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Treatment of CGHS beneficiaries at Government Hospitals – Clarification

Z15025/18/2020/DIR/CGHS
Government of India
Min. of Health & Family Welfare
Department of Health
Directorate General of CGHS

545-A Nirman Bhawan, New Delhi.
Dated the 9th October , 2020

OFFICE MEMORANDUM

Subject: Clarification regarding treatment of CGHS beneficiaries at government hospitals – regarding

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With reference to the above subject the undersigned is directed to state that this Ministry is in receipt of several representations seeking clarifications about treatment at government hospitals. In this regard attention is drawn to Office memorandum No. S-11012/1/91-CGHS(P) (Vol.I) dt 18.03.1992 vide which guidelines regarding settlement of Claims were issued and to convey the approval of competent authority for issue of tthe following clarifications regarding treatment at government hospitals:

i. CGHS beneficiaries have the option to avail Consultation from Specialists/ Investigations / treatment procedures from any Government Hospital Central /State)

ii. The definition of “Government hospital” would include any hospital of Central Government / State Government/Government Departments such as Railways. Atomic Energy Commission , etc. , as also hospitals of Public Sector Undertakings (such as those of the Steel Authority of India Limited/Coal India Limited, hospitals under Municipalities etc.

iii. Normally, many services at government hospitals are free. However, in case any government hospital charges for certain treatments , the same can be availed by way of reimbursement from the authorities concerned as per CGHS approved rates.

iv. CGHS beneficiaries shall be eligible for reimbursement as per the ward entitlement he/ she is entitled as per the criteria prescribed in case of AIIMS . In other government hospitals, where only General ward and Nursing home facility are available, CGHS beneficiaries , who are eligible eligible for semi-private ward and higher are eligible for treatment in Nursing Home wards .

v. Reimbursement for Implants shall be limited to CGHS prescribed ceiling rates. The other treatment charges are applicable item wise as per eligible ward entitlement.

vi. In case of treatment at ILBS , New Delhi , NIMS Hyderabad the reimbursement shall be as per CGHS rates.

vii. Medical claims are to be submitted through concerned CGHS Wellness Centre in case of Pensioners, ex-MPs , etc., and to the concerned Ministry /department /Office in case of serving employees and to the Rajya Sabha Secretariat I Lok Sabha Secretariat in case of Members of Parliament and to the concerned Autonomous body in case of CGHS beneficiaries of Autonomous Bodies for reimbursement.

(Sanjay Jain)
Director, CGHS

Signed Copy

Railway Board : Accountal of NPS Accumulation on Mobility of personnel amongst Central/State and Autonomous Bodies

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS
(RAILWAY BOARD)

RBA No. 79/2020

No. 2020/AC-II/21/7

New Delhi, dated 12.10.2020

General Managers/PFAs,
All Indian Railways & PUs etc.

CORRINGENDUM

Sub: Accountal of NPS Accumulation on Mobility of personnel amongst Central/State and Autonomous Bodies while working under Pensionable establishment

Ref: Board’s letter No. of even no. dated 18.09.2020 (RBA No. 76/2020)

Please refer to Board’s letter ibid. In this regard, it is clarified that accounting procedures referred to therein would be applicable for cases covered under the following letters:

S.No. FE Dte’s letter no.and date DOP&PW’s letter and date Subject
1 F(E)IIl/2005/PN l/35 dated 19.08.2020 DOP&PW’s OM No. 28/30/2004-P&PW(B) dated 11.06.2020 Mobility of personnel amongst Central /State & Autonomous Bodies while working under Pensionable establishments – regarding.
2 D-43/12/2018 dated 03.03.2020. DOP&PW’s OM No. 57/04/2019-P&PW(B) dated 17.02.2020 Coverage under Central Civil Services (Pension) Rules 1972, in place of National Pension System, of those Central Government employees whose selection for appointment was finalized before 01.01.2004 but who joined Government service on or after 01.01.2004

Kindly acknowledge receipt.

(Sanjeev Sharma)
Director Finance/Accounts
Railway Board

Signed Copy

CGDA Office Memorandum on Periodic Review of Central Government Employees

Controller General of Defence Accounts
Ulan Batar Road, Palam, Delhi Cantt- 110010

No. AN/ Estt-Others)/11206/SAPR/FR-56(J)/2019

Dt. 09.10.2020

To,

PCA(Fys)PCsDA/CsDA
(Through CGDA Website)

Subject: Periodic Review of Central Government Employees for strengthening of administration under Fundamental Rule (FR 56U)/(i) and Rule 48 of CCS (Pension) Rules 1972.

