Tuesday 27 August 2019

Pensioners Post August issue despatched Today!


August month issue of Pensioners Post journal is despatched today morning (27.08.2019).at the Patrika Channel Chennai 
Apart from the regular article on State of Pension in European countries; there are write ups on Guwahati CMC of AIPRPA CHQ; Decisions taken there; Postal Pensioners Charter of Demands as finalised by CMC and the Memorandum to Prime Minister of India; MACP and 30.06 retirees increment latest position; Impact of labour laws amendments on pensioners etc are the major contents.
- KR Editor PP

Monday 26 August 2019

Delay in retirement benefits to SC ST

AIPRPA CHQ E-Mails to Chief PMG Tamilnadu on Undue delay in granting retirement benefits in the name of community certificate verification!



 AIPRPA CHQ addresses to Chief PMG with a copy endorsed to Member (Personnel) on ending the agony of SC/ST retired employees in Tamilnadu Circle!

             All India Postal & RMS Pensioners Association

No.AIPRPA / CHQ / SC-ST/2019/2  Dated 26.08.2019

To
The Chief Postmaster General
Tamilnadu Circle
Chennai – 600002

Sir,

Sub: Speedy follow up action on the Postal Directorate instructions on settlement of retirement benefits to SC/ST retiring officials – regarding.

This Association of All India Postal & RMS Pensioners is constrained to bring to your kind notice that despite the issue of instructions by the Postal Directorate at our taking up the issue for settlement of retirement benefits to retiring SC/ST employees without any delay in the name of verification of Community Certificates, the delay is continuing causing misery to SC/ST employees.

At our taking up the issue with Member (Personnel) an instruction signed by the Sr.DDG (PAF) vide No.26/1/2014-PA(PEA) Dated 26.07.2019 was issued on the subject. There was categorical reiteration that withholding of pension cases of employees on superannuation for alleged pendency of caste verification is inappropriate and that the responsibility lies with the appointing authority to verify at the time of appointment. It was also categorically pointed out that after serving for a specific time no employee can be debarred from his entitlement for terminal benefits and pension. The Directorate had directed that without withholding of pension cases the non-verification of community certificates in time by the authorities may be investigated.

Despite such clear instructions to settle all pending cases of retired SC/ST officials with their pension and retirement benefits, no action seems to have been taken to disburse the retirement claims of retired SC/ST officials in Tamilnadu Circle. The mental and physical agony undergone by the officials who have rendered decades of service to the Department and superannuated or voluntarily retired without any pension or retirement benefits shall be understood by the authorities. This Association would desire immediate disbursement of all retirement dues including pension without any more delay.

We shall be highly grateful if you are kind enough to act with a human touch on this grave issue.

Thanking you,

Yours faithfully,
 Sd/-
(K.Ragavendran)
General Secretary

Copy to: Postal Services Board Member (Personnel) for information.

Sunday 25 August 2019

Guwahati CMC of AIPRPA Calls for a Programme of Action on Postal Sectional Charter of Demands on Pensioners!

Guwahati Central Managing Committee's Clarion Call!


* 13.09.2019: Holding of Demonstration at Divisional / District level and submission of Memorandum to Honourable Prime Minister through respective SSPOs / SSRMs.

* 15.09.2019 to 30.09.2019: Meeting the Members of Parliament of our respective area and submission of our Memorandum to Prime Minister with a request for his / her intervention in Parliament and with the Government of India.

* 15.10.2019: Half a Day Dharna either in the fornoon or afternoon as per convenience at District / Divisional level.

* Copy of Memorandum and Copy of Sectional Charter of Demands are hereunder, which may be downloaded and signed by the State GS or by the District / Divisional Secretary to be handed over to the respective SSPOs / SSRMs for onward transmission to Honourable Prime Minister. All State / District / Divisional Secretaries may kindly use their letter pads for downloading the memorandum. 

* Only the Memorandum and Charter of Demands may be downloaded for submission.

_ K.Ragavendran General Secretary AIPRPA (CHQ)



Memorandum submitted to the Honorable Prime Minister by the Pensioners of Postal Department on the Sectional Charter of Demands of Pensioners for early solution.

