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Gist of discussions in SCOA 23rd SCOVA meeting on 23/09/2013

0.09.2013 MOS Sh V. Narayanasamy took the chair at 4.00 PM. Joint Secy. DOP &PW Welcomed the Minister, officerom different departments / Ministries & the SCOVA members. After JS welcome address introduction of membersfficers started S.C. Maheshwari Genl. Secy. BPS while introducing himself pointed out to the Minister that while B

was thankful to the minister for increasing frequency of SCOVA meetings, organization will be grateful if instead

ew hours at least one full day is earmarked for these meetings and that a system need to be put in place to lay downo what type & numbers of items will be accepted for inclusion in SCOVA Agenda. After introduction the MOS addresshe meeting highlighting the work of the DOPPW & the important circulars issued in the recent past. He assured th

pensioners issues will be dealt on priority by his Ministry.

inal ATR on 22nd SCOVA meeting was then taken up for review. Lively discussion followed each item members expresseheir concern over the delay in issuing revised PPOs representatives of every Ministry/Department tried to blame

pensioners for the delay stating that they were not getting details from pensioners & sought assistance of Pensioners

Associations. MOS however directed all departments/ministries to suo-motto issue PPOS to all pensioners within thearget dates.

Commenting on item No2 of ATR i.e. revision of exgratia to cpf/srpf retirees, Secy. Genl. BPS pointed out that thmount of ex-gratia of Rs 645/- per month was too little for the survival of a person. Secy DOPPW retorted that theetirees were not pensioners. Secy. Genl BPS pointed out that these retirees too have a right to survive but no positieaction could be evoked from official side or the honorable Minister. Position of items 3to 9 remained the same as givn the ATR .However, While discussing item9 of ATR it was pointed out that the M/O Rlys was still not uploading on the

website all the orders & circulars issued by Rly.Bd.

Regarding item 10 & 11 of the ATR regarding anomaly in fixation of pension to DOT employees &merger of 78% IDA wibasic pension benefit to the absorbed BSNL Pensioners, after discussion it was decided that the department

Telecommunication will put up positive proposals by 30.09.2013.

Discussion on new Agenda items:

Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions

(Department of Pension & Pensioners' Welfare)

AGENDA ITEMS WITH COMMENTS FOR 23rd MEETING OF STANDING COMMITTEE OF VOLUNTARY AGENCIES (SCOVA) TBE HELD ON 20th SEPTEMBER, 2013, AT VIGYAN BHANVAN ANNEXE, NEW DELHI

l. AGENDA ITEM COMMENTS

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o.

. Submission of application in Form 14 be dispensedwith for sanction of Family Pension:- As details offamily members eligible for family pension in theevent of the death of the pensioner, joint photograph

with the spouse and the amount of family pensionpayable in the event of death of the pensioner areavailable under Part II of the Pension Payment Orderissued by the Pay and Accounts Officer or otherdesignated authority. It is redundant and unnecessaryto insist on submission of all these details in Form 14for sanction of Family pension. On the death of thepensioner, a written request from the spouse alongwith a death certificate of the pensioner is sufficientto sanction the family pension. So the extantcumbersome procedure may be dispensed with and asimplified procedure introduced.Action : D oP&PW

D/o P&PW :- The matter has been examined in theGovernment. Necessary instruction for grant of familypension without Form-14 where pensioner has a jointaccount with the spouse and using Form-IA in other case

without having it attested are being issued shortly.

. Extension of benefit of upgraded Grade Pay topre-2006 retirees of S-12 grade :- Benefit of upgradedGrade Pay Rs 4600, introduced subsequently in placeof already implemented GP Rs.4,200/- for 5-12 gradein pre- revised scale of Rs 6,500-10,500 w.e.f01.01.2006 in terms of 0.M No. F.No 1/1/2008-IC dated13.11.2009 of Mb o Finance, Department ofExpenditure is not extended to pre-2006 pensionersretired from S-12 grade. The clarification assumesimportance in view of the need for protection of 50%of the minimum Pay in the Pay Band & Grade Pay in0.M dated 28.1.2013.(Action: D/o Expenditure, D/oP&PW)

