F. No. 42j29j2014-P&PW(G)Government of India

Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances & PensionsDepartment of Pension & Pensioners' Welfare

3rd Floor, Lok Nayak Bhavan,Khan Market, New Delhi - 110003

Date: QJ,.""'"'-sePt, 2014

To

All the Pensioners Associations under present SCOVA

Subject: Action Taken Report on the minutes of the 24th meeting of StandingCommittee of Voluntary Agencies (SCOVA).

Please find enclosed herewith a copy of Action Taken Report (AR) on the decisions of the24th meeting of the of Standing Committee of Voluntary Agencies (SCOVA) held on osth February,2014 under the Chairmanship of Hon'ble MOS (PP) in New Delhi for your kind perusal.

End: - as above

(Sujasha Choudhury)Dy. Secretary (P)

Copy to,

Director, NIC, 3rd floor, Lok Nayak Bhawan, New Delhi for placing this Office Memorandum onthis Department's website www.pensionersportal.gov.in -+ Circulars -+ SCOVA.

Ministry ot Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions(Department of Pension & Pensioners' Welfare)

ACTION TAKEN REPORT ON THE DECISIONS OF THE 24th MEETING OF STANDIN.GCOMMITTEE OF VOLUNTARY AGENCIES (SCOVA) HELD ON 05.02.2014.

51.No

Issues raised inthe 24th 5COVAmeeting

Gist of Decision takenin the

24th 5COVA meeting

Follow up Action

L 51. No 1of ATR.Status of issue ofrevised PPOs to pre-2006 pensioners

a) CPAO intimatedthat approximately 65,000cases were pending forrevision.

Secretary (Pension)informed that theGovernment has taken allpossible steps to facilitatethe completion of this task.Despite all these efforts, thevery old cases where detailsare not forthcoming frompensioners and banks andare also not available with Meetings are being held at level of CGA,the Ministries and Add!. CGA, Chief Controller (Pensions) withDepartments are still Pro CCAs/CCAs/CAs for early disposal ofpending. Secretary remaining cases.requested all theAssociations to reach out tothe pensioners to obtain themissing information. He alsoasked CPAO to segregate theremaining 65,000 casesMinistries/ Departments wiseand conduct meeting withgroups of 3-4 Ministriesevery week to facilitate earlydisposal of these cases.

b) Ministry of Railwaysinformed that as on dateapproximately 90,000 casesare left for revision. Asthese remaining cases arethe complicated ones, thesecould be revised only by30,Sep,2014. On therequest of an Association theMinistry of Railways providedzone wise figures of pendingpre-2006 PPOs. (Ann-II)

CPAO

As on 12.08.2014, 40,275 cases ofCivil Ministries/Departments are pending forrevision.

Ministries/ Pre Pre TotalDeptts 1990 2006

Civil 28,429 11,846 40,275Ministries/

DeQtts

All Ministries/Departments have beendirected by Controller General ofAccounts(CGA) to finalise these cases bytaking up matter with concern Head ofDepartment, banks and by approaching topensioners where documents/flies inrespect of pensioners/family pensioners arenot available with concerned PAOs.

Ministry of Railways

Current status of revised PPOs to pre-2006 pensioners is as under:

Total PPOs PPOs . yet toPensioners revised be revised

10,15,536 9,88,846 . 26,690

The outstanding cases are very old andTarget date:-30th Sept,2014. hard core and are pending for want of office

records updated details of ~ensioners etc.

Page1 of 9

51.No

Follow up ActionIssues raised inthe 24th 5COVAmeeting

c) Department of Posts Department of Postsinformed that only 1,395cases remain for revision. Approximately 99.81% PPOs of pre-

2006 have been revised.

Gist of Decision takenin the

24th 5COVA meetingHowever, efforts are being made to getthese details from respective pensiondisbursing authorities to revise the same.

Target date:- 31st March,2014. Total PPOs PPOs

revised

Target date -2014

so" June,

d) Department of Department of TelecommunicationsTelecommunications informedthat of the approximately Status of revised PPOs to. pre-200629,000 pending cases, pensioners as on 31.07.2014 is as under:17,000 pertains to BSNL andremaining relate to Total PPOs PPOsDepartment ofTelecommunication.

e) Ministry of Defenceinformed that out of total18.5 lakh pre-2006pensioners, 1.8 lakh areDefence Civilian pensioners.10.5 lakh PPOs have beenrevised, of· which 84,000PPOs pertain to DefenceCivilians.

Target date - so" Sept,2014.

