शुक्रवार, 11 दिसंबर 2015
बुधवार, 9 दिसंबर 2015
Letter to SAIL Chairman for House Allotment and Meeting
रविवार, 6 दिसंबर 2015
मंगलवार, 1 दिसंबर 2015
Letters to PM
REGISTERED
No. FORSE/Ch/PM/0115
Dated 30th April 2015
Sri Narendra Modi,
Prime Minister of India,
South Block Office, Raisina Hill,
New Delhi-110011.
Sub: Request for creation of schemes for Pioneer & Early SAIL Retirees in
distress.
Ref: Our letter No. FORSE/PM/0514 dated Oct 27, 2014
Honourable Prime Minister,
Ours is a Federation of Associations of Retired Employees of SAIL (Steel
Authority of India Ltd), a Maharantna PSU. Sir, you are well aware of the
contribution of the employees of the PSUs which is another arm of the
Government and more specifically the contribution of steel PSU since its
inception in 1950s. We are trying to bring to your knowledge our misery and plight
though we have worked for Government and directly contributed to the
development of the country’s economy.
Sir, your recent letter addressed to Elders has inspired us and given us
some confidence and hope that there is someone who cares for us. The ideals of
Government and similar sentiments are also spelt out in the pensioners’ portal as
“Senior
Citizens are a treasure to our society. They have worked hard all these years
for the development of the nation as well as the community. They possess a vast
experience in different walks of life. The youth of today can gain from the
experience of the senior citizens in taking the nation to greater heights. At
this age of their life, they need to be taken care of and made to feel special.” We are confident that you would
convert our hope into reality.
Among us, there are three different sub-groups-namely (i) those who had
retired on or after 01.01.2007, (ii) those who had retired before 2007 but
after 1997 and (iii) those retired before 1997 ( before 1st Pay
Revision Committee report came into effect).
Sir, we have been knocking all doors to make our plight and misery
heard. We had submitted number of representations to Chairman, SAIL and to the
Hon’ble Union Minister of Steel. We have neither received any response nor have
we been called for discussion. Hence left with no alternative we are bringing
these to the knowledge of your-good self. We believe you have not been apprised
about these earlier. You have rightly said in your letter dt 31.03.2015 to
elders that Healthy Living and Financial Security are critical for peaceful
living, comfort and dignity of life in the old age. Unfortunately, the SAIL is
not addressing your above concern on their own elders. We have retired after
serving for 35 years in PSU and our needs are simple.
1. Health Scheme: You would be aware that healthy living is one of the primary concerns
of elders. Government has also schemes and
policies meant to promote the health, well-being and independence of senior
citizens around the country. While the Government will do the onerous task of
taking care of elderly in general, the SAIL can make its contribution and take
the responsibility of taking care of at
least its own elders who might have retired and had contributed earlier
to HSL/ SAIL specifically at its prime age and also later. It is irony that
while Government is serious of such schemes, SAIL is not paying much attention
to the health and connected medical facilities of those who had retired. Though they have a scheme of Group Insurance
for retired, the scheme is not operated with a mission to help the elderly as
it should be. The following are the drawback of the SAIL Mediclaim Policy
operated through an Insurance Company and a Third Party Administrator (TPA)
which require immediate attention and change of attitude:
a)
The
limit of OPD benefits have remained the same as Rs. 4000 per year for those
below 70 years of age and Rs.8000/ for those who are 70 + years since inception
though the contribution from individuals had been increased more than four
times. You can kindly imagine how an elderly person can manage with the
aforesaid sums of money when it works out to an average of Rs.15000 /- per
retiree per year. In view of this the OPD
coverage may be increased to Rs.20,000/-per annum jointly in respect of retired
employee and spouse on floater basis.
b)
The
present Hospitalisation expenses in SAIL Policy is limited to Rs. two lakhs per
year for each SAIL retiree and his/ her spouse with flexibility of combining
both is quite low esp. because the SAIL scheme has large number of cappings.It should be raised to Rs. 4 lacs for Cashless treatment/ IPD
reimbursement for each member under floating (combining) facilities and
withdrawal of all cappings.
c)
The present Healthcare / Medical facilities are not upto the mark with a
lot of cappings and a malfunctioning TPA. Under the circumstances it would be
better if SAIL is directed to adopt the same and similar Healthcre policy for
and extension of same facilities to the Retirees as given to their current
employees like Indian Oil and BHEL do.
d)
The
preventive health care is very important for every one-more so also for
elderly. There is no provision for reimbursement of master checkup.
e) The present mediclaim policy is on yearly
renewal basis based on payment of a part of the premium by the Retirees. Sir,
it is important to note that you wrote for the Elderly on 31st March
this year and SAIL increased the Retirees contribution of the Premium for
Mediclaim Insurance coverage by 50% without commensurate increase in Healthcare
facilities. It is nothing but extracting the last ounce of life from the
Retiree and expanding the company’s coffer.
f) The worst part of SAIL MediclaimPolicy is
that if a Retiree, for various reasons including failure of communication from
SAIL to the retiree or the spouse, lack of knowledge of online payment etc,
fail to renew their policy in time they are debarred for life from availing the
benefit. It is not only illegal but immoral, unethical and inhuman too. SAIL
need to be advised to do away with members/ retirees premium, pay the total
premium for renewal of each retiree on the basis of submission of Life Certificate
and keep them on Mediclaim membership roll for life.
