Compassionate Appointments : Relative merit points and revised procedure for selection - Ministry of Defence

Ministry of Defence

D(Lab)

Sub:- Scheme for compassionate appointment - Relative merit points and revised procedure for selection. 

The undersigned is directed to say that the Department of Personnel & Training under the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions is the nodal department for Government of India's Scheme for Compassionate Appointments. While considering requests for compassionate appointment, a balanced and objective assessment of financial condition of the families of the applicants has to be made taking into account the assets and liabilities and other relevant factors. The main object of the Scheme is to alleviate the family of the deceased government servant/member of the Armed Forces from indigence and help it get over the emergency. Accordingly, vide Ministry of Defence I.D. No.271/93/D(Lab) dated 2.11.93, Ministry of Defence had developed a 100-point weightage system containing various parameters/attributes to decide the most deserving cases amongst the large number of applicants. The weightage system was revised in 2001 vide Ministry of Defence ID No. 19(4)/824-99/1998-D(Lab) dated 9.3.2001. Consequent upon implementation of the 6th CPC Report, parameters of all these attributes were further revised in 2010 vide MoD note No.19(3)/2009/D(Lab) dated 22.1.2010 and 14.5.2010. Presently, the attributes on 100-point scale are – Quantum of Family Pension (20 points); Terminal Benefits (10 points); Monthly income of family from other sources (05 points); Movable/immovable property held by the family (10 points); No. of dependents (15 points), No. of unmarried daughters (15 points); No. of minor children (15 points) and Left over service (10 points). As per the practice, compassionate appointment is given to the highest score earner. 

2. Now, consequent. upon implementation of the 7th CPC pay structure, the financial parameters are required to be revised again. Certain organisations/ formations under Ministry of Defence have been requesting for revision of relative merit points and procedure for selecting the most indigent applicant(s) for compassionate appointment after death/medically boarding- out of the Government servant/member of the Armed Forces on whose income the family was wholly dependent. 

3. As per 7th CPC structure, the minimum pension stands revised from if 3,500 pm. (as per 6th CPC) to 1 9,000 p.m. which approximately comes out to be 2.57 times the old pension. The Govt. of India have also approved this factor of 2.57 for working oUt revised pay, based on which DCRG, Family Pension and Leave encashment are calculated. Accordingly, the monetary parameters/attributes such as Family Pension, Terminal Benefits, Monthly income of earning member(s) and income from property and latest market value of the Movable/Immovable property have been revised by the multiplying the fitment factor of 2.57 or so, for arriving at the present-day weightage points. However, other non-monetary parameters/attributes viz. No. of Dependents, No. of Unmarried Daughters, No. of Minor Children and Leftover Service have been kept unchanged. 

4. Accordingly, with the approval of the competent authority, various parameters on the loo-point scale of weightage system stand revised as under with immediate effect:- 

(a) Basic Family Pension 1 Monthly Amount received under National Pension System 

(20 points)

(b) Lump sum amount received by the family on death of Govt. servant (i.e. DCR Gratuity, GPF/PPF A/c balance, Leave Encashment, CGEGIS, LIC/PLI etc.) Lump sum Amount received under NPS:.(10 points)

(c) Annual income from movable/immovable property as well as Annual income earned by other member(s) of the family   :(05 points)

 (d) Movable/immovable property of the family (Latest Market Value) including Fixed Deposit/Bank balance etc. but excluding the lump sum amount received as mentioned in (b) above :  (10 points)

(e) No. of dependents  : (15 points)

 (f) No. of unmarried daughters : (15 points)

(g) No. of minor children :  (15 points)

(h) Left over service  : (10 points)

(Total 100 points) 

5. The revised guidelines will take place with immediate effect. However, cases already considered by the Boards of Officers constituted for considering requests for compassionate appointment as per the previous guidelines need not be re-opened.

