Relief for employees, pensioners

Ramkrishan Upadhyay
Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, October 21

In a major relief to employees of the UT Administration and other corporations, Punjab Governor and UT Administrator VP Singh Badnore gave his nod to enhance the financial powers of officers from the Head of the Department to the Secretary to approve the reimbursement of medical bills of employees/pensioners and their dependents.

The decision will help the employees in getting their reimbursement without any delay. Earlier, employees had to wait for long to get their bills approved from higher officials.

Sources in the Administration said the order for the delegation of financial powers was issued by the Finance Department today.

As per the order issued by the Financial and Planning Officer, the head of the office can now approve medical bills up to Rs 50,000. Earlier, he/she could approve bills only up to Rs 25,000.

Heads of the Department have been allowed to approve bills from Rs 50,001 to Rs 2.50 lakh. Earlier, they were allowed to sanction bills up to Rs 1.25 lakh only.

The administrative secretary will now approve bills from 2.50 lakh to Rs 5 lakh. It was earlier limited to a maximum of Rs 2.50 lakh only. For bills above Rs 5 lakh, the Finance Department’s approval is required.

An officer of the Finance Department said the Administrator revised the financial powers after the problems of employees and pensioners came to his notice in getting the approval.

RK Garg, president of the Second Innings Association, said it was a welcome step. It would help thousands of employees and pensioners, who run from pillar to post, to get the reimbursement of medical expenditure easily.