2. Monthly Pension/ Ex-gratia
(i). Retired after 1.1.2007.
The Scheme for Pension on the basis of “Defined Contribution Scheme” was to be
made effective wef 01.01.2007. This has not been implemented by SAIL even after
8 long years. BHEL, NTPC and other Maharatna PSUs have implemented three years
back and paid all arrears wef 1.1.2007. SAIL retirees from 1.1.2007 have not
received any pension till date and no one knows when these retirees will start
getting. In Government there is a policy that the retired from Government
should get the benefit from the day of the retirement but the retirees of
another arm of Government like PSUs/ SAIL are treated completely differently.
We request Respected PM to issue firm direction to make it effective
immediately within a specific date.
(ii) and (iii). Retired from 1997 till
2006 and Retired before 1997
They retired with only PF contribution and Gratuity as terminal
Benefits. They are NOT getting any pension. The amounts of terminal benefits
received by them were very low as the PF contributions were low due to lower
salary structure and the maximum gratuity was only Rs. 3.5 lacs. Their income
is limited to interest income from these amounts. The real income has been
coming down due to inflation. These retirees are now in the age group of 68 to
77 years.
The terminal benefits received
by those retired before 1997 were very meager. The maximum gratuity was only
Rs. 1 lac against Rs.10 lacs now. The salary structure before 1997 (before 1st
Pay Revision Committee report came into effect) were also very low. They
retired at the age of 58 years; thus loosing income for two years and further
losing the benefit of multiplication of PF at the far end which would be
enormous. The interest prevailing then was around 14%. It is difficult to
imagine how these persons make both ends meet overcoming inflation since they retired
more than 18 years ago. Some of these retirees are 80 years plus and all of
them are 77 years plus.
All these retirees are living without dignity and any minimum comfort.
Since they get reimbursed only part of the medical expenses, they have to bear
the additional medical expenses out of their pocket. To indicate how low the
pay structure were before the revisions, the following details of maximum drawn
by a Manager who retired a month just before revisions and being drawn now may
please be noted:
As on 01.12.1996
(Just before 1st PRC*)
|
As on 01.12.2006
(Just before 2nd PRC)
|
As on 01.04.2015
(As per 2nd PRC)
|
Rs.12,000 pm including DA
|
Rs.31,000 pm including DA
|
Rs.110,000 pm including DA
|
Max. Basic of Rs.9600+25%
|
Max. Basic of Rs.18700+65.2%
|
Max. Basic of Rs.54500+100.5%
|
*PRC-Pay
Revision Committee for PSUs
The above would give an idea of the low terminal benefits the early
retirees got. The Government has
accepted in principle provision of 30% of the total salary for their terminal
benefits wef 01.01.2007 in the accounts of PSUs over and above the salary for
those retired after 1.1,2007. It is very unfortunate that the early retirees
(retired before 2007) got benefit not more than 16%. It is not the plea that
same 30% may please be given. But a passionate view with empathy may please be
taken. Taking the plight of the early retirees, the 2nd PRC has
shown the way to help these early retirees (retired before 2007) by asking the PSUs to create corpus out of
1.5% of PBT of the PSU wef 1.1.2007 (date of effect of the recommendation) for
benefit of these pre-2007 retirees. The PRC also observed as: “Retired employees of many CPSEs are left
with little or no economic support as most CPSEs do not have any
post-retirement benefit schemes. As a measure of social security and also
considering the fact that retiring employees have contributed to the company
some schemes need to be put in place, which will provide regular income or
support after retirement.” Government (Dept of Public Enterprises) had
issued two OM’s asking PSUs to create Corpus. But since there was no firm
direction and follow up, SAIL has not created the Corpus. SAIL and most of the
PSUs have been earning profit since more than 10 years and have accumulated
reserve cash. (As per SAIL’s Annual Report, Cash Reserve as on 31.03.2014 was
Rs. 38536 crores, 1.5% of accumulated PBT from 1.1.2007 to 31.03.2014 was Rs.
784 Crores and total contribution to exchequer till 31.03.014 was more than Rs
120,000 crores.) Hence the finance is not the constraint to implement the
scheme.
The present
Government is giving lot of importance to Industry. It has rightly decided the
need to give push to Industry and maximise the production as industry is one of
the primary backbone for overall development. But the irony is that the early
retirees of industrial PSUs have only been denied the benefit of Pension and
all other PSUs (other than industrial) namely, BSNL, Insurance sector, Banks,
Railways etc are paying normal pension for early retirees.
Sir, the pre-2007 retirees of SAIL are those who
had joined the steel industry at its prime stages in 1950s and 60s and worked
at the initial stages in very difficult circumstances having no precedence’s
for work practices and as the plant were being established in the then
under-developed and remote areas. The strong foundation laid by these early
retirees has made SAIL a proud Maharatna now. SAIL owes mercy to these early
retirees who are in twilight of their life struggling to live with dignity
after serving for 35 years in PSUs. We would be highly grateful if the
Respected Prime Minister issue a firm direction to SAIL to pay a monthly
support of a minimum Rs.5000 pm to pre-2007 retirees which is much below any
standard pension even a lowest category retiree of a Government who had retired
before 2006 draws now. Any corpus created for this purpose will not be
perennial as these early retirees who are in 70s and 80s will wither away in
due course of time and since this is for those retired before 2007, there can
be no addition of numbers.
