ALL INDIA CANARA BANK RETIREES` FEDERATION (Regd.)

ALL INDIA CANARA BANK RETIREES’ FEDERATION (Regd.)
(Af f iliate d to All In dia Ban k Re tire e s ’ Fe de ration )
“A.K.Nayak Bhavan”, 2nd Floor,
14, Second Line Beach, Chennai – 600001.
Ref No:45:2015
Chairman
To: All Affiliates, Office Bearers & Central Committee Members
A.K.Bansal
Dear Sir/Madam,
President
V.K.M.Varma
Vice President
A.N.Balasubramanian
T.T.Raman
Y.V.Subba Rao
M.C.Katiyar
April 19, 2015
RD
ND
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3 CC MEETING AT AHMEDABAD DECIDES TO HOLD OUR
TRIENNIAL CONFERENCE AT ERNAKULAM IN FEBRUARY 2016
The 3rd Central Committee Meeting of our Federation was held in Season9 Banquet
Restaurant at Ahmedabad on 24th & 25th March 2015. Sri V.K.M.Varma, President
presided over the Meeting.
1) Homage: Since we met in the last Central Committee at Vrindavan on 8th & 9th
March 2014, we have lost many great political leaders, thinkers, sportspersons,
artists, film personalities, trade union leaders, stalwarts of Bank Employees’/Retirees’
General Secretary
Movement Coms.N.Sampath, Bajpai, PSLM. Haragopal and members of our
S.V.Srinivasan
affiliates. The Central Committee paid its respectful homage to the above
Joint Genl Secretary personalities, besides other innocent people who lost their lives in accidents/natural
calamities by observing 2 minutes silence.
K.R.Manohar
Secretary
K.Shanmugam
M.Krishnappa
M.Balasubramanian
B.S.Joshi
M.K.Saha
K.P.Prasad
Anil Sood
The meeting was inaugurated by lighting of the lamp by Sriyuth A.K.Bansal,
Chairman-AICBRF, V.K.M.Varma, President-AICBRF, S.V.Srinivasan, General
Secretary-AICBRF, C.S.Venugopal, Deputy General Secretary - CBEU. Sri Jayvant
T.Thakker, President, Canara Bank Retirees’ Association – Gujarat rendered prayer
song “Tu pyaar ka saagar hai, tere ek boondh ke pyase hum” and a warm welcome
extended to the participants.
Sri A.K.Bansal, Chairman in his address noted with satisfaction about the presence
of our Federation in as many as 14 States within a short span of 5 years since
Organising Secretary inception of AICBRF. He recalled the successful efforts in taking our Federation
forward to present level by registering substantial progress in membership.
R.Sudalaimuthu
M.Venugopalan
A.P.Raveendranath
S.Madusoodananpillai
P.Giridharan
B.Venkatrao
B.S.A.Rao
S.K.Madan
Treasurer
A.B.Kasturirangan
Appreciating the efforts of all affiliates, he stated that State-wise figure shows that
growth in certain States is phenomenal. Among them, it is heartening to note that the
membership in Karnataka has crossed more than 1000 members. Even though
Kerala and Tamilnadu had crossed 1000 mark earlier, newly formed Karnataka has
registered fastest growth. AIBRF has lot of respect for AICBRF and we have raised
the aspirations of bank retirees and they are now enquiring about status and
outcome of our efforts towards realising our demands. He added that our vision is to
have representation in Pension Fund which has to be fought and achieved. He
stressed that we need to concentrate on past retirees who are large in numbers and
they be brought to our fold.
Assistant Treasurer
P.Dhanaram
Sri V.K.M.Varma in his Presidential address appreciated that within two years of its
formation, CBRA-Gujarat has taken roots in some out-station places also in Gujarat
and took the initiative to conduct the 3rd CC meeting at Ahmedabad. He recollected
the role and contribution of Sri M.N.Parikh who was the nucleus in carrying on
retirees’ movement in the State of Gujarat. He stressed on mobilisation of
membership and wanted affiliates in Maharashtra & Delhi to cross 1000 mark before
Ph (O) LL: 044 – 25220611 Mobile: +91 94442 32867
E-Mail: aicbrf2010@gmail.com Website: www.aicbrf.in
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2nd Triennial Conference in 2016.
