Respected Pradhan Mantriji
We have great pleasure and proud privilege in extending HEARTIEST CONGRATULATIONS to you on landslide victory of your party in the General Elections under your leadership and now on your election as Prime Minister of the country. Your elevation as Prime Minister has raised new hope and confidence among the people and they have sincerely started believing that the nation will be on high growth path. Your highly popular, motivating and impressive slogan "ACCHE DIN ANNE WALE HAI" has infused new enthusiasm and inspiration among common man of the country. Your promise "This government (will be) one which thinks for poor, which listens to the poor, the government which lives for the poor" made in the historical central hall of the Parliament on the occasion of your election as PM thrilled the country with high hopes. This country is looking forward for CHANGE and better days ahead under your leadership.
2. All India Bank Retirees' Federation (AIBRF) is apex body of bank retirees. It was formed about 20 years back to assist bank retirees in resolution of their issues/ problems in particular with the bank management in the post retirement scenario. Today, AIBRF has 47 affiliates with total membership of about 1.25 lakhs retirees. All our members are SENIOR CITIZENS. Main object of our organisation is to ensure dignified and respectful life for our members. AIBRF is independent organisation of bank retirees without any political philosophy or leaning.
3. We have been struggling and fighting for the following issues for last 15 years to secure justice for our members.
OUR ISSUES/ DEMANDS
OUR ISSUES/ DEMANDS
(a) DIGNITY AND RESPECT TO RETIREES. IBA MUST HOLD DISCUSSION WITH US
It is very unfortunate that there is no structured and formal grievance redressal mechanism for bank retirees at all India level.There are more than 3 lakhs pensioners in the banking industries at present and this number is likely to cross 5 lakhs in next 2 years. Retirees have many issue connecting to fixation of pension, eligibility, calculations, review etc. We have been representing and demanding from Indian Bank Association ( IBA) for last 15 years that it should establish proper and effective grievance redressal mechanism at the industry level, consult retiree representatives on their pending issues as and when wage negotiations take place in the banking industry. In the absence of such forum, bank retirees who are senior citizens are forced to approach courts for resolution of their issues and to secure justice. Such legal cases are very large and they are still pending in various high courts and Supreme Court. To fight such legal battle for individuals who are senior citizens is very painful physically as well as financially. We are at total loss and are unable to comprehend as to why IBA/ Bank Managements are so reluctant to give even audience to the representatives of bank retirees for solution of issues across the table rather than spending huge public money in defending their stand in courts unsuccessfully. Bank Managements have gone to the extend that they are not readyto implement judgements given by Supreme Court in favour of retirees. IBA deal with retirees with highhandedness and refuse to share information on their issues on technical pretence that it is not covered by RTI act. This attitude of IBA is becoming highly humiliating and insulting for bank retirees.
We approach you with humble request that you should direct IBA and the bank management that they must immediately hold discussion with the representatives of retirees and take them into confidence before signing next wage settlement.
(b) DISCRIMINATIVE TREATMENT IN PAYMENT OF DEARNESS ALLOWANCE TO SECTION OF BANK RETIREES.
It is very unfortunate that there is no structured and formal grievance redressal mechanism for bank retirees at all India level.There are more than 3 lakhs pensioners in the banking industries at present and this number is likely to cross 5 lakhs in next 2 years. Retirees have many issue connecting to fixation of pension, eligibility, calculations, review etc. We have been representing and demanding from Indian Bank Association ( IBA) for last 15 years that it should establish proper and effective grievance redressal mechanism at the industry level, consult retiree representatives on their pending issues as and when wage negotiations take place in the banking industry. In the absence of such forum, bank retirees who are senior citizens are forced to approach courts for resolution of their issues and to secure justice. Such legal cases are very large and they are still pending in various high courts and Supreme Court. To fight such legal battle for individuals who are senior citizens is very painful physically as well as financially. We are at total loss and are unable to comprehend as to why IBA/ Bank Managements are so reluctant to give even audience to the representatives of bank retirees for solution of issues across the table rather than spending huge public money in defending their stand in courts unsuccessfully. Bank Managements have gone to the extend that they are not readyto implement judgements given by Supreme Court in favour of retirees. IBA deal with retirees with highhandedness and refuse to share information on their issues on technical pretence that it is not covered by RTI act. This attitude of IBA is becoming highly humiliating and insulting for bank retirees.
