Monthly Bulletin-CENTRAL GOVERNMENT PENSIONERS’ FORUM, ANDHRA PRADESH
CENTRAL GOVERNMENT
PENSIONERS’ FORUM, ANDHRA PRADESH
D. Prabhakar Rao M. Somasekhar Rao Sk. Mahboob
President
General Secretary Treasurer
9490313416
9949052609 9441278709
MONTHLY
BULLETIN – AUG 2013
Modified
parity case:
The SLP filed in the Supreme Court by the Government of India against Delhi
High Court judgment dated 29.4.2013 was dismissed. Government’s orders for payment of arrears
w.e.f 01-01-2006 to eligible pre 2006 pensioners and family pensioners are
expected shortly.
DA/DR
:
The additional installment of DA/DR for central government employees and
pensioners due w.e.f., 1.7.2013 is 10%.
23rd
SCOVA meeting:
Bharat Pensioners Samaj has submitted items for inclusion in the agenda for 23rd
SCOVA meeting to be held in September 2013 (a copy is enclosed for information
of members).
EPS
95:
President of AISCCON and Secretary General of BPS jointly submitted a
memorandum on 29.7.2013 to the Chairman, Petitions Committee of Rajya Sabha at New Delhi on the demands
of EPS 95 pensioners.
Senior
Citizens protest day on 16.8.2013: The All India Senior Citizens
Confederation is observing protest day through out the country on 16th
of this month to ventilate the grievances of senior citizens. Our members are
requested to participate in the above meetings in large number. Our members residing in twin cities of Hyderabad and
Secunderabad and neighboring areas are requested to join the protest day
meeting being held on that day at 10 am in Lions Bhavan, near Paradise Circle ,
Secunderabad.
Advertisements for souvenir: The Reception
Committee of 58th Annual Conference of BPS is bringing out a
souvenir to mark the occasion. The
tariff for advertisement is as follows:
Back
cover page in colour ……………………………….
Rs.15,000/-
Inside
full page (black and white)
……………………. Rs.10,000/-
inside
half page (black and white) …………………………
Rs. 5,000/-
inside
quarter page (black and white)
……………. Rs. 3,000/-
Our members are requested to procure
advertisements for the souvenir and pass them on to our General Secretary for onward
transmission to the reception committee. The tariff may be collected by way of
crossed cheque/DD drawn in favour of ‘BPS 58th Annual Conference’.
Enhancement of
amount of ex-gratia payable to pre 1986 CPF retirees and dependent family
members of the deceased pre 1986 CPF employees – reg.
New rates of ex-gratia payable to pre
1986 CPF retirees and dependent family members of the deceased pre 1986 CPF
employees w.e.f., 4.6.2013
Group
A ……. Rs.3000/-
Group
B…… .. Rs.1000/-
Group
C …..
Rs. 750/-
Group
D ….. Rs. 650/-
Widows
and dependent children …. Rs. 645/-
Dearness ex-gratia equal to 50% of the
enhanced amount of ex-gratia and dearness relief as notified from to time on
the sums of enhanced amounts of ex-gratia and dearness ex-gratia shall also be
admissible to them. The terms and conditions for grant of ex-gratia and
dearness relief will continue to be governed by the departments OM No.A/1/87 – PIC of 13.6.1986 and OM No. A5/52/97 –
P&PW€ of 16.12.1997 and subsequent OMs issued in this regard. As laid down
in the Ministry of Finance OM dated 28.11.1969, the ex-gratia payment is not
admissible to (a) those who are dismissed/removed from service (b) those who
resigned from service.
Simplification
of pension process for permanently disabled children/siblings and dependent
parents – instructions regarding:
Please refer to DOP&PW’s OM No.1/27/2011 – P&PW (E) dated 1.7.2011. Details of these instructions will be given
in our next month’s bulletin
AIFPA’s 34th Annual
General body meeting on 19 &20.7.2013 at Chennai: Shri S.C. Maheshwari, Secretary General, Bharat
Pensioners Samaj attended and addressed the 34th Annual meeting of
the above federation at Chennai on 19.7.2013 as chief Guest. BPS has entered into a memorandum of
understanding with this federation for mutual cooperation and support. Shri V. Narayana Swamy, MOS, Ministry of
Personnel, PGs & Pension, Government of India addressed the above meeting
on 20.7.2013. He assured the meeting
that SCOVA meetings in future will be conducted quarterly. He said he would ensure disposal of
pensioners’ representations within 15 days from the date of receipt. He also told the gathering that Government of
India was sympathetic to pensioners’ demands.
