CH MAHADEVAN

(NDTV Profit Team)

Budget 2016 proposes to tax part of Employee Provident Fund (EPF)
withdrawals from April 1, 2016, a move that will disappoint nearly six
crore people.

"In case of superannuation funds and recognized provident funds,
including EPF, the same norm of 40 per cent of corpus to be tax free
will apply in respect of corpus created out of contributions made on
or from 1.4.2016," said Finance Minister Arun Jaitley in his budget
speech.

Currently, withdrawals from Employee Provident Fund are completely
exempt from income tax after five years of continuous service, but
once the new measure kicks in, employees will have to pay income tax
on 60 per cent of withdrawal amount from EPF. The remaining 40 per
cent will be tax free, experts told NDTV Profit.

The tax on EPF withdrawal will be charged according to tax slab of the
employees, analysts say.

Tax Rebate

Forecast for the day !

B GANGA RAJU'S TURN NOW...Discussion continues

28 Feb 16, 06:21 PM

B. Ganga Raju: After seeing some posts I still feel the need to refer to Principles of Insurance C.I.I. course that I studied for Licenciate Exam. in 1963. How much cover one should have ? Even now the cover depends on one's capacity to save and spend for insurance unless you get coverage under a scheme the cost of which is entirely borne by the state or employer. Now the ruling principle is
"there are no free lunches." Kindly do not confuse this with lunch coupons. I am a member of Mediclaim since inception .

Many seniors would recall how the concept had to be popularised and there was a kind of voting or opinion gathering from all employees. Much on the lines of determining the strength of a Union. Atlast it became operational, with graded coverage depending on cadre/basic pay. In all these years I took a claim for a small amount in 1988 and another one recently for Cataract operation. Visiting the relatives and friends in hospitals I found it cheaper to stay healthy. Now we have floater policy and the subsidy also is helpful. All these improvements have not come overnight but in 3 decades.

Now many of our pensioners have to analyse and decide how much cover they need. Are they kept emotionally happy by children or do they wish for an early death? If one cannot attend nature's calls unaided is it not the long bell in the school? Even the best of coverage will not help you to stay in a costly place and receive help and attention 365 days. And the purpose of cover is simply not that. All insurance is for unforeseen contingencies. We are not the lucky Presidents, Prime Ministers and other functionaries who receive free medicare .

Back to the question, How much is ideal cover? Each one's needs are different. Some survive only on pension still paying house rents. Some are well looked after by children even without mediclaim. Some are satisfied with video calls and brood over the purpose of existence. Yet some others support their children even now.

Our system does not have schemes to help every citizen have free medicare. Any volume of high voltage propaganda won't make a scheme acceptable unless it captures the imagination of individuals and meets with their daily needs. Your present state of health, family life, your expectation about future expenses etc. will determine how much you opt for. Among our tribe many continue to live with the hope that Supreme Court will give us Updation of Pension. I can only salute those who left for another world without seeing realisation of Updation. Others like me wait for next commencement of hearing in S.C. 

Sarve Janaah Sukhino Bhavanthu.

Discussion continues: PN NAGARAJU SHARES HIS EXPERIENCE

28 Feb 16, 05:44 PM

P.N.Nagaraju DZM(Retd): Lot of discussion is going on as to whether the enhanced mediclaim is required or not. 

Here I would like to quote an an incident that happened during 2005 when I was DM(NB/Actl.) at D.O. Mysore, One of our Development Officers got admitted to one of the reputed Hospitals in Mysore for abdominal pain and he was operated and his pancreas was removed though it was not required. The doctor admitted to that afterwards. To rectify the mistake they operated him another time. The expenses were around 8 lakhs and he was in financial crunch. 

In fact I tried through our DMR Dr. S.Vishweswaran for reducing the bill which the hospital authorities did not agree and finally the DO applied for Chairman Fund Relief which was sanctioned. 

Friends please remember the serving employees can apply for Chairman’s Relief beyond the limit of mediclaim limit opted by him and this is facility is not available to PENSIONERS, So you take a decision as to what is good for you.

