No.100-4/2020-Pen(pt) Government of India Ministry of Communications Department of Posts (Pension Section)
Dak Bhawan, Sansad Marg New Delhi – 110 001 17th November , 2020
To
1.CPMG of all Postal Circles 2.Chief General Manager (BD&M). Dak Bhawan 3.Chief General Manager (PLI), Chanakya Puri, New Delhi 4.Secretary(PSB), Dak Bhawan 5.Director, Rail Ahmad kidwai National Postal Academy, Ghaziabad 6.All Directors/Dy. Directors of Accounts (Postal) 7.Principal Director of Audit (Postal), Delhi-54 8.Addl. Director General, Army Postal Service Corps, APS Bhawan, Rao Tula Ram Marg, Delhi Cantt.-10 9.Chief Engineer (HQ), Dak Bhawan
Subject : Provision of Rs.10 lakh to GDS and Departmental employees of Department of Posts to cover death due to Covid-19 while discharging official duties – clarification regarding extension of guidelines dated 01.06.2018 – reg.
Madam/ Sir,
I am directed to refer to this Directorate’s letter of even number dated 17.04.2020 whereby original guidelines for payment of compensation of Rs.10 lakh were extended to Departmental employees and GDS to cover death due to Covid-19 while discharging official duties. We have been receiving representations seeking clarification on the applicability of para 6 of the said Guidelines which bar claimant from claiming additional compensation’ from the Department.
2.The matter has been examined in detail and it is stated that guidelines dated 01.06.2018 were meant for individuals other than the government employees and GDS i.e. persons engaged on contract or the private individuals whose death can be attributed to accidents related to works of the Department of Posts. However, in the exceptional circumstances, these guidelines were extended vide letter dated 17.04.2020 to the Departmental employees and GDS who succumb to Covid-19 in performance of their duties. Thus, para 6 of the Guidelines dated 01.06.2018 is not applicable in case of Departmental employees and GDS. Therefore, their wards/next of kin will continue to be eligible for all such benefits, as per the Rules, what would have been available to them otherwise.
Yours faithfully ( Tarun Mittal ) Asstt. Director General (Pension) Tel.No.011-2304 4768
Subject: Strengthening of Administration – Periodic review of Central Government Employees under FR 56(j) and Rule 48 of CCS (Pension) Rules, 1972
The undersigned is directed to refer to DoP&T’s O.M No.25013/03/2019-Estt.A-IV dated 28.08.2020 and this office O.M.of even No.50 dated 05.08.2019 (copy enclosed) on the above mentioned subject.
All Pr. CCAs/CCAs/CAs are requested to undertake the periodic reviews in respect of CCAS (Group’B’& ‘C’ officials) working under their jurisdiction in terms of DoP&T’s O.M. No.25013/03/2019-Estt.A-IV dated 28.08.2020. Further,it should also be ensured that the prescribed procedure like forming of opinion to retire a Government employee prematurely in public interest is strictly adhered to, and that the decision is not an arbitrary one, and is not based on collateral grounds as per the order of the Hon’ble Supreme Court in case of UOI & Col.J.N. Sinha (1571 SCR (1)791).
All Pr. CCAs/CCAs/CAs are requested to furnish a report to this office in the format given below by 2nd day of each month :-
Group wise
Number of mployees to he reviewed under FR 56(j)
Number of employees reviewed under FR 56(j)
Number of employees reviewed and against whom FR 56(j) invoked/recommended
Number of employees retired prematurely under FR 56(j)
(i) In partial modification of Paragraph 19 of Bipartite Settlement dated 25th May, 2015, with effect from the date of this Settlement, leave fare concession payable will be the actual return railway fare or steamer fare incurred by the workman and members of his family subject to the following:
a) For availment of leave fare concession under a 2 year block for visit to any place within India, the maximum permissible distance shall be 2600 kms. (one way) for the subordinate staff and 2200 kms. (one way) for non-subordinate staff.
b) For availment of leave fare concession under a 4 year block for visit to any place in India, the maximum permissible distance shall be 5200 kms. (one way) for subordinate staff and 4400 kms. (one way) for non-subordinate staff.
