DA/DR Merger : 7th CPC did not agree to discuss the issue in the preliminary meeting held on 23.7.2014 - BPS
7th
Pay Commission did not agree to discuss the important issue of DA/DR
Merger in the preliminary meeting held on 23rd July 2014.
Brief feedback on BPS Preliminary meeting with 7th CPC on 23rd July 2014 Friends,
BPS
and BCPC were the first Pensioners’ organizations to be called for
preliminary meeting with 7th CPC on 23rd to discuss the reply to
questionnaire, the Memorandum & the allied issue submitted by them.
Only 45 minutes were given to each organization. S.C.Maheshwari G.S. BPS
/Chairman BCPC had the opportunity to discuss the issues from both the
Forums:
Following issues were discussed & explained to the
full satisfaction of the Chairman & the members of 7th CPC who were
very receptive, patient & themselves actively participated in
deliberations which ensued.
At the end Chairman remarked that NC
JCM Memorandum is very exhaustive, includes most of the issues raised
today & that he will take it as a base for consideration. 1.New
Pension Scheme: Response of commission was negative. Commission was
apprised of the back ground, its failure in other countries & the
fate of EPS 95.They were also informed that it will be acceptable if 50%
of last drawn is ensured.
2.Reasonable ratio to be maintained
between maximum & minimum salary & Pension and adoption &
adoption of common multiplication factor for revision
3.Ratio
between maximum & minimum paid to be 5:1 for Defense Personnel and
re-employment of ex servicemen as well as raising status of defense
civilian pensioners to ex servicemen.
4.Inclusion of full DA in
emoluments for calculating Pension. There was a very lively discussion
on the issue in which the entire penal of 7th CPC participated &
cross examined Secy. Genl BPS. Finally they agreed to BPS point of view.
5.100% neutralization of inflation :
It was explained to the Commission that 100% neutralization is
illusionary and DA is not sufficient, as the very system of calculation
is faulty & unrealistic,
6. Payment additional pension to
start from the age of 65 years. Chairman agreed that age of 100 years
for Pensioners was illusionary.
7. Parity in Pensions :
It was explained to the commission that full parity exists for High
Court Supreme Court Judges, Govt. has agreed to OROP in case of Defence
pensioners & Sr Bureaucrats (S32 & above ) have achieved it
through modified parity formula of 6th CPC but for others who too are
citizens of same category & same country even the formula for parity
given by 5th CPC & accepted by Govt. is not being honored.
8. Pension to BSNL pensioners :
It was submitted that since they are governed by CCS(Pension) Rules
1972. They be treated at par with C.G.Pensioners for the purpose of
revision of Pension, Chairman advised to submit separate Memorandum
9. Discrimination in medical facilities to pensioners of Postal department & merger of 33 Postal dispensaries with
CGHS.
10. Medical facilities :
To Pensioners following issues raised in BPS memorandum were discussed
in detail & the Chairman was agreeable to BPS views. (i) “Health is
not a luxury” and “not be the sole possession of a privileged few”. It
is a Fundamental justify of all present & past Employees! To ensure
hassle free health care facility to Pensioners/family pensioners, Smart
Cards be issued irrespective of departments to all Pensioners and their
Dependents for cashless medical facilities across the country. These
smart cards should be valid in
- all Govt. hospitals
- all
NABH accredited Multi Super Specialty hospitals across the country
which have been allotted land at concessional rate or given any aid or
concession by the Central or the State govt.
- all CGHS, RELHS & ECHS empanelled hospitals across the country.
Medical attendants :
For reimbursement of bills for treatment & for hospitalization . No
referral should be insisted in case of medical emergencies. For the
purpose of reference for hospitalization & reimbursement of
expenditure thereon in other than emergency cases Doctors/Medical
officers working in different Central/State Govt. department
dispensaries/health units should be recognized as Authorized medical
attendant.
The enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of
health is recognized as a fundamental justify of all workers in terms of
Article 21 read with Article 39for a, 41, 43, 48A and all related
Articles as pronounced by the Supreme Court in Consumer Education and
Research Centre & Others vs Union of India (AIR 1995 Supreme Court
922) The Supreme court has held that the justify to health to a worker
is an integral facet of meaningful justify to life to have not only a
meaningful existence but also robust health and vigour.
Therefore,
the justify to health, medical aid to protect the health and vigour of a
worker while in service or post retirement is a fundamental justify-to
make life of a worker meaningful and purposeful with dignity of person.
Thus health care is not only a welfare measure but is a Fundamental
justify. We suggest that, all the pensioners, irrespective of
pre-retiral class and status, be treated as same category of citizens
and the same homogenous group. There should be no class or category
based discrimination and all must be provided Health care services at
par .
(ii). Hospital Regulatory Authority: To
ensure that the hospitals do not avoid providing reasonable care to
smart card holders and other poor citizens, a Hospital Regulatory
Authority should be created to bring all NABH-accredited hospitals and
NABL-accredited diagnostic Labs under its constant monitoring of
quality, rates for different procedures & timely bill payments by
Govt. agencies and Insurance companies. CGHS rates may be revised
keeping in mind the workability as per market conditions.
(iii). Fixed Medical allowance (FMA):
As is recorded in Para 5 of the minutes of Committee of Secretaries
(COS) held on 15.04.2010 (Reference Cabinet Secretariat, Rashtrapati
Bhavan No 502/2/3/2010-C.A.V Doc No. CD (C.A.V) 42/2010 Minutes of COS
meeting dated 15.4.2010) which discussed enhancement of FMA. “CGHS card
estimates for serving Personnel: Since estimates are not available
separately for pensioners M/O Health & Family Welfare had assessed
the total cost per card p.a. in 2007-2008 = Rs 16435 i.e. Rs.1369 per
month for OPD”.
Adding to it inflation, the figure today is well
over Rs 2000/- PM. Ministry of Labour & Employment, Govt. of India
vide its letter no. G-25012/2/2011-SSI dated 07.06.2013 has already
enhanced FMA to Rs 2000/- PM for EPFO beneficiaries. Thus, to help
elderly pensioners to look after their health, Adequate raise in FMA
will encourage a good number of pensioners to opt out of OPD facility
which will reduce overcrowding in hospitals. OPD through Insurance will
cost much more to the Govt. As such the proposal for raising Fixed
Medical allowance to Pensioners is fully justified and is financially
viable.
We suggest that FMA for all C.G. Pensioners be raised to
at least Rs 2000/- PM without any distance restriction linking it to
Dearness Relief for automatic further increase. We further suggest that
FMA be exempted from INCOME TAX. Fixed Medical Allowance (FMA) is a
compensatory allowance to reimburse the medical expenses. As Medical
Reimbursement is not taxable, FMA should also be exempted from Income
Tax.
11. DA /DR merger commission did not agree to discuss the issue as it is not covered byTOR12.Interim
relief Commission response did not appeared to be very positive on our
stressing the issue they said they will look into.13. 6th CPC anomalies : Chairman asked for submission of detailed list through supplementary memorandum.
14.Plight of those born on 1.1.1938/46: Commission said, they will look into.
15. Plight of those retiring on 30June Commission said, they will look into.
16. Restoration of Commutation in 12 years: commission said thy will look into the details provided.
17.
Grievance redressed. Chairman was critical of the functioning of the
system already existing & remarked “ you will not be benefited.
Court is the only alternative”
Friends, BPS has done its duty well, issues raised by us has received due attention from NCJCM as well as the 7th CPC.
S.C.Maheshwari
Secy Genl BPS
Source: www.scm-bps.blogspot.in
[http://scm-bps.blogspot.in/2014/07/brief-feedback-on-bps-preliminary.html]
