Budget To Provide Rs 1.10 Lakh Cr For Pay Commission Award, OROP

Budget To Provide Rs 1.10 Lakh Cr For Pay Commission Award, OROP

Budget for the next fiscal needs to provide Rs 1.10 lakh crore for implementing the OROP and Seventh Pay Commission award, besides a higher allocation for the farm sector, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said today.

Addressing the Consultative Committee attached to the Finance Ministry, he also said that India has potential to grow at a much faster pace even as he exuded confidence that fiscal deficit target for current financial year will be within target.

“During the financial year 2016-17, the central government has to make provision for about Rs 1.10 lakh crore in order to meet the liabilities on account of implementation of 7th Pay Commission recommendations and One Rank One Pension (OROP) Scheme,” Jaitley said.

He also said that the agriculture growth in the last two years has suffered mainly due to insufficient monsoons and highest ever amount was given to the states for drought relief during the current financial year, 2015-16.

“More incentives will be given to agriculture sector for increasing agriculture production and productivity,” he said.

India, he said, continues to be one of the fastest growing economies in the world, but there is still potential to grow at a much faster pace.

“The world economy is passing through an uncertain and fragile situation… The silver lining is low international commodities and oil prices which in turn has helped in better macroeconomic situation of the country,” Jaitley said.

The 7th Pay Commission in November recommended increase in remuneration of about one crore government employees and pensioners which is estimated to impose an additional burden of Rs 1.02 lakh crore in 2016-17. The new pay scales, subject to acceptance by government, will come into effect from January 1, 2016.

The government had last year announced that it will implement OROP under which a uniform pension would be given to armed forces personnel retiring at the same rank with the same length of service. The scheme would be implemented from July 1, 2014.

PTI

Pay Commission Award In This Budget

Pay Commission Award In This Budget

The government will announce the 7th Pay Commission award in the this budget to facilitate central government employees salaries with regard to inflation, Finance Ministry official said Friday.

Addressing the Consultative Committee attached to the Finance Ministry, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said Friday, “During the financial year 2016-17, the central government has to make provision for about Rs 1.10 lakh crore in order to meet the liabilities on account of implementation of 7th Pay Commission recommendations and One Rank One Pension (OROP) Scheme,”

He made clear that there would be no doubt for implementation of 7th Pay Commission award and One Rank One Pension (OROP) soon after Budget.

The Finance Ministry officials said the central government knows that the employees are not happy with the pay commission recommendations.

Since adjusting salary, allowance and other financial benefits to market price is a complex issue, hence the government has set up an Empowered Committee of Secretaries, headed by Cabinet Secretary P K Sinha, to process the pay panel’s recommendations on pay hikes for central government employees, the officials said.

An Implementation Cell has been created in the Finance Ministry which works as the Secretariat of the Empowered Committee.

The first meeting of Nodal officers of different ministries was held on February 2 in the Secretariat of the Empowered Committee for discussing the relevant issues in connection with the processing of the recommendations of Pay Commission.

According to the minutes of the of first meeting, the employees’ associations through ministries can raise afresh the demand for pay hike which were rejected by the 7th Pay Commission but it will be done in short time as the government intend to implement pay commission award after the budget.

The 900-page report of the 7th Pay Commission headed by Justice A K Mathur was presented to Finance Minister Arun Jaitley on November 19 with a recommendation for raising minimum pay to Rs 18,000 per month from current Rs 7,000 while the maximum pay, drawn by the Cabinet Secretary, has been fixed at Rs 2.5 lakh per month from current Rs 90,000. For the Secretaries it has been fixed at Rs 2.25 lakh as against Rs 80,000 currently.

The pay commission award is from Januray 1. 2016 but it is likley to be implemented from mid-this year and employees paid arrears.

The panel recommended a 14.27 per cent increase in basic pay, the lowest in 70 years. The overall increase in salary, allowances and pensions is 23.55%. The increase in allowances will be higher by 63% while pensions will rise 24%.