3.
Interest Rates
Another
area in which these early retirees can be helped is by giving additional
interest rates on their deposits. Most of the banks give 0.50% extra for Senior
Citizens except India’s largest Bank namely State Bank of India which gives
only 0.25% extra. SBI in fact pays additional 1% over and above 0.25% to its
own retirees. The Nationalised banks may please be directed to pay additional
1% interest rates on deposits (say up to Rs. 20 lac deposits) for these early
retirees of industrial PSUs as they solely depend on interest income only. This
would not dent much on the profit of the banks-perhaps can be considered as
Social security expenditure and this would not be perennial.
SAIL is
taking loans from Banks and other financial institutions. SAIL may please be
directed to pay the same interest rates for deposits which may be taken from
the Retirees -say deposit up to Rs.10 lacs.
We appeal
to your good self to kindly look into the plight of these very senior citizen
Retirees of SAIL and the emergency need to help them so that they can live with
dignity for rest of their life, Since time is running out for these persons who
are in 70s and 80s, we hope Respected PM would ask SAIL to implement within a
time frame. In short, our appeal is for:
1.
Health
scheme for SAIL Retirees / Sr. Citizen with a mission as detailed out earlier.
2.
Pension
for post-2007 retirees of SAIL wef 1.1.2007 without any further delay (already
lagging by 8 years).
3.
Formulation
and implementation of Pension, Ex-gratia and emergency fund schemes for those
retired before 1.1.2007 by creating corpus out of profit and to pay atleast Rs.
5000/- pm to each pre-2007 Retiree (It is not perennial).
4.
Additional
interest rates of at least 1% by Banks for deposits.
Prime
Minister Sir, we would be grateful if you can give a chance to us to present
our submission in person.
With
regards,
Yours
faithfully,
(V.N.Sharma)
Chairman
---------- End of the Letter ---------
REGISTERED
No. FORSE/PM/0514
Oct 27, 2014
Sri Narendra Modi,
Prime Minister of India,
South Block Office, Raisina Hill,
New Delhi-110011.
Sub: Request to make
provisions for pension to SAIL Retirees
At the outset, I would like to quote the then UK Prime Minister Mr.
Winston Churchill’s proclamation during the World War II “A pessimist sees the
difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every
difficulty” before taking on Nazi Germany in the background of opposite views
by his own party men. The World Press acclaimed then: “Optimism is one quality
of an intelligent leader.” We see this quality of Optimism in abundance with
you. You have been able to achieve this level of success on account of the above
and we are confident this will take you and the country to greater heights in
all fields. We also presume in the same breath that though our problem has been
hanging unheard for over 5 years now your active and intelligent help and
support with positive outlook will get us heard and our miseries reduced, if
not completely resolved. The
reason for our feeling emboldened of a positive action by you is the
statements, made by the members of your Government inside Parliament and out of
it, in favour of policy changes for ‘greater care’ of the Senior Citizens.
Sir, ours is an organisation of over one lakh Retired Employees of a
Public Sector Enterprise (Steel Authority of India Ltd) which is another arm of
the Government. Among the retired ones, the pre-2007 retirees are not getting
any pension or monthly support. For the post-1.1.2007 retirees, the pension
schemes are already in place and implemented in a few and are in implementation
stage in remaining PSUs including SAIL; though a very belated action. The salient
features of pre-2007 retirees from industrial PSUs are:
1.
The
number of such retirees will not increase and in fact will come down as they
will wither away with passage of time.
2.
The
2nd Pay Revision
Committee on PSEs had recommended creation of Corpus out of Profit for welfare
of these group of earlier retirees and thus shown a way for helping this group.
3.
These
retirees are now in age group of 70s and 80s years. Most of them had retired at
the age of 58 years. Thus the number will come down in days to come. Hence any
corpus created will not be perennial.
4.
The
persons had joined the industrial sector during 1950s and 60s for establishment
of 1st set of heavy
industries in free India in remote and undeveloped areas and worked in core
industries.
5.
They
retired with meager Gratuity and low PF accumulation due to low salary
structure then and without any pension. They are finding extremely difficult to
manage both ends meet and to live with dignity and with full medical attention
which is required the most as age advances.
In spite of the recommendation of the Pay Revision Committee and the
direction by the Dept. of Public Enterprises nearly five years back, no action
has been taken by SAIL to create the corpus and help the pioneer retirees. One
of the hitch appear to be lack of clear cut direction by DPE. These pre-2007
retirees do not have any monetary strength or vitality to fight and agitate.
The PSEs are taking advantage on these accounts and denying any benefit.
Obviously, CEOs of PSEs are interested in declaring more profits to get
rewarded by the Government denying even the basic welfare of the retirees. Had
only DPE taken an optimist view (as per Mr. Churchill's statement)
instead of with “Glass half-empty” syndrome, the PSEs would have acted on our
issue as acted by them for the post-2007 retirees.
