Bharat Pensioners Samaj (BPS) has uploaded the details of the
meeting held on 25.9.2014 on pensionary matters…
JCM (on
Pension matters)
The meeting was held under the chairmanship of the Secretary
(Pension) at Lok Nayak Bhawan on 25.9.2014. On behalf of the Staff Side, the
following comrades attended.
Com. Shiv Copal Mishra,
General Secretary. AIRF.
Com. Rahal Dasgupta,
President. AIRF.
Com. S.K. Vyas, Advisor,
Confederation of CGE and Workers.
Corn KKN. Kutty, President.
Confederation of CGE and Workers
Com. Srikumar, General
Secretary. All lndia Defence Employees Federation.
After the introduction of the members of both official and staff
side. the Action taken Statement placed by the official Side of the meeting
held on 4.2.2014 was taken up for discussion
1. Abnormal delay in the issue of revised PPO to Pre 2007
pensioners/family pensioners.
It was reported that about 26000 PPO of pre 1990 and 10.000 cases
of pre-2006 retirees are still awaiting the issuance of revised PPO. It was
reported that the main reason for the delay is the non availability of records
in the case of pensioners. The Staff side demanded the supply of Department wise
break up of the figures to enable them to take up the issue with the concerned
department. This was agreed to. The Staff side further stated that the issue
should not be viewed from the statistics angle and the official side must
appreciate that in the case of pre 1990 cases. the pension remains unrevised
for about 20 to 25 years. It may be that some of the retires/family pensioners
might have expired during this period. The staff side also requested the
official side to appreciate the agony and difficulties of these pensioners. The
lack of availability of records should not be taken as an excuse. After some
further discussion, it was agreed that by the end of 2014, all pending cases
would be cleared. In the case of Railways, the pendency is about 25000 and in
the case of Defence the reported figure was 85,000. It was however noted that
serious efforts have been made by both the Ministries to bring down the number
of pending cases drastically.
2. Revision of commutation table.
The proposal of the official side was to refer the matter to the
7th CPC. which the start Side objected as unreasonable and bereft of any
purpose The Staff Side pointed out that the 6th CPC had devised the new
commutation table whereby the commutation benefit had been drastically reduced.
When there had been a reduction in the commutation benefit, the tenancy period
of commutation ought to have been reduced. The 6th CPC has gone on records to
state that the period must remain 15 years as there will have to be sufficient
room for cross subsidisation. The Staff Side pointed out that when the
commutation time was fixed at 15 years long time back, the mortality rate was
much higher than it was today and there, there had been no justification for
the recommendations made by the 6th CPC. They also pointed out that the
official side in an earlier meeting had agreed to refer the matter to an expert
committee and subject their recommendation to discussion with the Staff Side.
The 6th CPC was not an expert body on this matter and they had to depend upon a
professional agency. The Staff Side for this reason objected to the Official
Side proposal. The Chairman, after due consideration wanted the Finance
Ministry to appoint an expert committee and refer the issue to that committee
to consider the demand in the light of the interest rate, morality rate, life
expectancy etc.
3. Equitable gratuity under Rule 50 of Pension Rules.
The suggestion made by the Staff Side was to change the slab
system by introducing a slab upto 11 years and another upto 20 years. Taking
into account the fact that the last slab system was introduced on the basis of
the recommendations of the 5th CPC. the issue might be referred to the 7th CPC.
The Department of Pension has already referred the same to the 7th CPC and the Staff
side has been assured to be supplied with a copy thereof.
NEW ITEMS:
(A) Increase in Family Pension:
The demand of the Staff Side was agreed to be specifically
referred to the CPC.
(B) Cashless and hassle- free treatment in recognised hospital.
The Official side agreed to ensure that the pensioners are not put
to any difficulty in the matter by the recognised hospitals. When the stafi’
side pointed out that the Health Ministry had not been paying the dues to the
recognised hospital and that has led to the denial of cashless facility, the
Health Ministry denied the same. The Staff side wanted the Health Ministry
officials to immediately convene a meeting as the last meeting has been held
more two years back. The Health Ministry has decided to look into the matter
and explore the possibility of convening such a meeting within a month’s time.
(c) Finalisation of family pension cases within a specified
period.
The official side pointed out that the procedure has been
simplified and liberalised. The Staff Side pointed out that the delay is caused
more by the attitude than on any factual deficiency. They. therefore. suggested
for the introduction of a provisional family pension scheme as is the case with
the pension for those who face inquiry proceedings They suggested the grant of
75% of the family pension immediately on receipt of application and the rest
after the scrutiny of the claim. They also asked for a time frame for
finalisation of the claim in as much as the applications must be disposed of
within three months.
The meeting was concluded with a vote of thanks to the Chair.
Source: www.scm-bps.blogspot.in
[http://scm-bps.blogspot.in/2014/10/jcmpension-matters.html]
