LIVING HAPPILY AFTER RETIREMENT (continued)

Now, I will revert to the subject allotted to me, 

“Living Happily After Retirement”.

Retirement is a problem peculiar to our generation.
In the times of our fathers and grandfathers, retirement was not much of a problem.
There are three reasons for this.

First, Life Expectancy.
Fifty years ago, the life expectancy at the age of retirement fixed at 55--was 60.

A study of Government records revealed that very few people enjoyed pension for more than five years at that time. Most people died before sixty and consequently spending five years after retirement did not pose any major problem.

Today Life Expectancy at retirement at 58 or 60-- is 75 years which means half of your working life is still left after retirement. To give you an example two Senior Officers of RBI died at 93 years—35 years after retirement.

The second reason is the change in the family structure.

Half a century ago most people were in a joint family. The day you laid down office, you still had a large family around you. Surely, in a large family there was always something you could do that was meaningful and made you feel you were contributing to the family.

Today the family has become nuclear—husband, wife, children. By the time one retires, the children have gone away. In good old times, daughters used to get married and promptly go away. Nowadays sons get married and shift on and for First Night itself !

What is left is the old couple—You for Me and Me for you. This is not particularly easy to accept and adjust to after retirement.

The third reason is the problem of “Roots.”

In halcyon days, people used to have a “native place” and an “ancestral home”.

They looked forward to going there and settling down after retirement. Today except for Leave Fare Concession purposes, there is nothing left in terms of native place. People often are confused as to where to settle.

These three problems make retirement planning a crucial item. If you have planned for retirement you can anticipate and tackle these problems. People are not accustomed to the idea of staying by themselves. If one asks an audience of prospective retirees and their wives “How many of you expect to stay after retirement with your children, hardly one hand goes up. If some husband raises his hand, his wife immediately slaps it down saying, “I’ll be damned if I am going to stay with my daughter-in-law!”

So it is a tough problem to think about old people staying—just the two of them. This makes planning all the more significant.

The most difficult problem that we face after retirement is the psychological one.

When an executive retires, he is at the peak of his career—his status, prestige and financial acumen. The moment he lays down office, all these desert him. He discovers that “Everything becomes Less and Less”.

The first thing he notices is the way his status and prestige are affected. Even at home, the retired person is no longer the important person. If he demands of his wife an early breakfast, she will promptly admonish him, “You are retired now. So take it easy. Let those employed go first !”. He is no longer “Numero Uno”.

A friend of mine who was a Senior Executive in RBI was getting 500 Greeting Cards and Diaries for the New Year. After one year of retirement it dwindled to fifty and this year he got ten. Greeting cards and diaries are surely an indicator of the respect you are held in.

The most immediate problem on retirement is time-arrangement.

We all have twenty four hours at our disposal, whether we like it or not. When you are a Senior Executive you work for ten, twelve or even fifteen hours and you feel “Suppose I had two hours more how nice it would be!. Life would be easier.”

After retirement we have twenty four hours and nothing to do! is one thing. Result – misery and this one he likes to spread! No man wants to be miserable alone. He will make as many people miserable as he can. A man who has nothing to do will harass people around him. Turning on head the Benthamite principle of maximization of welfare—maximisation of ill-fare!.

There are two solutions to this problem.

One is to continue to do the same work one was doing at the time of retirement.

The first option is very convenient but where is such an opportunity for the majority? There is the temptation to wangle out an extension but this does lead to compromising principles which many succumb to regrettably. I have seen Senior Officers accepting jobs as liaison officers and standing outside the cabin of their subordinates and seek favours from them. But how long-lasting is the solution. Extension merely postpones the problem. It crops up again quite swiftly.

The second option is to do something different, i.e., option to get another job.

An executive can get another job provided he is willing to sacrifice self-respect. Generally jobs are given by the previous employer’s suppliers. Cases are legion where army, navy, air force officers are caught for espionage in such employment. In commercial organizations Officers are employed to get orders and collect bills speedily from their erstwhile Employers. So you will agree that this is no solution.

All of you are aware that the Bard of Avon-- William Shakespeare wrote of the “Seven Stages of Man”.

Modern psychologists have abridged it to four and these are thus.

Before finding a girl—Spiderman
After engagement------Superman
10 years after marriage-Watchman
20 years after marriage - Doberman

(to be continued)

LIVING HAPPILY AFTER RETIREMENT (continued)

After this lighter side I revert to post-retired life. The retired official is likely to fall into four dysfunctional time options.

