Meeting with the Secretary (DF)S)

Meeting with the Secretary (DFS)

Shri A V Tyagi visited the Department of Financial Services today  (16/10/2024)and met the new Secretary (DFS) Shri  Nagaraju Maddirala. Shri (Dr.) Prashant Kumar Goyal, Joint Secretary and Shri Abdul Gufran, Under Secretary were also present in the meeting. As you would be aware, we had submitted a reminder dated 12/08/2024 to our earlier representation to the Finance Minister, under copies to the Secretary (DFS) and the Joint Secretary (DFS). In the meantime, Shri Vivek Joshi, the then Secretary (DFS) has been transferred and Shri Nagaraju Maddirala has taken over as the Secretary (DFS). This meeting was planned to apprise the new incumbent of our important grievances. 

As informed by Shri Tyagi ji, the new Secretary (DFS) discussed each and every point of our letter dated 12/08/2024 with Shri Tyagi ji and also with the officials of DFS present in the meeting. He also talked to the Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director, LIC on certain points. The following points were considered during the discussion:

i. Issue of DR disparity and Pension Revision,    

ii. Enhancement of pension on attaining the age of 80 years and every five years thereafter, 

iii. Calculation of Basic Pension on the basis of 50% of the average emoluments or last drawn pay whichever is beneficial to the employee,

iv. Enhancement of notional age (of deceased retiree/employee) from 65 years to 67 years for paying full family pension, and

v. The issue of apprenticeship period of the Development Officers for calculating the qualifying years under Rule 20 of the LIC of India (Employees) Pension Rules, 1995. 

The Secretary (DFS) enquired about the present status of the cases pending in the Supreme Court in the matter of DR Disparity and Pension Revision. He expressed his concern over the delay in resolving the issues stated at item no. ii, iii, iv and v. and also instructed the DFS officials to consider the matter stated at item no. i, for out of court settlement. 

Shri Tyagi ji informed that it was for the first time that the Secretary (DFS) has taken our issues seriously and assured for prompt resolution of the issues. He sympathized with the super senior pensioners who are getting relatively much less pension. The meeting lasted for about 45 minutes. 

Friends, we do not claim for immediate resolutions of all the grievances, but are very much sanguine for some favourable outcome keeping in view the initiative taken and concern shown by the Secretary (DFS).

With best wishes,

M P Agnihotri.   /   16-10-2024