DA from July 2021 for CPSE Employees on 5th CPC pay scales governed by HPPC recommendations
No. 2(42)/97-DPE (WC) -GL-VII/21 Government of India Ministry of Finance Department of Public Enterprises
Public Enterprises Bhawan, Block 14, CGO Complex, Lodi Road, New Delhi-110003, the 24th August, 2021
OFFICE MEMORANDUM
Subject : – Payment of DA to the CDA pattern employees of CPSEs on 5th CPC pay scales governed by HPPC recommendations w.e.f. 01.07.2019-reg.
The undersigned is directed to refer to DPE’s OM No. W-02/0038/2017- DPE(WC)-GL-IX/20 dated 28.04.2020 regarding freezing of Dearness Allowance to employees of CPSE following CDA pay scales at current rates till 30.06.2021 and Para No. 2 and Annexure-III to this Department’s O.M. dated 24.10.1997 wherein the rates of DA payable to the employees of CPSEs following CDA pattern pay scales, who are governed by HPPC recommendations had been indicated.
2.In continuation of this Department’s OM of even number dated 29.10.2019, the rates of Dearness Allowance payable to the employees of CPSEs governed by the recommendations of HPPC, which have not revised their pay scales in terms of DPE O.M. No. 2(54)/2008-DPE(WC) dated 14.10.2008 may be as follows:-
a)In case of CPSEs who have not allowed the benefit of merger of 50% of DA with basic pay as contained in DPE O.M. dated 24.05.2005 to their employees, the DA payable may be enhanced from existing rate of 362% to 406% w.e.f. 01.07.2021.
b)In case of CPSEs who have allowed the benefit of merger of 50% of DA with basic pay as contained in DPE O.M. dated 24.05.2005 to their employees, the DA payable may be enhanced from existing rate of 312% to 356% w.e.f. 01.07.2021.
3.The above increase subsumes the additional instalments arising on 01.01.2020, 01.07.2020 and 01.01.2021. The rate of Dearness Allowance for the period form 01.01.2020 till 30.06.2021 shall remain at 312%, where benefit of merger of 50% of DA has been allowed and at 362% where benefit of merger of 50% of DA has not been allowed.
4.The payment of Dearness Allowance involving fractions of 50 paise and above may be rounded off to the next higher rupee and the fractions of less than 50 paise may be ignored.
5.All administrative Ministries/Department of Government of India are requested to bring the foregoing to the notice of the Central Public Sector Enterprises under their administrative control for necessary action at their end.
DA from July 2021 for CPSE Employees on 6th CPC pay scales governed by HPPC recommendations
F. No. 2(54)/08-DPE (WC) -GL-VI/21 Government of India Ministry of Finance Department of Public Enterprises
Public Enterprises Bhawan, Block 14, CGO Complex, Lodi Road, New Delhi-110003, the 24th August, 2021
OFFICE MEMORANDUM
Subject :– Payment of DA to the CDA pattern employees of CPSEs on 6th CPC pay scales governed by HPPC recommendations w.e.f. 01.07.2021.
The undersigned is directed to refer to DPE’s OM No. W-02/0038/2017-DPE(WC)-GL-IX/20 dated 28.04.2020 regarding freezing of Dearness Allowance to employees of CPSE following CDA pay scales at curren t rates till 30.06.2021 and Para No. 2 and Annexure-III to this Department’s O.M. dated 14.10.2008 wherein the rates of DA payable to the employees of CPSEs who are following CDA pattern pay scales had been indicated.
2.The rate of DA admissible shall be enhanced from the existing 164% to 189% of the Basic pay with effect from 01.07 .2021. The increase subsumes the additional instalments arising on 01.01.2020 , 01.07.2020 and 01.01.2021. The rate of Dearness Allowance for the period form 01.01.2020 till 30.06.2021 shall remain at 164%.
3.The payment of Dearness Allowance involving fractions of 50 paise and above may be rounded off to the next higher rupee and the fractions of less than 50 paise may be ignored.
