The Bharatiya Pratiraksha Mazdoor Sangh, an all-India federation of defense workers, has sent a reminder to the Department of Pension & Pensioners’ Welfare requesting the enhancement of Fixed Medical Allowance (FMA) from the current rate of INR 1000 per month to INR 5000 per month. FMA is granted to Central Government pensioners and family pensioners for meeting day-to-day medical expenses that do not require hospitalization. The federation argues that the COVID-19 pandemic has increased medical expenses and inflation, and therefore, the allowance needs to be reviewed and increased to ease the burden on pensioners.
Enhancement of Fixed Medical Allowance
Bharatiya Pratiraksha Mazdoor Sangh
(AN ALL INDIA FEDERATION OF DEFENCE WORKERS)
(AN INDUSTRIAL UNIT OF B.M.S.)
(RECOGNISED BY MINISTRY OF DEFENCE, GOVT. OF INDIA)
REF: BPMS/ DoP&PW/ FMA/ 156(8/1/L)
Dated: 01.03.2023
REMINDER 1
To,
The Secretary
Department of Pension & Pensioners’ Welfare
Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions,
Govt of India, Lok Nayak Bhawan, Khan Market,
New Delhi – 110 003
Subject: Enhancement of Fixed Medical Allowance (FMA).
Reference: This federation letter of even no dated 29.08.2022
Respected Sir,
With due regards, it is submitted that Fixed Medical Allowance is granted to the Central Government pensioners/ family pensioners residing in areas not covered under Central Government Health Scheme administered by the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare and corresponding health schemes administered by other Ministries/ Departments for their retired employees for meeting expenditure on their day-to-day medical expenses that do not require hospitalization.
At present, this allowance is being granted @ 1000/- per month to all eligible pensioners/family pensioners with effect from 01.07.2017. DoP&PW reviews this amount periodically in order to soothe the effect of inflation on Medical Expenditure.,
It is worth to mention here that corona pandemic has skyrocketed the expenditure on Medical Treatment. Therefore, the federation had ‘represented the subject matter through its letter cited under reference mentioning that pensioners, erstwhile members/ officer bearers of this federation, are approaching this federation with request to do needful for enhancement of Fixed Medical Allowance from existing %1000/- to $5000 per month . But any action from your end is still awaited.
Therefore, you are again requested to peruse the matter and do the needful in this regard.
Thanking you
Sincerely Yours
(MUKESH SINGH)
General Secretary/ BPMS &
Member National Council JCM
Source: http://bpms.org.in