7th Central Pay Commission: Resolving Anomalies in Disability Pension

7th Central Pay Commission: Resolving Anomalies in Disability Pension

The concerns raised by the Armed Forces with regard to disability pension in the 7th Pay Commission are being addressed. The 7th Central Pay Commission (CPC) recommended the following on disability pension:-

The Commission is of the considered view that the regime implemented post 6th CPC needs to be discontinued, and recommended a return to the slab based system.  The slab rates for disability element for 100 percent disability would be as follows:

Ranks	Levels	Rate per month (INR)
Service Officers	10  and  above	27000
Honorary Commissioned Officers
Subedar Majors / Equivalents	6  to  9	17000
Subedar / Equivalents
Naib Subedar / Equivalents
Havildar / Equivalents	5   and  below	12000
Naik / Equivalents
Sepoy / Equivalents

The above recommendation has been accepted and Resolution dated 30.09.2016 issued accordingly.
The 6th CPC dispensation of the calculation of disability element on percentage basis, however, continues for civil side which has resulted in an anomalous situation.  The issue has accordingly been referred to the Anomaly Committee.  The disability element which was being paid as on 31.12.2015 will, however continue to be paid till decision on the recommendations of Anomaly Committee is taken by the Government.

This information was given by Minister of State for Defence Dr. Subhash Bhamre in a written reply to Shri Rajeev Chandrasekhar in Rajya Sabha today.

PIB

Redressing Grievances of Ex-Servicemen over OROP

Redressing Grievances of Ex-Servicemen over OROP

Salient features of the Government order dated 07.11.2015 on OROP are as under:-

• Pension of the past pensioners would be re-fixed on the basis of pension of retirees of calendar year 2013 and the benefit will be effective with effect from 01.07.2014.
• Pension will be re-fixed for all pensioners on the basis of the average of minimum and maximum pension of personnel retired in 2013 in the same rank and with same length of service.
• Pension for those drawing above the averages shall be protected.
• Arrears will be paid in four equal half yearly instalments. However, all the family pensioners including those in receipt of Special / Liberalized family pension and Gallantry award winners shall be paid arrears in one instalment.
• In future, the pension would be re-fixed every 5 years.
  Personnel who opt to get discharged henceforth on their own request under Rule 13(3)1(i)(b), 13(3)1(iv) or Rule 16B of the Army Rule 1954 or equivalent Navy or Air Force Rules will not entitled to the benefits of OROP. It will be effective prospectively.

Around 3200 representations for addressing the anomalies on OROP were received from individuals / Associations which were examined and issues referred to the Judicial Committee on OROP for its recommendations. The Committee has submitted its report on 26.10.2016.

Public Grievance Cell in the Department is receiving grievances of the pensioners / family pensioners and taking up the matter with the concerned offices e.g. Controller General of Defence Accounts (CGDA), Principal Controller of Defence Accounts (Pension), etc for redressal of their grievances. Disposal of grievances is monitored at the highest level in the Government.

Out of 20,81,072 OROP beneficiaries, 20,07,090 Pensioners have already received the first instalment and lumpsum payment on account of OROP. Further, in 15,66,486 cases, 2nd instalment have also been paid.
A total of 73,982 Pensioners are yet to be benefited under OROP. Out of these 73,982 cases, details of approximately 30,000 missing information cases have been provided by Pension Sanctioning Authorities (PSAs) to various Pension Disbursing Agencies (PDAs) for making payment and in 29,612 cases payments have been discontinued due to non-identification of the pensioners.

This information was given by Minister of State for Defence Dr. Subhash Bhamre in a written reply to Shri Ram Kumar Kashyapin Rajya Sabha today.

PIB

Extension of age limit of retired Railway Doctors as Contact Medical Practitioners upto the age of 70 years

Extension of age limit of retired Railway Doctors as Contact Medical Practitioners upto the age of 70 years

Registration No. : RTU/Nnn/31/2012

NFIR
National Federation of Indian Railwaymen
3, CHELMSFORD ROAD, NEW DELHI - 110 055

Affiliated to :
Indian National Trade Union Congress (INTUC)
International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF)
No. 11/13 (B)

Dated: 10/04/2017

The Director General (Personnel),
Railway Board,
New Delhi

Dear Sir,
Sub: Extension of age limit of retired Railway Doctors as Contact Medical Practitioners upto the age of 70 years-reg.

Ref:(i) NFIR' s letter No. 11/13 (B) dated 14/02/2017.
(ii) CMD, C. Rly’s letter No. 0561/Dr. Bansode/Retd.RMS dated 17/02/2017.

Federation vide its letters of even number dated 10/05/2016, 23/05/2016, 22/08/2016 & 25/11/2016 has been requesting the Railway Board to extend the age limit of retired Railway Doctors upto the age of 70 years facilitating their appointment as Contract Medical Practitioners.

In this connection, NFIR invites the kind attention of the Board (DG/P and DG/RHS) to CMD, Central Railway’s letter dated 17/02/2017 (copy enclosed) wherein request has been made to allow re-appointment of Dr. Bansode an eminent Cardiologist who is well versed with ECHO studies and is dedicated, highly skilled, sincere and has special rapport with the Railway patients as Contract Medical Practitioner, as a special case. Federation is of the view that the proposal of CMD, Central Railway deserves to be considered, duly modifying the extant policy suitably so that the retired Railway Doctors can be appointed upto the age of 70 years.

