There is news of work for retired government employees. The government has decided to give all kinds of pension benefits at retirement on time without delay. The Department of Pensions and Pensioners Welfare under the Ministry of Personnel and Public Grievances has asked all the Ministries to ensure the benefits of pension on the day of retirement.
Indeed, the department has found that despite payment deadlines and future software (online pension acceptance and payment tracking system) simplified and streamlined processes through rules and directives, pension payment orders (PPOs) and retirement benefits have been delayed. All cases have come to light. A large number of complaints with the department relate to non-payment of retirement dues even after several months of retirement. Delay in settlement of retirement arrears also leads to litigation. In most of the cases, the court ordered the payment of interest along with the delay period and has also made sarcastic remarks about the officers of the department.
Instructions for regular monitoring
To avoid delay in granting retirement benefits, the government has directed all the top officials of the department to monitor the pension case on its own. It has also been agreed that an effective monitoring mechanism will be established in each office / department to review pension matters. Information available from ‘Future Software’ will be used in this. Farewell programs are often held in offices on the occasion of the retirement of employees. This is the most appropriate time, which can be used to review the progress of pension matters and the importance of timely payment of retirement dues to the employees concerned. At each farewell ceremony, the head of the organization can review the progress of pension matters of all employees of that department, who are about to retire in the next six months.
The department will have to provide information
If a department finds a case for delay in the pension process, then it will have to inform it further. According to government sources, each department may be asked to furnish a half-yearly statement to the Secretary of the Administrative Ministry / Department regarding cases in which PPO has not been issued despite being more than two months of retirement. It will also ask why there was a delay in issuing PPOs. Action will also be taken if the department’s fault is found. The Government’s preparation is to ensure that all the retirement benefits are paid to that employee on the day of retirement.
The deadline set in the pension rule
A time limit has been prescribed in the Pension Rules 1972 for timely payment of pension and gratuity to a government employee. As per the deadline, the process of verification and other preparations for the service has to start a year in advance. At the same time, the government employee has to submit the form six months before retirement, while the head of the office is required to send the pension case to the PAO four months in advance. At the same time, the PAO should issue a PPO and send it to the CPAO a month before retirement. The CPAO is required to send it to the Special Seal Authority within 21 days thereafter. An employee retiring at the time of retirement should be handed over a copy of PPAO and a copy of other benefits.
