Minutes of the 33rd SCOVA Meeting held on 22.02.2024 – Decisions on Important Issues

Minutes of the 33rd SCOVA meeting held on 22.02.202 at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi under the Chairmanship of Hon’ ble MOS(PP)

Minutes of the 33rd SCOVA Meeting

No. 42/1 1/2023-P&PW(D)
Government of India
Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions
Department of Pension & Pensioners’ Welfare

3rd Floor, Lok Nayak Bhawan
Khan Market, New Delhi- 110003
Date:- 03 April, 2024

To

All the Pensioners’ Associations included in SCOVA Vide Resolution dated 26.09.2023

Sub:- Minutes of the 33rd SCOVA meeting held under the Chairmanship of Hon’ ble MOS(PP) on 22.02.2024, at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi-reg

Please find enclosed herewith the minutes of the 33rd Meeting of Standing Committee of Voluntary Agencies (SCOVA) held under the Chairmanship of Hon’ble MoS (PP) on 22.02.2024 at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi.

Encl: as above

(Ashutosh Kamar Agrawal)
Under Secretary to the Government of India

Minutes of the 33rd Meeting of Standing Committee of Voluntary Agencies (SCOVA) held under the Chairmanship of Hon’ble MOS(PP) on 22.02.2024 at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi

At the outset, Secretary, DoPPW, welcomed Hon’ble MOS(PP), representatives of Pensioners Associations and the officers of various Ministries/Departments/Banks for participating in the meeting. List of participants is annexed.

2. Addressing the participants, Secretary (P&PW) highlighted recent reforms and initiatives undertaken by the Department for the welfare of Pensioners. He highlighted that Department has issued OM on 01.01.2024 stipulating that in case of divorce proceedings in respect of a female Government servant/female pensioner are pending in a Court of Law, the female Government servant/female pensioner can make a request for grant of family pension after her death to her eligible child/children, in precedence to her husband.

3. Thereafter, the Action Taken Report on the unresolved agenda items of 32nd SCOVA meeting, were taken up for discussion which are as follows:

Shortage of Doctors, Specialists and Para-Medical Staff in CGHS

(i) Shortage of Doctors, Specialists and Para-Medical Staff in CGHS posts due to increase in number of patients consequent on merger of Postal Dispensaries and need for creation/sanction of new posts to maintain patient and Doctor/Paramedical staff ratio.

Pensioners’ Associations had mentioned that shortage of Doctors, Specialists and Para-medical staff in CGHS Wellness Centres is affecting smooth functioning of CGHS. Consequent on merger of P&T dispensaries in CGHS, the strength of Doctors/Staff needs to be augmented.

Discussion/Decision on agenda item

It was informed by Addl.Director(CGHS) that for Group-A posts under CGHS, the Central Health Services (CHS) Division and Ministry of Ayush are appointing authority and vacant post are being filled at their level through UPSC.

In 2021, CHS posted 184 doctors to CGHS out of which 29 doctors joined and for year 2022, 74 doctors were posted to CGHS, out of which 52 doctors joined. For the year 2023, offer of appointment will be issued by CHS in due course.

Engagement of retired doctors/staff on contractual basis is being undertaken by the respective Additional Directorates (CGHS) from time to time.

For Group B (Non-Gazetted) and Group C staff under CGHS, the vacant posts are being filled through SSC. As on date, out of 860 vacant posts, 647 candidates have been recommended. For vacant posts, Zonal Heads/ADs have been directed to take up the matter with SSC for expediting the recommendation of candidates for vacant posts

The Chairman, SCOVA directed DoPPW that a meeting may be convened with Chairman (SSC) and Ministry of Health &Family Welfare to expedite the process of selection of Pharmacists/staff against the identified vacancies.

(Action: Ministry of Health & Family Welfare and DoPPW)

Agenda Items Discussed and Decision taken in the Meeting

1. Periodical health check-up for pensioners
2. Operationalisation of 2ndCGHS Wellness Centre at Jammu
3. Enhancement of Additional Pension
4. Enhancement of Fixed Medical Allowance (FMA)
5. Grant of Fixed Medical Allowance (FMA) to the Widowed/Divorced/Unmarried daughters who are in receipt of family pension
6. Railways fare concession must be allowed to Senior Citizens
7. Grant of increment to the retiring employees on the date of their retirement
8. Construction of CGHS Polyclinic/ Hospital at Jammu
9. One time option to CGHS Beneficiaries to choose their ward entitlement based on their Notional Pay in 7th CPC Pay Matrix
10. Non-Revision of CGHS rates
11. Provision in CPENGRAMS for entering address of grievance
12. Non-indication of Dearness Relief (DR) paid on age related Additional Pension in the SMS on pension credit received by DoT Pensioners in SAMPANN
13. Delay in restoration of commutation amount
14. Issues related to SPARSH

Read All the Agenda Items and Decisions