Appreciating persistent efforts taken by Sri R.P.Mishra & his Team towards formation of our
affiliate in Bihar, he informed that formation of Jharkhand & Goa units is under way. Concluding
his address, Sri V.K.M.Varma exhorted that our membership strength should be doubled before
we meet in the 2nd Triennial Conference with a view to getting enhanced bargaining power.
2) Minutes of the last CC Meeting: Minutes of the previous CC meeting held at Vrindavan on
March 8-9, 2014 were placed before the house by Sri M.Balasubramanian, Secretary of our
Federation and the Central Committee approved the same unanimously.
3) Reporting the activities of our Federation: General Secretary Sri S.V.Srinivasan briefly
narrated to the CC the following activities since 10.03.2014:
 Twin Benefits of Preferential rate of 1% interest (Ex-employees) + ½% interest more
(Senior Citizens) with effect from 19.05.2014 to all senior citizens implemented
irrespective of the period of the term deposit. This was not available initially for RD in the
system and that has since been rectified;
 List of individual grievances was given by 4 or 5 affiliates only. However, based on
AICBRF’s past records, the issues were pursued/taken up;
 Temporary Special Pay is not taken into account for calculation of Gratuity, even though
the same is taken into consideration for reckoning of pension. Matter is being pursued;
 Medical aid to Family pensioners: Already their pension amount is very meagre hence
medical aid was pursued and succeeded in getting Rs.1000/- to start with;
 IBA-UFBU discussions on introduction of Group Mediclaim Policy in lieu of
reimbursement of Hospitalisation Expenses to serving employees are in advanced
stage. AIBRF also demanded for extension of the same to retirees also on payment of
small portion of annual premium. Advantages are Pre-existing diseases will be covered
and premium will also be low in the group insurance scheme;
 DA increase of 17 Slabs in August 2014 and 51 Slabs in February 2015;
 Informed about details of exercise on Pension updation & 100% Neutralisation of
Dearness Relief to Pre-01.11.2002 pensioners in our bank;
 Still many Family Pensioners are yet to receive Medical aid on account of various factors
such as our inability to reach them and non-availability of latest and correct address etc.
 In respect of the steps taken for getting Associate membership of GJSWF for
pensioners, the General Secretary apprised the CC on the nuances of procedural
amendments needed in the Bye-Laws and also the set back suffered by us in carrying
forward the issue;
 Lodgement of Life Certificate in any one of the branches of the bank by being physically
present along with PPO. Future endeavour could be for introduction of Digital Life
Certificate for which Aadhar Card is essential;
 Efforts taken for getting the pension credited on 2nd April 2015, notwithstanding 3 days of
continuous holidays in the State of Karnataka;
 Door Step delivery of cash to pensioners and payment to Hospitals on hospitalisation of
pensioners ushered in. This will be of immense help for pensioners who can’t go to Bank
or ATM due to health reasons. RBI guidelines in respect of Physically/Mentally
challenged pensioners regarding operations in their pension accounts were explained to
our Functionaries for suitably guiding the pensioners concerned;
 Contributions of Sri D.D.Rustagi, former General Secretary of CBEU towards the
progress of AICBRF were gratefully recollected and our Federation felicitated him on
30.08.2014 on attaining superannuation at Delhi;
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 Delegation of AIBRF leaders comprising Dr.B.Ramji, Sri S.V.Srinivasan and Sri
A.K.Narasimhulu at Chennai submitted Memorandum on Pensioners’ Grievances on
29.01.2015 to Dr.E.M.Sudarsana Natchiappan, Chairman, Parliamentary Standing
Committee on Personnel, Public Grievances, Law and Justice;
 Modified format of PPO containing Joint Passport size photo of the retired employee with
spouse indicating family pension entitlement provides comfort to the spouses in that one
will get the family pension hassle-free;
 General Secretary further informed the CC that even though IBA agreed in principle on
100% Neutralisation of Dearness Relief to Pre-Nov. 2002 pensioners and improvement
of Family Pension, effective dates are yet to be finalised;
 On framing of Hospitalisation Scheme, IBA clarified that existing employees will continue
to get the benefit of the Group Mediclaim Scheme even after retirement. AIBRF is
pursuing for extension of the hospitalisation benefit to retirees also.
