1BHARAT PENSIONER

March 2012 Single Copy : Rs. 15MARCH 2012 Vol. VII No. 03

RNI REGD. No. DELBIL/2006/17678web site : www.bharatpensioner.org e-mail : bps.shyamsunder@gmail.com

OFFICIAL MONTHLY ORGAN OF THE BHARAT PENSIONERS SAMAJ, NEW DELHI - 110 014

(Federation of All India Pensioners’ Associations)

(MEMBER, INTERNATIONAL FEDERATION ON AGEING, TORONTO, CANADA)

DIRECT SUCCESSOR TO “PENSIONER” ESTABLISHED IN 1955

IN DEFENCE OF PARTIAL PARITY : PENSIONERS UNITE !

BPS gives a call for a Fighting Fund of `̀̀̀̀ 10 Lakh

On the advice of the Ministry of Finance (Expenditure) and in consultation with the Ministry of Law, the

Govt of India in the Ministry of Personnel, PG & Pensions (Deptt of Pension & PW) has since decided to

file an appeal against the historic CAT judgement (01.11.11) in the High Court of Delhi upholding the

Partial Parity for pre-2006 pensioners as recommended by the 6th CPC and accepted by Govt of India in

its Resolution published in the Gazette of India dt 29.08.2008. To quote the CAT : “Respondents are

directed to re-fix the pension of all pre-2006 retirees w.e.f. 1.1.2006, based on the resolution dt 29.08.2008

and in the light of our observations made above. Let the respondents re-fix the pension and pay the

arrears thereof within a period of 3 months from the date of receipt of a copy of this order”.

Bharat Pensioners Samaj has, along with some of its Affiliates, decided to file a plea for impleadment

in this case on behalf of all the pre-2006 Central Govt Pensioners so as to protect the interests of all such

pensioners. The expenditure involved may be between 8 and 10 lakhs. BPS, therefore, calls upon all the

Central Govt pensioners to contribute liberally to our newly - launched Fighting Fund of ̀ 10 Lakhs.

We specially appeal to all our affiliated Associations, all over India, to constitute special squads at the local

level and collect funds for this noble cause. Let one & all contribute liberally to this Fighting Fund of ̀ 10 Lakhs.

The MO’s At Par cheques / Local cheques/ transfer thru ecs Banking in the name of Bharat

Pensioners Samaj, be sent to :

Shyam Sunder, Secy Genl

BHARAT PENSIONERS SAMAJ,

Jangpura, New Delhi - 110 014

2 BHARAT PENSIONER

March 2012AAP AUR HUM

FORM IV (SEE RULE 8) : BHARAT PENSIONER

1. Place of Publication New Delhi

2. Periodicity of its publication Monthly

3. Printer's name Shyam Sunder, Indian Citizen

Address 2/15-B, Jangpura 'A', New Delhi - 110 014

4. Publisher's name Shyam Sunder, Indian Citizen

Address 2/15-B, Jangpura 'A', New Delhi - 110 014

5. Editor's name (for the purpose of the Act) Y C Rai, Indian Citizen

Address E-35, Jangpura Extension, New Delhi - 110 014

6. Name and address of individuals who own the Bharat Pensioners Samaj, a Society registered

newspaper and partners or share-holders holding under the Societies Registration Act, 1960

more than one percent of the total capital

I, Shyam Sunder, hereby declare that the particulars givenabove are true to the best of my knowledge and belief.

29.02.2012 SHYAM SUNDER(SIGNATURE OF PUBLISHER)

Chief Guest K K Mittal Director P & PWhonouring Amar Singh on attaining 75 years

S P Bhargava & O P Kumar with Ex-GM R KJain (Patron) Honouring O P Kumar onattaining 75 yrs while S P Bhargava looks into.

GURGAON (Haryana): RREWA – Celebrated its foundation day on 26.02.12. with

R. K. Jain, Patron, in the Chair. K K Mittal, Director, (P & PW) M/O Personnel, PG &

Pensions was the Chief Guest. Genl Secy read out the Annual Report for 2011-12.  35

Sr. members (75+) were honoured. Shri Mittal gave an assurance to the gathering that

he would always be available to help pensioners as and when required. There was also

free  Eye checkup camp by Dr Rajiv Kumar & his team.

3BHARAT PENSIONER

March 2012 HUM AUR AAP

1. Hum Aur Aap :

(i) Attention Life Members ................................. 3

(ii) Subscription thru ECS in SBI, Jangpura A/c of

Bharat Pensioners Samaj, New Delhi ........... 3

2. Form IV (Rule 8) ................................................. 2

3. Guidelines for IT Returns ...................................... 5

4. Revised PPO : A Clarification ........................... 6

5. Talk on Pension & Medicare - S SRamachandran, Secy Genl, AICCPA ............... 7

6. Exercise sharpens the brain .......................... 7

7. Health cover for all - New Laws shortly ........ 8

8. Laser Surgery to treat catract ........................ 8

9. BPS 1st National Convention (5.07.2010) @

New Delhi : Rly Ministry’s Response (Contd) ....... 9

10. GOI ORDERS :

01.03.12 MOF (Revenue) - RTI Information reg:

Black Money ......................................... 12

11.11.11 CGHS - Empanelment - Up to date list of

Hospitals & Diagnostic Centres (Contd).13

16.01.12 Rlys - ID Proof for reserved tickets ..... 15

30.01.12 Rlys - Special Passes to retired Rly

Inquiry Officers .................................... 16

22.02.12 CGHS - FMA : No objection

if increased to Rs 1200/- ..................... 16

16.02.12 DoT - Concessional Telephone to Postal

Pensioners with 20 years’ service ...... 17

14.02.12 Rlys - TA : Journeys on Retirement ..... 18

13.01.12 P & PW Timely redressal of grievances -

fixation of time limit ............................... 19

05.05.06 Personnel : Redress of grievances ..... 19

22.05.06 Personnel : Redress of grievances ..... 20

11. STATE ORDERS :

13.10.11 MP - DR wef 01.10.11 .......................... 21

12. From UP to UPA ................................................... 22

13. EPFO Pensioners - Min Pension @ 1,000/- ......... 23

14. 2011 : Look Ahead in Wonder ............................ 24

15. Illicit vs Licit Money .............................................. 25

16. Letter to GOI : reg : Merger of 19 P&TDispensaries with CGHS .................................... 26

17. AAP AUR HUM (RREWA, Gurgaon) ..................... 2

18. AAP AUR HUM ................................................... 27

19. AAP AUR HUM (Hindi) ........................................ 28

20. Thanks ! ............................................................ 30

21. Renewal ............................................................ 31

22. BPS in International News ................................... 31

23. You and the Countrymen by R N Tagore ............ 32

24. Compendium on Pension, CGHS & Medical Facilities

for Central Govt & BSNL Pensioners - Review .. 32

25. Budget ................................................................. 33

26. Kolaveri Di, FDI & Pension (PFRDA) Bill ............... 34

27. New Katni Jn. : RPA ............................................ 35

28. DR to Pensioners ................................................ 35

29. IIIrd National Convention - BPS Affiliated RlyPensioners Associations .................................... 36

Attention : Life MembersGIVE US UR CONTACT NO

Declaration of the LIFE MEMBER

I am the LIFE MEMBER of BHARAT PENSIONER

SAMAJ, New Delhi from the year .....................

(if known) My whole life number is as given above

I hereby affirm that I am alive and my address

and contact number (Tele / Mob) as given below:-

ID No WL - .......... / L - ..........

Name :...........................................................

......................................................................

Address.........................................................

......................................................................

Contact

Number (T / M) ............./...............

Date :............... Signatures

Subscription thru ECS in SBI,Jangpura IFSC : SBIN001274 /

10825178380Dear esteemed Member!

Kindly always add your Membership No, and

your name, in the transfer entry made by your Bank

Branch. This alone would enable us to identify it &

CREDIT it against your entry in our computer.

2. Also, you must immediately send, by post,

a photocopy of the Bank Counterfoil to BPS,

Jangpura, New Delhi - 110 014. Without this, we

cannot credit it into your account in our computer

and update your subscription accordingly.

3. Please add `25 send `225 as Br Transfer

fee if you deposit cash, an outstation

cheque(except ‘AT PAR’ cheques).

4. If you have an email facility, please intimate

Cheque No / Cash paid / Membership No. for quick

accounting & updation.

Rameshwar Kumar, Treasurer

4 BHARAT PENSIONER

March 2012

President : Contact him directly at :K C Pipal, 15-MIG, Nehru Enclave, Agra -28 2001T : 0562 - 248 0777 M : 09412269177

Sr Vice-Prez : Send Hindi news DIRECT to R N Tripathi,L-21, Laxmi Nagar, Delhi - 92 T : 011 - 2241 2731

Secy Genl : Shyam Sunder011 - 2437 6642 (O), T : 011 - 2437 8583 (R)e-mail : bps.shyamsunder@gmail.com

Secy(Defence) : Reg Defence matters. contact directly:

K S Bhardwaj, Lt Col (Retd) E - 50 Kapil Vihar,Sector - 21-C, Faridabad - 121 001T : 0129 - 242 4515 M : 98710 19512

Secy (Postal & Ors) : Reg Postal & other matters. Contact:M Chandra Mowli, Plot- 21, P&T Colony, Gandhi Nagar,Hyderabad - 500 080 T : 040 - 2406 9142

Secy (Rly Pnsnrs) - For Rly matters, contact directly :S C Maheshwari, 490-A/16, Gurdwara Road,Civil Lines, Gurgaon - 122 001 Fax : 0124-230 0423T : 0124 - 230 2262 M : 098684 88199e-mail : maheshwariscrrewa@yahoo.co.in

Secy (BSNL/PSUs);Shreepad V Deshpande, PuneTel - 020-2447 3757, M : 09422002219

Secy (P R) : V K Taneja 27-B, Pusa Road, New Delhi - 05Tel : 011 - 2578 9203

Editor : D Jayaraman, Send (English) News directly:23, Rashi Aptts, Plot - 3, Sector - 7, Dwarka,Delhi - 110 075 T- 011 2508 8062

Jt Secy General : P N SharmaT : 011 - 2701 8811 M : 092102 04078

Asstt Secy Genl : K L Malhotra, F - 10, Rail Vihar,GZB-12 T - 0120269 8625, M - 098182 97181

Treasurer : Rameshwar Kumar DLH-88 M - 09654892289

Contact Tele : Office – 011-2437 6642

Contact Time : 11.00 - 3.00 pm onlyMembership Rates wef 1.1.09 - (Individual)

One year `̀̀̀̀ 200 (Foreign) $ 50Two years `̀̀̀̀ 380 Three years `̀̀̀̀ 550

Life Membership : (Available for Office-bearers &Mg Committee members only). `̀̀̀̀ 1,000

Annual Affiliation Fee (Assn/Institution etc) : `̀̀̀̀ 450[ Pl prepare drafts/cheques (NOT Out-station)/ecsonly in favour of BHARAT PENSIONERS SAMAJ]

Contact each of them directly at :

Vice-Prez (North Zone):Harchandan Singh, ChandigarhT : 0172 - 222 8306 M : 093161 31598e-mail : harchandan_chd32@yahoo.co.inVice-Prez (East Zone):R N Dutta, 12 - E, Shakuntala Park,Baidyabati - 712 222 -08T : 033 - 2632 6070 M : 098742 47912Vice-Prez (West Zone):J Narayana Rao, 207 Kailash Aptts,Kamptee Road, Nagpur - 440 017T : 0712 - 265 2335 M : 094217 03511Vice-Prez (South Zone):M Somasekhara Rao, 12-11-1411,Buddhanagar, Secunderabad - 500 061T : 040 - 2707 8848 M : 099490 52609Vice-Prez Th Yaisukul Singh, (N E Zone):

Irawat Bhawan, Imphal (Manipur)-795 001T: 0385 - 244 3738

1. P K Goswami (Smt) DLH - 14 0112437 8583

2. S Kodwani (Smt) DLH - 24 0112984 1621

3. Jagriti Nagpaul (Ms) DLH - 08 098688 46367

4. G S Asiwal BPL - 32 0755266 5545

5. C L Vij DLH - 64 0112812 4469

6. M M Kapur DLH - 05 093508 47712

7. Pooran Lal Agra - 01 095364 61904

8. S N Gupta RWR - 01 0127422 4573

9. R C Srivastava GZB - 02 0120275 2554

10. B D Dhyani DLH - 14 099103 17318

11. Parkash Chand DLH - 18 092105 15470

12. O P Kumar GGN - 01 099116 61300

13. S P Bhargava GGN - 01 0124232 5674

14. Y P Sawhney DLH - 52 0112712 7129

15. Asis Ranjan De GUW - 12 036125 71852

16. D A N Sarma VZG - 16 092475 37961

BHARAT PENSIONERS SAMAJ, NEW DELHI(Federation of All India Pensioners' Associations)

MEMBER, INTERNATIONAL FEDERATION ON AGEING, TORONTO, CANADA2/13-A, LGF ( Backside), Jangpura - 'A', Hospital Road, New Delhi - 110 014

Members, Managing Committee

Hon Legal Consultant : G S LobanaAdvocate, CAT Pr Bench & High Court, C-207,

Anand Lok Society, Mayur Vihar-I, Delhi - 110 091

T : 011 - 2275 5422 M : 0 - 98102 38999

(For any reply, a stamped ` 5 envelope a must)

Local SBI Cheques in f/o BPS should bedeposited in your own branch in BPS

Account No 10825178380 IFSC : SBIN0001274 withMICR 110002055. For ecs thru cash or outstation

cheque (except AT PAR cheque), Add `̀̀̀̀ 25 asInter Branch Transfer fee.

HUM AUR AAP

5BHARAT PENSIONER

March 2012

GUIDELINES FOR PENSIONERSON INCOME TAX CALCULATION &FILING RETURN FOR THE INCOME

OF FINANCIAL YEAR1.4.2011 TO 31.03.2012

The Income Tax, for the Financial Year 2011-2012 (i.e. Assessment Year 2012-2013) is to be

calculated, and return filed, before 31.7.2012.

Every individual having income from salary /

Pension / Income from one house and other

sources, has to furnish the return for his income,

if his Gross Total Income as arrived at in col.

