CPAO - Submission of Life Certificate by NPS-AR pensioner through Jeevan Pramaan

Submission of Life Certificate by National Pension system – Additional Relief (NPS-AR) pensioner through Jeevan Pramaan: Guidelines by CPAO

CPAO

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

CPAO/ Data Bank/ Life Certificate/ OM/2020‐ 21/360

dated: 11.01.2021

Office Memorandum

Subject : Submission of Life Certificate by NPS-AR pensioner through Jeevan Pramaan.

The Central Pension Accounting Office is Pension Disbursing Authority for National Pension system- Additional Relief (NPS–AR). The NPS-AR pensioners are required to submit Life Certificate in the month of November every year for continuation of the pension. Life Certificates are sent to CPAO through the Bank Branches of the pensioners, where the pensioners maintain their pension accounts.

2. A new interface (Aadhar based) for submission of Life Certificate has been developed in Jeevan Pramaan for NPS-AR pensioners and this interface is now live for submission of Digital Life Certificate (DLC] through Jeevan Pramaan. Now NPS-AR pensioners can submit their Life Certificate through Jeevan Pramaan. The Jeevan Pramaan User Manual for uploading Digital Life Certificate is attaching herewith.

Huge relief to CAPF personnel to extend Disability Compensation – Employees covered under NPS will get benefits under Rule 9 of Extra Ordinary Pension (EOP)

Huge relief to CAPF personnel to extend Disability Compensation – Employees covered under NPS will get benefits under Rule 9 of Extra Ordinary Pension (EOP)

• Huge relief to CAPF personnel to extend Disability Compensation – Employees covered under NPS will get benefits under Rule 9 of Extra Ordinary Pension (EOP)

This issue with the approval of Chief Controller (Pension).

(Satish Kumar Garg)
Sr. Accounts Officer, CPAO

Download Life Certificate User Manual – Jeevan Pramaan – CPAO

NPS AR pensioner Jeevan Pramaan

Relative Merit Points and procedure for compassionate appointments in the Department of Posts

Relative Merit Points and procedure for compassionate appointments in the Department of Posts

Central Government Employees News

No.17-4/2018-SPG.II
Government of India
Ministry of Communications
Department of Posts

Dak Bhavan, Parliament Street
New Delhi-110001
Dated the 28th Sep 2020

To

1. All Chief Postmasters General / Postmasters General
2. Chief General Manager, BD Directorate / Parcel Directorate / PLI Directorate
3. Director, RAKNPA / GM, CEPT / Directors of all PTCs
4. Addl. Director General, Army Postal Service, New Delhi
5. All General Managers (Finance) / Directors Postal Accounts /DDAP

Sub: Scheme for compassionate appointment – Relative Merit Points and Procedure for selection.

Madam / Sir,

I am directed to refer to Department of Posts letter No.37-36/2004- SPB-1/C dated 20.1.2010 on the above subject providing for Relative Merit Points and procedure for compassionate appointments in the Department of Posts. The matter has been reviewed keeping in view the instructions issued by Department of Personnel and Training, the changes in various factors for calculating Relative Merit Points and the changes in financial status of the family of the deceased employees consequent upon increase in the terminal benefits.

2. The Relative Merit Points (RMP) for assigning weightage to various attributes of the applicants for compassionate appointment have been reviewed. The revised RMP is based on 100 points of 10 variables with provision of additional 15 maximum bonus points for the applicant if she is the widow of the deceased employee/wife of an employee who has retired on medical grounds. The revised RMP to be applied are as laid down in Annexure 1.

3. Periodicity of CRC meeting: In respect of all applications for compassionate appointments received from January to December of a calendar year, the CRC meeting will be held by all circles once in a year, between January to March of the next calendar year.

4. Cut-Off Date: Date of death or date of retirement on medical grounds will be considered as cut off date for the purpose of assessing the indigent condition of the applicant under RMPS for compassionate appointment.

5. Circle specific vacancy: The vacancies to be utilised by a Circle for compassionate appointment in a year should not be more than 5% of the vacancies in Direct Recruitment Quota in Group C Posts in a year.

6. Place of Posting: As far as administratively feasible, applicant appointed on compassionate grounds will be posted at a place as per preference indicated or near his /her home town or in same division in which the applicant is residing, subject to availability of vacancies.

Also check: Request for relaxation in compassionate appointment – Deaths due to COVID-19 – FNPO

8. Date of effect of these guidelines: These revised guidelines will come into effect from 1st October 2020. Cases recommended by previous CRC to be considered by subsequent CRC will be considered based on these revised point system. All cases closed so far will not be reopened.

9, Instructions issued by DoPT from time to time related to compassionate appointment will continue to be guiding factor while deciding the cases.

10. This issues with the approval of Secretary (Posts).

Yours faithfully,

(G. Rajeev)
Director (Staff)
Tel. No. 23096103

Also read: Reservation in Appointment on Compassionate Ground Group ‘C’ posts

Annexure 1

New Relative Merit Point System (RMPS) for consideration of cases for Compassionate appointments

100 Point Criterion with 10 variables

(i) Basic family pension/ pension/ monthly amount received under NPS (Max 20 Points)

SN	Slabs	Points
01	Up to 9000/-	20
02	9001/- to 12000/-	18
03	12001/- to 15000/-	16
04	15001/- to 18000/-	14
05	18001/- to 21000	12
06	21001/- to 24000/-	10
07	24001/- to 27000/-	08
08	27001/- to 30000/-	06
09	30001/- to 33000/-	04
10	33001/- to 36000/-	02
11	Above 36000/-	00

Note: To be verified from service records and certified by the Divisional/ Regional/ Circle Authorities.

(ii) Lump sum amount received by the family on death/ retirement on medical grounds of the Government servant (DCRG, CGEGIS, GPF/Lump sum amount received under NPS & Leave Encashment) – (Max 10 Points)

SN	Slabs	Points
01	Up to 300000/-	10
02	300001/- to 400000/-	09
03	400001/- to 500000/-	08
04	500001/- to 600000/-	07
05	600001/- to 700000/-	06
06	700001/- to 800000/-	05
07	800001/- to 900000/-	04
08	900001 to 1000000	03
09	1000001/- to 1100000/-	02
10	1100001/- to 1200000/-	01
11	Above 1200000/-	00

Note: To be verified from service records and certified by the Divisional/ Regional/ Circle Authorities.

(iii) Monthly income of earning member of family and income from property (Max 05 Points)

SN	Slabs	Points
01	No income	05
02	7500/- or less	04
03	7501/- to 10500/-	03
04	10501/- to 13500/-	02
05	13501/- to 16500/-	01
06	16501/- and above	00

Note: To be verified from the documents (like, bank statement, ITR, certificate from Revenue Authorities) and affidavit produced by the applicant and verified by the Divisional/ Regional/ Circle Authorities.

(iv) Immovable/ Movable Property including fixed deposit/ bank deposits /investments etc but excluding the Lump sum amount as mentioned in (ii) above – (Max 05 Points)

SN	Slabs	Points
01	Nil/-	05
02	Up to 500000/-	04
03	500001/- to 1000000/-	03
04	1000001/- to 2000000/-	02
05	2000001/- to 3000000/-	01
06	Above 3000000/-	00

Note: To be verified from the documents/ affidavit/ certificate from Revenue/ Municipal Authorities/ concerned departments etc produced by the applicant and verified by the Divisional/ Regional/ Circle Authorities.

(v) No. of dependents (Max 08 Points)

SN	No. of Dependents	Points
01	2 and above	08
02	01	04
03	00	00

Note: To be verified from service records and certified by the Divisional/ Regional/ Circle Authorities .

(vi) No. of Unmarried Daughters (Max 08 Points)

SN	No. of unmarried daughters	Point
01	2 and above	08
02	01	04
03	00	00

Note: To be verified from the documents/affidavit/certificate issued by Revenue/ Municipal Authorities produced by the applicant and verified by the Divisional/ Regional/ Circle Authorities.

(vii) No. of Minor Children (Max 08 Points)

SN	No. of minor children	Point
01	2 and above	08
02	01	04
03	00	00

Note: To be verified from service records and certified by the Divisional/ Regional/ Circle Authorities.