The first is “Withdrawal”.

Many retired people, the day they retire from Office withdraw from Life and within a few months they just pass away.

When you ask a Doctor he will tell you I can give a Medical term but this is case of “simple lack of will to live”.

The second time management option is “ritual”.

A person can create a ritual for himself. He gets up at a specific time, does different activities at a specific time and this invariably results in misery for others if that specific time frame is not adhered to. While he has in essence nothing to do, he is trying to make his activities meaningful. This leads to a meaningless ritual.The third option is Pastime.
Many people get together and embark on a combined ritual which is called pastime.
This too does not add to the meaningfulness of life.

The last option turns out to be even mischievous. It is playing games— not physical ones like badminton, tennis but psychological ones where you try to manipulate people, get into their problems, complicate them and generally enlarge the tension around you. Many a respectable person indulges in this and creates problems where none existed.

The alternative to these are Functional options.
The first is become a Consultant.
Lurking inside every executive is a Consultant. But for this considerable expertise is required. All are not Consultants.

The second option is to start your own Business or industry.
But this calls for entrepreneurial qualities which an executive may lack. Many are the cases where lakhs of rupees have turned into thousands!.

The third option is to involve oneself in professional activities.
For this one must build up one’s position even before retirement. Many cliques operate to prevent outsiders from encroachment.

The fourth is to get into spiritual activities.
While nobody is required between you and God, nowadays, we find more and more godmen, swamijis, pseudo Gurus some even US returned. There is a temptation to follow some Swamiji or even become one yourself. This is a very slippery slope. Beware –there are more hoaxes in the religious field than anywhere else!.

The last and most meaningful option is to cultivate a Hobby.
Use your creative abilities and do something that you enjoy doing. You should start this even while in service.

We live in three Boxes.
First is the Box of Learning, which starts from birth and goes on till 20 plus.

Second is the Box of Work which commences at 20 plus and goes on up to 58 or 60—the age of retirement.

Third is the Box of Leisure.

When we are in the Box of Work what is significant is Status, Prestige, Power—all these we aspire for and it is what we get from Life. The more we get ---the happier we are.
The day we retire we move into Box 3—the one of Leisure.

If we have to enjoy this we have to change our psychological position and appreciate creativity, autonomy and integrity. When you were a small child of two or three did status, prestige or money mean anything?

What you wanted was autonomy, creativity. A child is always creative. It enjoys creativity. One example. When visitors come you ask your child, “Pushpa -Sing 'Twinkle Twinkle Little Star'”.  She will not sing. You shout at her. You tell your visitors proudly she is three only and knows Twelve Nursery songs. The moment the guests are gone and your servant comes for cleaning, your daughter will sing to her all the twelve songs. The child has its own values!

By the time we enter the Box of Work values change. We are not taught to respect our autonomy but fall in line—conformity is the rule. If the son plays the violin his Mother will come and tell him, “Playing the Violin now ?. Study now. Maths is very scoring. If you get centum admission to IIT is easy. Life is competitive, dear son.”

When we enter the Box of Leisure values change.Your psychological position has to be changed. New values of creativity, integrity and autonomy emerge. Hobbies are an excellent way of getting Leisure Value. Everybody must identify his hobby that he can enjoy.

No bother about Power, Prestige and Status.
An individual can live in one box only or interchange or combine the boxes. You can have learning, work and leisure together. One can even take up a hobby that is financially productive. As time passes one learns.

The real problem of retirement is that people refuse to face the problem. The mantra is “Let us cross the bridge when we come to it.” This is not correct. Since we live in three Boxes we must prepare ourselves for crossing from one to the other. Structuring our time is the prime requirement. In the beginning you are contributing to Value. Think of Transfer Value. After retirement you can think of Leisure Value. Develop good hobbies which incorporates your creativity, autonomy and integrity. I have taken to Letter writing. (Rajaji , Kalam and H R F Keating.)

You will lead a happy life. Retirement is not adding “Years to your Life but adding Life to our Years”. Retirement is not a calamity but an opportunity.
I shall advert to some basic qualities one must cultivate.

There are two ways to look at every situation in life. Is the Cup half empty or is the cup half full. One man was not worried about his becoming bald. He declared “I have less hair to comb!”. Another man in identical situation moaned, “I have more face to wash !”.

