Registered with RNI, Delhi Regn. No. KARENG/2005/14831 Officers’ Voice, June 2017 1

420 Vol 35 - 12 June, 2017

The hung necks and pale faces of Corp Bankers, (Rs. 4439.53 cr. /43.44% increase) have all as seen in May, 2016 have changed in May, 2017. shown positive movement. The hung necks have straightened with confidence But the challenges ahead are still daunting – most and the pale faces have turned glee with rosy importantly: cheeks. After recording a first time loss in its 111 years' history in March, 2016 (Rs.506.48 crore), • Absence of overall growth is the first the Bank has recorded a respectable Net Profit for challenge. Total Business grew only by 4.46% the year ended March, 2017(Rs. 561.21 cr.). The (Rs. 345493.08 to Rs. 360916.41 – 4.46%) waters cruised for the last 12 months were not of which cannot be deemed as even satisfactory. ease and smoothness. Still, the results announced However, we may satisfy ourselves looking for the last fiscal proved - Corp Bank could do it. around – ‘We are not alone.’ The Bank has registered positivity in several • Advances remained almost static (Rs.140322.24 operational areas. To quote a few: to Rs.140356.79 – 0.02%). • Deposits registered a modest growth of • NPAs continue to haunt our Balance Sheet 7.50% reaching Rs.220559.62 crore (2016 – (bottom line) and the credit portfolio. Gross NPAs 205170.84 cr.). Average deposits increased stood at Rs.17045.22 crore (11.70%) as against better at 9.20%. Rs.14544.25 crore (9.98%) last year (Net NPAs – Rs.11692.42 cr. at 8.33% as against Rs.9160. • CASA reached 26.47% (Average 21.47%) which 40 cr. at 6.53% last). is a commendable figure, though not very good. • This has resulted in erosion of our earnings • Satisfying growth had been in Savings Bank through provisioning which has increased from (Rs. 39743.60 cr. / 28.77% increase) and Rs.3601.50 cr. to Rs. 3878.32 cr. this year. Current Accounts (Rs.18630.76 cr. /27.99% increase) mostly attributable to demonetization. While we can surely pat our backs in respect of positive achievements, we have to concentrate • Total Income (Rs.22561.78 cr./6.69% growth), more to overcome the challenges. Interest Spread (2.12%) and Operating Profit

Editor Asso.Asso. Editor Editor Members Advisor Edited and Published by Ekanath Baliga G. SatishRaghuraman Shetty H.S. Vishwanath T.R. Bhat Ekanath Baliga Satish Shetty K.B. Prasad Y. Sudhindra on behalf of the Owners : Printed by: Founder Editor : Sri T.R. Bhat Corporation Bank Officers’ M. Rajesh Dange Licensed to Post Under Organisation (Regd.) Codeword Process & Printers LicensedLicense to MNG/128/2015-17 Post Under License 106, Lobo Prabhu Court Falnir, Mangalore - 575 001 MNG/128/2015-17& SK/MNG/WPP/7 & SK/MNG/WPP/7 Light House Hill Road, Mangalore - 575 001 e-mail: [email protected] Visit us @ our website:www.cboo.org Officers’ Voice, June 20172017 2

• With the hopes of positive movements in branches without actual and need-based the economy, Bank needs to grow without assessment. compromising on quality and safety. • Most importantly, current year will witness • We must improve our credit portfolio, difficulties in providing relievers to Scale as propagated already, more into retail I officers – transferred or promoted further and MSME. Though Agriculture is an adding to the woes of the officers. area of priority, the recent reckless and There are many more – known to everyone; but unreasonable target oriented increases, invisible to the unwilling to accept and act on leading to fraudulent exposures and misuse reality. We have to dispense the notion –‘staff is of delegation, shall caution us to seek a a cost!’ In a service industry, it is an investment controlled growth in the area. in resources. Though a second highest, Staff • Larger exposures shall be dissuaded for Expenses constituted just 7.98% in 2016-17 some more time except ‘A’ grade borrowers. (7.61% last). Though clerical shortage too is overtly visible, officers have been doubling their • The thrust given to Recovery shall continue role at almost all instances of non-availability with further impetus. Recovery teams shall of sub-ordinate personnel (which has further further be strengthened and streamlined for strained the supervisory resources). improving the results. Collectively, we all must gather our wits and • Most importantly, Bank shall come out of the tread steady steps further to drive the Bank Finacle blues at the earliest, enabling more back to safer zone. The red in the Balance Sheet concentration on banking business. has obliterated; the healthy pink shall improve On the flipside, strengthening internal and early. To reiterate our earlier resolve in capabilities shall be our other important May, 2016 – TOGETHER, WE CAN. priority. Manpower comes first in the list. An OV illogical, non-existent, computer generated surplus manpower concept has been haunting the Bank for the last 15 months. Bank needs to come out of this fiction. Branches/offices have C O N T E N T S been suffering due to absence of supervisory personnel: Page No. • Substantial single officer branches have not CBOO News ...... 3 been provided with second officer. AIBOC News...... 11 • Branches with good growth as also with Balasubramanian Foundation...... 17 good potential for growth have not been provided with additional officer. Achievements...... 18 • Officers in controlling offices have been Retirements...... 19 operating under pressure to perform Circular Round Up...... 22 multiple roles thereby weakening the Miscellany...... 25 control mechanisms – providing scope for mismanagement at several branches. Class Room...... 29 • Strengthening of inspection function has Health Watch...... 30 not yet materialized at the expected levels In Lighter Vein...... 32 due to rationing of scant man-days among

A calf can find its mother among a thousand kine. Good and evil done returns and whispers, ‘ I am thine.’ - Panchatantra Officers’ Voice, June 2017 3

Area Secretary visited North Zonal Office, Retail CBOO News Hub -North, Forex Hub, STC, South Zonal Office and M G Road branch. They interacted with both BRANCH VISITS the Zonal Heads, members and the participants in KOCHI STC training.

President, Ekanath Baliga, General Secretary, 6. G Raghuraman, Vice President, Vasudev Nayak, Satish Shetty along with Zonal Chairman, S Deputy Zonal Secretary and P C Kamath, Area Venkideshwaran and Zonal Secretary, Geo Raj Secretary visited Akshay Nagar, Arekeregate, RBI G visited Palakkad, Kalpathy, Kannambra, layout, J P Nagar, Sarakki Layout, BTM Layout, Kodumbu, Kanjikode, Thrissur - Main branches. Jal Bhavan, HSR Layout and Jayanagar 9th Block. Members expressed various problems faced by them due to migration – especially delay in EOD, 7. Devaraj B P, Joint General Secretary, Area customer dissatisfaction, lack of responses from Secretaries TM Vijay Kumar, Niranjan and Activist Help Desk and operational problems. S. Tyagaraj visited Kumbalgodu, Gopahalli, , Ramanagar, Lead Bank, Kutagal, Bilagumba, - Geo Raj G, Zonal Secretary Ajjanahalli and Bannikuppe.

BENGALURU - SOUTH 8. S Prakash Rao, Secretary Benevolent Fund, Vani 1. On 18th April, President, Ekanath Baliga, Circle R, Zonal Lady Secretary, P A Utham and Devakanth Secretary, N S Krishnaraj, Zonal Chairman, Pawar Area Secretaries visited Shantinagar J C Y S Anand and Area Secretary P. C. Kamath Road, NT Road, City, S C Road, Shivaji Nagar visited Brahmanipura, Rampura, Mandya and Cantonment branches. Bommanayakanahalli Halli, Mylnayaka The main issues raised by the members were: Hosahalli, Abbur, Nagavara and Channapatna. 1. Shortage of officers and clerks 2. Devaraja B P, Deputy General Secretary, B. 2. Umpteen problems faced by Finacle branches; Swarnageetha, Zonal Secretary, Area Secretaries, inadequate handholding support T M Vijay Kumar and P. A. Utham visited 3. Need for renovation of Shanthinagar branch Kanakapura, T.Bekuppe, Kabbalu, Harohalli, 4. Need for supplying new and upgraded systems , and . before migration of Branches. 3. G Raghuraman, Vice President, Deputy Zonal - B Swarnageetha, Zonal Secretary Secretary, Vasudeva Nayak and Narasimhamurthy Activist visited Jigani, , , BENGALURU - NORTH , Muthanallur, Bommasandra, 1. Satish Shetty, General Secretary, N Vijayan, Bandenallasandra, , , Assistant General Secretary, GKVS Rao, Zonal Madivala and H.S.R Layout. Secretary and Srikanthan, Area Secretary visited 4. S Prakash Rao, Secretary Benevolent Fund, Vijipura, Kolar, KGF Andersonpet, KGF Nagaraju, Area Secretary and S. Tyagaraj, Activist Robertson, Mulbagilu, Thimmaravathanahalli visited Basavangudi, Jayanagar, Srinagar, and Bangarpet on 18th April. Chamrajpet, Mysore Main Road, , 2. K B Prasad, Joint General Secretary, and N.R.Colony. Mallikarjuna, Saravanan and Munivenkatappa, 5. On 19th Ekanath Baliga, President, Satish Area Secretaries visited Devanahalli, Haarohalli, Shetty, General Secretary, N Vijayan, Assistant Karehalli, Melekote, Tubagere, Dargojaganahalli, General Secretary, N S Krishnaraj, Circle Secretary, Doddaballapura, Doddabelevangala and W S Anand, Zonal Chairman, GKV Subba Rao and Kanaswadi. B. Swarnageetha, Zonal Secretaries and Mrinal, 3. B Sridhar, Joint General Secretary, Surendra

The just receives insults and in turn offers flowers. – Rabindranath Tagore Officers’ Voice, June 2017 4

G, Deputy Zonal Secretary, Pasupathy K R returned without reasons, cash in ATMs are and Vijay Kumar B R, Area Secretaries visited not loaded regularly Pavagada, Madhugiri, Sira, Kestur, Koratagere, 10. Additional clerk and officer are required in Muddalinganahalli and Nelamangala branches. Kumara Park branch to handle BDA related 4. Y Sudhindra, Treasurer, Ekanath B and Biju, work. Area Secretaries visited Kunigal, Turuvekere, - GKVS Rao, Zonal Secretary Tiptur, Halkurke, Gubbi and Tumkur branches. MEETINGS 5. On 19th April, Y Sudhindra, Treasurer, C Gopalaiah, Deputy Zonal Secretary, Madhusudhan KOCHI and Veeresh Hanugodimath, Area Secretaries visited A Meeting of members was held on 1st May at Hotel , Basaveshwarnagar, , Pearl Regency, Trissur. President, Ekanath Baliga, , , Magadi Road, General Secretary, Satish Shetty, Vice President, Chandra Layout, Vijayanagar, RPC Layout and G Raghuraman and Sobha L, Secretary, Women’s Channenahalli. Wing along with the Zonal functionaries attended 6. B Sridhar, Joint General Secretary, Surendra the meeting. Former Zonal Head, Sri M Ganapathy G, Deputy Zonal Secretary, Munivenkatappa and was also present. B R Vijaykumar, Area Secretaries visited Hebbal, , Layout, Shivaram Karanth, Dwarkanagar, Bagalur, , Yelahanka New Town, Sahakarnagar and Kumara Park.

Following issues were raised by the members:

1. Posting of second officer in single officer branches 2. Finacle related problems like local clearing, pass book printing, DD payments and delay in S Vekideswaran, Zonal Chairman welcomed EOD etc. the gathering. He recalled the workers’ taking to 3. Connectivity problems at Kestur, Tubegere and streets in May,1886 demanding 8 hours of work, Kanaswadi 8 hours of sleep and 8 hours to themselves – ultimately, resulting in May Day, the world over. In 4. Urgent need for a strong room at Kestur and the background of the events which have unfolded Doddabalavangala after Finacle migration, he said, there is need to 5. Need for a regular sub staff at Nelamangala revisit these demands by Corp Bank officers. branch 6. Difficulties in deputation of officers when existing officer goes on leave 7. Melekote, Harohalli branch have no BSNL lines and VSAT link is very slow resulting in customer complaints. 8. Cash is not loaded in ATM by outsourcing agency in Devanahalli branch 9. At RPC layout Branch, all systems are old, elite Zonal Secretary, Geo Raj sought to highlight the customers are moving out, CLSB cheques are problems faced by the officers in the Finacle

It is bad to think ill; but it’s worse to speak it. – Mathew Henry Officers’ Voice, June 2017 5 environment and the expectations of early solutions. and gave a brief on the activities of the Zonal unit.

and ensure proper housekeeping. He expressed concern on the delay in restarting more than 350 MoF ATMs in 6 Zones on the Eastern Coast which are kept closed by the service provider for last more General Secretary, Satish Shetty, in his address, than 6 months resulting in loss of business, burden explained the latest developments in the Bank of expenditure and damage to Bank’s image. and discussions with management in this regard. He also expressed his concern on the increase in number of disciplinary cases in the Bank and the highlighted on the need for the officers to be cautious in their approach in handling business.

He was very critical of a few Zones not paying the compensation/ reimbursement as permitted by Ministry of Finance and communicated by PAD, HO.

