AIBOC CIRCULAR NO. 84 DATED 12.09.2011

AIBOC issued its circular No. 84 dated 12.09.2011 on the foundation conference of Pragathi Gramin Bank Adhikarigala Sanghatane, a new affiliate to AIBOC. We are placing the same here for our readers.

CIRCULAR NO.84                                  DATE: 12.09.2011

TO ALL AFFILIATES/MEMBERS:

FOUNDATION CONFERENCE OF PRAGATHI GRAMIN BANK ADHIKARIGALA SANGHATANE (R) - A GRAND SUCCESS – A NEW AFFILIATE TO AIBOC

The spacious auditorium hall of KEB Engineers’ Association at Davanagere (Karnataka) was overflowing with enthusiastic members who had assembled in a large number from various parts of the Karnataka State to attend the Foundation Conference of Pragathi Gramin Bank Adhikarigala Sanghatane (R) Chitradurga, an amalgamated organisation with Pragathi Gramin Bank Officers’ Association (R) Shimoga with a view to consolidate the Officers’ Movement in Pragathi Gramin Bank as a result of continuous efforts and persuasion by the leadership of AIBOC from the Headquarters at Bangalore ably supported by the Karnataka State Unit over the last couple of months. The efforts ultimately paved way for the unification of the members with a view to achieve majority status in the Bank in the near future.

The programme commenced with customary welcome to all the dignitaries to the dais by the leadership of the organization. Com.P.N.Madhusudan, while extending a warm welcome gave a brief account of the circumstances under which these organizations came together with a view to consolidate the officers’ movement in the Pragathi Bank.  Thereafter, the members of the reception Committee Com.C.R.Nagaraja Setty, and also Com.Anjanappa gave a brief introductory remarks about the background of the Officers’ movement in the Pragathi Bank and the issues that brought all the officers of both the organizations under umbrella of AIBOC and resulted in the formation of an amalgamated organization. They also shared the immediate concern of the association and the burning issues before the Pragathi Gramin Bank Offices’ fraternity for the information of the house.

Com.G.D.Nadaf, the General Secretary of AIBOC and AISBOF was invited to light the lamp to indicate the birth of the organisation. The dignitaries on the dais also joined with him along with the leadership of the organization in lighting the lamp as a part of inaugural function. Com.Nadaf, delivering his inaugural address on the occasion was highly impressed by the large attendance of the Officers of Pragati Gramin Bank to be part of the foundation Conference and he declared amidst thunderous applause that the philosophy of AIBOC is all are equal before the organization irrespective of the size of the affiliate and the number of members the affiliates represent in the organization. He further gave the details of the struggles that the Confederation had gone through over the last 30 years in consolidation of the Bank Officers in Regional Rural Banks and its continuous efforts in ensuring that the parity of service conditions to the Officers working in RRBs. He also made specific reference as to the contribution of the leadership of the Confederation in regard to the establishment of the right to “equal pay for equal work” before the National Industrial Tribunal headed by Justice Obul Reddy during 1990 and the subsequent developments in various bipartite meetings and the difficulties that had to be encountered in ensuring a fair deal to the members of the Regional Rural Banks.

He declared that the Confederation is fully committed to protect the interest of the Officers’ working in the Regional Rural Banks and the AIRRBOF is given all support in its efforts to resolve some of the long pending demands before the Government and the Management including the issue of extending Pension Scheme to the members of the Regional Rural Banks as settled in the Banking Industry during the year 1993. He also complimented Com.S.K.Bhattacharjee, General Secretary, AIRRBOF for their sustained struggle and consolidated effort to preserve the dignity and honor of the Officers’ working in the Regional Rural Banks and in ensuring that the benefits available in the Public Sector Banks are extended to them by the Government Management from time to time. He reiterated the demand of the Confederation that merger of RRBs with sponsor Banks and extension of Pension and other service conditions of Public Sector Banks to RRB Staff.

Com.B.S.Ravindra, the Asst. General Secretary, AIBOC and the State Secretary of Karnataka State unit (AIBOC) who was instrumental in bringing all sections of the Officers’ in the Pragathi Gramin Bank and motivating them for the consolidation of their movement under one organisation; in his special address appreciated the decision of the leadership of both the organisations. He also emphasized the need for further consolidation in the State of Karnataka taking advantage of the amalgamation of RRB’s of sponsored banks. He also referred to the consolidation process that has taken place amongst the Regional Rural Banks under the umbrella of the Confederation as well as the Federation of the Regional Rural Banks during the last couple of years and the Officers’ in Regional Rural Banks should be in a position to launch struggle independently to resolve all their grievances so that the long pending demands such as the Pension Scheme etc., could be resolved at the earliest. He also wished all success for the newly formed organization and hoped it would send strong signal to the Management of Pragathi Gramin Bank as also the members of other Regional Rural Banks who are yet to join the fold of the Confederation.

