GOVERNMENT ISSUED OFFICE
MEMORANDUM PROVISIONAL REGULATIONS,
GOVERNING THE SERVICE DISCHARGE BENEFIT SCHEME FOR GRAMIN DAK
SEVAKS
No.6-11/2009-PE-II
Government of
India
Ministry of
Communications & IT
Department of
Posts
(Establishment
Division)
DAK BHAWAN,
PARLIAMENT STREETNEW DELHI-110001
The
1st APRIL2011
OFFICE
MEMORANDUM
Subject: The Service Discharge
Benefit Scheme for Gramin Dak Sevaks.
The undersigned is directed to
refer to this Directorate letter of even No. dated; Ist September, 2010
regarding introduction of a Service Discharge Benefit Scheme (SDBS) for
the Gramin Dak Sevaks, working in this Department.
2.0 The Government has decided
to introduce the new Service Discharge Benefit Scheme (SDBS) with effect from
the Ist April, 2011. A copy of the provisional Regulations, governing the
Scheme is enclosed. It is requested that all necessary arrangements may kindly
be made at all levels as well as in Circle Postal Accounts Offices, in
accordance with these provisional Regulations, to facilitate smooth and
satisfactory implementation of the Scheme from the Ist April, 2011
positively.
2.1 First installment of
contribution by the Department @ Rs.200/= (rupees two hundred only) per month,
in respect of each GDS, enrolled under the Scheme, shall become payable in the
month of April, 2011, while drawing the TRCA for the month (April,2011); The
contribution shall be remitted to the Trustee Bank, i.e. Bank of
India.
3.0 The Scheme shall be
operated utilizing the platform of the "NPS-LITE"scheme of the Pension
Fund Regulatory & Development Authority (PFRDA), as adopted by this
Department in its modified form.
3.1 The National Securities
Depository Limited (NSDL) has been appointed as Central Record keeping
Agency (CRA) by PFRDA/NPS TRUST, for providing centralized record
keeping, administration and customer service functions for all beneficiaries of
the SDBS, like, NPS-lite.
3.2 The Bank of
India (BOI) shall function as the TRUSTEE BANK, which will provide
banking services to the Scheme, including uploading of details of contribution
received from Aggregator cum-Accounts Officer (AO) in specified file
format to CRA, transfer of funds to PFM's accounts as per instructions of
the CRA as well as the Government, from time to time. It would manage the
Pension Funds in accordance with applicable provisions of the NPS Lite, the
SDBScheme, the guidelines/notifications, issued by PFRDA and the Government of
India, from time to time as per applicable Law.
3,3 It has been decided to
manage the funds deposited under SDBS, on the pattern of Central Government
Scheme of the NPS Lite, Therefore, the following shall function as
Pension Fund Managers (PFM) for investments and management of the funds under
the Scheme;-
1. LIC Pension
Fund,
2. SBI Pension
Fund Limited; and
3. UTI Retirement
Solutions Limited ,
3.4 The approved Annuity
Service Providers (ASPs) would be responsible for delivering a regular
monthly pension to the subscribers/beneficiaries or his/ her spouse (in case of
death of the subscribers/beneficiary)for the rest of his/her life under the
Scheme.
4.0 The GDS opting to
switch over to the SDBS by 30th April, 2011, shall be deemed to have
opted for the Scheme W.e.f. Ist April 2011 itself and the arrears of
contribution from April, 2011 onwards shall be remitted to the Trustee Bank on
their enrollment and receipt of PRAN Cards from the CRA,
subsequently.
4.1 Similarly, w.e.f.
1st April, 2011, the contribution is respect of those GDS, who
have since opted for switchover to the SDB Scheme, but their enrollment could
not be completed and PRAN Cards have not been received by April, 2011, the
arrear/contribution from 1st April, 2011-onwards shall be remitted to
the Trustee Bank on their enrollment and receipt of PRAN Cards from the
CRA.
4.2 Only the Department
shall contribute a sum of Rs. 200/ = (two hundred only) per month for each
GDS subscriber/beneficiary. The GDS are not required to make any matching
contribution, under the Scheme.
