LIGIBILITY FOR TWO FAMILY PENSIONS CLARIFICATION REGARDING

113th REPORT OF DEPARTMENT RELATED PARLIAMENTARY STANDING COMMITTEE ON PERSONNEL, PUBLIC GRIEVANCES, LAW AND JUSTICE RECOMMENDS TO INTEGRATE DEFENCE, RAILWAY, TELECOM & POSTAL PENSIONERS UNDER DOPPW

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The Committee scrutinised the Demands for Grants thoroughly in its meeting with the Secretary, Department of Administrative Reforms & Public Grievances; and the Department of Pension & Pensioners’ Welfare. The Report was considered and adopted by the Committee on 22nd March, 2022. The Recommendations/Observations made by the Committee in this Report are enclosed. The entire Report is available on https://rajyasabha.nic.in.

RECOMMENDATIONS/OBSERVATIONS – AT A GLANCE

ON
113th Report on Demands for Grants (2022-23) of the Department of Administrative Reforms & Public Grievances; and the Department of Pension & Pensioners’ Welfare

OVERALL ASSESSMENT OF THE DEMANDS FOR GRANTS

DEPARTMENT OF ADMINISTRATIVE REFORMS AND PUBLIC GRIEVANCES (DARPG)

 

1. The Department has been able to spend only 61.7% of the budgetary allocation made under RE 2021-22 upto 31st January, 2022, leaving 38.3% to spend in just 2 months. As per the instructions issued by the Ministry of Finance (MoF), expenditure in the last quarter has to be restricted to 33% ceiling and in last month (March) expenditure has to be restricted to 15% of ceiling. Thus, the performance of the Department in terms of utilization of funds needs considerable improvement. A focused planning and close monitoring of utilization of funds is required on the part of the Department. As restrictions imposed due to COVID on expenditure are waning, the Department should have met the quarterly expenditure targets set by the MoF without fail. The Committee, therefore, recommends that the Department should identify the bottlenecks responsible for not being able to maintain the pace of utilization required as per the instructions of the MoF and take remedial measures to improve its performance in utilization of funds in future.

(Para 2.5)

Scheme(s) of DARPG

2. The track record of the Department in terms of utilization of funds under the scheme has been very poor. In 2020-21 BE of Rs. 30 crores got reduced to Rs.15 crores at RE stage, and the actual expenditure incurred was Rs. 11 crores only. In 2021-22, BE of Rs. 15 crores got reduced to Rs.12 crores and the Department has been able to utilize only about 9.7 crores upto 09.02.2022. The Department may furnish detailed reasons for such under-utilization of funds to the Committee with Action Taken Note.

(Para 2.8)

3. After considering the elaborate mandate of the Department, the number of schemes and funds allocated to it does not seem commensurate with each other. The Committee is therefore of the view that the Department should devise more schemes and programmes aimed at improving the Human Resource potential and productivity of the government and project their funds requirements to the MoF accordingly.

(Para 2.10)

DEPARTMENT OF PENSION AND PENSIONERS’ WELFARE (DPPW)

Scheme(s) of DPPW

4. During 2020-21 the BE allocation was Rs. 5 crores for the scheme, however, it got reduced to Rs. 3.03 crores at RE stage and at the end of the year only Rs. 2.54 crores could be spent. On a similar pattern the scheme allocation for the BE 2021-22 was again Rs. 5 crores, which was reduced to Rs. 3.31 crores at the RE stage and the actual expenditure upto 31.01.2022 is Rs. 1.48 crores only. Not surprisingly, the BE for the Department under scheme for the year 2022-23 has been pegged at Rs. 3.57 crores only, against their projection of Rs. 4.40 made to the Ministry of Finance. The Department should furnish detailed reasons for such under-utilization of funds in the last two financial years to the Committee.

POLICIES, PROGRAMMES AND SCHEMES

DEPARTMENT OF ADMINISTRATIVE REFORMS & PUBLIC GRIEVANCES (DARPG)

Public Grievances

Centralized Public Grievances Redress and Monitoring System (CPGRAMS)

 

5. The Committee is of the view that no government can claim itself to be accountable, responsive and user-friendly unless it has established an efficient and effective grievance redress mechanism. In fact, the efficiency and effectiveness of any organization can be measured by its grievance redressal mechanism as it provides important feedback on its working. Thus grievance redressal should be one of the core components of good governance.