B-4 of ITR-1 SAHAJ form, exceeds (i) ` 1,80,000/-

in case of men below 60 years of age,

(ii) ` 1,90,000/- in case of women (iii) ` 2,50,000/-

in case of men and women who are of the age of

60 years or more, and (iv) Rs. 5,00,000/- in case

of Super Senior Citizen of 80 years and above at

any time during financial year 2010-11.

PART B – GROSS TOTAL INCOME

B-1 Income from Salary /Pension is to be filled

in by adding Pension, Dearness Relief, Pay

Commission Arrears, Dearness Relief Arrears, Medical

Allowance and Pay. if received, during 2011-12

B-2 Income from one house property :-Mostly not applicable for pensioners. The interest

paid for loan taken for purchasing house is shown

as ‘loss from house property’ as minus income.

Normally the young tax-payers who take Housing

loan are able to avail the benefit of this provision.

B-3 Income from ‘Other sources’ (a) if a

person is Receiving Family Pension, the amount

of such pension is to be reduced to the extent of 1/

3rd of Pension or ` 15,000/- whichever is lower (b)

Interest received on Fixed Deposits, including post

office monthly income scheme Sr Citizen savings

scheme, and savings Bank accounts in Bank.

B-4 Gross Total Income ( B1+B2+B3)PART C - DEDUCTION AND TAXABLE TOTAL INCOME

Deposit or payments made during 1.4.2011to 31.3.12

C-1 80 C - LIC, PPF,NSC, Tax Saving Mutual

Funds,Bank Deposit, Scheme 2006 for 5 years,

Post Office, Time Deposits for 5 years, ULIP,

Sr.Citizen savings scheme.

C-2 80 CCC - Deposit in annuity plan of LIC & others.

C-3 80 CCD - Pension Scheme of Central Govt.

Aggregate amount of permissiblededuction under section 80C, 80CCC. AND 80CCD limited to `̀̀̀̀1,00,000/-

C-4 80 CCF Deduction upto `̀̀̀̀20,000/- inaddition to `̀̀̀̀1,00,000/-, can be claimed for depositin notified long term, infrastructure Bonds.

C-5 80 -D - Medical Insurance Premium upto

`15,000/- For Senior Citizen `20,000/-

C-6 80 DD - Medical Treatment of disabled

dependent.

C-7 80 DDB- Medical Treatment [Sub-sections

(e) to (I) mostly not applicable]

C-8 80 E - Interest on loan for higher Education.

(Govt, notification may be referred.)

C-9 80 G – 50% of Donation to recognized

Charitable Funds.

C-10 80 GG - Rent paid -mostly not applicable

C-11 80 GGA-Donation to scientific / Rural Dev- Fund:

C-12 80 GGC-Contribution to Political Parties

C-13 80 – U Mostly not applicable

C-14 Total Deductions (Add items C-1 to C-13)C-15 Taxable Total Income Col.B-4 (-) C-14

PART – D INCOME TAX COMPUTATION & TAX STATUS

D-1 Calculation of Income Tax payable onTotal Income (as in col. C-15)1. Upto 1,80,000 Income Tax : Nil

2. 1,80,001 to 5,00,000 Income Tax : 10%

3. 5,00,001 to 8,00,000 Income Tax : 20%

4. above Rs. 8,00,000 Income Tax : 30%

For Women: Tax up to Rs. 1,90,000/- NILFor Senior Citizens – Men & Women Tax

upto `̀̀̀̀2,50,000/- Nil, and

For Super Senior Citizens of 80 years age-Tax upto Rs. 5,00,000/- Nil and on the balance at

above rates

The total of (2),(3) and (4) as applicable is the

Income Tax on Total Income,D-2 (a) Secondary Education cess @2% and

Higher Education cess @ 1% on IT (Total 3%)

D-3 Total Tax and Cess ( D-1 + D-2 )

D-4 Relief under Section - 89 (Mostly not

applicable) When a pensioner receives pension

in arrears it may happen, that he becomes liable

to pay more Tax. To mitigate this hardship, section

89 of the Act provided for allowing the Tax relief.

IT RETURN

6 BHARAT PENSIONER

March 2012

In individual cases this provision may help to

reduce tax liability.

D-5 Relief under Section - 90/91 (Mostly

not applicable)

D-6 Balance Tax Payable [ D3 - D4 - D5 ]D-7 Total Interest payable u/s 234A/234B/234C

D-8 Total Tax & Interest Payable (13 + 14)D-9 Total Advance Tax Paid (a) Advance

Tax (from Sch. IT) Details of advance tax paid and

D-10 Self assessment Tax paid is to be

taken from Sch. IT, If the tax liability for the year

exceeds Rs. 10,000/- the Advance Tax is to be

paid in 4 installments, failing which interest

becomes payable and the same is to be

mentioned in col. D-7

Total Self Assessment Tax paid (from Col.25) is

the amount of tax, due to be paid, after finalizing

calculation This amount of Tax is to be paid in any

authorized nationalized Bank through chalan No.

270 and the particulars mentioned in col.no.25.

D-11 Total TDS Deducted at source from pension

(Col. TDS-1) and from interest etc. is to be detailed

in col. TDS-2 and the amount to be shown here

D-12 Total Taxes paid ( D-9+D-10+D-11)

D-13 Tax Payable : Here it should be NIL;

because the difference between Total Taxpayable D-8 and Tax Paid in Col. D-12 is paid by

us as “Self Assessment Tax” & shown in D-10.

D-14 Refund : If tax paid D-12 is greater than

D-18, then only some Refund will be due

D-15 Enter your bank account Compulsory

D-16 MICR Code.

D-17 Type of accountD-18 Tick your option for refund

D-19 Exempt Income only for reporting

purposes (from Dividend, Agriculture Income

exceeding `5000/-.

The return should be prepared in duplicate, signed and one

copy presented to Income Tax Deptt. The other copy alongwith

acknowledge-ment given by Income Tax Deptt. kept on record,

with full details, and accompaniments for future reference.

Note :- Form 15H to be given by Sr Citizen and 15G by

others to avoid Tax Deducted at source every year.

The column Nos have reference to income tax return

for the Assessment year 2011-2012

Pune S. K. Deshpande,CAO (Retd)

(Ph.020-2543 3900) AICG, Pensioners’ Association

Date :25-01-2012 Pune Br, 1735,Sadashiv, Pune- 30

CONSOLIDATION OF PENSION-

NEWS ITEM(A news item published in all Dialy News Papers

published from Hyderabad & other cities on

13th February, 2012)

‘The Principal Accountant General (Accounts

& Entitlement), Hyderabad has asked all pre-2006

pensioners of the Indian Audit & Accounts

department to apply for consolidation of their

pension as per the Vlth central pay commission.

The application is to be made out in the prescribed

format available in the official website, ag.ap.nic.in.

a press release Said”.

In the background of judgement (01.11.11)

given by Principal CAT, Delhi, central pensioners

are thinking that Govt have given orders to revise

pensions of all pre-2006 retirees as per judgement.

On enquiry from the concerned authorities it

is clarified that the information was already called

for once, regarding some particulars like date of

birth of spouse, bank code no of pension paying

bank (branch), date of death of pensioner in case

of family pensioners etc., and majority of

pensioners have already given the details called

for. However, some pensioners / Family pensioners

are yet to respond to this call. The applications,

called for now, are from those who have not

furnished the relevant information so far. This

information is very much necessary.

(1) in case of pensioners drawing their pension

through banks and whose pension is yet to be

revised as per recommendations of sixth central

pay commission and authorized by Central Pay

and Accounts Officer, New Delhi’

(2) For sanctioning Additional pension to

pensioners/Family pensioners after attaining the

age of 80 years and above.

YOUR BELIEFS

Don’t make you a better person

YOUR BEHAVIOUR

does Anonymous

REVISED PPO

7BHARAT PENSIONER

March 2012

Gist of talk given by Shri S.S.Ramachandran, Secy Genl, AICCPA,ND on Pensioner’s Day organised byAERWA, on 17-12-2011 at the BARCTraining School Hostel, MultipurposeHall, Anushaktinagar, Mumbai

MODIFIED PARITY : S.S.Ramachandran

made the following points. The concept of “modified

parity” by Justice Pandian on V CPC is only an

extension of the existing employee being granted

the minimum of the new pay scale if the fitment

formula results in lower reference pay for fixation

in the new seals of pay effective from the crucial

date for all purposes. This basic principle was

not extended to the pensioners all these days.

S C JUDGEMENTS : There is a difference

between the content and impact of Nakara

judgment of 17.12.1982 and Maj. Gen. Vain’s

judgment. The Nakara lays down a principle that

future improvements in pensions should be

extended to existing pensioners as the fruits of a

new pay scale is extended to existing employees.

Our (so-called) National pro-labour, pro-people, pro-

pensioner Government did not feel the need for

extending this principle already adopted for the

employees to ex-employees also prospectively.

In the Major General Vain’s judgment, it is the

quantum that is extended on to either side of the

cut off date and, as the Supreme Court clearly

states, is on the principle of one rank one pension

for the armed forces. Hence, let us not confuse

between the two judgments.

NPS 2004 : Government has introduced a new

pension scheme w.e.f 2004. Payment is based

on the interest generated by suitable investments

of the contributions flowing into the Pension Fund

in the market, less administrative expenses. It is

more or less a Mutual Fund transaction. Any

scheme that is introduced has to be an

improvement of an existing scheme. One has to

see that the benefits of the existing scheme are

not lost in the new replacement scheme. That

way, the 2004 NPS fails the test. Govt have also

Exercisesharpens the brain

It is well known that exercise increases our

fitness levels by making the muscles more

resistant to fatigue. Past research has found

exercise spurs the birth of new mitochondria –

structures in the cells that produce the body’s

energy. Now, a team from the University of South

Carolina have revealed that a regular session could

sharpen the mind in exactly the same way. They

have found that regular treadmill workout helps in

brain functioning.

failed to spell out the fruits of the NPS 2004. On

the other hand some adhoc arrangements are

given to deal with death, resignation of the post

2004 recruits. Why? What are the nodal ministry

and the Finance Ministry doing?

MEDICARE : VI CPC has recommended the

continuance of CGHS but also the health insurance

scheme in addition. As far as the existing

pensioners are concerned there is a block of over

10 lakh residing in non-CGHS areas not having

any health scheme. We, as pensioners, want the

new scheme to be an enhancement of the existing

scheme in terms of concessions / terms, etc and

not resulting in denial, or curtailment, of existing

terms and conditions and also contribution to be

based on our earnings as is the practice and

tradition in health schemes currently.

PENSION REVISION : In the matter of pension

revision the VI CPC have curtailed the terms and

conditions adopted while V CPC revisions were

taken up. We are fighting for restoration of V CPC

methodology and practice for revision of pension

in VI CPC level also. The main opposition to VI

CPC implementation is the philosophy of Pay

Bands. We demand its abolition.

Courtesy : Newsletter of AERWAVol.12 No 6 / 11-12/2011

SSR TALK

8 BHARAT PENSIONER

March 2012

LASER SURGERY TO TREAT CATARACT

NEW DELHI: A bladeless robotic laser

technology is now available in the country to treat

cataract, a condition where the lens of the eye

clouds and hampers vision.

The femtosecond laser cataract removal

technique, which had received the US Food and

Drug Administration’s (FDA) approval in 2010-end,

has better results in terms of vision quality and

surgical precision than the earlier forms of surgery.

In the earlier technique, the incision in the

cornea is made through a hand-held blade -

breaking cataract into pieces, sucking those

pieces out of the eye and placing an artificial lens

manually.

“The new technique is entirely machine-

assisted and more accurate,” said Dr Mahipal S

Sachdev, chairman, Centre for Sight group of

super-specialised eye hospitals, which conducted

10 such procedures since they got the machine

a week ago.

The steep cost of the surgery does not make

it suitable for the poor, which comprise majority

of cataract patients in India. “It costs ` 75,000/-

more than the conventional surgery. As of now, it

is a niche treatment procedure, but as the

technology evolves, the prices will come down,”

said Dr Sachdev.

The machine uses high intensity rays, which

are focused on the lens to break the cataract into

pieces. The corneal incision is made through

machine - generated vapours that are self-sealing.

“As there is no use of blade and no loss of blood,

the risk of infection is very low and recoveiy is

much faster,” said Dr Ritika Sachdev, additional

director medical services, Centre for Sight.

As the final positioning of the lens is done by

the robot, the quality of vision is far better. Delhi has

two more such machines installed at Eye 7 Group

of Hospitals and Dr S Bharti’s Eye Foundation.

Courtesy : Hindustan Times

GOVT DRAFTING LAWS TO MAKEHEALTH COVER FOR ALL A REALITY`5-lakh-crore plan to also regulate pvt Healthcare

by-Chetan ChauhanNEW DELHI: The government is preparing to

expand its health-care net to cover every Indian.

It’s making two laws — the Public Health Act

and Clinical Establishment Act — to action this

plan, which aims to provide essential health

services to all citizens by 2017. The budget for

this will come to almost ̀ 5 lakh crore, double the

outlay in the 11th five-year plan (2007-12).

The proposed laws would also make it

mandatory for private hospitals to provide services

in emergency situations, adopt minimum standards

and follow the government’s price regulations. To

achieve this, the laws would bring the existing health

machinery – the state government’s department of

health services – under its ambit.

Government sources said the labour ministry

will expand its existing health insurance scheme

to ensure all residents have access to emergency

and OPD services and avail health services up to

`2 lakh per year by paying a small premium. “The

ministry’s budget is being doubled to roll out the

scheme,” an official said, requesting anonymity

since an official announcement is yet to be made.

The initiative will be kick-started on March 16,

when finance minister Pranab Mukherjee is

expected to announce a government sponsored

health insurance scheme for all.

The proposed laws would ensure access to rural

health centres, maternity and child care facilities

and public health courses in all medical colleges.

A Planning Commission steering committee has

also asked the government to make it a must for

medical students to work in rural areas.

But, the biggest bottleneck is that health is a

state subject. Hence, the committee wants the

et Centre to link the disbursement of funds with

implementation of the model law. “An MoU with

each state government linking implementation of

these laws would soon be in the offing,” said a

plan panel functionary.

Courtesy : Hindustan Times

MEDICARE

9BHARAT PENSIONER

March 2012

S.No

3

3(i)

3(ii)

3(iii)

3(iv)

3(v)

SUBJECT

Post Retirement Passes: Post-retirement Complimentary

passes are issued to Rly servants subject to the same conditions

as applicable to Rly servants in service. Thus it would not only be

logical but also fully justified to extened the same revised

entitlement of Passes as per Rly Bd’s recent order vide their No.

