Secretary General’s report with out amendments &comments accepted unanimously by 60th BPS AGM held on 29.11.2015 at at Amritsar

Secretary General’s Report to 60th BPS AGM  held  on 29.11.2015 at

Amritsar

Respected  Chief guest ,Delegates, Dignitaries & Sr Comrades ,

 The period between 59tth  to this 60th AGM has been very eventful, BPS  gained new heights  and support . In short during the past three yrs BPs could achieve what it could not in 57 years .  Thanks to digitalization, internet & Social media not only that BPS has reached every nook & corner of the country, it has reached 33 countries internationally . In an historical event BPS was short listed by 7th CPC to represent C.G. Pensioners in the final round table discussion/ evidence on 17.02.2015. It was perhaps the first time in the history of pay commissions that a pensioners Federation  was invited twice to give presentation &to tender evidence, BPS could discuss with 7th CPC & forcefully represent pensioners burning issues such as 100% parity ,Pension to be 2/3rd of last drawn, adequate hassle free medical facilities to all pensioners with smart card  for cashless treatment in emergencies etc etc  It continues to be a  a member of Advisory Committee for Web-based Pensioners Portal,  Govt. of India. It also continues to be one of the identified Pensioners organization of GOI . BPS continued to be involved  in social welfare activities for the good of the Civil Society BPS Vice president (WZ) Com, J.N.Rao once again carried BPs greeting to Japanese counterparts and represented at International  Seminar on Space and Peace - Space for Peace from 29th July to 2nd August at Kyoto, two papers relating to 'Weaponisation of Space - where India stands?' and 'Global Military Bases, in 2013 BPS had succeeded in getting OM dated 28.1.2013 regarding 6th CPC modified parity wef 24.9.2012 even when the case was subjudice. In July 2015 after a long struggle BPS succeeded in getting the benefit extended wef 1.1.2006 BPS could also get benefit of CSD canteen to defence civilian pensioners& CGHS facilities to KVS pensioners. After years of struggle Rly Bd had agreed to issue Smart cards to RELHS beneficiaries orders though issued on 18.7.2012 were not implemented. However, due to BPS pressure through Social media  Rly Bd  has now constituted a committee on 11.9.2015 for implementation of Smart card facility to RELHS beneficiaries and have delegated powers to GMs to enter into MOU with CGHS empanelled hospitals. Similarly we are constantly pursuing with DOP&PW to improve Grievance redressal mechanism CPENGRAMS so that grievances are not closed on flimsy grounds. BPS once again donated Rs one lac for the assistance of earthquake victims. However, if you ask me to quote one good achievement then I will quote the case of a Dalit Tribal widow whose name was not existing in the PPO of her late husband. BPS could  get family pension sanctioned to this poor lady 3 yrs after the death of her husband. Bharat Pensioners Samaj today stands accepted as the largest pensioner’s body in the country & is held in high esteem by Pensioners as well as by the administration. Not only that we have been seeking Govt. support in deficient areas but  have been actively involved in the Welfare of the Civil society.  BPS campaign for Organ & body donation through its affiliates NFRPA Guwahati , S.E.C.Rly Pensioners Association Nagpur, RPWA Sharanpur, Govt pensioners associations  Mujaffar Nagar and Sharanpur  is catching up with  good response.  BPS is a participant in the activities of All India Peace & Solidarity Organization through its Vice President (West Zone)Sh. J.N.Rao..

S G BPS and other office bearers have been  moving  over the length & breadth of the country to connect  with stake holders, MOU partners, well wishers & supporters. BPS Balance Sheet for the financial year 2014-15 has been the highest ever. BPS in its own office which can be viewed live online, has 4 computers with operators and video conferencing facility.   BPS today  has an audience of well  over 17lac on Social media. It also has facility of sending  mass SMS & Mass email. BPS today within minutes can share information with its affiliates, associates, MOU partners & members in every corner of country & internationally. BPS monthly magazine ‘Bharat Pensioner’ circulation has been rising,  its E. Edition is also being published simultaneously which has a circulation of around 64000 (soft copies) every month. There have been hassles & complaints in delivery of hard copies of monthly Journal. Secy. PR Sh K.L.Malhotra is now regularly monitoring & removing glitches we are sure to improve its delivery shortly..