The details of vagueness, anomalies and discrepancies in the three
wordings in the three OMs issued by DPE which again are in variance with the
wordings in the recommendation of 2nd PRC are brought out in Annexure I. The
basic philosophy/logic of the recommendation is brought in Annexure II. These
were pointed out to DPE by individual retirees. The SCOPE, apex body of PSEs,
had also recommended for suitable monthly payment besides medical benefits. In
a workshop held on the subject of creation of corpus, one of the former member
of 2nd
PRC (also a very senior Retd IAS) also suggested a positive view by the
all concerned to interpret the recommendation. A Former Chairman/SAIL had also
expressed his anguish on the plight of the pioneer retirees. These are
available in Annexure III. Despite all these, DPE had not taken any positive
action till date. If DPE wants to have positive view, there was no need to
issue three OMs with different wordings. Perhaps DPE is not clear how to negate
it. In case DPE was not clear of the recommendation, they could have got
clarification from the Committee itself. DPE had even asked all not to submit
any representation on any account (vide OM dt 30.05.2011) contrary to the
principle of transparency and welfare state of the present Government. Such
changing OMs of DPE helped gave a handle to PSUs like SAIL to cut down whatever
their retirees were getting earlier. Such DPE's clarifications only causes
further discrimination and injustice to one set of retirees from another. Another
irony is that only pre-2007 retirees of industrial PSU sector industry are
denied the pension whereas Nationalised banks, LIC, PSU insurance Companies,
BSNL, Railways etc have been paying pension besides additional benefits such as
other benefits like additional interest rates (for bank retirees), free phone
calls, free train passes etc.
Appeals and representations have been submitted to all authorities since
last five years but no action has been taken by any one. We are appealing to you to give
kind direction to DPE and SAIL to have a positive attitude on the issue. Our
request is for a monthly support of Rs.5000 pm which is far below a pension of
lowest cadre employee gets nowadays. No budgetary support is required unlike in
the bill proposed for retirees of unorganised sector. It is an irony that even
an organised sector, an arm of Government, is ignoring the issue of their own
pioneer retirees while Government is trying to help unorganised sector
retirees. These very senior pioneer retirees who had served at the primitive
stage with no facilities as available now and who worked in core industries and
who are in twilight of their life have to live with no dignity and no full
medical help. The monthly monetary help is their emergency need as of now.
We would be grateful if you can kindly direct DPE to issue an unambiguous
direction to SAIL to create the corpus to pay minimum monthly payment as above
without disturbing the existing post-retirement benefits with improved
Healthcare for the Retirees. We would also wish to present our case personally
so that our plight can be understood better. In view of this I appeal to you to
take some time out of your busy schedule to hear of our difficulties and
uncertainties of life. In case it is not possible due to your heavy engagements
please nominate someone from your advisors/confidants to discuss the issues on
a pre-determined time, date and place.
Yours sincerely,
(V.N.Sharma)
Chairman
Copy to:
Shri Narendra Singh Tomar
Union Minister of Steel &
Mines.
Udyog Bhawan
New Delhi-110011.
Shri Anant Geete
Union Minister of Heavy
Industries & Public Enterprises.
Room No. 176, Udyog Bhawan
New Delhi-110011.
Annexure I
COMPARATIVE
STUDY OF DIFFERENT WORDINGS ADOPTED BY DPE
Para 6.2.5.(c) of Recommendation of 2nd PRC
|
OM No: 2(81)/08-DPE(WC) -GL -XVI/ 2009 dt 8th July 2009-Para 4 & 5(ii)
|
OM No:2(81)/08-DPE(WC) dt 25th April 2011- Para 2.v
|
OM
No:2(81)/08-DPE(WC)GL--XV/2011
dt 20th July 2011- Para 2 (i)
|
in order to take care of medical and any other emergency needs of retired executives and also those who are not adequately covered by the Pension scheme.
|
in order to take care of medical and any other emergency needs of retired employees, who are not covered by the Pension scheme and/or post superannuation medical benefit scheme.”
|
Purpose of the scheme to be as per 2nd PRC recommendation ie. “to be in order to take care of medical and any other emergency needs of retired executives and also those employees who are not adequately covered by the pension scheme”, instead
of “.....(repeated wordings as in OM dt 08.07.09)”
|
..the Corpus would be to take care of medical and any other emergency needs of retired employees.
|
Remarks:
Kindly read other relevant paras of the
recommendation as in Annexure II
|
Remarks:
Modified from the recommendation without any specific approval
|
Remarks:
Wording restored as per the recommendation of 2nd PRC & mentioned also so in the OM itself.
(This OM was marked as “Confidential” for no specific reason)
|
Remarks:
Again modified & omitted “and also those employees who are not adequately covered by the pension scheme” without any approval
|
Note:
1.
Copies of internal noting of DPE leading to issue of all three OMs are available on record(obtained through RTI).
2.
All OMs obtained through
RTI.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Important & Very
Relevant paras of the Recommendations of 2nd PRC Annexure II
Chapter 2.(page 41)-
2.4.1.v. Retirement Benefits. Retirement
benefits would generally include Provident Fund, Gratuity, social security
schemes like Pension Scheme and post-retirement medical benefits / facilities.
At present, however, several CPSEs do not have pension schemes and/ or medical
benefits schemes.
Chapter.3.(page 63)
3.5.5.(i) Retired employees of many CPSEs are left with little or no
economic support as most CPSEs do not have any post-retirement benefit schemes.
