A complete reference blog for Indian Government Employees

Sunday, 13 March 2016

FIXED MEDICAL ALLOWANCE (FMA)

CGHS facility is meant for the serving Central Govt employees and pensioners residing in specified areas. Fixed Medical Allowance is granted to pensioners living in non-CGHS areas

Pensioners – Pension Policy – Central Civil Services – FAQ on Fixed Medical Allowance. CGHS facilities available for the Central Govt Employees.
Frequently asked questions on Fixed Medical Allowance (FMA) for Central Civil Services Pensioners.

FIXED MEDICAL ALLOWANCE (FMA)


1) What is the medical allowance for pensioners?

Fixed medical allowance @ Rs.500/- is granted to the pensioners residing in areas not covered by CGHS, if they are not using CGHS facility for OPD treatment from a CGHS dispensary in the nearest city. The pensioners living in cosmopolitan cities not covered by CGHS dispensary are also eligible on production of a certificate to that effect.

2) Are the Government Employees who have not applied for CGHS card in spite of residing in   areas covered by CGHS, also eligible for Fixed Medical Allowance?

The CGHS facility is meant for the serving Central Govt employees and pensioners residing in specified areas. Fixed Medical Allowance is granted to pensioners living in non-CGHS areas, for the CGHS facilities not available to them. The pensioners residing in CGHS areas cannot opt out of CGHS and avail any other medical facility (i.e. Fixed Medical Allowance). Therefore, such pensioners, if they do not choose to avail CGHS facility by depositing the required contributions, cannot be granted Fixed Medical Allowance in lieu of CGHS.

3) In the case of those Pensioners who are in receipt of two pensions viz., service pension and family pension OR military pension and another civil pension to which category of pension, medical allowance shall be allocated.

If any pensioner or family pensioner receives two pensions, only   single medical allowance is admissible, if he/she does not avail of the medical facilities provided by the respective organizations As regards, pensioner who gets both military pension and civil pension, if the pensioner avails of the medical facilities provided by one of the civil or military organisations, he is not entitled to medical allowance and if he does not avail medical facilities from any of the organizations, he is entitled to medical allowances for only one of the two pensions.

Download Central Civil Pensioners – Frequently Asked Questions issued by Pensioners’ Portal
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Ration Money Allowance should be exempt from Income Tax – 7th CPC Report

Ration Money Allowance should be exempt from Income Tax – 7th CPC Report

Ration Money Allowance (RMA) : Ration Money Allowance (RMA) is paid to all personnel of Defence forces and nongazetted personnel of CAPFs, Delhi Police, IB, A&N police and such personnel of Indian Reserve Battalions (IRBn) as are posted in Andaman and Nicobar Islands and don’t dine in the mess. The existing rate of this allowance is ?95.52 per day for Non-Gazetted personnel and Rs.79.93 per day for Gazetted personnel.

There are demands to extend RMA to gazetted officers of CAPFs in line with Defence forces. Demands have also been received from some CAPFs that RMA should be exempted from the purview of income tax.

Analysis and Recommendations : Ration Money Allowance is revised periodically by Ministry of Defence and Ministry of Home for their personnel. Hence, it is proposed that status quo be maintained regarding the rates of this allowance.

However, regarding the admissibility of RMA, PBORs of CAPFs and Indian Coast Guard should be eligible to draw RMA irrespective of the place of posting (except when in receipt of the Detachment Allowance). Presently, officers of SSB who are posted in field areas at altitudes of less than 7000 feet are not eligible for RMA. This restriction of 7000 feet should be removed.

Regarding income tax exemption of RMA, the Commission, as part of its general approach, has refrained from making recommendations involving income tax. However, looking into the unique service conditions of CAPFs, the Commission is of the view that since RMA is granted in lieu of free rations, it should be exempt from income tax.

It is further recommended that the provision of free rations and the grant of Ration Money Allowance to officers of Defence forces posted in peace areas should be withdrawn.
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Restoration of 1/3rd commuted portion of pension in respect of Government servants who had drawn lump sum payment on absorption in Central Public Sector Undertakings/ Central Autonomous Bodies

The full pension of the absorbees was notionally revised w.e.f. 01.01.2006 in accordance with the instructions contained in this Department O.M. No.38/37/08-P&PW(A) dated 01.09.2008. The payment of DR and additional pension to old pensioners is regulated on the basis of the notional full pension

Restoration of 1/3rd commuted portion of pension in respect of Government servants who had drawn lump sum payment on absorption in Central Public Sector Undertakings/ Central Autonomous Bodies

Ministry of Finance has issued an OM regarding Restoration of 1/3 commuted portion of pension of Government employees on absorption in PSU

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF FINANCE
DEPARTMENT OF EXPENDITURE
TIKROOT-II, BHIKAJI, CAMA PLACE
NEW DELHI – 110066
CPAO/IT & Tech/Revision Pre-2006/2015-16/1769
03.03.2016
Office Memorandum
Subject.-Restoration of 1/3rd commuted portion of pension in respect of Government servants who had drawn lump sum payment on absorption in Central Public Sector Undertakings/ Central Autonomous Bodies-Stepping up of notional full pension w.e.f. 01.01.2006 for the purpose of Dearness Relief and additional pension for old pensioners.

