PENSIONERS EMAILS & FEEDBACK FROM 1st AUGUST,2018 :SERIES No 179 & 180

PENSIONERS EMAILS & FEEDBACK FROM 1^st AUGUST,2018 :SERIES No 179 & 180

1)Nelson Mandela Statement at entrance of University of South Africa 

*When South Africa got independence from white rulers in 1990 under the leadership of Nelson Mandela, his supporters, mainly African Tribes, demanded Reservations in education sector, govt sector & in private sector!*

*Nelson Mandela replied that he will not allow any type of Reservations in any sector i.e. in education sector, in govt sector & in private sector at any cost, because Reservations & the products of Reservations will destroy the whole nation!*

*The famous statement of Nelson Mandela is displayed at the entrance of the University of South Africa thus:*

*"Destroying any nation does not require the use of atomic bombs or the use of long range missiles. _It only requires lowering the quality of education and allowing cheating in the examinations by the students._"*

*Patients die at the hands of such quack doctors.*

*Buildings collapse at the hands of such dubious engineers.*

*Money is lost in the hands of such bankers, economists & accountants.*

*Humanity dies at the hands of such pseudo religious scholars.*

*Justice is lost at the hands of such corrupt judges...*

*"The collapse of education is the collapse of a nation."*...

*How relevant to today’s India!*

2)CHENNAI   DAY !

    The first city of modern India, Chennai, is celebrating its 378th birthday today, as Chennai, then Madras was founded on 22 August, 1639.  Rechristened as Chennai in 1996, the capital of Tamil Nadu is now home to more than 6 million people.  The idea of Madras Day was born when a group of Madras lovers got together 12 years ago to celebrate the city, its history, traditions and culture.  

    Madras is one of the oldest cities.  Kolkata is 50 years younger than Madras and Bombay is about 35 years younger.  And it was here that almost virtually everything in modern India began - the first municipality, as early as in 1688, the first technical college - Guindy engg college in 1794, first shopping mall Spencer's in 1863,  the first cricket club in India set up here in 1846, and the list of firsts continue with first big library in Connemara, first big book store in Higginbothams, country's oldest railway station in Royapuram, first public zoo in the country in Vandalur etc. 400 temples, 200 churches n 200 mosques are here, 35000 people get employed newly every year in the city;  Asia's biggest IT park is here in Tidal park, Asia's biggest bus stand is here in Koyamedu ; it's one of the safest cities to live with excellent medical facilities; 

    New York Times in its survey of best places to visit included only Chennai in its list of 52 cities in South Asia, Forbes magazine reports Chennai as one of the top 10 cities which grows fast.  It's the place where people claim to be not mine or yours or his/her - but " ours " - namma Ooru Chennaiku oru periya whistle podunga😤😤; 

Happy Birthday Chennai, love u loads😍😍

3)Old Age Transition : AIRIEF 10^th GC Bhopal Souvenir

life well described.happening to every senior citizen alike.time is flying toward uncertainty.no promises to.make.no target .rest sleep and enjoy every healthy moment no expectation.have to live with whatever comes the way to live and enjoy to your capacity.thank u sir 4 the feelings shared. with best regards.--------  mssachdeva

4)World Elders Day Greetings for AIRIEF 10^th GC Souvenir

Most Informative and beautiful collection Sir. Thank You.---Arun Kant Shukla

5)ONAM FESTIVAL GREETINGS:

i)Very many thanks 4 ur blessings on  Onam.may u  also have all the best things of life. health  peace and prosperity.with respects.-------- mssachdeva

.*

ii)Thank you sir for the greetings and l reciprocate the same sentiments.--  CTGopalrathnam

iii)On this occasion of Onam festival specially wish and pray for the Grace of the SUPREME to all the flood affected families to provide quick and timely relief from distress and restore normal life.

iv)THANK YOU RESPECTED KISHORE SIRFOR YOUR O N A M  G R E E T I N GS

Our kind regards to you and your family members.---T M CHACKO. KOTTAYAM

Dear Mr Kishore,Thank you for your thoughtful Onam wishes which we - my wife and I - heartily reciprocate. ------  PRamanathan

6)Renewal of Super Top Up Insurance Policy for the  Employees-in-Service of Union Bank of India

Please see airiefvision.wordpress.com under Category Pension by clicking,it opens up

Please see the attached circular issued by Union Bank of India

B.G.Raithatha,General Secretary.UBREA

7) Dear all Chief Managers concerned at The New India Assurance Company Ltd., 

     You must, of course, be aware of this but I should thank you to please allow me to draw your kind and valuable attention all the same, just in case, to the trailing newspaper report and request to let me, as a member of the group MEDICLAIM policy of L I C of India, with a family floater cover of Rs.50 lakh, know HOW YOU HAVE MODIFIED / PROPOSE TO MODIFY THE EXISTING COVER TO INCLUDE MENTAL ILLNESSES AND WHAT THESE ILLNESSES THAT YOU, IN YOUR WISDOM, HAVE INCLUDED / ARE LIKELY TO INCLUDE IN THE COVER.

