SWATHI GOPI

Miss Swathi was VII std student in Dubai.

SN (a 1992 Pensioner)

PENSION COMMUTATION

As per LIC Pension Rules, 1995, commutation is permissible only once at the time of retirement or if not opted at the time of retirement, once any time after retirement. So the pensioner referred to (by AV Subbaraman) has now no option for commutation of pension a second time.

Kind regards.

C H Mahadevan

UNION BUDGET 2015

(Chronicle)

TRYST WITH LIC

Link to be clicked"    :  https://nvsr.wordpress.com/
Visit http://www.youngpoet.org
Visit http://www.poemhunter.com/subbaraman-n-v/

UNION BUDGET TODAY

The stage is set for finance minister Arun Jaitley to present his first full-budget on Saturday amid heightened expectations that he would raise people's spending power by offering tax breaks and would announce measures to make India an investment-friendly nation.

Here are 10 things you should watch out for in the finance minister's speech:

1) The annual tax exemption limit - the threshold income level below which you are not required to pay taxes - stands at Rs 2.5 lakh per annum. The FM is expected raise this to Rs 3 lakh per annum. This will give more money to people to spend and save.

3) Currently, you can claim a tax deduction of Rs 1.5 lakh a year for investments made in a select group of financial savings instruments such as life insurance premium, public provident fund (PPF) and tax savings mutual funds under the popular "Section 80 (C)" scheme of the I-T Act. The FM could raise this limit to Rs 2 lakh a year. This will boost financial savings and also reduce your tax burden.

4) The FM could offer something for home loan borrowers to cheer. Currently, if you have an existing home loan, you can claim tax deduction on the interest paid of up to Rs 2 lakh a year. There is anticipation that Jaitley could raise this to Rs 2.5 lakh, reducing your tax outgo.

5) Salaried individuals can claim tax-free reimbursement of medical expenses every year from their employers, but only up to Rs 15,000 a year. Despite rising medicine, diagnostic and hospitalisation costs, this limit has remained stuck at Rs 15,000 for more than a decade. All eyes will be on Jaitley on whether he raises tax-free medical expense claims ceiling from Rs 15,000 to about Rs 30,000 a year.

6) Bank fixed? deposits (FDs) are popular savings instruments because of convenience and also because these are quasi-liquid assets. However, to claim tax incentives, one has to lock-in money in FDs for at least five years. This puts them at a disadvantage vis-a-vis mutual funds which enjoy a three-year lock-in for tax incentives under Section 80 (C). The FM is widely expected to bring FDs on par with mutual funds and reduce the lock-in time to three years.

7) In 2013, then finance minister P Chidambaram had introduced a so-called "super-rich" tax - a 10% surcharge for those with taxable incomes of above Rs 1 crore a year. Will Jaitley abolish this, raise this or introduce a new super-rich tax slab?

8) Investors are keenly watching for the FM's cues on the controversial "retrospective tax" that allowed placing a tax demand on even older corporate deals such as Vodafone's acquisition of Hutch's mobile assets in India. This had hurt India's image as an investment destination. Investors want a roll back of the law. Will the FM oblige?

9) In September last year, Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched a signature "Make in India" initiative to ease rules of doing business and turn the country into a manufacturing hub. The FM is widely expected to offer tax and other incentives to several sectors to give "Make in India" a big push.

10) A spirited Opposition has closed ranks to pin the government down on "anti-farmer" policies such as the proposed rules that would make land buying easier to build factories and rules. All eyes will be on the FM to counter the rising perception that the NDA government is anti-farmer. Jaitley's budget will also be keenly followed on the government's vision about welfare handouts and social sector development to make growth more inclusive.

(the hindustan times - EDITED)

OUR MEDICLAIM POLICY

This is in response to Sri V S Prakassa Rao's long Post titled Mediclaim Management. He made quite a few valid observations and one good suggestion - that the Insurer (New India) should be hauled up for deficiency of service through Consumer Court. This is worth examining and pursuing where possible.

I am glad Mr Rao echoed some of my own oft-pleaded points in support of 'Total Cashless Admission and Treatment' clause to be incorporated in the Group Policy to be issued shortly for the year 2015-16. For his and the others' information, I have been continuously following this up with LIC & New India. They always say 'we are working out and we will let you know'. My worst fear is that they will remain non-committal till the last minute and finally unilaterally announce a scheme where the clause which I have been canvassing, may not be there but they will claim to have added some more diseases to the existing list of 'pre-approval' for cashless treatment. Ironically, that addition of more diseases is what some of our big leaders are clamoring for. Even Mr Prakasa Rao in his Post discusses the need for expanding the list. Can't one see that the so called list of diseases which entitle one for treatment without cash payment, have a procedure equal to death? Then why ask for enlarging the list? Dump it, should be our demand.

