Friday 9 April 2021
Wednesday 7 April 2021
Tuesday 6 April 2021
ORDER OF HON'BLE SUPREME COURT OF INDIA DTD 05.03.2020 ON SLP(C) NO. 21803/2014 UOL VS M.V.MOHAN NAIR & ORS REGARDING BENEFITS IN PROMOTIONAL HIERARCHY UNDER MACP SCHEME - OTHER ISSUES ARISING OUT OF ORDER DATED 05/03/2020 – REGARDING
(CLICK THE LINK BELOW TO VIEW THE ORDER)
https://dopt.gov.in/sites/default/files/2203442020%2005042021.pdf
Thursday 1 April 2021
PRESS NEWS (PIB)
DOPPW ISSUES NOTIFICATION FOR REGULATING THE SERVICE MATTERS OF CENTRAL GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES COVERED UNDER THE NATIONAL PENSION SYSTEM
Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions
DoPPW issues notification for Central Government employees covered under the NPS
Posted On: 31 MAR 2021 5:16PM by PIB Delhi
DoPPW has brought out the notification for regulating the service matters of Central Government employees covered under the National Pension System.
The New Defined Contribution based Pension Scheme was introduced vide Department of Economic Affairs Notification No. 5/7/2003-ECB & PR dated 22nd December, 2003.Thereafter the activities under the National Pension System viz. registration, contribution, investment, fund management, withdrawals, annuity, etc. are regulated by the PFRDA Act, 2013.
However, there were several service matters pertaining the NPS employees which were not covered by the PFRDA Act. Therefore, in order to streamline the implementation of NPS, DoPPW initiated the proposal for framing of separate service rules for NPS employees.
The present notification provides a detail guideline for processing various benefits /facility available to NPS employees such as compensation to be paid to the Government servant in case of delay in registration and credit of contributions to the NPS Account, Option for benefits under the CCS(Pension) Rules or NPS Rules in the event of death or disability of Government servant during service, Benefits payable on retirement on superannuation, premature retirement, voluntary retirement, absorption in autonomous body or PSU, etc.
Earlier the benefits of invalid pension, family pension on death during service, disability pension and extraordinary family pension were extended to NPS covered Government employees at par with the employees appointed before 01.01.2004, vide DoPPW’s O.M. No. 38/41/06-P&PW(A) dated 05.05.2009. Thereafter, the benefits of Retirement Gratuity and Death Gratuity have also been extended to all Central Government employees covered by National Pension System vide DoPPW’s order dated 26.08.2016 on the same terms and conditions as are applicable under CCS(Pension) Rules.Source: PIB
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CHANGE OF ADDRESS OF VIAAN EYE & RETINA CENTRE, GURGAON, HARYANA UNDER CGHS DELHI & NCR – CGHS ORDER DATED 24.03.2021
F.No.S.1101 1/13/2021 -CGHS(HEC)
Government of India
Directorate General of Central Govt. Health Scheme
Ministry of Health & Family Welfare
CGHS Bhawan, R.K. Puram-13
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New Delhi — 110066
Dated 24th March, 2021
OFFICE ORDER
Subject: Change of Address of Viaan Eye & Retina Centre, under CGHS.
With reference on the above subject, the undersigned is directed to convey the approval of competent authority for change of address in respect of the Viaan Eye & Retina Centre, UG-4, Bestech Central Square Mall, Sushant Lok-II, Sector-57, Gurgaon. Tel. No. 0124-4065151 to “Plot No. 2227, Near Wazirabad crossing, Sec-57, Gurgaon, Haryana.122002” Telephone +91-9560697627 / +91-9958065151.
The other terms & conditions of empanelment shall remain unchanged.
