OUR PENSION CASES AT CROSS ROADS - CAN WE NOT MEET AND TALK?‏

Dear Sirs,

I have been trying to convince our pensioner-colleagues that ALL OF US, (including the pre-Aug 97 retirees) are victims of sustained raw-deal meted out by LIC & the Government, whatever may be the reasons. While we know the issues involved so well and while we hardly need to convince each other about our respective views and how and where we may differ, I am genuinely surprised that the Corporation is trying to get away without implementing even the well-meant interim Order dated 7 May of the Supreme Court. 

That the Pensioners are a divided house is the only reason that enables the Corporation to deny/delay/avoid mischievously the 20% payment so graciously awarded by the Apex Court. It is indeed unfortunate but true.

It would be a wishful thinking to expect the final hearing scheduled for 23 Sept to lead to some finality of the matters for several more months to come. Imagine the impact on account of UoI's SLPs against the Jaipur Judgement and what toll it can take on the time frame for disposal. The interim directions that the Corporation shall release 20% of the amount as per the impugned judgments pertaining to the High Court, would be as justified and necessary on on 23 Sept as it was on 7 May 2015.

I am visiting Chennai on Wednesday 26th August and hope to meet as many Pensioners as possible. The visit is solely to exchange views on all things relevant and going on currently and to find out if anything can be done that would help the Pensioners at large, before it is too late. I must emphasize that I have no intention, enthusiasm or mental strength to oppose any individual, leader or Organization at this point of time. My efforts are to explore the avenues still left for us, the Pensioners in general, to serve our common cause.

Mr R K Viswanathan who lives at 

Y Block, 81, (Old No 11), 

5th Main Road, Anna Nagar 

CHENNAI 600040 

(Land Line: 044 26210452 

Mobile: +919840652262)

has kindly offered that I can conveniently meet whoever is available and interested, at his place. I will reach there on Wednesday 26th Aug by 10.15 AM. This is to request that you may kindly make it convenient to give me your time and your valuable advice say from 10.30 AM to 1.00 PM. I have my return ticket to leave Chennai at 17.15 Hrs. 

Will be obliged, if you could pass on this request from me to anybody else you may think appropriate. 

M. Sreenivasa Murty           

Birth Day !

With special thoughts for you on YOUR Birthday!
It marks the end of a year gone by and one about to start,
As we anticipate again of the pleasures it will bring!

Hope you will cultivate new interests as you treasure the old!
You’ll nurture bonds with loved ones and see new friendships unfold!

New HOPES and DREAMS will blossom and before the year is gone;
You’ll harvest happy memories to be savoured later on!

You may not know how many times you’ve shown the way;
How many lives are touched by what you do and what you say!

Well these are the reasons you’re close in thought today and everyday!
Wishing you all the best and Many Happy Returns of the DAY!

B.D.Bhargava

Chat column comments

23 Aug 15, 12:02 PM 

subburathinam: Ganga raju sir ! I am sorry i come again. U r correct. It creates so much euphoria that when some different news comes, our colleagues get so much depressed.

I had a colleague so dejected and depressed that he died of heart attack on hearing not so good news from one HC. despite my telling him that he will not get even this pension if he chooses to die.

B. Gangaraju's comments

23 Aug 15, 10:42 AM

B Ganga Raju: 

Sunday 23rd August 2015. 

Subburathinam's posting caught my attention. I think we are all extremists in one way or other. While in service we led a very sheltered life .We were fed on the belief that we alone are the most militant fighters and original thinkers.Majority of us had no contact with outside world and knew little how the society is moving.

Typical middle class thinkers we developed to be. Prone to extremes of emotions..Extreme exhilaration at one moment and the very next day extreme depression and dejection.In that sense we are extremists. 

Every time the bench took up our case we were hopeful of immediate verdict. Everytime it was adjourned the air went out of the balloon of our expectations. Add to this the uncertainty and lack of clarity on how the case is going to be managed or argued, the picture is full of tension.

The initial euphoria about the electronic speed with which Modi would decide matters also got evaporated.We were following masterly analysis and discussion of points and counterpoints. 

In all this there is one who remains rock like in his conviction that he should not share his thinking with anyone. Reminds me of some officials in Revenue/Government departments or some village officers. They will not let you touch the file they are handling or see its contents.In 1962 we had a Assistant dealing with salary and leave matters. He used to treat even applications for C.L. as CONFIDENTIAL. Even in this electronic age that tribe still exists!

Success mantras

22 Aug 15, 07:09 PM

subburathinam: 

P-pension; 

U-upgradation ; 

D-dream; E-enjoy it; S-sleep well; 
D-die one day dreaming; 

A: All the Best.