E(W)2008/PS5-l/38 dt 06-01-2011, RBE No.03/2011 to all retired

Rly personnel w/o any cut off date.

Widow pass :- In widow passes the dependent relatives are not

entitled to be included except for the dependant widow mother of

the deceased Rly employee. This is too harsh a rule for a widow

who is emotionally, financially & socially shattered and left alone

with the liability of caring not only for her own dependent children

but also the parents of her late husband. Widowed mother-in-law

is included as her family member, but not her own dependent

children. This indiscreet attitude towards widows needs to be set

right w/o delay. They may be allowed to include dependent relatives

in their passes as per the entitlement of their late Husbands

Secondary Family PensionersThe dependent relatives who

on their turn get family pension, become only technically

independent on account of the family pension, which they get

dueto being dependent on their parents. In actual fact they continue

to be dependent on their parents & that is why they get the FP. In

view of this, their entitlement for post retirement passes needs to

be urgently considered for a favourable decision.

Companion in Ilnd class Post retirement Passes :-Pensioners are a homogenous group, variation in ‘Age’ related

privilege within the same organization, is in discretionary and

needs to be rectified, Ministry of Railways is therefore requested

to allow the facility of Companion in the second class Post retirement

passes also.

Restore the Post-retirement Pass entitlement of thoseretiring after 20 years of service :- Prior to the implementation

of 6th CPC, those seeking voluntary retirement on completion of 20

years of qualifying service were getting a weightage of 05 years

of qualifying service. For this very reason, they used to become

automatically eligible for 2/3 sets (2 sets in case of Group ‘C’ & 3

sets in case of Groups ‘A’ & ‘B’) of Post Retirement Complimentary

Passes. After delinking of 33 years of qualifying service for

computation of pension as per 6 CPC recommendations, all those

retiring from service after completing 20 years of qualifying service,

though getting higher pension yet would also unfortunately be

RAILWAY BD’s REMARKS

Matter regarding revised pass entitlements on

post retirement complimentary passes/widow

passes as per 6* CPC pay structure is under

examination

Widow pass is relatively a new concept in the

Railway Servants (Pass) Rules for the benefit

of the widows. Further liberalisation of the facility

on widow pass to include more relatives is not

feasible due to financial and other implications

Pass entitlements are based on provisions,

contained in Railway Servants (Pass) Rules, 1986

(Second Edition, 1993) which are independent of

the Pension Rules. There has been large scale

liberalisation in pass rules recently and further

relaxation of provisions is not considered feasible

due to financial and other implications.

Facility of attendant/ companion is regulated in

terms of Rly Servants (Pass) Rules, 1986 (2nd

Edition, 1993) which does not provide for attendant

/ companion on 2nd class pass whether serving or

retired. Further liberalization of this settled position

in favour of retirees eligible for 2nd class pass is

not feasible due to financial and other implications

Pass facility for railway employees is governed

by Railway Servants (Pass) Rules, 1986

(Second Edition 1993). There is no change in

the policy regarding service required for being

eligible to post retirement complimentary passes.

Continued from February, 2012 Issue

DEMANDS RAISED ON 05.07.2010 (NEW DELHI)

@ BPS’ 1ST NATIONAL CONVENTION OF RLY PENSIONERS ASSNSRly Ministry’s Belated, yet Positive, response to

RLY CONVENTION

10 BHARAT PENSIONER

March 2012

3(vi)

3(vii)

4.

5.

5(i)

5(ii)

automatically deprived of the existing benefit of 2/3 sets of Post

Retirement Complimentary Passes which in the interest of fair-

play and justice, needs to be restored forthwith.

The lowest Post retirement pass at par with Group ‘C’.After the implementation of the recommendation of 6 CPC, now

there is no Group ‘D’ of employees and the lowest Group now is

Group ‘C’. Hence, the erstwhile group ‘D’ pensioners may be issued

Post retirement passes at par with Group-C pensioners

Issue of post retirement passes - Denial of same Dayfacility :- In spite of instructions to do so, post retirement passes

are not being issued the same day resulting in repeated visits to

the concerned office causing physical and financial strain to elderly

people. The Rly Bd is requested to see that the instructions/orders

issued are strictly followed

Early Setting up of Seventh Pay Commission:-

Welfare Measures:-Include Pensioners representative in Committees / Forums wherein

policies/anomalies’ and other matters concerning pensioners are

discussed, debated and decided Discussing & deciding the matters/

policies relating to Pensioners, with representatives other than those

of pensioners, is unfair and is against the Rules of ‘Natural Justice’.

At present various Committees like National Anomaly Committee

(NAC) and JCM (on Pensionary matters), are there wherein matters/

policies relating to pensioners’ welfare are discussed and decided,

but they do not have pensioners’ representative with the result

their viewpoints, hardships and anomalies are not properly

represented. Moreover, such of the existing committees cover only

Group-D & Group-C employees. There is no Forum or Committee to

sort out the items pertaining to Group A&B pensioners. As

pensioners are a homogenous class, there is an urgent need to

constitute separate Committees for pensioners wherein matter/

policies/anomalies relating to pensioners of all Groups & categories

may be discussed. Natural justice demands that the stake holders

(Group A&B) too should be included in these Committees. In view

of the facts mentioned in foregoing lines, the Rly Bd is requested to

constitute separate Committees with Pensioners’ representatives,

wherein issues relating to the welfare of pensioners may be

discussed and debated as already recommended by the 5th CPC

vide their Para 141.30. This will give them a feeling of participation

and involvement in decision making.

Correspondence and representations by Pensioners’Associations:- Pensioners’ Associations are basically Welfare

organizations working for the betterment of Pensioners, but in

spite of clear instructions from Rly Bd vide their No.E(W)2001/PA/

i dt 30-09-2004, most of the Divisions & Zones are not replying to

the representations made by these Associations.

Issue regarding pass entitlement to erstwhile

Group ‘D’ staff eclassified as Group ‘C’ is under

examination

Zonal Railways pass issuing authorities are

expected to issue the pass as requested as

soon as possible. However, such instance may

be isolated cases and need to be tackled locally.

This is a policy matter for the Ministry of Finance

which is the nodal Ministry in this regard.

Standing Committee of Voluntary Agencies

(SCOVA) adequately represents concerns of

the Pensioners and the issues relating to policy

and its implementation raised therein are

examined and resolved by the Railways.

Instructions have also been issued to Railways

for prompt redressal of the Pensioners’

grievances.

Board’s instructions in the matter of Pension

Adalats are not specific to any category and

hence railway employees of all categories are

covered by the instructions.

Zonal Railway’s have been advised to adhere

to the instructions issued by Railway Board in

this regard.

RLY CONVENTION

11BHARAT PENSIONER

March 2012

5(iii)

5(iv)

5(v)

Provision of office accommodation to PensionersAssociation:- As recommended by 5n CPC in their Para 141.24-

Railway Rules permit allotment of Railway Lands & Building to

Staff welfare organizations, which the pensioners’ organizations

in fact are, on the ground of Pension being “Deferred Wage”

subject to future good conduct. There are Institutes, Welfare

Centres & Women Welfare organization etc, which are being

nursed and encouraged for the welfare of various segaments of

Railway employee and their families. Then let’s ask, why only

Pensioners Welfare Organizations1 are being discriminated

against? In the absence specific guidelines from the Railway

Board, some GMs & DRMs like those on S.C. Rly. Are exercising

subjective discretion in allotment of office accommodation to

Pensioners Associations while the other altogether refuse to do

so. Railway Board, is therefore, requested to consider the matter

sympathetically in the light of 5th CPC recommendations vide their

Paral41.24 and issue definite guidelines in this regard.

Allowances:- Pension is Deferred Wage -Subject to future good conduct. Therefore, pensioner is not a

written off category of staff and thus, he has legitimate entitlement

to share the benefits such as House Rent Allowance, Transport

Allowance, Children’s Educational Allowance, Hostel Subsidy,

Festival Advance. The Railway Board is requested to extend the

benefit of all such benefits to the Pensioners to enable them to

cope up with the continuous all-round increase in cost of living

due to high inflationary trends in the country’s economy.

Funeral ex-gratia etc:- To help Pensioners & family pensioners

in distress it is proposed that whatever facilities already exist for

the serving employees, may also be allowed to be shared by the

pensioners as was suggested by 5th CPC also vide their Para

141.23 and they may be sanctioned.

There is no policy regarding allotment of office

accommodation to Pensioners’ Association.

However, an item regarding grants in aid to

pensioners’ associations to cover ‘rent’ for office

accommodation was raised in the 20th SCOVA

meeting and the same is under examination by

DOP&PW.

Transport Allowance is provided to serving

employees to compensate for the cost incurred

on account of commuting between the place of

residence and place of duty. As Pensioners are

no more in service, there is no place of duty for

them. As such, there is no rationale to provide

Transport Allowance to Pensioners. Further, the

instructions on Transport Allowance are issued

on the basis of orders received from Ministry of

Finance, which is the nodal department on the

subject. As such, this Ministry is not in position

to make any unilateral change in the matter.

Funeral advance is payable only to serving

employees’ families and is adjustable from

settlement dues. The demand is not feasible of

acceptance.

Provision of Widow pass has been in in force in Railways for well over two decades. Firstly, the name “Widow pass”

itself is a discrimination against women as it carries a social stigma & needs to be changed immediately. Whatever

may be the reason, it is not only discriminatory but also against the Rules of Natural justice to include mother-in-law

& to exclude a dependent disabled unmarried / divorced / widowed daughter from the purview of Widow post

retirement Pass. This discrimination against women must end forthwith.

SCOVA is altogether a different forum than the JCM (on Pensionary matters) & Departmental Anomaly Committees.

SCOVA/Pension Adalat do not have any inbuilt negotiating tool. They cannot be equated with JCM (on Pensionary matters)

& Departmental Anomaly Committees. Since matters/policies concerning Pensioners are discussed debated & decided in

these two bodies. It is totally unjust to discuss, debate & decide the matters concerning Pensioners without their presence

& participation. Thus inclusion of Pensioners’ representatives in these Forums needs to be considered on priorty.

3(ii)

5(i)

EDITOR’S NOTE :The following Serial / Clausewise remarks are offered for your convenience.

BPS REMARKS (Serial / Clausewise)

RLY CONVENTION

12 BHARAT PENSIONER

March 2012

RTI MATTER / MOST URGENT

BY SPEED POST

F.No.500/49/RTI/2012-FT&TR-I

Govt of India, Ministry of Finance

Deptt of Revenue, Central Board of Direct Taxes

(Foreign Tax & Tax Research-I Division)

R.No.702, 7th Floor,

‘C’ Wing, Hudco Vishala Bldg.,

14, Bhikaji Cama Place,

New Delhi, dated 1st March, 2012.

ORDER U/S 7(1) OF THE RIGHT TO INFORMATION ACT, 2005

An application dated 02.01.2012 was filed under the Right to Information Act, 2005 (“the RTI Act”)

by Sh. S.C.Maheshwari (“the applicant”) with the Department of Pension & Pensioners’ Welfare,

Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions, New Delhi which was forwarded by them to the

Department of Personnel and Training. Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions vide

their letter dated 31.01.2012. The above application was in turn forwarded by the Department of Personnel

and Training to the RTI Cell, Department of Revenue vide its letter dated 6th February, 2012 which was

diarized by RTI Cell vide Dy.No.544, dated 14.02.2012. The application was forwarded to the Under

Secretary (FT&TR-l) for providing information on Point (1) which was received by the undersigned on

15.02.2012 in this office.

The information to the extent available in this division is furnished as follows:

Point (1) :- To get back the black money to the country, a five pronged strategy has been formulated

by the Government which is summarized as under:

a. Joining the global crusade against ‘black money’ (for example our action in G 20, Global

Forum on Transparency and Exchange of Information for Tax Purposes, Task Force on Financial

Integrity and Economic Development, Financial Action Task Force, UN, OECD, etc.)

b. Creating an appropriate legislative framework: (Various ami tax evasion measures legislated

in existing Act and proposed in the DTC, New DTAAs and TIEAs, amend existing DTAAs)

c. Setting up institutions for dealing with Illicit Funds; (10 IncomeTax Overseas Units, dedicated

computerized Exchange of Information [EOI Unit], FIU)

d. Developing systems for implementation (new manpower policy); and

e. Imparting skills to the manpower for effective action (constant training for skill development).

The present RTI application filed by the applicant is disposed off as above. Appeal against this order, if

any, may be preferred within 30 days of receipt of the same before Mr. Rahul Navin, Director (FT&TR-III)

& Appellate Authority, 7th Floor, Hudco Vishala Building, 14, Bhikaji Cama Place, New Delhi- 110 066.

(P S Sivasankaran)

Under Secretary (FT&TR-IIl(2)) & CPIO

Copy to:

a) Sh.S.C.Maheshwari, 490A/I6, Gurudwara Road, Gurgaon - 122 001.

GOI ORDERS

13BHARAT PENSIONER

March 2012

List of New Hospitals empanelled under CGHS. AHMEDABAD

GENERAL PURPOSE

Continued from February, 2012 IssueANNEXURE - OM DT 11.11.11

S.No.

1

2

1*

1

2

6

Approved for

Genl Purpose Including

Cardiology & Cardio-

thoracic and Joint

Replacement Surgery

Genl Purpose Including

Cardiology & Cardio-

thoracic surgery

Eye & Dental

Diagnoslic Laboratory

USG only

Diagnoslic Laboratory

Whetheraccreditedby NABH

YES

NABH

No

Whether already on the panel ofCGHS and if yes, facilities

approved for

YES : General purpose, Cardiology &

Cardio­thoracic surgery, dialysis,

Lithotripsy / TURP, Laparoscopic surgery,

orthopedics including joint replacement

No

No

SPECIALITY (SELECTIVE)

SUPER SPECIALITY

CANCER HOSPITAL

EYE CARE CENTRES

DENTAL CLINICS

DIAGNOSTIC AND IMAGING CENTRES

Name of the Hospital

Sterling Hospitals, Sterling Hospital

Road, Mem Nagar, Ahmedabad

w.e.f. 30'” December 2010

Shalby Hospitals, Opp. Karnavati Club,

S.G.Road, Ahmedabad-380015.

w.e.f. 5'” July, 2011

SPECIALITY (SELECTIVE)

NIL

SUPER SPECIALITY

NIL

CANCER HOSPITAL

NIL

EYE CARE Centres

NIDHI HOSPITAL Stadium Commerce

College Road, Navarangpura,

Ahmedabad - 380 009.

