AIBOC CIRCULAR NO. 158 DATED 14TH DECEMBER 2010

AIBOC issued its circular No. 158 dated 14th December 2010 on Centenary Programme of NATURE. We are reproducing the same here for our readers.

CIRCULAR NO.158                        14TH DECEMBER, 2010

TO ALL AFFILIATES/MEMBERS:

NATURE

CENTENARY PROGRAMME “NATIONAL WORKSHOP ON DISCIPLINE AND VIGILANCE ADMINISTRATION IN PUBLIC SECTOR BANKS” GRAND INAUGURAL FUNCTION ON 12TH DEC.2010

           

We reproduce hereunder the text of AISBOF Circular No.118 dated 14th December 2010, contents of which are self-explicit.

TEXT

Sri. R.Sri Kumar – Central Vigilance Commissioners’ Clarion Call for Probity in Public Life - The beautiful complex of the Local Head Office of State Bank of India was a treat to watch by all those who were present in the complex in order to celebrate the Centenary Programme of the National Academy of Trade Union Research and Education, a wing of All India State Bank Officers’ Federation. The enthusiastic participants led by the volunteers of SBIOA(K) representing the affiliates of the Federation and Confederation along with their senior leaders and defense representatives were led to the elegantly decorated Auditorium which was full of flowers with natural aromas welcoming the delegates, observers and the guests who were in full attendance in the Auditorium. Sri. R.Sri Kumar, the Central Vigilance Commissioner, Government of India, New Delhi, arrived on time keeping in tune with the punctuality he is known for. The leadership of the Federation led by Com.G.D.Nadaf, the General Secretary of the Federation and Confederation led him to the dais for performing the sacred duty of inaugurating the great event that was to unfold subsequently in the history of Bank Officers’ movement. An event that shall be remembered for a long time to come in the Bank Officers’ movement.  The event of rejoicing the completion of the 100th programme of the NATURE, an institution known for its academic excellence and commitment towards training the trade union leaders in the art of defense, in the leadership development and various other fields concerning our activities. When he was led to the dais, there was thunderous applause from the participants to express their happiness over his august presence on the occasion.  The electronic and print media were present in full strength to capture the event of his inaugural address as well as lighting the lamp on the occasion.

Com.B.S.Ravindra, the Course-Co-ordinator, welcoming the Guest of Honour, Smt. Arundhathi Bhattacharya, the Dy.Managing Director, and CDO, appreciated her support for the conduct of the programme. When she was led to the dais, there was a rousing applause from the audience.  The participants expressed their happiness over her support and co-operation to our activities.

The other dignitaries who graced the dais included Com.P.K.Sarkar, the President of the Confederation, Com.G.Muthuswamy, Com.Sakti Haldar, Com.Krishna Kumar, Senior Vice-Presidents of the Federation.

Com.T.N.Goel, the President of the Federation presided over the meeting.

The programme commenced with a prayer to the Mother Land “Vande Mataram” with the full participation of the audience as well as the guests on the dais.  Com.G.D.Nadaf, the General Secretary of the Federation, extending a warm welcome to the guests and gave a brief account of the activities of NATURE and its contribution to the Bank Officers’ movement over the last 2 decades.  While extending a warm welcome, he also gave a brief account of                   Shri. Sri Kumar, the Central Vigilance Commissioner about his assignments in various States and the Central Government and his uprightness in dealing with the public issues.  He also acknowledged with gratitude the spontaneity readiness with which the Vigilance Commissioner accepted the invitation to participate in the meeting.  Thereafter, the Vigilance Commissioner was warmly honored and felicitated by the leadership of the Federation and also the Confederation.

Smt. Arundhathi Bhattacharya, the Dy.Managing Director and CDO was given a warm welcome by the leadership of the Federation for her august presence in the function and for having accepted our invitation despite her busy schedule and was required to be present in an important meeting at the Corporate Office Mumbai, she evinced keen interest and agreed to participate in the function. Her varied experience in a number assignments and also different parts of the country as well as abroad, with her last stint at Bangalore Circle received thunderous applause from the audience. She was felicitated on the occasion and the leadership of the Federation expressed its hopes that she would be of a great source of support and strength when she assumes the charge of the Dy.Managing Director and CDO at Corporate Center.

