MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF 34TH SCOVA HELD ON 11.03.2025 UNDER THE CHAIRMANSHIP OF HON'BLE MOS (PP) AT VIGYAN BHAWAN

No. 4/14/2025-P&PW(D)/E-10522

Government of India

Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions

Department of Pension & Pensioners' Welfare 

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3rd Floor, Lok Nayak Bhawan

Khan Market, New Delhi- 110003

ssDate: - 25.03.2025

To

All the Pensioners' Associations included in SCOVA

Vide Resolution dated 26.09.2023 

Sub: - Minutes of the 34th SCOVA meeting held under the Chairmanship of Hon'ble MOS(PP) on 11.03.2025, at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi-reg

Please find enclosed herewith the minutes of the 34th Meeting of Standing Committee of Voluntary Agencies (SCOVA) held under the Chairmanship of Hon'ble MoS (PP) on 11.03.2025 at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi for compliance and necessary action.

Balu E13.9025

 (Dilip Kumar Sanu)

Under Secretary to the Govt. of

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MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF 34TH SCOVA HELD ON 11.03.2025 UNDER THE CHAIRMANSHIP OF HON'BLE MOS (PP) AT VIGYAN BHAWAN (ANNEXE) 

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 34th meeting of the Standing Committee of Voluntary Agencies (SCOVA) was held on 11.03.2025 under the Chairmanship of Hon'ble MOS (PP) at Vigyan Bhawan (Annexe) with members of Pensioners' Welfare Associations and representatives of different Ministries/Departments. List of participants is annexed.

2. The meeting was attended by Secretary (pension), Controller General of Accounts and other senior officers from various Ministries/Departments including Ministry of Defence, Ministry of Railways, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Department of Expenditure, Department of Personnel and Training, Department of Telecommunications, Department of Posts, Department of Financial Services, CPAO, bank officials from J&K bank and Indian bank, officials from DoPPW and members of 13 Pensioners' Welfare Associations.

3. At the outset, Secretary (Pension) welcomed the Hon'ble Minister and other participants in the SCOVA meeting for a fruitful discussion on agenda items for the meeting.

4 Joint Secretary (Pension) made a brief presentation on the various initiatives taken by the DoPPW for casing the difficulties faced by the pensioners and their general welfare including the 100 days' action plan of the Department and other achievements during the last one year. He also presented the future road map of the Department which includes digital empowerment of Pensioners, integration of Bhavishya portal with eHRMS and CGHS and timely redressal of Pensioners' grievances.

5. Thereafter, the deliberations were initiated on the new agenda items categorised into four parts viz. CGHS facilities, SPARSH portal of MoD, Pension Policy and other issues etc. which were taken up one by one for discussion by the SCOVA members.

I. CGHS ISSUES ISSUE

 - CGHS-Infrastructure and Posting of Manpower

*           Pensioners' Associations from Pune, Jammu, Bengaluru, Chennai, Balasore and Nagpur raised various issues related to CGHS which include:

 *          Adequate manpower posting at all Wellness centers(WCs)

·         Opening of new WCs at Pune, Bengaluru, Balasore, Nagpur, Chennai, Puducherry and Jammu

·         Opening of a polyclinic at Jammu with testing lab facilities

·         In addition to the empanelled labs already available, setting up of a diagnostic lab

·         Timely payment of bills of the vendors

·         Empanelment of private hospitals at the district H.Q. (Pune and other places) under CGHS

·         Continuous supply of life saving medicines

·         Extending the services of CGHS to employees of the Central Government offices which may have been closed on account of administrative restructuring

·         Reduction of delay in release of medical reimbursement claims

·         Improvement of the existing infrastructure like buildings and facilities of WCs (Chennai, Bengaluru and Nagpur)

 Discussion/Decision on agenda item

DG CGHS informed that the proposal for recruitment of manpower for CGHS Wellness Centres is in active consideration through Staff Selection Commission (SSC) and the issue of manpower shortage would be resolved soon.

