A cursory look on Pension in State Bank of India !
This reproduction is from a letter written to a friend of mine RO Shah, a veteran trade union letter highlighing the scenario obtaining on pension in State Bank of India. Since the subject matter is of interest to employees in general in banking industructy, this reproduction may be of some importance to them.
_________________
It was heartening talking to you over phone the other day.I quite realize I have not been able to keep in contact with you for a long time –the reason being that I couldn’t spare necessary time for the purpose which ofcourse can’t be a pertinent excuse I know.
You have been fighting virtually a lone battle on an issue like pension which otherwise is a matter connected with thousands and thousands of people all over the country. Your voice clashes the deaf ears in the channels that count for the purupose and only continues to remain sans any response from any quarter. I stopped taking whatever interest I used to take initially for the simple reason that before it could prove to be result oriented it was likely to elicit misunderstandings only which situation I thought of avoiding as all my career I was most often most misunderstood a person on issues crucial and salient. I strongly felt and do feel the same way even on date that pension is an issue worth being pursued as potentially it is strong enough ingredients wise capable of generating necessary merit which the concerned authorities just can’t deny. Why the concerned authorities are themselves not taking necessary initiative is the question. Obviously why they should bother if the beneficiaries themselves are not showing the required interest. You will agree, as you yourself said earlier, that majority of pensioners find themselves well settled otherwise and they have no reason for any worry whether there is some increase in pension or it is not there. Those who are in the saddle are busy elsewhere, even pensioners organisatins in the circles and at the national level are confined to the level of just offering prayers for some thing to be showered on them and are not prepared to act as fighters. Fighting for a right cause is not a fancy, it is a spirit capable of not getting dithered with age or status. This spirit they lack, nay it is a sort of voluntary incapacitation on their part.
If Unions with serving employees holding the reins are unable to deliver the goods, why the Unions with ex employees in the helm of affairs as leaders of the pensioners Association/Federation can’t play a decisively worked out strategy is the question. The serving people holding the reins being indifferent, the pensioners union being incapable of moving the channels involved and the pensioners, the likely beneficiaries of whatever improvement that could be cultivated, being themselves not so keen, what the few like you ofcourse with tremendous amount of spirit and enormous zeal can do is again a question. A few others who can do some thing but can’t do any thing for the risk of getting misunderstood naturally possess no potential for any orientation of some result or the other. Sounds pessimistic but this is the scenario after all is obtaining. I wish I am wrong in my estimation and finally the efforts you are making are capable of bringing the desired results. My circle General Secretary told me just a day before that as per information given to him by the Federation, some thing tangible may emerge within 2/3 weeks time. It is always better to hope for the best and I too would like to fall in line with it for an imaginable satisfaction atleast. I obviously owe you an all out acknowledgement and appreciation for your efforts in the matter. All the best.
Pension in SBI is a matter of serious concern
The issue needs immediate attention
Belonging as I do to SBI circle, to me it is some thing well writte
There are so many ex- union leaders now pensioners.I wonder why they are not taking a lead to fight the injustice done the the pensioners.the the employees retired after the 7th wage revision are still drawing the pension on the salary drawn prior to the 7th revision.The demand for pension at 50 per cent has been pending for a long time and it is time to make all out effort to grt the matter resolved by all possible means including approching the law makers.
There are so many ex- union leaders now pensioners.I wonder why they are not taking a lead to fight the injustice done the the pensioners.the the employees retired after the 7th wage revision are still drawing the pension on the salary drawn prior to the 7th revision.The demand for pension at 50 per cent has been pending for a long time and it is time to make all out effort to get the matter resolved by all possible means including approching the law makers.
You are very correct in your observation that there being a large number of pensioners but still they are unable to throw their weight to secure positive results. In fact the role is so assumed by the serving employees unions that a normal pensioner expects necessary goods to be delivered whereas actually nothing is happening and what is happening is just a matter of retrogate steps.Thank you for your comments.
Neelkanth,I agree that ,there are large number of pensioners but could not throw the required weight for their cause.The reason is that,we are not organised to bring pressure on govt/ bank by agitation like the working employees.In my view, our leaders like Godbole,Umedsingh,R .O.Shah and many others can make a case and present to the Top Management.They can also take help of the local MPs.They may also see whether we have any chance if we challenge to the Gove in the court of Law.(I think Pensioners’ Association had already gone in the court and the matter is being tossed between the high court and supreme court.I am not aware of the present status).