4.These rates are applicable in the case of CDA employees whose pay have been revised with effect from 01.01.2006 as per DPE O.M. dated 14.10.2008.
5.All administrative Ministries/Departments of Government of India are requested to bring this to the notice of Central Public Sector Enterprises under their administrative control for necessary action at their end.
Night Duty Allowance alongwith HPCA/PCA – CGDA Clarification
File No AT/Army-BR/A/Civ/2366/NDA/Vol-I Controller General of Defence Accounts Ulan Batar Road, Palam, Delhi Cantt- 110010
Audit/Army-BR(Civilian Allowance) Section
Subject: Admissibility of Night Duty Allowance alongwith HPCA/PCA clarification reg.
Ref: MoD/D(Med) letter No. 7(1)2000/D(Med) dated 417 Nov 2005.
Kindly refer DGMS (Army) letter No. IHQ of MoD (Army) letter No. B/2701/Night duty/DGMS-3(B) dated 02nd Sep 2019 (Copy enclosed) addressed to MH Meerut with copy endorsed to all Command HQrs issuing clarification on admissibility of Night Duty Allowance alongwith HPCA/PCA. It is felt that the same is not in consonance with the Government letter on the subject.
2.As per para 2 of Ministry of Defence D(Med) letter No. MoD/D(Med) letter 7(1)2000/D(Med) dated 17 Nov 2009,
“The HPCA/PCA is admissible to the Group ‘C’ & ‘D’ (Non-Ministerial) employees excluding nursing personnel working in Armed Forces Hospitals (those with 30 beds or more) and in super Specialty Hospitals (those with 10 beds or more), subject to the condition that no Night Duty Weightage Allowance and Risk Allowance if sanctioned by the Central Government, will be admissible to these employees.
3.In the understanding of this HQrs. office this means that HPCA/PCA is payable only where employees are not drawing Night Duty and Risk Allowance, in other words, either HPCA/PCA Is payable or Night Duty/Risk Allowance. These are not payable together.
4.However, {HQ of MoD (Army) vide their letter No. B/2701/Night duty/DGMS-3(B) dated 02nd Sep 2019 have taken the view that HPCA/PCA ds not payable only if both Night Duty and Risk Allowance are being paid, In their opinion, if either Night Duty or Risk Allowance is not being paid, the employee is eligible for HPCA/PCA.
5.However, it is felt that HPCA/PCA is not payable if either Night Duty or Risk Allowance are being paid.
6.Since, there is a difference of opinion between IHQ of MoD(Army) and this HQrs office, the Ministry may examine the issue and may issue appropriate interpretation of the rule position. It may be noted that only one Allowance (i.e. HPCA/PCA or Night Duty/Risk Allowance) will be paid pending receipt of clarification in the matter.
This issues with the approval of Jt. CGDA (Army)
Sr. Accounts Officer
To, The Under Secretary, D (Medical), Room No. 304, D-1 Wing, Ministry of Defence, Sena Bhawan New Delhi-110011
UO Note. : AT/Army-BR/A/Civ/2366/NDA/Vol-I Dated: 12th Aug 2021
SPARSH 05: Pension claims of August retirees – Important Instructions
Implementation of SPARSH in respect of Defence Civilian Pensioners
Office of the Principal Controller of Defence Accounts(Pension), Draupadi Ghat, Allahabad – 211014 Email:[email protected]
CIRCULAR NO. 05
No. PCDAP/SPARSHICIV/2021/VOL-1
Dated: 24th August 2021
To, (All Head of Department under Min. of Defence)
Subject:- Implementation of SPARSH in respect of Defence Civilian Pensioners.
Ref:- This office Circular No. SPARSH-03 dt.30.06.2021.
Please refer to this office circular No. SPARSH-03 wherein it was decided that the cases of individual retiring on or before 01.08.2021 and family pension claims (fresh cases where no PPO has been notified earlier) received till 16.07.2021 shall be processed through legacy system. The claims received after 16.07.2021 would not be entertained as it has to be processed through SPARSH w.e.f. 01.08.2021.