As a measure of social security and also considering the fact that retiring
employees have contributed to the company some schemes need to be put in place,
which will provide regular income or support after retirement. This will give a
sense of pride and independence, which these employees would have enjoyed, when
they were regular employees. Whether it is a pension scheme better than EPS95
or enhanced gratuity or post retrial medical facility, etc. should be in the
form of annuity purchased from LIC or any similar agency. Depending on the
capacity of the company, the expenses could be shared between the company and
the employee during the course of employment. Better performing CPSEs could
share a largerproportion and in those CPSEs that are not doing well, the major
portion could be from the employees themselves. The company is anyhow bound to
contribute the statutory requirement towards PF, EPS 95 and gratuity.
Chapter 4.(page 80)
4.7.2 h. Superannuation Benefits.
1) In the past, superannuation benefits of CPSEs were limited to
contributory provident fund and gratuity. A contributory pension scheme has
been introduced in some of the CPSEs in recent past.
2) Medical treatment becomes a significant component of expenditure for
retired executives. While a few CPSEs provide post-retirement medical
treatment, most of the retired CPSE executives do not have access to medical
facilities.
3) In order to have pension and medical care as additional superannuation
benefits, Committee proposes to enhance superannuation benefits to 30% of basic
pay. Superannuation benefits including gratuity, however, should not become a
long-term financial liability for the company.
CPSEs should therefore, devise suitable defined contribution plans and
operate on their own or through insurance companies. Pension, gratuity and
post-retirement medical treatment should come out of such insurance linked
instruments. Upper limit on gratuity could be removed and gratuity payment
could be linked to the performance of the defined contribution schemes.
4) Post-retirement medical facilities and pension will be admissible to
only such executives, who retire on superannuation from CPSE and have put in
minimum service of 15 years.
Chapter 6. (page 121)
6.2.3.(K)- Superannuation Benefits:
The Committee recommends that CPSEs should allow 30% of the Basic Pay as
superannuation benefit which should include CPF, gratuity, pension and
post-superannuation medical benefits. The Enterprises should make their own
schemes to manage these funds or operate through insurance companies on fixed
contribution basis. The amount of Pension, gratuity and post-retirement
benefits will be decided based on the returns from the schemes to be operated.
For purpose of paying the gratuity or post-superannuation benefits, the
Committee recommends that there should not be any upper ceiling limit. Pension
and Medical Benefits, as Superannuation benefits, are aimed at ensuring the
loyalty of the Executives to the CPSEs and extended tenure of services. The
Committee recommends that these two benefits can be extended to those executives
who superannuate from the CPSE and who have put in a minimum of 15 years of
service in the CPSE prior to superannuate.
Chapter 6(page 130)
6.2.5.c The Committee recommends that CPSEs may create a corpus by
contributing 1% to 1.5 % of PBT to create a fund in order to take care of
medical and any other emergency needs of retired executives and also those who
are not adequately covered by the Pension scheme .
Annexure III
Opinions/Statements by
experts including DG/SCOPE.
1. The anguish expressed by one of the past Chairman
SAIL, Dr. P. L. Agarwal in his book titled “Journey of a Steel Man” is as
follows:
“I formally retired/superannuated from SAIL when I
attained age of 58 in October, 1984, after almost four years stay in Indonesia,
when my provident Fund and gratuity were released. Just for interest, my total
accumulated money from SAIL on the account amounted to Rs. 3 lacs including
Provident Fund (normal and voluntary contribution) and gratuity after 28 years’
service. Today a junior executive or even a skilled worker after retirement
from SAIL gets over 10 or 12 lacs. SAIL had no pension scheme, and others of my
generation are suffering hardship and privations after retirement…………”.
2. The apex Organisation of
PSUs- Standing Council on Public Enterprises- had vide letter No: SCOPE-2011/DG/2278dated21st February2011
stressed the need for the Government to look into the matter:
“Over past
six decades Public Sector is serving the nation by providing strong building
blocks. It has been strengthening the financial resources of the government for
investment in infrastructure and social development. Today PSEs have become
inseparable part of the process and dynamics of economic development in India. The
credit mainly goes to the commitment, hardwork and contribution showcased by
the employees in the formative years. It is because of their contribution,
PSUs are now christened as Miniratna, Navratna and Maharatna companies.
All the retired employees of PSEs are assets to the
nation and should be considered as reservoir of valuable talent and experience.
The social security of these employees should not be considered as an
obligation but a responsibility of the concerned PSEs. They deserve our
help, support and full co-operation. It should be our onus to facilitate them
to lead a dignified life as far as possible.”
·The issue of social security should be seen in a
wider perspective and both Government and concerned PSEs should have congruent
responsibility.
·There is a need for DPE to make the guidelines issued
mandatory. The PSE Management would not evolve a suitable system if left to its
discretion.
·A scheme needs to be developed by all PSEs for their
retired employees (who are not covered under the pension scheme) so that they can
avail of some monetary benefits apart from the medical benefits.
·Respective PSEs can allocate a lumpsum to be given
to the retired employees (before 1997) in recognition of their past service
rendered by them.”
3.
The statement of one of
the member of 2nd PRC Dr. Nitish Sengupta, IAS (Retd), now Chairman of
BRPSE in a workshop held on 16.11.2010 on “Workshop on “Medical and Emergency Needs of
Retired Employees of CPSEs – Creation of Corpus” is
also very relevant:
“He said these were very important guidelines and
emphasized that the money was not a constraint but it was the attitude of
the Management. He strongly believed that “where there is a will, there
is a way” and these guidelines were not to be read between the lines but
with the right spirit.”