Here I would like to quote another example where one of my friends for reasons known to him did not join the Mediclaim scheme after retirement and now he is suffering from Knee joint pain and wants to undergo Knee Cap replacement which is a costlier one and now wants to join the Mediclaim Scheme. No pensioner opts for higher Mediclaim amount with an intention to suffer and claim the amount. It is only a provision for unforeseen contingency and I pray God to bestow all Good Health to the pensioners and their dependents.

Comments

28 Feb 16, 03:39 PM

subbu: I have more to agree with Mazumdar than with CSM, though the statistics he provided was revealing. Despite the highest claim reported to have been paid, I do remember cases where the hospitalized person/s had to be afforded a grant from the Chairman's Relief Fund, since the max under group cover was not sufficient.

Secondly, when u have an option to have a SA fixed for yourself, depending upon your own foreseeable diseases, why bother about the mktg angle? However, in case of cross subsidy of premiums happening and the lower strata is having the impact, then CSM has a say, no doubt.

28 Feb 16, 11:04 AM

JM Aboobucker:

The article of Shri CS Murthy on Why the Increase in Sum Insured for the Family Floater Policy is very revealing and thought provoking. 

A doubt has now arisen if the LIC Employees/Pensioners are taken for a ride by the New India Insurance to achieve their Premium Income Targets. It is a sad state of affairs for LIC to play in the hands of the General Insurer simply neglecting the interest of  their own employees/ pensioners. The matter requires an urgent rethinking by the CO before giving any commitment to the New India Company.

Now that LIC has come out with an option to revoke the exercised option within 15 days of premiums for 2016-17 being released, the enhanced cover cannot be considered as forced marketing.

Pensioners are mature enough to decide whether to go for enhanced cover or decide after opting for it,whether to continue with the option after knowing the premium for increased cover.

Greetings.
C H Mahadevan

CS MURTY WRITES TO LIC

                                                      

                  

                                                                                                                 25TH FEB 2016

TO 

THE ED ( PERSONNEL) 
LIC OF INDIA
CENTRAL OFFICE
MUMBAI 400021 

DEAR SIR

REG PROPOSED ENHANCEMENT IN THE COVERAGE 
UNDER FLOATER POLICY FOR FYR 2016-17

I AM CS MURTY, RTI ACTIVIST. ON 2ND AND 10TH JULY 2015 I SUBMITTED LOT OF DATA ON MEDI CLAIM ON THE BASIS OF THE FIGURES FROM ALL THE 113 LIC DOS AND 8 ZOS AND CO. IS THERE A NECESSISITY FOR OFFERING STILL HIGHER COVERAGES FOR 25 AND 30 LAKHS. MY ANALYSIS FOR 3 FYRS 11-12;12-13 AND 13-14 SAYS IT IS UNWARRANTED. COVERAGE UPTO 20 LAKHS IS MORE THAN SUFFICIENT. THE ATTEMPT ON THE PART OF CENTRAL OFFICE IS NOTHING BUT TO HELP NEW INDIA TO ACHIEVE ITS TARGETS ON PREMIUM INCOME. 

I FEEL THAT THE INDUCEMENT IS A FORCED MARKETING ON BEHALF NEW INDIA. I AM SURE THAT CO DID NOT IN DEPTH STUDY THE NECESSITY FOR MORE COVERAGE. 

IF 10 OR 15 PERSONS UNDERWENT TRANSPLANT OR EXCEPTIONALLY MAJOR SURGERIES THAT DOES NOT MEAN THE REMAINING 3,99,000 BENEFICIARIES SHOULD BE FORCED TO PURCHASE HIGHER COVERAGE. 

SOME SORT FEAR PSYCHOLOGY IS BEING GENERATED AND ACTING FOR NEW INDIA. DID CO EVER COLLECT DATA ON ‘’ diseasewise no of claims “ ?

