Friday, July 25, 2014

Details of the pension schemes being run by the Central Government

Details of the pension schemes being run by the Central Government

Under National Social Assistance Programme (NSAP) administered by Ministry of Rural Development, central assistance is provided only to old aged, widows, disabled persons and bereaved families on death of primary bread winner belonging to Below Poverty Line households irrespective of their caste category. The schemes are implemented both in urban and rural areas.

At present the scheme of NSAP comprises of 5 schemes applicable to BPL persons which are as follows:-
i. Indira Gandhi National Old Age Pension Scheme (IGNOAPS)

ii. Indira Gandhi National Widow Pension Scheme (IGNWPS)

iii. Indira Gandhi National Disability Pension Scheme (IGNDPS)

iv. National Family Benefit Pension (NFBS)

v. Annapurna Scheme.
The details of these 5 schemes along with the amount of assistance provided is enclosed as Annexure.

Assistance under the schemes of NSAP is provided to all persons who are Below Poverty Line including Scheduled Castes. The details of number of persons belonging to Scheduled Caste benefited under the schemes of NSAP is not available, as this information is not obtained/reported by States.

A Task Force constituted under the Chairmanship of Member Planning Commission, considered all the issues, demands and suggestions relating to social assistance/ security, received from various quarters and submitted its report in March, 2013, inter-alia, recommending expanding scope of coverage and increasing the quantum of pension. Further action has been initiated to process the recommendations of the Task Force.


ANNEXURE

Eligibility criteria and the amount of assistance underthe schemes of National Social Assistance Programme (NSAP)

Indira Gandhi National Old Age Pension Scheme (IGNOAPS): Central assistance of Rs. 200/- per month is provided to persons in the age group of 60-79 years and Rs. 500/- per month to persons of 80 years and above.

Indira Gandhi National Widow Pension Scheme (IGNWPS): Under the scheme, Central assistance @ Rs. 300/- per month is provided to widows in the age-group of 40-79 years. On reaching the age of 80 years, the beneficiary is shifted to IGNOAPS to get enhanced assistance of Rs.500/- per month.

Indira Gandhi National Disability Pension Scheme (IGNDPS): Under the scheme Central assistance @ Rs. 300/- per month is provided to persons aged 18-79 years with severe and multiple disabilities. On reaching the age of 80 years, the beneficiary is shifted to IGNOAPS to get enhanced assistance of Rs. 500/- per month.

National Family Benefit Scheme (NFBS): Under the scheme a BPL household is entitled to lump sum amount of money on the death of primary breadwinner aged between 18 and 59 years. The amount of assistance is Rs. 20,000/-

Annapurna: Under the scheme, 10 kg of food grains per month are provided free of cost to those senior citizens who, though eligible, are not receiving old age pension.

The above information was submitted as a written reply to a question in Parliament on 22nd July 2014 by the Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment Shri Sudarshan Bhagat.

Source: CGEN.in

Dopt orders on submission of Assets and Liabilities Declaration under Lokpal & Lokayuktas Act 2013 by Public Servants

Dopt orders on submission of Assets and Liabilities Declaration under Lokpal & Lokayuktas Act 2013 by Public Servants

As per the said Act and the Rules framed thereunder, every public servant shall file declarations, information or return, as the case may be regarding his assets and liabilities as on the 31st day of March every year, to the competent authority, on or before the 31st day of July of that year. This is an important difference from the Central Civil Services (Conduct) Rules 1964 and may kindly be noted.

F. No. 11013/3/2014-Estt(A)
Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions
Department of Personnel and Training
Establishment Division
North Block, New Delhi
Dated July 23,2014

Subject: The Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act, 2013 – Submission of declaration of assets and liabilities by the public servants for each year and placing the same in public domain on the websites of the Ministries/ Departments.

The undersigned is directed to refer to the subject mentioned above and to say that the Government has notified the Public Servants (Furnishing of Information and Annual Return of Assets and Liabilities and the limits for Exemption of Assets in Filing Returns) Rules, 2014 under the Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act. 2013. on 14.07.2014. The same is available on this Department’s website at http://persmin.nic.in/Lokpal_Homepage_New.asp.

