Government to help pensioners for getting digital life certificates

Government to help pensioners for getting digital life certificates

New Delhi, Apr 28 (PTI) The National Informatics Centre (NIC) in various states have been asked to provide necessary technical support for starting enrollment of pensioners for getting digital life certificate to ensure hassle free disbursal of pension.

In order to spare the pensioners from the trouble of visiting banks for submission of life certificates annually, the Centre had in November last year launched an Aadhaar-based biometric verification system ‘Jeevan Pramaan’.

The system enables pensioners to submit the digital life certificate online to pension disbursing banks.

“NIC centres across various states and districts are being directed by the Department of Electronics and Information Technology to provide necessary technical support for starting enrolment of pensioners for digital life certificate,” the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions said in an order.

In view of the immense advantages of using Aadhaar numbers, pensioners’ associations are requested to disseminate information about Jeevan Pramaan amongst pensioners.

They have also been asked to collaborate in making it a success by facilitating registration of pensioners on Jeevan Pramaan portal using Aadhaar based authentication for organising enrolment activities, the order said.
With the help of the facility, which is in addition to the other already existing methods, it is possible to submit the life certificate from personal computers, laptops or mobile phones or by visiting a conveniently located branch of any bank or a common service centre, the Ministry said.

“A pensioner or family pensioner who wants to benefit from this facility needs to obtain an Aadhaar number and get it linked to his or her Pension Payment Order (PPO) number and pension account. This will also speed up commencement of family pension in the event of death of pensioner or spouse,” it said.
There are about 55 lakh central government pensioners.

PTI

Last date for Lokpal IPR returns extended to October 15

Last date for Lokpal IPR returns extended to October 15

New Delhi: The government has again extended the April 15 deadline for public servants to file declarations of their assets and liabilities under the Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act, 2013, to October 15.

Ahead of the deadline ending on April 30 and a mad rush among officials to fill up their asset returns online which has even slowed down the NIC server, the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) in Office Memorandum No.407/12/2014-AVD-IV(B) issued on Saturday said the deadline has now been extended to October 15, 2015.

This is the third extension given to officials to file the asset returns as per the Lokpal Act, they were originally supposed to file the same September 15, 2014 after the Lokpal rules were notified last year in July.

This means there will now be a delay of 13 months in the asset returns to reach the government, the Lokpal law though enacted in January 2014 has also not been operationalised as amendments to the bill are pending before a standing committee. “Expect the Lokpal Act Amendment bill only in the next parliament session,” a DoPT official said.

The declarations under the Lokpal Act are in addition to similar ones filed by the employees under various services rules. All Group A, B, and C employees are supposed to file a declaration under the new rules.

There are about 26,29, 913 employees in these three categories, as per the government’s latest data.

The existing form for filing this return has fields for mentioning details of cash in hand, bank deposits, investment in bonds, debentures, shares and units in companies or mutual funds, insurance policies, provident fund, personal loans and advance given to any person or entity, among others.

The employees need to declare motor vehicles, aircraft, yachts or ships, gold and silver jewellery and bullion possessed by them, their spouses and dependent children.

The DoPT has asked all central government ministries, departments and cadre controlling authorities to issue necessary order for their respective employees to ensure compliance of its order.

Government asks Central Public Sector Enterprises to comply with woman director norms

Government asks Central Public Sector Enterprises to comply with woman director norms

New Delhi: Central public sector enterprises (CPSEs) have been asked to appoint independent women directors on their boards to comply with norms, government told the Lok Sabha today.

The remarks by Minister for Heavy Industries and Public Enterprises Anant Geete came against the backdrop of many listed CPSEs failing to meet capital market regulator Sebi’s deadline for appointing at least one woman director on their boards.

Geete said his Ministry has asked all CPSEs to ensure appointment of non-governmental (or independent) women directors on their boards.

“The process for filling up the vacancies in these CPSEs has been initiated,” Geete said and assured that public sector undertaking would have required number of independent directors in the coming days.
He said appointment of all independent directors on the boards of CPSEs have been done on the basis of “merit”.

Companies should have complied with the norms, he said, adding special attention would be given to such matters in the future.

He was responding to a query that CPSEs were struggling to appoint women directors.

Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) had given a deadline till March 31 for listed companies to appoint at least one woman director on their boards but many entities, including CPSEs, failed to comply with the norms.

Under Companies Act, 2013, also firms are required to have women directors on their boards.
He said individuals having financial links with a public sector firm are not appointed on the board of that entity.

Meanwhile, 18 CPSEs, including Bharat Heavy Electricals Ltd and Cement Corporation of India, do not have requisite number of independent directors on their boards. These are entities that come under the administrative control of the Department of Heavy Industry.

While replying to a question related to NALCO, the Minister said that public sector companies are like family jewels and need to be preserved.

Responding to another query on loss-making CPSEs, Geete acknowledged that many such firms are sick and that ways are being looked on how long can they be supported by the government.

PTI

Shaheed not defined in defence or central forces: Government

Shaheed not defined in defence or central forces: Government

NEW DELHI: Government today informed the Parliament that the term ‘shaheed’ or martyr is not defined “anywhere” and there is no official order to accord the same to defence or paramilitary personnel.

