Transparency in Working of CSD

Transparency in Working of CSD
Introduction of new items for sale through Unit Run Canteens involves following steps:-

(i) Receipt of application from the prospective suppliers;

(ii) Scrutiny of the application form;

(iii) Informing the discrepancies to the firm, if any;

(iv) Samples are put up to Preliminary Screening Committee (PSC) consisting of representatives from the three Services viz., Army, Navy and Air Force besides CSD representatives;

(v) Preliminary Screening Committee (PSC) short lists the items;

(vi) Short-listed item is subjected to factory inspection/hygiene inspection/Composite Food Laboratory (CFL)/Analytical Food Laboratory (AFL) depending upon the nature of the item;

(vii) Conduct of Market Survey at five stations in the country;

(viii) On receipt of Market Survey Report, the firm is called for Price Negotiation and a discount of CSD is negotiated by the Price Negotiation Committee (PNC) which includes Controller of Defence Accounts (CDA-CSD)/Internal Financial Adviser (IFA) asa Member.

(ix) After negotiating the discount, the relevant file along with the samples is put up to Board of Administration consisting of representatives of three Services, Secretary BOCCS as Special Invitee and Controller of Defence Accounts (CDA-CSD)/Internal Financial Adviser (IFA)as Finance representative for final approval under the Chairmanship of General Manager, CSD.

The process of introduction of items in CSO is transparent.

The reasons for accepting/rejecting items are being duly recorded in respective files by the PSC w.e.f. February, 2009, following the recommendation made in the Performance Audit Report of the Canteen Stores Department. However, the same could not be done in few files during 2007-08 because a large number of items were being considered.

The status of new introduction cases is also being placed on CSD Website for information of all concerned.

This information was given by Defence Minister Shri AK Antony in written reply to Shri Sushil Kumar Singh and Shri Purnmasi Ram in Lok Sabha today.

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Revision of Pension under PF Scheme

Revision of Pension under PF Scheme
The pension on fixed rates is provided to the employees retiring under the Provident Fund (PF) scheme.

The Central Government had constituted an Expert Committee for reviewing the Employees Pension Scheme, 1995 entirely including revision of Pension. The Expert Committee submitted its report to the Central Government on 5th August, 2010 and the recommendations of the Committee were placed before the Central Board of Trustees, Employees’ Provident Fund [CBT (EPF)] for consideration on 15th September, 2010. The CBT (EPF) directed that the report be first considered by the Pension Implementation Committee (PIC). The PIC has since finalized its report and sent it to Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation for placing it before the CBT (EPF) for taking a final decision in the matter.

This information was given by the Minister of Labour and Employment Shri Mallikarjun Kharge in reply in reply to a written question in the Lok Sabha today

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Pension for Ex-Servicemen of Pre-Independence Era

Pension for Ex-Servicemen of Pre-Independence Era
Ex-servicemen with service less than 15 years as PBOR and less than 20 years as Commissioned Officers are not entitled to pension as minimum qualifying service is a mandatory requirement to earn pension.

Minimum qualifying service is an essential criterion for earning pension in the Armed Forces as per the existing Army, Navy & Air Force Pension Regulations.

There is no proposal under consideration of the government to grant pension to a large number of armed forces personnel who retired during pre-independence period but are still alive and not entitled to any pensionary benefits.

This information was given by Minister of State for Defence Shri MM Pallam Raju in written reply to Shri G.M. Siddeshwara in Lok Sabha today.

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