2. As per the said Act and the Rules framed thereunder, every public servant shall file declarations. information or return. as the case may be regarding his assets and liabilities as on the 31st day of March every year, to the competent authority, on or before the 31st day of July of that year. It may be noted that as per Section 2(1)(o) of the Act, “Public Servant” means a person referred to in clauses (a) to (h) of sub-section (1) of section 14 of the Act but does not include a public servant in respect of whom the jurisdiction is exercisable by any court or other authority under the Army Act, 1950. the Air Force kt, 1950, the Navy Act. 1957 and the Coast Guard Act. 1978 or the procedure is applicable to such public servant under those Acts.

3. It may also be noted that the definition of public servant covers all Central Government servants (Groups A, B and C). Therefore, all Central Government servants are required to file the declaration. This is an important difference from the Central Civil Services (Conduct) Rules 1964 and may kindly be noted.

4. As per these Rules, the public servants who have filed declarations, information and annual returns of property under the provisions of the rules applicable to such public servants shall file the revised declarations. information or as the case may be, annual returns as on the 1st day of August, 2014, to the competent authority on or before the 15th day of September. 2014. All Ministries/Departments are accordingly. requested to please bring the provisions of the Public Servants (furnishing of Information and Annual Return of Assets and Liabilities and the limits for Exemption of Assets in Filing Returns) Rules, 2014 to the notice of all concerned for compliance.

5. Formal amendment to the Central Civil Services (Conduct) Rules 1964 will be made in due course.

6. Hindi version will follow

sd/-
(J.W Vaidyanathan)
Director (E)
Source: www.persmin.gov.in
[http://ccis.nic.in/WriteReadData/CircularPortal/D2/D02est/11013_3_2014-Estt-A_23072014.pdf]

Restructuring of certain Group ‘C’ cadres- matching savings

Restructuring of certain Group ‘C’ cadres- matching savings

“Cadre restructuring of Group ‘C’ staff, the matching savings by surrender of posts should be effected from the category itself.  Wherever it is not possible to do so from the category itself, the matchtng savings should be arranged from the department at the divisional/zonal level. If the Department/Railways are not able to provide the matching savings, the particular category/department will not be restructured”.

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS
RAILWAY BOARD
RBE No. 78/2014

New DeIhi, dated 22-07-2014
No. PC-III/2013/CRC/4

The General Managers/ Director General,
All Indian Railways/ Production Units, RDSO etc. &
Central Training Institutes.

Sub: Restructuring of certain Group ‘C’ cadres- matching savings.

As per Instructions contained in para 12 to 12.2 of Board’s letter of even no. dated 08-10-2013 (RBE No. 102/2013), for implementation of cadre restructuring of Group ‘C’ staff, the matching savings by surrender of posts should be effected from the category itself. Wherever it is not possible to do so from the category itself, the matchtng savings should be arranged from the department at the divisional/zonal level. If the Department/Railways are not able to provide the matching savings, the particular category/department will not be restructured.

2. It has been broughf to the notice of Board that there is currently shortage of Booking Clarks & Ticket Checking Staff and given the increase in passenger traffic & the introduction of new trains, Zonal Railways are finding it difficult to smoothly conduct the commercial activities of sale of tickets & ticket checking. While shortage of Commercial staff varies from zone to zone, it is particularly acute in a few zones. As such, It is viewed that since Booking Clerks & Ticket Checking Staff are being essentially, revenue earning categories, any further reduction in strength of these categories due to implementation of cadre restructuring especially in the zones already facing acute shortage, would not be desirable as it may lead to closure of counters or leaving coaches unmanned, thereby resulting in leakage of revenue.

