RIEA CHENNAI SILVER JUBILEE CELEBRATIONS MEMORANDUM SUBMITTED TO LIC CHAIRPERSON THRO ZM,SZO

 RIEA CHENNAI SILVER JUBILEE CELEBRATIONS

          MEMORANDUM SUBMITTED TO LIC CHAIRPERSON THRO ZM,SZO

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 Issues & Grievances of Regular & Family Pensioners,long standing &unresolved.

    1)We are approaching you to set new Standards of Timeliness ,of Excellence  & to hear the Voice of the Voiceless Pensioners seriously,& it was NEVER expected that not ONLY the poorest of the poor drawing so low FP need far speedier & concentrated  resolution & immediate solution, DFS Notification & CO programme for faster Payment Programme ,as it is simple 30% of Last drawn Basic Pay with relevant DR etc wef same 1/4/2021 settled & paid by Bankers for their FP long ago by now.

     ii)Now as none is happy,untold sufferring & misery to poor Family Pensioners,examples of former Chairman Sri KPNarasimhan death,his wife gets pittance of total FP Rs 12850,RP total then was Rs 34850app.   So  too about  late Sri NSLakshman,ZM scale who died on 22 Oct 2018,with BP Rs 2740 & DR 27555, in all Rs 30,295 & now Family Pension BP, Rs0915, DR Rs 9210 totalling Rs 10,125 .so miserly,  human dignity vanishes .

   iii)approve  FULL Pension to continue till age 67 ,instead of 65 with Retirement age shifted to 60 from 58,not to lose 2 year extended pension. This is logical ,human & humane,Sir.

   2)Under your stewardship,the frustrated  pensioners whose sufferings in all directions affected very adversely can comfortably ,make them smile with  good benefit at reasonable  cost, i)Agerelated value -added pension at ages 80,85,90, 95 & 100 ,rise of Basic Pension by 20%,30,40,50 & 100% . Please sympathise with such FOUNDERS as portrayed always by Top Mgt & further at age95 & 100 numbers may be little or Nil. Our calculations led to app outlay Rs110 cr ,as numbers are not large.

ii)  Medical Consultation fee, medicines,other injections,prescriptions take a heavy toll for Pensioner & Spouse  for the whole year& the meagre pension amount is still whittled down.Lack of Domiciliary & heavy expenses all round for Consultation & repeat medicines eating into small pension really merit grant of  CMB Cash  Medical Benefit  lumpsum Yearly  on  SAME lines as  for Employees,Class 3 & 4,Rs9,800 ,  Class 2 DOs Rs12,300  & Class 1 with Basic Pay upto Rs 99,000 Rs19,600 & above that Basic Rs29,400pa . This will enable them  to lead a more happier & healthier life.As the majority of pensioners fall under 1st 2 lower Categories,outlay will be moderate. Theme of DISRUPTIVE Innovation & empathetic solution removing inherent difficulties  & facilitating ease of living,should it not  appeal, Sir, more so this item of grievance may be exclusively within domain of Chairperson.

     Sir, you will agree as Apex Head of a great,lustrous ,World-renowned Institution ,some sort of same rationale & logic ,as was applied to Employees ,like New Cadre Special  Allowance per Month  of Rs2000  to Asst , Rs3200 to DOs,AO Rs6000,,DM Rs9000,ZMO Rs12000 & ZMS Rs13,500 apart from handsome rise in salary,that Flexibility & Empathy  be indeed showered graciously allowing CMB per ANNUM.

 iii)RP death,for FP,Existing proportionate rule to the next lower slab is a  sop reduction only,whereas FP prefer managing with Basic SA,or of their lower SA choice,as Group medicla im premium still is  a burden & unaffordable with poor FP

 iv)Serious ailments with handicaps or disability,a real disaster for family,warranting new  advanced techniques & appurtenances,expenses are mercilessly disallowed.This regimented  New India attitude must change&LIC pensioners must be allowed  reimbursement ,on production of Specialist or Expert Certificate mentioning dire need for the cure .Even if need be,an upper limit of 10% of BSA can be stipulated.

