PRESENTATION ON

PROBLEMS OF AIR VETERANS AND SUGGESTED REMEDIAL

MEASURES

By

Wg Cdr TJ Reddy, VSM (Retd)

On04 Sep 2014

ACADEMICS

• MA, MSC, LL B, MBA, PG DIP(PM) – FIRST CLASS WITH DISTINCTION IN EACH

WG CDR TJ REDDY,VSM (RETD)

IAF• ADMINISTRATIVE BRANCH IN 1963• CAT ‘A’ FIGHTER CONTROLLER, DASI EXAMINER• DS IN C& R SCHOOL • PSC (PASSED STAFF COLLEGE) • CHIEF ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER IN FOUR ACTIVE FLYING AIR FORCE STATIONS

• AIR DEFENCE CONTROLLER DURING 1965 AND 1971 OPERATIONS • VISHIST SEVA MEDAL, •CAS COMMENDATION, TWO AOC-IN-C COMMENDATIONS

WG CDR TJ REDDY,VSM (RETD)

POST – IAF

• ASSOCIATED WITH AFA SINCE RETIREMENT(29 Years)

• CURRENTLY THE PRESIDENT OF AFA (AP &TELANGANA BRANCH)

WG CDR TJ REDDY,VSM (RETD)

Emphasis on : Pension Related Matters

Efforts of Volunteer Veterans & NGOs

Problems in communicating improvements in Pension & benefits from Air HQ.

INTRODUCTION

PREFACE

Post Retirement Life – Need for guidance and advice

Creation of DAV

Thrust of Presentation

GOVT HAS ACKNOWLEDGED COMPLAINTS INCREASING:

“the hardship being faced by the pensioners due to negligence at any stage of pension process”

“indicates the slackness of banks to implement the provisions provided by the GOI in connection with pension delivery”

GOVT HAS ACKNOWLEDGED COMPLAINTS INCREASING: CONT’D

PCDA(P) Circular 165 :

“the number of complaints from Pensioners/family pensioners is increasing regularly, which has been viewed seriously by higher authorities.”

GOI Dept of P & PW : Jan 2014

“We monitor pension related grievances. Through the feedback received the impression created is that the system of CPPCs is not being implemented in letter and spirit”

PART I

Retiring Pension Related Issues.

LFP, SFP, Disabled And Invalid Pension Cases

Pensions Of Ex-patriates.

PART II

Non-pension Related Issues.

PART III

Suggestions & Recommendations.

SEQUENCE OF PRESENTATION

RETIRING PENSION RELATED ISSUEs

• Issue of incomplete pension notification & need for stand-alone circulars by PCDA(P).

“Pension notified above may please be further revised w.e.f 1.4.2004 as per this office imp circular No 37 bearing Dated 16.4.2004 and wef 1.1.2006 as per MOST IMPORTANT Circular No 397 dated 18.11.2008 as further amended vide circulars issued by this office. All payments made earlier may be adjusted against the awards now notified before making payment of arrears”.

PART I : SECTION I

SOME GLARING PENSION POLICY ANAMOLIES

• Discriminatory treatment for re-grouped trades

w.e.f 01 Jul 2009.

PART I : SECTION I

Service Trades Group w.e.f 10.10.97

Group applicableFor entitledpensionw.e.f 01/07/09

PCDA(P)NotifiedPension

Revision status

Air Force videAFI 1/S/98Appx ‘C’

Edn InstrACH GDCat AsstMTD

‘X’‘Y’‘Y’‘Y’

Equal ‘X’Equal ‘Y’Equal ‘Y’Equal ‘Y’

Equal ‘Y’Equal ‘Z’Equal ‘Z’Equal ‘Z’

Erroneously Revised-do-

PART I : SECTION I

SOME GLARING PENSION POLICY ANAMOLIES

(Cont’d..)

• Grant of Service Pension and Family Pension for the rank in which retired for a period less than 10 months.

MoD letter 09-02-2001 ( PCDA circular 289).

VI CPC abrogated 10 months requirement.

MoD re-introduced 10 months stipulation-

AFT judgment ruled in favor of petitioners.

PART I : SECTION I

SOME GLARING PENSION POLICY ANAMOLIES

(Cont’d..)

• Extension of VI CPC benefit to Absorbees in PSUs

VI CPC orders did not apply initially.

MoD restored in Aug 2009 commuted portion of pension w.e.f 01-01-2006. Corr PPOs not issued.

AFT Kochi decreed on 08 Jul 13 full restoration of commutation and all consequential CPC benefits.

SOME GLARING PENSION POLICY ANAMOLIES

(Cont’d..)

• Revision of pension of substantive Majors with QS 21 years.

Provisions right from 1998- on or after 01-01-86 pay of Lt. Colonel-requirement of Corr. PPO (GO dated 24 Sep 2012 followed by PCDA Circular 14 (02-01-2013). One time measure before 01-01-96 substantive Majors.

PSAs not implementing PCDA circular.

AFT principal bench ruled in favour on 21-07-2014.

PART I : SECTION I

RETIRING PENSION RELATED ISSUES (Cont’d)

• Joint Notification Of Pension/FP in Corr. PPOs of Pre-86 pensioners.

• Incorporation of minor changes in name of Spouse/Name change after marriage/spelling errors.

• Non-inclusion of QS in ORIG PPO/non-issue of Corr PPO.

• Enhanced rate of Ordinary Family Pension.

