AUDITLEKHA Editor: Tapas Bose

May & June-22

Vol. I. No. I

SAMANVAY English & Hindi

Editorial

AGNIPATH: A PERNICIOUS SCHEME The Agnipath scheme which makes a radical departure in the nature of recruitment of soldiers to the armed forces, has met with widespread opposition from the youth and exservicemen of all categories. Despite this fierce opposition, the government has directed the armed forces to go ahead with the new recruitment programme. The objections to the scheme have been well spelt out by various retired senior officers of the armed forces and defence analysts. More importantly, it is the young men, of predominantly rural backgrounds, who have understood the pernicious character of the grandiloquently titled `Agniveers’. The arguments that it is ushering in a short-term contract system which will affect the quality and motivation of the soldiers; the inherent discrimination in the selection of only 25 per cent of those recruited for a four-year term for a longer permanent tenure and the uncertain future for those who end their tour of duty after four years are all valid and important criticisms of this flawed scheme. Faced with the virtual revolt of the youth who were aspiring to join the armed forces, the government has hastily made announcements about ensuring 10 % recruitment of Agniveers in the central armed police forces, defence production units and other installations. Various other government ministries have also made similar promises. However, none of this will cut ice with the disenchanted youth. They, along with a host of ex -servicemen, know the fate of such promises. Already there is a 10 per cent reservation in Group C and 20 per cent in Group D posts in Central government departments for ex-servicemen. According to the data with the directorate general resettlement under the department of ex-servicemen welfare, ministry of defence, these quotas are hardly filled. Ex-servicemen constitute only 1.29 per cent of the overall strength in Group C and 2.66 per cent in Group D across 34 of the 77 departments. The way the corporate sector is hailing the scheme, it appears that the army has now become the training school for jobs in big industry. However, the hard reality is, as thousands of ex-servicemen and retired officers know, the recruitment of ex-servicemen by corporates is meagre. The reason for the support of the corporate sector for the Agnipath scheme lies elsewhere. With the defence production industry open to the private sector, it is the big industrial houses are getting into defence production projects. The restructuring of the armed forces with contractual soldiers and the availability of a large pool of demobilized soldiers will serve their interests in future. If the corporates have a stake in the restructuring of the armed forces and the privatization of defence enterprises. All the Central Trade Unions and the Confederation of Central Government Employees, Unions and Associations opposed the scheme and requested to the present Central Government to withdraw the contractual scheme of appointment in defence sector. We will fight till withdrawn the scheme by the Government of India.

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ALS/Page-2 CONFEDERATION NEWS CONFEDERATION OF CENTRAL GOVT. EMPLOYEES & WORKERS 1ST Floor, North Avenue PO Building, New Delhi-110001. No. Confd. National Executive Notice

Dated 31.05.2022 NOTICE

Notice is hereby given for a meeting of the National Executive of the Confederation of Central Government Employees and Workers on 14.06.2022 at 11 A.M. at 1st Floor North Avenue Post Office Building, New Delhi. The agenda for discussion is under: AGENDA 1. Reporting of the outcome of discussion with the leaders of AISGEF for organising a strike action on certain identified common demands, prominent of which is the abolition of NPS. 2. CGHS related problems. Outcome of discussion with the DG CGHS. Joint action with NCCPA. 3. Steps to be taken for realization of the arrears of DA/DR held over by the Government during Covid days. 4. Preliminary steps to be taken for the setting up of the next CPC for wage revision. 5. Organisation: Timely convening of the conferences of the State Committees, affiliates and the Confederation CHQ. 6. Finance: Discussion on the report of the Secretary Finance. 7. Any other matter with the permission of the Chair. Sd/(R.N.Parashar) Secretary General ********

PRESS NEWS Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions

UNION MINISTER DR JITENDRA SINGH SAYS, FAMILY PENSION RULES RELAXED FOR MISSING CENTRAL GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES THE MINISTER SAYS, MOVE IS GOING TO PROVIDE MAJOR RELIEF FOR EMPLOYEES SERVING IN MILITANCY AFFECTED AREAS LIKE J&K, NORTHEAST AS WELL AS NAXAL PRONE POCKETS OF THE COUNTRY Contd….3

