Award of Incentive to the Government employees who have rendered 25 years of unblemished service — Orders issued — Extension of the same to State Public Sector Undertakings / Statutory Boards — Regarding.

Finance (BPE) Department,
Secretariat,
Chennai — 600 009

Letter No. 64466/Fin(BPE)/2012 dated 29.11.2012

From
Thiru. K.Shanmugam, I.A.S.,
Principal Secretary to Government

To
The Chief Executive Officers of all
State Public Sector Undertakings / Statutory Boards.

Sin Madam,
Sub: Award of Incentive to the Government employees who have rendered 25 years of unblemished service — Orders issued — Extension of the same to State Public Sector Undertakings / Statutory Boards — Regarding.

Ref: 1) G.O.Ms.No.390/Finance (Paycell) Dept dt.7.11.2012

Schemes for Welfare of Senior Citizens.

   The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment is not implementing any Centrally Sponsored Scheme for welfare of senior citizens. However, this Ministry is implementing a Central Sector Scheme of Integrated Programme for Older Persons through Non-Government Organizations, Panchayati Raj/Local Bodies, etc. to cater to the basic needs of destitute senior citizens viz. shelter, food, recreation, health care etc. As per the guidelines of the Ministry, State/UT Governments are required to carry out inspection of the projects being funded by the Ministry every year and send inspection report along with Grant-in-aid proposal of organization for release of grant. Further, grants to the NGOs are released on the basis of, inter alia, satisfactory inspection, audited accounts and utilization certificate for the grant released for the previous year.

Flexibility in Labour Laws.

   The World Bank in its World Development Report, 2013: Jobs has suggested that India needs to focus on jobs and labour reforms. The report emphasizes the need to stay within the efficiency “plateau” of labour laws where labour policies are not too stringent and allow the creation of more wage employment, especially in cities and in activities connected to global markets. With the working population increasing by 7 million people each year in India, accelerating urban development and increasing labour flexibility are key to creating jobs in more productive activities, thus sustaining growth and reducing poverty. So, for India, the desirable actions to promote growth would include creating towns, reforming Labour Laws to allow flexibility and improving Governance in general and specifically in areas that impede entrepreneurship.

   As regards the reaction of Government of India, it is stated that Ministry of Labour & Employment is mandated to create a work environment conducive to achieving a high rate of economic growth with due regard to protecting and safeguarding the interests of the working class in general and those constituting the vulnerable sections of the society in particular. Accordingly, the Ministry of Labour & Employment reviews/updates various Labour Laws from time to time which is a continuous process.

Caste Based Census.

   In pursuance to Government decision, a Socio-Economic and Caste Census (SECC) is being carried out throughout the country. The field work for the Socio-Economic and Caste Census (SECC) is being conducted by the respective State/UT Governments. The financial and technical support for this exercise is being provided by the Government of India. The Nodal Ministries in the Government of India are the Ministry of Rural Development and the Ministry of Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation. Technical support is being provided by the Ministry of Home Affairs (Office of Registrar General and Census Commissioner, India).

   The field data-collection in each Enumeration Block is being conducted by a team of 2 persons, an enumerator who is appointed by the State/UT Government and a Data Entry Operator who is handling the Tablet PC for data entry operation.

   The tasks related to hardware and software development and field data entry operations has been entrusted to a consortium of three Central Public Sector Undertakings, namely, the Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL), the Electronics Corporation of India Limited (ECIL) and the Indian Telephone Industries (ITI) Limited.

Ordnance Factory at Nalanda

   Action for setting up of ordnance factory at Nalanda in Bihar is underway.Commissioning of Nitro Cellulose Plant (NC) and erection of Sulphuric Acid Concentration / Nitric Acid Concentration Plant (SAC/NAC) are under progress. Ordnance Factory Board (OFB) is also planning for procurement of sub-plants for main Bi-Modular Charge System (BMCS) plant on its own.

   As per signed contract with M/s IMI, Israel, the target date for commissioning of the main Bi-Modular Charge System (BMCS) plant was September 2011. However, CBI investigations had started in May 2009 against M/s Israeli Military Industries (IMI) and others due to vendors` misconduct relating to illegal gratification.

Denial of Pension benefits to EX-Servicemen.

   Ex-Servicemen with service less than 15 years are not entitled to pension, as it is a mandatory requirement for a Personnel Below Officer Rank to render 15 years and for Commissioned Officers 20 years qualifying service to earn pension. Minimum qualifying service is an essential criterion for pension in the Government.

   The Short Service Commissioned Officers who are not pensioners are eligible for certain schemes of DGR like Training, Security Agencies and other self-employment schemes. Ex Defence personnel with more than 5 years of service are entitled to CSD canteen facilities available in units / establishment apart from being employed as Security Guards. Some grants out of RakshaMantri Discretionary Funds are also provided to non-pensioners upto the rank ofHavaldar.

Pension of Defence Personnel

   There has been no undue delay in notifying pension by the Pension Sanctioning Authorities and no abnormal delays have been reported in payment of pension by the Pension Disbursing Agencies i.e. Banks, Treasuries and Defence Pension Disbursing Offices.

   If the payment / pension has not been disbursed by the Bank on receipt of PPO, then as per the guidelines of Reserve Bank of India, interest @2% per month has to be disbursed on the amount due to the pensioners by the paying Bank, wherever delay occurred

Grievance of EX-Servicemen.

   In view of the persistent demand from the Ex-servicemen and their associations, Government constituted a committee headed by Cabinet Secretary in July, 2012 to look into the Pay & Pension related issues of Armed Forces personnel & ex-servicemen.

   The Committee submitted its report dated 17.08.2012 on pension issues, which has been accepted by the Government. The recommendations relate to OROP-Bridging the gap in pension, Enhancement of family pension, Dual Family Pension and Family pension to mentally / physically challenged son/daughter of armed forces personnel on marriage.