PPOs yet tobe revised

1,70,426 1,70,098 328

revisedPPOs yet tobe revised

53,126 45,350 7,776

CGDA (Ministry of Defence)

The figure of 18.5 lakh pre-2006pensioners was based on figures used byPro CDA(Pension) Allahabad for budgetarypurpose. Considering wastage @2.5% ofpre-2006 pensioners/family pensionersevery year (due to death), the number ofPPOs required to be issued has been re-assessed at 16.71 lakh. The status ofrevised PPOstill 31.08.2014 is as under:

Category PPOs PPOs yet torevised be revised

Defencepensioners 14.11lakh

Defence 85,000Civilian 2.11 lakhPensionersTota.l 16.221akh

SI.No

Issues raised inthe 24th SCOVAmeeting

Gist of Decision takenin the

24th SCOVA meeting

Follow up Action

» On a issue raised bythe Associations, Hon'bleMOS(PP) desired that theNorth-East .Reqion must becovered in the regularPension Adalats conductedby the Ministry of Defence.He would take up this issuewith the Hon'ble RakshaMantri.

Department of Ex-Servicemen

In case of Pension Adalat in NorthEast Region is concerned, these havealready been held periodically as under:-

(a) Jorhat (Assam):- 23rd & 24th Dec,2010

(b) Missamari (Assam):- 12th & 13th Nov,2013 and in

(Action: CPAO,Railways, 0/00/0 Telecom,Defence & D/oPPW)

Mlo (c) Shillong(Meghalaya):- proposed to bePosts, held in Oct, 2014.

Mlo

Ministry of Health & FWhave not agreed to therequest for opening of a newCGHS dispensary atPanchkula. The Hon'bleMOS(PP). stated that he willtake up the matter againwith the Hon'ble Minister ofHealth & Family Welfare.

2. S.No 2 of ATR:-· DoPPW

-New dispensary forPanchkula.

The matter was taken by the then MOS(PP) with the then Health Minister vide DOletter dated 12.02.2014. In addition, JS(P)wrote a DO letter dated 24.06.2014 in thematter requesting for the present status ofthe proposals.

(Action: Ministry of Health Ministry of Health and Familyand FW, DoPPW)

Welfare

The matter has been examined in theMinistry. At present there is no proposalunder consideration to open the CGHSWellness Centre at Panchkula.

0/0 Ex-Servicemen WelfareThe Department _ of Ex-Servicemen Welfareinformed that the case isbeing pursued vigorouslywith the Department ofExpenditure, where it isunder consideration. Theissue of providing benefit ofmodified parity on disabilityelement for invalid/disabledpensioners, which had beenraised in the last SCOVAmeeting, has still not beenresolved. This is a seriousmatter and will be taken upby Hon'ble MOS(PP) with theHon'ble Raksha Mantri.

3. (23.4) of ATRBroad Banding ofDisability Element forPre-1996 cases.

The proposal is still pending and is beingpursued vigorously with Department ofexpenditure and their concurrence is stillawaited.

0/0 Expenditure

D/o expenditure in June 2014 has statedthat matter is under consideration

Page 3 of 9

SI.No

Follow up ActionIssues raised inthe 24th SCOVAmeeting

Gist of Decision takenin the

24th SCOVA meeting( Action: % Expenditure& % Ex-ServicemenWelfare)

4. (24.1) HealthInsurance Schemefor pensionersincluding thoseresiding at non-CGHS areas.

S. (24.2) Dedicatedday for pensioners.

An EFC memo on the DoPPWproposed Health InsuranceScheme has been circulatedto variousMinistries/Departments forcomments. The Schemewould benefit a large number Ministrv of Health and Familyof pensioners who at present Welfarecannot avail of CGHSbenefits .. The representativeof Ministry of Health &Family Welfare informed thatthe Scheme envisagessimilar hospitalizationbenefits as in CGHS but doesnot include OPD facility. Thebeneficiaries of the Schemewould be entitled to a FixedMedical Allowance (FMA) forOPD facility.

(Action: Ministry of Healthand Family Welfare)

AllMinistries/Depa rtmentswere agreeable to fix a timein any day in a week tomeeting the pensioners.They would inform the dayfixed for the activity by 28thFebruary, 2014. The matterwill therefore be droppedafter the issue of orders forthe same.

(Action: All Ministries)

Page 4 of 9

We have requested Ministry of Healthand Family Welfare to give the presentstatus of the proposal.

The commentsMin istries/Depa rtmentswhile it is awaitedDepartments.

from certainhave been receivedfrom some other

the Ministry of Health and FamilyWelfare

CGHS has allotted a time slot everyweek from 11 am to 1 prn on Wednesday,in the office of Addl. Director/It. Director ofrespective CGHS zones/cities to meet andredress grievances of CGHS beneficiaries.Claim Adalats are also held periodically.

