Govt removes age limit for claiming children education expenses

 

Extending benefits to lakhs of its employees, the Centre has removed the minimum age bar of five years for claiming educational allowance and hostel subsidy for their children.

Besides, central government employees will get reimbursement for development fee against tuition charges paid by them to schools.

The decision came after the government received a number of representations from its employees in this regard. The matter was further discussed and duly examined by the Ministry of Finance.

"The Finance Ministry has given its nod and a circular in this regard has been issued to all departments," an official of the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) said.

In the missive, DoPT said that minimum age of five years mentioned for children pursuing education "stands removed". "Henceforth, there will be no minimum age for any child for claiming reimbursement of children allowance/hostel subsidy," it said.

The DoPT also directed that "development fee/parents' contribution charged by the school/institution in lieu of tuition fee shall be reimbursed. The government servant will have to certify to the effect that tuition fee has not been charged by the school/institution".

It, however, clarified that reimbursement of school bags, pens/pencils, etc may not be allowed.

 

 Source : The Indian Express, Feb 26, 2012

Posted by Bruhaspati Samal, Secretary, AIPEU,