THE STATE OF SPL. FAMILY PENSIONER & HER FAMILY

Smt.Subbulakshmi, M/O (Late) Gnr.Krishnan is receiving
the arrears calculation sheet for Rs.3,84,000 from, the Chief
Liaison Officer of the Trust Sgt.S.Kandiah (Retd.)
The Managing Trustee Sgt.R.Chellappa receiving a voluntary
contribution from a beneficiary to the Trust.

THE STATE OF SPECIAL FAMILY PENSIONER AND HER FAMILY.

Special Family Pension is sanctioned to a widow only when the death of a soldier is aggravated by military service as determined by the competent authorities and therefore a higher rate of pension is sanctioned to the widow. Normally this PPO is identified by a Prefix ‘F’, or ‘BC’ before the PPO number. The PDAs are not aware of this basic rule as a result, the higher rate of pension payable to the widow is denied for ever.

Sep.No.8799083 Maruthiah Thevar died while on active service on 19.10.1971. His wife Smt.Muthammal was sanctioned Special Family Pension w.e.f. 20.10.1971 under PPO No.F/5280/1974.

She was drawing her family pension from Canara Bank, Veera Keralampudur Branch of Tirunelveli District, Tamil Nadu. There have been 4 pay commissions after 1971. The pension has undergone revision in three pay commissions. There is distinct difference in Ordinary family pension and Spl. Family pension. The 5th and the 6th CPCs doubled the minimum ordinary family pension for the Special Family pensioners.

Now the question is, did this improvement in pension on the successive pay commission reach the family pensioners ? A big NO is the answer. Here is a case.

Smt.Muthammal, a special family pensioner was eligible for a monthly basic pension of Rs.2550 from 1.1.96 to 31.12.2005 but was paid only Rs.1275 during that period. Similarly from 1.1.2006 she was eligible for Rs.7000 as per 6th CPC, but was paid Rs.3500 only. The actual position from 1971 to 1995 is not traceable.

In the meantime she died on 15.5.2009. When the Exwel Trust’s Chief Liaison Officer, Sgt.S.Kandiah (Retd.) visited the Bank for arranging the payment of the Life Time Arrears to her legal heirs, he was surprised to see that the widow has been paid just minimum ordinary family pension from 1971 till date. The status of her special family pension was not at all effected in her monthly pension for the 33 years. None of the Bank’s auditors, Accountant General’s Auditors, the Reserve Bank’s pension auditors did notice this short payment to this widow for the past 33 years. See what a pity ?

The poor widow could not enjoy her legitimate pension for the past 33 years. Now the LTA amounting to Rs.4 lacs has to be claimed with lot of legal formalities.

There is another similar case with Canara Bank, Tenkasi of Tirunelveli District. Ex.Gnr.No.128413 Krishnan died while in service on 06.2.1979. His mother Smt.Subbulakshmi was sanctioned a Special family pension under PPO No.F/2237/80 w.e.f. 7.2.79. This poor mother of a soldier is also being paid simply ordinary family pension instead of Special family pension from 1979.

Fortunately, in this case, she is alive now. Her another son Ex.Hav.S.Sankaran came to know about the Exwel Trust’s services to the pensioner. He visited the Trust’s office with her mother’s pension papers.

The short payment of about Rs.3,84,000 has been worked out and presented to the bank for immediate payment to Smt.Subbulakshmi.

Now the question is What is the solution for this problem ? There are many cases of short payment in defence pensions with almost all the pension paying banks. The MOD and the CDA(P) are keeping silent about this. The ex-servicemen welfare organizations like IESL, IESM, AFA and the Naval Foundation should come out with a strong protest and formulate a system for payment of correct pension to all the defence pensioners.

In this age of information technology revolution in the Banks, incorrect payment of pension to the pensioners cannot be accepted. It is a shame on the part of the Banks to pay incorrect pension to poor widows. Will the Banks do something to correct the position ?

PAYMENT OF PENSION TO SICK & DISABLED PENSIONERS

PAYMENT OF PENSION TO THE SICK AND
DISABLED INCAPACITATED PENSIONERS

Operation of Banks Accounts by Old/Sick/Incapacitated Customers.

It has been brought to the notice of Department of Pension & Pensioners’ Welfare that the sick and disabled pensioners are facing difficulties in withdrawing their pension amount from the banks.

