BSNL has announced an attractive scheme to its landline users.

From 15th August 2016 onwards free unlimited calls are allowed on all Sundays from BSNL Landlines.

The order .free-calls-on-sundays.pdf

BSNL has issued order granting benefit of 78.2% merger in HRA to serving BSNL staff only from 1-10-2016.

Increased pay with 78.2% IDA was given only from 10-6-2013. Now, HRA on the increased Pay is given only from 1-10-2016.

Some people wrote to Secretary, Telecom in 2015 that future pension revision in BSNL should be through seventh CPC. Thereafter, they changed their stand. They demanded PRC. Government did not accept their demand. Government did not change the Terms of Reference of third PRC. Pension Revision is not in the terms of reference. Still, these people went and submitted their memorandum to PRC on 8-8-2016 . Very next day, on 9-8-2016, they wrote another letter to Secretary, Telecom asking for benefits through CPC. We do not question anybody's wisdom. The Telecom Commission may be perplexed to see these over-turns.

Understand the realities:

There is no Defined Benefit Scheme in CPSEs and it is only Defined Contributory Scheme.

In CPSEs pension is constant and there is no pension revision.

There is a DPE guideline that the "superannuation benefits should not exceed 30% of Pay + DA". That is why PRCs are recommending the same.

Department of Public Enterprises conducted a workshop at Hyderabad on 19/11/2012 and the topic was "Pension Schemes in CPSEs". Nearly 15 CPSEs participated in that workshop and gave presentations.

Certain aspects from those presentations are:

Oil India was nationalised on 14/10/1981. Before that, there was a statutory guarantee for payment of pension. As on 31/3/2012, 1095 employees under this category are getting pension @ 40% of last 10 months average as pension. Those who were recruited after 14/10/1981 are covered under Defined Contributory System of pension.

Gas Authority of India (GAIL) employees contribute a fixed amount of Rs.29,172/- per year and it would increase by 5% each year. But the Management contributes only Rs.100/- per year. After 32 years of service, 50% of Last Pay Drawn (LPD) is given as pension. Minimum qualifying service required is 15 years and minimum pension is 20%.

In Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) Defined Benefit Scheme was introduced in November 1987 managed through Trust. As per DPE guidelines it was converted into Defined Contributory Scheme from 1/1/2007. Under Defined Benefit Scheme there were 13843 beneficiaries and under Defined Contributory Scheme there were 5595 beneficiaries as on 31/3/2012.

[ Nobody in the above CPSEs get pension from government. We are the only PSU retirees receiving pension from government.]

Superannuation benefit of 30% of Pay + DA is apportioned as follows in the following CPSEs:-

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . CPF ............ . . . . . Gratuity . . . . . . Pension. . . . . . . . Medical Benefits
Neyveli Lignite Corporation ......12% . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4.16% . . . . . . . . . .10% . . . . . . . . . . . .3.84%

Bharat Heavy Electricals Ltd ... 12% . . . . . . . . . . . ... 4.81% . . . . . . . . . . 8.69% . . . . . . ... . .4.5%

Coal India . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12% . . . . . . . . . . . . ....4.16% . . . .... . . . . . 9.84% . . . . . . . . . 4%

Without knowing the details, leaders of some Unions/Associations and the management of DoT talk about referring to PRC.

cpses-pension.pdf

BSNL Corporate Office has asked Circles to launch a web based programme to monitor the status of medical claims pending. It is a good suggestion. The only doubt is whether anyone in BSNL will take the instruction seriously and do it. bsnlmrs-web-based-programme.pdf

BSNL Corporate Office has issued an order yesterday, 10-8-2016, asking field units to settle the medical claims of retirees without delay. The Order is attached here. Please click on the link in red colour. bsnlmrs-quick-payment-to-pensioners.pdf

ORDERS ARE ISSUED TO START FUNCTIONING OF NEW BSNL CIRCLE FOR TELENGANA WITH EFFECT FROM 1-10-2016.

MEMBERS OF AIBSNLPWA AT ROHTAK DISCUSSING THE PROS AND CONS OF ORDER ON 78.2

MADHYA PRADESH CIRCLE SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETED ITS CIRCLE CONFERENCE AT SAGAR.

Com. R K Tiwari, Com. M C Sharma and Com. H N Srivastava are re-elected as Circle President, Circle Secretary and Circle Treasurer respectively.

CONGRATULATIONS.

The Seventh CPC had suggested two options for revising the pension of old pensioners to bring parity with new pensioners. While issuing the orders, the DoP&PW implemented only Option No 2.Option No 1 is also accepted subject to feasibility.To study the option No 1 in detail and suggest if it can be implemented a committee is appointed, comprising Secretary (Pension) as Chairman and Member (Staff). Railway Board, Member (Staff), Department of Posts, Additional Secretary & Financial Adviser, Ministry of Home Affairs and Controller General of Accounts as Members.

ONE CASE STUDY

An old case was brought to me recently.One gentleman while working as RSA in Telephones took invalid pension in 1982 with 18 years of qualifying service. He had earned ten increments in his scale then. He was drawing pro-rata pension of Rs 3862 from 1-1-2006. Since he is entitled to get full pension under the recent orders I prepared the calculations and his pension is re-fixed at Rs 6750, being the minimum of the corresponding pays scale of RSA (The cadre does not exist now). He got arrears of Rs 5,98, 976 also. After revision under Option No 2 suggested by 7th CPC he will get basic pension of Rs 17348.

