Bharat Pensioners Samaj (BPS) has uploaded the details of the meeting held on 25.9.2014 on pensionary matters…
JCM (on Pension matters)
The meeting was held under the
chairmanship of the Secretary (Pension) at Lok Nayak Bhawan on
25.9.2014. On behalf of the Staff Side, the following comrades attended.
Com. Shiv Copal Mishra, General Secretary. AIRF.
Com. Rahal Dasgupta, President. AIRF.
Com. S.K. Vyas, Advisor, Confederation of CGE and Workers.
Corn KKN. Kutty, President. Confederation of CGE and Workers
Com. Srikumar, General Secretary. All lndia Defence Employees Federation.
After the introduction of the members of
both official and staff side. the Action taken Statement placed by the
official Side of the meeting held on 4.2.2014 was taken up for
discussion
1. Abnormal delay in the issue of revised PPO to Pre 2007 pensioners/family pensioners.
It was reported that about 26000 PPO of pre 1990 and 10.000 cases of
pre-2006 retirees are still awaiting the issuance of revised PPO. It was
reported that the main reason for the delay is the non availability of
records in the case of pensioners. The Staff side demanded the supply of
Department wise break up of the figures to enable them to take up the
issue with the concerned department. This was agreed to. The Staff side
further stated that the issue should not be viewed from the statistics
angle and the official side must appreciate that in the case of pre 1990
cases. the pension remains unrevised for about 20 to 25 years. It may
be that some of the retires/family pensioners might have expired during
this period. The staff side also requested the official side to
appreciate the agony and difficulties of these pensioners. The lack of
availability of records should not be taken as an excuse. After some
further discussion, it was agreed that by the end of 2014, all pending
cases would be cleared. In the case of Railways, the pendency is about
25000 and in the case of Defence the reported figure was 85,000. It was
however noted that serious efforts have been made by both the Ministries
to bring down the number of pending cases drastically.
2. Revision of commutation table.
The proposal of the official side was to refer the matter to the 7th
CPC. which the start Side objected as unreasonable and bereft of any
purpose The Staff Side pointed out that the 6th CPC had devised the new
commutation table whereby the commutation benefit had been drastically
reduced. When there had been a reduction in the commutation benefit, the
tenancy period of commutation ought to have been reduced. The 6th CPC
has gone on records to state that the period must remain 15 years as
there will have to be sufficient room for cross subsidisation. The Staff
Side pointed out that when the commutation time was fixed at 15 years
long time back, the mortality rate was much higher than it was today and
there, there had been no justification for the recommendations made by
the 6th CPC. They also pointed out that the official side in an earlier
meeting had agreed to refer the matter to an expert committee and
subject their recommendation to discussion with the Staff Side. The 6th
CPC was not an expert body on this matter and they had to depend upon a
professional agency. The Staff Side for this reason objected to the
Official Side proposal. The Chairman, after due consideration wanted the
Finance Ministry to appoint an expert committee and refer the issue to
that committee to consider the demand in the light of the interest rate,
morality rate, life expectancy etc.
3. Equitable gratuity under Rule 50 of Pension Rules.
The suggestion made by the Staff Side was to change the slab system by
introducing a slab upto 11 years and another upto 20 years. Taking into
account the fact that the last slab system was introduced on the basis
of the recommendations of the 5th CPC. the issue might be referred to
the 7th CPC. The Department of Pension has already referred the same to
the 7th CPC and the Staff side has been assured to be supplied with a
copy thereof.
NEW ITEMS:
(A) Increase in Family Pension:
The demand of the Staff Side was agreed to be specifically referred to the 7th CPC.
(B) Cashless and hassle- free treatment in recognised hospital.
The Official side agreed to ensure that the pensioners are not put to
any difficulty in the matter by the recognised hospitals. When the
stafi’ side pointed out that the Health Ministry had not been paying the
dues to the recognised hospital and that has led to the denial of
cashless facility, the Health Ministry denied the same. The Staff side
wanted the Health Ministry officials to immediately convene a meeting as
the last meeting has been held more two years back. The Health Ministry
has decided to look into the matter and explore the possibility of
convening such a meeting within a month’s time.
(c) Finalisation of family pension cases within a specified period.
The official side pointed out that the procedure has been simplified and
liberalised. The Staff Side pointed out that the delay is caused more
by the attitude than on any factual deficiency. They. therefore.
suggested for the introduction of a provisional family pension scheme as
is the case with the pension for those who face inquiry proceedings
They suggested the grant of 75% of the family pension immediately on
receipt of application and the rest after the scrutiny of the claim.
They also asked for a time frame for finalisation of the claim in as
much as the applications must be disposed of within three months.
The meeting was concluded with a vote of thanks to the Chair.
Source: www.scm-bps.blogspot.in
[http://scm-bps.blogspot.in/2014/10/jcmpension-matters.html]
#JCM, #JCM Meeting, #Pensioners Associations, #Pensioners Issues, #Central Government Pensioners, #NC JCM Staff Side
