News of the day

Bharat Pensioners Samaj , Secretary General S.C. Maheshwari's following  message to AISCCON 12th Conference at Trivendarum on 2nd Nov.2012 was read out by D.Linga Reddy -2500 delegates and number of celebs & VVIPs attended (Maheshwari could not attend due to crital condition of a close relative)


,Dignitaries on the Dias Ladies & Gentlemen,

Bharat Pensioners Samaj whole heartedly supports the demand of universal minimum Pension to all sr. citizens, However, if the activists or the audience here, feel that everything is OK in the organized sector & that the govt. pensioners are a happier lot among Sr. citizens, then it’s wrong, as in the organized sector there are 27.8 lac of pensioners who get less than 1000 rupees per month pension & several lac of retirees do not get anything . Those recruited after 1.1.2004 may not get a penny on their retirement as their own contribution is not secured.

Another fact is that the pay scales of pensionable govt. employees are kept low by design that is why as far back as 17th December 1982 Supreme Court of India ruled that Pension is not largesse but it is a deferred wage, which the pensioner earned through the sweat of his brow during his younger days.

Brothers & sisters, in the name of 100% neutralization of inflation Pensioners in the organized sector are paid squeezed dearness relief & no less than the Deputy Chairman Planning Commission Sh Montek Singh Alluwahlia accepted it, in his statement to PTI on 27.02.2008 . Inflation today has gone up by152 % over 01.01.2006 figures but we are paid only 72% DR.

As if this is not enough, going against the ruling of Honorable Supreme Court. Pensioners have been divided into different categories based on the date of retirement i.e. pre & post 1986, pre & post 1996, pre & post 2006 & in each group of category, pension of those retired from same rank, same seniority, same pay scale, same length of service, varies from few hundred to thousands of rupees per month.

Brothers & sisters we whole heartedly support the demand of minimum universal pension per person in both unorganized & unorganized sectors, as it will give seniors Right to live with dignity which our constitution guarantees. But at the same time BPS calls upon the activists & the organizations present here to help us in our struggle to make lives of aged pensioners livable with reasonable comfort.

Jai Hind

Er. S.C.Maheshwari

Secy.Genl.

Bharat Pensioners Samaj

Bharat Pensioners Samaj Secretary General's ppt Elderly power in India Was presented in the AISCCON 12th Conferance on 2.11.2012 by Sh. D.N.Chapke Secretary Genl. AISCCON

https://dl.dropbox.com/u/24504251/Elderly%20%20power2012%20Revised%20F.ppt

Ex-servicemen status for retired paramilitary personnel

Posted: 01 Nov 2012 07:18 PM PDT

Ex-servicemen status for retired paramilitary personnel

The Union Cabinet had approved a proposal to give ex-servicemen status to retired personnel of paramilitary and central police forces, thus making them eligible for welfare benefits being availed by retired defence personnel, according to Union Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde.

“The proposal [of granting ex-servicemen status to paramilitary personnel] has been approved by the Cabinet today [Thursday]. These personnel will be called as ‘ex-central police personnel’ on the same footing as ‘ex-servicemen’ in the defence forces. Paramilitary personnel, like defence forces, put their life at stake in the line of duty and there is no problem in granting them this honour,” Mr. Shinde said while addressing the 73rd anniversary celebrations of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and at a Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) event.

The new status would benefit over four lakh retired paramilitary and central police forces personnel. They can now avail certain subsidised medical and canteen facilities.

‘Ex-central police personnel’ from paramilitary forces such as the CRPF, CISF, BSF, ITBP and SSB eligible will also be able to apply for jobs in the private sector that recognise ‘ex-servicemen’ as a trained and suitable talent for their organisations.

The Centre will ask the States to give benefits to the children of retired paramilitary personnel in educational institutes and jobs.



Source: The Hindu

[http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/exservicemen-status-for-retired-paramilitary-personnel/article4053614.ece]




INCOME TAX RATES FOR INDIVIDUALS AS PER STANDING COMMITTEE

DTC may bring relief on I-T rates

Chidambaram assures that on tabling the Bill Parliament will abide by all recommendations of the standing committee.

After the Direct Taxes Code (DTC) Bill is approved by Parliament, it may bring with it major relief for personal income tax payers. At a press conference on Monday, Finance Minister P Chidambaram said when the final version of the Bill was tabled in Parliament, the government would abide by the recommendations of the parliamentary standing committee on DTC.

