4th National Convention of Rly. Pensioners hels at NGP on 09.02.2013-Full report alonwith Resolutions addopted
Nagpur 09.02.13
4th National convention of Rly
Pensioners’ Associations
An independent
R E P O R T By
D.Balasubramanium
. Genl. Secy.AIFPA Chnnai
The 4th National
Convention of the Railway Pensioner’s Association was held on 09.02.13, between
9 a.m. to 5 p.m., at Goonjan Conference Hall, Central Railway DRM’s Office
Complex, Nagpur. Shri J.N.Rao, Chairman,
Reception Committee, welcomed the gathering.
The Working President, Bharath Pensioner Samaj, Shri R.N.Tripathy
presided over the meeting. Nearly 1100
delegates all over the country participated in the convention. After chanting of Vande Mataram by lady
comrades, Shri Brijesh Dixit, DRM, Central Railway, Nagpur inaugurated the
convention. Shri Maheswari, General
Secretary presented the discussion paper and Draft resolution. S/Shri R.N.Mittal, President, AISCCON, ,
D.Balasubramanian, General Secretary, AIFPA, Chennai, Shri K.Srinivasan, Zonal
VP NFRP, Palghat, addressed the convention
sporting the issues raised in the discussion paper. S/Shri S.Somasekara Rao, VP(south), R.N.Dutta
(VP East), Sakthimay Kanjilal, NFRPA Guwahati, Bimlendu Chakraborthy addressed
the meeting elaborating the issues listed in the workpaper. Shri C.N.B.Guptha read the message received
from Syam Sundarji, President BPS,K.L.Malhotra readout the message of N.C.Gupta
President RPWA New Delhi. Following delegates participated in the
discussion on the workpaper. They endorsed
the resolution generally.
1.
H.S. Singh G. S.RPWA Mugalsarai
2.
Shri Paul
S.G., Central Excise & Customs retired officers Association, Kolkata.
3.
Shri Kalivaradan J.S., AIFPA, Chennai.
4.
Shri Sakthimai Dhandekar, NFRPA , Guwahati.
5.
Shri Samar Sen Guptha.
6.
Shri D.S.Sastri. S.C. Rly Secunderabad
7.
Shri K.G.Boss, Madhupur.
8.
Shri Kameshwar Rao, S.C.Rly.
9.
Shri M.M.Hemanth Deshmuk, Matheran.
10.
Shri R.S.Lavania.
11.
Shri B.L.Varma, Mathura.
12.
Shri P.N.Mittal, New Delhi.
13.
Shri P.Chinnasamy, Erode.
14.
Shri R.N.Goswami, Bhardaman.
15.
Shri T.P.Sinhayas Rao.
16.
Shri C.V.Sampalkar.
17.
Shri S.Royal, Vizag.
18.
Smt D.Bagyavathi, S.Rly, Secundarabad.
19.
Shri Dan Sharma, Vizag.
20.
Shri
Rohans Narker, C.Rly, Nagpur.
21.
Shri M.K.Kapsey, NRFA, C.Rly.
22.
Shri S.M.Bagia, N.C.Rly.
23.
Smt. Tripti Chakarborty Secretary NFRPA DimaPur
Shri Maheswari, S.G. summed up the debate and
replied to the delegates.
Shri
Chakravarty, while concluding remarks enunciated the programme of action:
-
1st May, 2013 to 15th May,
2013 Campaign Week.
-
Forwarding demands to PM through Principal Division
Officers.
-
Central Office shall write to PM, leader of
L.S/R.S., Pension Regulatory Authority, Leader of political parties etc.
Shri M.K.
Kapse proposed the Vote of Thanks.
Convention
ended with the singing of National anthem
D.Balasubramanium
Genl.
Secy.AIFPA
Welcome Speech of Chairman Reception committee
Respected Chief Guest, Office
Bearers of the Bharat Pensioners Samaj, various Pensioners Associations, other
fraternal Organizations and Fellow Delegates
While welcoming you to
this historic event of 4th
National convention of Railway Pensioners Associations under the aegis
of Bharat Pensioners’ Samaj in the land of Marathas. I express our deep
gratitude and indebtedness to Shri Dixit, DRM, C.Rly, Nagpur but for whose kind
cooperation and help, success of this event might not have been possible.
Over 12 lakhs of Railway Pensioners
in the country have several problems/grievances pertaining to the Ministry of
Railways, the Ministry of finance & the M/o Personnel, PG &
Pensions. Bharat Pensioners’ Samaj in an
attempt to connect to grassroots and
gather feed back to understand
the aspirations of Rly Pensioners has been holding National Conventions of Rly
Pensioners Associations in different parts of the country The
experience from previous three successful conventions has helped in
achieving mutual understanding among ourselves by reaching out to
Pensioners/Family pensioners even in remote parts like Dimapur in Nagaland and
we are now better equipped to seek govt. assistance in deficient areas.
BPS adopts persuasive approach and the
results are positive. Several of our
issues got resolved and several are under active consideration of the
authorities. Our individual grievances too are getting better attention.
Besides connecting with grass roots, BPS approached sister organizations too to
share knowledge, experience and wisdom.
Consequently today we have the support of All India Senior Citizens
Confederation (AISSCON), AIFPA/Chennai and NFRP Palakkad.
In an attempt to empower pensioners
through information and knowledge, BPS, with the help of M/O Personnel, PG
& Pensions –DOP & PW, has introduced digitalization. Its important
stake holders and office bearers in different parts of the country are now
connected through internet. Its website www.bharatpensioner.org Blog, Face book pages &Twitter are now
internationally popular. Today we are able to flash instantly any information
to our stake holders across the Country.
The formation of BCPC has given
strength to the Central Government Pensioners movement in the Country. We have
to use this strength not only to improve the conditions of the Pensioners but
also in the service of the Country. Why not we come forward for “Body Donation”
which will be beneficial not only for medical education but also for those who
need “Organ Transplantation”. We in S.E.C.Rly Nagpur Divison have started this Campaign. I invite you to
join the Global Peace Movement against Nuclear Weapons, Weaponisation of Space
and growing military budgets. Beware
that imperialism is bouncing back with perpetual wars.
It will be our endeavor in coming
days to continue to help our pensioners brothers and sisters 24X7 and to
achieve better understanding and
co-ordination with sister organizations
Ladies and
gentlemen, we have tried our best to provide you a comfortable stay here during
the Convention with active co-operation and help of both S.E.C. Railway and
Central Railway Administrations; we may not be up to the mark. Kindly bear with us.
Thank you all. Jai hind
J.NARAYANA
RAO
CHAIRMAN/RECEPTION COMMITTEE
Address to Nagpur
February 09, 2013 By. R.N. Mital
President AISCCON
The Secretary General of Bharat Pensioners’
Samaj has very aptly and correctly set the main theme for
today’s convention by quoting the famous axiom “ United we stand and divided we
fall”
I am reminded of an episode which
teaches the same. When Kofi Annan, the previous Secretary General of UNO was
about to give up his office, a delegation from AARP went to him and asked for
his advice for Senior Citizens in USA. Kofi Annan replied, “ You Senior
Citizens inspite of your number, experience and collective wisdom will continue
to be ignored, will continue to be marginalised unless you unite.”
It was true in USA India
We all know that the concerns of
Senior Citizens are generally ignored. Most of the politicians are indifferent
towards our issues.
We are today more than 12 crores,
10.3% of the population. According to a survey
73% are illiterate, 70% belong to BPL category and 66% are so poor that
they can not afford two square meals a day. We all are working specially for
this category. Our objective is to see that they can live during the last few
years of their life in reasonable comfort.
You may have noticed that only 27% of Senior Citizens are educated that
is roughly around 3.34 crores. You, the pensioners are educated, experienced and well versed
with the ways of the bureaucracy and governments. According to statisics you
are today 1 crore 39 lakhs of the educated segment and thus are in a very
comfortable position to provide leadership to the Senior Citizens welfare
movement in our Country.
