STEEL PLANT EXECUTIVES’ ASSOCIATION (Regn. No. 6372 / 15 of 1972 - 73) Regd. Office : B - 10, SECTOR - 3, ROURKELA-769 002 ISSUE : 01 (FOR INTERNAL CIRCULATION AMONG MEMBERS) DATE : 20.05.2016 From President’s Desk ......

At the outset, I express my sincere gratitude to our esteemed CEO, EDs, GMs and the entire executive fraternity for their unstinted and unwavering support rendered in the recently concluded RSPEA election. We accept the responsibility bestowed upon us with humility and will try our best to live up to the expectations. But with power comes responsibility and we have to strive hard to get the best for our executive fraternity. The steel industry is passing through a very tough scenario. It is the time for all of us to work together with dedication, commitment, trust and togetherness and script a new saga of success. I heartily congratulate our GS Mr. Padmanav Mishra for being elected to the coveted post of ViceChairman, SEFI. I am confident he will carry forward the aspirations of the RSP executive fraternity to the august body. We had the privilege of inviting the local MP & Minister Shri Jual Oram, MLAs Shri Dillip Ray and Shri Subrat Tarai to our RSPEA office and felicitate them. This gave a great fillip to our association in cementing our bond with the local icons. We have inherited some unfinished agenda and it is imperative on our part to bring it to a logical conclusion. In this regard, on 4th May'16, I had met with our Honorable Union Minister of Steel & Mines, Shri Narendra Singh Tomar, Honourable Minister of State for Steel & Mines, Shri Vishnu Deo Sai and our Honourable Union Minister of Tribal Affairs, Shri Jual Oram to apprise them of the long pending issues of pension, pay anomaly of EO officers, pay anomaly of El-E2 officers, parity of leave for the executives of works area and other pending points. The Ministers gave a patient hearing and assured me of all possible help in resolving the issues. I assure you, on behalf of RSPEA, that these issues will be resolved and I will not rest till I take them to their logIcal end. Long Live RSPEA & Long Live SEFI (Bimal Kumar Bisi ) President RSPEA

The letter written by President, RSPEA to Hon’ble Union Minister of Steel & Mines is reproduced below for the benefit of our esteemed members.

To The Hon'ble Union Minister of Steel and Mines, Government of , New Delhi. Sub: An appeal for kind intervention for early resolution of long pending issues of SAIL executives. Sir, With due respect, I feel extremely privileged and honored to write this letter in the capacity as newly elected President of Rourkela Steel Plant Executives' Association (affiliated to SEFI). The fact that, the entire Steel industry, including SAIL is passing through an arduous and challenging time, we feel highly fortunate that, you have been showing keen interest in the upliftment of steel industry and your pragmatic/humanitarian approach towards the welfare of the human resource engaged in steel sector . 01 In this context, we would like to draw your kind attention towards the following long pending issues of our executives, which is causing serious demoralization and demotivation among them, more so at a time when SAIL, after huge capital investment, is passing through a grim financial situation. a) Basic pay fitment of 350 Junior officers of 2008 & 2010 batch (1800 in SAIL approx) w.e.f. 01.01.12 with 17% of basic pay (as on 31.12.11) along with arrear payment w.e.f. 01.01.12. (The "Fixed pay" clause in pay anomaly circular PER/EC/1213 dt. 29.12.15 needs amendment for providing Basic pay fitment, so as to avail them other benefits linked to basic pay as well as avoiding further anomaly in future) b) Upgradation of EO, El, E2 scale w.e.f. 01.01.2007, which is lying for approval in Steel Ministry since April '15. These scales have been upgraded in all PSUs , except SAIL. All the above frontline officers are the true warriors of our organization and the financial implication for addressing the issues is a peanut vis-a-vis the efforts they put in. c) Implementation of Pension scheme w.e.f. 01.01.07, which has already been implemented in other Maharatna PSUs. d) Uniform leave across all units of SAIL, as monthly reward/incentive has been withdrawn in Works area w.e.f 0l.04.15. e) Payment of PRP for 2013-14 & 2014-15, without deducting the monthly incentive paid to works area executives, as they have availed less leave. Moreover, the PRP formula should be rationalized so as to effect minimum difference across hierarchy. f) Leasing/Sale of company quarters to employees (as done in the past), given the fact that large number of quarters are falling vacant due to manpower reduction as well as high maintenance cost of due to ageing. g) Notional seniority of 2008 batch MTTs, who will be promoted to E3 grade alongwith their Junior MTTs of 2009 batch. This has created huge hue and cry among our young executives. They should get promotion wef June '15. Sir, we seek your kind intervention and believe that your empathetic leadership will certainly help in resolving the aforesaid long pending issues. Thanking you, With warm regards,

