Proposal to ease pension disbursal to kin

The process of sanctioning family pension to the kin of a deceased government pensioner may become hassle-free if the Centre adopts a proposal.

The Department of Pension and Pensioners’ Welfare, which comes under the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, will consider this and other proposals when the Standing Committee of Voluntary Agencies (SCOVA) meets under the chairmanship of Minister V Narayanasamy on September 20.

Senior officials in finance, defence, railways, health and telecom ministries and members of 15 pensioners’ association will attend the meeting.

A senior official said the issue of simplifying the procedure of sanctioning family pension would be discussed at the meeting where it was listed first on the agenda.

Now, after the demise of a retired employee, his/her family has to provide a lot of documents though they are already in possession of the government.

“As details of family members eligible for family pension in the event of the death of the pensioner, including joint photograph with the spouse and the amount of family pension payable in the event of death of the pensioner, are available under Part II of the Pension Payment Order issued by the Pay and Accounts Officer or other designated authority.

“It is redundant and unnecessary to insist on submission of all these details in Form 14 for sanction of family pension,” the agenda read.