(viii) Left over Service (Max 14 Points)

SN	Left over service	Points
01	Over 25 Years	14
02	Over 20 years & up to 25 Years	12
03	Over 15 years & up to 20 years	10
04	Over 10 years & up to 15 years	08
05	Over 05 years & up to 10 years	06
06	over 02 years & up to 05 years	04
07	Less than 02 years	02

Note: To be verified from service records and certified by the Divisional/ Regional/ Circle Authorities.

(ix) Points for immediate relief (Max 12 Points)

SN	Age of cases	Points
01	less than 03 years old	12
02	03 years to less than 06 years	08
03	06 years to less than 09 years	06
04	09 years to less than 12 years	04
05	12 years to less than 15 years	02
06	15 years and above	00

Note: To be verified from service records and certified by the Divisional/ Regional/ Circle Authorities. Age of the case will be worked out from the date of death of employee/ retirement on medical grounds. In case a minor applies for compassionate appointment after becoming major, the period of the case will be counted from the date on which he became a major.

(x) Physically/ Mentally Challenged and chronic disease Cases (Max 10 Points)

SN	Description	Points
01	If the applicant is a Person with Disability	10
02	f the dependent family member (other than the applicant) of the deceased’s PWD	06
03	If the dependent family member of the deceased is suffering from AIDS, Cancer, Kidney failure, heart attack, liver cirrhosis, Organ transplantation of liver/ heart/ kidney , Alzheimer	03

Note: The disability as defined by DoP&T for reservation for persons with D1sabilites from time to time for appointment in Central Government will be ensured. Related certificates to be obtained accordingly.

(B) Bonus Points

 Bonus Points to Widow/Wife: In addition to the points allotted under RMP, 15 Bonus points will be allotted to applicant if she is the widow of the deceased employee/ wife of an employee who has retired on medical grounds.

NPS to OPS – Contract for Old Pension Scheme – Rajya Sabha – Central Government employees

NPS to OPS

Contract for Old Pension Scheme – Rajya Sabha

National Pension System (NPS) was introduced for Central Government employees by a Notification of Ministry of Finance (Department of Economic Affairs) dated 22nd December, 2003. NPS is mandatory for all new recruits to the Central Government service from 1st January, 2004 (except the armed forces). However, in some specific court cases, like WP(C) No. 3834/2013 titled Permanand Yadav Vs. Union of India and WP(C) No. 2810/2016 viz.Rajendra Singh Vs. Union of India, where the selection of candidates had been made before 01.01.2004 but their actual appointment in the Government service could be made on or after 01.01.2004 due to various reasons, on the direction of the Hon’ble High Court of Delhi, the benefit of Old Pension Scheme was allowed to the petitioners.

After considering all the relevant aspects and to extend the benefit to similarly placed Government servants in order to reduce further litigation, the Government has decided, vide an Office Memorandum No. 57/04/2019-P&PW(B) dated 17th February, 2020 of the Department of Pension & Pensioners’ Welfare, that in all cases where the results for recruitment were declared before 01.01.2004 against vacancies occurring on or before 31.12.2003, the candidates declared successful for recruitment shall be eligible for coverage under the Central Civil Services (Pension) Rules, 1972. Accordingly, such Government servants who were declared successful for recruitment in the results declared on or before 31.12.2003 against vacancies occurring before 01.01.2004 and covered under the National Pension System on joining service on or after 01.01.2004, may be given a one – time option to be covered under the Central Civil Services (Pension) Rules, 1972.

The advertisements issued before the introduction of the National Pension System may or may not have contained a clause regarding the pension scheme applicable to the selected candidates. In its order dated 27.03.2019 in W.P.(C) 10306/2016 – Union of India & others versus Dr. Narayan Rao Battu& another, Hon’ble High Court of Delhi observed that since the new pension scheme was in effect and a policy decision had already been taken to make the said scheme applicable to all incumbents joining government service on or after 01.01.2004, the Respondent, who was appointed on 25.02.2005, cannot claim the right to be covered by the old pension scheme, merely because the vacancy against which he was appointed was initially advertised at a time when the old pension scheme was in force. Hon’ble Court also observed that once the new pension scheme unambiguously and specifically provided that since all incoming office bearers, whose date of appointment is on or after 01.01.2004, would be governed by the new pension scheme, no reference can be made to either the date of vacancy, or the date of advertisement.

In view of the specific provisions of the Notification dated 22.12.2003, the date of advertisement for the vacancies or the date of examination for selection against those vacancies is not considered relevant for determining the eligibility for coverage under the Old Pension Scheme or the National Pension System. There is no proposal to revise the orders issued vide aforesaid Office Memorandum dated 17.02.2020.

This information was given by the Union Minister of State (Independent Charge), Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER), MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances, Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr Jitendra Singh in a written reply in Rajya Sabha today.

Authorization of CSRF by employer COVID-19 outbreak

Allow employers / corporates to authorize the NPS Subscriber Registration Forms submitted by their employees by e-mail rather than physical authentication

PENSION FUND REGULATORY AND DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY

PFRDA

CIRCULAR

CIR No: PFRDA/2020/2/CORP/1

Date: 24th March, 2020

To
All Stakeholders

Subject: Authorization of CSRF by employer

World Health Organisation has already recognized COVID-19 outbreak as a global pandemic and in light of various advisories issued by Ministries of Central Government /State Governments/ Local Administrations / Corporates for taking precautions to avoid spreading of the pandemic, many employers have implemented / encourage employees to work from home.

2. In light of the above and requests received from Points of Presence, it has been decided to allow employers / corporates to authorize the NPS Subscriber Registration Forms submitted by their employees through email instead of physical authentication subject to the following conditions:

- employee authorizations should be from the email ids of the Nodal Officer or the Alternate Nodal Officers as registered in CRA records.
- upon resumption of normalcy, re-authorization of employees by employer/corporate on their letter head to be collected by PoPs for all such cases.

3. The corporates / employers already authorizing the forms through online methods may continue the process as is.

Yours Sincerely
(Mono MG Phukon)
General Manager

PFRDA pledges to contribute to PM-CARES Fund to help fight COVID-19 outbreak

Ministry of Finance

PFRDA
PFRDA pledges to contribute to PM-CARES Fund to help fight COVID-19 outbreak

01 APR 2020

The pension sector regulator Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA) has pledged to contribute a part of the employee’s salary to the Prime Minister's Citizen Assistance and Relief in Emergency Situations (PM CARES) Fund, instituted recently under the guidance of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi to assist and provide relief measures to the citizens of the country following the global outbreak of novel Coronavirus (COVID-19).

Alike other Government institutions, industry leaders, celebrities, individuals, PFRDA employees have decided to contribute part of their salary and PFRDA is committed to assist the government in its fight against the pandemic in India.

Shri Supratim Bandyopadhyay, Chairman PFRDA said “This is one of the most challenging period that our country is facing today. At this moment what matters most is sharing the responsibility of fight against coronavirus (COVID-19) in every way possible. The PFRDA is perceptive of the implications of this pandemic situation and would like to contribute towards the fight of this crisis”.

About PFRDA

Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA) is the statutory Authority established by an enactment of the Parliament, to regulate, promote and ensure orderly growth of the National Pension System (NPS) and pension schemes to which this Act applies. NPS was initially notified for central government employees joining service on or after 1st Jan 2004 and subsequently adopted by almost all State Governments for its employees. NPS was extended to all Indian citizens (resident/non-resident/overseas) on a voluntary basis and to corporates for its employees.

As on 31st March 2020, the total number of subscribers under NPS and Atal Pension Yojana has crossed 3.45 crores and the Asset under Management (AUM) has grown to Rs 4,17,478 crores. More than 68 lakhs government employees have been enrolled under NPS and 22 lakhs subscribers have subscribed to NPS in the private sector with 7,568 entities registered as corporates. More than 2.11 crores subscribers are presently covered under the GoI guaranteed pension scheme - Atal Pension Yojana.

PIB

Benefit of gratuity in respect of Railway employees covered under NPS

NPS

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA (BHARAT SARKAR)
MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS (RAIL MANTRALAYA)
(RAILWAY BOARD)

RBE No.29/2020

No. F(E)HI/2005/PN1/35

New Delhi, Dated : 04.o3.2020

The GMs/ Principal Financial Advisors,
All Zonal Railways/ Production Units,
(As per mailing list)

Subject: Counting of service on joining new service in State Government / Central Government / Autonomous Body for the benefit of gratuity in respect of Railway employees covered under National Pension System (NPS).

