Letter To Finance Minister

Sister Nirmala Sitharaman,
( Hon'ble Finance Minister, GOI, N. Delhi)

Respected Sister,

We beg to invite your kind attention to our letter dated 6th June, 2019 wherein we have explained the plights & agonies being faced by Banking fraternity due to host of issues including no pension/ family pension revision. We are confident, issues referred to, might  be receiving your kind perusal.

In Bank Pensioners' matters, we make some very specific submissions as under:

1. The Banks' management may please be directed to give necessary mandate to IBA, which they haven't given so far, to consider Pension/ Family Pension revision on similar terms and conditions, as stipulated in RBI Pension Revision, in compliance with Pension Agreement, 1993, while settling wages & other service conditions, of which talks are going on.

2. Minimum health security for Rs.3 lakhs be provided to all retirees free of cost as Welfare Measure under Welfare Fund, since Retirees are entitle to Welfare Fund benefits.

3. Retirees' Unions should be invited for discussion/consultation by IBA on retirees issue, as directed by DFC in 2013, which IBA flouted so far.

Explanation to Issues:

1. Bank Pension Scheme is based on Agreement, 1993, under ID Act between IBA & Unions. In terms of this Agreement, Pensions Regulations, 1995 was formed & implemented w.e.f. 1.1.1986. In Agreement it is specifically written that the other terms & conditions, including pension updating, shall be as mentioned in RBI Pension Scheme.

2. Now, since RBI pension is revised by Govt. Bank Pensioners legitimately look to Banks/IBA and govt. for pension updating. Whatever terms have been set in RBI pension revision, on same terms banks' pension updating may please be done.

3. Till three year back, Banks were giving some health cover to retirees. The expenditure was met by respective Banks from their Welfare Funds.

Govt. directive in Welfare Fund matter is clear that this fund should be spent equally on retirees as well in kind of welfare measures and not in cash.

In existing Mediclaim Scheme, entire premium is now being borne by Retirees. Old scheme, which was free, had been abandoned by Banks.

Mediclaim Insurance Premium, suppose if in 1916 it was Rs.8000, it doubled to Rs.16000 in 2017 & Rs.22000 in 2018.

As a result, over 60% pensioners dropped out of mediclaim policy due to unaffordable premium. Banks refused to subsidise it, though earlier they were bearing total cost from WF.

Banks are now consuming entire Welfare Fund on in-service employees/officers, covering CMD to Part time cleaners in free or subsidized  tea, coffee, snacks, lunch, dinner, petroleum, news papers, scholarship etc. If some banks have any welfare scheme for retirees, it may be an exception only.

Prayer:

We seek your kind intervention and decision to get justice in Pension updating & health security cover.


Regards,


(J. N. Shukla)
National Convenor
FORUM OF BANKS PENSIONER ACTIVISTS
Prayagraj
9559748834/ jagat.n.shukla@gmail.com

27.6.2019