In continuation of this HQrs office circular bearing No. even dated 02.03.2020 regarding instructions exist on the need for periodical review of performance of Government servants with a view to ascertain whether the Government servant should be retained in service or retired from service in the public interest. In this connection relevant orders were enclosed for guidance and taking an appropriate action with reference to orders on the subject.

In this regard, a copy of DoPT letter No. 25013/03/2019-Estt .A-IV dated 28/08/2020 on the above subject is forwarded herewith for information, guidance and necessary action please.

(Rajeev Ranjan Kumar)
Dy.CGDA (AN)

Signed Copy

Special Festival Advance Scheme for Central Government Employees – FINMIN ORDER

F.No.12(2)/2020-EII(A)
Ministry of Finance
Department of Expenditure
EII(A) Branch

North Block, New Delhi
12th October, 2020

Office Memorandum

Sub : Grant of Advance – Special Festival Package to Government Servants.

The undersigned is directed to say that with a view to enable Government servants to meet expenses relating to festivals and to encourage spending thereby giving a boost to economic activities, in pursuance of decision taken by the Government, it has been decided that a special festival package of advance will be accorded to all Government servants for any important festivals upto 31st March, 2021.

2. A Head of Office may sanction this special package on the eve of any important festival to any Central Government Servant under his administrative control. The term “important festival” is clarified as such festivals or one of such festivals as Head of Department may declare in respect of establishments under his/her administrative control.

3. The amount of the package is Rs. 10,000/- to be paid as advance to Government servant. This amount is interest free. The amount would be released through pre-loaded Rupay Card from SBI. DDOs, on receipt of application from Government servants for this package may process and acquire the prepaid cards from SBI for issue among the applicants. A detailed SOP for DDOs for obtaining these cards would be separately issued.

Also ReadLTC Cash Voucher Scheme for Central Government Employees – FINMIN Order

4. The festival package may be granted to a Government servant if he/she is on Government duty or on leave excluding leave preparatory to retirement, on the date on which the advance is disbursed. The amount paid under this package is recoverable in not more than ten (10) instalments.

5. These orders will take effect from the date of issuance of this Office Memorandum and will be in force during the current financial year till 31 March, 2021.

6. All the Ministries/Departments are requested to bring the contents of this OM to the notice of all its Attached and Subordinate offices for their information /necessary action.

Hindi version of this Office Memorandum will follow.

(B.K.Manthan)
Deputy Secretary to the Govt. of India

Signed Copy

LTC Cash Voucher Scheme for Central Government Employees – FINMIN Order

F.No.12(2)/2020-EII(A)
Ministry of Finance
Department of Expenditure
EN(A) Branch

North Block, New Delhi
12th October, 2020

Office Memorandum

Sub : Special cash package equivalent in lieu of Leave Travel Concession Fare for Central Government Employees during the Block 2018-21.

In view of Covid-19 pandemic and resultant nationwide lockdown as well as disruption of transport and hospitality sector, as also the need for observing social distancing, a number of Central Government employees are not in a position to avail themselves of LTC for travel to any place in India or their Hometowns in the current Block of 2018-21.

2. With a view to compensate and incentivise consumption by Central Government employees thereby giving a boost to consumption expenditure, it has been decided that cash equivalent of LTC, comprising Leave Encashment and LTC fare of the entitled LTC may be paid by way of reimbursement, if an employee opts for this in lieu of one LTC in the Block of 2018-21 subject to the following conditions:-

a) The employee spends the money of a larger sum than the entitlement on account of LTC on actual expenditure.

b) Cash equivalent of full leave encashment will be allowed, provided the employee spends an equal sum. This will be counted towards the number of leave encashment on LTC available to an employee.

c) The deemed LTC fare for this purpose is given below :-

Category of employees Deemed LTC fare per person
(Round Trip)
Employees who are entitled to business class of airfare Rs. 36,000
Employees who are entitled to economy class of airfare Rs. 20,000
Employees who are entitled to Rail fare of any class Rs. 6,000

d) The cash equivalent may be allowed if the employee spends a sum 3 times of the value of the fare given above.

e) The amount both on account of leave encashment and fare shall be admissible if the employee spends (i) an amount equal to the value of leave encashment and; (ii) an amount 3 times of the cash equivalent of deemed fare, as given above on purchase of such items / availing of such services which carry a GST rate of not less than 12% from GST registered vendors / service providers through digital mode and obtains a voucher indicating the GST number and the amount of GST paid.

