Complaints of pre-2006 retirees to be settled before implementing the 7th Pay Commission recommendations

Complaints of pre-2006 retirees to be settled before implementing the 7th Pay Commission recommendations

“Since the recommendations of the 7th Pay Commission are to be implemented soon, priority will be given to settle all the regularizing revision of pension for the pre-2006 pensioners, and clear them.”

Recently, the Central Pension Accounting Office (CPAO) had sent an official memorandum to all the Central Civil Pensioners Associations.

It was mentioned in the order that rapid action is being taken to revising the pension from 1.1.2006 and settle the pension-related issues of Central Government employees who had retired prior to 2006. Despite this, considerable number of pension cases of still pending for revision of pension have not yet been dealt with.
Some important information is required to make these revisions of pension. Due to non-availability of information like the pensioner’s last pay drawn, basic pay and scale, qualifying service, date of birth, date of demise, pension account number, and phone number, the work remains incomplete.

As per the 6th Pay Commission, pensions of all those employees who had retired before 2006 were revised from 01.01.2006 onwards, and a Ready Reckoner was sent to all the banks in order to calculate their pension. “7th Pay Commission soon to be implemented, to settle all these pending cases before so that while implementing the recommendations of 7th pay commission, pension may be revised expeditiously. we request your cooperation to ensure that the benefits reach all the pensioners without any delay,” the letter to the associations said.

The letter further requested the associations to instruct its members to submit their Life Certificates before November 2015, and update the contact information with details like current address, phone number and email ID, so that it will be easier to contact them or provide them with all the updates.

The secretaries and office-bearers of all the Central Civil Pensioners’ Associations have been asked to take steps to ensure that the members submit their Life Certificates to their banks and help address their complaints.

Source: 90pasia.org

Counting of past service for admissibility in old pension scheme, new pension scheme, pay protection and leave accumulation to All India Services officers

No.25011/6/2014-AIS(II)
Government of India
Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions
Department of Personnel & Training

North Block, New Delhi-110001
Dated: 4/11/2015

OFFICE MEMORANDUM

Subject: – Counting of past service for admissibility in old pension scheme, new pension scheme, pay protection and leave accumulation to All India Services officers: clarification regarding.

I am directed to say that while introducing the New Pension Scheme from 01/01/2004, amendments to various existing rules including second proviso to Rule 1 of the All India. Services (Death Cum Retirement Benefits) Rules, 1958 were made whereby these rules became inapplicable to those appointed to All India Service and posts from 01/01/2004. The pension of the member of All India Services appointed on or after 01/01/2004 is regulated by the New Defined Contribution Pension Scheme (known as the New Pension Scheme), notified by the Ministry’ of Finance (Department of Economic Affairs)  vide their Notification No.5/7/2003-ECB2 PR dated 22/12/2003 now rechristened as National Pension System as per Section 8 of Pension Fund Regulatory Development Authority Act, 2013. The guidelines for New Pension Scheme in respect of All India Services was issued by this Department vide letter No.25014/14/2001-AIS(H) dated 08/09/2009 in terms of the instruction/guidelines notified by the Ministry of Finance.

2. Therefore, in view of the above new and changed position, this Department has received references from the State Governments and member of services for clarification in regard to counting of past services for the purpose of pensionary benefits, pay protection and leave accumulation. The matter has been examined by this Department in consultation with the Ministry of Finance (Department of Expenditure) and Department of Pension and Pensioners Welfare and has decided as under :

(i) The member of All India Services who had been an employee in pensionable establishment viz. Central/State Governments or autonomous bodies as on 31/12/2003 and appointed to All India Services on or after 01/01/2004 with proper permission shall be covered under the old non-contribution pension scheme in terms of Office Memorandum No. 28/30/2004-P&PW(B) dated 28/10/2009, which has been made applicable Mutatis-Mutandis to members of All India Services by this Department vide letter No. 25014/112013-AIS(H) dated 18/3/2013. The pay protection and leave accumulation arising out of previous service would be admissible as per
relevant rules of respective All India Services (Pay) Rules and All India Services (Leave) ‘
Rules, 1955.

(ii) Those under CPF etc will not be allowed entry into the old pension scheme on appointments from 01/01/2004.

(iii) The member of All India. Services who were appointed to government service in the Central/state governments or autonomous bodies, whether in a pensionable or non-pensionable establishment, on or after 01/01/2004 before being appointed to All India Services shall be governed by the New Pension Scheme. The pay protection and leave accumulation arising out of their previous service would be admissible as per the relevant rules of the respective Services (Pay) Rules and All India Services (Leave) Rules, 1955.