No. AIPRPA/2019/Postal Pensioners Charter                                             Dated 15.08.2019       

Respected Sir,

We the Postal & RMS Pensioners of the Postal Department submit the following memorandum seeking your kind intervention and favourable direction to the authorities for a time bound implementation of existing orders on some issues and for favourable decision on some other issues:

1.  Speedy implementation of Department orders for including period of induction training for TBOP and BCR for Pensioners with appropriate refixation of pension without insisting for production of induction training orders from the pensioners.

The Department of Posts have already issued an order (44-2/2011-SPB.II Dated 05.05.2016 ) for treating the period of induction training undergone by the officials prior to 1986 for advancing the date of TBOP and BCR financial upgradation granted to them. The orders have already been implemented to several serving officials and some pensioners in different postal circles. However, a sizable section of Postal Pensioners are still left out. The stand taken by the authorities in different circles that the orders can be implemented to them only if they could produce the copy of their induction training order issued to them decades ago. Actually it is a tall claim to ask the senior citizens who retired may years back to produce the certificate of their induction training issued at least three or four decades back. The authorities based on the PPOs and other records available with the Department including the service files, gradation lists etc should suo-moto implement the orders to all Pensioners.

2.   Speedy and time bound implementation of Department orders for giving effect of Postman higher scale of pay of 3050-4590 w.e.f. 1.1.1996 and payment of arrears and refixation of pension by constituting a Cell with more DPA officials under a separate Accounts Officer.

The Department of Posts have already issued an order (DoP order No. Dated 23.05.2018) for granting the upgraded pay scale of 5th CPC viz., 3050-4590 with effect from 1.1.1996 instead of 10.10.1997 ordered earlier. This order was issued in line with the Supreme Court orders for grant of upgraded pay to Postmen/Mail Guard Officials. The implementation of this order is taking much time as it involves a lot of calculations at the Head Post Offices and to pre-check at the Director or Accounts (Postal). In fact quite a large number of Postman and Mail Guard retirees are still not able to get the benefit out of this orders throughout the country. The constitution of a 10 Member Cell under an exclusive Accounts Officer in all Director of Postal Accounts offices and proper direction to all Head Post Offices from the DPA offices alone can speed up the implementation of orders within imaginable weeks or months. The abnormal delay is causing a situation where in some of the retired Pensioners of Postman and Mail Guard cadre are unable to see the implementation during their own life time.

3.       Extension of Pension Parity Orders to Compulsorily Retired Pensioners also.

The Government has after much tussle agreed to extend the benefit of Parity of Pension to all Pre-2006 Pensioners through Department of Pension order OM No.38/37/2016-P&PW(A) Dated 12.05.2017. However, the compulsorily retired pensioners are excluded from getting the benefit out of this order. The stand of the authorities / government to deny the extension of this benefit to compulsorily retired  pensioners is wrong. The compulsorily retired pensioners were already punished with forfeiture of their balance services. Their basic pension was fixed based on the then existing basic pay only. Usual revision under the formula prescribed by every pay commissions also are implemented to them without any difficulty. Therefore the orders dated 12.05.2017 that extends the refixation of pension as per the basic pay of the pensioners at the time of their retirement cannot be denied to the compulsorily retired pensioners. Therefore the stand taken by the DOPT needs correction and revision to grant the same benefit to all compulsorily retired pensioners also.

4.  Immediate implementation of orders of Pension Ministry dated 09.07.2019 for granting higher grade pay of 4600 as per the concordance table annexed to it for all Pre-2006 HSG-1 Pensioners.

The Department of Pension & Pensioners Welfare has ordered vide its OM No.38/33/12_P&PW(A) dated 9.7.2019 for revision of pension w.e.f. 1.1.2006 of Pre-2006 pensioners who retired from the 5th CPC scale of 6500-10500 or equivalent pay scale in the earlier pay commission periods. A concordance table is also annexed to the said order for facilitating quick fixation of pension to all such pre-2006 pensioners. However, the above orders need to be implemented early to all such pre-2006 pensioners in the Department of Posts.

5.   Extension of the benefit of grant of Notional increment and refixation of pension accordingly to all 30th June retirees as per the judgment of Supreme Court in the case of Ayyamperumal.