     Thanks and regards., Wishing you a great day,

---------P. Ramanathan,(S R No. : 510396 ; Pension ID : 770100195 - Chennai D O 1 of L I C of India),Flat #3, I floor, " SUPRASHANTH ", Old Door No.2/4 New No.7, Dr Gopala Menon Road, Kodambakakam,,CHENNAI (MADRAS) - 24.   600 024.   Tamil Nadu.

Telephone Nos. : (044) 24723491 ; 9444980563.

ii)Health policies to cover mental illness

  Insurance regulator IRDAI on Thursday issued a circular directing insurers to cover mental healthcare, a segment of healthcare that has assumed serious proportions in India, reports Rachel Chitra.

  The Mental Healthcare Act 2017, which came into force since May 29, had made it mandatory to provide " medical insurance for treatment of mental illness on the same basis as is available for treatment of physical illness ". But to date, none of India's 33 insurers has introduced a product that covers ailments such as depression, schizophrenia and bipolar disorder even though such covers are common in many countries. IRDAI says : " All insurance companies are directed to comply with the Act with immediate effect."

  Mental health conditions have always been in the list of exclusions of health insurance policies. Activists and psychiatrists feel the change has been long overdue.  

( The Times of India, Chennai, Friday, August 17, 2018 )( Emphasis supplied ---  P. R.)

Health Insurance               Mr. C S Attal                 Chief Manager 22708600 cs.attal.@newindia.co.in

Health Insurance               Mrs.Sushama Anupam Chief Manager                 sushma.anupam@newindia.co.in

Health-RSBY                     Mr. Ramesh Nag          Chief Manager                 ramesh.nag@newindia.co.in

Health (Retail) Dept., H.O Mrs.Hema Khanna       Chief Manage 22708675  hema.khanna@newindia.co.in

               

8)Dental treatment that does not require hospitalization but is widely availed of has been deleted by IRDA  from the list of "items for which optional cover may be offered by insurers". It is high time we press LIC and New India to include the same in our Group Mediclaim Insurance Policy.

-----V. Gopalan

9)   i)Dear Sri Kishore,  Hope it finds you in cheerful spirits.

I am reading all your messages through the blog of Sri R. K. Sahni and I appreciate your personal efforts with the LIC authorities in the interest of the pensioners.

My wife has been diagnosed for wet ARMD in both the eyes, as covered in Clause No. 8 on page  13 of New India Policy, with a ceiling of Rs 25,000 for each eye per Policy year. This disease requires investigation, consultation and minimum three injections each eye. This injection can be given in a hospital or well and reputed eye centre by a Retina Specialist only. The cost per injection is roughly Rs 30,000 charged as a package in the hospital or eye centre. Thus, minimum expenses come to about Rs 2,00,000 for both the eyes, whereas the ceiling in the Scheme is only Rs 50,000, which is ridiculously low.

In my opinion, this issue needs to be taken up with LIC as well as New India for suitable increase in the ceiling for this disease in our Medi-Claim Scheme.

Hope to hear at your earliest,

Regards, ------S.R.Agarwal,    Retd Secy(HPF),L.IC.Of India,C.O., MumbaiNow at Gurgaon(Haryana)Mob 08527571711

ii)Sri Agarwals right query & suggestion re Eye treatment & heavy denial to such pensioners

Dear Sri RKSahni, 1)This is the last 2 days correspondence I had to pursue Sri Agarwals query ,with 84 year old Sri SRNagarajan,Chennai

It is reproduced

Subject: Fw: REIMBURSEMENT FOR EYES TREATMENT UNDER OUR MEDI CLAIM SCHEME

 I )Dear sri SRNagarajan,

1) I need ur observations on this email of Sri SRAgarwal

2)U faced some such similar problem few years before 

Can u narrate the eye problem , the diagnosis,the correct terminology used, Charges demanded, paid, the extent of reimbursement u got, the follow up done with authorities, the final result , amendment brought in next year Mediclaim Scheme etc

3) Is this different from ur case ? 

Do u know the present position?