(Para 3.4)

6. The Committee also observes that CPGRAMS has become the mainstay of public grievance edifice of the country. The Committee notes that over the years the Department has made many significant improvements in the grievance redressal system. Citizens are now being able to benefit from the portal by getting their grievances redressed in a time-bound manner. The Department has brought to the notice of the Committee several instances where citizens have got redressal of their grievances promptly and timely through the portal during the lockdowns due to pandemic.

(Para 3.5)

7. The Committee is pleased to note that the Department has implemented most of its recommendations like reduction in redressal period from 60 to 45 days, introduction of appellate mechanism, integration of the portal with the portals of states and thus achieving one nation – one portal goal, making available the CPGRAMS website in regional languages, initiating preparation of a ‘Grievance Redressal Index’, creating a facility for filing grievance via speech to text method etc. The Committee therefore appreciates and lauds the efforts of the Department for continuously improving and bringing about thoughtful changes in the grievance redressal system.

(Para 3.6)

8. However, it has come to the notice of the Committee that a large part of grievances are being disposed off in a routine and ad-hoc manner and the complainant remains dissatisfied with the redressal. The Committee feels that the Public Grievances should be resolved in a professional and satisfactory manner. There is a need to fix accountability on the decision making authorities. In the event of unsatisfactory redressal of the grievances, the public usually tend to approach courts for redressal of their grievances which increases the burden of courts, so the Committee desires every endeavour should be made to resolve grievances to the satisfaction of the complainant. Accordingly, the Committee recommends the department to develop mechanism to ensure accountability of the government officials dealing with the citizen’s grievances.

(Para 3.7)

9. The Committee also takes note of the fact that a very large number of the public grievances are limited to some specific aspects of certain organizations/Departments. The Committee desires that all those areas where a large number of grievances are received, should be examined and in those common areas of grievances, after analyzing the root cause, systemic changes wherever necessary should be brought without any delay which in turn will reduce the volume of grievances to a large extent.

(Para 3.8)

10. More and more people are becoming aware of the CPGRAMS, which may be gauged from the ever increasing number of grievances received every year on the portal. However, a large number of citizens are still not aware of the CPGRAMS; especially in the rural and semi-urban areas the awareness about it is very low or negligible. The Committee therefore recommends that every effort should be made to advertise on a large scale in mass media including newspapers, FM radio, social media etc. about CPGRAMS in the scheduled languages.

(Para 3.9)

11. Lastly, on the recommendations of this Committee, the Department has recently made available the CPGRAMS portal in three regional languages i.e. Bengali, Gujarati and Marathi. The Committee recommends that the Department should make available the portal in other regional languages on priority basis.

(Para 3.10)

Time Bound Delivery of Services

12. The Committee, recommends the government to bring a scheme for a time- bound delivery of goods and services for citizens. Initially the scheme may be started by including a few basic services only, which may later be expanded to include other services also. The Scheme should include appropriate measures for reward and punishment of government functionaries so that it remains effective.

(Para 3.12)

E-Office – Mission Mode Project

13. The Committee observes that e-Office is one of the key e-Governance reforms brought by the Department in the recent past. It has helped not only in making the government’s work more faster and more efficient, but has also made a marked difference in the decision making process. It has proven its worth during the recent lockdowns due to COVID pandemic in the work-from-home scenario.

(Para 3.16)

14. The Committee is therefore of the view that the e-office should be implemented in all Central Government Ministries / Departments / organizations on priority basis. Proper training on e-Office should be imparted to the officials. Every effort must be made to encourage officials to carry out their office work through e-office only. Further, at an appropriate time, it should be made binding for all Government Departments/organizations, in a phased manner, to carry out all their official work through e-office only.

(Para 3.17)

15. The Department, along with NIC/MeitY should also keep on improving the e- office software based on the inputs received from all stakeholders, on a continuous basis. The e-office should also be made compatible with all widely used browsers. As e- office has the potential for making lot of savings for the government in terms of office space, stationery etc., the Committee therefore, recommends the DARPG to approach the MoF, with proper justifications, and seek funds to implement the e-office project on a faster pace in all Ministries.