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In a major relief, particularly for government employees serving in militancy affected areas like Jammu & Kashmir, North-East as well as Naxal prone pockets, Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) Ministry of Science and Technology; Minister of State (Independent Charge) Ministry of Earth Science; MoS of Prime Minister's Office and Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr Jitendra Singh today announced that the Government has relaxed family pension rules for missing central government employees. According to the earlier rule, the next of the kin of an employee would not receive the family pension, if he went missing and the family pension would not be paid till the missing Government was declared dead in accordance with the law or till seven years had passed since he went missing. As per new the OM, in all cases where a Government servant covered by NPS goes missing during service, the benefits of family pension will be immediately paid to the family of the missing Government servant and in case he re-appears and resumes service, the amount paid as family pension during the intervening time of his missing period can be accordingly deducted from his salary. Referring to the new OM of Department of Pension in this regard, the Minister said, this is going to provide huge relief particularly in those regions where instances of government employees going missing are reported more frequently. He said, cases of abduction of central government employees working in violence-prone areas have come to the fore and therefore to instill confidence and to protect them and their family interests, the changes in the pension rules were brought about. Minister informed that if a Government servant covered by the CCS (Pension) Rules, 1972 goes missing, the benefits of arrears of salary, family pension, retirement gratuity, leave encashment, etc. are paid to the families of the missing employees in accordance with the instructions issued dated 25.06.2013. He said, the matter has been examined in consultation with Department of Personnel and Training, Department of Financial Services and Department of Expenditure and considering the hardship faced by the family of such Government servants, it has been decided to extend the benefits of this Department’s OM No. 1/17/2011-P&PW (E) dated 25.06.2013 to the families of Government servants covered by NPS who go missing during service. The other provisions of the OM states that in all cases where a Government servant covered by NPS goes missing during service, the benefits of family pension may be paid to the family if the missing Government servant had exercised option for benefits under CCS (Pension) Rules on death or discharge from service on disability/invalidation or the benefits under CCS (Pension) Rules is the default option under the Central Civil Services (Implementation of National Pension System) Rules, 2021. The benefit of arrears of salary, retirement gratuity and leave encashment shall be paid to the family in all cases where a Government employee covered under NPS goes missing during service, irrespective whether the employee had exercised option for benefits under CCS (Pension) Rules or under the Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (Exits and Withdrawals under National Pension System) Regulations, 2015. Payment of the benefits to the family of the missing Government servant would, however, be subject to the conditions and procedural requirements, as mentioned in this Department’s OM dated 25.06.2013. In the case of a government servant covered under NPS goes missing during service and his family is given family pension under CCS (Pension) Rules or CCS (EOP) Rules, the Permanent Retirement Account under National Pension System would remain suspended till the Government servant re-appears or till he is declared dead in accordance with the law. In the event of re-appearance of Government servant, the NPS account would be reactivated and the same account under NPS will become operative. Recoveries of payments Contd…..4

ALS/Page-4 made to the family of missing NPS employee would be made from the indemner as provided under this Department’s OM dated 25.06.2013. However, in the event of Government servant being declared dead at any time or after seven years, Government contribution and returns thereon from the accumulated pension corpus under NPS would be transferred to the Government account and remaining corpus comprising of employees’ contribution and returns thereon would be paid to the nominee or legal heir as the case may be in accordance with CCS(Implementation of NPS) Rules, 2021 and family will keep getting benefits as per CCS (Pension) Rules or CCS(EOP) Rules, as the case may be. Dr Jitendra Singh reminded that ever since Narendra Modi came to power in 2014, the Department of Pension & Pensioners’ Welfare had introduced a number of revolutionary reforms including relaxation in the provision of Family Pension for divorced daughters and Divyangs, introduction of Face Recognition Technology through mobile app for ease in submitting Life Certificate by elderly pensioners, Electronic Pension Pay Order, assistance from Postal Department to facilitate pension process etc. He said, moreover steps like extension of Family Pension to differently abled child of a deceased Government employee/Pensioner or giving a major hike in the Family Pension emoluments for Divyang children of a deceased government servant/pensioner are not only pension reforms but these are social reforms having wide implications. SNC/RR (Release ID: 1827676)

