UTTARAKHAND - UESL’s INITATIVE TO REACH OUT TO ESM AT PIPALKOTI TO RESOLVE 6th CPC RELATED ISSUES

UTTARAKHAND - UESL’s INITATIVE TO REACH OUT TO ESM AT PIPALKOTI TO RESOLVE
6th CPC RELATED ISSUES


1. Having made efforts to reach out to ESM & dependents within Dehradun, since Sep 2008, to ensure that all dues, consequent to 6CPC, are correctly credited into the individual accounts by banks, it was decided that remote areas in Uttarakhand be visited to extend similar support to the needy & perhaps neglected pensioners. Despite inclement weather, UESL undertook a trip to Pipalkoti, Chamoli, from 23 to 25 Dec 2010. It was a hurriedly planned trip to take advantage of an annual mela organized at Pipalkoti. Based on the experience gained during this trip, further visits will be enrichened.

2. Composition of the team:-

(a) Air Cmde Amul Kapoor VM (Retd) – Senior Vice President.
(b) Brig RS Rawat VSM (Retd) – Vice President.
(c) Lt Col MM Kukreti (Retd) – Coord Secy General.
(d) Assisted by Maj HS Chaudhari (Retd).


3. Paucity of funds compelled UESL to use personal transport for the journey. Air Cmde Amul Kapoor took his car for this trip. This arrangement cannot be followed as an SOP in all such visits for obvious reasons. Some long term solution may have to be sought. The ideal arrangement is resorting to suitable transport hired by the UESL. However, with the present state of funds, this option is a distant dream.

4. Programme of the visit : -

(a) Departure Dehradun - 23 Dec/0800 hrs.
(b) Arrival Mayapur - “-“ /1630 hrs.
(c) Interaction with ESM - 24 Dec/1030 -1530 hrs.
(d) Visit SBI Pipalkoti - “-“ /1545 to 1630 hrs.
(e) Departure for Dun - 25 Dec/ 0800hrs.
(f) Arrival Dun - “-“ /1700 hrs.

5. In all cases, the team would have to depend entirely on the local district ESL for satisfactory publicity, liaison & all essential administrative arrangements.

6. Accommodation at Mayapur, Pipalkoti, was arranged by Hav Clk Sharad Gairola (Retd) who took pains to ensure that the stay was comfortable. He is sufficiently motivated to further the aims of UESL in its endeavor to reach out to as many ESM as possible.


7. Highlights of interaction with ESM.

(a) It was most encouraging to see that approximately 50 ESM, including widows came to seek assistance related to their pension & related dues. Some learnt about our arrival through local TV & print media while others through word of mouth. All claimed that despite individual efforts, their correct pension was NOT being paid by the PDAs (banks).

(b) They were not aware of the precise form & content of the Circular No 430 (New Pension) & the correct manner in which they are to identify their pension, both post Jun 2009 & 6CPC Pension wef Jan 2006 to Jun 2009.

(c) Most of the aggrieved were Widows, Sepoys, Naiks & Honorary Nb Subedars.

(d) None of pre 2006 pensioners had taken steps to ensure that the Date of Birth of their wives is registered in the Records Offices, CDA Allahabad & PDAs – that will entitle the wives, if widowed, to Additional Pension after attaining age of 80 years.

(e) A few ESM came from as far as Narainbaggar, located on the Gwaldam axis.

(f) Widows were mostly unaccompanied. They, as expected, had little knowledge of the intricacies of 6th CPC. They sought help to approach the banks to resolve their cases regards payment of correct dues.

(g) It was evident that Central Police Forces eg Assam Rifles, BSF etc had no organization from their retired personnel who attend to their problems. Two BSF & one Assam Rifles pensioners too sought assistance. Their cases have been registered & will be taken up with the CPPC at Dehradun.


8. Organization of Work.

(a) The work was divided among the three officers as follows:-

(i) Lt Col MM Kukreti meticulously recorded personal data of each individual to enable UESL to take up their cases with Records, CDA & Banks.

(ii) Brig RS Rawat accessed their correct Table based on each individual’s Rank, Length of Service, Group, Date of Retirement to identify the correct pension entitled. This data was passed on to Air Cmde Amul Kapoor.

(iii) Air Cmde Amul Kapoor worked on his Laptop Computer to work out the complete details, month wise, if required, of the pension entitled, DA, Commuted Value, Paid by Bank & Arrears due. He gave a stamped & signed slip with details of the entitled Basic Pension, pre & post Jul 2009, Additional Pension, etc so that they are aware of their legitimate entitlements & interact with the respective banks.

(iv) Two widows were directed to proceed to SBI Pipalkoti where the team joined them to resolve their pension with the help of the Branch Manager.

(b) All data collected thus will be scrutinized at the UESL Office at Dehradun to pursue each case on its merit.

(c) At Dehradun, the CPPC Extension Office at SBI Zonal Office at New Cantt Road would be contacted to take each issue to its logical conclusion. Then, & only then, would our work, set out for Pipalkoti be complete.

(d) Based on the experience gained, UESL will proceed to refine the road map for subsequent tours.

9. In conclusion UESL can confidently state that:-

(a) Results far exceeded initial expectations.

(b) The learning curve has given UESL valuable lessons for better organizing such visits to provide a higher degree of satisfaction to our ESM & widows in remote areas of Uttarakhand.

(c) There is a crying need for more retired offrs, JCOs & Ors to offer their services for this limited objective.

10. On 30 Dec 2007, Mr Manoj Sharma has confirmed that the specific cases forwarded by SBI Pipalkoti have been credited into their individual accounts.



OUR IMMEDIATE OBJECTIVE IS TO ENSURE THAT ALL ESM OF UTTARAKHAND GET THEIR CORRECT DUES AS EARLY AS POSSIBLE