INCOMETAX PENSIONERS FEDERATION

Manishinath Bhawan

A/2/95 Rajouri Garden

New Delhi. 110 027.

E mail: itepfchq@gmail.com

Website:itpfchq.blogspot.com

Dated: 30^th September, 2017

Dear Comrades,

On 3^rd Septemner, 2017, the Delhi unit of the ITPF held their General Body meeting and its foundation day.  In the most cordial atmosphere, most of its members were present at the meeting.  The function commenced at 3.00 PM  and the Chief guest was Shri K.V. Chaudhary, Central Vigilance Commissioner of the country.  Shri Sudhir Chandra, Patron was present.  Com. Lajpat Rai, veteran leader of the ITGOA of the yesteryears and the President of the Association presided over the meeting.  In his erudite speech, he briefly narrated  the advancement made by the association during the short span of its life. He said that the Association considers the elevation of Shri K.V. Chaudhary to a constitutional position hitherto occupied by the Officers of the IAS as the recognition by the Government of the claibre and capacity of the IRS Officers and hoped that in the days to come IRS will take the prime position in the Indian bureaucracy.  Com. K.K.N. Kutty, Secretary General, NCCPA spoke on the occasion narrating the course of negotiations the unions had with the Government on wage revision matter including the retirement benefits. He detailed the efforts undertaken by the NCCPA and other Pensioners Organizations in making the government to accept the recommendation of the 7^th CPC in the matter of pension fitment formula. He regretted that the Government, for the first time in the history, had decided to reject the recommendation made by the Commission i.e.Option No. 1. Which benefits a large number of Pensioners in the country.  He said that the Pension department has wrongly advised the Government that the recommendation providing option Nol. 1 to the pensioners was not feasible to be implemented in view of the non availability of records.  Com.Kutty refuted with facts and figures from the Governmental records the observation of the Pension Department. He informed the house that the unjustified denial of a benefit to the pensioner recommended by the 7^th CPC by the Government was something unprecedented.   He also informed the house the NCCPA in its National Executive committee meeting has decided to organize a massive dharna at Jantar Mantar on25th October, 2017  He appealed to all comrades at Delhi to lend their support by being physically present  at the venue on the appointed date to make the programme  a grand success.  During his speech, he requested the Chief Guest to consider doing something to mitigate the grievances of the pensioners who are faced with prolonged disciplinary proceedings initiated prior to their retirement. He added that no one in the administration takes the responsibility or concern to conclude the proceedings and the poor pensioner is dragged and drawn into the whirlpool of agony.  He said that there must be a fixed time limit for the conclusion of these proceedings and also stressed that most of these proceedings are initiated at the fag end of the career of the concerned individual by the superiors on flimsy grounds and in certain case as a matter of vendetta.  i

The report over the function is not complete, as the undersigned had to leave the function due to certain other pre-occupation.  We shall publish the full report in the NCCPA bulletin of the next month. 

Massive dharna before Parliament

on25th October, 2017.

                The NCCPA has decided to organize the pensioners all over the country to project mainly  the demand to bring back Option No. 1 as a pension fitment formula.   As you are aware, the JCM Staff Side had in its note submitted to the Pension committee that the most reasonable course would be to offer all the three option to the pensioners and allow them to opt for the one which is more beneficial for them.  We had even offered that the Government might indicate that the onus of providing the requisite document in respect of Option No. 1 is on the pensioner.  This would obviate the delay that might occur in searching for the requisite documents.  They had also stated that the Pensioners organizations would take the trouble to help out the family pensioners, who might not have retained the requisite document.  The Staff Side had also said that the Unions and Federations of the  working employees will help to resurrect the documents of the past pensioners and ensure that the Service records of the existing employees are retained as a permanent document.  The three options, presently in vogue, they had argued must be incorporated in the rules so that the same would form part of the pension rules and would not be a onetime affair benefitting only the present pensioners. 

                The programme on 25^th must be a massive one.  All affiliates of the NCCPA are making preparations to make it possible. In our last circular letter, which is already on the website, we have fixed quota for each State Unit.  All State Units are requested to ensure that the quota fixed for them is achieved.  Please remember that this is the first programme we are chalking out after formation of our Association at the all India level. 