Incentive Scheme for the employees of Ordnance factories

Incentive Scheme for the employees of Ordnance factories

Bharatiya Pratiraksha Mazdoor Sangh has demanded incentive bonus for examiners in Ordnance Factories at par with maintenance workers

Incentive Scheme for the employees of Ordnance factories

BPMS request to implement the Incentive Scheme for examiners in Ordnance factories as agreed with employees organisations

BHARATIYA PRATIRAKSHA MAZDOOR SANGH

(AN ALL INDIA FEDERATION OF DEFENCE WORKERS)

(AN INDUSTRIAL UNIT OF B.M.S.) (RECOGNISED BY MINISTRY OF DEFENCE, GOVT. OF INDIA)

CENTRAL OFFICE: 2-A, NAVEEN MARKET, KANPUR – 208001, PH & FAX : (0512) 2332222

MOBILE: 0915733686, 09235729390, 09335621629,

WEB : www.bpms.org.in

REF: BPMS / OFB / INCENTIVE / SC (4/3/L)

Dated: 02.02.2016

To,
Shri S C Bajpai,
Addl DGOF / AVHQ,
Avadi, Chennai.

Subject: Incentive Scheme for the employees of Ordnance factories.

Respected Sir,

With due regards, it is submitted that all the 03 recognized federations have already reflected their views and recommended to extend the existing incentive scheme (incentive bonus) for examiners deputed for quality control at par with the maintenance workers in Ord & Ord Equipment Factories.

It is learnt that all the Ord & Ord Equipment Factories have also submitted the necessary inputs to the OFB in response to OFB letter No.754/PER/POLICY(PT), Dated 23.11.2015, 02.12.2015 & 17.12.2015 on the subject matter. Since then, the beneficiaries (examiners) are eagerly waiting for the compliance of the recommendations.

In such circumstances, you are requested to take appropriate action expeditiously so that the examiners may get the incentive bonus at par with the maintenance workers without further delay.

Thanking you.

Sincerely yours

(MUKESH SINGH)

Secretary/BPMS & Member, JCM-II Level Council (MOD)

Download BPMS letter REF: BPMS / OFB / INCENTIVE / SC (4/3/L) dated 02.02.2016

7th Pay Commission: Ministries Can Raise Afresh Salary Hike Demand After Rejection

7th Pay Commission: Ministries Can Raise Afresh Salary Hike Demand After Rejection

Ministries and departments can raise afresh the demand for pay revision if they find that some of the justified suggestions made by the staff associations were rejected by the 7th Pay Commission.

Such demands could be submitted to the Implementation Cell (IC), created in the Finance Ministry, to work as Secretariat for the Empowered Committee of Secretaries headed by Cabinet Secretary P K Sinha.

The CoS will screen the recommendations of the Commission and firm up the conclusions for approval of the Cabinet.

“If a representation was made by a Staff Association before the 7th Pay Commission and the Commission after due diligence has not accepted the demand made there in, the same matter normally not be considered at the stage.

“However, if departments consider that the issues are of such nature that they require consideration at this stage also, then they may give their comments with full justifications to the IC,” said the minutes of the of first meeting of the IC.

While a number of ministries/departments have sent their comments and nominated their Nodal Officers, the comments received from some ministries are “simply in the nature of forwarding” the representations of the staff associations without their comments.

The recommendations when implemented would have bearing on remuneration of 47 lakh central government employees and 52 lakh pensioners. Subject to acceptance by the government, the recommendations will take effect from January 1, 2016.

Minutes of the meeting, held on February 2, also said it was also impressed upon the Nodal Officers of ministries and departments that “in case, there is any need” consultation with the Staff Association at the level of department, “the same may be done as per the assessment of the department”.

Further, if a department is of the view that any recommendation needs modification, adequate justification should be brought out while sending the comments to the IC.

The meeting was held to formulate the action points on processing of Commission.

Inputs with PTI

OROP: Ex-servicemen vow to continue agitation

OROP: Ex-servicemen vow to continue agitation

Unsatisfied with the detailed instructions and tables for One Rank One Pension scheme issued by the government, protesting military veterans today vowed to continue their agitation.

