AIBOC CIRCULAR NO. 111 DATED 31.12.2011

CIRCULAR NO. 111                                                             DATE:31.12.2011  

TO ALL AFFILIATES/MEMBERS:

GOOD BYE 2011 -  LEAVING BACK A RAY OF HOPE FOR THE MANKIND.

We are yet again on the threshold of a New Year 2012 and if we look back at the bye gone year 2011, we see a ray of hope for the future. The years prior to 2011 left a trail of despair and disappointment, compared to those years filled with gloom, 2011 was a shining year. The year wrote a prologue to unprecedented developments across the world and these held a beacon light for the progress of mankind. The year offered a sense of assurance to the people oppressed by the dictatorial and self –serving  regimes in Tunisia, Egypt, Libya; to the women fighting for their emancipation in Saudi Arabia; to the people harrowed by the corrupt politicians and greedy money lenders in Greece; to the victims of racial discrimination and apartheid in great Britain; to the people affected by the misrule of Vladimir Putin in Russia; to the freedom and democracy loving people in China;   to the 99% of the citizens of USA who have been fighting for equitable distribution of national wealth and  to the people of India who are fed-up with rampant corruption in all walks of life. It was a year during which people throughout the world launched a campaign to regain their self –respect and dignity.

The uprisings have caused a wave of upheaval in the political arena, leaders have been toppled, what began in Tunisia and Egypt has spread to other countries in northern Africa and West Asia i.e. Syria, Bahrain, Oman, Kuwait, Morocco. Algeria, Yemen, Saudi Arabia, Jordan. The stunning show of defiance by the ordinary and commoners has shocked the world. The fire of protest is spreading to every nook and corner of the world.

During this period, the skeletons of corrupt politicians started falling out. The 2 G Scam, the Commonwealth Games Scam have lowered the image of the country and high profile politicians, corporate honchos, bureaucrats have been sent to jail on charges of criminal conspiracy, cheating and forgery. Disgusted with the all pervading corruption a movement called India Against Corruption was launched under the leadership of Sri. Anna Hazare, Gandhian and   anti corruption crusader. The movement galvanized the youth of the country, revolted against the Government and demanded setting up of a strong Jan Lokpal Bill which would create an effective deterrence  against corruption Sri. Anna Hazare become the symbol of people’s anguish and anger against corruption and the Government had to surrender and forced to place a strong Lokpal Bill in the winter session of the Parliament. Though suggestions of civil society are not considered by the Parliament, a history has been created by passing the Lokpall Bill approved by standing committee of Parliament by voice vote in Parliament, after 64 years of independence.  However,  it was struck in the Rajya sabha  due to adjournment sine-die  during midnight of  29th December, 2011. The  enactment has remained as dream.

The year had its moments of great ordeals and tribulations on account of natural disasters like Tsunami, Earthquakes, Torrential Rains, Typhoons causing great loss to mankind. The Tsunami hit Japan and  had to face the threat of nuclear leakages on account of huge damage caused to Fukushima nuclear power station and also many parts of Philippines, Thailand, USA, were flooded resulting in loss of lives and property, at different intervals. The USA withdrew its armed forces from Iraq, leaving Iraq to fend for itself  and leading to a great divide between the majority Shias and minority Sunnies. The acts of terrorism by planting bombs on the premises of Delhi High Court in May and August, 2011 were a pointer to the fact that, India’s emergence as a Economic super power is envied by forces who are out to derail our development and growth. But the people of India have displayed a rare sense of resilience and oneness against such  divisive forces.  The NATO forces bombarded the army base in Pakistan leading to fractured relationship between USA and Pakistan.

The slow down in USA and recession in European  countries is spreading its tentacles throughout the world. The impact of this unsavory development has far reaching implications on our economy. The weakening of Rupee vis- a –vis the Dollor, has adversely affected our economy leading to a greater fiscal deficit. Our GDP, which was projected at 8.5% has now been revised and pegged at 7.3%. Coupled with mounting inflation, the above situation has led to increase in unemployment and the gap between the haves and have nots has been widening. The number of people below the poverty line has been increasing. The number of suicides by the farmers is increasing day by day. The political will is abysmally lacking in tackling these daunting issues.