Another big advantage which you have
is that yours is a closely knit organization having presence in every city and taluka of the Country and thus you
can reach suffering senior citizens at the grass root level.
Hence, I request you to take interest in the welfare of Senior Citizens at
large, provide the movement leadership and guidance. We can thus, together
fight for the betterment of the disadvantaged and underprivileged colleagues of
ours who are uneducated, unfit to earn their livelihood or suffering with
disability or terminal diseases.
Most of the problems with which Senior
Citizens suffer are common with the pensioners also where we can work together
for their redressal.
They could be broadly defined as
follows,
1]Age
related financial problems
2]Age related health problems
3]Shelter
4]Elder
Abuse
1] Age related Financial problems.
They
are caused due to the fact that due to globalization, our Country has shifted from low cost economy era to high
cost economy. Most of the elders are those who have worked during the period
when their earnings and hence the savings were much lower than at present.
Therefore, they find surviving in the present high cost economy with galloping
inflation a challenge. In an effort to at least partly remedy this situation
the we look for concessions in various services.
Also
as partial solution we have demanded universal pension of Rs 2000 to each BPL senior citizen and
each pensioner whose pension is less than this amount. Universal pension has
already been adopted by many Countries such as Nepal, Namibia, Mauritius, China
etc. in addition to the Western countries.
It
is interesting to note that the amount spent on pensions to Elders as a proportion
of GDP in these Countries is much higher than in our Country. India spends 8400
Crore on the existing IGNOAP against a GDP 0f 843 lakh crores, it means ‘001%
against .03% for Nepal and 1.9%
for Namibia
2]
Age related Health problems –
Elders
are more prone to health problems but quality health care is so expensive that
most of the elders can not afford it. In fact studies have shown that it is the
major cause of poverty in India
3]
Shelter
Abroad
about 2% of the older persons prefer to shift to Old Age Homes when they find
that they can not manage their life independently. In our Country this number
is likely to be even more as the need for shelters for the destitute and the abandoned
is much larger.
You
will be surprised to know that every day hundreds of Senior Citizens are
abandoned in our Country in hospitals, temples even in grave yards and on highways.
According to The Hindu on an average two elders are found daily abandoned in
Chennai alone. Many women are abandoned in Brindaban and Banaras .
In Hyderabad
We
need Old Age Homes for such elders. The MWPSC Act has mandated an Old Age Home
to be set up in each District but unfortunately the proposal in this regard has
been shot down by the Planning Commission. The issue has to be taken up
strongly with the Planning Commission.
Similarly Health Care of
the inmates in Old Age Homes almost does
not exist. The State Human Rights Commission in Andhra Pradesh has directed the
Government to ensure that every Senior Citizen inmate is covered under Health
Insurance. We can take up with SHRC’s in
other States also to direct the governments to cover all poor inmates of OAH’s
under Health Insurance.
4] Elder abuse
–
In a
survey 31% of senior
Citizens complained that they were being
ill treated. It’s a major problem in our society of which we see only a
fraction like the tip of an iceberg. We have to work together to create
awareness of this problem and see that it is eliminated all together.
Friends I have placed
before you some of the evils which are existing in our society and which can be
eradicated if we work together. Our effort should be to establish a society for
all ages where Senior Citizens can live with dignity and in reasonable comfort.
I invite you to take lead in achieving this objective.
R.N.Mital President AISCCON
Speech of General Secretary, AIFPA on
9.2.13 - 4th National Conference of the
Railway Pensioners, Nagpur
Respected
President,Dear Comrades/Friends,
I am very happy to be with you
during this historic conference of Railway Pensioners. We are proud that we, the AIFPA, Chennai, is
a partner with the Bharat Pensioners’ New Delhi, in their efforts to mobilize
the Railway Pensioners to-day and the entirety of Central Civil Pensioners
during Oct/Nov.2013 at Central Civil Pensioners during Oct/Nov.2013 at
Hyderabad. The understanding between the
Bharath Pensioner Samaj and AIFPA will be strengthened by our understanding of
the Problems faced by the Pensioners’ community and the common approach to
solve them quickly. We cannot exist in
isolation, when the rest of the Senior Citizens are suffering silently due to
inflationary pressure and lack of Medical care and social/Financial
security. Let us therefore unite to put
forth our demands before the Govt. of India effectively, while we are
sympathetic to the sufferings of the community of “Aged” Citizens of this
country.
Social/Financial security to the
aged is our primary concern. The latest
orders issued by the Government of India, with prospective effect from September
12 will not be beneficial to the Majority of employees. It did not meet our demand for parity in
Pension between the Pre-2006 and Post 2006 Pensioners. Therefore the deletion of this ‘Agenda’
citing pendency of Court cases, have to be got reviewed by the Cabinet
Secretariat of this country , so that the justice as was done by the V CPC, is
secured for the Pre-2006 Pensioners. We are also concerned about the’ out
right’ rejection of our demand for (a)
Merger of DR with Pension/FP (b) Restoration of Commutation Pension on
Completion of the 12th year, (c) Enhancement of FMA to Rs.1200/- P.M
and (d) the abolition of ‘New Pension Scheme’ from 2004” by the SCOVA without
assigning any reason.
Though our experience with the “JCM”
is not rosy it is useful to exhaust the legal remedy by demanding “ a machinery
for arbitration” in the mechanism of ‘SCOVA’ in respect of the items where
there is no agreement between the Govt. and the Pensioners Organisation, so
that arbitrary rejection can be minimized.
Regarding the Health care , we must
insist that the existing cashless Medical fecilities under the Ministry of
Defence, Ministry of Railways and the
CGHS may be extended to the entirety of the C.G. employees by issue of ‘Smart
Cards’. So that Pensioners/F.P, can get treatment at the nearest Hospital
without difficulty. Institution of AIIMS
type of Hospitals at all State/Dist.Head quarters may also be insisted upon with
the Hon’ble Minister of Health and Family
Welfare.
The Constitution of the VII Central
Pay Commission is the inevitable reality as the anomaly Committee had failed
miserably to solve the anomalies’ created by the recommendations of the VI CPC.
Let us press for Interim Relief while demanding for the appointment of
VII CPC.
Let us unite to achieve the above
Objectives immediately and reserve our demands peculiar to our Department s for
the next Pay Commission to resolve.
I thank you for this opportunity and
look forward the endured co-operation between Pensioners’ Samaj &
AIFPA. We assure our solidarity with
your efforts.
Pensioners Unity Zindabad.
General Secretary/AIFPA
Speech delivered by K.Srinivasan, Zonal Secretary, (South) NFRP/Palghat
at the IV th National Conference of
Railway Pensioners at NGP on 09.02.2013
Respected dignitaries on the dais and
fellow pensioners assembled here, I introduce myself as K.Srinivasan, the Zonal Secretary of National Federation of
Railway Pensioners headquartered at Palghat. NFRP is closely associated with
this IV th Conference organized by Bharat Pensioners’ Samaj & have joined
here with 12 delegates . At the outset, I thank Sri S.C.Maheswari Ji Secy.
Genl. BPS and Sri J.N.Rao, the Convenor for having given me an opportunity to
address this gathering.
The Discussion paper already
circulated, deal with most of the common issues pertaining to CG Pensioners and
Railway Pensioners in particular. From NFRP side, we have suggested inclusion
of following 3 items in the Discussion paper, arising out of our
experience in S.Rly. ( Details attached
separately)
1. Delay in sanction of Family Pension to Secondary pensioners
2. Delay in Transmission of PPOs to the CPPC
3. No response from Railway Board to
Representations from various
pensioners Association.
This is from our experience in the
S.Rly. Hope other Zonal Rlys. may be facing similar problems and will agree for
inclusion of these 3 items in the Memorandum, to be submitted to the
authorities concerned, after this Conference is over.
I wish to put forth following
specific issues for the consideration of this august gathering:-
1. Modified parity between pre and
post 1.1.2006 pensioners is conceded vide DOP & PW latest OM
of 28.1.2013, but effective from 24.09.2012, instead of from 1.1.2006. As a
result, all pre 2006 pensioners will not be benefited. Only those, in whose
cases, the existing consolidated pension in VI PC is less than the minimum
guaranteed pension specified in the concordance table, same will be stepped up.
