F. No. 42/1/2013-P&PW(G)Government of India

Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances & PensionsDepartment of Pension &. Pensioners' Welfare

3rd Floor, Lok Nayak Bhavan,Khan Market, New Delhi - 110003Date: 6th February, 2013

OFFICE MEMORAND,UM

Subject: Action Taken Report (ATR) on the minutes of the 21stmeeting of Standing Committee of Voluntary Agencies(SCOVA).

Please find enclosed herewith a copy of Action Taken Report(ATR) on the decisions of the 21st meeting of the Standing Committee ofVoluntary Agencies (SCOVA) held on 27th September, 2012 in New Delhiunder the Chairmanship of Hon'ble MOS(PP) for kind perusal.

( Sujasha Choudhur )Deputy Secretary (P)Telefax: 24644637

1. Director, NIC, 3rd floor, Lok Nayak Bhawan, New Delhi for placingthis Office Memorandum on this Department's websitewww.pensionersportal.gov.in -+ Circulars -+ SCOVA.

(i) Secretary, National Council (Staff Side) .JCM, 13-C, FerolshahRoad, New Delhi - 110001.

(ii) President, All India Retired Railwaymen's Federation, Block 303,Railway Colony High School, Chilkallguda, Secunderabad -500025, Andhra Pradesh.

(Hi) President, Indian Ex-Services League, 9, Nyaya Marg,Chanakyapuri, New Delhi - 110 021.

(iv) President, All India Federation of Pensioners Association, G-2,Soundar:ya, New No. 51, Old No. 22, Kavarai Street, SaidapetWest, Chennai - 600015.

(v) Secretary General, Bharat Pensioners' Samaj, Post Box No.3303, Jangpura P.O. New Delhi - 110 014.

(i) Vice President & Honorary Secretary, Air Force Association, AirForce Station, Race Course Camp, New Delhi - 110 003.

(H) President, Retired Railway Employees Welfare Association,490A/16, Gurudwara Road, Gurgaon - 122 001, Haryana.

(iii) President/General Secretary, P&T Pensioners' WelfareAssociation, House No. 686, Sector 40-A, Chandigarh -160036, Punjab.

(iv) President, Karnataka Central Government Pensioners'Association, Bangalore (Regd.) 'Swarna', No.120/1, 2nd MainRoad, GD Park Extension, Vyalikaval, Bangalore-560 003.

(v) General Secretary, Federation of Central GovernmentPensioners' Organization, 253-A, Ashoke Road, PO - Garia,Kolkata - 700084.

(vi) President, Central Government Pensioners Welfare Association,Jammu Olympic Association Bldg., Parade, Jammu - 180001,Jammu & Kashmir.

(vii) President/General Secretary, All India Organisation ofPensioners, Kanpur, 120/469, Lajpat Nagar, Kanpur - 208 005Uttar Pradesh.

(viii) President/General Secretary, Central Government PensionersAssociation, Maharana Sahi, Vivekananda Marg, Bhubaneswar -751 002, Orissa.

(ix) President/General Secretary, All India Central GovernmentPensioners' Association, 1785, Sadashivpeth, Phadkeshankul,Near Pune, Vidyarthi Griha, Pune - 411030, Maharashtra.

(x) President/General Secretary, Jharkhand Pensioners' KalyanSamaj, Near Treasury Office, Court Compound, Ranchi(Jharkhand) - 834001

1. Ministry of Finance (Department of Expenditure)2. Ministry of Defence (Department of Ex-Servicemen Welfare).3. Ministry of Railways.4. Department of Posts.5. Department of Telecommunications.6. Ministry of Health & Family Welfare.7. Department of Personnel & Training (DOP&T).8. Department of Financial Services.9. Controller General of Accounts (CGA).10. Central Pension Accounting Office (CPAO).

Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions(Department of Pension & Pensioners' Welfare)

ACTION TAKEN REPORT ON THE DECISIONS OF THE 21st MEETING OFSTANDING COMMITTEE OF VOLUNTARY AGENCIES (SCOVA) HELD ON

27th SEPTEMBER. 2012SI.No

Issue raised in 21st

SCOVA meeting asper minutes2Sl. No.1 and 19 ofATR of Para 5 :

Issue of revisedPPO for Pre-2006retirees and alsoto communicatethe amount ofpension as well asFamily Pension tobe revisedconsequent to the6th Central PayCommission toPre 1.1.2006pensioners.

Decision taken in the 21st Follow up ActionSCOVA meeting

3i) Central PensionAccounting Office hasindicated that out of 6.67lakhs cases of pre-2006pensioners/familypensioners revised PPOs inrespect of 3.06 lakhs caseshave been issued. CPAOinformed that they aresending e-scrolls ofPensioners to allMinistries/Departments,which will solve theproblem of non receipt ofAnnexure-III.ii) As final figures werenot available, Department ofTelecommunications andDepartment of Posts wereasked to compile data forthe cases ofpensioners/familypensioners of pre-2006 andtake necessary action fortheir revision by 31st March,2013.iii) Ministry ofRailways informed that theyhave requested pensionersto apply for revision of PPOby making all the dataavailable to them. Theyinformed that they haverevised 4.7 lakhs PPOs onreceipt of these applicationsand 6.00 lakhs are pending.The Ministry has beenasked to complete the taskof issuing revised PPOs by