The Indian Banking Industry, though under pressure from the global recession, has shown robust growth. Reserve Bank of India has been playing a very crucial role in ensuring growth with stability, in the face of continuously falling Rupee value and curb inflation. With interest rates on deposits as well as Advances looking upward, the overall performance  of the Banks may come under pressure. The mounting NPAs in the Banks remained a matter of great concern. The Moody’s downgrading of SBI sent shock waves across the Banking Industry plummeting the Banks’ share  value. Never the less the Banking Industry is on a high growth trajectory.

On the labour front there were disturbing developments. The strike action at Maruthi Udyog’s Manesar plant and Hyundai’s Chennai Plant are indicative of the intolerant attitude of the capitalist class towards organised labour. The agitations in some of the Private Sector Banks viz. Dhanalaxmi Bank, Federal Bank, reflect the same reticent attitude of the Management towards trade unions  and trade union rights of officers. The officers in the Banking Industry continued to protest  these oppressive tactics of the Management, which are  the outcome of the globalization process.

AIBOC held its Triennial Conference at Bhubaneshwar on 29th ,  30th and 31st January, 2011 with élan.  The success of the Conference, further forged  unity and solidarity among the officers working in the Banking Industry. The trade union movement of officers stood at the cross roads with some forces inimical to the complete unity among the cadres of AIBOC, tried to create fissures and divisions amongst us. But that was not to be and AIBOC  continued its crusade to achieve wholesome good of the officers’ community. The fitment anomalies were set-right, the allowances on transportation on account of transfer were improved substantially, the improvement in the quantum of festival advance etc., brought relief to the Bank officers. These developments have given us an impetus to campaign further in a relentless manner to bring relief to the officers working in the Banking Industry.

LAND MARKS OF AIBOC DURING THE YEAR  2011

Ø  9th Triennial General Council held at Bhubaneshwar

Ø  Substantial increase in rate of reimbursement of expenses incurred for transportation of personal effects on transfer.

Ø  Fitment Formula on promotion from clerical cadre to officer cadre in JMG Scale I.

Ø  Introduction  of temporary adjustment allowance to protect Basic Pay and DA of an  officer on promotion.

Ø  Fitment Formula on promotion from one scale to higher  scale, revised.

Ø  The higher starting scale for scale IV and V has been protected in Fitment Formula.

Ø  Festival Advance Scheme Revised.

Ø  Enhancement in reimbursement of traveling expenses to officers for using their own vehicle for office duty etc. 

The move of the Finance Ministry to get the Banking Regulations Act amended to pave  way for privatization of the Public Sector Banks and handing over the old generation Private Sector Banks to foreign Banks in a surreptious manner  indicated the government’s agenda. The efforts of the government were foiled by a concerted and planned resistance to the move inside and outside the Parliament. The move of the government has kept us on guard and the officers in the Banking Industry agitated very strongly against  the move. However the Banking Regulation Act (Amendment) Bill fell through, as it could not be taken –up for consideration. 

Our people yet again demonstrated political maturity by changing the Governments in Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, Pondicherry. The longest ruling left party coalition in West Bengal was trounced by Ms. Mamatha Bannerjee and DMK in TamilNadu by Ms. J. Jayalalitha. The people of Kerala gave a slender majority to the PDF headed by Mr. Omen Chandy. The people of Assam voted in favour of stability, development and good governance.

The events and happenings throughout the world including India present a mixed bag of hopes and despair. It is hope that springs eternally in every body’s heart and we move on the sands of time leaving our foot prints, holding a ray of hope for a brighter and better future, for the coming year. Our dreams, expectations spur us always to look to the positive side of life and struggle to usher into an era of a better world, where universal brotherhood, world peace rule.

Ring out the old and Ring in the New; let us march on to a more fruitful and meaningful future for all of us

With warm greetings

Sd/-

(G.D. NADAF)

GENERAL SECRETARY