Bharat Pensioners Samaj Submits Key Demands for 35th SCOVA Meeting
The Bharat Pensioners Samaj (BPS) has submitted a comprehensive agenda for consideration at the upcoming 35th Meeting of the Standing Committee of Voluntary Agencies (SCOVA), which will be chaired by the Hon’ble Minister of State (Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions). The BPS emphasizes that these key policy matters and agenda items are vital for addressing issues of financial security, dignity, and quality of life for millions of Central Government pensioners and their families across the nation.
Health and Dignity of Senior Pensioners
A significant portion of the agenda focuses on improving medical benefits and ensuring dignity in old age:
- Withdrawal of Second Option for Fixed Medical Allowance (FMA): BPS is requesting a one-time re-option for those pensioners, especially from the Trackman category, who inadvertently opted for FMA due to lack of awareness, which later prevented them from discontinuing FMA and resuming medical treatment through Railway hospitals.
- UMID Software Issues and ARPAN: A demand has been raised for the entitlement of ward in empanelled hospitals to be correctly updated on UMID cards upon pension revision (e.g., due to notional increments). The current issue causes denial of rightful medical facilities.
- Clarification on Referral-Free Limit for CGHS Diagnostic Tests: BPS seeks to revise the ‘Referral-Free Limit’ for diagnostic tests to ₹3,000, aligning it with the revised CGHS rates to ensure easy access to essential diagnostics.
- Parity and Extension of Cashless CGHS Facilities: The BPS seeks to eliminate the disparity where pensioners from autonomous bodies like ICAR, IARI, AIIMS, ICMR, CSIR, etc., who pay CGHS subscriptions identical to Central Government Pensioners, are denied full cashless CGHS benefits at empanelled hospitals.
- Rectification of CGHS Coverage Disparity: Rectification is sought for the discriminatory exclusion of pensioners and employees of autonomous bodies like Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan and Saraswati Central Sanskrit Pratishthan from CGHS, despite similar service conditions.
- Establishment of a CGHS Wellness Centre at Puri, Odisha: Recognizing the large number of Central Government employees and pensioners in Puri and the existing travel hardship to Bhubaneswar for treatment, BPS strongly recommends establishing a CGHS Wellness Centre at Puri.
Pension and Financial Security
Key demands concerning pension amounts and taxation:
- Grant of Additional Pension at 65, 70, and 75 Years of Age: Following the recommendation of the 110th Report of the Parliamentary Standing Committee, BPS urges the grant of additional pension at the ages of 65, 70, and 75 years (recommended at 5%, 10%, and 15% respectively), emphasizing the spirit of equity and compassion.
- Grant of 20% Additional Pension from the Beginning of the 80th Year: Citing judgments from the Guwahati High Court and Supreme Court, the BPS requests uniform implementation of the grant of 20% additional pension from the beginning of the 80th year, not after its completion, to prevent further injustice and litigation.
- Abolition of Double Taxation on Medical Reimbursements: BPS highlights the issue of medical reimbursements drawn from already-taxed pension income being taxed again under the Income Tax Act, 1961, which creates double taxation. The BPS urges the Ministry of Finance to exempt such reimbursements to prevent undue hardship.
Legal and Administrative Reforms
The agenda also includes demands for better administrative mechanisms and implementation of legal rulings:
- Implementation of Settled Legal Positions: Despite Apex Court judgments dismissing Government SLPs, the BPS stresses the need for uniform implementation of legal positions, such as the grant of Senior Time Scale to Senior-AOs on promotion to ACDA (especially applicable to litigations concerning Defence and Railway Accounts), to uphold the rule of law and reduce court burden.
- Implementation of Arbitration Award: BPS calls for the grant of full actual benefits as per the binding JCM Board of Arbitration Award dated 24.08.2004 (Organised Accounts Cadre), which recommended upgraded pay scales for Senior Auditors/Accountants (notionally from 01.01.1986 with actual benefit from 12.11.2001) but has been only partially implemented.
- Introduction of ‘Zonal Pension Adalats’: A proposal to establish Zonal Pension Adalats in each Zonal Railway as quasi-judicial forums to exclusively deal with pension grievances. These Adalats would be convened quarterly under the Principal Chief Personnel Officer (PCPO) with finance and legal representation to ensure timely, transparent, and expert resolution of disputes.
Also Read: Pensioners Seek Urgent Clarity on 8th Pay Commission’s Mandate: Bharat Pensioners Samaj
Social Inclusion
- Access to Community Centres for Pensioners: Pensioners should be granted nominal-fee access (twice a year) to community centres, institutes, and recreation clubs maintained by various Ministries, similar to the facilities available to serving employees in holiday homes and rest houses. This would promote social inclusion and dignity for senior citizens.
In concluding the submission, the Bharat Pensioners Samaj earnestly requested the Department of Pension & Pensioners’ Welfare to give these submissions sympathetic and urgent consideration to further strengthen the social security framework for senior citizens.
Source: Bharat Pensioners Samaj