Also ReadSpecial Festival Advance Scheme – Nirmala Sitharaman announces for Government Employees

f) The admissible payment shall be restricted to the full value of the package [leave encashment as admissible for LTC and deemed fare] or depending upon the spending as per example given at Annexure-A.

g) While TDS is applicable in the case of leave encashment, since the cash reimbursement of LTC fare is in lieu of deemed actual travel, the same shall be allowed exemption on the lines of existing income-tax exemption available to LTC fare. The legislative amendment to the provisions of the Income-Tax Act, 1961 for this purpose shall be proposed in the due course. Hence, TDS shall not be required to be deducted on the reimbursement of deemed LTC fare.

Leave Encashment Calculator – Earned Leave & Half Pay Leave

3. Head of the Departments / DDOs may make reimbursement under this package as per the details given above on receipt of invoices of purchases made / services availed during the period post the issuance of this order from the employees who are desirous to avail this package. It may be noted that in order to avail this package an employee should opt for both leave encashment and LTC fare.

4. An amount upto 100% of leave encashment and 50% of the value of deemed fare may be paid as advance into the bank account of the employee which shall be settled based on production of receipts towards purchase and availing of goods and services as given in Para 2(e). The claims under this package (with or without advance) are to be made and settled within the current financial year. Non-utilization / under-utilization of advance is to be accounted for by the DDOs in accordance with the extant provisions relating to LTC advance i.e. immediate recovery of full advance in the case of non-utilisation and recovery of unutilized portion of the advance with penal interest.

5. These orders will take effect from the date of issuance of this Office Memorandum and will be in force during the current financial year till 31st March, 2021.

6. All the Ministries/Departments are requested to bring the contents of this OM to the notice of all its Attached and Subordinate offices for their information.

Hindi version of this Office Memorandum will follow.

(B.K.Manthan)
Deputy Secretary to the Govt. of India

Signed Copy

Special Festival Advance Scheme – Nirmala Sitharaman announces for Government Employees

Special Festival Advance Scheme which was meant for non-gazetted government employees is being revived as a one-time measure, for gazetted employees too. All central govt. employees can now get interest-free advance of Rs. 10,000, in the form of a prepaid RuPay Card, to be spent by March 31, 2021.

The one-time disbursement of Special Festival Advance Scheme is expected to amount to Rs. 4,000 crore; if given by all state governments, another Rs. 8,000 crore is expected to be disbursed. Employees can spend this on any festival.

Also Read : LTC Cash Voucher Scheme – Nirmala Sitharaman announces for Government Employees

Special Festival Advance Scheme

  • Festival advance along with other similar advances were abolished on the recommendations of 7th Pay Commission. It is proposed to restore the Festival Advance to Government employees for festivals up to 31.3.2021
  • Interest-free advance of Rs. 10,000/- to be recoverable in maximum 10 instalments
  • Rs. 4,000 crore expected to be disbursed
    • If given by all State Governments, another Rs. 8000 crores is likely to be disbursed; assuming 50% adoption by states estimate is Rs. 4000 crores
    • No permanent increase in government expenditure—advance will be recovered
  • Additional consumer demand generated will be Rs. 8,000 crore.
  1. Employees will get pre-loaded Rupay Card of the advance value.
  2. Government will bear Bank charges in this regard
  3. Ensures digital mode of payment, resulting in tax revenue and encouraging honest businesses

LTC Cash Voucher Scheme – Nirmala Sitharaman announces for Government Employees

LTC Cash Voucher Scheme

Under LTC Cash Voucher Scheme, government employees can opt to receive cash amounting to leave encashment + 3 times ticket fare, to buy something of their choice. The items bought should be those attracting GST of 12% or more. Only digital transactions are allowed, GST Invoice to be produced.

The biggest incentive for employees to avail the LTC Cash Voucher Scheme is that in a four-year block ending in 2021, the LTC not availed will lapse, instead, this will encourage employees to avail of this facility to buy goods which can help their families.

Estimated cost of LTC Cash Voucher Scheme: For Central govt. : ₹ 5,675 crore; for PSBs & PSUs: ₹ 1,900 crore.

