The Union Cabinet has approved the
recommendations of the Committee headed by Cabinet Secretary for benefits to
ex-servicemen on four issues. The
financial implications of the improvements made as per the Cabinet decision on
the four items are broadly estimated at Rs.2300 crore per annum. The details are as follows:
I.
One Rank One Pension:
On One Rank One Pension, the
demand of the Defence Forces and Ex-Servicemen Associations is that uniform
pension be paid to the Defence Forces personnel retiring in the same rank with
the same length of service irrespective of their date of retirement and any
future enhancement in the rates of pension be automatically passed on to the
past pensioners.
The
difference in the pension of present and past pensioners in the same rank
occurs on account of the number of increments earned by the defence personnel
in that rank. There is also a difference
between the pension of pre 1.1.06 and post 1.1.06 retirees belonging to a
particular rank. The UPA Government on
two previous occasions has taken decisions to narrow the gap between the
present and past pensioners, particularly those belonging to the ranks of JCOs
and Other Ranks.
On the
issue of One Rank One Pension, the following have been approved by the Cabinet:
(i) Bridging of
the gap in the pension of pre 1.1.06 and post 1.1.06 JCO/OR retirees by
determining the pension of pre 1.1.06 retirees on the basis of notional maximum
for ranks and groups across the three Services as in the case of post
1.1.06 retirees. In addition, the weightage of qualifying service in the ranks of Sepoys, Naik and Havaldar would be increased by two years for both
pre and post 1.1.06 retirees.
(ii) The pension of pre 1.1.06 Commissioned
Officer pensioners would be stepped up with reference to the minimum of
fitment table for the ranks instead of the minimum of pay band.
These are expected to largely meet the
demands of the defence pensioners on one rank one pension.
II.
Enhancement of Family Pension :
(i)
The
pension of pre - 1.1.2006 family pensioners(Commissioned Officers, Honorary
Commissioned Officers, JCOs/ORs ) be stepped up based on the minimum of the fitment table instead
of the minimum of
the Pay Band;
(i)
Establishing
linkage of the family pension with the pension of JCOs/ORs, in those cases where
the death takes place after the retirement of the JCO/OR since such a JCO/OR drew a
pension based on the
maximum of the pay scales, 60% of the pension applicable to JCO/OR pensioners would be
granted to the family pensioner in case of normal family pension calculated a 30% of last pay
drawn. Accordingly, based on the rank,
group and length of service of the deceased JCO/OR pensioner, his pension would first be
determined on notional
basis. In cases where death of JCO/OR took place after retirement, the family
pensioners in receipt of normal family pension would become entitled to 60% of the said pension
determined on notional
basis and those in receipt of enhanced family pension will be entitled to 100% of this pension.
Similar entitlements would be determined in the case of Special Family Pension; and
(ii)
The
family pensioner of the JCO/OR would be granted pension arrived at on the basis of the
family pension worked out as per the formulation at (i)
above or the pension on the basis of stepping up with reference to the minimum of the fitment table,
whichever is beneficial.
Further, the linkage of family pension with retiring pension be
applied in the case of post 1.1.2006 family pensioners of JCOs/ORs also.
III. Dual Family Pension:
Dual family
pension would be allowed in the present and future cases where the pensioner drew, is
drawing or may draw pension for military service as well as for civil employment.
IV. Family pension to mentally /
physically challenged children of armed forces personnel on marriage:
Grant of
family pension to mentally/physically challenged children who drew, are drawing or may draw
family pension would continue even after their marriage.
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