Sbi Pensioners’ Bulletin A QUARTERLY PUBLICATION BY SBI PENSIONERS’ ASSOCIATION KERALA Vol. 8 / Issue 12 JANUARY-MARCH 2019 Editorial Board: John Joseph, Rajeevan K, Karunakaran V, Joseph Palackal Regd. Office: Dwaraka (Ambady), Poonithura PO, Kochi 682038, Phone: 0484 2303737 Admn. Office: TC/14/523(1) Anjora, NRA 139, Nandavanam, Palayam, Thiruvananthapuram 695033 Phone: 0471 2323279, Mob: 9447018266 Website: www.sbipensionerskerala.com 34th Annual General Meeting of our Federation held at Indore Shri Rajesh Kumar, CGM, SBI, Bhopal Circle, inaugurating the GB Meeting. Others seen in the photo are Sarvashri Brahma Singh, DGM & CDO, PK Balaji, DGM, Indore, A Ramesh Babu, General Secretary, SB Ghokhale, Senior Vice-President, DK Basu, Secretary and GK Gandhi, General Secretary, Bhopal Circle Association The 34th Annual General Meeting and Governing Circle, inaugurated the meeting by lighting the Body Meeting of Federation of SBI Pensioners’ traditional Nilavilakku along with Sarvasri Brahma Associations were held on 23rd and 24th February Singh, DGM and CDO, Bhopal LHO, PK Balaji, at Brilliant Convention Centre, Indore. The elegant DGM, Indore, A Ramesh Babu and Deepak Kumar and oblong Conference Hall of the prestigious Basu, General Secretary and Secretary, respectively, building complex was literally packed when more of our Federation. All the dignitaries were honoured than hundred members of the Federation, other by Shri GK Gandhi, General Secretary of Bhopal than the activists and volunteers from the host Affiliate. In his Welcome Address he narrated the affiliate, who have come from the length and historical importance of Indore city which is breadth of the country, assembled there with considered as the cleanest city of the country. Shri doubled vigour and enthusiasm. The Governing Rajesh Kumar in his inaugural address came out Body Meeting which began at 10.30 a.m. was expressing his deep gratitude to the elders who have presided over by Shri SB Gokhale, the senior- contributed much to the growth and development most Vice-President of our Federation. Shri Rajesh Kumar, Chief General Manager, SBI, Bhopal Contd to...page 4 1 Editorial Is it a Ray of hope? on Subordinate Legislation had unanimously The Ministry of Finance, by their letter dated recommended that RBI be allowed to extend 6th March 2019, have granted approval for one more option of pension. While the updating pension to the pensioners in Reserve objections were raised by the Government Bank of India with a notional increase of 10% every time when the issue was brought before in pension plus DA with wage agreements done them with substantiating evidences and in 2002, 2007 and 2012. As per HRMD letter supporting documents, it had on the other side dated 7th March 2019 issued to all offices, the no objection and went on updating the pension revision will be effective from March 2019. of more than 55 lakhs Central Government While rejoicing over this remarkable employees. Besides, the Centre had also updated achievement one should also have the the pension of 25,000 professors and non- reminiscence of the concerted efforts including teaching staff of UGC sponsored Universities. the long drawn agitation by the serving It is under the above circumstances that the employees and officers of Reserve Bank of India four Unions of employees and Officers of RBI which lasted for more than a decade. In the decided to go on direct action under the banner process, they suffered many setbacks due to of United Front of Reserve Bank Officers and unjustifiable and discriminatory attitude of the Employees (UFRBOE) and to go on a two-day Central Government. mass leave on September 4 and 5, 2018, which Pension was introduced in RBI with effect from forced the Government to come out of its earlier January 1, 1986, in lieu of Contributory rigid stand and seeking two months’ time to Provident Fund (CPF). An assurance was given settle the issue. Though the Government made that it shall generally be on the lines of Central attempts for buying time, it had to succumb Government Pension Scheme (CGPS) and any before the strong will and determination by improvement in the latter will be extended to UFRBOE by which the decade long burning RBI pensioners also. As the Centre improved issue could find its logical conclusion. pension periodically with every pay revision, the Well comrades, the updation of our pension pension in RBI was also brought in alignment issue for which we have been fighting for almost with the pay scale of 1997-2002 covering a decade and a half is also one and the same. pensioners up to October 2002. This was, The unity that began with the coordination of however, objected to by the Ministry of Finance Bank Retirees and Pensioners as per the historic which forced the withdrawal of the same in 2008, decision on 24th October 2018 in New Delhi despite a Bombay High Court directive. The HC must pave way for another landmark was of the view that the government cannot