Sd/-
[Dr. Arvind Kumar]
Additional Director,
DECLARATION OF HOLIDAY ON 14TH APRIL, 2021 - BIRTHDAY OF DR. B.R. AMBEDKAR
(CLICK THE LINK BELOW TO VIEW)
https://dopt.gov.in/sites/default/files/Ambedkar%20holiday%202021.pdf
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COVERAGE UNDER CENTRAL CIVIL SERVICES (PENSION) RULES, 1972 OF THOSE CENTRAL GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES WHOSE SELECTION FOR APPOINTMENT WERE FINALIZED BEFORE 01.01.2004 BUT JOINED GOVERNMENT SERVICE ON OR AFTER 01.01.2004 - EXTENSION OF CUT-OFF DATES(31/03/2021)
(CLICK THE LINK BELOW TO VIEW)
https://documents.doptcirculars.nic.in/D3/D03ppw/Extension_31032021yjiiT.pdf
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CENTRAL CIVIL SERVICES (IMPLEMENTATION OF NATIONAL PENSION SYSTEM (NPS)) RULES, 2021(30/03/2021)
(CLICK THE LINK BELOW TO VIEW)
https://documents.doptcirculars.nic.in/D3/D03ppw/NotifiedRule_NPS_300320219S1qV.pdf
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CLARIFICATION REGARDING FULL AND FINAL SETTLEMENT OF BILLS/CLAIMS PERTAINING TO LTC SPECIAL CASH PACKAGE SCHEME
(CLICK THE LINK BELOW TO VIEW)
Tuesday 30 March 2021
GUIDELINES REGARDING ADMINISTRATION OF COVID VACCINE TO THE CGHS BENEFICIARIES OM DATED 26.03.2021
Misc-12/CGHS/Gr. Cell/2021/DIR/CGHS
Government of India
Ministry of Health & Family Welfare
Directorate General of CGHS
Nirman Bhawan, New Delhi
Dated the 26 March 2021
OFFICE MEMORANDUM
Sub: Guidelines regarding administration of COVID vaccine to the CGHS beneficiaries-
The Department has been receiving various representations and grievances regarding administration of COVID vaccine to the CGHS beneficiaries. The matter has been examined and it has now been decided that:
1. As per the Government of India policy, the vaccination against COVID illness is being provided free of cost to the beneficiaries at the designated government facilities. The beneficiaries are required to pay Rs. 250/- per dose in the private hospitals only. As per the policy no reimbursement has been provisioned if a beneficiary decides to get vaccinated at private empanelled hospitals, therefore the referral for .the same by the. CGHS Wellness Centers to the private hospitals is not required.
2. The planning and operational aspects for COVID-19 vaccination are in the domain of the State Governments. The District Health authorities of the State Governments are making arrangements for listing of the health facilities. for providing training, logistics, vaccinators and the vaccine to the identified facilities where COVID-19 vaccination centers are being planned and started. The CGHS does not have any role in this. A request has been made to all States to consider utilising CGHS Wellness Centres as CVC (Covid Vaccination Centre), if feasible.
3. All the beneficiaries are required to register themselves on the CoWin app and to indicate the name of the CVC where they would like to avail the vaccination and also the convenience of time at which to avail the same.
Here’s a step-by-step guide for registration and booking a vaccination appointment on CoWin:
· People can register and book an appointment for vaccination either directly through the CoWin portal or through the Arogya Setu app which js integrated with CoWin portal.
· On CoWin portal, enter your mobile number and click on the OTP (One Time Password). Enter the OTP received on your mobile and click on the verify button.
· If registering through Aarogya Setu app, go to the CoWin tab, tap on the Vaccination tab and the click on Proceed.
· A registration page will appear where you will need to fill in the beneficiary’s details, such as name, year of birth and gender. You will also need to enter the photo id type.
· If the registration is meant for a senior citizen, click on Register. If it’s for a person with co- morbidities, click on YES where the form asks, “Do you have any co-morbidities (pre- existing medical conditions)”. The beneficiaries in this category need to carry a medical certificate when they go for their vaccine appointment.
· Once registered, a confirmation message will be sent to your registered mobile number.
