Revised pension for BSNL retired staff approved

The Cabinet on Tuesday has approved the revision of pension of Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd (BSNL) pensioners and family pensioners, who retired prior to June 10, 2013 by allowing the benefit of merger of 50 per cent DA/DR with Basic Pay/Pension, effectively amounting to 78.2 per cent DA/DR.

This will be for the purpose of fitment, and modifying the liability of BSNL towards the payment of pensionary benefits to the retired employees, an official statement said.

The revision entails an estimated recurring annual expenditure of around ₹129.63 crore for pensioners and ₹24.93 crore for family pensioners and arrears from 2013-14 would be ₹239.92 crore for pensioners and ₹44.62 crore for family pensioners.

The Cabinet decision has come in the wake of an anomalous situation that has arisen in the difference of pension formula among the BSNL retirees who retired before and after June 10, 2013.

Further, the decision regarding pensioners’ liability is on persistent demand from various quarters and a series of deliberations at different levels to fulfil the assurance given by the government before corporatisation (before formation of BSNL).

“The pension of BSNL pensioners/family pensioners, who retired prior to June 10, 2013, has been revised effective from January 1, 2007 notionally with actual benefit with effect from June 10, 2013. This revision will benefit around 1,18,500 pensioners across India,” Ravi Shankar Prasad, Communications and IT Minister, told reporters in a briefing after the Cabinet meeting.

However, increase in the amount of DCRG, leave encashment and commutation of pension in respect of these pensioners shall not be increased on this account, an official statement said.

This revision will fulfil the long pending demand of revision of pension of BSNL absorbed employees who retired prior to June 2013, and will bring the pensioners at par with the serving employees of BSNL by removing the anomalies.

It will help in reducing the financial burden of BSNL and removing prospects of industrial unrest in BSNL while fulfilling the commitment of government.

Apprenticeship scheme In a separate decision the Cabinet also approved a National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme with an outlay of ₹10,000 crore with a target of 50-lakh apprentices to be trained by 2019-20. 

The Scheme would be implemented by Director General of Training under Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship. It provides for incentivising employers to engage apprentices.

Twenty-five per cent of the total stipend payable to an apprentice would be shared with employers directly by government and 50 per cent of the total expenditure incurred on providing basic training would be supported by the government.

The Scheme will catalyse the entire apprenticeship ecosystem in the country.

It is expected to become one of the most powerful skill-delivery vehicles in the country, Prasad added. 

The National Policy of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, 2015 was launched by the Prime Minister to focus on apprenticeship as one of the key components for creating skilled manpower in India.

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