30th SCOVA meeting Fresh Agenda Items – DOPPW ORDER

Orders have been issued by Department of Pension & Pensioners Welfare for revision of pension of pre-2016 pensioners/family pensioners vide OM No. 38/37/2016-P&PW(A) dated 04.08.2016 and 12.05.2017. Department of Pension and Pensioners’ Welfare has also issued Concordance table to facilitate quick revision of pension. Provision has also been made in the “Bhavishya” software to revised the pension electronically. However, the pace of revision of pension/family pension of pre-2016 pensioners/family pensioners is not satisfactory. Action needs to be taken to expedite revision of pension of pre-20 16 pensioners/family pensioners.

(Action:- CPAO, Railways, Defence, Posts, Telecom)

On death of pension/family pensioner, the pension account is closed by the bank and the balance amount in the account is paid to the nominee. However, the lifetime arrears arising subsequently on account of Pay Commissions etc. are not paid to the legal heirs of the deceased pensioner/family pensioner either on account of fact that the pension/family pension is not revised by the concerned Pension Sanctioning Authority(PSA) or the amount of arrears of revised pension/family pension is not paid due to closure of the bank account. In such cases the amount of arrears is kept in a suspense account. Therefore, suitable instructions may be issued to CPAO/PAOs and CPPCs of the banks to make sure that the benefits arising out of revision of Pension/Dearness Relief is also disbursed to the nominee/legal heirs of the deceased pension/family pensioner.

iAction:- CPAO and Department of Financial Services)

(30.3)

Extension of benefit of modified parity/ revision of pension by pay fixation method to pensioners drawing Compulsory Retirement Pension/Compassionate Allowance (on dismissal/removal).

In the 5th and 6th CPC, orders were issued for revision of pension of past pensioners who were dismissed/compulsorily retired by consolidation of their pre-revised Pension, Compassionate Allowance and Dearness Pension, Dearness Relief and Fitment benefit. However, the benefit of modified parity i.e fixation of pension on 50% of the minimum of pay-scale/minimum of Pay Band + Grade Pay was not extended to such pensioners. Similarly, in the 7th CPC, although the benefit of revision of pension by modifying the pre-revised pension by a factor of 2.57 has been allowed in such cases, the benefit of revision of pension by notional pay fixation method h as not been extended to the pre-2016 pensioners/family pensioners who were compulsorily retired/dismissed from service. The benefit of modified parity in 5th and 6th Pay Commission and notional pay fixation in the 7th CPC should also to be extended to the pensioners drawing compulsory retirement pension/compassionate allowance.

(Action:- DoPPW)

(30.4)

Empanelment of private referral hospitals in each of the districts of the States in the country.

Consequent on allowing Non-CGHS area; P& T pensioners to join CGHS, there is an increase in number of pensioners under CGHS from difference areas of the country. At present, CGHS is functioning only from the State capitals and some important cities. Therefore, the newly joining CGHS beneficiaries from the distant districts are not able to avail CGHS facilities. At least one renowned private hospital in every district, which is ready to accept the norms of CGHS including the approved rates etc. may be added as a referral hospital.

(Action:- Ministry of Health and Family Welfare) 

(30.5)

The rates of medical facilities for providing hospitals under CGHS are very less which discourages the private hospitals to get themselves empanelled under the CGHS Scheme. Therefore, CGHS package rates should be suitably revised so as to attract more private hospitals for empanelment under the scheme.

(Action:- Ministry of Health and Family Welfare)

(30.6)

Present rate of Fixed Medical Allowance (FMA) which was introduced w.e.f 01.12.1997 is Rs. 1000/- per month and is available to Central Government pensioners who are residing outside CGHS. It has been made compulsory for the Railway Pensioners to join RELHS Scheme and such Railway Pensioners are not entitled to any FMA irrespective of their place of residence and the distances from the RELHS Centers. FMA, which is given for OPD facilities treatment near the residence of the pensioners, may be extended to all Railway Pensioners.

(Action:- Ministry of Railways)

(30.7)

The medical facilities from Composite Hospitals of CAPF are available only to serving CAPF employees and these services are not provided to retired CAPF personnel. The CGHS facilities are available only in State capitals and are not available to CAPF personnel settled in distant places. Fixed Medical Allowance (M) of Rs. 1000/- is not sufficient for medical needs of the retired CAPF personnel. The medical facilities in Composite Hospitals which are available in all the States should also be extended to the retired CAPF personnel and required funds may be provided by Ministry of Home Affairs to these Hospitals.

(30.9)

Department of Pension & Pensioners Welfare have recently started holding Pension Adalats. Among other Departments only Postal Department is holding Pension Adalat twice a year. Other Central Ministries/Departments i.e Railways, Defence, Telecom, Central Excise and Customs, Income Tax etc. are not holding Pension Adalats. They should be advised to hold regular Pension Adalats.

(Action: All Ministries/Departments)