DOPW has drawn the minutes to suit their convenience, omitting what members actually discussed. All objections to draft minutes overruled.
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Minutes of the 26th meeting of Standing Committee of Voluntary Agencies (SCOVA) held on 03.02.2015 under the Chairmanship of Hon’ble MOS (PP) at Vigyan Bhawan Annexe, New Delhi.
Minutes of the 26th meeting of Standing Committee of Voluntary Agencies (SCOVA) held on 03.02.2015 under the Chairmanship of Hon’ble MOS (PP) at Vigyan Bhawan Annexe, New Delhi.
The list of
participants is at Annexure-A
2. At the outset
Joint Secretary (Pension) welcomed Hon’ble MOS (PP), Secretary, Pension &
Pensioners’ Welfare, representatives of Pensioners Associations and the
participating officers of various Ministries/Departments. It was stated that
SCOVA is a multi- party forum and a platform for sharing views. Under the able
leadership of the Hon’ble Minister, the Department will continue to streamline
the various policy issues for the benefit of the pensioners.
3. Thereafter,
Hon’ble MOS (PP), Chairman, SCOVA, welcomed all participants to the meeting. He
said that presently the number of pensioners is more than the number of
employees in service. Hence, there is a large pool of experience which can be
utilized in a constructive manner. MOS (PP) also mentioned that the Department
has been able to effectively deliver on most of what was promised. Fixed
Medical Allowance (FMA) has been increased from ` 300 to ` 500, online
grievance monitoring system CPENGRAMS is being used to keep the number of
outstanding grievances to a minimum, BHAVISHYA (online pension sanction and
payment tracking system) has been extended to 25 Ministries/Departments.
MOS(PP) also stated that the Pensioner’s Portal is a part of the e-governance
system which is in itself a priority of the present Government. He said that
initiative “Sankalp” had immense potential to contribute to the welfare of
pensioners who could continue to contribute to the society after their
retirement. Regarding the issue of agenda points suggested by the various
Pensioners Associations being summarily rejected, it was informed that due
importance was attached to all agenda points. However, owing to time
constraints some of them are taken up for discussion during the SCOVA meeting
and the items which were specific to a particular Department were forwarded to
the concerned Ministries/Departments for taking necessary action. Hon’ble
MOS(PP) emphasized that each Department should look at the pensioners as their
own responsibility and treat them as their family members.
It was pointed out
by Pensioners’ Associations that there has been delay in payment of the
enhanced amount of Fixed Medical Allowance in several Postal Circles. The
instructions of Department of Posts to Postal Circles for accessing the orders
from the website of DoP&PW and send the copies to the Pension Disbursing
Offices without delay are not being followed. A suggestion was made that the
Heads of Postal Divisions (instead of the designated Officer in Postal Circle Offices)
may be authorised to download the relevant order from the website of DoP&PW
and send the copies to the Head Post Offices to effect timely payment to the
Pensioners.
4. Thereafter, the
Action Taken Report of 25th SCOVA meeting and Fresh Agenda items of 26th SCOVA
meeting were taken up for discussion.
5. Discussion on
ATR of 25th SCOVA meeting:-
i) Sl.No 1 of ATR:
Status of issue of revised PPOs to pre-2006 pensioners.
a) CPAO informed
that 29,615 cases were pending for revision. Despite several efforts, no
further information was coming forth in respect of the pre- 1990 PPOs. They
have approached banks and pensioners to obtain the missing information. CPAO
was advised to hold meetings with individual Ministries and sort out cases
issue wise so that solutions could be worked out and the pendency brought down
to zero. CPAO was also advised to discuss the issue with Ministry of Railways
and Department of Defence who had shown remarkable progress and brought down
the pendency to Nil.
(Action: CPAO)
b) One of the
Pensioner Association intimated that a number of cases were still pending in
the Maharashtra Circle post offices. The Department of Posts intimated that
they would consider delegating authority of revision to sub-post offices. In
case of Patiala Circle, date of birth of spouse is not indicated in the revised
PPOs. In respect of the comments of other Pensioners Associations, they were
requested to give specific case wherein revised authority has not been issued.
(Action:
Department of Posts)
c) The Ministry of
Railways informed that only 5000 cases are pending where no records are
available and revised PPOs could not be issued. However, the Pensioners
Association informed that in Firozpur, Ambala and Delhi revised PPOs in some
cases have not been issued. Ministry of Railways was therefore asked to
reconfirm their figures of revised PPOs.
(Action: Ministry
of Railways)
d) Department of
Telecommunications informed that as on date 867 cases are pending and out of
which 665 cases pertain to BSNL. Necessary action to revise these are being
taken.
(Action :
Department of Telecom)
e) D/o
Ex-Servicemen Welfare informed that revised PPOs have been issued in most of
the cases. This was refuted by the Defence Pensioner Association. Pensioners
Associations were requested to give the list of the pending cases to the
Department of Ex-servicemen Welfare, which will take the matter with CGDA.
However, CGDA was asked to also reconfirm their figures.