2) I REPRODUCE SOME IMPORTANT DATA TO PROVE THAT YOUR MOVE IS WRONG. IF YOUR DATA IS OTHERWISE NECESSITATING FURTHER ENHANCED COVERAGE PLEASE SHARE THE SAME WITH NO OF CLAIMS. 

My Data

3.                I HAD BEEN REPEATEDLY PLEADING WITH CO THAT THE SCHEME OF REIMBURSEMENT OF HOSPITALISATION CAN VERY EASILY BE ADMINISTERED BY OS DEPT OF LIC DOS . I ALREADY PROVIDED DATA ON NO OF CLAIMS BY INDIVIDUAL DOS .

4.             DUE TO FEAR PSYCHOSIS AND FORCED MARKETING IF SOME BENEFICIARIES DESIRE TO OPT FOR UNWANTED HIGHER COVERAGE , WHERE ARE THE TABULAR RATES FOR 25 LAKHS AND 30 LAKHS ? WITHOUT KNOWING THE TABULAR RATE WITHOUT KNOWING THE ADDL COMMITTMENT HOW DO U EXPECT OPTION ?

I UNDERSTANT THAT THE TABULAR RATES WILL BE KNOWN ONLY IN FIRST WEEK OF APRIL 2016. WHEN FLOATER POLICY WAS THE HIGHER COVERAGE WAS SELECTED ONLY IN MAY 2014 AND COVERAGE EFFECTIVE FROM JULY 2014 . THEN WHY A DEPARTURE FROM THE EARLIER PROCEEDURE. WHY SHOULD U PAY ADVANCE PREMIUM FOR HIGHER COVERAGE OF 25 LAKHS AND 30 LAKHS . I THINK CO IS THINKING ONLY FROM NEW INDIA POINT OF VIEW .

5.              DID CO OBTAIN FROM ALL THE LIC DOS AND ZOS AND CO ABOUT THE NO OF CLAIMS AND CLAIM AMOUNT PAID. ALSO CO SHOULD HAVE OBTAINED THE DATA FROM TPA ALSO.

6.              I FEEL THAT THE INTERESTS OF PENSIONERS ARE NOT BEING PROPERLY PROTECTED WITHOUT SIMPLY DECIDING ON THE WRONG INFORMATION FROM NEW INDIA . I PROVED THROUGH SEVERAL STATEMENTS THAT NEW INDIA IS CHEATING BENEFICIARIES UNDER THE SCHEME.

THANKING U

YOURS FAITHFULLY
CS MURTY   

             (Post received on 25th. Delay in uploading the same is regretted. -Ed.)                                                             

Some random thoughts

Dear Editor,

Some would say that what is not in the pension rules it is impossible to get.

" We need to believe in the impossible and remove the improbable " - OSCAR WILD

Usain Bolt the fastest man on the planet said in his autobiography : ' Give me a long stage, a fight, a challenge and some thing happens I get real. I walk an inch taller, I move a split second faster. Put me on the big stage and I perform '

The big stage to us is the Supreme court and the big challenge awaiting us on the March 10 TH. 

Let us gear up with all the facts and figures in our finger tips and present our case in such a lucid and concise manner to impress the Bench for a favorable order keeping in mind the time factor for the learned judges hearing the case.

R.K.Viswanathan

Mediclaim option for increased cover

DEAR ALL,

Arising out of the CO circular No CO/PER/ER-A/120/2016 dt
26-2-2016,as the CO have not appended any revised option form with
the circular,I suggest that those of the pensioners who exercise the
option for increased cover may add the following in the penultimate
sentence of the option form before submission to the OS dept:
"except in terms of the CO Circular No CO/PER/ER-A/120/2016 dt 26-2-2016".

After this addition,the sentence will read as follows:
"I confirm that this option is irrevocable i.e. cannot be revoked by
me except in terms of the CO Circular No CO/PER/ER-A/120/2016 dt
26-2-2016".

Greetings.
C H Mahadevan

Where are we heading to ?

Where're we heading to?