4DOP&PWand CPAOa) A number of initiatives were taken in the lastquarter of 2012 such as allowing change in date ofbirth of spouse, use of certain documents forrevision of PPOs, inclusion of present postal addressand mobile and telephone number III the lifecertificate and use of e-scroll for extractinginformation from banks database. It has also beendecided in January,2013 to revise PPO without theDate of Birth of spouse where it is not readilyavailable and revise the PPO again when Date ofBirth becomes available. A reconciliation exerciseis underway in the CPAO. The future course ofaction may be chalked out after receiving furtherinputs from the CPAO.

b) CPAO has also requested all the pensionersthrough advertisement published in one leadingdaily National Hindi, English, Regional newspaperof State/ UT's each, on 21/10/2012 to furnishadditional information like present address,Telephone/Mobile Number while appearing for lifecertificate or submitting it to banks in Novemberevery year. Banks Association has also b~enrequested to gIve it wide publicity throughadvertisements.

c) Civil Ministries' pre-2006 pendency has beenreduced to 23% and pre-1990 pendency has beenreduced to 75% as on 31.01.2013. Further, about18,000 cases are at various stages in the PAOs andCPAO.

Department of Postsl(a) Revision of pension and PPOs of Pr-2006Pensioners :-The work regarding reVISIOn of Pension andpayment of arrear has been completed in respect ofalmost all pre 2006 pensioners. The progress up to

March, 2013 whereapplications have beenreceived. Simultaneouslythey should ascertain amechanism of getting dataof the remaining cases andrevising PPOs of those whohave not applied forrevision of PPOs.iv) Ministry of Defenceinformed that they have tocater to the requirement ofmore than 11 lakh pre-2006Pensioners. They haverevised PPOs of about 5.7lakh out of them. They alsoinformed that Inapproximately 8.0 lakhcases, the revision has to bedone manually and theyhave to take additionalaction for capturing all thedata which is available onlyIn physical form. TheMinistry was asked todeploy additionalmanpower for capturingof data and complete the

. . . b 30threvIsion exercise ySeptember, 2013.

Secretary (P&PW)requested all theorganizations/Departments/Ministries to expedite thesame without further delayand update the latest statuswith the Department ofPension & Pensioners'Welfare.

( Action: CPA0, MloRailwavs, MloDefence,Dlo Posts,Dlo Telecom andDOP&PW)

30.11.2012 in respect of revision of PPOs of pre2006 pensioners is 45.18%. All the Head of Circles/Postal Accounts offices have been requested to getthe work completed by target date.

l(b) Revision of Pension and PPOs of Post-2006Pensioners:-The work regarding revision of Pension and PPOs inrespect of Post-2006 Pensioners has been completedalmost cent percent.

Ministry of Railways:(i) The position of revision of Pre-2006 and Post-2006 PPOs to the end of December/2012 is givenbelow:-

Period Total no.of pensioncases

No. ofapplicationsreceived bypensionsanctioningauthority forrevision

No. 01PPOs isissued bythe AlesDepartment.

No of casesreceived byAlesDepartmentfor issue ofPPOs

Pre- 10,40,278 4,92,528 4,80,000 4,78,4822006Post- 1,41,289 1,36,439 1,35,720 1,34,6412006Total 11,81,567 6,28,967 5,55,460 6,13,123

(ii) Instructions have been issued by Railway Boardto chalk out a comprehensive action plan and gearup machinery to complete the work of revision f allremaining pre-2006 cases by the stipulated date of31103/2013(AM/F's letter No. 2010/AC-II/2I/4 dtd.07-11-12 and 07-12-12). Railways have also beenasked to complete. the remaining work in the timebound manner by 31-03-2013. Railway have beenasked to give wide publicity of revision of pensionby issuing advertisements in the newspaper cal1in~for the applications from pensioners and makingsuitable arrangement in Personnel and AccountsOffices for processing the pension revision cases.(iii) It is pertinent to mention that AccountsDepartment Issues revised PPO on receipt ofsanction of revision of pension from the PensionSanctioning Authority (Personnel Branch).Personnel Department had been issuingadvertisements in the newspapers calling for thedetails vi. Current residential address, updated bankaccount no. (post core-banking system) etc. from thepensioners for processing and according sanction thesame before being forwarded to the AccountsDepartment for revision of pension.

S1. No.6, 7 and 8of ATR of Para 5:(a) Revision ofex-gratia amountto CPF/SRPFretirees, (b)Uniformrates of DR & (e)

Ex-gratiashould not be lessthan minimumpension and thesame should beeffective from01/01/06.(d) Ex- gratia tothose vvhovoluntarily retiredafter 20 years ofservIce in respectof pre-1986CPF ISRPFretireesS1. No. 13 and 16of ATR of Para 5:(13) - The Ordersof Ministry ofHealth reiteratingthat all thepenSIoners are atliberty to optthemselves vvith anyof the nearest CGHShospital/dispensarymay be vvidelycirculated. Arbitrary

(a), (b) and (e) It vvasinformed that the proposalfor increasing the ex-gratiafor CPF pensioners so as tobring them at par vvithSRPFbeneficiaries IS underconsideration(d) : As regards ex-gratia tothose vvho took voluntaryretirement, it vvas agreed tore-examine the matter in thelight of varIOUS courtjudgements( Action : Ministry ofRailways and DOP&PW)

It was informed that theissue was taken up withthe concerned ministriesand the decision to merge19 dispensaries III 12cities have been taken inprinciple. The concernedministries will inform theexact timelines. In thisregard Hon'ble MOS(PP)will take up the issue withthe Health Minister. Hewill also take up the

(iv) To facilitate receipt of applications from leftover pensioners, RBI on request of RailvvayBoardissued instructions to all the pension disbursing bankbranches to ask pensioners to fill pension revisionapplications forms along vvithLife Certificate. Thesame vvould be collected by railvvays and units foraccording sanction and to issue revised PPOs to thepensioners.

