AIBOC CIRCULAR NO. 96 DATED 31ST DECEMBER 2009

AIBOC issued its circular no. 96 on the year 2009. We are reproducing the same here.

CIRCULAR NO.96                     31^st December, 2009

TO ALL AFFILIATES/MEMBERS:

AN YEAR OF RESILIENCE AND CHALLENGE RINGS OUT

          The year 2009 will be remembered by all of us for a long time to come.  The year saw a spectacular resilience power of the people of the country as well as the economy of the nation.  The year also witnessed that the country can absorb the heat that is being generated by the so called western super powers and could emerge as a clear winner surpassing the past records in several fields.  It will also be remembered for the sheer grit and determination of the people in ensuring the success of the democratic process even while several other countries are crumbling under the dictatorial and military rule as a shining example of the conviction that the people of the country have developed in ensuring that the independent India should emerge not only the largest democracy but also the strongest democracy in the world.

2.       The country emerged as an unassailable leader of the third world and developing countries.  The stubborn stand taken by the Indian Delegation at Copehnheghan Summit of International community of nations as regards the emission and the pollution control, in order to maintain the environmental balance and prevent the warming up of the globe, turned out to be a battle between the developing and developed countries. While, the Indian representatives stole the show by exposing the double standards of the so called super powers from the West in insisting that those countries should fall in line in regard to the maintenance of emission standards and also be open for inspection.  Hence, the proposals put forth by the US led western powers failed miserably.  The summit did not succumb to the dictates of the Super Powers.  The last minute intervention by the President of US and his initiative to rope in the Indian Prime Minister through arm twisting method was not only warded off by the Indian delegation but also demonstrated to the entire world that, India can stand on its own legs in the matter of Science and Technology initiative, in case the Western countries behave in an erratic manner in regard to the supply of essential raw materials to our nuclear establishments in the country.

3.       The US recession is still continuing to have its impact on the Western countries.  The last one to join was the realty slowdown in gulf countries. The President of US was able to get the passage of the Health Bill which is bound to absorb huge revenue of the Government.  The threat of the job losses of the Professionals who had migrated in large number during the last year, are slowly getting back to their jobs.  The entry into US is now made more flexible than what it was when the new President took over the Office in US.   However, the financial sector which suffered a major set back is yet to recover from the catastrophe it faced during the last year.  The US Government is coming out with a series of measures to defend the Private Sector Banks and the talk of Nationalising them is becoming a national debate in US.  The dollar is loosing its glow.  The gold has become much sought after commodity including the Governments of several countries stocking the valuable yellow metal as against the dollar fluctuations.   It was a pleasant surprise when the President of US Barrack Obama, the first African – American Leader to assume the position, was declared the winner of the Noble prize for peace for his efforts to reduce the tension all over the globe through his statesmanship.

4.       China created a row over our borders, by moving their army on our borders, raising objection for the visit of Dalai Lama to Tawang in Arunachala Pradesh; creating a crack in our relationship with them.  This created tension between the two emerging economic powers.  The statesmanship of our Prime Minister and also the Prime Minister of China diffused the tension and both the countries have resolved to work in unison to achieve better neighbourly relationship, economic co-operation etc.

5.       Our neighhbours continue to suffer due to the lack stability in the Governments formed by them.  The Government of Pakistan is under the clutches of the militants and a huge loss of lives and property continues to haunt the sub-continent.  The militants are striking at will and the Government is not able to contain them.  The Government itself is under serious threat.  The President of Pakistan himself is in legal wrangle due to the fact that the old cases are being re-opened.  Yet another bout of uncertainty looms large in the sky in Pakistan.  Nepal has again plunged into a State of anarchy with Maoists forming their own parallel Government against the elected Government.

6.       The year saw the emergence of Dr Manamohan Singh, as the Prime Minister for the second time, a record which was held by late Pandit Jawahar Lal Nehru to return to the office after successful completion of 5 years term.  He not only brought victory to the UPA but gave a tremendous boost to the Indian National Congress Party which was facing a serious crisis for the last few years.  The economist turned Prime Minister who was responsible for ushering in the era of globalization under his direction as the former Finance Minister, during the regime of the party in the early 1990s, was a star performer for the Congress Party in the election arena.  His emergence as the leader of the Party brought spectacular victory to Congress in some of the important states which went for General Elections – the main States being Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh.  The Congress left several others far behind in the political arena. 

7.       The country saw yet another elevation to our womenfolk when                 Mrs. Meira Kumar, the long standing Parliamentarian and the daughter of late Shri. Babu Jaga Jivan Ram was elected as the first lady speaker of the Lokasabha, an important and responsible position in the Indian Parliament.  The post calls for grit and determination of managing the affairs of the proceedings of the Parliament and Mrs. Meira Kumar is proving to be the right choice. Coupled with this, the year saw the emergence of a woman Parliamentarian as leader of the opposition with the elevation of Mrs. Sushma Swaraj of the BJP. The Parliament saw unruly scenes and the disturbance throughout the country due to the revelation of the Liberhan Commission Report on Babri Masjid demolition that, the destruction was a planned attack by the BJP and dragged the name of the former Prime Minister Shri. Atal Bihari Vajpayee into the controversy along with several other prominent leaders.

8.       Smt. Pratibha Patil, the President of India became the first woman President to fly in the sky in a combat aircraft in the trial run conducted by the Defence Force.

9.       The left parties who were carrying the relentless battle against the reforms and also were championing the cause of the working class in their own way, lost miserably in the last elections to Parliament and are in a bad shape in their home state due to the subsequent losses as well in the by-elections.  Thus the Central Trade Unions affiliated to the left parties are to a great extent handicapped.  The Government has gone ahead with all its plans as regards the globalization and also reforms in the financial sector.

