AIPRPA CWC
DECISIONS FOR APROGRAMME OF ACTION ON POSTAL PENSIONERS CHARTER OF DEMANDS
THREE STAGE
PROGRAMME OF ACTION
(i)
Demonstrations shall be held at all places by the AIPRPA on 19th September, 2016 and Memorandum will be forwarded to Health and Finance Ministers
(ii)
Mass Dharna
by Postal & RMS Pensioners on 21st October, 2016 to demand
implementation of the Charter of Demands.
(iii)
‘Chalo
Delhi’ by Postal & RMS Pensioners to conduct a ‘Mass
Demonstration’ in front of Parliament on 21st February (Date will be
subject to finalisation in consultation with NCCPA to synchronize with the
National Convention against NPS proposed by NCCPA) and to submit the Memorandum
to the Prime Minster of India.
All
District / Divisional Secretaries are requested to organise the Demonstration
on 19th September, 2016 either at morning or lunch hour or in the
evening and submit the following Memorandum by Speed Post to Honourable Finance
Minister Government of India New Delhi – 110001 and to the Honourable Health
Minister Government of India, Nirman Bhawan, New Delhi – 110108.
******
MEMORANDUM
SUBMITTED TO HONOURABLE FINANCE MINISTER - HONOURABLE MINISTER OF COMMUNICATIONS & IT; & HONOURABLE HEALTH MINISTER AS
PER THE DECISION OF THE CWNTRAL WORKING COMMITTEE OF ALL INDIA POSTAL & RMS
PENSIONERS ASSOCIATION:
Respected Sir,
We, the Members of All
India Postal & RMS Pensioners Association ______________________________
District / Division under
________________________________ State, submit this Memorandum for the
consideration and favourable action of Government of India.
1. Grant of Universal Pension @ 3000/- to
all Senior Citizens:
The
Senior Citizens of India, irrespective of their industry including agriculture
or any other unorganized sector should be protected in their old age. The OASIS
project under Shri.Atal Behari Vajpayee Government stated that all the workers
in their old age must get social security. It is the responsibility of
Government to take care of all the senior citizens even though they are not
retired from pensionable service like Government jobs. The demand for a
universal pension to all senior citizens
is gaining ground in all countries. India should take the lead and enact a law
to protect all senior citizens above age of 60 and not covered by any pension
scheme with at least a pension of Rs.3000/- per month by the Central
Government.
2.
Scrapping
NPS for Central Government Employees:
The
decision taken by the Government to bring all Central Government Employees
recruited on or after 1.1.2004 under New Pension Scheme, now renamed as
‘National Pension System’ is violative of Constitution, as it discriminates one
section of Government employees against another. The introduction of NPS
through PFRDA Act against the recommendations of 6th CPC constituted
Expert Committee headed by Doctor Gayatri of Bangalore Institute of Economic
Studies was a retrograde step taken by the Government. The NPS does not
guarantee any minimum pension and
everything is left to the vagarities of the share market. There is no guarantee
that a Government Employee after serving for three or four decades will get at
least half the basic pay of his last pay drawn as his pension like the
employees recruited before 1.1.2004. Contrast this with the fact that even
after a single day holding the position of a Member of Parliament; every M.P is
eligible for a guaranteed government pension! The 7th CPC has in
detail narrated the weaknesses in the system of NPS, which goes to prove that
there is no guarantee to any minimum pension after retirement for a Government
Employee entering service after
1.1.2004. While the NPS should have been restricted only to those employees and
workers for whom no other pension system is in vogue as originally thought out
in OASIS Project, the implementation of NPS to a section of government
employees also was a step in wrong direction. The NPS has to go as far as all Government
Employees without any discrimination.