· After registration, the system will show the “Account Details”. On this page, you can add three more beneficiaries by clicking on Add More button.
· One person can add up to four people linked with one mobile number.
· You can schedule an appointment by clicking on a calendar icon, below a column named Action.
· You will then be taken to “Book Appointment for Vaccination” page where you will need to fill in the beneficiaries’ address details – State/UT, District, Block and Pincode. Click on the Search button once done.
· A list of vaccination centres will appear based on the search criteria.
· Upon choosing a centre, the available slots (date and capacity) will be displayed.
· After selection the dates, click on “Book”.
· A confirmation page with “Appointment Successful” message will be displayed.
· If you want to reschedule, you can again log in with your mobile number, enter OTP and make the changes by clicking on the edit icon below the ‘Action’ column against registered individuals. In case you have to move to another city, you can make changes to find the nearest vaccination centre as well.
4. This issues with the approval of the Competent Authority.
Sd/-
(Dr Sanjay Jain)
Director CGHS
Thursday 25 March 2021
LIFE CERTIFICATE TO ELDERLY PENSION HOLDERS
Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions
Life Certificate to Elderly Pension Holders
Posted On: 24 MAR 2021 4:42PM by PIB Delhi
The Government has taken many technical and managerial measures for providing Life Certificate easily to elderly pension holders by concerned institutions/banks. The details are as under:-
Keeping in view the difficulties faced by very senior citizens aged 80 years and above, an exclusive window from 1st October onwards, has been provided to them to avoid the general rush from 1st November onwards.
Department of Pension and Pensioners’ Welfare started a Pilot Programme “DLC from home campaign” in 2018 in 7 cities through Pensioners’ Associations. The objective of the campaign was to extend support to aged and infirm pensioners in submission of Life Certificate digitally from home. In 2019, this project was expanded to cover 24 cities and this has continued up to 2021 as well, with the help of Registered Pensioners’ Associations
Department of Pension and Pensioners’ Welfare roped in the India Post Payments Bank (IPPB) and utilized its huge network of Postmen and Gramin Dak Sevaks in providing doorstep home facility to pensioners for submission of life certificate digitally. As a result a huge number of pensioners across the country shall be able to avail doorstep home service through Postmen/ Gramin Dak Sevak by paying a nominal amount, without queuing up at bank branches.
In some cases due to fading bio-metrics, aged pensioners' finger bio-metrics are not captured by the bio-metric devices. Keeping in view such difficulties, IRIS enabled devices have been provided by this department to Pensioners’ Associations which is more effective and convenient. Department of Pension and Pensioners’ Welfare is also instrumental in roping in an Alliance comprising 12 Public Sector Banks which does “Doorstep Banking” for its customers in 100 major cities of the country under Ease of banking reforms. As a result, Public Sector Banks (PSB) Alliance has introduced the service for collection of Life Certificates under the umbrella of Doorstep Banking. This Department also issued instructions, whereby the Banks were directed to resort to Video based Customer Identification Process for obtaining a Life Certificate within the guidelines of RBI which will obviate the need to resort to a bio-metric enabled device.
This information was provided by the Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) Development of North-Eastern Region (DoNER), MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr Jitendra Singh in written reply to questions in Lok Sabha today.
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SOCIAL SECURITY SCHEMES FOR ORGANISED AND UNORGANISED SECTOR
Ministry of Labour & Employment
Social Security Schemes for
Organised and Unorganised Sector
Posted On: 24 MAR 2021 3:23PM by PIB Delhi
As per the Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) carried out by the National Sample Survey Organisation of the Ministry of Statistics & Programme Implementation, in the year 2017-18, the total employment in both organized and unorganised sector in the country was around 47 crores. Out of this, around 9 crores are engaged in the organized sector and the balance of 38 crores are in the unorganized sector.
The categories of the workers have been divided into three categories i.e.