Dlo TelecommunicationThe cases for revision of pension of pre-2006pensioners is in progress. Efforts are being made tocomplete the task of finalization the pre-2006pension revision cases vvithin the time frame as perthe instruction of DOP&PW.DOP&PW:(a), (b) and (e): No change in the information.(d):Ministry of Railvvayshad been requested on 22.11.12and reminded on 07.01.13.

(d) Ministry of Railvvays' comments have sincebeen received and the matter is to be reconsidered inconsultation vviththe Department of Expenditure.

Department of Posts :Merger of 19 postal Dispensary located in 12citieswith CCHSAs per recommendations of VI Pay Commission, thematter of merger of 19 Portal Dispensaries in 12cities, vvhere CGHS is in operation, is in activeconsideration.Fixed Medical Allowance to Pensioners ofDepartment of Posts &. Telecommunication(FMA):The Issue of vvithdravval of OM dated1.8.1996 has been taken up vvithMinistry of Heath& Family Welfare. The matter is underconsideration in that Ministry.

orders dated01/08/1996 and01/09/1996 issuedby Ministry ofHealth and Directorof CGHS may bewithdrawn and thebenefit of CGHSfacilities be allowedto the pensioners ofDepartment of Postand Department ofTelecom as speciallyprovided in the orderof the Department ofPersonnel andPension.(6)-(i Theexisting Pensionersof Department ofPosts and Telecomcovered by P& TDispensaries areneither consideredfor treatment ofhospitalizationfacilities nor forFixed MedicalAllowance &(ii)Pensionersfalling within thelimit of P& TDispensaries /CGHS'Hospitals may beallowed to opt forP&T Dispensaries ordrawl of FMA.Sl. No. 17 ofATRof Para2,:lnclusion ofRepresentatives ofA.lRRF andSCOVA in RailwayHospital AdvisoryCommittees.Sl. No. 23(ii) ofATR of Para 5Fixed MedicalAllowance.

matter with the HealthMinister regardingopening of one newCGHS dispensary atMohalilPanchkulalChandigarh.

(Action: Ministry ofHealth & FW,Department of Posts,Department of Telecom,DoP&PW)

The matter is underexamination in consultationwith Zonal Railways.

(Action : MinistryRailways)

Ministry of Health & Family Welfare:With the approval of competent authority, theproposal has been referred to MlO Finance, D/OExpenditure for providing budgetary support toimplement the decision of merger/takeover of 19dispensaries of Department of Posts in 12 Cities byCGHS. So far as opemng of dispensary atMohali/Panchkulal Chandigarh IS concerned, itwould not be possible to accede to this in view ofsevere resource crunch faced by CGHS. It may bestated that currently, there are a number of Statesand UTs without any CGHS dispensary.

Ministry of RailwaysMembers/representatives in Hospital AdvisoryCommittee are appointed by Chief PersonnelOfficers of each Zonal Railway with the approval of

of General Manager of the respective Railway as awelfare measure

It was informed that DoP &PW:jurisdiction of a dispensary The position regarding entitlement of FMA to non-IS decided by its admn. railway civil pensioners was explained in the lastAuthorities. Department of meeting. It was explained that those residing within

(ill: to penSIOnerresiding beyond 2.5kIns fromdispensary.

Sl. No. 26 of ATRof Para 5:Anomaly in fixationof pension to DoTemployees absorbedin BSNL, whoretired between1.10.2000 and31.7.2001.

Pension and Pensioners'Welfare instructions allowFixed Medical Allowance topensioners residing outsidethe jurisdiction ofdispensary. Ministry ofRailways explained 2.5Km. limit is laid down bythe decision of courts.

the jurisdiction of CGHS dispensary were notentitled to FMA.

Ministry of Railways:As regards territorial jurisdiction for the grant ofFMA in respect of Railway pensioners, there wassome dispute and this issue was decided by HighCourt of Kerala vide their order dt.22-11-2002 inO.P No.17280/2002 prescribing for criterion of 2.5Kms. This order of Kerala High Court has beenupheld by Hon'ble Supreme Court. Once the issuehas been settled by the Apex Court no further actionin the matter is feasible. It is relevant to point outthat in respect of Non-Railway civil pensionersFMA is not admissible if residing in area covered byCGHS dispensary/Hospita1. Thus, the criterion ofresiding beyond 2.5 kIns of RailwayHospital/Dispensary is analogous to the positionexisting with reference to Non-Railway civilpensioners. As such, this Ministry cannot take anyunilateral decision on this issue.