Tel.: (0)79 40232121 / 26426631 /

26426651 Fax: + 91(0)7940232199

w.e.f. 30'” December 2010

Sanket Metropolis Health Services

(India) Pvt Ltd, Shefali House, behind

Rangkrupa Bldg., Parimal Cross

Road. Ahemdabad

w.e.f. 12th July, 2011

SUPER RELIGARE LABORATORIES

LIMITED, 1st Floor The Grand Mall,

Opp SBI Zonal Office, Ambavadi,

Ahmedabad -380015

w.e.f. 12th July, 2011

SUPRATECH MICROPATH

LABORATORY & RESEARCH INSTITUTE,

Kedar Bldg., Opp Krupa Petrol Pump, Nr

Parimal Garden Ahmedabad.

w.e.f. 12th July, 2011

GOI ORDERS

14 BHARAT PENSIONER

March 2012

Approved for

General Purpose

Including Joint

Replacement

General Purpose

General purpose

General purpose

General purpose

General Purpose

Cardiology &

Cardiothoracic

Surgery

Orthopedic Surgery

Endoscopic Surgery

Endoscopic Surgery

Whetheraccreditedby NABH

No

No

No

No

No

No

No

No

No

No

Whether already on the panel ofCGHS and if yes, facilities

approved for

Yes : General purpose treatment

(except Laparoscopic surgery)

and Orthopaedic surgery)

Yes : General Purpose

Yes : General Purpose

Yes : General Purpose

Yes for General Purpose treatment

No

Yes : Cardiology & Cardiothoracic

Surgery

Yes

Yes for Endoscopic / Laparoscopic

surgery in the field of surgery,

Gynecology, ENT, Urology and Oncology.

No

S.No.

1

2

3

4

5

6

1

2

3

4

List of New Hospitals empanelled under CGHS. ALLAHABAD

GENERAL PURPOSE

SPECIALITY (SELECTIVE)

Name of the Hospital

Guru Kripa Jagrati Hospital & Research

Centre Pvt. Ltd., 124/A/1 Thornhill Road,

Allahabad (Tel: 0532-2601945/2602586)

w.e.f 30th December, 2010

Jeevan Jyoti Hospital, 162 Bai Ka Bagh

(Lowther Road), Allahabad 211 003,

UP [Tel:0532 -241 8091 /241 8004]

w.e.f 30th December, 2010

Nazareth Hospital, 13 - A, Kamla

Nehru Road, Allahabad - 211 001

[Tel: 0532 - 2600430 / 2602612]

w.e.f 30th December, 2010

Saket Maternity and Nursing Home

Pvt. Ltd., 1203 B.H.S. Kidwai Nagar,

Allahabad, Uttar Pradesh

w.e.f 30th December, 2010

Vatsalya Maternity & Surgical Centre

Pvt. Ltd., 6/8 Elgin Road, Civil Lines,

Allahabad - 211001. Tel. 0532 - 2407540

w.e.f 1st November, 2011

Priti Nursing & Maternity Home,

39, C-Y-, Chintamani Road, George

Town, Allahabad. Tel. 0532-2468745

w.e.f 1st November, 2011

Heartline Cardiac Care Centre, Elgin

Road, Allahabad

w.e.f 30th December, 2010

Yashlok Hospital & Research Centre,

Allahabad

w.e.f 30th December, 2010

Dr. N.D. Tahiliani Memorial Clinic, 22,

Hastings Road, Allahabad -211001.

Tel. No. 0532-2424544

w.e.f 1st November, 2011

D.R.S. Hospital, Transport Nagar,

Munderamanoi, Plot No. Allahabad.

Tel.No.0532-2233207

w.e.f 1st November, 2011

GOI ORDERS

15BHARAT PENSIONER

March 2012

5

1

1

2

3

Cardiology,

Cardiovascular and

Cardiothoracic

Surgery.

Eye Care Hospital

Radiology

Radiology

Diagnostic Laboratory

No

No

No

No

Yes for Cardiology, Cardiovascular

and Cardiothoracic Surgery

Yes : Eye Care [Cataract / Glaucoma,

Strabismus and Occuloplasty and

Adnexa surgeries]

Saraswati Heart Care & Research

Centre Pvt. Ltd., 5/1, Lowther Road,

Darbhanga Colony, Allahabad -

211002, Tel.: 0532-2461096

w.e.f 1st November, 2011

NIL

NIL

Dr. Chauhan’s Phaco-Laser Eye Clinic,

148 Attarsurya Kalyani Devi, Allahabad

w.e.f 30th December, 2010

Arpit Pathology Centre / Advanced

Diagnostic Centre, Allahabad

w.e.f. 12th July, 2011

Kriti Scanning, 55 -B Lowther Road,

Allahabad

w.e.f. 12th July, 2011

Toshi pathology , 19/A 1 AN Jha Marg

Allahabad

w.e.f. 12th July, 2011

SUPER SPECIALITY

CANCER HOSPITAL

EYE CARE CENTRES

DENTAL CLINICS

DIAGNOSTIC AND IMAGING CENTRES

Rly Bd’s Commercial Circular No.04/2012/letter N0.2011/TG-1/20/P/

Tatkaal dt. 16.01.2012

Sub :- Provision for carrying of ID proof duringjourney on reserved ticket

At present, the passengers with Tatkaal ticket

and e-ticket are to carry original proof of identity

during the course of railway journey. With a view

to preventing the cases of travelling on transferred

tickets, now it has been decided that any one of

the passengers / the passenger booked on the

tickets issued from computerized passenger

reservation system (PRS) and internet (e-ticket)

undertaking journey in AC3Tier/AC2/lst AC, AC

Chair Car and Executive Classes will also have

to carry any one of the nine prescribed proofs of

identity (in original) during the journey, and

produce the same as and when required failing

which all the passengers booked on that ticket

will be treated as’without ticket and charged

accordingly.

2. The list of valid proofs of identity are as

under: Voter Photo Identity Card issued by

Election Commission, Passport, PAN card issued

by Income Tax Department, Driving License issued

by RTO, Photo Identity Card having serial number

issued by Central/State Government, Student ID

card with photograph, issued by recognized

school / college for their students, Nationalized

Bank Pass Book with photograph, Credit Cards

issued by banks with laminated photographs, UIC

Unique Indentification Card, AADHAR.

GOI ORDERS

16 BHARAT PENSIONER

March 2012

DEVILS VS ANGELS

If men were angels,

no government would be necessary.

JAMES MADISON

Rly Bd’s OM No E(W)2000/PS 5-1/24

dt 30.01.2012 (RBE No 13/2012)

Sub: Issue of Special Passes to retired Railway

Officers empanelled as Inquiry Officers -

Amendment to Schedule VII of Railway

Servants (Pass) Rules, 1986

In terms of provisions contain In Item 41 of the

Schedule VII attached to Railway Servants (Pass)

Rules, 1986 as amended from time to time, retired

Officer who are empanelled as Inquiry Officers to

conduct departmental inquiries in D&AR cases,

may be issued special passes to undertake

journeys for conduct of enquiry or for any other

associated purposes. The aforesaid pass facility

is for self only for travel in the Class I which a

serving Railway Officer of equivalent rank is

entitled to on duty, along with provision of an

attendant in the second/Sleeper Class.

2. It had been under consideration of the

Railway Board to improve aforesaid pass facility

admissible to retired Railway Inquiry Officers

(RIOs) in the interest if expeditious clearing of

pending vigilance inquiries. Accordingly, it has

now been decided that retired Railway Inquiry

Officers may be issued Railway passes for self

and spouse of the Class as admissible at the

time of their retirement, along with provision of an

attendant in Second/Sleeper Class for the

purpose of undertake journeys in connection with

D&AR inquiries.

3. In view of the above, item 41 in the Schedule

VII of Railway Servants (Pass) Rules, 1986 may

be amended as per the Advance Correction Slip

No.72* enclosed.

Dy. Director/Establishment (Welfare)

* Not printed......Editor, BP

POSITIVE RESPONSE :

TO BPS LONG STANDING DEMAND

GOOD NEWS : MINISTRY OF HEALTH HASNO OBJECTION TO FMA @ 1200 P.M.

Letter No F.20020/45/2012-CGHS(P) dt22.02.2012 Govt of India, Ministry of Health &Family Welfare, Nirman Bhawan, New Delhito Deptt of Pension & Pensioners’ Welfare (Attn: Mrs. Deepa Anand, US) 3rd Floor, Lok NayakBhawan, Khan Market, New Delhi-110003.

Sub: Request for Information under RTI Act 2005- Regarding

Sir, I am directed to enclose herewith a copy of

an application dt 2nd January, 2012, from Shri S.C.

Maheshwari, seeking information Under RTI Act-

2005. As regard point no. 4(c) this Ministry has

no objection if FMA is increased from `300/- to

`1200/-.

The application is being transferred in

accordance with the provision of Section 6(3) of

the RTI Act, 2005.

Jai Prakash, Under Secretary to theGovt of India & CPIO, Tel : 23061881

Encls : as above.

Copy to :

1. Shri S.C. Maheshwari Secretary (Railway),

Bharat Pensioners Samaj, 490 A/16, Gurudwara

Road, Gurgaon - 122 001.

2. S.O.CDN.II-Section, Department of Health

& Family Welfare, Nirman Bhawan, New Delhi.

w.r.t. your Dy. No: 2240 dt : 08.02.2012

lQj esa /kwi rks gkssxh]lQj esa /kwi rks gkssxh]lQj esa /kwi rks gkssxh]lQj esa /kwi rks gkssxh]lQj esa /kwi rks gkssxh]

tks py ldks rks pyksAtks py ldks rks pyksAtks py ldks rks pyksAtks py ldks rks pyksAtks py ldks rks pyksA

lHkh gSa HkhM+ esa]lHkh gSa HkhM+ esa]lHkh gSa HkhM+ esa]lHkh gSa HkhM+ esa]lHkh gSa HkhM+ esa]

rqe fudy ldks rks pyksArqe fudy ldks rks pyksArqe fudy ldks rks pyksArqe fudy ldks rks pyksArqe fudy ldks rks pyksA

¼funk Q+kt+yh½¼funk Q+kt+yh½¼funk Q+kt+yh½¼funk Q+kt+yh½¼funk Q+kt+yh½

GOI ORDERS

17BHARAT PENSIONER

March 2012

PROPOSAL FOR CONCESSIONALTELEPHONES UNDER CONSIDERATION

Letter No. 1 9-04/2012 - PHP dt 16.02.2012from Govt of India Ministry of Commns & IT,Deptt of Telecom, # 1205, Sanchar Bhawan,Ashoka Road, New Delhi to S C Maheshwari,

Secy (Railways), Bharat Pensioners Samaj, 490-

A/16, Gurudwara Road, Gurgaon - 122 002

Sub: RTI application dated 30.01.2012 transferred

by Shri K.K. Miglani, Director (Coord.) &

CPIO and received in the office of Director

(PHP) on 15.02.2012 for seeking information

on under RTI Act, 2005 reg. Concessional

Telephone Facilities to P&T Pensioners

Kindly refer to your RTI application dt 30.01.2012.

2. The information sought by you on point No.

24 is given below:

“The policy regarding extension of

concessional telephone facility to postal

pensioners who have completed 20 years or more

as on 31-03-1985 in DoP&T (before bifurcation)

is under examination.”

A K Verma, Director (PHP) and CPIO

Tel : 2303 6028

(Cont from p.23 )

And India has shown in the past that it has the

resilience to pull out of the worst of crises. The

new India that we celebrate today is, in fact, a

product of the foreign exchange crisis we faced

in 1991. So the current crisis could well mark the

starting point for India’s second coming. If we could

do it then, we can do it again.

SEARCHING NEW FACES FOR CHANGE

It is, perhaps, time we shift our faith beyond

the political leadership and icons of the business

world for ushering in the change that India must

embrace to emerge a winner in the year ahead.

The Anna Hazare-led campaign, which saw

unprecedented resonance across the country,

demonstrated that change is not always top-

down. More so at a time, when India is witnessing

its people’s aspirations grow at a pace that the

imagination of our leadership can barely match.

It is time to look up from the bottom. It is time

to search and celebrate new faces that will make,

or are making, change happen.

Courtesy : Hindustan Times

DIET / EXERCISEPeople begin the New Year with

resolutions seriously enough, but almost

always abandon them midway, the reason

is simple: the majority of new vear’s

resolutions are some sort of vow to lead

healthier lives, which is easier said than

done.

But having a friend or partner who also

has a similar target or supports your decision

can boost the likelihood of sticking to them.

US researchers say that buddy schemes

involving friends, family and colleagues help

people stick to diets, exercise regiments,

health plans and other resolutions over time,

BURNT NORTON by T S ELIOTTime present and time past, are both

perhaps present in time futute, and time

future contained in time past.

If all time is eternally present, All time is

unredeemable. What might have been is

an abstraction, Remaining a perpetual

possibility, only in a world of speculation.

What might have been and what has been

point to one end, which is always present.

Footfalls echo in the memory down the

passage which we did not take Towards

the door we never opened into the rose -

garden.

GOI ORDERS

18 BHARAT PENSIONER

March 2012

Rly Bd’s Letter No.F(E)I/2011/AL-28/26/PC-VI No. 284/RBE No. 19 dt

14.02.2012

Sub: Travelling allowance rules - Journeyon Transfer/Retirement

In terms of Board’s letter No.E(W)2004 PS 5-

9/1 dt 01.08.2011, personal effects up to the

specified weight limits and/or conveyance up to

the prescribed scale/rates as prescribed under

Board’s letter No. E(W)2004 PS 5-9/1 dt

17.06.2009 were permitted to be transported by

road on reimbursement basis in lieu of Kit Pass

to the place of posting on transfer/place of

settlement after retirement. The reimbursement

on account of transportation of personal effects/

conveyance was to be regulated as prescribed in

Board’s letter of even number dt 01.09.2011.

