Page 39 - TELEWAVE AUGUST-2015

 For Pre 2007 Pensioners: Their pension will be notionally revised by merging 78.2% IDA as on 1-1-2007 but the revised pension will be actually paid from 10-06-2013. Pension Arrears from 1-1-2007 to 09-06-2013 will not be paid.  For Post 2007 Pensioners: Their pay will be notionally revised from 1-1-2007, which will also revise their last pay drawn notionally. The pension will be revised accordingly from their date of retirement but will be actually paid from 10-06-2013. They will not be paid the pension arrears from date of retirement to 09-06-2013,and also arrears of leave encashment, gratuity, commutation. The pay arrears from 1-1-2007 to date of retirement will also be not paid like serving employees.  It is also proposed to abolish the 60:40 pension sharing system with BSNL as was approved in the cabinet memo dated 29-12-2010. It is now expected that within two months time. 2) Cabinet Approval to 60:40 Pension Sharing with BSNL – A Serious Threat To The DOT Pensioners Retired after 1-10-2000 and also before 1-10-2000 With the approval of the cabinet memo dated 29-12-2010 by the Union Cabinet on 20-01-2011 the question of smooth payment of pension to BSNL absorbees and to those who retired before formation of BSNL is certainly at stake. The Union Cabinet has approved Para 6 of the said cabinet memo which reads as below: 6.2 “………., and government liability of pension being limited to 60% of receipts as mentioned in Para 3.2 to 3.5 of this note” and Para 3.5 reads as “After this revision the annual pension liability of the government in respect of employees of DoT/DTS/DTO who retired prior to 1.10.2000 and those who have worked or working in BSNL on deemed deputation and for those who are absorbed in BSNL, shall not exceed 60% of annual receipts to the Government from (i) Dividend income from MTNL/BSNL, (ii) Licence fee from MTNL/BSNL, and (iii) Corporate Tax/Excise Duty/Service tax paid by BSNL. If the annual pension liability exceeds the figure 60%, the balance amount is to be paid by BSNL.” Above Cabinet approval has thus superseded the assurance of the then Secretary DOT Sri Sidhartha Behura on 05-01-2009, clarifying the position that the provision of 60% is only for “funding purpose”, and it does not in any way distract from the fact that ultimate liability of paying pension lies with the Government of India. And if BSNL for any reason is unable to contribute, the Government of India will still pay the admissible pension to BSNL employees“. It is also revealed from the note sheets of the file in which cabinet approval was taken that initially the protection clause as mentioned above was also part of the cabinet memo, which has subsequently been removed from the final draft without showing any reasons for such removal. We have strongly protested such treacherous action of DOT immediately in writing as it will endanger the future of everyone. In the meeting held with secretary DOT on 01-05-2015 after the nd st Strike of 21 &22 April 2015, along with other issues this issue was also strongly protested by AIBSNLEA. We have handed over a note with 20 annexure related to absorption documents and term conditions. GS AIBSNLEA has established in that meeting that the 60:40 pension sharing as approved by cabinet had never been mentioned to us at the time of absorption and now implementing such provision endangering the pension will be nothing short of treachery on the part of DOT. Secretary DOT agreed to examine the issue with all the documents supplied. Subsequently it is now learnt that DOT has decided to withdraw the 60:40 provision and included the same in the cabinet memo for 78.2% IDA merger for pensioners as mentioned above. This has been achieved only due to timely action taken only by AIBSNLEA. This is a great achievement made only by negotiations with proper documents silently. Making agree the DOT to revert back its own decision taken is not a small thing. We hope that the cabinet also will finally approve the withdrawal of the 60:40 pension sharing. If still anything unexpected happen, then we have to be prepared for a legal battle. TELEWAVE Page-39 AUGUST-2015