Always remember that you are loved, even when it does not seem like it.
Believe in yourself and your values.
Don’t sell out when things go wrong.
Don’t let anything get you down. Always bounce back.

Set goals for your future and never settle for anything less.
Realise that there are others in this world with bigger problems than you.
Appreciate the good things of Life. Sunrise, Sunset, Flowers, Birds.
Be thankful for the good times you have with your loved ones.
Spend more time with your family and friends.
Appreciate the simple things of Life and don’t get caught up in the material things of life.
Be an Optimist and see the Cup as being Half Full.
Before long your attitude will rub of on others. You can make the world a better place to live by simply making yourself a happier person.

You will permit me to conclude with an allegorical story.

First God created the Cow and said, “You must go with farmer daily to the field all day long and suffer under the Sun, have calves, give milk and help the farmer. I give you a span of sixty years.” The Cow said, “That’s surely Tough. Give me only twenty years. I give back forty years.”

On Day Two God created the Dog and told him, “Sit all day by the door of your house and bark at strangers. I give you a span of twenty years.” The Dog said, “Too long time for barking. I give up ten years.”

On the third day God created the Monkey and said to him, “Entertain people. Make them laugh. I give you Twenty years.” The Monkey said to God, “How boring, Monkey tricks for twenty years. Give me only Ten years”. Lord agreed.

On the fourth day God created Man. He told him, “Eat, sleep, play, enjoy and do nothing. I will give you twenty years.”

Man said, “Only twenty years. No way. I will take my Twenty and give me the Forty the cow gave back, the Ten that the Monkey returned, and the Ten the Dog surrendered. That makes eighty. O.K ? ”

O.K said God. That is why for the First twenty years we sleep, play enjoy and do nothing.
For the next forty years we slave in the Sun to support our family.
For the next ten years we do Monkey tricks to entertain our grandchildren.
And for the last Ten years we sit in front of the house and bark at everybody. 

Thank you all.

(Concluded)

EXEMPTION FROM INCOME TAX TO DISABILITY PENSION

Instruction No 2/ 2001

F.No. 200/51/99-ITA.I

Govt of India
Ministry of Finance
Deptt of Revenue
Central Board of Direct Taxes
New Delhi, the 2nd July, 2001

To :
All Chief Commissioners of Income-Tax
All Directors General of Income-Tax

Subject : Exemption from Income Tax to disability pension, i.e., “disability element” and “service element” of a disabled officer of the Indian Armed Forces – Instructionsregarding

Sir,

References have been received in the Board regarding exemption from Income Tax to disability pension, i.e., “disability element” and “service element” of adisabled officer of the Indian Armed Forces.

2. It appears that field formations incertain cases are not uniformly allowingdisability pension inspite of Board’s Instruction No 136 dated 14th January 1970 (FNo 34/3/68-II(AI)).

3. The matter has been re-examined in the Board and it has been decided to reiteratethat the entire disability pension, i.e, disability element and service element of adisabled officer of the Indian Armed Forces continues to be exempt from Income Tax.

4. This may be brought to the notice of all officers working under you.

Yours faithfully
(B L Sahu)
OSD (ITA-I)

(voice of pensioners)

BANK NEWS

Click Here to read CIRCULAR ISSUED BY UFBU after stalemated

 bipartite talks and revival of strike call

-B.G.Raithatha,

General Secretary

LAUGH A WHILE

RK VISWANATHAN

THE TEN KEYS TO UNDERSTANDING AND COPING WITH THE ELDERLY

Prof. D. Jamuna and Prof. P.V. Ramamurti*

1. Our elderly belong to a past generation.  Their perceptions may be different from the present generation.  Understand and tolerate their views.
2. Because of their age, the elderly act slowly.  Don’t hurry them.
3. Frailty in old age may disable a person, making them feel frustrated and helpless.  Give them a helping hand.

Mr.Courtmatial during army days.
Sad, not even 'housemartial' now.

4. Like the young the old too have an ego, perhaps a bigger one.  Respect their ego and win their hearts.
5. Being used to power and status, the elderly expect compliance.  Say ‘Yes’ and get around.
6. New and unknown tasks kindle a fear of failure.  It makes the elderly take less risk and appear unenterprising.
7. As the elderly age, more and more of their peers pass away making the elderly feel lonely and apprehensive.  Give them the much needed emotional and social supports.
8. The long and eventful past of the elderly is more pleasant to think of than the uncertain, apprehensive future.  Nostalgia is a common characteristic of the elderly.
9. Sacrifice, love and affection go into the rearing of children.  Children could do a good turn by caring for their aged parents.
10. Ageing is inevitable for all.  Treat the elderly the way you like to be treated yourself.  Your children may model themselves after the way you treat your aged parents.