OPTION FOR INCREASED SA CAN BE REVOKED

Comments

26 Feb 16, 12:59 PM 

B. Ganga Raju: What can be the political game of Mr.Chidambaram who now raise the cloud of doubt over the correctness of judgment in Afzal Guru's case? The timing makes it suspect. More so from PC. (Mr. P. Chidambaram?) The Editor is correct. I meant Mr. P. Chidambaram when I typed PC. What did he do all these years as he was an important cabinet minister in UPA?

6 Feb 16, 02:31 PM

Patteri Rajagopala: Rather than making quips, remarks or comments, persons like me will expect clear and candid arguments agt Chidambaram. Chidambaram is a seasoned politician, former Home and Finance Minister. If there is a point like what Chidambaram has said, we should try to know why he thinks so. PC shd carry counter views also.

The right to kill women?‏

For marrying the man she loved, Saba’s father shot her in the head, stuffed her in a bag and dumped her in a river, and Pakistani law on "honour killings" allowed him to walk away free! But Saba survived, and her story is now an Oscar-nominated documentary.With the Oscars 2 days away, the Pakistani Prime Minister has promised to change the law, but activists fear it won't happen without a massive surge of global pressure. Sign the petition to end this hideous law and share now before we lose this moment: 

SIGN NOW

Dear friends across India,

For marrying the man she loved, Saba’s own father shot her in the head, stuffed her in a bag, and dumped her in a river. Then he walked free because of a loophole in Pakistani law that allows men to commit so-called "honour killings". But, incredibly, Saba survived and she has created a ray of hope to finally stop these outrages! We have two days to help her. 

Afzal Guru's extent of involvement in Parliament attack was doubtful: P Chidambaram

Former finance minister P Chidambaram has said that it is possible that the "Afzal Guru case may not have been correctly decided". He also said that the levelling charges of sedition against the JNU students was "outrageous".

IndiaToday.in

New Delhi, February 25, 2016 | Posted by Sangeeta Ojha | UPDATED 11:47 IST

Calling the sedition charge against the students who held a pro-Afzal Guru meeting at the Jawaharlal Nehru university campus outrageous,  former home minister and senior Congress leader P Chidambaram has raised serious doubts over the degree of involvement of the hanged terrorist in the 2001 Parliament attacks.

In an interview to The Economic Times, Chidambaram said, "I think it is possible to hold an honest opinion that the Afzal Guru case was perhaps not correctly decided."

Amid raising controversy over sedition charges against three arrested students, Chidambaram said the opinion that Afzal Guru's case was wrongly decided by the court is not anti-national so it is outrageous to slap sedition charges against the students.

Afzal Guru was convicted by the Supreme Court of India in the 2001 Parliament attack that killed six Delhi Police personnel, two Parliament Security Service personnel and all 5 Jaish-e-Mohammed terrorists. He was hanged on February 9,  2013 during the UPA-2 government after President Pranab Mukherjee rejected his mercy petition.

Speaking on the issue, he said it was not possible for him to raise doubts over the court's judgement while being in the government. He was the finance minister at the time when Afzal Guru was hanged.

Comments

25 Feb 16, 03:27 PM 

B.R.Mehta: I really appreciate editorial policy of the editor. Yes, it is true, why he should be afraid of any one ? Or why he should try to please some one out of turn ? Or why he should indulge in Vote Bank Politics amongst Pensioners since he has not to beg for their votes from Pensioners Constituency.

25 Feb 16, 05:09 PM 

G.Krishna Prasad.: What is happening in JNU is fight between the left-backed Student Unions and the ABVP, and in the melee all sorts of nonsense is being spoken in the name of freedom of speech. Inasmuch as the courts are seized of the issue, please leave it at that. 

(Even ABVP functionaries have resigned from the Union in protest against what they call gagging freedom of speech etc. Ed.)

Not mercy, but a question of legal obligation

24 Feb 16, 10:06 PM

JM Aboobucker: It is a very good suggestion that Mr CHM has made to the LIC about revocation option being given to those pensioners who had exercised the option but finds the premium rate expensive. Hope LIC would accept this sensible suggestion.