D/o P&PW:- The Department has sought following advicfrom D/o Exp: (i) Whether the grade pay of Rs.4600/- ito be treated as the grade pay corresponding to the prerevised pay-scale of Rs.6500-10500/- or it is to be treateas upgraded grade pay. (ii) In case, Grade Pay of Rs.460is to be treated as grade pay corresponding to thepre-revised pay scale of Rs.6500-10500/-, the pre- 2006pensioners who retired before 2006 would be entitled tthe benefit of this Grade Pay in terms of Para 4.2 of thiDepartment's OM dated 1.9.2008 and OM dated 28.1.20issued by this Department. The D/o Expenditure has beeasked to clarify as to what would be the minimum pay the pay band plus grade pay as per the fitment table,which is to be reckoned for calculation of minimumpension for those pensioners who retired from the scaleof 6500/- 10,500/- in terms of OM dated 28.1.2013

. Complaints Against The System of Lodging of PensionGrievance :- At present the complaints lodged withPublic Grievances is forwarded to the Ministry.Therefore, complaints on Subordinate Officer take along time to reach them (Subordinate Officer). It istherefore necessary that the complaints areforwarded directly to the officers against whom the

complaint is lodged to avoid undue delay.(Action: D/o P&PW)

D/o P&PW: This Department has been forwarding thegrievances on pension related matters, received in thisDepartment either on line through CPENGRAMS orotherwise, to designated nodal officers of concernedMinistries/Departments/Organisations. Since even formonitoring those grievances, this Department has beeninteracting with the designated nodal officers, it is

neither prudent not feasible to send grievances directlyto subordinate formations.

. Broad Banding of Disability Element for Pre-1996cases. Welfare):- In implementation of the 5th CPCrecommendations, Dept of Pensions & PW had issuedOM dated 03.02.2000 for revision of disability andfamily pensions for post 1996 disabled pensionerswhich, inter alia, applied the principle of broad-

M/O Defence (D/o Ex-Servicemen Welfare):- The matteregarding extension of benefit of broad banding topre-1.1.96 invalided out individuals was processed andreferred to MoD(Fin) for concurrence. But MoD(Fin)returned the matter back for knowing the financialimplications involved. CGDA, expressed its difficulty in

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banding to compute reckonable percentage ofdisability. Vide OM dated 11.09.2001 the samebenefits were extended to pre-1996 pensioners witheffect form01.01.1996, These orders, like othersissued by D/o P&PW, are equally applicable to civil aswell as defence pensioners. MOD, however, extended

the broad-banding benefit to post-96 disabledpensioners only, vide its order dated 31.01.2001,denying it to the pre-96 lot. The 2009 CabinetSecretary's Committee, agreed to eliminate thisanomaly. However, MoD(DESW) orders dated19.01.2010 granted the benefit w.e.f 01.07.2009 only,completing ignoring the fact that the same benefit onthe civil side has been extended w.e.f 01.01.1996. Thematter was asain raised with Deptt/ESW in August2010. The need to apply the orders w.e.f 01.01.96 wasaccepted. However, the revised orders are yet to beissued even after lapse of nearly 2- 1/2 years. (Action:

M/ o Defence )

furnishing the requisite information. MoD(Fin) waspersuaded to process the matter without the financialimplications. The case has been referred to M/o Financby MoD(Fin) in March,2013. The DESW has been inconstant touch with the D/o Expenditure to get the casfinalized.