                The Secretaries of the State Unit, after eliciting the willing participants,  should ensure that arrangements for stay at Delhi is made by them,  Presently hotel booking is possible through one line.  The undersigned will be at Delhi from 5^th October onwards.  Those who require any assistance in the matter may kindly contact him so that he could help them out with the help of our Delhi Unit comrades.  The Dharna will commence at 11.00AM.  We must be punctual.  All the participants are requested to reach the venue by 10.30 AM. On 25^th.  The nearest metro station is Patel Chowk from where it is a matter of minutes to walk down.  We shall conclude the programme by 3.30 PM so that the comrades who are coming from nearby station can go back as also others can take the train or flight on the same day night.  October in Delhi has  a peculiar climate.  During day time it would be warm and the nights cold.   Kindly keep a shawl or half sweater to make you comfortable.  We are planning to convene a National Sectt. meeting of the ITPF on 26^th.  Those who are members of the National Sectt. may kindly book their ticket to go back on 26^th. 

National executive Committee

Meeting on 17^th December, 2017 at Kolkata.

                The National Executive will meet at Kolkata on 17^th December, 2017.  Besides, the members of the National Sectt, the Secretaries of the State Units are members of the National executive.  If any Unit is interested to send any comrades (especially those who are the Present of the State Unit) may please write to the Secretary General.  Out host unit is making arrangements for stay etc. at the Department gooiest house which require an advance booking.  Along with the Notice which will be issued shortly, we shall the give requisite details for contacting our comrades at the host unit.  Given hereunder is the number of Com. Burman, who is the secretary of our West Bengal State Unit.  You mnay sms to him for booking the accommodation.  His mobile number is 09433423434. In the first week of October, we shall issue a detailed circular in the matter. 

Pension revision.

We have been receiving complaints from number of pensioners over the delay in the pension revision necessitated by the GOI order in No.38/37/2016-P&PW(A) dated 12^th May, 2017.   The delay is attributed due to the fact that the said order has not made any specific authority to finalise the pension revision despite the issuance of the concord tables. We held discussions with some of the officials as to the details needed by the Accounts officers in finalisation of the revision   On the basis of the advice tendered by them we have prepared an application format which may kindly be filled in and submitted to the concerned accounts officers  from whose jurisdiction, the pensioner had retired.  We have also decided to request the Pension department to ensure that the final authority in the matter is decided to be the concerned Zonal accounts officers

Application format:

1.       Name

2.       PPO no./PI No.

3.       Date of birth

4.       Date of retirement

5.       Pay scale/PB+Grade Pay as the case may be

6.       Last Pay drawn

7.       Level  (of 7^th CPC) in which the notional pay will  have to be fixed.

8.       Aadhar No.

9.       PAN No.

10.   Phone No

11.   E mail id.

12.   Address:

13.   Bank details: i.e.

Name of the Bank. Name of the Branch.

 SB Account No. In which pension is received.

With greetings,

Yours fraternally,

KKN Kutty

Secretary General

INCOMETAX PENSIONERS FEDERATION

NEW DELHI

Manishinath Bhawan,

A/2/95 Rajouri Garden,

New Delhi. 110 027.

E MAIL: itpfchq@gmail.com

Website address:itpfchq.blogspot.com

Dated: 28.8.2017.

Dear Comrades,

For some unavoidable reasons, we  are unable  to  hold the proposed NE meeting of ITPF at New Delhi on 4^th September, 2017.  The NE meeting had to be deferred.  We have been in touch with our affiliates in this regard.  We are happy to inform you that the West Bengal Unit has come forward to host the meeting in December, 2017.  We have proposed 17^th December, 2017 for the meeting, which happens to be Sunday and arranging accommodation would become easier for the host unit.   However, we are awaiting for their final nod in the matter and have requested them to issue the requisite communication the moment, the venue and date is finalised.  This may, therefore, be taken as an advance message.

As has been informed earlier, the NCCPA to which we are affiliated, regularly brings out the journal.  The concord table prepared by the Department of Pension to give effect to Option No. 3 is being published in the journal.  Since it is very difficult to reproduce the entire table even on website, we have given the link in our website, which our members may take advantage of.  We have been given to understand that there is no need, in the background of the concord table, for the individual pensioner to make any application to the ZAO or anybody else.   However, the affiliates may help our comrades to get their pension revised if the third option is beneficial in their case.  The Standing Committee of the National Council JCM has taken up various issues that have emanated from the recommendations of the 7^th CPC before the Government.   The agenda items on pension related  issues have been published in the journal.  The Government has now set up the National Anomaly Committee.  The last date for sending items for inclusion in the agenda was 15^th August, 2017.  The journal carries all the items we had proposed for inclusion in the agenda.  We appeal through you to all pensioners to kindly subscribe to the journal which has an annual subscription rate of Rs. 60/-.  Those who are in charge of the publication of the journal had informed us of their inability to increase the number of pages in view of the financial burden.  The subscriber base if widened would help them to serve you better, where all orders and relevant documents could be published immediately on its release by the Government.