24 Feb 16, 10:43 PM

Editor: LIC must agree to the suggestion. Even otherwise a person who opts for increase in SA (without premium rates being made available) does enjoy the option to withdraw from the option exercised on the ground of e.g. unfavourable prem. rates.

When the premium rates are made available, the insured can take a decision whether to continue the Policy for increased SA. The intervening period from date of option exercised and the date on which premium rates are made available could be claimed to be treated as FREE LOOK PERIOD.

Comments

24 Feb 16, 04:32 PM

Mc pawar: ब्रांच यह जानने हेतु कि -- रिटायर्ड कर्मचारी या अधिकारी जिन्होने VRS ली हैं , का सैलरी बकाया एरियर बनाना है या नही ? --वरिष्ठअधिकारियों को ईमेल से जानकारी ले रही हैं ! क्योकि शाखा में VRS लेने बालो का नये पेंच में कुछ नही आ रहा! इस भ्रांति को को दूर करे कि VRS बालो का एरियर बनेगा ? आगे क्या करे ?

Revise family pension within a time frame

Smt. Krishna Mukherjee has spoken for and on behalf of all the family pensioners. She has boldly and rightly voiced the grievance of about 12000 family pensioners. As stated by her, the family pensioners in LIC are not much better than B.P.L. beneficiaries.

• Shri C.H.Mahadevan has been highlighting with facts and figures of the meagre amount of family pension granted to family pensioners. The family pension in LIC is 30% to 38% of the total pension received by the late pensioner. Comparatively speaking, the family pension in GOI is 60% of the pension drawn by the pensioner. The family pensioners in GOI also get updation once in ten years. They also get 20%...100% enhanced family pension after reaching the age of 80...100.

AIIEA leaders had raised several issues with the Chairman in the meeting held on 20-02-2016. They also touched on the 100% neutralisation in DR to pre 1997 retirees and Diamond Jubilee Memento to all the pensioners in recognition of their service. The Chairman gave the 'standard', the 'obvious' reply regarding 100% DR. It would have been better if the leaders had raised the issue of family pension seriously affecting more than 12000 family pensioners.

Our leaders of working and retired employees may seek immediate appointment with the Management, with the Chairman to decide the issue of family pension in all earnest within two or three months.

SN

Chat-n-Chat column comments

"A section of pensioners 

may not be happy because of 

your open stand on certain 

issues," writes a pensioner. 

In reply the Editor asks a simple question: "Am I going to contest election from the pensioners constituency?" 

Dark days ahead...

MEDICLAIM PREM RATES: CH MAHADEVAN WRITES TO LIC

The Executive Director (Personnel), 

LIC of India, Central Office,

Mumbai 

Dear Sir,

Re: Premium Rates for enhanced Floater Covers for Rs 25 lks & Rs 30lks 

I invite your kind attention to my email sent on 19th inst. Many pensioners are making enquiries as to what will be the premium rate for the above two Sums insured before they can exercise their options before 10/3/2016.

Some enquiries made by pensioners with officials in the Personnel Dept of your office have been orally responded to with the reply that the premiums will be released only after April 2016 when the rates of premium for 2016-17 are finalised. So calling for options before letting the pensioners know the likely premiums will be putting the cart before the horse.

If the Corporation wants to take the options before the premium tables are released, it will be fair to include a sentence in the option form that in case on being made aware of the premiums for 2016-17 after the options are exercised, the premiums are found unaffordable, the pensioners are free to revoke their option exercised earlier. 

Kindly consider the matter urgently and inform all the ZOs/DOs suitably for enabling the pensioners to take decision on exercising the option before the deadline.

Thanking you, 

C H Mahadevan 

Executive Director(Retd), 

Hyderabad

Chat-n-Chat

23 Feb 16, 12:42 PM

G. Naraynaswamy: The write -up 'Avoid distractions... Stay

focused' by M. V. Venugopalan is a brilliant sum-up of the current situation. Venugopalan is another name for Krishna. So his Gita for Action. To stay focused.

