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[ 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 29th 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.
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
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WELL BEGUN 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
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.
The Labour Bureau of India has officially released the All India Consumer Price Index (AICPI) for the month of November 2016. It is 277 Points. AICPI for October was 278 Points and for September it was 277 Points. Three months’ average is 277.33.
Based on the above average the IDA from January 2017 will be119.5%. There will be a decrease of 0.8% from the existing rate of 120.3%.
Recent action of withdrawal of Rs 500 and Rs 1000 Notes rendered large section of the people cashless. It reduced their purchasing power. It affected the small scale trade, the markets. In turn, it affected the price and Index also.
The advisors of Prime Minister deal with Credit Cards and Smart Cards. They do not know the stark reality in the villages and small towns and in the ordinary families.
This is the result of a good scheme implemented without proper planning, without proper preparation and without understanding the ground reality. Financial experts trained by world Bank or IMF or US based Institutions do not know what the real India is.
We are moving into a new year…..
….P S Ramankutty
Our Vice President Com. D Gopalakrishnan spoke to Shri S K Jain, DDG(EST) of Department of Telecom yesterday.
78.2 Revision:
Com. DG pointed out undue delay in processing the cases in most of the Circles. The target date is fast approaching but the work is very sluggish. DDG told that he checked up with UP East Circle. There, more than 50% of he cases are settled. Com. DG pointed out that it is not the case with other Circles. For example; in Tamilnadu Circle hardly 20% cases have been settled. Then DDG informed that Directorate has issued two reminders to all CCAS. It will be followed up.
Benefits of seventh CPC:
Com. DG reminded the DDG of our discussion last month regarding issuance of orders extending the benefit of Seventh CPC report on upper limit of Gratuity, new Commutation, Minimum Pension etc. to the BSNL IDA pensioners. DDG informed that DoT has sought guidance from Department of Pension in this regard. As soon as the guidance is received from DOPW necessary orders will be issued.
[Today, Com. D Gopalakrishnan spoke to Mr. Harjeet Singh, a senior officer in Department of Pension about the above reference from DoT. According to Mr. Singh there is no need of any fresh approval. DoT can issue orders based on earlier approval. Then, Com. DG sent an Email to DDG Establishment to issue the orders without delay. Let us see how Directorate is moving.]
BSNL has constituted a Committee of five officers with Smt. Anuadha Panda, PGM (PF) as chair person to examine the wage structure of serving Non Executive staff of BSNL.
There is no representative of BSNLEU or NFTE-BSNL, two recognized unions.
The Committee will not start functioning immediately. It will start the work after getting parameters from Department of Public Enterprises. The Terms of Reference of the Committee is also no finalized.
Just, a committee is constituted.
The Wage Revision of serving officers (Executives) depends upon the Report of third Pay Revision Committee. There is no definite information about the PRC report, even though the time limit is over.
Wage Revision of Non Executives depends upon the negotiations between BSNL Management and the Recognized Unions. Rather, it depends upon the bargaining capacity of the Unions.
BSNL will not discuss Pension Revision, as the Pension is being paid to BSNL retirees by Government of India, not by the Company.
Next meeting of SCOVA (Standing Committee of Voluntary Agencies) is notified to be held on 12-01-2017 at 11 AM.
The Agenda Items are not yet confirmed. We hope that the Item given by Karnataka P&T Pensioners Association demanding pension @ 50% of Last Pay Drawn for all the pensioners - those who retired before 1-1-2006 - will find a place in the agenda. We are waiting for official notification.
Karnataka comrades have prepared CDs containing the the entire programme of our Special Conference held in Palace Grounds, Bengaluru on 12-11-2016 where all Circles felicitated Shri Ananthakumarji.
The Two CDs cost Rs 50.00.
Those who want the CDs may contact Circle Secretary Com. R Changappa over 09448353132.
.... P S Ramankutty
On 4th August 2016, Department of Pension issued Office Memoranda implementing some of the recommendations of Seventh Central Pay Commission.
On 22-8-2016 the Department of Telecom endorsed the above OMs without specifying whether they are applicable to BSNL IDA pensioners.
Now, after four months, on 21-12-2016, the Corporate Office of BSNL has endorsed the DoT Orders and the OM from Department of Pension. BSNL also has not stated anything about BSNL pensioners.
These days, one order will cause number of clarifications. One clarification results in number of confusion....
LET US BE GRATEFUL TO THEM
We should be grateful to Late Mr. D S Nakara (1914-2009) for his great service to the pensioners of India by filing a case against injustice with farsightedness. Many people have gone to Court and won their cases.Supreme Court of India delivered thousands of judgements in favour of pensioners. Then, how Nakara Case Judgement became a magnacarta for Indian Pensioners? Only because late Mr. Nakara raised many fundamental, basic issues concerning the pension system in his affidavit in the case. Court had to address those issues because they were raised in the Application. Do not ignore this aspect.
We must remember also Late Mr. H D Shourie, the man who fought many a cases of common nature. Mr. Shourie formed a platform called COMMON CAUSE for fighting the legal battles in Courts of law. He helped Mr. Nakara in preparing the Affidavit. All of us – all the pensioners of BSNL, Central Government, State Governments etc etc. – are enjoying the fruits of their labour and wisdom. When we observe the Pensioners Day, let us remember both Mr. Nakara and Mr. Shourie…
P S Ramankutty