There are some instances regarding delay in payment of pension/terminal benefits to retired employees of Sainik Schools due to delay in release of funds by the concerned State Government. In order to ensure timely release of Funds, the Ministry of Defence has initiated the process of signing of Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) with the State Governments by clearly specifying the aforesaid responsibility of State Government. In this regard, MoAs have already been executed in respect of 24 Sainik Schools out of 33.
This information was given by Raksha Rajya Mantri Shri Ajay Bhatt in a written reply to S Muniswamy in Lok Sabha on Friday.
“Also, in cases of exigency, the Sainik Schools may utilise reserve fund, with prior approval of Sainik Schools Society, for payment of pension subject to recoupment on receipt of funds from State Government”, the Minister said in the answer.
As per the scheme regarding sharing of responsibilities between Sainik School Society and State Governments, the responsibility to incur expenditure towards pension/terminal benefits rests with the State Government concerned. However, the expenditure towards additionality in pension on account of difference between 5th to 7th CPC recommendations is incurred by the Sainik School Society on a regular basis.