If the first option is accepted and implemented, the above gentleman may get basic pension of Rs 26000.

All cases need not be advantageous like this. Those who retired at a higher level of his/her grade (after earning ten increments or more) will get good benefit under Option No1. Of course, the service book of many may not be available.That is shown as the main reason to state that it is not feasible.

Note: All old pensioners should keep ready whatever papers they have. Do not lose any paper connected with Service or pension. Some pensioners come to know the benefits, without any paper, not even the PPO. Some people come with BankPass books without updating the entries for the last 3-4 years also.

...P S Ramankutty

Two days Circle conference of our Madhya Pradesh Circle started at Sagar today morning. Shri L N Yadav MP, Shri Bharadwaj (TDM Sagar), Shri K K Dixit (SSP), Com. Natarajan (GS) and M C Sharma (CS) addessed the Open Session today

Department of Pension & Pensioners Welfare has issued the formal orders for revision of central government pensioners.

The said order says:

2.1 These orders shall apply to all pensioners/family pensioners who were drawing pension/family pension before 1.1.2016 under the Central Civil Services (Pension) Rules, 1972

7. (a) Where the Government servants on permanent absorption in public sector undertakings/autonomous bodies continue to draw pension separately from the Government, the pension of such absorbees will be updated in terms of these orders. I

DEPARTMENT OF PENSION & PENSIONERS' WELFARE HAS ISSUED THE NOTIFICATION FOR PENSION REVISION.

IT IS UPLOADED HEREUNDER.

Please click on this link to see the 6 pages order 7th-cpc-pension-revision.pdf

The finance ministry has issued fresh order to make payment of revised salary in August 2016 itself.

But, there is no instruction about Pension revision. It is understood that Department of Pension is ready with the order and waiting for the nod of finance ministry. Pension Revision is simple as only Option No2 is permitted now.

It is: Just multiply the existing basic pension by the factor of 2.57. The resultant amount is the new basic pension from January 2016, with ZERO percent CDA.

In 2008, when the sixth CPC report was implemented the general notification for Pay Revision was issued on 1-9-2008 and the DoP&PW Office Memorandum for pension revision was issued very next day, 2-9-2008. But, this time, even though the general notification was issued on 25-7-2016, the DoP&PW has not yet issued order for pension revision. We do not know the reason for this unusual delay. If they are waiting for the final decision on option No1 for ensuring parity in pension to the old pensioners, then it will take minimum four months for the high level committee to submit its report. More strange it is, the national level leaders have not taken up the matter of pension revision seriously.

Several coordination committees of Central Government Pensioners Associations and local leaders have expressed their anxiety and displeasure.

We are also getting enquieries from the DoT pensioners about the pension revision. As soon as we get the formal orders we shall upload the same in this Website…… .P S Ramankutty

Some people claim that CGHS facilities to BSNL retirees were made optional because of their efforts. Everybody understands that in 2014 itself the DoT declared it as optional. If someone wants to retain BSNLMRS he/she can do so. If some wants to take CGHS facility he/she can do so so.Main reason is that CGHS is available only in 25 cities. Majority of pensioners are staying in areas not covered by CGHS. At many places there are lot of complaints about the CGHS service.

Another problem was about the fees a pensioner has to pay to avail the CGHS facilities. It was fixed on the basis of Grade Pay whereas there is no system of Grade Pay in BSNL. Many of the retired non-executives can not afford the rate. We had taken up the matter with Minister for Health and Family Welfare in 2014 itself. Thereafter, the case was taken up again with Director (HR) of BSNL in September 2015 with a detailed letter.

But, now BSNL asks every pensioner to approach DOT and get the equivalent pay etc. Should the BSNL pensioners numbering about 1.8 lakh send their PPOs to concerned CCA office to get it recorded in their PPOs?

The rate is approximately:

On 29-7-2016, the BSNL Corporate Office has issued an order regarding extension of CGHS facilities to BSNL retirees. It is reproduced here. Click on this link to see the order. cghs-retd.-employees.pdf

We know that it is not legible and some of you may not be able to read it. The contents of the above order are;

• 1. On 20-2-2014 order was issued that BSNL retirees can opt either BSNLMRS or CGHS.
• 2. But it was not yet extended to BSNL retirees by CGHS. Main reason was that the premium to be paid by the BSNL staff or BSNL pensioners is determined based on Grade Pay. There is no grade Pay system in BSNL.
• 3. Now CGHS has asked DoT to indicate the equivalent basic pay (in CDA pattern) and the Grade Pay to fix the premium and the eligibility for room etc.
• 4. BSNL is asking the Retired employees to approach the DOT and get the equivalent basic pay!
• 5. BSNL will pay onetime premium for the serving staff.But, Pensioners themselves should pay the premium.
• The intention is not to help the pensioners. BSNL corporate Office took more than 20 months to study the matter and issue such a strange instruction! It is BSNL style.

COMRADES R CHANGAPPA (CS), K GURURAJAN (CIRCLE TREASURER), K K GANAPATHY (DIST PRESIDENT) AND AJJAPPA (DIST SECRETARY) ADDRESSED THE MEETING AT SHIMOGA ON 2-8-2016.