A copy of Department of Pension & Pensioners’ Welfare (DOP&PW’s) O.M. No. 7/5/2012-P&PW(F)/B dated 12th February, 2020 is enclosed herewith for compliance and guidance. These instructions shall apply mutatis mutandis on the Railways also. Central Civil Services (Pension) Rules, 1972 correspond to the Railway Services (Pension) Rules, 1993.

The Railway Board’s instructions corresponding to the DOP&PW’s instructions referred to in their aforesaid O.M. dated 12th February, 2020 are given under :-

S. No.	DOP & PW’s instructions	Railway Board’s corresponding instructions.
1.	O.M. No. 38/41/06 -P&PW(A) dated 05.05.2009	Letter No. 2008/ AC-II/21/19 dated 29.05.2009.
2.	O.M. No.7/5/2012 -P&PW(F)/B dated 26.08.2016	Letter No. 2012/ F(E)III/1(1)/4 dated 05.09.2016.

(G. Priya Sudarsani)
Director, Finance (Estt.)
Railway Board.

D.A.: as above

No. F(E)III/2005/PN1/35

New Delhi, dated: 04 . 03.2020.

Copy to Deputy Comptroller and Auditor General of India (Railways), Room No. 224, Rail Bhawan, New Delhi.

For Financial Commissioner / Railways

NPS - Grant of Additional Benefits on death / disability of Central Government Servants covered under National Pension System

NPS to Railway Services Pension Rules 1993 Whose appointment was finalized before 01.01.2004 but who joined the Railway Service on or after 01.01.2004

NPS

RBE No. 28/2020

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA (BHARAT SARKAR)
MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS (RAIL MANTRALAYA)
(RAILWAY BOARD)

No. D-43/12/2018-F(E)III

New Delhi, Dated : 03.03.2020

The GMs/ Principal Financial Advisors,
All Zonal Railways/ Production Units,
(As per mailing list)

Subject: Coverage under Railway Services (Pension) Rules, 1993, in place of National Pension System, of those Railway employees whose selection for appointment was finalized before 01.01.2004 but who joined Railway service on or after 01.01.2004.

Also check: Good news for NPS employees

A copy of Department of Pension & Pensioners’ Welfare (DOP&PW’s) O.M. No. 57/04/2019-P&PW(B) dated 171 h February, 2020 is enclosed herewith for compliance and guidance. These instructions shall apply mutatis mutandis on the Railways also. Central Civil Services (Pension) Rules, 1972 correspond to the Railway Services (Pension) Rules, 1993. The Department of Economic Affairs, Ministry of Finance’s Notification No. 5n/2003-ECB &PR dated 22.12.2003, mentioned in the DOP&PW’s O.M. dated 17.02.2020, has been circulated on Railways vide this office’s letter No. F(E)III/2003/PN 1/24 dated 31.12.2003.

Also check: Progress of National Pension System by Railway Board Minutes of meetings

Similar to the amendments made in the Central Civil Services (Pension) Rules, 1972 and other connected rules, as mentioned in para 1 of the DOP&PW’s O.M. dated 17.02.2020, the Railway Services (Pension) Rules, 1993 and other connected rules were also amended vide Notification No. F(E)III/ 2003/PN1/38 dated 30.12.2003.

NPS: Additional benefit on death/disability of Government servant covered by NPS

Further, separate instructions with respect to para 9 of the DOP&PW’s O.M. dated 17.02.2020 will be issued by the Accounts Directorate for accountal of the corpus available in the NPS account of the railway servant.

D.A.: as above

(G. Priya Sudarsani)
Director, Finance (Estt.)

Railway Board

NPS to OPS Latest News - Amendment in CCS (Pension) Rules 1972 - DoPPW Order Dated 17 February 2020

Latest News on NPS: Old Pension Scheme for 2004 CG Employees

The Department of Pension and Pensioners ' Welfare released a significant order on 17 February 2020 on extending the benefit to Central government employees whose appointment has been postponed after 31 December 2003.

Under this Order, a single right to be protected under CCS (Pension) Rules (1972) may be given to government officers who have been deemed effective to obtain the results declared before or on 31.12.2003 against vacancies that take place before 01.01.2004 for joints on or after 01.01.2004. The Central government employees in question can exercise this option by 31.05.2020 at the earliest.

Latest news on NPS to OPS

Amendment in CCS (Pension) Rules 1972 - Central Government Employees

No. 57/04/2019-P&PVW/(B)
Government of India
Department of Pension and PW

Lok Nayak Bhawan, Khan Market,
New Delhi, the 17 February, 2020

OFFICE MEMORANDUM

Subject: Coverage under Central Civil Services (Pension) Rules, 1972, in place of National Pension System, of those Central Government employees whose selection for appointment was finalized before 01.01.2004 but who joined Government service on or after 01.01.2004.

The undersigned is directed to say that consequent on introduction of National Pension System (NPS) vide Ministry of Finance (Department of Economic Affairs) Notification No. 5/7/2003-ECB & PR dated 22.12.2003, all Government servants appointed on or after 01.01.2004 to the posts in the Central Government service (except armed forces) are mandatorily covered under the said scheme. The Central Civil Services (Pension) Rules, 1972 and other connected rules were also amended vide Notification dated 30.12.2003 and, after the said amendment, those rules are not applicable to the Government servants appointed to Government service after 31.12.2003.

2. Representations have been received in this Department from the Government servants appointed on or after 1.1.2004 requesting for the benefit of the pension scheme under Central Civil Services (Pension) Rules, 1972 on the ground that their appointment was delayed on account of administrative reasons or lapses. Similar references have been received from Ministries/Departments seeking advice of this Department on the question whether the Government servants who were appointed on or after 1.1.2004 could also be extended the benefit of pension scheme under CCS (Pension) Rules, if their appointment was delayed beyond 31.12.2003 on account of administrative reasons and the delay in appointment was beyond the control of the said Government servants.

Also check: Benefit of gratuity in respect of Central Government Employees counting of service on joining new service covered under National Pension System (NPS)

3. From the representations of the Central Government employees and the references received from Ministries /Departments, it has been observed that in many of the cases referred to this Department, selection process (including written examination, interview and declaration of result) for recruitment had been completed before 01.01.2004 but the employee joined the Government service on or after 01.01.2004. A few illustrations where the selection was finalized before 01.01.2004 but actual joining took place on or after 01.01.2004 are as under:

(i) The result for recruitment was declared before 01.01.2004 but the offer of appointment and actual joining of the Government servant was delayed on account of police verification, medical examination etc.;
(ii) Some of the candidates selected through a common selection process were issued offers of appointments and were also appointed before 01.01.2004 whereas the offers of appointment to other selected candidates were issued on or after 1.1.2004 due to administrative reasons/constraints including pending Court/ CAT cases.
(iii) Candidates selected before 01.01.2004 through a common competitive examination were allocated to different Departments/ organization. While recruitment process was completed by some Department(s) / organizations on or before 31.12.2003 in respect of one or more candidates, the offers of appointment to the candidates allocated to the other Departments / organization were issued on or after 01.01.2004.
(iv) Offers of appointment to selected candidates were made before 01.01.2004 with a direction to join on or after 01.01.2004.
(v) Offers of appointment were issued to selected candidates before 01.01.2004, and many/ most candidates joined service before 01.01.2004. However, some candidate(s) were allowed extension of joining time and they joined service on or after 01.01.2004. However, their seniority was either unaffected or was depressed in the same batch or to a subsequent batch, the result for which subsequent batch was declared before 01.01.2004.
(vi) The result for recruitment was declared before 01.01.2004 but one or more candidates were declared disqualified on the grounds of medical fitness or verification of character and antecedents, caste or income certificates. Subsequently, on review, they were found fit for appointment and were issued offers of appointment on or after 01.01.2004.

In all the above illustrative cases, since the result for recruitment was declared before 01.01.2004, denial of the benefit of pension under CCS (Pension) Rules, 1972 to the affected Government servants is not considered justified.