3. Full Parity in Pension between past and
present pensioners:
5th
CPC had recommended that all pensioners must be notionally brought on to the
new pay scale implemented prospectively by treating them as though as they were
in service before refixing their pension at the rate of 50% of pay of the post
or cadre from which a pensioner had retired. This recommendation had been
diluted by 6th CPC by denying the notional fixation and also the
Refixation based on the new scale of pay granted to the same post or cadre. The
6th CPC had only recommended for calculations in the replacement
scale of pay corresponding to the pre-revised scale of pay in which the
pensioner had retired. The 7th CPC even though had conceded to take
into account notionally the number of increments earned by the pensioner, has
not recommended for basing it on the pay scale recommened for the cadre or the
post but only on the pay scale corresponding to the pre-revised scale of pay.
The grant of OROP to the Pensioners of Armed Forces by the Government ensures
the fixation of pension based on the pay scale granted to the same rank and the
number of increments earned by the retired pensioner. This factor is rejected
to the Civilian Pensioner. This is discriminatory treatment between one class
of pensioners and another by the Government. All the Civilian Pensioners also
should be granted ‘Pension Refixation’ based on the scale of pay of the post or
cadre granted by the 6th and 7th Pay Commission instead
of replacement scale corresponding to the replacement scale only.
4.
Grant
of Option Number 1 of Pension Refixation by 7th CPC:
The
7th Pay Commission had granted two options to all Pre-2016
Pensioners on the Refixation of their pension from 1.1.2016. Option No.2 is
application of 2.57 fitment factor. Option No.1 is to take the number of
increments earned by the Pensioner notionally in the last pay scale before his
retirement and fix the pension based on the appropriate cell in the Pay Matrix
corresponding to the Level of Pay Scale. Many Pensioners may be benefited by
Option Number 1 method. Unfortunately the stand taken by the Pension Ministry
that Option Number 1 is not feasible as the number of increments earned by
pensioners cannot be verified with non available records. Actually the averment
of the Pension Ministry is untenable as the PPO of Pensioners carry most of the
details besides other records to verify the number of increments earned by the
Pensioner before retirement. On several occassions pension records had been
reconstructed based on court judgments and therefore it is not tenable to say
that the Option Number 1 is not feasible. Denying Option Number 1 is like
denying a step taken towards pension parity between the past and present
pensioners, even though it is not full parity between the past and present
pensioners. Therefore Option Number 1 recommended by the 7th CPC
should be extended to those pensioners for whom it is more advantageous than
Option Number 2.
5.
Changing
from nearest level to next level in Pay Matrix for increments and linking the Pay Matrix for Option No.2 to Pensioners:
A Pay
matrix is recommended by the 7th CPC with appropriate level of
starting pay for the corresponding pre-revised scale pay. But all further
stages corresponding to incremental stages are worked out in Ms Excel format
with the ‘nearest level’ instead of ‘next level’. This causes loss at many
levels as the sum so worked out by the command of ‘nearest level’ does not
guarantee the actual rate of increment of 3% in many places. The rate of annual
increment has been recommended as 3% but the calculation in the Pay matrix
denies the same 3% at various stages. The preparation of Pay matrix is
contradictory to the accepted recommendation of 3% annual increment. The Pay
Matrix is to be redrafted with ‘next level’ instead of ‘nearest level’ applied
to work out the incremental stages of pay scales. This anomaly is causing a
loss to Pre-2016 Pensioners also as their pension option Number 1 is to be
based on the Pay Matrix only. Therefore ‘The Pay Matrix’ is to be
redrafted with ‘next level’ instead
of ‘nearest level’ applied to work
out the incremental stages of pay scales’. It is also demanded to Link the
pension refixation under Option Number-2
with the Pay Matrix to the next level on par with the employees. This is on
lines of Option Number-1(where Pay Matrix comes into picture) as well as spirit
of the recommendations of 7th CPC. It may be noted that Option
Number 1 is linked to Pay Matix whereas Option No.2 is not linked to Pay Matrix even though for
serving employees pay fixation by applying Fitment Factor 2.57 is linked to Pay
Matrix. Thus correcting the Pay Matrix with ‘Next level’ for incremental stages
and linking Pay Matrix for Pensioners to Option Number 2 are necessary to
prevent any loss to Pre-2016 Pensioners who opt either for Option Number-1 or
Option Number-2.