CBOO had demanded and supported the change of Sobha L, Secretary, Women’s Wing expressed her CBS platform right from 2012 due to the difficulties concern on the late sitting by officers, especially the faced in the present system. Though migration to ladies - in the branches and the sufferings of the new CBS started in August, 2016, problems have officers due to Finacle migration. She also explained not yet been resolved resulting in untold misery for about the industrial relations strife at Dhanalaxmi the officers, difficulties in facing the customers who Bank and Catholic Syrian Bank which were the had been bestowing choicest blessings and loss of experiments by authoritarian managements. Kerala business. CBOO had been trying its level best in has a healthy working environment for women. persuading the management functionaries to act It shall continue. Lady members shall, “Dare to toughly against the System Integrator and ensure stand up and speak whenever needed,” she said. hassle free CBS functioning, he said.

He also demanded a relook by the top management on promotion of clerical staff to JMG Scale I as otherwise, the existing shortage of officers would further aggravate; there would be no substitutes to Scale II officers promoted and transferred as also to Scale I officers transferred upon request, post completion of term.

Vice President, G Raghuraman, paying homage to late Sri C Sadanandan, recalled his contributions to CBOO and the fearless leadership provided by him. President, Ekanath Baliga explained to the He called upon the members to maintain discipline members the latest developments in Bank and the

Nature has given us two ears, two eyes but one tongue. We should hear and see more than we speak. - Greek Proverb Officers’ Voice, June 2017 6 industry as a whole, at AIBOC, the new Committees formed and pre and post- merger situations in SBI and Associate Banks. Mergers will be painful and discriminatory to the smaller banks. Bigger banks are not eloquent to the extent expected against mergers as they consider themselves to be the acquirers and more powerful.

Sneha Thomas, Zonal lady Secretary proposed the Vote of Thanks. The programme concluded with National Anthem.

- Geo Raj, Zonal Secretary

BENGALURU

A meeting of members of CBOO was organised on Retired members Sri Babu (former Zonal Committee 15th April at Hotel Citedal, Bengaluru. President, member) and Sri Ganapathy Shenoy were felicitated Ekanath Baliga, General Secretary, Satish Shetty, on the occasion. Addressing the gathering, Vice-Presidents Anil Pahwa and G Raghuraman attended the meeting from Central Office along with local central office functionaries and Zonal functionaries. Mr. Rangaswamy M, Zonal Head, Mysore Zone and Mr. Sudarshan Sethi, Zonal Head, Bengaluru-North Zone graced the occasion. More than 200 members attended the meeting.

Sri Ganapathy Shenoy, former Zonal Head thanked all the staff in the Zone for their support to him. Business will come on its own. Extend better services to the customers, concentrate on cleaner housekeeping and discharge your duties properly and to your own satisfaction, he advised. The proceedings commenced with a welcome address by GKVS Rao, Zonal Secretary, Bengaluru North. He appreciated the members for their participation which showed solidarity, support, faith and affection, the members had towards the Organisation and its leaders.

Thereafter, the members who had been instrumental in collecting more than Rs.1.00 lakhs towards Special Issue of Officers’ Voice – 2016, invited from various parts of the country, were felicitated.

There is nothing either good or bad; but thinking makes it so. - Shakespeare Officers’ Voice, June 2017 7

Mr. Rangaswamy M, Zonal Head, Mysore Zone was felicitated for highest collections. After felicitation and while addressing the gathering Mr Rangaswamy expressed his happiness for being felicitated in front of such a huge gathering. He stressed on the need for being loyal to the Organisation and thanked the Organisation for providing an opportunity to address a large section of officers of the Bank. He also appreciated the initiatives of the Organisation for improving the working conditions of the officers in the Bank, the social development activities President, Ekanath Baliga while addressing conducted under SWASTI and workshops on credit the gathering, informed about the industry level and recovery conducted for the benefit of first time developments. He stated that merger of SBI branch managers. associates with SBI has already created confusion for the officers working in Associate banks. He suggested that in case of merger / consolidation of banks becomes inevitable, then merger of all public sector banks to compete with SBI may be a better proposition, as the officers will not be treated second grade employees in the merged entities. He also stated that unions shall demand extension of OPS to all the bank employees in place of NPS where the returns are not guaranteed. AIBOC has demanded 5 day week and that none of the officers should be called to work on holidays. He also narrated the General Secretary, Satish Shetty expressed his latest developments on wage revision, some banks happiness over the large gathering. He briefed not giving mandate or giving conditional mandate about the developments in the Bank. He expressed for wage revision, threats of bank level settlement his concerns about non- declaration of promotional in wage revision and MOU to be entered for capital vacancies from 0-1 in the pretext of surplus officers. infusion to 10 Public Sectors Banks etc. He In a lighter vein he also stated that there is a need stressed on the need for youngsters to take higher to appoint a detective agency to find out the excess responsibilities in CBOO. officers in the Bank. A good number of branches are having single officer (BM). Branches with Questions raised by members in the open session substantial credit exposure too do not get additional several were replied by the President and the officers, affecting recovery and NPA problems. General Secretary. He explained the efforts of the Organisation in posting second officer to single officer branches. He stated that the difficulties faced by the officers on account of Finacle migration have been taken up with the management in several forums and also in one to one meetings with the top management. CBOO has suggested various measures that can be implemented for reducing the branch level problems due to Finacle Migration. He also said that CBOO had been pursuing the matter regarding reduction of rate of interest on staff loans and enhancement B Swarna Geetha, Zonal Secretary, Bengaluru - of EHPL. South proposed vote of thanks.

There is no happiness higher than rest. – Dhammapada Officers’ Voice, June 2017 8

CBOO representatives, responding, highlighted the following issues:

a. Need for airconditioning Baikampady and Padavu Branches (Latter has substantial NRI customers).

b. Need for clerical staff at several branches.

c. Need for a strong room at Moodu Marnadu branch.

d. Multiple problems faced by Finacle branches The programme was well compeered by B R and the effect of the same on the business of Vijaykumar and Amritha, Area Secretaries. these branches.

Zonal Head informed that the issues will be looked into on priority.

- Bharath Kumar, Zonal Secretary

DELHI – NORTH

Zonal Consultative Committee Meeting for the first quarter of this financial year 2017-18 was held on 9th May at Zonal Office. CBOO Team consisted of Vice President, Anil Pahwa, Zonal Secretary, Arvind Meeting concluded with National Anthem. Arora and Deputy Zonal Secretary, Mukesh Gupta. Management team was represented by Zonal Head - G K V S Rao and B Swarnageetha, & DGM Sri Ashok Chandra, Sri Ramachandra G Zonal Secretaries Bhat, Deputy Zonal Head & AGM and Assistant ZONAL CONSULTATIVE COMMITTEE MEETINGS Manager, Personnel, Ms. Astha Uttam.

MANGALURU After welcoming management and Organisation representatives, Ms. Astha Uttam, Zonal Consultative Committee Meeting of requested Zonal Head to address the members of Mangaluru Zone was held at Zonal Office. B. ZCC present. Sridhar, Joint General Secretary, M M Mayya, Zonal Chairman, Bharath Kumar, Zonal Secretary Zonal Head, Sri Ashok Chandra, highlighting the and B S Ramanujachari, Deputy Zonal Secretary performance of the just concluded financial year represented CBOO. Zonal Management was 2016-17, informed that the Zone had performed represented by Sri. A K Vinod, Deputy General exceedingly well under all parameters on liability Manager and Zonal Head, Sri S L Ganapathi, side and could achieve CASA targets as well as Assistant General Manager and Deputy Zonal Head average deposit targets by registering growth of and Sri Dinesh, Manager, Personnel. 21% over the previous year. Performance under recovery, housekeeping were commendable, he said. Welcoming the CBOO team, Sri A K Vinod, Deputy The credit for this splendid performance goes to the General Manager briefed about the developments entire field team. Zone could not achieve advances in the Zone. He emphasized the need to concentrate target (except for agricultural advances); all other on CASA, Recovery and Advances under Agriculture parameters on assets side were in negative to category. He also highlighted on the need to improve previous year. Gross NPA level had gone up despite upon the non- interest income. putting all out efforts by entire team.

One who dares to waste one hour of life has not discovered the value of life. – S Chander Officers’ Voice, June 2017 9

Looking forward to the current financial year, Office, the same would be provided to branches. Zonal Head shared that the Zone is moving in - Arvind Arora, Zonal Secretary the right direction and is gaining momentum in doing business which must show results in coming ZONAL COMMITTEE MEEETINGS months. A few tie - ups and MOUs have already JAIPUR been made with some prestigious Government Departments and Corporates which would yield Zonal Committee Meeting was held on 7th May, good Business for the branches. at Jaipur Main Branch. Sriram Meena, Zonal Chairman presided over the meeting. Responding, Zonal Secretary, Arvind Arora complimented Zonal Head and entire team of Welcoming the functionaries, Zonal Secretary, the Zone on admirable performance. He highlighted Rakesh Kumar Meena briefed the members the following problems faced by Branches/officers: about the developments and discussions of 143rd Executive Committee Meeting held in Bengaluru 1. Problems at Finacle migrated branches facing on 15-16 April, 2017. Following issues were persisting problems despite efforts at various deliberated: forums. Problem resolution mechanism is unresponsive resulting in delays 1. Mess created in the migration process and 2. Unilateral debiting by Currency Chest to branches jeopardy to which the bank is exposed due to towards fake notes and shortage. Branches un-reconciled business position amounting are getting inter branch debits towards cash hundred crores and various problems faced by remitted during demonetization period even the branches in daily operations. presently. 2. Non-participation in strike by a few of the It was suggested that counting of notes at members in the Zone Central office shall also Chest should invariably be done in front of staff build a data base of these non- participants. of remitting branches in order to obliterate any 3. Need to re assess the manpower requirements misunderstanding in this regard. afresh in a scientific way with due reference to Vice President, Anil Pahwa, suggested: the working environment under FINACLE. 1. To hold monthly staff meetings compulsorily 4. Need to declare vacancies for promotion from at branches. It is a platform to share business clerical to officers grade to mitigate the shortage goals, strategies, achievements, problems and of Scale I officers. hurdles and find solution. 5. As decided in the EC, all members were called 2. To review manpower requirements as most of upon to demand compensation, not less the branches are suffering from staff shortage than Rs. 3000/- for working on holidays and (both officers and clerks) affecting business Sundays. and customer service. Staff component should 6. Need to provide second officer immediately to be commensurate to the volume and nature of single officer branches like Chittorgarh and business and footfalls in the branch etc. Jhunjhunu etc. and a third officer for branches Assistant General Manager, Sri Ramchandra G which have crossed Rs. 30.00 crore business. Bhat commended about good response received 7. Zonal Committee also decided to pursue with from branches to Outreach Programme. Focus the managers of those branches which have areas for current financial year are - canvassing not paid the late sitting compensation to their CASA to sustain growth with focus on Corp Elite, branch staff during demonetization work. Delight and Signature, increasing lending under Corp Schemes and MSME Sector, containing NPA The meeting was concluded with vote of thanks and ‘Recovering more to Lend More’. He assured, proposed by Mumal Gehlot Zonal Lady Secretary. the issues raised would be suitably dealt with and - Rakesh Kumar Meena, Zonal Secretary wherever any support was required from Zonal

Don’t pray for rain if you are going to complain about the mud. Officers’ Voice, June 2017 10