(iv) The admissibility of counting of past services for the purpose of benefits as mentioned at point (i) and (iii) above shall be subject to continuous service and technical resignation.

3. The State Governments are competent to determine the past service rendered by the member of services for such benefits as mentioned above. The service rendered by a member of All India Services before his appointment to the service under the Central Government or a State Government will count as before the said benefits subject to the fulfilment of the specific conditions provided in the All India Services (Leave) Rules, 1955 and the respective All India Services (Pay) Rules. Approval of the Central government is not necessary for counting the previous service, for such benefits. In such cases the Government of the State on whose cadre the member of service is borne/the Accountant General concerned, will have to take necessary action in consultation with the Central/Department or the State Government, if the officer had worked under the Central Government or another State Government, as the case may be, before joining the All India Services, to count such service as qualifying service for the aforesaid benefits. If any clarification is required or condonation of break in service is involved, a reference may be seat to the Department of Personnel and Training in the case of members of the Indian Administrative Services, the Police Division of the Ministry of Home Affairs in the case of Indian Police Service and the Ministry of Environment. Forest and Climate Change in the case of members of Indian Forest Service.

Rajiv Jain
Under Secretary to the Government of India

 Source: ccis.nic.in/

Revision of pension of pre-2006 Central Civil Pensioners and providing better service to pensioners

Revision of pension of pre-2006 Central Civil Pensioners and providing better service to pensioners.

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF FINANCE
DEPARTMENT OF EXPENDITURE
CENTRAL PENSION ACCOUNTING OFFICE
TRIKOOT-ll, BHIKAJI CAMA PLACE,
NEW DELHI-110066

CPAO/IT & Tech/Revision Pre-2006/2015-16/ 1675

Dated: 30.10.2015

Office Memorandum

Subject :- Revision of pension of pre-2006 Central Civil Pensioners and providing better service to pensioners.

Consequent upon the implementation of 6th CPC, revision of pensions of Pre-2006 pensioners were made suo-moto by banks as per ready reckoner provided by Deptt. of Pensions & Pension Ers Welfare w.e.f. 01.01.2006. For regularizing these revisions and updating the records of Pension Sanctioning Authority, Pay & Accounts Office and Central Pension Accounting Office; Pension Payment Orders (SSA) were to be issued through proper channel i.e. Head of Office –> PAO –> CPAO –> Bank. But considerable number of pension cases are still pending for revision by Government for want of certain information like last pay drawn, scale of pay, qualifying service, date of birth, date of death, current pension account number, contact number etc. which are not readily available either with Pension Sanctioning Authority or with the Banks.

As the recommendations of the 7th CPC are due very shortly, it is imperative to settle all these pending cases before so that while implementing the recommendations of 7th CPC, pension may be revised expeditiously.
In this context, it is presumed that the Central Civil Pensioners’ Associations remain in touch with pensioners and they may facilitate in pursuing the pensioners to provide their latest addresses, telephone numbers, e-mail le while submitting their Life Certificates (Format of Life Certificate enclosed) to the bank in the month of November, 2015 so that the pensioners may be contacted to get the required information.

In view of the above, Secretaries of all Central Civil Pensioners’ Associations are requested to extend their support in making contact with pensioners and pursue them to provide the necessary information while submitting Life Certificates to enable us to serve them better.

Encl- As above

Vijay Singh
Sr. Accounts Officer (Tech)

Authority : http://cpao.nic.in/

9 Key points you must know about the 7th Pay Commission

9 Key points you must know about the 7th Pay Commission

The Ministry of Finance has prepared its recommendations for the Seventh Pay Commission. The announcement of changes has been done and the ministry will implement them from January 1, 2016. The deadline of preparation was initially scheduled for August but was later extended to December this year.

The Government of India makes some changes to its financial module every 10 years. This time, Justice A. K. Mathur led the team of experts who prepared the recommendations. The commission is said to increase benefits for the central government employees. However, there are some provisions that may not go down well for the staff, as there is news of a scheme of salary deduction.

Here are 9 key points you must know about the Seventh Pay Commission:

1. Around 48 lakh central government employees and 55 lakh pensioners will benefit from the Seventh Pay Commission.

2. The Pay Commission was set up by the UPA government during its regime. The recent changes have come under the influence of the NDA government.

3. Former IAS officer Vivek Rae, economist Rathin Roy and Commission secretary Meena Agarwal are members of the commission among others.

4. The salaries of IPS and IRS officers will get at par with that of IAS officers under the new commission.

5. In order to cut down parity, the number of pay bands will be reduced. At present, there are 32 pay bands, which will reduce to 13.

