Postal Services Staff Welfare Board 12th Meeting Minutes held on 22.08.2017
Govemment of lndia
Ministry of Communications
Department of Posts
(Welfare & Sports Section)
No. 1-1/2017-WL/Sports
Dated: 28.08.2017
Subject: – Minutes of the 12th meeting of Postal Services Staff Welfare Board held on 22.08.2017 at New Delhi under the Chairmanship of Hon’ble Minister of State of Communication (I/C).
A copy of the Minutes of 12th meeting of the Postal Services Staff Welfare Board held at New Delhi on 22.08.2017 is forwarded herewith for information.
Cabinet approves norms for equivalence of creamy layer criteria to PSUs, PSBs
Cabinet approves equivalence of posts in Central Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs), Banks, Insurance Institutions with Posts in Government so that the children of those serving in lower categories in PSUs and other institutions can get the benefit of OBC reservations
The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given its approval to the norms for establishing equivalence of posts in Government and posts in PSUs, PSBs etc. for claiming benefit of OBC reservations. This addresses an issue pending for nearly 24 years. This will ensure that the children of those serving in lower categories in PSUs and other institutions can get the benefit of OBC reservations, on par with children of people serving in lower categories in Government. This will also prevent children of those in senior positions in such institutions, who, owing to absence of equivalence of posts, may have been treated as non Creamy Layer by virtue of wrong interpretation of income standards from cornering government posts reserved for OBCs and denying the genuine non creamy layer candidates a level playing field.
The Union Cabinet also approved the increase in the present income criterion of Rs. 6 lakh per annum for applying the Creamy Layer restriction throughout the country, for excluding Socially Advanced Persons/Sections (Creamy Layer) from the purview of reservation of Other Backward Classes (OBCs). The new income criterion will be Rs. 8 lakh per annum. The increase in the income limit to exclude the Creamy Layer is in keeping with the increase in the Consumer Price Index and will enable more persons to take advantage of reservation benefits extended to OBCs in government services and admission to central educational institutions.
These measures are a part of the Government’s efforts to ensure greater social justice and inclusion for members of the Other Backward Classes. The Government has already introduced in Parliament, a bill to provide Constitutional status to the National Commission for Backward Classes. It has also decided to set up a Commission, under section 340 of the Constitution, to sub categorize the OBCs, so that the more backward among the OBC communities can also access the benefits of reservation for educational institutions and government jobs. All these decisions, taken together, are expected to ensure greater representation of OBCs in educational institutions and jobs, while also ensuring that the more under-privileged within the category are not denied their chance of social mobility.
Background:
In its judgment dated 16.11.1992 in WP(C) 930/1990 (IndraSawhney case) the Supreme Court had directed the Government to specify the basis, for exclusion of socially and economically advanced persons from Other Backward Classes by applying the relevant and requisite socio-economic criteria.
An Expert Committee was constituted in February 1993 which submitted its report on 10.03.1993 specifying the criteria for identification of socially advanced persons among OBCs i.e. the Creamy Layer. The report was accepted by the then Ministry of Welfare and forwarded to DoPT which issued an OM dated 08.09.1993 on exclusion from the Creamy Layer.
The OM of 08.09.1993 specifies six categories for identifying Creamy Layer (a) Constitutional/Statutory post (b) Group ‘A’ and Group ‘B’ Officers of Central and State Governments, employees of PSUs and Statutory bodies, universities, (c) Colonel and above in armed forces and equivalent in paramilitary forces (d) professionals like Doctors, Lawyers, Management Consultants, Engineers etc. (e) Property owners with agricultural holdings or vacant land and/or buildings and (f) income/wealth tax asessee.
The OM further stipulates that the said parameters would apply mutatis mutandis to officers holding equivalent or comparable posts in PSUs, Banks, Insurance Organizations, Universities, etc. and Government was required to determine equivalence of positions in these organizations with those in Government.
Pending the equivalence to the established in these institutions Income criteria would apply for the officers in these Institutions.
However, this exercise of determining the equivalence of posts in Government and posts in PSUs, PSBs etc. had not been initiated. The determination of equivalence of posts has been thus pending for almost 24 years.
