DHARNA BY RETIREES ON 29.3.2025

 AIBRF- KARNATAKA STATE COMMITTEE,

No 33, 5th Cross, Malleshwaram, Bangalore -560003.

E.mail: kevinaik@gmail.com 

Mob: 9448276015

=====================

DHARNA BY RETIREES

ON 29.3.2025

     ********

It was massive 

It was mammoth

It was magnificent

It was inspiring

It was, on one hand  an expression of Bank Retirees Anger, Anguish, Disappointment and on the other a display of determination, unity and solidarity.

 The grand gathering of Bank Retirees at Freedom Park Bangalore on 29th March, 2025, under the banner of UFBRO was once again an affirmation of our conviction to fight for justice.

Retirees from Bangalore, nearby centres as well as from outside, poured into the venue like a flood, full of fury and anger at the inordinate delay of issues like  pension updation ,denial of Ex- gratia in private Banks, and other issues.  Thousands of  chairs provided were all filled up. Hundreds and hundreds  of retirees had to stand without seats.

True to our punctuality, the Dharna commenced exactly at 10.00 a.m. with our women members shouting slogans demanding resolution of our issues and demands. This was followed by introductory by Com. K. Vishwanatha Naik. He briefly stated the following: It is a gross injustice that pension updation is not affected. No court has prohibited settlement. There is no injunction order against updation. In the past as well as in the 12th bipartite, issues were settled, while they were pending before courts, like pension to Resignees and 2nd option for pension. Hence, the argument that updation cannot be done because the issue is sub-judice is used only to delay updation of pension. Keeping Special Allowance outside the purview of pension is against the provisions of pension regulations. Not extending ex-gratia to private Banks' pensioners is a gross discrimination. Not reviewing the ex-gratia amount annually  is a violation of the valid settlement. Taking care of health insurance is the expected responsibility of the banks. Implementation of pension to Resignees with all beneficial provisions of pension regulations is a necessity. Not discussing retirees issues with Retirees' Organisations is totally illogical. He exhorted all retirees of the banking industry to get united and fight with monolithic solidarity, which is the need of the hour. He enthusiastically informed that this is the third protest programme in the State of Karnataka. The first being a very successful dharna at Vijayapura, the second one, a massive programme at Hubli and this is the third massive protest action, with more than 3000 Bank  retirees.

Com. S. C. Jain, Convenor of UFBRO and Gen. Secretary of AIBRF addressing the huge gathering  told that this is the 21st protest programme since September, 2024, by UFBRO and more such actions would be held in the days to come. He exuded confidence that pension updation would happen. He assured that all efforts will be put out by AIBRF to get ex-gratia payment to pensioners of private Banks. He said that, it is because of the efforts of AIBRF that the medical insurance premium could be reduced by having a common premium for both, serving and retired employees. He denounced sky-high premium on super top up policy and informed the shimmering  crowd that steps are being taken to reign-in this unbridled pricing.  He demanded that the IBA must hear the Retirees' Organisations on Retirees' issues.  He was happy that the UFBRO formed in June, 2024, under the initiative of AIBRF has made its presence felt loudly and boldly, all over the country. He also declared that if our legitimate issues are not resolved, our retiree members may sit in hunger strike at Rajghat in New Delhi, in pursuance of our demands. He congratulated Karnataka State Committee of AIBRF for organising this very large Dharna by Bank retirees and told that more such dharnas are being planned in the days to come.

Next to address the swelling gathering was Com. C. N. Prasad, Secretary, AIRBEA and Joint Convenor of UFBRO. He spoke elaborately about discrimination between SBI and other Banks. He gave  details about efforts put by his union through courts and the results in the matter. 

Com. Rathna Uthappa, Vice President, AIBRF spoke next, expressing the anger and anguish of Bank Retirees at the negative attitude of the IBA and called for seamless unity among all Bank retirees to achieve our goal.

Speaking on behalf of Kotak Bank Pensioners' Welfare Association, Com. Venkatesh Babu, it's General Secretary, expressed his total unhappiness in not extending the ex-gratia payment to pensioners of private Banks and urged the AIBRF to treat it on priority. 

Sri. Panduranga Bhat, Gen. Secretary,  Karnataka Bank Retirees' Association who addressed thereafter  told that his Association is following up the issue of ex-gratia with the management of the Bank and requested AIBRF to ensure its payment at the earliest.

In between the brief speeches, there were powerful slogans, both from men and women, joined by the overflowing gathering, in  full throat.

The meeting concluded with emotional remarks by our President, Com. Devadas Rao. Telling that this is the 3rd successful programme in the State of Karnataka, he congratulated Bank Retirees' from Bangalore and nearby places for this massive attendance. He also decried the injustice meted out to the Bank Retirees in the matter of pension updation, ex-gratia to private Bank pensioners and other related issues. Calling upon the retirees to be totally united he thanked all leaders for their attendence and members for their massive gathering. 

The programme was interlaced with slogans, powerfully shouted by our retirees friends.

Thus, the massive Bank Retirees' programme in this series of protest actions came to an end, creating a history of grandeur in  mobilisation and meticulous planning.

Let us get prepared for more such intense and united struggles, till our issues are resolved.

K. Vishwanatha Naik

General Secretary.

30.3.2025