(Action: Ministry
of Defence)
Jt. Secretary (P)
requested all the Ministries/Departments to issue revised authorities for all
pending cases before the next SCOVA meeting so that this item could be closed
finally.
On the issue of
Pension Adalat, the associations wanted that they be allowed to represent the
cases of the illiterate family pensioners. It was clarified that they could
very well represent the cases as individuals and not as representatives of
Pensioners’ Associations. Pension Adalats were being held regularly by Survey
of India for their organization, and Ministry of Defence were also conducting
the same regularly hence the item may be closed.
(ii) Sl.No 2 of
ATR :- Broad Banding of Disability Element for Pre-1996 cases.
The Department of
Ex-Servicemen Welfare informed that the orders have been issued. The Department
was advised to speedily implement the orders so that the benefit could
percolate to all concerned pensioners, it was therefore decided to close the
matter.
(iii) Sl.No 3 of
ATR:- Health Insurance Scheme for pensioners including those residing at
non-CGHS areas.
The Ministry of
Health and Family Welfare intimated that the EFC Memo has been recast and has
been sent to IFD for approval. Ministry of Health and Family Welfare was
advised to expedite a decision in this respect.
One of the
pensioner association requested that the prosthesis issued to the
orthopedically disabled may also be considered for insurance for easy
replacement/repairs thus saving expense.
(Action: Ministry
of Health & Family Welfare)
(iv) Sl.No 4 of ATR:- Dedicated day for
pensioners.
It was pointed out
that in the case of Defence Pensioners, though a mechanism had been created in
September, 2014 no meetings were held. The Ministry of Defence representatives
were requested to hold regular meetings. Since, most of the Departments have set
up institutional mechanism for meeting with the pensioners, the agenda item was
closed.
(v) Sl.No 5 of ATR
:- Special Family Pension for the Widows of Disabled War Veterans.
The Department of
Ex-servicemen Welfare informed that the matter is being reconsidered by CGDA.
One of the Pensioners Associations clarified that this issue is only for the
war disabled veterans invalided out of service who are very few in number and
deserved empathetic consideration. To hasten the process DoPPW may take up
matter with the Hon’ble Raksha Mantri.
(Action: - D/o of
Ex-servicemen Welfare ,CGDA and DoPPW)
(vi) Sl.No 6 of
ATR :-
(a) The Orders of
Ministry of Health reiterating that all the pensioners are at liberty to opt
themselves with any of the nearest CGHS hospital/ dispensary may be widely
circulated.
Arbitrary orders
dated 01/08/1996 and 01/09/1996 issued by Ministry of Health and Director of
CGHS may be withdrawn and the benefit of CGHS facilities be allowed to the
pensioners of Department of Post and Department of Telecom.
(b) Medical
facilities for existing P&T pensioners.
The Ministry of
Health and Family Welfare intimated that various issues including the issue
relating to extension of CGHS facility to P&T pensioners is likely to be
considered in a meeting of the Committee of Secretaries to be held shortly. As
regards, the orders dtd 01.08.1996 and 01.09.1996, Ministry of Health and
Family Welfare informed that the matter was still sub-judice.
(Action: Ministry
of Health & Family Welfare)
(vii) Sl.No 7 of
ATR:- Anomaly in fixation of pension to DoT employees absorbed in BSNL, who
retired between 1.10.2000 and 31.7.2001.
It was informed
that since the last SCOVA meeting, two meetings were held with the officials of
Department of Telecom on 29.09.2014 and 30.12.2014 and Department of Telecom
was advised to expedite the details/Reply sought in DoPPW’s ID Note dtd
28.02.2014.Department of Telecom informed that the BSNL is collecting the
requisite information sought by DoPPW from corporate offices of BSNL/MTNL.
Department of Telecom was advised to send a reply to DoPPW within a fortnight.
(Action: D/o
Telecom & DoPPW)
(viii) Sl No.8 of
ATR :- Merger of 78.2% IDA with basic pension benefit to the absorbed BSNL
Pensioners.
It was informed
that the proposal has been approved by Department of Expenditure,
in principle.
Department of Telecom informed that as per the advice of the Department of
Expenditure a Cabinet Note has been prepared and sent to their IFD for
approval. Department of Telecom was advised to finalise the draft Cabinet Note
and circulate it to the concerned Ministries by the end of February,2015.
(Action: D/o
Telecom & D/o Expenditure)
(ix) Sl.No 9 of
ATR :- Extension of benefit of upgraded Grade Pay to pre-2006 retirees of S-12
grade.
D/o Expenditure
had earlier observed that the benefit to grade pay of the 4600/- could not be
extended to those who retired from the S-12 pay scale before 01.01.2006 as it
was an upgraded scale. However, the Department of Expenditure has since sought
to re-examine the issue and the relevant file on the issue has been forwarded
by DoPPW to D/o Expenditure for reconsideration on
22.01.2015. D/o
Expenditure was advised to expedite a decision in this regard.