It was also pointed out in the workshop by a CPSE that the DPE guidelines are vague on the term “any
emergency needs”.
---------- End of the Letter ---------
REGISTERED
No. FORSE/PM/0414
Oct 24, 2014
Sri Narendra
Modi,
Prime
Minister of India,
South Block
Office, Raisina Hill,
New Delhi-110011.
Sub: Request to make provisions
for Healthcare of SAIL Retirees
Honorable
Prime Minister,
On behalf of
more than a lakh of SAIL’s retirees I would like to inform you that those of us
(and other industrial PSUs) who had retired before 2007 do not get any pension
like those from the Govt or LIC, Banks etc. For us the only benefit at present
is post-retirement Health care with limits on total claim per year. The limits
as of now are low and the retirees, due to old age ailments, are required to
spend out of pocket- especially the very senior retirees who are in their 70s and
80s. SAIL has so far not accepted our request to increase the limits on the
ground that the payment of premiums will increase. I hope you will appreciate
that this is not commensurate with ever increasing cost of living in absence of
regular income like pension.
Respected
sir, we note from a news item that Group health insurance will become more
expensive for companies...” (ref: The Economic Times dt.18thOct
2014). If the premium is increased further especially for those of 70 and
above, it would be a great shock to our senior members who had retired with
meager gratuity and low on account of low salary structure before 2007 ( and
even very very low salary before 1997).
Respected
Sir, you would agree that Health alongwith Education is a primary service (even
fundamental right) in a welfare state. Healthcare, in particular, is the key
for survival of the Senior Citizens during their twilight years. The medical
benefit in full is being denied to our members now. Any further increase in
premium will make our past Employer not to agree for any increase in limits.
Rather the employer may take a negative attitude and restrict the admissibility
of claims of the very senior citizen retirees.
Sir, we hope
that you are aware that in many countries the Annual Checkup is part of the
Health Insurance and this is very much necessary for the welfare of the elderly
for their comfortable living during the last journey of their life. We hope
that your Govt. will make it a ‘Must’ and it will be effected soon even if it
needs to be subsidised by the Govt.like other schemes because it may need a
separate reimbursement for this purpose.
In view of
this, we appeal to you to kindly advise the concerned ministry/ department to
work out a scheme to make the health benefits for retirees of PSUs especially
with no limits so that very senior citizen retirees of PSUs will live
peacefully in the last phase of their life.
With thanks
and kind regards,
Yours sincerely,
(V.N.Sharma)
Chairman
e-mail copy
to:
Dr.
Harshvardhan,
Union
Minister of Health & FW
---------- End of the Letter ---------
SPEEDPOST
No. FORSE/ PM/ 0314
12 अगस्त, 2014
श्री नरेंद्र मोदी,
भारत के प्रधान मंत्री,
साउथ ब्लॉक ऑफिस, रायसिना
हिल्स,
नई दिल्ली - 110011
विषय: 21 अगस्त 2014 को रांची
दौरे के दौरान अपॉइंटमेंट हेतु
सन्दर्भ: हमारे पत्र संख्या FORSE/ PM/ 0114 dated June
06, 2014 एवं FORSE/ PM/ 0214
dated July 19, 2014
माननीय प्रधानमंत्री नरेंद्र मोदी जी,
एक लाख से अधिक सदस्यों की ओर
से हमने आप को दो पत्र डाक से भेजे जिन्हें उपरवर्णित सन्दर्भ में
देखा जा सकता है. फिर PMO पोर्टल से भी हमने अपनी बात
पहुंचाने की कोशिश की लेकिन आप के व्यस्ततम कार्यक्रमों की वजह से हम
अभी छूट जा रहे हैं. इस बीच हमने कुछ माननीय सांसदों से भी
अपने सदस्यों की खराब माली हालात का जिक्र किया जिसमे सदस्यों की आत्महत्या
का जिक्र भी है तथा गोड्डा के माननीय सांसद श्री निशिकांत
दुबे से हमने विशेष रूप से गुहार
लगाई जिसमे हमने उनके प्रस्तावित National Minimum Pension (Guarantee) Bill, 2014 में संशोधन करके संगठित केंद्रीय लोक उपक्रमों के कर्मियों को
भी शामिल करने का अनुरोध किया. माननीय दुबे जी का मै आभारी हूँ की उन्होंने हमारी
बात संसद में इस्पात, खान एवं श्रम मंत्री तक पहुंचाई जिसे http://164.100.47.132/newdebate/
16/2/08082014/5To6pm.pdf (draft proceedings of the Lok Sabha) के पेज 397-398 में देखा जा सकता है. लेकिन
अभी भी हम समाधान से काफी दूर हैं.
हमे अखबारी सूत्रों से ज्ञात हुआ है
कि आप 21 अगस्त को रांची
आ रहे हैं जो कि इस्पात उद्योगों के केंद्र में है. हम
अपने सञ्चालन समिति की ओर से आप से अनुरोध करते हैं कि अगर सम्भव हो तो आप
अपनी सुविधानुसार हमारे लिए 15 -20 मिनट का समय निकालें ताकि हम
अपनी बात आप से कह सकें और अपने सदस्यों की समस्याओं के समाधान
की ओर आशा से भरी एक कदम बढ़ सकें।
आशाओं, शुभकामनाओं तथा धन्यवाद सहित
आप का विश्वासी
(वी एन शर्मा)
चेयरमैन
---------- End of the Letter ---------
SPEEDPOST
No. FORSE/ PM/ 0214
July 19, 2014
Sri Narendra Modi,
Prime Minister of India,
South Block Office, Raisina
Hill,
New Delhi-110011.
