BPS 58th AGM Proceedings & Resolutions adopted on 17.11.2013
BPS- 58th AGM at Secunderabad on 17.11.2013
58th AGM OF BHARAT PENSIONERS SAMAJ AT
SECUNDERABAD ON NOVEMBER,
17, 2013.----
A BRIEF REPORT ----
1.
Over 1000 pensioners from Hyderabad,
Secunderabad & vicinity along with 876 delegates from different parts of
the country thronged the sprawling premises of Keyes high School Secunderabad where
the 58th BPS AGM was held on 17.11.2013.
Exactly at 10AM Working President
BPS R.N. Tripathy took the Chairs on the Dias 876 Delegates , coming from
different part of the country, covering wide range of states, such as Manipur,
Mizoram, Assam, West Bengal, Bihar, UP, Punjab, Maharashtra, Rajisthan,
Gujarat, Odisha, Tamilnadu, Kerala,Karnataka,Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Delhi etc.,
representing pensioners’ organizations of various departments including
Defence, Railway ,PSUs and industries,
both Central & State Governments, took their seats in the Pandal.
M.
SomasekharaRao, Vice-President, BPS, South Zone and Chairman, Reception
Committee invited the chief guests, spl.guest of honor & other dignatories
to the dais . S.C.Maheshwari Secy.Genl. BPS & Reception committee welcomed
them with garlands
Sh K.R.Gangadharan; President International Federation on Ageing(IFA)
& SH. Shiva Gopal Mishra; Genl. Secy. All India Railway Men Federation (AIRF)
graced the event respectively as Chief
Guest & Spl. Guest of honor.
Session
started with the chanting of “VandeMataram” & “Jyoti Prajjalan”.
D. PrabhakarRao, Hon-Chairman, Reception
Committee delivered welcome address giving graphic description of Twin cities of Hyderabad
/Secunderabad& the places of
historic and tourist interest in and around it and wished the delegates all the
best in their deliberations.
There
after a souvenir was released to commemorate the occasion and the chief guest
invited to deliver inaugural speech.
2. Gist of
address delivered by the Chief Guest&
Spl Guest of honor :---
i)
Dr.K.R.Gangadharan, President
International Federation of Ageing Toronto, Canada.
In his inaugural speech while reiterating IFA’s
support to BPS at National & International levels, apprised the audience of
various provisions at National and International level for the care of the
Elderly People. He talked about “The National Policy on older persons,1999”,
which admits that, “concerns of Elderly
are National concerns and they will notliveunprotected, ignored, ormarginalized”. That, the state will extend support for Financial
Security, Health Care, Shelter, Welfare and other needs of Older Persons.However,
he was sore about poor implementation progress of NPOP1999&inadequate health
care facilities for the elderly.He pointed out that, the older people constitute
more than 12% of the Electoral of the Country &cannot be ignored.
(Video recording of his speech is now available on You
tube URL : http://youtu.be/IaFO4n3nKjo , https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCtDf-8yLzZ6SoIddpksudvg)
ii)
Sri Shiva
Gopal Mishra, General Secretary, AIRF.(All
India Railwaymen’s Federation) A labour Leader of National stature:----
While
appreciating BPS& assuring all out support to it, said,“BPS has a larger
platform, it should strive to bring all pensioners under one umbrella”.Referring
to Department wise pensioners’ organizations, he said that there should be only
one community kitchen & not separate separate kitchens. He uttered,“ Kuch
Lena h to ladnahoga, ekhokarchalnahoga”He talked about the plight of the
Railwaymen, while in service, as well as, when they retire&about non implementation of smart card facility for
RELHS beneficiaries. He criticized passing of PFRDA (NPS) Bill applicable to
those entered service on or after
01.01.2004 , explained its menacing effect on would be Pensioners and their
Family members & the likelihood of itsextension
to existing pensioners also. .He called upon the Pensioners’ Organizations of the country
to get united to resist. Mishra said,“Pension is a social security tool and we
all should fight for its retention in its pre 01.01.2004 form”. He also called for eradication of corruption and bribery in the Administration.
