19 DEC 2018

Department of Social Justice & Empowerment has informed that there is at present no proposal in that Department for lowering the age of senior citizen. Government employees become entitle to pension on retirement. There is also no proposal to increase or decrease the age of retirement of Central Government Employees.

The salient features of the pension entitlements of employees retiring from the Central Government are as under:

• A Government servant retiring in accordance with the rules, after completing a qualifying service of not less than 10 years, is entitled to a pension @ 50% of his last pay or 50% of average emoluments for the last 10 months, whichever is more beneficial to him/her.
• After completion of 80 years of age or above, additional pension @ 20% to 100% is payable to the retired Government servant.
• A retired/retiring Government servant is entitled to, at his/her option, a lump sum payment, by commutation of a maximum of 40% of his/her pension.
• On retirement, a Government employee is entitled to a retirement gratuity based on his/her emoluments and length of qualifying service.
• On death of a Central Government pensioner, the family is entitled to a family pension the amount of which is 50% of the last pay for a period of seven years, or for a period up to the date on which the retired deceased Government servant would have attained the age of 67 years had he/she survived, whichever is earlier. Thereafter, the amount of family pension is 30% of his last pay.  The amount of family pension is also increased by 20% to 100% after the family pensioner attains the age of 80 years and above.
• The family of a Government servant, who dies while in service after having rendered not less than seven years’ continuous service, is entitled to a family pension 50% of the last pay for a period of ten years. Thereafter, the amount of family pension is 30% of his/her last pay.

This was stated by the Minister of State in the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions and Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office, Dr. Jitendra Singh in a written reply to a question in the Lok Sabha today.

PIB

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RESERVE BANK OF INDIA

RBI/2017-18/89

DBR.No.Leg.BC.96/09.07.005/2017-18

November 9, 2017

All Scheduled Commercial Banks (including RRBs) All Small Finance Banks and Payments Banks

Dear Sir/ Madam

Statement on Developmental and Regulatory Policies – October 4, 2017- Banking Facility for Senior Citizens and Differently abled Persons

Please refer to Paragraph 8 of Statement on Developmental and Regulatory Policies, released by Reserve Bank of India on October 4, 2017 as part of Fourth Bi-monthly Monetary Policy Statement 2017-18, a copy of which is enclosed. It has been observed that there are occasions when banks discourage or turn away senior citizens and differently abled persons from availing banking facilities in branches. Notwithstanding the need to push digital transactions and use of ATMs, it is imperative to be sensitive to the requirements of senior citizens and differently abled persons.

2. In view of the above, banks are required to put in place appropriate mechanism with the following specific provisions for meeting the needs of such customers so that they are able to avail of the bank’s services without difficulty.

(a) Dedicated Counters/Preference to Senior Citizens, Differently abled persons Banks are advised to provide a clearly identifiable dedicated counter or a counter which provides priority to senior citizens and people who are differently abled including visually impaired persons.

(b) Ease of submitting Life Certificate

As per extant guidelines issued by Department of Government and Bank Accounts, in addition to the facility of Digital Life Certificate under “Jeevan Praman” Scheme (refer circular DGBA.GAD.H-2529/45.01.001/2014-15 dated December 9, 2014), pensioners can submit physical Life Certificate form at any branch of the pension paying bank. However, it is observed that often the same is not updated promptly by the receiving branch in the Core Banking Solution (CBS) system of the bank, resulting in avoidable hardship to the pensioners. It is, therefore, advised that banks shall ensure that when a Life Certificate is submitted in any branch, including a non-home branch, of the pension paying bank, the same is updated/ uploaded promptly in CBS by the receiving branch itself, to avoid any delay in credit of pension.

(c) Cheque Book Facility

(i) Banks shall issue cheque books to customers, whenever a request is received, through a requisition slip which is part of the cheque book issued earlier.

(ii) Banks are advised to provide minimum 25 cheque leaves every year, if requested, in savings bank account, free of charge.

(iii) Banks shall not insist on physical presence of any customer including senior citizens and differently abled persons for getting cheque books.