6. However, for considering belated requests for compassionate appointment where the death/disablement of Govt. servant/member of Armed Forces took place long ago, weightage points towards ‘Terminal Benefits’ may be awarded in the following manner:- 

(a) For cases where death of the deceased Govt. servant occurred prior to 9.3.2001, parameters of ‘Terminal Benefits’ given in MoD ID note dated 2.11.1993 will be applicable;

(b) For cases where death of the deceased Govt. servant occurred on or after 9.3.2001 till 21.1.2010, parameters of ‘Terminal Benefits’ given in MoD ID note dated 9.3.2001 will be applicable; and

(c) For cases where death of the deceased Govt. servant occurred on or after 22.1.2010 till 31.12.2015, parameters of ‘Terminal Benefits’ given in MoD ID note dated 22.1.2010 will be applicable.

7. All the concerned are advised to strictly follow these weightage points and guidelines keeping in view the instructions issued by the DoP&T/MoD, from time to time for assessing comparative merit of the applicants for compassionate appointment.

(S S S SARMA)

Director (Estt. & CP), Govt. of India

(Source: Click to view/download pdf / Staffnews blog)

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ECHS: Advisory on Fixed Medical Allowance

Central Organisation ECHS

Adjutant General’s Branch, IHQ of MOD (Army)

Maude Lines, Delhi Cantt - 110 010

Tele : 011-25684847 

ASCON : 36832 

Fax : 011-25684946 

Email : diropsechs-mod@nicin 

B/49701-PR/AG/ECHS/2017                                                                                                           22nd Dec 2017

All Command HQ's

All Regional Centre’s ECHS

ADVISORY ON FIXED- MEDICAL ALLOWANCE

1. It is certified that ECHS Scheme is optional for all Pre April 2003 retirees and joining of Scheme is sole decision of ESM. As per lHQ of MoD ID No. 22(1)101/US(WE)/D(Res) dated 30 Dec 2002. FMA is forfeited once an ESM joins the Scheme. As per Govt orders. Ex-Servicemen Contributory Health Scheme is compulsory for all post Apr 2003 retirees.

2. It is intimated that release/cessation of pay and allowances from the pension of ESM is subject matter of Pension disbursing agencies and respective Bankers. 

3. Once ESM joines the Scheme, no provision exists for discontinuation of membership and issue of non membership certificate.

4. You are requested to accordingly take action vide Central Org ECHS letter No B/4970-11-SC/AG/ECHS dated- 02 Jul 2014 enclosed herewith. 

(BS Sisodia) 

Col

Dir (Ops & Coord)

for MD ECHS

Click Here to view/download PDF

(Source : Staffnews blog))

Defence minister Nirmala Sitharaman flew a sortie on the Sukhoi 30 and this is what she felt about the ride

Jan 17, 2018, 15:34 IST

HIGHLIGHTS

• The country's first woman defence minister traveled in the seat behind the pilot for the exhilarating ride
• This was the Union minister's second outing on a fighter aircraft
• Her first was on a MIG 29 aircraft at sea

The G-suit clad defence minister before embarking on her Sukhoi 30 ride (Photo: ANI)

NEW DELHI: Defence minister Nirmala Sitharaman today donned a flying suit and took to the skies in the Indian Air Force's frontline combat jet Sukhoi 30 MKI and she thought the experience was "eye-opening and memorable".

Sitharaman, clad in a G-suit, was speaking fresh from her sortie on the combat jet which took off from the air base in Jodhpur. A G-suit is gear worn by aviators and astronauts who are subject to high levels of acceleration force. The country's first woman defence minister traveled in the seat behind the pilot for the exhilarating ride.

"Very proud and thankful that I've gone through this experience because it actually tells me with what rigor, practice, what level of readiness and how quickly they (defence personnel) have to respond to situations. It was eye-opening and memorable," said Sitharaman.

Here's a picture of the flight taking off:

ANI

✔@ANI

#WATCH Jodhpur: Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman gives a thumbs-up as she takes off for a sortie in the Sukhoi-30 MKI.

2:11 PM - Jan 17, 2018

• 231 likes

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This was the Union minister's second outing on a fighter aircraft. Her first was on a MIG 29 aircraft at sea. The fighter jet was situated on board the INS Vikramaditya.

Both her exercises are part of the defence ministry's efforts to gauge and review the operational preparedness and combat capabilities of the armed forces.