Attention is invited to DP&PW OM No. 4/38/2008-P&PW (D) dated 17.02.2016 (copy enclosed) on the captioned subject.

All Pr. CCAs/CCAs/CAs and Accountants General/ Administrators of UTs are requested to take up the revision of pensions of these pensioners on priority basis. A list containing Ministry/ PAO wise number of such cases is enclosed herewith Further, the list of PPO numbers of such cases are already provided on CPAO’s website for downloading by respective offices by using login and password provided by CPAO.
Apart from above cases, some more cases falling under above category may also come to the notice for revision of pension by Ministries/Deptts. In this context, Pay & Accounts Offices may check their records for any such additional cases requiring revision.

All Pr. CCAs/CCAs/CAs/ Administrators of UTs and Accountants General may issue necessary instructions to their PAOs dealing with revision of pensions to take necessary action for revision of such cases on priority basis.

This issues with the approval of Competent Authority.
(Vijay Singh)
Sr. Accounts Officer (IT Tech)
Ph. No.011-26166758
Download CPAO/IT & Tech/Revision Pre-2006/2015-16/1769 dated 03.03.2016
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Filling up one post of Regional Director, Southern Region in Staff Selection Commission

No. 4/2/2016-CS-I(D)
Govt. of India
Ministry of Personnel, P.G. and Pensions
(Department of Personnel & Training)
Khan Market, Lok Nayak Bhavan,
New Delhi, dated 11th March, 2016.
OFFICE MEMORANDUM

Subject: Filling up one post of Regional Director, Southern Region in Staff Selection Commission.

The undersigned is directed to say that Shri A. Murgaiyan, OS, CSS, Regional Director, SSC has completed his prescribed tenure in SSC under RTP and he will be transferred on selection of his substitute.

2. It is requested that DS/Dir./JS (in-situ) of CSS willing to be considered to the above said post may submit their application in the attached format latest by 28th March, 2016 through proper channel.

3. While forwarding the application, the vigilance status of the officer concerned may also be intimated. It should also be ensured that the data in respect of officer applying for the post is complete in all respects in the web based cadre management system at cscms.nic.in.

4. Substitute in place of selected officer will be provided after his/her relieving.
(Biswajit Banerjee)
Under Secretary to the Government of India
T elefax: 24629413
To
All Ministries/Departments of Govt. of India
Copy for information to:

Staff Selection Commission (Ms. Monika Rai, Under Secretary), Block No.12, CGO Complex, Lodhi Road, New Delhi-110003 w.r.t. their letter No. C-31014/1/2015-Estt.-1 dated 02.03.2016.

PROFORMA

1 Name CSL No.
2 Designation
3 Date of Birth
4 Present Ministry/Department
5 Personal Contact Number
6. Experience (including deputation details):
S.No. Grade Ministry/Department Period Subject dealt (in brief)
(a) AssistantiPA


(b) Section Officer


(c) Under Secy.


(d) Dy. Secy.


(e) Director


(f) JS(in-situ)



7. Reasons for seeking posting to Staff Selection Commission, Southern Region:


8. Data in respect of the undersigned in the web based cadre management system is complete in all respects.
Date: …………… .

(Signature of the applicant)
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Saturday, 12 March 2016

7th CPC Report: Equal Pay for Equal Work – Pay Matrix addresses these issues as well

Equal Pay for Equal Work – 7th CPC Report
7TH CPC REPORT EQUAL WORK EQUAL PAY

“Equal Pay for Equal Work  – Pay Matrix addresses these issues as well”

One recurrent theme in the representations of various associations relates to ‘equity’ or ‘Equal Pay for Equal Work.’

Ideally, the remuneration package should establish horizontal equity: employees should feel that their pay is comparable with the remuneration structure of similarly placed positions outside their organization. The employees should also feel that the pay structure shows linear progression pattern and thus the notion of vertical equity is also maintained.

The Pay Matrix addresses these issues as well. The Commission has designed the pay structure in such a manner that the pay progression recognises the importance of vertical relativities and also assigns a reasonable basis to such progression. This has been done by assigning a uniform fitment factor of 2.57.

The Commission feels that there is strong need to create a culture of performance in government – from establishing standards of performance, to measuring, and promoting people based on performance. To emphasize on the culture of performance, the Commission has recommended that all the non-performers in the system should be phased out after 20 years.

The Commission has recommended that Performance Related Pay should be introduced in the government and that all Bonus payments should necessarily be linked with productivity.

The various Central Services have contended that this edge given to the IAS and the IFS is iniquitous and violates the principle of ‘equal pay for equal work.’

They have pointed out that the Civil Services Examination (CSE) conducted by the UPSC is an examination that is common for recruitment to around 18 Group `A’ Services and that the choice of Service exercised by the candidates is based upon very many factors. It is not necessary that only the top-most go to the IAS. It has also been pointed out that officers of most of the Services are, in their early years, posted to small places and are subjected to many transfers. Therefore, the grant of the edge is seen as unfair.