Sub: Request for
creation of schemes for Pioneer & Early SAIL Retirees in distress.
Ref: Our letter No. FORSE/ PM/ 0114 dated June 06, 2014
Hon’ble Prime Minister Narendra Modi Ji,
We would like to draw
your kind attention to our above referred letter on the same subject (http://sailex.blogspot.in/2014/07/letter-to-prime-minister.html).
The letter explained the miseries faced by those belonging to the Pioneer batches
who retired before 2007 from the services of Steel Authority of India Ltd, a
PSU under the Ministry of Steel, and who are all around 70 years old and above-
many amongst us are 75/80 years and above.
We regret to say that
we have not been heard by SAIL or the concerned department of the Government though
we have been sending our representations individually as well as through
various Unit forums for the last five years. Ever increasing cost of living and
the higher cost of healthcare due to old age aggravates our miseries and some
of our members are forced to commit suicide.
It is quite
unfortunate for us that the present generation of Directors who are at the helm
of affairs of SAIL had not witnessed the struggle, pain & strain undergone
during 1950s & 60s by Pioneer & Early SAIL Retirees when they
successfully laid the foundation of the Industrial Revolution for Steel making
in India while leading an unsafe life in the unfriendly green-field locations.
Due to basic changes
in post-retirement benefit policy for CPSE employees SAIL retirees are grouped as
pre-2007 and post-2007 categories. This letter refers to the destitute living
conditions of the former for whom the 2nd Pay Revision Committee for
PSUs recommended welfare benefits from a corpus created out of 1.5% of the
Profit before Tax (PBT) from 1.1.2007 for the pre-2007 retirees. GOI issued
necessary directions to all PSUs for its implementation. Oil companies and few
other PSUs have already implemented the same whereas SAIL continues to ignore
the Government order and leave us to face more and more miseries.
There is no visible
reason for SAIL’s inaction and negative approach towards this issue because
SAIL has been earning profit for more than 15 years and it is now a Maharatna
company by virtue of its financial strength & its contribution to
development of the country in various aspects.
In view of the fact
that most of our members are in their twilight years the above scheme
implemented under the Government advice will be a small time affair. SAIL will
not require budgetary support for implementing the suggested scheme for their Early
Retirees.
Government permission,
as requested in our earlier letter, to transfer the unclaimed amount of
Provident Fund deposits with SAIL to the proposed corpus may enhance the much
needed financial benefits to the retirees.
We would also like to
bring to your kind notice that SAIL or Government did not think for the need of
a Pension scheme for hard working Steel makers of SAIL whereas many other PSUs
and Banks formulated and implemented the pension scheme at later dates in their
organization which takes into account the regular increase in even Dearness
Allowances.
We are confident that with your positive approach to
solve the problems of common man and quick decision making we will get some
results sooner than later.
We request you to kindly spare about 20-25 minutes of your valuable time
to listen to our stories of continued apathetic attitude of SAIL as also by the
Government. In case it is not possible, we request you to please advise SAIL
through the Hon’ble Union Minister of Steel to implement the Government advice
given to SAIL, through various OMs, on the same lines as Oil companies have
done for their employees, preferably in consultation with our Working Committee
to help us get rid of our miseries.
With kind regards,
Yours sincerely,
(V.N.Sharma)
Chairman
---------- End of the Letter ---------
SPEEDPOST
No. FORSE/ PM/ 0114
June 06, 2014
Sri Narendra Modi,
Prime Minister of India,
South Block Office, Raisina Hill,
New Delhi-110011
Sub: Request for creation of schemes for Pioneer & Early SAIL
Retirees in distress.
Hon’ble Prime Minister Narendra Modi Ji,
Kindly accept our
heartiest congratulations on your taking over as the Prime Minister of India.
We are sure our Bharat Mata will successfully be scaling newer heights, in the
years to come, under your strong and able leadership.
1. We, the Pioneer & Early Retired Employees
of SAIL and Public Sector Steel industries, retired before 2007 ie before
implementation of 2nd Pay Revision for CPSEs, are in distressed
condition.
2. Majority of these early retirees are those who
had joined in 1950s & 60s in green-field steel plants which were being
established in remote & under/non-developed areas under the 1st
industrial revolution of the Indian Republic. The steel plants are now under SAIL, a
Navaratna company
3. PROBLEMS.
(i) These pioneer retirees are now in the age group of 70s & 80s
having retired in 1980s, 90s & before 2007. They are not covered by any
pension scheme except EPS-95 for some post-95 retirees getting hardly around
1000/-.
(ii) Those who retired before 1998 (before implementation of 1st
Pay Revision for CPSEs) at the age of 58 years. They were deprived of the
earnings for two years & accumulation of CPF which would have multiplied in
the last two years.
(iii) They retired in 80s, early 90s with a meagre sum of about Rs.90,000
by those in junior positions and about Rs. Three to Four lakhs by those in
senior positions. Those who retired in late nineties from senior positions in
SAIL or Steel PSUs got an amount around Rs. Five to Seven Lakhs.