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GOVERNMENT ORDER Copy of Government Order No.1/1/(45)/2022-P&PW (E) dated 23.05.2022, Ministry of Personnel & Pension & Public Grievances, Department of Pension & Pensioner Welfare (Desk-E), New Delhi. OFFICE MEMORANDUM Subject: Eligibility for two family pensions-clarification regarding. The undersigned is directed to state that representations/references have been received in this Department seeking clarification in regard to entitlement of a member if family for family pension from two different sources in respect of the same Government servant/pensioner, e.g. in respect of military service and civil services or in respect of service rendered in autonomous body and civil Government Department. 2. Before amendment of the erstwhile Central Civil Services (Pension) Rules, 1972 on 27th December, 2012, sub rule 13-A of Rule 54 of those Rules prohibited grant of family pension from the civil side to a re-employee’s military pensioner, if the military pensioner had opted for family pension for the military service rendered by him. Similarly, sub- rule 13-B of Rule 54 of those Rule prohibited grant of two-family pensions to a person who was already in receipt of Family Pension or was eligible therefor under any other rules of the Central Government or a State Government and / or Public Sector Undertaking/Autonomous Body/Local Fund under the Central or State Government. Sub-rule 13-A and 13-B were omitted vide notification No.1/33/2012-P&PW (E) dated 27th December, 2012 (effective from 24th September, 2012). Thus, the restriction on entitlement of family pension from two different sources in respect of Contd….5

ALS/ Page-5 the same Government servant/pensioner in such cases was removed by the aforesaid amendment notification. This position was also clarified vide this Department’s OM No.1/33/2012-P&PW (E) dated 16th January, 2013. 3. The Central Civil Services (Pension) Rules, 2021have been notified on 20th December, 2021 replacing the erstwhile Central Civil Services (Pension) Rules, 1972 Rule 50 of the Central Civil Services (Pension) Rules, 2021 deals with family pension. This rule also does not provide for any restriction on grant of family pension from two different sources in respect of the same Government servant/pensioner. 4. In view of the above, it is clarified that there is no restriction in the Central Civil Services (Pension) Rules, 2021 on grant of family pension to a family members from two different sources in respect of the same Government servant/pensioner, in cases referred to in para 2 above. 5.However, entitlement of two family pensions to a member of the family consequent on death of two different Government servants/pensioners shall continue to be subject to the restriction in sub-rule 12 (a) and sub-rule 13 of Central Civil Services (Pension) Rules, 2021. (Sanjoy Shankar) Deputy Secretary to the Govt. of India. ******** Copy of O.M. No.1/3(2)/2008-E.II (B) dated the 7th April, 2022 from Ministry of Finance Department of Expenditure New Delhi. Subject:- Revised rates of Dearness Allowance to the employees of Central Government and Central Autonomous Bodies continuing to draw their pay in the pre-revised Pay Scale/Grade Pay as per 5th Central Pay Commission from 01.01.2022. The undersigned is directed to refer to this Department’s O.M. No.1/3(2)/2008-E.II dated 1st November, 2021 on the subject mentioned above and to say that the rate of Dearness Allowance (DA) in respect of employees of Central Government and Central Autonomous Bodies who are continuing to draw their pay in the pre-revised Pay Scale/Grade Pay as per 5th Central Pay Commission, shall be enhanced from the existing 368% to 381% w.e.f. 01.01.2022. 2. The provisions contained in paras 3, 4 and 5 of this Ministry’s O.M.No.1(13)/97-E.II (B) dated 3rd October, 1997 shall continue to be applicable while regulating Dearness Allowance under these orders. 3.The contents of this Office Memorandum may also be brought to the notice lf all organizations under the administrative control of the Ministries/Departments which have adopted the Central Government scales of pay. ******** Contd…..6

