35th Meeting of the Standing Committee of Voluntary Agencies (SCOVA) held on
10th March, 2026
Com. V.Vara Prasad, G.S, Com. RSN (Vice President) & Com. PGR (Vice President) and others - AIBSNLPWA - ATTENDED the meeting.
Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh chaired the 35th Meeting of the Standing Committee of Voluntary Agencies (SCOVA) today, March 10, 2026, in New Delhi.
Key Highlights and Participation
• Strengthening Policy and Services: Dr. Singh highlighted how feedback from pensioners helps improve government service delivery, transforming the SCOVA platform into a productive bridge for policy suggestions, rather than just complaint resolution.
• Commitment to Welfare: The Department of Pension and Pensioners' Welfare (DoPPW) reaffirmed its focus on providing dignity and "ease of living" for Central Government pensioners.
• Wide Participation: Representatives from Pensioners' Welfare Associations across 12 states/UTs took part, along with officials from various ministries, including Health, Railways, Posts, and Defence.
The SCOVA forum, established in 1986, continues to act as a crucial mechanism for dialogue between the government and its retired workforce.
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Dr. Jitendra Singh to chair 35th meeting of SCOVA on 10th March, 2026 DOPPW conducts 35th meeting of SCOVA Posted On: 09 MAR 2026 5:56PM by PIB Delhi Department of Pension and Pensioners’ Welfare is committed towards the welfare of Central Government pensioners. It actively coordinates with other Ministries/Departments of Government of India for formulation of pension policies and redressal of pensioners’ grievances to ensure dignity and ease of living for Central Government pensioners. Further, the Department also actively engages with the Pensioners’ Welfare Associations, representing lakhs of Central Government pensioners across the country for participative consultation in recommending welfare measures for pensioners. To institutionalize the coordination among DoPPW, Ministries/Departments and Pensioners’ Welfare Associations, the Standing Committee of Voluntary Agencies (SCOVA) was constituted by Department of Pension and Pensioners’ Welfare in 1986 under the chairmanship of Minister of State for Personnel Public Grievances and Pensions with Secretary, Department of Pension and Pensioners’ Welfare as Secretary. The SCOVA consists of 15 non-official members, representing Pensioners’ Welfare Associations and Official Members represented by Ministries/ Departments of Government of India. It provides Pensioners’ Welfare Associations, an institutional forum for raising issues concerning pensioners’ welfare directly before the concerned Ministries/ Departments through constructive deliberations. Dr. Jitendra Singh, Minister of State for Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions will chair the 35th meeting of the Standing Committee of Voluntary Agencies at New Delhi on 10th March, 2026. In the 35th SCOVA meeting, Pensioners’ Welfare Associations from Delhi, Karnataka, Telangana, Maharashtra, Jammu and Kashmir, Odisha, Assam, Jharkhand, Uttrakhand, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal and Gujarat would be participating. Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Controller General of Defence Accounts, Department of Expenditure, Ministry of Railways, Controller General of Communication Accounts,Department of Financial Services, Department of Ex-servicemen Welfare, Department of Revenue and Department of Telecommunications will also be participating in the meeting to discuss the issues concerning pensioners. It is expected that upcoming SCOVA meeting will be instrumental in bringing the ‘ease in the life’ of the central government pensioners.
AIBSNLPWA DELEGATES MET SECRETARY (TELECOM), ON 11-03-2026.
Meeting with Secretary (Telecom) – Discussion on Pension Revision of BSNL Absorbed Pensioners.
Comrades V. Vara Prasad, General Secretary, along with Comrades P. Gangadhara Rao (Vice President), R. S. N. Murthy (Vice President), Anupam Kaur (Deputy General Secretary) and J. S. Dahiya (AGS) met Shri Amit Agrawal, Secretary (Telecom) at Sanchar Bhawan, New Delhi on 11-03-2026.
At the outset, the delegation welcomed Shri Amit Agrawal on assuming charge as Secretary, Department of Telecommunications, and conveyed best wishes for his successful tenure.
During the meeting, the delegation discussed the long pending issue of revision of pension of BSNL absorbed pensioners with effect from 01.01.2017 based on the 7th Central Pay Commission fitment factor.
It was briefly explained that the DoT Note to Cabinet dated 25.09.2000 assured continuation of the Government pension scheme even after absorption in BSNL.
The delegation explained that the pension of BSNL absorbed employees is regulated under Rule 37-A of CCS (Pension) Rules and paid by the Government of India, though calculated based on the IDA pay drawn in BSNL.
It was also pointed out that BSNL absorbed pensioners are not covered under either Pay Revision Committees (PRC) or Central Pay Commissions (CPC) for pension revision, resulting in the present anomaly.
The delegation informed the Secretary (Telecom) that the Principal Bench of the Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT), New Delhi, in OA No.1329/2000, delivered its judgment in September 2023, directing the respondents to revise the pension of BSNL absorbees on par with Central Government pensioners.
