CENTRAL GOVERNMENT PENSIONERS NEED TO BE SANCTIONED ATLEAST ₹.200/- PER MONTH FOR PURCHASE OF NEWS PAPERS??????????????????????????????????????REIMBURSEMENT OF COST OF NEWS PAPERS PURCHASED BY CENTRAL GOVERNMENT OFFICERS AT THEIR RESIDENCE ~ ARE THEY REALLY NEED SUCH MONETARY ASSISTANCE FROM THE GOVERNMENT? ***************************************As per the Government of India, Ministry of Finance, Department of Expenditure, E-Coord, North Block New Delhi letter No 25(12)/E-Coord-2018 dated 03-04-2018, central Government Officers as per details given below are entitled to get reimbursement of the cost of news papers purchased by them at their residence :-(1) Secretary and equivalent level of officers ~|~: As per actuals / per month (That means no limit, they can get umpteen number of news papers)(2) Additional Secretary and equivalent level of officers ~|~: ₹ 1100/- per month(3) Jt Secretary and equivalent level of officers ~|~: ₹ 850/- per month (4) Director/Dy Secretary/Under Secretary/Section Officer and equivalent ~|~: ₹500/- per month. After the 6th and 7th CPCs recommendations, Central Government Officers and Employees are sufficiently paid and really well off. Apart from monthly salary and a number of allowances; they are getting many other benefits and perks. While the CG Pensioners do not get any other financial benefits except regular pension & DR. Under such circumstances, one will definitely wonder as to whether any justification exists for reimbursement of the cost of the news papers purchased for their personal reading and that reading of news papers, in no way, is going to enhance the performance of the Central Government Officers. It is not known that under which Government scheme this concession/allowance is being granted by the Government to a specific group of officers alone?. It is another astonishing factor in the issue is that the above benefit is granted only to senior level bureaucrats and equivalent level of officers in the higher and sub ordinate formations / offices and NOT TO ALL CENTRAL GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES. It could be easily inferred that why this major issue of wasting public funds for personal comforts of a specific group of officers in the Central Government Departments escaped from the notice of Audit Authorities/CAG, because a certain officers in these Departments also enjoy same benefit. Whatever may be the background for granting such financial benefit purely for personal comforts, but of no return/benefit to the Government, is not at all justified and Government need to have a relook and reconsideration of the matter; or else to extend the same benefit to the entire Central Government Employees as a matter of Justice & fair playIn the above context, Central Government Pensioners can also put forth an Appeal to the Government to grant them atleast a minimum amount of ₹.200/- per month for the purchase of news papers