4) Deliberations: In all, 21 Office Bearers & Central Committee Members participated in the
deliberations starting from Sri A.B.Kasturi Rangan (Chennai) and ending with Sri Y.V.Subba
Rao (Andhra Pradesh) on the reporting by the General Secretary and offered useful
suggestions enumerated here below, reflecting concerns and radiating aspirations of the retired
employees of our bank:
a) Festival advance to pensioners upto one month gross pension with or without
interest and recoverable in easy instalments from monthly pension;
b) Funeral Expenses as granted by Banks such as SBT and IOB. (RS.15000/- and
Rs.7500/-) respectively;
c) Issuing of PPOs in book form affixed with Joint Photos of Pensioner & Spouse;
d) Removing hardships in the Scheme for compassionate appointment/ex-gratia
financial compensation to the family of employees who die in harness;
e) Introducing Hospitalisation scheme for retirees/spouses by way of lumpsum
contribution by retirees along with bank’s major contribution for life time benefit
coverage;
f) Including temporary Special Pay/Officiating Pay paid during last 10 months of
service for reckoning of Gratuity;
g) Spouses of deceased non-pensioners also should be granted medical aid of
Rs.1000/- as in the case of Family pensioners;
h) Crediting Pension on the last working day of the month;
i) Appointing Pensioners’ representatives in the Bank’s Pension Fund, Gratuity
Fund, Staff Welfare Fund/Committee etc.,
j) Improving the quality of Id Card issued by the bank;
k) Pointing out the discrepancy in Stagnation Increments in 8th and 9th BPS
resulting Scale II Officers drawing more Pension than Scale III;
l) Appreciating the Social Welfare programmes undertaken by our affiliates, more
particularly, Andhra Pradesh affiliate stood tall, thanks to exemplary initiatives
and philanthropic mindset of Sri M.Ch.Gupta, our Central Committee Member at
Vizianagaram and another Central Committee Member Sri S.K.Chatterjee at
Jamshedpur.
In reply to deliberations by the Central Committee Members, the General Secretary Sri
S.V.Srinivasan stated that even though we maintain cordial relations with the bank, yet, in the
matter of getting some more benefits/concessions like Festival Advance, Funeral expenses
etc., granted to retirees in other banks, the approach of our bank needs more positive
orientation.
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5) Accounts: Treasurer Sri A.B.Kasturirangan submitted Income & Expenditure Statements for
the period from 01.01.2014 to 31.12.2014. Further Statement of Affairs of the Federation as on
31.12.2014 was placed before the Central Committee. After due clarifications, the accounts
were approved unanimously.
6) Fraternal Leaders’ Address & Greetings:
a) Participating in our CC Meeting in the afternoon session, Sri C.S.Venugopal, Deputy
General Secretary of Canara Bank Employees’ Union observed that retirees are yet to be
organised in a few more States in our Bank and the message of total unification of all retirees
under one banner should be spread across the country. He assured that the CBEU will stand
shoulder to shoulder with Retirees’ Federation in their struggle for achieving industry level
demands.
Continuing his presentation, Sri C.S.Venugopal observed that the ultimate destination of
serving employees in Canara Bank after retirement can only be to All India Canara Bank
Retirees’ Federation and he appreciated the significant contribution of AICBRF to the
mainstream of bank retirees’ movement led by AIBRF. Now because of introduction of Pension
Scheme as a sequel to the Settlement in 1993, our role as employees and as pensioners
should ensure the well being of not only our beloved Institution but also our Union and the
Federation so that interests of both the serving employees and pensioners are duly protected.