All silent about ad interim payment ordered by SC

The S.C proceedings will start within a month. All the while all are busy with the ad interim measure of 20% payment.

All are very silent on the measures the case managers have to take up on the remaining part of the S.C order relating to Condonation of Delay sought by the GOI as also on the special Leave Petitions.

The S.C order said our Counsels to undertake to file Counter Affidavits within 6 weeks,Rejoinder Affidavits with in 4 weeks. Further the parties are at liberty to file addl. documents and those which are already filed be taken on Record. Can any one throw some light on the Home Work to be done by the Case Managers as per this Order. Who did what. Can any one assure that the case and the cause
of the POST AUGUST 97 PENSIONERS for UPDATION will be pressed and pursued in right earnest at the Apex Court .

With greetings,

V.S.PRAKASARAO,
VISAKHAPATNAM

OBTAINING INFORMATION UNDER THE RIGHT TO INFORMATION ACT, 2005.‏

CLICK HERE

Achieve your DREAMS

To achieve your DREAMS of a Healthy and Happy Life Rearrange, if Necessary, but Remember this A to Z. 

Y - You are unique of all God's creations, nothing can replace you.
L - Love yourself first and most.
O - Open your eyes and see things as they really are.
R - Read, study and learn about everything important in your life.
M - Make things you Desire and Love most, happen, putting in the required Effort.
V - Visualize them.
W - Want them more than anything.
Z - Zero in on your target and go for it.
X - X-ray critically your activities and taking remedial actions accelerate your efforts.
B - Believe in yourself.
A - Avoid negative, thinking sources, people, places, things and habits.
I - Ignore those who try to discourage you.
S - Stop procrastinating.
C - Consider things from every angle.
J - Just keep pursuing Your Dreams, Aims and the Targets.
D - Don't give up and don't give in.
K - Keep trying no matter how hard it seems - it will get easier.
P - Practice leads to perfection, so do not waiver.
Q - Quitters never win, and winners never quit.
T - Take control of your own destiny.
H - Hang on to your Dreams at all cost.
U - Understand your-self to better understand others.
E - Enjoy life today--yesterday is gone, tomorrow may never come.
N -Never lie, cheat or steal, always strike a fair deal.
F - Family and friends are hidden treasures, seek them and enjoy their company/riches.
G- Give them more than you think.

We all dream of achieving a goal we have set. We are required to put in a lot of effort. This effort needs to be in the right direction. An effort has been made in this article to point out what ought to be done and what steps should be avoided so that we do not get waylaid. 
There are 26 sentences, each beginning with one of the alphabets and all alphabets are covered and find a place. You are free to rearrange the order in which they have been presented by me but you are not to ignore any one of them, if you want to succeed. Remember always it is our prime duty to proceed in a moralistic way and not by using evil and deceitful ways just to reach our goal. I am sure we all can succeed in reaching our goal/aim if we follow all the rules listed in the Article. You are welcome to get in touch with me for any clarifications you need, unhesitatingly. 

With best wishes, 

B.D.Bhargava

'BANK NEWS'

UNION BANK RETIRED EMPLOYEES' ASSOCIATION

​(1) Circular by IBA regarding Holidays in Banks on 

2nd & 4th Saturdays CLICK HERE

(2) Banking News dated 21st August,'15 

compiled by AIBEA​ CLICK HERE

Yours sincerely,

B.G.Raithatha,

General Secretary

22 Aug 15, 12:15 AM

G. Naraynaswamy: Subhir Kumar Mazumder has rightly suggested the adoption of online verification of pensioners for Existence Certificate. The present process is cumbersome. LIC should think & help.

Chat column comments

21 Aug 15, 09:32 PM

subburathinam: Bhargava is quite right. Constant thinking about pension arises attachment. Desire for upgradation. Not getting it, makes us angry. From anger, delusion results. Finally, we may lose our memory.

Why attach our mind and propel a desire which may only lead to anger with the powers that be. Be Satisfied with what u get. Yes. My Lord.

Sale

21 Aug 15, 07:41 PM

B Ganga Raju: The sale begins. Now the government can put boards announcing SALE SALE SALE in front of head offices of all Navarathna PSUs.

On Monday Government will sell 10 per cent of IOC ( on 24.8.2015 ).

Will LIC pick up a piece of the cake? Already demands are there for selling LIC's shares.

We "Exist" (somehow?)

That's right : it is "Existence" Certificate and not
"Life" Certificate because LIC knows only too well
that the pittance doled out by it under the guise of
'pension' to earlier retirees does not enable them to lead
a decent 'life" and so "Life" Certificate will be
a misnomer in their case at least, right?