The members thereafter Regarding issues relating to RELHS, the positionraised specific Issue of has been explained against S1.No.4 & S1.No. 14 ofRELHS. It was decided that the ATR by Ministry of Railwaysthe Ministry of Railwaysmay discuss the issue withthe members.(Action : Ministry ofRailways)Department of Telecommay re-examine the issue.(Action : Department ofTelecommunication)

Deptt. of Telecom:The proposal for rectification of anomaly in pensionof BSNL employees retired within ten months oftheir absorption in BSNL w.e.f. 1.10.2000. wasexamined in consultation with the Internal"FinanceWing and referred to Department of Pension andPensioners' Welfare as well as Department ofExpenditure. While Department of Pension andPensioners' Welfare agreed with our proposal,Department of Expenditure did not agree to thesame. However, DOP&PW opined that "since theGovt. had decided and implemented the formula forfull minimum pension of all pensioners irrespectiveof their date of retirement as not to be less than 50 ofthe minimum pay in the revised scale. Therefore,the absorbees who are entitled for combined servicepension as per Rule 37A are also entitled forminimum of pension, irrespective of their date ofretirement at the rate not less than 50 of the

Sl. No. 28 ofATRof Para 5:Payment of pensionto postal retireesthrough banks.

6.1 of Para 6Time boundgrievance redressa1& real timedissemination ofinformation are thetwo main ingredientsof this novel venturefor the welfare ofpenSIOners

minimum pay in the scale of pay held by them at thetime of their retirement. This being the rule position,the pensioners of this class retiring even after1.8.2001 are entitled far minimum pension at therate not less than 50% of the minimum pay in thescale of pay held by them at the time of retirement.Accordingly, the issue was examined and it has beendecided that the absorbees in BSNL who are entitledfor combined service pension as per Rule 37 A arealso entitled for minimum of pension, irrespectiveof their date of retirement, at the rate not less than50% of the minimum pay in the scale of pay held bythem at the time of retirement. This decision wasconveyed to BSNL vide letter No. 40-10/2005-Pen(T) dated 27th September, 2011. (copy enclosed)However, since the grievance has not been settled inmost of the cases, several representations werereceived from the pensioners/ PensionersAssociations of BSNL etc. The case IS underexamination in Department of Telecommunication.

DoP&PW:DoP&PW will examine the matter as and when anyproposal is referred by Department ofTelecommunication to us.

Department of Posts Department of Posts:informed that proposal has Department of Post has finalised and issued anbeen sent to the Reserve scheme for Payment of Pension to postal retireesBank of India for final through Banks. Hence, the task has been completed.clearance. The Departmentwas asked to finalize theissue by 31.12.2012.(Action : Department ofPosts)The Department of DoP&PW:Pensioners and Pensioners The Department of Pension & Pensioners WelfareWelfare informed that all have been writing to Nodal Officers of allthe Ministries have been Ministries/Departments to fix and observe time lineissued instructions to for redressal of grievances. These instructions wereredress the grievance as per again reiterated to all Nodal Officers of allthe timeline prescribed by MinistrieslDepartments vide Department letter No.Department of 41/36/2011-P&PW(C) dt. 15.10.2012 (Annexure -Administrative Reforms Al.(ARPG). In cases it was not Further the review meetings at Secretary (Pension)possible to give immediate level are also held with MinistrieslDepartmentsreply, an interim reply having high pendency in redressal of grievances 5should be given to the such meeting have already been held onapplicant. DOP&PW will 19.06.2012,14.08.2012, 18.09.2012,18.12.2012 andreiterate these instructions 28.01.2013 during the current financial year.

6.2 of Para 6Disseminationinformation Intime:

to allMinistrieslDepartments.The Railway associationpointed out that direct caseswhich goes to Ministry ofRailways should giveacknowledgement on thesame lines as in respect ofcases coming throughDoP&PW. This facility isavailable in the softwareCPENGRAMS which canbe made use by allMinistrieslDepartments.(Action: Ministry ofRailways, DOP&PW andother Ministries)

ofreal

All the Ministries wererequested to update theinformation available in thewebsite and providenecessary linkage to thewebsites of Department ofPensioners and Pensioners'Welfare. Ministry ofRailway have been asked toregularly update all theinstructions for informationof Pensioners association.

Ministry of Railways :All Railway Units have been advised vide letter No.CPENGRAMS/1I2011 dated 14-11-2012 tomake efforts to dispose of the Pension Grievanceswithin two months time period as per the time lineprescribed by Department of Pension & Pensioners'Welfare letter No. F.No. 41136/2011-P&PW(C),dated 15-10-2012. As regards the issue of interimreply and acknowledgement on the lines ofDOP&PW, the matter is under examination andoutcome would soon be conveyed.

CPAO:Grievances are watched and replied regularlyreceived through CPENGRAMS website. The sameis also monitored on weekly basis by ChiefController (Pensions). CPAO has also its owngrievances cell where grievances are received!registered through mail, e-mail telephone, in personetc. The Cell was started with 5 experience retiredpersons and Telephone lines. The same has beenstrengthened with 10 telephone lines with 10dedicated persons to attend and resolve thegrievances.Department of PostsDepartment of Post has issued instructions to theiroffices to release the dearness relief on the basis ofDR orders issued by DoP&PW on website.

Ministry of Railways :Instru9tions have already been issued to allconcerned Directorates to such as Establishment,Pay Commission, Health, Finance, Accounts' etc tohave their policy guidelines and circulars uploadedon the Railway website.