Here is my request to all Pensioners:

Write or E-mail to the Chairman LIC, on the following lines:
REQUEST INCLUSION OF TOTAL CASHLESS ADMISSION & TREATMENT CLAUSE IN GROUP MEDI-CLAIM POLICY FOR 2015-16. THIS FACILITY IS FOR THE BENEFIT OF ALL STAKEHOLDERS - THE INSURED, THE INSURER AND LIC.
Chairman's E- Mail ID: chairman@licindia.com
Secretary (ER) C.O: co_era@licindia.com

Thanks and regards,

Sreenivasa Murty M

World to get first 3-parent baby by 2016

LONDON: The world's first three parent baby is all set to arrive as early as 2016. The UK has become the first country to approve laws to allow the creation of babies from three people. The House of Lords gave its backing to the idea with peers voting in favour of it by 280 votes to 48.

The House of Commons had already voted in favour earlier with 382 MPs for while 128 against the technique that stops genetic diseases being passed from mother to child.

The technique enables a couple to use mitochondria donated by another woman in cases where the mother carries inherited mitochondrial diseases which can be fatal. Mitochondria provide human cells with their power and the procedure has been compared to changing a car battery.

Health minister Earl Howe said it would be "cruel and perverse" to deny couples the chance of having healthy children.

Alastair Kent, director of the Genetic Alliance UK charity which helps people with inherited conditions, said the Lords vote was "a triumph that gives hope to families". The fertility regulator will now decide how to license the procedure. In the House of Lords debate, Howe said there was an opportunity to offer "real hope" to families.

The process is currently illegal throughout the world. The technique was pioneered by researchers in Newcastle, and the first of the procedures will be carried out in that city.
(The Times of India)

While we know that there are a lot of foods that are super healthy and good to eat, we may not consume them regularly.

However there are certain foods, which are important to consume on a regular basis, as these comprise of essential vitamins and minerals that all of us will benefit from. They also have good levels of fats, proteins, and carbs, which are all equally important for a balanced diet. So what are these foods that will benefit us greatly if consumed every day?

1. Eggs/ chicken/ meat - any one of these are very important to include daily in your diet. Whole eggs give you a good amount of healthy protein and fats if you want to stay strong and eat filling and healthy meals. If you are an active individual it is even more important to eat eggs as a form of energy as well as to build your muscles that get broken down during your workouts.

2. Salads / vegetables - make one meal of your day just a big bowl of salad or a big bowl of fresh vegetables cooked minimalistic and see how it makes you feel. If you can add some chicken into the mix, it will not only fill you up more but make it more delicious than it already is. Add nuts for more flavour and crunch.

3. Fish or fish oil - Getting your dose of Omega 3 is very important to make you feel good, and to reduce the aches in your joints after strenuous workouts. Fish oil is also a very good fat to consume in order to ensure that you get your dosage of healthy fats.

4. Olive oil/ coconut oil - add these generously to your salads (incase of olive oil) or cooking (in case of coconut oil). Both these flavourful oils are important so that you don't end up consuming cooking oils that are highly processed and in turn harmful for your weight management goals.

5. Fruits - Fruits are great to add fiber to your diet, they have antioxidant properties, are good to carry as a quick snack in between meals, have healthy natural carbs and sugar, and are generally little bites of nutrition. One fruit a day should be part of any remotely healthy persons diet and we hope these are part of yours! 
(the times of india)

CONFLICTING VIEWS WELCOME

SPECIAL BENCH OR EXISTING BENCH RECONSTITUTED?

Dear Editor,

Every one of our LIC pensioner colleagues is indebted to your valuable services, rendered towards uplift of hapless mass in the same industry, by highlighting useful developments that are taking place in various organisations viz. Ex-Service men, RBI, Commercial Banks, working & retired employees of State & Central Govts, etc that have a bearing on our vital issues. 

It is unfortunate that a few gentlemen-retirees are utilizing your media for their short-sighted intentions and largely against the interest of their own fellow colleagues. We could not find such write-ups for some time past in your esteemed PC. Their wait must have disappointed them to some extent. 