(Bimal Bisi) President, RSPEA

Copy to: 1) Sri Vishnu Deo Sai Union Minister of State for Steel and Mines, GOI. 2) Chairman, SAIL.

02 From General Secretary’s Desk.... Esteemed members, Please accept my humble greetings ahead of the auspicious occasion of Buddha purnima. This summer coupled with water scarcity has been particularly harsh on Rourkelites, but finally there is anticipation and excitement in the air as all predictions have forecasted a good monsoon which shall provide the much needed stimulus for agriculture & spur industrial growth. Meanwhile the dust has settled around two successive elections, here at RSPEA on 10th April and for the positions of SEFI office bearers on 7th May. The high turnout in the scorching heat of the summer sun at Rourkela was also an indication of the simmering discontent in the minds of officers regarding non-liquidation of certain key issues. Voters at the Apex level at SEFI have reposed their faith in me by electing me as Vice_ Chairman, SEFI.I would reiterate my gratitude to all RSPEA members for providing the building block by electing me as Gen Secy, RSPEA. In the lighter vein, Sir Winston Churchill had famously said, ”A politician needs the ability to foretell what is going to happen tomorrow ,next week, next month and next year. And to have the ability afterwards to explain why it didn't happen”. I would personally disapprove of any of the newly elected members to fit into these credentials and solemnly pledge on behalf of the team that we shall meet the challenges ahead with determination and courage. Although It would be naïve on my part to deny that President, RSPEA and I do not have ideological differences with the degree of political intrusions into the affairs of our company and fraternity, none of these issues are irreconcilable. On the contrary, the new team has firmly resolved to approach each of these issues in unison & vigor armed with detailed strategies with fixed time frames in our mind. We shall not refrain from forming empowered committees with domain expertise to advice us on paths for fruitful realization of some lingering issues. At this momentous juncture for the institution of RSPEA, it is imperative that our team fights unsparingly for the rights of the common officer, so that the well-springs of his aspirations remain undefiled. The despair and anguish in delay of implementation of the Pension scheme and upgradation of E1/E2 scales have been all pervading and have deeply dented the spirit of trust that SEFI and its sister units had reposed on the management. In the past ,our successive petitions have been slighted, our supplications disregarded and our honest submissions were cleverly diverted. If the future is anticipated by judging the past our fraternity can no longer deceive ourselves. OA,BSP had recently taken up the mantle to convey our deep sense of anguish and frustrations through a string of collective demonstrations, to shake up the management out of deep slumber. Alongwith the non-negotiable issues mentioned above, a plethora of other important issues stare us in the face, which were part of our electoral promises. We can no longer afford to indulge in the illusions of hope and must immediately embark on a campaign to deliver on our assurances and rise up to the expectations of our members. The inner pages provides excerpts from the status report of ex-GS, SEFI on critical issues. We shall continue to draw strength from your trust and solidarity and prepare ourselves in a disciplined and determined manner to meet the responsibilities and challenges ahead.

Sd/- ( PADMANAVA MISHRA ) General Secretary &Vice-Chairman, SEFI

03 NOTICE INVITING APPLICATIONS FOR VACANT POSITIONS IN EXEC. COMMITTEE ( Secy Works & Area Secretaries for Constituency No.s 01,04,08,10,12,14 & 16.)