BPS 3C action plan 'communicate, coordinate and consolidate' is now catching-up with MOU partners & sister organizations. On popular suggestions & feed back 4th 'C' has been added to it i.e. 'Contribute' : Let every superannuated person contribute  wisdom, thoughts ,ideas, efforts, knowledge, experience  and whatever she/he can conveniently afford including money to the common cause  to make ‘3C’ “ROAD MAP” a success. BPS has recently launched Pilot project-'Pensioners own media' through which it is trying to make available publications of pensioners organizations on one Platform.

Besides adoption of modern methods and digital technology, BPS continue time-tested conventional system to remain connected with grass-root levels.

  During the past three years  we have been moving ahead   making amends, improvements and weaving a network for better wkg which has resulted in heavy gains for the organizations. Bharat Pensioners Samaj is a Federation of Pensioners Associations as such emphasis is to give   more  representation in BPS MC to affiliated Associations covering different departments  and  regions of the country especially t o induct  computer/internet savvy  representative of affiliates. BPS is committed to this policy & will continue its efforts in this direction.

VP (SZ)  Somashekhar RaoVP(WZ) J.N.Rao,VP (NE) Yaikul Singh, Secretary Railways  Bimalandu Chakraborty,  Onkar Singh Secy.(Defence civilians),Secy. BSNL  D.D. Ministry, Secy Postal & othrs  M. Chandramowli ,Secy. States  RLN Ratnam, Secy EPS 95  Prakash yende, Editor M M Kapur & Treasurer Sh. Rameshwar Kumar have been doing very good job. Managing committee members S.M.Kanjilal & K.B.Krshna Rao are now SCOVA members.

      Country is moving fast with digital technology & paperless working, for survival we will have to keep pace with changing scenario. Change is law of nature, leaders  need to be visionary & amenable to change. We will be failing in our duty if we do not strive to bring in younger blood equipped with modern technology & nurture next line of leadership to match  changing digital scenario. There is urgent need to handover the organization to a new computer/internet savvy younger persons capable of taking the organization forward, meeting the rising aspirations of our affiliates & members at least by 2017’.  

Ladies & gentlemen : Success, Name & Fame do not come alone, certain evils too creep in along-with.  Unfortunately wrong feeling start inculcating giving rise to takeover aspirations. There may also be attempts to takeover through unconstitutional methods, thus we have to jealously guard against  destructive mindsets.

Ladies & gentlemen as all of you know 7^th CPC report is out. BPS President Sh. Shyam Sunder and I as Secy. Genl. BPS on the basis of our critical analysis have sent a representation to Finance Minister on 25.11.015, appealing him to set right following shortcomings:

1. Ratio between minimum and maximum: Instead of reducing it is raised which is against the preamble of the Constitution of Indian Republic.

2. Minimum salary has been intentionally calculated to be lower to keep common fitment factor low. Counting employees’ wife as 0.80 unit is gender biase and is totally unjustified. Quantities & rates taken for the items in basket are unrealistic, for example Rs 524.07  per month is provided .Even the lowest category of Govt. accommodation is not available at this rate. Similarly rate of ‘Dal’ is taken to be 97.84 per Kg. No ‘Dal’ is or was available in the market at this rate.

Quantity of Milk is taken to be 200ml per unit per day which is too little for a vegetarian, rate of Milk is taken to be Rs 37.40 per Kg which is lower than market rate.

3. According to 7th CPC, 2.57 fitment factor is for all employees. But, in fact, 2.81 fitment has been given at Secy level. This is robbing Peter to pay Paul, violative of CPC own recommendation and that of Article 14 of the constitution of India. 2.81 fitment benefit should be provided to all employee without any discrimination.

4. Raising Percentage of pension, based on sustenance: Analysis given by CPC is silent on sustenance-this is unjustified rejection.

5.OROP recommended by 7th CPC for all. But, through the jugglery of pay matrix, for promotee officers and group ‘C,’ it will end up only in modified parity.This needs rectification to ensure absolute parity for all.

6. Additional pension at 75yrs of age is denied only because Defence Ministry did not agree, this is rather absurd. If  Defence Ministry does not want to have it, let them not have it. Why make others suffer on this account?

7.Medical facilities : While the Commission’s recommendations regarding merging of all postal dispensaries with CGHS dispensaries and inclusion of non CGHS covered   postal Pensioners are welcome.

However, its recommendations regarding Health insurance for pensioners do not suit existing pensioners on account of no coverage of existing disease without lock-in period, no provision of OPD facility , payment of premium and less amount of coverage.

Under signed, wish to draw your kind attention to para 9.5.18 (iii) of the 7th CPC and request you to creat without delay a combined entity of CGHS, ECHS-RELHS  which in terms of 7th CPC would result in a very strong network of health facilities for the Central Government employees/pensioners across the length and breadth of the country.