It is amusing to find that leaders like M/s Asthanaji, Kishoreji, CHM and a few others have to come to the stage, once again, to explain the status of resolution passed and the observations of HCs & SC.  Doubts about the nature of formation of a Bench in SC on 13th, March have crept in. Are we interested in the style of reporting that a special court has been formed on 13th, next or in the outcome of hearing of our long pending cases on that day ?  

Yes, hearing is listed unusually on Friday, the 13th with the consent of Hon'ble justice Pant and the approval of Hon'ble Chief-Justice. It is upto our Experts to admit whether it is Special Court or an Ordinary One. The timing and the nature of doubts raised will certainly confuse our innocent brethren.  It may not be considered to be out-of-context to feel that such queries could, very well, be utilized against our causes by the opposite side. We hope, your goodself will think twice before allowing publication of any messages that may jeopardize the welfare of thousands of pensioners, family pensioners and people who are in lurch under the basis of gratis payment. Kindly give this your earnest and due consideration. 

With regards,

 M.P.Subrahmanian, RIEA, Madurai.

SUPPLEMENT TO ARTICLE 'SUCCESS STORY'

This refers to the article ‘Success story' in Health and Nutrition magazine which, thanks to the Editor,  got a space in the Pensioners Chronicle. 

My intention was not to malign the medical profession. But regrettably of late the medical profession lacked transparency and the gullible patients are taken for a ride. This has become inevitable as the corporate hospitals have sunk crores of money while starting the hospital and the break even cannot wait long necessitating resorting to unethical practices. 

I have information from some sources that to achieve their end the hospital authorities fix targets to their doctors the number of x-rays, ECGs  Angiograms, CT scan etc. they have to do in a period of time failing which they are out. There was a case reported in a leading Newspaper that when a not-so-very-literate perhaps wealthy rushed to a hospital for a scorpion bite he was put on a 64 slice angiogram and was asked to cough up RS 20000 ! 

In this scenario when the doctor’s profession lacks transparency it is the gullible patient who has to be diligent, keep abreast with the latest medical developments and discoveries lest he may succumb to the doctors maneuverings. 

To add a little humor and laughter here :Doctor to patient: I have had a chance to treat a few cases like yours before. So let us just hope that I get some sort of luck this time.
Patient to a doctor: Doctor for whom is this garland?
Doctor : This is my first surgery. If successful it will be on my neck. Otherwise it will be on yours.

To all my friends the following books must be read :
1. Anatomy of an illness (As perceived by a patient) BY Norman Cousins
This book tells how illness could be overcome and the triumph of human spirit
2. The healing heart By Norman COUSINS
3. When bad things happen to good people By Harold s Kushner
4. Reversing Heart disease By DR DEAN ORNISH
( The book which figured in my article- a must read by all )
By reading all the above books our aging pensioners will get enlightened.

RK VISWANATHAN

GROUP MEDICLAIM - CASHLESS ADMISSION AND TREATMENT

I read with concern, Mr Gangaraju's Post. His anger & frustration are fully justified. I had a first hand experience recently where claim settlement was unduly delayed only due to lack of minimum sensitivity on the part of the people handling the papers, both in LIC & in New India. Unfortunately, it looks to me that some (many) people serving in Insurance Industry today have not tasted the pleasure in rendering quality service to their customers. They need training. 

Coming to the subject proper, I have been crying hoarse that our group medi claim policy should incorporate 'cashless admission & treatment' clause. No via media solutions will serve the purpose. 

At the cost of repetition, what we should expect, demand and receive is a facility where one should possess only TPA issued Card with details of cover available and a Photo ID. One should walk in and out of Hospital with NO money transactions. Hospital has only to admit and treat. It is possible - hopefully coming after 1.4.2015. If it does not become a reality, we should fight and get it. I have my plans to pursue.           

Thanks and regards,

Sreenivasa Murty M

A PHOTOGRAPH DISSECTED AND ANALYSED

Shri P.G. Vijairengam had written to us that the moon depicted in the picture is made using image editing programs like Photoshop. He had also written "The relative sizes of moon and sun as seen from earth are almost the same. This is why during a total solar eclipse the moon almost exactly obscures the sun. That (the relative sizes) doesn't change whether one is observing them from the equator or the poles."

Out of curiosity we just cut the moon out from the picture, dissected and analysed. Picture 2 is the portion cut out. In picture 3 we enlarged the same and analysed.  We found the edges of the moon (Please look at the portion shown with arrow and have a close view)  really didn't match the pixel count of the sky. While the sky remained rather 'serene' from pixel angle, the moon portion appeared blurred suggesting cut and paste action in portions shown with the arrow. We further enlarged a portion of the moon again, as seen in Picture 4, and found all the impurities of the patch action done in the sunset picture in question.   