The NCCPA had its NE meeting held at Nagpur on 19^th August, 2017.  We have appended to this letter the circular issued by them immediately after the meeting conveying the various decisions taken at the meeting.  The resolution adopted and the circular issued, would give a fair idea of the course of deliberations at the NE meeting and the conclusions  arrived at.

One of the most important programmes decided upon by the NCCPA is to organise an independent  but massive dharna at Jantar Mantar on 25^th October, 2017. Between 10.30 AM and 3.30 PM.  They have also decided that the programme must have the participation of atleast 1000-1500 comrades drawn from different parts of the country.  As per their circular letter, we are to mobilise atleast 200 comrades on behalf of ITPF.  Taking into account, the relative strength of the affiliates Associations of ITPF we have drawn up a quota for participation in the programme, which is appended hereunder:- Kindly ensure that the quota allotted to each affiliated unit is adhered to  and the required number of comrades are deployed to take part in the programme at Delhi. Since we have manpower deficiency at the CHQ, we request the affiliates to book their journey tickets and accommodation on line so that they encounter no problem.  The NCCPA has agreed to set up a small committee with comrades from Delhi to take care of the logistics and help the comrades to procure accommodation if sufficient information is provided to them well in advance. 

Kerala -05, Tamilnadu, 15, AP-10, Karnataka-10, Mumbai,15, Nagpur-5, Gujarath-10, NE region. 05, Rajasthan 15, UPWest -30,  UP East-10, Orissa -5, West Bengal -10, MP-10, Bihar, 05, Assam-05, Pune-05, Delhi -35.

Finance: It has been reported by the Finance Secretary that the subscription for the year 2015-16 and 2016-17 are due from most of the affiliates.  The non receipt of subscription has made us to be in arrears with NCCPA.  We are likely to incur certain expenses for the ensuing NE meeting as also the 25^th October, dharna programme.  We extract hereunder the subscription rates for your ready reference.

               Membership upto 100                                                               Rs. 500 p.a.

               100-500                                                                                    Rs.2000p.a

               500-1000                                                                                  Rs. 3000p.a.

               1000-2000                                                                                Rs. 4000p.a.

               2000- and above                                                                       Rs. 5000p.a.

               Presently our Bank account is operated by the Secretary Genral and Finacne Secretary jointly.  The account is, therefore, in the joint name of the two comrades.  i.e. K.K.N. Kutty and C.M. Badola.   We give hereunder the details:

            SB Account No.                                                         6393451021.

BanK name and branch:                  Indian Bank, Rajouri Graden Branch, New Delhi. 110 027

Ifsc:                                                                                  IDIB000R028

MICR                                                                                110019011

CBS Code:                                                                       665

If you are remitting the money in our account directly, kindly write to us immediately the date and the amount of payment made, so as to enable us to finalise our account and issue proper receipt to you.  Please also furnish us a list of members as we are trying to explore the possibility of keeping a data base  at all India level so that any of the pension revision in future, especially in the matter of family pension would become useful.

We have been requesting the affiliates to furnish  certain data  to submit our application for registration.  Regretfully, we must note that many of the affiliates are yet to favour us with the requisite information.   Kindly go through our last circular letter and do the needful in the matter, so that we would be able to submit our application to the Registrar of the Societies.

To enable us to reach you out quickly all secretaries are requested to furnish their e mail id to us so that our circular letter besides it being made available on our website could be sent over to you and enable you to see the contents thereof on your mobile phone itself. 

Please await a communication from our West Bengal Unit about the impending NE meeting in December, 2017.  In the meantime, make preparation for the 25^th October, Dharna programme as it must be an important event in our forward journey.  We must make the programme a resounding success  for the Government’s decision to reject Option No. 1 was at the instance of a self serving bureaucracy and the defined contributory pension is conceived and designed by the rulers to direct our hard earned money to the speculative market of stock exchange.  The reversal of the two important decisions is possible only through a sustained, prolonged and gritty struggles.  The other issues in the charter will be settled on the pressure we would be able to exert in the days to come.  The Charter of demands is under finalisation in consultation with the NCCP Sectt. members and would be conveyed to you as soon as it is finalised.

Thanking you and with greetings,

Yours fraternally,

K.K.N. Kutty

Secretary General.

Encl: NCCPA Circular letter dated 26.8,2017.

National Executive Committee

meeting and decisions.

The National Executive Meeting of NCCPA was held at Nagpur on 19.08.2017 under the Chairmanship of Comrade Shiv Gopal Mishra.. Excellent arrangements were made by the Reception Committee headed by Comrades Dhaktod and Petekar.