5.1 The HPOs./HROs/DDOs.
Shall be required to calculate the period of satisfactory service of each GDS
enrolled under the Scheme (i.e. whose registration with the CRA has since been
completed and PRAN Card has been received) and also those, who have since opted
for switchover to the Scheme but are yet to be enrolled/their PRAN Kit is yet to
be received, with reference to the payrolls and other records available with
them, duly verified by the Divisional Head concerned in order to ensure accuracy
and correctness. They shall than calculate the amount of Severance Amount
accrued @ Rs.1500/= (Rupees one thousand five hundred only) for each completed
year of service, for each of the beneficiary and prepare unit-wise list,
mentioning all relevant details of the GDS concerned (including PRAN Details and
the amount of accrued Severance Amount), for completed
years/months.
(a) In case of period being less than a year, the amount of
severance amount shall be calculated/arrived at on proportionate basis, for
completed months. The period being less than 15 days may be ignored while the
period of 15 days or more may be taken as a complete month, while calculating
the proportionate amount of severance amount.
5.2 One copy each
of these Lists shall be forwarded by the HPO/HRO to the concerned head of
Unit/Division of the GDS enrolled under SDBS, for verification and to the
PAO (AO), for the purpose of "pre-check like authorization" of the amount
calculated and reflected in these lists. Only after having been verified by the
Divisional Head as also pre-checked by the PAO, the Head Postmaster and/or Head
Records Officer, shall finalise the lists, make necessary entries in the
Registers (SDBS-2) under the dated initials of the head of Office/Head of Unit,
and simultaneously send final copies of the lists to PAO as well as Collection
Centres enabling them to make necessary entries in the Registers (SDBS-2)
maintained at their end under the dated initials of the head of Office/Unit
concerned. The Head Postmaster/Head Records Officer shall invariably certify at
the end of the list that the entries pertaining to the details of GDS,
satisfactory service as well as accrued severance amount have been checked by
him/her personally, the same stand verified by the Head of Unit and pre-checked
by the PAO concerned, under his/her dated signatures. These list shall be kept
in separate guard files in chronological order for future references, as a
permanent record by all concerned. Format of List, enclosed to this OM may be
utilized for the purpose.
5.3 The accrued
severance amounts are not required to be remitted to the Trusteed Bank at this
stage. The Collection Centres, HPO/HRO/DDOs. As well as PAO are required to
calculate, check and verify the same and make suitable entries in the relevant
columns of the Registers of GDS enrolled un SDBS (form: SDBS-2) under the dated
signatures of the head of office/unit concerned.
5.4 The regular
contribution amounts shall be drawn through separate bills in respect of all
enrolled GDS, showing the amount as simultaneously adjusted for remittance under
SDB Scheme, against the names of each GDS in the Bills, every month. the bills
shall be assigned separate serial numbers and distinctly reflected in their
accounts/accounted for as Bills paid and simultaneously adjusted for remittance
to Trustee Bank (by the PAO), and sent to the PAO alongwith the List of GDS in
prescribed proforms (SDBS-4).
5.5 The PAO (AO) shall
consolidate the contribution amounts, account for the same, prepare consolidated
contribution lists in the form SBDS-5 and remit the amounts through
cheque to the Trustee Bank by 5th each month
positively.
6. The funds
accumulated under the Scheme shall be administered by the New Pension System
Trust (NPS Trust) and investment activities/responsibilities shall be
carried out by the Pension Fund Managers (PFMs.) in accordance with these
Regulations.
7. The Department has
opted the Central Government Investment pattern for investment of the funds
accumulated in the SDBS Fund, by the PFMs., in accordance with the instructions
from PFRDA, NPS Trust as well as this Department, issued from time to
time.
8. Fortnightly progress
reports (Collection Centre-Wise, to be compiled by CO), containing the
progress of exercising of options by GDS, their enrollment by CRA and
receipt of PRAN kits/Cards, remitting of Contribution Amounts (by
PAO), may please by sent to Shri. S.V. Rao, Assistant Director General
(Estt.), Department of Posts, Dak Bhawan, Sansad Marg, New Delhi-110116. The
first such report should be sent by 16th April, 2011, both by PAO and
CO separately.
9. Receipt of this
Memorandum alongwith provisional Regulations may be acknowledged to Shri L.N.
Sharma, Assistant Accounts Officer (PAP), Department of Posts, Dak Bhawan,
Sansad Marg, New Delhi-1, by return fax/post.
sd/-
(RAJ KUMAR)
DIRECTOR (ESTABLISHMENT)
TELE: 011-2309 6036 / 2303 6793
FAX: 011-2309 6007 / 2309
6036