- Establishments with 10 or more workers;
- Establishments with 20 or more workers;
- Workers engaged in unorganised sector
The ESI Act, 1948 is Social Security legislation applicable to all factories & notified establishments employing ten or more persons, which are located in ESI notified areas and as such it does not apply to the unorganised sector. Employees earning wages up to Rs 21,000 per month (Rs 25,000/- in the case of persons with disability) are coverable under ESI Scheme and are entitled to all benefits available under ESI Act, 1948. At present the ESI Scheme stands extended to 575 districts in 35 States/ Union territories. The total number of Insured Persons covered under ESI Scheme as on 31.03.2020 are 3.41 crore and the total beneficiaries are 13.24 crore. ESI contributions @ 4% are paid by employers, of which the employees or workers contribute to the extent of 0.75% of their wages and the employers contribute to the extent of 3.25% of their wages. Such contributions entitle them to all benefits available under the ESI Act.
The benefits of social security to the workers employed in organised sector establishments with 20 or more workers under the Employees’ Provident Fund and Miscellaneous Provisions Act, 1952 are extended through following three schemes:
· The Employees’ Provident Funds Scheme, 1952;
· The Employees’ Pension Scheme, 1995;
· The Employees’ Deposit Linked Insurance Scheme, 1976.
The Employer and Employee both contribute @ 12% of wages towards provident fund. Out of this, 8.33% is diverted towards pension Fund. Employer also contributes to EDLI Scheme @ 0.5 % of wages. During the year 2019-20, 4.89 crores members contributed under the Scheme.
For the workers engaged in the Unorganised sector, social security benefits are being addressed through the Unorganised Workers’ Social Security Act, 2008. The Act empowers the Central Government to provide Social Security benefits to unorganised sector workers by formulating suitable welfare schemes on matters relating to (i) life and disability cover, (ii) health and maternity benefits, (iii) old age protection and (iv) any other benefit as may be determined by the Central Government. The State Governments are also empowered to formulate suitable welfare schemes on the matters regarding housing, provident funds, educational schemes, skill upgradation, old age homes etc.
Life and disability cover is provided through Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Yojana (PMJJBY) and Pradhan Mantri Surksha Bima Yojana (PMSBY). Benefits under the schemes are for Rs.2 lakh on death due to any cause & permanent disability , Rs.1.0 Lakh on partial disability and Rs.4 lakh on death due to accident to the unorganised workers at the annual premium of Rs.342/- (Rs.330/- for PMJJBY + Rs.12/- for PMSBY) depending upon their eligibility.
The eligible Unorganised Workers can avail the scheme from their respective banks at annual premium of Rs. 342/-. As on 30.12.2020, 9.70 and 21.87 crore people have been enrolled under PMJJBY and PMSBY respectively.
The health and maternity benefits are addressed through Ayushman Bharat-Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY) which is a universal health scheme administrated by the National Health Authority. The number of eligible beneficiaries under Social Economic Caste Census (SECC) of 2011 on the basis of select deprivation and occupational criteria across rural and urban areas is 10.74 Crore families (50 crore people). The Scheme gives flexibility to States/UTs to run their own health protection scheme in alliance with AB-PMJAY. The States/UTs implementing AB-PMJAY have further expanded the coverage of the scheme to include 13.13 crore families (65 crore people).
For old age protection to unorganised sector workers including traders, shopkeepers and self- employed persons, the Government has launched two flagship schemes namely Pradhan Mantri Shram Yogi Maan-DhanYojana (PM-SYM) and National Pension Scheme for Traders, Shopkeeper and Self-Employed Persons (NPS- Traders). Under the schemes, beneficiaries are entitled to receive minimum monthly assured pension of Rs.3000/- after attaining the age of 60 years. The workers in the age group of 18-40 years whose monthly income is below Rs.15000/- can join the PM-SYM scheme and Traders, shop keepers and self-employed persons whose annual turnover is not exceeding Rs.1.5 crore can join NPS – Traders scheme. These are voluntary and contributory pension schemes and monthly contribution ranges from Rs.55 to Rs.200 depending upon the entry age of the beneficiary. Under both the schemes, 50% monthly contribution is payable by the beneficiary and equal matching contribution is paid by the Central Government. Both the schemes are being implemented in all the States/UTs of India. The details of numbers of beneficiaries as on 28.02.2021 under PMSYM and NPS Traders, 44.90 Lakh and 43,700 respectively.