(Para 3.18)

Administrative Reforms

16. The Committee observes that apathy of civil servants in implementation of Government schemes/programmes is one of the major impediments in the implementation of government schemes and delivery of services and therefore, recommends DARPG to make appropriate programmes and initiatives for instilling right public service delivery attitude in civil servants by strengthening their behavioural competency.

(Para 3.21)

17. The Committee observes that more than a decade and a half has passed since the 2nd ARC was constituted and there have been phenomenal changes in the governance of the country mainly on account of changes in the socio-economic structure and technological revolution and recommends that the Department should explore the need for setting up of 3rd ARC.

(Para 3.23)

NATIONAL CENTRE FOR GOOD GOVERNANCE (NCGG)

18. The NCGG is envisaged to be the apex think-tank to guide the Government and help it in implementing Good Governance Reforms. The Committee feels that with such a significant mandate, the scope and activities of the Centre should be made broad based and then seek commensurate allocation to carry out the mandate. The grant-in- aid provided to the institution seems insufficient and accordingly, the Committee recommends the NCGG to work out a detailed future plan to effectively carry out its activities, on the basis of which, it should approach the government for necessary funds. In the long run, the Government should also evolve a mechanism to ensure that the Centre evolves into a result oriented organization of global excellence, which is self- sustaining and does not remain dependent on Government grants.

(Para 3.28)

DEPARTMENT OF PENSION & PENSIONERS’ WELFARE (DPPW)

19. From the mandate of the Department, it may be seen that it is primarily concerned with the Pensioners (including family Pensioners) of all Ministries / Departments under the Accounting jurisdiction of Controller General of Accounts, MoF. However, a large chunk of pensioners including Defence pensioners, Railway pensioners, Telecom pensioners, and Postal pensioners are governed by their own rules and are outside the jurisdiction of the DPPW.

(Para 3.30)

20. The Committee observes that though the name and the mandate of the Department suggest its jurisdiction over all Central Government employees, a large portion of pensioners from Defence, Railways, Telecom and Postal are outside the purview of the DPPW. These organizations also implement similar rules and schemes on the lines of DPPW. However, this multiplicity of agencies and rules in matters of pension creates confusion and duplicity. The Committee further notes that recently the Railway Budget has been integrated with the General Budget and the CPENGRAMS portal has been made common for all these organizations. Thus, there seems to be an approach in the Government towards integration and non-duplicity for making optimal utilization of resources.

(Para 3.31)

21. The Committee, therefore, recommends that the Department should explore the feasibility of integrating pensioners of all other organizations of Central Government viz. Defence, Railways, Telecom and Postal be brought in within the jurisdiction of the DPPW, by making it a single entity in the matters related to pension and pensioners’ welfare. The Department may furnish a concept paper in this regard, to the Committee, within three months.

(Para 3.32)

Pensioners’ Portal

22. The Committee notes that based on an independent third party comprehensive review of the root cause of the pensioners’ grievances the DPPW has initiated key reforms like complete digitalization of pension process and improvement in submission of Life Certificate by pensioners. The Committee appreciates such initiatives being taken up by the Department based on their learning from pensioners’ grievances.

(Para 3.39)

23. The Committee observes that as per last five years data provided by the Department on satisfaction ratings, about 40% of complainants have rated their grievance redressal as poor. Such ratings reflect poorly on the overall grievance handling by different organizations. Further, about twelve Ministries/Departments in the year 2021 and twenty two Ministries/Departments in the year 2020 have failed to resolve more than 30% of pensioners’ grievances pertaining to them within the stipulated time. This shows apathy of those organizations towards handling of pensioners’ grievances and the Committee feels dismayed over indifference shown by government officials to the grievances of their retired colleagues.

(Para 3.40)

24. The Committee accordingly recommends the DPPW to develop a mechanism/guidelines/policy to ensure accountability of the government officials dealing with the pensioners’ grievances and suggest action against the erring officials. The appellate authority should be empowered to award monetary penalties and sanction disciplinary action against those officials who are habitually responsible for delayed action or summary disposal of grievances without any qualitative action.