It is clear that the picture is an image prepared with photoshop intervention. In picture 5 we have just shown moon in different sizes.  Once size is confirmed, a sunset image could be prepared with some success but then only God is perfect, perfection in life is never achieved, it is the urge for perfection that takes us forward ! 

AGAIN MEDICLAIM

Today I came across a claim under mediclaim which was not settled since a long time. The reason is " data not available" with the insurer.

This set me thinking. How can data be not available? The divisional offices send the data to Z.Os who in turn send it to C.O. Let us examine it closely.

Suppose at the beginning of April 2014 " X " number of employees are covered. It is possible there are exits .. say " Y." So as at the end of the year X minus Y number of employees/pensioners must be there in respect of whom the premium was received. The names/data pertaining to all these (X - Y ) must be available with the insurer. When premium in respect of all these insured persons was received, reconciled and taken into credit, how can the Insurer say " Data is not available" in respect of a claimant?

So something wrong somewhere. Is the insurer simply adjusting the entire amount of premium without reconciling the lists of insured persons and without caring for missing data? OR is it our LIC is remitting the entire collection without tallying the lists and checking for purity of data? 

What I said above i.e., the claim being pending is the case of an employee in service. The employee paid the hospital charges out of his pocket and is waiting for claim to be settled. As the patient was discharged no advance is payable even if it is kept pending for no fault of the employee. 

IF THIS WERE TO BE THE CASE OF AN EMPLOYEE IN SERVICE, JUST IMAGINE THE

PREDICAMENT OF A RETIRED PERSON IN SIMILAR SITUATION? Pensioners do not get any advance against mediclaim benefits. So it becomes imperative that our organisations examine in depth how the scheme is being administered and what are the flaws. 

The issue of identity cards by TPA for emergency medical help in case of the 6 contingencies covered for cashless service, is yet to begin. Add to this difficulty the eventuality of " data not being available." 

Is it not time that we ask for a confirmatory letter from LIC that not only full premium is received but the name/s of beneficiaries also are included and sent to the Insurer? 

The work relating to Omission of Data is being handled by C.O. The Insurer takes his own time to process the data and how fast this will be handled depends on conditions in their offices. Meanwhile why should claims be kept pending for want of " data?"

Under SSS policies payments were released based on certificate of recovery of premia by the employer. Why cannot NEW INDIA settle such pending claims based on a certificate of receipt of full premium by LIC ? This may become necessary till the data with LIC and Insurer becomes identical. In my anger about the inadequacies of the scheme in implementation stage it is possible I omitted some aspects. I request brother pensioners who are more knowledgeable to point out any omissions by me and tell how best the scheme can be perfected. 

WITH REGARDS, B. Ganga Raju Hyderabad 25.2.2015

BANK NEWS

UNION BANK RETIRED EMPLOYEES' ASSOCIATION

Banking News

ATTACHED (Click below)

-D.D.Rathod,

for General Secretary

Please click here to read BANKING NEWS

WHY SPREAD WRONG NEWS ?

Dear Editor,

It has become a trend to circulate unconfirmed reports related with status of LIC Pensioners Legal case from a person who is known to be an architect of whole legal battle.

News right now in circulation is a special bench has been constituted by supreme court to hear our case on 13th March at 2.00pm.

Earlier we heard from same source that GOI is filing two SLPs in supreme court related with our case.

Now credit is being taken for being successful in constitution of a special bench to hear our case. I have talked to Sh. Sreenivasa Murty on phone just today morning who has informed me after talking to our counsel Sh.Jaya Savla in supreme court that no special bench can be consituted in supreme court without a written order being passed by CJI and till date no such order has been passed. 

God knows what is the purpose of spreading such unconfirmed reports ? It is left to wisdom of whole LIC Pensioners community to know this purpose.  Nobody has questioned him why wrong report was similarly circulated earlier regarding filing of SLPs by GOI in Supreme court. Much earlier two Writs were filed one on his behalf and second one by AIRIEF in Jaipur High Court called Writs for implementation of high court judgement. Hopes were raised for immediate outcome. What has happened nobody knows. 

With regards,
BRMehta
Panchkula

SUNSET IMAGE IS SET IN PHOTOSTOP ?

My response to the posting of Mr M V Venugopalan‏

VENUGOPALAN ECHOING UNANSWERED QUESTIONS

Dear Sir

I believe Mr Venugopalan is only echoing the constant and hitherto unanswered questions ringing in the minds of our pensioners at large.