Sorry for the inconvenience

----------RBKISHORE ,VP, AIRIEF

iii) Subject: Re: REIMBURSEMENT FOR EYES TREATMENT UNDER OUR MEDI CLAIM SCHEME

 Dear Sir,  Sorry for the delay in responding.

My wife had problem in one eye for which 3 injections were administered with an  interval of one month between them. The cost of each injection was Rs. 25000/-  total outgo on this account Is Rs.75000/-. She also had her cataract operation for both the eyes. When I submitted the papers for reimbursement I was told that as per the then terms of Medi-claim policy no amount could be reimbursed. That was in the policy year 2015-16. And the entire amount was spent during the period. But I got reimbursement of about Rs.23000 or so out of Rs. 25000/- spent after  some deduction on a/c of service tax or some such thing. I was informed that this amount is being reimbursed as pre-operation treatment expenses before undergoing cataract operation for that eye.

From the subsequent pol. year the item was included as reimbursable item with a limit of Rs. 25000/- per eye per year per person insured.

The reason for my delay in response is that I wanted to send you the case summary issued  by the hospital;  it is stored in computer. I will send it soon.

Take care of your health and with kind regards to you  and your Mrs.

Yours,--------SRNagarajan

*)Of course the charges for cataract operation for both  the eyes reimbursed to the hospital under cashless scheme. I omitted this point in my earlier communication.----SRN

iv)Dear Sri RKSahni,SRAgarwal

1)Every year much before negotiations & talk between LIC Top Mgt & New India,I & AIRIEF send comprehensive suggstions to MD & ED Per,ED OS requesting them to have a breakthrough & introduce New Features & not to routinely dismiss them as NOT possible quoting adverse claims ratio etc

Many even do not claim.

2)We have brought to LIC Notice the high % of Non Medical deduction in every case which robs of the Very definition of Group MediClaim under Family Floater Policy

3)We protested the universal reduction of proportionate expenses, when room rent occupied is more & to suffer in medical expenditure is a negative & retrograde .None claims petty nonmedical expenditure , we asserted

4)Look now even after IRDAI Circular extending to 2 diseases,when we include for 2019-2020 FFP ,NI may still refuse dental treatment,as it is anaethema to them.They think every such, other than due to accident,which dental is covered,all others as model, fashion, beauty etc We debunked that too & pleaded sincerely for some beginning to be made & not OUTRIGHT REJECTION of any dental treatment

Who knows because of Stick hanging from IRDAI, they may do small beginning but proportionate charges of Premium may become heavier

5)In fact we were bringing to their notice  that this Year, massive premium collection NI has done as ALL Employees almost plumped in for OSA of Rs 50 lacs & Pensioners much less percentage & many Rs 30 or Rs 40 lacs & in small numbers only

6)This was the reason why simultaneously I pursued with MD that Pensioners more than Employees need Domiciliary Expenses & Same Yly allowance can be given to us also

Equally we said Preventive Health Check up is more needed for Pensioners & so atleast Yly check up Amount can be earmarked for Pensioners

Rs 3000,4000, 5000 for Employees as it starts from age 40 !!,so for us atleast Rs 5000 once a year

Sri RKSahni even calculated the app Outlay & it was very moderate 

7)So,such new revelations which come to our Notice has to be pursued face to face talks at regular intervals so that we can force Mgt to take decisions & not postpone or procrastinate

Thanx for bringing this crucial costly delicate treatment.Needful will be pursued with vigour

8)In fact,RMOS,SZ  had agreed to have issues aired & grievances highlighted so that TPA & ZO can pursue with CO to exert pressure & hasten right decisions

Greetings & warm regards,-------RBKISHORE   .VP,AIRIEF 

10)Subject: Re: Pension updation and Mass Casual Leave: RBREA

Excellent! You have given good rebuttal to what respected Governor said. I may add that 

in this unfortunate India there is no value to human beings but to greener pasture, at the cost 

of pensioners/retirees. Thousands of pensioners & family pensioners have died during last 28

years but for them no sympathy? It is a sin committed by them. One or the other day they have 

to pay for it.

