THE CATHOLIC SYRIAN BANK RETIREES’ ASSOCIATION No.25/981/1B, TOP CORAL, KUNNATH MANA LANE, THRISSUR- 680001 CIRCULAR No. 01/2015-17 23rd May, 2015 11th BIENNIAL CONFERENCE ON 16th MAY, 2015- A GRAND SHOW OF STRENGTH & VIBRANCY OF CSB RETIREES The 10th Biennial conference of The Catholic Syrian Bank Retirees’ Association was held at Vivekodayam Higher Secondary School Auditorium, Thrissur, on Saturday, 16th May, 2015 in a very elegant way, with participation of hundreds of our members from different parts of the country. leaders of AIBRF, AKBRF and other fellow organizations, CSBOA and CSBSA graced the occasion by their valued presence and address to the participants. The conference was a grand success as it could add strength and vigour to our organization and its members and also the retirees movement in general. Inaugural Session Inaugural session of the conference commenced with silent prayer. Sri.M.P.Paul, Vice President of our association welcomed the invitees and participants and gave a brief report on the activities and other current developments in the trade union sector in our country. He also thanked all our members, well-wishers and other fellow organizations for their whole hearted contributions which made our own office building a reality. He also placed on record the sincere and committed personal efforts of our Treasurer Sri Kumaran in speeding up the acquisition and inauguration of the building. Sri.P.Sreekumaran, President, in the presidential address spoke on the activities of CSBRA, issues remaining unresolved so far and the need for strengthening organization in its struggle for achieving the objectives. He called for the active involvement of our members in all the activities of CSBRA, AKBRF and AIBRF which is essential in achieving the goal. 1 Lighting the traditional lamp, Sri.K.Sreenivasan, General Secretary, All Kerala Bank Retirees Federation inaugurated the conference. In the inaugural address, he said that he was very much impressed by the vibrant functioning of CSBRA and its commitment to the welfare of the retirees of the Bank and their family members. He explained the present developments in the Banking Industry, trade union movements in banks and the progress in the bipartite negotiations for wage revision in banks. Shri.Sreenivasan also made an elaborate speech on the issues of the Bank Retirees and the efforts taken by All India Federation ( AIBRF) in getting them settled with IBA and Govt. of India. He said that AIBRF could play a pivotal role in achieving many of the important demands like Second option for Pension, Ex- Gratia to Pre-86 retirees and widows of pre-86 retirees, Correction of anomalies in pension fixation, 5 years weightage for VRS, Constitution of Pension Grievance Cells etc. AIBRF could also make substantial progress in resolving some other major issues like 100 % D.A neutralisation, Improvements in Family Pension, Improvements in Ex-Gratia to Pre-86 retirees and widows of pre-86 retirees and Allocation of staff welfare funds for retirees. It was because of the hectic efforts and persistent follow up by the leadership of AIBRF, all our demands could be got incorporated in the Charter of Demands submitted by the Employees Unions and Officers Organisations to IBA for the 10th Bipartite Settlement in Banks. But unfortunately, none of our major issues could not find a place in the agreement for wage revision which is going to be signed in the coming days. We are optimistic in getting them resolved very soon, with the support of UFBU, as all the 9 constituents of UFBU are fully convinced of the importance of the issues and IBA and Govt. of India are inclined in considering them. But, at the same time we have to put pressure on IBA to force them for a negotiated settlement and AIBRF is considering to initiate agitation programme, detailed communication on which are expected to be received in a couple of days. He urged for the active involvement of all the bank retirees in the action programme to make it a grand success in achieving our demands. Recognition by IBA for negotiation on the issues of Bank Retirees is the prime demand by AIBRF, which they have been pursuing for the past several years. Our leaders have made representations to the Finance Minister, Director of Financial Services, Govt. of India, MPs of the Parliament and other national leaders and submitted memorandum to advise IBA to discuss with AIBRF for the redressal of the issues of Bank Retirees. All of them are fully convinced of the demands and we are hopeful of a positive move by IBA in this regard. The 4th Triennial Conference of AIBRF is scheduled to be held in Thrissur from 26th to 28th November 2015 and about 1200 delegates from all over the country will be participating in the conference. Shri.Sreenivasan requested all the bank retirees in the state to join hands to make the conference a grand show of our organisational