ALS/Page-6 Copy of O.M. No.1/3(2)/2008-E.II (B) dated the 7th April, 2022 from Ministry of Finance Department of Expenditure, New Delhi. Subject:- Revised rates of Dearness Allowance to the employees of Central Government and Central Autonomous Bodies continuing to draw their pay in the pre-revised Pay Scale/Grade Pay as per 6th Central Pay Commission from 01.01.2022. The undersigned is directed to refer to this Department’s O.M. No.1/3(2)/2008-E.II (B) dated 1st November, 2021 on the subject mentioned above and to say that the rate of Dearness Allowance (DA) in respect of employees of Central Government and Central Autonomous Bodies who are continuing to draw their pay in the pre-revised Pay Scale/Grade Pay as per 6th Central Pay Commission, shall be enhanced from the existing rate of 196% to 203% w.e.f. 01.01.2022. 2.The provisions contained in paras 3, 4 and 5 of this Ministry’s O.M. No.1(3)/2008-E.II (B) dated 29th August 2008 shall continue to be applicable while regulating Dearness Allowance under these orders. 3.The contents of this Office Memorandum may also be brought to the notice of all organisations under the administrative control of the Ministries/Departments which have adopted the Central Government scales of pay. ******* Copy of letter No.1/2(40)/2022-P&PW (E)) dated April 6, 2022 from Ministry of Personnel, P.G. & Pensions Department of Pension & Pensioners’ Welfare. Subject:- Nomination by pensioners under the Payment of Arrears of Pension (Nomination) Rules, 1983 for payment of life-time arrears. In continuation of DoP&PW Letter of even number dated 31.03.2022, the undersigned is directed to copy of Notification No.GSR-235 dated 28.03.2014 wherein Form-A has been prescribed for Nomination by a pensioner for life time arrears. This Form is to be used for submission of nomination to Head of Office as well as Bank. Therefore, Form-B which was being used for submission of nomination/modification to the Bank before 28.03.2014 no longer exists. 2.References/representations have been received in this Department mentioning that Pension of deceased pensioners is not often revised based on recommendation of Pay Commission etc and arrears of pension in respect of deceased pensioner are not paid by the Pension Disbursing Bank to the nominee. It is clarified that revised pension payment authority is required to be issued in respect of all pensioners/family pensioners who were alive as on 01.01.2016 and lifetime arrears is required to be paid to the families of such pensioners family pensioners who died after 01.01.2016. 3. Payment of Arrears in respect of deceased pensioner, in whose case; a valid nomination exists with the Pension Disbursing Authority/Bank. In this connection, attention is invited to para 21.5.1.of the new Scheme Booklet, (5 Edition. July 2021) which is reproduced below: Contd…7

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21.5.1- Cases where valid nomination exists: CPPC will enter the date of death of the pensioner in the disburser’s portion of the PPO and will retain this information on its database with suitable audit trail and in the register maintained in their software in the form as Annexure-IX. An entry for date of death of the pensioner will be made in pensioner’s half by PAHB. The pensioner’s half of PPO will then be returned to the nominee if family pension stands authorised through the same PPO, otherwise it will be returned by CPPC to CPAO along with the disburser’s half. The CPAO will up-date its record and transmit both halves of the PPO after keeping necessary note in their records to the PAO/AG who had issued the PPO for similar action and record. For payment of arrears to the nominee, he/she will be asked to apply for the same to the PAHB along with the pensioner’s half of the PPO showing the period of arrears. The PAHB, after verifying the fact that the payment is actually due to the deceased pensioner, and also the particulars of the nominee as given in the nomination, will intimate the CPPC along with pensioners portion of PPO for making payment by crediting the account of the claimant. The provision of this rule will apply mutatis mutandis to cases where the family pension ceases to be payable either due to death of the family pensioner, his/her remarriage/marriage or on the pensioner attaining the maximum age prescribed in the rules: 21.5.2-Cases where valid nomination does not exist: In the absence of any nomination made by the pensioner, the arrear of his her pension are paid as per procedure prescribed in the Government of India, Ministry of PPG & Pensions, Department of Pension & Pensioners Welfare New Delhi OM No.1/22/2012 P&PW (E) dated 10.07.2013. The above instructions may be circulated widely for strict compliance by all concerned. This issues with the approval of Competent Authority. ****** Copy of O.M. No.57/03/2020-P&PW (B) dated the 28th April 2022 from Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pension Department of Pension and Pensioners’ Welfare New Delhi. Subject:- Provision for extending benefits under CCS (Pension) Rules or CCS (EPO) Rules to family of missing Central Government employees covered under National Pension System (NPS) reg. The undersigned is directed to say that the New Pension Scheme (now called as National Pension System) (NPS) was introduced vide Ministry of Finance, Department of Economic Affairs’ notification No.5/7/2003-ECB&PR dated 22.12.2003. It was provided that NPS would be mandatory for all new recruits to the Central Government service from 1st of January 2004 except the Armed Forces. Simultaneously, the Central Civil Services (Pension) Rules, 1972 and the Central Civil Services (Extraordinary Pension) Rules were amended to provide that those rules would be applicable to the Government servants appointed on or before 31.12.2003. Contd….8