(iv) Banks may also issue cheque books, on requisition, by any other mode as per bank’s laid down policy.

It is further clarified that providing such facility in BSBDA will not render the account to be classified as non-BSBDA (c.f. Bank’s response to query number 14 and 24 of our circular “DBOD.No. Leg. BC.52/09.07.005/2013-14 dated September 11, 2013 on Financial Inclusion – Access to Banking Services – BSBDA – FAQs”).

(d) Automatic conversion of status of accounts

Presently, in some banks, even fully KYC – compliant accounts are not automatically converted into ‘Senior Citizen Accounts’ on the basis of date of birth maintained in the bank’s records. Banks are advised that a fully KYC compliant account should automatically be converted into a ‘Senior Citizen Account’ based on the date of birth available in bank’s records.

(e) Additional Facilities to visually impaired customers

Banks are advised that the facilities provided to sick/old/incapacitated persons vide Paragraph 9 of our Master Circular DBR.No.Leg.BC.21/09.07.006/2015-16 dated July 1, 2015 on Customer Service in Banks (regarding operations of accounts through identification of thumb/toe impression/mark by two independent witnesses and authorising a person who would withdraw the amount on behalf of such customers) shall also be extended to the visually impaired customers.

(f) Ease of filing Form 15G/H

Banks are advised to provide senior citizens and differently abled persons Form 15G/H once in a year (preferably in April) to enable them to submit the same, where applicable, within the stipulated time.

(g) Door Step Banking

We have issued instructions on Doorstep Banking vide circular

DBOD.No.BL.BC.59/22.01.010/2006-2007 dated February 21, 2007 under Section 23 of Banking Regulation Act, 1949. However, in view of the difficulties faced by senior citizens of more than 70 years of age and differently abled or infirm persons (having medically certified chronic illness or disability) including those who are visually impaired, banks are advised to make concerted effort to provide basic banking facilities, such as pick up of cash and instruments against receipt, delivery of cash against withdrawal from account, delivery of demand drafts, submission of Know Your Customer (KYC) documents and Life certificate at the premises/ residence of such customers.

3. Banks are advised to implement these instructions by December 31, 2017 in letter and spirit and give due publicity in their bank branches and website.

Yours faithfully
(Saurav Sinha)
Chief General Manager

Source : RBI

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Government is working on a cashless health insurance scheme for senior citizens which may be announced in the upcoming Union Budget 2016-17.

Around Rs 10,000 crore – lying unclaimed in banks and insurance companies, EPFO and small savings schemes — would be utilised for providing the health insurance cover to the elderly, sources said.

Senior citizens are often dependent on their children or extended families for healthcare, they said, adding that the proposed scheme will help in meeting secondary and tertiary health care needs.

The quantum of insurance cover would be more than Rs 50,000 for person over 60 years.

Finance Minister Arun Jaitley will present the central budget for the next financial year on February 29.

The proposed scheme will be administered by the Department of Financial Services under the Finance Ministry.

The government proposes to link this scheme to bank accounts of beneficiaries to directly transfer the subsidised amount to the accounts. As per the proposal, the government would subsidise the premium for those below poverty line by up to 90 per cent through cash transfers to their bank accounts.

It’s not that the government will forfeit these unclaimed funds, sources said, adding that if claimants come forward they will be paid because the fund would be revolving in nature, sources said.

Health insurance scheme for senior citizen would be a logical extension of the ongoing low premium life insurance (Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana), general insurance (Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana) and pension plan (Atal Pension Yojana) of the government, sources said.

The Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana offers a renewable one-year life cover of Rs 2 lakh to all savings bank account holders in the age group of 18-50 years, covering death due to any reason, for a premium of Rs 330 per annum.

The Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana offers a renewable one-year accidental death-cum-disability cover of Rs 2 lakh for partial/permanent disability to all savings bank account holders in the age group of 18-70 years for a premium of Rs 12 per annum per subscriber.

