REPORT NO. 121 PARLIAMENT OF INDIA RAJYA SABHA DEPARTMENT-RELATED PARLIAMENTARY STANDING COMMITTEE ON PERSONNEL, PUBLIC GRIEVANCES, LAW AND JUSTICE-ACTION TAKEN REPORT REPORT

 REPORT NO. 121

PARLIAMENT OF INDIA RAJYA SABHA

DEPARTMENT-RELATED PARLIAMENTARY STANDING COMMITTEE ON PERSONNEL, PUBLIC GRIEVANCES, LAW AND JUSTICE

ONE HUNDRED TWENTY-FIRST REPORT ON ACTION TAKEN ON ONE HUNDRED THIRTEENTH REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON "DEMANDS FOR GRANTS (2022-23)" PERTAINING TO THE DEPARTMENTS OF ADMINISTRATIVE REFORMS & PUBLIC GRIEVANCES AND PENSION & PENSIONERS' WELFARE (MINISTRY OF PERSONNEL, PUBLIC GRIEVANCES & PENSIONS) (Presented to the Rajya Sabha on 8th December, 2022) (Laid on the table of the Lok Sabha on 8th December, 2022)

Rajya Sabha Secretariat, New Delhi December, 2022 / Agrahayana1944 (Sakya) 2 

DEPARTMENT OF PENSIONS AND PENSIONERS' WELFARE Recommendation/ Observation 1.16 From the mandate of the Department, it may be seen that it is primarily concerned with the Pensioners (including family Pensioners) of all Ministries / Departments under the Accounting jurisdiction of Controller General of Accounts, MoF. However, a large chunk of pensioners including Defence pensioners, Railway pensioners, Telecom pensioners, and Postal pensioners are governed by their own rules and are outside the jurisdiction of the DPPW. (3.30) 1.17 The Committee observes that though the name and the mandate of the Department suggest its jurisdiction over all Central Government employees, a large portion of pensioners from Defence, Railways, Telecom and Postal are outside the purview of the DPPW. These organizations also implement similar rules and schemes on the lines of DPPW. However, this multiplicity of agencies and rules in matters of pension creates confusion and duplicity. The Committee further notes that recently the Railway Budget has been integrated with the General Budget and the

CPENGRAMS portal has been made common for all these organizations. Thus, there seems to be an approach in the Government towards integration and non-duplicity for making optimal utilization of resources. (3.31) 1.18 The Committee, therefore, recommends that the Department should explore the feasibility of integrating pensioners of all other organizations of Central Government viz. Defence, Railways, Telecom and Postal be brought in within the jurisdiction of the DPPW, by making it a single entity in the matters related to pension and pensioners' welfare. The Department may furnish a concept paper in this regard, to the Committee, within three months. (3.32)

 

Action Taken 1.19 The employees/pensioners of Department of Posts and Department of Telecommunications are governed by CCS (Pension) Rules, 1972/2021 as well.

1.20 However, to explore the feasibility to bring the pensioners/employees of Department of Defence and Ministry of Railways within the jurisdiction of DoPPW, the comments/views of these two organizations i.e., Ministry of Railways and Department of Ex-Servicemen 15

Welfare, Ministry of Defence have been sought vide OM dated 27.04.2022. The reply is yet to be received. 1.21 A reminder through email dated 09.06.2022 has been sent for early expedition.

Further observation 1.22 The Committee would like to be apprised of the comments/views of Department of Defence and Ministry of Railways and the consequent actions taken by the Department based on these comments.

PENSION ADALATS Recommendation/observation 1.23 As per the data provided by the Department on disposal of pension grievances during Pension Adalats, their resolution rates are significantly high. This perhaps is due to the fact that all stakeholders of a particular grievance are invited on a single table, the grievances are resolved quickly. Considering this performance, as recommended by the Committee in its 106th report, the Committee once again reiterates that such Pension Adalats should be held more regularly and frequently. Further, the experience gained during COVID times, the practice of holding Pension Adalats through video conferencing should be promoted. (3.45)

 Action Taken 1.24 As per the recommendations of DRPSC, the department will conduct Pension Adalat more frequently. 1.25 Accordingly, an All India Pension Adalat was held on 5th May, 2022 at DAIC, Janpath, New Delhi under the Auspices of Hon‟ble MOS(PP). Further observation 1.26 The Committee notes the reply of the Department and recommends that Pensions Adalats should not only be held more regularly and frequently but also they should be carried out through video conferencing mode. 16

CHAPTER II RECOMMENDATIONS/OBSERVATIONS WHICH THE COMMITTEE DOES NOT DESIRE TO PURSUE IN VIEW OF THE REPLIES GIVEN BY THE MINISTRY DEPARTMENT OF ADMINISTRATIVE REFORMS AND PUBLIC GRIEVANCES OVERALL ASSESSMENT OF THE DEMANDS FOR GRANTS OF THE MINISTRY 

DEPARTMENT OF PENSION AND PENSIONERS' WELFARE OVERALL ASSESEMENT OF THE DEMANDS FOR GRANTS Recommendation/Observation

2.17 It may be seen that during 2020-21 the BE allocation was Rs.5 crore for the scheme, however, it got reduced to Rs.3.03 crore at RE stage and at the end of the year only Rs.2.54 crore could be spent. On a similar pattern the scheme allocation for the BE 2021-22 was again Rs.5 crore, which was reduced to Rs.3.31 crore at the RE stage and the actual expenditure upto 31.01.2022 is Rs.1.48 crore only. Not surprisingly, the BE for the Department under scheme for the year 2022-23 has been pegged at Rs.3.57 crore only, against their projection of Rs.4.40 crore made to the Ministry of Finance. The Department should furnish detailed reasons for such under- utilization of funds in the last two financial years to the Committee. (2.17)

