PFRDA Organised Conference On Implementation Of NPS

PENSION FUND REGULATORY AND DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY

PRESS RELEASE

Conference on Implementation of National Pension System by Central Government

A conference on implementation of National Pension System by Central Government Ministries/Departments and CABs was organized by PFRDA on 21st December, 2017 at New Delhi. The prime objective was to provide a forum to all Central Government Ministries/Departments and Central Autonomous Bodies (CABs), where the progress in the implementation of NPS with respect to compliance of timelines in various NPS related activities could be brought to the fore and a way forward could be provided. Officials from most of the Ministries/Departments and CABs attended the conference.

Dr. Badri Singh Bhandari, Whole Time Member (Economics) in his opening remarks emphasised the need for discipline in submission of subscriber registration forms and remittance of the subscriber contribution. He stressed on maintaining discipline of timely remittance of subscriber contribution and reiterated about the OM issued by Department of Expenditure in September, 2008 regarding timelines to be followed by Civil Ministries/departments for registration of new employees, upload of SCFs and remittance of the NPS contributions and the OM issued in July, 2011 on oversight and monitoring mechanism. He also touched upon the need of resolving pending grievances and withdrawals on priority by the nodal officers. He also highlighted the responsibility of nodal officers handling NPS and advised that they should be aware of the product & process in detail which shall reduce grievances.

Chairman, PFRDA, Sh. Hemant Contractor, emphasized the fact that NPS, being a Contrbutory scheme, was different from the earlier pension system in the government, which was a formula based PAYG (Pay As You Go) scheme. In NPS, pension was dependent on various factors, such as period of stay in the scheme, contribution level, returns on investments etc. Govt. offices, subscribers and

PFRDA all had to work in tandem to ensure that NPS works efficiently and pensions are served effectively. PFRDA devotes considerable endeavour in educating subscribers in handling their pension accounts, through a dedicated website, Pension Sanchay, trainings arranged etc.

Ms. Soma Roy Burman, Additional Comptroller General of Accounts, Govt. of India in her address advised participating Central Ministries/Departments and CABs to monitor performance of the NPS implementation with respect to timely completion of NPS related activities so that fresh lodgement of grievances can be reduced. She also suggested for revisiting the role and responsibilities of various stake holders especially of FAs and NPS implementation Committee in current context of challenges in implementing NPS.

Dr. Madanesh Mishra, Joint Secretary, Department of Financial Services stressed to all participants on the need of becoming sensitive and responsible towards employees currently covered under NPS in order to protect their interest, while monitoring various NPS related activities. He also stressed upon the role which can be played by the PrAOs, CCAs and FAs of the respective Ministries in

streamlining NPS operations.

Quite a few presentations were made by various stakeholders under NPS for the benefit of the participants. While presenting the Vote of Thanks Shri Ashish Kumar, GM mentioned that PFRDA is periodically holding Review meetings/ Video conferences also with the PrAOs and expects significant improvement from the present state of affairs.

Place: New Delhi

Date: 21.12.2017

Source: http://www.pfrda.org.in

Linking of Aadhaar with ration cards

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

MINISTRY OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION

RAJYA SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO-85

ANSWERED ON-15.12.2017

Linking of Aadhaar with ration cards

Shri Ram Kumar Kashyap

(a) whether an eleven year old girl died on 28th September, 2017 at her village in Jharkhand after stoppage of subsidised foodgrains for months owing to cancellation of ration card for want of Aadhaar linkage;

(b) if so, the action Government proposes to take in the matter;

(c) the total number of ration cards not linked to their Aadhaar unique ID number, State/Union Territory-wise; and

(d) the policy of Government to provide subsidized foodgrains to BPL families?

ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE FOR CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION

(SHRI C. R. CHAUDHARY)

(a) & (b): The Government of Jharkhand informed that the girl Miss Santosh Kumari of Karimati village of Simdega District died owing to disease and not due to hunger. The Government of Jharkhand has further informed that the family of deceased had Priority Household Ration card which was deleted on 22.7.17. Aadhaar card of mother of deceased was submitted to Fair Price Shop [FPS] in month of August, 2017.

Government of Jharkhand has also informed that District Grievance Redressal Officer[DGRO] Simdega passed an order to pay the food security allowance to the family for the month of August 2017 as per provisions of National Food Security Act, 2013 and that FPS dealer concerned and Incharge Area Supply Officer [Prabhari Prakhand Aapoorti Padadhikari] were placed under suspension and a new Antyodaya Anna Yojna Ration card was issued to household.

Al so read: Linking of Aadhaar with bank account and mobile number

Letter dated 24/10/17 have been issued to all State/UT Governments to strictly comply with the provisions of the Notification issued by this Department vide SO No.317[E] dated 8/2/17[as amended from time to time]. The said Notification has clear provisions for distribution of the benefits of subsidized foodgrains/cash transfer of food subsidy under NFSA to those eligible beneficiaries who do not possess Aadhaar number. The notification as well as letter dated 24/10/17 have been uploaded on the official web site of this Department i.e. www.dfpd.nic.in.

(c ): A State-wise statement showing the total number of Rations cards linked/seeded with Aadhaar is at Annexure .

(d): After implementation of NFSA, criteria of identification of beneficiaries/households has been de-linked from BPL/APL categories and beneficiaries are identified under two categories namely;

(i). AAY Households, and

(ii). Priority Households

The eligible households under the above categories are required to be identified by State/UT Governments and are entitled to receive foodgrains (rice, wheat or coarsegrains or any combination thereof) under TPDS @ Rs 3/-, 2/- & Re 1/- per kg respectively with entitlements of priority households being @ 5kgs per person per month and AAY families getting @ 35 kg per family per month as per the AAY scheme.

ANNEXURE

Source: RAJYA SABHA

Status Of Aadhaar Seedings