AIRIEF ACHIEVEMENTS & ACCOLADES in its VOYAGE OF DISCOVE

This is yet another painstaking, updated version.All these take immense time,honing of my skills fully & mainly a gift to pensioners for knowing all that AIRIEF stood for in its chequered history of 22 years 

Greetings & warm regards,

RBKISHORE

VP,AIRIEF

-----------------------------------------

AIRIEF  ACHIEVEMENTS & ACCOLADES in its  VOYAGE OF DISCOVERY & PROTECTING& PROMOTING PENSIONERS  PROGRESS & WELFARE; SERIES No 18

 I)1) During its chequered existence for  near 22 years,AIRIEF-All India Retired Insurance Employees'Federation clicked many notable achievements ,which benefited many of our pensioners.

i)Index-linked Ex-gratia for pre-1986 retirees  achieved after great struggle.

ii)2^nd  option to join Medi-claim Scheme

iii)Exgratia of Rs1000pm to spouses of  predeceased pre-1986 Retirees after protracted reminders & struggle,

iv) Golden Jubilee Cash Award of Rs3000  as a sequel to Writ Petition filed by RIEA, Jaipur  & AIRIEF efforts

v) Gratuity arrears for Class I retired 1/4/93-31/7/94 with SI 10% on the basis of historic SCourt verdict.12/2/08 & CO Circular 19/3/08.

vi)Pensioners do face difficulties in getting pension. After talks with management, where ECS or direct credit to pensioner's bank account facility is availed, stamped Advance Receipt was not to  be insisted upon.

vii)Gratuity difference after fitment to Officers who retired between 1/8/92-31/3/93 ,thanx to the result of the Writ Petition filed before the Hon High Court of Haryana & Punjab at Chandigarh,verdict on 4/7/08,soon followed by LIC CO Circular dt 19/9/08

viii)Cashless service withdrawn mercilessly wef 1/4/2004 restored after our protests from 2008, with very few hospitals earmarked even at Metro,let alone other centres.We have taken up & reminded again as more hospitals agreed to fall in line with fixed costs ,after protracted talks between General insce Cos & hospitals. AIRIEF also offerred valuable suggestions to the Sastry Committee,IRDA, before & after publication too. Many of our suggestions are accepted & included in the Report

ix)The retired employees had to bear the full premium for mediclaim cover. The Board in its meeting on 5/5/2010,decided that the Corporation shall bear ¾ of the premium for mediclaim policy uniformly for the Basic Sum Assured.There was also considerable increase in Basic Sum Assured to benefit the pensioners.

This was a resounding success, as we were firmly telling management that mere tinkering is of no use, out of the box treatment is required,like extending same subsidy as that being given for employees

We also got refund of excess premium paid, a decent & substantial amount.We  requested LIC to make the final offer & option  for those who, because of exhorbitant premium, went out of the scheme.This was also granted by LIC by 30/4/2011 & many more had  joined the Scheme.

All are aware of the benefits flowing from Family Floater Policy where BSA was also raised with attendant concession of 75 % subsidy & OSA upto Rs 50 lacs.Some modifications with improvements also were granted.Other lacuna, we addressed detailed  letters to EDPer to ensure next year finalization must witness remedies for deficiencies noticed.

x) Our marathon meeting with the then Chairman Sri GNBajpai for 110 mts produced some favourable change in thinking resulting in LIC Board resolution 24/11/2001 recommending a package of Rs 6-8 crores. We relentlessly followed up, expressed our view for betterment of that formula, removing some lacuna , with pension upgradation & fitment weightage.If there cannot be full parity, there should not be utter disparity & no  modicum of internal relativity amongst various cadres, normally accepted as sine qua non for any stable, impartial agreement. We directed our focus on MOF, met Under-Secretary & Joint Sy several times. Our patience & persistence atleast paid some dividends in the form of a letter from UnderSy, MOF, dt 10/4/2002 that pension upgradation is under consideration & requesting GIC/GIPSA  to give their views in merger of DR wef 1/8/97 with BP, again a merger of revised DR with New BP at 1/8/2002 to arrive at New BP as at that point of time.This was a clear opening.

