Both Com. Natarajan (GS) and myself are leaving our stations on 20-1-2017 to attend the Circle Conferences of Andhra and Odisha. We will be coming back only after a week. Hence, during the period, up to 29th instant, there shall not be any new posting in this website. If there is anything urgent and very important, we shall post the matter during our tour.

.... P S Ramankutty

ODISHA BSNL PENSIONERS PROTEST

BSNL Pensioners of Odisha protest against the unhelpful, negative attitude of CCA of Odisha circle in the matter of implementation of Cabinet decision on 78.2%. A protest dharna ws staged in front of office of the CCA on 18-1-2017 under the banner of AIBSNLPWA.

KERALA CIRCLE UNIT OF AIBSNLPWA ORGANISED A MASSIVE RALLY IN THE OFFICES OF CGMT AND CCA, KERALA CIRCLE

ON 18-1-2017 PROTESTING AGAINST (1) THE DELAY IN SETTLING 78.2% CASES.

(2) DELAY IN SETTLING MEDICAL REIMBURSEMENT CLAIMS BY PENSIONERS.

Com. D Gopalakrishnan (Vice President) inaugurated the Rally and explained the cases of 78.2% and Pension Anomaly.

Com. P S Ramankutty (President), Com. R N Pada Nair (Circle President), Com. T P George (Circle Secretary) and Com. G Madhusoodhanan Nair (Postal) addressed the Rally.

It is further clarified that the new rate of subscription to avail CGHS facilities shall take affect from 1-2-2017 instead of 1-1-2017 as stated earlier.

Government has issued orders doubling the rate of subscription to be paid by the CGHS beneficiaries (central government employees and pensioners) to avail the CGHS facilities.

Present Rate ... ... ... New rate from 1-2-2017

Rs 50 p.m. ... ... ... ... Rs 250 p.m.

Rs 125 p.m. ... ... ... ... Rs 250 p.m.

Rs 225 p.m. ... ... ... ... Rs 450 p.m.

Rs 325 p.m. ... ... ... ... Rs 650 p.m.

Rs 500 p.m. ... ... ... ... Rs 1000 p.m.

The Sixth Pay Commission did not do justice to the pensioners. A person in service drawing Rs 5000 as basic pay was granted increase in the form of Grade Pay of Rs 4200.It comes to 84% of the pay. Whereas, a pensioner drawing Rs 5000 as Basic Pension was granted increase of Rs 2000 (40%) only. This injustice, in every pay scale, is still continuing for eleven years.

Another major anomaly was about rate of pension. Those who retired on or after 1-1-2006 were granted pension at the rate of 50% Last Pay Drawn, provided they rendered a minimum of ten years qualifying service. Those who retired before 1-1-2006 continued to get pension at the rate of 50% of ten months average pay and that too on rendering qualifying service of 33 years. This disparity continues for the last eleven years.

Seventh CPC gave two options to undo this injustice and bring parity in pension of old pensioners and new pensioners. While Government accepted both the options, Option No 2 was implemented. Pension was multiplied by 2.57. Net benefit got is 32% of the existing basic pension. Though government accepted Option 1, subject to feasibility, it was not implemented. Instead, the Allowance Committee was asked to examine the ‘feasibility’. It is understood that the Committee has almost rejected Option 1. They have suggested a new method to bring parity in pension. It is not yet announced officially. It is presumed that pay of the retirees will also be revised notionally in the new pay matrix. Then pension will be granted at 50% of the notionally fixed pay. It will remove the disparity to some extent. There is some indication as gained in the SCOVA meeting on 12-1-2017. [Please see the second Email received from Com. Krishna Rao, GS of Karnataka P&T Pensioners Association, given below.]

Question is about date of effect. If the new proposal is implemented with effect from 1-1-2016, then the senior pensioners will be losing arrears for ten full years.

We wrote to all organisations participating in SCOVA requesting them to demand pension at 50% of Last Pay Drawn to all who retired prior to 1-1-2006. Com. Krishna Rao only took up the item. But, it was not included in the Agenda by Government Side.

DoP&PW this time did not include any item in the "Fresh Items" of the Agenda which has financial implications or requires amendement to pension Rules. In fact the Agenda was given to us in the meeting.We pointed out this and told them that the Agenda could have been atleast emailed to all SCOVA Members in advance for which the Secretary agreed.

Fresh items of the Agenda were of general nature.

Items suggested by KP&TPA (mailed to you earlier)which wolud benefit a large number of pre-2006 pensioners Viz. pension at 50 % of LPD, Stepping up of pro rata pension consolidated as per para 4.1 of OM dated 1-9-2008 to 50 % of the LPD , Grant of Family pension to unmarrried sisters, Increase in ex gratia to CPF beneficiaries were not included in the Agenda.

