Excelsior Correspondent
NEW DELHI, May 5: Central Government employees working in Kashmir Valley in the offices of Government of India as well as Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs) falling under the control of Central Government get special concessions during the term of their posting.
Disclosing this here today, Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER), MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances,Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr Jitendra Singh said, it has been decided by the DoPT to extend for a further period of time, this package of concessions available to Central Government employees working in Kashmir Valley and also to revise the incentives available to them with effect from 1st January 2015 to 31st December 2015.
These concessions or incentives will be uniformly applicable to all the Ministries/Departments and Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs) under the Government of India and all the employees working in the region will get equal benefit out of them.
Referring to some of the important special incentives, Dr Jitendra Singh said, these, for example, pertain to House Rent Allowance (HRA) wherein the employees are eligible for drawing the normal HRA as well as at the place of their posting provided that the accommodation arrangements are not made by the department .
These employees also have the option to move their families to a selected place of their choice in India at Government expense and the T.A for the families is allowed as permissible in case of permanent transfer, inclusive of transportation of personal effects, lump-sum payment for packing, etc., he added. The benefit of additional HRA under this package is admissible to all the central government employees posted in Kashmir Valley irrespective of whether they are natives of Kashmir Valley or not.
Similarly, Dr Jitendra Singh said, the retired Central Government employees of Kashmir Valley who are unable to draw their monthly pension through either Central Government banks or PAO treasuries are , in relaxation of provisions, given the option to draw their pension outside the Valley where they have settled.