In order to facilitate old / sick / incapacitated bank customers to operate their bank accounts, the procedure laid down may be followed. The cases of sick/old/incapacitated account holders fall into the following categories:

(i) an account holder who is too ill to sign a cheque/cannot be physically present in the bank to withdraw money from his bank account but can put his/her thumb impression on the cheque/withdrawal form, and

(ii) An account holder who is not only unable to be physically present in the bank but is also not even able to put his/her thumb impression on the cheque/withdrawal form due to certain physical defect/incapacity.

The banks may follow the procedure as under:

(i) Wherever thumb or tow impression of the sick/old incapacitated account holder is obtained, it should be identified by two independent witness known to the bank, one of whom should be a responsible bank official
(ii) Where the customer cannot even put his/her thumb impression and also would not be able to be physically present in the bank, a mark obtained on the cheque/withdrawal form which should be identified by two independent witnesses, one of whom should be a responsible bank official

In such case, the customer may be asked to indicate to the bank as to who would withdraw the amount from the bank on the basis of (cheque/withdrawal form as obtained above and that person should be identified by two independent witnesses. The person who would be actually drawing the money from the bank should be asked to furnish his signature to the bank.

In this context, according to an opinion obtained by the Indian Bank’s Association from their consultant on the question of opening of a bank account of a person who had lost both his, hands and could not sign the cheque/withdrawal form, there must be physical contact between the person who is to sign and the signature or the mark put on the document. Therefore, in the case of the person who has lost both his hand, the signature can be by means of a mark. This mark can be placed by person in any manner. It could be the tow impression, as suggested. It can be by means of mark which anybody can put on behalf of the person who has to sign, the mark being put by an instrument which has had a physical contact with the person who has to sign.

RBI has been advised by the National Trust for the Welfare of Persons with Autism, Cerebral Palsy, Mental Retardation and multiple Disabilities (the Trust) that a question had been raised as to whether the banks and the banking section could accept the guardianship certificates in regard to persons with disabilities issued by the Local Level Committees set up under the National Trust for the Welfare of Persons with autism, Cerebral Palsy, Mental Retardation and Multiple Disabilities Act, 1999.

The Trust has mentioned that the above ACT was specifically passed by the Parliament in order to provide for appointment of legal guardians for persons with disability that is covered under the said Act. The above Act provides for appointment of legal guardians for persons with disability by the Local Level Committee set up under the Act. The Trust has opined that a: legal, guardian so appointed can open and operate the bank account as long as he remains the legal guardian. It may also be noted that the provisions of Mental Health Act, 1987 also allows appointment of Guardian by District Courts. Banks are therefore advised to rely upon the Guardianship certificate issued either by the District Court under Mental Health Act or by the Local Level Committees under the above Act for the purposes of opening/operating bank accounts. Banks may also ensure that their branches give proper guidance so that the parents/relatives of the disabled persons do not face any difficulty in this regard.

BASIC RESPONSIBILITIES OF A DEFENCE PENSIONER

BASIC RESPONSIBILITIES OF A DEFENCE PENSIONER

The Defence personnel are the only category of people who attain the status of ‘Pensioner’ at the age of 35. Similarly, the widowed pensioners at the age of 20 are only from among the Defence family pensioners.

Look at the enormous responsibilities shouldered by this category of people at such a young age to swim against the life with such a meager pension for a long period.

Therefore it is very important, that all the defence pensioners and the defence family pensioners should know certain basic aspects of this pension to get the continued benefit throughout their life. In order benefit to maximum readers, this information are given in Hindi also. Kindly follow to safeguard you and your family.