“OROP tables short-change widows, reservists, battle casualties, havildars, subedars and subedar majors. The Jantar Mantar protest will continue and legal options will be exercised,” Col Anil Kaul (Retd), spokesperson for the protesting ex-servicemen said.

The statement came after veterans met today at the Jantar Mantar to decide on the future course of action.

The veterans body has said that anomalies remain in the scheme announced by the government.

The main complaint is that instead of giving the highest pension at one rank, government has decided on giving the average pension of a rank which “nullifies” the meaning and definition of OROP.

The annual recurring financial implication of OROP at the current rate will be approximately Rs 7,500 crore, the government said yesterday as it issued detailed instructions for the scheme.

The government also issued OROP tables which said that the arrears from July 1, 2014 to December 31, 2015 would be approximately Rs 10,900 crore.

86 per cent of the total expenditure on account of OROP will benefit the Junior Commissioned Officers and other ranks.

The total increase in the defence budget for pensions is estimated to go up from Rs 54,000 crore (BE 2015-16) to around Rs 65,000 crore (proposed BE 2016-17), thereby increasing the defence pension outlay by about 20 per cent.

The government order said that the payment of arrears and revision of pension under OROP is to be made by the Pension Disbursing Authorities in four instalments, except for family pensioners and pensioners in receipt of gallantry awards who will be paid arrears in one instalment.

The government had in November last year taken the decision to implement OROP, “fulfilling” the long standing demand of defence personnel after 42 years.

The move will benefit over 18 lakh ex-servicemen and war widows.

PTI

Budget session from Feb 23, General Budget on Feb 29

Budget session from Feb 23, General Budget on Feb 29

The Budget Session of Parliament will commence on February 23 that will focus largely on the financial business of the government, which will present the general budget on Feb 29.

But there will be no curtailment of the session or the recess period on account of Assembly elections in five states due shortly.

This was decided at a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Parliamentary Affairs, chaired by Home Minister Rajnath Singh.

“The budget session of parliament will commence on February 23. The Rail Budget will be presented on February 25, the pre-budget economic survey on February 26 and the General budget on February 29.

“The first part of Budget session will end on March 16 and the second part will be convened from April 25 to May 13,” Parliamentary Affairs Minister M Venkaiah Naidu told reporters after the meeting of CCPA.

He said there were suggestions for curtailing the recess period due to assembly elections in five states but the government as well as political parties wanted a full session.

“In 2011, the then government had decided not to refer bills to Standing Committees in the budget session when states were going to polls and there were demands to curtail the session.

“But the government today decided that bills will be referred to standing committees for examination during recess period,” Naidu said.

PTI

One Rank One Pension (OROP) implementation order, tables issued

One Rank One Pension (OROP) implementation order, tables issued

The annual recurring financial implication of One Rank One Pension at the current rate will be approximately Rs 7,500 crore, the government said today as it issued detailed instructions for the scheme.

The government also issued OROP Tables which said that the arrears from July 1, 2014 to December 31, 2015 would be approximately Rs 10,900 crore.

86 per cent of the total expenditure on account of OROP will benefit the Junior Commissioner Officers and other ranks.

The total increase in the defence budget for pensions is estimated to go up from Rs 54,000 crore (BE 2015-16) to around Rs 65,000 crore (proposed BE 2016-17), thereby increasing the defence pension outlay by about 20 per cent.

The government order said that the payment of arrears and revision of pension under OROP is to be made by the Pension Disbursing Authorities in four instalments, except for family pensioners and pensioners in receipt of gallantry awards who will be paid arrears in one instalment.

The government had in November last year taken the historic decision to implement OROP, “fulfilling” the long standing demand of defence personnel after 42 years.

The move that will benefit over 18 lakh ex-servicemen and war widows had been rejected by a section of the veterans who are still protesting saying there are a number of “lacunae” in the scheme.

PTI

One Rank One Pension Implementation – DESW issued orders on 3.2.2016

One Rank One Pension Implementation – DESW issued orders on 3.2.2016

Ministry of Defence letter No.12(1)/2014/D(Pen/Pol)-Part-II dated 03.02.2016

 on One Rank One Pension (OROP) to the Defence Forces Personnel.