The Government had filed a revision petition in the Supreme Court against the judgment of lower courts and also the SLP dismissal by the Apex Court in the case against Ayyamperumal who won the grant of notional increment as a 30th June retiree. The practice of grant of increment only on 1st July prevented him from getting his annual increment though he had performed duty for one whole year before his retirement on 30th June. Ironically the Government is not coming forward to implement the judgment to all similarly placed pensioners who had retired on 30th June. More over the Revision Petition was also preferred against Ayyamperumal. However, with the dismissal of revision petition also by the Supreme Court, the Government should come forward to grant the increment notionally for all 30th June retirees and their pension refixed accordingly.

6.     Extend the benefit of MACP date of effect from 1.1.2006 as was done in the case of Defense Ministry officials and pensioners.

In lieu of the Supreme Court judgment which categorically said that MACP (Modified Assured Career Progression) is connected with the pay and not with the allowances, MACP should be given from 1.1.2006 and not from the later date of grant of allowances (1.9.2008). The stand of the Government that  implemented the judgment in the Defense Department and denying implementation in other Civilian Departments is against the spirit of judgment. This judgment is an IN RAM judgment and therefore the policy involved is extendable to all similarly placed civilian officials in all government departments. Many Pensioners had retired in between 1.1.2006 and 1.9.2008 without getting the benefit of MACP because of the stand of the Government. The Cabinet Secretary had in the recent meeting of JCM National Council held on 13.04.2019 had reportedly stated that all judgments where a finality has been reached will be extended to all similarly placed. We request that the date of effect of MACP should be 1.1.2006 on par with the Defense Ministry to all Civilian Employees and naturally the benefit has to be extended to all retired personnel also who retired from service during the period in between 1.1.2006 and 1.9.2008.

7.     Grant 3 MACPs without adjusting the elevation from lower grade to Postal Assistant achieved through competitive examination and not through in-situ promotion granted by the Department.

The basic difference between the officials of Postal Department and the officials of other Government Departments is ignored by the Government and the Authorities. All promotions are on the basis of qualifying examinations in all departments and by competitive examinations in Postal Department. The officials of other departments get the promotion in-situ basis when the vacancies arise and if not in time they get the MACP. In the Postal Department all exams are on competitive basis and limited to a particular number of vacancies. The officials enter in a competitive exam and get selected to the announced number only and certainly not on in-situ basis but by a change of cadre. Therefore the MACP shall be counted only from the date of such elevation to a different cadre through competitive exam. Many Courts have accepted this version and ordered accordingly. The present stand of the Government and the Authorities is preventing the officials of Postal Department only from getting their 3rd MACP if they are Promotees. This stand is only discriminatory to the Promotee officials of Postal Department. We request that the stand of the Government / authorities be changed to give the MACP from the date of change of cadre through competitive exam in Postal Department as per the judgment of different courts including Rajasthan and Delhi High Courts.

8.      Refix the subscription rate to non-CGHS area pensioners joining CGHS on par with the rate of subscription existed at the time of their retirement instead of 7th CPC higher rates.

The Postal Pensioners were precluded from joining CGHS unless they retired from CGHS covered areas. Thousands of non-CGHS area pensioners of Postal Department were not allowed to join CGHS by the orders of the Health Ministry of GOI. At the intervention of 7th CPC and by the verdict of Kerala High Court, the Government had rescinded its position and allowing all non-CGHS pensioners also to join CGHS. The issue is that they are to pay the rate of subscription at the present rates implemented after 7th CPC. These Postal Pensioners were prevented from joining CGHS not on their willingness but by the decision of the Government. Therefore now that the prohibition is removed, the pensioners shall be allowed to join CGHS by paying the rate of subscription on the basis of the rates existed at the time of their retirement. The rate of 7th CPC shall not be forced on them.

9.     Maintain with full complement of Para-medical staff and general assistance staff in all CGHS wellness centres converted by merger of erstwhile Postal Dispensaries - Install Additional Director CGHS office in every newly formed State.