As roll out of web based comprehensive pension package system for Defence Civilians i.e. SPARSH (System for Pension Administration (Raksha)) is still in progress and few organizations are yet to send complete data of users, Now it has been decided by the competent authority that all pension claims of August retirees or prior to August retirees, whose pension claims were returned by this office are to be notified through the legacy system.
Therefore, all the aforesaid claims of August retirees may be re-submitted immediately to this office through speed post or via email to this office e-mail address [email protected] at the earliest to enable this office to notify the PPO through legacy system. Subject of email should be given as “Pension claim-G1/Civil”. Head of Offices must ensure at their end that no case is processed through both system, resulting in duplicate pension sanction.
In addition, it has also been decided to process the pension claims of the under-mentioned organizations through legacy system till further order.
Sl.
Name of Organizations
Sl.
Name of Organizations
1.
E-in-C/E1A
14.
DG Staff Duties
2.
Naval HQrs.
13.
E-in-C/1C (MES)
3.
AirHQrs.
12.
QMG/ST-12
4.
DG MS-3B
11.
MGO/S&C
5.
DG Recruiting
10.
ATVP
Abhishek Singh) Dy. CDA (P)
Copy to:-
1.The CGDA, Ulan Batar Road, Palam, Delhi Cantt-10 2.All Pr. CDA/CDA/C of F&A (Fys)//CDA (Fund).
In the Government order first read above, orders were issued enhancing the Maternity Leave from 180 days to 270 days to married women Government servants, with less than two surviving children, which may be spread over from the pre-confinement rest to post-confinement recuperation, with full pay at the option of the women Government servants. Accordingly, in the Government Order second read above, Rule 101(a) of the Fundamental Rules was also amended.
2.In the revised Budget for the year 2021-2022 presented in the Legislative Assembly on 13th August 2021, an announcement has been made by the Hon’ble Minister for Finance and Human Resources Management, for enhancing the period of maternity leave from 9 months to 12 months for women Government employees with less than two surviving children with effect from 01.07.2021.
3.The Government, after careful consideration order that the Maternity Leave admissible to married women Government servants with less than two surviving children, which is 9 months (270 days) at present, be enhanced to 12 months (365 days), with effect from 01.07.2021, with full pay, which may be spread over from the pre-confinement rest to post-confinement recuperation, at the option of the married women Government servants. The women Government servants who proceeded on maternity leave prior to 1st July 2021 and continue to be on that leave on or after that date shall also be eligible for maternity leave for a period not exceeding 365 days in total.
4.Necessary amendments to the Fundamental Rules will be issued, separately.
(BY ORDER OF THE GOVERNOR)
V. IRAI ANBU CHIEF SECRETARY TO GOVERNMENT
To All Secretaries to Government, Chennai – 600 009. All Departments of Secretariat, Chennai – 600 009.
Tamil Nadu Government Maternity Leave Rules – FAQs
How many months employees eligible for maternity leave in Tamilnadu?
The Maternity Leave admissible to married women Government servants with less than two surviving children, which is 9 months (270 days) at present, be enhanced to 12 months (365 days) with effect from 01.07.2021
Whether women Government servants who are already on maternity leave prior to 1st July 2021 are they eligible?
The women Government Servants who proceeded on maternity leave prior to 1st July 2021 and continue to be on that leave on or after that date shall also be eligible for maternity leave for a period not exceeding 365 days in total
What is the G.O Number for TN Govt Maternity Leave Increase?
The number is G.O. (Ms.) No.84 – Enhancement of Maternity Leave from 9 months (270 days) to 12 months (365 days)
How many days are eligible for Maternity Leave in Tamilnadu?
The Maternity Leave is 12 months (365 days) with effect from 01.07.2021
Compassionate Appointment Procedure – Replacement of Para 13 – DOPT Order
F. No. 43019/9/2019-Estt.(D) Government of India Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions Department of Personnel & Training
North Block, New Delhi, Dated the 23rd August, 2021
Office Memorandum
Sub: – Consolidated instructions on compassionate appointment – Replacement of Para 13 – regarding.