(Video recording of his speech is now available on you tube URL :
(Video recording of his speech is now available on you tube URL :
http://youtu.be/7vgG-cXrk5Q , http://youtu.be/LOUAstVkdWw & https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCtDf-8yLzZ6SoIddpksudvg https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCtDf-8yLzZ6SoIddpksudvg
3.Gist of address of guests who addressed the huge audience
3.Gist of address of guests who addressed the huge audience
(i) President
AISSCCON D.N.Chake(http://youtu.be/LOUAstVkdWw ), President AIRROA (Secunderabad) representatives of
AIFPA (Chennai),NFRP (Palghat),A P State Govt.Retired Employees Association, EPS
-95 who expressed their support to BPS
& resolve to fight Common issues
jointly & severally.
(ii) President AIRROA P.S.Venkataraman : AIRROA is having a total membership of
around 1500 from all over the country with a number of Retired Railway
Officers' Associations functioning in all major Railway towns affiliated to it.
AIRROA gets lot of useful information from BPS-Delhi through their Digests
for sharing with its own members..BPS as an umbrella organization for several
associations representing many departments is doing an excellent service for
the welfare of Govt.Pensioners.
Sri.Venkataraman
requested BPS Secretary General to help Railway Pensioners in 2 pending
matters.
1.
RELHS beneficiaries were to be issued Smart Health cards by Railway
Administration as per Railway Board's letter issued more than a year ago. With
this card in Emergencies RELHS beneficiaries can get admitted directly into
approved Corporate and other hospitals without going through Rly hospitals and
thereby saving valuable time which is crucial for life saving. So far these
cards have not been issued by Railways, the reason being no corporate
hospital is interested in accepting the terms offered by Railways. Issue of
this card is to be expedited.
2.Those
Gr,B officers like AEN.ASTE etc. who retired prior to 1996 are given minimum
pension as per modified priority with Grade pay of Rs.4200 only with PB-2,
where as those Gr.B officers who are serving are given Grade pay of Rs.4800
.This needs to be redressed, as this affects a large number of old/family
Pensioners.
(iii) General
Secretary, Andhra Pradesh State Government Retired Employees Er. R.L.N. Ratnam,
Our Association
has branches in all the 23 districts of Andhra Pradesh from Mandal to District
level with a membership of about 4 lakhs.
I am very happy to inform this house that due to long and sustained
efforts of employees as well as pensioners’ organizations, the government of
A.P has issued orders recently introducing ‘cashless treatment health cards’ to
employees, pensioners, family pensioners
and their dependents. These orders will
take effect from 5.12.2013. Andhra
Pradesh is the first state in our country to introduce this benefit.
We propose a
broad coordination among central and state government pensioners associations
in the country for regular interaction on various issues concerning pensioners
and also for launching joint campaigns, whenever necessary. We appeal to Bharat Pensions Samaj, as the
oldest and the largest pensioners’ federation with headquarters at New Delhi,
to take the initiative in the matter.
The A.P. State Government Retired Employees Association will extend its
cooperation to such a coordination committee.
We are of the considered opinion that such coordination is very
necessary to fight for uniform benefits for all pensioners.
Our Association
had not only submitted a comprehensive memorandum to the 10th Pay
Revision Commission but also tendered oral evidence before the PRC on 12th
of this month. We are hopeful that the
PRC will sympathetically consider many of our demands. We have demanded 50% interim relief with
effect from 1.7.2013 and we are fully confident that the Andhra Pradesh State
Government will consider our demand favorably.
We assure our
full support to Bharat Pensioners Samaj in all its programmes and activities.
4.Delegate
Session:---
Afterthe speeches of the distinguished Guestsand
Visitors, distribution of awards to Associations & honoring new entrants to
BPS Platinum age brotherhood. S.C.Maheswari, Secretary General, BPS, announced
the placement of (1)his annual reports
with accounts for 2012 – 2013, estimates 13-14, copies of which were circulated
earlier to different Affiliates as well as to the house on date( but did notformally read out his report because of time constraint) (2) Draft
Resolutions copies of which were circulated to delegates and (3)sought ratification of MC decisions
dated 01.12,14.4.2013,16,11,2013, approval for ( i). Merger of AICCPA with BPS (ii).
Creation of post of Secy EPS95&Secy Administration (iii) dropping of 4 MC membersi.e i.Smt.