Analysis and Recommendations : This Commission has studied the entire issue and deliberated in detail on the issue in the Chapter 7.2. The Chairman has sought not only to retain the two increment edge within the proposed pay matrix for the IAS and Indian Foreign Service but also extended it to the Indian Police Service and the Indian Forest Service. Shri Vivek Rae, Member, Seventh CPC is not in agreement with extension of the edge in pay to the IPS and IFoS. Dr.Rathin Roy, Member, Seventh CPC is not in agreement with the concept of an edge in pay.
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Madhya Pradesh Government Employees To Strike Over Pay Commission Dispute

Madhya Pradesh Government Employees To Strike Over Pay Commission Dispute

Bhopal: Five lakh Madhya Pradesh government employees across the state will go on strike today against the state government’s grade pay fixation offer, which was recommended by an independent pay review body.
Madhya Pradesh is the first state to revise pay scales of its employees in accordance with the pay commission recommendations asking for rationalization from pay commission, employees are pushing for grade fixation and interim relief instead.

“Talks on grade fixation have failed with principal secretary of GAD (general administration department). So we have decided to strike work today.

However, essential services will not be hampered,” State employees union general secretary Laxmi Narayan Sharma said.

The state has approximately 1.5 lakh employees in Rs 3200-3600 grade pay and employees demand that it should be amended equivalent to grade pay in Chhattisgarh or at the Centre.

“No state or Centre has such a grade pay, which is unacceptable to employees,” Sharma said.
Employees are demanding three scale grade on completion of 10 years, 20 years and 28 years of service, fixing salary hike on January 1 and July 1, regularization of daily wagers and ad hoc employees and simplification of appointments on compassionate grounds.

The state has 19 recognized and 16 non-recognized employee unions with over seven lakh employees as members.

Despite financial burden, the state government had announced recommendations of sixth pay commission, dearness allowance from 7% to 10% during 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2015.

Chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan had recently implemented some major recommendations of pay commission, including increase in house rent allowance, daily allowance, conveyance allowance, special allowance for employees posted in tribal scheduled areas, meals allowance, uniform allowance for those in police force, jail and forest departments.

Employees has never had it so good. The chief minister passed the order that A-Grade officers with basic pay of Rs 7,600 will be able to fly for out-of-state for official business. Employees with basic pay scale of Rs 6,600 and above are entitled to fly private operator flights within the state for official work.
Conveyance allowance was increased by 200% to 350% depending on pay scales since 2003. Daily allowance has also been increased between 25% and 208% in the same period, GAD minister Lal Singh Arya.

State revenue minister stated, “The government has already done too much for employees. They should not press for their illegitimate demands now.” With a debt of Rs1.80 lakh crore by the end of 2015-16 and financial burden to cope with farm crisis, drought, insurance, health and education schemes, the government, however, seems to be unwilling to negotiate with employees.

Inputs with TNN
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7th Pay Commission Latest News – RTI Reply reveals Pay Parity denial for Defence Personnel at par with IAS

Empowered Committee formed by Government is in the process of examining of 7th Commission Recommendations. After this negative reply by MOD, Defence Personnel might approach the committee to look in to the matter of pay parity

7th Pay Commission Latest News – RTI reply reveals Pay Parity denial for Defence Personnel at par with IAS, IPS and other Group A Civil Services in Central Government

At a time when Central government employees are waiting for the implementation of Seventh pay commission, a new revelation has come to light. According to reports, there is deep distrust between government and armed forces over the pay parity issue.

It is being said that three services had expressed dissatisfaction over some of the recommendations of the Pay commission and had requested Commission to make required changes. Later pay commission approached Defence Ministry with their demands.

Now under RTI query, it has been revealed that the Defence Ministry negated army officers pay parity with civilian counterparts in IAS, IPS and other allied services.

An Army officer was quoted by ET as saying, “We thought it was the pay commission that was selling us short, but this RTI actually revealed it was the Defence Ministry officials”. Ministry also gave reasons why their demands were not approved. “The basis of this demand i.e. merger of rank pay in basic pay was examined in a detailed matter by the Pranab Mukherjee committee report and the same was not accepted hence the case is not supported”, officer further said.

Ministry also not accepted Army men’s argument that civilian bureaucrat mustn’t be paid equal sum of amount in comparison to their defence counterparts. Defence Ministry said that both are different thing as their service conditions and the nature of job is quite different.

What are the grievances of armed forces? Army Officers say that if the Pay Commission is implemented in the present form, it will position them much below their civilian counterparts in terms of salaries, facilities and status.

One of the main grudge that the armed forces have is with regard to risk-hardship matrix. The officers say that a soldier posted in Siachen Glacier, which has the highest degree of both risk and hardship, gets an allowance of Rs 31,500 per month.

In contrast, a civilian bureaucrat from the All India Services draws 30 per cent of his salary as “hardship allowance” when posted anywhere outside the comfort zone.

Under the new scale, a senior IAS official posted in a city in northeast will draw much more as “hardship allowance”, compared to the Rs 31,500 per month drawn by military officers in Siachen.

Source: One India
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