Comrade Shiv Gopal Mishra elaborately dealt with the attitude of the Government and the official side on 7^th CPC related issues of both employees and pensioners. He also narrated that Option Number 1  has been taken up as an anomaly in the NAC for discussion. Several other issues including the NJCA meeting scheduled in September and the impending indefinite strike by the Central TUS and Federations of Central, State Government and PSUs were covered by him during his speech.

The subject session that commenced thereafter was chaired by Com. S.S.Roy, working president, NCCPA. The discussion on the items of agenda was initiated by the Deputy Secretary General Comrade Pavitra Ranjan Chakraborti ably supplemented by the other Deputy Secretary General Comrade K.Ragavendran. The Secretary General Comrade KKN Kutty could not attend the meeting due to his sudden illness. More than 90% of the Office Bearers and National Executive Members attended the meeting despite the situation of flood and torrential rains in different parts of the country. A lively discussion on the agenda items followed.  The following decisions were taken at the meeting Com. K. Raghavendran moved the resolution which contained the crux of discussions at the meeting and on the future course of NCCPA functioning.

Decisions and Resolution:

1.      Option 3  being the belated acceptance of the demand of parity by pensioners is welcome. However, fixing the notional pay of Pre-2016 Pensioners in the replacement scales instead of actual pay scale provided for to the serving employees by successive pay commissions is an irritant and requires to be removed.

2.      Option 1 as recommended by the 7^th CPC  being feasible to be implemented ought to have been retained as it would provide better pension for those who stagnated in the part for no fault of theirs. Rejection of option.1 as infeasible is not only unprecedented, untenable but unethical too especially viewed from the angle that the top bureaucracy had a personal axe to grind in its rejection. The meeting endorsed the correct stand taken by the Staff Side JCM National Council to treat the same as another option for pensioners. 

3.      The continued adamancy of the Government in refusing to grant the benefit of fixing pension to Pre-2006 Pensioners from 1.1.2006 based on the pay scales implemented to the post or cadre in which the Pensioner had retired or dead is unjustified. The rejection by Department of Expenditure even after several courts decision in favour of higher pay scales instead of replacement scales and the acceptance and implementation of the judgment in the case of the litigants shows the double standard of the Government. This benefit should be granted to all Pre-2006 Pensioners.

4.      While welcoming the orders for admission of P&T Pensioners in CGHS Scheme without any conditions by withdrawing the retrograde orders of the Health Ministry, it is found that the decision  that the beneficiaries must make the one time lump sum  payment @ post 7^th CPC rate is unjustified. The late admission in to CGHS belatedly after two decades delay should not result in penalizing the past Pensioners. The rate of subscription at the time of retirement should alone be the charges.

5.      The discrimination against some other departmental pensioners who are continue to be denied entry into CGHS must be ended.

6.      While ending discrimination to P&T Pensioners, the Directorate General of CGHS has issued another discriminating order to preclude the CG Employees and CG Pensioners in Union Territories from joining CGHS. This order also aims to send out those employees and pensioners wrongly admitted in to CGHS. This stand of the Government is totally unjust and should be withdrawn.

7.      Many important positive recommendations of the 7^th CPC on health related issues like (1) Merger of existing Postal Dispensaries with CGHS; (2) Issue of Medi-insurance Cards to employees and pensioners to facilitate cashless medical treatment; (3) Merger of all existing different medical systems into one single large umbrella medical system for CG Employees and CG Pensioners; (4) Extending the benefit under CS MA Rules 1944 to Pensioners also to end the disparity between the employees and pensioners needs to be expedited for positive implementation.

8.      While the doubling of the existing rate of Fixed Medical Allowance from 500/- to 1000/- is welcome, the fixing of FMA @ 1000/- after 7^th CPC while the employees of PF Department are being paid @ 2000/- per month even during 6^th CPC period is very less in comparison to the mounting medical costs. The FMA must be enhanced to 2000/- per month.

9.      Many orders are not being implemented in a time-bound manner. Due to this the aging pensioners cannot get the benefits in time. The GO on extending full pension to Pre-2006 Pensioners who had retired without putting 33 years of qualifying service; the GO on fixation of pension on the basis of ‘pay in the pay band’ instead of ‘minimum of pay band’ w.e.f. 1.1.2006 for all Pre-2006 Pensioners;  the issue of revised PPOs to all Pre-2006 Pensioners etc were either inordinately delayed or still being delayed. The main reason for such non-implementation or slow implementation is due to staff shortage in accounting offices. Under such circumstances the recent 12^th May, 2017 orders also is likely to be delayed in many departments. Therefore drawing of the services of qualified retired officials to function as ‘implementation cells’ to speed up the work under the supervision of serving Accounts Officers in all accounting offices may be considered to facilitate completion of work of Refixation of pension to all Pre-2016 Pensioners before 30.09.2017.