2. In terms of para II of the said letter, if

transportation of personal effects is made by road

between places connected by rail, reimbursement

of actual expenditure by road limited to

presumptive railway freight would be admissible,

3. However, doubts have been raised by one

of the railways regarding methodology to be

followed in calculating presumptive railway freight.

The matter has been examined in Board’s office

and it has been decided that rates per km for

transport by road as prescribed in Board’s letter

No F(E)I/2008/AL-28/15 dt 29.12.2010 would be

applicable to transportation of personal effects

made by road between places connected by rail

also. Therefore, there would no longer be any

distinction in rates of transportation of personal

effects by road between places connected by rail

or not connected by rail.

4. Accordingly, in partial modification of

Board’s letter of even number dt 1.9.2011, para II

of the said letter may be modified to read as

under:

“II. Transportation Personal effects on

Transfer/settlement after of retirement:

(i) If the transportation of personal effects is

made by rail

(ii) If the transportation of personal effects is

made by road

Rates prescribed in terms of Board’s letter

number F(E)I/2008/AL28/15 dated 29.12.2010

and revised vide Board’s letter No.F(E)I/2011/AL-

28/18 dated 13.06.2011 would be applicable for

transportation of personal effects by Road from

the place of residence to the Railway Station at

the old headquarters and from Railway Station to

the place of residence at the new headquarters.

Reimbursement of actual expenditure by road

limited to rates prescribed in terms of Board’s

letter number F(E)I/2008/AL28/15 dated

29,12.2010 and revised vide Board’s letter

No.F(E)I/2011/AL-28/18 dated 13.06.2011

5. All other provisions given in Board’s letter

dated, 1.9.11 shall continue to be applicable.

6. These orders shall take effect from 3rd June,

2011 i.e. date of effect of Board’s letter No. E(W)/

2004/PS 5-9/1 dated 01.08.2011.

SONALI CHATURVEDI,Dy. Director Finance (Estt)

GOI ORDERS

EXERCISE with MUSICIf you listen to music while exercising, your

brain works better too, showed a study of mental

performance after exercising without music, and

exercising with music. On average, people

performed more than twice as well on a verbal

fluency test after listening to music while

exercising than they did after exercising without

the music. There was no change in mental

alertness in people who didn’t listen to music.

To comprehend rhythm, the brain has to sort

out tone, timing and sequencing. This complex

endeavour fires up thebrain’s frontal lobe, which

is associated with mental agility associated with

abstract thinking and forward planning.

Courtesy : Hindustan Times

19BHARAT PENSIONER

March 2012

D.O. No. G-13013/1/2006-PG dt 05.05.06 fromPratyush Sinha, Secretary, Govt of India, Ministry

of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions,

North Block, New Delhi-110 001

One of the important obligations of public service

is the prompt redressal of public grievances and

identification of grievance prone areas of Government

Department in order to eliminate the causes of these

grievances of citizens. The Department of Administrative

Reforms and Public Grievances have been issuing

guidelines from time to time in order to ensure that an

effective institutional mechanism is established in each

government department for the expeditious redress of

Public Grievances. Despite all these guidelines and

various efforts made by the State Governments,

complaints continue regarding the delay and lack of

response in handling public grievances. The

Parliamentary Standing Committee attached to the

Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions

has taken serious view of the state of affairs prevailing

in the matter of settlement of public grievances. It has

been pointed out that the response of the public

servants towards citizens’ grievances is lukewarm and

often borders on complete indifference.

2. Any grievance redress system would be failing

in its primary purpose if the minimum courtesy of

acknowledging receipt of a complaint is not observed.

It is, therefore, reiterated that an acknowledgement

should go immediately and at the most within three

days of the receipt of the grievance and the grievance

itself should be redressed within a maximum period of

two months of its receipt. The citizens approaching

the government departments with their grievance

petitions should be informed of the progress of his/her

grievance. In case it is not found feasible to accede to

his/her request, a reasoned reply may be issued to

the aggrieved citizen within this stipulated time limit.

Further, if the finalization of a decision on a particular

grievance is expected to take longer than two months,

an interim reply should invariably be sent.

3. I would request you to take suitable measures

in bringing about a change in the prevailing situation in

order to ensure that the grievances of the citizens are

settled expeditiously.

With regards,

BPS DEMAND CONCEDED :TIMELY REDRESSAL OF

GRIEVANCES - FIXATION OFTIME LIMIT AGREED TO

OM No. F.No.41/30/2011-P&PW(C) dt 13.01.12

from Ministry of Personnel, P.G. & Pensions

Deptt of Pension & PW, Lok Nayak Bhawan,

New Delhi, to All Nodal Officers of all Ministries/

Departments (Web Based Pensioners’ Portal)

Sub: To fix timeline for redressal of

grievances.

Sir/ Madam

As you are aware, that on line grievances of

pensioners are being fed through our application

CPENGRAMS available in the Pensioners’ Portal

maintained by Department of Pension &

Pensioners’ Welfare. It has, however, been felt

that that timely action has not been taken by

various Ministries/ Departments/ Organisations

for redressal of grievances and same remain

pending for unduly long periods. There is thus

need to sensitize the concerned officers dealing

with these grievances in your Department for

taking timely action on the grievances of

pensioners so that unnecessary delays could be

avoided. The regional offices and field officers,

wherever they exist also need to be sensitized in

this regard accordingly.

2. In this connection your attention is invited

to fix the time limit for timely redressal of

grievances as per the guidelines issued by

Department of AR&PG (copy enclosed). You are,

therefore, requested to please take necessary

action in this regard while keeping this Department

informed about it.

Yours faithfully

Tripti P. Ghosh, Director

YOUR BELIEFS

Don’t make you a better person

YOUR BEHAVIOUR

does Anonymous

GOI ORDERS

20 BHARAT PENSIONER

March 2012

OM No. K-15011/1/2006-PG dt 22.05.06 from Govt

of India, Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances

and Pensions, Deptt of Administrative Reforms and

Public Grievances, Sardar Patel Bhawan, Sansad

Marg, New Delhi

Sub: Activating machinery for Redress of Public

Grievances

The undersigned is directed to refer to the

consolidated guidelines issued by the Department

of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances

for prompt and effective redress of public

grievances. It has been emphasized that a fully

functional redress mechanism needs to be in place

in all Ministries of Government of India and in the

Department/Organizations under the Ministries for

expeditious redressal of public grievances. It has

further been emphasized that the system of

grievance redress mechanism should be well

publicized to ensure that the citizens are aware

of the system and can interact with the

Department to settle their grievances. However,

complaints still continue regarding the delays and

lack of response.

2. It is now reiterated that the following steps may

please be taken to ensure that the internal

grievance redress machinery is in order for prompt

redressal of grievances of citizens:-

(i) A grievance should be acknowledged

immediately and at the most within three days

of the receipt of the grievance. A grievance

should be redressed within a period of a

maximum of two months of its receipt. If

finalization of a decision on a particular grievance

is anticipated to take longer than two months,

an interim reply should invariably be sent.

(ii) In case it is not feasible to accede to the

request made in the petition, a reasoned reply

may be issued to the aggrieved citizen within

this stipulated time limit.

(iii) Grievances received in the Ministries may be

analyzed periodically at a senior level to

identify grievance prone areas of the Ministries/

Departments to adopt systemic changes to

eliminate the causes of grievances.

(iv) Wide publicity of the grievance mechanism

available in the Ministry and the names,

designation and address of Director of Public

Grievances may be given.

(v) The Director of Public Grievances of the

Ministries/Departments of Government of

India may call for the documents of the case

and take a decision with the approval of the

Secretary of the Ministry/Head of the

Department/Organization if a grievance is not

redressed within a period of three months.

(vi) Every Wednesday may be kept as meeting-

less day for the Directors of Public Grievances

for hearing the grievances of the citizens. The

feedback mechanism may be ensured for an

inbuilt mechanism to correct deficiencies.

(vii) In order to promote responsive administration,

the system of regular dialogue with user and

citizen groups on grievance redress mechanism

and service delivery may be strengthened.

(viii) The software (PGRAMS) developed by the

Department of Administrative Reforms and

Public Grievances in consultation with

National Informatics Centre (NIC) for efficient

management of public grievances may be

installed in all Ministries/Departments of

Government of India.

(ix) The Department of Administrative Reforms

and Public Grievances with assistance from

NIC has been providing necessary training to

officers of different Ministries for better

handling of grievances through PGRAMS for

effective redressal of grievances of citizens.

All Ministries/Deptts are requested to strengthen the

Grievance Redress Mechanism to ensure effective

redressal of public grievances. Action taken on the

issues may be communicated to this Department.

Shyamalima Banerjee, Director (PG)Tele: 2374 5472

Directors of Grievances of, all Ministries/

Departments of Government of India

If men were angels,

no government would be necessary.

JAMES MADISON

GOI ORDERS

21BHARAT PENSIONER

March 2012

WHEN WILL MP COME UP AT PARWITH THE CENTRE?

Letter No. F9-1/2011/Rule/IV dt 13.10.2011,

from Govt of Madhya Pradesh, Finance Deptt,

Mantralaya, Bhopal

Sub: Sanction of dearness relief on thePension of the Pensioners of the Stateof Madhya Pradesh

The State Government had sanctioned 45%

dearness relief w.e.f. 01-04-2011 on pension /

family pension to their pension­ers / family

pensioners vide Finance De­partment Memo No.

F9-l/2011/Rule/IV dated 01 April, 2011. The State

Government has now decided that the dearness

relief ad­missible to pensioners should be

sanctioned as given below. The additional pension

payable to the pensioners aged 80 years or above

shall also qualify for dearness relief.

Period Rate of DR per month

w.e.f.

01-10-2011

2. The above dearness relief shall be payable

on the Superannuation, Retiring, Invalid and

Compensation Pension. This dearness relief shall

also be payable on the Compassionate Allowance

sanctioned to service and the said dearness relief

shall also be payable to persons receiving family

pension and extra ordinary pension under the

restrictions contained in the Finance

Department’s Memo No. F.B. 6/43/76/R-II/IV dt

5.10.76. The dearness relief on the pension / family

pension shall not be payable in the cases where

the pensioners / family pensioners are appointed/

re-appointed under the State Government or

autonomous instituions. The relief on family

pension shall be payable in cases where a person

at the time of the death of the spouse was in

service and was not appointed on compassionate

grounds. This relief on family pension shall not

be payable in cases where a person on account

of the death of the spouse has been appointed on

compassionate grounds. In this connection

( 51% of Pension/family

pension for the month of

10.2011 paid in 11. 2011)

atten­tion is invited to the provisions contained in

Finance Department’s Memo No. F.B. 6/10/76/

R-II/IV, dt 27.7.76 read with Memo No. No. F.B.6

/10/77/R-II/IV, dt 20.5.77 and Memo No. F-12-5/

2007/Rule/ IV dt 19.4.2007.

3. Pensioners, who have commuted a part of

their pension, shall be paid the dearness relief on

their original pension (pension before commutation).

4. This order shall be applicable in repsect of

State Government employees who had drawn lump

sum amount on ab­sorption in PSU/Autonomous

body / Board / Corporation etc. and have become

eligible to restoration of 1/3rd commuted portion of

pension in terms of this Department’s Memo No.

F 9/9/2006/Rule/IV dt 05.01.2007.

5. Fraction of rupee of the amount to be paid as

dearness relief shall be rounded off to the next rupee.

6. All Treasury Officer / Sub Treasury Officers/

Pension Disbursing Officers are directed to make

payment of the above sanctioned dearness relief

to State Government Pensioners early, keeping

in view the amended provisions of S.R. 347 of the

M.P.T.C. Volume -1, issued vide Finance

Department’s endorsement No. E-4/ 1/83/R-V/IV,

dt 29th January, 1983.

After payment of dearness relief the same may

be got checked from the usiial payment authority

received from the Accountant General, Madhya

Pradesh. If some inaccuracy/discrepancy comes

to the notice, the same may be adjusted in the

payment on next month.

By order and in the name of the

Governor of Madhya Pradesh

MILIND WAIKER, Deputy Secretary

(Contd. from p.23)

month as per the provisions of the Employees’

Provident Fund Scheme, 1952 though such cards

are not provided to subscribers.

Courtesy : http://epaper.mailtoday.in/

Note : Vide its Petition No B P S / SG/ 2K11 /E P S - 1 9 9 5 Da t e d : 1 4 -0 7 - 2 0 11 to theM/O labour & employment BPS had pleadedfor `̀̀̀̀1400/ P.M. to be the minimum Pension

STATE ORDER

22 BHARAT PENSIONER

March 2012

to it being routed in UP. Haunted as she will be

by a host of scams under her watch, Mayawati

should be more expedient than valorous to make

her 21 MPs coordinate with the Congress in New

Delhi. That’s the only way she can offset the

disadvantage of being out of power in UP.

This conspiracy of circumstances is scant

consolation for the Congress that has let go of its

best chance to win Punjab and resurrect its fortunes

in UP. Uttarakhand counts. But not all that much

in providing the political steroids that the UPA

needs to lift its sagging morale — which is linked

to its below par performance on the governance

and policy-making front. Unless it starts acting as

one coherent entity accommodative toward its

allies, the Congress leadership of the UPA is bound

to be under greater pressure from the likes of

Mamata Banerjee. Mayawati may lie low for a while.

But she’s no less difficult a customer than the

maverick Bengal chief minister.

On the organisational front, the Congress

desperately requires a personality transplant.

Rahul Gandhi’s UP campaign fell flat for want of a

robust party set-up and committed foot-soldiers.

Renegade candidatures spawned by rampant

cronyism in ticket distribution crippled its

challenge in Punjab. The blame for much of this

belongs to the Congress’ non-resident Punjabi

leaders who went on a self-aggrandisement spree

by patronising losers.

Rahul Gandhi has owned up responsibility for

the Congress debacle in UP and Amarinder Singh

in Punjab. But the mess-up was largely on account

of solo players pursuing individual gains in what

was meant to be a team effort.