Applications are invited from interested members to fill in the vacant positions in the Executive Committee for the term 2015-2017.Members from departments belonging to the above vacant constituencies (listed below) may fill in applications in plain paper addressed to the Gen Secy RSPEA mentioning the Vacant Positions applied against (e.g Area Secy, Contituency No. ) in closed envelope and submit the same to GS ,RSPEA latest by 30-05-2015 ( 9:00 p.m). For the vacant post of Secy - Works, applicants must belong to the constituencies 13,14 & 15. For any further clarifications, interested candidates may call GS, RSPEA on I/C 46515, Mobile No. 8895500829. In case of multiple applications, the decision of the Exec Committee in matters of the candidature shall be binding and final.

Const. No. Departments 01 Finance & Acoounts, C&IT, ERP,CEO Office, Internal Audit, Vigilance, GM(F&A) Town Services, Town Engg. WS (T), Social Welfare, Horticulture, Education, 04 Sports Deptt., Community Development, CSR,GM (TS) 08 Blast Furnace (OME), CPP- I, SP - I (OME), SGP, GM (Power), GM I/c. (Serv.) 10 SMS - I (OME), LDBP (OME),TOP - I (OME). Foundries (OME), RS (M), Structural & Fabrication Shop, Mech Shop, PC (S), RS(E), 12 AC, E&ES, Stock Verification, ARC-1&2 14 Design, Power Distribution, BE-TQM, Structural Inspection, lED. 16 SPP (OME), Crance Maint (RM), HM(E), CE(S) Plant, Refy., WMD.

For the vacant position of SECY (WORKS) applicants from the following dept.s will be considered.

13 Plant Personnel, PPC,AMR Cell, ED (W) Office, GM (Elect. & Power), Centralised Maint(M.E), MSS, LU & HP (OP). 14 Design, Power Distribution, BE-TQM, Structural Inspection, lED. 15 R&C Lab, Central Stores, GM (Quality & PPC), GM (Quality)

O - Operation , M - Mech. Maint, E- Elect. Maint

CONDOLENCE MESSAGE We deeply mourn the sad demise of our valued colleague F Majhi, AGM, T & RM. May God bless the departed soul and provide strength & courage to the bereaved family to overcome this irreparable loss.