Our General
Secretary accompanied by Shri D. Subba Rao, Organizing Secretary and Shri DAN
Sarma, MC member/BPS visited Visakhapatnam and Rajahmundry on 14th
and 15th of last month respectively and addressed largely attended
meetings of Railway Pensioners there. He also visited Vijayawada on 21.7.2013 along with S/Sri D.
Subba Rao and S. Rama Rao and addressed a meeting of railway pensioners there
in old Raja Rajeswaripet. At all the
above places he exhorted them to participate in the 58th Annual Conference
of BPS at Secunderabad on 17.11.2013 in good number and make it a success.
In the monthly
meeting of CG pensioners held at Malkajgiri on 27.7.2013 the untimely deaths of
S/Shri V.P.R. Pillai, President/SCRMU and A. Ramulu, President, AP State Government
Retired Employees Association were condoled.
The meeting was presided over by our President Shri D. Prabhakar Rao.
On 4.8.2013
our General Secretary joined the AP State Government Pensioners in their
monthly meeting held in their Association’s office in Sultan Bazar, Hyderabad . in paying
tributes to the sincere and dedicated services rendered by late A. Ramulu as
President of State Pensioners Association.
Further to the
donations promised/received for 58th Annual Conference of BPS as
reported in our last month’s bulletin, the following donations have been
received.
S.N.
|
Name
|
Amount
|
S.N.
|
Name
|
Amount
|
1
|
D.Venkateswarlu
|
1000
|
23
|
K. Viswanatham
|
1000
|
2
|
S.S. Swamy
|
1000
|
24
|
|
1000
|
3
|
K. Simhadri Rao
|
1000
|
25
|
G.J. John Wesley
|
300
|
4
|
N.V.S.S.Prakasa Rao
|
2500
|
26
|
S. Ramulu
|
300
|
5
|
S.Ch. Venkata Reddy
|
500
|
27
|
G. Narsimha Rao
|
1000
|
6
|
T. M. Prasad
|
300
|
28
|
D. Srirama Murthy
|
1000
|
7
|
P. Murali Rao
|
1000
|
29
|
Mirza Wazid Ali Baig
|
1000
|
8
|
P.V. Kurulkar
|
500
|
30
|
B. Janardan
|
500
|
9
|
K. Seshachary
|
1000
|
31
|
P. Devadanam
|
500
|
10
|
K.L.K.Sastry
|
1000
|
32
|
S. Rama Swamy
|
300
|
11
|
Y. Madhava Rao
|
500
|
33
|
M. Veera Swamy
|
500
|
12
|
M.V. Subrahmanyam
|
500
|
34
|
K. Satyanarayana
|
500
|
13
|
S.V. Seshagiri Rao
|
1000
|
35
|
N. Mallayya
|
100
|
14
|
P. Narsimha Reddy
|
1000
|
36
|
N. Lakshminarayana
|
200
|
15
|
N.S.V.R.K. Sarma
|
500
|
37
|
D. Rosaiah
|
100
|
16
|
R.V. Ramana Rao
|
500
|
38
|
G. Yellaiah Iyliah
|
100
|
17
|
T.S. Sastry
|
500
|
39
|
S. Mastan Rao
|
100
|
18
|
B. Gurudas
|
1000
|
40
|
B. Krishna Murthy
|
100
|
19
|
T.M. Thomas
|
500
|
41
|
A, Trinadha Rao
|
500
|
20
|
V. Venkateswarlu
|
1000
|
42
|
R. Sayanna
|
1000
|
21
|
P. Chandrasena
|
1111
|
43
|
D.P. Shankar Rao
|
500
|
22
|
K. Balaiah
|
1000
|
44
|
V. Ramalingam
|
1000
|
Office: H.No.
12-11-1411, Boudhanagar, Secunderabad – 500 061,
Agenda for 23rd SCOVA meeting
1. SCOVA Agenda items should be discussed
& decided in SCOVA meeting only at least in the presence of Secretary:
Often the official side rules
(especially in case of Rlys) that the items may be discussed separately with
the concerned Ministry/Department. This gives a feeling that the official side
is not really interested in solving Pensioners problems.
When Agenda items are segregated and remitted to
the concerned Ministry/Departments well in advance, the representative officers
from that Ministry/ Department should be in a position to give a firm reply on
the Agenda items pertaining to them. And why all the items should not be
discussed and decided in the SCOVA meeting at least in the presence of the
Secretary. If need be amendment to the constitution of SCOVA may be considered.