For instance take the case of S13 pensioners retired from scale Rs.7450-11500.
Their pension will be stepped up to Rs. 9230 w.e.f. 24.9.2012, in the case of
those drawing less than this amount
already. i.e. Rs. 9230
2. We have to explore all
possibilities to see that the Revised OM of 28.1.2013 is made effective from
1.1.2006 and not from 24.9.2012. The Cabinet approved the recommendations of
Committee of Secretaries headed by the Cabinet Secretary which considered
various issues on pension of Armed Forces and ex-servicemen. This date of
approval cannot be applied to CG Pensioners for whom VI PC already approved
Modified parity in para 5.1.47. When it comes to implementation of Judgment of
S.P.S. Vains case . DOP & PW issued O.M. stating this is not applicable to
civilian pensioners. On the same lines, date of approval for Armed Forces
cannot be applied to CG Pensioners.
3. Grant of GP Rs. 4600 to S12 grade
pensioners retired from scale Rs.6500-10500 while revising min. pension based
on DOP OM of 28.1.2013. This latest OM
para 2 reads “.. as arrived at with reference to the fitment tables
annexed to MOF(DOE) OM
of 30th Aug 2008.”. Vide MOF(DOE) OM
of 13 Nov 2009 , GP is
revised as Rs.4600 w.e.f. 1.1.2006 for S 12 grade. Hence, the fitment
table also has undergone change, as in the case of S30 grade, subsequently placed in HAG scale Rs.
67000-79000. For S12 grade min. guaranteed pension should be Rs. 8345 in place
of Rs. 8145.
4. DOP & PW are not dealing with
representations from affected Pensioners or from Pensioners Association on
merits of the case. Even in cases
involving policy matters in which a decision is to be taken by DOP & PW,
the same is simply forwarded to Ministry of Railways who in turn, forward
same to various Zonal Rlys. without
going thro’ the representations. Finally, the grievance is shown “as closed” in the Pensioners’ Portal CPENGRAMS
website. Redress of grievances should be streamlined, instead of simply
forwarding the representation from one authority to another without serving any
purpose.
Before I conclude I want to convey our sincere thanks to Organizers of
this Conference for the excellent arrangements made for our stay, food etc.
etc. I also thank the audience for having
given a patient hearing to my speech. Thank you all.
SUMMARY OF
SPEECH OF SRI M. SOMASEKHAR RAO, VP/BPS/SOUTH ZONE AT THE 4TH
NATIONAL CONVENTION OF RAILWAY PENSIONERS ASSOCIATIONS HELD ON 9.2.2013 AT
NAGPUR FOR INCORPORATION IN THE PROCEEDINGS OF THE CONVENTION.
“Sri M. Somasekhar Rao, Vice President, Bharat Pensioners’
Samaj, South Zone addressing the 4th National Convention of Railway
Pensioners Associations of BPS held on 9.2.2013 at Nagpur had said that when
Bharat Pensioners Samaj decided some time ago to hold National Conventions of
Railway Pensioners, many were sceptical about BPS’ capacity to organize such
conventions and the series of successful
conventions being held right from 2010 onwards had proved the sceptics
wrong. The overwhelming response to
these conventions went to prove beyond any doubt the confidence of railway
pensioners across the country in Bharat Pensioners’ Samaj. He also said that the very fact that 1042delegates
came to attend the Nagpur convention from as far as Manipur,Tripura,Meghalya,Nagaland,Assam,Arunachal
in the North East and places such as
Madurai, Tiruchi, Dindigul, Erode and Palghat in the far south &Kerala apart from all states and regions
in the country provided ample testimony to this spread of Bharat Pensioners’
Samaj throughout the length and breadth of the country.
Sri Somasekhar Rao also said that Bharat Pensioners Samaj
worked for all pensioners championing the cause of every section of them. He further stated that BPS also worked for
senior citizens in the country as well in collaboration with All India Senior
Citizens Confederation and that was the reason why its National President Shri
R.N. Mital was there in the convention.
The BPS has been coordinating with other central government and railway
pensioners’ organizations and the presence of General Secretaries of AIFPA/Chennai
& NFRP/Palghat were proof of it said Mr. Rao. He also invited other central government and
railway pensioners’ organizations to join hands with BPS in building a strong
pensioners’ movement. Sri Somasekhar Rao
also thanked the railway administrations for extending all help and support to
the conventions which spoke of their concern for the welfare and wellbeing of
railway pensioners and their families.
Referring to
government of India’s revised orders on modified parity Sri Somasekhar Rao
hailed it as a victory of central government pensioners. He said it remained a priority with BPS to
have modified parity implemented retrospectively from 1.1.2006 and also to
achieve full parity to benefit all pre 1.1.2006 pensioners. He also assured the house that the BPS would
not rest till the demands such as 50% DR merger, appointment of VII CPC,
enhancement of FMA to Rs.1200/- per month, restoration of commuted pension
after 12 years, extension of new benefits of VI CPC to pre 1.1.2006 pensioners
etc., were fully achieved.
Sri Somasekhar Rao also congratulated on behalf of BPS the
SEC Railway Pensioners’ Association, its General Secretary Sri J.N. Rao and
others for the exemplary arrangements made for the convention and also saluted
the railway pensioners and family pensioners of Nagpur and neighbouring places
for overwhelmingly participating in the convention and making it a memorable
one. He also thanked the delegates who
came from different parts of the country and enthusiastically participated in
the convention. He expressed his
confidence that all of them would carry back happy memories with them.
SRI M. SOMASEKHAR RAO, VP/BPS/SOUTH ZONE
Discussion paper presented to the4th
National Convention of Rly Pensioners
Associations (under the aegis of bharat pensioners’ samaj) At Nagpur on
09.02.2013
Friends,
Bharat
Pensioners’ Samaj while welcoming you to this conference wish to remind you of
the famous axiom “United we stand & Divided we fall”. If we struggle jointly and severally, results
are bound to be positive and this has been proved by BPS through achievements
during the intervening period of 3rd National Convention of Rly
Pensioners Associations and the present 4th Convention at Nagpur.
When
on 29th of March 2012, over fifteen hundred delegates from every
part of the country sang ‘Vande Mataram’ at New Jalpaiguri, the echo generated
through the peaks of kanchanjanga not only reached New Delhi but also sounded
throughout the world via Facebook,
Twitter, Blogs & IFA e.NEWS
Giving
a new direction to pensioners’ movement in the country BPS called upon Senior
citizens and Pensioners’ organizations to share knowledge, experience and
wisdom and to forge an understanding to struggle for our rights jointly and
severally. Consequently, today AISCCON, AIFPA, NFRP and Senior Citizens
Council, Delhi are with us in our endeavors.
Friends, we, the
pensioners, are passing through difficult times. Inflation is unrelenting. Prices of essential commodities have been
sky-rocketing. It is becoming
increasingly difficult for the pensioners and family pensioners to make their
both ends meet within their meager pensions and family pensions. Government has not conceded our demands such
as same fitment benefit to pre 1.1.2006 pensioners as given to working
employees, implementation of modified parity w.e.f., 1.1.2006, 50% DR
merger w.e.f., 1.1.2011, raising of FMA
to Rs.1200/- per month, restoration of commuted portion of pension after
12 years, extension of new benefits of VI CPC
such as full pension for 20 years of service and last pay drawn for
pension calculation to pre 1.1.2006 retirees, RELHS & FMA benefits to secondary family pensioners,
revision of ex-gratia rates of SRPF [C] retirees and their families
w.e.f..,1.1.2006, time-bound disposal of pensioners’
grievances, liberalization of retirement and complimentary and widow pass rules
for companion in the same class without paying the difference, etc. Benefits such as house rent and transport
allowances, festival advance, funeral
grant, ex-gratia in lieu of PLB, reduction of age limit for additional pension,
etc., are all essential for pensioners and family pensioners to live in
reasonable comfort. There are no
satisfactory answers to all these demands in the meetings of SCOVA. There is no
other effective grievance redressal machinery for pensioners. There is all round frustration among
pensioners all over the country. It is high-time that we raised our voice for
immediate steps to meet our just demands and aspirations. Railway pensioners
are requested to come together to be
part of a larger community of Pensioners and Senior citizens.