* Centre for Research on Ageing (CEFRA), Dept. of Psychology, S.V.University, TIRUPATI-2.

UOI AFFIDAVIT

Referring to the post by Mr J M Aboobucker on the above subject, I reproduce the extract from a write up by the 'Forum of Retired Bank Employees, PUNE':

“Three retirees aggrieved by above observation of Speaking Order have again knocked the doors of court on 24.11.2009 and the court has stayed the implementation of Bank’s circular dt. 10.10.2008 withdrawing the updation already granted to pre-November 1997 retirees as per interim order dt. 27.04.2009.

RBI has filed affidavit on 11.09.2012 raising two points –
1) due process of hearing the petitioners has already been concluded &
2) Bank has forwarded a proposal to Government seeking their approval to amend Pension Regulations to provide explicitly for updation of pension by the Bank and the proposal is lying with the Government.

The association filed a rejoinder to the Bank’s affidavit on 04.10.2012 refuting both the above points. The case was last posted for hearing on 29.10.2012. Thereafter, no action has been taken either by the Government or by the Bank in the matter and case is lying with the Bombay High Court in suspended animation.

The case is not likely to come up for hearing in next few years and pre-November 1997 pensioners will continue to get updated pension as prayed for in the petition as per Bank’s circular of September 2003 due to stay granted by the Bombay High Court. 

The effect of all these happenings is that the Pensioners in RBI who have retired before November 1997 have been getting the benefit of increased pension w.e.f. November 2002 but the enhancement in pension due to wage increase in 2002 as per 8th BPS and in 2007 as per 9th BPS has not been given to them and the retirees after 01.11.97 have been totally deprived of any increase in their pension. “

My comments:

In the light of developments as stated above, the affidavit filed by the Govt in 2009 has become irrelevant in the present context, especially considering that RBI themselves have recommended to the Government a proposal for upgradation of pension which is pending clearance by the Central Government. So as opined by Mr Sreenivasa Murty, we need not deliberate much on the affidavit and the points mentioned therein.

With greetings,

C H Mahadevan

10 TAKEAWAYS FROM RBI MONETARY POLICY STATEMENT‏

(Moneycontrol Bureau)

The RBI Tuesday kept the repo rate unchanged as was widely expected, citing lack of any new developments on inflation as well as the government’s fiscal consolidation efforts.

It, however, cut the Statutory Liquidity Ratio (SLR) by 50 basis points, thereby increasing headroom for banks to lend.

The RBI has projected GDP growth for 2015-16 at 6.5 percent and said that risks are broadly balanced at this point.

READ: RBI keeps rates unchanged

10 takeaways from the RBI policy statement:

-- Financial markets remain vulnerable to uncertainty surrounding monetary policy normalization in AEs (advanced economies) as well as possibly weaker growth in China and oil exporting EMEs (emerging market economies)

-- Improvement in industrial activity in November 2014 was broad-based, but continuing contraction in consumer goods production underscores the persisting weakness in consumption demand

-- Weak domestic demand has restrained corporates’ pricing power and inflationary pressures in the non-food non-fuel category.

-- The sharp reduction in oil prices as well as in inflation is likely to increase personal disposable incomes and improve domestic demand conditions in the year ahead.

-- Inflation is likely to be around the target level of 6 per cent by January 2016

ALSO READ: What anaysts are saying about RBI's Monetary Policy

-- Upside risks to inflation stem from the unlikely possibility of significant fiscal slippage, uncertainty on monsoon during 2015 as also the low probability but highly influential risks of reversal of international crude prices due to geo-political events

-- Improvement in business confidence is visible in a pick-up in new investment intentions, especially in transportation, power and manufacturing.

-- Outlook for growth has improved modestly on the back of disinflation, real income gains from decline in oil prices, easier financing conditions and some progress on stalled projects.
These could be partly offset by weaker global growth outlook and short-run fiscal drag due to likely compression in plan expenditure.