Remember that favourite phrase of LIC's - "By way of abundant caution"?
As for "Existence" Certificate I hold that it's enough if we ourselves convince LIC that we THINK and so we EXIST taking a cue from Descartes instead of going after serving LIC Class I / II Officers, HGAs, Bank Managers, Medical Practitioners, etc.

Or we can emulate that spunky girl in the joke who whipped out her compact, took out her mirror, looked at it and declared : "Yes, it's me all right" when asked by a bank clerk to prove her identity. We can go to the nearest office of LIC with a mirror, look at it and declare ourselves on which the head of that office / authorised official would convey our existence to our respective pension disbursing offices.

I know my fellow pensioners are capable of suggesting various other ingenious methods also to prove to LIC that we "EXIST" (somehow?)

P. RAMANATHAN

What our thoughts give rise to?‏

From constant thinking about Object of the Senses
Attachment arises. 

• From that Attachment - Desire develops. 
• From Desire - Anger arises. 
• From Anger - Delusion comes. 
• From Delusion - Confusion of Memory.
• From confusion of Memory comes Loss of Discrimination. 
• When Discrimination is lost you fall down into the Material Pool again.

With best wishes
B.D.Bhargava

'BANK NEWS'

UNION BANK RETIRED EMPLOYEES' ASSOCIATION

​

Notification by Government for Holidays on 

2nd & 4th Saturdays in Banking Industry​

PLEASE CLICK HERE

Yours sincerely,

B.G.Raithatha,

General Secretary

Comments on Cartoon

20 Aug 15, 08:10 AM 

B.R.Mehta: Touched a valid point through your cartoon regarding former chiefs defence forces endorsing OROP. Why it is not in LIC due to two reasons. Cut throat competition amongst eligible EDs in race for MDs/Chairman and they themselves enjoying pension upgradation through Centre Govt Pay Commissions by virtue of their parity with Central Govt Big Babus.


20 Aug 15, 10:43 AM 

JM Aboobucker: The answer to Mr VS Prakasa Rao's question is simple. Because they want to get plum Assignments post-retirement,they could not afford to antagonise the Powers that be. What would they get from the poor Pensioners if they support their cause. Mathlabi Duniya Hai Na?

BD Bhargava

Courtesy:BD Bhargava

I haven’t failed, I’ve just found number of ways that won’t work.

Logic will get you from A to Z. Imagination will take you where you had not thought of.

Did you know that----

Neither letters “b’ nor ‘c’ appear anywhere In the spellings of 1 to 999,999,999. Letter b only comes in a billion. 

The very small animal responsible for the most human deaths worldwide is the mosquito.

The Vatican is the World’s smallest country, at 0.16 square miles.

Unless food is mixed with saliva you cannot taste it.  

All the planets in the Solar system rotate anti clockwise, except Venus.

Our eyes are always the same size from birth to death.

The Tongue of a blue whale is as long as an elephant.

With best wishes,

B.D.Bhargava

Anti-pensioner !

18 Aug 15, 11:44 PM B Ganga Raju: Your cartoon on THOUGHT SHARING is thought provoking. Modern day gurus have a lot to hide. There are two kinds of Gurus. One is Bodha guru who imparts knowledge and enlightenment to his disciples and public at large. The second variety which we mostly come across are BADHA gurus who demand unquestioning belief and of course contributions for maintenance of their ashrams and themselves. They will curse you if you put any inconvenient question and even call you an atheist!

How to Control Your Tone By Keeping Your Moods in Check

Moods can change due to recent happenings, but can also be the result of past events too. Moods have the capacity to alter our decisions and opinions, and they can also change the course of our relationships and actions.

Step 1.

Note how your feelings are revealed by your emotional state. Keep your mood in good condition so that you keep happy and others around you are happy to be with you.

Step 2.

Keep your mood in check and be careful to avoid communicating when you're not in a good mood. Keep your nastiness out of conversation.

Step 3.

Listen to how you're putting your feelings across. Your tone reveals how you're feeling and reflects your mood. If you're careful with your mood, a good tone will come across; if not, it will sound negative and unhappy.

Step 4.

The tone of your voice and the language you use correctly reflects your mood, so be careful and try to control your mood lest you give a bad impression about yourself.

Step 5.

Irrespective of the situation, try your best to remain in a good mood so as to avoid unpleasant consequences.

Step 6.

If you are with a close friend or family member, share your feelings with them so they will understand any unusual behaviors. However, don't use your bad mood as an excuse to be mean.

With best wishes and access to good health.