As part of its mandate and role, BPS the largest and the oldest
organization of Indian Pensioners organizes National level Conventions to
empower pensioners by sharing information, knowledge and experience and to
provide support to members
We
meet periodically in different parts of the country and think of our welfare as
aged persons and (1) to gather feedback from grass root level (2) to understand
and achieve consensus on our demands and (3) to draw up a strategic plan of
action not only to seek support from the Government in deficient areas but also
to develop systems which enable all of us to act as one family with mutual
confidence, support and growing interdependence.
Friends,
the experience of earlier three conventions at New Delhi, Secunderabad and New
Jalpaiguri has been very encouraging. We could achieve cohesion among ourselves
as a result of which we could successfully draw attention of the government to
our problems of some of which have been met while some others are now in the process
of being resolved.
To
name a few: we have now been provided with online grievance redressal system,
Nodal officers have been nominated in every Ministry & Department to deal
with Pensioners’ grievances. Instructions also have been issued by the Nodal
Ministry to all ministries and departments to meet and listen to the
representatives of Pensioners. Inclusion of Pensioners representatives in
National Council of Senior citizens under the MOSJE. SCOVA meetings are now regular and will be
twice a year instead of once a year.
Improvements to the institution of Pension Adalat also are in the
pipeline. RELHS has been made
open-ended. Issuance of Smart cards for medical treatment has been agreed to.
Norms for empanelment of private hospitals by Rly administration have been
relaxed and medical emergency has been defined. Sanction of Family pension to
widowed/divorced daughters and disabled children has been streamlined and the
modified parity as per 6th CPC has been restored, etc.
However,
implementation/proper delivery has to be insisted and pressurized along with
other outstanding issues (as detailed in the discussion paper) through this and
future conventions.
However, at the outset,
before coming to our main agenda today, this convention under the aegis of
Bharat Pensioners Samaj expresses its deep concern and anguish over the poor
compliance and delivery systems prevalent in almost every Govt. department and
the dismal treatment being meted out to Sr. Citizens and Pensioners.
With these words I
present to this august house, this discussion paper and invite your comments and suggestions
thereon.
Grievances &
demands of Railway Pensioners
Over
12 lakhs of Railway Pensioners in the country have several problems/grievances
pertaining to the Ministry of Railways , the Ministry of finance & the M/o
Personnel, PG & Pensions A few of these are detailed hereunder for early
consideration and resolution.
For M/O Finance & M/O P,PG & Pensions
Amend
definition of complainant to include retired persons in Bill No. 131 of 2011 (The Right of Citizens
for Time Bound Delivery of Goods and Services and Redressal of their Grievances
Bill, 2011) popularly known as Citizens Charter Bill: Chapter 1 Section 2(f)
definition of ‘Complainant’ seeks to exclude over 15 million Central/State
Gov./PSU retired persons from its purview
as the retired personnel have no other effective channel or mechanism
for the redressal of their grievances. They are victims of rampant corruption
in the Govt. departments dealing with their affairs i.e. Personnel, Finance
& Health departments as well as the Banks.
a)
This convention urges the Govt. to include retired persons in the definition of
‘Complainant’ in the said Bill.
1. Provide Rs. 5,00,000/-basic Income Tax exemption to
Senior Citizens:
This convention under the aegis of Bharat
Pensioners Samaj expresses its deep concern and anguish over the treatment
meted out to Senior citizens in the current budget 2012-13
For and upto F.Y.2004-2005 Sr. Citizen were getting concession in income tax payable (under Section 80CC) to
the tune of Rs 20,000/-, as compared to other citizens with similar taxable
income. In 2005-2006 this was changed, basic
exception for other citizens was raised to Rs 1,00,000/- and that for Sr Citizens it was made 1,85,000/- This resulted in
actual tax relief of Rs l2,000/- instead of Rs 20,000/-.Thereafter
it has been progressively reduced and today it stands at just Rs 5,000/-
Right from its inception, the basic Income
tax exemption is related to cost of living. Where as in comparison to the year 2004-05, cost of food items have gone up by more
than 5 times and that of health care has gone up more than 7 times. Income Tax
exemption in terms of tax payable for Sr. Citizens have gone down from 20,000/- to Rs 5,000/-
In view of the facts mentioned above, this
Convention appeals to Govt. of India to provide Rs5,00,000/-basic income tax
exemption to Senior Citizens
2.
Pension to be net of Income Tax: Purchase value of
pension gets reduced day by day due to continuous high inflation and steep rise
in cost of food items and medical facilities. Retired persons/Sr citizens do
not enjoy fully public goods and services provided by Government for citizens
due to lack of mobility and many other factors. Their ability to pay tax gets
reduced from year to year after retirement due to ever-increasing expenditure
on food and medicines and other incidentals. Their net worth at year end gets
reduced considerably as compared to the beginning of the year. Inflation, for a
pensioner, is much more than any tax. It erodes the major part of already
inadequate pension. To enable pensioners, at the fag end of their lives, to
live in minimum comfort and to cater for ever rising cost of living, they be
spared from paying Income Tax . Pension therefore, should be net of income tax as
recommended by V CPC vide their Para
167.11
3.Withdraw New Pension
Scheme :
As (i) Pension of Government employees is a deferred wage. Since wage paid out to them during the course
of work tenure is kept low by design to cater for pension. (ii) Pension is a
social security measure and cannot be subjected to market risks (iii) It does
not guarantee minimum return and thus lacks the basic fiber of Social Security
(iv). It is in no way better than the existing Scheme (vi) It does not provide
guaranteed Family Pension to dependents and disabled siblings which exist in
the present scheme.
4. Increase FMA (Fixed
Medical Allowance) to Rs 1200 pm without imposing distance restriction of 2.5
Kms:
(i) The meager amount of Fixed Medical allowance (FMA) of Rs 300 p.m.
in lieu of day to day OPD facility was sanctioned w.e.f. 01.09.2008 on the
basis of cost of OPD treatment per card holder under CGHS during the year
2003-2004, which has gone up by more than 6 times since then.
(ii) As per the figure disclosed by M/O Health & Family
Welfare under RTI Act 2005, the average cost of OPD treatment per card holder
under CGHS during the year 2007-2008 went up to Rs 1369/-PM. This has further
gone up considerably since then. M/O Labour & Employment, is already paying
Rs 1200/- as FMA to its beneficiaries. It is therefore, urged that to help
elderly pensioners to look after their health, FMA for all C.G. Pensioners be
raised to at least Rs 1200/- p.m., linking it to price index for automatic
further increase. The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare have clarified that
they have no objection to raising FMA from Rs 300/- to Rs1200 p.m as stated vide
their No. MOH &FW F.No20020/45/ 2012-CGHS (P) dt 22.02.2012.
(iii) OPD through Insurance is no option to a majority of central
government pensioners in as much as it causes severe inconvenience and hardship
to old and infirm pensioners and family pensioners as well as to those residing
in rural areas. Moreover, the VI CPC’s
recommendation is that it should be optional for existing employees and
pensioners. As such, our demand for
raising Fixed Medical allowance to Pensioners is fully justified. Hence FMA
needs to be raised to Rs.1200/- per month retrospectively from 1.1.2011.
(iv) EXEMPT FMA 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.