However, the Secretary DoP&PW who was the Chairman of the High Power Committee constituted to examine the feasibility of implementation of Option-1 recommended by the 7th CPC informed us that the Committee has submitted its report to the Govt and the Cabinet has to take decision in the matter. When we wanted to know about the nature of the "REPORT" the Secretary remarked that it is "Positive". When asked further , he said " it is as per your suggestion" . We understand that the report is about granting of parity in pension as recommended by the 5th CPC extended up to 7th CPC. .............................

........ If the report of the Committee on parity in pension is accepted by the Govt , then all pre 2016 pensioners will have their pension revised at 50 % of the Notional pay under 7th CPC and our demand regarding grant of pension at 50% of LPD will be met though may be from 1-1-2016 instead of from 1-1-2006, provided the amount of pension revised as per option-2 (application of multiplication factor 2.57) is lower than 50 % of the notional pay under 7th CPC.

Let us hope that the orders would be issued early

[ The meeting of SCOVA (Standing Committee of Voluntary Agencies) was held yesterday, presided over by Dr Jitendra Singh, Minister for Personnel.The Karnataka P and T Pensioners Association is a participating organisation in SCOVA.On our request, Com. Krishna Rao, GS of the Association raised two issues concerning BSNL retirees in the meeting.About the discussion in the said meeting Com. Krishna Rao sent an Email to us.We are thankful to Com. Krishna Rao.Please read the message from Com. Krishna Rao below:]

“ When the item regarding the Anomaly case was taken up for discussion in the 29^th SCOVA meeting held on 12-1-2017, I mentioned about the judgment dated 16-12-2016 of CAT Principal Bench, Delhi which has allowed the Application of AIBSNLPWA & Others and requested that the Order may be implemented and the Govt must not file a writ petition in the High Court of Delhi since the demand for correction of the anomaly has been pending unresolved for more than 16 years. I also requested that the CAT Order must be made applicable generally to all DoT/BSNL Pensioners who retired within 10 months of formation of BSNL. The Official side responded well to the request.

Continuing with my submission, I drew their attention to the National Litigation Policy and said that since the numbers of Pensioners that will benefit is around 4000 + only and the expenditure may not be quite huge, the Order may be implemented without appealing against it in the High Court. The Secretary DoP&PW and the Additional secretary responded by asking DoT to examine the request and take a decision in the matter. However, the Official representative of DoT did not say anything in the matter.

On revision of pension of pre June 2013 pensioners after merger of 78.2 % of IDA, I brought it to their notice that much progress has not been seen in payment of arrears and as per the information available with us revision of pension has reportedly been done only in about 15-20 percent of the cases and the time frame fixed for revision has already ended. The Additional Secretary asked the DoT to look into this to ensure expeditious revision.

With regards

Yours comradely

Krishna Rao

The Pension anomaly of 4230 BSNL staff who retired before completing ten months in BSNL has been pending for more than ten years. This issue was taken up under item No.16 in 20th SCOVA meeting held on 21/9/2011 and it was discussed in every subsequent meeting. After Dr Jitendra Singh took over as the Minister for Personnel and Pension, the matter was discussed several times. Minister asked the officers to take a decision. The decision of the meeting held on 19/2/2013 was DoT will take final decision in the matter by 31/3/2013. Three years have passed since then. But SCOVA did not take any decision.

In the meantime, the case was heard and decided by the Honourable Principal Bench of Central Adm. Tribunal on 16-12-2016. DoT furnished all details in the Court.

Alas! The Official Side has stated in the Action Taken Report to be presented in SCOVA meeting tomorrow that DoT has sought details from BSNL vide a letter dated 14-12-2016 and a reminder has been issued to BSNL on 4-1-2017.

THIS IS SCOVA. MEETINGS ARE HELD FREQUENTLY. DISCUSSIONS TAKE PLACE. MINISTER DESIRES DECISION. BUT OFFICERS WILL NOT TAKE ANY DECISION. THEY ARE STILL COLLECTING DETAILS……………………….

SCOVA: Standing Committee Of Voluntary Agencies. (Officially)

SCOVA: Standing Committee Of Very Aged?

The Department of Public Enterprises has not yet uploaded the orders on IDA rate applicable from 1-1-2017. However I received a copy of the order dated 5-1-2017 sent by a comrade.

It is given in the Page DA, above the photo at the top of this Website.

