Dear Comrades,

AIIEA SECRETARIAT DECIDES TO CONTINUE CAMPAIGN AGAINST INSURANCE LAWS (AMENDMENT) BILL

The Secretariat of the AIIEA met, as scheduled, at Hyderabad on 12th November 2013. Com. Amanulla Khan, President AIIEA, chaired the meeting.

The Secretariat reviewed the campaign against the proposed FDI hike in the insurance sector since last Secretariat meeting and also the move to disinvest the public sector general insurance companies. The meeting noted with satisfaction that our units across India met 445 Members of Parliament and important personalities from different political parties and impressed upon them the need to resist FDI hike in the insurance sector and the disinvestment of the public sector general insurance companies.  The meeting further reviewed the intentions of the government to push the Insurance Laws (Amendment) Bill in the winter session of the Parliament which will commence form the 5th of December 2013.

There was a serious discussion in the meeting relating to our campaign in the general insurance sector too. The Secretariat was convinced that the proposal to allow public sector general insurance companies to raise equity through markets tantamount to privatisation of these companies.  These companies are adequately capitalised and have control over massive assets.  Therefore, they have the ability to generate internal resources if required to meet the capital adequacy and there is no justification in permitting these companies to approach the markets to raise equity capital. Instead, the Secretariat demanded the merger of the four companies.  

Given the enormity of the danger of the Insurance Laws (Amendment) Bill being passed in the winter session, the meeting called upon the units to intensify the campaign. Apart from continuing with the conventional forms of the campaign like conducting Seminars, Conventions, Jathas and meeting MPs, the Secretariat called upon the units to hold lunch hour demonstrations on the opening day of the winter session of Parliament i.e. 5th December 2013. The Secretariat also reiterated AIIEA's earlier decision to go for One Day Strike Action in the event of the Insurance Bill being passed in Parliament.

ONE MORE OPTION FOR PENSION AND CHARTER OF DEMANDS:

The secretariat reiterated its demand for one more option for Pension. While noting the assurance of the LIC management and the GIPSA to seriously pursue the issue with the government, the Secretariat decided to follow up the matter for an early solution.

The Secretariat of the AIIEA also discussed the issue relating to the wage revision in the LIC and PS General Insurance Companies.  The public sector insurance industry performed extremely well in a sluggish economic situation.  LIC has established total market dominance both in premium income and number of policies.  The productivity of employees in Public sector insurance industry increased. Therefore, the demand for 40 percent wage hike is justified.  The Secretariat decided to demand for an early dialogue to settle this legitimate issue of the employees.

The Secretariat while appreciating that the Government had cleared LIC’s scheme for up-gradation of the Regular Part-time sweepers, demanded an early issuance of the administrative instructions. The Secretariat noted that due to efforts of AIIEA, recruitment in the Class III cadre to the extent of 2600 has taken place in the four Public Sector General Insurance Companies.
 
The meeting noted that the Indian economy is in a deep crisis today. The crisis is both due to the external and internal factors. The crisis is due to the mindless pursuit of neo-liberal policies leading to lack of demand in the economy. The BJP wanted to utilise this opportunity, despite their economic philosophy being no different from that of Congress, and wanted to encash the situation when India is due for its Parliamentary elections in the next five to six months.

Therefore, the Secretariat noted that the proposed March to Parliament on 12th December 2013 by the working class of this country is an opportunity to broaden our struggle by making common cause with other sections of the toilers. It was, therefore, decided that each zone would send two representatives to the Parliament March.  The units which are in the vicinity of Delhi should mobilise employees in a big way to make this programme of action a big success. All Units should undertake Rallies/ Demonstrations in co-ordination with the local democratic movements at their respective centres.

23RD GENERAL CONFERENCE OF AIIEA:

The Secretariat of the AIIEA made a detailed review of the preparations being made for the ensuing 23rd General Conference of the AIIEA to be held at Nagpur from 20th to 24th January 2014. Com. H.I.Bhatt, General Secretary of WZIEA reported on the preparations being made for the Conference and informed that a Reception committee under the Chairmanship of eminent Economist Dr. Shriniwas Khandewale was formed on 15.10.2013.  Com. Bhatt informed that the Divisional Unit of Nagpur is making all efforts to make the conference every success. The Secretariat called upon all its Units to help Nagpur divisional unit in all possible ways including financial support for the smooth conduct of the conference.

SIGTUR:

The Secretariat noted with immense satisfaction the fact that Com. Amanulla Khan, President AIIEA had been nominated by the CITU (Centre of Indian Trade Unions) to take charge of South Asian chapter of SIGTUR (Southern Initiative on Globalisation and Trade Union Rights).  Com. Amanulla Khan will be heading a thirteen member Indian delegation to the ensuing SIGTUR conference at Perth, Australia from 2-6 December 2013. Com. V. Ramesh, Joint Secretary AIIEA will be a part of the Indian delegation on behalf of the insurance sector.

