PRESIDEN KARNATAKA CENTRAL GOVERNMENT PENSIONERS’ ASSOCIATION an affiliate of BPS writes to 7th CPC
THE
KARNATAKA
CENTRAL
GOVERNMENT PENSIONERS’ ASSOCIATION (REGD.)
( Estd: 1974;
Regn. S.No.143/1983-84 d/ 9th August 1983 ) “Swarna”, 120/1, 2nd Main,
Gayatri Devi Park Extension, Vyalikaval, Bangalore 56000(Affliated to BPS New Delhi, AIFPA Chennai & KCCCGPAs
Bangalore)
|
|
Email ID: cgpakarn@gmail.com
Tel: 23468438
|
|
RNI Regn No: KRENG/2008/27233 Postal
Regn No: KRNA/BGE/200/2012-14
|
|
President
Vice-President Secretary Treasurer
|
|
S SRamanathaRao S SKargudri Ashok S KololgiK
S Menon
|
|
Tel: 2661
9394 Tel: 25837178 Tel:
9448469351 Tel:
9743771933
|
|
Respected
Chairman and Members of the 7th CPC –
At the outset, I wish the
Commission easy going in its work and hope the Commission comes out with useful
recommendations. Presumably, the recommendations apply to the members or some
of the members of the Commission too.
Wherever we go and
whenever we approach officers for certain help or concessions, as pensioners’
associations; in majority of the cases, the reply has been that they (the
presently serving officers) too retire at some time, and that they would like
to help out. But help does remain afar. The Ministry of Personnel &
Pensions has been doing a great deal to liberalise the situation; but they have
their handicaps, as the duty-departments remain lethargic. Not much can be done
in this domain, perhaps.
The Point
Several pensioners’
associations/pensioners have written to the Commission on the pensioners’
interests and requirements – I refrain from calling them as ‘demands’ as this
is the lot of the beggars. The two imminent issues for favourable consideration by the Commission,
nay, the Government are: the Grant of Interim Relief, and the Merger of 50% of
DA/DR with pay/pension, both retrospectively.
Both these
requirements in principle have been acceded to in the past by the past Pay
Commissions as well as the Government; and hence there should be no qualms at
allin recommending/granting the two Requirements, in the interest of social
justice, whether the Government has specifically made provision for thisor not
in the Terms of Reference.
(To
recall, the Terms of Reference to the Commision by the Government stated
clearly “(Item) (h) To recommend the date of
effect of its recommendations on all the above. The Commission will make its recommendations within 18 months of the date
of its constitution. It may consider, if necessary,
sending interim reports on any of the matters as and when the recommendations
are finalised. The decision will result in the benefit of improved pay and
allowances as well as rationalization of the pay structure in case of Central
Government employees and other employees included in the scope of the 7th
Central Pay Commission.”
About a year back, the Tamil Nadu Government,
while constituting its Pay Commission, granted two months’ pay as Interim
Relief. One of the Central Pay Commissions in the past announced two
instalments of Interim Relief. This explains the need for Interim Relief. As
such, the two Appeals should be sanctioned without much
time being wasted, as there are many pensioners in advanced age-rangewho desire
to have this benefit.
The other
point
I write this from experience.
Over the last 50 (fifty) years,there has been a high and steady rise in the
number of posts created in several departments of the Government, particularly
so in the Class I senior-cadre, who belong to the All-India Services, in
contrast to the number of creation of posts in the junior cadres. There is rise
in the volume of work admittedly; but not as much as to have a high number of
senior officers. Earlier, the Departments functioned with Section Officer (who
managed office), Deputy Secretary (who initiated notings), Joint Secretary(who gave
opinions) and Secretary (who took decisions), in the higher rank; and they did
well in dealing with papers and in deciding the issues. The file-notings used
to be clear, committed, fast and final.
In the past few decades,
the ranks of Additional Secretary, Special Secretary and Consultants have crept
into the Govt service, with more number of Joint Secretaries. It is my
contention that these posts are superfluous and their salary/allowance bills
are a dent on the Exchequer. More routine tasks are done after consultations
over phone. Too many officers and too much time in dealing with disposal of
papers – has been the practice in the Government. I therefore strongly opine
that the number of such Class I officers in all the Departments of the
Government, including the Ministries, must be drastically brought down. The
work will be faster, and the responsibility for decisions is fixed on limited
number of officers. The Hon’ble Prime Minister has shown the way. He has cut
down on the number of Ministries.
There is a whisper that
thirty percent of the retired officers are re-employed in their respective
departments/offices after retirement, as Consultants or other-wise, continuing
to do the same job! This is something difficult to be gulped. Perhaps, this
should be examined and checked. The Dept of Personnel & Training in the
Ministry of Personnel may help to know the facts. The Commission may kindly
take a decision.
The third
Heading the Karnataka
Central Government Pensioners’Association, Bangalore, during the last 12-15
years, the Assn has recently projected many Grievances of the
pensioners/members with us; and none of them has been conclusively solved.
Various Ministries have come up with Grievances cells; and these have become
show-cases or postoffices, with just forwarding the complaints to some nodal
officers, who remain unhelpful. The Ministry of Personnel and Pensions
contemplated on time-frame for redressal of such grievances; but this has been
a far cry. The mechanism to get Redressal to the home of the aggrieved
pensioners must therefore be fast and satisfactory. It must be remembered that the pensioners are
aged, and they need results quick. A good debate on this is required within the
Government, and a result-orientation infused into these Grievances
cells/portals.
The fourth
point
In the last few years, it
is experienced that the pensioners have been forced to go to different Courts
in respect of their dues and needs. These mainly refer to fixation of pension,
fixation of cut-off dates and implementation of Court verdicts by the
Governments. This is a situation that the pensioners cannot happily face. A
good lot of time and money is wasted. The Government must rationalise and
liberalise its attitude, when the learned Judges of the Court have given their
verdicts after due hearings from both the parties involved. Can the Commission
say something on this point, please?
Grateful Regards to a Great Commission.
n S SRamanathaRao,
n President,
n Karnataka CGPA.
Bangalore,
D/ July 18, 2014.
**********
Comments