While instructions were issued by the Govt of India, Department of Pensions, for civilian pensioners, the same were awaited for defence pensioners of all categories.
Some readers (and I’m particularly referring here to a longish mail received by me on the subject from a senior retired veteran) had remarked that there was no use of such instructions or provisioning of age proof since the date of birth is already mentioned in the PPO and/or other discharge documents and that this is just a way of harassing veterans. This is however incorrect. There are many cases where the date of birth and age proof is not available. This is particularly true in cases of WWII Veterans and their families and also reservists and others who were discharged on reduction of military establishment. Anyway, cynicism today is a way of life and there is no escape from it, but in my personal opinion, it does not augur well to censure every single step initiated by the govt for making procedures easier for pensioners. Obviously if there is a mention of the date of birth or age in the documents, there is no requirement of producing any such proof and neither would the Pension Disbursing Authority ask for the same, but if it is not so mentioned then it is the Govt’s duty to put out a procedure in black and white for such rare cases and that is what has been done, and in a pretty rudimentary and simple way at that.
More than the PCDA(P) or the banks, it is the bounden duty of all of us to spread the word and find out if our old pensioners / family pensioners / casualty award pensioners are receiving pension in accordance with the correct entitlement. Also it is an obligation of our Record Offices to look into their files and ensure that the dues are flowing out accurately to old pensioners. How well this obligation is discharged depends on us and not on external agencies.
The instructions for defence pensioners can be accessed and downloaded by clicking here.
Some readers (and I’m particularly referring here to a longish mail received by me on the subject from a senior retired veteran) had remarked that there was no use of such instructions or provisioning of age proof since the date of birth is already mentioned in the PPO and/or other discharge documents and that this is just a way of harassing veterans. This is however incorrect. There are many cases where the date of birth and age proof is not available. This is particularly true in cases of WWII Veterans and their families and also reservists and others who were discharged on reduction of military establishment. Anyway, cynicism today is a way of life and there is no escape from it, but in my personal opinion, it does not augur well to censure every single step initiated by the govt for making procedures easier for pensioners. Obviously if there is a mention of the date of birth or age in the documents, there is no requirement of producing any such proof and neither would the Pension Disbursing Authority ask for the same, but if it is not so mentioned then it is the Govt’s duty to put out a procedure in black and white for such rare cases and that is what has been done, and in a pretty rudimentary and simple way at that.
More than the PCDA(P) or the banks, it is the bounden duty of all of us to spread the word and find out if our old pensioners / family pensioners / casualty award pensioners are receiving pension in accordance with the correct entitlement. Also it is an obligation of our Record Offices to look into their files and ensure that the dues are flowing out accurately to old pensioners. How well this obligation is discharged depends on us and not on external agencies.
The instructions for defence pensioners can be accessed and downloaded by clicking here.
17 comments:
Dear All,
Sorry something out of the context. Reminding once again. Please see 'Shaurya' on 'FILMY' today at 8 p.m.
Hi Major Navdeep,
Please read circular 417 and MOD letter. In the list of documents ECHS CARD has been changed by PCDA as CGHS CARD. Is it typo or intentional harassment???
@Arunachalam
Sir,
Please do not read too much into this. The term 'CGHS' has been used since it was used in the original letter issued by the Department of Pensions. Of course ECHS cards would be accepted since it is ECHS that is applicable in the defence services. In any case, voter ID is the most common document available with all veterans and their families and hence people do not have to ride down other roads.
Please note PCDA does not issue circulars on basis of Dept. Of Pension's orders/instruction. They always wait for instruction from MOD. Even in this case they have issued circular after MOD letter to them. May be it is only a typo. Hope PCDA read your blog and correct it.
@Arunachalam
Sir,
It is obvious that they have mixed up the two letters by the DoP and the MoD since the MoD letter talks of an ECHS card while the DoP one talks of the CGHS card. In any case, it is the MoD letter which is the authority since the PCDA circular is merely meant to circulate Govt sanction on the issue. I do not think there should be a problem anywhere since the MoD letter is already available as an annexure to the PCDA circular.
avdeep, I entirely agree that many of us expect far too much while in our service life we would have been more careless and unconcerned of others' problems. Particularly old pensioners should be grateful that there is a democratic government that acts whenever it can and cares for us. We would have never expeted 10-20 times the last basic pay as pension i our wildest dreams.
General structure of a letter to the Govt. of India, to point out and request for rectification of error in the pension fixation for the Pre-1.1.2006 retiree Armed Forces Personnel having less than 33 years of service (after adding the erstwhile weightage), has been circulated by one Wg Cdr (Retd.) A. K. Aggarwal who is a Supreme Court Advocate.
The subject generally concerns all ranks in Army, Navy and Air Force who retired with less than 33 years of service (Amongst officers generally Lt. Col. and Full Col. and eq. will fall in this category).
Affected individuals can also write a similar letter as per the details of their own case.
Elangovan
can some body tell me ,is the grade pay and MSP part of the basic pay as per sixth pay commission
krk
dear sir,
is there any truth in the rumours going around that the letter for col at 18 has been signed
Some good NEWS regarding NONSELECT Col and not Col TS is definitely in the offing.
tthe news about col in 18 years is a 'LUNGER GUPP' so dont be greedy
maj navdeep,
wish you and all TA offrs - many happy returns on TA diamond jubilee(60 yrs)..Today's 60 Ml is on YOU..;)
cheers..
ANY GENTLEMAN WOULD PLS INPORM ME WHAT ARE PROVISION FOR EX CADET WHO IS MEDICALLY THROWN OUT OF ACADEMY WITH 30% DISABLEMENT FOR LIFE
HOW MUCH HE WOULD GET WHEN THE EX GRATIA DISABILITY AWARD %30 PM IS SANCTIONED IN ADDITIOM WITH MONTHLY EX GRATIA AWARD
ANY GENTLEMAN WOULD PLS INPORM ME WHAT ARE PROVISION FOR EX CADET WHO IS MEDICALLY THROWN OUT OF ACADEMY WITH 30% DISABLEMENT FOR LIFE
HOW MUCH HE WOULD GET WHEN THE EX GRATIA DISABILITY AWARD %30 PM IS SANCTIONED IN ADDITIOM WITH MONTHLY EX GRATIA AWARD
my father retired from Arty finally got 20% enhanced pension after attaining 81 years of age. He was fighting letter war with Arty center Deolali for the past 11 months
Can any one advice me how to get my pension from PCDA from 29 Mar 2009 on wards. The day i left prematurely from corps of signals. I got all dues fron CDA Pune. I am harassed by the concern department. KUKOODHILLON@REDIFFMAIL.COM 09018164337
can anyone comment on provisions for pension of ssc officers with some precommissioned service
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