AIBOC CIRCULAR NO. 90 DATED 08.12.2012

AIBOC issued its circular No. 90 dated 08.12.2012 on the first General  Body Conference of All India Bank Pensioners and Retirees Confederation held at New Delhi on 25th November 2012. We are placing the same here for our readers.

CIRCULAR NO.  90                                                DATE: 08.12.2012

TO ALL AFFILIATES /MEMBERS:

THE FIRST GENERAL BODY CONFERENCE OF ALL INDIA BANK PENSIONERS AND RETIREES CONFEDERATION HELD AT NEW DELHI: A WONDERFUL DISPLAY OF UNITY AND SOLIDARITY.

 25th November, 2012 will be remembered in the history of Bank Pensioners and Retirees’ movement, as on this day the First General Body Conference of All India Bank Pensioners and Retirees Confederation was held at Ramjas School Auditorium, Chitragupta Road, New Delhi.

Hundreds of delegates and observers from every nook and corner of the country thronged the Auditorium, braving the winter cold. The delegates and observers were  given a warm welcome at the entrance of the Auditorium by the enthusiastic and ever smiling volunteers from AIBOC Delhi State Unit under the able and charismatic leadership of their State Secretary, Sri Harvinder Singh, who had toiled relentlessly to make the first General Body of AIBPARC a memorable one. The tastefully decorated Auditorium was jampacked with more than 500 delegates and observers, representing the affiliates of AIBPARC.

The dais was adorned by Mrs. Krishna Tirath, the Union Minister for Women and Child Development, Com. D. Raja, general Secretary Communist Party of India, Com. P.. Shankar Narayana Murthy, General Secretry, SBI Pensioners Federation, Com. P.K. Sarkar, President, AIBOC and Convener, UFBU, Com. Harvinder Singh, General Secretary, AINBOF and Senior Vice President, AIBOC, Com. S. R. Sengupta, Joint Convener, AIBPARC and Com. P.S. Pataki, Bank of  India Pensioners’ Association. The Inaugural lamp was lit by all the dignitaries on the dais to herald the Inaugural session.

Com. Harvinder Singh, delivered the welcome speech and told the house that Mrs. Krishna Tirath, had been an ardent supporter of the movement of Bank officers and employees and she is the most apt person to be our guest to inaugurate the first General Body of the Confederation, as she is aware of the hopes and aspirations of the Pensioners, Senior citizens, Com. D. Raja, a veteran trade unionist of the country was also accorded a warm welcome and solicited his support for all the activities of the Confederation. He extended a hearty welcome to all the delegates, observes, general secretaries and members of affiliates of AIBOC.

Com. D. Raja, eulogizing the important role played by AIBOC in the Bank Officers’ movement said, it augurs well that AIBOC is the driving force behind the Pensioners’ Confederation. Though there are differences on ideological front all of us have to Move together and strike together to achieve our goals and objectives. While supporting the Charter of demands submitted by the UFBU, he called upon the audience to oppose the Financial Reforms Bill introduced in the Parliament. He expressed his genuine concern for the Senior citizens and felt that they deserve a better reward during their twilight years.

Com. P.K. Sarkar, in his speech narrated the series of events, commencing from the Triennial Conference of AIBOC at Bhubaneswar in January, 2011 where it was resolved to promote the Pensioners’ Confederation as a wing of AIBOC, the Foundation Conference at Nagpur, the Meetings of Conveners at Kolkata, Chennai and ultimately reaching Delhi, the place sacrosanct with the foot prints of AIBOC formation in October 1985. He recalled the efforts of Com. G.D. Nadaf, in promoting the Pensioners’ Confederation and today it has become a reality and it has emerged as a force to reckon with. He complimented the Confederation for preparing a comprehensive Charter of Demands for the Pensioners and Retirees. He explained in detail the efforts made by him to place before the Union Minister of State for Finance in a threadbare manner, all the anomalies, distortions, aberrations in payment of Pension to Bank retirees, which need corrections. He expressed the hope that the demands of the pensioners under the banner of AIBPARC will reach their logical conclusions at the earliest.

Com. P.P. Shankar Narayana Murthy, General Secretary, Federation of SBI Pensioners’ Associations, explained the distortions created by each settlement and how the group of pensioners  covered by the previous settlement are denied a better pension, their rightful share. There is a need for the government of India to set right these aberrations to provide relief to the pensioners. He explained the position of pensioners in SBI and the struggle waged by the Pensioners’ Federation to fight the deprivations to Pensioners. He assured the Confederation full co-operation and co-ordination in the days to come.