4. The matter has been examined in consultation with the Department of Personnel & Training, Department of Expenditure and Department of Legal Affairs in the light of the various representations/references and decisions of the Courts in this regard. It has been decided that in all cases where the results for recruitment were declared before 01.01.2004 against vacancies occurring on or before 31.12.2003, the candidates declared successful for recruitment shall be eligible for coverage under the CCS (Pension) Rules, 1972. Accordingly, such Government servants who were declared successful for recruitment in the results declared on or before 31.12.2003 against vacancies occurring before 01.01.2004 and are covered under the National Pension System on joining service on or after 01.01.2004, may be given a one-time option to be covered under the CCS(Pension) Rules, 1972. This option may be exercised by the concerned Government servants latest by 31.05.2020.

5. Those Government servants who are eligible to exercise option in accordance with para-4 above, but who do not exercise this option by the stipulated date, shall continue to be covered by the National Pension system (NPS).

6. The option once exercised shall be final.

7. It is clarified, that the above option would be available to only those Government servants who were declared successful for recruitment before 01.01.2004, against vacancies pertaining to the period prior to that date. This option shall, however, not be available to the Government servants appointed on or after 01.01.2004 if they fall in any of the following categories:

(i) Government servants whose names were included in a panel of selected candidates before 01.01.2004 for recruitment against vacancies occurring on or after 01.01.2004 and were, accordingly, recruited on or after 01.01.2004.
(ii) A Government servant whose name was included in a panel of selected candidates prepared before 01.01.2004 for vacancies arising before and after 01.01.2004 but was actually appointed after 31.12.2003 against a vacancy arising on or after 01.01.2004.
(iii) Government servants who were selected against vacancies pertaining to the period prior to 01.01.2004 on the basis of an advertisement / notification issued before 01.01.2004 or a written examination / interview held before 01.01.2004 but results for recruitment were declared on or after 01.01.2004.
(iv) Government servants who joined on or after 01.01.2004 after they were granted extension of joining time on their own request and, in accordance with the instructions issued by the Department of Personnel & Training, their seniority was depressed on account of such extension of joining time to a batch for which the result for recruitment was declared on or after 01.01.2004.

8. The matter regarding coverage under the CCS (Pension) Rules, 1972 based on the option exercised by the Government servant shall be placed before the appointing authority for consideration in accordance with these instructions. In case the Government servant fulfils the conditions for coverage under the CCS (Pension) Rules, 1972, in accordance with these instructions, necessary order in this regard shall be issued latest by 30 September, 2020. The NPS account of such Government servants shall, consequently, be closed w.e.f. 01st November, 2020.

9. The Government servants who exercise option to switch over to the pension scheme under CCS (Pension) Rules, 1972, shall be required to subscribe to the General Provident Fund (GPF). Regarding accountal of the corpus in the NPS account of the Government servant, Controller General of Accounts (CGA) has furnished the following clarification vide letter No. 1(7)(2)/2010/cla./TA III/390 dated 14.11.2019:

i. Adjustment of Employees’ contribution in Accounts: Amount may be credited to individual’s GPF account and the account may be recasted permitting up-to-date interest (Authority-FR-16 &Rule 11 of GPF Rules).
ii. Adjustment of Government contribution under NPS in Accounts: To be accounted for as (-) Dr. to object head 70 – Deduct Recoveries under Major Head 2071 - Pension and other Retirement benefit – Minor Head 911- Deduct Recoveries of overpayment (GAR 35 and para 3.10 of List of Major and Minor Heads of Accounts).
iii. Adjustment of increased value of subscription on account of appreciation of investments - May be accounted for by crediting the amount to Govt. account under M.H. 0071- Contribution towards Pension and Other Retirements Benefits 800- Other Receipts ( Note under the above Head in LMMHA).

10. All Ministries / Departments are requested to give wide publicity to these orders. The cases of those Government servants who fulfil the conditions mentioned in this O.M. and who exercise option to switch over to the pension scheme under CCS (Pension) Rules may be settled by the administrative Ministries / Departments in accordance with these orders.

11. These orders issue with the concurrence of Ministry of Finance, Department of Expenditure, vide their I.D. Note No. 1(7) EV/2019 dated 08.01.2020.

12. In their application to the employees of Indian Audit and Accounts Department, these orders are issued after consultation with Comptroller and Auditor General of India, as mandated under Article 148(5) of the Constitution.

13. Hindi version will follow.

(Ruchir Mittal)
Deputy Secretary to the Government of India

NPS - Additional Benefits on death / disability of Government Servants

NPS - Additional Benefits on death / disability of Government Servants

EAST COAST RAILWAY

Grant of Additional Benefits on death/disability of Government Servants covered under National Pension System (NPS) - Railway Board RBE No. 08/2020 No. D-43/4/2018- F(E)III dated 20.01.2020.

RBE No. 08/2020

Government of India
Ministry of Railways
(Railway Board)

No. D-43/4/2018-F(E)III

New Delhi, Dated 20.01.2020

The General Managers/ Principal Financial Advisory,
All Zonal Railways/ Production Units

Sub:- Grant of Additional Benefits on death / disability of Government Servants covered under National Pension System (NPS) - reg

Attention is invited to Board’s letter No. 2008/AC-II/21/19 dated 29.05.2009 vide which instructions were issued providing for additional relief on death/disability of Government servants covered by New Defined Contribution Pension System (NPS). Instructions issued vide letter ibid will be applicable to those Government Servants who joined Government Service on or after 01.01.2004 and will take effect from the same date i.e. 01.01.2004. Further, attention is invited to the letter No. 2016/F(E)III/1(1)/3 dated 27.05.2016 vide which Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (Exits and Withdrawals under NPS) Regulation, 2015 notified vide Gazette notification dated 11.05.2015 was adopted and circulated on Railways. It is prescribed in these regulations that if the subscriber or the family members of the deceased subscriber, upon his death, avails the option of additional relief on seek transfer of the entire accumulated pension wealth of subscriber to itself.

Also check: Good news for NPS employees

2. References were received in this office seeking clarification whether the rule allowing option for drawl of pension/ family pension, instead of NPS corpus, is also applicable retrospectively for the cases where corpus of NPS has already been paid to the deceased employee’s legal heirs before issue of board’s letter No. 2008/AC-II/21/19 dated 29.05.2009. If the date of application of additional benefit is retrospective, whether it is from the date the employee deceased or from the date of issue of Board’s letter dated 29.05.2009. Also, whether the arrears of pension/family pension is to be paid (upon surrender of NPS Corpus) or not, and the amount is likely to be huge which would impact the Railway Finances. Clarification was, also, sought whether the interest on the corpus is to be charged from the date of payment of corpus amount till the date of is surrender and if so, at what rate.

3. The above issue has been examined in consultation with Department of Pension and Pensioners’ Welfare (DOP&PW), the nodal Department of pensioner matters. DOP&PW has clarified that Railway servant/ family member in the case of death of railway servant of his discharge from service on account of invalidation/ disability, is entitled to pension/ family pension under old pension scheme under Railway Services (Pension) Rules, 1993, if the Railway servant/ Family wants to. DOP&PW have, further, clarified that the entire accumulated pension funds under NPS may be recovered from him/family with interest for the period from the date of receipt of entire accumulated pension wealth to the subscriber under NPS to the date of refund to the Government at the rate and manner applicable to GPF deposits from time to time.

4. The aforesaid clarification may be kept in view while dealing with cases covered under National Pension System (NPS).

sd/-
(G. Priya Sudarsani)
Director, Finance (Estt.)
Railway Board

Pay Commission has filed the subject of Pay, Pension and Allowances, in Supreme Court on 29.01.2020.

Second National Judicial Pay Commission has filed the subject of Pay, Pension and Allowances, in Supreme Court on 29.01.2020.

Ministry of Labour & Employment
Second National Judicial Pay Commission submits its Report

06 FEB 2020

The Second National Judicial Pay Commission has filed the main part of the Report in 4 volumes covering the subject of Pay, Pension and Allowances, in the Registry of the Supreme Court on 29.01.2020. The Commission has been constituted pursuant to the Order of the Supreme Court in All India Judges Association case and the Government of India, Ministry of Law & Justice issued a Notification dated 16.11.2017 in this regard. Shri Justice P.V. Reddi, former Judge of the Supreme Court is the Chairman, Shri Justice R. Basant, former Judge of Kerala High Court is the Member and Shri Vinay Kumar Gupta, District Judge of Delhi Higher Judicial Service is the Member-Secretary of the Commission.