B.D.Bhargava

Cartoon on Thought Sharing

Sir,

Your cartoon on Thought Sharing - is very amusing and is fit to be 
preserved in the P C archives.

But a half starved miserable looking Sadhu and aggressive posturing do not seem to go together well. It is no holy business.

To my mind,a person footing such bill would be over fed,pot bellied,with an aggressive aura and a crookedness in his eyes. 
May be, a garland around his neck.

Let your cartoonist think it over please.

SN Chhabra

An article on IBA's Medical Insurance scheme for Bank staff and retirees

We reproduce below an article by Shri R.K. Pathak (Courtesy: Bank Pensioner)

In pursuance of the 10th Bipartite Settlement / Record Note and communication of IBA dated 29/06/2015 to the Member Banks, Public Sector Bank’s have started notifying on their web site a Medical Insurance Scheme which covers both the existing employees as well as the retirees.

Chat column comments

7 Aug 15, 08:33 PM

G. Narayanaswamy: Thanx to Bhargava for his medicines. 

Really all of us are already taking these Hopeful Thoughts.

Good Health

The secret of good health ultimately boils down to these 3 medicines. One dose of each to be taken daily:

i ) Thankfulness to the Almighty for everything that happens to you.
ii) Positive thinking always, never allowing negative thoughts to enter your mind.
iii) To try to remain Happy in all circumstances.

These simple tips will dissolve all your fears and stress which invade your mind and body.

With best wishes,
B.D.Bhargava

'BANK NEWS'

UNION BANK RETIRED EMPLOYEES' ASSOCIATION

​

Power Point presentation of new Health Insurance Scheme

 being introduced for retired employees in Banking Industry

​

CLICK HERE

    An excellent power point presentation on the subject sent to us by Union Bank Retired Staff Association (Tamilnadu) is forwarded herewith as an attachment to this e-mail.

Yours sincerely,

B.G.Raithatha,

General Secretary

Chat column comments : CH Mahadevan's reply

I send my response to Mr Aboobucker's query below
C H Mahadevan

17 Aug 15, 07:59 AM

JM Aboobucker: 17 Aug 2015

The amount deposited by LIC for Jaipur Petitioners defies any reasonable reckoning as to how it was arrived at. Could Mr CH Mahadevan with sharp acumen for figures throw some light in this matter?

My response:

It is very clear that the amount was arrived at by LIC by working out the DR at the existing anomalous rate upto 1/8/1997 and merging it with the existing Basic Pension.The merged total was taken as revised pension on 1/8/1997.No weightage of 11.25% was provided as required under the LIC Board Resolution dated 24/11/2001.The arrears were calculated upto 31/10/2013 by applying the DR slab percentage of 0.23% of gross basic pension per slab at the time of depositing the final (third) instalment in the Jaipur Registry.The principle followed in revising the Basic Pension was also not followed to revise the Basic pension similarly on 1/8/2002 and 1/8/2007 and the revised Basic Pension was kept static even after two more wage revisions.

Also as per the Jaipur SJB judgment reinforced by the PB & H HC judgment,the pensions have to be updated in substituted scales of pay on the date of every wage revision,viz, 1/8/2002 & 1/8/2007 (& on 1/8/2012,when the next wage revision takes place).This has also been completely ignored by LIC.

For the above reasons, the payments made by LIC in the Jaipur HCB Registry and the Chandigarh HC registry are not even 9% of what was due legally to the pre-August 1997 retirees as per the above two stay-refused judgments.Unfortunately,this fact was not stressed before the Supreme Court on 7/5/2015 when the order for interim relief was issued by the Apex Court. There is no doubt that the pensioner-respondents have been given a raw deal, not to speak of the sad plight of 40000 plus pensioners at large.
Greetings.
C H Mahadevan

'BANK NEWS'

UNION BANK RETIRED EMPLOYEES' ASSOCIATION

Friends,

​Circular by AIBRF re. new banking reforms

CLICK HERE

Yours sincerely,

B.G.Raithatha,

General Secretary

*OROP* again

THE HINDU REPORTED TODAY "EX-SERVICEMEN 

OBSERVE BLACK DAY TO INTENSIFY AGITATION FROM 

TODAY".

P.M SAID THE NEGOTIATIONS WERE AT ADVANCED STAGE,BUT BEFORE TAKING A FINAL CALL, CARE HAD TO BE TAKEN TO ENSURE JUSTICE TO ALL SECTIONS OF THE POPULATION. 

DEFENCE MINISTRY TALKS OF TECHNICALITIES. 