KOLKATA Arvind Arora, Zonal Secretary, Delhi - North expressed his displeasure on non-participation of some As per the decision of the EC at its meeting held members in the last strike in February as per the call at , a meeting of the Zonal Committee given by UFBU. He exhorted that any call given by was held on 27th April 2017 at Kolkata. Apart from the Organization, whether strike or demonstration, the members of the Zonal Committee, some local it is the duty of every member to take part and make activists were also invited. it a total success. He further informed that both Zonal Secretary, Nibid Kanti Sen welcomed the Zonal units of Delhi would organize a members’ meet members. He also informed the members to come on 10th June which will be attended by our President out with their views and suggestions on Finacle and General Secretary. He requested everyone to issues which can be communicated to Central inform members and attend the meeting. Office for further course of action. Anil Pahwa, Vice-President briefed the members Circle Secretary, G.P. Nath briefed the members about issues discussed in 143rd EC Meeting about the current issues concerning the Bank and at Bangalore where compensation for demonetization the officers. work and Finacle migration related issues were discussed threadbare. He further informed that ZC members present in the meeting expressed bank employees and officers have to be ready for the their displeasure and unhappiness about the way next fight as our wage negotiation would commence the issue of migration to Finacle is being handled soon. He expressed his concerns over absence without understanding field level problems. of a few Zonal Committee members as also non- Business of the Bank has suffered on account of participation by some of the members in last strike. faulty implementation of the project. He also shared information on Government’s plan of mergers/privatization of PSBs. He requested Several suggestions emanated after thorough Area Secretaries to be in touch with the members of discussions to be conveyed to Central Office for the branches under their command. follow up and suitable decision. It was also decided to implement decisions communicated by Central Amit Kumar, president of the meeting summed up Office in this regard. the proceedings with a very effective slogan “WORK LIKE A DILIGENT BANKER AND BE ALERT LIKE - Nibid Kanti Sen, Zonal Secretary AN ACTIVE UNION MEMBER.” DELHI Proposing a vote of thanks, Arvind Arora, Zonal Secretary, Delhi - North expressed his gratitude Combined Zonal Committee Meeting of Delhi North to each one for being present in the meeting despite and Delhi South Zone was held on 7th May at being Sunday. Karol Bagh, New Delhi which was attended by 28 members/activists from both the units. Anil Pahwa, - Arvind Arora and Manjeet Singh, Zonal Secretaries Vice-President was also present in the meeting. BHUBANESHWAR Meeting was presided over by Amit Kumar, Zonal Zonal Committee of Bhubaneswar unit was held at Chairman, Delhi-South. Welcoming all, he shared Hotel Arya Palace at Bhubaneshwar on 30th April to his thoughts with a special focus on importance of brief 143rd EC proceedings. The meeting attended ZC meetings. by Area Secretaries and a few activists was presided by Pankaj Kumar Patra, Zonal Chairman. Manjeet Singh, Zonal Secretary, Delhi - South informed all the latest developments since last Pravir Kumar Satpathy, Zonal Secretary Zonal Committee meeting of Delhi South Zone. He welcomed the members and informed the ZC on expressed his concerns regarding problems faced proceedings of 143rd EC - like non-participation by members during demonetization period and of some members in the February Strike, taking that management had not yet instructed branches care of own health, work life balance and periodic to compensate the officers for their hard work. health check-up, etc. The threadbare discussions He informed members about conducting SWASTI on Finacle & demonetization compensation were activity at Bharat Mata Kusth Ashram, Faridabad also highlighted by the Zonal Secretary. Area on 14th February and appealed to everyone to Secretaries were requested to convey these issues identify at least one such activity to repay our debts to the members in their areas. to society. - Pravir Kumar Satpathy, Zonal Secretary Officers’ Voice, June 2017 11

form. The RBI has been steadfastly refusing to divulge the aiboc news names of top corporate wilful defaulters. His statement that the private sector banks are doing better is also not AIBOC Press Release dated 27.04.2017 factual, Dhanlakshmi Bank Ltd., Catholic Syrian Bank All Bank Officers’ Confederation, the largest officers’ Ltd. and even Axis Bank are not doing well and we demand organization having membership of around 285000 officers nationalization of these Banks. We urge upon Shri Patel to vehemently condemns the statement of RBI Governor make a statement on these issues to dispel many doubt Dr. Urjit Patel on merger of Public Sector Banks, while about his ‘neutral’ stance. delivering the Kotak Family Lecture at Columbia University Mr. Urjit Patel further added, “the weaker banks are in New York. The RBI Governor Urjit Patel said that the losing market share and that is a good thing.” Such a Indian banking system could be better off if some public statement, made in a foreign country, against PSBs, sector banks are consolidated to have fewer and healthier whether weak or strong and that too coming from the entities and he further added that it would help in dealing regulator is very culpable in nature. PSBs, whether weak with the problem of stressed assets of these Banks. or strong need to be revived and as a regulator, the role While we are aware of the agenda of the Government of RBI is pivotal in this. A weak bank reveals a weaker to destroy the fabric of the Public Sector by opening up regulator. The role of a regulator is not merely restricted nine previously restricted economic sectors, including to imposition of penalties at the drop of a hat, but more civil aviation, single-brand retail stores, pharmaceuticals meaningfully and broadly to revive the position, to guide and military production, to 100 percent foreign direct them and to act as a mentor. Unfortunately, in our case, investment and ownership, we are deeply hurt by the our regulator publicly appreciates the distressed position statement of Shri Patel, who as the head of the apex Bank of PSBs, instead of coming out with any clue to revive the of the country, should have refrained from making such position. Regarding losing of market share by PSBs, Urjit an irresponsible comment publicly. Till date, he has not Patel has conveniently hidden actual facts. Small PSBs, come out with a public statement on Demonetisation in the backdrop of the findings of the Parliamentary Committee which have been alleged to have lost market share have in which has opined that the exercise was a colossal failure. reality increased their deposits, advances and gross profit. Yet, we are shocked to come across his statement, which However, due to the stringent provision norms prescribed is in sync with the stand of the Government. The yeomen by RBI against the big ticket corporate loans, the net profit service by PSU Banks in implementing the Jan Dhan has come down. Exercise as well as the handling of various Social Security In the days to come, the position of NPAs will worsen if the Schemes has conveniently been forgotten. Further, during names of willful defaulters is not published immediately his speech he opined, the PSBs to raise private capital and treated as criminal offenders. The government and from the markets and not rely on the Govt. for that. He the RBI failed miserably to bring in any stringent act dare not ask the Government to compensate the PSU or regulation to deal with the willful large corporate Banks for the opportunity cost for the entire period of borrowers which account for more than 60 percent of the Demonetisation and beyond, which has adversely affected public sector banks’ NPAs. The RBI cannot shirk off its the bottom-line of the banks. It is very unfortunate to responsibility of the huge NPAs as all the Bank’s boards learn that the Governor of the regulator of banks in India had RBI nominees as Director. Dr. Patel was in the board commented that merger of banks would help in dealing of SBI when many crucial decisions were taken. with the problem of stressed assets of these banks, which is inaccurate. History is replete with examples of failed AIBOC will continuously pursue its mission to unveil mergers. In fact, most mergers do not yield the desired the willful corporate defaulters and oppose any move to synergy and end up in fiasco. The Indian economy will be merge PSBs. It’s a dichotomy that on the one hand RBI significantly affected by the mergers as it will shrink the gives licence to more banks including small and Payment number of branches. The economically weaker sections of Banks but want Public Sector Banks to merge and reduce the society will be deprived of basic banking services and branches. In 60 years, we have the lowest credit growth would be gullible to the money lenders albeit in a different whereas farmers don’t get loans; traders don’t get loans;

The stupid neither forgive nor forget; the naïve forgive and forget; the wise forgive but do not forget. - Thomas Szasz Officers’ Voice, June 2017 12 students don’t get loans. Let RBI see where the problem Let us not forget that between 1960 and 1969, there were is. We do hope that in future Shri Patel will refrain from 48 compulsory mergers of private banks, 20 Voluntary making such statements which will show the apex bank amalgamations, 17 mergers with SBI, 125 transfer of in poor light and raise questions about the effectiveness assets and liabilities all involving 210 Private Banks. The of the central bank of the country which is shredding its no. of Private Banks which was 567 in 1951 came down to responsibilities day by day. 295 in 1961 and finally 91 in 1967. The nationalisation Sd/- of Banks was based on the performance of the Private (D. T. Franco) Banks. Out of 10 Private Banks started in 1993, 5 had General Secretary to be merged due to poor performance. Let us not forget Global Trust Bank which made 1100 Cr loss in 10 years AIBOC Press Release dated 29.04.2017 and was taken over by Public Sector Oriental Bank of Commerce. Between 1969 and 2014 there were 24 private It is disheartening to see the statements of Governor banks which collapsed. RBI and Deputy Governor, RBI on Bank Privatisation. Dr. Urjit Patel had stated “The weaker Banks are losing We also demand a discussion with the Association and market share and that is good thing”. Are these Banks Unions who are the stakeholders by RBI. The central really weak? Who made them weak? What was the role bank’s role is to develop a robust banking sector and of the RBI representative in the Board’s of these Banks? not to destroy it. When the deposits, advances and gross profits are steadily Sd/- increasing how do we call these Banks weak? (D. T. Franco) General Secretary Dr. Viral Acharya, Dy. Governor, says, “This re-privatisation will reduce the overall amount that the Govt needs to inject AIBOC Press Release dated 18/05/2017 as bank capital and help preserve its hard earned fiscal All India Bank Officers’ Confederation fervently denounces discipline, along with stable inflation outlook and the the large scale layoffs of the employees in I.T. industry. All diverse nature of our growth engine” When US, Japan, the major Information Technology giants including Tata China etc. have pumped in so much of capital why Govt. Consultancy Services (TCS), Wipro, Infosys and Cognizant, of India should not? The RBI and Govt. have received very etc. have started firing thousands of their employees good return in terms of dividend and Taxes from these leading to fears of massive unemployment in the whole Banks. If Dr. Viral Acharya feels the weak banks can be country and loss of livelihoods. sold who does he think will buy? If Private Sector people will buy, is it to lose their money? Although the IT companies have given the statement that the employees have been fired as part of their annual When we are preparing Turn Around Plan for 10 banks “performance appraisal” to align the workforce with to make them profitable in spite of the corporate NPA the business objectives, the fact remains that the rise created by RBI & Govt policies these statements are very of protectionist politics, mainly in United States and unpatriotic. In earlier occasion in 1996-97, when 3 banks other advanced countries, has increased the pressure were considered weak, the officers and employees worked on companies there to outsource contracts to local hard and made them profitable. Now RBI seems to be not companies, instead of firms in India. This is making interested in a Turn Around at all. Whom are they serving? the growth prospect more difficult for IT companies in What happened to their autonomy? Why can’t RBI prepare India. The trouble in Indian IT industry further worsened Turn Around Plan for one bank and prove its capability? with US President, Donald Trump’s ‘Buy American, Hire We are capable of turning around all these Banks into American’ campaign. The US is in the process of tightening profit making enterprises if the Govt. and RBI take some the norms for H-1B visas. Nearly 86 per cent of the H-1B serious action on NPA as recommended by the Parliament visas issued for workers in the IT sector go to Indians and Standing Committee on Finance. We also demand that this figure is now sure to be scaled down to about 60 per RBI should reimburse the cost of demonetisation to the cent or even less. Indian companies have been now forced banks which will augment their capital. to recruit locally.

Failure is delay, but not defeat. It is a temporary detour, not a dead end street. - William A Ward Officers’ Voice, June 2017 13

There is heart burn among the employees who have been government’s and the policymakers’ mindsets will have to fired, not only because they have lost their source of be changed. We cannot allow the government or any other livelihood, but they have been rated as under performers party to play with the future of our youth. We also strongly or non-performers by their respective companies which demand that the government intervenes immediately and would ruin their future job prospects in other organizations arranges to end the large scale layoffs in the IT sector, too. We can very well understand that the IT companies leading to massive unemployment. The All India Bank have awarded lower ratings to the employees to prevent Officers` Confederation will lend all its support to the IT any possible labour litigation over the layoffs. Most of the sector employees in their struggle and we encourage them people may not know that the performance evaluation to form trade unions in every company. system of IT Companies is such that a section of employees Sd/- will inevitably be rated as low performers irrespective of the (D. T. Franco) revenue generated per employee. The IT sector companies General Secretary amassed so much of wealth when business was doing well, now they should use some of the profit to re-skill and Random Reflections diversify the activity to retain the employees. Payment Banks – Digital Banking and Privatisation It is worth-mentioning in this context that the present government’s biggest betrayal of the Indian people has - D T Franco been on its promise of jobs. During the prolonged election The advertisements of Airtel Payment Bank showing campaign prior to the 2014 general election, our present crowded branches, indifferent staff and different interest PM promised jobs to everybody, especially the youth. He rates have been prepared to show public sector banks in harped on youth unemployment and the failure of the poor light and an abuse on the employees of Public Sector earlier government to create jobs. Now, even after 3 years Banks. It says why the Banks have to be like this? The of the formation of the government at the centre, we have ethics to be followed in advertisement is completely given not seen any development, rather the situation has only a go by. deteriorated further. Even after this exercise of huge layoffs in the IT sector, the government is watching the “Chalo School automated” has sent me an email asking to drama as a mute spectator with no real action to resolve use pay U money for online payment using credit / debit the issue. The Govt. of India, which is signing so many cards, wallet and net banking as easy as movie ticket bilateral agreements with other countries and allowing booking. It says, “Chalo-let’s move to cashless mode to them to start business in our country and also allowed build Digital India” free imports, should demand free movement of labour and Another email from Paytm says “ Review & Get 200, Refer professionals to other countries also. & Earn extra 100”. Yet another email received from Funds We must understand that when people are unemployed in India says “Save in Super Savings Account and earn 8.65% large numbers, it hurts the rest of the economy, creating growth”. At the bottom of the one page advertisement a cyclical problem. Again, when companies suffer because which lures with “Free ATM Card” says the Super Savings of lost business, they might in turn be forced to make Account invests in Reliance Money Manager Fund and layoffs of their own, making the unemployment rate rise adds “subject to market risk”. and overall spending drop even more leading to further The fourth email of today from Fullerton India says, loss. As per the data furnished by the government, though “Fulfill your dreams with special offers from Fullerton the Indian economy has grown in terms of GDP, it has India Personal Loans – Interest rate starts from 11.99%. been a laggard in terms of job creation. It generates only Check Eligibility – Apply online”. I remember reading two-thirds as many jobs with every unit of growth vis-a- “Banking” means the accepting for the purpose of lending vis the global average. Therefore, increasing GDP will not or investment of deposits of money from the public, be enough; the pattern of growth of the economy must be repayable on demand or otherwise and withdrawal by changed to create more jobs. We put on demand that the cheque, draft, order or otherwise”.

