AIRF has sent suggestions for General Budget to Finance Minister Shri Arun Jaitley.

A.I.R.F.
All India Railwaymen’s Federation
4, State Entry Road, New Delhi – 110055

No.AIRF/60

Dated: January 20, 2015

Hon’ble Finance Minister,
Ministry of Finance,
(Government of India),
New Delhi

Dear Sir,

Sub: Suggestions for the General Budget 2015-16

All India Railwaymen’s Federation(AIRF), representing more 1.3 million Railwaymen, being the largest and oldest organization of the Railwaymen in India, wish to put-forth following important suggestions to be considered favourably while finalizing General Budget proposals for the Financial Year 2015-16:-

1. Railwaymen are always termed as “Second Line of Defence” in our country. While National Pension Scheme(NPS) was introduced w.e.f. 01.01.2004 for all the Central Government Employees, however, Defence personnel have since been exempted from this scheme and are covered by the Old Traditional Pension Scheme/Family Pension Scheme with full social security.

AIRF is also struggling hard from the day-one to exempt the Railwaymen also from the NPS, and ultimately the then Hon’ble Minister for Railways Shri Mallikarjun Kharge on persuasions of the AIRF had recommended this issue to the then Hon’ble Finance Minister vide his letter No.2012/F(E)III/1/4-Part dated 29th March, 2014. AIRF, therefore, urges that, necessary provision to this effect may be made in the ensuing General Budget, so as to cover all the Railwaymen, irrespective of their date of appointment under Old Pension/Family Pension Scheme.

2. The BJP in the election campaign of the 16th Lok Sabha had repeatedly assured to raise ceiling limit of Income Tax adequately. It may be appreciated that, due to market inflation, the actual value of the “Rupee” has devaluated to the greatest extent as the Dearness Allowance being paid to compensate the devaluation the rupee has already crossed 107%. Therefore, it would be highly appreciated, if ceiling limit of the Income Tax is raised to at least Rs.5 lakh.

3. Education and medical facilities are gradually going out of reach of the common man because of business type institutions and private hospitals. The public education system and medical facilities have deteriorated over the years, due to inadequacy of funds being allocated under these heads. There being urgent need of augmenting education and medical facilities for the common man, allotment of funds under these heads needs to be raised to 6% and 4% of the GDP respectively.

4. In the wake of Hon’ble Prime Minister of India’s announcement at Varanasi on 25th December, 2014, while celebrating “Good Governance Day”, that different railway stations of the Indian Railways shall be augmented for the purpose of skill development, adequate fund allocation needs to be made for this purpose, so that necessary facilities are created on the earmarked railway stations for this purpose.

5. In the Rail Budget for the year 2009-10, 2010-11, 2011-12, the then Hon’ble Minister for Railways made announcement for establishment of Medical/Technical Institutions on certain important Railheads, but on account of paucity of funds, these welfare schemes could not see the day of light. Therefore, with a view to augment educational facilities of medical and technical education, some funds may be provided from the General Budget for this purpose.

6. Indian Railways being the lifeline of the country urgently need adequate budgetary support from the General Budget to augment the services as also to run this organization more safely and efficiently. It may also be appreciated that, since Indian Railways is a government organization, no Dividend and Lease Charges should be recovered from the Railways.

7. Indian Railways employees more than 13 lakh employees, and the former Hon’ble Minister for Railways had also announced “Own Your House Scheme”. Therefore, that scheme should be launched, so as to provide them house well before their retirement.

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One Rank One Pension Circular No. 512 by PCDA – Implementation of Government decision on the recommendations of the Committee Secretaries 2012 on the issues related to Defence Service Personnel and Ex-Servicemen- Improvement in Pension of JCO/ ORs Armed Forces retired/ discharged/ invalided out of service prior to 01.01.2006.

OFFICE OF THE PR. CONTROLLER OF DEFENCE ACCOUNTS (PENSION)
DRAUPADI GHAT, ALLAHABAD- 211014

Circular No. 512

Dated: 26.06.2013

Subject: Implementation of Government decision on the recommendations of the Committee Secretaries 2012 on the issues related to Defence Service Personnel and Ex-Servicemen- Improvement in Pension of JCO/ ORs Armed Forces retired/ discharged/ invalided out of service prior to 01.01.2006.

Reference: This office Circular No. 501 and 502 dated 17.01.2013.