NFIR therefore, requests the Railway Board (DG/P & DG/RHS) to kindly see that the approval is accorded revising the age limit to 70 years for the purpose of engaging retired Railway Doctors as Contract Medical Practitioner.

Yours faithfully,
S/d,
(Dr. M. Raghavaiah)
General Secretary

Reminder -II

Central Railway
CMD's Office,
Mumbai CST

Date : 17/02/2017

No:0561/Dr.Bansode/Retd.IRMS.

Director General (RHS)
Ministry Of Railways,
Railway Board,
New Delhi - 110 001.

Sub: Extension of age limit of Retired Railway Doctor as Contract Medical Practitioner for present age of 65 to 70 yrs.
Ref: This office letter of even no.dated :20/05/2016 & 21/12/2016
(copy enclosed)

In connection with the above subject, please refer to this office letters of even no.dated:20/05/2016 & 21/12/2016, where in you are requested to make the necessary changes in the policy guidelines to accommodate few deserving Retired doctors to work beyond age 65 years.

It seems, it is difficult to extend the working of Retired doctors for 65 yrs to 70 yrs as policy.

Of late, we are getting representations from anions and railways, retired and serving (copy enclosed) to extend the working of Retired Railway doctors for 65 yrs to 70 yrs.

As a matter of fact, Dr.B.R.Bansode (Physician), retired Railway doctor needs a special mention. He has been working Central Hospital, Byculla, Mumbai for more than 35 yrs. He is dedicated, highly skilled, sincere and has special rapport with Railway patients.

At present, Central Hospital, Byculla is having only 2 IRMS (Physician) and other divisions of Central Railway are having only one Physician, except Pune division, wnere there is no Physician at all.
Dr.B.R.Bansode is well trained in Cardiology and does ECHO studies in Dr.BAMH, Byculla. The other available Physicians in Central Railway are not having that much experience as of Dr.B.R.Bansode to give full justice to ECHO Cardiolography studies.

In view of this it is requested that deserving doctor like Dr.B.R.Bansode may be reappointed as Contract Medical Practitioner as a special case at least for 2 years, if not upto 70 years.

Enclosures: As stated.

S/d,
(Dr. Shyam Sunder)
Chief Medical Director

Source : NFIR

Development of EPFO APP

Development of EPFO APP

Employees Provident Fund Organization (EPFO) is developing online claims settlement process by receiving application online. The application will be integrated with Unified Mobile App for New-age Governance (UMANG) App to receive the claims online. However, time frame to rollout the same has not been finalized. EPFO has engaged Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC), Pune as its technical consultant for upgradation of its technology.

Necessary hardware by way of the latest technology for servers, storages & Networking equipments have been installed at three data centers in Delhi, Gurugram & Secunderabad.

This information was given by Shri Bandaru Dattatreya, the Minister of State (IC) for Labour and Employment, in written reply to a question in Lok Sabha today.

PIB

Grant of Children Education Allowance to mentally disabled to two children in case of first child beings totally mentally disabled

Grant of Children Education Allowance to mentally disabled to two children in case of first child beings totally mentally disabled

No.I/13 (a)

Dated: 10/04/2017

The secretary (E),
Railway Board,
New Delhi

Dear Sir,
Sub: Grant of Children Education Allowance to mentally disabled to two children in case of first child beings totally mentally disabled - reg.

Ref: Railway Board's letter No.E(W)2014/ED-2/4 dated 24/09/2014 and E(W)2008/ED-2/4 dated 0/06/2015.

Federation has been receiving grievances from those Railway employees who unfortunately have been graced with 1st child (out of three living children) being mentally disabled/retarded and is unable to receive education even at a school meant for the differently abled children due to physical/mental infirmity. Federation feels disappointed to note that the extant instructions contained in Board’s letter dated 24/09/2014 & 01/06/2015, cited under reference, do not cover the genuine problems faced by the Railway employees, consequently, payment of Children Education Allowance to the third ward is denied on the plea that the CEA/Hostel subsidy shall be admissible only to the eldest two surviving children.

Federation also feels that the genuineness of these types of cases has not been brought to the notice of Government (DoP&T, MoF), for consideration. Federation feels that the condition for reimbursement of Children Education Allowance/Hostel subsidy imposed by the DoP&T needs to be reviewed and relaxed suitably so that any two children out of three can become eligible for CEA and Hostel subsidy in those cases where one of three being differently abled and cannot receive education under any circumstances.

NFIR, therefore, requests the Railway Board to kindly make out proper case with justification and refer the matter to the DoP&T for granting relaxation of the condition so that payment of Children Education Allowance/Hostel subsidy is ensured to two school/college going children out of three - one of whom being totally disabled. A copy of the proposal sent to the DoP&T may kindly be provided to the Federation for taking up the issue at Government's level.

Yours faithfully,
sd/-
(Dr.M.Raghavaiah)
General Secretary

Source: NFIR