04 REPORT OF EX-GENERAL SECRETARY, SEFI Warm greetings to all of you on behalf of SEFI! Esteemed SEFI council members, It gives me immense pleasure and pride to place before you the General Secretary’s report in the concluding SEFI council meeting for the term 2013-15 held on date today i.e. 6th May’2016 at Kolkata. This Council, began its journey on the 12th February’14 at Chennai. You may please recall the status of the various issues pending when we took over the charge of SEFI in the month of February’2014. We started working on all the previously decided agenda and a considerable progress has been made on all the issues in first 10 months (March’14 to December’14). It may please be noted that from Jan’2014 the powers of the retiring Director (Personnel) had been ceased and from 1st April, 2015 there was no regular Director (Personnel) in SAIL till October/15. A full time Chairman/SAIL was also not available since June’2015. The crucial posts at the top level in SAIL, who are actually the decision makers were vacant for a longer period of time. The Director (Personnel) took over the charge in November’15. It is unfortunate on the part of SEFI that the regular Chairman (SAIL) has taken over the charge in the month of December’2015 that too after a gap of around 6 months. The vaccum at the top level of the company had badly affected the functioning of SEFI. The major decisions pertains to the welfare of the executive fraternity could not be concluded due to the absence of full time Directors and Chairman, SAIL. In the mean time, the profit of the Company also come down drastically because of dumping of steel in the domestic market by China, Korea, Japan etc. causing all time fail in the NSR. At present the BSL, RSP & ISP are not performing up to the mark and are the causes of major concern. In these difficult and challenging situation, all executives must unite together to show solidarity with the Company and management of SAIL to restore its past performance and glory. We are sure SAIL will achieve it’s past glory under the dynamic & able leadership of our present Chairman Shri P K Singh. The entire executive’ collective stands united to extend whole hearted supports to our Hon’ble Chairman to steer this behemoth organization to the greater heights. Inspite of all the constraints, we have managed to achieve many milestones in the direction of pending isuues. We has also chalked out various action plans through SEFI for the clearnce of entry level scale from SAIL Board, implementation of Pension Scheme, Payment of PRP etc. but due to intervention and assurance on the above issues by the then Chairman/SAIL, we had withdrawn our protest with the consent of majority unit Presidents. The then Chairman also fulfilled his commitment by clearing the entry level scale from SAIL Board on 13th December’ 2014. The Pension Scheme has also been finalized and shall be put up in upcoming SAIL Board meeting. Agenda with Status Report are as follows : 1. Release of first increment for MTTs/MTAs Earlier the first increment to the officers joining through MTs route was given after two years which was demoralizing the young entrant officers and creating a negative mind set at the work place. This first increment release was stopped w.e.f April 2009. Realizing the gravity of the issue we took up with SAIL top officials and explained its impact on the sentiments of the members joining through Mts route. The SAIL Management has considered our request and according necessary circular was issued. This is effective from April’2009 (Notionally) with a financial benefits from 01.12.2015. 2. Promotion of MTT2008 Batch The promotion issue of MTT-2008 batch is very serious concern for all of us. This batch is suffering a lot because of no fault on their part. The cause of delay in joining for 28 days must not be attributable to these executives. These executives joined SAIL on 28th & 29th Oct, 2008 because of delay in issue of the 05 joining letter. The first promotion are being issued in the month of June only for E3 grade & above. It is aprehended that they may receive their next promotion orders in June, 2016. The batches which joined SAIL in Jan, 2009 (Extension Batch), March, 2009 (IIM batch) & Sep. 2009 (IIT batch) will also get the their promotions at the same time, thereby, collectively depriving MT (T)- 2008 batch of 8 months of seniority (2 months in E1 to E2 promotions & 6 months in E2 to E3) over the subsequent batches. This isuue has been raised by SEFI very strongly in 2015 but could not take shape because of indecisive attitude of the then top management. SEFI had a meeting with Chairman/SAIL on 17.04.16 & he gave a patient hearing on the issue, he has instructed ED(P&A) to discuss this issue separately with SEFI. Again we have discuss this issue on 18.04.16 with ED(P&A) and on our suggestions, it was decided to promote some of the officers w.e.f. 2015 & some w.e.f. 2016 on the basis of their credential rating done in past without the financial benefits. In this regard a proposal has been processed in the corporate office and forwarded to rule section which is being examined for further action. 3. Pay disparity of JO 2008 & 2010 Batch The Management of SAIL had selected the Junior Officers in 2008 & 2010 on the basis of rigorous written test and interview. These selected officers are mostly working as frontline managers in different shops and contributing a lot in the progress, performance and upliftment of the company. Their counterparts working in non-executive caders have got pay revision in 2012 causing a huge pay disparity with the officers of 2008 & 2010 batch. We have strongly taken up this issue with the SAIL top officials, Members of Parliament & Hon’ble Steel Minister and ultimately we were able to convince the SAIL Top management about the disparity. In this regard several rounds of discussion have been held with the management and accordingly the issue has been settled to the best of our expectations and with the available DOP of SAIL Management. 4. Enhancement of entry level scale SAIL Board cleared the proposal on 13th Dec.14. File has been forwarded to Steel Ministry for necessary approval of Hon’ble Steel & Mines Minister. SEFI Office bearers have met our Hon’ble Steel Minister several times in his office for clearance of Board proposal. Our unit Officers Association have also met Director(F), Director(T), Director (P), Chairman (SAIL), MoS(Steel) & Minister of Steel for early implementation of upgraded E1 & E2 Scale. As required by Ministry, cost neutralization proposal has also been forwarded by SAIL. We are quite hopeful that Hon’ble Steel Minister will consider our request & clear the proposal very soon. 5. Medical Facilities to parents SEFI has raised voice before the SAIL management that the medical facilities of the dependants may be reformed in a logical way so that the officers of SAIL can take care of their old and sick parents at SAIL hospitals. The SAIL management has also appreciated our view and accordingly, they have clarified the existing circular that the employees can avail the facilities for the treatment of their retired parents, if there pension is up to Rs.6000 p.m., they are eligible for all types of medical facilities of SAIL (i.e. even at any place in SAIL approved hospitals in India) and if the pension amount is more, in that case the dependant parents can avail the OPD/Indoor facilities of the SAIL hospitals. 6. Implementation of Pension Scheme It is very sad that the legitimate rights of the members have not been addressed by SAIL management even after expiry or so many years where DPE had given a clear cut guideline for its implementation. The SEFI has expedited the implementation of this pension scheme in this tenure and it is almost in the settlement mode. The proposed pension scheme has been formulated and the major highlights are - This will be effective from 01.01.2007 for all the officers who were on the roll of the company.

