Many Recommendations of Parliamentary  Standing Committee goes in SMOKE!

Report of Parliament Standing Committee submits ATR in Rajyasabha  and expresses satisfaction on many issues over the action taken by the DoP&PW! Here we are analyzing the document to some extent and a full analyzation of the Report will be done later. Comments are welcome from all readers either by email to nccpa.hq@gmail.com or in Whatsapp Group of NCCPA – KR Deputy SG NCCPA

Action Taken Report on the recommendations of the Parliament Standing Committee submitted in Rajya Sabha – CAT is out of the BAG now!

The ATR (Action Taken Report) on the recommendations of the 110^th Report of the Parliament Standing Committee is tabled in Rajya Sabha by the above Committee. The community of Pensioners all over the country were wondering about the nature of recommendations as many of them were recommended though rejected by the 7^th CPC! The Pensioners were pinning much hope that these recommendations will be implemented by the Union Government! But the National Executive of NCCPA that met in June 2022, had clearly opined that these recommendations were only publicity stunt and not for real implementation! The averment of NE of NCCPA has come out true today with the ATR submitted in Rajya Sabha. Let us see the aspects of the report:

1.      The ATR itself is clear in stating that out of 28 recommendations made by the Committee only five (5) are accepted. It says that recommendations in Paras 2.12; 3.12; 3.23; 3.31; and 4.7 are accepted. What are these Paras? Para 2.12 stated that the pension related grievances can also be lodged in CPGRAMS Portal. Para 3.12 deals with the grant of Provisional Pension until the grant of regular pension and the regular PPO. Para 3.23 recommends for provision of non-CGHS Pensioners with the medical facilities on par with serving employees or an idea for cashless health insurance facility in lieu of FMA should be mooted by Department of Pension and Pensioners Welfare. Para 3.31 expresses hope of the Committee that additional funds are sanctioned by the Government to provide for deserving pensioners organizations based on their previous performance. Para 4.7 deals with the issue of digitisation of entire process of pension sanction. These are the recommendations accepted and the Parliament Standing Committee expressed happiness and satisfaction over the action of accepting just 5 of its recommendations!

2.      Implementation of even the above issues require to be seen by us to what extent various departments and Ministries are going to take them seriously for implementation though the replies are assuring and OMs also are issued. But very important issues recommended by the Standing Committee stand rejected by the Government!

3.      Many important recommendations of the Parliament Standing Committee are just given up in the wind! The ATR says that the Committee does not desire to pursue in view of the replies given by the Departments of Government on 16 of the recommendations made in Paras 3.3; 3.4; 3.10; 3.13; 3.19; 3.20; 3.21; 3.22; 3.28; 3.35; 4.9; 4.14; 4.15; 5.11; 5.12 and 5.16 of the Report!

The Committee says that it is satisfied with the explanations advanced! Well; we are not satisfied! Para 3.3 deals with enhancement of Group Insurance quantum; Para 3.4 states to change the savings fund to insurance fund be modified; Para 3.10 recommended to maintain GPF Account in electronic mode and transferred to the parent department; Para 3.13 wanted to end the delay caused in sanction of pension due to corona; Para 3.19 recommended for proper medical facilities to pensioners as ruled by the Apex Court and rules to immediately reimburse the bills of treatment shall be finalized and that the FMA to be enhanced to 3000/- to mitigate the problems of pensioners; Para 3.19 recommended for enacting rules for reimbursement of medical expenses incurred by CGHS beneficiary in a non-empanelled hospital fully as per apex court direction and to avoid pensioners spending huge money for getting justice in different courts; Para 3.20 recommended that CGHS should be expanded to district headquarters also and allow CPENGRAMS to admit medical related grievances also; Para 3.21 recommended for enhancement of FMA to 3000/- by accepting the points of Pensioners Associations that at old age pensioners are faced with lot of diseases; Para 3.22 suggested for a hassle free surrender certificate of FMA in online; Para 3.28 recommended for grant of additional pension from 65 years itself as the joint family system is breaking up and the pensioners are forced to live separately to meet the additional expenditure and stressed the DoP&PW to vigorously pursue this issue with the MOF; Para 3.35 recommended for change of date of upgradation under MACP from 1.1.2006; Para 4.9 recommended for improvement in CPAO Portal; Para 4.14 recommended that the Head of Office start the pension process before one year of retirement; Para 4.15 deals with the delay in sanction of family pension; Para 5.11 recommended for wider modern technology for pension; Para 5.12 dealt with the system of withdrawal of pension from homes to the elderly pensioners; and Para 5.16 recommended for streamlining of pension and family pension sanction.

