Comrade D D Mistry Secy BPS to the Secretary, Department of Telecom to expedite process of finalization of BSNL Pensioners’ Pension revision as per 3rd P.R.C. Recommendation with 15% fitment.

  

No: BDPA(I)/Pen/Rvsn/2023                          Dated 3rd January, 2023

To:

Hon. Shri K. Rajaraman,

Secretary,

Department of Telecom,

Sanchar Bhavan,

New Delhi 11000

 

Sub: A request to expedite process of finalization of BSNL Pensioners’ Pension revision as per 3rd P.R.C. Recommendation with 15% fitment.

 

Respected Sir,

 

1. We are thankful to you for initiating process of BSNL Pensioners’ Pension Revision as per 3rd P.R.C. Recommendations and convening a joint meeting with all Pensioners Association on 17.10.2022 and having interactions on the subject.

2. In the meeting we had made our stand clear that we are for BSNL Pensioners’ Pension revision as per 3rd PRC Recommendations with 15% fitment and also given our a detailed justification on our demand to Dr. Mahesh Shukla, Member Services DoT.

3. In the said meeting possibility of BSNL Pensioners’ Pension Revision as per 7th CPC was clearly made clear and also slides were shown on the subject and also some verdicts of judiciaries.

4. We are happy to know that our long pending request for delinking Pension Revision for BSNL Pensioners’ Pension Revision from working employees have been given due consideration and accepted.

5. It is also a fact that the issue has been prolonged since last six years and BSNL Pensioners are eagerly waiting to get their pension revision.

6. Now, as we understand, an exercise of working out financial implications of 15% fitment is carried out and also figures of 5% & 10% fitment are being worked out.

7. We feel that the exercise is irrigational and will prolong the finalization of the long-awaited issue of Pension Revision as our demand for 15% fitment being legitimate requires early sympatric consideration. Our justification is based upon the following facts:

a) That the Managements of BSNL/ MTNL have all along been paying Pension Contribution to the Govt. on the maximum of their IDA scales, unlike Central Govt. Employees who pay their Pension Contribution on actual basic of their CDA. Thus, no further justification is required that BSNL/ MTNL Employees pay Pension Contribution much much higher than the Central Govt. Employees to the Govt. and that too on IDA scales.

b) While extending 2.57 fitment to Central Govt. Pensioners for Pension Revision, no exercise was at all further conducted to work out the financial implications of extending 2.57 multiplication factor for Pension Revision of Central Govt. Pensioners and the fitment recommended by 7th CPC for Pension Revision of Central Govt. Pensioners was straightaway extended to Central Govt. Pensioners.

c) Whereas BSNL/ MTNL Pensioners have paid Pension contribution at much higher rates than Central Govt. Pensioners on IDA scales extending 15% fitment for Pension Revision; question for working out financial does not arise when fitment factor recommended by 7th CPC was straightaway extended to Central Govt. Pensioners as BSNL/ MTNL have paid Pension Contribution to the Govt. very much higher (on maximum of their IDA scales) than Central Govt. Pensioners who have paid on actual basic of CDA.

d) Merely, only because BSNL/ MTNL Pensioners are drawing Pension more than Central Govt. Pensioners; to have such exercise is completely untenable, devoid of rationale, flowing largely out of prejudice and bias. For higher BSNL/ MTNL Pension, much higher Pension Contribution on IDA scales than their counterparts in Central Govt. have been paid.

e) The exercise of working out the financial implications is purely an exercise in futility since we are to get Pension Revision, not as a bounty from the Govt., but purely refund of the Pension Contribution that we have all along paid to the Govt. on maximum of our IDA scales.

f) Thus where and on what basis does the issue of financial liability on the Govt. arise for extending 15% fitment when we have already paid the entire Pension Contribution to the Govt. which we are simply and legitimately entitled to get back in the form of Pension Revision.

 Now, we therefore, earnestly request you to kindly consider the above aspects and move the file with 15% fitment for Pension Revision of BSNL/MTNL as save them from further financial crisis and sufferings.

 It is worthwhile to mention that the Nodal Ministry, DOP& PW, has given in principle nod to delink Pension Revision from Wage Revision and agreed to incorporate appropriate changes in CCS Pension Rules 21 to enable delinking of the two, should instead, forthwith send a proposal to D.O E for extending full 15% fitment as recommended by 3rd PRC on IDA scales.

 Depriving them from 15% fitment is not only unpardonable but directly tantamount to deliberate subversion and infringement of their legitimate right of 15% fitment on our Pension Revision.

 Kind regards,

Sincerely Yours,

 Sd/-

(D.D. MISTRY)

 Secretary Bharat Pensioners Samaj

Copy to:

1. Respected Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw Ji, Hon MOC. His benign personal intervention is solicited to instruct concerned senior officers in DOT to straightaway send the proposal of extending 15% fitment on Pension Revision since no implications are needed to be worked out as no burden is imposed on the Govt. by revising our Pension @ 15% since BSNL/ MTNL retirees have already paid the entire amount to the Govt. by paying Pension Contribution all along on maximum of their IDA scales.

2. Shri Manish Sinha Ji, Member (Finance). DoT New Delhi.

3. Dr. Mahesh Shukla Ji, Member (Services). He is requested to ensure that no injustice whatsoever is met out to Pensioners of BSNL/ MTNL by extending t