The Secretariat of AIIEA appealed to all the employees in public sector insurance industry to observe all programmes of action of the organisation successfully to protect the industry and to strengthen the working class struggles to defeat the neo-liberal policies.


With greetings,
Comradely yours,


General Secretary.

•     Cir_13_2013.doc

Comrades,

Please find Cir No.12/2013 in the attachment.
 
Please also note that CO issued a clarificatory letter to all zonal offices on 1st November, 2013 clarifying about the payment of conveyance to employees on election duty wherever the conveyance is not arranged by the election authorities.
 
V. Ramesh
Joint Secretary, AIIEA

•     Cir_12_2013.doc

 Dear Comrades,

1. AIIEA has taken up with LIC for increase in advance for the employees affected in Uttarakhand flash floods and the Phailine Cyclone.  Management responded positively and a decision is expected.

2. AIIEA came out with an appeal to donate for PM's relief fund to meet the relief activity in Uttarakhand.

3. AIIEA discussed with General Secretary, ECZIEA about the relief activity to be taken up in Ganjam and other districts of Orissa. An amount of Rs.5,00,000 (Five lakhs) is being sent to ECZIEA to meet the immediate relief activity. This amount is being sent from the AIIEA reserve funds since some amounts which were unutilized by some zones in earlier relief activities were transferred to AIIEA and are in the reserve fund.
 
Comradely yours,
K Venu Gopal
General Secretary
AIIEA

हम मध्य क्षेत्र के सभी बीमा कर्मचारियों को मध्यप्रदेश एवं छत्तीसगढ़ विधानसभा के आगामी चुनाव में वामपंथी पार्टियों विशेषकर मार्क्सवादी कम्युनिस्ट पार्टी के चुनाव प्रचार को सशक्त बनाने हेतु तहेदिल से आर्थिक मदद देने की अपील करते है। हमें आशा ही नहीं अपितु पूर्ण विश्वास है कि हमारे सभी साथी इस महती जिम्मेदारी को तन-मन-धन से पूरा करेंगे। विस्तृत अपील पढने के लिये सर्कूलर डाउनलोड करें।

•     Circular062013.pdf

CZIEA की कार्यकारिणी समिति के निर्णय के अनुसार क्षेत्रीय कामकाजी महिला समन्वय समिति का चतुर्थ सम्मेलन भोपाल में दिनांक २९ सितम्बर २०१३ को आयाजित किया गया। विस्तृत जानकारी पढने के लिये सर्कूलर डाउनलोड करें।

•     Circular062013-1.pdf

Dear Comrades,

We reproduce herein below the letter addressed by AIIPA to the Chairman, LIC of India, Mumbai, urging him to implement the LIC Board Resolution of November 2001 at the earliest.

Dear Sir,

AIIPA urges for immediate solution

We had written to you earlier when the SLP against the Order under the Review Petition by the Hon’ble Jaipur High Court was pending in Supreme Court and the High Court had passed an Order keeping in abeyance, the Civil Contempt Petition till disposal of SLP by the Supreme Court. We had, in that letter, urged upon for immediate solution on the issue of full neutralisation in Dearness Relief payable to pre-1.8.1997 pensioners. Time and again, we have been impressing upon LIC not to wait for the culmination of legal process, as not the merits of the issue of full neutralisation in Dearness Relief to pre-1.8.1997 pensioners but only the procedural aspects of implementation of LIC Board Resolution of November 2001 were the issues at stake.

After the dismissal of SLPs, LIC has filed fresh SLPs and we are sure, in these petitions too, only legal nuances have been raised. To reinforce our sustained stand on this issue, we would like to point out that LIC had raised the scope and applicability of Section(48) of LIC Act, had raised questions whether the Hon’ble Jaipur High Court was right in rejecting the Review Petition, as these do not call for interference in its Review Jurisdiction, whether the High Court was right in asking LIC to implement its Board Resolution, seeking amendment of Pension Rules without actual amendment of Rules, whether LIC can be asked to do a particular thing, which if done, will act contrary to Law, whether oral submission of the Government Counsel can over-ride the provisions of statute, whether the High Court can decide that there cannot be a cut-off date for a benefit when there are judgements upholding cut-off dates etc. These and other points in the affidavit, but not mentioned here for purpose of brevity, clearly show that LIC never intended to raise the merits of the issue but was only concerned on proper manner to give effect to its Board Resolution of November 2001.