Parab L R 31-8-2018

---

11)To: "governor"<governor@rbi.org.in>,"Urjit Patel"<urjitpatel@rbi.org.in>
Subject: Pension updation and Mass Casual Leave

Respected Shri Governor,
As a super senior pensioner of the Bank now, who had diligently served the Bank for nearly forty years including as Regional Director, I wish to thank you for inviting the representatives of the United  Forum of Reserve Bank Officers and Employees on 24th August, 2018 and for expressing your views on their proposed Mass Casual Leave, the  call for  which the United Forum was forced to issue under circumstances beyond their control, the circumstances which are well known to you. It is true that the proposed action, which has been foisted on the United Forum, for reasons much beyond their control, by an obdurate and insensitive bureaucracy in New  Delhi and by the unwarranted submission by the Bank to the unlawful dictate of the Finance Ministry, would be a sad thing. The concern that you have expressed to the United Forum representatives on the effect of the proposed Mass Casual Leave in the context of  the present international  financial situation and the economic challenges of our own beloved country are indeed well taken. However, may I remind you, Sir, that it is exactly because of the due recognition of these factors that the highly responsible body of the United Forum refrained from taking resort to such agitational programme during the past well over one decade, despite the totally unsatisfactory but even provocative situation created by the non-updation of the pension of the RBI pensioners since 1997.
You are well aware of the facts that   --
Hundreds of appeals and representations and memoranda to the Central Board submitted by and on behalf of the pensioners have remained unresponded and without positive result.

The repeated representations made by the Bank, fully backed by the Central Board of Directors of the Bank,  to the Ministry of Finance have not been treated with any respect by the Ministry of Finance.
The Ministry of Finance on the other hand has been riding roughshod on the issue, despite the UNANIMOUS recommendations of the Parliamentary Committee on Subordinate Legislation, by citing untenable  and  illogical and shifting grounds for not conveying their concurrence.

While the Ministry has been denying their concurrence for the updation (that their concurrence is unwarranted is another matter) only in the case of 28,000 odd pensioners of the RBI, it has had no compunction in doling out such updation to more than fifty lakh Government pensioners, University staff, Steel workers and BSNL pensioners (even though BSNL has been making gigantic losses for the past seven years continuously and the Government itself has been struggling to meet deficit finance syndrome). To term these as being sector-specific is to  oversimplify the matter and the Government's actions cannot be defended.

The Parliamentary Committee on Subordinate Legislation has considered the Ministry's dictate in this regard as illegal and even complimented the Reserve Bank for showing undue restraint (patience). Such restraint is indeed evidently unwarranted.

The Bank itself has mentioned about this unresolved issue in the last three statutory annual reports of the Bank submitted to Government.  So, what is the response of the Government to such appeals made by the Bank in their communications to them and in the Annual Reports? Has the Government shown any respect for this?

You have rightly mentioned that the proposed Mass Casual Leave would affect the prestige of the Reserve Bank of India. The prestige of the Reserve Bank of India  was indeed greatly  affected the moment the Reserve Bank made the reference to the Government for their "concurrence" for updation of the pension - surrendering the Bank's autonomy and independence in the purely administrative matter, despite the legal opinion obtained by the Bank from highly eminent lawyers of national and international reputation that the Bank has full powers to update the pension without  the need for concurrence from Government for  such updation  and further that such updation is  essential in the interests of social justice. The prestige of the Reserve Bank stood affected the moment the Government forced the  of the Reserve Bank to sadly retract from the solemn assurances given by the Bank to its employees regarding the periodic revision of pension on the lines of the Central Government pension revision. Such inability to honour its own assurances to the employees undermines the credibility of such assurances and this situation is created by the Government. The prestige of the Reserve Bank was affected when the Government refuses to recognize and respect the unanimous recommendations of the Parliamentary Committee for giving exclusive authority to the Bank on all matters relating to Staff, Salaries, pension, etc.
No doubt, the proposed Mass Casual Leave programme, if comes about unfortunately but unavoidably, would bring to the notice of the public the sad situation of industrial relations within the Bank, but would it not be advisable for the Bank itself to tell the public as to how this situation has been brought about by an unreasonable attitude and approach of the Ministry of Finance and thereby to protect the Bank's prestige and image?. 

Respected Shri Governor, instead of, or in addition to,  appealing to the representatives of the United Forum about the Mass Casual Leave, it would  have been better if the Bank asserted its own prestige and image before the Ministry of Finance and stood up to the bureaucrats who seek to unwarrantedly interfere with the powers of the Reserve Bank and its Central Board of Directors. On the other hand, the proposed action of the officers and other staff  of the Bank should only strengthen your hands in every way for telling the Government as also members of the public that had the Government shown the much needed sensitivity, logic, respect for justice and fairness, the staff of the Bank would not have been forced to take to this unfortunate action.