10.   The Pay Commission and also the Government have not come forward to consider the issues of rationalizing the additional pension and reducing the period of commutation of pension. The additional pension system should be improved and the period of commutation should be reduced to 10 years.

11.   The grant of additional pension should be given on attaining the age of 80, 85,90,95,100 instead of waiting for the completion of the above ages as per the verdict of Bengaluru CAT.

12.   The recovery of income-tax from Pensioners is most unjustified. The Government should immediately consider payment of pension net taxes. 

13.   The National Executive has resolved to authorize the National Secretariat to chalk out appropriate Programme of Action on the above demands.

The under-mentioned organisational decisions are also taken unanimously:

1.      NCCPA organization should be strengthened by approaching new organizations for affiliation; strengthening the existing affiliates with more membership; forming State COC of NCCPA in all States.

2.      The State units of affiliates will get in touch with other Pensioners Associations operating in the State and get them associated with NCCPA.

3.      This National Executive Committee meeting of NCCPA calls upon all its affiliates to take all possible steps to join the agitational programmes chalked out by all organisations of serving employees and the Central trade Unions.

4.      Extending total solidarity to NFPE sponsored strike on 23.08.2017 for getting the GDS Committee recommendations immediately implemented.

5.      NCCPA units and affiliates will take all possible steps to take part in the mass Dharna programme stated for 9,10,11 Nov. 2017 at Delhi under the auspices of the joint platform of Central Trade Unions.

6.      NCCPA will organize an independent programme to project the CG pensioner related issues and most  prominently against NPS

Massive Dharna at the National Capital: DELHI.

In deference to  the decision of the National Executive, consultations were held amongst the Secretariat members about the feasibly of organizing an independent programme by NCCPA. The consensus is that the NCCPA must organize a massive Dharna at Janter-Manter, New Delhi on 25.10.2017 from 11.00 AM to 3.00 PM eliciting participation of members of all affiliates and from all states. To make the programme successful, a serious campaign will be undertaken by the National Leadership consisting of President, Working President, Vice President Secretary General, two Deputy Secretary Generals. Detailed circular will be issued shortly. Affiliates and unites are requested to convey the issues/ demands to be included in the Charter immediately on receipt of this letter.

 The Office bearers and the National Executive Members especially the Chief Executives of affiliated organizations and the State CGPA organizations are requested to mobilize and ensure the participation of the largest number of pensioners in the Programme to highlight our issues before the Government. The Charter of Demands is enclosed.

With Greetings,

Comradely Yours,

Sd/-

KKN Kutty

Secretary General

RESOLUTION ADOPTED BY THE NATIONAL EXECUTIVE OF NCCPA HELD AT NAGPUR ON 19.08.2017 ON SOME BASIC ISSUES OF CG PENSIONERS AFTER THE IMPLEMENTEATION OF 7^th CPC RECOMMENDATIONS:

The National Executive of the National Coordination Committee had discussed various aspects of the 7^th CPC recommendations and the implementation of them by the Central Government. The attitude of the Government viz., rejecting some of the recommendations made like the Option Number 1 of pension fixation in favour of the pensioners on the grounds of non-feasibility but accepting many recommendations made by the CPC against the interests of the employees without any modifications like rejection of many allowances etc is deplorable. The attitude of the Government is not only retrograde but also time consuming. The tactics to form committees and delay the matters for several months in order to tire out the employees and pensioners is condemnable.

The Central Government has finally rejected Option Number 1 fixation of pension to Pre-2016 Pensioners after much delay. The recommendation of the Pay Commission for giving the benefit of number of increments earned by the Pensioner in his last stage of employment would be more beneficial to a section of Pensioners than the Option Number 3 offered and implemented by the GO dated 12.05.2017. There were scores of Government Employees who stagnated for years without any promotion before their superannuation. This type of stagnation was pronounced to those sections for whom the MACP system was not extended before 2008. The Option Number 1 would have been more beneficial to those Pre-2008 retirees. The Option Number 3 is no doubt an improvement to Option Number 2 of fixation by applying 2.57 fitment factor; but still the better benefit under Option Number 1 to those Pensioners has been out-rightly rejected by the Pension High Level Committee and the Government in the name of non-availability of records of increments for nearly 18% of Pensioners. The stand taken to reject Option Number 1 despite the arguments of the Staff Side and Pensioners Associations to convince the authorities that reconstruction of records is not impossible even for those 18% cases of pensioners is unjust. This National Executive is of the considered opinion that the rejection of Option Number 1 of pension fixation is authoritative and unjustified and based on wrong notions and arguments.