3) i)SC verdicts are   plenty that they dont see the nuts & bolts of calculations or expenditure

 but ONLY principle & upholding Constitutional Rights or obligations ,

ii)Stark truth is  that PensionUpgradation  Groups disappear,as NPS has already run from May 2010 & so  perpetual  PU will no longer exist & it becomes a closed cadre,

iii) the ever-present ,holy,humane Institutution with unbeatable Logo & emblem,Thy welfare is our concern, got tribute --no better 3 letter word than LIC,

iv)whereas LIC Pension bill is a small %  of Wage bill,paltry outgo,& as part of Premium Income insignificant,peanuts for LIC,

v) as SC recently remarked & reiterated ,Pension is not a Subsidy but a Right established for past services,   Pension is a Human Right, it is a Property right,

vi)Memory should not be short.Kindly remember,Sir,Class I Officers were deprived of 2 Wage Charters 1973-1983.What an unimaginable stupendous loss ,Sir,unkindest cut of all.

vii)Noticing the anamoly of Junior Officer Getting more than their seniors in respect of Wage revision interrugnum.Average of 10 Months Basic Pay or  Last drawn BP  whichever is Higher is to be accepted  to prevent anamoly ,passed by Board in 2019.It is high time the affected officers get genuine relief.

4)EARLIER Board Members were 4. NOW perhaps it is  8 .Is it not necessary to introduce culture of accepting  Board Resolution  passed & Effective date be SAME  as BMeet  Date to respect aura ? Govt  craves for sound  Corporate Governance& to be proved in words & deeds.S ir. This will surmount many hurdles & save time & energy & above all Institution can grow & gallop faster without letup or hindrance

5)All these years & decades rolled by.LIC stood as a standing testimony to  safeguard funds,picture of solvency & stability, helped Govt in ever so many ways,156% Solvency Ratio ,more than prescribed by IRDA,Peoples Money for Peoples Welfare,not Consumer Delight, but Consumer Ecstacy. Right from 1956 lic  1.0 ,247 companies integration,to LIC massive Reorganisation OIC lic 2.0 to now lic 3.0 current battling through odds to emerge victorious,we FOUNDERS, Sir,should we not be compensated in fair & adequate measures to have weathered many storms& brought Accolades of universal praise & tributes.

ii)We felt sorry Sir,when RBI gave Positive reply to  DFS Query on Rule 66 of Revised CCSPension Rules2021,for Pension revision with every wage revision, we were not trusted perhaps. We were not given any answer.

iii)Sir, even in SC SLP Proceedings,outlay given by us AIRIEF & Outlay mentioned by LIC f rom 1/8/1997 to 31/7/2015,difference was a mere Rs200cr app& this shows the truth of the matter

  iv)We assure you we utter always -

We are Indians 1st & Indians last ,  We are LICians 1st & LICians last

We are Pensioners 1st &Pensioners last ,  in that order sincerely.

 Sir,1/9/2010,Meals Coupon was introduced to All Employees,outlay was appRs220cr pa.Today  the cost is app  Rs 650cr.

6)It was shocking to find,Group Mediclaim Policy 2023-24 contains stunning provision of 18% GST on such premium,75% to be borne by LIC & 25% by Employees & Pensioners.Institution was all along these years bearing in full.

Kindly look at the vicissitudes & burden foisted on us.

Year 2022-23: 18% GST Rs97,92,00,000

Year 2023 -24GST Rs 114,30,00,000 sharing formula.Magnitude of loss & untoward,stunning imposition is grave,SIR.Kindly respond by withdrawal to avoid calamitous repercussions, for which we shall be eternally grateful.

Further  GST will aggravate,every year ,judged by trends by Rs 20,00,00,000 & more.

Year 2021-22 GST was Rs78,12,00,000  

7)Strange NI Assurance Co, collected to the brim premium at the time of Enhancing OSA to Rs 50 Lakhs   .Again massive premium collections when Rs 75 lakhs was OSA. NEW INDIA INSURANCE CO  Ltd- offered Rs75lacs OSA option ,deadline 31 march 2022.Shocking.There was 25% increase in premium without any concomitant benefits. NI aim is only to garner maximum premium  This must be translated as goodwill towards LIC Employees & Pensioners in accepting maximum suggestions to be incorporated .