6.
Refixation
of Pre-2006 Pensioners of Postman, HSG-1 Postmasters, IPOs, ASPOS etc:
The
Refixation of Pension for Pre-2006 Postman, HSG-1 Postmasters, IPOs, ASPOS etc
based on their pre-revised scale of pay only instead of their pay scale granted
and implemented by Government from 1.1.2006 is an injustice. After OPOP
acceptance by the Government to Armed Forces Pensioners, denial of pension
fixation to Pre-2006 Pensioners in the Civilian side based on the scale of pay
of the same post or cadre is discriminatory. They should also be ordered for
Refixation of pension based on the scale of pay granted to the cadre of
Postman, HSG-1 Postmasters, IPOs and ASPOs etc from 1.1.2006.
7.
Injustice
to Pre-2006 HSG-1 Postmasters in pension fixation:
The
denial of Refixation of pension in case of Pre-2006 HSG-1 Postmasters on 4600
Grade Pay level is totally an injustice. The HSG-1 is a promotional cadre to
HSG-2; After HSG-2 Postmaster cadre is granted a replacement scale of 4200
Grade Pay by amalgamation of several pay scales into one, the grant of 4600
Grade Pay level to HSG-1 is naturally a replacement scale of pay to them only.
The interpretation taken by the Government that the scale of 4600 grade pay
given to HSG-1 is an upgraded pay is basically wrong as both the feeder cadre
and a promotional cadre cannot be the same scale pay. The net result of misinterpretation
of the issue by the Government is that even the BCR Postal Assistants who were
supervised by the HSG-1 Postmasters are fixed in the same level of 4200 Grade
Pay for their pension calculation. This has to set right by considering the
4600 GP scale of pay to HSG-1 Postmasters granted from 1.1.2006 as the
replacement scale of pay and all Pre-2006 HSG-1 Postmasters are to be fixed
their pension appropriately.
8.
Refixation
of Pension to Post 1.1.1996 Pensioners of Postman cadre:
The
Supreme Court had accepted the position proposed by the Department of Posts
that the grant of two advance increments will be taken into calculation for
pension purposes for all post 1.1.1996 postman retirees. This position has not
been translated into practice by the Department of Posts. No orders are issued
as per the direction of the Supreme Court even after months. Necessary orders
are to be issued for refixing the pension of all Post 1.1.1996 Postman
pensioners as per the direction of the Supreme court without further delay.
9.
Grant
of FMA @ 2000:
The
Fixed Medical Advance is at present given @ 500/- per month. It was 300/- only
and the Pay Commission should have gone into it naturally, but the Government
had unilaterally raised it as 500/- and prevented the CPC from going into the
issue. The cost of medicines and consultation fees has gone up in the recent
times; most of the pensioners are suffering from different illness and even the
diabetic medicines are costing more than 2000/- per month. Expecting a
pensioner to manage all his family’s out-patient medical expenses within a
paultry sum of 500/- per month is by any standards unjustified. The employees
in EPF department are being drawn a sum of 2000/- per month right from 1.1.2006
is also a fact to prove that already the rationale for grant of 2000/- is
recognized by the Government in other place. Notwithstanding the fact that this
issue is under the consideration of the High Level Committee headed by the
Finance Secretary and the Expenditure Secretary, the FMA has to be revised from
500/- to at least 2000/- per month.
10.