The GOI has merged all existing Postal Dispensaries numbering 33 with CGHS and converted them as CGHS wellness centres recently. The maintenance of them also shifted to Health Ministry since 1.4.2019. The irony is that many of those converted CGHS Centres are functioning without adequate para-medical staff like nurses, pharmacists, lab-technicians and without assistant staff. Earlier the DoP was using casual para-medical staff but they were simply sent away without recruitment for alternative staff. Due to this reason, many such wellness centres are unable to distribute medicines prescribed by the doctors or attend to other necessities by the para-medical staff.  The enrollment of beneficiaries in to CGHS also got delayed due to absence of supporting clerical staff in these CGHS Wellness centres as mostly those staff were returned back to Postal Department from where they were deputed earlier for Postal Dispensaries. We request that until due recruitment process is undertaken, necessary essential para medical staff may be drawn through employment exchanges on casual basis. We request that these problems be immediately attended to so that the problems of sick pensioners are sorted out.

In addition every newly formed State like the State of Andhrapradesh, an office of Additional Director CGHS shall be established there. As a rule the CGHS wellness centres in a State shall be under the control of the Additional Director of CGHS or Assistant Director of CGHS office situated within that State only. More over no empanelled hospitals and diagnostic centres are identified and notified in all the 33 cities where the Postal Dispensaries are merged with CGHS causing great hardships to beneficiaries. This needs immediate attention. Similarly Advisory Committees including the nominees of Pensioners Associations shall be constituted in all above 33 centres.

10.  Arrange sending of LP Medicines to Pensioners through Speed Post without asking them to come again to collect the medicines as is being done for Members of Parliament.

Presently many important routine medicines are not stockpiled adequately in CGHS wellness centres. Invariably all the beneficiaries are forced to come back after three-four days to collect some medicines under Local Purchase. This method is causing the hardship to pensioners to visit twice the CGHS Centres in a month from distant places at their advanced age. Incidentally, we heard that such LP medicines are sent by Speed Post to Honourable Members and Ex-Members of Parliament. We are unable to understand as to why the same method should not be used in the case of Pensioners also by sending the LP medicines by Speed Post to prevent them from undertaking arduous journey twice to the CGHS Centres.


 Encl: Annexure of Charter of Demands

Yours faithfully,


State General Secretary / District / Divisional Secretary 

__________________________ State / District / Division.

__________________________ State. 




Annexure

Postal Pensioners Charter of Demands

1.     Speedy implementation of Department orders for including period of induction training for TBOP and BCR for Pensioners with appropriate refixation of pension without insisting for production of induction training orders from the pensioners.

2.     Speedy and time bound implementation of Department orders for giving effect of Postman higher scale of pay of 3050-4590 w.e.f. 1.1.1996 and payment of arrears and refixation of pension by constituting a Cell with more DPA officials under a separate Accounts Officer.

3.       Extension of Pension Parity Orders to Compulsorily Retired Pensioners also.

4.    Immediate implementation of orders of Pension Ministry dated 09.07.2019 for granting higher grade pay of 4600 as per the concordance table annexed to it for all Pre-2006 HSG-1 Pensioners.

5.  Extension of the benefit of grant of Notional increment and refixation of pension accordingly to all 30th June retirees as per the judgment of Supreme Court in the case of Ayyamperumal.

6.   Extend the benefit of MACP date of effect from 1.1.2006 as was done in the case of Defense Ministry officials and pensioners.

7.    Grant 3 MACPs without adjusting the elevation from lower grade to Postal Assistant achieved through competitive examination and not through in-situ promotion granted by the Department.

8.     Refix the subscription rate to non-CGHS area pensioners joining CGHS on par with the rate of subscription existed at the time of their retirement instead of 7th CPC higher rates.

9.    Maintain with full complement of Para-medical staff and general assistance staff in all CGHS wellness centres converted by merger of erstwhile Postal Dispensaries. - Install Additional Director CGHS office in every newly formed State.

10.   Arrange sending of LP Medicines to Pensioners through Speed Post without asking them to come again to collect the medicines as is being done for Members of Parliament.


Friday 23 August 2019

TN SWC Session at Namakkal

Tamilnadu State Working Committee of AIPRPA successful! 






