Two organisations representing Pensioners of LIC are to conduct their conferences in this month.
AIRIEF conference is to take place in Bengaluru and that of AIIPA in Kanpur. One in South and the second one in North.
AIRIEF is meeting with a favourable judgment of Jaipur High Court in favour of pensioners. Obviously the demand is for its implementation in toto. But both LIC and GOI appear to be in no mood to honour the judgment and they dragged the matter to Supreme Court. Now the issue would come up before the Apex Court by mid November. Seeing that LIC Chairman deposed in favour of increase in FDI Limit and thus toeing the line of Government, one need not harbour any illusion that LIC will act independently in matters relating to employees or Pensioners. I recollect the old trade mark for HMV. In Banking Sector UFBU raised the issue of updation of pension in their talks with IBA. In LIC the issue did not figure even in the exploratory information sharing that took place. When we recollect past ( 1994--1995) the Pension Scheme came first in Banks and then flowed to LIC. It looks as if the unions in LIC are observing what shape the issue would take in Banking Sector, in as much as they did not for themselves raise the issue with LIC management.
In such background the 2 conferences take place one in south and another in north. AIRIEF has atleast a bird in its hand. How the AIIPA wishes to go about the whole matter will be clear only after its conference is over. But one thing is known to all. AIIPA being guided by AIIEA is expected to act according to the thinking of AIIEA and nothing more.
AIRIEF is, according to my thinking, a heterogeneous organisation which gives them the advantage of several people talking simultaneously in different tongues. Then not to be left behind is Mr. Sridharan's Class I Organisation. Efforts were made to bring all these minds to a unified thinking so that a unified single plea is made to the Hon'ble Supreme Court and to prevent each from pursuing any course harmful to the cause of pensioners' fraternity. It was no doubt a uphill task. Reminds me of the old proverb...The horse had to be dragged to the Pond and it must also be made to drink. Naturally the interests of the organisations and the egos of the high and mighty came into play and the fire works were seen much before Deepavali. The Knights in armour clashed and we saw sword fights . Fortunately nobody was hurt and everyone looks mellowed down. So far so good. The AIRIEF Conference would be seized with how to follow-uo all these efforts.
What happens in Conferences is known to all. The reports, the discussions, the replies to discussions, the adoption of reports and resolutions, approving accounts, electing a new body of office-bearers etc. It is like an expert Purohit conducting (say) a Sathyanarayana Vratham. Beyond this routine what is expected of the 2 conferences taking place in different geographical locations situated in different directions?
The simple answer would be .....How do they plan and execute actions to achieve the demand of Updation of Pension for LIC Pensioners i.e., revision of pension alongwith each wage revision? The demand has caught the imagination of every Pensioner and no smooth talk will ensure that the demand is side tracked. Is the legal fight the only course available? What other forms of fight can the organisations think of? IT IS EASY TO SAY NOW OR NEVER. NEVER should not be in our thinking. No desperation. No resting on the oars. The organisation/s have to think of all means of achieving the demand.
In the event of Legal fight dragging on for some more time, will it not be better if our Pensioners organisations in consultation with Pensioners' organisations in Banks, chalk out a suitable programme of joint actions, to press the demand of updation? When Bank and Insurance Pensioners act together it has a good chance of catching the attention of the Government. Already some units of AIRIEF have submitted memoranda and approached individual political leaders and ministers of the ruling party seeking their intervention. Even in our old age we have to flex our muscles to be heard.
Let us hope the collective wisdom flowing out of the Conferences would result in taking the fight to higher plane of which the fight in Supreme Court is also a part.
So, unfurl and open the Sails and hit the waves.
B GANGA RAJU