Shri.Sri Kumar, the Vigilance Commissioner, formally lighted the lamp to signify the inauguration of the Function along with Smt. Arundhathi Bhattacharya, the Dy.Managing Director and CDO on the occasion.  

“I am extremely happy to be amidst this gathering which has overwhelming presence of the participants in such a large number which exceeds the number of participants where we had organized a meeting at Vigyan Bhavan, New Delhi, on the occasion of creating a public awareness about the Public Participation in the anti-corruption drive to be launched by the Vigilance Commission, in a bigger hall” declared Shri.Sri Kumar, amidst thunderous applause in the Auditorium when he began his inaugural address. He dealt at length about the inadequacy of the infrastructure facilities for taking care of over 120 crore population with more than 15,000 public sector units and a large number of members serving them including the banking sector, where over 2,00.000 officers are subject to the vigilance administration. The exponential situation in which we are now placed in, calls for a greater circumspection by the participative public to tackle the corruption in public life which is major cause of concern to all of us.  The magnitude of the current level of corruption is mind-boggling and needs to be addressed collectively. He also traced the evolution of the Vigilance in the country which comprised of preventive vigilance, punitive vigilance, pre-emptive vigilance, pro-active vigilance and lastly the participative vigilance which is a larger canvas where with the help of the latest technology the scarce staffed Vigilance Commission with just 300 people under its administration and over 1500 under CBI, would like to take the support of the common people all over the country. He explained about the new initiative “Vigeye” wherein any public can log in and furnish the details about the various situations involving corruption in the country requiring attention of the Vigilance.  He also appealed to the members for their co-operation and support so that this initiative can be made people participative one and the entire country will be involved in the eradication of corruption.

He paid rich tributes to the efforts of the All India State Bank Officers’ Federation and the NATURE for the yeomen service rendered by them over the last 20 years.  He wished that the NATURE should celebrate its silver jubilee in still a grand manner and continue its proactive role. He was all praise for the publications of the NATURE in particular the compendium containing all the instructions, regulations and also guidance to the Defense Representatives entitled the “Discipline and Vigilance Proceedings” while releasing the same.

Smt. Arundhathi Bhattacharya, the Dy. Managing Director and CDO speaking on the occasion explained vividly the vulnerability of the bank officers, who want to serve the people under pressure and to help the customers, are getting into the net of vigilance and disciplinary proceedings and the need to have a humanitarian approach while dealing with such cases.  The Banking Industry is growing and expanding by leaps and bounds, thereby expectations of the people are also rising, placing tremendous pressure on the officers. While, the malafide actions are required to be punished, the bonafide actions needs to be recognized and relief is granted to the members without much loss of time.  It is necessary for each and every executive to give equal importance to the files relating to the Disciplinary Proceedings in order to avoid the tension and torture on account of delayed disposal of the case.  She also appreciated the role played by the Officers’ organisation in State Bank of India and for being proactive in all the activities. 

Com.T.N.Goel, the President of the Federation in his presidential address appreciated the good words spoken by the Vigilance Commissioner and gave a detailed account of the current woes of the Officers who are unnecessarily dragged into the Vigilance net.  He also suggested that there has to be proper guidelines for dealing with the bank cases and the number of cases which are referred should be brought down and the routine matters should be tackled at the bank level itself. He explained at length the initiatives of the Confederation and the report that is being prepared by the Sub-Committee, which was appointed for the purpose.

The Inaugural Function concluded with a vote of thanks by Com.G.Muthuswamy, the Vice-President of the Federation. He acknowledged the good work done by Smt.Arundhathi Bhattacharya as the head of the Circle exhibiting a remarkable humane approach to the problems of the Officers.  He thanked all the participants on the occasion.

Session II – Sri. S.Sitharamu, the former Chief Vigilance Officer of Syndicate Bank:

Sri.S.Sitharamu, Former General Manager & Former Chief Vigilance Officer, Syndicate Bank and earlier working in State Bank of India as Dy.General Manager, spoke on Evolution and Present Status of Discipline and Vigilance Administration in Public Sector Banks.  He gave a detailed account of the evolution of the code of conduct in the society right from the days of Kautilya and how the disciplinary rules came into our service through the Government of India Act and subsequently as Civil Service Rules, which were adopted for the Bank Officers as well.  He also emphasised on the need of having an appropriate mindset while dealing with the cases connected with the Bank Officers in particular the references that are being sent to the Vigilance Department.  He was highly appreciative of the initiatives that are taken by NATURE in conducting the various activities to create an awareness amongst the membership about the Disciplinary and Vigilance Proceedings in the Banks.