DG CGHS was requested to consider the issues related to upgradation of existing WCs, improvement of infrastructure and manpower on priority as per the availability of resources

The issue of empanelment of private hospitals without opening of WCs, being a policy matter was decided to be examined separately.

CGHS was requested to examine the need of opening of new WCs in States/UTs after assessing the requirement based on the present population/beneficiaries at a place. CGHS was requested to consider opening of a Polyclinic with a testing lab facility at Jammu.

 Emphasis was given to consider maintaining continuous supply of life saving drugs in the WCs based on previous demands rather than just based on demand of indent.

(Action: Ministry of Health and Family Welfare/CGHS)

III. PENSION POLICY

(i) Issue: Restoration of commutation period from 15 ycars to 12 years:

The 5th Central Pay Commission (CPC) and various state governments recommended for reducing the recovery period for commuted pension from 15 years to 12 years to align with changing economic conditions. With the decrease in RBI interest rates, the current 15-year recovery period leads to excess recovery. Reducing the period to 12 years will ensure fairness and better matches the impact of lower interest rates on pension calculations.

Discussion/Decision on agenda item

 It was informed by Department of Expenditure that this issue may be included in the Terms of Reference (TOR) of 8th Pay Commission.

 In view of the above, the item was closed.

 (ii) Issue: Laying down Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for streamlining the process of starting of Family Pension:

 Pensioners' Association raised the issue of difficulties being faced by family pensioners for grant of family pension after death of pensioner/family pensioner. They, therefore, requested to issue a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for streamlining the process of starting of Family Pension.

Discussion/Decision on agenda item

It was informed by DoPPW that comments have been sought from banks, CPAO and other concerned Ministries/Departments on the question of a Standard Operating Procedure for grant of family pension.

DoPPW in consultation with other stakeholders will issue instructions in this regard.  (Action: DoPPW)

(iv) ISSUE: FIXED MEDICAL ALLOWANCE (FMA):

 Increase in the Fixed Medical Allowance (FMA) to Rs. 3000 per month, as the current allowance is insufficient due to rising medical costs, as recommended by the Parliamentary Standing Committee.

 Discussion/Decision on agenda item

It was informed by Department of Expenditure that this issue may be included in the Terms of Reference (TOR) of 8th Pay Commission.

In view of the above, the item was closed.

(ONLY FEW ISSUES ARE MENTIONED ABOVE)

 

PHASEOUT OF LO FINGER PRINT EXISTING DEVICES FROM AADHAR AUTHENTICATION ECOSYSTEM

 

CGEGIS TABLE OF BENEFITS FOR THE SAVINGS FUND FOR THE PERIOD FROM 01.04.2025 TO 30.06.2025: MINISTRY OF FINANCE, DEPARTMENT OF EXPENDITURE O.M. DATED 28.05.2025

No. 7(1)/EV/2023
Government of India
Ministry of Finance
Department of Expenditure
E-V Branch

New Delhi, the 28th May, 2025

OFFICE MEMORANDUM

Sub: Central Government Employees Group Insurance Scheme-1980 – Tables of Benefits for the savings fund for the period from 01.04.2025 to 30.06.2025.

The Tables of Benefits for Savings Fund to the beneficiaries under the Central Government Employees Group Insurance Scheme-1980, which are being issued on a quarterly basis from 01.01.2017 onwards, as brought out in this Ministry’s OM of even number dated 17.03.2017, for the quarter from 01.04.2025 to 30.06.2025, as worked out by IRDA based on the interest rate of 7.1% per annum (compounded quarterly) as notified by the Department of Economic Affairs as per their Resolution No. 5(3)-B(PD)/2023 dated 01.04.2025, are enclosed.

2.         The Tables enclosed are of two categories as per the existing practice. As hitherto, the first Table of Benefits for the savings fund of the scheme is based on the subscription of Rs.10 p.m. from 1.1.1982 to 31.12.1989 and Rs.15 p.m. w.e.f. 1.1.1990 onwards. The second Table of Benefits for savings fund is based on a subscription of Rs.10 p.m. for those employees who had opted out of the revised rate of subscription w.e.f. 1.1.1990.

