CPRMSE Issues

In the meeting with Chairman CIL, on 16th August 2017, CILREWA raised the issue of inclusion of expenses for treatment of Psychiatric disorders in CPRMSE. CILREWA highlighted that the Mental Health Act, 2017 assures equal facility of treatment of mental illnesses with that of physical illness, consequently expenses incurred for treatment of mental illness should be included in CPRMSE. CILREWA ensured that this issue was included in the agenda in every subsequent meeting with the management of CIL. In the meeting held on 24th January, 2020 the management of CIL agreed in principle on this issue. The issue was again raked up in the meeting with Chairman, CIL on 6th March, 2024 wherein CIL officially agreed with the proposal for inclusion of medical expenses for treatment of psychiatric disorders, subsequently necessary instructions were issued vide no (CIL/C-5C/55125/2024/626 dated 14.03.2024).

Attachment: Minutes of the meeting held on 06.03.2024

There was a longstanding demand of CILREWA to have a single window Help Desk at CIL, Hq. to clarify doubts regarding eligibility, process and procedure for obtaining medical assistance through CPRMSE scheme. CILREWA had been meticulously bringing this issue to the notice of the CIL authorities in meetings and through written communications. Occasional management intervention could improve the process sparingly, however, the demand of a single window help desk at CIL Hq was persisted upon. CILREWA, took up the issue of problems being faced by the retired executives yet again in a meeting with Chairman, CIL held on 29th September, 2019. President of the CILREWA recorded the points highlighted in the meeting through a written communication on the same day. The issue of streamlining CPRMSE was again tabled for discussion in the meeting of CILREWA with management of CIL on 20th January, 2020. After normalisation post COVID pandemic, CIL started a PRMB Cell by a circular dated 13th November, 2020. On 23rd November, 2021, CILREWA met the management of CIL and brought forward the need for immediate improvement in the management of CPRMSE. Finally, by a circular of 11th July, 2022 PRMB Cell was made operational under the direct administrative control of Director (P&IR), CIL covering ‘start to end’ functions of CPRMSE (Annexed).

Annexure: Circular on PRMB Cell 11th July 2022

On retirement, CIL Executives were issued an A-4 size computer print-out as CPRMSE beneficiary card to avail medical facilities in empaneled hospitals. In the First Annual General Meeting of CILREWA, members requested that the Association to pursue for issuing of Medical Smart Card for availing services in the empaneled hospitals and cashless admission. CILREWA took up the issue in right earnest, in a letter written to Chairman, CIL on 25th July, 2017 the requirement of Medical Smart Card was highlighted along with other issues, followed up subsequently in the meeting with Chairman, CIL on 16.08.2017. CIL, Hq started issuing Medical Smart Card from 2020.

CPRMSE scheme is funded from the terminal benefits of executives of CIL.

CILREWA felt the necessity of having separate identity and management of the Fund. In the very first meeting between CILREWA and Chairman, CIL the issue of creation of a Trust separating the CPRMSE Fund from the CIL corpus was raised by the Association. The demand was reiterated by the President, CILREWA through a letter to Chairman, CIL on 16.08.2017.

After regular follow-up, on 14.03.2018, a separate Trust was created & christened as ‘Coal India Executives’ Superannuation Benefit Fund Trust’ to ensure benefits to the retired executives and their spouses as explained under CPRMSE.

In the First Annual General Meeting of CILREWA held on 15th June, 2017 members expressed that the upper ceiling of Domiciliary Expenses at Rs.15000 for the retired executive and spouse together was inadequate. The General Body in its Special General Meeting convened on 12th July, 2017, had a thread bare discussion on this issue along with issue of cashless indoor treatment in empaneled hospitals. Members were briefed that the Clause 3.2.2 of the CPRMSE Scheme notified on 28th December, 2012 had limited Domiciliary payment to Rs.15000 per annum. In the eventuality of the demise of one of the partners, the upper limit was reduced to Rs.7500 per annum. Members were also apprised that the CPRMSE fund was supposed to be created with effect for 1st January, 2007 with contribution at the rate of 4% of (Basic Pay+ DA). Therefore, the financial viability of the proposal of upward revisions of Domiciliary and other medical assistance should be based on the actuarial value of the fund from the notional date. The General Body unanimously opined that the issue of domiciliary payment should be flagged as the first point with topmost priority of the agenda in the ensuing meeting with CIL Management. Accordingly, in the first official meeting of CILREWA with Chairman, CIL and other official held on 16th August, 2017 the issue of domiciliary expense was discussed as the first issue. Since then, CILREWA had been pursuing this issue through meetings & written communication. As many as five meetings followed by same numbers of letters (three in 2018 and two in 2019) resulting in achievement of amendment in CPRMSE Rule to enhance annual Domiciliary payment from Rs.15,000 to Rs.36,000 either for Couple or for Single membership with effect from 01.01.2020 (Clause 3.2.2 of CPRMSE Scheme).

Attachment: Contributory Post Retirement Medicare Scheme as amended 14.12.2021