All India Retd Insc. Employees FederAtion Ranjan Dey Sarkar Secretary MOB : 9425965098 | Retd. Lic class i Officers` Assn., HYDerabad M V Ramana Secretary Mob: 9848590636 m.ramana1956@ gmail.com | M P AGNIHOTHRI CONVENeR Mob: 9618315890 mp.agnihotri3@ gmail.com | LIC CLASS I RETD OFFICERS` ASSN., Panchkula B R MEHTA Secretary Mob: 9915040164 brmehta1952@ gmail.com |
The Chairperson, LIC of India, Central Office, 'Yogakshema', Jeevan Bima Marg, PB No. 19953, Mumbai - 400021
Date: 15/05/2024
Dear Sir,
While congratulating you and the LIC team for a successful closure of the FY 2023-24 and a wonderful start of 2024-25, we have to draw your kind attention towards following grievances of the pensioners for your kind consideration and necessary action for their prompt resolution.
We convey our sincere thanks for the instructions given vide your letter Ref: CO/Per/ER-A/340/2024 dated 7th May 2024 for payment of ex-gratia to pensioners, family pensioners and pre-1986 retirees aged 70 years and above recognising their contribution and conveying appreciation towards their exceptional work, professionalism and commitment to the Corporation. However, we observe that the ex-gratia is payable to only those pensioners/Family Pensioners who have completed the age of 70 years as on the date of those instructions i.e. 7th May 2024, which excludes the pensioners/family pensioners who are below 70 years as on the said cut-off date. Their contribution in the growth of the Corporation is equally important and significant and therefore we request that they should also be given the benefit of ex-gratia payment as per the appropriate formula considering that the additional purpose of ex gratia payment is to compensate for the loss suffered by the pensioners on account of non-upgradation of pension. We observe some anomalies also and may point out that due to the cut-off age of 70 years, within the group of retirees of the wage revision period from 1/8/2012 to 31/7/2017, retirees aged 70 years on 7/5/2024 will be eligible for the ex-gratia payment while those who have retired on or after 8/5/2014 and up to 31/7/2017 would be ineligible for the ex-gratia payment as they are aged less than 70. Both these sub-groups of retirees have missed the upgradation of pension w e f 1/8/2017 and 1/8/2022 alike. Since the pension and other benefits are calculated on the basis of average emoluments and age of the employee/deceased employee (in case of family pension arising within a short period of retirement), logically the ex-gratia payment should also be paid without a cut-off age of the pensioner, if otherwise eligible, to avoid discrimination. The only condition should be that the pensioner should have retired before 1/8/2022.
We also invite your kind attention to our representation dated 09/02/2024 submitted through the Managing Director Shri Satpal Bhanu and the personal meeting held with him – we are so grateful to him for his time - on the various grievances of the Pensioners. As submitted vide our letter dated 13/02/2024, we were sanguine to get the following grievances resolved as the same were again recommended by your kind self to the Finance Ministry:
- i.Enhancement of pension on attaining the age of 80 years and every five years thereafter
- ii.Calculation of Basic Pension on the basis of 50% of the average emoluments or last drawn pay whichever is beneficial to the employee,
- iii.Enhancement of notional age (of deceased retiree/employee) from 65 years to 67 years for paying full family pension.
However, so far no information is received as regards resolution of these grievances which most adversely affect only a few group of the pensioners. We once again request your kind self to kindly get the relief expedited.
We may also draw your kind attention towards the main grievance related to pension upgradation which was discussed in detail and the Managing Director and the Executive Director (P) were apprised of the plight of the past pensioners. As a policy decision, the Government of India had taken the power of making the Service Rules including Pension rules vide Sec 48 (2) of LIC of India Act 1956 since 1981 doing away with the system of 'settlement'. So, the grievances caused due to any rules or its provision are resolved as per Rule 55, 55A and 56 of LIC (Employees) Pension Rules 1995 based on the policy of the Central Government in respect of such matters. Rule 56 of our Pension rules mandates that matters relating to pension and other benefits in respect of which no express provision has been made in LIC Pension Rules shall be governed by the corresponding provisions contained in the Central Civil Services (Pension) Rules. Rule 66 of CCS (Employees) Pension Rules 2021 specifically provides for the pension revision with wage revision. (Central Government pensioners retired after 1/1/1996 were in receipt of pension revisions on implementation of Central Pay Commissions' Recommendations despite the absence of a rule similar to Rule 66 in the now repealed CCS(Employees) Pension Rules 1972.) In view of what is stated above, LIC pensioners' expectation of pension revision with wage revision is fully justified within the framework of LIC (Employees) Pension Rules 1995.
It is a matter of pride that LIC of India has acquired the status of a globally competitive Life Insurer providing satisfactory services to the policyholders. It has acquired the most trusted brand equity in the Insurance Services. Recently, Life Insurance Corporation of India has been recognized as the strongest global insurance brand according to the Brand Finance Insurance 100 2024 report. This global recognition of LIC is undoubtedly attributable to the leadership of LIC and the contribution of the employees of the Corporation as well. The pensioners too had played vital role in no small measure and contributed their mite in the growth of the Corporation by discharging their duties with a sense of dedication, efficiency, accountability and responsibility and creating an ideal work culture in the Corporation, as has been recognised by the Corporation vide the above referred letter dated 7th May 2024. The employees of the Corporation have always been enjoying the pride, dignity and status of being a part and parcel of the state owned Corporation that has been performing so well. So, it is a reasonable and legitimate expectation of the LIC pensioners that grievances related to DR disparity and pension disparity are resolved amicably and promptly. The necessity for upgradation of pension was realised by the Corporation long back vide the Board Resolution dated 24/11/2001, the recommendations as per which unfortunately were never responded to by the Central Government. This had embroiled the aggrieved pensioners in long drawn litigation. However, now under the changed regime and in accordance with the National Litigation Policy and the Senior Citizens Policy, it would be appropriate to resolve the grievances out of court which would be highly appreciated by the dwindling group of the pensioners as well as the judiciary as it would lessen their burden. We would however wish to urge upon you that while doing so, the interest of pensioners who died after 1/8/1997 but before 31/7/2022 should be protected so that the nominees/legal heirs may also obtain justice.
Thanking you,
M P Agnihotri (Convener) Mobile No. 9618315890 mp.agnihotri3@ gmail.com
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