10.     The country witnessed a downtrend in certain areas due to the impact of the economic recession in US and other countries.  However, the sustained growth in the manufacturing, infrastructure, the agriculture coupled with the vagaries of monsoon which also resulted in colossal loss of human lives and properties due to the unprecedented floods in the states of Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Orissa and Maharashtra and later on in several parts of the Northern States, brought the country to a great grief.  The Central Government came out with a series of relief packages to the States who had suffered huge damages due to the unprecedented floods in the interior parts of the country.

11.     The agitation for creation of Telengana by the TRS under the leadership of T.R. Chandrashekar became yet another explosive issue for the Center when the Central Government hurriedly announced the creation of Telengana State.  The manmade catastrophe has been causing more damage than the fury of floods we had suffered in the recent past.  The Central Government’s nod to create Telangana State, has kindled the spirit of separatist elements, demanding formation of separate states such as Vidarbha, Garkhaland, Bundel khand, Kodagu etc.

12.     The economic situation is of a mixed bag.  While, the Government, their representatives who have been championing the globalization have been claiming that the GDP is growing due to the sustained growth in almost all sectors. The Stock Market survived the fear of crash and ensured the inflow of foreign funds on a continuous basis despite the problems of the Asian and European stock markets.  The fraud committed by Sri. Ramalinga Raju, Managing Director of M/s Satyam Computers, the third largest IT major, shook the corporate world, exposed the holes in the Corporate Governance.  This was a national shame and put the Indian Corporate World in a poor light.  The auditing firms which are big names in the international arena had to cut a sorry figure for the slip shoddy way of auditing. Government of India intervened and saved the company from sinking. The GDP rate is being revised and updated, at a periodical interval and the Government and RBI is now talking of the maintenance of the GDP at 8% despite the world recession.  The prices have shot up in an unprecedented manner despite the growth in GDP, the inflation which was moving southward and recorded even negative growth is now witnessing a change in the direction.  The cost of living has gone up as reflected in the figures furnished by the Government.  The last quarter itself noticed about 59 slab increase in the Dearness Allowance a record increase for all times to come.  The grim situation has widened the gap between the poor and the rich, the poor becoming poorer. Suicides by farmers continue unabated.

13.     Some of the silver lining was the first Oscar Awards victory by the Indian Cinema industry which bagged a handful of Oscar honors in almost all major sections of the Film Production when the Slum Dog Millionaire stole the show at Oscar awards ceremony. The Indian Cricket Team created yet another history when it reached the top slot in Test Cricket, the One Dayer etc., apart from the living legend Sachin Tendulkar creating records continuously. 

14.     Sri. Aravinda Adiga, the English novelist, did us proud by winning Man Booker Prize for his first novel – “The White Tiger”.  Dr. R.Venkataraman of the University of Pensylvania won the Nobel Prize for chemistry and brought glory to India.

15.     The Mahesh Bhupathi and Sania Mirza pair won the mixed doubles grand slam in the Australian Open for the first time when they lifted the doubles trophy.  Leander Paes won the French Open men’s doubles.  India lifted Sultan Azlan Shah Cup for Hockey in Malaysia.  Saina Nehwal wins Indonesian Open for Badminton.  Pankaj Adwani, the Bangalore boy won the World Professional Billiards Championship.  Vishwanathan Anand won chess Oscar for the sixth time.  Yuki Bhambri, was the first Indian to win Junior Australian Open.

16.     The labour is under constant attack. The Government is not able to push through the amendment for enhancement of the Gratuity Ceiling due to the pressure built by the corporate lobby.  The job losses are on the increase.  The attrition rate amongst the creamy layer is becoming a real headache in some of the new sectors such as IT and Financial Sector.  The growing unemployment, the rising cost of living due to the spiralling prices of the essential commodities, are the real challenge to the Congress Government.

17.     The trade union movement in the banking industry has witnessed a period of turmoil due to the continuous attack on the existing structure of the banking.  There were series of struggles and agitation against the initiatives of the Government in regard to the dilution of the equity, merger etc.  The major struggle was towards the 2^nd option on Pension and also the salary revision.  The sustained struggles and strikes by the banking industry ensured drawing up of the MOU wherein the IBA/Government agreed to the demands of the UFBU for conceding the demand for 2^nd option and also wage revision at 17.5% increase. There were a number of strikes to ensure the success of the agreement.  The realization of 2^nd option on Pension was a long drawn battle and dream by the Confederation. Nearly 2.5 lac employees are benefited and also over 65, 000 retirees, due to conceding the demand of 2^nd option by the IBA and the Government.  This is a record achievement of the Confederation, against all odds.

18.     The MOU also covers the introduction of New Pension Scheme with effect from 1.4.2010.  The modalities of salary revision, the introduction of 2^nd option and the contribution from the employees’ side and other details are being worked out, at IBA level.

19.     The Banking Industry is passing through a severe crisis despite the spectacular performance which has managed to buckle the impact of the US economic recession.  The performance of the Public Sector Banks has brought glory to the Public Sector units in the country.  Almost all the PSU’s are now again in the limelight.  The big threat is the dilution of the Government’s equity and the initiative of mergers and consolidation despite our constant fight against these moves.  The latest to join the merger is the State Bank of Indore with State Bank of India with all the formalities being completed.

20.          Comrades, the year 2009 will be remembered for the determination that the people of the country who have demonstrated during the bygone year that the Nation will emerge as one of the super powers in the world in the near future.  Let us hope that the 2009 will be a definite trendsetter in this direction. 

21.     It is time to Ring out the Old and Ring in the New. Good Bye to 2009. 

22.            Wishing all our members a Happy and Prosperous New Year 2010.         

With warm greetings,
Sd/-
(G.D. NADAF)
GENERAL SECRETARY