23 Feb 16, 09:33 PM

karunakaran: No Deposit. No Interest. And Not even a Poor 'Pensioner status' also. Congrats.

23 Feb 16, 01:59 PM

subbu: AIIEA has demanded for a congratulatory compliments letter for all pensioners recognizing their contribution. Good indeed. I am not so sure whether a GOI approval is necessary !

23 Feb 16, 01:11 PM

krishna mukherjee: my husband was administrative officer of os department of howrah division who retired on october 1995. Now after his death on 3rd March 2015 I am drawing a pension of Rs.7149.00 Pl. arrange a BPL card. 

I think it is a shame for organisation like LIC where

dependents of pensioner are totally neglected after his/her death. On the contrary state and central govt. widow pensioners are getting much higher.

Not even a 'Pensioner'!

MV Venugopalan

DIAMOND JUBILEE CELEBRATIONS: PENSIONERS CONTRIBUTIONS SHOULD BE REMEMBERED AND RECOGNISED THRU MEMENTO, DEMANDS AIIEA

ALL INDIA INSURANCE EMPLOYEES’ ASSOCIATION

LIC BUILDING     SECRETARIAT ROAD      HYDERABAD 500 063

(E-mail: aiieahyd@gmail.com)

                                                           

Cir.No.5 / 2016                                                                                    22^nd    February 2016

To

All the Zonal/Divisional/State/Regional Units

Dear Comrades,

AIIEA RAISES EMPLOYEES ISSUES WITH LIC

CHAIRMAN AGREES TO PURSUE PENSION OPTION

HOUSING LOAN AND OTHER ADVANCES WILL BE SUBSTANTIALLY INCREASED

Com Amanulla Khan, President and Com V.Ramesh, General Secretary visited the Central Office of LIC on 20^th February 2016 and held discussions with Shri S.K. Roy, Chairman, Smt. Usha Sangwan, Managing Director, Shri Niraj Agarwal, E.D (Personnel), Shri Prakash Chand, Chief (Personnel), Shri J. Sen, Secretary (ER) and other officials on various issues of the employees.

The Chairman shared some concerns on the growth of the new business, the turbulence in the stock markets and the declining interest rates that might impact the working of the institution.  While agreeing with his concerns, we pointed out to the resilience of the institution that has stood the test of times and also assured our fullest cooperation in meeting the challenges confronting the LIC.

The AIIEA while appreciating the role played by the Chairman, Managing Director and the entire Personnel Department Team in the recently concluded wage revision requested for early solution to the residual issues.

PENSION OPTION AND IMPROVEMENTS

We requested that the issue of Pension Option to be taken up with the government again.  The arguments behind this demand are too well known to reiterate.  The Chairman agreed that this issue is not closed and he will take up with the government at the appropriate time and assured of his best efforts to resolve this issue.

The Chairman said that the issue of 100% DA to pre-1997 retirees cannot be resolved till the issue is settled in the Supreme Court. We suggested some improvements in the existing pension scheme and introducing of a cash medical benefit for the pensioners to give some relief from the increasing medical costs.

We requested for early instructions to be issued for revision of pension, difference in commutation, etc. to the employees who were on roll as on 1.8.2012 and retired thereafter.  The officials informed that this requires formal approval of the Board and the issue will be taken up in the next meeting of the Board.

The AIIEA requested for another option to join the mediclaim scheme to the pensioners who are out of the scheme.  We pointed out that many pensioners unable to bear the cost of the premium had opted out of the scheme and now with the subsidy on premium extended to the pensioners, it is only fair to give another option to such pensioners to join the scheme.  We also suggested that the dependents parents and parents-in-law not covered presently should be given an option to join.  The LIC assured to consider extending these options and will take it up with the insurer.