If you have not tasted a bad apple, you will never appreciate a good apple. You have to experience life to understand life. Officers’ Voice, June 2017 14

Are these companies mentioned above who send emails to ordinance that essentially empowers the Reserve Bank of us and numerous similar companies not doing “Banking”? India to micromanage bank decisions on resolution, would How is this happening without a Banking Licence? The have bankers and critics of the old school crying foul. But Government has liberalised everything to encourage the these are extraordinary times that call for extraordinary private sector. Who will supervise? How the customers measures. True, despite the relentless effort of the central will be safe guarded? Every year so many NBFCs are bank to put banks’ affairs into order through various tools blacklisted. Still the Government does not bother unless to resolve stressed assets, there has been little progress huge scams like Saradha Scam surface. on the ground. Toss in restructured loans, and the tally of stressed assets could well be upwards of Rs10 lakh crore. The report of Boston Consultancy Group & Google “Digital Banking 2020” says telecom players like Airtel, Reliance, Last ditch effort Vadafone and tech centric payment players like Paytm The ordinance which empowers the RBI to set up oversight who are given Payment Bank licence cannot earn lending panels to look into loan recasts, is being viewed as a revenues and hence digital banking and cashless economy desperate, last throw of the dice. With the RBI forcing all have to be pursued. In a country where 26% are illiterate, lenders to come on board with debt restructuring, the 8.43 Cr children do not attend schools in the school going resolution could after all pick up pace. But will banks that age and only 10% can read and write English, this digital have now been stripped of their decision-making authority modes are going to further marginalise the marginalised. be able to take key decisions on lending henceforth? Most 10% of the population is 12.7 crores. These are the ones importantly, will the RBI be able to act as a prudent and who are Banking with us but now getting lured by the independent regulator after it muddies its hands in the agencies. This will affect the Public Sector Banks badly. mundane affairs of banks? Once the profit gets decreasing, the banks will be blamed for poor performance and high NPA and they will be Why did things have to come to such a pass that the privatised. This has already happened in other countries. regulator has been forced to don overalls and dirty its As trade unions are strong here the Governments are hands on the shop floor? The RBI has been active in finding alternate ways to privatise. prodding banks to clean the NPA mess starting with the Joint Lenders’ Forum, and the SDR and S4A schemes. This can lead to dotcom like scams. This can lead to Realising that banks were chary of even recognising looting of common man’s money. This can also lead to non-performing loans, the regulator brought in the asset failure of the Banking system. We had only one East India quality review (AQR) in FY16. The AQR was touted as a Company which could make us poor slaves and needed major clean-up activity, one that would allow banks to 200 years of struggle to send them back. Now, hundreds start off on a clean slate. Forgotten were the important of MNCs, Consultants and Indian Corporates together issues of inadequate credit appraisal systems and shoddy are looting us. lending practices that caused the problem in the first So time has come for the common man and the bankers place. to come together. Understand the long term goal of the Where the buck goes Government and the private corporates. Save the common man. You will save yourself. But the mess, as it appears, did not end with AQR. Private banks which got off with a shorter AQR list, [The above write-up released on 15/02/2017 is one of the had some catching up to do. Realising that there were series of write-ups of Sri D T Franco, General Secretary, AIBOC - still divergences in asset classification and provisioning “[email protected]”] compared to its norms, the central bank last month issued Being a banker doesn’t suit the RBI a circular requiring banks to make suitable disclosures pertaining to FY16. Axis Bank now says that loans to the Such has been the concern over banks’ rising pile of bad tune of an additional Rs 9,478 crore should have been loans and historically low credit growth, that the Centre’s declared as NPAs in the FY16 fiscal itself; the bank had new ordinance has mostly found optimists lauding it as reported gross NPAs of Rs 6,087 crore only as of FY16. a path-breaking move. Under normal circumstances, the According to the ICICI Bank management, the RBI

Life is not about pleasing everyone; it is about hurting none. Officers’ Voice, June 2017 15 assessed incremental bad loans to the tune of Rs 5,100 to deal with the issue at hand. Sometime back, with the crore as part of this exercise. The two banks explain the constitution of the Banks Board Bureau chaired by CAG under-disclosure in FY16 saying that they accounted for Vinod Rai, expectations ran high of a drastic overhaul in the same during FY17, before the RBI issued its directive governance of PSBs. But after a year of coming into being, last month. BBB has proved to be damp squib, thanks to the Centre’s unwillingness to let go. The BBB’s latest recommendations The fact that the RBI had to issue so many directives mooting a new Governance, Reward and Accountability and circulars on the operational front alone highlights Framework for PSBs could well be a non-starter. the critical governance issues at banks. The RBI will now step into banks’ shoes to clean up the bad loan mess. The The PJ Nayak committee had envisaged granting more fact that it will — under the authorisation of the Centre — autonomy to bank boards. As a first step, the Centre would instruct banks on how to tackle specific accounts raises do well to reduce its stake. There is an urgent need to questions on the central bank’s autonomy. The preamble professionalise and depoliticise the governance structure. to the RBI Act 1934 indicates two core functions of the After all, when the economy picks up, banks will have to RBI — issue of currency and monetary authority. The get on the lending bandwagon. And to avoid repeating past legal mandate for other key functions and responsibilities mistakes, empowering bank boards will be critical. That comes from specific statutes — The Banking Regulation is the way to go rather than for the regulator to get into Act 1949, The Foreign Exchange Management Act 1999, an operational role in banks. The Payment & Settlement Systems Act 2007. In 2011, - The Hindu Business Line, 11/05/2017 the then governor of RBI, Duvvuri Subbarao, in one of his speeches had clarified that the RBI has not been accorded Waiving loans doesn’t end the distress autonomy under the statute. After the Yogi Adithyanath government waived farm The RBI Act lays down that the Centre may give directions loans of about Rs 36,000 crore for UP farmers, pressure to the RBI, after consultation with the governor, in the has mounted on other Sates to follow suit. But contrary public interest. In reality however he re-iterated that the to common belief, debt waivers aside from possibly RBI operates with a functionally autonomous mandate guaranteeing electoral victory, do little to alleviate the plight and there has been no instance so far of the Government of farmers. Neither do they help kick-start the rural economy exercising its reserve powers to issue a directive. That was nor spur agriculture investment. In fact, loan waivers only then. The Centre’s demonetisation move changed that. compound the problems faced by farmers by tarnishing Questions about the RBI’s independence and credibility their credit history and restricting access to institutional have been raised since then. According to the two new credit. Worse, they create a moral hazard by disrupting insertions in the Banking Regulation Act — 35 AA and the credit discipline among borrowers. The solution lies in 35 — the Centre can authorise the RBI to issue directions offering ways to improve farmer’s income-whether through to banks on resolution of stressed assets. Remember, better price for produce, introducing methods to generate these sections will stay in the Act much after the NPA non-farm income, or saving on cost of farming. problem is resolved. Can the RBI still carry on with its In the past implicit ‘autonomous’ image after it involves itself with bank decisions? Unlikely, as these provisions can be called The first-ever nationwide farm loan waiver was announced upon by the Centre or the RBI any time, not necessarily by the VP Singh government in 1990 at a fiscal cost of in dire times. Most of the past lending decisions leading to Rs 10,000 crore, Banks ended up paying a huge price for the NPA mess reek of political compulsions. It needs to be this as many borrowers started to default, in anticipation seen if the RBI can ring-fence its directives on resolution of more waivers. An ICRIER paper in 2015 entitled from political interference. ‘Evaluation of Credit policy for Agriculture in India’ makes a reference to the study of Shylendra and Singh in 1994 Time to dissolve BBB which showed that following the bailout programme, the Rather than mollycoddling banks and finding quickfix loan recovery of primary Agriculture Credit Societies in solutions to tackle bad loans, kick-starting reforms to fell sharply. It dropped from 74.9 percent in improve bank governance would have been the right way 1987-88 to 41.1 percent in 1991-92.

A thing you do not want is dear at any price. - Proverb Officers’ Voice, June 2017 16

Debt relief packages destroy the credit culture. A World went up to 516 in 2015 from 160 reported in 2014, while Bank research paper shows that for a standard deviation in Telangana it rose by over 50 percent, to 1,358 deaths of one in bailout exposure, there is a 4-6 percent decline in 2015. Debt Waivers offer only short term relief. Also in the number of loans. This study was done in 2008 after these do not offer any respite to the most underprivileged the then Finance Minister P Chidambaram wrote off a farmers who are seldom entertained by banks and end up massive Rs 50,000 crore of farm loans. What happened borrowing at high interest rates from money –lenders. The after the bailout was that banks reduced exposure to, data shows about 30-35 percent of farmers in the country districts where the write-offs were high. Reserve Bank of still depend only on non-institutional credit. India data shows that non-performing assets in agriculture Debt waivers should be replaced by a comprehensive for commercial banks rose after the 2008 debt waiver package for complementing the income of farmers. The programme. Between 2009-10 and 2012-13, NPAs of SCBs respective State agri departments need to work with their (in agriculture) rose from Rs 10,353 crore to Rs.30,200 agriculture universities and draw up a plan for improving crore. the non-farm income of farmers through poultry farming, The claim of the supporters of the bailout programmes cattle breeding, or fisheries. They should help Farmers that it has positive impact on rural economy is also make the choice of right crops and variety. Ways to wrong, says the World Bank paper. “We used regionally reduce costs and improve farm productivity have to be disaggregated data to test for the effect of the bailout on brought in. Ensuring a good price for the produce is also rural productivity, wages and employment. Our results important. E-NAM, the Centre’s flagship electronic national identify a precise zero for each of these outcomes.” The agriculture market scheme, is still stuck at various levels study has shown a low spending multiplier from the debt of implementation. Many States are yet to modify their relief programme. Debt waivers are bad for everyone: those APMC Act to create a single market for facilitating trade who receive debt relief as also for those who do not benefit; through e-NAM portal. because they didn’t have any overdue loan, says another The insurance angle research paper (‘Borrowing Culture and Debt Relief: Evidence from a policy Experiment’, April 2013). The first The crop insurance scheme is also one way to ensure category of borrowers become defaulters in banks’ book farmers do not suffer losses because of crop failure. The and are denied loans in the future. The other category new version of the scheme, the PM Fasal Bima Yojana, has of borrowers who are discontented because they didn’t achieved limited success. By covering largely only loanee benefit the last time, build hopes for a fresh waiver and farmers (these are sold through banks that automatically stop repayments. For fresh loan, they then borrow from debit the loan account with insurance premium), this the informal sector at a much higher cost. scheme has turned to be more advantageous to banks than to farmers, Small tenant farmers under pressure from the Not much use high cost of lease rent and borrowing from money-lenders, The recent experience in debt waivers in the country are still unaware of this insurance. Even when loan has not been good. In 2014, before the elections, both waivers become necessary, as during a natural calamity, N Chandrababu Naidu’s Telugu Desam Party and K they should be directed only to small and marginal Chandrashekar Rao’s Telangana Rastra Samithi promised farmers. An unconditional bailout for every farmer is an loan waivers to farmers in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. unnecessary burden to the exchequer, when large farmers Both saw victory in the polls and implemented the waiver are capable of absorbing the loss in most cases. Also the programme. But, given its massive scale-Rs 40,000 crore Government should prevent bailout programmes becoming for Andhra Pradesh and about Rs 17,000-20,000 crore a disincentive for diligent borrowers to pay their dues. for Telangana –the States had to add many riders to the Offering credit at a lower rate the following year to good scheme. The loan waiver, finally, only compounded the borrowers, for instance, can help reduce the moral hazard problems of farmers. According to the National Crime to some extent. Records Bureau, farmer suicides in Andhra Pradesh - The Hindu Business Line, 25/04/2016

Good and evil in man weigh well; judge him by virtues which prevail. - Thirukkural Officers’ Voice, June 2017 17

contributions of HSV to the OV through the cartoons. Upon BALASUBRAMANIAN FOUNDATION receipt of OV, people turn to the last page first and then ‘BANKartoons’ released read the remaining portion, he said. He thanked both the Zonal Units of Bengaluru for well organizing the event. Readers of Officers’ Voice neither need any introduction nor any explanations on cartoons. The last page of OV contains a regular feature - cartoons on issues related with banking, officers’/employees’ service conditions, their plight due to human resource crunch, campaigns, targets, technology and all and sundry. Synonymous with these cartoons is the name of its author – Sri H S Vishwanath, former Secretary of Balasubramanian Foundation. HSV, as he is called by near and dear ones, has made substantial value addition to the OV through the cartoons – containing enjoyable humour, igniting corrective/introspective thought process and relaxing the ever serious bankers. Foundation has compiled 222 cartoons of HSV published President, Ekanath Baliga explained the background in OV all these years and brought it out in the form of a of the compilation of the book. The entire work relating book titled BANKartoons. Sri T R Bhat, former Chairman of to the selection of the cartoons, title, cover page design CBOO has written foreword to the book. Former President, and the notes were carried out by Sri Vishwanath which Sri D N Prakash (who was instrumental in developing the culminated in the final output. He had added a new cartoon page in OV in the form of ‘In Lighter Vein’ in the dimension to OV and CBOO, by publishing a first time last page of OV) has written a preface. collection of cartoons related with only banking, is trying to repay in a very small way as a recognition to HSV’s Book release programme was held at Mythic Society, contributions, he said. Bangalore on 20th May. Sri M S Narasimha Murthy, famous Humour Columnist and writer in Kannada was the Chief Guest. Sri D N Prakash, former President was Guest of Honour. President, Ekanath Baliga, General Secretary, Satish Shetty along with all office-bearers in Bengaluru, President of CBROA, Sri U Suresh Shenoyand family members of Sri Vishwanathwere also present. Programme commenced with invocation by B RVijaykumar, Area Secretary, Bengaluru North.