-- Agricultural growth is likely to pick up in Q4 with the late improvement in the north-east monsoon and in rabi sowing. Nevertheless, growth expectations should be tempered as lead indicators such as tractor and motorcycle sales and slowing rural wage growth all point to subdued rural demand.

Read full statement by RBI Governor Raghuram Rajan

-- Despite a generalised fall in the cost of funds, banks have yet to pass through these effects, as also the effects of the policy rate cut on January 15, into the spectrum of lending rates

R.B.KISHORE,ED(Retd),LIC

GOI AFFIDAVIT

I have gone through the above communication published in Chronicle. It is very relevant to our cases in SC and hence it is also very timely on the part of the Chronicle to publish it.

The following points raised in the said communication by MOF/GOI appears to be very important to our cases also. These need our counsels' serious attention and consideration to help them prepare our efficient rebuttals to the LIC counsels who too would have been given this document besides other objections raised by MOF/GOI.

1. The Pension Regulations for Fin. Institutions are very specific about "how the average emoluments shd be arrived at". It is the average pay "actually drawn" and NOT ON THE NOTIONAL PAY.

2. The FIs cannot issue Administrative Orders over riding Statutory Regulation and if issued are NOT sustainable.

3. The FIs can exercise only such powers which are specifically vested/authorised in Pension Regulations. Their BOARD is NOT ENTITLED TO ISSUE, USURP AND EXERCISE SUCH POWERS WHICH ARE NOT VESTED WITH IT.

4. There is NO PROVISION FOR UPDATION OF PENSION in the Pension Regulations.

5. The Service conditions of Central Govt Employees are ENTIRELY DIFFERENT from that of FIs Employees and orders issued in case of Central Govt Employees Pension Rules are NOT MUTATIS MUTANDIS APPLICABLE TO FIs EMPLOYEES.

6. If that is so, the New Pension Scheme for Central Govt Employees introduced w.e.f.      1-1-2004 would have been made applicable to the FIs Employees also. But it is not done. This goes against the grain of the contention that any changes in Central Govt employees Pension Rules are equally applicable to the FIs Employees Pension Regulations also.

7. The case of D.S Nakara vs GOI is NOT APPLICABLE to the FIs Employees.

8. FIs Employees have AN EDGE over the CG Employees on Gratuity, Pay Structuring, Wage Revision once in 5 years and the stage-to-stage Pay fixation on Wage revision. If each Service is allowed CHERRY-PICKING the best of other services, then it would lead to an anarchical situation.

9. Even if FI Pension Regulations are modelled on the CG Employees Pension Scheme, any changes/amendments in the original Scheme do not construe to be carried out in the FI Pension Regulations.

10. Only to take care of the increasing cost of living, the FI Pensioners are paid Dearness Relief based on the Cost of Living Index. As such the question of up gradation does not arise for the FI Pensioners.

11. Any deviation/amendment of provisions of FI Pension Regulations without formally amending it after following the procedure prescribed by the relevant Act WILL NOT BE PERMISSIBLE UNDER THE LAW.

The above points raised by MOF/GOI against the up gradation demand of RBI Pensioners will be adduced by the Babu-dum against the LIC Pensioners ALSO IN SC. Therefore our Counsels will have to be well prepared to thwart these arguments/objections.

BANK NEWS

Bipartite Negotiations stalemated - 

Strike calls revived

We have received following SMS from Shri C.H.Venkatachalam, General Secretary, All India Bank Employees' Association.

"In talks to-day, Indian Banks' Association offered only 0.5% improvement, which is not satisfactory. United Forum of Bank Unions decides to revive the strike programme - 4 days strike from 25th to 28th February followed by indefinite strike from 16th March - detailed Circular follows.

Yours sincerely,

B.G.Raithatha,

General Secretary

CASHLESS ADMISSION & TREATMENT

Dear Sri Gangadharan, 

There have been several posts on the above subject in the PC in the recent past (including one today, where the issue was reported to have been discussed with Shri SK Roy, Chairman).  

I am eager to inform all LIC Pensioners through you that unfortunately there is a serious threat of our being ditched once again on this essential and doable facility.

CASHLESS ADMISSION & TREATMENT

I have been in touch with New India, LIC and Medi Asst (TPA). What we are entitled to and should be demanding is the facility of 'Cashless Admission & Treatment' at any of the approved hospitals and NOT addition of some more critical diseases to the existing list. The so called list of diseases for which 'pre-approval' may be accorded DOES NOT serve the real purpose of cashless treatment. Because the procedure to obtain the pre-approval is cumbersome, time consuming and may come too late. 