6. The central government’s salary bill will rise by 9.5 percent to Rs 1,00,619 crore after the commission takes effect.

7. Under the pay commission, the government can cut down salaries of the ‘underperforming’ central government by 5 to 6 percent.

8. The duration of service will also be reduced to 55 years of age or 33 years of service.

9. The Seventh Pay Commission is said to increase basic salaries by 30 to 40 percent. The basic salary set in the First Pay Commission was Rs 35 per month.

Source: http://indiatoday.intoday.in/

Public Sector Undertakings Comes Under EPFO Scanner

Public Sector Undertakings Comes Under EPFO Scanner

EPFO Concentrates on Workers in Construction Sector

Student-Trainees not Employees for Purpose of EPF & MP act, 1952.

While taking stock of the various developments in EPFO during the month of October, 2015, Shri K.K. Jalan, CPFC noted that several important decisions have been taken in the past one month.

Addressing the concerns voiced by the Standing Committee on Labour, a drive for ensuring compliance in respect of Public Sector Undertakings has been initiated. Special emphasis is laid on extension of the benefits of the Act and schemes to the eligible employees working in PSUs like Bombay Port Trust, Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust, BSNL, MTNL, ONGC, NHAI, Indian railways and CPWD. Likewise, the extension of benefits to the workers engaged in the construction industry has also been the focus of the organization this month and a strategy has been firmed up to initiate formal interaction with CPSUs, SPSUs and other state govt. departments and trade unions with a view to bring all the eligible employees engaged in the industry under the ambit of the Act so that social security benefits are extended to all of them.

The month of October also saw a slight modification in the constitution of the Central Board of Trustees (EPF) as Shri Balasubrahmanyam Kamarsu has been nominated to the Board as an employers’ representative against the vacancy arising out the demise of Dr. Ram Tarneja. The Sub Committees on Contract Workers, Pension and EDLI Implementation Committee, Finance, Investment and Audit Committee of CBT, EPF were also reconstituted.

Vigilance Awareness Week (26 to 30th October 2015) was celebrated in all the offices of the organisation across the country. This year, going beyond undertaking activities within the office, an effort was made to sensitize young minds to vigilance and corruption related issues by organizing speech competitions, discussions at schools and colleges in many cities like Delhi, Coimbatore, Kolkata, Faridabad, etc.

With a view to popularize Jeevan Pramaan Patra (Online Life Certificate) instructions have been issued to the field offices of the organisation to equip reception counters of the field offices with biometric devices and PC with Jeevan Pramaan Patra software installed for the ease and convenience of EPS pensioners. EPF helpdesk in major pension disbursing bank branches are also being contemplated. It is also decided to organize mobile camps in selected areas for enabling EPS pensioners to upload their life certificates.

In a major step, the organization has clarified those student trainees who are paid stipend during on the job training while pursuing course in technical /professional educational institutions would not come under the definition of employee for the purpose of EPF &MP Act. This removes the ambiguity surrounding the eligibility of such student-trainees for enrolling as members of the Fund and is expected to bring about greater clarity among employers and also reduce litigations.

In a major step to assess the position of the accounting procedures in EPFO, it was decided to have a study conducted on the accounts issues of organization. It was also decided that Inoperative Accounts of less than Rs. 1,000 shall be transferred to the reserve account.

The organization has settled more than 70 lakh claims in the current fiscal and 42% of the same has been settled within 03 days while 80% has been settled within 10 days and 97% within the mandated 20 days. Likewise grievance redressal has also been progressing at a brisk pace and more than 18,000 grievances were settled in the month of October alone.

PIB

Department of Posts: Mandatory use opening of Savings Account in CBS Post Offices

Mandatory use/ opening of Savings Account in CBS Post Offices.

F.No. 113-02/2015-SB
Government of India
Ministry of Communications & IT
Department of Posts

Dak Bhawan, Sansad Marg,
New Delhi – 110001
Date: 26.10.2015

To
All Heads of Circles/Regions
Addl. Director General, APS, New Delhi.