Former President, Sri D N Prakash narrated the history of insertion of cartoons in OV, HSV’s entry into the OV contribution, its formalization trough devoting the last page to HSV in the form of ‘Lighter Vein’ and the quality of the cartoons which always have brought smiles on the faces of the readers apart from being eye-openers many times. There was no vengeance of ridicule in HSV’s cartoons. Even the persons, who got related with the The audience consisting of members, retired members, subject matter of cartoon would appreciate the subtle invitees and the family members of HSV were welcomed and explicit humour, appreciate the theme and like the by Satish Shetty, General Secretary. He lauded the contents, he said.

A small dot stops a big sentence. The addition of a few more dots, gives it continuity. In life, every ending can be converted into a new beginning. Officers’ Voice, June 2017 18

adversities in life, humour is essential.Genesis of humour has roots in the pains felt by individuals. In laughter, you forget yourself. Artistic pursuit has a specified currency. CBOO has revived the urge of pursuit in me. Apart from humour, cartoons also contain a feeling of ridicule. But it is not with malice.” He thanked Sri T R Bhat for writing the foreword and Sri D N Prakash for providing a space in last page of OV to his cartoons for years.

The book was released in the benign hands of Sri M S NarasimhaMurthy, the Chief Guest. He was all in praise for HSV’s quality cartoons and the messages it conveyed. Explaining the background as to how the daily

S Ramachandrappa, Deputy General Secretary, suggested that the Bank must give an option – HTMBS (How To Make Bankers Smile) as Corp Bankers have almost lost smiles on faces after demonetization and Finacle migration.He thanked one and all in contributing to the success of the day’s programme.

Sri B R Vijayakumarcompered the programme well, giving suitable narratives.The programme concluded with National Anthem. life cases faced by the bankers are an abundant fodder for humourists or cartoonists, he gave example of his own banking career in erstwhile State Bank of Mysore which achievements apart from containing humour were very challenging. Mr. Ramanjee, He made specific mention of a few cartoons in the book Assistant Manager, which were pointers to real life and joyous. Cartoons have presently working at a corrective value, he added. Zonal Office, Delhi (South) is a visually challenged Para Athlete and national record holder of 100 meter sprint. He represented India 6 times at various international events and bagged many medals in continuity in the national as well as international competitions. He flies the tri color and the Corporation Bank’s flag high. From 25th to 27th of March he participated in the 7th Sharjah International Open Para Athletics meet in Sharjah and Responding to observations of all speakers, Sri H S bagged Gold Medal in Long Jump event and brought Vishwanath thanked all for their support to his cause. laurels for our Bank as well as for the country. Late Sri R K Laxman is my inspiration to start drawing Let’s wish him good luck for achieving many more cartoons, he started. “Memories become your life. laurels for the country and for the Corporation CBOO has given me plenty of sweet memories. In facing Bank in the coming competitions. Officers’ Voice, June 2017 19

Regional Office-Karnataka II, Basaveshwarnagar, Mysore- retirements Siddhartha Layout, Virajpet, Mumbai-Kandivili, Madikeri and Mangalore-Ram Bhavan Complex. The following members will be retiring from the service of the Bank on attaining the age of superannuation on 4. Mr. J Harischandra Bhat, 30th June, 2017: Manager, G M’s (Credit) Secretariat HO, Head Office 1. Mr. Nagesh Shenoy R, Manager, Communications Cell, Head Office Sri Bhat joined the Bank in January, 1980 as a Typist cum Sri Shenoy joined the Bank as a Clerk in July, 1978. He Clerk. He was promoted to Officer was promoted to Officer cadre in JMG Scale I in July, 1984. cadre in JMG Scale I in April, He became Manager in MMG Scale II in December, 2001. 2010. He became Manager in During 39 years of service, he worked at Head Office, MMG Scale II in May, 2015. Mangalore Car Street, Harihar, Bhatkal, Kurubagonda, During 37 years of service, he Haveri, New Delhi-Friends Colony, Chandni Chowk, worked at Ranibennur, Mangalore-Car Street, Head Office Head Office - Credit Risk Management Division, Bastora, -Advance Department, Madanthyar, Head Office - PAD Bicholim and Panjim. (Officers Wing), P P M & Branch Expansion Dept, Official 2. Mr. Pramod R Kamath, Chief Manager, Zonal Office- Language Division, Planning & Resource Mobilisation Hyderabad Division, Economic Intelligence Planning & MIS Division, Publicity & Public Relation and Bylakuppe. Sri Kamath joined the Bank as a Clerk in December, 1978. He was promoted to Officer cadre in JMG Scale I in 5. Mr. Jagadeesan P P, Senior Manager, Kasargod December, 1983. He became Manager in MMG Scale II in (Kochi Zone) April, 1997. He was elevated as Senior Manager in Scale Sri Jagadeesan joined the Bank as a Clerk in March, 1980. III in February, 2003 and Chief Manager in SMG Scale IV He was promoted to Officer cadre in JMG Scale I in May, in August, 2008. 1986. He became Manager in MMG Scale II in March, 2003 and Senior Manager in Scale III in July, 2014. During 39 years of service, he worked at Mumbai-Worli, Service, Fort, CBB, Bangalore-CBB, Mumbai-Nariman During 37 years of service, he worked at Head Office, Point, Head Office - Credit Division (Sanctions), Priority Bijapur, Kanhangad, Gondal, Thrikkaruva, Kasargod, Sector & Retail Lending Division, Mumbai-Marol S M E, Head Office - Support Service Division, PAD (Officers Wing), Bangalore-White Field, S.C. Road, Hubli - Zonal Office P P M & Branch Expansion Department, Bovikan, Zonal and CCPC. Office Delhi North, Kannur, Head Office - Govt. Business & Bankassurance Division and Bellikoth. 3. Mr. T E Manohar, Assistant General Manager, Zonal Office, Goa 6. Mr. Sudhir Nayak N, Chief Manager, Zonal Office, Goa Sri Manohar joined the Bank as a Clerk in May, 1979. He was promoted to Officer cadre in JMG Scale I in July, Sri Nayak joined the Bank as a Clerk in August, 1980. 1984. He was promoted as Manager in MMG Scale II in He was promoted to Officer cadre in JMG Scale I in May, November, 1997 and as Senior Manager in Scale III in 1986. He became Manager in MMG Scale II in October, February, 2003. He became Chief Manager in SMG Scale 1998 and Senior Manager in Scale III in December, 2004. IV in August, 2008 and Assistant General Manager in Scale He was elevated as Chief Manager in SMG Scale IV in V in September, 2014. February, 2012.

During 38 years of service, he worked at New Delhi- During 37 years of service, he worked at Ankola, Regional Office, Greater Kailash, Somwarpet, Nellihudikeri, Mangalore-Pandeshwar, Chitradurga, Karkala, New Delhi- Madikeri, Pune - Main, CAPS, Mumbai-CAPS, Bangalore - Lodhi Complex, Aralasurali, Nandikuru, Alangar, Pune -

A bird is known by its note; a man by his talk. Officers’ Voice, June 2017 20

Corp Bank Homes Ltd, Kharadi, Bangalore-Mysore Main 10. Mr. Parameshwar Bhat Alek, Road, M. G. Road, Cheekanahalli and Kochi - Zonal Office. Assistant General Manager, Mumbai-Virar (Thane Zone) 7. Mr. Nagendra, Senior Manager, Madikeri-C. O. B. S. E. T. I Sri Bhat joined the Bank as a (Mysore Zone) Clerk in November, 1981. He was promoted to Officer cadre JMG Sri Nagendra joined the Bank Scale I in February, 1996. He was as a Clerk in October, 1980. He promoted as Manager in MMG Scale was promoted to Officer cadre in II in December, 2004 and as Senior JMG Scale I in October, 1985. He Manager in Scale III in September, became Manager in MMG Scale 2010. He became Chief Manager in SMG IV in June, 2014 II in November, 1997 and Senior and Assistant General Manager in Scale V in February, Manager in Scale III in May, 2015. 2017.

During 37 years of service, he worked at Sullia, Hassan, During 36 years of service, he worked at Bangalore- Bidar, Bhadravathi-B. H. Road, Mysore-Main, Mandya, Regional Office, Rajajinagar, Hadinbal, Honnavar, Nellihudikeri, Ranibennur, New Delhi-Rajendra Place, Bellary, New Delhi-Vasundhara Enclave, Dilshad Garden Greater Kailash, Zonal Office- Delhi North, Zonal Office Bangalore-Shantinagar, Kempapura, Bangalore-Jakkur - Coimbatore, Zonal Office-Mysore and Mysore Currency Layout, Dodballapur and Mumbai - Mandvi. Chest. 11. Mr. Sudheer S Modak, Manager, Hubli-Currency Chest (Hubli Zone) 8. Mr. Ravindranath Mishra, Manager, Lucknow-Service (Lucknow Zone) Sri Modak joined the Bank as a Clerk in December, 1981. He was promoted as JMG Scale I in February, 1994. He Sri Mishra joined the Bank as a Clerk in October, 1980. He became Manager in MMG Scale II in November, 2005. was promoted to Officer cadre in JMG Scale I in October, 1985. He became Manager in MMG Scale II in October, During 36 years of service, he worked at Athani, Dharwad, 1998. Belwadi, Ahmedabad-Navarangapur, Hubli-New Cotton Market, Yaliwal, Ranibennur, New Delhi-Rajendra Place, During 37 years of service, he worked at Mumbai-Fort, Gurgaon-Palam Vihar, Gokak, Bhadravathi-B. H. Road Lucknow, Varanasi, New Delhi - Regional Office, Service, and Sagar-B H Road. St. Jose De Areal, Agra, Yamuna Nagar, Lucknow- , Hazaratganj and Raibareilly. 12. Mr. J Srinivasa Prakasha, Assistant Manager, Bangalore-Shantinagar (Bangalore – South) 9. Ms. Sangeetha Sadananda Sri Prakasha joined the Bank as a Clerk in January, Nayak, Manager, Mumbai- 1982. He was promoted to Officer cadre in JMG Scale I in Ghatkopar -W (Thane Zone) September, 2004.

Ms. Sangeetha joined the Bank During 35 years of service, he worked at Davangere- as Clerk in June, 1981. She was Mandipet, Harihar, Thayavanige, Yellur, Hindupur, promoted as Officer in JMG Scale Belgaum - Zonal Office, Samadevigalli and Bangalore- I in May, 1998. Jayanagar 9th Block.

During 36 years of service, she 13. Mr. Mohammad Amiruddin, Chief Manager, Circle worked at Mumbai-Chembur, Audit Office-Kolkata Ghatkoper - West, Zonal Office, Mulund, CAPS, Wadala, Sri Amiruddin joined the Bank as Agricultural Field Officer Mulund and Thane. in JMG Scale I in July, 1982. He was promoted as Manager

Eternal vigilance is the price of liberty - J P Curran Officers’ Voice, June 2017 21 in MMG Scale II in October, 1998. He became Senior and became Special Assistant in Manager in Scale III in December, 2007 and was elevated February, 2002. He was promoted as Chief Manager in SMG Scale IV in August, 2012. to Officer cadre in JMG Scale I April, 2007. During 35 years of service, he worked at Eluru, Masulipatnam, Gandepalli, Nizamabad, Chennai-Regional During 34 years of service, he worked Office, Service, Hyderabad-Service, Lucknow - Regional at Amritsar, Phagwara, Jallandhar, Office-Northern Region II, Vijayawada - Zonal Office, Kapurthala, Ahmedabad-Currency Hyderabad-Zonal Audit Office and Inspection & Audit Chest, Phagwara and Banga. Division HO. 17. Mr. Pandurang Narayanappa Sri Amiruddin was a member of 15th EC as the Regional Rathodi, Assistant Manager, Gadag Secretary of Lucknow regional unit (August, 2001- June, ( Hubli Zone) 2003). He also served the 16th EC as Assistant General Sri Rathodi joined the Bank as Secretary. a Clerk in March, 1984. He was 14. Mr. Prabhakaran G, Senior Manager, Zonal Office promoted to Officer cadre in JMG Coimbatore Scale I in October, 2010. Sri Prabhakaran joined the Bank as a Clerk in November, During 33 years of service, he 1982. He was promoted to Officer cadre in JMG Scale I worked at Ranibennur, Gadag, Hirewaddatti, Kolhapur, in June, 2001. He became Manager in MMG Scale II in Ratnagiri, Kotturu and Doopadahalli. September, 2008 and as Senior Manager Scale III in July, 18. Mr. Shinde Amarsinh Balasaheb, Assistant 2014. Manager, Wadange (Pune Zone) During 35 years of service, he worked at Vellore, Thanjavur, Sri Shinde joined the Bank as a Clerk in August, 1984. Ussoor, Kumbakonam, Mumbai-Mahakali Caves Road, He became Special Assistant in March, 2008. He was Turbhe-Vashi, Chennai-Anna Salai, Ambur, Chennai- promoted to Officer cadre in JMG Scale I in April, 2011. Teyanampet and Salem-Alagapuram. During 33 years of service, he worked at Sholapur, 15. Mr. B N Nagendra, Assistant Kolhapur, Ratnagiri, Karad, and Sangi. General Manager, Zonal Office Patna 19. Mr. Ananda Sadguna Paul C S, Assistant Manager, Ballari Cantonment (Huli Zone) Sri Nagendra joined the Bank as Agricultural Field Officer in JMG Scale Sri Paul joined the Bank as a Clerk in August, 1984. He I in May, 1983. He was promoted as was promoted to Officer cadre JMG Scale I in May, 2010. Manager in Scale II in December, During 33 years of service, he worked at Girisagar, Bellary, 1994 and as Senior Manager in Scale Moka and Sandur. III in February, 2003. He became Chief Manager in SMG Scale IV in December, 2007 and 20. Mr. R Karunanithi, Senior Manager, Zonal Office Assistant General Manager in Scale V in June, 2011. Thiruchirapalli