ALS/ Page-8 2.However, considering the hardship being faced by the Government servants appointed on or after 01.01.2004, benefits of CCS (Pension) Rules, 1972 or CCS (Extraordinary Pension) Rules, as the case may be, were extended on provisional basis, in the event of death of Government servant covered by NPS or his discharge from service on invalidation disablement, vide this Department’s OM No.38/41/06/P&PW (A) dated 05.05.2009. 3. Further, the Central Civil Services (Implementation of National Pension System) Rules, 2021 have been notified on 31.03.2021 inter-alia providing Government servants covered under these rules for exercise of options during their service for availing benefits of CCS (Pension) Rules, 1972 or CCS (Extraordinary Pension) Rules as the case may be, or benefits from their Accumulated Pension Corpus under National Pension System, in the event of death of the Government servant covered under NPS or his discharge from service on account of invalidation or disablement. 4. If a Government Servant covered by the CCS (Pension) Rules, 1972 goes missing, the benefits of arrears of salary, family pension, retirement gratuity, leave encashment, etc. are paid to the families of the missing employees in accordance with the instructions issued vide this Department’s OM No.1/17/2011-P&PW (E) dated 25.06.2013. References have been received from Ministries/ Departments for extending the provisions of the OM dated 25.06.2013 to Government servants covered under NPS, who go missing during service and whose whereabouts are not known. 5. The matter has been examined in consultation with Department of Personnel and Training, Department of Financial Services and Department of Expenditure. Considering the hardship faced by the family of such Government servants, it has been decided to extend the benefits of this Department’s OM No.1/17/2011-P&PW (E) dated 25.06.2013 to the families of Government servants covered by NPS who go missing during service. Accordingly, in all cases where a Government Servant covered by NPS goes missing during service, the benefits of family pension may be paid to the family if the missing Government servant had exercised option for benefit under CCS (Pension) Rules on death or discharge from service on disability/invalidation or the benefits under CCS (Pension) Rules is the default option under the Central Civil Services (Implementation of National Pension System) Rules, 2021. The benefit of arrears of salary, retirement gratuity and leave encashment shall be paid to the family in all cases where a Government employee covered under NPS goes missing during service, irrespective whether the employee had exercised option for benefits under CCS (Pension) Rules or under the Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (Exits and Withdrawals under National Pension System) Regulations, 2015. Payment of the benefits to the family of the missing Government servant would however, be subject to the conditions and procedural requirements, as mentioned in this Department’s OM dated 25.06.2013. 6. In the case of a Government Servant covered under NPS goes missing during service and his family is giving family pension under CCS (Pension) Rules or CCS (EOP) Rules, the Permanent Retirement Account under National Pension System would remain suspended till the Government servant re-appears or till he is declared dead in accordance with the law. In the event of re-appearance of Government servant, the NPS account would be re-activated and the same account under NPS will become operative. Recoveries of payments made to the family of missing NPS employee would be made from the indemner as provided under this Contd….9

ALS/ Page-9 Department’s OM dated 25.06.2013. However, in the event of Government servant declared dead at any time or after seven years, Government contribution and returns thereon from the accumulated pension corpus under NPS would be transferred to the Government account and remaining corpus comprising of employees’ contribution and returns thereon would be paid to the nominee or legal heir as the case may be in accordance with CCS (Implementation of NPS) Rules, 2021 and family will keep getting benefits as per CCS (Pension) Rules or CCS (EOP) Rules, as the case may be. 7. The claim by the Government servant or the family for getting benefits under CCS (Pension) Rules, or CCS (EOP) Rules as the case may be, would be submitted in the same manner as prescribed under the relevant rules and DoPPW OM dated 25.06.2012. The process for grant of benefits under CCS (Pension) Rules, or CCS (EOP) Rules would be initiated in accordance with the option exercised by the Government servant or default option prescribed under CCS (Implementation of NPS) Rules, 2021. Necessary action for freezing of account under NPS would be started simultaneously and the process of grant of benefits under CCS (Pension) Rules or CCS (EOP) Rules, as the case may be, should not be deferred till the process of freezing of account under NPS is completed. 8. These orders shall take effect from 01.01.2004. Interest on delayed payment of retirement gratuity, as provided under the CCS (Pension) Rules, would be paid at the rates and manner applicable for Public Provident Funds deposits from time to time. However, no interest would be paid for any amount due before issue of these instructions. 9. In all those cases where on re-appearing of Government servant whose whereabouts were not known, and where benefits under DoPPW OM dated 25.06.2013 have been paid, the quantum of family pension awarded exceeds the recoverable emoluments, the matter needs to be settled in consultation with Department of Pension and Pensioners’ Welfare and Department of Expenditure. 10. All Ministries/Departments are requested to bring the contents of these orders to the notice of Controller of Accounts/ Pay and Accounts Officers and Attached/ Subordinate Offices under them. 11. This issue in consultation with of Ministry of Finance, Department of Expenditure vide ID Note No.1(11)/EV/2021 dated 29.03.2022 and in consultation with Controller General of Accounts vide their L.D. Note No. TA-3-104/5/2019-TA-III/CS-557/235 dated 15.03.2021. 12. In so far as the persons serving in the Indian Audit & Accounts Department are concerned, these orders are issued in consultation with Comptroller and Auditor General of India, as mandated under Article 148(5) of the Constitution of India.