I also understand that a small committee was appointed by the govt to look in to the pending issues including pension and they had already submitted their report to the govt.What happened to that report is unknown.Can you throw some light on that?
IT IS VERY ASTONISHED TO POINT OUT THAT THE PENSIONERS RETAIED BEFORE 1-11-2002 HAD NOT BEEN PAID UNDER REVISED PENSION SCHEME BU THE THE LARGEST BANK IN ASIA - STATE BANK OF INDIA. SOME THE PENSIONERS WENT TO THE COURT ALSO AND WAITING FOR THE RESULTS SINCE THEN. ALL THESE PENSIONERS ARE SENIOR CITIZENS AND CANNOT WALK WITH OUT SOMEBODIES HELP. SOME TIME THEY HAVE TO SPEND LARGE AMOUNT FOR MEDICAL EXPENSES INCLUDING SPOUSE OF THESE POOR FELLOWS. NO SYMPETHETIC ATTITUDES DRIVEN TO THESE PENSIONERS BY THE MANAGEMENTS AND BY THE GOVERNMENT.
PANICKER P.M.G.K
Equality before law a constitutional right does it not apply to the SBI Pensioners ? An employee retired after 31-03-2001 gets more pension than VRS retirees.SBIis ready to wipe off losses resulting to several million crores in the name of OTS to bring down NPAs.But ignores several employees who served SBI several decades.
A step motherly attitude is being shown to VRS employees in respect of Medical benefits,post retirement assignments etc.Why ?Is SBI aginst implementation of its own VRS ?programme ? Let it treat VRS employees and pre VRS on par with others without any discrimination
Your concern on Pension is fully justified and definitely warrants an immediate attention on the part of the powers that be.
I have also retired from SBI and drawing lesser pension based on 6th wage settlement. In the 7 th settlement one more stagnation increment granted but while claculating pension the bank has not taken into account this increment.
They have calculated pension even for Special Assistants an out come of 7 th wage settlement for SBI employees by fixing amount equalent to Spl allowances of the 6 th wage settlement. Why the bank has failed to fix equalent increment of the 6 th wage increment amount to the stagnation amount also. The retirees are waiting for the out come fo the HYDERABAD court case filed by ex NCBE general Secretary Shri.P.Narasiah. Let the Government and particulary the Lawyer cum Hon.Finace minister take an early decision on pension which is a property right of pensioners.
R.SIVAGYANAM, 08th March 2008
13, Bakthavatchalam Street, Phone No: 044- 2479 4044
Koyambedu,
Chennai-600 107.
To,
The Trustees,
IBI/SBI Employees Pension and Guarantee Fund,
State Bank of India,Central Office,
State Bank Bhavan, Madam Cama Road, Bombay - 400 021.
Dear Sir,
PENSION REVISION
FOR VII TH BIPARTITE SETTLEMENT
********
I have retired from service under VRS Scheme as per Chennai Local Head Office circular CIR.DO.VRS:4 Dated 11-01-2001.In this connection I have to inform you that as per circular my pension should have been revised based on VII th Bipartite settlement and pending revision my pension is paid on pre-revised pay (VI th Bipartite settlement).
The pension revision for VIII th Bipartite implemented and also family pension for VII th and VIII th Bipartite settlements stands revised. It is unfortunate that my pension based on VII th Bipartite settlement not yet revised even after seven years. I have drawn additional stagnation increment as per VII th Bipartite settlement that has not been taken into account while fixing pension as per pre-revised pay scales The pension cannot be denied to stagnation increment drawn during my service as per VII th Bipartite settlement and it should be paid from the date of my retirement under VRS scheme.
Our Supreme Court has categorically stated in several cases that the pension is neither a bounty, nor a matter of grace depending upon the sweet will of the employer but is a payment for the past service rendered. I am also entitled for revision of pension from the date of my retirement as per your VRS Circular and I request you to take early decision in the matter and effect payment of pension. It is high time the Bank, Both the Federations and Government should stop the round robin play tactics to delay/deny pension to VII th bipartite retirees. I earnestly request you to take positive quick decision on pension.
vrsretiries are deprived of their rights.In fact they have created opportunities for recruitment and promotions.They havf taken vrs as per the scheme directed by the Govt. of India.Keeping prejudice against them for not giving their legitimate right of revised pension and Bank management’s inability to get approval is shameful.Mr. BHATT the Chairman should take this matter.