During 34 years of service, he worked at Bhadravathi-B. Sri Karunanithi joined the Bank as a Clerk in October, H. Road, Varamballi, Shimoga, Shivani, Kolhapur, Biligi, 1984. He was promoted to Officer cadre JMG Scale I in Ambala, Bangalore-, Jayanagar and February, 1998. He became Manager in MMG Scale II Chennai-Kelly’s Corner. in November, 2005 and Senior Manager in Scale III in August, 2012. 16. Mr. Lal Dass, Assistant Manager, Zonal Office Ludhiana During 33 years of service, he worked at Madurai- Vengalakadai Street, Westmasi Street, Pollachi, Keerambur, Sri Dass joined the Bank as Clerk in October, 1983

Never say ‘No’; never say,’ I cannot’; for you are infinite. Even time and space are nothing compared with your nature. – Swami Vivekananda Officers’ Voice, June 2017 22

Karur, Kolkata-Canning Street, Chennai-Teynampet, 3. Mr. Jakkilinki Janaki Ram, Nungambakkam, Anna Nagar and Chennai - Currency Assistant Manager, Rajahmundry- Chest. Danavaipeta Vijayawada Zone. 21. Mr. R Babu, Assistant Manager, Sri RJanaki am joined the Bank Chennai-LIC Hub (Chennai Zone) in November, 1996 as Typist cum Sri Babu joined the Bank in February, Clerk. He was promoted to Officer 1986 as a Peon. He was promoted cadre in JMG Scale I in October, as Clerk in November, 1991 and as 2006. Officer in JMG Scale I in September, 2012. During 21 years of service, he worked at Gondal, Nagaram, Secunderabad-M. G. Road, New Delhi-Service, Sarita During 31 years of service, he worked Vihar, Hyderabad-Mehdipatnam, Shamshabad, KPHB at Keerambur, Chennai-George Town, Vellore, Chennai- Colony and Rajahmundry - Main. Anna Nagar, Mylapore, Velacherry, Indiranagar, Currency Chest and Service. CBOO thanks all these members for their support and B. VOLUNTARY RETIRMENT co-operation and wishes them a happy, healthy and contended retired life. The following members retired from the Bank voluntarily, under Regulation 29 of Pension Regulations during April, circular round up 2017: 1. IBA Approved Revised Format Aadhaar Number 1. Mr. Mula Ramlingeswara Sarma, Assistant Seeding Into Multiple Bank Account Manager, Kakinada-Bhanugudi Juction (Vijayawada (Priority Sector Division, HO Circular No. 226/2017 dated 18.04.2017) Zone) IBA has modified the consent form currently being Sri Sarma joined the Bank as a Clerk in September, obtained to seed Aadhaar number in a specific account. 1984. He was promoted to Officer cadre JMG Scale I in The modified form, to seed Aadhaar number for all the September, 2013. existing and proposed/future accounts with the Bank, is furnished in the Annexure to the circular. During 33 years of service, he worked at Vizianagaram, 2. Non-adherence to CCCK Scheme guidelines – Kakinada, Aratlakatta, Visakhapatnam - Main, K G Rao Observations of Internal Auditors Vidya Mandir, MVP Colony and Thimmapurm. (Priority Sector Division, HO, Circular No. 227/2017 dated 2. Kokane Devappa Yallappa, Manager, Saundalga, 18.04.2017) Belgaum Zone. During the course of regular inspection of the Branches, Internal Auditors have pointed out serious irregularities Sri Kokane, joined the Bank as a Clerk in November, 1986. in CCCK loans disbursed. Therefore, Branches have been He was promoted to Officer cadre in JMG Scale I in March, advised to strictly adhere to the Scheme Guidelines and 2002. He became Manager in MMG Scale II in May, 2016. comply with all the terms and conditions of the scheme before sanctioning/ disbursing the credit facility. During 31 years of service, he worked at Panjim, Mapuca, Belgaum-Tilakawadi, Delhi-Kirthi Nagar, New Delhi- 3. Financing Bee keeping activities Mahavir Nagar, Nipani, Belgaum-Retail Loan Centre, (Priority Sector Division, HO, Circular No. 228/2017 dated 19.04.2017) Benakanahalli, Panjim - Retail Loan Centre and Goa- Siolim. In view of the crucial/vital role of bee keeping in increasing

Do not wish to be anything but what you are; and to be that, perfectly. – St. Francis de Sales Officers’ Voice, June 2017 23 crop productivity and enhancing farmers’ income, cut off limit under Priority/MSME sector for Corp Scheme Branches to explore the possibilities for extending credit Loans is communicated in the circular. support to bee keeping activity. Other details are furnished 9. Legal decisions affecting bankers - Trust cannot in the circular. be a Consumer and a complainant under Consumer 4. Legal Decisions Affecting the Bankers Protection Act (LSD, HO, Circular No. 232/2017 dated 19/04/2017) (Legal Services Division, HO Circular No. 245/2017 dated 25.04.2017) As per the decision by Delhi High Court, bank is not expected to undertake inquiry at the stage of invocation A Trust cannot be a consumer and a complainant of Bank Guarantee to ascertain if the invocation is for under Consumer Protection Act as it is not a person. genuine reasons. Invocation has to be validly made in Consequently, it cannot file a consumer dispute. accordance with the terms and conditions of the BG. 10. Vigilance issues – systems and procedures 5. Circle Head/Zonal Head/Deputy Zonal Head’s (Vigilance Division, HO Circular No. 246/2017 dated 25.04.2017) Branch Visit Report Format and Reporting System In view of the loan related irregularities recently reported (P&D Division, HO Circular No. 233/2017 dated 19/04/2017) at various Branches of the Bank, all staff members are requested to ensure that Bank’s Systems and Procedures Details are furnished in the circular on the revised format are followed meticulously at all times make proper use of of Circle Head/Zonal Head/ Deputy Zonal Head’s Branch Vigilance Tools and Whistle Blower Policy. Some of the Visit Report and the revised reporting system. Vigilance Tools available for prevention of irregularities/ 6. Financial Literacy week – June 5 – 9, 2017 frauds are furnished in the circular. (Priority Sector Division, HO Circular No. 241/2017 dated 11. Application for Education Loans through Vidya 24.04.2017) Lakshmi Portal RBI has advised to conduct Financial Literacy week from (Retail Lending Division, HO Circular No. 247/2017 dated June 5th to 9th. The Literacy week will focus on four broad 25.04.2017) themes viz., KYC, exercising Credit Discipline, Grievances All applications for education loan have to be through Redressal and Going Digital. Branches/Offices to take note Vidya Lakshmi Portal. Applications received in physical of the same for strict compliance. form have to be entered in Vidya Lakshmi Portal. Legacy 7. CGTMSE – Modifications in the existing operational cases from 15.08.2015 are to be uploaded on Vidya guidelines Lakshmi Portal latest by 30.09.2017. (MSME Division, HO Circular N.: 243/2017 dated 25.04.2017) 12. Amendment to Karnataka Stamp Act – Validity • Furnishing of Udyog Aadhaar number in Guarantee of Stamps application form is mandatory w. e. f. 01.05.2017. (Legal Services Division, Ho Circular No. 251/2017 dated • Payment of Guarantee fees to CGTMSE should be 03.05.2017) through CMS Menu only w. e. f. 01.04.2017. The Karnataka Stamp Act is amended with effect from 8. Corp Schemes Retail Loans – Need to Assign Correct 01.04.2017. In the State of Karnataka, any Stamps CIS Code purchased shall be valid for a period of 6 months from (Retail Lending Division, HO Circular No. 244/2017 dated the date of purchase or 6 months from the date of commencement of Amendment Act 2017, whichever is later. 25.04.2017)

Retail Loans extended under Corp Schemes qualify for 13. Issuance of fresh notice under section 13 (2) of SARFAESI Act classification under Priority Sector/MSME Sector based (Legal Services Division, HO, Circular No. 252/2017 dated on the activity/purpose. Hence proper classification and 03.05.2017) assigning relevant Credit Information Code (CIS) for loans sanctioned under various Corp Schemes needed. Revised The notice under section 13 (2) of SARFAESI Act, issued

There is time for speaking and a time for being still. – William Caxton Officers’ Voice, June 2017 24 afresh shall specifically mention that the earlier notice Repetition shall be ground for refusal. stands withdrawn. In the event of the death of the 19. Bringing or attempting to bring external pressure Borrower/Guarantor/Mortgager, after issuing notice on matters relating to service conditions by employees under section 13 (2), fresh notice should be issued to the (Human Resource Management – Personnel Administration legal heirs of the deceased. Division, HO Circular No. 266/2017 09.05.2017) 14. Deletion of advocates/valuers involved in fraud/ All the employees have once again been reminded to desist committing irregularities from bringing any outside pressure, including political (Legal Services Division, HO, Circular No. 253/2017 dated pressure on the Executives/Top Management seeking 03.05.2017) undue favours in matters relating to transfer, promotions Branches should take all necessary steps to delete the name and other service conditions, failing which, such an act of the Advocates/Valuers who have submitted defective/ on the part of the employee/s will be viewed seriously. false Legal Opinion/Valuation reports, respectively. 20. Scheme of Delegation of Lending Powers – 15. CGTMSE – Payment of ASF/AGF – Modification Modification in Powers In Respect of Loans Under in the existing procedure Agriculture (MSME Division, HO Circular No. 255/2017 dated 04.05.2017) (Credit Division, HO Circular No. 267/2017 dated 10.05.2017) Guidelines have been issued to Zonal Offices for making Powers to sanction loans under CCCKL, CKFM, SRDE, ASF/AGF payment for the FY 2017-2018 and for online CKFLS and Loans to establish Agri Clinics & Agri Business verification of Annual Service Fee (ASF)/Annual Guarantee Centres has been reduced with effect from 11.05.2017, as Fee (AGF) generated by CGTMSE. The last date for detailed in the circular. completion of the task by the Zonal Offices is 10.06.2017. 21. Financial Inclusion: Waiver of folio charges on Other details are furnished in the circular. BCOD accounts 16. The Banking Regulation (Amendment) Ordinance (Priority Sector Division, HO Circular No. 268/17 dated 11.05.2017) 2017 The Bank has taken a decision to waive the folio charges (Legal Services Division, HO, Circular No. 260/2017 dated on BCOD accounts, existing and future, at all Branches 08.05.2017) and also waiver of various amounts of folio charges in Section 35AA and Section 35AB are inserted to Banking BCOD accounts treated as Seepage of Income at different Regulation Act, 1949 by which Central Government may Branches pending for recovery, with immediate effect, as authorise RBI for issuing directions to Banking Companies to approved by the Board of the Bank. initiate insolvency resolution process. RBI may issue directions 22. Enhancement of BCOD limit - Sanctioning power to Banking Companies for resolution of stressed assets. given to Zonal Heads 17. The Real Estate (Regulation & Development) Act, (Priority Sector Division, HO Circular No. 270/2017 dated 2016 11.05.2017) (Legal Services Division, HO Circular No. 261/2017 dated As per the above circular, Zonal Heads are authorised to 08.05.2017) sanction BCOD limit up to a maximum of Rs. 1.00 lakh The Government of India has enacted the Real Estate on case to case basis. (Regulation & Development) Act, 2016. Details are 23. Opening of Joint Account by Pensioners with furnished in the circular. First Name of the Pensioner 18. Central Information Commission’s decision on (Government Business Division, HO Circular No. 274/2017 dated seeking similar information through repeated RTI 12.05.2017) applications Wherever joint account is permitted to be held with the (Legal Services Division, HO Circular No. 263/2017 dated spouse of the retiring employees, the first name should be 09.05.2017) of the Pensioner to avoid difficulties at the time of filing The Central Information Commission has observed that Income Tax Returns as the Income Tax is assessed on the there is no scope of repeating queries under RTI Act. income of the Pensioner and not of the spouse.