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INCOME AND EXPENDITURE FOR THE MONTH OF FEBRUARY-2022 To Opening Balance

Expenditure By Office Maintenance Rs.2000.00 Bank Rs.434954.88 By Tell. 2881727 Rs. 400.00 Cash Rs. 3644.00 Rs.438598.88 By Electricity Charge Rs. 658.00 To HQr. Quota Rs.154396.00 By Conveyance Charge Rs. 55.00 To Special Fund Rs. 25000.00 By Repair & Maintenance Rs.1000.00 -------------------- By Legal Expenses Rs.10000.00 Rs.617994.88 -----------------Total Rs. 14113.00 Closing Balance Cash at Bank Rs. 558692.88 Cash in Hand Rs. 45189.00 Grand Total Rs. 617994.88 Grand Total Rs. 617994.88

INCOME AND EXPENDITURE FOR THE MONTH OF MARCH-2022 To Opening Balance Bank Rs.558692.88 Cash Rs. 45189.00 To HQr. Quota To Special Fund To Bank Interest

Rs.603881.88 Rs.349250.00 Rs. 10000.00 Rs. 4003.00 -------------------Rs. 967134.88

Grand Total Rs.967134.88

Expenditure By Salary Staff 2 months Rs.110086.00 By Office Maintenance Rs. 2000.00 By Tell. 2881727 Rs. 400.00 By Electricity Charge Rs. 646.00 By Conveyance Charge Rs. 45.00 By Repair & Maintenance Rs. 200.00 By Bank Charges Rs. 30.00 -----------------Total Rs.113407.00 Closing Balance Cash at Bank Rs. 843269.88 Cash in Hand Rs. 10458.00 Grand Total Rs.967134.88

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कार्मिक, लोक र्िकायत एवं पेंिन मंत्रालय

केंद्रीय मंत्री डॉक्टर र्ितेंद्र र् ंह ने कहा : केंद्र रकार के लापता कमिचाररयों के र्लए पाररवाररक पेंिन र्नयमों में छूट दी गई है केंद्रीय मंत्री ने कहा : इ कदम े िम्मूकश्मीर और पूवोत्तर केआतंकवाद प्रभार्वत क्षेत्रों के ाथ ाथ दे ि के नक्सल प्रभार्वत इलाकों में काम करने वाले कमिचाररयों को बडी राहत र्मलेगी Posted On: 23 MAY 2022 5:51PM by PIB Delhi