• WHAT IS THE FATE OF THE SUPREME COURT ORDER. 
• ANY HOPE THAT THE CENTRAL TRADE UNIONS AND LEFT PARTIES EXTEND THEIR SUPPORT AND SOLIDARITY TO THE CAUSE OF EX-SERVICE MEN? 
• WHAT ABOUT THE CONTRIBUTION OF THE INSURANCE AND BANKING PENSIONERS AND  THEIR LENDING  SUPPORT?

V.S.PRAKASARAO VISAKHAPATNAM

Chat-n-chat column comments

LIC pensioners can keep hopes high !

Dear Mr Gangadharan,

I am glad that you are back to your normal routine after your recent surgery.Kindly take care of your health which is very crucial for not only your day to day activities,but also for continuing your valuable service to the pensioners through Pensioners' Chronicle. I am attaching my post in response to Mr MSM for your information and use.

I returned from USA and was temporarily inactive due to jet lag and also my PC having some glitch.Now,I am also back to routine although I will be out of station for sometime from 17/8/2015 to 23/8/2015 on my visit to Chennai & Srirangam.

I shall try to keep track of PC posts.

Kind regards.
C H Mahadevan

Asthana's queries answered

I had to settle down after my return from USA for a few days and so could not
respond to you on your query in your mail.

I have read your separate mail addressed to a number of pensioner colleagues on
the IA filed by the PB & H petitioners in the SC (It is not a personal IA of MSM,
but definitely he has admirably and actively assisted the petitioners in filing
the IA).

The IA is clearly intended to bring before the SC the mischievous game being
played by LIC in circumventing the SC order dt 7/5/2015 to its advantage(if the
SC deems it proper).All of us aware that when it comes to payments even ordered
by courts,LIC has found it convenient to interpret the court judgments according
to its own convenience for escaping its liability to the pensioners.The IA if
considered seriously by SC,can checkmate the attempts of LIC to adopt such
devious tactics against pensioners.Even if SC refuses to consider the IA in view
of the final hearing to take place,the points made in the IA can be made use of to
call the bluff of LIC in the course of the final hearing in the SC.

Presently LIC has taken advantage of the wordings in the SC order dt 7/5/2015 so
that they can first withdraw 20% of the amount deposited in the HC and then pay
the same to the pensioner-respondents.What is clear is that the SC has ordered
20% of the amounts due to the petitioners in terms of the impugned judgment of the
HC. What is also clear to all of us is that whatever LIC has deposited is not
even 10% of the amounts due in terms of Jaipur & Chandigarh HC judgments.
So if LIC withdraws 20% of the amounts paid in the HC registries and pays them to 
the petitioners,what the pensioners under reference will get will not be 20% of the
dues, but hardly less than 2% of the dues.It will be nothing short of the height
of absurdity, if the LIC's attempts to walk away by paying a pittance to the
pensioners are allowed to go unchallenged.For this reason,by no stretch of
imagination,filing this IA can be construed as compromising on the issue of
revision of pension as you seem to imagine.On the contrary,this IA only helps to
reinforce our case for revision of pension with enhancement as per the Jaipur &
Chandigarh judgments.

As regards your question as to why a contempt petition has not been filed,you are,
with your own experience, a better judge in the matter when in one of your own
mails you have quoted reports that even the illustrious former Chief Justice
Markandeya Katju has dismissed 99% of the Contempt petitions that came up before
him.As an experienced lawyer, you will agree that the contempt petition will only
hijack the legal fight from the main issues to secondary legal issues with
resultant delay in our getting justice from the Apex Court which we hapless
pensioners can ill afford in this crucial period of our advanced ages.

These are the thoughts that I thought I should share with you in response to your
mail.

Kind regards.
C H Mahadevan

Amounts deposited in Rajasthan HC Registry

I attach the list of petitioners in the Jaipur case in respect of whom deposits were made by LIC in the Jaipur HC Registry upto 31/10/2013 (in three instalments) totalling Rs 19,63,638/-
CLICK HERE

Greetings.
C H Mahadevan

'BANK NEWS'

UNION BANK RETIRED EMPLOYEES' ASSOCIATION

​Letter by AIBRF to PM of India​

    We forward herewith a copy of the Letter written by Shri S.C.Jain, General Secretary, All India Bank Retirees' Federation to the Prime Minister of India. CLICK HERE

   Prime Minister's Office has acknowledged the letter as mentioned in the foot note of the Circular.

Yours sincerely,

B.G.Raithatha,

General Secretary

OUR HOPES RE-KINDLED

                  But we have other problems to overcome.

Like thousands of others, I too was watching with hope, the Prime Minister’s Independence Day address to the Nation from the ramparts of the RED FORT.