The undersigned is directed to say that consolidated instructions on compassionate appointment under the Central Government were issued vide this Department’s O.M. No. 14014/2/2012-Estt. (D) dated 16.1.2013. Para 13 of these consolidated instructions provides guidelines to the competent authorities in Ministries / Departments for dealing with requests/applications seeking appointment on compassionate grounds and disposal of such requests/ applications thereof by the Ministries / Departments.
2.References have been received from different Ministries/ Departments relating to the procedure and modalities involved in processing claims of compassionate appointment. The lack of uniformity in processing such claims by different Government offices, has also come under scrutiny of the Courts including Central Administrative Tribunals. As a result, a need has been felt to bring in more objectivity and transparency as well as streamline the process in dealing with requests / Applications seeking compassionate appointment. The Hon’ble Jabalpur Bench of the Central Administrative Tribunal, in its Order dated 26.9.2019. in O.A. No. 202/00756/20l7 of Deepanshu Raje v/s Union of India & Others. inter-alia, directed Secretary. Department of Personnel and Training, to issue revised guidelines, so as to bring in more transparency and probity in the system in processing the claims of Compassionate Appointment.
3.Therefore, after careful examination, the procedure, as provided in O.M. dated 16.1.2013. has been reviewed in consultation with the major stakeholder Ministries/Departments. Accordingly, it has been decided to substitute existing Para 13 of the consolidated instructions (OM dated 16.1.2013), with revised Para 13 given in Appendix.
4.All Ministries/Departments may circulate these revised instructions to all offices under their administrative control and also issue, wherever necessary, departmental instructions for supplementing these guidelines, for dealing with requests/applications seeking appointment on compassionate grounds.
(Pradeep Kumar) Under Secretary to the Govt. of India
To, All Ministries/Department of Government of India (as per standard list)
Procedure for Compassionate Appointment
APPENDIX TO O.M. No. 43019/9/2019-Estt.(D) DATED 23rd August, 2021
13.PROCEDURE (existing para 13 of OM dated 16.1.2013 stands substituted as follows)
i)The Welfare Officer in each Ministry/Department/Office or a senior officer may be deputed to meet the family members of the deceased Government Servant and apprise them of the terminal benefits available to the family. This may be done at the earliest possible, preferably, within 30 days of death,
ii) In case it is observed by the Welfare Officer/Senior Officer that the condition of the family of the deceased Government Servant is indigent, the family should also be apprised of the scheme for compassionate appointment.
iii) In such cases, the Welfare Officer or any other Officer would assist the family member of the deceased Government servant in applying for appointment on compassionate grounds. The application should be made in the format prescribed as in Annexure. All assistance should be extended to enable such family member to fill the Application Form for compassionate appointment. The Applicant should be advised in person about the requirements and formalities to be completed by him. The Applicant should also be given detailed information of the posts to which they can apply.
iv) The Administration shall satisfy itself regarding the correctness of the details entered in the Application form and family income and other details computed for processing the Application. During scrutiny, if any additional details or information having a bearing on the case, emerge, the same should be added as supplementary Note to the Application.
v) Every application found to be in order, should be acknowledged by assigning a unique Registration number. All pending Applications should also be assigned unique registration number. This may be done within 2 to 3 weeks of time. Once a unique registration number has been assigned to an application, the Applicant, including those whose applications are pending, may be informed through email or other forms of communication (including digital modes of communication) of their Unique Application Registration Number.
vi) Some Departments such as CBIC, D/o Posts, D/o Defence have devised their own point based merit system, for processing claims for compassionate appointment. In order to bring in transparency and objectivity in dealing with such claims, all Ministries/Departments, who have not yet developed such a system, may do so by devising their own point based merit system for assessing the merit of the claims of compassionate appointments.
vii) While informing the Applicants of the registration number of their Application, they may also be informed of the likely number of vacancies likely to be available to be filled on compassionate grounds as well as be provided with a copy of the point based merit system.