S.Kodvaniii.Sh GS Aiswaliii.ShPrakash Chand
iv. Dyani,
(iv) Approval of nomination of PrakashYende as Secy EPS95 at Wardha,
M.K KAPSE fm Ajni -Nagpur , Kamal Kishore from Lucknow,Mohmad Yunus at Wardha as M.C. from members against vacancies.(V) Appointment of
DSM & Associates Chartered
accountant as Auditors for the financial year 2012-13,13-14 &
014-15.After approval of above quoted proposal Secy. Genl. moved amendment to constitution which were also
passed unanimously These amendments will
be published separately after incorporating in main Rule & regulations.
Over 15
delegates took part in the discussion,
Sri
S.M.Kanjilal from N.F.Railway,
describing the strength and spread of N.F. Railway Pensioners’ Association, (having
33 branches in the North East Region including two at Kolkata, supported the
Secy. Genl. report as well as accounts and suggested that BPS Head Qtrs. ; in Delhi be strengthened, for
which the Secretary General should be empowered to co – opt necessary personnel&
to take important decision w/o waiting for M.C & AGM for efficient
management of the Central Office.
The proposal was accepted.& a resolution to this
effect was passed with the condition that post facto approval of AGM/MC (as the case may be) will be sought by
Secy. Genl. for all such decisions & co-options.
When Kanjilalgave
information of proposal to donate Bodies after Death for Medical
Research by him & some other members of NFRPA, he was greeted by the
Audience withapplaud.
Sri
Bimalendu Chakraborty, Secretary
(Railway Pension) / BPS, placed some additional resolutions on General Demands,
high lighting PFRDA Bill, 27 points Charter of Demands of Railway Pensioners, 7th
CPC, solidarity to the Phailan affected people of Andhra Pradesh and Odisha, as
well as congratulating the Scientists and Technicians of ISRO for their
successful launching of India’s first Inter-planetary satellite, “The Mars
Orbiter space Craft”.
As asked by the S G, Sri Chakraborty also submitted
his proposal on organization of Railway Pensioners under BPS, suggesting
formation of Zonal Co-ordination
Committee, where Zonal Body does not exist, with an ultimate formation of National Co-ordination Committee under BPS, with Secretary General as Chairman
and Secretary (Railway Pensioners) as Convener. The proposal was accepted
un-opposed.
In the end AGM empowered Secy. Genl. to
constitute a coordinating committee to draft memorandum to 7th CPC
and for its follow up action. AGM also empowered Secy. Genl; to co-opt suitable
persons to strengthen BPS HQ. A Special Resolution was also passed
for Staging a DHARNA, on 24th February, 2014 “at
Jantar Mantar”,New Delhi to support the resolutions adopted by 58th
AGM & to high light the most deplorable condition of lakhs of “Pensioners” under EPS – 95 and other
Demands of Pensioners, was raised by the Secretary General / BPS and the same
was accepted unanimously.
After valedictory address by Sh R.N.Tripathi Working
president BPS& Vote of thanks by D.PrabharkarRao
The conference was concluded with singing of National
Anthem and slogan of,”BPS – Zindabad”.
S.C.Maheshwari
Secy.Genl. BPS
Resolutions
Resolutions adopted by the 58th Annual General
Meeting of Bharat Pensioners Samaj held at Secunderabad on 17.11.2013
1.While This 58 AGM express its solidarity &
sympathies with the Phailan affected people of Andhra Pradesh and Odisha, it congratulate
the Scientists and Technicians of ISRO for their successful launching of
India’s first Inter-planetary satellite, “The Mars Orbiter space Craft”.
2.Full Parity in
Pension::Being
in the same Homogeneous group of Pensioners, there exists full parity
in pension among judges of the supreme court, High court and Comptroller and
auditor General of India. Through modified parity to existing
pre& post 2006 pensioners from erstwhile Vth CPC
scales S 24,30 ,31, 32 too have become at par while other pensioners
from S 23 & below are deprived of such benefit. To remove this
discrimination wef 01.01.2006. BPS submits that in a socialist country this
type of discriminatory treatment in not in tune with the provisions of Indian
Constitution and demands uniformly equal percentage rise over minimum of
pre revised Scales in arriving at minimum of all Pay Bands/Pay Scales and a
common multiplication factor for revision of Pension of all pensioners so that
everyone irrespective of pre-retirement status gets equal percentage rise in
minimum guaranteed Pension as well as in normal consolidation to arrive at
revised pension.