Mrs. Krishna Tirath, in her speech was all praise for some of the activities of retirees such as helping the poor students, free medical camps, protection of environment by planting trees etc. which has brought the retirees closer to the society. Narrating how the number of senior citizens is increasing rapidly and these people need to be treated with dignity and respect and in a humane way. Making a reference to the sufferings of senior citizens in the unorganized sector, we should contribute our mite for ameliorating the problems of this section of the society. She expressed her happiness over the formation of the Pensioners’ Confederation and hoped that the hopes, aspirations of the Pensioners will be pursued to their logical end. She wished the Confederation all success, amidst thunderous applause of the audience.

Com. S. R. Sengupta, proposed vote of thanks and appealed to Mrs. Krishna Tirath, to have sympathy for the demands of Bank Pensioners / Retirees, who are the architects of the rural development of the country.

The Inaugural Session ended on a happy note of getting a flying start.

The BUSINESS SESSION

The Business Session  started with Com. P.K. Sarkar President, AIBOC in the Chair. The dais was shared by Com. K.V. Acharya, Com. S.R. Sengupta, Com. T.T. Natarajan, Com. D. Punja, Com. J.D. Sharma, Com. Harvinder Singh.

Com. S.R. Sengupta, President presented  a detailed report about the international and international scenario and the problems and issues of the pensioners and retirees. The report was placed before the house for discussion and more than 17 delegates participated in the debate and deliberated on various issues and grievances of pensioners , updation and up gradation of pension, improvements in family pension, improvement of pension of pre 01.01.1986 retirees and spouses of officers who expired prior to 01.01.1986, increased quantum of gratuity for retirees w.e.f.01.01.2006, implementation of government guidelines for pension option to VRS optees, need for a comprehensive and uniform medical benefit /hospitalization scheme for retirees, embarking on a larger share of welfare funds for retirees, need for achieving co-ordination among  Pensioners’  organizations and chalking our programmes for the future etc.

Com. Sengupta  replied to the debate in an elaborate manner and to the satisfaction of the participants. The report was unanimously adopted amidst thunderous applause.

The amendments proposed to the Rules and Byelaws were adopted unanimously.

The Resolutions on the following issues were also adopted and passed unanimously.

Ø  The National issues, including development of the country, evolving a corruption free society, stability in politics.

Ø  On International issues

Ø  On issues related to our Economy

Ø  On Labour Laws.

Ø  On health of the Banks

Ø  On the agitation ushered in by UFBU

Ø  On the Financial demands of the retirees

Ø  On the Non-financial demands

Ø  On the need for structured forum for Bank Retirees.

Ø  Increased awareness for the Retirees

Ø  Resolution on operation of Bank Account.

Ø  Resolution on Appointment of Chartered Accountants

The Election of office bearers was held at the end of the session and the following were unanimously  elected as office bearers for the ensuing term.

Com. K.V. Acharya (IOB) President

Com. B.L. Rathore (SBBJ) Vice President

Com. S.R. Sengupta (BOI) General Secretary

Com. B.N. Bardhan (Indian Bank) –Treasurer

Com. B. Bagchi (Union Bank) Dy. Treasurer

Besides above, 10 Vice Presidents and 11 Dy. General Secretaries, 19 Committee Members were elected unanimously.

Com. P.K. Sarkar, in his concluding speech congratulated the new team of office bearers and assured on behalf of AIBOC all support to all the activities of the Pensioners’ Confederation. He wished all success to the Confederation in all its future endeavours.

Com. Harvinder Singh, who took the responsibility of holding the Conference at Delhi expressed his happiness that his desire to be a witness to the historic conference was fulfilled. He recalled the emergence of AIBOC in 1985  at  Delhi  and by holding this Conference, history is repeated. He thanked the Conveners for giving an opportunity to hold the landmark conference at New Delhi.

Com. K.V. Acharya, the newly elected President expressed his gratitude to the members  and assured that the team will work unitedly for bringing cheers to the retirees.

Com. S. R. Sengupta, proposing vote of thanks, thanked profusely   all the leaders, activists, volunteers who struggled in a totally indefatigable manner for making the conference a great success.

The Confederation now onwards will usher as a formidable force and in conjuction with AIBOC, achieve the goals and objectives for which the Confederation has been founded.

We congratulate all the newly elected office bearers and wish them all success in their endeavors in consolidating the Retirees  officers and Pensioners  under the banner of AIBPARC.  

With greetings,

Sd/-

(D.S. RISHABADAS)

GENERAL SECRETARY