viii) To consider the various applications and to recommend individual applicant for grant of compassionate appointment, a Committee, comprising three members (one Chairman and two Members), may be constituted. The Committee may be chaired by an Officer not below the rank of Director/Deputy Secretary in the Ministry/Department and officers of equivalent rank in the case of attached and subordinate offices.
ix) The Committee may preferably meet once in a year, to consider all fresh requests received in the last calendar year, in addition to pending applications. In case large number of applications are received at different times during the calendar year, the Committee may meet twice or more to consider the applications.
x) Prior to every meeting of the Committee, the Applicants whose applications are being considered, should be informed, through email or other forms of communication (including digital modes of communication), of the number of vacancies in each grade for which they are being considered as also the date the Committee is due to meet to consider their Application. However, the Applicant(s) would not be required to have any personal interaction, either with the Administration or the Committee and that the Applicants may not be asked to be present during the meeting of the Committee.
xi) Every valid application shall be assessed strictly on the basis of the point based merit system formulated by the concerned administrative Ministry/Department.
xii) The Committee should make its recommendation for appointment on compassionate ground as per the total points obtained by each Applicant, under the applicable point based merit system.
xiii) The result of each round of selection should be communicated to the Applicants. The points awarded against each parameter alongwith total merit points earned, should be provided to the Applicants through email or other forms of communication.
xiv) The minutes of each meeting of the Committee including the merit points earned by each Applicant should also be placed, within a period of three weeks from the date of meeting of the Committee, in public domain on the website of the Ministry / Department/Organisation for information of all concerned.
xv) Recommendation of the Committee should be placed before the competent authority for a decision. If the competent authority disagrees with the committee’s recommendation, the case may be referred to the next higher authority for a decision.
No.4/3/2019- JCA Government of India Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions Department of Personnel & Training Establishment (JCA) Section
North Block, New Delhi – 110 001 Dated: 18 August, 2021
OFFICE MEMORANDUM
Subject : Non-functioning of Departmental / Office Councils.
The undersigned is directed to refer to this Department’s OM of even number, dated 09.06.2021, regarding holding of meetings of a Departmental / Office Councils on regular basis with a view to making effective use of the JCM Scheme.
2.The JCM Scheme provides for Departmental Councils at the level of individual Ministries/Departments, and office council in attached and subordinate offices. The Staff Side of JCM, has been remonstrating that regular dialogue with the Staff Side, through the mechanism of Departmental Councils and Office Council are not happening at regular interval. Meetings of Departmental Council / Office Council are essential, as they help in resolving a differences between Government and its employees.
3.It is requested that meeting of the Departmental Council/ Office Council, may please be arranged to be held on regular basis. Further, wherever Departmental Council/Office Council have become defunct, the same may please be revived at the earliest.
(S.P. Pant) Deputy Secretary to the Government of India
To
Joint Secretaries (Admn.) of the all Ministries/Departments
Copy to:
Shri Sunil Kumar Mandi, US(R&R,DC), DOPT, Lok Nayak Bhavan, New Delhi
Secretary, Staff Side, National Council (JCM), 13-C Ferozshah Road, New Delhi – 110001
Guidelines for timely and qualitative disposal of Pensioners Grievances
No: 17/3/2021-P&PW(Coord.) E 7179 Government of India Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pension Department of Pension and Pensioners’ Welfare
8th Floor, B-Wing, Janpath Bhawan, Janpath, New Delhi-110001
Dated : 06.08.2021
OFFICE MEMORANDUM
Subject:- Guidelines for timely and qualitative disposal of Pensioners’ Grievances-reg . The undersigned is directed to say that the Department of Pension & Pensioners’ Welfare (DoPPW) has provided a single window interface for all Central Government pensioners to register their grievances pertaining to any of the Central Government Ministry / Department / Organisation, which is thereafter forwarded online to the concerned Ministry/Department/ Organisation for redressal through the CPENGRAMS Portal.