Now, we understand the SLPs against judgements of Punjab and Haryana High Court, Jaipur High Court and Delhi High Court have been converted into Civil Appeals and Civil Appeals in relation to Jaipur High Court and Delhi High Court have been tagged. Already LIC has already deposited certain amount in Jaipur High Court in respect of the eligible pensioners as per its understanding and AIIPA holds the view that having recognised the eligibility criteria in respect of the eligible petitioners, LIC can as well initiate suitable measures to get its Board Resolution implemented in respect of all pensioners on rolls as on August 1 1997. Our organisation, AIIPA, is of the firm opinion and feels the best course open to LIC, is to act on the above lines immediately even before proceedings in the Supreme Court are expected to be resumed to give concrete shape to the LIC Board Resolution by grant of uniform rate of Dearness Relief to pre-August 1997 pensioners retrospectively from August 1, 1997, with equivalent benefits to other post-August 1997 pensioners.

LIC pensioners and their families, especially those who had been waiting for long to get their legitimate due, fervently hope LIC would move in correct direction all at once.

Eventhough AIIPA has persistently argued for early favourable decisions in the matter of grant of uniform Dearness Relief for all pensioners, LIC has been oblivious to the merits and pursuing on legal matters.

All India Insurance Pensioners’ Association (AIIPA) holds a valid view that further delay can be avoided and the resentment among the pensioners redressed only if and when LIC heed to our representations and moves in the direction of immediate solution for this important issue that had its lows and highs in the past and which had seen vicissitudes and dragged on for no fault of the majority of the pensioners.

Thanking You,,

Yours faithfully,
Sd/-
(K.NATARAJAN)
GENERAL SECRETARY

•     AIIPA_Cir.19.13_.doc

Dear Comrades,

We reproduce herein below the letter addressed by AIIPA to the Chairman and the Chief Executive, GIPSA, seeking to extend an option to join/rejoin the Group Mediclaim Scheme for General Insurance pensioners, which is self-explanatory.

Dear Sir,

Option to join/rejoin Group Mediclaim Scheme for Public Sector General Insurance Companies’ Pensioners

We thank you for your acceding to our request for grant of subsidy of 75% in premium for Group Mediclaim for Public Sector General Insurance Companies’ pensioners. We would also like to thank you for the improvements brought about in the Group Mediclaim Scheme, like marginal reduction in premium, increased Sum Insured (both eligible and optional), Floater policy and to cover the parents and parents-in-law for the pensioners. We are glad that one more option to join/rejoin the Group Mediclaim Scheme has been provided for the in-service employees but the facility has not been extended to the pensioners. You may be aware, due to some genuine reasons like unaffordability or financial strain in paying the premium, some of the pensioners would have not joined or opted out of the Group Mediclaim Scheme. Now that the provision of subsidy in premium for the Group Mediclaim Scheme as also some improvements have been introduced, it is but needed that the pensioners are also extended the option to join/rejoin the Group Mediclaim Scheme. Similarly, pensioners may also be extended option to include their dependent parents for coverage in the revised Group Mediclaim Scheme.

We do hope that the need and necessity of mediclaim coverage at advanced age is appreciated by the management and our request for an option to the pensioners to join/rejoin the Group Mediclaim Scheme is considered favourably.

Thanking you in advance,

Yours faithfully,
Sd/-
(K.NATARAJAN)
GENERAL SECRETARY

•     AIIPA_Cir.18.13.doc

You are aware that AIIEA has been continuously following up with the LIC management for restoration of increment postponed due to employees’ participation in Strike on 20^th and 21^st February, 2013.

We write to inform you that LIC management through its circular Per/ER/U/Strike/13-14 dated 04/10/2013 issued instructions restoring the normal grade/stagnation increment to the employees postponed due to participation in the above mentioned strike.

This is for your information.

•     increment_restored.docx

Dear Comrades,

We reproduce herein below the letter addressed by AIIPA to the Hon’ble Finance Minister, Government of India, New Delhi, with regard to the issues of insurance pensioners, which is self-explanatory.

28th September 2013

Shri. P.Chidambaram,
Hon’ble Minister for Finance,
Government Of India,
NEW DELHI.

Dear Sir,

Issues of Insurance Pensioners

We, from the ALL INDIA INSURANCE PENSIONERS’ ASSOCIATION (AIIPA), representing a major chunk of Pensioners from the Public Sector Insurance Industry, are happy to note that the Government has taken a timely decision to constitute the Seventh Central Pay Commission  for upward revision of wages for the Central Government employees that would benefit the Central Government Pensioners too.