3. The requirement of matching savings by surrender of posts is a mandatory pre-condition for cadre restructuring. Therefore, keeping in view the non-feasibility of further surrender of posts for cadre restructuring from the above mentioned two categories of Commercial Department in certain zones due to existing shortage of staff in these categories, it has been decided by Ministry of Railways (Railway Board) that after working out the financial implications for Booking Clerks & Ticket Checking Staff of Commercial Department as per instructions contained in para 12 of Board’s letter of even no. dated 08-10-2013 (RBE No. 102/2013). the General Managers may also consider the possibility of surrender of posts against matching savings from the alternate cadres at the Divisional/Zonal level, wherever absolutely must. In very rare & exceptional circumstances as a last resort, the option of using matching savings from vacancy bank may be considered as per laid down norms. However, there wouId be no revision of percendage dIstribution of posts without matching savings.

4. Except the above mentioned two categories (Booking Clerks & Ticket Checking staff) of Commercial Department, matching savings by surrender of posts for all other categories mentioned in the Annexure ‘A’ o ‘H’ of Board’s letter dated 08-10-2013 (RBE No. 102/2013), should continue to be arranged as per Instructins laid down in para 12 to 12.2 of Board’s letter ibid.’

5. These instructions are in partial modifications of Board’s letter no. 2013/TG-II/12/16/Cadre dated 31-01-2014.

6. This issues in consultation with the Commercial Directorate & with concurrence of the Finance Directorate of this Ministry.

7. This disposes of Eastern Railway’s letter no. E.740/O/Restructiring dated 02-05-2014 and E.C.Railway’s fetter no. ECR/HRD/Restructuring/Comml./14 dated 23-04-2014.

The receipt of this letter may please be acknowledged.
sd/-
(Vikram Gulati)
Director, Pay Commission-II
Railway Board
Source: AIRF

DA/DR Merger : 7th CPC did not agree to discuss the issue in the preliminary meeting held on 23.7.2014 - BPS

DA/DR Merger : 7th CPC did not agree to discuss the issue in the preliminary meeting held on 23.7.2014 - BPS
7th Pay Commission did not agree to discuss the important issue of DA/DR Merger in the preliminary meeting held on 23rd July 2014.
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. Only 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 NC JCM 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 justify 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 justify 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 justify to health to a worker is an integral facet of meaningful justify to life to have not only a meaningful existence but also robust health and vigour.

Therefore, the justify to health, medical aid to protect the health and vigour of a worker while in service or post retirement is a fundamental justify-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 justify. 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
Source: www.scm-bps.blogspot.in
[http://scm-bps.blogspot.in/2014/07/brief-feedback-on-bps-preliminary.html]

Rank Pay: New Order by MoD for more monetary benefits

Rank Pay: New Order by MoD for more monetary benefits

 On the rank pay controversy the Attorney General had supported some of the issues raised by the Defence Services on which there was a difference of opinion with the Ministry of Defence on interpretation of the decision of the Supreme Court.

Taking into account the legal advice tendered by the then Attorney General, the Ministry has issued a fresh letter on the rank pay issue which is to be read in conjunction with the earlier letter.

The Ministry has also agreed that the reduction/deduction of rank pay from the fixation during 5th Central Pay Commission was also incorrect and that the fixation would be rectified for the period of 01st January 1996 and beyond too.

The contents of letter is reproduced below: The letter can be downloaded by Table by PCDA.


34(10/2013/D (Pay/Services)
Government of India
Ministry of Defence

New Delhi, Dated the 24th July 2014
To,
The Chief of the Army Staff
The Chief of the Naval Staff
The Chief of the Air Staff

CORRIGENDUM
 
Sub: Implementation of Hon’ble Supreme Court Order dt 4th September, 2012 in IA No. 9 of 2010 in Transfer Petition (C) No. 56 of 2007 Union of India and Others versus N. K. Nair & others, etc

Sir,
I am directed to refer to this Ministry Order No. 34 (6)/2012-D(Pay/Services) dt 27th December 2012 regarding implementation of subject Order of the Hon’ble Supreme Court and to state that as per legal opinion tendered by the Learned Attorney General of India, the sanction of the Government is hereby accorded to modify the provisions of this Ministry’s ibid order as under:

(i) The existing para 6 will be renumbered 6 (A) and would stand revised as under:

    In the twelfth line after the word ‘(integrated scale),’ the words “as on 1.1.1986” will be substituted by “w.e.f. 1.1.1986.”
(ii) A new para 6 (B) will be added as follows:

6(B) Sanction of the Government is hereby also communicated to modify certain provisions of Special Army Instructions No. 2/S/1998 dated 19th December 1997 and the corresponding Special Instructions pertaining to Navy and Air Force both bearing Nos. 2/S/1998 dated 19th December 1997, in so far as they relate to deduction of Rank Pay for fixation of revised pay of the concerned officers of  Army, Navy and Air Force in the revised scale w.e.f. 01.10.1996. The modifications/amendments in SAI 2/S/1998 and corresponding instructions for Air Force and Navy are as under:

(a) The existing para 5(a)(ii) would read as under:

(ii) After the existing emoluments have been so increased, there shall be no deduction of Rank Pay. Thereafter, the officer’s pay will be fixed in the revised scale at the stage next above the amount thus computed

(iii) A new para 6(C) will also be added in ibid MoD letter as follows:

6(C) The pay fixation formula w.e.f. 1.1.2006 as laid down in SAI 2/S/2008 and the corresponding Special Instructions applicable to the Air Force and Navy has also been examined in light of the legal opinion tendered by the Learned Attorney General. In the methodology of pay fixation of revised pay w.e.f. 1.1.2006, Rank Pay has not been deducted and has been taken into account along with Basic Pay in the pre-revised scale to arrive at the new, revised pay in the relevant pay band w.e.f. 1.1.2006 whereupon Grade Pay has also been given and an additional component of Military Service Pay (MSP) at Rs 6000 p.m. is also admissible to the Armed Forces upto the rank of Brigadier/eq. As such, the pay fixation formula w.e.f. 1.1.2006 for the relevant officers of the Armed Forces as laid down in the relevant instructions does not require any change.

(iv) Existing Para 7 will be replaced with the following:

7. Except to the extent of modifications as stated in MoD letter No. 34(6)/2012-D (Pay/Services) dated 27.12.2012 and as amended vide this letter, the aforesaid Army Instructions 1/S/87 dated 26.05.1987 and corresponding Navy and Air Force Instructions both bearing No 1/S/87 dated 11.06.1987 and 26.05.1987 respectively as amended from time to time and Special Army Instructions No. 2/S/98 of 19.12.1997 and the corresponding Special Instructions in case of Navy and Air Force both bearing No. 2/S/98 dated 19.12.1997 as amended from time to time, there shall be no change in the provisions of the aforesaid Special Army, Navy and Air Force Instructions of 1987 and 1997 pertaining to the implementation of the recommendations of the 4th and 5th Central Pay Commission.

(v) Existing para 8 will be replaced with the following:

8. As the aforesaid Order of the Hon’ble Supreme Court passed on 04.09.2012 read with their earlier order dated 08.03.2010 has upheld the order of the Hon’ble Kerala High Court passed on 05.10.1998 in case of Major A K Dhanapalan and as the said order of the Hon’ble Kerala High Court dated 05.10.1998 is for re-fixation of pay without deduction of Rank Pay w.e.f. 1.1.1986, and as this sanction is in compliance with these judicial pronouncements and the legal opinion of the Learned Attorney General on this issue, it is clarified that there shall be no change in respect of Special Army Instructions of Army, Navy and Air Force issued on 11.10.2008 (Army) and 18.10.2008 (Navy and Air Force) for implementation of the recommendations of the 6th Central Pay Commission, except to the extent of the need for the fixation of pay w.e.f. 01.01.2006 necessitated due to the fixation of pay w.e.f. 01.01.1986 and 01.01.1996 in terms of these orders.

(vi) All other provisions of the MoD letter No. 34(6)/2012-D(Pay/Services) dated 27.12.2012 remain unchanged.

2. This issues with the concurrence of Ministry of Defence (Finance) vide their UO No. 1(76)/2013-AG/PA (310-PA) dated 23.07.2014 and Ministry of Finance (Department of Expenditure vide their UO No. 94466/E.III (A)/2014 dated 09.07.2014

Yours faithfully,
(P.S. Walia)
Under Secretary to the Government of India
Source: http://www.indianmilitary.info

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