(Source : TOI)

PCDA Circular No. 196 : Leveraging for maximizing Digital Life Certification

Office of the Principal Controller of Defence Accounts (Pension), Draupadi Ghat, Allahabad -211014

Circular No. 196

No. AT/Tech/30-XIX

Dated: 10.01.2018

To,

1. The Chief Accountant, RBI Deptt. of Govt. Bank Accounts, Central office C-7, Second Floor, Bandre- Kurla Complex, P B No. 8143, Bandre East Mumbai-400051
2. The Director of Treasuries of all state …….
3. The Manger CPPC of Public Sector Banks including IDBI
4. The CDA (PD) Meerut……….
5. The CDA-Chennai……….
6. The Nodal Officers (ICICI/ AXIS/HDFC Bank)….
7. The Pay & Accounts Officers…………
8. Military and Air Attache, Indian Embassy Kathmandu, Nepal.
9. The DPDO…………
10 The Post Master…………..

Sub: Leveraging for maximizing Digital Life Certification.

Since, Aadhaar Act has now mandated by Govt. of India and the pensioner is required to furnish Aadhaar was for using the Aadhaar information. Therefore, Pension Disbursing Authorities are advised to obtain the consent of all the defence pensioners/family pensioners drawing their pension/family pension from their offices as per the sample Template for Jeevan Pramaan / Digital Life Certificate enclosed herewith.

Encl: As above.                                                     S/d,

(Shubash Kumar)
DCDA (P)

Sample Consent Template for Jeevan Pramaan/Digital Life Certificate- 

I , the holder of Aadhaar number<>, hereby give my consent to < (Name and Address of PDA)> to use my Aadhaar Number and Fingerprint/Iris/OTP for annual identification and generation of Digital Life Certificate(DLC). I also give my consent for sharing my Aadhaar number and my DLC with my <(Name of PDA)> for e-KYC and authentication from UIDAI through Meit/NIC/NPCI/other ASA.

<(Name of PDA)>………. has informed me on behalf of Meit/NIC/NPCI/other ASA that during authentication, Meit/NIC/NPCI/other ASA shall submit my information to UIDAI and that my core biometrics (Fingerprint and/or Iris scans will not be stored/shared). I have also been informed that the information submitted to <(Name of PDA)>………. shall not be used for any purpose other than that mentioned above or as per any requirement of law.

(Signature)
Name:…..……………………………………
Rank/Designation:………………………
Personal No./Regimental No………..
PPO No.:……..……………………………..

Signed Copy

(Source- Govtempdiary blog)

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS Payment of Pension to Government Pensioners (Updated as on December 22, 2017)

Scheme for Payment of Pension to Central Government Pensioners by Authorised Banks

Pension schemes/rules are formulated by the respective Central Govt Ministries/Departments. A link to some of such schemes are available at www.rbi.org.in under Notifications, Master Circulars, Banker to Banks, Disbursement of Pension by Agency Banks. The Reserve Bank of India oversees disbursement of pension by its agency banks in respect of all Central Govt Departments. In the process, it receives queries/complaints from pensioners in regard to fixation, calculation and payment of pension including revision of pension/Dearness Relief, transfer of pension account from one bank branch to another, etc. The Reserve Bank has analysed the queries/complaints, and put them in the form of answers to Frequently Asked Questions here. It is hoped that these will cover most of the queries/ doubts in the minds of pensioners.

1. Can the pensioner draw his/ her pension through a bank branch? 

Yes. Even the Government employees earlier drawing their pension from a treasury or from a post office have the option to draw their pension from the authorized bank’s branches.

2. Who is the pension sanctioning authority? 

The Ministry/ Department /Office where the Government servant last served is the pension sanctioning authority. The pension fixation is made by such authority for the first time and thereafter the refixation of pay, if any, is done by the pension paying bank based on the instructions from the concerned Central/ State Government authority.

3. Is it necessary for the pensioner to open a separate pension account for the purpose of crediting his/ her pension in authorized bank? 

The pensioner is not required to open a separate pension account. The pension can be credited to his/her existing savings/ current account maintained with the branch selected by the pensioner.

