Pensioners denied med allowance of ₹1k by rly
Siddharth.Prabhakar@timesgroup.com
Chennai:16.10.2018
Many retired railway employees whose dependants or they themselves are suffering from chronic diseases like arthritis, cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes or AIDS are allegedly being denied ₹1,000 of fixed medical allowance (FMA) by the Southern Railway in spite of the rules allowing it.
Petitions to this effect have been filed before the S Railway headquarters in Chennai during the pension adalat last month, sources said.
As per the rules, retired employees were given ₹100 FMA from December 1, 1997. This was to enable employees living outside city limits to travel to railway hospitals. However, the then rule was that those getting FMA were not eligible for outpatient facilities in railway hospitals and the employee should be 2.5km from the nearest railway hospital. From July 2017, FMA was increased to ₹1,000.
In 2009, the railway board came out with a circular stating that pensioners or their dependants who suffered from chronic diseases were eligible for the FMA as well as outpatient facilities at the railway hospitals. An undertaking was to be provided by the pensioners.
However, the modified undertaking form to ensure that the dependants or pensioners can avail the outpatient facility and FMA in case of chronic diseases was given only in late 2011 through the RB circular 83/2011.
Lower-level officials of the personnel department have taken a stance that employees who retired before this undertaking form was given would not be eligible for the FMA. Sources said this stance was taken without approval from the top authorities, thereby denying rightful benefits to employees who had put in more than 30 years of service.
“In my case, I can afford the medical treatment and ₹1,000 does not matter a lot. However, there are many retired employees suffering from chronic diseases for whom the allowance is a major relief. Some of them may be living very far from the Perambur railway hospital and have to shell out ₹300 to ₹400 one-way taxi fare,” said a pensioner, declining to be identified.
Southern railway’s chief personnel officer was not available for comment.
Siddharth.Prabhakar@timesgroup.com
Chennai:16.10.2018
Many retired railway employees whose dependants or they themselves are suffering from chronic diseases like arthritis, cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes or AIDS are allegedly being denied ₹1,000 of fixed medical allowance (FMA) by the Southern Railway in spite of the rules allowing it.
Petitions to this effect have been filed before the S Railway headquarters in Chennai during the pension adalat last month, sources said.
As per the rules, retired employees were given ₹100 FMA from December 1, 1997. This was to enable employees living outside city limits to travel to railway hospitals. However, the then rule was that those getting FMA were not eligible for outpatient facilities in railway hospitals and the employee should be 2.5km from the nearest railway hospital. From July 2017, FMA was increased to ₹1,000.
In 2009, the railway board came out with a circular stating that pensioners or their dependants who suffered from chronic diseases were eligible for the FMA as well as outpatient facilities at the railway hospitals. An undertaking was to be provided by the pensioners.
However, the modified undertaking form to ensure that the dependants or pensioners can avail the outpatient facility and FMA in case of chronic diseases was given only in late 2011 through the RB circular 83/2011.
Lower-level officials of the personnel department have taken a stance that employees who retired before this undertaking form was given would not be eligible for the FMA. Sources said this stance was taken without approval from the top authorities, thereby denying rightful benefits to employees who had put in more than 30 years of service.
“In my case, I can afford the medical treatment and ₹1,000 does not matter a lot. However, there are many retired employees suffering from chronic diseases for whom the allowance is a major relief. Some of them may be living very far from the Perambur railway hospital and have to shell out ₹300 to ₹400 one-way taxi fare,” said a pensioner, declining to be identified.
Southern railway’s chief personnel officer was not available for comment.
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