Subject:- Mandatory use/ opening of Savings Account in CBS Post Offices for maintaining/ development of relationship of customers with Post Office Savings Bank (POSB) – further clarifications to SB Order No.12/2015 regarding

Sir / Madam,
In continuation of SB Order No.12/2015 issued vide this office letter of even number dated 05.10.2015 on the subject, the undersigned is directed to convey that a number of references form Public by mails, letters and phone calls have been received, mentioning that Opening of new Saving Account at CBS Post Office is taking too much time/ even days due to which maturity payments are getting delayed. Post Offices are not issuing cheques to the customers. The competent authority has reviewed the matter particulary in the backdrop of issues being reported in CIF Creation and Modification menus of Finacle CBS Application and has decided to issue following clarifications:-

1. The objective of the letter dated 05.10.2015 was to educate the customers for availing various benefits of Post Office Savings Account in CBS Post Office and to develop / maintain relationship with the POSB customers through Savings Account. With this, a customer can also have a holistic view of all transactions happening in various accounts/ certificates standing at different post offices in his/her name. Looking to the benefits of Savings Bank Account, field units may be asked to continue to persue the customers to open savings account for better and sustainable relationship with POSB. However, in case of extreme exegencies like a Bank or any Institution presenting Certificates after forgetting security, any depositor becomes NRI after investment and now wants to take maturity value only, the claim case where there are multiple nominees/legal heirs or any other case where Postmaster/ Sub Postmaster is satified that depositor is genuinely not in a position to open savings account immediataly may issue cheque for the maturity / prematurity value. Depositors may be made aware that facility of transfer of funds through NEFT/RTGS and use of Post Office Savings Bank ATM cum Debit Card in other Bank’s ATMs will also be provided shortly.

2. In case a depositor of RD or PPF is also genuinely unable to open Savings Account immediately, then may present cheque of other bank for deposit but for future deposits he/she may be requested to open savings account.

3. For all new investments in any scheme including through agents, customer should open Savings Account mandatorily with proper KYC documents to start relationship with POSB and then invest in any of Small Savings Scheme through the same Savings Account. In such cases, if customer wants to invest through cheque of other Bank, his/her cheque should be lodged only through his/her savings account and then new account/certificate should be funded from that savings account by putting cheque credit date as Value Date.

4. For subsequent deposits by RD, PPF and SSA Accounts, Customers/MPKBY Agents should be suitably informed that from 1st Jan. 2016, all such customers should be asked to submit POSB Cheque only for their subsequent deposit and if they donot have savings account in any CBS Post Office, they may have to open Savings Account with cheque Books.

5. All MIS/SCSS/TD Account Holders who open further new account or extend the existing accounts, should also be requested to open savings account mandatorily and give standing instruction for credit of interest so that they need not visit post office frequently and stand in queue, instead they can be issued ATM/Debit Card to withdraw from ATMs. Existing account holders should also be convinced to open Savings Account for getting monthly/quarterly/yearly interest.

6. It is further reiterated that for all the entries made in Clearing Inward / Outward, ECS Inward/ Outward, BO Settlement and Postmaster Repayment Office Account (0340) by the User are to be verified by Supervisor. For these entries, it will be the personal responsibility of that User and Supervisor.

7. It is requested to circulate this order to all CBS Post Offices and non CBS Post Offices may start requesting customers to open Savings Accounts to avail all the benefits once office is migrated to CBS.

Yours faithfully,

(Kawal Jit Singh)
Assistant Director (SB-II)

Implement 7th Pay Panel, Insist Staff

Implement 7th Pay Panel, Insist Staff

As many as two hundred members of the Confederation of Pondicherry State Government Employees Associations were arrested here, on Wednesday, for attempting to picket the Chief Secretariat demanding the implementation of the yet-to-be submitted seventh pay commission’s recommendations with retrospective effect.

In the meantime, the confederation leaders urged the Central government to announce an interim relief.

Apart from seeking the implementation of its recommendations from the date of the constitution of the commission, the agitators also put forth a 34-charter of demands that included the filling up of vacancies in all the departments, replacement of the new pension scheme with the old one, setting up of grievance cell in all departments and cadre restructuring to improve chances of promotion for employees.

The panel set up on January 1, 2014 by the previous UPA government will take at least 18 to 24 months to submit its final recommendations.

Puducherry government has 25,000 employees, who enjoy similar service conditions as that of their Central government counterparts.

Earlier, members of the confederation took out a rally. As the police did not allow them to proceed beyond the Head Post office, they began demonstrating then and there. After a while, all the agitators were arrested and removed.

The protest was led by Seetharaman. Office bearers of the association C H Balamohanan and Premadasan were among those, who took part in the rally and the subsequent agitation.

Meanwhile, the joint action committee members of the municipality and commune panchayat workers associations, affiliated to the AITUC held a demonstration in front of the Local Administration Department demanding the regularisation of the part time and daily rated employees who are working for more than 15 years.

They also urged the administration to provide Deepavali bonus for part time employees, and make appointments on compassionate grounds to the relatives of those who died.

The joint action committee had planned three phased agitation to press these demands.

Wednesday’s first phase agitation was led by AITUC leader V S Abishegam. The second and third phase of the agitation would be held near Raj Nivas here on November 18 and 25 respectively

Source: http://www.newindianexpress.com/