(ii) In partial modification of clause 19 of the Bipartite settlement dated 25th May, 2015, the class of fare to which the workman and the members of his family would be entitled, shall be as follows:
Subordinate Staff:
AC III Tier for the journey by mail/express train. By Steamer – II Class Cabin
Non-subordinate Staff:
AC II Tier for the journey by mail/express train. By Steamer – I Class Cabin
Note: The above entitlement shall also be applicable for travel on duty.
Provided however, in the case of non-subordinate staff, they will be reimbursed the fare for travel by Rajdhani/Shatabdi trains if the travel has been actually undertaken by such trains.
Provided further that where the non-subordinate employee and / or dependent members of his family undertake travel by air either to his place of domicile or to any other place for rest and recuperation within India, he shall be entitled to be reimbursed the actual air fare so incurred or the II AC class fare by train by a direct route in case of travel to place of domicile or to the extent of the maximum admissible distance in case of travel to any other place for rest and recuperation, during the two year/four year block respectively, whichever is less.
Provided further that in addition to train fare, charges incurred on account of local sight-seeing during availment of LFC may also be reimbursed subject to total claim not exceeding the amount equivalent to eligible train fare as per respective entitlement.
Note: GST Charges levied on Train Fare shall be over and above the entitlement. In view of prevailing dynamic fare system, the cost of train tickets charged on the date of booking will be reimbursed.
For employees working in North East States, LFC will begin from Guwahati and the eligible train fare from their place of work to Guwahati will be additionally paid. Similarly, eligible fare for Andaman & Nicobar islands to Chennai/Kolkata, Lakshadweep to Kochi, far-flung area branches in Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Sikkim, Jammu & Kashmir or any other areas which are not directly connected by train shall be additionally reimbursed under LFC in addition to normal entitlement for the employees working in these areas to the nearest major Railway Station.
An employee and/or members of his family, when availing leave fare concession may undertake travel by any mode of surface transport between places and the employee will be eligible to claim in respect of such journey his actual expenditure or the notional train fare by the entitled class for the admissible and entitled distance, whichever is less, within his overall entitlement.
For the purpose of this sub-clause, travel by any approved mode of surface transport would mean such travel undertaken through any public transport or transport (including taxi) operated by agencies / tour operators approved by appropriate Government authorities or motorcar owned by the employee/spouse.
(iii)By exercising an option anytime during a block of 2 years or 4 years, as the case may be, an employee can either undertake travel availing of leave fare concession and claim reimbursement upto his entitlement or to encash the facility for the concerned block. The option so exercised shall be irrevocable for the block concerned. On opting to encash the facility, he will be entitled to receive a lump sum equivalent to notional train fare for the admissible distance (depending on a 2 year or 4 year block) by the entitled class, subject to deduction of admissible tax at source. Leave Fare Concession for travel to place of domicile is not encashable. The facility of encashing of Leave Fare Concession may be allowed to employees without the requirement of availing leave for this purpose. An employee opting to encash his LFC shall prefer the claim for himself and his family members only once during the block / term in which such encashment is availed of. The facility of encashment of privilege leave while availing of Leave Fare Concession is also available while encashing the facility of LFC.
(iv) Provisions under Clause 10.13 (iii) of Bipartite Settlement dated 19th October, 1966 regarding restrictions on entitlement to LFC where both husband and wife are working in the same Bank shall stand deleted. Accordingly, henceforth LFC can be availed independently where both husband and wife are working in the same bank.
(v) All employees will be given an opportunity to exercise an option within 90 days from the date of this Settlement to avail LFC under two years/four years block as the case may be. If no option is exercised within the stipulated period, the earlier option will continue to be operative.
(vi) Dolly/Pony charges as per Government Rates shall be reimbursed within the overall entitlement.