In this regard, he acknowledged that AICBRF was going in the right direction and he was proud
of them. Also, while greeting the participants of the 2nd CC Meeting, he gratefully acknowledged
the contribution of our Federation’s leading functionaries in many States for having brought the
CBEU to the present enviable level.
b) In between the deliberations by the Central Committee Members on the reporting by
the General Secretary, Sri J.B.Dave, Vice President of AIBRF, greeted the participants and
expressed satisfaction over the growth of our Federation within a period of 5 years and
exhorted our functionaries to establish Units in other States, where we are yet to establish units.
He also assured to the gathering that AIBRF is confident that core demands of retirees will get
resolved shortly and monetary and other benefits would flow to all pensioners.
c) Sri.M.N.Pandit, Organising Secretary, AIBRF while greeting the CC Members
informed that he was 77 years old and was working 16 hours a day. He is a homeopathic doctor
retired from BOI and has also worked in Indian Army and in 7 different organisations. He stated
that he would retire only on the last day of his life. He shared an interesting story about the
determination of a man who wanted to climb Mount Everest and how he did so overcoming all
difficulties. He advised everyone to utilise their mind power.
d) Sri Harish Parmar, Central Committee Member, AIBRF who was instrumental in
designing the logo of AIBRF with the tagline greeted the gathering and observed that All India
Canara Bank Retirees’ Federation was an asset to AIBRF and he was ever prepared to help
our Federation in forming more units adjacent to the State of West Bengal.
7) Organisational Matters:
a) On Co-option: The Central Committee noted that consequent to the demise of our
Organising Secretary C.R.Venkateswaran who was also the General Secretary of Canara Bank
Retirees’ Association – Madurai, the affiliate concerned at its Executive Meeting authorised Sri
Shankar, Secretary to take charge of the routine work of their Association till a new Gen
Secretary is elected in their ensuing Conference. As such, the CC decided unanimously to
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keep the position vacant and decided further to permit Sri Sankar as Special Invitee for
attending our Central Committee Meeting.
b) Felicitation: The Central Committee congratulated and honoured Sriyuth R.P. Mishra &
Ansari who have been elected as General Secretary and Deputy General Secretary of Canara
Bank Retired Employees’ Welfare Association – Bihar at its Foundation Conference held at
Patna on 16-11-2014.
c) On crossing 10000 membership: The Central Committee had the benefit of soul
searching by way of SWOT analysis of the current status of various affiliates, the scenario as to
where we stand in the national landscape when compared to other bank wise retirees’
organisations in the mainstream retirees’ movement, scope for massive enrolment of new
members, especially past pensioners in their respective states, splitting role of some retirees’
organisations in some States etc. While sharing the general perception regarding various
dimensions of the problems/issues involved in carrying on the bank retirees’ movement, the
Central Committee Members also appreciated the passionate appeal of the General Secretary
to strengthen AICBRF through enrolment of more and more members in the months to come so
that our Federation achieves its goal of crossing 10000 members before the 2nd Triennial
Conference. To make this happen, the General Secretary emphasised that we should approach
past retirees also, quite a good number of whom are yet to be brought to our fold. With this
spirit permeating in the mind, the Chief Functionary of our Affiliates assured with confidence
minimum possible increase in their membership to achieve the coveted figure of 10000 before
the Conference.
8) On 2nd Triennial Conference of our AICBRF: The General Secretary recalled that our
Foundation Conference was held at Chennai in 2009, 1st Triennial Conference at Bengaluru in
2013 and reminded the Central Committee that 2nd Triennial Conference of our Federation
would be due in February 2016. Spontaneously standing with enthusiasm, Sri M.Venugopal,
General Secretary, Canara Bank Retirees’ Association - Cochin invited the house to hold the
2nd Triennial Conference in Kerala, followed by Sri B.S.A.Rao, General Secretary of our affiliate
in Maharashtra and Sri Atul Anjaria, Secretary of CBRA - Gujarat expressing willingness to
conduct the Conference in Maharashtra and Gujarat respectively. The Central Committee after
due deliberations, decided to accept the invitation from our affiliate Canara Bank Retirees’
Association, Cochin to hold our 2nd Triennial Conference at Ernakulam for 2 days during the
month of February 2016.