From what all was heard, I fully endorse the positive signal received, as perceived and relayed by the Pensioners’ Chronicle through the Scroll, that the PM’s reference to OROP gives us hope. However, I wouldn’t go beyond at this stage.

I was wondering when the commitment is so clear and categorical, what could be the insurmountable problem that is delaying the implementation of the OROP policy. The so called nitty-gritty cannot take indefinitely long time. Obviously there are serious issues involved that need to be resolved by the Government. Chief of them could be the size of the monetary burden. In this overall context, let us move and analyse our own Pension up-gradation imbroglio.

Pension Revision, as we are demanding in LIC, stands on a totally different footing. I may also say Government’s decision to accept OROP in principle, may not help us ipso facto, because it is as applied to ex-servicemen, at least for now. Our demand is not only not accepted in principle by LIC or Government but it is being stiffly resisted. So we need to work our way through independent of OROP Clearance.

Our demand is under the microscopic scrutiny of the judiciary at the highest level. The reasons in support of our demand as well as the grounds on which it is being denied are too many and too complicated. We cannot take it easy or be complacent.

The monetary part of the burden which seems to be bothering the Government when it comes to implementing the OROP decision may not pose a big problem for us in LIC. In my understanding our case is very precariously positioned and hinges delicately on a principle of law. I feel pretty comfortable when I recall that the law of the land against discrimination is very well settled. When our case is juxtaposed on that sacred principle that any arrangement resulting in discrimination shall not survive judicial scrutiny, we win hands down. At the same breath, when I realize, we are banking heavily on the Board Resolution, that we won in three High Courts etc., we may be trading slippery paths.

When I was talking to an eminent Senior Advocate sometime ago, to whom I was trying to explain that LIC Board had already decided our matter and is now trying to renege, he asked me a sharp question, ‘suppose your Board categorically decided against Pension Revision citing whatever reasons it wants to, do you think you have no case? Will Law allow discrimination which is a taboo under the Constitution? I think your case is strong dehors your Board Resolution, it doesn’t depend upon Government’s whims and you should pursue that line before the Apex Court.

I perceive our own internal differences in the ‘approach’ to our case, are pretty harmful and detrimental to our interests. If one of the parties in our cases (ostensibly pitted against LIC & Govt) were to take a stand that he is not asking for Pension up-gradation as he is sure he is not entitled to it, what do you expect a baffled Bench to do? Tell him in the open Court, “Mr.GNS, you don’t know your entitlement in pure law – I give you pension up-gradation also, please accept it and oblige’’.

   

I am in search of a solution to this tricky problem. Can you suggest any?

M Sreenivasa Murty

Government accepts * OROP * in principle

Bureaucracy apolitical ?

14 Aug 15, 09:50 PM

B Ganga Raju: Bureaucracy, is it really apolitical? Bureaucrats are conditioned to serve their political masters. If any honest one wants to go by the law of the land he would be shunted away.Whenever there is a change in regime, just see how many top bureaucrats are replaced with choice officials of the ruling party.After retirement donot we find bureaucrats joining this or that political party?The system determines who would serve it.

'BANK NEWS'

UNION BANK RETIRED EMPLOYEES' ASSOCIATION

Payment of ​Incremental commutation and difference of 

Gratuity 

to employees retired after 1st November,'12​

    We had requested Shri M.K.Mundul, Deputy General Secretary of Union Bank Retired Employees' Association (Maharashtra) to inquire with the Bank's Central Office, Mumbai and let us know probable time the Bank will take for paying above dues to the entitled retirees. In reply to that, we have received an e-mail from Shri Mundul reading as under.

​

"​

Statistics reveal that out of 4350 eligible employees all over India, only 51 have not opted for incremental commutation of pension. Bank is ready with the calculations and checking is going on

​ ​

and will release by 31st Aug. For gratuity arrears the eligible employees are 3003 and calculations are underway

​"​

                                               ***

​2. Bank of Baroda announced Insurance Linked Medical Assistance Scheme f for retired employees in terms of 10th BP Settlement 

​

 

The old (existing) scheme is also continued. However, it seems that the entire premium payable to the Insurance Company will be recovered from the retirees - without subsidizing any amount by the Bank. 

Yours sincerely,

B.G.Raithatha,

General Secretary

Chat-n-Chat column comments

14 Aug 15, 09:00 PM

G. Narayanaswamy: The bureaucracy in our country is unique. It is supposed to be apolitical. But in reality it is not. Whether it is OROP for Ex-servicemen or for LIC pensioners its sole aim is to kill rationality.

