My
Observations on the Letter of JF of BSNL MTNL pensioners Associations
I happened to go
through a letter of the JF letter dated 18-5-2023 addressed to MOC Shri Ashwini
Vasishnav. My observations are based on facts and not based on anything
personal or political against any leader of any associations concerned.
The substance of
the letter of JF is
"
It has come to our notice that DOT has decided to send the financial
implications of 5 %, 10 % and 15 % fitment to DOE without taking a decision on
fitment.
Sir,
where and what basis is the need for DOT to send implications on 5,10 and 15 %
to DOE when we are irrefutably, based on hard facts, decisions of the Govt. at
the time of absorption that we shall be treated fully as par with CG employees
in all respects, including payment of pension..we have already fully met the
liability of the Govt in totality to give us fitment of 15 % according to 3rd
PRC.
Instead
of taking this logical and justified course of action, DOT in highly arbitrary,
unjustified, irrelevant and meaningless manner, is likely to send the proposal
of 5, 10 and 15 % to DOE thereby trying to escape its inescapable
responsibility”
Except this
substance, the language of the letter in most of the other paragraphs is of
demagogy style decorating the Minister as 'sacred God' and denigrating the
higher DOT officers as 'villains'. No thoughtful Minister will let down any of
his higher officer. This kind of appeasement of political boss , bypassing the officers
will take us no road to solution.
If that picture
given by the letter is right about DOT's sending DOE without taking any
decision at its end, then the need of the hour is to know the views of their side
- which warranted them to do so. If not satisfied by those views, then the
associations may air out their criticism about the concerned officers. This is
normal fair position for any organisation taking responsibility of lakhs of
Pensioners.
One can find in
the Note sheet circulated by many the
Proposal of DOT as quoted by DOPPW
" DOT has
proposed that in the absence of any benchmark for revision, the benefits of 3rd
PRC may be extended to the Pensioners by merging the basic and IDA/DR as on
1-1-2017 with NIL fitment factor, and placement in the revised pay scales of
3rd PRC. this would ensure that the pensioners are not placed below the minimum
of the 3rd PRC scales. Further as and when 3rd PRC is implemented in BSNL/MTNL
the same fitment factor may be extended to all the pensioners"
" DOT
proposed that for removing anomalies vis a vis post 1-1-2017 pensioners, the
pension of post 2016 pensioners shall be revised on the notional pay derived after
merging the basic pay with IDA as on 1-1-2017. Subsequent pay updations by way
of promotion, annual increments etc will be calculated on notional basis till
his retirement for post 2017 retirees. in this case PPO shall be prepared not
on the basis of last pay drawn but on the basis of notional pay so
derived..This will require amendment/ relaxation of rule 37(15)of CCS pension
rules 2021.."
DOPPW
comments on DOT's Proposals
para 15
DOT being the
administrative ministry for BSNL is in the best position to make a realistic
evaluation of all relevant aspects and to decide the fitment benefit to be
given to the pensioners for revision of their pension, In view of this and also
keeping in view of the fact that the proposal of DOT is likely to result in only
5 % additional financial implications( NIL fitment implication), DOPPW may not
have any objection to the proposal
para 16
....the question
of relaxation of rule 37 (15) may be considered as and when the need arises for
allowing the pension fixation based on notional pay
The Associations
should not miss in seeing the para 20 of
DOPPW
“DOT
is advised accordingly and requested to consult the department of expenditure
before finalizing their proposals in this respect.”
One may find
reason for the cause of irritation amongst the pensioners about so much delay,
even after passing of 75 months. But attributing ill on the other side doing
some negotiation, and doing work for pension revision but in their own style
with full red tapism, is unfair on the part of the other side believing the
path of negotiation.
I am just telling the Associations to see the para of
DOPPW ( para 20 ) they missed in their letter. Another point I found in that
letter missing is about their non seeking of any query or showing no interest
about NON Executive scales for Pension Revision for Pre 2017 pensioners and for
notional pension fixation of post 2017 pensioners. DOT has assured to notify
3rd PRC scales for Executives but for Non Executives?
I may be wrong in
my understanding and I am always ready to correct the same when pointed out.
Nothing in this is personal or political.
10 hrs
19-5-2023 - R .Pattabiraman
Comments
Post a Comment