As you are aware, mobilising resources is very important not only for the successful conduct of
the Conference, but also for further organisational activities. Also, to meet the Conference
expenses, it has been decided that our affiliates should collect not less than Rs.250/- per retiree
member and remit the same to our Federation expeditiously.
The Central Committee further decided that the amount collected by the affiliates in excess of
its quota based on the membership strength as on 31-12-2015 (Minimum Rs.250/- per
member), is shareable between the Affiliates and the Federation in the ratio of 60% and 40%
respectively. The Central Office would remit the eligible share of the affiliates in due course. We
hope that our Affiliates would involve themselves fully in this important organisational task and
also take due care of their requirement as well for future activities.
Also, the Central Committee authorised the General Secretary of the Federation to take all
steps for making necessary arrangements for conducting the Conference successfully befitting
our organisational stature.
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A detailed circular on the 2nd Triennial Conference dealing with formation of Reception
Committee for conducting the Conference, allotment of Delegates & Observers, arrangements,
generation of resources and other related matters of the Conference will be separately issued in
due course.
9) Resolution: The CC unanimously passed a resolution by placing on record the valuable
contribution of Sri C.R.Venkateswaran, our Organising Secretary at Madurai (who passed away
on 07.02.2015) to the development of not only our Federation, but also our affiliate Canara
Bank Retirees’ Association – Madurai.
10) Thanks giving: Delivering vote of thanks, Sri B.Venkat Rao, Organising Secretary of our
Federation stated that great deal of efforts were taken by our Gujarat comrades to ensure that
all the Office Bearers and Central Committee Members of our Federation are conveniently
accommodated with superb breakfasts and dinners. The Central Committee honoured Sriyuth
Atul Anjaria, Thakkar, J.L. Parikh, Dabhi, M.J.Doria & Smt.Madhu Bhaxi and other volunteers
for their amiable disposition in ensuring successful completion of the 3rd Central Committee
Meeting at Ahmedabad. He also thanked all the AIBRF Office Bearers at Ahmedabad for their
participation and greetings, besides having kept our CC Members with status update on
retirees’ core issues. Also, thanks are due to Sri J.R.Patel, Chairman of the Canara Bank
Employees’ Cooperative Thrift & Credit Society Ltd., Ahmedabad for helping us in getting
comfortable stay at nominal cost.
Briefly put, our affiliate in Gujarat has made excellent arrangements much beyond our
expectation. Grand finale was few melodious songs sung by President of our Gujarat affiliate
Sri Thakkar, which still linger in our ears.
With this, the 3rd Central Committee Meeting concluded around 05.00 PM on 25th March 2015.
Friends! Our Central Committee has taken momentous decision of holding the 2nd triennial
Conference at Ernakulam in February 2016. 1st Triennial Conference at Bengaluru in 2013 is
still fresh in our memory. And yet, we are on the job of holding the 2nd Conference early next
year. We are sure, our Kerala affiliate, would do the task commendably.
We need to accomplish two important organisational tasks before the Conference.
1. We have taken upon ourselves the mission of enhancing our membership to cross 10000
mark before the Conference. It is not difficult, given the available opportunities and our
determination.
2. Next important task is to generate enthusiasm amongst our membership about the
Conference and create the required energy at all levels for the successful conduct of the
Conference. Conference is surely an indicator of our latent energy, unity & organisational skill
and we shall excel in this endeavour. Let us move to the next gear of holding the Conference in
an exemplary manner that would be ever green in our memory. With Greetings,
Yours Sincerely,
(S.V.Srinivasan)
General Secretary
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