Secondly, the Option Number 3 implemented in lieu of Option Number 1 contains a basic flaw. The Option Number 3 is nothing but the recommendations of 5^th CPC for pension fixation by notionally fixing the salary in the fitment table of successive pay commissions to the Pre-2016 Pensioners also and finally fixing 50% of the notionally arrived last pay drawn with reference to the Pay Matrix Table of the 7^th CPC. In doing so the important aspect of 5^th CPC to fix the salary in the new scale of pay implemented to the post or cadre in which the pensioner had retired or died is ignored by the Government. Instead the pension is calculated only on the basis of the replacement scales. Unless and otherwise the full aspect of 5^th CPC recommendation is implemented, the Option Number 3 formula also is denying the full benefit to many pensioners in whose cases their cadre or post got any upgraded pay scale through successive pay commissions. As the Government had agreed to implement OROP to Veteran Pensioners, similar fitment benefit to Civilian Pensioners also by calculating notionally in the same pay scale granted to the serving employees would have rendered justice. This National Executive urges the Government to reconsider this aspect and issue necessary orders to set right the flaw.

In nut shell, this National Executive resolves to reiterate its considered opinion that the Pensioners should be given the choice to opt between the Options 1, Option 2, and Option 3 with the element of higher pay scales granted to the cadre or post.

This National Executive notes with concern that the Government is obstinate in refusing the fixation benefit of pension in the higher scales of pay implemented to the post or cadre despite several court cases went in favour of the Pre-2006 Pensioners. The Pre-2006 Pensioners were denied the benefit of higher scales of pay given to the serving employees from 1.1.2006 and on approaching the court of law many pensioners got the benefit implemented w.e.f. 1.1.2006. The Executive notes that based on this fact the Department of Pension & Pensioners welfare had recommended to Finance Ministry for extending the benefit to all similarly placed Pre-2006 Pensioners. Unfortunately the Department of Expenditure had showed adamancy and refused to grant the benefit even today. It is also unfortunate that when this issue was taken to the PMO for redressal, the PMO had also taken an unjustified position that since the Finance Ministry had taken a position it cannot be reversed. This Executive notes that PMO is the final authority for all issues and the opinion of Department of Expenditure cannot be supreme against the directions of several courts of the land. This National Executive resolves to urge upon the Government to come down from the adamant position and extend the benefit of fixation of pension to all Pre-2006 Pensioners based on the upgraded pay scale if any was implemented to the post or cadre in which the Pre-2006 Pensioner had retired or died.

This National Executive of NCCPA notes with satisfaction that at last the P&T Pensioners also are allowed to enter the CGHS system without any discrimination through the GO dated 19.07.2017. However, we note that since this is a very belated step taken after two decades of discrimination that prevented many P&T Pensioners retired between 1998 and 2017 from joining the CGHS on payment of subscriptions at the prevailing rate at the time of their retirement. The present order ending the discrimination of the P&T Pensioners demands them to pay at the post-7^th CPC rate of subscriptions. We all know that the post-7^th CPC rates are fixed based on the new higher pay scales after 7^th CPC. Fixing the same rate of subscription to all Pre-2016 pensioners irrespective of the year of their retirement is unjustified and exorbitant. This National Executive of NCCPA resolves to urge upon the Government for necessary reconsideration to order to fix the rate of subscription commensurate to their year of retirement.

At the same time this National Executive notes that the Health Ministry’s objection to P&T Pensioners alone was withdrawn to facilitate inclusion of willing P&T Pensioners into CGHS while some other smaller departments are still out of the ambit of CGHS. This discrimination shall go. There shall be no discrimination for any Pensioner of any department in the matter of joining CGHS on the untenable plea that a separate Dispensary System is in existence for that department. In addition the CGHS Directorate General has issued a  recent order on 21^st July declaring the CG Employees and CG Pensioners in Union Territories are not entitled to join CGHS and those who were erroneously admitted also have to be sent out. This order is most unjustified and while correcting an injustice the Government is trying to introduce another injustice to the employees and pensioners of Union Territories. This Executive urges for immediate withdrawal of 21^st July orders also.

There are many other health related recommendations of the 7^th CPC that requires immediate decision by the Government. The recommendations (1) to merge the existing Postal Dispensaries with CGHS; (2) to issue Medi-insurance Cards to employees and pensioners to ensure cashless treatment in authorized private hospitals; (3) to merge various departmental vise health systems to form one broad medical system for the Government Employees and Pensioners; and (4) all pensioners also to be made eligible to medical treatment on par with the serving employees under CS MA Rules 1944, require positive approval by the Government. The Pensioners are the senior citizens whose medical requirements are very important at their old age. The present flaws in the existing medical systems should be removed by accepting the recommendations of the Pay Commission to end any discrimination between the serving employees and the Pensioners.