3.         In so far as the persons serving in the Indian Audit and Accounts Department are concerned, these Orders are issued in consultation with the Comptroller and Auditor General of India, as mandated under Article 148(5) of the Constitution of India.

4.         Hindi version of the order is attached.

(Praveen Ranjan)
Director

Previous Order: CGEGIS Table of Benefits for the savings fund for the period from 01.01.2025 to 31.03.2025: FinMin, DoE O.M.

To
1. All Ministries/ Department of the Central Government as per standard list.
2. Copy with spare copies for information and necessary action to C&AG, UPSC, all State Government etc. as per standard list.

View/Download the PDF 

 

 

INTER CIRCLE TRANSFER IN THE CADRE OF ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENT OF POSTS

(CLICK THE LINK BELOW TO VIEW)

https://utilities.cept.gov.in/dop/pdfbind.ashx?id=11771

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NON-FUNCTIONAL UPGRADATION (NFU) OF IPOS OFFICERS’ OF 1998 BATCH TO HIGHER ADMINISTRATIVE GRADE (HAG).      

(CLICK THE LINK BELOW TO VIEW)

https://utilities.cept.gov.in/dop/pdfbind.ashx?id=11762

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GAZETTE NOTIFICATION OF INDIA, GENERAL STATUTORY RULES (GSR) 258 (E) - FRAMING OF RULES FOR PAYMENT OF GRATUITY TO GOVERNMENT SERVANT COVERED UNDER NATIONAL PENSION SYSTEM

(CLICK THE LINK BELOW TO VIEW)

https://utilities.cept.gov.in/dop/pdfbind.ashx?id=11763

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GRANT OF DEARNESS RELIEF IN THE 5TH CPC SERIES EFFECTIVE FROM 01.07.2024 TO CPF BENEFICIARIES IN RECEIPT OF BASIC EX-GRATIA PAYMENT (CLICK THE LINK BELOW TO VIEW)

https://utilities.cept.gov.in/dop/pdfbind.ashx?id=11764

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GRANT OF ADDITIONAL INSTALLMENT OF DEARNESS RELIEF (DR) TO CENTRAL GOVERNMENT PENSIONERS/FAMILY PENSIONERS-REVISED RATE EFFECTIVE FROM 01.01.2025

(CLICK THE LINK BELOW TO VIEW)

https://utilities.cept.gov.in/dop/pdfbind.ashx?id=11765

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CALLING FOR APPLICATION OF VOLUNTEERS FOR FILLING UP OF POST OF INSTRUCTOR ON DEPUTATION AT PTC DARBHANGA, BIHAR.     

(CLICK THE LINK BELOW TO VIEW)

https://utilities.cept.gov.in/dop/pdfbind.ashx?id=11757

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CALLING FOR WILLINGNESS TO WORK IN PARCEL DIRECTORATE ON DEPUTATION BASIS

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https://utilities.cept.gov.in/dop/pdfbind.ashx?id=11751

 

GRANT OF NOTIONAL INCREMENT ON 1ST JULY/1ST JANUARY TO THE EMPLOYEES WHO RETIRED FROM CENTRAL GOVT. SERVICES ON 30TH JUNE/31ST DECEMBER RESPECTIVELY FOR THE PURPOSE OF CALCULATING THEIR PENSIONARY BENEFITS - REGARDING.

