Grant of Children Education Allowance to the railway employees implementation of Board's decision - problems

Need Uniform Format to Claim Children Education Allowance - NFIR

NFIR writes to Railway Board to issue proper unifrom format to claims for reimbursement of CEA to avoid delay…

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.I/13(a)

Dated: 04/06/2018

Sub: Grant of Children Education Allowance to the railway employees implementation of Board's decision - problems - reg.

Ref: Railway Board's RBE No.147/2017 letter No.E(W)2017/ED-2/3 dated 12/10/2017.

Pursuant to Government decision on the recommendation of 7th Central Pay Commission, the DoP&T vide No.A-27012/02/2017-Estt.(AL) dated 16/08//2017 had issued instructions revising the amount for reimbursement of Children Education Allowance and Hostel Subsidy. The Railway Board vide RBE No.147/2017 dated l2th Oct, 2017 has issued corresponding instructions to the General Managers for ensuring payment of Children Education Allowance & Hostel Subsidy at revised rates from 01/07/2017.

On Zonal Railways, the staff are facing much inconvenience on account of non-issuance of proper proforma/format for preferring claims, consequently the reimbursement is delayed and claims continued to remain pending due to queries being raised at different levels. It is further learnt that the Eastern Railway, South Eastern Railway and Central Railway have issued proforma/format which are however not common. Other Zonal Railways have not at all issued proforma for preferring the claims. It has however been found that the Eastern Railway Administration has not only circulated format, but also issued JPO.

NFIR is of the view that it would be necessary to bring reimbursement to avoid delay as well staff grievances.

NFIR therefore requests the Railway Board to arrange to issue proper format to enable the employees to prefer claims without hassles together with certificate from the Heads of the Institutions. Such uniform format will be advantageous to the Railway Administration as well to staff who are entitled for reimbursement of Children Education allowance/Hostel Subsidy.

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

Source: NFIR

Amount Fixed for Reimbursement of CEA Rs.2250 per month

Amount fixed for reimbursement of Children Education allowance will be Rs. 2250/- per month

No.A-27023/3/2014/2017-Estt.(AL)
Government of India
Ministry of Personnel, P.G. and Pensions
Department of Personnel & Training

 Old JNU Compus, New Delhi,
Dated: 9th May, 2018

Sub:- Clarification in respect of Children Education Allowance and Hostel Subsidy reg.

The undersigned is directed to refer to Ministry of Railways O.M. No.E(W)2014/ED-2/3 dated 18.04.2018 on the subject mentioned above and to say that the amount fixed for reimbursement of Children Education allowance will be Rs. 2250/- per month. This amount of Rs. 2250 is fixed irrespective of the actual expenses incurred by the Govt. Servant.

sd/-
(Sandeep Saxena)
Under Secretary to the Govt. of India

Source: AIRF

Clarification on Children Education Allowance - DOP

Clarification on Children Education Allowance - DOP

F.No.33-03/2017-PAP
Government of India
Ministry of Communications
Department of Posts
(Establishment Division/P.A.P. Section)

Dak Bhawan, Sansad Marg,
New Delhi - 110001
Dated 27 Apr, 2018

To
All Heads of Circles.
Sub: Clarification on Children Education Allowance.

I am directed to refer to Ministry of Personnel & Training O.M. No.A-27012/02/2017-Estt.(AL) dated 31st October 2017 on the above subject, number of references have been received on payment of Children Education Allowance on the instruction received vide above letter u/r,

2. Ministry of Personnel & Training issued orders vide O.M.No.A.27012/02/2017-Estt.(AL) dated 31st October 2017 is unambiguours and clearly spells out the procedures as well as the conditions attached to drawal of Children Education Allowance and Hostel Subsidy.

2. O.M.No. dated 31.10.2017 clearly mentioned that the rest of the conditions will be the same as stipulated vide O.M.No.12011/04/2008-Estt.(AL) dated 11.09.2008.

3. O.M.No.A-27012/02/2017-Estt(AL) dated 16.08.2017 which had instructions issued in supersession of DoPT OM No. dated 28.04.2014 clearly states that the fixed amount for reimbursement of Children Education Allowance will be Rs.2250/- and also says that, a Certificate form the head of Institution, where the ward of Government employees studies will be sufficient for this purpose. The Certificate should confirm that the Child studied in the school during the previous academic year.

This if for kind information and further necessary action in this regard.

sd/-
(K.V.Vijayakumar)
Assistant Director General (Estt)

Source: FNPO

7th CPC CEA: Total Claim for Academic Year 2017-18

7th CPC CEA: Total Claim for Academic Year 2017-18

Children Education Allowance: CEA is paid to government employees to take care of schooling and hostel requirements of their children. Before VI CPC recommendations, the scheme was known as Children Education Assistance and provided at the following rates:

Component	Class 1 - X	Class XI-XII	Requirement
Reimbursement of Tuition Fee	40	50
Reimbursement of Tuition Fee for Disabled and mentally retarded children	100	100
Children Education Allowance	100	100	In case the government employee is compelled to send his child to a school away from the Station of his posting
Hostel Subsidy	300	300	In case the employee is obliged to keep his children in a hostel away from the Station of his posting and residence on account of transfer.

The VI CPC rationalized the structure to the following:

Component	Recommended rate	Remarks
Children Education Allowance	Rs.1500 pm	Whenever DA increases by 50%, CEA shall increase by 25%
Hostel Subsidy	Rs.4500 pm	Whenever DA increases by 50%, Hostel Subsidy shall increase by 25%

7th Pay Commission recommended as follows:

Component	Recommended rate (pm)	Remarks
Children Education Allowance	Rs.1500 x 1.5 = 2250	Whenever DA increases by 50%, CEA shall increase by 25%
Hostel Subsidy	Rs.4500 x 1.5 = 6750 (ceiling)	Whenever DA increases by 50%, Hostel Subsidy shall increase by 25%

The allowance will continue to be double for differently abled children.

Simplification of Procedure for Reimbursement: This is a major area of concern. Many representations have been received by the Commission wherein employees have stated that due to cumbersome procedures, reimbursement has been held up for years. Another issue is the kind of voucher which will be accepted and which kind of voucher will not. The issue has been examined, and the apprehensions expressed are not without merit.

It is recommended that reimbursement should be done just once a year, after completion of the financial year (which for most schools coincides with the Academic year). For CEA, a certificate from the head of institution where the ward of government employee studies should be sufficient for this purpose. The certificate should confirm that the child studied in the school during the previous academic year.

For Hostel Subsidy, a similar certificate from the head of institution should suffice, with the additional requirement that the certificate should mention the amount of expenditure incurred by the government servant towards lodging and boarding in the residential complex. The amount of expenditure mentioned, or the ceiling as mentioned in the table above, whichever is lower, shall be paid to the employee.

The Central Government has decided and notified the allowance shall be admissible with effect from 1st July, 2017.

The total re-imbursement amount can be claimed per child per year:

Re-imbursement Per Child Per Year
M/Y	CEA	HS	DAC
Apr-17	1500	4500	3000
May-17	1500	4500	3000
Jun-17	1500	4500	3000
Jul-17	2250	6750	4500
Aug-17	2250	6750	4500
Sep-17	2250	6750	4500
Oct-17	2250	6750	4500
Nov-17	2250	6750	4500
Dec-17	2250	6750	4500
Jan-18	2250	6750	4500
Feb-18	2250	6750	4500
Mar-18	2250	6750	4500
Total	24750	74250	49500