The matter of formulating equivalence has since been examined in detail. In PSUs, all Executive level posts i.e. Board level executives and managerial level posts would be treated as equivalent to group ‘A’ posts in Government and will be considered Creamy Layer. Junior Management Grade Scale–1 and above of Public Sector Banks, Financial Institutions and Public Sector Insurance Corporations will be treated as equivalent to Group ‘A’ in the Government of India and considered as Creamy Layer. For Clerks and Peons in PSBs, FIs and PSICs, the Income Test as revised from time to time will be applicable. These are the broad guidelines and each individual Bank, PSU, Insurance Company would place the matter before their respective board to identify individual posts.
No.A-26011/20/MACPS/2017/MF.CGA(A)/NGE/297
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF FINANCE
DEPARTMENT OF EXPENDITURE
CONTROLLER GENERAL OF ACCOUNTS
MAHALEKHA NIYANTRAK BHAWAN,
‘E’ BLOCK, GPO COMPLEX, INA
NEW DELHI -110023
Dated: 21st August, 2017
OFFICE MEMORANDUM
Subject: Grant of financial upgradations under Modified Assured Career Progression Scheme.
Reference is invited to DoP&T OM dated 19,05.2009 on the subject mentioned above. Para 6 of the OM ibid the Screening Committee shall follow a time schedule and meet twice in a financial year — preferably in the first week of January and July of year for advance processing of the cases maturing in that half.”
Now the cases of those AAOs have to be processed, who are eligible for grant of financial upgradation upto 31.03.2018.
In view or above, it is requested that all the Ministries/Departments may forward the cases of such AAOs who are eligible for grant of financial upgradation upto 31.03.2018, in the enclosed proforma alongwith Service Book, complete CR Dossier upto 2015-16 and latest vigilance clearance certificate by 22.09.2017 positively.
This issues with the approval of Joint Controller General of Accounts.
Atal Pension Yojana surges ahead with 62 lacs enrolment
A total of 3.07 lac APY accounts have been sourced under One Nation One Pension. The stellar performance of the banks under the campaign includes some of the largest banks in the country namely, State Bank of India sourcing a stupendous 51,000 APY accounts and other prominent banks like Canara Bank which has sourced 32,306 APY accounts, Andhra Bank at 29,057 APY accounts, in other private banks category, Karnataka Bank at 2641 APY accounts, in RRB’s category, Allahabad UP Gramin Bank at 28,609 accounts followed by Madhya Bihar Gramin Bank at 5,056 APY accounts , Baroda Uttar Pradesh Gramin Bank at 3,013 APY accounts, Kashi Gomti Samyut Gramin Bank at 2,847 APY accounts & Punjab Gramin Bank at 2,194 APY accounts.
At a time when the interest rate on various financial instruments including Savings Bank is declining, Atal Pension Yojana as a pension scheme offers a guaranteed rate of 8% assured return for the subscribers and also the opportunity of higher earnings in case the rate of return is higher than 8% at the time of maturity, after staying invested in the scheme for 20-42 years. Increasing enrolment is attributed to financialisation of assets and driving the people to pension products which has Govt of India implicit guarantee to give an assured pension to the subscriber, spouse and return of corpus to the nominee.
Department of Financial Services in association with Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA) has been organizing various APY campaigns to give thrust through which the population not covered by any pension scheme is approached by APY Service Provider banks and Department of Posts to inform about the salient features and benefits of the APY scheme and are encouraged to get enrolled in the scheme. PFRDA organised a National Level Pension Mobilization Campaign ” One Nation One Pension’’ from 2nd August to 19th August 2017 in association with the APY Service Provider Banks all over the country. 62 lacs subscribers have become members of the Atal Pension Yojana till date in 2 years after launch of the scheme.
The objective of PFRDA is to cover the maximum possible population uncovered by any pension scheme under the APY scheme so that India as a nation can move from a pension less to a pensioned society and the citizens can live a life of dignity in their vulnerable years.