PDAs are aware that as per this Office circular cited under reference, service pension in respect of JCOs/ORs discharged with qualifying service of 15 years and more will be revised by PDAs with reference to qualifying service, rank and group last held by the individuals as per tables attached with above cited circular.

It has been observed that various PDAs feel difficulties while revising pension w.e.f 24.09.2012 .Accordingly clarification on some of major problems are given as under –

1. Terms of engagement –

The Maximum terms of engagement of various rank of all services are prescribed as Appendix X to the above cited circular. The term of engagement of various ranks have been changed from 1.12.76 and 30.05.1998.  Due to clerical mistake “from 01/12/1976” has been mentioned as “from 1.1.73” in above cited circular which should be amended to that extends i.e. in place of 1.1.73 read 1.12.76. Further, Terms of engagement of Seamen I and Leading Seamen as shown “from 1.04.85” will be “from 01.06.1953”. Exception periods are “emergency period” and applicable to those armed Force personnel who were retained in service compulsory beyond their terms of engagement during emergency.

2. Re-grouping of Group-

Groups for all ranks of PBOR have been introduced w.e.f. 01/06/1953. Initially there were 8 groups i.e. A, B, C, D, E, F,G and H. These pay groups were regrouped in 5 (i.e. A, B, C, D,E) w.e.f. 01/01/1973 which was further regrouped in 3 groups (X, Y & Z) w.e.f. 10/10/1997. It has been clarified that eight groups have been regrouped in five groups from 1.1.73 and further reduced to three groups from 10.10.1997 are as follows-

    3. Equivalent rank of three Armed Force-

The Equivalent rank of three services are shown Appendix Y to the circular no 501 dated 17.01.2013.some of PDAs queried about equivalent rank of Atrificer III -I in Navy It is hereby clarified that Atrificer III -I rank have Grade pay of 3400/- ,therefore, no equivalent rank in Army/Air Force exists.

It is also clarified that Mechnician and Artificer are equivalent rank in Navy. In this office circular No. 501 only Art III to I and Chief Art has been mentioned in table No. 13 (Navy). The Service pension of Mech III-I and Chief mechnician may also to be revised as for Art III-I and Chief Artificer respectively.

    4. Rounding of Qualifying Service –

while calculating the length of qualifying service for the pensionary benefits, a fraction of a year equal to 3 months and above is treated as one half (1/2) year period and nine months or more but less than a year is treated as a completed one year for determining the amount of pension w.e.f. 28/06/1983. Prior to 28/06/1983 the broken period of service of 180 days or more was treated as ½ years w.e.f. 22/04/1960. In view of above, if Q.S has been mentioned as 17 years 10 months in PPO/ Corr PPO then it should be rounded upto 18 year, 17.5 years and 17 years for post 28.06.1983 retirees, pre-28.6.83 but post 22.04.60 retirees and pre-22.04.60 retirees respectively.

    5. Seeking Information:

It is also informed that all Annexure ‘A’ of circular 501 may send to OI/C Sangam Cell through E-mail address cda_albd@nic.in of this office on soft copy in single excel sheet along with hard copy and Annexure ‘B’ of circular No. 501 only beneficial case as per this office circular No. 509 dated 16/04/2013 sent to OI/C RP Cell in Hard copy. It is also intimated that if corr. PPO has been issued wef 1.7.2009 then need not to refer such case to this office on Annexure ‘B’ as this office issues suo-moto corr. PPO in these cases.

6. Revision of Family Pension:

It is also come to notice that during revision of family pension in terms of this office circular No. 502 dt. 17.01.2013, there may be some cases where some information regarding Q.S. and group is not available at your end. These cases may be referred to this office on all Annexure ‘B’ for wanting information. It is also informed that Annexure ‘B’ may be sent to OIC of Sangam Cell through E-mail address cda_alda@nic.in of this office on Soft copy in single excel sheet along with hard copy. It is hereby also clarified that pending receipt of clarification/ information from this office family pension may be received as an interim measure at the rate of minimum guaranteed rate prescribed under this office circular No. 510 dt. 16.04.2013 and if group is also not available then family pension may be revised for lowest group for the rank.

It is therefore, advised that above points may be kept in mind while regulating cases. The payment of pension may be regulated at the existing rates earliest if the same has not been done earlier.

No. Grants/Tech/0167-XIV
Dated: 26/06/2013

(G K Baranwal)
ACDA (P)

Source: www.pcdapension.nic.in
[http://pcdapension.nic.in/6cpc/Circular-512.pdf]

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