Also check: 7th Pay Commission Latest News 2020

The Interim Report was submitted by the Commission in 2018.

The salient recommendations are:

PAY: The Commission having considered various alternative methodologies has recommended the adoption of Pay Matrix which has been drawn up by applying the multiplier of 2.81 to the existing pay, commensurate with the percentage of increase of pay of High Court Judges. @ 3% cumulative has been applied.

As per the revised pay structure evolved by the Commission, the Junior Civil Judge / First Class Magistrate whose staring pay is Rs.27,700/- will now get Rs.77,840/-. The next higher post of Senior Civil Judge starts with the pay of Rs.1,11,000/- and that of the District Judge Rs.1,44,840/-. The highest pay which a District Judge (STS) will get, is Rs.2,24,100/-.

The percentage of Selection Grade and Super Time Scale District Judges proposed to be increased by 10% and 5% respectively.

The revised pay and pension will be effective from 01.01.2016. Arrears will be paid during the Calendar year 2020 after adjusting the interim relief.

PENSION: Pension at 50% of last drawn pay worked out on the basis of proposed revised pay scales is recommended w. e. f. 1-1-2016. The family pension will be 30% of the last drawn pay. Additional quantum of pension will commence on completing the age of 75 years (instead of 80 years) and percentages at various stages thereafter are increased. The existing ceiling of retirement gratuity and death gratuity will be increased by 25% when the DA reaches 50%.

Nodal officers will be nominated by the District Judges to assist the pensioners / family pensioners.
Recommendation has been made to discontinue the New Pension Scheme (NPS) which is being applied to those entering service during or after 2004. The old pension system, which is more beneficial, will be revived.

ALLOWANCES: The existing allowances have been suitably increased and certain new features have been added. However, the CCA is proposed to be discontinued.

Recommendations are made to improve the medical facilities and to simplify the reimbursement procedure. Medical facilities will be granted to pensioners and family pensioners also.

Certain new allowances viz. children education allowance, home orderly allowances, transport allowance in lieu of pool car facility, have been proposed. HRA proposed to be increased uniformly in all States. Steps to ensure proper maintenance of official quarters recommended.

The recommendations made by the Commission are applicable to the Judicial officers throughout the country.

Supreme Court will have to issue directions regarding the implementation of recommendations after hearing the stakeholders.

PIB

13 lakhs Central Government Employees participated in the nationwide one day strike on 8th January 2020

13 lakhs Central Government Employees participated in the nationwide one day strike on 8th January 2020

PRESS STATEMENT

Dated 8th January, 2020

About thirteen (13) lakhs Central Govt. Employees participated in the nationwide one day strike on 8th January 2020 as per the call given by Confederation of Central Government Employees & Workers. The main demand of the strike is “Scrap New Contributory Pension Scheme (NPS) & Restore Old defined Pension Scheme (OPS)”. The strike is also to express the anger and protest of the Central Government employees and Pensioners against the neo-liberal policies being implemented by the Central Government in the Central Government services, as a result of which the job security, wage structure, social security and the trade union rights of the employees are in danger. None of the 10 points Charter of Demands submitted to the Government by Confederation are settled.

In Postal department about four and half lakhs employees participated in the strike all over the country. 1,55,000 Post Offices and about 400 RMS offices remained closed. Gramin Dak Sevaks of rural post offices also went on strike. Delivery work also affected as Postmen joined the strike.

In Income Tax Department the strike is total in all the States. Work of all Income Tax Offices came to a standstill. Employees of Audit & Accounts department, Civil Accounts, Atomic Energy, Geological Survey of India, Customs and Central Excise, Survey of India, Botanical Survey of India, Postal Accounts, Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), Printing and Stationery, Indian Bureau of Mines (IBM), AGMARK, Central Government Health Scheme (CGHS), Medical Stores Depots, Film Division of India, Indian Council for Medical Research, Indian Council for Agricultural Research, Central Food Processing Laboratory, Census Department, National Sample Survey Organisation (NSSO), Defence Accounts, Rehabilitation Department, Central Public Works Department (CPWD), Canteen Employees, Institute of Physics, LNCPE, Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute of Medical Sciences, Employees Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO), Passport Department, Zoological survey of India, Patent Office, Central Drug Laboratory, NADMO, National Library, Marketing Inspection, Commercial Intelligence, Homeopathy Department, Archeological Survey of India and various other autonomous and Scientific Research Institutions participated in the nationwide strike.

Strike is near total in Kerala, West Bengal, Tamilnadu, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Odisha, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Chattisgarh, Jharkhand, Assam, North Eastern States including Tripura. 70 to 80% participation in Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan. 60 to 70% strike in Uttarakhand, Bihar, Delhi, Himachal Pradesh, Gujrat and J & K.

Solidarity demonstrations and dharnas are conducted by Central Government Pensioners Organizastions in various states.

National Secretariat of the Confederation thanked and congratulated the Central Government employees for their massive participation and for making the one day nationwide strike a resounding success.

M.Krishnan
Secretary General
Confederation
Email: mkrishnan6854@gmail.com

Enrollment of Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) in National Pension System (NPS)

Enrollment of Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) in National Pension System (NPS)

PENSION FUND REGULATORY AND DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY
B-14/A, Chhatrapati Shivaji Bhawan,
Qutub Institutional Area,
Katwaria Sarai, New Delhi-110016

No: PFRDA/2019/24/PDES/5

Date: 17th December 2019

Circular

Subject: Clarification - Enrollment of Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) in NPS.

1. This is in continuation to the Circular No: PFRDA/2019/19 /PDES/3 dated 29th Oct, 2019 on the above subject whereby the Authority permitted Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) to enroll in National Pension System (NPS) at par with Non-Resident Indians (NRI).
2. Based on the communication received from Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI), it is hereby clarified that Annuity payable by ASPs to NRIs and OCIs will be taxed at source, at rates applicable as per the DTAA (Double Taxation Avoidance Agreements) of the country where the annuitant resides.
3. Hence the intermediaries including Annuity Service Providers (ASPs) are required to display/ convey to the prospective and existing subscribers that ‘Annuities payable to NRI/ OCI are subject to TDS and ‘repatriation of the corpus, if any, will be subject to applicable laws and regulatory provisions of IRDAI/ PFRDA/ RBI in their relevant marketing materials / website(s) / brochures / communications.

Also check: Good news for NPS employees

Mono MG Phukon
(General Manager)

2020 Nationwide Strike calls upon entire Central Government Employees

2020 Nationwide Strike calls upon entire Central Government Employees

Confederation of Central Government Employees & Workers Central Headquarters

Ist Floor, North Avenue Post office Building,
New Delhi-110001

No. Confdn/NS/ 2016-19

Dated-18.11.2019

Important Circular

To
1. All National Secretariat Members (CHQ Office Bearers)
2. All Affiliated organisations
3. All General Secretaries of C-O-Cs.

Confederation National Secretariat Calls upon Entire Central Government Employees

(including Gramin Dak Sevaks and Casual/Contract Workers)

To Mobilise and Participate in the 2020 January 8th Nationwide Strike
Organise Mass Dharna and Demonstrations and Rallies at all important centres and State/ District/ Divisional Headquarters on 20th December, 2019.