Representative of the Posts CPAO :& Telcom Pensioner information related to pensioners issued by CPAOAssociation stated that when are posted immediately on CPAO website. Linkagethe circular about to the websites of Department of Pensioners andenhancement of Dearness Pensioners' Welfare is also available on CPAOrelief (DR) for website.pensioners/familypensioners IS issued by Department of Telecom:Department of Pension & Necessary instructions have already 'been issued toPensioners' Welfare the concerned offices to release the dearness relief(DoP&PW) and on the basis of DR orders issued by DOP&PW on

6.3 of Para 6Simplificationsubmission ofCertificate

ofLife

subsequently pasted on thePensioner portal ·Website,the post offices don't takecognizance of it, until aseparate circular is issuedby the Department of Poston the basis of DoP&PWDearness Relief circular.This double exerCIsetantamounts to delay ingetting the dearness reliefby the pensioners/familypensioners through postoffices. During thediscussions, Hon'bleMOS(PP) mentioned that,circular on enhancement ofDearness Relief (DR) issuedby DoP&PW should beapplicable to all offices ofthe Government of India. Inthis regard Secretary(P&PW) will take up theIssue with Department ofPost and Department ofTelecommunication(Action: Mlo Railways /MloHealth & Family Welfare/Mlo Defencel DloPersonnel & Trainingl DloExpenditurel Dlo FinancialServiceslDlo Telecom. DloPostsICGAlCPAOlDoPPW)The issue of submission oflife certificate in any branchof Banks other than theBank in which thepensioners had theiraccounts has not been foundfeasible. However, CPAOwas asked to look into thefeasibility of submission oflife certificate in any of thebranches of the same Bank.(Action :CPAOlDepartment of Post!Department ofTelecommunication)

Department of Expenditure:Necessary instructions have been issued to allconcerned vide O.M. No. B-11015/2/2012-Ad.I dt.23.01.2013 (Annexure- B)

Ministry of Health & Family Welfare:M/O H&FW has requested NIC to examine theproposal for providing the linkage for the website ofD/o Pension & Pensioners Welfare with thisMinistry's website.

CPAO: •Proposal for simplification for submission of LifeCertificate has already been sent to DirectorD/o P &PW vide VO No. 1(7) (4)/2011/S0PP/TA/ 668-689dated 30/10/2012 by the Dy. Controller General ofAccounts

DOP&PW:The matter is under examination in consultation withDepartment of Expenditure

Department of Telecom:The issue will be taken up with the bank afterconsolidation of Single Window system which wasintroduced w.e.f. October, 2012 for disbursement ofpension through the banks by simplifying the

6.5 of Para 6Nomination facilityfor FamilyPensioners drawingLife Time Arrears:

6.7 of Para 6Medical Insurancecoverage toPensioners

6.8 ofPara-6a) GrievancesCommittees at theAdditional Director(CGHS) Level atDelhi:

The Departmen! of Pensionand Pensioners Welfareagreed to further examinethe proposal.( Action : Department ofExpenditure/ Departmentof Financial Services/CGAlCPAO andDOP&PW)The Representatives ofMinistry of Health &Family Welfare informedthat the proposal has beensent to PlanningCommission in 12th Planand the scheme will bestarted for obtaining therequisite information.(Action: Ministry ofHealth & Familv Welfare)Advisory Committees havebeen constituted at WellnessCentre level which meetsregularly to settle the issuesat local level itself. Claimday once in a month andClaim Adalat from time totime are held in each zoneto settle outstandingreimbursement claims.Detailed instructions tostreamline and expeditedisposal of MedicalReimbursement Claimshave also been issued andthe position IS beingmonitored at all levelsregularly. As a result of theinitiatives taken by theMinistry in this regard, thependency has been broughtdown drastically. MOHFWintends to further bring itdown throughcomputerization andadministrative actions. Itwas decided that a fix dateand time may be prescribed

procedure for submission of life certificate.DoP&PW:The matter is under examination in consultation withD/o Legal Affairs.

Ministry of Health & Family Welfare:Department will initiate further process in the matterafter finalization of the 12 Five Year Plan which isin its final stages.

Ministry of Health & Family Welfare:Instructions have been issued to all AdditionalDirectors of CGHS citieslzones to fix a time slot of11.00 AM to 01.00 PM on every Wednesday forhearing and redressal of grievances of CGHSbeneficiaries including pensioners.

b) A similargrievance committeeat national level mayalso be constitutedc) CentralGovernment HealthScheme: Issues atWellness CentersBangalored)CGHSDispensary/Wellness Centre atJammue) Opening of threemore CGHSDispensaries, one atMohali, second atPanchkula and "onemore at Chandig;arh6.12&6.13 of ParaQ:6.12:i) RELHSfacilities todependent parents ;

ii) On 24th

February 2010during the budgetspeech Minister forRailways

for meeting the pensionersand the same should be puton the website.(Action: Ministry ofHealth & Familv Welfare)Hon'ble MOS (PP) directedMinistry of Health &Family Welfare to takeappropriate action and hewill take the matter withMinister of Health &Family Welfare also forempanelment of hospitals tobe made better.(Action: Ministry ofHealth & Family Welfare)

Ministry of Railways agreedto examine issues on meritIn consultation withpensioners associations. Incase they have any othergrievance they mayapproach railwayauthorities.(Action : Ministry ofRailways)