My understanding of the matter is that our cases though upheld by various HCs still needs more clarity in their judgements. There are many grey areas in the matter and the first two questions mentioned by Mr Venugopalan falls under this region.

Now that the final hearing date is fast approaching I am afraid it would be inappropriate at this stage to make any detailed discussions and analysis in this column of our Cases and the technicalities relating thereto. This may only be detrimental to our Cases which are fought vigorously by the Case Managers and their Counsels in SC. Let us not put any spokes in the works at this stage.

Let us fondly hope that our Counsels could effectively argue our cases in SC and rebut the opponents arguments to convince the presiding Judges of the justness and reasonableness of our cases and clinch victory for us.

May God help us.
J.M. Aboobucker

FINAL HEARING

                            Dear Shri.Gangadharan,

It should come as a great relief to all the pensioners that the
remainder of the arguments relating to our case will be heard by a
Special Bench on 13th of March. As has been our habit all these
years, let us wait hopefully for a positive verdict, of course, with
our fingers crossed. I have listed below a few points which still are
shrouded in ambiguity and bother different sections of the
pensioners' community. They are:

1) Has the "Board Resolution" spelt out Upgradation of pension in the
same vein as parity in DA to those pensioners who retired prior to
8/97?

2) Does Hon.Bhandari's judgement of the Jaipur High Court unequivocally
deal with Pension Upgradation as it has the DA issue? Or is it our
presumption that in as much as it has been admitted by the HC the
surmise is that it embraces the Upgradation issue too?

3) Why are we so mortally afraid of Sec.48 of the Insurance Act and
even toe the line of our adversary's argument that Hon.Bhandaris
judgement would be against law and, therefore, may prove to be a
stumbling block in the Apex Court? When our Advocates have very
successfully played the inequity card, quoting Article 14 of the
Constitution, is this doubt relevant and justifiable?

4) Should we at all try to compare our case with that of the Bank
employees when the history of their wage revisions, benefits and
service conditions have nothing much in common and put ideas in the
minds of the judge/s hearing our case? The Beauracracy is
deliberately bringing the 'ripple effect' syndrome to the fore to
destabilise us. Should we fall a prey to their machinations.

These and a host of other doubts expressed by many of our
pensioners in your BLOG need clarifications. I am not a legal stuff
myself and all that I have gathered regarding the essence of our case
are from your BLOG. May be some of the queries raised above are not
quite relevant. Yet, in the interest of all pensioners and in the
interest of removing all road blocks on the road to our victory on
13th March, I would be grateful if any one of our Case Leaders clarify
them.

Looking forward to your minute to minute coverage of the court
events on 13th.

                                      With warm regards,
                                      M V Venugopalan

BANK NEWS

UNION BANK RETIRED EMPLOYEES' ASSOCIATION

Circular issued by UFBU after signing MoU on 23rd 

September,'15 on Salary Revision in Banking Industry

ATTACHED (Click below)

-B.G.Raithatha,

General Secretary

Please click here to read the CIRCULAR.

Wage revision-UFBU and IBA enter into an MOU‏

AS per MOU - the Minutes of the discussions held on 23"’ February 15 between IBA and UFBU , the undernoted salient features have been agreed upon.

1.The wage revision will be effective from 01.11.2012.
2.The annual wage increase in salary and allowances @ 15%which works out to Rs. 4725 crores on salary slip components.
3.The new scales will be constructed after merging dearness allowance corresponding 4440 points as on November 2011, which works out to 60.15% and adding a load factor of 2% on Basic pay plus Dearness Allowance as on 31st March 2012 amounting to around Rs. 597 crores.
4. Distribution of annual wage increase between Workmen Unions and Officers’ Associations will be worked separately based on breakup of establishment expenses as on 31.03.2012
5.Every second and fourth Saturday of the month will be a holiday and other Saturdays will be full working days.
6.All others issues of the Managements and Unions/Associations discussed during the process of negotiation will be settled to the mutual satisfaction.
7.The parties will meet on mutually convenient dates to draw out a detailed Bipartite Settlement/Joint Note on the various issues on which consensus position have been reached. The parties will endeavour to finalise the Bipartite Settlement/Joint Note within a period of ninety days.
The agreed wage hike is lower than the 17.5% increase given in 2010. The last hike, however, was calculated based on remuneration including pension and gratuity, while this time, the hike is being calculated only on the pay slip component.The gross increase in pay slip with admissible DA as on 01-02-15  after the merger at 444o (60.15%), roughly comes  to  above 22.5%, if  calculated on 15% increase.
Banks have been making provisions for 15 per cent wage hike in their balance sheet since November 2012.As regards working hours on Saturdays,RBI would be informed about changes following a formal agreement.After RBI’s notification, changes in banking hours on Saturdays would come into force.The new system is likely to take some time.
On a pay slip basis only, the pay out will cost Rs.4,725 crore annually, as against Rs.2,798 crore in the earlier bipartite settlement.
Including pension and gratuity, last time the hike was at Rs.4,816 crore annually, while this time the total hike is about Rs.8,000 crore on an annual basis. Reimbursements related to hospitalization and leave travel allowance will be calculated separately.