• Strike to be organised on 10 points Charter of demands of Confederation (attached herewith) and also the common demands of workers adopted in the National Convention of Workers.
• First and most important demand to be emphasized is "Scrap NPS and Restore OPS".
• Each affiliated organisation should independently chalkout intensive campaign programmes to mobilise their entire membership to participate in the strike. Campaign tour programmes of leaders of each affiliate should be chalked out immediately. This is most important and urgent.
• Campaign tour programmes of National Secretariat Members of Confederation will be published shortly.
• Draft copy of the pamphlet to be distributed among all the Central Government employees will be published in the Confederation website shortly. C-O-Cs and Affiliates at state/ district level to bring out pamphlets in respective vernacular, with additions/ modifications if necessary.
• State C-O-Cs should publish Posters with Confederation Charter of demands.
• Strike notice along with Charter of demands will be served on 12th December, 2019.
  Confederation Central Headquarters will serve strike notice to Cabinet Secretary. All Affiliated organisations should serve strike notice to their respective Departmental heads. Copy of the strike notice should be submitted to all lower level authorities also at State/ District/ Divisional level with mass demonstrations and gate meetings.
• Affiliated organisations should send copy of the strike notice served by them to their Departmental heads, to all their lower units and also publish the same in their websites.
• State/ District C-O-Cs should plan their own campaign programmes and mobilisation meetings.
• Confederation Central Headquarters has already written to the Secretary General of Confederation of Central Government Gazetted Officers Organisation (CCGGOO) requesting to participate in the 8th January 2020 strike.
• Message of the strike and strike demands should reach each and every Central Govt. employee including Gramin Dak Sevaks and Casual, Part-time contingent, daily-rated and Contract Workers.
• All Affiliates and C-C-Cs should ensure maximum participation of Central Govt. employees in all the campaign and mobilisation programmes of Joint Action Council of Central Trade Unions and Independent Federations also.
• As in the past, Government may issue circulars, threatening the employees who participate in the strike. Ignore all such circulars and join the strike with courage and determination. Don’t believe in rumours. All information related to the strike will be published in Confederation website www.confederationhq.blogspot.com
• Mass dharna at all important centres and also at State/ District/Divisional headquarters may be organised on 20th December 2019, with maximum participation of Central Govt. Employees.
• Give maximum publicity through local media, social media and websites. Send photos and reports by whatsapp or Email to Confederation Headquarters.
• Central Government Pensioners Associations may be requested to participate in all mobilisation programmes and also to organise solidarity programme on 8th January, 2020.
  Remember, all our existing benefits and rights are achieved through struggles and sacrifices only. No strike action will go in vain. No sacrifice will go in vain. We will fight and we will win.

Also check the 2 days nation-wide strike on 8th & 9th January 2019 - Confederation

II. National Conference of Confederation of Central Government Employees & Workers:
As already informed to all in the Circular dated 01-08-2019, the next National Conference of Confederation of Central Government Employees & Workers will be held at NAGPUR (Maharashtra) on 07-02-2020 and 08-02-2020 (7th & 8th February 2020; Friday and Saturday). Delegate fee per head is Rs.1,000/- (Rs. One thousand only). In addition to delegates, visitors are also allowed to attend the Conference on payment of Rs.1,000/- (Rs. One thousand only) per head.

All Affiliated organisations and C-O-Cs are requested to ensure maximum participation of delegates and visitors in the National Conference, including maximum Lady delegates and visitors.

Please book the travel tickets of the delegates and visitors well in advance. Last minute, confirmed tickets will not be available.

C-O-C, Vidharbha Region, Maharashtra, Nagpur, is hosting the National Conference. Contact Number: Com: Nilesh D Nasare, General Secretary, C-O-C, Vidarbha Region, Nagpur & All India Organising Secretary, Confederation CHQ, Mob: 09850354898.

Women’s Sub Committee of the Confederation will be re-constituted in the Conference and New Office Bearers will be elected.
The names and mobile numbers of leaders, delegates and visitors attending the National Conference may be intimated to the Reception Committee on or before 31-12-2019. This is required for arranging accommodation.
C-O-C Mumbai, C-O-C Nagpur and nearby states C-O-Cs may ensure participation of more delegates/ visitors/ lady comrades.

Formal notice of the National Conference will be issued shortly.

Number of Delegates and Quota Remittance:

Number of eligible delegates of each Affiliated organisation and C-O-C is decided based on the quota remitted. The National Secretariat meeting of Confederation held at Hyderabad on 19th October 2019, has decided that the subscription/ quota dues list of affiliates will be placed in the Confederation website by the Financial Secretary shortly and all will be once again asked to pay out the arrears by 20-12-2019. On the basis of remittances received thereupon, voting rights will be compiled and exhibited in the website.

Contact number of Com.Vrigu Bhattacharjee, Financial Secretary, Confederation CHQ - 09868520926 and 09013163804.

All the Affiliated organisations and C-O-Cs are once again requested to remit the subscription/quota dues on or before 20-12-2019 without fail and ensure participation of maximum delegates and visitors in the National Conference.

Let us meet at Nagpur after the Historic 2020 January 8th Strike.
Let us strengthen our unity further.
Unity for struggle and struggle for unity.

Fraternally yours,
M. Krishnan,
Secretary General,
Mob: 09447068125
Email: mkrishnan6854@gmail.com

10 Points Charter of Demands of Confederation

1. Scrap New Contributory Pension scheme (NPS). Restore Old defined benefit Pension Scheme (OPS) to all employees. Guarantee 50% of the last pay drawn as Minimum Pension.
2. Honour assurance given by Group of Ministers (GoM) to NJCA leaders on 30-06-2016. Increase Minimum Pay and Fitment formula. Withdraw the proposed move to modify the existing time-tested methodology for calculation of Minimum wage. Grant HRA arrears from 01-01-2016. Withdraw “Very Good” bench mark for MACP, Grant promotional heirarchy and date of effect from 01-01-2006. Grant Option-I parity recommended by 7th CPC to all Central Govt. Pensioners. Settle all anomalies arising out of 7th CPC implementation.
3. Stop corporatisation / privatisation of Railways, Defence and Postal Departments. Withdraw closure orders of Govt. of India Printing Presses. Stop proposed move to close down Salt Department. Stop closure of Govt. establishments and outsourcing.
4. Fill up all six lakhs vacant posts in the Central Government Departments in a time bound manner. Reintroduce Regional Recruitment for Group B & C posts.
5. (a) Regularisation of Gramin Dak Sevaks and grant of Civil servant status. Implement remaining positive recommendations of Kamalesh Chandra Committee report.
   (b) Regularise all casual and contract workers including those joined on or after 01-09-1993.
6. Ensure equal pay for equal work for all. Remove disparity in pay scales between Central Secretariat staff and similarly placed staff working in field units of various departments.
7. Implement 7th CPC Wage Revision and Pension revision of remaining Autonomous bodies. Ensure payment of arrears without further delay. Grant Bonus to Autonomous body employees pending from 2016-17 onwards.
8. Remove 5% condition imposed on compassionate appointments. Grant appointment in all eligible cases.
9. Grant five time bound promotions to all Group B & C employees. Complete Cadre Review in all departments within a time-frame.
10. (a) Withdraw the anti-worker wage/labour codes and other anti-worker Labour reforms. Stop attack on trade union rights. Ensure prompt functioning of various negotiating forums under the JCM Scheme at all levels.
    (b) Withdraw the draconian FR 56 (j) and Rule 48 of CCS (Pension Rules 1972

Enrolment of Subscribers under NPS who lost both hands - PFRDA Circular

Enrolment of Subscribers under NPS who lost both hands - PFRDA Circular

PENSION FUND REGULATORY

AND DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY

B-14/A, Chhatrapati Shivaji Bhawan,

Qutub Institutional Area,

Katwaria Sarai, New Delhi-110016

Ph: 011-26517501, 26517503, 26133730

Website: www.pfrda.org.in

CIRCULAR

PFRDA/2019/17/SUP-SG/1

04.10.2019

To,

All Central Government Ministries & Departments/ State Governments
PrAOs, PAOs, CDDOs, NCDDOs – CG Nodal offices
DTAs,DTOs, DDOs – SG Nodal offices
All Central and State Autonomous Bodies
Points of Presence

Subject: Acceptance of CSRF forms or registration under NPS in case of subscriber who has lost both hands

The Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA) has received few requests from the Govt Nodal offices, requesting PFRDA to accept the subscriber registration (CSRF) form in case of such subscriber-employees joining under them, who are unable to affix signature on the CSRF form, being due to loss of both hands.

In view of the above and to facilitate the registration of such subscribers under NPS, the Govt Nodal offices/PoPs are advised to accept the subscriber registration (CSRF) form by obtaining the toe impression of the subscriber on the CSRF form. Further, where toe impression of such subscriber who has lost both hands is obtained on the CSRF form, it should be attested by two persons, one of whom should be the official designated to handle NPS related activities in Govt Nodal office/ PoP.

