Service Pension to the employees of research institutions established by Government of Kerala is a very long pending issue and after the inception of KSCSTE the issue regained its importance and was discussed in many forums, still, it didn't materialize. The first Nayanar Ministry was very much positive for the implementation of the same but at that time some of the scientists were not interested in it and now they also understood the importance of service pension. After the swearing in ceremony of LDF Government headed by Shri V S Achuthanandan and the appointment of new Executive Vice President Dr E P Yesodharan and Member Secretary Dr G Muraleedhara Kurup gave a new dimension to this issue. The Chief Minister has directed the Kerala State Council for Science, Technology and environment to submit a proposal for service pension for the Research Institutions under KSCSTE. The office order Council (M)34/2009/KSCSTE dated 4th March 2009, the Executive Vice President has entrusted Dr G Muraleedhara Kurup for formulating a pension scheme for the employees of the Council and its R&D Institutions within a period of three months. On 23rd January 2010 the Member Secretary has submitted his report and it is now circulated for comments.
I whole heartedly welcome this report with a humble request to the Government that kindly waive the condition to refund the EPF loans taken from Employer's contribution for HOUSE CONSTRUCTION purpose as there was no Government loan available to these employees and they have already paid a huge some of interest to private agencies for which no subsidy is obtained from government and, moreover, it is a cumbersome procedure.
Prof. Muralidhara Kurup's report is a very concise one and at the very outset itself he has pointed out the importance of Service Pension to S&T Staff. "Kerala has pioneered literacy and female education among other social advances. At the higher education and research level, Kerala has somewhat lagged, yet we have a small set of academic and scientific institutions created by the State Government that have done commendable work. ... Although the Kerala government has been generous in funding infrastructure development and providing Non-Plan grants, retirement benefits were not provided except for the mandatory EPF contribution. This, unfortunately, is a poor substitute for service pension which all teachers and staff of Universities and aided educational institutions in Kerala avail. At the National level also research Institutions like ICAR, CSIR, DRDO, BARC, ISRO etc; have provided attractive retirement benefits."
Further the report reminds the government that "The Research Institutions under KSCSTE have been established by the government to serve the State. As they have been in existence for over three decades, the government has a commitment to provide Non-Plan grants for salaries and EPF contribution. Service Pension is a reasonable social security for those who serve the State. This is applicable also for the scientists and staff of the Research Institutes created by the State."
The Conditions laid out in the Proposal are;
1. The Kerala Government may make a Cabinet decision and issue a Government Notification grantig service pension to staff of Research institutes under the KSCSTE, who have completed 10 years of continuous service as on 1 November 2009.
2. Service pension will be fixed as per Kerala Service Rules Part III, by the Accountant General in the usual way for government employees and it shall be mutantis mutantis revised as and when the State Government or the central Government revises the service pension according to the pay scales of the employees.
3. Employees who wish to opt for Service Pension in lieu of the current EPF should agree in writing to surrender their credit in the Employer's contribution and to refund the loans taken from the Employer's contribution with interest within the time frame fixed by the government.
4. The employees provident fund organisation give exemption and exclusion from EPF, the outstanding credit in Employees' Contribution will be transfered to State General Provident Fund (GPF) and it will be maintained for each employee and managed as per the GPF Rules.
5. Service Pension will be paid from the State Treasury as for regular State Government Employees and teachers in aided schools and colleges either by the Accountant General direct or through a designated officer of the planning and Economics Affairs or the Science and Technology Department of the Government of Kerala.
6. The LIC assisted Group Gratuity Scheme existing in the Institutions may be reviewed later.
7. For those provided with State Government pay scales and retiring at 58 years, pension will be fixed on the basis of their salary as in state Government service. i.e.at 55 years.
8. Detailed Rules and Regulations for implimentation of Service Pension and GPF can be drawn up as soon as policy decision is taken by the Government in the matter
It is true that EPF with 12% of salary will be more attractive on the basis of calculation but reality has shown that after few years of retirement the amount has exhausted. EPF pension will not be a sufficient source of income for persons with old age ailments with loneliness . Instances are there to quote who have committed suicide due to penury. In this circumstances I heartily congratulate the LDF Government, EVP, Member Secretary , Unions and others for their sustained endeavor to full fill the long cherished dream of Science and Technology Staff of Kerala. I congratulate all of them involved in the mission and wish all success in their endeavor to materialize service pension to the employees of KSCSTE which is a revolutionary concept that they have taken in an era of Contributory Pension which squeezes the employees in the name of pension.