Department of Financial Services

The matter was taken up with IndianBanks Association (IBA). As per IBA,present system' in banks permits anypensioner to meet officials in branches onall working days. So there no need to allota particular day. Therefore, it is decidednot to fix any stipulated day for suchmeetings.

51.No

Issues raised inthe 24th 5COVAmeeting

Gist of Decision takenin the

24th 5COVA meeting

Follow up Action

Department of Ex-ServicemenWelfare

The office of PCDA(P) Allahabad is nodaloffice for resolving individual cases ofdefence pensioners. CGDA has informedthat a dedicated reception Centre isfunctioning at the PCDA(P), Allahabadwhere a pensioner can visit on any of theworking day and get his/her grievancesresolved.

However, it may not be possible for theDepartment to fix a day and time in a weekto meet. the pensioners as entry in thebuilding premises is restricted and the factthat grievances of pensioners are redressedby the PSAs such as PCDA(P), Allahabad,PCDA)N), Mumbai and CDA(AF), Delhi tothe extent they pertain to incorrect revisionof pension etc.

However, Secretarv/Jt. Secretary of theDepartment has been meeting therepresentatives of the ex-servicemen'sassociations quite frequently to hear theirgrievances and to redress the same.

Department of Telecom

A time slot of 3 pm to 5 pm on everyWednesday in the office of DDG (Estt) andDDG(Accounts) has been finalised to meetthe pensioners.

Department of Expenditure

Monday of every week has been fixedfor meeting the pensioners.

Department of Personnel andTraining

A time slot of 10 am to 11 am on everyFriday in the office of Director (Admn) hasbeen fixed for the redressal of pensiongrievances.

Department of Posts

Every Wednesday, between 3 pm to 4 pmin the office of Sr. AO/PEA in Dak Bhawan

Page5 of 9

~~--------------~------~~-------,------~~--~~-----------,

~-+--------------+-----------------~------------~~~=-~----~

51.No

6. (24.3) SpecialFamily Pension forthe Widows- ofDisabled WarVeterans

The representatives of Department of Ex-ServicemenM/o Defence informed that Welfarethe issue is being activelypursued and comments areawaited from CGDA.Ministry of Defence wasasked to expedite thesame. For the civil sideissue is being examined byD/oP&PW for Civilpensioners in consultationwith Mjo Home Affairs andother concernedDepartments.

(Action: Ministry ofDefence)

New Delhi and in the office of AccountsOfficer/pension in all the Postal AccountsOffices has been fixed to answer the issuesraised by the pensioners pending in PostalAccounts Offices.

Unsettled grievance at Postal AccountsOffices level within a reasonable time limit,may be entertained in the Office of PostalDirectorate during indicated day and time.

Ministrv of Railways

15th December every year has beendecided as "Day for Pensioners"

The matter had been considered inconsultation with the Department ofExpenditure, Office of CGDAand Ministry ofDefence (Fin) and it has not been foundpossible to agree to the proposal.

~-+----~--------~---------I--f------~----------~d---D--------~t---o~f~7. (24.5) Grant A proposa rom DoPPW .!:D~o:!.!P!....!...P~WC!-_a!:!.!...!n~_~e~p~a~rt~m~e=..!.n~_=.!.

of T.A. to Non- is under consideration in % Expenditureofficial Members Expenditure.attending theSCOVA meetings-Permission toperform journey byAIR and grant ofactual expenses,when the journeyperformed is above1,000 km.

Order in this regard had been issued vide(Action: DoPPW & Deptt. DoPPW's'FoNo 42/11j2014-P&PW(G) datedof Expenditure) 19.05.2014.

Page6 of 9

16(i):- Medicalfacilities for existinqP&T pensioners

The matter is sub-judice.

51.No

Issues raised inthe 24th 5COVArneetinu

Gist of Decision takenin the

24th 5COVA meeting

Follow up Action·

iii) 51. No. 2 ofAnn-A:

(13) The Ordersof Ministry of Healthreiterating that all thepensioners are atliberty to optthemselves with anyof the nearest CGHShospitel/ dispensarymay . be widelycirculated. Arbitraryorders dated01/08/1996 and01/09/1996 issued byMinistry of Health andDirector of CGHS maybe withdrawn and thebenefit of CGHSfacilities be allowed tothe pensioners ofDepartment of Postand Department ofTelecom.