With effect from 1st November 2017, the Pay as defined under Clause 6 of this Settlement and drawn by the employees who are members of the Pension Fund shall be taken into consideration for the purpose of calculation of pension as per the Pension Fund Rules/ Regulations in force.
Note:
(1) Option not to claim incremental commutation on revised basic pension
Employees in service of the Banks as on 1st November 2017 and who have retired thereafter but before the date of this Settlement and who had opted for commutation of pension will have an option not to claim incremental commutation on revised basic pension.
(2) Calculation of Pension for employees retired between 1-11-2017 and 31-8-2018.
The pension payable to employees is based on the average of the emoluments drawn in the last ten months preceding the retirement of the employee in terms of Regulations 2 and 38 of the Pension Regulations. For the purpose of payment of pension, the Pay of the employees retiring on or after 1st November, 2017 will be taken on the basis of the Pay as is provided under this Settlement. However, in the case of employees who have retired from the services of the Banks, on or after 1st November, 2017 but before 31st August, 2018, since the period of preceding ten months will constitute Pay both under this Settlement as well as pertaining to Settlement dated 25th May, 2015, in such cases, the following procedure will be adopted for determining Pension payable to them.
(i) For the period of ten months falling on and from 1st November, 2017, the actual Pay drawn by the employee under this Settlement; and
(ii) For the period falling prior to 1st November, 2017, the actual Pay drawn by the employee plus Dearness Allowance at the rate of 47.8 percent thereon will be notionally reckoned as Pay for the purpose.
With effect from 1st November, 2017, in respect of employees who retired or died while in service on or after 1st November, 2017, Dearness Relief shall be payable at 0.07 % per slab on the Basic Pension or Family Pension or Invalid Pension or compassionate allowance as the case may be. Dearness Relief in the above manner shall be paid half yearly for every rise or fall of 4 points over 6352 points in the quarterly average of the All India Consumer Price Index for industrial workers in the series 1960=100.
In partial modification of Clause XIV of Bipartite Settlement dated 29th October 1993, Clause 13 of Bipartite Settlement dated 27th March 2000, Clause 13 of the Bipartite Settlement dated 2nd June 2005, Clause 13 of Bipartite Settlement dated 27th April 2010, and Clause 13 of Bipartite Settlement dated 25h May, 2015, the Fixed Personal Pay shall be revised with effect from 1st November 2017 as per Schedule III.
Note: Only employees who were in the service of the bank on or before 1st November 1993 will be eligible for FPP, one year after reaching the maximum scale of pay, they are placed in. Those who joined the Banks on or after 2nd November, 1993 are not eligible for FPP.
In partial modification of Clause 12 of the Bipartite Settlement dated 25th May 2015, the Hill and Fuel Allowance shall be payable at the following rates with effect from 1st November 2017:
a
At places situated at a height of 3000 meters and above
8% of pay (Max. Rs.2250/-p.m.)
b
At places situated at a height of and over 1500 meters but below 3000 meters
4% of pay (Max. Rs.900/-p.m.)
c
At places situated at a height of over 1000 meters but less than 1500 meters and Mercara Town
3 % of pay (Max. Rs. 750/-p.m.)
Note: All other existing provisions shall remain unchanged. SBI may revise the ceiling amounts.
No. 22D(11)/2015/US(WE)/D(Res-1) Government of India Ministry of Defence Department of Ex-Serviceman Welfare Room No. 221, B Wing Sena Bhawan New Delhi – 110 011
Dated 9th November, 2020
To, The Chief of Army Staff The Chief of Naval Staff The Chief of Air Staff
Subject : Clarification on ECHS membership/refund of contribution deducted/ recovered for ECHS membership.
Sir,
In supervision of this ministry letter no. 22(20)05/US(WE)/D(Res) dated 10th February, 2006 and 22D(11)/2015/US(WE)/D(Res) dated 23rd May 2017, with the approval of competent authority clarifications regarding ECHS membership/refund of contribution are as under:-
S. No.
Points of doubt
Clarification
1.