Yet,not even customary offer at such times giving OPTION to those not covered by Group Mediclaim policy. PLEASE pursue with NI even now,as this need not wait till NEXT 2024-25 On the other hand, there was increase in premium app 7.2 % & then 4.3%.

 8)      Also. instead of being too rigid  & totally negative, we pray NI  initiates  a few fresh Dental treatment of non-controversial nature ,as recommended by Dental Surgeons,without uninhibited rejection to bring in dental treatments,as even  Bank Mediclaim policies now contain dental treatment reimbursements . While a staggering,colossal  Crores is the Yearly premium charged by NI Insce Co from LIC, only cosmetic changes,nothing substantial is granted to employees & pensioners.It is sad that dental treatment comes even now under EXCLUSIONS only with usual clause ,any accident related dental treatment only comes under purview..

         All Pensioners Fedns complained that Hospitals mercilessly categorise Nonmedical charges very high.Employees & Pensioners are aware of items under Non medical, a big list of course,yet, they have to bear this burden & meagre pension does not allow such loss of actuals spent.

     9)Even Repudiation of claims is done & there is no education on such matters or periodical meetings with TPAs & local NI officials with LIC at Zonal & Central level. Banks, RBI regularly hold discussions & pensioners are called for a Sharing Session, found to be educative in clearing doubts,as it is highly participative & open sessions.Their Reports are very educative,some grievances settled on the spot & promotes goodwill & understanding.

  10) Internal Audit must focus proper searchlight on such vulnerable & sensitive points only, to lend a helping hand assuredly to such needy pensioners really wanting guidance, but certainly not to be ignored .Pensioners Family  may not know any nuances of the issue & LIC must not take advantage.      LIC  followup  of Outstanding Maturity or Death claims has won praise from all quarters,LIC sends Field Force ,get the Requirements & settle the claim, WHEREAS POOR pensioners families are left in the lurch & no contacts or advice or SMS or EMAIL to them.This is a very UNHAPPY situation .

   11) LIC Top Mgt shd become a dominant partner & not passive,for GroupMediclaim negotiations  .They must din & get Frankenstein GST of crores &with Govts sacred slogans of Swacchha ,if not Zero. minimum rates only to be applied & this saved amount to be allotted to Pensioners & not NI

 12)Life Certificate, Jeevan Sakshya ,even  Digilocker takes time & not easy for all variety of pensioners.August Yly will dawn soon.PLEASE approve Video call facility,easy for both ends Pensioner & LIC Office Pension Cell. It is worthwhile to be surprised by  CG Dept of Pensions & Pensioners Welfare ,who are doing magnificient service to the largest community of pensioners ,about 48 lakhs with a variety of pro-active pensioners needs & requirements.

13)CO circulars of OS & Per were being sent direct to Pensioner Fedns on same day of release as approved by then Chairman SriDinesh KMehrotra.After many years it was stopped. Communication crusade & Camaraderie go together,Please make us happy by approving this sound measure,as it takes time to reach pensioners in towns,villages & various locations.

14)It is  extremely difficult  to get Top Mgt ,as even after hours of fup calls,some work or meetings engaged. 'All the lines in this route are busy" Only Consultative Committee  Qly is the answer,ALL classes have CC ,even Agents too.We  eagerly wait for your empathetic consent.

   15) We,from AIRIEF ,of ALL  classes of employees,plead again for a user-friendly, empathetic & humane treatment, special help for Family Pensioners, as they need lot of guidance & comfort, & above all,resolution of our genuine & modest demands with some timeframe,for Regular & Family pensioners to derive benefit without loss of time.

 16)For none else, Time is so important & critical, as for Pensioners-Regular & Family. Sad,frustrated & grief-stricken , are we Sir, that app 22,000 pensioners have died & are dying,during last 24 years .We are sure,under your able & dynamic Leadership, you will touch & enhance the chords of accord ,bringing new rays of sunshine for Elders, Sr Citizens & Super Sr Citizens.

 Awaiting your creative touch & lasting solution to this FOUNDERS FRATERNITY,

       R.B.KISHORE,           D.THALAKKIAH,       V.SITARAMAN,                                                                  

ED(Retd),LIC;PATRON