4. Can a pensioner open a Joint Account with his/ her spouse? 

Yes. All pensioners of the Central Government Pensioners can open Joint Account with their spouses.

5. Whether Joint Account of the pensioner with spouse can be operated either by ”Former or Survivor” or “Either or Survivor”. 

Yes, the Joint Account of the pensioner with spouse can be operated either as ‘‘Former or Survivor” or “Either or Survivor”.

6. Whether a Joint Account can be continued for family pension after death of a pensioner? 

Yes, the banks should not insist on opening of a new account in case of Central Government pensioner if the spouse in whose favour an authorization for family pension exists in the Pension Payment Order (PPO) is the survivor and the family pension should be credited to the existing account without opening a new account by the family pensioner for this purpose.

7. What is the minimum balance required to be maintained in the pension account maintained with the banks? 

RBI has not stipulated any minimum balance to be maintained in pension accounts by the pensioners. Individual banks have framed their own rules in this regard.

8. Who sends the Pension Payment Orders (PPOs) to the authorized bank? 

The concerned pension sanctioning authorities in the Ministries /Departments/ forward the PPOs to bank branches wherefrom the pensioner desires to draw his/her pension. However, on implementation of CPPCs, pension sanctioning authorities have started sending PPOs to the CPPCs of the bank instead of bank branch.

9. When is the pension credited to the pensioner’s account by the paying branch? 

The disbursement of pension by the paying branch is spread over the last four working days of the month depending on the convenience of the pension paying branch except for the month of March when the pension is credited on or after the first working day of April.

10. Can a pensioner transfer his/ her pension account from one branch to another branch of the same bank or to the branch of another bank? 

Pensioner can transfer his/ her pension account from one branch to another branch of the same bank and from one authorized bank to another authorized bank within the same centre or at a different centre;

11. Whether the paying branch has to maintain a detailed record of pension payments made by it in the prescribed form? 

Yes. The pension paying branch/ CPPC is required to maintain a detailed record of pension payments made by it from time to time in the prescribed form duly authenticated by the authorized officer.

12. Can the pension paying bank recover the excess amount credited to the pensioner’s account? 

Yes. The paying branch before commencement of pension obtains an undertaking from the pensioner in the prescribed form for this purpose and, therefore, can recover the excess payment made to the pensioner’s account due to delay in receipt of any material information or due to any bonafide error. The bank also has the right to recover the excess amount of pension credited to the deceased pensioner’s account from his/her legal heirs/nominees.

13. Is it compulsory for a pensioner to furnish a Life Certificate/Non-Employment Certificate or Employment Certificate to the bank in the month of November? If so, how can this requirement be complied with? 

Yes. The pensioner is required to furnish a Life Certificate / Non – Employment Certificate or Employment Certificate to the bank in the prescribed format in the month of November every year to ensure continued receipt of pension without interruption. The pensioner can also present himself / herself at any branch of the pension paying bank for being identified for issue of life certificate. In case a pensioner is unable to obtain a Life Certificate on account of serious illness / incapacitation, bank official will visit his / her residence / hospital for the purpose of obtaining the life certificate. 

There have been complaints that life certificates submitted over the counter of pension paying branches are misplaced causing delay in payment of monthly pensions. In order to alleviate the hardships faced by pensioners, agency banks were instructed to mandatorily issue duly signed acknowledgements. They were also requested to consider entering the receipt of life certificates in their CBS and issue a system generated acknowledgement which would serve the twin purpose of acknowledgement as well as real time updation of records. 

A pensioner having Aadhar number can alternatively submit Jeevan Pramaan, a digital life certificate introduced by the Government of India. For obtaining this, he / she will have to enrol and biometrically authenticate himself / herself by downloading the application generating digital life certificate from the website jeevanpramaan.gov.in or other means described on the website. Once digital life certificates in the form of Jeevan Pramaan are fully implemented, pension paying branches will be able to obtain information about the digital life certificate of their pensioner customers by logging on to the website of Jeevan Pramaan and searching for the certificate or by downloading through their Core Banking Systems. Pensioners will also be able to forward to their bank branches by email/sms the relative link to their digital life certificate.