4.      All the above are vital and important for the pensioners and family pensioners. If the Committee expresses satisfaction over the nature of action taken on these issues by the Government Departments and comes to the conclusion that it does not want to pursue further these issues, then we are sure that these vital issues are thrown to air by the Parliament Standing Committee! In nut shell, the Parliament Standing Committee enacted a drama for the amusement of lakhs of pensioners in the country and that the amusement is over!

5.      The Parliament Standing Committee did not accept the replies given to seven (7) recommendations stated in Paras 2.10; 2.16; 2.21; 2.30; 2.33; 3.37; and 4.13! In Para 2.10 the Committee wanted the pension complaints to be streamlined by forming a social audit panel; In Para 2.16 it had recommended for accountability mechanism to deal with the grievances of pension; Para 2.21 recommended for an Appellate mechanism to be operationalized for improving the effectiveness of the grievances; Para 2.30 recommended for virtual pension Adalats once in six months; Para 2.33 recommended for a pre-litigation conciliation for avoiding grievances in the pre-litigation time itself; In Para 3.37 the Committee had recommended for full liberalized pension on par with widows of defense personnel to widows of  Paramilitary / Civil Servants also; and 4.13 wanted the Government to be proactive in reaching out family pensioners and for liberalizing the procedures for children of the deceased Government servants.

6.      From the Action Taken Report it is clear that the Government has rejected (1) Additional Pension from 65 years; (2) No MACP from 1.1.2006; (3) No notional increment to 30^th June Retirees as per Para 2.37 of the present Report No.120 submitted in Rajyasabha. Therefore, many basic aspects of the recommendations are thus rejected. The increase in FMA quantum is of course not outrightly rejected but under consideration and we do not know the exact quantum of enhancement. But one thing is clear; it will not be 3000/- as recommended by the Committee. 

As per the Consumer Price Index released by Labour Bureau of India , the IDA for the 2007 pay scales and pension will be 201.1% from 01-01-2023. 195.8% +5.3% = 201.1%. The new rate of IDA is payable after the orders are issued by DPE.

The greatest footballer of all times, Pele, has passed away on 29th December, 2022. He was under treatment for sometime long for the dreaded cancer and the end came at a Savo Paulo hospital in Brazil at the age of 82. Pele rose to fame from barefoot and poverty. He started playing at the age of 15 for the football club, Santos and his dazzling form attracted the national selectors and he was included in the World Cup team of Brazil in 1958. Pele helped Brazil to win the World Cup first time by scoring a hatrick in the semifinal against France and a brace in the final against Sweden. He has scored 1281 goals in 1366 games and won the hearts of crores of people around the world. FIFA has honoured him with the coveted crown of ” Player of the Century.” AIBDPA mourns the demise of Pele, the greatest footballer and pays respectful homage to him.

Com. G G Patil belongs to Hubli, Karnataka and a pioneer of the P&T Trade Union movement of Karnataka. He has the vast experience of working with most of the stalwart leaders of Karnataka including Com.M Sadanad and has played a pivotal role in the advancement of the progressive telecom unions. Com.G G Patil was part of AIBDPA since its inception in 2009 and held the posts of CHQ Organising Secretary and Assistant General Secretary and contributed immensely for the advancement of our mighty organisation. Com.Patil volunterly relinqusihed the post of AGS in the Kolkata Conference in 2019 citing health problem. As the General Secretary I insisted him to continue but Com.Patil was determined and promised me that he will continue to work for the organisation without any post. He has fully kept up his promise and has been very active in each every cause. Of late in holding the 4th Triennial Conference in Karnataka, the initiative and coordination of Com.G G Patil with other leaders like Coms. Muddaiah, Circle Secretary, H C Prakash, AGS, C K Gundanna, AGS.BSNLEU, H V Sudharshan, Circle Secretary, BSNLEU, Irfan Pasha, CHQ Treasurer, BSNLEU, R B Tatapati, Circle President , C G Annigere, Circle Treasurer was crucial. He is 78 and I was surprised to know him supervising the works of the Reception Committee even at the odd hours of 3AM. So it was apt and appropriate to honour Com.G G Patil in the conference. Hats off to Com.G G Patil.

