FAREWELL TO BRIG(RETD) C.S.VIDYA SAGAR DIR. SAINIK WELFARE, a.p.

BRIG(RETD) C.S.VIDYA SAGAR DIR. SAINIK WELFARE,

ANDHRA PRADESH 

THERE WILL BE A MONTHLY MEETING ON 4.11.2012 AT 1600 HRS. AT TEJASWI CAR COATS. A FAREWELL ALSO BEING ARRANGED TO BRIG.(RETD) C.S.VIDYA SAGAR DIRECTOR OF SAINIK WELFARE ANDHRA PRADESH WHO IS DUE TO RETIRE ON 7.11.2012. ALL THE MEMBERS ARE REQUESTED TO ATTEND THE MEETING AND MAKE IT A GRAND SUCCESS. WE ALSO INVITE ALL THE EX-SERVICEMEN IN HYDERABAD FOR THE FAREWELL  MEETING.

-P.Manohar Reddy

General Secretary

Ex-Servicemen Association, Hyderabad East.

Mobile: 9246362989

 

LETTER ADDRESSED TO PM,MOD,CAS ETC. ON RANK HELD FOR LAST 10 MONTHS

NEW DEFINITION OF EX-SERVICEMEN & RESERVATIONS IN GOVT

New Ex-Servicemen Categories and Notification

Project 'SANGAM' for Defence Pensioners Launched

This software project is one step forward from the project 'SUVIGYA'
which was launched in October last year on the occasion of Defence
 Account Department Day and is very popular among defence pensioners.
The pension payment orders to be issued using 'SANGAM' software will
 be a special corrigendum pension payment system which will contain all
 the basic details of original pension payment order. It will also have details
 of family pension, disability pension and any other type of pension available
to a pensioner. The new corrigendum pension payment order is unique in the
 sense that it gives new ID to each pensioner which will be helpful in readily
 accessing all data relating to a pensioner.
There are about 18 lakh defence pensioners who will be benefitted with the
 launch of project 'SANGAM' in the long run. It will also help in grievance
 redressal of pensioners with regard to the correctness of payment of pension.
The software has been developed in house by a team of officers from IT wing
 of Controller General of Defence Accounts, headed by Shri Murli Krishnan,
Sr ACGDA (IT).
Source : pib.nic.in/
pib.nic.in/newsite/erelease.aspx?relid=73367

IAF Inaugurates Directorate of Air Veterans for Retired IAF Personnel

 The Chief of the Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal NAK Browne, inaugurated the Directorate of Air Veterans today. The Directorate would be committed to looking after the pensionary and welfare aspects of all retired Air Force personnel. Inaugurating the Directorate, the Air Chief said “It gives me great pleasure to dedicate the new Directorate to the Air Warriors, who have contributed so much to the growth of the IAF. The Directorate would provide value added services to both our retiring as well as retired air warriors and coordinate all aspects, hitherto being handled by different directorates”

The institution of Directorate of Air Veterans is an effort towards bringing under one roof, the various departments dealing with different aspects of Air Veterans, so that, the IAF veterans do not have to approach different agencies for their welfare and pensionary problems. This directorate will function under the Air Officer-in-Charge Administration (AOA), that would be headed by an Air Vice Marshal who looks after the responsibility of Assistant Chief of the Air Staff (Accounts) and would be re-designated as Assistant Chief of the Air Staff (Accounts and Air Veterans) henceforth.

To give focused attention to the needs of Air Veterans, this single window to approach IAF for assistance with respect to pensionary and welfare issues, will deal with various Civil Government departments on matters pertaining to Veterans of the IAF, so that issues affecting them are taken up in a consolidated manner effectively.

The Directorate will also operate through a website called ‘http://iafpensioners.gov.in’ for grievances related to pensionary aspects.

GG/PJ/DK
(Release ID :88140)

EXPECTED TABLE OF PENSIONS FOR SGT & BELOW

New Pension

SUGGESTIONS ARE WELCOME. THERE MAY NOT BE ANY CHANGE IN RESPECT OF JWO AND ABOVE. WEIGHTAGE OF TWO YEARS EXPECTED TO BE GIVEN TO POST 2006 RETIREES IS NOT KNOWN AS THE PENSION IS FIXED @ 50% ON THE LAST PAY FOR THEM.