Also ReadLTC Cash Vouchers Scheme & Special Festival Advance Scheme for Government Employees – Finance Minister Announces Schemes

Tax concessions for LTC tickets available for state govt. & private sector too, if they choose to give such facility, these employees too can benefit

Indications are that savings of govt. and organized sector employees have increased, we want to incentivize such people to boost demand for the benefit of the less fortunate. On a conservative basis, we expect the LTC Cash Voucher Scheme to generate additional consumer demand in the range of ₹ 28,000 crore.

– Union Finance Minister Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman

LTC Cash Voucher Scheme

Leave Travel Concession (LTC) Cash Voucher scheme

  • Central Government Employees get LTC in a block of 4 years (one to anywhere in India & one hometown or two for home town)
  • Air or rail fare, as per pay scale / entitlement, is reimbursed and in addition, Leave encashment of 10 days (pay + DA) is paid
  • Due to Covid-19, employees are not in a position to avail of LTC in the current block of 2018-21

Also ReadLTC Cash Voucher Scheme for Central Government Employees – FINMIN Order

In lieu of one LTC during 2018-21, cash payment will be made :

  • Full payment on Leave encahment and
  • Payment of fare in 3 flat-rate slabs depending on class of entitlement
  • Fare payment will be tax free

An Employee, opting for this scheme, will be required to

  • Buy goods / services worth 3 times the fare and 1 time the leave encashment
  • Do so before 31st March 2021

Money must be spent on

  • goods attracting GST of 12% or more from a GST registered vendor
  • throught digital mode
  • GST invoice will be required to be produced

Financial Boost to the Economy

  • If Central Government employees opt for it, cost will be around Rs.5,675 crore. Employees of PSBs and PSUs will also be allowed this facility and the estimated cost for them will be Rs. 1,900 crore.
  • The tax concession will be allowed for State Government/Private sector too, for employees who currently are entitled to LTC, subject to following the guidelines of the Central Government scheme
  • Demand infusion in the economy by Central Government and Central PSE/PSB employees is estimated to be Rs. 19,000 crore approx. Demand infusion by State Government employees will be Rs. 9,000 crore.
  • Additional consumer demand generated will be Rs. 28,000 crore

LTC Cash Vouchers Scheme & Special Festival Advance Scheme for Government Employees – Finance Minister Announces Schemes

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman today addressed the media on key economic issues. The following schemes are announced for Central Government Employees in this meeting :

  • The interest-free advance of Rs 10,000 under the Special Festival Advance Scheme to be paid back in 10 instalments.
  • The one-time disbursement of Special Festival Advance Scheme is expected to amount to ₹4,000 crore; if given by all state governments, another ₹8,000 crores is expected to be disbursed. Employees can spend this on any festival.
  • Special Festival Advance Scheme for non-gazetted employees is being revived as a one-time measure, for gazetted employees too. All central govt. employees can now get an interest-free advance of Rs.10,000, in the form of a prepaid RuPay Card, to be spent by March 31, 2021
  • Special Festival Advance Scheme is being revived as a one-time measure. All central govt. employees can now get interest-free advance of Rs. 10,000, recoverable in maximum 10 installments: Finance Minister
  • Employees will get pre-loaded Rupay Card of the advance value
  • Under LTC Cash Voucher Scheme, government employees can opt to receive cash amounting to leave encashment plus 3 times the ticket fare, to buy items that attract GST of 12% or more. Only digital transactions allowed, GST invoice to be produced, said Sitharaman.

Latest update on LTC Cash Voucher Scheme – Click here

Latest update on Special Festival Advance Scheme – Click here

Computation of gratuity and leave encashment – NCJCM writes to DoPT

NCJCM

No.NC-JCM-2020/DOPT (DA)

October 08, 2020

The Secretary,
Government of India,
Department of Personnel & Training,
North Block,
New Delhi

Dear Sir,

Sub : Computation of gratuity and leave encashment in the case of persons retired/to be retired after 1.1.2020 Consequent upon the denial of DA/DR

We invite your kind attention to the orders in F. No. 1/1/2020-E II (B) dated 23.04.2020 wherein the decision of the Government to deny the dearness allowance deafness relief to the employees and pensioners respectively has been conveyed. We had written two letters in the matter on 23rd April 2020 and on 26th May 2020. The undersigned had taken up the issue also with the Cabinet Secretary. when he assured of an informal discussion in the matter with the Staff Side. However. no talks have taken place thereafter. It is not for the first time that the Government is by pausing the National Council. Staff Side. On the last occasion. when the National Council met. we had pointed out the inordinate delay in convening the meetings. We are constrained to believe that the Government wanted the negotiating body to have a burial. I am however duty bound to convey the growing resentment of the employees over this unprecedented decision. As the Government has decided to deny the dearness relief to the pensioners. the pensioner community is in great financial stress as many of them are compelled to spend exorbitant amount for the treatment of Covid.