Ministry of Health & Family Welfare:b) There is no need to constitute a separategrievance committee at national level. The relevantissues can be brought to the notice of the Ministryby the staff members of National Council (JCM)c) The process of empanelment of qualityhospitals/diagnostic centres across the countryincluding Bangalore is under process in thisMinistry. Efforts are being made to empaneladequate ·number of private hospitals/diagnosticlaboratories and imaging centres for the purpose ofproviding quality healthcare to the CGHSbeneficiaries.d) CGHS dispensary in Jammu has since becomeoperationale) CGHS is already overstretched and currentlyfacing acute resource constraints. It would thereforenot be possible to accede to the demand at this pointof time.Ministry of Railways:

6.12:(i) A Committee had been constituted by RailwayBoard to make recommendations with respect tomodalities for implementation of the scheme forextension of medical facilities to both dependentfather and mother of railway employees. TheCommittee has submitted its report which is underconsideration ofthe Board.

•(ii) A memorandum of Understanding was signedbetween Ministry of Railways and Ministry ofHealth & Family Welfare on 05.02.2010, regardingopening of OPD cum Diagnostic Centres, SecondaryLevel General Speciality Hospitals and TertiaryLevel Multi-specialities Hospital on land, which isnot immediately operationally required, to providequality healthcare to Railway passengers, Generalpublic and Railway beneficiaries. It is planned to setup 381 OPD & Diagnostic Centres (200 sq.m.), 101Secondary Level General Speciality Hospital(5acres) and 40 Tertiary Level Multi-specialitiesHospital (20 acre). To translate the MoU intoaction, a High Power Working; Group under the

iii) Separatenominated days forPensioners/familypenSIOners forspecialistconsultation m Rlyhospital.iv) Inclusion ofrepresentatives ofidentifiedAssociations &SCOVA members inRly Hospitalgnevancecommittees.

v) Smart CardFacility for RELHSbeneficiaries

Chairmanship of Minister of State for Health andFamily Welfare has been formed with semorofficials of both the Ministries as members thereof.Three meetings of of the Working Group have so farbeen held in which about 91 locations htlve beenidentified for developing the healthcare facilities aspilot project. Out of these 91 locations, 50 locationshave been identified for development ofDiagnostics/OPD facilities, 25 locations/stationshave been identified for setting up of SecondaryLevel General Speciality Hospitals and another 16locations have been identified for development ofTertiary care hospitals.OPD & Diagnostic Centres have been decided to bedeveloped on priority basis as it will have a shortergestation period and also it will require lesseramount of investment. Therefore, to test the model,the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare hasidentified 11 locations VIZ. Kathua, Udhampur,Dhakuria, Bongaon, Barrckpore, Naihati, Bagnan,Khardah, Hasnabad, Erode and Tanuku for settingup of OPD& Diagnostic Centres.Ministry of Health & Family Welfare is in theprocess of finalizing the financial model forestablishment and operation of the proposed OPD &Diagnostic Centre. Ministry of Railways is regularlyfollowing up the matter with Ministry of Health &Family Welfare.(Hi) Instructions in this regard have been issued.(Annexure-C)

(iv) There IS provision of Hospital AdvisoryCommittees in Railway Hospitals to assist patientand their family members. The committee shallconsist entirely of ladies. As far as possible, themembers of the Committee should be wives or otherdependents of the Railway employees. The MedicalOfficer in charge of the hospital may in additioninvite ladies not connected with the Railways butinterested in social and voluntary hospital work toserve on these Committees.

(v) Instructions in this regard have been issued.(Annexure-D)

vi) RELHS to beopen ended scheme

vU) . Streamliningof functioning ofRailway Hospitals

6.13-WelfareMeasure for RailwayPensioners:(ii)Provision ofoffice accommod toPensioner Asso.

iv)Allow dependentsin Widow passes:

v)Provision ofpasses to familypensioners otherthan the widow

(vi) Instructions in this regard have been issued.(Annexure-E)

(vii) Indian Railway Medical Services have a welldefined system of referraL Zonal Hospitals being thereferral hospitals for each Zone. Improvement inhealthcare services is an on-going process. Everyeffort is being made to provide our beneficiarieswith best of comprehensive healthcare 10 ourhospitals within available resources.

6.13 (ii)Provision exists in para 1963 of Indian RailwayEngg. Code for allotment of spare building to HouseWelfare Organizations at a nominal fee. ZonalRailways can be approached accordingly in thematter.

6.13 (iv) and (v)(iv) In terms of Schedule-V (Widow Pass) ofRailway Servants (Pass) Rules, 1986 (RevisedEdition-1993), dependent relatives are not entitled tobe included in Widow Passes. However, as regardsdependent children, there is no bar. They are to beincluded in the widow pass.