• Dual Family Pension Commencement.

• Restoration of commuted portion of pension.

PART I : SECTION I

PENSIONS RELATED TO LFP/SFP/DP/INVALID PENSIONS

• Liberalized Family Pension (w.e.f 01-02-72)• Restoration of SFP to widows re-married before 01-01-96

• Denial of Disability Pension.• Appeals against rejection of Disability Pension &

grant of SFP.

• Grant of pension to invalided out cases.

Confusing language used in PCDA circulars.

Denying rounding off benefit of QS.

• Broad Banding of Disability.

Delayed clarification from MoD, issue of PCDA circulars.

PART I : SECTION II

PENSION RELATED TO EXPATRIATES

• Recommencement of PENSION/FP (Cases migration and not drawn Pension for long). MoD restored- letter dated 06-10-2004.

One time benevolent action(For Recommencement).

• Non-resident Pension Remittance.

FEMA compliance (Forms 15 CA/CB) (Empanelment of CA)

PART I : SECTION III

NON-PENSION RELATED ISSUES

• Lack of uniformity in Re-fixation of Pay on Re-employment (Benefit Of MSP).

• Loss of Canteen Smart Card.

• Delay in issuance of ESM card on Change/Relocation.

• Extension of certain benefits to spouses under certain situations. Legal separation. Divorce/Domestic Violence Proceedings.

• Death Intimation Procedure.

• PRIC death claims from AFGIS.

• Circuit bench of AFT Chennai at Hyderabad.

PART II

SUGGESTIONS/RECOMMENDATIONS

• Merits / Limitations- DAV vs Veteran Volunteers.

VOLUNTEER VETERANS AUGMENT THE EFFORT OF DAV WITH EXPERIENCE GAINED.

SERVING STAFF – FREQUENT MOBILITY –LOSING OUT ON CONTINUITY & KNOWLEDGE.

NO PREJUDICE TOWARDS THE SYSTEM.

NO SYSTEM IS BEYOND CHANGE/IMPROVEMENT/RE-FORM.

CLOSE COORDINATION (FORMAL & INFORMAL) BETWEEN SERVICE BODIES AND NGOS AND INDIVIDUAL VOLUNTEERS AMONG ESM.

LAST MILE CONNECTIVITY.

CREATION OF “E-RESOURCE LIBRARY”.

PART III

• Mechanism for interaction before issue of policies related to defence pensions .

CENTRAL GOVT PENSIONERS – DP&PW HOLDS INTERACTIONS WITH PENSIONER ASSOCIATIONS & MONITORS PENSION RELATED GRIEVANCES.

REVISION OF DPPI /POLICIES RELATED TO DEFENCE PENSIONS – CONSULTATION WITH SERVICE HQS & RECOGNISED BODIES LIKE AFA.

STAFF AT DAV & OTHER DTES – MULTIPLICITY OF RULES ETC & STAFF TENURE POLICIES (SERVING CHILDREN OF VETERANS?).

DESW TO HOLD PERIODICAL MEETINGS WITH (A) JOINT SERVICES VETERANS CELL (B) RECOGNISED ESM ASSOCIATIONS, IN CONSULTATION WITH DP&PW.

PART III

• MAJORITY OF VETERANS’ PROBLEMS ARE COMMON IN NATURE.

• SYNERGISING EFFORTS OF THE THREE SERVICES VETERANS CELLS/DIRECTORATES (NEED FOR JOINTNESS IN THE ARMED FORCES).

• CREATION OF JOINT SERVICES VETERANS CELL (NODAL AGENCY FOR PENSION POLICY RELATED MATTERS).

• KSB(UNDER DESW OF MOD) COULD BE PART OF THIS CELL.

INTEGRATED APPROACHTRI-SERVICES JOINT VETERANS CELL

• SINGLE AND CENTRAL CONTACT POINT – ALL ISSUES OF VETERANS & FAMILIES.

• CHARTER OF DAV – OWNERSHIP OF PROBLEMS OF EACH AND EVERY AIR VETERAN.

• CAPTURING PROBLEMS (EVEN WITH WEB BASED DOCKETING SYSTEM).

• RE-ORIENTATION OF DAV.

• WEB BASED COMPLAINT ACK AND STATUS TRACKING SYSTEM.

• STANDARDISATION OF PROCEDURE FOR ACK & FOLLOW-UP (NO ISSUE OF MULTIPLE COMPLAINT NUMBERS FOR THE SAME CASE).

• POLICY MONITORING & COORDINATING GROUP.

• POLICY IMPLEMENTATION GROUP.

DIRECTORATE OF AIR VETERANS

RECOMMENDATIONS Consider the feasibility of Establishing a Tri-services Joint Veterans Cell. (close interaction & meet only on ‘as required basis’)

Need to establish a Mechanism for interaction with Tri-services Joint Veterans Cell, recognised NGOs and active Veteran Voluntary groups before issue of Policies related to Defence Pensions.

Establish a Web Based Complaint Acknowledgment, Follow-up tracking and & Status indication system.

Set up within Service HQ : • Policy Monitoring & Coordinating Group• Policy Implementation Group.

PART III

RANGE OF ISSUES THAT CONCERN VETERANS

CERTAIN RECOMMENDATIONS HAVE BEEN MADE

•

CONCLUSION

GRATEFUL THANKS

TO

CHIEF OF THE AIR STAFF,

PRESIDENT AFA &

ALL AUDIENCE

THANK YOU

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