The biennial district conference of Ahmedabad Circle Office was held on 21-12-2022.. Com.J G Nayak presided over the conference. Homage was paid to Com. B R Mistry , Treasurer who expired due to Corona. Com.H C Parmar, District Secretary welcomed all and presented the report and accounts which were adopted after discussion. Com.M M Sayd, Assistant Circle Secretary inaugurated the conference explaining the recent developments. A new set nof office bearers were elected with Com. J G Nayak (President) Com.M M Sayd (District Secretary) and Com.H C Parmar (Treasurer)

The 4th Triennial Conference in a resolution adopted heartily congratulated and thanked the Reception Committee for the excellent arrangements made for the most successful conduct of the conference at Mysuru. Karnataka Circle took up the huge responsibility to hold the conference within a short period. The Reception Committee headed by Com.R B Tatapati (Chairman) Com.Muddaiah (General Secretary) Com.C G Annigeri (Treasurer) Com.Basavaraju (District Secretary, Mysuru)and ably guided by Coms. G G Patil (Veteran leader & Ex AGS), H C Prakash (AGS) C K Gundanna, AGS, BSNLEU, H V Sudharashan , Circle Secretary, BSNLEU and Irfan Pasha , Treasurer, BSNLEU made the conference historic and memorable with the all round brilliance with the sincere and hard work of hundred of comrades of various district branches.

The 4th Triennial Conference has decided to intensify the struggle to acheive the pension revision with 15% fitment as per 3rd PRC , delinking wage revision. The resolution adopted in this regard authorised CHQ to chalkout further appropriate struggles urgently against the unwarranted delay. The attempts of certain pensioners organisations to dealy the pension revision by again demanding illogical and rejected demand of 7th CPC fitment has to be exposed among the pensioners.

The report on activities and audited accounts presented in the subject session held at 3PM on 20th inst was deliberated extensivley by the delegates. 40 comrades from 22 circles participated in the discussion which covered almost all the issues stretching to 4.5 hours. The circles from where nobdy could participate are NTR Delhi, ALTTC Gaziabad and J&K. The report and accounts were adopted after reply by the General Secretary. A presidium with Coms. Susanta Ghosh, S Mohandoss, A Dhupal and D Shankar controlled the proceedings. According to the credential report presented by Com. Swastika Dasgupta 869 delegates participated and 61 were lady comrades. The youngest delegate is Com.Bipul Hazarika from Assam (53) and the oldest Com.Gurucharan Singh from Punjab (82). Of course oldest participant is Com.V A N Namboodiri, Advisor (84).

The following office bearers were elected unanimously; Advisor : Com.V A N Namboodiri. Patron : Com. Ananta Kr Bhattacharjee. President : Com.M R Das (Assam) Vice Presidents : 1. Com. Susanta Ghosh (West Bengal) 2. Com. S Mohandoss (Tamil Nadu) 3.Com.A Dhupal (Odisha) 4. Com. M B Chaniyara (Gujarat) 5. Com.D Shankar (Telangana) 6. Com.P Ashokababu (AP) 7. Com.Swastika Dasgupta (Kolkata) General Secretary : Com.K G Jayaraj (Kerala) Assistant General Secretaries : 1. Com. R Muraleedharan Nair (Kerala) 2. Com. H C Prakash (Karnataka) 3. Com.K Govindaraj (Chennai) 4. Com.Pushpa Sadanand Pharate (Maharashtra) 5. Com.S C Bhattacharya (Chhattisgarh) 6. Com.Sanjib Banerjee (Kolkata). Treasurer : Com.M G S Kurup (Kerala) Assistant Treasurer : Com. V Seetha Lakshmi (Tamil Nadu) Organising Secretaries : 1. Com. Omprakash Singh (West Bengal) 2. Com. Santhosh A Soni (Maharashtra) 3. Com. Hari Narain (Rajasthan) 4. Com.Sunil Kr Dutta ( CORTO) 5. Com. Ramswaroop (UP-W) 6. Com.V Venkitaraman (Tamil Nadu) 7. Com.A A Asharaf ( AP) 8. Com. Eranna (Karnataka)