The meeting of State Working Committee of AIPRPA is successfully completed at Namakkal. The two-days session headed by the State President comrade M.Kannaiyan witnessed an intense discussion on several important issues of pensioners and the ways to further strengthen AIPRPA in Tamilnadu. The debate was based on the written report of State GS S.Santhanaraman presented by officiating State GS comrade P.Mohan. The accounts subject to audit was presented by comrade C.Sekar Asst.State Treasurer. It is determined to reach 10,000 membership by our hard work. The SWC decided to organize the programme of CHQ on 10 point postal pensioners sectional charter in September and October. The programme includes demonstration and submission of memorandum to Prime Minister on 13.09.2019; Submission of memorandum to M.Ps between 15th and 30thSeptember; and half a day Dharna on 15.10.2019 at Divisional level.

The SWC decided that comrade P.Mohan (Asst State GS) to be Officiating State GS in support of State GS comrade S.Santhanaraman, who needs medical surgery. It also elected comrade S.Pandian District Secretary Madurai as one of the State AGSs and the Regional Secretary of Southern Region as per the decisions of earlier State Conference.

The SWC was inaugurated as well delivered with the concluding address by the General Secretary comrade K.Ragavendran. comrade K. S.Elangovan Secretary of Namakkal District Coordination Committee  of central, State Govt and Public Sector Pensioners Associations greeted the SWC. Comrade Shanmuga Sundar Raj Executive Committee Member of CHQ also greeted the session.

All appreciated the excellent arrangements made by the Reception Committee with the team as comrade P.K.Ramasamy (District Secretary) as the GS

Tuesday 20 August 2019

Tamilnadu State AIPRPA SWC at Namakkal - 22,23 August!



Reception Committee with Comrade P.K.Ramasamy District Secretary is all ready to receive the State Working Committee members at Namakkal. Two days SWC will be a fillip for further growth of AIPRPA in Tamilnadu! New District AIPRPA leaders from the second largest city of State 'Madurai' under comrade S.Pandian are attending for first time! Some comrades elected to the post of Divisional Secretaries like comrades Krishnasamy of Pollachi; Kaliyamurthy of Puducherry; Meenakshisundaram of Tuticorin; Vijayakumar of Kancheepuram; Paramasivam of Kallakurichi; Ayyasamy of Perambalur; Jaganathan of Krishnagiri are attending for first time! Veterans from many districts too are attending! It will be a good meeting with purposeful discussion on pensioners issues! Let it be a successful gathering! - KR GS AIPRPA

Monday 19 August 2019

In aid of Kerala!



Flood Relief Appeal to Kerala 


Unprecedented rains and floods have seriously affected Kerala State consecutively for the second year in a row. Many Districts in Kerala are inundated and the situation is very serious there. Even our AIPRPA Comrades are engaged in relief operations along with the State Government of Kerala. Comrade V.A.Mohanan the State General Secretary of Kerala State Association of AIPRPA has appealed for assistance from all to be directly donated in the Kerala Chief Minister’s Disaster Management Fund. I am reproducing the appeal as it is hereunder. AIPRPA CHQ endorses the appeal of Kerala State AIPRPA and seeks the assistance of all levels of our organization to Kerala at the time of their dire need – KR GS AIPRPA

AIPRPA FLOOD RELIEF TO KERALA

Kerala State have been affected by severe flood havoc during this month (August 2019). The State had been hit by an unpreceded rain and flood last year engulfing life of several people and causing heavy damage.
The present Flood havoc has hit almost all Districts especially the Hilly Districts such as Wayanad, Idukki, Kozhikode, Malappuram & Palakkad. Other districts are also badly affected. More than 111 people have lost their lives due to heavy earth falling and bursting of rocks. All the rivers are over flown. Cochin Airport was closed for days together. Train and bus traffic were paralyzed. Thousands of people were brought to rescue shelters and about 12000 people are still in rescue shelters opened in every Panchayat.
Rescue and relief works are carried under the leadership of Chief Minister and State Government. AIPRPA Workers in the State are also engaged in rescue and relief works. The State Committee have given a call to mobilize maximum amount to The Chief Minister Disaster Management Funds. The Districts level committees of AIPRPA are fully engaged in relief works.
It is requested that possible assistance may be given to console the victims by contributing to Chief Minister's Disaster Management Fund directly or through State organizations.
V. A. Mohanan
State General Secretary
17-08-2019


Wednesday 14 August 2019

Pledge of I-Day to safeguard our rights!


