27/08
We are meeting once again in Bengaluru city in a jubilant mood. A special conference will be held from 10 AM to 5 PM on 18-9-2016, in the spacious Sheesh Mahal in Palace Grounds, near Cantt Railway Station, Bengaluru to celebrate the victory in the matter of IDA merger and freeing BSNL from sharing the pension liability. It is not just for celebration.The main purpose is to move further.We are not travelling back to the PAST; we have to move forward to the FUTURE.
FUTURE REVISION
Future Pension revision is most important. Every time, the exercise of preparing Cabinet Note, taking consent from four nodal ministries, then going to the Cabinet and waiting for 2-3 years may not be possible. Political situation may change and there may not be a minister to help us. There should be a system that ensures periodic revision of our pension in future.
TO BE NOT TO BE?
We do not want to quarrel with anybody. We represent all cadres of BSNL staff retired; from GM to RM. We can not and we shall not surrender interest of any section.We have no mentor to please.We discussed the matter in two CWC meetings; considered various options like approaching PRC and CPC, prepared a document and circulated it to other organizations representing BSNL pensioners and sought their cooperation. Then we took a decision. Once we take a stand consciously we are firm on that. Now everybody wants that future pension revision in BSNL should be delinked from the Pay revision in BSNL. After demanding it some people went and asked next Pension revision along with the pay revision. One organization went to PRC one day and demanded PRC benefit and very next day wrote to Secretary, Telecom demanding 7th CPC benefit. We shall not make such sudden changes in our stand.
100% GOVERNMENT LIABILITY
With annulment of 60% stipulation, the liability to pay pension to us is totally of the government of India. Government need not depend upon a PSU or a company working under it for taking decisions.
NO LINK WITH PAY
There is a wrong notion that pension revision is linked with pay revision. In 2015 Government granted One Rank One Pension to Ex-serviceman. There was no pay revision then. Now the orders are issued for pension revision for central pensioners. The Pension is multiplied by the factor of 2.57. Pay is not multiplied. Minimum pension in each grade is related to the minimum pay, no doubt. It benefits the senior pensioners who retired 2-3 decades ago. In our case, such seniors are DoT pensioners, not BSNL retirees and hence nothing to do with BSNL pay scales. In future, suppose BSNL is privatized. How can we link with the minimum pay in a private company?
WE SHOULD BE COVERED
Government of India has issued order on 4-8-2016 for revision of pension implementing the recommendation of seventh Central Pay Commission.It is endorsed by the Department of Telecom on 22-8-2016. The para 2.1 of DOP&PW order says;
“These orders shall apply to all pensioners/family pensioners who were drawing pension/family pension before 1.1.2016 under the Central Civil Services (Pension) Rules, 1972, Central Civil Services (Extraordinary Pension) Rules and the corresponding rules applicable to Railway pensioners and pensioners of All India Services, including officers of the Indian Civil Service retired from service on or after 1.1.1973. A pensioner/family pensioner, who became entitled to pension/family pension with effect from 01.01.2016 consequent on retirement/death of Government servant on 31.12.2015, would also be covered by these orders.”
We are receiving pension under the above CCS (Pension) Rules 1972. Hence, technically and legally we should be covered by the above orders endorsed by DOT. The order does not mention IDA pensioner or CDA pensioner at all. We can go to a court and get the favourable verdict. Then government will drag the matter with appeal, revision petition, review petition, Special Leave petition, Curative petition etc.4-5 years are to be wasted in court verandas. Finally it depends upon the government to take a decision and issue orders. This is the judiciary system in our country. So, instead of wasting our time on legal fights we want to approach the Government directly now itself and get the benefit.
WE ARE COVERED
The para 2.3 of the order dated 4-8-2016 from Pension Ministry further says;
“2.3 These orders also do not apply to retired High Court and Supreme Court Judges and other Constitutional/Statutory Authorities whose pension etc. is governed by separate rules/orders”.
We are not in the excluded category. It means we can be covered, we should be covered. We have clear locus standi to demand extension of the said order.
MOVEMENT ESSENTIAL
If we keep quiet no body will give any benefit. We should create a pressure. Please remember that the Ex-Servicemen fought for 45 years to get OROP. Very senior officers retired from Army came and sat on dharna. We should shout aloud. We should launch a movement for it. The decision making process should be influenced through some persons who matter.
Hence we meet in Bangalore. Please come and join this movement. Please come to Bangalore on 18, September 2016.
Let us jointly begin a new journey to ensure a definite, tension-free future for us.
With regards,
P S Ramankutty