Accepting
the recommendations of 7th CPC on Medical Treatment:
The
7th Pay Commission had recommended some basic issues related to
medical treatment of pensioners. Importantly it had categorized the discrimination
being shown towards Postal Pensioners in the matter of denial of entry into
CGHS medical system as untenable and recommended to allow all pensioners into
CGHS system without conditions. The stand of the Health Ministry that Postal
Department has its own Postal Dispensaries and therefore unless the postal
pensioner was a CGHS beneficiary while in service, he or she cannot be allowed
into CGHs is utterly discriminatory as Postal Dispensaries are not covering all
the Postal Employees or Pensioners. The 7th CPC has recommended to
merge Postal Dispensaries also with CGHS. It has also recommended for a
comprehensive Medical Insurance for employees and pensioners to get treatment
in a cashless and hassle free manner. Merger of CGHS with Railway and Defense
Hospital systems also is recommended by
the Pay Commission. These recommendations are left to respective Ministries /
Departments for taking appropriate decisions instead of Cabinet taking a
positive decision regarding their implementation. These recommendations are
made after going in depth into the medical issues of pensioners and therefore
the Departments or Ministries should not be dealing them only on the basis of
expenditure to either dilute them or deny them in a casual manner. These recommendations
are vital for the health care for thousands of postal pensioners all over the
country who are out-of the CGHS coverage areas and hence are to be urgently accepted for implementation.
11.
Revision
of Pension by treating the period of training as eligible service for grant of
TBOP/BCR upgradations:
The Postal Employees were granted TBOP/BCR promotions before 1.9.2008. It had been ordered to
treat the period of training undergone prior to 01-01-1986 by direct recruits
Postal Assistants/Sorting Assistants as eligible service for grant of their
TBOP/BCR upgradations. . Accordingly the date of TBOP / BCR were revised for many employees. This order should have been extended to pensioners also who would have been eligible for their TBOP or BCR upgradations but for denial of treating the period of training to them also. Grant of TBOP or BCR would have elevated them to them to the next upgraded scale to facilitate higher fixation of pension. The application of these orders for one section of employees and denial of extending them to the retired employees is unjustified. The eligible pensiones are to be extended with the benefit of Refixation by applying the above orders to them also and by granting them the financial up gradations who were otherwise missed their TBOP/BCR.
12.
Rent
free BSNL land line phones to erstwhile P&T Employees:
The issue of grant of rent free land line
phones of BSNL is pending in the SCOVA
also for a pretty long time. Several Courts have ruled against the
discrimination shown towards one class of people against the other. The cut off
date fixed by the DoT is most discriminatory as it disallows other erstwhile
P&T employees from getting the benefit. All the erstwhile P&T employees
irrespective of their period of service in the combined department of Posts and
Telecommunications shall be granted the benefit of a rent-free land line phone
by BSNL.
13.
Allotment
of vacant Postal Staff Quarters to Postal Pensioners:
Several Postal Staff Quarters are lying not
only vacant but also getting corroded due to non-occupation for a long time.
The Staff Quarters which are not occupied by the willing employees can be
allotted to willing pensioners of Postal Department so that the buildings will
be comparatively maintained by occupation besides some rent is collected by the
Department also. The vacant postal staff quarters may be granted to Postal
Pensioners on nominal rent.
14. Extension
of benefit of delinking 33 years for full pension to Compulsory Retirement:
Government had
accepted the Apex Court direction and issued orders for removing the condition
of 33 years qualifying service for grant of full pension to Pre-2006 retirees.
Subsequent to issue of this order, by way of clarificatory orders the Departmet
of Expenditure had excluded the compulsory retired pensioners from getting this
benefit. The compulsory retired were already punished with forfeiture of their
future services to earn more and to get more pensions. The preclusion of compulsorily
retired pensioners from getting even the minimum pension guaranteed by the orders
of Government acts harshly on them as a second punishment. It is requested that
a reconsideration is necessary to grant minimum pension by delinking the
condition of 33 years of qualifying service to compulsorily retired employees also
w.e.f 01-01-2006.
Signature
District / Divisional Secretary AIPRPA
…………………………………………………District
…………………………………….State