The best guide in life is strength. – Swami Vivekananda Officers’ Voice, June 2017 25

accept online submission of the FATCA declaration. “It is miscellany a self FATCA declaration process, and doesnot require any documents to be submitted,” says Manoj Nagpal, CEO of PSUs may take their business to Air India Outlook Asia Capital. At least five public sector undertaking have indicated - The Economic Times, 05/08/2017 to Air India that they are willing to take their business to the national carrier. The container Corporation of 1.52 lakh casual, 45000 part-time jobs lost post- India, NPTC, GAIL, IOC and the India Trade Promotion demonetisation Organisation have expressed their willingness to transfer As many as 1.52 lakh casual and 46,000 part-time jobs their international and domestic bookings to Air India. were lost during October 2016 to January 2017. This is in This is in response to an appeal by Ashwani Lohani, spite of eight key sectors of the economy adding 1.22 lakh Chairman and Managing Director, Air India, who had sent workers during the quarter, against 32,000 in the previous personalised letters to the chiefs of various schemes of quarter, according to the Labour Bureau. The Quarterly the airline and advertising its position as the only Indian Employment Survey (fourth series), which includes the carrier to be part of the Star Alliance, the largest global demonetisation period, saw the maximum decrease of airline network. This could be an attractive proposition casual jobs in manufacturing (1.13 lakh) and IT/BPO for corporate travelers, as membership brings a gamut of (20,000). The loss of part-time work was also highest in features such as worldwide connectivity, access to lounges manufacturing. Overall, there were positive changes in and through check-ins, among other. manufacturing (83,000), trade (7,000), transport (1,000), Lohani’s letter also mentions Air India’s special fare IT/BPO sector (12,000), education (18,000) and health scheme, under which fares of the airline match second (2,000), according to the survey, for which field work for class AC fares on Rajdhani trains. It also points out that data collection was done during January-March 2017. the State-Owned airline offers a baggage allowance of 25 kg “However, the construction sector experienced a negative on domestic flights and has also revamped its frequent flyer change (1,000) in estimated employment over last quarter,” scheme. A team from Air India will make presentations to said the report, adding that there was no change in the the PSU or business house. The national carrier is keen accommodation and restaurant sector. on biting off a large chunk of the Rs 4000 crore-a-year Out of the overall increase in the number of employees in corporate travel market, a segment in which the airline the quarter, regular workers accounted for 1.39 lakh, and has not been able to capture much business, an Air India contract workers, 1.24 lakh. In a positive development, official said, declining to get into specifics. 97.66 percent of the surveyed establishments said - The Hindu Business Line, 08/05/2017 they maintained a record of employment, with IT/BPO and health sectors reporting 100 percent records. Job FATCA Compliance - Your NPA A/c will Not Get Blocked generation continues to be a key challenge for the Narendra The Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority Modi government that won with a poll promise to generate has clarified that NPS accounts of investors who have 2.5 crore jobs a year. At present, an estimated 1.2 crore not submitted the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act persons join the labour force every year in India. (FATCA) self certification will not be blocked. The registered - The Hindu Business Line, 04/05/2017 email addresses of NPS Investors on Thursday, comes as a relief to some 40 lakh NPS investors. These investors were Aadhaar- based payments fuelling privacy concerns warned that if they failed to submit a physical signed self- certification of the FATCA by April 30, their NPS accounts The proliferation of aadhaar-based payments has lead to would be blocked. The PFRDA says it will issue fresh a lot of question being raised on privacy. Will your local guidelines shortly. Observers say the FATCA declaration mobile recharge vendor or a petty shop owner have access should not be offline as it will unnecessarily add to to all your data? What if your bio- metrics get hacked? paperwork. Besides, the insistence on a physical document Such questions are among those that the UIDAI has to is an anachronism at a time when the government is answer as it steams ahead with facilitating Aadhaar based pushing everything to the digital format. Mutual funds transactions on India’s 25 lakh plus PoS terminals. Data

Choose to be happy. It is a way of being wise. - Colette Officers’ Voice, June 2017 26

Security Council of India CEO Rama Vedashree flagged these are challenging times for the telecom industry. Tata some concerns, when she told TOI, “When Aadhaar Teleservices spearheads Tata Group’s presence in the enabled payment systems proliferates, host of data is Indian telecom market. The company, along with the listed deployed at merchants of which some can be phone-based, arm Tata Teleservices (Maharashtra) Ltd has presence some through PoS devices. When an entire ecosystem in 19 telecom circles in the country. It offers integrated is so closely connected, security by design becomes telecom solutions to its customers across wireline and default.” Cyber-security experts have for long held that wireless networks on platform like GSM, CDMA and 3G. PoS machines are usually the easiest target for hacks. As per data of Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai), “For every one ATM hack, we see 20 PoS machine frauds. Tata’s mobile subscriber base stood at 51.2 million as on Many of the complaints we receive are from customers, who February 28, 2017. had their data compromised, by using their debit cards at petrol bunks, shopping malls and cinema theatres,” said P - The Times of India, 03/05/2017 Ravi Sekharan, assistant commissioner, cyber crime cell, Don’t publish personal data, Aadhaar numbers of Chennai City Police. taxpayers: CBDT to officials “When debit card data is hacked, there is a considerable With Aadhaar now mandatory for filing income tax returns financial loss - but it stops there. Your entire life is not in and for Permanent Account Numbers (PAN), the Central someone else’s hands. But with Aadhaar now being linked Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) has asked its officials to to PAN, GST registration, civil supplies’ amenities, ration ensure that personal data of taxpayers is not leaked. “It is card, an Aadhaar data theft could have drastic impact and requested that any act of publishing the personal identity completely paralyse someone’s life,” said a cyber crime or information like Aadhaar number and demographic official, who did not want to be identified. With decoders, details along with personal sensitive information such as skimmers, machine readers stealing customer data has bank details, in contravention of the Aadhaar Act 2016 and become all too easy. When Aadhaar was conceptualised, the Information Technology Act, 2000 be refrained with it was meant to facilitate direct benefit transfers. However, immediate effect,” said the CBDT in an internal circular. it has metamorphed into an enabler for digital payments About 1.11 crore of the over 24.6 crore PAN cards have and this has cyber security experts concerned. “If your already been linked with Aadhaar. It also stressed that any Facebook or bank account is hacked, you can reset your password. But when your fingerprints are stolen, there such information that may already have been published is no reset. They are permanent identification markers, must be withdrawn immediately and the order must and once snagged, it is out of your control. When your be followed in future as well. The move follows a recent gym, mobile phone company, and doctor all have your letter by the Department of Electronics and Information biometric details, remediation of the hack will prove Technology to all nodal Ministries that personal and difficult, if not impossible,” said Nitin Bhatnagar, cyber financial information of beneficiaries receiving welfare security consultant. under various schemes must not be published. - The Times of India, 06/05/2017 - The Hindu Business Line, 29/04/2017

Pink slips to 500-600 Tata Tele employees When office boys get ESOPs too Tata Teleservices has fired between 500 and 600 employees It’s rare that a company rewards its office boys with stock to tide over the difficult times in the hyper-competitive options. Such a policy has been followed by a few startup telecom market. As many as 500-600 employees have firms that have far fewer employees to begin with as been impacted by the layoffs in sales and other related compared with an established organisation. But at Motilal functions, two people familiar with the matter said. Oswal Financial Services, which has 3,800 employees, The lay-offs are across locations, they said, adding that a good performance cycle this year has provided its the severance package being offered to the employees employees — including the office boys — a reason to cheer. impacted by the decision is one month’s salary for every All employees who completed a year in service have been year of service. An e-mail sent to Tata Teleservices did provided with ESOPs of MOFSL’s group company, Aspire not elicit a response. Sources in the company said that Home Finance.

Zeal without knowledge is a runaway horse. - Proverb Officers’ Voice, June 2017 27

Around 85% of the total strength of the diversified financial participating countries and around 1.6 lakh respondents services firm has been covered under the ESOP scheme. worldwide. Apart from Google, sector-wise, Amazon India Of these, all of its white collar staff who’ve completed a was the company of choice for employees working in the year in service have been issued ESOPs. The quantum e-commerce sector, ITC Ltd for FMCG, and Philips India offered varies based on the tenure and designation of for Consumer and Healthcare. However, in the survey, 56 the employee in the organisation. Sudhir Dhar, director percent of the respondents have pointed out that job role & head (HR & admin), MOFSL, told TOI, “It is our strong is more important, than employer brand. Interestingly, belief that our employees are our growth drivers and our working for the Indian IT sector came up tops when competitive advantage. We have allotted employee stock compared to other sectors such as BFSI, FMCG or retail. options from one of our fastest growing businesses ‘Aspire This is coming at a time when the $155-billion Indian IT Home Finance’. Right from the office boys till the directors, sector has grown at 8.6 percent in the 2016 fiscal and is everyone who’s been part of this wonderful journey has staring at global macroeconomic uncertainties like Brexit, been rewarded.” change in visa policies and rapid technology shifts. Despite In fiscal 2017, MOFSL posted strong growth across this, around 65 percent of the workforce preferred working in the IT sector. But 70 percent of the workforce wanted businesses. While housing finance was up 160% year- to join the IT sector in 2016. BFSI and retail and FMCG, on-year (YoY), asset management business grew 68% YoY followed it up with 63 percent and 62 percent, respectively. and capital market businesses increased 40% YoY. Aspire, Further, the factors influencing the choices made by which provides long-term housing finance assistance to employees included salary and employee benefits, followed lower and middle income families towards purchase of by good work-life balance and job security. Similar to last affordable housing units, is expanding its presence to year, this year too, salary and employee benefits continue become a pan-India player. By offering ESOPs across levels, to be the top driver among the Indian workforce across all Dhar believes the company has empowered its employees profiles while choosing an employer. This is followed by to ascertain the future of their investments by continuous good work-life balance and job security. efforts to add to the growth of the company so that their wealth too enhances in the process. Most organisations It is interesting to note that the importance accorded to offer ESOPs only to top-rung managers. The only other good work-life balance has increased considerably across firm that offers stock options to all levels of employees all work profiles, with this attribute moving up to second is housing finance company HDFC. Commenting on the position from number 5, as per last year’s findings. Around 31 percent of employees said that they are not MOFSL ESOP offer to employees, Rituparna Chakraborty, loyal to any one industry or sector and are open to shifting executive VP, Team Lease Services, a staffing firm, said, industries. Compensation continues to remain a key driver “That’s very rare. It augurs well for the future if this in determining employee loyalty to a sector. becomes a more acceptable trend.” Citrus Pay, which was acquired by PayU, had reportedly offered one of its office - The Hindu Business Line, 28/04/2017 boys stock options. WILL & GOAL - The Times of India, 10/05/2017 To succeed, you must have tremendous Google India is most sought-after employer: Survey perseverance, tremendous will. “ I will drink Google India has been named as the country’s most the ocean,” says the persevering soul. “At my attractive employer to work for the second consecutive will mountains will crumble.” Have that sort of year and despite slowdown, the IT sector continues to be energy, that sort of will, work hard and you will the most preferred sector to work for in the country. These reach the goal. findings came from Randstad Employer Brand Research, – Swami Vivekananda which covers 75 percent of the global economy with 26

He is not laughed at who laughs at himself first. Officers’ Voice, June 2017 28

Aadhaar data leak exposes cyber In a statement issued on March 5 by Ministry of security flaws Electronics and IT, UIDAI said that Aadhaar-based authentication is robust and secure as compared to Aadhaar numbers of over 13 crore people and bank any other contemporary systems. Aadhaar system has account details of about 10 crore of them have been the capability to inquire into any instance of misuse leaked through government portals owing to poor security of biometrics and identity theft and initiate action. practices, putting these people at risk of financial frauds UIDAI uses one of world’s most advanced encryption as well as identity thefts. According to a report published technologies in transmission and storage of data. As a by The Center for Internet and Society, four government result, during the last seven years, there has been no websites namely those run by National Social Assistance report of breach or leak of residents’ data out of UIDAI, Programme under Ministry of Rural Development, the statement added. When contacted by Business Line, National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (NREGA) run officials at the MeitY did not immediately comment on by Ministry of Rural Development, Daily Online Payment a detailed questionnaire sent via email on how several Reports under NREGA (Govt. of Andhra Pradesh) and leaks were possible despite the government being so Chandranna Bima Scheme run by Government of Andhra confident about Aadhaar security. Pradesh combined were responsible for publicly exposing personal and Aadhaar details of over 13 crore citizens. 21 leaks reported so far