The pathetic irony is that while the in-service employees and Pensioners in LIC are asking for the cashless scheme AND New India is ready and willing to incorporate it in our Group Medical Policy at nil or very nominal extra cost, LIC is not interested in it - God Knows why. There appears to be an apprehension for LIC that cashless admission and treatment escalates the claims cost and consequently the future premium. This myth was already proved wrong but LIC chooses to remain unconvinced. What we have alrteady demanded and now is the time to raise our voice for, is 'let New India give us exactly what its own employees and Pensioners get'. 

Unless we move very fast and wrest the facility to be applied under the new Group Med Policy effective from 1.4.2015 we continue to suffer.               

Thanks and regards,

Sreenivasa Murty M

Affidavit contents not totally relevant today

Dear Sir,

Mr P G K Murthy GM (Retd) Allahabad Bank, was talking to me about this communication before he sent it to me. He picked it up from Google archives. You would have noticed that it is a 2009 communication and the contents are not totally relevant today. As you are aware there are many more developments in Reserve Bank with regard to pension up gradation subsequently. 

It may not be a good idea for us (or the LIC PC) to put this communication in circulation now leading to unnecessary confusion.

M. Sreenivasa Murty

OUR COMMON EXCUSES

I meant well.                  

I will start afresh.

It just slipped my mind.                 

I can give it up anytime.

I will attend to it tomorrow.               

This time I could not help it.

I am sorry, it will not happen again.

Just give me one more chance please. 

It just happened that luck didn't favor me.

B.D.Bhargava

AFFIDAVIT USEFUL IN OUR SC CASE

AFFIDAVIT FILED BY UOI

Shri PGK Murthy from Hyderabad has sent 

us a copy of his letter addressed to Shri M. Sreenivasa Murty 

and copy of Affidavit filed by the Director, Ministry of 

Finance, Dept. of Financial Services, New Delhi regarding 

Writ Petition No.710 of 2009 filed by Shri Arvind Ganesh 

Karnik vs. RBI and Union of India & others - speaking order 

thereof.

We are reproducing the affidavit for the information of the 

pensioners and their comments.

Click Here to read the Affidavit filed by Director,Dept.of 

Financial Services, UOI,Delhi

RB KISHORE'S TALK WITH CHAIRMAN

 MediClaim Cashless service, allied issues, Pensioners Portal etc.

Dear friends,    

I was trying to contact our LIC  Chairman last 2 days, 
but cld’nt succeed. Today again 830am, 930am, same 
position but I could notice,mobile was busy. I persisted 
at 10am & lo,he picked up. I wished him again a 
Happy & Prosperous New Year, thanked him 
profusely for his high etiquette in that he not only 
sent 1^st NYG to me & when our greetings perhaps 
crossed, yet another acknowledgement  greetings arrived. 
Whatever it is, I said, a signed greetings, for a busy 
topmost executive like him, indicates a personification 
of empathy & consideration.

I initiated the issues & concerns faced by pensioners for long, indicating this empathy is missing while dealing with pensioners. I  reminded him how I was one of the earliest  to congratulate him for having introduced a worthy mediclaim scheme of Family Floater Policy with revised higher Basic SA ,also eligible for 75 % subsidy & Optional SA  stretching upto Rs20 lacs. I also referred to recent CO Circular dt 17 Dec 2014 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. This is a highly enlightened act, I added. I  conveyed that Cashless service is not taking off, as basic requirements of Ecard by TPA or Id card by LIC  does not contain OSA, without which, admission is difficult, golden hours for pensioner & patient crucial but made uncertain without PROPER evidence for TPA, Hospitals. This need to be remedied immediately

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 Mr Chairman 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, 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,dingdong 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 heart, cancer & much  more.

He informed that he will ask the Dept to 
address these grievances & suggestion.

I  sought his pardon for troubling him & 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 with Secretary ER,CO 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 also pathetically pointed out  that still  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.

He said work is on with an agency & 
matters are moving.

I wished him well & prayed the critical 2 months brings in plenty of new business & fetches good dividends to put up much better performance for LIC as a whole.

He promised to seek solutions on 
suggestions made to improve pensioners 
welfare.

