26.1.2016.
Yesterday ie on 25.1.2016, a NOINO delegation led by Shri Dattaraj Prabhukhanolkar GS, NOINO accompanied by Shri Ganesh Kamath, Chief Advisor NOINO, Smt Neeta Prabhavalkar, All India EC member, Smt Saroj Kurdukar, WZ EC member and Shri Brahmesh Hardikar, WZ EC member met Shri Niraj Agarwal, ED(P). We raised/discussed the following issues:-
1. 5 DAYS' WEEK NOTIFICATION:
ED(P) informed that it was contemplated by the Ministry to empower LIC to issue the administrative instructions regarding 5 days' week notification. However, the management thought it prudent that it would be better that a notification is issued by the Government considering some practical difficulties. All the impediments & doubts have been cleared. Efforts are on to have it soon. It is very much unlikely that there will be any curtailment of leave as in GIC. Only the 210 minutes of Saturday will be devided over the remaining 5 days. You will recall that this was what NOINO exactly demanded.
The adjustment of timings will be probably decided by the respective Zonal Managers, they being the competent authority in this matter.
2. PLLI FOR THE YEAR 2014-2015:
The ED(P) said that the management tried its best to grant some ex-gratia as there was no PLLI payable as per the norms. However, the Board didn't accede to this demand. However, the notification on PLLI is expected shortly, which will specify that the PLLI will be calculated on the revised current basic instead of pre-revised annualized pay which we used to get earlier. This again, was one of NOINO's demands. We will get arrears for the PLLI paid during this wage-revision period.
3. INCREASE IN SPAN OF SCALES IN DM & ABOVE CADRES:
While welcoming the move to improve the span of scales in DM & above cadres, we expressed our strong resentment of not applying the same logic to the other cadres like AO to ADM where too the stagnation is seen prominently. It is also a fact that it takes 8 to 10 years for an AO to be promoted. ED replied that more than 70% stagnations were in the DM & above cadres & that stagnation increments were not available to these cadres. The only option was to increase the span. There are only about 20% stagnations in AO to ADM cadre & stagnation increments are available to the.. He also contended that even here, it is mainly due to refusal of promotion & not non-promotion. He also said that Finance Ministry authorities were very particular on the statistics & only when they were satisfied that the DM & above cadres were the most stagnated, they accorded sanction to it. He also said that the lower cadres were allotted maximum from the corpus left after the final proposal on 16th October. Hence there was a minimum increase of Rs.95/- in basic of AAOs, Rs.165/- in basic of AOs & Rs 225/- in basic of ADMs (in addition to what was offered and agreed)
We, however, did not agree to it & insisted that either there should be running scales in all cadres or increase in span in lower cadres too. ED said that it would be taken care of in future in case of increase in the incidence of stagnations in the lower cadre. We will keep up the follow-up.
We also insisted that the negotiations of the NEXT wage-revision due in 1.8.2017 should start at the earliest.
4. TRANSFER & MOBILITY POLICY:
We reiterated our strong opposition to forceful transfers & said that we would oppose it tooth & nail. We would be submitting our detailed feedback to the management shortly. We, however, briefly focused on the following main points:-
a. Logically, a promotion policy should precede a Transfer & posting (not mobility) policy, if any.
b. An impression is being given that this has been done at the Government's behest. The Government has only asked all the Public Sector institutions to have a codified transfer policy. It has not insisted on forceful transfers.
c. If Government policy is so sacrosanct for us, why then, the Government guidelines of posting of women employees near their residence or their husband's place of work are not being followed in to-to? Why the government policy of granting sabbatical/child care leave is not being followed?
d. Displacement occurs when one is promoted OR one is transferred on request. Hence forceful transfers are not required.
e. There is no Assured Career Progression(ACP) as is there in Central Government offices.Also there is no grant of next grade if the vacancies are not available for deserving officers. In most of the cadres, the time lag taken for promotion nowadays is at least 8 to 10 years. Many officers have been either stagnated or will stagnate in the next two years. On one hand, the officers are deprived of promotion for years together & on the other hand they are being threatened of forceful transfer. This is adding insult to injury.
f. The average age of officers now is around 50. It is inhuman to forcefully transfer them at this age.
g. As far as efficiency is concerned, LIC is not only one of the best, but the BEST in the Service Industry. More than 99% claims are being settled on or before time. Its efficient service has given it an edge over the stiff competition. Thus, it is not that the officers have become lethargic due to being stationed at the same place.
h. There is a huge shortage of staff. Late-sitting has become the order of the day for several years now for most of the Class I Officers. The managements' contention that there is an excess at some places is not true.
On the other hand, there is a total lack of transparency. We have been demanding the staff formula, but the management is not ready to disclose as to on what grounds it is saying that there is an excess.
i. The remedy to the malady affecting the Corporation is massive recruitment of
Class III/IV employees. The last recruitment was done in 2009. Even that was far from sufficient. Infusion of fresh blood will pump renewed vigour in the Corporation.
ED(P) patiently listened to our contentions. He asked us to give our detailed feedback, which we would be giving shortly.
5. Relief of officers in Audit(WZ) department under transfer orders:
We submitted that it was over four months that the officers were not relieved & an adamant attitude was being shown. We said that the situation is now reaching a stage when we would be forced to resort to peaceful agitation in this department. ED said that the management was seriously contemplating issuing strict instructions regarding timely relief for all offices in LIC. We contended that not relieving the officers under transfer orders for a long time amounted to insubordination & defying the higher office & should be treated as such. ED was positive on this issue.
6. HOUSING LOAN:
ED said that it is expected in the next 15 to 20 days. Though he did not elaborate on the quantum, it is expected to be on the lines of SBI.
7. TECHNICAL ALLOWANCE TO OFFICERS:-
ED said that it too, is under active consideration.
We also raised some individual issues. NOINO will follow up all the issues to its logical end.
Sd/-
Dattaraj Prabhukhanolkar
GS, NOINO