capability and efficiency and also our hospitality. He concluded wishing all the success to the 11th Biennial Conference of CSBRA 2 Sri.Francis Jose Thottungal, General Secretary, Catholic Syrian Bank Officers Association, Shri.Kurian Mathew, General Secretary, CSB Staff Association, Shri.P.R.R.S.,Iyer Secretary, AKBRF, Shri.N.Krishnan, General Secretary, Dhanalakshmi Bank Retirees Association, Shri.T.V.Ramachandran, District Secretary, AIBEA and Sri.T.P.Venkiteswaran, District Chairman, AKBRF, felicitated the conference and addressed the participants. Inaugural session concluded at 12.00 noon with Vote of Thanks by Sri.O.K.Sethumadhavan. Business Session Business session commenced with welcome address by the President Sri.P.Sreekumar and he requested the General Secretary to present the Report for the biennial period 2013-15. One Minute silence was observed to pay homage to the members of our organization and other eminent personalities who left us for heavenly abode during the biennial period. A detailed report with a glimpse on the developments in social, political and financial sectors in our country and other parts of the world, activities of AKBRF and AIBRF and various activities of our organization during the biennial period 2011-2013 was presented by Sri.N.D.Nandakumar, General Secretary, before the forum. After a detailed discussion, the report was approved unanimously by the general body. Statement of Accounts of our organization for the periods 2013-14 and 2014-15 were presented by Sri.P.Kumaran, Treasurer and was approved by the house unanimously. Election Of Office Bearers & E.C. For The Biennial Period 2015-2017 Election of the Office bearers and members of the Executive Committee for the biennial period 2015-2017 was conducted and Sri.A.Radhakrishnan was the Returning Officer. Sri.P.Sreekumar, was re-elected as the President and the undersigned N.D.Nandakumar was re-elected as General Secretary. The names of persons have elected to various posts in the Executive Committee are given below. Shri.P.Sreekumar : President Shri.K.P.George : Member, E.C Shri.T.J.Thomas : Vice President Shri.M.Viswanathan : Member, E.C Shri.M.P.Paul : Vice President Shri.Babu Paul : Member, E.C Shri.P.V.Sasidharan : Vice President Shri.M.T.Gopinathan : Member, E.C Shri.N.D.Nandakumar : General Secretary Shri.K.I.Pyloth : Member, E.C Shri.Antony Varghese : Asst.Secretary Shri.E.V.Jose : Member, E.C Shri.E.J.Jose : Asst.Secretary Shri.P.C.Krishnan : Member, E.C Shri.P.Kumaran : Treasurer Shri.S.Ravi : Member, E.C Shri.Paul Kattookaran : Asst.Treasurer Shri.M.Raghunandanan : Member, E.C Shri.T.V.John : Member, E.C Shri.H.Easwaran : Member, E.C Shri.E.J.Davis was elected as the Auditor for the Biennial Period 2015-17. The meeting concluded with vote of thanks by the newly elected General Secretary Sri.N.D.Nandakumar and the participants had a sumptuous vegetarian lunch thereafter. 3 The Conference was a grand success in all respects and it has added strength and vigour to our organization and confidence to our members. Text of the Report of the General Secretary submitted to the General Body Dear Friends, At the outset let me extend a hearty welcome to all the members of the Association, leaders of AKBRF and other organizations to the 11th Biennial Conference of the Catholic Syrian Bank Retirees’ Association. Bereavement During the last two years, we lost many of the National and International Leaders of Political, Social and Cultural front. Many innocents lost lives in terrorist activities and political and ethnic aggressions and natural calamities. We pay homage to all of them. Our organization could grow as one of the strongest Associations of bank retirees in the country because of the sincere and dedicated service rendered by our former leaders and members. Founder leaders Sri.M.K.Antony, Sri.Francis Puthur, Shri.C.P.Paul and Shri.C.S.Jose (Chandanaparamban) are not with us. Many of our active members also departed us. Since last Biennial Conference 22 members of our Association left us for heavenly abode. All of them have made valuable contribution to the organization 1 Shri.M.K.Joseph 04.05.2013 12 Shri.M.A.Devassy 13.07.2014 2 Shri.C.I.Jose 05.05.2013 13 Shri.V.P.Lonappan 18.08.2014 3 Shri.M.Kunhikrishnan Nambiar 30.05.2013 14 Shri.P.U.Raphael 04.09.2014 4 Shri.M.D.Paul 01.06.2013 15 Shri.C.J.Michael 26.09.2014 5 Shri.V.Ousepunny 18.06.2013 16 Shri.Jayachandran Unnithan 26.10.2014 6 Shri.C.S.Jose 12.09.2013 17 Shri.C.Vijayan 03.01.2015 7 Shri.M.Aravindaksha Menon 13.09.2013 18 Shri.P.C.Baby 03.01.2015 8 Shri.K.V.Ouseph 21.09.2013 19 Shri.Varughese Joseph 29.01.2015 9 Shri.V.P.Devassy 23.11.2013 20 Shri.N.Sugathan 12.03.2015 10 Shri.S.K.Radhakrishnan 04.02.2014 21 Shri.Kuttikrishnan Nair 03.05.2015 11 Shri.P.A.Kuriakose 10.02.2014 22 Shri.T.J.Thomas 14.05.2015 We pay homage to them and pray the Almighty that the soul of the departed be rest in peace.