R.B.KISHORE,VP,AIRIEF 

RECIPES

RECIPE FOR WINSOME MANNERS:
Mix gentleness, kindness with humbleness draining away pride but guarding against loss of one’s self-respect. Sprinkle with Moral Behaviour after cleaning oneself of greed and guarding against hate and rage. Bake with warm heartedness, admiring good qualities of others without any restraints whatsoever but avoiding self-indulgence. Mix spices consisting of kindness, gratitude and respect. Serve with generous helpings of smiles and love.

RECIPE FOR SUCCESS
Blend a plan mixing your aptitude, knowledge, attributes and financial resources, ability to cope with adverse circumstances boldly. Adopt the plan and work on it with intelligent application, perseverance, dedicated hard work, within appropriate time limit, which will vary according to the plan.

RECIPE FOR PEACE OF MIND
Take twelve whole months. Clean them thoroughly of all bitterness, hatred and jealousy. Make them just as fresh and clean as they were when you came to life. Now cut each month into twenty-eight, twenty-nine, thirty or thirty-one different parts, but don’t make up the whole batch at once. Prepare it one day at a time out of these ingredients. Mix well into each day one part of moral behaviour, one part of patience, one part of courage, and one part of work. Add to each day one part of hope, faithfulness, generosity and kindness. Blend with one part prayer, one part meditation, one part retrospection, and one good deed. Season the whole with a dash of good spirits, a sprinkle of fun, a pinch of play, and a cupful of good humour. Pour all of this into a vessel of love. Cook thoroughly over radiant joy, garnish with a smile, and serve with quietness, unselfishness and cheerfulness. You’re bound to have a happy year and a very happy life till your last day.

RECIPE FOR HAPPINESS
Take equal parts of faith and courage, mix well with a sense of humour, sprinkle with a few tears and add a helping of kindness for others. Bake in a good natured oven and dust with laughter. Scrape away any self-indulgence that is apparent and serve with generous helpings.

RECIPE FOR GENEROSITY
Look at persons living below your economic prosperity level. Look for people, in your family, in your friend circle, in your neighborhood who are hard working and honest. Eliminate those indulging in drinks, gambling and other undesirable activities. Next see if you can help by providing education to their children. Next see if you can get them better job opportunities. Remember that Charity is injurious unless it helps the recipient  to become independent of it. You can also look at charity organizations and provide help through them to needy persons.

RECIPE FOR ACTIVE AND HEALTHY LIFE
We require ingredients consisting of Proper Nutritive Diet, both in quality and quantity, proper Exercise, preferably yogic exercises, properly selected, and Hygienic Environment inclusive of personal cleanliness.
We have to guard against excessive and junk food. We have to also ensure that we do not tire ourselves while exercising. Hygiene plays an important part. The three need to be properly mixed and good sleep is equally important. We have to, by trial and error, set our own limits that provide us the best results.
 

Courtesy: BD Bhargava

TIPS TO PREVENT FALLS IN OLD AGE

Prof.P.V.Ramamurti*

1. Walk slowly and cautiously.  Be firm footed.  Use footwear that has a good grip on the floor.
2. Improve vision by wearing suitable spectacles.
3. Keep away from alcohol or medications that make you drowsy.
4. Protect yourself (especially legs) from exposure to cold while walking.
5. Use orthopaedic walking stick for support.
6. Hold railings while on stairs, in toilets and on moving vehicles.
7. Exercise regularly to improve balance, gait and lower limb strength.
8. Walk carefully on uneven floorings and floors with poor lighting.
9. Don’t carry weight and climb or walk.
10. Do not walk immediately after getting up from bed.

* Center for Research on Aging, Dept. of Psychology, S.V.University,  Tirupati-2.

Televising court proceedings will bring transparency in judicial system

Avantika Mehta, Hindustan Times, New Delhi

The whole world watched the live trial of Oscar Pistorius in South Africa for the murder of his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp. However, such live broadcasting of court proceedings is not allowed in India.

But a bar body filed a contempt plea in the Supreme Court against a Tamil news channel, which surreptitiously captured and aired senior advocate Fali Nariman's arguments during AIADMK chief J Jayalalithaa's bail hearing in October,2014.

Telecasting trials could go a long way in eliminating this disconnect and improve the common man's understanding of courts beyond news reports and judgments. The law ministry's advisory council had in 2013 recommended video recording of court proceedings as part of reforms in the legal system.