3. Revision of rate of
Pension/Family pension : In present economic scenario as well as according
to the study conducted more than a decade back at the behest of Vth CPC
by TATA Economic Consultancy Services post retirement requirement of income of
a pensioner was to the tune of 65% of the pre-retirement gross income. Economic
situation has further detoriated since then . Keeping in view the
finances of the country, BPS demands upward revision of Pension&
Family pension to 70% & 50% respectively
4.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 posts with almost 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 Meeting therefore
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.
5.Revision of
Pension every 5 years: Pension of the
central Govt. employees undergo revision only once in 10 or 13 years during
which Pension structure tend s to get seriously dis-aligned. Non-receipt of
revised pension over 10-13 years results in considerable damage to financial
position of Pensioners. Therefore, BPS demands that Pension revision
should be once in five years’
Revision takes place once in 5 years for employees as well as pensioners
of several state governments in our country.
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 post 1.1.2006 retirees. This is in violation of the letter and spirit
of Hon’ble Apex court judgment in Nakara case.
This meeting 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
age related Pension’ : In the present scenario of
climatic changes , presence of pesticide & rising pollution old age
disabilities/diseases set in by the time an employee retires and
go on manifesting very fast, needing additional finances to take care of these
disabilities & diseases. It is therefore, demanded that 5%
upward enhancement in pension be granted ‘’every five years’ after the age of
60 years
8.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
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 meeting calls upon the government to grant additional pension for
service above 20 years.
9.Enhancement of
Minimum Guaranteed pension: Keeping in view the socialistic &
economic fiber as well as the rising trend in cost of living, to meet the
requirement of article 21 of the constitution that is “Right to live with
dignity” minimum guaranteed Pension/Family Pension be raised from 3500/ to Rs
9000/-PM wef 1.1.2011 or 70% of the minimum of 7th CPC revised Basic
pay of existing employee whichever is more.
10.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 cut off 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 Meetingtherefore 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.
11.Merger of DR whenever it goes above
50%: Merger of DR with pension whenever it goes above
50%:-The Pension of Central Govt. Pensioners undergo revision only once in 10
years during which period the pension structure gets seriously dis-aligned, 50
% increase in price takes place in less than 5 years. This results in
considerable damage to the financial position of the pensioner with otherwise
inadequate Pension. As admitted by ShMontek Singh Deputy Chairman planning
commission in his statement to PTI on 27.2.2008 DA does not adequately take
care of inflation. . 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 goes beyond 50%.This Meeting 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.
12.Interim
Relief:
That the Government of India have announced their decision to approach 7th
CPC. This AGM urges on the government to
grant Interim Reliefto pensioners
and family pensioners and ex-gratia beneficiaries.
13.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 pensionerw.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 were 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. This Meeting 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.
14.Fitment Benefitbe
raised to 50%: 6th CPC
recommended same fitment benefit to existing pensioners as given to employees.
Consequently Pensioners were allowed 40% as fitment benefit whereas employees
were given fitment benefit through GP which is more than 40%. To set right this discrimination, pensioners
be given 50% fitment benefit
15.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.
16.
Restoration of commuted value of pension in 12 years:Commutation
value in respect of employee superannuating at the age of 60 years between
1.1.1996 & 31.12.2002 and commuting a portion of pension within a period of
one year would be equal to 9.81years Purchase After adding there to a further
period of two years for recovery of interest in terms of observation of Supreme
court in their judgment in writ petitions No 395-61 of 183 decided in
December 1986. It would be reasonable to
restore commuted portion of pension in 12 years instead of present 15 years. In
case of Person superannuating at
the age of 60 years after 31.12 2005 and
seeking commutation within a year, number of purchase years have been further reduced to 8.194.Also the
mortality rate of 6o plus Indians has considerably reduced ever since supreme
court’s above judgmentof 1986. This Meeting therefore appeals to the government
to issue early orders in the above regard as commuted portion gets repaid
within much less than 12 years.
17.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.
18..Issue
of revised PPOs to pre 1.1.2006 pensioners and family pensioners as per VI CPC;
There are several cases pending till date.