It has been brought to our notice that the denial of DA and freezing the same for Iced 18 months from 1.01.2020 to 1.07.2021 has created a piquant situation for the lower level administrative functionaries to correctly compute the retirement benefits in the case of those civil servants who are retiring after the date of issue of the above cited O.M. The definition of “emoluments” for the purpose of computing the gratuity as also the leave salary (of the accumulated leave) includes Dearness allowance as admissible and not as paid or payable to the Government servant. Without exception. every administrative Department has computed the entitlement on this account only with reference to the Basic pay Dearness allowance paid or received by the concerned individual i.e 17%, Either 21% w.e.f 1-1-2020 or figure increase in percentage are not taken into account while calculating gratuity and leave salary. Since the order of the Finance Ministry clearly stipulates that the Dearness Allowance admissible to the Government servants would be restored on 1.07.2021. the computation of Gratuity and leave salary without taking into account the DA as admissible to the individual Government servant is incorrect. Annexed to this letter is an example as to how the individual loses out if the present faulty, computation procedure is followed It could be seen from the given example, the concerned Government servant will lose a staggering sum of Rs. 57116 because of this faulty computation.

The Government is required to pass the orders as and when the DA has become due, Freezing it for certain period of time or denying it altogether for a specified duration are altogether different issues. Our objection to the adopted policy has already been conveyed to the Government. The faulty computation of Gratuity and Leave salary is not even intended by the order issued by the Government on 23rd April, 2020.

We, therefore. request you to kindly get the matter examined and ensure that

(i) Orders are issued as and when the Dearness allowance has to be revised on the b.is of the cost of living index;

(ii) Direct the administering Ministries to compute the emoluments of persons who are to retire during the period of freezing, taking the correct amount of DA as admissible to receive and not what has been paid to him for computing gratuity and leave salary

(iii) The orders revising the rate of DA DR are to be issued in April, 2020, before September, 2020 and again in April, 2021.

Thanking you,

Yours faithfully,

Shiva Copal Mishra
Secretary

gratuity

Extension of timelines for reporting / reviewing of part period of APAR – DOPT Latest Order

No.21011/02/2015-Est(A-ll)-Part II
Government of India
Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions
Department of Personnel & Training

North Block, New Delhi
9th October, 2020

OFFICE MEMORANDUM

Subject : Extension of timelines for reporting / reviewing of part period of Annual Performance Assessment Report (APAR) of Group ‘A’, ‘B’ and ‘C’ officer of Central Civil Services during the current the year 2020-21, by officers retiring from 30.06.2020 to 31.10.2020.

The undersigned is directed to invite attention to Department of Personnel & A.R. O.M. No. 21011/1/77-Estt.(A) dated 30.01.1978 and this Department’s O.M. number 21011/1/93-Estt.(A) dated 14.01.1993 regarding recording of remarks by reporting and reviewing authority within one month after retirement (copies enclosed).

Also Read : Extension of timelines for recording of APAR 2019-20 for Group ‘A’, ‘B’ and ‘C’ officers of CSS/CSSS/CSCS through SPARROW portal

2. Due to unforeseen situation caused by COVID 19 pandemic, practical difficulty is being faced in recording the part period of APAR during the current year 2020-21 by the reporting / reviewing authority retiring on or after 30.06.2020. Accordingly, it has been decided, with the approval of the competent authority, that the reporting / reviewing authorities retiring from Government service during the period from 30.06.2020 to 31.10.2020, shall be allowed to record part period of the APAR for the current year 2020-21 of Group ‘A’, ‘B’ and ‘C’ officers of Central Civil Services, within 31.12.2020, in relaxation of the extant timelines for reporting and reviewing within one month after retirement. However, for reporting / reviewing authority retiring in November, 2020 or thereafter, the extant provisions as contained in O.Ms dated 30.01.1978 and 14.01.1993, mentioned at para 1 above, shall continue to be applicable.

3. The above relaxation is a one-time measure only.

Encl: (2)

(Kabindra Joshi)
Director

Signed Copy

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