5. Merger of DR with pension
whenever it goes above 50%:-
The Pension of Central Govt. Pensioners undergo revision only once
in 10 to 13 years during which period the pension structure gets seriously dis-aligned,
50 % increase in price index takes place in less than 5 years. This results in considerable deterioration to
the financial position of the pensioner with otherwise inadequate Pension. As admitted by Shri Montek Singh
Ahluwalia, Deputy Chairman, Planning
Commission in his statement to PTI on 27.2.2008, DA does not adequately take care of
inflation. As on date, compared to 01.01.2006, price rise is 152% where as DR
sanctioned is only 72% . All the working employees are getting automatic relief
by way of 25% increase in their allowances with every 50% rise in Dearness
allowance. As pensioners do not get any allowances, they feel discriminated
against. In order to strike a balance, DR may be merged with Pension whenever
it reaches 50% or pension revised every 5 years. VI CPC grossly erred in recommending
discontinuance of 50% DR merger benefit without suggesting an alternative to
protect the pensioners from ravages of
high inflation and in the absence of pension revision at frequent
intervals as in other spheres in the country.
6. Restoration of Commuted
portion of pension after 12 yrs
The commuted value of pension is calculated with reference to a
commutation table based on the mortality rate among pensioners and the recovery
of interest at a fixed rate of 4.75% per annum. These tables were revised in
Nov 63, Nov 67, March 1971 and now latest by VI CPC and every time years of purchase have been
reduced. But the period of restoration has not been revised or reviewed.
Average life expectancy in 1963 was 40 yrs where as it is much more now. Thus
percentage of recovery today is very high as compared to 1963.Therefore, period
of restoration of commuted value need, immediate revision. The commuted amount
along with interest element stands fully adjusted in less than12 years. That is
why, States are restoring commuted portion of pension of their pensioners
before 12 years. There is no reason why the Central Govt. should also not
restore it after 12 years, as was recommended by V CPC more than 10 years back
vide Para 136.19 of their report.
7 Additional
old age pension to all superannuated persons of Central/state govt. /PSU.
Pensioners’ should start from the age of 65yrs @ 5% of the basic pension with
provision of enhancement by 5% every 5 yrs and @ 10% from 80 years onwards.
8.
Differential treatment in fixing pension unfair-(SC CIVIL APPEAL No.8857
of 2012 decided on 17.01.2013).
Remove disparity in revision
of pension within the homogeneous group of pre 2006.: A common
multiplication factor needs to be adopted for the revision of pension of all
pre 2006 retirees so that all pensioners in this group irrespective of pre
retirement status get equal enhancement i.e. if basic pension of pensioners’ of
one pre retirement scale/pay band is getting enhanced by three times, then all
other pensioners/family pensioners should be extended similar benefit and
both pre and post 2006 pensioners be brought at par to maintain equality
and to honor Apex Court judgment in letter and spirit.
9.SCOVA - Upgrade
SCOVA to the level of JCM :Pensioners especially those
belonging to B group do not have any
negotiating tool like JCM Wherein issues and policies pertaing to them are discussed and decided
M/O Railways
1. End discrimination
against women
Eligibility
criteria for joining RELHS 97 laid down vide Para 612 (2) iii of Indian Railway
Medical Manual 2000 debars dependent Widowed/Divorced / Unmarried daughter
family pensioners from joining ‘Retired Railway Employees Liberalized Health
Scheme-1997’. This discrimination against women and gender-bias need immediate
rectification. A suitable amendment be immediately introduced to permit all
such family pensioners to join RELHS-97 for their healthcare needs.
1.(i)
Provide RELHS-97 facilities to family pensioners (other than spouse) and to the
minor children of Divorced & widowed dependent daughters as recommended by VI
CPC & accepted by M/O H &FW.
Widowed/Divorced/Unmarried dependent daughters of Rly.
Employees/Pensioners are included in the definition of family members & get
family Pension in their turn in all the Central Government departments
including Railways. Such family Pensioners and their minor kids are provided
healthcare facilities under CGHS of Ministry of Health & Family Welfare as well
as under ECHS of Ministry of Defence. But Indian Railways have denied Health
care facility as well as Fixed Medical allowance in lieu of OPD to these Family
Pensioners. Early orders in this regard
need to be issued.
1.(ii) RELHS-97 facilities
to dependent parents ; The then Rly Minister in her budget
speech on 25th February 2011 vide para 56 announced extension of medical
facilities to both dependent father and mother of railway employees.. Executive
Order to this effect needs to be issued w/o delay.
2. Implement immediately Rly Board’s orders vide their No
2007/H/28/1/RELHS/Smart Card dated 18.7.2012 regarding issuance of Smart Card
& signing MOU with Private hospitals
3. On
24th February 2010 during the budget speech Minister for Railways, vide para 51,
announced that Rly. Outpatient Departments (OPD) and diagnostic centers will be
set up at Gurgaon & other cities. But there has been no progress on the
ground so far. This needs to be implemented without delay.
4. Companion facility on
post retirement complimentary passes:
The cut-off age for this may be brought down to 60 years as it is
the cut-off age for all senior citizen concessions including exemption limit
for payment of income tax. All retirement complimentary pass holders may be
allowed companion in the class of their entitlement without collection of
additional charges. Physically handicapped retired employees be allowed
companion in one class higher without surrendering a set of pass as at present.
All secondary family pensioners may be extended the facility of complimentary
pass. All pre 2006 Group C&D retirees and their families be allowed passes
at par with serving group C staff as per post 2006 revised privilege pass
entitlement
5.Revision
of ex-gratia rates to pre 1986 CPF/SRPF(C) beneficiaries and their families
w.e.f., 1.1.2006; Early action is requested to revise these rates
w.e.f., 1.1.2006 raising minimum
ex-gratia to Rs 3500/ pm to bring these rates on par with minimum pension and
family pension in Central Government.
The ex-gratia beneficiaries have also to be extended FMA. Widows getting ex-gratia are being paid 8%
less relief now which is discriminatory and they have to be paid full relief on
par with the beneficiaries. Dependent
unmarried, widowed and divorced daughters above 25 years of age of these
beneficiaries also need to be extended
the benefit of ex-gratia after the death of both parents.
6. Exgratia to all
pensioners and family pensioners once an year: Every year working
employees are granted productivity linked bonus for their contribution to the
progress and safe running of Railways. While in service, present pensioners
worked hard for the progress and protection of Indian Railways. Now it is the
turn of the Organization to look after them in the evenings of their lives and
grant them and their families ex-gratia
once an year in lieu of productivity-linked bonus.
7. Grievance redressal
7.1. Fix strict timeline with punitive clause for redressal of
grievances recorded through CPENGRAMS:
Strictly Implement the guidelines circulated vide Govt. of India
Department of Pension & Pensioners’ Welfare F.No.41/30/2011-P&PW(C)
dated 13.1.2012& F.No 41/38/2011-P& PW(C) dated 2.9.2011 regarding
fixation of time-line for resolving grievances recorded through CPENGRAMS and
also create online mechanism at every stage
to monitor redressal of these grievances.
7.2. Meet pensioners’ representatives as and when requested: Though
Rly Board has circulated more than once instructions to zones & divisions
to meet pensioners’ representatives and to promptly attend to their
representations, unfortunately Board officers themselves are not following
these instructions/ guide lines.
7.3. Hold Pension Adalat every quarter widening its Scope
Widen the scope of pension Adalat to include all payment cases
and to allow SCOVA members as well as representatives of identified
Associations to actively participate.
Master Circular 63 dt 12.10.95 (reiterated vide No. E(W)2011/PA-1/4
dated 20.12.2011) Para 2.13 provides Pension Adalat at Divisional level at
every 3 months interval. But these instructions are not being followed. The
number of Pensioners/Family Pensioners as well as their grievances have phenomenally
increased over the past one and a half decade. In the absence of strict time
line and punitive clause, grievances recorded through Pensioners Portal
“CPENGRAM” are not being promptly resolved by the Rly Administration.
7.4. Streamline working of Rly Hospitals as per CGHS guidelines
7.4 (i)Constitute Hospital grievance committees and include
representatives of Associations identified by DOP &PW & SCOVA members
in Rly Hospital grievance committees.
Healthcare is a major issue for pensioners. A
number of complaints are coming up about poor attention to pensioners in Rly
hospitals and about doctors’ apathy and negligence. In the absence of a
grievance committee with pensioners’ representatives therein, these complaints
are not properly addressed .Thus it is desirable that the working of Rly
hospitals is streamlined on the basis of CGHS guidelines and Hospital grievance
committees are constituted with adequate representation of pensioners through
identified Associations and SCOVA members.