Central Government Pensioners, who had retired prior to the year 1996, till then getting Basic Pension on the basis of their “Pay” at the time of retirement and Dearness Relief thereon with partial neutralisation, got updated Pension and Full Neutralisation thereon when the Government accepted of the Recommendations of Fifth Pay Commission,    with yourself, heading the Finance Ministry then also.

Our Organisation has been urging upon the Managements of LIC and Public Sector General Insurance Companies and the Government ever since that such a benefit be extended to Insurance Pensioners too and it has been our repeated refrain especially after acceptance of the Recommendations of Sixth Pay Commission effective from January 2006.

However, there has been no positive response and Insurance Pensioners continue to be paid pre-revised Basic Pension with a certain section still getting truncated Dearness Relief.

AIIPA firmly believes that the demand for ending this differential treatment is most justified and Insurance Pensioners, as part of the Senior Citizens of this country, deserve to be treated on par with the Central Government Pensioners.

Pensioners from LIC and Four Public Sector General Insurance Companies and their families constitute an important segment of the population and they had, while in service, contributed to the growth of these Institutions and to the growth of Indian Economy and we are sure the Government will readily acknowledge their role.

Our Organisation thinks that Insurance Pensioners and their kith and kin have been appreciative of the efforts of the Government in matters like  passing of RTI Act, Women’s Reservation Bill, MGREGA, Food Security Act etc.

The decision by the Government to grant increase in Dearness Allowance and Dearness Relief to Central Government employees and pensioners to compensate for higher cost of living is a welcome step and though insurance pensioners too get periodic revision in Dearness Relief, the compensation they are entitled as per rules is much less as they get Dearness Relief on pre-revised Basic Pension and a truncated Dearness Relief by some.

The Government, by granting higher Family Pension at Uniform Rate to the spouses of Central Government employees and granting similar benefits to RBI pensioners, has done yeomen service to those who had lost their beloved ones and inspite of our representations, LIC and GIPSA are yet to come out with positive response.

We feel solutions to the issues of Insurance Pensioners brook no further delay and Government should   immediately initiate measures to grant Full Neutralisation to pre-August 1997 Retirees, grant uniform Family Pension at 30% for all those presently getting Family Pension and grant updated Pension to correspond to present wage levels to all  the Pensioners drawing Basic Pension at lower CPI levels prevalent at the time of their cessation of service.

Having put their toil for the growth of LIC and GIC and their contribution to the National Exchequer and being part of a conscious section of the Senior Citizens,  Pensioners from the Insurance Industry look forward to favourable decisions.  

All India Insurance Pensioners’ Association (AIIPA)  desires that the Hon’ble Finance Minister, taking into account the sentiments expressed herein and appreciating the merits of the issues  put forth, uses his good offices to ensure justice is done to the cause of Insurance Pensioners.

Thanking You,

Yours faithfully,
Sd/-
(K.NATARAJAN)
GENERAL SECRETARY

•     AIIPA_Cir.17.13_.doc

To all the Zonal/Divisional/State/Regional Units:
Dear Comrades,

The Chairman of LICI was in Hyderabad on 3rd September 2013 in connection with certain official engagements.  AIIEA delegation consisting of Com. K. Venu Gopal, General Secretary and Com. V. Ramesh, Joint Secretary met him and discussed certain pending issues of the employees.

On the issue of one more option for pension, Chairman informed that LIC is making serious efforts with the Government to see that this issue is resolved early. AIIEA informed the Chairman that wage revision is also a subject which is agitating the minds of the employees and that in this context the issue of one more option for pension is to be clinched early.

On the issue of 100% neutralization for pre 1-8-97 retirees and the question of updation of pension, Chairman said that LIC has to await the outcome of the SLPs filed before the Supreme Court.

AIIEA also raised the issues relating to PLLI, recruitment, absorption of temporary employees working for a very long time in the Assistant’s cadre, and the issue relating to temporary Class IV employees of Asansol and Burdwan divisions.  

On 5th September, 2013, AIIEA delegation of Com. K. Venu Gopal and Com. V. Ramesh met the Executive Director (Personnel) and Chief (Personnel) who were in Hyderabad for a Conference. The pending issues of the employees including the issues represented to the Chairman were appraised to these officials.

On the issue of upgradation scheme of RPT employees, which was approved by the Board of LIC, The ED (P) informed that Government sought certain details which were provided and that the LIC is in constant follow up with the Government to implement the scheme early.

AIIEA delegation also reminded about the AIIEA’s letter to the management seeking restoration of increment postponed due to strike action on 20th/21st February 2013.  ED (P) said that the issue will be attended soon.

These were the brief details of our discussions with the officials of LIC.

With greetings,
Comradely yours,


General Secretary.

•     Cir_11_2013.doc