PENSION REVISION OF BSNL ABSORBED RETIREES WITH 15% FITMENT FROM 01-01-2017- CHQ URGES MEMBER (SERVICE) IMMEDIATE ACTION.

 

AIBDPA/DOT- PEN RVN/ 2018                                                                           17th june, 2018

Shri. Prabhash Singh,

Member (Technology & Service)

Department of Telecommunications,

Sanchar Bhawan, 20, Ashoka Road,

New Delhi- 110001.

Sir,  

        Sub: Pension revision of BSNL absorbed retirees with 15% fitment from 01-01-2017- reg

This is in continuation of the discussion, the undersigned along with Shri.V.A.N.Namboodiri and Shri. G.L.Jogi, had with your goodself in the presence of Shri.S.K.Jain, DDG (Estt), DoT at your chamber on 31-05-2018 on the above referred subject. At the outset, we express our gratitude and appreciation for your positive response on the issue. As required by the DDG (Estt), we are furnishing here under the relevant points which justify immediate pension revision of BSNL absorbed retirees with 15% fitment from 01-01-2017, without waiting for wage revision in BSNL.

  1. As you are aware the employees working in the Telecom department were enmasse absorbed in the newly formed BSNL on 01-10-2000 with the central government’s promise of better prospects and pension from the consolidated fund of the government of India. Accordingly they were granted upgraded IDA pay scales and Rule 37 A was incorporated with CCS (Pension) Rules, 1972 to ensure pension. Hence BSNL retirees are eligible for all pensionary benefits like qualifying service, method of pension revision, minimum and maximum pension, gratuity, commutation, additional pension etc barring pension, DR and medical facilities which are on IDA pattern. As such, the 6th Pay Commission benefits were extended to the BSNL absorbed employees and retirees at the time of 2nd Pay Revision in CPSEs in 2007. The Pension was also revised with 30% fitment benefit to the pre 2007 BSNL retirees and subsequently pension revision on the basis of 50% IDA merger, effectively 78.2% IDA fitment was also granted to them.
  2. The 60:40 condition stipulated by the government for the payment of pensionary benefits to BSNL absorbed retirees has since been annulled by the central cabinet vide No. 40-13/2013-Pen (T) dated 20-07-2016. It is stated in the order, Para 2 (b) that “ The liability towards pensionary benefits including family pension to the BSNL employees (excepting those recruited after 01-10-2000), as per sub rule 22 of Rule 37-A of CCs (Pension) Rules, 1972, lies with the government of India.”
  3. The 3rd PRC has recommended 15% fitment which was approved by the government and the wage revision in BSNL is being delayed due to the affordability conditions laid down by the 3rd However, the affordability conditions are not applicable for pension revision as it has nothing to do with BSNL’s finance, the entire liability being that of the government. The central government pensioners have got their pension revised from 01-01-2016 as per the recommendations of 7th Pay Commission. So it will be a great injustice to delay pension revision to the BSNL absorbed retirees any further.
  4. The anomaly, if any, that may be caused to the post 2017 retirees due to the pension revision without wage revision, can be resolved by giving them the same fitment.
  5. The problem of granting more than 50% of the last basic pay drawn when the fitment is given to the post 2017 retirees also could be solved by giving them the benefit of pension revision on a subsequent date. Such a formulation may be incorporated in the cabinet note being prepared for the pension revision.

In view of the foregoing, it is requested that  action may please be caused to revise the pension of the BSNL absorbed retirees with 15% fitment from 01-01-2017 at the earliest.

Thanking you,

Yours sincerely,

 

K.G.Jayaraj

General Secretary.

CC :  Shri. S.K.Jain, DDG (Estt), Department of Telecommunications, Sanchar Bhawan, New Delhi-110001