Brief feedback on BPS Preliminary meeting with 7th CPC on 23rd July 2014
Friends,
BPS and BCPC were
the first Pensioners’ organizations to be called for preliminary meeting with 7th
CPC on 23rd to discuss the reply to questionnaire, the Memorandum
& the allied issue submitted by them. 0nly 45 minutes were given to each
organization. S.C.Maheshwari G.S. BPS /Chairman BCPC had the opportunity to
discuss the issues from both the Forums:
Following issues
were discussed & explained to the full satisfaction of the Chairman &
the members of 7th CPC who were very receptive, patient & themselves
actively participated in deliberations which ensued.
At the end Chairman
remarked that NCJCM Memorandum is very exhaustive, includes most of the issues
raised today & that he will take it as a base for consideration.
1.New Pension Scheme: Response of
commission was negative. Commission was
apprised of the back ground, its failure in other countries & the fate of
EPS 95.They were also informed that it will be acceptable if 50% of last drawn
is ensured.
2.Reasonable ratio to be maintained
between maximum &
minimum salary & Pension and
adoption & adoption of common multiplication factor for revision
3.Ratio between
maximum & minimum paid to be 5:1 for
Defense Personnel and re-employment
of ex servicemen as well as raising status of defense civilian pensioners to ex
servicemen.
4.Inclusion of full
DA in emoluments for calculating Pension. There was a very lively discussion on
the issue in which the entire penal of 7th CPC participated &
cross examined Secy. Genl BPS. Finally
they agreed to BPS point of view.
5.100%
neutralization of inflation : It was explained to the Commission
that 100% neutralization is illusionary and DA is not sufficient, as the
very system of calculation is faulty & unrealistic,
6. Payment additional
pension to start from the age of 65 years. Chairman agreed that age of 100
years for Pensioners was illusionary.
7. Parity in
Pensions :It was explained to the commission that full parity exists for High
Court Supreme Court Judges, Govt. has agreed to OROP in case of Defence
pensioners & Sr Bureaucrats (S32 & above ) have achieved it through
modified parity formula of 6th CPC but for others who too are
citizens of same category & same country even the formula for parity given
by 5th CPC & accepted by Govt. is not being honored.
8. Pension to BSNL
pensioners. It was submitted that since they are governed by CCS(Pension) Rules
1972. They be treated at par with C.G.Pensioners for the purpose of revision of
Pension, Chairman advised to submit separate Memorandum
9. Discrimination
in medical facilities to pensioners of Postal department & merger of 33
Postal dispensaries with CGHS.
10. Medical facilities.
To Pensioners following issues raised in BPS memorandum were discussed in
detail & the Chairman was agreeable to BPS views.
(i) “Health is not a luxury” and “not
be the sole possession of a privileged few”. It is a Fundamental Right of all
present & past Employees!
To ensure hassle free health care facility to Pensioners/family
pensioners, Smart Cards be issued irrespective of departments to all Pensioners
and their Dependents for cashless medical facilities across the country. These
smart cards should be valid in
• all Govt. hospitals
• all NABH accredited
Multi Super Specialty hospitals across the country which have been allotted land at concessional rate or
given any aid or concession by the Central or the State govt.
• all CGHS,
RELHS & ECHS empanelled hospitals across the country.
·
Medical attendants. For reimbursement of bills for treatment &
for hospitalization . No referral should be insisted in case of medical
emergencies. For the purpose of reference for hospitalization &
reimbursement of expenditure thereon in other than emergency cases
Doctors/Medical officers working in different Central/State Govt. department
dispensaries/health units should be recognized as Authorized medical attendant.
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 39for a, 41, 43, 48A and all related Articles as pronounced by the
Supreme Court in Consumer Education and Research Centre & Others vs
Union of India (AIR 1995 Supreme Court 922) The Supreme court has held 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 and vigour.
Therefore, the right to health, medical aid to protect the health and vigour 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. Thus
health care is not only a welfare measure but is a Fundamental Right.
We suggest that, all the pensioners, irrespective of pre-retiral
class and status, be treated as same category of citizens and the same
homogenous group. There should be no class or category based discrimination and
all must be provided Health care services at par .
(ii). Hospital Regulatory Authority: To ensure that the hospitals do not
avoid providing reasonable care to smart card holders and other poor citizens,
a Hospital Regulatory Authority should be created to bring all NABH-accredited
hospitals and NABL-accredited diagnostic Labs under its constant monitoring of quality,
rates for different procedures & timely bill payments by Govt. agencies and
Insurance companies. CGHS rates may be revised keeping in mind the workability
as per market conditions.
(iii).Fixed Medical allowance (FMA): As is recorded in
Para 5 of the minutes of Committee of Secretaries (COS) held on 15.04.2010
(Reference Cabinet Secretariat, Rashtrapati Bhavan No 502/2/3/2010-C.A.V Doc
No. CD (C.A.V) 42/2010 Minutes of COS meeting dated 15.4.2010) which discussed
enhancement of FMA. “CGHS card estimates for serving Personnel: Since estimates
are not available separately for pensioners M/O Health & Family Welfare had
assessed the total cost per card p.a. in 2007-2008 = Rs 16435 i.e. Rs.1369 per
month for OPD”. Adding to it inflation, the figure today is well over Rs 2000/-
PM. Ministry of Labour & Employment, Govt. of India vide its letter no.
G-25012/2/2011-SSI dated 07.06.2013 has already enhanced FMA to Rs 2000/- PM
for EPFO beneficiaries. Thus, to help elderly pensioners to look after their
health, Adequate raise in FMA will encourage a good number of pensioners to opt
out of OPD facility which will reduce overcrowding in hospitals. OPD through
Insurance will cost much more to the Govt. As such the proposal for raising Fixed
Medical allowance to Pensioners is fully justified and is financially viable.
We
suggest that FMA for all C.G. Pensioners be raised to at least Rs 2000/- PM
without any distance restriction linking it to Dearness Relief for automatic
further increase. We further suggest that FMA be exempted 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.
11. DA /DR merger commission did not agree
to discuss the issue as it is not covered byTOR
12.Interim relief
Commission response did not appeared to be very positive on our stressing the
issue they said they will look into.
13. 6th
CPC anomalies. Chairman asked for submission of detailed list through
supplementary memorandum.
14.Plight of those
born on 1.1.1938/46: Commission said,
they will look into.
15. Plight of those
retiring on 30June Commission said, they will look into.
16. Restoration of
Commutation in 12 years: commission said thy will look into the details
provided.
17.
Grievance redressed. Chairman was critical of the functioning of the system
already existing & remarked “ you
will not be benefited. Court is the only alternative”
Friends,
BPS
has done its duty well, issues raised by us has received due attention from NCJCM as well as
the 7th CPC.
S.C.Maheshwari
Secy
Genl BPS
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