“Based on the numbers available on the websites looked As of April 27, at least 21 leaks have been reported about at, estimated number of Aadhaar numbers leaked through data breaches. And these are only reported incidents. these four portals could be around 130-135 million and “The UIDAI instead of using crowd sourced resources for the number of bank account numbers leaked at around reporting and plugging the security holes has responded 100 million from the specific portals we looked at,” the in an aggressive defensive mode. The personal data in report said. While these numbers are only from two question, in some cases, include names, addresses, major government programmes of pensions and rural date of birth, Aadhaar card numbers, PAN card details, employment schemes, other major schemes, who have religion and caste. All of this information is available in also used Aadhaar for DBT could have leaked PII similarly the form of Microsoft Excel sheets and can be obtained due to lack of information security practices, the report by a simple Google search as reported recently by some warns. media outlets,” said Mishi Choudhary, Legal Director at Software Freedom Law Center. Vulnerable sites “We do not know if UIDAI itself monitoring these breaches. Experts believe that irrespective of government’s narrative The Aadhaar Act itself needs several amendments with on the security measures taken around protecting a mandatory requirement to disclose in specified ways, Aadhaar data, the Aadhaar ecosystem used by several any breach of the security of the data, as defined, to any government department remains vulnerable with little citizen whose unencrypted personal information was, done to track and report misuse. “We are sitting on or is reasonably believed to have been, acquired by an a volcano that is about to be burst,” Supreme Court unauthorised person,” she added. Experts believe that lawyer and cyber security expert Pawan Duggal told if the state is not ready or well equipped, it should not BusinessLine. “We have no clue of the cyber security roll out schemes that rely on insecure systems. Sunil ramifications of Aadhaar and, therefore, massive breaches Abraham, Executive Director of Centre for Internet and will continue to be reported. As a nation we need to do far Society, said the use of biometrics data for financial more for cyber security for Aadhaar. Aadhaar was passed services will make financial frauds easier than before as in a great amount of hurry and ignored the cyber security it is proven how easy it is to copy someone’s fingerprints. ramifications,” he said. - The Hindu Business Line, 03/05/2017

A life of ease is a difficult pursuit - William Cowper Officers’ Voice, June 2017 29

classroom

ALL YOU WANTED TO KNOW ABOOUT… VVPAT

The Cabinet on April 19 agreed to release over Rs.3,100 be tallied with the buttons pressed on the EVMs. These crore so that the Election Commission (EC) could procure printed slips can be counted to verily the results. At the 1.6 million VVPAT (Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail) moment, EVMs do not have this feature of cross checking. machines. These can hopefully be used in all polling The use of VVPATs becomes important as a number of stations in the General Elections in 2019. It’s been seven political parties have raised questions about the EVMs years since the EC first mooted the use of these machines. being tamper proof. Though the EC has maintained that Based on consultations with political parties the EC was the EVMs cannot be tampered with, the use of VVPATs of the view that VVPATs will help ensure transparency in will ensure that there is greater transparency in the voting the voting process. These machines were first used in a process. by-election in Nagaland in 2013. Small numbers of VVPATs Why should care? have also been used in other elections in the country. As a part of the democratic process, every voter has the What is it? right to know that his or her vote went to the candidate A VVPAT is a machine that is attached to the Electronic chosen. VVPATs will ensure this and further strengthen Voting Machine (EVM). A voter casts his or her vote on the electoral process in country. It is also perhaps the final the EVM as is currently being done. The VVPAT attached step in making the voting process as transparent as it can to the EVM generates a paper slip which has the name get. Changes in the law over the decades have sought to of the candidate voted for and the symbol of his party. make elections in the country fool-proof. In 1989, the law This is recorded in the machine’s control unit. A printer was amended to give the EC the power to countermand is attached to the Balloting unit and kept in the voting election if it was proved that a candidate had used muscle compartment. The paper slip remains visible on the power to win. VVPAT for seven seconds through a transparent window. This put an end to booth capturing. The introduction The paper slip can later be retrieved and tallied with the of VVPATs will give the EC the proof to back its claim button pressed in the EVM. The use of VVPATs falls under of holding free and fair elections. It will put to rest the Rule 49A of the Coduct of Elections Rules, 1961, which allegations raised by various political parties about EVMs provides that every EVM shall have a control unit and a being tampered with as was seen after the recent Assembly balloting unit. It further states that a printer with a drop elections in Uttar Pradesh and Punjab. box may also be attached to a voting machine for printing The bottom line a paper trail of the vote. The proof of the voting is in the printing. Why is it important? - The Hindu Business Line, 25/05/2017 In case of any dispute, the paper slip in the VVPATs can KNOWLEDGE AND WISDOM

BRILLIANT Knowledge and Wisdom, far from being one, have oft times no connection A gossip is a person who talks to me about others. Knowledge dwells in heads replete with thoughts of other men; wisdom in minds attentive to their A bore is a person who talks to me about himself. own A brilliant conversationalist is a person who Knowledge is proud that he had learned so much; talks to me about myself. wisdom is humble that he knows no more . - William Cowper

Trouble is what gives one his chance to discover his strength or lack of it. – Frank A Clark Officers’ Voice, June 2017 30

health watch ‘Cancer is not incurable’ An extended conversation with cancer specialist has grown. But not grown to a terminal advanced kind Dr. Ramakant Deshpande instantly makes one acutely of stage. You can (still) do a lot and add a lot of quality of aware of how little one knows about this terrifying disease. life, prolonging life to a substantial extent. The first fact: It is not that terrifying. Fact two, if caught Even in advanced cancers today - many cancers, not all. early, that is. Awareness is, therefore, all that is more For example 30 years back, for a lung cancer, a stage 4 important. Our ignorance about cancer exists, even malignancy, with fluid in the lungs, we said, ‘Alright, go though it is now the leading cause of death in the world. home and get lucky.’ It was six months to nine months. Global cancer deaths are projected to increase 60 per That would be an average lifespan. Today you can actually cent from 8.8 million deaths per year now t0 13 million identify if they have a genetic mutation. Some of these are in the next two decades. New cases of cancer will rise to actionable mutations (that is, with the potential of perhaps 22 million by 2030. responding to targeted therapy). By giving medicines you These statistics prove how crucial keeping ourselves safe can prolong their life for five to seven years. May be longer. from cancer is. Dr Deshpande, an expert in lung cancer The methodology of treatment is still (evolving). What you and a surgeon at the Asian Cancer Institute, Sion, North- actually land up doing is: You may not be able to cure Central Mumbai, stresses the importance of understanding the disease in many (instances), but you can actually the everyday causes of cancer, that stem from our lifestyle. make it a chronic disease. For example: You cannot cure Awarded the Padma Shri in 2014, Dr Deshpande, who hypertension (high blood pressure) and diabetes. But you trained at the Tata Memorial Centre in Mumbai and at can convert them into chronic diseases. the Memorial Sloan Kettering Center, New York, is the Is it typical for anyone without family history to get vice-chairman at the Asian Cancer Institute, one of the top cancer? And vice versa: Do people with family history facilities in the country. He has conducted, he reveals when have a very high risk of getting cancer? asked to estimate, nearly 15,000 to 20,000 major surgeries If you really analyse family history in India today, there in his career spanning three-and-a-half decades. Dr is no family where either a member of the family, or a Deshpande, in this interview with Rediff.com’s Vaihayasi first relative - like uncles, aunts, somebody or the other - Pande Daniel, explains the vital importance of genetic would have not suffered from cancer, at some age or the testing for cancer and, most important, how to protect other. There is no family which is totally clear of cancer. yourself from cancer. There are certain families in which certain cancers are What is the biggest myth about cancer that you more common, for example breast cancer. It does not constantly deal with? mean that the next generation is definitely bound to get That cancer is incurable. Cancer is not incurable. If cancer. If you analyse the incidence of, say, breast cancer, diagnosed at an early stage, it can be totally cured. The among all girls born today in India: 1 in 27 will get breast person can have a totally normal life span, which is cancer in a lifetime, which is (till the) age of 71 to 73. This almost 71 years for a five-year-old child today. In Western is the current statistics in India (it is 1 in 7 in a developed countries it is said: If you are 24 today -- if you don’t have country like the US). any (bad) habits or co-morbidity, for example hypertension The moment more than three members of a family - say, (high blood pressure) or diabetes at a young age - your mother, maternal aunt, or grandmother -- get cancer, life expectancy should normally be 100, in a developed it means there is a preponderance of breast cancer in country. It is our doing - or the atmosphere, pollution, that family. When you have that kind of (preponderance), external factors -- which can reduce this particular your breast cancer incidence is likely to increase, double. longevity. The biggest problem in India is that people feel Even then it will be 1 in 14. That means 13 people that cancer is incurable... It is an ailment which comes, will not get breast cancer in the same family. There which can be treated. In an early stage, you can actually are certain genetic predispositions. There are genes treat it very well, based on its nature, its stage, whatever. called BRCA1 and BRCA2. If you have that positive in your Then you can expect the person to live a normal life. body, your chance of getting breast cancer in BRCA1, by Then you get an intermediate stage: Where the cancer the age of, say, 50, is almost about 70 to 80 per cent -- your

After digestion one who feeds, his body, no medicine needs. - Thirukkural Officers’ Voice, June 20172017 31 odds get narrowed down. In that case, what you can do come, 20 years from now, when we will have our genetic is: Complete your family early, get married, have a child. profile also. So you will know if you have a predisposition What are BRCA1 and BRCA2? for a malignancy. (Or if) you have a weakness for something. There could be genes, which if you are exposed to (say) Human genes BRCA1 (also called breast cancer 1) meat, or something like that, you may have a higher and BRCA2 (also called breast cancer 2) have the capacity incidence of developing bowel cancer or something like to manufacture proteins that suppress tumours and that. The best thing for those who have that kind of genetic mend damaged DNA, maintaining the stability of a cell’s abnormality should be to avoid non-vegetarian food. You genetic matter. can actually take (these kinds of) precautions. If these genes get distorted - either because of mutation So does that mean if you have a relative who had, or alteration - and do not manufacture, or manufacture say, colon cancer, you should test your children dysfunctional tumour suppressing proteins, it will be for BRCA1 or BRCA2 with respect to colon cancer, too unable to repair its DNA. This could lead to further genetic in the same way as breast cancer? modifications and subsequently cancer. No, no. There are other genes. BRCA is not connected with Mutations of BRCA2 can also bring about a higher risk of colon cancer. BRCA is only connected with breast cancer ovarian, prostate and pancreatic cancers. Similarly, there and ovarian cancer. And BRCA2 is in prostate cancer in are other genes that relate to colon and blood cancers. men. There is a test for ovarian cancer. There is a test for Like in the case of American actor Angelina Jolie? colonic cancer. They are all genetic tests. Yes. Finish your family and all that. May be by the age of 40 They all cost the same? you can actually have your breasts removed. Now having Approximately. breasts removed doesn’t mean you go totally flat. Today there are techniques available in plastic surgery. They For any of these tests: If there is some member in your take out the entire breast tissue and reconstruct those family with a history of cancer, is it very important to breasts using prosthesis. Cosmetically the lady will be test? Very few know that. exactly the way she was before. Or you can actually have It is better we get it done. Should get that thing checked certain medication, called PARP inhibitors (drug inhibitors out. It is quite possible to have a BRCA positive mother of the enzyme poly ADP ribose polymerase or PARP. Many and a BRCA negative daughter. That’s also a possibility. cancers are dependent on PARP and taking inhibitors helps So, then, you don’t have to go through the removal of the to not get cancer), which help these kind of patients to not breast and ovaries and all that. develop cancer. There is also an incidence - almost 50 So even in the other categories one should do genetic percent - of developing ovarian cancer in these patients. testing wherever possible? In the same patients? There are certain malignancies where the genetic In the same ones who are BRCA 1 positive, we tell them connection is known. The moment you have that kind of also to finish their family by 40 and then have their ovaries cancer (in your family) your oncologist who will be aware removed (too). These are all preventive methodologies to of these possibilities, will put you in touch with a genetic reduce the chances of getting breast cancer. counselor and then you should have that genetic testing So your answer is a bit of both? The odds of people done. That is the reason why it is always better to go to with family history getting cancer vary depending on a centre which treats malignancy rather than go to an the BRCA1 and BRCA2 factor? individual. Yes. For which cancers can one do genetic testing in India? Is testing for BRCA1 and BRCA2 factor - to check for Colon, Breast, Ovaries, Prostate and certain blood gene mutation in the DNA - very expensive in India? cancers- lymphomas, leukemias -- which will have some sort of genetic (predisposition), as well as prognostically. No, it is about Rs 20,000. You can find out whether they are likely to do well or not It is worthwhile? Very few people in India know of it. likely to do well. You can do genetic testing for advanced Definitely worthwhile. This is not a wild shot in the dark. cancers to find out if there is a targeted therapy available. There are specific indications to undergo this particular For example, in lung cancers, if the genetic mutation is thing. This is not a routine haemoglobin kind of test. The positive, you have actionable mutation where you can use person should see a genetic counselor who will identify if specific drugs and prolong survival from a few months to there is a need for doing this. That is how it should be. quite a few years. Now everybody has an Aadhaar Card. A time will probably - Rediff News Officers’ Voice, June 2017Officers’ Voice (RNI, Delhi Regn. No.KARENG/ 2005/14831) Postal Regn. No.MNG/128/2015-17 32 Licensed to Post Without Prepayment under Licence No. SK/WPP/MNG/115/2015-17 Office of Posting: Post Office, Kankanady – Mangalore DOP: 1st of every month Annual Subscription for members: Rs.60/-

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