NET EFFECT OF LATEST OROP

 AFTER DISCUSSIONS WITH EXPERTS ON THE ISSUE WE HAVE COME TO A CONCLUSION THAT THERE WILL BE AN ADDITIONAL  WEIGHTAGE OF TWO YEARS WILL BE GIVEN ON THE CIRCULAR 430 (CLICK HERE FOR THE CIR.430) .

THEREFORE, ONE CAN SEE HIS PENSION BY ADDING TWO YEARS TO HIS SERVICE( EX: IF YOU ARE 15 YEARS SGT, PLEASE SEE 17 YEARS SGT.). IF YOU GO THROUGH THE CIRCULAR 430 YOU WILL FIND THE SAME WORDING OF PRESENT ANNOUNCEMENT SHOWN BELOW.

(i) Bridging of the gap in the pension of pre 1.1.06 and post 1.1.06 JCO/OR retirees by determining the pension of pre 1.1.06 retirees on the basis of notional maximum for ranks and groups across the three Services as in the case of post 1.1.06 retirees. In addition, the weightage of qualifying service in the ranks of Sepoys, Naik and Havaldar would be increased by two years for both pre and post 1.1.06 retirees.

 

One rank one pension scheme: Jubilation gives way to scepticism

New Delhi: India's nearly 23 lakh ex-military personnel have a reason to celebrate. The government has finally conceded their demand for One Rank One Pension. It means that the military personnel will draw the pensions depending on the rank at which they retired, and not the date of their retirement.

The government's decision on Monday evening is set to bring on par those who retired before 2006 with those who retired afterwards.

The One Rank One Pension scheme will also grant dual family pensions and ensure pensions to the differently-abled wards of the defence personnel.

The defence personnel are still sceptical about the government's willingness to implement the scheme that is hugely beneficial to them.

According to reports, the scheme will cost the government around Rs 2,300 crore per year.

While the ex-servicemen are jubilant, many of them remain sceptical.

General (retd) VK Singh said that while he was unaware of "what they have passed", the move was welcome and that it should have happened long time back.

Another Brigadier says that one must be willing to read the fine print. "The government says one thing and does another. It could be a welcome step if the government implements it," he says.

The scepticism of the Army officers is well-founded. The government has turned a blind eye and a deaf ear to what the ex-servicemen consider their legitimate right. And while there has been some relief for retired personnel, there's been no effort to address the concerns of the serving military personnel who feel shortchanged by the Sixth Pay Commission.

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                                 P  I   B   PRESS  RELEASE  DATED 24 SEPT 2012

Rs.2300 crore approved to meet the demands of Ex-servicemen pensioners

The Union Cabinet has approved the recommendations of the Committee headed by Cabinet Secretary for benefits to ex-servicemen on four issues. The financial implications of the improvements made as per the Cabinet decision on the four items are broadly estimated at Rs.2300 crore per annum. The details are as follows: I. One Rank One Pension: On One Rank One Pension, the demand of the Defence Forces and Ex-Servicemen Associations is that uniform pension be paid to the Defence Forces personnel retiring in the same rank with the same length of service irrespective of their date of retirement and any future enhancement in the rates of pension be automatically passed on to the past pensioners. The difference in the pension of present and past pensioners in the same rank occurs on account of the number of increments earned by the defence personnel in that rank. There is also a difference between the pension of pre 1.1.06 and post 1.1.06 retirees belonging to a particular rank. The UPA Government on two previous occasions has taken decisions to narrow the gap between the present and past pensioners, particularly those belonging to the ranks of JCOs and Other Ranks. On the issue of One Rank One Pension, the following have been approved by the Cabinet: (i) Bridging of the gap in the pension of pre 1.1.06 and post 1.1.06 JCO/OR retirees by determining the pension of pre 1.1.06 retirees on the basis of notional maximum for ranks and groups across the three Services as in the case of post 1.1.06 retirees. In addition, the weightage of qualifying service in the ranks of Sepoys, Naik and Havaldar would be increased by two years for both pre and post 1.1.06 retirees. (ii) The pension of pre 1.1.06 Commissioned Officer pensioners would be stepped up with reference to the minimum of fitment table for the ranks instead of the minimum of pay band. These are expected to largely meet the demands of the defence pensioners on one rank one pension. II. Enhancement of Family Pension : (i) The pension of pre - 1.1.2006 family pensioners(Commissioned Officers, Honorary Commissioned Officers, JCOs/ORs ) be stepped up based on the minimum of the fitment table instead of the minimum of the Pay Band; (i) Establishing linkage of the family pension with the pension of JCOs/ORs, in those cases where the death takes place after the retirement of the JCO/OR since such a JCO/OR drew a pension based on the maximum of the pay scales, 60% of the pension applicable to JCO/OR pensioners would be granted to the family pensioner in case of normal family pension calculated a 30% of last pay drawn. Accordingly, based on the rank, group and length of service of the deceased JCO/OR pensioner, his pension would first be determined on notional basis. In cases where death of JCO/OR took place after retirement, the family pensioners in receipt of normal family pension would become entitled to 60% of the said pension determined on notional basis and those in receipt of enhanced family pension will be entitled to 100% of this pension. Similar entitlements would be determined in the case of Special Family Pension; and (ii) The family pensioner of the JCO/OR would be granted pension arrived at on the basis of the family pension worked out as per the formulation at (i) above or the pension on the basis of stepping up with reference to the minimum of the fitment table, whichever is beneficial. Further, the linkage of family pension with retiring pension be applied in the case of post 1.1.2006 family pensioners of JCOs/ORs also. III. Dual Family Pension: Dual family pension would be allowed in the present and future cases where the pensioner drew, is drawing or may draw pension for military service as well as for civil employment. IV. Family pension to mentally / physically challenged children of armed forces personnel on marriage: Grant of family pension to mentally/physically challenged children who drew, are drawing or may draw family pension would continue even after their marriage. The above recommendations made by the Committee on pension issues of Ex-Servicemen may be implemented from a prospective date and payment made accordingly.