7.4(ii) Allot separate nominated days for Pensioners/family
pensioners for specialist consultation in Rly hospitals.
In Railways, specialist consultation is available only in Central
Hospitals at Zonal head quarters which covers a jurisdiction of more than a
hundred Kilometers. In the absence of separate consultation facilities for
pensioners/family pensioners, they have to face torture of standing for hours
in the common queue and often they miss the opportunity for specialist
consultation on the same day of visit.. Thus to save them from this
inconvenience, it is requested that a week day is nominated for them for this
purpose and that specialized medical consultation is out-sourced to private
hospitals so that Pensioners/Family pensioners do not have to travel long
distances.
8. Stop recovery and restore Pension of pre-1996 pensioners
retired from IV CPC scale of Rs. 1400-2300 and other similarly placed Pensioners : The
subject was discussed vide Agenda item 10.19 in 20th SCOVA Meeting held
on 21.9.2011 and Railway Board was advised to sort out the issue after hearing
the representatives of Pensioners Associations. As a first step, recovery of huge amount
from the pensioners/family pensioners be stopped and refunded where recovered.
9. representation
to Pensioners’ Associations in all the Forums and committees: While
this Convention appreciates Govt. of India’s positive gesture in agreeing to
include representatives of Pensioners’ Associations in the constitution of Sr.
Citizens Council, it urges the Govt. to provide adequate representation to
Pensioners’ Associations in all the Forums & committees like JCM on Pension
matters, National/Departmental Anomaly committees/Hospital committees etc
wherein issues/policies concerning Pensioners are discussed and decided and
also to upgrade the institutions of SCOVA/ Pension Adalat to the level of JCM.
10. Pension (Fixation, Revision & Disbursement): This Convention
wishes to draw Governments’ particular
attention to H’ble Supreme Court‘s Constitution Bench historic judgment
delivered in case of D. S. Nakara on 17.12.1982 and request that it be implemented
in letter and spirit. Pensioners should not be divided on the basis of their
date of retirement, otherwise a uniform
formula be adopted for the revision of pension of all the pensioners
irrespective of Class, Category or status while in service, i.e., if
pension of pensioners belonging to one
pre revised corresponding scale is
raised by 3 times, then by sheer logic, it should uniformly be adopted as common factor for all
the pre 2006 pensioners . We therefore, urge that all pre 2006 Pensioners be given a
multiplication factor of 3 at par with HAG + level or their pension be consolidated as per the
following formula
Basic
Pension on 31/12/2005+86% DR+50% Grade pay as per VI CPC and the pre 1996
pensioners be given, full parity as on 01.01.2006 as per V CPC recommendations.
ITEMS INTRODUCED by
NFRP Palghat
1. Delay in sanction of Family Pension to
unmarried/widowed/divorced daughters on the demise of the Pensioner and spouse.
Pension sanctioning authorities unduly delay sanction on the pretext of
non-availability of records and also direct the claimants to produce unwanted/unconnected certificates from
various authorities. In a recent case, certificate from the school was insisted
to confirm the date of birth of the claimant, since name of the father was not
available in the school leaving certificate. In another case, the income
details of the claimant’s son and
deceased husband etc. were insisted. To obviate such hardships, the
responsibility to sanction F.P. within a time frame of say six months from the
date of receipt of application, should be laid down fixing the responsibility
on the PSA. Presently, it takes more than one/ two years to sanction
F.P.
2. Transmission of PPO to PDAs should be streamlined and on line electronic transmission of PPO
from the office of FA&CAO to the PDA ( CPPC) to be introduced to avoid delay of 2 to 3 months, presently
experienced, for the pensioner to
get first pension after retirement and
to get arrears in case of revision of pension by existing pensioners. In the
present electronic era this is not impossible.
3. Representations from Pensioners’ Association
to Railway Board are not replied to
especially by Finance Directorate. So far, hundreds of letters have been
sent to FC/Rly. Board reg. Revision of pension of pre 1996 pensioners. BPS has
also sent similar letters . But, No Response/Reply so far, compelling us to take the RTI Route , which unnecessarily increase
the workload at Railway Board office.
S.C. Maheshwari,
Secretary General
Bharat Pensioners’ Samaj
Resolutions Adopted
Resolutions adopted by the 4th National
Convention of Railway Pensioners being held at Nagpur on 9.2.2013
1.Implementation
of modified parity to pre 1.1.2006 central government pensioners
retrospectively w.e.f., 1.1.2006 as per Hon’ble Principal bench, CAT, New
Delhi’s Order dated 1.11.2011;This
convention urges on the central government to implement the above order w.e.f.
1.1.2006 so as to do equal justice to all pre 1.1.2006 pensioners and family
pensioners. Granting this benefit
w.e.f., 24.9.2012 is discriminatory and violative of article 14 of constitution
of India in as much as some pre 1.1.2006 pensioners and family pensioners have
already got this benefit implemented w.e.f., 1.1.2006 itself. Imposition of the above cutoff date amounts
to dividing the homogenous group of pre 1.1.2006 pensioners on the basis of a
date which runs contrary to the letter and spirit of Hon’ble Supreme Court of
India’s judgment in Nakara case. This
convention therefore urges on the government to end the above discrimination
and extend the benefit of modified parity to all eligible pre 1.1.2006
pensioners and family pensioners w.e.f., 1.1.2006 as per Hon’ble CAT/Principal
Bench, New Delhi’s Order dated 1.11.2011 to do them equal justice.
2.Extension
of same fitment benefit as implemented to serving employees from 1.1.2006 to
all pre 1.1.2006 pensioners and family pensioners;. The VI CPC did not do
justice to pre 1.1.2006 pensioners by recommending to them a different fitment
benefit from what was recommended to serving employees. This resulted in invidious discrimination
against pre 1.1.2006 pensioners and family pensioners as it resulted in
widening the disparities in pensions and family pensions of pre and post
1.1.2006 pensioners and family pensioners retiring from the same or similar
post with equal number of years of service.
The aim of a pay commission should be to progressively bridge the gap in
pensions of past and future retirees and not to widen it, causing grave and
undue financial hardship to the past pensioners. This convention urges the government of India
to extend the same fitment benefit as given to working employees (in the shape
of grade pay) to all pre 1.1.2006 pensioners
i.e., basic pension + 86% DR and 50% of grade pay. Further
different % rise in pension within the pre 1.1.2006 homogenous group of pensioners and family
pensioners is grossly unfair and
unjust. This has left a trail of deep
discontent and frustration among a majority of pre 1.1.2006 pensioners and
family pensioners. As such, pending
extension of same fitment benefit as urged above, Pension of all pre 2006 pensioner from S4 to S31 be
raised by equal % w.e.f., 1.1.2006.
3.Carrying
forward the parity principle enunciated by V CPC; The V CPC recommended a
parity principle for pensions of past pensioners to keep pace with the rising trend of salaries and
pensions with every successive revision and to avoid undue financial hardship
to them in the evenings of their lives.
As a part of this principle, the V CPC recommended full parity to pre
1.1.86 pensioner’s w.e.f., 1.1.96 and the same was accepted by the government
of India and implemented. However their
recommendation to extend full parity to pre 1.1.96 pensioners as on 1.1.2006
was not endorsed by the VI CPC. The reasons advanced by VI CPC in this regard
are factually incorrect apart from being untenable. There is no link between parity and cent
percent neutralization of price rise which the commission sought to
establish. The parity principle
enunciated by V CPC is an important one for all the pensioners, past and
future. All pre 1.1.96 pensioners and
family pensioners are deeply disappointed over the unhelpful and unsympathetic
attitude of the government in the above regard.
This convention therefore appeals to the government to extend the benefit
of full parity to pre 1.1.96 pensioners and family pensioners as recommended by
V CPC and do them justice. Non-carrying
forward of the above principle had adversely affected pre 1.1.96 pensioners and
family pensioners, the fate of family pensioners being still worse.