The Congress’ defeat in UP has many

dimensions. But the absence of an efficient party

structure was one obvious reason for the goodwill

generated by Rahul Gandhi not translating into

votes. It can also be assumed in retrospect that

the experiment of handing over the party franchise

to sub-regional satraps cost the party dear in

Saharanpur and Barabanki. That the party could

not retain even half of the 100-odd assembly

Current Affairs

From UP to ‘UPA’How the mini General Elections (in 5 States)

would effect the UPA II @ the Centre?

by - Vinod Sharma

There are two ways of looking at the

Samajwadi Party’s spectacular victory in Uttar

Pradesh. It’s quite certainly a shot in the arm for

Mulayam Singh Yadav who, for the first time, has

a free hand in running the country’s most populous

state without any obligation to keep the UPA afloat

at the Centre. As UP sends 80 MPs to the Lok

Sabha, the SP could be tempted to disturb the

UPA applecart for a mid-term poll.

But the mandate comes with safety valves

against any such eventuality. The Muslim voter

wholeheartedly supported Mulayam to oust

Mayawati, not to topple the ‘secular’ UPA that

the SP backed in 2009 to keep the BJP at bay.

The Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), on its part,

is down but not in the dumps, a place where the

BJP and the Congress find themselves. The

prognosis for the Manmohan Singh government,

currently enjoying the SP’s and the BSP’s outside

support, would have been different had the BJP

emerged as the principal opposition in the state.

That would have encouraged the saffron party to

go for the kill at the Centre, given that it has

wrested Goa from the Congress, has piggybacked

the Akalis to retain Punjab, and turned

Uttarakhand into a cliffhanger contest.

The results look good on paper for the party.

But they are really a dampener for the BJP, whose

legislative presence has been reduced in Punjab,

Uttarakhand and UP. It can celebrate but only

partially, with even Sushma Swaraj calling the

outcome a “mixed bag” for the party.

The less-than-promising individual tallies in

these states are a safeguard against any proactive

BJP offensive for mid-term polls. The BSP, too,

won’t bring another election upon itself so close

UP TO ‘UPA’

23BHARAT PENSIONER

March 2012

segments where it was ahead in the 2009 Lok

Sabha polls—that fetched it 21 seats — was a

veritable no-confidence in its sitting MPs.

What then could be the way forward for the

Congress and the coalition it leads at the Centre?

As charisma and family name alone do not suffice

in electoral politics, the Congress leadership has

to spend time to rebuild the part;’ while scouting

for credible regional faces. This model constituted

the plinth of the Congress’ ‘pan-Indian’ clout in

Jawaharlal Nehru’s days. Indira Gandhi replaced it

progressively by her personal appeal and charisma.

The Congress lacks the leadership that can in any

way match Indira Gandhi’s stature. But the Grand

Old Party has to reinvent itself by reverting to the

past. And it has to do so by working in concert

with allies without whose consent and backing the

UPA cannot push policies and programmes —

including legislative initiatives relating to food

security and land acquisition and compensation

— that can help it get over its current image of a

dysfunctional regime.

If the SP could regain power after the humiliating

2007 defeat by the BSP, why can’t the Congress?

Mulayam and his son Akhilesh have benefited from

the silent work on the ground through a strong party

machinery. It’s a model the Congress must

improvise and emulate. Decentralisation of

authority should be at the core of its work culture.

The views expressed by the author are personal

Courtesy : Hindustan Times

Sleep improves with ageContrary to common wisdom, sleep gets better with

age, with adults in their 80s getting better sleep than

any other age group. More than a person’s biological

age, a new study suggests, it’s factors like stress and

underlying depression or illness that tend to affect quality

of rest.

When such influences are taken out of the equation,

elderly adults aren’t any more likely to report sleep

problems than younger adults in their 20s and 30s,

shows a study done in the US, reports journal Sleep.

pgirimaji@gmail.com

ANOTHER FEATHER FOR BPS CAP

Instead of `̀̀̀̀12, minimum pensionto be 1,000 to EPFO Pensioners

RETIREMENT fund body Employees’

Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) may take

a final decision on fixing the minimum pension

for its subscribers at ̀ 1,000 per month during a

meeting of the Central Board of Trustees ( CBT)

scheduled on February 22. EPFO’s apex

decision- making body CBT could fix minimum

pension at `1,000 per month for its subscribers

at a meeting this month, All India Trade India

Congress secretary D. L. Sachdev told reporters.

Sachdev, who is also an EPFO trustee, informed

that the proposal is listed on the agenda for the

CBT meeting. The trustee said that CBT will also

discuss the proposal to issue contribution cards

similar to bank passbooks to its over 4.72 crore

subscribers, which would be updated on monthly

basis from April 1.

According to EPFO data, as of March 31,

2010, there were 35 lakh pensioners who

subscribed to the retirement fund body, of which

14 lakh persons get a monthly pension of less

than `500. The number of EPFO pensioners

getting a monthly pension of ̀ 1,000 is seven lakh.

The data reveals there are cases where

pensioners are getting a monthly pension as low

as `12 and `38. As per estimates, the proposal

to hike the minimum pension to ̀ 1,000 per month

will need an additional contribution of 0.63 percent

of subscribers’ basic pay and dearness allowance

to pension account. The hike in contribution will

be over- and- above the 8.33 percent contributed

by employers towards the pension account of

employees as well as the 1.16 percent provided

by the government under the scheme.

The other important move of the retirement

fund body would be to start issuing contribution

cards similar to bank passbook from April this

year. At present, it is mandatory for the employers

to prepare ‘Contribution Cards’ and update it every

(Contd. on p.21)

MIN PENSION

24 BHARAT PENSIONER

March 2012

2011 IN RETROSPECT

LOOK AHEAD IN WONDERIndia Can, India Will

Extraordinary times call for extraordinary

measures. It is time to look up from the bottom.

It is time we search new faces for change, writes

Rajesh Mahapatra

Step back, look again. 2011 won’t appear as

bad as it is made out to be. It may have been a

year of seams and scandals that eroded the

credibility of our institutions of governance and

democracy, but the unraveling of the misdeeds

also brought in its wake a louder campaign for

stronger laws against corruption. Even as the fate

of the Lokpal bill hangs in the balance, one could

argue that the campaign which saw millions of

Indians, especially the usually apathetic middle

class and the youth, take to the streets with Anna

Hazare - only strengthened the nation’s

democratic fabric.

Poetical squabbling kept parliament from doing

any business, leaving the country in the throes of

a, ‘policy paralysis’. But that hasn’t stopped the

Indian entrepreneur from showcasing talent — the

world’s cheapest tablet, Aakash, rolled out from

an Indian lab.

The India growth story paused alongside

spiralling inflation that might have pushed millions

back into poverty, but we have yet to see the

mood of despondency that is playing out in other

countries hit by the global economic turmoil.

2011 was a year of relative peace along our

national border; also a year that saw a sharp

decline in terror attacks and Maoist violence.

What more, we won the world cup in cricket after

a gap of 28 years.

That said, it would be naïve to ignore the

challenges that have compounded through 2011.

CHALLENGES ON HAND

Despite the much exalted growth of the broader

economy over the past decade, we are still a

country that is home to one-third of the world’s

poor. Millions of rural homes have never had

electricity and a third of the population can’t read

or write. Health and education indicators have

stubbornly shown no signs of improvement. The

UN Human Development Report, 2011 ranks India

at 134 out of 187 countries — in the company of

countries such as Ghana and Equatorial Guinea.

Even as the prosperity earned by a 300 million-

plus, and growing Middle class has made India a

top destination for global investors and

manufacturers, a majority of its population has

been living on the margins. Such growing

inequality and unfulfilled aspirations of a vast

population will not necessarily always manifest

in peaceful protests, as it did the past year.

A weak government and a weakening economy

only make it worse. India’s limited dependence

on the global market — exports account for less

than a fifth of its GDP — and a well-regulated

financial system somewhat insulate it from the

precipitating crisis in Europe. But should the world

economy slip into a recession, as many experts

fear, the ripples will be felt harder. Unlike 2008

when the government stepped in with large doses

of fiscal stimulus and helped the economy revive

in less than a year, this time the exchequer has

no money for a bail-out.

A bigger concern, as Bharti Enterprises

chairman, Sunil B Mittal, points out in his essay

in this year-ahead special, is that the political

consensus that backed the government’s

initiatives in 2008 is missing this time. This was

evident in the way the government was forced to

roll back its decision to open multi-brand retail to

foreign investment. On the other hand, the ever-

widening net of the 2G scam probe has unnerved

the bureaucracy and made the government

indecisive at a time when it is expected to make

bold decisions.

In all likelihood, the country is headed for a

slowdown that will be prolonged and a political

crisis that could only get worse in the time to

come. But if there is despair, there is also hope.

(Cont @ p.17)

2011

25BHARAT PENSIONER

March 2012

Illicit Money vs Licit Money

A BLOT ON DEMOCRACYby Gopalkrishna Gandhi

Voters came out in droves in the 2012

assembly elections. We should not let the

extensive use of black money overshadow this

positive development

Let us be proud. Five states went to the polls

last month. The voter turnout was extraordinary.

That of women voters, specially so.

All these facts are not only well-known by now;

they are axioms. But stand them against facts

that have come in from another election.

Compare those results with the reports of the

presidential election in Russia. At Precinct 451,

Vladimir Putin got 1,482 votes, Gennady

Zyuganov1. Statistically improbable, the result

became even more controversial when it turned

out that more people had voted than there were

registered voters in that segment. There was a

voter turnout of 107%. The turnout in Chechnya

was 99.59%, with 99.82% of voters voting for Putin,

0.04% for Zyuganov, the runner-up. I would like to

believe the Russian elections were free and fair.

I would really like to, for I believe Putin’s Russia

is not Brezhnev’s Soviet Union.

We do remember the 2000 presidential

elections in the US. We particularly remember

how Florida voted, how the Florida Supreme Court

ordered a third re-count, which the US Supreme

Court reversed. The world has not forgotten that

although he received 543,895 fewer individual votes

than Al Gore nationwide, George Bush was

declared elected president of the United States

of America. We can be proud.

The voters have won, voting has won. But the

‘man of the match’ is the Election Commission

(EC) of India.

The EC represented principally by the Chief

Election Commissioner, S Y Quraishi, and the

team of officials working without fear or favour —

and with fervour — under the EC’s umbrella,

delivered transparently clean elections in this

theatre of violence and intrigue. They are not just

winners, but heroes. But we cannot gloat. And

there is a reason why we cannot. For there is a

side player in our elections of whom we cannot

be proud. Of whom we are to be ashamed. And

‘he’ is that perfect scalawag called illegal money

or black money. Victories as emphatic as the

Congress’ in Manipur, the SP’s in UP and the

BJP’s in Goa are not won by money, white or

black. They are won by voter-opinion. But the

scalawag called black money has been around

candidates, hovering round them, sometimes

being waved off, but ever so often settling on them.

According to one estimate, till February 5 in

UP alone, the EC nabbed `32 crore of

unaccounted cash, ̀ 12.3 crore from Punjab, ̀ 1.35

crore from Uttarakhand, `47 lakh from Manipur

and ̀ 36 lakh from Goa.

Elections now do not mean the spending of

crores, but of multiples of crores.

When I read those figures, I was reminded of

an election episode in UP of 75 years ago.

It has been recounted by Lal Bahadur Shastri

in a 1959 tribute to Jawaharlal Nehru:

“The general elections under the new

Government of India Act took place in 1937; they

were of great significance. In these elections

Nehru played a very important role. I remember

his visit to the district of Allahabad. It was about

8.30 pm when he finished his speech... Nehru

had taken no tea in the afternoon and... he was

feeling very hungry. He asked me whether there

was any restaurant in the city... I remembered

the railway station where some tea could be got.

He said: “Let us go there.” We motored to the

railway station and went to the railway restaurant...

After having taken the tea we were asked to pay

the bill. Everyone of us searched his pockets

and found that none of us carried sufficient money.

Between us we could collect about ̀ 2.50. Nehru

had about a `1.25. Purnima Banerjee another

rupee and I gave the few annas to complete the

full amount required. How awkward would it have

LICIT MONEY

26 BHARAT PENSIONER

March 2012

been if we had failed to make up the amount

among ourselves!”

Seventy-five years is not all that long ago. That

is, we are not talking of the 1800s. And we are

talking of people whose names are invoked in

today’s election campaigns.

Money played a part in elections even then,

but by and large it was licit money, modest money.

It was money, not the monster called black money.

In 1957, Tata Iron & Steel Co wanted to change

their Memoranda of Association in order to allow

the company to make contributions to political

parties. The matter went to court. Justices MC

Chagla and ST Desai ruled in the Bombay High

Court allowing the change but with weighty obiter.

Their comments are memorable. They said (and I

quote): “The very basis of democracy is the voter

and when in India we are dealing with adult suffrage

it’s even more important than elsewhere.. that the

integrity of the voter is also safeguarded... Before

parting with this case, we think it our duty to draw

the attention of Parliament to the great danger

inherent in permitting companies to make

contributions to the funds of political parties. It is

a danger which may grow apace and which may

ultimately overwhelm and even throttle democracy

in this country. Therefore, it is desirable for

Parliament to consider under what circumstances

and under what limitations companies should be

permitted to make these contributions.”

The late Indrajit Gupta chaired a committee to

study the impact of company donations on

elections. The time for another study — and action

— has come. Black money from elsewhere, with

a drugs and arms nexus, not company donations,

is now the culprit. Such an initiative led by

someone of the stature of Fali Nariman or N R

Narayana Murthy is urgently needed.

Among many lasting images of the elections

just concluded will be that of two earnest young

men straining every nerve to win the people’

confidence in UP, of women queueing up to vote,

freely, fairly and, hopefully, independently of their

husbands. And of voters in Manipur defying

blockades and insurgency to vote. They do us

proud.

That known depredator, ‘KD’ or ‘kala dhan’,

must not let shame sickly over this pride.

Gopalkrishna Gandhi is a former administrator,

diplomat and governor

The views expressed by the author are personal

Courtesy : Hindustan Times

BHARAT PENSIONERS SAMAJ2/13A, LGF, Jangpura - ‘A’ New Delhi-14

To,

The Secretary, Govt. of India,

Ministry of Personnel, PG& Pensions,

Deptt. Of Pension & PW

New Delhi.

Sub: Item No.9.16 of minutes of SCOVA meeting

held on 21.09.2011 - Merger of 19 P&T

Dispensaries with CGHS

Sir,

I am to refer item No. 9.16 referred to above

(copy enclosed) and to say that the representative

of M/O Health and FW told the SCOVA that

merger of 19 P&T Dispensaries in 12 cities is

under active consideration .

It is however, found that, even after nearly six

months the matter still remains under consideration.