The National Executive of NCCPA notes that the Government has come forward to double the Fixed Medical Allowance from 500/- to 1000/- per month. This increase is a welcome step no doubt. But one cannot deny the fact that when a section of the Government Employees like the PF Department were granted 2000/- per month as FMA even under 6^th CPC time, fixing the FMA after 7^th CPC to only 1000/- is not meeting the requirements of today’s medical cost. This National Executive therefore resolves to urge upon the Government to reconsider and enhance the FMA to not less than 2000/- per month.

This National Executive wishes to bring to the notice of the Authorities that several orders are not implemented in a time-bound manner by all departments so that the aging pensioners can get the benefits earlier. The GO on extending full pension to Pre-2006 Pensioners who had retired without putting 33 years of qualifying service has not been implemented to all eligible such Pensioners in many States. The implementation of GO on fixation of pension on the basis of ‘pay in the pay band’ instead of ‘minimum of pay band’ w.e.f. 1.1.2006 for all Pre-2006 Pensioners took a lot of time. The issue of revised PPOs to all Pre-2006 Pensioners is still not completed in many States despite the position reflecting in the SCOVA meeting minutes that almost all Pensioners had been issued with revised PPOs. The main reason for non-implementation or slow implementation is because of the existing staff shortage in accounting offices. This may adversely affect the implementation of the recent 12^th May, 2017 orders also. Therefore this National Executive resolves to urge upon the Government to cause to order drawing of the services of qualified retired officials to function as ‘implementation cells’ to speed up the work under the supervision of serving Accounts Officers. This Executive also urges that this Refixation work under Option Number 3 shall be completed to all Pre-2016 Pensioners before 30.09.2017.

The National Executive also notes with concern that several issues like the revamping of additional pension; release of commuted portion of pension after 10 years have neither been considered by the 7^th CPC nor by the Government. This Executive resolves to urge upon the Government to come forward to refix the quantum of additional pension in a more rationalistic manner. This Executive also urges the Government to come forward to pass the order in consonance with the order of Bengaluru CAT that the additional pension is payable on attaining the age of 80, 85, 90, 95, 100 instead of on completing the above ages. This Executive also urges the Government that persisting with the present time limit of 15 long years for returning the commuted portion of pension is fully unjustified and it requires to be revisited to reduce the time to 10 years.

The demand for exempting the pension from income tax is not at all receiving the attention of Government despite the fact this demand has been vociferously raised by the Pensioners Organizations for long. It is highly unjustified to tax the pension of the government servants who had toiled for the nation throughout his working life. The Refixation of ceiling for income-tax now and then was only temporary solution to the problem. It is observed that recently that trend also has stopped and we could not find any change of ceiling for income-tax. This National Executive of NCCPA urges the Government to come forward to accept the demand for payment of pension net taxes.

The National Secretariat is hereby authorised by this National Executive to fix up appropriate Programme of action on all the above issues.

RESOLUTION ON BUILDING THE ORGANISATION OF NCCPA

The National executive of NCCPA is of the firm opinion that the growth of the united platform of pensioners’ movement alone is the guarantee to face the onslaught of the Government on pension and social security. NCCPA is the only class conscious apex organization for unifying all CG Pensioners under one roof and effectively project the issues of CG Pensioners for appropriate settlement. The need to strengthen the NCCPA is therefore paramount.

Both strengthening NCCPA at the CHQ level and strengthening it at State level are important though both are complimenting each other. The strengthening at CHQ level can be concentrated by approaching the existing pensioners’ organizations for affiliating with the NCCPA. The strengthening of the existing affiliates of NCCPA also can contribute to the strengthening of NCCPA CHQ. As far as the States are concerned, it is our responsibility to found State COC of NCCPA with the state organizations of our affiliates (both CGPA and Departmental wise Affiliates). Various state level functioning CGPA organizations also can be approached for joining in the State COC of NCCPA. We are witnessing that for lack of a strong platform of CG Pensioners many issues of Pensioners are unable to be effectively projected before the Government. The solution of pensioners’ issues is left to the mercy of the Government and Authorities through SCOVA and by approaching the doors of courts that takes a longer time. Even after favourable judicial pronouncements the Government is in the habit of denying the benefit to all similarly placed candidates, again against the Supreme Court Judgment. A stronger voice of united pensioners alone can guarantee earlier solutions to many vexed issues.

There are also issues like the NPS, Attack on Pensioners and the danger of bringing all existing employees and pensioners also under the NPS in future with the help of PFRDA Act that gives the Government the power to do so at its will.

