Port Blair, Nov 19: The Government Pensioners’ Association, Andaman & Nicobar Islands took up the matter with the Government of India for extending the CGHS facilities and CS (MA) Rules, 1944 to Pensioners of Union Territories.
The specific prayers which were made to Govt. of India are as under:
1. To look into the matter afresh and issue another OM in simple and clear terms allowing reimbursement of the medical claim to the pensioners and their dependant family members residing in the UT of Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
2. To allow the claim of airfare of the patient (pensioners) with an attendant.
3. To settle the claim of medical reimbursement of the pensioners through the department where they last served under CS (MA) Rules, 1944.
4. To reconsider the decision of the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare taken in 2017 to exclude the pensioners of UTs from CGHS and allow all the pensioners including the employees retiring from UTs and presently settled in different State/UTs to avail the benefit of CGHS without any discrimination.
Accepting the representations of this Association and the judgements in CAT cases filed by some of the former employees of A & N Administration, the Government of India, Ministry of Health & Family Welfare has now issued OM No. Z.16025/03/2021/CGHS-III/EHS dated 13.11.2023 to restore the CGHS facilities to the Pensioners of UT of A&N Islands. This Association welcomes and appreciates the above decision of Govt. of India. However, the other demands, especially the reimbursement of medical treatment cost and airfare for the benefits of pensioners settled in A&N Islands, are still pending with the Govt. of India.
This Association is duty bound to carry on the above demands and, therefore, will continuously strive to make it to its logical end. Cooperation of all members in this regard is therefore sought for the future endeavor including agitation.
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