2.In 2019, Pensioners’ grievance redressal system was expanded with the objective to provide easy access to pensioners who are living in remote areas and have no proper access to the Internet for registration of their grievances or not conversant with online technology. Accordingly, an Integrated Grievance Cell & Call Centre was inaugurated on 20th June, 2019 for pensioners enabling pensioners to register their grievance by calling on the toll free number 1800-11-1960. The Call Centre Executives register the grievance on CPENGRAMS, after taking inputs from pensioners, and thereafter it is forwarded to the concerned Ministry/ Department/Organization online for redressal. Department of Pension & Pensioners’ Welfare also coordinates with different Ministries/Departments to resolve the grievances of the elderly pensioners and keep the pensioners informed about the progress of their grievances till disposal through this online system CPENGRAM.
3.The purpose of grievance redressal machinery is not only to allow easy access of Govt Machinery for pensioners but also disposal of the grievances expeditiously while maintaining the quality in redressal of the grievances. Keeping in view of the above objective, DoPPW has put in place a system of holding regular review meetings with Ministry/ Department/ Organization having large pendency of grievances. In order to ensure quality in disposal of Grievances, DoPPW is periodically analyzing closed Grievances and re-registering cases, wherever it is observed that Grievances were closed by the offices without taking appropriate final action. Though time and again specific guidelines/instructions have been issued to the Ministries, a need is felt to consolidate all instructions/guidelines and revise the time limit for redressal of grievances specially for the priority target groups i.e. family pensioners and super-senior pensioners in order to promote good governance and to ensure that the pensioners /family pensioners get their rightful entitlements.
All Ministries/Departments are advised to follow the guidelines given below for redressal of the Grievances –
i. In accordance with the Central Civil Services (Pension) Rules, 1972, every office is responsible for pension sanction, revision and payment of retirement benefits to its employees. Therefore, every grievance related to pension and other retirement benefits shall be redressed by the concerned office from where the employee retired or served before his/her death.
ii. Every grievance shall be disposed of within the ambit of extant rules. In case of a grievance falling outside the ambit of rules, a speaking order shall be issued indicating the rule position.
iii. All Ministries/Departments/Organisations shall strictly adhere to the time limit of 45 days to resolve the pensioners’ grievances. If the grievance pertains to a family pensioner/super-senior pensioner (aged 80 years and above) the dead-line to resolve the grievance shall be 30 days.
iv. Every grievance shall be closed only after its final resolution. If a grievance pertains to subordinate/attached office, the case may be forwarded by the Ministry/ Department to the concerned office but it should not be closed until final action is taken. The responsibility lies with the concerned Ministry/ Department to follow up the matter with subordinate/attached units for final resolution. Every Nodal Officer should undertake a weekly review of pending grievances in the portal.
v. The grievance shall not be closed for the want of any documents from the pensioner/family pensioner. The office may contact the concerned pensioner on the mobile number or email as available in the CPENGRAM Portal in order to ensure speedy and satisfactory disposal of grievances.
vi. Ministry/Department/Organization shall dispose of the grievances after indicating that it is ‘Accepted’ or ‘Rejected’ or ‘Partially Accepted.’ In case grievance is disposed of in favour of pensioner, the option ‘Accepted’ shall be indicated. In other cases, a speaking order shall be passed giving reasons for rejection/partial acceptance and also uploaded in the portal.
vii. Re-registered cases should be disposed of by Appellate Authorities nominated in every Ministry/Department/Organization for the purpose.
viii. Ministries/Departments/Organisations shall identify core grievance prone areas and streamline their systems to eliminate root cause of grievances. Cases delayed beyond the dead-line should be analysed and addressed promptly.
4.All the Ministries/Departments are requested to bring the above instructions to the notice of the all concerned under their administrative control for compliance.