(Action: D/o
Expenditure & DoPPW)
(x) S.No.10 of ATR
:- Extension of benefit of OM dt. 28.1.2013 w.e.f 1.1.2006 instead of 24.9.2012
It was informed
that the matter is sub-judice and the next date of hearing in the SLP No
36148-50/2013 in the Hon’ble Supreme Court was fixed for 17.02.2015.
(Action: D/o
P&PW)
(xi) S.No 11 of ATR:- Stepping up of
Disability Element on the basis of Fitment Tables.
D/o Ex-Servicemen
Welfare intimated that the matter is pending with CGDA. They were advised to
meet the CGDA personally to expedite the case in one month.
(Action: D/o
Ex-servicemen Welfare)
(xii) S.No 12 of
ATR:- Income Certificate to be produced by the Family Pensioner.
Ministry of
Railways have already reiterated their instructions. They were advised to
display these instructions on the website. The item may therefore be closed.
(xiii) S.No 13 of
ATR:- Extension Counter of CGHS Wellness Centre at Srinagar and Upgradation of
facilities at CGHS Wellness Centre at Jammu including Construction of CGHS
Hospital on the plot of land allotted by J&K Govt. at Jammu.
Various issues
concerning CGHS including the above issue, were discussed by JS(P), DoPPW in a
meeting with AS& DG(CGHS). Various suggestions for providing a centre at
Srinagar had been considered in the meeting. Ministry of Health and Family
Welfare informed that while there were huge resource constraints, overall CGHS
reforms were being looked into by the Committee of Secretaries (COS). Regarding
upgradation of CGHS Wellness Centre at Jammu, it was informed that computers
had been procured and supplied. Funds have been released and the procurement of
other equipment was being processed. The work is expected to be completed
shortly.
Regarding posting
of an additional doctor at the CGHS Wellness Centre at Jammu, Ministry of
Health and Family Welfare was advised to explore the possibility of taking the
services of a doctor from the State Govt. on deputation.
(Action: Ministry
of Health & Family Welfare)
(xiv) S.No 14 of
ATR:- Delay in family pension to next eligible family member in case of death
of widow.
There is no case
pending in DoPPW and no specific case was intimated by the SCOVA members, the
item may therefore be closed.
(xv) S.No 15 of
ATR:- Extension of CGHS facilities to retired BSNL employees -Issue of follow
up order by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare & fixation of rates
of contribution & ward entitlement by DoT.
Department of
Telecom informed that since the pay structure in BSNL and Central Govt. was
different, the orders of Ministry of Health and Family Welfare regarding ward
entitlement on the basis of pay band/grade pay could not be made applicable in
the case of BSNL retirees. Ministry of Health and Family Welfare requested
Department of Telecom to suggest alternate mechanism for the retirees of BSNL.
Department of Telecom was advised to send a proposal to Ministry of Health and
Family Welfare in this regard in a month’s time.
(Action : Ministry
Health and Family Welfare, Department of Telecom)
6. Discussion on
Fresh Agenda Points for the 26th SCOVA meeting:-
(26.1) Simultaneous
issue of orders for the release of Dearness Allowance
Department of
Expenditure intimated that although they do not propose to issue common order
both for DA and DR, the proposal could be considered and a copy of the approved
Cabinet Note may be forwarded to enable the DoPPW to issue orders at an early
date. No separate approval of Ministry of Finance would be required thereafter
for issue of DR orders.
(Action: D/o
Expenditure and DoPPW)
(26.2)
Co-authorisation of Family Pension of Permanently disabled children/dependent
parents and permanently disabled siblings.
The Ministry of
Defence were asked to proactively take up the issue and finalise the case
within a week.
(Action: Ministry
of Defence)
(26.3)
Non-adherence of extant rules with regard to submission of life certificate.
Regarding
complaints in respect of submission of life certificate, SCOVA members were
requested to give specific cases. CPAO was advised to give wide publicity to
their Toll Free number so that the complaints could be lodged.
(Action:- CPAO and
D/o Financial Services)
(26.4) Provision
of CGHS facility for life time to dependent disabled/mentally retarded children
of Central Government employees/ pensioners.
Ministry of Health
was advised to examine the suggestion for extension of CGHS facilities to
married disabled/mentally retarded daughter on the analogy of continuation of
family pension to such children even after marriage. Ministry of Health and
Family Welfare intimated that they will examine the issue.
(Action:- Ministry
of Health and Family Welfare)
7. Concluding,
Secretary (P) stated that the public grievance module CPENGRAMS has been
streamlined and lot of improvements have come after its merger with CPGRAMS.
The website of the Department has all the latest orders available at the click
of the mouse. He urged the SCOVA members to help the pensioners above 80 to get
their Adhaar numbers so that they could exercise the online “Jeevan Pramaan”
facility which would be of immense help to them. He urged the Department of
Telecom to resolve the pending issues with BSNL at an early date. Finally
concluding MOS(PP) indicated that Inter Departmental Communication should
extend even beyond SCOVA and each Department should look at their pensioners as
their responsibility and take out time for communicating or meeting with them.
The meeting ended
with a vote of thanks to the Chair.
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