When both husband and wife are defence Pensioners, who is to pay the contribution?
Only one contribution has to be taken on the pattern of CGHS.
2.
In case one of the spouse happens to be a defence personnel and the other is a Central Govt employee or an employee of any other Organization, where medical facilities are provided, will it be compulsory for the defence employee to become member at the time of retirement?
No, It will be optional for defence personal to opt out of ECHS, at the time of retirement after furnishing proof of spouse’s membership of CGHS/any other health scheme. Existing defence personnel are also allowed to opt out of ECHS, before availing any benefits under ECHS, to avail the medical facilities provided by CGHS/any other health scheme of the organization of his/her spouse.
MD, ECHS will refund subscription already deducted, after verifying concerned records towards deduction of ECHS subscription and non-availing of ECHS benefits. Alternatively the civilian spouse would have the option to withdraw from CGHS or any other health scheme of his/her organization to avail ECHS facilities of his/her spouse who is a defence personnel
3
In case, the spouse retiring earlier wishes to cover his/her dependent parents under ECHS can he/she do so?
Yes, He/she can do by paying laid down contribution at the time of retirement. The second spouse also while retiring can opt to cover his/her dependent parents by making another contribution as applicable.
4
In case Next of Kin (NoK) of ECHS beneficiary happens to be a Central Govt. Employee or an employee of any other organization, where medical facilities are provided, will it be compulsory for the NoK to join ECHS?
i) No
ii) In case where subscription has been deducted for ECHS membership from the NoK of ECHS beneficiary refund of this amount will be claimed separately by the NoK.
MD, ECHS will sanction refund of such claims to NoK, after verifying concerned records towards deduction of ECHS subscription and non-availing of ECHS benefits.
This issue with the concurrence of Ministry of Defence (Finance/Pension) vide their ID No. 32(14)/2015. FIN/PEN dated. 21/10/2020.
Yours faithfully
(Jitender Kumar) Deputy Secretary to the Govt. of India
All pensioners of Employees’ Pension Scheme 1995 (EPS’95) are required to submit Jeevan Pramaan Patra (JPP) / Digital Life certificate (DLC) each year to continue drawing pension . In the current scenario of COVID-19 pandemic, the Employees’ Provident Fund Organization (EPFO) has facilitated multiple options for EPS pensioners to submit their DLC, close to their home or at their door step. JPP submitted through all these modes/agencies are equally valid.
In addition to the 135 regional offices and 117 district offices of EPFO, EPS pensioners can now submit DLC at pension disbursing bank branch and nearest post offices. DLC can also be submitted at nation-wide network of over 3.65 lakh Common Services Centers (CSC). Apart from this, EPS pensioners can also submit DLC using the UMANG app.
Recently, India Post Payments Bank (IPPB) has launched the doorstep Digital Life Certificate (DLC) service for pensioners. EPS pensioners can now submit online request for availing doorstep DLC service on payment of a nominal fee. A postman from the nearest Post Office will visit a pensioner and complete the process of generating DLC at the home of the pensioner only.
As per fresh guidelines, EPS pensioners can now submit DLC at any time during the year, as per their convenience. The life certificate will remain valid for one year from date of submission of DLC. The pensioners who have been issued Pension Payment Order (PPO) in 2020 need not upload JPP till completion of one year. Earlier, all EPS pensioners were required to submit the DLC in the month of November. This resulted in difficulties faced by pensioners due to long queues and generated rush for submission of Digital Life Certificate. This pro-pensioner step has been taken to provide hassle free social security cover to EPS pensioners.
Senior citizens are at a higher risk for severe illness from Corona virus. During this difficult time of Covid-19 pandemic, EPFO stands with its pensioners by ensuring timely release of pension and bringing services at their doorstep. These initiatives will benefit approximately 67 lakh EPS pensioners out of which about 21 lakh are widow/widower, children and orphan pensioners.