In fact the matter has being under

consideration for more than 3 years now. Many

meetings have, during this period, been held

between the M/o Health and FW and the Deptt.

Of Post s, M/o Commns. & IT; still actual merger

has been delayed for one reason or another. Even

the decision to merge CGHS Dispensary at

Jammu with P&T Dispensary , which was agreed

to between them, has not been effected on the

ground level.

We earnestly appeal to you to take up this

matter urgently with the Ministries concerned

with a view to expediting their actual merger

without any further delay.

Shyam Sunder, Secy Genl, BPS

LETTER TO GOI

27BHARAT PENSIONER

March 2012

AAP AUR HUMACTIVITY REPORTS FROM OUR

AFFILIATESRENEWAL: Please remember to renew your

subscription (Rs.450) whether due this month or

the next.

SEND DIRECT: Please send your reports (in

English) direct to the Editor, BPS –

D Jayaraman, Flat no-23, Plot no-3, Sector 7,

Dwarka, New Delhi -110075.

Please send your reports (in Hindi) to: R N

Tripathi, Sr VP, (BPS), L-21, Lakshmi Nagar, Delhi-

110092.

Add ID: Please quote your ID (mailing number and

pin code number) while writing to BPS, New Delhi

(Reports received without your ID, mailing no/ Pin

code no may not be taken up for publication).

AHMEDABAD: BSNL & DOT Pensioners’ Assn– Vadodara Telecom Dt 1st Get-together was held

on 01.03.12. More than 350 pensioners attended

the function. J B Kumpavat, Wkg President and A

N Patel explained in detail the functioning of BDPA

at Ahmedabad. D D Mistry dwelt upon the crusade

of Pension Revision and subsequent struggle/

hurdles in achieving its implementation.

26th Get-together of BDPA was held on

17.02.12. President, Wkg President and Gl Secy

addressed the gathering and briefed it on the

progress made on restoration of Medical

Allowances without voucher, merger of 78.2% IDA,

Anomaly of October 2000, one increment for Gr

IV and other issues. A seminar was held on eye-

care by Dr Dipan Desai, DIVA Health Care and

on women’s diseases by Dr Aava Desai.

DINDIGUL (TN): Rly Pensioner’s WelfareAssn – Meeting was held on 05.02.12. About 100

members participated in the meeting. D

Krishnamurthy, Zonal Secy, NFRP briefed about

the latest news received from BPS, New Delhi.

14 resolutions on long pending demands of

pensioners were passed unanimously.

PATIALA: Sr Citizens Assn – Meeting was

held on 01.02.12. Members expressed their

hearty thanks to Shri Shyam Sunder, Secy Gl of

BPS, for taking up the early implementation of

CAT decision in favour of pre-01.01.06 pensioners

with the concerned Hon’ble Minister of the Central

Govt. Mrs Neeru Kansal, President, Women

Welfare Organisation, DMW, Patiala visited

‘APNA GHAR’ on 25.01.12 to ascertain the

unresolved problems of the Sr Citizen.

YAMUNA NAGAR (Haryana): TelecomPensioner’s Welfare Assn – They have

submitted a letter to the concerned Central

Minister seeking provision of outdoor and indoor

medical treatment for pensioners who retired

before October 2000 and were residing in the Non-

CGHS area of Yamuna Nagar as also

enhancement of FMA.

AAP AUR HUM

(Cont from p.31 )

After considering certain contingencies such as

inflation effects or working conditions and listening

to the claims of Employees’ Trade Unions and

Pensioners Associations, the Central Pay

Commission gives its recommendations. Each of

these recommendations is carefully examined by

a group of ministers who either accept or reject it.

The Sixth Central Pay Commission, which gave

its recommendations in 2008, set 31st of December

2005 as a cut-off date which set new rules for pre

and post retirees. Based on this dividing date, two

different policies were developed to consolidate and

revise the Pension Program. This created wide gaps

as those who retired before the 31st of December

2005 from the same post with same seniority, and

same pay scale are now getting much less pension

than those who retired or will retire after 31

December 2005, creating therefore a strong

resentment among over 5,000,000 pensioners.

Dr. Gangadharan, provided those present with

an overview of the Draft National Policy of Senior

Citizens 2011 which is awaiting approval of the

Central Government of India. After long discussions,

the Conference adopted 24 resolutions expressing

vital grievances of pensioners.

28 BHARAT PENSIONER

March 2012AAP AUR HUM

29BHARAT PENSIONER

March 2012 AAP AUR HUM

30 BHARAT PENSIONER

March 2012

NEW MEMBERS - Whole LifeWL - 9372 Harchadan Singh Chandigarh

NEW MEMBERS - Annual

A - 1137 R H Rajyaguru BVN 01/13

A - 1139 V Sain Bajaj DDN 01/13

A - 1141 K N Pandey DDN 01/13

A - 1142 AVG Krishna Vishakapatnam 01/13

A - 1143 Dr. Hari B Prasad Jharkhand 01/13

A - 1144 Sawan Kumar Bhanjakia 01/13

A - 1145 Manohar Lal ASR 01/13

A - 1146 M P Pathak DL - 34 01/13

A - 1147 B Mukherji DL - 62 01/13

A - 1148 J N Patni DL - 87 01/13

A - 1149 Y R Malik GZB 01/13

A - 1150 C B Gamit AM 01/13

A - 1152 A S Gupta DL - 92 01/13

A - 1153 B Bhushan Gupta DL - 55 01/13

A - 1154 Vinay Seth MRT 01/13

A - 1156 R S Mukherjee Kolkata 01/13

A - 1157 M L Dhingra DL - 91 01/13

A - 1158 L C Rajpal DL - 24 01/13

A - 1159 Y S Singh Imphal 01/13

A - 1160 P Deven Singh Imphal 01/13

NEW MEMBERS - TriennialA - 1161 Dewan C Batra DL- 24 01/15

NEW AFFILIATED ASSOCIATIONSA - 1138 Humera Huseeb Bareilly 01/13

A - 1140 R R E A Sonebhadra 01/13

A - 1151 Govt Pensioners Assn Barsoighat 01/13

A - 1155 NE Calcutta CGPA Kolkata 01/13

SCPC FUND Donations JANUARY, 2012L - 2560 : M N Kaul (Akhun) GGN 500/-

A - 0283 : Gur Saroop Joshi DL - 75 400/-

L - 9152 : Gauri Shankar DL - 68 300/-

M - 4842 : P Ranga Rao AP 200/-

A - 0859 : R S Gothani Betul 200/-

A - 0225 : A Pattabhi Vijayawada 200/-

L - 9240 : C R Choudhry Kurkshetra 100/-

L - 9206 : J S Nagi Tatanagar 100/-

M - 4546 : O P Khullar Amloh 50/-

A - 0486 : S Banarjee Haridwar 30/-

M - 5067 : S Rajarao Rajahmundry 25/-

A - 0696 : K C S Negi DL - 75 20/-

M - 7644 : K L Malhotra Noida 20/-

AFFILIATED ASSOCIATIONS (RENEWAL)M - 6758 : P & S C W Assn Banglore 08/12

M - 1349 : Retd Rly Empls Assn Bhilai 08/13

M - 4210 : Rly & C G Penrs Assn Guntur 01/13

M - 0197 : Pensioners Assn Bhilwara 03/13

M - 1279 : Bina Rly Penrs Samaj Bina 02/13

A - 0271 : A I R R F Guntakal 02/13

M - 5078 : Rtd Emplys W Assn Hamirpur 02/13

M - 0092 : Penrs Welfare Samaj DL - 29 01/13

M - 3084 : Govt Penrs Assn Dehradun 02/13

M - 5953 : C G P A Sriganganagar 03/13

M - 6346 : C G Penrs Assn Howrah 02/13

M - 8499 : Tele Penrs W Assn Yamunanagar 02/13

M - 6086 : C G P A Patna 07/13

M - 8275 : Retd. Rly Empls Assn Kolkata 12/12

A - 0908 : R R Empls Penrs Assn Bhilai 02/13

M - 6937 : A/cs G O Penrs Assn Hyderabad 04/12

M - 3750 : Rajya Penrs Samaj Jamtara 01/13

M - 6625 : N F R P Assn Silchar 02/13

M - 4670 : G & S Govt R E Assn Rabkhavi 03/15

M - 6545 : Haryana G P Assn Chandigarh 11/12

M - 5222 : C G Penrs Assn Jammu 04/13

RENEWAL - AnnualM - 7640 : K L Venkatarathnam Nagpur 01/13

M - 5053 : K K Gupta Jaipur 01/13

M - 4546 : O P Khullar Amloh 01/13

M - 8631 : D A Sarma Ponnur 02/13

A - 0621 : VP Bhoraskar Indore 02/13

A - 0907 : D K Surange Gwalior 02/13

A - 0283 : Gur Saroop Joshi DL - 75 02/13

M - 7170 : T Koteswara Rao Meerpet 01/13

A - 0615 : Pritam Singh Amritsar 02/13

A - 0490 : K N Rao Bilaspur 09/12

M - 7307 : L Subbarayudu Hyderabad 02/13

A - 0825 : Mohd Abdul Kafi Aligarh 10/12

M - 6888 : Nizamuddin Aligarh 02/13

M - 6587 : D H L N Rao Guntakal 01/13

M - 4645 : Dr. P C Kapoor Bikaner 03/13

A - 0293 : Md Mahboob Ali Dronakal 02/13

M - 6923 : S M Sharma Sahibabad 03/13

M - 8866 : J Chander Parai Krishnagar 02/13

M - 6586 : P Paul Peter Madurai 01/13

A - 0281 : G Subramani Chennai 02/13

M - 8630 : A S N Murthy Tuni 02/13

M - 5092 : O P Gulati M Govindgarh 02/13

M - 5917 : Amiya Das Gupta Bishnupur 03/13

M - 8247 : L P Singh Khandwa 12/12

M - 8264 : M L Prashar Harda 12/12

M - 5840 : Revat Lal Arora Jwalapur 02/13

A - 0607 : R M Patnik Bilaspur 02/13

M - 8857 : R Seshagiri Rao Salem 02/13

M - 5872 : Naresh Sharma Bhandara 02/13

M - 7343 : K N Venkhatram Chennai 03/13

M - 7308 : K Janardhanarao Dowlaishwara 02/13

A - 0609 : P Chatterjee Belgharia 02/13

M - 8025 : N S Patil Dharwad 03/12

M - 3951 : Dr L N Sharma (MD) Rajkot 02/13

M - 8867 : M Pandu Ranga Rao Tenali 02/13

M - 8254 : G V Jayapaul Nellore 12/12

M - 5888 : Jai Gobind Singh Kishanganj 02/13

M - 5841 : D C Bhatla Bikaner 02/13

THANKS!

31BHARAT PENSIONER

March 2012

M - 7997 : D N Bahl FBD 02/13

M - 7672 : A K Banga DL - 14 02/13

A - 0209 : Udham Singh Jalandhar 01/13

M - 8666 : Roop Ram FBD 04/12

M - 5793 : B B L Bhatnagar DL - 91 01/13

M - 4266 : Mahanbir Singh Patiala 03/13

M - 5796 : H V Singh Sriganganagar 01/13

A - 0567 : Ram Naresh Prasad Arrah 01/13

A - 0021 : A Nath Ghosal Shibpur 06/12

A - 0933 : K Ramalingam Hyderabad 03/13

A - 0905 : S N Awasthi Jhansi 02/13

A - 0921 : P S Shrotiya Tundla 03/13

M - 8010 : K Bala Babu Rajahmundry 02/13

M - 8580 : J P Jaiswal Satna 01/13

M - 8008 : M S Gurjar Ahmedabad 02/13

M - 7613 : Charan Dass Jammu Tawi 12/12

M - 7665 : Jago Mistri Ghogha 02/13

M - 8320 : Sharad Kr V Sarang Nasik 02/13

A - 0610 : A R Hazara Assam 02/13

A - 0274 : B S Shaik Kodur 02/13

M - 6504 : M S Dahima DL - 88 09/12

A - 0304 : S N Gupta DL - 92 02/13

A - 0295 : J K Bhattacharjee Kolkata 02/13

M - 4638 : Jagjit Singh DL - 85 02/13

M - 4920 : Kharaiti Ram FBD 11/12

M - 4956 : S J Choudhary Garh Nokha 11/12

M - 7691 : A S Saxena DL - 17 03/13

M - 6614 : L P Mishra, G/Secy Varanasi 01/13

A - 0798 : M S Sharma DL - 32 09/12

M - 6630 : Amar Nath DL - 24 03/13

M - 3089 : B Singh Chohan FBD 02/13

M - 6835 : K Ganguly Shantiniketan 12/12

M - 8055 : P S R Kumar Sinha Bhimavaram 04/13

M - 4930 : Basant Kumar Vijh Jaipur 10/12

M - 6890 : Sant Kumar DL - 43 02/13

M - 8871 : N K Bhalla DL - 88 02/13

M - 7771 : Padmini Mathur DL - 57 06/13

M - 4632 : W R Sehgal DL - 26 02/13

A - 0642 : M M Lal DL - 85 03/13

M - 8578 : Prithvi Raj Wadhwa DL - 60 01/13

A - 0534 : Samarendra Nath Kar Kolkata 11/12

BiennialA - 0563 : K P Mirajgaonkar Goa 01/14

A - 0902 : J Thomas Chennai 02/14

A - 0696 : K C S Negi DL - 75 04/13

M - 7644 : K L Malhotra Noida 01/13

TriennialM - 5598 : J P Vishwakarma Indore 11/13

M - 4243 : K K Sood Siliguri 03/15

M - 8028 : Nirmal Kanta Jaitly DL - 92 03/15

A - 0166 : K D Jha DL - 17 11/14

M - 5022 : S K Abdul Ghani Khandwa 12/14

M - 5102 : N S Verma DL - 92 02/15

M - 7193 : Er M C Gupta DDN 01/15

RENEWAL

BPS in international News !International Federation on Ageing has

published the following “News item” in their‘e. newsletter’ – December 2011; circulated

all over the world

India - Bharat Pensioners Samaj (Federation)Fight for the Rights of Retirees

IFA members since June 2005, Bharat

Pensioners Samaj (BPS) was established in 1955

and is based in New Delhi. BPS is the apex body

of all Central Government Pensioners with more

than 375000 members through Associations,

Federations and Individuals from across the country.