No.12(1)/2014/D(Pen/Policy)-Part-II

Government of India

Ministry of Defence

Department of Ex-Servicemen Welfare

New Delhi, Dated: 03 February, 2016

To
The Chief of Army Staff
The Chief of Navy Staff
The Chief of Air Staff

Subject: One Rank One Pension to the Defence Forces personnel.

Sir,
The undersigned is directed to refer this Ministry’s letter No 12(1)/2014/D(Pen/Policy)-Part-II dated 7th November, 2015 notifying One Rank One Pension (OROP) scheme for Defence Forces personnel. Salient features of the scheme have been mentioned at Para 3 & 4 of above said letter with the provision that the benefit of the scheme shall be implemented from 1.7.2014 to all pre-1.7.2014 pensioners. Para 6 of the letter provides that detailed instructions relating to implementation of OROP along with tables indicating revised pension for each rank and each category, shall be issued separately for updation of pension and payment of arrears by Pension Disbursing Agencies concerned.

2. The undersigned is directed to say that in order to quicken the process of revision of pension/family pension, total 101 pension tables indicating rates of pension/family pension under OROP scheme notified vide this Ministry’s order dated 7th Nov, 2015, are appended to this order. The appended tables indicate revised rates of Retiring/Service/ Special/ Disability/ Invalid/ Liberalized disability/War Injury Pension including disability/war injury element and ordinary/ special/ liberalized family pension of Commissioned Officers, Honorary Commissioned Officers, JCOs/ORs and Non-Combatants (Enrolled) of Army, Navy, Air Force, Defence Security Corps & Territorial Army retired/discharged/invalided out from service/died in service or after retirement. The existing pension of all pre-1.7.2014 pensioners/family pensioners shall be enhanced with reference to applicable table for the rank (and group in case of JCOs/ORs) in which pension with reference to the actual qualifying service as shown in Column-I of the tables subject to maximum term of engagement for each rank as applicable from time to time. The rate of pension of pensioners/ family pensioners drawing pension more than the rate of revised pension/ family pension indicated in annexed tables, shall remain unchanged.

3. The undersigned is also directed to convey that full pension of PSU absorbees who had opted for 100% commutation of pension, shall also be revised under this order with reference to revised pension of the rank determined for regular category of pensioners. However, there shall be no change in restored amount of pension already notified by respective PSAs in their case.

APPLICABILITY

4. The provisions of this letter shall be applicable to all pensioners/family pensioners who had been retired/discharged/ invalided out from service/died in service or after retirement in the rank of Commissioned Officers, honorary commissioned officers, JCOs/ORs and Non-Combatants (Enrolled) of Army, Navy, Air Force, Defence Security Corps, Territorial Army & Ex-State Forces and are in receipt of pension/ family pension as on 1.7.2014.

4.1 The provisions of this order, however, do not apply to UK/HKSRA/KCIO pensioners, Pakistan & Burma Army pensioners, Reservist pensioners and pensioners in receipt of Ex-gratia payments.

METHODOLOGY FOR IMPLEMENTATION
5. All Pension Disbursing Agencies (PDAs) handling disbursement of pension to Defence pensioners are hereby authorized to carry out revision of Retiring/Service/ Special/Disability/Invalid/Liberalized disability/War Injury Pension including disability/war injury element and ordinary/special/liberalized family pension of all pre- 1.7.2014 pensioners drawing pension as on 1.7.2014 in terms of these orders with applicable rates of dearness relief without calling for any applications from the pensioners and without any further authorization from the Pension Sanctioning Authorities concerned.

6. Where the revised pension as on 1.7.2014 worked out in terms of these orders, happens to be less than the existing pension/ family pension as on 1.7.2014, the pension shall not be revised to the disadvantage of the pensioner.

7. Arrears on account of revision of pension from 1.7.2014 till date of its implementation shall be paid by the Pension Disbursing Agencies in four equal half yearly installments. However, all the family pensioners including those in receipt of Special/Liberalized family pension and all Gallantry award winners shall be paid arrears in one installment.