It was also brought to his notice that the Hon’ble High Court of Kerala, in WP(C) No.16360/2023, in its judgment dated 06.02.2026, observed that absorbed employees are required to be extended the pension applicable to a Central Government servant, and that their service and retirement are to be treated as retirement from Central Government service.
In view of these facts, the delegation requested the Secretary (Telecom) to take a positive decision on this long pending issue of pension revision with effect from 01.01.2017. The Association also expressed its willingness for constructive discussions with the Department to resolve the matter.
The Secretary (Telecom) stated that the matter is presently sub judice and informed that it would be examined after the High Court proceedings are finalized. He listened to the submissions made by the delegation.
V. Vara Prasad
General Secretary.
AIBSNLPWA DELEGATES ALSO MET MEMBER (Finance), D.O.T., ND
The delegation also met Shri Manish Sinha, Member (Finance), Department of Telecommunications, and apprised him of the concerns of BSNL absorbed pensioners regarding the long pending issue of pension revision from 01.01.2017. He appreciated the concerns raised by the delegation.
AIBSNLPWA DELEGATES ALSO MET Com. Shiva Gopal Mishra at All India Railwaymen's Fedaration Office, New Delhi.
Our delegation consisting of Com. V. Vara Prasad, General Secretary; Com. P. Gangadhara Rao, Vice President; Com. R. S. N. Murthy, Vice President; and Com. J. S. Dahiya, Assistant General Secretary met Shiva Gopal Mishra at the All India Railwaymen's Federation office in New Delhi on 12-03-2026.
During the meeting, detailed discussions were held on important issues concerning pensioners, particularly:
* Terms of Reference (TOR) of the 8th Central Pay Commission
* Pension revision of BSNL absorbed pensioners w.e.f. 01.01.2017 based on the 7th CPC fitment factor
Com. Shiva Gopal Mishra extended his support and facilitated Com. V. Vara Prasad, General Secretary, to participate in the Virtual Meeting of the Federation of Central Pensioners Associations (FCPA) held today. As President of FCPA, he enabled our GS to join the meeting along with him and present our concerns.
The participation in the FCPA virtual meeting provided an opportunity to highlight the issues of BSNL pensioners at the national level, particularly the long-pending demand for pension revision.
V VARA PRASAD
General Secretary.
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Meeting with Jt. CGCA, New Delhi – 12.03.2026
Our delegation consisting of Com. V. Vara Prasad, General Secretary; Com. P. Gangadhara Rao, Vice President; Com. R. S. N. Murthy, Vice President; and Com. J. S. Dahiya, Assistant General Secretary met Shri Sandeep Goud, Joint CGCA, New Delhi, on 12.03.2026.
The delegation discussed the issue relating to the Industrial Dearness Allowance (IDA) due from 01.01.2026, based on the Office Memorandum issued by the Department of Public Enterprises (DPE).
Shri Sandeep Goud informed that though the DPE has notified the revised IDA rates, their implementation in respect of BSNL pensioners requires necessary orders from the Department of Telecommunications (DoT). For this purpose, DoT is interacting with DPE to ascertain the modalities for implementation.
He further stated that the matter has to be examined by the Establishment and Finance Sections of DoT, since as per the DPE Office Memorandum, the extension and implementation of the orders, including the financial implications, rest with the concerned Administrative Ministry/Department.
After DoT issues the necessary orders, the Office of the Controller General of Communication Accounts will incorporate the enhanced IDA in the pension of BSNL pensioners.
V Vara Prasad - General Secretary.
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Meeting with Central Registrar of Cooperative Societies – 13.03.2026
Today our delegation consisting of Com. V. Vara Prasad, General Secretary; Com. P. Gangadhara Rao, Vice President; and Com. R. S. N. Murthy, Vice President met Shri Ananda Kumar Jha, Central Registrar of Cooperative Societies (CRCS) under the Ministry of Cooperation, on 13.03.2026.
During the meeting, the delegation discussed the long-pending issue of non-settlement of dues to the members of the Government Telecom Employees Cooperative Society Chennai. The delegation pointed out that some members have expired, causing financial distress to their families, and requested the CRCS to issue appropriate directions to the society management for early settlement of the long-pending dues.
Shri Ananda Kumar Jha expressed the view that since the Government has no financial stake in the society, it cannot directly intervene in its affairs and the management of the society itself is the competent authority to take appropriate decisions in this regard. He also stated that as the Government has no stake in the society, the appointment of a Special Officer is not within the powers of the CRCS. General body of society is supreme to take decision required.
V Vara Prasad GS.
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Meeting with Joint Director, Department of Public Enterprises – 13.03.2026
Our delegation met Ms. Shivani Maheshwari, Joint Director in the Department of Public Enterprises, today.
She informed that the order regarding IDA revision due from January 2026, which was issued on 27.02.2026, has already been circulated to all Ministries/Departments.
She further confirmed that the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has contacted the Department of Public Enterprises regarding this issue. It was indicated that DoT is now required to endorse the order for implementation in respect of BSNL pensioners.
V. Vara Prasad
General Secretary.