Sd/-

Sumeet Kaur Kapoor

Chief General Manager

NPS covered pensioners allowed to use CGHS facilities without any bar of minimum qualification service

NPS covered pensioners allowed to use CGHS facilities without any bar of minimum qualification service

CGHS facilities to NPS covered Pensioners

 National Council (Staff Side)

The Secretary,
Ministry of Health & Family Welfare,
Nirman Bhawan,
New Delhi-110011

Dated: September 26, 2019

Dear Sir,

Sub: CGHS facilities to NPS covered Pensioners - Req.
Ref.: Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Government of India’s G.O.No.S.11011/ 10/2012- CGHS(P)/ EHS dated 28.03.2017

Your kind attention is invited towards the above referred to O.M. dated 28th March, 2017, wherein a condition of Minimum Qualifying Service of 10 years has been laid down for availing CGHS facilities for NPS covered pensioners.

Also check: Good news for NPS employees

In this connection, it would not be out of context to mention that, a substantial number of Gramin Dak Sewaks became regular employees of the Postal Department, crossing age of 50 years. All these CDSs, on having been regularised as Postal Employees after 50 years of age, are thus deprived of CGHS facilities on account of above-mentioned condition of minimum 10 years Qualifying Service, as such, the said condition is uncalled for an irrational.

It is, therefore, requested that, the matter may please be looked into in the foregoing, and the same be dispensed with, so that, any regular Government Employee on superannuation, may be NPS covered pensioners, should be allowed to avail CGHS facilities without any bar of Minimum Qualifying Service in the larger interest of justice.

Also check: Guidelines regarding Merger of 33 Postal dispensaries with CGHS

Yours faithfully,
(Shiva Gopal Mishra)
Secretary

NFIR President raised following issues in Railway Board Meeting 2019

NFIR President raised following issues in Railway Board Meeting 2019

Every Railwayman should work to curb avoidable expenses, he said and raised following issues for taking speedy action:
Also read: Highlights of PNM Meeting Dr. M. Raghavaiah, General Secretary / NFIR

• The allowances to all the staff was paid from 1st of July 2016 but the KMA and other related allowances to running staff have not been decided. Such delay is a cause of Railwaymen blaming the Federation and gives room for staff agitations. This type of situation cannot do well to the institution. The Railway Board should seriously think and resolve the issues quickly.
• Railway Board constituted a Task Force Safety Committee consisting of five very senior officers (General Managers), the Committee gave recommendations on 10th January 2017 wherein it has been mentioned that the running staff who join duty after leave at 0:00 hours and worked train immediately after resumption, commit accidents. Therefore, the Committee recommended that the running staff should not be booked to work train before 8 ‘o’ clock in the morning when they resume duty after availing leave.
  Unfortunately recommendations of the Committee are not being followed and the running staffs are booked invariably to work first train after 0:00 hours on resumption from leave. He urged the Member Staff to see that suitable instructions are issued to the Zonal Railways to follow the recommendations of the Committee to avoid situations which may cause accidents.
• The Railway Board issued orders in the year 2004, as a result of decision arrived at, in the DC/JCM meeting, but unfortunately this decision has been changed unilaterally in the year 2007 by the Board. This change has created adverse situation like denial in granting appointment on compassionate grounds. He urged the MS that the order of 2004 be restored without delay.
• Time and again the Railway Board had issued detailed guidelines, not to retain money from settlement dues of railway employees on superannuation, but unfortunately these orders are being violated by withholding heavy amounts from settlement despite the fact that employees are not in occupation of Railway quarter and equally no disciplinary action pending against them.
• Retired Railway employees have been re-engaged against vacancies, but they are not paid Night Duty Allowance though they perform night duty. OT Allowance is also not paid to these re-engaged staff when they work over hours of duty at out stations. He empathetically stated that injustice is being caused to the retired Railway employees who are re-engaged as all such rules are equally applicable to them when they have been re-engaged to Railway service.
• The PPOs of running staff are not being revised because concordance tables have not been provided although orders have been issued to revise their pension pay orders by sighting illustrations, but it is not working as the staff have developed habit of working with the assistance of concordance table, as such concordance tables be
  prepared and issued.
• Regarding filling up of vacancies, he expressed satisfaction on the information given by Member Staff that by the end of May 2019, a panel of 62,960 selected candidates of Pay Matrix Level-I and similarly panels of ALPs and SMs will also be made available. He stated that occurrence of 3% vacancies of total cadre is through natural attrition, therefore the sequence of formation of panels should be planned and followed in a methodical manner as a regular course.
• Case of payment of honorarium to cashiers and other accounts staff of NWR for the year 2008, 2009 and 2010, is pending in the Railway Board for sanction. The inordinate delay in payment is a matter of concern for everyone. He requested Member Staff for early communication of sanction to the NWR for which NFIR has also made reference.
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• The condition of railway quarters continues to remain deplorable as there is no maintenance. Our position becomes very embarrassing when staff complain about differential treatment as there is zero maintenance of staff quarters while on the other hand the quarters of officers are well maintained. He requested that immediate action be taken in the matter to mitigate the staff complaints.

Source: NFIR

Highlights of PNM Meeting between Railway Board and NFIR held on 25th & 26th April, 2019

Highlights of PNM Meeting between Railway Board and NFIR held on 25th & 26th April, 2019

Minutes of PNM meeting of Railway Board with NFIR held on 25th and 26th April, 2019.

Dr. M. Raghavaiah, General Secretary /NFIR

General Secretary/ NFIR at the outset thanked Member Staff and Chairman of the PNM meeting for highlighting the significant performance of Railways during the year 2018-19, surpassing the previous targets. General Secretary also thanked the Member Staff for conveying the important decisions towards staff welfare including that of orders issued, granting 10 : 20 : 20 : 50 ratio to the Track Maintainer category in GP 2800, 2400, 1900 and 1800 respectively with effect from 08/03/2019.

While assuring Federation’s support for improving the efficiency levels further, the NFIR General Secretary placed the following points for taking necessary action.

Also check: RAILWAY EMPLOYEES BONUS 2019

I. The PNM meeting now being held after lapse of 111⁄2 months although Agenda was sent on 26/06/2018. Many issues continued to remain unsettled. Activating the PNM Machinery is very much essential for holding formal meetings frequently for sorting out the issues.

II. Railway employees are heavily overburdened due to non-filling of vacancies, for long period. With the recent decision of the Board to fill all vacancies, Federation hopes that the staff hardships may be mitigated to some extant.

III. Railway employees are extremely disappointed over:-

• Government’s failure to fulfill its assurance through Group of Ministers on revision of minimum wage, fitment formula and abolition of NPS.
• NFIR’s meeting with Hon’ble MR on 04/04/2018 and subsequently – latest being 23rd January, 2019 with regard to Federation’s repeated pleas for exempting Railways from NPS as already agreed to, by two successive Railway Ministers in view of complex and unique working of Railways and hard working conditions of Railway Staff akin to defence forces personnel (over 85% work in remote places, Jungle areas where no basic requirements of life exist). Although Hon’ble MR has assured to take action to pursue at Government level, it is observed that there has been no progress. Railway employees are extremely agitated as they do not get covered under Liberalized Pension Scheme. Over 7 lakh Railway employees joined on and after 01/01/2004, are extremely disappointed as they cannot hope for guaranteed pension of 50% of last pay drawn at the time of retirement. General Secretary specially requested the Member (Staff) to take initiative on this important issue.

IV. Aggressive decisions towards closure of establishments, outsourcing regular activities, contractorisation without prior consultations, surrender of posts are indiscriminately, contractorising the activities resulting staff dislocation and loss of seniority and career growth have been contributing for staff unrest. These are required to be addressed and instructions be re-iterated for ensuring prior consultations on all such matters in the interest of healthy industrial relations.

No prior consultations are held and arbitrary decisions resorted to.

