11.11.2008 - Children Education allowance Clarification
This Office Memorandum provides clarifications regarding the terms, limits, and admissibility of Children Education Allowance and Hostel Subsidy for Government servants. It addresses specific queries on definitions, eligible courses, rates, multiple births, periods of absence, and provisions for disabled children.
- The reimbursement of Children Education Allowance for the year 2008-09 is to be calculated on a pro-rata basis at a maximum of Rs. 1000/- per month per child with effect from 1st September, 2008.
- "Year" is defined as an academic year comprising twelve months of a complete academic session, and Hostel Subsidy covers boarding, lodging, and specified expenses in a residential school hostel located away from the station where the employee is posted or resides.
- Tuition fee reimbursement is admissible for the first and second year classes of a two-year polytechnic diploma course where the minimum qualification for admission is tenth class and the student joins after passing class 10.
- Hostel subsidy is subject to the restriction of classes from Nursery to Class Twelfth and is not admissible for children attending day boarding, whether attached to schools or not.
- Children Education Allowance is admissible for more than two children if the number exceeds two as a result of a second child birth resulting in twins or multiple births.
- Children Education Allowance and Hostel Subsidy are admissible to a Government servant while on duty, under suspension, or on leave including extraordinary leave, but are strictly inadmissible for any period treated as dies non.
- For physically or mentally handicapped children between 5 and 22 years of age, the allowance is reimbursable for study in any institution aided or approved by Central, State, or Union Territory Governments or whose fees are approved by such authorities, irrespective of whether the institution is recognized.
- These clarifications are issued with the concurrence of the Ministry of Finance and refer to Department of Personnel and Training Office Memorandum No. 12011/3/2008-Estt.(Allowance) dated 2nd September, 2008 and Office Memorandum No. 12011/4/2008-Estt.(AL) dated 11th September, 2008.
12011/03/2008-Estt.(Allowance)
Government of India
Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions
Department of Personnel & Training
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New Delhi dt. 11th November, 2008.
OFFICE MEMORANDUM
Subsequent to issue of DOP&T OM No. 12011/3/2008-Estt.(Allowance) dated 2nd Sept, 2008 allowing Children Education Allowance / Hostel Subsidy , clarifications on certain points have been sought by Govt. servants/Ministries/Departments. The doubts raised by various authorities are clarified as under :
(i) What is the definition of 'Year' & 'Hostel Subsidy' as per the OM No. 12011/3/2008-Estt.(Allowance) dt. 2nd Sept, 2008 on the subject Children Education Allowance?
(i)'Year' means academic year i.e. twelve months of complete academic session.
(ii)Hostel Subsidy means expenses incurred by the Govt. servant if he has to keep his children in the hostel of a residential school away from the station at which he is posted or is residing. It may include expenses towards boarding, lodging and expenses as detailed in para (e) of the original OM No. 12011/3/2008-Estt.(Allowance)dt. 2nd Sept, 2008.
(ii)What is the amount of reimbursement of Children Education Allowance for the year 2008-09 in the OM No. 12011/3/2008- Estt.(AL) dt. 2nd Sept, 2008?
It may be calculated on prorata basis @ maximum of Rs.I000/-per month per child w.e.f. 1st September, 2008.
(iii) Whether DOPT OM No. 12011/3/2008-Estt.(Allowance) dated 2nd Sept, 2008 is admissible for reimbursement of Children Education Allowance for pursumg Diploma Course for the initial years in Polytechnic?
In cases where minimum qualifications for admission in the two years Diploma course in Polytechnic is 10th Class and the student joins the polytechnic after passing X class, the reimbursement of tuition fees shall also be allowed for the 1st and 2nd year classes of the above course.
(iv)Whether children attending day boarding, whether attached to schools or not are eligible to draw hostel subsidy?
No. they are not eligible
(v)Whether the restriction of classes Nursery to class Twelfth as applicable for Children Education Allowance is also applicable for drawing hostel subsidy?
Yes
(vi)Whether Children Education allowance is admissible for more than two children in case the number of children exceeds two as a result of multiple birth?
Yes, if the number of children exceeds two as a result of second child birth resulting in twins or multiple births.
(vii) Whether Children Education Allowance /Hostel Subsidy will be admissible during suspension or leave?
The Children Education Allowance or hostel subsidy shall be admissible to a Govt. servant while he/she is on duty or is under suspension or is on leave (including extra ordinary leave). Provided that during any period which is treated as 'dies non' the Govt. servant shall not be eligible for the Allowance / reimbursement / subsidy for the period.
(viii)Whether reimbursement of Children Education Allowance as per OM No. 12011/4/2008- Estt.(AL) dt. 11th Sept, 2008 is admissible for disabled Children of Govt. employees who undergoes non formal Education or Vocational Training or other similar instructions?
Yes. As long as a physically / mentally handicapped child studies in any institution i.e. aided or approved by the Centrall State Govt. or UT Administration or whose fees are approved by any of these authorities, the Children Education Allowance paid by the Govt. servant shall be reimbursed irrespective of whether the institution is 'recognized' or not. In such cases the benefits will be admissible between the age limits 5 to 22 years.
2.This issues with the concurrence of Ministry of Finance.
3.Hindi version will follow.
(Simmi R Nakra)
Director
All Ministries / Departments of the Government of India
1. Office of the Comptroller & Auditor General of India/Controller General of Accounts, Ministry of Finance.
2. Secretaries to Union Public Service Commission/Supreme Court of India/Lok Sabha Sectt./Rajya Sabha Sectt./Cabinet Sectt./Central Vigilance Commission/President's Sectt./Vice- President's Sectt./Prime Minister's Office/Planning Commission/Central Information Commission.
3. All State Governments and Union Territories.
4. Governors of all States/ Lt. Governors of Union Territories.
5. Secretary, National Council (Staff Side), 13-C, Feroz Shah Road, New Delhi.
6. All Members of the Staff Side of the National Council of JCM/Departmental Council.
7. All Officers/Sections of the Department of Personnel & Training/Department of Pension & Pensioners We1fare.
8. Ministry of Finance, Deptt. of Expenditure (E.II(B) Branch)
9. Official Language Wing (Legislative Deptt.), Bhagwan Das Road, New Delhi.
10. Railway Board, New Delhi.
11. NIC, DOP&T to upload on the website www. persmin.nic.in<Allowance.
12. 200 Spare copies.