DIAMOND JUBILEE OF LIC

This year is the Diamond Jubilee Year of LIC and it will complete 60 years of magnificent work in spreading insurance and nation building on 1^st September 2016.  We pointed out that LIC today is the finest public sector institution in the country and all classes of employees have contributed in building this great institution.  In recognition of this great work, the occasion should be commemorated with a reward to the employees appropriately.  On being asked as to what is our expectation, we said it is fair enough to demand for a special increment.  The AIIEA also suggested that the contribution of the pensioners and all retired employees should also be remembered and recognized through a memento.

MV VENUGOPALAN

Chat-n-Chat

21 Feb 16, 04:27 PM

B.R.Mehta: Your cartoon on secularism, freedom of expression and democracy is an excellent creativity. But please show us the other side also who are telling Kitne Afzal Maroge, Har Ghar Se Afzal Nikle Ga etc. 

(Shri BR Mehta who is a "post graduate in political science" may be able to tell us more about all these aspects and more. One thing we know is that the programme producer of ZEE NEWS has since resigned from the TV channel in protest against showing the fake video in Zee News TV channel. -Ed.) 

JNU row: Disgusted with 'chee news reporter' tag, Zee News journalist resigns

Vishwa Deepak, a Zee News reporter, today resigned from the channel stating that he should have taken this decision earlier, but if he doesn't take it now, he won't be able to forgive himself . Deepak accused the channel of 'biased coverage' of JNU protest against the sedition charges slapped on JNUSU president Kanhaiya Kumar.

IndiaToday.in

New Delhi, February 21, 2016 | Edited by Siddharth Tiwari | UPDATED 22:21 IST

A +A -

Vishwa Deepak, a Zee News reporter, today resigned from the channel over its 'biased coverage' of Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) protest against the sedition charges slapped on JNUSU president Kanhaiya Kumar.

Deepak, a producer on the output desk of Zee News, was upset with the way the channel had played up the JNU issue .

"Dear Zee News, after 1 year four months and four days, the time has come that I should part ways with you. I should have taken this decision earlier, but if I don't do it now, I won't  be able to forgive myself," Deepak said in his four-paged resignation letter.

WE SPEAK; YOU LISTEN

SN (A 1992 Pensioner)

Every proud Indian would like to go with Shri Subbu Sir and the host of others who believe in the shloka, "Janani Janmabhoomischa Swargadapi Gariyasi : Mother and Motherland are superior to Heaven." 

Shri Subbu Sir knows much more. He knows what Krishna has told Arjuna. Karmanye vadhikaraste ma phaleshu kadachana. It is philosophy incarnate. But, majority of us are not doing karma in Niragas, without self - before us.

Sarvashri KMLA, GNS and MSM are on the field with a purpose. Had the 4th or 5th CPC recommended OROP to Civilians and GOI had implemented the same, Shri Sridharan would have long back pleaded for the ditto to LIC pensioners. Some one has to solemnly carry 'the yoke' on ones own or others shoulders. As is expected of a man on the field, he is found confident, more confident. God grant him and others all they want.

Shri C.H. Mahadevan  (may be some others not known to others) have done lot of exercise. They are committed and would (kindly) help others with 'the formula' to arrive at a 'figure' when the final verdict of the Hon. S.C. is officially issued.

Hopefully, the kind of computation and exercise done by them, till now, would not go waste. That is the sincere prayer of  all the pensioners without exception.

SN

"Take my Advice....."

by Gopalakrishnan Ramachandran 

(posted by Perumalmaruthu)

In the midst of bank retirees agitating over non implementation of their demands, AJ decided to seek the advice of PC.

(Overheard their conversation)

AJ : Welcome Mr PC. How are you keeping busy?
PC: Well, have a lot of things to do in Tamilnadu, as party needs my advice.
AJ: I know. They need your advice but do not follow them!
PC(sarcastically): As you preach, which you don't practise.
AJ: How do you find the cabin?
PC: Not much change. Even no change in our policies, which you follow scrupulously.
AJ: Yeah. But you framed the policies, we only implement.
PC: Thanks for accepting our policies. But the number 272 was not with us for implementation.
AJ: We have the number, still you do not allow us in the Parliament.
PC: Same strategy you followed against our government.
AJ: That is the order in present democracy! What do you think about our bonanza to central govt employees.
PC: That is also our policy, We have to keep our people in good humour.

