13oct15.27th SCOVA mtg-SCOVA reduced to self image building platform of DOP &PW

27th meeting of Standing Committee of Voluntary Agencies (SCOVA) held today

Retired employees should become ‘torch bearers’ of ‘Start-up India, Stand-up India’ initiative: Dr Jitendra Singh

The Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER), MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr. Jitendra Singh chaired the 27th meeting of Standing Committee of Voluntary Agencies (SCOVA) in New Delhi today. He said that the Government has taken various initiatives for the prompt disposal of grievances received from pensioners across the country. The Minister said that the pendency without reason has to be taken care of completely. He said that they are the human resource with vast experience and the focus should be best utilization of their experience and services. He called for pre-retirement counseling of the retiring persons so that their experience can be utilized in best manner and they can be served in a better way.

Addressing the meeting, he called upon the pensioners to involve their vast experience and resources to assume the role of job creators. Recalling the “Startup India, Standup India” initiative of the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, announced from the ramparts of the Red Fort in his Independence Day speech this year, Dr. Jitendra Singh said the Government looks to the pensioners as a large pool resource to achieve this end and they can become the torch bearers of this initiative.

Dr. Jitendra Singh said, due to increasing life expectancy, the number of pensioners in the country today is larger than the number of serving employees. The Government is seized of the matter as to how best to utilize the services of the retired employees, he added.

Speaking on the occasion, Secretary, Department of Pensions & Pensioners’ Welfare and Secretary, Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances, Shri Devendra Chaudhary said the Department of Pensions & Pensioners’ Welfare has set a deadline of one month’s time during which backlog of the more than 2,200 pending pension grievances will be settled. Stating that there are legal issues to be addressed while linking Aadhaar Number with the Pension Payment Order (PPO), Shri Chaudhary said more than 9,000 Drawing & Disbursal Officers (DDOs) have been linked on the Bhavishya online portal.

As many as 9505 pension related complaints during the first six months of financial year 2015-16 have been settled by the Department. As on date, only 2,737 grievances are pending.

The Department of Pension & Pensioners Welfare has launched an initiative ‘Anubhav’ for showcasing outstanding work accomplished by retiring employees, sharing experience of working with the Government and providing suggestions for enhancing efficiency in Government systems. It is envisaged that over a period of time this will create a wealth of institutional memory with replicable ideas and suggestions. This tool in addition, gives opportunity to the retiring employee to invest his experience, skill and time for growth of social capital of the country. Till date, 812 write-ups have been published and 224 are waiting to be published.

The Department operates a web-based ‘Pensioners Portal’, a Mission Mode Project under National e-Governance Plan of the Government. The portal is expected to serve as a one stop information source for the pensioners of Government of India across the country. The portal has interactive components as well as non-interactive components. Interactive components include:- 1) Online calculation of pension/family pension, gratuity, commutation etc. 2) Online status of PPO, 3) Online lodging and checking of status of grievances. Whereas non-interactive components include Pension Act/Rules, Circular, Forms, FAQs.

An “Online Pension Sanction and Payment Tracking System” called ‘Bhavishya’ has been introduced by the Department to monitor delays in grant of pension and other retirement benefits. Presently, it has been implemented in the main Secretariat of 83 Ministries/Departments and nine Attached Offices i.e CPWD, CRPF etc. covering 497 DDOs.

The initiative ‘Sankalp’ launched by the Department prepares the individuals for life after retirement and to channelize energy, experience and skill of retiring Government servants into meaningful voluntary work. 1,581 persons have so far registered themselves. In addition, 16 organisations engaged in social activities have also registered themselves for providing access to these registered pensioners for voluntary works. To further, facilitate these pensioners, 19 Pensioners’ Associations have also registered themselves under the initiative ‘Sankalp

Agenda for 27th SCOVA Meeting to be held in October2015

Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions

(Department of Pension & Pensioners Welfare)

27th MEETING OF STANDING COMMITTEE OF VOLUNTARY AGENCIES (SCOVA)