This AGM therefore urges expeditious action and a monitoring mechanism
at various levels to complete the process in a time-bound manner
19 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 Meeting
therefore demands that pension should be net of income tax as recommended by 5th
CPC, vide their para 167.11
20.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 AGM therefore demands
total withdrawal of the scheme.
21.Roll-back
pension fund regulatory and development authority bill;
This AGM 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.
22.Medical facilities:
Land mark judgments: The enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of health
is recognized as a fundamental right of all workers in terms of Article 21 read
with Article 39©,41,43,48A and all related Articles as pronounced by the
Supreme court in consumer education and research centre&othersVs union of
India(AIR 1995 supreme court 922) The Supreme court has held that that the right
to health to a worker is an integral
facet of meaningful right to life to have not only a meaningful existence but
also robust health & vigor. Therefore right to health, medical aid to
protect the health & vigor of a worker while in service or post retirement
is a fundamental right-to make life of a worker meaningful and purposeful with dignity of person. In
another case of LAXMAN THAMAPPA KOTGIRlAppellant ..- VS G.M..CENTRAL RAILWAY
& ORS. {2005(1) SCALE} Bench: Justice
RUMA PAL AND Justice C.K. THAKKER,
the honorable apex court held Medical facilities in Indian Railways to be
part of service condition and in yet another land mark judgments the supreme
court has made providers of medical facilities also subject to consumer
protection act in Indian Medical council
Vs VP Shantha
and others (1995(6) SCC 651)
.Thus health care for Govt. employees &ex employees is not only a welfare measure but also a
fundamental 'Right' As
all the pensioners irrespective of pre-retirement status & Class belong to same
category of citizens & same homogenous group of Pensioners, there should be no class or category discrimination and every pensioner
must be provided Health care services at par with IAS & ex Ministers.
23.Increase FMA (Fixed Medical
Allowance) to Rs2000 pm: (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 taking into consideration cost of OPD treatment per
card holder under CGHS during the year 2003-2004, which has increased 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 Labor & Employment,
is already paying Rs 2000/- as FMA to EPFO 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 leastRs2000/- PM w/o any distance restriction linking it to
Dearness Relief for automatic further increase.
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.
24.Issue of smart cards;
Railway Board’s instructions for issue of Smard Cards to RELHS beneficiaries
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 Meeting
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.
25.Extension of RELHS& Service for eligibility;
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 to 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.
26.Extension of CS(MA)
Rules, 1944 to central government pensioners residing outside CGHS area: This is a long standing demand and pensioners
and family pensioners residing outside CGHS areas are being exposed to severe
hardship in the absence of non-coverage under the above rules. As medicate in post retirement life is their
fundamental right, the government are fervently urged to concede this demand at
the earliest.
27.CGHS: Some
of the Postal Pensioners and Pensioners retired from KendriyaVidyalaya Scheme
are denied Permanent CGHS Plastic Cards
for treatment in CGHS. The reasons are said to be Court Cases. The Pensioners are ready to withdraw if an
assurance is given. In fact some of the
SLPs are filed by Central Government itself.
Request to withdraw the same with a sympathetic administrative changed
look upholding the constitutional guarantees made available to Pensioners.
(b) Out of 35 Postal Dispensaries,
only 19 are merged with CGHS in 12 Cities from 1.8.2013. All the remaining 16 postal dispensaries be
merged into CGHS as early as possible.
© The case for separate CGHS for
Visakhapatnam is pending since a long time.
This may be approved. It is also
requested to consider the proposal for another at Jalandhar in Punjab. Dispensary for PANCHAKULA is also prayed for.
(d) The general orders issued for
enrollment of Central Government Pensioners in any nearby CGHS location may
also be given with wider publicity since a large number of Pensioners are not
aware of this. The Pensioners in the
merged postal dispensaries with the CGHS are happy for providing Indoor Medical
Treatment which is denied for the Pensioners living in Non-CGHS areas.
28.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.
29.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 AGM 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.
30.Reduction in period of service to 10 years for entitlement of retirement complimentary
passes; This Meetingappeals
for reduction of the period in the above regard as full pension is sanctioned for 10 years of
qualifying service.
31. Revision of ex-gratia rates of pre 1.1.86 CPF/
SRPF© beneficiaries and their families; This AGM 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 retired 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 in the case of 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 is unjust and
discriminatory. The recommendation of IV CPC to give them one time option for
pension was not accepted by the government.