06 The contribution for the pension fund will be from maangement side under superannuation benefit i.e., 9% of Basic Pay and DA. This 9% has come after deduction from the superannuation benefit that is 30% of BP+DA-12% PF-4.81% Gratuity - 4.26% post-retirement medical benefit, which has been calculated by the ACTUARY, which is an independent body, being uitilized for such purposes =8.93% of BP+DA, which has been enhanced to 9% of BP+DA. The other companies like, CIL-8.69%, BHEL- 9%, NHPC-9%, NMDC-8% etc. The pension fund will be managed by the LIC of India which has already been duly approved by the board of SESBF trustees. The pension scheme has already been finalized but due to non-availability of regular Directors and Chairman of SAIL since last almost one year and the sudden decline of the company’s performance, it has not been implemented till now. During our last meeting, Chairman/SAIL has assured us for taking this proposal in next Board Meeting. 7. Performance Related Pay The PRP for the yaer 2013-14 and 2014-15 is pending and needs to be paid immediately. In this regard, we would like to draw the kind attention that the profit of the company has declined to an alarming level. The distributable profit for the year 2013-14 is Rs.48 Crores approx. and for the year 2014-15 is around Rs.98 Crores approx. Earlier, the PRP was paid after deducting the slab wise incentive & reward just to keep the difference in pay of the officer working in hot and cold zone but this time the PRP formula has been changed by the Independent Director. Under this formula the actual incentive & reward will be recovered from the individual oficers which has been paid earlier, this has not been accepted to SEFI as because under the revised formula junior officers (upto-E3) level working in works division will get negative PRP, that’s why we refuse to take the PRP for 2013-14. This is also to be noted that under the bell curve approach, around 150 officers of SAIL have got C- ratings in the year 2013-14 they will also not get the PRP. Seeing the seriousness of the problem, SEFI has taken stand and requested the management to pay the PRP of 2013-14 together with the PRP for the year 2014-15 as because the incentive and reqrd will not be recovered for 2014-15 as it was stopped in month of April-2014. Now the MOU rating from the Steel Ministry for the year 2014-15 has been received. The PRP for the year 2013-14 & 2014-15 together will be paid in this month itself as assured by SAIL Management. 8. Promotion Policy Of Doctors We have taken care of the sentiments of the doctor’s community of SAIL and others. The promotion policy and marking system of the doctors of SAIL was a long pending issue before the SEFI (Steel Executives Federation of India). We have taken up this issue with the top officials of SAIL and accordingly, the SAIL management had constituted a commitee for review of the existing promotion policy and marking pattern of the doctor’s community of SAIL. On the recommendation of the committe and with the persuasion of SEFI, finally the SAIL top management has approved a separate promotion policy for the doctors. In the previous policy, the marking for the MBBS doctor was 12 (twelve) marks. Now, it has become 16 (Sixteen) marks. The MBBS doctors can now be promoted up to DGM (E7) level instead of AGM (E6) level and also a separate LOP has been created for the doctor’s promotion. The promotion for the post of DGM and AGM, which has been issued this year, was under the new approved promotion policy. 9. PERKS arrear w.e.f. 26.11.2008 (about 11 months) This issue has been cleared by the SAIL board and Steel Ministry as well, but ultimately the same has been turned down by the DPE Ministry in spite of our best efforts by saying that “the DPE is a nodal agency to take care of all the PSUs”, therefore, the perks arrear case of SAIL cannot be considered individually. The previous SEFI has lost the hope through this channel, then they approached CAT (Central Administrative Tribunal), Kolkata and lodged a case for its early solution. The affidavit and the counter-affidavit done by SEFI, SAIL and Steel Ministry. After hearing the case by CAT, Kolkata, the 07 decision has come for payment of arrears. It is learnt that Steel Ministry has sought the advice of DPE for future actions. 