Cabinet approves 7% hike in DA for central govt employees

Monday, September 24, 2012

Cabinet approves 7% hike in DA for central govt employees

Last Updated: Monday, September 24, 2012, 18:29

Zeebiz Bureau

New Delhi: The Union Cabinet on Monday approved a 7 percent hike in the Dearness Allowance (DA) for central government employees.

The approval will benefit 80 lakh central government employees and pensioners.

Earlier, the meetings of the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) and Cabinet Committee on Infrastructure (CCI), was scheduled for Friday but was postponed apparently due to political turmoil post the government’s ‘big bang’ reform announcement.

The hike in dearness allowance will be effective from July 1, 2012, and the employees would be entitled to arrears from that date.

The additional burden on exchequer on account of increase in DA would be around Rs. 5,000 crore for the eight-month period between July, 2012 and February, 2013. It will be Rs. 7,400 crore for the full financial year.

The government had last increased DA in March this year from 58 percent to 65 percent, which was effective from January 1, 2012. It will now be increased to 72 percent.

The government periodically hikes the DA, which is linked to consumer price index for industrial workers. The consumer price index (CPI) based on movement in retail prices, soared to 10.03 percent in August, from 9.86 percent in July.

(Source-Zee News)

Government likely to accept some demands on pay of armed forces

The Government is likely to accept the following demands related to armed forces pay fixation & One Rank One Pension issue.  The high-powered committee set up by PM Manmohan Singh has given its ideas wherein it has accepted that some of the demands of the forces need to be met immediately as there are glaring anomalies

1. Armed forces be given non-functional upgradation (NFU) to match their counterparts in the IPS, IAS and paramilitary forces.
2. The grade pay can be looked into.
3. It has agreed that a common payscale be evolved for in-service jawans.
4. It has agreed on removal of all anomalies towards one rank one pension (OROP).

Meanwhile, a fresh calculation has been ordered following a Supreme Court judgment relating to a 25-year-old pay-related case filed by Major Dhanapalan. The court ruled in his favour to correct the anomaly and will impact all officers who were serving then and now. This had to be factored in before a final announcement. The PM can still make changes as Defence Minister AK Antony was very keen on resolving matters at the earliest and in favour of the forces. The committee headed by Cabinet Secretary Ajit Seth was formed following an intervention from PM Manmohan Singh on July 8 this year. The forces protested that they had no representative; the committee specially met the three service chiefs. Its mandate was to deal with six issues of serving officers and jawans and another four issues relating to those who retired. Sources said the committee was unanimous on payscale for jawans, OROP, grade pay and NFU. The most serious was the NFU issue. The Sixth Central Pay Commission (CPC) recommendations were out in October 2008. The IAS in the post of Joint Secretary (JS) to the Government of India was made eligible for a grade pay of Rs 10,000 a month on completing 22 years of service.