(CLICK THE INK BLEW TO VIEW)

https://dopt.gov.in/sites/default/files/Notional%20Increment%20%282%29.pdf

 

ANNUAL SPORTS CALENDAR (TENTATIVE) FOR THE YEAR 2025-26

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https://utilities.cept.gov.in/dop/pdfbind.ashx?id=11740

 

 

 

DHAI AKHAR LETTER WRITING COMPETITION 2024-25 (CLICK THE LINK BELOW TO VIEW)

https://www.indiapost.gov.in/VAS/Pages/News/IP_14052025_letter_English.pdf

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CONSOLIDATED GUIDELINES AND CRITERIA FOR GRANT OF 2 HOURS OFF/CONCESSION TO SPORTSPERSONS AND COACHES FOR PRACTICE

(CLICK THE LINK BELOW TO VIEW)

https://utilities.cept.gov.in/dop/pdfbind.ashx?id=11733

 

 

 

 

 

GREETINGS OF BUDDHA PURNIMA

“ON THE AUSPICIOUS OCCASION OF BUDDHA PURNIMA, WARM GREETINGS AND BEST WISHES”

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बुद्ध पूर्णिमा की शुभकामनाएँ

“बुद्ध पूर्णिमा के शुभ अवसर पर  हार्दिक बधाई और शुभकामनाएँ ।

 

LIMITED DEPARTMENTAL COMPETITIVE EXAMINATION FOR PROMOTION TO THE GRADE OF ASSISTANT ACCOUNTS OFFICER OF IP&TAFS GROUP 'B' (AAO LDCE 2024) HELD FROM 08.01.2025 TO 11.01.2025 - ANNOUNCEMENT OF RESULTS THEREOF  (CLICK THE LINK BELOW TO VIEW)

https://utilities.cept.gov.in/dop/pdfbind.ashx?id=11725

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PROMOTION AND POSTING ORDERS IN THE GRADE OF ASSISTANT ACCOUNTS OFFICER (AAO) OF IP&TAFS GROUP 'B' CONSEQUENT TO DECLARATION OF RESULTS OF AAO LDCE-2024(CLICK THE LINK BELOW TO VIEW)

https://utilities.cept.gov.in/dop/pdfbind.ashx?id=11727

 

 

INTRODUCTION OF FACILITY TO DOWNLOAD INTEREST CERTIFICATE FROM DOP INTERNET BANKING 

(CLICK THE LINK BELOW TO VIEW)

https://utilities.cept.gov.in/dop/pdfbind.ashx?id=11720

 

WEBINAR NOTICE ON UNIFIED PENSION SCHEME IN DOP       (CLICK THE LINK BELOW TO VIEW)

https://utilities.cept.gov.in/dop/pdfbind.ashx?id=11716

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INSTRUCTIONS ON FILLING UP OF ACCOUNTS LINE POSTS OF POSTAL/RMS WING   

(CLICK THE LINK BELOW TO VIEW)

https://utilities.cept.gov.in/dop/pdfbind.ashx?id=11714

 

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INSTRUCTIONS ON FILLING UP OF ACCOUNTS LINE POSTS OF POSTAL/RMS WING

(CLICK THE LINK BELOW TO VIEW)

https://utilities.cept.gov.in/dop/pdfbind.ashx?id=11715

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TRANSFERS/ POSTINGS IN THE SENIOR ADMINISTRATIVE GRADE OF INDIAN POSTAL SERVICE, GROUP ‘A’ (CLICK THE LINK BELOW TO VIEW)

https://utilities.cept.gov.in/dop/pdfbind.ashx?id=11713

 

MAY DAY CELEBRATIONS AT VARIOUS CIRCLES

 

MAY DAY MANIFESTO AND COMING STRIKE

ON 20 MAY-2025

 May Day Greetings and best wishes to our employees of Postal Department irrespective of Political Colours and union. Special thanks and revolutionary greetings to the readers of Postal Crusader and also our organisers, leadership. Red Salute to the Martyrs of May Day. We also extending Red Salute to the Martyrs in different sectors, main organisers who have sacrificed their lives in the interest of working class. The working has been spilling the sweat and blood for centuries to protect the rights, dignity and honour. The seeds of sacrifice sown by the Hey Market Martyrs unified the entire working class of the world, reminding and inspiring every year to continue the saga of struggle against the injustice, inequality and exploitation. May Day celebrations have become more and more relevant each year on the face of onslaught of anti-employ and working policies of the govt.

