COMMENTS ON COLLECTIONS
Sri M S Murthy in his latest write up on fund collection by pensioners’ associations, while not questioning their right to collect funds raised some pertinent points which all of us should ponder and ensure that history does not sadly repeat in our post retirement life also. True, every individual or collective can collect funds if there are givers for any cause. But at this particular juncture of the legal battle of LIC pensioners, Hyderabad Association has been prompt and transparent in passing on information to the members in general on a continuous and routine basis through the columns of LIC pensioners blogs. We hardly heard anything from the other groups or associations except criticism of Hyderabad Association but not a word on the status of their petitions, what is their time bound (31.08.2016) strategy, progress made so far in the preparation of legal battle like appointing case managers juniors included etc. The society is becoming more and more transparent in this digital age. Therefore, publishing in the public domain like our pension sites is a must in-so-far-as amount so far collected, how it was spent, how much left and how much more is the requirement. Just because they are registered Trade Unions, do not get immunity to accountability and not certainly the limited accountability to the registrar of TUs or to the members who rarely care to attend their all India General Body Meetings usually held once in a year or two. Technicality is not important but transparency is. The observations of Sri Ganga Raju may suit trade union environment but not retired community. Pensioners of wisdom should do everything not to encourage cavalier attitude and support those who are transparent irrespective of their affiliations.
Regards,
G K VISWANATHAM