(Para 3.41)

Pension Adalats

25. As per the data provided by the Department on disposal of pension grievances during Pension Adalats, their resolution rates are significantly high. This perhaps is due to the fact that all stakeholders of a particular grievance are invited on a single table, the grievances are resolved quickly. Considering this performance, as recommended by the Committee in its 106th report, the Committee once again reiterates that such Pension Adalats should be held more regularly and frequently. Further, the experience gained during COVID times, the practice of holding Pension Adalats through video conferencing should be promoted.

(Para 3.45)

26. The Committee commends the overall performance of the Department of Pension and Pensioners Welfare and hopes that it will continue with its good work to bring about ‘ease of living’ for pensioners, especially for super senior citizens and family pensioners.

(Para 3.51)

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Source: Rajya Sabha

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HON'BLE HIGH COURT OF BOMBAY, BENCH OF AURANGABAD HAS DELIVERED JUDGEMENT IN FAVOUR OF THE APPLICANTS, ON THE WRIT PETITIONS FILED TO INCLUDE INCREMENT THAT FALLS ON 1ST JULY IN PENSION OF THOSE OFFICIALS WHO RETIRED ON 30TH JUNE.
Click here to view the order--> Judgement

RESERVATION IN PROMOTION TO PERSONS WITH BENCHMARK DISABILITIES (PwBDs)-REG.

(CLICK THE LINK BELOW TO VIEW)

https://documents.doptcirculars.nic.in/D2/D02csd/OM%20regarding%20PwBDsjwO7k.pdf

 BYE ELECTIONS TO 3 ASSEMBLY CONSTITUENCIES OF ODISHA, KERALA AND UTTARAKHAND - GRANT OF PAID HOLIDAY TO EMPLOYEES ON THE DAY OF POLL - REG.

(CLICK THE LINK BELOW TO VIEW)

https://dopt.gov.in/sites/default/files/Election%2031.5.2022.PDF

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Minutes of the 32nd SCOVA meeting held under the Chairmanship of Honourable MOS(PP) on 12.04.2022, at Sardar Patel Bhawan, New Delhi-reg (20/05/2022)    (CLICK THE LINK BELOW TO VIEW)

https://documents.doptcirculars.nic.in/D3/D03ppw/42_05_2022_PPW_D_20052022YrJhe.pdf

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CGHS WEBINAR ON ARTHRITIS, BACKACHE AND OTHER JOINT PAINS ON 24 MAY 2022

 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

Posted On: 23 MAY 2022 5:51PM by PIB Delhi

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 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 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.

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SNC/RR (Release ID: 1827676) 

कार्मिक, लोक शिकायत एवं पेंशन मंत्रालय

केंद्रीय मंत्री डॉक्टर जितेंद्र सिंह ने कहा : केंद्र सरकार के लापता कर्मचारियों के लिए पारिवारिक पेंशन नियमों में छूट दी गई है
केंद्रीय मंत्री ने कहा : इस कदम से जम्मू-कश्मीर और पूर्वोत्तर के आतंकवाद प्रभावित क्षेत्रों के साथ-साथ देश के नक्सल प्रभावित इलाकों में काम करने वाले कर्मचारियों को बड़ी राहत मिलेगी

Posted On: 23 MAY 2022 5:51PM by PIB Delhi

केंद्रीय राज्य मंत्री (स्वतंत्र प्रभार) विज्ञान और प्रौद्योगिकी मंत्रालय; राज्य मंत्री (स्वतंत्र प्रभार) पृथ्वी विज्ञान मंत्रालय; प्रधानमंत्री कार्यालय और कार्मिक, लोक शिकायत और पेंशन, परमाणु ऊर्जा और अंतरिक्ष मंत्रालय में राज्य मंत्री डॉक्टर जितेंद्र सिंह ने सरकारी कर्मचारियों को एक बड़ी राहत देते हुए, विशेष रूप से जम्मू-कश्मीर और पूर्वोत्तर के साथ-साथ नक्सल प्रभावित क्षेत्रों में सेवारत सरकारी कर्मचारियों के लिए, आज घोषणा की कि सरकार ने केंद्र सरकार के लापता कर्मचारियों के लिए परिवार पेंशन नियमों में छूट दी है।