4.50%
DR merger benefit for pensioners w.e.f., 1.1.2011; The V CPC recommended 50%
DA/DR merger with basic pay/basic pension on their reaching 50% to serve as a
mid-revision in view of wage and pension revisions taking place for central
government employees and pensioners once in 10 years while their counterparts
of the state governments and public sector units get them once in every 4/5
years. While recommending discontinuing of this benefit, the VI CPC had not
suggested an alternative for pensioners though they recommended 25% increase in
the allowances of employees on DA reaching 50%.
The VI CPC had not only ignored the spirit in which the V CPC made the
above recommendation which was implemented w.e.f., 1.4.2004 but also shown
their lack of concern to the pensioners in the above regard. Though the issue was raised in the SCOVA
meetings, there was no favorable response from the government as a result of
which there is deep frustration among all central government pensioners on the
above score. This convention appeals to
the Government to sympathetically consider the hardship being faced by the
pensioners in the matter and announce an early relief retrospectively from
1.1.2011 corresponding to 50% DR merger.
5.Appointment
of VII CPC;
There are fast changes occurring in the country due to the high targeted
economic growth as well as relentless inflationary spiral. In these circumstances, there is fast erosion
in the real values of pensions becoming irrelevant within a short interval after
revision. It is, therefore, essential to
undertake frequent revisions of pensions not only to maintain their real values
but also to update them in line with fast economic and other changes. The V CPC also felt the need for more
frequent wage and pension revisions.
This convention therefore appeals to the central government to take
immediate steps to appoint VII CPC and to give effect to its recommendation
from 1.1.2011 to ensure revision once in every 5 years.
6.Extension
of VI CPC’s new benefits to past pensioners; The VI CPC’s new benefits such as full pension
for 20 years of service/10 years in superannuation cases, last pay drawn or
average of last 10 months’ pay whichever is beneficial to the retiring employee
as emoluments for computation of pension etc., have been limited only to those
who have been retiring from 1.1.2006 onwards.
This is in violation of the letter and spirit of Hon’ble Apex court
judgment in Nakara case. This convention
appeals to the government to extend the above benefits to all pre 1.1.2006
retirees with monetary benefit from 1.1.2006 to do them equal justice.
7.Additional
pension for qualifying service above 20 years; The V CPC’s recommendation for additional
pension for qualifying service above 33 years has not been accepted and
implemented by the government leaving a trail of serious discontent and
frustration among employees as well as pensioners. The VI CPC while recommending full pension
for 20 years of qualifying service had not thought of rewarding service rendered
above 20 years. While full pension for
20 years qualifying service is an incentive for those seeking better prospects
elsewhere, there is no incentive,
whatsoever, for those who stick to government service till
superannuation. This approach is no
doubt counter-productive as it does not inspire the latter for better
performance and more dedicated service.
This convention calls upon the government to come forward with much
needed incentive for longer service by way of granting additional pension for
service beyond 20 years.
8.Restoration
of commuted portion of pension after 12 years; The V CPC made this recommendation taking into
consideration all relevant factors and gave a reasoned recommendation. Whatever be the grounds for disagreeing with
the above recommendation by the VI CPC, delay in taking a decision to restore
commuted portion of pension after 12 years especially after new commutation
tables have been introduced is untenable with no justification, whatsoever.
This convention therefore appeals to the government to issue early orders
in the above regard as commuted portion gets repaid within much less than 12
years.
9.
Pension to be net of Income Tax: Purchase value of pension gets reduced day by
day due to continuously high inflation and steep rise in cost of food items and
medical facilities. Retired persons/Sr citizens do not enjoy fully public goods
and services provided by Government for citizens due to lack of mobility and
many other factors. Their ability to pay tax gets reduced from year to year
after retirement due to ever-increasing expenditure on food and medicines and
other incidentals. Their net worth at year end gets reduced considerably as
compared to the beginning of the year. Inflation, for a pensioner is much more
than any tax. It erodes the major part of the already inadequate pension. To
enable pensioners, at the fag end of their lives, to live in minimum comfort
and to cater for ever rising cost of living, they may be spared from paying
Income Tax. This convention therefore demands that pension should be net of income
tax as recommended by 5th CPC, vide their para 167.11
10.Enhancement
of FMA to Rs.1200/- per month;
Bharat Pensioners’ Samaj had earlier provided enough justification for raising
FMA to Rs.1200/- while raising this issue in the meetings of SCOVA as well as
in its memorandum dated 11.10.2012 submitted to the Hon’ble Prime Minister of
India. There is unrelenting inflation in
the country for the past several years abnormally pushing up cost of medicines
as well as consultation charges of doctors.
Rs.300/-FMA granted w.e.f.,
1.9.2008 is too inadequate and there is a strong case to enhance it to
Rs.1200/- per month as the government has been incurring much more per capita
expenditure on OPD treatment of its pensioners availing it under the schemes
such as CGHS, ECHS, RELHS etc. Insurance
for OPD as being proposed by the government will be of no avail at all due to
the procedures involved. Moreover, insurance will be optional for existing
employees and pensioners as per VI CPC recommendation. The railway pensioners are scattered all over
the country and many of them live in rural and remote areas. Non-members of any health scheme as well as
members of RELHS,CGHS& ECHS taking OPD treatment for specified chronic
diseases are also eligible for FMA subject to distance restriction of 2.5
kms. This convention therefore urges on
the government to pass early orders enhancing FMA to Rs.1200/- per month. This
convention also demands removal of distance restriction for sanction of FMA as
the restriction in question is irrational and discriminatory in its very nature
and application.
11.Enhanced
family pension for 10 years even in cases of death of the pensioner after
retirement;
While extending this benefit in cases of death in harness is indeed laudable,
even in cases of death after retirement also the benefit needs to be extended
as sudden drop in income after death of pensioner causes undue hardship to the
family.
12.Extension
of constant attendant allowance to all pensioners and family pensioners; Pensioners and family
pensioners who suffer total disability for whatever reason and at any juncture
of their lives may be extended this benefit as the need for constant attendant
is the same in such cases also.
13.Issue
of Smart Cards;
Railway Board’s instructions as contained in their letter
No.2007/H/28/I/RELHS/Smart Card dated 18.07.2012 have not so far been
implemented by many zonal railways disappointing the RELHS members. This
convention urges on the concerned authorities to expedite the process of issue
of Smart Cards. This convention also
appeals to the government to cover even other places not covered so far under
this scheme so as to enable all the members of RELHS and their families to
avail themselves of the benefit.
14.Extension
of RELHS;
This convention appeals to the authorities to reduce the period of service for
eligibility to join RELHS to 10 years and also to extend this benefit to all
secondary family pensioners and their children below 18 years of age. Early action is requested to extend RELHS facilities to minor children of
dependent widowed and divorced daughters of RELHS members. This benefit has already been extended to
members of CGHS. Denial of this benefit
to RELHS members is discriminatory.
15.Issue
of revised PPOs to pre 1.1.2006 pensioners and family pensioners as per VI CPC; There are several cases
pending till date. Many old and infirm
pensioners and family pensioners and also those living in remote areas are not
able to apply for revised PPOs for one reason or another and consequently they
are not able to avail themselves of VI CPC benefits. This convention therefore appeals to the
authorities to arrange to review the position at each unit level and make
special efforts by sending their staff to such pensioners and family pensioners
and help them by giving special assistance.
The original orders are to issue revised PPOs suo motu by the
departments. The aim should be to ensure that VI CPC benefits reach all the pre
1.1.2006 pensioners and family pensioners without exception and it is the
responsibility of the railway administration to ensure it. This convention urges necessary steps in the
above regard and also a monitoring mechanism at various levels to complete the
process in a time-bound manner.
16.Additional
quantum of pension relating to old age;
This should ideally start from the age of 65 years onwards with a jump of 5%
every 5 years up to 80 years and at a lighter rate thereafter to enable
pensioners and family pensioners to meet the special needs of the advancing
age. The rates of pension and family
pension remained static for a long time.