2. New Pension Scheme (PFRDA) NPS:
A comprehensive Guide line for
quick & Time bound disposal of the settlement dues to eligible heirs of
deceased employee covered under New Pension Scheme (PFRDA) need to be
circulated through Pensioners Portal w/o delay. At present neither the employee
nor their survivors or the pensioners’ organization are aware of the
settlement procedure
3 . Deprivation of all the central pay
commission benefits in terms of pay revisions & Pensionary benefits to
pensioners born on 1.1.1946/1938/1928 owing to their retirements
on31.12.2005/1955/1985 :
The modified FR56(a), requires every one
whose date of birth is the first of a month to retire from service on the
afternoon of the last day of the preceding month on attaining the age of
superannuation .As a result of this modification
pensioners born on 1.1.1946/1938/1928 are deprived of all the central pay
commission benefits in terms of pay revisions & Pensionary
benefits owing to their retirements on31.12.2005/1955/1985.
This proviso singled out the Ist Jan.
1946/1938/1928-born pensioners for deprivation of the Pay
Commission benefits. Such of the pensioners are made to
suffer for no fault of theirs and are deprived of EQUALITY of
status and of opportunity. This violation of Article 14 of
constitution need to be set right immediately.
4. Disparity in Pension fixation for Pre-2006
Pensioners:
OM No 38/37/08-P&PW(A) 28/01/2013 has
caused disparities within the Pre 2006 Homogenous group of pensioners, due to
the application of different methods for calculation of minimum pension. For
pre revised Scales S4 to S29 Minimum Pension has been arrived following the
formula :50% of Pay in Pay Band +GP whereas for S 30,31,S 32 it has been
calculated as 50% of the minimum of revised Scale .This has resulted in their
minimum guaranteed pension going up by more than three times the pre revised
minimum pension, whereas barring S24,percentage rise in minimum pension is much
less for S4-23,S25-S29.
In order to ensure uniform treatment among single
homogenous class of pre-2006 pensioners w.e.f. 1.1.2006 for revision of minimum
guaranteed pension, to ensure equality, it is requested that on par with the
scale based retirees, (i.e. those retired from S-30, S-31, S-32 prior to
1.1.2006), a uniform multiplication factor of at least 3 may be applied over
50% of bottom stage of pre-revised scale from which the pensioner had retired,
for deriving guaranteed revised pension w.e.f. 1.1.2006.
5.
Merger of5 Postal Dispensaries in Andhra Pradesh:
While we are thankful for the Merger of 19
Postal Dispensaries in 12 Cities covered by CGHS with effect from 01.08.2013 It
is requested that merger of 5 Postal Dispensaries in Andhra Pradesh i.e at Visakhapatnam , Rajahmundry ,
Vijayawada , Guntur
and Nellore with CGHS at Hyderabad may be considered to mitigate the
health care difficulties of Pensioners living in Non-CGHS areas. Long distance factor may not come in the way
as an hurdle in this age of advanced Information Technology. Internet
Connectivity is available throughout the region.
6. At Vijaywada DOT pensioners are availing Medical facilities from P&T
Dispensary Vijayvada which is one of the 15 P&T dispensaries leftover
after the merger of 19 dispensaries with CGHS. It caters to over 3500
beneficiaries, over 500 of whom are pensioners in the age group of 75yrs &
above with chronic ailments. There are 2 contract Doctors. The 4 regular
Doctors & two lab Technicians retired but vacancies not yet filled .
Contract doctors locally purchase medicines on the basis of prescriptions
obtained by beneficiaries from empanelled hospitals. However, Local purchase
limit is only Rs3500 per year per card holder which is too little,with the
result most of other pensioners are not
able to get all the medicines required for chronic ailments. The local purchase
limit therefore, needs to be increased to CGHS level.
7.Sanction
of Family pension to dependent widow/divorced daughters on their turn:
Nagpur
Division of Central Railway is refusing to sanction family pension to
Widowed/divorced daughters on the ground that the event occurred after the
death of both parents. The orders issued on the subject so far do not lay down
any such condition. Necessary clarification on the subject may be issued so
that eligible claimant, are not harassed.
8.RELHS
facilities to Rly Pensioners:
(A)
Minister of Railways in his Budget speech in parliament on 26.02.2013
vide Para48 iv promised extending the
treatment facility in case of medical emergency to
RELHS beneficiaries to all cities where hospitals are empanelled either with CGHS or with Railways. Declaration in budget speech is commitment to Parliament thus warrants time bound action for implementation. So far there is no visible action in this regard. The Nodal Minister is requested to seek status report & disclose it to all concerned.
RELHS beneficiaries to all cities where hospitals are empanelled either with CGHS or with Railways. Declaration in budget speech is commitment to Parliament thus warrants time bound action for implementation. So far there is no visible action in this regard. The Nodal Minister is requested to seek status report & disclose it to all concerned.