He took pains to describe the attitude at certain levels and the bad practices that were in existence in some of the banks in regard to the rudimentaries of conducting the domestic enquiry and his initiative to organize a number of programmes for the benefit of the vigilance officers in various banks.  He also emphasised that the Disciplinary Authority has every right to be independent and there is no need to exercise his independent application of mind.

“Session III - Review of Procedures and Practices of Discipline and Vigilance Administration in Public Sector Banks - Com.P.S.Rajagopal, renowned Senior Counsel, High Court of Karnataka, Bangalore”

The organisations have to take the responsibility of rising above the current level and considering the Disciplinary area with equal importance in the interest of their members; declared Shri.P.S.Rajagopal, amidst thunderous applause. He deplored that there is no procedure to talk about review of the procedure. The age old method of trusting the Investigating Official report and using him as the sole witness on behalf of the Management is still prevalent in some of the banks despite his best effort to see that these irregular practices are removed. He also narrated an instance where he could succeed in getting relief in respect of one of the charge-sheeted officials.

Shri.Rajagopal, was concerned to note the same old mindset amongst the members of the Officers’ fraternity including the executives.  He explained in a vivid manner as to how there are only two classes of Officers be in the administrative set-up as regards operational experience. This distinction should change and the operational experience should be considered as prerequisite for those in-charge of the disciplinary areas he declared. 

Shri.Rajagopal, raised certain fundamental issues whether have archaic rules?  The mindset where all the cases are proved? where the same old systems and procedures or rather, absence of systems and procedures are being practiced.  Even if hundred culprits go-scot-free one innocent officer should not be allowed to be hanged by the Management and it is the duty of the leadership of the present unions to tackle this issue.  Only the unions can take up the review of the existing systems and procedures and also campaign for the change of mindset. He appealed to the members to rise to occasion and take it as a challenge since if you fail there is no justice thereafter, in a touching manner.

Session – IV     Interactive Session:

The senior leaders led by Com.T.N.Goel, President of the Federation and Com.P.K.Sarkar, Com.G.D.Nadaf, the President and the General Secretary of the Confederation respectively were present for the purpose of the interactive session.  The leaders who were on the dais included Com.T.T.Nataranjan, Com.K.Koushik Ghosh, Com.D.S.Bhadauria, Com.G.Muthuswamy, Com.S.K.Haldar, Com.D.Krishnakumar, Com.Shantharaju, former General Secretary, AISBOF and AIBOC. There was lively discussions on the various issues raised by the participants. The participants raised very interesting questions on disciplinary proceedings, arbitrariness on unilateralism-biased stand of the Management in awarding punishments etc. 

Com.P.K.Sarkar, the President of the Confederation appealed to the affiliates to take deep interest in the area of Disciplinary Proceedings and help the charged officers and ensures that good systems and practices are brought in place.

Com.T.N.Goel, President of the Federation, responded to the issues raised by the members in an elaborate manner and also the recommendations of the Sub-Committee set up by the Confederation on the subject.

Com.G.D.Nadaf, the General Secretary of the Federation and Confederation also spoke on the occasion and deliberated on some of the issues regarding the production of the documents with particular reference to the Notorised documents etc.,

Com. B. S. Ravindra, co-ordinated entire sessions, exemplarily.

Vote of Thanks:

The meeting concluded with a vote of thanks by Com.T.T.Natarajan, the General Secretary of Indian Bank Officers’ Association.

Comrades, the Programme is a land mark in the history of National Academy of Trade Union Research and Education, a wing of AISBOF.  The Federation will be remembered forever for such a wonderful creation, which has been doing a yeomen service to the trade union fraternity. 

Comrades, the Inaugural Session as well as other 3 sessions were of high standards and quality in the depth of the subject and also in creating an awareness amongst the participants on the various aspects of the Discipline and Vigilance Administration in the Banking Sector. More than 250 participants of affiliates and observers appreciated of AIBOC the efforts of the NATURE  in providing them high quality of information in defence field. We are confident that with this great success the NATURE is poised to achieve many more laurels in the days to come.

With season’s greetings for the New Year 2011

Sd/-

(G.D. NADAF)

GENERAL SECRETARY