6CPC : Discreminatory treatment by Government

Today, I've here a short text which I (on my personal behalf ) continue to communicate to the media, and individuals. If you have any comments, kindly communicate to me at : iscf.tvm@gmail.com

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6CPC and pre-2006 retirees

The Sixth Central Pay Commission has been very cruel to the pre-2006 retirees, while being very generous to the Central Government Employees and retirees (post 2005).

The retirement benefits (pension commutation, leave salary, and gratuity) given to a retiring employee is meant to build a ‘retired life’ for him and his family. The pension provides for the maintenance of his and his family’s for the rest of the life. These benefits are awarded for spending all the retiree’s life serving the Government and society. In fact, this is a contractual obligation on the part of the society and government, as a return for his service during his lifetime.

The 6CPC, has certainly looked at this and have accordingly raised the terminal benefits and pension, of all categories of retirees. However, the treatment has not been fair, equal, and or logical. Unfortunately, the 6CPC and the Government made a huge division among the employees, on the basis of a ‘date’. The date is only an administrative (technical) one only. It’s no way justifiable. This is injustice.

I have retired in the month of December 2005, after spending 33 years of my life, serving the Nation. The 6CPC and now the Government treats me bad, as far as the retirement benefits and pension are concerned.

The 6CPC guidelines specify that I am not qualified for the revised retirement benefits as announced by them, on the reason that I retired in pre-2006. I am eligible only for a small increase in my monthly pension, on the principle of ‘one rank one pension’.

The injustice in treating the pre-2006 retirees would be evident from the following example.

The retirement benefits of two persons of the same position, service and pay ( one retired in Dec 2005 and the other on Jan 2006) are different to a very great an uncomparable extend. My colleague who retired in Jan 2006 got 10 Lakhs as his gratuity, while I got (retired in Dec 2006) a mere 3.5 Lakhs. The difference is too large for all other elements (the pension, pension commutation, and leave salary payment). This is certainly injustice. This should be almost equal ( atleast comparable) in the amount of terminal benefits and subsequent monthly pension. That’s natural justice, I believe.

Had I retired on the next day, 1 January 2006, things would have been very different. I would have got the new terms of retirement, which is far higher than those applicable for 31 December 2005. A day makes so much of difference. The difference is so large that I feel very miserable, when I think of this ONE DAY. This day, 31 December 2005, is so dreaded for me now ! Everyone who retired around that period – in 2005 - feel so bad, just over a few day’s or week’s difference.

6CPC and the Government has not looked at the implementation in this angle. This is very cruel and injustice. The Government should take immediate steps to normalize this huge disparity caused by that milestone day. Please remember that this day is only just a technical one and nothing (cost of living or anything else ) have changed on this day. The improved retirement benefits and pension should be applicable to all those retired earlier too (pre 2006). The applicability of the benefits may be made in a reasonable and justifiable formula. A tapering formula (eg. 10% less for every year preceding 2006 ) may be reasonable. eg. For persons retired in 2005, the benefits may be 90% of what a person retiring on Jan 2006 gets. This would bring in justice to those unfortunate pre-2006 pensioners.

I request ALL to project this issue to the public and the Governmrnt, for settlement of this injustice, and do a normalization of terminal benefits and pension among all employees and pensioners. When “One rank one Pension” is the right norm, similar should be the treatment on all other benefits too. The technicality of ‘the day’ should not be a block for implementing justice to all employees. Normalisation of all kinds of benefits, in a reasonable and justifiable format, should be immediately taken up by the Government.

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