Children Education Allowance, Honorarium, Special Allowance

Children Education Allowance, Honorarium, Special Allowance for child care for women with disability, Joing time Rules – Frequently Asked Questions

DOPT has published a compilation of Frequently Asked Questions on certain Allowances paid to Central Government Employees such as Children Education Allowance, Honorarium, Special Allowance for child care for women with disability. This compilation also includes FAQ on Joining Time Rules.

Establishment (Allowances) Section

Children Education Allowance Scheme (CEA)

No. Reimbursement of CEA is not permissible for third child even if reimbursement has not been claimed in respect of first and/or second child. However, as per OM No.12011/03/2008- Estt.(AL) dated 11.11.2008, the Children Education Allowance would be admissible for more than two children where as a result of the second child birth results in birth of twins or multiple children. Further, reimbursement of CEA for the 3rd child is also admissible in case of failure of sterilization operation. Such reimbursement is admissible only for the first child birth after failure ofsterilization operation. This point was further clarified vide O.M. No.12011/16/2009-Allowance) dated 13.11.2009

As per OM No.12011/03/2008-Estt.(AL) dated 2.9.2008, tuition fee, admission fee, laboratory fee, special fee charged for agriculture, electronics, music or any other subject, fee charged for practical work under the programme of work experience, fee paid for the use of any aid or appliances by the child, library fee, games/sports fee and fee for extra-curricular activities are reimbursable subject to the condition that the aforementioned fee are charged by the school directly from the student.

No reimbursement is permissible for Annual Charges and Transportation fees. Besides, reimbursement for purchase of one set of text books and notebooks, two sets of uniforms prescribed by the school in which the child is studying, one pair of shoes, in an academic year are reimbursable. Uniform include all items of clothing prescribed for a day, as uniform by the school, irrespective of colours/winter/summer/PT uniforms. Reimbursement of school bags, pens/pencils, water bottle, stationery etc., may not be allowed. O.M. No.12011/08/2010-Estt.(AL) dated 30.12.2010 and O.M. No.12011/07(0/2011-Estt.(AL) dated 21.02.2012 refers

This Department’s OM No. 12011/03/ 2008-Estt.(AL) dated 2.9.2008 clearly indicates that the limits “would be automatically raised by 25% every time the Dearness Allowance on the revisedpay structure goes up by 50%”. There is no need for any separate order from this Department to effect enhancement of CEA as a result of increase in DA by 50%. However, O.M.No.12011/01/2011-Estt.(Allowance) dated 4th May 2011, has been issued to clarify this further

The reimbursement of CEA is not linked to the performance of the child in his class. Even if a child fails in a particular class, the reimbursement is permissible. However, if the child is admitted in the same class in another school, although the child has passed out of the same class in previous school or in the mid-session, CEA shall not be reimbursable.

Children Education Allowance/Hostel Subsidy is allowed for the initial two years of a diploma/ certificate course from Polytechnic/ITI/ Engineering College, if the child pursues the course after passing 10th standard and the Government servant has not been granted CEA/Hostel Subsidy in respect of the child for studies in 11th and 12th standards. This is further subject to fulfillment of other conditions laid down in the O.M. No.12011/03/2008-Estt.(AL) dated 2.9.2008 and subsequent instructions issued from time to time

The term Hostel Subsidy would mean expenses incurred by the Government servant if he/she keeps his/her children in a hostel of a residential school/institution located beyond a distance of 50 kilometers from his/her residence.

Hostel Subsidy is reimbursable to all CentralGovernment Employees covered by the scheme, for keeping their ward in the Hostel of a residential school away from the station in which the employee is posted or residing irrespective of any transfer liability.

No. Hostel subsidy is reimbursable only in case of child studying in a residential school and staying in hostel of the said residential school.

Hostel subsidy includes fee charged for boarding, lodging in addition to fee as mentioned in para 1(e) of OM No. 12011/03/ 2008-Estt.(AL) dated 2.9.2008.

Reimbursement of 50% of the entitled amount for the academic year can be allowed in the first and/or second quaiter and the remaining amount can be reimbursed in the third and/or fourthquarter. The entire entitled amount can also be reimbursed in the last quarter. However, frontloading of the entire admissible amount is not permissible. O.M. No.12011/07(i)/2011-Estt.(AL) dated 21.02.2012 refers

There is no minimum age prescribed for reimbursement of CEA in respect of children admitted in nursery classes.However, with regard to physically challenged children the minimum age of 5 (five) years was prescribed for disabled children undergoing nonformal/vocational education. With effect from 21′February, 2012, the minimum age stipulated as 5 years for disabled children stand removed.