This was followed up by LIC committing to MOF vide their letter of 20/2/2009 & 6/5/2009 to resolve pre-8/1997 pensioners & LIC Confidential letter to MOFdt 31/12/2001 that just as parity in DR was mooted, so too intergenerational parity in pension for various CPI at wage cut off points need attention,in tune with CCS Govt pension Rules 1992

xi)  A massive , unprecedented collection, collation was made for a forceful & aggressive presentation from legal standpoint citing many Case laws,downright discrimination in DR pre & post 8/1997 pensioners & grotesque anamolies I Pension of 7 Grades below getting more pension than their Seniors. Marathon interchange & exchange of quick emails, correspondence, unmindful of unease & discomfort, physical & mental, at this advanced age , all for a labour of love & sacrifice was done for a holistic presentation to remove all deficiencies.Never  before in history perhaps such a detailed, in-depth study as though of research was made of LIC Pension Rules 1995,Constitutional provisions,LIC Board Resolution 24 November, 2001, comparative picture of various Central Pay Commissions right upto latest 7^th PC ,its utterances & revised pension fixation Formula for pre 1/2006 Govt pensioners showering a bonanza.

Meandering, tedious, tortuous legal battle in various Courts,success  but SC Bench ofHon Dipak Misra on 31/3/2016 felt a deeper consideration of law & constitutional points & case laws had to be fathomed as last word on Pension upgradation is not yet pronounced.Hon Justice Dipak Misra set aside all 3 HC orders of Jaipur,Delhi & Chandigarh & Delhi HC was given time to have fullscale hearings of all Petitioners & their Order to be submitted to SC Bench for final thrust. DHC Hon Justice Khanna verdict dt 24/7/2017denied PU but granted Marginal increase in DR % for  Group I & Group II at cutoff Basic Pension Rs 2130 & Rs 3850 respectively .All Petitioners filed SLP, LIC,UOI  Replies & our Rejoinders after AIRIEF Legal Committee met regularly,prepared Comprehensive Notes supported by Charts & Tables where necessary on real critical issues which will arise during hearings & every time,Team met our Sr Counsel Sri KTSTulsi & his Junior Advocates. This is going on & after some hearing, 11 October 2018 is date of next hearing.On 30^th July 2018 hearing SC Bench of HonMadan B Lokur & Hon Deepak Gupta ordered DHC Verdict release of modified DR to be paid within 8 weeks as agreed by ASG & LIC Counsel. AIRIEF will strain every nerve to ensure Quick & regular hearings through MENTION to complete ALL hearings preferably by October 2018 end or worst November 1^st week so that Judgement can be pronounced & indeed delivered before 1^st week of December 2018,as Hon MBLokur retires on 31 December 2018.He has been an antiestablishment impartial Judge pointing pitfalls,& reprimanding UOI,Govts,Institutions for lackadaisical treatment of litigations.  

xii)Restoration of Commuted pension,thanx to our intervention,clarity in thinking prevailed,as many even in Offices thought falls due after 5/2010 only & then came a CO CircularER/A/Pension dt 8/10/2008 enclosing earlier CO CircularZD/836/ASP/95 dt 7/8/1995 with clear conditions  spelt out & cases falling earlier from 11/2008 were also paid due attention.Now it is fairly regularized.

xiii) Many were surprised when they learnt AIRIEF has submitted  Charter of Demands for Pensioners !  Indeed it was necessary as unfulfilled, emerging & out-of-the-box thinking problems & issues have been nicely incorporated therein. Open & unresolved issues are being pursued & also through Resolutions in EC/GC All india Meeting

xiv)It is to the credit of AIRIEF that many administrative matters/procedures acting as bottleneck for  pensioners ,endeavours were made to highlight the problem & remove those obstacles.

SZ has now ensured all pensioners have taken care of title by completing Nomination form which also contains Alternate Nominee.So too ,Mobile Nos in almost all cases for news flashes, pension credit etc

Only email ids more number of pensioners have to provide.

xv)AIRIEF is persuading management to continue Group Term Insurance,even after retirement.Atleast coming generations of pensioners may reap the fruits ,when approved,We learn from LIC CO P& GS dept when I spoke recently to ED (P&GS) that their proposals have been submitted to ED Per & time is not far off to know the details of coverage.

 The March towards Pensioners Progress, Prosperity & Welfare continues----

It is a Sankalpa &  a Sacrifice, coupled with Devotion & Dedication.