If it is materialized, the V S Government will be remembered by this as in the case of Land Reforms Act of EMS Government.
With best wishes
ktv
I whole heartedly welcome this report with a humble request to the Government that kindly waive the condition to refund the EPF loans taken from Employer's contribution for HOUSE CONSTRUCTION purpose as there was no Government loan available to these employees and they have already paid a huge some of interest to private agencies for which no subsidy is obtained from government and, moreover, it is a cumbersome procedure.
Prof. Muralidhara Kurup's report is a very concise one and at the very outset itself he has pointed out the importance of Service Pension to S&T Staff. "Kerala has pioneered literacy and female education among other social advances. At the higher education and research level, Kerala has somewhat lagged, yet we have a small set of academic and scientific institutions created by the State Government that have done commendable work. ... Although the Kerala government has been generous in funding infrastructure development and providing Non-Plan grants, retirement benefits were not provided except for the mandatory EPF contribution. This, unfortunately, is a poor substitute for service pension which all teachers and staff of Universities and aided educational institutions in Kerala avail. At the National level also research Institutions like ICAR, CSIR, DRDO, BARC, ISRO etc; have provided attractive retirement benefits."
Further the report reminds the government that "The Research Institutions under KSCSTE have been established by the government to serve the State. As they have been in existence for over three decades, the government has a commitment to provide Non-Plan grants for salaries and EPF contribution. Service Pension is a reasonable social security for those who serve the State. This is applicable also for the scientists and staff of the Research Institutes created by the State."
The Conditions laid out in the Proposal are;
1. The Kerala Government may make a Cabinet decision and issue a Government Notification grantig service pension to staff of Research institutes under the KSCSTE, who have completed 10 years of continuous service as on 1 November 2009.
2. Service pension will be fixed as per Kerala Service Rules Part III, by the Accountant General in the usual way for government employees and it shall be mutantis mutantis revised as and when the State Government or the central Government revises the service pension according to the pay scales of the employees.
3. Employees who wish to opt for Service Pension in lieu of the current EPF should agree in writing to surrender their credit in the Employer's contribution and to refund the loans taken from the Employer's contribution with interest within the time frame fixed by the government.
4. The employees provident fund organisation give exemption and exclusion from EPF, the outstanding credit in Employees' Contribution will be transfered to State General Provident Fund (GPF) and it will be maintained for each employee and managed as per the GPF Rules.
5. Service Pension will be paid from the State Treasury as for regular State Government Employees and teachers in aided schools and colleges either by the Accountant General direct or through a designated officer of the planning and Economics Affairs or the Science and Technology Department of the Government of Kerala.
6. The LIC assisted Group Gratuity Scheme existing in the Institutions may be reviewed later.
7. For those provided with State Government pay scales and retiring at 58 years, pension will be fixed on the basis of their salary as in state Government service. i.e.at 55 years.
8. Detailed Rules and Regulations for implimentation of Service Pension and GPF can be drawn up as soon as policy decision is taken by the Government in the matter
It is true that EPF with 12% of salary will be more attractive on the basis of calculation but reality has shown that after few years of retirement the amount has exhausted. EPF pension will not be a sufficient source of income for persons with old age ailments with loneliness . Instances are there to quote who have committed suicide due to penury. In this circumstances I heartily congratulate the LDF Government, EVP, Member Secretary , Unions and others for their sustained endeavor to full fill the long cherished dream of Science and Technology Staff of Kerala. I congratulate all of them involved in the mission and wish all success in their endeavor to materialize service pension to the employees of KSCSTE which is a revolutionary concept that they have taken in an era of Contributory Pension which squeezes the employees in the name of pension.
If it is materialized, the V S Government will be remembered by this as in the case of Land Reforms Act of EMS Government.
With best wishes
ktv
My dear Moon,
ReplyDeleteYes. Sorry for the delay
Interesting article, added his blog to Favorites
ReplyDelete