SCPC: Plight of PBOR Pensioners

PLIGHT OF PBOR PENSIONER: POST 01 JAN 2006
There is a general impression throughout the nation that all demands of Defense Services pertaining to 6 CPC have been accepted by the Government. The services have raised 4 core issues as anomaly in the recommendation of 6th CPC. Three pertains to Officers and one related to pension of PBOR. Two demands of Officers, granting HAG+ to Lt Gens and placing Lt Col in PB 4 have been accepted and necessary notification issued. However, there is no news about pension of PBOR and this issue is to be understood in totality.

6th CPC recommended that as PBOR retire at an early age, hence they be provided alternate job and be absorbed in para military forces or other such civilian defence organizations. Commission further recommended that since they will be provided job after retirement, hence, their pension be reduced and extant pensionary benefits which they were enjoying due to early retirement and truncated career be withdrawn.

Government did not accept the demand to provide them job after retirement but accepted the demand of reduction in pension. Prudent decision on the part of Govt to reduce the pension burden on Govt exchequer. But PBOR lost on both counts. They will have to retire at an early age, no guarantee of job after retirement and reduction of pension.

As per the news reports when the Defence Minister as well as Defence HQ raised the issue with Cabinet Secretary during the month of Sep 2008, the Govt agreed in principal to restore the reduced pension. Then news came the formation of GOM. News agencies further reported during last week of Dec 09 that PMO has issued instructions to MOD accepting three demands of the services including restoration of pensionary benefits to Jawans.

Five months have passed since then, notification pertaining to the issues of Officers have been issued during Apr 09 but no news about the pension of PBOR. Pension of these personnel, who retired after 01 Jan 06 and currently retiring has been fixed on the old rates i.e. As per 5th CPC. Further, as their pension is still to be decided, no DA has been granted to them as announced on 01 Jan 08 and 01 Jan 09. As a result, their pension which is on old scale is static for the last one year.

PBOR pension case is not of any enhancement but only restoration of reduced pension. Still so much delay. Nobody knows how much time it will take. No word either from service HQs or MOD. But, surely, these PBOR have been treated badly.
Sub Sharawat (Retd)
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Posted By Muthukrishnan to indianexserviceman at 5/31/2009 06:00:00 AM