They are being continuously meted out 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
parents unlike those of pensioners.
They are not extended the benefit of FMA though SRPF© beneficiaries are
admitted to RELHS. The families of SRPF©
beneficiaries arealsonot eligible for widow pass benefit. This AGM urges on the government of India to
accord sympathetic and humanitarian treatment to these beneficiaries and their
families and ensure that minimum ex-gratia
is raised Rs.3500/- per monthw.e.f., 1.1.2006 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.
32.EPS 95:This
58th AGM of Bharat Pensioners Samaj, Demands that EPS 95 be modified to(i) remove Pensionable
Salary limit of Rs 6500/(ii) to provide for equal contribution of 8.33.by both
Govt. &employer (iii)To ensure that employers in order to keep their contribution lower, does
not show more perks & less Salary
(iv) To provide for minimum pension equal to 50% of Central Govt. minimum Salary.( v) to provide
for free health care facilities to all EPS 95 pensioners & their
dependents.
33. Extension of OSD
canteen facilities to defence civilian pensioners: This facility which they enjoyed while in
service may be continued to them after retirement also as the discrimination is
irrational and unjustified.
34.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 AGM therefore urges on the government to
take strong and effective measures to control price line
35 This 58 th AGM of BPS brings it to the notice of
the government of Andhra Pradesh, the miserable state of retired rural medical
practitioners, who are poverty stricken and finding it very difficult to make
both ends meet. Now there are about
400(four hundred) retired RMPs in the state of Andhra Pradesh. They worked on a monthly pay of Rs.8500/- in the rural
dispensaries and retired at the age of 58 years. They are not
provided with pension, gratuity, death benefits etc.
AGM requests the benevolent government may be
pleased to pay pension at Rs.4250/- per month which is 50% of the pay drawn,
from the date of retirement of each RMP with retrospective effect. While there were 1050 rural dispensaries in
the year 1982, now there are only about 10 (ten). The most pitiable condition of the few 400
retired RMPs may be considered with compassion and provided with pension with
retrospective effect.
36. This 58th AGM of Bharat Pensioners
samaj the largest Pensioners network in India requests the benevolent government of
Chhattisgarh to bear 100% liability of its pensioners. Present arrangement of
sharingthe liability between the Governmentsof Madhya Pradesh&Chhattisgarh
is subjecting the pensioners in their sunset years to lot of inconvenience & discomfort
37 Functioning
of SCOVA : This 58th conference of BPS express grave concern on the
way SCOVA is presently function and demands redress of following issues be
immediately .
(1) In
the absence of any norms for acceptance of new agenda items. Admission of new items is purely on the discretion of the officers and as such
only items which suits the convenience of administration are included. This
defeats the very purpose of the constitution of SCOVA
(2) While
recording minutes of SCOVA meeting points raised by non- official members are
totally ignored and are not included in minutes.
(3)
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 all the items should 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.
(4)Nomination of
SCOVA members: As no Ministry/Department other than M/O Personnel,
PG &Pensions-DOP &PW has system of identification/recognition and monitoring the performance of Pensioners’
Associations. Future nomination of SCOVA
members should be based on the
assessment of DOP &PW especially as in the absence existence of any system
of identification/recognition or monitoring performance of pensioners
associations in other Ministries /Departments, the recommendation of other departments are based on either
subjective assessment or on individual
links.