8. The initial Pension Payment Order (PPO) or its Corrigendum PPO (Corr PPO) indicates rank,group and qualifying service for which the individual has been pensioned. This information is available with Pension Disbursing Agencies as they have revised pension of all such pensioners in the recent past in terms of Government orders issued for implementation of recommendations of Sixth CPC, CSC-2009 & CSC-2012. In case, however, any information regarding qualifying service, rank, group etc., is not available with Pension Disbursing Agencies, such cases may be referred to Pension Sanctioning Authority concerned on the proforma enclosed as Annexure-A. The Pension Sanctioning Authorities concerned will provide the requisite information from the available records within 15 days of the receipt of request from the Pension Disbursing Agencies.

9. In case of any doubt relating to revision of pension in terms of this order, pension disbursing agencies may immediately take up the matter with nodal officers of respective PSAs details of which shall be notified by Pr.CDA(P) Allahabad in their implementation instructions.

10. The OROP shall be basic pension from 1.7.2014 and therefore, additional pension as applicable to the old age pensioners/ family pensioners on attaining the relevant age (80 years and above) shall also be enhanced by the PDAs from 1.7.2014 or the date from which the pensioner attains the age of 80 years or more, whichever is later.

PAYMENT OF LIFE TIME ARREARS (LTA)

11. If a pensioner to whom the benefit accrues under the provisions of this letter has died/dies before receiving the payment of arrears, the Life Time Arrears of pension (LT

A) shall be paid in the following manner: –

a) If the claimant is already in receipt of Family Pension or happens to be the person in whose favour Family Pension already stands notified and the awardees has not become ineligible for any reason, the LTA under the provisions of this letter should be paid to such a claimant by the PDA on their own.

b) If the claimant has already received LTA in the past in respect of the deceased to whom the benefit would have accrued, the LTA under the provisions of this letter should also be paid to such a claimant by the PDA on their own.

c) If the claimant is a person other than the one mentioned at 11(a) & 11(b) above, payment of LTA shall be made to the legal heir/heirs as per extant Government orders.

12. The following elements shall continue to be paid as separate elements in addition to the pension revised under these orders-

    i) Monetary allowance attached to gallantry awards viz. Param Vir Chakra, Ashok Chakra etc.
    ii) Constant Attendance Allowance, where admissible.
    iii) Dearness relief as sanctioned by the Government from time to time.

MISCELLANEOUS INSTRUCTIONS
13. No arrears on account of revision of pension/family pension shall be admissible for the period prior to 1.7.2014.

14. No commutation of pension shall be admissible on revised/additional amount of pension accruing as a result of revision of pension under these orders. However, the existing amount of pension, if any, that has been commuted will continue to be deducted from the revised pension.
15. As a result of these orders, there will be no change in the amount of gratuity already determined and paid with reference to the rules in force at the time of discharge/invalidment/ death.
16. Any overpayment of pension coming to the notice or under process of recovery shall be adjusted in full by the Pension Disbursing Agencies against arrears becoming due on revision of pension on the basis of these orders.

METHODOLOGY FOR REPORTING

17. An intimation regarding disbursement of revised pension shall be furnished by the Pension Disbursing Agencies to the Office of the Pr. CDA(P) Allahabad in the format prescribed as Annexure¬B to this letter in the following month in which revision takes place. PDAs shall also ensure that an intimation regarding revision of pension is invariably conveyed to the pensioners concerned for their information irrespective of the fact the same is beneficial to them or not. The Public Sector Banks who are disbursing defence pension through Central Pension Processing Centres (CPPC), the progress report shall be furnished by the CPPC of the bank directly to the office of the PCDA (Pensions) Allahabad through electronic scrolls.

18. All other terms and conditions which are not affected by this order shall remain unchanged.
19. This issues with concurrence of Finance Division of this Ministry vide their ID No PC. 1 to 10(11)/2012/FIN/PEN dated 2.2.2016 .

(Manoj Sinha)
Under Secretary to the Govt. of India

Authority: www.desw.gov.in

D(Pen-Policy)-DESW-OROP-03-02-2016