10. Implementation of 1. Child care leave, 2. Maternity leave The huge chunk of female officers were badly suffering in SAIL and they were regularly expressed their anguish for the non-implementation of the above facilities in SAIL Seeing the sentiments of the female officers, we have taken up this long pending issue at SAIL level and with the intervention of the management, the policy for the child care leave and matemity leave has been revised. Now, the 84 days maternity leave has been enhanced to 180 (One Hundred Eighty) days and the child care leave has been enhanced to 730 days. The details can be referred in the circular. 11. Meal Coupon Under the tax saving scheme provided by the Govt. Of India our members have opted for meal coupon which was Rs. 50 per meal per day. i.e., Rs. 1300 per month. Now this has been enhanced to Rs. 100 per meal per day i.e., Rs. 2600 per month, resulting in a saving of Rs. 10000 approx per annum. 12. Transfer on promotion Earlier the transfer on promotion was done up to 10% which led to a large resentment among the members. This transfer policy had a bad impact on the plant performance and individuals. For this issue, SEFI approached and convinced top management that such transfer leads to harassment and not at all beneficial for the company. The transfer should be need based and as per the choice of the members. On our persuasion, the regular meeting was held for the transfer on compassionate ground. A considerable number officers has been transferred to their desired location. SEFI, has been an active member of COMCO (Confederation of Maharatna Company officers) comprising of IOC, ONGC, NTPC, CIL, BHEL & GAIL. On the platform of COMCO, SEFI has been vociferously raising their voice for the revision of the pay structure of executives w.e.f. 01.01.2017 keeping in view the revision of pay of the non-excecutives in 5 years intervals. COMCO along with SEFI have demanded 50% merger of DA and constitution of pay committee for the revision of pay of the Govt. PSUs. A delegation of COMCO have recently met Secretary, DPE, he told that the pay commission constitution file is pending in PMO, soon it will be constituted. He also told that what ever flaw has been observed in the previous revision that has to be properly briefed to the New Pay commission so that the issues like Pay disparity, Pay difference between hot & Cold zone etc. can be addressed. COMCO have also did press meet at Delhi Press club to press the issue of pay revision and interim relief to the officers of PSUs. SEFI has all along been advocating the merger of NINL with SAIL and granting the most preferred status to MECON in the field of consultancy & execution of the various upcoming projects of SAIL, being under the same Ministry. Friends, the coming days are all the more challenging for all of us. Our strength lies in our unity, sincerity , courageousness, wisdom in our decision making and action to which we should stay committed and which should be reflected in our day to day disposition. As I pass on the baton to the new committee, I sincerely wish SEFI to grow from strength in the coming years. I convey my heat felt thanks to all the members for extending all their support to me during my term in the capacity of General Secretary, I shall always cherish the fond memories of our friendship and association with you. Lastly, I may be excused for any hurt to the feeling of the members, which is totally unintentional. My best regards to all of you

(AK Singh) General Secretary/ SEFI

Printed and published by : Padmanava Mishra, General Secretary, on behalf of Rourkela Steel Plant Executives' Association, B/10, Sector - 3, Rourkela - 2, Phone : 9255 (I/C) and printed at Shree Maa Printers, Rourkela-4, Phone : 0661-2400006 08