 

पहले के नियम के अनुसार, किसी कर्मचारी के लापता होने पर उसके परिजनों को पारिवारिक पेंशन नहीं मिलती थी और जब तक लापता व्यक्ति को सरकार के कानून के अनुसार मृत घोषित नहीं कर दिया जाता या जब से वह लापता हुआ है तब से सात साल हो जाने तक पारिवारिक पेंशन का भुगतान नहीं किया जाएगा। नए कार्यालय ज्ञापन के अनुसार, उन सभी मामलों में जहां एनपीएस योजना के अंतर्गत शामिल किया गया एक सरकारी कर्मचारी सेवा के दौरान लापता हो जाता है, तो पारिवारिक पेंशन का लाभ लापता सरकारी कर्मचारी के परिवार को तुरंत भुगतान किया जाएगा और यदि वह फिर से उपस्थित होता है तथा सेवा फिर से शुरू करता है, तो उसके लापता होने की अवधि के बीच के समय के दौरान परिवार पेंशन के रूप में भुगतान की गई राशि को तदनुसार उसके वेतन से काटा जा सकता है।

इस संबंध में पेंशन विभाग के नए कार्यालय ज्ञापन का उल्लेख करते हुए केन्द्रीय मंत्री ने कहा कि इससे विशेष रूप से उन क्षेत्रों में बड़ी राहत मिलेगी जहां सरकारी कर्मचारियों के लापता होने की घटनाएं अधिक देखने में आती हैं। उन्होंने कहा कि हिंसा प्रभावित क्षेत्रों में काम कर रहे केंद्र सरकार के कर्मचारियों के अपहरण के मामले सामने आए हैं और इसलिए उनमें विश्वास जगाने तथा उनके और उनके परिवार के हितों की रक्षा के लिए पेंशन नियमों में बदलाव किया गया है।

केंद्रीय मंत्री महोदय ने बताया कि सीसीएस (पेंशन) नियम, 1972 के अंतर्गत आने वाला कोई सरकारी कर्मचारी लापता हो जाता है, तो लापता कर्मचारियों के परिवार को वेतन, पारिवारिक पेंशन, सेवानिवृत्ति ग्रेच्युटी, छुट्टी नकदीकरण आदि के बकाया का लाभ दिनांक 25.06.2013 को जारी किए गए निर्देश के अनुसार भुगतान किया जाता है। उन्होंने कहा कि कार्मिक एवं प्रशिक्षण विभाग, वित्तीय सेवा विभाग और व्यय विभाग के परामर्श से मामले की जांच की गई है और एनपीएस द्वारा कवर किए गए सरकारी कर्मचारियों के परिवारों को जो सेवा के दौरान लापता हो जाते हैं, ऐसे सरकारी सेवकों के परिवार की कठिनाइयों को देखते हुए इस विभाग के कार्यालय ज्ञापन संख्या 1/17/2011-पी एंड पीडब्लू (ई) दिनांक 25.06.2013 का लाभ देने का निर्णय लिया गया है।

कार्यालय ज्ञापन के अन्य प्रावधानों में कहा गया है कि उन सभी मामलों में जहां एनपीएस द्वारा कवर किया गया सरकारी कर्मचारी सेवा के दौरान लापता हो जाता है, पारिवारिक पेंशन के लाभों का भुगतान परिवार को किया जा सकता है यदि लापता सरकारी कर्मचारी ने सीसीएस (पेंशन) नियमों के अंतर्गत लाभ के विकल्प का प्रयोग किया हो। विकलांगता/अमान्यता या सीसीएस (पेंशन) नियमों के तहत लाभ पर मृत्यु या सेवा से छुट्टी पर केंद्रीय सिविल सेवा (राष्ट्रीय पेंशन प्रणाली का कार्यान्वयन) नियम, 2021 के तहत स्वत: विकल्प है। बकाया वेतन, सेवानिवृत्ति ग्रेच्युटी और छुट्टी का लाभ परिवार को नकदीकरण का भुगतान उन सभी मामलों में किया जाएगा जहां एनपीएस के तहत कवर किया गया एक सरकारी कर्मचारी सेवा के दौरान लापता हो जाता है, भले ही कर्मचारी ने सीसीएस (पेंशन) नियमों के तहत या पेंशन फंड नियामक और विकास प्राधिकरण (निकास और निकासी) राष्ट्रीय पेंशन प्रणाली के तहत विनियम, 2015 के अंतर्गत लाभ के विकल्प का उपयोग किया हो। लापता सरकारी कर्मचारी के परिवार को लाभ का भुगतान, इस विभाग के दिनांक 25.06.2013 के कार्यालय ज्ञापन में उल्लिखित शर्तों और प्रक्रियात्मक आवश्यकताओं के अधीन किया जाएगा।

