, adequate raise in FMA will encourage a good number of pensioners to opt out of OPD facility reducing overcrowding in hospitals. OPD through Insurance will cost much more to the Govt.

We suggest that FMA for all C.G. Pensioners be raised to at least Rs 2500/- PM without any distance restriction as distance restriction is discriminatory to those who do not choose Govt. schemes/ hospitals.

Further link it to Dearness Relief for automatic increase. BPS also request that FMA be exempted from INCOME TAX. Fixed Medical Allowance (FMA) is a compensatory allowance to reimburse the medical expenses. As Medical Reimbursement is not taxable, FMA should also be exempted from Income Tax.
Lingering Litigation on Pensioners matters due to uncalled for Appeals by Government:

Govt. should not indirectly pressurize courts by appealing again & again to get judgments reversed in its favor & must implement all court judgments in case of all similarly placed persons.

Fifth CPC recommended in para 126.3 that any Court Judgement involving a common policy matter of pay/pension to a group of employees/pensioners, should be extended automatically to similarly placed employees/pensioners without driving every affected individual to the Courts of law. This recommendation is never followed by GOI, with the result Pensioners in the evening of their lives, are forced to approach the legal forums, seeking the same relief. This in turn, bulges court dockets &drain pockets of pensioners.

Honorable Prime minister is requested to advise his Govt. to look into this matter and to take suitable steps.

Sir, aspirations of the pensioners fraternity brought out in foregoing Paras are Just, minimum &well within the constitutional provision &policies of your Govt.

Bharat Pensioners Samaj the oldest & the largest Federation of Pensioners Associations in the country is sure that the honorable Prime Minister will live up to Indian ethos to make evening of elderly civil pensioners’ reasonably comfortable.

Source: Bharat Pensioners Samaj

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