The parliamentary panel, chaired by former finance minister Yashwant Sinha, had recommended the DTC increase income tax exemption limit to Rs 3 lakh a year, against the Rs 2 lakh proposed in the Bill. Currently, the exemption stands at Rs 2 lakh.

The panel also suggested a 10 per cent income tax rate be applicable for annual income of Rs 3 lakh to Rs 10 lakh. The DTC Bill had proposed this rate on income of Rs 2-5 lakh. Currently, too, 10 per cent income tax is imposed on the Rs 2-5 lakh slab.

PERSONAL INCOME TAX RATES ON ANNUAL INCOME

Tax exemption 10% rate 20% rate 30% rate

Current* Annual income up to Rs 2 lakh Annual income above Rs 2 lakh and up to Rs 5 lakh Annual income above Rs 5 lakh and up to Rs 10 lakh Annual income above Rs 10 lakh

DTC Bill --same-- --same-- --same-- --same--

Standing Committee Annual income of Rs 3 lakh Annual income above Rs 3 lakh and up to Rs 10 lakh Annual income above Rs 10 lakh and up to Rs 20 lakh Annual Income above

Rs 20 lakh

* Current means financial year 2012-13 and assessment year 2013-14

Source: Budget 2012-13: DTC Bill as tabled in Parliament in August 2010 and Parliament’s Standing Committee on Finance

The panel also suggested 20 per cent income tax be paid by those earning Rs 10-20 lakh a year. The Bill had proposed this rate for the Rs 5-10 lakh segment (the current segment).

It also wanted the government to impose a peak rate of 30 per cent on annual income of more than Rs 20 lakh, against the Bill’s provision of more than Rs 10 lakh (the current scenario).

Substantial changes in tax exemptions on long-term savings, medical insurance and social security contributions were also suggested by the committee. It wanted the government to increase the long-term savings limit for exemption from income-tax from Rs one lakh to Rs 1.5 lakh.

It recommended contribution to social security such as pension be exempted up to Rs 1.5 lakh a year; medical insurance up to Rs one lakh; medical insurance for dependent parents up to Rs 50,000 and professional studies and education Rs 50,000.

The panel did not suggest any change in the corporate tax rates imposed. The finance minister did not specify a date for the implementation of the DTC, which would replace the archaic Income Tax Act of 1961.

Initially, DTC was scheduled to be introduced from April 1. However, the standing committee had submitted its report to Parliament only in March. The government would now table the revised DTC Bill in Parliament.



Source: www.business-standard.com

[http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/dtc-may-bring-reliefi-t-rates/491103/]




Scheme for payment of pensions to postal pensioners through nationalised banks

Scheme for payment of pensions to postal pensioners through nationalised banks

MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATION & IT

DEPARTMENT OF POSTS

SCHEME FOR PAYMENY OF PENSIONS

TO POSTAL PENSIONERS THROUGH

NATIONALISED BANKS

It has been decided, in consultation with the Controller General of Accounts, Ministry of Finance that the services of the Nationalised Banks (i.e. State Bank of India and its subsidiaries and Nationalised Banks) would be utilised to disburse pensions to Postal pensioners (The actual date of introduction of the scheme will be notified to all concerned later).Ex-servicemen status for retired paramilitary personnel

The Union Cabinet had approved a proposal to give ex-servicemen status to retired personnel of paramilitary and central police forces, thus making them eligible for welfare benefits being availed by retired
defence personnel, according to Union Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde.

“The proposal [of granting ex-servicemen status to paramilitary personnel] has been approved by the Cabinet today [Thursday]. These personnel will be called as ‘ex-central police personnel’ on the same footing as ‘ex-servicemen’ in the defence forces. Paramilitary personnel, like defence forces, put their life at stake in the line of duty and there is no problem in granting them this honour,” Mr. Shinde said while addressing the 73rd anniversary celebrations of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and at a Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) event.

The new status would benefit over four lakh retired paramilitary and central police forces personnel. They can now avail certain subsidised medical and canteen facilities.

‘Ex-central police personnel’ from paramilitary forces such as the CRPF, CISF, BSF, ITBP and SSB eligible will also be able to apply for jobs in the private sector that recognise ‘ex-servicemen’ as a trained and suitable talent for their organisations.

The Centre will ask the States to give benefits to the children of retired paramilitary personnel in educational institutes and jobs.

Source: The Hindu

[http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/exservicemen-status-for-retired-paramilitary-personnel/article4053614.ece]