Lok Sabha Question No. 3211 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-03-19
Subject: Health Scheme for Retired Employees of SCCL
Ministry: COAL
Asked by: Dr. Kadiyam Kavya

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COAL

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 3211 TO BE ANSWERED ON 19.03.2025

## Health Scheme for Retired Employees of SCCL

## 3211. Dr. Kadiyam Kavya:

Will the Minister of COAL be pleased to state:

- (a) whether Coal India Limited (CIL) has implemented a contributory post-retirement health scheme for its retired employees;
- (b) if so, whether Singareni Collieries Company Limited (SCCL) has also proposed a similar scheme and if so, the current status of its  implementation, particularly in light of the 2018 scheme circular aimed at covering 32,000 retired employees; and
- (c) the steps taken by the Ministry to expedite the implementation of this scheme in SCCL, ensuring relief to retired employees and addressing any challenges that may have contributed to delays so far?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF COAL AND MINES (SHRI G. KISHAN REDDY)

(a): Yes sir, contributory post-retirement health scheme for retired employees of Coal India Limited, CIL (Both executives & Non-executives) has been implemented.

(b): Yes sir, Singareni Collieries Company Limited (SCCL) has introduced a contributory postretirement health scheme for its retired employees on similar lines as in CIL w.e.f. 01.04.2018 and the scheme is called Contributory Post Retirement Medicare Scheme for Non Executives (CPRMS-NE) covering all the retired employees spanning nearly 42000 retired Non-Executive Cadre Employees. Membership in the scheme is as per the respective eligibility criteria. The scheme in SCCL is similar to that of CIL and the same has been formulated basing on the implementation instructions received from the standardization committee recommendations of Joint Bipartite Committee for the Coal Industry (JBCCI) for National Coal Wage Agreement (NCWA-X). In line with guidelines of the scheme, a Statutory Trust has been established under the Indian Trusts' Act, 1882 and the same is entrusted with the duty of managing the fund (by way of contributions from Employees and corresponding allocation by Management) of the scheme. The Medical cover in respect of the critical diseases is unlimited without making a dent in the approved limit.

Current Status of the Scheme: Medical Cards are being issued to the Non-Executive cadre employees on their retirement on Superannuation/ Medical Invalidation. Spouses are eligible to enrol in the scheme on the death of the ex-employee. At present, 41231 ex-employees have enrolled  in  the  Scheme  and  are  availing  treatment  for  themselves  and  spouses  through empanelled hospitals.

A separate scheme for the benefit of Executive employees has been introduced by both the companies  CIL  &  SCCL  w.e.f.  01.01.2007.  The  Contributory  Post  Retirement  Medicare Scheme  for  Executive  Employees  is  implemented  as  part  of  Superannuation  Benefit  as guaranteed to all the Executive employees in 2 nd  Pay Revision Committees (PRC) drawn from the  essence  of  Department  of  Public  Enterprises  (DPE)  Guidelines.  The  cost  incurred  for treating  the  5  critical  diseases  is  unlimited  and  will  not  attract  any  deduction  from  the guaranteed benefit. Apart from the above, the members are also entitled for the OPD/domiciliary treatment expenditure reimbursement irrespective of Single/ Couple Membership.

(c): The  scheme  is  being  implemented  successfully  without  causing  any  challenges  to  the retired employees. For the purpose of ensuring the retired employees to avail the opportunity to join the scheme, the scheme provision has been extended 13 times. The present extension is still active under CPRMS-NE and the last date to join the scheme is 31.03.2025.  Further, in respect of CPRMS-E membership there is no last/ due date fixed for availing membership into the  scheme,  they  can  join  the  scheme  whenever  they  want  to,  on  payment  of  prescribed contribution amount and on fulfilling the other eligibility criteria.

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