Awake, arise and stop not ...

Awake, arise or get lost forever, looks like this is his call for our community. Let us give him all the support he needs to carry on our just struggle. Our support gives him strength and necessary enthusiasm to chalk out appropriate action needed at this hour. The critical analysis of the situation he has presented is very well appreciated.

Regards
Lakshmi narayana

MV VENUGOPALAN

Dear Editor,

In my yesterday's Post, I had stressed the need for absolute clarity and a clear road map on the part of our Case-handlers when they make their trips to the courts. The SC order of  5th May , undoubtedly, is a feather in our cap, in the sense that the judge, who presided over, sent out a clear message, that in principle he agrees that something is due to the pensioners and a beginning has to be made by LIC in that direction by disbursing 20% of the amounts deposited in the registries of the respective HCs. Unfortunately for us, the Order had many grey areas and didn’t spell out what that 20% constituted; DR arrears only or DR together with arrears of upgradation. Surprisingly, instead of getting the Order clarified, the stakeholders representatives went into an overdrive and started acting upon their own interpretation of the said order. Let us now see the result of their hasty and indefensible actions.

• Mr.G.N.Sridharan thought that the Order pertained to only the DR ARREARS and applying the ‘in rem’ principle all the pensioners belonging to his Federation would get the 20% arrears. He doesn't seem to be concerned about the accuracy of the calculations made by LIC ( if at all he had any clue about it) nor the number of pensioners who are going to be the beneficiaries. To complicate matters, LIC asked for a list of members belonging to his Federation and a host of other particulars about those MEMBERS. Since Mr.Sridharans single point agenda was to somehow get the 20% of arrears, he went about collecting particulars of the members as called for by LIC, and as we understand now, managed to collect from 1275 of them and submitted the same to LIC. That he might not have succeeded in collecting particulars of all pre-1997 pensioners is anybody’s guess. If this news is true, what happened to the ‘in rem’ Order of Delhi High Court. What of the fate of those pensioners who are left out ,both pre-1997 and post-1997.

The Order pertains to ALL PENSIONERS AND NOT ALL THE MEMBERS OF THE FEDERATION. It is like the Govt of India saying that only those who are in possession of Adhar card will be recognised as citizens of this country and the benefits due to a citizen would be paid only to them. The Apex Court, we are all aware, intervened at the right time and ruled that securing an Adhar card is not mandatory and only optional. How then can LIC say that the benefit is confined only to the members of the Federation and not all the pensioners who are erstwhile employees and the true incumbents. Have the pensioners hit the ‘nadir’ of their patience and so desperate that without this 20% arrears of DR their life is at stake! How is Mr.Sridharan going to address those who are members of his Federation yet left out in this race? In the first place, he should have stoutly refused to oblige LIC by providing a list of their choice thus sowing the seeds of a dangerous precedent. He is definitely answerable to the entire community of pensioners.

• Coming to Mr.Asthana, he too thought that the SC Order pertained to all the PENSIONERS and not ALL THE PETITIONERS. He must have known by now that it was only the petitioners and not pensioners. He abstained from filing an application seeking disallowal of withdrawal of 20% of the amount deposited by LIC like Mr.Murthy did in the firm belief, while making the payment LIC would make good the shortfall in alignment with his methodology of working out the arrears, which will include both DR as well as upgradation arrears (from his letters to the Blog this is what I could infer). He has not disclosed the alternative;i.e in case LIC pays a different amount, how he proposes to react or respond. here again, I am at a loss to understand as to why he didn’t seek clarification of the Order before planning his further moves. How about the thousands of other pensioners who are left out; out in the open exposed to the thoughtless actions of their leaders, whom they trusted like demi-ods. What plans Mr.Asthana has up his sleeves for them?

We could find semblance of an orchestrated and somewhat disciplined approach on the part of Mr.Murthy in dealing with our case, both in the SC and Punjab and Haryana HC. They haven't bartered away their principled stand for “A FEW DOLLARS MORE’. They worked out certain figures and stuck to it. That they are itching for a ‘Contempt’ proceedings against LIC is another matter. The Punjab and Haryana HC Order adjourning the case to October, citing that it would be sub-judice to bestow attention on the case when the tagged –up case is before the SC and coming up on 23rd of September is, I would say, helped them peace of mind till September! As I was typing out this letter I saw Mr.Murthy's Appeal to all the Pensioners:A very practical and laudable approach sans the assertion that the peace efforts will continue to be in limbo!