*Actual expenditure figure for the year 2021. (Para 2.10)

Action Taken 2.18 The reasons for under-utilization of funds under Scheme (Revenue) in the last two Financial Years 2020-21 and 2021-22 are mentioned below. 2.19 For Scheme (Revenue), the BE (2020-21) was Rs.5 crore while it was reduced to Rs.3.03 crore at RE stage. The actual expenditure was Rs.2.58 crore i.e. 85% of RE. Similarly, the BE (2021-22) was kept Rs.5 crore and it was reduced to Rs.3.31 crore at RE state. The actual expenditure was Rs.3.06 crore i.e. 92.4% of RE. 2.20 The major heads under Scheme (Revenue) for under-utilizing/saving the funds were „Domestic Travel Expenses‟ and „Advertising and Publicity‟. 21

2.21 The Covid-19 and the nation-wide lock down affected the activities of the Department in the following ways which resulted in under-utilization of funds of BE for 2020-21 and 2021-22: -

 Due to spread of Corona Pandemic and subsequent lockdown, no physical workshops/conferences, a major expenditure item, were held for pensioners in order to abide by the Covid-19 pandemic protocols for the highly vulnerable population of age 60 plus. All workshops were conducted through video-conferencing which resulted in nil expenditure for workshops/conferences.

 Training on Bhavishya, Pensioners‟ Awareness Workshop, Pre-Retirement Counseling (PRC), Pension Adalat outside Delhi and Digital Life Certificate (DLC) Scheme, involving domestic travel for conducting these activities were not held due to COVID-19 Pandemic which resulted in under Utilization/Savings of the fund under “Domestic Travel Expenses”.

 The awareness/advertising through print medium was also restricted as the Department moved towards awareness campaigns through social media apps with a greater outreach, which resulted in saving in the total expenditure.

 This Department was actively utilizing various social media platform such as WHATSAPP, FACEBOOK, YOUTUBE and TWITTER for disseminating information/messages among pensioners.

 

Professional Services: - On the basis of Office of Principal Scientific Advisor (PSA)‟s recommendations, there was a proposal to increase of 18 additional Technical staff at Bhavishya team of NIC and 10 additional supervisory staff in Pensioners‟ Portal for new Activities in 2021-22. The budget requirement for these posts was added in RE 2021-22, due to which there will be an increase in Professional Service head of RE 2021-22.

 

Further observation 2.22 The Committee notes the reply of the Department and hopes that funds will be utilized more efficiently in future as under utilization of funds leads to limiting of projections at the BE stage. 22

 

Pensioners' Portal Recommendation/Observation 2.23 The Committee notes that based on an independent third party comprehensive review of the root cause of the pensioners' grievances the DPPW has initiated key reforms like complete digitalization of pension process and improvement in submission of Life Certificate by pensioners. The Committee appreciates such initiatives being taken up by the Department based on their learning from pensioners' grievances. (3.39) Action Taken 2.24 DoPPW conveys its regards for appreciating the Initiatives of DoPPW and will continue to initiate key reforms for resolving the Grievances of Pensioners.

Further observation 2.25 The Committee welcomes the reply of the Department and hopes that the Department will continue to take new initiatives for the betterment of Pensioners' in future. Pensioners' Association Recommendation/Observation 2.26 The Committee commends the overall performance of the Department of Pension and Pensioners Welfare and hopes that it will continue with its good work to bring about 'ease of living' for pensioners, especially for super senior citizens and family pensioners. (3.51) Action Taken 2.27 DoPPW has noted the appreciative remarks of the Committee with gratitude and will continue to work for „ease-of-living‟ for pensioners, especially for super senior citizens and family pensioners. Further observation 2.28 The Committee welcomes the reply of the Department. 23

CHAPTER III

RECOMMENDATIONS/OBSERVATIONS IN RESPECT OF WHICH THE COMMITTEE DOES NOT ACCEPT THE REASONS GIVEN FOR NOT ACCEPTING ITS RECOMMENDATIONS AND REITERATES ITS RECOMMENDATIONS.

DEPARTMENT OF PENSIONS AND PENSIONERS’ WELFARE Pensioners’ Portal Recommendation/Observation 3.13 The Committee observes that as per last five years data provided by the Department on satisfaction ratings, about 40% of complainants have rated their grievance redressal as poor. Such ratings reflect poorly on the overall grievance handling by different organizations. Further, about twelve Ministries/Departments in the year 2021 and twenty two Ministries/Departments in the year 2020 have failed to resolve more than 30% of pensioners' grievances pertaining to them within the stipulated time. This shows apathy of those organizations towards handling of pensioners' grievances and the Committee feels dismayed over indifference shown by government officials to the grievances of their retired colleagues. (3.40) 3.14 The Committee accordingly recommends the DPPW to develop a mechanism/guidelines/policy to ensure accountability of the government officials dealing with the pensioners' grievances and suggest action against the erring officials. The appellate authority should be empowered to award monetary penalties and sanction disciplinary action against those officials who are habitually responsible for delayed action or summary disposal of grievances without any qualitative action. (3.41)

Action Taken 3.15 DoPPW has issued advisory to all Ministries/Departments vide OM dated 04.04.2022 (copy enclosed).

 Further observation 3.16 The Committee notes the reply of the Department. The Committee recommends the Department that particular Ministries/Departments which are failing to resolve more than 30% of pensioners grievances should be issued separate advisory to furnish reasons for not resolving a high percentage of grievances within the stipulated time. ***