DESW Order – Payment of Arrears of Pension in case of no nomination
No,1(10)/2013-D(Pen}Poticy)
Government of India
Ministry of Defence
Department of Ex-servicemen Welfare
New Delhi-110011
Dated: 29th August 2017
To
The Chief of the Army Staff
The Chief of the Naval Staff
The Chief of the Air Staff
SUB- (i) Payment of arrears of pension in cases where valid nomination has not been made under the payment of arrears of pension (Nomination) Rules, 1983;
(ii) Payment of arrears of family pension-regarding.
Sir,
Attention is invited to provisions for payment of Arrears of Pension under Regulation 90 of Pension Regulation Part-II (2408), which provide that after the death of the Armed Force Pensioner, all money payable to the pensioner on account of pension due to the estate of a deceased pensioner may be paid to the nominee of the deceased Armed Forces Pensioner, In the absence of any nomination made by the Armed Forces Pensioner, the arrears of his/her pension are paid as per the ‘Will” if such a ‘Will” has been made by the deceased Armed Force Pensioner. In case neither nomination nor ‘Will” has been made by the deceased Armed Forces Pensioner, the arrears of his/her pension are paid under the orders of the Pension Disbursing Authority to the heir without production of usual legal authority, if the gross amount of arrears of pension claim does not exceed Rs.10,000=00, provided he is otherwise satisfied about the right of the claimant. If the gross amount of arrears of pension claim exceeds Rs. 10,00O=00, the arrears of his/her pension are paid under the orders of Principal Controller of Defence Accounts (Pension) on execution of an Indemnity Bond in Form IAA-642 duly stamped for the gross amount due for payment with such sureties as may be deemed necessary and accepted on behalf of the President by an officer duly authorized under Article 299(i) of the Constitution. In case of any doubt, payment is made only to the person producing the legal authority.
2. Considering difficulties in obtaining the legal heir-ship-certificate it has been decided that in the absence of nominee or any ‘Will” of the deceased pensioner, the arrear of pension will be paid as under,
(i) Under the orders of the Pension Disbursing Authority to the heir without production of legal authority, if the gross amount of arrears of pension claim does not exceed Rs_ 25.000/-, provided he is otherwise satisfied about the right of the claimant
(ii) If the gross amount of arrears of pension claims exceeds Rs 25,000/-but does not exceed Rs 2,50,000/-, under the orders of Principal Controller of Defence Accounts (Pension) on execution of an Indemnity Bond in Form IAFA-642 duly stamped for the gross amount due for payment with such sureties as may be deemed necessary and accepted on behalf of the President by an officer duly authorized under article 299(i) of the Constitution
(iii) In case of any doubt and also in cases where the amount of arrear exceeds Rs 2,50,000/-, payment shall be made only to the person producing the legal authority.
3.Normally there should be two sureties both of known financial ability. However, in case the amount of claim is less than Rs 75,000/- the authority accepting the Indemnity Bond for and on behalf of President of India should decide on the merits of each case whether to accept only one surety instead of two. The obligor as well as the sureties executing the Indemnity Bond should have attained majority so that the bond has legal effect or force. The Bond is required to be accepted on behalf of the President by an Officer duly authorized under Article 299(i) of Constitution.
4.This Ministry letter No.1(16)/2009-D(Pen/Policy) dated 15.03.2010 stipulates that in the event of death of a family pensioner, the right to receive any arrears of family pension would automatically pass on to the eligible member of the family next in Fine. The requirement of succession certificate for payment of any arrears occurs only where there is no member in family who is eligible to receive family pension after the death of the family pensioner. Therefore, it has been decided that the provision of this letter will also apply to the payment of arrears of family pension where no member of family is eligible to receive family pension.
5 These orders will not be applicable In the cases where valid nomination exist under Gaol, MOD letter No,4(2)84/868/B(D(Pensf ervices) dated 09.05.1984.
6. This issue with the concurrence of Ministry of Defence (FinancelPension) vide their ID No. 10(04)/2017/Fin/Pen dated 03 August 2017.