Source: Staffcorner

One Rank One Pension – Committee submitted report to Prime Minister

Ministry of Defence

27-August, 2012

Pay and Pension Matters of Personnel

The committee chaired by Cabinet Secretary is comprised of

• Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister;
• Defence Secretary; Secretary,
• Department of Expenditure; Secretary,
• Department of Ex- Servicemen`s Welfare and Secretary,
• Department of Personnel and Training.

Consequent to change in charge of the then Secretary, Department of Expenditure to Department of Revenue, Secretary, Department of Revenue has also been co-opted as a Member of the Committee.

Chief of Naval Staff & Chairman, Chiefs of the Staff Committee made a presentation to the Committee.

The Committee further interacted with all the Service Chiefs (Chief of Naval Staff & Chairman, Chiefs of the Staff Committee; Chief of Air Staff and Chief of Army Staff).

The recommendations of the Committee have been submitted to the Prime Minister.

Lack of details in PM’s speech on military pay and pension anomalies

For all those who are wondering why the Prime Minister only briefly touched the matter regarding implementation of the recommendations of the Committee of Secretaries examining pay and pension anomalies of the services and did not fully discuss the details in his Independence Day Speech, it would be worthwhile to inform that firstly the Committee could not submit the report by 08 August 2012 as envisaged by the order of the PMO and there still were some loose ends and some dissenting voices from the side of the Defence Ministry. And secondly, it has come to note that the implementation could not be officially announced because of the lack of a cabinet nod and hence the absence of the formal acceptance of the report by the govt. Mr Deshmukh’s untimely demise added to the delay.

On implementation, which should be in the very near future, the military community can expect bridging of the gap between pre and post 2006 retirees by further enhancement of weightages for pension, enhancement of pension of commissioned officer retirees on the principles of modified parity, dual family pension for widows, removal of bar of continuance of family pension on marriage of handicapped kin, introduction of common pay-scales for ranks below commissioned officers and non-functional upgradation (NFU) for commissioned officers. Civilian pensioners can also be expected to be benefited as a result of modification of pensionary modalities. 

Enhancement of Grade Pay for commissioned ranks and enhanced initial pay fixation for Lt Cols, Cols and Brigs may not be recommended by the committee and would in all probability be kept pending for further deliberations.

Still, there’s many-a-slip in the domain of officialdom, as we all know, hence reactions on the fresh provisions should be reserved till the time the recommendations are officially notified as accepted with full details. 

 

By Maj. Navdeep

What can be legitimately expected? : PM appointed Committee of Secretaries looking into Pay and Pension anomalies

 

It seems that the PM appointed Committee of Secretaries looking into the anomalies affecting serving and retired defence personnel is ready with its report.

What I’m placing on the blog in the following lines is broadly what is expected out of the committee’s recommendations.

However, please do be warned that the thought-process of the committee is only recommendatory in nature and is yet to be accepted by the PM, and also, that the final turn out could be different than what may be recommended.

The low-down below on the majority of issues is just what can be reasonably expected, however kindly be reserved about bouquets or brickbats as yet till the time the matter is officially announced.

One Rank One Pension for ranks other than commissioned officers: The concept of OROP as classically understood, may not be accepted. However the gap between pre and post 2006 pensioners would further be bridged. The last time this was done in March 2010 when the Committee of Secretaries had recommended the enhancement of pensions on 01 July 2009. The Govt would most probably implement further enhancement of pensionary weightages applicable to lower ranks to compensate them for their truncated careers thereby further reducing the gap. Not exactly OROP but would provide succour to lower ranks for sure. The weightages currently applicable are 10, 8, 6 and 5 years for Sepoys, Naiks, Havildars and JCOs respectively.

Widows’ Pensions: Family pensions would be enhanced in all probability. As reported on the blog earlier, pension of widows would now be calculated with reference to the notional top of the 5^th CPC scale within the new 6^th CPC scales rather than the bottom of the scales. It may be recalled that till the 5^th CPC, the pension of widows was calculated with respect to the top of the scale which was brought down to the bottom of the pay-band as a result of introduction of pay-bands by the 6^th CPC.