This National Executive therefore calls upon all its Affiliates (both CGPA and Departmental wise Associations) to take all the initiative for founding State COC of NCCPA as a measure of strengthening the united movement of CG pensioners on one hand and to work for broader unity of all Pensioners like the Central, State and PSU Pensioners Associations on the other.

RESOLUTION ON NATONAL PENSION SCHEME

This National Executive meeting held of 19.08.2017 at Nagpur notes with utter dismay and expresses its grave concern on the stand taken by the Government of India on the National Pension Scheme introduce from 01.01.2004. A demand was placed before the 7^th CPC to scrap that contributory pension scheme and to bring all the CG Employees and others in defined and assured pension scheme. The 7^th CPC refrained itself on the plea that the issue is not available in their term of reference. The Government formed a Committee with a view to strengthen the NPS.

This meeting observes with hope that Confederation of CG Employees & Workers and the All India State Government Employees Federation had decided some phased programme of action to fight back the situation.

This National Executive Committee meeting of NCCPA calls upon all its affiliates to take all possible steps to join the programmes on this issue and to generate public opinion by staging dharna, rallies, street corner meetings etc in the coming days.

RESOLUTION ON IMPLEMENATION OF GDS COMMITTEE REPORT

The National Executive Committee meeting of NCCPA held at Nagpur on 19.08.2017 notes with grave concern that the Government of India is following the tactics of delaying the implementation of GDS Committee Report by way of setting up Committees on various pleas. National Federation of Postal Employees is going to stage one day strike on 23.08.2017 demanding implementation of GDS Committee recommendations. This National Executive Committee meeting of NCCPA is whole heartedly supporting the proposed strike and calls upon all the affiliates to stand by the striking employees on the day of strike by staging solidarity type of programme on 23.08.2017.

ON IMPLEMENTING INTERNATIONAL PENSIONERS DAY ON 1^st OCTOBER

The WFTU Trade Union International (Pensiones & Retired) has issued a call to observe the 1^st October 2017 as the international day of fight for pensioners’ Rights. It is the regular practice of WFTU to observe October 1^st every year on some important social causes and the selection of this year October 1^st as the International Day of fight for Pensioners’ rights by the WFTU TUI (P&R) clearly marks the danger to which the pensioners of all the countries are exposed under liberalization. This National Executive meeting of NCCPA resolves to call upon all our affiliates to observe the 1^st October 2017 as International day of fight for Pensioners’ Rights.

RESOLUTION ON SOLIDARITY WITH THE CENTRAL TRADE UNIONS

The National Executive Meeting of NCCPA held at Nagpur on 19.08.2017 welcomes the decision taken by the Central Trade Unions and Federations and Confederations and Associations of Central Government, State Government and Public sector like the BSNL, Banks, Insurance etc to organise a series of Programmes against the economic policies and the onslaught on the working Class. This National executive expresses its total solidarity with the Programme of Action of Indefinite strike to be launched by the Indian Working Class unitedly. This Executive also calls upon all our affiliates to mobilize maximum membership to Delhi to participate on 10^th November in the three days dharna programme to be organised in Delhi from 9^th to 11^th of November, 2017 as a prelude to the impending indefinite strike. All our affiliates will concentrate full mobilization on the second day of the three days dharna in order to focus the total solidarity of pensioners as a community to the struggle of the working class.

Charter of demands.

CHARTER OF DEMANDS.

1.      Implement Option No. 1. Recommended by the 7^th CPC .

2.      Revise the pension of all BSNL Pensioners on IDA pay scale with 15% fixation benefit.

3.      Revise the pension of all pensioners of the Central Autonomous bodies.

4.      (a) Notional fixation of pay under Option No. 3. Must be based on the pay scales/Pay levels of the cadre or grade from which an employee retired.

(b) Implement the judgements of the Courts in the case of all pre-2006 pensioners, whose notional pay for the purpose of pension must be on the basis of the pay level/Grade Pay or pay scale of the grade/cadre from which he/she has retired.

5.      (a) Extend the benefit of the CCS(MA) Rules to all pensioners who are not covered by the CGHS (b) Do not discriminate the pensioners of the Union Territory; bring all pensioners  under the coverage of CGHS.

6.      Increase the FMA  to Rs. 2000/- as has been granted to the PF pensioners w.e.f 1.1.2016

7.      Raise the minimum pension to Rs. 12,000/- (2/3^rd of the minimum wage) and make pension net of income tax.

8.      Restore the commutation loss of pension after 10 years

9.      Provide increased rates of pension on attainment of the age of 70 years

10.   Restore the Defined benefit  pension scheme as was in vogue prior to 1.1.2004 in respect of all Central Government employees by scrapping the Defined contributory pension scheme