This information was given by Minister of State (I/C) for Labour & Employment Shri Santosh Kumar Gangwar in a written reply in Rajya Sabha today.
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 24, 2021
Wednesday 24 March 2021
Tuesday 23 March 2021
MHA GUIDELINES FOR EFFECTIVE CONTROL OF COVID-19 (CLICK THE LINK BELOW TO VIEW THE GUIDELINES & DO TO CHIEF SECRETARIES OF STATES)
Labour Codes -- PIB
Ministry of Labour & Employment
Labour Codes
Posted On: 22 MAR 2021
India, being a founding member of the International Labour Organisation (ILO) has deep respect for its principles and objectives. The Government of India has always upheld the basic tenets of tripartism. ILO has not commented about India’s lack of compliance with ILO Convention -144 on Tripartite Consultations in implementing the four Labour Codes. The four Codes, namely, the Code on Wages, 2019, the Industrial Relations Code, 2020, the Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Code, 2020 and the Code on Social Security, 2020 have been notified in Gazette of India. Prior to that the Government had done extensive consultations inviting all Central Trade Unions, Employers’ Associations and State Governments. The Government had undertaken nine tripartite consultations on all the four Codes on 10.03.2015, 13.04.2015, 06.05.2015, 14.07.2015, 06.10.2015, 04.10.2017, 22.11.2018, 27.11.2018 and 05.11.2019 inviting all Central Trade Unions, Employers’ Associations and State Governments. All these Codes were also placed on the website for inviting comments from all stakeholders including general public.
Further, all the Codes were referred to the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Labour for examination. The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Labour, in the process of examination of the Codes, had invited the views/suggestions from Trade Unions / Organizations / Individuals / Stakeholders and also took oral evidence of the representatives of Central Trade Unions and various other Associations/Organisations/Stakeholders. The reports of the Committee were taken into account before these Labour Codes were considered and passed by the Parliament.
As a step towards implementation of four Labour Codes and to discuss the draft Rules on four labour Codes, tripartite meetings inviting representatives of all Central Trade Unions and Employers Associations were convened through Video Conferencing on 24th December, 2020 and 12th January, 2021. Third tripartite meeting was held on 20th January, 2021 in physical mode.
However, the Industrial Relations Code, 2020 reduces the requirement of minimum continuous service in case of fixed term employees from five years to one year.
This information was given by Minister of State (I/C) for Labour & Employment Shri Santosh Kumar Gangwar in a written reply in Lok Sabha today.
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MS/jk (Release ID: 1706610) 22.03.2021
VERIFICATION OF CAST CERTIFICATE
No. 41034/4/2020-Estt (Res-I)
Government of India
Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievance & Pensions
Department of Personnel and Training
North Block, New Delhi
Dated the 19th March, 2021
To
The Chief Secretaries of all States & Union Territories
Subject : Timely verification of Caste/Community Certificates – regarding.
Sir,
I am directed to say that instances have come to the notice where the pensionary benefits of employees belonging to ST category, who were working in various offices and organizations under Central Government in the State of Tamil Nadu, have been withheld on the ground that their caste verification is pending from the State Government. The Parliamentary Standing Committee on the Welfare of the Scheduled Castes & Scheduled Tribes (SC&ST) have taken a serious view of this, and has directed this Department to issue necessary guidelines to all the concerned for ensuring timely verification of the Caste Certificate of the employees belonging to the reserved category.