IBA had started the negotiation process with a pay hike proposal of 5%, whereas unions demanded 25%. 15% is the average of the 2 extreme proposals.

(All India RBI OERS Pensioners Forum bulletin)

Bank staff get 15% hike, 6 monthly offs

MUMBAI: Branches of public sector banks, the RBI and insurance companies will be shut alternate Saturdays and will work full time on all other days according to the terms of an agreement between employee unions and the Indian Banks Association. Following a breakthrough in negotiations, which resulted in a 15% wage hike for bank employees, unions have withdrawn a call for a four-day strike beginning February 25.

"Keeping branches shut on alternate Saturdays will help cut down costs. It will also improve the work-life balance for employees, which in turn increases productivity," said M V Tanksale, chief executive, Indian Banks Association. This would result in a small reduction in weekly working hours as a full-day shift is 6.5 hours as against four hours on a Saturday.

M V Murali, convenor, United Forum of Bank Employees, said that wage revision has been settled with effect from November 2012. The revision will result in an increased outgo of Rs 4,724 crore for banks.
(the times of india)

Landline, mobile tariffs set to fall

NEW DELHI: Landline and mobile tariffs are set to fall as telecom regulator Trai announced a cut in charges that companies pay to terminate calls on competing networks. The move will particularly benefit users of fixed-line phones, who may soon get major benefits in terms of free monthly calls and minutes.

While the termination charge from fixed-line phones has been reduced from 20 paise per minute to zero, in case of mobile phones it has been slashed by 30% to 14 paise from 20 paise per minute.

BSNL, the largest fixed-line provider in the country, said tariffs will fall "substantially", while smaller mobile operators like Uninor said customers "will benefit" from the measure.

(the times of india)

BANK NEWS

MoU dated 23.2.'15 for Salary Revision - Properly legible and printable copy

    A copy of the MoU, which was available to us in JPG format was sent to you yesterday. However, few of the recipients of our e-mails informed us that the attachment is not properly legible and print outs taken therefrom are not clear.

    Now the same MoU is available with us in PDF format and hence sent herewith. I hope, you will be able to read and print it properly.

    Yours sincerely,

B.G.Raithatha,

General Secretary

Please click here to read the MOU

MP SUBRAHMANIAN

RB KISHORE

BANKMEN WAGE SETTLEMENT

LIC CIVIL APPEALS LISTED FOR 13TH MARCH 2015

SPECIAL SC BENCH CONSTITUTED

UNION BANK RETIRED EMPLOYEES' ASSOCIATION

Date : 23rd February,'15

To All the regular recipients of our Association's e-mails

Understanding arrived at to-day between UFBU and IBA

    An SMS received from Shri C.H.Venkatachalam, General Secretary, All India Bank Employees' Association reads as under.

"In to-day's talks, wage revision settled at 15% (Rs.4,725 crores) w.e.f. 1.11.2012. 2nd & 4th Saturdays will be holidays and other Saturdays will be full working days. Strike deferred. Detailed circular follows".

      

*  A soft copy of the understanding signed between the parties (received from Shri S.C.Jain, General Secretary, All India Bank Retirees' Federation) is attached to this e-mail.   

-B.G.Raithatha,General Secretary

* already published. 

UNDERSTANDING ON WAGE REVISION ARRIVED AT BETWEEN IBA AND WORKMEN UNIONS IN BANKS

courtesy: SN (1992 Pensioner)

SUNSET

This is the sunset at the North Pole with the moon
at its closest point last week.

A scene you will probably never get to see in person,
so take a moment and enjoy God at work at the North Pole.

And, you also see the sun below the moon .

An amazing photo and not one easily duplicated. 
*You may want To pass it on to others so they can enjoy it.

The Chinese have a saying that goes something like this:

'When someone shares with you something of value, 

you have an obligation to share it with others!' 