The responsibilities:-

• Send intimation to Pension Disbursing Authority (Banks) and Record Office/Head Office regularly for any change in your residential address.
• Call on your PDA annually positively in the month of November, each year, for the purpose of annual identification, (Life Certificate) failing which, payment of pension may be stopped.
• If you are re-employed in a State/Central government, or a Public Sector Undertaking, intimate the PDA, full details thereof, for regulating the dearness relief on pension. (Most cases of re-employed PBORs the Dearness Relief is admissible on re-employment. A certificate is to be obtained from the re-employer and submitted to PDA for payment of D.R with pension) In case of your not being re-employed under Govt., a declaration to this effect may be given to your PDA, once in a year in the month of May.
• If you are in receipt of more than one pension, furnish full details to your PDA for revising both the pensions and relief thereon.
• If you want to get your pension account transferred to other PDA/Bank, apply to your present PDA., PCDA(P), Allahabad has no role to play, in this regard, except in case of transfer outside India.
• In case you have not drawn your pension within 12 months, please approach your PDA with explanation for delay, non re-employment and non-conviction certificates. Treasury Officers/PAOs have powers to make payment of arrears up to 3 years (5 years in cases of DPDOs). PCDA(P) can sanction arrears claims beyond 3/5 years.
• Furnish full details with relevant certificates from the competent authority to the Record Office/H.O.O. if you have married after discharge or have children born after discharge and death of wife/children for record in your sheet roll/service book.
• If joint notification of family pension has not been done in your case, apply to your PDA for endorsement of family pension on the proper form. Your PDA will process the application through your R.O./H.O.O./Army Hqrs.
• In case of any dispute regarding entitlement to family pension, the matter may be got sorted out with RO and BRO. For immediate guidance, assistance of Local Zila Sainik Board may be sought.
• In case your disability pension is rejected, you are entitled to make an appeal to the Govt., of India within 6 months from the date of rejection memo through the Record Office, if you feel that the disability in your case is due to Service factors. Similarly, family of the deceased can also make an appeal, if the claim for special family pension is rejected.
• Appear before Re-survey Medical Board on due date, as arranged by the Record Office. In case you fail to appear before RSMB for a long time, submit delay explanation along with non-conviction and non re-employment certificates to the Record Office, when a fresh RSMB is arranged.
• If you have any problem regarding payment of pension, write to your PDAs with TS/HO/PS/PPO No./Bank Account No. If your problem is not solved by PDA, write to the Audit Section of Principal CDA(P) Allahabad/Public Grievances Officer, Office of the Principal Controller of Defence Accounts (Pension), Draupathi Ghat, Allahabad with your full details as given below:-
• While sending your application/representation to the office of the PCDA(P) Allahabad, please ensure that following information/particulars are invariably furnished along with full details of your problem/grievance.

(i) Your Name, Rank, Regtl. No. and Record Office/H.O.O. from where you retired.

(ii) P.P.O. No. and date under which pension was granted in your favour.

(iii) Name of the P.D.A./Bank Branch from where you are drawing your pension with Savings Bank/Current Account No.

(iv) T.S./P.S./H.O. No. allotted to you (in case of D.P.D.Os, Treasuries, Post Offices and P.A.Os).

• If you have any problem or doubt regarding the rate of pension granted to you, write to the Record Office/H.O.O. indicating the PPO No. in which the pension was granted to you.
• If the PPO is lost in the PDA’s office, request the PDA to send a loss certificate on the prescribed form to Officer I/c PPO Section of PCDA(P), Allahabad.
• Convert your Pension account in the Bank into a joint account with your wife.

Don’t forget to give nomination to your Pension account.

• Keep your wife informed of all the information about your personal dealings.
• Make a regular visit to your Welfare Association and contribute your mite for the

Well being of your Association.

DRAWAL OF PENSION BY NON-RESIDENT INDIAN, DEFENCE PENSIONERS

PROCEDURE FOR DRAWAL OF PENSION BY NON-RESIDENT
INDIAN, DEFENCE PENSIONERS.

The formalities to be adopted by pensioners residing in foreign countries are as under:-

A NRI pensioner is required:

1. To open a Non-resident Bank Account with any Scheduled Bank in India.

2. To execute a power of Attorney in duplicate on Indian non-Judicial Stamp paper of appropriate value. Where Indian non-judicial stamp paper is not available, it can be made on durable plain paper affixed with adhesive Indian Stamp of appropriate value. The value of the stamp will be determined with reference to practice as obtained in the place where the Power of Attorney is executed. The Power of Attorney will be executed before Notary Public or Indian Mission abroad. It shall be ensured that if the Power of Attorney is executed before Notary Public, it must be signed in the presence of an official of Indian Embassy/Mission abroad, who should attest the signature of the pensioner.