Yours faithfully
(Manoj Sinha)
Under Secretary to the Government of India
Fixed Medical Allowance to the Armed Forces Pensioners / Family Pensioners
No.1(10)/2009-D(Pen/Policy)
Government of India
Ministry of Defence
Department of Ex-servicemen Welfare
New Delhi-110011
Dated: 29th August 2017
To
The Chief of the Army Staff
The Chief of the Naval Staff
The Chief of the Air Staff
SUB: GRANT OF FIXED MEDICAL ALLOWANCE (FMA) TO THE ARMED FORCES PENSIONERS/FAMILY PENSIONERS IN SUCH CASES WHERE DATE OF RETIREMENT IS PRIOR TO 1.4.2003 AND WHO HAD OPTED NOT TO AVAIL MEDICAL FACILITIES AT OPD OF ARMED FORCES HOPITALS/MI ROOMS AND ARE NOT MEMBERS OF ECHS.
Sir,
The undersigned is directed to refer to the Govt. of India, Ministry of Defence letter No.1(1)/98/D(Pen/Sers) dated 15th June 1998 and letter No. 1(10)/09-D(Pen/Policy) dated 12th January 2011 & No. 1(10)/2009-D(Pen/Policy) dated 5th May 2015 regarding grant of Fixed Medical Allowance (FMA) of Rs.500/- pm. with effect from 19.11.2014 to Armed Forces Pensioners/Family’ Pensioners for meeting expenditure on day to day medical expenses that do not require hospitalization unless the individual had opted for OPD treatment in Armed Forces Hospitals/ M.I. Rooms and convey the sanction of the President for enhancement of the amount of FMA from Rs. 500/- to Rs. 1000/-per month. The other conditions for grant of FMA shall continue to be in force.
2. Ex-Servicemen who retired on or after 01 Apr 2003 have to-become member of ECHS Compulsorily and are not eligible to draw Fixed Medical Allowance. These orders applicable only in such cases, where the date of retirement is prior to 1.4.2003 and who had opted not to avail medical facilities at OPD of Armed Forces Hospitals/ MI rooms and are not members of ECHS.
3. These orders will take effect from 01.07.2017.
4. All other conditions as laid down in Government of India letter No. 1(1)/98-D(Pen/Sers) dated 15th June 1998 will continue to apply.
5. This issue with the concurrence of Ministry of Defence(Finance/Pension) vide their ID No. 32(9)/2010/Fin/Pen dated 16 August 2017.
6. Hindi version will follow.
Yours faithfully
sd/-
(Manoi Sinha)
Under Secretary to the Government of India
Sub: Opening of a CGHS Wellness Centres (Allopathic) at Kohima-regarding.
This is for information to all eligible Central Govt. Employees, Pensioners & other stake holders that, Central Govt. Health Scheme (CGHS) Wellness Centres sanctioned vide Govt. of India, Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, CGHS(P) Division Order No.S.11045/1/2013/HEC, New Delhi dated 17th November 2014 will be inaugurated on 4th
September 2017 at H.No.MRH/D-67, Paramedical Colony Opp. Paramedical Training Institute, Merhulietsa, Kohima (Nagaland),Pin-797001 to provide comprehensive medical facilities. Date of full functioning expected to be from 1st of October 2017.
The scheme will cover Kohima city all eligible Central Govt. Employees and their dependent family members, Central Golt. Pensioners and their dependents and others eligible as per CGHS guideline residing in Kohima city. Application for CGHS Plastic Card for serving beneficiaries have to be applied/uploaded online @ cghs1.nic.in by respective offices & submit the hard copy to CGHS WC Kohima. Monthly subscription towards CGHS have to be deducted from
the monthly salary of the beneficiary from October 2017 onwards and respective offices submit the contribution to this office either through Demand Draft/Banker Cheque in favour of Additional Director, CGHS, Guwahati or through Book adjustment with PAO, MOH&FW, Kolkata with intimation to this office. All pensioner beneficiary need to visit CGHS WC Kohima for enrollment under CGHS.
The beneficiaries will be able to avail the CGHS facilities through the Wellness Centre during office hours i.e. from 7.30 am to 2.00 pm in all working days except on Sundays & Holidays.
Permission to Travel by Airlines other than Air India
Government of India / Bharat Sarkar
Ministry & Railways / Rail Mantralaya
(Railway Board)
No.F(E)I/2016/AL-28/25
RBE No.100/2017
New Delhi, dated 22.08.2017
The General Managers,
All Indian Railways etc.