At this year’s Annual General Body meeting held

on 4 November 2011, Dr. K.R. Gangadharan, IFA

Board Member and Regional Vice President for

Asia, was honored to be the Chief Guest.

BPS is a member of the Government of India

Standing Committee of Voluntary Agencies

(SCOVA), fighting to highlight pension and health

related grievances of pensioners and seeking

redress through negotiations and discussions to

implement Government policies for the welfare of

Pensioners.

As part of its mandate and role, BPS publishes

a monthly Journal, organizes National level

Conventions, Annual General Meetings of its

affiliates and provides support to members. Activity

and accounting reports were presented and four

associations were rewarded for their work (this year

it was AICGPA PUNE, BSNL & DOT Pensioners

Association Gujarat circle Ahemdabad, DAPWA

Chandigarh and RSCWS Mohali).

Shyam Sunder, Secretary General BPS, while

presenting his report, expressed concern and

disappointment over the continued indifferent attitude

of the Government of India towards pre 1 January

2006 Pensioners.

Every ten years the Government of India

appoints a Central Pay Commission to investigate

on pay and allowance, medical facilities, and

pensions of its employees and past employees.

(Contd @ p.27)

32 BHARAT PENSIONER

March 2012

COMPENDIUM ON PENSION, CGHS &MEDICAL FACILITIES FOR CENTRAL

GOVT AND BSNL PENSIONERS

A copy of the Compendium on Pension, CGHS

& Medical Facilities for Central Govt and BSNL

Pensioners (7th Edition : revised upto Nov, 2011)

has just been received here. The book is very

informative. It contains information about govern-

ment policy on pension and relevant government

orders on the subject, particularly in the context

of Sixth Pay Commission recommendations. It

contains the latest position on Central Govt

Pension, BSNL Pension, CGHS, BSNL-MRS,

writing of will and a small writer - on Geriatric

diseases. The book will be a very useful refer-

ence material for the pensioners as also those

who are now retiring.

We highly appereciate the pains Karnataka P

& T Pensioners’ Association have taken to bring

out the latest edition.

The book is modestly priced @` 200/-. It is

available from :

BOOK CENTRE

Sundara Yogsala Building, 32, Payappa

Garden, Queens Road Cross, Near Sanjevani

Shivajinagar, Bengaluru - 560 051

or

THE S S BOOK EMPORIUM#428-38/1, “Kamalalaya”

4th Main , 2nd Cross, Srinagara,

Bengaluru - 560 050

u tk;rs fez;rs ok dnkfpu~ uk;a HkwRok Hkfork ok u Hkw;%Avtks fuR;% “kk”orks·;a iqjk.kks u gU;rs gU;ekus “kjhjsAAThe Atmaa (Soul) neither takes birth nor dies in

any period. He (The Atmaa) has never taken birth,

nor he takes birth neither he will take birth. He is

UNBORN, ETERNAL, PRIMEVAL, without any

begining and without any end. He does not

perish even after the body is perished. He is

imperishable (AVINAASHEE)

Srimad Bhagwad Geeta2/20

BOOK REVEIW

You and the CountrymenYour brethren you have treated with disrespect.

You have denied them their simple human rights.

You have made them stand and wait before you,

and not given them a place in your affection.

You must share with them all, their ignominy.

You have made of your neighbour an untouchable.

You have offended that of God to every man.

If famine visits your land - like the wrath of God,

You shall have to break your crumbs with the poorest.

You must share with them all, their ignominy.

From your high seat you have cast them down.

With them was overthrown all your power.

There it grovels in the dust of the depressed

if you must save yourself, descend to their depth.

You must share with them all, their ignominy.

Those you trample underfoot, drag you down.

Further backward they recede, the less you advance.

Shut off the light of knowledge from them

and a blind wall separates you from their well-being.

You must share with them all, their ignominy.

Long has your nation’s shame weighed you down,

But you refuse still to worship the cod in man

Bend your head of pride for a while and

behold Him in the dust where the lowliest lie.

You must share with them all, their ignominy.

Do you not see the courier of death at your door, ready to

brand his stigma on the highest brow?

If in arrogance you shun your fellow-men and

remain withdrawn in your selfish vaunt, then,

in the ashes of a vast cremation pyre.

You shall share with them all, their ignominy.

- RABINDRANATH TAGORE

33BHARAT PENSIONER

March 2012

Four things the FM needsto address in Budget 2012

by - Yashwant Sinha, MP(former Finance Minister in NDA Govt)

There are four things that finance minister

Pranab Mukherjee must do in Budget 2012. The

starting point, of course, must be fiscal

consolidation. The budget Fiscal Responsibility

and Budget Management Act of Parliament

passed in our time was thrown out of window by

the UPA. As far as the economic crises goes,

my take is that it was more importantly the

elections in India which led to that bonanza of

2008-09 budget. In absolute numbers, the fiscal

deficit that year was allowed to go up ̀ 2,10,000

crore in one year. If you push that much of money

in one year, it is alarming. The government very

conveniently used the umbrella of the global

financial crisis to take liberties with the fiscal

deficit. If you look at the stimulus, they merely

reduced excise duties. The rest of it was nothing

but election-oriented expenditure, like 6th Pay

Commission, farmers’ debt waivers, and increased

allocation on Mahatma Gandhi National Rural

Employment Guarantee.

All this resulted in huge consumption

expenditure. And when you have consumption

expenditure of this volume, it’s bound to have an

impact on inflation. All this could have been easily

predicted. Any economist who would have studied

the subject in higher secondary would have told

you that if you run a fiscal deficit of this kind,

especially on consumption expenditure side and

not on investment expenditure side – which

cannot be rolled back once crises are over year

on year – will put pressure on prices. Inflation will

go up. As a result, the Reserve Bank of India will

have to increase interest rates and liquidity. The

current slow­down of GDP growth to 6.1% is on

this account.

Second, he must correct the near complete

neglect of housing by the government – the

immediate impact of higher interest rate and

liquidity squeeze – which had an adverse impact

on the sector.

Globally, the housing sector has been

recognised as one of the strongest triggers of

economic activity. Our government recognised and

encouraged it. Despite the high inflation we

experienced in the past four years, for instance,

rebate for housing interest in income tax stays at

`1.5 lakh, which was fixed by us 10 years ago.

This must be revised. He must also come with a

package of fresh incentives for individual house

owners and real estate developers.

Third, the finance minister needs to catalyse

infrastructure like national highways, rural roads,

freight corridors. We need more toll roads. The

government must carry out study on areas and

projects that are commercially viable. Railways,

ports, mini airports and petroleum are among the

areas that need attention. As far as PSUs are

concerned, there is a well-defined concept of

internal rate of return that tells us whether a project

is viable for the next 12-15 years. Here, the

government’s responsibility should be confined

to merely to provide seed capital through special

purpose vehicle (SPV). We must start using

SPVs even for con­struction of private multi-storied

buildings, so you can delink them from not only

the government’s budget but also from the parent

company.

Courtesy : Hindustan Times

BUDGET

SMILE TO LOOK YOUNGER

The simple act of smiling takes years

off your age, say German researchers.

Not just the temporary wrinkles created

by smiling make it more difficult to judge

a person’s age, people who look happy

are perceived attractive in others ways as

well, including being younger than they

are.

Courtesy : Hindustan Times

34 BHARAT PENSIONER

March 2012

KOLAVERI DI, FDI &PENSION (PFRDA) BILL

Retail FDi, Retail FDi, Kolaveri Di, Save Di, SaveDi, Kolkata Di Di, Govt Servant Di,ABC Di, in Lokpal Di, iphone Di, iphone Di,Kolaveri Di. Lokpal Di, in parliament Di,No, No parliament Di, in Lok Pal Di,But parliamentarians are in Lok Pal Di!Afzal Guru is alive Di But parliament is hanged Di !!!

An unprecedented global virus like musical tune,

has caught young and middle aged male and female

in millions from New York to Tokyo within a short

time through internet. The tune ‘Kolaveri Di’ was

sung by an upcoming Tamil actor, Dhanush which

was part of a Tamil Movie yet to be released which

is produced by Aiswarya, wife of Dhanush and

daughter of famous Tamil actor Rajnikanth.

However, these facts were not the reasons for its

popularity which is very difficult to explain.

In North India, people call anybody with

respect adding ‘Ji’ after their names. But among

Tamilians, when two intimate close friends

converse, where respect is not necessary, spoiling

the intimacy, they use the word ‘Da’ (Mk) or ‘Di’(Mh)

among the boys and girls respectively. These

suffixes are added not after the names but after a

command or order or short worded information.

“Kolaveri” means “Murderous Rage Instinct”. ‘Di’

here means it is addressed to a girl in second

person singular. Rejected ‘love’ turned as ‘hate’

goes to the extent of feeling to ‘kill’ the jilted lover.

The song is a mixture of English and Tamil

words. Though the critics in Tamil Nadu had

condemned the theme of the song, it is proved

that Rock Music cares for tune and not for words

or language. So much explanation is necessary

for gullible retirees who might not have gone to

cinema theatres or not seeing movies in small

screens. There is so much difficulty in

understanding modern e-generations by bygone

generation. But mobile phones turned as quick

propaganda weapons which bring modern people

together so quickly both for good and bad purposes.

What is good for one is bad for another. Popularity

of the seemingly welcome - uprising in Middle East

to remove despots or in support of Anna movement

in India -are all due to cell phone internet. That is

why Hon. Shri Kapil Sibal representing ruling class

in India is in a haste to ban selective objectionable

free internet communications in India under

the present explosive situation in politics. What is

good elsewhere is bad for India, FDI may be good

for West or in some other parts in East also; but

may not be good for India. We are afraid whether

Rupee is being devalued so much by any Western

game plan as it happened in Russia in the past.

Now India need not pass FDI in Parliament. Ruling

parties and opposition parties need not fight to hide

or reveal the Black Money in billions of dollars in

Tax Heavens. All these hidden wealth in dollar

will come back to India due to devaluation of rupee.

We will have to only increase the work in currency

printing press due to devaluation of rupee and

increasing deficit in budget. Nice way to globalize

India. For, e.g., hair cutting charges will become

Rs. 1000/- as it is in America instead of Rs. 40/-

as in India till now. But mind you! For more salaries

for salaried people and for more pensions for the

diminishing number of pensioners as cost of living

goes up, you will have to come together in big

number through use of mobile phones and internets

as “Kolaveri Di” success shows.

On 25 th November 2011, a mammoth

gathering of serving Central Govt. Employees and

central Pensioners in Delhi was marching from

Jantar Mantar to the parliament house to submit

a Charter on many pending demands like

scrapping of Pension Bill and New Pension

Scheme, removal of Anomalies due to Pay

Commissions, etc.

Many of us may forget that Old Pension

Scheme was removed with effect from 01.01.2004

for all Civil Central Govt Employees who joined

subsequently. On the contrary, Members of

Parliament (M.Ps) got for themselves not only

pension but also family pension benefits. It is

worth really to remember that eligible dependent

family pensioner will have a condition of a total of

Rs. 3500/- as income ceiling from all sources to

get that family pension. Again on the contrary,

MPs having wealth worth, hundreds of crores of

rupees are not barred from receiving family pension

benefits........Kolaveri Di !!!

Courtesy : K V Raghavendran, AERWA, Navi Mumbai

KOLAVERI DI

35BHARAT PENSIONER

March 2012

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D R FOR PENSIONERS

Aug-11 Sep-11 Oct-11 Nov - 11 Dec-11 Jan-12

All India CPI (IW) 194 197 198 199 197 198Base 2001=100

12 Month Average 60.82% 62.12% 63.35% 64.56% 65.43% 66.15%

7% increase wef 1.1.12. Orders awaited.Contributed by : J N Uppal, Dy Director (Retd), CSO,

Min of Statistics and Programme Implementation.

C-26, Amar Colony, Lajpat Nagar-IV, New Delhi - 110 024 - Tel : 2644 8938 (R)

06.02.2012 1. Right Inset - D R Singh

2. Left to RightR P Sharma

A P Shukla

Sitaram Vishwakarma

Asharam Patel

Goyal Vishwakarma

G C Jha

Madansingh Chandel

Tikaram

A Appu

Tularam

Mukandila

K P Yadav

R S Thakur

A P Sharma

N P Sen

Arsik Husain

Retirement means life : Life begins at retirement- Anonymous

DR

36 BHARAT PENSIONER

March 2012

BHARAT PENSIONER : Registered with Registrar of Newspapers for India vide

No. R. N. DELBIL/2006/17678

BOOK POST/PRINTED MATTER : Posted at N.D.P.S.O., Com. Indrajit Gupta Marg, New Delhi -110 002 on 15 / 16 March, 2012

If undelivered, please return to : BHARAT PENSIONERS SAMAJ, Post Box No. 3303, Jangpura P.O., New Delhi - 110014

Printer & publisher : Shyam Sunder for Secy Genl, Bharat Pensioners Samaj.

Printed at Compudata Services, 42, DSIDC Shed, Scheme-I, Okhla-II, New Delhi - 11 00 20 (printers) from

(place of publication) 2/15-B, Hospital Road, Jangpura-A, New Delhi - 110 014

e-mail : bps.shyamsunder@gmail.com Editor (for the purpose of the Act) : Y C Rai.

March 2012

web site : www.bharatpensioner.org

Postal Regd No DL(S)-01/3274/2012-14Licence No U(SE)-18/2012-14to post without pre-payment

BHARAT PENSIONERS SAMAJ : Zindabad!NO PAINS : NO GAINS

Nothing achieved without struggleGovt of India is rejecting every just demand of Pensioners.

Sr Vice Prez, R N Tripathi with Secy Genl

“Rail Pensioners March to New Jalpaiguri”Join us at New Jalpaiguri Rly Institute

on 29.03.2012 to launch struggle for your rightsContact:

BIMALENDU CHAKRABORTY,Mob.08016135182,Tel: 0353 2592331,2562545 e.mail: bimalendu1947@gmail.com

Postal address:Bimalendu Chakraborty, working chairman reception committee,

Office of the N.F. Railway Pensioners Association;NJP Gate Bazar, P.O. Bhaktinagar, (W B) Pin-734007

Shyam Sunder, Secy GenlBharat Pensioners Samaj

S C Maheshwari, Secy (Rly Pensioners)Bharat Pensioners Samaj