Chronicle Chat-n-Chat column

Sir, my father died on 01.01.2016 due to heart attack. He did not opt for mediclaim at his retirement as AO. Can my mother opt for GROUP MEDICLAIM as SPECIAL ENTRY, now?

My suggestion:

I feel that Mr Nagendrakumar may approach the OS dept of the office
from where his mother is being paid family pension with a request
letter for being admitted into the mediclaim scheme for the desired
extent stating that she was not aware that her husband had not opted
for the group mediclaim scheme. The CO circular dated 12/2/2016
providing an option for increased cover makes the newly recruited
employees eligible to exercise the option for increased cover at the
time of their recruitment. Mr Nagendrakumar’s mother can request LIC
to apply the same principle for family pensioners who are dependents
of deceased retirees who had not opted for mediclaim cover before
their death as SPECIAL ENTRY.Mr Nagendrakumar may suggest to 

the LIC Office to make a reference to Central Office if need be.

This is a humanitarian issue and all pensioners’ bodies should take it
up with the LIC Management for providing all family pensioners an
option of SPECIAL ENTRY to be covered by the Group Mediclaim 

Scheme on the death of a regular pensioner who was not covered by the 

scheme before his death.

Greetings.

C H Mahadevan

20 Feb 16, 04:26 PM

NAGENDRAKUMAR A: 

I AM DEEPLY TOUCHED WITH THE WAY MY QUERY WAS ANSWERED. THANKS A LOT SIR.

SN (A 1992 Pensioner)

Please read the Punjab and Haryana High Court order appended to the report "Chandigarh Court Development.." by Shri M.Sreenivasa Murty.

There is more in the judgement : two important matters are happening concurrently. It is interesting that the LIC is interested to pay interest of Rs.1,29,278/- on Rs.33,67,838/- and the Court has asked LIC should do so in a week. The respondent /LIC has to pay 20% to the applicants/petitioners, as per their entitlement.

As per the Court's (earlier) order, LIC is required to pay within two weeks and if it fails to heed to the Court's order the competent authority of LIC would be liable for contempt of court.

The long and short of the P&H HC order is that 31 petitioners would get some amount latest by 8th March, 2016 - a few days before the SC Bench assembles for final hearing on 10th March, 2016.

A positive sign.

A promising development.

SN

"YOU SPEAK, WE DECIDE"

Dear sir,

The bye-line is topsy turvy. 

It should be 'you speak, we decide'. 

That is more apt
In the current situation.

M S Murthy from Coimbatore

Comments

19 Feb 16, 04:02 PM

B.R.Mehta: Dear Editor, let me say first that myself being a post graduate in Political Science I have a very strong feeling that the one word being grossly misused in our country is Secularism. Sorry to say that Freedom for expression does not mean crossing  all limits and raising Anti India slogans. JNU has become a hub of anti national activities and all of them call themselves as Secularists or leftists or anti RSS or anti Rightists. One may belong to any school of thought but he can not go against our own Mother Land. 

(It is for the information of the readers that further discussion on this issue is not intended. An editorial note may be added by us at an appropriate and opportune moment. -Ed.)

Comments

19 Feb 16, 12:52 PM subbu: Collins Dictionary defines ABHORRENCE as feeling of extreme repugnance or aversion; utter loathing; abomination. 2. something or someone extremely repugnant or loathsome  Whenever Editor Sir I was enjoying my travel between 84 and 87 in that God's own country, (during my Audit days) i hardly found any who did not have a strong say against this or that party. I thought Keralites enjoyed and participated in full in all political scenerio. When u say u abhor it, it surprises me. Editor: In ZTC my hostel mate spoke to me politics for 5 days continuously. Finally on the last day he asked me, why you don't reply? I said, I don't discuss politics with others.