Reminder to Chairman on pending issues

FEDERATION OF RETIRED LIC CLASS I OFFICERS' ASSOCIATIONS          

President :    N.P. Bali 705, Sur, Veena Saaz, Thakur Complex, Kandivali (East), Mumbai - 400 101 Mob : 9820324213 Email Id - npbali@hotmail.com

General Secretary :    D Krishnan No.6/1, Sreshta Riverside Apartments, Wood Creek Road, Nandambakkam, Chennai - 600089 Tel : 9176635967 / 044 42850049. Email Id - dkrishnan1@gmail.com

 

E circular No.DK/31                                                          19 -07-2020,     

Dear Friends,

Reg:  A   reminder   to   chairman   on  pending   issues

There is still no clarity about the returnable date for the Existence Certificate to be submitted. It is also a fact that as of now the Pension Disbursing Offices have not sent out their official communication on the subject. We will wait and see where it is all poised, once that instruction is received.

Meanwhile I thought it was time we reminded the Chairman LIC, on our pending issues. Personally, I was extra-driven in my mind about the 92-93 Retirees whose matter has  now touched a monumental 25 years of inaction! My personal meeting with Sri Kumar, the LIC Chairman, at Ernakulam on the 27th of May 2019, promised a lot, as he looked more than just concerned, for this matter getting extended, in this manner. He was actually mentioning that when he was in- charge as ED Personnel , during the time Sri Roy was Chairman, there was keenness on their part to give this subject a dignified completion, by taking an appropriate  Decision. Sri Kumar expressed his surprise as to how even at the current stage, it remained where he had left it.

 

          I also thought that it was time to change the culture of thinking in the LIC Management, regarding matters of employee concern, where as of now, it stopped with a diplomatic silence first, and if pushed, a reference upstairs, to absolve themselves of the responsibility to take decisions and solve problems. So I addressed a letter to the Chairman Sri Kumar covering most of our major pending issues, including those that are being fought out there in the Courts. I am copying the Text of the letter for your kind information.      With Greetings to all. 

D.Krishnan.

Genl.Secy              

FEDERATION OF RETIRED LIC CLASS I OFFICERS' ASSOCIATIONS

 

THE CHAIRMAN                                17-07-2020

LIC OF INDIA, YOGAKSHEMA,

JEEVAN BIMA MARG,                                                              

MUMBAI – 400021

 

Dear Sri Kumar,

It is a long time since we approached you last on our matters. The Discussions held at CO in your august presence last year did create an atmosphere of goodwill between the Management of LIC and the representatives of the Pensioner community of LIC. The talks were very cordial and in an air of mutual understanding and appreciation of  both sides in discussion.

The Pandemic situation currently, has brought in unprecedented dimensions to not just Office work, but life itself.  This has also meant stoppages in our interactions. Our major area of concern, viz., Pension up-gradation remains stuck in Court, with normal Court proceedings at a stand-still. Meanwhile a number of our Pensioners have passed on, without seeing any improvements, in their matters.

One factor on Pension updation in RBI, is about the Management itself feeling convinced, to recommend to the Govt. on a matter like this. This happened in good measure in the RBI, with successive Governors of RBI, sending in recommendations to the Govt., before finally the Govt  relented to the principle of Pension updation, last year. Pension up -grade is not a new point at all. The Central Govt. itself offers it as part of its package of  benefits to its retirees. RBI which is very much on comparable terms with the LIC as far as terms and conditions of Pensions go, got its updation granted by the Govt., only after a series of recommendations were sent from the RBI.

 I had in fact sent you copies of papers of RBI, obtained through RTI channel, some time back. What it underscores is the need for LIC Management , at your highest level, to directly send in a recommendation to the Govt of India for the principle of up grading Pensions periodically, along with the ebb and flow of market conditions.  Let it be kindly appreciated, that as we retired , we were a fairly satisfied lot on our level of Pensions. The later developments, of value of money being constantly eroded, is what has harmed us, on  our real position, the index-linking notwithstanding.  We would therefore request you to take the initiative to write to the Govt. as to how genuine the need is. We do not want that the Court should be the final arbiter on deciding our matters. Viewed strictly, allowing matters to be decided in Court in this manner , virtually amounts to the Management abnegating its responsibility.

You will kindly recollect my personal meeting with you at Ernakulam sometime in May  last year. You looked so convinced about the pitiable state of the retirees of the 8 month period between august 1992 and march 1993, when they were not given the benefit of a Revision , though they were employees in service, when the Revision took place. Today, only a few members of that bloc survive, and LIC has still fought shy of offering them the benefit offered by the SC judgment in the MC Jain case.  Are these not genuinely the areas for a Management to come to the rescue of its employees? Why has this remained in limbo for all this time? As we had mentioned earlier, Sri K P Narasimhan, Chairman( Retired) , is part of this group of sufferers.

  The effectiveness of any Management lies in getting results for its employees, where it firmly believes there is fairness and justice. Sorry if you thought I had exceeded my limits. Somehow, we in LIC seem to have created a culture, of not even having our own take, with respect to an employee matter, and would set about automatically resisting from giving any legitimate benefit asked of it. If further pressured, pass it over to Govt./Court!

Two areas of benefits , viz., Family Pension improvement, and periodic rise for the 80 plus age group ( both already in vogue in Govt), where you had recommended to the Govt. on lines requested, still remains unanswered. Should these not be taken up with the Govt. without so much time slipping by? For Retirees, time is a limited resource, and delays of this nature create the effect of denial itself.

The judgment of Delhi HC  on DR for Pre Aug 1997 Retirees, caused a lot of confusion, when in words it granted the principle of 100% neutralisation of DR for all, but in trying to translate it into actual Rates to be applied, it made calculation errors and the anomaly still remains.  There is good scope for the LIC to see this aspect and make appropriate corrections to set right this grievance, instead of the matter, going once again, to Court for the corrections.

You will kindly forgive me for the kind of liberty I have allowed to myself in discussing these matters with you. I would request that this communication does not just get filed, and some indication of your mind, is fed back to us.

Thanking you and with Regards 

D.Krishnan.