एनपीएस के अंतर्गत आने वाले सरकारी कर्मचारी के सेवा के दौरान लापता होने और उसके परिवार को सीसीएस (पेंशन) नियम या सीसीएस (ईओपी) नियमों के अंतर्गत पारिवारिक पेंशन दिए जाने की स्थिति में, राष्ट्रीय पेंशन प्रणाली के अंतर्गत स्थायी सेवानिवृत्ति खाता तब तक निलंबित रहेगा जब तक सरकारी कर्मचारी - प्रकट होता है या जब तक उसे कानून के अनुसार मृत घोषित नहीं कर दिया जाता। सरकारी कर्मचारी के पुन: उपस्थित होने की स्थिति में, एनपीएस खाता पुनः सक्रिय हो जाएगा और एनपीएस के अंतर्गत वही खाता संचालित हो जाएगा। लापता एनपीएस कर्मचारी के परिवार को किए गए भुगतान की वसूली इस विभाग के दिनांक 25.06.2013 के कार्यालय ज्ञापन के अनुसार क्षतिपूर्तिकर्ता से की जाएगी। हालांकि, किसी भी समय या सात साल के बाद सरकारी कर्मचारी के मृत घोषित होने की स्थिति में, सरकारी योगदान और एनपीएस के तहत संचित पेंशन कोष से उस पर रिटर्न सरकारी खाते में स्थानांतरित कर दिया जाएगा और शेष राशि जिसमें कर्मचारियों का योगदान और उस पर रिटर्न शामिल होगा सीसीएस (एनपीएस कार्यान्वयन) नियम, 2021 के अनुसार नामित या कानूनी उत्तराधिकारी को भुगतान किया जा सकता है) और परिवार को सीसीएस (पेंशन) नियम या सीसीएस (ईओपी) नियम, जैसा भी मामला हो, के अनुसार लाभ मिलता रहेगा।

डॉक्टर जितेंद्र सिंह ने याद दिलाया कि वर्ष 2014 में श्री नरेन्द्र मोदी के सत्ता में आने के बाद से, पेंशन और पेंशनभोगी कल्याण विभाग ने तलाकशुदा बेटियों और दिव्यांगों के लिए पारिवारिक पेंशन के प्रावधान में छूट, फेस रिकग्निशन टेक्नोलॉजी की शुरुआत, बुजुर्ग पेंशनभोगियों द्वारा जीवन प्रमाण पत्र जमा करने में आसानी के लिए मोबाइल ऐप, इलेक्ट्रॉनिक पेंशन पे ऑर्डर, पेंशन प्रक्रिया को सुविधाजनक बनाने के लिए डाक विभाग से सहायता आदि सहित कई क्रांतिकारी सुधार किए हैं। उन्होंने कहा कि इसके अलावा मृतक सरकारी कर्मचारी/पेंशनभोगी के दिव्‍यांग बच्चे को पारिवारिक पेंशन के विस्तार देने जैसे कदम या एक मृत सरकारी कर्मचारी/पेंशनभोगी के दिव्यांग बच्चों के लिए पारिवारिक पेंशन परिलब्धियों में एक बड़ी वृद्धि न केवल पेंशन सुधार है बल्कि ये व्यापक प्रभाव वाले सामाजिक सुधार हैं।   जी/एएम/एमकेएस/वाईबी      (Release ID: 1827718)