Till 19-8-2009, most of the affected BSNL Pensioners were not aware of the fact that they were facing a serious anomaly in their pension. In the Chennai Tambaram conference held on 20-8-2009 to form AIBSNLPWA we told the pensioners about he Pension anomaly. Of course, our foremost demand was Pension Revision. We achieved it in 2011. Simultaneously we took up other cases also. We struggled a lot to fight the case. Details will be published in the next issue of our Patrika.

Below, Please see the scanned copy of Page No 8 of the very first issue our journal published in May 2010. [First it was released with the title of BSNL PENSIONERS VOICE].

CHQ HAS SENT THREE LETTERS ON PENSION ANOMALY CASE:

1. TO SECRETARY, TELECOM

2. TO SECRETARY, EXPENDITURE

3. TO SECRETARY, PENSION

The three letters can be seen by clicking here: chq-3-letters.docx

Com. R L Kapoor has obtained a certified copy of the judgement today on Pension Anomaly case. CHQ has prepared a letter to Secretary, Telecom requesting him to implement the judgement in the case and extend the benefit to all the 4230 affected pensioners immediately.

To avoid any delay, Com. Kapoor is authorised to sign the letter on behalf of our Association and hand over to the office of Secretary, Telecom along with a copy of Judgement.

BSNL abandoned the without voucher quarterly allowance due to financial crisis. All of us have been demanding restoration of the medical allowance at least for pensioners. CMD BSNL did not open his mouth on the issue.

Now BSNL corproate Office has issued a new order introducing preventive medical check up for the serving staff - employees and officers. A maximum of Rs 3500 per employee per year is allowed.

See the order preventive-health-care.pdf.

PREVENTION FROM WHAT?

SHRI VEERANNA, FORMER GM (HR/ADMIN) OF BANGALORE TD AND A LIFE MEMBER OF OUR ASSOCIATION EXPIRED ON 1-1-2017 IN BANGALORE. HE WAS NOT KEEPING WELL FOR SOME TIME.

WE CONVEY OUR HEARTFELT CONDOLENCES TO THE BEREAVED FAMILY MEMBERS.

We have won the case on Pension anomaly of those who retired from BSNL during the period from October 2000 and June 2001. It is another feather on the cap of AIBSNLPWA.

I appreciate the great work done by our Legal Committee consisting of Com. D Gopalakrishnan, Com. R L Kapoor and Late Com. Chhidu Singh (Com. R H Mitkary is the member of the committee now in place of Com. Chhidu Singh.)

They spent days and months to collect all materials relevant to the case. The Advocate Shri Naresh Kaushik pleaded the case brilliantly on behalf of our Association. Advocate could plead it properly because of the feedback he received from our Legal Committee.The Judgement in full (24 pages) is uploaded below. By clicking on the link you can see the full judgement. I hope better sense will prevail on the top officers in DoT and issue necessary orders without going for an appeal and prolong the legal battle. Let us wait and see.

P S Ramankutty

anomaly-case-judgement.pdf

YESTERDAY, ON THE LAST DAY OF 2016, OUR ASSOCIATION MET THE CMD BSNL IN CHENNAI AND TOOK UP THE CASES OF BSLMRS WITHOUT VOUCHER FOR PENSIONERS, UNDUE DELAY ON THE PART OF BSNL IN FORWARDING CASES FOR REVISION WITH 78.2 AND CONCESSIONAL TELEPHONE FACILITY PERMITTING ALL CALLS.

TODAY, ON THE FIRST DAY OF 2017, OUR ASSOCIATION HAS BEGUN ITS WORK BY BRINGING TO THE NOTICE OF CABINET SECRETARY THE DELAY IN IMPLEMENTING CABINET DECISION ON 78.2% WITHIN THE TIME FRAME, PRESCRIBED IN THE CABINET NOTE.

The letters written by GS, AIBSNLPWA are given here: two-ltrs-to-cs-andcmd.docx

NEW YEAR GREETINGS TO ALL OUR COMRADES

MEMORANDUM TO CMD

Today, on 31-12-2016, Com. G Natarajan (GS) and Com. K Muthiyalu (Org. Secretary) submitted a memorandum to the CMD BSNL who was in Chennai demanding

immediate action to complete the work on 78.2% and restoration of medical allowance without voucher to the BSNL retirees. CMD assured to examine both.

Villupuram (TN) branch oganized the Pensioners Day on 14-12-2016. Com. S Arunachalam, AGS addressed the gathering.

In the grand function oganised at Cuddalore (TN) on 24th December 2016 the former Principal CCA of Tamilnadu, Shri Azhagar Swamy was fondly felicitated. Pensioners still remember with gratitude the attitude of Shri Azhagar Swamy with compassion towards the retired people. Com. D Gopalakrishnan, Com. V Rama Rao and others also addressed the meeting.