Identification of Nodal Officers for the benefit of retiring employees

From

C H Mahadevan,

Executive Director (LIC)(Retd),

Camp: Dublin(OH),

43017 USA,

To

Shri V K Sharma,

Chairman,

LIC of India,Central Office,

Mumbai

Dear Sir

Re: Appointment of Nodal Officers for settlement of terminal death benefits to employees/dependant

I refer to the circular ref: No CO/Per/ER/A/159/2017 dated 11/7/2017 advising all controlling offices to identify and appoint Nodal Officers for providing adequate support and guidance to the employees/dependants. The circular has also spelt out the intention of the Corporation to render similar help in respect of retired and resigned employees. The step initiated by LIC is indeed a laudable one  and reflects the empathy of the Corporation towards the retiring employees and the dependants of the employees.

However, on going through the details of instructions given in the circular, it would appear that the circular only deals with the steps and processes  in respect of employees who have died while in service ,employees about to retire and recently retired employees and also employees who have resigned from service.

But what is conspicuously missing is similar instructions in respect of employees already retired for periods ranging from 1 year  to more than 25-30 years. Particularly, there is no mention of how communications should be maintained on issues relating to pensioners like ensuring nomination for which instructions have been issued by the Corporation and also in respect of Medi Claim coverage for which premium rates undergo  revision every year. There are also issues like pension not being credited in the Bank accounts of the pensioners on the first of every month on several occasions.

There is also no mention of guidance, help and assistance to be rendered to family pensioner in the event of unfortunate death of the retired employee in the matter of  start of family pension, revision in medi-claim cover if desired and the resultant revision in medi-claim premium etc.

It should also be noted in this particular context that when the 40% interim relief was paid to a section of pensioners as directed in the Supreme Court order dated 31/3/2016, not a single family pensioner got any interim relief towards family pension. There was no-way this grievance could be redressed.

It will be appreciated that the role of the Nodal Officer becomes more relevant and imperative for the already long- retired employees who seldom visit the offices except in case of some problems encountered by them in regard to their pension. Family pensioners are a more vulnerable lot who are not only  not organized as a representative group but also cut off from the avenues of communication available to living pensioners.

I therefore request your good office to kindly arrange for issue of  further instructions to address the issues arising in case of already retired employees and death of retirees and issues particularly arising in case family pensioners.

Thanking you in anticipation,

Yours faithfully,

C H Mahadevan