I hope my pensioner friends will agree with me that on account of the three leaders representing three different group of pensioners going in different directions, throwing the basic tenets of unanimity and unity in action to the winds, more than enough damage has already been done to the interests of the pensioners. Even assuming that the 1500 pensioners decide to receive the arrears, will it be the same amount? In a way, are we not creating certain discrimination amongst the recipients of the arrears themselves. In other words, having set out to eliminate discrimination between old and new pensioners, by our own actions are we not creating a different type of discrimination? Any positive action they want to take in the future in this regard, it should encompass all the pensioners. No one could have forgotten the harm which the Class-consciousness did to the employees of LIC when they were in service. We have only just one Class now i.e Pensioners. Let us have the large–heartedness to shed the hangover of the past and move as one united group, the Community of Pensioners. 

In this regard, I have no hesitation in accepting the idea presented by Mr.Murty in his latest Post. The SC Order of 5th May is only an interim one. It is independent of what is in store for us on 23rd of September, or if need be, the extended hearings. I hope, the other two case handlers would accord the importance Mr.Murty's suggestions merit and adopt a wholesale re-think on the modus operandi in facing LIC in the SC on 23rd September.Till such time, I would request our friends who are bent upon bringing out the skeletons in others cupboards or spilling the beans to wait till our case is over!
With warm regards,

M.V.VENUGOPALAN

Exclusive ND TV STORY: Kargil Army Chief's 48 Hours as Chief OROP Negotiator

NEW DELHI:  General VP Malik, the Army Chief, who led India to victory during the Kargil War, was the Prime Minister's personal choice for mediating back-channel talks between the government and military veterans who are leading the protests for One Rank One Pension or OROP.

They say the pension for retired army officers and soldiers must be at par with what those of similar rank get now. Currently, there is a huge disparity, which means a junior officer who completes service now is entitled to a far heftier sum than someone several ranks senior, who retired earlier.

Highly-placed sources have confirmed to NDTV that General Malik, who now lives in Chandigarh, made a special trip to Delhi to serve as the liaison between the government and the soldiers community, which has been lobbying for OROP for 10 years, only to be fobbed off by first the Congress-led UPA and now the year-old BJP government. Sources say General Malik was initially reluctant to be drawn into the negotiations, but was prevailed upon by the Prime Minister's Office and senior retired Generals.

A view

14 Aug 15, 04:52 PMSDSarma: Is there any chance of filing a PIL against UOI on behalf of all lic pensioners in SC. Or should we file spate of legal cases in various high courts citing SC case in all the cases so that all can be transferred and tagged to the case in SC.And we can become petitioners in SC case.Only Sri msm can clarify.

JM Aboobucker

14 Aug 15, 04:49 PM

JM Aboobucker: Mr MSM's frantic call to the LIC Pensioners to wake up from the complacency that the fight of a few Pensioners will bring out the much awaited relief and result for the benefit of all LIC Pensioners is timely and every pensioner should lend his support for the remedial action suggested to be initiated urgently for securing any relief/benefit "in rem".

Ramarao commends

14 Aug 15, 02:57 PMrama rao: sri msn view is correct no one 

can deny it let us concentrate on his views and give him our 

solidarity for the justified demands of us.

Subburathinam clicks the point well, says Murty

Thank you, Mr Gangadharan, for promptly uploading

my Note as also for publishing the first two reactions that

came through the Chat route.

I liked and enjoyed Mr Subburathinam's comparison of my frantic cry to that of Draupadi who was disrobed by Dussasana in the (Blind) Dhritarashtra's Assembly.


If I may add my comment to the latter part of Subbu's chat, (that SC is there to do justice to us) in our case it amounts to Draupadi not praying to Lord Krishna directly for replenishment of clothes but banking on her chaperon to deputize, for her.


If the prayers do not reach the Lord in proper manner and through proper channel, the consequences could be disastrous if disrobing happens with fresh Saris not in sight.

Thanks and regards,

Sreenivasa Murty M

Cry for justice !

14 Aug 15, 11:47 AM

subburathinam: Srinivasamurthy's Frantic Cry matches that of Draupathi appealing to Lord Krishna, when she was unclothed in the Assembly Hall of Dritharashtra. But here, with SC presiding , we will get justice.

14 Aug 15, 12:44 PM

M.Mukundan: Read what Mr. Sreenivasa Murthy has written and fully agree with him. In fact we people had been duped so far though we all contributed to the legal fight.

Chat-n-Chat: Ex-servicemen staging protests

4 Aug 15, 12:43 PM

B Ganga Raju: 14.8.2015 Just now saw on CNN IBN at 

around 12 noon how Ex. Servicemen staging protests at 

Jantar Mantar were forcibly evicted by police saying the 

protesters are a security hazard !