(* Sent to Chronicle by V.Gopalan) 

SUNRISE !

S-U-N-R-I-S-E (Solar Unit's Nucleus Refreshes Increasingly Stimulates Energy)

BD Bhargava

tara@bhargavas.net

OROP LIKELY TO BE IN BUDGET

BENGALURU: The government is likely to fulfill a long standing demand of adopting ‘One Rank One Pension’ norms made by ex-personnel in particular. It may categorize military pension as a different pension category.
One rank one pension (OROP) is a demand by armed forces in order to ensure that the military pension cannot be equated with other pensions. This move is to bring a motivational and inspirational value to the armed forces.
The information collected from The Times of India reveals that an estimation of  8,000 crore seems to be allocated by the government to accomplish its commitment made to the ex- servicemen, who have been stridently demanding one rank one pension for many years.
Predominantly, if an officer is retired in 1990 then he is not entitled to get this enhanced pension if the same is implemented during the later years.
The basic idea of OROP demand is that, the pension for the officers with the same rank must remain same all the time since the cost of living is reaching to the sky. OROP basically implies payment of pension uniformly among the retiring army personnel with the same rank and length of service.
The soldiers, airmen and the sailors retire much earlier than their other civilian counterparts like BSF or CRPF receive aborted pension. The government has taken it into account along with considering other hardship factors like risky and life threatening duties and long hours of efforts.
Being a long standing demand by 2 million ex- servicemen in the country for OROP, the Modi’s budget seems to ensure to bring good future for army men in the long run.
SOURCE- http://www.siliconindia.com/finance/news/

RB KISHORE

Dear friends, 

I followed up my talk with LIC Chairman on 2nd February, with EDP on 11/2/2015. I briefly narrated the issues & concerns faced by pensioners for long. While introduction of a worthy mediclaim scheme of Family Floater Policy with revised higher Basic SA, also eligible for 75 % subsidy & Optional SA stretching upto Rs20 lacs. was laudable & recent CO Circular dt 17 Dec 2014 so quickly following the heels of New FFP, giving yet another opportunity to all employees/pensioners to opt for higher OSA if they want & to convey their final choice before 28 Feb 2015 was equally commendable.

I added that many pensioners have died are dying & number of Family Pensioners have multiplied as the proportion of FP to RP has risen from 18% to 38% in the last few years. Sadder still will it be, if the Sum Assured risk disappears, on account of pensioners/family pensioners, for genuine reasons not able to pay the full mediclaim premium before 31 March every year. Is it not necessary, therefore that same consideration by which Employees were given the facility of 12 monthly deductions of premium from Salary, so too Pensioners be graciously given now atleast SAME treatment, so badly needed at advanced age, which will earn for LIC goodwill & gratitude from entire pensioners fraternity.

I conveyed that recently we learnt that New India is prepared to include under CASHLESS more critical illnesses & approve of the same but no letter has gone to them. I briefly hinted the pathetic condition of Sri RS Ahuja, ZM Retd, whose wife went for total knee replacement, uncertainty & rejection in hospital/TPA & atlast intervention of Sr Executive NI helped receive cashless facility.His letter to Chief P, CO, is an eyeopener & so CO Per can send a forceful communication to NI to open up cashless for more critical illnesses of organ transplant like knee joints, hip replacement & of any such nature, brain hemorrhage & much more.

I brought to EDP notice that, though Cashless is allowed ONLY for earmarked diseases of around 6 severe ailments, even for other operations, pensioners have to spend out of their pockets a very heavy amount & with this meager pension,find it almost impossible to fund the stream of tests, medicines, room rent, nursing charges, Surgeon’s fees & post-operation expenses etc.Many other worries remain in such cases for the family.LIC as an enlightened Employer must empathise with pensioners & persuade NI to make this Cashless service universal, as lot of delay is there to grant approval,many items disallowed too,& after admission from Discharge Voucher yet another delay,This is too much to bear for poor pensioners who are hungry obviously to get reimbursement of amount spent .In fact, contrary to negative Exclusion Clauses,which deprive of facility,this must contain Positive Inclusion Clauses so that ,because of intensity & severity of ailment or illness,Cashless must be automatically granted & patient allowed admission with no hassles.

I emphasized that already talks must be going on to finalise FFP for 2015-16 & so all these issues must be fully addressed & resolved to suit reality. It is well-nigh impossible to get Pre-authorisation Request form jointly by pensioner/beneficiary & pay all non-medical expenses before discharge .

