Food for Thought

Shri S S Saxena,

Respected President, 

   Cheers !

   Occasionally I used to communicate the feelings of our elder members to our leaders, one or two times directly to your goodself and many a times to Sri.RBK and the feedback obtained from both of you were passed on to our base level then and there. To that extent, we are grateful to you both.

   We are aware that LIC takes decision as quickly as to the bewilderment of the beneficiaries whenever it suits the Organisation. When the question of acceding to the just and lawful demands of pensioner organisations, it either conveniently adopts all dilly dallying tactics or to deny them straight away. Too many organisations for one clan of retirees put the Master in an unrelenting position. Weak appeals by a few yield zero results. It is high time that we make an all out sincere attempts to unite us all, at least for common demands. Employees of Reserve Bank of India ( both working and retired ) have already shown the way. Our recent achievements because of court proceedings have already sown seeds of confidence in the minds of majority of members of rival organisations also. They don't relish these name-sake organisations. Concrete & purposeful efforts should emerge from our top-brass to cement this gap. Time is ripe.

   

Legal Proceedings:-

   Despite our years long hard legal efforts, we could clinch the desired results yet. Now we are forced to commence our arguments afresh from the scratch before Delhi High Court Bench to be constituted. Our activists who are well versed with legal points have contributed much which deserve deep consideration. We could very well appreciate their anxiety in securing the favourable judgment towards our major twin-issues. We should make mention about repeated articles on the force of LIC Act sections 48, 55; Constitutional safeguards provided under 14, 16 & 21, legality of the resolutions passed by LIC board, findings under Nakara case, etc by some of our elder members. Special mention should be made about worthwhile contributions of Sri. A.S.Anand ( not an lician ) towards our court matters. Now our Federation is fully equipped with needed legal materials. Anything beyond a limit may harm our efforts. The meeting of OBs & LC must ponder over the points preferred, pick-out valid ones in consultation with our Sr.Counsels and a pacca affidavit should be prepared with nil legal lacunae. There is a strong feeling among our members here that our Federation should engage another veteran Sr.Counsel who is thorough with Constitutional Clauses. Competency is the need of the hour to combat the vehement and forceful arguments of the opposite Seniors.

Funds:-

   Advancing suggestions in any matter is the easiest way; but where to go for funds ?. We need not go any where. I would request our GS, Sri.GK to send a separate letter addressed to all members with an appeal to contribute donations and legal fund liberally to meet this precarious circumstance. Now 40% IR will start flowing during 2nd or 3rd week of May. A specific appealing letter will serve the purpose. This is most urgent. It is better we take lessons from our sister organisations. I do not want to elaborate. One line appeal will not do.

Letter to LIC Chairman:-

   A detailed letter addressed to Chairman urging speedy settlement of 40% IR as specifically ordered by Supreme Court ( as per para 3 A of Chapter -iv of law enacted in the Parliament. It should be conveyed to him that any wanton delay or any miscalculated payment would lead to legal tussle.

   We have to place on record the selfless service of Sri. R.B.Kishore, our Vice President, in communicating about each and every move of LIC, our court cases, his rapport with higher-ups in Zonal and Central office levels, Group Mediclaim, payment of monthly pension in time, enrolling new members, fund collection, follow-ups in medi-claim matters, clearing doubts, his visits to temples, shaping AIRIEF Website, keeping in touch with Organisations of Pensioners of RBI & Commercial Banks, etc.,etc. His points for court cases are worth mentioning. Despite his physical discomforts, he is doing his best possible, only for the betterment of our pensioner colleagues. None can excel him. We are very much indebted to him. His chain of contacts with his relatives, friends and colleagues will speak well of his character. Lord Guruvayurappa should bless him and his family members with all comforts.

   Fraternally Yours,

   M.P.Subrahmanian,

   Chairman, RIEA, 

   Madurai Unit.