8. As regards (13) & 16(i):- Ministry of Health and FamilyWelfare

The representatives ofMinistry of Health & FamilyWelfare informed that thematter is sub-judice. ~ In respect of point (13) and 16(i)

(Action: Ministry of Healthand Family Welfare)

51. No 4 of Ann-A Jt. Secretary (Pension)informed that although aproposal in this respect wasreceived from % Telecomm.on 22.10.2013, someclarifications requested werereceived only on 03.02.2014.The proposal of 0/0Telecomm is underexamination. Response ofO/oP&PW will becommunicated to Oeptt. ofTelecommunications at theearliest.

9. DoPPW

Anomaly in fixationof pension to DoTemployees absorbedin BSNL, who retiredbetween 1.10.2000and 31.7.2001.

A proposal received from Departmentof Telecomm was examined and somefurther information/clarifications weresought from the Department of Telecommvide ID note dtd. 28.02.2014 and remindersdated 06.06.2014 and 23.06.2014.

Department of Telecom.

The information is being collected fromBSNL Corporate Office/MTNL. A reminderdated 20.08.2014 was also issued to

of BSNL/MTNL.& As soon as reply is received from them,.

the proposal will be sent again to OoPPWfor final decision.

(Action: DepartmentTelecommunications0/0 P&PW)

51. No 5 of Ann-A - D/oP&PW has alreadyMerger of communicated its 'No

78.2% IDA with basic Objection' to the proposalpension benefit to the subject to the approval ofabsorbed BSNL Deott, of Expenditure. 0/0

10 DoPPW

OoPPW has already communicatedit's 'No Objection' to the proposal subject to

Page7of9

11 (23.2) or51. No 6 of Ann-A

Extension ofbenefit of upgradedGrade Pay to pre-2006 retirees of 5-12grade.

SI. Issues raised inNo the 24~SCOVA

meeting

Gist of Decision taken Follow up Actionin the

24th SCOVAmeetingPensioners: - Telecomm. has referred the the approval of Department of Expenditure.

proposal to % Expenditure. DoPPW requested Department of TelecommThe matter is under to give the present status of the proposalexamination in % vide letter dated 20.06.2014Expenditure.

(Action: % Telecom &0/0 P&PW)

Department of Telecomm

Department of Expenditure had soughtsome more information/clarifications.Requisite information/clarifications were.furnished to Department of Expenditure on11.07.2014. The decision of Deptt. ofExpenditure is awaited.

The representatives fromDepartment of Expenditureintimated that since thematter is sub-judice nodecision can be taken.

DoPPW and Department ofExpenditure

Ministry of Finance clarified that the scaleof Rs 6500-10500 has been upgraded to the

(Action: Department of scale of Rs 7450-11,500 and after revisionExpenditure & DoPPW) in the Pay Band in PB-2 with grade pay of

Rs 4600. Therefore, in terms of OM dated11.5.2011 the pre-2006 pensioners whoheld the pre-revised scale of Rs 6500-10,500 at the time of their retirement arenot entitled for stepping up of their pensionand family pension with reference to therevised grade pay of Rs 4600/-.

Page8of9

Karnataka High Court vide its order dtd06.03.2014 directed that the order dtd08.03.2013 of CAT in OA No 2321/12 maybe complied with in the event of the 5LP No36148-50/13 were to be dismissed and ifthe 5LP were not to be allowed, the orderdtd 08.03.2013 of CAT stands rejected. Inthe order dtd 08.03.2013 in OA No 253/12,CAT Bangalore Bench reproduced theoperative part of the order dtd 01.11.2011if CAT Pro Bench in OA No 655/2010 anddirected the respondents to refix thepension. Apparently the direction was forre-fixation of pension in terms of order dtd01.11.2011 of CAT, Pro Bench and thereseems to be not direction to allow the benfitof Grade Pay of Rs 4600/-

"

51. Issues raised inNo the 24th 5COVA

meeting12 (23.7) or

51. No 8 of Ann-A

Gist of Decision taken Follow up Actionin the

24th SCOVAmeetinqThe matter is sub-judice, so DoPPWno decision can be taken.

Page9 of 9

Four OAs were decided by a commonorder dated 01.11.2011 of CAT, New Delhi.In OA No 655/2010 curative petition hasbeen dismissed by Hon'ble Supreme Court.In compliance to order dtd 15.05.2014 ofCAT, Pro Bench, New Delhi action is beingtaken to implement the CAT order dtd01.11.2011 in respect of petitioner in OA No655/2010 only.

Law Ministry has advised to await theoutcome 'of SLP No 655/2010 beforedeciding in respect of other pre-2006pensioners.

Next hearing in SLP No 36148-50/2013is on 16.9.2014.

Extension ofbenefit of OM dt. (Action:Djo P&PW)28.1.2013 w.e.f1.1. 2006 instead of24.9.2012