8.Scraping of New Pension scheme( NPS) :It has come out through 7th CPC report that though NPS was introduced more than a decade back Govt; to date could not firm up rules in this regard. With the result over  300000 employee recruited after 2004 may not have enough funds in their accounts at retirement to ensure financial  security. Center and state Govt’s share of contribution is insufficient and these governments are not depositing their contribution in time, investments are subjected to service tax & withdrawals are taxable under Income Tax with the result there would not be enough money for reasonable post retirement financial security. Due to ever rising inflation, this situation will go on worsening year by year and will go out of hand by the time of retirement of the beneficiary. This is more than sufficient reason to scrap NPS & to revert to pre 2004 defined benefit Pension Scheme.

The Vision ahead

After going over the length & breadth of the country & interacting with different organizations I realize that less than20% pensioners have joined one or the other organization out of which not even1% are active participants. Most of the organizations have not developed 2nd line of leadership & running the risk of going down the drain. As standard of fitness of civil pensioners is not as good as of ex servicemen, due  to their  immobility & old age disabilities at National level we are not in a position to gather few thousand pensioners for protest march etc at local level also this strength gets limited to few hundred only.

There is urgent need for   each one of the pensioners’ organization to launch membership campaign & persuade more & more pensioners to join hands, more & more pensioners should come on social media sites to shatter the misconception being created against pensioners at National level I feel we must revive BCPC to provide a common platform to all Federations, National/state/district level pensioners organizations to come together. Additionally as a long term remedy all pensioners organizations are requested to consider adoption of 4 "C" fomula i.e. Communicate coordinate, consolidate & contribute

In the days ahead, BPS along with likeminded organizations, plans to play a big role in forging unity amongst all superannuated persons  and in consolidating Elderly Vote Bank through its 4 C action plan. We are happy that our Honourable MOS (PP) Dr Jitendra Singh ji has realised that pensioners are retired but not tired. We will emphasize that his press release dated 21.09.2015  be given practical shape in a time bound manner.

Through Social media BPS will  convince the civil  society and the Govt. that we are asking only for  which we have contributed , which is in accordance to our service conditions , is provided in the country’s constitution & pronounced by the Supreme Court of India. We will  apprise  the civil  Society that our Pension is not a burden on them but is our deferred wage and that we pensioners make endless contributions to  families, communities and the society. we contribute as family care givers, as workers, consumers, volunteers and taxpayers.  Stand shoulder to shoulder with fellow citizens in distress.  Even in death, give life & vision to the needy through organ donation .

There are enormous challenges to pensioners that need to be faced. Overcoming age discrimination, which is rampant in societies, as well as ensuring adequate income security and  good health care, are few important challenges. Keeping pace with time, while seeking support from the Government in deficient  areas , BPS will  strive  to develop systems which enable all of us to act as one family with mutual confidence, support and growing interdependence.

The most powerful weapon of pensioners is their vote. So let's strive to consolidate  elderly  vote power, if we wish our  voice to be heard.BPS will be moving ahead with its 4 "(C)formula and will continue struggling for pensioners cause with “Samanvay” of traditional & modern technological methods.

Brothers & sisters I thank you all for your cooperation &support afforded to me so far.

Jai hind

S.C.Maheshwari S.G.

                                                                                                                Bharat Pensioners samaj

7th Pay Commission report on Medical Facilities for Serving Employees and Pensioners under CGHS, ECHS, CS (MA) Rules

7th CPC has submitted its report on Medical Facilities for Serving Employees and Pensioners and the details are given below:

Report of Seventh Central Pay Commission

Medical Facilities for Serving Employees and Pensioners

Introduction

The Central Government provides health care facilities for both serving and retired employees. Employees of some Central Government organisations, like Railways and Defence, are covered by captive medical facilities provided by the concerned administrative ministries. Certain other organisations have limited medical facilities covering out-patient treatment and limited hospitalisation. The general coverage of Central Government employees is under the Central Government Health Scheme (CGHS) and the Central Service (Medical Attendance) Rules, 1944 [CS(MA) Rules].

CGHS, under the aegis of Department of Health and Family Welfare, provides out-patient (OPD)/in-patient (IPD) treatment to its beneficiaries–both serving and retired employees– within its area of operation. Serving employees of the Central Government, outside CGHS area and thus not under its coverage, avail medical facilities under CS (MA).

