NEW DELHI – In a groundbreaking move aimed at providing equitable rights to women, the Indian government has amended the existing rule on family pension, allowing female government employees to nominate their son or daughter instead of their husband. This change, which aligns with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision for empowering women, is expected to have far-reaching socio-economic implications.
According to Dr Jitendra Singh, Union Minister of State for Science & Technology and Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office, Personnel, Public Grievances, Pensions, Atomic Energy, and Space, the Department of Pensions and Pensioners’ Welfare has introduced an amendment to the CCS (Pension) Rules, 2021. This amendment grants female government employees and pensioners the right to designate their eligible child/children for family pension after their own demise, instead of their spouse.
The amendment aims to address various scenarios where marital issues may arise, such as divorce proceedings and cases filed under acts such as the Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, Dowry Prohibition Act, or the Indian Penal Code. Previously, family pension was granted to the spouse of a deceased government servant or pensioner, with other family members becoming eligible only after the spouse’s ineligibility or demise. However, this new amendment empowers female government employees to direct the grant of family pension to their eligible child/children after their death.
Dr Jitendra Singh commended the move as being in line with the Modi government’s commitment to providing equitable and just rights to women, whether in the Armed Forces or in Parliament. He emphasized that this change reflects the government’s broader policy of ensuring gender equality and empowerment across all sectors.
In an official memorandum, the Department of Pension and Pensioners’ Welfare stated that in order for a female government servant or pensioner to avail of this provision, she must submit a written request to the Head of Office, stating her intention to grant family pension to her eligible child/children in precedence to her spouse in the event of her death during ongoing proceedings. If the female government servant or pensioner passes away during the proceedings, the family pension will be disbursed accordingly.
The memorandum further specifies that if a woman employee is survived by a widower without any eligible child, the family pension will be payable to the widower. However, if the widower is the guardian of a minor child or a child suffering from a mental disorder, the family pension will be payable to the widower as long as he remains the guardian. Once the child attains majority and remains eligible for family pension, it will be directly payable to the child.
For cases where the deceased female government servant or pensioner is survived by a widower and children who have reached majority but are still eligible for family pension, the family pension will be paid to the children. Once all eligible children cease to be eligible, the family pension will revert to the widower until his death or remarriage, whichever comes first.
The amendment to the CCS (Pension) Rules, 2021, reflects the Indian government’s commitment to gender equality and empowering women in the public sector. By granting female government employees the right to nominate their son or daughter instead of their husband for family pension, this change ensures that women have greater control over their financial security and the future well-being of their children.
