Suggestions for VIIth Pay Commission:

Suggestions for VIIth Pay Commission:

1.     Pension at 50% of emoluments of serving employee of the same grade from which pensioner had retired and that too at the minimum of such scale is very much less. 50% was fixed before many years, when there was no inflation and most of the necessary things, as available now, were not available. Country has progressed financially and materially to a great extant and all citizens are entitled to better financial return for their services rendered. Government`s efforts are to ensure that retired employees maintain the same standard of living even after retirement. Government of India had announced National Policy on Older Persons, 1999 on 13-2-99 with the approval of Cabinet. It has been provided in its Mandate and Policy Statement & other paras to take effective steps to improve the quality of life of all Elders, strengthen their legitimate place in society and help them to live their last spell of life with purpose, dignity and peace. Para 18 of the Policy provides that age 60+ is a phase, when individual should have chances and opportunities to lead an active, creative, productive and satisfying life. For living such promised life, pensioners need better pension. They should be paid 100% of emoluments of equivalent scale taking in to account the number of years service put by them in that scale from which they retired, as they need more money than serving employees in view of medical expenses due to deteriorating health and high cost of medical care. 50% may be paid to those who loose their spouse. Family pension should also be 50% as against 30% as at present. Minimum pension should be increased from Rs 3500 to atleast Rs 12000.

2.     Pensioners should be paid Transport Allowance on par with serving employees, as they have to move often for medical treatment, entertainment, religious and social visits to keep them busy to avoid loneliness..

3.     House Rent Allowance is also necessary in view of high rents, they have to pay and heavy taxation by Municipalities, Maintenance charges etc.

4.     Some Festival Advances adjustable by recovery from pension may also be considered. Some ex-gratia payments on International Day of Older Persons, Annual Day of Ministry etc may also be considered.

5.     Each Ministry must look after its retired employees well and give them all facilities like medical, use of clubs/welfare centres/holiday homes, membership fees of professional & cultural organizations to avoid loneliness etc as given to working employees, concessions in fare of all transport systems, tourist guest houses etc. All Ministries must give preference to representations from Pensioners and other Senior Citizens. They should provide Welfare Fund for retired staff on lines with Staff Benefit Fund of Railways, as provided for serving employees. Their retired employees should be called in celebrations of all their functions open for serving employees to maintain contact and encouraging them to participate in such gatherings to help them inter-act with others, overcome loneliness and give them their legitimate place in society. World Elder Day on 1^st October etc every year should also be celebrated by all Ministries at all places having concentration of retired employees, facilitating interaction between old & young and strengthen bonds between different age groups. Pay Commission must encourage all Ministries to provide avenues of useful utilization of this untapped resource of the Country for last spell of their life. Time will come shortly, when retired employees will outnumber the serving employees and as such, each ministry be made retired employee-friendly by providing more facilities.

6.     Retired employees of 80 and above are required to be looked after more. Medical Allowance should be more for such employees. They should be treated more humanely by providing health care at their residences by regular visits by doctors, supply of medicines by courier etc.

7.     Representation to retired staff in various committees, accommodation, recognition & negotiation status to their associations as given to serving employees must be given.

8.     As pension is disbursed by Banks, proper rules for dealing with representations by pensioners & their associations should be given.

9.     As pensioners find it difficult to procure proper houses after retirement and face various difficulties due to no facilities being given by Municipalities/Panchayats, it is necessary for Pay Commission to direct Ministries to provide housing to retired staff to a certain extant and also to other authorities for earmarking of 10% of the houses, house sites for Pensioners. Retired employees may be given loans for purchase of houses, repairs etc as given to serving employees recoverable from pension.

10.  Although CGHS facility exists for many pensioners, there is need for better medical facilities by each Ministry. Geriatric Health Care Units and Physiotherapy Units should be provided for pensioners by Ministries like Railways, Defence etc having independent Medical Facilities and included in CGHS scheme for other ministries. Counseling facilities in various hospitals for retired staff should be provided.