CS (MA) Rules, 1944 are statutory provisions for medical relief to the serving Central Government employees and their family members who are not residing in CGHS covered cities. There is a provision for appointment of Authorized Medical Attendants (AMA) by the concerned department for their employees either from the Medical Officers working under the State/Central Government or from private practitioners depending upon the situation.

Pensioners are not covered under the CS (MA) Rules. Pensioners residing outside CGHS areas are entitled to Fixed Medical Allowance (FMA) @ Rs.500 per month for their OPD/IPD needs. Such pensioners can also avail IPD/OPD under CGHS subject to some conditions, details of which have been explained in a subsequent paragraph.

Demands

During its interactions with various stakeholders, the Commission has received numerous demands relating to medical facilities. Broadly, these demands are as follows:

a. CGHS should be expanded and improved: It has been demanded that facilities offered by CGHS should be strengthened and more private hospitals should be empanelled in such a way that they are nearer to the residence cluster of the beneficiaries.

b. Pensioners be treated at par with serving employees: It has been represented that CS(MA) be extended to pensioners residing outside CGHS Area. It has been demanded that Smart Cards be issued to all pensioners for availing cashless medical facilities across the country in all government hospitals, all accredited Multi Super Speciality Hospitals which have been allotted land at concessional rates, all CGHS, (Ex-Servicemen Contributory Health Scheme (ECHS) empanelled Hospitals.

c. It has been demanded that the amount of FMA be raised to Rs.2,000 with DA thereon.

d. It has been pointed out that P&T pensioners who did not subscribe to CGHS while in service are not covered under CGHS post retirement. It has also been demanded that all P&T dispensaries should be merged with CGHS so that these pensioners can avail IPD/OPD benefits.

Analysis of the Demands

CGHS has benefited a significant number of government employees and pensioners. The Commission notes that the pressure on CGHS has been increasing over the years. This has affected its efficient functioning at times. However, the Commission is aware that services provided by CGHS are valued by a number of employees and most of the pensioners.

The demands of the various stakeholders, listed above, have been analysed keeping these facts in the backdrop. Broadly, these demands can be classified into three segments: (i) Expansion of CGHS to more areas, (ii) Strengthening of the existing facilities under CGHS, and (iii) Provision of medical facilities for pensioners living outside CGHS areas.

Expansion of CGHS to More Areas

CGHS is presently operational in 25 cities. The government is opening at least one CGHS Wellness Centre in 12 more cities. The Commission notes that with this addition, almost all the state capitals will be covered under CGHS.

The VICPC had recommended that all postal dispensaries should be merged with CGHS and all postal employees including retired postal employees be covered under CGHS wherever available. It is noted that out of 52 postal dispensaries, 19 have been merged with existing CGHS centres. During his presentation, DG, CGHS highlighted scarcity of resources, particularly that of manpower, due to which government is not in a position to extend CGHS to more areas. The Commission feels that modalities should be worked out to utilise the existing manpower of the postal dispensaries and steps should be taken to merge the remaining 33 postal dispensaries with CGHS. This will benefit a large number of postal employees and pensioners. This will also benefit those Central Government employees/pensioners who are otherwise eligible for coverage under CGHS but are being denied this facility because of absence of CGHS centres in their cities. The Commission feels that Ministry of Health and Family Welfare’s order dated 1 August, 1996 – which states that P&T pensioners who were not participating in CGHS while in service may not be extended medical facility under CGHS – is discriminatory and should therefore be revoked. This would enable all P&T pensioners, irrespective of their participation in CGHS while in service, to avail medical facilities under CGHS after making requisite subscription.

Strengthening of the Existing Facilities under CGHS

At present, CGHS is providing facilities to about 36 lakh beneficiaries (card holders and their dependents). This includes about 26 lakh serving employees and their dependants and about 10 lakh pensioners and their dependants. CGHS has a network of 273 Allopathic and 85 AYUSH Wellness Centres, 73 labs, 19 poly-clinics, 19 dental clinics, 4 hospitals and 2 geriatric clinics (Delhi only). CGHS has also empanelled about 750 private hospitals and diagnostic centres.

CGHS, thus, has indeed been catering to a sizeable population of government employees. However, there are many limitations on this count. The Commission notes that financial constraints, non-availability of sufficient health care professionals and other administrative limitations impede rapid expansion of CGHS to more areas or strengthening of its services. Even with the limited expansion, possibly a large number of employees/pensioners will still remain uncovered given their spatial distribution.