(v) After implementation of 6th CPCrecommendation, travel entitlements on PrivilegePass have been revised recently, which has benefiteda large number of employees retired or serving.Keeping in view this large scale liberalization,·further relaxatiOIi of rules to include provision ofpasses to family pensioners other than the widow onthe pass is not considered feasible due to financialand other repercussions. •

...::: -, --'--''''-F.No.41/3fi:'2011-P&:PVV(C)

Govt. of IndiaMinistry of Personnel, P.G. & Pensions

Depa.rtment of Pension & Pensioners' Vvelfare***Jfo*****",,**;':-'

3rd Floor, Lok Nayak Bhawan,New Delhi, the 15th October, 2012

All Nodal Officers of all Ministries/ Departments. i

(Web Based Pensioners' Portal)

As per softw,u:e developed for monitoring of Pension related grievances, all on-line grievances of pensioners are being fed tlu'ough web application CPENGRAM5available in the Pensioners' Portal maintained by Department of Pension & Pensioners'Weliare and tlle same cue forwaJ:ded online to the concernedMinistries/Departments/Organizations for tlleir rew·essal. It has, however, been feltthat timely action is not being taken by various Ministries / Departments /Organisations for redress'll of grievances and same remain pending for unduly longperiods. TIlere is tllus need to emphasis upon tlle concenled officers dealing with thesegrievances in yom' Department for taking timely action on tlle grievances of pensionersso that unnecessary delays could be avoided. TIle regional offices and .field o.f.fj.cers,wherever tlley exist also need to be sensitized in tllis regard accordingly.

J As all'ead)' requested earlier vide tlUsDepartment's letter of even number dated13.01.2012,you are once again requested to fix tlle time-,line for timely redressal of

"grievances·a:sper the~deliJ.les issued by Department of i\R&PG ,(cQpy"endo!!~q.Lp.:L, caseswhere it is not possible to give immediate reply, an interim reply should be givento the applicant. An. immediate ' action by concemed •Mi.riistries/Departments/Organizations will be steps towards pensioners' welfare andv.rillgo a long'way in ameliorating tllehar'dships of Pensioners.

.ole- (Tripti P. Ghosh),Director

, Yours faithfully

\fffl..t.:

,\-"28-'13 16:46 FROM-

1No. B._l101S/2/~n-t\d.l

Go"crntncnt of \odiSl

.Ministry ofWinanct

'OcpartlOent of E~penditurei .••.•••••• North B\o~l\,1'Je~ De\hi

Dated, the ~ ~n\lar)', 20\'3

subjec

r2J

" nt•• P"g of tilt sra"ding Co"""illt< of VolunlOry Ag.nc1es

(SCOV;I) held on 21'

september, 2012.The undersigned is dUected

'0 rcler '0 oepartrn.n' of p.nsion

&.pensioners' Welfare'SOM No.4214512

009

-P&.PWtG) dated 3\ .0%.20\1 .ide woico.' list of draft .~end' \terns wasforwarded '0 ,IDSo.part

11lenl[or cornn'en1s. Fol\owin~ IWO "ern

s,n me draft ~end' concern

differ.n' di"isioOS of mis Oeparunen

"Tint' bou"d gri.vanc' red"".' i.ca" ofp ••• ;on,rs: ..' . 0 l\II \\as been reported ,hat se.eral Ministries are nO' oandl\J\g ,he ~[\e.artCes "",I ,aseriousneSS w\lich is required in suco cases. ,07s' are sorne,irn

etransrn,tted to ":"'~n~

deslin.tions and are alsOunilate,.l\~ closed on ,nconeet 1I10undSw,IOOU' tc

soMn

•·

.. &I~<.Jitendra ~\G~,;ad)

Under Secretary 10 me Gov\. onnd

••Tel. ~o.: 130956.33

I. 'oy. contlol\e, Gene,.1 of Aceo""ts tShri C· Maoesowar.n), 010 CGA-

2. oy. Contlol\e, of Accounts tS\Ui 5.1<" Jadha.). CPAO

3. ··Under secre,ar;eS [1'..HltA)/E.\\\tll

)1£.'11 .

.. :-,;, .. ,,"'"·1·:' "". ::r" :~" .

GOVERNMENT OF INDIAMINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

(RAILWAY BOARD)

Chief Medical. Directors,All Indian Railways.

Provision of specialized OPD treatment to Sr. Citizens.

The issue of providing specialized treatment to eligible Sr. Citizens in RailwayHospitals on the nominated day(s) & time has been engaging attention for sometime.

in this regard, zonal Railways are advised to provide specialized services on -priority on nominated day(s) to Sr. Citizens as per local arrangements.

~J}l~~Deputy Director, Healih

Railway Board

GOVERNMENT OF INDIAMINISTRY OF RAILWAY

(RAILWAY BOARD)

General Manager,All Indian Railways(including Production Units).

Sub: Cashless Service for RELHS Card Holder to take treatment in Rccogniz<..'d!'rivate Hospitals in emergency.

In an endeavour to alleviate the problems faced by the Sr. Citizens in gettingtreatment in emergency, a cashless service for RELHS card holders to take treatment inrccognit.cd private hospitals of National Capital Region was introduced by Northern Railwayvide 8oard's letter of even no. dated 29.02.2008 as a Pilot Project. The scheme wassubsl:4Ucntly extended by one year each on twO occasions i.e. up to 20.08.20 II vide Board'sIt:ttcr~ of <;:venno. dated 13 .11.2009 and 27.01.201 l.