(5) To achieve the vision & mission projected in the Citizens
Charter of DOP &PW. Constitution of SCOVA may be revised to upgrade it on
the lines similar to JCM. And in Staff side of JCM on pension matters: representative of pensioners’ Associations be
included to ensure true representation of Pensioners’ community. If required
necessary amendments to Rules /Acts etc may be introduced
(6)
Though the frequency of SCOVA meetings have
been raised to Twice a year but the time of meeting has been drastically
curtailed. In case Honorable minister cannot devote much time Secretary should continue
the meeting after his departure. At least one full working day be allotted for
this meeting
38 PSU absorbee Pensioners:
“The Hon'ble Supreme Court did
not accept classifying the absorbee Pensioners as "Ceased Pensioners"
and ordered restoration of Pension, revision of Pensions, payment of all
attendant benefits on full pension, to treat at par, extend all attendant
benefits, implement in letter and spirit vide the orders dated:
1-5-1998,26-4-2000,29-11-2006. The A.P. High Court in its order dated 8-9-2005
ordered to follow existing rules without referring to its earlier formula. The
CAT Hyderabad in O.A. 1345 of 2001 ordered to recover only the original 2/3rd
committed part
but not the 2/3rd of revised
pension. The CAT Hyderabad in its order dated 27-9-2011 told the Government that
the method followed is not in consonance with the order of Supreme Court
dated: 1-5-1998. The A.P. High
Court in its Order dated: 31-7-2012 has confirmed that the method followed was
not as per Supreme Court Order of 1-5-1998. The Government’s argument of taking
or merging all attendant benefits only for purpose of arriving at full notional
pension and for payment or revision only 1/3rd of it will be taken is untenable
in as much as it has no acceptance from CAT, High Court or Supreme Court by
dismissing the appeal in W.P. 12923 of 2012 in A.P. High. Court or the O.A. 710
of 2010 in CAT Hyderabad or in M.A. 875 of 2012 in CAT Hyderabad on 22-4-2013
and finally in Supreme Court in SLP 22911 of 2012 on 11-1-2013 in which the
Supreme Court did not accept for any discrimination violating its earlier
orders of 1-5-1998 and the Department of Law and Justice also concluded that
parity is to be maintained. Further the CAT Hyderabad in their order dated
22-4-2013 clearly ordered that the amount payable should be same or equal as
that of any other Central Government Pensioner and that the fruits of revision
should be enjoyed by these elderly pensioners.
As such, the above verdicts are
not accepting the two pension theory - one notional for purpose of calculation
of DR, Additional age linked Pension and another non-notional Pension which
takes back life long the once paid attendant benefits at the time of each
revision, for take home pension.
Therefore, this 58th
AGM of Bharat Pensioners Samaj demands that
GOI should apply same rules, same orders and there should be no exclusion
paragraphs as Supreme Court in its orders dated: 15-12-1995 quashed para 4 of
its O.M. dated: 5-3-1987 excluding these Pensioners from restoration of the
commuted Pension and CAT Hyderabad in its order dated: 23-9-2013 told the
Government that their O.M. dated: 11-7-2013 is not compliance at all of their
verdict dated: 22-4-2013. Thus there should be only one Pension from which the
actual commuted part is deducted during the first 180 months and balance
pension is paid monthly right from day one which will be treating at par as per
Supreme Court Orders dated: 1-5-1998 and also as per para 6 of commutation
rules 1981 read with paragraphs 13, 14 of GOls, Ministry of Finance O.M.
No.26(18) E/V/B/75, dated: 8-4-1976.
39.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.
40.Funeral grant; Funeral grant
is now available for pensioners of various state governments. This AGM appeals to the government of India
not to lag behind in the matter and to extend this benefit to their pensioners
and family pensioners.
41.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
AGM therefore appeals to the government of India to grant house rent and
transport allowances to pensioners to mitigate
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 in this regard and make the pension policy
more dynamic and in consonance with the increasing needs in a fast developing
economy with high inflationary pressures.
42.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 Meeting appeals to the government to
take a broad and realistic view of the matter and extend the above benefits to
pensioners.
43.Ex-gratia once a year to all railway pensioners
in lieu of productivity-linked bonus; This AGM 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. A similar
benefit may be extended to all other central government pensioners and family
pensioners.
44.
Abolition of Nuclear weapons:
While Global
expenditure on Health and Social welfare is declining,the Global Military
expenditure is growing & at present it has reached 1600 Billion US Dollars
Imperialism
is bouncing back, there are continuous wars, growing foreign military bases and
there are no signs of abolition of Nuclear weapons and on the other hand
attempts are being made to weaponiz the Space
This 58th
a GM demands that the expenditure on health & Social welfare be increased
without delay .It calls upon pensioners &Sr citizens to participate in the
movement for abolition of Nuclear weapons, prevent weaponisation of space and
abolition of foreign military bases, foreign occupation & wars.
45. At the end
of the day it was resolved to Stage amassiveDHARNA, on 24th February,
2014 “at JantarMantar”, New Delhi to support above resolutions & also to high
light the most deplorable condition of lakhs of “Pensioners” under EPS – 95 .
S.C.Maheshwari
Secy. Genl. BPS
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