The demand of employees as well as pensioners associations to raise
these rates had been rejected by the VI CPC on specious and untenable
grounds. A person retiring on attaining
age of superannuation has now to wait for 20 long years to get additional
quantum of pension. In the case of those
whose superannuation age was 58 years, the wait is for 22 long years for this
benefit. The age limit therefore needs
to be brought down as mentioned above in view of the fast economic and other
changes in our country coupled with high inflation.
17.liberalization
of retirement complimentary as well as widow pass rules; Companion facility in the
same class has to be allowed for all retirement complimentary as well as widow
pass holders without collection of additional charges. The preamble of our Constitution speaks of
establishment of a socialist society. As
such discrimination in the above regard against second class pass holders is
contrary to the spirit of the Constitution apart from being discriminatory. In addition to the above changes, this
convention also appeals to the authorities to extend entitlement of R.C. passes
to pre 2006 group D staff on par with retired group C staff, extension of pass
facility to secondary family pensioners on being sanctioned family pension,
companion facility to PH retirees in the higher class without having to
surrender one set of pass as at present, extension of widow pass benefit to
widows of pre 1986 SRPF© beneficiaries, all as a gesture of goodwill to the
retired railway employees and their families.
18.Reduction
in period of service to 10 years to join RELHS and for entitlement of
retirement complimentary passes; This convention demands reduction of the
period in the above regard to 10 years as full pension is sanctioned for 10
years of qualifying service.
19.Amend
definition of complainant in the citizens’ charter bill (Bill No.131 of 2011); This convention appeals to the government to
include retired employees in the
definition of ‘complainant’ in the above bill as pensioners and their families
have no effective channel or mechanism for expeditious redressal of their
grievances relating to pension and other retirement benefits. This will help not only to create confidence
among them of speedy justice but also the much required change in the attitude
of concerned authorities.
20.
Revision of ex-gratia rates of pre 1.1.86 SRPF© beneficiaries and their
families;
This convention demands immediate steps for revision of ex-gratia rates of the
above retrospectively from1.1.2006 as any discrimination against them in the above
regard is unjust in as much as these employees had also rendered satisfactory
service during their service period and they and their families also are
exposed to ravages of high inflation and other changes as those governed by
pension scheme. To condemn them lifelong
with low ex-gratia rates for their mere failure to opt for pension when in
service does not fit in the welfare state concept of the Indian
Constitution. The recommendation of IV
CPC to give them one time option for pension was not accepted by the
government. They are being continuously
given step-motherly treatment. Their
families get 8% less relief and their dependent unmarried/widowed/divorced
daughters above 25 years of age are not eligible for ex-gratia after the death
of both the parents unlike those of pensioners.
They are not extended the benefit of FMA though they are admitted to
RELHS. Their families are not eligible
for widow pass benefit. Those among them
who took voluntary retirement on putting in 20 years of service are also denied
ex-gratia. This convention urges on the
government of India to accord sympathetic and humanitarian treatment to these
beneficiaries and their families and ensure that minimum ex-gratia rate is
raised Rs.3500/- per month and that they are accorded equal treatment with
pensioners and family pensioners in the matter of Dearness Relief, FMA, period
of service for eligibility etc.
21. Delay in sanction of Family Pension to
unmarried/widowed/divorced daughters on the demise of the Pensioner and spouse.
Pension sanctioning authorities unduly delay sanction on the pretext of
non-availability of records and also direct the claimants to produce unwanted/unconnected certificates from
various authorities. In a recent case, certificate from the school was insisted
to confirm the date of birth of the claimant,. In another case, the income
& property details of the claimant’s son and deceased husband etc. were
insisted. To obviate such hardships,.This convention of Rly Pensioners’
Associations demand that F.P. within a time frame of six months from the date of receipt of
application, should be laid down fixing the responsibility on the PSA and that Welfare inspectors be deputed to
help & assist claimants in fulfilling the documentary requirements.
22 Transmission of PPO to PDAs should be streamlined. Electronic
transmission with online status of PPO from the office of FA&CAO
to the PDA ( CPPC) be
introduced to avoid delay .
23. Representations from Pensioners’
Association to Railway Board are not replied to especially by Directorates of Finance.
Health , Establishment Welfare & the Directorate of pay commission. This
convention demands that these directorates Rly Board should strictly adhered to
the provisions of Central
Secretariat Manual of office procedure Para 66 & 67 & the orders issued
in this respect by the Rly Board itself.
24.Extension
of family pension to dependent widowed daughter-in-law; The convention appeals to
the government to extend the above in cases of hardship deserving sympathetic
consideration.
25.Festival
advance to pensioners;
In order to enable the pensioners to celebrate at least one festival in a year
and also give gifts to daughters and grand children on such occasions, the
government are requested to extend the benefit of festival advance every year
to pensioners/family pensioners equal to one month’s basic pension/family
pension to be recovered in 12 equal monthly installments. It will also serve as an interest free
advance. This will go a long way in
cheering up the pensioners and family pensioners.
26.Funeral
grant;
Funeral grant is now available for pensioners of various state
governments. This convention appeals to
the government of India not to lag behind in the matter and to extend this
benefit to their pensioners and family pensioners.
27.House
rent and Transport allowances to pensioners; In view of the ever increasing cost of housing
as well as transport in the country, the pensioners are forced to spend a
considerable part of their pensions towards the above thus making it difficult
for them to pull on their lives within their meager pensions. This convention therefore appeals to the
government of India to grant house rent and transport allowances to pensioners
to mitigate their hardship and to ensure a worry-free life to them and their
families. There is need to move away
from the old notions and concepts and make the pension policy more dynamic and
in consonance with the increasing needs in a fast developing economy with high
inflationary tendencies.
28.Childrens’
Educational Allowance & Hostel subsidy to the eligible children of retired
employees;
Many retired employees have school and college going children due to late
marriages etc. Such of those children
have to be extended the above benefits as the education, school, college and
technical, is becoming costlier by the day and it is difficult for the
concerned pensioners to cope with the situation within their pensions. This convention appeals to the government
to take a broad and sympathetic view and extend the above benefits as a part of
welfare of retired employees and their families.
29.Ex-gratia
once a year to all railway pensioners in lieu of productivity-linked bonus; This convention appeals to
the government to consider this demand as a gesture of goodwill to its past
employees and their families for their dedicated service while in service which
resulted in phenomenal progress of railways leading to payment of PLB to
serving employees. It may be appreciated that the above benefit will fill all
the retired employees and their families with the pride of belonging to the
great Indian railway family.
30.Control
price rise; The abnormal rise in prices of
essential commodities in the recent years has pushed up cost of living
abnormally seriously affecting the day to day lives of all vulnerable sections
of people including pensioners and as a result there is growing unrest among them as they are finding it
increasingly difficult to make their ends meet.
This convention therefore urges on the government to take strong and
effective measures to control price line.
This convention also resolves to extend support to the ‘two - day
general strike’ called by all the national trade unions on 20th&
21st February 2013 on burning problems of all wage earners which
include ‘assured pension for all’.
31.Withdraw new pension scheme
introduced w.e.f., 1.1.2004; (i) Pension of Government employees is a deferred wage since wage paid
out to them during the course of work tenure is kept low by design to cater for
pension. (ii) Pension is a social security measure and cannot be subjected to
market risks (iii) It does not guarantee minimum return and thus lacks the
basic fiber of Social Security (iv). It is in no way better than the existing
scheme (v)It does not provide guaranteed Family Pension to dependents and
disabled siblings which exist in the present scheme .This convention therefore
demands total withdrawal of the scheme.
32.Roll-back
pension fund regulatory and development authority bill;
This convention demands total roll-back of the above bill as it is detrimental
to the interests of employees and workers in various sectors in the country.
33.Stop
FDI in multi-brand retail; This convention opposes FDI in multi-brand
retail as it adversely affects the livelihood of small and petty traders with
hand-to-mouth existence in the country.
Secy.
General BPS
.
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