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Dear Sir,
This has reference to your today's mail in the mail trail after stoic silence on this sensitive issue.
It may be recalled that our mail to Director ( Pers) dt 23 rd April and reminder dt 8th May 2019 posing serious predicaments and seeking his immediate intervention with clear cut solution to address grave anxiety of large number of ailing members remained unresponded. This had precipitated the situation and hastened the Federation to finalising the first phase of agitational programme with due intimation to Chairman SAIL on 4th June 2019 which also remained unresponded. Our letter dt 13th June 2019 was ultimately sent with finalisation of dates etc.
Your mail ultimately has been sent today only mentioning the background of the case which leaves lot of gaps and question mark on which we do not wish to comment at this stage as we have never been associated with the finalisation of scheme despite our request many many times in the past.
You have also not come out definitely how SAIL would like to deal with the case during the uncovered period of 90 days when already 65 days have elapsed in between when as per your demand premium have been paid by our members for full 90 days. Your dialogue with UIIC for entertaining the claims for unutilised money for the members of last year is frivolous and placid. This does not have any meaning at all. If SAIL and the Insurance company are so benevolent we wish this unspent money may be allowed to be utilised by the concerned members and added to their ceiling limit for tbe year 2019-20 finalised afresh.
Para 1-3 of your message , detailing what all transpired between SAIL and UIIC does not help the sufferers. I hope and believe that you understand the intricacies of SAIL collecting the premium from Mediclaim members and not providing them service is against the express provisions of natural justice and law of the land.
Be that what may be at this stage when we have already chalked out our plans and programmes being forced to embark upon to resort to this, commmunicating to all our centres spread over far flung places all over the country, garnering the energy of our ageing members and scant resources that our present programme is being kept in abeyance is a difficult proposion speceially in absence of your any definite assurance on how to deal with the claim cases.
Referring to your claim in para 4 of your message which reads as It may also be appreciated that comprehensive medical care at SAIL Hospitals and dispensaries is available, which can be availed by ex-employees and their spouses we can only repeat that this statement is totally incorrect. What we have been saying in the past for such long years that treatment in SAIL hospitals to SAIL retirees and non-availability of medicines on some basis or the other has been very poor and unsatisfactory. Please add specially the woes and difficulties of those not availing the Plant Hospital facilities during these 3 months uncovered period as mentioned by you. In spite of our repeated requests in our letters under reference SAIL failed to issue any advisory to SAIL Hospitals to permit full Healthcare coverage to all plant and non-plant location (like city, town) retirees at par with serving employees.
However, we assure you that the text of your mail and our reply will be read out to the members during our non-violent peaceful Dharna, on the dates given in our letter to SAIL Chairman, and their opinion sought about our future second phase of the agitational programmes.
We appreciate your response anyway after long long gap
With regards,
--
For & on behalf of Federation of Retired SAIL Employees (Regd)
Dr.V.N.Sharma, Chairman
शनि, 15 जून 2019 को 2:42 pm बजे को Industrial Relations & Welfare <ir.corporate1@gmail.com> ने लिखा:
Dear Sir,
Please refer to your e-mails dated 4th June, 2019 and 13th June, 2019, addressed to Chairman, SAIL regarding your agitation programme at Plants/Units of SAIL with regard to SAIL Mediclaim Scheme.
2. We have examined the matter and would like to inform as under:(a) SAIL has been operating a Mediclaim Scheme since 1991, for its retired employees and their spouses. As the last Scheme in operation was expiring on 10th April, 2019 (midnight), activities were initiated to finalise the Insurance Company to run and administer the SAIL medical scheme further. However, due to high premium quoted by L1 party, the agency could not be finalised within the stipulated time-frame
(b) Accordingly, SAIL Mediclaim Scheme (2018-19) was extended for a period of three (3) months i.e. from 11th April, 2019 to 10th July, 2019 in order to maintain continuity in medical facilities to ex-employees and their spouses, with timely submission of premium
(c) However, M/s UII made wrong interpretation of the terms and conditions of Work Order and decided to give coverage with respect to balance sum insured on 10.4.2019 only.
(d) SAIL has made efforts to persuade M/s UII at every level to honour the Terms & Conditions of the contract and provide full coverage for the extended period. A letter was also written by Director [Personnel], SAIL to Chairman of M/s UII to provide claim as per work order.
(e) However, as M/s UII continued to insist on its stand, legal recourse in the matter has also been taken.3. It may be seen that SAIL management has taken actions in the past and is making all efforts to ensure continued medical benefits to its ex-employees and their spouses. Further, action for putting in place an Insurance Agency for running the Mediclaim Scheme w.e.f. 11th July, 2019 for a further period of one year has already been taken and an open tender has been floated in this regard.
4. It may also be appreciated that comprehensive medical care at SAIL Hospitals and dispensaries is available, which can be availed by ex-employees and their spouses.
5. Company is sensitive towards the concern of ex-employees. It may be appreciated that for providing continuous medical facility to ex-employees and their spouses, the teams at corporate level and at Plants/Units have been making sincere efforts. Further, Company is also at an advanced stage to roll out the SAIL Pension Scheme for ex-employees even in a stressed liquidity position.6. In view of the foregoing, it is requested that you may desist from the agitational programme at this stage. This endeavor of yours would go a long way in dealing with the issues jointly. Assuring you of our best services always
Regards(Pawan Kumar)
DGM (Personnel)
