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Saturday, November 20, 2021

Resolution Adopted by 21st Annual General Body meeting of New India Assurance Retirees Association on 20th Nov 2021

 Resolution. 1 - Pension Reforms

As Per the recent developments in the financial sector,the Department of financial services, Ministry of Finance, has given permission  for updation of Pension & Family Pension in Banks, keeping pace with these development in Banking sector, The Annual General Body Meeting unanimously appeal to the Department of Financial Services, Ministry of Finance, GIPSA and member companies to initiate necessary steps for updation of Pension/Family Pension in commensurate with Para 54B & 55 of General Insurance (Employees) Pension Scheme. 1995 which clearly express that "the pensionary benefits shall be calculated in accordance with the provisions contained in the Central Civil Services (Pension) Rules. 1972 and the Central Civil Services (Commutation of Pension) Rules, 1981, as applicable to Central Government servants and in accordance with the instructions issued by the Central Government there under from time to time."  The House Express its grave concern on the continued silence of GIPSA & management of the four public sector general insurance companies in not taking any initiative for updating pension in insurance sector as taken by IBA & Bank management.

Hence this house unanimously once again appeal to the management of the four public sector general insurance companies to adopt a board resolution in this regard recommending updation of pension/ family pension in a similar Exercise carried out in RBI & IBA and send it to the department of financial services, which is the competent authority for the Sanction of fixation of pay & Pension of PSU general insurance companies. 

 Resolution. 2- Issue of Pension Documents

The house appeal to the management to issue a Pocket Size Pension Book Containing Joint Photograph, Pension Payment Order Number (PPO number), basic Pension, commuted amount, residual pension, Date of restoration of commutation portion, Family pension Annuity Number, Pages for yearly Mustering (Life certificate), instead of the present procedure of issuing a single sheet of A4 size paper which is likely to be torn & Misplaced by the aged pensioners.

Reslution. 3 - Removal of anomalies in Pension

Our pension scheme 1995 was drafted on the lines of basic structures of CCS Pension & Commutation Rules 1972 as it was on the date of its notification of on 28th June1995. As the time went on leaving a gap of about quarter century, the CCS pension & Commutation rules 1972 got amended several times after every Central Pay Commissions thus making our Pension Scheme GIEPS1995 an outdated one in the Present scenario.

 

A Major change made undergone in the CCS pension rule after the inception of GIEPS1995 was the adoption of uniform rate of 30% of the last drawn Basic pay as the family pension Subjected to a Minimum of Rs 9000. A similar amendment was incorporated in RBI Pension regulation 1990 & also in Bank Pension Scheme recently.

Another Important Change to CCS Pension Rule was the linkage of 33 years of service for full pension was substituted by 20 years as per the amendment to Rule 49 (2) of CCS Pension Rules w.e.f.01.01/2006.

Other anomalies & discrepancies as compared to CCS Pension Rules is shown under.

1)         Difference in Rate of Commutation Rate 1/3, CCS rate 45%

2)         No Improvement in minimum and maximum Pension/Family Pension as applicable to Central Govt/ RBI/Bank Pensioners.

3)         No Additional Pension/family Pension to Elders above the age of 80 years as in case of CCS Pensioners.

The House unanimously urge upon the Department of Financial services, GIPSA & the managements of the public sector General Insurance Companies to remove the above anomalies in calculation of pension and family pension by suitable amendment to GIEPS1995.

Resolution. 4 – Revision of Pension along with every wage Revision.

This AGM Demands the revision of Pension along with every wage revision to avoid prolonged legal battle as going between LIC management & Retirees association. The AGM urges the GIPSA Management to start meaningful negotiation for Pension updation with Pensioners associations without further delay.

  Resolution.5

It is Noticed that the LIC do not issue Form 16 Promptly to all the retirees to enable them to file ITR in time. We request HO Pension cell to take up the matter with LIC & remind them to comply with this statutory requirement.

Resolution.6

The house Request the HO Pension cell to take up the issue of disbursement of Pension to all the retirees by last working day of the month instead of the Present system of disbursement in two different dates after the last working day.

Resolution. 7 – Out Patient Facilities(OP)

The House Unanimously Demand Introduction of OP Treatment reimbursement faculties in GMC or to sanction an yearly Fixed Lump sum payment to Retired Employees for OP treatment as given to existing Employees.

Resolution. 8 – Removal of Out dated Exclusions & unscientific Capping of Expenses in GMC Policy

The House Express its concern over the outdated Policy conditions Mentioned in GMC policy such as Capping of Room Rent, Medical Practitioners fees etc. The members select higher sum insured for getting higher Room rent at the rate of 1% in case of an eventuality as promised in the Policy, again reducing the same between different classes of cities & to a unilateral fixed maximum amount is arbitrary & to be dispensed with at least for employees & retirees.

 This has imposed heavy financial burden on the Covid-19 affected retirees by bearing additional amount in respect of room/ICU rent over & above the capping. Same is the case with maternity benefits outdated capping & capping for treatment by Modern/Advanced Technology. The GMC Policy conditions should into account that we are living in a world of modern era as such Exclusion No.4.14 excluding Naturopathy treatment, Exclusion No.4.15 excluding genetic disorders & stem cell implantation/surgery may be deleted. The AGM request the head office to make suitable amendments in the GMC Policy conditions incorporating the above genuine requirements to avoid hardship to retirees.

Resolution. 9 – Monthly deduction of GMC Premium from Pension as allowed to LICPensioners.

The House observed LIC of India has given the facility of Monthly Deduction of GMC Premium from the Monthly Pension of their retired Employees. The House unanimously demand that the same facility may be granted to NIA retired Employees to reduce their burden of remitting the entire GMC Premium at once.

Resolution.10 –Delayed GMC Re-imbursement of Claim Amount by NIA HO

The AGM is happy to note that the Performance of HITPA seems to be encouraging but regret to note that there is inordinate delay in the reimbursement claim disbursement by NIA HO even after the Processing & float number is allotted by HITPA. The House express its concern on the issue & urges the NIA HO Mediclaim department to expedite the claim disbursement.

 Resolution.11 – Intimation about Renewal of GMC Policy

The NIARAS-Kerala AGM feel neglected of the Company's attitude in keeping the retirees in the dark about renewal of Mediclaim policy and the amount of premium to be remitted till eleventh hour even though the company has the facility to reach out to every retiree through SMS. The house expects a positive response from the company before it is too late.

Resolution.12 – CMD Ex-gratia for High cost of Medical Treatment

The house appeals that CMD ex-gratia for critical illness may be extended to retirees also.

Resolution.13 – Single Service Window

The House in unison demand that New India should take immediate steps to start a single window at every Regional Office of the country to address and redress the grievances of retired people like delayed pension disbursement, Mediclaim reimbursement imbroglio, inordinate delay in paying terminal dues, delay in issuing Form 16, restoration of full pension, issue of identity cards etc.

Resolution.14

The AGM Appeals for the Introduction of an HRMS Portal in HO website for giving various facilities to Retirees Viz. Submission of online life certificate, downloading of form 16, Pension slip, online filing of grievance & showing its status, releasing retirement benefits & other information relating to retirees.

 

Resolution.15

This house calls for recognition of Retirees Association & give due response to their communication at all levels. The Management is requested to introspect whether it is giving due respect to its retirees who were instrumental in taking the organization to its Present glorious status.


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