2. It is stated that the responsibility for the issue and verification of Caste Certificate lies with the concerned State/UT Government. The Hon’ble Supreme Court, vide its Order dated 2.9.1994 in the matter of in the matter of Kumari Madhuri Patil vs Addl. Commissioner, has laid down the detailed guidelines for effective verification of the Caste Certificates of the employees, so that no person, on the basis of fake caste certificate, may secure employment wrongfully in the Government.
3. DoP&T has issued various guidelines from time to time for streamlining the process of verification of Caste Certificate of the employees, and has requested the State/UT Governments for timely verification of the same. However, as mentioned above, instances have come to notice that the appointing authority has taken an unduly long time in getting the caste status of an employee verified through the concerned State authorities which is totally in contravention of the existing instructions. In this regard, attention is invited towards the following instructions of DoPT in the matter:
(i) DoPT OM No. 36019/7/1975-Estt (SCT) dated 31.10.1975 (copy at Annexure-I) provides that the candidates belonging to the SC/ST category have to produce a Certificate in the prescribed form issued by one of the prescribed authorities in support of their claim of belonging to a SC/ST. Where such a candidate is unable to produce a Certificate from any of the prescribed authorities, he may he appointed provisionally on the basis of whatever prima facie proof he is able to produce in support of his claim subject to his furnishing the prescribed Certificate within a reasonable time, and if there 1s genuine difficulty in his obtaining a Certificate, the appointing authority should itself verify his claims through the District Magistrate concerned.
(ii) DoPT OM No. 36011/16/80-Estt (SCT) dated 27.2.1981 (copy at Annexure-II) provides that the verification of caste status at every important upturn of employee’s career is necessary, as an SC candidate may lose his status of SC if he embraces a religion other than Hinduism and Sikhism (DoPT OM No. 36011/3/2005-Estt (Res) dated 9.9.2005 provides that an SC candidate loses his SC status if he embraces a religion other than Hinduism, Sikhism or Buddhism).
(iii) DoPT, vide letter No. 36022/1/2007-Estt (Res) dated 20.3.2007 (copy at Annexure-III), have requested the State/UT Governments to issue instructions to the District Magistrates/ District Collectors/Deputy Commissioners of the districts to the effect that they should ensure at their own level that veracity of the Caste/Community certificate referred to the district authorities is verified and reported to the appointing authority within one month of receipt of request from such authority. The State/UT Governments were also requested to initiate disciplinary proceedings against the officers who default in timely verification of Caste Status.
(iv) DoPT, vide letter No. 41034/3/2012 – Estt (Res) dated 11.4.2012 (copy at Annexure-IV), have reiterated the above instructions dated 20.3.2007 requesting the State/UT Governments to issue instructions to the concerned district authorities to ensure veracity of the Caste/Community Certificate referred to them and report the same to the appointing authority within one month of receipt of request from such authority. This letter also conveys the directions of the Parliamentary Committee at that time on the Welfare of SCs and STs that the State/UT Governments may constitute a District-Level Committee in each District which may hold regular meetings to ensure timely verification of Caste Certificates.
Also Read : Streamlining the procedure for verification of claims of candidates belonging to SC, ST and OBC
(v) DoPT OM No. 36011/1/2012-Estt (SCT) dated 8.10.2015 (copy at Annexure-V) reiterates the earlier instructions on timely and effective verification of the Caste Certificate so that the benefit of reservation and other scheme of concessions etc. go only to the rightful claimants.
(vi) DoPT letter No. 36011/1/2012-Estt (SCT) dated 14.3.2016 (copy at Annexure-VI) addressed to all State/UT Government again reiterates the earlier instructions on verification of Caste Certificate within a reasonable time.
4. In view of the above, all State/UT Governments are again requested that the above-mentioned instructions may be brought to the notice of all the concerned officers, and it may be ensured that the process of caste verification is completed within a reasonable time, and the concerned appointing authorities are informed about the veracity of the Caste Certificate of the candidates/employees within one month of the receipt of such request from the concerned appointing authority.
5. This issues with the approval of Secretary (P)
.
Yours faithfully,
( Sandeep Saxena)
Deputy Secretary
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