JOIN USThe government seems to be brimming with ideas when it comes to sops for bureaucrats, even if they are retired.
In a first-of-its-kind move, the State government through an executive order has decided to provide retired chief secretaries (CS) and additional chief secretaries (ACS) servant allowance of Rs 6,000, telephone charges of Rs 1,000 and medical reimbursement, as per the All India Services (medical attendance) Rules, 1954, with effect from April 1.
This is on a par with the facilities provided to retired high court judges. This provision, however, is not applicable for IPS or IFS officers.
A government order (GO) dated March 4 has said the Finance Department has given its concurrence. A proposal to this effect was made by the Department of Personnel & Administrative Reforms (DPAR) to the finance department on March 18, 2013.
Former bureaucrats across the country are entitled to only retirement benefits, mainly pension. Officers in the DPAR said they were not aware whether any other state is offering such post-retirement facility.
The GO stated: “The State government is pleased to sanction the following allowances and facilities to retired chief secretaries, retired cabinet secretaries and retired secretaries to the government of India.”
There are about 75 retired bureaucrats of the rank of CS and ACS in the State. On an average, about seven to eight IAS officers retire a month, and with the new provision, the burden on the State’s exchequer will only grow.
A retired bureaucrat said when an officer of principal secretary-rank goes on Central deputation, he or she ends up as secretary. Naturally, such officers miss out on certain benefits given by the State to a principal secretary, and therefore, a provision has been made to bridge this gap.
One of the major benefits available for retired IAS officers is that their medical bills are fully reimbursed.
Under the Central Government Health Scheme, the employees have to contribute a marginal amount to avail this facility.
Asked whether there was any need for providing such a facility, retired additional chief secretary V Balasubramanian replied in the negative. “As a retired IAS officer I get Rs 82,000 as pension. This is more than sufficient. Medical bills for me and my wife are getting reimbursed. An agricultural labourer gets wages only when he works. Why should a retired officer get paid even after retirement? As far as I know, no state is offering such allowances and facilities to retired officers,” he said.