achievement in the days to come. The route has override a decision taken by the RBI’s Central been well cleaned up cleared by our brethren Board just by writing a letter. However, there in RBI. They have proved that nothing is was no effect as the HC had mentioned that these impossible. No Government, no ruler can directions have not been given under any withhold what is genuinely and justifiably due. statutory provisions and, hence, do not have a We are confident that the Banking fraternity legal validity to challenge the RBI circular. under the banner of United Forum of Bank Successive RBI Governors and its Central Board Unions shall remain in the forefront in our have been sympathetic and have repeatedly taken pursuit to victory. up the pension updation issue with the Centre Believe it... it is a Ray of hope! No doubt but of no effect. The Parliamentary Committee at all!! 2 State Bank of India Local Head Office, Thiruvananthapuram Circle & State Bank of India Pensioners’ Association Kerala cordially invite you to SBI Pensioners’ Meet & 18th Annual General Body Meeting on Sunday, the 26th May 2019 at AJ Hall, Kaloor, Ernakulam Programme for SBI Pensioners’ Meet 09.00 a.m. Registration/Tea 10.15 a.m. SBI Pensioners’ Meet Prayer Welcome Address: Shri K Chellamaiah, Dy. General Manager & Circle Development Officer, SBI,Thiruvananthapuram Circle Lighting the Lamp & Shri S Venkataraman, Chief General Manager, SBI, Inaugural Address: Thiruvananthapuram Circle Presidential Address: Shri K Rajeevan, President,SBI Pensioners’ Association Kerala Keynote Address: Shri GK Gandhi, President, Federation of SBI Pensioners’ Associations Special Address: Shri A Ramesh Babu, General Secretary, Federation of SBI Pensioners’ Associations Felicitations: Shri V Muralidharan, General Secretary, SBIOA (KC) Shri A Raghavan, General Secretary, SBSU (KC) Shri John Joseph, General Secretary, SBI Pensioners’ Association Kerala Release of SBIPAK Smt. Mary Sagaya Dhanpal, Dy. General Manager (B&O), District Directory: SBI, Ernakulam Administrative Office 12.00 noon Interaction with pensioners 12.45 p.m. Vote of Thanks: Shri Joseph Palackal, General Convenor, Organizing Committee 1.00 p.m. Lunch 1.45 p.m. Annual General Body Meeting (Members only) National Anthem 3 Contd from...page 1 The Business Session which followed after the inau- gural session dealt, in length, with all the agenda of the pioneer Bank of our country. He specially items including the General Secretary’s Report. Gen- expressed his heartfelt thanks to the organisers for eral Secretary, while submitting the report mentioned giving him the opportunity to participate and address that the meeting at Indore was an extended meeting the august audience. He explained, in detail, about of both GB and AGM held at Puri on 5th October the unprecedented changes that are being brought 2018 where it was decided to hold another GB and into the Banking function to transform it to the Digital AGM to discuss in detail and to decide on the pro- Banking. He also added that the services of many of posed amendments to Bye-laws of the Federation as rd th our retired officers are now being utilised by the Bank finalised at the meeting held on 23 and 24 No- in different areas. He referred about Bank’s recent vember 2018 at Hyderabad in a special of meeting of all Presidents and General Secretaries as per the initiative “Nayi Dishaye” and the commendable direction of AGM held on 5th October at Puri. The participation by retired officers in successfully house after a brief discussion approved the amend- conducting the training programmes. He concluded ments to the Bye-laws of Federation. The house also his inaugural address saying that the present stature decided to hold the election of office-bearers as per of the Bank, no doubt, could be achieved only the amended Bye-laws. As per practice, an informal because of the dedicated services rendered by the meeting of GB members took place at 5 p.m. in the elders and seniors of SBI family. evening to have discussion on the constitution of body for the triennial period 2019-22. Accordingly, consensus was arrived at for Sarvashri GK Gandhi as President, SB Gokhale, PK Pathak, Shantharaju and Upendra Kumar Dash as Senior Vice Presidents, A Ramesh Babu as General Secretary, Deepak Kumar Basu as Secretary and MS Mohan Rao as Treasurer. Apart from the above positions the Bye-laws also provided for creating additional posts of five Vice Presidents and five Dy. General Secretaries so as to maintain representation from each affiliate in the Gov- erning Body. The affiliates of Bhopal and Delhi ini- Representatives of SBIPAK at the Meeting tially did not give consent for the amendments to the Shri A Ramesh Babu,General Secretary, extended a Bye-laws but later on, after a detailed explanation warm welcome to all the members on the eve of 34th made by GS on the need for amendment to the Bye-laws, coupled with a request from other affili- Annual General Meeting of the Federation.