The issue of extension of the scheme or otherwise was under consideration in theMinistry of Railways for sometime. The Competent Authority in the Ministry of Railwaysuftt::r <.:areful consideration in the: maller, has decided to extend the facility tili further ordersfor RELHS bendiciaries to take care of their health care needs in an acute emergency. Thisscheme will now be available in all Metros, State Capitals and !,omtl Headquarters of theIndian Railways. Detailed guidelines on the subject attached.

t· r~\JA.~t--: .

mI'. D.P. Pan de)Executive Director, Health (P)

. Railway Board

No. 2007/W28/1IRELHS/Smart Curd .New Delhi, Dated 18.07.2012Cupy tu;-

1. FA&CAOs. All Indian Raihvtlys including all Production lInits.2. The Chief Medical Directors, All Indian Railways includin~ all Production

Units. Oe..J~(Dr. D.P. Pandc) .

Executive Director, Health (P)Railway Board

No. 2007/H/28i1/nELHS/Smllrt Card New Delhi, Dated 18'()7,2012Copy to:-

1. The principal Directors of Audit/ All Indian Railways including allProduction Units.

2. Dy. Comptroller & Auditor General of India (Rlys.) Room No. 224, RailBhawan, New Delhi.

~ ....5f,"Vv- ./- I t'

For Financial Commissioner/Railways

-It. -

GOVJl:RNMENT OF INDIAMINISTRY OF RAILWAY

(RAILWAY BOARD)

General Manager,All Ind~an Railways(including Production Units).

Sub: Cashless Service for RELHS Card Holder to take treatment in RecognizedPrivate Hospitals in emergency-clarifications.

Ref: This office letter of even No. dated 18.07.2012.*****

Approval of competent authority in the Ministry of RaOways has been conveyed forextension of scheme of Cashless Service for RELHS Card Holders to take treatment inrecogni:r..edprivate hospitals in emergency vide this office letter cited under reference. It hasbeen stipulated therein that the scheme will now be available in all Metros, State Capitals andzonal Headquarters of Indian Railways.

It is clarified in this context that jurisdiction of Metro Delhi would also includeNational Capital Territory Region (NCR). Similarly, jurisdictions of metros of Mumbai,Kolkata and Chennai will also include their respective suburhs for the purpose of extensionof Cashless Service for RELHS Card Holders. Other terms and conditions of the scheme willremain unchanged.

cl~?(Dr. D.P. Pande)

Executive Director, Health (P)Railway Board

No. 2007/II/28/1IRELHS/Smart CardCopy to:-

1.2.

FA&CAOs, All Indian Railways including all Production Units.The Chief Medical Directors, AlIlndiall Railways including all ProductionUnits. cl-~

(Dr. D.P. Pande)Executive Director, Health (P)

Railway Board

No. 20071H128/lIRELHS/Smart CardCOP)' toi-

l. Thc principal Directors of Auditl All Indian Railways including all ProductionUnits.

2. Dy. Comptroller & Auditor General of India (Rlys.) Room No. 224, RailDhawan, New Delbi.

4_For Financial Co.:;;rrs:i6nerlRailwayS

-17--

31ffi1 ~Hq;I'{ IGOVERNMENT OF INDIA~ cH'311(>14 IMINISTRY OJ1' RAIL WAYS

tc>ro ~/RAILWAY BOARI)

The General Managers,All Indian Railways(Including Production Units),Director GencI"al, RDSa

Sub: Retired Employees Liberalized Health Scheme (RELHS-97).

Ref.:Board's letters No. 2003/H/28/11RELHS dated 28.01.05, 21.JO.05, 30.12.05,10.05.06,10.01.07 & 16.03.09.

Arising om of demands raised by Federations & various P.:-:nsicmerA:;sociations, the subjectmatter of facilitating Raihvay Medical Services to all Retired Railway persolUlcl through RELHS-97, had been under consideration of Board for some time. Alter careful & detailed examination ofthe matter the folIo\ving ha~ been decided by Ministry of Railways _

(a) For Pre-March 2009 retirees - The RELHS-97 will remain open-ended with a /ock-in-period of six months for referral outside the Railway /lO:5pitu/with the rider that tltis lock-in-period cun be relaxed only in all emergency pro.'if!ed the patient is either admitted orvi."iit~the Railway Hospital and tltefacUitiesfor the treatment fire not available in RailwayHospital. Such referrals are to he processed only on recommendation of a speciallyconstituted ll-ledical Board.

For .Hare" 2{)09 and onwards retirees - The RELH's'-97 will remain open for a period ofallother one year from the date of issue of the letter for all those retired railway personnelwho have not joined the scheme for olle reason or the. other. The lock-in-period of sixmonths as applicable for pre-March, 2009 retirees shall be applicable for these retireesalso. Henceforth joining RE'LHS-97 "a~' been made mum/atory for all retiring Railwaypersonnel withollt any exit clause wltatsoever.·

All orher rerms and conditions of RELHS-97 mentioned in Hoard's letter dated 16.03.2009under reference \viJI remain lmallered.

This has the approval of the President and issues with the concurrence of FinanceDirectorate of Ministry of l~ailways. \Vide publicity should be giv('n to the above provisions.

cLt..Co'~_sT. tr.tfr. t:T@"/Dr. D.P. Pan de '.

mm.fc't2;.Fn.(<:Tr.VExec. Directol' fIealth (Pig)T elefax - 23389623

Email: edhp(ti).rb.railnet.go\..in ••

New Delhi, Dated "31.05.12

I. The FA&CAOs, All Indian Raihvay:; including CL W/DL W:DMW!R WF.2. Chief Personal Otlicers, All Indian Railways.