  1. Pledge of Independence Day!



It is our Independence Day! We salute to all martyrs who did supreme sacrifice to liberate the country from the yolk of British Imperialism. Let us pledge to safeguard our independence more than our lives as it has come under the control of International Corporate World under liberalization era! Our Pension and Social Security rights are under serious attack! Did we got independence to lose all these rights? Let us say loudly that we are 99% and the Government cannot be the representative of 1% Corporates! - KR GS AIPRPA

Tuesday 6 August 2019

P4 Dharna a massive success!

Massive Dharna by P4(NFPE) & AIPRPA at Chennai CPMG office! 










Hundreds of P4 comrades and Pensioners of AIPRPA thronged the Dharna Pandal in front of Chennai CPMG office at the call of P4 CHQ supported fully by AIPRPA.

The Programme is presided over by the presidium of comrades G.Sureshbabu  (P4 Circle President) and P.Rajanayagam (State Wkg.President AIPRPA) and anchored by Comrade G.Kannan P4 Circle Secretary. Comrade K.Ragavendran GS AIPRPA inaugurated. Comrades S.Ragupathy (ASG NFPE); A.Veeramani ( CS P3); Paranthaman (CS R4); S.Santhanaraman (State GS AIPRPA) and many other leaders attended at the beginning itself.

The Dharna is for focussing attention on 10 Point Charter of P4 which includes immediate implementation of upgraded pay 3050-4590 to Postman from 1.1.1996 as per DoP orders issued on 23.05.2018. There are important demands like filling up of all vacant posts and removal of technical hurdles to delivery staff caused by new technologies.
- KR GS AIPRPA

Friday 2 August 2019

Postal Diretorate sorts out the problem of delay in grant of retirement benefits to SC ST employees at the intervention of AIPRPA and Service Organisations! 


The issue was addressed to Member (P) by email by the General Secretary of AIPRPA. The problems faced by retiring SC/ST employees as well as the rules of Road Map to retirement as exhibited in Pensioners Portal were taken to this top Officer's notice. We are happy that the Directorate has acted fast and wrote an urgent DO letter to Chief PMG Tamilnadu Circle to set right the grave problem. Now, all SC ST employees shall receive their terminal benefits including pension without any delay. A genuine issue stands resolved by our efforts and also by the efforts of service unions and Federations. - KR GS AIPRPA

Protest to Central Government move to bring anti-labour laws!

Central Trade Unions agitation in Chennai! 





At the call of 10 Central Trade Unions, a massive protest demonstration and meeting took place opposite to Chennai Chepauk Cricket Grounds today at 4.00 P.M. The protest was against the move of the Central Government to amend labour laws as evinced under the bills moved in Parliament on 23rd July. The hard won rights for job site safety and protection as well as a diluted minimum wage proposal of the Government received severe condemnation. The massive protest demanded for withdrawal of both the anti-labour bills in Parliament. Comrade K.Ragavendran GS AIPRPA participated in this protest rally - KR GS AIPRPA
Confederation Protest Demonstration in Chennai! 

A powerful demonstration took place in Chennai in front of CPMG office today during lunch hour at the call of headquarters to protest against the move of Government to amend the labour laws. Comrade M.Duraipandian organised it and nfpe COC Secretary R.B.Suresh presided. Large number of leaders, office bearers and staff representing various CG unions and Pensioners of AIPRPA took part. Comrades K.Ragavendran GS AIPRPA and M.R.Meenakshisundaram Secretary Chennai District AIPRPA also participated along with many pensioners.


Thursday 1 August 2019

August-2 nationwide protest against labour laws amendment bills! 



The Government has tabled two bills in Lok Sabha. The intended corrections will take away hard won rights of workers and employees and dilute the need based minimum wage theory as accepted by 15th ILC - Confederation and NFPE have endorsed the call of 10 Central TUs to organise protest demonstrations during lunch hour. AIPRPA members are requested to join and strengthen the programme.

In Chennai it is reported that the protest by NFPE Circle Unions will take place before CPMG office at lunch hour today.


Pre-2006 pensioners upgradation case!


The case filed by AIPRPA CHQ and four others praying for fixation of pension based on upgraded pay scale given to the cadre or post has come up on 30.07.2019 in Chennai CAT. Advocate Arun appeared but as the counter affidavit is not yet filed by Department, the next hearing is adjourned to 5.9.2019. - KR GS AIPRPA