केंद्रीय राज्य मंत्री (स्वतंत्र प्रभार) र्वज्ञान और प्रौद्योर्गकी मंत्रालय; राज्य मंत्री (स्वतंत्र प्रभार) पृथ्वी र्वज्ञान मंत्रालय; प्रधानमंत्री कायािलय और कार्मिक, लोक र्िकायत और पेंिन, परमाणु ऊिाि और अंतररक्ष मंत्रालय में राज्य मंत्री डॉक्टर र्ितेंद्र र् ंह ने रकारी कमिचाररयों को एक बडी राहत दे ते हुए, र्विेष रूप े िम्मू-कश्मीर और पूवोत्तर के ाथ- ाथ नक्सल प्रभार्वत क्षेत्रों में ेवारत रकारी कमिचाररयों के र्लए, आि घोषणा की र्क रकार ने केंद्र रकार के लापता कमिचाररयों के र्लए पररवार पेंिन र्नयमों में छूट दी है। पहले के र्नयम के अनु ार, र्क ी कमिचारी के लापता होने पर उ के पररिनों को पाररवाररक पेंिन नही ं र्मलती थी और िब तक लापता व्यक्ति को रकार के कानून के अनु ार मृत घोर्षत नही ं कर र्दया िाता या िब े वह लापता हुआ है तब े ात ाल हो िाने तक पाररवाररक पेंिन का भुगतान नही ं र्कया िाएगा। नए कायािलय ज्ञापन के अनु ार, उन भी मामलों में िहां एनपीए योिना के अंतगित िार्मल र्कया गया एक रकारी कमिचारी ेवा के दौरान लापता हो िाता है, तो पाररवाररक पेंिन का लाभ लापता रकारी कमिचारी के पररवार को तुरंत भुगतान र्कया िाएगा और यर्द वह र्िर े उपक्तथथत होता है तथा ेवा र्िर े िुरू करता है, तो उ के लापता होने की अवर्ध के बीच के मय के दौरान पररवार पेंिन के रूप में भुगतान की गई रार्ि को तदनु ार उ के वेतन े काटा िा कता है। इ ंबंध में पेंिन र्वभाग के नए कायािलय ज्ञापन का उल्लेख करते हुए केन्द्रीय मंत्री ने कहा र्क इ े र्विेष रूप े उन क्षेत्रों में बडी राहत र्मलेगी िहां रकारी कमिचाररयों के लापता होने की घटनाएं अर्धक दे खने में आती हैं। उन्ोंने कहा र्क र्हं ा प्रभार्वत क्षेत्रों में काम कर रहे केंद्र रकार के कमिचाररयों के अपहरण के मामले ामने आए हैं और इ र्लए उनमें र्वश्वा िगाने तथा उनके और उनके पररवार के र्हतों की रक्षा के र्लए पेंिन र्नयमों में बदलाव र्कया गया है। Contd........12