"If Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha proceedings can be telecast live, why not court proceedings?" asks Aaj Tak managing editor Supriya Prasad.

"Court proceedings are telecast live in many countries. If we are not sure about its fallout, we can start by the telecast of recorded court proceedings. After all it will ensure greater transparency," Prasad insists.

Please continue.

FIND THE DAY OF THE WEEK

My dear Gangadharanji, 

This table will enable Readers to find out the DAY of the Week for any date, past, present or future.
All that needs to be done is add the base number for date, month etc., and divide by 7, if the remainder is 0 it is Sunday, if 1 it is Monday etc. Take today's date 31.1.15
For date base no. is 3, for month it is 1, for year 2015, it is 3, for Century it is 6, total is 13, divided by 7 remainder is 6, so it is Saturday.  (Explanation for CENTURY. Century is to be divided by 4. Take 31.1.2015, 2015 is in 21st century, so we divide 21 by 4, remainder is 1 for which base number is shown as 6. This is necessary because leap year comes only once in 4 centuries. There was no leap year for 1700, 1800,1900, but there was leap year for 2000. There will be no leap year in 2100,2200,2300 but there will be leap year in 2400. This is an adjustment, just like leap year coming in other years only if it is divisible by 4.)

With best wishes, 
B.D.Bhargava

ONE RANK ONE PENSION

One Rank One Pension to be finalised by Defence Ministry this week – Proposal to be sent to Finance Ministry

OROP is expected by more than 20 lakh Ex-Servicemen which was agreed in principal by Govt during February 2014

As retried veterans of the armed forces converge on the national capital to protest non-implementation of the “one rank-one pension” (OROP) scheme on Sunday, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar today said the modalities will be finalised by next week and the file will be sent to the Finance Ministry for further action.Parrikar, while speaking to mediapersons on the sidelines of a defence function, said: “Discussions are on to fix the modalities (for the OROP)… By next week, the view of the Defence Ministry will be formed.”The OROP issue has been fast-tracked, Parrikar said adding he had already held several meetings on it. The scheme was sanctioned by the previous government on February 17 last year. On February 26, the then Defence Minister AK Antony issued executive orders to implement OROP under the “approved” definition at the earliest.

Parrikar said as and when the exact implementation status for the scheme is finalised by the Defence Ministry, it will be sent to the Ministry of Finance. Parrikar had in December said if he could take the satisfaction level (of the retired armed forces personnel) to 80-90 per cent, it should be “a good enough solution”. This had not been taken kindly to by the veterans who wanted a clarification on what the 80 per cent satisfaction level meant.

The Indian Ex-servicemen Movement (IESM) wanted to know the formula being adopted for OROP saying it would not accept OROP other than the one already accepted by the government.

The definition accepted by the Ministry of Defence is the one the Rajya Sabha Petitions Committee chaired by Bhagat Singh Koshyari suggested in December 2011.

OROP,  it said, “implies that uniform pension be paid to armed forces personnel retiring in the same rank with the same length of service, irrespective of their date of retirement, and any future enhancement in the rates of pension be automatically passed on to the past pensioners.”

   Source: The Tribune

BANK NEWS

Pension Option to (1) Resigned and (2) Compulsorily Retired Employees

Attached are two pages of a letter dated 30th January, 2015 written by Shri R.K.Powar, General Secretary, Union Bank Retirees' Association (Maharashtra) to the management of Union Bank of India.

The presentation is very good. But much will depend on the policy level decisions to be taken by the Indian Banks' Association in these regards. Our Bank will not be able to decide the issues in isolation without consulting the Indian Banks' Association. 

B.G.Raithatha,

General Secretary

Click below for the Circular

MONTHLY LOSS IN PENSION FOR VARIOUS CADRES

DEAR ALL,

As discussed with Mr Sreenivasa Murty and as suggested  by him, based on the Pension Anomaly Chart  as at 1/2/2015 circulated recently, I  have prepared  charts of Monthly loss in pension (both in absolute figures and in percentage terms) for the various cadres from Assistant to Executive Director as at 1/2/2015. The said charts are given below.

The charts are indicative of the gravity of the anomalous situation in pension which has got aggravated for want of remedial action by the LIC/GOI  for the last 15 years and which is likely to get aggravated if pension upgradation is not effected  before the finalisation of wage revisions due on 1/8/2012.

With greetings,

C H Mahadevan

Click Here MONTHLY LOSS IN PENSION