Minutes of the 21st meeting of Standing Committee of Voluntary Agencies (SCOVA) held on 27.9.2012

F. No. 42/45/2012-P&PW(G)

 Government of India

Ministry of Personnel, Public
Grievances & Pensions

Department of Pension &
Pensioners’ Welfare

 (Desk-G)

3rd Floor, Lok Nayak Bhavan,

Khan Market, New Delhi – 110003

 Date: 10th
October, 2012

OFFICE MEMORANDUM

Subject: 21st meeting of the Standing Committee
of Voluntary Agencies (SCOVA) held on 27.09.2012 at Civil Services Officers’ Institute
(CSOI), Kasturba Gandhi Marg, New Delhi

Please find enclosed herewith a copy of minutes
of the 21st meeting of Standing Committee of Voluntary Agencies (SCOVA) held on
27.09.2012 presided over by Hon’ble MOS(PP) at Civil Services Officers’ Institute
(CSOI), Kasturba Gandhi Marg, New Delhi, for your kind perusal.

Sd/-

(Sujasha Choudhury)

Deputy Secretary (P)

Minutes of the 21st meeting of Standing Committee of Voluntary Agencies (SCOVA) held on 27.9.2012 under the Chairmanship of Minister of State (PP) at Civil Services Officers Institute (CSOI), Kasturba Gandhi Marg, New Delhi.

Secretary (P&PW) at the outset welcomed Hon’ble MOS(PP) as well as all representatives of Pensioners’ Associations
and the participating members of various Ministries/Departments. Thereafter, he enumerated the changes
in the pension rules and mentioned the fact that SCOVA has been able to achieve the objective for which it was started in 1986. Secretary (P&PW) further added that today’s serving officers will eventually become
pensioners tomorrow. He praised the contributions made by the Pensioners as officers during their tenure in the Government and also applauded for their present contributions as Senior Citizens. Secretary expressed the hope that the Department would continue to get support from the pensioners’ Associations in future.

2. Hon’ble MOS (PP) in his welcome address to the participants stated that representations relating to pensionary matters are increasing as different Ministries/Departments are interpreting pension rules in different ways. Thus, he stressed the need for uniform interpretation of pension rules so that the grievances of the pensioners relating to pensionary matters are reduced and settled without delay.
In order to have better cooperation between the Department and the pensioners
association
he agreed to the outstanding demand of holding the SCOVA meeting twice in a year.

(Action: DoP&PW)

3. The list of participants is at Appendix – I.

4. Thereafter, the Action Taken Repot (ATR) of 20th SCOVA meeting (Annexure-I) and Agenda items of 21st SCOVA meeting (Annexure-II) were taken up for discussion.

5. Action Taken Report (ATR) on the points raised in the 20th meeting of SCOVA (Annexure-I)

Sl. No. 1 and 19 of ATR:

(1)– Issue of Corrigendum PPO for Pre–2006 retirees and also to communicate the amount of pension as well as Family Pension to be revised consequent to the 6th Central Pay Commission to Pre 1.1.2006 pensioners.

(19)– Issue of Revised PPOs for pre and post 2006 retirees– Status thereof

i) Central Pension Accounting Office has indicated that out of 6.67 lakhs cases of pre–2006 pensioners/family pensioners revised PPOs in respect of 3.06 lakhs cases have been issued.
CPAO informed that they are sending e–scrolls of Pensioners to all Ministries/Departments, which will solve the problem of non receipt of Annexure-III.

ii) As final
figures were not
available, Department of Telecommunications and Department of Posts were asked to compile data for the cases of pensioners/family pensioners of pre–2006 and take necessary action for their revision by 31st March, 2013.

iii) Ministry of Railways informed that they have requested pensioners to apply for revision of PPO by making all the data available to them. They informed that they have revised 4.7 lakhs PPOs on receipt of these applications and 6.00 lakhs are pending.
The Ministry has been asked to complete the task of issuing revised PPOs
by March,
2013
where applications have been received.
Simultaneously they should ascertain a mechanism
of getting data of the remaining cases and revising PPOs of those who have not applied for revision of PPOs.

iv) Ministry of Defence informed that they have to cater to the requirement of more than 11 lakh pre–2006 Pensioners. They have revised PPOs of about 5.7 lakh out of them. They also informed that in approximately 8.0 lakh cases, the revision has to be done manually and they have to take additional action for capturing all the data which is available only in physical
form. The Ministry was
asked
to deploy additional
manpower for
capturing of data
and
complete the revision exercise by 30th September, 2013.

Secretary (P&PW) requested all the organizations/Departments/ Ministries to expedite the same without further delay and update the latest status with the Department of Pension & Pensioners’
Welfare.

(Action: CPAO, Ministry of Railways, Ministry of Defence, Department of Posts, Department of Telecom and DOP&PW)

Sl. No. 2 of ATR:

Expediting cases of sanction of secondary family pension with monitoring mechanism at various levels.

The necessary clarifications
as decided in the last SCOVA meeting had been circulated to all ministries/departments and associations on 8.12.2011 and the same has been reiterated in September, 2012.

Hence the item is treated as closed.

Sl. No. 3 & 12 of ATR:

(3)– Same fitment
benefit to Pre-2006 pensioners as recommended and implemented in respect of serving
employees by the VI CPC.

