Minutes of the 22 meeting of Standing Committee of Voluntary Agencies (SCOVA) held on 19.2.2013

  Department of Pensions & Pensioners’ Welfare (DOP&PW)

Minutes of the 22 meeting of Standing Committee of Voluntary Agencies (SCOVA) held on 19.2.2013 under the Chairmanship of Hon’ble Minister of State (PP) at Vigyan Bhawan Annexe, New Delhi.

The list of participants is at Appendix – I.

2. At the outset Secretary (P&PW) welcomed Hon’ble MOS(PP), representatives of Pensioners Associations and the participating officers of various Ministries/Departments. He mentioned that SCOVA has been successful in achieving the objective for which it was started in 1986. Secretary (P&PW) added that the serving officers should be considerate to the pensioners as they will also join the ranks of pensioners after retirement. He praised the contributions made by the Pensioners as officers during their tenure In the Government and also applauded for their present contributions as Senior Citizens. Referring to the issue of revision of PPOs, he mentioned that a lot of work had been done. However, still a lot remained to be done. Efforts were on to make the procedures simple and uncomplicated.

3. Welcoming the participants, Hon’ble MOS (PP) stated that as promised last time, the SCOVA meeting was being held for the second time In a year. He mentioned that Department of P&PW Is coordinating with several other Ministries/Departments to redress the grievances. The pensioner’s portal is very user friendly. CGHS still remains a contentious issue. He also referred to the problem of Ministry of Defence where pensioners data was available manually. He urged them to switch over to the computerised system of data maintenance and calculating pension to overcome the problem of delay In sanction/revision of pension.

4. Thereafter, the Action Taken Report (ATR) of 2ls SCOVA meeting and Agenda items of 22nd SCOVA meeting were taken up for discussion.

5. Action Taken Report (ATR) on the points raised In the 2l meeting of SCOVA.
I) SI. No. 1 and 19 of ATR orpara 5:

Issue of revised PPO for Pre-2006 retirees and also to communicate the amount of pension as well as Family Pension to be revised consequent to the 6 Central Pay Commission to Pre 1.1.2006 pensioners.

a) CPAO, Ministry of Railways, Department of Posts were told to complete the work by 3l March, 2013.

b) Department of Telecommunication informed that they had not received the latest update on revision of PPOs from BSNL and therefore the data was not up to date. The Hon’ble MOS (PP) desired that the representative who attended the meeting should be able to give the requisite information. The representative of the Department of Telecom agreed to comply with the same.
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c) Ministry of Defence informed that 6 Lakh PPOs had been revised. Efforts were on to adhere to the deadline of 30.09.2013. However, slippages could not be ruled out in view of the fresh revision of pension mandated by the Cabinet decision of 24.9.2012. Some of the Associations desired that outside agencies should be involved. They also desired that the Pension Regulation should be revised in tune with changes recommended by 6I CPC and accepted by Government. The revision of PPOs pre-1990 should also be completed by 30.09.2013. Secretary (Pension) also pointed out that there were number of grievances of PCDA Allahabad in this regard and asked organization of CGDA to specifically look Into this.

d) Some Associations pointed out the long delay in the revision of PPOs after 6’ CPC should be taken up urgently and requested MOS (PP) to intervene at his level to get the work completed without further delay. For this purpose they proposed that additional staff and honorarium may be considered.

(Action: CPAO. All Ministries. DOP&PW. Desk-E)

II) SI. No. 6, 7 and 8 of ATR of Para 5:
(a) Revision of ex-gratia amount to CPF/SRPF retirees.
(b) Uniform rates of DR &
(d) Ex- gratia to those who voluntarily retired after 20 years of service in respect of pre-1986 CPF/ SRPF retirees.
(e) Ex-gratia should not be less than minimum pension and the same should be effective from 01/01/06.
As regards (a), (b) and (e) the status was explained in the meeting. As regards (d) it was informed that the opinion of Railway Board is under examination in consultation with Department of Expenditure. Medical invalidation cases were asked to be looked into again in view of court judgement.
(Action : Ministry of Railways and DOP&PW, Desk-E)

iii) SI. No. 13 and 16 of ATR of Para 5:

(13) – The Orders of Ministry of Health reiterating that all the pensioners are at liberty to opt themselves with any of the nearest CGHS hospital/ dispensary may be widely circulated. Arbitrary orders dated 01/08/1996 and 01/09/1996 issued by Ministry of Health and Director of CGHS may be withdrawn and the benefit of CGHS facilities be allowed to the pensioners of Department of Post and Department of Telecom as specially provided in the order of the Department of Personnel and Pension.
(16)-(I) The existing Pensioners of Department of Posts and Telecom covered by P& T Dispensaries are neither considered for treatment of hospitalization facilities nor for Fixed Medical Allowance & (ll)Pensioners falling within the limit of P& T Dispensaries /CGHS Hospitals may be allowed to opt for P&T Dispensaries or drawl of FMA.
Ministry of Health informed that the matter regarding withdrawal of OMs dated 1.8.1996 and 1.9.1996 (which provide that the P&T pensioners not participating in CGHS while in service may not be extended this facility) Is subjudice. Regarding merger of 19 P&T dispensaries in 12 citIes with CGHS, representatives of Ministry of Health and Ministry of Finance informed that the matter is at advanced stage of consideration and a decision is expected shortly. Department of Posts need to pursue it vigorously.

The Ministry of Health informed that the proposal for opening of new dispensaries at Mohali/Panchkula/Chandigarh could not be agreed to due to severe resource crunch with CGHS. Ministry of Health was requested to agree to at least opening of a new dispensary at Panchkula as the Chandigarh dispensary is over burdened with 23500 beneficiaries. MOS (PP) mentioned that he would take up the matter with Minister of Health and Family Welfare.
On the question of computerization of CGHS dispensary at Jammu, Ministry of Health informed that the same would be done. (Action: Ministry of Health & FW, Department of Posts, Department of Telecom, D0P&PW, Desk-D)

source :   Department of Pensions & Pensioners’ Welfare (DOP&PW)

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