Com.Shantha Raju, the former General Secretary of AIBOC who was a special invitee on the occasion complimented the initiative of the Officers in Pragathi Gramin Bank for their initiative to bring unity amongst the officers in the Bank and to bring them under the fold of the Confederation.  He also advised the members present that there is a need to take a review of the objectives and reasons for which the unions are to day required to stand up and take up the issues.  He was very particular that the younger generation should involved in the trade union activities by understanding their aspirations and expectations from them rather attempting to force age old policies and philosophy of the organization which may not be very much relevant to them in the present context.  He emphasized the importance of the unity amongst the workers and officers in an institution and declared that when all the employees and officers can come together there would be no need for any agitation and all issues could be resolved through the strong message of unity and solidarity amongst the members of the institution.

Shri.N.Ramesh, the former Chairman of the Chitradurga Gramin Bank and the former General Manager of the Canara Bank who had made a tremendous contribution in building Pragathi Gramin Bank extended his warm felicitation and complimented the members for having taken a right decision to join the mainstream of Officers’ community by choosing AIBOC as their parent organization.  He also explained at length as to the present developments in the Regional Rural Banks and the tremendous contribution it has been making for the growth of the rural economy of the country.

Com.S.K.Bhattacharjee, in his address traced the history of the Bank Officers’ movement with particular reference to the Regional Rural Bank and as also the great contribution made by the Confederation since its formation in the 1980’s. He acknowledged the great contributions made by the erstwhile leadership of the Confederation and also the present leadership under the able guidance of Com.G.D.Nadaf, in creating a strong movement of the RRB officers under the umbrella of the Confederation.  He was also confident that with the continued support of the Confederation the long pending issue of the Pension which has now been denied to the officers working in the Regional Rural Bank will be a reality in the near future. He also acknowledged the efforts of the leadership of the Regional Rural Banks in Karnataka since the formative days in the consolidation of the movement.  He was happy that the new affiliate from the Pragathi Gramin Bank would be a highly motivating factor for others to consolidate on similar lines.

Com.C.V.Ramana, a senior member of the AIRRBOF from the State of Andhra Pradesh and a stalwart since the beginning of the movement in the banking industry while acknowledging the great contributions made by the leadership of the Confederation since the days of the Tribunal and as how it single handedly succeeded in convincing the Tribunal that equal pay for equal work and thus ensuring that the field supervisors etc., who were discharging the responsibility of the officers fraternity are extended the benefit of the officers service conditions as prevalent in the Public Sector Banks. He complimented the Pragathi Gramin Bank Officers for their initiative for consolidation of the movement and assured his full co-operation in all their future endeavours.

Com.C.Jayakumr, General Secretary, Pallavan Grama Bank Officers’ Association extended his warm felicitation to the newly formed organization and wished the leadership all success in ensuring further consolidation of the movement.

Com.M.V.Karer, General Secretary, Karnataka Vikas Gramin Bank Officers’ Association complimented the organizers in ensuring the mobilisation of such a large number for the meeting and wished that the organization should be able to achieve majority at the shortest time possible.

Com.Janardhana Naidu, General Secretary, Cauvery Kalpatharu Gramin Bank Officers’ Association extended a warm felicitation for the success of the organization.

Com.K.R.S.Murthy, the honorary president of the unit and also the President of the CBOA in his presidential remarks complimented the leadership of the organization in mobilizing such a large gathering and also in ensuring the presence of senior leaders from the Confederation and also the RRB Federation.  He wished all the success to the newly formed organization and assured his full co-operation for the success of the organization.

The first General Body meeting was a unique one in the sense it has brought the leadership of all the organizations across the country including the leadership of the affiliates of the Confederation from the State of Karnataka.  The entire leadership of the Canara Bank Officers’ Association led by Com.Venkatesh, the Regional Secretary, Bangalore was present in the meeting.  The leadership of SBIOA(K) led by Com.D.Shyam Sundar Rao, the Regional Secretary, Bangalore Module was also present in the meeting.  Com.K.Nagaraja Shastry, the Secretary of the All India State Bank Offices’ Federation along with a number of local members of AIBOC affiliates were present in the meeting.

Comrades, it is a historical occasion for the Confederation that in the recent past it has been able to bring several new affiliates to the fold of the Confederation and the efforts of the leadership at the state level is highly commendable. To-day, there are 82 Regional Rural Banks and the Confederation has majority status in more than 70 RRBs and efforts are being made to reach 100% majority status in all the remaining Regional Rural Banks as well.

Com.B.Y.Rajasekhar, proposed a vote of thanks.

The entire programme was beautifully compeered by Com.Madhusudhan, who kept the audience in good spirit through his tantalizing compeering of the programme.

The Business Session, which was held thereafter, elected the team of Office-bearers for the next triennial period, with Com.P.N.Madhusudan as President and Com.C.R.Nagaraja Setty as General Secretary of the Sanghatane.

We congratulate all the members of the new team and wish them all success in ensuring a grand success to the organization in the days’ to come. We also compliment leadership for organising a grand function.

With warm greetings,

Sd/-

(G.D. NADAF)

GENERAL SECRETARY