S.No	Fresh Agenda ltems-27 SCOVA Meeting
(27.1)	Modification to the format of Life Certificate – Issue of acknowledgement to Pensioners submitting Life Certificate As per Reserve Bank of India notification No. RBI/2014-15/587 dated 7th May, 2015, it is mandatory for the Pension Paying Banks to issue an acknowledgement to Pensioners when they submit Life Certificate every year in November for continuance of pension. After the recent relaxation of the procedure for submission of Life Certificate, Pensioners can submit Life Certificate in any branch of the Bank from which they draw their pension. Pension Paying Banks are required to update their master data with CPPC and the updated master data is required to be sent to CPAO in 1st week of December every year. Several instances of stoppage of payment of pension by CPPCs have been reported citing non receipt of Life Certificate, even though the Pensioners had submitted their Life Certificates to the Bank due to misplacement of the Life Certificates at the Bank branches concerned. Instances of some Pension Paying Banks not accepting Life Certificates given to them by Pensioners and directing Pensioners to submit the Life Certificate to CPPC have also been reported causing great inconvenience to Pensioners, which results in either stoppage of payment of pension or delay in payment of pension.  The format of Life Certificate may be suitably modified to include a part in the format to provide for issue of acknowledgement, which can be detached and given to the Pensioner by the receiving Bank.  (Action:- Department of Expenditure / CPAO)
(27.2)	Extension of the benefits of DoP&PW OM No.38/37/08-P&PW(A) dated 28-1-2013 read with OM dated 30-7-2015 to pre-2006 Pensioners with less than 33 years. As per orders issued vide OM dated 01.09.2008, the revised pension of pre-2006 pensioners would not be less that 50% of the minimum of pay in the pay band + grade pay in the revised pay structure, In the OM dated 28.01.2013 it was provided that the minimum pay in the pay band for the purpose would be with reference to the fitment table applicable for pay fixation of the serving employee. The OM dated 28.01.2013 was effective from 24.09.2012. In implementation of the Orders of Hon’ble CAT/High Court and following dismissal of the SLP/Review Petition filed by the Government, an OM dated 30.07.2015 has been issued for extending the benefit of OM dated 28.01.2013 w.e.f 01.01.2006 instead of 24.09.2012. These orders, however, provide that the minimum pension was minimum pension as per OM dated 28.01.2013/30.07.2015 without any pro-rata reduction based on qualifying service.  (Action: DoPPW)
(27.3)	Opening/Extension/Repair of Dispensaries at following stations:- (A) Dehradun, Uttara hand  (B) Panchkula, Haryana  (C) Mohali, Punjab  (D) Chandigarh (Union Territory)  (E) Ambarnath, Maharashtra  (Action: Ministry of Health and Family Welfare)
(27.4)	Issues relating to CGHS Dispensary at Dehradun, Uttarakhand. (A) Regular appointment of group C and D employees of C.G.H.S Dehradun be made  The staff in the dispensary are very short. They are appointed through outsource agency in 2004. Regular appointments of group C and D employees have not been made till today. The outsource recruited employees clerk are not aware with the nature of work of the office all work of the beneficiaries are being delayed. M.R.C. Bill form 2-3 years and in some cases 5 years has not been paid. Proper records are not been maintained thereby they are facing great problems an hardship in their old age. Therefore, all group C and D employees be appointed with regular basis without any further delay.  (B) Opening of Arurvedic/Homeopathic and Siddha dispensary at CGHS Dehradun.  At Present there are no facility available at CGHS Dehradun for the beneficiaries to take the treatment in Arurvedic, Homeopathic and Siddha system of medicines. One combined dispensary in the above system be opened at Dehradun on similar lines as in Meerut, New Delhi and other cities so that the old age beneficiaries cold obtained the treatment in the above system. (C) Posting/Appointment of Regional Director at CGHS Dehradun in Uttarakhand.  For the proper and smooth functioning of the dispensary it is essential that posting/ Appointment of Regional Director be made as in Chandigarh CGHS. In the absence of the Regional Director the beneficiaries are facing great problem in their dally needs in the dispensary as there MRC Bill and other administrative nature of work are pending from 2-3 years.  (Action: Ministry of Health and Family Welfare)