(iv) They are struggling to make both ends meet with meager returns of 9%
on the retirement benefits they received then. Apart from this, the medical
expenses due to age-related problems at the age of 70s & 80s beyond the
reimbursable limit (which is meager) is adding to their burden.
(v) Quoting from Journey of a Steel Man (p. 29) by Late Dr. P.L. Agrawal,
one of the former Chairmen of SAIL” my total accumulated money from SAIL on
the account amounted to Rs. 3 lacs including Provident Fund (normal and
voluntary contribution) and gratuity after 28 years’ service in October, 1984,
…….God had been kind to me.”
(v) SCOPE,
the pivotal organisation of PSUs, have also communicated to Govt vide their
letter No: SCOPE-2011/DG/2278 dated Feb 21, 2011 their views including the need
to take care of these retirees who do not get pension.
(vi) After several rounds of discussion and debate
by 2nd Pay Revision Committee for CPSEs with Association of
retirees, group of retirees, SCOPE, various Ministries and
CPSEs it gave a recommendation & DPE issued various OMs to give
effect to the recommendations including those dated 08th July 2009 and 20th
July 2011 to CPSEs for ‘creation of a corpus for
retired employees of SAIL with 1.5% of the PBT to take care of those retired
before 2007.
(vii) SAIL refused to accept
and implement the DPE OMs. In stead it has repeatedly been harping, including
in the letters dated 3rd and 9th May 2014 through CPGRMS, on the long
prevailing retirement and mediclaim benenefits given to its retired employees
which has nothing to do with the OMs of DPE because they existed since the
existance of SAIL.
(viii). Mediclaim. Every Retired Employee pays a part of the subscription for his
Mediclaim Insurance. But the terms and conditions are decided by SAIL and the
Insurance Company without involving the Retired Employees or their
representatives in the negotiation, leading to an extremely negative terms and conditions of
the Mediclaim policy under the agreement between SAIL and the Insurance
company, like the low amount of coverage for both OPD and hospitalisation, and
various tests, list of Cappings, important exclusions etc,, leading to misery
though SAIL boast of its Healthcare mechanism for the retired employees. In reality it is a bad
policy out and out and aged persons have to spend a lot out of their pockets.
(ix) All our communications to SAIL for a meeting to discuss the issues
of post-retirement benefits including the enhancement in coverage and services
under mediclaim insurance have met with a dead wall in last 5 years. No
response, no acknowledgement is the end result.
4.
SOLUTIONS
(i)
Such Retired SAIL Employees, perhaps a miniscule minority numbering in just
over a lakh. They do not have the monetary strength or vitality to fight for
redressal.
(ii) SAIL can easily create a corpus from PBT as
suggested and by other means and this corpus will not be required perennially
as these retirees are in twilight of their life being in 70s & 80s and will
vanish gradually. The OMs are to be considered by SAIL as the commitment of the
Govt. for the well - being of the Retired employee and senior citizens
(iii)
The contributions, foundation laid & hard work rendered by the
pioneer retirees with no facilities in those remote areas have also helped SAIL
to reach the level of Navaratna company. Since it has been earning profit since
long based on which it is Navaratna now, funds is not a constraint. Unfortunately,
the present set of top management cannot appreciate the contribution of these
elders. All Oil companies, have introduced schemes.
5. OUR APPEAL
A. In
view of the above, we submit the following suggestions for your kind
consideration and acceptance.
a) To
advise SAIL to formulate and implement schemes for various types of relief to
the Retirees and their spouse in line with the Govt. advice given in the form
of DPE OMs for ‘creation of a corpus for
retired employees of SAIL with 1.5% of the PBT’.
b) To
permit SAIL to raise the limit in the OMs of DPE from 1.5% to 3% for
formulating better schemes.
c) To
permit SAIL to transfer unclaimed money available with the PF Trusts of SAIL
Plants and Units to the proposed corpus.
d) To
advise SAIL to utilise the services of the physically fit Retirees as much as
possible by giving them specific assignments on contractual basis. This can be
done with the active help of the Federation (FORSE) or its Member Associations.
e) To advise SAIL to improve the Mediclaim
policy with no sharing of the subscription by the Retired Employee, treat
Retired Employees with or without mediclaim coverage at par with the working
employees on Healthcare programmes and 100 % coverage like Oil sector companies
do for their Retired employees.
B. Government
of India may urgently consider the following during the budget preparation
(2014-15) and the years thereafter to help increase the financial income/ flow
to SAIL retirees:
i.
Increase in the interest rate on Fixed Bank deposits for the Retirees.
ii. Transfer of unclaimed PF money lying
with the Govt. to the PSUs for creation of corpus as stated above vide OMs of
DPE for the Retirees.
iii. Action to enhance the facilities for
Senior Citizens in Hospitals, transport, public utility services by
incorporating newer policies.
We hope to have explained the basics of the
issues quite clearly yet we feel a meeting may be necessary to expedite action
and getting your favourable decision on the problems facing the SAIL retirees.
We will be pleased to provide any further details/ data required. It would not
be out of place to reiterate that a good number of us are in our twilight years
and we are not left with sufficient time to wait and watch for the policy
formulation and implementation with ease. A
response by e-mail or Phone will help us a lot.
With
regards,
Yours sincerely,
(V.N.Sharma)
Chairman
---------- End of the Letter ---------
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