Parity between Past and Future Pensioners.

Stepping up of Pension and Family Pension to 50% and 30% respectively. Extension of new benefits granted to the past pensioner.

(12)- The implementation of orders dated 01.09.2008 read with the orders dated 14.10.08 is not correct for fixation of pension.

With regard to the issue of same benefit to pre–2006 pensioners as given to serving employees by 6th CPC and parity between past and future pensioners, the members were informed that CAT in its judgement on 1.11.2011 had dismissed the issue.
With regard to issue of stepping up of pension and family pension to 50% and 30% respectively of the minimum of pay in the payscale, the members were informed that appropriate action in this regard is being taken taken by the government.
In view of the above, it has been treated as closed.

Sl. No.
4 of ATR:

A suitable alternative to merger of DR after it reaches 50% in view of VI CPC recommendation against 50% DA/DR merger benefit
to ensure revision at reasonable intervals.

It was informed that the issue was taken up with the concerned Ministry for consideration, but the same has not been agreed to by the Government. Therefore, this item may be treated as closed.

Sl. No. 5 of ATR:

Restoration of commuted pension after 12 years.

It was informed that the issue was taken up with the concerned Ministry for consideration, but the same has not been agreed to by the Government. Therefore, this item may be treated as closed.

Sl. No.
6, 7 and 8 of ATR:

Revision of Ex-gratia rates in respect of pre-1986 CPF/SRPF retirees and their families.

(a) Revision of ex-gratia amount to CPF/SRPF retirees.

(b) Uniform rates of DR.

(c) FMA to ex– gratia beneficiaries

(d) Ex– gratia to those who voluntarily retired after 20 years of service.

(e) Ex–gratia
should
not be
less
than minimum pension and the same should be effective from

01/01/06.

(a), (b) and (e): It was informed that the proposal for increasing the ex–gratia for CPF pensioners so as to bring them at par with SRPF beneficiaries is under consideration.

(c): Since they are the CPF beneficiaries who are not eligible for CGHS benefits, hence, they are not eligible for FMA as well.

(d): As regards ex–gratia to those who took voluntary retirement, it was agreed to re–examine the matter in the light of various court judgments

(Action: Ministry of Railways and DOP&PW)

Sl. No. 9 of ATR:

Extension
of secondary
family pension to
dependent
widowed daughter–in–law.

In view of the decision of the Government not to grant family pension to a widowed daughter–in–law, the item was closed.

Sl. No. 10 of ATR:

Fixed Medical Allowance to be enhanced to Rs. 1000/– per month w.e.f.
01/01/06.

The Government has not agreed to further enhance FMA beyond Rs. 300/-. Item may be Closed.

Sl. No.
11 of ATR:

Implementation of Web Based Pensioners Portal –

The performance and facilities available under the Web based “Pensioner Portal” was appreciated by the SCOVA members.
The Secretary (P&PW) suggested that Ministries/Departments should adhere to the timelines in the redressal of grievances and they should also sensitize the subordinate functionaries to adhere to these timelines.
The item may be closed.

(Action: DoP&PW)

Sl. No.
12 of ATR

Merged with Sl. No. 3 above of ATR.

Sl. No. 13 and 16 of ATR:

(13) – The Orders of Ministry of Health reiterating that all the pensioners are at liberty to opt themselves with any of the nearest CGHS hospital/dispensary may be
widely circulated.
Arbitrary
orders
dated
01/08/1996 and 01/09/1996 issued by Ministry of Health and Director of CGHS may be withdrawn and the benefit of CGHS facilities be allowed to the pensioners of Department
of Post and Department of Telecom as specially provided in the order of the Department
of Personnel and Pension.

(16)– (i) The existing Pensioners of Department of Posts and Telecom covered by P& T Dispensaries are neither
considered for treatment of hospitalization facilities nor for Fixed Medical Allowance.

(ii) Pensioners falling within the limit of P& T Dispensaries
/CGHS Hospitals may be allowed to opt for P&T Dispensaries or drawl of Fixed Medical Allowance.

It was informed that the issue was taken up with the concerned
ministries and the decision to merge 19 dispensaries in 12 cities have been taken in principle.
The concerned ministries will inform the exact timelines.
In this regard Hon’ble MOS(PP) will take up the issue with the Health Minister. He will also take up the matter with the Health Minister regarding opening of one new CGHS dispensary at Mohali/Panchkula/Chandigarh.

(Action: Ministry of Health & FW, Department of Posts,Department of Telecom, DoP&PW)

Sl. No. 14 and 21 of ATR:

(14)–Early commencement of meeting of National Anomalies Committee to settle all anomalies arising out of 6th central pay commission recommendations.

(21)–Same as above.

In view of the fact that meeting was already conducted by National Anomaly Committee on 5th January, 2012 to 17th July, 2012, the item is closed.

Sl. No. 15 and 27 of ATR:

(15)–Grant of concessional telephone facilities to retired P&T Employees.

(27)– Same as above.

The Department of Telecom informed that the matter had been referred to a committee which is looking into the financial aspects. Secretary, (Pension) suggested
that the decision should be taken by December, 2012. Secretary (Pension), however, desired that the SCOVA members may take up such ministry specific issues separately with the concerned ministry which have no general policy requirements and does not concern all pensioners.