Also read: Upgradation of posts in Railways recommended by 7th CPC – clearance of DoP&T and MoF

V. 7th CPC issues:-

• Departmental Anomaly Committee (DAC) was constituted by the Railway Board vide letter No.PC-VII/2016/DAC/1 dated 05/10/2016. NFIR had placed issues before the DAC vide Federation’s letters No.IV/DAC/7CPC/2016 dated 09/06/2017 and dated 16/08/2017. Second meeting of DAC was held on 04/01/2018, but with “ZERO RESULT” as Official Side maintained that the issues dealt did not come under the definition of ‘Anomaly’ (Loco Running Staff, Guards, Technical Supervisors, Pharmacists, Radiographer, ECG Technicians, Physiotherapist, Health & Malaria Inspector etc.).
• Railway Ministry has not initiated action on the positive recommendations of 7th CPC to give benefit to certain categories though a period of over 2 years 9 months passed. GS/ NFIR specifically mentioned NFIR’s letter No.IV/NFIR/7th CPC(Imp)/2016/RB dated 22/09/2016 and 15/11/2016.
• GS/ NFIR reminded that the proposals sent by the Railway Ministry vide No.PC-VII/ 2015 /R-U/9 dated 08/02/2017 to the MoF/ DoP&T relating to revision of pay structure of Senior Supervisors in Group `C’ of all Departments (other than Accounts Department) for upgrading 75% supervisory posts from Level-7 (erstwhile GP 4600) to Level-8 (GP 4800) and revision of Pay Levels of Group‘B’ Officers of all Departments (other than Accounts Department) to Level-9 have been pending for more than 1 1/2 years. He requested prompt follow up action for obtaining clearance.
• Shri Raghavaiah further stated that the Railway Ministry’s proposal for revision of KMA rates for Running staff w.e.f. 01/07/2017 has not been concurred yet by MoF. Similarly the Running staff are not being paid Leave salary on 7th Pay scales on Northern and West Central Railways due to IPAS problems. These issues should be settled without further delay.

VI. Implementation of commitments dated 07/02/2014.

• LPs Mail/Exp – placement in GP 4600/- pending.
• Stepping up of pay of LIs inducted prior to 01/01/2006 – pending.
• Merger of Technicians-II with Tech-I – pending.

VII. Other important issues:-

• VII CPC report – Para 9.2.37. – Hospital Leave, Special disability leave and sick leave subsumed in a new leave named “Work Related Illness and Injury Leave (WRIIL):- Orders yet to be issued.
• RELHS-97 – Railway Board’s letter dated 31/05/2012 allowed post March 2009 retirees/dependents to join as members within one year period. Some retired staff living in remote places were unaware of opportunity, consequently not availed the provision. Railway Board may now provide opportunity for those retired staff/dependents between March, 2009 and May, 2012) to join RELHS. (Board’s letter No.2011/H/28/1/RELHS/Court Cases dated 31/05/2012).
• Extension of Scheme for contract employment of para-medical personnel against vacancies beyond 30/06/2019 is needed as RRB empanelled candidate may not be available by that date, while retired personnel may not join lower level posts. On one Zone there are 2 regular Dialysis Technicians, while contract Dialysis Technicians are working. Similarly, 25 contract Nursing Superintendents in a Central Hospital who may face termination on 30/06/2019 and if posts go unmanned, health care suffers badly.
• Extension of MACPS to Railway School/College Teachers – All Teaching Staff of HRD Ministry, Delhi National Capital Region, Defence Ministry run schools are covered under MACPS. Action be taken for bringing Railway Teachers under MACPS with retrospective effect.
• Minimum educational qualification for Pharmacists in Railways – Government’s Notification/Ministry of Health & Family Welfare not implemented. Action be taken for revising the entry qualification.
• Harmonization of the cadre structure of Medical Laboratory Staff with those in Central Government Hospitals – Case pending despite elaborate proposal sent by NFIR.
• Employees visit Hospitals for eye vision test. After dilation of eyes, it will take hours for them to be able to see. If roll on sun glasses are provided, the present problem can be got solved. Instructions may be issued to stock “roll on sun glasses” in hospitals for use of those undergo eye vision test.
• On S.E.C. Railway – Raipur Division:- Compassionate appointment requests for wards of medically decategorised and voluntarily retired employees are rejected despite Board’s orders. Instructions may be issued to respect Board’s orders and consider rejected cases.
• Pending MACPS issues – Separate meeting at MS/FC level needed as already committed to the Federation.
• 100% objective type question paper – Negative marks stipulation be removed.
• Railway Board’s norms for creation of posts ESMs, JE, SSE (Signal) etc., not implemented. Action be taken for implementation of Norms without further loss of time.
• Lateral induction of Track Maintainers:- Board’s instructions are not being complied with, on Zonal Railways resulting disappointment among Track Maintainers. Board should issue instructions again to GMs.
• No Dues Certificates : The General Secretary, NFIR stated that responding to the instructions issued by the Railway Board vide letter dated 30th July, 2018, Federation requested to issue clear instructions to the GMs of Zonal Railways and Metro Railway, Kolkata not to levy penal/interest charges where dues have been cleared by our affiliated Unions. He requested the Railway Board (MS) to kindly refer NFIR’s letters dated 18/08/2018 & 22/09/2018 and see that this issue is resolved. He also requested the Railway Board to connect Federation’s letters dated 08/10/2018 and 11/12/2018 relating to the specific case of South Eastern Railway and sort out problem.
• Retention of Railway residential accommodation by the Office Bearers of recognized Unions on their superannuation : GS/NFIR invited kind attention of Board (MS) to the instructions issued vide Board’s letter dated 06/04/2018 to various Zonal Railways asking Zonal Railways to get vacated the Railway residential accommodation allotted to the Office Bearers of recognized Unions after their superannuation. He stated that NFIR has sent series of letters dated 11/05/2018, 21/05/2018, 04/06/2018, 23/07/2018, 03/08/2018, 07/08/2018, 21/08/2018 and 11/09/2018, but unfortunately clear instructions to Zonal Railways are yet to be issued. He further said that the accommodation allotted to the Office-Bearers of the Union by the competent authority should be allowed.
• Appendix II A qualified Accounts Clerks as JAA against D/R quota upto 331⁄3% vacancies: GS/NFIR requested the Railway Board to issue appropriate clarification to the Zones etc., to take 331⁄3% of total DR quota vacancies of JAA into account for granting promotion to Appendix-II A qualified Accounts Clerks so that all the qualified staff will have benefit of promotion. He requested that the modification in the Board’s order is necessary in view of some confusion in calculating vacancies against 331⁄3% quota on a Zonal Railway (South Central Railway) wherein the Seniority Units are 2 or more in the Zone.
• Replies to NFIR’s letters : Dr. Raghavaiah expressed disappointment that though the Federation has been writing letters to the Railway Board on various staff grievances there has been no satisfactory response and no replies sent, consequently the references remain pending. He cited NFIR’s letter dated 31/01/2019 wherein list of 33 pending cases and letter dated 13/02/2019 (16 Pending cases) was sent to Railway Board. He urged for speedy resolution of the grievances in favour of staff.
• Incorrect revision of pension in case of pre-2016 Railway pensioners: Mr. M. Raghavaiah stated that the revision in pension has not been taking place correctly in favour of retired Railway employees particularly those who retired prior to 2016. He cited the example of a case of retired Technician Gr-I whose pension revision has been done incorrectly. He further stated that the Federation has also sent a communication to the Railway Board vide No.II/35/2018 dated 22/02/2019 together with copy of incorrect PPO. [A copy of Federation’s letter with enclosure was handed over to DG (Personnel) in the meeting].
• DNB Trainee Doctors S. Railway and other Zones – Stipend according to 7th CPC not paid at Pay Level-11 despite representations: GS/NFIR brought to the notice of the Member (Staff) that DNB Training Doctors on Southern Railway and also on other Zones are not being paid stipend at 7th CPC Pay Scale despite representations by the staff. Federation understands that instructions have already been issued to pay arrears to the DNB Trainee Doctors on 7th CPC Pay Scale. He urged the Railway Board to take action to remedy the situation in order to settle the justified demand of DNB Trainee Doctors working in Railway Hospitals/Health Units.

While concluding, the NFIR General Secretary expressed confidence that the healthy industrial relations on Railways would continue in the coming days also and the issues raised by the Federation will be redressed with speed and positive mindset.

Source: NFIR