AIBPARC holds virtual GC meeting on 8th July, 2021, Takes stock of contemporary issues and decides programme of action

AIBPARC circular on the above subject is reproduced below

Circular No. 31/21                                                                                       09.07.2021.
(For circulation among members of the governing council of AIBPARC,
State Secretaries, Special Invitees and Advisors.)
Dear Comrades,
Sub : AIBPARC holds virtual GC meeting on 8th July, 2021,
Takes stock of contemporary issues and decides programme of action
We have much pleasure to inform all concerned that the meeting of the Governing Council of the organisation took place on 8th July, 2021 virtually. We report hereunder the principal highlights of the meeting :
❖ The attendance was cent percent.
❖ Com. C. Gangadhar Yadav, our Working President, acted as the host. We are thankful to Com. Yadav and his team for the technical support.
❖ Com. K.V. Acharya, President, presided over the meeting which continued for 5 hours at a stretch without any break.
❖ 25 speakers including Advisors and Senior Office-bearers took part in deliberations. The exchange of ideas at a crucial time enriched the organisation and helped to arrive at the following decisions :
• The house expressed anguish and annoyance at the raw deal given to the elder citizens of the Banking industry by the Government in regard to not giving the clearance so far to the improved Family Pension although it was agreed upon long back in MOU and Bipartite Settlement/Joint Note and IBA’s recommendation to the effect was sent. Repeated clarifications sought for by the Government have reportedly been answered by IBA. The organisation has been very reasonably expecting the clearance on any day but till the date of holding the meeting, it has not come. The house notes the level of frustration in the minds of members and decides to convey the same to the authorities concerned.
• The house endorses the stand taken by the leadership in respect of lodging its claim as a principal stake holder before the IBA that it should be called for discussion on updation of pension which is currently being studied by an internal committee comprising of several CEO and MDs formed by IBA. The house records its anxiety in the matter of astronomical cost which was often projected by the actuaries appointed by IBA in the matter of updation of pension and family pension. This is demanded that the assumption  should be  realistic and the calculation sheets already presented before the Govt., IBA and UFBU by AIBAPRC be given due cognizance. AIBPARC, given the opportunity, will be making its presentation before IBA.
• The house appointed a two-man committee comprising of Com. P. S. Patki, Working President and Com. K. Chandrasekharan, Dy. General Secretary and State Secretary, Tamil Nadu to finalize the suggestions of AIBPARC on Group Medical Insurance Scheme for the year November, 2021 to October, 2022. The General Secretaries of all our affiliates are earnestly requested to mail their suggestions/ recommendations to the members of the committee at the following E-mail ID : patkiprakash@gmail.com and presidentchandru @gmail. com. within next 3 days and the committee will take 7 days to finalize. The urgency is felt as IBA has formed a sub-committee to study the subject and negotiations will be starting shortly. The house also felt that the last-moment hurry as experienced in previous years should not be repeated this time.
• The house decided to re-lodge its claim before IBA demanding official negotiation status. This is paradoxical to note that IBA by its official communication asks all banks to create grievance-redressal machinery but denies the same at its own level. IBA should again be approached to give cognizance to different issues escalated by the organisation at different points of time which include inter-alia the delay in sanction of stagnation increments (to eligible pensioners retiring between 01.11.12 and 30.04.15) by all banks, diversified interpretation made by banks for paying commutation arrears and interest thereon arising out of refixation of basic pay to rectify DA anomaly for a specified group of retirees, special allowance to be treated as part of basic pay, the address of different communications to CEO and MDs of public sector banks instead of writing to all the parties participating in Bipartite Settlement/Joint Note and different other issues taken up by the organisation.
• The house decided to re-lodge its demands before the Government that separate interest bracket is to be created for the elder citizens of the country to protect the interest income which is being drastically reduced by repeated curtailment of rates and extension of the best possible HR practices followed by the merging banks and the anchor bank to the retirees as per promises made by the government at the time of merger of banks.
• The house expressed serious concern at the much-floated news that government is going to take steps to privatize several nationalised banks. It is considered as a measure to push the wheels backward and it will not be beneficial to the country and the nation. The organisation will take part in all action programmes which will be declared by UFBU and AIBPARC will also formulate its own programmes in conducive situation when free movement will be permissible.
• The house notes with concern that some persons/organisations are floating different messages in whatsapp on various issues and such news are in most cases without any base. It is creating unnecessary tension and turmoil in the minds of retirees. It is nothing but cherishing a notional satisfaction. The organisation calls upon its members to rely upon a communication of AIBPARC only.
• The house accords its consent to the following co-options which had been long pending. The EC member from our affiliate in Central Bank of India, Com. D.H. Lahane will be upgraded to the post of Dy. General Secretary for the remaining period of the term and Com. M.L.Verma from the same affiliate will be inducted in the Governing
Council as an EC member.
• The house takes the following action programmes :
The members of the Governing Council will first send a memorandum to Union Finance Minister in a common format. If no action is taken by the government, then the membership will be called upon to submit a memorandum individually to Union Finance Minister conveying his/her dissatisfaction for non-resolve of long pending issues. The programme will be initiated in the month of July, 2021. The action points with specific dates of implementation and the circulation of common draft will be fine-tuned in consultation with senior office bearers and the same will be made known before 19th July, 2021 – a date which is very near to the hearts of all the Bankmen in the country.
• Comrades, you will appreciate that different issues are discussed and decisions are arrived at in such meetings. It is not possible to mention all the points in the circular. The viewpoints/concerns expressed by members are duly noted for follow up at different levels. To sum up, the meeting has been very purposeful. All the members are fervently hoping for restoration of normalcy in free movement at different parts of the country. As it is very difficult to go for demonstrative actions at the present moment, the digital front is going to be exploited to the maximum possible extent. If no result forth-comes, the organisation decided to go for demonstrative actions in permissible and conducive situation when the corona scare will not be there.
With best wishes and regards,
Comradely yours,
(SUPRITA SARKAR )
GENERAL SECRETARY