7th Pay Commission did not agree to discuss the important issue of DA/DR
Merger in the preliminary meeting held on 23rd July 2014.
Brief feedback on BPS Preliminary meeting with 7th CPC on 23rd July 2014
Friends,
BPS and BCPC were the first Pensioners’ organizations to be called for
preliminary meeting with 7th CPC on 23rd to discuss the reply to
questionnaire, the Memorandum & the allied issue submitted by them.
Only 45 minutes were given to each organization. S.C.Maheshwari G.S. BPS
/Chairman BCPC had the opportunity to discuss the issues from both the
Forums:
Following issues were discussed & explained to the full satisfaction
of the Chairman & the members of 7th CPC who were very receptive,
patient & themselves actively participated in deliberations which
ensued.
At the end Chairman remarked that NC JCM Memorandum is very exhaustive,
includes most of the issues raised today & that he will take it as a
base for consideration.
1.New Pension Scheme: Response of commission was negative. Commission
was apprised of the back ground, its failure in other countries &
the fate of EPS 95.They were also informed that it will be acceptable if
50% of last drawn is ensured.
2.Reasonable ratio to be maintained between maximum & minimum salary
& Pension and adoption & adoption of common multiplication
factor for revision
3.Ratio between maximum & minimum paid to be 5:1 for Defense
Personnel and re-employment of ex servicemen as well as raising status
of defense civilian pensioners to ex servicemen.
4.Inclusion of full DA in emoluments for calculating Pension. There was a
very lively discussion on the issue in which the entire penal of 7th
CPC participated & cross examined Secy. Genl BPS. Finally they
agreed to BPS point of view.
5.100% neutralization of inflation : It was explained to the
Commission that 100% neutralization is illusionary and DA is not
sufficient, as the very system of calculation is faulty &
unrealistic,
6. Payment additional pension to start from the age of 65 years.
Chairman agreed that age of 100 years for Pensioners was illusionary.
7. Parity in Pensions :It was explained to the commission that
full parity exists for High Court Supreme Court Judges, Govt. has agreed
to OROP in case of Defence pensioners & Sr Bureaucrats (S32 &
above ) have achieved it through modified parity formula of 6th CPC but
for others who too are citizens of same category & same country even
the formula for parity given by 5th CPC & accepted by Govt. is not
being honored.
8. Pension to BSNL pensioners. It was submitted that since they
are governed by CCS(Pension) Rules 1972. They be treated at par with
C.G.Pensioners for the purpose of revision of Pension, Chairman advised
to submit separate Memorandum
9. Discrimination in medical facilities to pensioners of Postal department & merger of 33 Postal dispensaries with CGHS.
10. Medical facilities. To Pensioners following issues raised in
BPS memorandum were discussed in detail & the Chairman was agreeable
to BPS views.
(i) “Health is not a luxury” and “not be the sole possession of a
privileged few”. It is a Fundamental justify of all present & past
Employees!
To ensure hassle free health care facility to Pensioners/family
pensioners, Smart Cards be issued irrespective of departments to all
Pensioners and their Dependents for cashless medical facilities across
the country. These smart cards should be valid in
• all Govt. hospitals
• all NABH accredited Multi Super Specialty hospitals across the country
which have been allotted land at concessional rate or given any aid or
concession by the Central or the State govt.
• all CGHS, RELHS & ECHS empanelled hospitals across the country.
Medical attendants. For reimbursement of bills for treatment
& for hospitalization . No referral should be insisted in case of
medical emergencies. For the purpose of reference for hospitalization
& reimbursement of expenditure thereon in other than emergency cases
Doctors/Medical officers working in different Central/State Govt.
department dispensaries/health units should be recognized as Authorized
medical attendant.
The enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of health is recognized
as a fundamental justify of all workers in terms of Article 21 read
with Article 39for a, 41, 43, 48A and all related Articles as pronounced
by the Supreme Court in Consumer Education and Research Centre &
Others vs Union of India (AIR 1995 Supreme Court 922) The Supreme court
has held that the justify to health to a worker is an integral facet of
meaningful justify to life to have not only a meaningful existence but
also robust health and vigour.
Therefore, the justify to health, medical aid to protect the health and
vigour of a worker while in service or post retirement is a fundamental
justify-to make life of a worker meaningful and purposeful with dignity
of person. Thus health care is not only a welfare measure but is a
Fundamental justify.
We suggest that, all the pensioners, irrespective of pre-retiral class
and status, be treated as same category of citizens and the same
homogenous group. There should be no class or category based
discrimination and all must be provided Health care services at par .
(ii). Hospital Regulatory Authority: To ensure that the hospitals
do not avoid providing reasonable care to smart card holders and other
poor citizens, a Hospital Regulatory Authority should be created to
bring all NABH-accredited hospitals and NABL-accredited diagnostic Labs
under its constant monitoring of quality, rates for different procedures
& timely bill payments by Govt. agencies and Insurance companies.
CGHS rates may be revised keeping in mind the workability as per market
conditions.
(iii). Fixed Medical allowance (FMA): As is recorded in Para 5 of
the minutes of Committee of Secretaries (COS) held on 15.04.2010
(Reference Cabinet Secretariat, Rashtrapati Bhavan No 502/2/3/2010-C.A.V
Doc No. CD (C.A.V) 42/2010 Minutes of COS meeting dated 15.4.2010)
which discussed enhancement of FMA. “CGHS card estimates for serving
Personnel: Since estimates are not available separately for pensioners
M/O Health & Family Welfare had assessed the total cost per card
p.a. in 2007-2008 = Rs 16435 i.e. Rs.1369 per month for OPD”.
Adding to it inflation, the figure today is well over Rs 2000/- PM.
Ministry of Labour & Employment, Govt. of India vide its letter no.
G-25012/2/2011-SSI dated 07.06.2013 has already enhanced FMA to Rs
2000/- PM for EPFO beneficiaries. Thus, to help elderly pensioners to
look after their health, Adequate raise in FMA will encourage a good
number of pensioners to opt out of OPD facility which will reduce
overcrowding in hospitals. OPD through Insurance will cost much more to
the Govt. As such the proposal for raising Fixed Medical allowance to
Pensioners is fully justified and is financially viable.
We suggest that FMA for all C.G. Pensioners be raised to at least Rs
2000/- PM without any distance restriction linking it to Dearness Relief
for automatic further increase. We further suggest that FMA be exempted
from INCOME TAX. Fixed Medical Allowance (FMA) is a compensatory
allowance to reimburse the medical expenses. As Medical Reimbursement is
not taxable, FMA should also be exempted from Income Tax.
11. DA /DR merger commission did not agree to discuss the issue as it is not covered byTOR
12.Interim relief Commission response did
not appeared to be very positive on our stressing the issue they said
they will look into.
13. 6th CPC anomalies. Chairman asked for submission of detailed list through supplementary memorandum.
14.Plight of those born on 1.1.1938/46: Commission said, they will look into.
15. Plight of those retiring on 30June Commission said, they will look into.
16. Restoration of Commutation in 12 years: commission said thy will look into the details provided.
17. Grievance redressed. Chairman was critical of the functioning of the
system already existing & remarked “ you will not be benefited.
Court is the only alternative”
Friends,
BPS has done its duty well, issues raised by us has received due attention from NCJCM as well as the 7th CPC.
S.C.Maheshwari
Secy Genl BPS
Source:www.scm-bps.blogspot.in
[http://scm-bps.blogspot.in/2014/07/brief-feedback-on-bps-preliminary.html]
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