XVI)AIRIEF ACHIEVEMENTS & ACCOLADES are TRULY  MANY-SPLENDORED.

a)WHO HAS RELEASED ANY WORTHWHILE  SOUVENIR IN EVERY AIRIEF GC MEETING? WONDERFUL, ATTRACTIVE, AIRIEF SOUVENIR, PACKED WITH DATA, STATISTICS ,PRACTICAL INFO, ARTICLES,QUOTES,HUMOUR ,ALL GEMS FOR PENSIONERS,

b)WHO HAS RELEASED A TREASURE OF BOOKLET KURUKSHETRA,48 Pages?

c)WHO HAS RELEASED 24 PAGE CHARTER OF DEMANDS ?

d)WHO HAS  RELEASED RBK CCC SERIES,Clippings,Collections & Compilations 10 YEAR RECORD No 120,ENDING 31/3/2014?

e)WHO IS RELEASING PENSIONERS EMAILS & FEEDBACK  SERIES  179 & 180, 9 YEARS & MORE & STILL RUNNING ?

e)MOUTHPIECE & HOUSEMAGAZINE   QLY VARISTHA VAANI  STEADY RELEASE FROM  1996,VV must go  ONLINE, as MANY INSTITUTIONS have done.

f)Our own WEBSITE airiefvision.wordpress.com set into motion from  February 2015 marching along steadily embracing 15 Categories so vital ,a Treasure of Reference,15 Organisations website included, & Unique food for thought All Regional & English Newspapersincluded,simply  click & read what you like et all

g)WHO HAS RELEASED ARTICLES or DISSERTATIONS or CLARIFICATIONS or COUNTER AFFIDAVIT or POINTS FOR ADVOCATES etc IN SUCH GREAT DETAILS as a  PERMANENT COMPENDIUM & REFERENCE, EVEN FOR POSTERITY?  KUDOS TO LEGAL COMMITTEE & its committed & dedicated Members.

h)WHO ENSURED 'FOUNDERS DAY'CELEBRATIONS EVERY YEAR BY ZM?

WHO HAS MET ZM & OTHER IMPORTANT OFFICIALS & GOT SO MANY CONCESSIONS & BENEFITS  to so many so easily &

 REGULARISED  TITLE,MOBILE No & EMAIL id ? 

Such improvements like OSDept securing Title from All Pensioners,Regular & Family, to avoid later complications for the family in getting balance amount due,completing Nomination Form ,Mobile Nos for Flash info,pension credit, mediclaim premium data & more can be expedited,Glad SZ & all SZ Divisions OS rose to the occasion& completed in 4 months time with followup.Such creative ideas for pensioners welfare & progress must be taken as a Gospel throughout India ,seizing initiative for the good of all .

i)ALL these we do  ONLY WITH THE CONCERN OF WELFARE & PROGRESS OF 53000 PENSIONERS &  to ensure FAIR & QUICK REDRESSAL of their PROBLEMS .

THAT DESIRE & PASSION MUST BE AT THE PIT OF OUR STOMACH.

MERE COMPASSION NOT DEMONSTRATED THRO ACTION IS OF NO USE,IT IS NO BETTER THAN CROCODILE TEARS.

j)THE WORK IS NOT DAUNTING BUT SINCERITY, SERIOUSNESS, APPLICATION, COMMITMENT, DEDICATION & TEAM SPIRIT MUST BE PERVASIVE

WE NEED HUMAN DYNAMOS,WE NEED SYNERGY TO SHARE & CARE

YOUNGER  60-75 MUST JOIN IN LARGE NUMBERS TO STRENGTHEN RIEAS & AIRIEF. THINKERS & DOERS COMBINED ALONE CAN DO WONDERS IN MUCH SHORTER TIME.

RIEA OBs, AIRIEF VPs,Jt Sys &EC Members,OTHER ACTIVISTS & VOLUNTEERS must issue PERIODICAL CIRCULARS/BULLETINS BY POST,  enough ONCE IN 45 DAYS NOW & ONCE in 60 DAYS  too after WE WIN THE COURT CASE.