If we review the national and international scenario, we will see that year changes but the resolution of the working class remains the same. Poverty, unemployment, price-rise, wage-cut, absence or curbing of social security etc. are the common phenomenon across the world, except a few socialist country. Year after year this is our common experience. Again, if we consider the sequence of events, we will see the same tradition. The “Post Office Act-2023” has come into effect from June 2024. It replaced the 125 years old Indian Post Office Act 1898. The Govt. described this as an act of the Parliament of India to consolidate and amend the law relating to Post Office in India along with expansion and modernization of its services.

Postal services come under the Union List of the Constitution.  The Indian Post Office Act, 1898 regulates the postal services offered by the central government.  It grants the central government exclusive privilege over conveying of letters. A Bill passed by Parliament in 1986 sought to align the grounds for interception of an article being transmitted through post with the reasonable restrictions on the fundamental rights under the Constitution.  The Bill did not receive the assent of the President and was later withdrawn. Even in 2006, Standing Committee of the Parliament headed by Com Somenath Chatterjee clearly told exclusive privilege of letter mails must be retained by the Govt to face challenges coming from courier services of the corporates.

So, what ever be Govt’s declaration, this act is nothing but blue print of corporatization and there by privatization of Postal Department. Against such motive National Federation of Postal Employees (NFPE) went on unprecedented Strike on 10^th august 2022 and the Govt retreated at that time. After that derecognizing NFPE and its most powerful affiliate All India Postal Employees Union, Gr C on fake concocted grounds, the Govt is now came out with massive attack on Postal Department with renewed vigour.       

            Mainly after 1991, if we have a look in last three decades, we would see how the Govt. of India slowly but steadily tried to implement the prescription of so called new liberal economic policy in Postal Department. Amendment to Post Office and Courier Service bill, Corporate Plan for India Post, Introduction of franchise outlets and National Postal Policy 2012 were amongst them. But still there was some restriction which has no trace in Modi-regime.

RMS/MMS are backbone of Postal Department. During Corona the Department introduced private service i.e Road Transport Network (RTN) in absence of railway communication. There was an understanding that this system will be discontinued when railway will be normal. But now when a well-established time-tested existing network Railway (RMS) section and Air Ports are there, but RTN has been increased and that too for distant areas. For sorting of speed post and registered/ordinary letters there are separate offices (HUB). But now Department unilaterally ordered that all speed post and registered articles will be sorted in same Hub. These unilateral orders of Department will only ensure abolishing more than 100 sorting offices for registered articles. Not only that it will seriously tell upon the efficiency and on-time servicing thereby affecting the entire Department in terms of work order and revenue generation, besides affecting the concerned employees in various ways. Already apart from Departmental organization, Confederation of Central Govt Employees and Workers, different Central Trade Unions like CITU, AITUC expressed their resentment and appealed to the Govt to refrain from such type of anti-people activities.

In most cases to streamline the system, decentralization is the accepted principle through the world. In our department too it was time tested practice to deliver the postal goods to the customers from all the delivery offices. But now Department has imported the idea from British Royal Mails and accordingly formed Nodal Delivery Centers for delivery of Parcel and Central Delivery Center of Speed Post Letters. This is the basic reason for delayed deliver.

It is informed by the Department that there is lack of monitoring mechanism to supervise delivery work in 19500 delivery offices. Further, implementation for delivery of parcel through NDC (Nodal Delivery Centre) resulted improvement the delivery of parcels. This CHQ disagreed with this. Quality of supervision with honestly solves the issue of monitoring of delivery. Success of NDC may also examine through ground reality by the Department.

At present, delivery work is done and supervised by the Post Offices. There is no difficulty whatsoever in doing and supervising the delivery work in addition to the counter operations at every Post Office. Post Offices are the symbols of both the counter and delivery work and the Supervisors, Postal Assistants and MTS staff at the counters as well as the delivery Postman and the Supervisors, PAs and MTS staff etc. at the delivery areas are earmarked to their respective work and performing well. There is no need to bifurcate this by the formation of IDCs (Independent Delivery Centers). The authorities are to ensure the proper manning of the leave absenteeism which they cannot do with the policy of the Government to reduce the LR percentage and deliberately keeping the offices understaffed. This is the main reason for the hiccups in the functioning of the Post Offices and bifurcating in the name of IDCs or delivery work is not going to solve the problem at all. Moreover, numbers of delivery offices are going to be attached with the idea of IDCs and this experiment will bring more delay to the delivery work as experienced by the pilot schemes in one or two places. The Postal system is best but the authorities are following courier practices which is proven to be inferior to the Postal System.