Sd/- (Naresh Bhardwaj) Deputy Secretary to the Govt. of India
Subject:- Continuation of ongoing scheme-“Pensioners’ Portal” beyond 31st March, 2021 for next five years upto 31st March, 2026
The undersigned is directed to say that the Pensioners’ Portal was launched as a Mission Mode Project of the Department of Pension & Pensioners’ Welfare (DoP&PW) Government of India under the National e-Governance Plan (NeGP) in March, 2007 for its implementation during the 11th Plan Period (2007-2012) and was extended for its continued implementation during the 1 h Plan Period (2012-2017) vide this Department’s communication No.41(2)/2011-P&PW(C) dated 2nd April, 2012 as modified vide letter No.55/24/2013 -P&PW(C) dated 19th December, 2013. The scheme was further extended for the remaining 14th Finance Commission Period i.e for a further period of 3 years beyond 31st March, 2017 to 31st March, 2020 vide this Department’s O.M No 55/12/2017-P&PW(C) dated 23rd November, 2017. The Scheme was further extended beyond 3151 March, 2020 (beyond 14th FC Cycle) for a period of one year till 31st March, 2021 vide this Department’s O.M No. 55/2/2019-P&PW(C)- 5855 dated 01.09.2020.
I. OBJECTIVES OF THE SCHEME
The Scheme is primarily aimed at making the pension/retirement online processing related services, Pensioners’ Welfare activities, information dissemination, awareness campaigns and grievances handling mechanism accessible online to the pensioners. This help bridge the gap between the pensioners and the Government. It is also expected to serve as a one stop grievance handling and information source for the pensioners of Government of India (especially civil pensioners) across the country.
The objectives of the Scheme are:-
To smoothen the process of sanctioning and disbursement of pension and gratuity.
To enable Ministries/Departments/organization to pay the dues to retiring Govt. Employees on or before the date of retirement.
To build an effective grievance redress mechanism related to pensioners.
To keep the pensioners aware of their rights and responsibilities/obligations.
To enable the Pensioners’ Associations/Welfare Organizations to access information/lodge grievances on behalf of their members.
II.ACTIVITIES OF THE SCHEME
At present following activities are being operational through the Pensioners’ Portal: –
1.CPENGRAMS (Centralized Pension Grievance Redress And Monitoring System)- CPENGRAMS is an online grievance registration and redressal portal. All Ministries/Departments including Railways, Post, Defence with their subordinate units are linked in CPENGRAMS and is providing online resolution to the pensioners’ grievances
2.Pension Adalat-This Department has started unique experiment of holding Pension Adalat, wherein grievances received from pensioners are segregated by their nature and accordingly linked to the department concerned. The stake-holders viz. the concerned Department, the PAO, the concerned Bank and representative of the pensioner are invited on a single platform and the grievances are resolved across the table.
3.Bhavishya– It is a landmark in digitization of Pension processing for civil pensioners which enables generation of e-PPO. It is mandatory for all civil ministries excluding Defence, Post and Railways to process the pension case through Bhavishya.
4.Sankalp – It aims to prepare retirees for post-retirement life and act as a facilitator in the entire process.
5.Anubhav-It is online facility for retirees to submit their experiences of working with government and to preserve their rich experience for future generation . All Ministries/Departments including Railways, Post and Defence are on the board of Anubhav .
6.Promotion of DLC– Unavailability of life certificate in banks’ record is major cause for discontinuation of pension payment. To ensure transparency in the system and to provide comfort for pensioners in submitting life certificate, DoPPW is promoting use of Digital Life Certificate amongst Central Government Pensioners.
7.Awareness workshops– Workshops are being organized at 3 levels:-
a.Employees who are about to retire -About their pensionary benefits, entitlements and post-retirement life. b.Pensioners – On updated pension rule and health issues c.Dealing staff on pension matters in Ministries/ Departments – To make them aware on the interpretation of pension rule while processing critical cases. d.Since pensioners are scattered throughout the country: electronic, print and social media is extensively used to create awareness on updated rules, entitlements and welfare measures.