(27.5)	Supreme Court judgment in CA No. 11527 of 2014 (Arising out of SLP No.- 11684 of 2012) As per the existing instructions issued by DoPT vide OM no 18/26/2011 -Estt(Pay-1) dated 06.02.2014, the recovery of over payment of pays & allowances and pension is permissible. Hon’ble Supreme Court in its recent judgment dated 18.12.2014 in CA No. 11527 of 2014 has laid down the following situation in which recoveries from employees would be impermissible in law: (i) Recovery from employees belonging to Class-Ill and Class-IV service (or Group ‘C’ and Group ‘D’ service).  (ii) Recovery from retired employees, or employees who are due to retire within one year, of the order of recovery.  (iii) Recovery from employees, when the excess payment has been made for a period in excess of five years, before the order of recovery is issued.  (iv) Recovery in cases where an employee has wrongfully been required to discharge duties of a higher post, and has been paid accordingly, even though he should have rightfully been required to work against an inferior post.  (v) In any other case, where the Court arrives at the conclusion, that recovery if made from the employee, would be iniquitous or harsh or arbitrary to such an extent, as would far outweigh the equitable balance of the employer’s right to recover.  Orders may be issued for implementation of the above guidelines prescribed by Hon’ble Supreme Court.  (Action:-DoPT/DoPPW)
(27.6)	Implementation of circular No. 38/37/08-P&PW(A) dated 30.07.2015 In order to get the benefits from 24.09.2012 extended under OM dated 28.01.2013, the pensioner had submitted application for Revision of pension to the Pension Sanctioning Authority and a large number of such pensioners are still to get the fruits of revision of pension from 24.09.2012. If the pensioners are yet again required to submit application for re-revision to get the benefit from 01.01.2006 as per circular dt. 30.07.2015, it is bound to cause further hardship to them particularly in view of their advanced age. Moreover, there is an obligation to implement the Court Order within specified time. To obviate the situation, it is requested that: i) The pension sanctioning authorities may be advised to suo-moto rerevise the pension from 01.01.2006 instead of 24.09.2012 or as applicable in a time bound manner without requiring the pensioner to apply for it. ii) In respect of pending application and other cases of omission, the PSA instead of issuing Revision Order from 24.09.2012 should straightway issue sanction order w.e.f. 01.01.2006 in admissible cases within the given time.  (Action: DoPPW)
(27.7)	Facility for Online Railway Booking Physically challenged passengers are entitled to rail fare concession up to 75%. However, this Concession cannot be availed of through online booking, despite the fact that physically disabled need online facility much more than the able-bodied. Though the railways have made a beginning now, since the concessions offered by them vary for each type of disability, they need to modify their website accordingly. DP&PW may take up the issue with Ministry of Railways for an early action. In order to prevent misuse of the facility, Railways or MoD , in case of disabled defence pensioners, can issue permanent photo i-cards to entitled persons after satisfying itself of the genuineness of their disability and entitlement and the i-card no. can be quoted while booking and produced for checking during travel.  (Action Ministry of Railways