If the Power of Attorney is executed on plain paper, and is not affixed with the adhesive Indian stamps of appropriate value, the pensioner may be requested to write his agent in India advising him to take the same to the Collector within 3 months of its receipt for getting it stamped according to Indian stamp Act.

1. To submit an arrear claim on IAF(CDA) 651, if the pension has not been drawn for more than one year.

2. To submit claim on IAFA-380 (a)

3. To submit the life certificate (IAFA-409), issued by an authorized official of the Embassy/High Commission of India, or consuls of Indian Consulates or Notary Public or an officer of an Indian public Sector Bank attached to its branch in the country, where the pensioner is residing, once in a year in November each year.

4. To submit a certificate once a year in April each year whose nationality at the time of retirement was Indian and who for the time being are residing outside India, on the following lines:-

(a) “I certify that I was an Indian nation at the time of my retirement and have not thereafter changed my nationality and become a naturalized citizen of foreign state”.

(b) The pensioner who has changed his/her nationality, and has become a citizen of a foreign state, must submit a certificate regarding change of nationality, to his Bank along with a copy of nationality certificate, granted by the country, where the pensioner is residing, to the Principal CDA(P), through the Link Branch.

5. To forward an attested copy of pensioner’s passport.

6. To submit other certificate viz. non-employment/re-employment certificate, non-marriage certificate etc.

7. To submit a declaration ratifying the Acts/deed done by the pensioner’s attorney in April each year.

The above documents are required to be forwarded to pensioner’s Agent in India for submitting the claim to Principal CDA(P), Allahabad through concerned Pension Disbursing Authority.

The life certificate and nationality certificates etc. referred above are to be submitted initially with the first claim and thereafter once a year along with the claim for the month of November and April respectively. It may further be noted that pension will not be paid beyond the date on which the next life certificate, Nationality certificate, ratification deed is due.

Specimen form of Power of Attorney - Click

PLIGHT OF RE-EMPLOYED EX-SERVICEMEN'S WIDOWS

PLIGHT OF THE RE-EMPLOYED EX-SERVICEMENS' WIDOWS

IN GETTING THE BENEFICIAL PENSION.

The truncated service in the Armed forces compels the ex-servicemen to seek re-employment. The re-employed ex-servicemen after retirement from the re-employed post are given minimum pro-rata pension, in addition to the minimum defence pension. Both these minimum pensions put together will not come equal to the full pension (33 years) being drawn by others who are fortunate to complete full service in one organization.

Moreover, these ex-servicemen are not given any weightage of military service/seniority in the re-employed post. They are appointed in the minimum scale and retire with minimum pension. Even though there are instructions to count the military service for seniority, promotion etc., in the re-employed post, but these ex-servicemen are not given any such privileges in the re-employed service. Whereas the families of these re-employed ex-servicemen are not allowed to draw both the family pensions. They are allowed to draw only one family pension after the demise of the ex-serviceman.

In the circumstances, there is no justification in denying the second family pension. Also there are many public sector undertakings and banks that are having their own pension fund, also denying this family pension to the widows of these ex-servicemen.

For example, a large number of ex-servicemen were employed in the public sector banks during the period 1981 to 1991, now most of them have retired and some of them have died. The widows of these re-employed ex-servicemen are not given the bank’s family pension even though the banks have their own contributory pension scheme.

The State Bank of India, a premier institution, having sufficient funds to meet the pension commitment to its pensioners, is also denying the family pension to these widows. Although, the SBI’s pension scheme is different from the CCS pension rules, but when question of paying the family pension arises to a widow of a re-employed ex-serviceman, the banks deny by stating the CCS pension rules.

The plight of SBI pensioners is worst. When the mighty trade unions fight for the revision of salary and allowances for the working employees in the past, but they failed to negotiate for the revision of the SBI Pension and family pension. The recent revision in the SBI family pension has not improved the situation.

Now there are some widows who are eligible to get higher rate of Defence family pension as per the 6^th CPC, as compared to the SBI’s family pension, are denied the defence family pension because of the option given by their husbands for the bank’s pension earlier, which is now lower than the defence family pension.

ARMY GROUP INSURANCE FUND

ARMY GROUP INSURANCE
31 YEARS OF DEDICATED SERVICE

The Army Group Insurance was registered as a society with the Registrar of Societies undertheRegistration of Societies Act, (Act XXI) of 1860 with following objects:-

o To provide Insurance benefit speedily to the families of those Army personnel who may die while in service. o Provide lump sum maturity benefit at the time of retirement.
o To provide any other benefits as may be decided by the Board of Governors from time to time.

