New Delhi: The Central Secretariat Service (CSS) Forum has expressed appreciation for the Government’s encouragement of welfare initiatives undertaken by the Forum for CSS officers and their families, including its newly launched ‘CSS Shield’ scheme.
CSS Forum President Dev Priya Gupta thanked the Government for supporting initiatives aimed at strengthening the welfare and security of the CSS fraternity and said the Forum would explore expanding its assistance to families of officers who unfortunately pass away while in service.
The Forum has particularly welcomed the suggestion to consider education assistance and scholarships for children of deceased CSS officers, saying it will examine possibilities for extending such support under the CSS Shield framework.
Welcoming the ‘CSS Shield’ initiative launched by the Central Secretariat Service (CSS) Forum, the official representative body of Central Secretariat Service (CSS) officers, Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science & Technology and Earth Sciences and MoS in the Prime Minister’s Office, Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr Jitendra Singh, has called for continued efforts to make government service rules and systems more responsive to the needs of employees and their families.
The Minister said collective support within the service community can create a new culture of standing by families during times of sudden loss.
CSS Forum Thanks Government for Encouraging Welfare Initiatives
The CSS Forum said it is happy that the Government is encouraging initiatives undertaken by the Forum, including CSS Shield, to support CSS officers and their families.
The Forum, which represents officers of the Central Secretariat Service, said such encouragement provides further impetus to its efforts to build welfare and support mechanisms for members of the service and their families.
President Dev Priya Gupta expressed gratitude to the Government for its support and reiterated the Forum’s commitment to the welfare and security of the CSS fraternity.
Forum to Explore Scholarships for Children of Deceased Officers
Responding to the suggestion that CSS Shield could be expanded to include educational assistance, Gupta said the Forum would explore the possibility of providing education assistance and scholarships to children of CSS officers who unfortunately pass away in service.
The proposed initiative would provide support beyond immediate financial assistance and could help families meet the educational needs of children following the loss of a serving officer.
The Forum has already taken steps to support education for its members and their families. According to Gupta, it has entered into MoUs with educational institutions to provide education at concessional rates.
The proposed scholarships would therefore build upon the Forum’s existing efforts in the education and welfare space.
CSS Shield Aims to Support Bereaved Families
The CSS Shield initiative has been developed as a collective support mechanism for families of CSS officers who pass away while in service.
It is based on the principle “Contribute for Family, Support with Dignity” and seeks to provide structured financial assistance to bereaved families.
The initiative aims to institutionalise the spirit of mutual support within the CSS community and provide a more dependable framework through which colleagues can stand by families during difficult circumstances.
The Forum believes that a collective mechanism can provide greater consistency in assistance to families compared with relying solely on individual or voluntary support at the time of a tragedy.
Forum Has Existing Record of Supporting Families
The CSS Forum has previously extended financial support to families of deceased CSS officers through voluntary contributions.
The experience of supporting families, particularly during the COVID-19 period when several CSS officers lost their lives, contributed to the thinking behind a more structured initiative.
CSS Shield is intended to provide a formal framework for this collective support and strengthen the service community’s ability to assist families following the death of an officer.
The Forum has also indicated that the assistance can be expanded as participation in the initiative and its financial resources increase.
Forum Seeks Enhanced CGEIS Coverage
Alongside its welfare initiatives, the CSS Forum has raised the issue of enhancing insurance protection available to Central Government employees.
Gupta said the Forum hopes that the 8th Central Pay Commission will consider enhancing the CGEIS contribution and sum assured, keeping in view present-day needs and the higher insurance covers available in the market.
The Central Government Employees Insurance Scheme provides insurance-related financial protection to government employees and their families.
The Forum believes that the contribution and sum assured should be reviewed in the context of changing financial requirements and prevailing insurance coverage in the market.
CSS Forum Reaffirms Commitment to CSS Fraternity
The Forum said its welfare initiatives are aimed at strengthening the support available to CSS officers and their families, particularly during difficult circumstances.
The expansion of CSS Shield to potentially include scholarships and education assistance would provide an additional layer of long-term support to bereaved families.
At the same time, the Forum’s request for enhanced CGEIS coverage reflects its broader focus on financial security for government employees and their dependants.
Gupta reiterated that the CSS Forum remains committed to the welfare and security of the CSS fraternity and their families.
Through CSS Shield, educational partnerships and its engagement on issues such as insurance coverage, the Forum is seeking to build a stronger support system for members of the Central Secretariat Service and their families.
About CSS Forum
The Central Secretariat Service Forum (CSS Forum) is the representative body of Central Secretariat Service officers.
The Forum consists of approximately 12,000 Central Government officers serving across various Ministries and Departments of the Government of India.
It is registered under the Societies Registration Act, 1860, and serves as a collective platform for Group B and Group A officers of the Central Secretariat Service.
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