We approach you with humble request that you should direct IBA and the bank management that they must immediately hold discussion with the representatives of retirees and take them into confidence before signing next wage settlement.
(b) DISCRIMINATIVE TREATMENT IN PAYMENT OF DEARNESS ALLOWANCE TO SECTION OF BANK RETIREES.
From the year 2005, a section of bank retirees who retired before November 2002 are paid lower dearness allowance compared to those retired after the above date. This is highly discriminative. It may be mentioned thatall governmentretireesandRBIretireeswhohave similar type of pension regulations get uniform dearness allowance irrespective of date of retirement.
We request you to ask IBA to stop this discrimination and pay uniform DA to all categories of retirees
(c) PENSION UPDATION OF PAST RETIREES.
In banking industry, pension updation exercise has not been carried out for last 28 years since introduction of pension scheme in 1995. It is considerable time gap during which 5 wage settlements have taken place in the banking industry revising pay structure of bank employees, inflation has skyrocketed , GDP of the country has increased many fold, bank business and profitability have gone up several times. It is universal practice to revise basic pension of past retirees at the time of each wage settlement for the employees.
We therefore request you, SIR, to ask IBA/ DFS to carry out updation exercise for past retirees in the banking industry during the ongoing wage settlement to clear backlog of last 28 years
(d) IMROVEMENT IN FAMILY PENSION
Family pension in banking industry is about 15 percent unlike 30 percent in government sector/ RBI. It is very meagre and becomes very difficult for the family to maintain life with reduced amount of pension after death of the pensioner.
We therefore request you to ask IBA to bring family pension in banking industry at par with government/ RBI.
(e) UNIFORM MEDICAL SCHEMEB
It is paramount duty of welfare state to ensure proper medical facility for its citizens in particular for SENIOR CITIZENS. It is unfortunate that at present there is no uniform medical scheme available to the retirees in banking industry. Under this situation, retirees have to shell out major portion of their life time savings in case they are required to take treatment for any major illness. It makes their life more difficult in subsequent years.
We therefore request you to ask IBA/ DFS to introduce uniform medical schemes for bank retirees.
(f) PENSION OPTION TO LEFTOVER
Pension scheme was introduced in the banking industry in 1995. In last 28 years on the representations of unions IBA had given pension option to left over employees/ past retirees 2/3 time in the past, last being in 2010 with the object to provide pension benefits to left over employee/ retirees.
However it is unfortunate that some section of past retirees were debarred from exercising pension option in 2010. There number is not very high and should be around 5 to 6000. They are even struggling for survival in the era of high inflation at the advancing age in the absence of regular source of income,
We therefore request you to ask IBA/ DFS to give one more pension option to left over retirees,
RESPECTFUL REGARDS.
We therefore request you, SIR, to ask IBA/ DFS to carry out updation exercise for past retirees in the banking industry during the ongoing wage settlement to clear backlog of last 28 years
(d) IMROVEMENT IN FAMILY PENSION
Family pension in banking industry is about 15 percent unlike 30 percent in government sector/ RBI. It is very meagre and becomes very difficult for the family to maintain life with reduced amount of pension after death of the pensioner.
We therefore request you to ask IBA to bring family pension in banking industry at par with government/ RBI.
(e) UNIFORM MEDICAL SCHEMEB
It is paramount duty of welfare state to ensure proper medical facility for its citizens in particular for SENIOR CITIZENS. It is unfortunate that at present there is no uniform medical scheme available to the retirees in banking industry. Under this situation, retirees have to shell out major portion of their life time savings in case they are required to take treatment for any major illness. It makes their life more difficult in subsequent years.
We therefore request you to ask IBA/ DFS to introduce uniform medical schemes for bank retirees.
(f) PENSION OPTION TO LEFTOVER
Pension scheme was introduced in the banking industry in 1995. In last 28 years on the representations of unions IBA had given pension option to left over employees/ past retirees 2/3 time in the past, last being in 2010 with the object to provide pension benefits to left over employee/ retirees.
However it is unfortunate that some section of past retirees were debarred from exercising pension option in 2010. There number is not very high and should be around 5 to 6000. They are even struggling for survival in the era of high inflation at the advancing age in the absence of regular source of income,
We therefore request you to ask IBA/ DFS to give one more pension option to left over retirees,
RESPECTFUL REGARDS.
(RECD thru RB KISHORE)