The plight of Only Majority Recognised Association, which has drastically failed to protect the Medical Benefits of BSNL recruited employees
Saturday, November 13, 2021
The plight of Only Majority
Recognised Association, which has drastically failed to protect the Medical Benefits
of BSNL recruited employees
Dear Colleagues,
The employees,
who got absorbed from DOT into BSNL, are covered by pensionary benefits under
Rule 37-A of CCS (Pension) Rules 1972. A pensioner of the Central Government is as
such eligible to avail of medical benefits under CGHS by paying the requisite
contribution. All the Central Government Employees, including IAS, IPS officers
and Defence Personnel, pay CGHS/ECHS contributions from their pocket. Still, BSNL is surprisingly reimbursing the lifetime CGHS Contribution to its retired
employees! This is in fact a case of financial impropriety.
The
pensionary benefits either from Central Government (Rule 37-A) or from CPSU
(30% Superannuation Benefits) are complete package itself and a pensioner has no
ala-carte choice to choose some benefits from Central Government and other from
CPSU. Thus, a pensioner who is eligible for medical benefits under CGHS is not
at all eligible for the medical benefits under BSNLMRS.
Therefore, we have written to CMD BSNL to swing in to act and
immediately stop the provision of medical benefits under BSNLMRS and
reimbursement of Lifetime CGHS Contribution to such pensioners. Needless to
mention that BSNL must create a Post-Employment Medical Benefits Trust on a Defined Contribution Basis for the provision of medical benefits to BSNL
Recruited Employees.