III GRANT-IN-AID TO IDENTIFIED PENSIONERS’ASSOCIATION
Under the Scheme provision has been made to sanction Grant-in-Aid up to a monitory limit of Rs.75000/- per Pensioners’ Association identified to participate in the implementation of the Scheme to defray expenses on specified components . The maximum permissible amount on the individual components has been prescribed as follows:-
(i)
Telephone/ Internet Connection
Up to R 12,000 per annum
(ii)
Stationery + Battery replacement
Up to Rs.19,500 oer annum
(iii)
Subsidy towards Rent of Building/ Water/electricity/ AMC of equipment
Up to Rs.28,500 per annum
(iv)
Remuneration Payable to Data entry (Part time)
Up to Rs.15,000 per Operator annum
Total
Up to Rs.75,000 per annum
Depending upon their individual needs the Pensioners’ Associations will have flexibility on spending on various approved items of components as mentioned above within the overall sanctioned amount. This flexibility will be to the extent of 25% on higher/lower side of individual component subject to overall spending within the sanctioned grant. The Pensioners’ Associations will also be provided necessary hardware/software for the purpose of lodging grievances etc. online on CPENGRAMS.
IV.MANPOWER
Presently the Scheme is being implemented by the officials of Department with the assistance of outsourced staff such as Consultants. Data Entry Operators, and Programmers under the overall supervision of Secretary (Pension). Presently the following outsourced staff is assisting the Department for implementation of the Scheme
S.No.
Description
No. of Posts
1.
Consultants
5
2.
Operation Manager
3
3.
Technical Personnel
10
4.
DEOs/ Call Centre Executives
13
5.
MTS
4
V. FINANCIAL OUTLAYS
The cost estimates for all the components of the Scheme, clubbed together , for the extended period for Next Five years (from 01/04/2021 to 30/03/2026) have been fixed as follows:-
(Rupees in Crore)
Components
FY 2021-22
FY 2022-23
FY 2023-24
FY 2024-25
FY 2025-26
Total
1. Salary
0.01
0.01
0.01
0.01
0.01
0.05
2. Domestic Travel Expenses
0.20
0.20
0.20
0.20
0.20
1.00
3. Office Expenses
0.90
0.90
0.90
0.90
0.90
4.50
4. Advertising & Publicity
1.5
1.5
1.5
1.5
1.5
7.50
5. Grant-In-Aid- General
0.28
0.28
0.28
0.28
0.28
1.40
6. Other Charges
0.02
0.02
0.02
0.02
0.02
0.10
Total
4.4
4.4
4.4
4.4
4.4
22.0
The financing of the Scheme will be through Demands for Grants of M/o Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions – No extra budgetary sources, external aid, state share etc., are involved.
VI. EXTENSION OF THE SCHEME
Prior to its extension, the third party evaluation was done by Indian Institute of Public Administration (llPA) vide its Third party evaluation of Scheme – “Pensioners’ Portal” in May, 2021 and its detailed appraisal having been done by AS & FA (Home) has been approved for continuance by the Competent Authority for next five years beyond 31st March, 2021 .
The scheme- “Pensioners’ Portal”, with the above feature and financial outlay accordingly stands extended beyond 3151 March, 2021 for next five years till 31st March, 2026 . The extension process including appraisal of the Scheme- Pensioners’ Portal was completed in consultation with Integrated Finance Division vide Dy. No. 55150/21 dated 07.07.2021 and E-6884 0/o AS&FA(H) dated 08.07.2021.
Advance payment of salaries to employees of Southern Railway on account of Onam Festival
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS RAILWAY BOARD
No. 20211E(LL)/APW/1
New Delhi, dated 16/08/2021
The General Manager (P), Southern Railway. Chennai,
Sub : Advance payment of salary on account of Onam festival.
Ref: Southern Railway’s letter No. P(R)483/P/DPAIDI XIII dated 12/08/2021
Sanction of Ministry of Railways is hereby communicated for advance payment of salaries to employees of Southern Railway (working in divisions/construction units situated in the State of Kerala) on 19/08/2021 (Thursday) on account of ONAM festival, 2021.
2.It has been noted that concurrence of the associate Finance of Southern Railway has not been obtained in the present case. The guidelines contained in Board’s letter N0.E(LL)92/AT/PW/1 dated 16/10/92 must be scrupulously followed when referring such proposals to Railway Board in all future cases.
3.This issues with the concurrence of Finance Directorate of th+e Ministry of Railways.