14. Who is responsible for deduction of Income Tax at source from pension payment? 

The pension paying bank is responsible for deduction of Income Tax from pension amount in accordance with the rates prescribed by the Income Tax authorities from time to time. While deducting such tax from the pension amount, the paying bank will also allow deductions on account of relief to the pensioner available under the Income Tax Act. The paying branch, in April each year, will also issue to the pensioner a certificate of tax deduction as per the prescribed form. If the pensioner is not liable to pay Income Tax, he should furnish to the pension paying branch, a declaration to that effect in the prescribed form.

15. Can old, sick physically handicapped pensioner who is unable to sign, open pension account or withdraw his/ her pension from the pension account? 

A pensioner, who is old, sick or lost both his/her hands and, therefore, cannot sign, can put any mark or thumb/ toe impression on the form for opening of pension account. While withdrawing the pension amount he/she can put thumb/toe impression on the cheque/withdrawal form and it should be identified by two independent witnesses known to the bank one of whom should be a bank official.

16. Can a pensioner withdraw pension from his/ her account when he/she is not able to sign or put thumb/toe impression or unable to be present in the bank? 

In such cases, a pensioner can put any mark or impression on the cheque/ withdrawal form and may indicate to the bank as to who would withdraw pension amount from the bank on the basis of cheque/withdrawal form. Such a person should be identified by two independent witnesses. The person who is actually drawing the money from the bank should be asked to furnish his/her specimen signature to the bank.

17. When does the family pension commence? 

The family pension commences after the death of the pensioner. The family pension is payable to the person indicated in the PPO on receipt of a death certificate and application from the nominee.

18. How the payment of Dearness Relief at revised rate is to be paid to the pensioners? 

Whenever any additional relief on pension/family pension is sanctioned by the Government, the same is intimated to the agency banks for issuing suitable instructions to their pension paying branches for payment of relief at the revised rates to the pensioners without any delay. The orders issued by Government Departments are also hosted on their websites and banks have been advised to watch the latest instructions on the website and act accordingly without waiting for any further orders from RBI in this regard.

19. Can pensioners get pension slips? 

Yes. As decided by the Central Government (Civil, Defence & Railways), pension paying banks have been advised to issue pension slips to the pensioners in prescribed form when the pension is paid for the first time and thereafter whenever there is a change in quantum of pension due to revision in basic pension or revision in Dearness Relief.

20. Which authority the pensioner should approach for redressal of his/ her grievances? 

Branch/CPPC is the point of referral for the pensioner. Pensioners can approach the nodal officer(s) designated by the respective banks who would be holding regular meetings at different locations in their jurisdiction on lines of Pension Adalat. They can also contact the bank through toll free dedicated pension line of the respective bank to seek information related to their queries/complaints. In case of deficiency in service offered by the bank, pensioner can approach the concerned Consumer Education and Protection Cell at respective Regional Office of RBI and Banking Ombudsman under whose jurisdiction the bank branch, where the pensioner holds the account, falls.

21. Where can a pensioner get information about the changes in the pension/Dearness Relief or any pension related issue?

 

The pensioner can visit the Official Website of the concerned Government Department as also Reserve Bank of India Website (www.rbi.org.in) to get the information about pension related issues.

22. Whether a pensioner is entitled for any compensation from the agency banks for delayed credit of pension/ arrears of pension? 

Yes. A Pensioner is entitled for compensation for delayed credit of pension/arrears thereof at the fixed rate of 8% per annum (since October 1, 2008) and the same would be credited to the pensioner’s account automatically by the bank on the same day when the bank affords delayed credit of such pension / arrears etc. without any claim from the pensioner.

These FAQs are issued by the Reserve Bank of India (The Reserve Bank) for information and general guidance purposes only which cannot be quoted in any legal proceeding and will have no legal purpose. It is not intended to be treated as legal advice or legal opinion. The Reserve Bank will not be held responsible for actions taken and/or decisions made on the basis of the same. For clarifications or interpretations, if any, readers are requested to be guided by the relevant circulars and notifications issued from time to time by the Reserve Bank and the Government.

(Source: www.rbi.org )