. Appointment of Specialists and General MedicalOfficer in CGHS :- Aged Pensioners are unable to go tocrowded Government hospitals and obtain specialist'sprescription as the Specialists in the GovernmentHospitals are not only reluctant to issue suchprescription on one hand but also the waiting time isenormous in the hospital. It is suggested thatSpecialist of various disciplines may be appointed oncontract as is now resorted to.( Action: M/o Health & FW_)

M/o Health & FW:- Keeping in view the difficulties beinfaced by the aged CGHS pensioner beneficiaries,feasibility of appointing specialists of various disciplinein CGHS dispensaries on part time/contract basis is beinexplored

. Problems faced by non -Smart Card (old card holders)of CGHS:- As per instructions issued by the Govt. ofIndia, Ministry of Health & Family Welfare vide letterNo.6024/2007/CGHS(HR)CGHS(P) Dated 17.12.2012the beneficiaries of CGHS can get treatment in allCGHS covered cities in India and there is no need forobtaining temporary attachment while on a visit toanother CGHS city. It has been brought to the notice ofthis Association by the members that if they carryCGHS cards while on visit to out stations, theirdependant members, who do not accompany them,face great difficulty in case of emergency as withoutcard Wellness Centers do not entertain any patient.

Even in case of serious emergency empanelledhospitals do not entertain any patient if the CGHScard is not produced to them within four hours ofadmission and treat the CGHS beneficiaries asordinary patients and cashless treatment is notpermitted. Similar is the position of the card holder ifhe leaves the card behind for use of his dependents inhis absence or the dependent(s) goes to outstation.

M/ o Health & FW:- It was decided to replace the oldcards by the plastic cards meant for each beneficiaryincluding dependent family members. Now, a beneficiacan avail CGHS facility in any wellness centre anywherein the country on production of his CGHS Plastic Card oPaper Card. Inpatient medical treatment facility is alsoavailable in empanelled private hospitals on productionof the same. CGHS has already started issuing plasticcards at all its locations (except Jammu). Beneficiariesmay apply for the same with the requisite details and gtheir plastic cards made from the Office of Add. DirectoCGHS of the city concerned.

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The Ministry of Health & Family Welfare is requestedto find out a viable solution to this problem so that thebeneficiaries of CGHS do not suffer during their visitto outstation.( Action: Mb o Health & FW)

. Extension of benefit of OM dt. 28.1.2013 w.e.f1.1.2006 instead of 24.9.2012:- Govt. of India, M/oP&PG & Pensions, Department of Pension andPensioners Welfare, New Delhi's Order No.F-38/37/2008-P&PW(A) dated 28.1.2013. In the lightof the judgement of the Hon'ble High Court of Delhidated 29.04.2013 delivered with reference to WritPetition No's WP(C) 1535/2012, WP(C)2348/2012,WP(C) 2349/2012 and WP(C) 2350/2012read with Hon'ble Supreme Court of India's decision inSLP (C) 23055 of 2013 of the Union of India Vs CGS-(29) (SAG) Pensioners Association dated 29.07.2013,the date of effect mentioned in the GOI order dated28/1/13 may be revised retrospectively from 1.1.2006and arrears paid to the eligible Pensioners.(Action: DoP&PW)

D/o P&PW :- The advice in regard to further course ofaction on the dismissal of SLP No. 23055 of 2013 by theHon'ble Supreme Court on 29.7.2013 has been soughtfrom Department of Expenditure. The advice is stillawaited.

tem No.1 position as given under comments was agreed-item closed.

tem No.2. Members were informed that DOE has not agreed. However, on the insistence of members, item kept open

tem No.3. while discussing this item following was brought to the notice of the Minister

1) That though quiet a number of buildings are lying vacant over the Indian Rlys but inspite of the fact that PensioneAssociations are ready to pay the rent, vacant accommodation is not being allotted to them & that some Rly. Divisio

o not accept pensioners associations to be the welfare organizations. Honorable Minister took note of it.

2) That several items submitted by the members for inclusion in SCOVA agenda were forwarded by DOP &PW viheir letter dated 23.8.2013 to the concerned Ministries/ Departments for direct reply but no replies have been receiv

& that departments generally do not reply

3) That inspite of repeated assurance given in earlier SCOVA meetings M/O Rlys is not uploading on its website tirculars/orders issued by different Directorates of Rly Board neither these are circulated to SCOVA members

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4) That though as per Indian Rly Master circular on Pension Adalat. Pension Adalat at Divisional level are to be conducuarterly but these instructions are not being followed & that SCOVA members are not being informed about tate/place of Adalat and the Agenda