The Atal Pension Yojana focuses on the unorganised sector and provide subscribers a fixed minimum pension of Rs 1,000, Rs 2,000, Rs 3,000, Rs 4,000 or Rs 5,000 per month, starting at the age of 60 years, depending on the contribution option exercised on entering at an age between 18 and 40 years.

PTI

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Press Information Bureau,
Government of India
Ministry of Railways

25-March, 2015

With a view to facilitating provisions of lower berths to senior citizens and female passengers, following facilities are available:-

(i) There is a provision in the computerised Passenger Reservation System (PRS) to allot lower berth automatically to male passengers above the age of 60 years and female passengers above the age of 45 years subject to availability of the same at the time of booking of ticket.

(ii) A combined reservation quota of two lower berths per coach is earmarked in Sleeper, AC 3Tier and AC 2Tier for following category of passengers when travelling alone:

a. Senior citizens;
b. Female passengers 45 years of age and above; and
c. Pregnant women.

(iii) Instructions are also there to assist senior citizens and physically handicapped persons who have been allotted middle/upper berths by allotting them vacant lower berths available in the train by the ticket checking staff on first come first served basis (after making necessary entry in the reservation chart).

(iv) A six berths compartment in Sleeper Class is also earmarked in long distance Mail/Express trains for female passengers.

(v) It has now been decided that:-

· The existing combined quota of two lower berths per coach in Sleeper class earmarked for senior citizens, female passengers 45 years of age and above and pregnant women (when travelling alone) may be enhanced to four lower berths per coach. There will, however, be no change in this quota being earmarked in 3A and 2A classes.

· The scope of instructions regarding assisting senior citizens and physically handicapped persons in getting lower berths in the train has been expanded to include pregnant women also. Hence, onboard ticket checking staff are now authorised to allot vacant lower berths available in the train to senior citizens, physically handicapped persons and pregnant women (who have been allotted middle/upper berths), on approach, on first come first served basis after making necessary entry in the chart.

· It has also been decided that the existing reservation quota of six berths for female passengers being earmarked in long distance Mail/Express trains should be in the middle of the coach and also to the extent feasible, the senior citizen quota should be earmarked in the middle of the coach.

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M F.No.-156493/2014/CGHS(HQ)/56-60
Directorate General of CGHS

Office of Addl. Director (HQ), CGHS
CGHS, Building , R. K. Puaram , Sector-12,
New Delhi -110022
Date-29.08.2014

OFFICE MEMORANDUM

Sub: Consultation for Senior Citizens of general Public at CGHS Wellness Centres on Pilot basis

With reference to the above mentioned subject the undersigned is directed to state that with a view to enhance inclusitivity of CGHS , it has been decided that CGHS shall provide free OPD consultation facilities to senior citizens(6O yr. and above) from general public from 1.30 PM. to 3.00 P.M. on all working days on a pilot basis at the following 20 wellness centres in Delhi with effect from the 1st September, 2014:

In continuation to the above memorandum following Wellness Centres under AYUSH have also been added to the list of above Wellness Centres; now there are 26 Wellness Centres 20 Allopathic and 6 under AYUSH. The terms and conditions will remain the same for both the categories of Wellness Centres.

The CGHS doctors are required to maintain records separately in respect of the services provided to the senior citizens of the general public . Following guidelines may be strictly followed:

1. The timings prescribed for OPD consultation at the above WC’s is 1.30 P.M. to 3.00 P.M.

2. There should be no harassment by asking for the age proof from the Senior Citizens.

3. The doctors are required to examine the patients clinically and advise accordingly.

4. The prescription is to be made on a separate prescription slip. Computerized CGHS prescription slip will not be used for this purpose.

5. Separate records of OPD Patients attending WC may be maintained in a register.

6. Every doctor shall maintain a separate register for convenience.

7. The matter may be given due publicity by displaying this order on the notice board of the Wellness Centre.

This issues with the approval of the competent authority.

(Dr. D.C. Joshi)
AD(HQ)
CGHS, Delhi

Source: www.msotransparent.nic
[http://msotransparent.nic.in/writereaddata/cghsdata/mainlinkfile/File756.pdf]

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