ELIGIBILITY FOR TWO FAMILY PENSIONS

 

An aged widow is being helped for 2nd family pension by Exwel Trust.

ELIGIBILITY FOR TWO FAMILY PENSIONS

Government of India, Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, Department of Pension and Pensioners’ Welfare issued Office Memorandum on 16.01.2013 allowed two family pensions by omitting Sub Rule 13A and 13B of Pension Regulations which prohibited two family pensions.

Although the orders are made applicable for State Governments, Public Sector undertakings/ Autonomous bodies/Local fund under the Central or State Government, but it is not addressed to them for implementation.  These orders are addressed to All Ministries/Departments of Government of India. Because of this, various State Governments not taking up the issue seriously.

A widow of an ex-servicemen, who was employed in State Government applies with this order for State Governments Family pension, does not get any reply.  Every state government has got their own pension regulations, wherein Rule 49 Sub Rule 13A and 13 B to be omitted for granting 2^nd family pension.  Respective state governments must issue orders for amendments in the Pension Regulations.  Only then, the widows will get pension.  At least the Zilla Sainik Boards in all the States should take initiative on this issue.  It appears, even after the issue of the order by the Govt. of India, still some state Governments are not issuing family pension endorsement to their employees. 

The state of the widows of re-employed ex-servicemen in various departments of the state governments is pitiable.  There is no encouraging response from the departments to get them second family pension.  For example, an ex-serviceman employed in Registration Department of Tamil Nadu died while in service in 1986.  His wife applied for family pension through Registration Department and also made representation to the District Collector. It is more than 4 months passed; no reply has been received so far.

Similarly, an ex-serviceman employed ESI Corporation drawing ESIC Pension died in the year 2006.  His wife represented to the ESI HQ, New Delhi, and so far encouraging response.  The widows of ex-servicemen Bank Employees are also not getting the Banks family pension as the Indian Banks Association (IBA) is delaying the issue.

Above all, our own Defense services, their Record Offices and CDA (P) Allahabad are not at all taking any quick action to grant this eligible second family pension to these aged widows.  Now many aged widows are losing the hope of getting 2^nd family pension, because of the procedural delay in sanctioning the same.

The Exwel Trust had taken up 20 cases for granting 2^nd Family Pension.  So far no indication of getting its sanction.

Through this write up we request the INDIAN EXSERVICEMEN MOVEMENT (IESM) to take up the matter with the appropriate authorities for an early sanction of this 2^nd family pension.