(B)Smart Card facility to RELHS beneficiaries
:
Though instruction in this regard were issued
vide Boards letter Nos
2007/H/28/1/RELHS/Smart card dated 18.07.2012& 27.8.2012 But the said
orders have not been implemented even after more than a year. So much so, even
the smart cards which were already issued against a cost by N.Rly in NCR have not been renewed. Action to issue Smart
card & signing of MOU with CGHS/ECHS
empanelled hospitals is dismal.RELHS beneficiaries are being deprived of
legitimate facility. Nodal Ministry
requested to take up the matter.
(C) RELHS facilities to Rly.family pensioners,
other than spouse {i.e Widowed / Divorced / Unmarried dependent
daughters of Rly. Pensioners when they become Family Pensioner):
Though in view of Rly Board’s letter No 2013/H/16/1/Misc dated
09.01.2013 & No 2003/H/28/1/RELHS dated 16.3.2009 All family pensioners are
entitled to join RELHS but as the new RELHS cards are issued by the personnel
branch (and not the Medical branch) they go by manual provision & as per
the eligibility criteria prescribed vide Para 612 (2) iii of Indian Railway
Medical Manual 2000 only the spouse family Pensioner is eligible to join RELHS
Thus unless the eligibility criteria laid down in IRMM is amended Family pensioners other than the spouse will
remain deprived of RELHS facilities. Inspite
of the issue being raised from different Forums like SCOVA. Directorate General Railway Board has
not taken adequate steps by way of amendment to IRMM, to ensure that facility
is made available to all Family Pensioners & their dependent Kids
9.
Dedicated day to meet Rly. Pensioners:
There
are almost 12 lac of Rly. Pensioners who have specific problems relating to
Indian Rly Pension Rules & Rly’s department of health. It is therefore, desirable that on the lines
of DOP & PW initiative. A system to meet pensioners & their
Associations on a dedicated day is introduced on Railways right from Sub
Divisional level to Rly Board level
10 : A JE Gr. II retired from CPWD from scale Rs.1400-2300 is
drawing min. pension Rs.6750 w.e.f. 1.1.2006, whereas, a similarly
placed JE II retired from Railways is getting min pension Rs.5585 (
copy of RTI Reply from CPWD enclosed – A1)
Retd. JE Gr. II from CPWD Basic pension
Rs.6750 + Rs.5400 DR =
Rs. 12150
Retd. JE Gr.
II from Rlys. Basic Pension
Rs.5585 + Rs 4468 DR = Rs. 10053
---------
Railway Pensioner getting less pension evey
month Rs. 2097
---------
Same is the case in
respect of other categories also. This sort of degrading and downgrading of
Railway Pensioners vis-Ă -vis other Central Govt. Pensioners is to be put an
end.
V PC – Summary of
Recommendations para 37 (a) reads “ Diploma holders in Engineering
generally entered service in the pay scale of Rs.1400-2300 or below.
All of them have been brought up to the pre-revised scale of
Rs.1600-2660.”. This Recommendation is applicable to all CG
Pensioners, including Railway Pensioners.
11: In the case of Mistries
( Feeder Post) retired from scale Rs. 1400-2300, from Jagadhri Workshops of
Northern Railway, min. pension in VI PC is fixed as Rs.6750, applying PB2 ,
based on Punjab & Haryana H.C. orders, whereas in the case of JEs Gr. II (
Promotional post) retired from scale Rs.1400-2300 min. pension is fixed as
Rs.5585 based on PB 1. This anomaly of a “Supervised” getting more
pension than the “Supervised” is to be set right. Para 126.5 of V PC
Recommendations deal with extending judicial decisions in matters of a
general nature to all similarly placed employees.
12: Benefit
of upgraded scale Rs.67000-79000, introduced subsequently in place of already
implemented PB 4+GP Rs. 12000, for S30 grade in the pre-revised scale
of Rs. 22400-24500 is extended to pre 2006 retired S30
grade officers ( Addl. Secy. level etc) and min. pension re-revised as Rs.33500
w.e.f. 1.1.2006. But, benefit of upgraded grade pay Rs.4600, introduced
subsequently in place of already implemented GP Rs. 4200, for S12 grade in
pre-revised scale of Rs.6500-10500, is not extended to pre 2006 pensioners
retired from S12 grade. This is an anomaly, in that one yardstick is applied
for Group ‘A’ cadre and another yardstick applied to Group ‘C’
cadre. This discriminatory treatment between Group ‘A’ and Group ‘C’ Pensioners
need to be corrected.
S.C. Maheshwari
Comments