Enhanced Pension for Commissioned Officers: While the system of calculation of other ranks has always been different and more beneficial, the pension of Commissioned Officers has traditionally been linked with the system of calculation as followed for civilian employees. The Govt is however likely to increase the pensions of commissioned officers by calculating pension based not on the minimum of the pay band but by taking the basis of minimum of pay within the pay-band. This is totally in line with what had been decided by the Chandigarh Bench of the Armed Forces Tribunal in Sqn Ldr SS Matharu’s case, and by the Delhi Bench in Lt Cdr Avtar Singh and Sqn Ldr Vinod Jain’s case. This is also in line with the orders of the Full Bench of the Central Administrative Tribunal rendered for civilian pensioners as a result of the long drawn struggle led by Mr V Natarajan, President, Pensioners’ Forum, Chennai. The said stipulation shall bring much needed succour especially to officers who retired from the rank of Major and Major General. If ultimately recommended and implemented, in all probability, the stipulation may also be extended to civilian pensioners thereby particularly resulting in relief to officers who retired from the Junior Administrative Grade (Deputy Secretary to Govt of India) and Senior Administrative Grade (Joint Secretary to Govt of India). While the maximum relief would be for these ranks and grades, this would result in enhancement to other grades also. 

Dual Family Pension and Pension for married handicapped kin: Currently, widows of pensioners who were in receipt of two service pensions for two separate spells of service are authorised one family pension only after the death of the employee/pensioner. This bar on the second family pension would be removed in all probability. Handicapped kin of govt employees are authorised to family pension for life but according to the interpretation of authorities, such pension was being refused to married handicapped children. This was held bad in law by the Chandigarh Bench of the AFT in the case of Vinod Kumar Vs UOI and also by the Chennai Bench and hence was not actually required to be placed before the committee having been already judicially adjudicated upon. This regressive bar is also bound to be removed. Both these stipulations are also expected to be extended to civilian pensioners.

Non Functional Upgradation: NFU for serving commissioned officers of the defence services is likely to be accepted. Though the signals are highly affirmative, nothing can be said till the time the same is done.

Enhancement of Grade Pay and other pay+status related anomalies: Enhancement of Grade Pay and the status of officers of the defence services degraded by successive pay commissions may not be resolved at the instant stage though full efforts are being made by all parties. The major stumbling block is the report by a GoM headed by Mr Pranab Mukherjee that had placed a Lt Col of the Army in between the Junior Administrative Grade (PB-3/GP 7600) and the Selection Grade (PB-4/GP 8700) based on incorrect inputs by the Finance Ministry. In the said report, officers of the Finance Ministry had also reportedly informed the GoM that officers in the Army were being promoted to the rank of Brig in 23 years of service and Maj Gen in 25 years. Both figures are grossly wrong and since there was no chance or occasion provided for military representatives to rebut these incorrect facts, the injustice got solidified. It may be recalled that even earlier, wrong pay scales of military officers had been mentioned on Page 73 of the 6th CPC report as published in 2008 on this blog, which anomaly was only to an extent rectified when Lt Cols were upgraded to Pay Band-4. Fixation of initial pay for Lt Cols, Cols and Brigs is also linked to this issue. HAG+ to all Lt Gens may not be accepted.

I would request readers again not to strongly react to the above and wait for all recommendations, and then the implementation, to be officially announced after which a detailed analysis can be carried out further. 

 

Source: Indianmilitary

Govt constitutes Committee to look into pay and pension related issues of defence services personnel and ex-servicemen

The Government has decided to constitute a Committee, under the chairpersonship of Cabinet Secretary, to look into pay and pension related issues of relevance to defence services personnel and ex-servicemen. The other members of the Committee will be:

(i) Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister

(ii) Defence Secretary

(iii) Secretary, D/o Expenditure

(iv) Secretary, D/o Ex-Servicemen’s Welfare

(v) Secretary, D/o Personnel and Training


The Committee’s ‘terms of reference’ will be to look into the following issues relating to:

(i) Defence services personnel:

• Common pay-scale for in-service JCOs/ORs

• Initial pay-fixation of Lt. Col/Colonel and Brigadier/equivalent

• Review and enhancement of grade pay

• Placing of all Lts General in HAG+ scale

• Grant of non-functional upgradation (NFU) to armed forces personnel


(ii) Ex-servicemen:

• One-rank one-pension

• Enhancement of family pension

• Dual family pension

• Family pension to mentally/physically challenged children of armed forces personnel on marriage

The Department of Expenditure will service the Committee. The Committee may co-opt any other member. The Committee will finalize its recommendations and submit its report to the Prime Minister by 8th August, 2012.