LIC PENSIONERS CHRONICLE

Did pension come first in LIC? 

Or is it in Reserve Bank followed by Nationalised 

Banks? Why did State Bank Staff agitate for 

parity in pension with other Banks and achieve it ? 

What were the events that ultimately led to the 

creation of us "Pensioners" as a class? Let us 

analyse the past with a view to understand the present",

writes Shri Ganga Raju among other points.

But a doubt naturally arises, is such an analysis 

necessary when the simple point of the need for a contact 

among persons fighting in a court for a common cause 

is being discussed ? 

Let us make a beginning. 

If Shri Murty's projected point suits this limited purpose 

of a common approach, let us discuss the same. 

That seems to be the need of the hour.-Ed.

I came across a mail from Shri Mulukutla Srinivasa Murthy addressed to " Leaders of Pensioners " asking them to " Leave the Past."

Shri Srinivasa Murthy felt that the pensioners' outfits are tackling the issue in the manner they deem appropriate. He felt unity of purpose is lacking. Adds for good measure that all the legal battles are getting fought against and amongst ourselves. He did not mince the words when he said " those causing delay are committing a Sin," and are possessed with " Court Mania," and that there is no modicum of accountability and that he appealed to whomever he met to stop working at Cross Purpose.

It is not my intention to enter into any polemics. Nor is it my intention to approve or disapprove some of the ideas. I leave the job to those who are leading the organisations as the mail is meant for their attention.

Basically all of us feel that the country does not need so many political parties. But democracy and constitution being what they are we see the existence of many of them. All of them are in public domain with the avowed objective of taking the country and people forward, of course, each in their own way. Will it not be heaven if each one does his duty without being told? There would be no need for Managers to manage the toilers.. Some 3 decades ago I read a book by one Mr. Manjrekar. He started his book with the sentence.." In India the teachers do not teach, the students do not learn, the workers do not work and the managers do not manage." Why I recollect these is, there would be no need for so many organisations if everyone saw things in only one way. Where is the need for separate organisations (even within LIC) for officers, fieldstaff, office staff and others? Would it not be ideal to have one organisation for all, presuming that the Chairman and Board Room represent management and all others covered by various regulations have the same interests. This is without taking into our thinking the invisible hand of the Government of the day that directs LIC to do this or stop doing that.. All of us will at once say this is all Utopian. Nothing is homogeneous. Heterogeneity is a fact of life.

Before we can speak of those working at cross purpose, would it not be better if we analyse what they are working for? To start with, take the legal battle itself. Will some hardworking gentleman prepare for our study a chart comparing each organisation with others and what they prayed before the Hon'ble Courts in their affidavits? The purpose would at once be clear as day light. Suppose one organisation is fighting for updation of pension while another feels that the management is correct in denying the benefit, they obviously have different goals and purposes. The pensioners will judge them accordingly. Then it would be very clear if the organisations are fighting among themselves or are fighting with the government/LIC who deny the benefit. If any organisation is fighting a legal battle against another organisation and not against the forces that be, it is high time we take note of them. Why would members of that organisation contribute and help the legal fight only to fight another organisation?

When we analyse the present and chart the course for future, the lessons of past must be taken. History tells us why we are like this and some other nation is where it is. My Mathematics Lecturer used to tell us, " when in doubt go to fundamentals." There is plenty of time before the next hearing in Supreme Court comes up. Meanwhile we have to witness the change in guard at the centre and the changes that would bring in the direction in which the country has to go. Our problems however serious cannot be viewed in isolation.

Let us start analysing how we got the Pension. Who stood for what in the campaign to achieve pension. Ultimately who brought it into LIC defeating the resistance from the then Chairman and Government. Did pension come first in LIC? Or is it in Reserve Bank followed by Nationalised Banks? Why did State Bank Staff agitate for parity in pension with other Banks and achieve it ? What were the events that ultimately led to the creation of us "Pensioners" as a class? Let us analyse the past with a view to understand the present.

This communication I would like to amply make it clear is to share my thoughts with you all. Out of the thinking of each one of us, ideas get crystalised and when men begin to act and implement the ideas they become a material force.

WITH GREETINGS TO ALL OF YOU. 

 B. Ganga Raju 

Hyderabad 6th April 2014