Union Ministry of Labour and Employment has notified the draft rules under the Code on Social Security, 2020 on 13.11.2020 inviting objections and suggestions, if any, from the stakeholders. Such objections and suggestions are required to be submitted within a period of 45 days from the date of notification of the draft rules.
The draft rules provide for operationalization of provisions in the Code on Social Security, 2020 relating to Employees’ Provident Fund, Employees’ State Insurance Corporation, Gratuity, Maternity Benefit, Social Security and Cess in respect of Building and Other Construction Workers, Social Security for Unorganised Workers, Gig Workers and Platform Workers.
The draft rules also provide for Aadhaar based registration including self-registration by unorganised workers, gig workers and platform workers on the portal of the Central Government. Ministry of Labour and Employment has already initiated action for development of such portal. For availing any benefit under any of the social security schemes framed under the Code, an unorganised worker or a gig worker or platform worker shall be required to be registered on the portal with details as may be specified in the scheme.
The rules further provide for Aadhaar based registration of Building and Other Construction Workers on the specified portal of the Central Government and the State Government or the State Welfare Board. Where a building worker migrates from one State to another he shall be entitled to get benefits in the State where he is currently working and it shall be the responsibility of the Building Workers Welfare Board of that State to provide benefits to such a worker.
Provision has also been made in the rules regarding gratuity to an employee who is on fixed term employment.
The rules also provide for single electronic registration of an establishment including cancellation of the registration in case of closure of business activities.
Provision has also been made regarding manner and conditions for exiting of an establishment from EPFO and ESIC coverage.
The procedure for self-assessment and payment of Cess in respect of building and other construction workers has been elaborated in the rules. For the purpose of self- assessment, the employer shall calculate the cost of construction as per the rates specified by the State Public Works Department or Central Public Works Department or on the basis of return or documents submitted to the Real Estate Regulatory Authority.
The rate of Interest for delayed payment of such cess has been reduced from 2 per cent every month or part of a month to 1 per cent. Under the existing rules, the Assessing Officer has the power to direct that no material or machinery can be removed or disturbed from the construction site. Such power for indefinitely stopping of construction work has been withdrawn in the draft rules. Further, under the draft rules, the assessing officer can visit the construction site only with the prior approval of the Secretary of the Building and Other Construction Workers Board.
The rules have also provided for the manner of payment of contribution by the aggregators through self-assessment.
File No. M-59011/1/2019-CDN-CGA-Part(3)/3359/984
Government of India
Ministry of Finance
Department of Expenditure
O/o Controller General of Accounts
Mahalekha Nivantrak Bhawan
GPO Complex, E-Block. INA,
New Delhi
Dated: the 13 November 2020
Office Memorandum
Subject : Holding of Pension Adalats in the month of December, 2020- reg.
The undersigned is directed to refer to Secretary Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions, Department of Pension & Pensioner’s Welfare D.O letter No. 1/39/2020-P&PW (E) dated: 21.10.2020 with a request to hold Pension Adalats in the month of December, 2020 with an objective of prompt resolution of Pensioner’s grievance within the framework of extant policy guidelines. A copy of D.O letter which is self explanatory is enclosed.
2. It is needless to mention that Pay & Accounts Offices and Central Pension Accounts Offices (CPAO) have a pivotal role in Pension related matters. By organising Pension Adalats, grievances of the pensioner’s can be minimized.
3. In view of above all the Pr.CCAs/CCAs/CAs (Independent Charges) and Chief Controller (Pensions) are requested to ensure wide publicity of this OM for holding Pension Adalats and suitably instruct their field PAOs/RPAOs/ZAOs to hold Pension Adalat in the month of December, 2020.
4. Outcome of the Pension Adalats organised by your Ministry/Departments may be intimated within one week of holding of Pension Adalats to this Office in the enclosed proforma
End: As above
(Praveen Nandivana)
Joint Controller General of Accounts