“There have been demands for giving shaheed/martyr status to the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) and Assam Rifles (AR) personnel killed in action. In the meeting of Committee of Secretaries held on September 14, 2011, Ministry of Defence indicated that shaheed/martyr is not defined anywhere and presently they are not issuing any order/notification to this effect in respect of defence personnel.

“Similarly, no status of shaheed/martyr is given to the CAPF and Assam Rifles. However, their families/next of kin are given full family pension under the Liberalised Pensionary award rules and lump sum ex-gratia compensation of Rs 15 lakh as per rules in addition to other benefits admissible,” Minister of State for Home Kiren Rijiju said in a written reply in Lok Sabha.

The CAPFs like CRPF, BSF, ITBP, CISF, SSB and NSG have made representations to the Union Home Ministry that ‘shaheed’ salutation is being demanded by the personnel of these forces.

The Central Reserve Police Force, last year, had, however, issued in-house orders making it mandatory to use ‘shaheed’ before the name of a martyred personnel and in all communications vis-a-vis its slain men and women.

Source: EOT

Dearness Relief (DR) Orders for Central Government Pensioners from Jan 2015

Grant of Dearness Relief to Central Government pensioners/family pensioners – Revised rate effective from 1.1.2015.

F.No.42/10/2014-P&PW(G)
Government of India
Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions
Department of Pension & Pensioners’ Welfare

3rd Floor, Lok Nayak Bhavan,
Khan Market, New Delhi – 110003
Date: 27th April, 2015

OFFICE MEMORANDUM

Subject : Grant of Dearness Relief to Central Government pensioners/family pensioners — Revised rate effective from 1.1.2015.

The undersigned is directed to refer to this Department’s OM No. 42/10/2014- P&PW(G) dated 29th September, 2014 on the subject mentioned above and to state that the President is pleased to decide that the Dearness Relief (DR) payable to Central Government pensioners/family pensioners shall be enhanced from the existing rate of 107% to 113% w.e.f. 1st January, 2015.

2. These orders apply to (i) All Civilian Central Government Pensioners/Family Pensioners (ii) The Armed Forces Pensioners, Civilian Pensioners paid out of the Defence Service Estimates,

(iii) All India Service Pensioners (iv) Railway Pensioners and (v) The Burma Civilian pensioners/family pensioners and pensioners/families of displaced Government pensioners from Pakistan, who are Indian Nationals but receiving pension on behalf of Government of Pakistan and are in receipt of ad-hoc ex-gratia allowance of Rs. 3500/- p.m. in terms of this Department’s OM No. 2311/97-P&PW(B) dated 23.2.1998 read with this Department’s OM No. 23/3/2008- P&PW(B) dated 15.9.2008.

3. Central Government Employees who had drawn lump sum amount on absorption in a PSU/Autonomous body and have become eligible to restoration of 1/3rd commuted portion of pension as well as revision of the restored amount in terms of this Department’s OM No. 4/59/97-P&PW (0) dated 14.07.1998 will also be entitled to the payment of DR @ 113% w.e.f. 1.1.2015 on full pension i.e. the revised pension which the absorbed employee would have received on the date of restoration had he not drawn lump sum payment on absorption and Dearness Pension subject to fulfillment of the conditions laid down in para 5 of the 0.M. dated 14.07.98. In this connection, instructions contained in this Department’s OM No.4/29/99-P&PW (D) dated. 12.7.2000 refer.

4. Payment of DR involving a fraction of a rupee shall be rounded off to the next higher rupee.

5. Other provisions governing grant of DR in respect of employed family pensioners and re-employed Central Government Pensioners will be regulated in accordance with the provisions contained in this Department’s OM No. 45/73/97-P&PW (G) dated 2.7.1999 as amended vide this Department’s OM No. F. No. 38/88/2008-P&PW(G) dated 9th July, 2009. The provisions relating to regulation of DR where a pensioner is in receipt of more than one pension will remain unchanged.

6. In the case of retired Judges of the Supreme Court and High Courts, necessary orders will be issued by the Department of Justice separately.

7. It will be the responsibility of the pension disbursing authorities, including the nationalized banks, etc. to calculate the quantum of DR payable in each individual case.

8. The offices of Accountant General and authorised Pension Disbursing Banks are requested to arrange payment of relief to pensioners etc. on the basis of these instructions without waiting for any further instructions from the Comptroller and Auditor General of India and the Reserve Bank of India in view of letter No. 528-TA, 11/34-80-11dated 23/04/1981 of the Comptroller and Auditor General of India addressed to all Accountant Generals and Reserve Bank of India Circular No. GANB No. 2958/GA-64 (ii) (CGL)/81 dated the 21st May, 1981 addressed to State Bank of India and its subsidiaries and all Nationalised Banks.

9. In their application to the pensioners/family pensioners belonging to Indian Audit and Accounts Department, these orders issue after consultation with the C&AG.

10. This issues with the concurrence of Ministry of Finance, Department of Expenditure conveyed vide their ID No. 1(4)/E.V/2004 dated 24thApril, 2015.

11. Hindi version will follow.

(D.K.Solanki)
Under Secretary to the Government of India

Source: http://pensionersportal.gov.in/