Pay commission report in a week

1. IN A WEEK 7TH CPC REPORT ( Published in Telugu Andhra Jyothy
2. Dated 29th September 2015 Hyderabad City Edition Page No.16
3. New Delhi, September,28: (Andhra Jyothy) Information is that 7th CPC would submit its report in a week for which Approximately 48 Lakhs Central Govt. Employees, 55 Lakhs Pensioners in waiting. In fact, CPC headed by Ashokkumar Mathur expected to submit its report in August itself … Central Govt. gave extension of time upto December. Financial Wing told that the report is delayed by CPC due to the fact of implementing the One Rank and One Pay. Through Informed Sources it is further learnt that though 6th CPC allowed increase by 40% Percentage of 30% is proposed by 7th CPC. Further HRA rates between 10% and 30% would get increase. The 7th CPC introduce New Pay Band System with Innovate Radical Methods to increase of wages in every Year by Appointing a Permanent Pay Commission by its recommendations.  ArunJaitely Central Finance Minister further reported to have told that 7th CPC recommendations would be received shortly and that these would be implemented wef 1st January 2016, it is added. 
4. PENSION MINISTRY ORDERS FOR PAYMENT OF DEARNESS RELIEF WEF 1st JULY 2015
5.  
6. F. No. 42/10/2014-P&PW(G) ( Government of India - Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions - Department of Pension & Pensioners' Welfare - 3rd Floor, Lok Nayak Bhavan, Khan Market, New Delhi – 110003 - Dated : 28th.S e p t, 2 0 1 5
7. OFFICE MEMORANDUM
8. Subject: Grant of Dearness Relief to Central Government pensioners/family pensioners - Revised rate effective from 1.7.2015.
9.  
10. The undersigned is directed to refer to this Department's OM No. 42/10/2014-P&PW(G) dated 27th April, 2015 on the subject mentioned above and to state that the President is pleased to decide that the Dearness Relief (DR) payable to Central Government pensioners/family pensioners shall be enhanced from the existing rate of 113% to 119% w.e.f. 1stJuly, 2015.
11.  
12. 2. These orders apply to (i) All Civilian Central Government Pensioners/Family Pensioners
13. (ii) The Armed Forces Pensioners, Civilian Pensioners paid out of the Defence Service Estimates, (iii) All India Service Pensioners (iv) Railway Pensloners and (v) The Burma Civilian pensioners/family pensioners and pensioners/families of displaced Government pensioners from  Pakistan, who are lndian Nationals but receiving pension on behalf of Government of Pakistan and are in receipt of ad-hoc ex-gratia allowance of Rs. 3500/- p.m. in terms of this Department's OM No. 23/1/97-P&PW(B) dated 23.2.1998 read with this Department's OM No. 23/3/2008-P&PW(B) dated 15.9.2008.
14.  
15. 3. Central Government Employees who had drawn lump sum amount on absorption in a PSU / Autonomous body and have become eligible to restoration of 1/3rd commuted portion of pension as well as revision of the restored amount in terms of this Department's OM No. 4/59/97-P&PW (D) dated 14.07.1998 will also be entitled to the payment of DR @ 119% w.e.f. 1.7.2015 on full pension i.e. the revised pension which the absorbed employee would have received on the date of restoration had he not drawn lump sum payment on absorption and Dearness Pension subject to fulfilment of the conditions laid down in para 5 of the a.M. dated 14.07.98. In this connection, instructions contained in this Department's OM No.4/29/99-P&PW (D) dated. 12.7.2000 refer.
16. 4. Payment of DR involving a fraction of a rupee shall be rounded off to the next higher rupee.
17.  
18. - 2-
19. 5. Other provisions governing grant of DR in respect of employed family pensioners and reemployed Central Government Pensioners will be regulated in accordance with the provisionscontained in this Department's OM No. 45/73/97-P&PW (G) dated 2.7.1999 as amended vide this Department's OM No. F. No. 38/88/2008-P&PW(G) dated 9th July, 2009. The provisions relating to regulation of DR where a pensioner is in receipt of more than one pension will remain unchanged.
20.  
21. 6. In the case of retired Judges of the Supreme Court and High Courts, necessary orders will be issued by the Department of Justice separately.
22.  
23. 7. It will be the responsibility of the pension disbursing authorities, including the nationalized banks, etc. to calculate the quantum of DR payable in each individual case.
24.  
25. 8. The offices of Accountant General and authorised Pension Disbursing Banks are requested to arrange payment of relief to pensioners etc. on the basis of these instructions without waiting for any further instructions from the Comptroller and Auditor General of India and the Reserve Bank of India in view of letter No. 528-TA, 11/34-80-11dated 23/04/1981 of the Comptroller and Auditor General of India addressed to all Accountant Generals and Reserve Bank of India Circular No. GANB No. 2958/GA-64 (ii) (CPL)/81 dated the 21st May, 1981 addressed to State Bank of India and its subsidiaries and all Nationalised Banks.
26.  
27. 9. In their application to the pensioners/family pensioners belonging to Indian Audit and Accounts Department, these orders issue after consultation with the C&AG.
28.  
29. 10. This issues with the concurrence of Ministry of Finance, Department of Expenditure vide their OM No. 1/3/2015-E.II(B) dated 23rd September, 2015. 
30.  
31. 11. Hindi version will follow. 
32.  
33. ( --G(~~
34. (Charanjit Taneja)
35. Under Secretary to the Government of India
36.  
37.