To leave no stone unturned, I wanted to finally remind Secretary P & on 18th February, I could contact her.I told her that they all were busy with Parliamentary Committee perhaps.She said she was on long leave resumed & shall do the needful.I delineated the above problem of cashless service for all hospitalization to be taken up vigorously to benefit employees & pensioners,as it has not taken off at all.

Further, the deductions of premium must follow same pattern as for employees. She said 12 months deduction may not be possible. I intervened to tell her that atleast 3 or 4 monthly deductions will help some residual pension & it should not be 2 ,as net pension will be very low in many cases. 

I emphasized that even a simple administrative matter like supply of Statistics of Pensioners—Regular, Family, Exgratia – Zonewise, Division wise & for CO, I am not able to get & last year I could succeed as she helped,but I was told this work was transferred to COOS.After I directed my efforts towards Sy OS,CO, I sent email as per her request,reminded them twice but of no avail.I was told by Sy OS on followup that upto 31/3/2014,CO Personnel will give .So, I pleaded with Smt Aruna Seth that she can help me for this statement.It seems that person is promoted & transferred& no substitute is posted. I told her that Statements normally to be sent by ZO/DOs must come on course to CO & it is a mere consolidation.We Pensioners Fedn need them badly, I urged & pointed out how then Chairman even agreed & all CO Circulars are sent same day to all of us.That spirit must be maintained.

Pensioners Portal has not seen the light of day,even though we have given 4 page Suggestions in April 2012 & a boon to pensioners from many angles,we are denied the facility of getting personal attention & resolution of individual grievances. All others have portal for them designed by LIC,even agents, policyholders etc & same spirit must be shown to us so that we can key in, get any info on pension & related matters & also air grievance or complaint which will be replied to & redressed to satisfaction.She said work is on with an agency & matters are moving.

I have requested GS, AIRIEF, Bengaluru to followup this & all Resolutions passed at 9th GC & to forcefully & assertively secure CO consent & approval on many matters

R.B.KISHORE,VP,AIRIEF

PASSAGE TO DEAR DEATH

The difficulties and uncertainties that face those who fall ill in India are growing. Expenses are also mounting and one has to be really patient to be a patient, or his or her relative.

What happened to our family recently appeared to have a resonance for many people known to us, with whom the experience was shared.

My mother-in-law, 84, complained of chest pain and my sister-in-law took her to a doctor. After examination he suggested she be admitted to a leading corporate hospital. He gave a letter addressed to the particular hospital. While on the way to the hospital, she collapsed. The hospital admitted her in the emergency ward and later moved her to the intensive care unit.

The hospital promptly sought Rs. 30,000 as deposit, and only two of us were allowed to see the doctor in the ICU. The cardiologist informed my sister-in-law and I that the patient’s heart had been revived, but she was unconscious; we should wait for three hours. The doctor added that once she regained consciousness, an angiogram and if required an angioplasty would be done.

I wondered aloud whether it would be possible to do all these procedures on a person whose condition seemed so precarious. But the doctor replied categorically that if the procedure was done there would be a 50 per cent chance of survival; else there was none. We kept quiet. Meanwhile he said a CT scan would be done.

The hospital asked for another Rs. 50,000, and one of the waiting grandsons promptly paid it. The admission had happened around 6 p.m. and even after several hours nothing including the proposed CT scan had been done. Around 10 p.m., all the waiting relatives including my 90-year-old father-in-law left for their homes, leaving a grandson and I waiting.

The specialist soon reappeared and called both of us to tell us the patient was now conscious. We could not quite believe that; I asked the nurse whether a blink of the eye indicated a state of consciousness. She looked blank, indicating a negative answer.

But the doctor proceeded with an angiogram and stenting. He showed us certain images on the computer screen adding that after all she may not survive. Still he proceeded with angioplasty as well.

Around 11.30 p.m. the doctor left for home and asked us to wait for one more hour. But around 12.30 a.m. we were asked to wait for some more time, and by 1 a.m., within hours of admission, they sought our permission to withdraw ventilator support. And she was declared dead. We were asked to clear the bills. The bill was Rs. 2.15 lakh. Surprisingly, the body was handed over to us in a fully covered condition.

Should the patient have been put through all that when the prognosis was pretty clear at the outset? Has this sort of thing become standard practice?

For the ordinary citizen, there is none to turn to and ask this question. The lack of a regulatory system for the functioning of hospitals, I reckon, is principally behind this. This issue has been raised in many forums, but the concerns seem to persist.

srinivasaramanan@hotmail.com(the hindu)

Courtesy: P.Ramanathan