It is the Government which is showing no respect to the image and prestige of the Reserve Bank of India and therefore it is high time that the Bank tells the Government that the latter should take full responsibility for this situation. It is time that the Bank and its Central Board take the decision to update the pension and tell the Government that it cannot any longer wait for the concurrence. The Reserve Bank have had several Governors in the past who have zealously upheld and protected the prestige, independence and authority of the Reserve Bank. It is time to follow in their footsteps, following the wisdom of Yudhishtira who said " Mahaa jano yena gatha sa pantha"

I do hope that the Governor and the Central Board would give effect to the updation of pension and family pension accordingly, instead of looking to New Delhi for their concurrence. Along with this, it is also essential to introduce enhanced pension to super senior pensioners as obtaining in Government.

With high personal regards
Yours sincerely -----------------C V Subbaraman 

11) Friends, Support by AIBRF & CBPRO to the proposed country-wide Protest Mass

Casual leave on 4th & 5th September, 2018 in respect of Issues of Pensioners & Retirees of RB

An e-mail and its attachment are forwarded hereunder / herewith.

------------B.G.Raithatha,,UBREA

ii)Subject: Fw: Your proposed country-wide Protest Mass Casual leave on 4th & 5th September, 2018 in respect of Issues of Pensioners & Retirees of RB

Dear Comrades,

Enclosed is the CBPRO & AIBRF letter dated 30.08.2018 addressed to Com. Ajit Subhedar, Principal Office Bearer of United Forum of Reserve Bank Officers & Employees on the above subject.  A similar Letter is also addressed to Com. Suryakant Mahadik, Com. Keshav jagtap and Com. Ajay Kumar Sinha the  other Principal  Office Bearers of the organisation.

With regards,

A Ramesh Babu      K V Acharya            S C Jain

        Joint Conveners CBPRO            General Secretary  AIBR

iii)Com. Ajit Subhedar

The Principal Office Bearer,

United Forum of Reserve Bank Officers and Employees,

President, AIRBEA,

13, Netaji Subhas Road,

Kolkata 700001

Dear Com. Subhedar,

Sub: Your proposed country-wide Protest Mass Casual leave on 4th & 5th September, 2018 in respect of Issues of Pensioners & Retirees of RBI.

We are immensely pleased to come across your circular and Press hand out dated 28.8.18 declaring your protest action by going on Mass Leave on 4th & 5th September, 2018 in respect of important pending issues of Pensioners of RBI. The issues raised by you are mainly:

1.    Pension Updation

2.    One more option to switch over from CPF to Pension

3.    Additional Provident Fund scheme for those recruited after    2012(coming under New Pension Scheme).

When Defined Benefit Pension Scheme was introduced in RBI, Public & Private Sector Banks and in LIC it was clearly stated that the Pension Scheme would be on the lines of Pension Scheme available to Government Employees and to that extent either the Regulations were framed or Resolutions by the Governing Councils of the respective institutions were passed.  Accordingly in RBI also Pension was brought in alignment with pay scales of 1997-2002.  It is unfortunate that at the instance of Government of India the decision of the Governing Council of RBI was negatived without any rhyme or reason jeopardizing the competency of the Governing Council of RBI and arbitrarily the Updation of Pension was rescinded even by ignoring the Hon'ble Mumbai High Court decision. 

 It is strange that such a discriminatory treatment should be given to RBI Pensioners & Retirees when Retired Government employees are getting the periodical Updation with every Pay Commission Recommendation.  It is all the more intriguing to note that even when strong Pension Corpus is available to meet any financial implications, be it Implementation of Updation of Pension or agreeing to give one more Option for Pension to CPF Op-tees the same are unjustifiably denied.

Unfortunately the same is the fate so far as the Bank Retirees or LIC Retirees are concerned. The rightful legal entitlements of the Retirees should not be allowed to be denied and so you have rightly taken up the cause of the Retirees by launching Action Programmes including the protest Mass Casual Leave. We on behalf of Bank Pensioners & Retirees wholesomely appreciate your stand and extend our whole-hearted fraternal Support to all your Action Programmes including our participation in your demonstrative actions in different centers. 

We wish all success to your endeavors in this regard and also wish to co-ordinate with all Organisations who espouse the cause of Pensioners & Retirees.

We once again convey our heartfelt thanks to you all for taking up the cause of the Pensioners & Retirees and we are certain that you will succeed in ensuring justice.

With Warm Greetings,

Yours Comradely,

                             

(A.  Ramesh Babu)           (K.V. Acharya)             (S.C. Jain)

               Joint Conveners, CBPRO                          General Secretary, AIBRF

12)62 YEARS YOUNG,UNDISPUTED MARKET LEADER, 27 AWARDS OF EXCELLENCE,LIC

LIC PRESS RELEASE

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             COLLECTIONS : R.B.KISHORE, VP,AIRIEF :  1/9/2018

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