(As per Standard Mailing List)
Sub: Permission to Travel by Airlines other than Air India.
In terms of Board’s letter of even number dated 16.05.2016 on the subject, certain guidelines received from Ministry of Civil Aviation were issued regarding grant of permission to travel by airlines other than Air India for official air travel (both domestic and international) by railway officers. The guidelines, with the advice to furnish some additional particulars were reiterated vide letter of even number dated 17.10.2016.
2.However, despite issue of these guidelines, it is still seen that in many cases , the requests seeking relaxation/permission to travel by airlines other than Air India are still being received late and at times after the travel date for post facto sanction. Further in many of the cases the requests are not accompanied by NAS certificates / meeting notices / approved tour program as required.
3. It is therefore once again requested that the reference seeking relaxation/permission to travel by airlines other than Air India may be made to. Railway Board in proper Proforma which has already been circulated, duly accompanied by required document is like NAS certificate issued b a authorized travel agent /a copy of the sector specific snapshot of Air India Website,and copy of approved tour program , following the guidelines of air travel by airlines other than Air India circulated vide Board’s letters dated 16.05.2016 & 17.10.2016.
4. Strict compliance of this letter may be ensured
5. Please acknowledge receipt.
(Sonali Chaturvedi)
Dy. Director Finance (Estt.)
Railway Board
Functioning of Departmental Councils – DOPT Office Memorandum
REMINDER
F.No.4/3/2009-JCA
Government of India
Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions
(Department of Personnel & Training)
Establishment (JCA-I) Section
******
North Block, New Delhi
Dated August 21,2017
OFFICE MEMORANDUM
Subject: Functioning of Departmental Councils – Information regarding
The undersigned is directed to say that this Department has been issuing instructions from time to time for holding regular meetings of Departmental Council with a view to making effective use of Joint Consultative Machinery (JCM) Scheme. In this regard, the latest reminder was sent on 13.04.2017 (copy enclosed).
2. From the information received, it has been learnt that Departmental Councils have not been constituted in all Ministries/Departments and in some cases, though the Departmental Councils have been constituted, regular meetings are not being held. It is also to be submitted for kind information that guidelines regarding constitution of Departmental Council are given in JCM Brochure which is available in the public domain on the website of the Department http://persmin.nic.in…>Department of personnel & Training (DOPT) ….> Downloads …> Acts & Rules …> Brochure on JCM & CA.
3. The JCM Scheme provides for Departmental Councils at the level of individual Ministries/Departments, including their attached and subordinate offices. The Staff Side of JCM, however, has been complaining that regular dialogue with the Staff Side through the mechanism of Departmental Councils at Ministry/Department level is not happening. Meetings of Departmental Council at periodic intervals are essential as they help in resolving differences between the Government and the Staff Side.
4. It is, therefore, requested that the relevant information, as asked for, on the Departmental Council meetings held during previous 5 years may kindly be sent at the earliest.
Revision of the 6th CPC pay scale of Rs. 4440-7440 – NCJCM Letter to FM
Ph.: 23382286
National Council (Staff Side)
Joint Consultation Machinery
For Central Government Employees
13-C, Ferozshah Road, New Delhi – 110001
E Mail: [email protected]
Shiva Gopal Mishra
Secretary
No.NC-JCM-2017/Fin
Dated: August 24, 2017
The Secretary,
Ministry of Finance,
Department of Expenditure,
North Block,
New Delhi
Sub:- Revision of the 6th CPC pay scale of Rs. 4440-7440 (-IS)
Dear Sir,
After the implementation of 6th CPC recommendations the minimum entry qualification for Central Government job is kept as Matriculation or ITI. However candidates who are appointed on Compassionate grounds and who are not Metric/ITI qualified are recruited in the – IS pay scale of Rs. 4440-7440 and kept in the same pay scale till they acquire the Matriculation qualification. However the pay scale is not yet revised even after the implementation of the 7th CPC pay scales w.e.f 1/1/2016. This is causing undue financial hardship to the concerned employees. It is therefore requested that you may kindly consider the above issue and necessary instructions may please be issued revising the above pay scale w.e.f. 1/1/2016 on the basis of 7th CPC.