· On inception, AGIF had started with just two schemes. It has come a long way sine then and has introduced many schemes keeping in view the socio-economic conditions in the country and the needs of Army personnel and their families. The present AGIF schemes are listed below:

o Life Insurance cover.
o Insurance Cover for APS personnel.
o Insurance cover for DSC personnel.
o Insurance Cover for TA personnel.
o Disability Benefit.
o Maturity Benefit.
o Ex. Gratia Disability Allowance to Severely Handicapped and Disabled Officers and PBOR.
o Additional Insurance Cover for Army Aviation Corps Pilots and MMG Gunners.
o Insurance Cover for Gentlemen/Lady Cadets of NDA, IMA and OTA.
o Sustenance Allowance to Differently Abled Children with Special Needs of Serving Soldiers Dying in Harness.
o Post Retirement extended Insurance Scheme.
o Social Security Deposit Scheme for widows and minors.
o Conveyance Advance.
o Conveyance Advance Linked Group Life Insurance Scheme.
o House Building Advance Scheme.
o House Building Advance Linked Group Life Insurance Scheme.
o Personal Computer Advance Scheme.

BENEFITS AFTER RETIREMENT

· Post Retirement Extended Insurance (EI) Scheme

· EI Scheme was introduced in 1981 with the aim of providing Life Insurance Cover without any maturity benefit to Army personnel after retirement/discharge/release up to a specified period and amount by charging on time non refundable subscription.

· The scheme provides the specified amount of cover to the NOK in case of death of the member within the period of cover, as given in the certificate issued to each member.

· The scheme has undergone periodic reviews and is applicable depending on the date of retirement as given below:-

Benefits after retirement - Click

AGI Extended Insurance Features - Click

PART II ORDER FOR ADDITIONAL PENSION

PUBLICATION OF PART II ORDER/POR FOR ADDITIONAL PENSION

All defence pensioners, specially family pensioners and the spouses of living pensioners are advised to get their Part II/(POR in case of Air Force) published through their record offices for proof of date of birth, otherwise the 20% additional pension on attaining 80 of age will be delayed.

Forward an attested copy of a Birth certificate, or school certificate or pass port or an affidavit from 1st Class Magistrate or an attested copy of the registration in panchayat to your record office with a request for publication of part II order and get it ready before attaining eighty years of age.

The Army HQ and the Record offices have done excellent work in providing Part II order to the needy ex servicemen to enable them to join the ECHS.

However lot more needs to be done in this regard. It is difficult to get attestation from a 1st Class Magistrate. You all know that how our judicial system is working. It is not possible for an ordinary Sepoy to approach a 1st Class Magistrate for such personal work. The judiciary is working under severe tension; as such they do not entertain such work at all. I therefore on behalf of thousands of veterans, request the authorities to wave the attestation requirement from the 1st Class magistrate, instead an affidavit from a Notary Public may be accepted for publication of Part II order.

Another area, is the production of income certificate to the parents. This is again a cumbersome procedure with the revenue department. A declaration from the veteran stating their parent’s income is less that Rs.2550, with a conditional clause will be more binding on the veteran than running around for such certificates from revenue officials.

Moreover, our veterans must be trusted by our own organization first. There are some veterans, who refuse to give any bribe for such certificates, could not join the ECHS till now. Accepting a self declaration in such matters will make the veteran more responsible and respectable in the society.

The difficulties stated above are some of the reasons for slow enrollment in the ECHS. We therefore request the MD ECHS and the MOD to review the situation and relax the rules in this regard. Banks should allow the local available age proof & release the additional pension.

PENSION NEWS

THERE HAVE BEEN SOME PRESS REPORTS THAT THE GOVT. IS CONSTITUTING TWO COMMITTEES TO WORK OUT ENHANCEMENT IN PAST PENSION. SOME NEWS REPORTEDLY SAID THAT GOVT. IS CONSIDERING INCREASE IN PENSION FOR OLD PENSIONERS.

GOOD NEWS IS EXPECTED BEFORE 16TH MAY 2009. LET US HOPE FOR THE BEST.

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