Hence, there is no minimum age of child for whom reimbursement is claimed irrespective of the fact whether the child is disabled or not.The maximum age for normal child is 20 years and for physically challenged children the maximum age is 22 years. O.M. No.12011/07(ii)/2011-Estt.(AL) dated 21.02.2012 refers.

The school/institution has to be recognized by the Central or State Government or UT administration or by University or a recognized educational authority having jurisdiction over the area where the institution is situated. This also applies in respect of children studying in two classes prior to Class-I, i.e., nursery/LKG/UKG, etc. OM No. 12011/03/ 2008-Estt.(AL) dated 23.11.2009.

The CEA is payable for the children of all CentralGovernment employees including citizens of Nepal and Bhutan, who are employees of Government of India, and whose children are studying in the native place. However, a certificate may be obtained from the concerned Indian Mission that the school is recognized by the educational authority having jurisdiction over the area where the institution is situated.

“Fee” shall mean fee paid to the school in which the child is studying, directly by the parents/guardian for the items mentioned in para 1(e) of the O.M. dated 2/9/2008. Reimbursement of school bags, pens/pencils, etc., may not be allowed. There is no item-wise ceiling. O.M. No.12011/07(i)/2011-Estt.(AL) dated 21.02.2012 refers.

In case of misplacement of receipts given by the school/institution towards charges received from the parents/guardian, reimbursement may be allowed if the Government servant produces a duplicate receipt, duly authenticated by the school authorities. Receipts from private parties, other than the school, if misplaced shall not be entertained, even if a duplicate receipt is produced. Original receipts from school authorities need not be attested/ countersigned/rubber stamped by the school authorities. O.M. No.12011/07(i)/2011-Estt.(AL) dated 21.02.2012 refers

Reimbursement of Development Fee/Parents’ Contribution is allowed w.e.f. 21st February, 2012, vide O.M. No.12011/07(ii)/2011-Estt.(AL) dated 21.02.2012, on pro-rata basis, subject to the condition that the Government servant will have to certify that the school does not charge tuition fee. However, in respect of children studying inKendriya Vidyalaya, the Vidyalaya Vikas Nidhi is reimburseable as it forms part of para 1(e) of O.M. No.12011/3/2008-Estt.(Allowance) dated 2.9.2008. O.M. No.12011/16/2009-Estt.(Allowances) dated 13.11.2009 refers.

Jointing Time Rules

For appointment to posts under the Central Government on the results of a competitive examination and or interview open to Government servants and others, Central Government employees and permanent/provisionally permanent State Government employees will be entitled to joining time.

A Government servant shall be treated on duty during the period of joining time and shall be entitled to joining time pay equal to the pay and allowances like DA, HRA, CCA, drawn before relinquishment of charge at the old post. But temporary Central Government employees with less than 3 years of regular continuous service, though entitled to joining time would not be entitled to joining time pay. {Rule 4 (4) of CCS(JT) Rules)

Rule 6 (1) of the CCS (Joining Time) Rules provides that when a Government servant joins a new post without availing full joining time by reasons that—

(a) he is ordered to join the new post at a new place of posting without availing of full joining time to which he is entitled; or

(b) he proceeds alone to the new place of posting and joins the post without availing full joining time and takes his family later within the permissible period of time for claiming Travelling Allowance for the family, then the number of days of joining time admissible under sub-rule (4) of Rule 5 of the Central Civil Services (JT) Rules, 1979, subject to a maximum of 15 days reduced by the number of days of joining time actually availed of shall be credited to his leave account as earned leave.

Rule 6(2) of the CCS (Joining Time) Rules provides that Joining time may be combined with vacation and/or regular leave of any kind or duration except casual leave.

Honorarium

The Ministries/Departments can grant honorarium upto Rs. 5000/- per annum per employee and the Head of Department can grant honorarium upto Rs. 2500/- per annum per employee. O.M. No.1711/9/85-Estt (Allowance) dated 23.12.1985 refers.

The rates for translation from regional languages to English/Hindi and vice-versa is ’120/- per thousand words of Ordinary Material and ’130/- per thousand words of Technical Material (including Codes/Manuals, etc.). This is subject to a maximum of ’5000/- per annum in each case, whether recurring or non-recurring. O.M. No.17011/04/2011-Estt.(AL) dated 1.4.2011 refers.

Special Allowance for child care for women with disability

No. In case of multiple births at the time of first child birth, the woman employee shall not be entitled to this allowance at double the rates for multiple births.

It is clarified that the grant of Special Allowance for the child care for women with disabilities is admissible for two years from the birth of the child so long as the woman employee does not have more than two surviving children.

Download DOPT Office Memorandum No. 21011/08/2013-Estt.(AL) dated 25.03.2013