ALL HAVE ALL DATA REQUIRED FOR THIS PURPOSE.TELEPHONE/MOBILE /SMS/WhatsApp/Emails  ,ALL COMMUNICATION DEVICES HELP US TO MOVE FAST.

xvii) THE ONE & ONLY PENSIONERS FEDERATION TO  ESPOUSE & FIGHT FOR THE CAUSE OF ALL GROUPS OF PENSIONERS,

MANTRA of PENSION UPGRADATION PLEADED WITH ALL EARNESTNESS in  ALL CORRIDORS OF POWER,

WHEN MANY THOUGHT IT WAS UNTHINKABLE,

PATIENTLY, AIRIEF SET SAIL WITH A MISSION LIKE COLUMBUS,

EXPOSED THRO  CHARTS THE GLARING DISCRIMINATION,ANAMOLIES & DISCREPANCIES,

THE ONLY  FEDN TO PREPARE & CIRCULATE  LOSS OF PENSION CHART.ALL THESE LONG YEARS RIGHT FROM 1998, 1999 & 2000

UPDATED WITH EVERY WAGE REVISION ,INCLUDING ALL RETIREMENT BENEFIT CALCULATIONS,

AFTER  LONG & GRUELLING DISCUSSIONS,110 minutes in Conference Hall,YOGAKSHEMA , WITH SRI GN.BAJPAI,SAW

THE BIRTH OF THE NOW-FAMOUS LIC BOARD RESOLUTION  dt  24 NOV,2001, PRINCIPLES OF WHICH ARE TRUE EVEN TODAY,which Bankers,RBI, NABARD say important EVIDENCE to support Full DR & PU.

xviii)MADE AN IMPACT & A STIR AMONGST ALL GROUPS OF PENSIONERS TO BECOME  AWARE & ALIVE TO THEIR OWN PROBLEMS,

SILENT SUFFERERS TURNED INTO VOCAL SUPPORTERS  OF A JUST CAUSE,

EVER-WIDENING  NETWORK OF NETIZENS THROBBING  WITH CURIOSITY & VITALITY,ELDERS & SR CITIZENS  ENLIVENING & ENRICHING,

A  DREAM CONVERTED  INTO A VISION,

AIRIEF A MESSENGER OF HOPE & A MESSIAH OF PEACE,

WONDERFUL MOTTO-RELAX, RECAPTURE, REFLECT-

                                         PEACE,SERENITY & DIGNITY

AIRIEF-TRULY A  PARENT, A KAMADHENU TO SHOWER UNDREAMT BLESSINGS IN TWILIGHT OF OUR LIVES,

GREAT EXPECTATIONS & EQUALLY A SALUTARY FULFILMENT

xix) Pensioners are writing the STORY of their lives and should not the LAST CHAPTER of the BOOK OF LIFE be etched with grace,embellished with goodwill,lit up with LUSTRE, endowed with a SMILE ,adorned with a MEANINGFUL LIFE,

with an air of ACCOMPLISHMENT & a RELAXED,PLEASING LIFESTYLE

with HARMONY & TRANQUILLITY.

xx) AIRIEF is a large tree, EC is the Trunk, RIEAs-Retd Insce Employees'Assn at grassroot level are the limbs & branches & out of this mosaic of peaceful co-existence comes out the results –the flowers & the fruits. Let there be a new dawn, after all the years of dusk; let there be light at the end of the tunnel after all these darkness of  20 yeartortuous legal battle, hitherto.

 Let the Final phase of hearing from 11 October 2018 with SC Bench ,with professional approach of Sr Counsel engaged by us Sri KTSTulsi  bring cheer & smile in the hearts & minds of all insurance pensioners. Let AIRIEF  be a testimony for ALL pensioners to be rid of the yoke  of a restrictive Appendix IV formula & a liberation in the form of a pension revision every 5 years, thereby sincere & serious efforts & endeavours to clinch twin benefits.

We must capitalize, galvanise , march & gallop fast ,adding resources financial to cope with & ensure a resounding victory, to ensure we win.  The benefits flowing out of such must be dutifully,honourably & magnanimously be allowed to flow to bring abundant goodwill, reputation , honour  & dignity to pensioners fraternity.

JOIN US IN THIS  CRUSADE OF UPLIFTMENT,BECOME AIRIEF MEMBERS THROUGH RIEAs at DO level, ENGAGE YOURSELF,UTILISE YOUR SKILLS & SERVE PENSIONERS & SOCIETY IN MYRIAD WAYS, & IN THAT PROCESS ELEVATING & ENRICHING YOURSELF & FAMILY.

GREETINGS & WARM REGARDS,

R.B.KISHORE,  VP,AIRIEF  

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

-----------------------------------------------