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केंद्रीय मंत्री महोदय ने बताया र्क ी ीए (पेंिन) र्नयम, 1972 के अंतगित आने वाला कोई रकारी कमिचारी लापता हो िाता है, तो लापता कमिचाररयों के पररवार को वेतन, पाररवाररक पेंिन, ेवार्नवृर्त्त ग्रेच्युटी, छु ट्टी नकदीकरण आर्द के बकाया का लाभ र्दनांक 25.06.2013 को िारी र्कए गए र्नदे ि के अनु ार भुगतान र्कया िाता है। उन्ोंने कहा र्क कार्मिक एवं प्रर्िक्षण र्वभाग, र्वत्तीय ेवा र्वभाग और व्यय र्वभाग के परामिि े मामले की िांच की गई है और एनपीए द्वारा कवर र्कए गए रकारी कमिचाररयों के पररवारों को िो ेवा के दौरान लापता हो िाते हैं, ऐ े रकारी ेवकों के पररवार की कर्िनाइयों को दे खते हुए इ र्वभाग के कायािलय ज्ञापन ंख्या 1/17/2011-पी एं ड पीडब्लू (ई) र्दनांक 25.06.2013 का लाभ दे ने का र्नणिय र्लया गया है। कायािलय ज्ञापन के अन्य प्रावधानों में कहा गया है र्क उन भी मामलों में िहां एनपीए द्वारा कवर र्कया गया रकारी कमिचारी ेवा के दौरान लापता हो िाता है, पाररवाररक पेंिन के लाभों का भुगतान पररवार को र्कया िा कता है यर्द लापता रकारी कमिचारी ने ी ीए (पेंिन) र्नयमों के अंतगित लाभ के र्वकल्प का प्रयोग र्कया हो। र्वकलांगता/अमान्यता या ी ीए (पेंिन) र्नयमों के तहत लाभ पर मृत्यु या ेवा े छु ट्टी पर केंद्रीय र् र्वल ेवा (राष्ट्रीय पेंिन प्रणाली का कायािन्वयन) र्नयम, 2021 के तहत स्वत: र्वकल्प है। बकाया वेतन, ेवार्नवृर्त्त ग्रेच्युटी और छु ट्टी का लाभ पररवार को नकदीकरण का भुगतान उन भी मामलों में र्कया िाएगा िहां एनपीए के तहत कवर र्कया गया एक रकारी कमिचारी ेवा के दौरान लापता हो िाता है, भले ही कमिचारी ने ी ीए (पेंिन) र्नयमों के तहत या पेंिन िंड र्नयामक और र्वका प्रार्धकरण (र्नका और र्नका ी) राष्ट्रीय पेंिन प्रणाली के तहत र्वर्नयम, 2015 के अंतगित लाभ के र्वकल्प का उपयोग र्कया हो। लापता रकारी कमिचारी के पररवार को लाभ का भुगतान, इ र्वभाग के र्दनांक 25.06.2013 के कायािलय ज्ञापन में उक्तल्लक्तखत ितों और प्रर्ियात्मक आवश्यकताओं के अधीन र्कया िाएगा। एनपीए के अंतगित आने वाले रकारी कमिचारी के ेवा के दौरान लापता होने और उ के पररवार को ी ीए (पेंिन) र्नयम या ी ीए (ईओपी) र्नयमों के अंतगित पाररवाररक पेंिन र्दए िाने की क्तथथर्त में, राष्ट्रीय पेंिन प्रणाली के अंतगित थथायी ेवार्नवृर्त्त खाता तब तक र्नलंर्बत रहेगा िब तक रकारी कमिचारी - प्रकट होता है या िब तक उ े कानून के अनु ार मृत घोर्षत नही ं कर र्दया िाता। रकारी कमिचारी के पुन: उपक्तथथत होने की क्तथथर्त में, एनपीए खाता पुनः र्िय हो िाएगा और एनपीए के अंतगित वही खाता ंचार्लत हो िाएगा। लापता एनपीए कमिचारी के पररवार को र्कए गए भुगतान की व ूली इ र्वभाग के र्दनांक 25.06.2013 के कायािलय ज्ञापन के अनु ार क्षर्तपूर्तिकताि े की िाएगी। हालांर्क, र्क ी भी मय या ात ाल के बाद रकारी कमिचारी के मृत घोर्षत होने की क्तथथर्त में, रकारी योगदान और एनपीए के तहत ंर्चत पेंिन कोष े उ पर ररटनि रकारी खाते में थथानांतररत कर र्दया िाएगा और िेष रार्ि र्ि में कमिचाररयों का योगदान और उ पर ररटनि िार्मल होगा ी ीए (एनपीए कायािन्वयन) र्नयम, 2021 के अनु ार नार्मत या कानूनी उत्तरार्धकारी को भुगतान र्कया िा कता है) और पररवार को ी ीए (पेंिन) र्नयम या ी ीए (ईओपी) र्नयम, िै ा भी मामला हो, के अनु ार लाभ र्मलता रहेगा। डॉक्टर र्ितेंद्र र् ंह ने याद र्दलाया र्क वषि 2014 में श्री नरे न्द्र मोदी के त्ता में आने के बाद े, पेंिन और पेंिनभोगी कल्याण र्वभाग ने तलाकिुदा बेर्टयों और र्दव्यांगों के र्लए पाररवाररक पेंिन के प्रावधान में छूट, िे ररकर्ििन टे क्नोलॉिी की िुरुआत, बुिुगि पेंिनभोर्गयों द्वारा िीवन प्रमाण पत्र िमा करने में आ ानी के र्लए मोबाइल ऐप, इलेक्टरॉर्नक पेंिन पे ऑडि र, पेंिन प्रर्िया को ुर्वधािनक बनाने के र्लए डाक र्वभाग े हायता आर्द र्हत कई िांर्तकारी ुधार र्कए हैं। उन्ोंने कहा र्क इ के अलावा मृतक रकारी कमिचारी/पेंिनभोगी के र्दव्यांग बच्चे को पाररवाररक पेंिन के र्वस्तार दे ने िै े कदम या एक मृत रकारी कमिचारी/पेंिनभोगी के र्दव्यांग बच्चों के र्लए पाररवाररक पेंिन पररलक्तियों में एक बडी वृक्ति न केवल पेंिन ुधार है बक्ति ये व्यापक प्रभाव वाले ामार्िक ुधार हैं। िी/एएम/एमकेए /वाईबी