We can see that the Postmen staff are asked to do the PA work and take delivery of all accountable articles in the computers instead of assigning proper PAs to the spots of leave availing PAs, which is a common sight in the delivery areas of Post Offices. The issue is to clean these perennial problems and not establishing a separate IDC. The action of the Department is like giving fomentation in areas where the fomentation is absolutely not needed, the need is to give fomentation where there is pain at present

Everybody knows in the name of IPPB limited how sustained attack is going on our small savings. Even after that common men are investing their money in small savings. In financial year 2021 to 2022 total deposit in POSB was 12.54 Lac which maintains the growth for next period also. Postal Life Insurance (PLI) was introduced back in the year 1984. Only in 2020-21, it has Rs. 8087 Cr as total premium deposited. The Rural PLI deposit was Rs. 2820 Cr during the same time. From the facts and figures, it is clear enough as to why the Govt. and share market giants are greedy to somehow draw the Small Savings and Insurance money from Post Office to share market. If the deposits of the Small Savings and PLI are taken over by the IPPB Ltd (India Post Payment Bank Ltd), it would be a huge inflow of money and a surge of hope for the IPPB Ltd, so is for the corporates.  

We have to keep in mind that the Modi-Govt is moving with privatization spree. Be in service sectors, infrastructure financial sectors, power sectors everywhere in the name of National Monetization Pipeline Policy (NMOP). Even when 3^rd Modi-Govt has failed to achieve absolute majority, its attitude towards outsourcing, corporatization and privatization remains unchanged, rather intensified. Under this back ground we have to consider “The Post Office Act-2023” and also build up, from class outlook under the leadership of National Federation of Postal Employees (NFPE) united struggle irrespective of unions and associations so that the Central Govt is compelled to withdraw this retrograde act. Merger of two GDS union is a great achievement to increase our strength. We are sure in our journey we will get support people of this country and also sectorial trade unions and Central Trade Unions.

Labour Code is nothing but to create Trade Union free India to maximise the profit of the monopoly Corporates. The Working Class will have no right to protests against the policies of the Govt.  These rights achieved so far at the cost of blood, sweat and death. Dept. Most deliberately and in a vindictive way has derecognized NFPE/AIPEU Gr.-C and they are not implemented the stay order of Jharkhand High Court against derecognition order. Once Labour Code is implemented there will be no difference between ‘recognition’ or derecognition ‘for those who oppose Govt. policies. So, without fail this Labour Code in to be halted. Union supporting anti people Govt, Policies will only be allowed to function. Derecognition NFPE/AIPEU Group-C, Dept is implementing all anti. Employees Policies like the Post Office Act 2023 etc.

            In these circumstances, PJCA has been formed. PJCA means a common platform of NFPE, FNPO and their GDS Union, since January 2025 under the banner of PJCA we are observing series of organizational programme. Even PJCA has staged dharna programme on 3^rd March in Jantar Mantar, New Delhi. Our Charter of demands is ready. We will issue Strike Notice on 2^nd May-2025 with the clear understanding to take part in Strike on 20 May to save our department, its employees and also to protect the interests of common men taking service from our department. Let us now carry forward intensive and extensive campaign programme across the Country on our Charter of demands

We will build up struggle and Strike, and we will win.

 

 

EXTENSION OF e.KYC FUNCTIONALITY FOR OPENING OF MIS, TD, KVP AND NSC SCHEME ACCOUNT   (CLICK THE LINK BELOW TO VIEW)

https://utilities.cept.gov.in/dop/pdfbind.ashx?id=11708