Provision of Medical Facilities for Pensioners Living Outside CGHS Areas

Pensioners residing in non-CGHS areas have three options. First, they may draw FMA. In this case, pensioners will have to make their own arrangements for both IPD and OPD treatment. Second, pensioners may draw FMA for OPD and avail CGHS benefits for IPD from the nearest CGHS city after making the required subscription to CGHS card. Third, pensioners may avail CGHS facility both for OPD and IPD from the nearest CGHS city after making the required subscription to CGHS.

In case of emergency, pensioners, under the second and the third options, can take treatment in a private hospital empanelled under CS(MA)/Ex-Servicemen Contributory Health Scheme (ECHS) or any private hospital in the domicile city. However, such pensioners will have to make payment upfront for their treatment and thereafter seek reimbursement from CGHS. This reimbursement is capped at CGHS rates.

Various pensioners’ associations have demanded that CS (MA) Rules should be extended to cover Central Government pensioners residing outside CGHS areas. As referred to earlier, CS (MA) Rules do not cover the pensioners. The Commission notes that the VICPC was not in favour of extending CS (MA) to the pensioners on the grounds of huge financial implications and administrative difficulties relating to submission and reimbursement of bills.

Recommendations

Health Insurance Scheme

In this backdrop, the Commission opines that health insurance for the government employees and pensioners remains the most optimal route for ensuring complete coverage for all employees, pensioners and their dependants in the long run. The IV CPC had suggested that feasibility and modalities of an Insurance Scheme for government employees in lieu of medical reimbursement may be considered by the government. The VI CPC had recommended introduction of a health insurance scheme for Central Government employees and pensioners. It had recommended that for existing employees and pensioners, the scheme should be available on a voluntary basis, subject to their paying the prescribed contribution. It had also been recommended that the health insurance scheme should be compulsory for new government employees who would be joining service after the introduction of the Scheme.
Similarly, it had recommended that those retiring after the introduction of the insurance scheme would be covered under the Scheme.

The Commission observes that in view of the recommendations of the earlier Pay Commissions and various high power committees, the government has been contemplating the introduction of a health insurance scheme on Pan-India basis. The Commission notes that although the Committee of Secretaries had given its ‘in principle’ approval way back in 2011, and an amount of Rs. 2,061 crore had been earmarked under the XII Five Year Plan, the Scheme has still not been implemented.

The Commission notes that given the tardiness in the introduction of the long awaited Insurance Scheme, as already mentioned earlier in this chapter, the pensioners residing outside CGHS area will continue to be at a disadvantage, in terms of medical facilities, compared to their counterparts residing in CGHS areas. As stated earlier in this chapter, according to existing provisions, pensioner residing outside CGHS area but subscribing to CGHS for OPD/IPD can avail medical facility from any hospital–private or public or empanelled under CS (MA)/ECHS–in his/her own city. However, in such cases, the pensioners have to make upfront payment to the hospital and claim reimbursement later. The Commission feels that this could be a limiting factor for many pensioners who may not have the resources to pay hospital expenses upfront. The Commission notes that under CS (MA) Rules/ECHS, there are empanelled hospitals in every part of the country, at least in all major locations. In this backdrop, after identification of some major centres/cities based on minimum population threshold of pensioners, these hospitals could be empanelled by CGHS as well, for extending medical facilities on a cashless basis.

Considering all the issues, the Commission makes the following recommendations:

i. The Commission strongly recommends the introduction of health insurance scheme for Central Government employees and pensioners. In the interregnum, for the benefit of pensioners residing outside the CGHS areas, the Commission recommends that CGHS should empanel those hospitals which are already empanelled under CS (MA)/ECHS for catering to the medical requirement of these pensioners on a cashless basis. This would involve strengthening of administrative capacity of nearest CGHS centres. However, this step will go a long way in ameliorating the pending grievances of these pensioners.

ii. The Commission recommends that the remaining 33 postal dispensaries should be merged with CGHS. The Commission further recommends that all postal pensioners, irrespective of their participation in CGHS while in service, should be covered under CGHS after making requisite subscription.

iii. Currently, there are various health care schemes in the Central Government catering to specific sets of employees. For example, apart from CGHS, there are Ex-Servicemen Contributory Health Scheme (ECHS) and Railways Employees Liberalized Health Scheme (RELHS) which cover ex-servicemen and Railway employees/pensioners, respectively. Although the patterns in these schemes vary, a combined entity of CGHS-ECHS-RELHS would result in a very strong network of health facilities for the Central Government employees across the length and breadth of the country. The Commission recommends that possibility of such a combined network of various medical schemes should be explored through proper examination.